I Wub You... This much

We have been doing the whole... "I love you" "No, I love You more" "I love you this much" (opening our arms as wide as we can get). We have been doing this for a couple weeks now. It is very endearing. Maggie, out of the blue, will say "Mommy, I wub you." I say how much? She stretches her arms out as far as she can.

Today Mags told me she loved me "this much." Stretching her little arms as far as she possibly could. I returned the sentiment, telling her I loved her even more... "this much." Mags then said to Mo, "Maur Bynn, how much you wub me?" Maura opens her hands about six inches, clarifying "You know Maggie, you did break my jewelry box."

Maternity test?

Is there such a thing? I was pretty sure I was going to need one today when, as we were making Shepard's Pie for dinner (NB: I literally have not cooked since Saturday, as I have been so doggone sick, so this was a big deal. I even doubled the recipe and froze one!) Maura tastes the mashed potatoes and spits them out and says "I just will never like potatoes. I keep trying them and I just keep spitting them out." Pretty sure she is not my child.

That was until later that night as I was putting the girls to bed Maura declared that her heart had stopped beeping, her temperature had run away, her mouth could not open, her legs were broken, and her ear was hurting. This all happened after she was put in time out. Those flash illnesses are tricky. With that kind of drama... I know she is mine.

Don't call CPS...

If you did, I may have my children taken away or at least get a severe scolding. While I sit here typing with a box of tissues, two bottles of pain killers and a bottle of water, they are downstairs in the playroom "playing." I am hearing all kinds of screams, screams of pure laughter, screams of jealousy, screams of monsters (pretend of course), etc coming from the playroom. I should peek down. Instead I tell myself at least I can hear them. Why am I too tired to cook dinner and play "benture" (adventure) but not too tired to surf the web or write?

I must defend a little, B, the baby, is up here with me. I am not that bad!

an addition: Mo just came up laughing hysterically saying she is having so much fun. That's a good thing.

I am getting old...

Actually I am old and have been that way for a while. We had a great weekend, well part of it was great. On Saturday the family packed up the car and headed to my friend Stefanie's beautiful house in North Jersey to get together with my college roommates. It was great. All five of us were there, our hubbies and the 8 kids (plus Lisa is expecting in July). It is so hard to all get together. Every time we do, we say "We should do this more often" but it just always seems like someone is busy. It was so great to see everyone. The kids played great, most of the time.

When we first got there Maggie was holding a cricket "bat" (not sure what the technical term is) and accidentally knocked Emma on the head. It was loud. I swear to you just three seconds before I thought to myself, a cricket bat (well I was not sure what it was) is probably not a good idea with this many kids. Oh well.

B also received her first bruise from little Mairyn. I didn't see it happen, just heard the aftermath, but as sad as I was for B, I was happy my kid was not the only bruiser (although Mags did knock Braden down later also!) Mo, Mags and Jack played together so well. They were pretty much off on their own the whole time. It really was nice. What a fun world the world of make believe is for kids. I felt badly when Mo asked if I wanted to go on a "venture" with them. I had to say no. I would much rather drink wine and gossip with my girlfriends. Sorry Mo; you'll understand some day.

Anyway, why am I old? Before we left for NJ I had an early morning cheerleading practice (I really am excited for it to be over this year) and was basing. I hurt my back just a little. When we got home I was kneeling on the floor getting B out of her carseat and twisted a half an inch and my back was out! OUT! I literally spent the night laying on the family room floor in jeans and jacket. I could not even move to get ice under my back. I gave birth to three girls with late epidurals and ones that wore off before giving birth, I know a little about pain. This was pain. Sean just threw a blanket on me, and I slept right in that same spot. Unfortunately, I did not think much about where I fell to the floor. It was not a good spot at all. I could barely see the TV. Sean was nice enough to feed me and hold a cup with a straw so I could drink some water to wash down the pain killers. Luckily the next day I could move a bit cautiously (with lots of pain killers) as I spent 9 hours in a college gymnasium at a cheerleading competition... ugh!

