Mommiedaze

Three’s Company, Four’s A Crowd?

So the new baby is on the way, and all I keep thinking is that it won’t be just the three of us anymore.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m excited about welcoming this new little one next spring.

But at the same time I feel nostalgic over the change this will bring to our family.

It won’t just be our little family of three anymore. We’re so small and cozy right now. This is the way it’s always been for the last four years. All our time, all our attention is focused completely on David. And it’s been such a sweet time watching him grow and learn. Getting to know him.

Now everything will be different.

I know we can manage two kids, and I know our family has plenty of love to share with one more. But it seems like a certain amount of intimacy will be lost when there’s four instead of three.

Last week was had several unusually warm November days, and I made sure David and I were outside taking advantage of it. My mind kept looking ahead to next year when it would be warm again. And I thought to myself, “This is one of the last times it will be just you and I playing together on a warm day.”

Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s just the hormones, the morning sickness and the fatigue that’s making me so sentimental.

Maybe it’s because I’m an only child, and I don’t have any personal point of reference for this.

So am I crazy or did any of you feel this way when child number two was on the way?

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Conversations with a Three-Year-Old: We Have A Winner

Mommie: Well, David, do you know who our new president is this morning?

David: Who?

Mommie: Barack Obama.

David: Why?

Mommie: Because he won the election last night.

David: But I wanted John McCain to win.

Mommie: I know, but Obama won.

David: Yeah, because John McCain didn’t run fast enough.

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Grow a Coal Garden this Winter

Here’s a fun little science experiment you can do with your kids this winter, grow a coal garden.

You need:

8 pieces of charcoal

1 T Bluing

3 T Ammonia

Food coloring

3 T Salt

1/2 Cup Water

8×8 Pan

Mixing Bowl

If you don’t know what bluing is, you can find it in your laundry aisle at the grocery store.

Cover your pan with foil if you want to protect it from discoloration. In a separate bowl mix together the bluing, ammonia, water and salt. Pour the mixture over the charcoal. Sprinkle the charcoal with two or three shades of food coloring.

Then place the pan in a safe spot and wait for it to start growing. I may take several days before you see any growth depending on how long it takes the charcoal to absorb the liquid.

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David’s Day Out

Last Wednesday before the morning sickness, poorly named since it lasts all day, arrived I took David out for a double whammy day of torture. He got a flu shot and a haircut.

Although he survived both pretty well.

A few weeks ago he went with me to the lab to get some blood drawn. While the technician was poking me with needles, David asked me if I was being brave because I wasn’t crying. So I told him to try and be brave like Mommie when they gave him the shot.

Brave nothing! This kid has nerves of steel. He didn’t flinch. Not even a little.

I couldn’t believe it. That was the first time we left the pediatrician’s office after a shot with out crying, and wringing of hands, and gnashing of teeth.

And that was just me.

David was always a basket case afterward too.

Then we went to get David’s haircut. Usually he tolerates that pretty well. But he has thrown a tantrum a time or two in the barber’s chair. I was afraid the the shot and the haircut in one day would be too much.

We go to a place called Snip It’s that only does kid’s hair. The chairs and capes are kid-sized, there’s a TV and toys at every station to distract them and the stylists are experts in cutting kid’s hair. That means they can cut straight, and not poke your child’s eye out even if he is flailing and screaming.

Fortunately on this day David was fine. He just sat patiently and let the stylist cut his hair. Much to my relief.

I was trying to grow David’s hair out into one of those cool shaggy High School Musical styles, but he didn’t like having it long. So we went back to short hair. Here’s a before.

This photo was taken when we out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa a few weeks ago. Note the ice cream in one hand and the brownie in the other. NO, THEY DON’T SPOIL HIM!

Here’s the after photo.

O.K. So it’s still disheveled. David’s hair always seems to be out of place. And I’m not sure what’s with the Makali Culkin impression. By the way the sweater he’s wearing he picked out himself at The Children’s Place. I’m pretty sure I had one just like it back in the 80’s. Although I hated mine as I recall.

After the haircut I took David to the mall to make up for all the torture. He ate a huge piece of pizza, his favorite food, at the food court.

Then I let him run around in the indoor play area. A lot of malls around here have those. It’s a good way to entice mom to go shopping on cold, snowy days. It always amazes me that they have these places, because it seems to me that 50 kids under 48 inches tall running around in a small enclosed area, jumping and climbing, is a law suit waiting to happen. But as far as I know no one has been maimed — yet.

Then we shared some ice cream before heading home.

I barely had David strapped in the booster seat before he fell asleep. He snoozed all the way home.

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Cravings

Well, I did get my Twinkies. My wonderful husband very graciously went out and bought some for me the other night.

Twinkies were a strange thing to crave, because I don’t think I’d eaten a Twinkie in the last decade. Normally I would never waste that many calories and fat on something that doesn’t contain any chocolate.

Dave just bought me a little package of two Twinkies instead of a whole box, thankfully.

That first Twinkie was yummy and sweet, filled with creamy goodness. But by the time I finished the second, I’d had enough processed pastry to last me a while.

Craving satisfied and over.

We had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner last night. Now that was good, and I could have eaten up every last bite, but I’m trying not to gain 50 pounds before the first trimester is up.

Right now I have a meatball sandwich toasting in the oven that I made with the left-overs.

I don’t think the pasta craving will go away like the Twinkie craving did.

There’s also a chocolate cake in the oven.

My latest desire.

Little David and I whipped that up this morning. He loves cake, so I’ll have someone to share with.

Oh, I think my sandwich is ready!

So what strange things did you crave when pregnant?

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So Tired

I know you’re supposed to be tired during you first trimester, but I do not remember being this tired when I was pregnant with David.

I’ve have all these things in my head I want to be doing right now, but completely lack the energy to do them. So, I just lay on the couch. David has a cold, and for once I’m glad, because he’s just laying on the couch with me.

Maybe I’m more tired because I’m almost four years older. Maybe I’m so tired because I have a three-year-old to chase around this time.

I’m so exhausted I don’t even want to feed the cravings I’ve been having for pasta and Twinkies. The pasta I have to cook, and the Twinkies I have to drive to the store for. I settled for apples and peanut butter.

It’s not the same as a big plate of spaghetti with meatballs.

OH, MAN I WANT THAT!

Why doesn’t Olive Garden deliver?

On top of being tired I’ve had a headache above my left eye for the last three days that won’t go away. That I do remember from the last time.

But despite the headache and the weariness, I have something to rejoice about. I was miserable with morning ALL DAY sickness last time. So far I haven’t had any.

Oh, I  really remember that!

I would get up and be sick. Go to work, eat lunch, then be sick. Come home, eat dinner and be sick. Then do it all over every day for weeks. I am so thankful I haven’t been nauseous this time around.

O.K. Enough whining.

I’m gonna go tap a nap now, and dream about baked ziti.

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Calling all Michigan Moms

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