One Last Snow

Every year around Valentine's Day Big Sis and her husband come to DC for a week for a work-related thing, and every year they bring crazy cold weather. It's true. Every single year. Meteorologists might try to convince you that this has always been the case around President's Day weekend, but I dunno. I think it's Big Sis.

And this year was just like before. Except, that is, without me having to take her to the hospital and get her treated by my doc on the L&D floor and forcing her to finish her turkey sandwich so we could all go back home on that snow day.

This year, we had our annual brunch with Mama and Papa H, KB's family, Big Sis's and mine where, like we have every single year since beginning this tradition, we showed up with more kids than the year before. Table for thirteen anyone? One sling, one high chair, three sets of crayons and lots of delicious Clyde's food and conversation.

Afterwards we all fought the cold by cramping together in my tiny house for Mama H's surprises: layered cake and iced sugar cookies. Of course the naptime countdown began and some wailing commenced, but once the babes were all locked away, and sadly that meant KB and fam heading out, we did manage to get a game of Scattergories going.

You guys, do you hear that? It's the sound of me celebrating convincing my family to play a competitive board game with me!!! (It's also me entering the 2000s and learning how to save and use gifs - expect my blog to be revolutionized with short animated visuals (also no, there's no actual sound, don't worry, I'm not that fancy))

Anyway, it was all in all a great day. And much like the last time Big Sis was in town, and like the previous years she visited, it was immediately followed by snow.

Monday, a day I already had off school of course, was a beautiful snow day. Three or four inches of pretty, light, fluffy stuff just dancing outside the windows.

We didn't get many snowstorms this year, and one could argue winter isn't officially over yet, but the few we got were still dazzling and perfectly punctuated by this sweet little white blanket.

Also, by some strange miracle, we got Tuesday off school too, which naturally meant we hung out around the house like this.

Isn't that how you dress on your days off? Boots, helmets, and Christmas pajamas? Ok, good. Me too.

So... spring?

Snowzilla

As I mentioned before, we were out for seven snow days. The first was for the two inches that caught the DMV by surprise. The second was because no one knew for certain what time the snow was starting on Friday, and hence we all needed to be tucked safely away with milk, bread, and televisions blasting fear and fantasy at us from all angles.

J-Man, after having two separate flights get canceled in advance, was able to catch an early morning flight to DC, before the airports all closed up shop. By lunch we had him, a serious stash of snacks on hand, freezer meals ready to thaw, and a sense of "ok, let's do this thing" at the ready.

The snow came fast and furious that afternoon, all night long, and all day the next day, not ending until well after bedtime Saturday night. We halfheartedly did some of that shoveling and playtime during the height of the storm. MDG hated it, PDG wanted to like it, and J-Man was mostly in awe at how much snow can fall from the sky.

before going out

uncertain in the midst of it

hot chocolate reward

Even though I don't watch Game of Thrones, this was still my favorite meme of the storm.

Once the snow stopped, we got down to business. Sunday the Mormon neighbors hosted all the Mormon families within walking distance for a pot luck lunch. We're a pretty prepared bunch, so it was delicious, but we're also a procreating bunch, so there were a lot of children occupying a duplex hardly larger than my own. This particular family has a basement, so with Aladdin playing downstairs, the adults got through a game of Taboo upstairs that was only slightly interrupted by the five two-year-olds whose attention spans are too short for a full Disney production.

When the shoveling really commenced, sometime late Monday afternoon when we saw the one and only plow we would ever see, it was like that scene at the start of Beauty and the Beast when everyone comes outdoors and knows each other and is part of a happy wonderland. A snowy, back-breaking wonderland, but chipper nonetheless. The kids ran around on the snow mountains while the adults tackled driveway after driveway together, making sure everyone could get out the next day when work presumably would return. Turns out J-Man and I own the worst two shovels on the block, but we did our part.

The days passed with no predictability at all. Unlike Camp Nicole, with frequent outings to parks and scheduled time for just about everything, we took each day flying by the seat of our pants. Blanket forts? Ok! Turning snow mountains into slides? Sure! Jumping in puddles of melting snow? Rather not but, oh, ok, you're going to do it anyway... Yay!

I also started watching this Australian teen dance show on Netflix.  I'll just let that sit there for a while.

The boys went to daycare twice, the mornings I wasn't worried about black ice from refrozen snow melt, and I had a chance to clean the house from all the sand and salt and general chaos of days off. That plus PDG started wetting the bed again for the first time in almost a year, so that's been.... not awesome.

