Need a smile?

One of the many photos I have that she will hate me for when she is 15. For now, it is just bligityblog gold!

Cleanse

What is it about this time of year that makes me want to clean out my closets and eat nothing but flax seed and quinoa?

It's like a life cleanse both inside and out. Was that TMI? No? Good.

Last Saturday Kev and I overhauled our second floor. I cleaned out Lydia's closet. I put away all of my laundry (which hadn't been done since at least Thanksgiving) and all of Madeline's clothes. I organized my closet and finally put away my maternity clothes. No worries I haven't actually worn them in over a year... ok, most of them. Kev deep cleaned the bathroom (what a man I have!) cleaned up the office/guest bedroom and cleaned/rearranged the furniture in our bedroom.

It is cathartic to clean out the proverbial and occasionally real cob webs.

But I want more. The master room closet, known as 'the junk room' is full of, well, junk. Problem is, when I enter the closet I have two little shadows that follow me in. There is hardly room for me. I'd take a photo, but I am afraid of showing the word my really dirty little secret. Then there is the kitchen. No matter how often I clean the kitchen it is the center of life and it gets messy in a heartbeat. Let me stress it isn't unsanitary it is just messy. Those flat surfaces accumulate a massive amount of "stuff" over the course of a day. The hall closets are a mess and not being used in the best way. The basement, oh don't even get me started on the basement!

The real dilemma?

These two lovies. (and what a cute two they are...)

In the wise words of Phyllis Diller, "Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing." (Phyllis Diller's House Keeping Hints, 1966)

Now I'm not asking for an immaculate home. Long before we had kiddos our home was far from immaculate but when I got fed up, like I so often do at this time of year, I could take the time to do something about it without having to line up a full day of babysitting.

So where do I find balance? I know this is a common feeling for mothers but I feel like I am the only one who doesn't have this figured out. I know that reality is more likely that I have it more figured out than most.

Which to me, is a very scary thought...

Dear Day Light Savings Time,

I think I hate you.

Maureen

mg

Little Big Town

I love where we live.

As an example, here is a snippet of the Area Crime Report from our local newspaper.

• Local police were informed by a resident in the 1000 block of R_____ Drive that an area family is taking over the minds of local dogs and turning them against their owners. Police have been advised the only way to protect pooches is to install an anti-force-field on their heads when going outside. A police investigation has revealed the best method would be to obtain an aluminum pie pan, cut slits in it for the dog's ears, place the pan over the doggie's head, fold it over and secure it with duct tape. Another safety tip from the local Boys in Blue...
• Officers are on the edge looking for a possible merry prankster, following a Feb. 26 report from a resident in the 500 block of H_____ Court. The reident told police someone had taken carpet deoderizer from inside her home, and replaced it with a different brand. The culprits also took meat from her refridgerator and replaced it with meat that had an earlier sell-by date. an investigation continues.
• Officers investigated a possible handgun in plain sight inside a vehicle parked in the 9500 block of M______ Road March 2. Investigation revealed the suspected gun was a chrome head to a vacuum cleaner.

I couldn't make this stuff up even if I tried.

mg

Already?

It's Saturday already? Kevin had the last three days off. It has been glorious, busy, relaxing, jam packed and productive. How can three days be all of those things? Well, with a 2 year old, a 3 month old, a crazy cat and two tired adults anything can happen.

Groceries were purchased, errands were run, three trips to the hardware store were made, beans were played with and our dinning room was painted. (That should be its own post don't you think?) It was a great three days. I only wish (and I KNOW Kevin does) that we had three more.

Oh and I have to tell you about my house husband. :) Friday morning Kevin took both girls down stairs in the morning so I slept for AN EXTRA HOUR!!!! For the FIRST TIME IN THREE MONTHS!!!! And while I slept, he fed them breakfast, cleaned the living room, dining room, play room and kitchen, AND made banana bread... from scratch. I think I may have won the husband jackpot. I don't even get that much stuff done in an entire day at home. I think he should have three days off in a row more often. (As long as he keeps churning out that banana bread...)

