Just returned from a local API meeting. My first visit, and it was so great to be in a room where everyone else knows what a sling is and how to use it, and are nursing their toddlers, and all have babies in bed with them. It's so refreshing.

Then the girl went for her four month appointment and jabs. 60% for weight, 75% for head and length. I guess my milk does her good. And she recovered pretty well from the four sticks. Poor bub.

I am finally a genuine architect. I just received my final pass letter. I am so excited. I guess the stuff in the crockpot is going to be in tupperware till tomorrow, because I am going out and having wine.

Now we're trying to figure out celebration. We were going to find a sitter and do a grown-up thing, but this is my party and I want those kiddos there. I like going out with them and showing them off, and I can still have a glass of wine with them there.

Additionally, Nino is totally into Bambi right now. Of all weird things. We got it free at the movie rental place, and we've watched it like nineteen times. He doesn't mind the mother dying bit, because he loves the daddy deer and his big antlers, and that's how we get to see him. He does constantly talk about the fire.

And we've been totally into making ice cream. Yes, it's single digits out but we like it. We made strawberry on Saturday, and today was mint chocolate chip. Fresh mint. Mmm. Sounds so much fancier than the actuality - we had fresh mint but no extract. So fresh it was.

There is no one else in the world who I'd do that for. I just rubbed apricot oil into Nino's scalp, then used the fine baby comb to remove an amazing volume of yellow crusty flakes. I mean it was all over my shirt, his clothes, his hair, everything. Tiny cornflakes. It's working though. And since he wouldn't let us buzz it, I have to be more diligent. At least he loves the bath. I'm not sure, until this incident, I'd ever combed his hair before. So if you have a toddler with raging cradle cap under a full head of hair, that's the ticket.

Quiche is like a perfect food. All four food groups in one yummy bite. I had a dozen mini-quiches for dinner.

Aren't they just the cutest? :D

Today the girl had her first "solids" - I shared an animal cracker with it. She chomped and sucked like she knew exactly what she was doing. She had about a thimblefull of mush. I'm a bit worried that Nino saw me do it and now will be "sharing" everything.

I was put into a rotten mood last night by three thoughtless events by my husband, one of which (onions on a sandwich) gave me a headache so I felt even worse. Bleh. I need a good nights sleep. He's out on a walk (yes, in the single digit temperatures, so sue me) with Nino, who I hope will be in bed moments after the dinner I'm preparing, and we can talk like adults and watch silly tv or something.

Today my daughter is four months old. I can't believe it. With Nino, I was all ready at 4 mos exactly with the rice cereal. Now, no hurry. I want to wait until 6.

I also took him ice skating today. I was worried since I had to put skates on too, but it was fun. I need a nap and a backrub though. I carried both of us awkwardly around the rink.

Today I took Nino to the theater. First time ever. We saw George the Monkey, as he says. He is still talking about Africa, and the rocket ship. It was fun. Good to go to the 12:20 show, when there are only 7 other people in there, half of whom are also in the 3-5 range. He's so sensitive - he didn't like George in the dark cargo ship. But with such a small audience, his crying was fine. And I didn't mind at all when he climbed into my lap.

I love these stolen "dates" we get. I need to have him in my lap with no competition.

On the way home as they both slept, I was struck by how absolutely I love them. It hurts my heart or something when I think about it. And when he cried in the theater, I was on the verge of tears myself. It hurts me for him to hurt. I'm such a sap sometimes.

And this little girl who needs me so very much. To wiggle a laugh out of her gets me every.single.time.

Even on days like today, when I have to change her and (literally) hose her down in the kitchen sink because of the havoc amoxicillin is wreaking on her GI system.

Well. okay.

3 names I answer to:
momma
hil
wifa

3 parts of your heritage:
german
irish
swedish

3 things that scare me:
driving into water
harm to my babies
thunder + lightning

3 of your everyday essentials:
chocolate
sloppy toddler kisses
toothy baby smiles

3 things you are wearing right now:
wedding band
slippers
baby

3 of your favorite songs:
Atlanta - Alison Kraus
100,000 miles - spearhead
Opera Singer - cake

3 things about the opposite sex that appeal to you:
Smile
sense of humor
wit

3 things you want in a relationship (other than real love)
Laughter
Honesty
Great sex

3 of your favorite hobbies:
Sewing.
Sketching.
Snowboarding.

3 Places you want to go:
Italy with the fam.
Philly for the shindig.
Mt Rushmore.

3 things you want to do before you die:
Have another kiddo.
Be a hot skinny momma.
See my kids success - wahatever they want it to be.

3 ways that you are stereotypically a female/male:
I love babies and puppies.
I eat pickles and ice cream when pregnant.
My hubby gets the brunt of my abuse.

Somehow I got 8 lb into this weight loss thing and something happened. My cheeseburger and diet coke turned into spicy chicken sandwich with free fries today at McD's. Stupid guy handing out coupons to waiting cars. Never.again.

I really want to want to eat better. I can do it. Hubby brought home one whoopie pie for the whole family for dessert, and you know what? It was plenty. My four bites of gooey calories. It was fine. I need to remind myself that's all it takes. I need to be happy in a bathing suit this summer. I want to see fellow alum at that wedding and be smokin'.

My poor baby is sick. She's got this runny nose and junky cough, and I brought her to the doctor where the official thermometer says 102. She keeps falling asleep just any old place. At least she's not *too* miserable, but when she's awake she's not her usual sunshine. No ear infection though which I was afraid of. Thank goodness Nino is going to Sue-sue's today.

Well, I'm officially taking over the guest room with fabric and sewing. Of course, it will will be fully functional as a guest room, but I just don't have the space to store all of our files as well as 30 yards of fabric. And of course now I've decided that I'm going to try to make a dress for the girl for Easter/spring wedding. We'll see how far I get.

Trip was fantasmo. I was healthy in time for travel, kids were decent on the plane - the best I could have asked for. Only one day of real rain, and not even that hot. Like 80 the whole time. Great.

Here are the boys on the beach.


And the girl poolside.

We're back from sunny Puerto Rico. Fun, but I'm so glad to be home. More tomorrow.