Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The Four Loves

by Madigan McGary (in no particular order)


  • Vacuum Cleaner. What does one need to say about the virtues of a vacuum cleaner that aren't already obvious? It is entertaining, hard-working, present in every home near and far, always removing the "nasty" from life, even if it does suck. It comes in many different colors and in all sizes and shapes - unique is a beautiful thing! You can plug it into anything, including the couch... how cool is that?! Enough said! 
  • "Pauge" (Declan). Best baby brother a Tiger could ask for. He's got curls and cutes and follows Tiger cues into the thick and thin, perfectly imitating the naughty and the nice. He can't walk yet, so though he follows the Tiger everywhere, he isn't fast enough to really be annoying (yet). He is super fun to wake up from naps and to chat it up with in the mornings when Mommy hasn't shaken her lazy bones into action. He is huggable and kissable, but also really fun to sit on top of. His milk bottle is always convenient and accessible - a MAJOR PLUS when the household menu is less than stellar. 
  • Hun-Hun. The most famous bear in all the world. Simply put: the Tiger world would not exist in the absence of his most faithful companion. Hun-Hun is loyal and willing. He loves to dance, go everywhere his Tiger goes, and sit on the table "chatting" while the Tiger is forced to eat whatever horrible substance Mommy has laid out for dinner. He has a little internal bell which rings every time he is hugged up close and he is totally cool with being tossed about wildly, being sat upon, smothered and bathed in the horse's water trough (he got that particular privilege today). 
  • And lastly (but assuredly NOT leastly), Hitch! Hitches are without dispute the most fantastic invention of mankind. They are fascinating to understand in all their complexity. Horse trailer hitches are the best and really are the foundation for all other hitches in existence. They are sturdy, and useful and all the cool (noteworthy) vehicles have one. There are captivating videos made about them and they are the inspiration for the imagination (see awesome trailer hitch video - beats Saturday morning cartoons!). Tigers are actually experts on hitches, so if you have a question, you know who to call.


Thursday, August 23, 2012

Short, but sweet (little boys)

I asked Madigan if he wanted me to turn some music on. He responded, "that would be nice." Sounded EXACTLY like George.

Another of his mimics that really gets me: "Deewicious!" I guess I say it a lot, because he uses the exact same tone of voice and facial expression when saying it. SO FUNNY!

I was reading to Declan when I put him down for his nap this afternoon and he turned around in my lap, grabbed my cheeks between his chubby little paws and pushed his face up against mine. He just sat there like that for several seconds and then turned back around to keep reading. What am I supposed to do with that besides melt into a puddle?

Monday, August 13, 2012

Oh Ma Gosh

So much of life these days passes by in a blur - a frenzy of activity:
  • potty training 
  • disaster aversion (did I mention it's non-stop?)
  • friction management (sharing takes years to learn)
  • volume control (WIP - Work in Progress)
  • life skills training (teeth brushed: Check; hands washed: Check; shoes on: Check, etc.)
  • barn duty (yes, those four legged children still have to eat twice a day)
  • endless appetite of a hungry brown bear vs. appetite-free Tiger who has much more important things to be doing at ALL times
  • general life drama 
And amidst the wonderful haze of each day are tucked away those little nuggets that make you laugh, make you cry, make you so thankful for the life you have. A few I can recall (if barely) from this week:
  • Declan boldly crawling around at the splash park, playing in the fountains and giggling the whole time. Priceless! 
  • George's insomnia because he's so excited about the lab presentation his students are giving the following day - I LOVE watching him LOVE what he's doing! 
  • Sitting on the couch this morning talking to Krista McCaleb when Madigan wipes something onto my hand. I figure it's leftover pancake from breakfast. Then, swipe 2. I say, "Madigan is that a booger?" He says, "Noooope." Then, my "oh crud, we're in the middle of potty training" thought kicks in and I say, "Madigan, is that poopoo from your bum?" He confidently nods his head and says, "Uh Huh!". Krista laughed so hard she nearly choked on her tea... not exactly a typical day at the IBM office.   
  • Rendezvous to the zoo (for the first time) with Ankie Tae (Krista), where Madigan got to see Elephants! He's been studying elephants for the past 2 weeks, watching videos of them, gathering elephant food for his collection, imitating their sounds, etc. It was so awesome to see them up close! 
  • Declan periodically crawling over to the piano, reaching his little fingers up and playing a tune. He always looks around to see if we're watching and when we say, "Declan, that is just beautiful", his whole face breaks into a smile and he starts his happy wiggle dance. You haven't lived if you haven't seen the wiggle dance! It's infectious! 
  • Waking up with my favorite Scottie body snuggled as close to me as she can get. For someone who's "not allowed on the bed", she's awfully bold. 
  • Coming back from the barn on a Saturday morning, to find Daddy and Tiger sitting in a chair watching a video on how to hitch up a horse trailer and load a horse properly. The Tiger was mesmerized and Daddy was... totally thrilled, of course. 
  • Madigan's nickname for Declan: "Pauge". LOVE IT! 
  • Watching those little brothers love each other - I am so thankful for the relationship they have. It's inspiring!