Did I mention?

The boy can walk backwards. I thought I heard somewhere that not all kids can do this at a very early age. He must be a genius.

He dances in a circle when I pick him up from preschool and showers me with kisses.

He yells..whoa, whoa, WHOA..as he crashes into his toy box with his tonka truck ..at full speed... every time which is at least 20...every day.

His first words so far are..mama, daddy, taco(??), goverder(Go over there), hi and bye. Yeah, in that order...totally logical.

He rides his sisters three wheeler - its pink and purple - much to his daddy's dismay. Apparently we MUST buy him a boy bike immediately.

He's fallen off the deck, just once, so far. *sigh* That did not, btw, stop him from trying to step off it again....is that a boy thng?

The girls like Junie B story times before bed, the boy rocks a jam session with his playschool boom box, electric guitar and drum, bopping his head very serious before starting the jam (so adorable)..and his ever loving mommy in the audience. He's a one man band. Boy's got feeling.

Did I mention there is a little bit of bias when it comes to all things between a mommy and her boy....yes mom, now I get it. You win.

We call it the "Ouch"

Any mommy knows that she cannot brush her little girls head without the inevitable, "Ow, OW, OUCH!". Inevitable because it's heard any time a hair brush slightly hovers above a little girlies head of hair.

So given this fact, is it no surprise that the Boy picked up the hairbrush at 14 months, showed it to his mommy and said "OW, mama, OW" before proceeding to brush his hair - which he loves doing right now btw.

Yes little parakeet - that is what we call it here. Run along and brush your hair with the ouch now.

*sigh*

:)

Story Check

*Girlie1 wore a "Jesus loves me" snowman necklace to school. When she told her friends what it said, and they replied, "Who's Jesus?" She exlaimed: "Don't you know Jesus you lives in heaven and loves you? Christmas IS his birthay.", as she pointed up high in the sky.
Way to testify girl. Preach it to them!
*Baby Boy is now walking holding out his hands, as if he's driving a car, to balance. As with all things, there's no tentative steps, he just goes out of the gates like a thorough bred in the Kentucky derby.
*Girlie2 is as usual, salt and light, sweet as can be and stubborn as ever. She currently has a bad case of antsinthepants, and cannot sit without bouncing, or simply walk accross a room - she must skip or hop.

Not the TOOTH FAIRY!!!!

Two stories here, I just have to share.

1. So my DD (age 6) lost her first upper tooth. She looks adorable. And talks like "thith" now. Like I said ADORABLE. So mommy has a cold and asked dear old dad to make sure the tooth fairy came last night.

Well of course DH forgets, so DD is so sad this morning because the tooth fairy dissed her! It can break a momma's heart - so I enter into this elaborate tale about how she DD came to our bed last night, so the tooth fairy must have come by and thought there was a mistake because there was no little girl in that bed, so she didn't check for the tooth and I'm sure she'll come tomorrow (cue: give DH the look of flying daggers).

2. At which point DD tells me she was afraid to sleep in her room last night. Surprising, since she's slept in her room on her own for quite some time now. So then she asks - how big IS the tooth fairy? And how does she get into our house at night?

!!!! OMG, she is afraid that this huge creepy fairy is going to sneak into her room and freak her out!

Enter into elaborate lie #2 where I tell her that the tooth fairy is like Tinkerbell except much smaller and can't fly faster than we can see. Well no - I've never seen her. Nobody has since she's so very small and so very fast.

But, momma, if she's so small - how can she carry the money?

!!!

Ummm - magic?

She then gave me the look.

yup - mommy's a big liar and she let's huge hairy fairy's into the house to sneak into your room at night, who diss you anyway.


IN OTHER NEWS, baby broke his first tooth yesterday. Awww... it's about time, almost 10 months old!!

Time goes by...

Today marks Baby Boy's 6th week. And also the first night he's sleep through completely (6 hrs!!!!) I can't complain really. Although he does demand lots of attention during the day, hugs and holding, he has been a lovely little boy in the area of sleeping at night. 3-4 hrs is heavenly for a newborn, but to stretch to 5-6 hours - well what can you say about that.

