Soggy Green Happiness

Chilly spring raindrops are pinging the windows. Looking out, I see that the grass around the muddy patches is violently green. If the sun were to suddenly shine, the vibrancy of the brilliant, wet lawn would certainly hurt one's eyes. The muddy patches are usually called "flower beds." No blooms yet, but the promise is there in little emerald shoots. A dozen tiny birds peck away in the mud, ignoring the rain.

I'm not an outdoorsy type, and I am tired of cold and rain... but those birds and flower buds make me smile.

{Need Some} Sonny Weather

One boy heard me calling the other boy "Sonny" and asked why I don't call him by that name. It just slipped out, I don't think of either of my boys as "Sonny." But I got thinking, of course, about Sonny and Cher. I had to share this video with my son. It just makes me happy.

Saturdays

When I was growing up, my parents had this "Saturday Morning Breakfast Club." Basically, it was a very large, drawn-out breakfast followed by lists of chores. Lots of food = lots of work. Breakfast eatings have always been my favorite, but this meal was a mixed blessing. I hated Saturday morning chores. Somehow, I expected that my kids would love them.

Gassy Babe

An old trick I suddenly remembered from my mother: curl a gassy baby over / around your lap.

It doesn't look comfortable, but G-Baby said that it was. She finally settled down. Didn't belch or toot, but settled.

Baby Neck. This tiny patch of skin, behind the chin and below the earlobe is my most favoritest place to kiss my baby. Soft and filled with baby smell.

Wardrobe {FUN}ction

I was trying to tell G-Baby that she looked extra sweet in nothing but a soft blankey...Or atop a hand-made quilt.

But she didn't so much feel the same way I did about it. So I gave her a shirt. Now, I don't know if she was just cold, or if she was upset about the big Zero (the logic of my argument that she wasn't one month old yet, so she couldn't wear the number 1 yet was lost on her. Actually, after the mess of that run-on sentence, the logic is lost on me too.)

Maybe it was just the cold, because here she is, five minutes later in peaceful slumber:Or maybe she was just worn out from all that screaming.

You would think that by the time I brought home my third daughter, I would have learned my lesson. Girls have definite opinions about thier clothing, and these opinions are not usually founded upon Good Reason nor Common Sense.

Good Reason & Common Sense: if a dress is scratchy, don't wear it.

Norah's opinion: If a dress makes you feel beautiful, wear it and ignore the discomfort!

Good Reason & Common Sense: If it is cold enough for snow boots and long sleeves, it is not warm enough for hawiian print shorts.

Willa's opinion: if mom can bum around the house in sweatpants and a grubby t-shirt, a two-year-old can make any outfit work.

Sitting Around, Not Doing

If the cupboards in my kitchen could see my invisible thoughts, they would slap their doors in raucous laughter. If cupboards could laugh, of course. Each morning this week, I purpose that This will be The Day that I sew Those Easter Dresses. If the cupboards can laugh, they probably can talk to the sofa as well. If the sofa is listening to the gossip through the house, it would shift its pillows in disgruntled agitation. "Sew? What about running the vacuum around here? How will she ever do anything if she never gets off my cushions?" Assuming a sofa can fuss, this one must also be bothered by the frequent diaper changes upon the upholstery. The house may be laughing at my neglect of duties and hobby, but A tiny head, soft with downy hair, just fits in the crook of my elbow, and it won't fit there for long. A small body, new to this world of light and sound, sleeps best when resting on my chest. A little mouth spends every waking moment rooting around for something to snack on. Yes, every waking moment. How do I take care of all that when sitting before a sewing machine or marching behind a vacuum? So I'm mostly just sitting around these days, justifying myself out of the chores and fabric. Ok, I don't sit that much, but it feels like I do.

At Home, In Restful Craziness

My dear, fun-loving sister invited my older three kids to spend their spring break at her house. It was perfect timing, following immediately as it did the arrival of G-Baby. Kids 1, 2 and 3 completely enjoyed the time spent with their cousins (because Aunt J. really is the most fun-loving responsible adult on the planet) and the Baby Girls and I really made good use of the four days of quiet to rest and recover. However, after four days, I was definitely ready for everyone to be home together. Sure, it's already louder and a little chaotic in our house. Yes, we've had some bickering and whiney attitudes this morning. But... YAY! I'm the mother of five wonderful children and they're all here with me!