117 - Sum-Sum-Summertime

Mommy and Me

May 8, 2012

Well, that’s another doctor’s visit under our belts, Poppies.  She’s very pleased with our progress.  She also happens to be thrilled that I gained another 6 pounds last month.  I’m glad somebody is, because Mommy is NOT a happy camper. 

In an effort to cheer me up, your daddy said pregnancy officially gives me permission to eat burgers and fries and, like all the other silly women in the world, I believe just about anything he tells me.  Oh my word!

It turns out your daddy is the devil and I may never be the same once you get here.  You could very well have the only rabbit mommy in the world, because I’ll be forced to eat nothing but vegetables for the rest of my life to get all of the Burger King pollution out of my system.  Mommy is flame-broiling’s biggest fan.  Ever.

And Daddy is finding that out the hard way.  I woke him up at midnight a couple nights ago and sent him after a cheeseburger.  That doesn’t sound very nice, does it?  My philosophy is that he’s the one who gave me permission to eat burgers and fries, so he’s responsible for feeding the craving.  Daddy’s a responsible kind of man.  He gets it. 

He’s also a smart man.  He convinced them to give him several plain burger patties separately from the buns and condiments.  That way, when I get that craving in the middle of the night, Daddy can just go down and microwave the meat and make my cheeseburger here at home.  Pretty ingenious, huh?

It turns out that they don’t taste as good that way, though.  I’d still rather have them fresh from Burger King.  Sorry, Daddy...

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Mommy and Me

May 11, 2012

Today was Mommy’s first interview.  It was a little strange, but the man doing the interview was so nice that he made me comfortable in no time.  The man’s name is Hal, by the way.  He’s the one who gave Mommy and Daddy very important information and allowed us to keep you safe.

In appreciation for all his help, Mommy promised him an interview – two, actually.  Today was the first and it made me sappy, because it was all about how Daddy and I first met.  It reminded me of how clever your daddy is and how far we’ve come in such a very short time. 

It’s been a crazy ride so far, Poppies, but I want you to know that there’s no one I would rather have done it with than Daddy. 

Hal says people are going to eat up our story and that he will give me copies of the photos he took to go with the article.  I love the one where Daddy’s standing behind me, his hands spread wide on my belly.  It’s our first family portrait. 

xoxo

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Mommy and Me

May 13, 2012

Happy Mother’s Day to me! 

It’s my first one as a Mommy – or an almost-Mommy.  That made me kind of teary-eyed today when I realized it.  Then I got all teary-eyed again when I talked to Grandma Pam, too, realizing what she’s experienced all these years as my mother. 

Mothers are so under-appreciated, Poppies.  They give us life, nurture us, help us grow and how do we thank them?  Most of the time we take them for granted.  I’m sure you will, too, but that’s okay with me.  It’s the nature of things, I suppose.  Nonetheless, I’m feeling particularly guilty and nostalgic this year, so I’m glad I sent MY mommy an extra big bouquet of flowers.  She deserves that and so much more.

And your father…  He made me not just teary-eyed, but had me bawling like a big, blubbering baby today.   

I knew he remembered it was Mother’s Day, because he asked Jeri to order flowers for Grandma Carol and made sure your brothers and sister had proper celebration plans with their mother.  What Mommy didn’t realize is that he’d planned something for me. 

There’s a spot in the back yard – a big, round brick patio that’s down near the river.  We’ve planned to put Adirondack chairs there so I can waddle down this summer and watch the boats.  Well, your daddy decided I needed some landscaping around the patio.

He had a three-foot deep flower bed put in all the way around it – and had it planted with poppies for my Poppies.  Red, pink, white…  They’re simply beautiful.  His reasoning was that, even when you’re all big and grown, I can look out on that flower bed and remember the time when you were no bigger than poppy seeds. 

I’m sniffling just sitting here thinking about it.  What a silly Mommy I am, but I love how sweet your daddy can be when I’m not expecting it. 

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Mommy and Me

May 21, 2012

Daddy had me out L-A-T-E last night, so that’s why you didn’t get a note from Mommy yesterday.   Now that I’ve had a nice big yawn, a big stretch and half a cup of my favorite decaf tea, I’m ready to face the day and you, my Poppy Princesses, are the first order of business. 

So let me tell you about Asbury Park.  Yesterday was my first time there and, more importantly, it was my first time backstage at a Bon Jovi show.  Daddy tells me it wasn’t a “concert”, but a “show” because it was part of a musical festival – a big, crazy, insane, fear-for-your-life music festival.  (Mommy’s words, not Daddy’s). 

