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Musical Tuesday

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Music has officially taken over my Tuesdays. First up in the morning is Music Together for Camper. We went to his actual class this week (last week we had to do it on Saturday instead because of Target silliness) and I was VERY happy with his group. There are a couple of older kids- but the bulk of the bevy are sitters/crawlers. It was super cute to see them all sitting in the middle of the floor together, greeting each other, and the percentage of people on all fours helped Camper feel secure enough to choose his own instruments instead of letting me get him one and bring it back to him. Music Together is mixed ages, so you can never guarantee an older or younger class. It works out well because the different aged children love to mimic/teach each other and entertain each other. But still…I’m glad to not have to watch his fingers around so many stomping toes.

Music-Together-

On TOP of it, I mentioned something about his super huge noggin and my difficulty in finding hats I like and a mom sitting next to me said, “Do you want me to make him a hat?” I was all…”Huh?” She said that she knits, and she’d be happy to get together with me and make him one, or even teach me. For maybe the first time ever another mom approached ME about doing something out of playgroup. It was nice to meet someone who seems interested in DOING things. Maybe this winter won’t be so long, after all. (Does anyone else get the warm fuzzies when you think about finding that perfect mom friend? Someone to hang out with, do things with, complain to, learn stuff from? LIVES LOCALLY. Is this only on TV?)

So yes, Musical Tuesday will now continue with a new piano student (another Mom, actually. Her husband bought her lessons for her birthday, which is so very sweet) and then my three kiddo students. After THAT I get to see if I can help a friend from high school with HER piano needs, and NEXT week I’ll be adding another man to the mix, as well. HIS wife bought him piano lessons for Christmas. So yeah. Tuesdays are full up. I’m excited. I think if I can get Thursdays started up soon, I might look around for lessons for myself again. It’s so hard because technically…I know what’s going on. It’s just the CONFIDENCE. I literally get all choked up when I try to play in front of people. Ah, we’ll see.

Oh, in other news…Camper has a new obsession.

snack 1

The Munchkin Snack Trap.  I gave it to him for the first time on our ride to Music Together, and then on the ride home.  When I went to take him out of his seat he was gripping both handles so tightly that I couldn’t get his arms out of the car seat straps.  When  I tried to take it away to give him lunch he FREAKED OUT.  I’ve never seen him react like this to anything.  He just wanted to keep his little fingers wrapped around those handles.  Maybe it’s because I don’t give him cups with handles usually?  This is special?  He ate holding it with one hand until I brought out the quesadilla, and was able to get it away from him without him noticing.

Seriously people.  Like it’s his new best friend.

Also: Last night I had a dream that I was buying a necklace from a jewelry store on my way home to teach piano.  While I was paying I got a  phone call telling me that my student was already at home, and I needed to get there NOW.  I got into my car only to turn and see John going into the store, but had to go.  I pulled out into the intersection to find it blocked off by police- obviously waiting for me.  And then it gets weird.  I saw them use some kind of weapon, and then a pulse went through the air and my whole body just shut off.  I felt myself relax and realized I had no control over my muscles.  I fought it until I decided it wasn’t worth it and close my eyes.  Then I woke up to find myself in bed.  It was SO WEIRD.  Why were they waiting for me?  What had I done?  They didn’t know I was innocent!  What was John doing there?  It felt so real- and the feeling of having no control over my body and no way to stop them from taking me was- outrageous.  It was enough of a physcial experience that I woke up and thought, “Whoa…cool.”

Lullaby

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

I’ve been looking for this forever.  I had it on a retreat mix from college simply marked “Search Retreat Track 09.”  I knew it was called the Sanctus, but searched for it under everything else without any luck.  Tonight it came on while listening to Camper’s lullabies and after he went to sleep I decided to give the search another try.  If choir robes freak you out, just close your eyes and listen.  The sound of the boy’s voices mixed in with the deeper voices in the background completely overwhelms me.  In the good way.

What do you listen to for lullabies at your house?


Sanctus

Sanctus, Sanctus

Benedictus qui venit in Domine

Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabbaoth,
Pleni sunt coeli et terra Gloria

Benedictus in nomine
Qui venit in nomine

Welcome to Mukluk Season

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

mukluks 016

Fall is definitely here.  I’m wearing slippers in the morning to avoid the cold kitchen tile.  I actually dress my child.   I saw the first leaves turning yellow about a week ago, they are already littering the streets and yards.  Kids with backpacks are causing general ruckuses on street corners and you can’t get anywhere at 2:30pm or 3:32pm.  I love Fall- I always have. But what I don’t love is winter.