The girls were very sweet to me lying on the floor in the middle of their playing area. Even on Sunday when Mo first woke up she asked "Does your back still hurt?" The proceeded to kiss and rub it to make it feel better.

Unfortunately for Sean, that night was also B's second night (in her whole life, not bad) of being up crying in the middle of the night. Being that I could not move much, definitely not lift, he had to cover it. He was not happy. I tease him that he has no idea what it is like to have a baby. All our girls were such good sleepers, he really has no clue how lucky we are.

Anyway, tomorrow is MLK day, but no vacations here. It is freezing outside. We will have to find a fun way to pass the time without making Mommy move too much.

Thank you for healthy babies...

I have been reminded many times this week how lucky I am to have a healthy family. I can deal with the colds, the coughs, the teething, even the pesky stomach bug. We have 2 friends who just recently lost their babies over halfway through their pregnancies. We have another who has a baby (just 2 months old) going through chemo and radiation and an array of other surgeries. The fact that AJ has made it to almost three months is a miracle, and I pray for him several times a day. Another girlfriend just spent the weekend in the hospital with her three week old because of a bacterial infection. He is fine now, and they were being cautious admitting him because of his young age, but how scary and sad.

Thank you God for my mini clan of healthy girls. I love the craziness that happens everyday here, but it sometimes takes a big slap in the face for me to remember that.

Popcorn and Grandad

This past weekend was a busy one. I was pretty much home only to sleep (and I did not even sleep at home on Saturday night). Sean's mom and dad both retired this year from their jobs. Tim had a retirement party on Saturday night thrown by the firm. Colleen had an idea to throw a party for her mom on Sunday. So it was a retirement weekend. Tim's party was right down the street from Sean's p's house, so he had suggested a while ago to see if my p's could watch the girls over night, and we could spend the night at his parents' house... less of a drive home and sleeping in a bit in the morning. Well, my mom was out of town, but my dad stepped up to the challenge and did it all by himself. That is impressive. Not many grandads would be able to handle three kids (3 and under) over night by themselves. Actually, I will clarify, not many PEOPLE would be able to do that, or would willingly volunteer to do it.

Grandad showed up with popcorn, and the girls were sold. They had a great time eating popcorn and watching movies in their jammies. He said it was fun and the girls were great. Hope that is true. Thanks Dad. Whenever you mention Grandad (or Oba for that matter) Maggie says "Grandad. Popcorn."

By the way, i had to get up at 6:40 am the next morning for a competition so the "sleeping" in part of the plan did not happen.

Two great retirement parties for two great people. The girls had a ball with their grandparents and cousins. When Logan came over to give Maura a hug goodbye, Maura hugged him back and said, "I miss you already, Logan!" Too cute.

A new point of view

B has a new point of view. She is starting to sit all be herself. She is not a pro yet; she eventually falls over, but she is getting there. I remember this being one of my favorite stages of Mo and Mag's life. They can sit and play but can't go anywhere. I think Bridget is going to love it. She really likes to be held facing out and likes to sit on your lap facing out... no cuddling for her. She is similar to Mo in this way. Mo was no snuggler... liked to see what was going on. She still is not a snuggler. Mags is my snuggle bunny. She likes all her comfort objects and loves to sit on your lap with her head on your shoulder, when she is really tired. Just like her personality and temper, she is one extreme or the next. She is either cuddling or running, no in between.

I tried to give cereal to B again today. She really wants nothing to do with it. She had a look on her face like I gave her a shot of Jameson (the same face Mo used to get when you gave her peas). She turns her face away, and if I do get it in her mouth she promptly spits it out. She has a doctor's appointment next week. I have got to get her eating before then!

Sticking to my New Year's resolution

One of my NYRs was to be more consistent and stricter with the girls. I never thought I would be, but I am a softie. We were at the playground the other day, and Maggie kept asking to go to the lower playground. With B in the stroller and it being a slight bit muddy, (and me being a slight bit lazy) I did not want to walk down the hill through the dirt to the next play area. I kept saying no.

