Pass The Biscuits, Please

It was a big day around here. Ruth finished Jungle Book today, and Weston kept his big boy underwear dry and clean all day. So, tonight we went over to Central Market to see the Biscuit Brothers. So much fun!! The kids danced and danced, and we all had a blast.

The Fur Is A Flyin'

Well, I don't own a fur, but if I did it would be flying. It's Spring Cleaning time at the Watts house. And if it ain't bolted down, it's a contender to make a little trip to the nearest Goodwill. We are doing some serious paring down. I hauled six large trash bags full, plus a few other full tote bags, out of my closet alone!! And I made Ruth try on every item of clothing she owns when she got home from school. Mom's rule: If the belly peeks out or I can see too much leg, the item must go. And it wasn't just the closets and drawers that felt my wrath. I'm pretty sure we could stock a small preschool with all the toys I sent packing--some under the radar, I must admit. I'm not sure which room I'll attack tomorrow, but possessions (and small children) beware.

Double Embarrassed

So...I found my list in the bottom of my black hole diaper bag. If I was embarrassed before, well, now I'm doubly so. Not only that, but upon re-inspection of found list and a quick glance at the printer, I realized I was hunting for the wrong-numbered cartridge all along. Brilliant. But, alas, the correct printer cartridge (and the aforementioned undergarments) have been purchased and put in their proper places, so I hope to put this embarrassment behind me very qickly. And I will thank all of you to do the same.

(And stop laughing at me. It could have happened to anyone)!

I'd Like To Have That One Back

That moment when I handed over my shopping list (with two separate listings for undergarments) to the little helpy-helperton in Fry's so she could see the number of the printer cartridge I wanted to replace. She didn't know if they had it or not, but she proceeded to take it from me and show it to no less than 5 other (male) employees. By the time they had all had a good laugh looked it over and agreed that they didn't sell what I needed, the kids were restless and the baby was crying, and consequently, I forgot to ask for my list back. I was pretty embarrassed when I realized that I had left Helpy with my list. And with my shopping unfinished, I would have to work from memory. Yikes! (Though I clearly remembered the undergarments)!

When I relayed this story to my husband with a bit of a blush, he added the normal, helpful Jeff perspective: "O.k. so now everyone who works at Fry's knows you wear underwear. (So what's the big deal)?" Yeah, so I guess that isn't much of a surprise. But to have it listed there for everyone to see...

...Oh, but wait, I've just shared it with the world, so I guess it doesn't really matter so much, huh?!

"I Think I Can, I Think I Can"

This was the mantra of the day, and it worked!!! Weston went through the whole day (except for his nap) in big boy underwear and didn't have a single accident! He earned his "Potty Train" and we couldn't be prouder of him! And he's pretty pleased with himself, too!

Using The Potty Train To My Advantage

At one point today when Weston was sitting on the potty, he asked, "Where's that potty train?" Which kicked me into a rarely-used quick-thinking gear and prompted me to come up with a brilliant plan. I made a deal with Weston that if he can make it through a whole day without any accidents, I will buy him a train. He thought that was a fabulous plan and agreed to work hard to achieve the goal. He is also looking for a little supernatural intervention, as he prayed tonight to be able to get his "Potty Train" tomorrow. He wore his big boy underwear pretty much all day and only had one accident, so there is definitely hope that we could be buying a special "potty train" in the next couple of days. I'll do whatever it takes to put the diaper days behind us!

All Aboard! (whether you like it or not)

Unfortunately, Patient Mommy neglected to show up this morning--something about being up in the middle of the night with the baby.* But in her place, all of Two-Year-Old-Weston showed up. It wasn't a great combination, I can tell you. To make matters worse, Two-Year-Old-Weston was doubling as Potty-Training-Weston-In-Big-Boy-Underwear. (You can see that things are going to deteriorate quickly). After the second accident in a span of 20 minutes, there was a little display of frustration, in which Non-Patient Mommy gave that little boy quite a talking to. Weston unwisely thought the whole situation was quite funny and proceeded to laugh, laugh, laugh. Non-Patient Mommy gave him just the slightest swat on the leg to get his attention, to which he immediately produced a more appropriate sad face. The two moved off into the bathroom to clean up the mess, and Sad-Face Weston said, "That scary me." To which Non-Patient Mommy snapped, "What?! What scared you?" "That Potty Train scary me," he replied, which dissolved Non-Patient Mommy into a fit of laughter and helped her see the error of her ways.** That Potty Train scares me too, Weston.

*You surely didn't think that nine hour sleeping thing was going to last, did you?!

**Attitudes on both sides were much-improved after Weston's nap, and the afternoon went along much smoother. He even kept the big-boy underwear dry for several hours and had many successful attempts at the potty.

Oh What A Beautiful Day

Today was such a fun day. We moved Max into the crib in his room last night (as opposed to the cradle in our room), and he slept a whopping NINE HOURS!!!!! You read that right. Nine hours. How fabulous! If I had only known, I would have kicked him out of our room long ago!

Weston tried out his big boy underwear during the first half of the day. And he did moderately well. With a few more days practice (and a little more attentiveness from Mommy), I think he'll get the hang of it.

Ruth told us the most hilarious (to us--to her is was very serious) story at dinner. It began, "Today was better. I had a meeting with Mrs. Towler to discuss So-n-So's behavior." What?! Turns out there was some sort of altercation on the playground (carried over from last week) in which some girls wanted to play "Cowgirls" and others wanted to play "Agents," and they just couldn't seem to work it out without a little intervention. The best part was that Ruth had no idea what "Agents" was, but she was sure she didn't want to play that and was convinced the other little girl was being "unfriendly" because she was insisting on playing that. It was Kindergarten drama at its best!

We finally managed to connect with the UPS guy today, and so we now possess the latest in video technology--a video camera that fits in the palm of my hand, weighs almost nothing and doesn't use tapes! It's very cool. Now we will be able to entertain ourselves and all of you on a regular basis with the likes of this:

Another Fun Weekend

We Interrupt This Program...

