What vacation?

I'm being pseudo mommy for the week while Capricious recovers from having her cutest of a thang daugher (aka Girlfriend). AJ has been heaps of fun. We've pretended to talk on our cell phones very adult-like: how's the weather? cold. whatcha doing? me talk. how you doing? i'm fines all around. We've watched hours of Thomas (unfortunately, I have a head full of songs that I would rather not have). We've created cars out of suitcases and block carts. We've perfected our choo choo and vroom vroom noises. We've played trains and painted pictures. We've had picnics on the floor. We've taken pictures. We've danced. We've changed clothes and taken naps. And I'm exhausted. And yet, I know after this week is over, I'll miss him more than ever and want to go back in time. And possibly want to take a real vacation after my vacation. Being pseudo mommy is hard work. But very very satisfying and rewarding. Do you hear that: That could be the makings of a baby itch. Better grab the calamine.

The sweetest thing

Five days old and already posing for the camera.

Make that 13 times an aunt

Two babies in two days. That can only happen when you have a family as large as mine. Today, my sister Recca welcomed Lowell Bruce Jr. (I've chosen to call him "Pound"—LB=pound, get it?) to the world at 6lbs., 6oz., and 20in. And he has red hair just like his cousin. I have a feeling they're going to be great friends. My aunt cup runneth over.

12 times an aunt

Welcome to the world Abigail Catherine. We've been expecting you. I can't wait to meet you in person—all 6lbs., 12oz. of you. I'm wondering who's holding you. Jealous of anyone besides Mommy and Daddy who get to snuggle love you up. But I'll be there soon. I hope you can't wait either.

Listening to: Fisher's You

The return of the ring

I almost lost something very precious to me this week: my promise ring Jonathan gave me a year after we started dating. I've worn this ring for 9 of the almost 10 years we've been together. And I was heart broken to see that it wasn't on my dresser one day. I searched the floor. I searched my drawers in hopes that it fell in with my socks and unmentionables. Nothing. I thought I was going to have to come to terms with losing my precious ring. Then, while Jonathan was bagging up our bedroom trashcan, a miracle happened: Some of the trash slipped out, along with the ring. Someone was truly watching over me and answering my prayers. I can only guess who. Maybe the person who made Jonathan wait to give me the ring until we'd been going out a year even though he bought it three months into our relationship. Thanks Mom. I owe you one.

Oh mama!

I started my daily shot this week, and I'll I can say is: OUCH! That hurts, that hurts, that seriously freaking hurts! Although I don't experience the flu side effects that I did with my three-time-a-week shot (Yippee!), this shot is very painful. I get a nice size lump and a patch of redness around the injection site. It goes away after a while, but like my other shot, the area feels bruised days later and some of my lumps have last days. I'm still not sure how my body/skin is going to react to daily shots (i.e. if the injection reaction starts lasting longer), and because of the frequency, I'm probably going to have to start giving them in the thigh so I have a wider rotation of places to inject. I'm not a fan of giving a shot in my thigh because it's the most painful place for me. I think it's because my thighs are all muscles (yoga!). I must remember: Things could be worse.

But enough about illness before you all think I've become a complainer and a hypochondriac. I'm so excited to be counting down the days until my niece Abby arrives on Friday. I go meet her on Sunday, where I'll stay week snuggle loving my nephew and the new baby, and pampering the new mommy. To prepare for my trip and a week away from my yoga studio, I've downloaded the Prete-a-Yoga application to my iPhone. My plan is to take myself away for an hour or so each day and take a "class."