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So I am tempted to give you a nice long post with all the newest and greatest, but I learned in my recent stint away that I should break em down and keep you the two readers I have interested and not overwhelmed. So you will get four or five posts in the next two days, YIPPEE!

So here I am home again. How wonderful to see the Little M. and Trixie again. I pulled into my driveway after the three months away and the 10 hour drive home. I had to park 9 feet up from the end of the driveway because that's where the plow was blocking the driveway. When I pulled away in late March that's how much of the driveway the Snow mountain had overtaken.

Anyway I pulled into the driveway and the first thing I saw waiting for me in her stroller was the very big baby M. The effect was a little startling. I had just seen her in person not three weeks ago, but here was a very big and attentive smiling baby. Well everything was wonderful that night there was giggling and smiles, cuddling, and playing. All things in the world were good again and I had the happiest baby in the world. So, everybody is happy and off to bed. I, thanks to Trixie slept like a man who has slept in a tiny little bunk bed for three months and is just meeting a king sized bed for the first time.

Then there was morning... "wait you were up every hour after midnight?"

"Who's demon child is this and what do you mean your going to work?!?!"

Then began our day together. It was nice she didn't want to be put down but it would be nice to have a free hand. Finally about noon when the green snot faucet was working and the feeding was not, Trixie mandated I bring the little M. to the Dr's office.

Dr said she's fine..... Yeah she sure is. So daddy's out of practice forgot the little thing called a diaper bag. Who wants to get changed have a snack and a toy to play with? Daddy does at the very least. So yeah she's fine.

Well nobody died that day but people were tested perhaps some feelings got hurt, who can say. What I can say is that two little teeth down there on her little gums were suddenly where they were not. And suddenly after two days our baby returned.

Even with all that said I am happy to be home. I am happy to have traded my big green duffel bag back in for a Baby Bjorne (yup spelled it wrong on purpose)

So what I want to close with is this. We are dealers in words and I use them as well as the next guy. We typically know what to say to people to make them feel better to hurt them and yes, to sometimes manipulate them. So sometimes the words seem not enough, so I can't help but not want to use them. In particular when it comes to Trixie and how she dealt with my absence and how she cared for protected and provided for my one and only child. She had help to be sure, which she also had to organize and task. I hope there is a way for me to make her know how important it all really is to me.

It's a shifting of weight. She has the baby squarely on her shoulders like Atlas had the world. I am standing here nudging my way in and for the most part she is giving me my fair share, but I can feel her not wanting to let go. Not all together ready to share the full load. And I so get that, I love it, it's how it should be. So I will stand close and take my shared share and just keep being there.

Memorial Day

I have reunited with Trixie and the little M. for the long weekend. We have met in the far off lands of Syosset, Looaawwnngg Island. It's actually a city ordinance that you pronounce it that way.

So thanks to our very generous friends -- Ima and Sethe ,who have two young girls of their own, we were able to plug the little M. in and have a nice quasi-relaxing weekend. As relaxing as things get with three very young girls. There were some hiccups along the way. Ima and Sethe's daughters Maya and Elle both came down with a stomach flu, so we were never far from a bought of good natured vomiting. We are thankful though that as of right now they haven't shared their bug with Mia.

So, it was a big weekend for the little M. she had her first airplanes rides and did wonderfully travelling with her mommy. She put on some baby sunscreen and enjoyed her first wade in the kiddie pool. Enjoyed lots of play time and walks around the affluent suburbs of Lawng Izsland.

As for me I was ecstatic to see her. I think she still remembered me which was a concern I was having. And I am sure she would have fallen back to sleep when she awoke at 5 a.m. had I not been so excited to pounce in and gobble up my sweet little turducken! She is a delight, she has her fussy moments and a little impatience as babies I am sure do, but daddy thinks she is amazing. Such a happy faced little sweet tart!

It was a tease though. We had a wonderful weekend we all got reacquainted and now here I am back at school anxiously awaiting the three more weeks till I graduate and get back home!

When I do get home in mid June stay tuned we are having Mia baptized at Saint Max, the 22nd at 12 noon. You all are invited to help us celebrate her, and join her at our BBQ directly after at the homestead.

Saying good-bye is never easy and I am still a little sad, but we are almost there. We draw near the end of challenge better for it and soon normalcy will be very well received!

Mia Mosiac

Happy Mothers Day!

Greetings from Maryland! I feel like I have been neglecting everyone. All three of you who might check out the blog anyway! But I do, things have been very busy here and I will say only that I have 6 weeks left and I am touting a 94 average.

Now for the important stuff! Word is the Little M. is growing in leaps. She is holding her head up and looking around. Trixie says she has thoroughly enjoyed sweet potato (unlike ol Daddio) and some squash! Yuuummyyy! Of course the rice cereal and oatmeal are an ever present staple in Mia's diet.

