Come, Mommy » imagination

12 Weeks Of Brotherhood

lieslf — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:26:00 +0000

Kieran is now twelve weeks old. He’ll be three months old next Saturday. It always amazes me how pregnancy seems to take forever and a week, but then things speed up to the point where if I blink I’ll miss a bunch of stuff. I did manage to get some pictures in the last couple of weeks, though.

Kieran’s got the classic three-month-old move down pat – not only has he found his hands, he’s using them to grab things. He thinks this is pretty cool.

And hey, look Ma! Things can go in one’s mouth! Now is the time to begin the surveillance for choking hazards….

“Mommy! Watch! I’m Baby Cookie Monster Train*! I’m playing with my jungle gym!”

Hey, Ma, look! Feet are for kicking! Who knew?

“Mommy! Watch! Cookie Monster Train is rolling dangerously along the bridge! Choo-Choo!”

(For the parents out there, one question. What about this outfit says, “I got dressed all by my own?**”)

Over-the-shoulder shot of Kieran sleeping through the railway bridge action. The boy loves his slings.

Note to self: Do not leave Cookie Monster Train unattended with finger paints. Not even for the time it takes to change a baby’s diaper. It appears that a huge piece of paper is not nearly as alluring a canvas as are the back deck railings. Ahem.

(Kudos for self for at least leaving him unattended a) with washable paints and b) outside. Self, you learn slowly, but you do learn eventually.)

“Sure. Stick the poor Baby up here in a hand-me-down high chair with a bunch of toys. Go ahead and enjoy your dinner, dudes. Just so you know – the Baby is NOT AMUSED!”

I don’t know if Liam really is going through a growth spurt or if it’s just the contrast with a young baby, but he’s looking really big boyish these days.

A happy ending to a Father’s Day trip to the zoo – a popsicle covered sticky boy. I think it’s the blue teeth that make the moment here.

And that’s the two-week photo round-up from the Menagerie House. I hope you got at least a couple of grins out of it!

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*For the record, as of three days ago, Cookie Monster Train the Express Engine has left the station for destinations unknown. He has been replaced by a small boy claiming to be one “Harry the Horse.” This Horse dude apparently has a baby brother named “Deeby the Pony” and a mommy named “Beedy the Horse”. His daddy goes by “Bobby the Horse”.

**The answer: “Mommy? Um, I looked all over my sock drawer but I couldn’t find the other copy of the dark blue sock. So my rule is dark blue and light blue match.”

On The Mend

lieslf — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 01:41:00 +0000

Just a brief post because we’re all pretty exhausted around here…

Liam’s doing better today. We’ve still got a fair amount of malaise and general crankiness since he’s tired and his tummy still hurts. But he’s gained 1.5 pounds since Friday, and his fever is much lower. At his pediatrician’s appointment we reached the general consensus that we don’t need to get aggressive and do more labwork immediately. Instead, we’ll wait until next week and check his liver function again on the theory that this is all related to stomach flu, and should subside as he improves. The viral studies are still pending so we can’t completely rule out hepatitis yet, but it’s looking less and less likely given his rate of improvement. Hopefully all’s well that ends well, and if in the end all this turns out to be is a scary ER trip and some diagnostic ghost-chasing, then I guess it’s a good lesson for me in learning to appreciate the healthy kid I have. Thanks to all of you for your moral support, good wishes, and offers of help – it’s all muchly appreciated!

Bonus Leonard conversation:

Doctor: “Does your tummy hurt?”

Liam: “I can’t tell you because I’m a doggie and doggies don’t talk.”

Doctor: “Hhhmm, well, could you point to where your tummy hurts, Liam?”

Liam: “NO! I’m not Liam! I’m Leonard. And doggies don’t have hands, so they can’t point.”

Doctor: “Oh. Maybe you could point with your tail?”

Liam: “My tail is for wagging only.”

Doctor (to me): “He certainly is attached to this identity, isn’t he?”

Liam: “Woof! WOOF!”

