Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

From Monday Mom – Neetlika:
Haley is very attached to her mother. That’s normal, right? She’s breastfed, and I’m with her all day, every day. We have a great bond, and I love that. However, the situation can be tiresome at times.

At Haley’s recent doctor’s appointment for check-up and more vaccinations, I told the pediatrician that Haley can sit, she just doesn’t like to sit. Whenever she’s seated, she put hers arms out for you to pick her up. Or, she grabs your hands and pulls herself into a standing position. Then she wants to walk with your assistance. “Let’s go,” she seems always to be saying. If Haley wanted to be with me in such a way that allowed me to get some rest, like cuddling, that would be a different thing. She wants to move around, a lot, in a frantically fidgety fashion, and be touching me at the same time!

Soon, Haley will be crawling, and thereafter, walking on her own. Then I’m sure she’ll truly be “off.” It’s hard to appreciate every stage of babyhood when you’re in it, tired and just wanting a few minutes to yourself. But I remember to savor it every now and again. When I’m walking Haley over to the dog, her squealing in delight and me trying not to let her pull his fur out, I try to ignore my sore back and appreciate the sweet moment. If she weren’t so incredibly adorable, funny, and generally lovely, it would be nearly impossible.

From Friday Mom – Jaime:
It’s no surprise to anyone who has met me for more than 30 seconds that I’m a baseball fan. A big one. And I think I have done a good job of instilling that love of the Yankees and baseball in Andrew.

I’ve loved playing ball with him. Teaching him to throw and bat. Watching as he gets those skills quicker and better than any three year old logically should. He knows the Yankees. The players. Their numbers. Their positions. He fancies himself a Derek Jeter or Babe Ruth. 🙂

But tonight I’m a little heartbroken…

You see, we took Andrew to a hockey game last night. It was his second time to the Prudential Center to see the Devils play. He loved it. The fast pace. The lights. The noises (until they got super loud). The players.

He loved it so much that he decided he wanted to BE a hockey player.

*sigh*

There’s still time for him to change his mind, right?

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Jack has been asking to get a pet for quite awhile.  He wants to be in charge of something – like I’m in charge of him.  I told him pets are fun, but also a lot of responsibility.  After months of begging I decided we would use a “pet” as a reward.  The challenge: No potty accidents during the night for an extended period of time.   Jack clearly knew what he had to do to win the reward.  He was successful and earned the right (and responsibility) to own a pet.

So, recently we welcomed a new addition to our family:  Mack, the goldfish.  He is black and has very large eyes.  Jack looked long and hard at the aquarium Mack lived in at the store and felt he was the perfect choice.  Mack’s name was chosen because it rhymed with both his color and Jack’s name. The associate at the store gave us guidelines on how to prepare for owning a goldfish.  The right size tank, the right temperature of water, the right food, etc.

We’ve only had Mack for a short time, and so far Jack is doing a wonderful job keeping him happy.  He remembers to feed him a couple times a day and asks me to help him change his water.  Jack makes sure he is getting enough attention and will tell him Star Wars stories.

I think it’s great Jack has a new companion.  My husband and I wanted to start out with something basic, and maybe someday we’ll own another pet.  For now, Mack makes all of us happy without making a sound.  Cross your fingers Mack lives a long life or we may have a sad owner.