Weekends Are Exhausting

This was the first weekend in a while that Todd didn't have to work. Against my natural instincts, I made no plans whatsoever. I controlled my urge to book some major outing so we could be a lazy family together. There was very little cleaning up...one load of dishes, one load of laundry and a lot of focus on being together. We watched movies, made art, read books and took naps. There was a trip to the pool, just father and son...which has improved their bond significantly. Ani has been working hard on rolling over. Every minute that she was awake, she preferred to be on the floor working on moving from her back to her tummy (she's only made it halfway so far, back to side). She also had big eyes for her boys. Da and Norrin were far more interesting than Mama and I was only given any kind of attention when her belly felt empty. Norrin is his usual nonstop self. He runs from one activity to another. Nothing makes him happier than being home with his family on the weekends. Thanks to a full work week, he was extra clingy to his mama...not that that's really any different when I don't have a full work week :). Norrin was thrilled to have someone who could "take the baby", so we could snuggle. And even when I had Ani in my arms, he stayed close to my side and those were my favorite moments...snuggled up with both my babies.


Yes, Norrin was so exhausted after the pool that he fell asleep with his hand in a bag of Craisins.

My Sleepy Family

The family and I are taking these lazy days of summer quite literally. The weekends have had their adventures, but the pace has definitely been slower. My mom is watching Ani on the days I go to work and it has been wonderful. I don't worry about my baby because she's with family who loves her and as an added bonus, my home is becoming more clean and more organized than its ever been. My mom is helping me purge a lot of unnecessary things. The best and most necessary change of the weekend was Sunday's major cleaning and emptying of the bedroom. Norrin had a severe allergy attack. He had been wheezing in his sleep for a few days and Sunday morning he woke up with a croupy cough, unable to catch his breath. After a trip to the ER, a nebulizer treatment and some breakfast :), I began the thorough cleaning of our room. Bed linens and curtains were washed, furniture was moved, there was sweeping and dusting and pillowcases received new covers. He still sounds raspy at night, but its improving. Todd, who's always had allergies, says he can feel the improvement and that makes me happy. So, its back to work today for 4 days in a row. Thank goodness for those lazy summer weekends :).

Ani Rose smiling up at Da.

The perfect way to spend a Sunday...baby snuggling.

No more pictures, please.

Sleepy baby, sleepy Da.

Norrin and Ani watching morning cartoons.

The Kids Are Alright

The first day was rough...on all of us. I spent the whole day thinking I forgot to do something. Did I put the car in park? Am I wearing underwear? Is my case set up properly? Norrin cried when I wasn't there in the morning and both kids were weepy that night. It was all very dramatic. But on Friday, things went a little bit better. Ani was a little cranky, but that's because she's started teething (she's trying to win the tooth race and get a tooth before Norrin who got his first teeth at 4 1/2 months). Norrin was happy and I worked hard at dividing my attention between two mommy-deprived kids. So, everyone felt loved and it was a relatively peaceful evening. Of course, next week we get to do it for four days in a row instead of two...that should be interesting.

Maternity Leave is Over

In ten minutes, I will be walking out the door on the way to work after 12 blissful weeks with my sweet Ani Rose. I think I'm going to cry.

On The Farm

We spent Fourth of July weekend in NY. I drove up to NY with both kids by myself on Friday and it went really well. I chose Ani's sleepy day and started the drive at 10am (which is the start time of her first and longest nap). Norrin watched Tangled and the only part that was high anxiety was when I needed to take us into a rest area to use the bathrooms. Todd joined us on Saturday evening. We enjoyed the outdoors, bounced on Grandmom Jump's trampoline, had a couple outdoor fires for toasting marshmallows, hunted frogs, went to yard sales and playgrounds and squeezed as much quality time in with our far away family as we could. Norrin fought bedtime every night, Ani was asleep by 9:30 at the latest every night and Todd and I wished we could have slept in at least a little bit past sunrise each morning :). Grandmom Jump made some delicious food, Pop Pop Lollipop got to spend some quality time with his newest grandchild and Pop Pop Fish climbed some scary playground equipment with Norrin (really have to get those photos off Todd's cell phone :)). The drive back wasn't so nice. I decided against my better judgement to leave on 4th of July with Todd. It was not Ani's sleepy day and we didn't leave until late afternoon. Ani cried for all, but 45 minutes of the 5 hour drive. We stopped 4 times to try and calm her down- nurse her, burp her, change her diaper. Then, we gave up. She cried for the entire length of 206, which is about 40 minutes. Then, she stopped by the time we got to I-95, but she wouldn't go to sleep. She sat there, mad as could be until we got home. Norrin whined and cried for most of 206, as well, but fell asleep almost as soon as we got on I-95. The visit certainly had its ups and downs, but at least I know if timed well, I can do it all by myself.


Norrin and Ani watching Fraggle Rock on the one super rainy day.
Hay bales...lots of hay bales.

Norrin bouncing on the trampoline with Uncle and Brittany.

Pop Pop Lollipop on his tractor.

Little Miss Ani Rose.

Thom by the fire.

Ani's Fourth of July dress.

The Kids Play Dress Up

One day, Norrin decided that he and Ani needed to play dress up in the knits Mama made for them :). Norrin put the first hat I ever knit him on Ani's head. Then, he found his purple gnome hat and his stripey sweater that just barely fits him this summer. He decided Ani needed a sweater, too, so I opted for her short-sleeve yellow sweater. Then, they played on their tummy time mats (Norrin made his own "mat" out of his robot comforter). Even though Ani can't "play" the way Norrin does, its sweet to see he tries to include her in his playtime.