a+b didn't = c. . .but this works!

I love blogging.  I really do.  Here's why. . .

#1.  I get to tell you all of my "my-kids-are-so-cute-just-listen-to-what-they-did-yesterday" stories.  And you listen.

#2.  Sometimes I rant about calmly share my opinion about something, say. . .snobby moms at the park, and it makes me feel better because maybe some snobby mom read it and won't be so snobby tomorrow.

#3.  It gives you a break from work.  Come on. . .I totally know you're reading when you ought to be working.  I'm usually writing while I should be working. . .

#4.  I really, really, really wanted to be a writer when I was a little girl.  Okay. . .or, in college.  Then I found out how (a) much that paid. . .and (b) how much my student loans were.  a + b wasn't even close to c.  Blogging makes me feel like I can do something I enjoy while keeping my brain from becoming 100% mommy mush.

This thing started as a suggestion from a buddy of mine to share pictures and stories of the main man to family who weren't close.  Don't they all?  Now. . .I've got readership.  How about that?  Readership.  Sounds fantastic.  I have people who I don't know reading about my children.  And coming back.  Freaking awesome.  I mean really. . .who wouldn't want to read about this little face?

Anyway... here's my public outcry for support:  do me two tiny favors when you have the chance. 

First, please click this link and vote for our blog on Top Baby Blogs.  It would just be cool to have it move anywhere above the #167th spot (although I think there are at least 200 blogs listed. . .so hellsya to that!).  You click once, and then click the top of the next page.  Vote as many times as you like, as often as you like, as frequently as you like. . .you get it.

Second, please leave a comment every now and then.  I know you read.  I know, because you tell me.  Okay, you don't tell me but I have that neat little counter on the page so I know if you're blog-stalking.  I don't mind you blog-stalking at all.  But just say hi.  I'll say hi back.  And tell me about your blog and I'll blog-stalk you. 

Now, onto family business. . .

Sweet Matilda is definitely teething.  Her tiny thumb is constantly in her mouth and if you come within her 6 inch wing span. . .you will be, too.  I haven't given her anything medicinal for it because I still haven't gotten over the Tylenol recall of '10.  I'm freaked and am just trying to stay Au natural.  So far, frozen teethers, cold facecloths and Cole's fingers are doing the trick. 

She's also been eating an obscene amount as of late.  I tried, just today, to give her a little cereal to see if she might be ready for solids, but no dice.  Tilley didn't even understand to swallow it.  Made a fine mess.  We'll try again in a few weeks.  Funny how I've forgotten what it's like feeding mushy, messy, smelly, liquid-solids to uncoordinated, shaky, helpless babies.  And subsequently, how many costume changes it then requires.  Ahhh, can't wait.

Cole is getting so big, so quick.  His language is really improving daily.  No, shrains (trains), ho-kay (okay), whoo hoo, shank (thank) you and posh (pops) are some favorite words.  There is really nothing cuter than when he says "hi mum" first thing in the morning.  On the flip side. . .he fell down the other day, brushed himself off, looked at me and said "ooosshhhh."  I'm hoping he meant "oops."  Actually, I'm sure he meant "oops."

And the mommy and the daddy?  We're fine.  Trying to fit in enjoying the summer as much as possible when we can.  I manage to fit in a trip to the ice cream stand almost everyday (What? I'm making memories for the kids. . .).  Bill's taken Cole out on his bike (which he absolutely loves!) and just last week won his first triathlon.  Maybe I'll have him guest post about that. . .I wouldn't do it justice to tell you about it.  We took Cole to the drive in for the first time last week and I'm also toying with the idea of a camp-out for Cole and I in the backyard. . .we'll see. . .

goats and ice cream. . .how vacation has changed

I do this.

I talk to you everyday and then I leave you for a week. 

And I've done it again. But have a very good reason. . .because we snuck off to the beach for a few days! 

