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Athena and our Chicago friend Rachel.

Or should I say, “Athena and her new Mommy”

Morella is appalled at Wishbone.

Eric and Kate put Neeners to sleep. I think they are baby whisperers.

Yesterday afternoon. Sigh. I think the blurs speak for the mess…or does the mess speak for the blurs? I am not sure. In any case, this is two days of not completely picking up after these guys. You should see if it if I wasn’t trying at all! Egads.

The biggest news of all!

ATHENA CRAWLED! Hurray Athena!

On Wednesday’s I take a shower in the morning. Morella slept in this morning and got us up at 7:22. Awesome. It’s weird though how both of them usually wake up at the same time, it happened yesterday at nap time too. We have Monona story time this morning followed by playing at the park until noon. Come back, eat lunch and take a nap.

A few Athena notes:

–She sat up yesterday evening from back lying position all by herself. She rolled over to tummy, then pushed herself up.
–She held up a phone to her ear – three times so it wasn’t just a fluke
–She went shirt diving last night for the first time!
–Showed jealousy for me last night when Morella came into my room after she (Athena) had already gone to bed, to tell me about about her bike ride with daddy. She cried and wanted her out!

~~~~Later — dang I poured myself two cups of coffee … it’s that kind of a morning folks ~~~~

Athena is having a hard time pooping solids. Poor girl. I’m having a hard time keeping up with her crabby attitude about it. Everyone poops Neeners! Oh that was another one

–Morella is now saying “Neeners”

I made an appointment for May 10th to address the mysterious achy body feelings I have been getting. It feels like an all over ache, like when you have the flu except for no other symptoms. It’s so hard to move, and being physical seems to make it worse. Even so, I have made an effort to take walks and get more exercise (as well as more calcium and potassium) in case it’s one of those things that gets better with exercise and you just have to work through the initial pain. Yesterday morning it was awful and I feel so cranky. My joints hurt, and my arms and legs fall asleep even though they are in normal positions and I’m extra sensitive to cold things and touch. I took some ibuprofen before lunch and laid down the entire naptime reading — but the end of it I felt a ton better. Like it went away, though really I could feel it’s presence lurking beneath. Maybe it’s my thyroid? I hear it is common to have problems with that after pregnancy. In any case, it’s a better option than thinking about more sinister causes. I have had it for a month now. Maybe it’s a lingering virus? I don’t know.

Okay time to get some little people dressed and out the door, and for me to drink my two cups of coffee. One cold an one hot.

On Friday I shelled out $25 bucks to join menufortheweek.com for six months. I read about it Redbook. Basically you get a grocery list and five dinner menus, one brunch and one dessert. It’s going to take the “What’s for dinner” out of my daily routine. The food is supposed to be kid friendly, interesting and easy to make. Sign me up! Oh wait, I did. It’s for six months. I am looking forward to the first email this upcoming Friday and trying it all out. I was a little inspired by that movie Julie and Julia — having a bit of a culinary adventure. It’s like having my own cook, right?

Today Tim fixed the lawnmower. The air filter and carburetor were clogged. Last year we paid a mute man down the street $45 dollars to fix it and I was all for it again but Tim said no. He put his foot down, went to Home Depot to buy a siphoner, a new air filter from Ace, and borrowed socket wrenches from Laima (ooops, we still have those Laima) and eventually he fixed it. He is still in disbelief over the whole thing, since he’s a pretty unhandy man. I hope that this is the first step in change though. I keep telling him that the hardest part of doing any home improvement or fix it type tinkering is to just go ahead and do it. To start and figure it out as you go.

I wanted to remember the other morning. Tim was chasing Morella down the hall in the morning. She didn’t want to be chased anymore. She stopped 1/2 to her room turned around and walked into the living room. She then pointed one little towards the door and told Tim “Go to work! Go to work Dada!”

Tim and I busted out laughing. She was very serious about kicking him out of the house. Tim started laughing with his mouth covered in disbelief and walked down the hall. A minute later Morella covered her mouth and mock laughed following him. It was hilarous! She was making fun of him! Just like she’ll make fun of Neener’s when she is really upset.

Speaking of Neener’s, she wants her 11-12 feeding.

I have a little case of the blues today, probably brought on by the overcast day and .. oh heck I don’t know. Molecules.

Tim told me that he has a few things lined up for the next two weekends — and it’s a glaring reminder that I have nothing. I know, being a full time Mom to two little ones is hard work. I know I should get out there and do something, but right now leaving the house feels like it would be more like an eviction. The things I want to do are here. It’s just that when I am here I am also seemingly available. Ironically, I have that time in the evenings to do “them” — if only I felt like picking one to do, and was assured I could do it, and not get annoyed by the mess of having it out and the bother of putting it back until next time and blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.

