Spring Blossoms

The weather has finally started to warm up a bit here. The trees do look amazing in the spring, and there are plenty of them around our neighborhood. Yesterday was quite windy, and it was windy and rainy all through the night and into this morning. Most of the blossoms are now gone from our flowering tree in our yard. Likewise with our neighbor's. Well when we went outside today the boy noticed this as well.

"Mommy, the popcorns are all blowing away!"

Kids say the cutest things!

Update

As the family was taking a short evening walk the boy was looking up into the sky. It was still light, but the moon was already up.
"The moon is following us, mommy"

"Yep it is," I replied.

A few seconds of silence. The boy is thinking.

"Jesus hung it up there with a long string."

And there you have it. If anyone out there has ever wondered who hung the moon, you've got your answer. For those of you who don't know, the boy knows everything. (He's telling me things I didn't know all the time.)



We are still struggling with the girl and the bedtime thing. She just can't handle the freedom of a twin bed. She is always getting out and catching the eye of mommy or daddy and then giggling running back to her room. She thinks it is a game.

I don't think it's that funny.

Bedtime is my only respite from these children and she's taking that away. I love them to death, but believe me, I do need a break at the end of the day.

I guess it'll all work out eventually. I guess I'll just keep petitioning the "big-man" for some sympathy.

The man is still in a lot of pain. His break has not yet healed. So I still have some time to figure out the least painful way of breaking a collar-bone. Anyone?

Quote of the week

The boy: "Mommy, once, when I was a teeny little baby, like this," he says, putting his pointer-finger and thumb really close together,

"I got SQUISHED!" he says this so matter-of-factly that I really struggled to keep a straight face on this one.


The man had a mountain biking accident and is slightly out of commission to help with any sort of manual labor around the house. He cannot pick up the children; cannot help with baths; cannot do the dishes or even get dressed by himself. Among the other aches and bruises, he broke his collar-bone.

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Babe, I wish you the speediest recovery, for your sake as well as mine.

Well, the girl has learned to climb out of the crib now. I have been dreading this day. Of coarse it has to happen when the man can do nothing. She is finally asleep in the big girl bed, and it is now 10:30 pm. We started bedtime a little before 8. Hopefully it gets better and better. Any suggestions on keeping the little ones in bed. This may make me sound totally wacky, but I kind of liked the "cage" phase. But it's over now.

I'm thinking I might brake my collar bone next week. Maybe I should wait until the man's has healed. How long does that take?....

GRRRRR

Oh my, you all probably don't care but I am getting so frustrated! Is it too much to ask to find a maternity swimming-suit with an underwire? Not all (in fact probably most) pregnant women are not these teeny little pebble-boobs that will fit in a shelf bra. We're pack with milk and we need some support so we don't have the appearance of milk cows. Come on people, it's not rocket science!

Mood Swingin' Momma

Hey, just to keep you up-to-date, if you don't want to get snapped at by a jagged toothed alligator or singed from a fierce fire-breathing dragon just stay away from this pregnant mom. I don't know what my problem is. I guess my hormones are just riding a roller-coaster. I can't seem to keep it together for very long periods of time. My poor kids. The darling boy keeps reminding me, "Take a deep breath, mommy, it will be okay" How true that is. He is a little angel (most of the time). He is also doing so good (knock on wood) with the potty training thing! It took a few weeks, but I think that he has it down now. I'm sure the girl won't be too far behind. She really does have to do everything the boy does. Well, until next time...

ROAAAARRRRRRRRRRR...

Quote of the week

The boy had once asked me what happens to all the food after we eat it. I told him that it goes into our bellies and then goes all through our bodies to make us strong and give us energy. I then told him that if there was anything left that our bodies couldn't use, we would pee or poop it out.

I guess it's amazing what kids hang on to.

The boy was peeing in the toilet the other day. After he's finished, I usually wait a few seconds because a little more will usually squirt out. So I waited and waited. Finally I said, "Can you go some more bud?"

He simply said "No. There's no more lunch. It's all gone mommy."

