Jake and Maggie

first signs of winter

maggie — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:18:29 +0000

a dad and his boys.

maggie — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:46:55 +0000

Our roles

maggie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:03:02 +0000

Every day I’m either Mary Poppins and Dylan is Michael. Or I’m Bert and he’s Mary Poppins (because, as he said, he can’t do Bert’s voice). I don’t want to burst his bubble, but he can’t do Mary’s voice either.

Today though, we played school. I was the teacher, and he was the student: Michael Banks. And he had all of his friends with him. These consisted of imaginary Jesse and imaginary Dylan.

Another day of fantasy and exploration. It’s great until I forget and just act like myself and then I get: “NO! You forgot to be the teacher!”

Right. How dare I.

Another rational conversation

maggie — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:12:30 +0000

Me: Are you ready for me to wash you up [in the bath]?

Dylan: Nope.

Me: Why not?

Dylan: Cuz I don’t want you to live in this city.

What we are faced with

maggie — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:52:59 +0000

When you finally have a moment, you’re fried.

That’s the essence of the issue. It’s not like I never get “a” moment. But those moments now happen to come at a time, when I have nothing left in reserves. Like for instance, at 9:30pm, when both boys are asleep and finally it’s “my” turn, or “our” turn.

But by then, what’s left? The dregs of my brain, the minimal energy in my body? What have I to do with those except lay them down and succumb to the next round of interrupted sleep…it is what we do. It is what all parents of young children do, I suppose. Except for perhaps those rich Mommys with nannys, I suppose. But what fun is a nanny? Someone to handle the ups and downs of your own children? No, thank you really, but no. Not that it’s a consideration, but if it were, I’d have to turn it down, flat.

As my wise mother said last weekend, “they are small for a much shorter period of time than they are grown.” And implied: cherish every moment.

And that is exactly what I intend to do.

New Sweater (Thanks Carol R!)

maggie — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:29:55 +0000

on our walk.

maggie — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:41:43 +0000

sleep.

maggie — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:58:37 +0000

i cannot tell you, with enough emphasis, how much i love sleep, enough sleep, that is, and how much i am not getting it. or rather, how little i am getting. and it’s not just me. jake is in the same boat, or the same sleepless bed, i should say. the boys tag-team us. they plot about who will be awake when the other is alseep. they time it perfectly so that one is always awake, requiring near-24 hour coverage of awake-ness from jake or i. and when jake goes to work, i get up to be with dylan, just as eli is falling back asleep (when i should be napping, or rather, would be napping if there was only one child).

and jake makes his espresso, and heads to work. and i get up and it takes about 45 minutes for my eyes to open all the way to their normal state. and a cup of black tea helps a little. but the fact is:

we are tired. this is the plight of all parents of small children, i believe. it’s not insane. it’s not un-manageable, it’s just tiring. it dulls your thinking. it slows your pace. it glazes you over until you are a copy of your former self. a version that should be upgraded. a likeness, but not the authentic you. you resemble yourself in your better moments during the day. but when you’re sinking into the weariness, you look more like over-cooked broccoli. soft, droopy, pale, a little too chewy.

that’s life at this stage. and it’s fine, i suppose.

dylan in his new apron

maggie — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:53:07 +0000

dylan’s hand-crafted apron (by his grandmother). yes, she is taking orders if you want your own personalized apron! comment here (w/your contact info which will not be published) and we’ll get your the info you need.

thanks grandmother!

happy dylan on a day out with mims & pops.

maggie — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:23:46 +0000

A day out at the Mystic Aquarium where he was “hap-hap-happy!” And a couple of pictures from after, at Starbucks having a muffin, then below, sharing raisins with Mimi.