Why?

Yup, that questioned has finally surfaced. Sophia has been asking "why mamma" lately. She has also taken up "How you doing" and I can't help but think of the slang-y "how YOU doin'?"
Another busy weekend has past, only this weekend we didn't really go anywhere. Chores, into Boston this morning, Houghton's pond where BOB got yet ANOTHER flat tire. What is it now - 8? Hope the kids adjust to the new wake up time (forgot about it this morning...)

365.25

So, there are now 365.25 (approx) days until next Halloween. WHEW! We got a lot of mileage out of this year's Hallows Eve. Started the weekend before at Boo at the Zoo. Then, on Thursday, the kids were suited up again to go to a Halloween party. Friday Sophia got suited up at school for a little parade up the street and back. That afternoon we took advantage of the plethora of leaves on the east side of our house and raked up a big pile to jump in. The kids then napped and when they woke started to get excited for the trick or treating. Well, Sophia was. Pe-pere was here and played with the monkeys in the leaves while I madly carved up our pumpkins which I had COMPLETELY forgot about all afternoon AND made dinner. Dinner was nothing to write home about, but was a factor in my time management. I carved a mini monkey-kin to tie into the kids monkey costumes and a "scary" big pumpkin with horns to tie in with Ethan's horns that he wore for the festivities. I had done bunny-kins for Sophia's bunny costume year and cat-kins last year for her kitty costume. I guess I have started a tradition?

Well, Sophia's mind was fixated on treats all through dinner and couldn't wait to get out there on the streets begging for candy. We tried to wait until it was dark. By 6 it was close enough and we hit our first house across the street. Sophia was SO cute. She would go up to the door, say ding dong, then press the bell. When the door was answered she tooted "trick or treat, please!" I was so proud of her adding that please in there. I never even prompted that! Then as she would leave she would wish the candy giver a happy Halloween and then command us "next house". Dylan caught on pretty quick and would scramble to the next house and dig into the candy bowls. They really were the cutest kids in the neighborhood :) SEVEN pounds (literally) of candy and an hour later we returned to the house and put our sugar junkies to bed. Now I am trying to figure out what to do with 7lbs of candy. I can't stand to hear Sophia asking for it everyday. In addition to the loot we hauled in we have about 7lbs of candy that is left over from our own bowl UGH. Did I mention I joined a gym? HA! yup, el cheapo gym up the street. I wonder why joining gyms after Halloween isn't as big a thing as after Christmas... There is a lot of candy to be had. Visit our shutterfly photo page to see our little monkeys in action.

Anyway, there are a bunch of cute kids things happening each day that I keep forgetting to record. I will do my best now to jot some down...

Dylan and dishes. He is actually becoming helpful when I unload the dishes from the washer (well, when he is not trying to climb in it or close the door on me). Yes, he likes to take out the utensils one by one and hand them to me to put away.

Competitive loving. I love it when one of the kids is in my arms getting snuggles and hugs, etc... and the other will take note and barrel on over and try to get in on the action. Usually this is Dylan coming in from behind and slobbering all over my back, or as of lately, leaving a smear of nose goo.

Spontaneous friendships. We were at Houghton's pond today and in the little visitor's hut. A little girl about Sophia's age came in with her dad and they instantly started laughing and chasing, and oh yes, screaming with each other as though they were best friends. They would run to one bench then the next, laughing and having so much fun. Sophia looked like she was kind of hitting the little girl as she does when she gets excited with Dylan, so I intervened and said not hit, high five! Then they ran around high fiving each other (though their aim left something to be desired).

I know there are more of these fun little things, but my memory is a blank. Could be the sugar, could be this virus - who knows. I will try to record as I remember.

My head hurts

This could be from a number of reasons. I do have a cold and a cough and each cough sends a little burst of pain up there. And oh, yes, there is that lack of sleep thing. Last night was SOOOOO irritating. I had a full and stressful day yesterday and was probably a little worked up from that. Not a good day to decided to try skipping the allergy (sleep) medicine I have been hooked on. I went to bed around 9.30, tossed and turned until about midnight, got up to tend to Dylan, went back to bed only to decided to try getting UP and doing the crossword downstairs a bit. Went back to bed around 12.30 and tossed and turned until Dylan needed me again around 1am (poor little guy is STILL sick, hello, over two weeks later now!). Fell asleep at some point only to have my "alarm" go off at 5am. Oh, D... Of course HE is making up for last nights' lack of sleep now, and here I am... Typing... Afraid to close my eyes for I know the second I do, he will wake up.

molars

Ok, so Dylan now has two new molars and is letting us know how he feels about it. Constantly. Let me paint the picture. He cries and fusses so I go to pick him up. Then he squirms in my arms, cries and fusses. I put him down as my tolerance for the crying in my ear wanes as does my ability to keep a grasp of his writhing body. I put him down. Repeat...

Longest day

So, I started the day at the crack of dawn. Oh wait, the sun doesn't rise at 5am anymore, does it. Dylan AND Sophia got me out of bed and I was none too pleased. This cold this I have received from the kids is getting worse everyday - nice headache to wake up to each day. Kids were fussing, so by 7am I had the vacuum out and started cleaning the house. Dylan is mesmerized by the vacuum and it usually is good for capturing his attention. The house WAS filthy, so off I went. Started in the living room and he followed me around the house. I was only interrupted a few times when he strayed, tried to climb on something and fell, bursting into tears. Got him down for his nap at 8.15am and then started to think of "what to do next". We decided on the Science Museum and hit that when Dylan woke up. Had a fine time there, aside from Sophia's fussy outbursts. Made it home by 12.30 and as I made lunch Sophia requested a nap. D, Ethan and I all ate our ham sandies outside enjoying the warm sunny weather. After the kids woke from their afternoon naps we hooked up the boat and went down to Scituate. Got the boat in the water (even though Ethan just winterized it that morning) and hit the "Spit". We had a fun time running on the rippled sand and got home around 5.30pm. I got the burgers and beans cooking while Ethan re-winterized the boat. Ethan finished up his stuff while I bathed and tucked in the kids and then cleaned up from dinner. I think I have redefined "pooped". This cold I have, for lack of a better word, sucks.

