Second Week Down

Eight weeks left with the NYC - DC commute for Matt. I just sent him packing back to the Big Apple for another week a couple of hours ago. We were lucky enough to have him home again this weekend.

Ironically, I haven't posted much about what happens during the week, and that's because, well, nothing much happens. Sure, Karol's vocab is out of this world, and Patrick is chatting so much now he could have his own radio show, but for the most part we three just sit around here waiting for Matt to come back. On occasion I'll try to take the kids on some sort of outing - anything to get out of the apartment - but it generally just ends in tears (theirs or mine; it's a toss-up) and a ruined bedtime routine. The best days are the ones where we get home from work/play, eat dinner, have some free play and then read stories until bed. Occasionally I'll have the energy to stay up and do some housecleaning, but generally I go to sleep when they do.

The weekends are the exciting time for us. Not only because that's when Daddy's home (although that's at least 70% of it) but because we can plan activities in reasonable blocks of time. This weekend we had a great Saturday: pancakes for breakfast, then out for a walk to the market and a picnic with lots of other kids and parents in the afternoon!

Sunday we actually made it to Mass ON TIME. We sat in what's called "The Upper Room." It's kind of like the cry room because it's sealed off and the Mass is piped in on speakers, but it's on the 2nd floor and is basically just overflow space. It overlooks the entire congregation and the alter, like having a balcony seat to the Mass. Karol behaved marvelously today, and really enjoyed watching the Mass from above. Patrick slept for most of it, so I got to cuddle and squeeze him the whole time. I actually got to hear the whole homily! The rest of the day we spent pretty much in the apartment chilling out.

Here I am trying to catch a pic of Patty's new tooth. It's barely a nub on the bottom front right.
In other news, Patrick is officially cutting teeth, and not thrilled about it. I can tell it's pretty uncomfortable and I just feel terrible for him. He was struggling with it all day, and (stupid mommy) it wasn't until tonight that I thought to give him any Tylenol to relieve it! Finally though, after lots of feeding, a pacifier, getting wrapped tight, and turning on the ocean sound machine, he's out.

Karol had the honor of licking the beater! Well, Mommy helped...

Karol and I had a wonderful time today baking up cupcakes for Matt to take to his office in NYC (don't ask...or ask Matt, not me!) Karol certainly likes to be a part of the action, and with my mediocre cooking skills, there's very little chance she'll make it any worse! Actually we whipped up some awesome Irish coffee cake turned into cupcakes. There was a fair amount of batter left over that pretty much became my dinner. I feel pretty icky, so I'm regretting that now, however. And yes, I had to thoroughly mop the floor tonight.