to be continued

packing up the computer.  stay tuned...

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - hello, blue eyes (?)

countdown to milwauke - day 5

We woke to a rainy Tuesday morning.  After the littlest's morning feeding, Jeff and I resumed packing, taking advantage of his late start time.  The little lady had requested one final trip to On the Rise Bakery for her favorite chocolate croissants.  Not wanting to lose packing momentum, I stayed behind with the littlest while Jeff and the older two made the trip to our favorite Cleveland bakery.  I knew it was time for me to leave Cleveland when Jeff returned home with the news that my favorite raspberry croissants had sold out early.  Thankfully, the kids were able to score their personal favorites.  Sipping my morning cup of Joe, I watched in amusement as they devoured their flaky morning pastries.

 

 

I was so thankful for the amount of packing we were able to accomplish before Jeff left for work.  Feeling a bit of relief, I was able to relax with the littlest while the little man napped, taking time to cuddle with our sweet one.  Our evening was filled with the usual - dinner, bath time, dance parties and more packing.  However, (full disclosure) the little man treated us to an extra special surprise when after weeks of coaching and cajoling, he finally went #2 on the toilet, unassisted and without "bloodshed."  Hallelujah.

 

 

Admiring his handiwork.

 

 

"Sissy, I used my BIG BUTT muscles to push out my poop!"

 

 

 I can tell you this, having a newborn in the house is one thing, caring for the needs of a newborn while simultaneously handling (and mishandling) the potty training of a worrisome toddler is another, and the pièce de résistance is bringing an infant home in the midst of potty training and packing for an interstate move.  Whew!  Thank the good Lord for His mercies which are new every morning.  Also, a big shout out to our one-cup Keurig coffee maker which quickly comforts me each morning.  And finally, if it weren't for the daily support of my handsome and hilarious hubby, I might have just drown in a sea of cardboard by now.  Crisis averted. 



Hand me downs - pink pjs

Same outfit, different gal.  The little lady at two months on the left, and the littlest lady at one month on the right.  



countdown to milwaukee - day 6

Alright. Day six and keeping it real.  This post is a little less cupcakes and rainbows, more spit-up and chaos.  Our once organized apartment is beginning to feel more like a storage unit than living space as cardboard boxes line our walls.  To be honest, I'm feeling a tad claustrophobic.  However, we are making progress and with sleeves pushed up I'm confident hoping we will be ready to load the moving truck and POD unit Friday afternoon.  The highlight of my day was definitely when the sitter arrived, allowing me to take the little lady to school sans the little man and head to my final doctor's appointment with the littlest.  You know your life's a little hectic when sitting on a doctor's examination table, staring at metal stir-ups is more peaceful than sitting on your own couch.  I was thankful for the opportunity to visit with my doctor one last time and thank her for her attentive care.  The nurses all stopped by to greet the littlest, who slept peacefully through the entire appointment, a true blessing as she has been having difficulty sleeping for long stretches of time.  Realizing I had a little time before I needed to pick up the little lady, I took the opportunity to call up a girlfriend (how good it felt to laugh), and treat myself to a Starbucks latte and scone (contented sigh).  While the littlest continued to doze, I wrote a few thank you notes in my quiet corner enjoying the merry Christmas music playing overhead.  Later in the day Jeff arrived home with our favorite pizzaBOGO, and we enjoyed our last family meal around the table. The next few nights we will be treating ourselves to more of our favorite local restaurants; I can hardly wait.  Jeff, the littlest and I ended the evening on the couch with the cast of Homeland. 

 

 

 



countdown to milwaukee - day 7

Sunday morning the little man woke early and joined his ol' man for devotions at the kitchen table.  The little lady slept in as she was up several times the night before with a stomach bug, which made for a restless night's sleep for Jeff and I.  I was thankful for Jeff's quick response to our little lady's needs in the middle of the night and for the two loads of laundry he did between the hours of 2 and 3 am.  The littlest made it "easy" on me and politely timed her feedings with big sister's wakefulness.  Jeff and I decided that he and the little man would go to church for the last time, while I stayed behind with the girls.  The little lady requested a bubble bath because her "hair smelled like puke," and I was happy to oblige.  After a long, soothing bath and movie she began to perk up, and by lunch time she was back to her old self.  Following a Packer win, Jeff took the older two for one last swim at his gym while the littlest and I picked up a few ingredients at the Fresh Market for dinner.  The rest of the evening was spent packing and hitting the couch for some much needed R & R once the children were in bed. 

 

 

Celebrating the Packer win.  Rah, rah.

 

 

 

 

 





countdown to milwaukee - day 8

Saturday was Jeff's last weekend of work, and while he was attending to the dermatological needs of Solon, Ohio, I was busy packing.  With few toys left in our "Inn," the little lady orchestrated a morning of imaginary role play deciding that she would play, Mary, and the little man, Joseph.  Listening in on their morning in "Nazareth," I was amused to hear the following, "Hurry Joe, we have to go to Bethlehem, get in the car" and "Mommy, we are watching UP on the way to Bethlehem!"  Commited to her role as Mary, she spent the remainder of the morning drapped in accesory scarves.

