what passes for humor these days

Knock knock (or ding dong).

Who’s there?

Conker/bonker/burrito/banana/Thumpkin (or any noun, proper or otherwise, really)

Conker (for the sake of simplicity) who?

Conker has teeth and climbed up your head/body/neck/face (pick any one) and bit your nose/ear/eyeball/face (again, any one will do) off.

Cackling ensues.

yet another slip of hand

It really didn't seem like that big of a deal to him. Of course I felt terribly and was the one who yelped but he didn't even really cry, just some whining. We talked about it a few times without much emotion and I even asked him what stories he was going to tell at school (something about a girl going on a walk who saw a cat.) Given all of that, I was doubly mortified when the first thing he said this morning to the mom helping him put on his apron, the aloof one who is a "film producer' with her own "film production company," was "my mom cut my hair! and my ear!" Thankfully I was within earshot to jump in and ramble about how terrible it was, or on second thought, maybe not.

9 months old

Dear Mia,
Today you are 9 months old. You have lived with us in the world for as long as you were inside of me. Perhaps that’s weird and not of much importance but I can’t help but notice that and pause to think about your birth and how different our lives are now and how happy we are to know you. You roll around and make adorable sounds and grab your brothers toys and “bang apart” his train tracks. You laugh and squeal and reach out for our faces. You are big and strong and cute. You like to put everything in your mouth and touch Henry’s face and look at the dog and eat mashed up vegetables.

Your father recently said that I was neglecting you (or something equally silly) because I haven’t been writing down your every move on a calendar like I did for your brother. For the record, your dad only just found out that I had kept the calendars so he is in no position to talk. Really though it’s exactly the opposite. We haven’t been fixating on exactly when you rolled over or how many times you have tried peas (twice and you weren’t that into them) because we have been enjoying every day with you. We know you are perfect and we have learned that the timing of so-called milestones don’t change who you are. Not that we don’t delight in the prospect of your first teeth or that I didn’t feel oddly proud when you first put your toe in your mouth. We do and I did! I love every minute of it and I think that’s why I haven’t worried so much about documenting it.

This week my mom was here with you playing in the living room while your dad and I were working in the office. You were laughing and squealing and he randomly stopped working to go out front. I heard him tell g.g. that he just came out to see you because he couldn’t resist the sound of your cute laughter.

You and Henry are the best things in our lives and even though you are not sleeping well right now I am trying very hard not to let it throw us off too much. I know this fatigue will pass and I don’t want to dwell on the hard parts of life right now because I know they will pass as quickly as the amazing parts and I only want to remember as much as I can about watching you grow up. It only gets better every day, and as rose-colored and flaky as that may sound, deep down I really know that it’s true.

better together

I have been feeling pretty good lately for a number of reasons but I think that my sanity is better than it has been for quite awhile particularly because Jason has been home a lot. He hasn't had much work, which isn't so great for obvious reasons but having him around is so very nice. First, I actually get to spend some time with him and feel like I have a real friend/partner/husband/father to my children every day. I don't have to pack up both kids in the rain to take Henry to school every morning and I don't have to try to figure out dinner and field work phone calls and juggle two grouch kids in the afternoons. I could go on and on but basically things feel balanced and I don't feel strung out all the time and we are having fun. It is totally unsustainable but I am actively choosing to enjoy it instead of worrying about money. I know we will figure it out. We always do.

don't get me wrong

Really, I'm happy my kid's all creative and shit. And it is nice that he "went shopping" at the "kitchen store" "just for me."
However, personally, I prefer his "shopping cart" in the bathroom where it belongs, and has functionally been by the sink for the last 5 years until tonight. I guess I'm just not a fan of storing things on the floor and side of the tub.
Also, I just don't think that hand towels and washcloths are doing anyone much good by the phone. But, you know, that's just me.

home

Taken right after he asked me for "a little bit bigger box" and right before he asked for a pillow.

mobility

Mia is finally somewhat mobile and not just because her brother pushes her around in a wagon. On that note, I really wish I could impress upon him the importance of SLOW. Our littlest is lunging from sitting to laying on her belly and rolling back and forth across the floor, grabbing anything in her path. It is fun and adorable and only a little problematic. While Henry at that age had a couple stuffed toys and rattles to contend with, she is faced with the approximately 50 pieces of wooden train track and a dozen train cars, people, animals, etc., currently strewn across the office floor (the only carpet in the house). She doesn't seem to mind except when her head unexpectedly meets train track an even then it's usually not a big deal. Henry is not so laid back and frequently warns, "baby on the train track!" I mutter something about calming down and sharing and the day goes on. Crawling really will be fun.

slip of hand

i have very sturdy dish ware. it took at least 30 minutes to clean up and i am still finding spots the next day. the wort part though? i was really fucking hungry. although, my floor is much cleaner than it was now. ups and downs i suppose.

permanently grounded

We’re home! We’re alive and well. Actually, we ARE all pretty well for once. A whole week after Henry and I were sick, Jason woke up with the stomach bug at 5:30 in the morning on the day we flew to California. Picture him with a barf bag in hand, sweating profusely, while Henry barraged him with questions and me with a squirming, exhausted, screaming baby, all on a very small airplane. Needless to say, we are not traveling for at least 4 more years. Seriously. It really wasn’t all that bad considering but the visit with Jason’s family was tiring and we were insanely relieved to get home. The baby is now a breast feeding maniac and sleeping worth shit and Henry is all kinds of aggressive and annoyed lately but other than that we are good. And, really, I mean that. I am feeling optimistic and pretty grounded through the sleepless fog at the moment. I got some work done today and Jason is helping me with web projects for work, for which I am very thankful. I adore my little family despite the insanity and want to just hole up with the three of them for the foreseeable future. Of course, we would all be deranged in a matter of days but, hey, it’s a fantasy that’s not going to happen anyway. I can see things getting very busy again but am glad to have the holidays behind me. I thought I was keeping things simple but overcommitted once again with a bunch of small, hand-made projects. I plan to post some photos of the finished products as well as some holiday cuteness. I do have a few Henry stories saved up as well. Soon, I promise!