"Look, mama!! It's my fire!"
"WOW"
"Blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Mamamamamama!"
"Oooooooooohh"

We took the kids to the Town Fireworks this evening.
Originally we had a sitter lined up (Stina!) but then Jay said "why don't we bring the kids to the fireworks with us?" This struck fear into my heart but if he was willing, who am I to balk?

We had Abby take a nap late in the afternoon (after a morning of "Big Pool") and she slept for more than 3 hours, waking up just before 5. Wyatt napped his normal route and we put him to bed at normal time. Then, we woke him up and loaded up the truck and headed on into town.
Abby was beyond excited, Wyatt looked confused and tired.

We got there and it was a little hectic. Jay was leading the charge, pushing the Double Stroller from spot to spot as I neg'd on each of his proposals. There were about 44 million people there. Lots of nice families, just like us. Lots of townies, toothless goobers and drunken teens. What else can you ask for at a Town Picnic, right?

Things we brought this year: stroller, blanket, drinks and snacks.
Things we will bring next year: Radio Flyer, bigger blanket, chairs, grill and cooler.

So, we got a couple of ice cream cones, dripped them all over ourselves, our stuff and our tiny blanket and waited for the show to begin.

We saw a lot of people we knew (go figure) and we enjoyed our little family unit. Amazing how cozy you can feel on a tiny blanket surrounded by 44 million strangers. It really was so sweet & nice.

At approximately 9:40pm, they turned off the lights and sang the National Anthem then the show began.
We were warned by many friends and strangers that Wyatt would likely cry and hate it and that Abby would likely be frightened by the loud noises. We didn't know what to expect but while Jay was pretty sure Abby would not like the loud noises, I knew she would love them. Wyatt, however, I was certain would be terrified and squirmy.

We were both wrong. Both kids heads were skyward from the first pop, mouths just a little bit ajar, eyes wide with excitement.
They both loved it from the very first bang and shower of color.
It was awesome.

I cannot wait to do this again next year, and the year after that and the year after that... This is why we had kids. This is why we moved to Smalltown, USA. This is what our life is about right now and I don't want to take a second of it for granted.

**************************

As an aside from the delightful family part of this story, I would like to add this:
I had not been to a true fireworks show in years... decades, even.
And hearing the Star Spangled Banner and the watching the explosions in the sky really made me a little misty.
I got the meaning behind the song and the symbolism of the fireworks for what felt like the first time.
Land of the Free. Home of the Brave.
Awesome.

Saw Billy Joel last night at Mohegan. Third time I have seen him. Central Park in the late-90's, I forget when, exactly but he was a surprise addition to the Garth Brooks concert I was dragged to. (Ironically, I hated country music then and fell in love with Garth and all things country shortly thereafter.) Jay & I saw him in May of 1998. We had just started dating when a bar regular gave me 2 tix to see Billy at the Civic Center. I, of course, ran to my new boyfriend like "wow, look!" and he, of course, replied "May? Wow, do you think we'll even still be together then?" (It was like, March.) Anyway - we saw him last night, 4th row, center, floor seats at Mohegan. The man did not disappoint. It was an INCREDIBLE show. Really. I was a dancing fool. I had so much fun. If you don't like Billy Joel, you simply don't like music. Here is the set list, followed by a pic of myself and the love of my life just before we left my mom with the kids and took off!
***********************************
Angry Young Man
My Life
Entertainer
Zanzibar
New York State of Mind
Miami 2017
Allentown
Downeaster Alexa
Don't Ask Me Why
Movin' Out
RootBeer Rag
Keepin' the Faith
She's Always A Woman
Captain Jack
River of Dreams
Highway to Hell
We Didn't Start the Fire
Its Still Rock and Roll 2 Me
You May Be Right
============

Scenes...
Only the Good Die Young
Pianoman
***********************************

I thought it would be fun to post some pics of the house & gardens from this past month. It is so much work to clean up winter. You plant and plant and weed, weed, weed then mulch, mulch, mulch and then you start over again when the blooms die and the weeds grow back. We love our yard work, though. Especially now that all of our dirt and sweat can be washed off in our pool!!

I will post pics towards the end of the summer, too. It is fun to compare and share the joys of our labor.

The Boy is 8 months old. He is already pulling up and shuffle-bumps at the speed of light (not quite a crawl but a mode of transport, nonetheless).
He loves his "Woobie" and sucks his thumb. But he prefers to be on the go, not snuggling. He will, however, enjoy both on occasion.
Check this out:
http://www.loshsplace.com/video/DSCF5821.AVI

Who knew that such a cute little bugger could cause so much trouble?

