asteroid B612

I realized as my molar lay on the dentist's tray that the tooth she had just pulled was my favorite tooth. I know it's silly, but I kind of liked that tooth more than the other teeth and took extra special care of it. Maybe because it was the under-dog molar that never really fit. I don't know. Now there's just a hole there. Recovery is going better than I expected, but I still feel like I was punched in the jaw, and I'm really not looking forward to a repeat of this on the other side in two weeks.

My mom came to help watch the kids so I could go to the dentist. Ellis had off school for Rosh Hashanah (something *I* never got growing up in Christian school) yesterday and off today for teacher inservice. The dentist visit was fast, and I met my mom and boys at the arboretum, numb jaw and all. The arboretum has gotten over its late summer "ugly" hump. It was just looking all dry and worn out, but fall is starting to peek in, and the sedum is gorgeous and leaves are starting to turn. The shimmering linden branches were starting to quiver golden yellow.

I went home with my mom, who fed me soft things, while I watched House and waited for the baby to wake up. He did not disappoint. I finally started looking at the clock. He woke up around 6-7 times between 2.30 and 4.30 and then hourly until morning. This has been going on every night for weeks. A lot of wakefulness. And a lot of crying. Plus Ellis's continued nightly wakeup. He wakes up once and usually crawls in with me, and since I'm dealing with Marlowe, I can't take the time to help him go back to sleep in his own bed, like I used to be able to. About 3 months before Marlowe was born, he was making it all night in his own bed a few times a week. This, too, shall pass. (And b/c of Daddy's work schedule, he is unavailable for nighttime parenting.) I'm kind of bummed. Marlowe started out pretty well, going 3-4 chunks between wakeups, but this past month that has all unraveled. And I've done everything right. All the routines and cues are in place. It's just down to temperament now. And it looks like I'll continue to be a zombie for another 3-4 years. I'm sorry if I forget to do things for you that i said I would.

Anyway, we had an excellent day at my mom's. Ellis was in a terrific mood and had a great day. He even ate a variety of food, including homemade pizza margherita, which, if you knew him, would cause your jaw to drop.

I tried to sew. I actually got a pair of CUUUTE baby jeans made for Marlowe, and started a pair of pumpkin-colored pants for him, but I kept making stupid mistakes and having to rip out seams. The process took a lot longer than it should have.

I love October, it's the falliest month of my favorite season fall. I'm so happy that it's October. And it will be deliciously cool tomorrow.

BTW, don't forget to update your feedreader to http://ab612.partialflow.com. Hopefully our new server will be much more reliable. If you don't read this blog through a feedreader, you have nothing to worry about.

I got a wisdom tooth out today. I need both bottoms out, so one made its grand exit today. She didn't want to numb both sides of my mouth at the bottom, because then I wouldn't feel my tongue. As it is, I feel very numb and expect to stay close to the bottle of tylenol for awhile. The next one comes out in two weeks. I was shocked at how huge the tooth and roots were. Blah.

WELCOME FALL!!! Or Autumn! Or Harvest! Or Whatever you are!!! I just love you! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you!!!!!

Welcome MY FAVORITE SEASON!

Bring on the pumpkins! Bring on the leaves!!! Bring on the acorns! (maybe, just maybe, THIS will be the year that Ellis will learn to love acorn people with their jaunty hats)
Bring on the chai!! Spices!!!! Bring on cozy fleece jackets! Bring on the stews and soups!!!

I LOVE FALL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hubby has been work, work, work, working and working some more. Too many deadlines for Daddy. He got up at 3am on Thursday and didn't go to bed until 9 pm on Friday. I'm not kidding. He was up and working for over 40 hours straight.

So we have been mostly keeping him fed and staying out of his way. When E came home from school on Friday, I packed the boys up and went to Lancaster. We boogied up to my parents' house listening to Funky Friday. I was planning to do laundry*, but as my first load was half way through the washer, my dad said, "oh, by the way, did you know that our dryer is broken?" Groan. I dried the boys' pajamas in the oven. We snuggled in the fall chill. My dear, kind mother took the rest of my laundry to the laundromat the next day.

*do I need to remind you that I don't have a washer/dryer?

In the morning we had waffles. Yummy, yummy waffles. My brother came over and we sat around the table and laughed hard. Nick and I went to see my grandma at the old folks' home. She's not doing so great and reminded me that I shouldn't take visiting my grandma for granted. Her body groans, but her mind is sound. Nick called ahead, and when we entered she was sitting calmly in her chair with fresh makeup on. She and I could share lipstick. We're twins.

In the afternoon we puttered around, and I had the insane idea of making a shirt, and my mom assisted my insanity. I had almost finished when Marlowe decided that enough was enough. I brought it home to finish, and packed the chilren' up again. We came home, the sun setting behind our backs.

Daddy is still working. Marlowe wakes hourly for the umpteenth night in a row. I pop teething tablets onto his gums hoping that that is the underlying cause of such sadness, because teething has an end, restless slumber for its own sake does not. "Sleeping through the night" is the biggest farce of modern parenthood.

Ellis helped me make chocolate chip cookies this afternoon. He holds the ancient hand-held mixer steadily with his eyes on the prize: the cascade of chocolate chips into the bowl at the end. He will stick his hand out and usurp as many as possible from their rightful place in the cookie dough.

A fistful of chocolate gets us through.

Today was speech therapy day, which means our usual drive into the city. We were held up a bit going through University City. It was moving in day at Drexel, (they're on the quarter system) so side streets were blocked off and traffic was congested as parents and students tried to finagle possessions through the complicated city streets. Moving onto a mountaintop was quite tame by comparison.

It made for some pretty interesting people watching, though. First of all, has anyone else noticed how young college students are these days? Goodness, they look like babies. (Kidding!--a little bit)

There are the returning students, texting and chattering on their cell phones, no doubt planning rendezvous with old friends, wearing satisfied smiles of experience.

My favorite girl walked along the sidewalk with her bookbag already laden, wearing a simple Tshirt and jeans. Her shirt said "COLLEGE" in the blocky typeset of uni-wear. That's all one really needs to know, after all.

The freshman fall into several categories. There are the Networkers. They already have a dozen friends before they even find their room and cross campus confidently. They are probably accompanied by equally confident parents, one of whom is likely still called "Daddy".

The Too Cool For You's fall into two categories, those who like their parents and those who don't. The formers have this expression of utter embarrassment on their face as they trail their unfortunate elders at a safe distance. The latter group shrugs along in the parents' company with a look that says, "I'm embarrassed that I'm at college with my parents, but I'm secretly glad they're here."

Then there are the Happy Families, who are laughing and joking and taking pictures to send home with parents who will want to have photos of their offspring in their new surroundings.

And then we crossed Market Street and all was normal again.