Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Way to GO, O!
For the past month or so, Olivia has been sitting on Collin's old little potty before bed attempting to imitate her big bro. Last week I started taking off her diaper just to get into a pre-bed habit, just like brushing teeth, but she hasn't made any deposits...until tonight. "Bee-bee! Poppy!" (pee-pee potty) Here's hoping this enthusiasm materializes into some early toilet training. It didn't happen with Collin, but all kids are different. Plus, she has three things going for her: 1. She's a girl, and from what everyone says, girls just get it faster. 2. She's a second kid and has a sibling to watch regularly and want to be like. 3. She shows obvious dislike of being soiled. I would love for her to just catch on over the course of this next year without having to do an "official" potty training period. You never know!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
He's the MAN!
I have to laugh. Apparently my goofy boy is the guy at school that all the girls have a crush on. I've heard rumors, but I didn't actually believe it until today. I pulled up to the curb to drop him off, and as soon as I opened the door to let him out (picture a celebrity exiting a limo), a gaggle of giggly, smiley girls screeched, "Collin!!!" On our ride home from school, I mentioned that the girls must really like him and think he's pretty cool. My son's response? "Yeah, they get really excited when they see me!" Don't let it go to your head, buddy.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Puff the Magic Dragon
Who can listen to this classic song and not get a little weepy? My eyes water by the first chorus, and by the time Jackie Paper came no more, I'm so choked up, I can't sing anymore. I'm not sure why I decided it would be a good idea for Santa to bring the book with CD...Collin loves it, and I do too, but it sure makes me sad, especially today when Collin asked, "Where is the boy going? Why is Jackie leaving Puff?" I had to explain that little boys and girls turn into grown-ups and don't play with their toys anymore...*tear*
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Can't stop thinking about...
...how lately my kids are not just siblings but more like friends.
Whether it's rocking out during a jam session,
lending a helping hand of encouragement,
or preparing a delicious meal together,
...how I'm kinda liking the new dinner table arrangement with Mike and I at the two heads and the kids sitting in chairs (O in a booster tray thing attached to the chair) on one side. No more highchair! That's good, right? And if Collin had it his way, Livi would be sharing not only the table but also his room and bed with him. After all, "I have two pillows," he said. He loves her so much, and she equally adores him. It's a mom's dream. Can I freeze them at this age so it lasts???
...how my first baby, Sampson, is just not himself since being diagnosed with diabetes. Am I administering the insulin correctly? Is it enough? Is he getting enough to eat and drink? Is he going to make it a few more years? Oh, my sweet, handsome boy, please get well soon.
...how Collin really knows how to turn on the ol' charm with his constant flow of kisses and "I love you so much"s and telling me I'm the best mommy and his favorite relative. Talk about a sweet boy!
...how I'm looking forward to being done with my two grad classes to renew my teaching license as well as having the basement renovated into a fresh, usable space for our family, but I can't get my brain excited enough to really jump in and do the work. Damn you, Procrastination.
...how I can't wait to meet my very first niece or nephew in March and spoil her/him with kisses, squeezes, and smiling tears of love. Collin is convinced the baby is a girl named Kasherena. His heart is set on it. So far he is 2 for 2 on guessing baby gender (Oliv and Blake's sister); hopefully he won't be too disappointed when Matt and Kat reveal her name, and it's not Kasherena.
...how my grandpa (a.k.a. Great Grandpa Wow to C&O) will be turning 90 in less than three months, and I'll be heading up north for the big par-tay. With his genes plus Nana's, my parents and I should be all set in the longevity department. Betty White just turned 90 this past week, btw, and she rocks.
...how this year's Cherry Blossom Festival might just include three of my best girlfriends from high school who are willing to travel from CO, NH, and FL to VA so that we can be teenagers again. :)
...how awesome it was to find more hardcover Sesame Street Book Club books circa 1981 at McKay Used Books for only $.50 a pop to add to my, I mean Collin and Olivia's, collection. Thank you, Mom, for saving everything. Really. Reading to the kids is special in itself, but reading books that were read to me from my childhood? Well, that just adds a whole other dimension of special to the experience.
...how Collin will be starting actual preschool in the fall (and he'll have two years of that on top of the two he's already had at Ladybugs), and while I'm supposed to be freaking out and visiting schools every chance I get and waiting in line or on lists, I'm just not. Is that bad? I mean, it's preschool, not college. As long as he gets to play with other kids, follow directions, and use his imagination while learning a few new things in the process, I'm happy. Broad Run has a preschool program that pairs up high school students with the little guys to do all of the above for a fraction of what it costs to send Collin to one of the church schools or that school that starts with an M that shall remain nameless as far as I'm concerned.
