Getting around to posting those Christmas photos at last

Rats, I can't figure out how to rotate this image. Sorry, Calvin. You get the short end, again.

Christmas finery.

The best part is shredding that wrapping paper.

And finding an iMac inside. WheeeeeeHaaaaaaaYipeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!! Mac users, you may now let me in on the secret handshake and code word for entry into our private clubhouse. Bear with me while I learn all the new gizmos here.

Sunday morning play-dough with Bethiah, after we finished off the pancakes, fruit and coffee and the grown-ups watched the Queen's address. (Our hostess was Canadian, so why not?)

Audrey says things all the time now that seem blog-worthy to me but are probably boring most everyone but me. Today I was standing in the kitchen reading e-mail and Audrey was in the living room, doing something very quietly on her own. Out of the suspicious quiet I heard, "Mama? I need some tape." Later, while I was changing Calvin's diaper and he was crying really hard, Audrey was at my knee suddenly, tugging urgently on my pant leg and saying, "Mom, I need up there! I need to give Calvin a kiss, make him feel better!"

A more organized and better rested person than I would make a coherent blog entry out of that-- right now, all I can do is gather the scraps and try to type them while both kids are still sleeping.

It's 3:00pm-- do you know where your purse is?

Audrey likes to wear her babysitter Kristen's boots, and rifle through her bag. This time Kristen had the camera handy. Sorry about the fingerprints on your glasses, Kristen...

Calvin as reindeer

Studies have shown that pacifier use among reindeer reduces sleigh-speeding, increases accuracy of rooftop landings and generally improves holiday mood.

Reindeer outfit courtesy of Great Aunt Kris and Uncle Sergio. It already fits!

Now I get it...

I always thought that second children were photographed less because parents were just not as giddy about babies by that time, but now I realize it's simply that you can't pick up a camera very often when you are taking care of two kids. So while Audrey is at school, I'm posting a couple photos of Calvin just to be fair to the poor little sprout. He's given us his first smiles this week, but they are so fleeting we haven't captured any on camera yet. And I don't have five hours like I did with Audrey to stand there hovering with the camera to get the perfect shot, so you'll just have to take my word for it.

Audrey still delights in Calvin, calling him "Baby Barfy" and "My sweet little baby." While she was helping us give him a bath last night she said, "That's our baby. We buy him at the hoppital."

Well, sort of. I guess you could say that I bought him there, and paid with my girlish figure and a year's worth of solid sleep.

Not the weekend we expected, quite.

Friday night we found ourselves heading to the E.R. to find out why Audrey's lips and hands appeared bluish, and an hour or so later, both kids were admitted to the pediatric unit for the night. Calvin was discharged the next day, but poor Audrey was diagnosed with pneumonia, plus a bronchial infection and spent the rest of the weekend on the pediatric unit. I'm sure I don't have to say that this was stressful, scary and surprising for us all. Topping off the surprises, this was Janna's weekend to visit us in Boston. Her plane landed at just about the same time we arrived at the hospital. So she got to spend a lot of time holding Calvin, and also helped Audrey take part in the I.V. pole derby up and down the hospital hallways.

Everyone is on the mend now, at home. Hospital staff were good to us and the stay was short. We learned a few things over the weekend, including how common it is for kids to get pneumonia and-- though it is serious-- how relatively basic the treatment is. We also found out that if you walk into an E.R. with a newborn and a toddler, you go right to the head of the line, no questions asked. Reassuring, but I hope it's a privilege I never need again.

Overheard, from Audrey to Calvin

Here are some of things we've heard Audrey saying to Calvin this week. She loves hold him and kiss him and smother him. And he likes to lick her face.

"Oh, Calvin... I love you."
"Don't cry, Calvin-- I right here. I right here. I know, I know."
"Hi, Baby Bonzo. You my baby. I like you."
"Need more milk?"

Even though she is acting out in the general direction of her parents quite a bit this month, she has nothing but adoration for Calvin, the little prince, the apple of her eye, her Bonzo.

Snowy day at home

Calvin takes a snooze in the baby-wrap.


Audrey completes my W-9 form with yellow marker. She is totally bored by the idea that she might draw on the blank side of the paper. That was just my lame, conventional suggestion.

I forgot how long the days of snow and ice can be when you are inside with small children. But they are both sleeping now, so I can have that cup of coffee I poured about six hours ago. I'll just throw in some ice and pretend that I meant to drink it cold.

Calvin is one month old, and we're hanging in there.

I was trying to take a picture of myself and my two kids, but there were two significant snags. I can't hold the camera properly in one hand, and Audrey is only interested in the side of the camera in which she can already see images of herself.

My boys on the couch.


Month 1. We thought one was a lot of work-- and it was, compared to not having any. But two? If having Audrey taught us to be a little bit more patient, a little bit more in-the-now, then having two kids, if we actually survive it, is going to make us Zen Masters.

I want to write pages and pages and the first month for all of us with Calvin, but I'm just too tired.. It's 9:30 and I'm going to bed. Long story short: we love Calvin, all of us, madly. He's a joy. And having two children is kicking our butts.

Mimi and Pop-Pop come to meet Calvin, and catch up with Audrey

A chat with Pop-Pop, man to man.


And a cherubic pose to bewitch Mimi.