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It seems like overnight Jakey is getting taller, expanding his vocabulary and just plain simply, growing up. He'll be four next month which I realize in the big picture of life, he's still in his infancy. Nonetheless, he's achieved many milestones thus far: crawling, walking, talking, running, dressing himself, throwing a ball. You get the picture. But recently, there were two things in particular that I felt helped him graduate from "little boy" to "boy". For the last few months, he's been asking me for some gum. I enjoy chewing gum, especially bubble gum because 1) I like blowing bubbles, and 2) it keeps me from snacking. I was always hesitant to give him any because I didn't want him to choke. But finally I relented. I gave him half a stick of Extra Bubblegum and I swear, as soon as he started chewing it, he just looked “older”. Then not five minutes after he started chewing his gum, he busts out the Spongebob Squarepants video game my neighbor gave him for Christmas. It was like he was growing chest hair right before my eyes. He looked like such a kid chewing gum, playing a video game while sitting in his Spiderman chair.  My little guy is growing up and I’m happy to watch every step (and bubble) of the way.

If there ever was a blueprint for a boy, I think my preschool aged son Jake would match it. He loves airplanes, trains and especially garbage trucks. He enjoys a variety of sports including baseball, basketball and loves to play tackle with his Daddy and uncles. He doesn’t walk to get from point A to point B, but instead he either runs or bounces. He has an energy level that’s off the charts, but I think that’s pretty typical for a boy.

We were at the grocery store one day and for no particular reason he asked if he could get a new toy. And for no particular reason I said sure.  We approached the toy aisle and I thought he would pick out a car or airplane, but instead, he chose something unexpected. He wanted a toy phone that was clearly intended for a girl. It was soft pink with red ruby hearts on it. I questioned him and asked if he would rather have a truck instead, but he was intent on the phone. Right then I had an “a-ha” moment.  Jakey didn’t let color or design dictate his decision.  He didn’t see it as a “girl” or “boy” toy, but instead, just a toy that he wanted to play with. For me, it was interesting and refreshing to see things through the unfiltered lens of a preschooler.  Jake will have the rest of his life to be told what boys should or shouldn’t play with, how they should or shouldn’t act. I felt that this was a pure and untainted moment. I reveled in the experience and happily bought my son his new pink phone with red ruby hearts.  So much for the blueprint.

I was getting ready for work yesterday morning and I had a few things on the bathroom counter; toothpaste, mascara, lotion. Nothing out of the ordinary. But something in particular caught my preschoolers eye.  I was busy looking at myself in the mirror when he picked up something and asked, "Mama, what's this? What's this for Mama?".

At first I tried to ignore the question thinking he would get distracted by something else. But that wasn't the case.

"Mama, what's this for?"

"Oh, that?! That is.......ummmm. That's.....hmmmmm." I didn't have an answer, at least one that I wanted to share with him. I decided to just take it out of his hand and change the subject.

Next time I'll be sure to keep my tampons hidden under the sink.

Today was not out of the ordinary until about 4:00PM. I don’t know what was in the air, but we earned our parent stripes.  It went something like this all in a matter of 17 minutes.

Baby Girl projectile vomits all over herself, me and the new couch.

Take Baby Girl upstairs for a bath.

Send Hubby in with a towel to clean up the mess.

While bathing Baby Girl, Big Brother runs face first into our bedroom door. Tears prevail.

Send Hubby downstairs to get ice for Big Brother’s face.

Baby Girl is upset by Big Brother’s crying and decides to join in. Both kids crying simultaneously.  Awesome.

Kids settle down, take Baby Girl into her room to get her dressed, meanwhile Big Brother yells in from the bathroom, “Mamma, I had an accident. “ He couldn’t get his pants down fast enough and peed all over the bathroom floor.

Send Hubby in with a mop to clean up the mess.

Send Big Brother into the shower to clean off his leg. After the shower, I put him in his jammies. I don’t care that it’s 4:15PM.

Put Baby Girl in her crib to rest.

Send Hubby to restaurant with friends to watch football, drink beer and eat fried food.

