Discoveries

Alex made some self discoveries this week...

Other interesting discoveries include fishbowls...

Quote of the week

Max, I am just going to have to start having a quote of the week for the hilarious things you say. My favorite this week was regarding where the moon was during the day.
You: "Mommy, where's the moon? Is the moon home?"
Me: *laughing because you always ask where your friends are after daycare and I tell you they are at home* "um... sure... the moon is home. Can you tell me where the moon's home is?"
You: "At Hawaii"

Ha ha ha... yes, my dear, the moon is home in Hawaii. I can't wait to travel to the moon.

The bench we had to sit on

This picture was taken outside of the Children's Hospital. You just HAD to sit on the pig. I suppose sometimes we have to try things just to see if the results turn out to be as expected. I initially tried to rationalize with you... "it's just a regular bench that happens to be built into a pig statue, you really don't need to sit on it". I soon realized that you had to learn for yourself.

We went to the Children's Hospital to test you for Cystic Fibrosis. You see, I am a carrier and your father is not so usually this would mean you are in the clear. But, unfortunately, they only test for the most prevalent strands (and not the thousands of mutations). Also, Texas (where you were born) does not do infant testing. Normally, we won't have though twice about it but you have had so many sinus infections (even after the adenoid surgery) and the doctor was concerned. She told me repeatedly that it was unlikely that you had it, but once she brought it up, I couldn't get it out of my head. I just HAD to get that test done.

The test was easy; the next 24 hours were not. I thought extensively about being a mother to a child that was going to have chronic illness and probably die by 35 years. I thought about the other mothers out there that care for chronically ill children and truly believe that these women are saints.

Every time my phone rang, I felt a knot in the pit of my stomach. You, of course, know by now that the test was negative. Thank god. I feel so blessed to have such healthy children.

Hot in the summer...

The heat is officially on in Seattle. This week we made the jump from 50s and dreary to 90 and sunny. What happened to the Seattle summer that I wait all year for? Well, there is one thing that this weather is good for... stripping down and running through the sprinklers. Okay, I'm a little too old to do that, but Max, you seem to have picked up where I left off. Today, when we arrived home you asked to be naked and ran over to the neighbors to hesitantly (and briefly) run under the sprinkler water. I feigned an effort to get you dress as social conduct necessitated but was secretly amused when you refused. Why not be naked and free? Isn't that what being a kid (or an undergrad in college) is all about? I guess it's a good thing I have boys. :)

July 4, 2010

Weather.com lied to me this week and the 80's and sunny I had hoped for turned into a mere 56 and cloudy. Nonetheless we gathered the troops and headed out for what is bound to become a bad tradition. Kirkland holds a 4th of July parade every year. There are swarms of people clad in red, white and blue out by the lake, plastic duck counting contests (see picture below), crafts, fake tattoos, bad food and a really horrible parade. Well, the truth is we don't actually know what happens for the whole parade because we have left early both times we have attended it. But, we still go. Here are some pictures.














We called it quits and went home for a solid naptime today. Both of you slept for a full 1.5 hours. It was a miracle. Then we went out and raced cars (your new favorite activity). "Faster daddy"... Max, when did you become such a daredevil? You must have been inspired by the trapezists.

Alexander, you were such a dear tonight. You needed a little TLC - I just held you and sang to you and you sat still in my arms. It was wonderful having that time together. We have so little of it. You are understanding more and more everyday. What a sweet little man you are.

Kisses to both my boys!

A typical Saturday...

Ok, Maximus and Alexander, I am going to make more of an effort to write you on a regular basis starting tonight...

What a day! Pop goes the cork and the bubbles rise. Your father is pouring me a tall glass of Prosecco that is well-deserved if I don't say so myself....

Okay, I will begin the recap at 6am this morning when you woke up (it was a late day - usually you wake at 5am). Nugget, you wake up crying and happily plop into bed with mommy to eat. 15 minutes later, you, Maximus, come and proclaim that it is 6am and "time for carrot juice"! Yes, that is the morning excitement. We have banned requests for carrot juice and anything else that requires us to go downstairs until 6am - so, you have learned to tell time (or at least 6am). We dress and head out for our morning coffee and croissant at French Bakery. Yum. Max, you quickly ask for "treat" and shove almond, chocolate croissant down your gullet and then the ham and cheese. We read books and then head out to make a stop at home before going to the gym. Today we walk the mile there and amazingly you guys held out on the meltdowns until the gym. As Doug and I try to workout, we listen Nugget's howls and Maile's barks in the background. I ignore them.

Fast forward to 11am when we leave the gym, head home for the car and go to the Farmers Market. Spinach and cheese crepes, a folk band playing in the background, a full bag of English peas and many more veggies are some of the many treasures we find there. We arrive home at 1pm with our loot.

NAPTIME.

This is a treasured time in our house on Saturdays and it is a ritual that both of you seem to fight. Nugget, you often fall asleep in the car and then want to wake up and play during naptime and Max, well, you just never want to miss the party. We go through the naptime ritual (in vain) and when we come upstairs 20 minutes later to find you both in the crib and cackling with glee. Yep. 20 minutes. That's all we got. Nugget comes downstairs to play with me and Doug sits upstairs with you until you goes to sleep.

3pm.

After an hour, it is already time to wake you up and head to the Cirque de Soleil performance Kazoo at Marymoore park in Redmond. The center is awesome. Huge tents are set up and there are two women walking around on stilts. The performance begins and I have never seen you so excited before. Nugget, you, however, are not as excited. I guess these shows are not designed with a 9-month-old in mind so I am carrying you around and have to leave a few times. Max, you were so excited you kicked the girl in front of you in the back... whoops. Intermission comes and means long lines for kid's face painting. Max, you tried to cut so often and climb into the chair on your own, that by the time we got to the front of the line, the artist already knew your name. We'll just say that you are a fan of the arts.

Act 2.

Nugget, fortunately you sleep for most of the performance. Max, you are still excited but instruct daddy that he is not allowed to clap. You are very bossy these days.

The end.

Nugget, you sense that there will be traffic if we leave later and decide to start on another meltdown so we leave and Max, you and daddy follow shortly after. It is time for dinner, bath and bed. By the time you get to bed it is 8:30. Your exhausted parents put you both down and wait. Quiet? That's strange. The minutes pass. And then we hear it - two little boys giggling in the crib. Maximus Burger, this must be your new favorite trick! Back to bed we go.

Then quiet. It's 9:20pm. Doug is playing Nethack. I am writing you. The house is quiet and there are still some bubbles in my glass. It was a good day. I love my boys!

More Kisses...

Max... for all your mischieviousness and testing of my patience, it is so easy for you to win my heart over. When I went to pick you up from daycare today, you asked for "more kisses". It was the first time in awhile that you indicated the need for my affection. Lately, you have been much more into showing your independence so it was really wonderful to have that emotional connection again - if only for an instant. It goes quickly... I am watching you now take all the wipes out of the box and then trying to shove them back in. It is driving me crazy. Love you sugar