Chloe and Matt have been ill with coughs, pink eye and runny noses since last Thursday. Today Chloe threw up after eating a piece of chocolate from Easter and got red dots all over her face and chest. She broke a blood vessel in her left eye too. Alan picked her up after work and panicked. He called the Dr. and insisted they see both of the kids today instead of the appointment scheduled for tomorrow.

When they all got home, the kids crashed out on each of the couches in the living room. Then Chloe woke up and said, "Mommy, I want you to hold my hand." I said, "Ok baby girl, I will. Why do you want me to hold your hand?" "Because I don't feel good." Then she clutched my hand tight while she rested. A sigh of relief ran through me to know that she still needs me, no matter how briefly.

On my way out the door...

Matt said, "Momma, I wanna go to store with you." I said, "Should we invite Nana or Chloe to go too?" To which he shook his head, pointed his finger at me and replied, "No ma-ma. You, me and you."

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Somebody got not one, but two pair of diamond earrings for her 5th Birthday. Somebody got an awesome Tinkerbell cake and spent the day with her friends and family at Chuck E. Cheese. Somebody also got Birthday phone calls, cards and gifts from Texas, Mexico, and all over the state. I keep insisting she's not a spoiled little princess. She's simply loved very much. I hope Chloe remains humble, stays true to who she is, learns something new every single day and remembers how very much we love her. She lost one of my own diamond earrings that I treasured very much a couple of weeks ago. At first I was upset, but then I remembered that in the grand scheme of things, Chloe's precious love for me and mine for her is far, far greater than any shiny gem I could ever buy.

Oh baby...

Tonight during an episode of Grey's Anatomy, Chloe suddenly asked me where babies come from. Astonished, I gave her the answer that I presumed would satisfy the curiosity of a soon to be 5 year old...

Her: So Mommy, where do babies come from?
Me: They come from your belly!
Her: Well yeah, but how do you get them out?
Me: Well, you go to see your doctor at the hospital and they take the baby out.
Her: Well how do they do it?

Then I realized that I had to be completely honest. I know it's a bit early for the birds and bees talk, so I tried to be general.

Me: Honey, when two people, a boy and a girl, love each other very much they get together and decide to make a baby. Then you eat a lot of food to feed it until it's ready to come out. Like you!
Her: Yeah, but how do you get it out of your belly?
Me: Well there are two ways... they can come out of here (pointed to her parts) or the doctor can make a cut with a doctor knife and take it out of your belly.
Her: Babies can't come out of my pee-pee! Don't you just pump on your stomach a few times and then it comes out of your mouth?
Me: No baby, it doesn't work like that.

We talked a bit more and I showed her my c-section scar and explained that it was how her and her brother were born. She was in disbelief and said that she doesn't want to have babies because it would hurt too much. I explained that mommies don't think about that and that babies are so much fun to feed and dress and play with so we don't mind having them at all.

Here's what you're into, babies...

Chloe:

Toys: Hanna Montana with a pink car.

TV Shows: iCarly, Spongebob Squarepants (you lip sync the intro song very well), Drake and Josh

Vocabulary: Extensive. You say things like, "Actually, I'd like the pink popcicle, please."

Food: Yogurt, Ice Cream, Pizza and Chicken Nuggets Happy Meals.

Matt:
Toys: Thomas the Train. More Thomas. You cry and ache for more Thomas the train. Tamas Tain! Is how you say it. It's so adorable. You have Thomas train sets, a train table, Thomas books, songs, coloring books, t-shirts and DVDs. You accept no substitute. lol

TV Shows: iCarly, Spongebob Squarepants (you dance around and sing when it comes on)

Clothes: Jeans

Vocabulary: The cutest baby talk. You defintely know how to call your ma-ma!

Food: pizza, baba (yes you still have one... and you don't like to ask for milk. lol), oranges, bananas, chippies (chips), and dip-dip.

Somebody has it really rough.

Chloe: Mommy, I wanna watch cartoons.

Me: No, it's too late. Go to bed.

Chloe: I'll be in my room watching nothing.

Me and Alan (laughing): Why is that?

Chloe (looking down): Because I don't have a TV.