Hats

so many hats perched
precariously - sometimes
i wish they would fall.

When I was younger I never understood what people meant when they said they wore so many different hats. I thought it literally meant different hats - like baseball hats, or stocking hats, or top hats. When I read the phrase in books I pictured someone with a teetering tower of hats on top of their head. When I finally realized what "wearing different hats" meant, I thought it was a really neat way of describing yourself.

For some reason, this winter has seemed especially long. I am very tired of actual winter hats (and gloves, and coats, and scarves). As I was dressing the kids for yet another trip to the pediatrician's office (Janna's got another ear infection), I started thinking about hats. My hats. Not my literal hats, but my figurative ones. Already sitting on my head are the permanent hats: the "Daughter", "Sister", "Wife", "Mother", and "Friend" hats. Each hat has a different set of expectations and rules. Added to those are the smaller hats - the ones that are offshoots of the permanent hats. They change with the days. While they aren't always are "on", they are in pretty heavy rotation. Hats like the "Chauffeur", "Nurse", "Athletic Coordinator", "Teacher", "Librarian", "Chef", "Maid", "Photographer", "Arts & Crafts Guru", "Veterinarian", "Secretary", and "Historian". Sure there are other hats, but these are the ones that seem to get the most use.

Everyone wears hats. Every single one of us is wearing a wobbly pillar of hats right now. While I am proud to be the owner of such a wide variety of them, I sometimes wish they would all fall off for just 1 minute.

Finally!!

Janna has her first tooth! She was miserable last night (from about 1:45 to 3:00 am), and this explains it. She's usually an awesome sleeper, even when she's sick. This morning she was still a little uncomfortable, and when I looked in her mouth as she was yelling at me I could see that her bottom gums were a little purple. So I felt around, and there it was! Toofers #1! It's not quite all the way through the skin yet, but it's definitely there. YAY!

A Few of My Favorite Things

Being totally bored, and having a lack of kid-isms or actions to share (they have been so good this week), I thought I would dedicate a post to my favorite things. I rarely pay attention to the items I use on a daily basis - they're just there. And I use them. Every day. They are taken for granted. Yeah, they're inanimate objects, but they deserve some credit. After all, they help me to be the well-rounded individual you all know (and some of you even love).

So - here's a list of 10 Inanimate Objects (in no particular order) I wouldn't be able to get through the day without.

1. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm.

2. My Vera Bradley Purse O' The Moment. Right now, it's my Capri Melon Lindsay. I also use my Cambridge Baby Bag lots, too.

3. Pure Romance Body Dew. PR isn't only about adult play stuff. They offer some really nice products for the body, too. I have very dry skin, and this stuff is amazing. No itching, no razor burn, and it smells incredible.

4. Wipes.

5. Household Electronics. This includes, but is not limited to the DVD player/VCR, computer, cell phone, digital camera, digital camcorder. Is a microwave considered an electronic device??

6. Nap time.

7. Anti-bacterial foaming hand soap. I change a lot of diapers. Thus, I wash my hands a lot.

8. Hand Lotion.

9. 1/2 the Caff Coffee and Flavored Creamer. Since they get mixed, they count as one.

10. Charmin Basic Toilet Paper. The quality and feel of the stuff is nice. So is the price. I don't think I need to elaborate.

And now, my three most favorite things in the world are calling for me.

Happy Birthday Gabriel!

My Favorite and Best Boy is 4 years old! Where has the time gone? Some days it just doesn't seem possible. Then, of course, there are the days when I think he can't grow up fast enough. It's a good thing (a DAMNED good thing) he's cute!

Turning My Past Into Presents

red yarn hair, button
eyes, candy heart, and a sweet
smile that warms my soul

Vintage and antique toys and books thrill me. But what thrills me even more is sharing my love of all things raggedy with my perfect children. Watching my perfect children play with my beloved toys (or replicas of those toys) or reading my favorite books makes me smile. Knowing that they are getting as much enjoyment (at least for 2 minutes) as I did is so awesome.

This week's Blog Blast from ParentBloggers is about sharing your childhood memories with your kids. Those who choose to share their "sharing" are entered into a drawing to win a subscription to Highlights Magazine's new publication, High Five. How cool is that? Especially if you were a reader of Highlights when you were a small-fry (and I was!!).

I would have to say that the childhood love that I have shared the most would be my love, no, adoration of Raggedy Ann. I have my Grandmother's Raggedy books, my Mommy's dolls, my own dolls, and now my kids each have their own. There's something about the simplicity of the doll that has endeared her (and Andy) to my heart...and the hearts of millions. And my children love her. They each sleep with a smaller doll, and par-tay with the larger ones. We read the books at night, the household favorite being "Raggedy Ann in Cookie Land".

Speaking of books, I have also shared my love of them, especially Golden Books. My Mom shared her favorite books with me when I was smallish (love "Shirley Temple's Fairyland") , and we have both passed on our love of those books with this generation. With the birth of each child, my Mom gave them copies of her cherished childhood books (like "Gabriel Churchkitten" by Margot Austin), and I have created a Golden Book library of my favorites. For every holiday and birthday, each kid gets a new book. Though I don't think you can ever have too many books, we might be coming close.

Cabbage Patch Kids (they have some of mine, but they also each received a new one as a first birthday present), crayons (only Crayola will do), miniatures (I love tiny dolls and furniture - as did my Grandma and Mom), ColorForms, Dolly Pops (Fisher-Price's Snap 'n Style dolls are a pretty close match, though Elliott and Janna will have mine), and play kitchens (complete with TupperWare) are other playthings from my past that I have happily showered onto my kids.

Obviously toys and books aren't the only thing I have shared, but those are the ones that stand out the most. Writing this post has made me think of the wonderful things my Mom (and Grandmothers) passed on to me. My hope is that I am making them proud. I also hope that my babies will carry on their love of my beloved possessions to their children.

In keeping with the sharing theme of this post, I need to mention that I have also shared a loathing of socks with my kiddos.