Girlymama

Husband is going to be so excited about this. I’m waiting for the arguments to increase 🙂 Personally, I’m pulling for the Wii.

Grace: “Gimme my blankey!!!”
Me: “Excuse me? Try saying that again in a different voice.”
Grace: “A different voice?”
Me: “Yes.”
Grace: “Okay. Let me think. Humm… Would you like my polite voice or my thankful voice or my respect voice?”
Me: trying desperately not to laugh “You pick.” 
Grace: “My polite voice. May I have my blankey, please, Mommy?”

but my kids have no clue how to swim. They have never taken a swim lesson.

My pediatrician would probably faint if she knew that, since I always say, “Yes, of course we are teaching them water safety!” when she asks me. Which is totally true. If by “water safety” you mean “teaching them not to splash all over the bathroom floor during bathtime.” Ahem.

So this week, my sister is trying to teach them how to swim. She is an actual certified lifeguard and swim teacher, so this is a real option for me. They’re doing good so far. Grace even went totally underwater yesterday! Yay! They are becoming accomplished kickers and bubble blowers. And they are not freaking out, which is a plus.  And I’m not feeling as guilty about being a bad parent, so its all good.

We have a puppy. This week, anyway. My sister left her dog here and the girls and I are puppy-sitting. I predict that this will end with two decisions being made: 
1) The girls absolutely, positively want a puppy. Named Princess with a pink collar. But they’ll take Ricky if Auntie is willing.
2) I absolutely, positively don’t want a puppy. (Not that this one is not adorable and I would seriously consider adopting him. Really.) But they are so. much. work.

Right now the girls are both petting him and arguing about who he belongs to. “He’s my puppy!” “No, he’s MY puppy!”
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I realize I haven’t been writing about my kids much. Probably because they are driving me totally nuts and I’m unsure what to do about it.
Ever since I came back from Hilton Head, Gracie has been very whiny. She does this annoying fake cry whenever she doesn’t get exactly her way. And  Ellie has been very mean lately to Grace. Doing things like finishing off Grace’s drink when she’s not looking, then handing it to Grace and laughing when Grace cries because its empty.  And basically doing 87 other things to annoy Grace on purpose. Which makes Grace whine. Which makes Ellie want to be more annoying. Which makes Grace cry. Which makes my head feel like its going to explode.
I just don’t feel like I’m handling them very well. I know I’ve been sick and super busy, but I think I’ve been using that as an excuse not to deal with things as they come up. I need to make a point to be very consistent and very disciplined in my dealing with them. Or it’ll just get worse.
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We got my brother moved in to his awesome new apartment: built in 1930s, fireplace, hardwood, 3 bedrooms, 12-ft ceilings, new kitchen with granite. I’m thinking about moving there. Very nice. However, none of us can lift anything heavier than a cup of coffee today.
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Business stuff is going well. I filed for my business license today! And I found a web designer who I love. Very exciting stuff! I also designed a new blanket that is – may I modestly  say – too adorable for words. So I’ll have to show you a picture. When I get home. Because I only brought half of my laptop charger to Ohio. The other half is hanging off the wall of my house in Pennsylvania. Grrrrrrr…..
Packing in a hurry almost ends badly. 

of Ohio.

We made it in great time with no potty emergencies, which means it was a sucessful journey. The kids are having a fantastic time between Grandma’s pool, the neighbor’s swingset and Auntie’s puppy. It’s been crazy so far, since yesterday was my sister’s graduation party and today we are moving my brother into his new apartment. On the 3rd floor. With no elevator. And no air conditioning. Drip.

Some modern, retro burp cloths for the hip baby girl. All three cloths are backed with a absorbent terry cloth, while the front has this adorable 100% cotton designer fabric. 
Adorable set for a boy. This vintage-inspired print is my new favorite “boy” print. The blanket is 100% cotton designer fabric, backed with super soft ivory minky. The set of three burp cloths are in coordinating fabrics and backed with ivory minky. Close up of the burp cloths:

Did you know that toilet paper dissolves fairly quickly in water?

We discovered that tonight when our kids unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper into the bathtub during their bath. Husband an I were talking and putting laundry away, so they were unsupervised for a bit. We came back in and… What. A. Mess.

Still here!!

Things are crazy this week, as I was preparing samples for the store who is interested in selling my stuff, which I managed to bring by today. They’re still interested and want to haggle pricing with me. Eek.  Very exciting, little nervous. I’ve been reading and reading when I’m not sewing up a storm, trying to figure out what licenses I’m going to need, working out my budget, etc. I’ll post some pictures soon, promise 🙂

Tomorrow the girls and I are driving to my mom’s for 10 days. Husband is off to visit an old friend, then heading to Harvard for a week. So my girlies and I can have some downtime lounging at Grandma’s pool and I can hopefully get loads of work done.

We celebrated the 4th of July by taking naps, lounging around in our pajamas and (later that day) having a cookout in the rain with some good friends. It was great fun!  Now, however, it is 1:30 pm and the breakfast dishes and cereal are still on the counter. (Seriously. This is my house, remember, where I often whisk people’s glasses away mid-drink to put them in the dishwasher.) To work!!

with a title that is something like “How to Start a Business Without Making a Mistake That Lands You in Jail For Dummies.” Good grief, my head is about to explode. No joke.

For example:

• Did you know how many forms you have to fill out to start a business? And they all with names like QUWB-1283623891649734. Which is very self-explanatory.
• Did you know that I have to file a “fictitious name permit” because the name of my company is not my own name? Seriously.
• Did you know that if you mess up with the IRS you could go to jail!?!?!? They remind you of that on almost every page of their website, just to help you stay calm about all of the forms you must fill out accurately and completely.

I need to take a nap to let my brain rest. Until my husband with the MBA comes home and can translate all this jargon for me. I”m seriously thinking about buying this tonight.

Despite being a bit discouraged by all the logistics, I’m a bit excited because I found a store that is interested in selling my stuff. The word I am thinking if is “EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!” And that would be 70% excitement and 30%  terror 🙂

Me: “Ellie, what are you eating?”
Ellie: “What am I eating?”
Me: “Yeah. You’re chewing. What are you eating?”
Ellie: “Oh! A booger.”