We are. I promise. Just busy. And tired. And (some of us are) sick.
I'll be back as soon as I can muster up enough energy and creativity to write a paragraph or two of sentences consisting of more than 2 words. I may even add pictures :)
Merry (belated) Christmas!
Happy New Year, in case I'm not back before then!
But I didn't have to walk Addi to school. If I would've watched the news last night, like any responsible parent, I would have known school was called off for today! Instead I decided to drive Addi to school this morning - if you knew how close we lived to her school, you would understand how ridiculous it is to drive her. I even had to wake Libby up. We piled in the van and drove the .001 miles to school only to find other irresponsible parents U-turning in the parking lot. I said a quick prayer that school was just delayed, therefore, allowing Libby's preschool to open today and U-turned myself. I had some major Christmas plans. Things that did not involve little eyes and big interruptions. Of course, school is closed today and that means Libby will not be going to preschool either. The girls both cried when I told them. What little nerds we are raising :) So, now they are doing their best to destroy the few areas of the house that looked decent an hour ago and I'm scrambling to re-plan my week since I have a half day instead of a day and a half to sew a puppet theater for Santa Claus. That guy is so unreasonable sometimes :)
Happy Snow Sleet Day, if you're fortunate enough to be experiencing one!
These are the pictures that didn't make the cut for our Christmas card photo. For obvious reasons.
I figured since we're halfway between Thanksgiving and Christmas, about 2 weeks after Turkey Day and 2 weeks before Christmas, I'd talk a little about our Thanksgiving. It's just for memories sake, but we did have a wonderful holiday, so it's worth remembering.
Levi is 9 months old today. I'm listening to him blow raspberries in his baby monitor right now. His well-child appointment was in the middle of his morning nap, so he's a little "off" today. I was so sure he'd have moved up the weight chart; he's starting to look chubby to me. Even when his weight of 16 pounds was announced it sounded heavy to me. I mean, not heavy-weight heavy. Maybe heavy for a light-weight division. However, he's still on the same, old, 1st percentile curve. His height's in the 8th percentile, but that's shorter than before. As always, his head is his shining glory. It came in on the 44th percentile curve! (I've read before the most attractive people have big heads :) And I would have to agree since my 3 all have good sized noggins!) He got the booster to his flu shot and had a finger prick to check for anemia. Not a tear was shed! Developmentally he's doing well and his doctor has predicted a tooth by Christmas.
(sidenote: I'm having a battle of wills with my 3 year old at the moment. I think I'm losing. Back to Levi...)
This morning I was packing Libby's lunch in the kitchen. Libby was playing with the nativity and Levi was crawling around the floor of the dining room (where the Christmas tree is supposed to be out of sight and out of mind). It took me all of 3 minutes, but I couldn't find Levi anywhere when I finished with her lunch. Libby couldn't find him either. That might be because all she did was follow me around copying me word for word. "Levi. Levi! Levi?! Come here, Baby!"
Have you ever tried playing Hide and Seek with a 9 month old? It's a challenge.
Levi is pulling up on everything. He's also an official crawler and can even crawl up the stairs. Let the fun begin!
He blows strawberries when he's sleepy.
But, he wasn't too sleepy to smile.
On this day, 33 years ago, my sweet mother-in-law was filled with regret and pain and then, I'm assuming, joy. Pain from the labor preceding the birth of her first child, my wonderful husband. Regret from the previous day spent nesting. The joy came from holding her precious baby boy at last.
She wrote to me a few days before Levi was born with a request for me to "take it easy" until his birth and a story of the day before Bryan's birth. Unlike her experience, I knew when Levi would be born since I was to be induced. Like her experience, I started those agonizing hours of labor exhausted* and would end up overjoyed with my new precious son in my arms.
I'm so thankful for this day and the one 33 years ago. And, I'm thankful for the love and patience my mother-in-law and father-in-law put into raising their son.
Happy Birthday, B!
Here's to another 33, at least :)
Par-tay at our house tonight! Get your dancin' shoes on!!
