Something about Christmastime...

No matter how busy the season gets...I still 'get into it'....the wonder...the magic...of Christmas. Ever since I was a little girl, I believed that miraculous things happened at Christmas...just look at the gift that God gave us...His only son. It's 'Christ'mas that makes us remember and celebrate it...even though the shadow of Calvary stretches out to us from the distant horizon. The miracle of Christ's birth isn't just in the praise songs and bible readings around Christmas...it's in the hearts of family, friends and strangers. It lights us up and makes us shine.

The same can be said about the miracle of Hannukah...the celebration of light...the light that against all odds kept burning. Hanukkah reminds us that the impossible is always possible...with God. That truth is enough to make anyone giddy. Around this time of year, bills take a back seat, family takes a front seat and joy rides shotgun. It's easy to get caught up in the magic of the season...to feel like your four years old all over again. Especially when you see the lights of the decorations reflected in your child's eyes. The stunned expression on their faces when they behold the Christmas Tree...towering above them with the Nativity underneath, lights, special keepsake ornaments and a sparkling, white Bethlehem star topping it all off. There's something so magical about the joy this time of year brings.

What a blessing it is to share my love for the Christmas season with my children! Our little family had an awesome Christmas! Getting together with the extended family was definitely a highlight! Marcus and Annaliese love their cousins and love playing with them. Their cousins are just as crazy about them, too. Now that we're here and not in Arizona, we really appreciated being able to see everyone.

This year our extended family did krist-kind gifts. We all put the names of our children in a hat and picked. I picked one, and the hubby picked one. It worked out very well because every child got a gift, but we all saved some money and there wasn't the massive 'opening' of tons of gifts that lasted for hours. Gift opening time was short and sweet. I felt there was less of an emphasis on gifts and more on spending the holiday with family. Gifts are a big part of Christmas, but I don't want the kids getting gorged on them. I want them to grow up knowing why we celebrate Christmas and that Jesus is the greatest gift of all. Right now though, all they know is that there's a lot more going on in the house...pretty things that they can't touch...lights everywhere and constant baking in the kitchen. I tell them the story of Christ's birth, show them pictures, sing the songs...I don't know if I'm making a dent yet...but sooner or later I know they're gonna get it.

Marcus received an Elmo Live doll (thank you, Gramma!) He plays with Elmo so much that now Elmo needs rehabilitation. Marcus sits there and pokes Elmo's belly and foot...wondering why he's not responding. He looks up at me and says, "Melmo?" I just smile and tell him that he's resting and he'll be up soon (if this weather doesn't warm up so that I can go get some more batteries he may be resting a bit longer...hang in there, Melmo!).

Annaliese got a Disney Princess stroller and a tiny white teddy bear that she has adopted as her 'baby'. She takes it everywhere. She puts it in her stroller and pushes it around. She covers it with her little blankie. She's tried to feed it macoroni and cheese (and I had to sneak it away from her so that I could wash it). One time I even caught her giving her 'baby' a good dressing down (I don't know what the little bear did but it must have been naughty...judging by the stern look on my daughter's face and the way she pointed her finger at it).

The kids are growing in leaps and bounds. Marcus is already growing out of things I bought him last month. He's having a growth spurt. He's saying more and more every day. He's insistant on doing everything himself. Annaliese is following in her big brother's foot steps...but still 'clings' to Mama quite often...much to her Mama's delight...(I admit it, I'm guilty).

Christmas this year for me has been more spiritual. Which is very good. I've been praying a lot lately...for family and other things...mostly for answers. When I didn't receive answers, I began to think that perhaps God is just not ready to answer me yet...and I trust in His timing. But then, this evening I realized He had answered my prayers.

He's given me something very valuable. I'll explain.