This is it

Well, I guess I received my answer (at least most of it) to the question stated in the last post. "Why do I continue to do this?"
Later today as I pulled out the top rack of the dishwasher to start putting the clean dishes away, the boy eyed his very own little tea-cup. He looked at the teacup and asked loudly, "Is my teacup clean mommy?"
"Yes, buddy, it is clean now,"
His eyes got big as he threw his arms around me and shouted, "Thank you mommy, Thank you for cleaning my teacup!!!!"

Now whoever said being a mom is a thankless job?

Days like these

I wake up feeling great this morning. Really energetic and feeling like I'm really going to get things done today.

I make french-toast for breakfast.
I get the kids dressed.
I take my husband to work.
I come back home, finish loading the dishwasher and wash all the remaining dishes (that have been hanging around since last week might I add).
I throw a load of laundry in the wash and dry the clothes in the washer.
I vacuum downstairs.
I vacuum the steps. (They were crying out from the dust).
I spend a few minutes and play with the children.
I make a few calls that needed to be made.

I finally decide it's time to get dressed and do something with the mop on my head.
I find the one (supposedly clean) pair of pants that fit me
(I have two; the others are in the wash).
As I unfold them to get dressed I notice a fine toddler delicacy firmly encrusted in the seat of the pants. I try to scrape it off with my fingernail. There's still too much left over. I throw them in the laundry. Back into sweats.

All of this is in-between spilled orange juice, potty reminders and "leave your sister alone"s.

Finally I see the boy start the shy backing toward a hiding spot where he will do more than I want him to (IN HIS UNDERWEAR).
I enthusiastically say that it's time to go potty and he needs to remember to poop on the potty. I lead him by the hand (quickly) to the toilet, where I place him gently while I take his underwear off. He has started a little something in his underwear, but it's not much.
I tell myself, while it is a little upsetting that he didn't tell me he had to go, I can handle a teeny amount of poop and things are still okay.

Well before I even get the underwear under the water to begin washing them, the girl (who has been uncharacteristically quiet) runs in to me screaming "Hiams, hiams!!!!" (which is to interpret: hands, hands!!!!). I look to see what all the ado is about and the girl has poo smeared all over her hands, arms, legs, onesie and shirt.
Yes.
HER POO.
She was pooping in the other room and decided she would explore the ins and outs of her diaper. I strip her down throw her poop encrusted cloths in the laundry. Clean her dirty, smelly diaper and wash her down and spray her off in the tub. The boy is still on the potty. I quickly wash his underwear and throw those in the laundry too.

I take a step back and survey the damage. While I was thinking I was getting so much work done this morning, the kids have overturned 3 toy boxes, a pack of triangle flash cards and a bag of dinosaurs. My house looks worse than it did. I have already accumulated enough laundry for another load. Two steps ahead, five steps behind. It's not even lunchtime yet. It's days like these I really have to step back, look deep into the eyes of my beautiful children and remember why I continue to do this.

Welcome to motherhood.

We're getting there!

Perhaps all I needed to do was complain long enough. I have to say I am quite impressed (as I knock on wood). The day after I had totally given up the whole potty training thing, the Boy brought me his underwear in the morning and said, "Mommy, I want to wear these today."

Being the nice patient, loving and persevering mother that I am, I replied, "Sorry honey, we're not going to wear those for a while."

"But mommy, I promise I won't pee or poo on the dinosaur."


How could I say no to that? I just told myself to be more watchful and more on the ball this time. I guess it just all the sudden clicked with him. I heard it so many times. He just has to show some interest. I can want it, but that doesn't make anything happen- He has to want it too. He has had a few accidents, but the majority of the time he makes it to the toilet now.

WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Well after he got pretty good at using the toilet when he needed to, I decided I needed to get the man involved. I told the man since I don't have that kind of contraption that he was going to have to show the boy how to "handle" it.
I was just having the boy sit down. The man didn't really know what to do. I told him to get some cereal that we had in the pantry and put one or two in the toilet and show him how to aim. I told him that he needed to pee with him so that the boy could look up and see how to properly do it. So the man (who didn't mind helping) went to the pantry and got a few KIX cereal pieces.

