No Poo Song--No Happy Baby

D5 has not been singing since yesterday afternoon. It turns out that's not a happy thing. Baby no sing--baby no poo. I'd say that's crappy but well, you see how it isn't. It just makes for one really sad baby. She really isn't a crier and she has been crying in pain. Looks like we may have to give her the dreaded enema. Hopefully, she will start singing on her own before it comes to that. Fa la la la la . . .

An Accounting

I listened to a woman in her late sixties this morning describe a heart attack she had a couple of weeks ago. She was blessed that it was a mild attack and she came out of it okay but it really made her stop and take an accounting of her life. A dear friend of mine experienced a similar heart attack a few weeks ago and she is much too young (3 or 4 years younger than me) to have gone through something like that in her life.

I guess we are never too young to stop and look over our lives and see where we stand--at least where we feel we stand. I was really struck this morning as this good woman spoke, with tears in her eyes and talked of how she really wondered as she was experiencing her heart attack if this was her time to die. And as she wondered this her thoughts turned to whether or not she had done enough good and lived her life well enough. She hoped and prayed she could have more time with her family and more time to be a better person on earth. Her prayers were granted.

It's times and experiences like this that make me take an extra pause in handling my own life decisions and day-to-day choices. I know I will never be perfect or even close--but I try to be a good, caring person every day of my life. I guess my point today is that both of my friend's recent health experiences have made me think about my life and my contributions. And I realize I can and should always do better.

A Six Hour Night

Our tag team effort paid some pretty good dividends. We got six lovely uninterrupted hours of sleep last night. They were wonderful! Although, funny thing--baby has decided that her bedtime is 1:00 a.m. As badly as she wanted to go to sleep we kept her up until about 10 p.m. and finally let her drift off. By 10:30 she was wide awake again and would not go back to sleep again until 1:00 a.m. which is the usual time we've been able to get her down for the night. Anyway, she slept clear till 7:00 a.m. so we were happy campers. No complaints from this peanut gallery.

Project Baby Tag Team

We had a nice day today as a family--that is what's left of us. Our nuclear family now includes Hubby, me, D4 and D5. All the others have flown the nest. Anyway, we had waffles together for brunch and then spent the afternoon out together shopping and running errands. We went to a friend's wedding reception this evening and then came home and got into pj's, popped popcorn and watched a movie together. Hubby, D4 and I have spent the last few hours tag-teaming to be sure we keep D5 awake so she will sleep tonight. We've been really successful so we are anxious to see if the outcome is that she actually sleeps through the night. We would be so excited! She's really yawning now and trying to go to sleep on us--so I need to hurry and finish this. Hubby is on my case to finish so she can go to bed. So Sayonara everyone.

The Poo Song

D5 has a poo song. It's pretty darn funny. Most babies have a unique thing they do when they go poo. A funny face they make, a sound, a look in their eyes but my baby--she has a song. OK--well to call it a song might be pushing it just a bit but it is a grouping of sounds that goes on for some time. It has a bit of rhythm to it and a coda at the end. Due to the fact that it lacks words--you probably wouldn't call it lyrical but I think you could get away with calling it musical. And trust me on this one-it's absolutely comical--especially when she decides to perform in the middle of a church meeting. I'm going to have to videotape one of these episodes for the archives--you know--just to have as a little insurance policy for when she's a teenager and I want her to do things my way. What do they call that . . . extortion? Yah, I think this will work just great when she starts bringing those boyfriends around. In the meantime, it's just plain funny.

Mommy Goals

You know that poem that talks about leaving the dust and the chores for later and spending the time with your kids now--because kids grow up and the dust and chores will always be there? I always liked that poem. It's a good thing too--because I resemble it. I've had some simple goals for over a week now to do 2 or 3 things around the house and do you think I've gotten even one of them done? Nope. Holy Cow! This mommy business is serious stuff! Okay, I knew that before I had this little one. It was the routine I didn't quite understand--and the fatigue. I already had my own fatigue and now I have Mommy fatigue on top. I know--Waaah!!!

