Maggie, Month Two

Dear Maggie -

Oh baby, what a month! We've been busy, busy, busy, and you have handled it so well. I think you must get your sweet disposition from your father, because I was more cranky that you were. You're probably so happy because you sleep so well. At night you're only getting up once or twice, and you take at least one big nap every day. You sleep anywhere and everywhere. I know this stage won't last forever, but while it does I'll relish taking pictures of you while you snooze! See?

The nice thing about you sleeping so well is that when you wake, you are WIDE awake! You smile, coo and interact with us so much more than last month, and sometimes I'll just sit and watch and listen. Which is the main reason I have barely blogged lately and that this post is a day late. The sounds you make are the most wonderful, beautiful sounds I have ever heard.

You got to meet half of your great-grandparents this month, too. Naturally, they were completely smitten with you! How could you not be? Even my grandfather, who is mostly deaf, was captivated by you and your little noises. He admitted that while he couldn't hear you, he loved watching your face as you talked.

You have gotten so big, too, this month. Your doctor's appointment is on Friday and I can't wait to get the digits. Your head control is amazing, considering we almost never do tummy time. Something about the other two kids (AKA the Rhinos, as we've been calling them) stomping around make me nervous to lay you on the floor for too long. And almost everyone that meets you can't help but comment on how long you are. I'm inclined to believe them. Nearly all of your three month clothes are pulling at the neck and the sleeves are only three-quarter lengths anymore. While you still sleep better when you're swaddled, you've gotten so long that you usually kick out of your blanket with ease.

You tolerate your father a little better this month as compared to last. For some reason, you just aren't too fond of him yet. Maybe it's the beard? But now that you can see a bit farther you'll sit with him when he watches tv.

Your eyes still haven't decided what color they're going to be, but that doesn't matter. The way they light up when you see me first thing in the morning is prettier than any color in the universe.

I love you Maggs!

Go Elf Yourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Turkey and Stuffing

And in case you think my kids are wonderful little angels who perform on demand, here are the out takes. Just keeping it real, you know!

I Give Thanks

That my parents are still as cool in 2009 as they were in 1978.

Amy Through the Years: A Glimpse at My Awkward Phases

Wordless Wednesday

Then and Now

My dad snapped this photo of Sam and me the other day...

As soon as he pushed the shutter I thought of this photo from Sam's first birthday party...

So much has changed. Even though I was pregnant with Lucy I was a lot thinner then, and Sam's hair was a lot longer. He wasn't even walking then. On that day I couldn't imagine loving him any more than I did at that very moment.

I guess some things haven't changed at all.

Maggie Meets Her Namesake

My grandmother Margaret just finished her last round of chemo, and she's feeling great. Yesterday she made a huge feast for us and my other aunts, uncles and cousins. And she got to meet Maggie for the first time. Everyone was so happy! Then my cousin came with her two kids, so all five of the great-grandchildren were there at the same time!

It was chaotic, but it was the best kind of chaos.

--

For more best shots, visit Tracy at Mother May I.

The Moment My Life Flashed Before My Eyes

Today Lucy fell down a flight of steps. An entire flight of steps. Into a dark basement. Backwards.

I was a millisecond from pissing in my pants.

It was something I've always feared and I've always tried to be vigilant about. That was one of the worst things. I was five feet away and watched her fall. She rounder the corner in my uncle's house, and I stood up to follow her, knowing that the stairs were there waiting to gobble her up. She was walking backwards, pulling a toy along with her and just as I turned the corner I saw her feet and heard the sickening sound of her body thudding down the stairs. I ran towards her and there was nothing but darkness. I screamed as I catapulted myself down the stairs after her. When I heard her cry I thanked whatever I could because at least she wasn't dead. In the darkness I scooped her up, even though afterward I realized that you're not supposed to do that. Something in my mother-brain took over and in a matter of seconds I had the lights on and was clutching her to my shaking body. SOB was only a step behind me, and we immediately set about checking her over.

By some act of mercy, she escaped with only a few scrapes. No blood, no concussions, no broken bones. Earlier in the day her big brother smashed her finger in a door, and when we kept asking her to show us where she had a boo-boo she would show us her finger.