 

In the afternoon, the older two accompanied Jeff to the U-Haul store for more packing supplies.  Before returning home they made a pit stop at Mitchell's Ice Cream for their last licks of Mitchell's finest, Blue Cosmo ice cream with dinosaur sprinkles. At six o'clock our babysitter, Meg, arrived for Jeff and I to enjoy one last date night in Cleveland.  Choosing a restaurant for our farewell dinner was not easy.  If it would have been possible, I would have opted for a progressive dinner starting with the Soft Wedge salad at Crop Bistro, followed by Dante's Linguine alla Carbonara (perhaps the best pasta dish I've ever had the pleasure of eating), and ending at Fire for dessert.  In the end, I chose Fire, the first restaurant we ate at after arriving in Shaker Heights, a poetic bookend to our time here.  With June in tow, we made our way to Shaker Square praying the drive would soothe her into a state of sweet slumber.  Soon after being seated, the littlest's eyes popped open and open they stayed.  Apparently, nobody puts baby in the corner.  With the littlest nestled in the crook of my left arm, Jeff and I enjoyed our last evening out, recalling the many blessings of the past year and anticipating all that is in store for our family as we transition back to Wisconsin.

 

 

  This is what happens when a nursing session goes too long.

 

 

 

 

"What?  You expected me to sleep during my big night out?!"

 



countdown to milwaukee - day 9

In the final days that remain, balance is my goal.  There is much to accomplish; however, my time is not my own.  As I nursed the littlest, who is a very good baby, but the fussiest infant of the three, I made peace with myself, putting aside my many expectations and embracing our current pace of life, which is slow and steady.  I believe a wise ol' tortoise once determined that very strategy the key to winning the race.  I'll take his word for it. 

 

Once I had showered, dressed and got the little man's hair under control we left to enjoy a morning of shopping at Nordstrom. I was in pursuit of a new set of pj's, and while perusing the racks the little man enjoyed snuggling the racks of irresistible micro-fleece bathrobes.  ("So cozy!")  After chatting with the polite and very fashionable ladies of Intimate Apparel, we enjoyed gazing at the fish in the children's shoe section where we happened upon a fantastic winter boot sale.  Scoring two new sets of boots, the little lady and man left the store happy with their complimentary balloons bobbing up and down.  Afterwards, we strolled the mall appreciating the beautiful holiday displays and treated ourselves to Subway for lunch.  The little lady and man always eager for an opportunity to "eat fresh."

 

With our cupboards near empty, we decided to eat at our favorite "Mescan" restaurant for dinner.  We have come to count on this neighborhood restaurant for their fast and friendly service, festive environment, and delicious Mexican food.  And, I can always count on the little man to bust out some sweet dance moves as we leave the restaurant with its pulsating music. 

 

 

Creating a new labeling system.

 

Finally, a chair worthy of our stylish little lady.

 

"Muy bien."



countdown to milwaukee - day 10

 Our day got off to a slow and lazy start.  As the little ones joined Junebug on the couch for her morning nap, Jeff whipped up a batch of his tasty flapjacks.  After enjoying our last Cleveland pancake breakfast, I busied myself with packing while the children entertained themselves with packing supplies.

 

After school, we joined a few of the little lady's classmates at the school playground, a real treat for her since the arrival of the littlest.  As I watched our little lady race around the equipment with a group of fine young fellas, I couldn't help but laugh as she was among the loudest on the playground.  As I took turns pushing the little man on the swing and strolling the littlest, I was thankful for the spontaneous visit to the playground and the chance to watch our spirited little lady run free.  I recall our first weeks in Cleveland when all she had was her imaginary friends to keep her company.  She is leaving Cleveland with many sweet friendships that have filled her days with joy, giggles, and many memories.

 

 

 



countdown to milwaukee - day 11

Our mornings begin in the same manner each day, and while they lack variety I have come to appreciate the simplicity of waking first to the hungry grunts of the littlest, followed by the quiet footsteps of the oldest and finally the rhythmic calls for "Mama" from our boy.   By the time I have finished my morning cup of coffee, flavored heavily with Hazelnut creamer, we have all assembled in the family room.  Depending on the day, Jeff is either finishing his morning quiet time at the kitchen table or returning from morning hoops at the gym.  And, by 7:30 our family of five is all present and accounted for.  It is then that we typically begin to admire the littlest and marvel over her amusing head bobble as she attempts to make eye contact with each of us.   Her gaze; however, always returns to mine, and as we lock eyes I am overwhelmed by my love for her.  These are the moments I treasure and return to when the noise and temporary chaos of life with three little ones leaves me feeling in desperate need of Tylenol...or Chardonnay.

