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Archive for March, 2008

Every single morning, I get woken up by my Baby Mochi’s voice calling, “Mommy” very softly in her low rumbly voice.  When I get to her, she’s standing up in her crib smiling at me and hands me her blanket and lifts her arm up for me to lift her out.  I pick her up and we giggle.  

By this time, Big Mochi has usually changed into her clothes that she’s going to wear that day and has drawn 2 pictures for her best friend Princess S, has decided on what she’d like for her morning snack, played a couple of video games on G’s computer, and is patiently asking for her morning cup of milk. 

No matter what happens today, it couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. 

3) Start every morning with a stretch and a smile.  Then go hug someone.

We took the mochis to see the Wiggles in concert yesterday.  It was unbelievably awesome!  What an absolutely great show.  The Nokia theater holds 7,100, I think, and it looked as though the venue was sold out.  Sam Wiggle did a great job as a Greg replacement.  I had my doubts, but I was pleasantly surprised.  Big Mochi had the best time dancing and jumping and singing.  Baby Mochi was fascinated for the first 4 minutes, then decided that munching on chips and popcorn and drinking water from a straw was a much better way to pass the time.  She did dance and jump for a bit, but for the most part, she was watching the big screen tvs and eating.  If she could have found a way to dive into the popcorn bucket, she totally would’ve.  Big Mochi made a friend and the two danced in the aisles for the 2nd half of the show.  By the end, she was sweating and was all flushed with red cheeks.  The best was when they turned the lights down and had everyone hold up their cell phones and blinking toys to illuminate the place while they sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  Oh, and they added a giant disco ball so there were more stars floating around.  Even G thought it was a great show, and that’s saying a lot since he’s difficult to impress.

This has nothing to do with my post, but since I bought new sneakers yesterday, I wanted to add another thing to add to my list of things to tell my kids. 

2) There is a correct way to tie your shoelaces.  You thread from the inside out.  I guess you don’t HAVE to, but my job is to make your life as simple and hassle-free as possible so you can concentrate on more important things. 

You’d think it would be common sense, yet there are so many times where I’ve tried on new shoes and I’ve had to relace them because they’ve been laced dumb.

There are a million inventions that have made people rich and famous.  It all starts with an idea.  I often wonder how they came up with that stuff.  Were they actually having trouble doing something and thought, ”There’s GOT to be an easier way!”  Or did they just wake up at 2 am and wonder what it would be like if… how do they do it?  Wouldn’t it be cool to be that guy one day?  

Then there are things out there that make you wonder.  For example, I’d like to follow the train of thought that hit that guy to think: Hey, it would be pretty cool to turn Dad into an earring.  You will now be hearing, ”No, it didn’t belong to your grandma, that is your grandma.”  Or spending Thanksgiving dinner at your parents’ house and you wonder where the family dog is, and Mom says, “Oh, Scruffy?  Why, he’s right here!” as she points to a nice sparkly pendant around her neck.  And for an extra $3/letter, you can laser engrave a message ON to dear old dad.  Talk about taking tattoos to a whole new level.  I get sentiment and all that, but personally, this is just a teensy bit morbid to me.  I’ll just leave behind some pictures, recipes and some cash to my mochis, thanks.

Baby Mochi is learning how to talk.  She mimics everything.  Even when she’s not around and I’m talking to someone, I find myself imagining her little echo in her soft low boy-voice.  I’d be having a conversation with Big Mochi while giving her a bath: So how was your day today?  Before she answers, we hear <day today> from behind me.  Did you get to play outside?  <Otside>  Can you please pass me that towel?  <towel>    Continuous and so much fun!   Love it!

I had something more fun to talk about, but right now I’m watching Aeon Flux whistle for little silver balls.  Oh hey, is that Eli Stone?  How come no one smiles in this movie?  Perhaps it’ll throw off their asymmetric cuts.

It’s too late.  I’m going to bed.  We’ve got the Wiggles to see live tomorrow.  Wallhoo!!!!!

