mommy optimistic : kids

Once upon a time, I had a joyfully quiet, serious little baby. Though he was a happy baby, he hardly smiled - until one day, he got a tooth.

I kid you not, the moment this child got a tooth he transformed before my eyes. The smiles are nonstop, the delightful baby belly laughs echo through the house, and a surprising pushy side emerged.

My 9 month old baby started doing random acts of violence. Pushing my 4 and 3 year old off the bed, slapping me in the face, realizing that biting hurts. Now that he is a year, he's on a rampage! For months I told my 3 year old not to fight back, but days like today make me wonder when I should let him.

Today I watched as not once, but three times my one year old (my 23lb one year old) slammed my three year olds head into my headboard. My three year old is in the 10th percent in nearly everything on those silly little doctor charts. I could care less, he's in proportion and happy and healthy. Grayson has slowed down, he's in the 50th percent (he was in the 90th).

Why am I telling you this? Because both boys can wear size 2t depending on the style of it, so it's not surprising my little guy that doesn't know his own strength can hurt his older brother. Sometimes I get onto him, telling him NO. You know what this little guy does? He turns, looks me in the eye, and laughs. There's no stopping him! He's so adorable, that even my kids can't stay mad at him too long. That or he gave them brain damage...

I'm a mom and I worry. We all worry about something, well I'm an overweight woman these days and not leading by the best example of health for my children.

First, before I get any emails, yes, I am doing my best to better myself! I know leading by example is the best thing I can do. I've noticed something recently though that has me slightly concerned.

Prior to my daughter starting preschool, we went to the zoo and other fun activities weekly. She rarely ever complained of being tired of walking. Lately though, if we walk the dog she starts in, "I'm tiiiired." Now I know mostly, it's the lack of excitement. I'm hardly excited about walking the dog around our very hilly neighborhood, but even when we go somewhere new it's all she can do before she starts in.

Occasionally my little princess will even announce that she's so bored she's changing her name!

On top of my demanding four year old, my two year old can eat more than I possibly can. He wants a snack while I prepare breakfast, then he eats, then he wants to eat mine, etc etc all day long! He's fairly thin, so it's not a weight thing, but I know that it could be eventually. I certainly didn't start out a chunky kid.

Now during spring, it's so easy, but even here in California it gets chilly enough that my baby's lips turn purple. However I've been finding some fun ways to keep us hopping and hopefully keeping us in better health! First and foremost, everyone helps out when it's time to clean house now! Not just mom and it makes for a much happier me!

The kids and I crank up some fun music and dance around. Though it doesn't help the floors as much as I'd love, I can prep the floors and give the kids a couple towels to 'skate' around and gather up some of that dust.

With the winter olympics around the corner, the kids are also immitating most any event we see on television. We pulled out our coffee table to help make this more safe for my older children, and a more suitable crawling space for my baby who's finally chugging along.

For some imagination we pretend we're putting on a parade! Marching around the house follow the leader style is a blast and doesn't get any of the "I'm boooored" comments that walking the dog does!

With all the awesome technology out there, I also own DDR and now that the table is moved, that'll be back in action, and I might just go ahead and buy one of the many Wii fitness games for myself. For Christmas, someone also gave my kids a dance mat game similar to DDR to help keep them moving and focused on something when mommy needs a little mommy time (like working on the site!).

Basically, I know that as long as my kids aren't refusing to walk, we're probably fine, but I hope one day I can walk the dog without hearing that my children can't make it up the last hill.

Who am I kidding, I'm sure the older they get the worse it'll be!