Not My Favorite Thing About Babies

Stella is a vicious explosive baby this morning. Started off with a 5 AM wake up call...which I let slide until 5:45. Upon entering the room I discovered that she'd overfilled her diaper with poop...and now I must strip her bed and have it all washed by nap time, because, of course, I don't have a spare mattress pad.

After a 1/2 hour diaper and clothes change I gave her and Elsie their morning bottles only to have Miss Stella violently gag and throw up at least half of her breakfast. On me. She had just finished the last pull when this happened. It was still warm and that sucks. So now I must also strip the futon cover (big pain in the butt) and get it in the wash. Because this room will fast smell like rancid puke once the day heats up.

At least Maia is still asleep and the twinks are now playing quietly. Once John gets up, I think I'm going back to bed.

What Not to Say to an 8-Month Old

Because Stella has hip and cool (ahem) parents she is sporting a leopard print correctional helmet. Yes, she has a problem with the shape of her head. It's growing out nicely now, thanks to the helmet. But it is very obvious and we receive numerous comments on it, ranging from "Why is she wearing a helmet?" to "What a great hat/helmet!" But we've never run into the scene we experienced last Saturday at Costco.

Stella was riding in the ergo carrier with John as we walked past the bakery where a very forward older woman was hawking Costco croissants and giving out samples. We stopped to give Maia a bite and as we were turning around to head to the fruit section the Costco Sample Lady says in a very loud smoker's voice "What a sexy helmet!" My reaction? "Ummmm...thanks?" John begins to move a bit quicker away from the Costco Sample Lady but...she follows us to tell us more. "Yeah, that's a sexy pattern...my mother had a nightgown with the same pattern so I know it real well."

Really? Thanks for sharing...we just smiled and nodded and backed away as quickly a politeness would allow. I wouldn't have been surprised if she'd let out a "Rawr!" followed by a bawdy wink.

I think this is the kind of thing John was afraid of when he expressed doubt as to whether or not leopard was appropraite for our daughter. Yikes.

Mother's Day

The following exchanges were overheard at the park this afternoon.

Father (of ~3yo girl): Where's Kate?
Grandfather (of same): I thought she was with you.
Father: No. She didn't come with me.
Grandfather: She said she wanted to go with you...

Now very concerned looking around the playground. And then they head off in the oppsite direction of where Father had just come from.

Me: I saw her go (points while feeding infant daughters) that way, after you.

Father and Grandfather turn in correct direction and find said child happily playing at the adjoining play area. Whew!

(Different) Father (watching two children in the enclosed play area): They're going in different directions! I need backup!!

This was directed to Mother and Friend who were chatting five feet away from the play structure.

Happy Mother's Day to everyone.

Happy Month-Day Girls!

Stella and Elise turn eight months today! Hooray girls!

In related news, I sleep through the night and am enjoying a regular morning nap. Well, I don't nap but the babies do. Morning nap is quiet play time for Maia and myself, although today I might perhaps try to make headway in the disgrace that is my kitchen.

Or waste time on the Internets. Whichever will be more fun. ;)

Favorite Things

I've decided that my new favorite place is the playroom. I've installed my computer here by the futon and perched on the couch I can watch the girls play and read/write/laze about while feel like I'm not totally ignoring my children. It is also the one room that I can control the chaos in. The toys all have a place and it thrills me to no end to find the missing pieces of things...and make them come together again. To make them complete.

I wish I had the rest of my house in the order the playroom is in. But aside from the newly established sleeping space my house, literally and figuratively, is not in order.

I think Miss M and I are in similar spaces. And with the decision (not mine) to cancel the house cleaners I need to figure out fast how to keep it all together. But the cleaners had become a crutch and my intention to focus on clearing out the stuff and clutter between visits never materialized. I was able to limp along further with the thought that at least the bathroom was clean. Of course, it's been a month now since the sheets were changed...

Lists, systems, ways of functioning are meaningless when the hurdle I have to jump is my own inability to take action. If I can not do everything, and do it perfectly, I can not seem to begin at all. And I can not. Can. Not. Just do "one" extra item a day. It seems as though my days are hard enough to get through with the basics done. Tonight the decision was to bathe the children and not make dinner. Tomorrow we have appointments all day and somehow, I have to finish making the house guest worthy.

Of course, simply writing this is not helping. But maybe thinking what I need to do through is the first step in getting it done.

If You Want to Give Me a Present

I miss my point and shoot camera. These girls have been far too cute for words lately and I am missing all the pictures.

Like right now Stella and Elise are wearing these too cute little skirt outfits...the same thing in different colors...and rolling on the playroom floor.

I could get John's camera. But I'd really like my own. So, if you're out shopping please think of me.

Electronic Leashes

I think if I had just not answered the phone this afternoon, the 5 feet to the car would have been easily traveled. As it went, Maia did an escape artist trick and left me in the dust with one baby in the stroller and one sleeping on my chest. Not my finest moment.

Thank goodness for patient friends with better behaved children--and that the spanking threat still works.

Next up, obdience training for both parent and child.