Halloween

Here are some pictures from Halloween. I will put some videos on hopefully tomorrow. Andrew did awesome. He has been in and out of his costume all day and has not had a good nap, but he never really cried all day.

We went to Kidzfest (our church puts on a city wide party with bouncy houses and games, etc.) first and let the kids play. While we were there all of the boys entered the costume party. BRYCE WON with his trash can!!

He was so funny because all day he has been worried about wearing the trashcan, afraid that everyone would laugh at him. I told him that they were supposed to laugh at him - it is Halloween! He was still a little concerned, but when I mentioned a costume contest and how much everyone LOVES it - he decided that he would wear it! He has been wearing it off and on all day and getting a ton ATTENTION!! I was shocked that he was concerned about it.

I am off to bed - more tomorrow!!

WE HAVE STREET LIGHTS!!!

FINALLY!! The downside - it shines right into Andrew's window - and hits right above his bed! We will probably have to do a little rearranging, which I was thinking about anyway because he and Bryce are on the same wall - not good when Bryce is throwing a fit against the wall Andrew is sleeping on!! It lights up his room, but I am not worried about that - he sleeps in the daylight!
Here is a picture I took standing by his crib:

Funny Pictures

After I got the older boys in bed, Andrew was still really wound up!!! I decided to take some pictures of him. He has started making this face ALL the time!! It cracks me up everytime I see it (and everyone else that sees it)!!




he escaped during a diaper change!!

CAUGHT!

Andrew's Dr Appointment

Andrew went back to the GI dr today. His upper gi came back fine. The report said they were initially concerned about his anatomy, but did the GI test several times and decided it was normal. I told her I did not feel like the Prevacid was doing it's job because he was still throwing up a lot. That would be because the Prevacid is not to keep him from throwing up, it is so that what he throws up does not burn his espohagus! I told her my concern on the price and asked if there was anything else he could take. She said nothing else she would recommend. She did, however, give us lots of samples!

He still is not gaining the way she wants to see, so we are trying a couple of new things. We are concentrating his formula more. Instead of three scoops for a six ounce bottle, we are doing four. This takes his calories from about 120 calories per bottle to over 200. We are also supposed to start feeding him solids 4 times a day and add butter, margarine or oil (fat content) to everything he eats. This is fine because he LOVES to eat food.

She said as far as the throwing up goes, the only thing we can do at this point to stop that is surgery. I quickly told her I would rather buy new carpet! She said she did not want to do surgery either. She is hoping that he will start gaining weight doing this stuff and then between that and the fact that he is UP and mobile more, he will outgrow the reflux. She said IF they are going to outgrow it, it is usually by the time they are 1. If this stuff does not start working, she will want to scope, check for allergies, etc. She does not want to rush into any of that because he does not ACT like he has any of those problems.

It was funny when she came in. She came in and introduced herself. At first I was confused since we have seen her so often, but she says "I'm sorry, your doctor could not see you today so you are stuck with me!" She was dressed up as a gypsy (as was her nurse). Andrew (and Bryce and Lilah) loved it! Andrew loved all of the shiney stuff hanging off her and they all loved the noise her clothes made! After we were done with the visit and while I dressed Andrew, she went and got Bryce and Lilah a small bag (like a medicine sample bag) and took them trick or treating. They had several "stations" set up through the office and the dr took them to each one and made sure they got lots of candy!

On a ROLL!!

I was searching for the camera earlier and could not find it anywhere.

Just found it....

in the pantry!

Finding the Humor inToddlers

That is what you HAVE to do!! This afternoon, while trying to get Lilah ready to go home, we were looking for her sock. She had taken it off, but when I saw it I was in the middle of feeding Andrew so did not fix it.

We spent an hour looking for her sock. Tore the house apart! Looked EVERYWHERE!! I finally gave up (Andrew MADE me because he was screaming the whole time and made himself sick on the floor). I went to take her shoe and sock off the other foot and put it in her bag.

The missing sock was....

ON HER OTHER FOOT!!! Over the sock she had on!

What can you do, but laugh!!!

EXCUSE ME!!?? (Bumbo recall)

I was at Target this morning and decided to ask about the Bumbo seat recall. From what I had read, it sounded like you could just call and ask for a warning sticker to put on it. The lady at Target, however, said that you could bring it back and get your money back on it.

