Dear Internet,
I've moved: http://missniwanda.tumblr.com/
I've heard that tumblr is pretty awesome, so please take the plunge with me and follow me on Tumblr. Hopefully if I can figure out some of those allegedly awesome features, and Monkey Brain will be even bigger and better than before!
Thanks for reading these last months, and I hope that I'll continue to earn your readership as well as expand. As my friend Buzz Lightyear always says, "To Infinity and Beyoooond!"
Sincerely,
Monkey Brain
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Monkey Brain
You know how when a baby is born in the movies, the first thing the parents check is that there are 10 fingers/toes? Well I didn't do that with either of my boys.
I just checked, and don't worry, they're all there.
Phew!
I just checked, and don't worry, they're all there.
Phew!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Manners
Cody's new trick? Spitting up breastmilk.
Through his nose.
Now really, is this any way to pay your compliments to the chef? Sadly for him, I think it hurts inside his nose, based on his current wailing, grunting and sweating.
This reminds me of my relative who at one time used his flatulance as a weapon of mass destruction/party trick. And like some weapons can, it backfired, resulting in the famous phrase: "Ohh, I think I tore something."
Through his nose.
Now really, is this any way to pay your compliments to the chef? Sadly for him, I think it hurts inside his nose, based on his current wailing, grunting and sweating.
This reminds me of my relative who at one time used his flatulance as a weapon of mass destruction/party trick. And like some weapons can, it backfired, resulting in the famous phrase: "Ohh, I think I tore something."
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Thin Mintgate 2000
I took a couple of years off college, and when I returned to finish my Bachelors degree, I lived off campus with 2 roommates, E & V, across the street from the Porter Square T stop in Cambridge, MA.
One summer, V sublet her room to a young woman whose name is lost on me, so I'll just call her Jane. Jane was very young and didn't appear to have much experience living with others, as noted by her lack of toilet paper buying, and more egregiously, she ate E's Thin Mints, which were in the freezer. Now people, what makes GSCs so special is that they are ONLY available for a short period every spring, and as mentioned, this was SUMMER.
Thin Mintgate put E over the edge and she chastised Jane for her social faux pas. Luckily, Jane redeemed herself by purchasing a Costco sized pack of TP and finding Thin Mints on the internet.
Don’t worry folks, I’ll be sure to raise my boys to ALWAYS respect other people’s Girl Scout Cookies.
Hey, that sounds kinda dirty.
One summer, V sublet her room to a young woman whose name is lost on me, so I'll just call her Jane. Jane was very young and didn't appear to have much experience living with others, as noted by her lack of toilet paper buying, and more egregiously, she ate E's Thin Mints, which were in the freezer. Now people, what makes GSCs so special is that they are ONLY available for a short period every spring, and as mentioned, this was SUMMER.
Thin Mintgate put E over the edge and she chastised Jane for her social faux pas. Luckily, Jane redeemed herself by purchasing a Costco sized pack of TP and finding Thin Mints on the internet.
Don’t worry folks, I’ll be sure to raise my boys to ALWAYS respect other people’s Girl Scout Cookies.
Hey, that sounds kinda dirty.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The problem with dvr
Well, for the most part, there is no problem, no problem what. so. ever. I mean, just last Sunday I was lovin' my Tivo as we rewound the moment when the crazy redhead charged the stage to Kanye the best documentary short acceptance speech. I mean, without Tivo, we would not have been able to see that OMG, they were RACING to the stage!! (Well, there's always Youtube, but you get my drift)
Sometimes however, you get backed up and so the water cooler moments lose their relevance. For example, tonight while we are watching one of the funniest hosts ever, Zach Galiafanakis, all I want to do is talk to someone around the watercooler about how funny he is and relive the moment when he says, "We've got a great show tonight; Hoobastank is here. . .no? Oh! Who is it?" And I'm all, Hoobastank?! This is a man after my own heart. I mean, on my celebrity crush list, homeless professor looking Zach just may have sailed past Jason Segel and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Alas, this episode is a week old, so my watercooler moment is gone. This is kind of like one of my favorite movies, Kicking and Screaming. Olivia D'Abo's character, Jane, keeps saying things like, "Oh hey, I thought of a comeback for that comment you made in class two weeks ago. . ." Yeah, it's kind of like that.
