Off with the old ...

I just love getting new haircuts. Here's my newest one:

Always wanted to have a fauxhawk, and now I do.

2 months.

Can you believe The Smush is already 2 months old?

Here he is in The Chair.

I've decided I am going to take a picture of him in this chair every month so we can better visualize his growth. Do you remember him in The Chair when he was a week old?

He looked like one of those porcupuffers from Super Mario World.

You know it's true.

Yesterday was Smushie's 2-month appointment. Yikes. Five shots right in the chubby legs. I felt pretty bad, but it's important to me. I choose to vaccinate my children. I realize some people opt out or delay and that's fine by me, but I have no reason to.

Smushie is a little piglet and weighs 13 pounds 1 oz. And he is now 24 inches long. Two whole feet! Ninetieth percentile, just like Bubs (a future basketball player if his dad has anything to say about it). And he's right on schedule as far as development goes -- smiling, cooing, doing the "mini push-up" and all that.

And bless his little heart, he's sleeping through the night now, too! We're on a five-night streak so far. Last night, he went from 10 to 6:30. It was awesome. Of course, I woke up at 5 a.m. with rock-hard bazoombas and wanted to die, but at least he's not crying for food in the dead of night anymore! Eventually, the milk factory will figure it out and stop making quite so much.

Bubsy is such a great big sister. She's getting more involved now that Smush responds to her. She thinks it's funny when he smiles at her or does the mini push-up. She likes to talk to him when he's in his crib; I've come out of many showers to find her standing on her step-stool, peering in at him while he wiggles around. Warms my little heart.

P.S.- I'm getting a new haircut on Saturday. Shorter and edgier than ever! Tyra would be so proud. Pictures to come (assuming it turns out nice).

I can't think of anything specific I'd like to discuss today, so I am just going to write down some random thoughts.

My baby Smush is eight weeks old today. He also has two teeth. TEETH. Coming right up on the bottom.

I noticed he was a wee bit crankier than usual and drooling a lot. Then, he started to bite me while he ate. Uh, not OK, Baby Guy.

My mom, who is a genius, suggested I check for teeth. I thought she was crazy, but lo and behold. Teeth.

She wasn't the least bit surprised. "Your brother had eight teeth by the time he was three months old," she said.

In other news, I gave Bubby a not-so-flattering haircut yesterday. It was getting kind of long and mullet-ish, so I decided she was due for a trim. Well, one wiggly 2-year-old and 20 minutes later, she had received a little more than a trim. Oh well. I'm not posting pictures, either. You'll just have to imagine what she looks like. I'd compare her cut to those twins of Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky's from Full House, only without bangs. Thank goodness I had the sense not to mess with those. Because we all know what happens when Jenna tries to trim bangs ... this was last summer. I blame the morning sickness.

Exhibit A:

Yup, I gave my kid a Spock 'do.

Oh, and finally: best news for last. Smush slept from 10:30 to 5:30 last night! He did it earlier in the week, too, so I am thinking it will soon become the norm around here. Can I just say HALLELUJIAH!?!?

Celebrating womanhood.

As a kid, I remember looking forward to making my mom a Mothers' Day gift in school. What would it be? A clay handprint? A scrapbook of some sort? A bouquet of paper flowers? It was always exciting to me. I am an artist at heart and love to express my gratitude to others by creating beauty. I enjoy the whole process -- conceiving the idea, carrying it out, and seeing the happy reaction of the recipients. It never gets old.

I don't make clay hands or paper flowers anymore, but I do still love to create beauty. I find joy in decorating my nest for my family. I like to make my house sparkle with cleanliness. I love making delicious food and entertaining guests. I enjoy sitting at the piano with Bubby and improvising on my favorite tunes while she sings along.

Oh, and I've created a few beautiful people, too. See?

Bubby, October 11, 2007

Smush, March 24, 2010

It wasn't until adulthood I learned about the devastating burden of infertility. Some women long to create life (and this desire is part of our nature, I believe), but their hearts are shattered when they learn they can't. Having been blessed to have my own two precious babies, I now understand, at least a little bit, how this trial must hurt to the core. Sometimes, I find myself raising my voice in frustration or wishing I were single and childless again, but I'm quickly humbled as I remember so many of my dearest friends who struggle with infertility.

For them, I know Mothers' Day can sting. So today, in addition to motherhood, I wish to celebrate womanhood and our natural ability to create beauty.

See, even if our arms are empty, our hearts are full -- full of talent, creativity and compassion. And when these attributes combine, we're a force to be reckoned with.

Like the four women from my church who showed up at my home to deliver dinner after I had Smush. I didn't even have to ask; they just did. Wonderful home-cooked meals made with love.

Or, the woman who offered to help pay for my Granny's funeral, despite never even meeting her.

Or, the women who created a compelling documentary about how school children in Ghana can generate electricity just by playing on a merry-go-round.

Or the woman who, in the wake of losing her own child, created a site to help other grieving mothers of angel babies.

And, what about the woman who willingly and lovingly placed her own flesh and blood in the arms of another woman so she could be a mother?

That is what today is about. It's not all about our ability to create human life, although I believe childbearing is sacred, beautiful and worth celebration. For me, it's about womanhood and the angelic, creative divinity within us all. We have the ability to create inspiring beauty of various forms, beauty which touches the lives of others in ways only angels can. And that is what I believe makes us ALL worth celebrating.

So, to all of you women out there -- today is your day. I hope it has been beautiful.

Chubby Cheek Friday.

The Smush enjoys being bundled up like a little burrito. I enjoy it, too, because it makes him stop fussing and he looks so darned cute.

See how serene he is? He's six weeks old, by the way. My how the time flies.

And here's one of my two chubby-cheeked offspring together. Had to snap this one quick because Smush was slipping out of Bubby's grasp.

Cheeks abound!

Speaking of which, I only suspect Smushie's cheeks to get, well, smushier in the near future, because he's going through some kind of growth spurt lately and wants to eat like every 10 minutes. I should probably change my name to Dairy Queen at some point. It's nuts.

(Actually, it's milk ... heh.)

What are you doing this weekend? Dill and I are going on our first post-baby #2 DATE on Saturday! Going to hit up Buca di Beppo with an awesome coupon. I'm so excited and I just can't hide it. Sunday is Mothers' Day and we're celebrating at my parents' house. I think I'm going to get my mom some cheery tulips. Everyone can benefit from tulips.