I decided that since Andrew can't use it anymore anyway, I was going to take it back. So I came home and got it and a while later took it back up there.

I got so mad!! I took it up there and they called a manager over to do the recall. The two of them (customer service manager and cashier) proceeded to lecture me about how if I was a responsible parent, I would not feel as though I had to return it because I would not be leaving my child unattended in it. If it is on recall, I should not have to justify my decision to return the product AT ALL, regardless of what it is or why I no longer want it.

After the csm was done criticizing my parenting skills, although she had never met me before, and she walked away, the cashier continued criticizing me. "I NEVER returned anything that was recalled when my kids were small. Not even stuff with lead paint. They get into far worse stuff than that!"

Then she gave me a gift card - which for recalls you are supposed to get cash! I just took it and left before I said something I regretted!

UM, EXCUSE ME BUT WHO IS THE IRRESPONSIBLE PARENT?

Just Some Funnies From This Weekend

Oh, so many stories...let's see if I can remember them all and credit the correct comment with the correct child.


While we were standing in the West End waiting on the bus/train/whatever we were supposed to be on, there was a group of people standing a little ways from us. They were far enough away that that we could not hear them talking amongst themselves. One of the "girls" (she was wearing jeans, a girlie shirt/jacket and some big, white, plastic star earrings) started yelling at someone, but she had a very deep "he" voice.

Caleb (loudly) says "That is a boy? I thought it was a girl!" I snapped him with the back of my hand and told him to be quiet. He started saying something else and I put my hand on his mouth and told him not to speak again before he got us shot! I told him we would discuss it later.


After the show we were walking to get the train back. There was a train sitting there already and the comment was made that we needed to hurry or we would miss the train. Bryce yells NOOOOO and starts hightailing it to the train. It wasn't our train, but it was funny that Bryce remembered having to walk to the AA center and DID NOT want to do that again!

On the way home from Texas the boys were out for the first half of the trip. We stopped half way to refuel the car and ourselves. Conversation got interesting after that! I don't even remember how we got on the conversation of haunted houses, but we did. Bryce was interchanging words and kept talking about hunters living in haunted houses and haunteds living in hunters houses, etc... I can't imagine why I can't remember the conversation - I am still confused!!

Then Paul and I saw a dead deer on the side of the road. Bryce was complaining that he was still hungry. I asked him if he wanted some roadkill to eat. He asked what roadkill was. I explained that sometimes animals are in the road and drivers don't see them and hit them and they die. I ask him again if he wanted some roadkill to eat expecting him to be really grossed out. Instead he says "umm, what kind of animal is it?"

I guess if I had said the right animal, he would have agreed to eat it!!

Never a dull moment in a house full of boys....but PLENTY of gross, nasty ones!!!
Roadkill

Walking with Dinosaurs

We went to see Walking with Dinosaurs this weekend in Dallas. The boys LOVED it! I have never seen any of the boys sit so still or quiet for any length of time, much less the length of the show. Even Andrew watched it and seemed to enjoy it. We had third row seats to the show, so it was REALLY loud! We did not know we were that close until we got to our seats. The boys were pretty excited. I am so glad they enjoyed themselves. They deserve it with Daddy being out of town so much. It is hard to squeeze fun time in our very short weekends!

Here are some pictures and short videos of the show. The videos were taken on our digital camera, so they are short and not too long! The sound is also not that great! It was loud for that little camera!!

We took the DART train from by Nana's house to the West End in Dallas. We got off thinking we were supposed to catch a bus! WRONG! We were supposed to stay on the train. We waited for another train to come by, but it never came. We ended up walking (I was wearing high-heeled boots while carrying Andrew) a very lengthy (felt like it anyway) walk from West End to American Airlines Center!! We missed the first 20 minutes or so of the show.

Isaac got scared when TREX came out. Lindsay says he sank down in his sink and kinda disappeared. That is all he has talked about though - the BIG TREX!

They wore their Walking with Dinosaurs tshirts today. Every person we have stopped and talked to, from friends to the cashier at various places, they have ALL heard about the show!

Isaac's Cowboy Day

Here are the pictures of Cowboy Day. I think we took some video too, I will try to add tomorrow. It was REALLY cold for Cowboy Day, and of course, it was all outside! The kids enjoyed it though!

