And Then There Was Cole - 4 months old today

Dear Cole,

My baby, you are 4 months old today. The months are flying by so quickly and I wish I could freeze time. You are perfect. What else can I say? (well, don't worry, there will be a lot)

You are such a happy baby. You smile all the time. You are starting to giggle at the minutest of things (like I'll say "omigod, you're a cute baby!" and you'll giggle). If we lift you up, you giggle. If we stand you up, you smile. Standing... that's all it takes to get a smile. If only the whole world were like that, Cole.

I'm trying to enjoy all the cuddles I can get. You love being held and you'll just keenly watch all of us, and frankly, I think you think Zoe is a nutter. You'll watch her so intently as though she's the final episode of some grab-you-and-keep-you TV series (like Firefly, or Arrested Development, etc, see previous blog). You kick at your toys and rattles just to make them jingle and you swat at them too. Great appendage control, darling!

Last night was our first night of "weaning" you off the night feeding. Daddy is on the night shift because you'd freak (and get confused) if I went into your room and it didn't result in the boob. Like most men, I'd say. Anyhoo, you did quite well! Daddy gave you the soother at 2am and then again at 4am and you slept until 6.30. We'll just do that for a couple of days and then POOF no more soother either... I'm 4 days away from getting some normal sleep again!! Ahhhh, a gal can only dream.

Poos. Time to talk poo. Well, at first you would have one after every time you nursed. Then all of a sudden, you'd go DAYS without one. Do you have any idea what this means? Well, I'll tell you. DINOSAURS have smaller poos. I don't know any dinos personally, but I'm pretty good at guessing the size of poo that can come out of an animal (it's a mild superpower), and I'm pretty sure you'd have one beat. And, the even funnier thing is that it's always RIGHT before we go to catch up with Linda and Ruby. You'll be in your cutest outfit, I'll be ferrying you kids into the car (running a smidge behind the time too) and then I'll heave a great sigh of defeat... I can smell the dino poo. The poo-nami. The poo bomb. So, I guess any time I think you're constipated, I'll just make a date with Linda and Ruby. Poof. Easier than feeding you cigarettes and coffee. More fun that stewed prunes.

And I suppose this is a good time to thank you for not weeing on me. I kept hearing about boys and their renegade fountains of wee... but I can report that you've only done that twice to me. Once when I was changing your nappy and was able to cover you promptly and the other time was a funny one when you were being bathed on the kitchen counter. Just like the fountains of Bellagio. So all in all, not a bad track record.

Clever baby too... you rolled over at 3 months old. I thought it was a fluke but you've since done it two more times. With all intentions as well. Extend one arm. Bend one knee. Push and see what happens. You smart thing. You'll be doing quantum mechanics soon.

Ok, so, perfect? Check. Happy? Check. Poos? Talked about that. Sleep? Getting there. Intelligent? Oui. Fussy? Never. Cute? OH yeah dude. Laid back? Yes, good good. Healthy eater? Check. Oh yeah, you hate the car seat. But since I take the freeway to most places, there's nothing I can do so you just cry. You poor thing. Maybe it's riding backwards?? I hate it too. But, unfortunately, 8 more months until you face the front. Maybe I should put up a poster of Christina Aguillera or something... your ladybug and flower toy is just not cutting it I guess.

Love you immensely baby boy. Wouldn't trade you for anything. Not even $100.

Mooooiiiiiaaaaaa (think squishy mushy kiss)
Mommy and Daddy
.
.
.

The Sound Of Silence

Whenever I catch myself thinking "boy, Zoe is awfully quiet..." that's when it's too late.

The sound of silence is deafening...

She's either
* setting my clock for me, because, well, I guess having it set to the right time is just no fun
* painting her change table with nappy cream, because, well, she's fixing to be an interior decorator
* into my makeup, because, well, messing with mommy's stuff is hilarious
* into the potted plants and removing all the rocks, because, well, I don't know why
* turning my alarm on in the bedroom, it used to be set for work at 5.40am but AHA! I'm smarter than the two year old and have now set it for 9. Doesn't matter if it goes off, I'll be awake and un-annoyed!

