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Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Lately

I have started this post about 17 times now.  I get distracted by my children, my mommy brain, or randomly fall asleep because I have a moment of silence and I instinctively try to catch a cat nap.

It seems like a lot and nothing has been going on all at the same time the past couple (almost two!) months.  We are busy acclimating to life as a family of four.  For the first several weeks of Zoey's life, I was more than a wee bit terrified of having two kids and wondering if I was going to be able to keep my head above water.  I'm happy to report I've found my not-back-to-work-yet-but-I-have-two-kids-groove and I'll worry about the working-full-time-and-I-have-two-kids-groove later.



So, what's new?

- I'm basking in the glow of my maternity leave and the thought of returning to work makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth.  My biggest guilty pleasure has been watching Kelly and Michael.

- Second biggest guilty pleasure (that I wish was a carton of mint chocolate chip ice cream!) is binge watching on Netflix.  I finished the third season of Orange is the New Black, finally got to watch the final season of Parenthood (on Hulu, thank you for the suggestion Tiff!) and bawled my eyes out, and just finished the first season of Grace and Frankie.

That makes me sound like all I do is watch television, but I promise you I do other things like take naps.

- Speaking of Tiff, she and the kids (and her aunt!) are coming to visit us next week and I cannot even explain how excited I am.  My heart is happy and full and they aren't even here yet.

 - We'll be flying to St. Louis in August for Ryan's cousin's wedding.  This will be the first time we've flown with two kids and maybe I'm setting myself up for disaster but I'm feeling mostly confident.  I've been trying to find a dress to wear to the wedding that is flattering, comfortable yet wedding-appropriate, and nursing-friendly and I'm starting to wonder if such a dress exists.

- I would just like to mention (again!) that the airfare to St. Louis was outrageous.  Seriously, I'm wondering if Alaska Airlines fully understands the concept of supply and demand.  I'm pretty sure people aren't lining up to travel to the hot and humid August that is St. Louis, Missouri.

- I have a work trip to Hawaii in mid-September and we've decided to make a family vacation out of it.  Ryan, the brave soul, will watch the kids during the day while I'm in my meeting, and he will run away for a cocktail as soon as I return.  Kidding, I hope.  To be honest, I am very excited and my online shopping habits has never been more worrisome in preparation for this adventure.  

- The airfare to Honolulu was cheaper than the airfare to St. Louis.  Again, I ask in what world does that make sense, Alaska Airlines?!

- I've concluded that neither Ryan, Camden, or Zoey can ever say that I don't love them.  On two occasions now I have packed up my children and gone down to the frozen yogurt shop to get Ryan a cup and left without any for myself.  Cutting dairy from my diet has proved to be a wise decision for Zoey's stomach, so I continue on and sacrifice my love for milk products - hence, no fro yo for mommy.  Last week Camden randomly (and very excitedly!) asked to go swimming at the CCA (he meant YMCA) and he was so darn excited I just couldn't say no.  Ryan needed to study so at seven weeks postpartum, I handed off Zoey, grabbed my bikini, prayed I wouldn't see anyone I knew, and took my sweet boy swimming.  I vowed not to make eye contact with anyone and pretended to be invisible to everyone other than the happiest little guy in the pool.



- Camden's understanding seems to have shifted and I'm convinced he thinks his OK ot Wake! alarm clock tells him when to get up and not that it's OK to get up.  It's currently set for 6:35 and swear I will watch him on the monitor and he will be dead asleep at 6:34, roll around at 6:35 and peek at his (now green) clock, and immediately hop out of bed.  If I don't immediately free him from his bed chamber he will fake cry until I do and then proudly jump around and point to his clock saying, "it turned green, Mommy!"

- Several weeks ago when Zoey was very new, and in an effort to show Camden that he was still special and loved, we took him bowling after Ryan got off work.  We went to our lane with his little six pound, orange, child's ball but he was adamant that he want a blue one.  Seriously, before Ryan or I could tell him, "no!" or run over to stop him, he was helping himself to a lovely 15 pound blue ball off the rack.  I don't even know how he managed to get it off that the rack as quick as he did but he promptly dropped it on his toe and even more promptly started to open-mouth-no-sound-cry.  We weren't too surprised when his big toenail fell off this weekend. #parentsofthecentury

- We took Camden to see Minions in the movie theater and set our expectations really, really low.  I figured, both he and Zoey were free and it was a matinee showing, so if we had to bail early we were only out the cost of our adult tickets.  I was a little worried when sitting in my lap after the first preview, he turned around to face me and said, "OK, all done!"  We assured him it was worth it to stick around and watch and may or may not have bribed him with some M&Ms (emmy ems if speak Camnado).  Zoey slept through the whole show and he got a little restless towards the end, but we made it to the credit roll.  

- The cashier at the store yesterday asked me if Zoey was mine and after I gave her a very confused look she laughed and told me that I don't look like I would have a baby that young.  I laughed  a big, hearty "HA!" and then asked her if I could hug her.  She returned my confused look and I quickly told her that she had just made my day.



Totally exciting stuff, right?  You're welcome.

Take Luck,
LP

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Big Train

A few months ago, while browsing the glorious website that is Groupon, I found a deal for the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and Museum.  Our reservation was for Saturday morning and like any mother of a toddler, I didn't tell Camden about our big adventure until the day of.

This was his face when I told him we were going to ride a real train.


Just kidding.  This was just a (hysterical) selfie he managed to take of himself during the car ride.

It took about an hour and forty minutes to drive to Elbe, where the train depot was located.  I think his little mind was blown once we parked and were standing face-to-face with a "big train, mommy!"

