Unconditional Trust and the Joys of Parenthood

This week Evie and I went swimming twice. It's her favorite thing to do, made funner by the fact that she's getting better and better at it. Lately, however, she's developed a disturbing habit of lunging herself into the pool while I'm looking at something else. Such trust you have to admire, but it makes Mommy nervous. She likes this game a lot. I remind her, "Wait until Mommy is ready," and "Wait until you can see Mommy's eyes." Hopefully it sinks in soon. Although my heart gets a little gooey each time she does it, after two or three times of barely catching her, mostly I'm just freaked out.

Evelyn was obviously feeling adventurous on the whole this week, because she also stuck a raisin up her nose. Yes. It happened like this: I'm changing a horrible blowout AJ just made when she comes into the room crying and holding her nose. I ask, "Evelyn, why are you crying? Do you need a tissue?" She nods her head--more crying. I strap AJ onto the changing table and run to get my suffering drama queen a tissue, which she blows obediently into a few times as I coach her and simultaneously finish the diaper. But the crying doesn't stop. "Evelyn, use your words. What is wrong?" I command/ask. "A waisin... nose!" she replies. All heck then breaks loose. Mommy runs to get tweezers, flashlight, more tissue and a nasal aspirator. After fifteen minutes of looking and having her blow her nose into the tissue, there is actually no sign of the raisin anywhere. I'm asking myself, "Is it stuck so far up her nose I just can't see it?" and beginning to panic even more. I call the pediatrician, who informs me if I can't get it out, Evie will have to go to the ER. I call Justin, who through laughter looks up solutions to the nasal blockage online. Here's what he finds: children who arrive in the ER with objects in their noses receive mouth to mouth. Mouth to mouth! I have to ask Justin to repeat this, because I think he is joking at first. But no--you hold down the unobstructed nostril and breathe into the child's mouth to get the little obstruction out. I'm like, "Uh, OK. I'll call you back." I then tell Evelyn what I'm going to do, and you've got to hand it to this sweet child... she responds with absolute unconditional trust. My heart warms, but I'm still very scared. She gapes her mouth open for me and lays on the floor. I have to adjust her a bit, but I hold down her open nostril and blow, only to hear the air whooshing through the supposedly blocked side of her nose. What??!! No raisin?!!! I think it must of fallen out before she even came to me. Sigh of relief. I run to go make a five minute dinner, because funnily enough we have company coming that night, too (this is the craziness that is our life). Evelyn wouldn't let me near her face the rest of that night. I guess mouth to mouth is more traumatic for the receiver than the giver. :)

Evie has many funny habits these days. Some that have lasted longer than others. She still drags around her little flannel blankies, and usually has a doll closeby. Lately, she loves to push her doll stroller (everywhere--she had it in the grocery store with me today), draw, and pretend to talk on the phone. She also dances around the house and plays the piano (completely arbitrary notes--she hasn't picked out a tune by herself, yet). Such a cute girl! When she's not doing these sweet little things, she is usually trying to do something dangerous, destructive or dirty. Sometimes I let her do the dirty stuff because otherwise I spend all day telling her, "no" and that really stinks for everyone. :) She also is in love with this kind of ugly green sunhat we inherited from the next door neighbor girl. When Evie's face is dirty it makes her look like a homeless person. Haha.

In recent AJ news, every time I put down AJ on a flat surface now (floor, changing table), he will start to inadvertently roll and scare himself. Then comes the panicked screaming like he's being dropped from a fifty story building. It's so sad and comical at the same time. I've started putting my hand on his tummy while I change him, so he doesn't get so scared, poor little guy! He still eats ALL the time. We are trying to get out more with him.

Bizarre and scary weeks like this make me want to write a book entitled: "Things No One Tells You Before You Get Married and Have Kids." But I'm afraid the book would be really, really long. It would have to be an encyclopedia. Even then, I don't know. Kids will always come up with new odd behaviors, frustrating habits and ways to frighten us: the unsuspecting adults. Not to mention all the weirdness that comes out from both spouses after you get married... I guess we all know why it hasn't been written, yet. But maybe it should be--maybe people deserve a little warning. What do the rest of you think? If someone out there wants to co-write, let me know. :)