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.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, May 8, 2009
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. ;)
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. ;)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Having a Break
Today has been a day that I wish I could just check out of. I don't want to be responsible for anything, really. I just want to eat cookies and watch TV. Maybe I can make that happen.
Then sleep and we'll see how it goes tomorrow.
Then sleep and we'll see how it goes tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Two simple Pleasures:
Watching all the girls play in one room. Even if they're not playing together they are occupying the same space contentedly. It's bliss to watch Maia create her elaborate games, Elise sit and mouth and block and Stella desperately try to get mobile.
Gorging myself on fresh baked cookies. I can feel the pants getting uncomfortable but I'll worry about that tomorrow. For now, another chocolate cherry oatmeal cookie. Still warm.
Gorging myself on fresh baked cookies. I can feel the pants getting uncomfortable but I'll worry about that tomorrow. For now, another chocolate cherry oatmeal cookie. Still warm.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Time for a...Twin?
(This is an article I wrote for my multiple group...but I realized I never told the story here! This is how we first met Stella and Elise)
March 17, 2008. I showed up on my friends doorstep an ultrasound in hand. She answered the door expectantly and I heard my 21 month old daughter playing in the background. Wordlessly I held up the grainy black and white image from my OB. It took a moment for the image to make an impression and when she realized what she was seeing she laughed delightedly “Twins!” Wordlessly I nodded and entered the house to collect both my daughter and my thoughts.
John and I have were married in September of 2004. He’s a Silicon Valley geek and I’m a foodie turned cook turned pastry semi-pro. We love to have adventures together, big and small. We’ve been up and down the West Coast, have taken a small plane trip (with John at the controls) cross country, and have even pegged the speedometer (of a Jetta wagon) on the Autobahn. We always knew we wanted to have children and often talked about the fun and amazing trips we would then take as a family.
When discussing how big our family would eventually grow to we had a running joke. I come from a family of six, I have three siblings and I love larger families. John has one sister and thought two was the perfect amount of children. I loved to joke about having nine kids...or more! And he would counter that he was “good for two, so you better have twins the second time.” We’d both laugh at that, there was no reason to suspect that we’d get that lucky. No twins in either of our immeadiate families, so that meant no twins for us.
We were delighted and blessed to welcome our first daughter, Maia Evelyn, into the fold in June of 2006. A year and half later we decided our lives weren’t complicated enough so we decided to try for a sibling...never suspecting we’d get more than we bargined for.
I found out I was expecting in Febuary last year. Because it was my second pregnancy and everything had been perfectly normal with the first, my OB didn’t need to see me until mid March. I made the appointment and began the wait to get the first glimpse of our new baby. The pregnancy felt different from the first one, right from the beginning. I had awful “all day sickness” and was extremely tired but nothing cued me into the biggest surprise of my life. As a family we even kept plans to go on a long weekend snow mobile trip, and there I was eight weeks pregnant cruising (and crashing...but that’s an entirely different story) along on a snow mobile for the very first time.
St. Patrick’s Day began fairly normally. I had my first appointment with my OB at 2 PM. John was on board to meet me there, although he was swamped at work testing the latest product from his company. I don’t usually like afternoon appointments, but this was the first I could get and I was anxious to make sure the baby was doing well, especially after my snowy run in with a tree. I dropped Maia off with a friend so she could play and I could go through the appointment unencumbered. I arrived on time, and sure enough the office was behind. Afternoons always lend themselves to emergencies and I understood this. As I settled in, John showed up to wait with me.
I was taken back to get the details over with...John would be able to come in while the ultrasound was being preformed. But the day was not going well and I ended up sitting there for 40 more minutes before my doctor could see me. We went over how I was doing and as she got ready to check the baby for gestational age and that all important heartbeat she asked where John was. “He should be in the waiting room” I replied. “I didn’t see him there...let me check again before we look at the baby.” Out she went to locate my errant husband. When she returned, John was not with her. Not knowing where he’d gone, but suspecting that something had come up at work during the long wait, I got ready to “meet” our latest for the first time without him.
