because they're cute...

i have thoughts of what to write about. really, i do. i'm just too dang tired. so here are exactly two pictures to tide you over...

high hopes

Already they seem like best friends. No one can make them laugh like the other. My mother's heart swells every time I see them enjoying one another. And it's only been 5 months! Five months out of their whole lives.

Mama had a little lamb

It's late, and I really should be sleeping. But tonight, for some reason, I'm feeling the pull of the blog. I miss it. I actually miss blogging. Well, the result of blogging which is (perhaps) a comment or two and (always) documentation of what's actually been happening during these hazy days.

I feel like maybe, just maybe, I might be emerging from the fog that is the first few months. After a very long five months, Sadie has SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT...three nights in a row! For those of you who have wonder children that started much earlier, I don't want to hear a word. Not one, single word. For I am happy and hopeful and ready to...sleep.

But as sleepless as it may have been around here, never have I met a happier babe. The child lives to smile. And laugh. And smile and laugh some more. And then eat her toes for a bit. And then eat whatever else is in reach (usually her Mama's hair). And she makes an ADORABLE lamb...

cupcakes

Ella "made" cupcakes for the first time on Saturday. What follows is a detailed account of the sugary adventure.

intently mixing...


not quite understanding that sprinkles go on Later...


chocolate molester-staches make me happy...


let's throw in vanilla for good measure...


you haven't Truly enjoyed a cupcake unless it's been up your nose...


the lining is no match for an eager Ella...


Sadie biding her time with Adrienne until it's her turn to bake...


4 (ish) cupcakes later...


waiting for the (absolutely necessary) bath...

family of four

It's official - we're a family. Yes, "family" is quite the relative (heh heh) term these days - but it wasn't until Miss Sadie arrived that I thought, "THIS is what having a family feels like."

In trying to find the perfect words to describe these past couple of months I'm left spluttering and stuttering. All the good things meshed with all the crazy things - and if you've gotten half a glance at me since December 4, 2006, I'm pretty sure you got hit by the bags under my eyes that, I fear, might be a permanent fixture.

I was not prepared for the upheaval that is two kids under 2. Yeah, yeah - I heard it was Hard, Sleepless, Insane - but those were just terms to me. Words that don't truly encompass the overwhelming thing that is Parenting. Heck, not even parenting, just keeping two tiny humans Alive.

I never quite knew there were so many areas in my life in which I could feel Far less than adequate (example: this blog). And I don't even have a job outside the home! I'm still fighting the fact that it's Impossible to give 100% of my attention to both of my children at the same time. That my home can Not realistically be completely clean and organized. That there are events I just can't make because my Tiny Twin needs to nurse. That playdates are on pause until the winter crud passes and we can give my infant a chance to kick the cold she's had since her second week of life. That my husband and I must work harder than we thought possible at having a conversation that isn't somehow related to (or affected by) children. That I won't get more than a couple hours of sleep in a row for a Very long time.

I say all this not to complain. Oh, no. I am merely setting the stage for all further entries that will be tainted by that ever-ellusive maiden of the night.

All these truths brought about by one of the sweetest, cuddliest, Craziest, most passionate infants with the cutest set of dimples to come my way (excuse me while I pause to change both of our clothes, as she has just "Poopied" - to quote my older child - all over my lap...smiling and cooing the entire time).

I am crazy in love with this new, tiny babe. Here's a quick glimpse...Stories and antecdotes to follow.

my Fall checklist

* The Normals hooded sweatshirt (does not discriminate between the pregnant/non-pregnant)

* these Birks

* Hazelnut Cream candle

* cans of Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin (for the oft-mentioned Pumpkin Chocolate-Chip Muffins)

* "Welcome Autumn" sign on the front door

* pumpkins on the front porch - this year gathered from Gentry Farm

* Ella sleeping on the warmest and softest crib sheet in the land (one of the best shower gifts of all time)

* at least one viewing of "Little Women"

* fresh acorn dents in the tops of our cars

* jackets

* hats

* rosy cheeks

two weeks

I've been meaning to document the goings-on of the past two weeks - really, I have. But something always happens, and...you know how it is.

