A Neglectful State of Mind

I really do love me some good Christmas spirit.  I love cookie exchanges and burning pine candles.  I love flurries of snow and well wishers at the store.  I even love the Salvation Army bell ringer standing outside my Acme who helped me teach my two oldest kids the spirit of giving the other day.  I love Christmas programs at Church, constant Christmas music playing in my car, at my house, in the stores.  It is all a joy to me.

This year, however, I find myself feeling like I'm constantly forgetting something - or someone.  I'm so worried that I will be wrapping presents at 8 pm on Christmas Eve and realize that I missed someone or something.  I make lists and run through everything 100 times in my mind, but still!!  Maybe it all has something to do with the craziness that we claim as ours right now. 

DH's achilles tendon is now firmly sewn back together and fortunately was not re-torn in a small tumble in the bathroom last week (to get Windex, no less).  Only a few stitches popped a few days early!  It is solidly in a plain blue cast that comes up to just below his knee and has his "little piggies" sticking out.  He has assured me the dr told him he could put weight on it around the house, but when he goes out he needs to use crutches.  I'm not so sure the dr knew how very little he leaves the house.  :)  I worry, but I try not to nag.  Easier said than done as my DH would tell you.  He probably wishes I would "neglect" him more!  I offered to take him to Target or Costco where he could ride around in the motorized wheelchairs and complete all of his Christmas shopping (my stocking, in particular).  He declined the offer and has been exercising his "Prime" shipping on Amazon.com.  The UPS man shows up at our house at LEAST once a day.  He's got to start wondering. 

I hope my children aren't feeling neglected with all of the pulls and demands on my time.  I'm sure having a lot of fun with them.  Belle, our resident elf, is doing her fair share of watching and reporting and has certainly helped me out a bit.  The kids like to break the eggs and stir the sugar into my recipes.  They absolutely love watching their hot cocoa brew in our Cocoa Latte machine.  And, they particularly enjoy a nice excuse to eat 10 marshmallows at 8 am!  Mr. A has no qualms about sitting on any Santa's lap and telling him exactly what he wants.  Miss M on the other hand, gets close enough to give a "Hi 5" and calls it good.  I feel really blessed to be their mom and need to remind myself of that more often. 

Their innocence kills me.  Mr. A prays every night that Baby Jesus will have a good birthday on Christmas and asks me what many words mean (i.e. dawdling, when I told him to stop dawdling and brush his teeth!).  I never know is he's Mr. A or "Skywalker" and he is a MASTER hider and seeker.  He even likes to play it after he's been let out of his church class and before we can make it to the car.  Ask me how much I like that.  He asks anyone and everyone to play with him.  Miss M is his favorite one because she'll ALWAYS be the counter and he can go hide anywhere. 

Miss M counting for hide and seek: "ONE!  TWO!  FOURTEEN!  EIGHT!  ELEBEN!  TWELBE! TWENTY!"  Her v's come out sounding like b's and it's adorable.  Her new favorite: "OH MY GOSH!  OH MY GOSH!"  She will eat everything in sight (or not in sight currently, but that she has memorized is there once the pantry door opens) and does not miss a meal - for anything.  She loves to tell us how she's been wronged by Mr. A and loves her binkies at bed time.  I was hoping when I took her to the dentist last week that he would chide me for giving them to her for so long and make me promise to get rid of them.  He didn't.  He just said "she's ok for now."  And she loves them so.  And she sleeps until almost 8 every morning and takes her 2 hr nap every afternoon and goes to bed between 7 and 7:15 every night.  Do I really have to mess with a good thing?!  I need to.  But I haven't.  I blame the dentist. 

And, my best for last tonight - my oh so sweet Baby S.  That girl is a dream.  She has been sleeping through the night for months.  If she wakes up before 7 it's a rarity and we pop a binkie in and back to sleep she goes for at least another hour.  And, when she's awake she is so happy.  She is so quiet that many don't even know she's there!  While her lungs have certainly developed as of late (she knows the decibel levels she needs to meet in order to compete with her siblings), it is only when she has pooped, not eaten, or is ready to go to sleep.  The rolls on her arms and legs are to. die. for.  I really wish she could take more of mine and add to hers.  She is content to hang in her pajamas all day and rolls with our punches.  I love love love her. 

