Milkymilk

No Baby Yet, how about some local news?

No baby.  Not even close.  If I were a gambler (which I am), I would not be placing any bets for before Monday (which I did, and have lost already.)  No worries.  I have a nasty chest cold.  From what I recall, newborns and illness are not such a good mix.

 

In other news, you would not know it if you were digging in our soft beautiful spongey mud under the warm spring sun today, but a crazy wind/rain storm hit Fairfield County over the weekend.  

65% of our small town was without power, including us.  Thankfully, our power came back on after only about 48 hours or so.  Many more people are still in the dark.

The crazy pants part of all of this, for me, is that this is the first time my local tragedy has had no voice on national news.  If you live in a city, say Chicago or Los Angeles or Houston, and 65% of the residents lose power for days, believe me CNN is there.  If you live in a town of 20,000 people, not so much.  Our buddy, Sherryl, has an eloquent blog post about it here.  Take that CNN!

No Baby Yet, so let's spread some love

We went to Library Storytime today, like most Fridays.  Today only differed from most in that on the three occasions I was asked, "When are you due?"  I got to say, "Tomorrow."  How often do you get to say that, really?  "I'm due tomorrow."  If you are me, on two days in your life.  (Harper was crazy late.)  This baby seems content to overstay her welcome, and I'd bet anyone of you $5.00 next week we'll be at Library Storytime replying, "Oh, I was due last week."

Let us take our mind off the baby in my belly who refuses to leave*.  LOOK!  Shiny objects!

First, I may be partial, but I'm pretty sure Harper's latest addition to Craft Corner is nothing short of a masterpiece.  Pondering the possibilities of site specific painting, little girl?  (No worries, it is washable paint.)  

This week I tried Joy the Baker's Avocado Pound Cake, yum!  A surprisingly delightful way to start your day.  

We are currently rocking out to A Fine Frenzy thanks to this short film via Paper Oranges.

*I should say, I feel fine.  Great even.  We are soaking up this last little bit of time with one happy two year old, and sleeping as much as possible. 

Pirouettes for Puddles

Harper would not have any part of ballet class.  She took one look at the room full of 2 1/2 year old girls in pink tutus, doubled by the mirrored wall, and said, "No.  No, thank you."  

I encouraged her to give it a try.  "No.  No, thank you."  

I encouraged her a little more, "No.  No, thank you.  I color."   

Well, how can you argue with that?  O.k.  How can you argue with a two year old who, after politely declining, is not above laying on the floor and kicking and screaming.  We went back home to our mud puddles.  She could not have been a bit happier.  We got a refund, so it looks like we might have the cash to send her to college after all.

My worst parenting moment so far:  I cried the whole car ride home.  I tried not to let her see how disappointed I was.  Come on now, how ridiculous am I?  Ballet?  For a two year old?  Hopefully my disappointment was just the tears of almost 39 weeks pregnant hormones.  Or, that bit of drama was the beginning and end of my life as a stage mom.  "No.  No, thank you."

Happy 730 Days, Leap Year Baby

During your second year of life, little Harper, you:

• lost your taste for dirt
• chocolate milk was your signature drink 
• moved from Chicago to Fairfield County, Connecticut
• missed old friends 
• made new friends 
• learned your ABC's
• sang your first song, Poker Face by Lady Gaga
• were very tolerant of your mama's pregnancy
• fell in love with the mall and Target 
• got your very own swing
• learned to jump
• climbed to great heights (which is a no no) 
• were completely unfazed by the sound of balloons popping
• you were fearless, tough, determined, cuddly, sweet, very polite, and your father and I admired you more every day

Spring, What Happened?

Bu-bye mud puddles.  Hello blizzard.

Oh winter, you are so tricky and mischievous to let us frolic like that, and then trap us in our four little walls.  You are so pretty, though, I love you anyway.

 

Skylar tried to dig the car out this morning, and broke a windshield wiper.  Doh!  He had taken the day off of work, to nap while we went to the children's museum.  Instead he has been stuck inside helping me entertain a little girl who just realized she is TWO and it is TERRIBLE and we are very quickly running out of SNACKS!  Hopefully, we can make it to the grocery store after their naps.  Wish us luck, pleeeeeease.

Very Muddy Twinkle Toes

It is official, Harper starts her first ballet class next week.  We will never speak of how much these classes cost, or how much I spent on her little ballet outfit today.  Let's just hope someday the girl gets a scholarship...

It was the best rainy day, and she spent most of it jumping in puddles.  Unfortunately, the dog taught her how to drink from them, too.  Goodness, we should probably be investing in some hardcore stain removal products and wellies, and not tutus.  You never know, though.  She does love to jump.

 

Twiddling Time

We are now less than 3 weeks from my due date, but I would not hold my breath if I were you.  Harper was two weeks late.  So, I could very well be pregnant for another month.  Or, I could give birth tomorrow.  If there is one thing I know for sure, it is that with babies, you never know.  For what it is worth, I'm one cm dilated!  Whoop it up, peeps!  

"Wait a minute.  What does that mean, 1 cm?"  You might ask.  Nothing.  It is just a false measurement of hope that labor will come soon.

I'm trying to keep myself busy as possible these days.  Every time there is a lull in our day, I obsess about getting this over with.  Pregnancy is fun, at times, but after 9 months you just want to meet that baby!  (And bend.  Tie your shoes, roll over in bed... You know, all that glamorous stuff.)

Luckily, we have had two weekends of fun times to keep my mind off of things.  

We had an itty bitty family birthday party for Harper.  (More pictures to come later.)  She won't be two till the end of the month, but, like most two year olds, she cannot read a calender.  She had the time of her life: blueberry pancakes for breakfast, mac and cheese for diner, cake, ice cream, balloons galore and PRESENTS!  The whole next week after diner she would ask for more presents.  Oh, little girl, if only every day was your birthday.

The next weekend, some dear lady friends threw me a Surprise Tea Party Baby Sprinkle, complete with clotted cream!  SO Lush!  

"Sprinkle?  O.k., first crazy pants dilated talk, now Sprinkles?"  Yes.  You see for your first baby you get a shower.  Next babies get sprinkles.  (One of the husbands told Skylar they should throw him a tinkle.  Friends don't give friends golden showers (ti-he!))

Then, we ran into a mama friend in town at lunch & had a spontaneous accidental lunch date!  It was one of those lovely days were we felt like we really live here, all settled and cozy.  

 

The snow is melting, mud puddles are forming, and we a facing a week of rain.  Spring is trying to edge out winter.  Hopefully we'll be able to get in some good times outdoors to keep our minds off this waiting game.     

Oh, one last thing.  Trixie must have heard about the Sprinkle, because she gave me a little present this week.  A mouse butt & head.  IN MY SHOE.  Thankfully, Sklyar spotted the mouse bits long before I went to put my shoes on.  I had to throw them away, due to the carnage stickiness.  Oh well, it is the thought that counts, Trixie.  (And now, I get to go shoe shopping!)