The mom who never called & Day 119. 246 Days Left.

A few months ago, at our mall’s indoor playground, I met a woman who, it turned out, lives almost directly behind us. Deena has two little boys; the oldest a few months older than Addison (he is already four) and the youngest is only a couple of weeks younger than Jackson. She and her husband had only moved to the area recently, and we were both glad to meet another stay-at-home mom in the neighborhood.

While our kids played, we talked about life as a stay-at-home mom, schools and pediatricians and all the other stuff moms are required to discuss on their first meeting. Actually, her almost two year old played; my almost two year old ran around with his finger up his nose and attempted to pinch, bite, kick, body-slam and otherwise tackle her little boy the entire time. I was mortified and apologetic and mumbled every few minutes about how he wasn't sleeping well lately, we are working on teaching him to play nice, or some other lame excuse. Deena was completely gracious, of course. We traded phone numbers and emails then went back to our respective houses. I hoped my new friend would want to get together again with That Very Loud Family That Is Raising a Rowdy Boy.

I called Deena a couple of weeks later with the hopes we could meet up at a Latte Fun; a coffee house with a play place. Perfect for toddlers and even more perfect for moms to sip coffee and play catch-up. I have never been and wanted to get there during the week. Even more perfect, I had another mama to go with!

A few days passed and I did not hear back. I waited a week before sending a “how are things going” email. More days passed. Nothing. I checked my email’s spam folder. Nothing.

No return email. No return phone call.

Not wanting to seem too desperate, I let the months pass but started to worry a bit… Did she get into a car accident on the way home? Did something serious happen to her, her husband or godforbid one of her boys? Was their a family emergency that required them to suddenly move back to Indiana? Something had to be terribly wrong- right?

Last week I decided to make one final attempt. I sent an “I have not heard from you, hope everything is well” email. One week to the day, NOTHING!

Surely my one little monster boy could not have scared off a woman with two toddler boys… right? Addison and her four year old played so well together... pity.

Perhaps there is a reason why the 'Sankey clan' is only invited to play-dates once every couple of months…
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Day 119
Jackson being entirely too quiet and the sound of porcelain rattling can only mean one thing…
Addison left the bathroom door open. Again.

This is my life & Day 117. 248 Days Left.

As a mom, my days are filled with many toddler activities. Most of my time is dedicated to Addison and Jackson. I don't say this to shed myself in a favorable light; after all, I am the type of mom that yells loud and often.

My days are spent sitting on the floor playing cars with Jackson often while Addison is styling (pulverizing) my hair or "reading" me a book. I do, spend a lot of time DOING stuff for them. I didn't realize how much time was going to be spent just trying to keep up.

My kiddos are busier than some, they require constant attention. They like to be entertained; Addison talks from the moment her eyes are open, expecting an answer to her every question and a response to her every thought. Jackson spends his days following Addison around trying to get her attention by hitting, pinching, pulling, biting, wrestling and occasionally kissing and hugging (but more often violence is his go-to attention grabber!) When they are not fighting or talking my ear off, they want more mommy time… mommy to color with them, paint with them, read to them, sing for them and dance with them. Jackson wants to play outside but Addison wants to play in their room. They are rarely quiet, or still.

When they are quiet, there is trouble… paint on the tile, crayon on the sofa and walls, artwork made by using condiments, Jackson standing on furniture or playing in the toilet because Addison “forgot to close the bathroom door”. Toilet paper and tissues have started to go missing; perhaps why the toilet keeps getting clogged, so occasionally (several times a week) I have to plunge the toilets... what do you think is happening to the toilet paper? Jackson has a fascination with wipes, diapers, toilet paper and toilets. That is pretty exciting right? This is a SURE sign that potty training is right around the corner... no, the only thing that might be around the corner is a pee puddle or poop that seems to have mysteriously appeared there while Jackson has taken off his shorts and diaper for a little "air"! Be careful at our house or you might just be the next sucker to step in it!

Ah, yes, The Sankey clan; (once you have more than one child you are forever referred to as one entity. We come with our own demolition name and warning… can’t you hear it: “Look out here comes the Sankey clan”) we are loud, we yell from room to room to communicate, we laugh loud- play hard, we are constantly chasing a toddler around yelling “NO!”, someone is always in the middle of a meltdown, Addison I can mostly reason with but Jackson’s come with laying on the floor, limbs flailing, head banging all while screaming- first class temper- tantrum. Wow! Will I make it through another TWO YEARS?

This is my life... Always chaotic...Always amazing.
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Day 117
The Potato Heads

Five rules of toddlerism & Day 72. 293 Days Left.

Thursday night, St. Patty’s day, we I decided the kids and I needed to get out of the house. I called the hubby and told him when he got home from work, we were going out.

We decided to take the kids to a family event in Fort Lauderdale. Once arriving, we were a bit disappointed so we walked to another restaurant. The kids were amazing during dinner; well behaved, sat, ate and enjoyed the bagpipe player which came to each table. Were these really my children?

We got home around 9pm and it was all downhill from there. They cried in perfect harmony; Addison until 11:30pm and Jackson 12am. What the hell happened to them between the time we left the restaurant and got home? Jackson we blamed teething. Addison, well, what was her excuse? Oh, that’s right, she is three. Yes, this is more like it… welcome back kids!

