Monster Trucks

My friend and co-worker Dialea gave Porter a package of monster trucks for a big brother present. They've proven to be, as Porter put it, "the best pWesent ever!" And this morning, they've been the inspiration for the following song (I wish I could record it, but my camera needs new batteries):

Giant tru-uck, giant tru-uck,

You're gonna be the be-est tru-uck. 

And then you'll drink some Diet Co-oke,

because you are thirsty and a giant tru-uck.

And then you will fly,

high in the sky-y,

because you are the best monster tru-uck.

It continues for another twelve verses so far. Love it!

Uncle, Crystal Bear & Gwamma Burt

Between this

and this

(background: Andy tore his ACL playing soccer at the beginning of February and had surgery last Wednesday), 

things in the Burt home over the past month have been a bit nutty.

Fortunately, we've had Andy's mom staying with us through most of February. This has been a HUGE help considering an almost-three year-old, a newborn and a husband who can't walk require more than the two hands I've got to offer. But, alas, all good things must come to an end. And while I am looking forward to no longer having to try to unsuccessfully ignore the yummy treats Lynn whipped up at least every third day during her visit, I will sorely miss the extra help and commiseration when all three of my babies hit the witching hour at once. Lynn, when you get back to Atlanta and read this, THANK YOU, thank you, THANK YOU. We couldn't have made it through the past few weeks without you.

And as long as I'm in the business of shout-outs, Andy and I are also feeling lucky to have his brother Layne and his wife Crystal here in Cedar to help at what is almost always a moment's notice. Layne has been just "Uncle" to Porter for quite some time, and I think Crystal finally earned her stripes with Porter a few weeks ago when he started calling her Crystal Bear. These two may be some of Porter's very favorite people. Ours too.

So, permanent and temporary Cedar City Burt Clan, thanks for all the help. Andy and I have made it through the first six weeks of newborn haze, have successfully navigated a surgery, and have done it all without killing one another. I credit this small miracle to Gwamma Burt, Uncle and Crystal Bear.

That easily replaced?

As we speak, my sweet little girl is inhaling her first bottle in the arms of her dear old dad.

And what am I doing? Trying to be glad that she took to the bottle so easily (this was our first try in preparation for my return to work), but secretly feeling sorry for myself that there wasn't even the least bit of struggle getting Nora to accept anything besides the original.

In all seriousness, I am glad it looks like I'll be able to return to work without fretting over starvation and screaming fits. But alas, this brings me just one step closer to leaving the kiddies for work. And though I am grateful for such a great job, I am sad to too soon be signing off as a full-time mom. But enough complaining. I have a husband who our kids adore manning the daytime parenting post, and I have a stable job that I enjoy with co-workers that make me laugh and make work fun. What more could a gal ask for (besides a few more hours in the day so I could work and do a bit more of the fun parenting stuff like playdoh projects and walks around the block)?

Your loss, Regis

I know, I know, you're checking the blog to see pics of Nora. After all, she is twice as old as the last photos we've posted. Sorry, folks, this one's strictly about our eldest. And my hair-brained antics paired with a good dose of procrastination.

So maternity leave has been treating me well: slippers all day long (our floors are so cold in the winter!), no showers until after noon, and of course, a good dose of daytime TV. While I don't care much for soap operas and Dr. Phil, I do love the morning "news" (I use this word loosely) like the Today Show and Live with Regis and Kelly. So, sometime in January, I was lucky enough to be quietly breast feeding during Regis and Kelly when they mentioned their cutest baby contest. Since they use "baby" as loosely as I use news, the contest is open up to four years old. And since our little Porter is the sun and the moon in the Burt home, I thought "we could use the $125,000 in scholarship money for our adorable genius," and made big plans to enter the contest.

Ramble, ramble, ramble, told Andy. He said he'd take some pics. And, long story short, life with a new baby got the best of us and I saved the potentially life altering photo shoot until the last day the contest was open to entries. But after nap that day, I washed our little cherub's face, spruced up the 'ol curls and started snapping pics. When I got one that I thought might be able to compete (I know, I know, every parent thinks their kid is the cutest, but why not hope for luck, right?), I jumped online to enter the contest only to find that it had ended TEN MINUTES earlier. Turns out Regis and Kelly like to cater to the Eastern Time Zone. And yes, I know they're stationed in NYC, but still, would it kill them to leave the contest open until 5:00 Pacific Time?

Ok, enough rambling. I didn't enter because I'm a giant procrastinator. And I haven't watched Regis and Kelly since. So, without further ado, the photo tha

t could have secured Porter's dorm at Yale if only his mom were  a more timely person.

Now, jut for the record, I was only half-sure Porter would have won. But a mom can dream, right? Perhaps I am better off at work during the day. The photo fiasco was followed up with a very close Made-for-TV call when I nearly bought the ShamWow for Andy for Valentine's Day. (I know it sounds lame, but he would have liked it - he's weird.)

Now, at month's end, we're no worse off in the college savings department than we were before and we still use paper towels for cleaning up spilled milk (according to the infomercial, the ShamWow can be used in the kitchen just as easily as it can be used to wash a car. Magic).

At least I've got a fun new pic to stick on my desk when I'm forced to head back to the office.

To be continued

So I'm working on a big exciting post that recaps our first month as a family of four, but surprise, surprise, I just can't seem to find the time to sit at the computer for more than 4 seconds at a time. However, I've started to get threatening emails from the long-distance crew, so here's a little baby love to tide you over. Hoping to get back in the saddle soon.

Nora at two weeks (Yes, I know that was half her lifetime ago, but everything else has either already been posted or is still on the camera.)