Wordless Wednesday

Fort Fun

Last night the kids were a bit antsy and suffering from cabin fever. I decided to help TJ make a "fort" out of two diaper boxes. They had the best time! Who knew that two diaper boxes would provide 2 hours of fun!

Fhoto Friday

Yes, I know, I spelled photo wrong. I did it in an attempt to be "cool." I know I am not "cool," but I thought the play on alliteration was appropriate for this displaced, literature loving, life living mother (did you see what I did there? Alliteration...did ya catch it?)

I spent the time between my arrival home and Ayron's arrival home just playing with the kiddos.

Playing patty cake with TJ (just off the "screen")

She now does an "Oh My!" face....this is it. She also says the following: Mama, Dada, PaPa, No, and Uh Oh. She will sign the following: please, thank you, more and done.

The kids decided that it would be appropriate to be underfoot while I attempted to prepare dinner . Thank goodness for the singing alphabet letters!

I can't explain this picture. Maybe he is doing his best attempt at a "GQ" picture?

A much more natural smile!

She was proud she pulled her sock off.

It Get's Easier, Right?!

Lately TJ has been waking up in the middle of the night. He is prone to sleep walking and night terrors (we once witnessed him climb the corner in his room) so we just take him potty and put him back to bed, start his music (lullaby cd) and he goes right back to bed. That didn't work last night.

 

TJ and Ella have both been a little under the weather as have I. So when TJ woke up at 2 am and wanted AYron to lay down with him, Ayron did. Then at 2:30am Ayron came back to bed and the melt down of all meltdowns began. Screaming, crying, throwing things at the bedroom wall our two rooms share, etc. Finally at 3:15am I got him calmed down and was able to leave his room and get back into our bed. Then like 10 minutes later he came in our room, crying and I knew THAT cry. I recognized THAT cry. I told him, "You are fine. Get a pillow and just come here" (I was prepared to cave for the fact that I needed sleep). He didn't want to go get his pillow. He refused, and THAT cry got louder. I knew what was coming, yet I said, "Go get your pillow and you can sleep in bed with Mommy and Daddy." Since he didn't want to walk the 4 steps back to his room to get his pillow he decided to vomit on our bedroom floor.

 

I was furious, but kept my cool. Took him to the bathroom, got him stripped down, cleaned up, re-pj'd, etc. Ayron cleaned up the vomit (it was just water, so we know he made himself do it), and we all piled into our bed....Scooter joined us. Granted, we have a king sized bed, but it was crowded. By the time we all got back in bed it was 4am. In like two minutes, TJ, Scooter and Ayron were snoring while I desperatly clung to what little piece of the giant bed and tiny corner of the comforter that wasn't already claimed.

Please tell me it gets easier? Even if it is a lie. I haven't slept for more than two hours straight in the past 8 months and it isn't because of the baby, it is because of the almost four year old!

Look out world, here she comes!

This is the video I just recieved (via email) from Ayron of Isabella, 10 months and 3 days old, taking her first steps! You'll have to ignore Ayron and his inability to wear anything other than a pair of gym shorts while at home.

Snow Day

We finally got some snow over my winter vacation from work. TJ decided he wanted to help me shovel the driveway. Who was I to turn down free labor?!

Trying to get the hang of the shovel.

Making a snow angel.

Hitting the tree with a stick....isn't that what you do when you play in the snow?!

Warming up with some hot chocolate.

Breaking the Habit

TJ has always been attached to a blanket. Didn't matter what type of blanket, just a blanket. We would take a blanket away and he would simply find a new blanket to carry around the house. Over my vacation from work, I tripped over that blanket (a toddler bed sized blanket of Elmo flying a plane) a million times. I decided that Elmo had to leave. I simply waited for TJ to leave the room and then I made Elmo disappear into the deep dark back corner of our closet. When TJ asked for the blanket at nap time I simply said, "You don't need him." Later that night TJ asked Ayron for Elmo and Ayron honestly replied, "I don't know where he went." Ayron had no clue I had taken Elmo away. TJ hasn't asked for Elmo since. That was two weeks ago.

About a week ago I decided that since the removal of Elmo went so smoothly I should work on TJ's thumb sucking habit. I had noticed that since Elmo disappeared the thumb sucking had decreased, but I wanted it GONE. I started putting band aids on TJ's thumbs at night and one week later, thumb sucking free! He hasn't even tried to suck his thumbs. I have been keeping an eye on him and I think we are in the clear. For every day he goes without thumb sucking, he gets to add a sticker to his calendar. Once he gets enough stickers (we haven't determined the exact amount) he will get an "adventure" with Mommy and Daddy. We are thinking of taking him to Chucky Cheese, God help our souls.

Since he had been doing so well, we decided to give him a little reward. We took him to Penske (where Ayron works) to see "Daddy's monster trucks." TJ thinks that Daddy gets to drive "monster trucks" all day, he couldn't be further from the truth, but why smash a little boy's dreams. We had to go to Penske to pick up Ayron's paycheck anyway, so we took TJ along. When we got to the lot, Ayron was able to take TJ into a semi cab and drive it in a circle around the lot. TJ was in heaven!

I can only hope that we have permanently broken those two habits.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Santa Claus came to the Auburn Birthing Center yesterday. I took the kiddos and they both did amazing! TJ really wanted to talk with Santa but then clammed up as soon as he climbed up on his lap.

TJ's shirt says, "Dear Santa, my sister did it!"

The woman responsible for my children!

Laundry Basket

Who needs expensive toys when your Mommy has laundry baskets?!

Turkey Day!

I know that Thanksgiving was last month, but I just got around to uploading the pictures. It was the first Thanksgiving where I prepared ALL the food.....stupid me forgot to take a picture of our beautiful apricot glazed turkey breast, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, herbed bread and pumpkin cheesecake. I did get some shots of the kids though!

TJ spent the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving at my mom's. They made a hand turkey and a balloon turkey.

Then Ella got a hold of one of the balloons.

This was taken one random Saturday before church. She doesn't seem all that happy to be wearing her new, and super cute, pink dress.

Sibling Rivalry

I know that one day, my kids will hate each other. It happens. But for now, I am trying to enjoy the fact that they love each other. Ella will make a screech and wait for TJ's replied screech. She then will crawl to where he squealed from. It is like her own version of echolocation. TJ loves on Ella all the time. I have to remind myself that as long as he isn't hurting her, it is ok. Here are some recent shots of all the sibling love at our house.

TJ is always smooshing all over Ella. She doesn't seem to mind.

Don't they look suspicious?!

What are those things in your mouth and how do I get some?!

He was playing behind her exersaucer.

The he fell asleep behind the exersaucer.