Lunar Cycles? ... Maybe?

Right now I have a headache who's splitting-effects could compete with the San Andreas Fault. (You can add that to the list of "You know you're from California when...") and I really should be going to bed to take care of said headache. Not that it's wicked late, but I can hardly see straight...I blame it on the three-hour meeting I had. I know what you're thinking: Yikes.


But I feel like I want to write. I know, I know...how could I write if I can't even think straight. But it's true. I just feel it sometimes--I'm sure you all know what I mean. Not necessarily with writing, but with something.

Do any of you have a certain night of each week where it is noticeably more difficult to fall asleep at night? (Yep, we're taking a totally different turn here.) Mine is Wednesday. I used to think it was because I often went to play basketball on Wednesday night, and when I got home it would take an hour or so for the adrenaline to wear off enough for me to pass out. Now I'm not so sure, though I doubt the ball-playing helps. (Not that I'm willing to give it up entirely.)

I stopped playing ball every week because I've got some equipment issues right now. Yet, I find myself still lying awake long after Mike has returned from playing and has fallen peacefully to sleep. Not every week, but more often than the rest of the nights in a week, that's for sure. I seem to have more ideas on Wednesday nights. They just roll around in my head and bounce off each other until I've written them down. If I don't write them down, two things will happen: (1) I will be up even later, and (2) I will kick myself later when I'm trying to think of the "really cool idea" I had. So I jot them down on a pad of paper in the kitchen, then climb back in bed. This will happen two or three times before I'm actually asleep. Then in the morning, or a day or two later, I will go through them and see if anything still sounds interesting. Then, theoretically, I'll write one of them. (At the very least I'll start it.)

I don't know what it is about Wednesday. It just gets the juices flowing. If I didn't have day-time responsibilities I would probably stay up all Wednesday night typing up ideas and outlines and intros. Which means, I guess, it's a good thing I do have responsibilities--otherwise I'd be sleep-deprived and my ideas would probably not be as good.

Huh...look at that. My headache's gone.

Tread On, Worn Down, Stressed Out, and Thrilled

Let me tell you a little about my day. I'll try to keep it in a nutshell, but I make no promises--especially since it starts last night...it's been a long one.

I found out last night some sad news. I won't go into detail since the rest of this post would seem odd, if not inappropriate. Just know that although sad, it was also expected and in many ways (to me at least) relieving. With this news though--however lacking in shock I may be--came a lack of sleep. I fell asleep two hours later than usual. This morning, I was opening my door at 6:45 to greet the baby boy I've been watching all week. Normally he pouts for a bit after being dropped off, but this morning I had to literally pry him off his mother. 

"Sorry, he woke up really grumpy this morning," she said. 

"Oh, not to worry! Come, little guy, let's be happy!" I said cheerily as I pulled him screaming from his mum. 

He cried for a half hour. Madie--who had been happy and perky when I put her to bed 12 hours earlier--also awoke slightly disgruntled. But who can blame her--she was woken by a wailing 11-month old. 

The real fun began when another friend knocked on the door at 8:40. 

"Madie! Your friends are here!" I chirped. Addison and Madie knew each other well and I was sure this would entertain her. Everything was great for the first hour: Madie, Addison, and Emma (Addie's older sister) watched some Winnie the Pooh while I picked up, showered, etc. and Kaleb napped. But sometime right before we hit the home stretch before their mum showed up it all fell apart. Kaleb woke up still not happy; Addie kept experimenting with Kaleb's face ("What will he do when I poke him in the eye? What will he do when I pinch his cheeks?"); Emma kept informing me of Addie's misdeeds even as I witnessed them; and Madie kept screaming at everyone to STOP TOUCHING HER THINGS! (Like the animal crackers Addison and Emma brought.)

My friend probably thought Armageddon had started in the small upstairs apartment in which I live. An hour later, with both her daughters gone, Madie and Kaleb fed and down for their afternoon naps, I thought I would enjoy a relatively quiet afternoon. But Kaleb and Madie woke very much in the same moods as before. Kaleb cried over any reason he could find, and Madie gave him plenty of reasons to cry. But a few hours later, as Kaleb's mum came to pick him up, I again had the feeling I would be enjoying a nice evening, with my husband home and a daughter who no longer had anyone to be stingy to. Again, I was proven wrong. 