 

***

 

Wednesday after early morning feedings and the filling of milk cups, the children and I readied ourselves for a morning of appointments and errands.  With each new day, the littlest is learning how to self-soothe and entertain herself.  Today she blessed me with twenty minutes of quiet wakefulness as she rocked in her swing, allowing me to get the older two ready, make a phone call and get dressed for the day.  After a relatively uneventful trip to the orthodontist where the little lady expressed her desire to wear "grey things on her teeth" when she is older, we rounded out our morning with a trip to Target (yes, again) and a trip through McDonald's drive-thru ("Mama, you surprised us!").  Honestly, having to replace retainers at the age of 32 is both humbling and annoying.  Bah humbug.

 

After picking up the little lady from school, we stopped at the Fresh Market to purchase the fixings for pot pie and returned home just minutes before Jeff, who surprised the kids with an invitation to join him for a brisk walk to Thorton Park.  While the oldest enjoyed their final trip to a favorite neighborhood park, the littlest and I prepared our last Cleveland pot pie. My days in our tiny kitchen are numbered as I clean out our fridge, use up pantry items, and prepare to box up the majority of kitchen items this weekend.  Sharing one of our favorite family meals around the small round table Mimi purchased Jeff and I as newlyweds and that we plan to donate next week, I suddenly became quite nostalgic.  As we prepare to leave yet another city, our hearts are full of gratitude for the many wonderful moments we have shared as a family, and another fruitful year.

 

 

 

Heading to pick up Sissy from Carol Nursery School.

 

 

My mischievous side kick.

 

Having limited toys at her disposal, the little lady spends her evenings expressing herself through fashion, interpretive dance, and other creative ways. 



A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - smitten

countdown to milwauke - day 12

A day of packing, school, and more packing.  With few toys left to play with, the littles are getting creative...and a little stir crazy.

 



boppy then and now

looking a little similar...



countdown to Milwaukee - day 13

Now that our days in Cleveland are numbered,  Jeff and I are making plans to hit up our favorite Cleveland restaurants prior to the big move.  We have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to dine at many wonderful restaurants during our time here, sharing many a great meals with friends, family and between the two of us.  Being that Jeff had the day off, we started our morning at Lucky's Cafe, a local favorite in Tremont, OH that offers an intimate, cozy atmosphere and delicious food.  The menu is simple with only five breakfast options, but what they offer is truly special, making our thirty minute drive in rush hour traffic this morning worth it.  Lucky's was decorated for the season and between the many strands of white Christmas lights and the smell of coffee brewing I was overcome with joy as our family was seated. 

 

 

After breakfast we headed to the pediatrician's office for the littlest's one month well-child visit with Dr. Foley. It turns out rescheduling her appointment from 9:30 (so that we could go out to breakfast...Lucky's is THAT good) to 11:00 put us in the office during its busiest hour of the day.  The waiting room was hopping and our sweet ones joined in the chaotic fun as we waited for June's name to be called.  We were pleased to hear the littlest now weighs 9 pounds, 5 ounces (five ounces more than big brother weighed at birth, which brings a smile to my face).  After June's big weigh in and examination, we all enjoyed chatting with Dr. Foley for the last time.  The little lady was especially chatty, and informed the doc of our impending move talking more like a forty-year-old than a four-year-old.  She is of the age where all news is big news and needs to be shared and shared in the loudest, audible voice possible.  We have dubbed her need to inform "SIOs" - Spontaneous Information Outbursts.   

 

We are beyond blessed to have another healthy little Larson growing up before our eyes.

countdown to milwaukee - day 14

Sunday morning was spent at church, followed by an afternoon of packing, cleaning, swimming at the gym (Jeff's weekly excursion with the older two, leaving the littlest and I a moment of rare quiet - a win/win situation for all), and ending with the Pack.    

 

 

It was a productive and exhausting day.

 

 

 

 

countdown to milwaukee - day 15

Saturday Jeff worked until noon, so the kids and I spent the morning at Barnes and Noble enjoying the train table, and morning story hour.  We always enjoy getting to hear the latest in children's literature, and this week we especially enjoyed Rebecca Patterson's My No No No Day.  I had to fight the urge to purchase the book on the spot, a highly entertaining read for parents!  After a few stories and coloring pages we made our way to the check out counter to purchase a few items for the long ride home to Wisconsing, only to discover the longest of holiday lines.  It took me a minute to talk the little lady out of our purchases with the promise of returning mid-week.  Thankfully, we left without any tears just before the littlest let out a mighty cry indicating her long morning nap was quickly coming to an end. 

 

After lunch and a short time of rest we made our way to Parkside's Christmas concert, a highlight of the season.  We were tempting fate foregoing naps to take all three children to the afternoon concert, the only one of four not providing childcare.  Arriving thirty minutes early we were seated in the very back of the large and crowded sanctuary surrounded by other young families using small electronic devices to keep their squirming children stationary. But, our gamble was well worth it as we listened to the songs of the season and prepared our hearts for Christmas.  Our sweet ones were well entertained between the live music and use of iPhones.  It was only when the little man happened upon the light switch in the hallways prematurely illuminating our section of the sanctuary did I experience any sort of parental embarrassment.  (The kid cannot pass a light switch without reaching out to touch it, the temptation too great to resist.)