Three!

As of Thursday, Elliott is three, an age I both love and find immensely challenging. I probably don't have to go into why three is hard. Why everyone I know warns parents of younger children, "I know everyone says two is bad, but I'm really sorry...two's got nothing on three." (And not even in an assholey "just you wait!" kind of way; seriously in an "I'm so sorry this wasn't in the brochure" way.) Why I was invited this week to join a text message support-group of fellow Twitter moms with three-year-olds. Starting with a child who is already opinionated, stubborn, and really good at over-it side-eye, I suspect the next year will be an education. But three is also SO GREAT. It's the age at which I really feel they start to become little people in their own right. There's still a little bit of baby for nostalgia's sake, but mostly they are starting to express their own personality, their own quirks and gifts. Elliott has started to tell me about things he remembers; he knows how (and mostly when) to be funny on purpose; he's musical; he's physically coordinated; he kills at Wii bowling. As wistful as I am for the days of tiny snuggly babies, I'm eager to see where these boys will lead me as they grow and change.

I took the day off for Elliott's birthday, and we had lunch with Nico at school. Elliott could not believe his luck - eating lunch in a cafeteria booth with beloved Bruvver and his friends, plus running wild in the gym with 85 big kids during recess? Greatest day ever. We had his family party yesterday and it was so nice. E was excited about his cake, excited to play with his cousins, excited to open his presents. He got really great gifts, too...things that are cool and he'll use and play with plenty. Fun recommendations for a three-year-old who likes Space, trains, music, and playing outside (the interests I listed on his party invitation): a Moon in My Room, a really cool view master / telescope, binoculars, a bug viewing jar, a little battery-operated train, a Raffi CD, and his own ukulele. Nico just started ukulele lessons and when Elliott opened his he shouted "A ukuwewe!" and promptly used it to accompany an enthusiastic if off-key rendition of the ABCs. Day made. It really was a great day.

Today was a beautiful sunny 68 degrees, we had nothing on the calendar, and the house was still clean, so we spent the afternoon at the zoo and then went out for one of the most pleasant restaurant dinners we've had probably ever. If this is how the good days of three are going to be, then I can definitely weather the challenging days...it seems like a fair trade.

Elliott has started requesting his backpack and lunchbox in the morning, just like Nico. On this morning, once the backpack was on he announced "I'm a big boy!" and marched proudly out the door. In the car, Nico said something complimentary about Elliott being a big boy, and Elliott replied, "I'm not big. I took it off." So apparently the backpack is the key to bigness.

This photo was taken about thirty minutes after he threw an absolute barn-burner of tantrum over putting on that sweatshirt so we could go fetch Nico from school. Have mercy. On the bright side, I have discovered I can remain very calm while physically pinning a screaming, thrashing preschooler to my chest and installing him in a hoodie or coat. Also he still looks very sweet when he sleeps.

Reading:  To Kill a Mockingbird

Playing:  Led Zeppelin. This week Elliott started to sing along to Black Dog, and I'm very proud.

There are no good song lyrics to use as titles for hodgepodge posts written in the month of February.

MB recently taught the boys how to play Wii bowling, and all of a sudden Elliott is really good at it. Like, beating us without us even trying to let him win. Like, absolutely owning us. We played two games after dinner last night. He bowled 207 the first time and 172 the second. Watching his technique, it seems like it must be dumb luck, except how does luck account for annihilating TWO adults who are actually trying to win? Anyway, I find the whole thing hilarious and awesome and wish we'd recorded the entire first game of the night. He ended it by rolling four strikes in a row, and probably could've become an internet sensation.



(I feel obligated to state that he only does that bratty foot-stomp over missing one pin because he had just seen his brother do it a few minutes before. He usually is pretty unbothered by his rare not-great frames.)

I ended up testing my fancy winter leggings last weekend and I fully endorse them. My family had a graveside service for my great-aunt who died back in December and was cremated, and the day dawned a beautiful sunny eight degrees. My hands were cold and my face was cold, but my legs were just fine. Best ten dollar winter investment ever.

A friend shared this on facebook a week or two ago, and my instant reaction was a skeptical smirk. I had just listened to the original the night before and would have possibly bet money there was no way the Disturbed guy could do it justice. Then I played the video and took it all back. It's really beautiful.



Cuties have ruined me for all other oranges. Someone gave me some pink Cara Cara oranges for Elliott, and peeling them is such a pain in the ass. So much rind under my thumbnail! So much pith all over the place! Sloppy wedges that don't split neatly apart! I do realize this is a really stupid first-world problem.