Internet? Thanks for being my watercooler.
Sometimes however, you get backed up and so the water cooler moments lose their relevance. For example, tonight while we are watching one of the funniest hosts ever, Zach Galiafanakis, all I want to do is talk to someone around the watercooler about how funny he is and relive the moment when he says, "We've got a great show tonight; Hoobastank is here. . .no? Oh! Who is it?" And I'm all, Hoobastank?! This is a man after my own heart. I mean, on my celebrity crush list, homeless professor looking Zach just may have sailed past Jason Segel and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Alas, this episode is a week old, so my watercooler moment is gone. This is kind of like one of my favorite movies, Kicking and Screaming. Olivia D'Abo's character, Jane, keeps saying things like, "Oh hey, I thought of a comeback for that comment you made in class two weeks ago. . ." Yeah, it's kind of like that.
Internet? Thanks for being my watercooler.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Monkey Cook: Spinach, Feta, and Olive Pasta
When I was pregnant with Jacob, I had major cravings for olive tapendade. Kind of strange since I've always hated olives, but that's pregnancy for you! This time around, in anticipation of future cravings, I purchased a few jars of olive tapenade last summer. Wouldn't you know it, I had no such cravings, and still have these jars of olive tapenade in my pantry, mocking me. So I've been trying to think of how to incorporate it into some meals, and here's what I came up with:
Spinach, Feta, and Olive Pasta
3 cups short cut pasta (I used penne rigate)
1 onion, halved and sliced into half moons
1-2 T olive oil
1 pinch salt
6 cups spinach (you could also use frozen spinach)
½ c. olive tapenade (I chose Trader Joe’s jarred tapenade, but you could use any tapenade. Once April comes around I'll be getting my tapenade from my local farmer's market)
3 oz feta, crumbled
1. Put a pot of water to boil for the pasta. When the water boils, salt it and cook the pasta to al dente, 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and reserve about 1-2 c of the starchy cooking water
2. While the pasta water is cooking, saute the onions on a dry skillet on medium heat until soft, 5-10 minutes. Add 1-2 T olive oil and a pinch of salt, continue cooking, stirring frequently, until onions are very soft and caramelized, about 15-20 minutes total.
3. Add the spinach in batches, stirring in some of the starchy cooking water to wilt.
4. Add in the olive tapenade and a little more starchy cooking water. You don't want it to be too watery, so add the water in 1/4 to 1/2 c increments.
5. Add in the pasta and cheese, stirring frequently. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for later.
The nice part of this dish is that you get all your food groups in one bowl (6 cups of spinach!), but if you are more hungry, feel free to add a green salad or some bread w/olive oil to beef it up.
Wine Note: I served it with Zinfandel, but I think a sweeter white wine (like a Riesling) would work better to temper the saltiness of the tapenade and feta.
Cooking Time: about 30 min
Serves 2 (although one of those two is breastfeeding, so this may serve more)
Spinach, Feta, and Olive Pasta
3 cups short cut pasta (I used penne rigate)
1 onion, halved and sliced into half moons
1-2 T olive oil
1 pinch salt
6 cups spinach (you could also use frozen spinach)
½ c. olive tapenade (I chose Trader Joe’s jarred tapenade, but you could use any tapenade. Once April comes around I'll be getting my tapenade from my local farmer's market)
3 oz feta, crumbled
1. Put a pot of water to boil for the pasta. When the water boils, salt it and cook the pasta to al dente, 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and reserve about 1-2 c of the starchy cooking water
2. While the pasta water is cooking, saute the onions on a dry skillet on medium heat until soft, 5-10 minutes. Add 1-2 T olive oil and a pinch of salt, continue cooking, stirring frequently, until onions are very soft and caramelized, about 15-20 minutes total.