Anyway, by the time we get through all that needs to happen for baby and the rest of the family it seems like it's time to go to bed again. How does that happen? Someone is stealing hours from my day. I'm giving up on goals for awhile--except for just taking care of my baby and my family. Hubby promises me this will get better in a few more weeks when D5 starts sleeping through the night. I think she's really close. The last few nights she's only gotten me up once a night. It's just that she's combined her twice nightly wake-up into one and we are getting up for a couple of hours at once. She's just wide awake when she gets up and wants to stay up. I've got to find a way to keep her awake during the day. Maybe I'll take up the drums . . .

Miles and Miles of Piles

I'm convinced that paper reproduces. I've got piles of paper-more piles than I created. Paper is the bain of my existence. I honestly don't know what to do with it. Have you ever noticed how a pile of mail grows? You bring it in one day and if you don't happen to get to it that day by the time you do it's grown three times it original size? See what I'm talking about - that's reproduction? I'm telling you. There something funny going on in those piles!

I have stacks and stacks of things to file and I always promise myself I'm going to get to them but by the time I do there are ten times the number of piles. It just discourages me and I give up. Although, I watched Oprah today and it was the second part of a two-day special on a really bad hoarder. I need to get organized but I'm definitely not that bad. This poor woman had been hoarding for 35 years and hadn't had anyone but her husband in her house for the last 12 years. It was awful. I just need a secretary or an assistant.

This is my rule and I think it's a pretty good one. When you buy something new and bring it home--something of equal size and value has to leave the home. Now ask me if I stick to that. No don't. It's a good rule though. It would definitely keep your home from being too cluttered. That is if the paper wasn't busy reproducing . . .

The 18 Hour Bladder

A little while ago hubby stood up and said, "Well, I'm going to go to bathroom for the first time since I got up this morning." I looked at him incredulously since it's almost 11:00 p.m. and I've been to the powder room -I don't know--somewhere around 5-8 times today--though who's counting? I just think it is almost unbelievable that he hasn't gone all day, especially since I had dinner with him and I know he had refills on his large drink. I mean who has a bladder like that? I know they sell girdles and bras that last 18 hours--but who knew you could get a bladder? Someone point me in the direction of that store . . .

Pacify me

Why is it we try so hard to wean our babies off of pacifiers. I know, I know--something about drooling, buck teeth, and other kids making fun of them. But hey--those all seem like correctable problems when you consider the possible benefits later in life to keeping pacifiers viable. I mean c'mon what are dentists there for anyway--to correct any abnormality in the tooth and gum area. So, what if it's a little more money--it could be built into our already overburdened healthcare system. And as for those other kids who might make fun of your kid who still has a pacifier--well, that wouldn't happen if they still had a pacifier, too.

Here's where I'm going with this--and keep in mind it has to start somewhere. Wouldn't the world be a nicer place if you could just pop a pacifier in the mouth of anyone who was ornery or disagreeable and it made them feel better just like it does for our little ones? Honestly, less fighting--more pacification. The next time you sense someone ready to say something rude to you if you could just pop a little pacifier in their mouth and help them feel calm--wouldn't that be great? And even better if it were the norm--and people didn't feel silly running around with pacifiers in their mouths.

Heck, maybe we could buy them for the US Postal Service and completely get rid of the saying "Going Postal." Think of the fights we could stop, the meanness we could end, the calmness we could bring back to the world if we'd just give everyone back their pacifier! Or not.

Happy Easter

After a day of too much chocolate and candy and just the right amount of family and togetherness I thought I would check in to say Happy Easter to everyone. It's such a beautiful time of the year to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He does live and he does love us. What a reassuring thing to know and understand. May the blessings of his peace fill your life. Happy Easter dear friends.

