Attention Guests

I usually write to my children here, but we’ve received so many sweet notes from friends and clients who follow this blog that I wanted to dedicate a post to our visitors.

I get a lot of joy out of keeping this blog and I’m glad to hear that you enjoy it, too. I often scroll through past entries to re-read what was going on at different times of the year and different stages of development. I get so excited when I see we have comments. I love to hear that other parents are experiencing the same things (or not) with their little ones.

I’ve gotten into the habit of following many of your blogs, as well. My mom is always telling me how her friends ask about me and wonder how I’m doing, how Tyler is doing, how our kids are doing, etc. I’ve always figured that her friends were just being nice by asking, but now I think they’re genuinely interested. Here’s why: I saw Laney and her daddy at Aiden’s birthday party a couple of weeks ago. We don’t get to see them much, but I follow Laney’s blog religiously and feel like we’re buddies. I realized she barely knows me when I started asking her about activities I’d read about her doing on her blog. I recognized the annoyed look she gave me, knowing that I had given that same look to countless of my parents’ friends over the years. It’s like confused annoyance meets distracted kindness. Like you know you’re supposed to be nice to this practical stranger because they’re your parents’ friend, but you’d really rather eat birthday cake with your friends in the other room. It was all very cute and pathetic (Laney being the cute part, my realization that I’m getting old being the pathetic).

But most of all I want to say “thank you.” As many of you know I had a difficult pregnancy with multiple ER visits and one particularly lonely hospital admission. I spent much of the year lying in bed (when I wasn’t getting sick) and one of my favorite things to do was to check in on my friends via their blogs. Your stories and photos really kept my spirits up when I was feeling down and were the highlight of my day.

So thanks, again, for visiting and for thinking our kids are as great as we think they are.

My Babies

You guys have had us so busy lately that I haven’t been able to post photos or stories for a while. So let me catch you up.

Georgia:
You had a mild case of pneumonia the week before Christmas, along with a sinus infection to go with the four new teeth you’re cutting. So you’ve been on two different antibiotics and Motrin, resulting in white poop (I didn’t even know that was possible!). You also got your first x-rays. They put you in a hospital gown that came down to your toes and a little loin cloth-sized lead belt to cover your ovaries. It’s really weird to think you have ovaries.

Christmas with you was really cool this year. You didn’t understand everything, but you enjoyed participating. You helped us put up the tree and made us plug in the lights the second you woke up and wouldn’t let us unplug them until bedtime. Pops and Grammy came to visit for Christmas and brought you waaaaay too many presents. You opened a few everyday of their visit so you could play with your new toys with your grandparents. You went with your daddy, brother and Grammy to have your picture taken with Santa at the mall.

You have been learning so much at school lately. You can now count to three and point to objects while counting. I think you’re also learning about emotions at school because you talk about “happy” and “sorry” a lot. You seem to understand what happy means because you say “happy bebe” when your brother isn’t crying. Sorry is another story. You know when to say it, but you don’t seem to actually feel sorry for your actions. It would be a little funny except the only time we make you say “sorry” is when you slap your brother on his soft spot.

You really love books. We spend lots of time reading books and looking at pictures in books and pointing to things in books and counting objects in books. When you finish a book you put it under your leg. We were confused about this at first, but it turns out your teachers do that to keep you and your classmates from taking the books during reading time. Your current favorite book is Curious George or as you call it, the “muhkee book” (monkey book). You’re also starting to sing along when we sing the ABCs. Your favorite part is “L-M-N-O-P.”

Sentences. You’re speaking them. It’s so weird to hear you speak sentences. The other night I was getting you dressed for bed and you said, “where’s Georgia’s book? Oh, I see it!” Despite your growing vocabulary, you still get frustrated with us when we can’t figure out what you say or what you want. You’re definitely two years old in this respect.

Palmer:
You are an extremely sweet baby. You still love to be held, but you’re spending increased stretches of time in your bouncy seat and under your jungle gym swatting at the little stuffed animals dangling above you. I’ve also found recently that you have inherited my love of swimming. In the bath you kick your legs and smile when you splash yourself. I know you’re not physically able to deliberately kick and splash, but I like to think it’s intentional.

You are incredibly tall and thin. Your newborn onesies with the feet are too short, but you’re so skinny that you swim in your three month outfits. Next week is your two month check-up, and I’m eager to see where you rank in height and weight (not so eager to see you get your shots). I also want Dr. Patil to make sure you’re brain is developing properly. With all the swats your sister has taken to your soft spot there’s bound to be some sort of damage.

We desperately need to get you on a more regular schedule and get you sleeping in your own room. Your days and nights are still a little backward, so I’m really tired. I’m dying to get a good night’s sleep and start my day sometime before noon.

I have two current favorite things to do with you. 1. I love cuddling with you. You’re just a little warm ball of love, and you fit perfectly in my arms tucked under my chin. 2. I love putting you on my lap so that you face me. We talk and smile, and I make funny faces at you. Last week you mimicked me as I moved my head back and forth. It was so sweet. You are so sweet.

Pigtails and Fake Smiles

In Love With A Younger Man

Who looks alarmingly like my husband.

Our Daughter

Our Son

Our Daughter And Son

In your matching "Big Sister" "Little Brother" shirts.

Forward Thinker

I've always been the type of person who plans for the future. Sometimes I think I spend so much time thinking about what is going to happen that I forget to enjoy the present. But lately I find myself living in every moment with you two. I try to work while you're napping so I can play with you when you get up. I try to find ways Georgia can help me with housework just so I can spend more time with you. Or I'll put Palmer in your Baby Bjorn while I work just to be near you.

I hope things will always be this way.

More Excited Than When I Got NKOTB Concert Tickets For My 13th Birthday

I don't know that I've ever been more excited about an event in my life. The funny thing is, I'm not excited for me. I'm excited for my Georgia girl.

That's because you're going to see Elmo in concert! I don't even know how to tell you about it because it's the first show you're ever going to go to. You've never been to a movie, so I can't tell you that it's like a movie. It's completely different from anything you've ever done and you're going to LOVE it.

You've had a love affair with "Melmo" for several months now. You're favorite book is about Elmo, you adore Elmo's World and even have Elmo sippy cups. He's the first character you've really latched on to and I'm so glad that you're going to get to see him.

It's extra special because we'll be going with our buddies the McTriplets! They're three years old and they love Elmo, too.

I'm so excited to buy you a t-shirt at the concert and to watch you dance around with that silly grin on your face. You'll probably convince your daddy and me to buy you every piece of junk food on the menu, resulting in toddler sugar rage, but it will all be worth it. We are going to have so much fun!

Thank Yuh, Thank Yuh Very Much

Seriously Adorable