The Darndest Things, Indeed!

Thank you to all of you kind, kind people who continuously tell me how "awesome" I look.  Or ask me with a somewhat serious face, "how did you lose the baby weight so quickly?!"  Or make the comment of all comments, "WAIT - you had a kid lately?" 

THANK YOU. 

Because whether you're being totally honest or not, I usually leave your presence feeling pretty good about my post-baby-body.  Especially when I see a string of you day-makers in sequence!  Your compliments band together and make me feel as though I REALLY COULD fit in with T. Swift's Bad Blood crew.  Or - even more extreme - throw on a bikini and surprise my family with an "I'm coming swimming in the freezing cold pool too!"  (The latter never, hardly EVER happens).

Pool selfie! :)

Alas, there's nothing like family when it comes to keepin' it real. 

Example:  When you're in your bikini.  Ready to take on the world of public swimming.  And your toddler pokes your stomach and says with a smile, "Mommy!  Your tummy's squishy!!!!"  (Before you even step foot outside the apartment). 

This, my friends, is as real as it gets! 

So. 

A big thank you to Nory for being my everyday reality check ;)  A few things to keep in mind:

1)  Mommy's tummy IS squishy, you're right.  In fact, it might even be squishy-ish forever.  But the trade-off (YOU AND JULIET!) is definitely worth it :)

2)  When it comes to people that aren't your family, please don't ever poke their tummies and comment on their squishy-ness!

3)  If I don't swim with you again, it's a matter of core values.  As in, swimming in cold water is flat-out WRONG.

4)  I hope that Taylor Swift still exists when you're concert age.  And that you like her.  Because that would be one of our best day's ever :)

Conversations with Nory.

While playing outside one day....

An Acquaintance:  Hi there!

Nory:  Cat - meow.  Dog - woof, woof.  (pause)  And the cow jumped over the moon!!!!!!!

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After school this week.  Like, IMMEDIATELY after school this week.

Nory:  We go slide in 5 minutes, okay?  (proceeds to her playdoh table where she waits patiently)

Our boss ;)

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Buckled up in the backseat, driving away from the mall's parking garage...

Nory:  Thanks everybody!!!!!!!!

The cutest thing.  She got her own suitcase-on-wheels this trip.......for a whopping 1 KD ;)

Practicing for the airport!

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While playing hide and seek.....

Phil:  Nory!!!  Where are you?!!!

Nory:  I'm sleeping!

Phil: Oh!!! (goes to put a blanket on her) Night, night, Nory!

Nory:  No Daddy - find me!  Find me!

Phil:  (confused) But I thought you just said you were sleeping?

Nory:  But I'm not sleeping YET!!!!!!!

Really random topics of discussion that MIGHT distract you from the real reason(s) I haven't blogged.

1)  IF I was interested in golf and IF I was really, really good at it and IF Phil was also at the top of his golf game and IF it was not so freaking hot to be outside - on a golf course - in Kuwait.  This story could very much represent the two of us!

2)  I'm only slightly terrified to fly home in two weeks time.  Why?  Because we have yet to fly with Nory: Full-Fledged, Miss Independent, I-NO-LONGER-STROLL Toddler Edition and that new-ness is being compounded with the addition of Baby Juliet.  I mean, one would THINK the odds are still in our favour (with the 1:1 child-adult ratio), BUT, if you have a toddler yourself, you know that math has no remorse in lying straight to your "please help me" face.  And then yesterday I decided to ease my troubles with a typically-uplifting People.com scroll and discovered this un-lifting article instead :$

There's always some scheming going on ;)

3)  On the topic of People.com, I feel this issue is an URGENT one.  It's been a whole HOW LONG and nothing official has been announced?  (For the record, I believe all options sounds terrible and "Taylor Swift" is all we'll hear anyways!  Have you SEEN her "Bad Blood" video yet?!).