We're off to the lake this afternoon, since Ruth doesn't have school tomorrow. We will surely return on Sunday with stories to tell and pictures to view. Hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend!

Ruth's Day In The Sun

We began the day a little earlier than normal so we could go up to the school for the Jaguar Pride Assembly. Ruth was awarded one of these Jaguar Prides back in the Fall, and she received another one a couple of weeks ago for contributing positively at her school. The assembly was extra-special for Ruth today as she had 2 parents, 2 brothers, 2 grandparents and a great-grandparent there. (I might add that it was nothing short of a miracle getting us all up and ready and out of the house by 7:15)! Ruth was absolutely beaming with pride when we left her this morning! And we are all as proud of her as she is of herself!

Ruth's day continued to be special when I took her out for a girl-only night tonight. We went to see Horton Hears A Who, which was a really fun movie that we both enjoyed. Then, we went out for dinner (just the two of us) at Jason's Deli. She was thrilled to have me all to herself, and I was overjoyed at getting to have some one-on-one time with her. I know I won't have these days forever, so I cherish every minute of them while I do have them.

Playing, But Not By The Rules

Well, I've been tagged, and I never was really very good at being "It." So, instead of tagging others I'll just share my fun facts, and we can all go about our normal lives. But first I need to think of my fun facts. Hold on...

...Hmm, this is kind of hard. I'm trying to think of some things you all don't already know, but I'm kind of an open book here.

...Well, I may just have to put facts, whether known or not, so here we go:

1. Jeff and I met in high school at Student Council camp in San Angelo, TX and were pen pals for about a year before ever having a date. We started dating in college and were married right before our senior year. This year we will celebrate our 10th anniversary.
2. I spent three weeks in Africa when I was 17.
3. I LOVE to travel!! Any time. Any where. Just let me get my purse.
4. All of my kids have at least one name that is a family name--Ruth was Jeff's grandmother's name, Wayne (Weston's middle name) is my grandfather's name and Max Andrew comes from Jeff's dad (Maxie) and Jeff's grandfather's middle name.
5. I just realized that No. 4 is actually facts about my kids rather than myself, so I'll try again and hope to stay on task: My maiden name is Pope and when I was a kid I wished my parents would have named me "Hope Pope."
6. My massage chair is easily my favorite piece of furniture. It would be worth going back into the house for if there was a fire.
7. I have an unreasonable fear of cockroaches and have been known to use an entire can of Raid on just one of these disgusting creatures. (I also have an unreasonable fear of rats, but you already know all about that).
8. I love to scrapbook, though I don't have much time or space for that at the moment. I also like lots of other crafty things--but never, ever anything that involves sewing.
9. I always drink a Diet Dr. Pepper at 10:00 in the morning, if possible. And sometimes I treat myself to another one in the afternoon.
10. I do not ever step on a scale, unless forced to at a doctor's office. Nothing good can come of me knowing and obsessing over that number.
11. (This is a bonus to make up for No. 4): I enjoy crossword puzzles but only ever work the one in the airline magazine when I'm flying somewhere. I also like logic puzzles and sudoku puzzles and wish I had more time to play around with them.

Wild And Crazy Weekend With Some Of Our Relatives

We had a fun weekend at Jeff's parents place at Lake Buchanan. The big kids rode the SeaDoo (or SeaBoat as Weston likes to call it). They also received new fishing poles and practiced their casting. Ruth got her first "grown-up" pole in a pleasant pink, and she is very proud of it and of her ability to cast. Weston got a rocket launcher pole, which very nearly took out the back door and Granny Wanda's head--not on Weston's casts, I might add! We played several games of Scrabble, of which I managed to win a couple! Weston covered his face (nay, his whole body) on at least three occasions with various foodstuffs. And Max charmed everyone with his adorable smiles. It was a great time! Can't wait to do it again next weekend!

Short and Fat

Max had his two-month check-up today and his first round of immunizations. He took the shots (all five of them) like a man, hardly crying at all. Now that he is gaining weight, he's going at it with gusto. He weighed 12 lbs. 9 oz. (75th percentile) and was 22 in. long (20th percentile). He is hitting all the appropriate milestones, and the doctor said everything looks really great.

Two Months Old

Today's Special

Patient Mommy decided to pay us a visit in honor of Spring Break. Yay! And because she decided to play with us, Ruth got to do something she doesn't often get to do. She got to plan the entire dinner menu, make the shopping list, do the shopping and make all the food. It was pretty much an all-day affair, but it was so much fun! And on the menu? Pizza Biscuit Bears, Sailboat Salad, Mr. Taco Bean Dip, Peanut Butter Teddies and Root Beer. Wish you all could have been here!

How To Celebrate The First Day Of Spring Break

1. Sleep in.
2. Make muffins--and if they have chocolate chips in them, all the better!
3. Eat said muffins in the living room while watching back-to-back episodes of Little House On The Prairie.
4. Play with your siblings.
5. Pick up lunch at Subway.
6. Eat said lunch at RadiJazz, after running through the parking lot in the rain.
7. Slide, jump, run, laugh, sing, skip, climb, throw balls, roll down hills, etc.
8. Repeat over and over.
9. Take a nice little siesta.
10. Dine at the Luby's of your choice, making sure to get Jell-O.
11. Play several hands of Go Fish.
12. Stay up late.

Does Anyone Have The Time?

'Cause we definitely don't! We went about our morning in a leisurely way. Then, about 10:45 I laid down with Weston for a nap. I woke up right at noon and made my way downstairs. When I got to my computer (after a stop at the bathroom and maybe another quick distraction or two), it was 1:15. How could this be?! I check the microwave clock: 12:15. The oven: 12:15. The living room clock that runs on battery power: 12:15. Huh. The computer still says 1:15. Why is that? Oh, I know. It's all that fighting I did with the computer yesterday--re-starting it several times and even popping the battery out--and the computer is trying to get in the last punch. That must be it. And that's easy to fix. We spend the rest of our day in ignorant bliss. At 4:30 I go to the grocery store. Jeff calls me after I've been there just a few minutes. "I figured out the time problem," he says--and I think he means computer problem that caused the time to be off--"the time changed last night." Right. I knew that. (But I still think the computer hates me)!

