Thirty-One Months

This month brought a fantastic milestone moment for Punky: she learned to pedal her tricycle!  And she is so proud!  Now we just need to tweak her steering.  She has left down pat; right and straight are proving difficult.  I suppose she'll figure it out eventually when she tires of going in circles. 

And she had another milestone moment that was far less than fantastic and truly caught me off guard.  Many people told me the day would come, but I really thought it would never happen.  Not with my kid.  Not with my sweet, loving, clingy little girl.  But it happened yesterday.  When I went to pick her up at daycare, she was playing with blocks with one of her teachers.  She took one look at me and yelled, "No! I don't want to go home, Mommy! I want to stay at school and play!"  Then she burst into tears and ran in the opposite direction from her stunned, heartbroken, devastated mother. 

I had no clue what to do.  Normally daycare pick-up goes off like a scene from a movie:  I walk in, she sees me and chirps an excited "Hi, Mommy!" as she runs to me at top speed.  She jumps into arms, I give her the biggest hug and kiss.  I tell her I missed her so much, and she tells me she missed me, too.  Then she asks, "Can we go home now, Mommy?"  A picture-perfect moment indeed. 

Yesterday I just stood there with my mouth open and watched the tantrum unfold before me.  The message was clear: she wanted to stay at school.  Of course, my brain immediately twisted that message into something like this:  She doesn't want to go home.  She hates her home.  She wants to stay with someone else.  She hates her mommy.  She's happier at school.  Her mommy sucks. 

I ended up having to carry her out while she continued to cry and whine.  The crying stopped by the time I buckled her car seat.  The whining was over by the next stop sign.  By the time we pulled in the driveway three minutes later, order was restored in the universe.  I got a big hug when we got out of the car, followed by a kiss and a sweet, "I missed you today, Mommy!"  Crisis averted, but those ten minutes were pure torture. 

In other news, the potty train is still stuck at the station.  The new "music plays when you pee" potty went over about as well as a new stove would in the eyes of a two-year-old.  For the most part, she could care less.  In the past month she peed in it twice, once for me and once for her dad.  She did, however, announce to everyone in the produce department at Walmart that she needed to pee in the potty and insisted I take her to the bathroom. 

I decided to humor her, and appease the crowd, by going through the motions.  Off to the bathroom we went.  She picked a stall.  I pulled her shorts down and removed her diaper.  I lifted her tiny hiney onto the toilet.  With no potty seat available, she had to hold on to the sides to avoid falling in the hole.  While I watched her swinging legs and thought about the gallon of sanitizer I would need to use on her hands afterward, a funny thing happened.  She peed.  And not just a tiny tinkle, a long bladder-emptying pee.  Of course I was absolutely thrilled and nearly peed myself dancing around the bathroom and praising her up and down. 

For the rest of our shopping trip, no one was safe from Punky's big news.  She told everyone who even slightly glanced her way that she peed in the potty at Walmart.  And that she used toilet paper.  And that she flushed it all by herself.  And that she washed her hands with the blue soap in the bathroom.  And that Mommy is so proud of her.  She's nothing if not thorough.  

I even went as far as to buy her training pants.  I put a pair on her and explained that they would feel cold if she peed.  I encouraged her to keep them dry and tell me if she needed to use the potty.  Six hours, two juice boxes, half a bottle of water, and a cup of milk later, the training pants were still dry.  But she hadn't asked to use the potty either.  And it was bedtime.  Apparently she chose to simply hold it rather than face a cold tush or a few minutes on the potty.  I made her try the potty before starting the bedtime routine but all she did was sit there and stare at me.  Two minutes after changing her into pajamas and a diaper, she peed.  

Ugh. 

Intuition

I have a feeling something big is looming.  At work.  And today I told my boss so.

I have an uncanny sixth sense.  I could tell stories that would send chills up your spine.  In fact, some day I will when I actually have time to really write again.  You know, when Punky leaves for college.  For now, suffice it to say that my gut feelings usually prove true.  When I choose to listen, that is.  I don't always know the details, but generally hit the nail on the head with the overall outcome. 