Pictures to follow...later.

Boo at the Zoo

Tried the kids' costumes out today. I have been nervous that Sophia would reject it and I would have to bribe her with candy to wear it. Not So! Well, almost not. I DID say there would be candy at the zoo and she needed her costume. Well, she sure wanted it on fast. We got the kids dressed after D's morning nap and headed to Franklin Park Zoo. We got there just in time for the festivities. Started with the walk down the main path, getting treats at tables on the way, went through the gorilla exhibit and then hitched a train ride back to the start. Entered the 12 o'clock costume contest and the kids WON for the 0-6yrs Animal category. YAY!

Next stop was the carousel and after the sugar was coursing well through the kids veins, we headed home. A pretty good morning, I'd say! See our pictures on Shutterfly!

Itching to knit

So, now that my neck cozy is complete, I would like to get onto the next thing. Thinking mittens and hats for the kids and a nice cozy "shoulder shrug thing-y" for me. Winter is coming and as I sit here on the couch next to the windows - even with the shades down - I feel a chill and would love a little warmth without having to put on a sweater. Like a wearable afghan. I think I will start on this first. Fat yarn, fat needles, should go fast, right?

I finally uploaded Thanksgiving pictures to Shutterfly. I get so frustrated these day with uploading. I started on Shutterfly, now I have a blog and then there is facebook. I want each site to have the pictures embedded in their own site but do not want to upload and write captions three times. I suppose I will stick with my current method, even though I don't like it.

Night out

We had our first night out with a sitter for both kids yesterday. We had a neighbor look after Sophia once over a year ago and she basically came and watched tv while we went out to dinner. Our neighbor was having a party, so we needed to put off the task we have been able to avoid until now - sitter hunt. Thanks to my mom's group, I was recommended a GREAT sitter. Such a nice girl! I spent my spare moments during the day cleaning the house ... for the sitter. We don't do this often, so I dug deep into my childhood memories of being a sitter myself and tried to think what was provided for me. I do recall the houses to be VERY clean, drinks available...? I also remember standing on my head to get the blood flowing to keep myself awake, but I digress. Not the point here. What are you supposed to offer your sitter? We had a netflix DVD in the house and I bought some chips, dug up some Halloween candy and set out some fruit. (She didn't have any of it, by the way).

Anyway, I gave the kids their bath and put Dylan to bed, leaving Sophia in the tub. Ethan left to get the sitter and I read to Sophia, telling her daddy had to go to the store. We chose not to tell her we were leaving as we thought she would have a hard time going to bed. I was nervous, though, as the last few nights she has been lingering at bedtime, calling to me after I put her down AND having to go poop. I asked her over and over during bath if she had to go and she said no. So, down I went. I felt better knowing we were going to be across the street should an incident occur. I met the sitter and felt great about her, and extremely awkward about myself and the situation. Tried to give her the lo' down for the night (most likely saying too much - water is in the fridge??) We then left for our party and were having a good time. I kept checking my phone, yet no calls. We also noticed what a great view they have into our living room. We had the shades half drawn and I could practically see which show she was selecting off the guide channel (I literally DID see the guide channel come up). When we got home, she said that Sophia did call out for me a bunch of times and then even started coming down the stairs! She also said that she told her that I had stepped out for a minute and asked if she wanted to go back to bed. Sophia was COOL with this, said ok and asked if she wanted to see her pink room. She introduced her to Lamby and then went to bed. HA!

Today I rewarded myself for going out last night by giving in to my year long desire to own a leisure suit. Express has them, but they are very expensive for "leisure wear" in my opinion. It IS very comfy and I kind of feel a little "hollywood-ish" in it. You know - the stars stepping out in their "sweats", yet still manage to look good? I am feeling it. I think Ethan is as taken with it as I am and I can expect to see one in black under the tree this year, haha.

Knitting re-birth

I learned to knit when I was about 10 or so and managed to knit a sweater, booties for my cabbage patch kid, scarves... under the direction and apprenticeship of my mother. 25 or so years have past and this experience has become all but a distant memory. I have been getting the itch for the past year to pick up some needles and knit the kids some simple, yet, sentimental (at least for my part) sweaters or hats. Only problem is that my mentor is now in another time zone than me. I therefore signed up for the "Mom night out Knitting" event. I was armed with a bottle of sparkling water and hit the town. Went pretty well and I am up to speed on the basic knit project. I made a "neck cozy" last night (finished up during pm nap today) and am raring to go on a hat. Only problem is, I don't know how to read a pattern, and if I were to make a mistake mid way through - drop a stitch or something, I would be S.O.L. hmmmm.
Here is the lovely Sophia all excited about what mommy produced at school last night. Dylan was a little more apathetic.
Here is Dylan doing his finest "blue steel" pose.

Sick

So Dylan is officially sick. And he isn't limp baby about it. Nope, after waking up about 4 times last night he has been a real "gem" this morning. Crying for everything and then swatting it away. Wanting to be held and then struggling to get away. It is one of those difficult mom days where you know your little one is suffering, yet his fussing makes the sympathy a little forced to give and patience is wafer thin. Ooops, there it went, just snapped again - duct tape anyone?

