Sleep, Please

I had four or five good months of sleeping through the night. Now I'm back to being up between three and four every morning. I have two kids and it has nothing to do with them. I'm out in the living room by myself, listening to their deep breathing from their rooms. Having a baby that sleeps through the night and not being able to sleep myself has been my life's greatest curse. I was honestly startled by my reflection when I gave up and went into the bathroom at 3 am. Karl Malden came to mind.

I WILL be able to sleep tonight...I WILL be able to sleep tonight...I WILL be able to sleep tonight...

She's A Wreck

Now that Matilda is able to skip a morning nap I'm able to run errands with her while Sam is in school. It is so much easier to just have a kid in the cart!

Matilda had a pretty high fever on Sunday, Monday, and into Tuesday morning. Yesterday she woke up from her nap with a terrifying red rash all over her body. I called the doctor's office and confirmed that it was most likely roseola. She's been okay but is obviously uncomfortable.

This morning after we dropped Sam at school we went to the store. Looking back, I should have guessed she'd need a nap this morning. She hung on for a while but then started falling apart. Sitting in the front of the cart, she gazed around with bleary, puffy eyes. Her face was blotchy and red and her hair was alternately matted down and standing on end.

I put a box of Kashi Honey Sunshine cereal (free after coupon!) in the cart. Matilda perked right up. She wrenched herself around until she managed to grip the box and pull it up into the seat next to her. Honey Sunshine was her favorite cereal six months ago and we haven't had it since. The kid has a memory like a steel trap. She clung to the box through the rest of the store and screamed when I put it on the belt. The kind woman checking my groceries tried to find the treat so she could scan it and hand it back to her. She didn't believe me when I said it was the box of Kashi.

Matilda cried again when I had to take it away from her to put her in her carseat. She hung on to it the whole way home and managed to drag it upstairs with her. I thought she'd have to sleep with it but I managed to wrench it away from her. Fever, rash, and the only thing she wants is whole grains.

I've always thought Sam was a bizarre little kid and now Matilda is obsessed with boxes of healthy cereal. I'm going to have to start looking at myself.

Sweetheart

I managed to take a few pictures of Sam on his birthday before the battery in my camera died. I finally uploaded them today and I can hardly stand how cute he is. He has the sweetest little face I've ever seen.

In-Between

I never thought I'd feel so out of place at 30 years old. I'm too young to be old and too old to be young (thank you, Fried Green Tomatoes). I can't wear most of what is in junior's departments. I need more than a 1-inch rise on my jeans, thankyouverymuch. I can't buy anything in women's, either. I DO have a waist and it IS somewhere below my armpits.

I love to go out with my friends and have to call a cab to get home. I love to deep-clean our couches and bake bread. I watch Jersey Shore AND I clip coupons. I like to have my hair dyed fun colors - as my natural color is grey.

Eric and I got some money back in taxes and we each took a small part of it for fun money. I used my money for new toilet bowl brushes and plungers for each of our bathrooms (sooo excited) and a Lady Gaga CD (love her!).

P-p-p-plunger face, p-p-plunger face...

Samuel James Is Four!

My dude is four years old. Since the day he was born that kid has delighted me more than I could have ever imagined. He's so smart and funny and kind. He's gentle and goofy. He's the most incredible little person I've ever met.

Sam, you are the light of our lives. Happy birthday little man.

Miranda Panda

I was only 14 when Miranda was born. I loved and adored her but I was still a kid myself. I wish I could have experienced Miranda's childhood from an adult's point of view. I think I would have paid more attention and enjoyed it so much more.

Miranda is an amazing person. She has a quiet confidence about her that I am still working on attaining for myself - I can't imagine having had it at 16. She is organized and hardworking, an accomplished athlete (who holds two school records), and does the right thing even when it's not the most popular thing.

Everyone loves Miranda - no one more so than Sam. Can you blame him? Miranda is energy and fun and she will play cars with him as long as he wants. I marvel at how good she is with the kids. Again, her quiet confidence leads her to almost always doing or saying the right thing. We asked her to babysit last Sunday but she was working. In desperation I booked her for last night, the only night she didn't have to work. We didn't even have plans but she is so wonderful we're willing to work around her schedule.