Off to bed!

mg

Lydia- 2 months (and a fried egg)

On Saturday Lydia celebrated her 2 month birthday. I know it is cliche, but it is hard to believe that 1) that much time as passed because it seems like just yesterday she was born and 2) that it has been such a short period of time because it is almost impossible to remember what life was like before she was here.

December 9
She almost looks like a doll in this photo.

Stats*
Height: 24 3/8 inches (off the charts)
Weight: 11 # 12 oz. (75th percentile)

*taken at her 2 month check up on Dec. 17th.

December 9
Oh how I love her faces!

Lydia is a pretty easy going baby. She is easy to sooth and very content to sit in her bouncy seat or on the floor as long as there are people around for her too look at. She loves to be held facing away from the person holding her. She just wants to see the world around her. She also has amazing head control and has since the day she was born. She loves to sit up (with support from an adult of course) and has been holding herself up in a seated position for the past few days.

December 9
All smiles!

She smiles and coos frequently now. She smiles the biggest for Madeline and loves watching her sister play around her. (Although Madeline has started telling me to just put Lydia down and play... "don't hold her mommy, play!") I keep trying to get her "talking" on video and as soon as I do I'll post that. Her jabbers and coos are adorable. Madeline was a very talkative baby and I am thinking Lydia will be too!

Getting ready for the big guy:

December 20

As for the big question:

How is she sleeping?

It could be worse. She still cat naps throughout the day. Some days it seems like she sleeps all day. Other days she seems more alert, but no matter the situation, she is sleeping in one or two larger stretches at night. We've had two nights in the last week and a half (not consecutive) where she slept for a 6 hour block. Most of the time she sleeps for 4-5 hours, nurses and then sleeps another 2-3 hours. Our biggest problem right now is that she doesn't really go to bed until much later than we want her too.

Like tonight: she was up from 5pm to 9 pm almost straight. Then I nursed her and she fell asleep at 9:20pm. I attempted to put her in her crib in her room (which she has been in since she was 6 weeks old) but she woke up in less than 5 minutes. I rocked her back to sleep and put her down again at 10:10pm. She woke up crying in less than a minute. So I nursed her one more time and she was in bed at 11:10pm sleeping peacefully. We'd love to have her just sleep in her bed from 9-11pm even if she isn't down for the night. I'd just like to have my arms free for a little while. (see my previous post!)

In short, she is lovely. So far she is easy to love and easy to care for, just like her sister was at this age. I feel so very lucky to have had two such peaceful and easygoing infants. I only hope Lydia doesn't follow Madeline's footsteps at the age of 2 1/2. But that is a whole other post!

**********

And totally unrelated to ANYTHING normally posted on this blog:


I found an egg with a double yolk this week. That has to be good luck or something doesn't it?!?!? Kevin ate it. He assures me it was yummy.

mg

1 + 1 = 759

I was never (still am not) very good at math. I know that if you add 1 and 1 you should get two... and we did, we added one baby to one preschooler and instantly we have two children. BUT let me tell you the amount of work that goes into parenting two children is much more than doubled. Hence I've been missing from the blogosphere. Because I currently have one sick 2 1/2 year old, a one month old (WHOA can you believe it has been a month?!?), it is the week before the official start of the holidays and I haven't showered in a couple of days (gross, I know...) I am going to do a bullet list to save my time and creative energies.

• Lydia is awesome. Her one month check up was great and she is now 10 pounds 2 ounces! and 23 1/4 inches long.
  
• Funny 82 year old Grandma quote of the week: "Are you talking about Marijuana?!? Oh, that isn't even illegal anymore, it barely counts as a drug!" I laughed so loud half of St. Louis Bread Co stopped eating to stare at me. Love you Ma!
  
• Madeline's napping has gotten worse and has spread to bed time. I have gotten up from this post four, no make that five, times to put her back in her room.
• Six
• We started putting Christmas decorations up at our house. It is awesome. Photos someday, maybe, if I'm lucky.
• Madeline has a cold which has caused her to loose her voice which is cute and heart breaking all at the same time.
  
