gobbledygook

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T13:17:00.002-05:00

First kid quote of 2012...

Emma: Mom, is your middle name YELL?

(Perhaps my resolution should be to tone it down a notch.)

Happy New Year!

Houston, we have a tooth

2011-12-12T14:43:00.002-05:00

It's funny. So much time has gone by since my last real post and so much has changed. Yet nothing has piqued my interest in writing until now, Lindsay's first tooth. I can't believe how much she's changed in the last few months. And I can't believe how quickly time has flown by. She's almost 8 months now, babbling all the time, loving solids, and almost crawling. She's got to be 20 pounds now, at least. Though only weighed in at 19 and change at her last appointment.

Emma is doing great too. She passed her kindergarten screening and has orientation coming up in March. I know it's still a while away, but it's on our calendars! And she's just so much fun around the holidays -- totally into everything. She was recently in our town's holiday parade and it seems like every weekend is filled with festivities.

Anyway, my babies are growing up. I guess it's just that time of year too -- time to reflect on the entire year. So much has changed -- for better and for worse. But the good by far outweighs the bad. Minus a job for Andrew, I already have everything on my Christmas list. I feel very lucky.

Happy holidays.

My new book blog for fun

2011-11-09T12:31:00.002-05:00

Magic markers

2011-09-30T13:35:00.002-04:00

Me: Emma, if the marker doesn't work, please throw it away.
Emma: OK. This one doesn't work. I'll throw it away.
Me (watching her color): Yes it does, Emma. Look.
Emma: No, it doesn't. It won't stay in the lines. I'm throwing it away.

Bueller? Bueller?

2011-09-27T16:27:00.004-04:00

So much has happened since my last post. So much that I haven't had time to process it all, let alone write it all down. Lindsay's allergy got worse. I stopped nursing. I changed my diet (allergen-free). I started nursing again. Andrew lost his job. Lindsay celebrated her three month birthday. My mom moved in. I went back to work. Andrew got a contract job. Lindsay celebrated her four month birthday. Emma turned four and moved up to the Pre-K room. Lindsay learned to roll over from tummy to back. My dad fell and broke his foot (badly). My mom moved out and we lost our babysitter. I turned 29 again. Lindsay learned to roll over from back to tummy, started eating rice cereal and celebrated her five month birthday. One of our outlets started spontaneously sparking. I got an ear infection.

Throw in a few dozen kids birthday parties, play dates, trips to Maine, visits with family and friends and there you have it. Life. "If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it" (Ferris Bueller). Ferris had a point. Now I get it. I just wish I was living it less like Cameron and more like Ferris (in an awesome 80s-style leopard print vest?).

Baby laughs

2011-07-07T18:32:00.000-04:00

Look Mom, no hands!

2011-06-08T07:39:00.000-04:00

I feel like a little kid who just learned how to ride a bike without training wheels. I've been nursing Lindsay for the last two weeks. Just nursing. And for anyone who knows my nursing journey (both with Lindsay and Emma), this is a really big deal. It's actually working. And every day I feel a little more confident and relaxed about the whole thing.

In hindsight, I wasted pretty much my whole maternity leave trying to nurse Emma. And I drove myself crazy doing it. Then, I was tied to the pump every 3 hours or so for the next ten months. Torture! Lindsay and I started off with some challenges too. She wasn't gaining enough weight in the first two weeks, so we had to supplement with whatever breast milk I could pump, and with some formula. That meant I had to get my supply up again (yes, more pumping) and then get back in sync with the baby. And, I did it!

Anyway, like I said, a major accomplishment for me. And now I feel free to go and do and enjoy the next six weeks of leave however I want to. No pump. No bottles. Until I have to go back to work that is... but I 'm not going to worry about that yet.

Hooray for Lindsay. And hooray for little victories.

One month

2011-05-22T18:55:00.005-04:00

Happy one month, little Lindsay. We made it.

And we love you very, very much!

Conversations with an almost 4-year-old

2011-05-21T19:24:00.003-04:00

Emma: Mom, the baby is ridiculous. She makes everything take too long.

~~~~~~~~~~

Emma: Mommy, I hate the baby.

Me: What Emma? We don't hate people. That's not nice. Why would you say that?

Emma: She cries too much.

Me: So you don't hate the baby, you hate her behavior.

Emma: OK, Mom. I love the baby up to the moon and back. But I still hate her a little.

