Lessons Learned

Rachel over at Milkbreath and Me has implemented Moron Monday. I didn't participate this week since I couldn't think of any good stories, but next week I'm sure I'll have something by then!
Following Monday is Lesson Tuesday. So I will impart to all of you what I have learned from her other "moron" readers!!

• Don't make a chocolate beet cake with a 3 year old. And to top it off don't leave it un-refrigerated.
• Don't kneel on the the floor with a birthday cake at 35 weeks pregnant, in front of all your party guest!
• If dogs are in the house make sure you let them out in the morning. And if you smell something stinky, investigate!
• Check your shoes and Elsewhere for dog poop before you get in the car.
• If you're nursing and your child has a low tolerance to caffeine don't drink a whole Vanilla Chai Latte, unless you like fighting your child to sleep!
• When you yourself are tired don't take 3 tired, whiny, grumpy children to the grocery store at bedtime.
• Don't stay up til wee wee hours of the morning if you don't have to, especially the night before you're host a large party.
• 3 play dates along with normal weekend activities is too much for a young child.
• Walk, don't run when you're going to check if you didn't leave your headlights on. (Hope your ankle feels better Becca!)
• If you don't want your child eating your chocolate "grown up" snacks, don't eat it in front of them. And then don't leave them on the counter unsupervised!!

Oh and my favorite.....

• If your child has a loose tooth and you plan on the Tooth Fairy leaving dollar coins make sure you have them ready and available, lest the tooth comes out on the weekend and the banks are closed!!

So I hope you have learned from others mistakes as much as I have!!

What Was I Thinking??

Over the last month I've been working with Jaycob to say an actual word when he wants something, instead of whining, screeching, or screaming. And within the last week or so we've really made some progress!! But can you guess what the "actual" word is that he says now??? You guessed it....

"MaMa!"

At least he has finally gotten the concept of not screaming (most the time). But after I've heard "Mama" 300 times all before 0800, I'm almost more then willing to teach him how to just whine and scream again!! At least with the whining and screaming I can pretend that it's not really my attention he wants. Now that he's saying "Mama" whenever he wants something kinda means I have to acknowledge him and give a response. Whether it's the response he wants and how he reacts to it is what we're trying to teach him now!

Inspiration

The man that inspired me to blog and who introduced me to the two other blogs that I read is back on-line and blogging again. Ben is also the one who wrote, runs, and maintains the Trixie Tracker software that I use to track the kids sleep, diapers, cups, and meals!

I'd just like to say go check out the links and I'd like to wish Ben a great big WELCOME BACK to blogging from us to you!

Library Monday

We went to the library today, the first time since a couple weeks before the holidays. Usually we'd go for both the baby and toddler story times. But I realized this week that Abygail is now over 12 months old, thus making her too old for baby story time! We were there at the library when they rang the bell for the babies and it made me kinda sad to see all the mommies and their babies going in... My little one is obviously no longer a baby!

Both Jaycob and Abygail really enjoyed going back to the library. I had to kind of review our library voices with Jaycob and try to teach them to Abygail, but hey that's why they have a children's library!!! Jaycob kept signing "book" and saying "choo-choo" so we went on the hunt for train books. Since they've completely rearranged the shelves and order of things that was a task in itself!! But, we did walk away with a "choo-choo book"!! We also came away once again with "Big Red Barn" and Abygail was thrilled with that choice!!

Our morning had more adventure and activity in it then we're used to lately and you could really tell. About an hour before nap time Abygail passed out cold on the couch!! And Jaycob was more then willing to go up for his nap more then 30 minutes earlier then usual!!

Anagrams

After reading this post at the Taking Care of Baby blog I just had to go over to the anagram generator to find out what it would give me for Jaycob and Abygail!! I too played with it way to long to see what I could come up with that made sense!!! This is what I came up with.....

