More Proof I Have Kids

After how crazy life continues to be, with another trip and busy work week last week, am very much appreciating today's holiday to have some time to slow down, and catch up on, well, life.

This morning, Matthew and I woke up together first, and made blueberry muffins, a common occurrence around here most weekends, aka, Matthew demands it. And to lick the beaters.

In between parenting and muffin-related activities, I used the morning to catch up on digital photos n junk. Which put me in the vague vicinity of doing a blog post, so with Matthew and Mike showering, and Rachel hopefully down for morning nap, thought I'd strike while the laptop was hot.

Speaking of Rachel (and this ties to nothing I'm talking about, but then hey! Neither does this post overall!) is this photo not hilarious? Wearing her new little fake fur coat for Christmas from Aunt Rosanne, and Matthew's old baby sunglasses. No autographs, please, for my little diva.

Think we took this on the way to Aunt Rosanne and Uncle Don's last weekend, they babysat while we enjoyed a nice adults only night at Jones family cabin.

Well I guess that's it for this random post. But I am trying, people, just takes a while to get back in the saddle, apparently.

Concession Post

So, hmm, I do not seem to be blogging much. Sad. Just ... absorbed in work, life, and other things, I guess. Hey - I've actually been reading! Stupid stupid Twilight series sucking me in (save the commentary, non-fans - it's dorky, I know).

And yes, I even missed commemorating my baby girl's birthday, birthday party, Bridget's and much more. Unforgivable!

Recognizing, however, I still don't have it in me to scoop it all up in some witty posts just yet, but not wanting to deprive you of my beautiful girl's birthday shots any longer, I'm hoping this will tie you over.

This one's on my screen saver at work every day and just really makes me happy.

This is probably my favorite of the bunch. Grama Claudia and her baby Rachel.

Of course, then there's Daddy tending to his cake-faced one year old daughter (sigh :)

And the artsy black and white - Rachel with her most favorite toy, my old (OLD) doll from when I was a baby. These are all taken by Uncle Mark Jones at her party. He posted them to Picasa for me before I even had thought about downloading mine, which didn't compared at all. Mark was like a photojournalist, all OVER this party. Thank you Mark, what a gift.

When Mom Goes out of Town ...

Baby gets a shiner!

Editor's Note: This blog title courteousy of Erin who shared this photo/fact with me. My husband conveniently forgot. In his defense, the same thing happened in my care last weekend when HE was out of town. Unexplained bruise on her forehead. Guess the ravages of crawling have begun to take effect on my poor baby girl!

Rachel's 8 Month, Mommy Fueled Photo Shoot

She's loving her tummy now because she can finally hold herself up for a long time, plus wiggle and scoot to her desired destination, eventually.

Rachel's signature move from this stage of her babyhood is the head tilt. She literally loves looking at life from all angles. Sometimes with a face so very serious (her other signature) and sometimes, so giggly and happy.

Our darling girl

One Year Olds We Love, Part 1

Given the population explosion that happened in my circle about this time last year - with four darling children born in the month of May - I'm thinking this will be a series.

But we'll start with their senior partner ... Baby Shane. Only the most smiley, charming, handsome baby boy you'll ever meet.

He's always laughing, except lately, when he's yelling for Mom - his number one most awesome and favorite person ever in the world EVER - for better or worse. I'm quite certain many of my readership can relate to that mix of being overwhelmed by their need ... and by the amazing feeling of one little person loving you so much.

What I love about Shane: He likes cuddling and rocking and passes out as he's having his nighttime baba. A true mom's baby. I love cuddlers and don't have one right now. Rachel's kinda hands off at night night time. Sometime I just want to rent Shane out about 7 p.m. when he's sleepy.

What I also love: even though I haven't spent as much one on one time with him as I did with Bridget - the curse of the Seconds - he gives the best greeting and wiggles around and will come to me almost every time.

So endearing and more a sign of what I bet will be a lifelong sunny personality than any special love for me. Even though, I certainly have a very special love for him ... our second little man of the gang ... and as Matthew's Grama would say, a VERY handsome devil.

Happy birthday, Baby Shane. I agree with your mom that you WILL still be Baby Shane when you're 24.

Staged Sibling Love from Easter at Grama's

Still doesn't make it any less heartmelting, does it?

