To Ada, Love Dad

New art work donning Ada's bedroom walls - advice and life lessons from Dad.

2011 update

2011 is proving to be eventful already, and we haven't even completed a full month of it yet. Let's play catch-up, shall we?

Many of you may not be aware that for a minute, Sam and I thought I would have to return to work. I spent a good two weeks scouring the classifieds and Craigslist, and every non-profit website I could find to apply for a job. You see, this whole plan I had to care for children in our home to help support our family so I could remain a Stay-At-Home-Mom wasn't working out for us. We found a family who committed to us last Fall, but when it came down to it, it didn't happen. So, I submitted applications and a week later was called in by a counseling agency about 3o minutes away. I interviewed and they offered me a job providing in-home counseling to traumatized and at-risk children. Wouldn't you know it, the day they offered me a job was the day I got a slough of emails from parents asking about me providing childcare. Options are really nice. Let's just say that I get to stay home with my fabulous children thanks to Charlie A, Charlie B, Thurston, and Logan! No, I won't be watching all of them at the same time. Some are part-time, some are only for a few months, some don't even begin until March, but I am grateful for them because they will allow me what I want most dearly in life right now - to be home with my children. Needless to say, we will be overrun with boys and Ada is THRILLED about it. Well, that's not true - she is having some serious turf issues, but, she'll manage the adjustment.

Onto a more somber tone. Sam and I have been, along with the country, mourning the tragedy that took place in our former desert home on a day we will never forget. Having friends who are so close to the victims, and many that were first responders to the scene, not to mention that she was our Congresswoman, has made us grieve in ways that have been unexpected and jolting. Everything I attempt to write here seems not enough. I can only say that I hold on to these babes of mine a little harder and a little longer and am grateful everyday for them.


Sam began classes this week and is excited to get to teach a literature course in addition to the teaching load he had last Semester. This role reversal has taken some getting used to for both of us, but we like it!

Quentin is growing exponentially - 11lb, 11oz and 24 inches at his appointment last week. He is responding to us more, smiling and cooing during his waking moments. My heart hurts everytime I look at him, which is an incredible feeling. He makes all of us smile, Ada included.

Ada finally has enough hair for me to pull up into a mini-pony-tail. Her verbal and fine motor skills are also improving on a daily basis. She is very good at coloring, staying in the lines and drawing "faces" and "candy canes". She proudly displays them on the "prader" - that's Ada speak for "refrigerator". Just yesterday I asked her to "be careful" around Quentin and she swiftly told me to "settle down". What a kid.

We hope the remainder of 2011 is kind to us and all of you. Happy Belated New Year!

Quentin, 2 months

Growing pains

Somebody wriggled her entire body into one of my pant legs and then flopped around like a mermaid

Well, let me start off by saying that Ada popped the first letter of her brother's first name off of the laptop so I can't spell his name - which is rather fitting considering the purpose of this post is to share the growing pains we are experiencing under our roof. Things were going along wonderfully with Ada until we hit his 6 week birthday. Apparently the newness of a baby in the house has worn off. The past 2 weeks have been very difficult.

I will back up by saying that our "sweet boy" (a nice substitute for actually spelling his name) is allergic to dairy. I knew something was wrong, talked with the pediatrician and she suggested I remove all dairy (whey and casin, too) out of my diet. I'll live without cheese, chocolate and bread if it means a happy baby. Unhappy, miserable babies make you want to cry. Happy babies make you smile. He is happy now - or at least once he hit 6 weeks...enter the frustrated 2yo (it almost seems redundant putting "frustrated" and "2 year old" in the same sentence together, doesn't it?).

I won't go into the details, but it's everything you would expect from a very determined, "do it myself", growing toddler who is realizing that Mom and Dad have other responsibilities in the house that don't revolve around her.

In spite of it all, I am cherishing the moments that make Ada who she is. Funny, focused, tender hearted, determined (there is that word again) and my sweet little girl.

I thought you might enjoy the moments as well.

Enjoying our Christmas snow, her new boots and new hat/mittens (thanks Santa, thanks Mel & Eric).