But that brings us here, back to reality and work and finally warmer temperatures that are melting the remnants of those two feet of snow. I should be more excited about this return to normalcy. But if I'm being honest, I'm already looking at the 10-day forecast on my phone, secretly hoping to see another snowflake somewhere in the future. Not another two feet or anything, maybe just a good 1-3 inches. Preferrably on a Tuesday night. Enough for a no school Wednesday and delay Thursday. Because, truly, it's all quite magical at the beginning.

Snow Day One... Of Many

Tomorrow I return to work after seven consecutive snow days. Seven. And tomorrow is a work day, so that means it will be eight business days - twelve actual days - without seeing any students. That is a really, really long time.

So long that I've lost my mind, just a tiny bit.

It started kind of cute. Wednesday night before the storm we were supposed to get a dusting. With J-Man having a terrible work trip to Atlanta all week, Mama and Papa H, along with Big Sis and Baby C, had come over for dinner and playtime. As they went to get in their car we saw this scene.

Over an hour later they made it to the onramp of the highway, only to learn the highway was shut down and not moving. Turns out no one within the beltway pre-treated the roads so it was a giant skating rink for rush hour. A little over another hour later they made it back to my house where it turned into an H family sleepover. Poor Baby C had no pack-n-play or crib, so it wasn't our best rested night in this house, but given that MDG exists, it was still far from the worst.

My school system doesn't play with snow anymore, so we shut down before midnight and the next day the boys got to ease into winter.

Little did I know that would be the beginning of an extended staycation snowed in. I'm looking forward to the return to civilization. But only sort of. I also really enjoyed an impromptu reason to stay home, build forts, watch too much TV, and get to know the neighbors through shoveling parties and shared outdoor child supervision.

Big Sis Brought the Snow!

It's been a weird, wet winter in these parts this year. While out by Mama and Papa H there's been plenty of the fluffy white stuff, those of us inside the beltway have mostly just gotten rain.  Sometimes freezing rain. Sometimes a dusting and then rain. But not that accumulating, watch-it-fall, beautiful snow.

Then, Big Sis came to town. And Big Sis has had a pretty rough winter this year. She's been saying how one of the major things she misses by living in the south is snow. She really, really wanted snow. And would you believe it? It came!

As a sidenote, Miss S, our fearlessly fabulous daycare provider, is in India celebrating a wedding for two and a half weeks, so Mama and Papa H have been amazingly watching both MDG and PDG recently. It's been on their terms, though, since it's a big undertaking, meaning they've stayed out at their house. So last week we went five whole nights with no bedtime stories or early morning potty adventures. The house felt strange and empty. The boys were obviously in great hands, but they weren't my hands, which felt really odd. (If you're wondering what I did to keep busy and distracted- I read the entire Divergent series in a week... like a fourteen-year-old. You can judge.)

So after a lovely Valentine's Day weekend, which I will hopefully post about this week, I drove Big Sis and the boys out to Mama and Papa H's house where they would spend the following days. It was a little gamble, but one that paid off when at 4:30 my county preemptively called off school for the next day. So for the first time this year, the boys and I woke up to a true snow day. Unlike the previous two we've had, and the many 2-hour delays, we actually had inches to play in, kick around, throw, scrape, and stare at in confusion. You can guess which of us did which of those actions.

Without further ado, here we are, playing in the snow at Mama and Papa H's.

No tears, but he was not impressed

like the boots? Big Sis didn't pack like her snow dreams would be coming true

Pretty sure teachers love snow days even more than students

St. Pat's Snow Day

Ok, I'm looking on the bright side of things.

Yes, it is March, and it is snowing.  Yes, that means there will be more days tacked onto the school year, or minutes to each day. Yes, I am beyond ready for spring days that turn into spring weeks and spring months and then summer.

But, ok, the bright side.

I got an extra day today to cuddle with my boys.  To dress them up in green and change the sheets to green and take pictures.  (and do some needed laundry)

Plus, I actually have time to write on snow days.  Unlike the weekends when spare minutes are used for chores and holding hands with J-Man and venturing to the park or the store or church or you know, just napping.  Snow days do hold that potential to not need quite as much rest and do the other things that are always just barely too low on the list of priorities to get weekend time.

So today we're wearing green and hanging out.

Oh, and because who doesn't love bathtime pictures, here are a few.

sometimes he won't smile but will respond to "show me your teeth"

the divider keeps the splashing minimal and gives all the letters/numbers
 a home - everybody wins!

