How Did We Get Here?

Maeve had her stage debut on Sunday. I am really, REALLY not a stage mom. Maeve's hair was not perfect- I didn't even do her make-up- Emily did. I don't really care that there were dirt stains on her tights- in fact, I thought it added character. BUT was I ever nervous when the lights came on and there stood Maeve, ON THE STAGE. And me, sitting in the audience, holding her little brother and squeezing onto Ryan's hand... watching and wondering,
"HOW DID WE GET HERE???"

It feels like it was yesterday I was pregnant with her. I remember the ultrasound so vividly- being told it was a girl, and being in disbelief. Maeve brought her arms over her head a few times and we joked that she was going to "be a ballerina."

Flash forward almost *THREE* years. WOW. Here I am, watching in real time- my daughter (who at one time was only a ballerina in my belly :) twirl on stage. It was really emotional for some reason. I watch her every week in class, and I've memorized her music. We sing "On My Tiny Toes" and "Jammin To Bed" every single day. And I clap as she does her dances on the coffee table. But here she was- in her costume, hair up, make up on, looking WAY TOO OLD, and doing her dance ON STAGE. It was a moment :)

She did great. And I'm not just saying that because I'm her mom... every little kid out there was adorable but really, Maeve knew her WHOLE dance :) She is the youngest in the class- the only one who's not potty trained- yet she stood on her spot and did every step :)

Now, let me make it perfectly clear that Maeve could have gotten up there and sat in a heap and I would've loved her stage debut. It just fascinates (and terrifies) me with how quickly time goes.

I wish I had a video to share... but video taping was banned and that would've been super embarrassing to have been yelled at. You'd think I would have some pictures. I don't have one. As I type this I am feeling super shamed to admit that on Sunday I was too busy selling flowers to take any pics. BUT- Suzie has promised me she has (at least :) 50 pictures of MaeMae alone :)

After the recital, I did NOT give her flowers (in fact- I don't want to see a cut flower for another year!) we gave her a little stuffed kitty (to replace the one she lost the night before...ehhhh) & a giant sucker. She had no clue why she was getting a present- even though we told her she was a star & did wonderfully.

When we got home she didn't want to take her costume off- she didn't want it to end! :) How sweet. Unfortunately we were eating spaghetti- and a $75.00 white costume + spaghetti sauce is not going to happen. We convinced her to eat... but within a few minutes of climbing into her high chair she was zonked.

I gave her a bath and tried to wash the hairspray and make up off. She HAD to sleep with her kitty and her lion (my mom gave her a stuffed lion to represent "The Lion King."). She fell asleep around 7 and didn't wake up until 8 this morning. The first thing she asked was "Remember the big show?"

Ahhhhh my little MaeMae... I am so proud. And so panicked. Time is going too quickly. My camera, my memory, my eyes can't keep up with it. If I had a nickel for every time I have told Ryan "I wish we could FREEZE TIME" we'd have a million bucks. Is that strange to not want your child to grow up? I know as moms, we all say how fast time goes and how big the kids are getting, etc. But really- I don't want my kids to grow up. I don't care that I'd be changing diapers forever. Or spoon feeding Henry and getting spit up on. Tantrums-shnantrums. I don't care. I want to trap them here in this moment forever. I'll take no sleep, food throwing, poopy diapers and whining over boyfriends, cars and college any day.

I could probably go on all night... but my goal isn't to make you want to go sleep with your babies... or staple them to the ground :) I'm just letting you all know that we had a big milestone here... in this house anyway :) And another milestone means another step.

I'll leave you with these pics :) And I'll be sure to post actual recital pics as soon as I get them :)

We Need a Rumble in the Jungle!!!! (amongst other things)

We are going on day number 6 of no poop for Mr. Henry (yes- you read right- SIX days of no poop). The poor guy is miserable. He keeps turning red and making these horrible straining noises. I thought breastfed babies didn't get constipated??? Normally he's a champion pooper- pooping at every feeding. And then all of a sudden everything just STOPPED. We've tried lots of things: Mylicon (although those are more for gas- and yes, he is very, very gassy...) sugar water (1 oz. water-1 teas. sugar) sticking a thermometer in his rear and I even gave him a half an ounce of watered down apple juice. NOTHING is moving. I haven't called the doc all week because I've heard stories of friends' babies who have gone a week or so without pooping and then its like the great flood once they do finally go. My friend Jessy's son used to poop once a week- on Sunday's if I recall- is that right Jess? :) So I guess I was thinking that's what was going to happen. Apparently not, since tomorrow marks one week of no poo. I'll definitely be calling the doc in the morning. Boo to no poo.

AMONGST OTHER THINGS... today was my 6 week post partum check up- which means Henry is 6 weeks old. Again I ask, where has the time gone??? My mom came over at the crack of dawn to watch Maeve since she was still sleeping (what was I thinking scheduling my appt. for 8?) and I took Henry with me. Laura checked me out and before she even examined "down there" I begged her not to touch any stitch she sees. If you remember, I was unfortunate enough to have 3 of my stitches removed last time around and it was most definitely more painful than getting them put in. She reassured me she wouldn't pull them out as long as they weren't infected looking. PRAISE the LORD they had all dissolved and I was told "it looked really nice." Ummm.. thanks? :) Henry was fussing and being his usual gassy self, so Laura took him out while I got dressed and I could hear the whole office staff "oohing and ahhing" over him. While gathering up my things in the room I actually got teary eyed thinking about how much I was going to miss my weekly visits to the office. I love the nurse Clara, and of course my midwives... Dr. P of course, (even though he can be a jerk sometimes). And I can't say without certain that I will have another baby in Michigan. Therefore, this may have been my last experience with that office and that makes me incredibly sad. I am so comfortable with everyone in there- from the receptionists to the doc. Hmmm... bitter sweet I guess. Never in a million years did I think I'd miss peeing in a cup or stepping on the scale and reaching numbers that should belong to elephants.

That's all for now- if any of you have some great tips on how to loosen up some baby poo PLEEEEEEASE let me know!!!!