A Couple of Weeks Worth of Recap

I thought it had only been a week since my last post here, and I signed on today to realize it's been closer to 3! Amazing.

Jack, Thomas, and Peter are all sporting new haircuts, as of yesterday. David and I called it H-Day, since it's not unlike an assault trying to get them cornered, strapped in, and sheared. :). Jack and Peter did great, but Thomas was sobbing through pretty much the entire haircut. I'm trying something a little different, letting their hair grow a bit longer on top rather than buzzing it all the same length. With Peter, I just trimmed up his sides and left the top alone, but since the hair on top sticks straight up (and is very even), it totally looks like he has a flat top now :). It probably looks like I am trying to style it that way (with gel or whatnot), but I really have no control over it -- 5 minutes after his hair is washed, and POOF! up it goes!

Oooh, I've heard some interesting things lately that I wanted to share re: schooling. Jack isn't in preschool, and he'll start kindergarten next fall. Apparently this is pretty unusual for a 4-year old kid around here, because all the kids his age seemed to have disappeared now that summer is over. Kindergarten, from what I've heard, is taken pretty seriously these days. It's full day, and the kids have homework!! One Mom that I know actually said she was glad that her 5-year-old was being challenged this way. He even missed a day of kindergarten and had to make up the work that he missed (it sounded like a decent amount of work, too!). This Mom was glad that the teacher was being so rigorous. The whole time I'm thinking "These kids are only 5 years old! This is crazy!".

Since kindergarten is so "rigorous", many moms feel that they need to put their kids into preschool so they're not behind. Seriously! In casual conversation, other moms will ask me whether Jack is in preschool, and I usually tell them that I'm doing preschool work with him at home and that it's expensive anyway. This is one of the first times in my parenting career that I've felt like I'm choosing a very different path for my child from the mainstream, just because I'm not putting him into preschool. Oh well! I couldn't be happier with my decision, and I have total confidence that Jack will learn whatever he needs to learn before he enters kindergarten.

In other news, I had another run-in with the law today! After we finished grocery shopping, we pulled into the library parking lot and I left the car running with the air on and gave the boys a snack before story time began. Peter was hungry, too, so I climbed into the back of the van and nursed him. About 10 minutes later, a police car pulled up next to the van and a cop gets out and starts peering into my car windows (they're tinted). I actually found a CHP officer a week ago to sign off on my registration ticket(he was hanging out in the local sheriff station next to the library, so it was easy, thankfully), but I was worried that somehow I didn't do it right.

The cop came around to the sliding door, which I opened to see what the problem was. The officer said that someone had called to report that someone had left kids in my car unattended! Once the cop saw that I was with the kids and we were just having a snack in the car, he let us be.

At first, I was a little mad that someone had "reported" me, since whoever it was didn't take the time to look in the car and really check to see if the kids were alone, but then I realized that it's probably a good thing that someone cared enough to worry about possibly unattended kids in a car on a hot day.

Anyway, here are a few pictures we've taken recently:

This is a baby sling that Peter loves because he can face out. I love it because it frees up my hands and is easier on my back than holding him.

Peter, pre-haircut

Peter, post-haircut

Peter is starting to like tummy time! He actually laughs when we put him on his tummy, and his ribs are ticklish. :)

More pictures

Peter is getting better at using his hands -- he can grab things now and bring them to his mouth. He's also getting "better" at cooing (I put that in quotes because his lovely, pretty-sounding coos are being replaced by all kinds of strange noises, garbles, and growls. He kind of sounds like a little pirate!)

This is how Jack and Thomas interpret the words "Boys, please clean up the front room now"

Peter's adoring smile for Thomas

Jack in the box. He brought down his pillow and bed toys to the box because he decided "it would be a good place for a rest".

So happy! I believe it was some of the Barber sisters that said he has "lightbulb hair"--- you are so right! His hair is definitely getting big again, but there is still a disturbing lack of eyebrow. Is it time to nickname him Whoopi yet?

David braved the madhouse that is the DMV today on my behalf. Thank you, David!! After a wait and a bit of a hassle, he successfully retrieved the sticker for my license plate, and now all I have to do is track down a CHP officer to make me right with the law. I'll keep you posted on that!

