I DID IT!!!!!

This was heard after Dylan completed this puzzle. He has done this ALL on his own three times now. Woot Woot!
Before:

After:

Paparazzi

Ok, this is kind of a test. me trying to be, well, computer savvy. HA! Trying to link into Picasa's website as photos here take FOREVER to upload and can only be done a few at a time. Here is goes!

Sophia has been taking over the camera a lot lately. Ok, BOTH kids have, but Sophia has actually been able to aim a little and get the desired object in the frame and capture it. Dylan is mostly interested in the flash.

Have a look at what the paparazzi has been up to.

Clicked

So, between yesterday and today, the act of cycling has really clicked with Sophia and clicked quite a bit with Dylan. Took the kids to a parking lot/ basketball court near our house with their bikes in between the rain today and they were AMAZING! Sophia no longer appears to have fear of her big girl bike. She would actually speed up coming towards me so that she could brake quickly. She was riding in circles around the courts and doing tight bobby pin turns going from one fenced in court to the next. Dylan too, actually! He was on his two wheel green bike (with training wheels, duh) and though he wasn't able to brake without the use of the fence in front of him and found it more difficult to start peddling sometimes, he exhibited great control, doing that bobby pin turn and following Sophia around. He would get distracted in his fascination of his feet and act of peddling and have to be reminded to look where he was going, but I still think this is all leaps and bounds for both kids. Wahoo! Family bike ride could be in the near future!

Tour de France

I think I will sign the kids up for the Tour de France next summer. Ok, maybe a Tour de Quincy. BOTH kids were on their two (ok, four with the training wheels) bikes yesterday doing laps around the boat. They did SO well! Peddling on their own, Sophia cruising on her giant 14" wheel bike, braking and even managing to stay balanced over the monstrous dips and lumps that make up our driveway. The only problems the kids ran into was when the back wheel went over a dip too slowly while the training wheels were on higher ground thus rendering the bike to be a stationary bike with the back wheel spinning in the air. Oh, Dylan had some steering issues too as he would stare at his legs and feet rather than the direction he was headed and collided with the boat a few times.

Project house paint underway

A color has been selected and the de-painting has begun. I must say I much preferred the mornings activities - frolic at the beach with the kids. It has to be done, though... We tackled the biggest wall first - south west. We each had a turn with the power washer - Bob, me and then Ethan took over while Bob and I handled kid needs and hand scraping. PHEW. Ethan just informed me that the lady at the end of the street approached him as he power washed our granite wall and asked him "how much to do her house". HA! And she wasn't kidding. I guess Ethan must have looked really professional. We are in relax mode now and I suspect that will change to pain mode in the morning. Yippy. No turning back now...

Colic

Is Dylan too old to have colic? Cuz he sure has been crying ALOT lately, inconsolable, throughout the day. Ok, Ok, he DID just turn two. Sure does have an awful case of the twos. Yesterday he cried for about two minutes (seemed like an hour) because his cracker broke in half. He cries because he has TEARS in his eyes! Outrageous. He has about one good hour first thing (way early) in the morning and then it is melt down central for the rest of the day.

Short and Sweet

SO, Dylan had his 2 year check up yesterday and it has been determined that he is short and sweet. He ranks around 25th percentile height and weight. Weight has come up a bit making him even steven for proportions. So, although he isn't the tallest kid in class, at least he still fits into his 12month size swim suit and saved me $30 this summer not having to get a new one :).

Taking the train into Beantown this morning. Fun fun!

Put your toes into it.

Dylan turns 2!

So, we had a hectic time this past week. Spent the 4th of July weekend up in Maine for a nice weekend with family. Uncle Mike and Aunt Jenny threw a cute pirate party for Dylan. Got home Sunday with a million things to do for the party. I didn't even finish unpacking the car and pulled out the lawn mower to cut the lawn. (pretty pointless considering the monsoon rains we had for the party). ANNNNNNNYWAY... Monday was a beautiful day and I wanted to let the kids enjoy at least an hour of it. Sophia ended up getting hurt and we were in the ER from 9pm-1.30am waiting for her to be checked out. Got 3 hours sleep and then up with Dylan to set up for an outdoor party that turned indoors almost precisely at the commencement of the party. GRRR. continued to rain and POUR for the whole thing. Dylan was having fun and I think liked his party anymore. Both kids were tuckered and were down for their naps at 1pm and 1.40pm and slept until FIVE. I even went to revive Dylan. His afternoon naps have been super long lately...

