I Love My Kids

I realize that my life pretty much centers around my kids (this is what happens when your career is "stay-at-home mom") and that I mainly post about them, but I just love them and I want to write about them more. Sure, I often want to run away screaming for the nearest Starbucks, only to return after hours of caffeine therapy and two dozen cinnamon chip scones, but I can't because Charlotte will starve without me and Steve doesn't do a great job of combing the boys' hair. Plus I love them too much to leave them for very long.

I do have a praise for the Good Lord Above: Charlotte's colic seems to be dissipating. Hurrah! She still wakes up every 3 hours or so each night to eat, but she experiences minimal fussiness in the evenings and is asleep by about 9 p.m., a blessing after countless nights of bedtimes of midnight or later. She is growing like the proverbial weed--one day last week I noticed that, quite suddenly, she was way too long for newborn-sized clothes. In fact, she is wearing 3-6 month clothing and even some 6-9 month articles. Wow. After teeny, tiny preemies who are just now wearing clothing sizes that match their age, I am amazed. She is holding her head up like a pro, spending more and more time awake during the day (time during which she demands to be held and does not tolerate being plopped in a swing or placed on the floor for very long), and smiling like the charmer she is. Last Thursday she babbled for the first time, and now she loves to melt everyone's hearts with her sweet chatter. And to think she's not even 2 months old yet! What a genius. I think I've said it before, but I just love her.

Baylor and Jack are getting closer and closer to actual speech every day. They truly do have their own language, which is probably why it is taking them so long to form coherent words. When we ride in the car they just sit in the back, side-by-side, chattering with each other, making me feel very left out and in the dark. Clearly they understand what they are saying and clearly their mother is very dense for not comprehending their meaning. I'm sure they are discussing my waning intellect as I attempt to mimic their strange language from the driver's seat.

Not only are their language skills developing, but their play skills are taking off, too. Daily they engage in some form of hide-and-seek/peek-a-boo, using either the window panels, shower curtain, or furniture to hide from one another. Their language skills are always at work during these games, too, and they keep each other laughing boisterously for long stretches of time. Sadly, any time I try to videotape this play they stop, stare at me, and then race for the camera, completely abandoning the fun game.

More teeth are coming in rapidly (currently they each have about eight) and with much wailing and gnashing of gums. I keep Jack and Baylor almost permanently doped on Tylenol because they are complete bears about teething. Seriously, it's evidently the most excruciating thing ever, and it transforms my sweet, laughing toddlers into cranky, crying monsters. The upside to this is not having to chop up their food as much. Also, Jack has learned that if he puts his finger in Baylor's mouth (an action that causes them both much mirth), Baylor can now deliver an experimental, if not malicious, bite. Have you ever seen that YouTube video of the little boy getting bitten by his baby brother? It's just like that. Jack acts completely offended and taken aback, and he turns to me, tears pooling in his eyes, his finger still clenched in his brother's teeth. I just shrug and tell him to quit putting his digits anywhere near Baylor's mouth.

Those are pretty much all the new things that are going on here. I am finding it harder and harder (as if it wasn't hard enough) to get out with the kids as the weather gets cold. Last night it actually snowed some (I stepped out of Subway into the falling snow last night, clutching our dinner, and shouted, "No way!" at the top of my lungs before I could stop myself, thus earning some snickers from other Subway patrons), which means winter is almost upon us and that I should probably give my beautiful, still-blooming annuals to Jesus and not feel like a murderer for allowing plants to die. I am attempting to think of good indoor places to take the kids when the Winter Crazies threaten to ruin us, and so far all I am coming up with is our mall. If you are familiar with the Kankakee/Bradley/Bourbonnais area, then you know how truly depressing and stomach-churning our mall is. It will be a last resort. If anyone has any suggestions for good indoor, daytime activities that don't cost anything (imperative), let me know.

Now for a few new pictures, most of which feature Miss Charlotte:

Baylor, Charlotte, and Jack sportin' the Halloween shirts

that their Grandma Case sent them.

This is our first successful picture of all three kids.

I should note that Baylor attempted to push

his baby sister off of his lap when he decided he was done.

Charlotte, wearing one of the new (and frivolous)

sweater outfits I found for her last week.

The bow and Robeez are courtesy of her Gamma.

Baylor loves his sister.

Hurrah for hooded baby sweaters!

Hurrah for smiling babies!