3. Add the spinach in batches, stirring in some of the starchy cooking water to wilt.
4. Add in the olive tapenade and a little more starchy cooking water. You don't want it to be too watery, so add the water in 1/4 to 1/2 c increments.
5. Add in the pasta and cheese, stirring frequently. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for later.
The nice part of this dish is that you get all your food groups in one bowl (6 cups of spinach!), but if you are more hungry, feel free to add a green salad or some bread w/olive oil to beef it up.
Wine Note: I served it with Zinfandel, but I think a sweeter white wine (like a Riesling) would work better to temper the saltiness of the tapenade and feta.
Cooking Time: about 30 min
Serves 2 (although one of those two is breastfeeding, so this may serve more)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The junior cheeseburger, and other distortions of the media
When I was pregnant with Jacob, Josh had a vision of our future, and it went something like this:
We’d be at a restaurant, sometime in the future with young Jacob in tow. When it came time to order, Josh would say something like, “And for the little one here, we’ll have the junior cheeseburger.”
His vision hasn’t turned out quite the way we planned, seeing as we are raising a child that is no shrinking violet. Not sure how that happened when the simple act of making a phone call to a stranger makes my palms sweat.
Anyhoo.
When we eat out these days, it is for breakfast, and it usually goes something like this:
Server: Good morning, would you like something to dr---
Jacob: Mickey Mouse pancake pease!!
Even the one time we went out for lunch in the last six months, Jacob kept saying “Handeburg? Handeburg?”(Hamburger) like Rain Man while the flustered server tried to list off the specials, until we translated his order.
Anyway, somehow this vision has morphed in such a way that I now call Cody “The Junior Cheeseburger,” as in “Can you take the junior cheeseburger for a diaper change?”
My brain does this sometimes, just totally distorts stuff where I start with an idea and end up with a random nickname for our son. Like when I used to tell the story about how my father was accidentally shot by one of his friends at an eighth grade dance. Nine months later Dad was hit by a car, and the driver happened to be the priest of the boy who had shot him. Only when I tell the story, it goes something like this: My dad was shot by his friend, who was so upset that he called his priest, who then came to the dance and ran over my dad.
When I do this, Josh says, “Yeah, the media can distort things sometimes.” Basically my brain is like The National Enquirer. And while this was once kind of embarrassing, The National Enquirer is now up for a Pulitzer, so boo-yah!
We’d be at a restaurant, sometime in the future with young Jacob in tow. When it came time to order, Josh would say something like, “And for the little one here, we’ll have the junior cheeseburger.”
His vision hasn’t turned out quite the way we planned, seeing as we are raising a child that is no shrinking violet. Not sure how that happened when the simple act of making a phone call to a stranger makes my palms sweat.
Anyhoo.
When we eat out these days, it is for breakfast, and it usually goes something like this:
Server: Good morning, would you like something to dr---
Jacob: Mickey Mouse pancake pease!!
Even the one time we went out for lunch in the last six months, Jacob kept saying “Handeburg? Handeburg?”(Hamburger) like Rain Man while the flustered server tried to list off the specials, until we translated his order.
Anyway, somehow this vision has morphed in such a way that I now call Cody “The Junior Cheeseburger,” as in “Can you take the junior cheeseburger for a diaper change?”
My brain does this sometimes, just totally distorts stuff where I start with an idea and end up with a random nickname for our son. Like when I used to tell the story about how my father was accidentally shot by one of his friends at an eighth grade dance. Nine months later Dad was hit by a car, and the driver happened to be the priest of the boy who had shot him. Only when I tell the story, it goes something like this: My dad was shot by his friend, who was so upset that he called his priest, who then came to the dance and ran over my dad.