The Essentials

The boys decided this evening they needed to pack their bags for the trip to TX. I decided to check and see what they packed...
Caleb's bag
Isaac's bag
Bryce's bag


I have to point out that BRYCE is the ONLY ONE who packed underwear. No one else packed ANY clothes at all!

First Nine Weeks

The first nine weeks of school is ending. If I have remembered correctly I have spent $80 for school related things. Parties, pictures, PTSO, fieldtrips, book fairs, etc. This does not include school supplies. This is just EXTRAS!!

This is just RIDICULOUS!!

Andrew Singing

Andrew has to sing when he is nursing or taking a bottle. He does it the entire time he eats though!

Another Tooth GONE

He can't eat an apple or corn on the cob!!! He looks like he needs dentures!

Pixie Goes to School

This is Pixie. Pixie is a Clydesdale horse that decided to see what it was like to go to school. It was a cold, drizzly day. The first thing she did when she got there was see how "school grass" taste. It was good! Pixie ate and ate and ate! When she looked up, there were lots of little people staring at her in amazement!

The cowgirl introduced Pixie to everyone.


Then all of these LOUD kids came up to pet her! Isaac is above (teacher is in the way), and Bryce is down below.


I was at the "wrong" end of the horse!! I could not go to the other side because I could not get the stroller past all the kids without going off-roading in the mud! Here is a video of the cowgirl telling about Pixie. Pretty interesting. Sorry - it is not the best video - I had a 2 year old strapped to my wrist, a four year old running around trying to push his brother (and the stroller) off the curb and a five year old trying to show all of his friends his "little baby brother" (who was sleeping)- I think Andrew was as exciting as the horse to them!

Unsafe Bumbo Seats

As I recently posted and put on a video of, Andrew is able to get out of his Bumbo seat. I figured it was Houdini doing what Houdini does. But, Mom sent me a message this morning saying that the Bumbo was on GMA this morning and they were saying it was not safe. I missed it on GMA and could not find it on their site, but I did find this: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=7on_your_side&id=5716629

It is a local ABC channel doing a story on it. It discusses kids getting out of the Bumbo seat and getting hurt. Bumbo, of course says that you are not supposed to have it on raised surfaces and the child should not be left alone in it - then stuff like that would not happen.

Now, I may have a Houdini that can get out of ANYTHING at this point. My question is, is it realistic for a company like this to expect a parent to put their child in a seat and then stare at the child the entire time he/she is sitting there? These things are usually bought so that the parent can have a free hand to do things. A parent can be IN the same room with the child, so he is not UNATTENDED, but not be staring at the baby. Andrew can get out pretty quick! I don't put him in it anymore without the tray (which is sold seperately and a lot of people don't buy) and even then I use it on the floor and with me right there.

This product was tested with a weight, as the video shows. Great - it can hold up to the specified amount of weight, but it was not tested to see if children can get out. Would that not be an important thing to test, especially when it is marketed for children up to 14 months. What 14 month old sits still?

I loved this seat before Andrew was moving around so much. He would just sit in it and I could do whatever I needed. But even before this report, I had found that it was not great for his abilities!

It is not just Bumbo that does this. Many people won't spend $40 on something they know there child will only use a short period of time. By marketing to a larger age group, they sell more products. I don't completely blame the industry - my kid can wiggle out of anything - not all kids can at this age, but I think there should be a little more honesty about it. But don't market something with pictures of the seat on tables and countertops and then blame the parents for doing the same thing. Regardless of where the photos came from (he says they came from "proud parents") it is the companies responsibility to not market their product with pictures of the product being misused. I do blame Bumbo for this. Don't preach that your leaflet has warnings saying not to do something that you are promoting!

Luckily, none of my kids have been injured. But after watching Andrew, I can see how injuries happen. These Bumbo seats are used at daycares, nurseries (our church nursery has a couple of them). Places like this have different people going in and out all the time, many of which know nothing about the unsafeties of the seat!

Thanks Mom for the info.

Andrew's New Game

Last weekend Andrew was siting in my lap and I was patting my leg to get his attention. He started repeating me. It looks kind of funny now, though, because he just randomly starts waving his arm up and down in the air. I know what he is doing - but others don't!!

Now he has also started doing the same with one of his legs. It is pretty funny to watch.