~~~~~~~~~~

Emma: This baby is disgusting. She smells like cheese.
~~~~~~~~~~
Emma: I wish the baby was still in your tummy so she wouldn't give you a headache.

A formal announcement

2011-05-10T18:08:00.003-04:00

I'll be mailing them out soon:

(image courtesy of tinyprints.com)

Emma's Easter Dance

2011-05-10T18:06:00.002-04:00

This was filmed on Easter Sunday. It was the day we came home from the hospital with Lindsay. As you can see, Emma was super excited. Thanks for the singing bunny, Gramps.

Birth recap

2011-05-08T17:27:00.002-04:00

Happy Mother's Day! And what a day it is -- my first celebration as a mother of two. I can't believe it's already been two weeks. I'm feeling tired and happy, as most new moms usually do, I suppose. Before I forget all the details, I want to write down a few things about Lindsay's labor & delivery.

I started having contractions on April 12. (Yep, a week and a half before Lindsay was born.) Five minutes apart for 8+ hours. I went to bed -- then nothing. I saw my midwife the following day and I was only dilated two centimeters. And for the next 10 days, that's how my days would go pretty much. What a roller coaster! Finally, they scheduled me for an induction on Friday, April 22. I was pretty nervous to be induced. And it felt strange to wake up the morning of the induction knowing "today's the day." I even did my hair before I went to the hospital.

When I got to SSH I was 3 centimeters and my body was already getting ready. I was given some medication to get things started around noon. It was just a pill. (Can't remember the name.) It worked really well and within half an hour, I was having contractions every 2-4 minutes. They monitored me for 2 hours, then I walked around for another hour. Usually they give multiple doses of the pill, but it worked so well they didn't have to. I was now 4 centimeters. Next, around 4:00, the midwife broke my water and hooked me up to an IV for some pitocin. This is when I really felt like I was in labor. So, I just hung out, did my thing, and tried to stay comfortable. I wanted to hold out on the epidural for as long as possible.

But things got really painful, really fast. I was surprised -- it was all so different from my experience with Emma. By the time I asked for the epidural, I was in "transition." And as the anesthesiologist was placing the tube in, I was ready to push. Andrew had left the room at this point and I was seriously afraid he wasn't going to make it back in time. After the epidural was in, I was 9+ centimeters and 15 minutes later -- just as the drugs kicked in, thank God -- I started pushing. Less than 10 minutes later, at 8:20 p.m., Lindsay arrived.

It was pretty much my ideal labor & delivery. The midwife on call (Julie) was one of my favorites. She really listened to me and was a super coach. I felt so much more in control than with Emma's delivery. And I was so much less drugged that I was much more present. It was really awesome. And no complications with the baby -- Emma had the cord wrapped around her neck and I had a fever, so I wasn't able to hold her right away. Lindsay was passed right to me and it was incredible.

Anyway, that's my story -- my labor of love. More baby posts to come eventually. But for now, I'm going to go enjoy my two girls for the rest of this very special day.

Who am I?

2011-05-08T17:02:00.003-04:00

Emma or Lindsay?

Hello, April

2011-04-01T17:54:00.002-04:00

So glad to see you. In fact, I've never been so excited to see any other month before. So what if it's snowing. I can handle that. Just bring on the baby, please. Twenty-five days and counting...

Remember when?

2011-03-28T13:49:00.000-04:00

Remember when it was just a few weeks before you were due to give birth? And you thought you had to get every cleaning and/or home improvement project that you've ever wanted to do done within the next three weeks? Well, that's pretty much my current state of mind. Andrew too. In the past week alone, we've built shelves in the pantry and in our playroom closet (thanks, Dad), finished residing the shed (thanks, Andrew and Dad), replaced our downstairs toilet (thank God Dad is retired), painted the ceiling and trim in the downstairs bathroom (Andrew -- but I offered to do it!), and reorganized just about every closet we have. I know it sounds like I haven't done anything, but don't forget, someone has to watch Emma while the guys are doing the work. And I'm also 8 months pregnant and still working full time/commuting. Anyway. What's left to do?

do taxes
paint shed
reupholster dining room chairs (I'm totally serious)
clean car (i.e. get rid of the raisins, pretzels, and goldfish mashed into the seat by Emma)
scour the entire house (have you ever seen a very pregnant woman move a couch to vacuum before?)
cook some meals to have when the baby arrives
pack hospital bag, install car seat (two things I'd had done weeks earlier when pregnant with Emma)
wait, worry, go to the Dr. a million times
have baby

It's getting harder and harder to focus on anything else. April is just around the corner.

Good, bad, otherwise

2011-03-26T15:54:00.005-04:00

This has been a long pregnancy. Lots of stuff going -- good, bad, and otherwise. I feel like I've got ample material to blog about, but just so little time to sit down and do it. Emma certainly keeps us busy. However, here are a few little updates:

Good
My friends and family threw me a "sprinkle" a few weeks ago. It was so thoughtful and so generous of them. And it was a total surprise! It's an amazing feeling to experience so much love, support, and generosity. My girls are so lucky to have such wonderful people in their life. I'm lucky too, of course, but knowing that people are there for you kids just means so much. I hope that everyone has a time in their life when they feel as as happy, loved, and lucky as I do right now. It still makes me smile to think about it. I am incredibly thankful.

Bad
Gestational Diabetes. Yup, I've got it. Kind of. I failed my one-hour glucose test and part of my three-hour test too. So they're treating me for it even though I'm on the border. I've seen a nutritionist a couple of times and am on a pretty strict diet. I'm also taking my blood sugar (finger prick) four times a day. It's not fun. And no one likes to be on a diet, especially when they're pregnant. But it's totally manageable and I'd do anything to keep this baby healthy. I feel good and my sugar levels are under control, so I'll just keep doing what I'm doing.

Otherwise
Emma is awesome. She's really just been so much fun lately. And I've really been trying to slow down, relax, and ENJOY her. (Not that I don't always enjoy her, but sometimes the slowing down part is hard.) She's so excited about becoming a big sister and is just so full of thoughts and feelings about the whole situation. I've had so many wonderful conversations with her lately. Here are two of my favorites:

Emma: "Here Mom, this goldfish is for you."
Me: "No thanks, Emma. I'm all set right now." (Extra carbs. are not on my GD diet.)
Emma: "But Mom, you have to eat it. It's for the baby. I'm eating goldfish and little sisters like to copy their big sisters. You told me that. Remember?"

Really? How could I not eat that goldfish? Irresistible.

Emma (as we're cuddling on the couch): "Mom, you hold me a lot. That's because I'm your baby. And even when I'm a big sister, I'll still be your baby."

Good. She is listening after all.

So, less than a month to go. Let the countdown begin!

Can't do it all

2011-01-07T09:40:00.000-05:00

Being a working parent is really hard. I'm not complaining -- I'm just stating the obvious. It's a constant balancing act and it forces you to choose between your child, your work, your self, and sometimes your spouse -- over and over again, even though they're all important to you. Emma comes first 99% of the time, of course, but there are days (like yesterday and today) when the choice isn't clear. Emma's feeling much better, but is still coughing, tired, and a little out of sorts. Of course I'd love to be able to stay home with her and cuddle and just focus on making her comfortable, but I also have a job I need to keep -- a job that helps pay our bills. I know she's OK at daycare, but they can't be "mom."

Anyway, I hate weeks like this. Weeks when I wake up on Monday and think there's just no way I can get it all done. I can't be in all the places I need to be at once. And I feel like I'm not doing a good enough job at anything. (I'm not totally there for Emma, I haven't put in a full week at work, I have barely remembered to bathe myself and put on clean clothes, and ... Andrew who?)

Thank goodness it's Friday. Thank goodness this week is not the norm. And thank goodness there are other working parents in my life who go through the same thing. I don't know what I'd do w/out them. Right now I'm thinking of Melissa who is on her way to p/u Walter from daycare because there's something wrong with him. He's crying and says his ear hurts (I think). And I'm also thinking of Jaime, Tristan & Cooper's mom, who is recovering from being sick all night as her husband prepares for a trip out of state for work. Melissa and Jaime, I know what you're going through. We'll all get through it.

Snap, crackle, pop

2011-01-04T12:04:00.003-05:00