Well, Maggie walked down there anyway and within a few minutes Mo, B and I were on our way too. Maura looked up at me and said "Mom why are we going to the lower playground?" Pause. "You said we couldn't go down and yet we are on our way now." You're right Maura. So much for resolutions.

Squatting rights

There has been once or twice (okay, four or five times) where Maura has been in a park or some place like that where she has had to go potty. There was no bathroom, and we did not have the portable potty with us. We had her "squat" against a tree. This happened again just the other day. The next day we were leaving school and a group of mothers were standing around with their new babies (I was one of them and B was the oldest baby in the group) talking to the director of the school. Maggie walked over to the tree nearby, pulled down her pants, starting squatting and trying to take off her diaper. When I ran over and asked her what the heck she was doing, she innocently looked up at me and said, "I have to poopie" Of course!

Milestones

With Maura I had a calendar that I basically wrote everything Maura did everyday. I mean everything... ate first cereal, went to sing a long at PBK, visited Oba and grandad. Maggie has one too. There is about half that amount recorded. Bridget has one, I think. Actually, I am not really sure. I will have to check.

But Bridget is getting bigger and doing more everyday. Today she sat all by herself on her playmat by holding on to one of the archways. I told Mauran to look at her, and she said, "I think you are helping her." I wasn't. She was doing it all on her own. She plays with her toys now and is able to get just about anything in her mouth on demand. She still smiles very easily and laughs so hard she gets the hiccups.

I took her to cheerleading (I took all the girls) and one of the cheerleaders was holding her for about an hour. She could not get over how easy going and sweet B was. She did not make even one peep. She is just that kind of girl. I am really excited to see how her personality develops. I hope this laid back, happy-go-lucky personality stays for our sakes, but also for hers. I think that is a nice way to go through life. Not all stressy like her mother!!

I need to try giving B some cereal again too. I tried once, and she really was not interested. She will be 6 months next week. She has a doctor's appointment in two. If I go in there and say she is not eating yet they'll, well, I don't know what they will do, but they won't like it. I am holding it off for my own selfish reasons. Once she starts eating... well... she keeps eating. I really cannot imagine how I will fit that in my day. It will have to be lunch or dinner. Breakfast will have to be last, definitely.

What would that feel like?

So yesterday I got home from a day of cheerleading around 6:35pm. Maura was asleep on the couch. Sean said she feel asleep in the car on the way home from Mimi and Papa's house. I tried to wake her up a few times with no luck (i did not want her up until 10:00pm!). We decided to just carry her up to bed, with a quick, sleepy trip to the potty, and put her in bed. She slept until after 7:30 this morning. When was the last time I had 13+ hours of sleep? What would that feel like?

Go Bucky Guys!

Maggie and Maura, poor things, are good at a few chants. They know E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles! Go Hoos and Go Bucks. Luckily, mommy did not go to a school where sports matter, how would they keep track?

The other day I told Maura that Mimi and Papa were not home (she wanted to go to their house), they were in Ohio. She said, "Oh, visiting the Buckeyes?" Yes, them and the other dozen or so family we have living there.

Maggie used to run around randomly yelling "Go Bucks!" I must reiterate, it was random and LOUD! She loved to do it at quiet times in church especially. Now she has changed the wording (volume is the same) to "Go Bucky Guys!" It is so cute. The Buckeyes play in the National Championship game on Monday; they will both have to wear their Buckeye Cheerleading outfits!

Go Bucks!

New Year's Resolutions

So it is time for us all to start anew, right? Well here are our resolutions for this month, I mean year...

Autumn... be neater, as in, stay on top of all the housework, laundry, dishes, kids stuff, etc.
...be strict- at least consistent- with the kids.
...lose 23 pounds, ha!

Sean... make it home for dinner with family at least 2x a week (add to Autumn's list-make a decent dinner at least 2 x a week)

Maggie... pacifiers only in bed... this is big!!!! We are finishing day 4 today, and it is going great!

Maura... be nicer to my sister (I made this up when she did not quite get the concept). Not sure she is fully on board with it.

Bridget...keep on keeping on, and maybe swallow some rice cereal.