Party Boat HatsBoat princess

Awaiting cake...

Le Cake

Water Balloon fun
Speediest toe biker ever.
Cool helmut. Note how legs are a blur.
Today was another rainy start. Went and picked up Dylan's new Balance bike (which Sophia immediately tried to claim as her own). Then to the gym for a long over due workout. I was SO taken when I went to pick the kids up from the daycare. Sophia was snuggled up next to Dylan on the aptly named kiddie "love" seat reading him a story. The girl at the daycare said they were like that most of the time. SWEET.

Name that poop.

Sophia is hilarious going to the bathroom. First while performing her duty, she spreads her arms out in an airplane fashion with her butt in the bowl. Then she keeps trying to maintain balance while lifting her shirt up so as to not be near the action. THEN, after mission accomplished, she peers into the bowl and identifies each specimen. "That is the daddy, this is the mama and that is the baby" or " that is snake, banana, grape... etc".

Good answer!

While nibbling on the chocolate treat I gave him, I asked Dylan if it was good and he replied, ya. Then I asked him what he likes more: treats or mama. And he said MAMA! That's ma boy!

"I DID IT!"

This is Dylan's newest favorite saying. He can be heard exclaiming this as LOUD as he can all day about every little accomplishment - getting a noodle out of his bowl, flipping a page... Very cute and very loud. Everything is pretty loud with Dylan these days. He no longer seems to speak, just yells everything.

XL weekend in the homeland

We took a 4 day weekend up in Canada - Kanata, Ont, to be exact. My Parents arrived in the morning at Ainley's and we rolled in at approx. 10pm. Left the house at 2pm and Dylan immediately crashed for a 2 hour nap. Sophia rejected a nap, unless you count the 30 minute one she took in the beginning. Yup, 7.5 hours in the car. Fun. Sophia also took another 40minute nap at 9pm and that got her going until 11.30 or later - oh joy. Started the weekend with a end of year school recital of singing and reciting poetry. S and d were VERY tired and HUNGRY, so they didn't do so well through this. Once back home they took good naps and the weekend officially began. We lucked out and got lots of sun instead of the rain that was predicted for us. Yay! Sophia remained shy among her cousins, however, Dylan was happy to be led around by his big cousin Rhianna. It was very cute to see him take her hand and just go where she led. Even on that first day!

On day two of the trip, Princess Sophia was re-born. She first emerged in a blue dress and then the hoop skirt dress was found and she wore that ALL the time. Here she takes the arm of Prince Kieran. It was so funny when Sophia walked in the house once while Kieran was sitting in the living room. He looked up at her and casually greeted her with, "helllo, princess!" (he is 4)
This was SUPER sweet. My mom called me over to see Sophia sitting next to baby Declan and "reading" to him. She got the book herself and set herself up too. She took her "babysitting" duties very seriously.

She kept asking to hold him. It was fun to see her imitating the things we would do - shhh-ing, plugging him with the pacifier...

Partial family portrait. The ones with all of us were not zoomed in. take what you can get...

Princess on wheels.

Kieran teaching Dylan how to make lego cars.

Even Ethan got his turn being toted around in the green wagon.

And we all got our shot on a bike.

From the very young....

To the, ahem, very old? Heheh, Sorry dad. You know how they say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks? What about re-teaching an old dog old tricks?

When in doubt, just say B

Dylan is replacing words more and more with the letter B. The first to come was "B-bar" where the letter B replaced the word cereal. The next to come was B-bus. Here the letter B replaces either school or city. I will keep adding the list of B's as they arise.