So, Emma has pneumonia again this winter. Not the best way to ring in the new year, but I know she'll be fine. It's not that it's not serious or anything (although so far we haven't had to take her to the hospital, knock on wood), but this just seems to be the way her little body deals with bad colds. It all goes to her lungs. And we're kind of used to that.

But that's not why I'm blogging. I want to share another funny three-year-old moment. One of the nights that Emma's breathing was particularly bad, I had to wake her up to do a nebulizer treatment. Understandably, she was not happy. I said, "I'm so sorry, Emma, but your chest is just crackling so much. We have to do this." She replied, "Mommy, maybe it's because I ate too much cereal." Now maybe I'm delirious from lack of sleep, but I thought that was really cute.

Anyway, thank you to the Jewells for making our weekend brighter. We were thrilled to have you in Easton. And even though Emma wasn't feeling her best, she enjoyed every second she shared with Annie and Timmy and is already talking about more sleepovers in the future. (Ones where she's healthy and actually gets to sleep with the kids!) Thank you so much for making the trip to MA, too. I know it's a long one. We love you.

Stay healthy, everyone, and happy new year!

So totally three

2010-12-09T19:59:00.004-05:00

I think three is the best, most fun age yet. Sometimes, though, I am shocked at what comes out of Emma's mouth. Here are a few of my recent favorites:

After being denied a lollipop in the car: "Fine, then I'm going to get out of the car and walk home."

Randomly: "Everybody has different kinds of boogers, right?"

And the best for last: "Is Rapunzel's hair really long because she's pregnant?"

Nice. That's my girl. Keep 'em coming.

Pink x 2!

2010-12-08T09:15:00.012-05:00

"What color do you want?"

"Pink!" I said. "Pink, pink, pink!"

~Pinkalicious

Yesterday, two weeks after we were originally supposed to find out, the ultrasound technician typed the word "girl" on the sonogram screen. Another girl! My girls. My two daughters. How wonderful do those words sound? Andrew and I are thrilled. It's really starting to sink in that this is happening. Knowing the baby's sex just makes it so much more real.

So, Andrew and I picked up Emma on our way home and told her the news. Did she jump up and down with joy? Not our Emma. She said: "But I want to be the sister!" I guess she thought that being a sister required having a brother. Or, knowing Emma, she wanted to be the one and only sister. Anyway, once we explained to her that she would still be a sister — in fact, the BIG sister — she was happy. Funny little girl.

What's so great about having another girl? Lots of things. We don't have to buy one single article of clothing. Probably EVER. The girls can share toys. The girls can share a room. (A big concern since our two main bedrooms are both upstairs.) And, well, we know what to do with a girl. I don't think I've changed a baby boy's diaper since Andre. Or Tommy? Or ever?

So, there you have it. We finally know. It's a girl. And most importantly, a healthy one.

Out of the mouths of babes

2010-11-01T12:49:00.004-04:00

Andrew and I took Emma swimming at the Y over the weekend. Melissa and Walter joined us. It's so much fun to listen in on three-year-old conversations. While swimming in the pool Emma and Walter had a particularly good one.

Emma: Walter, my Mom has a baby in her tummy.

Walter (quite passionately): No she doesn't! Only kangaroos do that!

Hysterical! A conversation that I don't ever want to forget.

Baby #2

2010-10-26T17:51:00.000-04:00

Surprise! Emma's going to be a big sister. Baby #2 is on his or her way. I'm 14 weeks pregnant (due April 25). I haven't had the best luck pregnancy-wise since Emma, so I'm cautiously optimistic. Of course, though, Andrew, Emma, and I are thrilled.

The details so far:

08/19/10: positive test

09/03/10: first ultrasound, saw the tiny heart beating

09/17/10: second ultrasound, saw heartbeat again

10/14/10: heartbeat 162 on doppler, 164 on ultrasound (3rd good ultrasound -- little feet crossed, moving arms and hands)

11/12/10: next appointment, will schedule big ultrasound (to find out sex) then

It will certainly be an interesting winter!

I'm not ready for this

2010-10-22T08:32:00.004-04:00

Scene: 8:00 a.m., Emma is coloring a picture of Boots the monkey in her Dora coloring book.
Emma: Mom, do monkeys have penises?
Me: Well, boy monkeys do, I think.
Emma: Boots is a boy. But I don't see his.
Me: Well, it's probably hiding under his fur.
Emma: Why, Mom?
Me: Because penises are private, Emma. He's keeping it private. Hey, look at this cool picture of Dora? Want to color this one?

Too funny...

2010-10-15T15:33:00.005-04:00

Almost three

2010-08-10T12:03:00.013-04:00

I haven't been too great at making blog updates lately. When Emma was little, I used to list her milestones and stats on a regular basis. Now, though, there is just too much to list. As her third birthday approaches (in 6 days!) and I see the baby in her fading fast, I'm kicking myself for not keeping better track of all the little details. So, here's my attempt to list a few memorable things about this stage in Emma's life.

She can recite the alphabet, recognize most letters, and write the letters in her name. (Getting her to do it on cue is another story, but she can do it if she wants to.)
She loves to use scissors and can cut out easy shapes.
She is very good at coloring in the lines. Currently, she prefers coloring in rainbow (multiple colors for each object) rather than in solid colors.
She can count into the teens -- some days higher than others. She can tell you when her birthday is (and my birthday too).
She is finally going to bed on her own without Andrew or me staying in the room until she falls asleep.
She is fully potty trained, except for one pull-up at night. (!!!) And I don't think she'll need that one much longer.
She still sleeps with Ellie every night. (If Ellie is missing, sleep does not come...)
She loves The Wonder Pets, Toy Story, and Shreck. She loves reading Fancy Nancy books and Pinkilicious too. (But really, she loves to read anything. We try to always read about what's going on in her life -- beach books on vacation, etc.)
Her vocabulary is unlimited. She repeats everything she hears. (For example, "Put on your damn pants!")
She loves to make jokes and says, "I was just kidding" and cracks herself up. Cut the pickle is a favorite joke. [I want that shirt!] And the "knock knock -- boo hoo -- don't cry little girl" one too. She likes to ask for five down low an tell you you're too slow. She likes to call people silly names like "spray watering can banana." We spend a lot of time playing the association game -- you're a banana, well you're a strawberry; you're a tree, well you're a flower.
She can swing in a regular swing, though she still doesn't quite have the hang of pumping her legs. She loves to climb up her slide the wrong way.
She loves spending time in the garden with Andrew. And she love baking with me.
She is a total beach bum. She loves nothing more than swimming, digging in the sand, exploring, collecting, fishing, and kayaking. She could stay at the beach all day every day, I think.
She is a wonderful swimmer. She's been swimming on her own with a life jacket for a while now. She even jumps in all by herself.
She can ride a bike with training wheels.
She makes tons of different facial expressions. Her most recent looks a little bit like a frown and often goes with a shrug, as if to say "I don't know?"
"I don't feel like it" is her favorite excuse. And if you tell her "no," she says, "Aw-www" like a teenager.
She goes up and down stairs in our house now freely.
She is still fearless. At the Children's Museum, her favorite exhibit was the climber. At the zoo, she loved the rides.
Everything is a negotiation. (Emma, you can only have pudding if you eat five more bites. No, three, Mommy. OK, Emma, four.)

Really, we are so lucky to have her. We couldn't have dreamt up a more fun, happy, smart little girl. She is just so full of expression and life. Sure, in some ways the last three years feel more like 30, but really, she brings more joy to our life than we ever could have imagined. And I have a feeling that age three is going to be the most fun age yet.

Happy almost birthday, Emma!

I love toddler conversations

2010-06-05T16:18:00.002-04:00

Conversation 1:

Emma: Mommy, can I have my ("mine") Elmo?

Note: Elmo is up high on a dresser. We took it away from Emma the night before for being naughty.

Me: Yes, you can have him because you're being a good girl now.

Emma (dropping Elmo on the floor): Can you put him in my bed?

Me: No, Emma. You do it please.

Emma: I don't feel like it.

Me: I don't feel like it either, Emma.

Emma: But Mommy, it's nice to help people.

Point taken.

Conversation 2:

Emma (in her car seat): Mommy, I'm breaking my ("mine") pink sunglasses.

Me: Please don't break them Emma, you only have one pair.

Emma: Actually, Mommy, I have aqua Tinkerbell ones at home.

(I guess you had to be there, but hearing her say "actually" cracked me up. And I appreciated her logic. I should have specified a color. She got me.)

Conversation 3:

Emma (on her swing set): I have to go potty.

Me: OK. Hold it! Hold it! Let's go.

Emma (peeing): Mommy, is my ("mine") pee yellow?

Me: Yes, Emma. Pee is yellow.

Emma: Why?

Me: Good questions, Emma. I don't know why pee is yellow.

Emma: But Mommy, pees are supposed to be green.

Good thinking.

The new Tommy

2010-05-11T11:36:00.006-04:00

