I'm Moving

Katiemagic has a new home! Ya'll come see me over here.

That of Which We Do Not Speak

Last night was a rough one. Ellis was whiny from his 3am feeding until we finally figured out what was wrong and gave him gas drops at 6:30. I kept wracking my brain trying to figure out what I had eaten that was different, and then it hit me.

I haven't mentioned it here because if I say it that makes it real. But internet, my child does not like chocolate.

It was the two bites of chocolate cake Kent bought just to torture me that made my little guy so miserable. I don't know how our genes could have morphed and turned against us like that. He'll be hearing about this until he's 30 I swear.


At least he's talented.

Baby Steps

Ellis is currently lying in his pack n play (staring happily at Winnie, Piglet, and Eeyore) an entire two rooms away from where I'm making dinner. Of course the rooms are quite open so I can hear every little movement. Does this mean that one day I'll actually put him down for a nap in his very own room? Baby steps people.

The Rainy Sunday Morning Series

Feeling Lucky Punk

Yesterday was one of the few days a year in Texas when it is beautifully sunny and not too hot to do anything about it. On those days it's hard to feel anything but grateful for life in general. Ellis and I went for a walk around our neighborhood trails system and watched the trees bloom and kids play basketball. I kept thinking about how much it sucks to be in a classroom or an office on days like those and it made me feel incredibly lucky. I have a beautiful, healthy baby boy. I have a husband who supports my staying at home even on days like that while he's stuck in the office. I have a roof over my head, food in my belly, and many years ahead of me. Those are the things that really matter.

Pictures I took on our walk:

Introducing Harper

Ellis's new best friend (Drew's son). I'm jonesing for a trip to Nashville to meet him in person. Damn that budget! Isn't he so cute?

Happy Bloggiversary to Me!

I can't believe it's been a year already. When I started this here blog I didn't have any idea of how it would evolve, or if I'd even stick with it longer than a week. My first posts sound so self concious to me now. I wonder how the more recent ones will sound to me next year. Anyway, in honor of my first bloggy year, here's a picture I took last March around the same time the twitchy (or I suppose rambly) blog was born.

2 Months

Ellis,

It’s amazing to me what a different baby you are from the one month old I wrote my last letter about. One thing hasn’t changed though, you’re still an easy going little guy. When you were first born everyone kept telling us to enjoy your temperament because it wouldn’t last. They had us convinced that you were going to wake up one day and be an inconsolable screaming mess. We must have done something right in our previous lives because that never happened. The most sure fire way to make you happy when you are fussy is simply to stand over you and smile. You immediately shift gears to play time and all is right with the world. It is the best feeling in the entire universe to see you smile at me.

Two days after your one month birthday you were propped up on your dad’s knees in our bed while he was making silly faces at you. It was the tongue wag that drew out your first smile. At first you made us work hard for those smiles, but as the weeks go by they become more and more spontaneous and frequent. Soon after your first smile, you started to copy one of us if we coo-ed to you. Now you’re the one who initiates the conversations. If your smiles are any indication we’re having some pretty funny talks. You’re most inclined to do this right after your early morning feeding. I’ll bring you back to bed and you’ll look back and forth at your dad and I just smiling and coo-ing for about half an hour. It’s becoming my favorite time of day.

Soon after your GP went back home, we moved you into our bed. Now you sleep between your dad and me every night. We all seem to sleep much better that way. Your pediatrician says we should move you to your own bed in a couple of months. Right now just the thought of not being able to reach over and rub your little tummy when I’m half asleep makes me want to cry. Speaking of your pediatrician, you had your two month check up last week. You’re growing so fast. You’re already 13 pounds and 24 inches long. That makes you heavier and taller than 90% of other baby’s your age. No wonder momma’s back hurts!

We’ve recently started piling up a bunch of your blankets and letting you hang out on the floor in the living room while we watch TV. You only like this arrangement if one of us is sitting down there with you. (this is a recurring theme; you always want one of us where you can see us) We get in a lot more tummy time this way, which you hate so much that last week you turned over onto your back three times in a row just to be able to look around at the world again.

