I had a long day at work and when 5 o’clock hit I was eager to get out of the office.  Things are busy for our family during the summer months.  Dawson begs for long days at the beach and Owen just loves riding in the stroller on long walks.  I’m just happy to spend time with my boys as they are growing so fast.

Dawson had T-ball right at 5 p.m. and thankfully my parents picked up the boys from daycare and I met them on the field for the game.  Dawson had one fabulous hit at bat.  He also played first base and caught a ball that was thrown to him.  He was super excited.

After the game I took the boys to a concert at a local park.  Tom Pease was playing at the band shell and what looked like hundreds of kids were eager to sing and dance to their favorite folk tunes.  Tom is a wonderful entertainer.  He sings, he has actions for his dances, he makes the most outrageous noises, and he can make up lyrics for a song in minutes.  (And here’s a secret: he’s been performing since I was in elementary school.  I still remember a concert he gave at Roosevelt School when I was in 3rd grade.  You do the math!)

Owen was mesmerized by the music.  The last Tom Pease concert we went to when he was just a few weeks old.  This time he was able to dance, and it was so cute.  I hope you enjoy the video.

This shit is getting old.  Yes, I said shit.  I can’t help it.  I’m reprimanding myself for not blogging.  Again.

The big news of the past few months:

Dawson has finished his year of 4K (4-year-old kindergarten).  He had a wonderful year.  He started out shy and quiet and ended the school year as a bright, outgoing and super happy boy.  He did miss half of the last day of school because he threw up.  It was the day of his 4K concert and I’m thinking the usual nerves that come with stardom got the better of him.  His teacher called for me to pick him up early.  I was bummed to miss all the little ones singing songs and dancing the hokey pokey, but I was more nervous about my son being sick. Turns out he was fine the next day.  I’m blaming stage fright.

Owen is almost 8 months old.  He’s nearly 25 pounds, almost 29 inches in length and he eats a lot.  We’re still nursing, too.  My baby has no intentions of weaning and I’m okay with that.  I just don’t know where he puts everything he consumes!  He eats rice cereal in the morning, baby food 3 times a day and nurses quite a bit throughout the day and evening.  He has been sleeping through the night, save for a few growth spurts that have caused him to wake up at 3 a.m. for a snack.  He will be the child to eat us out of house and home.  He is going to be a linebacker in the NFL.  Mark my words.  You should see his thighs.  Massive.

I have gone back to work.  I started a job with a temp agency back in February and have been working part-time hours ever since.  I like the flexibility that this opportunity brings.  I’m able to be home with my munchkins for the most part, but I also get to interact with adults and bring home a little cash, too.  I’m still searching for a full time job (since my contract with BlogHer ended in October) but this economy hasn’t rebounded as quickly as I’d hoped.  I’ve had interviews left and right, but the trouble is there are so many applicants for so few positions.  I’m just taking my time, trying to find the right job.  I had an interview last week that was fantastic and they will be contacting me this week with their decision.  Wish me luck!

Our calendar has been packed with parties and events.  We had two graduation parties we attended that last two Saturdays, not to mention church picnics, birthday parties and kids adventures.  I have been taking Dawson to the Lowe’s Build & Grow project days and he has such fun building the kits.  Yesterday he made a picture frame.  It is really cool.

This summer is looking good, too.  Two weddings, a bridal shower, baby shower and a mini-vacation are coming up.  I’m very excited!  I’m keeping the kids busy with swimming lessons, and Dawson is playing T-Ball and Soccer this summer.  I want him to have as much fun as he can before kindergarten starts this fall.

What are you all doing these days?  Any big summer plans?

I took this photo of Owen on April 17th, his six month birthday.  It amazes me how much his facial features have changed since he was born.  He has developed his personality over the last few months and we love to watch him as he observes his world.

Owen is fascinated with our dog, and he watches Murphy as he prances from room to room.  This morning I was sitting on the floor with Owen in my lap and Murphy sat down next to me.  Owen watched intently as Murphy chewed on his nylon bone.  When the dog rolled over onto his side, Owen giggled.  His laughter is contagious.

Owen loves his big brother, too.  Dawson is a rambunctious 5-year-old; he’s always running, jumping and playing loudly.  When he is chasing Murphy through the house, Owen watches with such concentration.  I can’t get over his ability to pay attention for so long.

