October 4, 2008

Happy 3rd Birthday

Dear Lil C:

Today you turned three years old. I can hardly believe it. Three years ago tonight, I was bringing you home from the hospital for the very first time. You were tiny and beautiful, and though you’re growing like a weed, you’re just as beautiful now.

Lil C, 2 months old

I remember holding you and rocking you in the middle of one of those first nights. I caught our reflection in the mirror and remember thinking, "Always remember this moment. Always remember how this feels to have this tiny, perfect baby curled up so perfectly on your shoulder."

I will never forget.

Lil C, 1 year old

You have always had this fighter spirit about you. In recent months, you’ve shown me that you don’t need me to stand up for you. You are perfectly capable of doing it all by yourself.

Lil C, two years old

You want to do pretty much everything all by yourself, including dressing yourself and brushing your own teeth. You even wanted to put your own sunscreen on this summer.

Your questions never cease to amaze me. You’re forever curious about how to make milkshakes, cookies and hamburgers. You can also make a mean salad. There is no denying you like to eat, so it is easy to see you as a future foodie or famous chef.

You are now, and will always be Mommy’s little spit-fire. When you’re having a grumpy day and people tell me you’re just like your Mommy, I couldn’t be prouder. It’s nice to have a partner in not backing down.

I can always count on you to be my little beach bum girl. When everyone is heading to the pool, I know we’ll be carrying our buckets to the beach.

Lil C, two months shy of third birthday (above).

You’re like me in more ways than just the spit-fire qualities. Neither of us like rides that go in circles, go too fast, or in any way surprise us. At an amusement park last week, you leaped off a carousel horse mid-ride and were content to eat your way through the park instead.

Lil C, one week shy of third birthday.

I feel like you are this very special blessing that has come into my life; and I feel blessed and privileged to be your Mommy.

I hope you had a wonderful birthday today Lil C. No matter how big you get, you will always be my baby.

I love you,

Mommy (Black Belt Mommy)

For the story of Lil C’s birth, go here.

Posted by Black Belt Mama on October 4, 2008 in Growing Pains | 10 Comments

October 3, 2008

Fast Forward

Yesterday I was dragging. At the beginning of the day, 5:30 a.m. thanks to a certain someone’s cell phone alarm that went off every five minutes for a half hour, I had every intention of making it to karate class. It was one of those days though, that totally wiped me out.

I spent the morning trying to convince my students that although they may not have learned how to write thesis statements in high school (shame on their teachers), they are inherently important during the college years. I had several students tell me that they have never written a research paper before. I had several tell me that they have never had to create bibliography or note cards. I did not realize that so many would be lacking basic research writing skills. I think that the reasons their teachers passed on these skills is because of all the pressure to "teach to the test," but that’s a topic for another day.

I spent the morning conferencing with students and then watching speeches in my second class. I grabbed all my gear and headed out to the car, overturning my ankle just three feet from my car. Of course, it was my left leg, so I spent my entire drive home panicking that I had screwed up my knee. By the time I got home, my knee was sore and my allergies had kicked into high gear. I was feeling like I needed a major nap.

I didn’t get one. The contractors working at my Mom’s house were here the entire day, banging and making dust in every room on the first floor. Some people get black lung, but I think I’ll have white lung from all the drywall dust and debris floating around all the time. After picking Big I up from school, I drove by the house and saw that they had graded the yard and finished my rock wall outside, yet no work was being done on the inside. Major bummer. After so much activity at the beginning of the week, I was fearing the end of the week slow down had started already.

I felt like I was going to fall asleep at the dinner table, so I didn’t make it to karate class for fear that the exhaustion of the day would make things worse. I told myself this is called "taking it slow" so as not to feel like a slacker. I dozed on the couch until debate time and then Sarah Palin woke me up (What a relief, by the way!).

Since I spent the entire day dragging yesterday, I decided to start my day with a big cup of coffee. It helped. I then met my realtor at Panera and drank entirely too much coffee. By the time I left my meeting with him, I felt like I was running on fast forward. Apparently the guys were doing the same thing at my house.