Shorter days?

So, I thought in the fall the days were supposed to be getting shorter. Apparently our house has been caught in some kind of worm hole and we are still on summer time. Dylan woke at a cheery 4am. I went to him and rocked and sang and put him back down. I then both tried to fall asleep while staying awake to listen for him to see if he would fall asleep. This makes sense only to a mother, or at least a mother with early risers. So, by 5am I thought I was out of the woods and then was roused by Sophia at 5.20 calling to me. I tried to go to her and cover her up and get her to sleep, but noooooo, she said she had to go poo poo. Great. At least she woke for it. I was still determined to put her back to bed after mission was accomplished. The effort was not a speedy affair. She finally was done and then I heard Dylan making noise again. SIGHHH. No more sleep for me. I think my kids have systematically dispelled all the old wives tales about kids. "oh, they are waking early because it is brighter in the morning during the summer. They will sleep later when the sun gets up later" WRONG.

So, Dylan has been super cute with his clapping lately. You just have to start singing a few bars to a song and he will start clapping to the beat. Then when you get to the end, he lifts his hands over his head and shouts "hurray!"

Sophia is back into extreme mommy mode again too. I believe this is a reaction to her going to school now. She cries "miss mommy" while I am sitting in the room. She is wanting to be with me all the time and has been crying when I leave her at the daycare/ school. So frustrating.

Pun'kins, pun'kins, everywhere - PUN'KINS!

We spent the first day of Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend at a pumpkin patch in Sharon. We took a hayride out to the patch, chose a pumpkin while Sophia cried all done, no pumpkin, got back on the wagon and hit the playground, capping out visit off feeding some sheep and then feeding ourselves some yummy Spanish cheese and Iggy bread. It sounds more Normal Rockwell than it actually was. There was a lot of crankiness on the part of a little someone we know. But a beautiful day, none the less and I would be happy to try again next fall.

School days, rotten poopy school days.

Sophia didn't do well today. She cried when I left and was "cranky" and crying the whole time after I left. When I got her I felt so bad for her. She was alone at the lunch table (other kids already laying down for a nap) and she was upset. I tried to get there at least at noon (not before as I had other days) as I wanted to give her a chance to eat her lunch. Every other time she was still finishing lunch and the other kids were too. I didn't double check my watch, but I couldn't have been more than 12.02. So, I was pretty surprised to see everyone laying down. I was also put off by the girl in charge (not even the normal teacher) who seemed pretty indifferent to Sophia's disposition. Kind of got the impression her attitude was "she is upset, whatever.". There is a chance Sophia could be coming down with something as she was pretty "cranky" (as the child care person put it) this afternoon. There was also a little girl that I noticed had red blotchy parts on her face that is common when kids have colds - runny nose, watery eyes... So, it is highly possible Sophia is getting this cold. The good news if she IS sick tomorrow is that I have a reason for her being upset today. The bad news is that she will be sick and then Dylan will get sick. Boo hoo.

Potty trained at 15 months

So, Dylan is now potty trained. Ok, pick your jaw up off the floor. He doesn't actually pee on the toilet, however, he now gets his own diaper whenever he wants a change, lays on the rug "in the position", waits for the change and then takes the balled up diaper and puts it in the trash all on his own. SO CUTE! I much prefer this to the major struggles we were having not long ago trying to get him to lay still for the change. At one point I was even holding his legs down with my leg so I could have both hands to manage the rest of the change.

15 mo plus a day

So, looks like three months doesn't get you much these days. Dylan had his 15 month appointment today and has not grown a hair (in height) dropping him from 84th percentile to 47th, gained a scant 1/2 pound, again dropping from 18th percentile to 9th, and no more teeth. His head, however, did manage to expand another 1.5cm to 48.25cm. Grandparents beware - if you are knitting hats, make them a little bigger.

My poor little guy just doesn't eat enough. GRRRR.

A weekend in Maine

We were up in Maine this past weekend for a baby shower and enjoyed some brisk Maine air.
So, who says little boys need to wear blue? This pink jacket of his sister's works just fine. Mid morning popcorn picnic on black sand island.
As promised: the lip.
Mandy's shower.
And who can resist a picture of Buck on his Truck. Yes, I think we will save this one for his first date...

Change me, I'm yours

Dylan has been so cute with his diapers lately. First it was copying Sophia when she was wearing diapers (many moons ago, haha) he would lay down beside her. Now he requests the changes himself. He was a little stinky a couple weeks ago and I said to him, oooo, stinky, need your diaper changed? Then I went back to my laptop as a good mother does. He went into the dining room, pulled out a diaper and then laid down on the rug. I didn't even realize this right away as I was here, on the laptop. When I looked down, there he was. Then, a little more recently, I was in the kitchen and mentioned to him that I thought he may have pee pees. Again, off to the diaper corner, grabbed a diaper and waited for me in the living room, laying on the rug "in the position". Today, I was walking down the stairs with a pack of baby wipes and the instant he saw this, he ran for a diaper and got "in the position". I love it! I really think he is very intuitive and highly intelligent.

Mr. Pouty Lip

So, I have yet to capture Dylan's funny lip on camera as each time I bring it out his lip disappears and his whiny face appears as he cries for me to give him the camera. A shame, really, as his lip is so funny. It isn't really an upset look. Sometimes it is thinking (usually about mischievous deeds he could perform), other times it is about a faux grouchiness over a situation. I love it, though. He brings the bottom lip over the top lip, but it doesn't curl down as if he were frowning. Too cute.

