Sun Feb 01 2004 08:17: Feeling better, but still not so well. Atticus seems to be the only well member of the family. We will stay home from church and sip hot lemon water to soothe the aridness in our chests.

(1) Tue Feb 03 2004 14:54 First Bad Word: Atticus overheard me hollering out the window to our neighbor (the one with two boys) that she should come over if she is bored. Well, that was the beginning of my doom. He learned the word. Now he is 'bored.' I'll never hear the end of it.

Tue Feb 03 2004 16:42 A Few Good Movies: Dave and I watched Bend It Like Beckham this weekend. It was GREAT. Really clever, and more substantial than you would think. What I mean is that this movie is playful and thought provoking at the same time, and I really appreciated the candor of the filmmaker's look at stereotypes and prejudices. The film is almost like a loose adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Maybe Austen is on my mind because Juliet Stevenson (who plays Mrs. Elton in the film Emma) plays a great character in Bend It Like Beckham. I also went to see In America at Liberty Hall on a "Mom's Solo Afternoon Date." Equally great, though different, of course. About an Irish immigrant family (with young daughters) struggling to make a life in America.

Wed Feb 04 2004 21:35: I've finally rejoined the ranks of the living. Being sick is the pits, but being sick and needed by ruthless toddlers at the same time is worse. So now I am trying to climb back on top of my life. I feel like I am putting a brush fire out with my measuring spoons. Better get back to the kitchen floor.

Fri Feb 06 2004 16:06 Snow Days: The winter clouds are dumping on us right now. In 24 hours, we've seen about 6 inches of snow, one class cancellation, and one Kansas City meeting cancellation. Last night we bought two of the last pairs of snow boots in Lawrence, and the boys are loving playing outside. We visited a friend this morning that had a nice field of untouched snow. Atticus was rolling in it, falling into tall banks, and trying to make snowballs, but the snow was too cold and powdery for that. Samuel enjoyed the experience as well, but since he can hardly walk in his snow boots indoors, I held him up as he blundered around. The hot cocoa and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies we ate after our play were heavenly.

(5) Sat Feb 07 2004 16:05 Conversing with Atticus: "Mom, I'll be Sadie (the "family" dog). Who will you be?"

"I'll be Tiger (the family cat)." I say. A look close to terror crosses his face.

"Noooo! That would be too scary. You be Aunt Lorna, okay?"

Sat Feb 07 2004 16:14 The Bad Kind of Milestone: Samuel's crib has become the playhouse. Atticus and Matthew like to climb in and pretend to be dogs, etc. Samuel has observed what a cool place his bed is, and has endeavored join the big-boy play place. Today he pushed over his riding car, stood upon the seat, stepped onto the handlebar so he could reach the side of the crib, lean over, and fall in. I would prefer him to know how to climb IN rather than OUT of the crib, so there is consolation in this new skill.

Sun Feb 08 2004 09:17: Getting out of bed is torture when the only warm surroundings are under the blankets. It is three degrees outside, and the cold really seeps in through our bedroom walls.

Mon Feb 09 2004 07:54 Cold Showers: Our water heater has gone out on us about ten, maybe twelve times over the weekend. This morning there is no warm water to spare. It is time to take action.

Mon Feb 09 2004 13:15: Atticus: "Mom, you be a nice person. And I will be a nice person. Let's play nice person!"

Mon Feb 09 2004 13:42: The plumber came and fixed our hot water heater. He also fixed the dripping fawcet in the bathroom. Sometimes I am glad to be renting, and I don't have to deal with bills for household repairs.

(2) Mon Feb 09 2004 20:10 Sweet Chicken: We were missing our cousin Jeff tonight--Dave took a cooking class at the Merc on homemade chicken noodle soup from scratch, noodles, stock and all. We bought the chicken from a family farm just outside of Lawrence. I cooked the chicken and the stock during nap time, and Dave rolled out the noodles when he got home from work. The results were fantastic. But we had a giant pot of great soup, and noone to share it with.

