If You Give a Desert Girl a Puddle. And Dinosaurs.

Nory woke up on the wrong side of the bed Saturday morning. THE COMPLETELY WRONG SIDE OF THE BED.  It was one of those mornings where dropping a piece of playdoh on the floor was the BE ALL END ALL.  Of LIFE.  #fullfledgedtoddler

This is why the thunderstorm that happened during the night was a bigger blessing than usual.  Rain on any day has a certain pizazz to it around here, but pond-size puddles on a day where my patience is already running low after 27 "she's awake" minutes?  Either I have great karma or God was looking out for all of us ;)  THANK YOU HIGHER POWERS!

So, while Phil was off to the pediatrician with Juliet, I took Nory down to the courtyard to play in the water.  It was MY BEST IDEA TO DATE.  The only yelling consisted of "AGAIN! AGAIN!!!!!" and the only time spent flailing around on the ground was a result of her passionate attempts at the sport of swimming.  YES, her shoes are still soaked.  And YES, she might have had a meltdown when I told her it was time to go home.  But I still see it as a WIN.  During those glorious 30 or so minutes, Nory's tear ducts took a break and my patience revived itself.  Totally necessary repairs given the continuation of the day she woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  

We found ourselves at the dinosaur park later that afternoon.  HAAAA!!!!  This moved us one more distraction closer to bedtime!  Nory's been on a big dinosaur kick lately and it just so happened Kuwait opened a dino park to meet her dinosaur-viewing needs.  I repeat, either I have great karma or God was looking out for all of us ;)

Although scared at times, she had a great time.  She kept commenting on how "cute" the dinosaurs were.  And how she wanted to hold them.  And how she wanted to feed them.  And how she wanted to ride them.  Except for when given the chance to ride one, she backed out and decided that watching other kids ride them was a better idea. 

As she did with the kite festival, she keeps asking to see the pictures of our outing and to return for more dino park fun.  If the park allows Nory and I in for free again, we just might do it ;) 

The moral of this story is.....distractions rule.  We survived a tough day with a toddler.  You can too.  Chocolate works wonders.  And.......pray for us.   

Today is a BIG day!

#HouseofNoRules is having their second baby girl this morning.  Which means Nory's best friend, Seton, will soon become the big sister to Jet's best friend, ______________.  Which means each girl in the Parkinson house is going to receive some level of influence from each girl in the House of No Rules.  Which means we might come home the most care-free, worry-not family you know ;)  (Unlikely.  Don't get your hopes up!)

But really.

Phil and I know many people that have had babies.  Siblings, cousins, friends.  However, we've been overseas for the majority of the whole "fall in love and have babies" phase of people's lives.  We've missed bridal showers and jack 'n jills and weddings and baby showers and births and........it's pretty hard to think about it actually.  Because although we've been moved to tears by every "we're engaged!" update, every wedding album, every pregnancy announcement, every baby-is-here phone call, every welcome-to-the-world picture online........we haven't actually BEEN THERE.  You know, to BE THERE.  To bring over a bottle of bubbly.  To watch you walk down the aisle.  To bring you gingerale when you have morning sickness.  To take your older babies when you're exhausted in that third trimester.  To visit your new (bigger!) family in the hospital.  To bring your husband coffee and a cigar.  To brighten your tired new mama eyes with pretty flowers and chocolates.  To hold that darling baby - only hours old - and be fascinated by how new and awesome and perfect they are.  We simply have not been able to be there.

And so.

THIS BABY TODAY.  THIS BABY THAT IS DUE TO ARRIVE IN NO MORE THAN ONE HOUR.  She's special to us.  Really, really special.  In meeting the House of No Rules, we have been able to participate in some of the things that we've missed out on while being away.  We get to have sleepovers with Seton the next few days.  We get to wake up really early on delivery day because we're too darn nervous/excited to sleep in any longer.  We get to anxiously await the invitation to visit them at the hospital.  We get to hold that little darling in her earliest days.   We get to hug her beautiful mama and tell her SHE DID IT!  We get to joke with her hilarious father about keeping TWO children alive instead of JUST ONE (sorry Trey, but I'm tearing up and so I had to say something a SMIDGEN off-side).......