But I feel like a lot has happened in Ella's world. She's acquired two new and Very favorite things. Alas, I don't have pictures to prove her absolute bliss with each one, but hopefully soon they'll be up here. The first is her swing. The child Loves to swing, and it's been a crying shame that she hasn't had one until now. But now it's here, and hanging from our big tree in the front yard, where she has a front row seat to all that is happening in the neighborhood.

She waves at cars, she points to planes, she Especially loves it when a city or school bus passes down the cross street two houses away. But soon she gets a starry look in her eyes, hunkers down in the swing, and experiences Tranquility. I have never seen her so calm and serene and utterly content.

We swing for literally thirty minutes at a time, and just when I think she's about to fall asleep, I take her out and she cries and begs for more. It's amazing.

Her other new and favorite thing is her baby stroller. A gift from Andy's parents, it's the perfect size for her 19-month-old self, and she loves loves Loves to push it around the house and around the neighborhood. Her doll and Care Bear get the most rides, but my child does not discriminate. I'll look over to see her sippy cup going for a spin, or some Post-It notes out for a tour of the kitchen. On our outside walks she'll put a leaf in with her baby doll - but only one leaf at a time. She makes sure to remove the existing leaf so the next one can have the full stroller experience.

One of the things Ella loves most about her new things is the whole buckling process. Pretty much anything with straps and a buckle she's all over. This includes her wagon, high chair, booster seat, swing, toy ride, stroller...you name it. This afternoon the rain kept us inside, so Ella didn't get her fill of "moving things with buckles." Soon enough she had crawled up into one of her strollers, attempted to strap herself in, and make it Very clear to me that she wanted to go.

So, the next twenty minutes we strolled around and around the house. It reminds me of "Pride and Prejudice" or other Jane Austen moments when the ladies would "take a turn" about the house. I don't think I found it as delightful and refreshing as the ladies of yore, but I know Ella did. Ah, my little gentlewoman.

Ella also has three new words that she Loves to use. My newfound theory is that she could probably say whatever word she wanted, it's just the words that she deems important for her daily life she latches onto. Currently those words are "Bus" "Cheese" and "Shoes." She's obsessed with all three concepts - although we can't really distinguish between a bus and a big truck. Come to think of it, a city bus and and semi look pretty similar.

My pregnant brain is officially reaching the fuzzy point, so I'm going to go flip through my latest issue of "Real Simple" and garner all sorts of clever holiday ideas that I'm sure I won't use.

her favorite things

Whatever she does, it is executed with deliberation and passion. Except for when she puts a paper bag on her head and walks with abandon. Then she laughs hysterically as we scurry to clear a path for her. She is now a devoted little mommy to both her baby doll and Care Bear. It started with putting one or both of them in any bag/basket/stroller/container she could find and toting them around...



She has now begun putting them down for naps. Lots of naps. And apparently she follows the Judson Parent's Day Out procedure. They told us that they lay all the kids down on mats and pat their backs until they fall asleep. Sure enough, when she got home from her class Tuesday, she pulled out a little mat that lines her baby's cradle, put it on the floor, laid her baby facedown on it and gently patted her back.

This morning she came into my room (Andy plays with Ella and lets me sleep in whenever possible) and we were talking a little bit. She was standing down on the floor looking up at me, and I was as close to on my stomach as a 7-month pregnant girl can get. She reached up her sweet, little hand and patted My back for a couple of seconds. It was one of the sweetest, most fleeting moments I hope I always remember.

Ella loves to draw. And write. While the end result is pretty much identical, there is definitely a distinction in her mind. We keep large sheets of drawing paper and a box of crayons downstairs that she enjoys. She also has a MagnaDoodle that she employs when she's feeling artsy...



