Avery's Birthday Weekend

Happy Birthday Avery

Today is Avery's 6th birthday and I'm feeling very anti-cliche. Instead of feeling like I can't believe that she's 6 already, I can believe it. So much has changed since that night 6 years ago when I went into the hospital with nothing more than strong contractions and a terrible fear that my baby was coming too soon. She was born at 1:45 am and weighed only 5 lbs and 1 oz. She was 4 weeks early and had spells of apnea where she would quit breathing and turn blue at random. We had to give her doses of caffeine and keep her strapped to a machine that monitored her heart rate for four months.

Today she is one of the tallest and smartest in her class. She loves to draw, play card games and play with her dolls. She begs me for things like press-on fingernails and to have her training wheels taken off of her bike. She has started to fix her own hair and insists upon name-brand sneakers.

Sometimes I feel sorry for her because she is the oldest and we often find ourselves in uncharted territory. I learn from my mistakes with her. Despite all that she has taught me these past 6 years, I still stand in awe of her and find it hard to believe that I have such an amazing daughter.

I Used To Be Smart...

I used to be smart and interesting, I really did. I used to watch the news and read books by authors other than Dr. Seuss. I used to be able to carry on a conversation with getting distracted and having to say, "I'm sorry, what were you saying?" at least twice. I used to have a witty answer to the question, "So, what have you been up to?" I used to be a lot of things before I became a mom.

Now, I don't watch the news because not only do I not have time but I have a 6 year old who soaks it all up like a sponge and then asks questions about tragic events for days. I still try and read on occasion but I have been reading the same 20 pages of Anna Karenina for two weeks now because I am so tired when I get into bed at night that I just can't keep my eyes open. As for conversations, well I am usually trying to keep an eye on all 3 kids at the same time and am therefore virtually unable to maintain eye contact which, in turn, leads to other distractions like wondering whether or not I remembered to take the chicken out of the freezer. And, I have come to hate the question, "So, what have you been up to?" I hate it not because it isn't genuine but because the sad truth is that I don't have an interesting answer. When I quit my job 6 years ago to stay at home with Avery, my days and duties came to revolve around childcare and homekeeping. I seriously doubt that anyone really wants to hear about how I did the happy dance when I finally got the grease stain out of Jeff's work pants or about how I got Ethan's diaper rash to clear up in just 1 day. Please.

But, there are always trade-offs. I may not be able to tell you the name of any cabinet members (okay, maybe 1) but I can tell you by the sound of the cry not only which of my 3 it is, but if he/she is actually hurt. I can tell you not to waste your time with Boudreaux Butt Paste, but that an oatmeal bath works wonders. I know that Wal-Mart has the cheapest groceries and that rubbing alcohol will erase Sharpie marker from stained wood cabinets.

As useful as all of that may be, it probably isn't what you would want to chat about over cocktails. Unless, of course, you used to be smart--like me....

Another Year With Miss Margaret

Most moms know that you get all of your best insider information from other moms (usually while you are waiting for your kid at some activity or other). It is through this insider information that I came upon what I believe is the best swim teacher in town. Miss Margaret, as she is called, is near 70 years old and has perfected her technique over the course of 30+ years of teaching. Also dubbed "the Swim Nazi" for her abrasive manner and blunt instruction (if she told me to jump in the pool, I would) she absolutely works wonders with the kids. Her classes meet for 9 days, Monday thru Friday the first week and then Monday thru Thursday the next week and are taught in her backyard. Parents sit outside the gate and wait during the 30 minute class and are permitted inside only on the last day to observe what the kids have learned. It is a tough time commitment to keep for two weeks and heaven knows its hot outside while you wait, but it is worth it all!

This is Avery's 3rd summer with Miss Margaret and this year she worked on perfecting her breathing techniques as well as learning elementary backstroke, regular backstroke and even began working on the butterfly stroke. This year was Hannah's first-ever swim lessons of any kind. At the end of the 9 days, she was able to go underwater to pick up a ring from the bottom, swim to the wall and pull herself out, jump from the diving board and swim to the ladder and slide down the slide and then swim to the steps. Awesome!!!