For example, two weeks before I was bounced against my will into my current position at work, I told Punky's dad I was going to get fired.  I knew there wasn't really a reason.  Business took a steep downturn at the time but my company never lets anyone go in hard times.  I hadn't broken any rules, or screwed up anything important, or sexually harassed anyone.  But for some reason, I couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling that I wouldn't be working for my boss any longer.  It was logical to assume I'd be fired, but as it turned out I was simply moved to another position...with a new boss, of course.

We lost some major accounts over the last two years, and business is teetering near rock bottom in some of our facilities.  We had some great opportunities slip through our fingers in the past year and everyone is waiting as patiently as possible for that one big deal that can turn things around in an instant and get us back on the uphill path.

And I think it's coming.  Soon.

I can't explain exactly why.  I just suddenly have the feeling that I will be super busy at work.  That the somewhat somber environment will disappear and be replaced with chaos as we scramble to return to full production.  That a sigh of relief will be heard from all as we no longer worry about what lies ahead in terms our our employment.  

I normally keep my thoughts to myself, especially at work.  People tend to think you're nuts when you toss around words like intuition, premonition, and gut feelings.  But, for whatever reason, I slipped and told my boss what I feel is coming.  I'll look like an idiot if nothing happens, and I'll fully regret opening my mouth, but I can't exactly take it back.  That would make me seem crazier in his eyes, if that's even possible at this point. 

I hope for my sake, all of our sakes really, this is one of those times I'm right.

Redneck Camping

My parents arrived last Thursday with their camper, their dog, and my five year old nephew.  They wanted to attend a huge wine festival nearby this weekend but they couldn't get a reservation at a campground.  So, they camped in our yard instead.  They brought their lawn chairs, fire pit, and even fire wood.  Redneck camping for six days. 

Punky was supposed to go on a field trip Friday to a science center, and we sucked up our fears and gave them permission to take her so far away on a bus without us, but when Friday morning came she didn't want to go.  She wanted to stay with Grammy and Pappy.  I didn't want to force her to go and have them deal with a miserable child all day.  And, of course, I was a bit relieved she decided to skip it.

My parents were left to supervise while we were at work and they had a rough go of it.  I thought Punky and my nephew would have the best time together.  They really don't see each other much and Punky just adores him.  I thought she'd love having him here for so long, and that they would play and entertain each other, and that they would, well, like each other.  That lasted through the first hour or so... Then they spent the rest of the time fighting, and bickering, and antagonizing one another.  Six whole days of it.  Six. 

My parents drove to the wine festival on Saturday but Punky's dad dropped me off later on to be their designated driver home.  They enjoyed it and bought twenty-eight bottles of wine.  We sampled some later that evening around the campfire.  I'm not much of a drinker so I have no tolerance whatsoever.  Two small glasses of wine and  I was giggly. 

Giggling on the whip!

On Sunday, my mom and I took the kids to Harris Hill.  They have a picnic area, a swimming pool, a playground, a miniature golf course and driving range, an ice cream stand, pony rides, and six amusement park rides for small children.  It was my first time there and I was really impressed with most of it.  It's really a nice place to spend the day with young kids.  Punky and my nephew had a blast.  They loved the little rides, especially the whip, and the swimming pool.  One of the pools is only about two and a half feet deep so my nephew was able stand no problem.  He had a great time going from one end to the other all by himself.  Punky liked jumping in over and over again.  It was a fun day.

Riding the dinosaur!

My nephew spent a few nights in the camper and a few nights in the house.  Last night he wanted to read books with Punky and I before bed and he ended up sleeping with us all night.  I was surprised at how well I slept with two kids, four blankies, and six stuffed animals sharing my bed.  I expected to wind up on the couch at some point but I slept all night with no problem.  I didn't hear a peep out of either of them.  They must've been worn out from all the bickering.

It was great having them here but they left this afternoon and I'm enjoying the silence.  Sweet, sweet silence.

Routine Visit

We took Punky to the doctor today for her thirty-month well visit.  I have to say, these well checks are less exciting the older she gets.  Discussions about milestones like cooing, crawling, walking, and talking have been replaced with a barrage of boring questions about everyday life.

