Being Born Is Important

~by Carl Sandburg

Being born is important
You who have stood at the bedposts
and seen a mother on her high harvest day,
the day of the most golden of harvest moons for her.

You who have seen the new wet child
dried behind the ears,
swaddled in soft fresh garments,
pursing its lips and sending a groping mouth
toward the nipples where white milk is ready

You who have seen this love’s payday
of wild toil and sweet agonizing

You know being born is important.
You know nothing else was ever so important to you.
You understand the payday of love is so old,
So involved, so traced with the circles of the moon,
So cunning with the secrets of the salts of the blood
It must be older than the moon, older than the salt.

Just like Little House

On Eamon's urging, we have begun reading the "Little House" series. He was initially intrigued by a Prairie Day and couldn't believe there is a whole set of books. We finished reading Little House in the Big Woods recently, and the today's daytrip to Wickenburg was a great visual illustration of the book.Dave, Eamon and Aine headed off on an adventure per Eamon's request. They traveled to Wickenburg and took in the sites exploring the town and a cowboy museum. They also examined a locomotive.

My Stylist

Aine likes her "long" hair, but dislikes having it brushed. She has a certain brush she prefers and a certain person. Here she is with her preferred stylist.

Airplanes

Intrigued by all things air, we headed out to the Arizona Wing Commemorative Airforce Museum. We saw all types of military aircraft and talked about family members who had served in the AirForce. Eamon and Aine really liked climbing through one of the planes. It was interesting to see the size of the aircraft and marvel at the engineering. Eamon was quite interested in the weaponry which lead to some discussions about war and combat.

Repurposing

A wanted a nightgown, so I set to work. I found two cute pillowcases at Goodwill . The first one I made adapting the shirt pattern from Simplicity 4206. It was super easy and a good fit. A loves it. She wore it for a week straight.The next one I made with seam binding. I followed the same general shape as the first one. I made the binding from some fat quarters I had. Voila nightgown #2. It is a bit wide, but she likes it. D asked me to cut a pair of his pj pants and convert them to shorts. After a quick measure, I cut off the legs and hemmed the new shorts while he prepped the kiddos for bed. He liked the results and wore them that night.

With the remaining pant leg, I fashioned a pair of pj shorts for E. He was thrilled to have pj garb that matched his poppa. I also shortened another pair of his pj pants, so he has two pairs of bottoms for the summer.

A

Requisite Dino Pic

Today we headed to the Arizona Museum of Natural History. Eamon and Aine love this museum. Today we discovered the children's resource room, where they put together puzzles, played with dinosaur figures and colored. We also walked through a mining display and a jail cell. They especially like climbing onto the dinosaur outside the museum for the requisite photo op.

Cold Snap

The weather turned incredibly mild for a few days. With much cooler temperatures and rain, Benton had to be bundled up for our morning walk. Here he is snuggled up with mama in the Moby wrap.

Poop

Benton will sometimes wait a few days between poops. When this happens the result is quite large. Eamon and Aine are a bit intrigue by his bodily habits. They both want to see his accomplishments. Aine has coined the term "poopy river" for Benton's diapers.

8 Weeks

Benton is 8 weeks old. It is so hard to believe! He is changing so much every day. He is awake more and likes to interact a bit. He smiles at his daddy, Eamon, Aine and me. He loves to be carried in the sling or wrap. He doesn't like to be away from his mama for too long. He sleeps well and nurses like a champ. At his WCC yesterday, here are his stats:

Weight: 14 lbs 2 oz
Height: 24 inches
Head Circumference: 15.2 inches

He is simply amazing and fits so well into our family. We are going to keep him!

Vegetarianism

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/05/meats-striking.html

Paints

Eamon and Aine painted some wooden figures today. We had snowmen, trees, blocks, people and other assorted shapes from Casey's Wood. They used watercolors to create their masterpieces. They really enjoyed decorating the shapes and playing with them afterward.

Stinky Feet

Award-winning Kid Rocker Mr. Stinky Feet
Asks Fans to Pick Price of New Album

Celebrating 10 Years with release of Upside Down on May 20

"Jim Cosgrove has perfected the language of kids."
-- Albuquerque Journal

NASHVILLE, TN - In celebration of 10 years performing as "Mr. Stinky Feet" and as a thank you to the steadfast support of his fans, award-winning kid rocker Jim Cosgrove will release his new album Upside Down on May 20 with a "You Pick the Price" promotion. At his website, fans can offer up what they want for the download by paying $15, $10, or $5, or they can download it for FREE! The "You Pick the Price" promotion will run for just two weeks -- May 20th through June 3rd.

Cosgrove has delighted audiences throughout the U.S. and Europe for more than a decade, including two performances at The White House. His six previous recordings have earned four national Parents' Choice Awards, a National Parenting Publications Award, and two Parent-to-Parent Adding Wisdom Awards.

