night night baby brother

I was putting Scrappy down for a late afternoon nap and Scooby wanted to come in and sing him a song. Rather than pull a step stool over so that he could see over the edge of the crib, he just stood at the side and peeked under the crib bumper. Scrappy thought this was a riot, as you can see from his expression, as Scooby stood there and sweetly sang "Jesus Loves Me". It still makes me smile to think of it!

all about perspective, v. 2

hmmmmm... something's different. what can it be? the swing looks so much smaller now!

happy faces...

ya gotta love the mohawk, drool-chapped cheeks and dimples. not quite as roly poly as back in October, but pretty darn close. favorite things include chewing on his fingers, seeing how high he can jump and flirting. dontcha just want to gobble him up?!

eight straight

Do not pass go, do not collect $200 dollars. Do not wake up to go to the bathroom. Do not wake up to a baby crying, a four-year old whining, or a cat barfing. Do not wake up to roll over because you are carrying a beach ball that weighs 20lbs on top of your bladder. Do not wake up because someone wants a drink of water. or milk. or is about to throw up.

Turning out the light at 10:15. Waking up at 6:15. For the very first time in about a year and a half.

Priceless.

And, this is what happens when a confused 18 month old tried to "kiss" Scrappy at school on Monday. Mommy had a heart attack, and Daddy burst a couple blood vessels.

Happy Holidays

This is what happens when you try to get two kids to sit still for a family photo...

And we fondly call this one: "Gabe's Parasitic Twin"

brothers

this is why we have two kids - i just didn't think we would get to experience it so soon. the two of them, interacting, cracking each other up. Scrappy was actually trying to imitate his older brother; we grabbed the camera and actually were able to capture a smidgeon of the moment. it was precious and priceless, and really the reward for all the sleepless nights.

someday, maybe this photo will be shown at their rehearsal dinner, when one of them is the best man for the other.

the monkey and the banana...

it's all about perspective...

So, FOL has come and gone - a good time was had by all 1,000 participants, including my two boys. At least Scooby had a great time - Scrappy pretty much snoozed through the entire event. It was hot, so we only have photos of the costumes half on. Scrappy was turning bright red and Scoob was sweating through his hood.

And, as per usual, one of the kids got sick the same weekend - happens every year! Scooby started throwing up at 1am the following morning - we hoped it was just an excess of sugar intake, but when it kept on until 4am we realized we have been hit with yet another round of Pre-School Tummy Flu. I got it the next day.

Yesterday I was feeling quite sorry for myself and burdened with the weight of illness and parenthood. Today, I left my chaotic, messy house and noisy family with a smile on my face as I rushed out of the house to a stressful job. Why, you ask?

The earthquake that hit last night about 8pm did more than shake and rattle my house, my children and my sense of well-being. Only a 5.6, it was centered just 18 miles from us so it felt more like the 7's and 8's I experienced in high school and college. When we heard crashes and what sounded like breaking glass, we made the decision to grab the kids and get out to the cul-de-sac where nothing could fall on us. As I sat in the driveway in the dark, huddled under a blanket, trying to explain what was going on to a very sleepy and terrified 4 year old and a very sleepy and cranky 4 month old (who would much rather be in his own bed thankyouverymuch), I realized how quickly we could lose it all. We're really doing fine. We've still got it pretty good. Thank you Lord for these reminders that we can handle the little ups and downs that come our way!

So, what's a little 24-hour flu when your house is still standing? Not a whole heck of a lot.

p.s. When an antique metal Red Flyer sled falls flat on a wood floor it sounds just like breaking glass.

p.p.s. a monkey and a banana, can't you tell??

hmmmm...see any similarities?

I don't know why it's important to me, but I really hoped that my boys would resemble one another. I think it's a source of familial pride when you see siblings, and know that they "belong" together, simply by their resemblance. I know a delightful family of three sisters who all are unique, but still clearly belong together. They are all good friends as well! I hope that as my two boys grow older, they will be similar in interests, passions and pursuits and will support and love one another deeply. I hope and pray that they will not just be brothers, but best friends.