The kids woke at 7:30am and were already shouting their morning demands: mil-mil-mil(milk), chocolate milk, cereal, potty, new diaper... whine, whine, whine, wine… mmm wine. It’s only 7:30am; right.

I pry open my eyes and meet every demand. Good mommy. My only hope was that I can get the monsters down for a nap by 11am. We had plans to go to my friend Jayme’s and hang out by the pool with her and our other girlfriend (my kids call Aunt Wiz). Aunt Wiz has a son; B will be one in a couple of weeks.

Rule number one: Never compare your children to B. He is an amazing baby (not that I don’t think my children are amazing because they are)… but B was born without a fussy switch. This baby is quiet, content, happy; he is not either of my children. Right, we are not comparing.

12:30 in the afternoon, no sight of napping or the hopes of a nap; we pack-up, walk the dogs and head out for our day of fun in the sun.

We get to Jayme’s and shortly after Aunt Wiz and cousin B arrive. Addison is so excited. If there is any person Addison loves as much as mommy, daddy, her Auntie M (my sister), Aunt Wennie, uncles or her grand-parents it is Aunt Wiz. Addison jumps up and down clapping her hands. This is what she has been waiting for the past week. Maybe that is why she has not been sleeping… excitement.

Rule number two: Never tell your toddler they are going to do something fun and exciting until the day of the event; the anticipation leads to no sleep and as we all know I NEED my sleep!

Five minutes into Aunt Wiz and B being in the house, Addison starts the “lets go to the pool” over and over and over. We get everyone ready and walk to the pool. The boys had a great time. Both Jackson and B were content lounging in their floaties. Addison had fun but after 15 minutes she was whining that we needed to go back to Jayme’s house because “ I so so so cold and tired and need to go to Jayme’s to take a nap because I so cranky” as only Addison can so eloquently say.

Meanwhile, I knew what everyone was thinking. I was thinking the same damn thing… we packed bags for three babies, blew up water wings for Addison, two floaties for the boys, packed a cooler with snacks and drinks and walked over to the pool; now 20 minutes later Addison is ready to leave?!

Rule number three: An overtired toddler and the sun are not great combinations.

Jayme suggests we take the kids for a walk to see the horses- we did just that. I thought it would be something Addison enjoyed; she loves horses. She was a little fussy though. I think the combination of a late night, no nap and the sun left her withered. Jackson, however, loved the horses. His face light up as he stuck his finger in one horses nostril. Notice how nothing was mentioned about B. He was content the entire time. Just happy to be hanging off his mommy’s hip.

We get back to the house, change and Jayme starts dinner. Two more friends of hers would be joining for dinner; one of which is a mommy with her two daughters a two yr old and 4 yr old. Good, Addison will have playmates. Maybe that will keep her busy.

I scramble to try and get the kids down for a nap before everyone arrives; however, Jackson is to busy going up and down the stairs. All. Fucking. Day. I hate stairs. Really what is the fascination with stairs? The three of us took turns getting him. The moment we left the living room we would hear Addison yell “Mommy Jackson is up the stairs again. Come get him”. Fantastic.

Fifteen minutes before everyone arrives, Jackson finally falls to sleep. I lay him on the sofa and sigh. I will actually be able to eat dinner.

The girls begin running around the house, screaming… I look over and Jackson sleeps through the chaos. He is exhausted. He was sleeping soundly until the girls began jumping onto the sofa- he wakes screaming just as Jayme was putting dinner on the table. So much for enjoying dinner. I sit him on my lap and we he eats.

Rule number four:Do not have a happy thought before enjoying the experience.

After dinner, the kids continue to run around and play. I go out to the living room to check them and I smell poop. I check Jackson; nothing. I look in Addison’s direction. She knows what’s next. “Addison come here and let me check your underwear”. Yup, sure enough my overtired, stubborn three yr old decided to poop in her underwear… I don’t know what was most frustrating the fact I knew she was overtired and would mostly likely poop, that I forgot to bring an extra pair of pull-ups or underwear or that her response to “Addison why did you poop in your underwear” was “because I did”.

Rule number five: Always pack an extra pair of underwear and if you have not learned this after the third time of experiencing the very same situation, you are an asshole like me!

When I have the two of them alone it becomes very difficult to sit and enjoy myself. Most times I find I am having less fun and hate the fact I can’t just sit and talk like everyone else. Instead, I am running around like a "NO" screaming mad person chasing two toddlers room to room. Why was Aunt Wiz able to help with dinner, sit and enjoy eating her meal, help with clean up and engage in conversation with other adults? Why was B contently crawling around on the floor not making a peep?

As I sat at the table, while I hear my monsters screaming in the background I think to myself… well, they really could be worse. I have seen bad kids and my kids are not bad; they are toddlers.

Lesson learned: parent’s are always most critical of their own children. They weren’t that naughty… just obnoxious enough to drive me insane.
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Day 72
All in a weekend
Sunday Playdate in the Park





Addison exhausted


Sunday morning was spent at the park, the afternoon at Pop-pop and Gredda's house; ending with a sleep over for Addison.



Monday afternoon, I went to pick-up Addison. The hubby met us at my parent's house and we ended up staying for dinner.

Tuesday, I was happy to be home...

The ending result... a week of being out, a week of late nights and early mornings, a week of cranky overtired babies and a week to finish a post.