Sigh.  Today is going to be AWESOME.  WE CANNOT WAIT!!!!!

We love you, House of No Rules.  And we ARE SO EXCITED to meet your our newest family member!

The Parkinson Family
XOXO

Have you guys heard about Odin?

His story has been all over my Facebook newsfeed this week and then, while scrolling People.com yesterday morning, I saw HIS STORY on the homepage!!!!!!!!!!  That's quite the leap from thee ole Peterborough Examiner ;)  

Thank you to canoe.ca for the photo :)

I've been thinking about Odin over the weekend and my brain decided to welcome you in for a looks-y.  LUCKY.  YOU.  Haaaaa!!!!!!!!   MY TWO CENTS:

1)  Always RSVP.  Even if you can't make it.  Because if someone takes the time to invite you, they deserve the two seconds it takes to give them a response.  (Besides, "forgetting" the invite situation altogether makes the next encounter super, super awkward.  You know it does.) 

2)  Social media is AWESOME.  Of course we've seen social media do it's thang with similar feel-good stories.  But when the feel-good story comes from where you grew up, the realization is BIGGER than BIG!  Three cheers for the tech savvy! :)

3)  There are MANY, MANY kind people out there.  Ordinary people that do things JUST BECAUSE. 

4)  You should cheer for the Raptors.  And the Toronto Maple Leafs.  And watch Property Brothers.  And appreciate the theatrical talents of Elijah Wood.  (So maybe they participated in the celebration...)

5)  Odin is a SWEET NAME.  Give it 9 months, and the name is sure to be trending too :) 

Thank you for touching OUR HEARTS on YOUR BIRTHDAY, Odin!  Wishing you a very happy 13th birthday and an AWESOME year ahead!!!

P.S. Alternative titles to this post?  MOMS RULE // CALL YOUR MOM // THANK YOUR MOM // LOVE YOUR MOM // BUT REALLY, MOMS RULE

This evening.......

Nory went "swimming" outside.  

In her clothes.

Then made a lego tower.  

In her bathing suit.

Who says toddlers don't make sense?!

Picasso, Parkinson. Same, same.

Remember how I told you K POP moved everything heavy to rearrange the living room?  So that we could make a carpet-less area for arts and crafts?  Well, here it is!  (The cleaned-up-for-a-picture-but-never-really-looks-this-way version!)

We spend a lot of our time here these days - doing playdoh, drawing, painting, stickering, and snacking :)  Jet's pack 'n play is nearby so she gets to hang out for the festivities too :)

Here's one of the pieces Nory made today, created using a variety of techniques including Q-tips, plastic eggs, and legitimate stampers:

It's one of my favourites to date!!!  And let me tell you, we've done PLENTY.  Not only has Nory's artwork taken over the back wall of this room, it has taken over three other magnetic surfaces and our fridge!  And other people's fridges.  I love it, and if I do recall so myself, it was one of the things I looked forward to most in my pre-mom days.  Mmmmm hmmmm, an outrageous explosion of AMAZING TODDLER ART all over my house.  The Old Me knew that this would be right up the alley of the Future Me.  LIFE. MADE.

But living the dream cannot be without its own unique challenges.  Our challenge?  The same girl that makes my dream a reality...

 
Ever since babyhood, this gal of mine has HATED dirty hands.  HATED!!!!!!!  I like to think she's gotten a bit better, but after this afternoon's meltdown, I'm questioning my perspective on this matter.  Oh well.  We've been doing arts and crafts beside a wet towel for weeks and if we have to continue the trend forever, so be it.  Weaning of the wet towel, we will NOT! 

If you're someone who will be visiting us this summer, I suggest you purge your fridge surface in the coming months.  And purchase more magnets.  Explosions spread, yo! 