When I do this, Josh says, “Yeah, the media can distort things sometimes.” Basically my brain is like The National Enquirer. And while this was once kind of embarrassing, The National Enquirer is now up for a Pulitzer, so boo-yah!
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Lightweight
Just had my second postpartum glass of wine (first was last week).
Whoa.
I
Am
A
Cheap
Date
Don't worry Internet, I won't be nursing for a few hours
Whoa.
I
Am
A
Cheap
Date
Don't worry Internet, I won't be nursing for a few hours
Monday, March 08, 2010
Month 1: Cody
Dear Cody,
Today marks one month since you made our family four. I must say that you have been a great baby so far. You are a great eater, sleeper, and a champion pooper!
You are teaching Daddy and I so much about being parents. When we had your brother, it was two of us and one of him, putting the numbers in our favor. Now we have you and are juggling two boys, but it’s been a good thing. Somehow the increased chaos has made your father and me an even better team as we do the two-kid dance.
Today was our first day alone together. Well, Friday Daddy went to his teacher work day, but if things got hairy he could always leave, so today was the real deal. Thanks so much for taking a couple of big naps this morning to give me some energy, I really appreciate it.
There’s not much to say yet about your development; you’re still kind of in the floppy stage, and your main expression seems to be crossing your eyes. Try to grow out of that, okay? The ladies aren’t too hip on cross-eyed fellas.
Anyhoo, we all love you so much and are so happy to have you in our family.
Love,
Mama
Today marks one month since you made our family four. I must say that you have been a great baby so far. You are a great eater, sleeper, and a champion pooper!
You are teaching Daddy and I so much about being parents. When we had your brother, it was two of us and one of him, putting the numbers in our favor. Now we have you and are juggling two boys, but it’s been a good thing. Somehow the increased chaos has made your father and me an even better team as we do the two-kid dance.
Today was our first day alone together. Well, Friday Daddy went to his teacher work day, but if things got hairy he could always leave, so today was the real deal. Thanks so much for taking a couple of big naps this morning to give me some energy, I really appreciate it.
There’s not much to say yet about your development; you’re still kind of in the floppy stage, and your main expression seems to be crossing your eyes. Try to grow out of that, okay? The ladies aren’t too hip on cross-eyed fellas.
Anyhoo, we all love you so much and are so happy to have you in our family.
Love,
Mama
Sunday, March 07, 2010
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Christmas? Oh no, dear Internet Reader, it's. . .Girl Scout Cookie Time!!
My favorite Girl Scout Cookie are the Samoas, which at some point were deemed politically incorrect and renamed Caramel deLites, and now they go by both names. Second are Thin Mints (DUH!), which are especially good frozen. I have stories dedicated to each cookie, and I'll post them later this week, but for today, I'd like to share my own brief experience with the Girl Scouts of America.
Actually, I never made it to full Girl Scout status; I pooped out after Brownies. Pretty much all of my childhood pursuits ended in half assed Monkey Brainery (See: flute, viola, piano and acting lessons). I mean who are we kidding? I'm sure the focus and ability to finish stuff that is required to be a successful Girl Scout goes against the very heart of a Monkey Brain.
I think that I was so bad at Brownie-ing that I blocked everything out but the following:
First, Brownies met on Tuesdays. And it was on a Tuesday in third grade that I was wearing my Brownie uniform and my mom had to pick me up because I had lice (I blamed Smelly R, because obviously smelly boys also carried lice--DUH). Instead of going home, we went to the New Rochelle Mall, did some Christmas shopping and I got my picture taken with a particularly crazy-eyed Santa (I REALLY wish I had that picture!), whom I probably gave lice. Oops.
