Thflree

The above is an attempt to transliterate how old Raisin will be next week from the original Raisinese. Please do NOT jump the gun and assume that she is “almost three,” however. She will be two-and-a-half until Thursday. Then, and only then, will she be three. So saith the Raisin.

Cinderella is (mostly) out, and Mary Poppins is in, so her big party will have a Poppins theme.

At her three-year well child visit earlier this month, the doctor gave us one of those handouts about the milestones your child should be reaching at this age. The Jellyman and I laughed uproariously at, “knows 1000 words” and “uses 3-4 word sentences.” I think she might be OK in that regard. To wit:

“Mommy, you’re Bert and I’m Mary Poppins. Your face is all dirty because you’re cleaning chimneys. And Apple is Michael and Orange is Jane. We’re going on an outing to the park.”

“Doctor F___, where’s your stethscascope?” (Hey, perfect pronunciation of the 1000 words was not stipulated.)

It’s hard not to tune her out sometimes because she just has SO much to say. But I do so at my peril, because she is ALWAYS thinking. If I’m not paying attention, I am sure to absentmindedly agree to letting her go outside in her underwear, or to miss some gem like, “When I get big, I’m going to chew gum and watch commercials on TV.”*

Raisin will be starting preschool two mornings a week in the fall. I think it will be good for her, not necessarily because I’m concerned about the skills she can learn, but because it’s just for her, and that’s rare in our house these days. Still, it makes me a little sad — from here, it’s a slippery slope to kindergarten.

Ah, well. Happy birthday, baby girl. You’ve had to do a lot of growing up this year because of the whole big sister thing. Let’s make a deal that now you’ll slow down that whole growing thing just a smidge for your poor mommy, ok?

*Yes, folks, this is the Tivo generation. Because I always fast-forward the commercials, she thinks they are something only the grown-ups get to watch.

How Do You Get Out Without Going Out of Your Mind?

Last night I went to a MOMs meeting in Saint Paul.  (Incidentally, I wish I had gone much, much earlier than this.  I learned of these groups when I was pregnant, but things were just winding down for their summer break, and I was too stubborn/shy/physically uncomfortable to do much about it.  Now I know that if I HAD, they would’ve been a huge help.  Live and learn.)

As much as I enjoyed the meeting, though, I always return from these kinds of outings wondering if it’s worth the disruption to the norm at our house.  When I got back, the Jellyman had just gotten Orange to sleep after two hours of crying.  Today, I am tired and Raisin is acting up.

What do you do?  I know the Jellyman and I need time to ourselves and time as a couple, and I believe that our family needs to do special things like go to the zoo or visit relatives.  I won’t give those things up, because they keep me sane and broadens my children’s horizons (and yes, today those are in order of importance).

I do try to minimize the impact to the regular routine — last night, for example, Apple and Orange were asleep before I left, and Raisin was taking a bath.  I thought it’d be ok.

Anybody feel like sharing how you deal with special-occasion virtual hangovers?