My Initial Thoughts on School

SB has been in school 2 weeks now and I have several observations to make.

First - Whose bright idea was it to have school start at 8am? I mean, we live only 2 miles from school and we still have to get up at the crack of dawn to get SB ready.

Second - I don't like not talking to the teacher every day. I've spent the last 3 years picking my children up from their classroom...often with 10 minute conversations. Last year SB's teacher was one of my best hang-out buddies. I've only talked to the kindergarten teacher in passing. I have to communicate with her via notes in SB's backpack. I know she gets "stars" each day, but I don't know what happened - well without it being seen through the eyes of a 5-year-old.

Third - The pick up line! Arugh, the pick up line! It takes 30 minutes to get through the line. Either I get in line early and sit until school dismisses, or I get there and slowly scoot up in 10 foot increments. Now, this is far more preferable to the bus (who wants their 5 year old on a bus with 12 year olds???), but it's still a pain in the butt.

But I'm loving how SB is already thriving. She's drawing her teachers pictures. She told me the other day one girl was sad because she didn't have anyone to play with and she cheered her up and played with her. I was so proud.
She is very tired after school, but she's trying to adjust to a 6 hour school day as opposed to 3, but she's doing good.

Next week Mac starts his 4K class. He will be going in the afternoon though! Drop off at 11:30 and then pick up the kids together. We'll see how it goes with him! I can't wait!

The Wave of Dismissal - AKA The First Day of School

Round about an hour ago we dropped our eldest off for her first day of school.

Big School. Elementary School. Her first day of Kindergarten.

SB woke up twice last night with jitters. With the assurance that everyone else had jitters as well, she went back to sleep until the oh-so-late time of 6:50 when I forced everyone to get up.

So far I'm not a fan of the whole "school starts at 8" thing.

We all dressed, ate, made sure SB had all her things, and loaded up in the car. The school is only 2 miles from our house, so it's a quick trip, thankfully. I think the drop off line took longer than the trip to school.

With the car parked we all walked in. I was ready. We found her class, where I took a picture of SB with her picture outside the door. And another one at her cubby. She hung her backpack, put on her name tag and walked away.

That was it. No tears. No kiss. Not even a hug. When I called out, "We're leaving," I got a wave of dismissal in return.

A wave of dismissal, y'all. For a kid who woke up twice last night with jitters I was not ready for the wave of dismissal. Marshall said we could go give her a hug, but I didn't want to push it or embarrass her. I let it go.

So no tears were shed - even by me. 

We came home and now Mac is watching the TV show he never gets to watch with his sister around. What will we do until 2:30? It's a new world for both of us!

Cosmetic Procedures on Kids

Last week my beautiful daughter, SB, lost her first tooth. It's all very exciting and she got WAY more than anyone should ever got for a simple tooth - a Merida (from Brave) doll, $4 from my mom and $1 from me (who she knows is the Tooth Fairy).

Why so much for a tooth? Well, she didn't lose it in the conventional way. It was pulled.

You see - about 18 months ago SB had a run-in with a window sill. The window won. And while her mouth and tooth completely healed - one of her front teeth was left permanently blackened from the trauma.

Marshall and I discussed our options and finally decided with kindergarten coming up next month, the tooth needed to go. There was too much potential for teasing - something SB has already dealt with where the tooth is concerned.

So last week she went to the dentist - Merida in hand - and had her tooth pulled. She was very brave, my sweet girl. She doesn't remember a thing about the extraction, thankfully, and she recovered beautifully.

SB looks so grown up now with a tooth missing. And she was very excited about not being teased anymore - in fact it was the first thing she said when it was done...that no one would point out her black tooth any more.

Was it a vanity move? Yes. Yes it was. I read an article not long ago about a mom catching flack for having her daughter's large ears pinned back for purely cosmetic reasons. But you know what? When your child is being teased and there's a way for you to remove or fix the issue - as a parent, you do it! No matter the cost or berating from others, you do what you can to protect your child.

I looked at SB today and the gap where her tooth used to be and I think we made a wonderful decision for our child. Something that will boost her confidence and brighten her smile. And that makes it all worth it!

