Making dinner

...is not all that bad. Once you decide what to make. I dislike deciding what to make. I suppose part of the problem is I have kids clammering all over me for one thing or another and Richard is a pill to cook for.
I remember when I was growing up and my mom would say, "Hey, Lucille, what would you like for dinner?" I thought, "Oh, what a considerate mother! She wants to make what I want to have." No, no. She's like me! She hates deciding what to make for dinner! I have tried asking Richard, but he will tell me one of three things EVERY time. (Considering he likes about three things in this world, that shouldn't be a suprise.) He wants either hamburgers, chicken nuggets, or pizza.
So, my daily dilemma is, "What should I make for dinner?" I do try to make relatively healthy, low-cost meals, and so maybe that's the problem. I don't want to do pre-made, high-fat, costs 4x as much meals. I've even asked my sister what I should make that night! So, if any of you have fabulous dinner ideas that might fit those criteria, let me know. It would be slightly nice if Richard would eat it, but since he has a limited acceptable menu, I often don't adhere to that.
For now, we're having leftovers tonight! Scott will be so pleased.

Binkies

My kids love binkies. I have no problem with that. I try to make sure they don't use them excessively, but I didn't make Richard lose his until he was over 2 1/2 years old.

Audrey loves her binkie just as much as Richard did. However, her attachment might be a little stronger. Richard took ANY Nuk binkie. He didn't care. Audrey must have a size 1. Yes, folks. The "newborn to 6 months" size. We try to go bigger. No, no! She won't have it. Last night, Scott noticed that her current binkie is getting a wee bit disgusting. Binkies tend to do that. We tried to give her a new one. It was a cute yellow and blue. However, it was a size 2. She pulled it right out of her mouth and gave it back to me. We tried another. It's the same size. It's just blue, not white. She was furious! She wouldn't take it. She got mad when we left her without one, though. So, we weren't in the mood to listen to her cry all night because she didn't have a binkie. We have resigned ourselves to the fact we must buy a white and yellow binkie. Now we just have to hope she won't care that it's not disgusting. She may just pitch a fit!

Ah, how liberating!

I hate teaching babies how to eat. I hate putting the same food in their mouth 5 times. I hate that I have to spend 30 minutes getting them to eat a tablespoon of food. I also like to eat. I like eating when everyone else is eating. I don't like that I have to feed my child and then eat when everyone else is done and my food is cold.

Isn't it GREAT when your child gets to the "I do it" stage and they can feed themselves? Now, admittedly, there are some definite irritations to accompany the "I do it" stage. However, this is not one of them! So, she gets a little messy. Oh, well. This particular food will not stain. She probably would have anyway as she swats the spoon away or tries to grab it from me. She got to eat her way. I got to eat my food at the same time. How is this not a "win, win" situation?

Can the light just come?

Scott received comments on his thesis from his professor yesterday. He was very overwhelmed and discouraged. He did seem better when we went to bed, however.... I just want the thing to be done! Is that too much to ask?

Audrey in all her glory!

Audrey has so much energy! She loves to be chased and tickled. She loves to give cheesey grins. She loves to play peek-a-boo.

She loves to point out facial features. She is just so cute!

Richard's opinion

So, if you know me at all, you've seen that some days I slick my hair back in a pony tail of sorts. Usually that means I'm going to work or have worked the night before and am way too tired to care about fixing my hair. Other days, I try to look slightly fashionable and leave my hair down (like in the formal family picture). Richard apparantly has an opinion! When I was showering the other day he said to Scott, "What hair will Mommy do?" If I come down with my hair down, he'll say, "Oh, Mommy! I like the down hair. You're so pretty!"

On that note, he also has an opinion about his own hair. I see so many cute boys with their hair spiked. I've tried to convince Richard to let me do that. His reaction is, "No, not crazy hair!" as he flattens his hair as best and quickly as he can. "Just down hair!" So, if you've wondered why I never bother to "fix" his hair. This is why. He won't let me.

Keeping things in perspective

I found out today that a woman who works on my floor had her baby pass away this last week. She works during the day and works more of an 8-5 job, so I don't know her. In fact, not until I asked someone did I even find out what had happened. Her baby was born prematurely and lived at the hospital until this past week.

I complain about Richard not being potty trained, temper tantrums, interrupted sleep, sibling spats, etc. Then, I hear about things like this and remember to count my blessings.

I have to wonderful, loving, healthy children. They bring me great joy. I can't imagine what it would be like to have the entirety of your child's life to be in the NICU. I can't imagine not being able to cuddle with your child in the wee hours of the morning and just gaze at their little face. I can't imagine only seeing your child connected to tubes, wires, monitors, etc. with all the beeping and the bustling that accompanies an ICU. I can't imagine burying my baby. I can't imagine the grief she must be experiencing. My heart breaks for her. 

So, tonight, I express thanks for my children, their health, my health, Scott's health, and the great blessings we enjoy. Really, what do I have to complain about?