Dawson loves all things Star Wars and was making a spaceship out of Legos.  Owen was sitting unassisted and leaned forward to reach for Dawson’s toys.  Dawson noticed and said, “No, no, no, no, no!  You could choke on these, baby brother!”  Owen gave his brother a big, toothless grin.  ”Mommy!  Owen is smiling at me!  He likes me!”  Dawson loves Owen just as much as Owen loves Dawson and it melts my heart.

Owen loves to watch Daddy, too.  Doug is always doing something around the house when he has the time.  When he mops the kitchen floor, Owen will turn his head and twist his body around to see the action.  Every so often Doug will stop and look at Owen and they exchange these wonderful smiles.

Owen is eating solids 3 times a day.  In the morning he has rice cereal made with expressed breast milk.  For lunch he has a vegetable and in the evening we alternate a meat with a fruit, or sometimes both depending on how hungry Owen is.  He still nurses often and has no intentions of weaning.  My favorite part of the day is just before Owen goes to bed. We curl up in bed and he nurses to sleep.  I love how he still fits into the crook of my arm, how he finds comfort in being close to me.  I cherish every moment like these because before I know it he’ll be crawling.  And then walking.

He’s growing up too fast.  Can’t I just freeze time for awhile?

When Dawson was born I was a nervous new mom.  I never felt confident that I was “doing things right.”  I questioned every decision I made and worried about ridiculous things.  The funny thing is that everyone told me to just relax and trust my instincts, and this advice infuriated me, because I truly didn’t know if I had maternal instincts.

Sure, I have younger siblings and I spent many of my teen years babysitting, but it’s completely different when you have your own kids.  A baby’s needs and his survival are completely dependent upon you, at least until they learn how to walk, feed themselves, and wipe their own butts.

As soon as Dawson learned to roll over and eventually crawl, I became obsessed with childproofing and making sure nothing harmful would come in contact with him.  I sanitized toys.  If he dropped a spoon or fork I’d immediately wash it off or get him a new one.  I went through baby wipes faster than anyone I know.

It’s different with Owen.  I’m not saying I’m an expert, but I feel more confident in my parenting this time around.  I know it’s okay for him to fuss for a few minutes while I use the restroom (he LOVES to be held).  If his favorite toy falls on the living room floor I hand it back to him (unless it’s truly dirty of course).

My mom came over yesterday and commented on how good-natured Owen is.  She was amazed at how calm and happy he is.  ”He’s such a good baby,” she said.  ”He doesn’t cry about anything.”

I wanted to tell her to come over just before bedtime when he’s super fussy as he tries to fall asleep.  But I realized she’s right.  He is a much calmer baby.  I don’t want to compare my children because I know they are two amazing individuals.  I do want to point out that Dawson was a little more high strung and I think it’s because he could sense my anxiety.  Maybe Owen is content because I’m more relaxed and confident.

It seems as though firstborn children are the guinea pigs.  It’s almost unfair, yet truly, we learn to become parents with them.  They train us. Dawson made me a mother.  The lessons he has taught me have made me the caring and attentive parent that I am today.  Sometimes I feel like I’ve made mistakes with him that I won’t make with Owen.  My experiences with Dawson are like a check list.  Okay, I did this and that happened, and I won’t be handling things like that again.  I often wonder if Owen has an advantage in being second-born.  I have a better grasp on childrearing this go-round, and he reaps the benefits.

I know that’s crazy, because all that matters is I have two wonderful boys, each with their own awesome personalities.  Dawson is well-rounded and kind.  He has a fantastic sense of humor.  His smile lights up a room.  Owen is my little ham.  He giggles at his big brother’s antics.  He is fascinated with Murphy, our dog, and watches him with such intense concentration.

Yes, there truly are differences in raising one child versus two children, but one thing is the same:  both my babies love to cuddle with their mama.  Maybe I’m doing this parenting thing right after all.

Is he eating enough? Should I let him cry for more than a minute? Is his umbilical cord stump healing okay? Why is breastfeeding so damn difficult?

With Owen I feel more like an expert, save for those first eight weeks of breastfeeding when nothing seemed to be going right, but I stuck with it (and prayed and cursed and cried a lot) and now I feel like a pro at nursing my sweet baby.  In fact, I look forward to nursing Owen because he is so cuddly and he loves to grab my nose or my cheek while he eats, and he smiles with his eyes when I gaze at him.  It’s these special quiet moments that I want to burn into my mind so that I can remember them for the rest of my life.