So, Sophia's third day at school went well - I was so proud of her. She got off to a rocky start again. Woke in the morning, wouldn't eat breakfast when I mentioned it was a school day. She then said she wanted to go BACK to bed at 6, so I said sure. She went down from 6-7ish and when she heard D and I in his room, she called to me. When I went to get her she said "school now?" I thought - YAY! She wants to go! That moment passed rather quickly and she again refused food and didn't want to go. I got her to school and she started crying again and didn't want to stay. Rather she wanted ME TO STAY. I left and was sad to go again. I went to get her at noon and I think she was onto me and chose a seat with a view of the window in the door. She spotted me right away and said "Mommy's here!" I went to get her and she was in a very good mood. The teacher (she has a different on on Fridays and I quite liked this one) said Sophia did very well. There were two more new kids and Sophia went up to them and said "nice to meet you" and took their hand and showed them around. SO SWEET! If only I could be a fly on the wall... or even that nasty GIANT spider they have on the outside of their window. I swear that thing is the size of my thumb up to the first knuckle. Sophia's first craft project there, incidental was making a spider web on black craft paper with glue and cotton balls.

Goldie locks and his three chairs

So, Dylan pretty much burns his calories as he eats them. During meal time I sit him in his booster seat, usually try to just put a small portion of food on his tray, he picks at it a bit, then starts to throw it, I scold him, remove the tray and release him. He then climbs into Sophia's chair (she has vacated it long before his take over) and get all proud and insists on bites from there. Then he climbs from her chair to mine and leans over my back for another bite. Then he climbs down and back onto Sophia's chair... And so on and so on.

A brighter day,

Ok, not literally brighter - just had a down pour and the sky is mighty gray. Metaphorically speaking, however, it has been brighter.

I dropped Sophia off at preschool and she was NOT happy. she cried and clung to me and I had to peal her off (this you may take literally) in order to leave. I had to keep myself from crying while saying good-bye. I kept myself occupied and kept waiting for the phone to ring to pick Sophia up. I went to Wal-mart (and for once didn't leave angry and irritated at the store), had lunch with D and went back to get Sophia. I got there 5 minutes early and peaked through the window and saw her eating a bowl of fruit. She looked much better and wasn't upset so I hung back and waited for her to finish eating. I went in for another peak and she spotted me so I went in. She was super happy to see me and wasn't crying to leave like the other day. She apparently only cried a little bit after I left and then got involved with the activities and had fun out in the playground. She even met a little friend. Another girl had her first day today and Sophia started to click with her. YAY! She even SAID she had fun today.

I have a landscape update too at my other blog site.

First morning of Preschool

Today is the first morning Sophia will be away from me and NOT be with a grandparent. My baby bird is SO far from the nest. About 10 minutes by foot! Our car is in the shop and Ethan took the truck, so I hoofed it to her preschool (good way to get some exercise). I brought her in and left quickly and saw a little dazed look on her face that I am sure will be replace with some tears. I met with the director yesterday for about half an hour and left Sophia with the teacher and there were tears for that. Poor little S. I hope she forgets I am gone for a while and has some fun!

We started the morning getting dressed. I thought she was so cute and all set, but apparently I forgot something... Ahhhh, yes! NOW she is ready. Silly me, forgetting the goggles!
When we got home Dylan sensed his big sis was gone and it was just the two of us. He got all giddy and started running around the dining room table laughing and screeching and coming in for a hug after each lap. Then he had a poop and went down for a nap.

He just doesn't stop

So, Dylan is incapable of sitting still for more than a millisecond. He is sick with a cold and yet right from the crack of 5.30am he has been on the go. He just doesn't stop moving. At this moment he is crawling in circles under and around the table and now moving to the living room. He sat for about a minute to eat lunch and then got out, up on a chair to turn the light on and off a hundred times, then over to a toy, then made a few laps on the ride-on-truck around the house and so on. He comes in for a pit stop and litter ally pants as he sucks back some fluids. I am getting tired just trying to think about all his movements. So glad he is in a good mood today unlike two days ago that were... trying.

Phases

So, Sophia is not unique. Well, at least with regards to her once affinity towards housework. When she was learning to walk, she was obsessed with the broom. In part as a means to help her walk and in part just to sweep. Well, Dylan has now entered that phase. For the past week or so he has been OBSESSED with the broom. Not just one broom, but all brooms (except the toy one), especially if they are being used by me. He digs them out from beside the fridge, pushes them around the house, hits a wall or other obstacle, cries/ screeches until someone (me) sets the broom free and the vicious cycle continues. He is equally fascinated with the hand vacuum.

A new part of our bed time routine now includes banana in the bath. Dylan usually doesn't eat a good dinner so I worry he will be hungry and wake up earlier than he normally does, so I have started feeding him bananas before bed and he has come to like and expect this. For a kid who hated them as an infant when "all" babies are supposed to love them, he is making up for lost time now.

A composting we will go.

So, I bought a compost "barrel" from the city of Quincy last week. I held off putting it together because I didn't have a suitable indoor food pot. I was hoping for a metal pot that was light and had a lid. It also was to be easy to clean. After going to a Marshalls, Ikea, Job Lot and the grocery store and all failing miserably I held out hope on Christmas Tree Stores. I finally made it there this morning and though this is heavier and more breakable than I would like, it is the right size and for $4, fits the bill for now. I did some yard work yesterday and got the compost started and will fill it with some kitchen waste today. Go Environment.

