The Zoey Chronicles: The yogurt incident

My baby is a picky eater, so when I find something she likes to eat, I am excited. Lately, she has been on a yogurt kick. She has also been experimenting with using utensils. This morning hubby decided to give me a break. When Princess Z woke up this morning and alighted from the bed, he changed her

diaper and took her to the living room for yogurt and football. She ate a little and decided to play. The yogurt was set on the side table and soon forgotten. A few hours later, hubby stepped out to run errands. I languished on the couch enjoying having a stress free day. I decided to reply to some of the new year's text messages. Around the corner comes baby Z holding a plastic tumbler and a yogurt container.

                 It reminded me of this image------------>

The spoon was still stuck in the yogurt. The yogurt was on her face, her eyebrows and all sound her mouth. She proudly extended the spoon to me, her generous attempt at sharing. I simply smiled and encouraged her to eat some more. Each time she offered, I pretended to eat all the while cringing and trying not to be grossed out. 

She was messy but happy. Kind of like life...messy but happy!

Written on 1/1/15

The Zoey Chronicles: Busy Bee

Busy Bee

I live with a little busy worker bee. She picks up and moves everything. She is vibrant and constantly moving, but not doing anything at all. The more independent she becomes, the more she moves stuff around, content to play by herself. Most of the time I don't mind. I am slowly learning to put those things that are essential out of her reach if I do not want to spend hours looking for them. There are times when it is inevitable. I have spent hours looking for her shoes ( I mean near tears) only to find them the next day in the cabinet under the sink. Keys, phones, cups...nothing is safe...nothing! She has a chest full of toys, but would rather play with pots, pans and flip flops. When she has something in her grasp that I don't want her to have, she can run away faster than Usain Bolt. She plays a mean game of hide-and-seek. By that I mean, she has learned to open and close doors as well as hiding in cabinets.

I learn something new each day.

Aldous Huxley once said,"experience teaches only the teachable", no truer words have ever been uttered! 

1/3/15

The Zoey Chronicles: In the Trenches

In life, we have to celebrate every victory. I wrote this entry after a particularly challenging day last month and wanted to share it with you...

It is 3:24 pm on New Year's Eve and I am just now sitting down to finish my morning cup of coffee. It is cold and bitter, but I don't care. I am still going to drink it and savor every last flavor I can glean from it. Mostly, I am just too lazy and too tired to go up four stairs to the kitchen to microwave it. Today, this week, this month, this year I have been in a battle. As I sit here in my one good chair wearing a t-shirt and grey sweat pants from yesterday, I survey my living room and can't help but grin. Whoever thought to call this space a living room knew exactly what my day has been like. This room has been lived in. Toys, puzzles, suitcases from last week, shoes, golf balls, mail from the last week, a random beer can and more toys litter my floor, tables and every space of the 300sq ft of my living room. I have piles/mountains of laundry that I have been scaling for the past two days. I can honestly say I see the end, but I am too scared to be optimistic about it lest the laundry fairy decides to dump another pile, so I claim my progress as a small victory.

For now, I am going to sit here in my good chair and smile. I have managed to do the impossible. I have put baby Z down for a nap. I had been trying to get her to nap since 1:00 pm. She was tired but kept fighting it. Finally, I had the ingenious idea to lay next to her in bed and side feed her until she became drowsy. Stealthily, I managed to swiftly switch the boob with a pacifier. Sensing the difference, she had clutched my shirt closer and draped a leg over me. I was trapped. I counted the minutes until I could escape her iron clutches. When her breathing got slow and even, I braced myself for the escape. Luckily I was taught the "stop,drop and roll" fire drill in elementary. As a mommy, I am the master of the Ninja roll. When the time came, I did a fast roll and flung myself off the bed to the hard floor. It hurt. I held my breath and tried to stay as still as I could. You could hear a pin drop. She made a slight move but continued to sleep. I slowly rose to my feet and stealthily shuffled out of the door.

