Mac and ZZZZZ

Ryder fell asleep in the middle of dinner. Literally. He had mac and zzzzz for dinner, or ravioli, avocado and zzzz. No matter what, there was definitely zzzz involved. We were all sitting around the table, Todd and I were cutting up pieces of ravioli, peas, carrots and avocados for Chase and Ryder. We were talking about our day. The boys seemed hungry and were eating rather well, though the avocados were mashing into their fingers everytime they tried to pick up the little pieces. Our boys are smart though, despite thier lack of table manners, and both put their mouths directly on the tray and tried to suck up the avocado, like a vacuum cleaner, if you will. Whatever works!! We then started making the pieces bigger. So, we are eating and talking and the boys are eating and painting their faces green with avocado smear when suddenly Ryder is asleep. We look over and his head his down, his eyes are closed and he is snoring his baby snore. After we laughed we tried to wake him, only to have him roll his eyes, shut them and drop his head right onto the tray. He was out, for the night, there was no waking him!!


We found this quite amusing and we both laughed for some time though it does not come as a surprise. First of all, Ryder is my son, and I have been known to pass out time and again in the oddest of places. Often on the couch during a movie, good or bad, funny or dramatic, always in the car when I am not driving, and yes, even occasionally in my food, though I am pretty sure there may have been alcohol involved in that scenario. Second of all, he did not have his afternoon nap. This was my fault, as I suppose most things are. Today was no different from most other Wednesday's when I wake the boys a bit early from their morning nap, we go to My Gym, then out for lunch, and then we head home. They always fall asleep in the 8 minute car ride home (Ryder, proving again he is his mother's daughter, falls asleep within seconds of the vehicle moving, Chase usually takes a bit longer), I transfer them to their cribs and they sleep for 2 hours. Today, however, was only different because Ryder was dirty. I knew this when I strapped him into the car and I knew he would fall asleep, but I took my chances. I spent the 8 minute drive debating with myself...Do I let him sleep, poopie diaper and all or do I hedge my bets and change him and risk him not napping? Obviously, I chose the latter. He was groggy the whole diaper change and you could see the fatigue in his eyes, but he fought it. I put him in his crib and for 7o minutes he babbled, he played, he laughed but he never slept. In the earlier minutes he was standing and laughing at himself in the mirror (I know this because I was spying.) Then he sat down, and eventually laid down, but he never slept. Lucky for me, he did not cry either. After checking my email, balancing my checkbook and filing my bills I gave in. I surrendered. I rescued him from the crib and we spent the rest of the afternoon playing. He was not cranky, he did not even seem that exhausted. He was happy, and smiley, and active. Until he fell asleep, in a tray of pasta and avocado!!

eyelashes

Our boys have been blessed with very long eyelashes. This is a trait, often said, gifted to boys but rarely to the girls. I suppose that is fair since boys look silly in mascara. I look at their lashes often and think about measuring them, finding out their actual length. I have never done this, as I think it would be difficult to put a ruler to their eye, however I have thought about it. I wonder if the pediatrician could tell us the percentile of eye lash length if measured. When they measure a baby's length it is no more accurate then I could be.
Do your eyelashes continue to grow? Will they get longer, thicker? Chase's lashes are long and thick and dark, dark brown like Todd's. Ryder's lashes, though just as long, are lighter in color and thinner, like mine. It is so interesting to see how your children can inherit every little part of you, or none of you. Hopefully, since they got our lashes, they will be spared of our brows, bushy (thank god for waxing) and thick.

A letter to my sons on their 9th Month Birthday!

Dear Chase and Ryder,

Two days ago you turned 9 months. It continues to amaze me how quickly time can pass. We welcomed your new baby cousin Madden Rose. She is beautiful, and sweet and ever so tiny and I was astonished when I held her as I remembered that you were once smaller than her. How far you have come, how much you have grown, how quickly it all happened.

What a month it has been! Ryder, you have mastered crawling. Just after your 8th month birthday, you figured out how to move your arms and legs at the same time. You are using this mode of transportation to explore everything and anything and it is this new found freedom that made us baby proof our home. You are all over the place and keeping mommy and daddy very busy as we try to keep up with you. You are also very into climbing now that you can pull yourself up to standing. You stand in your crib, at the learning table, against the kitchen chairs, anywhere you can. You love to be standing up!! Recently, we even watched as you attempted to climb the bookshelf. Mom-mom and Pop-Pop watched this event and despite the trouble I know it will cause at a later date, I was encouraging this behavior. I know it is not wise, but I was amazed at how you were figuring out how to do it. The steps are also a new favorite of yours. You can climb a few, but not without supervision, as you do still have a tendency to fall backwards. Mommy catches you, don't worry.
Chase, you began the army crawl right around the same time. You do this with such speed that it seems almost unnecessary to crawl with proper form. I check your knees and elbows for burns but so far, so good. On your 9th month birthday you decided it was time, and up on all 4 you went. You took a few crawls in true form before returning to the army style. A few more days of practice and I am sure you will have it perfected. Just yesterday, you pulled yourself up to standing. This was the first time you did this, and you used the exersaucer as your leverage. Daddy witnessed this event and we realize this is the beginning of your using everything in sight, me included, as your jungle gym. You also have just found the steps and the fun they can provide. You can't fully climb from one to another just yet, but to watch you figuring it out is wonderful and this also will not take long for you to master.

