It's not just the Y Chromosome

After reading a friend's blog regarding the aforementioned segment of the population's fascination with bodily functions, I thought this little tidbit was timely.

Sorry Jane, I don't think this is the exception to the rule you're looking for, but Natasha is fascinated by bodily functions.

She is forever interrogating everyone (mostly her father) if they have "farted" this is usually done at the dinner table and takes no prompting at all for the inquisition to begin.

Two days ago I had to call Matt on the phone because I heard her ask her sister if "she liked her poop" Meaning, Did Vica like Natasha's poop... I felt he needed to share that moment of parental pride.

Last night they were playing downstairs and I heard Natasha tell Vica to "Smell her butt"

I do not know for the life of me where she is getting this from. My first reaction was the boys at pre-school, Matt thinks it's from TV, but I can't see that kind of thing going on since I monitor which cartoons they can watch.

This of course makes me wonder if she says this kind of thing at school and just how long it will be before she unleashes this in public.

I'll keep you updated!

Pictures!

Here's a picture of the girls by the fountain at Lincoln Center the day we went to see the Nutcracker.
Sorry these didn't post in order, the first pictures you're seeing are later in the day when we went out to eat and they were showing their true colors!!!

The Nutcracker

Because of an extremely generous gift given to us by Matt's cousins, we were able to take the girls to see The Nutcracker ballet in NYC yesterday. It was the first time I had seen it, and it was Matt's first ballet (big surprise, huh?)

So, before I go any further, a huge THANKS to Bob, AnnMarie, Jeannie, Mike, Maureen and Tom for such a lovely and thoughtful gift to all of us.

We all LOVED it. We're so happy the tickets were for yesterday and not today with the horrible weather we're having- the day was perfect on Saturday. Cold, but clear and the girls did great. Matt managed to find a parking garage only a very short walk from Lincoln Center that did not have any time constraints and accepted on line reservations. We just pulled in and they valet parked our car- super easy and convenient.

I was a little concerned that a two hour ballet would not hold Natasha's interest, but all I can say is that both she and Vica were mesmerized by the entire thing.

How wonderful for me and Matt to be able to watch our girls have this experience. To see them staring literally in wide eyed wonder was nothing short of amazing. As it turns out, Natasha is quite the little ballet fan, she was VERY into clapping enthusiastically for the dancers, and while I'm sure she was taking most of her cues from others around her, she really seemed to appreciate the more difficult choreography and applauded accordingly. Vica was extremely curious about the musicians and the sets. I don't even have to tell you how my sparkle loving girl was floored by the lights!!

This was an incredible experience for any child, but we feel for our girls it was all the more special. A normal childhood, one free from the kind of stress and worry inflicted on our kids early in their lives is the one single thing we're striving for as parents. That's not to say we're not raising them to be responsible, but the trick for us is teaching them, especially Vica what's appropriately responsible. In a million different ways I see her taking responsibility for Natasha as if she were her Mother. It's a very tight rope for me to walk with her. Vica had to be her Mother and now she doesn't- she's not sure what she's supposed to and not supposed to do half the time. While it's great to see that bond between them, the best thing I hear some days is Vica telling Natasha to go and tell ME what she needs or wants. It doesn't help that Natasha is a complete tyrant with her sister and orders her around in the worst way!

Ahhhhhch, I'm rambling- you can tell how confused I am most of the time.

Sounds like every other Mom I know.........

Goodfellas

Today was one of "those" days.

It's late afternoon and the girls have been at it ALL...... DAY....... LONG.......

So, after telling them not to do something at least sixteen thousand times (and that's just today's total) I finally lost it.

As I'm sitting there scolding them once again, I notice that Vica is suppressing a smile on her face while I'm at it.

Before I even realized it, I began channeling Joe Pesci and actually HEARD myself say,

"Oh, you think I'm funny, do I entertain you?????"

I'm not even a huge fan of Joe, or that particular movie.


Long, exasperated sigh........

As I'm sitting here writing this, I can hear them upstairs doing exactly what I told them not to, again.

Sixteen thousand and one and counting.......

Picture it, Kyiv Ukraine, December 2006.....

Today, one year ago we were stumbling off the Aerosvit flight at Borisporil airport in Kyiv Ukraine. It felt like an 8 hour bus ride! The weather in Ukraine was dreary, overcast and cold. We were met by our translator and driver and taken to the supermarket and then to our apartment, which reeked of rotten cabbage.

I also became acquainted with my pet bum outside the apartment on this day a year ago. He's probably still wondering where the crazy American-skya is with the 5 griv bills I'd make Matt hand him every time we passed him.

I'm still glad we took the extra time to get our bearings and prepare for our SDA meeting on the 7th.

I'm going to post on and off during this month remembering our trip last year.