We saw “Toy Story 3” on Saturday. I cried. And Dave didn’t even make fun of me that much (which means he must’ve thought it was sad too, because normally he mocks me when I cry during movies). Catie is obsessed with the first and second Toy Story movies, and she loved this one, but we had to talk about it a lot afterward. I think some parts of the movie might be upsetting for little kids. But otherwise, the three of us gave it a combined total of six thumbs up.
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I noticed a lot of people did Father’s Day posts, and I felt bad that it didn’t even occur to me. So, happy late Father’s Day to Dave. Catie and I love you to pieces.
I have to say, Sunday was a pretty great day. To celebrate Father’s Day, we went out for breakfast (IHOP, yum), then Dave went home to chill out and have some downtime while I took Catie out to run errands with me. We went to Best Buy to buy Dave’s Father’s Day gift, then we hit Toys R Us to look for a “Slinky Dog” toy from Toy Story. Catie had filled up her reward chart and she said that was the thing she wanted (actually, no, she said she “needed” a Slinky Dog). Of course, Toys R Us was sold out, and I worried she’d have a huge meltdown, so I said, “Hey, they’re out of Slinky Dog here, so let’s go see if another store has it. Come on!” And she… my child… left Toys R Us willingly and without a meltdown. I couldn’t believe it. Reward charts FTW!
Also? Thank the heavens above for Wal-Mart (something I never thought I’d say), because we got the LAST Slinky Dog on the shelf. Catie was so happy that she was an angel for the rest of the day.
We got groceries, brought them home, and then since Catie was too hyper to nap, she came back out with me again to shop for new workout clothes. She sat patiently in the dressing room and told me if she did or didn’t like the clothes I had tried on. (I was only supposed to be looking for workout clothes, but I actually thought this dress looked kind of cute on me and I was thinking about getting it for BlogHer, but Catie said, “No, Mommy. Try something else.” Thanks, kiddo! Way to keep me focused on the task at hand.) It was awesome. We wandered all over the mall and she was the best shopping buddy I could’ve asked for.
And Dave got to play video games all day and take a nap, so I think it was a pretty great Father’s Day for him too.
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In the category of exercise/fitness stuff: A little over a week ago, I ran 20 minutes without stopping for the first time in my life. And it was awesome. But since then, my workouts have been feeling progressively more difficult. On Saturday I tried to run 25 minutes without stopping (which, yeah, that’s hard, but I ran 20 minutes, right? So not THAT much harder!) and I had to stop to catch my breath around minute 15. Ok, no big deal. Then I tried to do that 25-minute run again yesterday and I had to stop to catch my breath 4 different times. WTF? Then this morning I woke up with a nasty cough. Ah, allergies, you evil b*tch. That probably explains my diminished lung capacity. I guess I should maybe pop an extra antihistamine an hour or so before my workout.
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I made these brownies (thanks, Grace!), which sound horrifying, but are actually pretty good. Only, um, the combination of ingredients does lead to some, *ahem*, digestive issues. Let’s just leave it at that, ok? But they ARE yummy and a lot healthier than regular brownies, so… ? Judge for yourself, I suppose. They really taste nothing like the ingredients would have you think.
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I signed Catie up for swimming lessons at the YMCA (our gym), and the classes start in mid-July. But every time we talk about it, she says, “Noooooo! I can’t want to go swimming!” She won’t go to the neighborhood pool with me on the weekends, she won’t wear her swimsuit to daycare on “Water Play Day” (which is basically just playing in the sprinklers, they don’t have a pool). She is terrified of all things water-related, except the bathtub, and she’s not even a big fan of that.
So, I was thinking about withdrawing her from swimming lessons this year. There’s a bunch of kids on the wait list who I know would be happy to take her place, and I haven’t paid for it yet so I won’t lose any money. I’m just not sure if it’s worth putting her through it when she’s clearly so scared and unwilling to try it. Maybe we could try it next year and it’d be easier for her. I do think that learning to swim is one of those basic survival skills that everyone needs. I’m just not sure if she needs it at 3 years old. If any of y’all have any opinions on this, I’d love to hear them. I honestly don’t know what to do.
Hmmm, I am with you, I think swimming is a life skill. However? I also think the time will come when she is ready. Three is such a weird age. I’d wait till next year. Maybe by next year make it not a choice? I don’t know. I think every kid should know by five….however, she’s made a lot of great strides recently (daycare, potty training) maybe give her a pass on this one for a bit? Is just my two cents. 🙂
.-= Issa´s last blog ..Almost 21 months =-.