Tonight, I was deep in thought while relaxing on the couch after dinner. I was dragged out of my thoughts by Marcus. He had climbed up next to me with his silent 'Melmo' doll. He looked up at me with those soulful brown eyes of his, smiled, leaned in, gave me a kiss and snuggled into my side. Whatever I had been thinking about flew out of my head in that moment. I put my arms around my precious son, cuddled him close and told him I loved him very much. Marcus just kept laying there...for a full fifteen minutes. Then, almost too soon it seemed, cuddle time was over and it was time for him to get down and play with his Elmo phone (another gift from Santa). I watched him go and thanked God for that frozen moment in time. I hug and kiss and cuddle my children all the time, but Marcus is a very independent child...so he cuddles me back but is always in a rush to dash off to the next activity. I knew that this tiny moment we shared was a precious gift.

Christine, can you hear Me? This is God answering your prayers...I'm giving you a special gift here...use it well...enjoy it...savor it...cherish it.

I'd have to say that the greatest gift I got this Christmas was time.

Time with my husband. Time with my daughter. Time with my son. Time to savor. Time to enjoy the most important thing in my life...my family.

My prayer for all of you this Christmas is that you're able to savor the special moments with the ones you love the most...that the magical joy those moments give you lasts for another 364 days.

A Merry, Blessed Christmas to everyone.

- The Mamasaurus

Are We There Yet?

Goodness it's been a long time! My last full post was back in June. Well, there's lots of reasons for that. 1) Settling into our Arizona life took time and 2) Settling in our New Jersey life is taking longer.

Yes, that's right. You read it right.

For those who do not know, we have moved back to the North East. Why? Too much sun? Too much dust? Not enough to do out west? No. No and no. Arizona was beautiful and I will always look at our pictures of our short life there with feelings of nostalgia, but it just was not for us. We left family there too, who are heart broken, just like the family we left here when we moved. We will miss our family and friends (gosh so many friends!) in Arizona very much.

This path that we're traversing, the hubby, the kids and I, has come full circle.

The Hubbasaurus often says, "Sometimes we have to go backwards to go forwards". I think that perfectly describes our move back east. Did we make a mistake by going to AZ? I don't think so. We learned so much. We could not have done that had we stayed here. But after the lessons were learned, it made more sense to come back.

Our kids are troopers. Lord knows, our little family has been through the wringer these past five months. We actually drove back across the country. Two adults, two toddlers, three cats in a minivan. Even a camper would have been cramped after ten hours...try forty-five hours.

Yep. It wasn't pretty...but our family is strong. We made it.

We got to see the country! How many times do you get to do that? I must say though, all along I kept wishing for those ruby red shoes Dorothy had.

It would take us a long time to find home, however. We thought we had secured a rental for NJ back in AZ before we left. We signed a lease and everything. When we got to NJ we saw the rental...it wasn't fit for human inhabitants! I cried my eyes out that night. We had told no one that we were back because we wanted to surprise everyone on Halloween. Sort of like: "Trick or Treat...we're baaaack!". We finally broke down and told the hubby's sister who lived in the area. She was shocked, to say the least, and she put us up for two days. We wound up staying with family for a full week before finally finding a new rental. Looking back, I don't know how we got through it all...definitely by the grace of God. Well, we're here now and things are starting to settle down...just in time for the busiest time of the year...heh heh heh...oh well.

One thing remains very true. Family is always there. Yes, they may be annoying at times...they may make you want to scream a times. At times, they may say hurtful things that should not have been said, or worse, with-held something that should have been. They can drain you and lift you up all in the same day. We can allow these idiosyncracies to kill us this holiday season or we can that them roll off our shoulders and go on with life.

Most people dread the holidays because of all the things I mentioned above. I passed a Mom at Shop Rite the other day that said to her child, "I can't wait for the holidays to be over!". How sad...and yet...I've shared this thought, too. I used to love the holidays...what happened? I know a special family that has lost someone very dear, who face the holidays with heavy hearts but are determined to feel the joy and celebrate the season. These are the people I draw my courage from. In the end, you are the master of your own will. Will you celebrate the season...or will you survive it? The choice is yours...in every situation, in any family. The choice is STILL yours. What will you do with your holidays this year?