Later on I cried in the car. I think tonight I might go in and snuggle her a little before bed.

Going to the Doctor Stinks!

I recently had my six week follow-up appointment with my obstetrician. Which? How did six (actually seven now) weeks go by so quickly?!??!? I mean, look at this baby:

Seven weeks! Anyway, the doctor's office was packed as usual. My appointment was for 10:45am, and I knew the minute I walked in the door I wasn't getting out of there in time to pick Sam up at noon. Luckily I had an ounce of forethought and swapped cars with my sister-in-law, who was watching the girls, so she would be able to retrieve him at the appointed hour. I sat down and flipped open the magazine I brought with me, so I guess I had more than an ounce of forethought. Or maybe it's just that I've been burned by this office more times than I care to count, and an hour or more wait has become somewhat customary to me.

So I sit, and I read, and I text, and I read some more, and I cancel my appointment at the eye doctor's for 12:30, and I read some more. Finally I get called. Back in the exam room I de-pants and then wait some more.

So I'm sitting on the table with a drape over my naked nether parts for a good 15 minutes. During this time, I start to notice a little gurgle in my tummy. I've been trying to eat better to help get rid of some of this baby weight (and also that remaining baby weight from Lucy!) so every morning I've been having a bowl of kashi cereal. And every day around lunch time I suffer a bout of horrible flatulence. In fact, there should be a disclaimer somewhere on the box about that. Something like Kashi: It Makes You Gassy!

Sorry. I've been watching too much Mad Men.

Back in the exam room, I'm doing my best to hold in all of the noxious fumes because I know that the second I relax and pass some of that gas, the door will open. Finally, after waiting, and waiting, and waiting, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I farted, silently, and cringed, waiting for the smell. But the smell never came.

But there was a knock on the door.

As the doctor walked into the room I realized that the fart had gotten trapped under the drape! Which led to the following dilemma: do I try and nonchalantly flap the smell out while I'm conversing with the doctor and have to see the look on his face when the stench finally reaches him, or do I let it remain trapped under the sheet and have it smack him in the face when he does my exam when I'll be fully reclined and unable to see his reaction?

I decided that ignorance is bliss. Thank god I don't have to see the doctor but once a year.

Family Matters

Over the weekend my uncle, aunt and cousin came to visit. Max is five, and it was when he was born that I realized I was ready to have a baby of my own. Enter Sam one year and four months later! My uncle is a super smart and super cool guy who gets along with SOB like gangbusters, and my aunt is also of the awesome variety.

Having them here was wonderful on so many levels. The kids played until they passed out, and Sam couldn't stop talking about how much he missed his cousin Max once they left. Lucy was in her element, because with the boys distracted with each other she often got to be the center of attention. Us grown folks ate cheese steaks (which is something we only ever do when we have out of towners here) drank some home brew and watched Pitt beat Notre Dame.

And then they left on Sunday, and I almost cried. Just like when my parents left after their visit a few weeks ago. I'm sure that it's partially hormonal, but I'm really missing my family recently. My grandmother is sick, and I haven't seen her since July. My kids are growing up and their cousins are growing up hundreds of miles away. When I was a kid sleep-overs were a regular thing with my cousins. For Sam, Lucy and Maggie they're only going to be an annual or semi-annual thing. They'll miss birthday parties and holiday celebrations. They'll miss home cooked meals by their great-grandmothers.

I guess it's not that I'm upset about missing my family. I'm more upset about the missing out.

It Sees All

Moments

2:14pm

The older kids have been in their rooms for about an hour. Sam is asleep, but Lucy is a question mark. Her room looks like a flower and butterfly covered institution. Ever since the room swap, Lucy has decided that everything in her room that isn't nailed down needs to be in her teeny toddler bed with her. Puzzles, books, baby dolls, clothes, diapers, you name it. And then of course there is no where to sleep. So we've removed everything from her room. The books and toys went back into the baby's room where they were originally, and all that Lucy has left is her bed, her dresser and a half empty book case. The non-empty part of the bookcase contains our books, books she's never shown any interest in. But I guess since her room is completely devoid of all kid stuff, they've become more alluring. Which is why, after over an hour of "napping" I found her in her room flipping through The Canterbury Tales.