My Morning Person :)

Scratch that.  I actually think she's an all-day person because these smiles don't expire after noon.  They keep on going and going and going to the sweet sounds of Nory, Phil and myself.  Well, mostly to Nory.  Because nobody makes Juliet smile more than that big sister of hers.  (And cute doesn't even BEGIN to describe it!)

I think a trip to the photo shop is in order.  Caffeine is no substitute for the energy boost I get every morning from this little darling.  So once I DO return to work (ya, ya, I will), I've gotta JET-UP my desk area!  (Not to worry - Nory will get her fair share of publicity too.  Even though her images give me the counter effect of exhaustion! HA!)

OH HOW I LOVE MY GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

IF YOU WERE HERE FOR TEA.

*  My beautiful friend, Aimee, wrote us and said she would fly to Kuwait in June to help us fly home with both babies.  Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard?  I told her she's crazy and we'd see her in Ontario ;)   We LOVE YOU, Mrs. Langlais! xoxo

*  In other friend news, my friend Sara wrote me and said - even though it's difficult - she gives the Kardashian family second chances because of me.  I think I deserve a cut of their revenue.  FOR REAL!  Side note:  When I look at the spelling suggestions for "Kardashian", the computer tells me "guardianship".  I mean, this is proof you should give them a second chance too ;)  HAAAAA!!!!! (And yes, I've already scanned People.com this morning and I AM WELL AWARE that Scott has checked into rehab.)

*  In other celebrity news, I realize I'm a bit (understatement?!) of an addict.  Me to Emily:  Do you read Sean Lowe's sister's blog?  Emily to Me:  No.....I think that's only you.  And there's the proof. 

*  Less than a month left of maternity leave and my heart continues to break every day.  Sigh.  Again with the whole confidence from ALREADY DOING IT idea.  Sometimes experience means peanuts.

*  Shania Twain tickets were impossible to secure.  Let's hope she's of the likes of Michael Jordan and returns a few more times in our future.

*  We rearranged the living/family room area to have a carpet-less art area for Nory (YIPPEE!!!!!) and we also rearranged things in the kitchen to give ourselves more kitchen space (WOOT!!!!).  And by WE, I mean Kumari and myself.  And maybe Kumari lifted everything heavy on her own.  Because maybe she told me I was of no help and to move out of her way.  Maybe.  (Thank you Kumari!!!)

*  As it happened after last pregnancy, my hair has been falling out and I once again have a fear of balding.  I know it's normal, but it just doesn't LOOK that way.

*  The last two days have been really tough, reflux-wise.  I don't understand where these bad days come from, but they are the ones that include lots of laundry and cuddles with Juliet.  Yesterday she couldn't keep her medicine inside of her and she was definitely in pain.  I have never, ever seen her cry LIKE THAT.  And the girl doesn't cry much to begin with, so it was pretty heart-breaking all around.

*  Have you ever experienced phantom bopping?  It might be called something else, but I refer to it as this.  Ya, PHANTOM BOPPING, people!  It's when you keep on bouncing up and down even though there's no longer a baby in your arms.  It happens to me ALL THE TIME, in public especially.  And it's not at all awkward when other people ask me why I'm doing it.....

*  Nory freaks me out sometimes by saying things that make me think her two-year-old memory is impeccable.  The other day, I told her that we will have a big tubby when we're in Canada.  You know what she said?  "Ya, at Nana and Grandpa's house!"  AND THEN, when she was talking on the phone to my Mom about her cousins, she referred to them as "BABIES" - as she did when she saw them last summer!!!!  Is it all a coincidence or does she actually remember these things?!!!!  SO. FREAKY.

*  HAPPY St. Patrick's Day!!!!  And a shout-out to my good pal, Jen!  This day always reminds me of YOU :) xo

EAT. SLEEP. BASKETBALL.

Or simply "BASKETBALL" if you're Phil.  The man who can't eat or sleep for most of the basketball season because his body can only focus on the game itself.  (Both you and I know that the "eat" and "sleep" part are important when it comes to focusing, however my husband is THE BEST at NOT caring what we have to say about that.  So we drop it.  And will every season, forever and ever!)

