She loves him

This video isn't very good, but it gives you of taste of how much Maudie is loving her little brother. She has a couple of pet names for him including Brudder ('brother' with a lisp), Baby Charlie, and Buddy. The verdict is still out on how much he likes her. One thing we know is that he does NOT like her singing. A few times she kneeled next to him to sing him a song and he smushed up his face and puckered his lip like he was going to cry. I'm trying to get that one on video- it's pretty hilarous. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact she's a milimeter from his ear and singing as loud as she can.



Last Friday after she got home from daycare, I had Charlie laying in his boppy on the couch. Maudie covered him completely with his blanket, took a few step away, covered her eyes and started counting. I didn't notice what she was doing until she took down her hands and said "ready or not, here I come!" She was playing hide-and-go-seek with him. It was adorable. She pretended to look in several other places including under the couch, in the closet and on the remote control. Daddy told her to look in his crib and when she left the room Chris picked him up and hid him under his arm. She came out of the room and pulled back the blanket he had been laying under and he was gone. Her jaw dropped and she had a perplexed look on her face. Confusion soon turned to panic until she found him on Daddy's lap. She still thinks he's a pretty sneaky player.

We've been busy...

Things have been pretty busy around here. Not only with the new addition to our family, but we've also taking advantage of summertime.
My mom spent the first week home with us inorder to help out while I was healing from the cesarean. Although I enjoyed the time with her here, it is nice to finally be back to 'us' and get life a little more back to normal. However, I do miss the home-cooked meals (that I don't have to make) and the fresh laundry done on a daily basis. Maudie's temper and stubborn behavior was in full bloom while Mom was here, but I can't blame her. She saw right through the fact that Grandma was trying to distract her from me and Charlie. Unfortunalty I think Mom went home with the impression that she wasn't well liked, when infact it was just Maudie being 2 and adjusting to a huge change in her life.
Maudie is doing much better now that the visitors have diminished. She takes such a vested interest in Charlie and does anything she can to make sure he's happy. The other night as we were sitting down to dinner Charlie started to fuss in his swing. She stood up in her chair and yelled "Oh no, Mom! He's crying! Feed Him!" On the feeding topic, I was afraid she was going to have a huge problem with me breast feeding Charlie. Infact the opposite is true. She is absolutely fine with it and sometimes wants to help by keeping a hand on his cheek. I'm waiting for her to try and breast feed her babies.
We are keeping her involved in lots of activities this summer to help expend some of her limitless energy. She started Gymnastics last weekend and absolutely loves it. It's just a half-hour class that is ment to develop fine motor skills and muscle control. Plus, she gets to meet lots of other kids her age which is great for her social skills. Swimming lessons starts next month.

Last weekend we actually ventured out the house for the first time. Chris' entire family met up and we went to the Milwaukee County Zoo for the day. It was the first time Maudie, Charlie and I had ever been there. The park was amazing I got the biggest thrill seeing Maudie react to all the new animals. Charlie could've cared less. The weather was blasted hot and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. One thing I enjoy the most about tourist attractions is people watching and the freaks were out on this particular weekend. There was 2 people in the entire park without a shirt on, one was Chris' 5 year old cousin who spilled 'Sponge Bob' ice cream on his shirt and this guy...... I caught up with him and his girlfriend in the Monkey exhibit and couldn't resist snapping a photo. I can't deside was is more disgusting, his calves or his girlfriend. I hope she enjoys his abnormally large viens pulsing throught his body because with all the steroids there cant be much of his penis left.
Today Chris and I took the kids to the Middleton pool. As most of you know Maudie is a water-baby and cant get enough of the water. We were all having a great time until some little kid pooped in the pool and they had to close. Thank God it wasn't my kid.

Introducing Charles Thomas Heideman

Please meet the newest love of my life.... Charles Thomas Heideman. He is a little over 2 weeks old now and already growing like a weed. He has been such a blessing and a joy. I am loving every minute with my handsome little man.
He came into this world at 2:19 pm on June 3, 2009 weighing 8lbs 7oz and measuring 20 inches long. I fell deeply in love with him the moment I saw his precious little face. He's a wonderful baby with a gentle temperament and a healthy appetite.
Perhaps his biggest fan is his sister, Maudie. She just can't get enough of him. If it was up to her, she'd spend hours holding him and kissing his little head. So far she is an outstanding big sister albeit she's giving her Mom and Dad a rough time.... however, it's nothing that we didn't expect.
I have so much to say but I'm finding it hard to wrap up my thoughts and feelings into words... for now I'll let some photos speak for themselves.

Raging hormones.... random thoughts

We're in the homestretch and it's doesn't appear as if Charlie is going to be making an early appearance. Tonight would be the perfect night for my water to break. Mom and Dad arrived this evening from MN, so we wouldn't have to wake Maudie and drop her off at Kristeen's house. Plus I would still get a story to tell Charlie every birthday that didn't start with: "Well, Dr. McHotty was scheduled at the hospital on June 3rd..."

As his birth approaches, I grow nostalgic about Maudie's birth and the first years of child rearing. Mandi posted some photos of Mavea's recent "firsts." Chris mentioned to her that although it's nice to savor the 'firsts' it's the lasts that you wish you could hold on to. One of my favorite children's books was given to Maudie from my Mom and it addresses this specific topic (Let Me Hold You Longer by Karen Kingsbury) Here is a snippet..

"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts:
First smiles and teeth and baby steps,
a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away
and leave to me your past,
and I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts..
The last time when you ran to me,
still small enough to hold.
The last time that you said you'd marry
me when you grew old.
Precious, simple moments and
bright flashes from your past-
Would I have held on longer if
I'd known they were your last?"

Perhaps it's the hormones, or perhaps it's the fact that this is most likely my last pregnancy... I just want to stop a minute and enjoy the last precious moments just between Charlie and I before I share him with the rest of the world. Hmmm.

I'm almost finished with Charlies room now. I made a banner (some people call it a bunting) for over his crib, covered a lampshade, and made a pillow for the chair. I just need to find some frames for his prints and hang them. That probably won't happen until well after his birth.

Maudie's little whine sessions are more than I can handle these days. Her fits are like nails on a chalkboard to me. Therefore, she's been getting her "Nuk" a bit more than I'd like, but it keeps her quiet and happy. I'm beginning to think it's an addiction... what do you think?