The computer hates me

I have been fighting computer battles all day--and mostly losing, I think. Needless to say, I don't have any pictures for you tonight. Sorry. Take my word for it, though, I have really cute kids and we had a really fun weekend.

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”

--Oprah Winfrey

We had much to celebrate today. First of all, it was Friday--which is always worth celebrating. But today was a special Friday because it marks the beginning of Spring Break for Ruth. We all attended a cookout at her school today to kick off the special week. I think that's the first time I have ever had a hamburger at 10:25 in the morning! But it was a fun time, and Ruth was thrilled to have us all there--and her friends were almost as excited to see us as she was!

This evening was also the official celebration of Ruth's reading--a big party for finishing Black Beauty and Heidi. Ruth revised her original tent-camping plan in favor of the more practical living room camp out. We picked up Peproni RollsTM* from Double Dave's, popcorn and Ratatouille** from the movie store and then set up our beds in the living room. We just love celebrating these little moments, and we feel like the kids will remember them fondly even into adulthood--at least we hope so!***

*I don't know if I'd be alive today if it weren't for Peproni Rolls. Thanks to Aggie Bucks and Double Dave's "Two for Tuesday" special, I ate them at least once a week when I was in college. I ordered them so often that the people who worked there knew me by name. This was before the reality of counting calories ever even occurred to me. Since I've been out of college, I have had the rolls a few times but certainly not often, so tonight was a real treat.

**I can't think of when we have all enjoyed an animated movie so much! It was really fun! And it didn't have a super-evil bad guy like so many of the children's movies do these days. We would definitely recommend it!

***I do have pictures of all this celebrating, but my camera and my computer are not speaking to each other and cannot be persuaded to work out their differences tonight. Perhaps if they can put their disagreement behind them tomorrow I will post some pics.

Oooh Baby She's Got It

de·ter·mi·na·tion
n.

a. Firmness of purpose; resolve
b. A fixed intention

Ruth came home from school today determined to finish her book (Heidi). The thing was, she was only about half-way finished, and Jeff and I were pretty skeptical that she would actually accomplish this. It's not that we weren't rooting for her, we just didn't think she had the attention span for it. But she proved us completely wrong! She sat down and read...and read...and read--10 chapters, 113 pages (57 text pages)! She just wouldn't stop (except for dinner)! We even told her several times that she could always finish it tomorrow, but she insisted on staying with it so she could have a special treat tonight--ice cream. (The actual reward is tent-camping, and we just didn't think that would be much fun in this crazy WINTER weather)! She just continues to amaze us, and we are so very proud of her--not only for her incredible reading, but also for her fierce determination!

Big Day

It was a big day around here today. First of all, there was a rash of e-mail changes. Jeff and I both got new e-mail addresses, and Ruth got signed up for an address of her own. You have all been spammed with the updated addresses, so we'll be expecting to hear from you soon!

The other big event of the day was me putting new sand in the sandbox. The kids went absolutely crazy! You would have thought I filled it up with candy and told them to eat until they were sick! I hadn't realized how much they have missed playing in there while it was out of commission because of having left the lid off during a few too many rain storms and then put it back on before all the water had evaporated. Can you say mildew?! (And no telling what all kinds of diseases)! Ick! Anyway, it's all clean now and the kids are thrilled. They probably played out there for an hour and a half. Eight bags of sand at $2 a bag is a steal in babysitting dollars! Unfortunately, I didn't trouble myself to go inside for the camera. But trust me, it was fun times! Winter is supposed to be bothering us again tomorrow, so I'm glad they got to enjoy being outside today.

Hope you did, too!

Jumping the Gun

Was it really I who declared it the official end of winter only two days ago?! Surely not! Surely nothing so ridiculous would enter my thoughts! Because clearly it is still very much WINTER. And my plants are all going to die. Perfect. Cruel and depressing is all that is. Just when I was ready to don the flip flops, too. Oh well. I'm in serious need of a pedicure, so I guess I can keep my little piggies covered for a little longer. (There is just the slightest chance that all of this could have been predicted, since I have jumped the gun on Spring just about every year of my adult life. I can't help it; the lure of the first few warm days and the Siren song of flowers in bloom gets me every time)!

W for Weston

Weston is getting pretty good at saying the alphabet, and he is particularly fond of the letter "W"--for very good reason! He can identify that letter in books, on signs and anywhere else words and letters lurk. Tonight he took his ownership of the letter to another level when he became distressed that every page of the book we were reading before bed didn't have a "W" on it. "Where's my W?" he would ask. And then he would scan the book until he would find one. And he's not above claiming the "M" if need be. After all, "M" is just a "W" standing on its head--although I think I finally got through to him that "M" is for "Mommy" and he can't have it! I guess I need to special order one of those books where they put the kid's name in the story. That way "W" really will be for "Weston."

Enough Is Enough

Today I declared "Mandi's official end of winter", which I do every year around this time. A girl can just take so much winter, you know. So, to celebrate Spring, I moved all my plants out of the garage and into the bright sunshine. Many of them were quite happy in their cozy little winter home, so they came out blooming. That makes me really happy! And the smell of mountain laurels was in the air. It won't be long now before the bluebonnets make their appearance! I can't wait! I love Spring!

Half Way To Belize

I do wish we were literally half way there, but, alas, we are only half way to getting the paperwork to get there. Ruth's passport expired in January and, of course, Max hasn't previously had one, so today was "Passport Day." In four to six weeks, we should be all set to go just about anywhere. Unfortunately, we don't have anything official planned until this summer, when we will be off to Belize. I. Can't. Wait.

I got my first passport when I was seventeen and couldn't believe I was getting one so young. But then I had kids. Ruth got her first passport when she was 7 months old, Weston got his when he was less then two months, and Max will have his by the time he's three months old. Amazing.

Weeping may endure for a night...



...But joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5

We have certainly had a fair amount of weepy nights, but Max has been working really hard this week on his smiles. And I finally captured one of those priceless jewels on camera. So cute I could die! This smiling-on-purpose stage is a stage I really love!