Sam bounced off the walls in excitement until Miranda arrived (at 6:00:15) and didn't even say goodbye to us when we left. Miranda let him stay up an hour past his bedtime so they could play. Words can't express how happy I am that Sam has that memory.

Two of my favorite faces!

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Miranda, we are endlessly proud of you. You are smart, funny, kind, and beautiful. You have the power to do anything. I am so excited to watch your amazing life unfold.

It's In The Genes

A few weeks ago Papa and Grandma Susan came over for dinner. After we ate Sam brought everyone into his room. He and Papa put on an amazing concert with help from Sam's Wiggles CD. I was hysterical watching them. I don't know what is funnier - the pictures of them laughing, or the ones that show they were both deadly serious.

Thank you, Rochester!

Aldrich Valentine's Party

Sam and I spent this morning at the Aldrich Valentine's party. Sam was a willing participant and I was a volunteer. The party was planned by the head of the personnel committee (my committee!) of the Board of Directors. That woman did not mess around.

Five classrooms were used. Two parents stayed in each classroom. The kids were split into groups of 15. Each group had two parents assigned to them. Those parents took the groups from room to room and helped the room parents with the different activities. Each activity was allotted exactly 17 (!) minutes.

I was in the room with Winnie the Pooh. A lovely little teenage volunteer sat in a rocking chair wearing the most terrifying Winnie the Pooh costume I've ever seen. We helped the kids decorate picture frames and they had their pictures taken with Pooh. I was surprised that only about five of the kids refused to have their pictures taken.

I can't believe how exhausted I am after wrangling little people all morning. I left feeling like I had been beaten. Sam left with a bag full of craft projects and cookies.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Oh, The Frugal Life For Me

One of my greatest passions is living frugally. I'm addicted to looking for deals. My honest goal is to get everything for free. If that isn't possible I am going to find the absolute best deal I can. Getting things for free is like a natural high for me! I think it's like the high a compulsive gambler gets from winning. I think my way is better as I never lose!

I don't just get little things for free. This is just an example of the things I have received:

- at least a dozen magazine subscriptions
- designer bath sets
- children's books
- hundreds of dollars worth of free food
- hundreds of dollars worth of free home and personal items
- $25 gas cards
- $15 Starbucks cards
- $20 Target cards
- posters
- 50 Christmas photo cards
- coloring books
- pedometer
- photo books
- photo calendars
- 60 Valentine photo cards
- portable DVD player
- four packs of diapers
- cash for participating in surveys

That's the free stuff. That doesn't even touch all of the buy one, get one free or coupon deals. I can count on one hand the things I pay full price for, out of necessity. Otherwise I can't imagine walking into a store and buying something for its original price. I carry my huge coupon binder into the stores with pride! The people behind me in line are amazed when they see my original amount due go from $90 to $30 after my stack of coupons.

And now garage sales will be starting up in just a few months! My heart gets fluttery just thinking about it.

Just How Capable...

...can one person be?

If I live to be 100 I'll never get over the shock of just how amazing my sister is. There is nothing she can't do and nothing she can't fix. Every single time I've asked her for help I've gotten it and more.

It doesn't matter if it is small or big or personal or practical. Jackie knows everything. Think your cell phone is broken? It isn't - Jackie can fix it. Need flowers for a wedding? Jackie can whip those up for you. Need romano cheese but the store doesn't have it? Jackie can suggest the next best option. Need a place to live? Jackie will clear out her office and furnish it for $20 dollars.

Sometimes I don't even know I need help when I call her. Half an hour ago I was a little wild, a little out of my mind, and out of habit I called Jackie. In three minutes my problem was solved. I didn't even know what the problem was before I called her and she was able to name it and fix it within seconds.

How do I thank someone for my entire life? How do I begin to pay back all of the kindness and help she has given me over the last 30 years? She has had a hand in everything I've done. She supported me through college, planned my wedding, and lived every moment of my pregnancies with me, all while constantly reassuring me that everything is and will be okay. She has been my rock. She has given me the push to take each and every one of my first steps.

Her role in my life can't be overstated. She is as much a part of me as my eyes or heart. I am humbled by her and give infinite thanks to God for blessing me with such an amazing sister.

Love you, Jack.