One of the biggest lessons we learned while in Arizona is that happiness is not a location, it's not how much money you have in the bank, how many trips you've taken, how many prized possessions you own...

Happiness very simply is having what you need and wanting what you have. I'd rather be joyful than happy any day. Happiness doesn't last. Joy comes from God. Joy is a choice in any situation. When you understand that...nothing can shake your God-given joy.

I choose joy.

Joy is my daughter's laughter...I can hear it ringing in my ears long after she's gone to sleep. It's my son's smile and the way he runs to me to give me a hug. Hearing, "I love you", from my hubby. My hubby's great smile and his wicked sense of humor...sitting here at my desk...I can recall many times when he's made me laugh so hard, I cried. Watching my daughter give her Daddy a kiss...and then seeing the look on his face as his heart melts. The looks on all the faces of our families when they saw us and realized we were back. The old friends I've regained contact with...the new friends I'm making here...the endless chances to experience joy tomorrow and the day after and the day after that...

See what I mean? Joy. Three letters, very big word. I think when you choose joy, you truly live your life during the holiday season...not just survive it. This is what that special family does that has lost someone very dear to them. It is what I will do this holiday season....what will you choose?

On my 'Things that I am Thankful For this Thanksgiving" are three things that explain everything: the gift of love, the gift of clarity and the gift of joy.

Love has always been a big part of my life. I've always been loved and have loved others. Clarity reminded me of this special gift. The result was joy.

Lord, bless us all with eyes that see and hearts that are grateful...because then, we will all be rich.

A Blessed Thanksgiving filled with the joy of life to you all...

-The Mamasaurus

The Actress

This is a video of our darling little girl hamming it up for the camera. Can you say...Academy Award?!

Moving...

"CAUTION! CONTENTS VERY FRAGILE!"

For those of you who don't already know (there can't be that many of you) our little family will be moving to Arizona next month! When I look back over the past three years spent in Pennsylvania, I can see the ups and downs of an amazing and sometimes very scary roller coaster ride.

Please hold onto the bar...

The hubbasaurus and I often talk about where God is leading us and how we feel about it. Pennsylvania to Arizona is a huge change, true, but one we've learned to embrace with faith.

Our children will become desert dwellers, like my nephews who already reside in the Valley of the Sun. They will adjust, grow, learn and become the people God means for them to be. We look forward to a simpler lifestyle and inevitable changes in us as individuals. Changes that can only happen when you let go and allow yourself to grow.

But change can be scary.

The hardest part of this move is the family and dear friends we will miss here in the Northeast. It's a huge sacrifice and one that has kept us from making this decision for three years...maybe more. We are grateful for the family we will have in our new home state, my brother, my sister-in-law (who I've known since I was a baby) and my nephews who are all very excited about our move to their neighborhood. If it's any consolation to the family and friends here, the missing will be just as strong from our end of the country...I promise you that. If we didn't feel like we were truly being led by God to make this move, we would never do it. I never thought that I would live in the west, much less in the desert! But then, I never knew I was going to adopt two children either! God's plans for us always out-do our own. You know the saying: "If you ever want to hear God laugh...tell Him your plans!"

My blog will eventually take on a new look as well, reflecting our new home. I will try to add some video links so the family can see our little angels in action. Right now they're just having fun running around all the boxes in our house. I worry for them and their new life out in Arizona, but I know that God holds us all in the palm of His hand.

I will always be grateful for our time in Pennsylvania. We went through a heck of a lot here, right from the very beginning. But we have beautiful memories that I will cherish forever. The theme of our life here in Pennsy seemed to be about 'big' change. Some changes were very hard...excruciating even...some changes were the most joyful ones we've ever experienced. Life here has certainly not been dull...that much is very true!

So now we say, "So long, Pennsylvania...thanks for the beautiful memories!"

To our family and friends: We love you and we'll miss you. Keep us in your prayers; we'll keep you in ours. Thank God we live in an age where the internet, telephone and digital camera can shrink our world! Let's use all of that to keep up-to-date with each other's lives and kids.