Chicken noodle soup in this region is a unique dish, and we ate ours accordingly. A person is supposed to top the soup with a piping hot spoonful of mashed potatoes. Kind of like a chicken noodle a la mode. We give it a two thumbs up.

Mon Feb 09 2004 20:15 Great Sleeper: I've never seen a boy so pleased to see his pajamas as Samuel was tonight. When I pulled his sleeper out, he gushed and raised his legs, waiting to be dressed. He is always equally happy when we tuck him into his bed with soother and silkie in hand. One day we'll have to wean him of his pacifier. Not today!

Mon Feb 09 2004 20:24 Fingernail Snag: Atticus tore one of his fingernails tonight. You have to know Atticus; he detests having his nails cut. Dave patiently urged him to put out his finger so that we could trim the jagged edge off the one nail. He resisted, but finally gave in. When Dave opened his hand to cut the rest of his nails, he protested, "No, Papa! Only ONE per day!!"

Wed Feb 11 2004 07:15 Sweet Dreams: Atticus: "I had a nice dream, but it didn't have a grandpa in it. It should."

(3) Wed Feb 11 2004 09:05: "Some days are yellow, some are blue." That's what Dr. Seuss says. Today is definitely blue. How do I do this day after day after day?

(2) Wed Feb 11 2004 09:42: I just discovered that Atticus and Samuel, while dumping out the contents of my dresser drawers, also poured a small bottle of potent perfume all over the bedsheets and themselves.

Fri Feb 13 2004 07:34: Today is going to be a great day, because my cousin Leonard is coming to visit me, AND he is bringing a cool friend, Brendan, whose blog I've been reading. Safe travels to you two.

Fri Feb 13 2004 07:34 What is in a name?: I have silly nicknames that I use interchangably for both Atticus and Samuel. These are "Gus" and "Boo." Gus I mostly use as a tack-on. Ex: Atticus-Gus, Samuel-Gus. I've tried to veer away from "Boo," especially in referring to Atticus, because I don't want to distract from the special allusion to Atticus Finch by using Boo (as in Radley) as well. But somehow that name is often stuck on the tip of my tongue.

Anyway, the point of this ramble is that Atticus is more and more confused by these nicknames, and the ways I use them. He is starting to ask me, for instance, when I say something like "bring me your cup, Gus," "Which Gus, Mama?" And then wait for clarification. I don't know why this is so funny to me, but it is.

Fri Feb 13 2004 09:44: Today in the shower Atticus was using these little frog and turtle soaps that his friend made him for Valentine's Day. Atticus thinks they are pretty special. When Dave informed him that his shower time was up, he protested, "But Papa, I'm washing my favorite body!"

Sat Feb 14 2004 14:28: Leonard and Brendan were privy to one of the unfortunate realities of life with little ones: night wakings. Thanks for being good sports, guys.

Sat Feb 14 2004 14:40: On our way home from picking Atticus up from gymnastics, Leonard asked him what he did in class. He answered, "I played 'Motor Boat,' and I crawled around like a trilobite!"

Sat Feb 14 2004 14:51: Atticus was distraught over Leonard and Brendan's leaving today. His sadness slowed him down enough for an afternoon nap, though. After he woke up, I asked him if he had a good sleep. He said "Yes, my body was saying 'Ahhh, this is so nice.'"

Sat Feb 14 2004 15:12: Last night I was explaining to Sumana over the phone that my life is not boring. Today, as I was picking herbal tea pouches out of the VCR, I realized the meaning of my statement. When you are a parent, you never know when you are going to walk in on your children peeling all the labels off your canned goods. Yes--this did really happen to me last week. That kind of anticipation makes life anything but boring.

(2) Wed Feb 18 2004 20:58 Dr. Visit: We had our first visit with our new Pediatrician yesterday. It was a good visit, with good reports. I really like Dr. Riordan. He didn't dumb things down like doctors sometimes do, and he seems very knowledgeable, but willing to defer to the experts when he doesn't know (Ex--I asked about botox losing efficacy). He's referred Atticus on to a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at Children's Mercy in Kansas City and provided referrals for PT and OT visits.