And, so, tonight, I'll try not to keep myself up with all of the things I've forgotten to do.  I'm going to focus on the positive.  I got my Christmas cards out.  I got almost all of my packages sent.  I paid the bills.  I swept the floor and wiped the counters.  I did some laundry.  I changed diapers and fed hungry tummies and wiped unhappy tears.  Little victories. 

'Tis the Season

• I have a lot of pictures I'd like to post.  I will do that soon.
• November was a whirlwind and it is over today.  Really??
• With a delightful Thanksgiving behind us (thank you, Veales!) and our first-ever-in-10-years Christmas at home ahead of us, there has been much conversation about a few things:
• Belle, our new Elf (thank you, Elf on the Shelf).  She is watching and going to tell Santa if you are naughty or nice...and Mr. A and Miss M have bought into her 100%.  I love it.  
• Mom, how does Belle the Elf get to Santa and back?
• Mom, how come Belle the Elf doesn't take a nap?
• Mom, if Belle says I'm being nice, will Santa bring me more presents?
• Mom, does Belle fly to Santa's workshop?
• How come Belle doesn't talk?
• While discussing the real reason for the season during Family Home Evening last night, Mr. A came up with some stumpers:
• How old is Jesus going to be?
• When are we having His party?
• What kind of cake does He like?
• Why didn't Jesus have a bed to sleep in when he was a baby?
• Where was his family when He was born?
• Who else came to visit Him?  Animals?  Why were they allowed inside the hotel (how we described the "inn")?
• Miss M has somehow acquired a Southern accent
• "I do it all by ma by ma self" (with a long drawl on self)
• Baby S has got a smile that stretches from one side of the US to the other.  Boy is it contagious!
• She is also my 3rd baby to L-O-V-E the jumper.  And, might I add that I love it too?
• She went to see the dr. yesterday for her 4 month visit
• 13 lbs, 9 oz
• 23 1/2 inches (which basically means she's 26 inches)
• 40th percentile for head circumference (that's all I remember)
• Doing great in every way
• She loves to "talk" to all those who will listen.  Is there anything better?
• Her giggle could get the Queen of England to laugh out loud.  Really.  It's adorable.
• Have I mentioned yet that my DH played in the Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving Day and tore his Achilles?  In his words, at least he went out on top - scored 2 touchdowns.  That's all that matters, right?
• We'll know more tomorrow, but recovery time expected to be 2 months approximately before he'll work again (since he uses his feet when he flies).  Be jealous.  Be so so jealous.  

That's all I have to ramble about and use bullets for (did I mention that I love bullet points?) for now.  Merry Christmas music season!!!

Grateful

For so many many things.  But at the late hour that has become all too common as of late, I will but capture only a few:

• My Miss M's wish to me on Sat. night: "Mommy, I fly on the airplane and go get Mr. Moon and then jump on him and bring him back down.  That be so silly?" She loves Mr. Moon. 
• Miss M's not so shocking confession on the way home from church: "I like sugar in my mouth." 
• My sweet babies - all 3 of them, but only 1 of them who doesn't (and cannot) protest to my calling her my baby.  The other 2 are convinced that they are not babies anymore.  If only they knew that they will forever be those babies in my mind.  
• My body - it's lagging along and is trying oh so hard to get back to the way it was, but it still lets me get killer workout classes and runs in without too much prodding.
• My almost 4 month old true baby.  She tried rolling over the other day and I confess to maybe gently nudging her back.  Isn't it ironic?  With my first he couldn't roll fast enough.  Hooray!  He hit a milestone!  With my second, I wanted to see how she compared with my first and how the gender differences came in to play.  And, now, with my 3rd, I just want to hit freeze.  Yes, you may continue to sleep through the night, and yes, you may laugh until we are all laughing with you because it's so stinkin' cute to listen to a baby's giggle, but no, you may not roll over, no, you may not grow larger rolls on your thighs, no, you may not try to sit up all by yourself, and no, you may not be so big that you can sit in the jumper all by yourself and be happy there.  Just stay this little.  
• The villagers that help us raise our kids and influence us all for good.  I'm becoming more keenly aware of just how important those influences are on the sponge-like mind of a 4 year old who says to me, daily, "Mom, what does that mean?" when referring to the words, "mean," "obnoxious," and others.
• The Pilgrims and the Indians who took a day to put their differences aside and enjoy a meal together that became a most outstanding tradition.  
• As Mr. A said tonight, "MOM!!  Thanksgiving is in 3 days!!!  Can you believe that?!"