KIX

I said, "Are you serious? He's three. I just cleaned the bathroom, and from the looks of it, you couldn't even hit a KIX. Go back and get the honeycomb."

This tactic worked great by the way. The boy loves aiming at the target each time now. I just need to put a small cup in the master bedroom for the man!

All is well with the rest of us. Here are some very first photo's of the soon to be new addition. (Which by the way is going to be a complete surprise! We won't find out the sex)

AAaaarrrrrrrrgggggggggG!

I am tending to think that violently ripping my hair out by the roots in small handfuls is more fun than potty training. We were just running course through our third or fourth serious attempt, but it was soon curtailed as toddler poop became icing on almost everything in our bathroom. How is this feat ever mastered? How come there are so many of us potty trained? I guess it's proof that not all moms are like me and don't just give up. The boy is still showing no interest in using the potty. I want him potty trained sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo badly! I feel like he is old enough. Veteran mothers, I need some help on this one. Any special tricks?



Meanwhile the girl is showing plenty of signs and really enjoys using the potty. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? (Just potty train the girl)
Well I hesitate because I do believe I started my first attempt with the boy way too early. So I thought I would just really let her interest grow and she'll be really ready by the time I try a serious run with her.

Please keep your fingers crossed!

Louder is better

I tend to try and be as honest with my children as possible. In every way. So the boy started asking me questions during meal or snack time like

"What's in this, mommy?"

If it was a piece of bread I would tell him,

"Well it has flour, sugar, butter, milk..." etc...

So the other day the boy asks me,

"Mom, what's in the house?"

I said there were bedrooms, couches, toys and he said

"No mom, what's in it, you know like flour, sugar, milk..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The boy refused to share something with the girl today so I took the something away. I went into another room. Obviously he was still upset because I heard a soft THUD against a wall. Like something soft had been thrown against it. I made no response, and shortly thereafter heard a whispered three-year-old voice say,

"I need something louder..."

I had to stifle my laughter after I heard a video tape smash against the wall. It was hilarious!
(not the video tape being thrown mind you!)

OkAY OkAy

Alrighty then. I guess it's official. The blog will continue. I'm really glad I got so much response.

Today the boy was saying the blessing on the food, "Heavenly Father, thank you for I am a child of God to sing at night..."
It was priceless



One of the girl's favorite words now is "sunshine". I wish we saw more of it.





In case you were wondering, it's waterproof make-up.

Better then permanent marker I guess!

Are we there yet?

Hello. Is anybody out there? Sometimes I feel like this is all for nothing. Does anybody visit my blog still? I know you do mom, but I can send you pics all you want. I want everybody who visits this blog to respond in some way. If I know people are out there and interested in what I have to say, I will continue. Life gets a little hectic sometimes, and just all out busy. I am pulled in so many directions now and it will only get worse with another little one. Well, post a comment, e-mail me, call me or something to let me know I'm not wasting my time here.

Happy Valentines Day

There are so many things to love. I am glad there is a day set aside to celebrate those things in our lives. Here is my list of just a few things that I love.

My AMAZING Hubby, my better half, my sweetheart, my best friend. I wouldn't want to be traveling this fantastic journey of life with anyone else.

My active and sweet little 3-year old boy. He brightens my day, everyday!

My enormously gorgeous spitfire 20 mo. old little girl. She is stubborn and likes to have things her way. In a lot of ways she is like her mommy.

The new little life inside my belly. THAT'S RIGHT: I am pregnant! WAHOO. I am still pretty sick but we're just stoked!

My friends and family.

My Blondy beautiful dog.

Twizzlers NIBS

Sour punch straws

Jack Johnson music

My garden (or now: the idea of my garden)

Bubble gum balls

Bedtime

Cozy fireplaces in wintertime

Tuesday nights

There's heaps more, but this post could be pages and pages if I go on. I know it's a little late but Happy Valentines Day to all.

Ooohhh... it's what you do to me!

"Mommy. I need you to do me a favorite" says the boy to me today. At this point I am willing to do just about anything for him.



the boy: "I need to get these wipes and you need to get a diaper"

Mom: "Oh, okay do we need to change your diaper, are you poopy,"

the boy: "No, it's for the baby"


What a helper we have here around the house. We are so lucky here.