Milestones I Can't Not Blog

I'll skip the preamble (so awkward trying to catch up on missed history with old friends, and same with blogs, isn't it?) and get straight to the good stuff:

Rachel baby update ...

Said her first word, 'Dada' on Friday May 1. Guess she wasn't content to let baby Shane have the spotlight with his own first birthday all to himself (that's my girl).

Mike swears she said it reaching up and then looking at him. I find she says it to me, Matthew, her feet, the wall next to her changing table, and really any passing object. But damn, I'll be glad to hear her mislabeling objects as Mama soon!

Think Matthew was the same way with the Dada first. Now before I go all working mommy guilt on you and think, ohhh, he's home more that's why ... my very own baby book and my little brother's, which were written by my mom who stayed at home at the time, noted her irritation at us ungrateful babies not only SAYING Dada first, but preferring him over her for a period of time as late stage babies. So Dads, if you got it, you got it.

Rachel is also on the verge of crawling. And I'm having that same "What am I thinking?" reaction every time I sit and watch and encourage and put my arm out for her to push off of/coaching move. Several babies I know just hit the crawler phase and guess what - I KNOW it sucks, made life X variable times harder, and that the gating / security system I will have to put up will know no bounds. Also, Libby may just conveniently stop remembering the way to our house. I know she's terrified, too.

Rachel is definitely a more curious kid than Matthew. She's a grabber and a taster. She watches. She's been scooting backward at a good clip for a couple weeks now, and she will back up around completely around the perimeter of the kitchen just to get one teeny tiny leaf the dogs dragged in that I didn't even see til it's in her little spitty chubby pincher and then mouth.

She just gives off a different vibe. Matthew didn't play with cords or go for light sockets. He was into his books and toys from the beginning. I will not state in print the amount of child proofing that I never did with Matthew ... he just, didn't explore.

But Rachel - she will be a nutcase. And I think I love it! It's that first sense I'm getting of her, her personality, that crazy little side of her I always knew for some reason would come out. I look at my knick knacks on the lower shelf of our front table (gone) and the bundles of cords (tied up) and the gate above our basement stairs that is presently more in name only than something that would keep a baby from going down the stairs because it's got a huge gap underneath (will be adding a second one at the step above it) and the office supplies I just neatly organized into baskets on LOW shelves all over our office (oh HA HA HA those are all gonna need to be empty and probably bolted to the walls).

I can just tell she's gonna be a monkey, a climber - and a stinker. And for some reason - maybe cuz that's still conceptual versus a reality yet (that will ruin my free time and oh, you know, occasionally risk her safety) I just get a kick out of it.

Because I Still Have Children - Photos from the last month or so

Rachel in her little black dress shirt from Grama Claudia.

Mike and Matthew at the first Spring Zoo visit.

The kids ready to tackle the Zoo.

Rachel sits up in her baths now like a big girl - and yep, she's almost always this happy and smiley these days except when she's sleeping or hungry (aka our lil piggy).

More to come ... unless I am lying and disappear for another 6 weeks, he.

MY Girl

I realize I'm a posting nightmare with the no posting for weeks, then the massive post, then a series of random photos.

But I can't help myself. LOOK at this girl from a couple weeks ago.

(Look past the baby acne, that is.)

First, she's darling to me in this photo.

Second, MOM, doesn't she look JUST LIKE ME as a baby?

Also damn cute in this fine Baby Sister shirt, available at a finer ZoeysAttic.com shopping cart near you.

BrrRRRRR!

Remember Halloween, that holiday 4 weeks ago?

I do, because I've got skads of unposted photos. UNTIL NOW.

Meet the 30 lb. pride of Webster Groves, Stampy the Elephant 2.

From Halloween 2008

(Stampy 1 would be the stuffed one he sleeps with ... a gift from Aunt Lisa to Rachel ... that got intercepted along the way by our resident elephant lover.)

Working on the rest. We actually had darling ones of Matthew with BFF and ladybug Bridget, stay tuned...

Another Wonderful Pre-Halloween Weekend

Who WOULDN'T love this time of year? Crisp weather, beautiful sights of orange pumpkins and leaves, and kiddos in their Halloween gear looking absolutely adorable. Oh, and the pain of Christmas shopping not quite yet upon us. Like this past Saturday...

Miss Rachel in her orange and black finest.

