Tidbits

I feel like I've been neglecting this blog. It's not that I don't think about it because I do, probably too much. Every time Madeline says something adorable or I squeeze Caleb's chunky thighs for the 27th time before 9 a.m., I make a mental note to blog about it.

And then the day ends and I'm exhausted and I just want to veg out and watch "Castle" or "Project Runway," dream about the day when "Big Brother" will come back or read through my ever-growing stack of books.

And I don't feel blogger guilt. It's not that. I want to update because this is how I remember my kids' childhoods and my motherhood. I don't scrapbook. I barely take pictures and never actually print them out. I couldn't tell you what I did two days ago. But when I blog, I have those fleeting moments captured forever. 

Or until the Internet breaks down or Google implodes.

So here are some things I need to write out.

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Madeline: "Mom, I brushed my teeth twice tonight."

Me: "OK. Why?"

Madeline: "Well I don't really like brushing my teeth right now so I did it twice and I won't have to brush them tomorrow."

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I'm still can't have dairy because Caleb is a much happier little turtle when I abstain. People are constantly telling me it must be so hard and how they could never do it. Know what's hard? Trying to calm a screaming baby who refuses to be calmed. Trust me, you'd give it up too.

I do miss butter, milk chocolate, butter, queso and butter desperately but it's really OK when I find amazing non-dairy recipes. My friend Katy told me to make these chocolate cupcakes and OH MY WORD YOU GUYS. They are amazing. I'm not just saying that because I haven't tasted most desserts in two months or because I'm in love with Katy's to-die-for Southern accent. Even Joe agreed that they were the best tasting and super moist chocolate cupcakes he's had. I will now be making this recipe for the rest of my life. I will say, I wasn't the biggest fan of the tofu icing but the cake part? Oh dude, I want to make them again right now because just thinking about them is torture.

(Sarah? If you're reading this and still can't have dairy, please make these.They will make your week.)

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Joe shared this knock-knock joke today and it was like a million rays of warm sunlight dappling my day.

Knock, knock.

Who's there?

Jean-Claude van Damme.

Jean-Claude van Damme who?

That's show business!

Joe says you're welcome.

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Temperatures this week have been hotter than I was mentally prepared for in March. Our closets were not prepared either because I had to hack the sleeves and pant legs off some of Madeline's clothes just so she could go to preschool and not sweat to death. We went straight to hot summer temps. We spent every day outside at a park or in the backyard.

It's been like summer, especially when it came to bath time for Madeline and the water ran brown.

(You might not be able to see it clearly but she wears a rainbow in her feet. She always insists on red, pink, green, blue and purple and I'm very happy to obliged this request. Love this girl.)

She even went outside on Friday morning despite the fact that it was a downpour. She asked to play outside and I said no because, hello, it was gray and nasty and wet. But then I thought about Angie's recent post about encouraging kids to play outside in all the elements (she does run The Risky Kids after all...) so I told Madeline to grab her rain boats and raincoat and go outside. She didn't quite believe me at first but when she realized I was serious, I gained about 47 Cool Mom Points. I told her to not worry about getting dirty and she took my words to heart.

I wish I took pictures of her splashing around the mud, sitting in the wetness. She loved it. Until she didn't. And then she wanted to change ASAP. (I don't blame her; the wet butt had to be annoying.)

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I've always had a hard time finding good books for Madeline. We go to the library at least once a week (sometimes two or three times) and I'm constantly pulling random books off the shelves. Last time I blogged about this (a.k.a. lamenting this fact), Megan told me to check out "Honey for a Child's Heart."

Oh, Megan. You and Gladys have changed me life. I've been using that book during library trips for the past month or so and Madeline and I have been reading the best books. Seriously. It is so nice to re-read and re-read books that are delightful instead of boring and long (i.e. Madeline's favorite Barbie books).

We recently finished "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Gooney Bird Green" and we both loved them. It is a gift to read books with my girl.

Speaking of reading, Madeline has started to read a little on her own. Her preschool teacher suggested I let her try "Hop on Pop" since she knows all the letter sounds and she did fabulous. I was amazed at how quickly she could sound out and blend words. She was pretty excited too. It is just mindblowing to watch a person grow up and I am just so thankful I get to be her mom.