I literally had a shitty day, as in it began and ended with poop.  This morning while getting Sophie changed for school, I opened her diaper only to reveal a massive pile of what looked like mashed avocados.  While wiping her, I inadvertantly knocked the diaper on the floor next to my foot. I picked it up, finished getting her dressed, and rushed out the door.

About 2 hours later, Wesley called to say that Victoria needed 2 crowns and possibly a root canal, or two.  What 4-year-old needs dental work of this magnitude?!  That poor child inherited my jacked up teeth.  If that's the case, a skin graft for her gumline, tooth extractions, and braces are sure to follow.

After receiving that disheartening news, I went about the rest of my day as normal.  I met with a few employees about retirement, talked with my co-workers, and dug through my mound of paperwork that gets bigger by the day.  At about 4:30 as my day was winding down, I went to the supply cabinet.  I happened to look down and noticed something on my pants.  It was green and crusty.  Turns out when that diaper dropped on the floor, it must have brushed up against my pants, leaving a good 2 inch glob of poo on my pant leg.  I'd walked around with it on there all day and was none the wiser.  Such is the life of a full-time working mother, I guess. 

For my upcoming birthday, my kids decided to get me the best present ever...The Snuggie.  It just proves how well they know me, or that they are suckered in by infomercials as much as I am.  This all came about because I am constantly draped in blankets, and have been since I was smaller than Victoria. It's something I've passed on to the kids, much to Wesley's dismay.  The house is littered with blankets 24/7, even when it's 95 degrees outside.  God forbid Wesley washes the blankets, and the 3 of us are left to fight over a clean one.  I have no qualms about leaving a 4yo out in the cold.

Whenever I ask Victoria a question or to do something, she gives me this look.  It's a blank stare with her mouth gaping open.  It drives me insane, because she'll stare at me like that for several minutes, not breaking her gaze.  I want to beat her in the face, but I end up cracking up every time.  That's the essence of our entire relationship.

At Trevor and Victoria's school, they have an award called the Dynamic Dolphin.  Every 2 weeks a kid in each class is awarded this when they're helpful, respectful, and courteous.  I will be the first to admit that Trevor has his faults, but overall he is one of the most respectful, thoughtful children you'll ever meet, especially to be a boy.  He says "ma'am" and "sir", does whatever he's told, usually with little griping, and shares everything with everyone.  That's why I can't understand why he NEVER was named a Dynamic Dolphin in 3 years at school.  I know the little brats who attend his school.  I've almost been run over by several of them when dropping off and picking up Trev and Vic.  Finally his current teacher rewarded his good behavior with the award, and as a bonus, I get to have lunch with him one day during the next 2 weeks.  Extra bonus- he's not too old to be embarrassed by my presence at his school.

In the past few days, Sophie has begun blowing past milestones.  She is trying to pull up on everything standing still, crawling, albeit only a few inches at a time, and eating regular food. We have to constantly make sure the floor is spotless because, true to her Capricorn goat nature, she puts everything in her mouth- paper, food, my jewelry, etc- and she now has the capability to get to those desired objects.  Also, this week, she decided to forego the baby food.  It's bland, boring, tasteless, and like a true Weaver, she'll have none of that.  So she has indulged in chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, muffins, mozzarella sticks, fries, and bbq.  Nothing but the best for my baby.

I don't like to tout my own heroics, but yesterday I, all by my lonesome, took 3 kids to the doctor while suffering from a debilitating sinus infection, and there were no casualties.  The girls were each due for shots, and Trevor was along for the ride since school was closed for the holiday.  I was hoping he'd be a bit more help than he was, but sitting there like a bump on a log playing his DS was better than the alternatives of him chasing Vic around the doctor's office or proposing a million hypotetical situations to which I'm supposed to respond as if there were a possibility of them actually occurring, which is our normal daily routine.

I have to say, the kids must have known how terrible I felt because despite the torrential down pour, which would have normally sent them into cabin fever frenzy, they kept calm and quiet, and entertained themselves with tv and toys.  This could have been due to the fact that the least little infraction was met with a stern growl, so for their own sake, they remained out of my way and got along famously.  Even the baby must have known.  She took a 3 hour nap in the morning, so I was able to relax for a bit on one of my precious few days off from work.

We rushed to the doctor at 2:25 for our 2:30 appointment only to sit in the waiting room for 45 minutes once we got there.  Vic had her finger pricked, and Sophie, her toe.  Eyes and ears were checked, and everything looked pretty good.  Then, it was time for shots.  I had prepared Victoria for shots by explaining that they would feel like bee stings.  Well, I didn't realize Nurse Sadistica would be on duty that day, and I felt the mother bear in me rise up as she jabbed Victoria twice in the thigh and Sophie once.  I was too sick at that moment to wage a war, but the bruises they're sporting today make me regret not turning the needle on her.