All in all, not too troublesome... except when she opened the tray to the front loader washing machine and decided to try the soap. The poisons hotline said it wasn't anything to worry about in that small amount.

Sneaky!
.
.
.

Things I Don't Understand

* How coffee can smell soooo good and yet taste so bad

* How did Glee get such good singers?

* Why do the BEST shows only last two seasons? Arrested Development, funniest show ever. Firefly, coolest show ever. Flight of the Conchords, wackiest show ever. Deadwood, most cuss words in a show ever.

* The placebo effect.

* Homeopathy.

* If the universe is expanding, what is it expanding into? Where does it end? Does it end? Will this blog ever end?

* Really, are there Gen Y kids that have never seen Star Wars A New Hope?? I don't understand.

* Why do I fall asleep 10 minutes before the alarm goes off?

* Why this crazy state voted against Daylight Savings and extended trading hours. I could blog and blog and blog about this. I mean, it's unnatural to have light at 5.15 in the morning. Unnatural I tell you. Don't get me started.

* How something so small as my baby Cole can have such dinosaur-sized poos! I mean, they are something to behold!

* Why RJ feels the need to "talk" to other drivers. Dude, they can't hear you.
.
.
.

The Zoe Chronicles - 27 months old

Dear Zoe,

As you can see from the previous post, you were a sick little girl for about a week. You looked like you were in so much pain, which was so hard to watch. With the odd symptom of you drooling excessively, it made for a bizarre week (you saw me cleaning up drool with a towel on the floor with my foot and you'd copy me, that was entertaining). I wish that I could have just held you tight and cuddled you the whole time. Cole was actually a very understanding 3 month old and let me attend to you as much as I could. But, once you got through the painful tongue, you were right back to being your lovely self.

So, let's talk about some fun stuff...
You love stickers and crafts.
You love cutting things (playdough, food).
You love slides and playgrounds (ok, who doesn't?).
You made an adorable pirate at Halloween.
You love to water the plants.

It's been an up and down month, but I'm so glad that you're feeling better. It's hard to be around a sick kid, I just wanted to take your pain for you! But, hey, you watched a lot of a Sesame Street video and discovered that you LOVE cookie monster (you call him "Blue"). And, you like imitating how he eats. It's cute. We all love cookie monster. And, we all love you.

Hugs,
Mommy and Daddy
.
.
.

So my sister was right

Monday morning comes around and Zoe had a rough night going to sleep (this never happens) and then she slept in until 8:30! (this never happens) I was talking to my sister on the phone at the time (cuz my girl slept in! I have time to chit chat!) and she asked if Zoe was sick. I said "oooooohhh no, she isn't. What do you mean?". She told me that any time her kids uncharacteristically slept long they came down with something. Uhhhhhhhh nope, that wasn't Zoe. She was just sleeping late. OR SO I THOUGHT.

Enter "Hardest Week of Being a Mommy Yet"

Well, she went to daycare that day and was just plain lethargic. Then, had another rough night and woke up with her tongue sticking out of her mouth. Yes, bizarre symptom. I felt like an idiot phoning the health hotline with the symptom of "well, she's just kinda sticking her tongue out a bit".

What followed was a trip to the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children Who Don't Feel Well, then a completely ulcer-covered tongue and a kid in pain for about 4 days. She had Hand Foot and Mouth disease (HFM). She just cried and wanted to be held the whole time. 4 days man. She wouldn't eat. She wouldn't take the tongue-numbing medication. She just cried. FOR 4 DAYS. Luckily she would drink milk all day - at least she didn't get dehydrated. This made it a very hard week because she wouldn't let me touch Cole, and well, being a 3 month old, he has some pretty basic needs I have to attend to.

But, I survived (yes, and so did she).

On the google sites, it says that HFM is a "mild" disease. Mild? MILD! M.I.L.D.??? Uh, because you don't die from it? I don't think it's mild, you google jerks.

I'm glad we immunized for chicken pox because if my kids ever got that I think I would douse myself in gasoline, jump off a cliff, and light a cigarette. DuMaurier ultra light king size. (man, that still rolls of the tongue easily from my smoking days).
.
.
.