Mommy and the other stand in caretakers are reporting that 4 p.m. continues to be a most difficult part of the day and stroll and car rides are helping the situation. Her teeth being very close to poking through may contribute to a bit of fussiness but for the most part she has my happy demeanor and mom's temper. (look out!)

A big point here. With mother's day here I need to reiterate the importance of this holiday and the huge assistance we have received from friends and family. It continues to be very difficult for everyone to be a single parent and this weighs on me immeasurably. I know that Trixie is busting her backside and literally her wrists to keep everything running around the house and in the little m's new world. I am very sad I can not be there to help but Trixie is doing such an amazing job. I want to thank her on this mother's day for everything that she has to sacrifice for me to be here. She is a saint and I love her for everything that she does. When I get home I am sending her out with her friends family, whomever wants to go out and help her celebrate her awesomeness!

Also to those of you helping around the house and with the little M. Thank you! A million times think you. Think what you want about the Army and the situation but thank you for helping me with my joy.

The countdown has begun, five weeks. I will be home to hold my ladies close and hopefully not have to leave them for a very long time. Stay tuned.

Happy Easter

Journeyman

I have packed my big green duffel bag and headed off to dozens of places. Sometimes only a few days and more often for much longer. It has never really phased me much. It's something I have always accepted as a part of who I want to be. This time however is very different. It weighs heavier then the worn bag on my shoulders. This is not the most dangerous trip nor is it the longest or furthest away, but it already feels like the hardest.

The obvious reason stares up at me with big shiny eyes and innocence unmatched. The little M. has been here for only 5 months and she does something new everyday. She looks at the big wide world now as if someone flipped on the computer switch in her brain and it constantly hums, embedding countless bits of information on a clean slate.

I can only imagine what she will be doing in another three months? I know there will be nothing monumental. No missed words or walking no analyzing War and Peace. It's always the little things that matter most though. One good thing I suppose is that she has the memory of an earthworm. She won't remember that daddy was gone. I am sure I will anticipate everyday --the first smile I get from her when I return. That will help.

I have a chance to be the kind of person my daughter can look up to and be proud of. That will help.

Let us not overlook mommy! She has to be a single mother for three months. To be honest I think her mission will be harder then mine in every other sense. The juggling of work baby home and all the mess that is contained therein. I know she will be amazing and that of course will help.

There are worst things in the world, so it is what it is.

Fear not dear reader we will still keep you informed via remote locations or from the well versed Trixie herself.

So, thanks to all who are pitching in and who have offered. Again your generosity is loved and accepted graciously.

She continues to do well and is growing ferociously. We are expecting to meet our good friends The Duffs with their new baby Annabelle and start their life long friendship and then off I go.

See you from the road!

Jackpot

BOB* is out today and we are basking in it. Turns out the Little M. is a Cash Cow! She has earned the family her first payday. 300 smackers straight from the commander and chief and his merry band of do-righters. She is contempleting all the ways she can help stimulate the economy. A shiny toy, a sucky thing or some of the fanciest rice cereal. I told her to make sure whatever it is, it's American. It's only right. I don't have the heart to tell her she is probably going to have to pay it back with interest. When she sheds the "Little" to become a Big M that is. Untill then, we will have our day in the sun.

*Bright Orange Ball

Such a girl

As a parent you can't possibly expect us to be impartial about our baby or even reasonable when it comes to our expectations. For instance sane people wouldn't swear that their little girl was already developing a personality at 4 months and less than 15 pounds. The little M. has already shown her quirkiness by breaking ties with Chico and the B. Once her only friends and confidants, she now shuns them and refuses to make even eye contact. Was it somthing they said?

She has found new and exciting was to communicate, which of course is a great relief to mommy and daddy. The crying is great and all but we prefer the babbling and motor boating. Yes, motor boating. Think thhhhhhhbbbbbbbtttttttttttttttt with a wet ring to it aka. the rasberry.

The first few months were less about entertaining and more distracting. As of late though we are happy to report giggling smiling and what would seem rapture to be watching her loving parents! Your darn right it's rapture, see I can be very sane and impartial.


Now, as for the loving part we are doing a ton of that. To be honest it's the only thing we are sure we are doing right. Some may say we are spoiling her and to those I give you a motor boat of my own TTTHHHHHHBBBBBBTTTTTTTTTT!!!!


Lastly on a sad note daddy has to go away and play G'I. Joseph for three months. Nothing inheirintly risky just a school, a school I have no choice but go to and a great oppurtunity. However, three months away from my new family. I should get a stipen for that, hazerdous duty pay at the very least sick call for my broken heart. No worries dear reader mommy will keep you updated and may be begging you all for help. Stay tuned for more tales from the crib.