...how my baby girl is growing up too fast. She is now walking, albeit hesitantly, and talking up a storm. She has words, sounds, or signs for at least 35 words/concepts already (yup, I made a chart like I did for Collin and counted). I can ask her to do something like put the track back in the basket or pat her head or wink, and she'll do it. Her hair is long, soft, and beautiful and makes her look like a 2-year-old, if not older. She weighs about 23 pounds, but I still insist on putting her in the Bjorn so that we can attend Mommy and Me because I can't imagine her being too big or old to go. The other day, I finally boxed up the 12-month clothes that she hasn't been able to wear since before she turned 12 months old as well as some 18-month items that are already too small (she'll be 15 months in just about two weeks). For the first time EVER, I packed up all the baby blankets, receiving blankets, burp cloths, etc. I thought I was doing okay until I found a baby keychain and a newborn sock under the dresser. I can pretend all I want by bringing my "baby" to bootcamp in a front carrier, but that tiny, little sock...well, needless to say, I got a little emotional. I bypassed this stage of mourning the bygone baby with Collin because we knew Olivia was coming and left everything as it was. I'm pretty much over it, but I just can't stop thinking about...
...how Livi was conceived when Collin was exactly her age now and what if...
But I'm not moved enough by this thought to actually follow through.
Whether it's rocking out during a jam session,
lending a helping hand of encouragement,
or preparing a delicious meal together,
an undeniable bond exists that is getting stronger every day.
...how I'm kinda liking the new dinner table arrangement with Mike and I at the two heads and the kids sitting in chairs (O in a booster tray thing attached to the chair) on one side. No more highchair! That's good, right? And if Collin had it his way, Livi would be sharing not only the table but also his room and bed with him. After all, "I have two pillows," he said. He loves her so much, and she equally adores him. It's a mom's dream. Can I freeze them at this age so it lasts???
...how my first baby, Sampson, is just not himself since being diagnosed with diabetes. Am I administering the insulin correctly? Is it enough? Is he getting enough to eat and drink? Is he going to make it a few more years? Oh, my sweet, handsome boy, please get well soon.
...how Collin really knows how to turn on the ol' charm with his constant flow of kisses and "I love you so much"s and telling me I'm the best mommy and his favorite relative. Talk about a sweet boy!
...how I'm looking forward to being done with my two grad classes to renew my teaching license as well as having the basement renovated into a fresh, usable space for our family, but I can't get my brain excited enough to really jump in and do the work. Damn you, Procrastination.
...how I can't wait to meet my very first niece or nephew in March and spoil her/him with kisses, squeezes, and smiling tears of love. Collin is convinced the baby is a girl named Kasherena. His heart is set on it. So far he is 2 for 2 on guessing baby gender (Oliv and Blake's sister); hopefully he won't be too disappointed when Matt and Kat reveal her name, and it's not Kasherena.
...how my grandpa (a.k.a. Great Grandpa Wow to C&O) will be turning 90 in less than three months, and I'll be heading up north for the big par-tay. With his genes plus Nana's, my parents and I should be all set in the longevity department. Betty White just turned 90 this past week, btw, and she rocks.
...how this year's Cherry Blossom Festival might just include three of my best girlfriends from high school who are willing to travel from CO, NH, and FL to VA so that we can be teenagers again. :)
...how awesome it was to find more hardcover Sesame Street Book Club books circa 1981 at McKay Used Books for only $.50 a pop to add to my, I mean Collin and Olivia's, collection. Thank you, Mom, for saving everything. Really. Reading to the kids is special in itself, but reading books that were read to me from my childhood? Well, that just adds a whole other dimension of special to the experience.
...how Collin will be starting actual preschool in the fall (and he'll have two years of that on top of the two he's already had at Ladybugs), and while I'm supposed to be freaking out and visiting schools every chance I get and waiting in line or on lists, I'm just not. Is that bad? I mean, it's preschool, not college. As long as he gets to play with other kids, follow directions, and use his imagination while learning a few new things in the process, I'm happy. Broad Run has a preschool program that pairs up high school students with the little guys to do all of the above for a fraction of what it costs to send Collin to one of the church schools or that school that starts with an M that shall remain nameless as far as I'm concerned.
