Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

A few weeks ago, before pneumonia and life got in the way, we spent part of Sam's spring break in Phoenix, Arizona with his parents and sister. It was something we had been looking forward to all winter, not only for the sunshine but to relive some memories. When Sam was coaching high school baseball (a few career moves ago), we went down to Phoenix for tournaments and "Spring Training." I never cared for baseball before I met my husband, but he has taught me to love the game, even though there is still a lot I have to learn. And I am trying to pass some of what I do know along to my daughter.

Unfortunately, we didn't get too lucky with the weather, as Sam's spring break was in early March and this has just been a crazy winter for weather all around the country. But we did enjoy lots of fun family time with the Holloways at the lovely Biltmore Hotel in Scottsdale. In between downpours, we somehow were able to take a quick dip in the pool (Mo is fearless and wanted to swim by herself), visit the spa (yes!), or go to the hotel playground, but Morgan kept us pretty busy with her indoor activities: sculpting with play-do, going potty and talking on the phone simultaneously, and leading us in family sing-alongs. It's amazing what someone so little can persuade five adults to do when trapped indoors!Fortunately, we were able to catch a baseball game between the Dodgers and Giants and sat in amazing seats. Morgan watched intently for about half an inning, but was a pretty good kid and we were able to stay til the end. Aunt Kimmy's iPhone games and a group of really obnoxious hecklers seated near us kept her entertained. (I'm sure she picked up a few swear words, but that's all part of the experience, right?) Morgan got to see some good bunts, a game-winning off-the-wall triple, and participate in her first 7th inning stretch (I'd been working on "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" for weeks!) We also made sure she had her fair share of hot dogs, Cracker Jacks, and ice cream. She got to have her first ice cream cone and attacked every last bit with focused determination. God Bless America!So even though it wasn't quite as sunny and warm as we'd hoped, and I didn't get to see my father-in-law go down the big water slide as promised....it was a very fun family trip. We are very appreciative of Ron and Dinda for making this trip happen, and for Kim who has such great taste in hotels! Thank you!!!

Just an Average Tuesday....

Some things I did today.....

* Had an extra long snuggle/sleep in our bed with Morgan this morning, who was still sacked out even after Sam and I had gotten up and showered.
* Sang and danced along to "Wild Wild West Elmo" video - alone, mind you, Morgan didn't join in.
* Texted my sister and wished I could take away the sickness that she has the day before her birthday.
* Started a load of laundry and folded one while Morgan played with a balloon in the basement.
* Cajoled my daughter into getting multiple articles of clothing on and giving up on having her try to go potty - it's a Pull-Up day.
* Went to the pediatrician for third time in past two weeks.
* Wore a large metal apron while I helped my daughter get her first X-ray (chest) - she held remarkably still and earned a nice Dora sticker.
* Sort of processed the fact my daughter has pneumonia, which explains her awful cough and generally crabby attitude of late.
* Had the first Taco Bell meal with my daughter - she liked the "restaurant."
* Did more laundry and then scrubbed the toilet and bathtub.
* Took some Advil with an Emergen-C chaser.
* Accepted my sister-in-law's offer to watch Morgan while I go grocery shopping later today - thank you!
* Rescheduled my daughter's ear tube surgery for April instead of next week.
* Checked email and Facebook, procrastinating before my next overdue cleaning project.
* Googled "how do you get out motor oil from pink Gymboree pants."
* Checked to make sure Morgan was still breathing while she slept because she hadn't coughed in a long time.
* Made pizza together as a family, which Morgan loved making but refused to eat.
* Wore a horse backpack around the house while pushing a doll in a stroller.
* Feeling a bit sad about my little girl being sick and all the stuff that is suddenly on my plate, then realizing that if my day ends anywhere near as good as it began, I had a pretty great day.

