..make my day

I'm certainly glad I don't have to be a columnist for a living - just in case that idea doesn't come. It's nice to have an outlet, though, when one pops into my otherwise beleaguered brain. It's not really family news but, when something makes you light up for days, it's worth sharing.
Upon opening , what I believe to be, the last box of books from mom's house, I found two scholarly books that were autographed by the professors who wrote them. I met these gentlemen on a trip I took, with my grandma, to England,Greece, Egypt, Turkey and the Holy Lands in 1984. Of course, at thirteen, I had difficulty comprehending the material of these books but I tried SO hard to read them then. Both USC professors, their specialties were education/psychology and religions/gerontology and they thought I was a hoot. The one (religion/gerontology) who was leading the trip and the preparation classes often asked me what I thought, quizzed me and (luckily I was taking World History at the time) asked me to explain certain historical events to my fellow travelers, to whom I was at least 50 years their junior. Once on the trip, I wandered away from the tour guides, more often than not, to learn from him and hear his perspective as it related to a Westerner with Christianity as a basis for history. Grandma gave up on bringing me back to the tour. I think she was amused by the whole thing and wished she could find an excuse to listen to my professor too! She HAD thought it was funny when a tough lady on the trip had started calling me 'teacher's pet' at our first class.

Anyway, when I came across the books, I decided to see if I could find out more about the men on the internet. I found that the first gentleman was 103 yrs old in December and was celebrated by USC. The second, my tour guide, was still on faculty and had an email! Woohoo! I emailed him and after a few days of wondering whether or not he thought I was a nut job, got a response that filled me with such joy I almost cried because I couldn't tell Grandma in person. 'My' professor is 90 yrs old and just retired from the dept. at USC. He apologized for the delayed response as he was recovering from cancer surgery and he would look me up in the travel memorabilia as soon as he was able to locate his box from 1984. I had told him in my message just how fondly I remember him and how I appreciated his time with me. I filled him in on my life now and how invaluable that experience must have been in my development of teaching philosophy and skills. He was very complimentary in return, reminding me that my job is important. He also was thrilled I had contacted him and asked me to keep in touch because I sounded like someone with whom he would enjoy spending time- yahoo! He also wanted my address so USC could send me his latest book! I'm not quite sure why this made my day (could be that he told me that, by contacting him, I had made his whole week) but I am so thrilled that he is around for me to take that often missed opportunity to let someone - even a stranger or brief acquaintance, know how much he or she has had an impact, no matter the size, on my life.

So I am anxiously waiting to get the next note from my 'new' friend and I will cherish every word that is written. I'd bet I might even learn a few things. Who knows... I might even go to tea! What I've learned so far....... Take that opportunity to let someone know about a moment they hold in your memory - believe me, it's worth it.

2 months- already?

2 months under the belt! Well, the little one has definitely had an effect on this household. Her big sister still loves her and we almost have her figured out. After waiting over an hour, during which time she was very good, Anna had her two month well baby visit. She has grown 2 1/4 in. since birth and has gained about 5 1/2 lbs. She received 4 vaccines to protect her from a total of 7 different diseases. She was not happy but has not been too bothered so far. Luckily she gets a break and gets to wait two months before a repeat performance.
She smiles a lot but, of course, has since birth, and is chattering like a little bird. She is ready to pull to sitting when you count to three and wants to bear weight on her rather solid legs. The toothless grins are priceless - when we get to see those that are not reserved for Hallie, that is. The beauty of a two month old is found in the fists that hold your fingers and serve as support when trying to hold up one's head. I guess if you only know eating, fists should hold you up if you suck them hard enough. Even when she is trying to stand, she is pulling her hands toward her mouth for assistance. She is holding her head up well and lifts it quite high during 'tummy time' - when she's not attempting to move forward. She squeals with delight at the reading light over our bed or the flashlight chase on the wall. She loves looking at books and loves to have songs sung to her. Sleeping through the night? Not happening but, every once in a while we get 3 1/2 - 4 hrs. Seems like a good time to start those formula bottles at bed time! She has settled in quite nicely and it seems as though she's been here all along. We are enjoying (almost) every minute!

When does that 'new parent smell' wear off?
	When you give them the cold shoulder (ie: cold bottle/ cold wipe)
	When you roll over and go back to sleep during a crying-fest
	When you stop asking what color poop was found in the diaper
	The obvious answer: when the spit-up stops
	All of the above
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Mom and Big Girl time

Since before Anna's arrival, Hallie has been SO patient and understanding to the best of her ability, we are constantly amazed. As the due date neared, she was happy to go off with her daddy to do fun things. Her requests for me to come along changed to encouraging and hopeful statements. Instead of "Is Mommy coming too?" she reasoned, "After the baby is born we can all go together." It was heartbreakingly sweet. Could it be that Mom was missing that time more than Hallie? You bet!
A few weeks after Anna was born we were ready for a small adventure - just the two big girls. It sure doesn't sound like much but a chance to get out of the house - and together- it was golden. We went and got hair cuts,
had lunch at McDonald's and went shopping at Target. You'd have thought it was Christmas - we had a blast! Since Saturdays give me a chance to get out of the house, we've made errands out to be the best fun anyone could have. Anyone who has ever had a new baby knows that they really are in those first few months. In addition to all those errands, we have celebrated Grandma's birthday, gone to see Disney Live
and celebrate Uncle Mike's birthday (we let Daddy in on those), checked out Halloween Time at Disneyland

and eaten at Red Robin (one of her favorite restaurants). Surprise, surprise, every place we go, Hallie lets me know what we can show Anna when she's bigger or which place would be great for her to visit.
Mommy is having the best time enjoying her 'big girl' and when the errands are done they sure love to see Daddy and Anna again to tell them about their latest adventure.