Owen is five months old now and he has suddenly become very attached to me.  He used to have no trouble being held by others but suddenly he began crying when I left the room and has learned to reach for me if I’m standing next to him while Doug or Grandma is holding him.  It’s sweet yet annoying because I have no time to get things done around here.  On occasion I employ Dawson to play with Owen and the “baby toys” for five minutes so I can fold laundry or vacuum the floors.

Speaking of vacuums, Owen loves it.  He is fascinated by the noise and he follows me with his eyes as I move about the room.  The minute I turn off the machine he fusses.  Just like his big brother.  Dawson loved the vacuum when he was an infant, too.  Now he just likes to do the actual vacuuming.  I let him help a few days ago and he accidently (or so he says) sucked up a Lego or two.  Thanfully we have a bagless vac which makes it easy to retrieve the tiny toys.

I’m really enjoying my boys.  They are learning and growing and becoming wonderful little people.  Owen’s personality is showing.  Dawson is evolving from preschooler to kindergärtner.  Each day is a new adventure.  I’m a very lucky woman.

Speaking of Spring, temperatures a slowly creeping into the 60s and by next Wednesday we should have a beautiful 65 degree day. The best part is that Spring break starts Monday and I’m eager to get the kids outside to enjoy some sunshine.

While the weather was somewhat warm these last few days, I took the kids and Murphy on some walks to the park. Murphy was so happy to be on his leash and investigating the smells along the bike path behind our house. He must have peed on every tree from our back yard to the playground at Little Plover River Park.

While I was getting over a cold, Doug took Owen outside and they sat on the deck and watched Murphy chase squirrels and birds. Owen loves the sun. I noticed he was less fussy and went to bed half and hour earlier than usual. More sleep for Owen means more sleep for me. It’s a win-win.

I’ve also made an effort to spend more time with Dawson. Since Owen depends on me for everything, I’ve had to sacrifice my time with D. He’s been acting up to get my attention by running around the house and teasing the dog. I try to read more books to him at bedtime and to take him on “special errands” (to the post office or grocery store) with me. He likes the time, too, because he can talk to me about school and other things and I have a better time paying attention when Owen isn’t fussing or demanding my time.

We are so ready for school to be over so that we can spend our mornings at the park and hae picnics in the back yard. And of course, I’m looking forward to grilling season. I’m eager to have a grilled steak. It’s been a long winter.

What are you looking forward to these days?

It didn’t exactly start out on the right foot, however.  We forgot about daylight savings time and woke up at 9:00 a.m. thinking we had over an hour to make it to church on time.  It wasn’t until I checked e-mails and noticed my laptop clock had the new time adjusted.  I ran to the shower and started hollering at Doug to get his butt up and ready.  I knew I’d need helping getting Owen and Dawson ready, too.

We made it to Mass at 10:30 on the dot and resigned to sitting at the very back.  Not a single pew was available so we sat in the gathering space (a fancy term for foyer, I imagine) and could barely hear Father speaking.  All the more reason to be quiet and listen intently.  I managed to catch most of the homily.

Post worship we took both cars to the gas station for refueling because we had a grocery store perk card that would give us 80 cents off per gallon.  I love saving money!  Two vehicles full of gas for under $40 is amazing.

Back home I fed Owen and then Dawson found a Star Wars marathon on Spike TV.  He was dead to the world, glued to the TV.  I had to drag him outside to ride his bike while I pushed Owen in the jogging stroller.  We walked to the park and took the hiking path down to the Little Plover River.  Owen loved being outside and fell asleep half way to the playground.

Once we returned home I played soccer in the backyard with Dawson.  He loves to dribble the ball and shoot it into the net I got him for his birthday last September.  He’s getting really good with his soccer skills.  He starts spring soccer at the YMCA next month.  I’m so glad it will be warmer this time around.  Fall soccer was so cold last season.

Here are some fave photos from today:

It was a beautiful Sunday!  I love Spring!

Once I complete this year long program (beginning this fall) I will then be working towards an Associates Degree/Bachelors Degree combo.  I’ll be in school for at least 3-4 years depending on how heavy my work load is.  This depends on what I can handle while still working part-time and being a mom of two.  I’m starting to wonder what I’m getting myself into, but I am super excited to finish my degree.

