a floor picnic... finally

One time I gave Levi two options... One was to stay here (home) for lunch and the other was to go out, get something special to eat, and bring it back here (home) to eat. He chose option two. As I was getting everything ready, I saw him ever so carefully carrying his plate of food off the kitchen table and into the family room. I quickly grabbed it and asked what he was doing. Apparently he took me very literally when I said we'd eat "here" because I was sitting on the playmat in the family room. Poor kid wanted to have a picnic. That day he learned the meaning of the words "option" and "misunderstanding."

Today we really did have a floor picnic, and it was pretty awesome. All our friends from Sesame Street joined us. This may need to become a new Friday tradition.




(Chloe, as always, was on clean-up duty.)

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road trip survival

This Christmas, we traveled as a family of four plus dog to Florida. That's 13.5 hours of drive time, plus stops. I'm so happy to report that we not only survived the car rides to and from, but that we maybe even enjoyed ourselves. Say what?! I prayed many times that we would be joyful travelers, and I believe that was a good prayer to pray.

 Some of my favorite discoveries and tips that helped us along the way...

1. The DVD player. Ahh yes, the wonderful invention of built-in entertainment systems. Although we purchased our minivan in May, we had not yet allowed Levi to even glimpse the DVD player screen. This meant that it was a huge treat for him. It occupied probably 80% of his time in the car. I am so not ashamed of this. He was thrilled to be able to pick show after show. We put restrictions on it, of course. No shows until after breakfast. No shows during naptime. No shows after bedtime. Which brings me to point #2...

2. Schedules. I wrote up a schedule for the trip. Maybe some people aren't as, uhm, particular about things as I am, but this really helped me. My schedule had three columns. One for time, for me and for Andy. I listed when we'd start the drive, how long each leg of the trip would be, how long each break would be, and what we would do on each break. Breaks were 30 minutes for short stops, 45 minutes for a snack/fuel stop and 1 hour for a meal. I wrote out what adult was going to care for which child's/pet's needs. The schedule helped us not question "should we keep driving? when should we stop?" all the time. I also scheduled in nap time for Levi at his usual nap time, which helped him feel more relaxed.

3. Stocking the car. Each nook of the van had some purpose. Snacks and cooler were up front. Toys for the kids (one bin per kid) were behind my seat where I could reach. The driver door has baby wipes, hand wipes and clorox wipes. Glove compartment has a ziplock bag of ziplock bags and rubber bands (because it seemed like a good idea). The designated trash bag was a zipper-top gallon bag I kept up front with me. It was very helpful in keeping together all the little pieces of paper, wrappers, etc. that collect in cup holders usually. I also threw a roll of paper towels in the trunk just in case. Extra outfits for each kid were in a gallon zipper bag under a seat.

4. Packing early. We packed the whole car the night before. The only things left were the "last minute bag" and the cooler. We packed the cooler with sandwiches and drinks the night before and left it in the fridge. The "last minute bag" is my old diaper bag. I put my list of last minute items that we need to get ready in the morning (the kids' monitors, sleep sacks, our toiletry bags) on it, fill it in the morning, and throw it in the car.

And some of my favorite moments of the drive...

• Levi asked for a snack. I told him I had bunnies (graham cracker bunnies). He accepted the bag happily. A few minutes later, when daddy returned to the car... "Look daddy! I have bears! Mommy thinks they's bunnies." Turns out, I had graham cracker bears. He didn't feel like correcting me.
• Wendy played with a crinkly book for so much of the drive. I loved how she'd just fall asleep, and then in an hour we'd start to hear *crinkle crinkle* again.
• Seeing Chloe curled up in the middle row, middle seat between the two kids on her own baby blanket. Half the time I forgot she was even with us, she was so good! (Whenever we stopped the car, however, she'd turn into a nutcase.
• Watching the temperature gauge climb higher and higher as we drove further south.
• The outdoor picnic lunch we had on our return trip. It was perfect weather to sit outside at a rest area. So glad I packed the extra picnic quilt so Wendy and I could play on the ground.
• Letting Levi sit up in the driver seat (keys out of ignition) during a few of our stops. 
• The lunch break on our way to Florida, when Wendy and I sat in the open tailgate of the van, her practicing sitting up, and watching all the people walk by.

It'll likely be another two years again before we do the drive instead of an airplane to Florida, and I'm already looking forward to seeing Levi as a 4.5-year-old and Wendy as a toddler. I guess we'll have to take turns who gets to pick the next video to watch!