The Big Sister

The job of Big Sister is extremely important and the resident Big Sister in our house does not take her responsibility lightly. OK, sure.. she went back on her promise to "even change the diapers" (made in the months before Anna was born) but, she has since offered again. It's hard to turn her down on that one and I'd give her a shot but she can't reach over the rail on the changing table. I am so happy that she feels she is just as much of a caregiver as her dad and mom and that she has now changed her choice of career from working at the aquarium to working at the aquarium and being a mom.

From the moment she saw Anna in the delivery room, she has been asking questions, making connections and RETAINING THE INFORMATION. I don't mean to yell but, I mean, she's not yet four and can't remember why she went into the kitchen (well... in all fairness, I can't either) yet she can explain all the devices she saw at the hospital, could direct you to our room if she went back and tell you where to get a snack and during which hours you could visit! At the first peep (or poop) she rushes to Anna's side and informs us of her immediate need. Funny that she tells Dad when it's a diaper issue and mom when she thinks she's just hungry. She can't wait for us to say she can hold her and she wants to feed and burp her. Again, on those rare bottle occasions, I don't have to remind her to hold the bottle so there's no air going in - have to tell her which way her shoes go sometimes though - go figure. She can't find a toy that's right in front of her but runs like mad for the plain white burp cloth that neither of her parents can see. Her priorities are really in order. NOTHING is gonna bother or upset her little sister if she can help it. After all, Hallie IS the one who can keep Anna entertained for the longest periods of time and has her genuinely grinning from ear to ear. We just get those quick smiles ( and, I think, eye rolls) Not the Big Sister. The Hallie Show, as we call it, is quite effective. I'm thinking of hiring her out.


So, each morning when Hallie leaves for school she kisses us good-bye a million times and gives me a piece of advice in response to my wish for her to have a good day. She looks like doctor leaving a house call with her lunch box in one hand and the other hand signaling the very important information I'm supposed to remember. "Don't forget to feed/burp/play with Anna." She never reminds me that I'm picking her up or that I promised her a juice box after school. Anna is foremost on her mind. Yes, it's frustrating to have to keep Hallie from kissing, hugging and otherwise touching Anna ALL the time but, it's always with so much love and pride and 'ownership' that I'm proud that it's not any other way. What would I do without Hallie? I can't imagine.

By the way, the verses to "Wheels on the Bus" were unacceptable as originally composed so,on a trip to the doctor's office, taking Big Sister license, Hallie made up a verse to include herself in the song. "The big sisters on the bus say 'I love you, I love you, I love you....." This was not her first foray into developing her own lyrics. A few months ago, while riding with Grampa Chuck in the car she created a verse to 'Old MacDonald' just for the grampas on the farm - "with a talk, talk here and a talk, talk there..."

Welcome baby!

Upon entering Methodist Hospital via the Emergency Room at approximately 3 am we were ready for the next childbirth adventure. Of course, they have to ask why you're there but, come on... did they have to ask? I mean, would anyone choose to just waddle in the dark of night to hang out? Of course, being August, it was a cooler time to be out...
I had only a brief moment of panic when, upon telling the nurse I was having contractions about 6 minutes apart, she said something to the effect of "let's get you hooked up and see how far along you are and see if we should admit you." All I heard was "We might send you home." WHAAAAATTTT???? I could still walk and talk and breathe but I wanted to do all that at the hospital - not in my living room! They obviously did not know how quickly the others came. Luckily, a high tolerance for pain was blocking the fact that contractions were happening every 3 minutes. They were nice enough to admit me.
I was told the anesthesiologist was on the floor and did I 'want to have him hook me up or wait?' Wait? I don't think so. He was the best by far and other than needing about 5 blankets (as seen in the previous picture) I was so comfortable, I fell asleep. Mom and Hallie came in about 5:30 to check on us - the nurses were so great in explaining to and including Hallie (Mom knew what was going on). At 7:30 the new nurse came in, put me on my side and I felt that old feeling. She rolled me back as the doctor came in and she informed him that she was not letting him leave the room. As with Emma and Hallie, he had to turn tail and prep while someone held the baby in. Dr. Morrison is great and knows how I do this so he was ready (though he had to tell the staff to hold up his C-section for a few minutes) At 7:39, on the first push - which I did not get to finish, Anna came along and cried her little juicy lungs out. She had to be cleared out for a bit because apparently there was not even enough time on the trip to squeeze the fluid out of her lungs. A respectable 8lbs. 7 oz. she blinked and cried her way into our family.