When we went tonight, three guys were putting up stone on the outside of the house, and the entire inside of my house (walls and trim) were painted. I was shocked that they were able to get it done in a day. They’ll be back to finish staining the railings on the stairs and to touch up. Next week is flooring, cabinets, and maybe my lights and counter tops. We went from freeze frame to fast forward over night. Maybe my coffee buzz was transferable.

The following are pictures from throughout the week, before the paint. I’ve decided to not show the outside anymore for safety and security reasons. However, if I know you and have known you for quite some time and you’d like to see it, just shoot me an email.

My favorite room in the house, the family room:

The picture window in the entrance. I didn’t know we were getting that cool trim:

My bedroom! They finally put the double doors on.

The catwalk/upstairs hallway:

The catwalk and back staircase, from the family room:

The dining room. I was there as they were putting in the crown moulding and picture framing:

Posted by Black Belt Mama on October 3, 2008 in Building the BBM House, Mental Strain for Mama | 9 Comments

October 1, 2008

A Soccer Mom?

Since we’ve moved in with my parents, Lil C has been enjoying her outdoor time. She has become a huge fan of kicking a soccer ball around the yard and she’s really quite amazing, considering that she’s only going to turn three on Saturday (Yes, this Saturday. Let’s not talk about it too much or I will cry. My BABY is turning THREE!).

I did some digging and found a soccer program for 3-6 year olds at a local fitness center and took her for a test drive class week. In preparation for her first big night of soccer, we bought her the tiniest little shin guards ever and a size 3 soccer ball. Being a field hockey girl myself, I had no clue that there even were different sizes.

We arrived at the fitness center and Lil C, dressed in her adorable soccer gear, went out onto the turf field. There were parents milling around with their kids and I was uncertain who the coach was since no one approached us at all. After a few minutes, the coach blew the whistle and called the kids into a huddle. Lil C wasn’t really interested in hanging out with the other kids and instead stood leaning all of her bodyweight into my legs.

Soon the coach started working on "skills." I should mention here that when I inquired about the program, I was told that they divide kids up into smaller age groups once there and that they play "fun little games" to get them to learn the game. The coach began by telling them to work on toe touches. As he demonstrated, I looked at my Mom, who had come along to watch, absolutely dumbstruck. There was no way I could even do toe touches the way he was doing them. Little kids were falling all over the place. The coach seemed to levitate above the ball rotating one foot to the next and Lil C just looked at me like "not gonna happen."

After that he told them to put the ball on the inside of their feet and kick the ball from the inside of one foot to the other. I felt like asking him if he realized that small children don’t have much extra room between their feet and legs once you put a soccer ball in between them. I tried to help Lil C but it was hopeless. She’s just not big enough to even begin to learn that skill. It would be like teaching a 1-year old how to play the piano or the guitar. Your hands need to be a certain size to do that, and for soccer, your legs need to be longer than 16 inches.

Soon the kids were able to kick the ball down the field, but Lil C kicked the ball in the opposite direction. She was running around like a little star but wasn’t following the coach’s directions and honestly, I couldn’t blame her.

The coach then set up passing drills. No, I’m not kidding. He placed two cones half way up the field and created two lines of kids. He would toss the ball down the field and he expected the kids to pass down the field and score. Lil C decided to go to the other end of the field and kick the ball around with daddy. The coach did not once speak to her or even notice that she was there.

Then he announced that they were going to play a "game." He haphazardly divided kids into groups and told half to head one direction and the other half to score at the other end. What happened next was nothing short of complete and total mayhem.

The big kids were trampling the little kids. There were at least four children crying. One had been knocked down by the bigger kids and subsequently stepped on by other kids. He was miserable but his parents kept sending him out for more. The coach never even looked at him, let alone ask him if he was o.k.

Several parents were grabbing their kids and leaving. The coach still didn’t notice that there was a problem. As the ball approached the side where we were standing, Lil C acted as if she wanted to kick the ball, but we quickly realized this was a bad idea as a swarm of bigger boys came running at her. I have no doubt they would have trampled her too. She was easily the tiniest one there.

So, we picked her up and left, but not before demanding our money back. I told the owner that I was completely misled as to what would happen in the class, and that he better watch because he’s going to have multiple injuries from the way that the "game" was being conducted. He tried to weasel his way out of giving our money back, but ended up giving it back because we wouldn’t back down.

