Ug

Mama warillever is still floating on cloud nine, but unfortunately, much of that "floating" feeling is the result of the cold medication I just took.

Just as everyone had started to adjust to the new home and new time zone, the head cold from #### struck with a vengeance. Mr. Warillever began his new job yesterday with a packet of tissues in each pocket; Agent 004 has the worst combination of booger and teething drool that you can imagine. Agent 002 looks to be the best off -- other than a slight cough, he is the same as usual. Of course, we might all be better off if a cold would sap some of his energy........

Naptime Bliss

I love my children -- they are wonderful in every way.

I love watching them experience new things and love watching them recognize old pleasures. Agent 002's pure enjoyment of his first potato chip at lunch today was just precious.

I even love their tantrums, because it gives me a glimpse into who they really are and what they really want.

Seeing Agent 004's exhileration as she stood on her own last night was great -- seeing her do it twice this morning was incredible.

But naptime is my time. Now that they are (finally) napping at the same time, I am able to get a few things accomplished, and have a cup of tea. JOY!

Girls' Morning Out

In response to "Guys' Night Out" (in which my husband and son go out for ice cream while I get the baby fed, bathed and to sleep), comes "Girls' Morning Out." This is when the girls (Agent 004 and I) go for a walk while the guys (Papa and Agent 002) sleep in. Have you noticed that the guys get the sweet end of both of these events?

Both of these rituals are the result of four people with very different schedules living in one 100 square foot room. The children have been surprisingly good about the lack of space; Agent 004 has a managable amount of space to scoot, crawl, and pull herself about; Agent 002 has just enough room to play his favorite game -- throwing all of his blocks under the furnniture and then retrieving them with a plastic rake. The obvious difficulty is that the children have vastly different sleep schedules and constantly wake each other up. Thus I am at the internet cafe with Agent 004 sleeping in her stroller as Agent 002 should awake very soon from his middday nap. Hopefully with the change in time zones we will be able to adjust their afternoon naps to coincide......

Have I mentioned yet that this parenthood thing rocks? Even a full month in, I am still loving it.

Two weeks as a parent.......

Russia 5:24pm

Having just started my third week as a parent, I am beginning to laugh at the folly of my ways in the first days. Some rules for those who are starting out :

1. Never, ever, put orange juice in a sippy cup.
2. Do not say the word "cookie" when you have none one hand, even if your son did not know any English a week ago.
3. Toys should never come within a hundred meter radius of a toilet.
4. When booking a hotel, make sure there will be screens on the windows, especially if you will be on the 21st floor.
5. When a toddler says that he needs to go "pee-pee," do not hold him up against your own chest to get him there faster.
6. Two parents are easier than one. Three would be better.

So far so good. Our family of three is getting along very well. We will see how things work out when we add a fourth family member in a week..........