Mom and Dad?

Sometime over the last month or so, Harmon started calling us “Mom” and “Dad” instead of “Mommy” and “Daddy.” It makes him sound SO grown up and it’s so odd to hear, especially since I still call my Mom “Mommy!” He’ll say things like “Where are we going, Mom and Dad?” or “I had a good day at school, Mom and Dad!” Almost any statement or question contains a reference to “Mom” and “Dad.” He’s growing up fast enough but his language makes him seem so much older!

Making up for Novembers past

In the past, November has been a rough month for my side of the family. Both of my Dad’s parents died during November as did my Mom’s mother. I also was nearly a goner after getting t-boned by a Detroit city bus just before Thanksgiving in 1996. In the past few years, Kevin and I have tried to make up for all the past November pain. We were married Dec. 2, 2000 (almost November) and then Harmon was born Nov. 12, 2005. Then, this year, Simon arrived Nov. 25. I figure my family needs one more late fall event to ATTEMPT to balance things out!

The best laid plans …

My original due date was Dec. 13 but in late August we scheduled my c-section for Dec. 5. And, for months, our lives revolved around this date. As we got closer to the big day, Simon didn’t appear to be making a break for it so we felt pretty confident he would stay inside until he was surgically removed! Because of this, we made a lot of plans the last week or so before surgery.

On Wednesday, Nov. 26, we planned a day at Twelve Oaks Mall for Christmas shopping and a visit to Santa – along with a haircut – for Harmon. Thursday, for Thanksgiving, we planned on going to my Uncle Max’s house for dinner. On Friday, we typically stay at home and decorate for Christmas so that was the plan again this year. Saturday, Kevin and I had haircuts scheduled at our old salon near my parents’ house up in Waterford and then we actually were going to do something for our anniversary – dinner at P.F. Chang’s followed by a movie, Four Christmases.

The following week, I had planned to work only Monday and Tuesday before taking vacation days Wednesday and Thursday. And, on that Thursday, we planned on keeping Harmon home from school so we could do something special with him – The Polar Express in 3D at the Henry Ford IMAX Theater – before he became a big brother.

In addition to our plans, both my parents had cleared their work schedules for the Dec. 5 date so they could take care of Harmon. And, my sister, Stacey, had planned to be in town from Chicago for Simon’s arrival. Of course, all those plans were shot to hell when Simon decided to arrive early! And, we’ve not actually “planned” much since. Such is life with a newborn!