For Jaycob, first and last name:

CAB I MIS ITS JOY
JAB ICY MITOSIS

and here are quite a few using his middle name too:

A ABJECTION SHY MIST
A EMBASSY ITCH JOINT
A MYTHIC BEAST JOINS
A BANJO MYTHIC SITES
A BOA INJECTS SMITHY
A MAJESTIC BOY HINTS
JAYS TAN BIOCHEMIST

For Abygail's first and last name:

MILITIA SAYS BIG

and a few more with her middle name too:

AMICABILITY RISES INISGHT
INSATIABILITIES RICH GYMS
BASIC SIMILARITY NIGHTIES

You would think with a few more letters and different letters in Abygail's name it would be able to come up with a bit more. But, I guess, with a few too many I's (6 to be exact) it limits the amount of anagrams available!!

I also did my first and last name and came up with a few interesting ones:

ALIEN MIME SITS
MINI SALE ITEMS
MAIN ELITE MISS

Go play with the anagram site and see what it comes up with for you and yours. Come back and tell us your favorites!!

Pictures

New snow suit we never got to use!


Abygail having fun at Jungle Java!!


Jaycob and Abygail exploring Jungle Java!!

Holidays

Ok it's been way to long since I posted again! The holidays were filled with 2600 miles of traveling, family, food, and presents!

On December 24th big brother and sister were here. We opened presents and had our Christmas on the morning of the 25th. On the 26th we began our travels. We first went to Pennsylvania to visit with Grandma, Pop-Pop, aunts, uncle, and cousin! Fun and good food were had by all! And the kids were spoiled!!

On January 2nd we headed off to Michigan to visit with Nana, Grandpa, uncles, aunt, and cousins! This was the one I was worried about... I had no idea how either Jaycob or Abygail would react to their brand new baby cousin. Jaycob really couldn't have cared one way or the other and Aby loved the baby so much and just wanted to keep kissing her!! The kids really enjoyed the family fun! And the kids were spoiled!!

While we were in Michigan Aunt A, Uncle C, and cousin E introduced us to the wonderful world of Jungle Java!!Jaycob was a bit cautious for a bit, but Abygail went at it like she does it every day!! Towards the end both of them were quite apprehensive due to bigger kids showing up! I'll post some pictures of all the fun soon! They then took us to Cold Stone.... MMMMmmmmm... I don't think I need to say more! I will say I'm so glad there's not one near us. I would be 300 pounds and about as poor as can be!!!!

The kids were very good overall the whole holiday vacation. And they absolutely LOVED all the spoils that were given to them! We were greatly disappointed that neither PA or MI got snow while we were there! Matter of fact the one day MI was in the low 60's! In the beginning of January!! We were kinda hoping that they would get to play in the snow. Even bought Aby a cute snow suit.

Well, I'll post pictures soon and I hope your holidays were as happy as ours!

Stars and Moons

Moment of the day:

Jaycob was sitting on the floor doing something, concentrating very hard. Abygail sat down a little in front of him and tried mimic-ing what he was doing. Jaycob all of a sudden looked up and said, "Sissy"... Looked at me and said, "Mama"... Looked at Abygail and back at me and said, "Mama, Sissy stars and moons nigh-night!!"

Took me a second, but his dense Mama did figure it out! He was telling me he noticed there were stars and moons on Abygail's jammies!! It was just such a profound realization and vocalization of such that surprised me!!

So there's your moment of the day!!

About Your Comments

I'm sorry one and all!

In being a new blogger, I didn't understand the way the comments section of this particular site. Tonight when I switched to the new updated version I came upon a screen where all of your comments were awaiting approval!

I just wanted to let you all know that I was not ignoring or deleting all of your comments. I guess I just didn't understand it!! They are now all published!

Thank-you for being so patient with me!!

Pictures of the Day

Pictures of the day are as follows:

Abygail in mid-fall... If you notice neither of
her feet are touching the floor! She was fine.






















And Jaycob's chosen sleeping location tonight!!

She talks... She actually talks

We've come to realize that Abygail actually talks!! Among all her other 13 month old chatter it's hard to discern, but the words are there if you listen hard enough!!

Words you can actually understand in proper context:

Hot
Pat-pat (Little Einsteins)
Oreo
Mama
Buh-bye
Bath
Night-night
Daddy
Juice
uh- oh
Whoa


Sounds and utterances:

Shhhh (meaning Backyardigans or someone sleeping)
Grrrrr (growls back at Oreo or at Jay when she's mad at him)
Mmmmm (something she just stuck in her mouth is good, usually not food!!)
Ohhhh (finger pointing, something interesting)
Weeeee (something is swinging or sliding)
Whooooop (means hair being pulled up, sometimes other objects going up)
Lalalalalala
And she hums with the Little Einstein music most the time too!!

