M7: Mom's home again

I know it's been awhile since I last wrote, but it was a stressful week. We've had visitors helping Mom and Dad all month, but this past week Mom went away. She had a trip to do, she told us, and though she'd be close by she couldn't come be with us at night.

When she said goodbye I didn't really understand what she meant, so I just gave her lots of kisses and started playing with Grammy Joanne. But at bedtime I missed her. Mom's only missed bedtime like three times out entire life. And then she missed it two more times in a row and I started to realize what she meant.

Because Mom wasn't here to sing to me I didn't sleep very well. She sings the same song every night to us as we're getting tired and I love it. It's a very sweet song and always makes me tired. But she wasn't here to sing it, so I only slept for a few hours before waking up. I cried, thinking maybe she'd come in and sing to me, but only Dad showed up. He took me into their big bed, where we haven't slept since we were brand new, and cuddled me to him. That was nice. I tried crying in the middle of the night the next two nights, too, but again, only Dad showed up.

So, Mom really was gone. The days were fun with Grammy Joanne, since she plays with us a lot, but I missed Mom. Then one morning we got in the car with Dad and Grammy and when we stopped Mom was there. She pulled me right out of the stroller and held me close.

She smelled right, though a little smelly, and felt right and she had all kinds of kids walk by and say hello to us. It was her mission trip kids, she said. There was one guy, Jeff, who stopped and talked with us for awhile, too and he had good strong fingers to grip. Then Mom took us down to some room where we could play on the floor. She switched me with Eve, but I just wanted to crawl, so eventually I was put down.

Soon, though, I noticed the adults starting to get ready. You can tell when adults are getting ready to go somewhere because they say "Well," a lot and push out their chairs. Then Mom was kissing me again, just like she had a few days earlier. I now knew what that meant, and I didn't like it, but she handed me off to Dad and started kissing Eve before I could say anything. Eve started crying a little bit; she does that; and then Mom kissed Dad and walked down the hall.

I could tell she was sad because her voice had sounded all scrunchy as she walked out the room, so I didn't cry even though I really wanted to. Moms shouldn't leave their babies behind. Not when we try to be good babies.

But she's back now and finally yesterday I was able to relax that she wasn't going to leave again right away. So I napped. Two hours, Mom said. It meant I went to bed late last night, which I thought was fun, but Mom and Dad didn't. They kept talking about starting tonight they're going to be serious about bedtime again. We'll see.

E7: I'm a big girl!

So, I know I just wrote a few days ago, but I have some very big news - I'm a big girl now! I'm eating two meals a day of big girl food. Mommy's been trying to feed us for awhile, but I wasn't ready.

But all last week I practiced sitting up. I'm only fall over after a bit now, like when I get excited about a toy but it's too far away for me to reach, or when someone walks in the room. It hurts when I fall, because I usually hit my forehead, but mostly it's just frightening because there I am, sitting just fine and the next thing I know I'm staring at the carpet. That can scare a baby, believe me.

In any case, though, I've been practicing and now I'm quite good at it, so I decided since I have that mostly figured out I should try to eat some big girl food, since Mommy's been trying for so long. And it's actually good! Grandma knows how to mix it just right and she's very good at feeding me, so she can help show Mommy, who's still learning how to do all this stuff, and it can get kinda overwhelming since there's two of us and she's busy at work. But Grandma can help out and help us get it right so that when Mommy watches, like this morning, I can show her how good it is.

And I like it - in fact, if Grandma doesn't bring the next spoonful fast enough I leaned forward and open my mouth to remind her that I'm still waiting. Now that I'm a big girl I don't like eating from the bottle as much; that's for babies, like Mae. But sometimes, like when I first wake up or I'm getting ready for bed it's much nicer to still lay back and let someone else feed me. Eating big girl food is hard stuff.

I watch Mommy and Daddy eat and they hold the spoon themselves, but I'm still not good at controlling my arms all the time, so I think that would just make a big mess at this point. But I'll keep practicing and Mommy keeps promising an exciting food called 'sweet potatoes' so I'm looking forward to that, too.

I'm getting hungry again, so I gotta go!

E6: The Zoo and more

Saturday we went to the zoo with Aunt Julie and cousin Sydney. I really like Sydney, she smiles at me a lot and plays with us even more than Mommy or Daddy do. Though she hasn't quite learned how to understand what we say the way Mommy has, because she kept thinking that when I moved my left arms really fast and my right arm kinda fast that it meant I wanted to change what I was doing. Mommy knew that means I'm having a good time, so I should be left where I am.