Dial Tone

When were in Disney World two months ago (wow, 2 months ago?), we stayed in a really nice condo-ish place. Like most rentals, it was fully furnished, complete with in-house telephones.

One day, while we were having a rare moment of down time, SB picked up the telephone in her room. She came running to me, "Mommy! Mommy! There's something wrong with the phone!"

I went over to it and took the receiver from her and put it to my ear. Nothing out of the ordinary. I asked her what the problem was.

"Don't you hear that noise? What is that noise?"

Yeah - the dial tone. She had no idea what a dial tone is.

It's amazing the things we had that our kids will never know. And the things we never had that they know nothing different.

We didn't have cell phones, iPads or even home computers when I was 5.
And my children will never know dial tones, dot-matrix printers or typewriter ribbon.

What a difference 25 years make!

Registering for School

This week I get to register my adorable 8 pound baby for kindergarten.
Except she's 5 and weighs 50 pounds and she's NOT A BABY ANYMORE!!!

I have been anticipating this day for years. I get to send her to school all day long! So exciting! I can write more, I can spend one-on-one time with Mac (and now, apparently, the one who will be arriving around that time, too). I can get stuff done.

Except now that actual registration is upon us, I'm panicking. I'm not ready to send my sweet little baby out into the world. Kids are cruel. And she won't be with her bestest preschool friends anymore.

I really thought I would be living it up with SB going to Kindy. But I'm not. At least not right now. The best thing about the kids' preschool is that I know all the moms, I know the director, I know what they do. And elementary school is the beginning of my not knowing her every move. I'm so glad she's growing up, but I'm mourning over the little girl she's growing out of.

Maybe it's just hormones talking. And I'm sure by August, when school starts, I'll be shoving her out the door. Maybe.

The Photo Shoot

This weekend, SB had the chance to be in a fashion photo shoot for a local children's boutique. She won a contest through the store and that put her into this photo shoot to be put into a magazine!

So of course, now I think my child is is a supermodel. Not the skinny, half-starved kind, mind you. But maybe a kind of Mia Tyler or Crystal Renn.

Anyway. She is gorgeous, as always. And I think this is just the start of a long career in the public eye for SB. Or maybe I'm just like one of those moms from Toddlers and Tiaras who is living vicariously through my child.

I just hope she had fun and will always remember when she was a fashion model. Even if it was just in a local magazine...

Mom, Where Are My Shoes?

Before school one day last week, SB came to me very upset.
"Mom. I can't find my boots," she huffed, tears welling up in her eyes.
I, sympathetic as always, say, "You wore them yesterday. Where did you take them off?"
Now we have tear spillage. "I don't know!"

In our house, shoes go into the Shoe Bin. All the shoes are supposed to go off of feet and into bin. I try to keep everything organized by bin, but SB has lately taken to keeping her shoes in her room because two small shoes can be easily lost in a bin with 41 other shoes (yes, 41, because there's always a shoe missing).

"Are they in your room?"
"No," she assures me. "I looked there."
So we check the living room. No boots.
We look in the kitchen - entry way to our house - and no boots.
We look in the dining room, play room and her brother's room and no boots.

Finally I go back to her room.
And sitting on the floor, square in the middle of the floor, are those darn boots.

Seriously? Seriously?
"SB! I thought you said you looked in your room!"
She runs to her room and proclaims, "I did! They're not here!"
Then she sees the boots. In the middle of the floor. Where, I can only assume, she put them the night before so as not to lose them.
"Oh," she says, "How did they get there?"

Sometimes, I think she does this just to mess with me.

I remember so many times not being able to find things right under my nose. My mom was an expert finder, too.

Decapitated Characters

My daughter has a fear of costumed people. Particularly if they have a costume head.

I think she's scared they will be decapitated. I don't know. She knows it's just a person in a costume, like Halloween. She knows they won't hurt her and Mommy/Daddy are right there. But still, since she was a baby, she had not liked characters with heads.
I can relate since I have a terrible fear of clowns.

It's a long-standing tradition for little Clemson fans to have their picture taken with the Clemson Tiger, and I was thrilled when we encountered him at a parade when SB and Mac were little. Sadly, SB was not thrilled. I don't know if you can see it, but the look on her face says, "Don't get any closer, dude."

