A Public Service Announcement

I'm stunned regarding a news piece I saw this morning on fluorescent light bulbs. They are suppose to be longer lasting, more efficient and all around better for your home and the environment. Or are they? Just drop and break one of them and the mercury inside will kill you or leave you seriously sick. Here is the news clip I saw this morning on proper disposal if broken.

I checked the EPA website for confirmation.

Step 4 states:

"If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage."

There are reports that the old fashioned incandescent light bulbs will be phased out by 2012 which means I better start stocking up now! Not only is the light from the fluorescent bulbs highly unpleasant and makes a constant humming noise, now I learn it's hazardous to the health of my family. I suppose it's perfectly safe as long as you don't break one....which of course, never happens.

All this talk about the dangers of mercury in the seafood and immunizations but yet we should all replace every light bulb in our home with these fluorescent mercury bombs. Well, I'm not buying it.

Holiday Greetings

Happy 4th of July!

The little one is looking forward to staying up late to watch the fireworks. She says, "I'm going to stay awake for the fire!" Let's hope that's not the case but instead the beautiful sights and sounds of the Oceanside fireworks display.

The family is planning on attending our first movie together today. The munchkin has been anticipating it for months. "We are going to see Wall-E and get popcorn and watch the big TV!" she says. We're going to take in an early movie, then head outside to enjoy the beautiful So-Cal sunshine with a post sunset fireworks extravaganza. If we're really motivated, we'll hop on the new, local light rail system to go down to the beach for the big O'Fest celebration. Otherwise, I hear the local park does a pretty good job too. One way or another, we WILL see fireworks!

Merry 4th and may God continue to bless this great country of ours, The United States of America!

Water Babies

With the warm weather here, it was decided the little one needs swimming lessons. Unfortunately, the whole lot of local parents decided the same, all on the same week. The pool is filled with splish splashing peewees of all ages, birth-7 years old.

With a little research I found the best, and most highly recommended, swim school in the area and thanks to Aunt Barbara we started swim lessons last week. The little one is a little less than thrilled, judging by the terrified look and cry, at the whole scene but I"m just hoping she'll warm up to the idea.

Here is the way a lesson breaks down, literally and figuratively. Each teacher has 3 students for the half hour. The teacher spends one on one time with each student making a lap around the pool doing an experience level lesson individualized for each student. Each student gets three laps, or equivalent thereof, around the pool during each lesson. While the teacher is attending to one student, the other two must sit on the step in the pool and wait for their turn. All the while, ten other instructors are doing the same in the same pool. Don't be fooled by the chaos. You attend 3 lessons per week for three weeks to equal one session. So one session equals nine lessons. They make it clear that your commitment should go beyond one session to see results. The whole system may sound a bit funny but judging by all the tots swimming around in the pool, underwater without assistance, it works!

I think our little one is on a multi-session track. With two cry sessions, I mean lessons, behind us, I'm hoping the angst will lessen and the smiles will increase. Doesn't every kid love swimming? She actually appears to be comfortable with her teacher when they are in the water together, when she is not crying for Mommy, but she just melts down while she waits for her turn again. The funny thing is she'll stay seated on the step in the pool, because her teacher said so, but she just looks at me and cries, "I want to get out." The teacher said this is pretty commonplace with the newbies and it just takes a little getting use to but it can feel heartbreaking for the parents. Why am I torturing my child? Oh yeah, so they don't drown in the pool. OK, cry on.

It really is a great facility with super instructors. Their success is quite obvious through simple observation of the students in the pool. I have no complaints about Ms. Lauren. She is sensitive and gentle enough with my little one while still being persistent about the instruction. Just like in other aspects of child rearing...sometimes they just have to cry it out...I guess.

There are few mundane details these days as we are too busy working on the significant!

The little one didn't exactly pick up a paint brush or sand any floors but she did something even greater...she let Mommy do it! It was a difficult 9 days for my little tyke and her ability to adapt and roll with it brings tears to my eyes (I'm serious). There were no cool play structures or fun water activities or even much in the way of attention but it was as if she knew we were a part of something very special. We, I mean everybody there including the little one, were working on a beautiful thing with beautiful people for a beautiful family and baby girl that we long to hold and play with. I know it's not fair to ask so much of such a little person but we did and had she not had such a good attitude about it all, I may have just got the details from the blog and second hand stories instead of witnessing the goodness in people's hearts with my own eyes. Every morning we would get out of bed and rush off and my little one would say, "I want to go to Matt and Holly's." She loved playing with the friends that came on various days and still is talking about all the new buddies from last week. We look forward to more fun times with them at the Linden home, when we can all sit back on the deck or grass and enjoy each other's company!