Things I want to remember:

–Athena is getting very mobile. She hates her exersaucer though. Very close to crawling. Is all over me after nursing sessions. Can almost pull herself up. Wakes up every night like clock work, a little after 11 to eat. Hates having her diaper changed. Loves her feet. Loves to take off socks and shoes. Doesn’t like throat hugs from her sister. Is afraid of balloons. Loves me. When she is engaging a stranger she will blink her eyes and turn her head away into my chest.

–Morella loves flowers and has been playing with fake flowers for the last two weeks. Today she bought a real red gerber plant she picked out and has it sitting on her bedside table. She loves making us food — especially apple pie. Everything is apple pie. She has a stand outside. She can also make eggs and soup. She just started pretend play this month. Real pretend play like eating non-existent food in the right situation. She gave herself a black eye by falling in Home Depot this evening. She likes markers. She drew on the floor with those markers and had to clean it up — big colorful circles.

Athena is howling — and has been for the last 10 minutes. Sigh. I had just fed her too. She just wants me to lay next to her and sleep. I guess I should go do that. I had like 10 minutes to write, right?

–Also Morella peed great all day (even in every public place we went to) but pooped her pants again this morning. We are thinking of getting some kind of book she can read to encourage pooping in the potty.

Today was a great end to a good week. Thank goodness! Yesterday, I watched Noah for a few hours while his mom Ann got some work done. Her nanny is currently out of town and considering all the favors I have asked of her, it was the least I could do. In fact, it was almost like I was getting a favor because I actually made headway in cleaning up and organizing the living room! They entertain each other leaving me to referee once in a while and just lug Neeners around. Eventually we went outside where they played by themselves some more before we went on a walk (so I could get Athena to sleep).

This morning I watched Cullen for a few hours while Hilary had a few hours to herself and it was equally awesome! Morella and Cullen kept each other occupied. It’s been a long time since I have watched Cullen and I was so impressed by how well he listened, understood directions and answered the questions I asked him. Same formula – we played a bit around the house until I got everyone dressed (myself included) and then headed outside. It was great because I ran around with the kids and then eventually took them on a 40 minute wagon ride while carrying Athena in the Bjorn so she would nap (which she did).

After they left, I didn’t feel like we needed to really go anywhere, so we stayed in. It was supposed to rain later, but it didn’t though it was overcast and grey. I still used it as a reason to watch the second Curious George movie (not as good as the first by far) and sit on the couch with Morella while eating popcorn, lettuce and bagel bits with blueberry cream cheese. Morella had only taken a 50 minute nap despite all the morning exercise, but she woke up in a good mood so I was okay with it. Eventually Athena woke up and we puttered. Morella filled up her latest potty chart and Tim had promised Owl sheets from Target so we were going to make a trip there after he got home from work. I decided that we would go out using a rebate gift card from our new internet to Oshy (a sushi/seafood buffet) for dinner before stopping at Target. Oh man that place is awesome. Neener was the more adventurous of the two and tried everything I gave her. It was funny how she started reaching over to Morella’s area to help herself to whatever was in grabbing distance. They fought over edamame! Athena was pounding it — I swear she ate a 1/2 a cup before I cut her off. To be honest I am afraid to see that diaper — even though I know logically it’s going to look just the same as it did going in. Still. Eww.

So Target didn’t have any owl sheets. Sucks because they totally did the last time we had been through that area. Tim convinced her to get some fairy sheets instead, and an Owl decorative pillow. We also bought another plastic bed cover. It’s not like we are really spoiling her….I mean we eventually need another set of special sheets (and mattress protector) for Athena. It just means that they are going to be all broken in by the time Athena gets to use them! It’s also nice to have a back up than the old ones that Tim used back in college, that I am almost positive that he brought from home. That would make them at least 20 years old. I was in a mood for spoiling and glanced at the Little People collection (nothing good) and Lego Duplo’s (again nothing good) and was really tempted to get more train stuff but I resisted. After all, garage sale season is upon us and there is absolutely no reason I should be buying any of this new. That’s the thrill of the hunt, you know? Even though I have no idea how I am going to garage sale with two little ones. Very carefully I suppose.

Anyway. We got home and put the kids to bed, then played Arkham Horror with the Curse of the Dark Pharaoh expansion with Tim (tabletop card type game). It was the third time I offered to play the game with Tim and he was about to refuse me a third time…. ha hah a. We beat the game and here I have a little extra time to tell you all about it before going to bed.