I thought I'd go nuts if I had to listen to Madie scream or cry one more time while I was making dinner and Mike was in the bedroom listening to his lecture, so she was shut in her room. Shut. I don't usually close the door when I put her in her room since she can't open it up again when she's calmed down. But today I felt it would be safer for everyone if her door was closed.

At the end of dinner--and my rope--my neighbors knocked on the door.

"Here we are!" 

"Yes! Here you are! Come here, Vahan," I said as I reached out for their 11-month-old son. I had forgotten I'd agreed to watch him for an hour. Normally he's a very relaxed kid, though, and I was ready for a happy baby. They closed the door and he started crying. Of course.

And of course, Madie was as stingy with him as with everyone else. In a fit of rage over not being allowed to steal Vahan's own toy from him, she threw a block across the room, so I foot-balled her and flossed and brushed her teeth. When I set her down to undress her she screamed, "Poo-poo!" So I stripped her and sat her on her toilet seat and in the middle of my heated lecture to her on sharing (what can I say? I'm my father's daughter.) I heard it. I heard it!

An unmistakable and continuous tinkling.

It was like a church bell at noon.

I stopped mid-sentence and she stopped mid-cry. I smiled big while she gave me a startled stare. 

"Oh! Madie! Oh, Madie! Give me five!" She grinned and gave me five. Then five again. "Do you want THREE POTTY CANDIES!" (Yes. I've been bribing her for a week now, and to no avail.) 

"YESH!" she shouted.

With the potty candies distributed I lifted her up and wiped her clean. Oh, finally! FINALLY! This is it folks! That first one has got to be the hardest one, I'm sure of it. And I know Madie--now that she's done it once, she'll do it again and again. Oh happy day! All my trials have been redeemed! Who knew I just needed to get her so upset she would stop thinking about it?! EUREKA! Glorious day! And now, it will be recorded forever in the annals of Watkins Family History. Let the headlines read: 

"On September 21, Lady Madeleine Pees!"

Madie's Corner

Miss Madie has a little corner in her room that has apparently become very special to her. I was hoping it would serve as a sitting area where she would read, but it has become so much more! (In a good way.)

Madie does use it as a place to read (all the books are over there, so it makes the most sense). She loves to flip through her books and look at the pictures.

Madie also listens to music in her corner. I have recently moved the cd player down to the floor for two reasons: a) Madie can now turn it on and off her self and b) I needed to make room for the spinning disco ball light Aunt Alexa gave Madie for her birthday.

Here's a classic picture of Madie lying in front of her cd player (right behind the corner of the dresser) and listening to her children's music. I've told some of you of this, but for those who haven't heard, Madie loves to dance and she loves to listen to children's music, but not at the same time. If she's going to dance it's going to be to something like The Blackeyed Peas or Shakira. But when it's time to listen to kid's music, that's it. Don't sing, don't hum, don't dance, don't bob your head. Just listen. She's slowly starting to grow out of that, but that was the rule for quite a while.

We had trouble for a while getting Madie to stay in her toddler bed at nap time. She wouldn't come out of her room, but she'd get up and play a little, or knock on the door and ask for a drink. Most of the time though she'd just get up and go sit by the cd player and listen. But she wouldn't fall asleep. Finally I decided to just put her there to begin with.

I think I can consider it a success.

Anyone else have a corner for their kid?

Five Reasons Parenting Doesn't Suck

I just read this post on thenodramamomma.org (never read it, but this was a great post!) and it really brought to my attention how acceptable it has become to complain about our children. I've often thought about how much I complain about Madie, but I've (of late) worried that maybe people take me a little serious. I complain about her mostly as a joke. The things she does is so over-the-top dramatic that it's funny! And if I exaggerate just a liiiiiiittle bit about my reactions it's even funnier. I like laughing. I like making people laugh. Madie gives me lots of fodder. The Meanest Mom knows how I feel (even if there are lots of people who don't really get how she feels).

But I've tried reigning it in a little bit. Madie really is a great kid, and we REALLY lucked out having such an easy one for our first. She's strong-headed and throws Olympic tantrums, but she's always slept well, she's usually cheerful, she isn't a picky eater, and lately she's been giving me a whole array of good-morning kisses--and I have the bruised cheeks to prove it! A little comic venting sometimes is one thing, but since when did it become not only shamefacedly funny, but expected and acceptable to talk about our kids this way?

