Photo Dump Part I

I've got so many photos that I need to get off of this computer now that it's working again, so I'll be photo dumping all this week before I get back to semi-irregular blogging.  This is mostly for the family, so if it's not your thing, I'll see you back here next week. 

But if you're sticking around, let's catch you up, shall we?

Yes, I am so far behind that Photo Dump Part I starts with the babies' first Easter at home:

and then at Grandmom's house with aunts, uncles, cousins, and of course, Grandmom:

 

Monday night on the town

Last week, I received an invitation to attend a National Geographic screening of an episode about POWs,  including a Q&A with Senator John McCain and Ernie Brace.   Given that my parents had to go back home, we didn't have a night time babysitter, so the Husband -- who would've loved it -- would be unable to be my plus one.

But Roar has inherited his father's interest in history.  When I broached the subject of going to the screening, I was just hoping that he wouldn't say "no" to a night hanging out with me.  But he actually said, "That sounds cool."  I can't tell you how ridiculously pleased I was to be the recipient of such teenage enthusiasm.  

So last night, we made the trek to DC for a Monday night on the town, both of us looking dashing in somewhat ill-fitting suits (his was a little large, mine was small (and more than just a little -- trying mine on, I started singing "Fat girl in a little coat...")). 

The ride in was fun.

 

So was our pre-event dinner at the illustrious Potbelly where we snarfed down sandwiches and milkshakes.

When we arrived, the schedule was off.  We speculated that it was because of the alerts in DC and the explosions in Boston.  But they had set up food and open bars, and for the next hour, we mingled.  It was interesting watching Roar next to me, looking like a grown-up, and attempting to participate in grown-up conversations.  My little guy.  And when, for no good reason, he dropped into a conversation that I was a lawyer, it occurred to me that he might be proud of what I do.

So I had to embarrass him by taking a picture with my hot pink phone.  I even made him carry it for a bit.  It was the only logical thing to do.

When the Q&A started, we were both riveted.  What Senator McCain and Mr. Brace went through in Vietnam is unimaginable.  Regardless of your politics, I hope you appreciate that they were -- and are -- brave, resilient, patriotic heroes, and appear to be genuinely nice men.  In the end, I think Roar was enriched in many ways by being there.

Special thanks to the Husband who made our outing possible.  He single-handedly (and without complaint, I might add) fed and bathed 3 children, took them on a trip to CVS to pick up the babies' prescriptions (they both have sinus infections!), read stories, put babies to bed, played with Zachary and put him to bed, and then cleaned up.  This morning, Zachary was telling me that his daddy had found one of his balls outside, and had cleaned it up for him.  I told him that I'm pretty sure his daddy loves him.  He said, "Yep, my daddy loves me a lot."  Good daddy.

Thank you God, Universe, Whatever.  Thank you for all of this.

On religion and baseball

I believe in a higher power, that life, that existence, had to start from somewhere.  That's just plain logical to me.  I also believe that death is not the end, though admittedly, it is a "belief" because it's something I need to believe in.  But in all the explanations I've heard about why things happen, how things began, why we need to behave a certain way, I've never heard anything that sounds right on.  Everything -- including (and perhaps especially), the Catholic religion in which I was raised and in which, essentially, we're raising our children because the Husband identifies himself as Catholic -- sounds wacky to me.  But who am I to say that millions of people are wrong?  All I can say is that I don't know. 

Still, I'm fascinated by people who are steadfast in their assertion that their "religion" is the one true correct one.  The answer I've received as to what makes it so they "know" and I don't?  "Faith."  They believe because they believe.  Yes, it's circular, but there are books and signs and miracles and everyday occurrences and once-in-a-lifetime occurrences that reinforce their beliefs.   And so they go on believing.  To be honest, at one time, I was all judgey about this "faith"; but now?  I'm envious.  But I am who I am, and I'm not going to know for sure until I know for sure, and I guess I'm okay with that.
 
Many, many years ago, a friend introduced me to the idea of reincarnation through the book, "Many Lives, Many Masters" by Dr. Brian Weiss.  The basic gist is that the purpose of your life is to learn a lesson.  When your life is over, you review your life with higher beings, you take from it, you learn from it, and ultimately, you are reborn for another life lesson.  Past-life experiences follow you so that each time you are born, you are born more highly evolved.  This explains child prodigies, strange accounts of young children speaking languages other than their native tongue, how many people are drawn to certain hobbies or are "gifted" in certain areas, and how sometimes "old soul" is just the best way to describe someone.  It also explains why you've met someone and you've felt a spark of recognition or that you've known them forever -- the theory goes that these are souls that you've known before.  I love that thought.  And it sounds no more wacky to me than anything else I've heard.  It's equally plausible and implausible.

Let me get to the point of this post:  Zachary and his baseball.  We are not a baseball family -- we're a football family.  We don't watch baseball, we don't talk about it, and other than t-ball, we don't play it, and as far as I know, he doesn't come into contact with anyone who plays it or talks about it.  But lately, Zachary has been having batting practice with Parta.  He doesn't need the T for t-ball, and he hits pitches with surprising accuracy.  Don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying his skill is prodigy material, but it's still surprising to see that little guy find his target about 80% of the time (more often if he's not worried about whether I'm watching him).  And he's even better at throwing.  And he's not yet three. 

