Homecoming

This photo says it all:

Nico's homecoming

Bode and Gianna have welcomed baby Nico into their lives with big smiles and open hearts. They have been loving, excited to see him every chance they get, and always quick to help me by letting me know, "Nico's crying!" (Gianna is especially concerned when she hears the baby cry.)  Bode is so sweet, always saying, "I want Nico to be happy."  and "I will help you."  Both embarrassing for me, and hilariously funny is when it is time to feed baby Nico, and Bode always lifts up his shirt and says, "I will feed him!" 

Am getting used to little people waking me up during the day by jumping on my bed:

Am getting used to coloring in bed, as well as stickers and stories (as well as the stray crayons/stickers found in my sheets when I am sleeping):

Bode and Gianna  have accepted that Mommy stays in bed (with Nico) a lot. They have been so great about accepting this huge change, and adapting it to their needs as well (see coloring and stickers pics above).

RWF has been such a great Daddy to them both, and I feel like this has been monumental in how they've accepted this drastic change in their lives.  RWF has been with them 24/7 for the past 2 weeks, taking them out to play, feeding them, dressing, bathing, reading, etc. etc. He has been a "single dad" and done great.  The smiles and love radiating from Bode and Gianna every day is the proof!

When things do get crazy (and they do), RWF has secret tricks in his back pocket:  dance parties, music, and snacks.  I have to remember these tips for when I am solo-parenting!

I [heart] my little family.

xo

I need a Sherpa

This morning,  I couldn't find my car keys so I  used our spare key to drive us to the park. First, we went into Starbucks. I placed my order and then I searched frantically through my bag for my wallet for 5 minutes, only to discover I had already put it on the counter.  The guy behind me was laughing at me.  I told him about my lost keys, and said, "It is amazing I can even leave the house!"  He was sympathetic, and thanked me for the laughs.  So happy to be of service.

This is why I need a Sherpa: two huge bags, one stroller loaded with a lunch box and other stuff (oh, and a 20 lb baby) and a 35 lb toddler who likes to act as a weight by pulling on the back of the stroller.

The play date was going great, until Gianna fell backwards on the play structure. She is fine. I'm just a bad mommy. Usually, I follow close behind her. But today, she was getting mad and swiping her hand at me, like, "GO AWAY! I DO MYSELF!" (a la Bode) So, like an idiot, I decided to giver her space. I was snapping a picture of her climbing up the stairs, and she smiled at me, sat down and immediately fell backwards. I won't even think about how much worse the fall could have been. Lesson learned.  Oh, and this happened minutes after another mother asked me about Bode's banged up face, and  I had explained that the baby sitter was negligent!

I have heard some moms talking about how age three is much worse than two.  And I'm beginning to worry that they may be right.  Bode is suddenly more obstinate.  And he is getting more feisty.  Today I had to pull him off a swing, his fingers interlaced in the swing's chain links tightly, screaming and trying his hardest to not be removed, while three other mothers with babies looked on in horror (I really don't care).  He is starting to lock his little fists onto things that I tell him to let go of. He may run in the opposite direction that I am headed.  He screams, or shrieks, all the time now. If I tell him not to do something, it is guaranteed that he is going to continue doing it. What is going on?  I hope that this is just a (quick) phase, and not the start of Bode being a three year old terror.

Photo taken this morning...should this have been a clue as to what was in store at the park?

What is going on?!?!

I am looking at myself, too:  Does he think that I am giving too much time and attention to Gianna?   Am I too hard on him, expecting too much of him, because he is an almost three-year-old who can walk and talk (and Gianna is still a "baby")? Am I too impatient, because my time and energy is divided between children to entertain, errands to run, and meals to prepare? I spend all day with Bode, but how much of that time is actually spent with him?

While I ponder these questions, I really must find my keys!  I hope I find them before I lose the spare pair.

Happy Friday, everyone.

xo

Under Construction

Our little village is under construction while they put in new walkways and such.  I have taken Bode downtown twice this week so that he can watch the construction.  He loves watching the cement mixers, diggers, and dump trucks working.  I like watching Bode's excitement over construction.  He points to the orange traffic cones, the men in neon vests, and the construction vehicles and shouts, "Oh, construction! Construction, Mommy!" 

The lovely G

Give this boy a bagel, some milk, and some construction, and he is happy.

I have also been sitting downtown viewing this demolition with Bode as a respite from thinking about our life, which also seems to be under some major construction. So this is an apology, of sorts, for being out of touch, not blogging regularly, and just general vagueness (is that a word?). If I could read the signs, I think our traffic sign is Caution. Or possibly, simply, Road Closed. Whatever the sign, we do have changes ahead. Hopefully we will be in a position to communicate those changes with everyone soon. Whatever we end up doing/going/being, all will be well.  How can it not be, with these two beautiful passengers in tow?

Happy Thursday.

xo

Bode: 31 months

Dear Bode,

This past month, we started reading Beatrix Potter.  It has been so much fun reading these stories with you!  You love reading these stories over and over (and I love reading them, too).  You stare intently at the illustrations while I read about the rabbits, mice, frogs and other creatures getting into mischief. 

These stories are really spurring your imaginative play.  We love a lot of  the stories, but I think our favorites are "The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse," and "The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher." You love to pretend to be Mr. Jeremy Fisher, and I have to pretend to be the trout. You pretend to fish, and I come along and grab you as if I am about to eat you. You start shrieking, "Ow! Ow! Ow!" and we pretend to thrash about in a pond.

But my favorite of all is when you say that you are Mr. Jeremy Fisher thinking, and you imitate the illustration exactly, with your fingers to your mouth, deep in thought.

