From the Mouths of Babes in December

Linus: It's a penguin! (commenting on the stick figure I drew)
Me: It's not a penguin.  It's a man.
Linus:  It walks like a penguin.


Linus:  I have pick ups.  (hiccups)

Linus: (to me) I'm going to cut you up and sew you and turn you into jammies.  And then I will wear you tonight.

Linus: (very upset) Eileen is playing rough with me.

Linus: I'm a bad guy who vacuums all the floors!

Random Parent at REI treehouse:  Which one is yours? (referring to all the children)
Me:  Mine's Batman over there (Linus is wearing a Batman shirt).
Linus: (sadly) I'm not Batman. I'm Spiderman. 

Christmas in the Northwest

Say what you will.  I love that song in all its cheesiness.  This year we really tried to do our part to participate in everything the Northwest had to offer.

There was a trip to zoolights with our friends, the Reillys.

A trip to the top of the Space Needle.

During the Space Needle trip we also checked out the winter trains and village at the Seattle Center House, rode the monorail, and took a spin on the Winterfest Carousel in downtown Seattle.

There was also a trip to visit the reindeer, camel, and donkey at Swanson's nursery.

We drove around and looked at Christmas lights one night. And finally, a trip with Bryan and Sally to the Teddy Bear Suite at the Olympic Fairmount Hotel and the Gingerbread Villages at the Sheraton.

Conquering a pile of teddy bears.

Waiting in line to see all the gingerbread houses.

Lots of cookies were baked and eaten.  Unfortunately, in the week leading up to Christmas, both Linus and Eileen came down with nasty colds.  Linus also got a viral pinkeye infection.   I did everything I could to try to keep anyone else from getting pinkeye.  Just as Linus appeared to be on the mend, Eileen got sicker.  Being an exceptionally special family, Eileen managed to develop a bacterial pinkeye infection and ear infection to compliment her cold.

We celebrated Christmas Eve at my parents' house in Tacoma.  It was really lovely.  My sister, Beth, played the piano while we all sang Christmas carols.  Since we do a present exchange with everyone, I decided to try my hand at homemade Christmas using my new found sewing skills.  I made everyone coffee cup cozies, pajama pants for the men, a reversible super hero cape for my nephew,  and retro kitchen aprons.

Christmas morning was simple and sweet.

We are all grateful Santa brought Eileen her own chair.  Fights were beginning to ensue over Linus'.  Santa also has a sense of humor when it comes to binkies.

Building a pirate ship while modeling the sea turtle jammies I made for him.

We managed to make it to mass in the morning (I strongly prefer Christmas Eve mass but it is too hard to do when we are do my family's Christmas get together in Tacoma) and then came home and put back on our jammies.  We feasted on egg nog muffins and cocoa.   There were long naps and lots of playing with new toys.

We were supposed to celebrate Christmas with the Dimock side the day after Christmas, but Eileen and I stayed home since she was still sick and highly contagious.  Dave and Linus went, and apparently had a great time.  It was a little sad not being there, but what can you do?

Despite all the sickness, it was a festive holiday season.  Luckily, Eileen loves her "special milk", warm milk mixed with a little sugar and a teaspoon of amoxicillan.  She is not a big fan of the eye drops.  I look forward to no longer having sick children (Eileen has given up sleeping at night) and a return to normal.

Christmas, Spirituality, and Stephen Colbert

I am proud to be Catholic, value the Catholic education I received, and look forward to providing my children with the same opportunity.  However, I do not wear my Catholicism on my sleeve and struggle with my Catholic identity.  Compared to my Catholic friends, I am just barely Catholic or even religious.  To non-religious friends, I am their Catholic friend. It's an odd place to be and often leaves me feeling conflicted.

The Christmas season always seems to intensify these feelings.  I feel like I approach religion with a healthy dose of critical analysis.  I get annoyed when people talk about how we need to put the Christ back in Christmas, although I agree Christmas has become way too commercialized.  My sister posted this comic on Facebook, and I thought it said it best.