"All Hail the Swim Nazi!"

A Party for Hannah

Yesterday some friends and family came over to help celebrate Hannah's 3rd birthday. Since Hannah loves the Little Mermaid, that was the theme. We decorated the house to look like we were under the ocean, had some inflatable sea creatures and a birthday cake with a picture of Ariel right on top. The cake looked so good sitting there on the table that Hannah just couldn't resist sticking her fingers in the icing before her guests arrived! She got lots of great presents and totally had a ball!

Boys Are Different

When I was pregnant with Ethan, people would tell me over and over, "Boys are different." They would glance down at my little girls, complete with hairbows and painted fingernails and smile in a way that made me think maybe they knew something I didn't.

Until now, the differences between Ethan and the girls have been minute. Today that all changed. To set the scence: Ethan was in his highchair in the kitchen having a snack. The highchair was used for Avery, then Hannah and now for Ethan. It has safety straps you can use to buckle the baby in but we have never used them with any of the kids because they get all gunky and the tray locks in place to hold them in. You see where this is going, right?

So there he is, sitting in the highchair and finishing up a fruit bar while I am typing an email on my phone. Not looking up from my phone, I walk to the pantry to get him some Cherrios. I am aware of him jabbering in the background while I type but don't really look at him until I have walked over to where he is and start to open the cereal box. It is at that point that I think my heart literally stopped. Ethan had managed to climb his way onto the top of his highchair tray and was sitting there, squatting like a frog. He looks up at me and in a very matter-of-fact little voice says, "Out!"

"Aaahhhh!!!"

So it is true...boys are different.

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Today is Hannah's 3rd birthday. She was born on a Thursday at around 10 pm. Probably the most striking thing about her delivery was that it was fast. We got to the hospital at 5 pm and she was born just 5 hours later. After she was born, the nurse cleaned her up, swaddled her in a blanket and gave her to me. Then, they let me keep her. I was really sort of surprised and not quite sure what I was supposed to do. Right after Avery was born, she had some issues and had to be taken to the nursery . We didn't get her back until we left the hospital 10 days later. I was so happy to have Hannah healthy and staying in the room with me, that I never let her leave unless she had to. I kept her with me all night, dozing with her snuggled against my chest in that way that only a new baby can do.

The other thing I remember most about Hannah's birth was that when Jeff came to get us from the hospital, he informed me that he had been up all night with Avery who had a terrible stomach bug. Less than 24 hours later I got it. Seriously, the worst stomach bug of all time. I lost 7 lbs in one day! Thankfully, our tiny Hannah never got sick but we did manage to share the "joy" with all of our parents who came over to help out. About a week later we were all back on our feet and getting to know the newest addition to our family.

The word that I would pick to describe Hannah's personality is: endearing. She absolutely knows no strangers and charms everyone she meets. She loves to throw her arms around you and give huge hugs. But at the same time, she is smart as can be and doesn't miss anything. She can really blow your mind with some of her observations. I can't wait to see what this next year will bring for her!

So far, so good...

I have been looking forward to this summer since about mid-March. For months, I have been collecting ideas for ways to keep the kids active and entertained after the school year ended. I feel I owe it to the girls, especially Avery, to show them a good time this summer. Last summer, Ethan was born right at the start and with a newborn to care for, we just had too many restrictions and too little energy to get out much. Consequently, we spent a lot of our time at home, watching TV, in our pajamas. Not exactly ideal...

This year, we are fed, dressed, beds made and ready for our day by 9 am. We have an outing almost every day, usually in the morning. We swim, we go to the park, we go to the library, we go out to lunch, we play at the mall playground, etc. I realize that I only have one month under my belt, and still have two more to go before school starts again, but I still have some more ideas rolling around in my head.

I am enjoying my time with the kids this summer and I like to think they are having a pretty good time too. Next week...swimming lessons!