The Dating Game

Antonio and I recently celebrated our 9th anniversary. We were lucky enough to have grandparents in town who baby-sat while we enjoyed a date.

I got dolled up and came downstairs in my black dress and pretty heels. Mya stopped in her tracks, she is ALWAYS quick with the fashion confirmation.

"Oh, Mommy! You look so pretty! Where are you going?"

"On a date with Daddy, honey."

"Well, I really like your shoes."

The following Monday the kids were playing around and I heard Mya shuffling a bit with her purse items. She clomped over (wearing the heels I had on for my date) and informed me, "Melva and I are going on a date to the swingset. And Enzo is dating Boo-Berry."

They sprinted (yes she can sprint in any kind of shoe) to the swingset for their double date. I had a feeling of happiness as they see me dating their father as a wonderful thing.

I know that feeling will pass and they will soon be grossed out by us, and I will be longing for the days when they dated their dolls.

Never Drinking Again

I would describe Mya as a former milk addict. She had her box of vanilla milk first thing in the morning and then again right after nap. She would chug that thing down like she hadn't eaten all day. But the truth is she hadn't....

As soon as Mya turned 3 she stopped with the milk boxes and started eating! We are thrilled that meal time isn't as much of a struggle and love watching ALL the food groups get gobbled up.

The other night we went out to dinner then stopped for a family trip to Kroger. Antonio piled the kids in the Car Cart and off they went. I heard the kids ask in unison, "Daddy, MILKY please!" He promptly stopped in the organic section, reached for one chocolate and one vanilla, popped in the straws and we were off.

He said something to the effect of, that is so worth the peace and quiet while shopping.

Then it happened....we heard the groans....

Mya had begun clutching her stomach. "Ohhhhh, nooooo. Mommy, Daddy, why did you let me do this? I have no room for my milky. I'm NEVER. DRINKING.THAT.AGAIN!"

I know I've been there.

Anything To Get Outside

To say Enzo loves being outside is an understatement. One thing he knows is that he must have shoes on to get the door opened. He came to me the other day saying (in a dialect only I can understand) "Owwww-sighhhhh!"

I replied, "Sure Buddy, but you have to go find your other shoe." He promptly trotted off to the family room where it looks like a Toys R' Us exploded and picks up the first shoe he can find.

He limped over to me and looked up with those big, brown, eyes and a smile. Let's just say his speed in solving problems is more impressive than his attention to detail.

Don't Tell Me What I Am!

While enjoying a casual family lunch, on Easter, with Nanny, Mya began to pout as she pushed around her food.

Dindah asked, "What's wrong with her, is she full?"

"No," Nanny said, "She's M-A-D."

Mya scowled at Nanny and said, "No I'm not! I'm M-Y-A!"

Gum

Mya loves chewing gum, she loves when grandparents surprise her with a fresh pack, she asks for it constantly. When I deliver the daily piece to her, Enzo is on her heels pointing and grunting for his. I always say to him, "Sorry buddy, no gum for you until you are out of diapers." Mya has taken to repeating it for him, just in case he didn't understand me.

My hope is that his desire for gum will magically potty train him, but I know that is foolish!

Today I was gearing up to change Enzo's diaper. He makes it practically impossible with his strong legs and strong will. I asked Mya if she could help by running to get us a diaper and wipes.

She ran over handed them to me and then to Enzo said, "BUDDY! You are out of diapers, you can have gum now!"

Unfortunately, it just means I need to run and get more diapers.

Sorry, Enzo.

Life's Little Messes

The kids were literally bouncing off the walls and furniture after the latest leg of Snowageddon 2010.

I decided to take the cushions off the couch and put them on the floor to come as close as possible to replicating a trampoline, with hopefully less opportunity for injury.

At that moment I was feeling like the perfect combination of my parents until I looked back at the now cushion-less couch.

Enzo's (my garbage disposal) eyes lit up at the plethora of snack options and Mya (my cleaner) exclaimed, "I want to help clean up!"

We got out the vacuum and got rid of all of Enzo's tasty treats (gross). We made disappear cheeto handprints (from the Super Bowl), sticky sucker remnants, spilt milk, corn flakes, pretzels, popcorn, you name it!

They had a great time wiping it down and sucking up the gunk, now the only marks remaining on my couch are these:

Making Eyes Across the Room

It still gets me when we're in a large group and Tonio and I make eye contact across the room. It takes me back to being 18 and that where that same smirk or wink made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. There are quite a few more distractions in our lives these days, but these small moment bring it all back, home, to simply us.

But now there's another "man" in my life and today I was sitting at the computer, sneaking lunch. He was standing all the way across the family room at the train table. Our eyes met, then I waved to him and smiled. While holding his milk to his mouth with one hand, he waved to me with the other. Then he pulled his hand to his mouth and blew me a kiss.

In that instant, I felt so much love and a glimpse into my future. There will be fewer cuddles, more independence, less "Momma!" more, "Ma" or "Mom." Will that loving glance come from the school bus window, perhaps a wave from the football field, a wink after a performance? No one knows. I do know that I learned something today:

Here I am, blessed with two men, one big and one small. It doesn't matter at all that they look nothing alike, the magic is that they make my heart melt in exactly the same way.