You and I have really started to get into a rhythm during our days together. We’re not on any sort of schedule yet, but we’re both getting used to being each others only company for most of the day. Last week for the first time we got out of the house a lot to run errands and do some fun things like go to lunch with Daddy. We also went to the post office to get you your first passport. It only took around 5 tries to get the picture right. You’re looking right into the camera, and I can’t wait to use it when we go see your GP next month. Your dad is trying so hard to find the kind of job that allows him to be home with us during the day. He misses you so much when he’s away at work, and when we’re all together, it just feels like that’s the way our family should be.

I still love you more every single minute. There are times that I feel it so strongly that I have to hold back tears. It’s an overwhelming and amazing bond and I feel so damn lucky to be experiencing it especially with you.

Spring has sprung where we live. It’s been warm weather and blooms everywhere. I’m looking forward to introducing you to so many things now. The wildflowers in the fields, Bob the turtle who came out of hibernation just today, the swimming pool, the museum, the library. I’m excited for you to be old enough to understand these things. I know you will be in no time at all. But in many more ways I want you to stay just how you are. My smiley cooing little man, for just a little while longer.

In Which She Goes There

Can you tell it's the weekend and I have some help with the baby? I'm a blogging maniac. I've even read others and (gasp) left comments! Below I'm posting very cute pictures of my baby who thought it was funny when he pooped so much that the poop came out the side of his diaper and went all over his leg and bouncer. If the poop will make you puke please don't go all the way to the end. (that's three uses of the word poop in a five sentence blog. poop!)


He wears 3-6 mo pants that are too small in the belly and huge in the legs.

Rocket Man


Ha ha poop is funny

When CanaMa saw this she asked me if I was eating carrots. Yes, yes I was.

Looky I'm a Pagan Heathen

You scored as Paganism. Your beliefs are most closely aligned with those of paganism, Wicca, or a similar earth-based religion. You may also follow a Native American religion. Paganism 79% Hinduism 67% Islam 63% Buddhism 58% Satanism 50% agnosticism 42% Christianity 38% atheism 29% Judaism 25% Which religion is the right one for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com

Drew Is Hating Life Right About Now

I am so excited I can't stand it. Drew is 9 1/2 cm dilated and laboring with her midwife in the comfort of her bedroom with no drugs. She's my freakin heroine. I can't wait to get the call letting me know the baby's gender! My money's on a girl. Woo hoo!

Update: It's a boy! Harper Paul Dowdy 6 pounds 14oz 20 inches long born this morning around 5am. Sources say he has a full head of dark brown hair, has already latched, and hasn't stopped wiggling since he came out.

CONGRATULATIONS YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!

Times They Are A-Changin'

It's been a stressful few weeks at casa Tschoepe. I would get into details but they're boring and frankly if I have to think about it anymore my head is going to explode from the stress. Suffice it to say Kent's work situation is suddenly extremely uncertain. With me not working we really have zero wiggle room and all of our savings just went to homeowners taxes. We're going to try to sell the house and move somewhere much smaller and at a price that's in our new smaller budget. We've only lived here for 2 years and we owe almost what it's worth so we'd have to somehow come up with a lot of cash at closing to be able to sell it. So yeah, stress.

The exciting part is that we are no longer stuck in Texas because Kent is no longer tied to his job. So the plan is for Kent to try to find a job in Washington or Colorado or Utah or somewhere else that has a lot of natural beauty and isn't 500 degrees in the summer. He's even looking in Vancouver Canada which truth be told has managed to trump my 20 year long dream of living in London.

This, however, makes me forget all my troubles.

I got 4 long and blissful hours of straight sleep last night. When E finally woke up to eat around 4am he was so hungry he kept trying to stick both of his fists into his mouth at once. I'm getting more and more used to getting up, and more and more used to going on much less sleep. The best part about late night feedings has got to be the late night TV. Did you know that Kathy Griffin's show Life on the D list is on at 3am? I've also seen Wings re-runs and the X-files is always on although not always on the same channel. Kent says he gets up with us to keep me company, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it's the infomercials.

Eventually we're going to build a site just for E's pictures, but until then you'll have to be subjected to the cuteness on this here site.