For anyone who hasn't seen him yet -- in person or in photos -- here are some pictures (taken by Carol on 5/2/10) of Tom & Kendal's handsome new baby, Thomas Raeburn Demers.

SO CUTE!

Madrical Alphabet

2010-04-14T15:19:00.005-04:00

This is so cool. A segment I used to watch on Sesame Street (c. 1970). I'm posting it for easy access so Emma can watch it too. Over and over, I predict. Thanks for prompting the memory, Jennifer!

Easter in Maine Top 10

2010-04-05T21:16:00.011-04:00

Here are a few of the best things about our Easter weekend in Maine. (I could probably list 100.):

10. Annie's tears. I'm listing them first, because they're the least of my favorites -- it hurts my heart to see Annie sad. But, I also know that if we didn't love each other so much, and if we didn't have such a wonderful time visiting, the tears wouldn't exist. Annie, I'm so proud of you. You are an amazing little girl -- the sweetest and most caring I know. I love you. We all do.

9. The weather! Sunny, at last, and in the 70s. It doesn't get much better than that. Perfect for playing on swings, riding bikes, pulling wagons, and Easter softball games.

8. Googley-eyed towel animals and mints on our pillows. Katie, you are a wonderful and gracious hostess. Thank you for sharing your home and for making us feel comfortable and welcome.

7. Getting my butt kicked by Timmy at Mario Kart. Kicking Raph's butt at Mario Kart (kidding!). And knowing that at least I won't be in 12th place, because Katie has reserved that spot.

6. Seeing Emma learn to love Kaleigh. In 24 hours, she went from saying, "I don't like him" and wanting to be picked up, to patting her and inviting her upstairs to play. Woof!

5. Easter eggs! Decorating them and hunting for them. Fun! Did we ever find the last two eggs?

4. Bacon candy on a stick. A bacon lover's dream come true. Need I say more?

3. Homemade danishes. Raph, they were the most delicious I've ever tasted. (Note: I was going to lump "brunch" all into one, but the bacon and danishes were so yummy, they each deserve their own mention.)

2. Seeing Emma play with Annie and Timmy, a four-generation-long tradition of love and friendship.

1. The most precious Jewells in the world. Thank you Katie, Raph, Annie, and Timmy for a fun and happy weekend. We enjoyed every second we spent together. Happy Easter! We love you lots and miss you already!

World Autism Awareness Day

2010-04-02T11:33:00.002-04:00

This post, written by a friend of a friend, is worth reading:
http://adiaryofamom.wordpress.com/2010/04/02/world-autism-awareness-day-2010/

Here's to compassion and awareness.

Boats at the beach

2010-04-01T10:45:00.001-04:00

This morning Emma caught me staring at my bookshelf instead of paying attention to her. She asked, "Mommy, why aren't you talking to me?" I responded, "Oh, I'm just looking at my books to decide which ones to take to the beach on our vacation. Maybe we should pick some of your books to take with us too." Emma excitedly responded, "Yes. Probably we should take Little Toot because there are boats in it just like at the beach." I know I'm her mom and I'm biased, but come on! What an astute observation. I was totally impressed with her smart thinking and I told her so.

To my dear and loving Aunt

2010-03-31T09:41:00.003-04:00

I love you.

You love me.

We're a happy family.

With a great big hug,

And a kiss from me to you...

Won't you say you love me too.

Well, we held off as long as we could, but Emma was introduced Barney at daycare. It was love at first song. Now she sings the catchy theme every night before bed. And I admit, it's pretty darn cute. It also reminds me of my dear cousin Olivia, who also had a thing for the silly purple dinosaur when she was Emma's age. If a love of Barney is a sign that Emma is following in her big cousin's footsteps, then I'm all for it.

Two conversations

2009-12-14T11:37:00.004-05:00

I started this blog to record all things Emma, but I haven’t done a very good job keeping up. Whoops! Things just get so busy. Too busy. Anyway, Emma's vocabulary and conversation skills have exploded recently. Here are a couple of conversations I definitely don't want to forget.

On Thanksgiving Day in Marblehead:
Elinor: Emma, you're such a hot ticket.
Emma: I'm not hot, I'm warm.
Elinor: OK, you're a warm ticket.
Emma: I'm not a ticket, I'm Emma.

In a hospital waiting room:
Little old lady to Emma: Hello, cutie. How old are you?
Emma to the little old lady: Your hands are wrinkled. Did you go in the bathtub?
Little old lady to me (clearly not understanding): Oh, she's such a doll.

And just for the record, Emma was in the hospital for two nights last week with pneumonia. (She's much better now.) She was a wonderful patient, although when I told her to wave goodbye to the hospital as we left, she said, "I don't like you, hospital." Smart girl.

Happy Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T16:55:00.000-05:00

Must see!

2009-09-24T20:29:00.003-04:00

CollegeHumor.com

Emma's look alike

2009-09-24T13:17:00.003-04:00

Two different people in my office have stopped by today to ask if Emma was on So You Think You Can Dance last night. Just to clear things up: No, she was not.

Emma's TV look alike (a SYTYCD screen capture from YouTube):

Emma is two

2009-08-16T11:23:00.005-04:00

Happy birthday, little Emma. (Hope you feel better soon.) Thanks for the best two years ever. Here's to many more!

Recognize the song?

2009-07-30T10:11:00.002-04:00

Emma reading her Red Sox book (thanks, Andre!) and singing along...

Emma says

2009-07-29T10:10:00.006-04:00

Here's a list of Emma's favorite things to say lately:

No want to.
No like that.
Leave me alone.
Stop that.
No, Mommy. Emma do it.
No, Mommy. Daddy do it.
No, Daddy. Mommy do it.
Do like this, Mommy.
That's mine.
Help me.
I being quite. (Repeatedly!)

And once in a very great while: "I will." *sigh*

I heart reading

2009-07-26T19:26:00.010-04:00

There are about a million things I should be doing right now to get ready for the week -- laundry, lunches, and so on. But instead, I'm writing a list of Emma's all-time favorite books. Inspired by Katie, it'll be fun to look back someday and remember the old favorites that right now, I most likely have memorized. You know, the ones Emma wants to hear over, and over, and over...

Gossie (a gift from Barbara F.)
Bunny My Honey (a gift from Timmy)
Goodnight Moon (a gift from Tim)
The Big Red Barn (a gift from me)
The Little Fur Family (purchased by Andrew and me at The Coop)
Curious George and the Rocket (purchased by Andrew and the Y yard sale)
Dress Up Peek-a-boo (a gift from Grammie)
Jessee Bear (from me)
Dora's Bedtime Adventures (a gift from Grandma)
Bunny and Me (a gift from Grammie)
Where is Baby's Belly Button?

And perhaps her all-time favorite: Goodnight Maine. We received multiple copies (which is great -- one for upstairs, one for downstairs, one in the diaper bag, etc.) from Grammie, Colleen, and Amy Bryant Hurd.

The BEST song ever!

2009-07-17T20:54:00.006-04:00

"Never Along"
by Anne May Jewell
Summer 2009

This song is deadacatid to Amy, Emma, and Andrew.

Let the angles follow you,
Let your tirys be for love not saddnis.
I'll see you again someday,
You're always in my hart.
I just don't see you every day.
I know it's sad but...
We just have to live with it.
Oh, oh, oh.
I I I I feel so sad,
That I can't see you every day.
But atleast I see you sometimes, sometimes, sometimes.
Oh, oh, oh.

Thank you, Annie, for the beautiful song. It means more to us than you can imagine! You are an amazingly thoughtful girl. We love you very, very much. See you in August!

The way life should be

2009-07-17T18:42:00.012-04:00

Andrew, Emma, and I had an awesome trip to Maine last week/weekend. The last time we were up north, Emma didn't do so well in the sleep department. But this time, being that much older, she did great -- both in Winthrop and in Boothbay. What a difference a few months make! Our days were full. Here's how they went:

Tuesday: Emma and I left Easton around 2:00 and drove right into terrible thunder storms. We had to pull over for almost an hour in Waltham. It took us five and a half hours to get to Winthrop, two hours longer than it normally would have. Emma was awake the whole time and I must say, she was on her best behavior. Thank God for our portable DVD player and the movie Tinker Bell (courtesy of Grammie). I couldn't have survived the drive without them. Emma was bouncing off the walls by the time we got to Winthrop.

Wednesday: We spent the morning with my Mom. She and Emma went for a walk and Emma saw her very first deer. After lunch we visited my Dad at work. Emma spent the evening with Grammie and Grandpa while I took Becky out to dinner and a movie as an early birthday present. We saw Up and it was really, really good!

Thursday: I had a remote meeting to attend for a few hours in the morning, so Emma got in some more Grammie time. Then Emma hung out with Aunt Becky in the afternoon. The sun was finally out so we took a long, leisurely walk. We also visited Mom's friend Laurel at her new house in Wayne. Emma had fun running across Laurel's beautiful lawn (where she saw a little chipmunk) and playing with Laurel's pug puppy.

Friday: We drove to Brewer to visit with the Jewell-Hackett-Bradford family and had a blast! Emma loved seeing Annie and Timmy and eating CHIPS. (Thanks, Tim!) She swam like a little fish in the pool with Annie, Timmy, and Andre. (Uncle Pat, Deb, Olivia, and Andre were there too!) Annie gave Emma a song she'd written between visits -- what a thoughtful little girl. (I'll post the song shortly.) Andrew drove up after work to meet us in Winthrop.