It also means I have to go for my 6 week checkup tomorrow. (Ugh!)

It comes with lots of reflection, like the fact that we've survived the first 6 weeks with our third child. How that third child makes a huge difference to the routine we had established as a family, and how all things can be brand new again when you go from a household of girls and add a little boy.

Looking though some items this week, I ran across a picture of the girlies back when girlie 2 was only a few months old, and I can't believe how big they've grown, and I wonder - did I miss something? Will I forget all those precious moments of their teeny tiny tender years?

It reminds me to document all those little, seemingly insignificant firsts, temperments, comments and whatever else they may ask me about one day, that I will likely forget. Hubby and I often sit and talk late night during baby boy's feedings trying to recall if girlie 1 or girlie 2 did some of the things that baby boy does - and we're lucky if we do remember something.

It also makes me consider my health, my relationship with God, and assess where I'm at with the great gift his had the grace to grant me - motherhood - 3x!

I was reading Roman's 7 today, and if not always, now more than ever I find myself being hard on myself. I've made a lot of mistakes. Offenses I find unforgiveable when I consider these failings have been in the area of parenting my little little children.

These are the questions we all ask ourselves at one time or another. There's nothing like a new baby to consider it all again.

So I just want to remind myself - to love a little more, listen a little more, stop and smell the roses and study life a little more through the innocent eyes of my children. Don't forget that they are primere in life. A the other busyness is only that.... busyness - let it go. Don't forget to let it go.

Welcome Baby Boy

Its was a whirlwind holiday season, with the early arrival of Baby Boy smack dab in the middle of x-mas and the new year.

I think we all overdo things during the holidays, attending events, extra choir practices and programs at church, shopping, family traditions - but add being about 36 weeks pregnant in the mix - and well, what happens is sometimes little babies decide they want to join in on the fun.

Actually, I had gest. diabetes - that had to be treated w/insulin - this time around. And, as the doctor put it, my placenta was taking a beating and losing - so we had to evict the little guy. If nothing else, it just confirmed for us that we would be settling w/ 3 of the 4 we had planned on years and years ago. A family of five, we are now complete.

This was the longest labor I've had = about 12 hours total. Which I know some people would take in a heartbeat - but considering 3 hours was my longest w/ the girlies, I was beyond being done when that 12th hour arrived. I was doing alright (not great - I was in labor!) but baby boy wasn't and that had me and hubby worried.

Poor boy kept moving out of position - and when I finally delivered, we found out why - his cord was wrapped around his neck. Thank GOD that he was born naturally and okay. Toward the end I kept thinking I was not going to escape a dreaded c-section 'cause baby boy's heartrate kept dropping.

The first week home baby boy was jaundiced, so we also got a first experience with a bili-blanket. It was sad and humorous all at once - when we hooked him up he lit up like ET! And he was such a trooper - he bore it well, even when they poked his foot and drew vials of blood from his heal for 5 days straight - he didn't scream, just whimpered and bore it like the little man he is.

Thank heavens his color is better and he's up a pound! We are all enamoured w/him at the moment. Enjoying these early, sleepy days w/ the newborn.

Countdown

The countdown begins. In the next six weeks there will be activities and festivities galore. In the midst of it all, I will be trying to attack an accountants year end activities before the actual year end, do preliminary audit preparation - endure an internal control audit, update insurance policies, deal with... well I'll just stop before I overwhelm myself again.

I know I shouldn't be so vested, but yet I find myself staying later and later at work (either in office or at home). Something I thought I had learned my lesson on before.

And am I ever nesting! 'Cause did I mention at that end of these six weeks, we will be adding a family member! Which is exciting but unfortunately is another item on my impending to do/prepare for. Isn't that awful?

So no, I haven't started baby preparations, this pregnancy has been difficult and tiring, and Girlie 2 is old enough now that I am wondering - what were we thinking? Its fun, and yet a chore, the fact that we need to buy new baby clothes and equipment, since after two girlies, and the fact that everything is/was pink, worn out or given away 'cause I couldn't bear to have all of those clothes sitting unused! Plus I was paying it forward. A good friend of mine has supplied her girls hand me downs and toys. I thought I should do the same, and forfeit the 50 cents I might get for some of it in a garage sale.