I lay back and let my doctor do her thing. She was making notes and clicking away, when suddenly, it got very quiet. She turned the moniter around and said, “Take a look.” I looked, but what I saw was a split screen and some dark wiggles. “Is everything OK?” I asked, still worried that I had knocked the baby around on the snow mobile. “Yes,” she replied, “everything is fine, but you’re not looking at a broken moniter...you’re not seeing double...look again.” It finally dawned on me that I wasn’t seeing a split screen, I was seeing, “TWO babies?!” My doctor chuckled. “Yes. Two healthy heartbeats about twelve weeks along. You’re due October 10.” I couldn’t believe it and John wasn’t there to share the news! After I caught my breath and could sit up again I was handed my picture of Twin A and Twin B.
As I was leaving, my doctor looked over at me and remembering my husband and his intense fear of having twins from our first pregnancy (where all he wanted to know was that there was only one baby in there) said, ”Let John know he should stop making jokes, they have a funny way of coming true.”
Of course, the very first thing I did after leaving the office was to call John. And of course he was hard at work in a noisy lab running simulations. Our conversation consisted of me telling him we were having twins and him saying “What? I can’t talk about this now. Call you later” and hanging up the phone.
About four hours and a good conversation with my girlfriend later, John calls back. First words? “You were kidding about twins, right?” He thought I was messing with him because he left the appointment without notice. After I told him I had proof, he promised we’d have a good long talk that night...after he had a beer with the boys.
It didn’t take long to get over the shock and get excited about our new arrivals. We had to modify our original plans (good bye single stroller and hello double plus a carrier!) and are still figuring out how to fit all these lovely children into our home (good bye office/guest room and hello sleeping room/play room) and car (we are certified car-seats-for-non-van-vehicles experts now).
Our surprise babies arrived a bit earlier than our EDD and on September 8, Stella Madeline and Elise Carolyn arrived on the scene. Stella was able to come home with me right away but Elsie decided she just didn’t feel like breathing...so she was monitered for a week in the NICU. Today they are almost eight months old and absolutely perfect. We love our three girls and wouldn’t have it any other way.
We’re so glad to have found the Gemini Crickets group and be able to share in the advice, support, and wisdom of the many multiple families represented. We attended NEP meetings while still pregnant and it was wonderful to see that what we were experiencing could be managed. I always know that someone out there will have an answer for me and I hope I can offer some support to families after us still working through all the fun and excitement of raising more than one baby at a time.
As for adventures? We’ve already taken all the girls on their first road trip...a quick jaunt to San Diego over New Years and have plans for a couple more this summer. An extra “baby on board” isn’t going to slow us down.
March 17, 2008. I showed up on my friends doorstep an ultrasound in hand. She answered the door expectantly and I heard my 21 month old daughter playing in the background. Wordlessly I held up the grainy black and white image from my OB. It took a moment for the image to make an impression and when she realized what she was seeing she laughed delightedly “Twins!” Wordlessly I nodded and entered the house to collect both my daughter and my thoughts.
John and I have were married in September of 2004. He’s a Silicon Valley geek and I’m a foodie turned cook turned pastry semi-pro. We love to have adventures together, big and small. We’ve been up and down the West Coast, have taken a small plane trip (with John at the controls) cross country, and have even pegged the speedometer (of a Jetta wagon) on the Autobahn. We always knew we wanted to have children and often talked about the fun and amazing trips we would then take as a family.
When discussing how big our family would eventually grow to we had a running joke. I come from a family of six, I have three siblings and I love larger families. John has one sister and thought two was the perfect amount of children. I loved to joke about having nine kids...or more! And he would counter that he was “good for two, so you better have twins the second time.” We’d both laugh at that, there was no reason to suspect that we’d get that lucky. No twins in either of our immeadiate families, so that meant no twins for us.
We were delighted and blessed to welcome our first daughter, Maia Evelyn, into the fold in June of 2006. A year and half later we decided our lives weren’t complicated enough so we decided to try for a sibling...never suspecting we’d get more than we bargined for.
