Leif has no fear...eats like a toddler...and barrels over (or through) any obstacle in his path. Look out world!
Cheers to your first full year, my sweet nephew!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Happy Birthday, Leif!
In one year, they go from sweet little helpless lumps to curious, unstoppable trekkers.
Leif has no fear...eats like a toddler...and barrels over (or through) any obstacle in his path. Look out world!
Cheers to your first full year, my sweet nephew!
Leif has no fear...eats like a toddler...and barrels over (or through) any obstacle in his path. Look out world!
Cheers to your first full year, my sweet nephew!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
To the Sun
We get spoiled, having all our parents nearby. They are so involved in the kids' day to day lives. They babysit, drop off the occasional crock-pot dinner, and do things like send letters in the mail—even though they all live within 10 miles of our house—because they know how much little kids love things with their names on them. In the winter, we lose two sets of parents to warmer temperatures as they head to Florida for a few months. We miss them and the kids do, too, so we headed for a long weekend to visit Mimi and Papa in Naples.
It took us nearly two days to get there, thanks to our aircraft being struck by lightning before we boarded. I opted to get a hotel by the airport to 1) ensure we'd be closeby for our 6am flight the next morning, and 2) to avoid going back home and watching the suitcases explode. (The job of packing in infant, a 4 year old, and two adults into 3 carryons was no small task. I was not about to do it twice.)
Ella would tell you she was a "lucky duck" for getting to color with Papa...shop with Mimi...and ride a camel with her Dad at the zoo.
And Carson? He cruised around the whole condo, smiling and showing off his new toothy grin.
We have a tradition of collecting seashells every day throughout the week, then the last day we go to the shore and throw each of them back "to their mommies and daddies." Ella practiced her overhand pitch and clapped as each one hit the water.
The pilot let her fly the plane home! Ok, not really...but I suspect she could have done better. It was a long, turbulent flight and we were seated in the back row by the engines and the restrooms, with no food and a cranky baby. We were pretty crabby until we deboarded and the pilot offered his seat to our tiny gal. What a way to end a great trip.
Thank you, Mimi and Papa!
As Ella would say, "we love you to the moon. "
It took us nearly two days to get there, thanks to our aircraft being struck by lightning before we boarded. I opted to get a hotel by the airport to 1) ensure we'd be closeby for our 6am flight the next morning, and 2) to avoid going back home and watching the suitcases explode. (The job of packing in infant, a 4 year old, and two adults into 3 carryons was no small task. I was not about to do it twice.)
Ella would tell you she was a "lucky duck" for getting to color with Papa...shop with Mimi...and ride a camel with her Dad at the zoo.
And Carson? He cruised around the whole condo, smiling and showing off his new toothy grin.
We have a tradition of collecting seashells every day throughout the week, then the last day we go to the shore and throw each of them back "to their mommies and daddies." Ella practiced her overhand pitch and clapped as each one hit the water.
The pilot let her fly the plane home! Ok, not really...but I suspect she could have done better. It was a long, turbulent flight and we were seated in the back row by the engines and the restrooms, with no food and a cranky baby. We were pretty crabby until we deboarded and the pilot offered his seat to our tiny gal. What a way to end a great trip.
Thank you, Mimi and Papa!
As Ella would say, "we love you to the moon. "
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
All You Need Is...
love, love, love. The biggest day of the year at the Sands house is February 14th. My mother taught me from a very young age that love is something you share unconditionally and often. While I am normally not predisposed to pink hearts and golden arrows, this is the one day each year where my inner child meets up with my "hopeless romantic" self in a shiny sea of red glitter. Nevermind the fact that my own McDreamy is totally vested in my happiness on this day, usually starting with breakfast in bed. I send out LOVE by mail, by hand, and through the house. When it cycles back to me, I soak it all in and use that positive energy to fuel me for months.
We sent out our annual Valentine cards. The card this year featured Carson and my Grandmother, who stayed locked in this loving gaze for minutes on end, not a word between them. There are a lot of friends and family who follow our blog, but may not be on the list. If you're not, send me a line. I always design extra so there are plenty to go round.
The morning of Valentine's Day, I did a scavenger hunt throughout the house with Derek and Ella. Each clue lead them to prizes which alternated between them. They were small but plentiful—Derek found everything from a great bottle of Shiraz to a new issue of Car & Driver. Ella's treats ranged from lipgloss to beaded necklaces. At the end she bounced and clapped, "Mommy!! I just LOVE valentine's day!!" (Another one has joined us, Mimi. Look what you started!)
Since we're on a budget, I brought back some great foreign newspapers from Europe and made a collage. I laminated it and trimmed out templates for passport holders. A little duct tape and a bungee made great gifts for a few treasured friends.
