Sunday, August 31, 2008

I can take a hint

Happy Labor Day weekend! Here are some relatively recent pictures of my girls!





Saturday, August 30, 2008

Rolling, rolling, rolling

Apparently my wee one did a 180 today - tummy to back. And I missed it (at the salon for a much-overdue hair appointment).

It's amazing how exciting it is. I thought perhaps it wouldn't be quite such a thrill the second time around, but it is!!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Unbelievable

I'm almost scared to type it out loud... like it will somehow jinx it and make it never happen again.

Elizabeth slept for 12 straight hours last night. She's 12 weeks old.

Again, unbelievable.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Kids: 1, Mom: 0

I definitely lost the battle today (and my sanity, and my temper).

The destructive power of a 2 year old on a rainy day is remarkably similar to a big puppy. I didn't sleep worth a darn last night (shoulder/neck issues), and was woken at 5AM (by said 2 year old) thanks to the thunderstorm. All a recipe for an unhappy day.

God grant me the grace and patience to be a better mama tomorrow.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Back in the Saddle

Emily's post today was quite appropriate, since today was my first major practice session since April 27th. I've picked up my cello now and again since Elizabeth was born, but just for a few minutes at a time. Now, with my orchestra season less than two weeks away, it's time to get serious.

It's like coming home.

Things are a bit tight, especially since I'm always carrying at least one child in my arms and my trapezius is generally a wreck. All things considered, though, it wasn't too terrible. It's quite exciting, really, how much my chops have come back since I got my new cello. Last summer in particular I practiced a lot and I think was pretty much back to my college level (in fact, I have surpassed my abilities then in some areas thanks to the playability of this instrument).

I heard auditions last night and it was just such a joy to be back with my fellow principals. I'm looking forward to getting my seating figured out for the season. I only wish this season had a bit more excitement musically. After Ein Heldenleben, I suppose anything is going to seem anti-climactic, but the first concert is focused on Opera, and we have several members of the MN Opera coming to sing with us. Woohoo . Don't get opera much, and the cello parts are BORING. In fact, for one of the pieces we're doing I think we have 4 different notes through the entire piece. I guess I should look on the bright side that bowings and fingerings will be easy to get done!

Now we'll just see if I can practice enough in the next two weeks, with all else I must do, and E's baptism coming up.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

What was I thinking

In the past, I've twice given Kate's hair a little trim, and it's turned out quite well. Well, third time was not-so-charming.

I have been debating whether to cut bangs for her or to grow her hair out. The issue is that to grow it out I have to find a way to keep it out of her face. It's hard to find clips to stay in her very fine hair, and the few I have she takes out as soon as she's out of my eyesight. I finally decided I had to get her bangs.

I'd trimmed her hair before and it was fine, and it appears my ego got the best of me. I totally butchered her hair (front and back). The bangs are way too short and are crooked. The back didn't start out so short, but she kept moving and I kept trying to even it out, so it just kept getting shorter and shorter. It needs to be on the shorter side - she doesn't have enough hair to grow it long yet - but this is crazy. People will think she's a boy.

I am literally just sick over this. I can't get over it. I feel so bad - I'm so glad that she's too young to get how goofy it looks. And we have Lizzy's baptism in 3 weeks, with pictures, etc. Ugh.

Pete is "disturbed" that I am so upset by this, but I have a thing about hair. I know I get freaked out by haircuts, etc. That's why I've never taken her anywhere to have it cut - I was too afraid they'd make her look weird. Well, there's no way they would have made her look this weird. I know it's probably not healthy that I'm this upset by it and this is not a good thing to be "modeling", but frankly she's now less cute than she was a few hours ago, and it's my fault.

I kind of want to take her somewhere to have it evened out, yet at the same time I REALLY don't want it to get any shorter. I think I'll just have to keep trying to pin the bangs back until they grow out enough to even them off. Then I'm going to let them grow completely - I don't like a true "bang" on her. I don't know what to do. I guess I'll get a deserved penance just having to look at her for the next month or two or however long it takes for her to start to look normal again.

My poor little princess.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Random Updates

I cannot believe how fast August is flying by. It's crazy. I remember when I was a kid my Dad telling me that time seems to go faster as you get older. I thought he was nuts. Man, it's so true. Pete's theory is that the perception of time is a parabola and that sometime around 70 or so it starts to slow down again. Wouldn't that be nice?

Elizabeth continues to be a ridiculously easy baby. I don't remember the last night she didn't have at least a 5-6 hour stretch. In fact, two nights this week she's slept for 8 hours straight, followed by a four hour stretch. It's amazing. I think Kate was 9 months old before she slept 8 straight hours. I put her down for naps drowsy, but awake, and she puts herself to sleep. She almost never cries, and smiles and coos like crazy. I know - I almost even hate myself. But I figure she owes me for all that puking.

We had her two month appointment last week. She's a big girl. She's off the charts for length (24 3/4") and 90-95% for weight (12lbs., 12 oz.). Not quite as big as Kate, who was off the charts for both. Still, that means I probably have a month or so before she outgrows her infant car seat. I don't quite know what I'm going to do if she's too big for that but too little to hold her head up consistently. I guess I'll have to hope I can snag a shopping cart with the built-in baby seat(and hope she's not too heavy for it).

Kate is doing great. She's been very into music lately, and even once last week demanded we go downstairs so I could play cello for her. She sings a lot - mostly songs she makes up. She has also recently decided that the English language doesn't have enough words in it, so she makes up new ones. Makes for some confusing conversations.

She's a very affectionate big sister and has to kiss & hug Lizzy often through the day. She's starting to show interest in dolls, now, too. Her favorite (whom she named "Poppy Seed") looks remarkably like Elizabeth. Kate will bring her on the sofa when I'm nursing, lift up her shirt, and put Poppy Seed's mouth on her belly button so she can "nurse" her baby, too. It cracks me up.

We also have another addition to the family - a new Honda Odyssey minivan. There are several moms in my neighborhood who eschew the minivan. To each their own, I guess, but I'm thrilled to have one. The automatic sliding doors, all the space, the rearview back-up camera... it's this mom's dream car (for now). So, if you know anyone interested in a 2002 Ford Explorer with a little body damage... what? what's so funny? why are you laughing?

This week is Pete's birthday. Since I got him the Wii for Father's Day, I'm probably not going to do the PS3 for Bday. I'll save that for Christmas. I'm debating between a digital TiVo and an XM radio. Decisions....

We got our RFPs for our house out a couple weeks ago. I've been crazy busy meeting with contractors who come out to ask some questions, measure, take pictures, etc. It looks like we'll get 7-8 bids altogether, and our deadline is next week. I'm looking forward to getting a handle on what this is going to cost us (and hope we don't regret buying that minivan).

Lastly, I have tried twice to start Weight Watchers, and quit both times because it killed my milk supply. This is seriously bumming me out. It's true what "they" say - it's tougher to lose it the second time. It just fell off after Kate, but this time I haven't lost a pound in 6 weeks. I am 35 lbs. above my prepregnancy weight (55 lbs. above my pre-trying-to-have-a-baby weight). And I can't diet and feed my baby at the same time. "Bugger" seems to sum it up pretty well.