Haircut

Gave Fin her second haircut a few days ago...

An Overshare

This may be too much information for some of you, so I thought I'd better warn you at the outset in case you want to opt out of reading this one.

I hadn't had a real visit from 'Aunt Flo' in almost three and a half years, thanks to some natural child rearing benefits, and let me tell you, I didn't miss her. I had forgotten how much she could mess a woman up.
Never mind the inconvenience of having to be prepared for her visit (something I was never good at, since I never have carried a purse). I had forgotten the pain and achiness. Parts of me felt like I had just given birth. I've been as exhausted as I was in the first trimester of pregnancy, and am feeling dumb-headed and clumsy as well. And to think I'm going to have to deal with this on a monthly basis again...
It almost tempts me to think that another baby might be nice.

Too Much Excitement, Too Many Co-Pays

I have already been to the pediatrician three times this month to have him peek in little ears.
Today, Finley fell off a box while trying to reach something put up out of her reach, and hurt her wrist. I thought nothing of it until she woke up with her wrist still bothering her. And after the broken ankle incident, I decided I'd better be safe than sorry.
I asked the doc if they have a frequent customer program. He just laughed and told me this wasn't so bad, there are some families he sees on a weekly basis, and some the receptionist even knows the sound of the mother's voice. Good grief.
No x-ray this time. She is using it more than he would expect a broken wrist to be used, so we're just supposed to watch it for a day.
I know I'll be back in his office next week, though. This time (hopefully) only for Joe's 12 month check-up.

Joe's Favorite Toy

If you are the parent or guardian of a 1 or 2 year old, and don't have this toy, well...



Joe makes a beeline for these as soon as he sees them, tears them off the base, grabs two of them, and tromps around the house as if some big monster, smashing whatever is in his way with his big front 'paws.'



Finley is in the bracelet stage, and I am surprised every time she manages to get the red one over her hand. I'm just waiting for the moment I need to pull out soap or butter to get it off.



I play peek-a-boo through one of them with Joe to keep him still on the changing table (which is a very difficult thing to do).



And when I am at the peak of desperation because nothing seems to interest the kids and I am exhausted and can't read another book or run around the house or answer anymore questions or... I just pull these gems out and spin them on the hardwood floor for the kids. They just sit transfixed and watch those things spin over and over and over again. Not to mention the satifaction I can get from getting all five of them spinning at once.

Quote Follow Up

After posting that quote the other day, after a hectic day at the zoo, and after I have recently come out of a stretch of idealism into realism, I decided I can't handle reality. It is far too depressing.
I went to the library this morning, and got two books about Mother Teresa. I figured if there was anyone in the world recently who lived joyfully in the bald face of reality, it was her. And like a friend of mine, who just wrote in her on-line journal that she would rather focus on the positive side of things rather than the negative, I realize that is what I need to do as well.
I'll let you know how it goes.