01.29.08

The first time Palmer slept through the night.

I put you down at 8 last night and you were still asleep at 7 this morning. I was a little afraid to check on you. I spent several minutes watching you breathe and even poked you to make you move.

01.28.08

Palmer's first laugh.

Lord Help Us

Tomorrow morning bright and early we're headed to the airport to catch a plane with two children under the age of two to go to KC to visit family and get Palmer baptized. This will all take oodles of patience and energy from both your daddy and me. So, of course, I can't sleep.

I've been anticipating and dreading this trip. Anticipating because we'll get to spend time with our family, hang out with friends we don't get to see much, get Palmer saved and eat my favorite foods from restaurants we don't have down here. Dreading because we're flying with two children under the age of two.

I'm really hoping all this anxiety about the travel portion of the trip doesn't become reality. But if it does, we're fortunate that Expressjet flies direct to KC. I've packed snacks, bottles, sippy cups and my boobs to keep your appetites quenched. I've also packed paper and markers, books, Elmo, and a slinky to encourage you to stay in your seat and play (yeah, I'm talking to you, Georgia).

While we're in KC we've got a field trip planned. We're going to your cousins' house to check out their big kid beds because when we get back to Austin we're going to start transitioning you into a big girl bed. You're quite smitten with your crib and you could probably stay in it for a while still. But the fact of the matter is that your brother really needs a crib and your parents are too cheap to buy a second crib that will only be used for a short time.

Also happening when we get back to Austin...I'll be setting up your college funds. Only two years and two weeks behind schedule.

Tummy Time Is Exhausting!

I propped you up on your Boppy pillow for a little tummy time. I turned around and you were passed out.

The Strangest Looking, Most Glorious Invention Ever

I can drive without holding your bottle. I can eat without holding your bottle. I can do housework without holding your bottle. I really don't know what I'd do without it...except hold your bottle.

Motherhood Revelation

So I'm not sure why I haven't figured this out before now, but I think for me the most beneficial realization I've come to lately is that I need to expect less from myself.

I've always been a list maker. I enjoy making "to do" lists and then marking through tasks as I complete them. I even like to add tasks that are already done just so I can get the satisfaction of marking through them. But as a mommy and primary caretaker for two little ones, I'm often interrupted midway through my tasks. Things like laundry and housework take at least twice as long, so items on my list end up staying there a lot longer.

For instance: college fund. Your daddy began researching college funds approximately twelve seconds after I told him I was pregnant with Georgia. "College fund" has been an action item on my to do list ever since. Hard to believe it's been there for nearly three years, but I'm determined to get it off my list by the end of this week. It will be a huge accomplishment and an even bigger relief that we've at least started to pay for one of the most expensive aspects of your upbringing.

So I've decided that I can't get frustrated that my list of to do's continues to grow because the most important thing I have to do right now is to enjoy you two. Getting to empty the dishwasher or pay the bills is just a bonus.

2m Stats

Height: 24" (75-90%) - 1/4" taller than Georgia at this age
Weight: 11 lbs. 12.8 oz (50-75%)

Since your 8 week birthday fell the week of Christmas, you had your two month check up at 9 weeks. Doc says you're strong and healthy, but she was a little concerned about your breathing. You sound a little crunchy when you breathe sometimes, so she's going to monitor it over your next few visits. I think you just need to learn to cough more, but it could be something more serious.

You are much more alert these days and require more stimulation. Luckily you have a big sister that you absolutely adore. You love watching her (don't love her holding you so much). I admit she's pretty entertaining. Luckily for us the feeling is mutual. The first thing your big sister says when she wakes up is "baby." She still steals your binkies, but she's getting a little better about being gentle with you, and I don't notice as much jealousy from her when I hold you.

You are VERY smiley and we have little conversations when I hold you on my lap. You don't coo so much as grunt, but I like the company all the same. You are so cute when you smile! You smile with your whole face. Your eyes light up and you sit up a little straighter. It's so sweet to see that gummy grin staring back at me.

You finally started nursing at seven weeks, so I don't have to pump near as often. Thank you. It makes nighttime feedings much easier. You're not sleeping through the night yet, but you have finally become comfortable falling asleep in your bassinet. You still prefer sleeping in bed with me.

You are incredibly curious and I am constantly challenged to find things to stimulate you. I think you'll enjoy life a lot more when you're stronger and more coordinated. You want so badly to be able to do things, and you get frustrated with the limited positions you can be placed in. It's funny to watch you try to grab or hit one of your toys. You get really focused, scrunching your eyes and creasing that little spot above your nose. Sometimes you even purse your lips. I guess that helps you concentrate.

We are still madly in love with you. Actually, I'm certain we love you more now than ever. We're really enjoying you and looking forward to watching you grow and play with your big sister.

Thoughts On My 30th

Today is my 30th birthday. I know it’s a milestone many women dread, but my experience thus far has been complete bliss. I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this point in time, and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve got an amazing husband who supported me throughout the most difficult year of my life, and I’ve got two kids that I’m absolutely crazy about.

