Ninja Mommy

We had a big family reunion this weekend at my grandfather's lake house. Loads of people all over, playing games, fishing, swimming, etc. John decides he is going to take JJ fishing down at the dock and swimming. We had gotten him a lifejacket before the trip but had not had a chance to try it on him yet. SO, after 20 minutes or so, I head down to the dock to take pictures of everyone. I find John helping JJ get out of the lake. He tells me that JJ freaked out in the water and that the lifejacket is too big on him (will not keep his face out of the water) and would I please watch him so John can go swimming.

I'm thinking, "no problem".

SO, JJ and I are sitting on the dock with 5 or 6 other folks and he's "fishing" (no hook, no bait - that's a daddy thing to deal with ;) ). It's a floating boat dock, so there's a railing on one side (to the open lake) and no rail on the other side (to the boat slip). JJ turns around and starts "fishing" in the empty boat slip. I am sitting right next to him. The next thing I know he's falling forward into the boat slip (he apparently saw a fish and was leaning forward to get a better look). I grab with my left hand and MISS. I grab his FOOT with my right hand (because at this point he is well and truly falling) and bodily haul him back up and into my lap. He got half his face wet, and scraped his leg on the way out, but was otherwise fine. I am checking him all over making sure he hasn't inhaled any water. He's ok (thank heavens!) In fact, he's so ok, he goes right back to doing what got him in trouble in the first place! (AHHHH!)

Next thing I know, half my family is over next to us exclaiming about my ninja-like reflexes. Apparently I moved faster than anyone had ever seen! One of my aunts said it looked like I teleported him out of the water. Personally, it all seemed like slow motion to me - I was absolutely terrified he would go in and inhale a bunch of water in his panic. I had visions of my beautiful baby boy drowned. It was horrible. The next day, my whole right side hurt like the devil, from my shoulder to my lower back. I had really wrenched something.

So, those stories they tell you about mom's lifting buses and stuff like that. I totally believe it now. And watch those little ones near the water this summer. I'm still not over the scare.

A substantial breakfast

JJ asked to have a cookie for breakfast. I said "No. you need something more substantial than that." He thought a minute and said "Ok mommy. 2 cookies."

What big lungs you have...

One of the little girls at daycare was looking at Zoe in her sundress. Pointing to the rolls of baby fat on her chest she says "Zoe has big lungs, just like her mommy!"
Now, I wonder how she knew I have big lungs....LOL!

Breakfast options

JJ when asked if he wants a cereal bar or yogurt for breakfast "No thanks, just ice cream.

Working Mom

Being a working mom has always been challenging - balancing the needs of your children and husband with a career, while simultaneously trying to live up to the June Cleaver model of house keeping and social interaction that our current culture holds out to us as ideal.

Now throw globalization into the mix. I've regularly got meetings that start in the 7am time frame so I can work with people around the world - but childcare doesn't open until 8am.

Angry bird

"Mommy, what birdie doing?"
"The bird is flying, sweetie."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why flying?"
"Do you mean how is the bird able to fly or why does the bird like to fly?"

"Why *like* flying?"

"Well, do you like to run?"

"Yes!"

"Why do you like to run?"
"I not know."

"Well, birds are made to fly like you are made to run. And because they are made for flying, they are very good at it, and it is a joyous thing for them to do. By joyous, I mean makes them happy."

"Birdie happy flying?"

"Yes!"

"Birdie not happy, birdie angry."
"What?!"

"Birdie *angry* mommy."
"Um, ok...why is the bird angry?"
"I not know."

"OK, how do you know the bird is angry."
"Bit me. In the car."
"What?!"

"Birdie bit me in truck. Flew on car and bit me."

"Um, was this a dream."
"Uh huh."

"Ok, so let me get this straight, you had a dream in which an angry bird flew onto the truck and bit you. Is that right?"

"Uh huh."

"Well, I think the bird is probably happy now. It was just a dream."

"No! Birdie very angry."
"Um, ok. What can we do to help the birdie be happy?"

"Snack."
"We should give the bird a snack?"
"Yes!"

"What kind of snack would make the bird happy?"

"Goldfish! Snack make birdie happy!"

Fortunately for the "birdie", fruit and cereal at daycare was an adequate substitute for the goldfish. And here I thought he was a little young for the whole metaphor thing...

Rolling onto her tummy

Well Zoe sorted out how to roll on to her tummy in the wee hours of Wednesday morning and since then diaper changes have turned into roller derby wrestling! She's so pleased with her new trick she does it all the time - in her swing in her chair on th changing table in her bassinet...too cute!