I found out I was expecting in Febuary last year. Because it was my second pregnancy and everything had been perfectly normal with the first, my OB didn’t need to see me until mid March. I made the appointment and began the wait to get the first glimpse of our new baby. The pregnancy felt different from the first one, right from the beginning. I had awful “all day sickness” and was extremely tired but nothing cued me into the biggest surprise of my life. As a family we even kept plans to go on a long weekend snow mobile trip, and there I was eight weeks pregnant cruising (and crashing...but that’s an entirely different story) along on a snow mobile for the very first time.
St. Patrick’s Day began fairly normally. I had my first appointment with my OB at 2 PM. John was on board to meet me there, although he was swamped at work testing the latest product from his company. I don’t usually like afternoon appointments, but this was the first I could get and I was anxious to make sure the baby was doing well, especially after my snowy run in with a tree. I dropped Maia off with a friend so she could play and I could go through the appointment unencumbered. I arrived on time, and sure enough the office was behind. Afternoons always lend themselves to emergencies and I understood this. As I settled in, John showed up to wait with me.
I was taken back to get the details over with...John would be able to come in while the ultrasound was being preformed. But the day was not going well and I ended up sitting there for 40 more minutes before my doctor could see me. We went over how I was doing and as she got ready to check the baby for gestational age and that all important heartbeat she asked where John was. “He should be in the waiting room” I replied. “I didn’t see him there...let me check again before we look at the baby.” Out she went to locate my errant husband. When she returned, John was not with her. Not knowing where he’d gone, but suspecting that something had come up at work during the long wait, I got ready to “meet” our latest for the first time without him.
I lay back and let my doctor do her thing. She was making notes and clicking away, when suddenly, it got very quiet. She turned the moniter around and said, “Take a look.” I looked, but what I saw was a split screen and some dark wiggles. “Is everything OK?” I asked, still worried that I had knocked the baby around on the snow mobile. “Yes,” she replied, “everything is fine, but you’re not looking at a broken moniter...you’re not seeing double...look again.” It finally dawned on me that I wasn’t seeing a split screen, I was seeing, “TWO babies?!” My doctor chuckled. “Yes. Two healthy heartbeats about twelve weeks along. You’re due October 10.” I couldn’t believe it and John wasn’t there to share the news! After I caught my breath and could sit up again I was handed my picture of Twin A and Twin B.
As I was leaving, my doctor looked over at me and remembering my husband and his intense fear of having twins from our first pregnancy (where all he wanted to know was that there was only one baby in there) said, ”Let John know he should stop making jokes, they have a funny way of coming true.”
Of course, the very first thing I did after leaving the office was to call John. And of course he was hard at work in a noisy lab running simulations. Our conversation consisted of me telling him we were having twins and him saying “What? I can’t talk about this now. Call you later” and hanging up the phone.
About four hours and a good conversation with my girlfriend later, John calls back. First words? “You were kidding about twins, right?” He thought I was messing with him because he left the appointment without notice. After I told him I had proof, he promised we’d have a good long talk that night...after he had a beer with the boys.
It didn’t take long to get over the shock and get excited about our new arrivals. We had to modify our original plans (good bye single stroller and hello double plus a carrier!) and are still figuring out how to fit all these lovely children into our home (good bye office/guest room and hello sleeping room/play room) and car (we are certified car-seats-for-non-van-vehicles experts now).
Our surprise babies arrived a bit earlier than our EDD and on September 8, Stella Madeline and Elise Carolyn arrived on the scene. Stella was able to come home with me right away but Elsie decided she just didn’t feel like breathing...so she was monitered for a week in the NICU. Today they are almost eight months old and absolutely perfect. We love our three girls and wouldn’t have it any other way.
We’re so glad to have found the Gemini Crickets group and be able to share in the advice, support, and wisdom of the many multiple families represented. We attended NEP meetings while still pregnant and it was wonderful to see that what we were experiencing could be managed. I always know that someone out there will have an answer for me and I hope I can offer some support to families after us still working through all the fun and excitement of raising more than one baby at a time.
As for adventures? We’ve already taken all the girls on their first road trip...a quick jaunt to San Diego over New Years and have plans for a couple more this summer. An extra “baby on board” isn’t going to slow us down.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Home (alone)
I am of course not alone. I have all my daughters with me, but I am reminded of John's absence in small ways. The coffee pot wasn't rinsed out last night. For some reason I never remember to rinse the coffee pot and John just does it as a matter of course when he gets home from work. (I am sure this bothers him to no end)
This morning the coffee pot wasn't rinsed out because John isn't home. Also, the coffee I make is never as good as the coffee he makes. It's too strong this morning.
