Out Of *It*

I feel like such a space cadet today--I've had ear problems all week and last night it really turned in to an issue!

Ack! Ear pain!

I ended up going to the doctor's this morning instead of leaving for NY and Thanksgiving there. I can only hear out of one ear and have weird head pressure which is making me dizzy and yes...grumpy.

Ack! Ack! Ack!

Can't wait to hear again.

In other news...I got out with some good friends and was able to see

*New Moon*

Woot!

Ezra came with me and squeaked and squawked in the quietest moments but was good and sleepy for most of it =) The movie was...well..it was better than the first one and it was lovely to have an excuse to go out in the middle of the day with friends (the nachos didn't hurt either!)!

Good times.

So now, I've packed my van for the trip up North and am hoping for some miracle healing in the middle of the night so that we can actually go. I've done the drive through the Pocono mountains before with ear pain and it was not pleasant--you know...all the altitude changes?! Eh.

We'll see what tomorrow brings!

I Interrupt This Blog To Bring You *A Shout Out*

Mr. Wonderful is my hero.

Seriously--in the last few months of my pregnancy and during these first weeks of Ezra's life he has become amazingly proficient at entertaining Maeve and Amelie! Every night he devises an outing followed by "games" at home to keep the girls busy.

It is really humbling and amazing to think that God decided to bless me with a husband who is such a devoted father.

I'm really thankful for you honey and all of your hard work!

You are such an encouragement to me!!

I Love You!

My Fair Ladies

Amelie Says

The other night I trudged up the stairs with E-boy around 9:30 and was surprised to see Amelie up and about her room. She was busily hanging up a plethora of Princess Dresses on her new Princess hangers from Granny. I told her that it was time to go to bed and she assured me she would lay down as soon as she hung up the last dress.

"Mom, don't you know what I need?" Amelie said.

"Um..no..I'm pretty sure that you don't *need* anything Amelie!"

"I do! I need Wonder Hangers!" she replied.

"What in the world is a wonder hanger?!?"

"Oh, you know---it's a hanger that you can put FIVE dresses on and then it folds down so that you have more room in your closet! That's what I need for my princess dresses!"

Oh the pit-falls of watching Nick Jr. with its commercials as opposed to PBS! Ha! She also wants a "touch brush" if you must know =)

Snippets

* Amelie stayed at school today for the "stay and play" option--she was gone so long--it was a small taste of what having a kiddo in kindergarten next year will be like. I didn't love it. I missed her!! Seriously though, she's doing so well in school and is so independent--it's wonderful to see!
* Maeve is hilarious. I think she's going to be a comedienne someday. Must be that middle-child thing--she just likes making people happy =)
* Ezra is so wonderful--I love having a delicious little newborn--he's so noisy at night but I forgive him instantly upon looking at his cuteness. Love that kid!
* Speaking of Ezra, I got the statement from the insurance company today about how much we were billed for having him. It only annoys me b/c we didn't even find out we were going to be charged more than a regular co-pay until the week we moved (i.e. the most stressful week of my life). I am thankful we have insurance but I just wish it didn't change EVERY SINGLE YEAR and get worse and worse! We don't have thousands of dollars stored up for things like this! I'm just so thankful that E and I are healthy--it's a good thing too--b/c we'll still be paying off his birth when he's old enough to get his first job. HA! (exaggeration alert!)
* I love that I have girls and a boy.
* I also love that E's pieces have all healed up so that he can get baths now--how do newborns get stinky so fast? all they do is sleep! well...except for at night =)
* I'm looking forward to seeing New Moon next week hopefully before Thanksgiving with the girls!! Woot!
*And looking forward to celebrating Thanksmas (Thanksgiving/Christmas) next week with the family!
* All for now! I'm on my own tonight and tomorrow night as Mr. Wonderful's broadway show is happening this week! Wish me luck!

Pampers wipes = major slime-fest

that is all.

Maeve Says

Upon waking from her nap Maeve says,

"Yum-yum, Cupcakes for dinner?"

She came up to me and said the same thing a few times and then led me out to the kitchen to the cupcakes.

She's a girl after my own heart!

Wordless (For Now) Wednesday

*Wonderful* Babies

Why The Doctor's Office Is *Funny*

I called our peds. office yesterday to make Ezra's 2 month appointment--which I had to leave a message for b/c well-visit calls aren't really the priority this time of year! Here's a recap of the phone-tag:

Me leaving a message after picking the option, "Schedule a well-visit appointment":
Hi! I'm calling b/c I need to schedule a well-visit for my son Ezra Wonderful. W*O*N*D*E*R*F*U*L* Born 11/1/09. My number is ***-***-****. Thanks!!

Angry Receptionist calling me back using her angry/annoyed voice:
Urgh, I am returning YOUR call to our office. You just called a few minutes ago. So I'm calling YOU back. Anyways, it sounds like you want to make a check up appointment for someone with the last name Wonderful, but I didn't understand the first name you said. I have no idea why you called. I can't figure out what you need or what kind of appointment you want to make. So call back whenever it's convenient for YOU. Goodbye!

