Serenity NOW.

I keep that as my half-joking mantra these days!  Sometimes it helps, lol.  Things have been going okay here but still kind of crazy.  Ingrid has been a little better about school because we've been drawing smiley faces on our hands and she can look down and see it during the day.  Today we forgot and she kind of lost it at the door of school and cried.  Which is when I scream SERENITY NOW!

Otis is loving school and has no issues with it.  I only have to yell serenity now with him when he is throwing his massive tantrums, which could be about anything.  Seriously, this morning it was about waffles.  First he wanted waffles, but when he got them out of the freezer he freaked out that they had a bite taken out of them.  Um, no they don't.  Cue the screaming.  He was convinced they had a bite taken out of them!  I opened a new box and he was mad I opened them.  I asked him to take out the ones he wanted, he said no.  I went to get them myself and he screamed he wanted to.  I handed him the box and he just threw it on the floor.  SERENITY NOW! 

But life is good.  I have Gallery Night on Friday, we have a sitter, so we'll get to hang out in a bar and I'll sell baby goods while drinking beer.  God bless Milwaukee!!  I'm busy getting ready for the holiday season, I have two shows coming up.  Urban Garage Sale is in November, Hover Craft is in December.  So exciting!

SCHOOL'S BACK IN!!

Oh my god, it's finally time!  School started today and I could not be happier.  I am so not one of the moms that cries to send their kid off, probably because Ingrid loves school and has never seemed upset by going.  Today we were up bright and early and I remembered two key things about the school year that I'd forgotten over the summer: 1. Ingrid doesn't like to eat right away in the morning which makes breakfast time HELL. and 2. She is crazy about what to wear, even if we pick out clothes the night before she changes her mind and ends up picking something completely different five seconds before we have to leave.  We still managed to be out the door to take pictures before school starts at 7:30.

 Otis had to wear his backpack, too, even though he doesn't start his preschool until tomorrow.  He cried and begged to hold Ingrid's lunch bag but she wouldn't let him.  A couple more years, little guy, you'll have your own.

We had a great day together, Otis and I.  We went and played with friends, I got some bibs cut out, he took a nap.  And then it was time for Ingrid to come home.  She is taking the bus home this year, since Otis doesn't get up from his nap until just after she gets home.  I don't want to have to wake him up, I enjoy nap time way too much for that.  So, she buses it.  I think it scared her today, she said there were too many people on it, and she didn't like it.  But we'll try it this week and see how it goes.  I won't force it, but it sure was nice to just walk to the end of the block to get her instead of getting in the car and finding parking. 

Tomorrow is Otis's first day.  I don't know how that will go honestly.  He is such a mama's boy, I'm not sure how he'll do if I try to leave.  I think he'll be okay, he'll be so excited about new toys, but who knows.  He's been rather clingy lately so we'll see...How was your first day?

Big Kid

I took these pictures with my Canon the other day and as I was looking at them I realized how much of a little boy Otis is now.  No more baby or even toddler, he is all boy!  He is getting so big, putting on his own shoes, taking care of his dishes after dinner, getting into bed by himself.  No more babies.  He starts preschool in the fall, and when we drive by the church it's in, he says "There's my school!"  His school.  He's big.

First Week of School

Ingrid has now had two days at her Montessori.  She has loved both days and I'm sure will enjoy the rest of the summer.  Yesterday was her second day and she was so excited to bring her ladybug lunch bag and go see Miss Carrie and Miss Jamie.  When we got there, she ran up the stairs, ready to show me where she washed her apples and carrots!  I just love seeing her so excited and having so much fun while learning things.  And I'm really enjoying what little I know of Montessori, it seems like such a good match for Ingrid.

Yesterday she wore two of my favorite things together, a vintage Mexican top and a pair of green polyester slacks.  Seriously, they are slacks.  Crease down the middle of the legs, a little bell to them, they are soooo cute!

Once again I got so much done while she was gone.  I love having five hours with just Otis!  He has taken long naps while she's gone (imagine being able to sleep better without a screaming three year old in the house.  Strange.) and I get to get things done without hearing "will you color with me?  Oops, I spilled.  I have to go to the bathroom.  Play with me, Mama."  I got the whole house cleaned, four loads of laundry done, and I sewed the top of a baby quilt. 

Otis is growing like a weed, seriously.  He started eating cereal and fruit and veg and will down the whole bowl in about five minutes.  He's off his nursing strike mostly, so we don't have to feed him that many bottles anymore, hooray!  I had to go through his box of clothes and find more that would fit, since he was busting out of his 3-6 mo. tshirts.  I found this one at the thrift store awhile ago and couldn't wait to put it on him.

But his favorite is still to just be naked. Whenever he's upset, we strip off his clothes and lay him on the bed.  He immediately calms down, grabs his feet and starts talking.