Today has been one of the best days of my life. This morning our amazing photographer friend Stacy Cross took our family photos at one of our favorite venues. It was so much fun! We spent more than an hour playing and posing (and, in Palmer’s case, pooping). I haven’t seen a single picture, but I know they’re going to be amazing photos that we’ll cherish.

This evening your daddy took me on a real live date to a grown up restaurant. There were no high chairs in sight and no kids’ menu. It was a very surreal experience and it took me a while to feel comfortable in this strange environment. It’s the nicest restaurant we’ve been to in years. I know this because the hostess not only gave us dinner menus, but a wine menu, as well. There were also no peanut shells on the floor, no annoying off pitch “happy birthday” song reluctantly chanted by the staff, and my steak came with au jus rather than steak sauce. I was addressed as “Mrs. Schmitt” the entire meal and received chocolate truffles and a birthday card signed by many members of the restaurant staff. Needless to say, our waitress got a big tip.

I enjoyed myself so much that my cheeks are now sore as a result of the cheesy grin I sported all evening. I also found myself very touched that your daddy went to such planning and effort as to hire a sitter and choose a restaurant he knew I would like. I can’t count the number of times I teared up over our meal.

The whole evening was an enlightening experience that reminded me that there is a totally different world outside of the suburbs, and reminded me that I belong right where I am.

Freakin' AWESOME Pictures Of Our Children

Boy Feet

Double Stroller Debut

I am so excited about our new stroller. Palmer's car seat clicks right in and ther's still room for Georgia (and Cheer Bear). I spent a lot of time researching double strollers and waited several months for this 2008 model to come out. I'd been using it for a couple of weeks before I could convince you to join your brother for a ride.

Annual Christmas Day Family Photo Shoot

Christmukkah

We usually go to Kansas City for Christmas, but since Palmer was too young to travel Grammy and Pops came to Austin. Our celebration was a bit of a hybrid between Christmas and Hanukkah (Christmukkah, if you will). You got to open gifts every day of their visit so you could have lots of time to play with your new toys with your grandparents.

You didn't really understand the season this year, which is partially our fault. We've been so preoccupied with the transition to two children that we didn't spend much time talking to you about Christmas. You really liked having a tree in the livingroom and driving around to see the lights on our neighbors' houses. Every morning you would come downstairs and make your daddy count to three and turn the Christmas tree lights on. It was very cute. We did very little decorating at our house this year, but we plan to make up for it next year.

Opening gifts with daddy. You got so much enjoyment out of ripping the paper that we let you open all our gifts, too. Here's one of Palmer's gifts that you helped him with.

Daddy got a Yankees "at" (Georgia speak for "hat") from Grammy. She bought it on her trip to New York City.

Palmer got a bath towel that looks like a dog. It's the only bath towel we have that isn't pink, so he really likes it. You and your daddy had a good time acting like "dog dogs."

Although Palmer will never play football (and never get a concussion, break his neck, pull a hammie and all the other common football injuries that would break his mommy's heart), he'll have fun dressing up in his Longhorn football uniform that daddy bought him.

Mommy and Palmer videotaped Christmas.

Discussing trannies with Pops.

Showing Grammy our 2007 family photo album.

The Cabbage Patch doll from the McTriplets was hands down your favorite gift. After opening Savannah you had no interest in opening other gifts. You love brushing her hair. Since this picture you convinced your daddy to undo her braids so you could comb her hair more. Her hair now resembles a wavy rats nest. This is also the last time she had clothes on. (Notice the legwear> you're wearing the pants from your brother's Longhorn football uniform. You threw a massive fit when I tried to put pretty tights on you that morning, but you wore those itchy synthetic football uniform pants until nap time.)

Georgia's glorious mess. (Daddy wanted me to point out the General Lee he bought for Palmer. He says every little boy should have one.)

Putting Up The Tree

Unpacking the decorations.

Hard to believe your daddy and I have been married for seven Christmases and we still have this dinky little tree. We promise to get a big impressive tree next year.

Helping daddy put up ornaments.

Your favorite is a gingerbread man with a picture of your friend Zander in it.

Taking a break to love on our kiddos.

Now back to work! Bear was a big help unpacking the ornaments.

Palmer was a big help, too. Check out these managerial skills. He even gave an impressive PowerPoint presentation about the number of cover sheets needed for our TPS reports.

Another break to hold baby Palmer.

Just the girls (and bear, who goes everywhere with you these days).

Did somebody say something funny?

A couple more quick photos in front of the tree before cleaning up.

Could You Throw Up In Your Sink?

Thus began the last day of the year for me.

At 4:30 a.m.

Tyler was terrified that I was pregnant, but it turns out I had a wicked case of Rotavirus. I won't go into details about how a body rids itself of Rotavirus. I'll just say that I won't be eating Oreos again for a good long while, and I won't be needing to go on one of those trendy "cleanse" diets.

It seemed a fitting end to a year in which I spent much of my time puking.

This morning I woke up feeling like nothing had happened. I'm taking that as a sign that this year will be much healthier for me.