Carousel

I started out by saying "no" to a ride.  It was late.  We had to get dinner.  We cannot ride every time.  We cannot do what you want every single time.  Lessons, you know?!?  But then we slowed it down and stopped for simple pleasures.

Such joy.  So glad we stopped.  Although I made a point of telling him the whining had absolutely no part in changing my mind.  {wink}  I need to remember these babies are only babies for so long and these opportunities will soon be gone.

Camel Ride

We have now officially done and seen all that the Bronx Zoo has to offer.  Camel Ride has been scratched off the list

I am not sure how we've managed to go this long without riding a camel, but it happened.  Now that the camel ride has been demystified, I am hopeful we can stick to carousel and monorail rides.

Sand and Surf

Ahhhhh, the beach....

There really isn't anything better, even with especially with little boys.

The boys are at the perfect age for the beach.  They slip into their swimsuit each morning and dig, and dig, and dig all day.

 

We spent mornings on the beach and visited the {heated} pool in the afternoons.  

 

Foggy Morning

Both boys really loved the warm pool.  Hans jumped in and wanted to keep up with Freddie.

We saw lots of porpoise and a huge school of sting rays which passed right near our feet.

The boys fished and caught a shark! 

And we slept in, lounged around, and ate seafood.  Oysters, shrimp, and fish each day!

Perfect way to finish our vacation.

Niagara Falls

Gammie and Pudge were in town last week.  They rented a van to experience a road trip with this krewe!

Niagara Falls is one of those things I've always wanted to see, and living so close it felt like it had to be on the list of things we do while we're here.

The car ride was long, but painless.  It made us want a minivan more than ever.  It just feels as though there's ample air for everyone to breath in there, which is much needed as when Freddie's talking a mile a minute in our sedan it feels as though he's using up all of the oxygen!

The stops along the way were nice.  Freddie gets excited over picnic lunches and there was a kite to fly.

Niagara Falls was an interesting place, with lots of interesting people watching.  The number of international tourists there was astounding.  The falls are amazingly beautiful and powerful.  But after looking at the falls and riding The Maid of the Mist to get an idea of just how powerful they are, there's not much else to do, but the town has been built up to look something like a carnival. 

We enjoyed the sunshine and meals together and the hotel swimming pool.

And it wouldn't be a vacation for Freddie if he didn't have a Shirley Temple with every meal.  He's quite the connoisseur. 

Homecoming

The doctor doing rounds granted permission to leave a day early to escape the horrors of having a roommate in the hospital.  You mean you want to get some rest? she asked.  A quick scrip for pain killers and a discussion about incision care and iron supplements and I was off. 

The hospital packed us a large bag of "goodies" which included the standard diapers and thermometer, but also included a stack of disposable panties and and a Ralph Lauren footed sleeper and Chanel gift bag.  Yes, Chanel perfume, lotion, lipstick, all tucked nicely next to a wad of disposable underwear.  Shrug. 

The hospital offers free parking on the day of discharge so Charlie picked me up in the car.  I'm not sure we would have made the walk to the tram or train with the heavy car seat.  Not room for much else in the back seat with two car seats in there. 

Freddie and Gammie had prepared the house for our arrival.  I was most excited to see my own bed and climbed in wearing the lipgloss I neglected to apply in the hospital. 

This is when the fun really begins.   Home sweet home, with all three of my guys.

1 Week

The state of things around here after 1 week of Hans:

Hans:

• He's a nursing champ.  He wants to nurse every two hours like clockwork.  
• The cosleeper is seeing some action for naps, but night time sleep just doesn't happen in there, or any where else for that matter.
• His toes are long and skinny.  
• He has two or three periods of being wide awake each day.  He gazes around the room.
• He's pooping lots, almost every time he sleeps.
• He has just a bit of fuzz atop his head.
• He looks just like Freddie, and I do mean just like him.

Dada:

• He is a proud papa, that's for sure.
• He's sleeping on the trundle in Freddie's room to get some good sleep.
• A nurse complimented his "baby handling skills" in the hospital.  I'm sure he'll tell you if he sees you.
• Work is back on the daily agenda, but he's abbreviated his schedule and isn't putting in the 2-5 hours in the evening like usual.  He's working back up to 8-5 and was out of the house by 9am today.  So thankful for all the help we've had so far to make this, and so much more, possible.
• He's really taken the lead with for Freddie which has worked out well.

