Summer Travel Series: Part 1 - Camping

The kiddos have been pretty lucky this summer, as we've whisked them away to exotic places like the jersey shore, poconos, OCMD, and soon to be back to the jersey shore again.  About a month ago, we went camping in the poconos.  This is something we've done for over a decade now, as one of our college buddies has the most generous parents on the planet and they open up their family vacation to all of their kids' friends, usually about 30 people in total.

They rent a tiny cabin on a big lake and let us use their facilities provided we all pitch a tent and sleep outside.  As we've gotten older we've contributed to the effort with meals, tending to the fire, and entertainment in the form of babies!

This year, there was a whopping 3 toddlers and 4 infants present, and it was a blast.  Gobbles really enjoyed playing with his gal pal, V and spent extra time bonding with Daddy after I left with the Lobster Roll the 2nd day for a bachelorette party (um no, the baby went to grandmom's, not the party).  It was a little hot but we all cooled off in the shade and the lake.  When the kids had been put down to bed, it was funny sitting around the fire trying to figure out which cry or whine belonged to which parent, and we all took turns dashing back to the tents to comfort the kids.  The late nights of drinking by the fire we replaced with exhausted mommies and daddies in bed early enough to be up with the sun so the kids could have another day of fun.

The red one on the left - our home for 3 days

Ahh, two fans and a pack & play.  This is the life!

Trouble!

Just pushing me out on open water, huh, Daddy?

This is soooo nice and cool though!

Wahh Hoo! Look at ME floating away!

Anyone remember THIS tube?? It seemed so much bigger two years ago!

Same Lake.  Same Expression.  Two years apart.

6 Months!

Dear Lil Lobster Roll,

Wow.  You are six months old already!  The past six months seemed to have gone twice as quickly as your brother's first six.  Momma is going to lose her mind if you keep growing so quickly.  Take your time little girl!  You're starting to become quite the lil chunker, with chubby little thighs and the most adorably kissable cheeks in the world.  My day is not complete until I get about a hundred kisses in while you just giggle and squeal with happiness.

It's a lazy Sunday morning right now on your half-birthday, we got up about 6:30 and are letting your daddy and brother sleep in.  You're laying on a blanket in the living room chatting away and throwing your toys around, having just finished a makeout session with Cannoli.  I guess I can say you deserved the licks, since you grabbed at his face to pull him close to you!

You have got to be the happiest baby I have ever seen.  Everywhere I go I get comments about it, because you never miss a chance to flash that gummy smile to anyone who looks your way.  I can never wake up in a bad mood if you're already awake, because you don't cry for someone to come get you, you either lay quietly or start talking to yourself, and as soon as you see me you grin like we're going to party all day.  I love waking up to you in the morning!  It's the same thing when I pick you up at school, you can be chilling with whomever and as soon as you see me, you bust out the widest smile anyone could imagine.

And school, my goodness are you adjusting well.  Even the mean old lady, who doesn't even really seem to like the kids, tells me all the time how you're the favorite.  She yells at me when I leave you home with grandmom and talks about how much she missed you.  The teachers from the other classroom come in and steal you to get some Lobster time, and half the days I pick you up instead of being in your classroom you're waiting to greet me in the director's office on somebody's lap, because they just "needed a cuddle".  They have affectionately named you biscuit because your rolls are the best!

Daddy, on the other hand, calls you muchkin (what's with the breakfast foods?), which also suits you because you really are a munchkin version of him (and gobbles).  You're way too laid back right now for me to see much of my personality in there... and frankly I hope you stay that way because it will balance out with your brother quite nicely.  Your daddy melts every time he holds you, as you pull on his nose and ears.

Physically, you are moving right along for six months, you can roll both ways, but you're rather lazy about it.  You will roll onto your stomach and just play that way, so you can raise your head up and look around and laugh.  You can also move around a little bit from that direction, rotating like the arms of a clock to get to whatever toy you want on your blanket.  You're about 85% sitting up, but we still place pillows all around you for when you fall.  I think part of that is laziness too, because I've seen you pitch forward and catch yourself and pull back up to sitting, but most of the time you will let yourself fall, then sort of pop up,  "bend and snap" your way to tummy time position so you can play!  If you're not rolling around on the floor or concentrating on your toys in your rocking chair, you're bouncing away in the jumparoo, doing a little jig and laughing all the way.