5:05 pm

Maggie has been sleeping off and on in my arms for twenty or thirty minutes. As soon as SOB got home I went upstairs to lay her down for a little nap. Or so I thought. Seven hours later she decided to wake up. Luckily she went back to sleep afterwards, for a few more hours at least. But then she went back down again! In fact, it's 7:45 now and she is still sleeping.

6:22 am

I am dead asleep. I only put Maggie back down about half an hour ago and crashed back into bed. All of a sudden I hear 'Mommy!' I open my eyes and Sam is five inches from my face, tears and snot dripping off of his chin. He frequently sneaks into our room and wakes me like this, minus the sobbing. Today, though, he had a bad dream. Through the tears, he explains that in his dream someone made him pick a new mommy, and that made him really sad. I pulled him up into bed with me and explained that I would always be his mommy, and we snuggled up tightly. For the better part of an hour he was glued to me. If I moved, he re-attached himself to my side. When I suggested that he move over a little he would protest with more tears. So I just gave in and spent some quality time snuggling.

Daily Routines

Maggs is getting much better about sleeping. In fact, last night she only got up once! But her daytime sleeping is still erratic at best. Usually she'll pass out in my arms, but when I try to lay her down she wakes up again. So imagine my surprise when we found her totally asleep in the gymni the other day!

Allison was here, and she was upstairs putting Sam and Lucy down for their naps. I was in the kitchen getting dinner started, so we were letting Maggs play for a while. She doesn't get to spend much time down there because with my other two running around like a herd of rhinos, I don't find the floor to be the safest place. She didn't fuss or cry, she just fell dead asleep. I carried her up to her room and she slept for three hours! I can only hope that a three hour nap becomes a part of our everyday life!

For more of everyday life this Theme Thursday, visit Megan at Mental Inventory!

Pearl Jam - Just Breathe

My Little Shutterbug

On Friday I took Sam down into the city for a visit to the ENT. His ear tubes are doing well, and his hearing is perfect! While we were there he asked if I would take him up into a very tall building. Since we were in the neighborhood of SOB's hospital, I took him up to the 8th floor bridge. It's not the tallest building in town, but it's glass on all sides, so the views are pretty cool. Luckily I also had my camera with me. He was so excited to have a picture of the event.

Lately he's been very interested in taking pictures. When my parents were here, they let him use their camera all the time. And he's been asking me to let him take pictures with my camera. I'll usually let him duck his head into the strap with me and take a few shots. Like this one of Maggie:

Not bad, huh? Finally, after a long lecture, I let him hold the camera all by himself. He is only three, but I think he understood the responsibility. Plus I was sitting three feet away from him. I guess that's why he decided to make me his subject:

After almost a year of using his toy camera Santa brought last Christmas, I think he's ready to graduate. I'm not handing over my DSLR for good just yet, but I think I remember where my old point-and-shoot is hiding!

For more best shot Monday fun, visit Tracy Clark at Mother May I.

Imagine...

The hearts this one is going to break one day! Did you see the shoes? Thanks to my dad for snapping this photo of my Lulu!

Visit Megan at Mental Inventory for more imaginative Theme Thursday photos!

The Great Room Swap of '09

Oh. My. God.

My parents are here, so we've decided to re-arrange my head house a little. Sam moved upstairs. You know, back to the room he originally started in when we moved to this house? Then we moved Lucy into Sam's old room and the baby into Lucy's room. It was already pink and the crib doesn't fit through the door, so yeah. Baby in there.

Moving the furniture was the easy part. The hard part? Moving all of the clothes and toys and associated BS that comes with kids. I still haven't moved their toys yet, and Maggie's room still has the stickies on the wall from where it said 'Lucy'. The closets are still filled with their siblings' junk, except Sam, who has a closet full of dresses from Aunt Allison. We have a shelf out in the hall blocking half of two doors and piles of summer clothes on the floor.

But? We're having a blast. The kids are in heaven, I get to shower on a regular basis, and SOB's beer is getting consumed in record quantities! Plus I got a new Cheese Head picture on our trip to the zoo this morn...

Maggs came along, too, but there were only two head holes. I don't know what I'm going to do in the future. Here's a cutie picture of her anyway, just for fun!