iderdider....

sweet fancy moses.

2009-07-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight instead of requesting to be rocked for her two night time songs, she shouted out song requests and danced around the room. She spun circles in her pink pajamas. I still sang and rocked with no child in my lap. She jumped. She channeled Elaine.
What it lacked in calming it made up for in entertainment value.

10 months.

2009-07-06T14:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Everett,
I'm sorry she thinks you're a ride-on toy.
I'm sorry I don't have four breasts.

Also, on the 5th you hit 10 months. You've officially been on the outside of me longer than you were inside. It is going so fast.

I couldn't love you more.
Love,
Mama

update: the pits.

2009-06-30T21:34:00.000-07:00

The homemade deodorant has been a huge success. It smells a bit like WD-40, which around here is just fine. All of the delicate underarms in our household have been converted to the in house brand.

So this is the summer that I (so far) have made my own deodorant, picked tons of berries, made naturally sweetened frozen jam, grew a fairly impressive garden and managed to keep 2 small children alive. Well done, me.

i think that went well.

2009-06-26T15:36:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking about the words I don't say to Claire. How many times throughout the day does she have to hear me gush about the fabulousness of Mister Baby? How often does she hear me compare her brother to a robot (because he never cries, he goes to sleep without a problem, he eats everything, he always smiles). Robot. I decided to practice affirming the girlie. Here's how that went:

Mama: You know what I love? I loved having a baby girl and watching her grow into a big kid. You're so funny and smart and sweet. And you're a great big sister. I love being your mommy.

Claire: I love trucks.

unconditional.

2009-06-21T15:32:00.000-07:00

I can't imagine a better babydaddy than this guy. Happy Father's Day, Nate. I love you.

dear claire.

2009-06-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

1. On the way home from spending the night with Owen you demanded to be returned to his house. You stated, "You're not my mommy." I may have died a little inside.

2. Later, the same day out of nowhere, you say, "Asparagus makes your pee stink. But only your pee. Not your poop." Thanks.

3. When I asked you what thought would be an appropriate consequence for taking my laptop without permission, you wisely suggested, "a treat."

Never a dull moment, girlie. Three is kicking my butt.
Love,
Mama

PS. Lately, there are more blog pictures of the Mister than you. He is more willing to pose. (He also eats everything I feed him and would never tell me that I'm not his mommy). Somedays he is easier, somedays you are. Both of you are my favorites.

we are the luckiest.

2009-06-16T19:53:00.000-07:00

Going away for 28 hours was no easy task. Thanks to gracious friends who let our little ones sleep over for a night so that a very tired mommy and daddy could hang out alone and talk about our kids uninterrupted.

friday night book club.

2009-06-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

They have a system only the two of them fully understand. She previews a book, shouts out the title and discards it. She directs him to "read" it. He almost always complies. She's not happy when he rejects her selection. They go on and on like this for much longer than you'd think a 2 and 3 year old would with only a pile of books to entertain them.

It is the easy rhythm of old friends. They are old friends. They have known each other their whole lives. This time is precious. Before they realize that she is older. Before one of them becomes cooler than the other. Before braces and breasts and cooties. They love each other because they've known each other their whole lives.

Watching them, I am reminded that this time won't last. It can't. My heart catches as I watch them go from babies to toddlers to children together.

smells like teen spirit.

2009-06-11T15:08:00.001-07:00

If you were to guess who in our house had sensitive skin, I bet you wouldn't guess it was the person who wears a respirator and leathers to work. But it is.

So, when Dana emailed me a link to a deodorant recipe, and I had all of the ingredients in my kitchen, I knew I had to try it. Even after I told the internet that it could punch me in the face if I started making my own deodorant*. I'll let you know how Nate's delicate skin fairs after trying my creation.

*Note: I used my kitchen aid to mix this stuff up, which is maybe a tiny bit gross. It made a HUGE batch (probably 3 times what you would put into one stick). Also, since it's not technically my own deodorant but Nate's, please refrain from face-punching me the next time we meet.

what not to wear: toddler edition.

