Moments...

Parenting is sprinkled with moments. Moments when you want to tear your hair out, moments when you want to lock all your children in their rooms, and moments when you just want to run away. *BUT* it is also filled with moments of unfathomable love, moments of pure joy, moments when you just can't kiss your babies enough, moments when your heart is bursting with pride, and moments like this when you feel complete and utter contentment. I had been reading to the three youngest kids and I had to get up to answer the phone or something. When I came back in, Devon and Renie were taking turns reading aloud to Jesse and each other. They were happy and not fighting, thoroughly engrossed in the book. Definitely a sweet moment.

Zoo Trip

Last Friday Lincoln was able to accompany Renie's class on the kindergarten field trip to the zoo. I wasn't there, so I don't have any details, but here are some pictures from the trip.

Spring Soccer

Soccer season is almost over but I FINALLY remembered to take some pictures. During the fall season, Kennedy's team didn't win a single game. In fact, they didn't even score a single goal until the last game! This spring, with the same exact team, they are undefeated. What? And in last Saturday's game, she scored her first goal! Julia and Devon's teams having been doing very well also. Julia has one more game and I would be so happy for her if she scored her first goal!

The Latest at Chateau Tatro

Well, my friends, here we are, halfway through March, and life continues to fly by. By the end of this week, the snow should all be gone and the earth will be stretching and rubbing her sleepy eyes. Of course we'll get more snow, but that doesn't change the fact that the awakening is happening. Once again, daylight savings comes just in time to invigorate my weary soul. The days continue to lengthen and at the conclusion of yet another winter, I'm left wondering if I need to move somewhere warmer. And yet, at the same time, I also find myself thinking that the seasons pass so quickly, even the 5-6 month winter. Once again, I conclude that a sunny vacation in January might be all I need.
So as we rush through March, I am struck by the fact that things will just continue to speed up and get more hectic from here right on through the end of the school year. Kennedy is in the middle school's production of The Fierce Pirate Frank, (I actually can't quite remember the name of the play. But it's some thing like that), and will continue to have play practice leading up to the show in mid-April. Last week, we attended her Spring Pops Concert and I kept thinking, weren't we JUST here for the winter concert? And in other Kennedy news, spring soccer season begins soon. We'll be saying good-bye to our Saturdays once again.


On the Julia front, look soon for haircut pictures. Tomorrow she has a dentist appointment, and afterward she plans to get her hair cut very very short. Also this month, her dance and cheerleading class at Lands' End concluded with a recital. Julia is a really good dancer and I'd like to get her into a studio.


Devon started piano lessons last month. He has mixed feelings about it. Most of the time he's very excited about it, but if he's tired or grumpy he says he wants to quit. He's always excited afterward, though. On Friday we attended his music program at the school. I was happy to see a bit more enthusiasm from him this time. He actually sang and did the motions. He's really come a long way!


My little Renie lost her first tooth! I can't believe it! Unfortunately, she apparently swallowed it. It went the way of the grilled cheese sandwich she had for dinner. Luckily, the Tooth Fairy took pity on her after reading her sweet note, so she still received compensation.


And the other big news of the month is that Jesse learned how to write his name. I know that it isn't really that impressive that a four year old can write his name. What IS impressive, I think, is that he figured it out all on his own. No one has ever sat down with him and showed him how to make the letters. He just suddenly could do it. He first wrote it in the dirt on the side of my car. (See? I keep my car filthy for educational purposes!) I was very amazed and impressed, so I challenged him to write it with a marker when he went to his preschool class. Sure enough, he was able to do it. (I talked to his teachers and they tell me that they haven't done it with him either.) My smart little baby.


So that's the latest. This week I'll be hosting a baby shower at my home and making the cake for the shower. I'm really excited to make the cake and decorations. Fun stuff! Pictures from the event will probably go up on my other blog, Pieces of Molly.

Exhausted, I am.

At about 3am, I heard Jesse coming toward our room, making coughing/gagging/hurling-type noises. I lept out of bed and ushered him quickly to the bathroom. He leaned over the toilet and spit some foamy, slimy, saliva in the bowl. But that was it. It almost seemed to me like he had gagged himself on his finger or something. It put me on alert, though, and I worried that before long he would come in spitting up more than saliva. He went back to bed and I crawled back into mine as well.

We did this every hour until it was time to get up anyway.

He didn't want to eat breakfast right away this morning, saying his stomache hurt, but he seems to be doing fine now.

I wish I could say the same for myself. I am looking longingly at my warm, comfy bed.

Stage Two

Today I became aware that I am totally and completely OK with my family being complete at five kids. Now, I have known since Jesse was still a newborn and I had a DVT that I should and would be done. But for a few years I still had these lingering thoughts about how dangerous would it be- REALLY- for me to have another baby. I could do the daily injections of bloodthinner (which I always knew I couldn't really do because I'm a big fat wimp) or something. I just would get baby hungry. And pregnancy hungry. I love being pregnant. I will never get over the loss I feel at not being able to feel another baby growing and moving inside me. I will never get over the loss I feel at not being able to hold another baby in my arms as I nurse him. But babies grow up. And they become sassy and independent. They delight in pushing Mom's buttons. They go to school and they come home with piles of homework and want your undivided attention and assistance as they plow through it. They can no longer suckle at your breast and instead demand cheese crackers and granola bars-- and lots of 'em. They run around like maniacs rather than cooing contentedly in the bouncy seat. They dump your nail polish on the bathroom floor and use your favorite scarf as the sail of their ship...then leave it in the yard for several rainfalls. They make some sort of pact with their siblings to all demand your attention at the same time using the most obnoxious whiny voices imaginable. Also in their agreement is a schedule they follow to be sure they are not all happy at the same time. They pretend they can't hear you asking them to do something until you are finally screaming at them, then they say, "You don't have to yell at me, Mom!" They break your stuff and create mounds of laundry. More babies would just become more kids.

But they also learn to bathe themselves. They do- eventually- move out of diapers and master using the toilet. They learn to read- to themselves and to their younger siblings. They develop a sense of humor and they eventually learn how to use it. They can play outside without supervision and can even walk home from school. They thank you for making their favorite dessert. They will bring you dead dandelions and present them to you like it's the rarest bloom- with a big smile and a wet kiss. They will sing to you in church on Mother's Day and bring home art projects featuring their handprints. They bring you breakfast in bed and they serve it with dancing eyes full of excitement. They love you despite the yelling and are infinitely forgiving.

And you know? I'm ready. I'm ready to move on from the baby stage. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get into this "raising them" stage. I'm not saying I'm good at it or that I have any idea what I'm doing, but we'll learn and we'll make it. And I really don't think I will wish that I was having more babies. I've got my hands full as it is. I'm good with not having diapers to change and baby swings and bouncers and exersaucers and carriers and jumpers all over the house. No diaper bag to pack and no rushing home from a short date to make it in time for the next feeding.

Let the next chapter begin.

First Day of School 2010

Kennedy- 6th grade- MIDDLE school!



Julia- 4th, Devon 1st



Renie's first day is tomorrow.