a day to myself

I truly enjoy being a stay-at-home mom. I won't go into all the reasons here right now, but I do love it. But just like with any paying job, there are some days you'd just really like a break. Especially while nursing a baby, the "I can't go anywhere away from the baby for more than three hours at a time without planning ahead" thing can wear on you a bit. So yesterday my hubby awarded me with a blissful day of doing whatever I wanted to do. He took the day off work and completely left me to my own devices. This is how I filled my day. 1. Wake up and nurse Wendy. Let her hang out with me in bed while Andy and Levi go out to get breakfast and bring it home. Eat my bagel and cream cheese, drink my coffee while I stay in bed and watch "Clueless." (It was the only thing on Netflix that seemed mindless, fun, and short enough.) It's been a while since I've just sat a watched a whole movie straight. 2. While I wait for Wendy to wake up from her morning nap, I read several chapters of Genesis. 3. Nurse Wendy and then leave for my afternoon of freedom. 4. Go to TJ Maxx to get Andy a new belt, new throw pillows for the couch and a basket for the magazines we keep on the dining table. Something about buying a decorative, functional basket makes the organizer within me sing. Stop at the Christian bookstore and buy a really sweet nativity advent calendar... each day we take one character out of the pocket and build up the nativity scene. 5. Drive to Panera for lunch by myself with my Kindle book. Of course, the woman next to me ends up having a baby girl Wendy's age, so I spend most of the time thinking of my sweet baby instead of reading my book. 6. Go to the toystore across from Panera just because I can. It's a great place to get ideas, but way overpriced. 7. Go to AC Moore to buy goodies for decorating my Thanksgiving table. Somehow I end up with six sheets of paper, a can of spray paint, and some raffia. Yeah, not sure how this'll all work out! 8. Go to Home Goods and fall in love with a rug. Decide that 100% wool is not a good idea because it keeps shedding on me. Console myself with buying another basket that'll be used for the books and magazines we keep in Levi's "quiet corner" -- the place we send him when he's being too loud and needs to take a chill pill. 9. Catch up with two friends and my mom on my phone while driving to and fro. (I have a hands-free headset.) 10. Go home, nurse Wendy and get dressed for exercise class. Pilox my butt off. That would be pilates and boxing moves. I likely looked like a fool, but I was so busy trying to keep up that I didn't have time to care. My arms feel like rubber noodles afterwards. 11. Go home, eat the wonderful dinner Andy cooked... homemade Chicago-style stuffed pizza! It was amazing. I can't believe we haven't tried to make this at home before. I'm told the kitchen was covered in flour several times during the day, but there is no mess to be seen. What a gift. 12. Put the kids to bed and then go to my haircut appointment that just happened to line up with my "me" day. 13. Come home (again!) and finally get to spend time with Andy. What a crazy me day. It felt really good to break my routine for just a day and I know the kids and Andy all enjoyed their time together. All these little things I did felt like such a luxury, but I'm glad to be back to my regular routine again today. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

the reason i like friday the thirteenths

Three years ago today was Friday, November 13. That morning before I went to work, I took a pregnancy test and saw a bright blue plus sign. I spent the rest of the day walking around with that same weird gliding feeling you get after roller skating all day. And that is why anytime a Friday the 13th rolls around, I just smile.

a week with four kids

My dear friend Lesley was brave and kind enough to make the six-hour drive from her home in West Virginia to visit for the week. Oh, and she has two kids to bring along! Her oldest is 13 days younger than my Levi, and her baby is 31 days older than my Wendy. It was a fully, crazy, fun house. Here are some tidbits from the week.

1. Mommy brain is a real thing. The constant "I have to pay attention to these little human beings to make sure no one is in danger or making a bad behavior choice or needs anything" puts a serious toll on your ability to have a linear conversation! We say "what was I saying?" at least four times every hour.

2. It's important to take embarrassing pictures of your toddlers running around in diapers so you can show them to their prom dates later.

3. One baby laughing is adorable. Two babies laughing is unbearably cute.

4. Sharing is really hard to do and is also hard to define. When you have to give someone a toy and "share" it with them, that can make you sad. When you get to have the toy because someone is "sharing" it with you, you are happy. Very confusing concept, but very important.

5. Moms need other moms in order to feel the encouragement and motivation necessary to leave the house.

6. Bedtime is the best, best time of the day. Those few hours after the kids go to bed are priceless.

7. High fives are very important. Even moms need them after successfully loading four kids and two strollers into a minivan.

8. It's really amazing to watch your toddler actually enjoy having a friend over. When Levi was a baby, playdates were really about moms getting together. Now Levi can genuinely enjoy the company of a friend his age. It's so cute.

9. If one kid starts yelling or making dinosaur noises, the other kid will probably do the same thing. If one kid wants fruit of bread, the other kid will want fruit or bread too.

10. Shopping with four kids is nearly impossible. But not completely impossible. You never know unless you try.

We had a wonderful week. I can't wait until next time when the girls are mobile! Then things are really going to be interesting.

seven words that changed my life

There are moments in your life when the words you hear hang in the air, like the words in cartoon speak bubbles.

"You've been accepted."

"Will you marry me?"

"It's a boy."

"It's a girl."

But there are seven words that I will remember for the rest of my life. I hear them exactly ten years ago today. They mark a pivotal moment when I met the man of my dreams. I walked up to him, he shook my hand and said "It's so nice to finally meet you!" I remember that we were outside. The weather in Evanston that day was nice enough for just a fleece jacket. As I walked and talked and heard more about this guy, I thought it sounded like his life was already full enough, that he didn't seem to need another friend, especially some random girl like me.