Running Wish list

So, near Christmas and birthdays my mind draws a blank when asked what to get the kids (or me). So, I have had some thoughts on this and decided to make a list here and keep updating it over the months. If anyone wants to get the kids something (mostly for the doting grandparents, I guess), here is the place to look! I just found a great little Toy Store in Hanover that had a bunch of these items. Called "the Toy Box" (not the same as "My Toy Box")

Both Sophia and Dylan

Dr. Seuss Books

• Classic stories (ie. Goldie Locks, Never Cry Wolf, Three Little Pigs...
• Dr.'s Kit
• Toy Vacuum
• Slippers - preferably the heal-less variety, sillier the better. They currently fight over one bunny slipper (where the other is I don't know). I would like them to have a pair that stay on well too (shoe kind) to keep their feet warm on frosty mornings.

Sophia

• Doll House furniture (living room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms(parent and kid) and bathroom. There are two rooms in the attic that could be playrooms or studio type furniture. Dolls for dollhouse. "Calico Critters" are the right scale for the doll house and have lots of furniture. Plan Toys also have the right scale furniture for our doll house.
• Wiggle walk clothes (dresses, skirts that are easy to play in everyday)
• leggings to match wiggle walk attire
• nightgown
• jewelry
• new pink purse w/ phone (has one, but ready for an upgrade), keys, wallet...
• lip smackers (remember those? They used to have them stuffed into candycanes and "books")
• Toy kitchen appliances - coffee maker, toaster, mixer...
• Rose petal Cottage (not megapackage, just shell)
• IKEA table and chairs
• ironing board w/ iron
• Playdough set (ie, barber shop, ones with playdough moulds, etc...)

Dylan

• Tool bench - with board that has places to screw in toy screws, different tools with it too.
• train table
• train bridges for set
• More trains
• Miele toy vacuum cleaner

Cindy

• Apron
• wood cooking utensils
• LLB packable slippers, charcoal or raspberry, XS
• vacuum bag sealer
• electirc griddle
• Express velour suit in black, small

IKEA

Ikea still holds about the most fun of all the places we go. I took the kids there yesterday and they literally were screaming as they ran through the bubble "car wash" over and over and over again. Dylan fell about a million times and after a brief cry and kiss from mom he would get back to it each time.

Hair front:
Well, I am getting more used to my hair, I guess. Not as dorky as that barrette picture I posted, still no like it, though.

Sophia Stuff

Sophia has become a little mini me. I love watching and listening to her play with Lamby. She cares for him (and reprimands him) the same way I do her. She was "play grocery shopping" with her new cart and was telling Lamby -"no treats". She also tells him no treats before dinner when making him food. She was carrying him around playing "night night" and singing lullabies as she hears me do with Dylan. Then yesterday she put him on her potty and went in and gave him a hug as I do sometimes when she is "going to business" on the potty and can use a little support. Nothing says love like giving hugs on the potty, right? It always melts my heart when I hear her repeat back things I tell her spontaneously through out the day. We have been doing the potty training a while now and she is doing quite well. I keep telling her she has to take down and pull up her pants on her own to go to school (which she is very eager at this point to do), so I heard her saying pants down pants up go to school the other day.

Sophia had a new phrase this morning that took me by surprise. I was tickling her feet and she turns with a smile and says "no bug Sophia, mama". BUG? Where did she learn that?!

Sophia is also becoming a real big sister, offering Dylan toys when he is crying and repremanding HIM - no throw food on floor, baby!

It is fun watching Dylan copying everything. He likes to sit on the step and wait for his shoes to go on. This morning he sat down while Ethan was eating his cheerios and waved and said "bye". He really likes to practice sitting down - backs up and carefully plops down on some low surface.

Pink

So, I used to think that little girls loved the color pink because "pink of for girls, and blue is for boys". Then everyone buys them pink and blue things respectively in addition to when they are older have influence of other friends in love with pink and wanting to be alike. Well, Sophia doesn't go to school yet, and her wardrobe is quite varied. She probably only has about 3 pink items. Yet... this week pink has been her favorite color. She keeps referring to her room as Sophia's pink room, asks to wear pink this and that. Today she wanted to get a new pink back pack. Funny.

Another boy/ girl attribute that I didn't realize kicked in so much is how much more daring boys are. Dylan continues to throw caution to the wind everyday. Teetering on anything and everything - back of a chair, dump truck toys, blocks of wood... He has no fear with the slide anymore either. The one beside our house is very steep and even I think it is too fast. Sophia didn't dare going down it by herself until this summer and yet, at 14 months Dylan stands at the top, sits down, and flies down it to my arms waiting to catch him before he flies off.

The kids ARE alike in their need for hugs, kisses and need to be carried around. I can be bad mommy and plunk Sophia in front of the TV now while I prepare dinner, however, Dylan is filling Sophia's old shoes and hangs around at my feet, circling around my legs, crying and complaining until I pick him up - Just as Sophia did at this age. Sighhhh, so good that he is SO cute.

Costume front

So, it seems despite being "funny looking" to me, Sophia took to the "sizing sample" quite fondly. I tried them on Dylan first and they weren't TOO bad. Then on Sophia and they actually fit. I think they will be fine especially since they will be made of stretchy fleece. Once I had the sample on Sophia, she would not let me take them off (even though they kept slipping down as there was no elastic in the waist.).

Today I modified the onsie pattern for Sophia as she is bigger than the pattern is made for (she is 37" tall and it's max height is 32"). Fingers crossed it fits. I think I will err on the side of being too big, however, hope that it isn't TOO big. Part of the reason I am making my own pattern is that I don't like the one piece patterns out there - too bulkie and I want these to be lean.