2009-06-10T10:28:00.001-07:00

I'm loading the car. Imagine my surprise when Claire comes running out in this stylish number.
We were on our way to play with the big kids (Hi Luke, Hi Isabella). Then she asks me, "What 'sabella say about my outfit, Mama?"

I had no answer.

the doctor is out.

2009-06-09T15:32:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to see comments asking for the recipe for my happy tea.

I'll tell you what I did before starting the tinctures and tea and if you're still interested, email me and I'll tell you more.

I cut out sugar. I mean completely. Also, dairy. And white flour. This is not to sound awesome. Although, honestly in comparison to how crappy I felt just a few months ago, I feel awesome. I am eating natural sweeteners: raw honey, maple syrup, nasty nasty backstrap molasses, a few other things. I have never once been successful at dieting. But this feels different. This isn't because I want to fit into my skinny pants. This is about being tired of feeling awful. This one change was huge for me. Go off sugar for a month, I dare you.

And, in my quest to turn my kids into serious hippies, Mister Baby has been subjected to some awesome unprocessed teething biscuits. He is a fan. Though really, the dude will put anything in his mouth, so he's love of the natural teethers isn't saying much.

shucks. i might as well stay where i am and be your little bunny.

2009-06-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

C: Mama, we two trees. We come home to 'chother.

silver lining.

2009-06-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

When you find yourself without water on a Saturday morning and in need of all sorts of well-related repairs, the tank will come in a rad cardboard box, which will make an outstanding fort.

hear no evil.

2009-05-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

Once you go Mister, you'll never go back.

i hope she did it naturally.

2009-05-28T21:06:00.000-07:00

From the backseat...
C: What that, Mama?
M: That's the hospital where you were born.
C: Oh. When Teddy was in my tummy we didn't go to the hospible. We used a midwife.

The big sister, herb-pushing hippie in training.

the family that paints together.

2009-05-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

Last year, I stumbled upon this blog, a beautifully photographed account of a family. Makes you want to do crazy things like knit. And have four kids. And can your own food. Wild.

Last summer, I picked up Amanda Soule's book, The Creative Family. The book reads like her blog. It's a quick read, full of simple ideas to spark the creative juices in a family.

Several weeks ago I got together with friends to paint pottery. The finished projects sat in our kitchen waiting to be delivered to the kiln. Four bowls were left unpainted. One night after Everett went to sleep, they beckoned. Nate, Claire and I had a family pottery-painting night, which was just as messy and fun as you can imagine.

In her book, Soule suggests a family drawing night. I think we'll try that next.

rock man: now tastier than ever.

2009-05-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

Rock Man, November, 2006

Rock Man, May 2009

hope in a jar.

2009-05-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

Why do most of the women I know who stay at home with kids struggle with depression at least some of the time? Were our moms depressed too? Our grandmas? Did they have the luxury to think about such things when there were meals to make and diapers to wash? What if there were no Prozac?

After Claire was born it took me months to regain my footing. I cried. A lot. What pulled me out then was trips to the gym.

This time I was prepared. I talked with my midwives about the possibility of post-partum depression. I had a plan. I had a fancypants double stroller. It wasn't going to happen again. Only it did.

Exercise is great, but when you're exhausted, it's not particularly helpful advice. Also the logistics of lugging 2 kids to the gym alone seemed impossible. I saw a naturopath. I started taking a tincture. I started drinking a tea. In no time, I started wanting to get some exercise. I feel more like myself than I have in months.

I don't want to be the girl that needs my herbs to feel fine, but it seems that I am that girl. I have written about my nethers, I've posted photos of my pregnant self and this is the post that I didn't want to write. A small part of me wondered about a time when I am no longer at home with kids. What if those imaginary future people that I want to impress google me and find that in the spring of 2009, I saw a naturopath for depression?

