Monday, Monday, Can't Trust That Day

Sometimes I wish I could watch clips of my life on video after they happen...not that I think the story of my life would bring in millions at the box office, mostly because I think it would be hysterical to watch replays of my most ridiculous moments as a mom. This afternoon's "video" would definitely be one that I would watch over and over, surely laughing until I cried each time.

Mondays are not always my best days. I don't "work" on Mondays, so they are usually spent trying to prepare the house and kids for the next three days of work and school. If my weekend is too busy to get the laundry and grocery shopping done, then I am left Mondays to figure out how to do those things with a three year old and an infant. Such is how this Monday began...but it all started with a plan. Lexi needed a new hat, and it seems that hats for three year-olds are hard to come by, though I was pretty sure that Old Navy would have some. Usually we do our grocery shopping at Market Basket, but since there is a Stop and Shop next to the Old Navy, I figured that would do for one week. So off we went, Zach in the bjorn, and Lexi on foot, and ultimately in the cart at Stop and Shop. It was almost lunch time by the time we got to the grocery store, so I knew we'd have to be quick before kids and Mama started getting hungry and cranky. However, trying to pick up all the usual groceries in an unfamiliar grocery store with two kids (one of whom is attached to you) can prove to be quite a trick. But, we finally managed to pick up almost everything on our list, and started loading things on the check out belt. Lexi and Zach were both still relatively happy, but I knew my time was short. The cashier ran everything through, told me my total, and I swiped my card. As I turned to put my card away I heard a scream from Lexi. I turned to look and she had blood literally shooting from her nose. oh.no. I quickly grabbed a tissue and jammed it on her face. She continued to scream and pull away while I am trying desperately to reach her without shoving Zachary (still attached to my front in the bjorn) directly in the line of streaming blood. Everyone around us began to flip out. I think they may have thought I punched her in the nose or something. They are all looking at me with great concern, asking if I need tissues, if they can help me in some way, and expressing in horror that there is SO.MUCH.BLOOD! I'm very used to these nose bleeds...they happen quite frequently...just not usually in the grocery store. So, while I continue to contain the situation with the help of the cashier handing me enormous wads of paper towel (which are very quickly soaking with blood) I notice that the bagger is putting my groceries in plastic bags. "NO!" I yell, pointing. "I HAVE BLUE BAGS!!! BLUE BAGS!! PLEASE DO NOT GIVE ME PLASTIC!!!" The bagger looked at me like I was nuts (maybe she was right!), why was I concerned about the bags when my daughter was bleeding out, screaming at the top of her lungs?? In no time Zachary lost it. He does not like it when his sister cries, so he started in with her. I am now one handedly trying to enter my pin number, keep the bloody tissues under control, assure everyone around me that we are fine, and comfort both of my screaming children (one of whom is, yes...still strapped to me!). As I push the cart out of the checkout row I am met by the manager who asks me what seems to be the problem. I assure him that she is fine, she gets these all the time, and really, we're going to be okay. He offers me cold towels (I'm wondering where he is going to get said towels), when suddenly the women from the bank start waving tissues and disinfectant wipes, and the bagger (now behind me) hands me a plastic bag to put the bloody tissues in. I'm sure she was thrilled when I just tossed the bloody tissues in and left them for her to deal with. I took the tissues and wipes from the bank women and continued to try to navigate my way out the door and to the car while begging Lexi to lean in towards me so that I can reach her nose with the tissue. When I got to the car a man in the car next to me yells out in a thick Italian accent, "Oh dear, blood nose?" "Yes" I smile back and continue to try to figure out what I'm going to do next. A kind woman who had been behind me in the store came over and helped me get my bags in the car. All I needed was to get Zach off my chest so that I could help Lexi out of the cart...but no one was willing to take over bloody tissue holding for me, so there we all stood...Zach crying, Lexi bleeding, and me looking like a total fool trying to keep it all together. Finally her nose bleed stopped long enough for me to get Zach into his seat, and Lexi out of the cart. I thanked the kind woman profusely, quickly buckled both children into their seats and drove out of there half laughing, half crying.

Yes, it's always an adventure. And this is why I always say that the days I go to work and the kids go to daycare/preschool are my easiest days by far. :)

Okaaaay...

This one goes under the category of "thanks for sharing" as I have absolutely no idea what to do with this information.

Lexi: "Mama, sometimes when you talk while I'm eating, it makes my mouth bone feel kinda soft."

Monday Morning Photo Shoot...

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling...