Oh my word, you should have seen the ocean of people that were standing there and waiting to see the band perform.  Some of them had been standing in those same spots for hours and hours and hours.  There was crowd surfing and crazy people everywhere!  I felt sorry for Daddy’s fans because they aren’t exactly the crowd surfing type. 

Mommy, though, didn’t have to wait.  I got dropped off in the backstage area only an hour before show time.  I expected to find Daddy waiting and being overprotective of you two, but I was very surprised.  This sounds strange, but your daddy wasn’t there.  Oh, he was there and he gave me a kiss and made sure somebody showed me around, but he definitely wasn’t wearing his family man hat.  Daddy at work is a COMPLETELY different person than the one who tucks us in at night.  It was… fascinating, really. 

He is so very serious, making sure everything is in order.  The people who work for him know exactly what he wants and expects and they give him a checklist of what has been done even before he asks.  Then he gets very, very quiet and goes to hide in his dressing room.

On the way home he told me that he’s getting his head in the game.  The crowd has certain expectations of him and it’s his goal to meet or exceed those expectations every show.  And, he said he was a little worried since they were out of practice.  It was the band’s first show since the last tour ended, almost a year ago. 

Daddy’s reclusiveness before the show gave me time to socialize a bit with all the Bon Jovi people.  Uncles Matt, Tony, Richie and David were all there, of course.  Uncle Matt got to play escort for me and he gave me a tour of backstage, explaining that Bon Jovi’s backstage was different, but similar.  So many guitars, cords, lights and screens everywhere.  It’s complete chaos, yet everyone seems to know exactly what’s going on.   Impressive, I must say.

Uncle Matt introduced me to some more “family” that I hadn’t yet had a chance to meet.  There was Uncle Tico, who is the drummer.  He’s very soft-spoken, but with a deep and rumbly voice like you wouldn’t believe.  I also met Hugh, Bobby, Obie, Abby, Dawn, Mike, Rob and a bunch of other people whose names I might remember after a few more shows.  I hope. 

Everyone was wonderfully warm and welcoming.  Daddy’s right.  It really is a family.  And family, the way family is, all thought they should get to pet my belly.  Sigh.  I have a feeling you have a million people waiting to spoil you.  How in the world am I going to keep you grounded, Poppies? 

Mommy is really going to have to work on that, because…   Do you want to know a secret?  I want to spoil you, too.  If there’s any way to spoil you both rotten and still make you good people, then I’ll figure out a way to do it.  That’s my new goal. 

Time to start the day, girls.  Daddy wants to go to the city, so I’m going to get dressed and go with him.  I’m due for lunch and shopping with Aunt Suzy, and I need bigger clothes.  Again!

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Mommy and Me

May 28, 2012

The Memorial Day cookout was a huge success, Poppies.  The whole family was here and I think everyone had a blast. 

I know for a fact that Jesse and Uncle Tony did.  Yes, Uncle Tony was still on this side of the country after Bamboozle so he came, too – with fireworks in tow.  Jesse was ALL kinds of excited about that and could hardly wait for the sun to go down.  In fact, he didn’t. 

Did I also mention we were celebrating Stephanie’s birthday?  Complete with a funky/cool birthday cake?  And sparklers?  Sparklers that were rigged to act like a fuse to the cherry bomb that Jesse swiped from Uncle Tony and planted in the cake?? 

It’s funny now, girls, but at the time – when everyone was covered with white cake and purple icing.  Let’s just say Daddy was not amused.  He wasn’t amused with Jesse and was DEFINITELY not amused with Uncles Tony and Matt who were laughing like hyenas on the patio.  The Uncles were taken care of in short order by your sister, though.  Stephanie scooped up what was left of the cake and flung it at them!  Uncle Tony couldn’t see a THING because his glasses were completely covered with birthday cake, and Aunt Riley nearly wet herself laughing. 

That’s when everybody else (including Daddy) started laughing, and Jesse managed to escape with his scalp intact.  He’s lucky.  Daddy was REALLLLLY unhappy with him there for a few minutes.   I kind of thought he was going to lock him in his room for the next century. 

Instead, we all had birthday ice cream and waited until dusk for the real fireworks.  Your Uncle Tony is pretty good with that stuff.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love being a Bongiovi?  Jesse isn’t the only lucky one. 

