Peas, por favor

The other day, Max was whining about something at the dinner table.

Me: "Can you please use your big boy words to tell me what you want?"

Max: "Pleeeeeeeeeeeease?"

Me: "Please what?"

Max: "Please, por favor?"

Now, before you go off thinking that my son is a bilingual genius, let me tell you about a little character called Skippyjon Jones. Skippyjon is a Siamese cat with a very large head who thinks he is a chihuahua. The author of the books likes to throw in random Spanish phrases, and apparently Max has started to pick up on them. In Skippyjon's latest adventure, he goes to ancient Egypt, where mummies "rest in peas". Follow? So Skippito goes on a hunt for these amazing peas while his friends, the Chimichangos Pack, stand by chanting "Peas por favor! Peas por favor!" Apparently Max thought they were saying "Please, por favor" and decided that was the response I was looking for!

I would love for our kids to be bilingual. I think that our country is waaaaay behind in that regard. Spanish would sure be the most practical, but I wouldn't care if they wanted to learn Chinese or Swahili! Being able to communicate in two (or more) languages broadens your ability to think- there are some thoughts that can simply be expressed better in one language versus another. It also opens up possibilities that aren't available to someone who only knows their native tongue. Our world is getting smaller every day, and not everyone in the world speaks English. Lets prepare our kids for the world they will live in!

Novena to the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit Novena begins today, and concludes on Saturday, May 22, on the vigil of Pentecost. This year, I am praying the Novena for a group of High School juniors who were confirmed a couple of months ago, students that I got to know particularly well while I was a youth minister in Rapid City. The version that I'm praying is found on the EWTN website here if you want to pray with me. This is what they have to say about this beautiful novena:

"The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian."

I'm so thankful that the Church gives voice to the prayers I want to pray, but can never come up with the words. It's kind of like when I read a book or an article that explains something I've always known to be true but could never articulate... because some people are just better writers than me. I love being Catholic!

Stre-e-e-e-etch

Without any prompting from us, Max has begun to bring his stool into the bedroom each night for some evening exercises. Honestly, I have no idea where he came up with this idea... rarely (if ever) has he seen either of his parents exercise. Below is a sampling of his nightly routine:

Motherhood's A Blast

Motherhood is a funny thing. At the same time that I wish Max was more self-sufficient, I get sad when he starts to show signs of independence. He has never been afraid of much, but his fearlessness has always shown itself within my radius, where he can easily access me or someone he knows almost instantly.

Yesterday, we brought Max to a cool indoor playground called The Blast, which is like a very clean version of a MacDonalds play area. The climbing equipment is designed for kids age 3-12, an age range that is creeping up on us very quickly. It took him awhile to discover the stairs to the upper level, but once he did, he was gone! Now, this is not like a regular playground, where your child is basically within your reach and within eyesight at all times. No, once he entered the rocket ship that was the staircase, he was out of sight and out of reach. We could only occasionally see flashes of his shirt or socks as he traversed the tunnel maze above our heads. I got sick with nerves- What if he gets run over by a big huge 5-year-old? What if he gets stuck??

Then we saw his little blond head pop into a window at the far end. He looked slightly nervous himself... Mom was 12 feet down on the other side of a plastic bubble! But he caught our eye and tried to look brave as he turned around to find his way back down.

He came shooting out of the rocket staircase toward us, obviously proud of what he had accomplished. Then Daddy brought him to see the window that he had looked down from just moments before. This must have made something click because before we left that night, my little boy had made his way to that window three more times, each time with more confidence and a bigger smile as he looked down at us from far above.

His comfort zone is increasing by leaps and bounds every day! My little boy is getting bigger and I can't do anything to stop it. I just pray that his guardian angel is as vigilant as his Daddy's was, because he won't always be within my reach.

