Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Unfathomable
I am dedicating this poem to my children, whom I love endlessly:
Oh that you would know
The love that inside me grows
Ever expanding
Like the universe with no end.
Oh that you would know
The pains that inside me grows
Of lost innocence
And time lost in the cosmic air.
That you are forever my child
For now and always
But for you
I will become yours.
Oh that you would see
The future that is yet to be
Unseen and dark
Overcoming your present.
Oh that you would see
The potential of brilliancy
Inside the seed grows
Needing water and care.
Oh child of mine
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'.....Into the future
Where has the time gone? Hard to believe that it's the middle of 2014 and almost 4 years has passed since I last posted! Well that's not quite a true statement, I created this blog http://withtheeyesofachild.blogspot.com/ to capture the great fun that children have learning about the world around them - and yes it's not updated so that should give you some indication of how busy it's been!
Z is finishing 1st grade and A is finishing pre-school. And it's been fun, hectic, chaotic, and awesome all rolled into one.
Z is a sweet and book-ish girl and loves reading. I frequently see her light on in the morning and walk in to see her reading in bed. Her table next to her bed is a bookcase full of books piled like the leaning tower of Pisa! At 7, she's still high intensity and when she's happy it's great but when she's not......let's just say everyone knows it.
A is a sweet and generous boy who is a giver. He is learning to read and his reading skills have really accelerated this month! He is very observant and empathetic with awesome recall. The boy is a boy - nakedness, muddiness, loudness in every way!
They are best friends.
It seems odd to be so close yet so far away from people since we've moved. We are not in a neighborhood anymore and even though we have neighbors we are sort of isolated here in the suburbs of NoVA.
Their career interests change daily from gardener, artist, writer, farmer, to zoo keeper. It's hard to keep up! No organized sports or teams or camps or clubs for the time being. Kids spend way too much time being busy by someone or something else than by finding it out on their own.
Z is finishing 1st grade and A is finishing pre-school. And it's been fun, hectic, chaotic, and awesome all rolled into one.
Z is a sweet and book-ish girl and loves reading. I frequently see her light on in the morning and walk in to see her reading in bed. Her table next to her bed is a bookcase full of books piled like the leaning tower of Pisa! At 7, she's still high intensity and when she's happy it's great but when she's not......let's just say everyone knows it.
A is a sweet and generous boy who is a giver. He is learning to read and his reading skills have really accelerated this month! He is very observant and empathetic with awesome recall. The boy is a boy - nakedness, muddiness, loudness in every way!
They are best friends.
It seems odd to be so close yet so far away from people since we've moved. We are not in a neighborhood anymore and even though we have neighbors we are sort of isolated here in the suburbs of NoVA.
Their career interests change daily from gardener, artist, writer, farmer, to zoo keeper. It's hard to keep up! No organized sports or teams or camps or clubs for the time being. Kids spend way too much time being busy by someone or something else than by finding it out on their own.
Time flew over the Cuckoo's Nest
How is it EVEN remotely possible that apparently over 3 years have passed since I last updated my blog about the comings and goings of our family?! Geeeeeeeez
How do I get started!
2010:
We took a great trip to Canada in the summer of 2010. We went to Bob's Lake in Ontario with my friend Teri and her family. We spent a week there and it was nice. The kids handled the ride pretty well. Steven and I tried to waterski - more like a colon cleansing.
Zofia started preschool last fall and loved it. The school is a co-op and our class was great.
Aaron celebrated his 2nd birthday last year to the cake theme of Thomas. He loved it. I slaved over it.
Christmas last year was huge! They were super excited to see the presents under the tree.
2011 :
Then January came....
I went back to work. I came off my extended Leave of Absence. I was looking forward to going back to work again. Almost 3 years at home was enough for me to want to carry a laptop again.
So, I came back to IBM and started back on the project I left when I went on leave - ACT. But this time, I was the Testing Lead. Then the Marketing Lead. Then Deputy PM.
