Thursday, July 27, 2006

Blog Hiatus

For those who check this blog regularly . . . .

The Peanut Gallery will be on a bit of a vacation over the course of the next week. Sporadic posts are likely! Our household is very busy these days, with the visit of Grandma G. Peanut, the closing on our house, and some unforeseen excitement in the form of car trouble.

Please bear with me . . . I am hoping to get back to posting in a more consistent fashion very soon!

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Blast from the Past

As Master continues to pick up new skills every day, we have been thinking back on what our little Miss was like at his age.

Here are some pictures of *little* Miss:



We've also been watching some videos taken of Miss at around 13 months, and there are some amazing similarities to her brother. There are also some distinct differences. All in all, it is always incredible to see how much they change in such a short period of time.

It makes me hope that we can savor each stage with these little ones.

Friday, July 21, 2006

Gotta Love Those Scientists . . .

Master has a fever today, and is a sad little man. I have been holding him for most of the day, and I anticipate very little sleep for mommy tonight.

When the littles are sick, I am sometimes surprised by the maternal instinct that kicks in and allows me to care for them. I don't really mind the waking up and work involved, because they so desperately depend on me for nourishment and comfort.

Apparently, the maternal instinct is now verified by scientific research! Thanks to Cousin W, who sent this to me yesterday . . . .

From Fox News:

Scientists find that moms consistently rank the stink of their baby's "number two" as No. 1.

In a new study, 13 mothers were asked to sniff soiled diapers belonging to both their own child and others from an unrelated baby. The women consistently ranked the smell of their own child's feces as less revolting than that of other babies. ...One possible explanation is that the mothers were simply more accustomed to their baby's stink and therefore found it less repulsive.

A more intriguing possibility, the researchers say, is that the mothers' reactions are an evolutionary adaptation allowing them to overcome their natural disgust so that they can properly care for their babies.


So there you have it.

Here's hoping that Master looks more like this tomorrow:


Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Unexpected Blessings

My thoughts earlier this evening:

"Oops. We need stamps. Hmmm. I could go to Byerly's for stamps. And I could just pick something up for dinner . . . . "

Mr. is working tonight, and so it was just going to be the little Peanuts and I dining together. On nights when Mr. is working, I find it difficult to go through the effort of juggling the kids while making a big meal, when the fruit of my labor is usually rejected or picked over by one child, and spat upon the floor by the other.

And so, when I discovered that I needed stamps, I shuffled the kids out the door and took the short drive to Byerly's. Upon our arrival there, I perused the ready-cooked-meal section, which is vast and inviting. I finally decided on a rotisserie chicken meal, with green beans and mashed potatoes -- big enough for the three of us to share. I felt a slight pang of guilt as I headed for the check-out line, as I knew there was plenty of food at home, and we are trying to stick to a tight budget in anticipation of our new mortgage payments. I stifled these feelings with relative ease, however, as I anticipated a care-free dinner with the littles.

The checker scanned my little plastic container, and told me that the total cost was $2.65. I told her that this was incorrect -- the sign by the counter had read $7.50. She called a manager over, they both congratulated me for my honesty, and collected only the $2.65. I was so excited. Yes, I know that it is only a difference of $5ish. But I skipped out of Byerly's feeling particularly blessed and thrilled to have a ready-made, healthy dinner for such a small sum.

Later this evening, another unexpected blessing came in the form of a new development for Master. As we stood in the kids room, bidding Miss goodnight, he began to blow kisses to her . . . . over and over again . . . complete with sound effects ("mmmmm . . . . waaaaah").

It was adorable. It was even more fun because of Miss' excited reaction. She laughed and laughed, saying "He's blowing kisses!! He's blowing kisses!!"

So. Sweet. Another little thing that brought a lot of excitement to our home today.

Unexpected Blessings

My thoughts earlier this evening:

"Oops. We need stamps. Hmmm. I could go to Byerly's for stamps. And I could just pick something up for dinner . . . . "

Mr. is working tonight, and so it was just going to be the little Peanuts and I dining together. On nights when Mr. is working, I find it difficult to go through the effort of juggling the kids while making a big meal, when the fruit of my labor is usually rejected or picked over by one child, and spat upon the floor by the other.

And so, when I discovered that I needed stamps, I shuffled the kids out the door and took the short drive to Byerly's. Upon our arrival there, I perused the ready-cooked-meal section, which is vast and inviting. I finally decided on a rotisserie chicken meal, with green beans and mashed potatoes -- big enough for the three of us to share. I felt a slight pang of guilt as I headed for the check-out line, as I knew there was plenty of food at home, and we are trying to stick to a tight budget in anticipation of our new mortgage payments. I stifled these feelings with relative ease, however, as I anticipated a care-free dinner with the littles.