Freddie:

• He missed his Mama while she was in the hospital.  I have heard more than a handful of times about how his teddy, or Tigey, or the puppy are all sad because their mama was in the hospital but she'd be home soon.
• He had an affectionate spurt with Hans when he first arrived home, but the passion has cooled a bit.  He does worry when he cries and likes to give him a pat of a kiss here and there throughout the day.
• When he says Hans is sound like "How-nz."
• I think he's finally putting it together that Hans is the Tummy Brother he has spent so much time talking to and loving on.
• He wouldn't let me out of his sight when I first came home, and has been a bit on the needy side, but overall I think he's handling everything in stride.
• All of a sudden he seems so grown up to me.  He's the big kid in the house, and still very much my baby.

Mama:

• I'm a bit disappointed in how things went for delivery with my blood loss being so high and recovery being slow, but I am feeling a little better each day.  Sleep would certainly speed things along.
• There are only 11 pounds of baby weight left.
• Connecting with Hans is feeling easier than it was with Freddie.  Focusing on this little person is certainly easier the second time around.
• Although I don't remember anything about caring for a newborn, I am not sweating it.  I am sweating the day I am left alone with them and outnumbered.
• My body aches and my head hurts nonstop.
• I haven't gotten dressed yet, but the sight of my pjs and old tshirts is beginning to depress me.
• I love holding Hans and having Freddie crawl into my lap as well.  No better feeling.
• I'm very thankful for the love, support, and help we've had the last week.  Sharing my boys feels good.

Happy Birthday, Hans Edward

June 23, 2011 at 12.31pm

7 lbs 13 oz 20.5 in

Named for my father and grandfather

**I'll be working on catching up here over the next few days.  It's been a busy week**

Commencement

 

Charlie defended his dissertation in August, and his degree was conferred in December, but there was this little matter of commencement.  Commencement occurred this past week, and Charlie was present.  It was a big moment for him that I thought he shouldn't miss.  He did earn a PhD, after all.  He was game since it meant a few calorie packed days in New Orleans, his home for the past 13 years.

Charlie and Dr. H, his mentor

I know graduations are boring. Just ask Freddie...

Watching a movie on his ipod

But I think there are a few folks out there who didn't make it but may be interested in some of photos.

Charlie getting "hooded"

The entire Health Sciences Center in New Orleans graduated.  That's 600+ doctors, dentists, nurses, researchers.  It was a long morning.

I kept telling Freddie to listen for Dada's name and asked if he knew what Dada's name was, and sure enough he said "St....," Charlie's last name.  

Charlie smiled and didn't trip as he walked across the stage.  He represented well.  

Signs of Spring

One memory of my grandmother's house is the bed spreads matched the season.  As a little girl and even as a grown woman, I loved coming to her house to find a whole new look in the bedroom for the new season.  I've been thinking about her quite a bit lately, wishing I could share this pregnancy with her and listen, again and again and again, to her talk about the accent of NYC cab drivers on her visit here with her husband so many years ago.  (Sorry Danny, I'm yet to have one cab driver with a New Yawk accent.  Indian, yes.  Kenyan, yes. Greek, yes.  New Yorker, no.)  Thankfully those bed spreads are hanging around in my memory because I've definitely needed to channel her spirit these past few weeks, and not in the form of frying chicken in the morning before breakfast to pack in the lunches of her husband and children.

I held on to these linens through the move.  I got them on deep discount a few seasons ago and considered tossing them in the garage sale pile during the move knowing space in our apartment would be limited.  The spread and shams made the cut and I pulled them out last week.

Spring temperatures are lingering in the 40s, windchill in the 20s most days, and snow and rain mix is in the forecast for today.  But it's spring inside.  I'm cranking up the heat, putting on my shorts, and reading a trashy beach novel on my spring bed spread.

My favorite part of the weekend

 

My guys, in the kitchen on Saturday morning.

The pancakes were delicious, too.