Beaumonia

Like "pneumonia."
Yep.
It's not nearly as serious as I thought pneumonia would be - really it's just all of Beau's worst and hardest qualities amplified a little bit (mean, rough, unreasonable), plus a bad cough, runny nose, and fever. I took him to the doctor for what I thought was an ear infection, and I was right but as a bonus he also has lower lung congestion = pneumonia. Don't you love taking your kid to the doctor because you think something is wrong and then you're actually right? It's validation of the super-mom-sense, I think. And despite the obvious drawbacks of medication I love that I can give him something and, viola, he's all better. Super mom (and dad) again. :)

I just had to include this picture I took from my kitchen window. I just missed getting the shot of Beau and his cousin peeing off the back of the trailer. But this picture's not too bad, either. :)

On another note the Bug turned five months and got a bad cold. I was really worried that she had what Beau has, but in the form of RSV or something, but when I took her in they said it was just a bad cold. Poor bug, she is not a happy camper at all. The world is so unfair when you're five months old and sick...But you can still be super cute and chubby! Here, look, I found her neck!!

Her day goes something like this when she is happy and not sick:
* Wake up in her own room (the guest room). Turns out Marianne does raspberries in her sleep and this bothers Bekah. Rus and I thought Bekah was making it up, but then Rus heard her in the middle of the night actually blowing raspberries. She slept all night that night.
* Eat lots, burp loud, poop lots, eat some more.
* Play in the bumbo while I get the kids ready for school. Marianne loves kitchen utensils - she'll suck on a spatula or spoon while I make sandwiches. Once she even got a Hershey's wrapper - the girl has good taste.
* Play on the floor in Beau's room while Beau and I play with legos/transformers/ninjas.
* Sit and play in the swing while I shower. (Did you accidentally read "sit and play while I sing in the shower" like I did when I proof read? That's not what I said.;)
* Naptime! She'll decide she's done playing and grump just enough so that I lay her down. I swaddle her, but leave one arm out (or else she gets really mad) and lay her down on her tummy. She'll cry for a few minutes and then go to sleep.
* Forty minutes to two hours later she'll wake up and then her, Beau, and I run errands.
* Marianne will gracefully accept all compliments and coos from every adoring stranger - sure they sound funny but she'll smile at them anyway.
* More food (if she didn't eat any on the run).
* Naptime again! This one is usually longer.
* Awake time - more eating, burping, pooping, and laughing at Beau blowing raspberries at her. (You wonder where she got her cold?)
And so it goes on...Marianne eventually goes to bed around ten at night and when she is feeling good she'll usually sleep all night. Right now she's up more than she's asleep and it is b.r.u.t.a.l.
Marianne loves to lay on the floor and play while the big kids play around her. She works really hard to grab anything nearby and test it out in her mouth. She is super talkative; I can see her being a very opinionated person when she's older. :) And fyi, at five months she is 16lbs, 14oz and wearing a size 6-9months.
Love you Bug!
Here are some pics:

The colorful blanket in the last few pictures was made by her cousin Claire. Excellent job, Claire!