Getting Away!

Daddy-o and I are out of here! We are headed to Massachussets for a 30th birthday party. I am being reunited with my college peeps who I haven't seen in a year and a half. I miss them!!!!! These people know how to party, so this boring, working, mom is hoping she can keep up. I will probably be stifling yawns come 9 p.m.. The Diva is going to be having a blast with Grammy and Grandpa for the weekend. I already miss The Diva, but in the long run this weekend is well deserved by all. Except maybe Grammy and Grandpa, who may be exhausted after 48 non-stop Diva hours!

Wet and Wild

The Diva has turned over a new leaf! In the past, she was really hesitant about being in the water. She was super nervous, really clingy, and sometimes hysterical. I was floored when I took her to the pool yesterday and she was such a brave little thing! She now enjoys dunking herself underwater, and she is really good at holding her breath properly, without any coaching. She is like a new kid and I just think it is so great. We had the best time! She is super excited about the swim lessons that she is signed up for later this summer.
Testing out the really shallow end!

On her way under!

One happy girl!!

Happy Father's Day

This man is an amazing father (and I happen to think he's pretty cute too!)! The Diva and I are so lucky to have him! Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

Night time is the right time

For freaking out! The Diva has suddenly developed a fear of sleeping in her room. Her nice, clean, organized, happy, pink room (I worked really hard on this!). Now she is afraid of the sound her fish make in their tank (they do kind of act they are on crack), afraid of her clock (I took it down), afraid to leave the closet door open, afraid certain dolls are "looking at her funny". I really don't know what to do. I spend time reassuring her, but lately every night SOMETHING is scary. She has also been having very vivid nightmares. One of Daddy-o's cousins told me that from age 3-8 this was a common occurence. Being a mom, I just want to take those fears away. Shall this too pass?

Moving on

Last night my Aunt called to invite us to a Father's Day picnic. She also dropped the bomb that my grandfather is dating someone. My Gram passed away a year and a half ago, and I guess it's inevitable that people do move on. I don't want my Papa to be lonely, and it sounds like he is taking it slow, but it still just forces more of the reality of death. One more concrete fact that reminds me that my Gram is gone. Sometimes life really hurts.

Inappropriate word?

Daddy-o thinks funky is an inappropriate word. He says he got in trouble for using it when he was younger. I see nothing wrong with funky. Thoughts? Opinions? Discuss! Or at the very least leave some sort of comment so I know I am not blogging in vain. Pretty please?

Coming back to bite me

So, while I think the "Pretty on the inside" conversation hit home, The Diva has also figured out how to turn it around on me.

Diva: Mommy you smell stinky. (I swear I don't!)
Me: Diva, that is not a very nice thing to say.
Diva: Well, I am feeling ugly on the inside.

It never ends with this kid.

Today

Is the last day of school. My summer job doesn't officially start until the end of June, so I get a little stay-cation. Since I have to pay for daycare whether Diva goes or not, I am thinking these days will be a combo of Mommy-Diva days, and Save Mommy's Sanity Days. I have a hard time sending Diva to daycare when I am not working. I cherish my time with her so much, but I have come to the realization that I am still a person, not just Diva's mommy. Sometimes I need a break. Sometimes I need to get things done. And I don't have to feel guilty about these things. I am still working on the feeling guilty part, but I need to take breaks where I can get them, since Daddy-o's work schedule doesn't provide me with much Diva help. I'm planning on applying for more jobs, hopefully going on some interviews (God willing), and going to the gym and a reasonable hour instead of 4:40 am. I am also looking into swim lessons for Diva, and other fun, exciting, summer opportunities for the two of us. This summer there are some really cool things going on in our little city. Right now the annual Jazz Fest is going on, and while there are some great concerts you can pay to see, there are also tons of opportunities for listening to great, free music. The Diva and I got a little taste downtown yesterday and we loved it. She danced her little feet off. Here's to a great summer!

Pretty On the Inside

I haven't blogged in forever. Life has gotten in the way, and I am going to try to get back into the swing of things. My job is winding down and I will have some down time until my summer job starts up. I am teaching summer school and will have a class of kindergartners heading to first grade. I am really excited about it, and trying not to get too down about the fact that I haven't found a classroom teaching job for next year yet. I want to be teaching again so badly that it hurts. Really, it hurts. I just keep on keeping on though, in the hopes that something will pan out.

This morning The Diva came with me to the laundry room. This is something she loves to do, but that usually makes more work for me. She was a pretty big help today though, and I only had to lay down the law 1 or 2 times, which is good! While I was folding laundry, she asked me, Mommy, what does pretty on the inside mean?. I don't know where she got the term, but I welcomed the opportunity to explain it to her and we had a really great conversation . I think she really gets it. Now that she gets it, I think it will really help in explaining why we shouldn't behave in certain ways. It truly was a teachable moment.