Love and Peace to all,

- The Mamasaurus

Tiny Moments

"Tea For Two"

Hello Spring!

Wow! It has been a while hasn't it? I've tried to find time to write sooner, but life has been rather nutty. After my last post, the next big event was my daughter's Christening. After that it was runny noses, sneezing and coughing, all four of us, for WEEKS on end. It got to be so bad that people started thinking I actually worked at my local pharmacy. I swear, if I wore white scrubs, my doctor would think I worked for him, too. Heck, after my last visit I had to stop myself from demanding my paycheck.

Well, goodbye sick days, hello spring! Thank God!

Annaliese and Marcus are doing very well. Annaliese still doesn't walk yet, but she's getting very close. She crawls up the stairs (mostly because of her Daddy's prodding), she cruises very well and sometimes, she almost looks like she's going to take a step. Then she thinks better about it and crawls instead.
Part of me thinks that she's just scared. Possibly. But I know she's smart and probably figured out that once she starts walking, Mommy won't be carrying her places anymore. Hmmm. Annaliese's favorite pastime is to cling. So I've been encouraging her and showing her how to follow after her brother, holding her under her arms and watching her little feet go. Chasing her brother around is becoming a new pastime (much to her brother's dismay).

I sort of share her fear about walking. I also know that when she starts, there's no turning back. She'll begin to go off on her own, exploring her world from a new viewpoint. It will be a wonderful sight to behold, but one that I am ashamed to say, I dread. My little Clingasaurus is not the only one that wants to cling. I want to cling to her, too. I see her almost take a step and out loud I say, "Yes! There you go!" and inside I say, "Look, there she goes...".
This is the part of parenting that doesn't hit you until you become a parent. You teach and show and train and encourage your children so they can grow and be able to stand on their own two feet...without you. Even though it hurts, you have to let go and let them become. This lesson about parenting only hits home after you've fallen deeply in love with two little feet, two chubby hands and an angelic face staring up at you adoringly.

One morning, while drinking my coffee and checking my e-mail, I heard Annaliese cackling. If you've never heard or seen her cackle before, it is something to behold. Her face scrunches up, little button nose all wrinkled and she laughs this deep, bass, cigar-smoker laugh. Needless to say, when she laughs, we ALL laugh.
I turned to see what was transpiring to set her off. What I found was too precious for words. Brother and sister, sitting across from one another, Stride-Rite to Stride-Rite. My son has a pot on his head from the little kitchen that's in their playroom. My daughter obviously thinks this is very clever and very funny. She's laughing, and he's smiling at her. He takes the pot off his head. She stops laughing. He puts it back on, she begins cackling again. Off. On. Off. On.

At some point I forgot all about my e-mails and began laughing as well, enchanted by the scene that was playing out in our family room. There was no time to get a camera, I didn't want to miss a second of it. It went on for at least five minutes. At the end, the cackles died down a bit and the pot was tossed on the floor in favor of a Sesame Street press and pop which both tried to play with at the same time.

Amid the yells of my son yanking his toy back from his sister and her's of indignation to keep said toy, the scene that had happened moments before played out in my mind. I could almost see a similar scene six years into the future, maybe making each other laugh as they talk about school or a soccer game, perhaps in high-school as they talk about proms and dates or maybe even beyond that, as they watch their own children play with one another at a family event.

The reverie takes just a moment, but the feeling it leaves me with is bittersweet. No parent wants to think about when their children get older, but we all strive to do our best to prepare our children for it. For life. These moments that they share now are forming a life-long bond that I hope will always be cherished by both of them.

One day, when the family room has been cleared if it's toys, when the pitter-patter has stopped and our household clutter is devoid of play keys, pacifiers and Cheerio containers, I will recall a sweet little boy, entertaining his sister, with a pot on his head, her infectious laughter and their little, smiling faces. I'm sure then, just like now, even as my eyes fill with tears, my heart will be filled with gratitude.

Life, indeed, is made up of tiny moments like these.