Not So Slim Pickin's

One of the highlights of Fall in the East are the vibrant colors and the delicious fruits of the trees.  We always love to find ourselves amongst the odoriferous apple trees in the height of Fall.  DH's parents came to town to help us celebrate Baby S and we got to spend an afternoon wandering the rows and rows and rows and rows of every apple imaginable!  We got our tractor/hayride in, and we collected an official bushel of delicious apples that allowed me to make an award-winning apple pie! 

Can you say Superman?

I just realized that I don't have any with Nana and Papa!!  Mom, will you send yours STAT?!

BOOOO Bash!

My sister, Nancy, and her husband, Clint, are so kind to invite us to share in the greatest Halloween carnival on the planet - sponsored by a candy company! :)  Thanks so much for having us.  The kids loved it, even though Mr. A's face when showing off the mask he decorated might not quite capture the sentiments! :) 

And, P.S. - Miss M ate her way through the entire day.  She started with the first bag of Peanut M&Ms she found in her "goody" bag and continued stuffing candy in the pockets of her jacket right to the bitter end.  Her mother's daughter!

A Good Day

Am feeling pretty happy right now.  Here's why:

• My kids only went to timeout once - and it was early this morning before Mr. A had even left for school.
• I worked out, showered, and was dressed before 3 pm.  That's a good day.  I may have even brushed my teeth by then.
• Mr. A had a great playdate with his friend, Mr. R.  He didn't want to leave even 4 hours later!
• Miss M and I got to chill while Baby S snoozed the afternoon away (and Miss M had already woken up from her 2 hr slumber).  She took her baby on a walk, put it in timeout, threw it to the ground a few times when it wouldn't stay in its stroller, and had her dogs and Goldfish join the baby in timeout. 
• I made breadsticks for dinner and they were yummy.
• I pulled a Lola Fely special out of the freezer at 4:30 and we had dinner hot and ready at 6. (I had her make me a bunch of frozen meals before she left for my sister's house and I must say I'm feeling pretty darn smart about that right now)
• I got to answer emails.
• I took Miss M to her "gymnastics" class and she was so happy to be there.  Little old ladies literally stop in the halls of the Y, while she waves at them and bounces down the hallway, commenting on just how cute she is.  I try to be demure, but secretly, I totally agree.   
• All of my piglets were in bed by 7:12.  Mr. A didn't come out of his room once.  Just sacked right out.  And, Baby S practically fell into her bed. 

And so tonight, I might go watch some of the Chilean miners come out (it gets me every time), read my "Parenting Breakthrough" book (my new fav), or maybe even do some weighted hula hooping and catch up on Oprah. 

I should stock up.  Tomorrow my kids get their flu shots. 

A Bond Like No Other

I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again - I always wanted a big brother growing up.  You know, the kind that would defend me, tease me lovingly, laugh with me, introduce me to his friends, etc.  Of course, I didn't have that, but my girls do.  And, boy are they lucky.  Mr. A and Miss M spend a lot of time entertaining one another, encouraging each other, driving each other crazy, and making each other laugh - really hard.  I'm so glad they have each other. 

(Well, mostly.  Just today I ran upstairs to take a 30 second shower and came back downstairs to find gobs of ice cream (?!) all over the garage floor.  Apparently they had helped themselves to a snack from the freezer and thought it would be fun to throw it all over too.)