My parents bought the Groupon too and came with us which made it even more fun.  I cannot even explain how much Cam loves his Grammy and Papa.  Seriously.  I was even more glad they came because Ryan had planned to come with us but decided to stay home last minute so he could continue his crazy studying for his new job.






We rode about 40 minutes on the train to the museum in Mineral, spent about 30 minutes there, and rode another 40 minutes back to the Elbe depot.  Cam was pretty much in awe the entire time and would have stood in the caboose the entire ride if we had let him.   

It was a crummy, cloudy day so we didn't see Mt. Rainier, and to be honest - I was a little disappointed in the "scenic" portion of the whole thing, but to see the smile on this little train lover's face made the whole day incredibly worth while.


He has only asked to "go big train, mommy?" about 100 times since.

Take Luck,
LP

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Camden Says / 04

It's time for another installment of Camden Says.



As usual, I also completely recognize and accept that I may be the lone person on this earth that finds this to be funny.

Me: Are you my big boy?
Cam: No, I Camden.

 When he doesn't know what to say he'll say any of the following, leaving whoever he's talking to (usually a random person) very confused:
- Broom snapped in two!
- Dragon breathes fire out his mowf (mouth)!
- I saw polar bear at Ms. Debbie's!
- Big bad wolf is coming!

Days after Zoey was born, I was holding her and saying goodnight to him.
Me: Say goodnight to baby sister, too!
Cam: (leans over and puts his face into my tummy) goodnight baby sister!



While Ryan's parents were visiting I was feeding Zoey in our bedroom with the door shut.
Me: (hears knocking of a little person) come on in, buddy!
Cam: (attempts to open closed door by turning handle)
Me: Can you open it?!
Cam: No, Mommy!  It's clocked!

While playing with trains with my mother-in-law.
Cam: Mommy!
Me: Yeah, buddy?!
Cam: Hold on, I talking to Grandma.

Recently I went into his room when he woke up and as soon as I opened the door he proudly proclaimed "I have four poops, Mommy!" and held up five fingers.

Seeing me use the breast pump for the first time.
Cam: What's that, Mommy?
Me: It's a pump.
Cam: For the car?
Me: (long pause) Yes.

He likes to go with me to check the mail.  Recently we opened the mailbox to find a package from Old Navy inside.  He grabbed the bag and thought they were "chips!"

Reading a book at bedtime the other night that had a buoy in it.  He pointed to the picture and asked what it was.
Cam: What's that, Mommy?
Me: It's a buoy!
Cam: No, it's a ding dong!

When the sun is shining in his eyes while riding in the car he yells, "Stop it, sun!"



Other random things that come out of his mouth:
- The dragon (or dinosaur or shark) bite my finger (or toe or other random body part)
- Dream about Mommy? (Asking me what I dreamt about)
- I hold her, Mommy?
- Hi, baby girl (talking to Zoey in a super high pitched voice)
- Hold on, Mommy
- Yes, it is (very matter of fact, complete with his little lisp)
- Calls M&Ms "emmy ems"
- She so pretty, Mommy (talking to Zoey, sometimes calling her "he")
- No take nap!  No go bed!

Take Luck,
LP

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Zoey - 1 Month

I'm here.  We're alive, I promise.  I've opened up my Mac many times in the last four weeks to pluck out something, but each time I end up shutting her down because my heart really isn't in it.  I really hope I'll get back into the swing of posting, so fingers crossed.

As every mother before me has stated, and I too say all the time - I cannot (repeat, cannot) believe how fast time is going and that Zoey Bear has already been stealing our hearts for one whole month.


- At one month, I am guessing she weighs close to 10 pounds.  Sister hasn't needed to see the doctor nearly as many times as her big brother did so I won't have an official weight status until two months.

- Is a very calm and relaxed baby so far.

- Has the same nose and lips as Camden, but has Ryan's and my dark hair, and my skin complexion.  I see more of myself in her every day.

- Has dark blue eyes and brown hair. The hair on the top of her little head is all falling out, leaving her with a fabulous mullet. 

- Showed some sensitivity to dairy so I've eliminated that from my diet.  You should see the death glare I give Ryan when he pulls out the tortilla chips and sour cream for a post-dinner snack.

- Goes from hungry to hangry real quick.  This has proved interesting when trying to get her to take a bottle.  If we reach hangry status, there's no way she's taking that sucker.

- Is super uninterested in taking a pacifier but you can bet your booty I'm trying really hard to make her a believer.

- Does not appreciate getting dressed.  Getting undressed is tolerable.

- Has the most intense hiccups I have ever seen/heard from a wee baby her size.  It's no wonder her in-utero hiccups would make me feel nauseated.

- We've been battling thrush for two and half weeks now, but that's another post entirely.  Promise.

- Sleeps anywhere from four to six hours overnight.  This mommy much prefers the six.

- Has no idea how much she's loved and adored by her big brother.  We're working on being gentle but he has no idea what that means.

My mom gave me a dress that I wore for my one month pictures and I tried to take pictures of Zoey in the same dress today, but I am no professional photographer and I desperately want a decent comparison photo - so we'll be taking a little trip to JCPenny's next week (thank you, Groupon!).  I'll be sure to share.

I won't leave without a comparison of Camden and Zoey at one month.  I hadn't quite figured out my "monthly photo" strategy yet at Camden's one month birthday, but it's better than nothing.


Until next time.  Which I hope is before Zoey's 2 month post on August 2nd.

Take Luck,
LP

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