Otherwise, we're all doing well! I'm trying to take it easy this week because I've felt a bit tired and ragged lately. I'm letting things slide a little bit, and am mentally trying to ignore the many projects I have on my to-do list that just aren't getting done. Realistically, I don't think I'll be able to make much progress on special projects until maybe this fall, when Peter's daytime naps are more regular. And that's OK. I was reading a neat article by Fr. Ron Rolheiser that compares the life of a mom to the life of a monk - I can definitely relate! Now I have lots and lots of little monastic bells to listen for :). Here's an excerpt:

"For example, the mother who stays home with small children experiences a very real withdrawal from the world. Her existence is definitely monastic. Her tasks and preoccupations remove her from the centres of power and social importance. And she feels it. Moreover her sustained contact with young children (the mildest of the mild) gives her a privileged opportunity to be in harmony with the mild, that is, to attune herself to the powerlessness rather than to the powerful.

Moreover, the demands of young children also provide her with what St. Bernard, one of the great architects of monasticism, called the "monastic bell". All monasteries have a bell. Bernard, in writing his rules for monasticism, told his monks that whenever the monastic bell rang, they were to drop whatever they were doing and go immediately to the particular activity (prayer, meals, work, study, sleep) to which the bell was summoning them. He was adamant that they respond immediately, stating that if they were writing a letter they were to stop in mid-sentence when the bell rang. The idea in his mind was that when the bell called, it called you to the next task and you were to respond immediately, not because you want to, but because it's time for that task and time isn't your time, it's God's time. For him, the monastic bell was intended as a discipline to stretch the heart by always taking you beyond your own agenda to God's agenda.

Hence, a mother raising children, perhaps in a more privileged way even than a professional contemplative, is forced, almost against her will, to constantly stretch her heart. For years, while raising children, her time is never her own, her own needs have to be kept in second place, and every time she turns around a hand is reaching out and demanding something. She hears the monastic bell many times during the day and she has to drop things in mid-sentence and respond, not because she wants to, but because it's time for that activity and time isn't her time, but God's time.

Snapshots

Peter and Michael
Jack and Thomas paint their paper-mache pigs
Tough guys
At bat
Peter!

An Eventful Day (alternatively titled "Jack and Thomas Meet a Real Life Policeman!"

Let me start this post off by saying that I've been so eager to blog more regularly, but time just has not been on my side lately. I'm running a bit ragged trying to get all the normal maintenance stuff done like cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, trimming little fingernails, cooking, etc. and I don't have much time for extras. Some people have asked me if having 3 kids is much more work than 2, and I usually say "No, not really" ... but I'm feeling the burn these past few weeks.

Truthfully, Peter doesn't contribute too much dirt or require meal prep or anything like the other boys do, but things like trimming finger and toenails (I have 30 fingernails and 30 toenails to keep trimmed now!!), and giving the kids baths definitely is more time consuming now. And the laundry situation is a bit crazy ... I used to be able to do laundry twice a week, but now I'm doing it probably 4x a week, and that doesn't include cloth diapers. And I can't really get away with not vacuuming every week or not cleaning bathrooms every week because Jack and Thomas are good at spreading dirt far and wide (which I don't mind), but I do mind stepping all over crumbs on the carpet and muddy handprints around the bathroom counters and sink, so for my own peace of mind I can't let these chores slide.

On to today's events....

A plumber came this morning to replace our kitchen faucet which was leaking badly. Jack and Thomas were excited to have 2 new "friends" in the house for a while that they could chat up :). Fortunately, the plumbers were very quick and the new faucet is working great!

Since the plumbers were done early, we had a few hours before lunchtime to burn, so I decided to take the boys to the park. Jack was doing his best Eeyore impersonation, dragging his feet through getting his shoes, going potty, etc. before we left and Thomas was running away every time I tried to get his diaper changed and his shoes put on. So after a couple of warnings about me needing their cooperation if we were going to the park, I called it off because they just weren't listening at all.

They played in the front yard for a little while and then I checked my e-mail and realized we had a handful of movies and books that were ready to pickup at the library (I LOVE being able to request stuff online from the library and pick it up at my convenience). Thinking it would be nice to have some movies and books on hand for relaxing this weekend, I packed up the boys to the library and took a picnic lunch for afterward.