4)  I really, really, REALLY want to do a puzzle this summer.  Clearly it's going to be a bit of a struggle with puzzle-piece-stealers on the loose (HA!), but I feel we can (notice how Phil is part of my puzzle-putting-together-dream) eliminate any Cases of Missing Pieces with one of those roll-up mats people have been telling me about.  Turns out, you can purchase them for a reasonable price at Walmart!  WHOOP, WHOOP!  My dreams of doing a puzzle might actually come true!!!!

5)  With Olivia Pope on summer holidays, I can't tell you how HAPPY I am for the return of The Bachelorette.  THANK GOODNESS for that piece of reality tv heaven.  I was indifferent as to which girl should be selected, but I'm thinking that Kaitlyn might be the juicier route given the previews of the season.  I was gasping left/right/center and Phil was doing his evil cackle right smack beside me.  JUICY!!!!!!!!!!!!  (By the way, Chris Soules and Whitney are ALREADY, as Gem would say, "Splitsville?!"  OY!)

I'm sure by now you've been hit by two major realizations:

1)  I've been dedicating my free time to the acquisition of useless knowledge and, from that knowledge, the formation of opinions and ideas that have nothing to do with anything. 

2)  You didn't actually miss my blogging THAT much.

Which means I've achieved my post goals, people!  Let's just call it a post and move forward from here!  SEE YOU SOON!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxo

I've learned something recently.

And among other things, the lesson I learned is this:

There's a fine line between

thanking a toddler to encourage the repetition of a helpful task in the future

and 

thanking a toddler to encourage the repetition of a helpful task IN THAT VERY MOMENT, ultimately making the helpful task an unhelpful one.

I'm not even sure if I've phrased this right, so let me give you an example of what I'm talking about:

Example:  Toddler assisting with younger sibling's diaper change.

Me:  Nory, could you please get a diaper from the drawer for sister?

Nory:  (retrieves diaper) Here you go, Mommy!!!

Me:  (super happily) Thank you so much, Nory!  You're such a big help!

Nory:  (continues to retrieve diaper after diaper from the drawer, placing them on the bed where I'm changing Juliet)  Here you go!  Here you go!  Here you go!  Here you go! (with the utmost enthusiasm)

You see, in this instance, a task that was initially deemed as a helpful one (ah-hem, retrieving ONE DIAPER), was turned into a completely UNHELPFUL one, because in addition to having one fresh and clean baby, we also had a pile of unnecessary diapers on our bed that needed to be put away.

 
So here's my point:  Was my thank you too much?  Should I have taken out the "so"?  Should I have cut it after sentence number one?  Should I have responded to her assistance with "thank you" - full stop?  Or should I have laughed at the mountain of diapers beside me and bank on the magic of the "clean-up song" (and My Toddler, Cooperative Edition) to set things straight? 

I chose the latter option.  With a side of reflection. With a plan to, MOVING FORWARD, use a level of expression and word choice that takes the whole "YOU ARE THE BEST CHILD IN THE ENTIRE WORLD FOR GETTING ME A DIAPER" out of the equation.  Unless I'm super exhausted.  And she's acting like a Nornado.  And I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY need to get her back on MY SIDE to survive the rest of the day.  

Ha!  Fine lines, tight-rope walking and survival.  Living and learning over here ;)

Not Sure What To Title This One // Olivia Pope To The Rescue?

Right before bed last night, we had a really romantic conversation that went like this:

Phil:  Hun, let's try to get a good sleep tonight and hopefully by tomorrow morning all of my girls will be feeling better!  Should we get up at the usual time, have coffee and watch shows before the girls wake up?

Me:  YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That sounds so nice!  Let's do that!

So I lay in bed with the sweetest dreams of a calm morning with Phil, well-earned after another week from Bad-Comedy-Ville.  Another week that involved a trip to the hospital (Nory broke out in a fever rash), a new addition to the Parkinson Family Germ Club (that would be me, with a nasty cold!), and additonal sleepless nights brought on by the never-ending illnesses acquired by both daughters last week.  