He will spend long chunks of time just staring at his hands open and close. He HUMS!!! Especially when he is nursing or taking a bottle! Cute, unless it is 5 am and you are trying to snooze!! He is pretty loud!

One of the funniest things I think he has started doing is...kneading! You know how a cat kneads when he is purring or happy. Andrew does that while nursing. IT HURTS!! I have little claw marks on me! Makes me remember to keep those nails clipped (which I have to do at least twice a week).

Isaac's First Kinder. Report Card

Isaac brought home his report card last night. In kindergarten here they don't give grades - they give P (proficient) or N (needs work). Isaac got P straight across the board EXCEPT for "completes work on time and neatly" - he got an N for that. At the conference I had with his teacher a few weeks back, she said that he had really improved there, though.

GOOD WORK ISAAC!!

Prescription Cost

Andrew's drs have been giving him samples of him medicine for his reflux since he started it - which I am very appreciative of!! I, however, called and got a prescription called in for him today because we are running low on his samples. Luckily, we are paid for the year with our insurance and they pay 100% of EVERYTHING!! Come January - well, we start over! His prescription will be costing me $160 A MONTH!!!! Until we pay the family deductible for the year ($2200) it will come out of pocket!

If I had known this, I would have taken the samples and also asked for the prescription. Then I would have been filling prescriptions and saving the samples!!! URGHHHHHHH!

Let's think positive and hope he no longer needs the meds, but realistically - I better start saving NOW!!

Greatest Compliment

To me, one of the greatest compliments I can get, is when a stranger stops while we are eating out to compliment me on how well behaved my children are. This actually happens to us pretty frequently, but it never grows old!

A couple of weeks ago, an elder couple comes up to us while we were eating at a Mexican restaraunt. I was feeding Andrew his dinner and was actually quite irritated about the way the boys were behaving. They were not running around or anything, just being a little noisier than I would have liked. It had been a long, stressful day/week and I was just a little sensitive to the boys behavior. I don't like to disturb the other guest trying to enjoy their meal.

The lady approached our table and asked if all four boys were mine. I said they were. She told us we had done a great job raising the boys and said she was impressed with how well behaved they were and how they all just came in, sat down and started coloring their sheets. Then she said they were all very handsome and talked to Andrew a little (who can resist is ever-present smile?). The gentlemen just gave us a big smile and said "All I can say is God bless you!!"

This usually happens at the most needed time for me. I was thinking that the kids were disrupting other people and I was getting frustrated, but someone else thought they were being so well behaved and actually took a second to stop and tell us that. When I am the most exhausted and sensitive to what the kids are doing and their volume, someone takes the time to tell me I am doing a good job. It gives me the lift I need to realize that I AM doing a good job and too keep going.

This is, after all, my chosen profession! Everyone likes to hear how great their work is - my children ARE my work. Most people don't see raising kids as a profession, but when I was growing up, anytime I was asked the question "What do you want to be when you grow up" my first answer was a mother, but if I had to have a "profession" it would be a teacher (about the closest profession to being mother, I think).

As I have grown and become a mother, I have learned that this IS a profession. It is a lifelong commitment. I can't change jobs when I get tired of my boss(es). I can't ask for a raise. I don't get sick time, personal time or vacation time. I don't get reimbursed for travel or paid for travel time (even though I feel like I LIVE in my car). If I feel unappreciated for all of my hardwork - I have to get past it. I have to know that my reward comes when I have (hopefully) raised loving, intelligent men. I will not even get into listing all the "professions" I have to be able to do to be a mother!

I am lucky to be able to stay home with my children - not everyone can do that. This was something that was very important to both Paul and I, before we ever had children.

As difficult as this job can be sometimes, I would not ask for any other job. I am right where I want to be. Though it would be nice to have a vacation or to call in sick, I know that when I can take vacation and call in sick (when my kids are grown and gone)- I will long to be right back where I am - spending time with my little boys. When life gets crazy - which it frequently does with a large family - I just have to remind myself of how fast they are growing up.

Thank you God for the gift of my children and thank you Sweetie for the gift of getting to stay home to raise them!

Can you find what is wrong with these pictures?

Here is a collection of photos that have something wrong with them - can you find out what it is?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.