Your baby hair has all fallen out, save for a little tuft on the top of your head and two long patches on the sides.  You look a little bit like Jim Carey in Ace Ventura's mental hospital scene, I have to giggle when I picture your hair after a good bath!  Really, because giggling is the only thing I can do to cope with all of your gorgeous dark hair disappearing :(

You're a little fussy with your food and right now are on a sweet potatoes and carrots kick.  No apples for you, you spit them all over me!  You take your cereal well enough but would probably like oatmeal better.  You've begun your transition to formula and so far have no problems.  Today I'm going to start giving you three "meals" a day as opposed to the two (a veggie and a cereal) that you've been doing.  You have your 6 month visit on Tuesday so I'll have to come back and log your stats, but I'm guessing weight-wise you're about 17-18 lbs, you're starting to get up there - into size 3 diapers now- but you're not as terribly heavy as your brother.

Lil Lobster Roll, I said it before and I'll say it again.  You are by far the happiest baby I've ever met, I hope and pray that you stay that way forever.  My number one goal for you and your brother is that you guys are happy, and so far you're making that so easy for me.  Your smile lights up my life and anyone who is near you, and I fall to pieces every time I think of it.  I can't imagine what it'll look like when you have some little teeth to go with it.  You sleep so peacefully despite the 5 minute scream you need to find your thumb and put yourself to sleep, and I don't even mind getting up to cuddle with you at night because really you're just looking for a hug and an ear to listen to you babble!

You are such a wonderful, precious little girl and you mean the world to your Daddy, brother, and me.  We love you so so much and feel so lucky and blessed every day that you are in our lives.  Happy half birthday little girl.

Love,

Mommy


Thanks for dressin me up just to get a pic taken ,Mommy!

What's that?  You're taking a lot of pics?  Ok!

Aww, My puppy!  You silly licken my toes!

May I pet him?

What's Gobbles doin in my crib??

He's such a silly boy!

That's right, get that camera back on me - it's my day!

I LOVE my pile of toys.  And my crazy lady hair.

And I love that Puppy!

My first time in a swing!  I love it!

My brother is so silly for hating these - they are the best!

Gobbles Parts. Mommy Parts.

Those are part of your chest, Daddy?  I hear coming from Gobbles' room as his shirtless father is dressing him this morning.  He has been facinated with nipples lately.  Last week as I was changing him for bed, he said the same of himself.  He pointed to his nipples and told me that they were part of his chest (the only explanation Daddy could give when he was asked the night before).  He proceeded to point out that the Lil Lobster Roll had them as well.  I laughed and told him everyone had them.

I knew the day would come when Gobbles would start to ask about his body, but I always thought it would start with the obvious.  He's seen me use the bathroom and even proceeds to "wipe himself" like I do when he's finished with the potty.  Yet he hasn't seemed to notice the differences down there.  Which I am thankful for because I'm not ready to explain that and have him going around at school and telling everyone.  Which of course he would do because he's that little know-it-all.

However, I think we've come to a point where I need to stop changing in front of him, especially now that I'm weaning the Lobster Roll.  A few weeks ago I was reading his bedtime stories and he told me he wanted to see them.  By them, he meant what I feed his sister from.  He started lifting up my shirt and I told him that they are private for a lady and he should not go around insisting that girls lift up their shirts.  He started the why game and it was then I first realized that the whole "being in a state of undress in front of him" phase was coming to an end.

I'm sure the mixed messages of me whipping my boobs out to feed her one minute then telling him they're private the next are very confusing, so I'm glad that the nursing will likely be done in a few weeks.  In that sense.  The other part of me is sad to be through the nursing phase, which seemed to pass twice as quickly as it did with Gobbles.

I've already started the hormonal shift that comes with weaning though, going from down and sad to giddy in the same moment.  When the news came of Spoony's little boy I gushed over the pictures (he's friggan adorable after all!), and got a little weepy realizing that that Lobster Roll is so big now.  I told hubs that I wanted a baby and he looked at me like I was nuts you HAVE a baby!.  True, but not one so little.  I even got a little wistful watching the Kardashians the other day when Courtney was rubbing her belly.  I thought to myself, oh I want to be pregnant again.  I confessed this to hubs and he again thought I was crazy - You hate being pregnant he said, and secretly vowed celibacy as long as he can to make sure it won't happen again anytime soon.