And I'm so glad I have them.

 This little one is ALL girl

 They have spent an insane amount of time on these "bikes" as of late - racing up and down the driveway

They love to watch home videos - and they love their dad

My Baby S

(i'm taking a bit from my miss m, who loves to call everyone "My."  whenever anyone is missing, it's "Mommy, where's my Mr. A?  where's my daddy?  where's my baby s?  where's my BG?  where's my nana? etc etc")

My Baby S was 2 months old last week.  Where does the time go?  For her 2-month birthday we had her photographed, I got my hair done, and she went on a grand tour to meet new aunts, uncles, and cousins.  She was a little wiped out the day of her photo shoot, but I think Lisa still got some good ones.  At her 2 month check up she tipped the scales at 11 lbs 6 oz, 22 inches (we have NO faith in the measuring capabilities of the pediatrician's office nurses - and I mean ZERO - so, she's probably like 25 or 26 inches - ha ha), and a good size head. 

She's settling into a routine - my favorite part of baby-hood.  I love my own routine and, therefore, I love it even more for my children.  She's asleep between 7:30-8, usually wakes up having broken free of her swaddle at around 2:30 or 3, takes a binky, wakes up to eat at 6:30, back to sleep until 10 or so.  She's pretty consistent during the day too and usually takes a long nap in the afternoons (sometimes of the 3-4 hr variety).  Keeper. 

(we are also taking any ideas on WHO she looks like??!!  i had someone say to me yesterday that she looks EXACTLY like DH, but I don't think she knew Mr. A as a baby.  in any event, do share.) 

Babe-isms

1 - I was coming down the stairs yesterday after having gotten dressed (an accomplishment, these days) when I spotted a bright pink plastic bowl full of pretzel sticks smack in the middle of the bottom stair.  Having just given Miss M such a snack, I picked it up and offered, "Miss M!  You left your pretzels on the stairs!  Here you go!"

And promptly scolded Miss M, "NOO, Mommy!!!  Pressels in TIME OUT!!!"

And back they went to the stair.

2 - Mr. A and I were talking today about who we would see when we watch General Conference this weekend (the semi-annual conference where we get to hear from our leaders - it airs on BYUTV - Channel 290 if you have FIOS and are interested).

Mr. A - "Well, we'll see President Monson..."
Me: "Yes!  And the apostles and leaders."
Mr. A: "And, Jesus.  Mom, will Jesus be there?"

Don't think so.  Thank goodness...not sure I'm quite ready, but someday, I told him!!

3 - Baby S has been such a trooper.  I carted her around the country on a welcoming tour to meet aunts, uncles, cousins, and other extended family and friends; to have her picture taken; my hair cut (love my SIL, Megs); reunite w/Bschool friends, see Harry Connick Jr in concert and do some boating on the lake!  She was a great traveler and slept most of the time she needed to!

And, last night?  9:30pm - 7:55am (with a binky pop-in at 6:30 just to see...:)).  Love her.  Now if only I could mimic her sleeping patterns - at least the bedtime.  Times and seasons, right?!

Another One that Grows

My babies grow up way too fast.  Here are a few of Baby S's last couple of weeks.  Love that new gummy smile. 

Isn't she fun?  And, oh so lucky to have inherited her mom's double chin.  Blessed, that one! :)  She's just coming out of her bad acne phase.  The Neutrogena Clear Skin has worked great.  Just kidding. 

She got to meet GG a few weeks ago.  How cute is that outfit?!

A little of her one month old photo shoot.  Green was her thing for the day.

Growing and Testing and Growing and Trying

Dear Mr. A,

I love you for many many reasons.  This picture on the right staring at me as you get ready to head off on your first day of your last year of pre-school makes me fall in love with you even more.  You're as handsome as your dad and your personality oozes forth like rain bursting from a puffy rain cloud. 