I would be blogging now

but my baby is crying and I have a headache. Catch you tomorrow.

The Magic 6-Week Mark

I have officially been released from my OB/GYN's care with regard to my pregnancy with Max. That means, I now have no excuse not to exercise and get back into healthier eating habits--which is kind of a bummer because I have been enjoying my junk food free-for-all. I went to work out tonight and, frankly, I was huffing a bit. But, I'm really motivated to get back into my regular size clothes and to be in pretty good shape for a big tropical vacation this summer. So, I guess I'll try to discipline myself and stave off temptations...But I think I'll start tomorrow.

Slow-Moving Vehicle

Jeff and I have always prided ourselves on being very punctual. And I have to tell you, we still live under the delusion that punctuality is attainable--even after being parents for almost 6 years. It isn't. And we need to just accept this as a fact. As a unit, we just move A LOT slower than we used to. And each kid adds another level of slowness, making us one slow-moving vehicle. Slow and steady may win the race, but it's maddening to parents who want to live life in the fast lane.

Weston, Weston, Weston

It doesn't get much cuter than two. This one's all about Weston.

• First of all, the way he says "yellow." It sounds like "llello," and it's adorable. It's like that word is just a little too big for his mouth.

• Secondly, whenever Jeff leaves the house, Weston has taken to saying, "Thanks for coming, Dad."

• He sings "Uncle Alan had a farm. E-I-O." Now we know what Uncle Alan has really been up to, I guess. At least in Weston's mind.

• And finally, the following conversation took place with my mom yesterday:

Weston: I have a bug in my eye.

Nana: Come here and let me take a look.

Nana: I don't see a bug in your eye.

Weston: No. It's a tarantula.

Everything this kid says (and does) is stinkin' hilarious!! No "laugh track" necessary!

Sounds Like Five O' Clock

I can tell you what time it is--within half an hour--and I don't even need to look at the clock. I am attempting to put something together for dinner, and at least two of my children have burst into spontaneous tears. It's five o' clock. Easily the most stressful time of day for me. Every. Day. I have not figured out what causes this phenomenon, but you can bet on it: sometime between 5:00 and 5:30 at our house it's going to be loud and it's going to be chaotic. So, please, whatever you do, don't call me at that time of the day. I won't be able to hear you, and I probably won't be very nice either!

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Pants

Every other month or so we do what we call "The Big Shopping Trip" at Costco. Today was that day. The boys were with me, of course, and they were doing great. We got down to just about five more items on the list, when Weston announced that he needed to go potty. I waffled momentarily between finishing the shopping and getting home for his nap or actually trying to go forward with this potty training business. The latter choice won out. So, I found a parking place for the over-flowing shopping cart, unloaded both kids and headed off to the bathroom. As we entered the stall, I realized that what Weston meant by "I need to go potty" was actually "I just went potty," for his jeans were wet in all the right places. Of course, I had no extra clothes, and he staunchly refused to put back on the wet pants. So, finally I gave in and took him back out in the store with no pants--just his wild fish-patterned shirt, a Cars pull-up, white athletic socks and his new brown tennis shoes. It was a sight to behold, and I wish I had thought to take a picture. He was perfectly happy with his new situation, and I was thoroughly amused with his chubby little white legs swinging freely from the shopping cart. Who needs pants, anyway?!

A New Way To Exfoliate

I am in the process of building a business around the idea of exfoliation. I've done a lot of experimentation, but today's experiment may take the cake. And what's even better is, I'm going to share it with you for free.

So the boys and I were supposed to meet friends at Central Market at 11:00. That is precisely the time I was just getting jackets on everyone. In my haste to get us moving out the door, I flung open the closet door to retrieve my jacket, sending the door smashing into the bookcase, which led to all manor of things falling. This I saw happening from the corner of my eye and reached out to catch a small glass container. And I did catch it, too, just as it bounced off the second shelf and shattered into a hundred pieces. I will tell you, several layers of skin--dead and alive--were removed and a few thousand blood cells were also liberated.

I have decided, in the name of Body Dulce, not to encourage this type of exfoliation. But rather, I will promote the more traditional, if less dramatic, sugar scrub. However, if you all are intrigued by this experiment, please feel free to try it for yourself. Just know that Body Dulce refuses to accept any responsibility for injuries incurred.

The Sound of Silence

You don't realize how loud it is, until it's not. The big kids stayed the night with their grandparents last night and an almost eerie, but very pleasant, silence descended upon our house. We enjoyed every moment, but were glad to have our little chatterboxes home this evening.

Vacation Envy

Well, I find myself a little green tonight. Jeff's aunt and uncle have set sail for Cozumel, and his parents are off to Carlsbad/Coronado Island for the weekend. And, (whine) I want to go somewhere. Anywhere. Preferably somewhere warm and beachy. But really, anywhere would be fine. But alas, I am here, with no plans to go anywhere more exotic for the moment. Just as well, I guess. I haven't really got my swimsuit body back yet--not that I ever really have a swimsuit body. Perhaps in my dreams I will have the body and the beach. That's not too much to hope for, is it?!

Please DON'T Be Mine!

Well, this post isn't likely to make me very popular, but I'm not that popular anyway, so I'm going to go ahead with it.

I admit it: I am definitely a Valentine curmudgeon. I just can't get behind a Hallmark holiday whose focus is to show a little love to those we love. I mean, shouldn't we be doing that everyday?! Do we need an occasion for that?! And is it really a true expression of love if we're doing it from some national social obligation?! I just don't get it. And I especially don't get it in the context of public school. You go to the store and buy these pre-made cards with some character or other expressing general cheesy fondness for the reader. You stick a sucker (or some other sugar-laden treat) on it. And then you pop one in every single (this is a rule) homemade bag without even bothering to put a name on them (also a rule), because that makes the process too inefficient. What's not to love? When I read the rules, I was tempted to take Ruth out of school today, but then I realized that she genuinely does love all her classmates and teachers and wants to give them things anyway. She does this all the time, without needing a special day for it. So, I did not attempt to transfer my feelings for this holiday to her in any way. And at least she, of her own initiative, made cards for all her classmates herself-- although she was quite put out when I told her she couldn't put individual names on them. And, she wanted to know why she had to give one to every kid. I told her honestly that I didn't know.

