Mornings in the Mayhew household

I set my alarm for 6:30, to beat the kids out of bed and shower before they see the light of day. By the time my shower is over, I can hear Fiona in her crib, babbling and making the sweetest noises. She says, "uh oh," "ball," "book," "mama, mama" and then clicks her tongue, and she generally talks to the books and stuffed creatures in her bed. It is SO sweet.

When I open the door, she is typically standing holding onto the rail with one hand, with a book or stuffed animal in the other. A huge grin washes over her face, and her dimples are in full show as she begins jumping up and down in bed. What a way to start your day - for both of us, it is pure happiness. I yank her from the bed and grab her into a huge hug. She is very cuddly, and hunkers down for the squeezing quite well.

Sometimes, while I am mauling Fiona, Craig will go in and get Rory. If not, Fiona and I go in together. Rory often says "Hi, Fiona" to the baby as she begins checking out the toys in Rory's room. Rory is usually either laying down or sitting up, and I ask her if she had "a good snoozle." As a parent, you eventually become amazed at the ways you mangle common words. Rory, apparently, always has a good snoozle, for she always says yes.

Sometimes we discuss the thousands of stuffed animals with whom she sleeps: hippos, frogs, ugly dolls (from Uncle Ted - Ox and Icebat), her six rubber snakes, the rhino Fiona gave her when she was born (when Fiona was born, that is), and then some. And have I mentioned that Rory sleeps with four blankets, in the following order on her body: first the Fiona blanket (a blanket given to Fiona, and appropriated by Rory), then a small cat blanket, then the hockey blanket, and finally, the Toni blanket (a gorgeous, multi-colored blanket woven by my Aunt).

This must give the impression that there isn't much room in the crib for Rory. And you'd be right. But she is so happy in this overstuffed bed, how can I complain?

Daffodils & Cranes

Those are the two things Rory announced that she wanted to see this morning on the way to daycare. Quite a dichotomy of items, eh? She has quite a divergent view of the world, which we try to encourage by exposing her to as many things as possible - whether "boyish" or "girlish." Daffodils and cranes (and she doesn't mean birds - she means construction cranes).

This morning, Craig flew off to Boston for his interview at Kayak.com. He is getting there right about now, and I am very excited and nervous. I *so* want him to get this job, for so many reasons. It would be good from a money-earning standpoint, from a "I work in an office with other humans" standpoint, plus it means we are one step closer to Boston (Kayak is based in Corcord). Then I can organize the move, execute the move, and take some time finding a job. Heck, maybe I will even contract for 20 hours a week and spend more time with the kids. I would love that. They are growing up entirely too fast for my taste, and I am already missing the wee things that they are right now.

More later!!