Introducing Dr. Cindy Carlson Rice! (60/365)

AKA Dr. Grandma!

We're SO proud of you,

and SO glad we could share your special day with you (despite your protests).
Love you.

24 Years Ago The Littlest Bathje Was Born (59/365)

But he's not so little anymore. Happy almost quarter century, Fred.

Speaking of Changes (58/365)

Look what we Matt did today. Next step - bunk beds.

Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes (57/365)

Lately I've been constantly reminded of the fact that my first baby is not such a baby anymore. When I was in J'ville last weekend, I looked back at pictures of Alice from when Izzy was born and I can't believe how much Alice has grown - no wonder she's growing out of her clothes as fast as I can buy them! She's engrossed with activity books and constantly wants to write her letters and do her alphabet dot-to-dot pages. The thing that has really been a daily reminder that she's growing up is, sadly, her attitude. There are some days when it's all I can do to keep my cool and not pull my hair out. You've heard of terrible twos, but let me tell you, they've got nothing on three. Today I actually sent Alice to her room for a punishment and for her to think about her actions and how she can be better. She's certainly retaining what I tell her in terms of how she should act, but I'm waiting for the day when she gets it and changes her first response to a situation. I know, I know, it could be a long time before that happens, but I'm hoping she'll surprise me.

Get Well Uncle Chuck (56/365)

Alice wanted to make a video to cheer Uncle Chuck up - hope you like Disney tunes.

And He Thinks He Doesn't Look Like He's Lost Weight (55/365)

Going from a size 50 waist to a 42 in a year is not too shabby if you ask me! Somebody get this man a cheeseburger!

You're doing great, hon!

The Eating Habits of a 10 Month Old (54/365)

Izzy has been having some problems eating lately. No I'm not referring to her lack of motor skills, she is, after all, crossing midline now. Nor am I referring to the fact that she got so messy at lunch this afternoon that I had to strip her and give her a good scrub in the tub. No I refer to the fact that I've been having to really work at her to eat her solids, where before she gobbled them up. I'm pretty convinced that it has more to do with the teeth that are barely under the surface than her Zantac needing an adjustment. We'll see what the doc has to say though as I'm going to give him a call tomorrow.

A Room With a View (53/365)

Photo courtesy of Matt and his iPhone. It didn't stay this pretty for long as the temperature crept to the just above freezing mark today, but it sure was lovely while it lasted.

Now if we can just get some nice big snowflakes during the day so I can take some shots like Jessica did (see her Facebook if you're a friend). I've been DYING to do that all winter! I mean if I've got to have snow, I might as well have fun with it, eh?

There's always tomorrow.

Yep, It's Still Winter (52/365)

Despite the terrible storm that followed us from Pontiac to Kankakee,

we made it home safe and sound. Now if it would just stop snowing.

I Love Being Home (51/365)

I don't want to go back tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Momma. (50/365)

Tonight I write this blog from the comfort of the living room of my childhood. It looks considerably different than when I lived here, but it, and the rest of this house, will always be home to me. In the red bedroom I remember my oldest brother jumping out of the shadows at James and I right before we fell asleep in his Freddy Krueger gear, scaring the living hell out of us. The brown bathroom I'm reminded of the time Littlefoot was sent to his watery grave. The kitchen has memories of fabulous food, lots of laughter, and stories of a night when mashed potatoes some how ended up on the celling. Oh and I can't forget the time that a bowl of hot chicken soup somehow ended up on my head. There are fond memories all over this house for me, but for some reason when I'm in the living room I'm often reminded of the spot where mom lost her battle with cancer. The night she died she was right here in this very room, in a bed not five feet from where I sit. So many things happened on that spot the 21 years prior, yet the memory that always comes back to me is that one.

I don't know why I go back to that day nearly seven years ago when I'm here. My mom lived in this house, and yet the first and most vivid memory I come to of this room is of when she died here. Sure I remember sitting around the living room watching soaps with her while she painted scads and scads of Santa pins on her waxed paper lined ironing board, or trimming the tree in the living room while listening to Bing on Dad's big speakers, hell I even remember many a fight I had with my siblings (usually Charles) in this room, but I always go back to that night when I'm here. Why is it so hard to get past that? Why is it so hard to be in this room and not think of that?

On this the last few minutes of the day that would have been my Mom's 62nd birthday I want to make a promise to myself that I will make a conscious effort to associate that spot with the many happy moments that happened there, and not the sad day that mom died there.

Miss you, Mommy.

I May Need To Fire the Help (49/365)

As any mother of 2 or more kids knows, the older kids in the house love to help mom take care of the younger ones. Alice has always been very good at getting me a diaper, fetching a spoon, or throwing out dirty diapers so I never worried she'd do something like this. Today Alice offered to put Izzy's bottle that she didn't finish in the fridge for me while I laid Izzy down for a nap. When I went to fetch it when Izzy woke up it was nowhere to be found. After I had moved everything around in the fridge, twice, I got the idea that maybe she put it somewhere else other than the fridge. Turns out I was right. Wanna take a guess as to where I found it? The trashcan. It could have been worse. She could have hidden it so well that it would take the putrid smell of rotten milk permeating through the house for me to find the damn thing.

Unfortunately I know all too well that that's a smell like that lingers for weeks. And fortunately for all of us I found it before that could happen. Blech.

10 Things You Didn't Know About My 10 Month Old (48/365)

• When I feed her solids she says "mmmm" after every bite. Ok so she just started doing that today, but you didn't already know that, didja?
• Izzy officially has a bedroom! I cannot believe how well the the girls have done with the transition to sharing a room. It was shockingly painless!
• She hasn't said "ma-ma" since right before my birthday. I swear she's doing it to torture me! This is how a typical conversation with her goes these days:

           MOMMY: Izzy, say ma-ma.

           IZZY: (blank stare)

           MOMMY: Say ma-ma.

           (crickets chirping)

           MOMMY: (points to herself) Ma-ma.

                      (points to baby) Izzy.

           IZZY: Ppppppffff.

           MOMMY: (wipes spit off her face) MA-MA...come on kid!

           IZZY: DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA!

           (insert hysterical laughter)

• Her favorite toy: diapers. She could have a whole living room floor full of all things Playskool and Fisher-Price and the kid will ultimately make a bee line for the diaper caddy and all the fun diapers inside.
• She's starting to prefer the solid food over the bottle. And I'm not ready for it.
• She constantly tries to eat cat food. If she's in the kitchen there is a good chance that she's headed straight for the food dish.
• I think she may have a career as an escape artist. No matter how good I block the exits from our living room, it's guaranteed she'll find her way out eventually. Eat your heart out Houdini.
• Unfortunately, I think she's a fan of Barney. The few times it's been on (we try to watch as little Barney as possible around here) she becomes immediately fixated on the big purple nightmare.
• Damn those Bathje genes - I definitely have another curly haired baby. Don't get me wrong I love curly hair, but I was hoping she'd have straight hair since I already have one kid with curls. And it's such a PITA to maintain.
• She's incredibly different than Alice at this age. From standing in her crib (Alice never did this, not even ONCE) to being so easy to please she's an all around one-of-a-kind kid. And boy do we love her.

There Are No Words (47/365)

How Fast They Grow (46/365)

Izzy is now using walls/windows to pull herself up to stand. She's also getting more daring with standing and letting go. I have a feeling she'll be walking soon!