Sleepy

Sometimes it's fights and forced apologies.

I'm sorry.

Sometimes it's 3 bowls of oatmeal and hungry bellies.

I want some more honey in mine!

Sometimes it's homework and I forgot my book in Science class.

Really?

Sometimes it's driving to practice.

Be safe and have fun.

Sometimes it's would you please be nice to your sister?

She's annoying!

Sometimes it's kisses goodnight and don't forget to bring your book tomorrow!

(I won't)

But right now I'm tired, and sometimes is resting. I'll kiss your faces in the morning.

5 reasons why I love today....

....just in case I get all melancholy for some reason and forget.

1. Ethan received an award at school "For always setting an excellent example to others, showing great participation, and having a positive attitude!" I mean, I couldn't be more proud of him. Attitude goes a long way and I'm thankful that a good one comes naturally to him.

4th one in from the left.

2. Clemmie is getting over the sickies. Not sure what she had going on, but she threw up Saturday night, had a 103.5 fever, and actually took a nap - during the daytime! I wouldn't mind if she stuck to that last one. But as long as she's feeling better I'll gladly take her awake for 13 hours straight.

3. I don't have a million loads of laundry to do! Bobby and the boys folded all the laundry this weekend so I have 1 maybe 2 to tackle. Easy peasy - I'll just fold it while one of the "Housewives" is on (hopefully Beverly Hills or NJ).

4. I found the perfect mask for Sebastian's Egyptian costume he has to make for school.

5. Gonna start the Fluenz CD's I borrowed from a girlfriend. Se habla Español? Sí!

TMI. And I don't care!

It's tiny - but there!

Vega's first tooth has finally graced us with its presence. After 10 months of bare gums, I can now feel the jagged ridges of a baby tooth. Her left one on the bottom, to be exact - just in case someday she might wanna know that.

She still looks the same - you would never know she had a tooth unless you were searching for it. But it's there - and it's legit. She'll be a year in a month and a half. Guess it had to happen sometime.

In addition to all the hooplah surrounding her new tooth, I think I'm done breastfeeding her. It wasn't planned this way, and if you know me, you would know how a piece of me is devasted that my nursing days are over because I am the biggest sentimental on earth. But with the addition of this new tooth of hers, maybe it's a blessing in disguise. I have some shudder-inducing memories from when the other kids were babies - they would turn their heads abruptly and pull away with my nipple firmly planted between their spiky little teeth not letting go until I screamed with pain. Only then would they let go and look at me like I was crazy.

But I really wanted to breastfeed her until she was 2, teeth and all. I just wasn't producing enough milk to keep it going. And YES - to all the ignorants out there - and you know who you are - breastfeeding past the age of one has MANY benefits. Do your research and please don't mistake your opinion from truth. I'll step down from the podium now, thank you. She won't benefit from them, but she's healthy and that's all that matters. I gave her nearly a year's worth of antibodies and perfect nutrition. I think she'll be good.

And my nipples will be, too. Thanks.

9/2/11

Clementine's going through my phone right now, squealing with delight as she comes across old pictures of herself. There she is, wind-blown hair sailing out to sea on the fake wooden boat in the back of grandpa's house. Oh, and there's one of her and Vega lying on my bed together - Vega still fuzzy on top and more round in the cheeks than she is now. Clemmie's "bob" still very "Madeleine-ish" and fresh. 5 months ago.

5 months ago, and now the two of them - they are a changin'.

Clemmie is still Clemmie for the most part, lounging around the house most days in undies and a saggy ponytail, purposely stepping on Vega's fingers or playing with her miniature castle and plastic princess figurines. She can play with them for a very long time - all by herself - and sometimes I think, so THIS is what it's like. No longer a baby, toddler days are a thing of the past.....I now have a full-fledged, hardcore, so smart it'll knock your mismatched argyle socks off, darling little GIRL.

Yeah, she can be a meanie to her little sister. And yeah, it can really piss me off even though I know she's just jealous of all the attention Vega needs. All the attention that was once ALL hers.

But I know she loves her. Those kisses and squeezes that are given through gritted teeth are kisses and squeezes nonetheless, and for a girl whose heart is as big and beautiful as hers, they are coming from a place of love. No doubt about it. Vega will sometimes return the favor and give Clemmie one of her famous slobbery open-mouthed kisses that we all covet so much.Lucky!

She doesn't give them super freely, but when she does it's like whatever you think is the best thing in the world x 100. She still doesn't have any teeth so there's no pain involved, just the sweetest breath and lots of slobber surrounded by a smooth, round happy baby face peering right at you from less than an inch away. Ain't nothing better.

But ask her any day to give HERSELF a kiss which is done in the mirror, and her whole face lights up, her body convulses with happiness or eagerness or both, her mouth opens, and she plants one on the cold hard surface immediately, and sometimes twice.

Guess I can't blame her.....she IS really cute.

10 months. already.