As I mentioned earlier, Boogs has cut his first tooth. He is now working on his second one. If he is displeased, he demands my attention. He was displeased all day. All Day.
So, I gave him Tylenol and put him to bed. What else can you do, right?

Anyway...
I napped today. Almost 3 hours. That's what happens when you spend the day at Grammy & Granbo's house. Squeaks was so worn out she napped for 4 hours and was still asleep by 7pm. So, when the boy went down for his nap, I took the Big Girl into my bed for some "quiet time" and she was asleep in less than 4 minutes. So, I put her in her bed and contemplated cleaning the house, emptying the dishwasher, playing on my Book... and decided to go to sleep, instead. It was magnificent.
And I don't feel guilty at all. I still got done what I would normally get done. Because my 2 year old does not usually nap, so my time is normally consumed with entertaining her. You really need to take advantage of these rare opportunities for rest, ya know?

This morning, we were in the Big Pool around 9am.
We rounded out the morning in the Baby Pool. We had a busy day before 11am. The nap was perfect.

Last night my 2 year old daughter went peeps on the potty for the first time ever. We have sat her up there a thousand times, flushed, washed hands, the whole nine... last night, it clicked.
This, by no means, says she is "potty trained" or even ready to become trained. But it meant she might consider it at some point, possibly in the near future, possibly not. Either way, it happened and I will hold onto that for now.
I hate it when people ask me (or her!) if she is going on the potty "yet". Like in her whole 35 months of life, we've all been just WAITING for her to start using the crapper. Seriously, 35 months in this world. Do we really need to rush her into things she's not ready for? Stop asking. When you see her excuse herself to use the "Little Girls" room, you'll figure it out.

Speaking of "asking me or her" - is there anything more annoying than when people talk to your kid, asking questions and what-not that they actually intend for you to hear and answer? I ignore those annoying fuckers. I can't stand that. If you want to ask me something, ask me. Not my kid.

My son, 8 months old, has sprouted his first tooth. He gave us some shit, but nothing major. And there it is. One sharp little ridgy tooth, bottom right (or left, depending who's side you're on, really). The Girl had 8 teeth by now. He just got his first. But he is on the move, pulling up, inch-worming around, sitting on his own. All things that she did not do until well into her 2nd year on Earth.

Speaking of "her", she actually just got 2 more teeth, bringing her grand total to 18. 2 to go. then we start losing 'em.

That's it for now. Heading to NY tomorrow, haven't sat down yet today. I am sure I will have more to say after a visit with my family. ha. ha.

Well, I am so glad that you asked because talking about my daughter and how I am raising her etc is my absolute favorite topic!!

Feedings:
I nursed but I respect the fact that it is not for everyone. I am sorry I can't be of a huge assistance here cuz you can't measure what comes out of your boobs!! I nursed on command, meaning I nursed around the clock!! I, too, loved the nighttime feedings... it was so quiet and peaceful and intimate. As my daughter is turning one this month I find myself very emotional and - oddly enough - waking up at odd hours... around this time last year I barely slept cuz I was so huge and waiting to pop!! I digress - you should feed your daughter as much as she wants to eat, no more, no less. Of course that is my opinion, but you will find with me that I tend to rely on my baby to tell me what she needs. Babies know. That is nature's way.

Pediatrician:
Dump the bitch. I love mine - he is an older, Indian dude. He is smart but has a sense of humor and an accent that makes for great re-tellings of Dr. Visits!! He always makes me feel better. And his staff is equally comforting and nurturing. You need someone that you can see yourself calling on and respecting for the next 15 years!! (pretty much until she gets her own ob/gyn!!). Follow your instincts. (You'll hear me say that a lot, too.)

Activities:
At 2 months, there isn't much to do. It is a little boring and I think it is ok to admit that. The only advice I can give you - and this even annoys me - is appreciate the quiet times... soon enough that baby of yours will be demanding your attention like you never knew possible.
Also - they sleep so much this little. I think it's great that you try to teach her day from night, I would just caution you to not make yourself crazy by trying to set up a schedule yet. Again, I think what you are doing is great and I don't mean to sound like I am correcting you in any way - just don't make yourself crazy, that's all. She will show you her schedule over the next few weeks (2 months or so) and you seem like you are so in tune with her you will pick it up and simply fine tune it. That is what I did and Abby has truly been a perfect baby. A little reflux/colic gave her a few weeks of being demon-baby but we got through!

Co-Sleeping:
Like I said, I breastfed. So - co-sleeping happened naturally. I didn't mean for it to happen, I was nursing around the clock and I was SO tired, it just happened. One day, I said - this is freaking me out, you are getting too big for mommy to sleep comfortably and SIDS scares the crap outta me, hit the crib. And ya know, she spread her little arms and legs and slept like a baby - literally. She went from my bed to her crib without a hitch.
You can say "wow, you're lucky" but I don't think that is it. I truly believe that you give your child such a sense of security and love by co-sleeping that when you are ready to move her (and she is ready to move, I am convinced you will feel that in your mom-senses and thus feel ready yourself - it all runs together some how).