If there is one positive thing about this forced holiday, it's that GAC is devoting an hour to love song music videos, which are always fun to watch, even when everything isn't bathed in pink and red.

Heard At The Watts' House

"You sound blurry when you talk through the door." ~Ruth

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"Weston, I want you to keep your jacket on so you don't get sick."

"No. I'm two. And Ruth is five." ~Weston

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"Have you been wiping boogers on the side of your bed?! Don't wipe boogers on the side of your bed!" ~Jeff

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"I am only going to give the puppy one more kiss." ~Mandi

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"Ah-Goo." ~Max

One Month Old

Mandi M. Watts, Mother of Three

Well, all my helpers have gone and today was my first day to really and truly be a mother of three...all by myself. We did not burn down the house or take a trip to the ER, and I was able to focus individual attention on each kid at some point during the day, so, I think we're going to be o.k. Today also happened to be my half-birthday, so Jeff and I made a conscious decision to go out in public out-numbered. It couldn't have gone better. The kids were perfect and we all had a great time. I'm so very thankful that I have the opportunity to be the mother of (in my obviously unbiased opinion) the three greatest kids on the planet.

Babe In Arms

One thing about our little Max, he does like to be held. He is always happiest when someone is craddling him in their arms. He loves to study faces up close and to be lulled to sleep by human movement. He can be in, what seems to be, the deepest sleep while being held, but the moment the holder even thinks of putting him down--even with the intention of giving him a more restful sleep elsewhere--he begins a 5-minute long process of sniffing and snorting and generally working himself up into a tizzy. And with the release of the child also comes the release of tiny, yet powerful, protests. They say you can't spoil a baby for at least six months, but Max seems determined to prove them wrong. He's got us all wrapped around his teeny, tiny finger--and his killer set of lungs. And who can blame him, really? Since the moment he was born there has always been some willing arms, ready to receive him. And with the constant stream of visitors, when one set of arms tires, another is there to take over. I don't truly believe he is spoiled; just a normal, needy newborn. But certain things--eatting dinner, reading a book, typing a blog post--are just a lot more difficult to do with an armful of baby, and I, for one, will be glad when the demand to hold is not quite so all-consuming.

A New Bit Of Bling

Some of you long-time readers may recall the ear-piercing incident Ruth and I shared a while back. I was pretty sure the experience had left us both scarred for life and completley unwilling to attempt a repeat performance. But Ruth's need for bling finally overcame her all-consuming fear, so today we braved the mall--much scarier than the piercing--and Ruth came home with two perfectly pierced ears! She climbed up in the chair like the Queen of the World, and she didn't cry or even flinch! The ladies who did the piercing said they had never seen anyone be so brave. This evening I asked her how her ears were feeling, and she said, "Now they just feel like regular ears. They don't hurt at all." And here she is, in all her pierced-ear glory:

The Many Faces of Max

Refrigerator Swap

A few weeks ago we heard a CRACK! as we opened one of the drawers in the bottom of the refrigerator and the track broke on one side. A little later we heard another CRACK! as the track busted on the other side. It was at that point that we silently acknowledged that we might have the drawer a tad too full. However, we refused to do anything about it. We could still make the drawer go in and out, and it just didn't seem worth it to unload the whole fridge just because of a little cracking. Well, two days ago the whole shelf unit to which the drawer is attached came crashing down. We were suddenly forced to deal with the situation without further delay. Fortunately, we happened to have an almost-new, completely-unused extra fridge out in the garage. Unfortunately, some of the rats apparently took up residence there when they were living with us back in the Fall. Yuck! Undaunted by the scene, my mother-in-law (read: "Hero of the day") stepped in and cleaned the whole thing up while I was at Storytime with Weston this morning. We moved the new one in; we moved the old one out, and bada-bing, we're back in the cooling business. Plus, it was a great opportunity to get rid of all those unrecognizables. And, we think we like the new one even better than the old one. All around, it worked out kind of *cool*.

Good Read, Good Reader

Good Read

I finished this book this morning, and it is just amazing! It reads like the book of Acts, and it reminded me that the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. His project has always been salvation, and He has been busy accomplishing that purpose in many ways all over the world since the beginning of time, up to and including the time we are living. He accomplishes that purpose through the lives of men and women who are willing to give themselves completely to Him, to be used in the way that He desires, and who are willing to listen to and obey His voice no matter what. This book is at once convicting and encouraging; challenging and inspiring. I would say it's a must-read for every believer. I am certain I will read it again and again.

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Good Reader

Ruth finished her Swiss Family Robinson book tonight to much cheering and applause from some of her biggest fans! She started the 238-page, 16-chapter book on Jan. 17 and steadily and quickly worked her way through it without much trouble. She started out reading half of a chapter at a time and then worked her way up to a chapter a day. Today, however, in her enthusiasm to finish, she read 3 1/2 chapters! We are so proud of her and are, quite frankly, somewhat amazed! She has already picked out her next book, which will be Black Beauty.

Smiles On Monday

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  Our house was full to the brim with visitors this weekend!
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  Our Super Bowl party was loads of fun!
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  Max has gained a pound!
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  Jeff seems to have secured another consulting gig!
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  I found a quarter while doing the laundry!
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  Yummy food abounds at Casa de la Watts!
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  I'm reading an excellent book!
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  Sunny days and 80 degree temps!

Building A Better Life

Most parents want a "better life" for their children than what they themselves have had. That means something different to each individual, but tonight, through the following conversation, we found out what it means to Ruth.

Ruth: Why do parents get to make all the decisions?

Mandi: Well, that's just a one of the responsibilities of being a parent. When you are a parent, you will get to make all the decisions.

Ruth: Well, I know one thing: I want my kids to go to daycare.

Mandi: Oh really. Why is that?

