Where have the Mulders been??

good question but if you had this at home would you be able to put it down and blog???

So here is a brief run down of our last month or so.

1. I was offered a job in Traverse City. We're moving next June.

2. Joel had his first Father's Day. Dela got him a kiddy pool. Fun ensued....

3. I've taken up cheese making, inspired by some friends of ours. So far I've made queso blanco, mozerella and ricotta. They all turned out pretty well.

4. Tim Russert Died. We are very sad. GGRRR Nachos GRRRR Football GRRR GOP. I don't know how we're going to make it through this year's presidential elections.

5. Joel is now Mr. Mom. He and Adeline have been spending some good quality time together while I'm at work.

6. We've both finished reading World War Z and feel pretty confident I could survive the Zombie wars. Sorry Kevin and Holly you aren't getting your Machete back. Now I'm on to the Omnivore's Dilemma. Adeline has taken to her nighttime story. She tries to reach for the pictures and grab the words. Curious george is covered in drool.

7. Adeline had her 4 month check up. She now weighs about 13# 7oz and is growing more every day.

8. Our garden was decimated not by the usual suspects like deer, rabbits and slugs but by quarter sized hail.

9. The new residents start on Tuesday as does my 2nd tenure as chief. God save us all.

10. We're heading up to the farm this weekend to show off the baby and to get a little R&R. We'll see many of you soon.

Memorial Day Weekend
through the eyes of a three month old

"What the...."

"I don't know what it is daddy, but it's big!"

"Nana does this hat make my head look small?"

"oohhhh bubbles...."

"Mommy don't leave me with the monkeys!!"

"What the....."



"Mommy, what is daddy doing???"




"It's NOT MY FAULT!!"




"Kelly made me do it.."
or
"Mommy I said don't leave me with the monkeys!!!"




"Life's pretty good....."



"....But it's bed time"

STUCK

So Wednesday afternoon I came to work after a morning interview at Avon. I parked on the roof of the parking garage and on the way out my arms were full with breast pump, purse, box of free samples and a coffee mug so I took the elevator. I NEVER take the elevator. NEVER.
Anyway I got stuck in the elevator on the 6th floor. I hit the alarm button. It made a lot of noise and I heard people outside say "I wonder what that noise is?" I yelled, I screamed, I jumped up and down. I used the little phone to call the cops who at first didn't answer and then didn't come and finally the door just opened and I got out.
I am never taking the elevator again.

S

A weekend trip

Last Wednesday the Mulder crew took another trip North. This time for an interview in Traverse City better known in some circles as Voldemort City where good friends are separated by state lines and big 10 (11) rivalries. The trip up went well. Adeline slept the whole way. We always know when we hit Michigan when we are passed by the quintessential Michigan vehicle on 23 North. Last time it was a Chevy pick-up doing about 90 with a NRA sticker in the back window, a W sticker on the tailgate and a can of Budlight on the bumper. (No Joke) This time it was a Ford mini-van with a bumpersticker that read 'welcome to Michigan speed-limit: Bat out of Hell" At any rate it was kind of nice to be around people who didn't laugh when I used my right hand to describe where I had grown up.
The interview went well and I'm waiting to hear one way or the other if I got the job. it would be nice to be back in Michigan but we've got a pretty good thing going here in Cleveland as well.


While in traverse City we took several walks along the lake and board walk. We went wine tasting in the Leelanau penninsula, drove up to old mission so that Dela could cross the 45 for the first time which is a right of passage only slightly less important than making it south of the Equator before she turns 18. She also took her first dip in a pool. We think she liked it but who can really tell?
Now we are back in Cleveland. Nana is with us for 3 weeks to watch Adeline during the day. Again we are eternally greatful for the wonderful family we have. Dela doesn't know it yet but she is one lucky girl....
Speaking of which I got my first mother's day card this weekend. It was signed with an outline of Adelines little hand and I found it next to her with a tin of chocolate covered almonds on Mother's Day morning when I went to check on her. She was lying in bed with the biggest grin on her face. It was as if she knew her daddy had helped her with her first mother's day present for me! We love her so....

May at last

Well life in Cleveland Heights is pretty good. Spring is here, the tulips are past prime and the lilacs are now in full bloom. Adeline is getting cuter by the day if that is at all possible and yesterday she had to say "Bye-bye for now grandma Mulder". We are eternally greatful for the time she spent with us and we know in our hearts that Adeline will miss her. While Grandma took care of Dela, grandpa prepped and painted the basement. No small feat for anyone who has seen our basement!!

