If sleep is for the weak...

...then Andrew is one strong baby. To recap, last night we were all beat after the first day of school and the morning craziness. We have never, and I mean ever, all been fed, dressed, cleaned, teethbrushed, and out the door by 8:30 am before. And even then, I forgot Elizabeth might need something to drink in the morning so pushed a cup of milk on her as we walked out the door and onto the front porch for pics. (pics soon!) Oh, right, and Andrew was only partially fed, clutching a half eaten pancake in his fist in the stroller as we walked to school.

So, after all that, you'd think last night we'd all be pretty tired, right? Well, mommy and daddy were definitely tired. Andrew was up at 1:30 for a quick feed and rocking, but down again quickly, back in the co-sleeper. Then at 2:30, screams and cries from Elizabeth's room. I stumbled into her room, but stopped at the door - I could hear her crying but she wasn't in bed! Rounding the bed I found her trying to stuff herself under. When I hauled her out, still wailing, I tried to calm her and asked why she was trying to get under the bed. "It seemed like the right thing to do!" she sobbed. I stayed with her 15 minutes or so as she sobbed and whimpered. I tried to slip away once she seemed asleep, but she clutched at me in her sleep, still upset. Finally made it back to bed, only to be awakened by Andrew, up again at 4:30 am. He nursed again, but instead of falling asleep, we tussled and fought for a good while, me thinking he'd give up and fall asleep, him ready to party. Finally I gave up, and we went downstairs a little before 6. Ouch. Elizabeth and Rich were out the door by 8:30, with just a few struggles, and Andrew finally went down - for 30 minutes. According to Gee, our nanny, he didn't nap the rest of the day. We think it's the top teeth, but whatever it is, we hope this is a phase that'll be over soon. Because Rich and I are weak, and we are tired.

Day 2 went well. Except, I thought I'd pick Elizabeth up from school, but since Andrew wasn't napping, Gee and Andrew went to pickup. And when Elizabeth spotted Gee, she burst into tears. As Gee said, it was pretty embarrassing.

We didn't get much of a school report today. Yesterday, Elizabeth had relayed a lot of the day, and was especially taken with the school lunch process. Mommy, there was a man, and he gave me a hotdog, and beans, and watermelon! This morning I told Elizabeth she would eat lunch at school today and it would be something different, which she rejected with a flat no. No, the man will give me a hotdog and beans and watermelon, that's what he has. Yes, I said, the man would have something new, supposedly tacos. She later said it was tacos, but she only ate one. Who knows what really happened.

Given how unreliable a narrator she is, a few months ago I started asking her at cuddle time what her favorite thing had been that day, trying to get her to remember events and tell them back to me. Tonight she said going to school was her favorite thing. Also tonight I asked her what her middle name was and she said, well, I'm not a building. I tried to press her on what type of building Sadie was, but she wouldn't say. So still stumped on that one.

Then:
E: Why did you get married with Daddy?
M: We loved each other and so we got married.
E: Well, I love Andrew. When I grow up I'm going to get married with Andrew. (Married with is her construct.)
M: Hmmm, you know, brothers and sisters don't marry each other. When you grow up, you'll meet someone you love and then you'll get married.
E: Why do I have to grow up? I'm just a kid. I want to just be a kid.

Things I Want to Know

Why, when Elizabeth asks her middle name, does the conversation go like this:

E: What is my middle name?
M: Sadie
E: Sadie? But I'm not a building!

Twice now we've had this exchange. I'm stumped.

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Yep, today was the first day of school, thanks for asking. Long post with pics coming one day when I am not quite so tired (Andrew: specializing in 3-4 am wakeups for all your sleepless needs!). In a word, it went, well, great. She loved it. Here's hoping day 2 goes as well!

mobility

Andrew has achieved mobility. He's been working on it for a while now, and it's finally clicked in. For a week or two, at least. Let's see, the last time I wrote about it, geez, was over a month ago! (my mom and brother are schooling us in blog postings lately. We got to get with it!).

By the last weekend in July, he had figured out a froggy kind of crawl. Two hands forward, hop with the legs. Not too efficient, but it worked. Now it's all crawl. Funny enough, he doesn't move around all that much, maybe 10 feet here or there, but he could if he wanted. What he really wants to do is STAND. And GRAB. Stand next to Elizabeth's little play table and grab little toys or coins or dried playdough and put them in his mouth. We're entering a whole new ballgame, and while we're not ready for it, Elizabeth is REALLY not ready for it. Her stuff will never be same.

Last night he stood without holding onto anything for 2 or 3 seconds, before plopping down. He doesn't want to walk or cruise, he just likes standing.

And, in case I ever do go back through this blog and make a baby book, the top two teeth have finally started showing through - they've been right there for so long, and now we can finally see them.