Ok, enough of the sentimental mommy...here's a fun one for all of you. Check out that six-pack! And, in contrast, check out the newly skinny Big Gabe! 25 lbs lighter and still counting...

getting by...

going back to work has not been easy. it's been an adjustment for everyone, but we are getting by. here's some recent photos and you can see how quickly these boys are changing, and growing, and EATING!

just a quickie...

Scooby is smokin' in Pre-K class, as he is far ahead of the curriculum in that he already knows his letters, their sounds, and is beginning to sound out words. We're very proud! Scrappy is doing better - some nights we'll see a five hour stretch between feedings and for about a week now, he has a few moments during the day that he is content to flap around by himself in the bouncy seat or on the floor. We took him of Zantac this week to see if it was actually making a difference...and today, we have determined, it was! He cried off and on all day; hasn't done that in the two weeks he's been on the meds. So, we're back on again, and grateful for it. Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

lessons learned.

so, Gabe had surgery yesterday. we only found out it was happening the day before. we knew this was coming (just didn't know when), and that it was necessary, but it didn't give us time to prepare. imagine my reaction - i'm barely scraping enough (cumulative - never mind consecutive) sleep at night to survive. i have a colicky baby. and i was just informed my husband and greatest help would be wearing a sling for three weeks and unable to help me. at all. can't pick up the baby. can't empty the dishwasher. can't take out the trash. can't lift the carseat. can't fold laundry.

i spent the rest of the day in a bit of a rage. i know he needs the procedure. it just feels very unfair that it's happening at such a chaotic time in our lives. but when would be better? after i return to work and have even less time, and no vacation saved up? there is no easy answer.

you also should know - i don't like asking for help. i feel like i should be able to do this on my own - i mean, tons of women do, right? lots of people have two kids, and not only survive, but thrive, right? they deal with the colic and keep their houses clean. they do it with a smile on their face - don't they? so why should i deserve assistance? in picking up and dropping off, feeding my family, and playing on the floor with Scooby. i don't deserve that kind of special treatment. i can't repay it. when it's offered, i usually turn it down.

and as i stood in my grubby kitchen in tears, wearing a fussing baby in a sling on my chest, feeling very angry at God and the entire situation...i had a God-moment. i swear. He whispered to me just then.

"it's a lot like My love, isn't it? you don't deserve it. you can't pay it back. you just have to take it - and be grateful. it's ok. just do it. "

so, i stood there in shock for a moment, then i picked up the phone. and within minutes, angels of mercy literally swooped in and had care arranged for the wee, colicky one, rides and dinner for the bigger one, and the time needed to be with my biggest boy when he woke up.

one truly blessed friend even thought to bring us coffee yesterday morning as we rushed out of the house early to get to the hospital. that coffee was a life-line.

just after we when we returned home later that day, dinner arrived on our doorstep.

"I sustain myself with the love of friends." Maya Angelou

humbled and grateful, i realize the wisdom of these words and will try to remember that when our friends are loving me (us) it's coming straight from the greatest Friend of all.

and i will accept it. gratefully.

hubba bubba chubba

well, we are currently surviving fever and temper after getting four vaccinations this morning - cried all evening (him, not me...but it was close) but what else is new? we have managed to snap a few good 'uns when he was in a better humor. also had to pull another one from 2003 - can you tell who is who?

Scrappy now is taller and heavier than his brother at the same age...amazing. it's like nobody told him he was born early and small...he sailed right by Scooby's weight and height and is now residing in the 75th percentile for his age. maybe he'll sleep through the night soon. oh please, oh please!

Scrappy and Scooby

Scrappy has smiled for EVERONE but me in the last week...DH tells me every morning when I get up how many times Scrappy has smiled at him while I slept in. It's quite cruel, really. I took him into the office, and he went and smiled at my boss, a coworker. But, has he ever smiled for Momma? No way.

I beg. I plead. I give raspberries, tickle toes, make silly faces. I sing, give kissies on round tummies, and generally make an idiot of myself over the changing table begging for the slightest sign of the dimples I know to exist. This morning, finally, it paid off, and I was able to grab the camera in time. Just like another morning I still remember very clearly, almost exactly four years ago. Funny, isn't it, that they are wearing the exact same nighty? If I didn't tell you, would you even realize that it's two different boys? Poor Scrappy has the short end at the moment, what with his baby acne and wacky eyes (it's all very common in newborns, but ole Scooby managed to escape them both) but otherwise, they look an awful lot alike, don't they?