This week, though, you and I have had to navigate our way together.  We each have a different compass - mine is 34 yrs old and yours is only 4.  You think yours is right and I think mine is right.  We'll get there eventually, right?!

I write this post so that 10, 15, even 20 years from now we will be able to laugh together at the week that made us both cry - a lot.  Laughter is better than crying, I think.

On Monday you and I visited your new pre-school.  We met your teacher, I sat across the table from her on those chairs made for your bum, not mine, and, in the 10 minutes I had with her, spewed forth a litany of wonderful things that she would come to love about you - you have a new sister, you have tubes in your ears (so don't get mad at you if it sometimes seems you're ignoring her - she's a SUPER soft talker), you are the best big brother Miss M could ask for, you are adventuresome, fearless, tough, energetic, but oh-so-rambunctious.  You are tender and sensitive.  You are happy.  I asked her to help you finish learning how to write your name and to be so prepared for Kindergarten next year.  I even let her in on the fact that you sometimes cry and hold your hand over your mouth when your feelings get hurt, but that your mouth is not injured and you can turn off the waterworks on a dime.  Sorry. 

And, so it was with great anxiousness that I dropped you off on Tuesday morning at 9:02 (I was only 2 minutes late - and, considering the fact that you had ALL eaten breakfast, you and Miss M both had clothes on, your hair done with bows  for your sis, and your snack bag was full, I didn't feel one bit bad about that) A.M.  I swung through the drop-off line, Teacher Ruth Ann opened your door, you grabbed your bag and shouted as you bounded out that door, "Love you, Mom!"  "I love you, Mr. A.  Have a GREAT first day!"  I subsequently called your dad and told him that it was the one moment I wished we hadn't instilled such independence in our children.  I kind of wanted you to cry and scream and insist that I come with you and that you just couldn't leave me.  But, no.  You were gone without so much as even a longing glance back. 

I kept my cell phone near me all morning.  It didn't ring once, so I was so excited when I pulled back into the school at 11:59 to pick you up and hear all about your day.  You came out of the door holding Teacher Carol's hand and looking like you'd just been sorely scolded.  I couldn't quite figure out what was wrong.  Teacher Carol opened the car door and you promptly sat in your seat, crossed your arms, scowled your face, and wouldn't look at me.  "What's wrong?" I asked her

C: "Well, he's probably acting like this because we had a little incident today."
Me: "Oh no!  What happened?" - thinking she would tell me you had hit, pushed, or yelled at someone.
C: "Well, he urinated in the classroom."
Me: "He WHAT?????  Did he not know where the bathroom was?  But, he still has his same orange shorts on and this is my child who has not even once WET the BED!"
C: "Well, it was reported to me as intentional."
Me: "WHAAAATTT????  I'm sorry I'm maybe not getting it, but can you give me some more detail?"
C: "Well, I don't know much else and if he just pulled his ***** out, or pulled down his pants, or what, but I'd love to hear whatever you can find out.  He has apologized for it, and said it would not happen again, but please let me know."
Me: "Ummmm, ok.  Thanks for the information."

I drove away and had to think fast.  What should I say and what should I do so as not to inflict lasting damage, not to make a big deal out of it, yet find out what happened, and help you understand why it shouldn't have.

Our conversation:
Me: "Mr. A, how was school today?"
A: "Oh, it was great, Mom!  I liked it, but, Mom, you didn't wave at me!!!"
Me: "What?  Is that why you're mad?"
A: "Ya, Mom.  I was waving at you  in the window and you didn't wave at me."

Aside to Teacher Carol: Dear Teacher, Mr. A was not in the least bit upset that something had happened in your classroom.  He was mad at his mother for not waving at him even though she had not seen him at all nor did she know she needed to wave.  Please know, however, that she now comes in to the pick up line with her window rolled down and her arm waving like an American flag on the 4th of July - hugely and proud - even though she can't see a darn thing.  So, please make sure Mr. A continues to wave so that his mom doesn't look so crazy.

