Dateline: 1:56 pm

Benjamin is home with me today. I didn't know until around 7 this morning that this would be the case, but sometimes when life throws you a curve ball, you just go with it. His regular "day mother" Jenni, has a sick kid on her hands so Benji needed to stay home. It happens, but very infrequently I will say, so thank you Jenni!

Anyway, so what's it like to be home--while teleworking--with a rambunctious two year old? Hmmmm...the word for this escapes me. At this moment, he is in his crib screaming "Mommy! Mama!"...wait, it's changing..."Mommy! Milk! Pwease!" Who can keep track any more really. He went down for his nap 40 minutes ago (exhausted I might add and with a full sippy cup of milk) and I've heard nothing but his demands and several different renditions of "Twinkle, Twinkle"  in the meanwhile (I believe he threw in a Hip-Hop version 14 minutes ago.)

It might sound like I'm complaining, but if I am, it's only because the CITRIX connection for our personal laptop which I should be able to use when unexpectedly at home like this, isn't working. I can still log in from our desktop computer, but this means I'm rather chained to our office while 2 year old, Bam-Bam (that's the sound he's making right now from his crib in the room next door) roams all three levels of the house. This might work fine for those without anxiety, but for me, not so well.

He has actually been really sweet today--it's just that he sort of wants me to be involved in every facet of his play. Although we did take a break and go outside for a while earlier, and later this afternoon a neighbor with a toddler invited him over for an impromptu play date,  it's just been a fairly non-productive day. (I'm hoping that the hour that he's on play date will let me catch up on most everything.)

Of course if he would just stop fighting his nap and succumb to the blessed gift that is sleep, we would both be much happier. It's just that he does not yet appreciate the nap.

Wait! What's that I hear? Nothing? Could it be that the nap fairy has come? Aww....I am so gullible. He totally had me for minute. He's back to his "Mommy, Mommy"/crying jag again already.

Time to get back to what little work I can. Fortunately I have some reading I have to catch up on in addition to my online work. I'm going to stop typing now and be completely silent now. "Hush little baby, don't say a word"... -Monica

 Shhhhh...dateline 2:17 pm. All is calm. All is bright...er...dark...

Today is an important day!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!

And for our very favorite Valentines:

 

Under the Sea (and Often the Weather)

Last weekend while Susanne was gone helping her mom out (she had surgery on her shoulder) the boys and I took a little trip to the Baltimore Aquarium. For those who are not familiar with this place, it is really awesome for kids. Benji's favorite was the octopus and Danny pretty much loved everything except for the really loud rainforest exhibit.

Danny being a bit averse to the loud noises is probably linked to the fact that he's been a bit under the weather. As you can see, his mouth is all chapped and red which has been an ongoing problem this winter. He sucks his thumb pretty religiously and the more he sucks it the redder he gets. Then he gets sick--this week we took him to the doc and turns out he had strep throat. I can't help but think there is this weird cycle going on. He sucks his thumb which introduces more germs than he would otherwise get. Then he's sick and needs to rest. The more he rests, the more he sucks his thumb. When he's well and active there is less time for thumb sucking. Sigh. We've got to figure this out. All this thumb sucking is also pushing his front teeth out and that will mean orthodontic work down the road. We haven't yet tried any "icky" stuff to put on it to stop him from sucking it, but that may be our next step.

Other than that, all is well. These two continue to crack us up. Last night I came through the front door and exclaimed "mmmm, something smells great!" Danny replied "it isn't me." Hilarious.

Then last night when I was putting Benji to sleep I was quietly saying the "Our Father" which is something we do every night. This time though at the end of each sentence he was repeating the last few words. It was very cute...
Mommy: "Our Father"
Benji: "Father"
Mommy: "Who art in heaven"
Benji "in heaven"
etc..etc...

but when I got to one of the last lines, I burst out laughing though.

I'd said "As we forgive those who sin against us"
And Benji said instead of just saying "against us", what he said was "gainst us and Miles"

Miles is his wonderful little buddy who he plays with every day at our friend Jenni's (she of "Oscarelli" fame.) 

Now where he came up with the idea that somehow Miles needed to be included in this part of the prayer I'll never know.

That's the beauty of these children of ours. You just never know what's coming next!

Have a great day everyone. -Monica

Danny's Ark

Danny in 2012

It was only 30 degrees this morning when we woke up so Danny decided he needed to continue his rest right next to a radiator. And just to make sure he was not lonely, we also had to gather a few of his friends. Reminds me of this other day long ago...

Danny in July 2007