The Obligatory Blue-Striped, Paper-Ears Shot

What? Doesn't everybody take this picture of their 9-month-old?

One Month Ago

…I had a 7-month-old baby, still on reflux medicine, who slept swaddled in his bouncy seat in the bathroom. He screamed in his crib; he screamed when his arms weren’t swaddled; and he screamed when I tried weaning him from the medicine.

Tonight I have an 8-month-old baby who sleeps flat on his back, unswaddled, with no medicine.

 HALLELUJAH.

The Bright One

Yesterday we had our first big snowstorm of the year, and Liam and Eliza wanted to play outside. I told them they needed to get their snow clothes on, so Eliza changed from her t-shirt and jeans into this little number:

April Fools!

The truth is: I couldn't care less about politics. But I'm married to a guy who doesn't care for President Obama's policies. So earlier this year, I thought it might be fun to stick an Obama bumper sticker on his car on April Fools day. Then he would drive around without noticing it until he suddenly noticed that HE HAD BEEN DRIVING AROUND WITH AN OBAMA STICKER! And nobody would care except him. But boy would he care. Oh man, it would be so funny.

In March I got online and ordered a free bumper sticker from the Obama campaign. Then I got excited and started waiting. I don't know why I thought it would only take a week or two for a free sticker to ship, but unfortunately, it didn't. So the funny trick never happened.

This week the sticker finally came in the mail, and it was even better than I had planned, because no one expects to be pranked in October. I came home to find Ben standing over an opened envelope, addressed to my code name: Mik Mocnarf, saying, "I think someone's messing with me. I know this is an anagram, but I can't figure out for what. Can you believe someone would send me an Obama sticker?"

Bell's Palsy

I went through a phase where I only smiled with half my face, for some reason. I don’t remember why. I don’t even remember doing it.

But luckily I have the pictures to prove it. Otherwise I might be slightly concerned that all of my recent photos look like I have pirates for children.

Working Overtime

Ben designs giant heating blankets for a living. At least that’s how I understand it. They wrap the blankets around oil tanks and other things that shouldn’t freeze when the weather gets cold.

The other day Ben and Eliza were playing with her Cinderella play dough set. When I walked in, Ben said, “I have no patience for this. Wrapping a 3D object with a 2D object? It’s like my job all over again.”

Good Thing I Got That Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics

Qué es un bosque? I have no idea. Based on the picture, I would guess it’s some sort of rainforest with giant mushrooms.

We’re less than two weeks into first grade, and Liam is already smarter than me.

Pillow Talk

Last night as we were lying in bed, about to fall asleep, Ben casually mentioned that sometimes when he pulls up to an intersection, he tries to figure out how he would get through in an invisible car.

He said, “The oncoming traffic and the cars going perpendicular wouldn’t be a problem. It’s just the cars coming from behind…” I started to doze off, but a minute or two later I heard him say, “That’s probably why Wonder Woman had an invisible jet.”

A Day of Firsts

I just dropped my giant son off at his first day of first grade, and I won’t see him again for almost SEVEN HOURS. This feeling I have in the pit of my stomach, which started when the teacher said, “Parents: it’s time to say your good-byes; you need to stay outside,” can’t possibly be any different from the feeling parents get when they drop their missionaries off at the MTC.

Using My Third Grade Math Skills

I almost just went to bed, at 9:00 p.m. on a Saturday. Then I remembered that it’s August 25th, and on the 25th day of any month I think it’s kind of fun to figure out what fraction of a year old I am that month. My birthday is April 25th, so today is my 1/3 birthday.

But this year I’m 33, so it's actually my 33 1/3 birthday. Today I’m one-third of a century old! What a milestone! I can’t believe I almost slept through it.

Lego Phone Adventures

I just overheard Liam telling Eliza that she could only play the Cinderella level, because all of the other princesses were locked. I asked him what they were playing, and he said, "Princess Adventures."

"On what?" I asked. He said, "It's a game on my phone." I asked him what phone he was talking about, and he said, "My lego phone."

Pretty Sure It's a Land Line

Liam just brought in his phone and stuck it in its charger, because, "It only has 12% battery life left."

Way to be responsible, Liam.