But I feel so much better that I just can't keep quiet. I find myself turning into a herb-pushing hippie. At the playground the other day, my kid is one the who picks up a handful of barkchips and says, "Here's your herbs, Mama."

If I start to make my own deodorant, you have my permission to punch me in the face.

overheard.

2009-05-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

It is Friday. She's running up and down the field, playing a game that vaguely resembles soccer. He's lounging happily on my back in the ergo. (I assume he's happy, there's no rearview on those things). She circles around us and runs away. He starts to flail and swat my back. Then he says his first word.

"Clur."

Of course.

the babies on the bus.

2009-05-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

Claire and her buddies visited the fire station this week and played it cool for the firefighters. These kids go ballistic when a firetruck drives down our street, but in the presence of the actual trucks and hoses and POLE, they were miniature teenagers. I imagine if Elmo walked into the station they would've been all, "Hey Elmo's here. That's cool."

Unrelated: it was bound to happen. In this family the babies get on the bus. Then we snap some pictures.

blessed with 2.

2009-05-10T21:40:00.001-07:00

There are so many moments that I don't capture on film now. Even though the camera is nicer than the one I had when she was a baby, my hands are fuller and there isn't always time.

Mother's Day started at 3 AM with an unhappy baby who refused to be comforted by anyone but me.

I grumbled, but he was unmoved. Doesn't he know it's Mother's Day?

Later, on the way home from delivering gifts to the grandmama, tired beyond tired, I catch them giggling, touching fingertips. And she says to him, "Holding hands together is the best, Ev." They giggle some more. It is sweet. We both wipe our eyes a bit in the front seat. I try to stealthy grab the camera, but the moment is gone.

spring cleaning with a three year old.

2009-05-08T19:20:00.001-07:00

I've been cleaning. And purging. And while this spring cleaning thing I have been participating in suggests taking before and after pictures, I haven't stopped to document my progress. The highlights:

Day 2-dropping junk at the Goodwill with kids in the backseat. Asking the attendant to distract Claire so she wouldn't notice the ripped books and free-with-purchase items that she needs.

Day 3- Finding the perfect treasure chest style box to store her princess gear. Ripping my skinny pants performing backseat tetris with the box, 2 kids and the usual car mess.

Day 4- Nate discovers the give/sell box. He simply must have my calculator from college. Also wants to know why we're giving away a box of lasagna noodles.

Day 5- Postal food drive in our neighborhood tomorrow. Our mailman is going to score!

She likes to say bandanna. Likes to mop the floor. Does not like to part with a single thing. We're practicing with her out-grown clothes. She'll suggest giving a friend a certain pair of pajamas or shoes. For the really special things though, she'll say, "Let's put it in the attic for my sister." I remind her that we have a brother in this house. She is steadfast. "For my sister, Mama."

someone's got a case of the mondays.

2009-05-04T15:40:00.000-07:00

loose ends.

2009-04-30T22:41:00.000-07:00

Make your own pudding finger paint:
In a stand mixer prepare vanilla (or whatever flavor white) pudding according to package directions. Add food coloring. (I suggest swimsuits for this activity and if a friend is going to participate, individual "paint" dishes).

Some time ago I asked for help identifying the meaning of a certain license plate around town. I even offered a prize. Then I completely forgot that I have a blog. Stephanie correctly solved the mystery of ILMEGU. Because our winner recently moved out of town, I thought a fitting prize would be something only found locally. Word on the street is she'll be back to speak at MOPS soon and I was hoping to give her a little gift card love that she could use while she's here. Any ideas?

Also, changing my profile picture now, Alida. So no one gets any ideas.

Lastly, a girl on her horse, because you can never get enough giddy-up.

colors are brighter.

2009-04-28T21:47:00.001-07:00

In those first early, blurry months of having two babies, I wondered if it would ever get easier. If it would ever feel fun again. Today there was fingerpainting with pudding in my kitchen. Later, a little girl danced circles around me while I made dinner. On her feet were the ballet slippers that I wore as a child. I stopped to spin her and I felt more like myself than I have in months.