 Now I am here, in my good chair, sipping on my liquid black gold. I might be sore, but I managed to escape, so yeah, I will sit here in the battle torn cluttered living room and enjoy my cold coffee. I deserve it, because my achy elbows and knees have earned it. Today was another day of battle in the mommy world. If things go well in 8 and a half hours, I would have seen a new year and hopefully a turn in events. Right now, I am re-charging and reveling in the moment and I would not change a thing.

* As I neared the end of this entry, I heard the monitor crackle and baby Z's faint cries... Time for this mother to jump back in the trenches, exactly where I belong! Till next time!

written on 12/31/2014

The Library

 When I was a child, my family used to take me to the library. The library was a quiet solemn structure. It was peaceful and tranquil. There was only one rule which we had to abide by, everybody had to whisper. We could not use outside voices. Nowadays, people refuse to follow the rules at the library. I just assumed that it was well known that people are supposed to be quiet and respectful of others at the library... Not so much these days. I have been coming to the library daily and each time I have had to ask people to keep it down...each. damn. day! I just want peace and quiet. Every time I ask people to keep it down, they act like I am a horrible person. 

Today was no different. I had a weird encounter with a lady at the library. She was in a private reading room. I was in a room adjacent to hers. She was on her cellphone for a long time, using her outside voice. I asked her to keep it down. She said she was not loud. Then, I politely told her she was, which is why I approached her. She retorted that she was not loud. So I informed her of the library's policy of no cell phones. She got angry and told me she was not loud. I informed her that I would report it if she refused to lower her voice. Then she told me that I would not report her. I replied that I would. She said I would not. I said I would. We went back and forth like that for awhile. At some point, I felt like I was in a twilight zone. It also occurred to me that I might be on Ashton Kutcher's Punk'd. When Ashton did not jump out from the shelves, I accepted my reality.

This random lady was really telling me that I would not report her to the librarian for talking on her cell phone. .. Sigh. I just can't deal with people sometimes. The price I pay for being a square peg trying to fit in a round hole of a world.

Written on 1/12/15

The Zoey Chronicles: Mine!

 Mine! 

Little girl is growing and thriving. She is eating more and filling out. She is also starting to voice her concerns. Lately she has become obsessed with Caillou. She wants to watch Caillou all the damn time! She wakes up the first words out of her mouth are Caillou. She mumbles Caillou in her sleep. She has also started to become possessive. She will usually screech "mine" and come running around the corner to take whatever possession of her that you have commandeered. The good thing about this is, she only demands things that belong to her or that she had possession of first. Smart girl!

At this time Caillou, Mama and mine are her mantras!

2/7/2015

Growing pains

Reflections

A few weeks ago, Baby Z and I left El Dorado and traveled to Houston. We have been here for more than a month and loving the change in our daily routine. Driving to Houston was another great undertaking, one that I had been dreading since my family called and asked me to come. This was my first time driving back to Houston since the accident. It went well. We made it safely. 

Z loves it here. She has all the relatives wrapped around her finger. She is thriving and flourishing with each passing day. She is learning to count and meeting new friends. I am getting a much needed break and time to study. I haven't spent much time with her since we got here. I have to remember that I came here with a purpose and I am determined to stay on course. I have been to the library everyday and even though I miss my little rug rat, I know that she is safe, secure and being properly cred for. Every evening I come home and she jumps in my arms eager to show me what she has learned. She gives me hugs and kisses simply for being her mama. We snuggle watching one of her shows, then we Skype with her dad. Every time we Skype, she grabs the Ipad and kisses her dad. She may not understand everything we talk about, but she is always happy to chime in with a coo or a squeal, which makes our evening chats very fun.  

Though my current situation is not ideal, I have it better than most people. I have to keep things in perspective. Right now it is raining on me and my house, but I know that sunny days are ahead. The good thing about being a Christian is knowing that when it rains, it rains the same. It rains on the just and unjust. I have to stand and let the torrents come. I can't pick and choose when to praise. The only thing I can hope for is a quietening of the mind and a peace in my heart. There has to be a time for tilling, turning the soil and pruning the vines in preparation for a season of planting. All the preparations, when done properly, yields a bountiful harvest. So, I stand. I endure. I persevere with God's help. Always remembering, not my will, but His Will.

