Independence

Hello from Highlands!  I think it is tradition at this point to spend July 4th in NC.  The mountains are beautiful and the break in heat is both good and bad.  Good because it is necessary and bad because there is a whole lot of muggy, sweaty, Mid-Atlantic summer left when we return home.  The boys are in hog heaven playing with their cousins and the ladybug had no idea it was possible to get more attention, from more people.  We are having a great time and getting some rest with a lot of relaxation ... at least as much as one could wish for when one has created a hot mess of a three ring circus for oneself. 

What I'm seeing and hearing on this Independence Day is pretty clear ... gimme a whole lot of space, Mom.  Having finished a rough year at school, #1 got a big boy trip and has spent the last 3 weeks away from home.  First, with everyone at G&G M's house for lots of fun in the sun and then by himself for the last two weeks with Grandma & Pops.  I've been told he was a dream, used manners and went to bed on time every night.  Funny how that happens when you take parents and/or siblings out of the equation.  Since we arrived I've barely been acknowledged ... training for the future I guess?  Perhaps a note to self about getting in those snuggles NOW since they are fading fast.  He knows I am a direct link to all of the things he doesn't want to hear about, but still got excited when I snuck in his room last night to say goodnight.  I had been passed over (so had Mr. Right) for tuck-ins for one too many nights for my comfort level.  So I let the requested parties do their work, then headed up into a dark room for an unannounced love fest.  Had to feed my soul.  To my surprise and delight I was welcomed into the pirate room ... three boys and clothes and crap all over the place.  I tripped on a shoe and nearly killed myself trying to get to a bed, much less a kid of mine, but it was worth it.  It also reminded me to quit considering the "what if we had a 4th?" question and thank my lucky stars that the ladybug IS A LADY!

Since #1 has been on hiatus, #2 had been the man of the house and really liked bossing his sister around!  The boys have been so close this year in lots of ways, but once #1 was removed it was funny to see which way #2 chose to "bond" with his sister.  I am pretty sure most of it came from a place of love, but it was aggressive and his way, not hers.  And now that we are all back together and with cousins he is back to the bottom of the ages and really seems OK with that.  That said, he is keeping up with his cousins this year and that is impressive.  He is finally old enough to figure out what works and what doesn't and has only taken himself out of the equation a few times.  In those times I am reminded of just how independent he is, and has always been.  He rarely needs entertainment or help finding the next thing (unless it is his shoes).  He finds something to play with or gets something to eat and when I catch him in a quiet moment he gives me this look like, "why are you looking at me?  I'm just doing what I'm supposed to be doing."  And yes buddy, you are.



MFH 4 and SDH 9



Finally another girl to play with ...

ASH at 11 (how did this happen?)

Grandma & her grands

This is the face of a man who had forgotten the strength of tiny little hands

Nine months

And #3.  Sigh.  I'm not sure what the hell just happened but a development bomb went off and you are exploding with new stuff.  We went to Florida and you were scooting and had been for several weeks, and perfectly happy with that.  We were there for 2 days and then you were crawling, 2 more days went by and you were pulling up on everything, a few more days went by and you were crawling up to kid sized chairs, pulling up and climbing in ... to then pull up again and get into a bigger chair.  Then a few more days and you started cruising furniture and you have been motoring ever since!  And now we are to your other grandparents and you continue to show off.  You are walking with assistance.  It is a long way from walking on your own, but you are only turning 9 months tomorrow!  I am not happy about the hurry you are in to grow up and will put you in a shoebox to keep you small if I have to.  I know all of these big kids around is super great and all kinds of fun, but let me let you in on a little secret.  They love the fact that you are a baby right now and they don't pummel you.  As soon as you can hold your own, the pummeling begins, just ask your blondie brother.

A Conversation with #2

(some might say literally!)


Yesterday, through the bathroom door ... 
"Do you need help?"
"Nope.  4 year olds do it themselves."
"OK.  Good deal!"
10 minutes go by ...
"You OK?"
"Yep.  All cleaned up.  But there is no more toilet paper."
(Translation ... just used the entire roll of TP and it is sitting in the bowl)
"DON'T FLUSH!"
"Yep.  You should get the flogger."