I love No Drama Momma's list, especially number one, and in that spirit I want to add five more things to her list of why being a parent doesn't suck.

1. The unconditional love. It's a two-way street. I would do anything for Madie no matter what she did to me, and she loves me no matter what I do to her. I remember as a ten-year old, I used to love frightening my baby sister so I could watch her big lip curl under and her eyes grow huge--the effect was so cute! And the best part was I would hold out my arms and she would come to me--her tormentor--for comfort. She would immediately forgive me and not for one moment did she stop loving me. That's how children are. It's beautiful.

2. Parental inspiration. That's all I can think of to call it. Since having a baby, I have had lightening strike after lightening strike go through my brain telling me how to handle a situation, how to teach her something, how to entertain her. In fact, just a couple weeks ago I had an "AHA!" moment as to how to potty train her. It's incredible! If you're open to the guidance of God, you will definitely receive it!

3. The Stories. Good, bad, cute, messy. They're all funny. Seriously. It's hard not to break into laughter with a two-year old standing on your husband's belly, holding her finger to her lips and saying, "Shhhhhh, shhhhhh" as though she's trying to soothe him, and then leaping into the air and body-slamming him with her diapered bum. Oh my gosh. I laugh every time!

4. You learn to relish the peace and quiet. I've always been able to relish the peace and quiet--that's what you get from living with 9 other people most of your life. But as an adult, living in an apartment where most of my roommates were either studying or gone half the day, sometimes I'd just sit there bored out of my mind. It wasn't usually too bad, but it did get to me once in a while. Well, not anymore, my friends! Not anymore! As much as I love spending time with Madie, I can't tell you how much I can appreciate the quiet moments of the day, whether she's contentedly playing ALONE in her room, or napping, those are precious, precious minutes.

5. The names. I love names. Maybe I'm the only one, but I get the feeling that I'm not. I know there are closet name fanatics out there. People who spend hours on end looking through lists and lists of names on all sorts of websites, finding their meanings on other websites, and then creating their own lists of names on still more websites. No? Just me? Alright. Really though, I love the sound of my daughter's name, Madeleine. I love the way it looks when it's spelled out. I love her middle name, Fiona. I love their denotations, I love their connotations, I love her initials. and I can't wait to look around for another one whenever the time comes!

So, what do you love about parenting? Please share, no matter the age of you offspring!

Ray Lamontagne Concert

On Friday we went to see Ray Lamontagne play at the Greek Theater on the UC Berkeley campus. After fighting traffic to get to Berkeley and running a little late, I dropped off Mal to pick up the tickets from will-call, and I went on a mission to find food and a parking place. I knew where to go to find food, The Cheese Board of course! I started waiting in line for about five minutes (long line) then realized I didn't have any cash. This is a cash only joint. I left the line to find somewhere else to eat. I was pretty bummed, I love that place. I found a taqueria, you can never go wrong with those (unless you live in Eastern Idaho or the Midwest).

Ran back to the car with the food, ran back near the theater to find a parking place and found a free one that I didn't have to spend $20 like everyone else was doing, and booked it for the theater. One problem, I was running in the wrong direction of the theater. After A while, I finally asked someone if they knew where the Greek Theater was. "Up the hill on the other side of campus" I was told. Great! I was in flip flops, so I decided to join the rest of the hippies, took off my flip flops and booked it uphill. Shin splints were killing me! Finally found the theater after about a half a mile. The cherry on top was I forgot the sweaters.

It's all good though, watching Ray in concert was worth it. For those of you who aren't familiar with his music, he is a folk artist. Amazing voice and clever lyrics. He can really rock the harmonica too! Check him out on this link.

Encore!

Labor Day Weekend Part 2: Danish Serengeti

Sunday we found a ward in Morro Bay to attend Sacrament Meeting. Afterward, we made a last-second decision and decided to drive two hours down to the Danish town Solvang. I had been here once before with my family when I was 9 or 10. We came for New Years and stayed at a hotel in town. I remember my brother Ty playing his bongos in the park and people gathering around him to listen, and threw him a few coins. That's about it. We figured we are this close to Solvang, we mine as well go! Who knows if or when we will ever come down this way again?

