Double Happiness

Older and wiser?

Last time I had diapers this size in the house, here's who was wearing them!

Yep, that's my baby boy -- Michael.

We're all 17 years older now and there's no doubt that Gwendolyn will benefit from my extra years of experience and maturity.

I feel so much more calm this time around. I've lived through the febrile seizures and the midnight trips to the emergency room. I've squirted Bactine on a hundred pairs of skinned knees and kissed ten times as many other types of boo-boos. I've juggled work and t-ball practice and dinner and still managed to find time to do a load or two of laundry. And I'll admit that it wasn't always stress free. But there's less stress now because 17 years has given me some extra time to acquire and hone the most important tool a parent can have: perspective.

I'm glad to have this opportunity to be a mommy to another little one. It was interesting to see that most of the other families in our travel group were over 40. I'd love to hear from other "over 40" parents!

Two men and a baby

How long to win Gwen's affection?

Mommy = 2 days
Daddy = 2 weeks
Uncle Chris = 2 seconds!!

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Every day, Gwen seems to grow more and more secure in our relationship. In the early days, she seemed constantly worried that anyone who picked her up might be trying to take her away from us. Now she's more comfortable with strangers. Not everyone! But some people just seem to immediately hit it off with her. Uncle Chris is one such person.

Uncle Chris (Andrew's brother) came to visit this weekend. It was his first time meeting Gwen but you'd never know it by her! As soon as she saw him, her face lit up and she reached out for him to pick her up. Maybe he looks like Daddy? Whatever the cause, she's really attached to her Uncle Chris and demands his full attention whenever he's within sight. Daddy is a super-favorite too so she's conflicted over which one will hold her. Where does Mommy rank in this? Hmmmm... I think I'm down there with Chopped Liver but that's okay. I got to go shopping ALONE today and Gwen had these two handsome men all to herself for several hours! Gwen was a happy girl -- and so was Mommy!

Here are some other pictures of Gwen and Uncle Chris. In the first one, Gwen is looking at the picture of herself in Uncle Chris's camera. She loves to smile for the camera then look at the result on the back of the camera.

Our newest sleeping arrangements

As you know, Gwen climbed out of her crib soon after we came home. So we dropped the mattress to the floor and that foiled her escape plans but she found an even more clever way to get out of her crib before morning --- Screaming her pretty little head off!

About 4:00 AM, she wakes up and absolutely detests her crib. Nothing puts her back to sleep except getting every bit of her body on TOP of Mommy. Then, just as soon as she falls back to sleep, she rolls off and kicks and spins perfect prone cartwheels using anything her feet can find (my face or my left breast, for example) for leverage. She wakes up all rested and adorable and I get up looking like I've been in a fist fight!

So we've been experimenting with different types of crib/bed arrangements and this one seems to be working pretty well!

She loves her crib (until 4:00 am, remember?) and really seems to want to put her feet on the rails. I think that's why she was doing all of that spinning when I put her in bed with me. She was looking (with her feet) for the rails of the crib.

Now, she sleeps in her crib and when she wakes up in the middle of the night and wants Mommy, I can come to her room and lay down and be close enough that she'll actually stay on her own side! That long skinny white pillow was a gem of a purchase from Target. It keeps her from rolling to my side and protects me from nocturnal assaults but is low enough that she isn't threatened by it.

So far so good! We're all getting our beauty sleep! :)

Happy Veteran's Day to my fellow Vets

Happy Veteran's Day to all my Veteran friends! As most of you know (but some of you might be shocked to learn!) I was in the Army for a little over 10 years.

This picture was taken when I was 17 years old and stationed in Korea. The hair style just screams Farah Faucet which also betrays my age :::blush:::

The experiences were amazing and the friendships have lasted so many years! I hope all of my friends in uniform -- past and present -- have a happy day and feel appreciated by everyone including those who served with them!

Our Wedding Anniversary

Happy Anniversary, my darling! It's been four years since you took my heart and I took your name and every single day I've pinched myself just to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

You mean everything to me. I've never known anyone I admire more and I'm proud as can be to let the entire world know how honored I am to be your wife.

Thank you so much for being my best friend, my rock, my hero, my co-chef, my dance partner, my playmate and my children's father. I love you! (K)