2012:
Same work as before just more of it. Zofia started Kindergarten this year and was accepted into one of the two magnet elementary schools in Fairfax County, which meant that she was commuting to school with me since her school is in Reston. Full day Kindergarten + 40-50 minute commute = 1 unhappy child.
But, we moved to Oakton in December with Frank and everyone is soooooooooo much happier!
2013:
2013 rocks!
How do I get started!
2010:
We took a great trip to Canada in the summer of 2010. We went to Bob's Lake in Ontario with my friend Teri and her family. We spent a week there and it was nice. The kids handled the ride pretty well. Steven and I tried to waterski - more like a colon cleansing.
Zofia started preschool last fall and loved it. The school is a co-op and our class was great.
Aaron celebrated his 2nd birthday last year to the cake theme of Thomas. He loved it. I slaved over it.
Christmas last year was huge! They were super excited to see the presents under the tree.
2011 :
Then January came....
I went back to work. I came off my extended Leave of Absence. I was looking forward to going back to work again. Almost 3 years at home was enough for me to want to carry a laptop again.
So, I came back to IBM and started back on the project I left when I went on leave - ACT. But this time, I was the Testing Lead. Then the Marketing Lead. Then Deputy PM.
2012:
Same work as before just more of it. Zofia started Kindergarten this year and was accepted into one of the two magnet elementary schools in Fairfax County, which meant that she was commuting to school with me since her school is in Reston. Full day Kindergarten + 40-50 minute commute = 1 unhappy child.
But, we moved to Oakton in December with Frank and everyone is soooooooooo much happier!
2013:
2013 rocks!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Keep on rockin' in the free world!
Concerts before children included:
The Cure (with my crazy cousin, Linda!)
Jimmy Buffet
Poi Dog Pondering
Smash Mouth
Cowboy Junkies
Violent Femmes
The Waterboys
Ralph Stanley
Concerts after children (and counting):
Rocknoceros
Mr Knick Knack
Rusted Root (technically it's not a kiddie concert but it was at a fair and we had kids, so....)
Today I took the kids to Burke Lake Park for a playdate with the children of her new preschool. Since my plans for the day had changed, we decided to go to the amphitheater and listen to Rocknoceros. This is Z's 3rd time seeing them and I dare say I've become a little groupie. A groupie of a kiddie band - egad! I even bought CD's.
I am wondering... what IS it about kids music that makes it so darn appealing to kids? Lyrics? Maybe. At 3 could Zofia REALLY be listening to the words of the songs to make a judgment as to whether or not she likes it? Personalities? These kiddie band members have a stage persona and costuming that you dare not see on the street unless it's Halloween. Instruments? Some one-man-bands only consist of a guitar, nothing spectacular there. So what is it? Je ne sais quoi. And as I listen along with my kids there are definitely songs that I DON'T like and songs that I'm requested to play over and over. Kids Place Live on XM has been a great resource of kids music for me, otherwise I'd be stuck with the same CD's OVER and OVER and OVER again. There are some groups that are not kid groups at all but may have one or two in their repertoire like They Might Be Giants, Kristin Andreassen, and even Talking Heads (I am specifically thinking of "Stay up Late"). My children rock out to Adam Ant, Jack Cooke (bluegrass musician), and just last week Zofia was diggin' the blues.
So sometimes when I pull into the gas station and leave the key in the ignition so the music doesn't stop while the kids tunes are playing, you'll never know if it's playing for me or for them (smirk).
The Cure (with my crazy cousin, Linda!)
Jimmy Buffet
Poi Dog Pondering
Smash Mouth
Cowboy Junkies
Violent Femmes
The Waterboys
Ralph Stanley
Concerts after children (and counting):
Rocknoceros
Mr Knick Knack
Rusted Root (technically it's not a kiddie concert but it was at a fair and we had kids, so....)
Today I took the kids to Burke Lake Park for a playdate with the children of her new preschool. Since my plans for the day had changed, we decided to go to the amphitheater and listen to Rocknoceros. This is Z's 3rd time seeing them and I dare say I've become a little groupie. A groupie of a kiddie band - egad! I even bought CD's.