So looking forward to 2008, when you know what - there will be nothing I can do to save the world, neither here or at work. I will have to succumb to days of baby cuddling and tending my little ones. There's the light..... let the countdown begin.

Snutty

Snutty

Definition- Sneaking around eating nuts

Used in a sentence: The squirrels are being snutty.

Courtesy of: Girlie 1

The squirrels have invaded our backyard. They're quite obnoxious too. They lounge, yes lounge, on our yard furniture and chew on their acorns. Even when we head out into the yard, they'll stay a few seconds too long, before they decide to lug their chubby behinds back into the tree or into the neighbor's yard.

We went pumpkin and apple picking this weekend w/friends. They're from Milwaukee so were shocked at the prices at the family owned apple farm that we like to take the girls to. They were practically shouting - only $2.50 for this pumpkin?! Do you know how much they charge in Milwaukee?? The hay ride is FREE??!! How much for the apples? - Honey go get some MORE!

Shhh!!! - silly city folks :) But it's true. We've been w/them to some of the overly commercial apple farms around Milwaukee. It's nearly robbery what they charge.

We got some nice pumpkin picks that I was going to set outside with fall decorations - but alas, the snutty squirrels will probably tear right into them and make a mess ala last autumn.

Snutty Squirrels!!

Watch out for Pokey Potato Chips

Dear Girlie 1 found mommy's book about how a fetus grows in the womb. I found it in her room while cleaning, and quietly took it back and put it away.

A day or so later, she asked me - does the doctor need scissors to take the baby out sometimes?Does it hurt?

So I explained that sometimes doctors have to help the baby out of the placenta which, I explained, is like a bag that the baby grows inside of to protect the baby and help it grow healthy.

Girlie 1 was concentrating very hard as I explained this, so I asked, Do you understand?

She said: Yeah. The baby has to grow inside a bag to protect it so that when you eat potato chips, they don't poke it in the eye, 'cause potato chips are very pokey!

!!!

What can I say to that logic? :)

Happy B-Day Girlie 1

Girlie 1 turned 5 today! I cannot believe it's been 5 years since our little sunshine arrived. I can't believe it's only been 5 years!! I can't remember what it was like not having her around. I wouldn't want to.

I've had these moments of anxiety. You could chalk it up to the pregnancy hormones, and that's likely it, but I just have these moments when I just want to round her back up, homeschool her, anything to keep her close and to keep the influences of the world just plain away.

What a scary realization - that her going to kindergarden will forever affect who she is, what she knows, and what she'll become. I don't like it. Not today anyway. I know all the other working mom's around me are convinced, or maybe they are still trying to convince themselves, when they tell me it's time to let go, let her move forward, let her move on.

Are you kidding me?? She's 5. She's still my little, so little, girl. No I don't like that advice today.

But then, today isn't about me, is it :)

It's my little girlie's b-day. And she is so proud to be 5. She is the most generous little heart too. She got two Barbie's for her b-day. And without batting an eye, she gave one to her sister so they could play together. She told her she could use it until it's her b-day and then she can give it back when she get's her own.

Is this really my child? :)

Kindergarden Here I Come

Girlie 1 started her summer school course - getting ready for Kindergarden. It was a big day for us all.

Girlie's 1 & 2 and I went down to the elementary school to get our big girl started on the school days chapter of her life.

I think I was more nervous than Girlie 1. Although, when it came time to starting class, she did need me to hang out a bit while she got comfortable. But that didn't take too long.

I think I was more concerned. Being used to day care and the sign-in's and outs, and the locked down nature of the place. Well, even though they do lock down the school, I couldn't help but be a little worried. And the way they just walk the kids out. Now it's good that the teachers walk out and stay outside until it's all clear to keep an eye on the kids - I just am not accustomed to it. Overprotective? Yes, I know. I can't help it.

Poor Girlie 2 was all shook up by the whole event. Being separated from your sister for the first time is hard to understand. And why she couldn't start a new school, or stay at Kindergarden - well, she didn't like it one bit.

She refused to get out of the van at day care. And poor girlie cried, a first, when I left her with her teacher.