I love the feel of the holidays.  This year I decided it was perhaps time to include a little bit more religious instruction so help alleviate the focus on presents.  It's hard after a month and a half of birthday.  This year I bought an Advent wreath.  Linus likes the blowing out the candles part.  I bought a book about doing Advent with children.  While I found some of it a little overly religious for my tastes, I did like that it had readings to do a Jesse Tree.  I have fond memories of doing a Jesse Tree in Mrs. Layton's 2nd grade class.  So, each night we have lit the candle(s), done the day's reading, and said grace.  This is actually a big deal because we hadn't been saying grace and I loathe leading prayer.

While I practice a more progessive form of Catholicism, Dave does not share my religious beliefs but supports raising the kids Catholic.  I haven't wanted to make him uncomfortable or annoyed, so we haven't done grace.  Well, Linus has loved saying grace.  He insists on holding hands.  This was great until last weekend when we went out to dinner with friends before zoolights.  When our food arrived, Linus wanted to do grace, a singing grace more specifically.  I admit I was a bit embarrassed yet I didn't want to confuse Linus by saying lets skip it.  So I found myself singing uncomfortably in the restaurant, in front of our friends.  Suddenly, I was finding myself anxious and thinking, "I hope they don't think I am suddenly conservative or super religious, I swear I am still the same person!"  Nothing like having a child put you on the spot about your religious convictions.

Enter Stephen Colbert.  A couple months ago, I caught an episode of the Colbert Report.  His guest was a Jesuit priest, who now has the role of chaplain of the Colbert Nation.  He wrote a book called, The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything.  I heart Jesuits.  I find them, along with Maryknoll nuns, to have a more realistic and in touch view of the world.  I figured if the book was featured on the Colbert Report, then it might be worth a read and might even provide a little guidance.  I  enjoyed it and found it provided a lot of clarity for several struggles in my life.  The book spends most of the time on how to use and apply the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises in your life, even if non-Catholic.  The book definitely gave me a lot to think about and maybe a little more sense of peace in my life and with being Catholic.

With the current direction of the Church, I don't know if I will ever feel totally comfortable around my more "Catholic" peers.  But I am excited to provide my kids with a deeper experience of the holiday season.

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

Sunday kicked off Advent.  After much begging from Linus and that fact that Dave came home early from work, I gave in and let the holidays commence around our house.  It first started with baking cookies--cardamom.  While the cookies baked, we brought out the decorations. This was the first year we let Linus help.  Eileen contributed by taking an extra long nap during the whole process.

Dave was a good dad and helped Linus set up nativity scenes.  We currently have 4 sets, 3 of which are kid-friendly.

Then it was time to break out the Christmas jammies.  Linus fell in love with the little tree I used to have on my desk at work.  He claimed it for his own and it currently sits decorated on a bookshelf next to his bed.

fresh cardamom cookies make for happy, smiling babies

Wednesday the kids both took horrible naps.  Since they were up earlier than normal, I decided to go ahead and take the kids to visit Santa.  While I normally don't go quite so early in the season, I wasn't sure when there would be another weekday afternoon where it wasn't too cold, wet, or windy, and both kids were awake before 3:30 pm.  My instincts were good and there was absolutely no line (on weekends the line is 3 hours long--no joke, we waited in it one year).  I was a little disappointed by Santa.  He didn't seem very into his role.  Linus didn't notice.  Before we left the house, he grabbed the letter we had written, thinking it would be a good idea to hand deliver it to Santa.  As soon as we walked into Santa's cabin, Linus marched up and told Santa he wanted a Buzz Lightyear.  This is a far cry from the past two years of screaming and crying.  Eileen cried at first and then didn't seem to mind.  The U Village Santa this year is giving away coupons for free hot cocoa at Jamba Juice along with candy canes.  We made sure to get our cocoa before heading home.

Back home, I made sure to snap a few pics before letting the kids get out of their Christmas finery.

Eileen got in the Christmas spirit by trying to eat the jingle bell.

This little boy loves Christmas.

 So things are off to a good start.  I am hoping this weekend to snag a tag off the tree at church  and have Linus go shopping for someone his age.  I want to teach him the importance of giving back and that Christmas is not all about getting more presents.  After a month of birthday celebrations, he needs a little reminder.

