3-16-10

i had a lot to get done today, and none of it got done.

however, my kids got to the park, twice. and they are cuddled and happy.

i'm calling today a success.

3-15-10

Spring has sprung. There is a special something in the air, even inside my house I can feel it.

It feels like hope and expectations and FUN. I am so happy.

We spent a little while at the park, and Lily instantly remembered all her favorites, even though they've been encased in snow for 4 months.

Mommy and Charlie mostly supervised, but we also tried out the swings together. I'm getting much worse at the outstretched-arm-self-portrait recently. :)

3-14-10

a little ray of sunshine

it was 60 out today. so gorgeous! we started spring cleaning a bit and then soaked up the sunshine on our patio for a while. i love our patio/porch/yard/pool. i've missed it! keep it coming, spring!

3-13-10

My secret double life:

Reading through this blog, you might think my days consisted only (hah, only!) of diapers and nursing, parenting and learning to manage a very large and busy house, trying (and failing!) to learn domestic skills....and the rather large and stressful job of helping my husband run a restaurant.

but wait.. theres more.

Im also a pet groomer. (yes, I'm wearing overalls, let's ignore that)

I went to the Wisconsin School of Professional Pet Grooming right after Dave and I got married in 2004. I was hired to be "lead groomer" at a vet clinic before I could even graduate. It's had it's ups and downs, but it's already become so much a part of me that I don't even think of mentioning it. I suppose with my kids and the restaurant it's been put on the back burner, but I'm good at it and it's a profitable skill, so I'm thankful for the clients I have (and the ADORABLE dogs I get paid to hang out with!) and excited for the potential I have in the future when my littles are big and I have time to grow my business.

Get ready for pictures of lots of dogs that aren't mine:

Murphy Brown. SO sweet. and the sweetest owner of all time. She passed away years ago, I still miss her.

Haggis. I instantly love all Cairns like family because we have SO MANY in the family :)

Hard to tell who's in there. but somebody who is a Shih Tzu, and cute.

Sugar and Zing. Love the fluffs!

Here's an example of the "down" part of the ups and downs of grooming. Humane society neglect case. Ugh..

Even with a very short blade, I was just totally fighting to get the matted coat off, and it just came off in a huge sheet of nasty knotted coat.

Pretty Poodle inside! Such a sweetheart!

Cuties at the old location.

Nail trimming

Another not-so-sweet case. I don't remember the reason this dog was in bad shape, but, again, sweet dog, matted and sad.

the lovely toby

sweet molly

little pixie. the sweet yorkie i never had (yes, i have a yorkie. no.. he's not sweet)

in conclusion, its a smelly, hairy, wet and frequently painful job but it allows me to stay home with my kids and for that i will always be grateful.

3-12-10

oops! missed yesterday. i guess i can only keep so many balls in the air at one time. yesterday i dropped the "blog" ball to toss up the "gym" ball. as in, meet with a trainer (which i've never done before in my life) and try to figure out how to make exercise fit into our busy lives.

so, a brief look at what happens when, instead of putting him into the ergo carrier for an errand, i lug my sleeping baby in the monstrosity that is the infant carseat....and he wakes up somewhere new.....and apparently TERRIFYING.

waking up at Ella's Deli (to be fair, its a bit overstimulating, even to those of us who are conscious when they enter) look how WIDE OPEN his eyes are. he just sat there like that for like 3 minutes, perfectly still.

annnndd... waking up at target to find daddy playing with a light up spinning toy in the checkout lane.

oh, silly baby.

3-11-10

It was a lovely warm(albeit a bit drippy) day today, so we HAD to get out.

Story time at Fitchburg Community Center this morning, dropped off a few thank you's to donators for our silent auction, lunch at Pasquals (yum!) and then we went over to the Henry Vilas Zoo to drop off the money raised from Mad City Mardi Gras.

This was Charlie's first trip to the zoo! I put him in the carrier and.....

Instantly asleep

beautiful baby! his eyelashes are getting so gorgeous!

daddy and lily, checking out the seals.

we were lucky enough to be standing right there when they called the seals in for lunch. watching them all hoist themselves out of the water and floppity squish-run themselves into the building to be fed was my all time favorite moment at the zoo.. i laughed hysterically, and very loudly.

it was a fantastic day for puddles today.

this moment was followed by "moooooom... my socks are weeeetttt"

splish splash splish splash

still sleeping!

kinda hard to see, but they both spontaneously started walking the same silly way at the same time.

talking about penguins makes lily want to waddle

waddle waddle

for funsies--lilys first visit to the zoo, April of 2007

3-9-10

Today was checkup time with Dr Trias (amazing pediatrician by the way)

Please note: Lily was given a tiny little hospital gown to wear. So, so cute!

My babies. Lily wanted to tell Charlie all about the doctor tools and what they do and that it doesn't hurt, except the shots.

thanks dave, for the super flattering picture of me! (kidding! i suppose no one is glamourous while digging a burp cloth out of a diaper bag)

Lily got a little sad for a minute. The reason? Her bum was showing.

Someone was having a modest moment.

modest moment over.

so

Lily is a perfectly fabulous

3 Years old

3 Feet Tall

33 pounds

Charlie baby is:

4 months old

27 inches long

18 pounds

His reflux medication has been upped to match his new weight category and his lumpy funny head was examined and deemed healthy, just a fun Heide quirk.

Charlie also has eczema. I'm hoping that it stays a fairly mild case and resolves as this dry weather is replaced with humid summer days. For now, frequent soothing baths and lotion massages. What a life!

We also discussed introduction of foods since the next appointment falls past 6 months old and plenty of people introduce foods around then. I'm still just so lost in the day to day, it caught me a little by surprise that we are anywhere near discussing food! I'll catch up soon enough!