And Baby Makes 5

When did we become a family of 5? It is still taking some getting used to. We are still working "Cyrus" into the family vocabulary. And most of the time we just call him, "the new baby."

We are also still working on: getting dressed everyday (mostly me), leaving the house, sleeping through the night, not being sad that Memaw Kay will be leaving soon, remembering to be quiet when the baby naps, and getting used to the fact that everything has changed.

The Kiss of Death

Look how happy he is to be kissed.

Cyrus Cruze Shafer

Cyrus Cruze Shafer

October 6, 2009 at 7:42 a.m.

9 pounds even, 20 inches long

Freshly Born

Handsome #1 and His Handsome Offspring

Calvin Learns the Art of Babysitting. We get them started early.
Noah's bruised arm. Proof that my epidural didn't work, and that I might have looked into some pain management classes.

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes. We are happy, tired, and being taken care of by Memaw Kay.

Smooches,

The Shafers

The Forshadowing of What May Be A Mediocre Halloween

How can I be sure? How can I possibly know that Mediocrity is coming our way?

Exhibit A

My Own Attempt at making creepy Halloween decorations to hang in the window.

Possible Problems with this creepy spider:

1. He's pink.

2. He's really more tickish that spider.

3. With deformed legs like that I'd be surprised if he could get to anything fast enough to bite it. Even if it is a black widow, it looks as though it's wearing shoulder pads and has arthritis. Not threatening, menacing, or frightening. All of those qualities must be present in spooky decor, no?

Exhibit B

Wyatt's Costume

He wants to be a puppy for Halloween. I want to fulfill his wildest dreams . . . . . .

BUT

we already have a Batman costume, size 3T (With muscles built in! How much cooler can it get?)

So for now he has been settling for a doggy picture with a cardboard cutout for a face. It's still cute, but as mentioned - - - it's a little mediocre.

The only problem may be how he is going to carry his candy bucket while holding the card. We'll have to tape it to his head, I guess.

Come on, I'm kidding. I wouldn't tape that to his head. Unless. . . .

Gotta Love A Day Like Today

38 weeks preggo.

(Photo courtesy of Wyatt Shafer)


It was a good day. I love it when a good day creeps up on you unexpectedly.

First, I managed to get a nap in at the doctor's office. Yep, she's notoriously late and unconcerned with how much time she makes you wait. So, whilst in the exam room, I laid down on that exam table and got a decent 30 minutes of shut eye. The nap was SOOOOOO good that I wasn't bugged when she told me that I was not dilated. Yep, she even told me that last week's suggestion that I was dilated to "maybe a 1" was incorrect. Have you ever known a pregnant lady to un-dilate? Folks, this is my kind of luck. Call me. I'll tell you about. Better yet, remind me, and I'll blog about my condition: it is a little known syndrome called, "Jungle Girl." You'll know right away if you have it.

Then, after dropping Noah off at the ferry, the boys and I headed out to grocery shop. As I walked into the grocery store and reached in for my list (I DO NOT shop without a list, otherwise cu-razy stuff happens), I realize that I didn't have it.

It could have been an "Ahhhhhhhhhh, Maaaaaaannnnnnnn!!!!!" Moment.

BUT THENI saw the fun size bag of snickers on sale for $1.89. Would you pass that up? You'd be a darn fool to. And since I'm not a darn fool, we waltzed out with a righteous bag of deliciousness. Not too shabby for only two minutes of shopping. Mommy was happy. Boys were happy. Everybody was happy.

Next, nap #2. AND whilst I was napping, Calvin cleaned the living room. Say it with me,

"WHAT???? HUH?????? Your newly minted 5 year old will clean up WITHOUT BEING ASKED. Read it and weep. My baby is not only thoughtful, but hard-working."

SIMPLE PLEASURES.

And Lastly, Noah got off early!!!!!. He was just in time for cardboard pizza and small talk before bed.

Bliss. Pure bliss.