Momma's Day Out

So it takes civic duty to ensure such a thing, but I lived as a respectable adult today. Not the typical, totally respectable, SAHM that I am these days ... hair in ponytail, some sort of "I hope to workout today" clothing on, adorable daughter's spit-up and adorable sons' snotty nose rubs along a sleeve. This morning I woke up, SHOWERED!, got dressed in real clothes and headed to Jury Duty. Always an interesting experience and good people watching, but also a delightfully peaceful experience for me. Out of the house just as everyone woke up for the day, it has been quiet all day and nobody yelled at me. The most reaction I got from anyone was from the security guy at the courthouse. With a snicker of embarrassment, "Um ma'am, is this a breast pump?" I smiled, "yes, it is. Do you need to test it (because they do at the airport)?" "Oh no, Ma'am," as if he is saying to himself - Will. Not. Touch. Breastpump. I may volunteer for Jury Duty every day.


Preparing to be gone for the entire day took some work. Mr. Right had to take the day off and I had to write out an hour by hour schedule of who does/needs/gets what. And since we are rarely without someone sick, and because we have a baby, this activity requires some thought and planning ... and some strategic magic.  What meds go to school, do I really need to remind him to change diapers, etc.  But I did the schedule last night and Mr. Right is very good with the kids, although he pretends he isn't ... hoping that I won't ask for a day off.  But given civic duty, he had to step up.


The courthouse was not exciting.  I missed the first two panel calls while I signed out to pump (that's what you get when you book a working dairy for Jury Duty) and there were no more for the rest of the day.  So my day of wearing big girl clothes and shoes was spent sitting in the Jury lounge, reading People magazine, catching up on email, paying bills (love my iPad) and writing this post.  The highlight was during my hour lunch break.  Since I was showered, I treated myself to lunch at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant, The Source.  Had a glass of wine, too!  Did I mention that I would like to volunteer for Jury Duty every day? Last week of school is next week, I'll get paid back in full.

Two turns Four

Gulp.  How is this possible?  Will I say this for every child's birthday, every year?  I think I have so far ...  Why am I so ill prepared for the reality of the next year, that they are growing up -- and fast?  Regardless it is happening and we've got another full fledged "big boy" in the house.  #2 turned four and "it was awesome!  Yehsssssssss!!"  We celebrate enthusiastically around here.

So, #2 ... what do I have to say to you?


I continue to be obsessed with your hair, but I am not the only one!  Fuzz - you are rarely fuzzy now and it is just plain sad.  During the winter when the air is dry your hair will still stick up and I will continue to find reasons to rub my face against the fuzz.  It is the equivalent of new baby smell for me - with you.  I was talking with your teacher and she describes your hair as your duck feathers.  How do you feel about grown women being obsessed with your hair?  


I was so worried about you last summer, I was convinced that you would not adapt well to having a new baby in the house.  I thought you would give me all kinds of business about not being the "baby" anymore and you have taken those thoughts and tossed them away without even flinching.  You marched into the hospital on the day your sister was born and were instantly an older brother ... a big boy ... and you haven't looked back.  You love your sister, and right now you love being on a level playing field with your brother.  You have grown your relationship with #1 by leaps in the last six months.  You play together, you watch out for each other, you create all kinds of stuff ... and trouble ... together.  And holy cow do you boys laugh and make mischief together.  You are still into your own things and do things separately throughout the day, but when you guys click, you really click and it makes me feel like there was a reason my #s 1 and 2 are boys.


You have made some really good friends at your new school this year.  I was watching you and O play on the swingset the other day and it was fun to get lost in your game.  I'm so used to watching you with your brother and it often brings frustration when you can't physically do the same things he can.  But with your own peers you are bringing it!  Speaking of bringing it ... You hustle like a mad man during soccer and greet/cheer on your friends as you play games at practice.  You love PE at school, too ... especially when playing "What Time is it Mr. Fox?"  You've pretty much turned your school day into PE with the help of your friends - racing laps on all vehicles or feet, all day long.  