"The Experiment"

So, I finally decided to try and rid us of plastic Tupperware. I haven't made anything final - still have a bag of "5's and 2's" hanging in the laundry room, but I went to target and bought a bunch of glass food storage containers. As of right now, I foresee the biggest obstacles to be dishwasher space (don't seem to stack as well) and heavy weight. I plan to make soup soon and will try using the pickle jars to freeze it in that I have amassing in the "pantry" below the stairs.

On another note, I am yet again sticking it to myself and making the kids' costumes this year. Only problem, I haven't been able to find a good pattern. I found a hood in one pattern that may work. I was going to use a onsie and legging pattern for the rest, but was unable to find a legging one. The onsie is small, but I hope to be able to enlarge it. I sewed a trial pair of leggings from a pattern I tried to make myself. They look... funny. seem to get really narrow at the hips. hmmmm. I will try them on Sophia when she wakes and see what I can do about that...

Bad mommy hair.

As requested, here are some hair pic's. This first one is of me arriving home from the slaughter house. The funniest thing is how Dylan just stared at me for the longest time. Like, "who are you and what have you done to my mother's hair". Here I am today trying to cope with the crop on top my head. Without the barrette it is one giant POOF. Anyone know of any good "hair elixirs?

Late Summer weekend

So, we had a pretty decent weekend. Well, aside from my hair slaughtering. Saturday got a lot of chores done. It was SO hot and muggy that I cancelled the hike I was going to do with some fellow moms (also poured the night before and would have been very wet in addition to 88 and muggy). Instead, I decided to "go shorter". BIG MISTAKE. My hair is crazy and now it is short and crazy and lets not forget ugly. Will it grow faster if I let the kids yank on it?

We had a nice time at the beach (good low tide) with the kids despite my hair "issues". Both kids had fun splashing around. If only they felt this way about water at the BEGINNING of the summer. Sigh.... NEXT year...

On a separate note... Dylan has had a large bruise under his chin for about a week now. At first it was bothersome to me that I didn't know how it happened and every time I have seen it, it has made me sad and mad at myself for not being more careful watching him. (though it could have happened when I was not around, but none the less, I am bothered). Then today after bath it looked like it was healing and decided to touch it. It feels like he chipped the bone maybe? Now I feel sick about that. When he hurts himself he seems to cry hard for a few minutes and then nothing. So it is hard to see if he is really hurt. Today, for example he tripped at the playground and cried. I picked him up, cuddled and checked his hands and face for scrapes and didn't see anything. He stopped crying, so I figured he was ok. Then in the car on the way home I saw a big scrape on his elbow. Poor little man!

Fun in the tub.

What are YOU looking at? True, True, I AM pretty handsome.
Please, don't embarrass yourself. I am not a Greek God. Demi-god, maybe.
After his bath, Dylan took to parading around the bathroom in Sophia's old bath towel. Bashful, he is not.
So, kids are still sick. I think I may be getting "it". I have kissed enough "nose swept" cheeks to have absorbed plenty of germs. Sophia really seems to me to have turned a new leaf. Can't put my finger on it, but I think it is her communication skills. She is able to say things more clearly - saying yeS, instead of ya, for instance. Putting more words into her phrases. Growing up!

Sophia also took to enjoying water again today. We came back to the yard around 6.15pm and she started with her feet in the cold splash pool water. Then the skirt came off. Then the undies. Then she wanted to "swim" and insisted her shirt come off too. I allowed this until the neighborhood kids started riding their bikes on the street. I am sure they couldn't see anything, but I didn't want her to be too "exposed". She would not let me put anything back on once inside either. Made it easier to get her in the tub?

The day the kids decided playing with the hose was fun...

So, this didn't happen on any one of the hot days we have had this summer. Nope. It was end of August and I had come home after grocery shopping and was filling the "pool" while putting the food away. I let Dylan stay out there as he was having fun. I looked in on him every minute and saw him with the hose, completely drenching himself. He was laughing, not screaming as per normal, as the hose would turn on himself. Later in the afternoon around 4pm when the sun was waning and the temps falling, Sophia decided the hose could be fun too. I was watering the few plants that are still growing and Sophia decided to take over. She then turned the hose on HERself. First for some sips and then after requesting I take off her shirt, she turned it onto her tummy. Hmmmm, cold hose water on a cool day - Fun. Warm water on a hot day - TERRIBLE form of TORTURE.
Between the two, I have one fully dressed kid.
We will not have to pay for a seat for Sophia anymore - we will just tell them she is part of our carry-on luggage.
Another new arrival today: Fisher Price "potty-on-the-go". So excited to have this. I will be able to leave the house with Sophia with a little less fear these days.

Our life in pictures

Diva D.
Dylan has really taken to Sophia's tiara. He has been handing it to me and making me put it on him... repeatedly. Maybe I should stop telling him how pretty he looks in it.A little too much surf.
Ok, so I may have just found a hat that is too big for Dylan's head. Guess it keeps the sun off him.
And a little too much turf.
Our little merman.
"You have to fight, for the right, to poooooooooooottttty!" (think 80's metal band). She really is the cutest ever no matter where she is sitting.

2 "fer" 2

We had another successful potty day yesterday. Sophia even called for me after she was in bed to go potty. Then I think it became a stall tactic as she was STILL awake at 10pm! At least her bed was dry. Then this morning she was very proud of her "big on poop", even though she plugged her nose because it was "stinky". Had to call dad in to show off her achievement. Doesn't even ask for rewards now. Yippy.

A gold metal for team Clark

So, today was a SUPER day. Dylan tried to throw us off this morning waking at 4.30am. I held off going then and again at 5.30am (I almost gave in and was going to lay there 5 more minutes and then he went back to sleep.). He finally DID wake for real at 7am. YAY! Sophia made it until 5.45. So, even though I was awake since 4.30, the kids were in their beds and I didn't have a super fussy over tired kid crying until nap time. Surprise surprise, Dylan was so good that we even went for groceries BEFORE his am nap.