I am wondering... what IS it about kids music that makes it so darn appealing to kids? Lyrics? Maybe. At 3 could Zofia REALLY be listening to the words of the songs to make a judgment as to whether or not she likes it? Personalities? These kiddie band members have a stage persona and costuming that you dare not see on the street unless it's Halloween. Instruments? Some one-man-bands only consist of a guitar, nothing spectacular there. So what is it? Je ne sais quoi. And as I listen along with my kids there are definitely songs that I DON'T like and songs that I'm requested to play over and over. Kids Place Live on XM has been a great resource of kids music for me, otherwise I'd be stuck with the same CD's OVER and OVER and OVER again. There are some groups that are not kid groups at all but may have one or two in their repertoire like They Might Be Giants, Kristin Andreassen, and even Talking Heads (I am specifically thinking of "Stay up Late"). My children rock out to Adam Ant, Jack Cooke (bluegrass musician), and just last week Zofia was diggin' the blues.
So sometimes when I pull into the gas station and leave the key in the ignition so the music doesn't stop while the kids tunes are playing, you'll never know if it's playing for me or for them (smirk).
Monday, May 17, 2010
monkey see, monkey do
Aaron is now 19 months old! And, he's quite the imitator! He pays close attention to pretty much everything and copies - from signing, "helping", "cooking", and tantrums. He has now perfected the protester limp, thank you big sister! He finally started saying "mama" just over a month ago - how happy I was to hear that word! His vocabulary these days includes: mama, daddy, bubble, bowl, ball, bib, zz, baba (his blanket lovey), down, bird, yellow, bell, nana (banana), uh oh. He gets excited over trucks, cars, planes, helicopters - quite the boy's boy. He signs very well and can copy the signs very well: cat, orange, down, thank you, please, owl, yes, dog, car, banana, daddy, mommy, more, water, drink, eat, grandmom, grandpop, help, baby, bear, plane.
Zofia turned 3 last month! We had a birthday party for her. She had a horse and butterfly cake, yellow cake torted with mango buttercream and chocolate cake torted with strawberry buttercream. She had a blast. The week leading up to and after her birthday were so wonderful - she was so easy to get along with. "Being 3" was a big thing - she was a big girl, didn't need help, could do everything. Then just as quick, this phase passed and we were back to tantrums, screaming, crying over EVERYTHING, waking up in the middle of the night, waking up screaming from naps! I was praying she wouldn't revert on toileting since she has been potty trained for just under a year.
But today was heavenly and peaceful...thank you, God!
Zofia turned 3 last month! We had a birthday party for her. She had a horse and butterfly cake, yellow cake torted with mango buttercream and chocolate cake torted with strawberry buttercream. She had a blast. The week leading up to and after her birthday were so wonderful - she was so easy to get along with. "Being 3" was a big thing - she was a big girl, didn't need help, could do everything. Then just as quick, this phase passed and we were back to tantrums, screaming, crying over EVERYTHING, waking up in the middle of the night, waking up screaming from naps! I was praying she wouldn't revert on toileting since she has been potty trained for just under a year.
But today was heavenly and peaceful...thank you, God!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
The past is past, the future is now!
Good-bye 2009!!! Glad to see you go! Move out of the way for 2010!
My year in review:
Aaron - little motorboat
- sleep, cry, scream, sleep, sleep, sleep, smile, coo - 100 days!!!
- Aaron sick with infant botulism and spending 4 days in the hospital in April when he was just over 6 months old
- learning to crawl
- learning to cruise
- Happy Birthday 1 year old!
- learning to walk
- beginning to babble - nana (banana), baba (lovey), dada (daddy)
- sleeping through the night
- where's your belly, your nose, your fingers, your toes?
- laughing, smiling, playing
joy, joy, joy
Zofia - wind her up and let her go!
- talk talk
- talk talk
- why?
- why?
- Happy Birthday 2 year old!
- sprained ankle from jumping - ouch! - learn how to crawl again to get around
- pretend play and the world of make believe
- frustration!!!! can't do it! need help!