Saturday: We drove to Boothbay in the morning and spent the day with the Demers-Gilpins. OLIVIA DROVE us to the beach where we spent the afternoon playing in the sand, water, and kayaking. I even took Emma for a little kayak ride around the swimming area. As always, it felt so good to be at camp.

Sunday: The whole Demers gang got together at camp. We celebrated all the "0" birthdays -- Bob, Anne, Maureen = 60; Pat=50; Shawn=40; Colleen, Becky, Rob=30! Emma had tons of fun with her cousins, especially Hailee and Andre.

Monday: Debbie made pancakes for Becky's big 3-0. Then we sat around chatting and watched the tractor fill the mud puddles at camp. It was way more fun than it sounds! Mom & Dad treated us to lunch at Sarah's in Wiscasset. Then Andrew and I caravaned home.

I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting already, but a good time was had by all. That's the most important thing. Emma can't stop talking about her trip. ("Where Andre?") I'm already counting the days until we're back in August...

Emma and the tin foil

2009-07-07T09:47:00.001-04:00

Goodbye, dead tree!

2009-07-07T09:29:00.006-04:00

Dead tree:
Crane:
Up and over:
Stump:

Summer is here

2009-07-06T14:09:00.006-04:00

Nothing too exciting to report. We've been keeping busy with lots of summer fun. A trip to the beach for Emma and Andrew for William's 6th birthday. A visit to the aquarium for Emma and me with Amy, Norm, Ainslie, and Maggie. A fun and happy 4th with my parents, Sarah, Steve, and Connor. Now plans for a fun mini-vacation in Maine (Winthrop, Boothbay, and hopefully Orono). Uncle Pat and Debbie are in Boothbay with the kiddos (can I still call Olivia and Andre kids?) and we hope to spend a good amount of time with them. It's also my little sister's 30th birthday on Monday. Seeing Katie, Raph, Annie, and Timmy -- if they've got the time -- will be the icing on top. Happy summer, all. Bring on the sun.

Debinkification

2009-06-20T07:12:00.005-04:00

It's been over a week. That means Emma is officially debinkified, right?

Our pediatrician told us months ago to get rid of Emma's pacifier. It took us a little while to muster the courage to actually go through with it. We knew that cold turkey was the way we were going to go -- and we knew it would be tough. So, two Friday nights ago, we decided to just go for it. We tried to reason with Emma, telling her that pacifiers were only for babies. We had her put her binky in her doll crib and explained that she was a big girl now. She said, "OK, Mommy" (melt my heart) and handled the first night really well. She woke up a few times and was a little upset, but she managed to go back to sleep each time. We clapped and cheered in the morning and she even said, "only babies," when she woke up. Fast forward to nap time. When Emma realized we meant the pacifier was gone forever, not just one night, then the tornado hit.

It took several nights of screaming -- to the point where Emma was falling asleep standing up in her crib and screaming with every head bob -- before she calmed down. I must say, I am impressed with her manipulation skills. She tried everything to get her binky back: "Only one, Mommy." "Please, Mommy, Emma NEEDS one." "Only the white one, Mommy." And she even devised little plans to get us back in her bedroom: "Emma needs a new pull-up. Poopies in there." (Two minutes after her last diaper change.) Anyway, it's been a week and things are much better. Emma doesn't really ask for the pacifier anymore. Bedtime struggles are at a minimum. She's done fine with naps at daycare. And we are once again a peaceful little family. (Until the next thing...Potty training? Big girl bed?)

Four years

2009-06-19T19:09:00.000-04:00

Go us! Happy Anniversary, Andrew. I love you.

For the birds

2009-06-02T13:44:00.003-04:00

Emma had a playdate on Sunday with her favorite daycare buddy, Walter. They make a cute couple -- feeding each other raisins and playing nicely with Legos, trains, and in the sand box. While outside digging and sifting, a little bird hopped across our back lawn. Walter's mom asked, "Walter, what kind of bird is that?" (Meanwhile I'm thinking to myself, what?! Walter can identify different kinds of birds? Crap. We haven't taught Emma birds yet.) Anyway. Both toddlers turned to look at the bird. Then a sweet little voice cried out, "Robin!" (Or really, "Wobin!") The voice was Emma's! Andrew and I both did a double take. Really? Emma? Someone, sometime must have pointed out a robin. And Emma remmebered. I guess you had to be there, but Andrew and I were so proud and this moment really struck Andrew and me as super cute. Way to go, Emma.

Dr. Emma

2009-05-22T10:50:00.002-04:00

Emma and I were just having a pleasant conversation about how I'm her mother and she's my daughter. I was explaining to her what a special relationship we have and how I hope that someday we'd be friends. She'd grow up and perhaps have a family of her own, become a successful doctor, etc. What was Emma's response? "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" It took me a minute to understand, but of course -- that's what the doctor says! Oh, that little girl. She cracks me up.

Welcome, Brendan!

2009-05-11T16:00:00.004-04:00

I was lucky enough to see Abby, Matt, and Brendan today. I even got to hold the baby. He is absolutely perfect and adorable. And Abby & Matt are doing great. (It's OK, Maureen, I cried too.)

Mother's Day at a glance

2009-05-11T15:55:00.008-04:00

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. Mom, Emma, and I went out to breakfast. Then Andrew, Emma, and I visited the sheep pasture in Easton, where went for a lovely walk and saw some animals. The next stop was Hilliard's for ice cream. We ended with a quick stop at one of Easton's school playgrounds then had a quiet dinner at home. It was a thoroughly enjoyable family day -- lots of opportunity to stop and smell the flowers.

So high

2009-03-26T16:24:00.002-04:00

Oh! I almost forgot. And she also said, "up high," when she was building a tower with her new Lego set. Way cool.

Color my words

2009-03-26T16:05:00.002-04:00

Being a mom is funny sometimes. You put in all this time and effort and a lot of it's just just because you have to. It's not like there is always instant gratification or anything. But the truth is: it's worth it. I'm not saying it's easy or all fun and games, but every now and then something really awesome happens and it reminds you why you do what you do. Like this week, for instance. A couple of things just "clicked" for Emma. She got a new Lego set today and the first thing she did when she dumped out the blocks was to identify all their colors. We've been trying and trying to get her to learn colors. And today, she finally just knew them. Another proud moment was when we walked out of the pediatrician's office on Tuesday (conjunctivitis, yuck!) and Emma pointed out, "Mommy's car." Then this morning she recognized, "Mommy's coffee." And finally, she just pointed out, "Emma's shoes." This two-word thing is brand new and I must say I'm very proud. I mean, all Emma has to do to make me happy is to just be herself. But it's such an amazing feeling to know that Emma is really listening, learning, and soaking everything in.

Emma jumps & slides

2009-03-19T11:45:00.001-04:00

AI

2009-03-06T21:02:00.002-05:00

I

heart

Roller coaster week

2009-02-09T10:12:00.009-05:00

What an emotional week...down, up, down, up.

1. Tim, we are so glad your bypass surgery went well. We are thinking of you constantly. Happy healing.
2. Sarah & Ab, thank you for a fun and relaxing girl's night out. I left dinner feeling refreshed and very happy to have spent the evening with you lovely ladies.
3. Megan & Mike, congratulations on your new arrival, Ava Elise. We hope you're hanging in there and that Ava is out of the NICU soon.
4. Tommy & Kendal, congratulations on your engagement. I couldn't be happier for you both. Tommy, I am so very, very proud of you.

Now for an update on little Miss Emma...

The good news: One and a half is fun. Emma loves to pucker up and give big, wet kisses. She's totally into her blocks and won't stop building until she's used every single one. Then she knocks them over and says "gen" and starts all over again. She loves to dance and tries to hop and jump (this is really funny). She loves taking care of her babies (dolls). She loves to read her favorite books over and over. Sometimes she even likes to lie on the floor beside Andrew, each of them reading their own book. She can point out the letter E. She likes to sign smart ("mart") when Andrew and I act extra proud of her. And she says "han" when she wants to hold hands. She's very into stickers and coloring. She loves to "mim" (swim) in the tub and usually sings a little "mimmin" song while she does it. She loves her "new" daycare; her friends welcome her warmly each morning. (Today her friend Liam even went to find her favorite doll for her when she arrived.) I could go on and on...

The bad news: The terrible twos have hit with a vengeance. Emma's new favorite word is "no." Getting her dressed requires chasing her around the room and often tackling her. Mealtimes are a struggle. Suddenly she hates all her old favorite foods (unless they're from Mommy's plate, of course). When she doesn't get her way, Emma now resorts to fake crying, running away to stand in the corner and/or lying on the floor. Tantrums anyone? She tends to be a bit grabby and does not like to share. (Sorry, Connor!) Good thing she's so darn cute. Really, it's not as bad as it sounds. She's not terrible, just strong-willed, right? I wonder where she gets it.