So I was sweet dreaming.  Of two sleeping beauties, actually sleeping and finally healthy.  Of waking up with a voice that sounds normal and a mucous level to match.  Of an "early morning date" with our Family Superhero, the man who took care of us all while staying miraculously healthy himself....

But, then I awoke. 

At around one in the morning. 

To a noise that I pretended REALLY HARD was in my head rather than in my actual house.

But................nope.

It was FOR REAL and it was Phil vomiting violently in the bathroom.

You read that right.

For kicks, the writers of this tireless episode decided to include a FOOD POISONING stint to finish things off. 

OY!!!!  HA!!!!!  WHAT?!!!!

Jet also woke up to the sounds of Phil's Grande-O Stomach Rebellion and decided it was PRIME practice-rolling-over time.  Because, you know, she's at that fine stage where she's ROLLING OVER OBSESSED and every waking second of the day she's perfecting her new-found skills.  The stage where, rather than celebrating the feat she's accomplished, she grunts with frustration about being "stuck" in a new position.  A marvel stage, indeed.  It was a good 1.5 hours of roll, grunt, return, repeat.  And, funnily enough, Phil was doing a similar thing on the bathroom floor!  #twinees 

You're welcome to stay tuned for next week's episode of PARKINSON FAMILY vs. THINGS THAT MAKE PEOPLE SICK!  It's edge of your seat type of stuff.  Whoever will be next?

Mwaaaa haaa haaa!!!!!!!!!!!

Since Phil was out of commission, Juliet joined me on an early morning date :)  A picnic style coffee gulp!

P.S.  In more AWESOME news, I also dreamed about hanging out with Taylor Swift.  We went puddle jumping with some of her pals and then made our way - VIP - to a Pink concert.

P.P.S.  Nothing can be worse than Delhi belly.  Kuwait belly is sure to be a breeze in comparison!  Times are LOOKING UP, my friends ;)

P.P.P.S.  Every Friday morning, no matter what life throws our way, I seek comfort in the fact that Olivia Pope is merely a download away.  

Can you tell we've entered a new phase?

But I'm sure we'll get to relax again one day.  

Right?  RIGHT?!!!!!!!!!

The Longest Week. Maybe, EVER.

Last Saturday morning, Phil took both girls to the doctor's office - one for a check-up (Juliet) and one for a "what the heck is this rash?" appointment (Eleanor).  Both visits went well and Phil left the office with a two thumbs up for Jet's growth and development (woot!), a bottle of cream for Nory's rash (which is gone now, yet still a mystery), and the hilarious memory of the doctor exclaiming, "Nory is ONLY in the 90th percentile for weight now!"  Haha.  Nory has been in the 95th percentile for the longest time, but it seems that the elimination of naps (ah-hem TWO EXTRA HOURS OF NON-STOP ACTIVITY PER DAY) is burning even more calories.  What can we say?  The Nornado is a force!!!

As close as possible, ALWAYS. 

Anyways, on Sunday Jet needed to go for her four month vaccinations.  We know she's already five months old, but vaccinations come with a spacing issue and we can thank our wonderful pal REFLUX for screwing up the schedule.  Good thing the four month vaccinations are our favourite. 

Except for that I'm lying.

We knew from prior experience that THIS PARTICULAR SET OF VACCINATIONS equates to unhappiness and exhaustion. 

Heart-breaking :(

The thing is, Juliet was ALREADY teething (and uncomfortable!) pre-vaccination.  Her bottom gums have been inflamed for the past two weeks and she's been A TOUCH warm here and there.  So it didn't help that we added to the teething experience by introducing achy legs and an honest-to-goodness fever via two big jabs.  Consequently, we pulled an all-nighter on Sunday night (party!!!!) and then did it again on Monday night (wooooo!!!!).  Jet wanted to be held - and moving - ALL NIGHT LONG.  Which I suppose is superior to a full-fledged tear fest all night long.  Yes, yes it IS.  Our Darling Girl remained her quiet self, just uncomfortable and in need of Mommy and Daddy cuddles :) 

On Tuesday night, with the fever STILL THERE and the appearance of a stuffy nose and coughing, we were advised to head to the clinic.  Phil and Juliet headed out around midnight - in the lightning and hail storm! - while I waited around anxiously at home.  The verdict?  A TRIPLE WHAMMY!  Teething, Post-Vaccination Blah-ness, and a Respiratory Infection!  The doctor said to continue the medicine for fever and to bring her back on Thursday if the fever continued.