From 10-15-2008

Our dogs, Murphy and Bogey, enjoying the cooler temps with my parent's dog Honey, who were visiting our house before our trip to the pumpkin patch, round 2.

From 10-15-2008

At Rombach's, Matthew enjoying a pony ride. I was SO proud, he wasn't scared! (Actual Matthew and pumpkin pics to follow, soon, hopefully.)

From 10-15-2008

And last but definitely not least, my Dad finally meeting Rachel.

From 10-15-2008

(If you're born and bred in STL, this probably seems odd, but when you're transplants like us, it can take a while for folks to meet the newest family member. No matter how cute and edible her fat cheeks are!)

Happy Early Halloween, Gramas!

Sweet girl in her festive new p.j.'s from Grama Claudia.

Cheeks are expanding!

Just in case you missed the booty on this baby.

Happy its almost Halloween!

My two sweet treats.

Five Weeks?!??!

How can it be five weeks since I brought my sweet baby girl home? In that time, she's gained a pound (or more), while I've continue to steadfastly not lose any more.

Also she's breastfeeding really well, sleeping regularly, isn't crazy fussy, and even lets us get 4-5 hours of sleep at a time. Sometimes. When she feels like it.

She loves her big brother. I think...when she stares at him goggly eyed, and sticks her tongue in and out, that's love right?

And most days, HE loves HER. Kissing her, and telling her good morning and goodnight. And asking me (ALL DAY LONG), "Mama, where's Baby Rachel? What's Baby Rachel DOing? Oh, she's so lit-tle." And even shushing the dogs - and the neighbors' dogs - if they bark when she's sleeping.

Of course, there have been the times he's launched a sippy at her head, or whacked her with a Matchbox car. These things happen though with toddlers and new sibs. (Right???) Mostly that's been when he's been frustrated with ME, not out of straight jealous moments. You know when I won't give him what he wants. Which occurs any zillion number of times a day when I will not let him watch TV for the third hour in a row, or when I ask him to stop banging his airplane into the wall. Or when I, you know, ask him to Eat Food.

It can be stressful. That is for DARN SURE (read with slight note of hysteria). But overall, we seem to somehow be adjusting to this new powerful little force that arrived, literally, about 5 weeks ago to the minute.

Actually, I was probably mid push right about now, wondering if I was a wimp or if the nurses and doctor and Michael were crazy because, dude, I swear that epidural wore off before it even got started. Which reminds me, I still owe my blog her birth story. Maybe for week six ...

In the meantime, here's a recent one that pretty much embodies what I look at all day. This girl makes some FACES.

From 09-25-08

Also, from this past Saturday, Matthew enjoying the Grant's farm goats during our visit there when it was so beautiful out.

From 10-1-2008

He's came a long way from running scared into Aunt Kim's arms during a visit at this same time last year. Now he's giggling as they nibble him and is fact much more okay with his being eaten alive by baby goats than I am.

(And yes, somehow we managed this outdoors outing and lived to tell about it. I suspect we won't attempt such a feat again for while. NOT because we didn't have fun. Because it literally sapped every ounce of energy out of me to get them ready, out, enjoy the day, and get us home, and I'll be plugged into the wall recharging for months.)

Also this weekend, Baby Shane and Baby Amelia's double baptism made for a very special Sunday.I was a little more on the ball with Baby Amelia's (and Kim and Mark's) photos, sorry Shane buddy.

From 10-1-2008

From 10-1-2008

Matthew and Bridget agreed the best part of church is watching the train go by outside afterward.

From 10-1-2008

Later, we all had a fun time at the Jones' house reception, where I got this photo of the two little sweeties...and their babies, ha ha.

From 10-1-2008

Don't Aunt Erin and Aunt Kim ... respectively holding their niece Amelia and nephew Shane, look proud? They should, these kids are both lookers and both just as sweet as can be. Love you, Jones babies.

That's all. I should probably remove the baby from the swing after 2 hours, don't you agree? Especially given I've listened to her cry for the last few photo-uploads? (One of many differences between first and second kiddos; I'm impervious to guilt crying now.)

What If We Went for a Third?

Rachel, Matthew, and Baby Seahorse snuggled into Rachel's crib. One of the most heartwarming moments I've had this past month.

Three DOES balance out the photo nicely. And if babies did nothing except play music and make their tummies glow, staring at me with placid plush faces, sure why not?

