I know, I know!!!

Where have we been?

Well, things are hectic on the Flanagan front. Because my husband is stubbornly superstitious, I cannot blog about the latest events. So, here is our stubbornly cute little kids to entertain you, while we pace nervously and cross our fingers and find moving boxes.....

In the setting sun

Happy Birthday Bug!

Dear Norah,

Yesterday you turned 1 year old. You celebrated like a drunken chimpanzee. You have this way of wrapping your left arm snug around my upper arm as I hold you on my hip, tenured at rocking back and forth, up and down and digging your face into my neck when given even the slightest look from a stranger. When you took your first wobbly steps you might as well have had a cocktail in your hand, I wouldn't have noticed the difference. You loved it though.





Having kids really marks the time and makes is seem like its steamrolling by at a record pace. Its amazing to see what can happen in one year with a fresh new soul.






We started out 2006 waiting for you, me with a mighty big belly. One saturday morning, I woke up as any normal day, felt normal and ready to plan the days normal activities. Around lunch, I remember feeling heavy, kinda felt some back pain, nothing crazy. But I do remember walking past the kitchen as your dad was making a gourmet peanut butter and jelly english muffin and I said in passing....I think I'm having contractions. He stopped in his tracks.....REALLY? What do we do? Should we call the doctor? Should we go to the hospital? Do we have a bag packed? What ensued for him for the next few hours was hilarious, he began frantic movement around the house, going from room to room whipping around corners and through doorways, opening cabinets and closets.....not really getting anything accomplished, but at a very steady frantic pace. As I sat on the couch, for me, everything seemed to be moving in slow mothion, to watch him go from room to room with a look of determination and seriousness on is face was hilarious.

We called Grandma and she was down in a flash to watch Madelynn. We organized our bags and made our way to the hospital a few hours later and yes, at that time I finally felt like I was in labor. You arrived very easily later that evening. Crying your lungs out, a fierce fighting cry...the same one you have today.




Throughout the year, I watched your newly focusing eyes look in awe at your older sister, while she played by your side. You smiled with all your might at me at 1 week old. Rolled over at 3 months old. Learned to sit up surrounded by fluffy stuffed animals that Madelynn and I stacked around you to protect you from a fall. Sprouted teeth and learned how to sneak goldfish crackers from snack cups. Pulled yourself up to walk along the couch holding on for dear life. Taught yourself how to give kisses. And boy do you give some good hugs and you have a signature pat on the back that goes with it. Those hugs you give are so special and genuine and it melts my heart every time. In the past few weeks, with much encouragement, you have taken your first steps and I'm sure in no time you will be running and jumping and tearing around here.

So here we are, one year later, on the brink of toddlerhood and everything that goes along with messes and tantrums and giggles and sloppy kisses. I look forward to every new moment with you little one!




We love you Norah Buggaboo,

Mom, Dad, and Madelynn

Full of Bologna.

Madelynn and I are in the bathroom getting ready for the day....

Madelynn: Mom, I want to clean my ears.

Me: Ok, grab some of those Q-tips. Ok good, put each one in your ears, gently.....

Madelynn: Ok. (she sticks one in each ear at the same time, wiggles them around, takes them out and looks at them. Pauses for a moment......) MOM!!!!!! Poop is coming out of my ears!!!!!!!!

She has no idea the pun I could have used to describe that.

Growing Down

Madelynn: I think Norah is growing up to be a girl.

Me: Yes, she sure is. She is growing fast.

Madelynn: I think I am growing down to be a baby.

Christams Morning debauchery

Merry Christmas!!!

New words

Norahs new words.....

walk: waaaak
hug: ugk
light: iyt
mama: mumum
(Yay, she said it!)





Madelynns new words...

Nooooooooooo!
Mine!!!!!!!!!!!!
No Norah!!!!!!!!!!
Thats mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!
maaaaaaaaaaammmmmm? I want some more (enter ANYthing here)?

Check me out-yo!

I'm standing!!



and walking!!!



and reading!!! its not upside down....

Thanksgiving 2006

It's Dada....

Norah's first word...is officially Dada.

She's been saying dada since she started babbling months ago. dada, nana, baba, gaga, you get the idea. But last night, she finally connected dada.....with Dada. When she heard the keys rattle in the door, saw the dogs yawn and clamber over to the front window. As Matt came in the door, she peered over the baby gate and gleefully screamed Dada!!!!!! Clapped her hands and waved at her Dada.

Norah loves her Dada, she has always been a daddy's girl. Unlike Madelynn, who wanted me and only me to hold her, then and still today, Norah loves to sit in the crook of Matts arm, lay on his chest and fall fast asleep, just to be by his side. I love that.