Second, I was a horrible cookie seller. Painfully shy and introverted, going door to door? And selling stuff? To strangers? Oh the panic. I'm pretty sure that some of my cookie-loving family members were my best customers. This was before the days of Girl Scouts setting up shop in front of the local Safeway where all they had to do was show their yummy wares and impulse shoppers like me are hooked. I sold cookies when we had to bring order forms to our neighbors, and remember to deliver the dang boxes. In the snow! Uphill both ways!
Anyhoo.
God bless Girl Scout Cookies and the United States of America! (And God bless the extra calorie burn of breastfeeding!)
My favorite Girl Scout Cookie are the Samoas, which at some point were deemed politically incorrect and renamed Caramel deLites, and now they go by both names. Second are Thin Mints (DUH!), which are especially good frozen. I have stories dedicated to each cookie, and I'll post them later this week, but for today, I'd like to share my own brief experience with the Girl Scouts of America.
Actually, I never made it to full Girl Scout status; I pooped out after Brownies. Pretty much all of my childhood pursuits ended in half assed Monkey Brainery (See: flute, viola, piano and acting lessons). I mean who are we kidding? I'm sure the focus and ability to finish stuff that is required to be a successful Girl Scout goes against the very heart of a Monkey Brain.
I think that I was so bad at Brownie-ing that I blocked everything out but the following:
First, Brownies met on Tuesdays. And it was on a Tuesday in third grade that I was wearing my Brownie uniform and my mom had to pick me up because I had lice (I blamed Smelly R, because obviously smelly boys also carried lice--DUH). Instead of going home, we went to the New Rochelle Mall, did some Christmas shopping and I got my picture taken with a particularly crazy-eyed Santa (I REALLY wish I had that picture!), whom I probably gave lice. Oops.
Second, I was a horrible cookie seller. Painfully shy and introverted, going door to door? And selling stuff? To strangers? Oh the panic. I'm pretty sure that some of my cookie-loving family members were my best customers. This was before the days of Girl Scouts setting up shop in front of the local Safeway where all they had to do was show their yummy wares and impulse shoppers like me are hooked. I sold cookies when we had to bring order forms to our neighbors, and remember to deliver the dang boxes. In the snow! Uphill both ways!
Anyhoo.
God bless Girl Scout Cookies and the United States of America! (And God bless the extra calorie burn of breastfeeding!)
Friday, March 05, 2010
Monkey Brain
I just learned a new word: kinesthetic learner. I learned this from my friend MBM, who also has a blog, which can be found here. Read it, it’s very good. My entire life, I’ve always learned by doing, and it’s nice to hear that there is a word for it. Let’s face it folks, kinesthetic learner is a much better phrase than “ME do it!” (or some other such version of those words that I’ve uttered over the last 35 years. Thanks MBM!
Spam
Dear Male Pharmacy On-Line,
MR Caitlin? MR?! You really need to get a fact checker for your spam business. Um, how many MEN are searching for things like what to eat while breastfeeding (NOT Indian food, fyi). Other than that "pregnant man" from Oregon, methinks not many.
Sincerely,
Monkey Brain
MR Caitlin? MR?! You really need to get a fact checker for your spam business. Um, how many MEN are searching for things like what to eat while breastfeeding (NOT Indian food, fyi). Other than that "pregnant man" from Oregon, methinks not many.
Sincerely,
Monkey Brain
Thursday, March 04, 2010
On the sunny side of the womb (Cody’s Birth Story, Part III)
I’ll admit it, when I got to the OR, I was scared. It felt good to walk there (instead of being wheeled in), but my old fears started coming back, so I tried to get back to what was actually happening. The room was different, the circumstances were different. Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” played on the radio, and my mind jumped back in time to the British camp counselor who first introduced me to Tracy Chapman in the summer before 8th grade.
As I sat on the operating table while the anesthesiologist prepped my back for the spinal block, I watched the nurses prepare the room for surgery. I found the choreography of their work soothing: the methodical unpacking of supplies, the calling out of items on a checklist to make sure everything was in order before moving forward, it all calmed me. They know what they’re doing. Everything will be okay.
