Category: Totally Tatum

Have you? What does it mean to have “fun”? When you are a kid, every question revolves around being able to answer this question: “Did you have F..U..N?” What age does that question become irrelevant? I have been schooled, and rightfully so, that having fun is a long term fallacy and that to have “fun” is a futile desire. It fades pretty quickly after the event, so instead, strive for more noble activities like reading or something enriching like that. Great point, but darn it, the fun factor has been erased from my vocabulary somehow.

Enter Tatum. Activities like placing mini pots and pans carefully on the floor and then arranging them, only to bang them later…like shaking your head, laughing and making faces…like standing on your head in a V position, like nesting cups and trying to make them fit in a new way, like pulling an obsolete dial phone and holding the receiver saying, “heeeh ro”…silly silly silly, but you’re having a BLAST!  Tatum has shown me that the smallest moments in life should be savored and enjoyed. Life gets so busy and sucks the passion out of minor events like taking an extra second and to give an eskimo kiss and laughing hysterically. It has been proven that laughing is like taking a daily vitamin; it’s healthy and good for you! Plus, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Prov 17:22) God knows what he is talking about.

Kid or no kid, life is to be savored, soaked up and absorbed. Without making the most out of each moment and having some good ol’ fashion fun, then one is just going through the motions to make the time go by faster to get to the next “thing” which is fleeting fleeting fleeting.

I love you Tater Tot. Thank you for helping me find a laugh in so many rediscovered joys (as I stand on my head!) 🙂

Tater is movin and groooooovin. She’s discovered her feet were made for walking!

As she glides clumsily across the floor, Coti thinks she is ready to play MONKEY.  Unfortunately for him, Tatum is more interested in looking in the mirror and holding the comb. Maybe she’ll comb Coti! Nope…. I think she’ll just try to smooth her own lovely locks.

Each day presents new challenges. From new foods to new behaviors. Sometimes they are just AAAAdorable and sometimes these behaviors befuddle me. What do I do? First, today, she tried raspberries for the first time and sourly winced as she placed a piece gingerly in her mouth. I did not want her to starve, so I reverted back to the egg and banana route. She of course wanted her “baba” which I am learning has to come after she eats or she’ll just want milk. I now dilute it with water since she loves it so much and I can’t overfeed her the 24 recommended per day ounces. Next endeavor will be hummus, avocado and black beans.

After I picked her up today, I took her to Cheesecake Factory to meet my mom. She had not had a nap which should have been my red siren blaring, but oh well, let’s do this. We arrive and she instantly looks for things to grab. I hand her a small graham cracker as I pray for the waiter to hurry and bring the food. Steamed broccoli (she loves the floret tops) and grilled chicken quickly arrive and she proceeds to throw them on the floor as she laughs and screams. Oh joy. A screaming child? Really? I pull out every trick in the book….a mini book, her bear, a sippy cup of water (blegh…she hates plain water), puffs, a squeazy…all go on the floor. This is when I give up and decide it’s time to flee the premises. On the way home, she proceeds to SCREAM bloody murder. This is the sign of extreme tiredness. After about 5 minutes of straight screaching, she falls asleep. NO! It’s too early now for her to sleep, so the minute we arrive at home, I give her the baba and read her a story. Slowly we fade to bed, and now? I’m wondering if this is normal…normal to have a screamer!? I suppose I am going to have to just A) practice taking her to restaurants; B) make sure she is well-rested BEFORE we go; C) find more bags of tricks; or D) never go out in public ever again.

Breathe.

Yep…..sportin the shades!