(not-so) accidental milestone

Buddy was bathing and a familiar expression crossed his face.  I really did not want to have to bleach the tub and all its toys again... so I grabbed the padded potty seat, scooped him up, and set him on there.  We've had false alarms where nothing has transpired before.... this time was not a false alarm.  I think he liked the praise he received for using the potty, because he kept climbing out and wanting to sit on the potty seat again. 

The funny thing was that I pulled Bear's training potty out of storage today.  It makes a good step stool and the two of them have been fighting over the Dora step stool ever since Buddy has become obsessed with brushing his teeth.  Looks like it might be mutipurposed.

there's a new name...

in Buddy's vocabulary
and it's ella's, yes it's ella.

(sometimes la-la.)

He giggles and grins with pride as he looks at his 4 month old cousin and calls her name.

Precious.

Wordless Wednesday

(Thank you, S&G, for these wonderful photos!)

an unwelcome guest

Hannah was playing in our room when she let out a small shriek and exclaimed, "Mommy, there's a lizard in there!" First she said it ran behind the bookshelf. Then she said it went under the dresser. She also said it was very tiny and then changed her story to very long. She also thought it was beautiful rainbow colored. I looked and did not see anything, jostled the shelf and the dresser, to no avail. I told her to tell Daddy about it when we got home, but was beginning to doubt her story. She has really gotten into imaginative play, and she likes watching dinosaur train on pbs, so could she have imagined it. "It ran away because it was scared that I am so much bigger," she said.

Daddy came home. After the cuddle fest in the living room, the kids climbing all over him in sheer joy, he went to our room. I had Hannah tell him what she saw, and sure enough, peeking out from the doorway to the bathroom, was an ugly lizard, 4-6 inch lizard with creepy eyes.


I had caught a lizard OUTSIDE for Bear last Spring, but the thought of having one in my own bedroom FREAKED me out. It HAD to be caught. I retrieved the canning jar that once held homemade canned tomatoes from a dear friend (thankfully we were able to used them up before the lizard came and it was clean). Sensing the jar alone would not do the trick, J went and got the broom and dustpan. The goal, to sweep the lizard into the jar. We got Bear to go to the other room in case we had to kill it, but I really did not want lizard innards in my bathroom or bedroom, or to explain to our tenderhearted girl why it had to die. I pushed a box into the doorframe to try to block it in the bathroom. J tried to sweep it into the jar. It escaped onto the carpet. Thankfully, he stopped it by catching it by the tail with one of his tools, scraped/swept it into the jar, and I got the lid on. Whew. Crisis averted.

Bear named it Alexa, after one of the Barbie Princesses. I hardly think the name fits. I did not want it anywhere near our apartment, so I do hope it was just a common salamander/lizard and not another tenant's exotic escapee, because Daddy and Bear set it free among the landscaping outside. I hope a cat or some other animal finds it for a snack.

Halloween Trip home 2009

The kids and I went home to Tennessee for the weekend, and we had a wonderful visit. My parents' house is on the market, and they are praying it sells so they can move further south this winter, so this may be our list visit to the place they've been since I was almost 17.

The kiddos enjoyed having more space to run around (inside and out), and for Halloween we visited our old neighborhood, where we spent time with some of our best friends in the subdivision and went trick or treating together. This was my first year trick-or-treating as a Mom, and I was tired out, but glad we did it. Last year, Daddy took Bear around the 'hood while Buddy and I greeted the trick or treaters. The year before, we went to a church event in Memphis at Gramma Debbie's church, and the year before, well, Bear was only a week old so a select few got to peek at her before they took their treats from my Mom.

Bear dressed up as a fairy princess, and Buddy was disguised as a penguin, which suited him perfectly with his current gait as he learns to walk.

Some parents avoid Halloween altogether and some substitute it with a church based activity, but we've taken to participate in the fun aspects and not focus on the scary in the tradition I grew up... trick or treating in our "safe" neighborhood, with parents and friends. This year's weather in Middle TN was perfect... crisp, cool fall air, the sound of leaves crunching under our feet, and the scent of someone burning a fire in their fireplace. Hannah was so excited about being home that when we encountered a scary costume or decoration, it did not phase her. In fact, after she got over being startled by a pirate ghost at one home, she kept tapping it with her wand and laughing, and then Brandon laughed too. The man who was giving out candy just stood there waiting to finish playing with his "scary" decoration, with an understanding smile.

The funniest encounter of the evening was when I took Brandon out of his costume. He had stuffed a plate from our friends' plastic tea set inside his puffy penguin suit, and apparently it stayed there during our adventure trick-or-treating.

Bear's FOUR!!!

We had a good weekend for Bear's birthday. Caslon and Camera Guy and the sweetest little girl born since mine came to celebrate with us. Daddy came home from "school." The theme was Disney Princess. Early arriving gifts from others as well as gifts from Mommy and Daddy were wrapped in pink princess paper. Balloons abounded, and the cake was, of course, Princess themed (From Publix).