I’m envisioning a psych referral if this keeps up…

One Sick Puppy – Now With Update

lieslf — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 01:02:00 +0000

So we’ve hit another childhood first around here. Leonard’s never really thrown up or had a tummy bug before, but as of this morning, the stomach flu is in town. Leonard’s been a bit cranky the last couple of days, and it all hit home this morning when the real pukefest began. He threw up in bed, looked at me and asked, “What did just happen, Mommy?”

We got him cleaned up and changed, the bed stripped and changed, and then he threw up on the floor. He looked up at me, eyes bright with fever, and excitedly exclaimed, “Mommy! I’m a real doggie now! I puked just like Casey!!”

And so went the day. I’m very grateful for our large washing machine and the extra sheets and towels we’ve been stocking up on for the birth. And Leonard is exhausted. He expressed it best at 3:00 this afternoon when, after he had thrown up on both of us for the third or fourth time, he looked up at me, tears in his eyes, and whimpered, “It’s not so easy being a real doggie, is it, Mommy?”

The poor ~~little boy~~ great big doggie. I sure hope this turns out to be one of those one day wonder bugs.

Updated Wednesday at 5:45 AM: Leonard has puked on and off all night. Now Kevin has the bug, too. This might be manageable if a) I don’t get sick myself, and b) I don’t go into labor in the next couple of days. Everyone send positive thoughts this way, OK?

The Line Between Imagination and Schizophrenia

lieslf — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 01:48:00 +0000

is a thin one indeed. Just a wee tiny sampling of conversations from this weekend and today:

1. Liam: “Mommy, can you get me some soy milk?

Me: “Sure, honey, just hang on a minute…”

Liam: “I’m NOT “honey.” And I can’t hang on!”

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2. Me: “Leonard, would you like grilled cheese or mac ‘n’ cheese for lunch?”

Liam: “I can’t tell you because I’m a dog and dogs can’t talk. WOOF!”

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3. The two of us were walking through a parking lot:

Me: “Leonard, please hold my hand for the parking lot.”

Liam: “I can’t because I’m a dog and you are the Mommy Doggie and dogs don’t have hands.”

Me: “Well, can we hold paws, then?”

Liam: “Um, sure, dogs can do that.”

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4. At a restaurant:

Hostess: “Does your son need a booster seat?”

Liam: “I’m not a ‘son’! I’m a doggie! Woof-woof-WOOF!”

Hostess: “Oh. Well, would you like a booster?”

Liam: “No, thank you. Great big doggies don’t fit in booster seats.”

Hostess: “Ah. Good to know.”

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5. At Liam’s friend Isaac’s house:

Isaac: “Do you want to play, Liam?”

Liam: “I’m NOT LIAM!!!”

Isaac: “You are right, and you are L-”

Liam: “NO! I’m not ‘Right’! I’m Leonard!!”

If this keeps up much longer my next post will be an open solicitation for Haldol.

37 Weeks

lieslf — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 01:18:00 +0000

Liam: “Mommy, why isn’t my baby brother born quite yet?”

Me: “Well, he’s just now big enough to be born, but he probably won’t be for a couple of weeks yet.”

Liam: “Well , when the midwives come to help him be born, will you make sure they know my real name?”

Me: “Well, sure, kiddo….”

Liam: “NO!!! I’m not kiddo!”

Me: “Um…Liam?”

Liam: “No!!!! I’m not really Liam anymore!”

Me: “Um…Donald the Tickling Shark?? No?? Who are you?”

Liam: “I’m Leonard the Great Big Doggie Who Goes ‘WOOF’!!!”

Me: “Ah..I see. So that’s why you’re wearing Casey’s collar?”

Liam: “Yes, you see, I said WOOF and he gave me the collar. Because he knew I’m a doggie now. I change like that.”

Me: “Yes, you do. It’s fun, but very confusing, son.”

Liam: “NOOOO!! I’m not Son!”

Me: “Sorry, Leonard!”

Liam: “Mommy?? Please tell my baby brother to be born soon. I’m tired of waiting. Also, I know he’d like to see my “doghouse” and play with my kitty and tiger. “

Sounds good to me, ~~kiddo~~ Leonard. I’ll see what I can do to pass on the message…