VERRY CHRISTMAS

Hello all. I am going to do it "the boy" style and wish everyone a

"Verry Christmas!!!"

The boy has a small little attention span and doesn't completely pay attention to what I'm saying the few times that I have told him to say "Merry Christmas" so what he hears is HIS version of that phrase. I hope Christmas finds you all well and we hope the new year brings many exciting beginnings to all of you.

Here are some Christmas pics for you all to enjoy.

Christmas tornado is almost over:

The Girl is trying to get as many presents in her grasp at one time as possible:

The Man after a long day of putting toys together:
We are all doing "The Christmas March":

Small ReCap

The BOY: MOmMy- yoU NeEd a GoOd MomMY sTickeR!
The gIrL's New fAvOritE pAsS tiMe is pRoclaiming LouDly "hidinG" thEn rUNning to thE CoAt cloSet and dUcKing beHind the vAcuum. ThEn shE wAntS you tO oPen and cLose thE dooR, suRpriseD to seE her TheRe, and sHouT "tHere ShE is!!!"

See Below

Things That the Mother of a Toddler Couldn't Do Without:


That Big Wheel "BIKE"
This is the main source of transportation when outdoors. First thing they go for when the door opens.
The boy favors "flinstone style" (walking with his feet instead of using the pedals). The girl is a bit more freestyle. She will walk it over the the edge of an incline and pull her feet up as high as she can and let gravity do the rest.

A Basic set of Matchbox cars
Classic! Will last years and years. The boy finds a new favorite each day and carries it at all times that day. Note: you may find yourself surprised at the end of the day when you go out to the garage and find that your real van does NOT greet you with a "Hello mommy, I'm van, what's your name?"

A Pretty Doll
Not a necessity now, but I'm sure when the girl gets a bit older this will be the case. For now she's content in being a little shadow and doing and playing whatever the boy is doing or playing. (This includes time-outs)

A Good Friend also equipped with toddlers
This is someone you can call and get a good laugh with. This is also someone to cry with. You get a lot of support from this friend or friends. She will help you feel like you really are not alone, and there are others in similar situations. A HUGE thank you to my friends, I HONESTLY couldn't do it without you, and I rely on you in a way you'll never know.

A BREAK
24 hours a day. 7 days a week. All moms are amazing, but mom's of toddlers sure get worn out real quick. By the end of the day, I can fall asleep before my head hits the pillow. I've done a lot of things, ( I worked 2 jobs and went to school full time, ran marathons, traveled) and nothing has ever made me tired like this. Whew.

A Good Husband
Okay, okay. I hate to say this is a necessity for all, but it is for me. I don't know what I would do if the man didn't come home every day the minute my patience was wearing down. He loves me and supports me and he means the world to me.

It's a mystery

I have been trying to cut down on sweets lately. I finally gave into temptation and thought that I would allow myself one treat since I had been so good lately. I went to the store and bought myself a candy bar and put it in the fridge. I was super excited to eat it today. This morning I was downstairs doing the laundry (the Boy had opted to stay upstairs.) I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

If the dinosaur in the first two pics didn't give away whodunnit, I have included the last two photos for identification.





CAUGHT!!!!!!!!!

Victorious over violence (for now)

I feel that I am not a violent person, and would like to do the best to pass this trait on to my children and teach them that violence is not the answer. I do not allow toy guns in my house. Guns are not toys and should not be used as such. We do not play war games or shooting games.
It is however , important to teach children about guns and why we do not use them in this manner, and I don't mind them playing at other children's houses with guns as long as I can teach them the lesson. I cannot control what toys other children play with.

To my surprise a few days ago, we were at the in-laws and the boy was playing with a couple of action-figures. They were facing each other. As all boys are innately blessed with the gift of amazing sound effects, he was producing some serious blow-up sound effects and some that definitely sounded like the shooting of a gun. One of the action-figures was then knocked down by a pudgy little hand. Thinking that this would be a great time to teach a lesson, I asked what was happening.

"Well mommy, this guy just got squirted."

Lesson over.
Victorious. (for now)