August 1st, 2011

There is a baby on my boob. Or is it a little monkey? I can't tell these days - because Vega is my Curious Georgina. Not because she's curious, but because she reminds me, physically, of a cute little baby monkey.

I think it's her long limbs and the way her ears slightly stick out from her perfectly round head.

Oh, and possibly her wispy hair that sticks straight up when she's done napping.

And I mean it in the most endearing way possible, of course.

Mon petite singe. My little monkey.

She fell asleep while nursing so I'm getting some work done. (and blogging. Whoopee!) Time is flying with her. She's getting so big, so, so, (too) fast.

So is she. Clementine started preschool this past week, going a few hours three days a week. She loves it. I knew she would. She's making new friends, socializing, learning, and I get to spend some one-on-one time with Vega. A win-win, if I do say so myself.

She's easily the funniest little girl I've ever known. I think she's taking improv classes at night when we go to sleep because she is drama x 100. But I love it. I always wanted a girl with some spunk.

Ethan is a 2nd grader now - obsessed with recording shows off the DVR, and currently wants this.

That boy. Got his sweet tooth from his mama.

And there isn't a 7-year-old boy sweeter to his baby sister than this one.

....but there is an 11-year-old who gives him serious competition. They fight over her - over who can make her smile more, over who she'll crawl to first. I just roll my eyes cause I know she loves them both so much!

He's in the 6th grade now. Almost 12 years old. Loves shooting hoops and is trying so very hard to convince me that he needs a cellphone and a facebook page.

NOT anytime soon, my dear. Although I do admire his tenacity.

I hear about one or the other, or both......every - single - day.

Working on his ballin' skills.

You go, Sebbie.

Can't wait for bball season.

They better watch out!

July 11

Dear Vega,

I just put you down to sleep about 25 minutes ago. I would have jumped on the computer sooner, as my heart was about to jump out of my chest, full of emotion for what I just experienced with you, but as is typical around here, I had your sister to put to bed, a dinner table to clean off, and other miscellaneous to-do's that have to get done around this time.

But now I'm here - and let me tell you my little 8-month-old baby girl, you are THE sweetest thing.

Daddy gave you a bath and dressed you in your jammies. I grabbed you and took you to the mirror. You like to look at yourself (and any other baby, for that matter). We played with you for a few minutes and soon it was time for bed. Daddy wanted to lay you down, but I held onto you and sang you a made-up song as we danced slowly in our room.

"Goodnight Vega, Goodnight Vega.....

Goodnight Vega how I love you, love you, love youuuuu."

Your cheek was pressed against mine and you were so still, so quiet. I danced with you over to the mirror so I could see what your face looked like and you had your big, beautiful eyes wide open. I knew that at any minute they would probably close, so I kissed you and laid you down in the pack-n-play. You didn't make a sound as I left the room and all I could think about was how lucky I am to be your mommy.

Just an ordinary moment. But it was special. And I won't ever forget holding you like that.

Sweet dreams, my love.

Little lunch story

I took the family to Pita Jungle for lunch today. I had been craving their mixed beans since I last had them a few days ago - like could -not-get-them-off-my-mind-type-craving, so I pitched the idea to Bobby and off we went.

I ordered plain hummus for an appetizer since Bobby's salmon salad was gonna hold up the rest of our meals for a good 20 minutes and HELLO, we have four kids! Food - any food - and fast. We almost never order an app. Just seems unnecessary and I always get way too full when I do get one. The waitress suggested veggies when I asked what else besides pita bread they have to dip with. Yunno, because of Seb's gluten allergy and all.

Immediately after she left the table I heard a groan and something along the lines of "I HATE THIS GLUTEN FREE LIFE!" Of course, that hurt. No one wants to hear their child say they hate any part of life, even the gluten free parts, and I empathized with him. I know it sucks to not have any regular bread. I get it. I should have just made some of "his kind" at home and brought it with us to dip into the hummus, DUH! But I didn't, and Seb was not thrilled at the thought of dipping vegetables.

So the veggies come, and so is the point of my story - I swear! And we all dig in. All of us except for Sebastian, that is. I pass out the cucumbers, tomatoes, and pita bread to Ethan and Clemmie. I ask Seb if he wants any. He declines.

Finally I lifted a hummus-topped cucumber to Sebastian's mouth and said, "Try it."

He accepted it.

"Do you like it?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"See! I told you!" And it really was good. In fact, I liked dipping the veggies better than the pita bread.

Then Ethan goes, "Can I have some more cucumbers? They're really good with the hummus, Mommy!"

And I'm all, "Pass me your plate." Of course you can have some more. So glad you like it! YAY!

And the next few minutes were filled with us (Sebbie included) enjoying our appetizer.

Later when we got home, Ethan came up to me as I was preparing dinner and whispered in my ear, "You know how I said I liked the cucumbers with the hummus today? Well, I really didn't like it that much, but I just said it so Sebbie wouldn't be sad, because you know, he can't eat the bread."

And right then and there I just wanted to grab his face and kiss him and tell him he was such a sweet boy and to thank him for loving his brother.

And so.

I did.