And we went to the zoo! There are all kinds of animals there, not just dogs like we have at our house. I couldn't really see most of them since the bigger kids would stand by the glass and block my view, but I did like the flamingos, because they were wearing pink just like me. Mae really liked a big long snake called an anaconda, but I thought it was creepy. Mae watched it for a very long time and then kept telling me about it even after I told her I didn't want to listen anymore. She does that a lot.

Sydney really liked feeding the goats, which looked ok, but kinda scary like they might bite your fingers off, but they obviously didn't, since both Mommy and Sydney still have all their fingers. There was also a big tiger that kept pacing in front of the glass and looked right at Mommy. She said even though there was glass in-between them it was kinda scary.

Sydney and Aunt Julie had to leave on Sunday, but that didn't mean we got to be lazy. Mommy dressed us up early and took us to work with her, but we didn't stay in her office. It was the parish festival, so we went outside and she helped set up the games. It was hot and sticky outside and I didn't like it at all.

Mommy tried to make me happy; she changed my diaper, she gave me a bottle, she tried holding me, she tried putting me down. But it was just hot out and I didn't like that. But then Msgr. Gunn showed up and I like him so I stopped fussing and gave him a big smile. Mommy just shook her head and said it wasn't fair that I'd be good for a priest but not my mommy. I just rolled my eyes and smiled again at him. He's funny, too and smiles a lot and tells people how beautiful we are, so Mae and I decided to always smile for him.

But he had to go away, so I started fussing again. Finally Mommy put me down in the stroller and let Gretchen play with me. Gretchen's mommy is a teacher at the school, so she was spending the whole day at the festival and she is SO funny. She kept shaking my arm back and forth, and tickling my chin and making silly faces. I laughed out loud at her a lot. But then she left, too, which was actually a good thing because I was tired.

When I woke up Daddy was there to take us home. Thank goodness. Festivals are loud and hot and sunny. Mae loved it, but she's silly.

Today we're waiting for Grandma Elaine and Grandpa Ray to show back up. I'm very excited to see them again.

M6: Whatever.

So, the new baby was boring. He's tiny and can't move and all or do anything except cry a whole bunch. Whatever. I know Mom explained that to us the night before we met him, but I remember bring that young I know I could do stuff sometimes; I'm sure of it, so I had brought my blanket to share with him.

But all he did was lay in Mom or Dad's arms and sleep. And cry. And fuss. And sleep some more. And then he cried really loud so Wendy took him and fed him under a blanket. I remember Mom doing that with me, too, but it always got really warm under there, so I didn't like it for very long.

It was good to see Wendy and Brooklyn. Especially Brooklyn. She gave me lots of hugs and I tried to hug her back, but I don't quite have that figured out yet. I'm getting better at giving kisses, but everyone else always keeps their mouth closed when they kiss, which I don't understand, because I always keep mine wide open.

Then I showed Wendy how I'm already pulling myself up onto my knees and she was very impressed. Then Eve showed her how she can sit up by herself for awhile and she got super excited about that, so I kept going on my knees to show her how grown up I am.

Mom meantime kept saying 'He's so tiny!" Whatever. We were that tiny once. Has she forgotten already? I can cry more again if that's what she wants. I am kick my legs and arms around with absolutely no control if she thinks that would be fun. And maybe wake up three times a night again. It's like she doesn't remember how tired she was.

Moms can be awfully silly sometimes. I much preferred playing with Brooklyn and Wendy and Eve. Mom says we won't be going back regularly until August, which apparently is a ways away, but then we'll be there for there days instead of two, so that will be good.

Mom says time for a diaper change, so I gotta go. But, brand new babies are not all that exciting, I don't see why everyone squeals over them. We're much cuter, because we smile and laugh and sleep through the night.

E5: Happy thoughts

I know it's been awhile since I last wrote, but Grandma Elaine and Grandpa Ray were here for the past few days and they keep us very busy so I don't have any time to write until they're gone.

We went to the botanical gardens yesterday with Grandma and Grandpa and they strolled us all around. There were lots of pretty flowers. Mommy and Daddy have shown us some flowers before; they aren't very tasty, but here they had hundreds of flowers. And fish, and frogs, and all kinds of people. There were even these three ladies who chased after us.

But I start to miss Mommy and Daddy by the end of the day. Daddy has had to work late the past two nights, so we haven't even seen him before we go to bed. Fortunately, Mae remembers this and makes sure to wake up crying a few minutes after he gets home. She can tell he just got home because Bailey starts barking very loudly.