Another interesting kid note is the extension of Sophia's music. She has always walked around singing all day. Her songs have taken a new twist, though. Now, she will sing a sentence and add "TCHSHHH TCHSHHHH" to the end. ie: she will sing, " take my shoes off mommy, tchshhh tchshhh". Pretty amusing to me.

Another cute Sophia-ism is her conversation starter. It is always started with "remember when..." and then the second part is a random memory. "Remember when Dylan hurt his head?" And then I have to think - WHICH time? She remembers the littlest things that happend long ago (relatively speaking, of course) and it amuses me to see what she remembers.

A star is (re)born

I was at my sister's place in Ottawa this past weekend (full post on that later) and was going through the box of Dylan's old clothes for the THIRD time. Re-folding and re-sorting them. Strolling back through memory lane.... Well, third time's a charm they say. I was folding a little jumper and felt something hard. Hmmmm, what could that be? There was a little pocket and inside this pocket was the missing PURPLE STAR from our shape puzzle. My spring cleaning this year was in part brought on in attempt to FIND this star. I had been bothered by it's disappearance. I mentioned this to Ethan as it was a little difficult for hands of a 1 and 2 year old to stuff in there and he smiled and said it sounded familiar. Sigh.... At least my puzzle is once again complete :)

Beantown adventures

I took the long anticipated trip to Boston with the kids today. I have been wanting to do the "ferry" thing with them for a while. The morning started out cool and damp but I had hope in the weather reports. We got off the ferry and headed for the playground. Then passed this carousel It was only 10 and it didn't open until 11, so we toured Quincy Market for a while. Then we got here at 10.50 and they were 10 minutes late opening. I had to listen to "can we go on yet?" for 20 minutes. Ugh.

Went back to the park and were sure to stop and smell the roses.

Ok, I guess that was one too many smiles to ask for. Getting goooooofy...Yup, and back to the ferry to head home. Great morning.

The rains of yesterday and more prodigy updates

Dylan was cute as could be during our rainy Sunday morning. Once inside, Ethan dumped out a boot full of water from Dylan's firetruck boots. He was fussing about "something" at one point while we were out and I thought he was complaining of a rock. Then I thought, there was no way a rock could be in there and brushed it off. The "booter" explains it.

Earlier in the week I made blueberry pancakes for the kids. Note in addition to Sophia's very "beautiful" hair (her new favorite word), her nice clean face. Markings of a true little lady.

And then we have D. Blueberries ALL over his face and hands. SO cute. Markings of a true blue little boy.

Today I went to REI with the kids so Dylan could test drive a Skuut. I was very disappointed that it was TOO BIG! They are supposed to fit 2-5 year olds. He needs another couple inches. Sigh... Sophia, on the other hand did amazing on the 16" two wheeled bike! It has training wheels and they are especially needed as her feet don't reach the ground, but she road around the store about 20 times. I didn't even follow her after a while, just let her make a solo loop. That bike was a little $$$, but I will definitely be getting her one this summer. She is doing really well on the tricycle and has been enjoying her bike rides. Toddlers look so cute peddling really fast on those, don't they?

Reading Dylan stories tonight, he surprised me again. I hadn't done the alphabet book in a while so I asked him "want to do A B C's?" and he replied "ALPHABET". I never even mentioned that word. Brilliant.

Back to Sophia's "beautiful". She has been using that word a lot lately and I think it is so cute to hear her describe things with it. Thank you for buying me these shoes, mama. They are very beautiful".

Dylan counts to THREE!

Dylan was trying to climb up the side of the front steps (garbed in a diaper only) and I told him to get down. I decided to try the "1 2 3" thing described to me this weekend and I told him I would count to three. I said ONE and then HE said ooo (two) eeee (three). He is really quite advanced :) I have already mentioned his advanced "jump" move - being able to get both feet off the ground at the same time already. Well he upped the ante on that one and jumped off the third step of our little slide on the lawn and landed on his feet. He also is getting quite good at throwing rocks in an overhand motion. A skill my "baby center" update thing-y tells me is mastered at a much later age.