Here you are as Mr. Jeremy Fisher thinking, but you couldn't not smile.

We have many more Beatrix Potter books to read, and I'm sure that there will be a lot more pretend play involved. Daddy and I are both so happy that you love to read.
love,
Mommy
xo

Gianna: 10 months

Dear Gianna,

You are officially 10 months now. I am uncomfortable with your age. You are too close to reaching that big milestone known as "1." 

You crawled on Easter morning, and you've been enjoying your new freedom since that day. You love it because you can now find us if we leave your sight. You also love it when Bode gets down on the floor and crawls with you (and I think he enjoys it, too).

I ordered you two new pairs of shoes for the summer.  We opened up the boxes and I think we both were a little disappointed that they are too big for you.  The size was 6-12 months, but you aren't even close to filling those shoes!

You are, as one of your shirts say, "sweet and petite." As long as you are healthy and happy, I will not worry. At your well check this week, the pediatrician asked me and Daddy if you are always so "mellow."  You are very mellow. I'm not sure if that is because Bode is your older (louder, more attention-grabbing) brother, or if you are just happy to hang out, relax and enjoy your surroundings. It is probably a combination of the two.

I have called you "the lovely G," since you were born. And you are the very dictionary definition of the word "lovely." You are:  exquisitely beautiful, have beauty that appeals to the heart, mind as well as to the eye, delightful; highly pleasing.

Love,
Mommy
xo

Bode: 2.5 years



My happy little hat-wearing guy!



Dear Bode, 

Suddenly, you are no longer obsessed with your cars.  I am hesitant to mention this, because I really think that this is a short-term break. It has been about 2 weeks, and it is strange that you're not racing cars on the back of the couch, talking about your cars non-stop,and asking me or Daddy to race a car with you. I really want to ask you why you are no longer playing with your cars, and why you no longer carry a car in each hand, and other car-related questions. But I don't want to draw attention to it. I am enjoying the break. Maybe you are, too.

A rare moment of interest in one of your cars yesterday.

So what are you doing these days?  Well, you have always been great about entertaining yourself. You can play for hours by yourself as long as I am nearby. But, instead of playing with cars for hours, you are getting into imaginative play. You will take two stuffed toys, or two pieces of food, or two of something and have them talk. You also like to tell us who we are, by announcing: "You Bert," "Daddy, you Count." "Gianna Snuffy." You love music, and ask me to sing songs ("Old MacDonald," "Oh, Susanna!" "Elmo's Song" "Rubber Duckie" and any other song you want me to make up on the spot). You spend a lot of time playing with your baby toys lately, because I pulled them out for Gianna.  If I give something to Gianna, it has your complete attention. You like to play with Play-Doh and stickers.  I think, in the future, you are going to be into dinosaurs and robots. You have already taken an interest in those two things, even though you've had little exposure to them. You love to read. And thanks to Aunt Melinda, you have a huge book collection. I love how you request books by the exact title, and how you surprise me by knowing a book by its cover and announcing its title like you are reading the words.

Reading with Daddy last night.



At 2 1/2, you are already reading and spelling! (just kidding) But you are learning your letters.



Daddy wants you to love the outdoors; and you do love being outside.  You like going outside for walks and just hanging around in our 'hood. It rained hard for about two weeks this past month. You really enjoyed splashing in the puddles!  You love going to the park, and still love to swing.

You still love to swing!

Sometimes, getting you to eat is a little tricky. You have definite opinions about what you will and won't eat. Sometimes you just don't want to eat and we have to stop ourselves from 'forcing'you to eat. You and Daddy have a green drink every morning. It is your little ritual. Daddy will put everything in the blender and announce, "Blending." And you and I both respond, "Blending." At first, when you were a baby, Daddy announced he was "blending" so as not to startle you when the blender roared to life in the kitchen. Now, we do it more as a joke/ritual.  Daddy blends up spinach, bananas, and another frozen berry and you boys drink it right up, clinking blender and juice cup together in a "cheers." At dinner, Daddy does a little reverse psychology on you, by picking up a piece of food from your plate, pretending to almost eat it while asking you, "Can I have this?"  Normally, you respond, "No, I want it," and then eat it yourself.  You crack me and Daddy up when you walk out of the pantry with a bag of food, announcing, "Oh, how 'bout this?" If you are interested in what Daddy and I are eating (usually when we are sneaking a snack), you'll ask, "Whaddya got there?" 

You can always eat a bagel. I don't think you've ever refused a bagel. I like to take you to the bagel shop downtown for a treat. It is a nice outing for all of us, where we can just sit together.  I can watch you take in the surroundings while you eat your cinnamon raisin bagel with plain cream cheese.

Big bagel boy

You still love to wear hats, or other things. The other day, I found an old yellow headband of mine. You wore it all afternoon.  I like your hair on the longer side, and am happy that you still have curls. But the headband pulled the hair off of your face and you looked absolutely gorgeous!

The next Rafael Nadal?

Last  night, after kissing and hugging you goodnight, I told you that you will be 2 1/2 years old (today). I said, "So when people ask you how old you are, you have to say, "I am two and a half years old." You just looked at me for a minute with those big blue eyes, and then said, "Hug, Mama." So I hugged you. And then you said, "Again!" and I hugged you again and again. Your age means nothing to you.  But it means a lot to me, because I worry about the day you are old enough to walk out the door on your own.  But you are right:  instead of counting the days, I should be counting the hugs.

Happy 2 1/2 years, Bode! May the rest of your second year be just as fun as the first half.

love,
Mommy