Scared of Santa Gallery

I'm really tired today. But, I found this (click on the title, which is a link) and had such a good giggle. We didn't take Kenzie to a Santa last year. And, I don't know if we'll get to this year -- being that my husband doesn't live with me any more and all...

But, I DO wonder how she might react. She points out everything "Shanta" these days and exclaims. "Ho, ho, ho!!!" But, sitting on the fat guys lap -- That could be really scary stuff.

All tricked out for Christmas..

Here's our house all glammed up for the holiday - albeit without the usual enthusiasm! Typically no room goes untouched without a decoration - but this year, I've contained it to these few areas. That's probably a good thing for the toddler.
Can you say OVERSTIMULATION???

(Ok, so the (fake) tree is too small for the space - but we decided that we shouldn't buy a proper one, as this house might be sold soon. **Hence, the real estate flyers on the table).

Counting the days...for Xmas and togetherness

Much to our dismay, our visit with Doug went way too quickly. Perhaps that's because I'd apparently overlooked the part that he was to leave on SATURDAY, rather than on Sunday as I had erroneously assumed. That realization hit me as I was checking his arrival time before we made our trip to the airport. SUCK, suck, SUCK.

His plane actually arrived 30 minutes early, although we didn't get the message that it had --until we were heading to the airport in time to be there at 4:05. We actually wasted some time at the beach before going to get Doug, which was silly, given that he was sitting at the airport waiting for us.

We then went to the park, and proceeded to our Turkey Day Reservation at the Prado. My meal was fabulous...His was less so...and Kenzie got tired of sitting after the 2nd course -- but a strawberry sundae saved the night. We spent the weekend doing fun things, and watching Doug busy himself with cramming two weeks worth of household tasks into a single weekend. He was a whirlwind and got a lot done. I think he may have enjoyed himself too??!!

Saturday came, and I miserably began decorating the house for Christmas - knowing that he'd be leaving soon. Can't say my heart was in it this year -- But, I must say, a festive home does seem warmer and cheerier when you're lonely for your husband.
And, it fills a lot of empty moments:
"No, Kenzie don't touch with your hands. Just look with your eyes..."
Kenzie removes her hand from said ornament and points at her eyes.
(instant replay this 3,465 times over the course of one day)
DUH. What do you expect from a 19mo. old?? No, really...I'm impressed, as she's pretty redirectable. But, give her a few minutes alone -- and I think she'd climb that tree just as quickly as our kitties do.

My favorite Christmas decoration of all times is a Snowman that My Mom and brother Chance made for me quite a few years ago. He has been sacrificed on the table of reachable decorations which I consider safe for Kenzie to engage with. My buddy the snowman - might not be seeing too many more Christmases -- as Kenzie finds dragging him around by his little carrot nose simply irresistable...





So, now we begin counting down the days until Christmas -AND- Daddy's next visit, in another two weeks.

Thanksgiving...

Today, we are anxiously awaiting 4:05 p.m. and Daddy's arrival on a jetplane. It will be interesting to see Kenzie's reaction to seeing him after a two week absence. Daddy is prepared emotionally for her to be a little shy, but we hope she'll be rather excited. She's drawn him a picture to give him at the airport, and she told him "I misssss you" on the phone moments ago. Of course, she has no idea what that means - but she's a good little parrot.



Today, I'm thankful for:
My child
My Doug
Health
our family and friends
goals and ideas, & their realizations
stolen moments
dishwashers
sunny days outside
Hope
& airplanes...

I asked Kenzie what she was thankful for today. Without hesitation, she says: "puppas" (puppy's).

Things I could do without:
Kenzie's newfound passion for tossing everything off the top of the staircase, listening for the crash below... & the miles seperating our family right now... But even these things should be celebrated -- for they are only possible because we have one another.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Singing in the shower...

Kenzie immediately starts pulling at her clothes any time she's in the near vicinity of the shower. Sometimes when we're downstairs - the idea of a shower will suddenly come to her and she'll exclaim "Showa!!" and run toward the upstairs. She used to take baths in our big tub, but since Doug has been gone - she's been joining me for a morning bathe.

Now, we have a shower junky...and a total water HOG...who enjoys singing Old McDonald in the glass encased shower and playing a game of basketball with her bath balls and a large cup.