This also marked day THREE of potty training for Sophia and we had 100% SUCCESS! Yay! She went potty before heading out to the grocery store and I took a risk and headed on that mission with her in kitty cat undies. Then Dylan went down around 9.10 and napped close to 2 HOURS! So, we headed to the playground via car with Elmo High five potty in the back "just in case" (I was SUPER nervous). I have also since ordered a travel potty for such outings. Again, success! Both kids went down around 1.10 (S) and 1.40(D). Sophia had a marathon nap until I got her at 4.30 - gently woke her. D woke with the garbage trucks around 3.

Then during dinner (ok, Sophia was done, I had just started) she had an uh oh, mamma pee pees. I whipped out the toilet that is being kept in the living room (no bathrooms on the main floor sucks) and out came a POOP! She gets a cookie for pee and an Ice cream cone for poop. So, we ended the day in the same pair of kitty undies that we started. I chickened out and put her in a diaper again tonight (even though she is dry most mornings and has even told me she has to pee with one on and made it to the potty instead of going in the diaper). She, like last night, didn't use the potty close enough to bed time and I am not up for dealing with sheets just yet.

So, here we are, a super day.

Proudest mommy moment yet

So, I buckled down today and decided I would give it the ol' college try of potty training Sophia. I didn't give up after the first time she peed on the floor. Or the second, third... or even the fifth. Just kept giving her more juice and tried to keep that bladder full as was recommended to me so that she would go often. I couple times I would ask her and reminder her of the cookie and sticker I would give her if she went on the toilet only to be told, no, no pee pees. Then 2 minutes later a little cry and puddle. This went on all day and finally right before bath I asked if she would try sit on the toilet and she did. And sat, and sat. We pushed on her tummy, I sat on the big thrown, we each read our book, then I went and started paying attention to Dylan. I thought that she must not have to go and told her she could get up if she wanted and gave her a couple heart stickers. She liked the stickers and just stayed on her toilet. Then all of a sudden, it happened. PEEE! A good one that will hopefully last through the night... She even sat there a while after. Oh so proud. Definitely earned her cookie and kitty cat sticker. Hoping tomorrow she will earn her ice cream cone... and of course that she earns lots of cookies.

Dance-off

As promised...

New and Different (and yes, fun)

So, there are a few fun little things going on with So and Dyl.

First, diaper changes. Lately seems like I am changing both kids at the same time - rushing out of the house after Dylan's nap and wanting them both to be dry. I get Sophia to lay on the rug in front of me and over the past couple weeks Dylan sees this and lays down beside her, and waits his turn without even being asked. Then TODAY, I didn't even need to change Sophia and waved a diaper in front of Dylan and he immediately laid down and waited for the change to occur!

Second, new dance partner. Dylan has started to feel the music. Sophia was dancing around and I started stomping my feet and dancing with her and the Dylan got in on the action, moving his little feet like crazy. Then downstairs, Sophia turned on the recorded music on the piano and started dancing. Dylan got right in there with her. I managed to grab the camera, but can't find the download cord. Hope to get that uploaded here...

Third, down low. I was reading Sophia her stories tonight and she wanted of all things, to read about snowmen. I was explaining the difference between hot and cold (she keeps reversing them) after her bath and said that ice cream and snow men are cold, hence her wanting the snowmen story). I found the Christmas book about the snowman's jubilee and got to a page that had them High-Fiving. She perked up on this as wanted to high five me, so we did and then she said, "down low". HA! I haven't said that to her in ages and only on the swing. What a smart little cookie!

Yeah, baby!

So, it turned out to be another great morning. Once the sun came out it warmed up and off we went to Wilson Pond. I decided to give one ski a shot and got up my first try, wahoo! I went for a long run thinking it would be the last for the season. Ended up going again to try it on a shorter rope. I think Ethan jinxed me asking if I wanted to get up on two skis. After two tries he gave me the ski to drop. Yeesh. Was still fun to ski again. We were so into ourselves we didn't even notice it was 1.20. I was expecting to be home an hour earlier. Didn't even give the "sitters" (hehe, gramily/ zadie) instructions for naps. All went well, gave some tips over the phone and now am pooped. Looks like we will be getting some showers soon. blech.

Finally a BEACH day!

Ok, so we didn't make it to the beach until 4pm and only stayed about 50minutes, but that is about the best yet. Sophia also actually enjoyed herself in the lake too. She even jumped off the dock a bunch of times. So what if it was only 7inches deep at that part and the dock was flush with the water, that is a big step for my land lover. Pretty nice day up here today, though. I even went water skiing! I chickened out and stuck with two skis because of my knee. I regretted not taking the ski to drop after about a minute as I felt I would have been fine. Ethan did a great run through the ski course set up by they camp. Yay, Ethan!

Happy Halloween?

So, normally seeing Halloween stuff in stores would seem odd for the beginning of August. However, considering the weather we have been having - 60's over night?! and all this rain, it seems like it is already October and they are perfectly normal to be stocked on the shelves. sigh... I feel like I missed summer this year. Had about 2 weeks of it and seems like we are settling in for a long, cold winter.

What goes on behind closed doors...

A little artwork... A few cuddles (Dylan's favorite spot to be)
Some dress-up...

Scaling objects to get at buttons that we thought were out of reach...
A little Russian cross-dressing... (Thanks Aunt Jenny! Your hand me-downs seem to be a hit with all of us)

We still haven't adjusted to the fact that Dylan is a boy. Could have sworn we were having another girl...