Then one of her little friends had a birthday party at a local themed bouncy house place. And they had they monkey mascot dancing around. All the other kids danced around too. Except for Red, who went running, in tears, in the other direction.

So now that we're in the final stages of Disney prep, I keep reminding SB that many of the characters are costumed people - with heads.
I don't know what her reaction will be, and she has been assured many times over that she does not have to approach the headed characters if she does not want to. I think she will allow her picture to be taken if Daddy or I are with her, but I'm not sure.

I think she keep seeing those big floppy heads just popping right off the people. Who can blame her? They are kinda creepy.

Welcome!!! Have Some Ice Cream!!

Oh, thank goodness you're here! I was having a hard time keeping the ice cream away from the kids! I saved it just for you.
In case you haven't heard, it's my SITS Feature Day!

It's like a birthday, only better because I get comments. But the double-fun is that my birthday (yep - the 3rd anniversary of my 29th birthday!) is on Christmas Day, so we can celebrate BOTH!
Two scoops for everyone!

If you're new to A Few Sprinkles Short of a Sundae or not, it doesn't matter, I have ICE CREAM! Just don't touch my sprinkles! I'm already short.

For those of you NOT used to my sarcasm and superfluous use of exclamation marks (!!!!), I'm Allison. I'm a Christian woman, wife and mother - both biological and adoptive. I'm an avid adoption blogger and I also strive to let other moms out there know that they are not alone in this vast world of motherhood and all the twists and turns our busy lives provide.

This is me, wild hair and all!!

And yes, that is a halo above my head! Actually, I took this pic of myself at Bloggy Boot Camp Atlanta and I had the hardest time trying to hide that darn halo. Just ask my Tribe Members - I bet they saw it!

This is my family:

 

We are made up of two crazy trombone players who met when we were 13 years old, started dating at 17, and got married at 22! We have a biological daughter, SB, and an adopted son, Mac. We also have two heaven-bound children whom I cannot wait to see one day seated at the feet of Jesus.

Now, to find out more about who *I* am, check my about me page, and please please check out My Testimony about trusting God! These both include abridged versions of our story regarding infertility, miscarriage, giving birth and fighting tooth and nail to adopt.
And if you just want to know what the best posts are, I have a tab for that, too. See The Posts You Don't Want to Miss!

Oh, you want to know why I'm A Few Sprinkles Short of a Sundae? Good question. You see, way back in 2006 I started a blog about my pregnancy. Then it evolved into talking about my baby and our quest to adopt through foster care. And then we went into the fight of our lives to keep our son both with us and safe, so that blog came down and this one - which is slightly more anonymous - came up. I called it "Mommy's Scoop." And from the scoop came being "A Few Sprinkles Short of a Sundae," to indicate that I don't have all the answers.

There is so much more that I want to say, but I'll stop here and let you explore! I hope you enjoy your stay and have another scoop of ice cream!


Follow @SprinklesofAlli




 

I'm on Facebook, too!

Why I'm Glad I Have a Girl

I am so glad I have a daughter. From the time I was small, I knew my first child would be a girl. We are a family of girls. My grandmother had three girls, who in turn had 3 girls (and one randomly tossed in boy) and my girl cousins greatly outweigh my boy cousins. So I knew I would have a girl first.

So when I was pregnant, we did not find out our child's gender ahead of time. I knew we couldn't change it, so I figured why find out. But I was overjoyed when she was born and the doctor announced that she was a girl.

Now, the downside is that we are so very similar we butt heads a lot. I do mean a lot. And she's only five. But the upside of that is that she is just like me! I love it! She's independent and smart and quite the looker. Haha!

SB is amazing. I love her personality, even if it does clash with my own often. She's just so much fun.
And she's girly. I mean girly. If it's pink, sparkles, shines or has a kitty on it - she loves it. She loves to shop, and twirl, and draw.

Accessory Queen

I really look forward to having the relationship with her that I have with my mom. I love my mom. She's my best friend. I hope that one day when SB is grown I can be her best friend, too. Until then, though, I will be her mean and head-butting mother. And I'm down with that, yo.