- jumping, leaping, spinning, dancing, laughing, loving
joy, joy, joy
My year in review:
Aaron - little motorboat
- sleep, cry, scream, sleep, sleep, sleep, smile, coo - 100 days!!!
- Aaron sick with infant botulism and spending 4 days in the hospital in April when he was just over 6 months old
- learning to crawl
- learning to cruise
- Happy Birthday 1 year old!
- learning to walk
- beginning to babble - nana (banana), baba (lovey), dada (daddy)
- sleeping through the night
- where's your belly, your nose, your fingers, your toes?
- laughing, smiling, playing
joy, joy, joy
Zofia - wind her up and let her go!
- talk talk
- talk talk
- why?
- why?
- Happy Birthday 2 year old!
- sprained ankle from jumping - ouch! - learn how to crawl again to get around
- pretend play and the world of make believe
- frustration!!!! can't do it! need help!
- jumping, leaping, spinning, dancing, laughing, loving
joy, joy, joy
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Birthday, Baptisms, and GPS oh my!
Aaron is 1! Saturday we spent his birthday with Brian, JoAnne, Kaitlyn, and Kevin at the Smithsonian museums - American History and Natural History. What a way to spend a birthday!
After they went to bed, I needed to get going on food for his birthday party and decorating their baptism cake. 6 hours later I was able to call it a night and get a few hours of rest before I needed to finish up cooking in the morning (some dishes just cannot be made ahead of time).
Steven and I woke up to 2 very cranky children and one neurotic dog - couple that with 3 maybe 4 hours of sleep and it was a powder keg. 9am or so my mother calls me informing me that her GPS hasn't told her what to do and Tommy wasn't coming. HUH?! Where are you? Did you pass the exit for 495? You see 295? Great exit! HUH?! You're on 50 East? I thought you exited? Yes, you'll have to turn around. click (that's the sound of my mom hanging up because she needs to drive and doesn't want to waste her battery and doesn't know how to use speaker phone). Where are you now? I have no idea where that is. click. Where are you now? You stopped to ask someone? Give her the phone. click. Benning Road?! I thought I told you to stay on 295 SOUTH. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE GPS IS SAYING! geez that is like the WORST part of town. click. You are asking someone else? GIVE HIM THE PHONE - PLEASE HELP MY MOTHER GET 2 BLOCKS TO THE EXIT FOR 295 SOUTH! click. You are on 295 South now? Great! click. You are on 495 now? Great! click. Lorton Road coming up? Great! click.
We made it barely a little late for church and the rest of the day was absolutely WONDERFUL! and I'm sooooo proud of my mom for driving by herself all the way here!
After they went to bed, I needed to get going on food for his birthday party and decorating their baptism cake. 6 hours later I was able to call it a night and get a few hours of rest before I needed to finish up cooking in the morning (some dishes just cannot be made ahead of time).
Steven and I woke up to 2 very cranky children and one neurotic dog - couple that with 3 maybe 4 hours of sleep and it was a powder keg. 9am or so my mother calls me informing me that her GPS hasn't told her what to do and Tommy wasn't coming. HUH?! Where are you? Did you pass the exit for 495? You see 295? Great exit! HUH?! You're on 50 East? I thought you exited? Yes, you'll have to turn around. click (that's the sound of my mom hanging up because she needs to drive and doesn't want to waste her battery and doesn't know how to use speaker phone). Where are you now? I have no idea where that is. click. Where are you now? You stopped to ask someone? Give her the phone. click. Benning Road?! I thought I told you to stay on 295 SOUTH. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE GPS IS SAYING! geez that is like the WORST part of town. click. You are asking someone else? GIVE HIM THE PHONE - PLEASE HELP MY MOTHER GET 2 BLOCKS TO THE EXIT FOR 295 SOUTH! click. You are on 295 South now? Great! click. You are on 495 now? Great! click. Lorton Road coming up? Great! click.
We made it barely a little late for church and the rest of the day was absolutely WONDERFUL! and I'm sooooo proud of my mom for driving by herself all the way here!
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