This is the first year that Hannah really anticipated her birthday. Since the arrival of her tutu a couple of weeks ago, she has been asking about when her party would be, who would be coming, etc. It was hard because so many people we love could not be with us due to distance, one friend who we hoped could come got sick, and the others came off of a CRAZY week and could not make it, either. Thankfully, when it came down to it, Bear seemed to enjoy the time we had, and it was great to just hang out and relax with family.

Now all about my girl. She's a good mix. While she is obsessed with all things princess, Barbie, fairy, and my little pony related she also like watching old she-ra videos and has such a vivid imagination. Her hair is darkening and her curls fall in looser waves than they used to. She keeps asking me when she will get freckles, and pointing to non-existent ones that she thinks are on her arm. She wants a dog, but seems to know not to push the issue too much. In the last couple of weeks she has wanted to pay for things by herself at the store, so I think it might be time to start working on an allowance and teaching her about earning. She is sweet, a great big sister, and super-sensitive. If I am talking on the phone and she hears an emotion in my voice, she asks what is wrong. She asks if I am angry,sad or frustrated when she senses it.

I cannot believe my baby is growing into such a sweet girl so quickly.

Bear speaks

Bear: "Mommy, you did good job making this yummy fruit salad."
Mommy: "Why, thank you. It wasn't very hard. I just popped open the can and there it was."

Overheard, a few minutes later: "She just popped open the can and there it was."

Watch out world! (and watch your stuff)

Buddy is walking. Almost running. And he likes to hide things. As I type this, he's trying to hide his jammie-clad self and a clean diaper which he confiscated out of his cainet behind a small wicker chest. I suspect the chest will not survive the attack, as little pieces keep cracking off. My camera is down in the car, Bear is in the bathrub, and I am trying to understand his fascination with cramming himself into tight places. He also retrieved a sock he had hidden back there. This morning I found a toy train in the top of the diaper champ, along with wipes he thought needed to be thrown away. In the past 5 minutes, I have picked him up and moved him no less than 10 times. He's behaving almost like a puppy who has found its spot to mark... but he is dressed, so I don't have to worry about cleaning up that kind of mess this time. Ok, to his play saucer he goes. If you keep up with me on facebook, you know this attempt to corral the kid won't last long. He has figured out how to climb out. He grips around the top and under the edges with his fists. Kicks his legs back and tries to shimmy his legs up through the seat. Then he either shakes the saucer til it tips over and he climbs out sideways, or manages to straddle one leg over the side and then the other without tipping it. Except right now he's tired and getting frustrated instead of remaining determined. (Yes, I do believe it's time to clean up the saucer and put it into storage.) I smile at him from across and he cries in protest. I do believe it's time to finish off that sippy cup and go to bed, son.

new words

Brandon- My friend Cheri took the kiddos down to her church's nursery tonight during their revival service so I could listen to the preacher. Brandon was characteristically fussy after being taken from his Mommy, so she took him for a walk outside. Apparently when he saw Frosty the white kitty, he tried to say "cat" but doesn't quite have the hard "c" sound. Still, she has 4 kids of her own and knows when a kid knows what he's saying. He's saying "ba" for a lot of things. "bye", "bottle (sippy cup), and "bath", to name a few. and he's beginning to use a couple of signs. Waving his hands= all done. He tried to sign "please" after I modeled it for him today. He waves bye, even though I think his palm is usually toward himself, and that can mean "Bye" to someone or "I want to go bye-bye."

Hannah- I told her Bear she was "exasperating" me tonight as I tried to get her to brush her teeth, etc.... "What does "sassassperating" mean, Mom?"

they're growing too fast

I haven't taken Brandon in for his 1 year check-up yet, and he's 13 months. He's big. And walking more every day. And climbing to the point that he scares me, but I don't want to confine him into the saucer ALL the time. However, I might have to if he does not stop being such a dare devil. I really am getting scared that he might hurt himself by climbing, and falling and cracking his skull. When he heard Daddy's voice through the phone, he said "da-da." He LOVES the phone... puts it up next to his ear and grins. He also loves talking to his Grandparents. Every once in a while I get a reminder that he's still a baby. He woke up at 10:30 last night for some milk, which was followed by snuggle time on Mommy's shoulder. I don't mind the wake-up at that time, especially since he tends to sleep in until 8 am most days now.