1/7/15

The Zoey Chronicles: A day in the life

Stay-at-home moms do a lot. It is an exhausting but extremely rewarding job. Many people glamorize it and some even fantasize about becoming one someday. There are days that the stars align and I become supermom. On those days, I accomplish every task on my list. Then there are those days...the days that nothing seem to work out. The days that I end up with oatmeal stains on my shirt and cereal stuck to my hair. On those days, I can walk around with my clothes inside out all day and not notice until bedtime. Those are the days that I live for. Those are the days that remind me that it is an arduous and wonderful process raising a tiny human being. Those are the days when I get to really know my little Diva. Those are the days that stick out in my mind. To give you a little insight into the life of a stay-at-home mommy, I kept a  detailed account of a normal day. It was my first day back from being away from baby Z for three days. On that particular day, I felt like we were back to square one in figuring each other out after the separation. The following events took place on that day:

9:45 am the Diva/Princess wakes up in a great mood. She has learned to bravely get off the bed by scooting to the edge, turning sideways and lowering herself to the ground. This requires holding up her entire body weight by gripping the sheets or bedding. Should her fingers fail or her strength wane, she lands on her butt, but this is a risk she is willing to take every damn time. This morning, she followed in the shoes of Kerri Scruggs and executed a perfect landing. She is ready for a diaper change. I meet her at the door and walk the few steps to her room. She goes to the changing table and attempts to help me by trying to climb up, I catch her just in time. I change her diaper and she leads me to the guest room to free her fur brother and sister from their kennel Prison.

10:00 am I give her apple juice (juice box) and a slice of bread with peanut butter and strawberry jelly. I turn my back to put a load of laundry in the washer. She is exceptionally quiet so I go check on her. She is on the floor completely covered in Apple juice ala the girl in flash dance. She doesn't seem to care. She has found a sock and is happily attempting to wipe up the juice. Lesson learned, babies who bathe in apple juice become sticky and smell like sugary apples. A complete wipe down and change of clothes are in order.

11:30 am We bundle up to take the fur babies to potty and go to the mailbox. I fail to notice that I had not put her shoes back on after the wipe down. Baby Z takes off running on the wet and muddy grass trying to crunch leaves. Despite repeated pleas she refuses to come back inside. She takes off running towards the woods, I am forced to book it after her in my house shoes clutching a dog leash. The walk to the mailbox is abandoned. A change of socks is in order...now what did I do with her shoes?

12:00 pm I walk up the 4 stairs to take a laundry basket of clean clothes to baby Z's room while she was downstairs distracted by a particularly arresting episode of Caillou. I had a window of less than 2 minutes to grab the clothes from the hamper and hurriedly hang them in her closet (I planned on arranging them at a later time). I hear "uh-oh!" I run into the kitchen to find baby Z making it rain with the dog food. I can't complain; I am the one who left the baby gate open. I distract her by giving her a lid top. I grab the broom and dust pan and clean up the dog food that had been showered on the kitchen floor.                                                                              

12:30 pm it's time to feed baby Z. I warm up and dice meatballs for her. She is hungry and ready to eat. I put a row of meatballs, Mac n cheese, and vegetables on her high chair tray. She is content to eat and watch Sprout for about an hour. I manage to hang and fold an insane amount of laundry. When she is finally finished, she is covered in food and marinara sauce...everything is covered in bits of food and marinara. My daughter decided to wear her food. She innocently looks at me, raises her arms towards me and utters "mama!" My heart melts. My world is complete. Another wipe down and a change of clothes is in order.

1:45 pm I go to the bathroom. She is being entertained by the magazine bucket in the corner. Just as I get comfy, she takes her shoes and throws them in the tub. She then reaches over and attempts to turn on the water. Those shoes...those stupid pesky shoes...those damn pesky shoes. I had not put them on her after the last wipe down. Any attempts at using the bathroom have been successfully thwarted.