From the Mouths of Babes in November

Linus:  I'm a husky.  I play football.  Do huskies drive cars?
Me: Some do.
Linus: Do they drive on the freeway?
Me: Some do I guess.
Linus:  I'm a husky and I drive my car on the freeway.
Later while playing football...
Linus: Hut hut hike and then I'll drive on the freeway.

Linus: Ooh. Pretty Mama.   (Linus on seeing me in my black one-piece bathing suit)

While playing blocks with my sister, Sally's fiance, Bryan.
Bryan: What do you want to build?
Linus:  Not a gun. Mommy doesn't like guns.

Bad Hair: One Girl's Journey and a Miracle

When I was little, I was cute.  I had wispy, baby fine hair.  See evidence below. 

 

Kindergarten

My hair was always in my face or in two braids.  It stayed this way through 5th grade.  Oh how I wish someone would have explained to me that hair changes when you age, and that I could have relished that easy to manage hair.

And then I turned 12.

6th grade

Overnight my hair increased in thickness and became coarse and frizzy with unpredictable waves.  I could barely put a comb through it.  Time did not improve things.  They got worse.

7th grade

It is easy to see why boys weren't exactly banging down my door.  I slowly learned that applying heat could ease some of the volume.  My hair got a little less voluminous in high school and even seemed to calm a little in public.  However, I was always at the mercy of the weather.  Any moisture and I was right back at 7th grade.  And forget air drying.  It could take up to 4 hours and I was left with strangely textured hair.

I hit my low during the summer of 2006.  Dave and I were vacationing in Thailand.  For those who are unaware, Thailand is very humid.  Suddenly, I was reliving that episode of Friends where the gang goes to the Bahamas and I was Monica.  It was bad.  My fears were only confirmed by our tour guide.  The movie, Superman, had just opened starring Brandon Routh.  Our guide thought that Dave looked a little like him and took to calling Dave, "Superman."  Cute right?  Sure, until he then questioned why someone as good looking as Dave would be with me.  Burn.  I suffered through 3 weeks of excruciatingly bad hair.

Some people would say, "learn to live with it," "embrace it," "get over it."  I tried. Oh God I tried.  At one point about 4 years ago my hair decided it wanted to be more curly.  I tried putting in curl creme, rocking the curl.  I tried for about 6 months.  In the end, I was left with lumpy, frizzy, coarse hair that was curly in some parts, more wavy in others.

I thought things were looking up when I got pregnant with Linus.  My hair got a little straighter, a little smoother.  Sure I needed to blow dry and use a straightener (a 45 minute process), but I was looking better.  Then I got pregnant with Eileen and my hair reverted to a much more frizzy, unruly former self.  Some of my students wanted to know what happened to my hair and why I couldn't look like I did after I had Linus (I had a family pic on my desk).  Nothing like middle school to keep you real.

So I have spent the better part of my life struggling with my hair.  I don't know what happened, but suddenly in the last 2 months my hair decided to revisit life as a 7th grader.  Despite blow-drying straight, using high end smoothing gel, and a straightener, my hair refused to behave.  It was big and some parts looked like a rat and been munching on my hair (I'm not joking). 

I went to my haircut last Tuesday night.  I made sure to preserve my hair all day so that the stylist could see the mess it had become.  That morning I had read in People Magazine about the textured perm that Kate Middleton got, and it got me thinking about straightening perms.  As soon I mentioned this to the stylist, she asked me how I felt about organic.  When I said I didn't care, she suggested a Brazilian Blowout.  I was immediately on board.  She handed me a glass of wine and told me to not tell anyone where I got it done (since they don't officially offer the service).  It was only afterwards that I learned that those pregnant or breastfeeding should not get it done.  Whoops.  Well, I am almost done with nursing so it can't have done too much harm right?

I am pleased with the results.

No longer must I fear water or humidity.  I only need to blow dry if I so choose.  It can air dry in under an hour with zero frizz.  I can hardly believe it.  I have low maintenance hair!  It's a little weird not having any body but I'll adjust.  I can go swimming and get my hair wet!  I can walk to my car when it's raining and not ruin my hair for the day!  Hair anxiety is gone.  I am excited to grow my hair a little longer.  I haven't had it at my shoulders since I was 14 due to mushrooming effects.  Look out rainy, wet world!  I no longer fear you.