May I always remember to savor them.

- The Mamasaurus

Sibling rivalry...it starts...

Well February is almost over...thank God! We're getting closer to spring...despite that furry little critter's cold prediction on Feb. 2nd. That darn groundhog! He always dashes my hopes of an early spring. Someday, I'll have to hunt him down and have a serious talk with him and his phobia of shadows. If he wasn't such a cute little guy, I'd be more hostile. In any case, his predictions, so they say, are always pretty much right on. Geez, can't we get him to predict the winning lotto numbers then? Anyhoo...

Annaliese said her first clear word. You know what it is?

Da-da.

Yep. Da-da. Sure, why not? Mama's home with her all day. I change her Hazwa diapers (my nick name for the kind of diapers that make her 'Da-da' run in the other direction...it stands for "Hazardous Waste"), I sing to her, wipe her eyes when she cries and rock her to sleep for her naps. What do I get?

"Da-da".

Ah well, that's the way it goes I guess. Marcus' first word was 'Mama'. Sometimes he even calls Daddy 'Mama'. So I guess it's only fair that Annaliese says Da-da. She does say 'meh-meh' and 'ah-meh' and I believe that this is her saying Mama. But we can't be sure since her 'Da-da' is clear as a bell. When Daddy is home she says it even more and it's usually accompanied by her holding out her little hands to him to be picked up (does my little girl know how to butter up her Daddy or what?!).

Annaliese is pulling up on everything now. Standing on her own to play with the activity table only her brother could reach before. She's so determined to walk before her first birthday. The doctor is amazed at how well she's doing considering the fact that she still is 10 weeks preemie. She still meets every mile-stone she supposed to at each well baby visit. My response to this? Well, first of all, my daughter is a very determined little girl and secondly, no one told her that she was 10 weeks preemie.

Part of her progress has to do with her brother. She sees him walking around while she's crawling on the floor behind him and she's had enough of that, thank you very much! One day, she used her brother as leverage to stand. She climbed him like tree and stood on her own two feet proudly right beside him. Unfortunately for Marcus, she 'pants-ed' him in the process. Poor brother was screaming while his pajama bottoms were down around his knees and there's sister standing next him with a big accomplished grin on her face.

It starts.

Marcus is kicking everything now and I've thought seriously about changing his nick-name to 'Kickasaurus'. He actually follows after the item he's kicking and usually kicks it into or under something. The beginnings of a little soccer player. I am trying to foster this ability in him but it does have it's drawbacks. Especially when he kicks things like the car keys I've been looking for, my chapstick, his cup, his sister's bottle (he does this while she's crawling after him and yelling in her special 'baby language', "Baba da ga ba GAAH!" Which most likely means, "Give me my back my bottle or I'll spit in your sippy cup!").

It starts.

Territory lines have been drawn now. I've had to break up a few tussles over a toy because said toy was being pulled back and forth between two sets of chubby little hands. It's amazing how little they are and how they've already discovered the feeling of 'territory'. That 'this is mine and that's yours' thing happens rather quickly between sibs, I suppose. Unfortunately, they are still at the stage of 'this is mine and what's yours is mine'. That being said, Marcus does not understand that his cup is his and the bottle is his sister's. He just loves pulling the bottle out of his sister's mouth. I think he does it partially because he likes the loud 'pop' sound it makes when he yanks it out of her mouth mid-suck. I think he actually enjoys the excitement that follows while I chase after him to retreive it. He doesn't drink from it because he doesn't like it. He just doesn't want her to have it. Of course Annaliese screams her head off when he does this. I have visions of the future paybacks she will dole out to him.

It starts.

Well, I can hear my little ones waking up to start their day, right now. Annaliese is having a delightful conversation with the butterflies around her on the bumpers of her crib and by now Marcus, my little Throwasaurus, has most likely thrown his blanket, binky and giraffe out of his crib. This is his sign language for: "I'm done with this, get me out of the crib!".

BTW, the giraffe's name is Raffi...I know, I couldn't resist!