Ryder you love to clap. You do it randomly, and what seems to be out of nowhere to us, but in your little mind I am sure there is good reason. Your claps are often followed by a "hooray" or a "clap clap clap" from mommy or daddy. Chase you are learning to wave. Also done at random, you will open and shut those little fingers. We always wave back!
You continue to eat well, and more and more food now makes it to your mouth as opposed to the pocket of your bib. I have realized it is not the baby food you are losing interest in as much as the lack of participation it involves. You much prefer to feed yourselves and we often play tug of war with the spoon (which is always dirty and ultimately leaves you, your clothes and your hair a mess!)
You have both improved in the area of the sippy cup, but we still have a way to go.
We have been bathing you in the actual bathtub, though until we get the new one either daddy or I has to get in with you. We recently put you in together, with an inch or so of water and some toys, you both loved it and squealed with delight. Bath time is our favorite time with you. It is relaxing and fun for all.
Chase, you cut your bottom two teeth on March 30th. They both cut through at the same time. They are still growing but they sure are cute. You have been a bit more clingy lately. It used to be that you were not big into being held or cuddled and would stiffen up until we put you down. Lately, however, you can be held for a while and enjoy hugs and cuddling much more. This is much to my delight!!
I love that you are both fascinated by books, you love to topple the tower of blocks, and when I dangle your blankie in your face at night time you giggle. It is a great way to say goodnight! When you laugh out loud it is contagious and the room begins to laugh with you.
Chase you love looking out the windows. In the sunroom you always go right up to the doors and look out into the yard and in the playroom you want to sit on the window ledge. You bang on the glass with delight. Every time I see it, no matter how often, I smile.
-->We hosted passover here, just last week- 20 adults and 7 kids. You had so much fun hanging out with your cousins and it is fun to watch you begin to interact. Delaney spent a few nights here while Amy was in the hospital with Madden and you both had fun with her. She made you laugh and she tried to teach you things. It will be fun when you are a bit older and can learn from her. On the first Sunday of Passover, we went to borscht and keklentin. This is something our extended family has been doing for more years than I am alive for. It was great for you to play with your extended cousins, who you do not get to see as often. When I was a kid I always looked forward to my time with the cousins and I hope you have similar experiences.
We are busy day to day, the three of us, and we love our weekends with Daddy. We are often on the move, and it seems to be how we all do best. We usually will pick one or two days to stay in and do nothing, but other than that we enjoy the activity.
You remain to be pleasant, happy, funny boys. Ryder you seem a bit mischievous, and Chase you are very curious. You seem to be very observant and it often seems that you are absorbing everything around you. You get that from your daddy. We are reminded time and again how good you are, when we take you to parties or to social gatherings and you go to everybody and smile for them all. We want to cultivate that sociability and hope that it remains as you get older. There is no doubt that every day that passes you continue to amaze us. You bring us joy after joy and our love grows beyond measure. I was asked the other day why I was encouraging you both to climb the steps, which is clearly not the safest way for you to play. I smiled and said, "I always want to encourage my children" and it is true. I want you to try your best at everything, especially that what you enjoy, and I want you to know we encourage and support you, always!!

I love you my dear sons. I love you so.

Mommy.

Madden Rose Benjamin- 4/3/07



















Madden and big sis Delaney - 4/3/07



After much anticipation we welcomed the newest, the littlest family member...Chase and Ryder's new cousin Madden Rose. What an exciting time in our family, particularly for Amy, Jay and Delaney. I am amazed by the tenderness, the tininess, the novelty of holding a newborn. I am amazed as if I never had one (or two) of my own. It is a feeling that can never get old and no matter how many times you hold a new born, each time is special, rare, and like the first.
When Delaney was born, I was blown away by the depths of emotion that a tiny little baby could draw from me. I was astonished by the intensity of holding a newborn that was of your blood. I remember being scared to have children of my own if holding my niece could have such an effect on me. It is now three years later, I have held a lot of newborns including two of my own. The naivete is gone, the novelty is not. I am no longer astonished by the amount of love you feel the instant you hold the tiny baby, but am still astonished by the actual moment in which you pick up that newborn and barely feel the weight in your arms. Madden was welcomed on an early Tuesday morning. She was not even a day old and she was already loved by so many. She will learn, over time, the special girl she is, the delight in being the family baby, and the joy of growing up with siblings and cousins.
I am excited for Chase and Ryder too. They have an older cousin in Delaney to learn from and a baby cousin to teach. Madden and them are close in age and I hope they can build a friendship like the one Rob and I have.
Madden Rose, we all love you so, welcome to the world!!