• Seven
• I am hoping and praying that Lydia and I stay well. I don't know if I can handle being sick and I KNOW I can't handle me and Madeline AND Lydia sick.
• Eight
• I did four loads of laundry today. Unfortunately only two of them are folded and all four loads are in different places in my house. One folded on a sofa, one folded on the table, one in a pile on my bedroom floor and one still in the basement. Did I mention the piles of laundry (both folded and not) from earlier in the week that I haven't dealt with in my bedroom? Oh yeah. Good times.
• Did you see how much I typed in that last bullet, and Madeline still hasn't come out of her room!!! Wooo Whooo!
• Nine. I think I jinxed it.
• Mothers out there: Will I EVER get to go to the bathroom alone again? I'm thinking the answer is no...
• Today is my little brother's 27th birthday. Happy Birthday Elliot. You may be younger and smarter and skinnier than me but... wait, I'm now too depressed to come up with a witty comeback. Thanks a lot.
  

Ok, that is all the energy I have for now. That and I NEED a shower, BAD! Off to take a 1 minute hose down... it should be excellent.

mg

Jump Up

Because yesterday's post was so cheery:



Video of "Jump Up" by Dan Zanes

Where can I find a mustard suit and who does that man's hair... can you say awesome?!

mg

I'm tired

and it is raining. That about sums it up.

Olive, cuddling in her favorite hole.

I think my daughter might actually be taking a nap, so I'd better go join her. Just wanted you all to know I was still waddling around. Update tomorrow.

mg

Breech of security avoided

Me. 36 1/2 weeks.

Photo taken by me with my self timer.

So I had a doctor's appointment last Monday. I didn't blog about it because I am a jerk. (really I am just busy.) It was at this appointment that we discovered #2 is breech. What does that mean? At the time I thought that it meant weeks of worry ahead of me because the baby's head was firmly placed in my rib cage with it's little feet tap dancing on my bladder. (Which explains a lot.) I was told to rock my hips while on my hands and knees. I could head to a pool and do hand stands under water. I also tried lying with my hips up in the air for 10-15 minutes at a time, then standing up for 10-15 min.

As of last night I was not convinced that the baby had turned. Aside from getting up a million times last night to go to the bathroom (well a million more times then before...) I didn't think anything had changed.

At my appointment this morning it was confirmed that this baby is HEAD DOWN!!! I am thrilled! I dealt with all of this when expecting Madeline too. She was breech until 37 weeks when she flipped. (I don't remember this baby flipping, nor do I remember Madeline turning...) All the talk of the possibilities just gives me the creeps. (High risk specialist... External version... C-section... argh!) I am happy to say this baby cooperated and let's just hope that he/she stays this way.

As for the rest of my check up, all is well. I am officially 1 cm dilated, which means nothing really. I didn't dilate before being induced last time around, but I am not at all worried that I am going to drop this baby any time soon. I still have class to get through on Wednesday. Thursday of next week sure... but not until then.

Oh, and so I don't forget... I stopped wearing my wedding rings this week. It isn't that they are all that tight in the morning, but by night they are snug and the last thing I want is to have to have them cut off. I am playing it better safe than sorry. I am still not even 1/4th as swollen as I was last time. I even wore tennis shoes today, something I could not have done 2 1/2 years ago with Madeline.

**********
Totally unrelated but have you seen this? Thanks to Mighty Girl for introducing it to me. It made my day.

mg

Is it really possible

that after TWO HOURS of reading and goofing around in her room she is finally asleep? I don't want to open the door to check because I don't want her to wake up, BUT I mean really?!?!




This photo makes her look so innocent! HA, I know better than that!! Too bad she needs to get up in about 30 minutes or I may never get her to bed tonight. This evening is going to be f-u-n!!!

Argh.

mg

Further proof she just doesn't get this whole baby thing...

Madeline: The baby is coming today?
Me: No, the baby doesn't come until October.
Madeline: We can cut it out now if you want.
(insert me running and screaming...)

**********

Madeline: Where is my baby?
Me: Right here. (pointing)
Madeline: No mom, (like duh mom) my baby is coming on an airplane from Florida.

**********

A parent at the playground: So Madeline, are you having a brother or a sister?
Madeline: NO NO! It's a baby!

**********

Me: Madeline, where is your new baby?
Madeline: In your baby bump.
Me: That's right. Are you ready to be a big sister?
Madeline: No way!

