He’s 412 Days Old and I’m Going to Gush!

I forgot what a fun age 13 months is! Elijah is a miniature person who has “it” incredibly figured-out. He “talks” on the phone, puts on his brother’s play necklace, tries to put on shirts and socks, stabs at food with a fork, knows what the remote is supposed to do, drives toy cars with great sound effects, and pulls string cheese out of the fridge, doing the Happy Dance as I open it for him.

Visitation Plights

We started last week with a little lite shoplifting. The boys and I joined a friend and her son at a large mall. First, we perused some children’s clothing stores. After ambling halfway to the end of the mall, then cruising back to the start for the “pahhtee,” I discovered two unpurchased pairs sun glasses in my jumbo stroller. I happened to be directly in front of the store whence they came. I walked them back to the rack, remarking to myself that stealing is apparently remarkably easy if one plays the role of an overwhelmed mother of three.

Bead Dazzled

We had a colorful week. The boys got to enjoy an overnight dusting of snow, early last week. I slammed their clothes on and sent them out the back door, before the day warmed. Ian paused to remark that his fluffy sweater felt like a life jacket, and then did a remarkable, cartoonish impersonation of an emergency flotation vest blasting full of air and then he bobbed around a bit. They ran and kicked and rolled in the barely-snowy yard. Ian wanted to make a snow man. I put some exam gloves on over my fingerless gloves to help roll a few snow balls before getting breakfast started. Ian came in and wanted some exam gloves too. I buried his fists into a pair, and as he struggled to get his fingers into the right holes, he wailed, “I don’t have as many fingers as these have!” I know the feeling, little buddy.

A Visual Catch-Up Guide

To help you cope with my usual delinquency, I have created a visual catch-up guide of the recent history of the Cummings family, covering our three Christmases, and into the new year.  On the first third of Christmas, I achieved, on the 15th shutter release, a nearly-focused snapshot of my three miniature men about to open…

23

The Lord is my Shepherd. He has provided.I bask in the wholeness of my family, drinking up my sons and finding in each a unique and intoxicating bouquet. Again I smell, kiss, envelop the child for whom I’ve trembled. He grows so strong, snuggled in his garments, the tightly-knitted prayers of a multitude. His laughter…

Ooooh. Ahhhhh. Yeah, You Might Want to Just Ignore This One.

I think I might dance and giggle. OF COURSE there was a Facebook app that lists a history of my status updates, and now I have brought them here, only slightly edited. To overwhelm your mind. To keep them as mine. ALL MINE. Woah-ha-ha-haaa! Amy If you’re happy and you owe it, hug a Vet!…

Maybe if We Dropped a Megaton of Cheese

I’ve not been all that smooth myself. The first time we enjoyed a Greek Dinner at Mykonos, Brian’s dad introduced me to their Sagnaki, or more specifically an appetizer of flaming, pan-seared cheese and tomato, doused with a squirt of lemon juice, to a cheer of  “oooooooooOO-PA!” While awaiting our snack, I started pondering aloud…

I’ll Be in the Powder Room

He’s crawling! I would probably call it official since Friday. I’m in for it now. They can officially take off in three different directions. Prior to Friday, Elijah was “migrating.” By lunging and turning and sitting, he would get around a little bit. His last chemo visit went well. His blood counts were basically normal…

Two Steps Cleaner, One Step Disaster

I turned on my computer and Ian announced, “It’s time to plaay FAM-il-y Feud!” Am I addicted? The boys had a lot of fun today, but in the way that mom…well, not so much. While I prepared Elijah’s dressing change supplies for the home health nurse, I hear the boys sounding dangerously happy. I entered…

Baby Moses

I was doing the laundry this morning and was digging near the bottom of my basket and I found a pump bottle of foam soap wrapped in a stiff washcloth. I laughed to myself, remembering that Ian had called that bottle “Baby Moses” the other day. I tossed the contraption into the bedroom and Ian…