Finally we were ready. Josh came in and said, “I’ve had a vision. We’re having a girl and we’re going to name her Violet.” Erm, okayyyyy. . .
Josh stroked my hair and I took deep cleansing breaths. I eavesdropped on the small talk of the doctors that distracted me from the fact that my body was being cut open. I felt some tugging, and then he (thank goodness, because I was NOT down with Violet Henig) was here. While Cody doesn’t get his name from Wild Bill Cody and Jesse James, he came out gun ablaze. “He’s peeing!” Josh cried, and I felt so happy that he was here and he was safe.
Cody was in the OP (Occiput Posterior), or “Sunny Side Up” position, which is a more difficult way of delivery, and could have presented some complications. He also had the cord wrapped around his neck. Twice. Evidently in the 10 days since my last ultrasound (when his head was facing towards my back in the optimal birth position), he’d flipped. My theory is that mystery pain that I had a few weeks ago was Cody changing position. Silly monkey baby! Anyway, if labor had progressed, the cord would have wrapped tighter around his neck as he moved down the birth canal, and let’s just say that I was very grateful that labor stalled and we chose C-Section.
They brought him back and I was happy to see him, and happy to be feeling at all. This was the opposite of the numbness that I felt during Jacob’s delivery, the distraction of medication and shivering and nausea leaving me emotionless. I was awake and sitting up in the recovery room, not passed out, not feverish. I could even call my family, nurse Cody within a half hour of his birth.
So different. So good. No regrets.
As I sat on the operating table while the anesthesiologist prepped my back for the spinal block, I watched the nurses prepare the room for surgery. I found the choreography of their work soothing: the methodical unpacking of supplies, the calling out of items on a checklist to make sure everything was in order before moving forward, it all calmed me. They know what they’re doing. Everything will be okay.
Finally we were ready. Josh came in and said, “I’ve had a vision. We’re having a girl and we’re going to name her Violet.” Erm, okayyyyy. . .
Josh stroked my hair and I took deep cleansing breaths. I eavesdropped on the small talk of the doctors that distracted me from the fact that my body was being cut open. I felt some tugging, and then he (thank goodness, because I was NOT down with Violet Henig) was here. While Cody doesn’t get his name from Wild Bill Cody and Jesse James, he came out gun ablaze. “He’s peeing!” Josh cried, and I felt so happy that he was here and he was safe.
Cody was in the OP (Occiput Posterior), or “Sunny Side Up” position, which is a more difficult way of delivery, and could have presented some complications. He also had the cord wrapped around his neck. Twice. Evidently in the 10 days since my last ultrasound (when his head was facing towards my back in the optimal birth position), he’d flipped. My theory is that mystery pain that I had a few weeks ago was Cody changing position. Silly monkey baby! Anyway, if labor had progressed, the cord would have wrapped tighter around his neck as he moved down the birth canal, and let’s just say that I was very grateful that labor stalled and we chose C-Section.
They brought him back and I was happy to see him, and happy to be feeling at all. This was the opposite of the numbness that I felt during Jacob’s delivery, the distraction of medication and shivering and nausea leaving me emotionless. I was awake and sitting up in the recovery room, not passed out, not feverish. I could even call my family, nurse Cody within a half hour of his birth.
So different. So good. No regrets.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
29 Months: Jacob
Dear Jacob,
Oh my gravy, this last month has FLOWN by! You are now officially a big brother, and what a great big brother you are. From the moment Cody came home from the hospital, you knew that this baby was special and different from the other babies that you know. You like holding him and touching his nose (and talking about the boogers in his nose), cuddling up when I feed him, trying to feed him cookies and toast. Good sharing, but let's just stick with the boob for a few more months, mmmkay?