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Mommy and Me

June 11, 2012

Another doctor’s appointment and another 6 pounds.  If I didn’t love you so much I would really dislike you.  My belly is getting obscenely huge!  I’ve given up on putting the waistband of a pair of pants around it.  All I can do now is tuck the waistband underneath you two and hope it props you up a little. 

Big sigh. 

While I was in the city today, I went shopping and bought your first baby clothes.  They are the sweetest, most adorable little outfits – leopard print tunics and black leggings with leopard headbands.  And I even found itty bitty leopard print boots!  You, my babies, are going to be the cutest things ever! 

I was so excited to show Daddy your outfits when I got home, but he didn’t like them.  ‘Kitten’ is his nickname for Mommy, you know.  He said he doesn’t want to think about his daughters being kittens and I’m not to buy another leopard print thing or he’ll throw it in the river. 

Don’t worry.  Those outfits are too delightful.  I’ll convince him to let us keep them.  That’s what mommies do for their little girls – convince daddies not to have coronaries over clothes.   

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Mommy and Me

June 17, 2012

You did good, Poppies!   Daddy loved his Father’s Day gift.  I’m so glad I was able to convince them to give me another ultrasound and that the two of you were sooooo cooperative!  The enlarged version of two pairs of twin feet looks great on Daddy’s desk amongst the other pictures of your brothers and sister.  He was very happy to have all of his babies represented.

You will also be happy to know that I finally got that second blank heart for his necklace.  So, not only are you represented on his desk, but on his heart.  His words, not mine, if you can believe it. 

You don’t really KNOW your daddy yet, but you’ll soon understand that he’s not much into the sappy stuff.  Even when he does the sweet things I tell you about, he does it with such a ‘Jersey’ air that you’re not really sure it was sweet at all.  I feel it’s only fair to tell you that, so I paint your father as a whole person.  When you go back and read these entries years from now I don’t want you thinking, “Mom is crazy.  Dad isn’t nearly the mushy, sweet guy she talks about.”

Maybe it doesn’t seem that way on the surface.  That much is true, but I’ve learned to look below the surface of his gruff words and see that there’s love behind them.   I choose to focus on the love instead of the gruff.

 Besides, when I’m mad at him for being a jerk, I can go back through this journal and read what I wrote when I wasn’t mad.  It will remind me of the non-jerky times and then I won't be mad anymore. 

Speaking of him being a jerk, I haven’t filled you in on the latest name debate.  I’d love to go ahead and get the two blank hearts engraved, so I’ve been pushing him to talk about names.  Unfortunately, he isn’t ready to be serious about it yet. 

The latest contenders:

Sunny and Cher

Donni and Marie

Jan and Deana

Simone and Garfunkelina

Hallie and Oatella (for Hall and Oates… that one was a BIG stretch)

I keep telling him once you find out what he was trying to do with these names that you’ll disown him.  He just laughs at me. 

FYI - Mommy is still pushing Noelle.  

You’re welcome.

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Mommy and Me

July 4, 2012

We’ve had a pleasant day of celebrating our nation’s independence, Poppies.  Mommy, however, is ready to celebrate your independence from my belly.  I’m as big as a hippopotamus.  Honestly!  I keep waiting for Daddy to set up a wading pool in the back yard and have the gardener hose me down once a day. 

I can’t believe I still have more than two months left with you inside of me!  Carrying twins for 7 months is equivalent to carrying 1 baby for something like 77 months, in case you were curious….  Okay, so that was an exaggeration, but it’s hot and I’m huge.  It makes for a cranky, sweaty Mommy.

Daddy’s leaving in a couple of days for a show.  He has several this month and I’m not happy that the doctor says hippopotamuses are not allowed to fly.  That means Mommy is stuck at home while Daddy gets adored by thousands of people.   The upside is that he isn’t staying overnight for most of the shows.  He will fly out and then back the same night.

I’ll be honest… This first show has me a bit scared.  It’s in West Virginia (yes, that IS a separate state from Virginia).  I’m not sure how civilized they are in West Virginia.  Everything you hear about the place is very… curious.  I’m sure it’s a lovely place, but I just don’t know how connected they are to modern times. 

I’ll just have to trust Uncle Matt to protect Daddy from wayward livestock and wild hillbillies.  Maybe if Uncle Matt wears a fur coat they’ll think he's a bear and stay away from him and Daddy.

Hmm… 

Be back soon, darling girls.  I’m going to call Aunt Desiree about that coat.