Another Childhood Favorite

I love this movie. "The Last Unicorn" is at the top of my Top 10 favorite kid movies. It's just so good. And totally cheesy. I remember watching it as a smallish girl, and becoming mildly obsessed with unicorns. And princes. The music is extremely catchy, too - America sings all of the songs. While I am not usually a fan of the band, I love the soundtrack for this flick. It's so soothing (at least to me). TLU also has a wonderful cast. It's a movie that I can just listen to - I don't have to actually watch it to be entertained.

When I was 14 I started babysitting a neighboring family. Their girls had the VHS of this movie, and I was once again transported back to my unicorn-loving early childhood. After I graduated from high school, I borrowed the movie (and kept it until last week. Yeah, I "borrowed" the video for 12+ years.). I watched it on a regular basis while in college, and I even made my husband watch it when we were first married (he really wasn't all that enthused with it).

One day this spring, the kids were fighting over which video to watch, and they finally settled on The Last Unicorn (Gabriel wanted something with animals, Elliott wanted something in a red box). They had never seen it, and I wasn't sure it was a good idea - it isn't exactly a Disney movie in theme or animation. Of course my hesitancy set them off on a loud and whiny tangent, so I caved. They immediately fell in love with the movie, too. As soon as Jon got home Gabriel started yammering about a red bull and a King Haggard. Elliott could only talk about a "horsey wif horn". Once Jon figured out what they were so excited about, he actually thought it was pretty cool. I think he might be sick of Disney movies. He even suggested buying the DVD so I could actually return the VHS to it's rightful owner.

At least 3 times a week, the kids watch The Last Unicorn. Gabriel has most of the songs memorized, and he asks if the iPod can play the Unicorn music (I have CDs of Disney music and a number of soundtracks from his favorite movies). Currently, the iPod cannot play the music, but soon it will be able to!!) And when he and his sister aren't watching and singing along with the movie, they are reenacting it with their Little People. Gabey gets out the castle, and he arranges his own small cast of characters - a unicorn (of course) and Lady Amalthea, King Haggard, Prince Lear (on a horse with a dragon for slaying), Molly Grue, Schmendrick the Magician, the Red Bull (or in our case, a fuzzy camel), and the salty Cat with a peg-leg. Elliott carries around her own unicorn, farmer (apparently he's Prince Lear), and lion (her Red Bull).

Am I the only person who loves this movie? Most of the time when I mention it, I get blank stares. No one seems to know WTF I am talking about. Do YOU know??

Happy Birthday, Peanut!!

Where has the time gone? It is really possible that my Sweet and Petite Peanut is really One whole year old? To be honest, I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. She's my last baby, the last kiddo of mine to turn one. She's no longer a baby-baby. She's becoming more and more independent as the days go by. She still stops moving long enough for hugs and kisses, but she's far more content to play (by herself!!!!) and make messes than to be cuddled by Mommy. That being said, I am so glad that she is a strong-willed, attitudinal girl. I wouldn't have her be any other way.


Here's a walk down a short memory lane - the lane being 12 months long.

After a slightly traumatic entrance into the world, I am ready to go home for the first time!

One month old - I am smiling, rolling over (seriously), and almost sleeping through the night.

2 months old - Happiness is a full tummy (I love to eat) and sleeping all night.

3 months old - Still a very happy baby girl!

4 months old - Rolling over, laughing at my Big Siblings, and eating are my favorite things!

5 months old - I have almost have this sitting thing down.

6 months old - Mommy says I am sweetness and light. Unless I am suffering from an ear infection.

7 months old - Playing is what I like best. And eating, too.

8 months old - I'm trying my hardest to pull up and to crawl.

9 months old - Still working on the crawling, but I have mastered pulling up!

10 months old - I am a mobile girl - I crawl and cruise!

11 months old - Where did all of this hair come from?

Today is my First Birthday! The last year has gone by so quickly. I think I need a nap!

