Sisters & Brothers

Wow...has it really been a week since my last post? I am really slacking on his whole blog thingy, aren't I? Even as I write this, the chairs sit upside down on the kitchen table, waiting for me to wash the floor so they can return to their rightful places, piles of laundry stretch as far as the eye can see, and many, many drawers of too-small clothes need to be organized. I should be doing all of that, but I have decided to conserve my physical energy for the ER tonight and catch up in blogland.

Today, Hannah put on a puppet show for Calah and Jacob...I was surprised that she knew how to do a puppet show because I've never done one for them, and I was even more surprised that Calah and Jacob actually sat and watched it. It was interesting to step back and watch the three of them entertain each other, and it made me excited for the relationships they're sure to have with one another as they grow older. It is my opinoin that siblings are one of the best blessings one can have.

Calah continues to love her blanket and now refers to him as "he"...well actually she refers to a very specific fringe on the blanket as "he". I think this is because she has always favored this particular fringe and likes to smell it...weird because it is very very dirty (no matter how much we clean it). So when I would put her to bed at night, she would have to find the fringe and I would always say "Where's your friend (referring to fringe), where is HE?" She still has her Na-Na, of course (promise we won't wait until 4 1/2 to invite the Na-Na fairy for a visit). But the problem is that is also what she calls Hannah. So I never know if she wants her Na-Na, or her sister. AND she is the world's best imitator. If Hannah is running, Calah is running. If Hannah is doing cartwheels, Calah is falling on her head, if Hannah is drawing, Calah wants a pen too. Even when we ask her what her name is, she says "Na-Na" (Hannah). Calah also loves to wear everyone's shoes:

One thing I've noticed lately is the difference between Jacob as a baby and the girls as babies. He is just full speed ahead...and Hannah was too, but in a different way. Hannah was always very very active, but still girly. Jacob just goes for it. He is pulling himself up on EVERYTHING. I can't leave him even for a second because when I come back he is eating a plant, pulling himself up on the TV stand, or someone is riding him like a horse (Calah). He is also SO LOUD. He doesn't cry often, but when he does...he screams. This is one of the reasons we haven't really let him cry at night yet, because I'm convinced he'll wake the other two up. He also laughs hysterically when I change his diaper (particularly when he goes #2). I think of the three, he will have the most injuries...and I think he will be a picky eater like Hannah. Wonderful.

Hannah continues to hold the title of "Mini-Me". I think I've still be unable to find something that she is more like Jon in...maybe sports, I hope. Otherwise, she is exactly like me. My parents have a video of me when I was 5 and it might as well be Hannah on that tape. She is extremely independent, talks like me, gets frustrated & bored like me, wants to be doing something CONSTANTLY like me, loves to eat out like me, loves candy like me, talks constantly, and loves to sing to "girl songs" in the car. Sometimes, if a good song is on, we drive around the block so we can listen to the whole thing. It is funny to me to hear her singing in the backseat...sometimes she knows the words and sometimes she doesn't. But, it always cracks me up (silently, of course, because I don't want her to stop). She is also very perceptive lately, and I've noticed that we have to be really careful about the conversations we have in front of her. Even when she doesn't appear to be listening...she definitely is. Oh, just thought of something...she totally has Jon's hair...

Crazies

Our kids....

Never....

Stop...

Moving...(background)

EVER!

**This post is dedicated to Jacob who, at 7 months, is already pulling himself up on all the furniture and attempting to "cruise"...I was hoping to get at least one child who liked to sit in one place for longer than 3 seconds. Will Jacob beat Hannah's 9 month walking record? Stay Tuned!**

**sigh**

**arms crossed, bottom lip protruding in pouty expression** deep sigh**inaudible grumbling to self**

This is how I've spent most of this historical November 5th day. Don't get me wrong, as an American, I am proud that there is now ample proof that we, as a country, have seemingly overcome the disgusting inequalties of the past...even if I've always believed that we have. But at second glance, it seems like maybe those prejudices are alive and well. Why didn't the African American community come out in record numbers to vote for Bill Clinton? Why has it taken this long to motivate people who are normally apathetic to the political process to use their right to vote and do something to change it? Why did it take an "African American" to inspire them to participate?

Because, in my opinion, racism, however transformed, is thriving. But now, we are not even allowed to talk about it. Was this an election about issues or race? Did we choose someone based on experience or ethnicity? On January 20, 2009, are we going to be inaugurating a leader or a symbol? The problem is...we don't know...

I hope when I look back on this blog in 10 years, I will feel silly for doubting the abilities of a highly-educated, articulate man with absolutely no foreign policy or military experience and a very limited legislative career. I hope I'll discover that during his term in power, he has delivered on the impossible promises that he has so frivolously tossed out to the masses that follow him, like guitar picks at a rock concert. Most of all, I hope I will find that his failure to defend the unborn did not have devastating consequences, and that he did not cheapen the "American dream" by handing it out at every street corner.

...and...I hope I'm in a better mood...

**sigh**

Perfect Halloween

I couldn't have been more pleased when I woke up on Halloween to a beautiful, 70 degree, Chicago day. When fall actually happens here...it is amazing. Most of the time we seem to go right from summer to winter in about a week flat. The leaves turn colors and then are quickly blown off the trees by miserable, icey-cold rain storms. This fall, however, has been perfect. Even today, November 5th, is a sunny, breezy, 75 degree day complete with singing birds, falling leaves and not a hint of the long winter that is inevitably right around the corner.

Most of my Halloweens as a kid were spent running from house to house in the dark, sometimes rain, in a costume covered up by a coat, hat, and gloves. I was so happy this year because we didn't even have to wear sweatshirts. It was a great day!