I also find it interesting that the one that was born early, with low birth weight, has a much bigger double chin...

more photos

here's our little Scrappy with a Aunt Patty and his Papa.

he's smiled at everybody BUT his momma. it's just not fair. i'm just the milk lady.

"hey.

you.

lady with the milk.

get over here.

i'm hungry.

again."

Captain Crabby

also known as "the stinky cheese man" given that he seems to like to hide milk in the copious folds of his neck until it turns to cheese...amazing how much he has GROWN in five weeks!

definitely has a more sensitive temperment than Little Dude...at the moment he is hollering at me from his deluxe swing because, well, he's just not happy. why, you ask? um. wish I knew. evidentally having a full tummy, clean diaper, clean jammies, a rolls royce of a swing to snooze in, a pacifier and a swaddle just ain't good enough.

oh dear. i just got the silent scream. must run.

a pound per week!

time flies, doesn't it? here we've been home for three weeks already and it really does seem like yesterday that we brought little one-eyed jack home from the hospital. he's a clockwork, punctual baby and is up every night at 10pm, 1am and and 4am. tiring, but doable! i snapped some pictures this morning during tummy time as he chewed on his fist enjoying a sunbeam. we've spotted the first signs of a double-chin - he's putting on almost a pound a week and is rapidly approaching 8 lbs. we're so proud!

more birth day photos...

this was the scary part...ok, the next 45 minutes were the scary part. this was just the spinal anesthesia going in...that's my OB talking me through the procedure in front of me.



this is just after the surgery. they are rapidly pumping me full of morphine - this was the only one of two times during the last week that i was in actual pain...it was bad, but somehow after they brought baby over to me, i didn't care so much. i love the expression on Little Dude's face as he tries to sort this whole new situation out.


the rest sort speak for themselves. praise God from whom all blessings flow...

Surprise! three plus one makes six...

introducing the newest Gabe, born Monday, June 25th at 4:14pm. 5lbs., 14 oz., 18" long. you'll have to check your email for the name, since we leave those off this blog for privacy reasons. but i'll tell you that he was named after two great and wonderful men. one i could never live without, and thank God for daily - most certainly for the way he has handled the ups and downs and surprises of the last week, the second has shaped and loved and led my side of the family for the last 82 years.






he wasn't scheduled to be here till July 3rd, but mom's sudden high blood pressure and a failing placenta made the Monday morning decision to bring him into the world another week earlier quite easy. we had five hours to get over the shock since surgery was scheduled late in the day, at least. we're home as of friday, getting used to each other, and all are doing just fine.

his nicknames, to date - i'll leave it to your imagination how each of them originated.

Barracuda Boy
One-Eyed Jack
Mighty Mike
Munchkin
Pipsqueak

gotta go. barracuda boy is hungry. again.



better pictures to come - this is all i had handy from my camera...

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Little Dude celebrated his 4th birthday yesterday along with Father's Day. It was a good day - having all my men together (almost - we missed Uncle and Grandpa, but got to talk to them both on the phone).

We started the day with a family birthday breakfast and some presents from Mom, Dad and Grammie Jan. Then church and out to lunch for Father's Day, and back home again for more presents - this time from Uncle and Auntie - a new bike! It was a good day all around. Monday there will be cupcakes and party hats for 24 pre-schoolers...chocolate chip with yellow cake and a choice of vanilla or chocolate frosting, with sprinkles of course. Yum!

And yes, we're two weeks from Delivery Day - feeling good except for the swollen hands and feet. It's been very warm here, and my blood pressure is nice and low, so not much I can do to mitigate it except beg for foot rubs and stay off my feet. Frustrating, but at least we are down to the end! Yesterday at church the older ladies kept coming up to me and patting me on the cheek with this incredibly sympathetic look and saying things like: It'll be over soon, honey! I must look pitiful. My feet certainly do.