Bryan's been out of town a lot the past week. It's a little unusual for us. He's usually gone a couple days every month, but he's been gone 6 of the last 7 days. Yesterday, I was feeling a little like I'm sure single moms (and dads) across the world often feel. Addi read my demeanor and told me I needed a vacation. I asked her what I could do on my vacation and she answered, "Whatever you want. You would just have to play with me and Libby, feed the baby, cook supper and wash our clothes."
I don't know why I ever feel stress when I'm LIVING my dream vacation!
Reagan has a mind of her own and it shows up in most everything she does. It is a great quality and can serve her well, but it is also challenging for me to deal with at times. She does things at her pace, doesn't liked to be quizzed, and hears all. When I thought she was ready to learn her colors, she started counting to 10. I almost worried myself sick for a month trying teach her what was red, or pink, or green. When I asked her what color her cup was, she'd stare at me as if I were from another planet or she'd tell me, "I don't know!!" or both. Then she'd count all the peas she had yet eaten. I was perplexed. I knew she had the intelligence to learn her colors. For pete's sake, she learned to count to 10 on her own! Eventually, I calmed down and decided she would tell me what color her cup was when she felt like it. She did.
Potty training was another big issue. I really wanted her potty trained before we had another baby for which to buy diapers. That plan worked the first time around; why not this time? I think we started to potty train her at least 3 times before I figured out (yet again) she would do it when she was ready. I did tell her that I wouldn't allow her to go to preschool in diapers. Long story short, she essentially potty trained in one week early in the summer. Really. One week was all it took to go from full-time diaper wearer to no-time diaper wearer. Oh, there was the occasional accident, but it was fairly rare and we weren't having to remind her all the time.
I had finally figured that girl out! It was like we were expert parents or something.
But, (you had to know there'd be a BUT) she doesn't like to go potty. It takes up so much time and she worries someone will touch whatever she's playing with or eating while she's in the bathroom.
Plus, I make her wash her hands.
And dry them.
And, she doesn't like to be told what to do. She will look you straight in the face while dancing all around to tell you she doesn't need to potty when, clearly, she does. You should hear the wailing after we force her to go to the bathroom.
The last few days Bryan's been fishing. The kids have been great, but Libby has been waiting much too long to go potty resulting in, well, I think you can figure it out. Not a soaking where a floor cleanup is necessary, but if she goes 10 times a day, 9 of those times we'll have to change her panties. (This really is not new, but is getting progressively worse and I'm noticing it more when I'm the only parent.) I told her last night, after she'd had a bath and then waited too long before bed and then needed another bath, if she did it again today, I was going to put her in a diaper. I really don't like this method of parenting. In fact, I got mad at Bryan when he got frustrated with her early on in potty training and did the same thing. I don't want to make my kids feel badly. I just don't know what else to do. Honestly, I thought at the mention of a diaper, she'd straighten up. She gave me a look like she could care less, so I went on about how embarassed she be at Sunday School in a diaper. That seemed to hit a nerve. I was pretty sure we'd have no more problems with waiting too long to go to the bathroom.
Of course, this morning she waited too long and when I discovered her panties (because she refuses to put wet panties back on, not that I blame her), I had to stick to my guns. I grabbed one of Levi's diapers and stretched and pulled until I barely fastened them around her waist. She almost started to cry. I had her! This was a fantastic idea! Finally a lesson that would sink in and stick with her!
Immediately she walked over to Addi, pulled up her nightgown (yes, it is 2 pm and we are all in our pajamas - it's a cold and lazy day here!), stuck out her rear and died laughing. The girl almost fell over she laughed so hard singing, "I'm wearing a diaper! I'm wearing a diaper!"
Seriously?
I'm at my wit's end here. Suggestions, anyone?? Do I make her put the wet panties back on if we're at home because I know she hates that? How gross is that?! You know I must be desparate to even think it. Surely someone can up a better idea.