So, over the course of the past few weeks, he's been figuring out how to crawl, learning to pull up to the stand and the harder manuever of letting go back to sitting, and cutting teeth. And still been mostly as charming and happy as usual, with just a few nights interrupted sleep.

Elizabeth was content to be in one place for a long, long time. She was just barely standing on her own at the year mark, so Andrew is at least two, if not three, months ahead of her physical development. We never had to block the stairs with her, we'll see what his explorations bring.

And that reminds me, must get some photos of his latest trick that comes along with the movement. He's quite proud of himself.

flying by

Yesterday was the last day of E's summer preschool co-op. Ten weeks, M-F, 10:30-1:30 pm. How is it possible it's over already?

I was there the first day as a helper. For the craft project, the teacher had printed the kid's names on paper, and spread out those foam stick-on letters. The kids were to find the letters that matched and stick on the paper to spell their names. So there I am, watching all the little kids around me - Ruby, Rex, Lucy, Felix - short little names, all busily completing the task at hand. Elizabeth was also busily working beside me, but it took me a while to realize she was not sticking on letters. In these sets of letters, the 'O' has a little circle on the inside, or the 'A' a small triangle on the inside, which usually needs to be pulled out. My dear sweet funny Elizabeth was working quite happily finding all the small multi-colored detritus from the foam letters, and sticking a different color on each fingernail.

"Look, Mommy, aren't I beautiful?" she asked, holding up her newly 'manicured' hands and admiring her handiwork.

Indeed. I manged to get her to half-heartedly stick on the E to start her name, but she was far more interested in personal beautification. We may be in trouble. So, ten weeks later, I don't think she could or would complete that same craft today. We'll see what pre-k brings.

Eagle Eyes

While prepping for our latest trip, I palmed a couple of chocolate bars and slipped them into the cooler, trying to avoid eagle eyes E as I organized ingredients for S'mores. I thought I was slick. There was no way she saw.

E: Hey! What was that?!
Me: Nothing much. A surprise for later when we are camping. You'll see!
E: I don't want a surprise. I want my chocolate now!

Applause

If you look over at our archives, we've been doing a crap job of using the blog as a real record of milestones. So just a short note on Andrew.

He claps! It started this weekend. He's been big on banging his hands down on the table, and he's always clasped his hands together in a very cute way. I first saw him quietly clap his hands on Saturday morning, but I wasn't sure it was intentional. By Sunday, he was definitely clapping happily. Yeah Andrew, we cheer, and he'll grin his wide grin and so gently clap his hands together. Must get it on video, but for now marking the date.

As for moving - he's trying. He can scootch himself around a little bit when he's sitting, then he'll topple over on his side and get on his stomach, and try and reach for things. But he can't coordinate his hands, and has no idea what to do with his legs. Usually he ends up pushing himself backwards, and getting frustrated as the object that was just out reach gets further away! He's making such an effort, why is it further?! Sometimes he does manage to get on his knees, and he's been rocking back and forth on hands and knees for about two weeks. And sometimes he'll push himself up off his knees so he's sort of in a cross between plank position and downward facing dog (sort of a pushup, but his butt is up). Then he really doesn't know what to do next. But on Sunday morning he managed to get on hands and knees and took two faltering little mvements with his hands - crawling is just around the bend. These easy days of planting the baby in one place and having him stay there are soon to be over. He's ready to explore the world.

Recipe

35+ years of friendship on one side
21+ years of friendship on another
6 adults/3 couples who all get along individually
5 girls ages 3.75-5.5 years
3 boys ages 7 mo-13 mo
2 generous parents who hosted the whole group several times
2 islands
1 house

Add dash of perfect weather, a sprinkling of wild ponies, top off with ice cream, blue crabs and fireworks.

Yield: a great vacation

Note: 3 sick babies entirely optional. Adds complexity. Not recommended.

Bonus: 1 black skimmer (my favorite bird) seen on the last night

(group picture to come soon)

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It was indeed a great vacation. We spent our first night in a hotel in Pocomoke, then moved into the rental place on Chincoteague. The night before we left we drove out to the beach to say goodbye to the ocean, and talked to Elizabeth about us leaving. No, she said, we can't leave.

We got the house all packed up Monday morning, everyone in the car to go, except Elizabeth, who stood on the steps of the house crying. Yes, come on, we have to go turn in the keys, Elizabeth! No, I don't want to go to our home! Can't we stay in our little hotel room tonight?

She watched a DVD much of the way home. When we pulled up in front of our house, she looked around, realized where we were, and wailed, no, not here!

Tuesday morning she crawled into bed for a snuggle. Mommy? Can't we go back? Back to vacation?

New Zealand Rugby World Cup 2011 here we come! (oh, yeah, plus a weekend trip to Pocomoke before the G's leave the continent.)