Jumping Into It Again, But Times Two

I've heard that having two kids is much harder than one.  A German friend of mine told me that there is a saying in German that translates as, "Having only one child is like having no children."  Thanks, but there's really no going back now.

We know what it's like to have a new baby, so this time we are not in the innocent fog of new parent naivety, waiting for our angel baby to come quietly into this world saying, "Yes, Mama, I'll let you sleep some more.  I'll let you take a shower, get dressed, and feel like a normal human.  And I'll even follow what every parenting book says I should be doing at this age so that you'll know exactly what to expect from me."

So we are rolling up our sleeves for the big jump into babyhood, now combined with toddlerhood, ready this time for what comes.  But not ever really ready.

Kind of like this:



P.S. Some have asked, my estimated due date is mid December.  I am hoping for a 12/12/12 baby. ;)

Short Circuit

I think there has been a recent short circuiting in my child's brain.  She has always been a great listener and inherited her father's bat ears (as in acute, not pointy).  But recently her ears have not been picking up the frequency of my voice.  At first I thought it was a problem with her hearing and I even gave them a good cleaning with a Q-tip in case of wax build-up.  But her attention span is now measured in microseconds and every single thing I say has to be repeated several times.  Even if she's the one that asked me a question in the first place!

Esmé: Is it naptime or bedtime?
Me: It's bedtime.
E: Whatjasay? (startled that I had started talking, forgetting she asked me a question)
Me: Bedtime.
E: What mom?
Me: Bedtime.
E: Nextime?
Me: No, remember you asked me if it's bedtime or naptime? BEDtime!

Me: Please go tell Uncle Nick dinner is ready.
E: Whatjasay?
Me: Go tell Nick spaghetti is ready.
E: (Starts playing in a box.)
Me: Esmé, please tell Nick dinner is ready
E: Set the table?
(How does that even sound similar??)

My patience is thin and I've mostly resorted to hand gestures and one word sentences spoken very loudly.

Pretty Cat

I have so many pictures I want to post (birthdays, vacations, my belly!) but Kyle took off to Philadelphia with the camera before I had a chance to upload them!  So you will have to wait a couple weeks.  Until then, here is our cat, decorated with all of Esmé's jewellery and a bra.  Doesn't he look like he loves life?
(P.S. We miss you Papa!)