I know this will pass, and I know I don't have to wean at 6 months, but it's just right for me.  Work is ramping up, including a few day trips and all day meetings, so pumping started to get in the way.  I'm dying to get back in shape, but in order to start working out again as intensely as I would like I need to get my boobs to shrink (after 2 weeks of weaning we're down to a G, would love to be back to a DD).  The Lobster took a bottle of formula no problem the other day when we tried, so I think she'll survive.  And her Daddy has been waiting in the wings trying to get some bonding time in with her at night when she wakes up.  Ok I made that last one up, but it would help me out a lot if we could trade off who wakes up for the 5am feeding.  It's been pretty pointless for him to get up so far because if I didn't get up and feed her I'd still have to pump. 

So my freezer supply is slowly dwindling, I'm down to feeding in the morning and evening without pumping in between, and my moods are erratic but at least I'm aware enough to know when and why it's happening.  I'm snuggling my little love bug all the time, and I think I'll still willingly get up with her more times than not because I do love our middle of the night snuggles, but with teeth coming in any day now she doesn't have to be chewing on me to get the comfort and closeness she needs. 

I'm proud that I was able to nurse again for my goal time period again, and looking forward to having my body all to myself for a little while.  Because I know myself and it's just a matter of time before that fever will strike for real, and with any luck, we'll get to do the whole thing over again. 

Under ladies' shirts are private but I can still share what they wear on their heads!

Lobster - trucks are for boys! But here you can have the purple one. 

My first picture that I took all by myself on mommy's phone!  Not only am I interested in nipples, but I love toes too!

If we didn't cost so much to raise, Mommy would have five more!  Who wouldn't?

Two and a HALF. Plus 1 month. Plus another day or two.

Someday we'll find it

The Rainbow Connection

The Lovers, the Streamers, and ME!

Dear Gobbles,

I know I'm a bit late on your epic 30 month letter, and I sincerely apologize.  Especially because this will probably be the last mid-year letter you need, since you're almost completely developed into a little kid.  There is no toddler about you anymore.  Except for the diaper, which you really only wear out of stubbornness.  You pee and poop on the potty like it's your job (well, since you get paid, maybe it is?).  A few weeks ago when I was putting your sister to bed, you marched past me down the hall proclaiming "I need some coins, so I'm gonna sit on the potty".  Maybe our method has backfired somehow?  You also tried a hard negotiation with me the other night - you peed and got a penny (your favorite coin), you decided you needed to go back on the potty.  After you farted a few times and declared yourself done, we went back into your room and you demanded two coins, saying that a fart is worth two when you know darn well a poop is worth two and you get nothing for farting.  Except adolescent giggles from your father. 

Of course, you threw a tantrum over not getting the additional coins you requested, and not just a tantrum.  You were mad.  You didn't just cry, you used your words to try and convince me that I was wrong in seeing a difference between a fart and a poop.  As inane and laughable as this argument sounds, I came away pretty proud of you for bringing up point to back up your argument (i farted with my bum, it felt like a poop, smelled like a poop, so should be paid for like a poop).  Your brain is always working overtime to explain why you feel the way you do.  This probably stems from the fact that you've been asking us why for months now, and I'll always play the game back with you to explain as much as I can.

Your latest new word game we like to play is opposites.  For fun, you just like to say the opposite of whatever I do.  It usually starts out with me telling you NO, and you coming back at me with Yes!.  After a few back and forth rounds I'll just let it all out at once noyesnoyesnoyes, which will at least crack a smile from you.  Before you remember what you were asking for, I'll change the subject Cold! and you come back with Hot!  we banter back and forth again and we end up with coldhotcoldhotcoldhot!  Every new opposite pair I introduce you seem to retain and bring up the next time.

Speaking of retaining, oh my goodness, you retain (and repeat) everything.  We were driving through a traffic jam last week and I got cut off, muttering under my breath.  A few minutes later, you come out with Where'd the idiot go?  Oh brother.  I've really got to stop with the road rage.  You are retaining things for the good though as well.  You've got a number of books memorized, your favorites being 101 Dalmations, If you give a Mouse a Cookie, and Brown Bear Brown Bear What do you See?.  And songs it seems like you only need to hear once or twice before you're singing away, usually in the backseat of the car.  If I join in you stop singing and shout No Mommmmy! I'm singing!  Because apparently my voice is not music to your ears.  That's ok, I love hearing everything from London Bridges to Call Me Maybe coming out of your mouth - you crack me up buddy.