Sloppy Work, Tooth Fairy

The other day Liam lost his second tooth. I hung $2 on the fridge after he went to bed, because I have a horrible memory and I knew he wouldn't get tooth money unless the tooth fairy could see that money before she went to bed.

A little while later, Liam came downstairs to ask me something. Then he went back to bed.

The next morning I asked Liam if the tooth fairy had come. He found the two dollars under his pillow, and then said, "You put this under my pillow, didn't you?"

I said, "Whaaaaaaat???"

He said, "I saw these two dollars on the fridge last night."

I'm absolutely not ready for my 6-year-old to be finished believing in things--especially after only two teeth--so I hurried and found two more dollars to stick on the fridge when Liam was in the bathroom.

Hopefully Eliza doesn't notice that I raided her piggy bank.

You Might Be Ready for School to Start If…

Your child has gotten so good at arguing, she does it with her imaginary friends. I just heard Eliza having this conversation with herself:

Eliza (normal voice): You can’t go in there.
Eliza (high voice): But I want to!
Eliza (normal voice): You’re not allowed.
Eliza (high voice): You’re not the boss of me!

Wherein Road Trips No Longer Cause Anxiety

Ben and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary a few weeks ago, only instead of going to Hawaii, or whatever people normally do on their 10-year-anniversary, we got a minivan. I realize that makes us totally lame, but I love it sooooo much. Because when nobody can touch each other, everybody is happier.

And speaking of being happier, this guy has been happy almost every day since he turned 4-months-old.

I guess he just needed an extra month of fussiness. No big deal.

My Adorable Little Curve Ball

I really thought my baby was cured. And I still really believe the reflux medicine helps. But there must be something else going on, because sometimes he’s happy and adorable, like this:

But other times, no matter what I do, he looks more like this:

And even though I somehow kept a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old alive, I’m feeling like a first-time mom because this experience is just as crazy and mysterious as it was the first time around. Only this time it didn't stop after three months.

Isn’t motherhood exciting? I wish I could attach a screamy sound clip to that second photo, to remind myself that if I ever think a fourth child is a good idea I should adopt a one-year-old.

Everybody Needs a Daughter

I still remember how exciting it was to take ballet when I was 3-years-old. I think it's even more fun to be the mom of the 3-year-old taking ballet.

More Twinners

Because my favorite thing to do is take pictures of my new baby looking like my old babies.

At bathtime:



Wearing blue stripes on Grandpa's arm:

And on their blessing day:

The Rear Beard

All of my babies rubbed a bald spot into the back of their heads, but the other two never looked quite this awesome:

The Dying Language of Cursive

I recently bought a bunch of burlap and turned it into curtains, but they were too boring so I decided to write on them.

After I hung them back up, Liam asked, “What language is that?” I said, “French.” Then he said, “I bet I know why you chose French…because it was easier. Since some of the letters attach to each other, you didn’t have to pick up the marker as much in between letters.”

Cured

Ollie has been on reflux medicine for a week now, and I’d say he’s all better.

Here’s my proof:

1) He sat through Liam’s piano lesson yesterday, wide awake, and didn’t make a peep. I never even had to bounce or dance or walk around. He just sat quietly on my lap.

2) Last night we went bowling, and he stayed happily in his carseat and then FELL ASLEEP. No crying, no rocking…nothing. This is unheard of for us.

If I ever had another baby, I think I would name it Zantac. Zanny for short, obviously.

Here’s video proof that this baby can now simultaneously lie flat on his back and smile, which was an impossible combination up until this week:

Two Months

Ollie turned 2-months-old over the weekend, and he celebrated by sleeping through the night last night. Ahhh yeah. THIS is what I’m talking about.

Also, we went to the doctor today, where he was diagnosed with…

…wait for it…

…

Reflux! I think it’s like treatable colic. What a dream! I don’t have any idea what it’s like to have a 2-month-old who doesn’t scream, but I fully intend to find out sometime in the next five days, when the medicine kicks in. And even if it doesn't work, I can handle a little screaming when the screamer is this cute:

I Win

Liam and Eliza are going through a competetive phase right now, where everything they do turns into a race. All day long I hear, “I win eating my cereal!” “But I win drinking my milk!” “I win up the stairs!” “I win going potty!”