This week I get to stay home and love my baby. It will be a wonderful break from the residency office. (Why can't people just do what they are supposed to do?) and this coming weekend the three of us are treking up to Traverse City for a job interview with a nice private practice up there. (Can anyone say cherry wine??) Joel and I are excited about the possibility of getting back to Michigan but sad that we might be leaving Cleveland. Not so much Cleveland it's self (In what other city in the world would someone dare to saw off the top of a parking meter during rush hour?) but the great friends we've met here. It's all very up in the air and who knows if I'll even like the practice or if they will like me.

Sorry girls but I'm going to miss book club this week because of our trip north. I did like the book(I should say I do like the book 'cause I have about 50 pages to go) Good choice guys!

Today it's raining and Joel has been moving houseplants outside for an hour now. I'm not sure how but they seemed to multiply over the winter. We usually have at least a few fatalities but this year all the plants seem to have made it. Check out the photo albums. I'm going to post some more pics and everyone keep in touch! Even though we've been home bodies lately we love you all!

Sarah

Grandma and Me

Well Joel's mom has been with us for a week now and we've all gotten into a pretty good routine. Now that I'm back to work Carole and Dela are home alone during the day. Apparently the first morning was a little rough and grandma had to trick Adeline into taking a bottle but since then they have gotten used to each other and it has been running a lot smoother, or so I'm told. I believe it though, Dela seems to be getting bigger every day.
Now Adeline has taken to her grandmother as if she has been here forever, greeting her in the morning with a smile and baby coos . It's very cute. It has been great having her around. Dela loves her and I know she is being taken care of with as much love and patience as Joel and I could offer ourselves with the added touch only a grandma can give.
Yesterday our neighbor Eef threw Dela a welcome to the world party for the neighborhood in traditional Dutch fashion complete with Muisjes. This is Dutch for "little mice" and involves spreading a cracker with butter and then sprinkling candy covered aniseed over them and eating them. It was surprisingly good. All the neighbors came over and we all sat on the front porch and enjoyed the 75 degree Cleveland Spring day. Dela napped through a lot of it and I'm sure she had no idea that the fuss was all in her name but non the less it was a great way to introduce her formally to the neighborhood.

I can't believe that she is 2 months old now and would you believe that she slept though the night on Friday night??!! It probably won't happen again for a while but Joel and I did appreciate it.
This week Grandpa Mulder is coming in from Chicago on Tuesday, our friends Kevin and Kelly get the keys to their house on Thursday (meaning Joel and I will be up late TPing that night) and I have a job interview on Friday. Wish us all luck and safe travels!!

A Few Moments To Catch Up

Well it's been a few weeks but never fear, we are alive and well.
Over Easter weekend Adeline, Joel and I went on our first extended trip. We headed North to Michigan to introduce our little angel to several family members and friends that she wanted to meet. All in all it was a good trip but by the end Dela was very cranky and wanted nothing more than to be at home so I'm afraid that the last few people to meet her, (Namely her uncle Greg, Aunt Jill and her cousins Ellen, Laura and Jared) met Adelines alter ego Cry-Face, Crap-Pants.

This week it seems Adeline learns a new trick every day. She can hold her head up for quite a while and with some help can prop herself on her arms. She is making a lot of fun noises like "Agoo" and "auug" She smiles a lot and has really taken well to her bedtime routine.







Here's Adeline with her Great-Nana and her Great Grandpa Grevengoed.












Tonight she and Daddy get to do the bed time routine by themselves because Mommy is going to her book club meeting. This month we read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. It was a great book written from the perspective of a 15 year old with autism. I recommend it to anyone who might have any interest in what goes on in the mind of someone with an autism spectrum disorder. It is a far more accurate description than anything you will see on Good Morning America or CNN.

I've added a new album so click on "Our Albums" on the right of this page to see a lot more pics from our weekend.


Oh and next time you see Joel just ask him.........

