Three months together.

Tonight marks the end of my 28-days-without-a-break parenting streak and the start of Jeremy's research block. It feels like we have waited forever for this day to come. Residency has been exhausting and harder than we imagined it would be, on all of us. We've tried to make the best of Jeremy's four days off per month and his vacation time.

But the fact of the matter is - four days off per month is not enough. It's never enough even if the days are filled with laughter and love and togetherness. Especially when those days are filled with laughter and love and togetherness. Weeks go by and sometimes Owen stops asking if Daddy will be home for dinner or bedtime. When he stops asking, my heart sinks.

Jeremy was supposed to have an 8-month research block starting today. A month or so ago there were changes within the program which threatened that time. Time we had spent three years waiting for. After things were sorted out it was determined he would get three months now (July/August/September) and three months later (April/May/June). Six months instead of eight, broken up. To say we were upset is an understatement but six months broken up is better than nothing.

For the next three months Jeremy will be doing research in a lab on his own time. No set hours, no requirements. No call. No hospital shifts. No assholes to deal with.

We need this time to reconnect. Jeremy needs this time with the kids and I need a break from having everything resting on my shoulders. We have grand plans of travel, pool, family, camping, festivals, concerts. Togetherness.

Three months of us as a family of four.

 Words cannot describe how excited our little family is for these next three months. Shabbat Shalom!

 

Father's Day 2013

Jeremy was on call for Father's Day and while we were so bummed not to spend time with him we made the best of the glimpses we saw. He had planned on going out to dinner on Saturday night but he an emergency procedure. He came home pretty late, but we decided to pack up the kiddos and have sushi at 10pm. Gil ate his weight in edamame and we all laughed and had fun.

For Owen's Father's Day gift to Jeremy he did a radio interview at the Children's Museum about what he loves about his Daddy. I listened to the CD on our way home and had to choke back tears it was so adorable.

Ice Skating

We took Owen ice skating for the first time, with Uncle Amos and his girlfriend Shannon in town. He absolutely LOVED IT! While he can't actually skate himself, he did a pretty good job moving his feet while Jeremy pulled him. This was incredibly hard on Jeremy's back, but every time he tried to take a break and sent Owen off the ice to wait with me and Gil, Owen would cry "more skating!" and try to go out on the ice by himself. We can't wait to go again when we have someone to hold Gil so that Mama and Daddy can both help Owen skate.

Such a big boy in these ice skates!

Last hint of Fall

We spent the day at the park enjoying the last of the nice weather before the cold sets in.

Daddy and Owen: THE CIRCUS!

Jeremy and Owen have had a rough go of it since Gillen was born. Jeremy's absence due to work has somehow manifested in Owen forgetting he exists. When Jeremy comes home, Owen used to run to the door yelling "Da-yee! Da-yee!" Now?

Owen ignores him and won't even acknowledge his presence.

If Jeremy tries to help with bath or bedtime Owen screams hysterically, which is hard on all of us. Me because I could really use the help sometimes and Jeremy because he feels like crap to come home to one kid who only wants to nurse at night (something Jeremy cannot do) and the other a screaming banshee. Tough stuff.

Jeremy had the weekend off and after an awesome trick-or-treat, Owen was happy to be with his Daddy again. We suprised Owen with a trip to the circus on Sunday.

Jeremy and I were both raised going to, and loving, the circus. I used to go every year around my birthday and so many wonderful memories.

You know what I don't remember? It being SO EXPENSIVE!

So with our limited budget and Jeremy's limited time with Owen we decided they would go just the two of them.  We assumed the circus would be about an hour long. WRONG. It was close to THREE HOURS! (I guess you get your money's worth!)

There was a pre-show if you arrived an hour early. Jeremy and Owen were one of the first fifty people in the door. Owen was able to walk a mini tight rope, see some clowns, try on some costumes, see some jugglers and get a tattoo. Jeremy said it was great.

The show was wonderful, had an intermission and then another hour of show. Poor Owen was completely wrecked by the end of it (he's never sat through anything like this, not even a movie!) and tried to take a nap on the floor of the convention center (yuck!)

I stayed home with Gillen and was able to get some writing done once he fell asleep. It was really nice to have some peace and quiet.

