52 Realizations of 2013

You may remember my 2012 Realizations, now a year older and wiser here are my "A-HA" moments of 2013 (not in any particular order)

1. everyone will speak to your kid in english. if you want your kid to know your own native tongue then it's up to you to reinforce it daily, ideally without the use of TV
2. it's really nice to have a life outside of home even if it's just going to work - i can speak to adults!
3. carry lots of snacks in your purse, always have fruit in the bag
4. if all else fails, fried rice with peas, carrots, and eggs is a great dinner that meets food group recommendations
5. add at least an extra 45 minutes to your trip if you need to go out, kids are distracted easy or want to stop drop and roll in the middle of the sidewalk for fun
6. sometimes you just have to go to bed at 9pm because the kid is taking forever to go to bed and startles awake at the cracking of your joints (co sleeper rant)
7. (food) rules are broken at grandma's house
8. best place to cut finger nails and hair is in the tub, Max just sits still with no problem
9. balls, measurement cups, random cups are great bath toys…no need for anything fancy or specialized
10. sometimes there's just no reason for that tantrum …or the reason is so minuscule that it doesn't even register to the adult what the problem was …but it can be a huge deal to the kid
11. having facial hair is your ticket to being snubbed by Max. For my dad, it took about 20 months for Max to accept him
12. sometimes you just have to shower with a crying kid going hysterical behind the curtain, but in short matter of time (maybe 7 showers?) they'll understand you're coming back…but they'll still be right there waiting for you and wanting you to be done ASAP
13. there is nothing better than waking up to a kid lying beside you saying HI and smiling and giggling
14. brushing teeth is a nightly BATTLE but it must be done and it's worth it
15. shirts and cotton pants that no longer fit are the new pajama's at night until they really no longer fit
16. patience is the key to parenting a toddler. PATIENCE
17. i admire kids who are well dressed, I'm just satisfied that Max is dressed to begin with…it's a daily battle, the kid thinks it's enough to be in just diapers
18. i need to take Max swimming during the winter months
19. poo stains take forever to come out in the wash, it's ruined so many clothes
20. white shirts don't fit a toddler's lifestyle…let alone white pants
21. Max despises jeans because they hinder his range of motion when playing and climbing things
22. Max despises button up shirts for no apparent reason
23. after having a kid, menstrual bleeding is near paralyzing in the first 48 hours (so heavy)
24. these are probably the last few weeks of baby wearing Max…it hurts afterwards, wow! shopping isn't worth it
25. you don't have to come out of a toy store with something bought, give them time to play and get bored
26. stairs and escalators are two ways that delay the completion of errands quickly…why do they have to go up and down multiple times?
27. after a crying tantrum, it's beneficial to give them a hug and say you're there for them and love them. it's really strengthened our bond and i hope it opens up the doors for Max to be emotionally honest with me
28. it doesn't hurt to let your kids choose what they want to wear…seriously, who cares as long as they're appropriately dressed for the weather
29. ask for kisses and hugs all the time. hold hands as you walk
30. get them out of the stroller and let them walk. yes, they're slow.
31. talk to them at their level, get down and make eye contact instead of always towering over them…sometimes it really gets the point across faster or a resolution is achieved quicker
32. there are times when having memories is more important than having money
33. there are times when learning experiences are more important than having money
34. craigslist is still our friend…to add to the club, we've also joined kid swaps and buy and sells on Facebook
35. there's really no break for mom's. at work you work, on your days off you're 'working' by taking care of the kids
36. having kids is a great way to keep off the junk food, if they see you eating it they want it too. so unless you want your kids on junk food, don't have it in the house or at least don't eat it when they're around
37. Max likes to sleep in cold rooms, he wakes up cranky and crying if he was hot or sweating (even if he was having a peaceful sleep during)
38. i need to learn to drive in 2014
39. having a beach tent is VITAL to a great summer day. great place for them to nap and take a break, otherwise you either baby wear and sweat, risk a cranky over stimulated toddler, or go home in the middle of the day for your kid to nap and lie down, uncool
40. watch the f-bombs, toddler's pick up the bad words so fast!
41. meet up with your friends at least every 2 months sans children
42. meet up with your maternity leave buddies at least every couple of months to not only socialize the kids but see how much everyone has grown….it's hard to see their growth when they're your kid, easier looking at other's
43. online shopping is your new go-to
44. i have so much stuff from Max's infancy that it's really not apartment friendly in quantity, remember your child not only grows up fast, they get tired of things quick, they don't need all that STUFF
45. ban the iPad, turn off the TV. turning the radio on works or just dumping the toy bag in the middle of the living room works wonders for distraction when i need to cook
46. tell them what's going on, give them verbal instructions, talk talk talk to them …these kids understand even if they can't reply verbally all the time…damn they're sharp!
47. take photos, but don't let that take away from your experience. live life! on the flip side, get a good camera!
48. i still don't know if i want to get a data plan for my upcoming cell phone term expiration date. do i really need to be connected and subsequently distracted?
49. i feel really strange doing extra curricular things without Max …i always feel the need to rush to get back to him even though he's ok. he's my velcro child
50. this blog has been really awesome at helping me remember so much of our life together…I'm glad I'm keeping up with it even though it takes up my scant amount of free evening time
51. im not ready for a second child, even though in theory it would be better to get it done now
52. you need your husband, kid needs dad. totally different relationship than mama and Max