Aside from the shots, I found out that Vic needs her eyes checked for further evaluation, which would explain her need to sit inside the television. Also, she's finally slowing down according to the growth charts, now at a mere 30% for height and weight.  Given every woman's stature in my family, this was expected.  Sophie Grace was right on average for height and weight, which shocked me, given her chunky butt and Size 18 month clothing.  She's 19.3 lbs, and she feels every bit of it when I'm toting her around.  2 hours, 3 band-aids, and a few tears later, we were finally able to leave to enjoy the rest of our day off.

    Dear Sophie:

You've officially been outside my belly as long as you were in it, which just shows how insanely quick time passes.  You are now trying to pull up and crawl and are no longer content to just lie back and relax.  To be honest, I grow more concerned the older you get, because day by day, you act more and more like your sister.  You're determined, head strong, and restless.  You are constantly reaching for the nearest object, which often times is my face, cheeks, or nose.  Your grip is strong, and your nails are sharp.  I thought it was difficult to have one independent, strong-willed girl; I can't imagine having two.  Trevor has my deepest sympathies, although you seem to have him fooled for the time being.  He, as well as Victoria, adores you.  In fact, you seem to be the one thing they agree on.

I can't believe that you will soon be a year old.  More than that, I can't believe you're not sleeping through the night, yet.  You still wake up every 4 hours, and your father and I are suffering for it.  Yesterday, he made a pot of coffee and forgot to put the pot in, and I locked my keys in the car at lunch.  I'm lucky to remember my name most days.  The sick thing is, I actually enjoy our middle of the night bonding sessions. I know they're limited, and that's what makes them so special.  So, I'll continue to function as half a human being, just so I can soak up every last ounce of baby you have left in you.

Victoria: Trevor, now, can we be best friends?

Trevor:  We already are.

Oh.My.God. That's so sweet, I can't even stand it.  It was followed by a 5 minute argument over whether best friends' day actually exists, but  I didn't even care.  They have been sitting at the table for 30 minutes, just drawing.  Trevor has created his own comic book The Adventures of Super Spider.  The hero isn't all that original- Super Man and Spider Man combined- but the villains really show his creative side.  Trance is made up of different animal parts that can change, Humanbot is a half human and half robot that can disguise himself as anyone, and Tongue Twister uses his tongue to capture the good guys.

Meanwhile, Victoria is creating artistic masterpieces.

I know that in a few moments, we're about to embark on the neverending epic battle otherwise known as bedtime, so I'm soaking in the peace while I can.

October has always been my favorite month because the weather gets cooler, the leaves change, and both Halloween and my birthday fall in it.  It's the start of many celebrations, so I was thrilled when I had an October baby.  We had her party yesterday, so my morning began at 7am with making cupcakes and getting everyone ready to go to Aiken.  We left an hour later than we planned, and I rushed to finish the cupcakes and make the goody bags.  I felt guilty because out of all the parties, we put the least amount of thought, planning, and effort into this one.  I made the cupcakes with a Duncan Hines mix, for chrissake.  It went off without a hitch, though, and she passed out in the car on the way home.  Note to self: kids do not require an elaborate event to have a good time.  All that's needed are a bounce house and snow cone machine.

4 years ago, my water broke at 12:30 am.  Welsey drove me to the hospital in the quiet darkness.  The hospital was silent, except for the poor woman in the room next to me who'd gotten there too late to get the epidural.  I remember Family Guy was on television.  The anesthesiologist tried 2 times unsuccessfully to place my epidural before finally getting in on the 3rd stick.  By that time, I was fuly dilated and ready to push.  Everything until that point seemed to go so smoothly and effortlessly.  It was the calm before the storm, but I didn't know it, yet.  I had inklings during my pregnancy that I had a little spitfire in my belly, but I had no idea what I was in store for.

At around 3:30 am, our lives changed forever.  Victoria Elise Seigler was born on October 1, 2005, weighing 7 pounds 5 ounces.  She came out screaming and didn't stop until they took her to the nursery and hour later.  The day she was born, she held her head up and turned toward voices.  She rolled over at 2 months, crawled at 7 months, and walked at 10 months.  Victoria was never content to be held like a baby, cradled in your arms.  She demanded to be held sitting up, facing out.  She always had to see what was happening.

The past 4 years have been the most challenging, yet rewarding, of my life.  Victoria frustrates me in ways I'd never thought possible, but she is one of the most caring, intelligent, hilarious people I've ever had the pleasure to know, much less parent.  She's headstrong, determined, and beautiful, and I couldn't be more proud that she's mine.  I adore the fact that she asked for a rock-n-roll party and wanted a pink guitar as a gift.  That requests says it all.  She's my little rock star, and I look forward to watching her take center stage throughout her life.