The checker scanned my little plastic container, and told me that the total cost was $2.65. I told her that this was incorrect -- the sign by the counter had read $7.50. She called a manager over, they both congratulated me for my honesty, and collected only the $2.65. I was so excited. Yes, I know that it is only a difference of $5ish. But I skipped out of Byerly's feeling particularly blessed and thrilled to have a ready-made, healthy dinner for such a small sum.

Later this evening, another unexpected blessing came in the form of a new development for Master. As we stood in the kids room, bidding Miss goodnight, he began to blow kisses to her . . . . over and over again . . . complete with sound effects ("mmmmm . . . . waaaaah").

It was adorable. It was even more fun because of Miss' excited reaction. She laughed and laughed, saying "He's blowing kisses!! He's blowing kisses!!"

So. Sweet. Another little thing that brought a lot of excitement to our home today.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Things We Are Thankful For Today

  1. The weather. It has cooled a bit, and we are expecting pleasant (mid-80's) summer days for the next week. We have only experienced a couple of uncomfortable spells this summer, and so the Peanuts are happy. This family *does not* like heat. Even little Miss will exclaim, "Mommy! It's tooooo sunny! I need some shade."
  2. Eggs. Master will always eat them, when all else fails.
  3. Watermelon. See #2.
  4. Mr.'s job. He was just reimbursed for all time off taken for our move. So, he will be able to take time off in October to watch the littles so I can go to a dear friend's wedding. It is a busy, crazy job, but it does have it's benefits.
  5. Closing on our *house* NEXT WEEK!
  6. Eiko. Dear friend mentioned in #4, who sent out this note with her wedding invitations: "Eiko and John are registered at * and * for a few important things they could certainly use. But they're also registered with God on High, wanting a child and a home, so anything you can fit into a card would be more personal and appreciated than you know." Classic. Funny. True. Appropriate. All at the same time. Kind of like Eiko.
  7. Dishwashers.
  8. The fun of looking through antique stores, trying to find the perfect old furniture for our new house.
  9. Miss becoming fascinated with letters and their sounds. It is so fun to see her mind start to grasp something new.
  10. Master imitating the "Mooooo" sound I make when he plays with his toy cow. His little pursed lips . . . it can't get any cuter.
"mooooooooooooo"

Monday, July 17, 2006

Lake Minnetonka Stroll




One of our favorite Minnesota discoveries is the beautiful little town of Excelsior, which is situated on Lake Minnetonka and offers a quaint little business area and a beautiful park right on the lake shore. We visited this town tonight, strolling past houses where people called out to say hello from their screened-in porches. We shared ice cream from Licks Unlimited, and we enjoyed the playground while we watched boats and swimmers out in the lake.

It was an ideal evening, with temperatures in the 70's and a gentle breeze.

It was a good ending to a good weekend with Daddy.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

This Is a House, A Napping House, Where Everyone is Sleeping

As I write this entry, all of my fellow Peanuts are settled into a deep sleep. By the time 8:00 arrived, Miss was actually overheard saying, "I just need to go to bed."

Master quickly followed.

And Mr. (who reported for work at 4AM) is now unconscious on the couch.

We are all a little bit sluggish around here. The children have *not* been sleeping well since we returned from our trip to California. We have been home for almost two weeks, but each night one or the other (or both) of my little Peanuts has had some difficulty sleeping through the night. Almost every night, at approximately 3 AM, I receive a visit from Miss, who usually just asks to get in bed with us, and then totters back toward her bedroom when I say "uh . . . no."

I think that she is beginning to enjoy this ritual. When I deposit her back into her own bed, she has taken to asking, "Mommy, is my bed juuuust right?"

This is her favorite line from "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

Cute, eh?

Not at 3 AM.

Master, on the other hand, appears to be changing his eating habits and is suddenly more interested in nursing than he is in eating solid foods. Our once ravenous-for-anything little guy is now tossing most anything we offer him off of the highchair tray whilst screaming and flailing his little arms. As a consequence, he is usually very hungry by about 5 AM, at which time he vociferously informs me of his need for nourishment.

And so, between my night visits from Miss and hungry little Master, I am getting very little sleep. I am also getting a bit *cranky*. I realized again today how much my attitude affects the attitudes of the children and the general tone of the household. It is hard to face that responsibility when I am tired and somewhat overwhelmed. But, it is so important to recognize it, and to try to be an example to the kiddos of maintaining perspective, even when things aren't going as well as I would like. Rather than becoming just as whiny as my sleep-deprived 3 year old, I need to make the best of the situation and remember what a privilege it truly is to mother and care for these children.

Here's hoping for a good night sleep, and the grace to keep going even if that doesn't happen.

Friday, July 14, 2006

Getting Back to Normal

Normal entries will resume tomorrow . . . last night the little Peanuts and I drove to the airport in a crazy thunderstorm to retrieve Mr. Peanut, only to have him leave at 4:00 this morning for work. Upon his return this afternoon, we went to have dinner at the home of some new friends we've made through one of the churches we've visited. We had a lovely time, but did not arrive back at home until 9:30ish - very much past the littles' bedtime.

