Daddy love

I took this photo after the big scare at the farmer's market.  After that scare, we went straight home, and we were putting Gianna down for a nap. The little monkey ran and jumped into her daddy's arms before bidding us goodnight.

Happy Wednesday.

xo

Our babies: 9 months

Here is Bode:

Here is Gianna:

Here is Nico:

It should be noted (ha!) that this is one of my all-time favorite photos of Bode.  Bode had the most hair out of all the babies. I think Gianna and Nico's hair color is almost the same. Both Bode and Gianna had their two bottom ("front gate") teeth.  Nico is still getting his first tooth in.  I looked up the weights, and Bode and Nico both weighed the same,  and Gianna was 3 lbs less than them! But Bode was 1 1/2 inches longer than Nico. 

Now I wish I had done this with all the months!  It would be neat to have these photos, stats and notes all compiled together for the three sibs to review together when they are older.  (Who am I kidding, it is really just for me!)

Happy Tuesday.

xo

Nico: 9 months

Dear Nico,

I am late reporting. This is your last week of your ninth month! The big news is that your first toofy is on its way! Woo hoo! Congratulations on your first tooth! You've been handling it pretty well. You have not been sleeping as well lately, which could be due to the tooth making its way through, or the heat that does not escape us until late in the evening.

You love crawling all over the house. Your favorite thing is to find Priscilla's  bowls and throw them around. Speaking of throwing, you love  balls and throwing them. You will throw a ball and then crawl after it.  Actually, you will throw almost anything and crawl after it.

Food is still touch and go. You prefer smoother purees and generally reject any thicker, chunkier textures I try to feed you.  I have tried finger foods, too. You usually just pick up the little pieces and throw them to the ground. That is, unless your brother and sister get to them first. They love "teaching" you how to eat Puffs and bits of banana that I have put out for "you" on your tray. As soon as I sprinkle food on your tray, they are there, swarming your highchair like a couple of bees.

You love to take a bath  with Bode and Gianna. And you still love Bode so much! He will call you "Neeek" or "Bobby Builder" (a name he has called you since you were wee) and you will give him the biggest smile for it.  Gianna is getting in on the act, too, calling you these names and sending love your way (occasionally).  We've been getting out and about, and I think it is so easy with you. You're happy as long as you're with all of us (and have a fully belly).

I think your 9th month has been a lot of fun for you, with all the crawling and exploring that you're able to do. Good luck on that toofy...don't worry, it's almost there, and there are plenty more where that came from.

Happy 9 months my love!

Love,

Mommy

xo

The time we lost (and found) Gianna

On our way to drama the Farmer's Market on Saturday

Saturday we went to the Farmer's Market. We got there later than we normally would because of the baby.   So by the time we arrived, it was packed with people and vendors.  We walked through quickly and decided to eat breakfast at our favorite stand.  I ordered, while Gianna stood beside me.  RWF was nearby, with Bode and Nico (in a stroller).  

We sat down in a picnic area to eat our breakfast sandwiches and we were joined by Mrs. Atkins, Bode's (future) Kindergarten teacher, and her daughter (who is Bode's age).   We ate and chatted for awhile.  Then we said goodbye to Mrs. Atkins, deciding to do one quick walk through the stalls again.  RWF joked, "You can spend your remaining 6 bucks on anything that your heart desires," because buying breakfast had taken almost all of our cash.  And I laughed.

We walked through a maze of people.  RWF had Nico in the stroller, and I had Bode by the hand. Gianna was beside Bode, skipping along. RWF stopped at a tomato stand, asking the vendor where she was from in NY.  They exchanged a few geographical references before we started to move on.  I then stopped, looked at RWF and asked, "Where is Gianna?"  I just knew that she was gone. Doom.  We looked at each other for a second before splitting. I felt drained and yet, full of adrenaline. I ran in one direction, still clutching Bode's hand.  RWF ran in the other direction, wheeling Nico through the crowd. 

I got to the end of my side of the farmer's market and spun around, scanning for a tiny 3 year old in the mass of tall shoppers, tables piled high with greens and crates.  No Gianna.  I yelled her name a couple of times. I remember one man glared at me. I looked at him, challenging him to say something. Then I ran back the other way I had come.  I remember Bode asked, breathless, "Why are we going so fast?"

I ran smack into a wall of people.  Roadblock. I was about to claw my way through. I was so scared at how much time had passed since Gianna had gone missing. My mind was racing with possibilities, each one worse than the last.  Then I saw Mrs. Atkins looking at me as she made her way through the shoppers. She very calmly told me, "I saw Gianna. She's over there (pointing through the crowd).  Bob is on his way to her."  I thanked her. And then, I started to cry.  Relief poured through me, and I wanted to sob. But I cried silently. I wasn't going to feel better until I saw her with my own eyes. And, I didn't want to scare Bode or Gianna by crying as openly and loudly as I felt like. 

We got through the crowd. RWF was standing on a sidewalk, holding Gianna in his arms.  I walked on my jelly legs, toward them.  "Is she alright?" I asked.  RWF said that she was fine.  I pulled her out of his arms and into mine. I hugged and kissed her, so thankful to have her back.

What happened? Why didn't I notice that she was gone sooner? Where did she go? Why didn't anyone help her? What was she thinking? Was she scared? These are questions that I keep asking myself. The answers will never be known. I think that she just got 'swept up' into the crowd walking away from us, in the opposite direction.  