Jeremy took a few pictures with his phone of their trip - needless to say, Owen had a blast and keeps asking why we can't go again. This boy who makes weekly trips to the zoo and museums doesn't understand that some special things only come to town once per year ;)

 I gave them some glow bracelets before they left so Jeremy didn't have to spend money on them there. Best decision ever, Owen LOVED it! (and the glow sticks were $20 at the circus!!)

Owen wanted to wear his Halloween costume but Jeremy talked him into wearing matching Duke shirts instead :)

Pirate Pumpkin Carving

A Day with Daddy

Jeremy had the weekend off so Sunday we made pancakes and the boys had some cuddle time with Daddy. Later in the day Jeremy and Owen tried out his brand new bike! Jeremy is so excited about his bike and the seat on the back for Owen. They rode to a local park and Owen talked the entire way there and back.

Such fun these two are going to have together on this new bike!

Happy 34th Birthday, Daddy!

All weekend we woke up to Owen singing over the monitor....

"Happy BIR-DAY dear DAAAAA-YEEEE, Happy BIIIIIIIIIIR-DAY to YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

It was totally adorable.

We started our day with some Challah French Toast  that Mama made special for Daddy's birthday!

and then we headed out to the farm for the peach festival! 

 It was a really special visit because it included LOTS of firsts for our boy

The highlight being his FIRST pony ride. We asked him if he wanted to ride the Pony and he said, "Yes!" but once it was his turn he changed his mind. We decided to push him a little, hoping he'd like it and two steps into the ride he was giggling away (and our boy is NOT a giggler). 

Thank you "Spanky" for a very memorable first ($2) pony ride!

Next we rode the tractor all around the farm, up through the apple orchard, depleted strawberry patches and past where the pumpkins will grow. 

and it dropped us off right by the blue berry bushes where our little family picked blue berries for the very first time!

and then while Daddy stood in line for lunch, Mr. Owen got his first tattoo (face paint, on his arm)

He orginally requested a snake and just as she started to draw it he changed his mind and asked for

"A beautiful butterfly!" (just like in The Very Hungry Caterpillar)

He looked butch, this kid :)

After lunch we enjoyed ice cream cones and I was so happy they had Superman ice cream (something I've been craving this pregnancy. Weird, right?) I may or may not have gone back for a second cone after having to share some of mine with Owen ;)

and after we headed home with our exhausted boy and got him all tucked into bed, 

Mama and Daddy enjoyed some ice cream cake. 

With the "32" from my cake plus two additional candles ;)

As with most days with a toddler there are high moments and low moments. But this day, even though there were some whiny patches and tantrums, the firsts won our hearts over.

 His first pony ride, filled with giggles.

Our first time picking blue berries

His first "tattoo"

Celebrating birthdays is very different once you are a parent, but I told Jeremy that what he got was pretty close to the most perfect day I could ever imagine. 

And he agreed. 

Happy Birthday, Dr. Daddy! 

I cannot wait to share our love and life with yet another little boy this year.

A Saturday just for Owen (and an AWESOME date night!)

Daddy had the weekend off so instead of working on our to-do list, we decided to have FUN! Just like last week, once Owen found out Daddy was home for the entire!day! he requested to take off the shirt I dressed him in and put on his "DUTE shirt!"

So away we went for the day with my boys in matching Duke shirts....

While Mama showered (alone! uninterrupted!)Daddy and Owen played trains.

... and "Doctor Daddy"

And then we headed to the Children's Museum

Where the boys played with clay

and we let some letters fall on Mama's belly

and then Owen worked his fine motor skill putting spokes on a wheel

and last but not least we checked out the Wizard of Oz exhibit.

"Owen, what does the COW say?"

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

That night we got a babysitter so that Jeremy and I could go to a STXY concert that followed a Pirates game. There was no way I could sit through both the game and the concert so we put O to bed and than headed over. We were seated in the 9th inning just in time for the game to be done and the concert to start. This was the 5th time I've seen STYX in concert. Our seats were awesome, it was 70 degrees outside with a light breeze and there was an awesome fireworks show throughout the concert. SO glad I made it to 36 weeks so we could enjoy these tickets!!

On our way home we stopped at IHOP for a midnight snack :)
We rolled in to relieve the babysitter at 1:30am and felt like TOTAL party animals!