Winter here gets cold.

Ok, maybe not as cold as it was in the middle of the country last year, as we drove through it to get to THIS side of the country.  (That was freaking COLD.  I always thought the whole “wind cutting through you like a knife” thing was an expression.  I was BLEEDING.)

But cold.

Last winter I had a newborn, had moved across the country and were poor as dirt.  And I had only two pairs of pants that fit.  This Fall I have a one year old, am going to get to ENJOY the lead up to Christmas (no packing) and have…well…let’s not talk about the wardrobe situation.  And we’re still as poor as dirt.  But that’s cool. (An aside about the wardrobe issue: I got an email with my bridesmaid’s dress (YES John, I know that technically I’m a BRIDE’S MATRON) that I’m going to wear in a few short months and realized that I have some serious dieting to do. And if I look hot in it after all I’m going to wear it every day.  Fancy vacuuming.)

I digress, again.

ANYWAY.  This Fall is PLAN FOR WINTER time.  Meaning: we might be here, still dirt poor and having very little we can do about it for the time being, but for GOSH DARNIT I’M GOING TO DO THINGS.  Today I went to a demo class of Music Together, a pre-preschool music program for babies/kids.  I really liked it, and I think we’re going to sign up regardless of the price tag.  I realized that the money comes with an amazing choice of time slots (either 10am or 11am every day of the week except Sunday) and a woman who is actually trained to do what she’s doing.  I went on my own without Camper today (I thought that it was an “info” session…) and she made ME feel special in a musically way.  A grownup, at a kiddie class without my kid.  That’s pretty good! So in that spirit, I’ve tried to BRAINSTORM (a very September thing to do) some things to do this winter.  Someone told me a couple of months ago that I’m the type of person that likes to have things planned, reasons to go out, obligations and schedules.  At first I was all, “Nah!  Not me!” and then I realized, “YES! THAT IS ME!!!”  If anyone else out there has any fun ideas of things to do and plan, send them my way. (Most especially about winter exercise with a 1 year old in tow…)

My List so far:

Music Together

YMCA (hopefully it won’t be too cold to swim, they have heating, right?)

Projects Camper might be getting old enough to benefit from some fun things I’ve seen online.  This fall I’m wanting to work on sewing my own beanbags like I saw here, making some musical instruments from household items (hopefully I’ll find out how to make them somewhere…I have a couple of ideas) and…well…that’s all I’ve got.

Baking/Cooking Winter is a great time for baking and cooking, warms up the house.  Who knows what I’ll make, but I think it’ll be good for everyone involved. If I actually do it.  We’ll see.

Book Clubs I have a book club through my church and started another one online as well.  If you’re interested, let me know.

Friends So I’m hoping (fingers crossed) that I meet some nice, normal mommies in all these “groups” I’ve found.  It’d be nice if we could hang out sometimes, during the week, during the day.  You know, the time when non SAHM’s are working.  I also have mommies at church, as well, and I think we’ll need to start up our museum day again.  That was fun last time.  Maybe I’ll see about a weekly or bi-weekly playgroup with them, as well.

Speaking of the museum…

Museums! I think at least once a month I’ve got to get the Bubbs out to the museum, I might check out some local “kid friendly” art galleries as well.  We’ll see if they are “kid friendly” or if they are “infant and child friendly” but don’t like toddlers that much.  Anyone else out there finding this to be true???

Piano I’m only teaching on Tuesdays now, which is nice.  I might open up another day, but we will see how it pans out.

Snow Fun My kid can CRAWL this year.  He’ll probably be able to WALK by the time it snows.  Dress that bugger up and throw him in a snowbank, yo.  Who says you can’t go outside in New England in the winter…

So yeah, that’s my list so far.  I’m trying to get myself PSYCHED about this whole impending cold thing- because it lasts for so, so, so long in this part of the country.  People get depressed.  Children get bored and stir crazy.

Here’s hoping I can keep things interesting during mukluk season.

mukluks 014

Night Driving

Saturday, August 29th, 2009

Tonight after Camper was asleep I had to return to some outlets we were shopping at today because I bought him the wrong size pants. (Yes, my 11 month baby needs 24 month pants. Sigh.)  It’s the first time I’ve been out alone, anywhere…at night…for an extended period of time.  I had forgotten how much I love to listen to music too loud.  I listened to this song about 20 times on my way up and back.

Brandi Carlile

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