2nd Degree

Why is it that no matter how many times you tell a child NOT to do something, they have to do it? I realize that kids are "programmed" to not listen, and to push buttons. Any buttons. My buttons. And I have have three of the most button-pushing children on the face of the planet.

This week is apparently Gabriel's week for button-pushing. He's been having a banner summer for said pushing - and I've had about all that I can stand. He's enrolled in a Summer Rec program, and my guess is that he's learning all kinds of neat things from the older kids that are also enrolled. While he's always had a bit of an attitude problem (he is, after all, my son), his nastiness/rudeness/jerkiness has gotten worse in the last month. I realize that he's 4. And that he's probably bored. And he has me for a mother (attitudinal isn't even a proper word to describe me). All of those are good excuses, but something has to give at some point. Gabriel is also very "hand's on". He likes to touch everything. He has to know how things work, why things work. In that respect, he is very much his father's son. Jon's an engineer, and also very hand's on in his learning.

I digress. So, why is it that kids must do the exact opposite of what you tell them? I suppose that if someone figures out the answer to that they are going to be rich and famous - every parent will want access to that bit of knowledge.

Here's a perfect example of Gabriel's inability to listen. Jon took Gabey and Janna outside on Monday evening (Elliott was in time-out for peeing all over the bathroom). They rode bikes, played at the playground, and then came back to the yard so Jon could get ready to grill chicken for dinner. Every single time we are in the back yard we tell the kids to never, ever, ever, EVER touch the grill. (I bet you can already guess where this story is going.)

Jon put Janna in her hopper (exersaucer), and Gabriel was planted firmly in the sandbox. I heard Jon tell him to stay away from the grill. Jon commenced making fire (we have a charcoal grill), and everything was fine. He started cooking the chicken, and I once again heard him remind Gabriel that grills are hot. No touchy-touchy. I continued chatting on the phone with my Mom, and I was telling her how good Gabe was being. How well he was listening. And then I heard it. Jon's raised voice. Followed by shrieking. Uncontrollable, inconsolable shrieking. I told my Mom I was pretty sure that Gabriel had just touched the grill. And he had. With his entire right hand. Not just a finger, the entire hand. So in he came, face purple from hysterically crying. Nothing would soothe. Being the very smart Mom that I am, I knew how to "treat" a burn, so I held his hand under cool water, and then gave him a wet washcloth. From the few peeks he would allow me, I could see that the skin was blistering. I called his ped's office, and they advised me to take him to the ER.

The ER was pretty busy, so we had to wait our turn. Gabriel, being the attitudinal turd that he is, kept asking me when someone was going to come fix his hand. He was hungry, and he didn't need to stay there anymore. It was actually pretty funny to listen to his little boy voice telling the doctor that it was about time he got there. The doctor didn't mind being put in his place by a 4-year-old, either. Dr. F. popped the blisters (ewwwww), and wrapped Gabe's hand up but good.

As part of the discharge instructions, I had to follow up with the Burn Unit at Strong Hospital. While I knew it was necessary, it was still a giant pain in my ass. My kids nap. And of course the only time Gabey could be seen was at 1. Right at the beginning of nap-time. Thank goodness I have a very understanding hubby. He came home so the girls could sleep, and Gabe and I went into the city. Dr. L. was very nice, and we discussed treatment options. The burn is a superficial second degree wound, and no matter what anyone does, it will heal on its own. I realize this isn't a great picture, but you can see the burn covering his little hand. Nice, huh?

It has to be kept dry and clean, so Dr. L. re-wrapped it in a tougher, calamine lotion-soaked bandage that should, in theory, stay until next Monday. Gabriel was very pleased with the outcome. Not only does it look cool to him, but it also leaves a pink slick on everything he touches.

