Thomas is as controlling as his sister.  Last night I tried to put him to bed in 30 minutes or less.  Lately it’s turned into a 45-minute ordeal with Daddy.  He no longer wants Mommy to rock him in his room because he knows the end result is going in his crib.  So one of us holds him on our lap in the living room and watches TV.  First he was mad I turned off Monday Night Football in favor of a more feminine program.  Then he wanted me to read book after book after book.  I don’t mind the reading, but a plan for two books leads to ten.  And forget about skipping paragraphs in the Curious George one.  He’s on to me.  Finally I got him to relax after hiding my phone from him to avoid 20 games of Monkey Match.  Just when I thought it was safe to take him upstairs, I moved the couch pillow and blanket over to stand up and he snatched them back with a firm, “No, Mommy!”  Guess he was still awake… so up to Daddy we marched and I had to hand him off to get back to work.  I know he’s manipulating us and I know we need to get tough.  But he used to be the easy one to put to sleep.  He changed.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 25

Cousin Liam, Charlotte & Thomas

Deciding to drive to Peoria Friday night AFTER the 10pm news was a good decision for me.  Bad one for my kids.  I thought heading out when I was wide awake and Charlotte and Thomas were already asleep would make the 3 1/2-hour trip go much smoother.  Especially since this was my first time doing this without Dave who was staying home to get ready for his return to work today.  Of course I failed to acknowledge two things:  the spell of the DVD player and the severe weather potential.  Once Daddy carried them out to the car, the kids were awake enough to recognize the excitement of a late-night drive to Nana/Papa’s.  So on went the DVD player.  It put them quickly into a zombie trance that kept Thomas up the ENTIRE time.  I’m not kidding.  He was shouting “Berkner” from the back at 1:08am outraged I had turned off one of his favorite singers in an effort to get him to sleep.  Then there was the rain.  I literally sit by a meteorologist 1 1/2 hours each workday, but failed to pay attention to a forecast that would put storm clouds overhead for most of my journey.  I was talking to Dave around Cedar Rapids when he informed me rain was up ahead and wouldn’t let up.  So I drove right into it.  We finally got to Peoria and got to bed around 3am.  I am still tired.  The time with family was great, of course.  Last night putting the kids to sleep was a nightmare.  Charlotte was in hysterics and Thomas would not go down.  My third attempt to put him in his crib led to his first escape.  He climbed over and out with a leap.  We knew this would eventually happen.  Dave took him downstairs, got him to sleep and successfully put him back in the crib.  The question is, when will he make another break and will it lead his parents to a breakdown?

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 25

A shift in our family structure resumes Monday when Daddy goes back to work.  And the kids don’t start preschool until August 25, so the next 7 weekdays will be challenging for Mommy.  I have arranged for two sisters next door to watch Charlotte and Thomas for 3 hours each afternoon so I can get ready and get to work on time before Dave is able to come home.  The trying period will be the time leading up to the babysitters’ arrival.  Thomas still sleeps no later than 6:15am, but Daddy’s been getting up with him.  Now Dave will be ready to get out the door at that time so I’ll have to look alive and take over instead of sleeping in a bit.  Charlotte will get up shortly after and start the day-long pressure on me to play with friends and ring doorbells.  Then, like a dummy, I agreed to be part of a morning radio segment Monday where the DJs call me “live” to share a favorite recipe.  Dave was flabbergasted about this.  Not just because I would be home alone with the kids at 7:40am when they call, but because I don’t cook–at all.  “You don’t even know how to make french toast,” he told me last night in bed.  “So how are you going to come up with a favorite recipe when you don’t cook anything?”  I diplomatically explained that I would figure out something easy to share while simultaneously wracking my brain to think of one.  The only thing that popped into my head was a cheese dip I made once or twice where you mix Cheese Whiz and cream cheese.  That will have to do!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 25

Sunday my nephew, Liam, is being dedicated at church.  So we don’t want to miss it.  But Daddy is switching teaching assignments this year and he goes back to work Monday.  (After five years teaching high school special needs, he’s moving to PE/strength training–his major and what he spent years teaching before moving here.)  A 3 1/2-hour drive to Peoria Saturday then the same distance back Sunday would not make for a restful weekend, especially when he has a thousand things swirling in his head that he needs to get done or organized.  So the kids and I are going it alone.  Something I’ve never done with both, but am willing to do given the circumstances.  Charlotte has heard us talking about it and told me more than once that she needs to be patient in the car for the long drive.  My thoughts exactly!  But whether that happens… I am realistically assuming there will be points when they’re crabbing or crying or both over everything from the DVD player to their sippy cups.  And I am mentally preparing myself to tune it out and focus on the road.  Unless it’s an absolute necessity to pull over, then I will.  The worst part is knowing when to leave.  Some how we have timed the last few trips to my parents all wrong and the kids were awake almost the whole way.  Not good.  Then, of course, if they sleep I’ll be struggling to stay alert.  That’s when satellite radio will have to get me through.  I don’t drink coffee or pop so a caffeine boost is out… though there’s always chocolate.