Last night we went to the park, and Liam gashed his head on a tree branch. Ben’s dad is in town, so he took Eliza and Ollie home while Ben and I took Liam to get stitches.

We got home around 10 pm, and Ben’s dad told us Eliza couldn’t sleep. She wanted to talk to us. I figured it was because of all the drama in the last few hours. So we went in her room, where she sat up and said, “Liam, I win getting my jammies on!”

Sleep Deprived

Ben just asked me if I was awake when he thought something was going to fall on me last night. I said, "No, were you sleeping?" He answered, "Yeah. I stood up on the bed. I thought the clock projection was 3-D printing*, and when it finished it was going to fall on you. You said something and woke me up, but I don't remember what you said."

And I don't even remember saying anything, let alone seeing him stand on the bed. I would have loved watching that.

I guess this is proof that we wouldn't be good candidates for co-sleeping with a baby. Poor little Ollie might have been trampled last night.



*I just realized that "clock projection" and "3-D printing" might sound like nonsense. My alarm clock projects the time onto the ceiling, and Ben recently built a 3-D printer that he's kind of obsessed with. And FYI, a 3-D printer is not as cool as it sounds, except maybe for engineers or other nerds.

Milestones

Liam lost his first tooth today, and then played in his first piano recital three hours later. I think this means I'm no longer a young mom.

One Month

Today Oliver turned a whole month old. Hooray! Since we’re planning on stopping at three kids, this means I probably never have to have a younger-than-one-month-old again, and I’m super excited about that.

Don’t get me wrong—I am totally in love with my baby. I’m just more patient with my other kids when I’ve slept well, and I haven’t slept well this month. But since I now have a one-month-old, I could be halfway to sleeping through the night. Hooray!

But seriously, look how cute this guy is. Happy One-Month Birthday, Ollie!

First Baths

Check out these twinners:

Oliver Wesley

Back when I was pregnant with Eliza and I didn't know whether she was a girl or boy, I thought it would be cool to name a boy Oliver Wesley. Ben hated it, so the name was vetoed. When Eliza turned out to be a girl, we decided we would call her Ellie for short, so I came to terms with the fact that I would never get my Ollie.

Three years later, it turns out that no one really calls Eliza "Ellie." Or so I thought. I talked Ben into naming our baby Oliver, and suddenly my parents and Ben's parents have started calling Eliza "Ellie" all the time. I can't figure out if they're messing with me or if they have been calling her Ellie the whole time.

Either way, I got my Ollie. And I love him.

Sweet & Sour Sauce

Our baby came yesterday, and we're all madly in love with him. I didn't think it was possible for a baby to look more like Liam than Eliza does or more like Eliza than Liam does, and yet, I think this guy might have the other two beat. He's like a 50/50 mix of his siblings.


He doesn't have a name yet, but Eliza is hoping for Sweet & Sour Sauce. I guess we better come up with something fast, before it sticks.

False Alarm

I told a bunch of people that my baby was coming today. I forgot to tell the doctor, though, so by the time he tried scheduling the hospital it was too late. They're booked.

The new date is this Monday, March 5th.

Sorry if I lied to you!

A Glimpse into Our Future

Eliza had a nice little freak-out while I tried buckling her in her carseat this morning. I told myself to try to remember this version of her, before a screaming baby joins our world, so I would know it’s just normal behavior sometimes. Screaming and thrashing won’t always mean she’s feeling left out because she just became the middle child.

Luckily, Liam had a similar reaction when I insisted he take a rest this afternoon, and you better believe I got it on film. And again, since this is pre-baby, I know this has nothing to do with needing extra attention because his world just got turned upside down. This is a simple case of my genes overriding Ben’s genes.



How lucky that most of the time, Ben's genes win.

The Boys' Room

Eliza’s crib was a little too girly for my taste, but when I got ready to sell it on KSL, I found out it had been recalled. So instead of selling it for half price, I returned it to Babies R Us and got a full refund! I told them I felt guilty, since we had used it for 2½ years, but they told me not to because the manufacturer really didn’t want me using it anymore. Score! Guilt-free store credit!

So I used my refund to buy a less-curvy crib, then sold Eliza’s crib bedding on KSL and bought some that sort-of matched Liam’s bedding on Overstock. I wasn’t a huge fan of the red crib skirt, though, so I switched out two sides for blue. (I’m much too lazy to spend any effort on the sides that don’t show.)


