Obi-Wan Kenobi

Naomi - or shall I call her Obi-Wan is really chunking out lately. Look at those marvelous cheeks! Her Obi-Wan hood here is the soft flannel sling her Gramma gave us. She went to her first (of many I imagine) General Convention meeting in it yesterday. It was awesome!

Although you'd never know it from this picture she is awake and alert more these days. Its so amazing how babies are engineered to wake up about the time their moms start to feel better. I don't know how women go back to work at 6 weeks. I am sooooooo fortunate to get to be here as she comes out of her cocoon, so to speak.

Lately I've felt like I can manage two kids more effectively and I've actually been able to pay attention to Naomi a lot more. I love looking down and seeing her bright eyes looking around and sometimes looking up at me when I'm nursing her.

I'd some how lost track of the recognition that these little ones know a lot more about God than any of us foolish adults. She is so peaceful and content. Well when she isn't screaming at me to quit helping Eliot or me and take care of her:)

a first word?

I just went to get Eliot up from his nap and my shirt was a little crooked because I'd just nursed Naomi. I had a meeting this morning so I actually took a shower and had clothes, clothes on - not sweat pants and a spit up covered t-shirt from races with years from the 90's on it.

When I leaned over to get Eliot's blanket from his crib he noticed my bra strap - and lets just say he doesn't notice things like that under my shirts very often 'cause they're - well - not there very much. So he pointed to it and looked at me like 'what is THAT mom?'

And I said 'bra' in the same tone I use to name random insects, food items and trucks every day. And as clear as could be Eliot said 'bra.' Just like that 'bra'.

So although Eliot is saying new 'words' hourly - such as 'toe' for potatoe, and 'niiiiiiiii' for Naomi, and 'bu' for bus etc etc etc, he has one word he has said loud and clear. Bra.

I guess I'll just rejoice that it wasn't shit.

Retro Eliot

This was taken in December. We popped this pop corn to feed the squirrels and decorate our Christmas tree - which is a potted pine tree outside. It turns out he LOVES popcorn. We ate this whole bowl together. My dad is a HUGE fan of popcorn. Is this genetic??

our kids and Olympics

So I just figured out that Eliot was born 25 days before the '04 Summer Olympics and Naomi was born 23 days before the '06 Winter Olympics. Hmmmm.... what coud it all mean??

The Green Balloon

We went to Perkins the other day for lunch and Eliot got a green balloon from our server. He held onto the string all the way home and from the garage to the back door. I was thinking the whole time that Aron was crazy to not tie the balloon to Eliot in some way for fear of the sadness if he let go of it. And it was fine of course, just another time when a mom thinks she is being responsible and a dad's seeming 'irresponsibility' is rewarded with perfect success. Yet I digress.

We got home in time whisk Eliot upstairs for a nap and he carried the balloon all the way to his room. I left it in his room and he uncharacteristically kept making noise and not going to bed so when I went to check on him I thought (yes I realized this wasn't the smartest thinking I've ever done - but hey I haven't slept all night in over a month) that perhaps if we hung the balloon over his bed he'd be able to go to sleep. Ten minutes later he was still making noise and not sleeping (imagine that - could you sleep if your first ever balloon was floating over your bed?) I started thinking that if Eliot had access to his balloon - oh no! what if it popped and he put it in his mouth and choked to death and I walked into Eliot's room to find him suffocated by his balloon. So I went back into his room intending to get the balloon only to find that Eliot had pulled the balloon down from the ceiling and had it in his crib with him - and here is where my heart melted - he had it under his blanket. The kid had his balloon in bed with him and had covered it up with his blanket.

It hit me as one of the sweetest little gestures I'd seen in - well probably to be be honest a few hours - since he just seems to constantly do things that I think are sweet (yes I admit it I'm crazy about this kid). It was sweet enough to write down tho and one of those times I wish I had my camera.

grrllllz day in

Naomi and I got to spend the day together while Eliot went to play at his grandma's house and Aron went to work.

We ended up goign to the eye doctor too which turned out to be a complete waste of time mostly.

I just realized how cool it is to have a daughter. This is so cool (and about to be such a silly statement) we're both women. I get to watch a baby grow into a girl and then a woman. Wow. I'm feeling stunned.

I don't know why this is all underlined but she is awake and wants to eat so I'm going to be done now.

Eliot's first joke??

Eliot and I were reading a book today and talking about the truck and the bear a little kid was playing with when he pointed to the picture and with a little grin on his face used the sign for mouse. He added some 'flare' to the sign using extra exaggerated movements (his two pointer fingers moving over his mouth one at a time and repeatedly) and kept grinning. I interpreted that as Eliot making a joke - its as if he was saying 'I'm saying there is a mouse there when there isn't and we both know it hahahahaha! Isn't THAT funny!"

ironic timing

I realize this is giving Naomi a bit too much credit and I guess as a parent I get to:)

Today in church as Aron was holding up the host at that moment when they ring the bells - you know THE moment Naomi expressed a large amount of air and human waste out of her rear-end in a relatively large and noisy fashion. I thought it was pretty hilarious.

Happy 1 Month Birthday Naomi

This is Naomi sleeping in her papa's (grandpa McGinley's) lap. Happy 1 month birthday!

