just a little bit

Today is a great day. It's sunny, it's supposed to be 80* and Harrison is on the mend. On Monday morning (what a great way to start the week!) harrison woke up with a fever of 102*. Off to the ped we went. She said that he probably just had a virus or a cold and to give him some baby tylenol to bring down the fever. That definitely helped *some* but not entirely. Tuesday he woke up feeling better (I presume) but still not completely A-OK. Today, he seems much, much better. He's not warm any more and he's back to his happy, smiley self. He's still very sneezy and has a runny nose, but at least he's happy. (We all know how that is -- when you have symptoms but you don't actually *feel* bad, you know?) They weighed him and he's 16 pounds and 14 ounces. Certainly keeping up with the big boys, who were both 19 pounds at 4 months. Except they were both much bigger than him at birth. (Campbell was 9-5, Sawyer was 9-15 and Harrison was 7-9)

Anyway, he's just delightful. He's 3.5 months old (say it isn't so!) and he's just wonderful. If I had to guess I'd say he's just about perfect. Well, to me he IS perfect! He LOVES getting dressed and undressed. He starts smiling and giggling when you start taking his sleeves off -- he knows the big event is coming. FORGET IT when the shirt comes off of his head -- he's got an enormous grin and laughs and laughs. It is wonderful and really makes that part of the day really fun!

He's trying to sit up -- he'll be laying on his back and lifts his head and shoulders off of the bed/couch/wherever. It's like crunches for babies. He's actually enjoying the bumbo now, he can keep his head up to look around and see what is going on. That is not to say that he's still not completely enamoured with the fish friends (from the swing) and his best friend, the dog on his bouncy seat. But, he's adding things to his repertoire .

He loves to nap - weird, huh? But he does. He loves to smile and laugh. He's a dream come true!

it *was* valentines day

Yup, that's right. A few days ago, it was Valetines Day. And now, it's 3 days later. Also, two days ago, it was Andy's birthday. Yes, it's been busy around here.

So, it's absolutely wonderful that my beloved has reached another milestone and is celebrating another year on this earth. That is, of course, the only real thing worth celebrating. But, you know what he got for his birthday? Have you guessed yet? Aha! Guitar Hero III for Wii (forever referred to as GHIII). Have you guessed what obsessive personality has commandeered the GHIII for Wii?? Again, you know me too well.

So, I'm mildly obsessed with the game. In fact, I even had dreams about it last night. I love this game. I don't even know if I'm good at it. But, I do really like it. Poor Andy, maybe he'll get to play it - once I beat it! :) Apparently I'm not allowed to share photos now, but if I were I would show some of Sawyer and Andy playing. (I deleted the photos of me playing. They weren't pretty.) Good times around here.

added note

I'd also like to mention that the pictures from Saturday look awful. I tried to shrink them to fit and they are not good. The above photos look better and now I know how to add to photos right from my computer instead of photobucket. YAY for me.

hoya

Tonight, Sawyer emphatically declared that he HATES the name Boya. Andy asked him what he'd rather be called and he decided "HOYA, like Ahoy!" I definitely laughed. A little bit later he also proferred the name C73 - because it was kind of like c3po. I'll stick with Hoya, I suppose.

In case you're wondering - Boya is Sawyer's nickname. It's been around since infancy. It started with a Goya commmercial ("What a way to Goya!") that turned into Boya. He's been Boya, Boya Boya, Soya Boya or little Boya ever since. If it's really on it's way out, I'll miss it. It's part of him/me and it's been perfect.

I'm for sure making him tell Gini she can't call him that. (I've only heard Andy, Gini and I use this pet name. There may be others, but they are escaping me right now) It's his opinion to share.

Speaking of Gini, which I was in the previous paragraph, she and her "sons" came up today. (Rewind a few weeks. Sawyer and I were talking about Gini coming up here in a few weeks to babysit for a concert Andy and I are going to see. He asked if Gini was going to bring her "sons". Poor boy doesn't even know that daughters exist. Or maybe it's that he doesn't know what girl children are called. At any rate, it was funny!) She had called a few days ago to see if we had plans and if she and the kids could come up and babysit for a few hours. She needed to spend some QT with the boys. Not one to turn down good and free child care, I obliged her. I got a pedicure. And, went to Trader Joes. All in all a good afternoon. Plus, the kids got to run around like crazy, wild and over sugared heathens. I got to have pretty toes and read the latest issue of People. (It is exactly all of the same information as US Weekly. But, since I'm a devoted US Weekly subsriber, I prefer it's format!)

I'm sure you feel much smarter for knowing that.

3 months?

It's about that time, the time where the calendar flips over and the baby turns another month older. I hate it.

Of course, the baby actually turned 3 months old on Wednesday. He was cute as ever and smiley as ever and happy as ever. It was wonderful. Every day since then with him has been wonderful. He's just wonderful.


Now, wouldn't you agree he's the cutest thing ever? he talks to anyone who listens and it's really scintilating conversation. I'm so lucky to be his momma.

Beatin' time is a losing fight...

...but I guess I'm doin' alright. "I'm Alright" JoDee Messina

Not a huge country fan by any means, but there are a few songs that resonate. That is surely one song that I like and is just totally true.