Soccer Practice

Today was the last day of the fall session of Lil' Kickers.  Linus did Lil' Kickers when he was 20 months and had fun.  We tried to do it again this past summer and it was a major fail, but we decided to give this fall a shot anyway.  It's been a lot of fun.

We always make sure to wear our matching sambas.

Eileen is Linus' biggest cheerleader.

Linus has gotten surprisingly good.  I am constantly amazed at this ability to dribble up the field and around things.  He also kicks left footed.

We lucked out and his class usually only had 3 kids.  This was great.  He loved the one on one attention, it helped rein in his silliness, and it allowed Eileen and I to sit out on the sidelines (the group next to us had 16 boys and 1 girl).  He loved his coach, Coach Kat.  I was really impressed by her and I hope he gets her again someday.

Linus and the girls

He still fits his soccer clothes from when he was 20 months (they were very big on him then).

Lil' Kickers is a very "Seattle" thing to do and probably a bit overpriced once you factor in the membership fee.  I didn't enroll him for the winter session.  I don't want him to get burnt out on soccer before he is out of preschool.  Instead, next week he is going to start gymnastics at the community center.  I really want to expose him to a lot of different sports.  If he misses soccer terribly, there is always the spring.  He is a little suspicious about gymnastics.  I can't wait until he is a little older and I can throw him in a dance class....

Eileen at One

Eileen turned 1 on Tuesday.  So far I am handling the milestone pretty well.  She's isn't walking yet so it is still easy to think of her as a baby.

November 15, 2010     Born 11:58 PM      7 lbs 4 oz    19 inches long 

She takes being 1 very seriously.

Today we visited the doctor and got her one year stats.  She was pretty angry about the whole shot thing.

Weight:  22 pounds  65th  percentile
Length:  29 inches     50th percentile
Head Circumference:  18.26 inches    85th percentile
Number of teeth: 8, but working hard on 9 and 10.

Eileen is a very silly baby.  One of her current favorite activities is to lay down on top of our feet.  She also likes to lay down on laps and have her belly scratched  like a puppy.  Some of her other favorites are:  wrestling, pulling books off shelves, eating, laughing maniacally, being outside,  playing with the toy kitchen, hanging upside down, and pulling off her shoes and socks.

Eileen has brought so much joy to our lives.  If someone could promise me that every baby would be as sweet, easy going, and as good a sleeper as Eileen, I would have problems saying no to a large family.

Gone Baby Gone

Or otherwise known as Baby Eileen's First Birthday

My precious little Eileen came into this world during an epic windstorm one year ago and my life has never been the same since.  Despite the fact that she won't remember this day I wanted to make it special.  We started out with a trip to Starbucks and the zoo while Linus was at preschool.  This was a pretty big deal since normally she is stuck in a stroller and subject to Linus' whims.

Dressed for the cold.

 It was a crisp, cold, clear day.  There were no school groups and hardly any visitors.  This meant all the animals were out.  It was unbelieveable!  It was incredible how great the animal viewing was.  I think we both enjoyed our leisurely stroll through the zoo.

In the trail of vines a few minutes before she fell asleep.

The kids took long naps and Dave came home early from work.  Dave and I made sure to both get pics with our birthday girl.

 Our friend, Megan, who is also the kids' godmother, joined us for dinner, cake, and presents. 

Why yes I did make the hat.  Thank you for asking.

Great minds think alike and Megan and I both got Eileen a noah's ark (one fisher price, one playmobile).  Linus was very helpful with the present opening and toy quality control.  He has been careful to product test all of her birthday presents--especially the baby dolls, stroller, and play tunnel.

She even managed to try to blow out the candles.

mmm. pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting.

It was a simple first birthday.  Simple is good.  As I nursed and rocked a sleepy Eileen before bed, I tried to soak in all of her sweet babiness because I know all too well that my baby is growing up quickly and her baby days are numbered.