Beginning of the End

Well, it happened. Last night I was on the floor with Emma and Olivia just hanging out. Emma kept using my body to stand then she'd let go and stand there, on her own, for about 5 seconds at a time. She did this about 15 times. The very next time she pulled up, she turned and took 2 steps away from me. I freaked. It must have been a fluke. So I let her pull up again and moved back from her. She took 2 steps toward me. Then again and again. I yelled for Cindy. Poor Emma, I scared her. She did it one more time, then she decided that was enough. I'm really in for it now.

I had a surprise when I walked out to get the mail this morning. This huge branch fell from the tree in our back yard. It's huge - about the circumference of my thigh (no rude comments please). We averted a small disaster. It came really close to our window. Thank Goodness. I also realized we forgot to take the wreath down from over the door. Oops! I'm seriously considering leaving it here 'til next Christmas.

As I was making breakfast, Olivia was playing with her magnet letters, lining them up on the counter. I paid no attention. It was only when I came back in the kitchen after everyone ate that I realized what was there.

K-E-G


and H-O

Keg !#$%^&* Ho - I'm sure we all know one.

10 Months Stats and a Mini Vacation

The babies' 9 month checkup was on Friday, a month late, due to the fact I can only take them on a Friday between 11am and 1pm because Cindy works from home on Fridays and will only go with me on her lunch hour and I WILL NEVER (repeat, NEVER!) take them by myself again after the fiasco at their 7 month checkup, when they were still in their carrier seats, by the way, and now they aren't, which makes it 100 times more difficult to get them from the minivan into the office because there isn't a ramp, only steps to get in the door, which is entirely thoughtless, but I love this Dr., so I suffer through it, just as you suffered through this run-on sentence from hell.

Anyhoo...my beans are growing well, but Emma is still a peanut and Jake is a tall skinny boy. He's built just like Max (our dog).

Emma

weight - 16 lbs 15 oz (10th percentile)

height - 28" (50th percentile)

head - 17.5" (30th percentile)

Jake

weight - 19 lbs (15th percentile)

height - 29 7/8" (85th percentile)

head - 17 7/8" (50th percentile)

Here they are - posing as usual.

Emma does tricks on demand...

MWAAAAAAAAAAA!

Jake...not so much - he just looks at the camera and smiles. His hair is growing back and I can't stop rubbing his head.

We went to the Catskills this weekend to our friends' house for a mini getaway without the kids. While we were there, we did nothing but relax, relax and relax. We got to see a movie in an actual theater - the 1st in many many months. We saw Ju.no. WARNING***Do not see this movie if there is the tiniest little piece of you that wants another baby. I was balling and am now ACHING to be pregnant and give birth again.

These are our hottie boyfriends, David and Dan.

This is Cindy's other boyfriend, Treemon.

Where Does She Get This Stuff?

Saturday night...I go into my room to change for bed. I undress, go into our bathroom, sit on the toilet, trying to pee and to have a moment of peace. Olivia walks in, marches directly over to me, points at my chest and says with the straightest of faces, "Mama, your boobs are cranky."
"What?"
"They're cranky. And they're on wrong. They should be there (pointing to my back)." She stands in front of me, staring, waiting for me to say something.
I think to myself, but I dare not reply out loud, "You would be cranky too if you looked like this. You just wait 'til you have kids and your boobs inflate and deflate, then inflate and deflate again. Then you come talk to me about my boobs being cranky".
I could do no more than look at her, using all my powers of perception, pondering her existence, staring into her eyes, through them, trying desperately to get inside her little head, wondering, "Who is this child and where did she come from".
After a moment of silence, she turns and leaves without another word.
I look down at my boobs.
Sadly, she's right. My boobs are very cranky.

THE END


A BIG GIRL ROOM
Olivia's been telling us for weeks that her bed and her blankets are too small for her, so our project this weekend was giving her a big girl room. We had a day bed in her room BC (before children). We decided it would be best to use the trundle from the daybed rather than the bed with the frame since her room is so small. Cindy went and dragged the mattress out of storage this morning, then we went out shopping and OG chose a set for her new big girl bed. She also begged for a clock so she could learn to tell time and insisted that we hang it right next to her bed. Yippee! (insert sarcasm). Now I have to go learn how to teach a 3-year-old how to tell time. I have no clue! (Anyone?)
She also wanted the plaque that said, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep." It's her special prayer that we say each night before bed. Of course, we got it.
We came home, cleared out the room, cleaned it, put the bed together, put the new linens on, rearranged the furniture and hung the clock. She LOVES it! She was so excited to sleep in it that she voluntarily went in her room and took a nap this afternoon.
It really looks so sweet. This picture doesn't do it justice, but it's the best one I could get.

Long Time No Blog

First order of business...a HUGE Blogger Buddy hug for K and J. They're going through a little bit of hell and are in our prayers daily. We love you, ladies. Stay strong, hang on to your faith. MWAAAAAAA!
In other news, there's a whole lotta nothin' going on around here.
Olivia has officially turned 30. The things she says and does make my head spin. She cracks me up several times a day and generally makes life so sweet.
Speaking of sweet, Jake and Emma are well on their ways to being toddlers. They are crawling and pulling up and scooting right along. They can cross the room in 5 seconds flat.
They're eating real veggies and cheerios and pasta and making a mess that I can never get ahead of, but it's all a lot of fun.
Olivia is mastering the scooter she got for Christmas, Jake got his 1st haircut (Cindy made me do it!) and Emma has found a new place to nap.
AND...I am mastering my new i.Pod Na.no and I got these really cool rainbow protective stickers for it and my cell phone - check 'em out.