I am so glad I have a daughter. It's part of what makes me feel complete. I think every woman should have a daughter (and a son, but we covered that before). God really blessed me with her!

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe December 4th is upon us again. Six years ago, December 4th was just a random day 3 weeks before Christmas, but 5 years ago that all changed. My beautiful little girl made her entrance into the world.

I know I am an avid adoption blogger, but some people don't realize I actually birthed this one. Shocking I know! SB was born 5 years ago today after I carried her for an amazing 37 weeks. I'll echo my own mother's words when it comes to birthing only one child: I did it right the first time - no need to do it again!

Adorable 5 year old!

SB is an amazing little girl. She's so incredibly smart. I know all moms say that, but I mean it! Her teachers tell me all the time they wish they had 12 SB's in their class. She has perception other 5 year olds just don't possess. She can spell real words. She LOVES science and can speak articulately and with a very high level vocabulary.

If you know SB you know she's very much like me - well, she is my mini-me. Just with red hair. She's snarky and funny. She's also very sweet and compassionate. She thinks all the world is a stage and life is her oyster.
On the flip side of that is my very shy, reserved little girl who won't talk to or look at anyone who is not in her "inner circle." If you're in the inner circle, consider yourself lucky. Not even my father is in her inner circle.
She's also one of the most stubborn children I have ever met. She knows what she wants, when she wants it, how she wants it. In fact, when we went to do her birthday pictures last week she kept getting angry and shouting, "THIS WAS NOT MY PLAN!" Which went wonderfully with my shouting back, "This IS MY PLAN!" But she's a girl who knows what she wants, and as much as it bugs me, I'm so glad she's an independent thinker and do-er. 

Someone doesn't want her picture taken

I am amazed each and every day at what this child accomplishes. I can't believe I had a hand in creating her. Yes, disciplining her is hard (we butt heads - a lot), but she is just such an astonishing person. I can't wait to see who she grows up to be!

No, You Cannot Sword Fight Girls

My son has recently discovered sword fighting. He's three. I blame the blockbuster Puss in Boots for this new obsession.

http://puss-in-boots-trailer.blogspot.com/

Vampire Pez dispenser? It's a sword.
Ramone from Cars? It's a sword.
SB's pink belt? It's a whipping sword.

And Mac keeps trying to sword fight his sister. SB, while she loved Kitty SoftPaws, has no real desire to duel with swords. Mac does not seem to get this and it keeps getting him in trouble.

This was our conversation tonight (in the car, mind you!).

• SB: Mom! Mac is using his noisy monster truck to sword fight me!
• Me: Mac, please don't use your truck as a sword.
• Mac: {Devilish laughter}
• Me: Mac, listen, your sister does not want to sword fight. In fact, you should not sword fight any girl. Girls are to be treasured and cherished, not sword fought.
• Mac: Okay...?
• Me: If you want to sword fight, you can do it at school, only at play time. And you should approach your guy friend...
• Mac: Dalton!
• Me: Okay, Dalton. You should approach Dalton and say, "Yo, Dalton, it's playtime, wanna sword fight?" And if he does he'll says, "Yeah, Man, that sounds awesome. Let's go!" And then you can sword fight. But if Dalton doesn't want to sword fight he'll say, "You know, I'm having fun swinging right now. How 'bout I check it out later, yo?" And then you do not sword fight Dalton, you see if Coby or Eli want to sword fight. But under NO circumstances are you to ask Mattie, Helena, Megan or Emma if they want to sword fight. They are girls. They do not sword fight. You got me?
• Mac: Yes. I understand. I'll say, "Dalton do you wanna sword fight?" And he will say, "Of course I do!"

(I love how I was using the cool slang and my son repeated that as "of course.")


But anyway...if my son asks you (if you're female) or your daughter to sword fight, please redirect him towards another member of the male race. And try to teach him some slang while you're at it.

The First Day of School

First off - My sweet little red-headed newborn starts Kindergarten next year. I am baffled. I can't believe this is her 3rd and final year of Preschool!

But the kids started school yesterday. Mac in 3K and SB in 4K. I started them both in the 2-year-old class. It's been amazing watching their progress over the past few years.

