Wow, I am a parent.

I knew it would happen.  I heard about it from other parents, but it just happened to me and I want to write about it while it was still fresh in my memory.

Today, at dinner, Iliana was singing her ABC's and then she changed the words.  "A B C D Pappy" is what she started singing and every time she sang it, Evelyn thought that was too funny. So, Iliana just kept singing the same line, over and over again and they both were giggling at the table.  I am looking at them, I have no idea what is so funny.  Then I start laughing, because that is what I thought I was supposed to be doing.  Then, they started laughing even louder...this time AT ME!  I just don't get it.  What was so funny?  Then it dawned on me...I am a different generation than these girls.  They are my daughters, not my peers.  I know there will be many more moments like this one, and I hope that I can be a part of them, even if it is from the outside.

Random Thoughts

I am so tired.  Sleep does not seem to help my exhaustion.  I am lonely.  I wish I had someone to talk to at night.  Just six more months until I have a partner again. I have no idea what things will be like when he returns.  Phone calls seem pretty sad now.  There is never much to talk about.  I never have anything to add to the conversation.  It is hard to listen because the girls are always--being girls. 

As much as I dislike being a single parent, I have gotten used to it.  It has been six months already.  He has been gone so much this past year.  A few weeks in January.  A few in March, a few in April, more in May.  I don't like it. Yes, it is good for his career.  But when is is my turn?  I love being Mom, but I miss being Leslie.  I miss being able to go dancing with girlfriends (or husband).  I miss just being able to eat dinner in front of the TV. I miss training in Tang Soo Do.  I miss photographing weddings and events and beautiful things out in the world.  Heck, I would like to be able to shower without my door open so I can let the bathroom get all steamy.  I like that. 

That is all for now.  Everyone is asleep and it is 9:30pm.  Time for bed.  Good night.

Remember what Chanukah is all about

 Just read this  on http://www.askmoses.com/ I really liked this response to "Can I have a Hanukkah Tree"

 Remember what Chanukah is all about

Posted by: Lisa, West Hempstead, NY on Dec 28, 2005

It’s quite ironic that out of all the Jewish Holidays it is on Chanukah that people want to “adopt” other cultures and celebrate “like everyone else”.

On Passover we celebrate freedom from slavery. On Purim we celebrate freedom from the threat of annihilation. In the story of Chanukah. however, they didn’t want to kill us or enslave us. All the Greeks wanted was to deprive us of our own identity and make us “like everyone else.” They hated the fact that we have our own Jewish culture and pride. They tried first to persuade us, then to force us, to “adopt” their culture and customs.

We celebrate Chanukah precisely because we didn’t cave to the “peer pressure” and remained dedicated to our own heritage, traditions and holidays. G-d saw our devotion and determination, He performed miracles, and gave us yet another holiday to celebrate with pride and Joy.

On Chanukah we celebrate a victory over “cultural oppressors”. We remember that people fought for our right to practice our OWN traditions. So it would only make sense that when celebrating Chanukah today, you celebrate the miracle by being proud of who YOU are!

Hawaii Weather

Comparison Weather Facts

• On average Pearl Harbor, HI is warmer than Virginia Beach, VA by 11°F.

• Virginia Beach, VA recorded the highest temperature of 105°F in 1918.

• Virginia Beach, VA on average is cooler than Pearl Harbor, HI by 15°F.

• Virginia Beach, VA recorded the lowest temperature of -3°F in 1985.

• Pearl Harbor, HI averages more precipitation than Virginia Beach, VA by 106.4in.

Hawaii? Yup. Hawaii.

