Pigtails

Well, I've gotten Abby's hair in pigtails three times over the past week or so. Usually she just wears them in the morning, then I take them out for naptime, so I haven't gotten any pictures yet until yesterday. She tolerates me fixing her hair if she's occupied with something engaging like a toothbrush, so I usually fix her hair in the bathroom. Anyway, here she is all fixed up (in her PJs, but her hair is done).

And here are the kids and Jason waiting for breakfast over the weekend.

I yuv you.

One of Matthew's favorite delay tactics at bedtime (and after bedtime) is to say "Mommy (or Daddy), I have to tell you something". So then the parent turns around (as we are leaving Matthew's bedroom after completing his routine) and Matthew pauses and says "Ummmm..." and then after a 10 seconds or so, he comes up with something totally random to say. The parent involved then interrupts (because Matthew keeps talking and talking and talking) and says something like "Ok, Matthew, nigh night. I love you, see you in the morning" and we again try to walk out. Sometimes we make it out and down the stairs and even sit down for a few minutes watching TV or reading.

Then after a few minutes we will hear, "Daddy! (or Mommy!)". And we'll go over to the stairs and say "What Matthew?" or on nights when we're quite tired we'll say "Go to bed!" rather than seeing what Matthew wants. Anyway, often Matthew responds to our inquiry by saying "I have to tell you something!" then the "Ummmm...." and another random story when we come up to his room.

So, needless to say, when Matthew says, "I have to tell you something" at bedtime Jason and I both are expecting some bedtime delay tactics and a series of random statements from our two-year old. So tonight I was putting Matthew to bed. He was rather riled up from a long afternoon nap, but we got through his routine with little problem and I was just leaving his room when he said, "Mommy, I have to tell you something." I reluctantly turned around wondering what he would come up with tonight. He walked over to me and in a whisper said "I yuv you" then he walked back to bed. Awwwww. I had tears in my eyes. "I love you too, Matthew."

Welcome home, Daddy!

Maybe a year ago or so, I told the boys that they should greet Jason happily when he comes home. They sometimes did that, but sometimes not, so I started coaching them on it a bit. Now, they do love when Jason comes home, but they are often watching their cartoon at that time, so they're distracted. So anyway, many days now when Jason gets home the boys will say, "Welcome home, Daddy!" and run over to him without my prompting.

Abby often gets very excited when Jason gets home too. She usually says "Daddy!" when the garage door opens and gets all squirmy (because I'm almost always holding her at that time in the evening...the before dinner hour is not a good time for her) in her excited way. So yesterday when Jason got home from work he came in the house and Abby said "Daddy!" and clearly wanted me to put her down. So I did and she ran (as fast as she can at this point) until she was about 2 feet away from him then she suddenly stopped, looked at Jason and said "No!" and ran back to me. She was apparently excited about Daddy, but then realized she wasn't that excited. So then today Jason got home and Matthew excitedly ran over to him and gave him a big hug and said "Welcome home, Daddy!" Abby also joined in the festivities and said "Daddy!" and ran over to him. This time she got about a foot away the said, "No!" and again ran away. So close. But so funny. Oh, Abby.

What do we do all day?

Good question. I was looking back at some posts from a little over a year ago, when Abby was a baby and thought I should write an update on what our life looks like these days. Just as a side note, reading posts from when Abby was 1, 2 and 3 months old reminded me that I really don't want to go back to that stage anytime soon. Jason says he never wants to return to that stage. We'll see.

So here is what our day looks like. The boys usually wake up around 6 or 6:30 and if they don't have to go to the bathroom, they usually stay in their rooms until their clocks turn yellow at 6:45. I usually wake up around 6 and stay in bed as long as I can, usually that's around 6:30 or 6:40. Then breakfast (Jason gets the boys started most mornings). Abby wakes up around 7ish and I take her downstairs for her breakfast which she just picks at and doesn't hardly eat anything unless she's offered yogurt or blueberries which she really likes.

At around 7:15 or 7:30, the kids are done with breakfast and they change their clothes (if they haven't already) and I clean up and sit down for my own breakfast. The kids play by themselves, sometimes quietly, sometimes not. Mid morning involves some sort of cleaning and outings--trips to the Y, grocery store, Target or indoor play areas. Snacks are generally around 10:30 and at that time I read a story or Bible passage about whatever character quality we're focusing on for the time being (right now it's patience). Then there's free play or crafts/painting if I'm ambitious.