G asked for an ipod for Christmas.  He loves it and uses it daily.  I finally broke down and got one for myself today.  I wanted a shuffle only because it’s so tiny and my purse is itty bitty, but it’s shiny and Baby Mochi would eat it.  I also listen to audiobooks and that just wouldn’t do.  I picked up the nano.  I figure Big Mochi can watch videos in the airport when we fly to Hawaii this Christmas.  Have you been to the apple store?  Pretty amazing.  It’s just a bunch of tables with devices to play with and people walking aorund giving assistance.  And when it’s time for you to purchase, they whip out a walkie-talkie-looking-thing out of their back pocket and ring you up right there (someone else goes in the back to get your item).  It’s very cool.  So anyway, I got my ipod and now I don’t have to listen to the dude behind me sing Christmas carols all day.  Seriously.  It’s March, after all.

I shared a Haagen Dazs ice chocolate/almond dipped ice cream bar with Big Mochi the other day.  It was so good, she asked to share another the next day.  I answered absently, “Sure, after dinner if you’re good.”  Next thing I know, the entire livingroom had been picked up – every single toy put away, all forts disassembled and blankets and pillows returned to the couch.  Even the clothes in her bedroom picked up and the comforters on MY bed had been folded.  Pretty amazing.  She did so good, I let her eat the whole thing.  Considering it was the last one, pretty big of me.  heh.

I remember giving birth both times.  Someone put this naked baby on my chest and I stared down and the three words that sang out loud and clear in my head were, “Big.  So big.”  She was an 8 pound baby born 3 days after her “scheduled” due date (and I got all my stretch marks on those last 3 days, thanks).  She had a full head of hair and her eyes were wide open for hours looking around and blinking at everyone and licking her lips looking for food.  You heard me; she was born hungry.  She had hairy ears and furry shoulders and a blue butt and honked like a goose for the first few weeks of her life.  She was heavy and floppy and even though I had been pushing for the past hour, I kind of didn’t get that this was My New Baby.  Even a few months later, I would still look at her and couldn’t quite comprehend the fact that I was a mommy. 

The second time around, I knew more or less what to expect.  This time my epidural went much better and I actually didn’t get sick afterwords or have any issues.  Not me, anyway.  She did, but she pulled through just fine.  She came out within a few minutes, it seemed, also with a full head of hair and a blue butt, but my first thoughts were, “Not as big…”  She was born 7 pounds 9 ounces, and let me tell you, those 7 ounces sure made a huge difference between the 2 sisters.  She seemed so tiny and fragile.  Even though I was induced early that morning, she held out until after midnight to come out on her dad’s 34th birthday.

If you do the math, her Sweet 16 is her dad’s 50th birthday.  THAT will be one huge party!

After my first mochi was born, I started thinking about all the things I’d like to pass on to my kids.  Some motherly advice that might help them to grow into respectful adults.  I will start here and add my thoughts daily and compile them until they’re old enough to understand. 

1) I have a motto that I strive to live by when conflicts arise: Take a step back.  Ask yourself, “In 5 years, who’s gonna care?”  If the answer is YOU, then do something about it.  Otherwise, let it go.  There are more important things to worry about.

I go to work to unwind from the weekends.  My weekends are filled from morning til night with babies and laundry and food and errands and scheduling and it’s nonstop.  It’s a neverending cycle, but the most rewarding by far.  Sometimes when the weekends are particularly grueling, I find myself wondering if it’s Friday yet at 9:15 on a Monday morning. 

You never think about it, but babies need their downtime as well.  Baby Mochi comes home and finds her way into a pink castle tent.  For a couple of minutes, she’ll lie down in the center of it face up, hanging on to her blanket and just wants to be alone.  She will sometimes drag her favorite toy, a Fisher Price ball popper, in the tent with her and play undisturbed all by herself.  It’s a cute process to witness.  I think everyone needs a pink castle tent once in a while.

The Easter Bunny wasn’t able to pay us a visit today, which was a bummer.  His admin messed up on his Outlook calendar and we had to reschedule the egg hunt for next week at our house.  Turns out it’s better that way, anyway, seeing as how Baby Mochi ended up with a fever in the afternoon.  It was so sad.  She was fine all day yesterday and even this morning when we went out to Sakura-ya to pick up some mochi to eat (yum!) and to Bruddah’s for some sweet sour spare ribs, chow fun, poke and poi (extra yum!)!  We needed to stop in at a store but failed to realize that Easter Sunday is a pretty big holiday so everything was closed.

… and since the Easter Bunny only comes to hide eggs while little mochis take a nap, it shouldn’t be too hard to get them to nap next week! 

