It's the little things

It is my turn to bring snack to school for Griffin's class. Every week they have a different letter that they focus on. This week happens to be the letter "C". I've gotten my creative juices flowing and have come up with some snack ideas that start with the letter of the week. Nothing like some good old fashioned graphophonemic connections for the kiddos.

So, if I had an apron, I would strap it on because I've decided to do something wild and crazy. I. am. going. to. cook. It's no secret that I am the worst house wife ever. Roger gets really upset when I say that but we all know it's true. I can grab a cookbook and cook a simple dinner but it's not exactly the Iron Chef kitchen at my house. Something inevitably goes wrong when I try to cook. The top of the salt falls off and ruins my dish or I put the burner on too high and burn the meal to a crisp. It's amazing really. I have made a few yummy dishes since I've set to the task of being a better homemaker. I think it is so funny that I find myself in this role. None of it comes naturally to me.

I want it to though. So, I am cooking snacks for my son's class that start with the letter "C" and it's almost silly how good it makes me feel to do so. Here is my menu.
Mon-Cheese and crackers (okay, that's an easy on)
Tues -Cinnamon bread with cherry preserves (I'm building up the nerve to turn on the oven)
Wed-Corn souffle (This one is especally good because it starts with a C and is Thanksgiving related)
Thurs-Cranberry crunch (Another Thanksgiving gem that involves baking)
Fri-Carrots and hummus (enough with the baking, geeze)

So there you have it. I am well on my way to becoming the domestic diva that I want to be and being the domestic goddess that I almost am.

We had a lunch date today

Today we were lucky enough to have non other than Henry Holmes come over to our house for lunch. This was a big deal for a handful of reasons. First of all, he came home from school with us and Griffin felt so special to ride in the car with his friend Henry. Secondly, I have an irrational fear of watching children that are not my own. Most of the time I am shocked that I keep my own child in one piece, much less being able to keep my friend's child alive. This is a conversation for a therapist's couch I know, I won't bore you with the details.

So I felt very brave when Wynn asked my to pick up her son from school and watch him for a bit while she worked. It went smashingly well for all of us. They had a great lunch and the both asked very politely if they could be excused. Henry became very concerned because he really wanted a princess to play with. He LOVES princesses. Our only princess came with a castle we bought for Griffin and she has been discarded because Griffin is much more impressed with the knights. Anyhoo...I diverted his attention to my mermaid costume that I wore last Halloween. Henry was very impressed with this costume and was thrilled to put it on. Griffin followed suit and requested his knight costume. It was a magical and cathartic afternoon.

A letter to my second born son...

Dear Cowen,
If you ever read this I want you to know how much I love you. When I was at the OB's office getting an ultrasound to find out if you were a boy or a girl the tech scanned your entire body as you kicked and squirmed in my belly. She said "Are you ready to find out if you're having a boy or a girl." I nodded and held my breath. As the image became clear, I saw that you were a boy and said out loud "That looks like a boy?" She nodded and said "You're right, it's a little boy!" I was so excited to know who you were.

I always thought that I wanted a little girl and at first, I mourned my childhood fantasy of having a daughter. I knew that having a son meant that I would never get to put pig tails in my little girl's hair or help my teenage daughter pick out a prom dress. At first, I let myself feel sad about that.

Then something amazing happened. After one week of lamenting the loss of a pink room and little purple leg warmers, you started to really move around inside me. The kicks got harder and I could really feel you wiggling in my belly. I started to feel YOU.

I have to tell you that after I had given birth to your big brother Griffin, the strangest thing happened. I would have him all dressed and the diaper bag full of bottles, diapers, a change of clothes, and all the things that a mom packs to take care of her baby. I remember one day, I had put him in his car seat and had my full bag with me, ready to run an errand. I felt like I had forgotten something in the house. I did a mental check list of all that I needed and I had grabbed everything. Then I realized that it was you. My next baby who would one day come to me. This happened to me on and off over the next 3 and a half years. A moment would pass and I would feel like something was missing. It was you. I was missing you.

So now, I am 19 weeks pregnant with the baby that I have been waiting for. As you grow and kick me, I am feeling overwhelmed by the fact that you will one day soon be in my arms. That you, sweet boy, are the soul that I have been waiting for. Not a daughter like I thought wanted. No, I'm realizing before I even meet you, that what I NEED is you. I will celebrate every inch of you. I will celebrate everything about you. I will have my two boys and we will have wonderful adventures together.

You Cowen...are perfect for our family. I can't wait to meet you.

I love you,
Mom

Things we say to our children.

"Griffin, get your hand out of your bottom!"

Today I counted how many times I was forced to say this...14 times. The child wants to stick his hand in his crack, constantly.

Brunch with the girls.

My wonderful friends Scarlet and Wynn offered to make me a birthday brunch. It was such a treat to spend time with two such amazing woman. We sat in the kitchen and drank coffee and chatted while the quiche cooked. Then we sat down to a feast. It was so yummy!

My baby is due one week before Scarlet's baby and i just couldn't resist the belly to belly shot. It's nice to be growing with another woman.
I must admit that these two girls keep me sane. I feel so blessed to have them in my life.

It was a good morning!

Birthday girl!

I had an amazing birthday yesterday. It was simple and quiet and lovely. I should start this Blog by celebrationg the new camera that Roger gave me. It's a Holga 135 and I can't wait to start snapping away.
Then my boys cleaned the kitchen together while I put my feet up and listened to the sweet interaction between them as they cleaned. An almost 4 year old is so eager to learn and help. Best of all, I didn't have to do any of the work. Something as simple as putting the dish washing soap into the dish washer becomes a shining moment of independence. It's a beautiful sight to behold.
My parents gave me a king size load washer and dryer. This is very exciting news for me on the Leigh vs. Laundry front. The washer/dryer that we had before was a small stackable that Roger had purchased in his bachelor days. Needless to say, I skipped around the house on and off all day doing loads of laundry in bliss. You know that you're a grown up when you are thrilled to receive a major household appliance as a gift and then proceed to happily do laundry on your birthday.

I decided that I wanted to eat a big ol' hunk of Gyro meat for my b-day dinner. Roger and I peeled ourselves off of the couch and ate at Great Wraps downtown. An old and messy establishment that has been in downtown Athens ever since I arrived here 15 years ago. We ate Gyros with fries dipped in Feta. It was a feast. Then we came home and watched Semi-pro on DVD. Griffin gave me it to me as a gift and called it a "funny basketball show".

Perhaps the best gift of all, last night we decided on a name for our new baby (which is a boy by the way, more on that later!) Our little guy will be named Cowen Taylor Hewett. Wow, it feels good to say that sweet name.

The name of the new baby...

According to Griffin it should Slap Hit Poo Poo Butt Hewett. I think it's a beautiful name. He must have thought of every bad word his little mind come think up. Last week he suggested Fireman Hamburger Hewett.

We find out next Thursday if it's a boy or girl, woo hoo! We will be thinking up more appropriate names, of course.