Some things that I must remember about this time with you ... 
Instead of "tomorrow" you say, "the day after this day."  "Is the day after this day a school day or a home day?"  And instead of "temperature" you say, "degrees."  "What are the degrees today, Mommy.  And can I wear shorts?"
You have found things to test me like, "well ... you're not the boss of me!"
You enjoy savoring ... anything.  Eating, showering, whatever, happens nice and slow.  You realize this means we're going to set all of our clocks ahead in the coming years ...
You do not like swim lessons ... You do like soccer lessons.
You're trying out comedy - insisting one day to wear underwear on your head to school, so we let you take them to school in your pocket.  I'm told the bitty pirate briefs came out while riding big wheels - mask? racing uniform? just because?  Probably all of the above and then some.
You are a fabulous sharer and a not so fabulous cleaner-upper.
You are funny and silly and you know it, but shy for the camera so it is tricky to capture.
You are scary fast on your scooter and pretty much refuse to learn to ride the bike.


Friday afternoons are #2 time - #3 is sleeping and #1 is still at school.  It is my time with you - to just be.  We usually build train tracks or legos although you've been telling me I'm doing it wrong a lot lately.  You've got your own idea of how things should be ... imagine that in this family.  But I'll take it.  It is nice to step out of the chaos for a minute and enjoy the quiet chug, chug, chug ... puff, puff, puff as the little train rumbles over the tracks.


Happy Birthday, little bear.  Or is it little poo?

Here Comes Trouble

Seven months and mobile.  Things were slightly under control before now.  Now I am officially chasing during all waking hours.  Ack!

Just Another Day

The details are different each day, but the chaos is all similar ...
I started the day at 4:30AM, feeding a hungry nugget who had been sleeping like a champ, with a snotty nose cold, since 7:00PM the previous night.  After feeding, sucking out snot, feeding some more, and getting #3 back into bed it was 5:00 ish and there was plenty of time for another snooze before I had to get up and get everyone up for school.  Bonus!  I was fast back asleep and faintly remember #2 crawling into bed with me (Mr. Right was out of town for work). I was starting to slowly wake up, but my eyes were still closed and the thoughts went something like this ... birds are making noise, I should probably get up - I wonder why I'm leaking so much, I just fed the baby - why am I so wet?  Just then as I started to open my eyes and figure out what was going on, there was a little cheerful voice next to me that said, "Mommy, we should move to my bed because I just peed in yours."  And so starts my Friday.

What #2 Thinks of Me ...

It is annual tradition in Nursery school to dictate conversations on important topics.  These are some of the best gifts we've received from our children.  They come home on holidays - for the most part.  You may guess the topic of the most recent - Mommy.


What is your mommy's name?  Maren


Does your mommy have any nicknames she calls you?  She calls me her little poo.  [I actually call him fuzzy, blondie or little bear, but I feel a new one coming on.]


How old is your mommy?  And how tall is she?  I think 40s.  She's not so tall.  [Little poo will work out just fine...]


What's your mommy's favorite food?  Salad.  She puts dressing.  She likes to make us ziti.  She likes ice cream.  Cherry Garcia!


What's her favorite song?  Does she like music?  No, not really.  [It is CLEARLY time for dance party in this house!]


What is her favorite story to read with you?  Mr. Magee and the Camping Spree and the little train book.  I don't really remember the name of it, but it is the little train book.  [The Little Engine That Could.]


Where do you like to go with your mommy?  Well, I went another house than my new house, but I didn't say there long.  It had two beds in one room.  I stayed for 3 nights.  It was in Virginia.  Virginia is really far away.  There are a lot of rocks.  I like to ride over the rocks 'cause I like bumpy stuff.  [I believe this is the house we rented on the Chesapeake Bay during Spring Break, which is totally to Mr. Right's credit.]


What do you like to do at home with your mommy?  Play.  We like to play and one more thing.  We like to play with toys and make train tracks.


What makes your mommy so smart?  She's not really smart, cause I'm even smarter than her.  Really.  [Fantastic ... it starts so young.]


Why is your mommy so beautiful?  She's not so beautiful.  I only like when she wears jeans.  I don't like when she wears dresses.  I don't like when anyone wears dresses.


What does your mommy do when you're at school?  I don't know cause I don't watch her.  Sometimes she does to exercise, but I don't know when she doesn't go to exercise.


Why do you love your mommy so much?  Because she likes to play with me.