Deja Vu

It's only been 5 weeks since the 2 month checkup, but Madeline's 4-month appointment confirmed that she continues to grow at alarming speed. She's 15.8 lbs, 25 inches, and got a 17-inch noggin. I checked her numbers against Patrick's 4-month report and he was 13.4 lbs, 23 inches, and 15 inches around the head. Maybe she'll be our linebacker. I'm thrilled that she is healthy but desperately trying to get her to wear all of her adorable 3-6 month outfits. I can't even snap the Carter's 3-month pjs on her, but I had to take this picture in her brother's trademark pjs. Madeline is the top, Patrick the bottom, both photographed at about 4 months. I remember so clearly the day I took the picture of Patrick and can hardly believe that was more than 2 years ago. Grammy Sue and I were on our way to the mall, but Patrick was in such a smiley mood I had to get the camera out. I think this time I'll put some money in the bank to start saving up for the therapy Patrick and Madeline are going to need when they realize their mother is completely insane.

Bedtime Babies

Parick's bedtime routine continues to evolve. His latest thing is to have us sing him baseball songs. So instead of a lullaby Donald and I are belting out "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." I've even tried John Fogarty's "Centerfield." Patrick and I also do a free-form singing/story that involves him playing baseball and football with his friends, generally sung to something that resembles the tune of "You Are My Sunshine." Patrick feeds me lines like "Sing about me and R.J. throwing the football" or "Sing about my baseball t-shirt" and "Sing about my football helmet." I love seeing where his mind wanders. He's also devised the world's cleverest stalling routine to keep us in the room. As we try to leave he says "can I give you a huggy and a kissy? another one?" Who could say no to that? Last night as I made my way down the stairs he was calling out "I love you Mommy! I'll see you in the morning!" I need to record that to play back during the surly teenage years.

Uh Oh to That!

Perhaps he's been inspired by the winter olympics, or perhaps it's his new fascination with Finding Nemo, but Patrick has been wearing his Spider Man goggles with glee the past few days. He's said some funny things too. Last Friday we went to the ice cream shop and when I told him where we were going he became very concerned about each step of the trip. "Think you got a good parking space mommy?" he asked me as I circled the block. "Think you got the monies mommy?" he checked as we walked up to the door. As we debated the merits of chocolate vs. vanilla I suggested that he could get one and I'd get the other and we could share bites. He got very thoughtful and said "I'm not going to share Mommy." He's also picked up a new turn of phrase when something goes wrong: "uh oh to..." We've had uh oh to the football jersey when he spilled water on it, oh oh to to the ground when he spotted a big mud puddle, and "uh oh to mommy's sweater" when Madeline got me with yet another splat of spitup.

Snow Days

Last Thursday, Day 6 of Snowmaggeddon, found us finally getting out to sled at Beach Park. Patrick was a little bit reluctant at first but soon his giggles blended with all the other shrieks of delight on the hill and he begged us "can we do it again?" I even got to take a few runs after sitting on the sidelines of slides and sledding for the past year. Donald and Patrick ended up shredding the Flying Saucer a la Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation, but it was so much fun while it lasted.

Snowpocalypse 2010

We are not so sure we'll be inviting Grammy and Grandaddy to visit us again this winter. Their last visit included the "record-breaking" blizzard on Dec 19, but they really outdid themselves this past weekend with 24 inches of snow and another 10 inches yesterday! We've played with every toy in the house since getting snowed in, and Patrick especially enjoyed watching raccoon videos on YouTube with Grandaddy and listening to stories about Bandit the raccoon. We even had a spontaneous snowpocalypse party on Saturday night. Mr. Steven and Ms. Lyndsay brought Dwayne and Jamie over for that classic snowstorm tummy warmer: Colt 45.