So those were the highlights of my day. Things involving myself were less than stellar. First I started with getting into someone elses car after buying groceries. I was reading my receipt and clicking the lock on my key chain at the same time and not really paying attention to the car. It just so happened the door was UNLOCKED, so I didn't even realize anything was wrong until I was INSIDE. I sat down and first noticed that the seat was really far up and was trying to figure out how that happened. Then I noticed that the seats were more firm and covered in fabric, not leather. It then took me about 5 more seconds to put it all together and realize I just sat in someone elses car! I immediately got out and hurried to my car two cars away. YEESH!

Then I went to the paint store to pick out some house paint colors and stopped and DD on the way. I got my iced coffee and felt the car keys were pretty light. I was almost at the car when I realize the car key fell off the chain! I traced my steps back to the store and again back to the car. I finally realized that I could still open the car with the unlock button and found the missing key all the way over on the passenger seat.

My third mishap was minor - forgot to put the eggs into my banana loaf and had to take it out of the oven after being in there a few minutes and stir them in. Not a disaster, but not great. I think I might be getting TOO much sleep now adays, haha. Dylan has gone 4 for 4 now and slept as late as 6.30! Go D!

Rainy day shopping spree

The rains couldn't hold me back today! Took advantage of "the babysitter" and got to buy groceries in the morning without kids jumping in and out of the cart and asking for treats the whole time. Then I was able to finally hit the Wrenthum Outlets and do some serious shopping and damage to the ol' credit card. I left after getting Dylan down for his nap and flew to the outlets. I made out SO well in Gymboree with all the sale merchandise. I paid about $4 or $5 for most items. The raincoat was a STEEL - $4.27 HA! They mix and match VERY well too. Yay, me!

So, we have had a strange thing happen in our house this past week. Dylan has slept in past FIVE! He made it past 5.30 even. THREE TIMES. Today was the latest yet at 6.15. Wahoo. He was coughing for about an hour between 3.45am and 4.45, though. He didn't make any other sounds and I lay there praying for him not to be sick and to please please please not wake up completely.

A good day

Today was pretty good all in all. Nice weather - much warmer than I had anticipated. Started the morning cleaning the house a bit after Ethan took off with the kids for a canoe adventure. Then went on a hike with a couple girl friends around 9.30. Funny how much later other households with kids THE SAME AGE as ours start out. One mom rolled out of bed 8.45 and her kids were STILL SLEEPING. The other just doesn't get going until later and thought 9am was early. It's like our household is from a different planet. ANYWAY, the kids had a good time on their adventure and then Sophia and I went to the grocery store for some lunch fixings. As usual, I decided to pick up a few more things. Sophia carried her own basket that was about as big as she is and kept wanting me to put the fruit and other food I was collecting in HER basket. So cute to see her struggling to lift it and carry it like a big girl. She slowly let me help at first by carrying it with her and then taking over all together.

The kids BOTH decided on an early nap - noon. Ok, sure. Sophia had a good nap and Dylan went all the way to THREE HOURS. Apres-nap, we headed off to Houghton's Pond. On our way out from the parking lot, as we passed by part of the pond we came across a little clearing down to the pond. Sophia stopped and informed me that this is where we could launch a boat. Hilarious! Once at the beach, Dylan and Ethan hung out by the water and Sophia and I went where else, but the playground. Sophia then started thinking about snacks and we joined back up with Ethan and his snack bag. Ethan went so far and took the plunge into the pond in his shorts. There were a lot of people in the water and he couldn't resist. Dylan took a less intentional plunge. As he was studying his toy boat he lost his balance and rolled over into the water. Poor little guy. He is just so sweet to watch - all that concentration, slow, careful movements, studying "things". He was pushing his boat up through the sand and then lifting it up and watching the sand drop out from the bottom. He wanted to know all about this amazing act. After coming home we slapped some chicken burgers on the grille and the kids played while we ate outside. This is about the BEST play day ever with the kids. They were laughing, chasing each other, Sophia would swing Dylan around and do ring around the rosie... They played together for about an HOUR. Then they were laughing and playing together in the tub. So sweet :)

Tortoise and the Hare

So, first we had our yard bunny and now the playground turtle. Ok, the turtle visited us once before, last year, but it is a new visit this year. I was in the playground with the kids waiting for our playdate friends to arrive when we came across this guy. He hung around about 10 minutes after climbing out and then sllllllloooooowwwwwllllllyyyyyy waddled away. Ethan "rescued" this turtle (or one very similar to it) last time we saw it in the playground. Playdate went well. Sophia didn't drag me away and interacted with some of the kids a little. She REALLY liked baby Julia (1 year old).