Instincts:
I truly believe that mothering is completely instinctual. I may not be able to remember if I paid this bill or that bill, sometimes I forget what we were just talking about. But I can anticipate my baby's every need and my body runs completely on instinct these days. I like to call it "mommy-sense" - similar to Spidey-Sense. I believe that nature is the only "right or wrong" and your instincts and your baby's will will guide you through the first year. Trust her and trust yourself. Ask questions but be prepared to disagree with the answers. Listen to everyone but try not to judge the ones that completely go against every fiber of your being. Motherhood is different for everyone. Every baby is different. Every pregnancy and delivery is different. Every woman is different. I marvel and recoil at some of the things I said before I was even pregnant. I was so judgmental. Now I realize that you can never know. No one can prepare you for pregnancy, delivery or motherhood - and you can't prepare them, either.

A few thoughts - none earth-shattering but hopefully helpful to a few of you!

1. Buy the cheapest diapers to start. They might work out just fine and won't you be so lucky that they are so cheap?? If not, you can always upgrade.
2. Use store-brand formula. It is so heavily regulated that they are the all the same thing (more or less).
3. Your baby needs a onesie - all the time. Unless it is wicked hot or you are already snapping something else in her crotch, in which case she might need a sweater. :)
4. Breastfeed. I don't mean this in a "soap-boxy" way, I just think about the first few months when all I needed for a trip out with my babe was my boobs and a couple diapers! EASY!
5. Breathe. You have so little control over anything anymore. Enjoy it, you will again soon.
6. Your baby that does not walk yet does not need shoes. Even if they match.
7. Pacifiers are great, but thumbs do not get dropped or lost.
8. No two babies may be alike, no two mommies may be a like, but most mother in laws are very aggrivating.
9. Your stroller will never be as good as your friend's.
10. Snap the middle snap of your onesie first, this will allow the sides to get snapped without twisting the material up.

I'd rather be a mother
Than anyone on earth
Bringing up a child or two
Of unpretentious birth.
I'd rather nurse a rosy babe
With warm lips on my breast
Than wear a queen's medallion
Above a heart less blest.
I'd rather tuck a little child
All safe and sound in bed
Than twine a chain of diamonds
About my foolish head.
I'd rather wash a smudgy face
With round, bright baby eyes
Than paint the pageantry of fame,
Or walk among the wise.
- Meredith Gray

Sometimes people simply grow apart. It is easy to try to place blame and point fingers. And it is even easier for our own insecurities or paranoia to creep in and make us think that a simple "passing of time or friendship" is something more. It is not done with malicious or vicious intentions, it is simply one person recognizing and acting on a separation of thoughts, interest, goals or hobbies. Lives get busy, families are put first and time and energy for outside activities are always limited. Within those limits we have to sort very carefully with whom we share ourselves.
Most of us can look back and remember fondly the different people that have passed through our lives, some briefly, some for longer periods of time. But very rare is the friendship or relationship that lasts forever outside of the bonds of marriage and family.
I am grateful for each person I meet because I feel that God places each person in front of me to help me grow, to learn about myself and the world around me and to help me become a better person - a better wife, mother, friend, daughter, whatever the case may be. I try to rely on my faith when these relationships are challenging or troubling. I pray for strength, I pray for guidance but what I truly pray about is my confidence and I pray for continued confidence in that, no matter how it feels at the moment, it is all part of God's plan for me. He knows me, He knows my heart and He knows what I can handle and what to throw my way. I find peace in that.

I try to be a good person, sometimes I fail. When I fail, I learn, I do not regret.
I try to be a good wife, sometimes I fail. When I fail, I learn and move on. I apologize. I try to forgive myself, too.
I try to be a good mother, sometimes I fail. When I fail, I learn and I try to cover it up so that no one else sees it. ha ha. I am still working on not regretting this one.
Thank you to all of my friends, those I know and those I have yet to meet, that will help me be myself and like myself.

I hope to get better at this as time passes. I needed a Blog. Everyone else has one. And it's free. My husband appreciates that my "keeping up with the you-know-who's" is at least not costing him anything this time. Can't say the same for most of my other compensations.
Anyway - my intention for this Blog (am I supposed to capitalize that?) is to
have one place for all of my random thoughts, observations and over-analizations.
My grammar will not always be right. I will often make up words. My punctuation takes a turn towards ugly, but if you know me, you know that I speaketh as I typeth. Therefore, I am beginning my Bloggeth...