No Work

The little one has been having a bit of a hard time lately with the work schedule. She does fine with Daddy and is happy to have the time with him but doesn't like the idea of Mommy going off to work. On several occasions she has said, "I don't like work," with a bit of a quivering lip. It pulls on the heart strings a small amount but the reality that sometimes Mom has to go take care of business is an important thing for her to realize. We are fortunate enough to be able to avoid outside childcare 90% of the time which I feel is a pretty amazing feat with two working parents.

I mentioned last time that she started school. The first couple weeks went great. I dropped her off with a hug and a kiss. She confidently said, "Bye Mommy" and went off to play. Then the third week, a phone call. I had to pick her up about 20 minutes early because she was getting a little sad and asking for me. The whole session is only 2 1/2 hours but I think it's enough to begin the adjustment to a pre-school program.

The last two weeks she protested me leaving. There was a little crying and pleading, along with insisting I stay. I wait until circle time begins and firmly tell her it's time for me to leave to which she responds, "I don't like work." So the manipulation begins. Of course, once I walk out the door and the teachers begin to engage her, she's fine and enjoys herself. Her favorite activities are art class, singing and stories. They tell me she loves books. She is the same at home. She loves to go through the bookshelf and read a book, toss it on the floor, and get the next book. Our current favorites are the Winnie the Pooh series and Curious George. This little routine of hers finds Mommy picking up the same set of books 4 times a day and placing them back on the shelf. Why not just leave them there until the end of the day? If you ask, you obviously don't know me that well or are not familiar with my OCD tendencies.

So we press on with the once a week schooling with the hopes that the relapse of separation anxiety will subside. I don't see how it will get any better by pulling her out of the class and I also don't think it's any coincidence that we are going through it at a time where I have been working more. It's all a part of growing up, much of the time I would rather not go to work too.

Another Runner in the Family

There's been a lot of action around here the last couple weeks. The little one started Pre-School Prep class, she claimed her first medal, had her first Legoland experience and somewhere in the middle I turned the calendar on another year. By the way, thank you for all the phone calls and well wishes!

I'm not sure what she found most exciting but the enthusiasm for the race t-shirt she received may be an indicator. She actually asked to sleep with it the first night she got it and insisted on wearing it the whole weekend. Part of it stems from her new love for all things pirate. When she saw that the shirt had a treasure chest on the back, she about lost it. She's taken to calling me, "Pirate Mommy." It's strange...but cute.

Well, you never know how these things are going to go. You ask if they want to do a run like Mommy & Daddy and they say yes. There's lots of talk about it for the months and weeks leading up to it but when the race administer says "GO", all bets are off. As we waited our turn in the swarm of two year-old's and their parents anticipating the 30 seconds for their kid to shine, I explained to my little girl that she needed to run to the balloons and she'll get a medal. She nodded her head in understanding and repeated, "Run to the balloons."

So far so good. We saddled up next to her best buddy, also running, and they were off. She did well and with a bit of encouraging along the way, reached the balloons and received her medal.

Now, daily she walks through the house proudly wearing her accomplishment and I am happy to have the video footage for the family archives. I may need to take a cue from the little one and when I need a little confidence builder maybe I should strut around the house with my marathon medals.

We hope to make it an annual event. The announcer made mention of a 17 year old girl running in her 17th Carlsbad 5000 (5K), she started in the diaper dash at one and has been in the event every year since! How great is that. I think it's the little achievements of significance like that, that add up to a complete and fulfilling life. It's about goals, accomplishment, bettering yourself and having something to look forward to. I love it!

Ahoy!

To Annabelle

Oh sweet Annabelle, how loved you are. I can picture your little face in my head, at least what I imagine it may look like, and it makes me smile. What a beautiful baby girl! Our family considers you a part of it already and my little girl already talks of her friend by name. She had the opportunity to play with some of your toys the other day and expressed her approval. Your little baby Aubrey has now been renamed Boo, but of course you are at liberty to change it to any name you wish. I look forward to being able to hold you if only I am able to tear you away from your Mommy's arms.

You have been blessed with wonderful loving parents who will do anything for you. The challenges put before them are great but the thought of your sweet presence is one that makes every step of the way a worthwhile journey. I know you will return their love in great quantity with a simple smile or laugh. Your Mom and Dad have already touched so many lives around them by witnessing their desire to make your life a wonderful one. They continue to be an example of God's great love and grace, even through their heartache. Oh how I love them dearly.

It's difficult for me to write this without totally breaking down in tears. You see, that's what a love so deep does. The type of love only given by our God who so loves us. It cuts right to the heart and humbles even the strongest man. Thank you for being an example of His love for all His children, especially me.