Happy Halloween... a little late

Halloween was fun this year. Natalie actually "got it" and enjoyed going around to the Trunk or Treat's at our church and a nearby church. She got LOADS of loot - most of which she couldn't eat. Yeah, we're evil and don't let our kids have sweets. She didn't really care though because we had plenty of her favorites ("bears" aka Teddy Grahams, Goldfish and a granola bar) to swap her for her candy. She really enjoyed carrying around the bucket and was very intent on carrying it all in her bucket - no matter HOW heavy it got.

Liam was the ever cool-and-collected slobbering dinosaur. Hey... I've got to take advantage of dressing him like I want now because this is DYNAMITE blackmail material for later on in life!

All in all it was a fun night. Kevin commented that it was too bad stuff like this didn't happen more often. It's nice to see the community coming out of their houses and interacting with one another - even if they are all dressed up like hoochie mamas.

Which is another thing...What IS up with the costumes these days? We were behind one young mom pushing a stroller wearing a super short skirt and thigh high stockings with her behind hanging out for the world to see. Seriously folks...what IS wrong with people?

But I digress.

I'll leave you with a picture of the fam right before we headed out to trick or treat. Don't the kids look enthused? They WERE having fun...really.

The Past Week in Pictures

I'm behind on blogging, but dinner preparations are awaiting my attention and the kids are a little cantankerous today. So be happy with what you get!

Ok, maybe I'm a little cantankerous today too. =P

My mom came to visit last week while Kevin was off to western Maryland hunting deer. We took the kids to a Harvest party at church.


Poor Liam's dinosaur hat kept falling in his eyes.

I snapped a shot of Nana reading to Liam that reminded me of one almost two years ago. I think Natalie was just about the same age. So CUTE!

Liam in 2009

Natalie in 2007

Captain Underpants

I pulled out the Elmo undies to entice her yesterday morning. She decided she would wear them...

on the OUTSIDE of her clothing.

Poor kid's head is still healing. We're crossing our fingers for a boo-boo free week!

2 1/2 Months

Liam,

How you've changed so much in the first 2 and half months. To think you're almost 3 months...where has the time gone?

You're SUCH a happy baby, cooing when you're held and SUCH a good sleeper at night. I think you're going to be social like your sister. You're definitely not content to hang out by yourself on the activity mat or in the swing if we aren't right there by you. You absoultely love the bath - which is a good thing because the rolls on your legs and neck can get pretty rank with all the milk that gets stuck there.

You seem to love your big sister almost as much as she loves you. It didn't even bother you last week when she almost pulled you all the way out of your swing and dropped you on your head on the tile floor of the kitchen. Thank goodness I stopped her in time because your forehead would have been flattened and you would have had to deal with caveman jokes the rest of your life.

Buddy Bear, it's a good thing you're 15 pounds because you're going to need some bulk to play with this rough and tumble little sister of yours. This is the same girl who's passing down to you her pink bumbo seat (that you are ROCKING, by the way) and all of her baby toys (which she's decided that she's not QUITE done playing with - especially when they're in YOUR hands).

Liam, you make me smile every day.

I look forward to watching you grow up and get taller than me and take on the world. But for now, I'm content to nestle you close to me, watch you flash me a dimpled, toothless grin and fall asleep (snoring) on my chest.

You rock my world, little guy.

Love,
Mama

Oh My Word...

Last night Natalie and I were playing a game called "Chase you" that she begs for us to play every night. Liam and I were chasing her through the kitchen, into the living room, through the dining room and then into the kitchen again. We all were jogging pretty slow and she would stop and giggle when Liam and I caught up to her and then she'd get tickled. Then (out of nowhere) she tripped and did a head dive into the corner of the wall in the kitchen right on her forehead.

Completely bust it open.
I about DIED.

My neighbor (a doctor) looked at it (the second injury she's been called for this week) and said we didn't need stitches. And, although she said I didnt need to, I got up several times last night to just check on Natalie and make sure she was still breathing. Thankfully, she's fine.

Arghh!! I'm feeling quite the range of emotions right now:

- Terrible (as a mom). I burst into tears myself last night. Seeing her banged up breaks my heart.
- Hopeful (that the clumsy stage is merely a stage and ALMOST over). I'm rethinking signing her up for rec center ballet next year.
- Leery (of letting her do anything where a helmet/kneepads/etc aren't involved).
- Frustrated (three times in one week? what must the neighbors think???)
- Exhausted

They need some sort of air-bag clothing for toddlers that inflates upon impact to protect them. Hmm... maybe I'll invent that. I'd like to think she's learning to be more careful after all the tumbles, but the fact that she asked for the "chase you" game not quite 15 minutes after the head dive last night has me thinking she doesn't quite get it. OR that I'm going to be on a first name basis with the ER nurses.