A. Andrew was busy the few minutes he was sitting in his high chair while we cleaned up dinner. - B. he undid his diaper COMPLETELY, by himself. Oh, and yes, there was a NASTY little present inside!!

C. It is hard to see - but if you look at the center of his back, you will see a small - say the size of a 4 year old - handprint. We were getting books to read last night for bedtime. I told Bryce to take his dirty clothes to the laundry room. Then we heard a slap and Andrew SCREAMING!! Bryce slapped him as he was running back to his bedroom. I don't think he meant to slap him - especially not that hard - but did and AJ had a perfect handprint - fingers and all - on his back. Bryce went to bed - he frequently tends to be a little too rough with Andrew. He doesn't quite know his strength yet!!

D. This one also might be hard to see, but it is Andrew folded in half, on my lap at the computer this morning. We got up a 3:45 this morning to take Paul to the airport and AJ is still pretty tired! We came home and went back to bed until it was time for the boys to get ready for school, but still a lost hour+ of sleep! I don't like Paul's jeep sitting at the airport for a long period of time because it has already been "broken" into. Not to mention the $50 it cost to park there for a week!!

There should be lots of pictures this week, as we have a busy week planned!! Isaac's class is doing a Cowboy unit at school. Thursday they are having a Clydesdale horse (for those who don't know what that is - if you have seen the Budweiser commercials with the horses - especially at Christmas time - those huge horses are Clydesdales) come to the school. The kids will get to see and touch the horse. I am going to go up there specifically to get pictures of Isaac with the horse for the blog! Friday is Cowboy day - they will dress like cowboys, have a cookout, hayride, etc. Paul will be home Thursday night this week, so we will both be there for that and get pictures - and then we will leave Friday at lunchtime to go to Dallas to see Dinosaurs Live. Thanks Nana for the tickets - we can't wait!! So check-back for LOTS of pictures in the next week!!

One week at a time

That is how we are living right now!! It is so much easier when Paul is out of town and we KNOW when he will be home!! We know he will be home on the weekends, but we don't know how long we will ONLY see him on weekends. There is so much to do on the weekends to get ready for him to leave for another week, that we don't really get to enjoy the weekend!

He gets home around 7, Friday night and leaves by 4 on Monday morning. We get 57 hours - but that includes sleeping (but who is counting?)! By the time we do laundry, get groceries and he does the yard work and then the sleeping, showers, etc.. - we have significantly less time!

Needless to say, we have kinda become home-bodies! This is only the second week he has been gone like this, the first for this actual project, but the fact that we know that this has the potential of being a LONG-TERM arrangement, makes it hard, especially for the kids! They are SO excited when he gets home but you can tell by SUnday afternoon they know what is coming. Lots of questions start being asked about where he is going, when he will be home, why he has to go, etc.

Friday night when Daddy got home, Andrew looked at him for a few seconds and started smiling and kicking and was trying to climb out of my arms to see his Daddy. It is so neat that he has gotten to where he shows his excitement more when Daddy gets home!

So, until things change, and Daddy is home - we will go to church on Sunday's, do the grocery shopping, and enjoy "lazy" weekends at home the majority of the time! We will take our 57 hours a week and make the most out of it! Just don't come to my house on Monday morning - because housework (other than laundry) is not as important as spending time with Daddy!!!

PS I would like to know why Andrew slept ALL night every night this weekend, but when Daddy is gone, he is UP ALL NIGHT! Can he tell when Daddy is not there and doesn't sleep well, or does he sense that Mommy is not sleeping well and it affects him? I always put him in his bed at night, but when Paul is gone he doesn't stay there for long before he is up screaming!! HMMMMMM?

Trashcan...In Progress

Gotten some request to see the trashcan. It is still in progress, but here it is so far. This will probably be the last update until the Halloween unveiling! We still have some "trashy" stuff to do to it!

We got some glow in the dark stickers and some reflective tape so that he can be seen. We also got a glow stick - so he will glow GREEN!!!

Other than finishing the trashcan and doing the stroller (we are putting a color changing light inside the top of the stroller and then spiderweb over the stroller - keeping it out of AJ's reach of course) I think we have Halloween completed for this year!!

Todays Naptime Jam

He got double-stuck today!!

YUM!!! (NOT)

Um, I guess it doesn't HAVE to be his own big toe he sucks!?