A couple days ago, out of nowhere, he told the Husband:  "When I was little, I used to play baseball for New York."  He told Parti this again this morning.  And so I asked him what position he played.  Without skipping a beat, he said, "Outfield." 

Now, I suppose he could've heard the terms "outfield" and "pop-fly" (I heard him use that before), and he's certainly heard of the state of New York.  And maybe his skill just reflects an above-average hand-eye coordination. 

But maybe, just maybe, my boy was a New York Yankee in a past life.  If so, I'd like to think it was a good life with talent and wealth and fulfillment, and that he learned a lesson that has made him the sweet, funny, beautiful soul that he is today.  I don't know.  But it's certainly something to believe in.

Bliss

Yesterday, we fed the babies dinner while sitting out on the deck. We watched as Zachary played baseball with Parta. In between pitches, Zachary called out, "Mama, watch me!" every time.

Funny how my view of "bliss" has changed with age.

I don't know when this happened

...but apparently now I cannot speak without the use of visual aids, and my Mac -- the only one my memory card is formatted for -- has been out of commission.  So therefore, I cannot tell you about our recent family ventures outside of our house.  And not just to the Costco, mind you, but to fun and fabulous places like the National Zoo and Spring City, Pennsylvania.  I also can't tell you about the surprise arrival of Parti and Parta.

*sigh*

The plan is to get the Mac fixed this weekend, and then I'll be able to speak again.  I know, I know, you've missed me.  Just a little longer, sweeties.

Have a great weekend!

The most fantastical weekend ever!

Yeah, I said there'd be outings and pictures, but I didn't count on Samantha, Conor, and I getting sick.  So instead of Easter Egg hunts and a trip to the zoo, there were snot bubbles, and more snot bubbles.  And while there was an outing, I don't have any documentation of our fun fun trip to Costco and Giant.
Now I'm sitting at work, half drunk and all groggy from the cold medicine I took last night.  But at least this is making me laugh this morning:  Zachary shows his dexterity.

Have a good week!

Catching up

Growing up in Iowa, I've had more than my fair share of ugly winter weather.  In fact, I've always said that Iowa winters are the worst nine months of the year.  But still, I haven't gotten used to it.  I hate the cold.  It saps my energy, my motivation wanes, and I just want to sleep and eat.

So right now, I'm going to blame the winter for my failure to properly blog for the last two weeks, and my failure to even pick up my camera during almost that entire period.  The pictures that you'll see below are the last ones I took before I started hibernating.

Earlier this week, I taught Zachary the meaning of the word, "dormant."  On the way to daycare, he's been pointing out all of the dormant trees.  This morning, however, we noticed that more and more are waking up ("Oh!  Look mommy!  That tree isn't dormant!!").  It's time for me to do the same.

I've had enough of feeling blah.  It's time to wake up. 

This weekend, we're going to go out and do something.  I'll have my camera to document it.  And then I'll come back on Monday, refreshed, with a to-do list in hand.

For now, here's your catch-up post:

• Samantha crawls.  When we last spoke, I was certain that all she would do was army crawl, but the day after I made that prediction, she proved me wrong.  My girl's doing it right.
• Samantha walked, sorta.  Over the weekend, we put Conor in a walker, and Samantha stood up behind it and started walking while pushing him.  
• Samantha has another tooth!  And she's drooling like crazy.  
• Conor, on the other hand...well, remember when I told you he was working on his first tooth?  Well, he's still working on it.  For the last month or so, we could see crooked little teeth right below the surface of his gums, but they still haven't popped out.  So officially, his tooth count is zero.
• Conor said his first word.  It was "Dada."  Being the sweet, sensitive little guy that he is, this was no doubt because Samantha's first word was "Mama" and he didn't want his dad to feel bad.
• The babies turned nine months on the 18th!  I neglected to document the occasion. 
• When we finally had a good snow (yes, I know it was just over 2 weeks ago), Zachary was able to build his first proper snowman.  And then another.

• When the weather turned nice for a moment just three days later, we got the entire family outside.  Zachary was able to get out his t-ball set, and has gotten really good! 

After hitting the ball, he'd run over to the babies and say, "Did you see that, Samantha?  Pop fly!!"  (I don't know why he thought only Samantha would be interested...)



•  I handed Zachary my camera phone, and he had the best time with it.  When looking through the resulting photos, it was interesting to see things from his perspective.

• Roar is still having challenges learning to drive.  But there is good news.  During the last trip, a curb check was the worst that happened, and that time, he appeared to notice all stop signs.  More good news?  Getting in the car next to him is more exhilarating than a roller coaster.  And it might even be good for weight loss - my heart races, and one of these times, I might actually throw up. 

Okay, I'm sure I'm missing things, but that's it for now.  Have a fantastic weekend!  And Spring, get here quickly!!