Finding beauty in a yucky day..

A client died today. Those facts make you look at the tedious bits of your own world with a whole new appreciation.
Hopefully I can remember that longer than just at this minute...


Flowers from my thoughtful hubby, which are still alive....


And seeing the beauty in flushed pink cheeks fresh from sleep...

Why you shouldn't torture toddlers with address labels...

Paybacks are hell. Enough said.

Memorabilia...

This little girl of mine is quite insistent on drawing together, on random scraps of paper...on the driveway with chalk, on the chalkboard in my office.. etc. She used to be fairly singular in her subjects - demanding "puppa's" (Puppy) repeatedly. Now, her little mind is becoming more sophisticated - as are her demands. The Puppa is still the first request - but I used to have to draw one puppy..then another...then another... ad naseum.

Here is our drawing from yesterday - and as demonstrated, she asked me to draw several animals. I oblige any request she makes with a simple drawing to match her attention span. You'll note that she spontaneously scribbles her own little drawing simultaneously.

As any parent, I'm astounded by how "fast" she is growing and maturing and I certainly do not wish to speed that up. But, I am so excited for the day that I can turn her line drawings into memorabilia... to embellish a t-shirt, bag, pillow, a tattoo (HA!), or other object with an embroidered image which mimics her original creation. The memories that we can preserve in such a fun way...I can only imagine the pride she'll feel from seeing her images celebrated in this manner. And, the gifts...Oh, grandparents --get ready for the gifts that can be created from these works of art!!!

Currently, we are drawing: Puppa's, Butta's (Butterfly's), Nemo's (fish), Giraffe's, Kitty's, sna's (snails), Dinosaurs, Rainbows, Cock-a-doo's (birds), Pigs, Cows, horses, Bunnies, Crabs, Stars, Hearts, Balloons, flowers, trees, cars...and it's fun to see what she'll come up with next. Her little memory and archive of images seems to be growing daily - and she's genuinely pleased when she adds another possibility to our fold.

The Daddy Daily...Soccer!

This morning while our neighbor mowed the front yard...we exhausted a little energy playing soccer. Mama's got a board meeting today, and as result - the little one had to go down for an early nap so that she could leave with Nanny Mary while I worked. The strategy worked...as she's zzzzz'ing away right now!

The Daddy Daily..#5

The Little Beauty Queen reapplying her lipstick.



And we sorted all of Mama's buttons. Mama's a little neurotic in her organization, and the buttons are in separate containers for similar colors. Mama's happy, and Kenzie enjoyed flinging them about the room...

The Daddy Daily..#4

As already explained (to daddy), Kenzie let me sleep in this morning. I was awakened by the alarm, and got to take a shower all by myself before she got up. She then paid me back in full by only taking a 45 minute nap. That's never good when Mama works full-time from home!

I spent the day standing by our keybox as Kenzie sorted the treasures in there...hung them on the keyrings...tried them on as jewelry ("Where on earth did she get the idea to give herself a nose-ring," Mama exclaims!)...bonked her head (& then yelled at the box for inflicting such pain)..and started the routine all over. A typical toddler attention span is usually about 15 minutes or less. After 40 minutes (of supervising her standing on a bench to reach the keybox), I started bribing her with trips to the mailbox, drawing puppies, snacks, and eventually won her over with the sandbox.

Kenzie's vocabulary is getting so big and she's got a lot to say. Today, she said: "Daddy two weeks" when we were looking at your picture at the top of the staircase. Of course, she has no sense of time - so I won't bother with teaching her that it's really 1.5 weeks NOW!! We love you..

The Daddy Daily...#3

Today was a good day, but it would have been better to have been spent with you...
We miss you!!

The Daddy Daily.. #2

A collage summarizing our day -- minus all the sleepy-tired-toddler yelling..refusal to eat anything other than Cockadoo's (what she calls Chicken nuggets)...and a rather pesky cat that kept me awake much of the night.

The Daddy Daily...#1

Hi Daddy! You're in Texas right now, this very second...but you will be in Kansas by this evening. Here's some fresh pics from our play yesterday to hold you over until you get to that webcam. Then, I trust you'll babysit Kenzie for awhile, while Mama takes a snooze? Looking forward to it...

We're glad you're safe, and we miss your hugs, humor and self!! Love, Mama & Kenzie

Looking Pensive...