A Block of Inspiration

When I tell people that Morgan goes to preschool two mornings a week, I am often asked, "so what do you do during that time?" Uhhh....I wish I had a really inspiring answer like saving the world, but I usually I say things like: shower, laundry, work out, shopping, etc. It is a complete luxury to have time to myself when I am a stay-at-home mom, but frankly, I think that is exactly reason to have time alone. I no longer have an "escape" at work (if you can call wrangling and educating two dozen 10-year olds an escape), so this is the time to give back a little to myself, even if it is just something simple like shaving my legs.
But this morning while Morgan was at school, I decided (after showering and throwing in some laundry, of course) to do something a bit more inspirational and visit the Portland Chinese Gardens. The one and only time I visited was with my friend, Naomi, when she was pregnant with her first child....that was over 6 years and three kids ago! The gardens are located in Old Town/Chinatown, and I often drive by thinking....I want to go back and visit one of these days. Today was the day, and while it turned out to be a rainy one after a string of sunny days, it made the gardens even more peaceful and beautiful.Red lanterns were hung in celebration of Chinese New year. The raindrops falling on the water seemed like they were planned to synchronize with the entire design. Plants were just starting to bloom - the daphne fragrant, the magnolia delicate white, the plums pink, and the weeping willow ... well, weepy. It is such a beautiful space and unique from every corner in which you stand. Even though it only fills one city block, there are so many nooks and crannies and different perspectives that I never got tired of the views. I wound around little stone paths, across bridges, and through stone arches into heavenly named places like Flowers Bathing in Spring Rain and Tower of Cosmic Reflections and Knowing the Fish Pavillion. It made me think about how we all might behave differently if people, places, and things here were named after an mood or inspiration rather than just an object.
Not only is it a beautiful place to visit, it allowed me a beautiful mental escape as well. Visiting alone forced me to slow down, pause, and focus on the present moment. I sat and observed with the luxury of knowing I did not need to be anywhere or accomplish anything in particular, at least for an hour or so. After taking lots of pictures and playing around with the different settings on my camera (because I could do that all I wanted without annoying my husband or neglecting my child), I went into the tea house to warm up and slow down some more. I started thinking about how much I miss traveling to foreign places, and how much of the world I have yet to see and about cultures and religions that I would love to learn more about. I thought about how I am almost 35 and already wonder how my 30s seem to be slipping my me. I thought about how lucky I am to have had the rich life I have, even if it all ended tomorrow. I thought about the life that Morgan has in front of her and all the wonderful things the world has to teach her. And I sat by the window looking out on the gardens, with my pot of Golden Monkey tea and a bowl of noodles in front of me. I seldom savor a meal, even one as simple as that, and it was good for me to sit and stare and sip and slurp...alone...anonymous. A luxury we all deserve, I think.

"Most cherished in this mundane world is a place without traffic; truly in the midst of a city there can be mountain and forest."

-Wen Zhengming (1470-1559)

It's Never to Early to Start Thinking of Careers....

BUS DRIVERPEDIATRICIAN
VETERINARY DENTIST
HULA DANCER
PRODUCE MANAGER & CHECK OUT GIRLCIRQUE DU SOLEIL PERFORMER

HAWAIIAN NANNYPERCUSSIONIST FOR PINK MARTINI
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

LIZA MINNELLI IMPERSONATOR

All Aboard the Potty Train!

About three weeks ago, Morgan and I hopped on the Potty Express in hopes of a smooth journey to Diaper-Free-Big-Girl Land. It's been an interesting ride so far, and since it has consumed my waking hours lately, I can't help but tell everyone about it. I never would have thought I would have so much to say (and even sing) about pee and poop, but that appears to be yet another perk of being a mom.

What I didn't anticipate is the roller coaster ride that it would be for me. Morgan seems to be taking it in stride, but somehow my emotional barometer is tied to whether or not something appears in the potty. This probably has to do with the fact that we have been in a pretty steady parenthood groove for a while. Having a toddler, instead of rapidly changing infant, has given us a sense of confidence, knowing how to handle most things that come our way. But potty training was something I secretly wished Morgan would just teach herself. For several months we'd been talking and playing potty time - with her pretending to go, making her doll go pee, watching Mommy use the bathroom, and all the other publicly inappropriate bathroom-related activities you can think of. Even though I know it's something that all parents do at some point....and everyone I know over the age of 4 or 5 seems to have this mastered, it still made me second-guess my parenting skills.

I'd read books that had ways to tell if your child was ready for potty training. I bought "supplies" to get ready (big girl undies, stickers, potty books, reward charts, pull ups, special wipes, etc. etc.), but none of that magically taught Morgan how to do it, or made me feel any more ready to take this on. And I didn't want to be one of those pushy parents that forced their kid to do something before they were ready. After all, she's the one in charge here - I really don't have much control over what she's doing (a lesson I'm sure I will be reminded of over and over over the next couple decades).

Then, as if there was a sign from the potty gods, we had the first annual "Naked Poncho Day." I could also have called it "No, Mom, I'm going to be naked and not get dressed and not go to play group where you have a chance to talk to adults and you will be my hostage here at home and yes I will wear only my green poncho Day!" but I didn't. Instead, I turned a moment of toddler spontaneity/insubordination into the kick-off day for potty training my daughter!