He said he would talk to the "coach" and give me a call Monday morning to let me know what happened and if maybe he was without an assistant or something, which would explain why it was complete and total chaos. It’s Wednesday, and I have yet to receive a call.

Yesterday, I signed Lil C up with a different soccer program. The director of the program teachers it herself and says that she teaches the kids to pretend the soccer balls are puppies. Then, they take their "puppies" down the soccer field to "Grandma’s house" (aka the goal). I think this sounds much more three-year old friendly and we’re excited to see how she does in an environment where she doesn’t have to "bend it like Beckham" instantly.

Check out The BBM Review for your chance to win a Sesame Street K’nex playset.

Posted by Black Belt Mama on October 1, 2008 in Growing Pains | 8 Comments

September 29, 2008

Three Week Countdown

This morning there were at least six trucks parked in front of our house. There were three guys working on the siding, at least four guys working on moving the Bilco door, a handful of guys inside cutting and putting up the trim, and a couple guys laying the groundwork for our sidewalk which looks like it will be poured sometime tomorrow. When we arrived tonight, there were two lone guys still working on the final bolts of the Bilco door. I have no doubt that the guys who sawed through 10 inches of concrete will be sleeping well tonight.

I will also be sleeping well tonight, knowing full well that neither of my fantasy football teams have a snowball’s chance in hell of turning out a win. Between injuries, and bad decisions on my part, I’ll be raking in two losses tonight unless Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller absolutely light it up. I’m not holding my breath.

Because I have an early morning of pounding basic research paper writing skills into the minds of young and hopefully impressionable freshman, I’m going to keep this short.

However, if you are the parent of a 2-5 year old who happens to like Sesame Street, you may want to check out The BBM Review, the latest review, and the contest giveaway. Keep coming back too, because there are three martial arts books in the queue and more giveaways as the holidays approach.

Finally, you may want to check out Karl’s birthday dare wrap-up. He took my dare to make a music video and I’ll just say that it’s not work safe and it’s slightly disturbing, but it’s still quite funny.

Posted by Black Belt Mama on September 29, 2008 in Building the BBM House | 1 Comment

September 28, 2008

A Visit from the Tooth Fairy. . . Finally

Big I has had shark teeth and extremely loose teeth for months. Those suckers just didn’t want to come out. Everything changed tonight. Because I was concerned about her top front tooth being swallowed during the night, I encouraged her to really get wiggling. We even tried to tie some dental floss around it to pull that thing out. She kept laughing so that didn’t work.

As my Mom, my Dad, Lil C and I all encouraged her in front of the hallway mirror, the tooth got even more loose; but after 30 minutes of intense wiggling, there was still nothing tooth fairy worthy. I went downstairs and Mr. BBM was supposed to be putting the girls to bed, when he came downstairs with an ecstatic toothless girl. It finally came out.

She went from indescribable joy to complete depression in only minutes. The magnitude of the tooth fairy actually taking her tooth was just too much for her. She was reduced to tears.

We managed to find our tooth fairy kit, and we washed the tooth and placed it in the little pocket on the teeny tiny pillow. As she drifted off to sleep upstairs, having come to grips with the tooth fairy and her "mission," the actual fairy got to work.

The "tooth fairy" typed up a teeny tiny letter in 6 pt. font telling Big I how exciting it is to get a new client, and how she needs to continue taking good care of her beautiful teeth. The fairy then printed out a certificate and rolled up the teeny tiny letter into a little scroll, complete with $10 (I know people, I know, but you have to remember that we are living with "Mom-Mom" and "Pop-Pop" and this was a big and long awaited event. We’ll certainly be letting Big I know in the morning that the tooth fairy doesn’t usually leave such large bills). Because the "tooth fairy" has mad creativity skills, she tied that little scroll up with mint dental floss. Was that not a stroke of genius? I mean, really. This "tooth fairy" is one with-it gal.

Something tells me it’s not going to be a problem waking Big I up for school tomorrow morning. Something tells me we’ll be seeing a big toothless grin.