Imagine that.  The entire family (even an uncle, aunt, cousin and a Pops included!) with the same schedule for a few days.  Ahhmazing.  And before I go on to tell you about our time, let me say this for the record:

I appreciate every moment I get to spend with my family, especially ones when we are all together.  I am a lucky woman to have the family that I do, each one is so incredibly treasured and special and it makes life worth living.

Now. . .cozy in. . .

Good lawd.  Why didn't any of you tell me this vacation stuff with kids is the absolute craziest thing you could do to yourself?  That I would be more tired than if I scaled a skyscraper?  That naptimes and bedtimes and mommatimes do not apply?  That they will, when given the chance, poop their pants the second they are covered in beach sand?  That they will somehow defy the laws of nature and survive on marshmallows (that their grandfather continues to feed them, regardless of how many times you ask him to stop) alone?  That they will open your eyelids with their little, pudgy fingers at 2:00 a.m. saying, "Hi Mum."  Why didn't you tell me that?

It's really a good thing that I love these kids so darned much.  Watching them have a good time is what made the time great for us.  And man. . .did my little guy have a time.  He stayed in the pool until his legs wrinkled, his lips were far past blue and his entire chin shivered.  He ran up and down the beach, chasing gulls and digging holes. . ."trying" out other kids' beach pails (even though we lugged an entire bag full of beach toys with us each day), and sitting in their beach chairs.  Side note:  why is it that my baby always want the other kids' beach pail?  It could be the same exact pail, but theirs is always better.  Always.  What is that?  Is it sort of how I longingly look at Jimmy Choo shoes?  Maybe the BMWx5 is my beach pail. . .

Anyway, I digress.  We took Cole to the zoo.  They had zebras and elephants and white Bengal tigers. . .bobcats, leopards, an entire butterfly kingdom. . . and Cole?  He wanted the goats.  The GOATS.  Really? Over and over and over to the goats.  At one point, deep in conversation with a goat I understood him saying, "Hi-ya goats.  Blesh beesh mum.  Say hi-ya mum taa goats."  Yes, okay Cole.  Hi goats.  Fine day we're having.  Wouldn't you like to see the peacocks (or at least something that doesn't smell like goats)?  "Noooo maaaaa.  Goats!"  *enter tantrum here* 

On vacation, tantrums are ended by running to the nearest ice cream parlor, by the way.  All bets are off on vacation.  He even got a ginger ale by the pool.  Outrageous.

Matilda had herself a fine time, too.  Constantly being held and napping when she could find five, quiet, minutes.  The best nap she had was bundled in her car seat, on the beach in 65 degree weather, listening to the waves.  I was bundled up beside her, until I got the good sense to hit the pub with my sister-in-law and leave the boys in charge of that foolish scene. 

Although we are pooped and need a vacation to recover from vacation. . .we all had a great time.  Gone are the days where Bill and I would lay on the beach for hours with a cocktail and magazine.  At least for now.  And really?  Who's got that kind of time anyway?  These days, I'd much rather be chatting up the goats. . .

Bill and I didn't see much of each other at all.  I'm learning quickly that with two children you each always have. . .well. . .a child.   It wasn't until our last night, when everyone else was sleeping, that he and I were able to sit at the pool together, feet dangling in the water, finally having a minute together. . .

. . .our topic of conversation?  The kids.  C'est la vie.  ;-)

a quilted lunch bag for a workin' man ain't so cool

So. . .I've been busy plucking money off of our money tree in the backyard the last few weeks (okay, that's a lie).  But I have found some great sites/stores/stuff lately that I wanted to share.

One Potato Books

Fantastic website for those of you (like yours truly) that really doesn't know great kids books.  I'm fortunate that I have a mother-in-law who is the walking library of all great baby books, but I often forget to ask for suggestions.  This site will link up to Amazon after suggesting some great books that either didn't make it big or got swept under the proverbial 'book carpet.'

 

Cole's current faves:

Kiddo Tags

I'm such a feet-dragger, but preschool for Cole is still on the table.  In a moment of weakness a few weeks back, I ordered labels for his personal items that he'd be leaving at school.  I found a fantastic SAHM who makes day-care labels from home at a great price.  And man. . .are they cute!  And if he doesn't end up going. . .I can just use them to label his father and I.