Um...yeah, let me jump right back on the phone so I can talk to that peach of a lady! Yikes!!!

Cutest Gymboree Mittens Ever

Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead!

The Good News: The Cord Stump From H*** Is GONE!!!

The Bad News: I have no idea where the thing is!! How did it just disappear?

Did it apparate in the middle of the night Harry Pottery style?

The kid wears six layers of clothes all day--how did it magically sneak it's way out of them?!

I know I'm going to find it at the worst possible moment and right now it's sitting somewhere it shouldn't and is

mocking me!!

Or something.

But at least it's off my baby =)

2 Weeks Ago Today

Mortifying Mother

Mortifying Mother is easy when you have a disgusting cord stump!

ACK!

I dread each diaper change!

Fall off already evil, vile thing!!!! You are ugly and smelly and we just want you gone.

(Seriously, it's just cruel to dangle by a...well, by a *whatever* that is holding you in place in the first place.)

That is all.

Cherishing The Past; Enjoying The Present; Looking Forward To The Future

The birth announcement I ordered for Baby Ezra came the other day

(Hello free $15 giveaway from Kodak Gallery! Woot!)

and while I had a few quiet moments I started filling them out for our close family.

As I was filling them out it really *hit* me that I don't have any grandparents to send my announcements too!

My great-grandparents and maternal grandfather passed when I was in elementary school, my paternal grandma passed when I was in high school, my paternal grandfather while I was in college and my Grandma Rose passed near Amelie's first birthday.

It is extraordinarily painful at times to think of those we've lost.

I am thankful for the time I was allowed with them but sad at the same time that they're gone. I so look forward to seeing my Christ-believing family members in Heaven again someday. I am thankful that we have been promised a future where we will all be whole, and together with our loved ones. It makes moments like these easier.

I am so thankful for the abundance of family and friends we are surrounded with and that God has blessed me with a peace and love-filled home.

I am cherishing the past, enjoying and embracing our sweet present and looking forward to the future we're promised.

Shelly Received This Email Today And Seriously, If *This* Applied To Me--I Would Be Completely MENTAL!!! Thank God Ezra IS Here!!

Hi Mama-to-be,Congrats! You're 42 weeks pregnant!

This week your baby weighs 8, 9 (or more) pounds and is 21 inches long or more. A whole lotta baby!

it may feel like a cruel joke is being played on you, but you really will give birth soon. Most doctors won't allow women to go more than two weeks past their due dates, so the end really is in sight. And to that we say, thank goodness for modern medicine! Oh, and congrats!
what you're thinking
"I am going to be pregnant for the rest of my life, aren't I?"

Ezra: A Primer (This is not a rant, even though it looks like one, it's an "impassioned plea")

So, as a parent of children without top 100 names, I get funny looks and comments upon introducing them from time to time.

I'm used to it.

It's fine--

I understand that not everyone has heard of the French form of Amelia or watched the extremely popular French Movie Amelie; or is familiar with Celtic mythology or Shakespeare's plays to have heard of a Maeve.

But seriously--I thought we hit the name-jack-pot with E-boy because to me, his name is wayyyy more popular than the girls'

(Amelie rank: 792

Maeve rank: 638

Ezra rank: 394)

and something that most everyone should have heard at least once in their life.

Apparently, I. was. wrong.

Ezra--the background:
Gender:
Boy
Origin:
Hebrew
Meaning:
God is my Help/Aid
Pronunciation:
(EZ rah)
Used in:
Ezra is a Biblical/Jewish name used in English and Hebrew speaking countries
Additional info:
*Ezra was a prophet of the Old Testament, a priest who returned to Judah from exile in Babylon.
* Is a book in the Old Testament of the Bible
* Is also the first name of the man who founded Cornell University
* Also--remember the 90s rock group, Better Than Ezra?
* And the name of a poet--Ezra Pound

1. Ezra has two syllables. It's not Ezzz-er--ahh or Eeh-zer-eee. Ez. Ra.
2. Ezra is not made up. It's in the Bible people. I realize being Protestant, studying the Bible and going to a Bible college give me the advantage in this situation but I've come across many people who surprise me by asking that question.
3. Ezra is a boy's name. Seriously--If I hear, "Oh I heard you named your daughter Ezra...." ONE MORE TIME!!! I really didn't see that one coming.

So, now you know and knowing is half the battle! =)

Lesser Known Definition of:

Rude Awakening = Bad Latch

That is all.

Amelie Says

My excellent, loving and helpful husband has been entertaining the big girls-big time lately to give me lots of quiet, rest/down time. (Thanks honey! Seriously!)

They took a walk during my, *ahem*, third, nap of the day and walked by our town's laundromat.

Conversation as follows:

Amelie says, "Look Daddy! There's the laundry place we don't need to go to anymore."

Mr. Wonderful, "Yeah, we have a washer and dryer now! It's like we're rich!"

Amelie says, " No Daddy, you know who the richest people are in the world? Missionaries! Because they help people."