TheMommyBlog

I am sitting here watching Lee’s baby Jayne sleep (and chase cars, I think) on her web cam, and I am just jonesing for a tiny baby to hold. Notice I didn’t say have this time, just hold, a lot, and to smell when I need a fix.

Man, I love technology. I have it on good authority that Amber is watching as well from Brussels. That’s right, we have seven children nine and under between us, and we are goo-gooing over a baby two thousand miles from me and three thousand away from her. Hey… that’s almost in the middle… *checks flights*

It’s just barely 8:45 a.m. and I am already hiding in the office, trying to stay out of the way of the culinary chaos that is brewing down the hall…

Since today is a special day, a special breakfast is in order. Gil and the kids have decided that means pancakes with chocolate syrup. Right. Mommy’s having cereal.

Ten minutes ago, I was sitting at the table, hunched over my bowl and reading Dave Barry, cringing at the din. All four of them were crouched on the rug in the kitchen, preparing the pancake mix by committee… and the noise was absolutely deafening. Don’t get me wrong—I love the sound of happy children—but this was spectacular. I was hovering in that state of limbo every mother experiences when her offspring are screeching and yelling and sounding excited, or maybe alarmed, or maybe in mortal peril, it’s hard to discern sometimes, but over long periods it can be quite unnerving.

“I get to pour the mix! I touched the bag first so I get to pour the mix!”
“I get to stir!’
“Daphne, do not touch the stove!”
[sound of her being lifted off the chair she’d dragged to the stove, and then clumpy-thumpy sound of two-year-old collapsing in a weeping puddle at my feet to protest the injustice]
“Let’s find a spoon!” [sound of all four moving in a tight huddle to the utensil drawer, where the relative merits of each implement are weighed and decided]
“OK my turn to stir!”
“Dylan, get off the counter!”
“Mommy, we’re making pancakes!”
“I want waffles!”
“No waffles today—we’re making pancakes!”
[clumpy-thumpy sound of two-year-old collapsing in a weeping puddle at my feet to protest the injustice]
“Look Mom, I’m the royal fry cook, and I have a recipe that will knock your socks off! [indicates spatula tucked into green t-ball uniform belt over moon-and-stars pj’s] Bon appetito!”
“Gee, hon, I feel badly about not helping, but honestly, I am a little afraid to intrude.”
“No, it’s probably better that you don’t.”
[scurries away to computer]

Baby Aidan James was born at 2:30 this morning after six hours of labor!

And Daddy delivered from the neck up, to boot!

Congratulations, Jim and Michelle!!!

I am leaving the office now to go have dinner with mom and step dad and kids. Gil has poker night down the street, so it should be very peaceful and fun. My mom has a lovely garden and is a terrific cook, and we’re having chicken satay, shrimp skewers and scallops. We’ll drink lots of wine and stare at the date palm out back and listen to the children…

See, the trouble with posting quizzes on your site is that others will take them and then link back to you.

Gen, I think I’m supposed to offer you a job: “Employ a Warrior, if necessary, to put your brilliant schemes into action. Just be sure your instruction manual is written in very small words.”

My Inner Hero - Wizard!

There are many types of magic, but all require a sharp mind and a cool head.  There is no puzzle I can’t solve, no problem I can’t think my way out of.  When you feel confused or uncertain, you can always rely on me to untangle the knots and put everything back in order for you.

How about you?  Click here to find your own inner hero.