Not wanting to discuss what had happened with the other kids in the car, I asked you about your new friends, if your snack was ok, and how your music class had been.  My mind was racing, though, with what could have possibly made you do something like this.  Where had your dad and I gone wrong?  I was sad for you.  I was sad that your teacher would think this was the kind of boy you are.  I was sad that I had not been there in the moment to see how it had been handled. 

I made everybody lunch and you and Miss M were playing your usual games.  I turned around at one point, though, and you wound up and wailed on your sister.  She started screaming and I marched you to time out.  You were wailing and would not stop.  No amount of coaxing or threats helped.  I finally went in and could not hold back my own tears.  Through cloudy eyes I said, "Mr. A, I love you.  I want you to be happy.  But what you did to your sister makes me so sad.  What is going on???!"  You cried harder and came to embrace me and I cried harder too.

We both recovered and I got Miss M down for a nap. 

I sent a text to your dad: "DH, please call me when you land in OKC.  There was an incident at school today."  I should have added, "And, I have absolutely no idea how to handle it."

I gave you a homemade Chocolate Chip cookie that only you got to have as a special treat for your first day.  "Come sit with me and let's talk for a minute."

Me: "Mr. A, what really happened in your classroom today?"
Mr. A: "Mom, I just didn't know my pee-pee was coming."
Me: "Mr. A, if you didn't know your pee-pee was coming you would have gone in your shorts."
Mr. A: "Oh.  I don't know, Mom!  I just did it."
Me: "But, why?  Did something happen?  Did somebody make you mad?
Mr. A: "Well, Michael stole my toy."
Me: "And what did you do when he stole it? "
A: "I asked him to give it back to me and he did."
Me: "So, was there something else that happened?"
A: "No." (and starting to walk away - he had finished his cookie and was no longer interested)
Me: "Mr. A, there is a time and a place for going to the bathroom.  The only place is the bathroom." I said some other things about appropriate usage, etc, and that you needed to go in and apologize to your teacher tomorrow.
A: "But, Mom, I already said sorry and I won't do it again."

I then put you down for your "nap."  "But, Mom, I'm not tired."

Me: (I'd heard that before) That's fine, but you need to spend some time in your room for quiet time.  I'll come get you when it's over.

You made a lot of noise and messed around for 2 hours.  You screamed for me, woke up your sister, cried when I wouldn't let you come out, did not sleep, and did everything you could to make me want to leave you there all day.  But, I let you out.  I pulled up the blinds to let the light in and open the window for some much needed fresh air only to find a very large pencil-drawn kaleidoscope on your baby blue walls.  You are 4 1/2 yrs old and this is the first time you have drawn on anything but paper in our house.  I could not understand it.  We got the 409 and paper towels and you sprayed and scrubbed that wall with me. 

You played outside with your sister and spent at least 20 minutes in time out because you wouldn't stay where I put you and kept having time added to your time outs.  We talked to Dad and you told him that your friend had told you to go peepee on the carpet.  Not great, but the most plausible thing I'd heard all day.  Hard to believe that peer pressure has already begun.  We also talked about what to do when your friends tell you to do something.   

By 7 pm I was fresh out of punishments, ideas, tears, and patience.  You needed to go to bed.  You finally did but not before needing to tell me many things, asking for more water, etc, etc. 

That was the worst of it.  Wednesday was better when I told you if you could be obedient, etc, that you could come with me to the Phillies game tomorrow, but then I found a nice zig zag border pencil-drawn on your white nightstand today.  I thought I had gotten all of the pencils out.  Back you went with the 409.

School's been fine.  You even told me that you made 4 new friends today and you knew all of their names.  That made me happy for you.  Secretly, though, I wanted to find out if they were good people and would not tell you to do silly things.  I didn't. 

You've had some more hiccups like today when I told you to wait for Miss M to get her helmet on before you drove off in your car with her hanging off the back.  You didn't.  You went and she flew off and hit her head on the concrete in the garage.  Lots more crying.  You still didn't take a nap, but instead started yelling for me with a 1/2 hr to go: "Moooooooooooommmm!!!!  Mooooooooommmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy!!!  Mooooommmmmmmy Seamons!!!  (is there another mom in the house??)"  At least I could laugh at that.