Yes, we brush her teeth morning and night.  Yes, she has four servings of fruit per day.  She does have temper tantrums but, no, I don't feel they are out of control.  No, she hasn't been exposed to active TB.  She hasn't stayed in a house with lead paint.  I never saw her eat anything unusual like paper, rocks, or dirt.  I guess she has friends at daycare, but I'm not there to observe her all day.  She poops once or twice a day.  Yes, it's generally soft.  Someone reads to her every day.  No, I don't think she has any problems getting along with others.  Yes, I would say I understand ninety percent of what she says ninety percent of the time (I guess they threw in a math question to spice it up a bit).  Good grief.  What a dull visit.  She didn't even need any vaccines this time.

Her weight came in at 25 lbs, 10 ounces, and her height is just about 35-1/2 inches.  Both of those numbers now place her firmly in the 50th percentile.  She gained almost four pounds since December and grew two and a half inches.  I think she's working on another inch now.  Her appetite has been absolutely insatiable the last two weeks.  Once it returned, that is...

This doctor visit also served as a follow-up to her latest ear infection.  A few days after we returned from vacation, she bawled her eyes out when her dad tried to clean her right ear.  She had a few sniffles on our trip which I attributed to allergies and/or sleeping with the air conditioning blaring.  I gave her some allergy medicine and the sniffles stopped, but apparently it still managed to back up into her ears again.  We really thought she was fine until the q-tip incident.  She always sits still and never cries when we clean her ears...except when she has an ear infection.  So, she just finished another ten-day round of amoxicillin.

As an added bonus, the day after starting the antibiotic she had a random puke fest.  I thought it was maybe a sudden reaction to the amoxicillin, but the doctor thought it was a totally unrelated virus just that happened to hit at the same time as the ear infection.  She threw up about six times that day.  Nothing she ingested stayed in her stomach for very long.  The following day she was very mopey and had no appetite whatsoever.  Then, on the third day, the other end jumped into action and we had a diaper-blowing, clothes-ruining, mess of a shit fest.  I have no idea where it came from given the fact that she only ate about three bites of solid food the previous day.  Her appetite returned two days later and she's been eating non-stop since.  

It's easy to complain about ear infections, vomit, diarrhea, and dull doctor visits, but don't think for one second I take any of it for granted.  I know how lucky I am to have a healthy, happy, active two and a half year old.  I've never been so thankful for anything in my life.  Puke and all.

A Bedtime Story

"One day, there was a big blast in outer space!  And this guy, he pulled all his hair out and he was bald! And then he fell in a big hole!  And he couldn't get out of there and he was sad because he wants to see his mommy but he can't!  Then Mickey Mouse came and rescued him!  And he is soooo happy!  He had to help his mommy with the dishes.  And then they went for a walk!  And a big giant was there and he said, "Fee fie foam!"  I don't like giants. They're scary!  And they lived happily ever after.  The end!"

Word for word, that's what you get when you ask a two and a half year old to tell you a bedtime story for a change.  It had excitement (a big blast in outer space), interesting characters (Mickey Mouse, a giant, and an anonymous bald guy), a scary moment (falling in the big hole), a surprising rescue (by a mouse), adorable dialogue (fee fie foam), and a happy ending (happily ever after, in fact).  What more could I ask for?

Someone Like Me

A representative from one of our largest suppliers was in last week for a regularly scheduled quarterly meeting.  We've met several times before but never engaged in much personal chit-chat.  This time, after the meeting, she stopped by my office to pick up some defective samples and it resulted in an hour long discussion.  And what a great conversation it was.

She noticed Punky's pictures and started asking the usual stuff... her name, age, if I want any more kids, and so on.  She had her first child at thirty-eight, and second just shy of forty-one after starting the IVF process.  They were waiting for the start of her next cycle to begin the injections but, to their utter surprise, that cycle never came because she was already pregnant.  Her kids are now four and seven. 

We had a great discussion about the challenges and benefits of tackling motherhood for the first time with the advanced maternal age label.  The doctors' term, not mine.  We also talked about the demands of being a full-time working mom and the delicate dance we do every day to balance it with home life.  Once we started talking, it felt like I had known her for years.

As she spoke, I heard my exact thoughts and perspectives as if she were reading my mind.  It was so nice to have someone... understand.  Someone who walked this path ahead of me.  Someone who has been in my shoes.  Someone who knows.