It was Princess S’s 4th birthday party.  As usual, we were fashionably late, due to Baby Mochi’s extended morning nap.  It was well worth it, as they were both running nonstop the entire time in the perfect weather.  Considering how many kids were there, it wasn’t as chaotic as you’d expect.  No fights, no tears, quite the perfect day.  Aunty was there with AM and they brought the most amazing birthday cakes.  Yes, I said cakeS, as in more than 1.  There were THREE beautiful Disney princess cakes and all were yummo to the max!

I took a ton of pictures of Big Mochi playing with Princess S’s doctor kit while she examined this poor sick teddy bear.  I thought it was so cute and perhaps if she ever decides to be a doctor herself, she’ll have these pics to put on her wall.  Sadly, she knows the drill by heart as she has been to the doctor so many times in her short life so far.  You’d never know it by looking at her, but she’s a wreck inside.  I walk in to our local Target and every single pharmacist knows our family by name.  One of these days I’m going to drive in to the parking lot and there will be a sign posted with our name on it for “VIP Pharmacy Parking.” 

I’d like to share my favorite scenario.  It’s happened more than once with slight variations, but I’ve learned it’s inevitable, even with advanced planning.

First of all, we’re late.  Secondly, it only happens when I’m alone.  So we’re all strapped in the car seats and ready to go, key in the ignition and car running, ready to reverse out of the garage.  That’s when I notice the smell.  Turn off the car, unstrap everyone, run everyone back in the house, remove all shoes and get that stinky diaper changed.  Wash up, shoes back on, strap everyone in again.  Just as the key turns, “Mommy, I gotta go potty.”  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!??!  And yes, I asked numerous times before we left, but I’m told that was BEFORE and this is NOW.  So we unstrap everyone again, get back in the house, remove shoes, she runs, remembers to wipe, flush and wash hands, we’re good again.  So now we’re finally off.  Third time’s a charm.  Just as we get on the freeway, AH-CHOO!  Actually, it’s more like a “haPLKSH!”  See, there’s this phenomenon that makes a baby girl sneeze when sunlight hits them.  I’m not sure why that is, but apparently it happens even from the inside of a car window.  I glance back and Baby Mochi is completely covered in slime.  Not only that, but she’s wiping it with 2 hands all over her cheeks and headed up towards her head.  There is nowhere to pull over so I make it a point not to look back until we get off the freeway.  Of course there is always traffic when you’re trying to get off the freeway as quickly as possible.  Big Mochi is excitedly giving me a play-by-play of the backseat events.  I hear Baby saying WAWAWAWA.  Big Mochi: Oh Mommy, she’s all wet.  Her hair is all wet and her cheeks are, too.  I think she’s licking her hands!  Oh Mommy she’s scratching her head.  Mommy now she’s putting her finger in her ear and it’s all wet.  Mommy she’s going WAWAWA with her hands on her mouth.  She’s clapping now. 

3 soaked kleenexes later, she is cleaned up, I am exhausted and disgusted, but all is finally well. 

I made cupcakes.  The mini ones were supposed to be chicks, but it didn’t turn out as well as I had imagined.  Oh well, I don’t think the kids cared.  And my big ones ended up looking like mice instead of bunnies, but again, no one seemed to care.  I also forgot the coconut flakes to make them look furry, but I think they were okay with that, too.

Aunty made the biggest ham I’ve ever seen, along with cheesy potatoes, veggies and a bunch of other things that the kids ate up.  Storytime was rockin’, stick the tail on the Easter Bunny was a hit, dyed eggs were successfully hunted, and we all left with giant bags of loot.  All in all, it was an Easter party to be remembered.

As you’ll hear repeatedly throughout these postings, we take our food seriously.  I am small, but I can eat.  My kids are smaller, and they can outeat me.  We need 3 square meals a day minimum and if a meal is skipped… well, you’d know ahead of time because we will LET you know in a not-so-pleasant manner.  And if we’re tired and hungry, all I can say is RUN!  This whole food/sleep issue, of course, perplexes G, who can survive on 1 meal a day and 5 hours of sleep a night.

Big Mochi eats anything.  If it resembles food, she’s on it.  She eats first, then asks what it is.  Due to her severe allergies (that’s a whole ‘nother Oprah for some other day) she is restricted, but anything she CAN eat, she does.  The only thing I can think of that she doesn’t eat is chocolate.  Go figure.  If you are in the kitchen preparing food, she is right next to you waiting for a handout.  It is amazing how well she eats.  More amazing is that she loves spinach, olives, green salad, oatmeal, and pretty much anything healthy.  Easiest baby when it comes to food. 