Oh, and you asked Miss M if she had prayed to Jesus before she rode down the driveway on her bike (you're clearly learning new things at your Presbyterian pre-school).  I liked that one too. 

Like I said, kiddo.  We'll get there.  I love you and I really do want you to be happy.  I just hope our battle scars aren't too bad when it's all said and done.  It's a good thing you have grandparents. :) 

Love, Mom  (Mom Seamons, that is)

Sniffles

• Baby S has got them.  I hate it when little babies can't breathe.  No fun at all.  I even made DH do the "squirt-the-saline-up-one-nostril-until-it-comes-out-the-other-and-then-suction-out-the-remnants" treatment.  Not my favorite thing.  
• She also had them at her 1 month check up (where she clocked in at a whopping 9 lbs, 8 oz, and 23 inches long) when the nurse gave her a shot (Hep A, I believe?!).  Yuck.  
• DH may or may not have had a few today when he sliced (or "fileted" as he called it) his right index finger while trimming the hedges (he lost his grip with the hand it was in and tried to "rescue" it with the other hand - sometimes we don't think as well as we should - kind of like my friend who, when falling from the ladder with a running chain saw in hand, was only concerned about not breaking the chain saw and hung on to it for dear life as she continued to fall).
• DH may or may not have had a few when he got a tetanus shot and some steri-strip/compression bandage treatments (have I ever mentioned that DH is one tough honcho, but his absolute biggest fear in life is shots?  Poor guy).
• I may or may not have provided a few when I went back to the gym for the first time today since having Baby S (well, since the Friday before the Sunday I had her to be exact).  Not gonna lie - it wasn't pretty and it was slightly painful, but needed to be done.  Ask me tomorrow how I'm feeling.
• And Mr. A and Miss M - well, they have them daily when they go through their love/hate cycle with one another.  The one you love the most can also be the one that hurts you the most and that you hurt the most, right?  Why is that?  The two of them are so cute one minute (playing Mr. Potato Head in the bathtub and Shoot the Bad Guys with Plastic Golf Clubs) and so not the next (pushing one another's buttons and Miss M pushing Mr. A and creating a grand spectacle of us all while I was trying to save a few bucks at the grocery store when the cashier charged me too much for all of my General Mills purchases that were supposed to be on sale!).

And so we get ready for tomorrow where we hope to have fewer sniffles as Mr. A has his first soccer game of the season, I run the trimmer (for the bushes I'm in charge of trimming), and Baby S's saline treatment kicks in.

Mr. A's Question of the Day

Feeling refreshed after his afternoon nap, Mr. A came in and cuddled up with me while I was "resting my eyes" in my bed.

A few minutes later he asks, "Mom, are you going to take a shower today and shave off your legs?"

No idea where that came from.

Why We Do It

Am organizing vacation pics and came across this gem.  Livin' the dream...

Home

I should be sleeping while my little one sleeps.  But, instead, I catch myself staring at her sweet goodness and peacefulness.  She didn't want to sleep all swaddled up in her bed.  So, I brought her on to my chest (still swaddled) and just cuddled with her.  She liked that and went to sleep.  Then I laid her down on my bed while I finished a few things and here she sleeps next to my knee while I glance over every so often to make sure I see the slight rising and falling of the swaddle.  Yep, she's still alive.  I do love the dainty nose, the sweet mouth, the tiny ears, and the pokey dark hair.  My favorite are the rounded cheeks that have filled in nicely over the past 5 weeks.  And, in this light, I can't even see the baby acne she's broken out in.  Sweet, perfect babies.  I'm so very thankful for mine.

Mr. A asked me today why Baby S has mosquito bites all over her face (he's currently battling mosquito bites on his arms, legs, and face, so I guess misery loves company).  I told him that they weren't bites, but her skin's way of working out the air now that she's outside of my tummy.  So observant.