After the library, we headed out toward the park and I spotted a CHP car behind me. Now, my registration for our blue van is up-to-date (and I have the current registration card in the glove compartment), but they never sent me new stickers, so the registration stickers on my license plate are expired. A while back, I called to DMV to see if they could mail me new stickers, but they said I had to go to the DMV and fill out a form. This has been on my to-do list for a while, but I just haven't gotten to it yet. Honestly, my mind has been so busy lately that it hasn't even really been on my radar, even though it's something I know I need to do).

Anyway, the CHP car is behind me and of course I'm driving my very best, all the while hoping that he'll cut me some slack over my expired stickers.

Ah.... no such luck. He blooped his little siren and flashed his lights at me, and I found a place to pull over. Now, I've never been pulled over by a cop before for any reason, so I was a little nervous. I guess I was afraid that if I didn't have the right paperwork or say the right thing, I'd get in Big Trouble or something. Fortunately, I did have all the current paperwork that the cop asked for, and he was nice enough about the whole thing, but he did give me a citation for the expired sticker. Thankfully, no fee --- I just have to get a current sticker from the DMV within the next month.

The tricky part is that after I get my new registration sticker, I have to find a CHP officer and show him the citation and the sticker on my car to prove that I corrected the violation. Unfortunately, the CHP doesn't have a station in Ramona, and the best advice the cop could give me was that I should just "keep an eye out" for a CHP car and basically hunt down any old officer to sign off on my ticket. Apparently the cops hang out by the schools in the mornings.

This is not something I look forward to, to say the least. I'm envisioning myself driving circles around Ramona with 3 crazy kids trying to find the elusive Ramona CHP cops. I'm also a bit nervous about when I do find a CHP car - I'm not too keen on parking near a CHP car, hopping out, and approaching the officer -- it seems confrontational somehow, like I'm the one playing the cop. I'm afraid I'll give off the wrong vibe and the cop will think I'm out to get him or something.

Sigh .... hopefully I can get over my "But I don't WANT to" grumbly feelings and turn the whole thing into some interesting or useful experience for the boys. If they see that police officers and nice and I don't have a problem interacting with them, maybe that will help them develop a healthy attitude toward them. Heck, maybe I can enlist the boys' help to be on the lookout for a cop car while we're out and about town in the next few weeks!

I am a little mad at myself for not getting a new sticker sooner, but of all things to be stopped for, this has got to be one of the most minor. I do kind of pride myself on being a very careful and safe driver, so I'm glad the cop didn't catch me doing something unsafe -- I'd feel a lot worse if that were the case.

After the police officer escapade, we did have our picnic at the park in town, and that was relaxing. Now the boys are supposed to be napping (but are making a lot of racket instead), so we'll see how the rest of the afternoon goes. I think I might go make myself a big glass of very sweet iced tea now :).

Busy Busy

It feels like we've been running a mile-a-minute around here lately, and I haven't had much free time for posting, but here are a few quick updates and a bunch of photos.

Jack -- we started a reading program with him this week! It's Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons and so far he seems to be very excited about the first few lessons.

Thomas -- is entertaining all of us with his 2-year old antics and excitement. One his favorite new phrases is "I'd better hurry!!" which he shouts when running after Jack (which is hilarious in and of itself because everything wiggles when he runs). He also was reliving my trip to "Dr. Dado" (Dr. Delgado's), the hospital, and having Peter come out of my tummy. He asked "Amember that, Mom?" as if I'd forgotten all about it :).

Peter -- weighs a 12lb 8oz and is 24" long. He's about 75th percentile for weight and height, and is doing well! He loves to "talk" with anyone who is willing to listen to his excited coos and goos.

My blue-eyed boys.

Where have all the eyebrows gone? :). Two plus months out, and still no real eyebrows! However, his head hair has some definite style. It's still sticking straight up, except for the little fine baby hairs that lay down at the top of his forehead. For some reason, this combination reminds me of the '80s hairdo with the Aqua Net bang wall going up and back :).

Right on, right on.

A great shot .... except for those darn fingers in Thomas's nose :).

Poppi and Peter at the baptism celebration. Poppi is a pro at the Peter Shuffle!

Baptism Cake!

Grandpa and Peter!*

Jack loves iced lattes (don't worry, these are a very rare treat!)

Cousins, godbrothers, and brothers in Christ!**

* My apologies for not having more family photos (like with Grammy and Grandmom). If anyone has good shots, especially from the baptism, I'd love it if you would e-mail them to me!

