Teen Angel

Everybody (or at least every mom) needs an Anika. She is Molly's middle school buddy who comes over to play and babysit on Wednesdays after school. I got the idea from Eric and Mary, and I have to say it's been a high point of my week ever since. I usually go out and run errands but today I stayed home to do some work; I listened to the two of them run (and I pretty much mean run) around for the whole afternoon. I should say, Molly runs Anika around and she obligingly goes along with things. I usually hit my limit when I've done three or four of something in a row -- read the same story in triplicate, repeated the same answer to a question in quadruplicate, built garages/gardens/houses out of blocks only to have King Kong Molly come through and wreak havoc once, twice, three, many, many times, etc. Really, it can feel like ground hog day around here a lot. Anika, though... that girl has stamina. I listened to her read and then act out Curious George for almost an hour today, staged, of course, by little miss director pants. Not only that, but Anika is a really, really good artist (as in, you can tell what her drawings look like every time), and she made Molly a Curious George mask just for fun. I thought I was crafty but she makes me look like amateur hour. Molly adores older kids (girls and boys, unfortunately. She's already tried sneaking off at the beach with some older boys. Ay yey yey), and having Anika come is exciting for Molly each week, too. They can be wacky and zany together and it's really sweet to listen to the squeals of happiness (from Molly). As much as I love spending my days with my small people, I think the old Momski routine gets a little old and it's nice to spice things up with some fresh energy (thank you in advance to our summer visitors/helpers). It also provides me the opportunity to have one on one time with Jack. Even though we're often running around getting errands done (in about an eighth of the time it would take me if I had both of them with me), we always get our moments to blow raspberries or give belly laughs or actually linger somewhere. I take my moments with him whenever I can but it's nice to know I have some dedicated time.

I have never been a huge fan of the middle school years (mine included), but I think I'm being convinced that teenage girls aren't complete mutants (I should have already known this because we very much enjoy the company of our non-mutant teenage family members). It also might mean that I might occasionally wiggle my way out of doing something for a fourth, fifth, eighteenth time because it's Molly and Anika's special thing to do together... maybe, just maybe. 

May Day

The little man is hanging in there -- thanks to everyone for their well wishes and concern. We're mostly going about our daily business (a little blonde angel wouldn't have it any other way) with just a little extra look out for any changes in respiration.

A few May birthdays that we need to wish some happys for: Megan, Beth, Emmy, and Jonah! Sorry that we can't celebrate in person with you all although I'll happily rent Molly out. That girl can do up birthdays right.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The Good:
It was a glorious day here... sunny, 80 degrees, and just plain lovely (weather-wise). The kids could play outside, the ducks could take up residence in the back yard, and John could make really good progress on the pic-a-nic table. We actually were able to use the table for dinner tonight, which was fantastic. The benches are still a work in progress but we're enjoying what we can!

The Bad and The Ugly:
Jack is sick. The little man has some sort of respiratory issue and we're trying to determine if it's bronchiolitis, asthma, or an infection. He's such a happy little critter and is trying valiantly to stay happy despite having trouble breathing. It's been a bit stressful around here this week and it's a lot of waiting and seeing and trying things out. We have been able to stay home and not be admitted to the hospital thus far but we got a little closer than I would have liked this afternoon. Anyway, I'm guessing things will turn out fine. So many of us know (unfortunately) that helpless feeling of watching your little person be unhappy and it stinks.

Independence Day

Like Liz, I think I'm slowly becoming dispensable to my oldest child (although, for the record, Molly doesn't have Ethan's helpful streak. Or, I should say, she's nudge nudge wink wink, big-air-quote "helpful"). She likes to announce to me what we're doing for the day (9 times out of 10 we're most definitely not doing it), likes to get her shoes and hat on by herself (for the record, it was 73 degrees today, not really a hat day... didn't matter), gets her babies up and fed and down for a nap (these naps must be taken in Jack's room and seem to last an awfully long time), must "pick up" her Little People for the night by parking them (after several nights of this I did, finally, pick them up after she went to bed. They seem innocuous enough but those buggers always end up underfoot somehow), lets me know that she can paint her own toenails (maaa-ma, I'm painting my naa-ils. My reaction? What? Nooooo), and is Queen Independent on the playground.