Today, Gabe says his hand only hurts a little bit. But he is starting to get annoyed with the bandages (which have to stay on his hands for at least 2 weeks). I'm starting to get annoyed with the bandages, too. They are, indeed, leaving a pink slick on everything he touches. And since he has discovered that he can milk this boo-boo for everything it's worth (he can no longer feed himself, pull up his pants, strap himself into his car seat, write his name), he's helpless. The reason I find his helplessness so annoying is that he's only helpless when he wants to be. He can play trains, swing, slide, fall down steps, wrestle his sister. Again, I realize it's the age. But I'm trying to take care of two smaller urchins - one of whom is basically helpless (have I mentioned lately that Janna is going to be 1 tomorrow???!!!) . I could use a break (i.e. Pull up your own damned pants. Even if it means that you have to put Gordon down.)!

Knock-Knock

While we were finishing up dinner this evening, Jon asked me when I thought Gabriel was old enough to understand Knock-knock Jokes. So I said, "Let's find out."

Mommy/Daddy: "Knock-knock."
Gabriel: "Knock-knock."
D: "No. You say, 'Who's there?'"
Elliott: "Who's there?"
M: "Boo."

[Blank stares from children.]

D: "Now you say, 'Boo who?'"
G: "Boo who?"
M: "You don't have to cry about it! It's only a joke!! Hahahaha."

[More blank stares.]

D: "Ok. Let's try this again. Knock-knock."

G/E: "Knock-knock."

M/D: "No, you say, 'Who's there?'"

E: "Who's there?"

D: "Banana."

G: "Banana."

M: "No, you say 'Banana who?"

[Blank stares.]

D: "Now, when I say, 'Knock-knock.', you say, 'Who's there?' Got it?"

G/E: "Yep."

D: "Knock-knock."

G/E: "Knock-knock."

D: "Ok, so that answers that question. Knock-knock, Gabriel."

G: "It's in the water."

M/D: "What? What's in the water?"

E: "Yeah. It's in the ocean."

M/D: "Ummm, ok. Banana."

E: "Banana. Nana. Nana. Nana?"

D: "Knock-knock."

G: "It's Nana. The door is locked and she's trying to get in."

[Blank stares from Mommy and Daddy.]

Hello? Is Santa There?

Being the terrible mother that I am, I have resorted to "calling" Santa Claus when I need help trying to get the kids to cooperate. I can't be blamed for it - Jon started it!! The other night when the kids were out of control (screaming, yelling, throwing food/toys), the phone rang. It was Jennifer checking to see if I was ready to walk, but the kids didn't know that. They kept asking who I was talking to, and Jon (who had had enough at this point and had lost his seemingly never-ending supply of patience) finally told them that it was Santa. He said that Santa was calling to check in - to see how everyone was behaving. Gabriel was confused - he knows when Santa comes (winter), and it's not winter. He said as much to Jon. Jon reassured him that Santa does, indeed, call throughout the year to make sure everyone is being nice to their mommies and daddies, brothers and sisters, cats and dogs, toys and dinners.

This morning, the kids were acting like mini-fools (once again throwing food/toys, screaming/yelling), and before he left, Jon told them they'd better behave. Santa might just call again. Or worse. Mommy might have to call him. Gabriel immediately stopped throwing and screaming. Elliott stopped screaming, but said she still wasn't going to eat her waffles. Janna, obviously, didn't care and continued to throw her food on the floor and spray milk everywhere.

After things calmed down a bit, Gabriel came into the kitchen to actually ask if I was planning to call Santa. I said no, but that I would if he really didn't behave himself. He said he would. His reason? He wanted to make sure Santa was bringing him a Polar Express. I told him that behaving would be great! It would make everyone happy and proud - especially Mommy and Santa.

So far, so good. Gabey and Elliott are in the playroom playing "Nice Guy/Nasty One". Apparently Elliott is the Nasty One and Gabey is the Nice Guy. He is chasing her with a magic wand (an Aida cross-stitch fabric tube filled with rainbow colored beads and duct taped at the ends) and a piece of pretend pizza. I guess those are the tools needed to reform the Nasty One.