Popping "Duddles"

As mentioned in last night's post, I give you "Popping Duddles." Enjoy.

I predict a summer rich in duddles and waffles. Yep, soap balls and frozen Belgians.

Backyard Bubbles

Have bubble gun, will entertain kid- reason #120,009 why I love Jesse. Miles' fascination with bubbles is reason #112,096 on the love list. I've got a video of this, too! Miles is calling them "duddles." That's reason #231.

Blurring of the lines

We went to a transition informational session earlier this week. The topic- Miles' upcoming move to a public pre-school program for children at-risk and with special needs. Quick disclaimer, I am a special education teacher. I've been through a litany of eligibility and, more so, IEP meetings. However, I've never been to one as a parent. We went for that main purpose. (I am not including IFSP meetings, which as a parent, I've been through plenty.)

As usual, our infant program provided excellent information and make the session more of a chance to meet and greet other parents who have been through the process. Brilliant approach- I am taking notes for myself. (Wouldn't this be helpful for parents of kids transitioning to high school???)

The most interesting part of the night dealt with parents' perceptions of meetings, particularly IEP meetings. One mom said she gets very anxious over them and never really knows what is going on. I then thought of some of the blog postings I've read over the past two years- where IEP meetings are rarely put into a good light, and I felt on the defensive. If I were an attorney, would I feel the same way if I heard someone crack a lawyer joke? Probably.

It was good, both personally and professionally, to hear the parents' concerns over IEP meetings. Personally, I will be ever grateful that I have entered this profession, with reasons extending far beyond the scope of this post. I couldn't imagine walking blind into an IEP meeting, not knowing all of the legal-ese that goes on in conversation and paper. Yes, it is a complicated process- but only in that it protects rights and ensures service. Perhaps I'd miss the positive aspects of the document if I didn't know it so well. Secondly, this info is good for professional reasons- I feel that bringing empathy to the IEP meeting table will help ease others' anxiety. I can honestly say, "Been there. Done that. Signed the consent line."

As for the blurring of the lines, this certainly will be an interesting transition over the summer. Our first hurdle is Miles' eligibility meeting. Though he does have a medical diagnosis of Down syndrome, he also has some pretty strong evaluation scores. I have in mind what I'd like to see happen, but I know, believe me I know, that this is truly a team process. And as we start to move away from the infant program, I will always be thankful for its compassion and excellence to service. If you live in the Williamsburg area, you might already know what a Godsend CDR is. If you don't live close by- just look at our son's progress; it speaks volumes of the program.

Mama'a got a brand new flash!

Playing with the flash's settings while Miles takes down waffle #2 for dinner... waffles might be the new chicken nugget in our house. Might.

As for the flash, it's a bit fancier than I had planned on getting, but I had Jesse in tow during the purchasing. Jesse knows technology, and this flash is in-sync with the camera. Apparently, they talk- hopefully, they only say nice things. Later this week, I plan on returning to Massey's to learn how to use fill-in flash in daylight- said to take years off of faces.

Cousin Playdate

Paige and Sienna swung by (with their parents Jon and Shannon) to hang out with Miles this afternoon. You know me; I had to snap just a few pictures. Prior to this impromptu shoot, we hung out in Miles' room doing the usual: coloring, working on puzzles, catching up on family news, and watching Miles try to eat play dough.

Paige, a total two year old knock-out! And polite as she is beautiful; I only hope Miles was taking notes on Paige's use of "please" and "thank you." She was quite the little lady.

Paige and Miles below- With two visits now, this is the only picture I can get of them together! Miles is not ready to handle "group shots" yet; I am asking too much of him to stand still and smile. Next time, I'll be prepared for an action shot.

Introducing Sienna! Taa-daa!

Sienna pictured here with her dad, all smiles!

Family, you might notice this is turning into a virtual "brag board." Uh-oh, the need to display pictures must be genetic.

Just because I am thirty...

... doesn't mean I can't get a wicked, wicked zit. I've got a shiner on my right check bone so prominent, it now casts a shadow. I caught a glimpse of the sucker while running, in a car window reflection, and nearly tripped because I thought a bug had landed on my face. If this zit sticks around much longer, I will have to start coloring it like a ladybug, that way I will be springy-festive and concealing the fact that I face needs some painkillers. Ugh.

Any recommendations out there for good skin care products? My Aveno isn't cutting it, and I think it might be the culprit behind my recent break-outs. My budget isn't big enough for Clinique, which is where I would love to turn to. Especially for their uber-amazing under eye cream. Here's the lowdown: I have combination skin, but I need a daily moisturizer. The floor is open; please respond to my face's SOS if you've got any secrets.