Ten years later, we have built a life together. I watch as he bends over to take the trash bag full of diapers out of the diaper pail and out to the curb. I see him carry out children into church, one on each arm. I stop what I'm doing to stare at him the first time he wears a sweater each fall beause it reminds me of how he looked that first fall when I met him, exactly ten years ago today.

Those seven words hang in the air. And I love the man who spoke them to me.

getting out of the house

In the world of parenting, there are good days and there are... difficult days. Today has been a good day, and I'd like to record it so that on one of the other types of days I can look back and remember that this is possible.

So getting out of the house with two little beings can be challenging. Getting out of the house on time in order to be somewhere specific is extra challenging. Today I did that, and I was early. Yes, early. We were early. Ok, so maybe by two minutes, but early! We had our MOPS meeting (mother of preschoolers) today.

I started my morning by getting ready while my wonderful hubby did his morning daddy duty. He gets both kids up, dresses them and feeds Levi his breakfast. Yes, I am very fortunate. By 8:15 a.m. I am downstairs and daddy goes to work.

*Warning, this post will now contain parent topics which will include nursing and diapering. Since this is considered valid dinner conversation at my stage of life, it doesn't bother me.*

Levi is finished with breakfast, Wendy is looking at me with hungry eyes. I check my diaper bag for supplies and split my bag so that Levi has his bag for his classroom and I have mine for me and Wendy. By 8:30 I am nursing her and by 8:35 we are done. For some reason today, Levi very pleasantly just hangs out by my feet while I nurse. He is amused by my open toed shoes and tickling my toes as I move them around. So far so good, Levi is amused by very little this morning. Even when he asks to watch Little Einsteins on TV and I say we don't have time, he accepts the explanation and doesn't whine. Yay!

I tell Levi I am going upstairs to change Wendy. (Sorry daddy, but the backwards onesie isn't going to cut it today. Hah. He usually gets it right, but he is intimidated by girl clothes.) Levi says OK, and I change Wendy.

When I'm finished (8:40), Levi calls upstairs "I poooooop! Change me. Hallway." Excellent. So I go downstairs, put Wendy on her playmat, and change Levi. I run upstairs to dispose of the diaper, and go back downstairs. 8:45.

I get Levi's shoes on his feet, tell him that we can play his new music CD in mommy's big car (that's what we call the van) and he runs over to the door. He waits there because he knows only mommy and daddy open that door. (Same goes for basement door and door to back patio.)

Grab the baby off her playmat, put her in carseat, secure bib over straps (she is a bubbler... likes to get her shirts wet on the front). Pick up car seat, diaper bag, purse (I wear a small cross body purse with my stuff only so I have it easily accessible rather than stuffed in diaper bag), Levi's bag... go open the door for Levi. Put Wendy and gear in car. Show Levi where to put the CD in the car. Load him up. Drive to MOPS. Everyone is happy the whole way there! Fifteen minutes of silence. Well, mommy silence. Mommy silence is anytime there is no talking or crying. There can be radio and two different electronic toys making music at the same time, but mommies know how to not hear that. This mommy silence was enjoyed while Levi listened to his kid music from his music class.

We get to MOPS, unload Levi, unload stroller, unload Wendy in her carseat and unload stuff. If Levi was the type to run away from me in public places, he would have been unloaded last, but he's not, so I am able to keep him with me safely while I unload the rest of the stuff. Levi walks while I push the stroller, and we go into the church building. We walk to Levi's classroom, he starts to say "no" and whine. I don't want any crying, so I tell him if he cries he will make his friend Mr. Ben sad, and we don't want to make Mr. Ben sad, do we? Levi is very empathetic, so he decides to stop crying so that Mr. Ben won't be sad. (Mr. Ben is the classroom worker.) I drop Levi off and head to my MOPS meeting with Wendy.

Wendy naps peacefully while we have our meeting, waking up about 30 minutes in. I take her into my lap, play a little while, change her diaper and then nurse her at the back of the room where there are some comfy couches. She continues to play with me, then she starts breathing deeply like a sleepy little puppy. Soon she is shrinking down and falls asleep in my lap. At the end of the meeting, I transfer her back to her carseat (still sleeping!), stroll her down to pick up Levi, reload everyone and everything into the car, and go home. Again, silent ride with kiddie music. Ahh, bliss.

Levi wants to keep listening to his music, but we are home, so I offer to get the boombox from the basement so he can listen while I make lunch. He says yes, so I unload everyone and everything, go to the basement to get boombox, set him up with his music, and make lunch. Wendy wakes up. I take her out, set her down while I finish, change her diaper, get Levi into his high chair, bring Wendy with me. I eat half my soup and then nurse Wendy at the table. She finishes, I finish my soup, Levi finishes his lunch. From here we move onto naptime (Wendy hangs out on the floor of Levi's room, propped up in the boppy pillow while we read), and all is right with the world! I managed to get out of the house with two kids on time with no whining or crying! This is the trifecta... the triple crown... call it whatever you want, I call it a good day.