Curl up with Big Brother on the couch (the vomit free couch), open a Diet Coke and watch a Christmas movie.  (I realize the season is over, but the holiday spirit sill remains)

It may not be a glamorous life, living in the suburbs with two kids, but a lot can happen…even in 17 minutes.

January 15 is only a few days away. I know it will be a positive experience and it’s the right thing for my family. I’m ready…I guess. What’s happening? Baby Girl starts daycare.

I went through this with my son so at least I have the benefit of personal experience. (Yes, I lived to tell about it) My employer provides an on site childcare facility. She’ll be there three days a week and my son is in the preschool program at the same school. I’m on the Parent Board and I have a good relationship with the director. Nonetheless, the questions remain…is this right thing to do? I took an extended maternity leave, she’s six months old, but should I have waited a little longer? Should I look into a nanny? Should I…

Like most moms, I strive for balance in my life and like most moms, the health and well-being of my kids is at the foundation. But I don’t want to lose sight of my personal goals. I have a great new opportunity at work that I’m ready to jump into with both feet. Combine the excitement of a new job, mix in the anticipation of my baby starting daycare and the end result is a very anxious mother. But I know I’ll live to tell about this too.

I needed a new rain coat. I saw a really cute one in the paper at Macys, but I didn’t feel like driving to the mall and I didn’t want to spend that much. So, I opted for a department store instead. Without too much trouble I found one…basic black, good price. Proud of my purchase, I went home and showed my husband. As I turned around to put it in the closet, he said, “Looks like something your mom would wear”. SCREECH. I stopped in my tracks. What?! Don’t get me wrong. I think my mom looks great and wears nice clothes, but I don’t necessary want to be accused of sharing a wardrobe with her.

At that moment, however, it dawned on me. It’s been happening gradually, especially since my son was born in 2004, but I’ve slowly been becoming my mother. Here’s how I know.

• I wear yellow rubber gloves when I wash dishes or clean the bathrooms.
• I pick up loose change I find in the street and put in my kid’s piggy banks.
• My hands are always cold in the winter.
• I use coupons and love buying things on sale.
• I enjoy looking through cookbooks and trying new recipes.
• I’m becoming quite the unintentional punster. My mom is a master – unintentionally of course.
• Before I throw a box or glass jar away, I think, “What can I use this for?”
• I get several uses out of one piece of aluminum foil.
• I have an out-of-control supply of plastic bags.
• I can’t stay awake during movies.

My mom is a wonderful woman. I’m the youngest of five kids and at one point, she had a 3, 2 and one year old.  Now that I have two kids, I understand the sacrifices she made to make sure we were fed, bathed, clothed, entertained and especially loved.

She also demonstrated thoughtfulness, kindness and patience so in that sense, I’m proud to be compared to my mom. We do, however, have some big divides. My house will never be as clean as hers, she will never spend as much money as I do on my hair and my dinner hour changes every day. She will probably eat dinner at 6:00PM for the rest of her life.  

Oh, and about the raincoat? The next time I saw my mom I decided to check out her raincoat and ahem…it was the same brand, same style, just a different color.

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I can't remember the first time I lost at something. Perhaps it was a game with my siblings, cousins or other family members. I don't remember how I reacted or if I even cared. Learning to lose graciously (whatever it is) is a great lesson to learn. One that my pre-schooler is having a hard time with. Enter: Candy Land.

Jakey got Candy Land for Christmas. It was fun for me to open the box and re-live Peppermint Forrest, Lollipop Woods and Chocolate Swamp. Jakey caught on quickly and actually won the first few games, complete with taunting. "I got to Candy Land first," he teased. But his luck ran out and I actually won a game. This did not go over well as he promptly knocked over the game pieces. I tried to explain that he wasn't going to win every time he played.

Over the next few days his emotions ranged from anger to tears when he didn't get to Candy Land first. Finally, my husband said, "there's no crying in Candy Land".

We played again tonight and maybe his heart wasn't in it or perhaps he was tired, but when my husband got to Candy Land first, Jakey simply said, "let's play again". Progress? Maybe. We'll see tomorrow when we're at Gumdrop Mountain.