Fortunately for me, Morgan caught on pretty quickly once the diapers were off. We are slathering on the praise and cheers and hugs for all her success (as you can tell in the video below). In the beginning, every time Morgan made a "deposit" she got to call and tell someone - like Daddy or Grandma Dinda. She liked leaving detailed messages to like, "Hi, I went pee pee... in the potty. Bye." Once, we called Sam who was in the dining hall at the university and he had to discretely tell Morgan he was proud of her without the students around him catching on. Another time, we called Grandma Dinda and Aunt Amy and cousin Amanda happened to be at her house. Morgan received a round of applause and cheers from them over the phone - it was like a celebrity endorsement.

So while we are definitely not at the final destination on this journey, we have crossed some bumpy terrain and are well on the way to Diaper-Free-Big-Girl Land. And while I am not very proud of how much I have talked about the potty in the last few weeks to anyone who would listen, I am very proud of Morgan...and yes, a little proud of myself too.

[PS: I dedicate this blog post to my mom, who made sure I mastered this potty thing long ago. Thanks, Mom!]

Avery's Sleep-over

My neice, Avery, had a sleep-over at our place last night and no school today, so she is hanging out with me. Morgan had her preschool, so Avery and I got some girl time to ourselves. Since Avery is a loyal "Holloway Happenings" follower and is always asking if the photo or video I just took will be on my blog she is contributing today. So here are some photos from today and a brief narrative by Avery herself!


Hi, I'm Avery and I am in first grade. My best friends are Gretchen and Cambria. My favorite project we did in first grade was fudgecicles in math. Today I was with my aunt and uncle and cousin. We got to go to Starbucks coffee and go see Uncle Sam in his office. Then we got to go pick up Morgan in her preschool. I was in the hospital on Thursday night for bumping my chin. I almost needed stitches, but I just had to get glue and chinstraps and some medicine on my chin. It happened when I was at my day care. That's why I have a band-aid on my chin.
Here is my bunny, Nike, and dog, Oliver. They are drinking coffee and looking at the newspaper with Aunt Robin.
I did some art today. And I made a handprint and it was painted blue, with a green outside. It had polka dots. The border was purple and red and made out of wood.
We were dancing to some music called "Under the Sea" and Morgan was sitting on the potty.

Change is in the Air

It's here...almost. It's that smell that has been absent during the cold, rainy months of winter. Yes, I realize we are still in one of those months, but I can smell things starting to come alive and grow. I also smell a lot of mud, but I think the plant world is trying to rise from its winter sleep. I have also seen bulb sprouts pushing up through the ground and, my absolute favorite, daphne buds forming on shrubs. (I have already began scouting neighbors' yards where I can snip a few branches when they bloom - at night of course.)

I'm not quite sure what has been going on the past few weeks, as this is my first blog of the new year. I don't even think I wrote much about Christmas. In a nutshell, it was really, really nice, full of traditions, fun with family, and the joy of seeing it through my daughter's eyes. Then came New Year's, the de-Christmasing process, friends visiting, trips to the beach, family stuff.....and a huge let down. I had such a wonderful Christmas and was excited for 2010, but now that it's here, all I can think about is spring and sunshine (rather, lack thereof).Hanging out in Pioneer Square with the umbrella man statue.
The first of many trips to the Children's Museum - Clifford was a real treat!
Learning how to build sand castles on the beach.
But this week, we were blessed with some sunshine, AND (most importantly), I was able to get out of the house with my independent-minded toddler and enjoy it! Our house is very quiet, nestled into the west hills, but also devoid of much direct sunlight, especially at this time of year. Most days I don't know what the weather is doing, and by the time I do (because the weather forecasts seem wrong most of the time), Morgan is napping, eating, or just plain impossible to get dressed and out the door. Add the fact that we are potty training (another whole story), and I am getting a bit of cabin fever!

One way to get Mo out outside is on her "big girl" bike, that was handed down from Noah and Avery. She loves "riding it," and I love seeing her explore yet another part of growing up. So the past couple days we have spent time at the park riding her bike, sliding, swinging, soaking up some vitamin D, watching kids, and chasing after her persistent shadow. If the days are getting longer, we can get outside more, signs of spring are slowly appearing, and I get some yoga in a couple times a week, I think I can hang in there.