I missed the garbage truck. I hope we can make it until next week. Sorry hon, I should have taken it out last night.
But, I have an organization project planned and since I'm not really concerned with a big mess in the kitchen I might just get it done by Sunday morning. That would be a very good thing.
Maia came into our room this morning where I had decided to feed the babies and snuggle just a bit longer. She climbed up into bed and said: "I miss daddy. He had to go bye-bye."
Yeah. I miss daddy too.
This morning the coffee pot wasn't rinsed out because John isn't home. Also, the coffee I make is never as good as the coffee he makes. It's too strong this morning.
I missed the garbage truck. I hope we can make it until next week. Sorry hon, I should have taken it out last night.
But, I have an organization project planned and since I'm not really concerned with a big mess in the kitchen I might just get it done by Sunday morning. That would be a very good thing.
Maia came into our room this morning where I had decided to feed the babies and snuggle just a bit longer. She climbed up into bed and said: "I miss daddy. He had to go bye-bye."
Yeah. I miss daddy too.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Lent
I so need to get to the library.
We gave up television for Lent and I intended to read more books, write more, and generally socialize with my husband at the end of our collective days. Instead I've been staying up too late wasting time via the Internet.
Next year I'm going to cut the electronic unbillical cord.
We gave up television for Lent and I intended to read more books, write more, and generally socialize with my husband at the end of our collective days. Instead I've been staying up too late wasting time via the Internet.
Next year I'm going to cut the electronic unbillical cord.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Ouch
So the beer I picked last night for our pitcher to share ended up being a 7% Belgium-style ale.
So delicious. Until the combined horror of way to little sleep and not enough food hit.
Now I must stumble through the rest of my day with a not so delicious hangover.
Ouch.
So delicious. Until the combined horror of way to little sleep and not enough food hit.
Now I must stumble through the rest of my day with a not so delicious hangover.
Ouch.
Monday, March 2, 2009
What John does for Fun
There is now a moose icon on Maia's website. Thanks to John. Because she loves the moose with the loose caboose and he in turn loves her.
And he calls me compulsive.
ps: will roll out the new sites as soon as the designs are all finished. we're working on content as well...
And he calls me compulsive.
ps: will roll out the new sites as soon as the designs are all finished. we're working on content as well...
Friday, February 20, 2009
Here's to This Morning
I am wishing all my mornings were like this one...and wondering what I can do to make that happen. Right now the babies are *mostly* sleeping. Stella is fussing a bit, but she's ready to go down. Maia is fed, pottied and quietly playing in her room. Dinner is in the slow cooker. My coffee is still hot.
Life could only be more perfect if I didn't have a three foot tall pile of clean laundry that needs attention.
Other things of note: This morning Stella rolled from her belly to her back. It's not a fluke. She did it twice and she is so proud of herself. She looked up at me laughing at her with a face that said, "See Mom. I can do it myself. No tummy time for me!"
Elise is still on the fence about turning over, so more tummy time for her. But Elise is eating solid food! She had her whole portion (about a tablespoon and a half) of rice cereal and banana for breakfast this morning. Yay Elise! We'll get some meat on your bones.
Stella isn't sure about the whole solid thing...she is the bottle champ after all. But she's not completly opposed to the process so I'm sure she'll like it soon enough.
Maia is still having trouble with poop and the potty. It's the big bane of toddler hood right now. But hopefully she'll realize that the potty is a good place to go soon. Because that's I mess I don't relish.
She is loving her mini preschool and so am I. Maia is also developing an uncanny ablility to quote her favorite shows and books. A budding star of stage and screen perhaps? Or just a toddler developing her memory. Only time will tell.
That pile of laundry is calling and so is an angry babe. It's been pleasant this morning and I hope that continues. At least I've had my nice and warm coffee.
Life could only be more perfect if I didn't have a three foot tall pile of clean laundry that needs attention.