Now, just say mamamama....come on. one mama...just for me......

peek-a-boo

So, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed......

5am.....Matts alarm goes off.....Norah wakes up with a start....I know the day has begun.

I am pissed.

I lay there for 60 more minutes hoping, praying, not making a peep in hopes Norah will fall back asleep. She does for moments at a time, but cries, cries, cries again. Why, oh why can't you play happily with the many crib toys you have in there????? The ones we put in there to keep you occupied when we are not ready to get you? Why?????

I get up, throw her binkie back in her mouth and hope for the best. 7 minutes later it falls out, and hits the floor. WAILING ensues for another 30 minutes.

THATS IT! Were up! Dammit...(enter all the bad words in the book here). I hastily grab Norah out of her crib, we head to the kitchen ot make a bottle. As we pass Madelynn's room, I can tell she has been up for a while. She has mananged to climb up on to something and turn her fan off and light on, she is boping around. I'm thinking I am being smart and I decide to make the bottle first to calm Norah down, and make a sip cup of milk for Maddie to ward off the whining, which can begin at any moment. Because I CANNOT handle the whining for MILK at the butt crack of dawn, after waking up on the wrong side of the bed.

Mission accomplished. bottles and sips made.

By now, Madelynn has heard my banging around and is calling for me under the door. I take a deep breath, and as I open the door to greet her with a sip cup, to head off the whining for milk that is automatic before anything else, I smell it..........pee. Madelynn has a little potty in her room so she can go in the middle of the night if she needs to.

She had gone, and flipped the potty over on her bed. There is pee everywhere, bed, floor, rug, pillows, stuffed animals.

I lost it.

She went straight to time out, before her milk, I told her I was VERY UNHAPPY, this is bad.....she knew I was not playing around.

Afterall, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

After about 10 minutes in time out ( I was feeling very resentful ), she peered over the gate and said.........I WANT MUSIC!!!

I roared back......"THAT IS NOT HOW YOU ASK FOR THINGS!!!!!!!!!!! YOU DO NOT SAY I WANT!!!!!!!!!!! HOW DO YOU ASK?????!!!!!!!!!!!!" Wrath unleashed again.

Madelynn: " please can i have some music, music makes you happy."

I stopped in my tracks, I needed to calm down. I took a minute, smiled, "Yes, music does make me happy"

She came over and gave me a hug. I was humbled, I was embarrased, I was calmed. I turned on Raffi and heard......"The more we get togother, together, together, the more we get together, the happier we'll be....cuz your friend is my friend and my friend is your friend.....The more we get togheter the happier we'll be...."

Have a great day everybody, take a minute to relax, be humbled by you little ones.

Conversations with a 3 year old

Walking up to me, with my tank top draped around her neck....

Madelynn: "Mom, I'm another mom."

Me: "Oh, Hi other mom. Who's mom are you?"

Madelynn: "Caleb's"

Turning around to walk away, and calling back over her shoulder...

Madelynn: "I'll see you at the park."

Me: "See ya there."

real? or imaginary?

I have to blog about this because I cant take pictures of it! Its something you cant see with the eye, it comes from the mind of a very imaginative 3 year old.

Madelynn has immersed herself in the land of makebelieve, imagination, pretend. She imagines herself as a different person/ item / being 99% of the time. Her current cast of characters....a baby cow, a princess, a little lamb, a ghost, a doctor who does doctoring, snow white, grandma, Barbie, a baby horse........oh and there are many more........ In order to talk to her, I must address her as ( insert imaginary being here), and ask her to put her socks and shoes on as only that imaginary being would. Its the only way to get anything done, I give up!!

Another imaginary phenomenon, her hands also talk to eachother. While running errands the other day, I overheard a back and forth conversation in the backseat. Her hands were having a conversation with eachother about having lunch. At a stoplight, I looked back to see what they were saying and bask in her adorable cuteness, only to be greeted with a stern face and she screamed , "DON'T TURN AROUND, GO BACK TO DRIVING!!!" I turned back around, laughing inside and focused my rear view mirror on her to see some more. Indeed, her hands continued their conversations with eachother, politely serving eachother sandwiches, and we all went on our merry way.....

Thing #1 and Thing #2

Currently, Thing #1 is running in circles, naked, around a pile of disrobed clothing, out of breath but still proudly singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Simultaniously, Thing #2 is sitting, rocking back and forth on her plump behind in her hand me down Pjammas hanging longer than her legs actually are, slapping the remote against her leg in pure enjoyment of the entertainment.

I love these mornings!