Finally, I'm completely, whole-heartedly and 110%-ly addicted to Etsy.com lately.  I love that you can find just about anything homemade in the universe on this site.  This has nothing to do with children. . .but just some of my other, current, loves.

Bebeloosh Mini

In my attempt to create less waste and save the world, I bought reusable snack bags from this shop.  Do you know how many plastic baggies I was going through, just packing daily outing snacks for Cole?  My goodness.  Now, we're styling adorable quilted owl bags that you pop into the laundry after you're done. . .easy peasy.  My own "uh oh" was the morning I was packing Bill's lunch and went to put his sandwich in this:

Right.  Probably not so cool to take on a job site. 

Brittany Chavers Studio

Another "oh-my-gosh-this-is-the-cutest-thing-ever" moment. . .If you've got a birthday, holiday, christening, surgery, whatever. . .coming up. . .you'll probably be receiving one of her darling rings.  Check out her stuff. . .ahhhmazing.

And that's some places out in cyberworld that I've been loving lately.  Thought I'd pass along.

In family news. . .we're in the final countdown until vacation.  VACATION.  I haven't had a vacation in. . .like. . .years.  Plural years.  This will be a beach vacation, complete with all the kiddies and Uncle Jack, Aunt Colette and cutie-pie cousin Cora. . .and is sure to be a blast.   So. . .T-Minus 5 days. . .

Matilda and Cole are just fine and doing wonderful.  Cole is speaking more and more each day.  This morning, he gave me a fist-pump while yelling "oohhh yeahhh maaaa" when I gave him eggs for breakfast.  I usually give him eggs for breakfast. . .but apparently these were extra special.

Miss Tilley is. . .come closer because I don't want the universe to hear me say this out loud. . .sleeping through the night!  Yes. . .she absolutely is.  She goes down around 10 p.m. and I don't hear from her again until about 7:00 a.m.  There is a God.  And (s)he realizes (s)he gave it to us pretty tough there with Cole.

a letter from maaa and dadaddy

Dear beautiful babies,

Sometimes things get so busy and your father and I get in this groove where we don't slow down for weeks.  We are working and cleaning and playing and trying to fit some sleeping in there, too.  Months literally go by in a blink.  You both change everyday and if I don't stop to write about what's important to you now or what new and exciting things you've done recently, it'll be gone.

Cole, I think you are entering a phase that is absolutely blowing our minds right now.  You are saying new words everyday (mostly words that have to do with Thomas the Train, but I'll take it).  You listen to our conversation while we have dinner and sometimes you interject - correctly!  You call me "maaa" and dad is "dadaddy." You've started to kiss me without being asked.  You can say "love you."  And I've even heard you say it to your sister.  Most nights, daddy and I watch you play and look at each other shaking our heads, because you're so amazing.  Our little, tiny baby has so quickly become a boy; talking and playing and loving and saying "thank you." 

Sweet Matilda, you seemed to know exactly what was missing in our family and filled the void.  Already, we can tell you are patient and kind.  You let Cole "hug" you without crying.  You laugh at my silly faces. . .every time.  You know I like an hour with my coffee and computer in the mornings and so you sleep, religiously, during that time.  So many times we will check on you in your bed, just to find you cooing and talking to yourself, happily.  You've got tiny monkey feet like your father and have started to grab onto our necks when we hold you.  I teared up yesterday when you were finally able to move your hand to get your toy.  Nothing makes you happier right now than to watch Cole.  And he thinks you're pretty neat, too.

Someone said to daddy the other day that they "didn't know how we managed with two babies."  And we both agreed.  Life sure is different with you both.  But it's quite obvious the joy you bring to our lives.  You are both so incredibly loved. . . by memere and pepere, and nana and pops, and uncles and aunts and you even have a little friend that cries when you can't come out and play. . .

Thank you for choosing us. 

Love,

Maa and Dadaddy