The baby monitor's lights are reaching the highest level. The natives are getting restless.

Time to go.

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day to all!

- The Mamasaurus

"Mommy, I can't move..."

Aaah, winter. The bulky, big, can't scratch-my-nose-'cause-my-arms-are-stuffed-into-sheep's-wool clothing season. Is there anything worse than bundling up your baby in all their winter gear (even if it is girly and pretty), putting them into the car to be further restrained by the five-point harness and then listening to them cry all the way to the store because they can't reach the toys hanging in front of them in their car seat? Is there any wonder that my little girl HATES the car right now?

I would too, if I were her.

Everything is big in the winter. Big boots, hats, mittens, scarves...then we become big after putting it all on. It takes 'big' time to take it all off, too. Big heating costs, the biggest colds/flu occur around this time of the year and for me, my bum is the biggest in winter due to the recent holidays and lack of outdoor exercise.

It occurred to me the other day as I was shopping with my children at the local supermarket how much longer it takes me to shop in the winter as opposed to the summer. During the summer, I'm in and I'm out. No one to bundle up and no snow or ice to manuever around. This makes for a more pleasant time in the store because my children are in a much better mood when we get there.

Let me explain.

You see, I usually have a half-hour window with my kids. After about a half hour, the supermarket is no longer 'super' to my children and they want OUT. I try to bring things to keep them busy, but nothing can deter an 18 month old and a 10 month old from expressing their displeasure at being bound in their stroller and forced to wade down aisles upon aisles of boxes and bags and things they can't touch. By the time we get to the check-out, my little angels have undergone a metamorphasis and have now become little banshees. People, (without children) look at me like, "Are you going to just let them scream?", while some Moms look at me like, "I know, mine were doing that just five minutes ago...I feel your pain..." and some others look like they're rushing to get their stuff purchased, packed and out of the store before my children spread their 'bansheeness' to theirs.

Then there's the dreaded 'redressing'. You have to stop before you leave the store to put all winter-wear back on. Hats, gloves and bulky coats go on with much difficulty due to arching backs, flailing hands and kicking feet. It's like trying to catch a fish out of water. You begin to breathe heavy and sweat from the extra exertion and the inability to express your loss of patience by screaming your own head off and pounding it against the coinstar machine (which would be rather inappropriate behavior to indulge in). In your haste your hands start to move rather jerkily and you zipper your son's jacket up past where he's comfortable. Now you've done it. You try to correct your mistake but the zipper is now stuck. Desperate now, you try to force the zipper down while mumbling a few choice words that would make a sailor blush and you hope your child doesn't repeat. You manage to move it down a bit, but it doesn't matter. Your son's highly insulted now. You brace yourself for the audible onslaught as his mouth drops open and you wait while he sucks in enough air to scream from now until Christmas. You abandon trying to calm him down and begin to zip up your little girl who is now reaching pitches only dogs can hear. You almost have her completely zippered up when you realize that your little boy is STILL sucking in air and when THAT scream starts it's going to be at a decible unknown to man.

His scream is released while you are leaving and has a siren-like affect as the crowd of people leaving the supermarket part and pull their carts over so you can pass.

You shove the groceries into the car (not knowing why you bothered making sure the bread was separate since you've no idea where the bread is now), shivering the whole while because in your haste you forgot to put your own coat on. You stuff the kids into their seats (which becomes another monumental feat due to the afore-mentioned arching backs, flailing hands, kicking feet etc...), clip their seatbelts on, belt yourself in and peel out for home.

As I pull into the driveway I realize that the screaming stopped five minutes ago. I look in my kid-view mirror and see that they're both asleep.

Then, I sneeze.

I think to myself as my children wake-up and start screaming again, that somebody somewhere has to start a chain of drive-thru supermarkets. Drive-up, order your stuff, pay for it and two young kids come out and place it in your car. No screaming, no coats on - coats off, no kicking feet and flailing hands. Just pay, get 'n' go. I'm sure there would be a Nobel Peace Prize for the person that comes up with it.