After 13 1/2 hrs in the car yesterday, we made it home all in one piece.  A few bouts with traffic, but nothing we couldn't all work through.  Nobody vomited this time (see ride down Miss M's present to us all that had me begging DH to buy more air fresheners every time we stopped for gas), no diaper blowouts, plenty of sugar, snacks, and non-calcium-enhanced drinks, a few renditions of happy birthday, and we made it. 

Thanks to my mom for helping to facilitate great cousin memories, a cocky boogie boarder (who now thinks he's a surfer), the "Happy Birthday" theme song from the marvelous Miss M (sung at the top of her lungs with absolutely no tune whatsoever while she made sand "birthday cakes" of the fruit snack variety - that's what she told us anyway), and the soundly sleeping Baby S (12:30-7 on the 2nd to last night....she can do it!).

It's nice to sleep in our own beds again.  But, it's even nicer to empty bags and find a little bit of sand at the bottom of each one to remind us of where we've been.

Sweet Carolinas

Since Baby SS was born we have had many helping hands on deck.  We figure if we can't take care of 3 children with more adults than children in the house, then we're in big trouble.  So far so good.  So as not to let a week go by where I might actually be alone with the aforementioned 3 children, we followed the helping hands to the sunny, sandy shores of South Carolina.

I do love this place.  Life mimics the tides - out they go for a bit and in they come for another bit - at a different time each day and nobody seems to care.  We usually don't ask the "what time is it anyway?" question until around 3:30 or 4 each day.  By that point we have hopefully put at least one of our children down for a nap.  But, sometimes we haven't and so we do so then.  I love the beach and I love summer.  And, I love helping hands.  Many, many of them.  Grandmas, aunties, uncles, Lola Fely, and dear friends.  Thank you!

On another note, I needed to capture the few cute things that my kids have said since Baby S was born:

* Upon my arrival home from the hospital, my sweet, sensitive Mr. A, asks, "Mom, if Baby S came out of your belly, how come it's still big?"  Believe me, I've often wondered that myself.  If only it weren't so.

* Miss M's favorite request after Baby S was born: "Hold me baby, Mommy!  I hold me baby!!!"  She truly believes that Baby S is her own personal baby doll and when she is done holding her she just rolls her right off her lap!  "All done!"  And there is not a moment to spare in the attempts to rescue Baby S from the fall.

Baby S is a dream child.  She quickly figured out her nights and days and after going to sleep for the last time around 11-ish each night, she wakes between 3:30-4:30 to eat and goes right back to sleep until somewhere between 7:30 and 9.  Love her.  When we went for her weight check at her almost 2 week mark she had climbed up to 7 lbs 8 oz from 6.15 the week before.  She's rockin' it and growing.  Today she started smiling at me with that half smile that I'd like to think was meaningful (and not just gas or an accident) because I was talking to her.  We'll see if it returns.  We still haven't figured out exactly who she looks like (she just might have her own look...I guess she's entitled to it) but she sure is sweet. 

One last thing I love: Miss M's curls that grow even tighter when she frolics in the humid beach breezes and become uncontrollable and free.  And Mr. A becoming so grown up that he can actually carry his own boogie board to and from the beach (to - very happily ; from- because I have too many other things/people to carry and I usually require it!), sneak off with his cousins to play their DS's or join in a game of crazy dice, and loves to jump the waves for hours on end without me.  Sniff, sniff, but smile, smile, too. 

Baby S

She is such a sweet, good baby.  She's had 2 "off" nights since we came home and the others have been downright quite "delightful" if I can call them that!  Last night - sleep at 10:45, awake to eat at 4:15, back to bed at 4:45, awake at 8:30 to eat.  Perfect.  Let's hope they all continue.  And now for a few pictures of the babe for her adoring fans...

Hospital down time

We have a birthday party for all of our babies when they're born (really, it's so that I can have my favorite cake) and here are the Big Sis and the Big Bro getting ready for the party

A visit from Auntie Nancy and Cousin D

Likes the swing

Snoozin' with Dad

She loves her side...she did this all by herself