Ruth: Well, I just think it would be a lot of fun for them. And one other thing...I want my kids to go to Jollyville, but I want them to ride the bus!

You see that boy, Man? He is huge!

Well, Weston had his two-year check-up today. He's very healthy and, well, he's huge! He is 36 1/2 in. tall (75th percentile) and he weighs a whopping 34 pounds (92nd percentile)!! I knew it felt like a workout to pick him up a few times a day! He didn't have to get any shots today. Yippee! But he did have to have an anemia test, which came back normal, and a TB skin test since he has traveled to Brazil in the last five years. He was such a big boy and didn't cry at all when he got stuck. But the really good news is, we get to go back in to the doctor's office on Monday so they can check the TB site. We can't possibly bring him in on Tuesday, when we will already be there anyway for Max to get his weight checked. Oh no. We must come in on Monday. And you all were worried that I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I only got to have one outing to the doctor's office next week.

You Wanna Be Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Well, unless that place is filled with copays and needles and nurses and scales. Let's review, shall we? Max was born on the 12th. I took him in for his five-day appointment on the 17th. Then, I took him in on the 18th to have his bilirubin checked. He had his two-week visit on the 24th. I took him in yesterday to have his weight checked. And we were back today to check the weight again. Today, the receptionist said, "Man, you guys are in here pretty much all the time." Yeah. I know. But I assured her she wouldn't have to go long without seeing us again, as Weston has his 2-year check-up tomorrow, and Max will be back on Tuesday for yet another weight check. The weight, by the way, was good today. Up 2 whole ounces. But we have to go back on Tuesday just to make sure he is continuing to gain. Blah, blah, blah. It's almost enough to make you want to go ahead and belly up to that famous bar with Norm, huh?!

Eat Your Heart Out

I Cannot Believe I Just Said That

When you become a parent, you find yourself saying the most ridiculous things imaginable. Here is a sampling of things that have been heard at our house--some as recently as today.

• You may not have a hot dog until you have eaten all the food on your plate.
• Did you put your spoon down your shirt? Don't put your spoon down your shirt.
• Don't drink from that pool of standing water on the sandbox lid.
• Don't put that _____ in your mouth. (Some options for the blank include: rock, shoestring, computer cable, dirt, crayon, baby's pacifier, food off the floor, thing out of the trashcan, etc. etc.).
• We are not going to take our clothes off at the dinner table.
• Don't put that _____ in the toilet. (Blank options: toothbrush, cup, washcloth, toy, hand, etc. etc.).
• What do you have in your purse, Son?
• Don't stick that in your _____. (Blank options: nose, eye, ear, mouth, any other orifice on your body or anyone else's body).
• Who wants to throw the baby's dirty diaper away?!
• Yes, I did earn a treat when I went to the bathroom, but I'm going to eat my dinner first.

"I Do Dood Job."

This is Weston's mantra these days. He can make it through any task you ask him to do as long as you keep the "good jobs" coming. And if they don't come in regular enough intervals, he is quick to remind you: "I do dood job." This sometimes comes out like a statement and sometimes like a question. And this has made me think that that's really what we all want, isn't it?! Wheather we are working at an office or at home; whether we are trying our hand at a new task or doing something we've done a thousand times, we want to know that we are doing a good job. We can make it through any task if we just have a little affirmation from time to time. So to all of you reading this, I'd just like to say: You are doing a good job. Keep up the good work.

Two Weeks Old

Another Page From The Family Cookbook

Chocolate Peanut Buddy Bars

1 cup peanut butter

6 T. softened butter

1 1/4 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1 cup flour

1/4 t. salt

1 cup milk chocolate morsels, plus another couple of handfuls to sprinkle on top

Beat peanut butter and butter until smooth (about 1 minute). Add sugar, eggs and vanilla and beat until creamy. Blend in flour and salt. Stir in chocolate morsels. Spread into 13x9 pan. (Recipe says ungreased--I greased it anyway). Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 until edges begin to brown. Immediately sprinkle chocolate morsels over cookie layer. Let stand 5 minutes. Spread evenly. Cool completely. Cut into squares. Enjoy.

These are super-yummy and very easy to make, using ingredients you probably have on hand without having to make a trip to the store.

Little Max Visits The Doctor

It was a cold day in central Texas, and Little Max had to go to the doctor. So, Little Max's mother fed him, changed him (as he peed all over the changing table) and bundled him up. Then they were off. Upon arriving at the doctor's office, the nice nurse asked Little Max's mother to take off all his clothes, including his diaper, so they could get an accurate weight for him. Little Max proceeded to pee all over the exam table, the nurse's hand and a portion of his own clothing. With the mess mostly cleaned up, the group trooped off to the scale. "8 lb. 8 oz." the scale read and the nurse recorded. Then they all made their way back to the exam room. The nurse said to put his diaper on, but leave him unclothed. Little Max was not happy about being left naked, so his mother bundled him up in a blanket to keep him warm until the doctor could get there. Just as Little Max was about to doze off, the doctor appeared. She listened to Little Max's mother explain the woes of the last few days, did her exam and pronounced her disappointment in Little Max not being back up to his birth weight. She ordered a series of tests to try to figure out what might be plaguing the wee child (including a catherization to check for a urinary tract infection and a couple of blood tests to check the bilirubin levels and to rule out any significant problems), and she requested that he be weighed again. Then the doctor left Little Max and his mother in the capable hands of the nurse, who came in to fill the doctor's orders. First, she performed the catherization, causing Little Max to pee all over the exam room once again and making him unbelievably angry (and causing his mother to leak out a few sympathy tears). When he had recovered from that ordeal, she stuck his little heel to draw the blood. Her goal was to fill two separate vials and put four dots of blood on a piece of paper. She expertly filled the vials and then began to work on the paper. She had completed only one of the dots on the paper when Little Max's mom happen to notice her son's blood spilling out of one of the vials all over the exam table. This caused the nurse to feel flustered and Little Max to feel upset, as more blood now needed to be extracted. Thankfully, another stick was not required, as Little Max was bleeding quite freely from the first stick. Finally, with all that drama behind them, the group made their way once again to the scale. "8 lb. 6 oz." the scale read. Little Max's mother and the doctor found the results completely baffling, as the boy appeared to be shrinking before their very eyes while still seeming to be relatively healthy. Having used up all the wipes and diapers in her diaper bag, and having agreed to bring Little Max in again in just five days to have his weight re-checked, Little Max's mother gathered up her son and her belongings and wearily headed for the pharmacy to fill a prescription for reflux medication--which the doctor thought might help with all the other problems Little Max seemed to be having. Later in the day, the nurse called to say the the bili counts were down to normal and there was no evidence of a urinary tract infection, which was good news. Still, the whole experience was quite exhausting for both Little Max and his mother and both were glad to have it behind them.