Gobbles, I know you've been dreaming for awhile because of visiting your room due to night tremors, but the other morning made me realize that you're starting to recall your thoughts, and think about things at night.  The other morning when I woke you up, you looked at me and said Aiden and Carter are in the closet, and Aiden's daddy is at Grandmom's house.  We're smashing the boxes in the closet.  This was your first morning back to daycare in a week and we had stressed the night before that you'd be a good boy going back to school.  So you dreamt of your school buddies, threw in a little Grandmom, and there you have your first dream that you remembered.  And I know you think about things at night as you're drifting off to sleep because you're always talking to yourself in your bed.  You talk about your day and which kids played with which toys and who liked the sprinkler and who didn't... It's just amazing to me that there's so much going on in that little head of yours.  I can't wait to see which moments you will hold onto as memories and hope that they're all happy.

You are still Mr. bossypants but I'm sure that has more to do with watching your mother than anything else.  There is a place for everything and everything is in its place.  If you walk into grandmom's house and one of your calculators is missing, you demand it be put back on your desk.  If something is out of place at home or a dog gets out of line, you set everything straight.  Your teachers have nicknamed you Jimney Cricket, because you are everyone's little conscience at school and you make sure all the rules are followed (you even told a teacher when she was sitting where she shouldn't have been).  Mr. Gobbles, please please please lighten up a little on this - I know it's hard, trust me, from one control freak to another - but I don't want your little friends to get annoyed when they realize you're telling them all what to do, even though we all know you mean well.

I've gushed on an on about you buddy but I just can't help how proud I am of you and what a big boy you've become in such a short time.  The thing I am most proud of is the caring and affectionate big brother you are now.  The other day I was cleaning up and the Lil Lobster Roll was lounging in her chair just hanging out.  You were playing nicely with your toys when suddenly you got up Oh Lobster - here's your elephant, here you go!  And you walked over and placed her toy lovingly next to her head.  It was such a sweet and unprompted moment that made me melt a little inside.  You will randomly give her gentle hugs cute kisses, and continue to sing to her when she cries. She loves you so much and breaks out into a big smile whenever you're interacting with her.   The other night when we were all saying goodnight you grabbed her hand and manipulated her little fingers to fit around your thumb and smiled.  I again melted and exchanged glances with your Daddy who was also turning to jello.  You are the best big brother in the world and I'm so proud of you.

I Love You Forever my little Gobbles.  A quarter of the way to ten.  Sigh.

Love,
Mommy

Shh... I'm workin here!

firsts. and seconds.

This past weekend was the Lil Lobster Roll's first trip to the beach.  My sister and I decided last minute to crash my parents' quiet time down the shore in the name of family and being together after the rough last week.  Hubs was off to a bachelor party so the kids and I loaded up and shipped out.

The Lobster had a wonderful time at the beach... I think.  After she quickley dipped her toes in the ocean she slept the morning away!

Mom-MY! don't pull my bathing suit up!

Do not disturb....

Seriously... do not disturb.  That swim tired me out!

Gobbles of course did what he does best - made a huge mess with the sand, and hilariously dumped a bucket of water all over his sunbathing grandmom.  He was a little more timid with the ocean than he was last year, clinging to me as I encouraged him to jump the waves.  He was much more interested in the lifeguard boats and 4 wheelers that were scattered around.

mehhh - don't like the water right now!

I'd rather work on my masterpiece - a sand school bus.  Or a choo choo!

Do NOT mess with my creation!!

After lunch, instead of napping (despite not going to sleep until midnight the night before!), Gobbles insisted on playing with playdough on the deck while momma drank beer and watched the ocean.  Of course it caught up with him later, falling asleep before dinner, which worked out fine for me since by then I had a nice buzz going.  I got to chat the night away with my sister, so the trip turned out to be a nice little success. 

Ok mommy! I have the pink and you take the green.  What shall we make?  A school bus and a choo choo of course!

Noooo! I don't want to napppp!

Until of course we got home on Saturday, when Gobbles came down with a fever and soon after had the worst case of croup he's had to date.  Oh buddy, this marks second time he got sick because of the excitement of a beach trip (the first being last year in Hilton Head - um gobbles what was with your hair??). 

And finally, another first for Miss Lobster Roll.  As it goes, spending too much time near her sick brother has gotten my girl her very first cold.  I'm beat from spending the last two nights holding her precariously propped up so she could breathe. 

But despite all this, both kids are smiling.  They are the best!

Love!

Love!