Tales From the Crib

This seems like a common refrain on our blog but do not read on if you are squeamish - or if you currently do not have children but would like to one day.

There will be no pictures for this post. While there are no pictures of the event in question - it will be forever seared into my memory.

It was a cold and windy afternoon. Stella and Isabel were sound asleep for the afternoon naps in their bedrooms and Abram was playing quietly (really he was watching cartoons but writing that makes me feel guilty so..), he was playing quietly while I was mixing up a batch of cookies.

All was well, I felt so good, so confident in my parenting skills (minus the cartoon watching). I should have known then that it was too good to be true.

I heard Isabel making noises so I went to the bottom of the stairs to see if it sounded like she would go back to sleep or wake up. Then....I heard Stella talking........then I heard Stella talking to Isabel.

I ran up the stairs as fast as my 5'4 body could go.

It was too late.

Isabel's door was ajar.

My heart stopped.

I wondered - was Stella hurting Isabel? Was she giving her small toys that would be choking hazards? Was she trying to pull her out of the crib. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw next.

Stella was in Isabel's crib. Naked. Feces was EVERYWHERE. I really mean everywhere. (actually it wasn't at all on Isabel which is a major miracle). After I vomited in my mouth -  I started screaming "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Stella, totally unfazed "I dunno"

I'm not sure how to end that story. I now live in a constant state of fear - more than usual. I think they may have to invent a new label for what I've gone through: PTMD, Post Traumatic Mothering Disorder.

To be continued...

Uncle Andy

We got a special treat for Isabel's birthday - Uncle Andy visited with Jon, Jess, and the girls. They drove all the way down from Minnesota for the weekend. Since I'm speed blogging to get everything up I won't narrate all the pictures but know that the cousins had a blast and were pretty sad to see the Minnesota vanful drive back home.

Isabel Turned 1 (almost 2)

Well, she's not really almost 2 but it has taken me awhile to post her birthday blog. My dad is staying with us for a week and it's easier to find time to put up pictures than to have him not so quietly hinting that it has been awhile.

Our baby turned 1 back on December 29th. I really, truly cannot believe she's already one. I keep trying to get her to hold still so I can cuddle my sweet little baby but she'd much rather be learning to walk or chasing the cats.

Things I want to remember about her at this age:
-She absolutely, positively loves her older brother and sister. She gets so wild when she sees Abram get off the school bus that she nearly knocks herself over.
-Isabel is a wonderful eater. She devours anything we give her. She especially loves fruit and veggies which is wonderful. If she sees something that she's excited about eating she lets whatever is currently in her mouth just drop out and goes for the new item. She gets the most excited about any kind of berry.
-She doesn't have a lot of distinguishable words but has been known to say things that sound like: hot, mama (not in the same sentence), no (learned from an un-named older sister), bye-bye, and night-night.
-She has the most adorable bye-bye wave.
-Her eyes are a beautiful blue, that look like big, bright, blueberries (one of her favorite berries)
-She enjoys being read to.
-She is the only one of the three kids who is truly a mama's girl - and I have to say that I kind of love that (unless it's 3 a.m. and she doesn't want Josh to even look at her).

We love you Isabelly!