On Wednesday, Jet was coughing and stuffy but the fever was starting to go down.  We sorta slept on Wednesday night (HOORAY!) and were thrilled to come home on Thursday to find out that Juliet remained fever-less ALL DAY LONG!!!!  YIPPEEE-YA-HOOO!  We smiled at the thought of a good night's rest and a return to SANITY. 

Our after school photo from yesterday.  LET THE SLEEP-DEPT-OPTIMISM shine through!!!!

On the mend.  Or so we thought!

Then Thursday night happened.  And not only did Jet's fever return with OOMPH, Nory's temperature had skyrocketed and we awoke (I mean, if we were ever sleeping) to two really sick babies.  Which is why we packed up the kids and spent the morning at the hospital.

The downsides of CLOSENESS!  Germ-sharing!!!!!

Still in her Princess Sofia night dress and cat slippers.  The girl continues to maintain quality speed when she's sick!

K-POP joined us for a while.  You can tell that Juliet is the BEST BABY EVER because she was so smiley and happy despite the bloodwork contraption they kept taped to her foot.  BRAVE!

We were at the hospital from eight until noon and are still waiting on test results.  The doctor told us that there have been many kids coming in with an awful virus, so there's a chance it's just that.  However - with Juliet - they are being a little more cautious due to her extended fever and premature status (p.s. will she ever lose that?).  Let's hope whatever it is goes away ASAP.  

Sigh.  At least there's not a jumpy castle/slide available for the kids in the courtyard today.  And at least report cards aren't due on Sunday.  And at least exams aren't due at the end of this week.  HAAAAAA!!!!!!!!  ;)

One day Phil and I will get to sleep like these two did on the way home from the hospital: 

Until then, let's not mistake FEVERISH BABIES for BABY FEVER.  Completely, totally, ABSOLUTELY on opposite ends of the spectrum.  We've got our hands full with TWO!

This weekend I'm in Dubai with Gem and BAAAAAARB-ARA.

#girlsweekend
#girlsweekendwithoutthegirls
#what!!!!

It's been fun.  Not a single panic attack has been had.  At least none that appear on the outside and therefore require admission ;)  Here are some pictures of our trip:

At the airport and no child attached.  I felt totally useless.  HA!

Phil surprised me with a magazine for the plane.  I haven't read a magazine in WHO KNOWS HOW LONG.  We played a lot of "who wore it better" on the plane...

We also did a science experiment aboard the aircraft.  Three cheers for SCIENCE!

Spending some time by the tallest building in the world.  I wish Nory was there to see it!  I can hear her sweet little "ohhhh!!!!" just thinking about it :)

We like to conceal our nationality.  NOTTTTTTT!!!!

I love the bookstore at the Dubai Mall.  It was the one thing I REALLY, REALLY wanted to do this weekend.  I found this purse-sized colouring book AND some new books for the girls!!!!

I was also on the hunt for this nail polish.  It makes the white parts whiter and the pink parts pinker.  Kuwait has yet to receive a shipment and Dubai was three bottles away from being SOLD OUT!  HIP, HIP!

The Dubai Fountains never get old.  Can you spot the Burj Khalifa's reflection?!

This just in.  I MIGHT have pulled a muscle after seeing the breaking news story on People.com.  KATE IS IN LABOUR, you guys!  THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY!!!!!!!!!

The weekend has been SO RELAXING!  We've been hanging out at the hotel all morning (#starwoodpreferredguests) and I'm about to hop in the shower before packing up to head home.  As fun as it has been, I can't wait to see my three favourites back in Kuwait!!! 

