Return from babyland

It's incredible how many fun events are happening today. I think we'll end up at the arts festival in our town and at Rocket Day at Danehy Park. Tomorrow is the annual Mother's Day Duckling Parade. Hooray for spring!

I didn't mean to disappear into babyland for so long. Before X wakes up, a few things that have happened lately:

X is now two months old. He had his doctor's appointment yesterday and is 50th percentile for weight (12.5 pounds) and 25th for height. He got two shots and an oral vaccine, and spent the entire afternoon screaming while I frantically ran around town in search of infant Tylenol. Today he seems fine. Yesterday made me grateful that X is usually such a calm baby.

X can track objects, has become interested in mobiles, and smiles at us. Also, if his brother was the Spitup King, X is Master of the Poop Explosion. All those milk-stained onesies of K's that I debated throwing away are now in daily use because X somehow manages to poop out of his diaper and up his back at least once a day.

Speaking of poop (and aren't you glad we are?) K has learned to use the regular toilet. No more cleaning out the plastic potty for me! At least not for another two or three years.

Our niece M came to visit for Easter. Oh yeah, her parents came too. The kids had a blast playing together. In the past, they've had turf wars when visiting each other. This time they happily chased each other around and jumped on the mattress and threw toys at each other. They loved the Easter egg hunt around the house, and we all had fun (probably the adults more than the kids) decorating egg- and bunny-shaped cookies. Despite his newfound fondness for his cousin, K kept saying, "M is so whiny, isn't she?" After she left, K announced, "I'm not going to whine and fuss anymore. That's for little kids. I'm four now." I thought that was cute. But he's been surprisingly cooperative and pleasant ever since. Never underestimate a four-year old.

I've been spending more time at home with the two kids. This week K insisted he was sick and couldn't go to school. I was extremely skeptical, but decided I'd believe him and keep him at home. Unfortunately, I couldn't get over my skepticism and ended up being grumpy all day and trying to get him to admit he was lying. (He never did.) Bad Mommy. At dinnertime I apologized and told him I'd be nice to him for the rest of the day. Before he went to sleep, he said, "Mommy? Try to be nicer to me tomorrow." Anyway, I told him that if he wants to stay home he should just tell me, and we may not always be able to but I'll try.

We have had a huge number of doctor's appointments. K went to the eye doctor and was apprehensive, but ended up loving it and asking to go back. (Not for four years.) K got strep again. X had an eye infection. I had my postpartum checkup and then went back to get Mirena. Next week it's the dentist for K, and in the coming weeks I'll have a followup appointment with my OB and X will have another well baby appointment. We have a high-deductible insurance plan, so we have paid out thousands in health care costs already this year. Hopefully nearly all of that is behind us now.

I read "A Reason to Believe" by Deval Patrick, "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" by Mohsin Hamid, the Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart, and "Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life" by Marshall Rosenberg. I enjoyed all of them, and have more to say about some of them, but not right now.

We're preparing for a trip to California for a friend's wedding. Our first big trip with the two kids. My plan is to not worry about it, and to get an electronic toy to occupy K on the plane.

I hear a crying baby. More later.