On One Hand

You'll have to forgive me for a moment while I turn in to one of those bloggers who talks about her kid. I'm finding myself more and more moving away from writing about her. Part of it is that I've become more confident as a parent (delusional as it may be) and no longer feel the need to poll the Internet for advice. Part of it is that she is getting old enough now that I feel a need to respect her privacy more.

However, maybe this isn't about her so much, but more about me, and how she effects me. One of these days, maybe not so very far off in the future, she's going to be able to completely out smart me. She's already well on her way.

I've always been very proud of my ability to learn things quickly. I have a great memory for the randomness of things, as well as a knack for being able to make connections that others can't see. Perhaps it is the creative part of my brain working, maybe I'm just weird. Likely it is a bit of both. It annoys some people, but I've learned to shut up most of the time. When I was a kid, I almost always had an answer, I rarely could tell you how I got the answer, but I was right, a lot.

M seems to have taken after me a bit. She's picking up things up, sometimes it would seem out of nowhere. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, as she puts on her mittens (yay for being able to do it herself, thank you daycare) she will say "left one" and "right one". I'm usually in another room, making sure that I haven't forgotten anything (not that it works), so I haven't been paying that close of attention. However, I caught her doing it. Convinced that it must be a fluke, I've asked her which hand was which, repeatedly. She always gets it right correct.

Puzzled by this, I asked daycare if they have been teaching it, and besides playing the Hokey Pokey, it isn't even on their radar for things to teach. I'm pretty sure it comes some where after the alphabet and tying their shoes.

She asks me about random things I've said, days after I may have mentioned something in passing. She has started picking up songs after hearing them once, at best. She can manipulate a situation and has started to use the quivering bottom lip. She has age and cuteness in her favor. I may have burned a few too many brain cells while in college (at least I waited until I was 18 to waste them).

I am so screwed.

Changes abound

When I agreed to start working for Savvy Source, I really had no idea what I was getting in to. It was a lot more than I ever imagined. It is stressful, it has hurt some relationships, and it has complicated many things. I do love doing it though.

One of the things I knew I needed to do when I created this blog to go along with my new more public persona, was try and make it worth it for me. You'll notice that little thing over on the left, and a few text ads. They're mostly just an incentive to spell check. Well, and stress relief seeing what the text ads sometimes show, so very funny.

As part of those changes, I've also started a review blog to go along with this one. I call it A Sprout Reviews. Clever, no? Right now it is just a shameless plug for my favorite kids shoes in the hopes that someone would give me some free ones. However, watch that space, because soon there will be an actual real honest someone actually asked me my opinion review.

Yeah, I know, who would have ever thought I would be opinionated.

Please forgive that it isn't pretty right now, I'm working diligently on that. Just waiting on the perfect photo.

I named the baby doll Hazel

For me, toys are one of those things that evoke a serious emotional response. They were a sore spot of my growing up, and in hindsight one of my greatest joys. My parents were different than every other parent I knew as a kid. There was no searching, no waiting in line for the best new toy. Toys had to be educational and encourage creativity. I thought it was because my parents were boring. It was more likely that as self employed part time organic vegetable farmers, they were picky with a limited budget, and wanted to make sure I got the most out of their disposable income. They were also not into stereotypes, or giving in to the marketing drama.

I wanted a Barbie, I was given a baby doll from the collection of a woman who could never have children. One of her favorite baby dolls that she gave away in later life, long after her dream of having her own family had passed. I treasured that doll, sewed clothes for it, and never once gave it a purple mohawk.

I wanted a Cabbage Patch Kid, and got a hand made knock off made by someone in our community. She was perfect, she even looked like me (a choice of doll wasn't an option at the time, when you were lucky to get one, let alone have choice in appearance), and I named her Mary Lou, after Mary Lou Retton. It was 1984, the year she got the perfect ten.

I don't know if I had gotten what I thought I wanted most if I would have appreciated them as much as what I did get, or gotten too much out of them. At 30, I still have an active imagination, and that creative thinking helps me with the problem solving I need to be successful in my career. (who says art majors can't work in IT, and not as a designer either)

With M we are challenged to balance the flexibility we have because of our careers, with helping make sure she appreciates what she has. Add to that the issues with lead paint, the constant barrage of electronics, and it seems there are far more challenges than my parents had to deal with. Fortunately, so far we think we have found some balance. At her first birthday she didn't receive anything that required batteries, and as much as I want her to have everything I didn't, I am learning to be reserved. I do my research, I try to support independent businesses and ones that are more careful about the products they release. As she gets older, we are also going to make sure she knows how fortunate she is by encouraging her to be generous with those who aren't as lucky.

This post is a part of a Parent Blogger Network blog blast, sponsored by Hasbro. They're giving away a huge toy prize package, see the details about how to enter yourself at the PBN blog. Small extra plug since it is for a good cause, if you shop at Hasbro right now in addition to free shipping, they are donating a toy for every toy purchased, up to $400,000. You know, and they make my favorite preschool game from my own childhood. (we already own it for when M is old enough) Chutes & Ladders!

Dude, isn't this a mommy blog?

Oh... right... yeah... that.

Ok, so enough wallowing in my own fat ass, time to move on to some totally mommy bloggy things.

M is walking! (oh yeah, time for the happy dance. cha-cha-cha-cha-CHA!) Last Sunday, I was laying on her floor, letting myself have toys dropped on me, and just enjoying a lazy morning (at the late hour of 7 AM) when she walks past me. Not crawls, not cruises, walks! Later that day, her dad leaves the kitchen to go do something, and she just followed him, down the hall, in to the office. (I had to scream for him to turn around)

Since then, there have been a few tired crawls, and getting used to being in shoes (have to have them for toddler room at new daycare, better get used to them now), but she's walking. No matter what, no matter how many times she falls down, she gets back up and walks. We actually could have made the start date at new daycare next Monday, but I'm glad I bought us the two extra weeks to work on open cup drinking (at 15 months, yeah, I know).

To celebrate, and since its been so damn hot, I've been dressing her like a girl, in skirts and stuff. Grandma would be so proud of me.

This weekend we're going to the Dragon Festival in St. Paul. It will be our first test of her walking out in, you know, public. I dare say it, but I may need to investigate leashes. She is not good at following directions yet.

PS, yeah, not a good day for the good eating. A had an appointment and needed to leave during the dinner hour, which left me to snack while I fed M. NOT GOOD. At all.