This last week, however, I've noticed a change in your lovey dovey big brother attitude. Your gentle caresses have become a little more pokey, with a focus on the eyes. You are roaring in his face more frequently, and you seem to have figured out that Daddy, Cody and I are staying home while you go to daycare, and this is SO NOT COOL. However, I'd like to remind you of how much you love daycare, and prefer E's tacos and lasagna to anything that I pack in your lunch bag.
Dude, your puzzle making skills have ex.plo.ded. When I went on the Melissa & Doug buying binge a few weeks ago, I figured I'd introduce one puzzle per week, but you got through each one so quickly that I just broke them all out in one week! It's been really fun rotating the puzzles; I want to do puzzles with you forever.
I don't know if it's the responsibility of being a new brother, but you really are starting to seem like a big boy these days. It feels like yesterday that I was just swaddling you, and now you are this little person, a real live little boy. When did that happen? How can I slow things down? Sometimes, I just want to take moments like this morning, when Daddy and Cody were sleeping and you and I ate breakfast and did the fishy puzzle, I want to take those moments and capture them in amber before they fade away to "No time for breakfast Mom, I gotta get to school!"
I know this is a big transition for you (in addition to all the standard growing and learning and developing), and you are being a champ. I hope you know that Daddy and I love you so much, even when you are moody and clingy and whiny, even when one of us can't play with you because we are tending to your baby brother. And it's okay to feel weird right now, it's okay to love Cody and also kind of want to sit on his head. While we won't let you DO that, it's totally okay to want to.
Keep in mind though, that while you can steal all his baby gifts now, sooner than you think he's going to want that Sophie the Giraffe back, and he'll be willing to fight you for it. I'm just saying, you might want to think about cultivating a friendship down the line, and you have the upper hand here. While he may end up taller than you, he'll always love his big brother.
Love,
Mama
Oh my gravy, this last month has FLOWN by! You are now officially a big brother, and what a great big brother you are. From the moment Cody came home from the hospital, you knew that this baby was special and different from the other babies that you know. You like holding him and touching his nose (and talking about the boogers in his nose), cuddling up when I feed him, trying to feed him cookies and toast. Good sharing, but let's just stick with the boob for a few more months, mmmkay?
This last week, however, I've noticed a change in your lovey dovey big brother attitude. Your gentle caresses have become a little more pokey, with a focus on the eyes. You are roaring in his face more frequently, and you seem to have figured out that Daddy, Cody and I are staying home while you go to daycare, and this is SO NOT COOL. However, I'd like to remind you of how much you love daycare, and prefer E's tacos and lasagna to anything that I pack in your lunch bag.
Dude, your puzzle making skills have ex.plo.ded. When I went on the Melissa & Doug buying binge a few weeks ago, I figured I'd introduce one puzzle per week, but you got through each one so quickly that I just broke them all out in one week! It's been really fun rotating the puzzles; I want to do puzzles with you forever.
I don't know if it's the responsibility of being a new brother, but you really are starting to seem like a big boy these days. It feels like yesterday that I was just swaddling you, and now you are this little person, a real live little boy. When did that happen? How can I slow things down? Sometimes, I just want to take moments like this morning, when Daddy and Cody were sleeping and you and I ate breakfast and did the fishy puzzle, I want to take those moments and capture them in amber before they fade away to "No time for breakfast Mom, I gotta get to school!"
I know this is a big transition for you (in addition to all the standard growing and learning and developing), and you are being a champ. I hope you know that Daddy and I love you so much, even when you are moody and clingy and whiny, even when one of us can't play with you because we are tending to your baby brother. And it's okay to feel weird right now, it's okay to love Cody and also kind of want to sit on his head. While we won't let you DO that, it's totally okay to want to.
Keep in mind though, that while you can steal all his baby gifts now, sooner than you think he's going to want that Sophie the Giraffe back, and he'll be willing to fight you for it. I'm just saying, you might want to think about cultivating a friendship down the line, and you have the upper hand here. While he may end up taller than you, he'll always love his big brother.