So, we are looking forward to a quiet weekend at home, and more opportunities for writing.

Until then . . .

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Oh Where . . . Where is Daddy?

Daddy is missed. The littles and I failed to sleep very well last night, and then we had a long trek to the doctor's office for Master's one year check up this morning. All is well with the little guy, but he received three unwelcome shots, and is a tad on the fussy side as a result.

The cumulative affect of all this is that we are all. very. tired.

Thus, the blog is taking a little vacation tonight. I shall now eat popcorn, read my (very good) book, and go to bed.

He'll be back tomorrow. He'll be back tomorrow. He'll be back tomorrow.

Can you tell that I'm not cut out for having a husband-who-travels-a-lot-for-his-job? Thank goodness he doesn't. Two days and I'm a whining pile of mush. Guess that means I like the guy. And that he makes all of our lives a lot nicer.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Fun in St. Paul


Today we ventured into St. Paul for an early birthday celebration for Mr., who will be departing for a two day business trip tomorrow. We've mentioned here before that Charles Schultz was born and raised in St. Paul, and our wanderings in the downtown area brought us to a beautiful city square, filled with statues of the Peanuts gang. Miss was delighted. We later went out to dinner, and celebrated Mr.'s 31st by trying to keep the children from taking apart the Green Mill restaurant brick by brick. Nothing like a romantic birthday dinner . . . as Miss repeatedly tries to look over the booth in order to strike up a conversation with the innocent patrons behind us, and Master practices his raspberry noises. Loudly. Perhaps not romantic, but funny. And memorable.

I will keep this short, because there are only a couple of hours left with Mr. before we must go to sleep, and then he leaves for two days. I will be alone with the littles while he is in Chicago attending Trader Joe's University. Bah. I shall be brave. Maybe. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Here are some photos of our fun day:

Miss exults with Herb Brooks, coach of the 1980 US Hockey Team

Reading with Marcy

Listening to Lucy whisper in her ear


Getting between Sally and Linus

Master with Charlie Brown and Snoopy

Sunday, July 09, 2006

On The Move

It has become increasingly clear that our little Master is no longer a baby, and that he is getting ready to enter the wonderful world of toddlerhood. In case we weren't fully aware of this transformation, it was emphasized to us via our recent adventures in flying. Rather than snuggling up and sleeping on me as he did just a few months ago, he squirmed, wriggled, flipped and flopped his way through the flights.

I realized the changes in Master again today, as I attempted to take some pictures of him. This is what I came up with:





Yup. I can no longer expect him to sit still and smile sweetly when mama wants a picture. His increased mobility has, however, allowed him to enjoy playing with his big sister much more. She is more than happy to roll around on the floor with him, and they take great joy in daily scrambles through a little tunnel they have discovered between our couch and the wall. All of the laughing we hear coming from behind that couch almost makes up for the fact that our little guy will never be a baby again.

There are so many things we have enjoyed about his babyhood, and there are so many things we have to look forward to.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Reflecting

The Peanut family is slowly getting back to normal life. The mountain of laundry looms, but the suitcases are stowed, the children are sleeping according to Minnesota time, and we are settling back into our daily routine.

As things normalize, we are looking back on our recent journey with joy. It was so amazing to see little Master reach the milestone of his first birthday, and then to take his first steps later in the week. Miss has excitedly told everyone we meet (and I mean *everyone* - including the Target check-out gal) that her "brudder" is now "ONE YEAR OLD!"

It was also surreal and wonderful to see my own brother get married. I couldn't help but feel nostalgic as it was all taking place. I remembered all those hours, days, weeks, years spent together. Playing. Laughing. Arguing! Wondering what we could get away with. Walking to the Norwalk Square for soda or to Wong's market for snow cones.

"Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring -- quite often the hard way." -Pamela Dugdale

I spotted this quote recently and find it to be so true. I know that my brother and I "practiced" on each other quite a bit, and we often did learn these virtues the hard way. But I am thankful that I had him to practice on, and I am thankful that we have the memories and the lessons learned from those early experiences together. I am glad, too, that he is now married to a wonderful woman who will help him to continue to grow and learn, just as Mr. Peanut does for me.

Miss just wishes that we could live through her glory as a flower girl all over again. As we walked through Target today, she said - with a sigh - "I'll walk down this aisle. Just like I did at the wedding."

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

We're Home

We are back from a *very* eventful time in Southern Cal.

  • Master is now 1.
  • Uncle M. Peanut is now married.
  • Miss had quite the night of her life whilst performing her flower girl duties.
  • Master took his first steps!
  • All of the Peanuts greatly enjoyed visits with the grandparents, many family members, and dear friends the Oldenburgs.
It was a wonderful trip, and even our time on the airplanes went quite smoothly. We are glad to be home, but are missing those we left. More pictures will be forthcoming, but, for now, here are our two little ones at the big wedding event.

Miss and the Ringbearer toast a job well done.

Master checks the seating for the ceremony.