I also painted Liam’s bed white, to match the crib.



I found this dresser on the side of the road on Bulk Waste Pick-Up Day, but I forgot to take a "before" picture of it. It was old and gross, with chipped light blue paint and nasty, painted-on knobs, and it had spider webs in every crevice. I didn’t want to spend money on it, since it was so trashed, so I just spackled, painted, stenciled some numbers on it and used rope instead of buying new knobs. Rope goes with the nautical theme, right?


The decorations were all in Liam’s old room, except “row, row, row your boat…,” which I made with my Silhouette machine and some contact paper.


And now that the fun's over, I guess it's time to get ready for a real, live baby. Only 2½ weeks to go...YIKES!

Uninsured

Ben started a new job three months ago, and the health insurance doesn’t kick in until February 1st. We’ve been on COBRA since the job switch, but this month I thought it might be fun to not pay the $1,100 and just be uninsured for a month. All of our doctors and the new insurance provider said it was fine to have a lapse in coverage. Plus, if we needed it, we could have still sent in the check and been covered in January up until the post office closed today.

So really, there are only about seven hours between when we could have been covered in January and when the new insurance starts. Right now we’re in the middle of those seven hours, and I’ve never been so paranoid.

First I thought Ben would definitely get in a car accident on the way home from work. Then I just knew Liam or Eliza would fall off their chairs and crack their heads open during dinner. And now I’m imagining that every movement my baby makes is a contraction, and I’m probably in labor.

Here’s hoping the next three hours go by faster than the last three.

The Great Bedroom Switch of 2012

We have three bedrooms on the main floor of our house, and we’re not ready for Liam to move to the basement. This means someone is going to have to share a room when Baby #3 comes, and we’ve had a really hard time trying to figure out whether it should be Liam and Eliza or the two boys.

We finally decided to start out with the two boys together. Eliza was in the bigger bedroom, so last week Liam and Eliza switched bedrooms.

So far it’s worked out perfectly. We’ll see what happens when the screaming baby arrives.

Here is Eliza’s new big girl room:



Ben’s parents gave us two sets of that blue and white bedding when they redecorated one of their bedrooms last year, and we already had the pink stuff from Eliza’s nursery. I did a google images search and found out that dark blue and light pink were, indeed, allowed in the same bedroom, so this room was practically free to put together.

First, we borrowed the box springs and mattress from my cousin (Thanks, Leah!).

Next, I took apart the bed skirt from the second set of bedding and recycled Eliza’s old clothes hamper.


Then, I cut up one of the pillow shams (also from the second set of bedding) so we could keep using this memo board.


The lamp spent its former life on my nightstand, and then buried in storage, so I’m sure it was happy to get a makeover. It took a $5 lampshade from Hobby Lobby, a little bit of polka-dotted fabric, and a package of something called wooden doll heads, which I found for $1.50 at JoAnn. They had big holes drilled halfway through them, so Ben just had to drill them the rest of the way through before I could glue them on the lamp and paint it.


And finally, my google search gave me the birds-on-a-branch idea. The branch came from a tree in our backyard, and the birds came from scrap fabric, mostly from that second set of bedding. I made the quote out of contact paper on my Silhouette machine.


I can’t believe how amazing it has been to have a second set of bedding. I didn’t even touch the sheets or comforter, so Eliza can wet the bed all she wants and she’ll still have a second set of matching bedding to swap it out with. (Don’t worry, Leah—the mattress is covered in plastic.)

Next up: the boys’ room. But I still need to paint a dresser to go in there, so it might be a while.

Sleeping Arrangements

Last night we came home from our Christmas vacation to a thermostat with dead batteries and a 47-degree house. Liam and Eliza had fallen asleep in the car, so we carried them to their beds, loaded them with blankets, and blasted space heaters at them.

By 1:00 a.m., their rooms were pretty toasty, so I turned off the space heaters. By 4:00 a.m., the whole house was pretty toasty, so I went in to remove their extra blankets.

That’s when I realized that Eliza had taken matters into her own hands. I found her sound asleep on the floor next to her bed.


She's pretty new to the whole "big girl bed" situation, so it's perfectly understandable that she didn't know how to just take her covers off.