It's bittersweet (and sometimes maddening, sometimes hilarious), these steps towards independence. Thankfully, given that her mitts are still heat seeking mischief missiles, I have a bit more time of eagle-eyeing her before she's completely off on her own. 

Mother May I

Oh mother's day... what fun it was to wake up (late, YUM!) to little people beaming from ear to ear and one of them yelling "happy mother's day" at the top of her lungs over and over. Seriously, because the clock read something past 8, it was cute. I got a card with birthday cakes and butterflies (???), breakfast in bed (with my own pepper grinder extraordinaire, which translates into a very peppery bed), and very few responsibilities for the day. It was lovely... and one of the best parts -- my present. Mr. Handy Man is building me a pic-a-nic table. I've been eyeing picnic tables for awhile and John decided to build us a custom one. Very sweet. 

My little folks have been enjoying being home with their own stuff, beds, and time zones at their disposals. Jack has sprouted teeth and I'd really like to give them back. I am very attached to his gummy smile and these suckers are making him miserable; it is just heartbreaking because he's a really happy little fellow most of the time. Molly gets funnier by the day, yelling all sorts of statements about everything from her crazy hair to the weather to what everyone else is doing (there is no such thing as going to the bathroom in peace any more). She also asks INCESSANTLY "what yur doing?" or "what happened?" or "what we going to do?". Big brother (sister) is watching and listening. I cringe when we're out on a walk or in a store and she spots a person of interest... I'm not sure her portrayals of other people are always PC, accurate, or appreciated. I spend a lot of time telling people I'm sorry... 

I do love being their mom, though. Of that, I'm sure. 

Little Miss Lady... she's got three purses/wallets on her shoulder, shoes on her feet, and an agenda a mile long. 

Mr. Drool... and itty bitty teeth. 

These two are playing more and more together, which is very nice and sweet. I'm partial to the little man's plumber game. 

Mother's day was warm enough to be outside to garden, enjoy snacks, take a walk, and...

build a picnic table! 

Mommy Dearest

Happy mother's day to all the mothers in my life, big and small, far and near. A special happy happy to those first time and expectant moms out there -- enjoy your first special day. It's an honor and a privilege to be a mom; to be surrounded by a community of moms makes it even more special. I bet most of the things I know in life (which, sadly, may not be much... especially these days. Has anyone seen my brain cells?) have come through some wisdom or wit from my own mom or one of those special ladies with munchkins at her feet out there. It's not so much that mommyhood is a club (or cult) but a complete way of life, one that I wouldn't trade for all the peace and quiet in the world (but a day of it might not hurt...).

I hope everyone is celebrating someone's mom tomorrow. I'm sending my own some big, international hugs!

Eat Your Heart Out

We're back from our quick jaunt to the east coast. We had a lovely time celebrating Jack's six month mark, briefly visiting (always too brief) with some friends and family, and ringing in some good times (and little sleep) with a gorgeous bride-to-be (if you want to see her good looking security detail, check here). John did some solo parenting with both kids, which is always harder when you're away from home, and now we're staying put for awhile. Whew. In other news...

Jack has started enjoying the wider world of fruits, veggies, and grains. He appears as eager to triple our grocery bill as much as his older sister did and I've been hunting around for different veggies (parsnips? never cooked them before but I have to admit that I'm a fan) to keep things interesting (thank goodness for the farmer's market starting up again). Aside from avocados, which Molly wasn't a fan of either, he'll pretty much gobble anything down. His expressions are pretty priceless. The avocado look is sort of "what the hell are you trying to pull on me, lady? I didn't know that paste and toe jam were on the list of first foods" while the banana look was more of "I'll eat this really fast before you realize that it gives me the toots" and everything else is "I'll keep my eyes locked on you (and don't you try and wander around the room) and my mouth in a perfect O so that you can get the spoon in there juuuuust right". 

Messy babies are my specialty (I'm eating all my pre-baby words about feeding pictures being grody) and Jack is clearly really good at getting the wrong end of the spoon to do his bidding. 

Luckily, he's also apparently good at cleaning up his own messes.

Jack isn't the only new eater in the house. Molly's taking very good care of her own brood. She may be on to something with the naked noshing.