We had a 'birthday party' for her tonight. Aron made brownies and I put 1 candle in them and lit it and ran around and got dad to be there and put Eliot in the chair and the candle melted in the brownie and Eliot was tired and mad and Naomi was crying and hungry and I tried to take a picture but the batteries died. Kind of pathetic birthday - thank goodness we have 11 more months to practice for her 1 year birthday:)

I never thought I'd do this

This was Eliot's TV watching pose the other day. I thought it was adorable - still do. I also can't believe I turn on the TV to keep him busy - I do it tho - I admit it. He loves the Crocodile Hunter video we got for our wedding - Steve's most dangerous adventures. I love the Crocodile Hunter too www.crocodilehunter.com.

Naomi met her Great Grandma Peterson yesterday. Isn't that wonderful that she has a great grandma. She actually has 3. I think that is pretty incredible!

its official

24 hours ago we heard Eliot crying more than usual and went to check on him. The poor kid barfed all over himself and the bathtub and then again and again probably 6 times before 12:30. Then he threw up at 1:30 and 2:30 and 3:30 and 4:45 (of course while I was nursing Naomi) and at 5:45 and at 6:45 and at 7:30.

After cleaning up that much barf and that many tears and changing that many pairs of pajamas I feel like we're officially parents now - not that it was really in question - but now its for sure.

It was pretty funny some time between 9pm and midnight we were trying to give him a bath and he noticed the raisins he'd thrown up sitting in the bath tub and kept saying raisins "ssss" over and over just as if it was completely natural to come into the bathroom and find slimy raisins in the bottom of the tub.

big babies and boogers

Naomi had her 1 month check up yesterday - wow she is 4 weeks old already. She weighed in at 10 lbs 5 oz and 21 and 3/4 inches. How bizarre - that is the same weight and just 3/4 of an inch taller than Eliot was at BIRTH.

I've been saying since well before Eliot was born that there are a few habits I need to start curing myself of before he picks (no pun intended) up on them. Namely: saying the f-word and other swears in general and picking my nose.

This morning while we sat in the chair together he giggled. When I looked over at him he had his finger in his nose and this great look of accomplishment on his face.

There is nothing quite like that heart warming realization that you're a role model.

what a day!

Its not even noon thirty and I'm so amazed by today.

I got Eliot and me and Naomi fed, changed and dressed (well i wasn't changed or dressed but what is new) before 8am - and that included making pancakes for breakfast.

I got all of us fed lunch - and a healthy one - cheese and apples and good-for-you-soup - well and breast milk for Naomi.

I got both kids in bed (I thought they were asleep until 10 seconds ago when I heard Eliot saying 'choo choo' upstairs) before 12:15!

I'm going to take a nap!!! Before the nap tho - I have to write this down.

While I was nursing Naomi today I heard a pile of books crash outside Eliots room (where I was sitting - in the dark leaning against the knob on the dresser - nice!). I realized that that crash was probably the one I knew would come anyday now (since Naomi came along I've been so nervouse that I'm going to kill one while caring for the other through pure neglect) so I asked Eliot to bring me a book - because if he can bring me a book I have proof that he is alive and not bleeding to death. A few loooooooong seconds passed and then he came into the room with a book and told me there was a butterfly and a flower in it. Usually he would sit down to read a book - but today he gave it to me and left. I think he just broght me a book to read because thats what I asked him to do. I'm very touched that he picked that one out.

Then when I went to put Naomi in bed he started 'singing' a song to her - that I interpret as sounding a lot like the bed time song we've sung to him his whole life.

This kind of stuff just kills me its so wonderful.

Diapers and Bedrooms

Eliot continues to give Naomi wonderful little kisses on the forehead. He threw away a dirty diaper for her the other day. He continues to tell me when he hears her cry. When he wakes up in the morning and from naps he often asks where she is. And he calls her Niiiii - which sounds a little bit like the sound a horse makes but with the inflection of a good long moooo. He wants to hold her every day and offers her pieces of his food and shares his sippy cup with her. He burped her the other day too. He even gave her his beloved blanket!

I'm amazed by how loving he is and how patient he is with the major change that just happened in his life. I hope his intrest in her with continue - and his kind, gentle way of being a big brother. I'm also not kidding myself - at least I hope not too much - I imagine when she starts showing interest in his toys things will be a little different around here.

Naomi is growing like crazy. It seems like she is almost as big as Eliot was when he was born - which is really bizarre since she is now over 3 weeks old.

She seems to have a good night every other night - and by good night I mean she wakes up 2-3 times, eats and goes right to sleep. On the other nights she wakes up 2-4 times and can't burp and makes lots of noise and keeps me awake. I have to remember to keep all of this in perspective tho - I know some people are up for hours with a screaming, unconsolable chlid.

Its amazing how different I already treat her in just a few weeks. She has 3 "bedrooms" in our house. One is on the diaper changing pad in the downstairs bathroom - yes right next to the toilet. The other is in our closet in the back and play - yes right next to our dirty underwear. And the third and her newest is in her car seat on the kitchen counter - yes right next to the microwave.

I guess if she is a plumber, a lesbian or addicted to radio waves she can in some way trace it back to her earliest days of life.

Announcing

Naomi Ruth Kramer

She arrived January 18, 2006
at 9:39 AM.

She weighed in at 7 lbs 13 1/2 oz
and was 20 inches long.

She is a champion eater, sleeper and pooper.

I think this is adorable.