Posting Irony

So after I posted my reflections on turning 30, I found out that my brother got me Phish tickets. Fingers are still crossed for Antiques Roadshow, but you better believe I will be happily dusting off my old patchwork top. Birthday good times.

Happy Birthday to Me

Some observations on turning 30.

1. Nothing new hurt today. No new lines in the face appeared. One serious pillow crease freaked me out for about five minutes. I actually thought that the Wrinkle Fairy came and slapped my slumbering skull, but then a little cool water washed it away. Whew!

2. All I've heard are good things (thanks Erin and Lanaux) about the 30's, and I am inclined to believe the news. The 20's were rough. So much change and instability. I had no idea who I was or where I was headed. Not much has changed as of this morning, I am still a spaced out cadet looking for her satellite, but at least I have a reliable crew to join me on my life's mission. Miles and Jesse make excellent team mates.

3. My gift to myself: lighten up and accept mistakes. Yep, I'm really going to try hard and shed my perfectionism. If I haven't dropped the habit in a month, I will be furious with myself for not getting it right. Wrath and tears will ensue. Opps, wait. I can't do that anymore. The new, 30 year old me doesn't have room for that type-A b.s. Life is too darn short to stress about things that are out of my control, and it's too sweet to fret about things that I can control but don't need to. I am resurrecting a motto I coined in college. Now, you've all heard of "WWJD?", right? Well, I roll a bit differently. My motto is "WWFD?" "F" you ask- well, that's easy. I am referring to the band Foghat. "What would Foghat do?" The answer is: Slow ride, take it easy. And that is what I plan to do.

4. Major plans for this next decade? Well, given my new credo if chillaxin', I can't say for sure what will happen. I'd like to finish my master's degree. Seeing that I've now taken grad courses from three universities but have yet to commit to a program, I want to change that. Currently, I am finishing requirements for a teaching license, but after that, it's all fair game. I'd really like to pursue something akin to my undergraduate degree. I miss writing gonzo papers comparing Soviet propaganda to 50's sci-fi movies. Yep, W&M let me out doing academic stunts like that- and this is why I send then a contribution annually, to keep the LCST program going. Who needs an English degree when you can take seminars on nightmares and the New Yorker??? I also want to explore the option of writing for a living. That, to me, would be a sweet way of earning some cash. But what to say, what to say???

5. Last but not least... I am proud of my growth, from that wild child with the orange/blond/pink hair to wild teacher with the brown/orange/blond hair. Interestingly enough, I entered a ticket lottery not too long ago. A few years back, I was doing lotteries like this to get Phish tickets. This lottery is for tickets to Antiques Roadshow. Need I say more?

And one final parting shot, Jesse and I are making our triumphant return to the local mixed doubles tennis league. We haven't play competitively in 5 years, but that doesn't mean our thirst for victory has lessened with time. Okay, seriously... we haven't regularly hit a tennis ball in two years. I'm just praying we have fun and get a bit sweaty. If I make it through the season sans injury, that will be victory enough for me. Go Team Thomas!!!

Late Morning at College Creek

This was a nice start to my Spring Break. A quick trip down the Colonial Parkway to nice, quiet beach spot... ahhh! To bad the remainder of out time there was spent with me trying to keep Miles away from a washed-up KFC cup. Gross. I've posted the shot of him spotting it above- love at first sight. Little Man was livid when I wouldn't let him play with it. Mean, old mommy. Anywhoo, it was a lovely but short-lived excursion. I couldn't compete with the KFC cup.

Eggs, eggs, eggs!

Egg Hunting at First Presbyterian: Miles found a whopping five eggs! You'll notice his careful approach, as to not disturb the unsuspecting eggs. Once in his sight, he makes his approach. And the swoosh! The egg is tucked away into the frog pail. Just kidding. Miles was more interested in the blades of grass and the colorful dresses on his fellow hunters. Regardless, he did a great job and kept his Mr. Roger's sweater on the whole time. Score!

All of the egg hunters! Note the pint-sized serious bloke on the front row. He's my favorite!

I don't eat Easter candy; I prefer my fingers.

Mom and Grammy, shooting away!

My Very Own Bathtub Basquait!

I splurged on some bath crayons; best wax investment EVER! They wash of both the boy and the tub with relative ease. Oh, joy! Little Man and I are doodling nightly now.