Snow Days: March Edition

The snow is back.  It's both incredibly frustrating and intensely magical.  I mean, we'll be in school forever at this rate, but by then MDG should be sleeping better and there will be more sunlight so I think I'm ok with that.

But seriously, this is a lot of snow.  And ice.  I'm starting to think it's an elaborate ploy by Disney to get us to keep wanting to see and listen to Frozen.  Which, if so, is totally working.  I'm such a musicals junkie.

Today, however, is day four of my weekend/snow day March edition.  Yesterday J-Man got to stay home from his first day at his new job and we were super productive.  We finally hung some things in the nursery.  We cleared out the drawers of 0-3mo items and switched to all 3-6mo stuff.  I didn't even cry putting away things that no child of mine will ever wear again. They're just folded and sorted until friends/family can put them to good use.

In an effort to keep up productivity, today I've done more than one load of laundry, and even folded it without anybody shouting "clothes" and pulling all the piles out of the basket/off the table onto the floor.  And that, dear friends, is because both my babies have been napping for over an hour simultaneously.

We've had simultaneous naps before, but rarely this long.  It's fabulous.  I'm so excited I can't even sleep.  Instead I've folded (obviously), plucked my eyebrows, eaten Girl Scout cookies without having to hide or share them, and even started writing this blog.  Time will tell if I get to finish it too.  Breathing patterns are suggesting yes.

I know stay-at-home-mom isn't for me, but days like this do trick a girl.  Sleeping in til 7am having only nursed twice during the night?  Simultaneous naps?  Cookies?  Throw in a shower and this could be heaven.  Ha, you knew showering would've been asking too much, right? We'll try for tonight.

So we'll see what happens when everyone's up and hungry and rested and ready to burn energy one way or another.  Maybe we'll clean off the car? Bake cookies?  Or will it be meltdowns and competitions for mama's arms and lap and comfort?

Who knows... Until then I think I'll drink more soda, watch a non-animated, uneducational tv show, and avoid flushing the toilet to keep this miracle going even longer.

So Much Snow

The east coast has been one snowy winter mess this year.  It's kind of a blessing - like free maternity leave sprinkled throughout my re-entrance to the working world.  But it's also been a lot of snow.  Maybe, possibly, too much?

PDG loves to say "snow," but isn't totally sure about it beyond that.  Especially during the last storm where our 8 or so inches kept getting him "stuck." Then he'd pout and call for help and act like the world was ending until we would stand him up, have him take another step, and repeat the process. J-Man did make him a snowman, but even then he was pretty unimpressed.

Instead we've done things like run around inside, making a mess, watch too much tv, eat too much sugar, and read and reread and reread his favorite books: Who's Hiding, Brown Bear Brown Bear, The Monster at the end of this Book, and some random ones about Barney's food friends and Veggie Tales and Bobo's blue jacket.

And on Valentines Day, rather than making cards with my students, I soaked up hugs and kisses from my runny-nosed boys and made them pose for pictures

Back to Work Take One

Today, January 21st, at 7 weeks and 1 day PP, I returned to work.

Ok, no, I didn't.  I mean, I'm back as far as the paperwork goes, but Winter Storm Janus decided to sweep in and drop some snow on the East Coast.

I love how trustingly MDG is watching PDG

The best part?  Not only am I home, but J-Man got a work-from-home day too.  So it's like a little family vacation.

I expected to be exhausted and stressed and pulling my hair out right now and instead I have wet hair from a super long shower where I actually washed it - a true luxury these days.

So what have we been up to?  Straight chillin'.

We'll see what PWCS has to say about school tomorrow.  Can I get a 2-hour delay on attempt number two to return?  Fingers crossed, inside out pajamas, snow dances and ice cubes in the toilet.

Christmas Card 2013 Photos

Ok, so one more photo post - mostly so one day when I've lost this year's card, I can remember what was on it.  So here are some pictures from MDG's first week.

And to add some substance - I'll answer the most commonly asked question: how's PDG handling being a big brother?

Answer: Surprisingly well.  Though don't worry - not perfect.  He does love diaper change time and brings me diapers and wipes (which I've been forced to be organized enough to finally keep in a constant location) and throws them away after.  He is still pretty into identifying body parts though, so poking MDG in his face and announcing things like "nose" or worse, "eyes," is a daily activity.  He gives kisses and offers the pacifier when MDG cries - but then wants to steal it back once MDG is calmly sucking away. His tantrums are more pronounced and his need for attention after minimal bumps and falls has skyrocketed.  But hey, he's still a baby.  My baby. Even if he looks like a big boy.