Ultimately, I was very, very late for work. Which wasn't too horrible. I needed a short day after that - I was exhausted.

Like I said, a very big day for all. The girlies were of course overtired and are now very much asleep. Big Big Day.

Forever and A Day

And the months go by! Yes, I'm still here and have horribly neglected this little blog.

All the happenings of Girlie 1 and Girlie 2 that I've neglected to document here these past months.

It all started with an audit at work that wouldn't stop. Well this week I was finally able to put it to bed. There were some rough moments in there, but thanks be to God, I can see the light of day again.

Toward the end, hubby, girlies and I were able to escape to a lovely resort and the girls went ga-ga over the massive indoor and outdoor waterparks.

Girlie 1 practically turned into a fish, we could not pull her away from the pool and the high slides she managed to muster up the bravery to slide down on her own.

It is unbelievable how much she's stretched over the past few months. Gone is all the toddler chubbiness, and the preschool fits. She is officially the WHY-girl and ready for Kindergarden. We can't ride to the grocery store without an endless attack of the WHY this and WHY that. And apparently I don't know enough answers to satisfy her. Yes, she told me so. "Mom, you need to know ALL the answers." So much for being honest with this one, but surely the girl stumps me sometimes. I truly have no answers for the why's of some of the practices of humanity. I mean, that's just the way it is.

Of course her first concern was that she needed money to go to school (mind you, she has no idea about the concept of money- or so I thought??). I asked her why she thought she needed money to go to school, and she tells me ' "Mom, I need to get a backpack! So I can carry my books, and necklaces, my lipstick and bracelets." Oh boy!

Girlie 2, on the other hand has become extremely sensitve, clingly - oh, at a hearty 40 minus 2 lbs wants dear daddy to carry her everywhere. (My daddy tells me that I was the same - OF COURSE!) Poor daddy's arms are sore, but he's developing some big muscles! :) But we'll take it. Soon enough she'll be off and we'll long for those moments when she needs to hold mommy's hand, just because.

Girlie 2 came along to Girlie 1's kindergarden orientation. I think it was tough on Girlie 2, first being separated from Girlie 1, while she spent time with her new teacher and class - all on her own. And basically because this is the first time Girlie 1 is doing something that's all her own.

Poor Girlie 2, the tragedy of being so close in age to your dear sister and experiencing the change as Girlie 1 steps out without Girlie 2 at her side.

GOOD NEWS! They've agreed to let me cut back on work hours. So next week officially begins more time at home with the girlies to enjoy the summer. And once Fall comes around, I'll be able to drop off and pick up Girlie 1 from school, be there for the homework help - and YES!! actually have a homecooked dinner for my little pixies each night (hubby is exited about that one too ) - should be a nice relief to the pocketbook.

Exciting times. Glad to be back ! :)

Cold, colds, bugs and ...gross

This is the fourth week we haven't been to church. 1 'cause we were out of town. But 3, count 'em 3 because one of us has been sick in some way or form.

Now those of you who aren't use to or can't stomach the frank talk of the in and outs, quite literally, of young children --- stop reading now.

But really, I could do without a weekend of vomiting, runny noses and especially diarrhea. That which plagued our poor Girlie 2 derailing her potty training - sigh and double sigh.

Cleaning up after Girlie 1 this weekend after, lets see her 3rd regurgitation today is no joy when your own head is spinning, eyes watering and nose is running like a leaky faucet. Not to mention the general appealing and sexy feeling of needing a bath and a major disinfecting of all things surrounding you.

I had planned to do some major organizing, which has gone largely ignored the past few weeks due to demands at work, not to mention the craft fest intended for the girlies, which never seems to get realized.

Yes, I know - boo hoo for me. I'll stop now.

Close as we're gonna get

Friday was take out night, so hubby went to pick up some chinese food. Girlie 1 is the question queen these days. Here's a conversation he recounted to me that went on as they picked up the food:

Girlie 1: Daddy, what is this place?
Daddy: It's a restaurant.
Girlie 1: It is?
Daddy: Yes.
(Girlie takes a look around)
Girlie 1: Are we in China?
(Cashier and cooks think this is tremendously funny :)

Sopito

Grandma gave Girlie 2 a toy dog for her b-day. She named him sopito. It's either because her grandma always feeds her sopa (soup) when she goes over or it's Dora related. I think one of the characters is name Pepito.