And for Derek and me? I lovely dinner at Meadowlark, then to the Greene to meet some friends. I'm also loving my care package from Mom that included her annual tradition of warm pajamas, body lotion, fuzzy socks and other comforts that we need so much in these cold wintry months.
You gotta love love.
We sent out our annual Valentine cards. The card this year featured Carson and my Grandmother, who stayed locked in this loving gaze for minutes on end, not a word between them. There are a lot of friends and family who follow our blog, but may not be on the list. If you're not, send me a line. I always design extra so there are plenty to go round.
The morning of Valentine's Day, I did a scavenger hunt throughout the house with Derek and Ella. Each clue lead them to prizes which alternated between them. They were small but plentiful—Derek found everything from a great bottle of Shiraz to a new issue of Car & Driver. Ella's treats ranged from lipgloss to beaded necklaces. At the end she bounced and clapped, "Mommy!! I just LOVE valentine's day!!" (Another one has joined us, Mimi. Look what you started!)
Since we're on a budget, I brought back some great foreign newspapers from Europe and made a collage. I laminated it and trimmed out templates for passport holders. A little duct tape and a bungee made great gifts for a few treasured friends.
And for Derek and me? I lovely dinner at Meadowlark, then to the Greene to meet some friends. I'm also loving my care package from Mom that included her annual tradition of warm pajamas, body lotion, fuzzy socks and other comforts that we need so much in these cold wintry months.
You gotta love love.
Carson: 8 months
Looking back on previous posts, I haven't written much about Carson.
My little man, I want you to remember what a sweet baby you were. When I hug you, you hug back with both arms and pat my back; I have never seen a baby do that. You mirror the expressions of others with an easy smile, and you reflect emotion back to me when I cry. You startle easily and aren't fond of sudden noises...but when music plays, or Ella sings, you smile and screech along with her. You hum when you breastfeed, and screech between bites of baby food because we can't get it to your mouth fast enough. You love Nellie...you think your sister is hilarious...and your favorite place to nap is on your Daddy's chest. We are absolutely smitten.
Now let me remind you of your other side, little Mister. You have radar qualities that lead you to the one tiny speck of something-or-other on the entire carpeted floor. Wherever it is, you will find it, and it will enter your mouth. I wear the same few tees every night, my little Pukahontas, because they are all stained from your massive spitting up. When I get home, I have to hide from you until I have gone through my restroom-and-change-clothes routine, or you will SCREAM at the top of your lungs until I am holding you...then you will grin at me like I am a fool. I have not eaten a hot meal in silence since June 23, because you sit perched in your high chair and scream in my ear until I put you in my lap. Your Dad and I are a bit concerned that this behavior needs to stop before you're in high school, or you'll never get a second date. It's a good thing you're so darn cute.
My little man, I want you to remember what a sweet baby you were. When I hug you, you hug back with both arms and pat my back; I have never seen a baby do that. You mirror the expressions of others with an easy smile, and you reflect emotion back to me when I cry. You startle easily and aren't fond of sudden noises...but when music plays, or Ella sings, you smile and screech along with her. You hum when you breastfeed, and screech between bites of baby food because we can't get it to your mouth fast enough. You love Nellie...you think your sister is hilarious...and your favorite place to nap is on your Daddy's chest. We are absolutely smitten.
Now let me remind you of your other side, little Mister. You have radar qualities that lead you to the one tiny speck of something-or-other on the entire carpeted floor. Wherever it is, you will find it, and it will enter your mouth. I wear the same few tees every night, my little Pukahontas, because they are all stained from your massive spitting up. When I get home, I have to hide from you until I have gone through my restroom-and-change-clothes routine, or you will SCREAM at the top of your lungs until I am holding you...then you will grin at me like I am a fool. I have not eaten a hot meal in silence since June 23, because you sit perched in your high chair and scream in my ear until I put you in my lap. Your Dad and I are a bit concerned that this behavior needs to stop before you're in high school, or you'll never get a second date. It's a good thing you're so darn cute.
Oh la la!
My boss called me to her office. "I've asked the Leadership Team to allow you join us on the Europe Trip this year. Can you go?" My heart raced at the thought of spending a week in London and Paris, attending fashion shows and shopping retail with some of my favorite coworkers.
"Of course I'll go," I said, and I bounced back to my desk. Then it hit me. I would be leaving Derek with our babes for over a week and I'd be gone...not sort of gone, REALLY gone...half way around the world. Too far to get back quickly if something happened. Too far to ship my milk back to Carson. Too far to say goodnight.
As I discussed it with Derek that night, he made my decision for me. I told him about it and he said, "Mandie, a week will go faster than you think, and I'll have help. Get on that plane. We'll be fine!"
