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Snapshots of it All

The fog is lifting and I feel myself assimilating with the rest of the world slowly but surely. I haven’t been too gun shy about getting out with my two little chickens, but I think my brain can finally handle some additional information beyond making sure we’re all safe and sound. For example, this past weekend I went to my cousin Danielle’s baby shower and Audrey and I carpooled with Cora and Sue. On the drive home we talked about some good music and bands and I realized that I pretty much have missed out on the past year in terms of music. I love me some Rolling Stone magazine, but apparently my reading comprehension skills failed me as well. I am no fully aware that Mumford and Sons are not new to the rest of the world, but I’m in love with both their albums and have them on constant repeat. AND…I’m counting down the days to this. Cora says that I should just download it, but I kind of want to go to an actual store and buy it. 

This happens like they’re having morning coffee every morning. Maggie will do all of the talking…but will ‘translate’ whatever sounds Audrey makes.

I keep saying it over and over but it is so true: Maggie truly is the sweetest big sister. No matter what Maggie is in the middle of doing, if she passes Audrey in any capacity, she’ll stop and greet her little sister with a squeeze, smile and a sometimes aggressive nuzzle. “Maggie, too close!!” is on constant repeat around here, but it’s hard to be too hard on her when she’s just loving on Audrey. Once Audrey can do a bit more, it will be less of what Maggie can’t do and more of what she CAN. I look forward to that day. 

Last week.

Audrey is plumping out more and more. She’s got rolls started on her legs and I love me some rolls on baby legs, so I’m thrilled. She feels less fragile and more sturdy because her head control is improving as well. She’s moved out of the newborn snowsuit for our walks and into the 0-3month one.  We’ve hit a huge streak with the weather and I’ve been able to get outside for a walk the past 10 days or so. Sadly, I do not ever bring my camera along because pushing a stroller, wearing a baby, and corralling a dog is far too much for me as it is. Eventually I’ll get there and be able to document our outings, as it stands now, I’m just proud that I’m getting outside. It feels like I’m the ring master of a 3 ring circus some mornings, and by the time we’re actually out the door I’ve already broken a sweat. It’s probably a combination of being out of shape and trying to get 3 little morsels ready at exactly the same time. 

This Week

By the time we get back, I’m often ready for a break because I’ve spent the entire walk answering questions about Maggie’s observations and making sure that Sydney doesn’t drop a huge poop in the middle of somebody’s yard. Audrey is the easiest because she snoozes all bundled up next to me. There was a time where I had abandoned almost all hope for Maggie to get back into the stroller after she discovered the joys of being able to walk along with us. I’m not ashamed to say that I started to bribe her with ‘stroller treats’ to get back into the routine of striding out.  We’re now contemplating upgrading our stroller or getting a double. Considering that we’ve got the very first B.O.B stroller ever made, I have a feeling any direction that we go will be an improvement. We’re a long ways off for Audrey to ride along, she’s content to be carried at this point. 

When Barry gets home at the end of the day, we’re all excited and happy to see him. Life is so much easier with two parents around. In the past few weeks, at two seperate times, both Barry and I got sick. Like on the couch or lying in bed, dead to the world, sick. When I was sick, I slept for nearly 24 hours. I’d wake up, feed Audrey, pass her to Barry, and promptly go back to sleep. I also probably ate 99 popsicles and an entire liter of 7UP and cranberry juice. I was very worried about not being hydrated enough and the only thing that sounded good was cranberry juice and 7 up. (For whatever reason, I find cranberry juice to be comforting…I don’t drink juice often, but when I do I always pick cranberry juice. It’s what I wanted when I went into labor with Maggie…along with pudding. Ha!)

When Barry got sick, it conveniently was over a weekend, and I tried with all my might to get out of the house. He didn’t really have that luxury when I was sick since I needed to feed Audrey. I ran more errands and lolly-gagged at more places than I had since having Audrey. Barry is the type of person that doesn’t want to admit that he’s sick. Even when he was huddled under a quilt shivering, he was still trying to say that he felt fine. Poor guy. Anyhow, not having another adult to team up with during crucial times (bath, dinner, bed, feeding, diaper changes, etc.) really made me appreciate Barry all the more. I’m fine during the day, but doing an entire weekend all alone with a newborn and almost 3 year old is not my idea of fun. 

I am not nearly as good at playing “Run/Tickle” as Barry is and quite frankly, I’m fine with that. I also don’t have as much stamina to jump on the bed as he does. Plus, Maggie really, really looks forward to that time of her day and practically asks to play the moment Barry changes out of his work clothes.  We’re now back in the saddle in terms of happily greeting Barry as he comes thorough the door and filling our house with happy, joyful games of “Run/Tickle.” 