Either way, it's creative. Hubby and I think it's adorable.

Sunday Snow

Sunday was Girlie 2's B-day. It was the day of our biggest snowstorm this year. It was beautiful. We spent the day together, relaxed and happy. Girlies played outside and we made a snowman, had a snowball fight and played princess of the mountain.

All the neighbors were out, shoveling and snowblowing and catching up after what's been a very cold, nearly snowless winter.

We bought Girlie 2 a cookie cake with snowmen. She loved it.

Jesus watch over us through the night as we sleep

"Jesus watch over us through the night as we sleep.." is part of our nighttime prayers. You never know how the little ones interpret what you say each night until they just lay it out.

Conversation between Girlie 1 and Girlie 2 overhead:

Girlie 1: Jesus sleeps with us at night.
Girlie 2: Yeah, God takes care of us when we sleep.
Girlie 1: God doesn't sleep. He stays up all night. Jesus sleeps all the time.
Girlie 2: Jesus is a sleepy head.

!!

We did have a conversation after that to discuss what that line really means to us.

First Valentine

Girlie 1: Mommy, I have a Valentine. A boy valentine.
Mommy: Really! What's your Valentines name?
Girlie 1: Jacob Joe-bee-lee-us
Mommy: How do you know he's your Valentine?
Girlie 1: Because I told him he was!

(Silly mommy)

Happy B-day Girlie!

Today was Girlie 1's FOURTH b-day. It was a great day for my big girl!

1. A happy b-day wake up! She could hardly stop grinning when we told her, after months of anxious waiting, that today WAS her b-day. And she was finally FOUR!
2. Breakfast w/ Grandpa.
3. Trip to the amusement park where she rode the Ferris Wheel, Tilt a Whirl and other big rides. She is so brave! I think I was more nervous than she was.
4. Back home for her PRINCESS b-day, with cake and her new favorite dinner - SHRIMP - she suddenly decided that she loves it. Big step for someone who's normal favorite is mac n cheese and pb&j.
5. Stick ball, scooter and other sporty fun gifts.

It was a long and lovely day. She's bathed, and sleeping - happily exhausted.

Homesick? Honestly..

Is it really possible that I can be homesick - 12 years after leaving home? It seems a weekend back home to see Dad and the family can do that to me every time. Even now, though when I go back entire buildings, streets and the very atmosphere of the neighborhoods I use to know have changed.

Or could it be that in the face of change, new and unpredictable, scary and exciting, I recoil, uncertain and a little afraid, and long for the familiarity and predictability of the place that I came from?

Then again, it could just be that I've been miles and miles away from a family that is close knit and supportive, for - yeah, I'll say it again - 12 years. My loud, musical, always laughing, have to out-joke you, crazy, beautiful, quirky family. A family I never get to see often enough. Maybe it's mostly spurned this time by the sound of my jolly, strong, uncle's voice telling me, with unexpected sadness in his voice, that he just doesn't get to see us enough.

Maybe it's mostly the fact, that my girlies, don't know them nearly as well as I'd like, and won't have the same wonderful memories I do of a large extended family gathered at every possible event, celebration or loss.

It could be that I'm just overly nostalgic (aka homesick).


NEWS!NEWS!NEWS! GIRLIE 1 CONQUERS FACE IN THE WATER FEAR!!!
Girlie 1 put her face in the water at her swim lesson today! This is something that normally made my heart race. Our number one tub rule has always been - Don't put your face in the water!

But, today - total change! It's huge. Yes, yes - one small step - but after weeks of her dreading having to put her face in the water at swim class, it seems a new pair of goggles made her braver today.

It was a beautiful sight to see. Kind of like when the Grinches heart grows 3 sizes (is it 3?), you could practically see her become braver. It could mostly be that she figured out that if she keeps her mouth closed underwater, she won't come up sputtering and choking. Nonetheless, it merited ice cream cones for all tonight!