Other things of note: This morning Stella rolled from her belly to her back. It's not a fluke. She did it twice and she is so proud of herself. She looked up at me laughing at her with a face that said, "See Mom. I can do it myself. No tummy time for me!"
Elise is still on the fence about turning over, so more tummy time for her. But Elise is eating solid food! She had her whole portion (about a tablespoon and a half) of rice cereal and banana for breakfast this morning. Yay Elise! We'll get some meat on your bones.
Stella isn't sure about the whole solid thing...she is the bottle champ after all. But she's not completly opposed to the process so I'm sure she'll like it soon enough.
Maia is still having trouble with poop and the potty. It's the big bane of toddler hood right now. But hopefully she'll realize that the potty is a good place to go soon. Because that's I mess I don't relish.
She is loving her mini preschool and so am I. Maia is also developing an uncanny ablility to quote her favorite shows and books. A budding star of stage and screen perhaps? Or just a toddler developing her memory. Only time will tell.
That pile of laundry is calling and so is an angry babe. It's been pleasant this morning and I hope that continues. At least I've had my nice and warm coffee.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
12.2 Down
I started Weight Watchers again and am happy to report that I feel great! It's been 5 weeks (four of using the program) and I'm down 12.2 pounds. Woo-hoo. It's a start and I hope to finish in about a year at a slim 145 or so. Wish me luck and happy pointing!
Friday, February 6, 2009
At the Mall...Friday Night
With the big day of love fast approaching I decided it was high time to update my *ahem* "special drawer". I haven't bought slinky silkies in about three years now...since I outfitted my trousseau. My only excuse is that I've pretty much been pregnant since then.
In any case, a quick trip to the slinky store was needed. Of course, this would be the busiest day to go...a Friday night and a rainy one to boot. What else is there to do but shop? But since the babies were asleep and dinner was eaten I took a leap of faith and leaped into the car.
I usually do this kind of shopping in the afternoon, when kids are in school and most other folks are working so I've never run into the crowd that was shopping along with me tonight. There was the mother and son team....and I should clarify that the son in question was about eight and obsessed with pulling fringed crotchless panties off the rack and sticking his hand through the crotch opening then asking his mom what the hole was for. Not the conversation I want to have with my son at eight...or really...anytime.
There were also, not one, but two, sets of families shopping. Mom, dad and daughters. One girl was about six and liked the satin teddies. The other was about nine and just wanted to hide as her mom was paging through a rack of nighties and asking her husband which he liked best.
That aside, I have to admit I was most put off by the late teen-aged boy who was there with his sister and her friends as the sister shopped for new bras. Her friends thought it was a blast to have her prance around him after each bra was tried on...looking for the one that gave her the most "lift". The only reason he might have made me the most uncomfortable was the fact that he a hovering by the changing area right by the sale rack I was rifling through and his glower kind of killed the flirty mood for me.
I guess the lesson learned is that I shouldn't have worried about bringing my chaos into the frilly store. Because no one else seems to mind. But I will say I had a much better time no making others think twice about their purchase of tear-away panties and indulging in a little fantasy of my own...the one that involves not pushing a stroller around the suburban mall on a Friday evening.
In any case, a quick trip to the slinky store was needed. Of course, this would be the busiest day to go...a Friday night and a rainy one to boot. What else is there to do but shop? But since the babies were asleep and dinner was eaten I took a leap of faith and leaped into the car.
I usually do this kind of shopping in the afternoon, when kids are in school and most other folks are working so I've never run into the crowd that was shopping along with me tonight. There was the mother and son team....and I should clarify that the son in question was about eight and obsessed with pulling fringed crotchless panties off the rack and sticking his hand through the crotch opening then asking his mom what the hole was for. Not the conversation I want to have with my son at eight...or really...anytime.
There were also, not one, but two, sets of families shopping. Mom, dad and daughters. One girl was about six and liked the satin teddies. The other was about nine and just wanted to hide as her mom was paging through a rack of nighties and asking her husband which he liked best.
That aside, I have to admit I was most put off by the late teen-aged boy who was there with his sister and her friends as the sister shopped for new bras. Her friends thought it was a blast to have her prance around him after each bra was tried on...looking for the one that gave her the most "lift". The only reason he might have made me the most uncomfortable was the fact that he a hovering by the changing area right by the sale rack I was rifling through and his glower kind of killed the flirty mood for me.