Newlyweds Ashley & Jared

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 25

I remember years ago hearing that my aunt agreed to sneak one of those big, old school video cameras into a movie theater to illegally record Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles for her 3-year-old grandson.  I thought she was nuts.  Fast forward 20 years later and today I found myself at the bottom of this 2-story inflatable waterslide:

Charlotte didn’t hesitate to rush up the slippery steps to bound down it seconds later.  We were at a backyard party hosted by the parents of a school friend.  So there I stood with her brother who was anxious to join Sissy.  Of course he was a bit hesistant, and frankly too little, to go it alone.  Being the supportive and a bit deranged mom that I am… I threw down my sun hat, yanked off my cover-up and proceeded to nudge him up to the top behind him.  Let’s just say it looked a whole lot steeper once we got there.  I held on to him knowing that the ride was either going to scare him to death or excite him beyond belief.  You know my kid.  It was the latter.  “Again!  Again!” he shouted after we plunged in to the small vinyl pit filled with water at the bottom.  We flew down that thing so fast it was like Thomas was being carried by a greased pig!  I braved it one more time then was told by Charlotte to stop.  It scared her to see Mommy risk her life for the amusement of her brother.  Fortunately I just made the 200-pound limit carrying my 30-pound child!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 25

A new study out this week finds puberty starts as early as 7-years-old for some American girls.  My school didn’t show the sex-ed film (yes, I think it was on a projector) until 5th grade.  So that’s like three years too late based on current development rates!  I didn’t have to deal with a menstrual cycle until 7th grade… but my best friend had an older sister at the same school who told her where the 8th grade girls hid their pads in the bathroom.  So in 4th grade, we took some of their pads, put them on and tried them out on the playground.  No one but us knew we were wearing them, but talk about thinking we were “old” and “cool”.  How stupid!  My point is that I want to be the one to tell Charlotte about this stuff before some classmate shows her the sanitary napkins in her house.  I have already answered questions, as a matter of fact, when Charlotte has spotted these types of supplies in the bathroom.  When you have a curious child, it is impossible not to find yourself in a position to address these topics.  I think I’ve mentioned before that not only will I not brush off or ignore her inquiries, I will try to tackle them honestly and age-appropriately.  But she still may end up like my sister who was so embarrassed to talk about things like periods she would never tell my mom when she needed a supply re-stock.  Let’s just say our upstairs bathroom closet was overflowing with pads in every size.  My mom would simply grab a box at the grocery store and leave it for her on the steps!

KWWL reporter Colleen O'Shaughnessy's July 31 wedding in Clear Lake

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 25

After years of looking, Mark Schnackenberg finally found a woman to share his life with.  And they made it official Saturday afternoon in a beautiful and sunny outdoor ceremony in Waterloo.  Melissa looked stunning as she came down the aisle. 

Mark choked up reciting his vows. 

Mark's parents, Suzanne & Thomas

Bob Waters & Heather

The sit-down dinner and reception that followed were filled with a lot of weather jokes, the option of gluten-free wedding cake and group dances like Cha Cha Slide and Hokey Pokey. 

Dave and I had a great time, especially on the dance floor.  I broke out The Running Man and Roger Rabbit–two dances from the 90′s I’ve no longer mastered.  A former KWWL producer and I recreated the Kid ‘n Play move that ends when you hook ankles and spin.  If I’ve lost some of you, sorry it’s my generation. 

Ron Steele and his wife, Candy, were at our table.  Always love spending time with them away from work. 

Candy & Ron Steele

Mark seemed so happy and appreciative all night.  Of course I wrote on the frame guests were asked to sign:  Now go have a baby!

Holding Sunny Layne's baby, Felicity

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 25

You know you’ve had a few medical issues when the nurses and volunteers at the hospital recognize the whole family.  This morning was round 2 for Thomas with ear tubes.  The ones put in last August were no longer working.  The same ear, nose and throat doctor did Daddy’s two surgeries when a metal wire in a chicken strip embedded in the lining as he swallowed it last fall.  (Still trying to get the company to cover the medical costs, by the way.)  This time was tougher on Thomas because he’s older and knows what’s going on.  He threw a fit as the nurse carried him away from us to be put under.  Ten minutes later it was over and he’s doing well, though his tummy hurts.  At the hospital Charlotte realized she left her tie-dye, superhero cape for Vacation Bible School at home.  She burst into tears over it.  It didn’t help we had to wake her up at 5:30 for her brother’s surgery trip.  So she and Daddy drove to the house and picked it up, just in time to come back and get Thomas and me and make it to the church on time.

There were so many other little ones in the hospital this morning.  I pray everyone had a good outcome!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 25

I was in total wedding mode.  It was the day before Dave and I exchanged our vows.  He was golfing with some family and friends.  My dad was still a school superintendent with a school bus license.  The plan was to have him drive all the rehearsal dinner guests on a bus tour of Peoria with my mom as our guide.  It was a brilliant idea, I thought, since so many attending had never visited the area.  Of course schedules change, especially when they involve men on the golf course, so by the time my dad went to pick up the bus my mom was already a bit stressed.  And it didn’t help the gas tank was near empty.  My dad discovered this when we were all on board!  These are the memories that still make me smile.  Dave teared up during that night’s run-through.  Somehow I managed not to cry at the actual ceremony.  But we both choked up when Dave’s daughters spoke during the reception about how happy their father is being with me.  I was thinking about these moments  working out this morning when our first dance song started playing on my iPod.  George Strait’s Carrying your love with me.  Then, mid-song, the DJ was supposed to scratch in to Jagged Edge’s Let’s get married… but that’s another story.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 25

When I first met Mark Schnackenberg in December 2002, I instantly thought he was a nice guy.  Then I quickly moved to the morning shift where for a few years he allowed Chris Carter and me to tease him about everything from his weather forecast to his life as a bachelor.  He was a good sport.  I knew eventually he would meet someone and fall in love.  And he has.  This Saturday Mark and Melissa will become husband and wife.  I am so happy for them.  Mark was the only person from KWWL who came to my wedding in Peoria five years ago this week.  Now Dave and I get to witness him make such a big commitment.  Of course I am already talking about wanting some playmates for Charlotte and Thomas.  I have even offered to throw them a couples shower.  I may be getting a bit ahead of myself… but you know, I got pregnant three weeks after my wedding!  Count on me to bring you a comprehensive and colorful wedding report on Monday.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 25