Madie had so much fun playing with Nana and Papa in the car, that she forgot to take her nap. She almost immediately fell asleep in the stroller when we toured the town.

Had she been awake, we could have tried on this dress. If it was less than $42, we might have considered it.

Lots of the original Danish families still live in the area.

Mal & Mom loved checking out the little stores.

We had to get some ice cream & stroop waffels.

I've decided I want to build a Danish home.

Madie was getting antsy from all the driving, so we stopped at the beach to let her run around a little bit before we went back to our campsite for dinner. Anybody looking for a toddler model?

And she of course went to her rock-throwing creek.

Food always tastes better when you are camping.

"Oh, this is fun."

"Hey, why are you guys on the other side of the fence?"

"Ya know, I don't know if I like this anymore..."

"Stop it! Stop the ride!"

Wild Californian Zebra.

W.R. Hearst literally brought over Zebras, and Giraffes (just to name a few) to graze his property. They were used to attract celebrities to stay at the Hearst Castle to get some stories out of them for his newspaper publishing (like Rupert Murdoch, without the phone tapping). Most of the animals were sold off to local zoos after Hearst died. Some stayed. Hence, the California Zebra.

Before we headed back to the Bay Area, we drove up the coast to check out an elephant seal reserve that we saw when we drove in.

These guys were all over the place! Some males were sparring, most were just laying out in the sun.

Thanks for coming to California Nana & Papa.

Labor Day Weekend Part 1: San Simeon & Hearst Castle

For Labor Day weekend, we decided to head down the central coast of California and meet up with my parents...since it's somewhat in the middle for us (four hour drive for us, 9 hour for them?). I don't know how we were able to book this campsite, but I saw a few openings for Labor Day weekend back in June or so. Amazing there were any, really. So we drove down highway 1, which goes right along the coast. It was such a beautiful drive. Ocean on one side, mountains on the other, and a cool ocean breeze to cool us down. When we got to camp, Mal and I both got out of the car and were greeted by my Mom saying "So, where is she?" Not even a hug preceded that question! Of course, she was talking about the star of the show, Madie. I thought she was joking when she said that. Later on, she commented that she wasn't joking when she said that but just really was anxious to see Madie.

First things first. Within 5 minutes of our arrival Madie was opening birthday presents from Nana and Papa. Camping gear! Her very own sleeping bag, stainless steel water bottle, and a fold-up camping chair which she climbed in and out of 20+ times before bed.

Nana cuddling with Madie. She warmed right up to them. I think the weekly video chats really help her remember her distant family.

Saturday morning we headed up to Hearst Castle. For those who aren't familiar with the castle, it was built by William Randolph Hearst in the 1920's or so. It's purpose was to be his Mediterranean abode. It features many artifacts and art from Ancient Rome, Greece and Spain. Some items are duplicates of the original. A surprising amount are straight from Europe. It's actually really amazing when you see how ornate the whole area is. The best part of this trip for Madie? The bus ride. She recently discovered buses when we went to Yosemite. She points them out wherever we go. And when she saw that we got to ride one, she was thrilled.

There are four tours you can choose from, we decided to go with the Upstairs Suites Tour.

Anybody missing these guys in Rome? Second century, AD.

A peek inside one of the suites.

Amazing ceiling.

There were a few busts from Spain & Italy.

Madie was so good during the tour.

The study/library. This room was amazing.

They give you free reign outside once you finish the tour. The gardens were beautiful, lots of sculptures, and mosaic walkways.

Madie was loving the stairs.

Looking up.

Looks like we know where George Lucas got the idea for Princess Leah's hair.

The Neptune Pool.

Parthenon is from Ancient Greece. The columns apparently didn't come with it, since they were made 80 years ago. The feet and heads of the columns are legit though.

Swim, anyone?

One cool thing that they do at Hearst Castle is they do an auction for the chance to swim in the Roman Pool every few years. I couldn't imagine how much the winner would pay! The pool was absolutely amazing.

Mosaics of the Neptune Pool. The entire room was filled with these, and that room wasn't small.

We checked out the harbor at Morro Bay in search of fresh fish. Once we saw the prices ($35/lb for lobster), we headed to Albertsons. Much more reasonable.

We played at the beach in the evening. Madie was loving it!

I think she liked throwing rocks in the creek the most. She did this for about an hour.