And here I thought that I'd be spending most of my visits to the E.R. with Liam. After all, isn't it boys that are supposed to be the reckless ones?

Mother Of the Week Award

No, I'm not the winner. In fact, I think I came in last place. My daughter fell off a couch and we had a visit to the E.R. at the beginning of the week. And just TODAY she tripped while playing in this tent and bit almost all the way through her lip.



Do I get a gold star? I seriously turned my back for 20 seconds this time.

Thankfully I didnt have to take her BACK to the E.R. and explain to the doctors why we had TWO incidents in one week.

I swear, cuts in your mouth and on your head have the habit of bleeding WAAAAAAY more than is necessary and freaking every mom out that her child is probably dying or will need major surgery. Thankfully, as fast as the bloody faucet turned on it seemed to stop (with the help of some ice and a popsicle).

Liam helped cheer her up and told some jokes. (Okay, maybe not really, but it DOES look like he's thinking something funny here.)


It looks like it may have worked...



Lately I've been feeling a lot of guilt for putting chores ahead of spending time with her. This afternoon was my attempt at reconciling that so we could spend some quality time together. Argghhh!! I guess you could title my afternoon "Spend Quality Time with Your Daughter: FAIL!".

Who Needs Reality TV When You've Got a Front Row Seat?

This morning as I was getting ready to head out the door I heard someone pounding loudly on a neighbors door and lots of shouting. It sounded like a fight. The whole thing was strange, and totally out of place for this sleepy little street.

I went to the window and my mouth literally dropped open. 15-20 DEA agents were standing outside of the door to my neighbors house and one was shouting for them to "open up!". I watched them kick down my neighbors door and swarm inside.

Whoa...Was this really happening right in front of my house???

The neighbors weren't home (which was probably good as they have two little kids). This was something I hadn't expected to see on our street. Or at this family's house.

Needless to say we high-tailed it out of there. Good grief!

And I know what you're thinking, but we don't live in the ghetto... I swear!


Here's a shot after the swarm. Most of the officers are inside. Kevin told me to snap as many pictures as I could. He was dying that he wasn't there to see it first hand!

Climber

Natalie has been climbing a bit more. And with that comes a bit more anxiety for me.

Just yesterday I walked into her room after her nap to find her stark naked and hanging from the side of her crib. Umm... seriously? I'm going to have to start duct taping her diapers. Fortunately there wasn't anything disgusting in the diaper this time to smear around the crib. It did still warrant a wash of all of the bed clothes though.

And then last night she was climbing on the couch and apparently lost her footing - because we had to make a trip to the E.R. I suppose I thought my first trip with the kids wouldn't be until they had enrolled in team sports, but, hey, who can predict these things?

I'd been having a nice quiet evening at home with the kids. I was trying a new recipe (chicken enchiladas) and Natalie was sitting comfortably on the couch watching Ni Hao Kai-lan (one of her favorites). Liam was swinging away in his travel swing just about ready for dinner. All of the sudden (as I'm cooking) I heard a big thump and then a cry. I rushed in to check on her and she was on her side on the wooden floor. Mind you there's a big area rug in front of the couch (we're talking 8x10), but she must have been climbing on the side of the couch because she managed to miss it. I checked her over (apparently not very well) and she seemed fine. We cuddled for a minute and she was still "crying" but there were no tears. I coaxed her to stop crying and headed back for the kitchen.

It's only when she followed me a minute or so later and I tried to divert her whines with milk that I realized something might be wrong. Poor kid couldn't even lift her milk cup with her dominant hand (her left). Ugg...

Our neighbor (a doctor) recommended we take her in for an xray and fortunately took Liam for me (Kevin was at a wedding). So off we went.

I tell ya, Emergency Rooms are not very urgent. Maybe if you come in on an ambulance. But when I drove up to the drop off door there were several emergency vehicles (with their lights off) blocking the one-way drive. I sat for about 10 minutes waiting for them to clear. I can't imagine what I would have done if she was having trouble breathing or something more serious. Fortunately the hospital we went to had a pediatric ER so at least we were segregated from the rest of the ER patients and (I think) had a shorter wait time.

After an x-ray and a look by the doctor, it was determined Natalie had Nursemaids Elbow (or a dislocated elbow). They popped it back in place and hopefully any bruising will heal in the next couple days.

Meanwhile she's not really using it much. So maybe that means I'll have a few days of naptime peace with no duct tape required. We'll see...

