Harrison's First Blog (by HJC)

Here a story that Harrison told to Mommy today. Enjoy!

A snake came and bit my brother. Then the there were superhero snakes fighting the bad snake. Next there was a super super super big big snake. Then there was a bad snake. Two. No lots of bad snakes. There were bad guys and superhero guys and they fight each other. Just four ones.

The tower with bad guys and good guys

The bad guys fight, then the good guys fight. Then the bad guys and the good guys are thirsty. Then they were tired. After they were tired, they were hungry. After they were hungry they had juice to drink and after the juice they had water.

There was a bad snake and a good snake fighting each other. A little tiny snake and a big snake. Two snakes. Then they wanted juice and they run out of juice. Then they went to the grocery store. Then they were happy to be home and drink juice. Then the bad guys were good and the superheroes were bad. No, then the bad guys were good and the superheroes were good.

The End.

The Storytellers

Storytelling has been a long tradition in my family. Harrison is an amazing storyteller. He has an incredible imagination and loves to learn new words when we create stories together. We have a game that we play in the car. It's eye spy, but with a twist. Some times I will spy a car or a school bus, and when Harrison guesses what I'm thinking about, we talk about where the car or bus is going, who's inside, and what their day will be like. Some times the plot twists and turns until we're discussing pirates and princesses, other times we make up stories about normal characters with interesting lives.

A couple of days ago Libby was sitting in my lap. She was melting my heart with her coos and grins. Then I asked if she would like to tell me a story. She wiggled around, her eyes grew wider and beamed, and she grinned from ear to ear before letting out a long stream of coos and ahhs. I know it was the inflection of voice and not my request for a story that prompted this adorable behavior, but I hope that in a few years I will have another little storyteller creating tales with me and her brother about princesses and the superheros who save them.

R.I.P. Puppy

Yesterday was a day of milestones for the Comber family. Harrison pooped in the toilet without having an accident for the first time, a potty-training victory! Libby turned 8 weeks old and has been smiling and cooing like a champ. And, our Harrison learned his first lesson about loss.

I noticed Puppy was very still while I was preparing Harrison's lunch (ironically, lunch was leftover shrimp.) As the smell of the sea drifted from our oven, Puppy's unnaturally curved body caught my eye. I moved his bowl, Puppy's body moved with the current, fins still, his face turned toward the water's surface. I called Matt. When he answered, I could only say one word.

"Puppy."

"Oh no."

"Yeah."

Silence.

"How do I tell Harrison?"

After discussing the possible ways to break the news, I decided to tell Harrison after lunch. The idea of shrimp made me nauseous. I made two plates, and after taking a bite, I threw out my portion and sat back in my chair wondering how Harrison would take the news and thinking about what may have caused this untimely end. The bowl was clean. We fed him regularly. The temperature...oh. The temperature. The temperature in our house had dropped dramatically the night before. We hadn't turned on the heat until that morning.

After Harrison had finished his lunch, he sat in his chair licking ketchup off his finger. He put a dot of ketchup on his nose, looked over at me, and laughed.

"Harrison?"

"What?"

"Puppy died."

"Oh." he laughed again and put more ketchup on his nose. Then, he stopped. His bottom lip jutted out, and he began to process the news. Then he began to cry. "But, I will miss him."

Harrison ran to me, tears streaming down his face, and hugged me tight. "I love you, Mommy."

After holding him a bit, I talked to Harrison about burying Puppy in the front yard. We bundled Libby, put her in the car seat, and went outside. The garden frog sits near the front door and his name is Jeremy Fisher. Harrison decided to bury Puppy next to Jeremy and we went to work digging the hole together.

"Goodbye Puppy." I said.

"I will miss you." Said Harrison.

****

We all miss Puppy. Harrison still goes into the kitchen and looks over where Puppy's bowl used to be. Puppy was a great first pet, despite the brief time he was with us.

Puppy Nemo Comber
Rest In Peace
Beloved Fish and Inspiration
March 2008-October 7, 2008

Disappointment (by HJC)

So we went out late last night as a family to pick up shin guards for Harrison's first soccer game scheduled for today. I was so surprised with the vast selection of tiny shin guards for kids his size-- or even smaller! The cutest things I've seen.

I also noticed that equipment like shin guards, soccer socks, cleats and soccer balls have come a long way in the past 23 years. I don't remember even having a shin guard that fit until I was about 16, and by that time, I was too cool for shin guards, and would cut up my old ones to create the most minimal shin pads I could get away with. Not only that they would never fit, but they were just an added thick pad of clothe that wouldn't prevent from bruises if and when I ever was kicked in the shin. Now the shin guards fit perfectly onto a boy who is only 40" tall, with the following features "1. K-resin shell provides high impact, resistance and durability; 2. Honeycomb holes provide more ventilation and air breathability; 3. Lining material for comfortable wear and durability; 4. Fixed ankle sock; 5. EPE foam insert for ankle protection." I think he could be kicked by all 140 pee wees and never get a bruise.