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A Few Things

ANACORTES

We went to Anacortes a few weeks ago  to spend a couple days catching up with some friends and family that we hadn’t seen since Audrey was born. Since days pass where I don’t get to look at my pictures or even pick up my camera, it was a happy surprise when these images popped up on my screen. Walking out to get the paper is one of my favorite things to do when visiting my parents because it is quick, relaxing and just long enough where you don’t have to go wild trying to get out the door…grab the nearest coat, some shoes, maybe a hat and you’re good to go! It is also the perfect length to convince Maggie to walk without complaint. Plus, she gets to check out the stinky cows on the way. 

I had planned to leave Maggie up there for a couple days and head back home with Audrey to have a couple days with just Barry and Audrey. I was prepared for Maggie to be a little upset that she wasn’t coming home with us, but I’m pretty sure Syd was more upset to be left behind than Maggie ~ and Sydney LOVES Camp Janet. When I left, Maggie and my dad were in a very involved game with the train tracks and Mags hardly looked up to say goodbye. (I was a bit stung, but pretty proud that she was so excited to be staying.) As I packed up the car, I listened to the interactions between Maggie and my dad and I couldn’t help but laugh. They’d set up an entire village in the middle of the train tracks (not pictured) and the train operated with Maggie’s whistle….Maggie was in heaven. 

Also while we were in Anacortes, we went to Midge’s and she got to snuggle with Audrey and read stories with Maggie. Whenever Maggie is in A-Town with my mom, they go visit Midge and so Maggie is very familar with Midge’s house and has a definte idea of all the things that she needs to do and where all the toys are stored. At one point she had Midge practially on the ground trying to cajole Callie out from under the couch so they could brush her. Poor kitty cat, but the two Maggies were having a ball working together to get that fat cat out. 

Even though I had a cat that lived FOREVER (I got her in 1st grade and she died when I was in college!), I’ve never really considered myself a cat person. Most of the people we know that have cats, have scardy cats that hide when we’re around. Callie is the opposite of a scardy cat once you get her out from under the couch or table. She loves getting brushed and is so patient and calm with Maggie. On the list of things to do at Midge’s is brush Callie and Maggie worked for quite a while while Callie patiently waited for her to finish. I only wish Syd was as patient. 

The most frustrating part about visiting Anacortes is not having enough time to see some of my favorite people. In fact, that could be said for all of Skagit Valley….and if I’m being really truthful, I’ve got e-mails, texts, facebook messages, voicemails and even snail mail that I’m way behind on. Perhaps I try to keep in touch with too many people? So when it came up that we would be able to meet up with Kara, I was thrilled. 

We spent a couple hours at Kara and Ryan’s house painting, coloring, eating and just relaxing. Maggie and Kara were able to have long conversations about where Ryan was and now – nearly a month later – we’re still hearing about how Ryan went to Bellingham to get ‘ice skates’ for Kara. It is so funny to me how certain conversations stick with Maggie and make an impact. It’s also a reminder of how careful we need to be because kids are ALWAYS listening. 

When we were packing up to go home, I took Maggie to go potty and left Audrey in her car seat ready to walk out the door. I told Kara to just give it a few rocks if she started squaking. Of course, Audrey started yelling and these two things happened within the two minutes it took Maggie to go potty: 

1. Maggie started yelling “Don’t worry, your big sister is here! Don’t worry, your big sister is coming!”

2. I caught Kara red-handed taking Audrey out of her car seat….even though we were literally packed to go. It feels go to have a friend that loves my babies so much she doesn’t want to hear them cry.

HOME

Most people have been asking me how being home with TWO kids has been. I don’t really have an answer and stumble through a few sentences each time I’m asked, never giving the same response. Practically immediately after Audrey was born, I had a strong sense of feeling like our family was complete and now that we’re into her second month, I hardly remember what life was like with just ONE. That doesn’t mean that every moment has been perfect and has come without challenges. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve had to remind Maggie that she doesn’t have to have her face THISCLOSE for Audrey to see or hear her. And as I’ve mentioned above, I’m way behind on communicating with people….some day I might catch up. 

Most of all, being home with two has been great. It actually feels like three kids some days because Sydney really is our third child. I was especially reminded of this on Tuesday when Syd spent most of the morning barking, barking, barking at the trash trucks that were driving up and down our street. Sometimes, especially after a horrible night’s sleep, her bark can be a bit annoying. 

Maggie is the most helpful big sister and we’re working really, really hard to make sure that she gets plenty of Maggie Time. This means dance parties galore, books, baking projects and playing dollies for stints. For the most part, Maggie wants to be involved with whatever it is Audrey is up to…announcing to us over and over, ‘she’s wide awake!!!” if Audrey’s eyes are open. Maggie also ‘translates’ for us whatever it is Audrey needs…which is most often “mommy’s milky.” The other morning Audrey was lounging on the guest bed and Maggie decided to play her a concert with the harmonica. I had to rush and get my camera because it was the funniest/sweetest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Sadly, Audrey wasn’t really into the musical numbers that Mags performed. Maybe next time. 

