like a sister

We were SO lucky to have a visit from our friends the Tankborns this weekend. Jen & I have been bffs for so long that she's like a sister...we grew up together, we went to college together (although we had healthy separation, I might add ;), lived together in our 20s in Chicago... She's just like a sister. And despite the 1000+ miles that now separate us, the changes in our marital status & kiddos...it's still the same when we get together.

And yes, I am as tired as I look...although I'm not wearing any makeup so cut me some slack...

And it seems our kiddos feel like cousins ;)

Unfortunately no big family photo! Per usual I didn't break out my camera until last night, and we said good-bye this AM. Boo. We all had tons of fun, and Clay had a blast commiserating with someone who fully appreciates & understands my adorable personality quirks ;) Like the fact that I bought the biggest pan that Sam's Club had...because...why wouldn't you...even though it is so big it doesn't even fit on our stove...and then they had a good laugh about my recent two week stint as a vegan...(needs to be a post unto itself)! There is something very warm & fuzzy about how our friendship continues to endure & grow despite such significant life changes and distance. It's like a security blanket I hope I never outgrow.

Thank you so much Jen & Paul for coming down & bringing that sweet boy with you...love you more than you know!

lu logic

this post has been almost 2 months in the making now cause I never have time to sit down & do justice to her burgeoning personality...so I've decided to let go of my ideally composed post, and just get this down & out before it's no longer fresh!

for the longest time we'd be talking about something and she'd say, "what is [x] about?"
examples...
me: time to make dinner!
l: what's dinner about?
me: it's about food!
-
l: whats mom about?
me: i don't know, what IS mom about?
l: um...probably about play
-
l: ouchie.
me: what is ouchie about?
l: corners

scene: uncle sunidh & aunt brooke had just been for a visit. aunt lee (who is married to uncle keith) was coming next...
me: lu, who is coming to visit next? aunt lee?
l: and uncle su-keith?

scene: me feeding gus in the chair, not being able to see l on the stairs behind me.
me: where are you?
l: i'm frozing.
me: you are what?
l: i'm just frozing up here.
me: i don't understand. you are frozing?
l: yes. its about wind up toy prince. i'm frozing. (referring to an episode of Einstiens when the Toy Prince is frozen by the evil Mouse King)

scene: first attempt at candyland
me: so, here is how this works (proceed to explain the rules)
l: where is the lollipop?
me: no lollipop...just pretend, a game with pictures of candy
l: looooolllliiiiiiipoooopppp [tears]....i wanna looooolllliiiippoooooopppppp. is it in here? (referring to the plastic enclosed stack of cards)
me: no, those are the cards we use to play
l: i waaannnnnnaaaa loooolliiiiipooooooppppp....

scene: listening to 'mom music'. the song imma be by the black eyed peas.
me: imma be, imma be, imma be, imma be, imma be living the good life, imma be livin the good, good life.
l: mama be, mama be, mama be, mama be, mama be a good wife, mama be a good, good wife

scene: looking at the instructions to candyland
l: can you read the news? i love the news! i gonna read the news. i can follow the path!

scene: looking for anything not within sight
me: lu, can you go upstairs & get an [x] please?
l: um, probably not. you can do it.

scene: lu asking to do something...i think i didn't answer quickly enough...
l: can i [x]?
m: ummmmmm
l: did you hear what i just said?
[i often ask her to repeat what i just said when i know she isn't listening]

scene: riding in the car...the sun coming in down on her
l: NO THANK YOU SUN. NO. THANKYOU.

and a few fantastic luci quotes...
-first we have to change poops, then we go to the ball!
-i like mama instead of dad. i like mama and gus, not dad. i want mama instead of dad. then, a few minutes later, i like dad instead of mama. i want dad instead of mama.
-this is not a very special restaurant (@ Johnny Rockets)...i wanna go home
-what's on (or in, we weren't certain what she said) your nose, boss. (to her dad). are you boss?!?!?
-it's almost broken!!! it's almost be broken! (as the evil stepmother trips the grand duke in cinderella)

new tricks

our boy has some new tricks up his sleeve...

here

goes

nothin!

and just in case you don't believe the photos, I got it on video the next time...but I'm having some trouble posting it. check back soon!