It's FOUR STORIES and AWESOME // LUCKY & IN LOVE

Since we returned to Kuwait in August, we've been on the lookout for a dollhouse.  And it's not that they are difficult to find here, it's just that it is difficult to find an AFFORDABLE one here.  One thousand dollars for A TOY?  YA. RIGHT.  (Or as my Nan would say, "over my dead body"!!!!)

ALAS!

It's that time of year!  Not Christmas, but that time of year LIKE CHRISTMAS where expats moving on to new adventures sell their things to expats that are staying put.  The time of year where Facebook becomes more of a "classifieds" section and you can find a bargain pop up on the newsfeed at any given moment.  And if you're lucky like I was, you might be the first person to spot a bargain and secure a THIS-IS-GOING-TO-BE-FUN-FOR-A-REALLY-LONG-TIME TOY. 

TWENTY SEVEN people wrote this dollhouse-selling lady almost immediately and I just so happened to be the very first one to do so!  YES SIREE!!!!!!  Thanks to the Lords of Luck, we are now the proud owners of an amazingly large and wonderful dollhouse that came all the way from Australia!  Loved already by two other little girls (for years and years), this house came with lots of wooden furniture, is perfect for dolls of all sizes, and has a secret attic under the pink-and-white-striped rooftop. 

It's THE BEST. 

THE LEGITIMATE BEST.  As voted by Nory (who plays with it quietly for longer than she plays with anything quietly), Phil (who gets to watch early morning playoff hockey without distractions), Jet (who gets to lay on the floor without the fear of being smothered), and me (who gets to bake, have tea, relax, whatever while everyone else is occupied and content on their own).

We hit the jackpot, people.  

CHECK. IT. OUT.

Before we could TRULY enjoy our latest purchase, we had to explain that the house was a DOLLhouse not a NORYhouse......

Once the ground rules were set, hours of entertainment have been had.

All her little figurines move from the dollhouse to the coffee table and back to the dollhouse and back to the coffee table, several times throughout the day.  I repeat, HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT, people!

What might be even sweeter than Nory's love for her new toy is Kumari's love for Nory's new toy.  Every morning when Phil and I get ready for work, we come out to the living room to see that Kumari has arranged the dollhouse furniture in YET ANOTHER WAY and that new figurines are occupying the various pieces.  So not only is Kumari KUMARI POPPINS, she has this SANTA-LIKE element to her that makes us love her EVEN MORE (who knew that was possible?).  Actually....on the subject of this wonderful woman who has become part of our family, look what she sent me at work this week:

She's also the best.  Her and the dollhouse.

We're DARN LUCKY!

Nory's Song?

My last post about Jet's song generated some curiosity as to what Nory's song might be.  I would have a perfect answer for you if I found a rendition of "Wild Thing" that I even SEMI liked.  But the truth is, I sing the best rendition of Wild Thing that I know of and it's a lullaby version that I'm not sure I can go public with.  I sang this song to her following bath time each night (JAMMIE TIME!) and Phil is convinced it instilled in her this WILD quality that makes her so distinctly unique.

Anyways.

Since I'm not going public with my Wild Thing rendition, I've come to the conclusion that our girl Nory is much more of a playlist than any one particular song.  Here are the songs that I'd include on such a thing:

1)  Miss Independent (Kelly Clarkson)
2)  Jump Around (House of Pain)
3)  Let's Get It Started (Black Eyed Peas)
4)  I'm So Excited (The Pointer Sisters)
5)  Maniac (Michael Sembello)
6)  Spice Up Your Life  (Spice Girls)
7)  Hall of Fame (The Script)
8)  I Won't Back Down (Tom Petty)
9)  I Get Around (The Beach Boys)
10)  Respect (Aretha Franklin)
11)  Pocketful of Sunshine (Natasha Beddingfield)
12)  Rock Around The Clock (Bill Haley & His Comets)

Good, right?!  There's no way Canada's prepared for her.  NO FREAKIN' WAY.