Hannah is growing up, too, obviously. I can't believe her 4th birthday is approaching sooo quickly. She's handing daddy's mid-week absence for training so well. We're almost 1/4 of the way done! She does ask about him, and sometimes when she misses him a lot, she tears up but won't talk to him, but she's doing well. She tries to watch out for little bro, most of the time, except when she wants to wrestle him or hug his neck. (Sometimes she forgets that she's not gentle enough.) She resumed gymnastics this week, and really seemed to like it. She loves old She-Ra videos and her all things princess (disney or Barbie) and Fairytopia. She asks about our old friends and our old house, but she also loves having a playground in walking distance as well as a swimming pool and balcony. She has taken to sleeping in Mommy's bed while Daddy is away, which would not be so bad except she hogs it. I love cuddling, but don't like feeling pushed out of my own bed. One of her favorite nightime phrases is ," Mommy, I NEED you!!!"

you can't keep a good man down

watch out, world!!!

Brandon took 8 steps last night! He's taken 1-3 steps on several occasions.

*****
I asked Hannah to clean up her potato heads. I began helping her, to reduce the whine factor. Brandon immediately followed suit, picking up the pieces and putting them into the case.

****
overheard during play-doh time: "This is a necklace because it's for wearing around your neck." (Hannah made jewelry out of her play-doh.)

he's not so little anymore..

oh, he's still my baby, and always will be mama's boy, but our one-year-old is definitely a toddler now. He's on day 2 of NO bottle, just sippy cups. He is cruising, standing for 30 seconds +, taking 1-2 steps at a time, and climbing like crazy. Onto couches, chairs, step stools, you name it. He insists on having silverware of some kind when he eats, and if something has a button, he will press it. He knows Mommy's buttons to press, too. I'm going to work on finding a pediatrician so we can get all the official stats... he is definitely a big, strong boy! :)

Happy birthday, Brandon!!!

an ordinary 1st birthday

11:04 a.m.
Birthday cake #1 is cooling. Big sis is playing baseball with the happy birthday balloon and "'1" candle, exclaiming "batter-up!" while she plays. Birthday boy loudly protests the imposed naptime from his crib, and Mommy is going to take a shower.

quotable quotes

Bear, age 3 years,10 months:

• "I don't want to take a nap. I want to stay crabby ALL day."

• Bear:"Where are the cheerios?"

Mom: "On the counter."
Bear: "Did you put them on the counter so I can't reach them?"

our troopers

Bear and her Buddy have been such troopers during the moving process. Poor bear wanted so badly to sleep in her new room tonight, but she had to sleep on the couch instead. It's interesting to try to look at things through childrens' eyes. Once he got past the sense of chaos from the unloading of the moving truck, Brandon took it upon himself to explore every square inch of our new place. Hannah mostly entertained herself, quoting her favorite videos, singing, throwing snap-bead-toys up in the air and saying, "heads up!" She also helped carry some light things up to our apartment from the car.
I've realized that we will have to teach her about safety in our new community. Not because it seems unsafe, but because an apartment community is just different with all the people in close proximity. No yards, even small ones, to separate. But on the bright side, she is looking forward to learning to swim in the pool, and we have a playground in walking distance!

who's who?

Bear: Mommy, get up, you can't stay in bed all day.
(about 7:53 a.m.)

a new 1st

Tonight was Brandon's first time obviously recognizing a voice through the telephone. Grandma T. had called and was on speaker phone, and his face LIT UP. He also babbled to her. It was SO cute. Then big sis got out of the bath tub, and they were practically fighting eachother for the phone.

There are so many firsts that you don't record, I had to jot this one down somewhere so I would not forget. It was so sweet.

On a similar note. I really think he's starting to understand and voluntarily use "yes" and "no" head nods from time to time.... I wonder how long it will be until he SAYS "no"?

time flies...

Where have 11 months gone? I did not realize how much Brandon has grown until we met our newest family member this weekend. Ella Grey is so cute, so tiny...

Hannah loved to hold her. Brandon seemed to think his new cousin is a baby doll, and quickly gained the new nickname Bam-Bam. We decided not to let him get too close to her after that.

So much has happened in the kids' lives this summer... a week in WI to visit great Gramma, a week in Memphis, packing up our house and moving in with GranWendy and Grandad until we move... location yet to be disclosed. They have been troopers. Other than a setback in sleeping habits, especially for the not-so-little-anymore boy, they seem to take every change in stride. We are so thankful to all our friends and family who have helped in this transition.

Brandon weighed in around 19.5 lbs at 9 months, and I'll guess he is around 21 lbs now (11 months). He is strong, has mastered climbing up stairs and is beginning to figure out how to lay down and scoot down them. He eats anything and everything... Great Gram even said he eats too much, and anyone who knows her knows that's not a common thing out of her mouth.

Hannah measured 38 1/2" tall a month ago at great gram's. I have no idea how much she weighs. 35 lbs, maybe? She is growing up... no longer a toddler, that's for sure. She likes writing the letter "H," but resists learning to write the rest of her name. I think it's safe to say she's been fully potty trained for 4-6 months... except for an occasional leak when she gets too busy.

The kids love to wrestle eachother, play with eachother, etc.

Brandon woke me up at 4 for a bottle, I could not sleep, but I am feeling sleepy now, so maybe it will be less than a month before my next post.