FIrsts and cuteness

This morning Dylan woke up at FOUR. We had passed that stage a couple weeks ago. I know there could be a link to our weekend's visit to Maine, however, it was no less appreciated. When I first heard him there was the age old debate - do I go to him or not? He wasn't crying - singing, rather. Kind of cute - I heard him say "where are you?" (of course not that clearly, but I knew what he was saying). Anyway, while in Maine, he woke around 11.30pm the first night and I went to him, stroked his face and sang twinkle twinkle. I thought, maybe he would think it was like that and went to him, did that and left. He said night night, and then continued to sing until about 5am and then here is the first.... WENT BACK TO SLEEP! And sleep he did until 6.30am. I even got up before him, haha.

And now for the cuteness. There are actually two. At around 5.45, Ethan's alarm went off. He got up and I heard Dylan's door pop open. I didn't hear Dylan and wondered if he was going to get him up. Strange. Then I lay there and didn't hear any steps on the stairs. strange. About 6.10 I got up and saw Dylan's door ajar. I peaked in and there Ethan was on the rocking chair, with Dylan's blanket, waiting for Dylan to wake. CUTE! He has really taken to liking getting up with Dylan. Second act of cuteness is from Sophia. Last night I remember her walking around before bath with my robot jammy top. Then this morning when I went to get her I saw she had SLEPT with them like a little blanky. Awwwwwe.

Now, even though Dylan is hacking away and had a fever of almost 101 yesterday, he is zooming around the house - pitter patter pitter patter.... SUPER CUTE! I guess that would be a third, right? What a difference waking up at wake up time makes :)

A 90 degree day

Ok, it is not what you think. It wasn't 90 in Boston today. That is the temp one of our angels set the house at. The kids were playing in that corner early in the evening and I had gone up to "draw" their bath. My room temp OCD came in really handy. I noticed that Dylan's room was 69 degrees. I had put the little space heater in there earlier as the house has been turned down to 60 and his room was registering 65/ 66. It has been so cold here that I thought his room could use a little boost. I thought it odd the room would be that warm with the heater at the setting I put it at. As I was walking down the stairs I noticed a nice warm draft and heard that familiar "clink" of the radiators. Went over to the thermostat and was shocked to see it set PAST 90. Luckily I caught it before it went past 70. Ahhhh, kids.

Today also marks day one of "serious bribery". Probably won't find this in any parenting book or magazine, however, after about 2 weeks of Sophia getting up many times after being put to bed and STILL being awake after 9pm I put into action Plan Desperation. I did the unthinkable and gave Dylan a BIG chunk of chocolate in front of Sophia and told her she couldn't have any because of her bedtime fiascoes. I did show her the last chunk and said she could have it TOMORROW, if she went to bed nicely tonight. Ugh. Not off to a great start so far. She has gotten up once, but that was to make "poo poos" and she did it all on her own except the wiping, which I was glad to help with. I think I am hearing stuff up there, but not sure. Fingers crossed this works.

Independance day, a little early.

Sophia has been wanting to dress her herself much more lately. She has been taking her jammies off in the morning, putting them on at night and now and then putting her pants on for the day and shirt too. I have been choosing (sometimes with her help) her outfits for the day, though. Today, however, she did ALL the choosing and dressing herself. And though I probably wouldn't have put the pink shirt with polka dots together with the red pants, I think it is GREAT that she got everything herself and proceeded to put it on too.