SB is so terribly bright. She's very smart, she loves to learn and "loves homework."
Mac has come so far. He's so inquisitive and sops up new stuff like a sponge!

All parents think their children are prodigies. I am no exception. They both have their strengths, but I know both have their weaknesses as well. I think Mac will be an expert at problem solving. He's very hands-on and will learn best that way. Where I think SB is a thinker - she loves to write and work numbers. Both of them love patterns and rhythms.

I'm so thankful for their Preschool. It's a wonderful Christian environment and I wish we had the funds to send them to the private Christian K-12 next year, but I don't foresee that happening (esp. with Mac being just a year behind - so double the price in two years).

So here's a picture - and bonus of the last two years...

2011-2012 school year

2010-2011 school year

2009-2010 school year... my how she's grown!

Where have my babies gone?

Southern Is as Southern Does

My daughter has developed a Southern Accent. I'm not entirely sure where she got it from. I have a slight one that comes and goes, but I don't "accent" the same words she does.

For instance - Ice is not "eye-ssss" it's "ayh-ssss." And right here comes out as "rh-yat hee-yah."

I wish I could video it for you to show you, but when I ask her to say "ice" she says it properly. Only when she's speaking without thinking does the accent come out.

I think it's cute. It goes with the Double-Barrel first name and the love of red, white and blue and ice cream.

She's a Southern Girl. And I couldn't be more proud!

The Dance Recital

The children had their first dance recitals this weekend. I was very worried about their performances - mainly SB's affinity for bursting into tears unprompted.

First let me point out that their recitals were on different days. Mac's was Saturday and SB's was Sunday. I was not too pleased with this, alas there was nothing I could do about it.

Mac, for his part, was the ham he always is. He did not do their little dance, and when it came to the actual tumbling, he was more prone to running across the stage than rolling. He did fine with the forward roll, but then decided that the not-quite-a-cartwheel hoppy thing was not worth his time and he went running from his instructor. 

Mac was "caught" on stage 3 or 4 times. He would run from one and another would catch him. At one point four different instructors were chasing him down! 

The entire audience was cracking up at his antics. I heard people rows behind us exclaiming, "Isn't that little boy adorable?" Yes, yes he is. 

I have to say I was rather proud of Mac. No, he didn't listen to his teachers, but he got out there and did HIS thing. And he is definitely the class clown. Maybe we need to find a mini-improv group...

Mac actually rolling

Escape!

Gotcha!

Running across the stage - again!

Now, SB's recital was Sunday. I was petrified she wouldn't even get up on the stage...I think we were all worried that our little red-head would decide that she was just fine without going in front of the crowd, thank you very much. 
But she was great. Backstage when I got her dressed she was ready and raring to go. I had to keep telling her to be patient. She even kept attempting to do a straddle splits while waiting (she was pretty good!). 
She got out on that stage and she strutted her stuff. I think I held my breath the whole time. I was never worried about Mac being on stage, but SB is my more cautious and worrisome child - I was scared and nervous for her! But she was fine and afterward was so excited, I think she wanted to do it again. I could have cried that she was so excited over her performance.

SB and her rainbow class

She said dancing backwards was tricky!

Oh, she is so cute and did wonderfully!

Now, this pic is blurry, but I just love what this shows! She did it! I am so proud of her!

It's amazing the different emotions I felt as each of my children took to the stage. With Mac I was never concerned, not nervous at all. I knew he would be a natural, and he was. With SB I admit I was nervous! I wasn't she she would even get on the stage. But she did beautifully. 
I'm reminded of just how much my babies are growing up. No longer babies, are they? I'm always amazed by what they do and how they do it. 
Both of my children are so talented. They love to perform and this was their first HUGE audience (and it was huge - standing room only). I hope they have many, many more years of doing what they love. 

The Sass

I am so tired of the sass. From both kids, but mainly an unnamed red-head.

Sass and attitude have taken over our house. The unnamed red-head pouts, whines, cries and carries on when things don't go her way. The unnamed freckle-face also goes through this but to a lesser degree.