I sigh.

That person would be my hero.

- The Mamasaurus

Throwasaurus

WARNING! A LETHAL CHARMER!!

Throwasaurus is a highly intelligent creature. He uses squinty-eyed half smiles (that are way too adorable to be resisted), serious pouty looks (like the one in the photo above), and the double knee, looking-up-at-you-with-my-cute-face hug.

But Beware!! Throwasaurus throws everything. Toys, books, bottles, cups, sister's shoes, diapers (yes, sometimes used ones if you don't catch him in time on the changing table), car keys and Mommy's cell phone into the toilet...no, he didn't succeed, but he got it on the rim. Why does he throw? Well, he got the idea from a beach ball. One of our neighbors gave him a beach ball globe and we taught Throwasaurus how to throw it. We were elated as our eager little learner began to toss it out of his play pen and giggled as we tossed it back, only to have him toss it out again for another pass back. Well, you can figure out the rest, I guess. He started to throw everything. We tried to ignore it hoping he'd stop if we didn't pass things back to him. Wrong! He discovered it was much more fun to let things hit the floor and make that loud CRASH sound. 

We are currently looking to curb Throwasaurus' throwing habit. It's tough though, because he loves the sound things make as they crash to the floor. I think he also likes the way sister and Mommy jump when he succeeds. He's getting it, though. Now he takes the object he wishes to launch, squats down and bangs it on the floor.

Ah, well. Half-way is better than nothing.

- The Mamasaurus

Clingasaurus

WARNING! SHAMELESS FLIRT!!

Clingasaurus is a sly creature. She gives the outward appearance that she is timid and shy all while wrapping you around her dainty little finger. She can give lethal smiles that melt the observer into a pool of goo (observe photo above), stares you down with her soulful eyes all while touching your face gently with her little hands as if she's trying to memorize it (she isn't, it's just another one of her wiles...) and has the eye sight of an eagle to spot bling-bling from a distance of twenty feet and upon getting the bling-bling in her fist will not let go until the owner gives it up or becomes choked (since chains and pendants seem to be her favorite).

Clingasaurus is so named for her need to cling to her Mommy all day long. Her number one goal in life is to become surgically attached to Mommy's hip. Until she achieves her goal however, she will get what she wants by any means necessary. Clingasaurus has sobbed for Mommy (while Mommy is within five feet of her) because she was being held by someone other than Mommy, quivered her chin (which got an immediate reaction) and has even resorted to telling Mommy off in her baby language, "Eh, eh-ma gaa baa! Eh gaa baa daa baa GAA! BAA GAA!!". Which, loosely translated means, "I want my Mommy! Get me outta this stinkin' chair NOW! RIGHT NOW!"

We are trying to ease Clingsaurus out of her clinginess. This of course, is not something Clingsaurus is happy about. But we're making strides. The other day Clingasaurus was heard yelling to her brother, "Eh, Brah-brah baa daa GAA!", while holding out her little arms to him.

Apparently her brother has lost his ability to speak baby since he started walking. I'm sure if he understood Clingasaurus he would've taken exception to the fact that she demanded he pick her up out of the exersaucer and play with her.

Ah, well. At least she wasn't yelling at Mommy.

- The Mamasaurus

Winter blues...

"Baby, it's cold outside!"

Wow!  I can't believe the holidays are over and we're already well into 2008! Now it's the winter blues we have to deal with...

Not my favorite time of year.

They say that when we enter a season we dislike, we should try to find some beauty in it to get us through it. I guess that makes sense but it's rather hard for me to find the beauty in a season that generally keeps me and my restless kiddos indoors suffering from 'cabin fever'. But I suppose if I must, I must. After all, seasons depict perfectly the ebb and flow of life.

Well, this is what I've come up with:

Signs of winter:

1. Going to the doctor more often, sitting in the waiting room and wondering why I even got the flu shot because I'm so sick my hair hurts.

