Sunday, October 25, 2009

Oh, Mama.

When you're sick, there's nothing better than having your mom around. My kids feel the same way. Do women instinctively understand how to care for a sick child in ways that men don't? Not that my husband isn't an awesome caretaker, but he's more hesitant to go get in bed with the sick kids, probably for fear of catching whatever illness they have or getting puked on...who knows? Everyone just seems to defer to me when they are ill. Perhaps it's my characteristically Cancer nurturing that they all, my husband included, sense.

I've noticed during this October illness month, my kids only want me when they don't feel good. I'm the one who has to force the medicine, take the temperatures, hold their heads over the toilet, and make them shower to clean up said "toilet incident". You'd think they'd run for the hills when they see me coming. Instead, Noel, my 3 1/2 year old, independent little boy wanted me to carry him around Target today, willingly held my hand, and says, "Stay," when he senses, from a dead sleep, that I'm about to get out of bed. When Lennon is sick, he will sit still for hours with me just holding him. I can't pass him off, or he's inconsolable.

I sort of like taking care of everyone when they're sick, to tell you the truth. The boys aren't always willing to sit still and be held, have their backs rubbed, have their heads kissed incessantly. When they are sick, I seem to understand how small and vulnerable they are...and I'm going to hold on to that memory, even when they're back to their old selves, running away from me, squirming out of a hug, and just being kids. They do need me, even if they don't always show it.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Noel Does His Best Larry David



Thanks to Elliott, Noel loves to say "Prett-ay, prett-ay, prett-ay good."

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

It's the Great Pumpkin (Patch), Charlie Brown

Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon...

I 100% stole the Neil Young song lyrics idea from Stephanie. Because of her, I've had this song in my head for days...but it's beautiful, and is a favorite, especially during this time of year.

Monday, October 19, 2009

20 months later...

My baby turned 20 months old today. He is a toddler. He knows what he wants. He's got attitude. He's got sass. He is also snuggly and sweet and funny. He loves to pick his nose.

Something hit me today, and it's taken me a long, long time to realize it. I had a lot of expectations that were never met when I had Lennon. I think my biggest was thinking that Noel would have an insta-friend & insta-playmate. No dice. I thought, if it didn't happen immediately, it would happen in time. It has happened, to an extent, but my children are at ages where they both need more parental attention and guidance. Three 1/2 and 1 1/2 are tricky ages. One is becoming a child, and less needy, but is also testing boundaries & becoming independent...which means he doesn't always want a playmate. He especially doesn't want a playmate that is taking what he wants, or has what he thinks he wants right then. Lennon is growing out of babyhood and into toddler-hood. He wants what he wants, when he wants it. Although he might look like a Precious Moments doll, he is 100% ornery, and knows exactly how to push Noel's buttons.

When they play together, it usually breaks down into "That's MINE!" pretty quickly, unless they're playing together with one of us. This is where I admit my epic failure. I have pushed this brotherhood and friendship, basically so I could rest on my laurels and hang out in the background and watch my children get along like Dick & Jane, sitting quietly next to each other, playing and laughing. It doesn't work that way, at least not at this time.

Today, I played with both of them. I left the iPhone and the computer aside, and hung out with them, together. Guess what? They got along beautifully, and I saw myself for the first time in way too long, not frowning or feeling full of anxiety. I could beat myself up about this, because, well, I've let this go on...It's affected me, my husband, and most importantly, it's affected my children...but I'm going to swallow this realization like a spoon full of sugar, and move upward from here. I saw today that my two precious boys are not going to constantly fight and bicker. They didn't today...and it was because I helped them along throughout the day. I guided them. I parented them. I acted like the mom I knew I was capable of being.

And it looks like I learned something too.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Fun Family Fact #3: The Name of the Game

My children are named for rock n' roll royalty. Noel was named before children were even something we were thinking about. When Elliott & I started talking about having children "down the road", we knew if our first child was a boy, he'd be named after the god that is Noel Gallagher. If you're not familiar with Oasis, well, shame on you. :) Noel Gallagher is a brilliant songwriter and musician, and the founder of this incredible Brit rock band that we adore. This name was a given. Much like his namesake, Noel is already showing a lot of musical talent. He is GREAT on drums. He also loves to make up goofy rhymes, and the brother Gallagher is notorious for his ridiculous, but appropriate lyrics. He is aptly named, indeed.

Lennon, obviously, was named for probably the biggest rock legend of all time, John Lennon. We knew we needed another rock name, but we weren't 100% sold on Lennon at first. We wondered if it was too much, but our choices were limited: Mick, Marc, Paul, Bowie...none just fit as well as Lennon. If you didn't already know, John Lennon was notoriously silly, funny, and a "trickster"...well, so is our Lennon. His name, like his brother's, fits him perfectly.

As for Elliott & I, well, I don't think our names have as much of a story. Elliott is a III, which I think is totally cool. He's sort of a IV, but his great grandfather had a different middle name. My name, Laura, is just something my parents liked. My biggest pet peeve is when I get called "Lara" or "Laurie", but otherwise, I like my name. What I like about our family's names, is that they all include the letter L. Goofy, I know.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Fun Family Fact #2: We Love the San Antonio Spurs


When Elliott and I first met, I must admit, I had little interest in sports. There was a time when we first met that I pretended to be interested in the Spurs so I could hang out with him and watch basketball. Well, after 10 years of watching NBA basketball, I have become almost as big of a fan as Elliott, who has followed the spurs for almost 30 years (old man!). Elliott and his dad spent many evenings of his youth attending Spurs games. You know San Antonio is a true blue basketball city when they die-heartedly support a team that pretty much stunk for about 20 years. My husband and father-in-law are two of those lifetime fans that stuck with the team through the "lean years".

We've seen them lose to devils in LA Lakers clothing, and seen them clench 3 NBA titles. Two of these titles were achieved the years that our boys were conceived. :)

Tim, Manu, Tony, and David are common names in our household. I'm sure that Noel & Lennon will grow to be big fans of the Spurs and probably attend some games with their dad & grandad.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Fun Family Fact!


My friend Anna had this idea, and I thought I'd try it too, in the hopes of getting myself blogging every day. So, without further aideu...
Fun Family Fact #1!
We are collectors. My husband and I basically fell in love over our mutual affection for The Brady Bunch. He had a collection of Brady items: the lunch box, the TV Guide, and coloring books, among other things. Over the years, our Brady collection has expanded to include other things (like the board game), and we've also managed to amass more lunch boxes, collectible toys, old board games, and movie posters. We've sold a few things over the years that we just didn't need, and to make room for our expanding family, but we'll always love to collect 70s items.