Snuggliest kid ever... REALLY.

So, I really think Dylan is the snuggliest little guy out there. His cuddles get better each time. When I am cooking and can't stand him crying at my feet (or should I say while standing on my feet), I will pick him up and he will hang out on my hip, arm hooked around mine and watching, now and then resting his head on my shoulder. When it is nap time I carry him up stairs and his head is snuggled into my neck and it takes me a while to go ahead an lift his head off me to get his sleep sack on. I just want to stand there forever. It isn't that he just likes to be held, but he likes to snuggle while being held. ahhhhh. Pretty lucky :)

Fruit and Flowers

Today is our 4th wedding anniversary. Yay us! I think they came up with "traditional gifts" for those who lack inspiration to think of stuff themselves. Makes us feel better about getting something traditional - like it was intentional, not for lack of a better, more personal gift. Well, I joined the ranks of the uninspired today. I guess my gift will be thought and attempt rather than the actual gift that counts. I had it set in my mind that I would go to Kabloom today and get a tropical arrangement with Bird of Paradise in memory of our St. Lucia honeymoon. I was then to hit the "fruit Center" across the street and buy some exotic fruits and then TJ Maxx for a vase. Well, I got to the Kabloom to find it out of business. Then to the fruit center. You would think they specialized in FRUIT. They had a TERRIBLE selection of just regular fruit you can get anywhere. I didn't even bother with TJ Maxx.

I then got the kids in the car AGAIN and headed a few more blocks "into town". For such a small city with so few businesses, there was NO parking either! I found a florist and was trying to park near it as I didn't bring the double stroller (just had a pathetic excuse for a single one) so I wanted to get close. I gave up and found one a couple blocks away and put Sophia in it and carried Dylan. Got there and they didn't even HAVE the Bird of Paradise - have to special order. Yeesh. THe only exotic flower they had was delphinium orchids. Better than nothing I guess. They did have them in St. Lucia. I got some Iris' that "looked" exotic and astalmaria (sp?) that our flower girls carried at our wedding. I will hit Godiva for some chocolate dipped fruit. Yay for tradition :)

dang, wrong blog

So I went through all the trouble to post more pictures and realized AFTER I published it that it was under my "Adventures in Amateur Landscaping" blog site. I don't think there is a way to move it over here, so if you would like to see those pic's, please visit http://cindycindyland.blogspot.com . You can catch up on how pathetic my gardening/ landscaping efforts have been this year too.

A few photos

Dylan on the green Car jinx
Park shenanigans

30 hours

So, there are lots of things we can do with 30 hours. For instance, we were planning on driving up to Ottawa and going to my cousin's wedding. Instead, however, life chose a different way for me to spend the last 30 hours. Sitting in the ER. Oh happy day. I woke up Friday morning in incredible pain. My ankle was back to the burning red like it was two weeks ago. This time the bones felt bruised and was very difficult to walk. I was literally hanging on the phone waiting for 8am so I could get an appointment to get more meds. I went to my 9.15 appointment thinking I would go to my doctor's office, pick up another antibiotic prescription, go to the Walgreens and wait for an hour for them to fill it and then be off to get Ethan. Instead, the doctor sent me to the ER to get intravenous antibiotics and blood work. I got to sit there for two hours before being seen and had my first dose at noon-1pm. The doctor on call looked at it and said I needed another dose and that would be in 12 hours. I then asked a couple of times if I could go home and then come back. DENIED. I sat in the hall until 3pm and was then brought to the observation deck. Ok, ER observation floor where I had a room I got two share with another transient guest. I was served a "delicious" turkey lunch and watched terrible TV. I was surprised at 3.30 by a visit from my wonderful husband bearing gifts of my trash rags (People, US). I was happy for the company. He went home for dinner and to help Me-mere and Pe-pere put the kids to bed and we had a fun visit from 8-10. Ethan went back home and I to "sleep". Lady beside me was watching the red sox game and then I was woken again at 1am for my second dose and then again at 2am to have is removed. Morning came quickly with the nurses checking out my neighbor and then her watching TV. I tried to sleep through it but that was hopeless. So much for being able to finally sleep in without my 1yr old alarm clock waking me at the crack of night. Doctor came back at 8am and said I needed a third dose. UGH! SO, I waiting again until noon. I was pleasured by a visit from my little girl and her dad mid morning with another visit. This time bearing gifts of chocolate, a beautiful rose and a fashion rag. I was all done with my meds by 1pm and was ready to go, but spent another 2 hours just waiting for them to get the paper work together. UGH!

Glad to be home, nervous about nursing Dylan and of course it is the weekend so getting in touch with his pediatrician's office will be difficult. He has survived two nights without my milk, however, I think he will be very upset having me and not being able to nurse. sigh....

How things change in 30 hours. The GOOD of it all was that at least I was prepared for being away overnight from the kids, had Me-mere and Pe-pere already prepared to babysit.

It's back and it ain't happy

So, last night I began to become concerned about the cellulitis ankle again. The red "sock" was returning around my ankle. This time the surface of the skin wasn't as sore as the bones. The "getting sorer" feeling progressed rapidly over night. And now this morning I am in incredible pain.

The good and the bad.
Bad news is that we were (are?) planning on driving up to Ottawa for a wedding today. Now I am not sure what is going to be going on with this trip. At best we will go and I will sit through everything and be in a lot of pain. The bad is I am here with possible intravenous antibiotics.
Good news is that Bob and Jackie were planning on coming anyway today to look after the kids for the weekend and are able to get here early this morning so that I can go to a doctor without the kids.

This bottom line is that this just plain sucks.