Who me?

Oh my goodness, what a cutie pop! Here are those eyes I was telling you about.

Tales of a House Husband

So, here we are. This post will be a bit lengthy so I warn the casual reader. I have been slow in the updates lately and for those eager for them I apologize. I hadn't known so many people were checking in until they started reminding me that I had not posted anything about the Little M. in quite some time.

My goodness what a person she is becoming. At just over three months she is quite a sight. Right now she is babbling on about who knows what to her elephant Chico. Both of them have grins on their faces but neither of them are telling why. She is constantly eating her hand, and here I thought it would be some time before we started her on solids. Her best friend next to Chico is a bee. His name is B. Hey, we are a creative bunch. She is definitely interacting now with her toys which is to say she spends hours trying to get them in her mouth. And of course she is a beauty. She is starting to look like a baby and she has Trixies dramatic eyes. We haven't gotten a weight recently but the guess (and I am always wrong) would be about 15lbs probably less. Last night she slept a remakable 8 hours stretch, although my guess tonight she will be back down to her average of 4 or 5.

As for Trixie she is suffering her way back to work and hates being away from the babe. Having recently been promoted to House husband I can tell you that the years I thought house wives had it easy are years that I was severely misinformed. It is a joy and great privilege to watch our daughter do all the fantastic things she does it is also a blessing to be able to share all of the magic she is observing and life she is taking in. That being said it is work to keep up, keep entertained keep clean, keep fed and keep fascinated in said world. Wow, couple with that a terror of screwing it up or damaging the kid for life. I don't know how anyone does it much less a single parent. My diapers off to them.

I am a bad blogger to have kept you waiting for over a month when everyday there is something wonderful to report. My New Years Resolution is to keep you the dear reader captivated with many flax golden tales of the Little M. Till then gagga googoo

Punk Rock Prom Queen

There is more to update you on and that will all come very soon. The little M. is doing wonderful and doing all the little baby things she can. The holidays have been very busy for us so expect more just as soon as I get a free moment. Just a little pic. to tide you over for now.





Ah, the twin cousins. Aren't they cute? Avery and Mia! The little M. looks great in her dress from annah and SAM-AH. We know it was more annah! Trixie likes it because it's cute. I like it because it looks PUNK ROCK!! Stay tuned friends more of the lovely little m. very soon!

Annabelle

Duff, is a very good friend of mine. We stood up at each others wedding. I have known him since grade school, boy scouts, high school etc. I count him and his wife as two of the true friends you should be able to count on one hand. Eight weeks after little m. was born we help welcome the very lovely baby Annabell. So starts a new generation of Duff and Mo friendships. I certainly hope they won't have exactly the same adventures as we have but I do hope they have some adventures together. I will try my best to not project my own idea of how good a friends they should be. We all know how well pre-planned things like that work. As a daughter of Duff I assume if she found out there was a schedule or plan she would do the opposite. However, if mommy Stellie has contributed baby Annabelle is probably already organizing her toys. So, another girl in this growing field of babies in our lives. Time to get started on a boy? Probably not quite yet.

Christmas Kick off

So here for your pleasure is one of the Christmas card rejects.

Growth Spurt

"Growth Spurt, Growth Spurt" Trixie and I joke with each other whenever there is a feeding that is ahead of "schedule" or completely random, and there are many. Well little did we know that for the little m, growth spurts are equivocal to a little baby earthquake! With diminished sleep and feedings ever more frequent than every two hours our little one has hit this particular spurt with a vengeance. Coupled with a little gas we have learned a great deal more about being parents then the book implies. That this requires a lot of Patience and love. It is wondrous to see each new stage and new thing that each second of baby life brings, even if it brings screeching and crying and helplessness on both our parts. We have to remind each other as we quiver with doubt and fear to trust our instinct and just keep doing what we do. It appears to be working and screams abating. Seven weeks old and she is such a wonder. Her weight is in double digits my guess would be right around 11 or 12 lbs. Head control is better and she has found her hands her tongue and of course our hearts. (image "borrowed from web")

Twin cousin

I am remiss for having not mentioned this earlier. Trixie's younger brother J.Laugh and her Sister in law D.Laugh had a baby as well! Wouldn't you know another baby girl. Here however is the fun part, Mia was born on October 16th at 09:54 a.m. Their daughter little Avery was born on October 16th at 08:56!! A little less than one hour apart! So, twin cousins it is. It will be fun to see how her side of the family contributes to these two little girls genetically. As of right now both girls are said to look like their fathers, but we shall see how that works out in the long run. Here they are on their birthdays!