Dance the Night Away

D3 and her college tour came through a nearby city tonight with their dance tour and we took D4 and D5 and went to see her dance. It was great. It was more fun afterward though as she got to meet her new sister for the first time. She hadn't been able to come home from college yet to see her so that was pretty neat. She loved her--of course!

Mommy/Daughter Day

D4 and I spent the afternoon together while Daddy and D5 did some bonding. D4 had been feeling a bit neglected during the preparations for D2's wedding. It really is one of those things that everyone just has to pitch in and give their all to--and all of the attention is on the bride. So if you are anyone else in the family -- forget about it. It's not your turn.

So, today was D4's turn. We had a Mommy-Daughter day. She has been so helpful during all of this--and especially with her new little sister. She is so good with her and loves her so much. Anyway, she and I went and had a pedicure (her first ever) and had French style nails done on our toes so our feet would look great in sandals. Then we went to one of her favorite "trendy" stores and she picked out a new Easter dress. Then we came home and got Daddy and D5 and went out for ice cream.

It's just the four of us now at the house--six if you count the girls (that's what we call the dogs.) Anyway, that's a nice number. It's a little quiet at times--but if it gets a little slow we just invite people over to play.

Hubby is trying to put D5 to sleep and she is just staring at him --eyes wide awake. I think she knows what he wants and is just staying awake to torture him. She's so darn cute. But then, so is hubby.

Enter and Sign In Please

The Newlyweds are back. They called to see if they could come and claim their prizes tonight. We had been storing all of their gifts for them and they were anxious to open them. But before we could open the gifts we went to a nephew's soccer game since it was already on the schedule. We came home and had pizza and opened presents. They got some nice things. They are happy.We stuffed their car full of gifts and they went home to their new apartment. All is well.

Jackie Chan, Rice Krispy Treats and Thou

D5 and I woke up sick today. It's no wonder with all the people who had to pick her up at the wedding. Everytime I looked around someone else was holding her--and several times I didn't even know the person. That was kind of buggy. I know everyone thinks she's adorable--and she is--I just wish if they were sick they would have thought to leave her alone. Anyway, she's been coughing and had a runny nose. I woke up with a really sore throat--so I wonder if she's got that as well.

I made some chicken soup for dinner and then hubby brought out a Jackie Chan movie he'd just gotten for us to watch. It's called Myth. We love Jackie Chan. This one has subtitles through part of it--and I'm not crazy about that--but otherwise it's a good movie. I made chocolate rice krispy treats for dessert and we are just sitting here as a family enjoying the movie and each other. May not sound like much--but it is real nice.

Doggone funny

Ever since we came home with D5 our dog Sadie has made herself D5's personal guard dog. Where ever D5 is -- that's where Sadie is. She sleeps by her, follows whomever is holding her around and stations herself by her when she's getting a bath. Whatever D5 is doing Sadie is nearby--making sure D5 is O.K. It's really cute and kind of funny. I have a feeling when D5 gets bigger she'll be riding Sadie like a horse. It's a good thing Sadie is patient and loves kids--especially this one.

Rumplestiltskin lives

I slept the whole day away. That is except for those every two hour baby feedings. I didn't get up until nearly 7 p.m. I guess the weeks and weeks of stress and no sleep caught up with me today. I planned to do a whole lot of things today--and sleeping the day away wasn't one of them--but I have to admit it sure did feel good.

Tomorrow is a new day and I figure I can start on my list of "to do's" then and maybe even get something accomplished. But today I just held D5 a lot and napped when she napped. So, both of us are well rested. Well, baby just took her bottle and went down for the night. Guess that's my cue to go to sleep too.

Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz . . . Oh, What a Relief It Is

Hubby has been walking around all day with a funny smile on his face and every once in a while he says "Guess what Mama? It's over! It's all over! or something to that effect. He's probably said it 50 times today--and keep in mind we've only been awake since 1 or 2 p.m. I guess he's been feeling as much stress as I have.