And happy...

And inventorying her snails...

The Daddy Daily...

Kenzie's daddy has left us today, and we are heartbroken. And before you go jumping to conclusions -- No, he hasn't left me for someone younger...just a company who pays slightly better than I. Darn it, my house husband, has achieved gainful employment and now departs from cleaning my house and adoring our baby on a daily basis. He's hit the road this morning, driving to the Midwest to perform a consultant job...for three whole months!

He'll be back for Thanksgiving and sporadic visits, as the job affords him that flexibility. But, until then, I'll be filling my posts with "The Daddy daily.." That'll be daily accounts of our activities, and pictures.....

He won't reach the Midwest until tomorrow...late tomorrow, and then I shall begin "The Daddy daily"...

Doug we love and miss you terribly. Drive safely and tune in - in the days to come, aside from calling me every 3o minutes as we're sure you will. We love, love, love you!!!

..Optimism..

Anxiety has spread out across the surface of my life lately, like a glass of water tipped over. Liquid. Moving out of control, running where it wants... & quickly. So many things feel up in the air—suddenly.
In motion.
Transition.

I’m finding myself dreaming, sighing, and thinking out loud. Longing for more rest, more sleep, for long, uninterrupted times to unwind. But mostly, I’m wishing the unknown—for vision that will let me know the outcomes of all the things started now. I’m wishing for certainty.. and feeling only chaos. I DO know that once the spill is cleaned up, it will leave a sparkly fresh patch of surface behind. This WILL get cleaned up...but hurry up already.

And, most of all, I hope this struggle remains transparent for the wee one, little Kenzie doodle. She's becoming fascinated with shapes and calling Stars...starfish. Important life lessons for her need to lie with typical toddler learning -- and not this other big ugly anxious stuff.

Kenzie's song

My mother, Kenzie's Nana -- has written some wonderful whimsical songs for our girl. I keep making attempts to do the same. And, I don't get very far. Help me -- internet friends & family!!

Picture the Mickey Mouse theme song. Go, ahead, sing it out loud if you must. Now, insert the Kenzie girl's name -- where the Mickey name is spelled...
K-E-N-Z-I-E... G-R-A-C-E....
(Kenzie Grace!...Keeenzie Graaaace...Kenzie Grace!)

Now, what whimsy might you insert into that song about a spunky toddler...who's been described in exhausting detail throughout my previous posts?

I've got several lines built in my head, but don't want to taint anyone's creativity...and it's far from an entire song. Kenzie gets really excited about songs, and recognizes that this one is all about her. And, if you contribute a stanza, verse, line, or fantastic tidbit for the song -- I'll send you something handmade and pretty. And, of course - I'll post the final song for all to enjoy.

Come on... it could be fun! (for me & K, anyway!)

Easy Money

So, today I was reading Dooce.com - And she says, that money she earns from her blog FEEDS her family. A family which is pretty much comparable to mine (one mama, one toddler, and an unemployed daddy). The money she earns from the advertising on her blog SUSTAINS them. Pays their house note...and everything! No one has a day job in her family. Not even the dog. They can focus on being parents all day long! Abso-freaking-amazing!

I have made 34 cents with the ads on my site. 34 cents. NO ONE clicks on my ads... Ever. And, in all truth - half of my visitors are searching for Kenzie Clothing and accidentally find my blog. There's EVEN usually an advertisement for Kenzie brand clothes right on the left hand side. No clicks. No money for me and my blog-abilities.

Guess I need to talk about poop (or lack there of), curse (more) profanely, and throw all crafty crap right out the window, eh? Will that bring in some dollars?

P.S. and my 34 cents doesn't get paid out until the account reaches a minimum of $100. I may see that a few years from now.

Busy, busy, busy...

Forgive me for I do not have many words for today. We have returned from another whirlwind trip to the Midwest (and need I mention that the darling kiddo did NOT sleep on the flights...not even a pretend snore?) So, we are now home. And the time change is kicking our arses. So tired. & so much to do.

Here is the cute kid, playing with some cute animals, cutely rolling around in leaves, and doing other cute kid stuff. Voila. That sums up the trip!

(and yes, I'm too tired/lazy to fix the photo montage to be more attractive. It's just not in me.)