10x

or more a day. for the last week.

luci: i PEED! i gotta go sit on the potty!
mom or dad: oh, you ALREADY peed? you peed IN your diaper?
luci: YES! i sit on the potty, i get a treat!
mom or dad: oh, see, you gotta tell us BEFORE you pee IN your diaper. we pee IN the potty, and THEN we get a treat.
luci: YES! and then i get a treat! and if i make poops in the potty i get a LOLLIPOP!

then we change her diaper and it starts all over again the next time she pees or poops...in her diaper, of course.

1000x

already today, as of 3p.

Luci: Hi Mom
Mom: Hi Luci
Luci: I'm not Luci, my name is Cinderella.
Luci: Hello Mama
Mom: Hi Luci
Luci: My name not Luci, my name is Cinderella.

Luci: Hi Mom
Mom: Hi Luci
Luci: I'm not Luci, my name is Cinderella.
Luci: Hello Mama
Mom: Hi Luci
Luci: My name not Luci, my name is Cinderella.

Luci: Hi Mom
Mom: Hi Luci
Luci: I'm not Luci, my name is Cinderella.
Luci: Hello Mama
Mom: Hi Luci
Luci: My name not Luci, my name is Cinderella.

Luci: Hi Mom
Mom: Hi Luci
Luci: I'm not Luci, my name is Cinderella.
Luci: Hello Mama
Mom: Hi Luci
Luci: My name not Luci, my name is Cinderella.


Luci: IT'S TIME TO GO TO THE BALL!!!!

repeat above, aaaaaall.daaaaay.long.

PS. Pompom & the baker are characters in Cinderella II, which we are currently borrowing from the library. And yes, she 'worked' on her computer through the entire conversation, successfully navigating her 'mouse' through the maze to find the cheese...we call it 'The Mouse Cheese Game', and it too is played, maybe, 1,000,000x a day.

lu the (k)nightrider

she's got style, what can i say? she wanted to ride her trike the other night...it was only like 6p but it was dark because a storm was rolling in. she put on her sweatshirt, glasses & ballet shoes & decided she was going to ride her trike around the grill on our tiny back patio until the rain started.

gotta love her. i sure do!

THANK YOU GMA & GPA PIERSE

A big THANK YOU to Grandma & Grandpa Pierse for coming down to help over the last few weeks. It was great for me to be with Clay on the day of his surgery without having to worry about the kiddos, not to mention the extra set of loving hands during his immediate recovery. We feel very blessed to often be at the receiving end of their generous gifts of time. Thank you Grandma & Grandpa Pierse.





Can you guess who wasn't into taking the photo?

and the correct answer is...

TEETHING!!! Teething pain was keeping GusGus (& Mom) up at night!!

I had considered it might be teething pain but really thought he was a bit too young for that to make sense. We went to hang out with our good friends the Lawrences yesterday, and sure enough super mom Miss Amanda felt his gums and noticed they were swollen on the left side. One trip to Walgreens later for some generic (aka non-recalled) acetaminophen and the boy slept more than he has since Wednesday night.

That said, he did fall asleep in his jumperoo again this morning while the rest of us were having pancakes at 8a, but he's probably got some catching up to do. If only he could do it when Luci was sleeping too, then I could be sleeping as well. Ahh, a girl can dream, right?

In other news,
HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY BABY SISTER BAYLEE!!! CAN'T WAIT TILL YOU ARE BACK ON OUR SIDE OF THE POND SO I CAN BUY YOU A COCKTAIL. MISS YOU!!

who needs...