The End

Please Stand By...We Are Experiencing Technical Difficulties

Well, we've had some computer problems the last few days, but I think my tech guy has got them all worked out now. We are also experiencing some technical difficulties with Watts Baby 3.0. This child who slept for six hours for several nights in a row at only a week old, decided at 10 days old to grow out of that. He has been very cranky during both the daytime and the nightime the past couple of days/nights. It seems to possibly be tummy trouble, but nothing seems to really soothe him or make him feel better. It's just the saddest thing. I feel so very bad for him and so completely helpless. We have another visit with the doctor scheduled for tomorrow, so I'm hoping she can give me some useful advice that might make life a little more bearable for all of us.

Grandparent-filled Weekend

It was a fun weekend, with all the grandparents--and even a great-grandparent--popping in for visits.

Look Closely

If you look closely, you will notice that that is a pull-up diaper on my son's head. This is how Weston presented himself to us first thing this morning. He came down the stairs grinning from ear to ear, saying simply, "Hat." I laughed so hard, I almost cried. And even better was that he chose to wear his "hat" for half the morning.

All My Children

The Brain: Ruth's school report for today included the news that she is in the process of writing a six-page "book" about Max's arrival, which she will finish tomorrow. She has been working on this for several days and even had to ask her teacher for extra pages in order to finish. Each page contains an illustration and 1-3 sentences. There have been some visiting teachers in her class this week, who are specifically there to observe her teacher teach writing, and they have been very impressed with Ruth's work.

After school, Ruth began reading The Great Illustrated Classic Swiss Family Robinson (a 3 pt. AR book)! She was flying through it, working her way through words such as "accomplishment," without even stumbling. The book is a challenge to her really only in how long it is.

As a bonus, Ruth got an extra peg (the reward system employed by her teacher) for cleaning up her whole table while some of her desk mates were goofing off. That peg bumped her up to 10, which allowed her to pick a prize from the treasure chest. We are so proud of her for all her accomplishments--not to mention all her help around the house!

The Brawn: Weston figured out how to open the door to his new room today and successfully escaped from his afternoon nap, if only briefly.

But, of course, there is much more to this sweet boy than sheer force. He has been a huge help with Max, rushing to bring us diapers and taking dirty diapers to the trash can, and generally just being very sweet to his little brother.

He has also had a lot of potty success this week.

And he has learned the "chorus" of the 10 Little Monkey Story: ...One fell off and bumped his head. Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed." He has even worked out some motions to go with it. It's adorable.

The Babe: Max slept in four-hour stretches last night, meaning I only had to get up once in the middle of the night to feed him, meaning I actually feel human today!

He also had his newborn check-up today. The report was mostly really good. He just has a minor jaundice problem. The doctor recommended that we give him a little formula after each regular feeding to hopefully flush the excess bilirubin out of his system. He will be re-checked tomorrow morning. But in the meantime, Ruth and Weston are thrilled to get to feed him a bottle.

The doctor also recommended that we put Max on his belly a few times a day, so this afternoon I did. I'm not kidding when I tell you he attempted to crawl! True, it may have just been a reaction to the extreme anger he felt at being put in that position, but I really don't think so. I, of course, think it is simply because he is brilliant and very advanced. But that's just me.

We are so very proud of our kiddos and are thrilled to watch them learn and grow. Each new day brings something else to be excited about--and brag about! Thanks for indulging me.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

Rub-A-Dub-Dub, we've lost our tub.
And where do you think it could be?
I've checked the garage, the closets and Mom,
But the search yielded nothing, you see.

How does one lose a baby bath tub? Especially when one knows where all the other baby things are? It is a puzzle, indeed. We made do with a little tub from the hospital, and Max had his first sponge bath tonight. Don't be deceived by the picture; he didn't like it one bit!

Cuteness, Cooking, And Cat Naps

So "C," as it turns out, is not just for "cookie," as Cookie Monster originally suspected. Although, cookies are definitely excellent and did figure into the day. But, I'm sure you're not really interested in that little tidbit. The big activity of the day for me was a trip to the grocery store. Having been cooped up in a hospital room the last few days, I thought a little outing would do me good. It was good to get out, but the trip (combined with my sore body and my serious lack of sleep last night) completely exhausted me. But, fortunately, I was able to catch a little cat nap this afternoon, while Jeff took charge of the troops. And speaking of Jeff, he spent the majority of the day cooking yummy things with which to fill our freezer for those days in the not-too-distant future when there will be no one here to cook for us. What a man! But, I know you aren't here to hear about all that. You're here to see the cuteness. So, in an effort to keep you as a faithful reader, I will reward your diligence with this adorable picture of little Max.

Meet Max

Max Andrew Watts made it safely into the world on Saturday morning (despite a few minor struggles), and safely to our home today. He is eating well and sleeping well, and seems to be generally happy and healthy. His big brother and sister are (mostly) very happy to have him join our family, and Ruth's first commentary on the whole situation was priceless: "He's so little, but your tummy sure was big!" We are praising the Lord for the blessing of this new little life, and we are thankful to all who helped us welcome him into the world--through prayers and love and medical expertise. You'll definitely be hearing more about this little guy in the days...and weeks...and years to come!

Never Say Never

Well, nevermind that lower lip hanging down in the last post. We are on our way to the hospital...