PHOTOS

I have become horrible with taking pictures these days. Days pass where I don’t take pictures or even know where my camera is. It isn’t that I don’t want to take pictures or am not motivated….it’s just that my time is so divided between everything. But the other morning we were leaving our house and Maggie asked me to take her picture with New Baby. I don’t think this has ever happened, so of course I ran back inside and grabbed my camera. I’m not a fashion blogger, but these little images of Maggie reminded me of a ‘what’s she wearing’ type of image. These days, as long as she’s wearing ‘leggings’ or ‘yoga pants’ she is good to go. Funnily enough, I w

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Another New Normal

The above photo really has nothing to do with this post. It is just a photo of Audrey getting some heavy duty sleep while the chaos of our life unfolds around her. Truth be told, she generally isn’t so sacked out in the bouncer seat with her arms free, we generally swaddle her up like the newborn that she is. Isn’t she just sweet as a chocolate chip cookie? 

Speaking of babies, look at the picture of all the A-Town babies from well over a year ago. Weren’t they so little? This morning Charlyn asked me if I’ll remember THIS stage that I’m currently in and I just know I won’t. Time will pass and this season of my life will fade from my memory – the midnight nursing sessions, Maggie wearing her tap dancing shoes all day long, nursing in the car, learning how to maneuver in the world (like at the grocery store) with two kids, feeling sad that Sydney doesn’t get the attention she once did. Other memories will take over and there will be a new normal. 

When I went back to work in September, I established a new normal of being out the door early in the morning and having my afternoons with Maggie at home. As much as I really loved working, I’m thankful that I am no longer rushing out the door first thing and having to say goodbye to both my girls. I also really missed seeing my girlfriends and all their kids. I’d gotten so used to adventures to parks, Jetty Island and all our houses, but the reality of squeezing in a playdate after work really wasn’t an option for all our schedules…we’ve all always had different nap schedules, live far apart, etc. 

With the birth of Audrey and me being home now, it has again opened up the door to fall into a regular schedule of playdates with my A-Town girls. I’m not going to lie….it feels SO good to be back in the swing of things with them! Our kids all get along and we’ve been friends since grade school. Making friends as an adult is not one of my strengths….I wish I was better at it, but there is something to be said for old friends and not worrying about the popper etiquette of sharing information, blah, blah, blah. 

It turned out that Valentine’s Day was a day that we were all open to get together at Lara’s house. Mira, Lara’s new bundle of joy, was born one day after Audrey and I hadn’t gotten adequate holding time of her since we’d only seen her once. [That is the only bad thing about having babies at EXACTLY the same time as one of your BFFs. It is nearly impossible to love on them in the way that you would if you didn’t have a newborn of your own.] Plus, we hadn’t seen everybody else in ages. We hopped at the chance to go and Maggie worked hard on making Valentines for all her friends. 

I didn’t take pictures of it, but the delivery of valentines was the sweetest of things between all the kids. Maggie and Caroline had a hug-fest and I’m pretty sure that Gavin never let his box of Sweethearts go the entire day. Erin brought goodies to decorate cookies and with the help of Marc, Maggie decorated a coookie that was twice the size of her head. We ‘accidently’ forgot the cookie at Lara’s house when we left….

But the icing on the cake wasn’t the cookies, the valentines or even the fact that we were all reunited after a long time. No, the icing on the cake was when Marc busted out Thomas’ new electrical jeep/tractor. Maggie, who doesn’t know how to steer, loved driving and riding in the tiny vehicle. Her and Mara spent an extremely long time cruising around the property laughing and giggling together. Once Mags discovered the reverse option, she never really drove it too far because she kept backing up. Mara, on the other hand, probably would have driven the little cart all the way home had we let her. 

Marc got out the lawn mower and the boys rode around for a very long time. It was actually quite funny watching the whole thing unfold….and to see what type of driver the young kiddos are. Eventually Marc and his little tribe of followers came back inside and we had a bit of play time in the playroom, with Maggie wanting to play guitar with Marc. She gave us a quick concert of “Country Roads”  before too long. 

I laughed with my friends that day wondering why I ever thought taking care of JUST a newborn was difficult….Audrey is a dream, especially if she’s being held or I am wearing her. Having two children is a challenge, one that I’m slowly figuring out ways to make it easier. Getting together that day at first felt like somewhat of a chore to pack everything up and get there on time [which we weren’t], but by the time we got home that evening, I found myself so happy to be back in the saddle again with my A-Town playgroup.  

Give me another me another month or so with two kids, and I’ll be ready for all sorts of adventures, and another new normal.