Micah – Page 7 – Embracing the Insanity

Technology at the Table

Posted on October 6, 2009October 4, 2009 by Becky

One of my pet peeves is technology at the table.

Texting. Checking e-mail. Music on the iPhone. Even TV.

Seriously. It can wait. We’re eating dinner!

I know my mom felt that way (about TV, anyway–I mean, we’d never heard of e-mail or texting, much less iPhones when I was little!).

Is it just me? (and my mom?) or are all moms wired this way?

Dinner in my mind is family time, a chance for Mom and Dad to catch up with each other–and with the kids. How was Dad’s day at work? How was the family’s day at home? What did the kids do today? . . . And realistically, sometimes it’s just an “opportunity” for both parents to have a part in the feeding and discipline of the babies and toddlers, who are still very much works in progress . . .

So when I see this (and realize my son is only 16-months old), I’m thinking, “Wow, son!–We need to talk!”

Looks like a serious conversation

“Hold that thought, Mom. I’m on the phone!”

My Little Monkeys

Posted on October 4, 2009 by Becky

From our most recent trip to the zoo:

I knew Mara would do it!

But when Micah spontaneously did it too, I was so surprised, I wasn’t ready to take the picture!–and it turned out blurry!

Fun times with my little monkeys! 🙂

Mara, the Disciplinarian

Posted on October 2, 2009 by Becky

We have a somewhat flexible house rule that the kids can’t come in the kitchen. I say ‘somewhat flexible’ because Mara can come in to help empty the dishwasher or to get her vitamin or occasionally to play with refrigerator letters (if Micah is sleeping). And Micah can come in if he is putting away sippy cups or throwing his diaper in the trash.

So enforcement of that rule can be tricky.

For me, anyway.

But here’s Mara to Micah: “Don’t go in the kitchen again, or I’ll have to give you away!”

More Mara-Speak

Posted on September 30, 2009September 30, 2009 by Becky

You know how cartoons always involve classical music? Well, I had a CD playing, when Mara gasped and announced, “This is Ratatouille!”

“Actually, it’s another Beethoven cello sonata. Can you say ‘cello’?” I asked her.

But she shook her head: “I can’t–I’m eating my dinner. I can’t talk when I’m eating my dinner.”

Wow, that’s never stopped you before.

———

Mara recounting our weekend retreat:

“But first we went to Mickle-donalds,” she explained. “There are two Mickle-donalds. [She knows about one in the city, and she knows we stopped at a different McDonalds on the way to the mountains.] And they have drinks and stuff,” she added. “And ice cream . . .”

“And chicken and ranch,” I threw in, since she always calls it ‘chicken and ranch’ at home.

“It’s called ‘chicken nuggets,'” she corrected me.

“Yes, Mara, chicken nuggets.”

———-

Mara, introducing our family to someone she meets at church: “I’m Mara . . . This is my mommy, Becky. Becky,” she repeated, as if the person might not pronounce it properly. “And this is Micah . . . And this is my husband–Daddy!”

———

Mara looking at a bell-shaped cookie cutter: “Oh, look, Mommy, the Liber-ree Bell! We went to the Liber-ree Bell with Aunt Mary!” (I didn’t think she would remember.)

———

Hearing Micah’s cries after another unreasonably short nap, I said, “Oh my goodness, tell me he’s not up yet!”

And Mara obliged. “He’s not up yet,” she said to me.

Then calling to Micah’s room, she shouted, “Micah!–you’re not up yet!”

I only wish it were that simple.

Little Explorers

Posted on September 25, 2009September 24, 2009 by Becky

I took a bunch of “outdoorsy” shots of the kids last weekend on the church retreat. For most readers, I’m sure this post screams “MOMMM!!” loud and clear. . .

You will see over a dozen shots of the same two kids playing in the same few square feet of earth over a total of nine minutes while we walked, in the way that only toddlers do, from the main lodge to the house where the nursery was located.

Soooo. . . you have been warned!

And for my family and anyone else dying to see more pics of the kids (or as Mara says, ‘tids’): well, I couldn’t decide which of these I liked best. So here they are!

Enjoy Mara’s incessant chatter throughout the pictures. And Micah’s smile–he’s always happiest outside!