He's 5

Dear Calvin,

It is the quintessential picture of motherhood: driving to Stop and Shop to pick up a birthday cake with my Birthday boy in the backseat, listening to the 12 o'clock Beatles block and hearing them sing,

"there were bells on a hill, but I never heard them ringing, no I never heard them at all, 'till there was you."

And crying.

Big, juicy tears rolling down my cheeks from underneath my Target (try-to-look-fancy-overly-big) sunglasses.

Looking over out the window and seeing my reflection in the glass of the building across the street.

And thinking . . .

How did I get SO LUCKY?

How did I get you?

I always think of how You Gave Me the best birthday present on YOUR very first birthday.

You gave me the role of Mommy.

Thank you for the day that you were born. For the sweetest cry that I had ever heard. Thank you for laying in the hospital bed beside me. Just us. Thank you for looking at me with those black, chocolaty eyes, and saying with them, "We know each other, and I love you." I didn't know until that moment that my heart had been ALMOST full. You see, it was close, but not quite there yet.

Thank you for forgiving me as I was anxious and uncertain about how to do anything that mothers do. Thank you for being content to have my attention and affection. You have always been so easy to please: just give you love.

Thank you for:

• twirling my hair with your index finger
• giving Wyatt one of your birthday presents so that he wouldn't be sad
• trying to scare me when I make dinner
• using creative words in your vocabulary
• telling me, "Your Mom is a nice woman, but she doesn't buy good chocolate milk."
• whispering in my ear every morning that you love me
• Being passionate about whatever you are interested in
• Asking me questions that I am not even sure I know the answer to
• Forgiving me for my motherly foibles
• Delighting in anything about monkeys
• Letting me hold you still even though your arms are so lanky and your legs tumble over my lap
• Smiling at me so that I can see your dimples
• Reminding me that Heavenly Father is near us when we are near children
• Swimming with enough trepidation that it allows me to swoop in and "save" you from time to time (mommies like to know they are needed)
• For wanting macaroni and cheese for your birthday dinner

Happy Birthday!! Happy Birthday!!!

A Page From My Diary

Dear Diary,

What a day!!! I really thought that my nap on the couch this morning would keep me rested for the entire day, but I still managed to squeeze in two mini-naps later on. I'm lucky that the boys are self-entertaining. What can I say, but thank you Word World. Thank you.

The best part of the day had to be the feet swelling. I LOVE this part of pregnancy. I find that to look down at my feet and see sausage toes is one of the true joys of bringing a new baby into this world. I also love the antibiotic that I'm on. It tastes great!!! But I AM into penicillin.

Ever since Noah started back to clinic and is gone from before the boys wake up until after they go to bed, I have found that this apartment just seems to get bigger. The 200 square feet that we have to play in is more than enough space!!!! In fact, I am going to rent out half of the living room as a bedroom to someone in need. A bum maybe?? Or maybe just a college student. Who knows.

I'm doing well on adjusting our families bad eating habits. I realized as I was standing at the check-out line at the grocery story with a bag of candy corn, Halloween marshmallow peeps, Milk Duds, a frozen Sara Lee pie, powdered donuts, and organic skim milk that I have arrived!!!! I think that I had every important food group: seasonal sweets, marshmallows, chocolate, fruity-sweet, baked yummies, and healthy hormone-free dairy. Because let's just be honest here: if you are going to die of something, wouldn't you prefer that it be from too many doses of sugar, preservatives, and fat? We steer clear of the hormones and only eat REAL junk. You should, too.

The boys were cute today. They each told me that when the new baby comes they are going to do all kinds of nice things for him, such as: not pinch him (Phew!), put a binky in his mouth, let him sleep in their beds, give him a haircut, and feed him. My heart welled up with pride when I heard their sweet ideas. I have to admit that those things would probably make me just as happy. I only hope that the adjustment from two to three kids isn't as bad as everyone says that it is. But really, how bad could it be? It's not like I don't know how to take care of baby. Maybe the third time's really a charm. Well, in six days I will be 37 weeks and full term, and then we will know for sure.

Yours Truly,

Katie

P.S. Two Tough Guys. I'm shaking in my boots!