Sprouting

Can you see it? Bottom right - barely breaking through

'Tis the season where things sprout - just about as quickly as they fall off during that later season of the year. The daffodils pop up from the ground and then open their gaping yellow and white mouths, the cherry blossoms spring in all their red/pink splendor, the forsythia bushes seem to pop overnight, and my favorite, the tulips, bring forth their long, leafy stems and make you wait with days-long baited breath to see their pink/white/red/yellow fireworks!

And, in this fine season of sprouting, Miss M decided to join the festivities. Her little tooth bud finally opened up long enough for her bottom right tooth to poke its little head out and say "Hello, world! I'm going to munch things now...not just gum them."

So, we welcome the forsythia and the daffodils and the tulips. We welcome the bright green leaves back from their winter's nap. And, we welcome Miss M to the wide world of teeth. It's only taken 10 months. Isn't that about how long it feels like Winter's lasted anyway?

Goodbye winter. Goodbye gum grin. Welcome, sprouts.

Maryland Has Crabs, But Pennsylvania Has...

Our "Springtime" Attire

That's right. Nestled between Blue Ball, Mt. Joy, and Paradise is the quaint Pennsylvania town of Intercour$e. I kid you not.

It's out in the large rolling hills and expansive farms of the Amish country and we couldn't pass up an opportunity to introduce Nancy & Clint to the home of the world's greatest Kettle Corn. It's the perfect balance of just enough salty and not too much sweet. Actually, they have a lot of yummy delicacies there (homemade salsa, sauces, baked goods, and Amish Friendship Soup), but clearly they were one-track minded when they named the towns and villages as they settled the land.

And, you know how you typically notice different things when you visit somewhere more than once? Our new finding: Blue Ball Church of the Brethren. And, my friend tells me that Virginville is just 20 or so miles away. Only logical, I guess.

Lastly, though, we stopped in Lancaster, the heart of the Amish country, for some fine Pennsylvania outlet shopping (PB Kids Outlet, anyone?).

And no trip of theirs would be complete without Rockband in healthy doses, some March Madness viewing (go 'Nova), and a round of "Ticket to Ride."

Thanks for coming to hang with us, you two! We're so excited for your little bundle of BOY!

The Puzzled Rockstar

Need a new bassist, Backyardigans?

Working on one of his favorites - Doc, Sally, and Mater

Mr. A has a new obsession (isn't that a weekly occurrence for all 3 yr olds?) - PUZZLES - you know, the kind that actually have pieces and make a big picture? I have been pleasantly surprised as of late to find that when there is too much silence Mr. A is usually found in front of his puzzled masterpieces. Or strumming his "ditar" and asking to play "Rockstar" (aka RockBand).

It's good to be 3.

Nana Comes to Town

We were so lucky to have our angel Nana (DH's mom) at our house this week. We even got to introduce her to Qdoba. Isn't she so lucky?!

Thank you, Nana, so much for coming to run around with us, for preparing our Corned Beef, Cabbage, and potatoes for St. Patty's Day (I've never done it before but DH grew up with it - it was yummy!), for being an extra and most helpful set of hands, and even a great entertainer while I worked out! We loved the company and Mr. A is missing you already (but he swears he saw your hair-pane in the sky tonight). Come back real soon!

Hot Button

I attended a training yesterday where we talked about "hot buttons." I'd like to share one of mine.

Pediatrician's Offices.

Miss M was in for her 9 month WELL visit on March 10 (because I'm a responsible mom like that) and got a very clean, healthy bill of health.

On March 16 (a MERE 6 days later for all those who might be reading this too late at night), Miss M was back at the Pediatrician's Office (with her brother in tow, I might add) but had to wait in the SICK room this time.

The verdict: Double ear infection and a sinus infection (for her) - sinus infection for Mr. A.

Just wondering: How does that happen in 6 days? There appears to be a pattern here: everytime I take a perfectly healthy child in for a well child visit, we are back at the dr's office within the week to address a sick issue. Why is that? HOT BUTTON.....

Sissy

9 months old

7 months old but just found this pic and had to post

7 months old - who doesn't love a great beach visit?

Miss M has several endearing monikers, but the one that seems to have stuck is so unoriginal - "Sissy" - a version of sister, sis, missy miss, miss m, etc. So much so that my nephew corrected his mom (my sister) when she said, "Ok, Grant, say goodnight to Miss M!" He replied, "No, Mom. Her name is Sissy!!"

Total aside: I even said to DH the other night, "I think I now know how Sissy Spacek got her name - she must have siblings." Random, I know.

We are going to make a more concerted effort to call her by her real name so that she doesn't develop a complex. 9 months is a bit young for that.

Miss M, or Sis, had her 9 month dr. checkup a few weeks ago and she doesn't break any records (my kids typically don't do that - have you met their parents?), but she's healthy, happy, and tried to eat every last shred of that nasty white butcher paper that covered the examining table when we walked in the examining room, but was pretty much gone when we left.

Stats:

• Weight: 18 lbs. 13 oz. (50th %tile)
• Height: 27 1/2 inches (60th %tile)

And now for a NEWSFLASH: She is crawling ALL over the place. Video to come. It was pretty hilarious at first watching her roll from side to side while shimmying forward, but now she's starting to get the hang of it. There's no stopping her and my floors haven't been this clean in years.

I Spy...

...with my little eyes, something: GREEN! You know, the one that's Easter-ish?

There were BUDS on the bush outside our office window this morning! Spring is officially springing.

Hallelujah. (I hope that's not only deemed appropriate at Christmas time. I think it's a great word when used correctly and often)

Mr. A-isms

• "Mom, we play RockStar?" - Mr. A likes RockBand - a lot. He's a master on the drums (he's moved on from the "di-tar").
• "Oh no! Mom, we forgot to bless the FOOD!!" - at Qdoba - teaching your children well is good - teaching them well AND appropriately is the next goal at our house.
• "Mom, GO AWAY!" - I checked on him while he was "using the facilities" this morning - it's the first time he decided I wasn't welcome!! Apparently a little man needs his privacy. Who am I to argue with that?

WHAT?

Mr. A's new favorite thing to say - like 3 times in a row after you say something.

I'm trying not to be annoyed by it. I know he doesn't have a hearing problem (he just went for his 3 yr check up and I asked the dr. to check on it).

Is this just a phase? Please say yes because it's starting to drive me crazy.

Ahhhhh....

7 Days of pure Caribbean bliss....we started in St. Maarten on scooters...

...and checked out the airport - where only a chainlink fence separated us from the blaring blast of the 747 - very cool...

...next we docked in Dominica where the Emerald Pools (and this nice fat guy in his orange swimsuit) beat down on DH and his brother...

...we did a little of this (in Grenada & Bonaire too - our favorite)...

...hiked through the rainforest...

...stared at these and the beautiful fish in Grenada (and smelled the sweet aroma of Nutmeg too)...

...rode horses on the beach in Aruba (and got harrassed by the guide - another story for another day)...

...climbed the ruins, and then headed off to climb the swells of the Caribbean on jetskis (if you've met my daredevil husband, you know that I'm not lying when I say we climbed those swells with authority).

It could not have been more perfect.

A big thank you to my DH who planned it all.

A huge thank you to the other 10 in our group who made cruising a delight.

And an even bigger thank you to my sweet sister, Nancy, who made sure our kids were well watched out for.