As RWF said, "Well, that was our first."  But probably not our last incident involving a lost child.   Over the weekend, we would both ask each other questions about what had happened, offering our own opinions and observations.  RWF told me that when he spied Gianna, she was standing by herself on the sidewalk, looking up, as if scanning the adults for her own parents.  She did not look or act scared or panicked.  I wonder how long she had been standing there. How much longer before she would have cried, feeling abandoned and lost by the two people who are supposed to be watching over her.  When I picture her standing alone on the sidewalk, I like to imagine both her grandfathers  standing sentinel on either side of her, keeping her from harm.

I've had tearful moments over the past couple of days, reliving the "what ifs" and being so thankful that things worked out the way that they did, with my little girl safely with us. I have not wanted to leave her side, telling RWF at night, only half-joking, "I want to sleep with Gianna."  The idea of her being tucked into her crib only a small reassurance to my PTSD over the incident at the farmer's market. I wanted to crawl in beside her, press my nose to her warm, small back, and dream sweet dreams of being together always.

Happy Monday.
xo

Holiday weekend

the Griswolds visiting a battleground

We had a very relaxed weekend. We went to the Fourth of July parade, visited a battleground, ran 4 miles, and that was about it.  Everything was pretty low key.  I didn't take very many pictures.  

I've decided that I dislike summers here. Sorry but it's true. I'm not much of a summer person anyway. But you can take your humidity, your mosquitos and your crowds back, thank you very much.  The only thing that I like is the daily (!) rain and thunderstorms, but even they are getting old.

I got up early on July 4th, kissed my baby and my husband goodbye, and then went to the Firecracker Run.  It was hotter than ever.  I ran all 4 miles while the sun blazed down on me (and over 3500 other runners). Thankfully, some kind souls had their sprinklers and hoses out for us runners. I finished it!

I'm running again. I want it, I need it, I must have it in my life.  

This week, I've challenged myself to take the babies to different parks.  Yesterday we went to Eastside, which is right next to Bode's school. It is not a new park, so it doesn't count.  But it has great shade in the afternoon which is why we went there.

Ahh, shade!

Today, we went to Division Street, which has a splash pad, swings, a merry-go-round and the usual slide/climbing structure.  I like it because it is big, but small enough for me to see everyone in different places.  The children love the splash pad (of course) and swings (their must-have for a park).  They had never ridden a merry-go-round before and they both seemed to like it a lot.  

"Eyelashes McGee"

Eastside is always (weirdly) vacant, despite being a nice, clean park.   This park was full of other kids. Of course, I like that Bode and Gianna can interact with other kids at this park. But I did have a few panic moments of "Oh my gosh, where is he" while scanning for Bode in this park. I like empty parks! But I know that it is better to have a bunch of new friends to play with when you're at the park.

I know of two other parks to visit this week.  Hopefully, the sun will shine for part of the day and we can venture outside to the other two parks before the week ends.  We are in the middle of a thunderstorm at the moment.  It is welcomed! Bode is resting quietly while Gianna and Nico nap. I'm exhausted, too. 

See ya*

Happy Wednesday.

xo

* I promise, I did not let my baby crawl over God-knows-what for very long. I just saw him taking off, took a quick snap, then picked him up. His hands, knees and feet were then sanitized before "Eyelashes McGee" was in lockdown (the stroller) again. 

Independence Day!

Over the July 4th weekend, Bode surprised me by riding his bike on his own!

I drove up in the car, and Bode was on the swing outside. I walked up to him and asked him what was wrong (because he looked upset).  He said, "nothing," and then asked me to help him ride his bike.  Well. I was tired and hot (having just returned from the grocery store - quelle nightmare!).  But seeing him look so down, I said, "Yes, of course!"  And I helped him on his bike.  When Bode's grandmother gifted him this big boy bike over a year ago, RWF immediately took the training wheels off.  So whenever Bode wants to ride the big boy bike, it requires an adult to hold the handlebars and the seat while Bode "rides" (sometimes pedaling, sometimes not).  

So, we walked around the driveway, with Bode getting the feel for the pedals.  And then he was smiling again!  He said, "Let go, Mommy."  I wasn't sure I had heard him. "What?" I asked.  He smiled, "Let go."  "Are you sure?" I asked.  "Let go, Mommy!"  So I did. And he rode on his own.  "Bode! You're doing it! Bode! You're riding by yourself!"  I couldn't believe it.  I was so happy and shocked.  He looked so happy.  I ran alongside him until he wanted to stop.  I looked at him and said, "I can't believe it."  He was still smiling, "What?"  I sighed and said, "I can't believe that you're riding a bike by yourself. I'm so proud of you!"  And then of course, I started crying.  I stared at him while my eyes filled up.  He looked concerned, "Why are you crying, Mommy?"  I told him that I was crying happy tears, and that I was crying because I was so proud of him for riding his bike. I stood there, with the sun beating down on us and my firstborn staring up at me. I thought about Bode as a baby, and I thought about milestones and events in his life. Some things that I can remember and others that I can not.  I wanted to remember this one.

Then, Bode took off again around the driveway.  I went to RWF and said, "Can you believe it?"  He looked incredulous, "Are you CRYING?"  "I just can't believe it...can you believe it?"  He shrugged, "Well, we've been practicing..."  

My boy is riding his big boy bike! Another milestone. Boom.

Go, Bode, go!!!

xo

Happy 3rd Birthday

Happy 3rd Birthday, Gianna!

I am late posting Gianna's 3rd birthday details. I have about 200+ photos to sort through and edit. Basically, she had 1 fun party, 2 cupcakes,  and 3 friends for her birthday fun. And of course, there were too many presents and a ton of love to fill her big day.

Gianna had a wonderful birthday. Thank you to everyone for the love and good cheer to our big 3 year old girl.

xo