[alternatively titled what the &*%#?]

a warm cozy crib with lights off and white noise on to fall asleep? not this guy...

the flash started to wake him...
but he was so tired he couldn't even open his eyes!


gusgus fell asleep IN.HIS.JUMPEROO. this morning at 8:45a (stormy day...that is why it looks dark out). are you kidding me? the last two nights have been beyond HORRIBLE. last night he was up every 20-40 minutes except for a stretch from 10:30p - 11:30p, and then from 3:30a to 6:10a (and that was because i gave up & put him in the swing). if we let him cry he screams to the point of coughing & gagging within a few minutes. and then we can't even get him settled when he pick him up & rock him. i tried elevating his crib again. it was no help. tried his new magic merlin sleep suit (maybe he's tired of the swaddle?), no dice. usually the paci works without fail and he goes right back to sleep...but not the last two nights.

my diet has changed over the last few weeks...i'm trying to eat fewer animal products and more plant based whole foods. but nothing significant about the last two days. he's had rice cereal twice, but the first time was like 4 days ago, then 2 or 3 days with nothing, then again last night. i just can't figure it out.

my only real guess is that he suddenly & rapidly started physically developing in terms of standing over the last week or so. he wasn't really bearing any weight on his legs just two weeks ago, and now he pretty much refuses to sit. he wants to be in the jumperoo or standing with you holding him. maybe he just can't let it rest at night? his whole body convulses and twitches...to the point last night that i wondered if he was having some sort of mini seizure. maybe he is going to be a physically focused loon like his big sis...

whatever the reason, all i can tell you is that this lack of sleep for mama is NOT.SUSTAINABLE. i'm glad it is a rainy day so i feel less guilty about lulu watching a bit of tv today...

and a mere 30 minutes later the nap is over. awesome.

wordless wednesday

Hang in there Dad!

See Luci 'working' on the computer like Dad? The big machine is called a CPM...it provides continuous passive movement designed to stretch out his new ligament...all he has to do is just sit in it 6 hours a day...are you laughing yet? Can you guess the likelihood of him sitting in such a machine for 6 hours a day? He starts PT today and hopefully they'll give him some continuous active movement to do...cause I'm afraid the passive movement isn't doing much for his not-so-passive spirit.

The ACL replacement surgery was on Thursday of last week. It went well, although his meniscus had been damaged by the ACL tear in such a way that it was irreparable. Long term he'll be fine, he just needs to diversify his workouts as he's not going to be able to log miles running he'd like to for the rest of his life. Hopefully this merger with United will enable us to move somewhere that has a bit more hiking and other outdoorsy things to do so he can feed his soul without running shoes. The hardest part of it all so far hasn't been the pain, but the lack of mobility. He's not well suited for a sedentary life.

And here is the rest of our week in photos...crazy eyed boy is getting used to his new-to-him highchair. The pedi told me to feed him rice sooner rather than later, but I just can't bring myself to do it. First comes solids, then he's crawling & walking...and then he's not a baby anymore! So we are taking our time. Plus, we've had enough going on, right? Feel free to validate me...those pedi remarks were just a suggestion...I'm the mama...right?!?!?

And the long awaited "beach" opened for preseason weekend use here in Family Utopia (the upcoming move has led to lots of reflection on my part...and Family Utopia is my new name for The Woodlands bubble that is our home for now). So yeah, she calls the pool the beach. And she had a BLAST despite the surprisingly cool temp. In fact, I've never had so much fun at a pool in all my life. The joy emanating from her was so intense that I wish I could have bottled it. I think we'll be spending lots of time at 'the beach' this summer - provided I figure out how to do it with two kiddos. I'm going to sign her up for 'learn to swim' lessons in early June so that we (Luci & I) both feel more confident about her ability in the water.

And lastly, we send a HUGE note of thanks to Grandma Pierse who has been here almost a week now. Her presence has turned a very stressful, exhausting experience into a very manageable, almost pleasant one (for the mobile ones of us, that is). Thanks, as always, for being there for us. :)

the y-park & other news

better known as the ymca. but luce loves her a park, so we call it the very special indoor y park... where the kids get to play in the kid playroom and the mamas get to go be strong & healthy in the mama room.

so the kiddos & i hit the y-park today with some friends. the mamas hit body pump, and while it felt great to work out, man...i've fallen farther than i imagined since the last time i took the class (2005 in chicago). despite the barely recognizable reflection staring back at me in the mirror and the muscles that just weren't capable of following directions, i became very motivated to hit the class a few times a week. the idea that i can/could be a mama & re-claim what i'm sure will be the new 'fit' version of my body is/was very exciting. luci finally seems to be ready for some independent time, and gus is surely to small for separation anxiety...right?