Stalled Out

** This Post Contains Adult (Woman) Content**

So two weeks ago, I went to the OB/GYN and she said I was dilated to 1 1/2 cm and was 50% effaced. I thought that was a pretty good start, considering I was still three weeks from the due date. Last week she said I was dilated to about 2- 2 1/2 cm and still 50% effaced. Since then, I have moved furniture and cleaned and organized, etc. etc. I've had lower back pain and various other discomforts, so I thought I was really making progress. I just knew when I went in today she was going to say, "Well, you might as well just go ahead and go upstairs; you're going to have this kid any minute." Imagine my disappointment when she said instead, "No change since last week. See you next week." The last few weeks of pregnancy are just torture--in more ways than one. The hardest part, though, is definitely the waiting. So close, yet so far away, you know?!

And Now For The Moment You've All Been Waiting For...

(Or at least the moment I've been waiting for for a couple of weeks)...

We moved Weston into his big boy bed tonight. He was thrilled!! And we are thrilled! If it weren't for this fairly constant pain in my lower back, all would be right with the world! Yippee!



(And if he isn't just the very picture of cuddly cuteness, I'd like to know what is)!

Girl's Night Out

Some of my long-time (since Ruth was a baby) girlfriends took me out for dinner tonight to celebrate the imminent arrival of Baby Watts. We all have busy lives and don't get to see each other as often as we'd like, so this was a truly special time. Thanks so much, ladies, for treating me not only to some neat and much-needed baby things, but also (and maybe more importantly) to a night out.

The Hero Of The Day Award Goes To...

...My Mom! She showed up at my house today--as a total surprise--with her work clothes and can-do attitude to help me get some of the overwhelming mess under control. By the time she left, we could see the floor in the baby's room and were even able to vacuum in there. (Which may not sound like too great a feat, but you should have seen what we started with)! Jeff also got the "big boy" bed moved into Weston's new room. It is still unmade, but hopefully before too long he will actually be able to sleep in there. There are still plenty of things that I would like to get done before Baby arrives, but after today, I feel like he could show up anytime without sending me into some kind of stress-induced meltdown--which is good for everyone I assure you!

Back To Normal

Ruth was back at school today and Weston was back to focused potty training. I paid a pile of bills and even [gasp] cooked a real dinner. So, I guess we're pretty much back to normal...whatever that is. Vacation is definitley more fun, but a healthy dose of "normal" never hurts, I guess.

"You Might Want To Give Some Serious Thought To Thanking Your Lucky Stars You're in Texas"

My parents have a little plaque in their house with this saying on it. I can't find who to credit this quote with, but I love it. I'm always thankful to be a Texan, but never more so than a January day with temperatures in the mid to upper 70s. (Even as I type this the temperature is 70 degrees)! It's awesome. The kids spent half the day running around in the yard barefooted and half-dressed. We've got the ceiling fans on full-blast and the windows open. I can't think of any better way to do winter...unless I were to be on some tropical island somewhere, but barring that, Texas winter suits me just fine!

A Place For Everything, And Everything In It's Place

Oh, how I wish that were true! But it simply isn't, so we're just having to improvise. The nesting continues--slowly but surely. We actually have the cradle in place now...and lots of other things out of place. At one point I felt so completely overwhelmed, I just sat down and cried...and cried and cried. It was completely ridiculous, but it felt good to get that out of my system. I do think we're going to get there. And, as Jeff was kind enough to remind me, even if we don't, it's not really that big a deal. Ruth told me at dinner that it feels like we have a totally new house, if that gives you any idea what things have been like around here.

*For those of you inclined to worry, please don't. I'm not doing any heavy lifting and I even allowed myself the luxury of a nap today.

Showered

Both sides of the family gathered at my parents' home today to shower us and little "Tater/Jon Deer" with lots of love and gifts. We had such a great time and we got lots of neat things--including (but not limited to) the all-important new car seat, diapers in every size, lots of cutie-bug clothes, cuddly blankets and adorable hooded towels. It was a very fun party, and now little Baby Watts' imminent arrival seems more real than ever. We can't wait! I was particularly touched by a couple of little notes Ruth wrote to her new little brother and I will share them here. The words are all hers and they are just so sweet.

"Baby Bruther,
I love you Jondeer. You are my little bruther, Little Jondeer."

"Baby,
I love you and I cer (care) about you. Love, Ruth."

Nesting

I guess I'm in "nesting" mode now. Either that or I've just realized that I'm about to have a baby and have absolutely no place to put him! Anyway, I attacked no less than five rooms in my house today, leaving a bigger overall mess than when I started! Why is it that to clean up, one must first destroy?! I think there is a light at the end of this tunnel somewhere. And I think we may actually find a place for this kid if he doesn't decide to show up tomorrow!

Movie Madness

Jeff and I have been in the mood to see a movie in the theater lately, so after we dropped the kids off last night, we headed on over to see what was showing. We got there just after all the movies we were interested in started, and so decided to put it off for another night. This evening, we checked online to see when things were showing and headed over to the theater (a different one, I might add) in what we thought was plenty of time. Unfortunately, the show we wanted to see was sold out there. Finally, we headed over to yet another theater in the hopes of seeing a different movie. We were successful in getting in, but about 20 minutes into it, the fire alarms went off and everyone was herded outside into the freezing cold. Just as we were about to throw in the towel, the manager announced that it was a false alarm and that they would start the movies back up where they left off or give a refund to those who didn't want to stick around. We decided to stay, and through our diligence, finally got our movie watched. It was crazy, but it was still fun to be out on a date. We saw the new National Treasure movie, by the way. It was pretty cheesy, but still kind of a fun movie.

And We're Back

Well, some of us are back. The kids are spending a few days with Jeff's parents before they go back to Las Vegas. We are hoping this will be the perfect opportunity to get everything ready for our new little guy--who will be here surprisingly soon! We had a really wonderful holiday and hope you all did as well. We are thrilled that we had so much time to spend with family and friends! We are celebrating all the blessings we received in 2007 and looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us in 2008. Happy New Year!