I took a lot of detours throughout my life.  I wouldn’t change a thing because this path has led me to being married to a wonderful guy and having two adorable sons, but I sometimes kick myself for not completing my education a decade ago. I’m only slightly worried about juggling it all.  I’m definitely not Super Woman.

This morning my husband is off work and he has generously offered to hang out with the children while I get things done.  I’m finally using a gift certificate for a massage that I’ve had for a few months, and then I’m going to spend some quiet time at the library, reading and completing some online things I’ve had on the back burner for over a week.

I think Doug feels guilty for leaving me last weekend.  I’m milking it for all it’s worth.

I’m going to have some free time today!  I can hardly contain my excitement!  I hope the boys can survive a Tuesday without Mommy!

Since my younger sister and brother still live at home with my parents, they often answer the telephone.  One of them looked at the Caller ID, saw my phone number and gave the phone to Dawson who was staying with my parents for the weekend.

The phone rang once and I heard my sister say, “Dawson, it’s for you.”  She passed the cordless to him.

“Hello?”  Dawson said.

“Hi Dawson, it’s Mom.  Can I talk to Grandma, please?” I asked.

My little boy, funny child that he is, yelled at his aunt, “It’s not for me! It’s for Grandma, you twit!”

I laughed and laughed until my mother got on the phone, and she was laughing, too.  The two of us were in tears over the situation.

“Where did he learn the word ‘twit’?” I asked.

“Probably from Auntie Rachel!” Mom howled.

My mother then told me that she was talking to my brother earlier in the day, and Frankie was giving her a hard time about his curfew.  She told him if he didn’t like the rules he was more than welcome to move out and pay rent.

“I told Frankie he had no room to talk when he’s living here rent-free, and Dawson said, ‘Grandma, he has a room!’” she said, laughing.

After the laughter subsided, I asked my mom what to do about the fever and she suggested infant Tylenol and a cold washcloth on his forehead to keep him from overheating.  I had already given him a dose of the infant medicine but had not considered the washcloth.  She told me to try that and to call the weekend care phone number at the clinic.

The nurse suggested the same things my mother had, and it’s nice to know that I can still rely on my mom, even when I’m in panic mode.  It’s been a long time since Dawson has had a fever, so I’m not surprised I had forgotten all the remedies.

Thankfully, Owen’s fever dropped down to 100.5 two hours later and he was feeling much better.  Good thing Dawson had his comedy down, I needed the laughter through the tears!

Dawson was happy to see his old pals once again.  Owen adjusted well but he refused the bottle and our daycare person was concerned.  I’m still nursing Owen, and he prefers breastfeeding over bottle feeding.  He refuses the bottle when my husband tries to feed him, too.  I’m sure with more practice he’ll learn quickly.

The boys were only at daycare two days last week and now this week Owen has caught his first cold.  It’s a miserable cold, too.  His eyes are watering, he sneezes and coughs often and his poor little nose is running all the time.  I am so upset that he got sick.  I can just picture all the other kids touching him and coughing on him.  Ick.

Owen’s 4-month well baby visit was scheduled for yesterday, and I kept the appointment so that our pediatrician could make sure the cold wasn’t something worse, like RSV.  I’ve been hearing a lot about that virus and how awful it is for infants who catch it.  Dr. Reed said his lungs sound fine, not at all like RSV.  She explained that catching a bug will just help his immune system.  I’m still sad he is suffering through this.

Even when he’s feeling sick he tries to crack a smile for his mother.  It’s so sweet.  He’s nursing more often now, which will help him stay hydrated.  Our doctor suggested a small amount of pedialyte just to be safe.  Owen isn’t a fan of the orange flavor but he did take a little bit of it down.

Dawson seems to only have a few sniffles.  He’s spending the weekend at my parents’ house because my father promised to take him sledding.  Dawson loves hanging out with Grandpa Frank.  I’m happy for the relief.  With Owen not feeling well I’ve spent most of my time feeding and rocking him.  The housework is piling up, but hopefully I can find a few moments to tackle the laundry today.

I’m trying to get a jump start on Spring  cleaning.  I’m sick of looking at all the things that need to be done!  I can’t wait for winter to be over!