Uh oh, speghettio

Yup. If you guessed Dylan's latest "catch phrase", you are right. Much cuter when he says it, of course.

We survived a hot one today. I think I much prefer the 70 degree days. I feel old thinking that. I remember not too long ago being at work and my boss telling me this was his ideal kind of weather. I couldn't have disagreed more. How boring is THAT?! You can't hang out at the beach and enjoy 70 like you can 90's!

Wow, how time flies. This post has been sitting in my draft box a while. I recall wanting to add to it, but life and kids "came up" and now I suppose I should just post it as is before I forget my own name.

Rabbits, Arbors and Macgyver

This little rabbit (among others) is kind of like our pet. Though we can't pet or hold them, we also don't have to feed or clean out their cages. We just get to enjoy them and step in their piles of poop all over the lawn. Hmmmm, that cage isn't looking too bad right now...Went to the Arboretum yesterday to let the kids run wild with their ride on toys. There were a few puddles remaining from the morning's rain and Dylan found then all.Off we go into the (groomed) wilderness. Sophia and Dylan's pilgrimage up the hill, each carrying their own riding device.

Then, WEEEE WEEEE WEEEE, all the way down.

Classic Sophia "pose". She loves to sing and use hand/ arm gestures so this position is very typical to see.

Walking with dogs. S and D were quite taken with this pack of dogs.

Our other adventure this weekend involved going out on the boat after the kids' naps. We packed a dinner and planned to bbq some burgers on the boat next to an island. Ethan remembered the grill and extra propane tank and I remembered the food and flipper. Neither of us remembered the lighter. Hmmmm. After searching the entire boat the only lighter Ethan could find was the spark plugs for the boat. SO..... I turned the key and he held the plug in the BBQ and I held my breath. It worked! It lit, however the wind was strong and it didn't stay lit. phooey Carrot sticks, spinach dip and cheese sandwiches it was. I was very impressed with the Macgyver move. Looking him up on the net to get the spelling right I found out the show was and America-Canadian production. HA! I guess our family is more true to the show than I first thought!

All Her Ducks/ Trucks in a Row

I love seeing this kind of thing. Sophia lined up her cars on the couch before going upstairs for bath. I couldn't resist taking a million pictures of Dylan in these glasses. Too cute.

Monkey See Monkey Do Part 2

Today, Dylan learned he is able to crawl into his car seat on his own... just like Sophia. And just like Sophia, he can stand in it and look into the back of the truck. Only everything is slower. And when we are in a hurry he is of course more insistent on doing it himself.

Skeletor and the princess

Sophia and Zach on the couch in front of the boob tube. We didn't have time for many pictures and this turned out to be the best of ten. Zach in his fav skeleton jammies and little S with her eyes glued to her "half hour tv".

Today started pretty rough - Dylan in melt down most of the time (waking at 4.40 didn't help, I am sure). I lost it at lunch and felt bad afterwards. Recomposed, got him BACK on my lap, finished lunch and kind of made up. The best part was nap time. Ok, so nap time usually IS my favorite time, but today was extra good. I put Sophia down first as I often do and brought Dylan into her room while I tucked her in. She curled up in her "favorite cozy spot" in the corner against the pillows between the bed and wall. She put Lamby over her head as always and started her journey to sleep. I then took Dylan to his room and after a diaper change, got him in his sleep bag. He started to squirm and I was getting nervous he would give me a hard time. So, I followed the normal procedure for this scenario and held him over his crib and gave him the choice: bed or sing. This works to snap him out of his fuss and he always chooses "sing"... except today. He chose bed. I put him down hesitantly and he just lay there. I then slowly started walking away waiting for him to change his mind, but nothing. I left the room, closed the door and STILL nothing. I heard a little giggle kind of noise and thought maybe he thought this was a game so I quietly went back into the room and there he was just like Sophia - curled in the corner of his crib, head in his bears and the little Gymboree monkey on his head like Lamby was on Sophia. And he did it. No "Twinkle Twinkle", no "Now's the time for you to sleep", no snuggle (sniff, sniff). Just went down.