It's the defiant attitude that gets me the most. "Unnamed red-head, please take your plate to the kitchen," I say. She turns her head away with a "harrumph!"
This weekend for Easter I said I wanted one good family picture. Marshall had to carry unnamed red-head outside to the chosen picture location kicking and screaming. Her reason for the tantrum? "I just don't want a picture with all of you."
So my blood boils. I holler at her. She cries more. I holler more. She cries more. Marshall explains to me that this is counter-productive, which it is, but when I have to tell my 4-year-old multiple times in one weekend that she's repeatedly hurt my feelings, I feel justified.

So I told unnamed red-head that the attitude had to stay at her grandparents' house when we left. It seems to have snuck back in the car with us. I'll save that battle for another day.

The Good Easter Pics

Here are the kids' good Easter pics from last weekend at Brookgreen Gardens.'

Kids in the Newspaper

In a previous life I was a reporter for a local newspaper.
On Friday a photographer for the same paper approached me about putting a pic of the kids in the paper playing at the park. Sure, why not?

So here are my gorgeous children in the newspaper!

Ladybugs

SB's current obsession is ladybugs. She collects them as pets. Seriously.

Where does she find them? In the house. Everywhere. For some reason our house is a HUGE ladybug magnet and they get in despite our quarterly bug control guy spraying the house. But ladybugs are good luck, so I don't mind too much.

So the other day SB pulls out her Halloween pumpkin (we play with them year-round) and starts collecting ladybugs. She makes the a house in her pumpkin with water bottle caps as bedrooms, kitchen, etc. She even names them. One is "Red Red Rose" (everything in her world right now is called Red Rose), one is "Pink Purple Rose" (even though s/he is certainly not pink or purple) and the third is "Pink Red Rose."

It's all very cute until the next day when the ladybugs are looking a little slow and one it turned over with its feet clamoring in the air as if to say, "Please get me out of this hot pink pumpkin! I'm playing dead until you let me out!"

I told her that ladybugs do not live in Halloween pumpkins and they need more air and food. Plus, I told her, ladybugs do not live a long time.
My sweet girl ran to the kitchen and came back with three goldfish crackers and a jar of peanut butter. I told her they do not likely eat goldfish or peanut butter. She went and got a leaf of lettuce. We checked the great and almighty Wikipedia and found out that ladybugs are carnivores and eat aphids. And since I don't keep a stock of aphids in the pantry, I told SB we needed to let the ladybugs go.

It was an interesting lesson for us, keeping the ladybugs as pets. I had no idea they were carnivores. And SB learned that no matter how much you want something and give it a cute name - some things are not meant to be pets.

Children, Not Strippers

I don't know what clothing manufacturers were thinking when they thought that elementary school age girls needed to look like tiny hookers, but that has to be it. How else would you explain the plethora of micro-sized stripper wear put out for girls sizes 6 and up?

SB has just turned 4, but she wears a 6 or 6X (what is the X anyway?). Suddenly the cute clothes of baby, toddler and prechool-hood are gone. No more fluffy skirts. No more Peter Pan collars and adorable little ducks and ladybugs.

Children's Place. Hip, but modest.

Now the options are Justin Beiber and Zac Efron or Wizards of Waverly Place (and I don't even know what that is!). And full-cut tshirts have given way to lady-cut thirts. What girl between the ages of 4 and 11 needs the lady cut? NONE OF THEM! Dresses boast a revealing jewel or sweetheart neckline which is fine for an adult, but not fine for my little girl.

Also Children's Place. WHY WHY WHY???? would you do this to your child?

Seriously? Notice the lady cut of the shirt...

I just did a google search of "girls size 7 clothes," and this is what came up:

the website is called "trendyandstylish.com" At first I read it as "trashyandstylish.com"

To be fair, I also got this, which I think is pretty cute and still fairly childish:

this was on an eBay listing

I know other parents agree with me. So why are clothing manufacturers at Sears, Penney's and WalMart still churning out trash for our children to wear. It seems one has to stop in a pricey boutique to find cute, modest and still (little) girly for these not-quite-tweens to wear.

I mean, seriously, our children grow up fast enough. Let's not force them to look like child hookers a la Brooke Shields ca 1980 on top of it.