Happy Birthday, Elmo.

2009-02-06T08:55:00.010-05:00

For those of you who don't know this already, Tuesday was Elmo's birthday. Please don't ask me how old he his; I have no clue. And frankly, after my disastrous Elmo cookie baking experience, I don't care. I am posting a picture of the cookies for the following reasons:

1. To share with the world my vow to never make them again.
2. To warn the rest of the world to never make them either.
3. To brag. After all the time, effort, and mess, I want a little recognition. (So please leave comments about how adorable they are and how very much the look like the real Elmo.)

Anyway. I'm only half kidding. If Emma really wanted Elmo cookies, I'd make them again. I'd probably use a different recipe and make her help, but whatever. The real lesson I learned is that I'm not taking on any further Martha Stewart-type projects until Emma can ask for them herself. She won't even remember these cookies; she's too little to care. Although she did beg me for one at breakfast time when she saw them, so that was cute. Was it worth it?

Happy Birthday, Elmo, you furry little pain in the butt!

Happy (belated) New Year

2009-01-07T13:44:00.003-05:00

Hope everyone's year is off to a good start. We had a blast ringing in 2009 with the Jewells.

Happy holidays!

2008-12-23T09:18:00.008-05:00

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Hope everyone's holidays are fun, happy, and safe. Emma says, "ho! ho! ho!" Here are a couple of shots of Emma enjoying her new house -- inside and out.

Chez Gershman

2008-12-23T08:44:00.020-05:00

No, we haven't fallen off the face of the earth. It's just been a long and exhausting month. We're finally beginning to feel settled (or at least functional) in our new house. Andrew and I are surprised about what a challenge it's been to move/unpack with a toddler. Plus, the elements (rain and snow) have definitely been against us. We didn't plan on spending so many of our weekend hours bailing water out of the basement and shoveling! We're just taking it one day at a time. Anyway, I've had several requests for pictures, so here you go! It's definitely a work in progress...

Bathroom before and after. (Wallpaper--what a pain in the butt!)

This border is gone.

Playroom before and after. (Red paint is a pain in the butt too.)
Dining room before and after. All we did was refinish the floors. Eventually we'll paint.
Living room before and after. Again, all we did was the floors.
Kitchen before and after. We painted and installed a new microhood. We're actually a lot more unpacked than this, but I haven't taken a recent picture...
Water in the basement. (Ugh! We hadn't even been moved in for two weeks!)
Snow!

Happy Birthday, Connor!

2008-12-05T23:09:00.002-05:00

Hope you had a terrific first birthday, little dude! We love you!

Love this pic.

2008-12-03T20:30:00.001-05:00

NFT (no further text).

Happy Birthday!

2008-12-02T09:50:00.002-05:00

You're the best, Mo. Have a fun and happy day! (Weren't you pregnant with Hayden in this picture?!)

Owning a home = tired = broke

2008-11-30T15:24:00.007-05:00

The last week has been a complete whirlwind. Andrew and I have been homeowners since Monday. (Finally!) We had our wood floors refinished on Tuesday. Andrew also started moving some odds and ends into the basement and/or attic while I stripped wallpaper. On Wednesday I cleaned the kitchen cabinets, fridge, and oven. Wednesday we had a lovely Thanksgiving at Aunt Anne & Uncle Larry's. Friday we made about four thousand trips to Home Depot and Lowe's (and spent about a billion dollars) while Dad fixed some outlets, installed a new microhood, switched up some light fixtures, replaced a shower head, etc. Saturday I painted the kitchen and hallway while Andrew raked about four billion piles of leaves (he's still raking as I type) and Dad, Larry, and Bob did some more stuff. Today Dad built some shelves in the bathroom while I touched up some paint and installed some new window blinds. Andrew and I are thrilled and, honestly, a bit overwhelmed. We plan to start moving stuff in as soon as the floors are dry (Tuesday? Wednesday?). And we hope to be moved in by the end of next weekend. In the meantime, Mom has been babysitting non-stop and Emma surely knows that something's up. Emma starts at her new daycare tomorrow; hopefully the transition is smooth. I can't believe I have to go to work tomorrow. How am I supposed to focus?!

Anyway, hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. The Gershmans certainly have a lot to be thankful for this year! :)

First haircut

2008-11-06T13:58:00.005-05:00

Emma got her hair cut for the first time yesterday. Nothing too dramatic -- just a trim to get her bangs out of her eyes. She didn't cry, but she didn't exactly have fun either. Here are the before and after pictures:

Kendal & Kierra

2008-11-06T13:00:00.003-05:00

Welcome, Kierra!

2008-11-05T17:29:00.005-05:00

Kierra Louise, the newest member of the Demers clan, arrived earlier today. I don't know any details except she was 8 lb. 5 oz. and both mom and baby are doing well. Congratulations, Tom and Kendal. Send pictures soon!

Update: Kierra (Louise O'Dea Demers) was born at 11:18 a.m. and is 20 1/4 inches long (or 21 1/4?). She's got lots of dark hair and Aunt Anne says she has big feet!

Vote

2008-11-04T13:42:00.006-05:00

The Boston Globe published a poem by Walt Whitman in today's paper about the power of voting. Good stuff. Worth reading. (I borrowed this photo from The Globe, FYI.)

Kissin' cousins (literally)

2008-10-29T11:41:00.013-04:00

We had a blast over the weekend visiting with the Hurds. It was such a joy to see Emma, Daniel, and Jake having fun together. Below are a few of my favorite photos. It was so hard to choose -- so many great moments! We miss you already Amy, Tim, Daniel & Jake!

Fish suck

2008-10-23T11:16:00.001-04:00

This is funny. Read the whole article.

CLICK HERE

1984

2008-09-29T14:27:00.004-04:00

This is way too fun...

[Could not stand looking at that picture for one more second!]

See for yourself: yearbookyourself.com

Maureen the great

2008-09-26T11:18:00.000-04:00

Amazing mother
You can see it in their eyes
Two beautiful boys

Cast your vote

2008-09-24T12:54:00.003-04:00

(With monkey leg pants, of course.)

OR

This one goes out to Jake

2008-09-19T08:44:00.002-04:00

Emma walks (and does laundry)

2008-09-17T09:19:00.006-04:00

Funny. As I was writing my last blog post, Emma was playing away in one of the safe kitchen drawers. She was pulling out dish towels and bringing them into the office. She was having a blast chatting away and keeping herself busy while I typed. It took me a minute to figure out what she was doing, but she was bringing the clean towels in and putting them in the laundry basket. Funny how she figured it out on her own from watching Andrew and me.

Good times

2008-09-17T08:34:00.015-04:00

Well, I'm officially 32. Holy cow. Thanks to everyone for the happy birthday wishes. For my birthday, Emma made me a card and said banana ("nana") and duck ("du") for the first time. Andrew got me a house. (He says it's on layaway. Ha.)

Just for the memory books, "hi, da da" wasn't a fluke. Emma has also--finally--started saying "ma ma" on a more regular basis (I'm only "da da" 50% of the time now) and she's signing milk and fish. We're working on the sign for "thank you" next. She also puts her arms out and makes a buzzing sound to imitate an airplane. And she points out the window (or up if she's outside) if you ask her to find the trees or the sky. So funny. She will also point to certain pictures (bottle, broccoli, kitty cat, etc.) in one of her favorite books, "First 100 Words." She now says up, night night ("nah nah"), yes ("yah"), and she's trying really hard to say belly button ("beeba"). So much fun stuff happening. She is learning so fast.

House update: We had our inspection on Sunday and all went well. Our lawyer has the P&S and is making some minor adjustments. Now we just sign, wait, and pray that the sellers find a house by 10/27.

Just sayin'

2008-09-10T09:58:00.001-04:00

I'm just saying...Emma is a little smarty pants. (Perhaps I'm a little biased.) Last night when Andrew came in to say goodnight, she looked up and said, "Hi, da da." It was crystal clear. Of course, she wouldn't say it again when we tried to get it on video, but oh well.

Chez Gershman

2008-09-09T15:47:00.003-04:00

Holy cow. We're buying a house.
If all goes smoothly, we'll be moving in late October. Wow.

p.s. No one is getting any Christmas presents this year. Sorry.

Missing Gram today

2008-09-04T14:13:00.005-04:00

I wonder how long it takes before you get over the loss of someone you love. And I mean someone you really love. My mom says the answer is never. I will always have happy memories of Grandma and she will always be a part of me. No, the loss isn't as raw as when it first happened, but there are definitely events (pregnancies, births, first birthdays); places (Mom's, camp); and things (Red Rose tea, strawberry jam, yellow roses, white haired little-old-ladies) that make me remember and make me sad. I try to focus on the positive things in my life instead, but there are days like today, Gram's birthday, when the sad feelings just can't be avoided. I will do my best -- for Gram -- to remember all the happy times we shared, but I know I will also be thinking about the loss I feel. Yes, I will probably call Mom and have a good cry too, but perhaps I'll muster the courage to end the day with a cup of tea and a pepperidge farm cookie in Gram's honor. Some extra hugs and kisses from Emma Mary will certainly help keep a smile on my face too...

