We are all tired here. Ben returned from another interview only to work 32 hours straight. (I am talking from 3pm Sunday until 11 pm Monday. No break. Well, except for a small lunch break and the time it took for me to drive him from one job to the next.)
He is tired. I am tired. The kids are tired. Therefore, you should be grateful that I am even posting this today. Really. Start sending letters of sincere appreciation immediately.
Or not.
Anyway...let us begin.
Andrew
He loves me so much. He loves to pat my face, pull my hair, pinch my cheeks, scratch my eyes, and bite my shoulders. His affection is endearing. (And painful.)
He is starting to stand without support. He mostly does this when I'm not looking. Sneaky little guy.
He really enjoys trash cans. Especially the bathroom one. He likes to crawl as fast as he can toward that location while I'm getting ready. We play a little game every time I'm in the bathroom: He hurriedly crawls toward the garbage, I grab his waist and place him outside the bathroom, I quickly mess with my hair or apply some makeup while he races toward the trash, and I take him out of the bathroom again. He finds it delightful.
He points out everything. Dogs, bugs, cats, leaves, planes, firetrucks, and cars. He says something like "da!" in reference to all those items, but I know he's really naming them.
His favorite book is "Happy Birthday, Bear!" I think it is so much fun reading it to him over and over again. (No hidden sarcasm there. I promise.)
He likes taking walks, eating, being held by momma, and playing with his sister.
Oh yeah, and he's still in his infant car seat. Um, too cheap to buy another one considering he fits perfectly in his current one.
As for clothes, he is now wearing 9 month clothes. I like putting him in 12-18 months, though, because they are bigger and warmer. Or so I think.
He has a tooth or two breaking in on the top. This has given him an ear infection, rash, and a cold. He's pretty miserable these days.
He has a tooth or two breaking in on the top. This has given him an ear infection, rash, and a cold. He's pretty miserable these days.
Emily
She has such an attitude. I have no idea where she gets that from.
*Clears throat.*
Anyway.
I love hearing her talk. Love, love, love it. This evening, for instance, she told me, "Mom! I wanna diaper change!" I said, "Okay!" And changed her diaper.
She likes to take off her socks and shoes right after I put them on. Or after I place her in the car. Or when she's in the stroller. I think she either needs a new pair of shoes or she doesn't like to have her feet covered.
Sometimes her assertion of independence can be hard. Take this afternoon. We took a walk to the library so I could replenish my reading supply and the kids could get some fresh air. The walk to the library was pretty standard. Once in the library, Emily started screaming, "Out! I want out, Mommy!" As I really didn't want to chase her around the library, I was reluctant to comply with her wishes. She was adamant that I do. So I let her out. She behaved fairly well, running up and down the aisles and hanging off of the forbidden banisters, so I was pretty relieved.
But when it was time to go, she threw a fit. A big fit. Alright, she's two, that's to be expected. Plus, she was tired and hungry and not in a good mood. I managed to get her strapped in the stroller and out the door.
Scene averted.
But, I had to stop and pick up a blanket off the ground a few blocks later and she had had it. She cried and sceamed and all sorts of things. Since she had refused to put her socks and shoes on in the library, her feet were cold and she was not happy about that. Well, she managed to get herself out of the straps while I was crossing the street and took a face plant onto the cement.
She was bleeding pretty bad from a few cuts and screaming her head off. I wiped her off and held her. She let me put her shoes on (finally) and place her back in the stroller. That is, IF I gave her some chocolate. I did and we finally made it home.
A pretty typical scenario these days.
Sigh.
Still. We have lots of fun. The good days definitely out number the bad days.
She is learning shapes. I don't know how, because I don't remember teaching her, but she somehow knows what a circle is. She's known what a star was for a while now, but watching her point out stars and circles is pretty neat.
Emily also enjoys when I count with her. I think her favorite number is 4 because if I skip it she freaks out. As in, "No, Mommy! Four!"
We haven't moved her to a toddler bed yet. Hey, she's too short to climb out of her crib yet so I figure, what's the rush?
She doesn't hit her brother nearly as often as she used to. I'm talking like maybe once a day versus twenty. A pretty big change, and something I am so glad about!
Though some things are completely frustrating about this independent toddler, she is too cute for me to be mad at for very long.
Amber
I am busy keeping up with these two active and crazy kids!
I have started exercising again. I really enjoy it!
We had to completely cut off eating out, so I have been making dinners nightly. Seriously, for two and 1/2 weeks now I have made dinner every night! I am so proud of myself. I use my crock pot practically every day. I turn whatever recipe sounds yummy (lasagna, taco soup, white bean chile) into a crockpot recipe. It's pretty awesome!
I am doing my best to keep up on housework. The only thing that eludes me is the basket of clean clothes in my room. Hmm...maybe by next week?
Pain-wise, um I've seen a doctor and we pretty much determined that I'll have the pain for the rest of my life. Or something to that effect.
Ben
Between his two jobs, Ben works 70+ hours a week. Despite being gone a lot, he makes sure the kids and I are his first priority. I am constantly grateful that though he is dead tired at times, he will still get up with the kids when they cry at night.
He returned from his interview at Missouri in good spirits.
He is also applying for a military scholarship. We both feel this is right for our family. I guess we'll see what happens!
Ben is sorely missed when he is gone, but we are very happy when he is home.
We haven't moved her to a toddler bed yet. Hey, she's too short to climb out of her crib yet so I figure, what's the rush?
She doesn't hit her brother nearly as often as she used to. I'm talking like maybe once a day versus twenty. A pretty big change, and something I am so glad about!
Though some things are completely frustrating about this independent toddler, she is too cute for me to be mad at for very long.
Amber
I am busy keeping up with these two active and crazy kids!
I have started exercising again. I really enjoy it!
We had to completely cut off eating out, so I have been making dinners nightly. Seriously, for two and 1/2 weeks now I have made dinner every night! I am so proud of myself. I use my crock pot practically every day. I turn whatever recipe sounds yummy (lasagna, taco soup, white bean chile) into a crockpot recipe. It's pretty awesome!
I am doing my best to keep up on housework. The only thing that eludes me is the basket of clean clothes in my room. Hmm...maybe by next week?
Pain-wise, um I've seen a doctor and we pretty much determined that I'll have the pain for the rest of my life. Or something to that effect.
Ben
Between his two jobs, Ben works 70+ hours a week. Despite being gone a lot, he makes sure the kids and I are his first priority. I am constantly grateful that though he is dead tired at times, he will still get up with the kids when they cry at night.
He returned from his interview at Missouri in good spirits.
He is also applying for a military scholarship. We both feel this is right for our family. I guess we'll see what happens!
Ben is sorely missed when he is gone, but we are very happy when he is home.