I feel like I should do a potty update. You know for my own record if nothing else.
Thursday (OPTD 4 – official potty training day): Poop in potty – very difficult because she had constipation and it took at least four tries and no pants to get it done. I had even caved and let her wear a cloth diaper for awhile to see if that would help. She just took it off and said she didn’t need it before running around pantsless. A little poop got caught in her panties. She picked it up for me. Ew! Rest of the was great – even out in public. We had one accident where she didn’t pull her pants down far enough and got pee all over them at a coffee shop — but that is what extra pants and panties are for.

Friday OPTD 5 (Today): Total poop accident in pants, complete with pee. No constipation issues today. We talked about how yucky it was to poop in your panties while cleaning up the mess. Once again she touched poop, she spent a good 10 minutes washing her hands (and playing with water). Rest of the day was rock solid.

Oh crap I was going to see if Target had any more panties … toddler underpants just don’t equal a good load of laundry and 10 pairs is not enough to last more than 3 days it would seem. We have to return some dishwasher detergent tomorrow so I guess I can look then. OR … I can leave the kids home with Tim while I go do this myself. Ohhh….OR … he can do that and I can go to JC Penny and get underpants with a gift card that we had gotten from her grandparents. That might be the best idea of all.

My goodness I am now typing everything that pops into my head. That means it’s time for bed.

This morning I got everyone dressed and went to an event at the local library. Toddler Dance Party – no pre-registration needed. Ha ha. There were at least 50 kids there today (I lost count at 45 and hadn’t gotten to the back area by the food), and throw in at least one adult per kid and you got a lot of people crammed into meeting space. Morella, Athena and some of the other playgroup kids had a blast though. I had to leave a little early to make sure Morella got to use the potty before leaving to HyVee to get her milk, some olives, a sandwich, fruit salad for lunch, rhubarb and garlic bread. With the exception of her morning diaper which she used to poop in, she has been diaper free all day. She is now currently diaper free taking a nap…I half suspect there might be an accident, but I am crossing my fingers that won’t happen. I want to get out and get some pull ups for naps and overnight at least for a week or so so that she can pull them herself, but I just don’t know. Have the accidents and learn the hard way? Or have some pull ups for a leeway? Hm.

IN other news, our Chicago hosts have come down with a cold. I heard each of the girls sneeze today at least once, I am currently hoping that it was the sun that brought those sneezes on. Ahh, dual nap times are just precious. They girls are sleeping off their Chicago adventure. I sort of wish that I could have these dual nap times every day. I can just imagine what I would accomplish if I knew it was a guarantee. However, since I don’t know how long they will last or if they will happen I usually end up using the time looking at the internet and catching up that way. Doing things that can easily end and are totally luxurious.

Alright. I want to go work on a letter. Here are some photos from this morning’s party.

I know it’s hard to just focus on Morella and Athena’s cuteness with someone else’s mug smiling for the camera. But try!

It took a little while for all the kids to start warming up. Front and center is Karen, the next Mom in our playgroup to have a baby — due next month. It’s really interesting to see how our “little” playgroup is starting to grow. Some are having second children and twins, most of the Mom’s now have a job, and a plethora of activities outside of caring for super young children….Tim and I are getting there again. It’s been a long eight months, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, especially in regards to myself.

Full dance mode. It got HOT in there fast. I was sort of glad that we were by the backdoor to the meeting room so that I could jet at any moment. It’s hard to engage a toddler, and dance with a bouncy, energetic baby in your arms and stay cool.

Whew, I am so very glad to be home, with both of the girls in their beds and sleeping. I am so glad to have a few hours to myself to look at the internet, have a beer and catch up. Ahh so nice. But, now that I have done that, I am tired and kind of want to just go to bed so that I can start the week off right. You know? Have energy to tackle the disaster area that is this house. I have bins of baby and toddler clothing scattered from the living room to the bedroom, with baskets of unsorted/folded laundry and a suit case with travel clothes in between.

Today was a nonstop day that got rough by evening. Little nap and teething made Morella a total beast. I think it can be best be summed up by me wearing my shirt inside out ALL DAY, out in public with the teabaggers, lunch at Tim’s work, visit from Stephanie and her son Wyatt, burritos from the Mexican joint down the street, shopping at Capitol kids and getting a free coffee at Starbucks. It was finally Karen that told me after all of this had transpired. I have had a total of an hour to myself all day — and yes that is including now.