Love,
Mama
Monkey Butt
I am now coming to the realization that while my belly was growing and I was saying "Go, Keiki, Go!" my caboose was on the loose. It's like the fat cells in my butt and hips were like, " She's not looking; it's time to grow, boys! "
Well, listen up fellas, there's a new sheriff in town. And in three weeks when I get the okay from Dr. B, I'm Stroller Striding you right out of Badonka Donk City.
Well, listen up fellas, there's a new sheriff in town. And in three weeks when I get the okay from Dr. B, I'm Stroller Striding you right out of Badonka Donk City.
Monday, March 01, 2010
Puzzle Face
Need I say more than the above title? Well maybe just this: Isn't my new camera AWESOME?
The case for #2
I had a lot of fears about having two kids. Don’t get me wrong, I always knew that I wanted Jacob to have a sibling, but it seemed like such a daunting task. What would it be like to not be able to sleep when the baby sleeps because big brother is awake and wants to do puzzles? Life seems so packed to the gills with one child, work, commuting and owning a home, how could we handle two?
I have to say that I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how great it’s been. Granted, we are lucky to (knock wood) have created two boys who are sweet and mellow, so I might be singing a different tune if we had a colicky newborn.
The thing is that this time we know what we’re doing; we’ve traveled the newborn road before. And compared to the added burden of my physical complications the last time, this go around is a breeze. Yes, Josh and I are sleep deprived and slightly batty. And still, I so happy, I not crying.
The other thing is that in the last two years, we’ve built up a local support network. Our neighbor has provided us with two hot dinners (and the fixings for a third in the freezer) since we returned from the hospital. My friend A dropped off snacks, frozen pizza, and while she was at it she conquered our dishes and changed a load of laundry, all while being 7 months pregnant. My in laws took Jacob to the zoo, and he’s in daycare full time for the next few weeks.
This time around, I can take care of Cody. I’m taking it easy, but I have exponential leaps in my recovery. To think that it was just a week ago when five minutes of standing in the shower left me sitting on the side of the tub as my incision burned and my insides cried out for mercy. Only a few days ago I tried to change Cody’s diaper and after standing for 1 minute I had to cry out for Josh to come help me. Now I take the whole night shift, so hopefully Josh won't be too much of a zombie when he goes back to work. And while I'll miss my sweetie pie when he goes back to work, I'm totally confident that I can handle Cody all by myself. Hopefully I'll still feel that way when it actually happens!
I have to say that I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how great it’s been. Granted, we are lucky to (knock wood) have created two boys who are sweet and mellow, so I might be singing a different tune if we had a colicky newborn.
The thing is that this time we know what we’re doing; we’ve traveled the newborn road before. And compared to the added burden of my physical complications the last time, this go around is a breeze. Yes, Josh and I are sleep deprived and slightly batty. And still, I so happy, I not crying.
The other thing is that in the last two years, we’ve built up a local support network. Our neighbor has provided us with two hot dinners (and the fixings for a third in the freezer) since we returned from the hospital. My friend A dropped off snacks, frozen pizza, and while she was at it she conquered our dishes and changed a load of laundry, all while being 7 months pregnant. My in laws took Jacob to the zoo, and he’s in daycare full time for the next few weeks.
This time around, I can take care of Cody. I’m taking it easy, but I have exponential leaps in my recovery. To think that it was just a week ago when five minutes of standing in the shower left me sitting on the side of the tub as my incision burned and my insides cried out for mercy. Only a few days ago I tried to change Cody’s diaper and after standing for 1 minute I had to cry out for Josh to come help me. Now I take the whole night shift, so hopefully Josh won't be too much of a zombie when he goes back to work. And while I'll miss my sweetie pie when he goes back to work, I'm totally confident that I can handle Cody all by myself. Hopefully I'll still feel that way when it actually happens!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