so i hit childcare to pick them up. i was anxious because i missed them, and i just really wanted to see them having a great time...

poor guster goo had the purple 'i've been crying a loooooong time' eyes that i'd never actually seen on him. i only knew what they were because they were a speciality of his big sis when she was a babe. he was being held, but he was not happy. and even when i took him he didn't calm down...which is very unusual for him. poor thing. i still have no idea what was going on. he's been okay the other 2x we've gone. boo. he fell asleep after about 5 minutes in the car on the way home & then woke up his happy usual self.

luce on the other hand appeared fine. no tears, happy to see me, but ready to go home. we started out the door...and then the woman asked to speak to me. uh oh. um, yeah. she hit 3 kids. and i'm guessing it was 3 kids that the care providers saw...i bet it was really a few more. they put her in time out for 3 minutes, and the woman said she went willingly to time out & fully admitted hitting. we had a talk about it on the way home & she told me "i didn't like those friends mom. i didn't." i asked why she didn't like them. she had no answer. i asked if she had wanted a toy they had, or if she didn't want to share something she had, or if they had hit her. "they didn't mom. they didn't." was all i got. so then we had a talk about being kind. she didn't seem too bothered by any of it...the hitting, the time out, or the talk.

humpf.

in other news...lead story on the local news is the cal/ual merger. it is as unofficially official as it can be. makes my heart leap. seeing o'hare and downtown chicago feels like home. and a teeny bit been there done that. and the thought of leaving here for sure gives me icy ball. or if i'm really honest, it all makes me a bit nauseous. big changes to come, big changes. i'm so comfortable here. i still don't love the weather, but i'm super comfortable. but as i type those words i remember that growth usually is uncomfortable. and now i'm just unsettled.

and speaking of uncomfortable, the weatherman just said our forecast is shifting into the humid 90's and they are here to stay. and now there is a commercial for fire ants. which are in such full force in our yard that we can't even play outside till clay takes care of them. awfully handy that this merger is happening at the beginning of my least favorite season here. must be His way of reminding me that He's in control and only wants good things for us. now if only I weren't such a control freak that thought that might comfort me to the point of feeling settled again. but i'm guessing i won't...for quite some time.

winds of change

so it looks like it is really going to happen this time...a CAL/UAL merger! looking more & more likely with every article!

it makes my stomach jump with anxiety & excitement all at the same time. when i met clay & found out he was a pilot for a regional i naively suggested he just get a job at united so we could stay in chicago. ha. what an education i was in for. at the time i thought he was delusional...working for what i considered to be pennies, living in what i considered to be near squalor considering his education & capabilities - all while shouldering the incredible responsibility of keeping himself & others safe while zooming through the sky. commercial flying jobs for the major airlines are nearly impossible to come by these days. the fact that he got hired by CAL shortly after they started hiring for the first time since before 9/11 was nothing short of remarkable.

so given all of that, we've tried not to be down in the dumps that the available bases (aka easiest places to live) were houston, cleveland & newark. we took a leap of faith, moved here, and i love everything but the weather, bugs & distance from family. i love my friends, i love my house & our 'hood, i love my doctors, i love the parks, paths & pools, i love that chick-fil-a & a grocery & walgreens & baskin robins & papajohns are all 2 blocks from my house, i love the pre-school lulu will again attend this fall...i love it all. and i do mean love. this is the birthplace of our family. i've lived lots of places, but i've never been a mama anywhere else. and i know with 100% certainty that i'm a better mama for having been surrounded by my new circle of friends during this most important time in my life. thinking of leaving these women & this place gives me what clay would call 'icy ball' in the pit of my stomach.

until i go outside that is. as soon as i step outside i'm trapped under a hot wet blanket with nothing but a million mosquitoes. the heat melts away that icy ball and then i think...ah! the new possibilities!

the new possibilities make my heart race with excitement!! united's bases are denver, chicago, los angeles, san fran, and dc! seriously! i've always loved chicago, clay loves dc (& we met there), clay's always wanted to live in denver, and the scenery & weather in cali is hard to beat. it seems to me it'll be hard to go too wrong. as luce would say, "which you pick mom, which you pick?"