Any suggestions will be appreciated and not judged :)
*In case you weren't sure, that's her down there. I knew exactly which child of mine that was and assumed the rest of you would also. But then, Bryan mentioned the picture of Addison on the blog...
I got tagged for this meme from my friend Becky. This could be challenging, but I'll do my best.
1. Where is your cell phone? hmmmm...??
2. Your significant other? amazing :)
3. Your hair? frustrating
4. Your mother? loving
5. Your father? patient
6. Your favorite thing? chocolate
7. Your dream last night? forgetable
8. Your favorite drink? Dr. Pepper
9. Your dream/goal? sanity
10. The room you're in? office
11. Your fear? drowning
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? better
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you're not? fast
15. Muffins/donuts? donuts
16. One of your wish list items? speed
17. Where you grew up? Texas
18. The last thing you did? dishes
19. What are you wearing? t-shirt
20. Your TV? quiet
21. Your pet? Zoe
22. Your computer? Dell
23. Your life? envious
24. Your mood? sleepy
25. Missing someone? yes
26. Favorite pastime? reading
27. Something you're not wearing? makeup
28. Favorite Store? Central Market
29. Your summer? HOT
30. Your favorite color? purple
31. When is the last time you laughed? lunchtime
32. Last time you cried? today
33. Who will/would re-post this? ?question?
34. Four places I go over and over? kindergarten, preschool, grocery, library
35. Four people who e-mail me? Bryan, Mom, Dad, and Facebook :)
36. Four of my favorite foods? macaroni, fries, pie, cookies
37. Four places I would like to be right now? bed, vacation, beach, relaxing
38. Four people I tag? whoever wants to do it
Addison Grace turned 6 today. Words cannot express the way I feel about my oldest daughter. I love her in a way I never knew existed before November 4, 2002. She changed me forever. I feel privileged to be her mother. As weepy as I may get that my baby is 6, I must admit to feeling some excitement in watching her grow. It's hard to remember what she was like at 4 or 2 or 6 months. She is an incredible child only to impress me more with each passing year, I am sure.
today...
4 years...
I overheard some kids at a birthday party this afternoon. They were discussing who "they" were voting for. On the drive home, I asked Addi who she'd vote for if she were old enough. Her answer was John McCain. I asked her why and she said, "Because Barack Obama takes all your money and gives it to other people."
Maybe I'm not the only one paying attention to the talk radio in the car :)
"If you lick it, you must eat it."
This morning was the Boosterthon Fun Run at Addison's school. Bryan and I figured she'd run about 10 laps, but she completed 26! Because we knew she'd only do about 10, we felt confident pledging to pay $1 per lap for her. Oooops! Now we'll be shelling out over twice what we'd planned! I must say, I got a little worried at breakfast today when she told me that she and one of her classmates were the only two in her p.e. class not to have to walk when they practiced for the run.
It was a fun fundraiser and I'm hoping the school meets their goal of $20,000 so there will be no more fundraisers this year. If our $26 helps meet that goal, I'm all for it :)
And, just so you don't think I'm bragging, let me tell you there were kids who met the "lap cap" of 35 in kindergarten. They were the ones wearing their Brooks running shoes and Saucony running shorts. (Seriously, I didn't even know you could buy running shorts in 5T!)
One more confession: I thought long and hard about buying her some running shoes. I even found a 25% off coupon at FootLocker Kids. I'll blame that on the former runner in me. That's also what I'll blame my eye rolling on after the announcer told the kids, "Repeat after me; It's okay to walk." Uhhm, no. It's called a Fun Run! And, on the fact that I was proud of her for not taking a water break. Water's for wimps! Oh, I'm kidding. I'm kidding.
This is how Libby felt about cheering for Sister early on a chilly morning.
Getting loosened up for the run
Making sure her pants stay put - that's what you have to do when you have a little tush :)
Cracking your knuckles always gets the jitters out
Don't let the relaxed form fool you. She was lapping those people!
Here she is lapping someone else!
Libby was so thrilled when someone finally "high-fived" her!
The cool-down lap and a smile.