All these with the signs she knows and uses frequently:

Nurse
Juice
Please
More
Thank-you
Up
No
Down
All done
Eat

Seems to us to equal a talking child!! Though you often have to really listen and pay attention to her to get her full meaning of what she's trying to tell you! And if you don't get it... She'll let you know!!

It's Been Way to Long!

Wow! It's been way to long since I last posted!

We've had older brother and sister come visit us once since. We've went to see Grandma, Pop-Pop, aunts, uncles, and cousins since I last wrote. We've had doctor appointments and shots. We've learned new things! I'll mention something briefly about each one I guess.

~ Older brother and sister got here at night. Jaycob was in bed, but Aby was still up. Aby was very confused and at odds with who they were and what they were doing here. On the other hand, when Jaycob got up and seen older brother sleeping in his room.... He was more then happy!! I don't think happy was the word!! The kids (all of them) had some slight adjustments to handle while the older two were here. But fun was had by all. Jaycob asked about older sister the next day all day. Then things went back to "normal".

~ The visit north for turkey day was interesting to say the least! I think it's supposed to be a 6 hour drive... I think we made it in 7! Not bad at all considering we only stopped 2-3 times for diaper changes and food. The kids did really well and we made the trip with minimal crying and such. Aby slept only 15 minutes here and there. And Jaycob didn't sleep until we were about 15-20 miles from Grandma and Pop-Pop's house. Grrrrr.... Jaycob ran right in like he owned the place and Aby went right to Pop-Pop when he reached for her!
We were there for a week and Jaycob had Grandma wrapped within the first few hours. Aby was all about Pop-Pop though! We celebrated T-day the Sunday after and it was so warm that all 3 kids were outside playing a good part of the afternoon without coats on!! It was soooo nice, I couldn't believe it!! Fun was had by all!!
The trip home was quicker and just about uneventful!! Jaycob asked about Grandma several times when we got home and we're still dealing with some post Grandma habits! What are grandparents for!?!

~ Doctors appointment for both were on the 30th... Nothing spectacular to mention. Aby is in the 50th percentile for both height and weight. Jaycob is in the 3rd percentile for both!! The doctor seemed greatly concerned about Jaycob until we informed him that both of us were always like that and both the older 2 siblings had been like that at one time or another! Aby got a set of shots that we had been way behind on... Yeah the doctor totally yelled at me for that one, rightly so though I guess!! And both kids got the flu shot. Jaycob handled his really well and out of the 3 shot Aby got it was only the 2nd one that upset her! I don't blame her though, that needle was thick and it was an awful lot of fluid!! Both tolerated the shots very well, no fevers or bruising or anything!

~ New things that we've learned since last posting.... Aby can now sign please, more, nurse, thank you, juice. She's well aware of what it is she wants and she lets you know! She is now falling asleep by herself in her crib for most naps. Jaycob, well his new achievemnets are all little things here and there. Just to many for me to even think of or write down what I can!!

Well, there's a little update of what's been going on with the kids... Hopefully, I'll get some pictures up of the kids at Thanksgiving soon. And hopefully I'll keep this updated now!!

Oreo Again

We just got back from getting Oreo from the groomers. They weren't quite done with him when we got there, but the kids loved wandering around with the wonderful people there!

Jaycob was beside himself with excitement when they brought Oreo out! Abygail on the other hand was purely horrified!! I don't know what it was that made her so scared, but she cried all the way out the door, all the way home, and is still quite Leary of Oreo! Maybe it's Oreo's excitement at being back with us that's making Aby scared?? I don't know, but I guess the kids are even now! One didn't like him going and the other didn't like him coming home!

Leaving Oreo

Our outing today was taking Oreo to the groomers. Ok wrestling a child who is still learning the finer art of walking is hard enough. But wrestling her, Jaycob who has issues with thresholds, and Oreo who doesn't like going into new buildings.... Yeah NOT my idea of fun!!

So I get them all through the door and Abygail runs off in one direction, Oreo tries backing out the way we came, and Jaycob sees a dog that I don't want him to go near!! I push on....