which we pick indeed! of course it'll be awhile. probably 2-3 years before everything is finalized, changes are made & fences come down (making employees free to move). as long as clay doesn't get furloughed as a result of the merger we are hopeful that this will ultimately be great for our fam. and luckily for me when that icy ball creeps up between now & november all i have to do is step outside.

and just for kicks, some photos of my favorite girl at gus' 4 month photo shoot :)

Gus @ 4 months

Can you believe this baby is 4 months old today? On one hand I can't believe he's already 4 months...no longer a newborn...firmly into just plain baby territory. On the other hand I can't believe its only been 4 months, as it seems like he's been apart of our family forever. Seems like FOREVER ago that it was just the three of us.

Stats at 4 months:
weight: 16lbs 13oz; 75th-90th percentile
height: 26.5 inches; 90-95th percentile
head circumference: 16.75 inches; 50-75th percentile

Some notes at 4 months....
-size 3 diapers and 12 month clothes...yes, 12 month. I bought & returned a 6-12 month swim suit for him...and now I think maybe I should have bought 18-24mo instead of the 12-18mo.
-he's figured out his mouth, but still has trouble coordinating his hands to get objects into the mouth
-he swings & grabs at toys floating above him
-he is still swaddled at night but he fights like the dickens to get out. and usually he wins. then we all lose cause he wakes up inconsolable like somebody just punched him the eye while he was sleeping for no reason (cause that is what he does to himself). the crib has been rigged with quite the set up for a reflux baby...head elevated, sleep positioner, boppy to catch him from falling down to the bottom of the crib...and just this week I've lowered the mattress & taken all but the sleep positioner out. i tried just a sleep sack one night and it was HORRIBLE (no sleep...I mean literally no more than 20-30 minutes of sleep at a time). now my plan is to do a week like this and have him get used to the change in mattress & no boppy, and then next week take out the sleep positioner. and finally, when i have no choice because he won't stay in the miracle blanket, we'll go to the sleep sack. i hope he gives me a few weeks to make the transition.
-positive statement: gus' part of the brain that controls sleep rhythms is maturing slowly. how i really feel: his sleep SUCKS. our sleep routine is short, simple & to the point. diaper change, swaddle, sing a song & rock, 2 kisses, in bed. 85% of the time he falls asleep easily without any tears. the other 15% of the time i go in after 5 minutes of crying, give him the paci, and then he falls asleep. the problem is not so much falling asleep (he's great at that), it is staying asleep, or putting himself back to sleep if he wakes up. during the day i race in with the paci, which is probably contributing to the problem. but if he doesn't get consolidated sleep, luci & i are stuck in the house all day cause he needs to nap again like an hour after he gets up. and that is no good for luci. so i guess this is the lesser of the evils?!?!?!
-he found his feet in the last few weeks. he likes them. he likes to clap them together as if they were hands (see previous post)
-he LOVES to be talked to. he'll talk back, pretty much without fail.
-he giggles, but not very often. he is happy & will smile all the time, but a true giggle is hard to come by. i hear clara gets the most ;)
-he loves to have his cheeks & belly kissed
-his schedule is varied, but usually goes something like this...wakes between 1a and 3a to eat. wakes between 4a and 6a to eat. wakes for good between 7a and 8a. eats usually around 9:30a, 12:30p, 3:30p, and 6:30p. his first nap is around 10a, and might last 30 minutes or 60 minutes if i get in quick enough with the paci. goes down again at 1p, and hopefully doesn't wake till about 3p or 3:30p. then we go out & about usually and sometimes he sleeps on the go, sometimes not. after his last feeding he goes right to bed, usually about 7p. if i'm lucky he'll stay asleep till that 1a-ish feeding, but lately he's been crying out at 9p. sometimes i feed him then, sometimes i don't. it doesn't seem to buy me anymore sleep, so i usually don't.
-he LOVES the bumbo chair. he just starting to get the strength to sit propped up on the sofa with pillows. if he sits too long he spits up. if he sits too soon after eating he spits up.
-he physically can roll from tummy to back, but mentally i don't think it is a conscious effort.
-he's getting great at tummy time, and even enjoys it provided he's not just eaten or too tired. right after a nap before a feeding is when we have the best tummy time.
-he loves talking to his mobile friends in his crib