Baby Mochi tends to be pickier, but she has no trouble eating her weight in what she likes.  What she doesn’t like, she is quick to let you know as it is thrown violently on the floor, oftentimes followed by a deep breathy NOOOO!  Lately, she’s learned to follow her big sister in the kitchen to get handouts as well.  Since she doesn’t speak that well yet and has been trained to sit before she eats, I sometimes find her sitting on the middle of the kitchen floor waiting.

You can always tell after my mochis have finished eating.  They are animated, energized and have the biggest smiles pasted on their faces as they play.  For them, life doesn’t get better than a full tummy.  G will no doubt tell you I’m the same way. 

Princess S invited us to a tea party.  It was a rather elegant affair, complete with homemade scones, hand-decorated sugar cubes, a variety of yummy teas, gourmet soup and salad, and finger sandwiches – crusts cut off, of course.  Then for dessert we had amazing cookies and fruit tarts in the most amazing presentation ever! 

At the girls’ table, the little ones were itching to play, so they were excused to get all dressed up in princess gear.  Shortly after, while the rest of us big people were enjoying our meal and conversation, the princesses were outside with their fancy dresses and shoes: one with a bat hitting a homerun off a tee, one was on a scooter, and one was on a dirt-tricycle. 

Not very lady-like for princesses, but one can never say they’re not well-rounded.  They took a short break to eat later and had a complete blast blowing bubbles outside, running around and doing princessy things.  It was the most fun ever!

…until someone mentioned we should do these quarterly and rotate hosts.  That’s when the panic set in.  I am ill-equipped!  I don’t own tea sets or fancy serving ware!  However, I think with a little help, I can pull one off!  Til next time!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Did everyone remember to wear green?  I did!  I did!  I’m so festive like that, me being so Irish and all… you know, born and raised in Hawaii to Japanese/Chinese/Okinawan parents.  Yeah, like that.

Aunty and AM actually ARE a wee bit Irish – a wee bit (catch that?  there’s the Irish in me busting through!), and they graciously extended an invitation* to us for a yummo corned beef and cabbage dinner, complete with festive cookies, cupcakes and a frozen banana cream pie!  Princess S and Little g were there and we all had a kickin’ good time.  Baby Mochi was passed out before we got on the freeway (2 minutes from Aunty’s house)!  Ahh, that’s the life: good food, good friends, and a good night’s sleep!

P.S.  I wanted to mention that Big Mochi made an announcement that the corned beef wasn’t yellow and it should be yellow since corn is yellow.  Quite the observation, don’t you think?  Which brings me to this holiday trivia: Corned beef is a cut of beef seasoned with large grains of salt which were known as corns.  I had to look that up on Wikipedia so I could tell her no corn was involved in the process.  Also, my Aunty up in San Jose told me today that it’s St. Paddy (not St. Patty).  Huh?  Patrick –> Patty?  It’s from St. Padriag in Irish, apparently.  Who knew?

*in exchange for a teriyaki burger night watching Jet Li flicks at our house

Today was our buddy Jaxson’s 4th birthday party.  His very cool mom and dad closed down the Santa Monica aquarium for a couple of hours and held his party there – just for us – and we had the entire place to ourselves!  There were craft tables, lots of food, petting tanks, sharks, jellyfish, eels, fishtanks (obviously) everywhere, storytime, etc.!  It was the coolest party ever!  And to make us regular parents look bad, the party favors were PERSONALIZED PARTY T-SHIRTS FOR EACH CHILD!!!  On the back was a Transformers design that said Happy 4th Birthday, Jaxson, and on the front was every kids’ very own name!  HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!?!  They even played games and had super cool prizes.  Big Mochi got the first prize because she rocks! 

We walked along the pier and played games and rode stuff on the way out.  Very very cool place to go!

Big Mochi met the Easter Bunny 3 years ago while he was chillin’ at South Coast Plaza.  She had just turned 2 and was just Mochi.  There was no need for distinction since Baby Mochi wasn’t here yet.  Heh.  He was about her size and they had a nice chat, took a nice parting photo, and we left.  Last year, we came back with her new little sister in tow, and the 2 of them took a great shot with him.  THIS year, we went to pay him a visit again and Big Mochi and the Bunny struck up a big ol’ conversation laughing and talking story as if they were old friends.  Oh wait, I guess they are.