This past weekend Phil and his boys played against teams from Kuwait, Dubai, Riyadh, Amman and Doha in their final tournament of the year.  They worked hard against all the bad luck thrown their way (injuries, suspensions, BAD REFFING - ha!) to finish in third place overall.  WAY TO WORK, BOYS!!!!!!!  You played your best games of the season in this tournament and we can't wait to see what you bring to the court next year ;)  

Now, because y'all couldn't be there to live and die with the team as we did, allow me to play TSN spokesperson here and give you a run-down of the key moments.  A TOP TEN, if you will....

10)  Juliet sleeping through every game of the tournament.  Because, you know, it's not like it was noisy in there or anything. 

9)  Nory SQUEALING like you wouldn't believe when she saw her best friend, Seton, arrive on the other side of the gymnasium.  Sometimes play-dates trump sports ;)

8)  Phil coaching so hard that his suit jacket came off and his dress shirt came un-tucked.  I also believe he got a technical that game.......   

7)  Phil writing up a play that required him to act OVERLY dramatic from the sidelines, totally distracting the other team from the open man under the net.  He'd like to thank the academy....

6)  The high school math teacher who brought a big, yellow sign that required players to solve a polynomial.  He held it up to "distract" the other team during free throws.  PRICELESS.  Worked like a charm ;) 

5)  Clapping injuries.  Because they're legit.   

4)  The crowd.  So many fans came out to support Phil and his team!!!!!!!!!!! 

3)  Phil's captain (who was injured during game one and out all tournament), being subbed in for 20 seconds to shoot his final three point shot ever.  And he made it!!!!!!!!!  Because he's AWESOME. 

2)  Phil's only grade 9 player being selected for the tournament ALL-STAR team.  After being selected as MVP at two other tournaments this year!  WHOOP, WHOOP! 

1)  Learning that we love these kids as much as the Bulldogs, a feat we never, ever thought was possible.  When does next season start?       

Thank goodness basketball is never REALLY over.  Until the Saturday practices start up again, our family will be immersed in the hype of March Madness and filling in the Mascot bracket we found online (just like last year!).  Although I suppose some people in the Parkinson clan (ah-hem, PHIL?) might want to participate in the tournament using criteria other than the awesomeness of team representatives.  To each their own ;)

EAT. SLEEP. BASKETBALL.  During NCAA, we should be able to bump Phil up to AT LEAST 2/3!

Hide and Seek Scenarios. At Our House.

You know that traditional game of hide and seek that most people play in their younger years?  HOME-GIRL don't play that game.  Here's how Nory plays instead:

SCENARIO #1:  She hides and as you look for her in different (incorrect!) places she yells "NOPE"!!!  Takes the challenge away completely ;)

SCENARIO #2:  She wants to be the one hiding.  But instead of hiding, she sits in the center of the room and demands you go looking for her.  Because, you know, she's....."hiding". 

SCENARIO #3:  Nory chooses to be the seeker, but half-way through seeking she gets distracted by playdoh....or a spoon....and it's not until you wake up from your power nap that you realize the game has ended.          

SCENARIO #4:  She wants to be the hider AND the seeker.  It's really tricky in practice.  The adult must hide but make comments as though they are seeking.  Nory fake hides and then comes to find you.  She shouts "I GOT YOU!!!!" once you've been spotted.

NOTE:  In all scenarios outlined in this post, Nory is CONVINCED she is only visible if SHE can see YOU.  

ALSO NOTE:  She wants to play this game every FREAKING minute.  Or at least it feels that way.  Trying to fake find people is so exhausting ;)

Because he's a Daddy.

And all Daddys should be able to run around with their kids in the backyard.  Or dance with them in the kitchen.  Or throw them into the air over and over until exhaustion kicks in and there's nothing but a big ole giggle fest on the living room floor.  

Scott holding Nory for the first time, a couple of weeks before his accident.

Please read more about this Daddy and his fundraising mission HERE.  If there's any way you could make a contribution to his cause, he would be incredibly grateful.

WE LOVE YOU JAMIESON FAMILY!  XOXO