-he's not really bearing weight on his legs yet, and that worries our pedi a bit. he's also a bit wobbly when sitting, so i really need to make him work more....so lots of jumperoo time and time propped sitting up are in his future. i haven't pushed him largely because his reflux seems to bother him when he's working those muscles so i'm not surprised at his developmental pace. our pedi encouraged me to start him on rice cereal sooner rather than later hoping that will help the reflux, so i can push him more physically without pain. wish me luck!

feet

this boy has the most active feet you've ever seen...and when they aren't kicking they look like this... see the feet?

lu was certain he wanted to call Grammy...

my men

umm....see any resemblance? (luci gave gus a flower to hold...you can see how well that ended)

and here with my dad? at the very least they share the same hair style... ;)

all that ails

Last week (before the baptism weekend) was one of those weeks....but long term we'll all be fine so that is what we are (doing our best to keep) focusing on.

On Tuesday Clay found out he tore his ACL. A complete tear. He also has a host of other issues with his medial meniscus and other parts of the knee...none of which I understand. Reconstructive surgery is scheduled for May 6th. He'll be on crutches for 2 weeks, and out of work for a minimum of 6 weeks. Until then he's working as much as he can. There will be no running for quite some time. If you know Clay very well, you know this is a big deal. It also ruins his plans of hiking the Grand Canyon again (this time with a buddy) during his week of vacay in June. Boo.

I had a monster headache that lasted for days. Two Saturdays ago it was so bad I had blind spots in my vision. It wasn't getting better so I went to the doctor and he gave me some kind of miracle shot. Seriously...I felt better than I had in weeks. Apparently I had a sinus infection that was in my non-cheek sinus area. I hadn't been able to see well for weeks...but after the anti-inflammatory shot I could see again normal again for a couple of days (must have been putting pressure on my optic nerve?) but now the vision issue is back. Despite the allergy meds, antibiotic and nasal steroid. Ugh. Wish I could get that shot again....

Luci had a giant canker sore in the middle of her upper lip so she wasn't eating. Then came the virus complete with fever (while everyone was here)...which broke Wednesday night I think. Unfortunately she's still on an eating strike. It is very unlike her, so I'm trying not to get too worked up about it. I'm sure when she's feeling 100% better the appetite will come back too.

Mr. Milo, our cat, had a cat bite wound that got infected, abscessed, and ruptured. After nearly $275 of vet bills on Wednesday, they declared him on the road to recovery...his human mama knew better. I took him back in on Friday when he was still far from his usual self. After another $170 they declared him still on the road to recovery...it was supposedly just taking longer than they had thought. Then the next day we saw that another abscess (that we & the vet were unaware of) had apparently ruptured. He seems to be doing better since then. Poor lil guy. Poor wallet.

Luckily, (and knock on wood), Gus and Miss Tallulah (our other cat) appear to have weathered the bad luck storm unscathed.

Unfortunately I did another craptastic job of getting photos when we had our wonderful family down so no photos today. Boo.....

Gus' Baptism Weekend

Sweet baby boy...he may have been the only boy in a gown...but I thought he looked handsome...

The Pierse Family...thanks for coming Aunt Lee!!!
The Rosonke Family...

It's been a busy weekend...we've been blessed to have family down from both Iowa & Indiana. My dad hadn't been here since Luci's baptism so that was an extra special treat. Aunt Lee also came down making it a doubly special treat :) Luci loved having so much family around and kept saying, "hello everyone! hi everyone!" Thanks everyone for coming down!!

hands & feet

i brought out the highchair not because he's eating (i'm in no hurry this time), but because he likes to be up where the action is...and this is a safe way for him to sit up & be included in the kitchen. i usually put a toy or two on the tray and then he's generally content to hang for a bit. he now will reach for toys but still can't quite get them to his mouth...usually his arm just flails about until the toy is lost. he does get his hands in there though & he finds them to be quite tasty :) and this morning i saw him grab a toe, but i'm not sure he knew what it was...i'm guessing it'll only be a matter of days and he'll have it figured out!