Discouraged

I'm pretty discouraged about the whole potty-training thing. It hasn't gone well. I mean, it's been a battle. One that I'm too tired to wage tonight. That's why she's in a pull-up right now.

I've cleaned up poop off the floor and big puddles of pee pee and I'm left wondering if maybe she's just not ready. I've tried bribing (with money and big girl undies). I've also tried reverse psychology. I think that I am more ready than she is. So unless I get a burst of energy tomorrow I might be throwing in the towel and waiting another 4 months or so.

Meanwhile, I'd like to suggest the past two days of following Natalie around as a possible episode of Dirty Jobs. Mike Rowe, look out!

Ready or Not... Here We Come!

Tomorrow I'm doing it. I'm throwing in the towel, er... diaper, and giving my little girl the push she needs to get serious about this potty thing. I'll be trying this tactic.

Will it work? I dunno. My strategy is to roll-up the area rug and cover the couch with plastic and give it a go. I'm hopeful that after a few days we might just be on course to a diaper-free 2 year old.

Or I might be declared insane.

Stay tuned. And say a few prayers for me if you think of it.

------------------------------------------------------------
10am update
She's gone on the potty two times. But she just peed on the floor and didn't really seem to notice (even though she was sitting in it). She seems excited about flushing the potty and getting pennys for her piggy bank. Currently she's sitting on the potty in the middle of living room watching Sesame Street.

Happy 2 Months, Kid.

It takes a real man to sit in a pink Bumbo seat.

I can just see him showing off his biceps. It's *flex* THIS WAY to the gun show, ladies.

Liam, Liam!

Lately that's what Natalie has affectionately taken to calling her little brother. The way she sings it out always makes me smile and I've taken to saying his name that way too. I can imagine that if we keep it up, it could make for a bit of confusion for him later on in life. Ah well...

I Feel Like Chicken Tonight

Does anyone remember the old Chicken Tonight commercials? Dude... where has that been in my brain all these years? All this useless information that I hold onto!?!? Why couldn't I remember how to do calculus or trig or speak Japanese? But a lousy Chicken Tonight commercial? Save that one for posterity!

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, read this and watch the youtube commercial.

But I digress.

I'm trying a new chicken dish tonight called Spatchcocked Chicken. I feel like I'm cussing someone out when I say it, so it HAS to be good, right? We'll see. I'll keep you posted...

Update: The chicken was VERY good. I should have let it marinate for all day (as the recipe suggested). I might try a bottle marinade next time too. This was an excellent way to make a whole chicken!

Kids Clothing Exchange

If you know me at all you know I love a great bargain. And with two kids growing faster than I can shovel food in their faces, it's good to pay just a little for the clothes they wear. It lessens the pain when I see it go in the "outgrown" bag. This weekend is a semi-annual sale that I look forward to to stock up on quality kids clothes for a fraction of the price.

If you live in the area, you should definitely check it out!

Fingerpainting

What's the price of a nap around my house these days? Waking up to find that your toddler has "helped you out" by partially removing her diaper. Add to that the lovely discovery that she's smeared the poop FROM her diaper on herself and the rest of the crib and you've got one BIG exciting time right right as you should be preparing dinner.

Fun.

8 Weeks

Liam will be 8 weeks tomorrow. In some ways it seems like he's been here forever. He's sleeping 5-7 hour stretches at night (I'm amazed, really), only cries when he wants to be held a little or is hungry and is SO easy to take out. Figuring out how to get out of the house with BOTH kids is still a feat, but one that I'm getting a LITTLE better at as time goes one.



I snapped some pictures of him last Friday and then today with our sitter, Jody. He's SO content and it has me wondering just WHAT sort of personality this little guy is going to have.

He's still big. I think I might actually move to size 3 diapers at night because we've had some explosions in the 2's. He's moved up to 6 oz bottles a few times a day and is about the same size that Natalie was when she was 6 months old. But it's really a good thing that he's holding his own in the size department. Just the other day I caught Natalie straddling him and saying "horsie". Watch out girl... he's going to be able to fight back pretty soon!

I Love Craigslist!

For the past several months I've been searching for a double jogging stroller that would fit our needs. I needed something taller than the single we have now and something that would be agile enough to jog with or take to the store. I'd researched and researched without a lot of luck. A friend of mine had recently turned me on to the Bumbleride stroller, but upon further investigation, I'd found that it cost a whopping $650 brand new.

Ummm.... not an option.

The twin (or double) also came out just last year so the chances of finding a used one on craigslist were slim to none. Still, this morning I thought I'd give it a try. I had $220 in gift money for Liam stashed away for just such a purchase.

God must have heard my stroller-woes.

Really, that's the only way I can fathom this would happen.