She knows how scary it is to try to plan for college tuition that will be due right as retirement is supposed to start.  She knows what it's like to need to work full time while longing to stay home with her kids.  She knows what it's like to be ten to fifteen years older than most of the other parents at school functions.  She knows how hard it is to resist the urge to slap someone who innocently assumes your beautiful baby is your grandchild.  

She also knows what it's like to really want to be a mom and have it slip through her fingers for years.  She knows what it's like to parent with the wisdom and patience that only age can bring.  She knows not to take a second of it for granted.  She has the confidence in herself to manage her many roles in life, and she knows it's okay to make some mistakes along the way.  

I don't regret how my life has played out; I'm glad I had Punky when I did.  There are challenging moments, of course, but I wouldn't change a thing.  And it was just so nice to have an honest conversation with, well, someone like me.

The Trip - Part IV

Thursday we were off and running to Hollywood Studios.  Well, not really running as my foot was no better than the day before, but we were back together as a group and arrived at the park in time for the opening.  

We took a different approach this day.  The kids had to wait while we tackled some adult rides before the lines got too long.  The Tower of Terror was first on our list, and it was just as fun as I remembered it.  Punky's dad didn't seem to think so.  He's not much of a rider and was dreading the experience.  It lived up to his expectations; he hated it.  His son and I enjoyed putting him through it though, as evil as it sounds. 

We rode the Great Movie Ride, one of my favorites in the park.  Punky really liked it, too.  From there we headed to the Indiana Jones Stunt Show.  It was a must for my nephew who had watched the movie over and over for months before our trip.  Of course, we just missed the start of it so we had to wait for the next show.  In the meantime, we went to see if we could get our lunch reservation bumped up a bit and thankfully it worked out fine. 

It was another character meal, of course.  This one had Handy Manny, Special Agent Oso, and Leo and June from the Little Einsteins.  Punky had no clue who any of them were, but that didn't stop her from greeting them excitedly with hugs for all.  Lunch took a long time, as expected by this point, and then we headed back to the stunt show.  I think Punky was a bit bored, but the rest of us enjoyed it. 

Punky's chicken pose

After that, we did the Muppet-Vision 3D movie and the Back Lot Tour.  The guys really wanted to see a car stunt show but we were too late.  They only have two shows a day and we missed it by about a half hour.  Just as we went into the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground, it started to rain.  Finally.  We hoped for a shower just long enough to cut the humidity and provide some heat relief.  No such luck.  

We took shelter in a covered spot and waited for well over an hour.  The thunder seemed to pass but the rain wasn't letting up much.  It was early evening by this point so we decided to call it a day and headed for the exit.  We were a bit soggy when we made it to the bus.

I awoke Friday morning a bit relieved it was our last day.  And a bit sad it was our last day.  Despite the heat, exhaustion, and disgruntled adults, I know Punky was having a great time and I hated to see it end.  We had already decided to go our separate ways on Friday.  Once again, my mom chose to go with my sister and they headed back to the Magic Kingdom for the day.  We were set on going back to Epcot since we saw less of that park than any other.  

In the early afternoon, Punky's dad and his son left us at Epcot to return to Hollywood Studios for the car stunt show they missed the day before.  That left me with a two-year-old, a stroller, a backpack, and no help whatsoever.  And I have to say, it was my favorite three hours of the entire vacation.  

Punky and I rode all of her favorites over and over again.  We found Nemo three times, we saw Figment four times, and we played in the dancing fountains.  We chatted, and laughed, and smiled, and danced.  It was so nice to not feel like we were on a time schedule.  We just enjoyed ourselves and had so much fun together.  

Chip 'n Dale

When the sky suddenly got dark, we headed toward the Universe of Energy.  I knew it was about a forty-minute attraction so I thought we would dodge the rain entirely.  Plus Punky loved the dinosaurs and I knew she'd be happy to see them again.  On the way there, she stopped dead in her tracks and smiled from ear to ear.  There they were, the last of the guys she had hoped to meet...Chip and Dale!

As soon as we got in line, the attendants stopped it right behind us.  A storm was clearly looming and I guess they wanted to get the chipmunks out of there before it poured.  You have no idea how relieved I was that we made it just in time.  It would've killed her to see them and not get to hug them.  It was the icing on the cake of our alone time.  

