One and Only?

One and Only is a new book about parenting and the questions surrounding the existence of an only child.

It is a deeply personal choice to decide to have a child at all, and the fact that there is still a stigma regarding families with one kid is saddening.

Kids are a LOT of work. While the joys of parenting are tremendous, one's inner and financial resources can be dramatically strained by the responsibilities that come with having multiple children. 

The author, Lauren Sandler, explains:

Here are some things I want: I want to do meaningful work. I want to travel. I want to eat in restaurants and drink in bars. I want to go to movies and concerts. I want to read novels. I want to marinate in solitude. I want to have friendships that regularly sustain and exhilarate me. I want a romantic relationship that involves daily communication beyond interrogatives and imperatives—I want to be known. 

Hubby and I are dealing with the decision to have more children. I am a sibling, and I love my brother dearly—it has been wonderful to have that indescribable bond—we are essentially built-in best friends. I would love Baby Bee to have a similar experience. On the other hand, Hubby is an only child, and doesn't feel like he missed out on anything. He's extremely well-adjusted and one of the happiest people I know.

I think you just have to know what you want for your life, and follow through in kind. If you're prepared and willing to make sacrifices, then go for it Duggar-style. If not, then stick with one (or none). The choice is yours.

Sticky Fingers

I have a confession to make. I shoplift. I've shoplifted on multiple occasions. I haven't reached troubled-starlet proportions yet... I don't swipe goods from high-end boutiques.

I take things like baguettes, frozen burritos, and paper towels.

I suppose you could say that I coerce people to steal things for me. I distract them with my God-given charms. Use what you've got, I say. They're really putty in my hands, those poor saps. They think that they're just running errands, and crossing items off the grocery list. The power of distraction is an amazing thing. My effectiveness is less than 5%, but I'm only just getting started.

Once I start throwing tantrums on a regular basis, they'll give me whatever I want, just so I don't make a scene. I just hope my plan doesn't backfire. I like going for walks with Mama and Dada to the store.

Maybe I should cut them some slack. They do so much for me already... I guess that they can't remember everything. The lower basket of the stroller, the shopping cart, or even my little hands escape their view, and they forget what they've put there. My powers are endless! 

Little Pleasures: Bee's Interests

Reading books

Breaking in some new kicks

Neighborhood watch

Bee is becoming so independent. Now that she's a toddler, she really likes to do things on her own. It's a such a treat to see her turning into a real kid. The snapshots above demonstrate just a few of her interests:

1. Every day we read heaps of books, but I'm always tickled when she sits down and looks through them by herself. 
2. She used to hate it when I tried to put shoes on her feet. Now, whenever she sees me holding her shoes, she picks her feet up as if to say "Put 'em on me, so I can go!".
3. Bee loves to gaze out the window, watch the birds fly by, and marvel at the trees and clouds. She especially enjoys watching raindrops fall down the windowpane... Everything new that she sees is fascinating to her (and us)!

Bee's Birthday

The cliche is true... Kids grow up really fast. It seems nearly impossible that one whole year has passed since Baby Bee was born.