All the latest buzz

Well here we are again, busy as a bumblebee, and too many blogs to write and not enough time. Oh, the woes of the industrious mother. I am happy to report that all the kiddos are fine and dandy, everyone is well (except for the terrible teething Adam is doing). We had a nasty tummy bug run its course, but the poops seem to be back to normal. Thank goodness.

So here are the latest events, in no particular order: Kalena is a rhyming fool thanks to kindergarten; Rowan is becoming quite the little cooer; Isaac is, well, Isaac; David got the window and door trim up at the house and it looks fantastic; we had an amazing visit from one of my favorite aunts and my Nana; I went to the Austin quilt show with David's mom and sister and met his brother and wife there (it was too much fun!); and did I mention we got a puppy??? Yup, just a little black bundle of joy we named Cooper. Of course I have a zillion pictures I need to post, but it's 10:30, I just finished sewing some slings that I am selling tomorrow, and I need to grab some shuteye while the babe is asleep. But I do promise to update the pictures very soon!

Oh, as a sidenote: If you noticed that I added some cool music to my page, good for you. Unfortunately, they are not any of the songs I picked, and I have no idea how they got there. But, since there's Guns'n'Roses on the list, I guess it'll do. I suck with computers. Really, I do.

A last first at the end of the beginning

Last night Rowan smiled a real smile for the first time. David was holding her, just talking to her in his daddy-talk, and she cooed and smiled twice. It was beautiful and devastating. Of course, he got her first smile. The kids always love daddy best. But I realized this is the last first smile. Everything she does from here on in is our last first. It was the last first baby smile....it will be the last first time for everything. And while it's time for this stage in our lives to come to an end and time for us to move gradually away from baby-hood into the next phase, it hurts to know that this is the last baby I will ever have. Yesterday was Rowan's 5-week birthday. And with our hectic schedule and busy weeks, I know one morning I will wake up and Rowan will be turning 1, and her infancy will be over...just like that, in a flash, I won't be the mother of a little baby ever again.

Yesterday I went in for my postpartum checkup and scheduled the surgery that will make all of this set in stone. And I sat there in that little office while the lady was on the phone with the surgery center setting up my appointment, and I heard her say all of my information...my name, address, birthdate, social security number, and I felt like I was in a dream. It didn't seem right that she was talking about the death of my fertility like I was just another patient. It was cold and sterile, and I sat there with tears welling up in my eyes. I just wanted someone to pat my hand and say something kind, like "it's been wonderful, Rachel, and your children are perfect. You've done good and now go raise those precious babies into fine adults." But no. All she said was, "yes, she's having a bilateral tubal ligation for permanent sterilization." Like I needed to be shut down or something.

I know it sounds like I'm not ready to take this step, but that isn't true. I really feel blessed and content with my family. I just want to mourn the passing of this stage in my life. It's the end of the beginning in a way. David and I spent the first few years of our marriage having our children, and now we are leaving that stage behind and looking ahead to all the wonderful experiences we'll have with our family of 6. I am excited to see where we'll be headed in the next few years. So why do I still feel like crying?

Little Hammy

Sweet Rowan. She's such a good baby--at least so far...although I probably just jinxed myself. She's happy and content just to be wrapped up in her little blanket. She naps through all the chaos, and just looks around with those big beautiful eyes when she wakes up. I can't believe how much I already love her. I remember when Adam was born, it felt like he was somebody else's baby for a while, and then one day I realized that he just fit right in with us. Well, Rowan seems like she's been a part of our family from the beginning. It feels like we've been waiting for her ever since Kalena was born, and now all of us are here together....like we've all finally found each other. Complete.

I took her for an ultrasound of her spine yesterday. It was nerve-wracking to say the least, but she did great. Our pediatrician scheduled it when she noticed that she had what they call a sacral dimple. It's like a little hole right at her tailbone, and the dr. was concerned when she couldn't see the bottom of it. Luckily, the ultrasound showed her to be perfect. For some reason, I really wasn't nervous about this at all..I knew she was just fine. Call it mother's intuition, but I'm glad I got the reassurance that I was right and she's okay.

Today while we were in the car after we picked Kalena up from school, Rowan was fussing and Isaac patted her little leg and said, "it's okay little hammy." Little Hammy. It fits her perfectly. Speaking of, Hammy is starting to squirm, so I guess that's my cue to wrap it up.

As a sidenote, in house news, WE GOT OUR CABINETS!!!!! Yeah! I'm so stinkin' excited. We're going to the ranch tomorrow to see them, so I'll post some pics next chance I get!

Did you just say Haneycooter?

So we have a new friend here at the Engeling casa. Isaac has dubbed a random little action figure Haneycooter. (It's Roddy from Flushed Away, actually....I think he came in a Wendy's kid's meal.) This is reminiscent of our visit from Handy Carver, but something about Haneycooter is just a little more risque. I can barely keep a straight face when he comes up asking me, "mom, have you seen my Haneycooter?" Right now, he is calling me "mushy" instead of mommy. I admit, my secondborn is a weird little kid. Very weird. There are days I worry that he'll grow up to be that guy...you know, the kid in high school that everybody thinks might secretly be building bombs in his basement because he is so weird. But that kid is usually really gangly and strange-looking, and Isaac isn't particularly oddly shaped, other than his gigantic feet. I guess he could get weird looking later on. Puberty may not be nice to him. Only time will tell.

Also, Kalena has a new imaginary horse. Her name is Scarlett, and Kalena rides her everywhere. EVERYWHERE. All day, when I ask her to do something, before moving, she pulls back her imaginary reins, gives a little whinny and says "Hya Scarlett." Literally every time she enters or leaves a room, she is galloping. It is driving me positively nuts. Last night, I'd had enough and I caught myself saying, "why don't you put Scarlett in her stable now?" And Isaac decided that he needed his own horse to ride around, so he's calling his Artex. Even Adam has started trying to gallop through the house, although he looks more like he's limping on one leg. It's pretty funny.

I sure hope my kids aren't the only ones who come up with random ridiculous words and ride around on imaginary animals. Poor Rowan...she doesn't stand a chance at normalcy with all these looney tunes running around here.

Quick Pics

Here are a couple of shots from our last-second road trip to Ft. Worth on Labor Day. We went to the Imax and the Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History. It was a lot of fun, although Rowan did pee on me during a diaper change, which was interesting....and I had a miserable migraine on the way home, but otherwise we had a great time! So enjoy!

This is a rare pic of all three looking, sort-of smiling and at least sitting in the same location!

My little Cowboy, Isaac.

And Kalena, never to be outdone, in full cowgirl gear!

Just for giggles, here's a pic of Adam and his indestructible blankie:

And here's a recent picture of Rowan, happy as a little clam in her pack'n'play. She's such a sweet baby!

Thanks for indulging me in the picture overload. Not much content, other than just showing off my four beauties!

Miracle on Herring Ave

Yes, you read it right here my friends...there has been a miraculous event at my house today. It's as if the virgin Mary herself appeared before us all. What, you ask, could be such a holy and austere occurrence? What could rival the great feats performed by the biblical legends?

Well let me tell you. ALL FOUR of my children are sleeping right now. It is 3:45pm, and there is not a sound to be heard in my house except the click-clack of the keyboard as I type. It is a great day here at the Engeling house...one I fear may never happen again. So let's all take a minute and bask the in the glory that is silence.

Okay, my moment is gone. Adam is talking in his crib now and Rowan is grunting her wake-up symphony. Time to go back to chaos. But it was certainly glorious while it lasted! I got a full hour's nap on the couch in perfect quiet. Aaah, thank you baby Jesus.