Just a brief pop in to note that Zachary rolled from his back to his tummy twice this morning! Yay, Zachary! We knew you could do it! I missed it, unfortunately. I was in the other room and heard crying. When I went in to investigate I found Zachy on his belly - he was *not* happy, and has not yet figured out how to get back. After I helped him back onto his back I left the room again. A few minutes later I heard more crying, and went back to find him on his tummy again. Silly boy...we're really going to have to work on rolling back so that he doesn't keep getting stuck! I think our lives are about to get just a bit more tricky...a rolling baby means a mobile baby...oh dear...

Preschool!!!

I just dropped Lexi off for her first day of preschool... She didn't even frown when I left, though I am definitely holding back the tears!! She's gonna do great - I've never seen her so excited. :) Here are her "first day of school" pictures:

And off she goes...

Milestones...

If Spring is all about change and new beginnings, then we're starting this one off on the right foot. It's only Tuesday and we're already having a busy week, with a lot more activity to follow. But before I get into this week I want to post pictures of our first spring change...we painted the kitchen! After realizing that we would have absolutely no money to do projects on the house this year, we decided something just had to be done about the brown and pink walls...so we took the plunge (and an entire Saturday) and painted the kitchen. We are very happy with the result!

Now, back to this week...

Yesterday was Lexi's last day of gymnastics. She's done very well, and has enjoyed it very much, but this particular gym is very expensive and I haven't been thrilled with how they've handled a few situations, so we are off to try something new...(more on that later).

After gymnastics we headed over to North Andover Pediatrics for Zachary's 4 month visit. Dr. Martin is thrilled with how well he is doing, and marveled at how strong, and social he is. It's always nice when the doctor is impressed with the baby. She's happy to see that he's able to hold himself up so well on his tummy, and his head strength is amazing. She is certain he'll be sitting up, rolling, etc. before his 6 month visit. Zach's growth spurt has slowed a bit, but he's still doing just fine. Here are his stats:
Height - 26.5 inches - 90th %ile
Weight - 15lbs 5oz - 55th %ile
Head - 43cm - 70th %ile
Despite some heavy rumors that NAP is throwing patients out who are not 100% vaccinated on schedule, Dr. Martin continued to abide by the deal we made at the beginning, and he only got two shots yesterday (he won't get hep B until he's a bit older, and he also won't get rotavirus). I am thrilled because I really do like Dr. Martin, and was feeling frustrated that I was going to have to leave another doctor I liked because of a lousy practice.

Later in the afternoon we had an appointment with Lexi's orthotist. He is thrilled with the progress she is making in the braces, and feels that she just needs to be in them a bit longer. We agreed that braces in the summer won't work, so he has offered to make us a custom arch support to fit inside some sandals...free of charge. I really like these guys. :)

Tonight, Lexi and I are going to her very first swim therapy class that her PT teaches. She and I are both very excited about it. It's basically physical therapy in the water, with other kids. We have to pay out of pocket for it, but I think it's going to be a great class, and I really want her to catch up in gross motor so that she can keep up with her peers in preschool...

...and speaking of preschool...Lexi begins on THURSDAY!!! I am so excited and anxious at the same time. We've been talking about it non-stop since we decided to send her in April, and I can't believe this week has already arrived. Of course, I will update with pictures of her on her first day of school as soon as I can. She's going to New England Montessori which is a Montessori School with Traditional influences. It's a beautiful school, and she already knows one of her classmates, so I'm sure she'll settle in very quickly.

Ahren and I continue to run around like mad, but we are having so much fun watching the kids interact and enjoy one another. We're exhausted by the end of every day, but always looking forward to what tomorrow will bring. Bring on Spring...we're ready. :)

IIIIIIII'm Movin' Out!

So, apparently Lexi has had it with 56 Harold Street. We thought the addition would make things comfy enough for all of us to live here happily for a few more years, but Lexi has decided the space is no longer adequate. This is our conversation on the way to Yaya's last week:

Lexi: "Well Mama, pretty soon our little house will be too small for me, and I'm going to have to move into a bigger house."
Me: "Really? You're moving out?"
Lexi: "Yup. I'm moving into a big house."
Me: "But Daddy and I will miss you!"
Lexi: "That's okay, because I'm going to move into a house next to yours so that I can come over and visit you all the time."
Me: "Oh, okay. Phew."

A few minutes pass...

Lexi: "Mama, are you watching out for houses with two roofs?"
Me: "Two roofs?"
Lexi: "Yes! Houses with two roofs! Oh, there's one, there's one! We can live there! Okay Mama, keep looking!"

Well, she's a smart girl...she must know it's a buyers market. Ahren and I are already making plans for her room. He's thinking game room, I'm thinking a little mini spa. :)