Went to the beach today. It was like 70 here, but it was much chillier and breezier at the beach. G was absolutely soaked. Like wring-out-his-clothes soaked.

He's gonna sleep like a log.

Additionally, Netflix shouldn't let you get the "bonus features" dvd for a movie unless you've already rented the movie. Stupid. Now we have to wait another week until we get it. Rrrg.

Isn't it funny how you look back at baby pictures of your toddler, and they look like cute funny mini versions of themselves? Right now I think M is the cutest thing ever (and she is of course) but someday I'll look back at her pics and think "wow she looks like a small bald version of herself with sticky-outy ears".

Today I instituted the "sanity drive". It consists of plunking both kids into carseats, driving through mcd's for a diet coke (although a coffee would count too) and driving the 14 mile bridge-to-bridge loop. It worked and by the end I was excitedly pointing out street sweepers again to Nino. Although he did start making *that* awful noise again (you know it, it goes a little like "maaaahk" in order to wake the baby) and the trip to the buffalo store was truncated. "momma, why are we almost home? What about the buffalo store?" "you made that eardrum-shattering noise and now we're going home". He's not too scarred.

He's hysterical. We were just outside, where he used a garden shovel to fill up the bucket loader which filled the dump truck which filled a coffee can which filled the backhoe bucket. I love him. He's filthy now.

Drove to New Haven and back Friday afternoon. The reason all four of us were in the car was so that we could have an adventure. Instead, the backhoe was enormous and hubby didn't want to just leave it somewhere so we drove 6 hours with two small kids. Not ideal, but you know they weren't that bad. Slept most of both ways, up for dinner.

My dishwasher is leaving little specks all over everything. I think it's time to break out the Tang. I bought it for this purpose and still haven't actually made/tasted it. I'm tempted every time, but just can't do it.

I nearly forgot! I met Evan yesterday. He is 8 weeks old but was 9 weeks early, so right now he's about newborn size. He looks it. He's perfectly adorable. Such a peanut. Makes my 15 lber seem enormous. I love his little dark fuzz and daddy's heavy lids.

Oh so many things. This weekend was the Southie St. Pat's day parade. That was fun. I didn't spend much time outside, I was mostly inside on the couch with the boobs out. Nino wanted to stay out in the 36 degree weather for "one more guy". He loved the Clydesdales, the policemen (and their guns, *sigh*), the bagpipes, every single bit of it.

Hubby turned 40 on Monday. We hosted a little shindig. By little I mean "not many others than the family" but even with just local family, it ends up at 20 people easily. I made *lots* of meatballs. It was a hit.

Yesterday I worked all day. I have to figure out what I'm going to do. I like getting away and making money for a few hours a week, but only being a few hours a week means I'm relegated to kind of crappy work.

And today we start swimming lessons. He's really excited, but our only option was 4:30 pm, so he needs a nap. I am perfectly willing to drive him around to get that. I need a stamp pad for my new stamp (woot) so I'll just get it a bit further away.

REI is dangerous. I went in there to buy some $.30 webbing and some $1 clips and walked out $79 later. Nino is going to have a great Easter basket though. They had an orange fleece vest. How could I not?

A lady at the grocery store yesterday said "what a beautiful baby. oh! and what a beautiful boy! You are a lucky woman."

And you know what? I am.

I have two awesome kids, even though right now both should be asleep and neither is.

I've just started reading (and starting to fall in love with) this book. It's published by LLL about Gentle Discipline. My poor Nino is being affected pretty majorly by his little sister, and we're all feeling the effects. What's great so far about this book is that it's not self-righteous like many sources I've seen. It's practical and it just flows with my lifestyle and parenting style. It's funny because just recently I've started responding to his naughty spells with either snacks or cuddle time, and it works. In the first chapter those are both sort of set up as prerequisites. I really hope that we can all get back on the happy track.

Meanwhile, it's gorgeous here. We're all sniffling. Something is blooming.

Oh and little miss has her bottom in cloth right now and she will for the forseeable future. It is keeping in her explosions, and keeping those nasty crystals off her perfect skin. I don't remember this with Nino but she gets them all the godforsaken time. It oogs me out. I'm okay with washing her poop. It's not that exciting yet though. Ask me when she starts eating food. ;o)

Our experiment in "doing something on Wednesdays" is going well. This morning we went to the pool. The best part about that is that it's the gym - where I've prepaid for childcare, so the girl is happy while we're a-splashing. Last week was ice skating which I feel will be another favorite. Storytime is at the same time, which is the only bummer. I wish storytime were a different day or something.

Speaking of the gym, I am back. I re-activated Monday, and have been each day since. I'm trying just to have 20+ minutes of aerobic activity until I feel that's not doing anything. I did 25 min on the bike at first, then 30 min on the elliptical, and today was 15 min on the elliptical, but dragging a 3 year old around the pool must count for something. Besides, it's nice enough we'll go for a walk later.

Our garden seeds have arrived. I am going to dig out those little greenhouse-tray thingies and Nino will help me load them up. We're just doing a few things - strawberries, cucumbers, broccoli.

I've decided I'm really offended by the trailer for "the hills have eyes". At the end, a little girl who has a malformed head, says "can you play with me mister?" or some such thing, and that's supposed to be SOOOOO spooky. Good God! Play with this incredibly ugly child? Hell no. God forbid she get some joy in her life living with serial killers and having picasso-like facial structure.

Not at all sure where his interest in ice skating came from, but we've now been twice. If I'm the one going with him, I may just learn too. Although I'm not sure leaning over a toddler and sliding him back to the bench for snacks is really a learning experience.

Anyway, he should sleep well. "My tired momma".

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.