We finished the dinosaur ride just as Punky's dad and brother got back to the park.  It turned out the car stunt show was cancelled anyway due to the threatening weather, so they made that long journey for nothing.  With only a slight drizzle here and there, we were determined to tackle the World Showcase.  We started in Norway and grabbed a quick bite to eat.  

Before we could finish our dinner, the skies opened up and unleashed a horrendous downpour.  And there was no sign it would stop any time soon.  Dammit.  After killing a few hours in Norway and watching the endless rain, we knew the writing was on the wall.  It was time to pack it in and head back to the hotel.  The World Showcase would have to wait for our next trip, whenever that may be.

After buying some over-priced ponchos and an umbrella, we made the long walk back to the bus.  I don't know why we even spent the money; we were soaked from head to toe by the time we boarded.  Punky had fallen asleep in the stroller and she continued to snooze on my shoulder the entire ride back.  I think all the vacationing finally caught up with her.  

It was a dull last night at the hotel.  We couldn't swim due to the weather so we basically bounced back and forth between our room and my sister's.  The kids played and we started packing what we could.  Come morning, I finished most of the packing while Punky's dad took her for one final swim in the hotel pool.  She was dying to get in it one more time.  I think it was her favorite part of vacation, next to meeting all her guys, that is.  

After a good breakfast and a final trip to the gift shop for souvenirs, we said goodbye to my family and got on the road shortly after noon.  Their shuttle to the airport was arriving within the hour.  In that moment, I wished we were heading to the the airport as well.  We had a plan for the drive down, and it went off without a hitch.  We had no plan for the drive home and I anticipated the worst.  

I have to say of all the decisions I made in preparation for the trip, the best one was to fill my iPod with cartoons for Punky.  It totally saved us on the drive home.  She was really content in the truck with snacks and her favorite TV shows to watch.  Aside from the expected stop for gas, we drove until almost eight before we finally stopped for dinner in South Carolina.  I thought we would be tired and looking for a hotel by then, but we all felt fine and decided to drive a few more hours before stopping to sleep.  

As it turned out, we finally made the decision to stop around two in the morning.  We found a Howard Johnson's in Virginia and got a room.  Then I had a total hissy fit, we got our money back, and got back on the road.  The room was filthy.  I mean totally disgusting, right down to the dirty underwear behind the bathroom door.  They offered us another room, which less the underwear was no cleaner whatsoever, and there was no way I was sleeping anywhere near that place.  We thought about finding another hotel but then said screw it.  At seven in the morning we were eating breakfast in a McDonald's in Harrisburg.  Only two and a half more hours separated us from home sweet home.

And they were the longest two and a half hours of the entire vacation.  Brutal.  It was an absolute struggle to keep our eyes open to safely make it home.  I'm happy to say we pulled in the driveway at ten.  Punky was asleep but woke up when her dad turned off the engine.  I thought she'd be happy to be home after the twenty-two hour journey.  Nope.  Once she realized where we were, she yelled, "No! I want to go to the hotel and swim in the pool!"  

So, in conclusion, although I'm not happy with every single thing about our vacation, I'm so glad we went.  Punky really had the time of her life and even if she doesn't remember it years down the road it was still well worth it.  Her dad wants to go again next year.  My initial response was, "No way in hell."  

Maybe it will be open for discussion after my foot heals.  Or when I get all the unpacking and laundry done.  I figure both will take a couple of weeks, at least.  I think waiting two years would be our best bet, and certainly more likely financially.  If Punky had her way, we'd go back tomorrow.

The end.

The Trip - Part III

Tuesday morning I woke with a limp.  I wasn't surprised, really.  Something happened to my left foot on the bus to the park Monday morning and it got worse as the day progressed.  I was holding Punky and desperately trying to keep my balance while standing and grasping one skinny rail with a death grip.  The bus took a corner and something in my foot just popped, or tore, or twisted, or something.  All I really know is that it hurt.  Badly.

Daisy Duck!

I sucked it up, put my game face on, and hopped around the room getting ready.  We were headed to Epcot that day, my favorite park of all.  Aside from my limp, the morning played out much like the day before and we made it to the park early.  Just inside the gate, Punky's face lit up when she caught a glimpse of Daisy Duck signing autographs.  We waited in line and Punky greeted her with the same excitement as Goofy.  Stitch happened to be right there as well, and even though she had no clue who he was, Punky hugged him like a long, lost friend.  But there was still no sign of the mouse.