Adventures in Motherhood
or
The Cloth Diaper Diaries

So Adeline is one month old now. I can't believe that the time is flying by so fast. She is growing bigger every day and it won't be long before spring is here and we can play outside in the grass. For about two weeks now our little one has been in cloth diapers. People have called Joel and I crazy (For many things, the cloth diapers are just one of the most recent adventures to earn us this title) but I think it's working out very well.
For those of you who are picturing the folding, pinning and layering that used to encompass cloth diapers, fear not. The cloth diapers of late are all in one, waterproof, velcro, fleece and elastic wonders that could very well be the works of NASA engineers (or stay at home moms). Joel and I have gotten very good with them and I think Dela even prefers them over the rough plastic things even if the Bumgenius diapers make her butt look big. (Move over J. Lo)
Other than the rainbow of colors INSIDE Dela's diaper my life is pretty dull at the moment. A highlight on my week is having made it to the gym a few times and running again. That said I live for every new development in my little girl no matter how small. For example, she is holding her head up on her own and I swear she is even smiling every once in a while. She has developed a liking for baths and last night slept a full 5 hours. She likes rattley, bright, music singing toys and tummy time (mainly being on mommy or daddy's tummy)

This weekend we are taking our first road trip to Michigan to visit grandparents, great grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. Wish us luck!


Oh and if you like you can check out the link below. Click on the Spring 2008 issue. If you scroll down to the 4th page you'll find an article I wrote for the American Academy of Pediatrics Resident Report about my trip to Africa last winter. Enjoy!

http://www.aap.org/sections/ypn/r/newsletters/

A fine nearly spring day

Well March is half way over and we are settling into a "routine" here at the lodge. Joel is back at work so he scoots out early in the morning. Dela and I get up soon there after and spend the rest of the day in a cycle that goes something like this

Eat-poop-cry-change-cry-eat-sleep-poop

She is a lot more awake now and is starting to interact a little more. She loves the play mat her grandma Mulder got her for Christmas and goes between that, her rocker chair and mommy's arms. Last weekend she meet her uncles Nathan and David who made it to Cleveland despite 20 inches of snow fall that weekend. They ended up staying a day longer than expected and left with Nana Cindy on Sunday morning after she beat the lot of them in a heated poker game. It's a good thing it was just chips at stake. our father may be the master chess player but mom could be on the poker tours in Vegas.


It was wonderful having Nana Cindy around for a week and I don't know how new moms ever do this without supportive family and patient helpful husbands. I often find myself pondering how single moms and teen mothers ever manage....



Today we put together our new stroller (Thank you Nana) and got out of the house. It was nearly 50 degrees today despite all the snow still left on the ground. We went around the block and through Cain Park. Adeline slept for most of the trip but I'm pretty sure she enjoyed herself despite that. Later while Joel and Dela finished her nap I finally made it to the gym and put a few miles in on the treadmill. Nothing has ever felt so good even if my body has forgotten what a crunch is.





Anyway, We hope to hear from you all soon. Be sure to check out our pics on Shutterfly!

Love you All!

Sarah

We're home!!!

I am proud to e-announce the arrival of Adeline Emma into our lives. This was quite an adventure. One that I will need to forget somewhat by the time we consider our second child. Adeline didn't come easy. We avoided a c-section, but we had almost every other complication available. Before the little girl came out she decided (with no consult from mom or dad) that it would be good to wrap her umbilical cord around her neck and then head toward the birth canal sideways. I think if she had the chance to reconsider this choice, she would. She did ponder the options for quite some time, since she had about 26 hours after Sarah's water broke to think about it before she was born. As a result we utilized every tool imaginable to get the gorgeous little one into this world. Needless to say there were some red flags during delivery that caused Dela to stay the first few days of here life in the intensive care unit. After that she was given a clean bill of health. Bo and Cindy came early, since it was their first grandchild and their only princess, and got to see Adeline right after delivery. Look how proud the new grandparents are.

Grandma and grandpa Mulder came the next day and reveled in the amazing beauty that is Adeline. As you can see, Dela was well liked by all, and it didn't take long before she was rolling with peeps of her own. She does know, however, that peeps are peeps but there is nothing like family. Yesterday the whole family came home and dad proved that he could take a sleeping baby and put her in a 5 point harness car seat with out even waking her. Dad is quickly developing a new skill set.















Today is Friday and all the grandparents are gone... having filled themselves on grandparental love. Now it's just the immediate loons left and the papa loon is left taking care of his two girls. They are using up some well earned nap times.