Let the Slapping Begin!

It is a rare thing when I feel like totally bitch slapping someone; but, right now, I could totally let the fists o' fury fly.  In a rare moment of relaxation yesterday, I decided to check out Facebook.  It was then I noticed a posting from the leader of the pug group to which I belong.  (Yes, I belong to a pug group.  If you owned one, you would totally understand).  Anyhow, the leader of the group often posts about pug dogs in need of rescue.  This particular pug cutie who needed adoption was given up because its owner has a new baby and she did not have enough time to spend with the dog.

What?!

Love Me!

Considering I have two children (one is four and the other is two), there was a time when I brought home  two newborns to our pug.  Even in the midst of the chaos that children (particularly freshly hatched ones) bring a household, I would never have entertained the thought of giving up Puggie.  Even after the dog ate a poopy diaper, and I had to clean up regurgitated poop all over the house, I never would have gotten rid of her.  Albeit, she did get a time out on the back porch until I knew she was empty.  Even after rushing her to the vet after she chewed on and ingested part of a bottle of diaper cream, I would never have gotten rid of her (even after seeing the subsequent vet bill from the emergency treatment).  Getting rid of Puggie would be akin to severing a limb.

Seeing the post about the rescued pug made me think of all the things my family would have missed out on without Puggie.  She was my EPT.  She realized I was pregnant both times before I did (using the standard EPT).  Even after experiencing Alice, she still celebrated the new life growing within me when she sensed Angela.  With the birth of the girls, Puggie realized a new side of her identity- that of protector.  While I will admit that "pug protection" does seem like an oxymoron, Puggie takes her job seriously and has alerted me to a few things that needed my attention.  She is an amazing caregiver.  When Alice had pneumonia, Puggie did not leave her side.  She even acted as Alice's pillow.  Puggie is an amazing listener who seems very patient with Alice's constant chatter and Angela's prattling.  Puggie makes Angela laugh with her playfulness and patience with dress up (a Cinderella outfit on a pug is wrong yet hilarious).  Heck, "pug" was Angela's second word. 

Puggie has been my children's first lesson in gentleness as she so sweetly endured those first slaps pats of affection from her girls.  She has also been their first lessons in responsibility as they do the daily pug tasks that I have assigned them.  She kept me sane during the "baby blues" period of plummeting hormones.  Nothing gives comfort like a pug gently snoring alongside you.  She was a great nursing pillow and book prop (pre-Kindle days).

I wish I could find that woman and have her reconsider her choice.  But, perhaps, her pug is better off without someone so uncaring.

This Blog is Brought to You by the Letter "F"

Unfortunately, I did not witness this interchange firsthand. 

John and I decided to speed up the "getting the kids to bed so we have a few seconds of silence before we pass out" routine.  I engaged in the fruitless task of rocking Peanut to sleep while John ran the water for Alice's bath.  While she waited on the toliet for her bath time, Alice let out a particularly long fart.  Amazed by her wind passing prowess, Alice happily exclaimed to her father, "Daddy, it sounds like an 'F'!"

I wonder if her teachers would be impressed by this application of her phonics knowledge.

What a Great Way to Wake Up

I had a rough time sleeping last night.  Angela woke up with teething pain and had a hard time settling back into sleep.  One of those fast and furious summer-esque storms hit.  My sciatica flared due to the weather.  I did not want my tossing and turning to wake John, so I moved to the guest bedroom.  I put a heating pad on my back and hoped to salvage the rest of the night.  

I must have passed out because next thing I know Alice is in bed next to me.  Angela let out a cry.  "Mommy, Angela's awake," Alice informed me.

I grabbed Angela who was standing in her crib waiting for me, and I brought her back into bed with Alice and me.  Whereas Alice is content to snuggle alongside of me, Angela likes to drape herself across my chest.  I was enjoying the quiet (something I don't experience too often) when I discerned a series of odd puckering noises coming from Angela.  It took a second to register that she was practicing her kissing.  She is very adept at blowing kisses; but, lately, she has been trying to make actual contact with the person she is trying to kiss.  I shifted my gaze down to her at the moment she lifted her head to look at me.  Upon making eye contact with me, Angela stopped her training momentarily and said, "Happy."  She then planted a kiss on my lips.  

I wonder if she registered my heart's reply of "Me too."

Never Say Never

Here is a picture of the girls in their Easter finery.  Yes, I realize that Easter was a few weeks ago.  Unfortunately, Angela does not nap anymore so things like downloading pictures from the camera are hard to fit into the day.  I want to state for the record that the matching outfits were NOT my idea.  Although they look cute, I will never be the type of mom who would do matching outfits of my own volition.  Apparently, I am the type of mom who is a total sucker for my four year old who so wanted to match with her sister.

The shopping trip for the Easter outfits started innocently enough.  I had Alice help me find her sister's dress.  We then went into the Little Girl section of the store to look for Alice's.  Right away, she found Angela's dress in her size and she was thrilled.

"Alice, isn't this yellow one pretty?"  I asked hopefully.

"No Mommy.  I want this one."

I pulled a bright pink dress from the rack (another thing that is totally makes me cringe inside; it figures pink would be her favorite color).  I had her now. I had brought out the big guns, or should I say the pink ones?  "How about this one?  It's pink."

"No Mommy.  I want to match Angela," she replied steadfastly.

I was screwed.

As I paid for the dresses, I figured I could shake things up with the shoes. 

No such luck. 

We went to the shoe store and I allowed Alice to find her shoes.  One we got hers, we trooped to the section of shoes in Angela's size.  Before I could even focus on the choices in front of me, Alice honed in on the perfect pair- the ones that matched hers.

She joyfully showed me her find.  I sighed and brought the two boxes to the cashier.  I realized I had been beaten.  Now my only consolation will be the horror Alice will feel as a teenager looking at the Easter 2011 pictures.  It will be a horror that will only be intensified when she learns it was all her idea.

True to Form

Today is Angela's birthday.  I cannot believe that she is two years old.  Actually, there are certain times when I can totally believe she is two.  They generally correlate with the times that I want to pound my head into a wall repeatedly.

After I served the girls their breakfasts, I sat down in my seat next to Angela and sang "Happy Birthday" to her.  Upon its completion, she smiled and demanded, "Cake."

It is nice to see that some things don't change.

Easter Mass

One day I will look at my well behaved children after Easter mass and think, "When did they become so boring?"  In Alice's defense, she was great.  Thankfully she did not pledge her allegiance to Satan like she did two years ago.  Peanut, however, was your typical two year old (read- a pain in the butt).  I spent more time walking outside the church than actually inside listening to the mass.  Props to the grounds crew of the church.  You did a beautiful job.  Thankfully it was a nice day, so I guess God was smiling upon me in that respect.  I am sure it was in appreciation for the laughs He got while Angela was inside the church.

• Angela apparently really loves her Pop Pop.  Unfortunately for all the white haired gentlemen wearing glasses around us, she adopted them all as her honorary grandfathers.  She kissed and hugged the man sitting next to me much to the amusement of his family and persisted in kissing the back of the man in front of us throughout the time we were actually in the church.  I hope they were flattered more than annoyed.

• During the "Glory to God" a hand bell chimed.  Angela exclaimed, "Oh no!  Telephone!"  I guess she took the reminder to turn off all cell phones to heart.   

Another Alice-ism

Today we took the kids to Dairy Queen.  Alice enjoyed her chocolate and vanilla twist tremendously.  As she ate, Alice surprised us with the information that ice cream has to stay cold or it will die. 

Apparently, she watched Frosty the Snowman one too many times.

I don't think I will view melting the same way ever again.