Category Archives: Uncategorized

Merry Christmas!

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I don’t know why Lily has always used the name Melinda or Melindy for play names.  But our Nutcracker soldiers are a little bit different.  She has named them Salindy and Salinder.  She has performed “on stage” {up on the fireplace} with them.  She even moves them around when its necessary to move the song or play along.  Tody she moved them close together as they are now friends.   And then she took a photo:

But today I am most thankful for the unexpected.  It is 8 now.  Ollie has been working on sleeping in his big boy bed and not getting much sleep.  No one really has been getting much sleep.  Tonight Sam laid with him and I did, too.  And I told Lily she could sleep in our bed which will keep her from going into his room to talk to him.  But I came downstairs to nurse Emmy and as I was walking from the kitchen to the playroom,  I noticed that our neighbors have a brightly lit little Christmas tree in the backyard.  It was so unexpected.  And it made me smile.  I’m so glad I noticed it.  This place feel like home to me. Unexpectedly.

Honestly, these aren’t even the very best ones…

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Oh, our Lily, she is such a character.  And a non-stop conversationalist.  I am so grateful for a kiddo with such ideas.  I love when she shares her insight with us:

“Stretching is the nighttime yoga.”

“What are vampires? Are they like sea witches?”

“When I’m under a blanket sometimes I get all sweaty. Just like you, right?” {to Sam} 🙂

“Look at my hair. There’s a curved pipe in it. I was just designing it. It’s a cute pigtail.”

“We have two choices, Momma: We could play with the spaceship or make up true stories about the unicorns ”

Day 24 of Thankful Thoughts

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Today {I mean, YESTERDAY, but I am catching up!} I am so thankful for WONDER and DISCOVERY.  Lily appeared at the top of the steps while it was turning light and she asked me why it was so white outside.  Then it dawned on her.  Snow!  She couldn’t wait to get out there!  A cold front came in yesterday afternoon {two days ago…WHATEVER!} and with it, a little coating of the white stuff.  She was so excited to check it out that she went immediately to the closet and put her winter coat and boots on-over her Tink PJ’s.  While she was outside, Ollie joined in the awake time and she brought in various things with a little bit of snow on them so he could see.  A rock.  A sprig of pine tree.  Another, bigger rock.  

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Later in the day we all got bundled, Emmy included, and went outside to play.  No dice.  Ollie couldn’t hack the cold.  This may take some getting used to!

Carnegie Museum of Natural History

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Gramma Lissa treated the kids to the museum today.  We only got (partially) through one gallery {but it was DINOSAURS, so, its like we hit the jackpot!} and had to get back home for a desperately needed nap but it was quite a lot of fun.  It is a pretty fabulous museum and we all can’t wait to go back.  Lily says that her favorite part was digging for fossils; very well done hands-on exhibit. I am so thankful Lissa suggested it; perfect for a dreary day here in the ‘Burgh!

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No Poop, Just Gas

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This is what Ollie says if you ask him if he needs a new diap. And as we played at the playground today, passing gas was on my mind again. A bigger boy showed my little kids how to make farting noises with their hands two weeks ago. Every time we go back and they get on the bouncy see-saw thingy where the introduction took place, my kids try to make the noises. They have awhile to go until mastery. Lucky me. It was no different today. Why are those noises so funny? It may be biological. I have never seen my dad laugh harder than when he pulls out his iPhone and uses his fart app. It holds no appeal for me but I am so thankful that I get to be surrounded and related to people with great senses of humor. I love to laugh. My kids make me laugh all the time. I am grateful, too, for laughing til you cry. I’m thankful for those people who inspire those moments: my brothers, my husband, my parents and Jen and Marn and Lynnie have especially made me laugh that way. It’s the best, best, best.

Three Months and A Day

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So this was supposed to be yesterday’s post but I didn’t get to it.

Emmeline Meredith is 3 MONTHS {and a day} OLD today!!  It has been a wonderful three month experience with her.  Virtually no newborn baby drama; she is happy to be toted from here to there and plopped anywhere she must be in order to care for the other two.  Either it is her temperament, my worn-in mommy skills, or that I am too busy to notice but she just seems like a breeze of a baby girl, don’t you think?

Easy, sleepy, go with the flow…that’s my baby {#3}!

Little Gobblers

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Today was a day of firsts:  my first parent-teacher conference and my first time getting the entire house clean in one shot.  My conference was cute and I found out what we all know about Lily–she is great.  She is playing well with others but learning to stand her ground.  She is a little storyteller and talker but is quite shy in music class.  She is possibly testing limits during lunch and quiet time by making little noises.  I welcome the rebellion; everyone needs to be a little naughty every once in awhile.  While the two nappers napped, Lily and I started some Thanksgiving Day preparations.  ImageI am so thankful for her artistry, Ollie’s confidence to try and jump down off something today by himself, and Emmy’s patience with my running around today.

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A Day Late & A Dollar Short

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One of my favorite lines from a sassy former nun teacher~McD.  And it turns out that my great intentions ran into a rather fun Sunday.  But that doesn’t matter.  Here’s yesterday’s gratitude!

I am grateful for babies who discover themselves in the mirror:

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I am grateful for long walks in the sunshine.  I am grateful for neighborhood playdates; our second of the weekend.  But this one lasted for nearly 2 hours!  And for part of it (the part where Ollie wasn’t involved, I didn’t have to be on kid watch).  We were headed over to the playground and to check out the Holiday Dazzle crowd at the Community Center, but Olivia and all the Boys were outside playing.  We turned around and both Lily and Ollie ran over and played like champs til the sun went down.