Half Skips and Bagel Talk

Half Skips

I've realized recently that after 17 years, this is my LAST year being a full time mom.  Next year, Zibbi will start 4K.  I'm equal parts terrified and elated at the prospect of having a few hours each day to myself.  Seems like a lot of pressure.  Knowing I am near the end, makes me treasure these fleeting last moments of togetherness with Zibbi.  Those 3-year-olds, they are such a combination of cute and exasperating.  I always say it's a good thing they are so cute or there would be big trouble.  Here are a few recent Zibbi stories.  

Bagel Talk

This morning, I made Zibbi a bagel (her favorite).  She likes to help prepare them (or anything for that matter).  As she was putting the two pieces together, I heard the bagels say--"Hey, don't squish me!  Hey I have to or we can't be together."  Even her breakfast is super entertaining right now.  

Sock Talk

Which leads me to what happened yesterday in yoga class.  Zibbi became bored of what the teacher was suggesting she do, so instead she collected yoga blocks and socks.  Then the socks proceeded to walk and jump across all the blocks in a fancy dance.  

Half Skip

For some reason, only one side of Zibbi's skip works right now.  So she spends her days "half" skipping around the house.  I'm almost not looking forward to when she actually learns how to do both sides.  

I know these stories seem so trivial and I know they will soon pass from our memories, which is why I chose to remember them here.  

I won!

I wanted to share the posts on Facebook that happened over the 13 days of Ellie this year (the days between January 13th when she died to January 26th her birthday.)  It all started with this post on January 13th...

Six years ago this morning, my 10-year-old died. I remember that night so clearly, I was lying in a bed perpendicular to Ellie's bed. All night long, I could hear her struggling to breathe. And occasionally stopping. At one point, I looked out the window and I just wondered if I could possibly stand to BE in the moment right then. To be present to what was happening. I thought that instead I really wanted to jump out the window. But somehow I didn't. So today, in honor of how much Ellie has enriched my life again and again, I wear a shirt that says, "NOW". As I looked at myself in the mirror, I realized, that backwards, that's WON. Surely during the long long arduous road of grief, "lose" is more the word often uttered. I thought Ellie would really appreciate the word joke of NOW-WON and it made me smile. Thank YOU all for being on my team and helping me "win".

Just a quote...

I recently read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.  I fell in love with this quote, "I realize then that we never have children, we receive them.  And sometimes it's not for quite as long as we would have expected or hoped.  But it is still far better than never having had these children at all."

Boys vs. Girls

A few days ago, I explained to 3-year-old Zibbi that boys can stand up to urinate.  She was astounded.  I was shocked, because recently she has been all about how girls are so much better than boys.  She was so excited that she stuttered as she joyously announced how she couldn't wait to grow up to do that.  I think maybe I didn't explain that correctly.  Of course, I couldn't burst her bubble.

Z is for...

This week we stopped in to say hello to Connie, extraordinary sectretary at Marquette Elementary. Zibbi noticed there was a "z" on Connie's nameplate (her last name ends in a "z"). Zibbi was so excited and proud to make this discovery for the rest of the day she told everyone who would listen "Connie starts with z!!"

Alphabet Wars

Lotta and Zibbi were taking a bath. Lotta was pretending to write the alphabet across the wall behind the bath tub. Zibbi  got super ticked because Lotta had "written" on her side. After giving Lotta a verbal lashing, Zibbi began "erasing" the imaginary alphabet Lotta had "written". To which Lotta responded by standing up  and pretending to write her alphabet way above Zibbi's head. Zibbi then stood herself and reached as high as she could to erase the higher imaginary alphabet. Seriously. This is how wars start. 

No Mystery to What a 2-year-old Thinks

The other night at dinner, Lotta and Zibbi were arguing over something. Back and forth their words flew across the table, becoming louder and louder as the exchange became more heated. Suddenly, Zibbi jumped up from her booster seat, saying, "Hit now!" As she raced towards her sister's chair. I guess that's why they have high chairs, so parents have control of exits from the table (maybe that's why Zibbi hates them!)

Zibbi as a fashion "don't".