kid chatter

Some funny chatter heard over at the Studer zoo crew to brighten up your Monday morning...

Greyson:  When will I get a girlfriend?
Me: um, maybe when you're fifteen
Greyson:  How long will it take to get fifteen?
Me: a very long time
Greyson: no, like how many sleeps?

Gemma: I'm going to kick your ass
Me:  Gemma Rose,  ass is a curse!
Gemma:  ass is a curse?
Me:  yes so stop saying it
Gemma: but my ass is getting out of here
Me:  Gemma! No more
Gemma: but what about his ass?
Me:  stop saying ass Gemma Rose
Gemma:  you said it.

Greyson:  I love you, Mum

Me:  I love you honey

Greyson:  I love you so much I have a smile in my heart! 

While painting our nails with glitter nail polish- 

Gemma:  look!  Sparkle-la-lees!

Me:  so fancy! 

Gemma:  I'm painting them for my daddy so you can look beau-full.

Me:  What do you want to be when you're a grown up?
Greyson:  Can I be a doctor?
Me:  Sure!  There are lots of kind of doctors:  there are kid doctors, grown up doctors, doctors that get babies out, doctors that do surgeries and cut people open and stitch them back up, doctors for animals
Gemma:  Can I be a Dr. Seuss?

Greyson:  Gemma, what's your football touchdown dance?
-Gemma stands up-
Me:  Here, honey - catch the ball for the touchdown
Gemma:  no
Me:  you have to catch the ball first
Gemma:  no
Greyson:  Gem!  You have to get the touchdown first
Gemma:  That's not my point!  I'm doing the dance part only

Gemma:  Knock, Knock
Daddy:  Who's there?
Gemma:  a fly
Daddy:  a fly who?
Gemma:  Momma hates it.

Gemma:   I want yogurt ON my waffle
Greyson:   Well that's unusual

Greyson:  Mum, do you get dead if you go in tomatoes?
Mum:  what?
Greyson:  If you go in a tomato, do you get dead?
Mum:  I don't understand what you're asking me.  Go in what tomatoes?
Greyson:  Like the girl on the Wizard movie
Mum:  that's called a tornado!  

Gemma:  Knock, Knock
Daddy:  Who's there?
Gemma:  Bullet  (our dog's name)
Daddy:  Bullet who?
Gemma:  Eat a bone.

Gemma Rose, our three year old

Dear Gemmi Ro,

Darling, you are a lot of things:
my second child
my first daughter
our resident comedian
a little Momma to anyone (or thing) smaller than you
a true beauty
a little spitfire who don't take no crap from nobody, man
a clever sneaky little trickster
a roughneck wrestling tomboy
a princess in dress up girl fancy clothes
a story lover
a make-up thief
a snuggler
a breaking heart filled with empathy for anyone in need or hurting
a caring and doting big sister
an up-for-anything little sister
the fault line in your Daddy's heart that can bring all of his toughness crashing down with a bat of your eyelash
and my mirror; I see me before and You someday and everything that I'm doing right or wrong right now.

You, darling, are truly something.

But on this birthday, your third sweetheart, you are my startling and terrifying reminder that time slows down for no one.

Ever since you came bursting into this life you have been in a high speed chase to keep up with your big brother.  I feel like every time I've tried to reach out and hold you still in the moment  - to stare in awe at the wonderment that is this age right this minute - you wiggle out of my grasp and go on tackling the next thing that feels too big for you.

And now you're three!  My second baby; my little Gemmi Ro is three!  I just don't know how that happened; how time moved that quick.  (You'll understand what I mean someday when you are a momma).

Right now, your favorite color is purple.  You love playing with babies, but mostly you prefer to run around the house playing 'Bigfoot catcher' or 'SpyKids' with Grey while you guys get into things that aren't yours and wreck the place.  You ask that me or Daddy 'pet you' while you fall asleep (rub your back or belly) and your body moves blissfully and automatically if you hear music.  You love lipsyching (even though you rarely know the words), and you finish your prayers every night with 'thank you for the playgrounds and oceans.'

You still like to be held and cuddled, but you also are the first to offer affection to others; you talk baby to Violet and ask to hold her and if someone is sick or tired you 'pet them' and cover them with a blanket.  You crave independence and feel immense pride when you can do new things on your own.  Recently you've (somewhat) mastered:  making pb&j toast, changing Violet's wet diapers, using the broom & dustpan, and stirring the cookie/cake dough without making a huge mess.

I am so fiercely proud of your empathy and capacity to feel for others.  Although that will be a burden to carry for your life, baby - it is one that seems to be lacking in our world and I am so so proud that you seem to have it deep in your bones.

Just keep being You, baby.

Maybe that's it.  Maybe being you IS growing fast and moving quick; twirling, dancing, and skipping while the whole rest of the world marches on in a steady pace.

Maybe forever, we'll say 'there goes our Gemmi, ribbon dancing in a tutu and camo rainboots; on to her next adventure.'  I sure hope so, because stereotypes and expectations be damned.  Our Gemmi will just do her own thing as she pleases.

We love you Gemmi Ro so so much it hurts us sometimes.

Forever and ever.
even when you get so big.
your Mumma.

FTWM to SAHM vlog series: Schedules - Part 1 Mom

Today on the vlog series, I'm talking about schedules for all things Mumma related.  I am a planning type girl, and leaving the deadline filled working world and moving into the world of chaotic freedom that is sahmhood, I needed to put some of my own schedules in place to keep myself feeling productive and moving in a direction that at least feels like forward.

The schedule that I discuss is one that I work towards in a Day to Day/Week to Week/Month to Month view.  Lots of Sahms schedule their days by the hour, but I found that to be unrealistic for our family.

So, I operate by looking at the full day, across an entire week, and thinking ahead to the month all together.  I fully recognize that plenty of other moms have waaay ________ (choose any:  cleaner homes, healthier meals, lower BMIs, better hygiene, more stylish appearances, and/or more date nights), but this is how it works for us and how we stay mostly happy, grateful, and intentional about the ways we are spending our days together.

Keep in mind, this is entirely from my own perspective and what seems to work for us.  If you're struggling for some structure or you're seeking out other vantage points on how to get the most out of your days. press play and see if how we do things can spark any inspiration (or maybe overwhelming fear, HAH) for you :)

...also this vlog is bananas.
Violet is totally distracting with all her wiggling in section2 (haha), it took the full day to record because of all of the distractions during the day, dogs barking, kids yelling & playing in the background, weird cuts and freezes (a ghost did it?), and also I was finishing a beer while recording the ending, because hump day.
seriously, this vlog = craytown.




Additional Resources:
Why/How a schedule can benefit a Sahm

Tab's Monthly Sahm Schedule (ideal/master)

Including bigger goals/dreams in your schedule:
12 Months of Kindness

Tab's 100 small things list