@Issa, You know, that’s actually a really great point and I hadn’t even thought of it that way. Catie has overcome a TON of her hang-ups this year, and maybe I just need to lighten the eff up and let this one slide for now. I can always work on just getting her to *try* going to to the neighborhood pool with me this summer, and see if we can gradually work on her fear that way.
@Cindy W, I think that is a good idea friend. I mean, I’d still take her and try to get her in the water. But she’s really come a long way in becoming a big girl in the past few months. 🙂
.-= Issa´s last blog ..Almost 21 months =-.
That tie front dress is very popular. I saw it on 2 other blogs today. It’s very cute 🙂
.-= Linda´s last blog ..Damn Seattle Weather =-.
@Linda, It’s pretty, but it did give me a bit of armpit pudge, which I don’t need to accentuate. Also: that type of knit fabric is not so flattering on the big-butt’ed. Just sayin’. I can’t really blame Catie for nixing it. Might be gorgeous on other body shapes, but not so great on mine.
We did swim lessons with Elizabeth when she was 1-almost-2 and it was a waste of money. I just make sure she’s in a lifejacket at the beach or on a boat. We hardly ever go to pools, but when we do, I hold onto her the whole time.
I’ve read that swim lessons for little kids lead to a false sense of security with the parents, and that the kids are actually no better equipped to handle a real dangerous situation (like falling overboard from a boat or into the deep end of the pool) but are more likely to be in the kind of situation where it could happen– without a lifejacket. Now, I don’t know whether any of that is true. It’s just what I’ve been seeing.
I think a 3-year-old who is afriad of the water is not going to learn any survival skills in swim class. She’ll learn to get her face wet, maybe. She’ll either get more scared of the water or decide it’s OK. But she won’t be learning to tread water for a long time, or do a freestyle stroke, or anything of that kind. When she’s 5, she’ll know other kids who swim and probably want to learn. Then she can get the survival skills down. That’s my $0.02.
@Cat, I know what you mean about the false sense of security, although I have a hard time imagining that I would ever let my child out of sight at a swimming pool if they’re under the age of, like, 10. But I’ve got a crazy fear of drowning thing, so that might be a little over the top.
I’m definitely leaning more toward the side of “try it next year” at this point.
Hi! love your blog, Catie is adorable. Btw, so is that dress you linked to!
So, about the swim lessons- upon my inlaws insistence, my husband and I signed our now 5yo son up for swim lessons at the Y when he was three. Biggest mistake ever. He didn’t want to do it, so he sat at the edge of the pool and threw fits for every single session. Of course, there are some kids that looooove it- but the ones that don’t, don’t.
@Sara, Thanks for the comment (and for saying my kid is adorable – of course I agree, but I’m biased!). I’m definitely leaning more toward the idea of skipping the swim lessons this year & letting her try it next year. Maybe this summer I just need to work on getting her to go to the neighborhood pool with me and see if we can gradually overcome her fear that way.
I think learning to swim and not being afraid of the water is very important, you know, since water is everywhere.
I have no expertise in this, since I have no kids, but I sit for a bunch of kids and have seen most of them go through the ups and downs of swim lessons. I think the younger you can get a child accustomed to water the better.
But, like with anything, every child is different. Maybe getting Catie to go swimming with you, even if she fights it, might be the start you need to get her ready for lessons in July or next year, whenever you decide to send her.
Quite a few of the kids I sit for would cry on swim lesson days but once they got there and saw the other kids they would be ok and take part in class.
Also, if you go through with the swim classes I’ve heard that the classes that do not involve the parents are better and that while watching the class try to sit somewhere out of Catie’s sight, especially in the beginning. One of the mom’s I sit for says it’s the best swimming advice she ever got.
Just my thoughts. Good luck to you and Catie. Can’t wait to hear about what you decide. XOXO
.-= AmazingGreis´s last blog ..Daddy… =-.
@AmazingGreis, Yeah, the class at the Y allows parents to stay if they want, but they encourage you to go inside a little viewing room where you can watch but your kid can’t see you. Which is what I’d definitely do. But I’m just scared that if I force this on her when she’s so unwilling to try it, it’s going to make her fear of water worse rather than better. I don’t know. I think I’m leaning toward skipping it & letting her take lessons next year. We can always just work on getting her comfortable in our neighborhood pool this summer.