Upside Down, the seventh CD released by the Kansas City, Mo., native, celebrates the wondrous (and sometimes topsy-turvy) moments in a kid's life like discovering a Pizza Tree in the backyard, watching bugs party in the basement, swinging as high as the sky, and scribbling outside the lines. The collection of 13 songs includes "Let's Stick Together," a tune inspired by (and performed with) his 3 1/2 -year-old daughter Lyda and how she handled the harrowing experience when her then eight-week-old sister Willa suffered skull fractures and brain swelling after being hit by a line-drive foul ball at a professional baseball game.

Mr. Stinky Feet draws on his wealth of stories and experiences touring with his family to produce an exciting collection of music for today's kids. With this effort to reach out to his long time fans and bring new ones into the fold, Cosgrove has recorded his most entertaining, story driven, mom/dad savvy, and kid-friendly album to date.

Upside Down is available for download from www.mrstinkyfeet.com on May 20 and in stores June 3.

Watch Mr. Stinky Feet in Concert - http://youtube.com/watch?v=WpsKmn8L6MQ

For more information on Upside Down or Jim Cosgrove, contact GoodStuff PR Co. at 615.525.5303 or via email at info@goodstuffpr.com

Breeder Bias

Apparently the pediatricians in the east valley only allow 2 well child checks per day per family. If you have 3 children, you have to come on two different days. It "takes longer" when a family comes in for more than two wcc. How do I with three kiddos take longer than three separate families?? Breeder Bias at its best.

Eggs Galore

We received eggs at a recent craft swap I participated in. The eggs were blown and filled with sparkles and confetti. Eamon, Aine, Benton and I set out to enjoy them on the back patio. The kids loved cracking them on their heads and spreading the confetti around the yard. The fun went on for quite awhile. Here is a bit of the aftermath that made its way inside.

Does Almost Count

I am trying to get back into shape. I really enjoyed this pregnancy - my last. I enjoyed it wholeheartedly as the scale indicates. I am needing to shed the extra baggage I am carrying, and it isn't happening. Yes, my baby is only 6 wks old, but I don't want to be signing the same song with a two year ("But, I just had a baby." "Uh, lady, he's two").

I figured I could walk early in the morning before D leaves for work. It seemed foolproof. Yeah, right. I started on Mother's Day. I walked without a hitch. Baby B was in the Moby wrap and Ava was on the leash. Easy Peasy. No walk yesterday - too tired after not sleeping due to stuffy baby. Then there is today.

Everyone was awake when I suited up at 5:30a to walk. A insisted she wanted to come along. I reminded her that we would walk at the zoo, and this is my walking ALONE/FAST time. She lost it crumbling into a heap of tears. After much talking, she agreed to walk with me tomorrow. So, off I headed down the street at 5:46. I suddenly hear E wailing after me. He wants to tell me that I forgot my iPod and B's diaper. I thank him for his help and urge him to run back home. He does and again I am off - 5:50. I walk with Baby B and Ava carelessly for 1.5 miles - it is all the time I have before D has to leave. I added a few lunges, squats, crunches and pushups when I came home.

I am pretty sure my heartrate didn't get into the right range and the mileage was low, but it sure does a lot for my mental health. Bring on the day...

Do I smell?

Okay, I probably did smell, but that is beside the point. I was doing yard work this morning with baby B in the wrap and the other kiddos running around the yard. I was trimming and cleaning up the place trying to up our curb apeal or at least stave off anymore HOA letters regarding weeds. I walked into the street to get a view of the yard and determine what replacement plants we need. A car approached and I waved them on not noting the car. The driver indicated she was going into the driveway across from our house. Ooops it was our neighbor. I moved out of the street onto the sidewalk in front of her house. I was going to let her know I didn't recognize her car and was working on the aesthetics of our home when I heard the whir of the garage door closing.

Sleep Tight

Last night while putting Eamon and Aine to sleep, I feigned sleep. I shut my eyes and breathed deeply. I must have convinced Eamon, because he whispered in my ear, "I love you, Mama. Goodnight. Sweet Dreams."

To all the mamas...

Have a wonder filled day! Take some time and be appreciated by those around you.

My Tribe

I may have already said this, but I have good friends (of course, I have to say it because they read this blog - hi, guys!). They are there to support each other and me at every turn. We have had many things happen with our tribe, and we have always pulled together to help. The weird thing is that this group of women met on the internet.

When E was born, I felt really isolated. I went to La Leche League meetings, which was a great resource and support for me. I didn't find any friends there, and the meetings were a bit far away (settle down, C, this was the Glendale mtg). With an infant and a husband who worked nights, I knew I need to find more like minded mamas to keep my sanity. I found a group called AZMAMAS through Mothering magazine. It was weird meeting people for the first time. I had to tell my uber-cautious husband that I was taking our 6 month old to a Halloween party at a stranger's house. "Oh yeah, sweetie, did I tell you, I met this stranger online?" For the record, I did make sure I had met at least one of the attendees in real life in a public setting first (I am not crazy; I did read the newspaper).

