3:00 A.M.

I spent the first several weeks of Baby Sister's life sleeping in the spare room in the basement.  I didn't want to disturb the Dad's slumber.  He still had to go to work and be functional.

On more than one occassion I would get a middle-of-the-night visit from JW.  He and Baby Sister would be wide awake having the time of their lives.  She would take her sweet time nursing.  He would bounce around the bed singing "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" All I wanted in life was to go to sleep. It was 3:00 A.M.  

Auntie's House

For the last week of my maternity leave, I decided to take a road trip with my mom and the kids to my sister's house in Arizona.  JW could not stop talking about going to "Auntie's house" and playing on the bounce house.  For several weeks leading up to the trip he was so sad when I would pick him up from preschool and take him home and not to Auntie's house.  We had to delay our trip because of a major snow storm that engulfed our entire state for two days.  This was excrutiating for JW.

Since it takes 12 hours to drive to Auntie's house, we stopped half-way and stayed in a hotel.  JW had a complete meltdown that we were stopping, because the hotel "...is not Auntie's house!!!!"

Finally we arrived.  JW could not get out of the car fast enough.  He ran right in and said, "This is the best day of my life!"

We love Auntie's house.

 The bounce house

 Trucks trucks trucks

Enjoying the sun!

 

Sharing

JW and I had the following conversation the other night while JW was sitting on the couch eating from a bowl of fish crackers:

Mom: Will you share your fish crackers me?

JW: Ok, you can have one.

{JW gives me ONE fish cracker.  I eat it.}

Mom: Can I have another one?

JW: No, Mom.  You can have one now and one after dinner.

Four Weeks and Counting

@ 32 Weeks

Hello blog.  Did I mention I'm having a baby?  Since the last time I checked in here was in July, it does not appear I have made such an announcement to the world.  Indeed, baby sister is only four weeks from expiration.  If I have any say, she'll be here sooner.

This pregnancy has been different than with JW.  Plenty of distractions to help the time fly.  It could have something to do with the fact that I am chasing a two year old constantly.  In fact, I literally chased the two year old through the pumpkin patch last week and pulled an already stretched to the max ligament.  I could barely walk for a week and was sure I had induced labor.  We've been finishing our basement too, a project that is more than 99% done.  Baby sister's room has been a storage unit during the project.  That < 1% that is left to complete, which is always the worst part of any project, has me a little worried that baby sister's room may still be a storage unit when she gets here.  A problem?  Only if that fact that her crib is completely disassembled under a heaping landfill.  Her room is a hoarder's paradise.

JW seems excited to have baby sister join our family.  He likes to talk to her, feel her kick and give her kisses.  We have been reading a cute book, "Julius," about a young mouse named Lilly whose life is changed with a baby brother.  Lilly mostly wants Julius to get lost, but he "stays and stays and stays."  I tell JW that baby sister will stay and stay and stay too.  He seems content with the idea.  We'll see how he really feels when she gets here.  I'm not sure he really understands how his world is about to be rocked.  Honestly, I'm not sure I understand how my world is about to be rocked either.

 

Growing Up

I was hoping to keep JW in his crib until he was at least 12 years old, but once he started attempting to jump out of his crib (and me stressing out that he was going to break his neck), I decided it was time for my baby boy to graduate to a big-boy bed. So tonight we decided to make the transition. JW was pretty excited for the change. 

JW is going to stay in his bed all night, right Universe?

Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride 2012

Little Red Riding Hood June 2, 2012*

Family, friends, neighbors, strangers, listen up!  We've formed a team  for the Bike MS: Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride for a friend and colleague who was diagnosed with MS because we know that riding 175 miles is nowhere near as difficult as confronting a lifetime with multiple sclerosis.

 I need your help!  I must raise $250 to ride.  Every donation, large or small will go towards MS research.  Plus your donation is tax deductible!  Click here to donate then click on "Donate to Rebekah."

The National MS Society provides front-line education, support groups, therapies and other services to everyone who is affected by MS.

*these are the biker babes who I train with. We just finished Little Red Riding Hood and had a blast.  The MS ride will be with other riders, maybe some of the above biker babes too.

Memorial Day

To those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, we salute you.

Being Mom

Since Mother's Day pretty much came and went with almost zero fanfare at my house, I just kind of let it go.  Then I saw this and it made me appreciate myself a little more.  And my moms too.

Peer Gynt

I don't think I would get off the train.

Easter, Orthodox Style

Can you say, Easter Bunny FAIL?  This bunny hopped right on past Easter leaving nothing more than an argyle sweater and new Sunday shoes for JW.  Well, thanks to the Julian calendar today is Orthodox Easter and since Easter is all about second chances, I took advantage.