But she often seems to be in Business Mode, and for this she needs to have some sort of notebook and pen (she currently uses her new butterfly notebook and pink pen). Receipts and coupons work as well. When we were at my parent's house she preferred my mom's Daytimer...



Bouncy balls are part of her daytime fun. Again, the large bags come out, and she puts the balls in and out for a while, then carries any number of them around the house. She also likes to say "ball" a lot. At anything that is a filled-in circle really. Kix, polka dots, round potatoes - she's on the constant watch. She loves to throw, roll and chase after them as well.

She is always ready for a wagon ride. She loves to try to buckle herself in (good to know she's into safety) and just sits back and enjoys the outdoors (and barking at all the neighborhood dogs). Note her jauntily-perched hat...



Actually, she enjoys riding in lots of things - including laundry baskets. A few months back, her Aunt Sarah filled up a basket with blankets and animals, stuck Ella in, and laps were made around the house. Now, Ella will throw clothes Out of laundry baskets, climb in, and expect a ride. Ha. Not from this rotund-bellied mother. I leave that to the more agile community...



Her daddy. Ella has a newfound love and attachment to Andy. It is so very sweet. She says "Da-da" countless times in a row. Knowing he works downstairs, she often goes over to the door leading to the basement, knocks and calls out his name. When she sees him after a period of time apart, even if it's been a couple of hours, she immediately begins to recount her time spent without him. At least that's the way it seems. She wants to share with him everything she possibly can.

They also have a ritual called "noses." It's basically Eskimo kissing. It's very yummy.

These are a few months old, but oh-so-cute...





While Ella pretty much loves everything, these are the main attractions in her little one-and-a-half year old world. I'm interested to see what crops up next.

home again

No matter how great of a trip was had, it's always good to come home. It's kind of strange knowing that I won't be leaving again until the baby's born. My cut-off date for flying is next week, long drives have become pretty brutal, so here I stay.

I am in no way lacking for things to do. No no. I am part of a women's group that is currently going through a book about getting your home organized, and I am feeling all-at-once intimidated and inspired. You see, I am one of Those people who have high hopes and good intentions for being organized, but something gets lost in translation and I end up frustrated and missing weddings because I misplaced the invitation.

I dare not attempt to make gradiose statements such as "This all changes today" or "I will never be disorganized again" or "I am the all-around coolest girl in town." I realize it takes a lot more than a week, or even a month or two, of being really motivated. It's a process of figuring out what works for us.

So today I made the all-important pilgrimage to Target. Armed with my new life-saving manual I scoured the organizational aisles, and am feeling pretty darn good about things. Oh, and really daunted. But that's ok. My little gem says to work on one room for 15 minutes a day, then forget it til the next. Anybody can do that, right?

My first room to work on will be the new baby's nursery. Because, well, it's nowhere near ready. It's still housing all of our games and CDs and tote bags (of which there are a lot because I have a slight addiction to large carry-alls) and a chest of drawers brimming with everything under the sun except for clothes...yes, there is a lot to be done. But it will get done. And painted. And we will buy crib number two. And then we will have a baby. In that order, preferably.

Speaking of, I'm off to my 30 week check-up (out of 40 for anyone who's trying to calculate). Then again, Ella arrived at week 38...

fall in north carolina

Ella and I are wrapping up a long weekend at my parent's house. I feel like Fall has actually arrived, and here are some reasons why...









My parents when they were in the first grade...



Homemade pumpkin-chocolate chip mufffins (way better than the Frothy Monkey's) and milk from a local farm...



It's good to be here.

tuesday at the monkey

I got to the Frothy Monkey just in time to snag the last booth. I Love booths. Especially when I'm pregnant. I marked my territory, ordered a decaf mocha and an organic pumpkin/chocolate chip muffin (how can one's day be anything other than wonderful when it starts off with so much chocoalate?) and now I sit facing the sun and the street and enjoying the general coffeehouse buzz.