The wedding was lovely. The reception went very well. We are just so relieved to have it behind us. Hopefully, the bride and groom are off being ecstatically happy together. If you hear a loud noise--don't worry it's just us collapsing. We are going to climb into bed and hibernate for as long as we can get away with. I'm sure D5 will make sure that isn't very long--but she's so darn cute you just don't mind getting up with her. Ta Ta for tonight. :)

7 Hours and 53 minutes . . .

Until they are husband and wife. That's kind of fun to think about--or at least it would be if it weren't after 2:00 a.m. We've been setting up for the reception and we are plum tuckered out. Guess I'd better get some sleep if I expect to get up on time for the wedding. D5 is asleep so I'd better join her--otherwise she'll be awake and I will for sure have to join her. More on the big day later. Stay tuned.

March Flurries

It was warm enough yesterday morning that I had sandals on. Since then we've had rain that turned to a very cold rain. Then, as I came back from a hair appointment with my mom this morning we both saw a few snowflakes. I guess March is going to have its snow flurries after all. I'm just hoping we don't end up with a snowstorm tomorrow. Wedding pictures in a snowstorm. That sounds like no fun at all. Nope, no fun at all.

Less than 40 Hours . . .

But hey who's counting. We are a bit anxious. We are excited for the wedding and hope everything goes well. But to be truthful at this point, I think we will mostly be glad to have the festivities over with and know that everything has gone well and everyone is happy! I will also be happy to just be able to hold my new little one and watch her grow. I feel like I haven't been able to do much of that the past few weeks with all the rushing and running. She is such a beauty, though.

It does seem like all the pieces are starting to fall together. So, wish us luck. Tomorrow is filled with last minute details--then onto the wedding day.

Where's Your Manhood Men?

I'm on a soapbox today. I can't stand these situations like the one where Governor Spitzer in New York spent over 80 grand on prostitutes and gets caught and then expects his wife to stand up with him while he apologizes to his constituency, to her and his family. Every woman who saw her face knew she'd been sobbing (and probably throwing things -- at him if she was smart.) Here she is - probably the last to know, hit in the very public face with a very private trauma and he wants her to hold hands and walk into the press conference with him like she is fully supporting him. What is wrong with that picture? No woman should be put through that.
Everyone is asking why she was up on that stage with him. The same with Governer McGreavy's wife. I don't know. Maybe it's shock. Maybe it's for the children. I only know this. If either of those Governors had any real sense of honor they wouldn't have asked their wives to stand beside them publicly during what have to be the worst moments of those women's lives. Those men chose their actions and they had consequences--and those consequences will affect their families forever. They shouldn't asked their wives to join thier public shame and thus, humiliate them further than they already have. Where's your manhood, men? You got into this on your own. Get out of it on your own!

Four Days and Counting . . .

Only four days left until the wedding. Boy am I excited. It's going to be nice to have a lovely wedding day for D2. We are doing everything we can to make sure we've got all the i's dotted and t's crossed so the day goes smoothly and she and fiance boy have a wonderful experience. I'm also excited for the day after when hubby and I can stop and smell the roses with our new little one. We've been running so fast and so hard trying to prepare for the wedding that I feel like I'm missing some of the newborn moments. Some days I just want to hold her and rock her and look at her and there just hasn't been time for me to sit still and do that. I know these moments only come once and I don't want to miss them. But then, your daughter only gets married once (if you're lucky) and I want everything to be right for her experience too. I guess it's all a balancing act. Did I tell you I love my girls--well, I do.

HAVE WE GOT COOKIES OR WHAT?

1,159 Cookies later we have turned off the ovens . . . We could not be more excited or more exhausted. Snickerdoodles, M&M's, Brownies, Chocolate Chips, Butterscotch Brownies, Peanut Butter with Chocolate Kisses, Molasses, Oatmeal Scotchies. C'mon over everyone and bring a giant glass of milk.