The kids watch a cartoon around 11:45 (current favorites are Dinosaur Train, Busytown Mysteries, and Chuck and Friends), then lunch at 12:15. Naps are around 1 for the little ones. Sam and I then do a reading lesson and read a chapter in his latest chapter book or some other picture books. At that time Sam either plays on his own while I do some work or knit or read or prep dinner for the night. Sometimes Sam and I do a science experiment or bake something. Other times we exercise together.

The little ones wake up between 2 and 3 usually and then we have another snack which sometimes includes another storytime or we listen to a story on CD or other kids' music. Then it's time for basement play. If we haven't already been to the basement during the day, we always make it downstairs for the end of the day. The kids run around and jump, of course, and play by themselves. Abby and I usually read some books during this time and she also often joins in the horseplay. I'm usually exhausted by that time and wish to just read a book while doing some hands off parenting, but am often bombarded by "Mommy, watch me!" "Mommy, where's my X Y and Z?" "Mommy, look at what I can do!" "WAHHHHHHAAAHHHHH!"

Around 4:45 the kids pick up their toys (upstairs) and otherwise tidy up the main level of the house. Then they set the table while I do some more dinner prep. 5:15 brings another cartoon break, then dinner around 5:45 or 6. Jason comes home around 5:30 and riles up the kids by tickling, horseplay and other fun daddy-activities.

That's our day in a nutshell. I didn't include all the little cleaning that goes on all day (sweeping, wiping, etc.) and diaper changes, butt wiping, face wiping, mediation and disciplining, as that stuff goes on all day, but you now have a general idea of what things are like in our household. And here are some pictures of our household from today.

Here's a seriously cute, but seriously blurry picture of Abby. Move at least 3 or 4 feet away from your computer for this one.

And here are the boys engaging in their latest "moves" on the couch. They certainly come up with interesting way to entertain themselves!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Now I'll admit that Jason and I don't really celebrate Valentines Day. When you have an anniversary and spend every day together (well, mostly every day) Valentine's Day just seems unnecessary and overly commercialized. But the kids and I have done some Valentine's preparation and celebrating lately. We made a big heart covered in tissue paper, a February calendar covered in hearts and other Valentine's pictures, some heart stencil painting, and of course, heart sugar cookies. Yesterday and today we made heart sugar cookies (we made some both days because the ones we made yesterday didn't make it to today, and we needed some for Valentine's Day, so I made another batch.

Sam especially enjoys decorating the cookies (and eating the sprinkles), and Matthew enjoys it some and everyone enjoys eating the cookies. I took a few pictures of our festivities today.

Sam has very red fingers and lips from eating more sprinkles than cookies.

Abby has a rather odd expression on her face here, but her eyes are just so beautiful that I had to include this picture in the lineup.

 Matthew was done cookie decorating and eating when I took pictures, so I took his picture doing a puzzle. I told him to smile and this is the first face I got from him.

 Then he calmed down and produced a more realistic smile.

Compassion

Lately, the boys have started to move somewhat away from their egocentricity (especially Sam) especially regarding food. For example, Sam will often set aside a bite of something, a granola, a cookie, some peanuts or something and say he's going to save it for Daddy. Most of the time, then don't end up getting saved, but at least he's thinking about someone other than himself. A few weeks ago when we got McDonalds for lunch Sam asked me where his Happy Meal bag was, so I found it and then he started putting the remainder of his lunch in it (a few fries and a chicken nugget). I gently told him that I thought it wouldn't keep well, but he insisted so they went into the fridge. At snack time later that afternoon, Sam decided he wanted a few of his leftover fries, so he got them out of the fridge, ate one and made quite a disgusted look. Then they went into the trash. "They're no good" he said. It's the thought that counts.