I am so glad I went to those first book group meetings and the first annual Halloween party. I cannot imagine parenting or living for that matter without these women. Hell, one has even seen me naked - not once, but twice. She has witnessed the birth of my two younger children. I have even let a few of these women watch my beloved babies. They bring me food, talk me off my cliffs, let my children use their bathrooms unannounced, allow me to veg on their couches. I love 'em.

Thank you, ladies, for being a tremendous support to me and one another. Thanks, tribe.

8 Years

Eight years ago D & I were married in the chapel of my high school's male counterpart. It was a beautiful day to start a beautiful life. I am so glad we are one and look forward to many more years together.

I love you!
SHMILY

I Succumbed

I really try to live without punishments/rewards with the kids. Most of the time, we are successful. This was until the screaming started. Well, truly it has been going on for awhile, but it has reached an impossible crescendo. I feel as if I am continually in a foxhole with the noise level in our home. With some prompting from EC, I decided yesterday to charge 25 cents for every time we yelled at one another or screamed for sport. It worked. We all were more careful about our tone, using our words and being more respectful. E even started self-reporting on his screaming. All was good until I realized E thought he would get more quarters not lose them. He told me at bedtime that he would get 40 million quarters. Hmmm...perhaps we have to rethink this.

E: $2.00
A: $1.75
H: $ .25

I did find it quite interesting to see what each person considered yelling/screaming.

I Love You

Aine will often tell me, "I Love You." I have realized that it is when she thinks I may not like what she is doing. Crafty little one.

Solo

D is out of town for the week. He left early this morning. We are doing quite well. We enjoyed a bike ride, some pool/sprinkler time and copious amounts of playing in the playroom. To top it off we ate Israeli Couscous with Green beans, Feta, and Pistachios for dinner. It is a recipe from this month's issue of Everyday Food magazine. It has cucumbers in it, which D despises. Sometimes having D gone means we get to partake in delicious stuff without discussing food aversions. We plan on having some Mexican food tomorrow and perhaps mushroom pizza with broccoli on the side later in the week.

Eggs

When I am pregnant I CRAVE eggs. I can eat them daily with no problem. Sometimes I may even have them at two meals. I think they are delicious. It is especially true when I have been pregnant with my sons. I would often order an egg and sausage sandwich on an English Muffin for breakfast from the grill at work when pregnant with my oldest. However once those wee babies leave my womb, the egg love evaporates. Poof! Eggs disgust me. I mean, really, you are eating an EGG. BLECH!!!! The kids and I recently read An Egg is Quiet. It really made us all think about the eggs we eat. Add to that the fact that my sister has been having double yoke eggs, and I am about ready to chuck them out the proverbial window. (Apparently double yoked eggs come from teen or menopausal chickens - basically hormonal wacky fowl). So, here I sit with three quiches sitting in my freezer just mocking my former egg loving self.

Tragic

A woman who was a member of my local AP group and community died suddenly on Thursday from a pulmonary embolism. She left a husband and two small children (3years and approx 18 months). She was pregnant with their third child. Her husband came home from work to his three old stating that "Mommy hasn't talked to me all day."

This is just so horribly tragic to me. A young family torn apart. The girls may never remember their mother. A husband has two small children to parent without his wife. How did he handle their night wakings last night. The youngest was still breastfed. How is she doing? How did they try to explain to the older child what had happened and why her mommy hadn't responded to her all day.

It just makes me reel. What would happen to my family? How would Dave cope? Who would help? How would be children remember me and adapt to life without me?

Although I am biased as a mother, I truly feel that the mother is often the cornerstone of the family. This is especially true with young children. What happens when that cornerstone is gone?

Five Weeks

Nuts

Eamon and Aine received a wooden nutcracker for Christmas. Today they decided to use it to crack the a bag of nuts. It didn't hold up to the job, so we implemented plan B. Armed with a small hammer, they set to work on the patio. E devised a method of placing the nut in a seam on the patio and whacking it. The cracked shell could them be opened and the meat removed. They were on cloud 9. The whole bag was cracked and the bounty placed in a jar to munch the rest of the afternoon.
Eamon & E

Knitting

I am intrigued by the idea of posting every day for a month. The drawback is maintaining two blogs and trying this. Can't posts on one count for both and the challenge? I think so. Well, I am going to try it anyway - Here goes for the first post in May...

I am currently working on a doll for my niece. It is turning out well, but is taking MUCH longer than I anticipated. The needls are small and the yarn is splitty. It should be done in the next week or so. I am also gearing up for soaker knitting as well as some socks. I purchased some beautiful sock yarn that is taunting me as I sit and muddle through the doll knitting.

I need to get cracking as the orders for holiday knitting are already coming.

Goth Aine

Black Marker in mouth. Enough Said.