So, we just got word of our transfer to Hawaii.  Not sure of any specifics yet, but we know it will not be until after July.  My husband is still in training and his program does not end until July 8, 2011.  But, wow, we are moving to Pearl Harbor, HI.  This is kind of really cool.  I am afraid for Hamlet though.  He might not do to well in the heat.  But, with proper A/C he should be fine.  Might not be able to move him until after October because of the heat.  We will deal with it.  I have so much to think about now. So much to do.  House has to be fixed up.  House has to be cleaned.  House has to be sold or rented.  Need to find a new house to live.  But, Hawaii. I guess it is such a romantic place.  At least in all the movies and photographs. I hope it is close to that.  Of course,  I grew up watching Magnum, P.I. so in my head, THAT is what I think Hawaii will be like.  Oh, wouldn't that be nice to have Tom Selleck to be my neighbor?  Or my house guest? 

Anyway, so after DH is done w/ his training, hopefully, we will take a family vacation.  Then, maybe have some time to be with each other before the big move.  That would be nice, right?

So, here are my other questions/concerns...
Will our family come and visit?  I guess we will see them about as often as we do now.
Can we afford housing there?  Looks like we will be spending about 50% more on housing than we do now.  But, I think we get COLA that should offset the money issues.
I hear the school system is a joke there.  Well, we will not be there for so many years that it will make a difference.  The girls and I will learn other ways.
Is there much of a Jewish community there?  I hear there is a synagogue on base. I guess that will be our best option.  I will miss the JCC and Iliana will miss her friends.  We will have to find some mommy groups.

Oh well, the wee one is awake and screaming.

Update on Poop.

Toddler is now officially pooping in the toilet. YAY! She will even do it in a public bathroom--which is better than some of my friends. Anyway, she is still totally obsessed with her Star Wars toys. She loves her "New Baby Jabba" more than any other toy in this house. Today, we had a melt-down on the way to school because she did not have him with her. She was screaming that she missed her baby jabba and she loved her baby jabba and that he was hiding. Here she is loving Jabba.

Star Wars and Poop

Well, after over nine months of trying and suggesting, the toddler finally pooped on the potty by her own choice. We had been offering her a "new baby dragon" for several weeks and she kept talking about her new baby dragon, but never actually tried to get it.

Then, two weeks ago, Daddy upped the ante. The Galactic Heroes Jabba's Sail Barge was put on the table as her reward for pooping on the potty. She was SO EXCITED when she saw it. The first night, she sat on the potty holding the unopened box and tried, and tried and tried for hours to poop. She would wake up at night, hold the box and try again. We finally had to take the box away from her. Every day she would tell everyone that if she went poopy on the potty , she would get a "new Jabba." No one really understood what she meant, they just smile and nod. Now, this set is pretty cool. It has Jabba the Hutt, Max Rebo on his piano, Droopy McCool, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Boba Fett, and R2-D2.

Tonight, around 8:30ish she finally did it. She mentioned the new Jabba to me, I asked her if she was going to try again tomorrow, she said "no, I try now" She proceeded to take her diaper off and she sat on the squatty potty (baby bjorn). I gave her a book to read and I went to check on the baby that was crying in the other room. While I was changing a diaper, she tells me "I'm Done!" Now, this is what she always says when she is done pooping. I asked "did you poop on the potty?" "Yeaah!" is her reply. And, there it was. A poop. A nice, toddler sized poop. Luckily she has pooped earlier that day so it was not her normal softball sized poop.

So I climbed up onto the top of the cabinet and got the box. It took, what felt like forever, to open the darned thing. But she was so happy when I finally got Jabba out. One by one, she was telling me the names of all the characters. She added them to her other Galactic Heroes and was so happy that she even shared some of the toys with her baby sister. She was up for over two hours singing the Star Wars theme and playing with those toys.

So, when I went back to he room to clean up the poop, the poop was gone. I was a bit confused at first. Did I actually see the poop? Am I going more insane? But then I saw the tell tale sign of little short black hairs. Hamlet. The pug ate the poopies. GROSS. She was so upset at first when she realized they were gone. I told her that Hamlet ate them, YUCK! So, she will be telling the story tomorrow to her classmates (who are at least six to ten months younger than her and will not understand).

Good night.