I think we've found a great doctor. The office is very pleasing as well, kid friendly with toys all around, and even an exam room with an electric train that circles the room.

We also went to the lab and had the boys’ blood taken for a lead test. Pretty traumatic. Atticus still has his bandage on. But we bought lollipops afterward, and Atticus is sure he is so brave.

(2) Wed Feb 18 2004 22:18: I went today to get a haircut. Two months have past since my last cut. The story of my hair is like the O. Henry story "The Gift of the Magi." But unlike the character Della, who cuts her hair when she is destitute, I grow mine out when I lack the funds to keep it short. I guess that means I'll be growing my hair out starting today. Good-bye wonderful feeling of having my hair off my neck and out of reach of little boy hair-pullers!

Thu Feb 19 2004 14:27: The monkeys have taken over. Trying to secure the area and impose order upon chaos.

(2) Thu Feb 19 2004 20:59 Favorite Things: Contents of Atticus' backpack (which he defends with ferocity): Two matchbox cars (with glow-in-the-dark features, from Grandma Matkin), a blue saucer, a top, Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb, empty Smarties box (Canadian choc. candies), two toucan birds, two giraffes, two lions and a lioness, a blue peacock, crocodile, 13 wooden alphabet blocks, favorite boy riding blue car, motorcycle, Nightwing action figure, rubber dinos (2 T-Rexes, 3 Brachiosauruses, 1 Dimorphodon), two plastic butterflies, a centipede, a scorpion, a millipede, a preying mantis, Spiderman action figure, a blue peg and green washer (these belong to his tool bench from loved one Jen Taylor), a suction cup, 4 pennies, a nickle, an ant, 4 turtles (gifts from Frances), and a small Cabbage Patch Kid figure (wearing a blue dress) that is a remnant of my own childhood.

(3) Sat Feb 21 2004 18:34: Dave is in Wichita, Kansas attending his first academic conference. I drove him out Friday morning (2.5 hours), and after I dropped Dave off, I took the boys to the Exploration Place, which is in downtown Wichita the Arkansas River. Some favorite attractions were: the Dr. Seuss exhibit, Atticus dressing up as a leopard and growling at other children, digging faux fossils out of chalky plaster while Samuel ate dirt, the live scorpion and live prarie dog exhibits (separate exhibits, of course), and the microscopes with slides of bacterias and such.

(1) Wed Feb 25 2004 21:23 Updated Photos on Matkin Homepage: Hey, Dave and I updated the family photo's on www.matkin.com/dave.

(1) Thu Feb 26 2004 09:41: Okay. I'm back. I've been on a self-imposed restriction from the internet because I was growing more and more consumed by the computer, and my little muffins were feeling the brunt. I know this because they were hanging at my legs begging me away from the keyboard. But now balance is restored, and I can break away a bit here and there.

Three weeks ago, I started swimming laps in the evenings. I really enjoy this activity, and I feel like I am making a lot of progress quickly. This is only because I've never swum more than 20 yards in a stretch before now. With the help of his own swimming experience and a great book with drills and discussion of technique, Dave is coaching me a bit. The swimming is a great change of pace for my day, and my every-once-in-a-while nights with insomnia are over.

Thu Feb 26 2004 13:42 Ah, the Wonders of Young Life: Atticus peers into a cup of crackers and cheese I have prepared for him to snack on. "Marble cheese," he declares, "I am SO LUCKY to have MARBLE CHEESE!"

Fri Feb 27 2004 07:58 Miracle Grow: I am sure that Samuel grew three inches in the night.

Sat Feb 28 2004 07:52: Dave was in Kansas City all day teaching an ethics courseon Friday, but we the weather was so nice, we still rode the bus up to campus. We went to the Natural History Museum, and I'm afraid the boys are becoming disinterested in the exhibits. We've been so many times. Well, winter will eventually end, and our visits to the museum will subside for a while. Then in a few months, the museum will regain its intrigue.

(1) Sat Feb 28 2004 08:54: Atticus had several nightmares last night, waking up twice and remaining awake at 6:15 this morning. Said he, "I had a letter "A" dream. It was scary."