Walking and such

2008-09-04T11:56:00.009-04:00

If I haven't said it already, one is so much fun. Emma learns something new every day, it seems, and is becoming quite the little person. Here's an update of what's she's up to.

Emma can...

* Walk. She's still very wobbly, but over the past weekend, walking became her mode of choice.

* Say the following words: hi, bye-bye (buh-buh), doggie (duh-dee), bah (meaning sheep), and daddy (dada). She can say other words like bottle (baba) and mommy (mama), but not without a little bit of prompting. Doggie, by the way, refers to anything that's furry with four legs -- bear, cat, etc.

* Tell you how old she is. When asked her age, she raises one finger.

* Point to the following body parts: head, hair, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, ears, belly button. She can also point these parts out on others. When she points to her eye -- or yours -- she says "eye."

* Sign the following: eat, please, more. She will mimic other signs (milk, fish, etc.), but the first three she does when she hears the corresponding word.

* Eat regular food. We're just finishing up our last jars of baby food and our last can of formula. Some of her favorites are: waffles, eggs, cheese, turkey, mac & cheese, bananas, nectarines, plums, apple sauce, pasta, yogurt, chick peas, green peas, green beans, broccoli, avocado, and cheerios.

* Shake her head "no." When we say "don't touch" or "get down," she shakes her head. This doesn't necessarily stop the naughty behavior, but she'll figure it out eventually, right?

Anyway, that's the latest and greatest. Oh, and she just had her one-year check-up with the pediatrician. All is well. She's a whopping 25 lbs. 6 oz. and 32 inches long. That puts her in the 95th and 98th percentiles -- way to go, Emma!

Poem of the day

2008-08-26T09:53:00.003-04:00

A coworker shared this poem with me today. It definitely resonates.

Sestina for the Working Mother
By Deborah Garrison

No time for a sestina for the working mother.
Who has too much to do, from first thing in the morning
When she has to get herself dressed and the children
Too, when they tumble in the pillow pile rather than listening
To her exhortations about brushing teeth, making ready for the day;

They clamor with goodbyes and "up" hugs when she struggles out the door.
Every time, as if shot from a canon when she shuts the door.
She stomps down the street in her city boots, slipping from mother
Mode into a commuter trance, trees swaying at the corner of a new day
Nearly turned, her familiar bus stop cool and welcoming in the morning.
Standing here quietly she hears her own heart, though no one else is listening,
And if the bus is late she hears down the block the voices of her children

Bobbing under their oversized backpacks to greet other children
At their own bus stop. They too have come flying from the door,
Brave for the journey, and everyone is talking and no one is listening
As they head off to school. The noisy children of the working mother,
Waiting with their sitter for their bus, are healthy and happy this morning,
And that's the best way, the mother knows, for a day

To begin. The apprehension of what kind of day
It will be in the world of work, blissful without children,
Trembles in the anxious and pleasurable pulse of the morning;
It has tamped her down tight and lit her out the door
And away from what she might have been as a mother
At home, perhaps drinking coffee and listening

To good radio, what rapt and intelligent listening
She'd do at home. And volunteering, she thinks, for part of the day
At their school—she'd be a playground monitor, a PTA mother!
She'd see them straggle into the sunshine, her children
Bright in the slipstream, and she a gracious shadow at the school door;
She would not be separated from them for long by the morning.

But she has chosen her flight from them, on this and every morning.
She's now so far away she trusts someone else is listening
To their raised voices, applying a Band-Aid, opening the door
For them when the sunshine calls them out into the day.
At certain moments, head bent at her desk, she can see her children,
And feels the quick stab. She hasn't forgotten that she is their mother.

Every weekday morning, every working day,
She listens to her heart and the voices of her children.
Goodbye! they shout, and the door closes behind the working mother.

Had to post this one too...

2008-08-25T19:53:00.003-04:00

Look-alikes?

Like mother, like daughter?

2008-08-24T13:16:00.004-04:00

Amy 1977:
Emma 2008:

Birthday reflections

2008-08-19T22:23:00.010-04:00

As silly as it sounds, Emma's first birthday was one of the most happy and proud days of my life. Yes, it was a party for Emma, but it was also a party for Andrew and me. Taking care of a baby is hard work, and it felt terrific to look back over the year and realize that hey, we're not doing such a bad job. Emma is healthy, happy, and loved. She's everything we ever could have hoped for in a little girl...and then some. She enjoyed seeing friends and family, taking rides in her new red wagon, and eating her very first cupcake. The weather was perfect and we just couldn't have asked for a more fun or joyous occasion. Thanks to everyone who helped to make Emma's first birthday a special one. What a truly awesome day.

Happy Birthday, Emma

2008-08-16T01:46:00.002-04:00

Having you was the best thing I ever did. I love you.

Poop happens

2008-08-08T08:47:00.002-04:00

In the spirit of Steve's Daily DADvice, I though I'd offer up some MOMvice of my own. (Doesn't sound as catchy, but equally valid, I think.) So, here goes: If you notice you're low on wipes, replace them immediately. Don't tell yourself (or your husband) that you'll "do it in the morning" because, inevitably, there will be a diaper explosion before you get around to it. Murphy's Law. Trust me.

Story Land rules

2008-08-06T10:01:00.003-04:00

Doesn't get much cuter than this:More to come!

Cupcakes and noses

2008-07-24T11:27:00.006-04:00

Man. What a busy summer it's been. We don't have a free weekend until September, I think. I'm totally behind on blog updates, pictures, and, well, just about everything else in my life (laundry, anyone?). I just had a conversation with one of my coworkers, however, that definitely stood out as blog-worthy. She asked me how Emma was doing, so I told her that Emma just learned how to stand up on her own and that she's become so much more responsive to my words and gestures. Donna (my coworker) said: "Well sure. She's as smart as you are. She's just less experienced." Donna was definitely right. I'd just never thought of it that way. Emma is a little person with little thoughts and desires and opinions. She just hasn't learned how to verbalize them yet. She uses sounds (volume, tone, and sometimes crying), she points, and she shakes her head "no" or pushes things away. She can't actually say the word "cupcake." But when I ask her if I can have a cupcake, she finds her cupcake toy and hands it to me. She can't say the word "nose," but if I ask her where her nose is, she points right to it. It's amazing. She surprises me every day. But I guess my whole point is that I shouldn't really be so surprised. She's smarter and more observant than I think. She's not just a baby anymore. And she's only going to keep growing and learning. Eleven months is a really fun age.

Sometimes simple is better

2008-06-23T12:28:00.018-04:00

There are tons of baby toys on the market; it's really hard to know which ones to choose. They come with varying degrees of bells and whistles and range drastically in price--from a few bucks to hundreds. Most toys promise some kind of benefit to your baby, like helping brain development or enhancing motor skills. Who know if any of this is actually true. All I can say is that after all the research, time, and money Andrew and I have spent on toys, Emma seems to like the most basic ones the best. Who knew that we could have outfitted her entire toy box for so much less...

Here are some of the toys we could not live without (in no particular order):

Books (prices vary). There are too many good ones to list here, but I definitely recommend investing in some good board books, especially the touch and feel kind (like "Baby Animals") or ones with flaps to lift (like ""). Emma loves to feel the different textures with her chubby little fingers and to "turn the page" all by herself. Reading is also our favorite "quiet" activity for those evenings when she's overstimulated and needs to wind things down before bed.

Stack Up Cups ($3.99). These are probably Emma's all-time favorite. They are delightful to chew and she just learned how to stack them one inside the other. They are dishwasher-safe which makes them good for tub and/or outdoor use. They have numbers on them and each one is a different color, characteristics that make for easy teaching. Emma also likes to use them to skate across the floor, one under each hand while she crawls. The possibilities are endless.