2:00-4:00 pm I put up toys in her toy chest and she pulls them out. Notice I have not mentioned nap time...that is because she has decided to give nap time the middle finger...unless she is gnawing on the boob. She gets in about 15 minutes but after about 3 hours of trying to get her to nap, I throw in the towel. I'm done.

45 minutes later, I hear tires coming up the driveway. It's "dada!", he is home. Z-baby squeals and runs to the door. He surveys the mountain of laundry and the clutter of toys in the living room. Instead of saying what is obvious, what is really on his mind, My husband picks up Z baby, leans over and gives me a kiss. With an amused smile he says, "looks like you guys did a lot of laundry today, good job!" Instantly my spirits are lifted...today was a good day.

If you ever want to have a stay-at-home-mom experience, come and spend a day with baby Z and I. I promise, it will be a hectic, fun filled adventure! 

Originally written on 12/30/14

Similac highlights "mommy wars" in a heartwarming video

The world is full of people with varying ideas and perspectives. One group may love something, while another may hate it. Last week Similac, a formula manufacturing company posted an ad, about the well known "mommy wars," that often start feuds due to differing styles of parenting. The video was obviously a parody, meant to highlight the outrageous differences and sects that parents encounter. Featured were; the formula feeders; the breast is best squad; the cloth diaper patrol; the crunchy yoga parents; the working moms; same sex parents; the baby wearing daddies and mamas and many more. A gamut of parenting styles were represented. While the groups were feuding, a stroller rolls down hill and everyone is forced to unite for the sake of saving a little one in peril (tears were shed).  

When the video aired, the internet lost its damn mind! Some people raved and gushed about the video, while others expressed extreme dislike for the message and the company that produced the video. Some bloggers felt that Similac was using parent's emotions to push their agenda by "normalizing" formula feeding. Some feminists shunned the focus on the subject of breasts by the males in the video. A few mommies did not like the fact that the breastfeeding mommies had to wear huge hideous covers. Some males were offended that the Ad while featuring males, welcomes parents into the "sisterhood".  The video brought up many important issues up for discussion. Many people have gone to Similac's facebook page to weigh in. 

I found the video funny and sweet. The message was positive and uplifting. We may do things differently, but in the end, we are in this together. We should all work together for the purpose of caring for our little ones. I might be a bit sentimental, so I will let you judge for yourself. Perhaps, you may find your parenting style depicted in one groups in the video. 

If you are curious as to what the uproar is all about, click below to see the advertisement.

I do not own any rights to the pictures or video displayed on this page.    

2015

2015 is here and I am feeling extremely hopeful! There are so many things that I would like to accomplish. I feel like I have been given a new beginning, a fresh start. A reset button has been pressed and I am ready to set out on bold adventures. I can't wait to create opportunities where there were only set-backs. I am brimming at the chance to walk freely into my destiny and eliminate existing barriers. I leave my failed endeavors in 2014 and venture into more attempts in 2015. I may not get there this year, but I will have the satisfaction of knowing that I have another chance at working on my areas of opportunities.  I can't wait to see what new surprises are around the bend. I have made my resolutions, goals and plans for this year. 

By now, I have learned to expect detours and delays in life. 

 I am willing to be more flexible, more patient and to live in the moment. After all, it's not how fast I get to my destination, it's the experiences along the way that will shape my feelings and perceptions when I finally reach my destination. In 2015, I will set forth my plans and simply be "in the moment". 

 Divas and Divos, let us begin 2015 by moving onward and upward!  

"...And so, lifting as we climb, onward and upward we go, struggling and striving, and hoping that the buds and blossoms of our desires will burst into glorious fruition ere long. With courage, born of success achieved in the past, with a keen sense of the responsibility which we shall continue to assume, we look forward to a future large with promise and hope..." Mary Church Terrell