The groomer lady takes Oreo and we stand there and talk about how I want him cut this time and the kids are just wandering nearby. Everything is cool. I tell the lady thank you and start walking away. That's when it all went down hill! Way down hill!!!

Jaycob threw the most awesome fit ever. "No, no Oreo. Oreo, no no!! OOOOreooooo!" I tried explaining to him that they were going to give Oreo a bath and cut his hair, but he just wasn't getting it! So I ended up dragging him out of there, Aby in tow all confused as to why her brother was so upset!

Cute that he cared so much that we were just LEAVING Oreo there...
Not so cute that he threw such a big fit about it all...

The Big Brother

Today Jaycob has proved he can be a caring big brother after all!

Abygail reached in the oven (play) and pulled out all the pots and pans. They made tons of crashing, clanging noises. Jaycob got up from the other side of the room where he was playing with his beloved cars just to check on her. He was saying, "Uh-oh, sissy. Uh-oh" with the utmost care and concern all while rubbing her head!!

Jaycob and Abygail were at the table eating dinner when Jay realized that Aby's plate was empty. He got into the bowl of pasta, ripped them in half (just like we do for her), and gave them to her saying, "There you go sissy. There you go."

All too cute! Ahhh the joys!!

A Couple Things

This is Jaycob napping yesterday. Bryan had told him to stay in his bed... I guess this is way of say, "No! I will not stay in my bed!!". Though that's exactly where he woke up at!

Jaycob pee - peed in the potty again. He asked me to get it out as he's pulling down his pant and taking his diaper off. I get it out and he sits, but wait... He ended up needing all his cars and planes around him. Once he got all those and placed them in front of the potty he sat down, looked at me, looked in the potty, and went!!!!! Not just a few little drops either. He actually went potty on the potty and knew he did and knew we were excited for him!! I know I know... This still doesn't mean a thing!

Jaycob slipped on Bryan's shoes and was walking around the house in them, much to Abygail's amusement! He started walking on the wooden blocks scattered all over the floor and I started telling him he can't do that. Until I realized he's not listening, he's too involved in his own conversation. He's saying, "No, no daddy. No, no!".... Too funny! I guess even though he was the one wearing the shoes, it was daddy who was getting in trouble for walking on the blocks!!

Something else I noticed yesterday... Abygail doesn't pick up and eat Cheerios like a 'normal' child would. She gets her index fingers nice and slimy and makes the Cheerios stick to the end of fingers and puts them in her mouth!! Crazy kid!

A Year Ago...

today I was in labor at this time!! Can you believe it?? My baby is 1 today!!

Information about her at her one year mark:

Weighs exactly 20 pounds.
She's exactly 30 inches tall.
Her head is 18 inches.

She wears a size 18 month Shirt. She wears a size 18-24 month onsie. She wears a size 12 month pants. And a size 12-24 month socks.

She can say daddy, bye, uh-oh, ball, and the starts of Oreo.
She can sign please, more, and nurse.
She makes sounds like an elephant, airplane, a cow, fake crying, a backing up garbage truck and sirens.

Her favorite toy is: Whatever Jaycob's playing with.
Her favorite book is: Big Red Barn, I would say.
Her favorite food is: Peaches and green beans.

She sleeps appx. 10.5 hours a day (from 12:00a-11:59p) on average.
She nurses appx. 85 minutes a day.
To date she has had appx. 1875 diaper changes!!

I can't think of anything else at this moment... But if I do I'll add it!!

Pictures as Promised!!

Sorry this took longer then expected.... But here you go!

Pee - Pee

Pee - Pee in the potty, Pee - pee in the potty!!!

He did it, he did it, he did it!!

Yeah I know it don't mean anything, but he was just so proud of himself!!

8 Legs??

Bad mommy moment of the day!!!

The kids are getting along so well over by the sliding glass door. Do you leave them be since they're playing so nicely together or do you get up and see WHY they're playing so nicely??

I opted for the leave them be option. I shouldn't have! The laughing and giggling got so loud that I just HAD to investigate what was so fun! I get up and what do I find?

I find my 1 and 2 year olds pulling the legs off of a slowly dying daddy long leg!! Poor daddy long leg...

Let's take a moment of silence.............