Happy Birthday to me

Sorry for the hiatus, Brian and I were away for the weekend, and are still getting back into the swing of things. We got a new car today, so that has kept us busy, also.

Claire is very well-trained smart. On Sunday, when we were celebrating my birthday with my family, after Claire woke up from her nap I sent her in to talk to Brian. She was supposed to tell Brian what to buy Mommy for her birthday.

Claire: You need buy Mommy diamond birthday cake.
Me (from the doorway): He's not listening Claire, say it again louder!
Claire: You need buy Mommy birthday cake.
Brian: ok, that's taken care of
Me: what else, Claire, what else
Claire: diamond! Buy Mommy diamond!

Too bad he didn't pay attention. :)

What is love - part two

Love is listening to Claire count. "one, two, three, fourfivesixseben, eight, nine, ten, eleben, twelbe, tirteen, seben, eight, nine, ten, eleben, twelbe, tirteen, seben..."

Love is watching the delight in Ben's eyes as he carefully takes a few steps across the floor, then stops in front of his daddy and gives himself a round of applause.

Love is watching my kids tumble over each other and dissolve in laughter.

Love is seeing how much Claire delights in going to school everyday.

Love is how Ben laughs whenever he hears any laughter anywhere.

Love is Claire spontaneously breaking into a game of hide-and-go-seek. "Seben, eight, nine, ten! I'm going to find you!"

Love is trying not to laugh when they misbehave, but are being so darn cute when they do it.

Love is a million different things, every second of the day when I am with my kids.

Love is being a mother.

visual evidence

Yes, he is really walking.



Are you happy now, Pete? :)

My Valentines

Last year I posted photos of my two little ones on Valentine's Day, so I took pictures this year as well. Please forgive the fact that they're out of focus - one had no flash, and Ben just moves too darn fast these days for the camera to catch up to him. I still think that they're adorable.

we have liftoff!

Just a few moments ago I was setting up the diaper changing stuff on the floor, while Ben was hanging out by the sofa. I turned to him and opened my arms. And he took two steps. Right to me. Ben's first official steps - right into Mama's waiting arms.

What is Love?

Shamelessly stolen from Julie.

Love is the way my heart melts when I watch him having a tender moment with one of the kids.
Love is watching him play with the kids while he gives them a bath.
Love is the look he gives me when one of the kids does something silly, and no words are necessary for me to know exactly what he is thinking.
Love is when he jumps out of bed early in the morning and pulls on some clothes so that he can get the trash to the curb before the truck reaches our house because neither of us remembered the night before.
Love is when he can sense how tired I am when he gets home from work and he takes over dinner prep and pourse me a glass of wine.
Love is the way I feel when I see him smile just at me from across a crowded room.
Love is the bouquet of purple tulips he picked up on his way (but really not on his way at all) home last night.
Love is knowing that the last ten years are only the beginning.

Feel free to comment and tell me what love is for you.

They're lucky they're cute

I love the way that Ben laughs anytime he hears laughter. Whether it's someone in the family, or a laughtrack on a bad comedy, he will start to chuckle, and then if the laughter continues he just gets happier and happier, until he is just giggling away. It makes me laugh, too, just to hear him.

Claire loves singing. She sings loudly and enthusiastically. And out of key. She would make Simon Cowell flee the room. But boy does she love to sing, or to be sung to. And every note is music to my ears because her enthusiasm is contagious.

And that almost makes up for walking into the family room to find the floor covered in diaper wipes. That they had gleefully pulled out of the box, one at a time. At least they were working together, right?

speechless

Stories like this one just make me feel ill. As a mother - heck, as a human, because this guy shouldn't be classified as one - I am simply horrified.

Mommy Math

a 5:05 wake-up (courtesy of the boy)
+ no school (courtesy of the snow)
+ a work function for Brian tonight
= a very long day ahead of me

Oh yeah, did I mention that Brian will probably take the 4WD car - the one with both car seats in it? So I will effectively be trapped at the house. Thank goodness playgroup is scheduled for this morning, and it's in the neighborhood, so if all else fails I will pile the kids in the stroller, and we will head over there for a little bit of sanity (or at least commiseration).

The latest Claire cuteness

Yesterday while she milled around the kitchen as I was working on dinner:
"Mommy, I worsh in the kitchen. I worsh in the kitchen!"
I had no idea what she was telling me. No. Idea. She was wandering around with an oven mitt on her hand. Then I heard her start talking again.
"A good little monkey, and always very curious."
Ahh, of course. She was being George in the Kitchen. She was creating her own Curious George story - starring Claire as George. Lord help me.

Today as she sat on Ben's beanbag eating her peanut butter crackers and drinking milk:
"No Ben Ebward Pyatt. No thank you."

Even on the napless days, when my patience is pushed past the breaking point, she is absolutely charming. Simply adorable.

And she wears big girl underwear now! Hooray!

What Type of Mother?

According to this quiz, I am a "Giving" Mother.

“A people pleaser from Day One, it took me 30 years to
figure out I could say ‘no.’”

* Quiet and unassuming in her devotion, the ISFP mother is responsive to her children’s needs, offering behind-the-scenes love and support. She is gentle and non-intrusive, flexible and adaptable.
* A “be there” mother, the ISFP takes pleasure in physically caring for her children and doing for them. Her best times might be “doing little things” with each child one-on-one.
* More than anything, the ISFP mother wants her children to know they are loved. And she enjoys being needed in return.
* Dedicated to raising children who are responsible and care for others, she favors a non-directive approach: instilling values by setting a good example. She may be a strong role model for community service.

Interesting.

the power of genetics

From the time Claire was born I have heard from Brian's family nothing except how much alike they are. The way they look, the amazing amount of energy, the comparisons go on and on. I sometimes wondered, when pregnant with Ben, if he would be more like me. A little more laid back, a little lower energy.

Today I emerged from the bathroom after my shower. Claire had been left to her own devices in the master bedroom. She had wandered in and out of the bathroom a few times, but I wasn't quite sure what she was up to. I found her, snuggled up against the side of the bed with an audience of two stuffed animals, her talking trashcan, and a pair of Brian's shoes. She had a pile of four books that she had already read, one open in her hands, and a bag with about 12 more waiting for her to get to them.

Yes, I think there's a little bit of me in there after all.