And for the other common question: how's MDG sleeping?

Answer: Uh, bad?  As in, like most babies.  We have sometimes gotten a four or five hour stretch, but it's been totally unpredictable and will randomly start at like 7:30, so too early for me to realize I should also have gone to bed then to fully take advantage of it.  Then it's back to the two hour or occasional 2.5 hour feed-to-feed cycles.  I'm getting through it though.  It won't last forever.  But, um, if your baby slept great from week two onward and you can't commiserate - please don't talk to me until mine is sleeping too. 

Ok, here's a couple from December 2-10 on the real camera.

 

 

Baby Jail

The time has come for PDG to go to jail.  Baby Jail.  (Please let this be the only jail cell my precious PDG ever enters).

What is it, you ask.  Well, it's this little area, pictured below, where he can safely maneuver without fear of ingesting something choke-hazardly or having any heavy objects topple onto him.

Now, this wouldn't be such a necessity if a) that TV were already secured like it needs to be, b) I didn't personally know a family whose daughter is physically and mentally handicapped as a result of a television falling on her and c) I were a better mom.

Ok, I'll cut myself some slack there.  But, you know, I can't be everywhere at once.  I want PDG to explore and learn without me following around always saying "no" or "not that toy" or "where did you find that."  And sometimes I need to get things done in rooms that aren't fully safe for him.

There are enough horror stories out there of accidents that happen when you don't expect, or in the quick minute you turn to answer the door/check the stove/put away some laundry that I needed a solution.

Now, since the TV issue is the biggest and most likely culprit of an accident, we have a solution on its way that can be anchored down.  But even so, sometimes a mama wants to go to the bathroom and a PDG wants to come along.  This way everyone wins.

Oh, and turns out, PDG really likes independent play.  I was just out of sight for a while this morning doing some chores (yeah, now I'm that mom that does chores on a snow day instead of endless marathons of teen drama tv shows) and PDG didn't make a peep to say he missed me.  Just that perfect semi-toothed grin when I walked back around the corner and said "Mommy's here!"

PS - thanks Miss L for the baby gates, Spot book and Corey Combine that are all in heavy rotation around here.  The hand-me-downs are always the faves with PDG

Christmas 2012 Recap

Christmas is magical.

Christmas with a husband is magical, but a little stressful sharing/making/compromising traditions.

Christmas with a husband, a kid, a brother-in-law, a sister flying in a snowstorm in her state, a snowstorm in VA, and tires that are starting to wear is, um... magical, stressful, exhausting, exciting, frustrating, and yet still magnificent?

Lil Bro flew in and arrived around 8pm Christmas Eve.  Not the best timing, but flights are crazy expensive for better time options.  

Despite 90% of our wrapping taking place between 6pm and midnight Christmas Eve, the tree at Mama and Papa H's house had loads of gifts underneath.  Everyone having sworn to not make it a big Christmas this year apparently meant nothing.  We'd all decided to spoil each other.  

PDG loved it.  He was fascinated by the lights, intrigued by the wrapping paper, comforted by all the arms wanting to hold (and feed) him all day long.  Baby heaven.  The day was so busy with eating and laughing and cooking more and napping when PDG napped that we didn't even finish all the gifts.  (Ok, not the first time that's happened for us H's.... we really enjoy the process of opening and reveling in each gift.  I think I mentioned all our traditions)

On Wednesday, when we G's made the trip from VA to MD for some G-Family celebrating, it got scary.  I had started a Christmas blog post on my new tablet (Thanks J-Man!) while we were driving, but when we hit the brakes and slid right through the intersection, I couldn't focus quite as well.  We had some more brake/tire issues, and one super-duper highway on-ramp fishtail that made me eat any excitement over having enjoyed a white Christmas, but J-Man skillfully navigated us without a scratch.  It was a nailbiting 3+ hour drive, but thankfully PDG slept through most of it.

 The next day, when Big Sis FINALLY made it 12 hours after her original schedule, we headed back to the H's for more gifts and food and cooking and napping.

By the time she and Lil Bro left a few days later, we had all been sufficiently spoiled in some way or another.  I'd even gotten my hair done!  We'd also endured food poisoning, dead car batteries, crazy airports and I-need-my-space moments.

It was hectic, and nothing went quite according to plan (including PDG being terrified of a rolling, singing ball we got him) but I wouldn't trade this year for the world.

**I know the formatting isn't pretty on this one, but there were just too many photos to choose!