any day is a good day for Halloween

Today it is pouring rain, all day. Jake and Max wanted to pretend it was Halloween. Fine by me, since we will be indoors all day we might as well make it fun. By some miracle Jake was able to squeeze into his "Woody" from Toy Story costume from last October. He wanted the one-piece pull-on pants/shirt/vest ensemble and the red scarf and the hat and the boots. He was so very excited. I pulled down a trick-or-treat jack-o-lantern bucket for him. The works. He was set to go. Max simply pulled on his beloved Shamu costume, a large stuffed Orca with a hole in the middle and suspender straps. He has worn this for the last two Halloweens. My husband and I think he might want to wear it again this year. Max understood we were "playing" and was content with the "pretend" treats I was handing out. Jake, however, was confused and kept looking in his plastic orange bucket saying "my turn", "my turn". Max put a fishing net (yes, a fishing net, often used by parents to corral stuffed animals or bath toys) into Jake's bucket as his "treat". This was NOT a treat to Jake. All in all some plastic fruit and cookies were handed out and we had a good time. For 10 minutes. Max took his costume off and moved on. Jake wanted to keep his costume on; he did so all the way up until lunchtime. He might have even had one boot dangling from his fat toes while he ate his grilled cheese sandwich.

5 more minutes of peace

I am sitting on my bed watching my two boys playing in the tub. The bathtub in the master bedroom is larger than their tub, so they prefer it. I can sit on my bed and check email- so really everyone wins this way. I really love them and they can be such angels. I love the way they look with slick skin and wet spiky hair. In five minutes I will pull the plug and the water will spiral out as they begin to complain about how cold they are, they don't want to go to bed, don't want to brush their teeth or have their hair combed-but for now they are just perfect.

a snack at the zoo

It was a beautiful, sunny,and mild day today. My husband and I decided (along with 23,000 other parents) to take our kids to the big "zoo". We live in the suburbs of Chicago, so we hauled ourselves an hour or so south of our northern suburb to the Brookfield Zoo. We had a ball, we saw an amazing dinosaur exhibit that was visiting. The dinos growled, blew hot breath, and snapped their jaws for hordes of happy boys and girls. We saw a Bengal Tiger chasing a bird and chewing a stick. Next we moved over to the Bear Grotto. First we saw a nice big Black Bear.It was his feeding time and he had a nice snack of lettuce and apples. The bear was gracious enough to eat his food right in front of the viewing window; everyone was filming and snapping pictures. "Look at those teeth!" could be heard from each newcomer to the window. My boys were so enthralled, it was as if all the zoo animals knew it was the first springtime day in Chicago and were putting on a show for all the spectators! Jake turned around and with the biggest smile on his face, he ran right up to me, put his lips to my pregnant belly and... bit! Yes, he did. Just like the bear eating his apples, My two year old son bit a chunk out of my lower bump. I pushed him off, with a muffled "Holy Shiiii......, he bit me!" We were now the lunch time show. Poor Jake started bawling and wanted to hug and be picked up. I must have really scared him.


I can't believe the size bruise and scab I now have. And I thought the stretch marks were bad.

two boys and syrup

I wish someone had told me not to give a two year old syrup. I have learned the "lite" syrup is easier to pick up with the fork, but he just picks it all up with his chubby little hands. He then transfers the syrup to his milk cup, hair and the little dog sitting patiently beside him. Pancakes and/or waffles are his favorite breakfast and when he bats his big eyelashes at me, I can't resist him. The messy eating is probably my biggest complaint, so really, not so bad.



Also- Horton Hears a Who (movie with Jim Carey and Steve Carrell). The boys love it, but in the movie the Mayor of Whoville gets called a "boob". The word is not just slyly slipped in there, it is repeated and annunciated. So, of course, my boys like to call people "boobs". I mean really, any other word but this one.



Max is 4 and Jake is 2. it is a very sunny day and I am going to take them to the park so they can throw sand at younger kids and call all the other moms boobs. Then I will let all the other moms know the baby in my belly is another boy. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

it begins today

I have two young boys and just found out I am having a third in August! This pregnany was a surprise, and now we are gearing up for a full house. Give me strength and my husband some patience!