Road Trip

On Saturday, we took a trip down to Winona to see Susan, Fr. Brian and Fr. Tyler, who were in town for the graduation of some Rapid City seminarians. We left home after lunch and made the beautiful drive down Hwy 61 with two sleeping children in the backseat. That is how every road trip should be- gorgeous scenery and quiet sleeping children!

We made it to St. Mary's campus in about two hours and decided to stroll the kiddos around campus while we waited for The Fathers and Susan to get back from lunch. It was a fun little walk down memory lane, but boy it seems like it was longer than just four years ago! Since we graduated, they've built a new outdoor track and soccer field, a disc golf course, and a high ropes course. We sure would have made use of those (especially the disc golf!) if they had been around when we were. The seminary also had some new features- Pews in the chapel! And a tiled floor! Plus they added beautiful Stations of the Cross on the front lawn.

We met up with the Rapid City crew at the seminary and were surprised to see Chris Deaver with them!! (Chris, if you ever read this, Florida is too far away! Come back to the Midwest!) We chilled in the JPII Lounge for awhile and then decided to go bowling at Wellington's (aka "the chapel"- ask Fr. Brian). Max played the first game with us and got an impressive 17 points! Then he wandered off and played foosball by himself while we finished our second game... in which, I am proud to say, I scored 120! Fr. Brian only played one of my frames for me, and I won't mention my score on the first game.

After bowling, it was time to head to Jefferson's- our old stomping grounds. Hooray for 18 karat wings!! Max asked me over and over again for a "bone to eat". I think he thinks he's a dog...or a dinosaur. Dinner was great, especially the company, and we were all surprised to look at our watches and realize it was 9:15! We said our goodbyes, packed up the boys and began the journey back home. Max watched the stars until he fell asleep, and I found myself drifting off as well. We rolled in around 11:30 and fell straight into bed. It was a good day.

Thanks Susan, Fr. Brian, Fr. Tyler and Chris, for a ton of fun! Let's do it again soon!

Happy Mother's Day!

This morning I was greeted by a soggy baby who had soaked through his diaper overnight. No big deal. I got him up, changed his diaper and put him in an adorable little outfit that Grandma Radecki gave us. One boy all ready at 8:00am! Score!

Then I sat down at the computer with Lucian in my lap. As I finished up writing an email, I smelled something a little...ripe. I picked him up to change the offending diaper and realized instantly that it was more than just the diaper I would have to deal with. Lucian's pants, shirt and my shirt were all affected by the mess! Off to the bathtub we went to take care of the disaster.

Mid-bath, Max came giggling into the bathroom, completely in the buff. Paul (who had fallen asleep in Max's room for part of the night) followed after him, explaining to me that Max had woken up in a puddle, also having leaked through his diaper! I got Lucian out of the bath and wrapped him in a towel, sans diaper. As I sat holding him, telling Paul what had happened that morning, I felt something leak through the towel... now what little baby waits to pee until he's out of the bath??

It's been an eventful morning, but now both kids are clean, Lucian is asleep, and life is on track once again. To all mothers out there (especially my own), thank you for all of the messes you've cleaned up over the years!

Happy Laundry Day!

Moby, not the musician

I am going to take a minute to rave about one of my favorite baby accessories, the Moby. I received the Moby at Christmas in '08 right before our trip to Europe and it was a lifesaver! I carried around a one-year-old Max almost everywhere we went. No heavy backpack, no bulky stroller, just six yards of stretchy t-shirt material that ties up into a light, comfortable baby carrier.

I packed the Moby away until Lucian was born, then I took it out and relearned how to tie it. It works for newborns up to toddlers, and it can be worn a ton of different ways! I discovered I can put him in there while I cook dinner and he's totally content to watch me chop veggies or mix casseroles. Don't worry, I take him out for any potentially hazardous stir-frying.

If any future (or current) mothers are reading this, I highly recommend adding the Moby to your baby wishlist!

Enough advertising. This was really just an excuse to get a super cute picture of Chubbo up on my blog!