Of course, we hit the ball first.  No trip to Epcot is complete without starting the day on that ride and then doing it again last on the way out of the park.  She was able to ride most of the rides in Epcot and by this point she was an old pro.  No hesitation whatsoever.  She really liked the dinosaurs in the Universe of Energy, she had a blast finding Nemo in the Living Seas, and she simply adored Figment in Journey into Imagination.

The heat bordered on unbearable for the second day in a row.  We prayed for the daily rain shower that usually hits Florida, but it never came.  We found out later in the week that Mother Nature was saving it all up for one torrential downpour.  Anyway, we had reservations for a late lunch at a steak house in Canada.  It was by far the biggest and most expensive meal we had all week, and we were in the restaurant for over two hours.

We purchased the Disney meal plan with our stay, so all of our major meals were prepaid.  The plan entitled us to one sit-down meal, one counter service meal, and one snack per day.  We made reservations months in advance for the daily sit-down meals because it was a great opportunity for the kids to meet the characters.  The meal at the steak house was the one adult meal we planned.  The food was good but wouldn't have been worth the hefty price if it weren't included in the meal plan.  The problem I had with all of the sit-down meals all week was that they took way too long.

In the case of the character meals, we usually finished eating but had to sit and wait for the characters to finally make it to our table.  Not only that, but going back outside in the extreme heat after eating a three course meal made me feel like crap.  And we wasted close to two hours at each one, which really cut into our day at the park.  Plus, we had to plan our day around the reservation so we wouldn't miss it.  Next time we go, Punky will be older and we will skip the meal plan.  We'll grab something quick to eat when we're hungry instead of the heavy, time-wasting, expensive meals.

Mickey's nose squeeze!

Anyway, once we finally made it out of the steak house, we headed back to tackle some rides we missed earlier.  On our journey, we hit the jackpot.  Punky spotted him through a window.  There he was, the mouse himself!  Finally!  We got in line and waited.  It took close to an hour but was worth it in the end.  Not only did we find Mickey, but Minnie, Donald, and Pluto were there, too!  All in the same spot!  So, standing inside in the air conditioning for an hour to meet four characters at the same time was so much better than standing outside in the heat and waiting a half hour each to meet them scattered across the park.  Punky squeezed the heck out of all of them.  She was so excited!  Now we had autographs from all the major players.  The only was remaining on her list were Chip and Dale, and they continued to elude us for days.

Before we knew it the day was over and we missed seeing so much in the park.  The only country we visited in the World Showcase was Mexico; we had no time to do more.  We missed out on riding most of the adult rides we were looking forward to and planned to return to Epcot on Friday to give it another go.

Safari Breakfast

Wednesday morning we headed to Animal Kingdom for a safari breakfast with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy.  If we realized in advance that they would all be there, we might have skipped the hour-long wait to meet them the day before in Epcot.  Ah, live and learn.  Anyway, the food was good and the kids got to dance and play instruments with the characters.  After breakfast, it all went to hell. 

Of course, day three brought no relief from the heat.  The adults were tired, cranky, and sick of dealing with the lines and crowds.  I was still limping and my foot was getting worse, not better.  We managed to take the safari ride as a group, but right afterward the pot reached its boiling point and we ended up going our separate ways.  My mom went with my sister and her family, and they left the park within the hour.  The four of us actually went on to have a nice afternoon, despite the heat and my limp.  

Drums!

Punky's dad found a shaded spot with dinosaur statues to climb where they could play while his son and I rode a scary dinosaur ride that was not for small children.  We had a quick lunch and took Punky on one of those spinning kid rides.  She fell asleep on my shoulder while we waited in line for the 3D Bug's Life show.  She woke up about half way through it.  By around four, we had enough of the heat and called it a day ourselves.  

They spent the evening in the hotel pool while I tackled a load of laundry.  What a pain in the ass that was.  Umpteen buildings with thousands of guests and one small laundry room with ten washers and dryers.  I waited almost an hour for a washer.  The dryer stopped right when they were done swimming.  We grabbed some dinner and went to sleep early.  As bad as it sounds, I was sort of glad there were only two days left.

To be continued...