Because I found the stroller I was looking for (this years model even) listed under the wrong name in the title. (There was only one in the Baltimore/DC area.) After calling the owner I found out she had an extra.

?!?!?!?!?

I met her a couple hours later about 25 minutes from here and discovered that the stroller was in brand-new (PLASTIC STILL ON) condition AND she only wanted $300 for it. Dude... for $80 out of my pocket, I just walked away with a brand new $650 stroller. God is good...and I love Craigslist!

Happy Birthday to You.

It seems like just yesterday you weren't even here. And now you're two. Your favorite word is "no" and you like to read books "self" (by yourself). You purposely look away from the camera unless I'm acting like a complete fool to get you to laugh and you have started disliking things with skins (grapes, peas, lima beans). (Yes, you USED to like lima beans.)

When you rounded the corner in the kitchen yesterday morning to see the little kitchen set we got you for your birthday the first thing out of your mouth was "cool". Your dad and I are constantly looking at each other with amazement at the little girl you're becoming and the surprising things that come out of your mouth.

You and I went on a special "mommy-daughter birthday date" yesterday to Chik-Fil-A and then to the mall to ride the carousel. God must have been looking out for you because the cow was at Chik-Fil-A and you were completely enamoured. I'm not sure you ate much lunch, but you enjoyed the balloon they gave you and jumped endlessly on the seat yelling "cow cow!" across the restaurant.

We're so glad God gave you to us and pray fervently that He'll make you into an incredible woman who's so in love with Him in spite of our misfit parenting skills. We think you're the best little girl ever and cherish each day we have with you.

Lots of love,
Mom (& Dad)

We Survived!

Dad and Liam
Our time in Kansas City was so much fun. While I didn't get to meet up with all of the friends I had hoped to (lots of people were sick), I did get some much needed R&R. I took naps, slept in, didn't have to cook or clean and went shopping for myself. I also got to visit with my grandparents (Mommo & Poppo) and they got to see the kids for the first time. Ahhh.. with so much fun I debated on cancelling my return flight! =)

Poppo

Mommo

Natalie hamming it up in some new duds.
The flight home was an adventure, but much better than I anticipated. Much to my surprise, my mother was allowed to escort me on the plane since I had both kids. It was a good thing too, as I had the carseat, a roll-on bag, a diaper bag, a large purse and both kids. The plane was COMPLETELY full and there weren't two seats together so the flight attendant had to request that someone move. Thankfully, a stranger did and I sat next to a wonderful lady who understood the hazards of flying with a toddler.

You notice I don't mention "flying with an infant". That's because Liam was an angel and slept almost the entire way. Natalie, on the other hand, needed something new and exciting almost every 20 minutes. We ate, did playdough, read books, watched a DVD (for only 20 minutes), ate some more, did stickers, played with flashcards, played with the reading lights, tried the DVD again and probably ate some more. All while kicking the seat of the poor man in front of us.

Then we cried.

Okay... she's the only one that cried (and at the top of her lungs, mind you) but, fortunately, it was only the last 5 minutes or so of the flight. I was SO GLAD the flight wasn't any longer. I don't think I could have handled it without joining in the tear-fest myself.

A couple nice strangers helped carry my bag and carseat off the plane. However, I was dreading getting to baggage claim with everything by myself. You can imagine how shocked and grateful I was to see Kevin standing at the gate when I got off the plane. I was glad that in the midst of all of the post 9/11 security that he was allowed to come through and help me out.

Since we've been home, things have been fairly smooth. Liam moved into his own room and has been sleeping well. Last night was a record by far, though. He slept a cool 8.5 hours straight. I'm tired today, but only because I kept waking up to check on him. What a champ! And just in time for me to go back to work. Keep it up, kid... I expect great things out of you now. =)

We Made It!

Yesterday Liam, Natalie and I got on a plane (with my sister) and headed for Kansas City. I was so nervous that we were going to be one of "those families" that you see in the news that gets kicked off the plane because their child is throwing a tantrum. But, we only had ONE bout of screaming and even that only lasted for a minute or so. I had seriously been praying - so it was a big answer to prayer.

We're in KC for a week and then it's back to Baltimore with just ME as the chaperone for the kids. I was told it's a completely full flight, so hopefully I have a really nice (or at least understanding) person sitting next to me on the flight home.

On the agenda for the week in KC: meet up with a few KC friends, Schlitterbahn (if the weather warms up), a little shopping, sleeping in, visiting with my grandparents, naps and a whole lot of "Nana and Papa time" for Natalie and Liam.

Boy is next week going to be a wake up call. I might be crying along with Natalie on the way home!