What a weekend

It was quite a busy weekend -- Busy because I really wanted to spend time with the kids and have fun. In between the fun, I had many interesting challenges with Jordan. The battle over shoes, getting dressed and putting on the seatbelt continued.

It is tiring and at some points, I have to just get her dressed, get her shoes on and put her seatbelt on. I look forward to bringing in more concepts of logic for Jordan. I think she can make decisions with logic when she wants to -- But in most cases, she just gets so upset that I'm making her do something that she didn't choose to do, there's no chance in reaching her. Typical two year old stuff.

Jordan was a trooper when I helped coach Cam's t-ball team. Randy is out of town so I had some extra responsibility in helping keep the practice in motion. It was tricky keeping Jordan out of the parking lot AND Cam focused on the ball.

After practice and a challenging trip to the grocery store, both kids helped me cook egg burritos for dinner. Cam and Jordan helped me crack the eggs - something I'd never done with them before. Cam was super careful with the eggs. Jordan knocked the poopy out of the eggs. They both loved it. Most nights I'm rushing so fast to get dinner cooked that I don't get the kids involved. It was kind of cool to let them help out even a bit.

Two different schools

I'm trying to get my brain around the concept that Jordan will be my only child in daycare. She's going to move up to the "other side" of the building in a month or two. That alone is more proof that my "baby" is growing up. Logically, I know she's a toddler. I know she has strong opinions, many words and fits pretty well in 18 month old clothing. Those are all signs about how big she is.

I actually stood in line to get into a clothing resale shop tonight to buy a few 2T outfits for the fall and winter. I figured filling a $5 bag full of resale clothes couldn't hurt. I passed up an outfit because it looked too tall. Complete denial of my child's continuing growth.

Is that a bad thing?

Other signs of growth. Jordan is trying really hard to climb stuff. Without her arm on, she tries to get up the ladder that gets you to the top of our treehouse/swingset in the backyard. She likes going down our tall and fast slide (with me guiding her down a bit slower).

Something bad happened to Jordan's prosthetic arm. It doesn't work at all and the on/off switch is kind of pushed into the arm. I'm pretty bummed since I was able to get new straps to help hold it up better onto her arm. I was hoping that would help trigger the hand to open and close more. Alas. Not yet.

I changed the name

The blog has a new name. I decided "Jordan and Me" wasn't witty enough. I work with words. So this one feels right: Born Just Right. She was born just the right way. I love her and she's perfect. And she's right handed. Completely right handed. Just right.

I like the play on the words. I like to play with the girl.

I've uploaded TONS of pictures to Flickr. But one little story.

I took Jordan to the grocery store today. We had so much fun and I just kept smiling the whole time I was there. Jordan was bright, smiley and LOVING her new bunny. (you can see pictures on Flickr) As I left the cash register with her I couldn't remember the last time I had so much fun spending 114 dollars. I wasn't stressed out at all while I was there. I wasn't worried, I wasn't dealing with Cam begging for a snack or something at the store. I just had fun. And I reveled in the moment with my girl. It won't always be this easy to get enjoyment out of our time together. It was special and simple and we just smiled together.

Bulging gums

I'm wrapping presents tonight. I was tired of doing that so I thought I'd drop a few thoughts about Jordan's life. I know Jordan isn't really one to complain... I mean her first teeth showed up with no change in her personality. But I keep thinking about teeth when I'm around her because her upper gum line is SO swollen. I wonder when all of her teeth will decide to pop through. Her front teeth not only have caused swelling, but there are now two lumps where they'll eventually show up. The funny thing is how she's not waking up in the middle of the night to complain. As usual, she's not drooling. She's kind of cranky when she doesn't get her way, but that just comes with the age.

What am I babbling about? I don't know. I guess I'm giving fair warning for some announcement about how all of her remaining teeth arrived in one week. Mind you, she only has two teeth at this point.

Another issue to think about. The pants Jordan wore today were almost black on her bottom. She scooted on my recently swept floor, the newsroom AND the damp ground in our backyard (it was a really warm day). I don't know what to do except just buy cheap pants because if she continues to scoot, there's nothing I can do but wash in hot water and deal.

We went to the mall today. Dumb I know, but I had to get gifts for a few more people. I strolled around with Cam and Jordan and we actually had a pretty good time in the crowds. Cam was great and Jordan kept it together with the help of a few diversions from her tickle-monster brother (he likes to tickle her face and she thinks it's SOOO FUNNY). When I go out in public with Jordan now I don't look for stares I'm happy to present her and I offer no excuses or reasons because Jordan is who Jordan is. She was cooed over in so many stores. It's the sparkling smile... and swollen gums. Anyway, I caught a couple of stares from kids here and there, they were slight and not offending in any way. But it was funny to notice a few and not take offense, not worry about it... it's just the way things are. I'm SO glad I'm cool taking Jordan anywhere. I'm not patting my back, I just feel like it's still an accomplishment to have grown so much in the last year with my little girl. I'm so much less self-conscious about my life, my family... We are who we are. And if you want to get to know us, go right ahead!! We don't bite.

I'm still looking for the shirt: "You stare because I'm different. I stare because you're all alike."