Family Support

Last night, Todd and I went to the Ritz at the Bourse to see the premiere of the documentary: Wrestling with Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner. Though we do find documentaries in general interesting, we have no particular interest in the theater, nor in Tony Kushner. We went simply, in support of Todd Shotz who worked passionately on this project for the last five years.
I have never made a movie, I have never even been involved in making a movie, I hardly make home movies so I will say that I am proud of Todd for being in a position to say he was part of a documentary released on the big screen. With that being said, I must say I found the movie to be awful. With all due respect to the documentarian I just found it boring, uninteresting, lacking entertainment value. Sure, Tony Kushner seems to be a somewhat interesting man, a succesful playwright, and a controversial activist but I am not sure he has a mass appeal. Maybe it was me. At first, I thought, I have to say I liked it, I have to show support to my cousin. But then I realized I am entitled to my opinion as much as anyone else. I did not enjoy the movie! I am sorry Todd, I love you and I am proud of your work and your accomplishments, but I just did not enjoy it. With that being said, however, I want to make it clear that I went to the movie for one reason only, to support Todd. I would go to see another of his projects for the same reason, and I hope he has more movies for me to sit through. I can't guarantee I will like them all, but I will guarantee I will support them all, anyway I can.
It's like Jericho. The previews did not catch my interest, the premise did not seem to appeal to my love for nighttime drama, but I tuned in to the very first episode, and every once since then, to support my cousin (and Todd's brother) Dan Shotz. He is producing the show, and I am very proud of him. I like the show, though it does not rank amongst my favorites, but as long as it airs I will watch it. I want it to catch a buzz, I want it to be picked up, I want it to run for years, even be released in syndication, because Dan deserves it!
That is what family is for, and we are all so lucky to have each other.

Friends!

I used to see my closest friends all of the time. I even saw my good friends pretty often. It is just what I did, I made plans. I had a full social calendar and it covered a whole gamet of lifetime friends. Beth and I (and Dave and Todd) went out every weekend. Jenn and I walked home from work, then hit the gym. Rachel and I had our weekly brunch. Life for me was about staying in close contact to the friends I considered family and the family I considered friends. I still believe in that life, but find it so much harder to connect.
Now a days, the people I spend the most time with are girls I just met. On the surface, what we have in common is that we have kids around the same age. As we get to know eachother better I know we will find we have more than that in common. These girls are great and I look forward to continuing to mold friendships with them, but it does amaze me that I have to work so hard to spend time with my closest friends.
I live a half mile from Rachel and getting together requires a date on the calendar. And, since both of our schedules revolve around our children's activities, free time on the calendar is not easy to come by.
Jenn is off on Wed. but that never seems to work for us, so weekends become the best time to get together. Of course, that is family time, and unless Todd has another commitment I try to not take the boys away from him on the weekends. Of course, golf season is among us, so soon I will have many more free Saturdays for Jenn and Max and soon-to-be baby boy #2.
Although we are starting to go out more on the weekends, we still do not see Beth and Dave all that often. They do not even have kids yet and we still have a hard time connecting. We were just fortunate to spend last Saturday night with them, and the great time we had reminded me why (not that I forgot) why we spent so many weekends together in the past.
There are others, far too many to list. Siblings, cousins, friends, all of whom we love to spend time with and yet being able to is more difficult than we ever imagined.
I know this is the way of the world. We were once all so tight, we were each other's l ives. We seemed to have unlimited time to spend with others and we always spent it together. Our endless nights in bars all of us together are times that every 20-something should have, and they are some of my greatest memories. But, now we all have separate lives, with our husbands, our children, our families. We are in each other's lives and, like everything else that means anything, we have to work at the relationship. And I will, and they will, this I know and it is worth it. When we do find the time, we pick up where we left off in our chatter, we are amazed by the growth and change of each other's kids, we are fascinated by the depths of our friendship, and we know why we are such good friends, no matter how often we do or do not see eachother.

Tooth Fairy!

When kids lose a tooth the tooth fairy comes, and in exchange for the lost tooth the kid gets a prize, usually gelt of some kind. From what I understand, the gelt amount has increased tremendously since I was a kid. Anyway, it seems that there should be a visit from the tooth fairy when a child gets his first teeth. They have to endure some pain, discomfort at least, and then when it breaks through the parents, if not the kid, are awfully excited.
I found this to be case, the excitement of the parent, when Ryder's first tooth came in 10 weeks and 3 days ago, his second one a week later and when Chase's first two teeth simultaneously broke the skin yesterday. A cause for celebration, perhaps, but how do you celebrate with an 8 month old or two? So, in lieu of candy they can not have or toys they do not need I dropped a few coins into each of their piggy banks and wrote this blog.
Why is it we get so excited? Is it that it looks cute when these tiny teeth stick out from once naked gums? Is it simply the milestone of getting teeth? Is it just exciting to see growth and development as we are supposed to? Its all of these things and more, but it is certainly worth documenting.
So, the cute teeth are there, and there are lots more to come over the next few years. Its shocking, every time, when they bite on your fingers and you are quickly reminded they have teeth!! Those tiny little teeth are sharp as blades, and cute as they may be, they hurt!
We'll need to start brushing their teeth now, and we will teach them how to take care of their teeth, and we will hope that neither of them got the teeth of the Citrenbaum's- cavities and root canals are all too common.