** I think I finally understand why "cousin" and "brother" are the same word in ancient Biblical texts (is it Aramaic?). When asked how many brothers he has, Jack usually says "Three!", because he automatically includes baby Michael as one of his brothers :). And now all the boys *truly* are brothers in Christ!!

Home security

By the grace of God, we closed our loan yesterday and are now settled into a 30-year fixed mortgage. Hooray! This is a huge relief, since we really stretched ourselves to buy this house 4 years ago and at that point could only manage an interest-only loan. Basically, it felt like we were renting our house for the past 4 years because we were never able to throw much money at the principal. On top of that, we had an adjustable rate mortgage that was due to reset in 2 years. Our original plan was to sell this house and buy another one here in Ramona and then get settled into a fixed mortgage, but last year we realized that it was not a seller's market whatsoever, and that plan wasn't viable anymore. So, we were looking at an adjustable rate, interest only mortgage on a house whose value was free-falling, and we realized that we had to find a way to refinance this house NOW or else risk becoming another foreclosure story in 2 years. (On a side note, I did breathe a small sigh of relief when I realized I wouldn't have to get this house show ready with little kids running around).

I've done my fair share of complaining about this house since we bought it, especially our crazy hill of a backyard. I am even guilty of thinking "If only we had a backyard that the boys could just run out and play in while I watched them from the kitchen window, then I'd be happy". After going through this crazy refinance process and realizing how real the danger of foreclosure was, I am just thankful to have this house. The backyard is crazy, but the boys don't know anything different. They like going on adventures back there. No, I won't be able to let them go down there by themselves for quite some time, which means I don't have the luxury of sending them outside while I do chores inside, but I shouldn't complain about that, either. Do I really have to do anything so important inside that I can't afford to take the time to take the boys to the backyard? In my best Rex Kwan Do voice, "I don't think so."

We have a LOT of foreclosed homes around our neighborhood and in Ramona, and it's so sad to think how scared and frustrated the owners must have been while they tried to make their mortgage payments and realized it wasn't going to happen. I have a new appreciation for their situation now, because there isn't too much that separates them from us. I do know that this housing market is very good for people who are trying to buy a home, so I hope that amidst all the foreclosures and heartache out there, that there might be lots of young couples and families that can afford good homes.

For my part, I can now say that I would be happy even if this is the only house we ever own, and even if we have a bunch more kids and we're squished for space. I'm just grateful for everything we do have here, and for having a place to call home.

Campbell family representative

The last several times we've taken the boys to the park, I've had had a rather new and poignant experience: watching Jack interact with complete strangers as his own, independent little person.

It's the oddest feeling to watch him run out onto the playground and announce (to whatever random, strange kids might be within earshot), "Hi guys! I'm Jack! This is my brother Thomas. And that over there is Peter .... he's a baby". That's one of his first orders of business -- introducing other kids to his brothers. And then, depending on his mood, Jack will toss in other bits of information, like "I'm a Dodger. You have to be careful" (he says this in all seriousness and with true reverence, as if being a Dodger is a superpower (which I'm sure David or Michael probably would not argue with!).

It struck me that Jack is starting to go out into the world and translate whatever knowledge and experience he has been steeped in at home into his own conversations and relationships with others. I felt so strongly that here was a little piece of me, in the literal physical and biological sense, but also in the ethical, religious, cultural sense of our family -- part of me, but completely independent from me, out and about in the world.

He didn't need me to be close to him (he's certainly not shy around strangers, and he doesn't need help on the playground equipment) so I sat on a bench and watched him interact with the other kids. It felt like a little piece of my heart was out there on its own, with him, blowing in the wind. I couldn't control what he said or what other kids said to him, but I definitely felt the impact. I felt proud and happy when he played well with other kids and tried to include Thomas in the fun, who despite toddling as fast as he could on his stubby little legs, always seemed to be 25 steps behind the bigger kids. I also felt that little piece of my heart ache when a little boy was being mean to Jack.

I know! This is just barely the beginning -- we haven't even entered the school years yet, with friendships and loss of friendships and all that kid politics stuff. But for some reason it hit me for the first time that he has become his own *rational* little person, capable of reasoning with others and entering the complex web of social relationships without me holding his hand through it all. It's exciting, and I trust that we are raising Jack to be a great representative of the Campbell family and everything we stand for, but it's also bittersweet to see my first baby growing up and ever-so-slowly away.