I spent the morning today doing the things one does around the house that no one else will EVER notice or appreciate, but that nevertheless need to be done. I pulled outgrown pants and shirts out of both kids' dressers, changed the sheets on all the beds, refilled the soap dispensers in both bathrooms and the kitchen, and other mundane and unremarkable things. I wish I could remember where I first heard the term "invisible work" for these kinds of tasks, because it is the most apt description imaginable.


Reading (audiobook):  Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J Ryan Stradal

Playing:   a lot of repeats of that Sounds of Silence cover

Things I do not regret buying

We upgraded our phones back on New Year's Day, so I now have an iPhone 6s. While the increased storage size and no-longer-failing battery are great, I think my favorite thing about the phone is actually the case. Having busted two Otter Box defender cases in a row, I decided to give Lifeproof a try. So far I've dropped it a few times with no issues, and it is delivering on the promise of being dust-proof. The best, most awesome thing, though...I realized that since the case is actually submersible for up to an hour, I can listen to audiobooks in the shower. It's possible you're staring at your screen with a what the hell look on your face right now, but I don't even care because I can listen to audiobooks in the shower! Or podcasts! Or music! Or whatever I want because WATERPROOF.

I took advantage of a 40% off plus a sale Lands' End deal not long after we went sledding and bought myself a real winter coat. I got the squall jacket which is rated for -5 degrees, so seems respectably a coat to me. Even with the discounts it was $65, which is a HUGE splurge for me. I never spend that kind of money on clothes for myself and I had some buyers' remorse after finalizing the purchase. But I kept telling myself it was a good deal, and also that it is pretty ridiculous to still be layering hoodies under an Army surplus jacket at my age. I wore the coat for the first time today and I no longer have any remorse. I can't believe I waited so long to get myself a proper coat. I ran errands all morning with Elliott while it was windy and 24 degrees and I was perfectly comfortable. The coat isn't bulky at all, either, which is really nice. It's a little poofed-out in the front when I'm sitting down, but I was only wearing it over a T-shirt and suspect I would've appreciated the extra room if I was wearing a thicker shirt or a jacket underneath, and I don't think a size down would've zipped comfortably over my boobs, so I'm going to suffer the slight poofy front in silence.

I also bought these very fancy pants for ten bucks because I haven't owned leggings since the original dying gasp of stirrup pants back in 8th grade, and have often wished for something other than flannel pj pants to layer under my jeans on cold work or camping days. I figured I couldn't get old-school waffle-weave long johns for less than ten bucks, so it was worth a chance. I haven't had a reason to wear them yet, but I also have zero regrets about this purchase.

Two days before we went sledding, I snapped up a pair of Sorel boots (in this print) on a local buy / sell / trade site for fifty dollars. My previous strategy had been to wear fuzzy socks inside my rain boots, which kept my feet dry but not at all warm since the boots have no insulation. My feet would've been warmer in my regular trainers. The day of sledding proved the boots to be a good investment, particularly because I suspect they'll last forever with the slim number of actual snowy days we get around here.

A local facebook acquaintance who is also an amazing seamstress recently started her own online shop. She was looking for people to buy items at cost and then take photos of kids wearing the clothes for use on her site. I thought her hooded fleece sweatshirt design looked cute enough, and figured I could feel good about doing something nice even if I didn't end up loving the shirt, and bought one for Elliott. WELL. I think this may be my new favorite thing to put on him. It somehow echoes his precise blend of sweetness and mischief. It's awesomely soft and (as far as I can tell) comfortable, and so stinking cute. I took advantage of a nice-weather playdate at the zoo and got some photos for her. I feel like I might order another when he outgrows this one. I should've asked her for some business cards to hand out, because everywhere he wore this, people complimented it. If you need one (I think everyone needs one), her shop is Sew Squirrelly Boutique on facebook. She also makes fantastic dresses.

Have you bought anything lately that you've loved, or at least liked quite a lot?


Reading:  Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Just finished (audiobook):  The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith

Playing:  still Led Zeppelin

Is disclosing still a thing? If it is, let the record show that I bought everything that I talk about in this post, and haven't promised reviews to anyone. I also don't do affiliate links, so any linkage is just in case someone wants to look at what I bought. I'm nosy about other people's stuff, I figure other people might be nosy about mine.