Last night, when Mommy was changing my diaper and putting my pajamas on me she made a silly face and tickled me under my arms, so I started laughing. Tickling is a new sensation still and I love it. So, while I was laughing Mommy started laughing and that made me laugh some more and then neither of us could stop. It was pretty silly. Eventually Mae, who had been eating her bedtime bottle joined in for a little bit, so we both stopped, but it was very fun while it lasted.

Grandma and Grandpa left this morning, but I didn't cry because Grandma counted out how many days until they're back and it's only four and a half. That's not even a full handful of days, so I can make it.

Yesterday Grandma also started teaching us adverbs. She said this is important so we don't end up as sportscasters. I don't know what sportscasters are, but she doesn't want us to be one, so both Mae and I paid attention. She clapped quickly and slowly and loudly and softly. I like clapping. I haven't quite figured it out yet on my own, but when grownups do it, it can be surprising, which makes me smile.

We're going to meet Wendy's baby this afternoon, so I'd better pick out a few toys to bring to him. Have a good day!

M5: A New Playmate

Wendy had her baby. Mom just took the phone call. We had been snuggling on the couch together, because Mom always try to pretend we're not really awake at 5 a.m., but just in between naps. I don't mind too much, especially since it means Mom pulls me onto the couch with her and cuddles until we're both so warm we have to fall asleep.

But Wendy called in the middle of it, which was ok, because it was good news. I smiled as Mom repeated stuff from Wendy, since I had been a little worried hen we didn't hear from her last night. But everything's ok. He arrived with one push, Mom said.

I didn't know what that meant, so after Wendy got off the phone I cried. Mom knows by now when I cry it means I want her to talk to me (and take care of other stuff, like a dirty diaper, or a bottle) so she told me that normally babies are born from labor and the mommy has to push hard, kinda like when I have to poop and the baby comes that way.

But Eve and I came a different way because Eve was sitting on her feet in Mom's tummy. I don't remember much about it, since I think I was asleep when it happened, but I remember my turn. I was so angry. It was all warm and dark and I could hear Mom's heartbeat and then suddenly it was cold and bright and Mom was nowhere - and they pulled on my head - I think they stretched out my neck because of it.

And then I remember Dad got to hold us for a long time but not Mom. We had to wait forever to be with Mom. But then she was there and it was so nice. I raised up my head to look at her. Eve, of course, had fallen back asleep. But I knew it was Mom the second she came in because of the way she smelled.

Mom's smell different. I don't know quite what it is, but I've smelled lots of people so far, but none of them smell just like Mom, which is a good thing, because that way I can always tell when she's got me, even if I'm asleep.

In any case, Wendy has her new baby. Mom says we might be able to meet him tomorrow afternoon or Saturday. I hope soon, because I want to play with him a whole bunch. I want to show him my rings and Mr. Moo and my blanket. I'll even share with him if he wants.

E4: Grammy's here!

Grammy Joanne is here! She arrived la st night and both Mae and I got so excited. I've been trying to control my arms more, like Mae can, but they still just mostly flop around, especially when I get excited, so I just let them. She got the message that I was glad to see her anyway.

It had been a rough day before that. Poor Daddy didn't know what to do with us. It's because Sunday had been such a big day and there was so much to think about. I couldn't remember whether or not I'd smiled enough at Elly and Aggie and Mabel and Christina and everyone to thank them for holding me to give Mom and Dad a break. And Mae wanted to be passed around some more and to play with Father again. See, Sunday we had two church dinner to go to; one at the church where Mommy works and one at the church where Daddy works.

Church dinners are fun because we get to meet lots of people and everyone tells us how beautiful we are and everyone wants to hold us and play with us. Mommy know to sometimes take us away from people so we nap, but otherwise we want to be around everyone, which is nice.

But, because so many different people talk to us and tell us things and hold us it sometimes gets hard to remember who told me what and who I remembered to thank, so on Monday I finally got to think about it and I got worried. I tried to tell Daddy to make sure everyone knows we love them and had a good time with them, but I think mostly he was just tired, since Mae had started remembering in the middle of the night and got very worried about what people thought of her. I think she woke up three times last night. That's a lot.

But, in any case, Grammy is here now, since Wendy is still trying to have her baby. She has a big appointment today that Mommy asked we send good thoughts to her. I like having Grammy here because she plays just as well as Mommy and Daddy, but without the distractions because Mommy and Daddy still clean and cook.

She already took us for a nice walk yesterday while Mommy made dinner and showed us off to all the neighbors. And this morning we've been talking about our dreams. She's such fun!