Ian's visit

The OTHER Ian! Not my brother, but Andy's best friend from back home - Ian Hall - has just visited us for a couple of weeks. He helped us out like crazy with our big move (including a rental truck!) to our new summer place in Maine, and also lots and lots down here, besides just having fun... I was sad to see him go today! I probably got used to regular adult conversation during the day... and plus, he's just a really great guy! I think after spending so much time here with a 2 1/2 year old and a 7 week old, he's going to relish his quiet bachelorhood even more when he gets home! He's so great with Oliver, though, they had tons of fun playing - I know Oliver is going to miss him, too. Here they are on a diesel train in Flemington, NJ (Andy was the photographer) --looks like Oliver was reading Ian all the most interesting parts of the brochure. I stayed home and went shopping with Maddie (you can see how much fun she had in the next photo!). And there's Andy illustrating just how easy and relaxing it is to take care of 2 little ones... ha ha!

Anyway, in only about a week and a half, Andy's parents will be visiting us, and we'll be spending most of the time up in Maine - can't wait!! That's the news of the day. xoxo

Deep Thoughts

You know you're a mom of 2 when....
You wake up in the morning with your crying baby, and your very first thought is, "Maybe I'll be able to have a nap today."
You know that 9 out of 10 times, your 2 kids don't nap at the same time, so no mommy nap...
You realize with dismay that it's Friday, and you haven't had a shower since Tuesday.
You wonder, for the umpteenth time, why your *right* nipple aches when your baby starts nursing on the left side, and vice versa.
You're anticipating with glee the arrival of your fancy new diaper bag.

With 2 kids going in different directions sometimes, daddy needs his own bag as well - which he picked out himself and is also anticipating only slightly less gleefully than you.
You love heavy cloud cover, as it means you don't have to worry much about sunscreen.
Remembering that baby #1 seemed impossibly challenging at the time, but now that routine seems like a walk in the park compared with having two.

Quick one here, too many things to do before Maddie wakes up again (thank you notes being one of them... they'll get mailed someday!). Mostly just taking each day as it comes - trying to get Oliver out to a playground or to meet with friends most days, avoiding the temptation to stay holed up at home. We had Oliver's bff, Anja, and her parents over for dinner a few Friday's ago, so much fun!! (see photo) Oliver is (only just!) starting to put two words together (I don't want to hear about it, all you mothers of crazy talkers!!) - the other day he was outside playing, and he looked into his little blow up pool and said, "bee dead!" Indeed, huge floating dead bee in the pool. One of his most sophisticated sentances to date, that.

Maddie has sleepy days and restless, fussy days, usually one after the other, rotating. She usually has one 4-5 or so hour stretch of sleep at night, so that's good, can't complain too much. By the end of the week I'm pretty much spent, and I get to sleep in with Maddie while Andy plays with Oliver, yay. Can't report too much more on Maddie - she's still very much in the eating, sleeping, pooping, repeat - stage. She's definitely moving into the "look around with bright, wide eyes" stage, too. Not to mention the "be exceptionally pretty" stage. :-) Although, right after she has a bath, I call her Pat Benetar, because her short brown hair is totally full and spikey, reminding me of the 80s icon... see photo!