Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Joy


"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings"
So many new toys, so little time.

Even though I was positive the Little Mister's favorite toy was going to be his Buzz Lightyear jetpack that he's been asking for for months (and was the first thing he said on Christmas morning "where's my jetpack"), it actually seems to be the horse trailer from Grandma and Grandad.  Baby sister seems most happy with the playdough she got in her stocking.
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Friday, December 23, 2011

A Christmas Miracle


This morning the Little Mister ran into our room (as he does every morning) and exclaimed "guys, guys, I solved the problem!"  "What problem?", we asked.  No answer, he just climbed into bed (also like he does every morning) and after jabbering away for a few minutes said:

"I stayed in my bed all night until the sun came up!" 

And he did.  We say a prayer for this every night.  And today, this little guy who has been waking me up around 5:30 am since before he was even born, FINALLY slept past 7am.  A true Christmas miracle. 

I have no high hopes that it will continue.  I don't imagine the problem is actually "solved" and that tomorrow and every morning after that until he is 10 years old he will continue to wake up at 6am or earlier, but today I'm enjoying the miracle.

* Disclaimer - he actually has slept past 7am a few times in his life, but it is RARE.  Like, I could probably count on my fingers how many times.  Once in the last year or so he actually slept until after 8am.  I was so worried that I had to go in and check on him.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

15 months. 16 months. Better late than never...



As you might be able to tell from the title, I've been meaning to do this post for quite some time.  Unfortunately, Baby Sister keeps getting bigger, and older, and learning to do more things.  I just can't keep up.  But, I need to document at least something from this age/stage.

But first, 15 month stats:
Height:  32 inches
Weight:  unknown (she wouldn't sit still long enough to get a good reading)
Teeth:  6
Sleeps:  Usually 11 hours at night plus a 2 hour nap

I've noticed that she has become interested in several of the things that the Little Mister was at this same age.  At the time, I thought they were just "quirks", but maybe they are something all kids do.  At least my kids.  Examples are:
Obsession with:  Taking things out of the fridge or pantry and having things "whole" (i.e. whole banana, whole bag of goldfish, whole piece of bread even though it's dangerous, impractical, and messy).
Fascination in:  Turning on and off the lights, zippers, toilet paper, her belly button.
Insistence on:  Helping me clean, doing things herself.
She loves climbing up the stairs but mostly loves it when I hold her under her arms and help her "walk" up.  And, despite my best efforts she will not go down the stairs on her tummy.  Sometimes she will sit down and scoot one step at a time - standing up in between.  It's slow, and I'm always afraid she is going to fall.  Or, she will have me hold her hand and walk down.  Seriously, the tummy sliding thing is so much faster.  The Little Mister could zoom down those steps soooo fast.  I've had him show her, and she'll copy him about half way.

She knows probably close to 20 words.   The latest are "mommy" said very clearly, socks, trash, and ball.  She also said "fuff" and "dobee" pretty often but I don't know what they mean.

She dances along to music.  She has three moves - bouncing, twirling, and what I like to call Riverdance which is very quick stepping.

She can feed herself with a spoon and has pretty good accuracy, whether she is aiming for her mouth or the floor.
She likes to go to bed with a book each night.  And I don't mean reading a book.  Yeah, she may sit still for one story but then she hops off my lap, grabs the book and walks to her crib.  She likes to hold - and sometimes chew on - the book while she falls asleep.  She also loves to hold her Corduroy doll.
She loves all things girly...necklaces, SHOES, hair bows.  But, she also knows how to make vrooming and flying sounds when playing with cars or airplanes and she's quite the lego builder :)
Her stranger/separation anxiety seems to be getting slightly better (knock on wood).  This week, for the first time since last spring, she wasn't crying when I picked her up from the nursery at the gym.  Now mind you, I have been VERY inconsistent about going until this week when I figured it's finally cold enough, rainy enough, that outdoor forms of exercise are going to be few and far between.  Also, we had a "babysitter" come over on Saturday and she just barely cried for a minute when we left.  Of course, the "babysitter" was my good friend that she sees often and is comfortable with, and she was at home, but I thought it was good progress and gives me much less anxiety about leaving her.
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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Thanksgiving 2011


We just got back from Thanksgiving in Austin, TX with all of Brad's family.  We had a great time!

