Sabbatical

Sorry for the long, LONG absence. We've had lots of drama: good and, well, annoying, but all is well with us. As we are getting settled into our new/old house, the internet is just now becoming available to me again. Please give me a little more time to get things organized around here and eventually I'll catch you all up with our events. Sadly, I have few pictures to add as well, but I'll be working on it.

As Bill is about to begin HIS transition sabbatical from fellow to attending, I will be doing the same. However, with him around to help with the house and kids I may actually have more time to tell you about it...

Stiff Competition

Remember this diva? The one who likes to stand on step stools and sing (solos only please) to friends and strangers alike? She better watch out....

...there's a new kid in town. Liam has seen what she's got and is bringin' the heat. Watch. Out. There's gonna be a whole lotta ego in the house soon...good thing we're moving to a bigger place.


Crikey.

Innocent enough, a little "blue steel-esque"

pow!

pow!

POW!

Still co-habitating peacefully for now...

Uh oh Liam! Dr. Reina said you need an enema! What?!?

Sista and Brudder

Reina takes her job as big "sista" very seriously. She is fastidious about reporting Liam's crying to me, saying "Baby Liam needs a binky" or "he needs a bottle" or "he wants his Mommy." Although the last is interesting in that she says I am not his Mommy, I'm Reina's Mommy. Must be a brudder from anudder mudder? Anyway, my favorite is when he is on his playmat/jungle-gym, she tells me "don't step on my brudder". Makes me snicker every time.

This weekend was Mother's Day and we spent the afternoon/evening with my parents, my Nana and my brother Matt and his wife, "Uncle Jen". The house is a mess due to packing and the dinner I made was a not-so-adventurous frozen lasagna (trying to empty out the freezer before the move) but it was good to relax and visit with family.

Today, Liam went for his 2 month check-up...got 4 shots and an oral vaccine. Poor kiddo. He's been intermittently crying in his sleep since then. Reina was good but wanted to get shots, too, so she could get some bandaids. Tough luck, tootsie. Liam weighed in at 11 pounds, 3 ounces; and is now 22 inches tall. Kind of a shortie (15%) and not too fat (25%) but his big ole noggin is still holding all the requisite amount of brains (50%). I hope he doesn't have trouble holding it up in the future. For now, the tummy time is progressing fine...

My 3

Muscles

Post co-bath..."he needs a binky"

My gorgeous girl

Reina, Mommy's Mommy's Mommy, and Liam

Baseball!

Last week we attended Liam's SECOND baseball game (he already has his own personalized mitt) and the weather was lovely. We went with friends and had a great time, despite the loss. Now Reina can't stop saying "go Reds" with coordinating arm-pump and asking where Rosie and Mr. Redlegs are. Did I mention I really didn't care much for baseball? I guess after 12 years hanging out with Bill, I've decided to give up on resisting. I'm sure I'll be able to name the entire starting line-up way before the end of the season this year!

Pre-game, note the toddler who refused to wear her Reds shirt. Near tantrum when I suggested removing the flowered one. Yikes.

Hot dog. Better eaten separately apparently. Also consumed 74 nacho chips and ate half of our friend's popcorn (hey Erin and Kyle, Bill didn't want to tell you but she dropped some on the ground and put it back in the bag. sorry.)

Loved clapping with the crowd, loved the scoreboard (was actually on it for a second!) and loved Rosie Red!

Who needs to go to Disney to meet the characters? (I do)

Poor Liam. No comments about his view please.

My little children, sleepily holding hands in the car on the way home. Melt.

My Little Lad

"What's Liam doin'?" is a frequent question of my inquisitive 2 year old. Usually the answer is "sleeping". However, as he grows bigger every day (really, he looks huge to me already...mostly his noggin) he is starting to be more interesting to all of us, especially Reina, Jedi and ole poop tongue, Hermes.

Bill thinks it is funny to pretend Liam can walk around...I think it looks kind of creepy to see this tiny person standing on the ground, looking up at you. To clarify, Liam's not creepy, just that walking.

Checking out some new friends on the jungle gym of misfit toys.

Photo of Reina taken at the same age, same place...family resemblance?

So happy, all the time. He's such a good baby, rarely cries unless hungry.

Also, he thinks he's hilarious.

Still smiling and laughing. Sleeping, well, 5 hours last night isn't too bad. Getting there, I'm back to caffeinated tea, however.

Go Outside!

Blogger seems to be acting funny about my photos this afternoon, so you'll have to wait for more...I finally have tons...but for now here is some documentation of Reina's most recent obsession, playing outside. With the advent of spring and summery weather lately, playing outside has surpassed watching Monsters as the activity of choice. Thank goodness.

