Recently, I’ve been extremely aware of the overabundant joy my children provide me with regularly. For starters, the spontaneous and countless giggles jump start my heart. The way my son Gray manipulates words thereby creating his very own vernacular only his parents can understand makes me smile. Doodoohopter! Doodoocycle! Adding the “doodoo” prefix to any word wins every time … Just Doodooo it! His excitement and enthusiasm for life inspire me. Gray is a dream. He’s such a sweet, mild tempered boy. He’s creative and athletic, smart and funny. He’s got spunk but he’s pretty cautious overall. And Piper … she’s taken to laughing at Gray as we count to ten on the steps. She thinks it’s hilarious that he counts I suppose and I think she’s hilarious. I think she’s wise beyond her year(s) … it’s a cackle-ish laugh and it’s quite cute and more importantly, it’s contagious. When she’s as zen-like as Piper gets, she hums … and occasionally, I’ll hum with her, cheek to cheek. And I’ll change the melody up at times and she’ll follow my pattern and then, we’ll pause and giggle together. I feel her eye lashes twitch on my cheek and subsequently, her grin grows. Times like this make me so happy. Unsolicited and natural play between Gray and Piper melts my heart. When it’s nice and sweet and gentle (AND NOT FORCED), life couldn’t get any better. And because it’s rare for Gray (2 yrs) and Piper (1 yr) to have many of these moments, they are treasures and rarely forgotten. Observing your babies loving on one another, sharing toys/books with each other, entertaining one another or comforting each other is pretty amazing. If only I could bottle it up and sell it …
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Happy Birthday Piper
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Promotion x2
Two and a half years ago, I got a promotion. I became a Mom to one handsome, delicious little prince. And one year ago today, I visited by OBGYN for my 40 wk check-up and planned my induction. I think I’m almost as excited today, as I was a year ago. My nerves are much more settled now, but I can still taste the enthusiasm. With my first pregnancy (Grayson), we found out the baby’s gender at 18 weeks. How magical! I will never forget that appointment or that I donned a pink shirt to my sonogram appointment because I was inclined to think “pink.” BOY, was I wrong! Ha. Things were much different during my second pregnancy (Piper) in every way. Most of all, we decided to let this baby’s gender be a delivery surprise. I suspected “Junebug” was a girl because of the morning sickness that didn’t subside completely until 16 wks or so. However, my suspicions were countered by friends, family and fearless strangers predicting that I would soon be outnumbered in my house (meaning the only female). Few friends (and my mom) encouraged my suspicions though and they know who there are … Kisses!
So, a year ago today. I left GBMC and headed back to my office in Timonium. I stopped at a fast food drive-through to get a fountain Diet Coke with a straw. Straws tend to be my signature accessory during pregnancy. Upon returning to work, I casually told my co-workers that I would be induced tomorrow morning and with that, they hugged and enthusiastically sent me packing and wished me well (thanks CMS!!) That afternoon, I remember running (waddling) around the house, packing my hospital bag and packing Gray’s overnight bag too for his stay at my parents’ house. Funny thing, when I was pregnant with Gray, I think I had my hospital bag packed and ready to go by 30 weeks. Everything changes with the 2nd. After dinner, my Mom came by the house to pick-up Gray for his 2-day stay at Chez Cesare. That was probably when it hit me that we were actually having another baby … and that’s when my heart grew even bigger than I expected possible. On a night that I assumed would be sleepless, I was super excited and zonked out pretty quickly. It felt like minutes later I was rudely awoken to an alarm clock or perhaps a loving nudge from George. Wow. I’m sitting here typing with the biggest grin on my face. So, a year later … she certainly hasn’t tripled her birth weight by her 1st birthday, but let me be the first to boast of her accomplishments. My girl loves to eat – everything. She’s gorgeous. My girl loves trouble. She’s spunky. And she’s smart.
And amidst a recession, during these glum economic times, me thinks I got another promotion. Our delivery surprise, born 06/04/08 has rocked our world, from the moment we learned of her (Oct 1, 2007) to this very minute.
Thank you my dear Piper! It’s been our honor to serve you during your first year of life.
Big Mama, Big Baby. I’m told that children love to see picture of themselves in the belly. I post this “image” with that in mind.
Half Baked: Junebug looking good circa 20 wks or so
Mommy and Daddy at the start of a somewhat long, laboring day.
Our very own Little Miss Sunshine