Highlights:

Children's museum (except the part where Little Mister ran off and was "missing" for a few minutes)

Watching the cousin's play together

How cute the little girls were with Baby Sister; how Amelia always wanted to sit by her, and listening to little Libby help her up the stairs

Dinosaur park!

Awesome weather

Reading stories with Grandma

Biloxi beach (on our way home)

Pedicures & pies
 






















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Sunday, November 13, 2011

He Said. She Said.


He said:  "Mom, we need to go to the store and get me a Buzz Lightyear with wings that go up and down, a toy house, and shirts that are small like me." 

He asked me every day for three days for this same list.

In case anyone is wondering...HIS Christmas list is the following - in order of priority:
Buzz Lightyear wings (or sometimes he calls in a jetpack)
Buzz Lightyear like Benjamin has
Buzz Lightyear rocketship like Benjamin got for his birthday
Lantern from R.E.I
Green thing that plugs into the wall that you walk around with
(we are not sure but we think this is a Lego solar powered torch, also at REI)

He can repeat it for you on demand if asked.

 

She said:  "Go, go, go"
anytime she wants to go outside or in the basement to play.  She will also bring you her shoes when it's time to go, or just when she wants to wear them.

He said:  "Mom, remember when baby sister was in your tummy?  And she was just a sandwich."


When really excited about something

He said:  "I never seen this before!"


When asked why he was putting grapes in my tall rainboots

He said:  "I just putting them in here for safe keeping so Baby Sister doesn't get them with her tiny arms."
 
When the dogs barked
She said:  "Dog" 
And then immediately after
  
She said:  "Stop!" (which sounds more like top),
and "wuff, wuff, wuff."
 

She said:  "Up/gup/cup"
which can mean any of the following:
Pick it up
Pick me up
Sippy cup
Help

She said: Beh (Book), shoes, and juice.
 
She said:  "Row, row, row" 
As in Row, row, row, you're boat.

He said:  "...Life's a pot of stream"
And he won't let you sing it any other way.
He said:  "Hide and sink"

He said:  "Mom, remember when there were fireworks outside and I was scared of the loud noise and you were making salsa?"

Now this wouldn't be remarkable in the least except that he said it out of the blue in NOVEMBER and he was talking about something that happened in JULY.  His ability to remember mundane details amazes me :)
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These pictures were taken during our annual apple-picking pilgrimage to North Carolina in September.  So yes, they are outdated, but cute nonetheless.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween

Halloween, Halloween,
Trick or Treat.
Our costumes, can't be beat!
                      --Dora the Explorer



Halloween is quickly becoming my favorite holiday. 
Is it any wonder?

Trick or Treating with Things 1 and 2


Little pirates at playdates


A little bit of Halloween crafting. 
I am going to be really sad to take down these candy corn wreaths.
They are my favorite decoration right now.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

The littlest fashion blogger

I don't know why, but sometimes I think that Baby Sister looks especially cute when Daddy dresses her. 

This is the outfit he concocted for church today.  I just love the tights.  No hair bow, of course.  I'm pretty sure he thinks they are a waste of time.  He took the kids to church BY HIMSELF, bless his heart, since I had a migraine.  He got to stay in nursery the whole time though, so I would call it a win-win-win situation. 

I know what you are thinking, what's so special about jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt?  But this was the first time she had worn jeans and I thought she looked so adorable.  It was the first crisp, cool, fall morning we had and Brad took the kids out early to pick up our Bountiful Basket.  I just thought it was so appropriate.  Of course, before I could get to her with the camera the socks and shoes came off so you will just have to imagine those :)

Thursday, October 6, 2011

When they are big...


When they are big, they probably won't fight over who gets to sit in my lap.

When they are big, my floors will no longer have a constant dusting of cheerio and goldfish crumbs. And I will finally be able to use the toilet paper holder again for it's intended purpose.

When they are big, they won't cry when I leave the room.
 
 
When they are big, I won't have to read the same book, pick up the same legos, or put together the same puzzle every single day.


And, I think I will miss all of it. 
When they are big.

Photos courtesy of Angela Murray Photography

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Thanks for the memories


Goodbye summer.
You seemed especially hot and humid this year.


We will miss you
with your pool playdates
and long days. 


But, we are looking forward to cooler temperatures
and golden rays.


And oh, how we love the fall!