Our back yard neighbors have older kids, and trampolines. Not my favorite child's toy/instrument of death, but Reina loves it. Every day she begs to bounce and is fine if supervised and by herself on the thing. Other outdoor activity favorites include blowing bubbles, playing "soccer ball" and talking walks or riding her bike. Even getting the mail is an adventure to her. She also adores flowers, more specifically, squishing them.

More often than not, Liam is asleep during our outward bound-ness, but accompanies us in the baby bijorn when we head further afield. As for him, he's happy if he's not too hot and his pants aren't too wet. At nearly 7 weeks old now, he is starting to be more interactive, smiling and cooing at us. He watches his sister and is intrigued by his jungle gym playmat friends (I have photos of these things to try to post later!). He has slept up to 6 hours in a stretch at night but has been trending closer to feedings every 3 hours again this week. I've tried to increase the volume in his bottles to extend the time between but have only ended up wearing more spit up thus far. Found some in my hair yesterday...wish I could say it was the first time! Glamours of motherhood.

Other things we've been up to: Liam's 2nd Reds game, a beautiful evening but I think the team lost; starting to organize our move in early June, have I mentioned I never want to move again? We haven't even done the back breaking part yet but we are so excited about the new/old house!

Bill's return to the ICU this month plus his travel to New Orleans for a conference (where he is presenting!) will certainly put a heavy load of the moving hassles on me, but it's ok, I'm angling for HUGE Mother's Day acknowledgement this year! Just kidding...but the new washer/dryer does not count, FYI. :)

Not sure about her form here, she knows the "no hands" rule though.

squish squish squish

Desperately trying to get those bubbles out!

My view of Liam when in his bijorn...one happy laddie mcboy!

Weather forecast today, rain. With a chance of awesomeness in those frog boots and jammies.

Monsters

Move over Elmo, there's some new monsters in town. Monsters, Inc. to be precise, has replaced the lovable Muppet as Reina's favorite media entertainment of choice...this week...everyday this week. There are few other monsters around here as well. But before I get to that, I'll fill you in on the week.

We returned from a nice but busy weekend in Kiawah, South Carolina where Bill, Liam and I attended friends John and Natalie's wedding on the beach. Gorgeous day and fun fun time! Congratulations guys. Reina, got to spend the weekend at Nana and P-Ga's doing more in a few days with them than we do in a month. No doubt they are still recovering.

While you may have noticed we are the only people in America to sell our house at this time, we are now also blessed to deal with home inspectors, failing radon tests and radon abatementers, window repair guys, general handymen, mortgage brokers, building permit inspectors and sewer experts. Ahh, the joys of moving. We haven't even started the packing or address changes yet! We feel very fortunate and know these are all just little speed bumps along the way until we're settled in the new-old place. Life will return to normal again in...mid June? July? Just in time for Bill to start his new job?

Ok, back to the monsters. Reina. Sign. She's got some opinions these days. And is very independent. I'm proud of all she can say, do and accomplish, I just wish there were fewer tears involved as she tries so hard to get her point across. At least bedtimes are looking better again. Less begging and bargaining. She's just plumb wore out!

The other monster: Liam. He's a good, good baby, only waking usually once a night to eat. All that sleep isn't hurting his growth, however. At the pediatrician yesterday, he weighed exactly 9 pounds and was in the 25th% for both height and weight, 50th% for his big old noggin. Ok, so not really a monster, but bigger than his sister was. He is starting to act like he recognizes me and maybe has a hint of a smile. And is hard to put down...so cuddly. Reina loves to talk to him, rock his chair and stroke his head. She says "pick him up" when he cries and tries to help with diapers and bottles.

On to the photos. Some are fairly old, and they are not in order. Imagine it as a snapshot of my normally orderly mind/way of doing things. Not happening just yet. I'm thankful for the little things right now, like going to Kroger with both kids and coming home with both still happy. Like having no one crying and both actually asleep at the moment. I am charging my camera battery now. Memory card is empty, clean slate to create more organized memories soon! Thanks for the patience...

Natalie and John

Sleeping 2-Headed Monster

The only decent photo of Reina in her Easter dress.

Look at her devious grin, enjoying the lawn tractor a little much!

"Cincinnati Daddy" got to take his family of 4 to a Reds game. This was AFTER the game and no naps.

RMK's first ice cream bar at the baseball game. No sharing. Ate the whole thing.

Die hard fans. Liam and I went inside for the all-you-can-eat stadium food.

This monster likes her toenails courtesy of Aunt Andrea. The shoes aren't my fault either.

sweet.