How did I manage to get here midmorning in the middle of the week? Because my sweet Ella is at Parent's Day Out for the fourth time. We started her this semester one day a week, five hours a day (naps are included - and the kids Actually sleep on their little mats. I Really wish I could be a fly on the wall for that.), and she still definitely cries when we drop her off. We get reports, though, that the tears don't last too long, and she's soon playing with her four classmates.

My freetime activities have varied these last four weeks - and although a nap is most assuredly in today's agenda, I was feeling the pull of the blog. I was going to just update from home, but we have an infestation of chipmunks that ruins all concentration and sleep. That's right. Chipmunks. At first we thought it was a demon bird escaped from the rainforests of Hell. The noise wakes us up every morning, disrupts peaceful moments, and I liken it to a kind of Chinese water torture - but with sound. It's a basic pattern, but with just enough pauses to make you crazy. Well, me anyway.

So one day I was looking out the window trying to spot this horrid bird, and I looked down on our patio at the cute little chipmunk that hangs out there. It was then I noticed that everytime I heard the noise, that chipmunk's sides moved. WHAT. "It's the chipmunk!!!" I shrieked. "Whooooaaaa," Ella answered - probably wondering why I was having a tantrum in front of the window.

A few days later I looked out another window and, two feet away, that dumb thing was was perched on it's hind legs Barking. I swear, that's what it looks like. But I wish to the good Lord that it sounded like a dog's bark instead of the spawn of Satan having a hissy fit. And Now more chipmunks have gathered on our property - we think there are about four of them - and pretty much are on all sides of the house screaming at each other.

I know. It's the weirdest thing. I used to love chipmunks. Who knows why this fall they decided to show their true allegiance with the Dark Side. But we are seriously considering traps. And if that doesn't work, bombs.

But since I'm not actually in my house being driven crazy, I will divert my thoughts to happier topics. Like shopping. Now that Ella's in "school" I decided she needs a whole new wardrobe. Ok, it's actually because she's growing like a crazy weed (our 18 month check-up yesterday confirmed this - she's in the 85 percentile for height, but only 25 percentile for weight) and the season's changing - so she needs warmer clothes and shoes that are not sandals or flip-flops.

I spotted these boots at a Franklin consignment store, and because they were $5 and I've been looking for a pair in my size, they are now part of her collection...




Here's another pair of shoes she loves to wear no matter what she is (or isn't) wearing...



And here are a couple of pictures that I'm posting just because I love them. My friend, Krista, captured these moments...

saturday, squatters & neverending laundry

It's Saturday, and Andy is out of town. Thankfully, it's just for one day. With fall shows coming up, I'm going to have to get used to him being out for three-four days in a row. I don't like this. One day I can handle (usually). There's just this thing called sleep that I can't get enough of, and Ella has not been the most reliable napper as of late. Especially today - the poor babe has a very runny nose and sneezes constantly. She's also gnawing on her hands so much that she has raw spots on her fingers. Sure signs of teething. Right now she's moaning in her crib and I can hear her sniffling through the monitor. Very sad.

I've been trying to do laundry during her spotty napping, and managed to fold four loads, Stain Stick one load, and throw one load in the dryer. Two more are waiting to be washed. How in the world does a family of three manage to have this many dirty clothes? It's unbelievable. And now we're dealing with a very mysterious problem...

I believe it is all due to a squatter living in our basement. Andy does not. But for whatever reason, there is definitely a smell of cigarette smoke in the basement/garage, and it's starting to creep upstairs. Sometimes I'll walk inside and smell it. Sometimes I'll walk to the back of the house and catch a whiff. But what I cannot accept is that it is starting to make the laundry smell. I pull out Ella's sweet, little clothes from the dryer, and instead of smelling baby, I find traces of grody. Boo. We can't seem to find the source, and since nobody has been lighting anywhere in the house, it continues to be quite the puzzle.

I just hope I don't stumble across a family of smokers living down there because I will (first) have a heart attack and (when I recover) giving them a good talking-to about the dangers of smoking and their audacity for choosing my home.