But since instead they cry at 4 a.m. or whack their sisters on the head, I suspect we'll stick with the two suckers on the left.

How's It Going?

Today is the day before my daughter's one month birthday so I felt my first post in 3 weeks might be in order. SOooo... Here's what's going on over here with me and the two (completely the boss of me) short stuffs:

Lots of sitting on the couch marathon breastfeeding sessions while watching endless morning/daytime/middle of the night TV. Which means CNN is about to cut me off as a junkie because it's the only thing that's dependably decent.

Lots of negotiating. Matthew, if you let Mommy feed Rachel, then I'll play Play-Dough. Matthew, if you let Mom finish pumping, I'll play cars. Matthew, if I let you watch Thomas, will you sit here next to us? (This just in) Matthew, if you let Mommy do the computer, I'll let you watch Wheels on the Bus (Thank you, YouTube, for not being a totally useless time waster but also a helpful childcare device. There are LOTS of cute videos out there. Such as 20 minutes of kittens playing/falling off things... he LOVES it).

Lots of guilt about what I'm NOT getting done every day. Sure, I would tell anyone of YOU just having babies, don't worry about laundry, dishes, thank you notes...and certainly not blogging or posting photos. Yet every day these chores and more loom over my head on most days where getting out of my p.j.'s and feeding us all our 3 squares a day (or 8, as the case may be) should be a big accomplishment.

Lots of borderline neglect of my toddler when I decide, dammit, I AM going to get on the computer or make this call or do X for just ten minutes. Such as right this minute when Matthew is in our room, opening and shutting the door, probably in between going through all our drawers and ingesting something poisonous I don't even know I have in there. And asking me for the zillionith time already this morning, Mama, what you doing? What you doing? Which reminds me...

Lots of endless answering of the same tiny toddler-voice-asked questions. Mama, where Baby Rachel? Mama, what's DAT? (in response to any noise we hear. all day long). Mama, where's Daddy? Mama, where's Maya (cat)? Mama, where's (someone we haven't seen in 3 months)? The amount of questions I am asked and answer each day should qualify me as the all time winner on the world's MOST annoying game show.

Of course, I love him so dearly and on "easier" days am really enjoying the time with him but... OH MY GOODNESS, THE CONSTANT ATTENTION WE NEED.

Did I mention this is only my FIFTH day alone with both of them? Not fiftieth. FIFTH. All the other days I've had moms or helpers thus everything felt deceptively manageable.

I know it will get easier. And I do love taking care of my own kids. But right now I don't have my hard protective "living with a toddler all day" protective shell built up. So it's all feeling overwhelming at the best of times. I'm sure I'll make my bones just about the time I go back to work, right?

Of course, it's not all frustration. There are moments of pure "OMG, how perfect are you kids?" Such as this:

I want to post a lot lot more...birth story, daily observations of being a mom of two, whining comments on sleep deprivation and of course, more on miss Rachel and her emerging personality. As I told EEJ, I have constant blog posts running through my head.

I just need that psychic Star Trek type magic translater to get them straight from my brain into my blog, along with suitably charming photos updates and captions. But until that time, I might be on the slow post schedule. Either that or one of you experienced mommies needs to teach me to type one handed while I feed her.

In the meantime to redeem myself, there are some photos of our first 2 weeks at home posted on my Picasa link here.

Brother and Sister Muldrow

There's so much to post about I can't begin just yet. So I'll just say... I DO see the resemblance between my kids (my KIDS!!!!) that some people are seeing. I didn't at first but...


Matthew at 3 days old

Rachel at about 3 hours old.Similar eyes, nose, mouth, (cutest little) bags under eyes (that you ever saw). But you can see, she's clearly a girly girl whereas he was clearly an 80 year old man.

p.s. I know these won't hold ya over. You are insatiable for baby photos, aren't you. If you haven't seen them yet, Erin's blog has a beautiful post including a link to lots more photos. Thanks for being SO on the game this week, Aunt Erin, we love you for it.

p.p.s. I wish I could point you to the Web Nursery hospital photos. But I can't because they are not posted like they said they would be. Just like they never ever ever are whenever friends have babies and I obsessively search again and again to see if they've posted. Which they usually do like 10 days later, when the kid's already off to high school.