Home

I was at my Mom's the other day. She had wanted me to stop by with Zach so she could show him off to her friends. See, Mom plays Mah Jong and Mexican Rummy and this was her month to host Rummy. It really is far from unusual for me to be at my Mom's, so this day was like no other. I arrived to the "ooohs" and "ahhhs" as to how wonderfully handsome my new son is. Unfortunately, that scene was cut short since my little vampire was uber ready to eat his yummy mama milk lunch. So, I grabbed the boppy and headed upstairs to relounge on my parents' bed to feed Zach.

Mom's room looks different than it did when I was growing up. They have updated from their old grey mini-blinds to pretty tapestry window coverings. They now have expensive furniture that fills the room. I remember growing up there was no headboard or armoire...just the old dressers from long ago and old nightstands. We never cared though and knew no different. Anyway, sitting there, feeding my son...I felt so loved and comfortable and nostalgic. I think it's funny how the houses we grew up in have such a hold on us. It really took several years for my own house to feel like "home".

As I sat there on this huge new bed my parents have...I still noticed the remembrances of years past. The picture of my Mom before my parents got married, the bathroom vanity where so many times we fixed our hair with dippity-do for recitals and where our old dog Jimmy would sleep in the dirty clothes pile. Love just permeates everything in that house and I'm so glad my parents are still there. They could afford something more now, but Mom says they will never leave until its for the old folks' home. I know she feels all of that love too...from parent to child, from child to parent, for pets, for family. I hope someday that Claire and Zach feel that way for our house...that they will always be home with us and can kick back and watch TV or feed their kids and know that they are loved.

A Mom Again

It has been way too long, but being pregnant for the second time took all of the ooomph out of my sails. The good news is that I survived the pregnancy and have a beautiful son, Zach to show for it. He is exactly 13 days old. I love being the Mom of two, but am having a hard time managing my need for sleep. Go figure. Should I be sleeping right now that both of the chitlins' are out? Probably. And yet, I'm watching "So You Think You Can Dance"! I love Kent!

I just thought I would share the little bit of satisfaction I got this evening. Daniel promised me that he would be home from work to help me with bedtime since Monday night I had a screaming newborn while attempting to bathe my toddler and put her to bed. He promised. Well, dinner, bath and jammies came and went and he finally walked in right when we were getting her prayer book out. I was slightly more than irritated since I had the gracious offer of a friend to come help me with bedtime and I turned her down. He promised.

Well, I held my temper and just asked him to hold Zach while I pumped. Pumping breastmilk is just the bane of my existence...hate it. Let's just say I have these massive boobies that make massive amounts of milk when drank from by a newborn vampire, and yet when the machine tries to access the dairy production...the girls only give up 1-2 ounces at a time. Argh! I digress. Well, while I'm attached like Elsie to the pump...Zach pees through his diaper all over Daniel. Sweet satisfaction. I simply remarked..."good luck with that".

A few minutes later, after Daniel has changed him and I have detached from the milk machine...he stops me mid-stride. "I need you to do something for me...check his onesie and his belly button". I asked him if "it" came off...yes. Let me preface by saying that Daniel HATES belly buttons...the idea of them, touching them, it being touched...HATES. And Zach's belly button stump chose this perfect moment to finally release! Sweet satisfaction.

Off to feed the vampire and attempt an hour or so of sleep. Hoping to make this a regular thing. Night.