...how my baby girl is growing up too fast. She is now walking, albeit hesitantly, and talking up a storm. She has words, sounds, or signs for at least 35 words/concepts already (yup, I made a chart like I did for Collin and counted). I can ask her to do something like put the track back in the basket or pat her head or wink, and she'll do it. Her hair is long, soft, and beautiful and makes her look like a 2-year-old, if not older. She weighs about 23 pounds, but I still insist on putting her in the Bjorn so that we can attend Mommy and Me because I can't imagine her being too big or old to go. The other day, I finally boxed up the 12-month clothes that she hasn't been able to wear since before she turned 12 months old as well as some 18-month items that are already too small (she'll be 15 months in just about two weeks). For the first time EVER, I packed up all the baby blankets, receiving blankets, burp cloths, etc. I thought I was doing okay until I found a baby keychain and a newborn sock under the dresser. I can pretend all I want by bringing my "baby" to bootcamp in a front carrier, but that tiny, little sock...well, needless to say, I got a little emotional. I bypassed this stage of mourning the bygone baby with Collin because we knew Olivia was coming and left everything as it was. I'm pretty much over it, but I just can't stop thinking about...
...how Livi was conceived when Collin was exactly her age now and what if...
But I'm not moved enough by this thought to actually follow through.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Photo Book
Click here to view this photo book larger
Shutterfly photo books offer a variety of layouts and cover options to choose from.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Is Summer Really Over?
Well, it's Labor Day, folks, and you know what that means! No more white pants or shoes (who follows that rule, anyway? Winter is all about white, right?), no more impromptu visits to the community pool (haha, who am I kidding? With these little ones, it's not like I ever went), no more vacations to the beach (um, we're going to the OBX next week), and no more big kids taking over the indoor playground at the mall (well, that part is true). As an unspoken rule, summer is over. Wait a minute, didn't we just get back from our NH vacation? That would make it July. I think I lost a month somewhere. Last I checked, Olivia was an 8-month-old who just sat where you put her and played contentedly. Collin was in the midst of potty training and running around bottomless. Now Olivia is 10 months old yesterday, and Collin is more or less toliet trained. Anyone seen where August went? I'm missing a month.
Thank God I wrote down some things in Olivia's calendar because August has been quite busy for her! My little baby girl is really growing up. I'll list the highlights. In the past month, Olivia...
- has three visible teeth on the bottom but five more coming in...all at once!
- 's hair has grown so much that I can fit it all into a full ponytail.
- can high-five, clap, wave, and stick out her tongue when asked.
- learned how to crawl, take a couple of steps holding someone's hands, and pull up on low furniture.
- gives her baby doll a bottle and tries to feed others with her spoon.
- identifies nose, teeth, mouth, and eyes on Mommy's face.
- places colored rings on a stick, plastic coins in her piggie, and takes things out of a box to put them back in.
- makes engine noises while pushing cars and trucks around on the floor.
- loves a game of ball back and forth ball with a partner; she's obsessed with balls, actually.
- has 6 words in her spoken vocabulary--> Daddy, cat, Mama, dog ('dag'), ball ('bah'), and baby ('ba-ba').
- not only sleeps 12+ hours through the night but also 4+ during the day...hmm, growth spurt?
Did I mention that all of this happened in just the past month? It was like she didn't do anything besides sit and read her books and point to things the month before and then BAM! Major milestones all around. The crawling has made our life much more interesting. A facebook status from last week pretty much sums it up:
- has three visible teeth on the bottom but five more coming in...all at once!
- 's hair has grown so much that I can fit it all into a full ponytail.
- can high-five, clap, wave, and stick out her tongue when asked.
- learned how to crawl, take a couple of steps holding someone's hands, and pull up on low furniture.
- gives her baby doll a bottle and tries to feed others with her spoon.
- identifies nose, teeth, mouth, and eyes on Mommy's face.
- places colored rings on a stick, plastic coins in her piggie, and takes things out of a box to put them back in.
- makes engine noises while pushing cars and trucks around on the floor.
- loves a game of ball back and forth ball with a partner; she's obsessed with balls, actually.
- has 6 words in her spoken vocabulary--> Daddy, cat, Mama, dog ('dag'), ball ('bah'), and baby ('ba-ba').
- not only sleeps 12+ hours through the night but also 4+ during the day...hmm, growth spurt?
Did I mention that all of this happened in just the past month? It was like she didn't do anything besides sit and read her books and point to things the month before and then BAM! Major milestones all around. The crawling has made our life much more interesting. A facebook status from last week pretty much sums it up:
Photo Book for ShaSha
I don't know about you, but it's getting harder and harder to think of quality birthday gifts for anyone over the age of 25 and especially for family members of, let's say, a certain age. Mom's birthday is coming up in a few days, so rather than spend time wandering aimlessly around the mall or ordering something online that will either get lost in a drawer or returned, I decided to make a photo book on Shutterfly (sorry, Snapfish, you were too slow for me!) featuring some of the highlights of the summer. You wanted a brag book, Mom, so here you go! Brag away. :)
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