When we waited in line to say hi the 2nd year, the Easter Bunny said, “Hi, Big Mochi!” and her eyes got super big and she shouted, “Mommy, he remembered my name!” 

The great thing about when the EB comes to visit, South Coast Plaza switches out all the horses on their carousel to bunnies (they do the same with reindeer at Christmas – way cool) and she absolutely loves it!  AM came along for the ride and we took her to lunch at Red Robin and had a blissful Saturday morning.

You know the story:  you run low on handsoap and make a mental note to stop in at Target.  Since you’re there, you might want to grab a new bottle of Tylenol since yours is near expiration.  Oh, the kid needs diaper rash cream, and you need to buy a birthday card for a co-worker.  4 things: handsoap, Tylenol, A&D and a card.  $14 if you don’t buy the Target brand stuff.  Right?  WRONG!  Somehow you manage to leave the store $95 later with a full cart.  There is the nifty sample bar next to the aspirins – the aisle of goodies in tiny sample sizes that grab you first.  Then there is hair products and face wash and perhaps a new tube of toothpaste since it comes with a free toothbrush this season.  Then the snacks and cake mixes grab you, as does the dishwashing soap and a new detergent that is concetrated so you use less AND it’s more friendly to the environment!  And the Easter stuff, oh my goodness everything is so cute – the daycare kids need treats!  And this little shirt would go great on the mochi sisters and it comes with matching shorts for $3.99!  Can’t beat that!  That bag is cute and will you look at the sandals this season?!  Lastly, up at the front, there is the dollar section that kicks a$$ and are all those DVDs really just $5.00?  Batteries are always good, and of course, here’s some gum for my very mature 4-year old. 

Yeah, I know.  It happens to me every single time.  You are not alone.  None of us are.

I didn’t make any resolutions this year.  Instead, I tried a different approach.  Baby steps.  Do what I can when I can.  So far so good!  I’ve been on my treadmill pretty consistently since January 1st, and I owe my success to Netflix and Radio Shack.  I can watch a movie a night with cordless headphones.  When you jump on a treadmill at the store, you don’t realize how loud it will be in your home… and to watch tv THAT loud with 2 sleeping babies in the house – not the best idea.

Anyway, so I walk 3-5 miles each time I’m on.  Lately I’ve been jogging, so now I’m up to a mile and a half straight pretty easily.  Hey, don’t make fun!  A mile and a half is HUGE for me! 

So last night after my workout, I’m in the shower.  Our house was built over 50 years ago so in one bathroom, we have a shower stall that is poorly lit.  I look down and notice I have a dirty smudge on my leg.  I resoap and start scrubbing.  Then I realize that the smudge I’m trying to scrub off is the shadow of the calf muscle I’ve never had before! 

I am always late with the birthday gifts for the kids at daycare.  I get the advanced warning but I still can’t get it together.  They get it eventually, and it’s beautifully wrapped (it really is) and I like to think the gift is thoughtful and age-appropriate.  However, it’s late, and it’s embarrassing. 

So this year, I made a plan.  I got everyone’s birthday and matching Christmas presents in January!  So whenever a party comes up, fwoosh!  I whip open the box o’ gifts and just like that, we’re done!  I even got a couple of Christmas gifts for everyone else on the list!  I put a lot of thought into this, you see - they’re not all the same!  Just… similar.  Catalogs, the internet, free shipping and sale notifications via email are the way to go!!!

I am a planner.  In my car at all times, I have about 2 packs of Puffs tissue, a change of clothes for both mochis and me, a full-sized precision sharp Fiskars scissors, a diaper changing station, jackets, a stroller, the “red thing” (which is the baby Floppy seat that protects mochis from shopping carts and high chairs), a Capri Sun, a pack of Mott’s unsweeted applesauce, a mini Doodle, parking money, spare pantyhose, an umbrella and bingo daubers.  Yes, bingo daubers.  You never know when the mood will strike.  I don’t have a GPS so I carry a Thomas Guide.

In my purse, which is about the size of a travel pack of Puffs tissue, I have my phone, wallet, keys, mini pharmacy (regular Tylenol, baby Tylenol, Tums, and a vitamin), a nail clipper and lip gloss.  I usually carry mini altoids, but I can’t seem to find them anymore.  I guess I have to look harder.