2. Taking my children to the pediatrician so much that I think we are personally financing her new porsche.

3. The barren, leafless, lifeless trees in our yard that now expose the perfect view of my neighbor's backyard with his wonderful pole barn, blue-tarp covered boat, camper, six cars and a rusted out pick-up truck. Apparently, each square foot of grass in your backyard is an opportunity for yet another parking space. Time to plant those fast growth evergreens at the back of our property...

4. The train is louder now because of the leafless trees not providing enough of a buffer...but this doesn't really bother me. I actually like the sound of the train, though I didn't when we first moved here.

5. The lack of energy from the lack of sunlight. Although, this January has been pretty tame, with mild weather here and there. We have enjoyed it but, I don't like tame January's. Tame January's usually mean that winter is going to make a late comeback and most likely whip our butts clear into April, when the flowers should be blooming. We'll see what that groundhog says this year...

But wait a minute...I was supposed to find the beauty in the winter season...

Well, it is kinda cute the way my son's mucus-covered face resembles a glazed donut when he's sick during the winter...does that count?

Oh well. I tried.

I am doing some things to combat the winter blues. Planning my daughter's 'birthtism' is one thing that keeps me busy. Her birthday and baptism will be occuring around the same time so instead of having two parties, we're combining them and having one. Our theme is 'angels' because the theme is great for both. I am currently looking for angel wings to fasten to her outfit for her pictures.

The hubbasaurus hasn't been working such horrid hours lately, thank the good Lord! He still works overtime hours but he doesn't walk through the door at 9:30pm anymore (for now, it will pick up again in time). The kids love seeing their Dad at dinnertime. Especially Marcus. Daddy teaches Marcus everything. How to push buttons, how to help get dressed (he puts his arms up for the sleeves now), how to do a high-five, how to burp at the dinner table (whoops!) and hopefully sometime this year, how to use the potty...we'll see about that one!

Little Annaliese has been growing in leaps and bounds! She wants so much to pull up, stand and walk around because that's what she sees her brother doing. She's getting there and when she does.....LOOK OUT! I'll be running after two then, (Lord, help me!). She feeds herself now and wants no part of anything other than her cheerios, banana pieces, sweet potato puree and her bottle. Try to give her something more adventurous like apple sauce and you're gonna get it on your face. She spits it right back out, powerfully!

Something interesting that happened the other day on one of my many trips to the pediatrician's office:

When I was leaving a young woman with pretty blonde hair was cleaning the foyer of the building. Upon seeing me, she immediately went to the door and held it open (so nice!). People tend to do this when they see the double stroller and it actually has amazed me how many times it has happened. Anyway, this is the conversation that followed:

Her: "Oh no, I hope the little ones aren't sick..."

Me: "Actually yes, they both are."

Her: "My son is nine and he's sick, too. I gave him his medicine the other day but I think he's allergic and when I took him to the doctor the doctor said no so when I went home I gave hom another dose and he still seemed sick and then I read the side of the bottle and it said take with food and I thought, wow! That's why he's getting a stomachache from it so I called the doctor back to tell him..."

Me: Trying very hard not to be rude as I am standing half in, half out of the door in freezing cold weather with my children in their stroller screaming... "Well, I hope your son feels better..."

Her: "Oh he does, now, I think... I mean I hope...that was last week anyway! Hey, how old are your little ones?"

Me: Despereate to leave now... "18 months and 10 months."

Her: "Oh how nice...are they twins?"

It was all I could do to remain poker-faced.

Someone FINALLY came in the other way and the conversation was interrupted. I slipped out as Miss Nicebuttalksalot started chatting with them.

The hubbasaurus and I had a good laugh about it when he got home that night.

Me: "Twins! Can you believe it?"

Him: "Yeah, we just decided to put the second one back in for a while...we wanted a few months between them..."

Of all the comments I've gotten about my kids, that had to be the most interesting one. However I'd have to say that someone telling my husband that his son looks just like him runs a close second.

Blessings, laughter and peace to all in this new year...

-The Mamasaurus