Zoo Day

We had a great trip to the zoo yesterday with Oma and Grandpa. If you are ever in St. Louis, check out the zoo. It is beautiful, free, and has great exhibits. We saw the penguins this time, but the stingrays were still inside for the winter. We rode the train, of course. It was Baby G.'s first train ride, and she was about as impressed with it as she was with riding in the umbrella stroller all day. She also had her first taste of ice cream (Bean Dip's Dippin' Dots). She loved it. We were there a good four hours, and Bean Dip walked/ran the entire time.

This morning I woke up in between two very warm, tiny bodies. I love the idea of co-sleeping, but my body doesn't. They both snuggle so close I don't even have room for my arms, except for over my head. I try to keep it to just one in the bed at a time, but Bean Dip had a diaper issue early this morning. So I stripped him down, changed him and put him in bed with me. Tried to put G back in her crib but she wouldn't have it, and that's how we ended up. G and I got up before Bean Dip. He was pretty cute, coming out in just his diaper and socks. He said, "Hi, Mama!" before going directly to the grands' bedroom. A few moments later he came out, lower lip out and said, "Oma and Grandpamp not in their room." Yeah, they'd already left for work.

Quickly

Since both the bimbo and the bambina are sound asleep in their own beds (something that's becoming a rarity), I thought I'd better post since I'm slacking so much. I'll try to catch up this week.

We have been busy with:
1. Baby shower
2. A broken Beemy
3. An impromptu 91st birthday party
4. Rain, mud and all the fun that accompanies it
5. Easter eggs

I also find it a little harder to write when I'm seeing my readers everyday (sorry!), many of which are my family. I am taking lots of pictures, and we are having lots of fun, but also missing someone very much.

P.S. Check out this new blog, The Trashed Can.

Seven

Seven months old!

7

Baby G. is seven months old today! And she is a hefty 14.7 lbs, up almost a pound. Yep, we saw the awesome nutritionist and silly doctor this week. Nutritionist good, doctor bad. She actually told me I needed to bring her back in a month to make sure the weight gain isn't a "fluke." But whatever, I requested a PCM change so we should have a new doctor by that visit.

I will have to improvise for G.'s monthly picture because I left the Boppy at home. We just survived a two-day drive north to the grands' house. The trip went really well -- I was fully prepared with lots of entertainment for both kids. I got Bean Dip a toy laptop and that kept him busy for hours. G. is easy -- all I have to do is crank up the gangsta rap and she's good. I have to admit I'm pretty sick of Lord Infamous and Wale right now.

Well, I think my quiet time sans kids is almost over. They were having morning story time with Oma but now I hear Bean Dip playing with the answering machine.

Media Monday

I finally broke down and started reading a "living in Italy" book. I'd gone off them for a while, possibly because I didn't want to read about what I was doing myself (grin). But ... now I think I'm ready to read them again. I actually started this one a couple years ago, and it was really good. I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to finish it then. Now, I'm really looking forward to reading it now. (Thanks, Aunt Kiki!)

If I get really homesick, I might start reading Rick Steves.


And then there is this book, one I re-read last week. If you like young adult lit, read this book. I've heard it described as a Bridget Jones for teens. I haven't read Bridget Jones, but this book (and the sequels, there are nine) is hilarious. Teenage girl stuff with British humor. And how could you not want to read a book with a title like this?

Friday Flashback

One year ago

Yolked

Yesterday, I came home to a suspiciously quiet house. The kitchen floor was freshly mopped. The TV was on, but no one watching it. I finally found the culprits in the bathroom -- Bean Dip in the bath, and Win watching him.

Uh yeah. Bean Dip had decided he wanted to cook himself eggs. He had pulled out my giant pot and started cracking eggs into it. As Win said, there were eggs everywhere. He said Bean Dip told him, "I want to cook eggs." He doesn't even like eggs! Win said he didn't yell at him, just explained that he can't cook eggs by himself, but if he wants to learn to cook, he can help us.

I think he will have a blast dying Easter eggs.

Wednesday Wrap-Up

Wow, I have really fallen off on my daily postings. The kiddos have been waking up earlier and earlier, cutting into my blogging time. Also, we've all had colds, G. is the worst. She's had a fever and cough, and pretty unhappy about not feeling well. She has been sleeping a lot, but really only during the day. So ... good times.

In other news, Bean Dip has started the "why" phase. I had been wondering when this would hit. Yesterday, I spent the whole drive to post explaining why we had to do taxes, why Dada has to work, etc.

And one more thing, the other day, Bean Dip asked for "capes" (capers) for a snack. I had to veto that one. Then he asked for "trees" (broccoli) for dinner. He also likes asparagus, but hasn't tackled that word yet.

Buona Festa della Donna!

In honor of Women's Day, as well as the petition to stop Facebook from removing breastfeeding photos (because it considers them "obscene"), and also because I think it is beautiful, I'm posting this picture of a statue in the main piazza in Siena, Italy.

Notice a Change?

Chillin'

Tonight, Bean Dip dissolved into a quivering mess on the floor and went to bed at 5:30 p.m. I'm pretty confident he'll be sleeping until his regular wake up time tomorrow. We walked this morning, and he and the other kids walked and ran for quite a bit. He was rubbing his eyes when we headed home around 11 a.m.

So Baby G. got Dada all to herself for a bit tonight. She was too funny -- she was playing with him. I was holding her up so she could growl at him and attack his hand with her mouth and buckets of drool. She thought it was hilarious.

She's sleeping now but will probably be up in about 30 minutes for her 10 p.m. snack. Win is out having a few beers with the guys. I'm watching Real Housewives reruns on Bravo -- it is my new secret addiction -- and finishing up my daily gallon of water. I think it is working.

And I just realized my battery is running low, so I'm taking that as a sign I should turn off the computer. Good night!

It's Friday Already?

I just realized that (A) It's almost 8 a.m., and I need to get going if I want to walk this morning, and (B) How is it already Friday???

I have been pounding water like crazy. Went to Wal-Mart yesterday after the park and bought some gallon jugs. A gallon is A LOT of water to drink in one day. BUT I believe it is working. Hopefully.

Also, Wal-Mart is SO cheap. Maybe I should start shopping there more, even though I am officially opposed to it.

And, it is funny to see my husband studying again.

Ahhh ... that's it.

My Skinny-Mini

Last week, G. had her 6-month well baby appointment. It did not go well. She is underweight, and the doctor made me feel like a bad mom for it. There was no, "Well, she is underweight but overall she looks healthy and is meeting her developments." It was immediately, "Are you sure you have enough milk? You need to start supplementing with formula." Now, I know there is nothing wrong with formula. What bothered me was that was her immediate solution to the problem. She didn't discuss with me why I might not have enough milk or even how to increase it. I left feeling very dissatisfied and upset about the visit.

However, the one good thing she did was refer G. to the nutritionist, who we saw yesterday. She was an intelligent person who did NOT make me feel like a bad mom. She spent an hour discussing everything with me about G.'s caloric intake. I learned quite a bit. She made a point of telling me I am doing everything right, but I probably am not making enough milk, and the best way to increase it is to drink more liquids in small amounts. No more chugging a bottle of water all at once. I should be drinking at least a gallon a day.

So that is what I am doing and hopefully it will work. I shall be carrying my water bottle around with me everywhere. Wish me luck.