For Papa; in Memory of MEEEE!

When I was an angelic little baby my mom took a picture of my Dad changing my diaper while wearing shooting muffs. Now, it may come as a surprise to some people, but I've always been a pretty vocal person. In the picture my mouth was wide open and I'm sure I was raising quite a ruckus.

Now that we have our own little angel the tradition has been passed on. Gabriel screamed his little head off for the first year with colic. Now, he just pitches a fit for old times sake. He got mad about what was served for dinner, and I'm a MEAN mom and wasn't about to make a special separate meal for an ungrateful tantrum thrower. He's inherited his momma's big mouth, and knows how to use it. Gabriel started his fit with the muffs on his own ears. Stephen looked over and said give those to me, you can listen to your own noise. So, for dinner that night Stephen ate in peace and quiet, Garrett and Mommy banded together and ate all our dinner and earned a treat, and Gabriel serenaded us with a colossal fit that did not earn a treat.

Families that eat together, stay together right?!?!

How to sleep like a 4 year old

Sorry these pictures are reversed and I can't figure out how to switch them. I'm sure it's not hard, but oh well.

I came in to tuck Gabriel in one night, on my way to bed, and noticed his arm was at kind of a weird angle. I thought he'd managed to break it or something. Then I noticed that he was a much bigger kid than the gangly, skinny one I'd put in bed.

Further investigation revealed he'd stuffed every animal in his pajamas that he could and zipped them back up. His little head was all sweaty, he was so hot with all the extra padding. Our heater is broken so we only keep bedrooms at 70 with little space heaters. To actually have a sweaty kid says a lot. We're never sure what he'll do to keep himself entertained till he's tired enough to fall asleep. I was able to get all the toys out without him noticing or waking up, especially surprising since Stephen and I were laughing, and the camera flash was going off. We've been very blessed that once he manages to go to sleep, he sleeps hard.

Progress....or something like that

I'm to the point that I get to have those "fun" check ups at the doctor. I'm happy that progress is at least happening; 60% effaced and dilated to a 2. The doctor said I might go for 2 more weeks, but doesn't think I'll make it the full 3 to my official due date.

So, of course I came home gave him a little pat and let him know that the time has come for him to GET OUT.

Gabriel has been hugging and kissing my tummy more than me lately. A couple days ago he looked at me and said, "I can't wait to see baby Atticus and give him kisses." I have been trying to get a son named Atticus since Gabriel...obviously I haven't gotten my way, and don't think I'll get it ever. It's funny watching Stephen flinch when the boys refer to "Baby Atticus".

Gabriel wants to play with him, and talk with him, and I have a feeling be a ton of "help". I tried to explain that he will sleep, eat, and poop when he's born, but won't be able to talk or play for a long time. It will be fun to see the difference in Gabriel's reaction to #3 compared to Garrett. Poor little guy had no language and we hadn't been able to figure out what was going on with him when Garrett was born, so he had no idea what the heck was going on. He didn't even have a concept of baby. I guess it was sort of a blessing in disguise, he was so overwhelmed by it all that his reaction was better than I had expected. He knows what's coming now and is excited about that baby "crawling out of my mouth to get born". Once he discovered no door on my belly for the baby to come out he concluded that he must have to crawl out my mouth. We'll correct him in a few years.

Growing up watching all the animals give birth sure made some concepts more clear for me than for my little city slicker.

We're now at 38 weeks and there was NO CHANGE....I really really want him to come soon. He seems to be in no hurry to come meet us. My doctor asked how everything was, and I said we're just waiting. He asked about any pain. Oh, yeah I hurt like crazy, everything hurts. I'm keeping the tylenol company in business. He looked over and said, "oh just suffering in silence?" Ha ha ha funny man, no Stephen knows exactly what is hurting and how much. I don't want him to feel left out after all. I know husbands love to hear about all our aches and pains.

***The picture in the blue shirt is at about 31 or 32 weeks. There was a baby shower that night (for someone having a girl :) what would that be like?) I guess the shirt made me look really pregnant because Stephen said, "Whoa, where's the camera we're taking a belly picture." The second was at 36 weeks, I'd hoped it would be my last week pregnant...humphf. My mom has the most recent HUGE BELLY picture on her blog. Last weekend a kid from down the street brought something back to us and later told me that he saw my belly and thought, "Dang, Sister Maskey is huge she's gonna explode." He is a pretty insightful kid, because I'm pretty sure that I will explode soon.***

I all dressed!

I told my mom yet another story and she said, "you have to start putting this stuff on your blog." It's just taken me forever to get the pictures off my camera, and heavy support from Stephen to get these pictures ready to post. GRRR!! I thought blogging sounded like a great way to preserve memories, now I realize I was just flat out born in the wrong era for all this technology.

Anyway, this is a Garrett story. In our house we have a very strict 1:00 p.m. nap/quiet time. The boys rarely sleep anymore; but Mommy needs quiet time. So they go to their rooms and usually start out laying in their beds, but within minutes I can hear LOTS of playing happening. They both have funny imaginations. I need to figure out how get them recorded playing when they don't know I'm doing it.

Garrett LOVES his "camo" shoes. The first thing he does in the mornings is put on his camo shoes over his jammies, and play till we come in to get him. For nap times I just put him in a diaper and shirt. I came in the other day and he'd put his pants back on...backwards, and of course had his camo shoes on...the wrong feet. When I opened the door he announced, "I all dressed." He was so proud. I'm not sure where he was planning on going.

Right after that Stephen and Gabriel got home from running around, so they got to see his enseble too. I'm sure he'd spent a good amount of time getting himself put together, he really struggles when we have him put his pants on without help. He can usually get the front up, but getting the back up and over his pull-up or diaper is hard for him. He was facing me when I first opened the door, after he turned around and I saw him from the back I couldn't help but laugh.

I never know what I'm going to find when I open the door at the end of quiet time.