7 days to go

Baby girl is going to join the family in 7 days.

Her room is basically ready. Clothes are in the drawers. The infant car seat has been installed. Nursing station is set up in the living room.

But I feel in no way prepared. 15 months ago I began the motherhood journey not knowing how it was going to break me and build me up again. I absolutely blessed with Franks first year of life. He wasn't at all cranky, was very healthy, was a great nurser from day 1 and was just generally lovey and cuddly. I couldn't ask for a better introduction to motherhood. That said, there were days that I was sure I was doing everything wrong and was terrified that I was going to "loose it".

Yes, now I have better mommy skills: I know that two little spots do not make rash. I know how to pack a proper diaper bag. I know that you don't question a 4 hour nap, you greatfully accept it. But now I get to do it all times 2.

2 fights at naptime. 2 little mouths howling from the back seat. 4 sets of arms reaching out to be held while I am trying to get dinner ready.

I'm not complaining. I'm just freaking out in advance so that I can be calm when the time comes. (In less than one week, eeek!)

Oh, when it rains...

Driving home last night around 8:30 the sky looked ominous. About 30 minutes later the clouds opened and the downpour started. It didn't last too long but was rather intense. I love listening to and watching big storms. While sitting in the living room I thought I heard a drip in the laundry room. Naively I thought I hadn't turned off the sink. I went into the laundry room stop the drip and hubby went upstairs.
"I need a bucket"
Ugh!
Three leaks later, we think we have everything confined, but found evidence of something LIVING IN THE ATTIC! This mornings action included calls to roofing companies, the insurance agent, and critter getters. We aren't sure if the nest in the attic is just a mouse, but with a groundhog living under the air conditioner and a Land Lobster found in the basement last week, I think we have a problem.
(I'll explain the Land Lobster some other time.)

Year 1

Frank's birthday is only a few days away. One year ago I was all a fluster with anticipation for my last visit to the Ob. We would be deciding then if I was going to have a c-sect or wait for natural labor in delivering my 27 lb child. As it turns out he was just under 10 lbs, the recovery from the surgery went better than I could ever imagined and I have a gorgeous little man crawling around my legs.


Here are some photos from a recent trip up to "the lake". I'll get in trouble for some of them in a few years, but it seems the kid just wanted to enjoy his birthday suite a little early

Ma, who is this guy?

Why was I so eager to sit my child on the lap of a stranger

then pay $29.99 for a photo of him looking bewildered?

Not sure - but it was worth it.

The best ideas are stolen.

My beautiful husband and I had a date last weekend. Oma and Opa volunteered to not only baby sit Mr. Frank, but also keep him all night so that we might catch up on some much needed sleep. The next morning we realized how helpful sleep in functioning throughout the day. So we had an idea, or rather we stole an idea.

Our friends Bret and Abigail were having trouble getting their little punkin to sleep through the night. Their solution was "Family Camp". http://bretthumphreys.blogspot.com/ Mommy and Daddy "sleep" in the living room while precious screems it out for as long as necessary before colapsing and falling to sleep.

We are 3 nights in. So far, he has slept every night without waking up at all. We're afraid to move back into our own room to break the streak.

Fake out

Betcha thought I was one of those girls who would start a blog then abandon it within two week. HA! no, I'm back. Sure I may have been side tracked by coupon clipping, or crazy-baby-nap-refusing-screaming-fits, or reruns of the Gilmore Girls. (Seriously my love for bad tv has skyrocketed since our house acquired a dvr.)
This post is really nothing more than a shout out to my girls, but I promise there will be more to come here as well as comments on others sites.

p.s. did you notice its not thursday. bonus points!