With her new found sense of independence comes a need to dress and attempts to diaper herself. Today she insisted on picking out my socks and shoes and putting them on my feet. I was the talk of the town.



This was by far my favorite holiday activity with her, aside from making our holiday cards this year. Santa loved the cookies and milk we left for him.



Many thanks to our family and friends for helping make Christmas a very special day for us.


...and this post wouldn't be complete without our "sweet boy" who really doesn't need to go by any other name.

I love happy kids!!

And we have two of them right here!!


Don't tell me 7 week old babies don't smile.



Our goofy girl dancing!

6 weeks!

Beautiful, if I do say so myself!


I wish he could have all 5 Auntie's this Christmas!!!

She wore blue velvet

We took a trip to JC Penny to get baby Q's picture taken this evening. While waiting for our session a very nice looking Mom came in with her 2 children. She had her daughter and son (about 3yo and 18mos?) decked out in matching blue velvet outfits with snowmen sewn on the lapel, and a big, bright red bow in her daughter's well cut bob. I thought to myself, "now this is what Mom's do...why don't I think to do this stuff?", even though I'll admit, I thought the outfits were a bit ridiculous looking (sorry!). Anyway, they appeared to be the "perfect image" of the holiday season.

As one expects when they take their kids to get pictures taken, baby Q didn't want to cooperate - he is only 4 weeks old after all. The photographer suggested that we wait until he was asleep again, so I sat in the corner of the studio while she attempted to take photos of the perfect-image-holiday-family...here is a recap of what I got to listen to (I was behind a curtain, so we really couldn't see each other, but I could see their photos loading on the computer in the corner).

Lawson, the 18 month old boy was sick and crying to begin with. They apparently had to take many breaks to wipe away the snot and goo coming from his eyes and nose. Natalie, the 3yo was not interested in posing, but rather wanted to play with the Christmas props.

Perfect-image-mom started in on a litany of orders and threats and bribes that had me stifling laughter in my dark corner:

"Natalie, if you stand by your brother I'll buy you that strawberry shortcake doll." Natalie proceeds to run off the set and grab another prop. More snot is wiped from Lawson.

"Natalie, if you don't come over here right now you're not getting that doll." Natalie won't sit still.

"Natalie, you won't get that doll if you don't stand here next to your brother...that's it, I'm telling your Dad about your bad behavior when we get home, now get over here if you want that doll." Natalie is not interested.

"Natalie, please come over here and stand and smile. If you do you can have the doll AND the My Little Pony...", Natalie wants nothing to do with pictures and runs off the set again to get a Christmas ornament.

Photographer lady finally gets one good shot of Lawson and Natalie. Mom wants one more.

Natalie decides that she is now willing to stand next to her brother.

"OK Natalie, say cheese. If you say cheese you get to have the doll." Natalie won't say cheese.

Same round of threats again - the session goes on for 45 minutes. My angel sleeps in my lap as I sit and snicker listening to this hot mess.

Natalie finally decides to say cheese, but shuts her eyes when she says it, "Cheese!", over and over and over.

I officially can't contain my giggling as I see the cheese photos loading on the computer.

"Natalie, this is your last chance..." (of which there were about 50), "...if you don't open your eyes right now you're not getting that doll!!!!"

Natalie runs out of the studio into the waiting area where Sam and Ada are. Perfect-image-mom runs out after her yelling, "if you don't get back in here RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE DOLL!!!"

Sam reports later that Ada points at the perfect-image-mom and says, "scary", then points to Natalie and says, "bad".

Ada summed it up perfectly in two words.

I think I'll officially pass on the matching blue velvet outfits...I'll enjoy these instead.


Many thanks to my dear friend Shayla who so thoughtfully personalized the wonderful blanket above for Quentin.


...and to Mrs. K, my beloved High School drama teacher for sending Ada fabulous princess gear and Disney princesses book (here she is sans the "Princess in Training" shirt). I think Mrs. K is bound and determined to turn our already dramatic little girl into a drama queen!