She could not be more right.

By the time I get around to relaxing at night all of my clever has been used up

Why do I say this? I have pulled up a new post page three times since Monday and NONE of them resulted in a published post. Heck, I'm not even sure this one is going to make the cut!

So instead of drone on about how tired I am and how much I suck b/c I can't even post on my blog that like 3 people read I am going to give you some highlights of the week.

Ready?

• I took a nap every day this week. It was awesome. I didn't get to today and it is NOT awesome.
• I feel ginormous but everyone keeps telling me I look great. Somehow that doesn't make me feel less huge.
• I am teaching again and by the end of a 3 hour lecture my throat hurts and I'm cross eyed. I think maybe teaching at night while 8 months pregnant isn't the BEST idea in the world. You live, you learn.
• Madeline expressed interest in using the toilet this week. Baby steps right? I am still not taking her out of diapers. No way... No how. She has to have a proven track record of being dry before I risk my carpet and furniture. (and there is also the whole poop thing... which I won't blog about...YET.)
  
• I have eaten at least 96 oz. of cottage cheese in the last three weeks. I can't get enough of that stuff. It is like pure gold.
• Kevin has worked more nights in the last two weeks then he did in the last two years. We miss him, but we do get to see him more during the day so that is a good thing.
• I think Facebook was created by evil people to make me waste time caring about the status of people I haven't spoken to, face-to-face, in many many years. It's like social networking crack. I just have to check one more time before bed, just in case that kid I took biology with in the 12th grade updated his status for the 40th time today.
• Madeline has been napping well and sleeping for 12+ hours a night. I know that by blogging this, it means I have jinxed it and she will stop sleeping altogether.
• I hate heartburn.
• We had two awesome play dates this week. (Thank you Anna/Madeline and Becca/Rachel/Leo!) I was totally exhausted by both of them. Madeline could have played for many more hours.
  
• I am so tired my eyes keep closing.
  
• Last night I had a dream that I had the baby and then left it in the car when I went into Babies r Us to get a bath tub and when I got back to the car a gang of little old ladies were yelling at me and hitting me with their purses. So I cried. Think maybe I'm not psychologically ready to have two kids? Nope, I didn't think so...

Ok, I hope you enjoyed my ramblings. I sure did. I have more posts in the works, in both draft and just in my head format. Once the weekend is over I will get around to it... maybe. Until then, enjoy the rest of your weekend!

mg

Argh.

I've been trying to blog all day without luck. So to be brief...

-happy anniversary Granny and Poppy.
-went to Mobot today and it was grand.
-started a new class tonight, they don't suck.
-off to bed after a rough night last night... For me, not little bits. I hate my hips this pregnancy... Either that or they hate me.

More tomorrow.

mg

Slim down

This week is going to be super busy for us. All good stuff, promise. But that means that posting will be sparse. Just a warning. I have set a couple of drafts to auto post, but if those don't work I should be back full force with a lot to talk about come Monday!

mg

oh so tired

No time to blog. I must go to sleep. We had the perfect summer night tonight. Barbeque, swimming and friends. It doesn't get better than that. More about all that tomorrow... until then. Sweet dreams.

mg

Because what the world needs is another post about Michael Jackson

If I hear Man in the Mirror one more time today, I might just chuck my radio out a window.

mg

Neil Patrick Harris rocks

I am laughing out loud watching this right now.



Enjoy the hilarity.

the lightening ate my post

I wanted to post tonight. With photos and everything. I have a very cleaver post planned I assure you. But the weather has foiled me again. If only we could assure that the massive amounts of lightening wouldn't fry our fancy computer if our house is hit... I'm just not willing to risk it.

So until the weather passes, I blame the lightening for my lack of post AND for sapping me of my cleverness. I hope all you mid westerners enjoy the light show and stay safe.

mg

Warm up

The weather is getting warmer and one of the biggest signs of summer for me is watermelon! Madeline and I have been eating off that gorgeous fruit for days and it still tastes awesome!

The pool is open, the weather is warming up (again) and my freckles are starting to show. Oh summer... how I love you.

Sorry I've been a bit scarce this week. I'll be back next week and hopefully I'll have something worthwhile to say.

mg