Whenever we go anywhere, I pack a full meal of food she’ll never reject.  A banana, Gerber toddler pasta, diced pears, peaches or applesauce.  I usually heat up a sippy cup of milk (yes, I still heat up her milk, just hush) and throw them all in a lunch tote.

I’ll do all that, get packed up, get everyone buckled in, hit the road, and I’m in the carpool lane before I realize I’m going in the opposite direction, my hair is unbrushed and I left the tickets or gift card or coupon at home.

I have dealt with 1 public trantrum with my Big One.  It was totally my fault.  You don’t mess around with me or mine when it comes to food.  We take our food Seriously (bolded with a capital S).  So we were at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and had to stand in line for an hour to get on that tram ride that takes you all around their safari.  It never occurred to me that it would take another 45 minutes ON the tram ride and she was hungry.   About 20 minutes in, the starts screaming and we cannot get off.  You cannot eat on the tram and she is LOUD.  So for the next 25 minutes, she is screaming at the top of her very strong lungs until she finally passes out.  No one gave us dirty looks, but if I could read minds, I am sure I would’ve been privy to a bunch of scenarios where we end up being thrown out where the lion cages were, narrated with the most creative expletives.  Yeah, so we were THAT family that ONE time. 

I fear with my Baby Mochi that the public tantrum will be frequent, judging by the amount of time outs she’s already been in time out.  Big Mochi, maybe 4 times in the last 2 1/2 years (while they could all be justified in a court of law as a plea of self-defense, she had to serve her time as an example to the others).  Baby Mochi: about 4 in the last 2 1/2 days, all instigated herself. 

Aunty has a really cute time out bench with a decorative parking meter where the kids go.  Makes for great photo opps! 

That would be:  Please take me to see Disney’s 101 Dalmations at the theater.  Sadly, it was so cute, I didn’t correct her.  Kind of reminds me of how she was 2 and told me she told me she couldn’t go play in the sprinklers at daycare because she didn’t have her baby soup.*

Speaking of Disney, it was a beautiful day and we took our little mochis to Downtown Disney to run around and go shopping.  It was a LOT hotter than expected and we quickly found their Jamba Juice (who, by the way, charges a lot more than MY local Jamba Juice) and all split a Strawberries Wild and a Mango a Go Go.  There is a really cool shaded courtyard right outside the lobby of the Disney Grand Hotel that we escaped to.   Very cool quiet little spot.

Daylight savings today.  I don’t think people realize the impact it has on a toddler – OR THEIR PARENTS!

*for those of you who don’t speak Mochi, that would be: bathing suit

I didn’t go through Terrible Twos (or Terrible Anything’s for that matter) with the Big One.  You told her once and she listened and remembered.  If you even calmly told her to lower her voice, her reaction was to immediately burst into tears as if you’d just screamed at her.  Overly sensitive, that one.

SOOOOOOOO not the case with the Little One.  You tell her no, she will peek up at you with giant innocent doe eyes, ”You don’t mean ME, do you?”  And if you remove her from the situation or offending item, she will scowl and release a yelp of annoyance, sometimes followed by a one-armed airslash of disgust.  5 minutes later, she’s back.  You repeat, “I said NO!”  And you’ll get another look of pure innocence and it’s as if she’s saying, “Oh, you mean that goes for ALL the time?  I thought that ’No!’ expired!”

And then once in a while, she’ll fling her secret weapon: a glowing grin, which makes you forget everything and just run up and hug her. 

My mom gave Big Mochi some gum once.  It was on an airplane liftoff while we were flying to Hawaii.  Gum supposedly prevents ear pressure discomfort since you swallow frequently.  In the past I told her she chew gum only when she’s on planes.  See, I have issues with gum (but that’s a whole ‘nother day on a couch).  Well, she quickly started pointing out that guy over there is chewing gum and is not on a plane.  Or that girl.  Or that guy.  Seriously, people, work with me!  Anyway, she asked for gum the other night.  Her dad has no issues with anything so he says okay before I could protest.  The next morning I told her she was very lucky that G gave her some gum because if it were left up to me, no way.    She giggles and tells me, “But Mommy, I’m trying to be a big girl, COME ON!”

Right, cuz maturity is all based on whether or not you are allowed to chew gum.