Newborn Funk

Today Susannah is officially 4 weeks old, and I am officially a little stir crazy! I am so dying to get outside in the nice weather and do fun things with my kids, like go to the zoo, or a movie, or swimming. I'm anxious to get back on a tutoring schedule with Spencer, to keep working with Ethan, to teach Jack how to do "money chores". I need to do laundry, shopping, cooking, pay the bills. But, instead I am trying not to "over do it" and doing a lot of "nothing" instead. Really, really boring. And lonely. It would be helpful if Jared was in town, but he's not. I have watched more DVD's in the last 4 weeks than the last 8 months. (Due to the fact that there's not much else you can do while nursing a baby or trying to settle her)

I really love holding her and looking at her, and not HAVING to do anything, so why is it so hard to just "do nothing"? Why can't I just "let go" of the laundry, the dishes, the phone calls, or church responsibilities? Why do I feel this rush to get up and moving again, to get on with the routine of my life? Why is it so hard just to BE? I am really not very good at that. I often wish I could suspend those sublime moments of motherhood so they would stay tangible and retrievable forever, and yet here I am fighting to rush past those moments in the hopes of attaining...what?

There's a song that Jared has on his ipod, and had I the skills I would make a link to it, but the lyrics say:
I'M IN A HURRY TO GET THINGS DONE
I RUSH AND RUSH UNTIL LIFE'S NO FUN
ALL I REALLY GOTTA DO IS LIVE AND DIE
I'M IN A HURRY AND DON'T KNOW WHY.

(Yes, that is a COUNTRY song, Jennie)
Anyone have any thoughts on the subject?

Thanks to Grandma Damiano and Aunt Shauna!

I failed to mention you by name, sorry! We love you and all you do! THanks a million!

A Domestic Goddess

This week marks the sad end of my having a personal Domestic Goddess. I used to think the term was "Domestic Helper", but having had one for the last 3 weeks, I have decided they should be promoted to near deity status. You see, another upside to a c-section was the tremendous outpouring of sympathy from my Mother-in-law and sister-in-law who stayed 2, and 1 weeks respectively to help out. Yes, the math is correct if you are thinking "What?! She had THREE weeeks of help?!". Lucky me, I know. Perhaps a little too profoundly do I know.
For now you see, I am on my own. YIKES. If I had only known how much I would miss them I would have abandoned the restraint I used to stop myself from physically throwing myself at their feet, begging them to please stay, while weeping piteously.
Even as I read this my pride and indepence cringe at the honesty of my despair, but I don't care! All those times I thumbed my nose at those lucky women who hire out domestic help, I can only now say I have been humbled. Yes, I am now just downright envious.
Forget the joy and satisfaction of hard work. Forget the joy of discipline, the satisfaction of independence. I just really, really want to sleep in and wake up to breakfast in bed, with the freshly washed laundry put away.
I guess I'll just have to have another baby...

"Olivabeth"

Okay, here's the deal-ee-OH. We have had a hard time deciding on a name for this baby since the start of this grand adventure. Much like the baby herself, there has been a great deal of flipping back and forth, with a true direction not being easy to find. But after 2 weeks with the truly beautiful name of "Elizabeth", it became apparent that it just wasn't working. In part due to the fact that the two female chidlren in our home were becoming known as "Olivabeth". So, at the risk of causing permanent psychological damage to practically everyone involved, we took the leap and have now officially "re-christened" her Susannah. (Susie being an acceptable alternative, anything else, not) Thank you for your cooperation in this matter, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

Make a Smilebox postcard

Birthday Pictures

Ethan's 6th Birthday!

Yesterday was Ethan's 6th Birthday, and we make every other year a "Family Birthday" so I don't have to do the whole party thing. (I have to say, the other may be less taxing, and possibly less expensive...) We did have a lovely time though. We dropped Grandma Damiano off at the airport (Thank you grandma for all your help!) then we went to The Original Panacake House for breakfast- super duper yummy! Then we went BACK to the airport to pick up Aunt Shauna! What a fun filled day, and it wasn't even noon yet!

Then we went to the Mall of America to let Ethan pick out a special toy from the Lego Store and a new pair of Crocs. Then home for some geo-caching adventures and cupcakes! Then he got to go to a FRIENDS birthday party at a bowling alley!

Aunt Shauna reportedly asked Ethan this morning if he felt different, being six. Older perhaps?

He responded, "Yeah. I almost feel like I have hair in my armpits."

I just love this boy.