That is Bryce - you REALLY don't want to know where that toe has been!! :)

Aren't Little Brothers Great?

Andrew REALLY wanted to eat Bryce's game!!

The Things They Believe!!

Yesterday Paul went and bought a microphone for his computer so he could talk to the boys over the internet. The boys came into the room and heard Daddy's voice and got VERY excited! Bryce kept repeating "I love you" "where are you" and "when are you coming home"

Everytime he would ask where daddy was, Paul would say he was in the computer. Bryce would look funny at the computer and say "no your not, where are you?" Then Paul would knock on the microphone and tell Bryce he couldn't get out.

Bryce started believing him and asked how he got there. He said that he was bad and I threw him in through a secret door but he didn't know where the door was. Bryce got a worried look and says "I'll be good!!"

This morning when he got up, he ran into the computer and said "Good morning Daddy" and ran off!

He still thinks Daddy is inside the computer, and tends to look strangely at the computer now!

A Boob Man

Andrew was born a boob man!! He has always wanted to nurse - since the few minutes after birth when we first attempted and succeeded. Now, it is getting CRAZY!!!

He won't sleep unless he is on my chest. I finally got him to sleep with me on my side, but he has to be up against me with his head between boobs! He has been sleeping in his playpen or crib fine until this past weekend. I have always had to rock him to sleep with him on his "pillows" but then I can usually put him in his bed. This week though, if I lay him down in his bed he may sleep for an hour or so, then wakes up screaming and the only way to get him to stop is to put him in bed with me. I even went to another room to let him cry it out - did not work!

Not only is he having to sleep with his "pillows" but with the hand that he is not sucking his thumb with he has to either hold my hand or my shirt.

I think I am paying the price for my one overnight trip!!

A picture is worth a thousand words....

Linds, this is one of the outfits you bought him. I forgot the butt was written on, but it is VERY fitting for him right now!!

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

This CANNOT be happening! Sorry for the drama, but it JUST happened!! I deafened my sister with my screaming I am sure. I was laying on the floor with my knee in the air and ANDREW STOOD UP - up, up! Standing up straight. Six months old! Stood upright!

I ran and got the video camera and tried to recreate, but as always did not work as well. I did not have my knee in the air, but you can see him stand up! Hard to hold a camera far enough away when he is on me, but you get the idea:



THE TEARS ARE FALLING!!!!

PS - Just watched the video - he actually took a couple of "steps" :(
HEATHER VERIFIED THE STEPS!

Breakfast Invitation

I had a BIG response with the Breakfast with Andrew invite. Maybe sometime I can invite you to dinner with all the boys. Breakfast is just too hectic because we are usually rushing for school!! We get some pretty interesting dinner topics!

I am glad everyone enjoyed it!

TOO MUCH ENERGY!!

Andrew has too much energy! This video is proof!



He is not SUPPOSED to be able to do this. The point of the Bumbo seat is that they are not supposed to need straps to hold them in. There bottom is lower than their legs and that is suppose to keep them in the seat. I guess Andrew is the exception - the baby that is TOO strong for his own good and can get out. He is close - close enough I don't trust him to be left unattended - even on the floor!

Before I grabbed the video camera - he was facing AWAY from me. I turned around and saw him going in circles and had to catch it! He was trying everything to get out - and almost did! Some more monkey moves and also - did you see him trying to suck his big toe and start screaming because he could not get it!!

I am telling you - HE IS A MONKEY!!

The Caught Monkey

I know the beginning of this video is hard to see. I had put Andrew down for his nap (again, WITHOUT rocking him to sleep) and went to check on him. I ran out and got the video camera and he does not know I am there until right before I turn the light on. Notice how, after the light is turned on, he becomes sweet and innocent and doesn't do anything!!

I think sometime today or tomorrow - I am going to set up the camera when I put him in there and see what he does!! I am interested to see what he is doing when he thinks noone is watching!

Raising Boys

I LOVE THIS POEM!! It really sums it up for me - and I get those "flowers" A LOT!!!