The Cavalry Arrived!

My Mommy is here! Yea! Now the real baking is underway. We cleared 200 cookies today. I say "we" -- but Mom did those all on her own. She did another tray and a half of cherry bars but we had a ton of family over for dinner so we just ate those. Come to think of it--Mom also made a triple batch of oatmeal scotchies that I was going to bake. Ummm--that dough is still in the fridge--what is it I did today? I can't me-member.

Seriously, though. I got a lot done, too. Like dinner for 17 people. I am crazy. Anyway--we are over 800 cookies now on our way to that 1,000! Yea. I still don't have a dress for the wedding. Although, if I don't find one by Thursday I am going to give up and wear an old navy number I have in the closet that doesn't look old. Five days to go and a big "to do" list looming over my head but we just may make it!

I drew a blank

I don't know where yesterday or the day before went. I don't even know how I missed them. I'm pretty sure I was there for them but I can't be positive since I wasn't here. Does that make since? Not to me either. I think I'm trying to do to much multi-tasking at once. Is that possible? I'm a pretty good multi-tasker but all of the sudden I feel like a juggler dropping some balls. Not cool. Gotta stop that.

Don't worry. I'll be back.

I Repent!

This is one of those things you don't know you don't know until you know. But you know, I'm really sorry for all the times I've been somewhere and have seen a new mother with a new baby and wondered to myself why that new mother didn't bother to do her hair make-up that morning. Holy crap Batman! I get it--and I'm so, so, so sorry for ever questioning any of you or your intentions. Instead, whether I knew you or not, I should have come running over to you and offered to sit for an hour or two while you caught up on sleep. I should have offered to run errands for you, make up bottles, rub your tired shoulders, clean your house, make you dinner. I'm so sorry. I didn't understand.

All my clumsy, idiot, obviously "not thinking" brain thought was "I wonder why she's stopped keeping herself up? Doesn't she care anymore?" What a dunderhead I was! I really apologize to all of you mothers out there. I didn't even realize I was doing it. Isn't experience a great teacher. It's so good to go through things yourself and see the other side. To be honest, I couldn't have answered the door before noon today or I would have frightened someone right off the porch. It's true! A baby not only changes your routine--he or she changes your vanity level. You suddenly care more about someone else's needs than you do about anything else--even how you appear. (Now mind you - I didn't leave the house or answer the door looking that way--nor would I!)

Anyway--back to my point. I repent for being so judgmental. It was just plain dumb. Now I find myself in the same shoes and I really understand. I simply don't have the hours in the day to do everything I used to do. Nor do I have the arms to do everything I need to do at once. So, please forgive my lack of understanding. In other words, I understand now because I resemble that--and I'm really, really sorry.

INFANT K.O.'s PARENTS

You should have seen hubby and me this morning. It was pathetic! We were so tired we couldn't move. Actually--you should have seen us after noon today--we hadn't moved much since early morning. We were K.O.'d big time. We haven't quite gotten the rhythm of the "not-sleeping-through-the-night" thing figured out yet. Hubby took the first shift last night and I took the next one--but neither of us got much sleep. Well, actually D5 got plenty of sleep. She slept through everything but the beginning of her feedings. She only wakes up long enough to cry out and let you know she's hungry and then she goes back to sleep. She's a great baby--and so, so sweet. We just haven't gotten the timing down yet--so we are wiped out. About noon hubby crawled out of bed and found me on the living room couch half asleep feeding D5 who had gone back to sleep herself.

