Full Contact (s)Mothering

spa pedicures today...she chose OPI "I'm Not Really A Waitress" for us.

I am pretty much attached at the hip my daughter, even three years and 4 months into her adorable life. True, I go to work but otherwise we are always together. Every morning we wake up (way too early), get ready, and then lounge by the fire drinking our milk or orange juice and sharing dry cereal, snuggling. It doesn't even dawn on her to run around or play with toys, we just cuddle and talk. Similar events occur after work, although I am usually much more tired and try to trick her into rubbing my back by singing Criss Cross Applesauce. We got into a routine this winter of coming in from the freezing cold and hopping into the big bathtub for a hot bath. It keeps her occupied (and clean), while I relax (BTB, she is fan of drinking tubby water which she calls "Lemon Tea" but I call it "Body Tea"). I am always hugging, kissing, and otherwise warping her for when she someday must be forced to go into the real world. As anyone who has ever tried to create a clone of themselves knows, it's actually not that hard if you start early. Now there are some things about myself I could improve upon so if she wants to be exactly like me, only good at math with some hand-eye coordination, I am not going to fight it. I know life is going to change when the baby joins our world, demanding my time and attention. I am hoping I have enough lap and energy to add a triplet to our dynamic duo because I just love my special/constant/unhealthily enmeshed time with sweet little Norelle.

out to lunch, BFF style

beware the "vicious woof"

Happy Easter!

It's been a good year for eggs in the Seltz home...

is it a sign that Baby Honey's egg cracked?

pre-church rest in Tender Heart Care Bear costume

egg hunt

Palbicki to the max

someone (who is three) had SIX slices of beef brisket

Happy 10th Birthday Mekensie and Happy 59th Birthday Dad!

My favorite people

Counting the eggs, calling pennies "quarters", and hoarding chocolate

And a reminder about why we celebrate is best articulated by my pastor Danny on his blog. Nori sums it up pretty well too, see for yourself:

It's only Saturday and...

we have already gone to the dentist...

chilled with Gram-Z, the lyrical hurricane (who still has crud in her lungs)...

frosted cookies with pals...

and partied with Liam to celebrate his 3rd year...

Not to mention visited with Papa Michael, Aunt Jill, Aunt Tracy, and Uncle Casey. I also found out that at least THREE people in my family have been ticketed for urinating in public. Beat that!

What ever will tomorrow bring?

You are invited!

Guess what else? He got into the UNI Master's program in Jazz and is likely to get off the waitlist and into DePaul for Jazz. We find out today, hopefully!

Things that are wrong with me

I am sure you are shouting out suggestions right now, so I will leave blank spaces at the end. Mock my physical ailments and then move on to my social/emotional problems.

1. Pelvic bone PAIN : It feels like I just rode my bike 200 miles. Actually, more like a unicycle with all my weight bearing down you know where. My bones are so sore, I think the baby might be halfway out.


2. Permanent stuffy nose: I snore now, too.


3. Grinchy heart: I was recently reminded that my heart is two sizes too small because I don't enjoy meeting new people, talking to new people, or attending events that don't permit pajamas. It was suggested that I give 1/100 of the love & energy I give to Nori to other people. It's true! I like to think I'm just introverted, but really I'm a wanna-be-hermit. Now if only I wanted to change...

sugar

I am way too excited about this....we hired a nanny! Her name is Nicole, she is 23, and married. She graduated from Hamline with a B.S. in biology but chose to be a nanny as her career. She has lots of nanny experience with infants and little children. She won't officially start until the end of August, but hopefully she will come visit the girls a few time this summer so they can get to know her. She is very excited to work on a pre-K curriculum with Nori so we don't lose the educational piece she gets now at daycare (and it will be great for me not to have load and unload kids from the car in the middle of winter)! Lest you think we are loaded, let me just add that my income barley outpaces hers but I like my job and the structure of working 3 days a week in the office and 1 from home. Plus, the benefits are good...I gotta live it up when I am old.

My mom seems to be on the rebound, too! Her new antibiotics are helping as she can breathe better and is slowly starting to get some energy back. After all she has been through, we don't take health issues lightly (unless you count a weird stomach wound that has been leaking on and off for 4 years in which case she just packs it).

Being crawled over, although kneed in the face, to be kissed good morning by a cutie pie girl makes sleeping in even better. What a fantastic family weekend we have had! We are enjoying one of our last few quiet family weekend, starting with breakfast at Egg & I, summer clothes shopping, grocery shopping, naps, reading books, and guacamole. What else is there? A few busy weekends ahead and then it won't be long until our party of 3 turns into 4! Nori has also developed a Southern accent, saying cute things like "be right back, sugar!" a few hundred times a day. She is on an antibiotic after 3 weeks with a cold & cough. The only other time she has been on antibiotics was when her thumb got infected after I tried a do-it-yourself amputation with the laundry room door (which healed perfectly, by the way)!