So onto Matthew. Jason returned home from a work trip last Friday and we were getting the boys ready for bed. When it came time to determine who was going with Mommy and who was going with Daddy for stories, songs and prayers, we asked, "Ok, so who gets Daddy tonight?" I thought both the boys would maybe want Jason for bedtime as he'd been gone for a few days, but Sam said "Matthew!" and Matthew said "Sam!" This is usually the case. Jason laid down on the floor (face down) and pretended to cry. Matthew then knelt beside him, put his arm around and gently said, "Daddy, you can put Sam to bed." When he first started kneeling beside Jason my heart was warmed, but then when I heard his words all I could do was laugh. So Matthew's showing compassion in an egocentric way. Just like any normal two-year old would, I'm sure.

Another Sunday church story

Throughout the day I think of things I should write about on the blog. Then when the end comes around, I'm just too darn tired to write anything, or I've forgotten all those wonderful ideas as the day has gone on. So I'm going to write about yesterday rather than today as yesterday was pretty memorable.

Again, this is a story about church. We decided to keep Abby with us during the worship service rather than having her go to the nursery. Reason being that we go to Bible study after worship, and Sam goes to Sunday School, but we don't want Abby in the nursery for 2 hours. So that means that Abby comes with us to Bible study which has not been going well. For some reason, we thought church may go better and she may be better behaved than she is at Bible study. So we tried it. The morning started off fairly well. We were 10 minutes or so into the service and things were excellent. I looked at my lovely children and thought two things "What good children!" and "What good parents!" The instant I had those thoughts I knew we were in for it the rest of the service (pride comes before a fall, right?). I apparently didn't repent soon enough or earnestly enough because a few minutes later was the children's message. Sam went up front while I had Abby and Matthew. Matthew was fine, but Abby kept on grabbing books or toys and when I'd try to help her with them so she didn't drop them, she would twist her body around and shout "NO!" And even when I wasn't touching her she still kept on saying "NO! NO! NO!" Upon returning from the children's message, Jason said he could hear her loud and clear, and we were sitting in the next to last row.

Then it was Matthew's turn. He just started talking loudly and being otherwise inappropriate. Jason gave him a warning, then it was time to take him out. As soon as Jason grabbed him and started walking out, he started screaming "DON'T TAKE ME OUT! MOMMY! MOMMY! DON'T TAKE ME! MOMMY! AHHHHHHHH!" Wow, talk about embarrassing. Unfortunately we don't sit right next to the exit, so he was screaming for a long time on the walk out. We may need to reconsider where we sit in the future.

So then I was left alone with Sam and Abby. Sam is usually a very good boy in church, but of course, he decided to change things up a bit yesterday. First, he started getting awfully close to Abby, touching her and acting like he was going to take her toys. Now Abby has learned to be very possessive of her toys as she is used to one of her brothers snatching them whenever they like. So when a boy comes close to her or her toys she starts in with the No's. "NO! NO! NO!" I'm trying in a hushed voice to get Sam to leave her alone and trying to hold him away from her while holding onto Abby and wondering what in the heck am I supposed to do? Do I leave my purse and the pew scattered with toys and try to get both kids out? By that time I was sweating and extremely repentant of my parental pride. Finally things settled down somewhat and then Sam decided to lay on the pew. And Abby decided to crawl on the floor. Sam eventually sat up and I never did figure out a way to pacify Abby. And I was almost laughing, not out of merriment, but rather out of incredulity at how badly church was going despite how well the kids boys had been behaving previously.

We eventually made it to the end and hung out heads low, avoiding eye contact as we walked out. These were my new thoughts: "What bad children!" and "What bad parents!" So much for our experiment with keeping Abby in church with us. I guess she will be back in the nursery for the time being. I don't remember what the sermon was about yesterday, but I do know that I got a lesson in humility.

Playing train

The kids have been playing more and more together when they aren't fighting. Well, they don't really fight all that much as there are very few days when I tell Jason that he needs to find the kids a new mom because I quit. But they do enjoy each other often. One of their favorite after dinner activities of late is called train and what they do is string together with Abby in the middle and quickly walk around the main level. There are inevitable crashes as Abby tumbles down and pulls the rest of the crowd with her. Then they laugh and roll around and get up and continue going around and around. Although I get worried of someone (i.e. Abby) getting hurt, they have so much fun doing playing together and the boys are really pretty good with Abby that we let them have their fun for a few minutes before redirecting them to other activities (like bath and bedtime).