So for the middle two weeks in January, we stocked up for Carson, looked for electric converters, located passports, withdrew money from my Amex at work, loaded Skype on my laptop, and tried to wrap things up at the office (laughable.) They dropped me off at the airport and off I flew, headed for Paris.
What I didn't know is that I'd find a love note in the fold of every garment I packed. The entire week, I found drawings from Ella, sweet thoughts from Derek, and even a post-it note with a muddy paw print from Nellie. If only I'd have had a slobbery shoulder from Carson, my whole family could have been there with me.
The trip was great...and while I can't really post pics here, I will say that I got to practice a little french, walk amongst the fashion elite, take a thousand pics of the newest fashion and interior trends, and sip steamy chocolate in a little bistro in Paris that was so rich and thick, it came with a dollop of real whipped cream so it could be thinned to drink. We walked 5 or 6 miles a day and worked our tails off, but it was worth every minute.
We got home on a Saturday night after a 9 hour flight. I spent Sunday morning in a long yoga session, and the afternoon snuggling in bed with my dearest.
Dorothy had it right: there's no place like home.
"Of course I'll go," I said, and I bounced back to my desk. Then it hit me. I would be leaving Derek with our babes for over a week and I'd be gone...not sort of gone, REALLY gone...half way around the world. Too far to get back quickly if something happened. Too far to ship my milk back to Carson. Too far to say goodnight.
As I discussed it with Derek that night, he made my decision for me. I told him about it and he said, "Mandie, a week will go faster than you think, and I'll have help. Get on that plane. We'll be fine!"
So for the middle two weeks in January, we stocked up for Carson, looked for electric converters, located passports, withdrew money from my Amex at work, loaded Skype on my laptop, and tried to wrap things up at the office (laughable.) They dropped me off at the airport and off I flew, headed for Paris.
What I didn't know is that I'd find a love note in the fold of every garment I packed. The entire week, I found drawings from Ella, sweet thoughts from Derek, and even a post-it note with a muddy paw print from Nellie. If only I'd have had a slobbery shoulder from Carson, my whole family could have been there with me.
The trip was great...and while I can't really post pics here, I will say that I got to practice a little french, walk amongst the fashion elite, take a thousand pics of the newest fashion and interior trends, and sip steamy chocolate in a little bistro in Paris that was so rich and thick, it came with a dollop of real whipped cream so it could be thinned to drink. We walked 5 or 6 miles a day and worked our tails off, but it was worth every minute.
We got home on a Saturday night after a 9 hour flight. I spent Sunday morning in a long yoga session, and the afternoon snuggling in bed with my dearest.
Dorothy had it right: there's no place like home.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Under the knife
Carson had his first ear infection at 8 weeks, and he's had one almost consistently since then. After 5 doctor visits, 3 rounds of nasty antibiotics, 2 chiropractic adjustments, and a whole host of eardrops, tears, and nights of pain and screaming, we decided to bite the bullet and have tubes put in his ears.
The procedure would be fairly routine, but it still meant going to Childrens Hospital and being put under general anesthesia so an incision could be made in each of his little eardrums. We were fine until they wheeled him away on the gurney in his pint-sized hospital gown. As he and the surgical nurses disappeared down the long corridor, Carson looked back to find us. They might as well have taken my beating heart out of my chest, wheeled it away, and said "stay calm...this won't be long at all."
The surgeon reported that it went well, and that Carson had been in the midst of a terrible double ear infection, which they were able to clear and treat during the procedure.
The recovery nurses reported that he woke from the anesthesia "hopping mad and starving." We were able to connect once they brought him back to us; he latched onto me, and his eyes rolled backward. He hummed and cooed, all sleepy-eyed and red-faced. For the first time, our little man had NO pressure behind his eardrums!
It's the start of a new day.
The procedure would be fairly routine, but it still meant going to Childrens Hospital and being put under general anesthesia so an incision could be made in each of his little eardrums. We were fine until they wheeled him away on the gurney in his pint-sized hospital gown. As he and the surgical nurses disappeared down the long corridor, Carson looked back to find us. They might as well have taken my beating heart out of my chest, wheeled it away, and said "stay calm...this won't be long at all."
The surgeon reported that it went well, and that Carson had been in the midst of a terrible double ear infection, which they were able to clear and treat during the procedure.
The recovery nurses reported that he woke from the anesthesia "hopping mad and starving." We were able to connect once they brought him back to us; he latched onto me, and his eyes rolled backward. He hummed and cooed, all sleepy-eyed and red-faced. For the first time, our little man had NO pressure behind his eardrums!
It's the start of a new day.
Snow Angels
The snow that never drifts
The transient, fragrant snow
That comes a single time a year
Is softly driving now.
- Emily Dickinson
The transient, fragrant snow
That comes a single time a year
Is softly driving now.
- Emily Dickinson
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