Baby Einstein Links ($4.99). Emma loves these links in particular. (She has another brand that she doesn't find as interesting.) The Baby Einstein version has numbers or animal shapes on each link -- perfect for chewing -- and they are easy to attach to car seat and/or stroller straps. Emma especially loves go gnaw on the colorful caterpillar loop that holds all the links together. Links are also very easy to wash.

Brilliant Basics Baby's First Blocks ($9.99). This toy really is "basic." It's got five different shaped blocks, each in a different color. It comes in a plastic bucket with a shape-sorter top. It might sound boring to you, but not to Emma. She can chew on the blocks or clap them together. She can put blocks "in" the bucket, or dump them "out" of the bucket. Heck, she even likes to put the bucket on her face, chew on it, or make funny noises into it. And sooner or later she'll learn how to sort the blocks by putting them in the appropriately shaped holes in the top. This one's a winner.

First Keys Teether ($1.99). This good old standby is great to chew on and fun to rattle. It's pretty noisy when you shake it so it also works as a great distraction tool. ("Please don't climb on the entertainment center, Emma, come play with these keys instead. *jingle, jingle* ") The one drawback is that your baby will never love these keys as much as your real keys (dirty!).

Whoozit ($.99). OK. I honestly don't know if Emma loves this thing, or if I have conditioned her to love it because I think it's cool. Every baby in my new moms group has one, so I think in my mind this must the ultimate baby toy. It's got every kind of sound and texture made for babies. It's easy to grab onto and it has a Velcro strap to attach to car seats, activity bars, etc. It's colorful and goofy looking. Emma particularly loves to chew on the nose that squeaks and to play with the corduroy triangles that are on every third arm (arm?). Emma's Whoozit has survived multiple machine washings.

Melissa & Doug Construction Worker Puppet ($11.45). This toy is for the older baby. We first saw this dude while shopping at Jordan's Furniture. Apparently they use the Melissa & Doug line of toys as display pieces in their children's section. Who knew? Emma was instantly enamored by this funny little guy, so we went home and ordered one from Amazon. So far it's been a wise choice. Emma cracks up every time Larry (yes, we named him after my uncle) tries to blow her kisses or chew on her hand. Larry is also teaching Emma how to sing "YMCA."

A ball. Any small, soft ball will do. I got Emma a Care Bear ball at Target for $0.98. She thinks playing catch is absolutely hilarious and she will "role" the ball in your direction if you ask nicely, "can I have that?" We've been able to apply the "can I have that?" to other toys and Emma has quickly picked up the concept of sharing. Bonus!

A doll, teddy bear, or other cuddly animal (prices vary). You might think that a plain old doll or bear isn't too useful to a little baby, but Emma really enjoys her furry friends. She seems to recognize the word "baby" now and has even tried to say it once or twice (we think). She gives hugs and kisses to her babies and likes to "snuggle" with them. We think that "baa" was Emma's official first word in response to a stuffed sheep she's particularly fond of. Oh, and Emma loves to do face plants (as Andrew has termed them) on anything soft and cuddly. Sometimes I just scatter stuffed animals around her play area to watch her snuggle with them because it's just so damn cute.

And finally, a big shout out goes to Emma's colorful little octopus we named "calamari." (Formally "Octivity Link Along" by Lamaze.) His tentacles crinkle and there's a knot at the end of each -- perfect for little hands to grab and for little mouths to chew. He also attaches to any strap by way of a handy-dandy link. I couldn't find this toy on Amazon anywhere, but it definitely makes the cut. (I imagine it costs under $10, but since it was a gift, I'm just not sure. Thank you, Sue!) Calamari has braved the washing machine several times and always manages to come out unscathed.

Bumpy ride

2008-06-21T09:01:00.003-04:00

Parenting is not for the faint of heart, especially when your little one is crawling, climbing, and thinks she knows how to walk (but really has no balance). Emma falls over, bumps her head, or whacks herself all the time lately. It doesn't matter how close and eye we keep on her, she still manages to find trouble. Last week she even whacked her forehead on my tooth. (That should give you an indicator of how close to her I was.) She also pulled a book off a shelf, hit her face, and gave herself a little black eye for a day or two. Yikes! (Andrew gets credit for that one.) She bounces back quickly, though, and is immediately raring to go. I kind of think it's harder on Andrew and me since Emma instantly forgets what happened. Andrew and I, on the other hand, feel like the most rotten parents in the world every time she cries. I guess it's a learning process for everyone involved. Practice makes perfect, right? We'll make it through...as long as the bumps and bruises don't get too serious.

Party theme options

2008-06-20T03:14:00.000-04:00

Click here for pictures.

3 years!

2008-06-19T11:18:00.004-04:00

Happy day...whee!

10 months!

2008-06-16T12:53:00.004-04:00

I can't believe that Emma is already 10 months old. It's amazing how quickly she went from being a little blob of baby to a playful, interactive, hilarious little person. She is so full of new tricks lately, that it's impossible to list them all anymore. Some of our favorites are her fake laugh (which almost always ends in real laughs), when she shares her pacifier, her "baby dance," when she throws her arms up to say "touchdown," and her new impish, squinty smile. She's crawling and climbing everywhere too, of course.

Anyway, happy 10 months, Emma. Being your mom gets more and more fun every day!

HFD!

2008-06-15T20:35:00.006-04:00

Andrew rules.
(Pictures from today.)
Thank you, Andrew, for all you do.
Emma and I love and appreciate you very much!

Emma crawling

2008-06-02T16:57:00.002-04:00

(We've since removed the dangling cord.)

Confession

2008-06-02T12:17:00.008-04:00

It's been almost 7 months since Emma started daycare. She loves the other kids and seems to have a lot of fun while she's there. Even if I could afford to stay home full-time, I think I'd still want to send her every now and then because she loves it so much. But, all that being said, I still cry every time I have to drop her off. (Usually, it's Andrew's job.) I know she's safe and happy and I'm usually more than ready for a break, but I still miss her the second we're apart.

Healthy Emma and thank you, Sarah

2008-05-26T09:16:00.011-04:00

Yes, you guessed it. Emma's been sick again. We knew something was up when she fell asleep super early on Wednesday night and had a low-grade fever. Her temperature spiked all the way up to 104.1 on Thursday and was still high on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday morning it was bizarrely low, all the way down to about 93-94. She's been to the see her pediatrician each day, had to give a urine sample (via catheter!), and made a trip to the hospital for some blood work (so not fun!). At first it looked like some kind of bacterial infection, so she's on an antibiotic. Yesterday, after more blood work, it looked more like a virus. She seems much better today, despite an upset stomach from the antibiotic. Her temp finally seems to be under control, she's much more comfortable, and she's in much better spirits. Thank goodness! Fevers are really scary an it was sad to see Emma acting so lethargic. I am more than ready for a HEALTHY summer...

And now for a shout out to my awesome friend Sarah. Sarah, you rule! I posted a while back about replacing Emma's Avent bottles with BPA-free Born Free bottles which cost a pretty good chunk of change. I know, I know, when it comes to safety, money isn't an issue. But Andrew and I couldn't help but to cringe at the money it felt like we were just throwing out the window. You may be thinking, "Hey, it's only a few bottles." But we'd already gone through two sizes of bottles, three stages of nipples, plus breast pump conversion kits, storage containers, etc. all made by Avent. Well, thanks to a tip from Sarah, we learned that Babies 'R Us is taking back used polycarbonate bottles and bottle accessories at full-price for store credit. Hallelujah! I think I called them about half a dozen times to ask them if they were serious. Used bottles? With Emma's name on them? With no packaging or receipt? Wow. Well, they stood by their word. We packed everything up yesterday, Andrew made the return, and we pretty much broke even. Awesome! Of course we already spent the credit on diapers, baby food, new pacifiers, etc. But hey, that was just money we would have shelled out anyway. So, thank you very much for the tip, Sarah. You made our bottle transition much more pleasant and economical.

Houston...

2008-05-21T15:19:00.003-04:00

...we have a crawler.

Emma crawled (I mean, really crawled...across her entire bedroom floor) last night for the very first time. Way to go. Trouble, here she comes!

Playing catch is hilarious!

2008-05-20T11:16:00.002-04:00

The picture isn't great, but the sound is worth it, I think...

Nine months

2008-05-16T09:17:00.000-04:00

Happy 9 months, little doll!