Posted by Kimberly on December 8th, 2006 — Posted in The Ladies, Diva Girl, Zen Baby, Kipple, iVillage
As part of our Snow Day fun, we’ve been using the snow on the balcony to make candy. Diva Girl is about to head out to get another batch, and in deference to the elements, she’s decided to put on some PJs first. The Shaolin Toddler wants to go too, but is unwilling to change from her natural state of au natural to something slightly more weather appropriate.
With nearly 8 years of parenting experience to my name, I have a black belt in Toddler Fu; so I know that if I insist on the jammies, The Toddler Formerly Known As Zen will commit to her nakedness with a conviction that would boggle the mind of the most rabid religious fundamentalist. I must be crafty to accomplish my goal; I have to make it seem like I don’t really care either way while convincing her that walking outside into the snow without a stitch on really isn’t the best idea. While I’m pondering my strategy, Diva Girl takes matters into her own hands.
“Regan, if you go outside like that, you’ll freeze your butt off!”
“Yeah. But then I will pick it up and put it back on again.”
It’s really, really hard to argue with logic like that. Mostly because I’m laughing so hard.
No Comments »
Posted by Kimberly on October 15th, 2006 — Posted in Zen Baby, Kipple, iVillage
“What’s your name?”
“REGAN!!!!”
“Regan what?”
“Regan Regan Bo Began!”
“What’s your sister’s name?”
“Brina Squiggies.”
No Comments »
Posted by Kimberly on October 4th, 2006 — Posted in The Ladies, Zen Baby, Kipple, iVillage
You know this game, where the toddler claims sole ownership of the parent, regardless of any other sibiling claims. And the the other kid chimes in with “no, my Mummy!” and so on and so on.
You’d think that given the fact that her sister, at 5 years her senior, has a far more sophisticated grasp on the english language, Regan would be at a bit of a disadvantage in this game. It certainly appeared that way with Sabrina’s brilliant reply of “She’s our Mummy, Regan.”
Regan’s reply, however, makes her the world champion of this event: “Yeah. She’s our my Mummy!”
No Comments »
Posted by Kimberly on September 26th, 2006 — Posted in Zen Baby, Kipple, Just Like Riding A Bicycle
This realization dawned on me this morning as I sat watching Zoboomafoo with Regan.
“Look Mama! They so Cute!”
“Yes, baby, they are.”
She’s completely absorbed in the ball squishing tigers. Me? I’m have a heated internal debate as to which is the cuter Kratt brother.
No Comments »
Posted by Kimberly on September 19th, 2006 — Posted in Zen Baby, Oncology Odyssey, iVillage
I knew there wouldn’t be any bad news today, but I was still careful in picking out my outfit for this morning’s ultrasound. I learned from the first time not to wear anything I really like to an ultrasound appointment; even though the sticky jelly I ended up covered in washed right out of the dress, every time I looked at it all I could think about were the words, “Twelve Centimetre Tumour.” Eighteen months later and I still haven’t worn that dress again.
Everything is different now. Regan is a healthy, happy, active toddler, not a critically ill, undiagnosed infant. Instead of distended belly and a gaunt face, she’s got chubby little cheeks and the same slender build as her sister. Today she was old enough to understand what was going on, and to be bribed with a sticker; the first time we did this dance, she was too little to be anything but terrified, and all the princess stickers world wouldn’t have been enough to convince her to lie still on the gurney. A year and a half ago, the techs were inscrutable, sticking firmly to their “you have to call your doctor” scripts; now, they give me a subtle thumbs up, reassuring me that there’s nothing to see here.
A week after her first birthday I was told that Regan had a 12 cm neuroblastoma in her abdomen. The day after that, we began what I was told would be a long odyssey through the world of oncology. Three weeks later, it was over.
We were lucky. Well, as lucky as you can be when your infant has a tumour 1/8 of her total body mass stretching her bowel to the breaking point. But, it wasn’t a neuroblastoma. It was benign. Incredibly rare, and still potentially life threatening, but benign. Which meant that after the surgery to take it out, we were free and clear. No chemo. No chemicals, No hard choices.
Our family was changed by those three weeks in March, but it wasn’t shattered. While some of the effects of that experience are still being explored–Diva Girl, for example, is just starting to be able to talk about how she was affected by that time–it’s not an every day part of our lives anymore. As a mother, it’s always in the back of my mind, but luckily it’s only at the forefront of my life every six months.–like today.
We can live with that.
No Comments »
Posted by Kimberly on September 8th, 2006 — Posted in Zen Baby, Kipple
Zen Baby and I are walking down the street, catching up on some errands while the Diva Girl continues her social networking at school. Suddenly, a bus pulls up beside us and lets loose a spray of exhaust.
“Mama, that bus farted!” Regan exclaims, loud enough for every other person on the sidewalk to hear.
“Say “‘Scuse me,” bus! Say “‘Scuse me!”
No Comments »
Posted by Kimberly on August 13th, 2006 — Posted in Zen Baby, Kipple, iVillage
It’s been coming for a while now, but I just didn’t want to face it. No matter that I knew it was unavoidable or that I’ve had months to brace myself for the coming storm, I’ve been happily living in the land of denial.
But no longer.
After today’s headspinning, pea soup spewing, exorcist worthy tantrum over, of all things, the return of her stinky diaper, I am forced to admit that the Zen Baby has become a Shaolin Toddler.
No Comments »
Posted by Kimberly on July 19th, 2006 — Posted in Zen Baby, Kipple, iVillage, Sanity and the Solo Mom
Nor is it a good idea to share Raspberry Iced Capp with your two year old, no matter how meltingly hot it is or how adorable she sounds saying “Pretty pwease!”
No Comments »
Posted by Kimberly on July 8th, 2006 — Posted in Zen Baby, Kipple, iVillage, Sanity and the Solo Mom
Regan quite often gets the last word in most of our conversations. Not because she’s argumentative; she is, after all the Zen Baby. The fact is, so many of the things that come out of her mouth either leave me speechless or howling with laughter. It’s hard to keep up your end of the conversation when you’re met with answers like these:
“Look, Mama!” Regan sticks out her tongue to show me the half-chewed pea sitting on its tip.
“Don’t do that, Baby. It’s not nice manners.”
“No it’s not. I sharin’ wif you.”
“Come on, Re!” I cajole, trying to get her to settle in for her pre-bedtime drug of choice. “Bear is on!” She ignores me, her attention firmly fixed on the Groovy Girl in her hands. I pull out the big guns: “You’re going to miss him sniffing you. If you miss him sniffing you, you won’t know what you smell like.”
“Yah, I do.” She replies, not bothering to look up from her accessories.
“Really? What do you smell like?”
“I smell like pee!”
Now, the proper response to this would be, “Ok! Let’s go change your diaper and get ready for bed.” But that’s hard to get out when you’ve just snorted lemonade out your nose and are trying to remember how to laugh and breathe at the same time.
No Comments »
Posted by Kimberly on July 2nd, 2006 — Posted in Zen Baby, Kipple, iVillage, Sanity and the Solo Mom
No matter how tempting, it is NOT a good idea to indulge in a Raspberry Ice Capp at midnight.
There was a time when that would’ve been no problem. But that time is long past. It was in the life before swimming lessons, playdates, and toddlers who instinctively know when not to nap.
No Comments »