Tuesday, July 28, 2009

For some reason, I'm having a really nostolgic night tonight. Actually, I know the reasons, and there are several. First of all, I spent the morning with Emily Gilbride, who is 9 months pregnant right now. She is describing every last symptom I felt last fall : the cramps, low pressure, tiredness, and loss of patience(i.e. guilt) she has with the other two kids. I feel bad for her, but at the same time I know, from looking back on it, that my kids didn't suffer as much as I thought they did from that time. I felt so negligent as a mom and during that time, actually they grew in their sibling relationship, as well as by themselves, learning to play and entertain themselves. It's a necessary growing pain that is well, well, well worth it. That 3rd kid is such an amazing addition to the family. It makes it feel like a real family to me- not to say that #2 didn't.... but it's just a 'full cirlce', complete feeling.

Secondly, I talked to Meghan Nowlin a lot today about the end of her pregnancy. In so many ways, I don't want her pregnancy to end because it reminded me so much of that awesome time we had of anticipating Jack's arrival. But of course, I am coming out of my skin with excitement for them. To see two people like Meg and Ryan become parents is beyond exiting. They are so perfect, so ready, so excited themselves.... I keep flashing back to the days before Jack was born. I remember them so well- which is so uncharacteristic of me! Tommy and I were on pins and needles, always waiting for SOMETHING to happen, but not knowing WHAT!? I felt so anxious to be a mom and be DONE with being pregnant.. but at the same time, really at peace and just knew things were going to go smoothly. I know it was Ali at my side the whole time. It was great to be close to her then. I know the Nowlin's have a few guardian angels by their side like I did and Baby Nowlin is going to just glide into the world on their wings. It's so, so so exciting.

On the skirts of thinking about Jack being born, I gave that kid a bath tonight. I used to sit down, indian-style and plop him down in front of me to put lotion on him and jammie him up. Tonight, I put him down and went to put lotion on his face. I had to lean over and stretch away from me to reach him!! He's sooooo tall all of a sudden. I don't know what happened and it sent me into a panic attack that he's getting too old and going to leave for college. This, on top of the fact that he's blasting homerun balls out of our yard when we play baseball, his new favorite thing is riding his two-wheeler (with training wheels, but he's getting so good that I'm thinking about taking them off!), and he has an adult-style appreciation of music (asking for Tommy to play some ColdPlay for him tonight, and knew all the words). I don't know how 3 1/2 years passed this quickly, and more importantly, how he has learned so much in that time. He never ceases to amaze me.

Claire and Finn were over at bath time tonight and we decided to give Finn and ANnie a bath together. Finn did not enjoy it, as it was his first introduction to a big-boy bathtub and a LOUD one at that!! All of his cousins were 'helping' and I can only imagine how overwhelming it was for the little guy!!! In the midst of the upset, Jack decided that 'I need to take some pictures of this!!" and told us to "Wait a minute! My camera is downstairs!" He ran down to get his own camera and ended up taking some decent ad pretty funny pictures to hold on to to commemorate the event!! :)

Annie is also jumping ahead by leaps and bounds lately. In the past two weeks, we have taken her off her pepcid prescription and she is doing great- eating at least 5 or 6 oz. a feeding. SHe's starting to sleep through the night, at least the last few nights... I'm sure now that I'm writing this, she will be up all night toingiht!! :) SHe's getting on a decent napping/ sleeping schedule, if I am good about keeping her on it (i.e. not schlepping her around the city all morning, so she can sleep!).

By the end of the day, her little tops of her feet are black from crawling on my eternally dirty floors. She is everywhere, pulling herself up on chairs, tables, gnawing on chairs and toys and anything she can reach. SHe continues to think Jack and Mallie are the most hilarious people on Earth and enjoys to maul Finn any chance she gets.

THis weekend she popped up with a couple great new tricks. First, she started clapping. I've been waiting fo this one. It's so great. ANd she's sooooo happy with herself when she' doing it, which makes it that much more reason to clap!!! She is starting to clap when you say, 'Yeaaa!', too. THen, yesterday, she did the 'arms up' motion for ' How big is Annie!??" twice! Again, she's very happpy with herself, but we need a little more practice. She also is waving witha full arm up and down motion when you say 'Hiiiiii Annie!!!" She has also actually said "Ahhhhh!" (which I interpret as 'Hi!"while she does this, but mostly only when Jack tries to get her to do it. Again, this needs more practice, but she is definatley getting it!!

Mallie is also starting to be a 'big girl', too,as she reminds us constantly. The other day we were on a walk and she saw an American flag hanging on a tree. SHe looked back at me said said, "look Mommy! A America Tree!!"

She is saying the following ALL the time: "Watch this Mommy!", "Not Again!!!" (said this today when I took out her xylophone instead of her cat keyboard that she wanted...as though I do that ALL the time!!), " "What's that called Mommy?", and "What did you say MommY?" These are all great questions for her to know and will teach her lots of things... even though she asks them a million times a day! :) It makes me sick that she's going to be 2 years old next week. My kids are growin up!!! CRAZY!!