I guess the lesson learned is that I shouldn't have worried about bringing my chaos into the frilly store. Because no one else seems to mind. But I will say I had a much better time no making others think twice about their purchase of tear-away panties and indulging in a little fantasy of my own...the one that involves not pushing a stroller around the suburban mall on a Friday evening.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Two-Year-Old Simile
Maia and I are eating dinner together and I am drinking a sparkling water. Maia loves to watch to bubbles move from the bottom of the bottle to the top. Tonight she made this observation:
"The bubbles are going up the bottle, like when I go to the park and climb up the ladder."
I think she's ready for college.
"The bubbles are going up the bottle, like when I go to the park and climb up the ladder."
I think she's ready for college.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Yes, You Are Maia
After putting up Maia's little hair into two high piggy tails this morning, she bounces off my lap and declares: "I'm a real princess now!"
Friday, January 9, 2009
Three Girls Four Months and Counting
The babies turned four months yesterday. It's kind of a big milestone...the completion of the "fourth trimester" and the transition from new born to infant. Case in point, I feel like I have 10 minutes to post as opposed to the last three months when I barley had time to go to the bathroom.
Stella and Elise are amazing. Good, good, babies and they are beginning to settle into a groove. Right now they are sitting in bouncy chairs batting at rattles and cooing. Maia is eating a breakfast of French toast, applesauce and fruit. I am having coffee and deciding how to spend the day. I wish every morning was as good as this one is right now.
The other amazing thing happening in our house right now is the relationship that is beginning to grow between the toddler and the babies. Maia has gone from indifference to jealousy to a kind of "big sister" role where she will play and talk to the babies now. She loves to tell them "good morning" and "hi baby" and "look at me! I'm smiling at you". Stella and Elise are responding with big toothless grins and laughs at Maia's antics. This is what I was imagining when we began to expand our little family. While we still have moments when Maia tells me to "put the baby down" and do something for her, I hope we can grow these good feelings to a life time of good times for our girls.
Speaking of a life time of good times...we took a little family vacation to San Diego over New Years and it was so wonderful I want to make it an annual trip. All the kids did great on the road both there and back and were good as gold there. I think we all got to decompress a bit and unwind and start the year off fresh. I loved it. And I am so happy we threw caution to the wind and took all of our kids out. We love to travel and the sooner we get the little ones in on the program, the better.
I hear some discontent from the bouncer so I must be off. I have made some minor resolutions this year including one to try to record more of what the girls do. John and I have some things in the works and we'll see if we can save some of the fleeting moments of baby and toddler hood for these girls...
Stella and Elise are amazing. Good, good, babies and they are beginning to settle into a groove. Right now they are sitting in bouncy chairs batting at rattles and cooing. Maia is eating a breakfast of French toast, applesauce and fruit. I am having coffee and deciding how to spend the day. I wish every morning was as good as this one is right now.
The other amazing thing happening in our house right now is the relationship that is beginning to grow between the toddler and the babies. Maia has gone from indifference to jealousy to a kind of "big sister" role where she will play and talk to the babies now. She loves to tell them "good morning" and "hi baby" and "look at me! I'm smiling at you". Stella and Elise are responding with big toothless grins and laughs at Maia's antics. This is what I was imagining when we began to expand our little family. While we still have moments when Maia tells me to "put the baby down" and do something for her, I hope we can grow these good feelings to a life time of good times for our girls.
Speaking of a life time of good times...we took a little family vacation to San Diego over New Years and it was so wonderful I want to make it an annual trip. All the kids did great on the road both there and back and were good as gold there. I think we all got to decompress a bit and unwind and start the year off fresh. I loved it. And I am so happy we threw caution to the wind and took all of our kids out. We love to travel and the sooner we get the little ones in on the program, the better.
I hear some discontent from the bouncer so I must be off. I have made some minor resolutions this year including one to try to record more of what the girls do. John and I have some things in the works and we'll see if we can save some of the fleeting moments of baby and toddler hood for these girls...
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