Mother's Day weekend

On Friday we went to the African Market at school. The 2nd grade studies all the continents. Market is one of the activities we do while studying Africa. The kids get goods to sell (old toys or things they have made) and then bargain with the buyers to get the best price. The kids have fun dressing up, get practice making change, and all of the money goes to Heifer International. It's one of the kids' favorite things in 2nd grade and mine, too! The whole school shops at the market plus the parents of the 2nd graders. Everyone was delighted to see Hannah. Steve took off the day from work and he had fun bargaining with the kids...maybe too much fun. He was ruthless!

When we got to Chillicothe on Friday night we went to a movie at our old high school. They are tearing it down soon and they made a movie of people's memories of the building. We got to walk around and see our old lockers and where we talked for the first time. Steve and I went to the same school since 7th grade, but we didn't talk until the first day of senior year. It was right after the only class we ever had together: Calculus. Then it took us until sophomore year of college to start dating. Anyway, it was fun to remember high school and we ran into Tamra (one of my best friends in high school) and her husband Lucas, so that made it even better.

Saturday was my sister Marissa's graduation from graduate school. She received a Masters of Arts in Education degree from Truman. She is very happy to be finished! It doesn't seem like she should be that old already. It wasn't that long ago that I was graduating.

Sunday was my first Mother's Day. We went to Trenton for a BBQ with Steve's extended family. Hannah met more of her relatives, including Trent who was the ring bearer at our wedding. Here he is with Hannah. We had a fun weekend, but I was exhausted on Monday!

Hannah's Activities

playing on her activity mat

eating glow worms

swinging

hanging out in her papasan

helping with laundry

taking a bath

eating

crying
sleeping

Hannah Lounging

Firsts

This weekend was the first time we had a group of friends over since Hannah arrived. Thankfully, the Baileys brought pizza so I didn't have to cook anything. Taco was staying with us and Dan, Wendy, Tyler, Sarah, and baby Norah came over Saturday night. It was quite the experience with two babies! If they hadn't already made up their minds, I think Dan and Wendy will definitely be waiting a few years to have kids after witnessing the insanity firsthand. We did bath time, feeding, and finally got both babies to bed....with only a few times of quieting a crying baby (usually ours). Taco was so good at calming Hannah that Sarah called him "the baby whisperer."

Hannah also smiled for the first time this weekend. Saturday was a smile for Steve and Sunday was a smile for me. She has smiled in her sleep before, but this time it was with eyes open and looking at us.

On Monday we took her to a restaurant for the first time. I was a little nervous and wanted to go some place close by so we could make a fast exit if necessary. We went to O'Neills that is so close to our house that we usually walk. She did great. She slept for most of the time, but even when she woke up she didn't cry. I think she was on her best behavior because her granny and great-granny were eating dinner with us.

Interview with a Taco

Name: Taco

Daytime Occupation: Engineer

Superhero Alias: The Baby Whisperer

On a night that was neither especially dark nor stormy, our seemingly normal friend Taco came to visit. His wife loaned him to us for the weekend to help us with the baby. They both had been bugging us about having a baby for over 2 years and now she was finally here. And crying.

We knew that Taco had baby experience, but we didn't know about the deep and mysterious powers he possessed. Baby powers. Our friend Taco was a baby whisperer.

After a relaxing weekend of sleeping until 10:30, going to movies, seeing friends, and catching up on errands (all while Taco babysat Hannah), we felt like we should try to pry out some secrets from the whisperer and share them with our readers.

Megan: Taco, our monitor batteries ran low last night and although our room is right across the hall from the baby and you were staying on another floor, when I got up to check on the baby you were already there...whispering. How do you do it?

Taco: Shh, there's a baby crying down the street right now. The cries of the little ones fill my head.

Megan: Creepy. Some of our readers know that you have two boys of your own, ages 2 and 11 months. Did you first become aware of your powers when taking care of them?

Taco: No. I knew very early that I had a gift. For instance, when I was a baby I always knew when I was crying.

Megan: What's your greatest challenge in whispering?

Taco: It's difficult sometimes that babies are drawn to me. For instance, did you notice that the Vroomans brought their baby over to your house when they came to visit and I am staying at your house, too? Coincidence?

Megan: Right. What is your everyday disguise to fit in with the non-whisperers?

Taco: I've learned to observe the local habits and dress accordingly.

Megan: Well, if you had a baby whispering costume what would it look like?

Taco: It would probably be Teflon-coated to repel spit-up. It would also have multiple pacifiers sticking out for soothing many babies.

Megan: Like many other superheroes I assume you have a nemesis? Maybe someone that charms away babies like an Angelina Jolie or a Madonna?

Taco: Yes, they are worthy adversaries, however, my greatest nemesis is Jo the Supernanny. She's English and I'm Irish so it's a natural feud. And I'm still a little angry about her getting that primetime TV show.

Megan: Do you have any tips for non-whisperers?

Taco: Never sleep. Learn to use one arm for all tasks.

* At this point we decide to call Taco's wife to corroborate his facts.*

Megan: How does it feel to be married to a baby whisperer?

Jane: Fantastic. I get to sleep.

Megan: Is there anything else we should know about Taco?

Jane: His powers get weaker over time. When the babies grow up he starts to do some not-so-helpful things like teaching them how to wrestle, feeding them candy, and playing baseball indoors.

Taco: Babies love that!

Megan: One final question for the whisperer, how do we know you will use your powers for good and not evil? I imagine it wouldn't be terribly difficult for you to create an army of babies for your own purposes.

Taco: (innocently) Um, I wouldn't say that....I, uh, just want everyone to have a baby. You know, because they are so much fun.

Hannah Stats- One Month

Hannah had her one month appointment today. She is 7 pounds 15 ounces and 22 inches long. That puts her in the 15th percentile for weight and 76th percentile for height. She is gaining an ounce a day!

On the Deck

One Month

Hannah is one month old! It's gone by fast and slow at the same time. Teaching 22 kids is a piece of cake compared to taking care of 1 newborn. It's been a big change for both of us, but everyone says this is the hardest time and things will get easier. Unfortunately, they also say once you have two you'll wonder why you thought one was so tough. The weather is just getting nice and we're looking forward to taking more walks. We're also looking forward to her doing more tricks than eating, sleeping, and growling. We came up with the nickname Hannah-Bear before she was born, but we didn't think it would be so fitting.

Dancing Baby

Easter Weekend

We took our first trip to Chillicothe with Hannah. She was great and slept the whole way (2 hours) both there and back. Funny story. We also got a new roof over the weekend. They started work on Friday and finished on Saturday while we were gone. So Steve comes home from work and we start packing for the trip. Then we realize that the roofers have parked a huge dumpster in front of our garage and the Escape can't get out. Luckily Steve drove the truck to work instead of taking his bike, so the truck was out. We had to cram 4 bags, a pack and play, a bouncy seat, and a baby all in the back seat of a truck. It was a tight fit. Anyway, we made it to Chillicothe and Hannah visited her aunt and uncle, both sets of grandparents, four great grandparents, great aunts and uncles, and a partridge in a pear tree. Here are the Easter pictures. She paid us back for the good behavior over the weekend by being extremely difficult once we got back. I didn't post the pictures earlier because she wouldn't let me put her down long enough!