So Harrison was up late with all the excitement, and I was worried he wouldn't be awake early enough to get to the field by 8am. He fell asleep around 10:15 pm with visions of soccer balls bouncing in his head. I went downstairs to see if there was anything posted on the web site about a rain cancellation. Sure enough, I first noticed the 2 new emails-- one from the PASC and another from the head of Pee Wee. "September 6 Games Cancelled Due to Hanna" the subject lines read.

I was shocked that they called all the games for the day, as I knew that the storms weren't due until the afternoon, and that only rain showers were expected in the morning hours. I was also disappointed. We were looking forward to this day for so long, and it hasn't rained for so long, and a hurricane decides to arrive on the day of one of my son's biggest milestones ever-- his first soccer game!

I stayed up late since I didn't have to get Harrison to the field early. This morning, Harrison comes into our room at 6:30 carrying my cell phone with its alarm sounding. Not only was Harrison wide awake and ready for soccer, he already took off his pajamas, put on "soccer clothes," and begging for me to wake up. I described to him that there was no game today because it was raining and he seemed to understand. However, when we looked out the window and saw no rain, it was very frustrating to me, and Harrison couldn't really understand it completely.

We are going to play some indoor soccer today, and hope that another week will help us to touch up Harrison's skills before getting to game day. He's going to be amazing. Watch out Freddy Adu.

What we are in for.....GOL! (by MJC)

It seems like yesterday when we were in the hospital and watching Univision futbol matches as we awaited the birth of our first born, our dear Harrison. Since then, Harrison has grown into a very active 3 year old, and he is ready to play his own brand of soccer-- the Phoenixville Area Soccer Club U-6 Pee Wee League.

To prepare us as parents, and I as an assistant coach, I read up on the soccer club's home page to find what to expect. Here is what the experts say about coaching 3-5 year olds playing soccer:

• Most players cry immediately when something is hurt. Some cry even when something is not hurt.
• No matter how loud we shout, or how much we "practice" it, they can not or will not pass the ball.
• Somebody will come off the field in need of a toilet. Somebody will stay on the field in need of a toilet.
• The only player to hold a position is the goalkeeper (if you play with one). Don't even consider teaching positional play.
• Twenty seconds after the start of a game, every player will be within 5 yards of the ball.
• Several players will slap at the ball with their hands, or pick it up. Several parents will yell at them not to do that.
• A model rocket that is launched from a nearby field will get 99% of the player's attention. By all means, stop whatever you are doing and go watch for a couple of minutes!
• During a season, you will end up tying at least 40 - 50 shoe laces.
  
• They will do something that is absolutely hysterical. Make sure that you laugh!

I am sure we will laugh and laugh often...and if and when the ball rolls to the back of the net, we need to be ready to yell "GOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Housebound

"You need to write a blog. We can't let my Olympic weeping story be the first thing people read." Matt said this after we ate dinner and settled down for a night of relaxing with the kids.

"What in the world do I have to say or write about?" I thought. I've been practically housebound for the past two weeks recovering from surgery. The highlights from the past 14 days (besides spending time with my daughter and son) include friends and family coming to visit, going to church, a quick stop at a party for a friend of ours, time at the Combers, and a trip to the Rite Aid.

Harrison and Libby are amazing. Harrison has been getting into trouble more often to get our attention, but when it's just the three of us, he's incredibly helpful. Libby is so awesome to watch. It's amazing how she can break my heart with a yawn or a toothless grin.

I've been working on getting Libby on a routine and learning how to balance my time and energy with two kids. Matt's been Mr. Incredible with helping me around the house and his two week paternity leave was a HUGE blessing. When he went back to work on Tuesday, I was so afraid to be left alone, to be outnumbered, to be housebound with two kids. Thankfully, I had major help.

On Matt's first day back to work, he came home early and we went to the Combers to celebrate Gerry and Adia's birthday. Even though the kids were well behaved and I achieved getting both of them to take a nap at the same time, I was surprised to find that I was exhausted before I could say "Happy Birthday." On Wednesday, Matt's mom took Harrison for the afternoon. Thursday, Matt worked from home and friends from my high school brought us dinner (thanks Bri, Justin, and Avery!), and today Harrison's friends came to play in the afternoon and I was able to talk to their mom for a while. Hooray for adult conversation! It was a great way to end my first week as a stay-at-home mother of two.

This has been an insane 16 days since Libby's birth, but I can't imagine or remember what it would be/was like without her in my life. It's an amazing experience that's for sure.

-Katy

There's no crying in the Olympics! (by MJC)

There I was, sitting with my daughter in my arms watching women's gymnastics. Shawn Johnson gets the gold. Her mom cries and is embraced by her father.

I wept.

There is just something about the pride and joy of her parents that got me thinking of watching Libby succeed in life. What will it be like to watch her graduate high school, or college? What will it be like to watch her land a great job and enjoy a career? To walk her down the aisle? To see her with her own family someday?

I am overwhelmed by my little girl's promise for her future, and that I can witness it all and root her on from the sidelines, just like the parent of an Olympian. If she becomes like Shawn-- young, bright, pretty, well spoken, respectful, and hard working-- I am sure I would also be crying for all the world to see.

Libby already holds a gold medal in my book. She is beautiful. She is patient with us as parents. She looks at us with amazement and love. And I stare back and wish her all the joy and success that life can bring.