Quick Takes

Here I am again, finally at least writing something.

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Generally, I do not think of myself in terms of “mini” anything. I tend to think of a, uh, bigger adjective. But folks, I have made the transition. No longer am I a sedan-driving suburbanite; no, I have changed my ways and upgraded. I am now a Mini-Van-Mom.

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This morning I decided to go crazy with breakfast and treat the girls to Pioneer Woman's Real Cinnamon Toast. I managed to screw up cinnamon toast; the girls were less than impressed. Serves me right for going out on a limb for breakfast. I was feeling good about the amount of eggs and yogurt they had consumed and thought a Friday treat was in order. Monday was a much bigger success; I guess I'll stick to making smoothies for our breakfast treats. Let's face it, they're also a lot healthier; I don't have to justify smoothies.

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Anastasia is finishing up yet another round of antibiotics for yet another ear infection. This makes 5 since August for her, which is more than Bella has ever had. It seems that the slightest bit of congestion settles right in her middle ear. This time it was allergies for heaven's sake!

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I just sat back down after investigating the laughter coming from upstairs. Normally I would stay put on my behind, taking advantage of the happiness and not interfering, but they were on my bed. I knew I needed to at least peek in to ensure they weren't drawing on the walls or resetting Daddy's alarm clock. Turns out they were watching TV. Anastasia was playing with the remote and they both thought this was hilarious. Kids never fall for dummy remotes, do they. They know where the real ones are. Plan B: time to go outside!

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Just another reason my husband is my hero: Thanks to rolling kitchen cabinet drawer-shelf things (this is pathetic - I can't even figure out what they're called!) Bella can now pick out her own plate/bowl/silverware/cup and bring them to the table. She can also put away her own dishes out of the dishwasher! I love LOVE LOVE this SO much! It's amazing to me how much this little bit of independence has lightened my load, especially when you eliminate me from the Great Dish Debate that goes on in a 2-year-old's mind.

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It was an outside day today - the kind of day when cries and protests are ignored and shoes are wrestled on tiny kicking feet and the front door is opened and suddenly life is better. I knew they would be happy outside, they didn't know that until the sunshine hit their cheeks. Morale improved and we have exhausted sun-kissed Girls to prove it.

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I'm going to bed. Blame my pregnancy brain, or my lack of creativity, or those noisy busy girls who desperately wanted to be chased around the yard again. G'nite.

The Price of Stupidity

To be filed in the "Well that was dumb" category.






Don't turn away for a head count when pushing a toddler in a swing and leave your hand in the way.

If Looks Could Kill...

Keep your paws off my chocolate!

Pregnancy Update

I realize I haven't written a whole lot about being pregnant. This is simply because I would hate to validate anyone's supposition that I whine and complain a lot. For that matter, I would like to to live in the delusion that the Hormones from Hell do not affect me. And when you suggest otherwise I will go cry in a corner.

The truth is this has been my hardest pregnancy thus far, and I'm not sure if it's because I have 2 other young children demanding my energy and attention, or if it's because this is my 3rd child in 3 years. That can do rough things on both mind and body.

"How are you feeling?" Fat and Tired. Seriously, I'm never quite sure how to answer that question. "I feel like I am an elephant gestating for 2 years straight while lumbering around trying to chase the rest of the herd." Better? I DO feel healthy. I started at a lower weight than last and have not gained a whole lot, so that is at least psychologically comforting. Not fitting into friends' maternity clothes can shatter that in an instant, though. This time, though, it definitely has more to do with my belly than my butt. Hey, I'll take it! All the health-related pregnancy points are looking good, for which I am very thankful!

We have nicknamed this Baby according to his/her due date - the saint's feast is St. Boniface. It is also my mother-in-law's birthday. (No pressure, kid...) We're calling him/her Boniface or Bonnie-Connie. (I would like to emphasize that this is a nickname.) I can't even begin to describe the immense amusement I get from watching people's faces when they overhear us call him/her that. Simple pleasures.

Boniface is VERY active. I would say he has a favored way for Mama to sit - slightly reclining with my feet up can induce some serious Olympics. Of course, since this is Mama's favorite position these days *cough cough* ... I feel him(her) a lot. I find such joy in the little, or not so little, movements. Sometimes on a day like today when my attention has been, uh, somewhat diverted, she'll wake up right when I sit down. It's a nice reminder that he's ready to listen to
me talk just for him for a change. I can just spend a few minutes of quality time. Of course, there is the "Really kid? Your sisters have been bouncing off me and each other all morning and you wait until my quiet time to start your round?" response. Despite the exhaustion, there is indescribable joy to feeling Boniface jumping and moving, reminding me that I will meet him/her soon.

Easter Girls

They posed themselves with the garden paraphernalia. I'm just happy to have had a camera for the moment.

Happy Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter morning, in true feasting and celebratory fashion.
Bella knew to anticipate the baskets, and was SO eager to run downstairs to hers! Anastasia's excitement came upon recognizing chocolate within her reach.

The girls had a great system - Bella would take a bite of candy and offer Anastasia the rest of that piece. That meant that at any given moment Anastasia had a piece of sweet in each hand! My two-fisted chocoholic. That's my girl.
Bella enjoyed nibbling on candy while playing with the new necklace and telling us all about the new movie she received. (The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, by Beatrix Potter.) The fact that she has never seen it did not seem to stop her from telling us all what happens in the story and how much she loves it. The Easter Bunny has good taste. :)

Patrick made some awesome homemade cinnamon rolls - very appropriate for the Easter Feast, and definitely MUST become a part of our Easter tradition. They were the kind that had to be made the night before, with all the tempting yumminess sitting there rising while we endured the torment and emptiness of Holy Saturday. Perhaps that makes the Easter Feast just that much more exciting. Anyway. The smell of them baking combined with the sound of fresh brewing coffee and the sight of my kiddos running around with the world's biggest sugar high made for the greatest Easter morning a Mama could hope for.










The fun continued after naptime with the annual egg hunt at my parents' house with all the cousins. Anastasia was all about picking them up until she discovered chocolate in one of them. That was the end of that. Bella was counting "coins for my piggy bank" until she found one with jelly beans, at which point she walked around just munching on one at a time watching everyone else.
Hope everyone's Easter was just as joyful and sweet! I think we're still recovering from the sugar consumption around here. Anastasia stole the remainder of the chocolate bunny out of the fridge yesterday and shook her head vigorously "NO" each time I tried to trade for something else! Bella assumes she can have jelly beans after breakfast every morning. It's a good thing Easter lasts 8 days; it will take us at least that long to finish off the candy, and twice that time to detox!

ALLELUIA

CHRIST IS RISEN !!!


INDEED HE IS RISEN !!!

"Silently"