It's no wonder since I've been burning the candle at both ends trying to get things pulled together for D2's wedding. Brownies last night--6 pans. Chocolate Chips tonight--4 batches. Snickerdoodles two nights ago and I'm only up to 350 cookies. 650 to go. Wow, I had no idea it would take this long to bake 1,000 cookies. Of course, it would probably go faster if I didn't have a baby in one arm. But, you'd have to wrestle her away from me--I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. So, I guess I'll just take my time--and get sleep when I can. Time to get some sleep so I can take my shift later.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Today would have been my Grandma's 107th birthday. I lost her when she was 94. I can't believe it's been that long ago. She was one of those Grandma's everyone wishes they had. I was so lucky to have her in my life--especially for as long as I did. She was one of my best friends. I miss you, Grandma and I love you with all my heart.

1,000 COOKIES

I'm a cookie baker from way back. It's actually a passion for me--and something I like to think I've gotten pretty good at. My favorite and best recipe is for chocolate chip cookies. I've been making them since 4-H when I was a kid. I enjoy baking and have fun with it. I've made thousands of cookies in my day. However, I've never made a thousand cookies in a few days. But that is what I'm about to do. Yep, I'm on a mission to bake 1,000 cookies by the 10th of March.

Sound crazy? It probably is--but I'm gonna do it. D2 has finally decided what to serve at her wedding reception--we are having a cookie buffet. Don't worry, we'll cut the cake and serve it for those who want cake--and there will be some veggies on the buffet for the diabetics and the vegans, and I'm going to make 1,000 or more cookies of all different kinds so guests can have a little variety.

I honestly don't know what's wrong with just serving cake, punch, nuts and a mint--but apparently it's just WRONG. I don't care and I would do it anyway because I'm not keeping up with the Jones or anyone else--but D2 won't let me. Arrgghh. So, I'm going to bake. I made over 100 Snickerdoodles tonight and they are already frozen. 100 down, 900 to go. New baby, New Mom, No sleep, No sweat . . .

Funny Faces

After my power nap today (which I needed because baby and I were up bonding last night) I came out and hubby and D4 were watching Pirates 3 for the umpteenth time. I decided to join them even though pirates aren't my favorite subject. While I was watching the movie with them from time to time D4 would say "MOM-you should see your face! And then she'd point and laugh at me-and make the same face she said I was making which was always something odd looking. I can't help it if there are some GROTY scenes in that movie! I must have been screwing up my face quite a bit because D4 apparently decided I was more entertaining than the movie and was getting more laughs out of my face than the television screen. Well, that is until the end when all of the sudden the tables turned. The movie calms down near the end and turns romantic. Hubby and I are sitting on one couch watching the movie when all of the sudden the kissing begins on the screen and D4 starts shrinking into the other couch. Her face turns bright red and screws up. She pulls a pillow up in front of her face and trys to disappear unnoticed. NOT LIKELY. Paybacks are great. Hubby and I kept asking "What's wrong with your face? Aren't you feeling well? Don't you like kissing? Yah, she got the point. She was making some funny faces of her own. It was cute. For now I'll just be glad she's still at an age where kissing embarrasses her instead of intrigues her.

It's My Night

D5's circadium rhythms have yet to adjust themselves to earthlife. Thus, we are spending most of our nights awake and most of our days asleep. Hubby, er Daddy, I should say was kind enough to let me get a good night's sleep last night. It was really nice of him seeing as I had a really bad migraine on top of very little sleep. D5 has been waking and eating every hour and a half--but then she also doesn't always sleep in between feedings at night. I think she has been having some tummy issues of late (that's gas to any of you who are slow.)

So, it's my night to hang out with D5 while hubby gets a good night's sleep. She's semi-sleeping now--but she has been noticing her voice the last few days and it's pretty funny. So, while she's sort of asleep she's hemming and hawing--and it's like she hears herself do it and so she does it again louder just to make sure she's in control of it. Then she smiles. All with her eyes shut. She's so darn cute.

What I don't get is why she sleeps so soundly during the day and so fitfully at night. I mean, it would be totally fine if it weren't turning mine and hubby's circadium rhythms upside down. Do you think it could have anything to do with that curse our parents put on us . . . "I hope you get one just like you?!"