Today was Ellie's first birthday party. (She's my dear friends daughter) I absolutely, positively cannot believe that baby is one. Just cannot believe it. Yet, here she is, dressed in her bling tank and tutu with babylegs underneath - eating her first cake.

The point of this is just as the title says..."beatin' time is a losing fight". Can't stop it no matter how hard I try. Look at Harrison -- he's sitting next to me batting toys on the travel swing. He's batting at toys because he's almost 3 months old. I told Andy this morning that I would continue to call him 2.5 months because I'm unwilling to let him grow this fast. I just cannot believe that the best baby in the world is getting bigger!!

Thing 2 has had his first tee ball practice tonight. Can't wait to hear how it went - hopefully he had lots of fun. He went decked out in baseball pants, socks and cleats. He was also sporting a GAP sweatshirt. That goes, right?? He was supposed to have a favorite baseball player. I picked A Rod for him. I figured it was a safe choice. And, it was the only one I could think of at the time. Can you tell I'm not a huge baseball fan?

Little Habit

I have a habit. it's not a bad one. (unless a huge clothing allowance in your budget is a bad thing!) I love to buy childrens clothing...it gets better, I love to sell it on ebay when I'm done with it!

So, with that said, I have huge piles waiting to be listed. I think I took around 110 pictures, so I have a lot of stuff to get up. A little of this, a little of that, but mostly Gap, Janie and Jack and Gymboree. I love to shop.

And, with selling, comes more buying, of course. Our drawers get VERY full of summer clothing as our summer is LONG (we have TRUE summer for 6 solid months) and our warmish weather comprises a couple of months too. So, gotta get to buying. I've already bookmarked items on CWD Kids, filled a cart and Boden and have been drooling over cute things at Janie and Jack! (The big boys, for the record, have a few things that will still fit this summer.)

I love me some Crewcuts too, but that is a small obsession as they don't have as many clothes to offer. My fave brands in no particular order are Janie and Jack (best for boys under 4. after that, they get a bit weenie!), GAP (again, baby Gap is really better, but boys GAP is okay too!), Mulberribush, Crewcuts, Hanna Andersson (Babies only! Girls are good too, boys not so much), and Crazy 8 is shaping up to be okay, too! There are more, but dangit, this brain lacks the usual cells needed!

Why don't boys over the age of 5 want to wear plaid? Something to ponder...

How many balls in the air?

A reference, of course, to how many things were going to have going on very shortly. Today was Sawyer's tee-ball meeting, Cam's is Monday. Of course, practice will start soon for both of those. What about basketball, you say? Still going on, until March, of course!

Let's also discuss athletic supporters and I'm not talking about rabid fans. I'm talking about the kind worn in ones undergarments to protect external genetalia. (Is there something funny about the word genetalia? i sure think so!) Both boys and GIRLS have to wear the cup. Isn't that funny? I knew this last year and it was funny then, too. I suppose it's the kind of thing that will continue to be funny to me until the end of time. Girls will be sporting their pink helmets that are equipped with holes for ponytails - and don't forget their athletic supporters. good stuff, really.

Can you count how many times I said funny in that last paragraph. It was quite a few.

I love to read a good blog

I sure do love a good blog. For a long time, i was an avid reader of http://www.dooce.com/ - since then, I've found a new blog to voraciously devour. http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/ She's just fantastic.

I first found Ree's website/blog through her cooking website, the pioneer woman cooks! she has great food on there -- yummy, creamy food with lots, and lots of butter. who doesn't love butter. she has amazing food photos - great step by step directions.

Sawyer has amazing faith in me. Last night, I told him I was going to get him a tee shirt to wear for his birthday that has a big number 5 on it made out of Spiderman fabric. He lit up and then proceeded to give me all sorts of things that could also go on said shirt. He had phrases he wanted on there. But, most of all, he wanted white spiderwebs all over that. He sure thinks I have talent, doesn't he? Even if I could *imagine* such a thing, i certainly couldn't create it. I would have thought that this boy would have figured out by now that I *BUY* things, not make them!

Rain, rain ...

I would like to finish that by saying "GO AWAY". It's cold -- didn't make it to 50* and the rain makes it feel even colder! But, it does make everything green. Tough choice.
I watched an inspirational short piece on the internet today. It was called something like "the dash". Basically, a man gives a eulogy at the funeral of a woman. He talks about how there is a date for your birth on the tombstone and then a date for your death. But, what really matters is the dash in between.
I already try to live my life that way -- by thinking about what REALLY matters -- don't be so quick to anger, think about how others FEEL, watch the little things around you and really LIVE. Even though I already think about it -- it's a great time to watch that and think about it again and what things you can do to make a great life even better. Sure, you have bad days -- but doesn't everyone?
So, from that - I will end the email to Thing 1's teacher by expressing my appreciation for her and all that she does. I will offer my help to an overwhelmed friend. I will hug my kids a bit tighter tonight - because these things matter. The fact that I don't have time to help, that my laundry isn't folded and that dinner is a bit late doesn't matter. People matter, I matter and how I live my life and the example I make for others matters.
On that note, the little itty bitty cold rain drops are all part of the equation. I should be happy that it's not *really* cold, like -20, and enjoy that it's raining and making my landscape colorful!