Raising Boys

I scrub the wall of fingerprints,
Pick up the mounds of clothes.
I sweep the dirt that shoes track in-
Wish I could use a hose!
Meals are served from dawn to dark,
Dirty dishes crowd the sink.
Just when they're washed and put away-
Everyone wants a drink!
The washer pulls the dirty grime
From pants worn thin and patched.
They look so very neat and clean-
Yuck, look what the pockets hatched!
Broken bones and bloody knees,
I should have been a nurse.
I take it all in shaky stride-
Just grateful it's not worse!
Screams and shouts and arguments
Test the keeping of my cool.
They left the neighbor's faucet on-
See their new front yard pool!
A soothing bath is ecstasy,
A reward at the end of my rope.
Raising boys isn't really bad-
But first I must wash the soap!
A rose can say I Love You,
Orchids can enthrall;
But a weed bouquet in a chubby fist,
Oh my, that says it all!

...Roberta I. Teague

HE SAID IT!!!!

Andrew FINALLY said Mama!!! Not mama peepee - just Mama!! I wish you had had dinner with Andrew instead of breakfast - he was much funnier at dinner tonight! Maybe next time I can catch him and post it. The breakfast with AJ seemed to be a big hit!

He was eating and every time I gave him a bite I would say Mama. After 5 or 6 bites he said something that said something like Mama, but I figured it was his hmmmm sound he makes when he is eating. Everytime after that I said Mama, though, he would get a BIG smile and repeat it!! He had one VERY happy Mommy!!!

He is also trying to STAND up in his crib. Caught him twice today. So, tomorrow morning - time to lower the mattress!! I find it QUITE disturbing that he is trying to STAND!! I am not ready for this!

For now, all that matters - HE SAID MAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just some news

Just wanted to tell some stuff going on with the boys.

Caleb is still having some issues at school with not paying attention and keeping up with stuff. He has been doing really good with his multiplication tables, but came home mad today. The lead on his pencil broke and he had to find a new pencil. They only get one minute to do the table - he did not get finished. I told him to tell his teacher tomorrow - we will see.

Isaac lost ANOTHER tooth. He finally lost the top, front tooth. He has a big hole up top! He has another one loose, the one next to the one that just fell out. He is still doing good with school!

Bryce was not happy yesterday when he decided he wanted to go to school. I told him he couldn't and he said he changed his mind he didn't want to stay home. I told him I could not take him anymore because I told the director he wasn't going and his spot was given to someone else. He has been acting out this week!!

He has two new phrases he is wearing out. "Piece of cake" and "okie dokie artichoke". The second isn't really new - he has been wearing that out for awhile. "Piece of cake" he has been saying for EVERYTHING!!

We are all missing Daddy. It is hard knowing that we have at least 3 months of this!! We will manage though - we always do.

You are invited...

to have breakfast with Andrew!

Make sure you have your sound up, but not TOO high!



He has to make those sounds, especially in between every bite. It is like he is saying "yum" because if he doesn't like the food or if he is really tired, we don't hear them! He also always starts fussing when we are getting close to the end of the food and then screams when it is gone. We have to get a little more food, and then a bottle.

He LOVES to eat - regardless of not gaining weight!!!

Sitting

This morning Andrew FINALLY figured out how to sit up, by himself. He has been trying for a while now - just hadn't figured out how to get his hand up. He still does not do it much, but he has done it a couple of times today. He was doing it when I put him down (I don't know why I EVER lay him down thinking he will put himself to sleep because he just plays!) for nap and so far has only done it in bed.

He did it when I put him down a few minutes ago. He also got his first "mobile" injury. He was sitting, playing with his piano hanging on his bed. He fell over. His bumper is not stiff enough to stay up, so basically it is pointless, so I do not have it in the crib. He has already gotten his hand intertwined in a couple of bars (not sure how he managed that) a couple of times. Now he has a scrape on his head and a line bruise on the side of his head, with a knot, where he hit the bars.

I guess I am going to have to find a new bumper or something. I really hate to spend the money on one because he will not need one for much longer! Not sure what to do!

One of THOSE days!!

Have you ever had a day where you just wanted to scream and hide? Andrew is today!!! I have proof:



Love this shirt, by the way - it says MY MOM ROCKS me to sleep.

A Biting Spider in the Crib

This morning there was a spider in the crib AND the swing. He had BIG SHARP teeth!!! I think it swallowed Andrew!!




For Halloween he will be wearing black gloves as well. I am going to decorate his stroller with spider webs for while we are trick or treating/

Costume Pics

Here are pictures of the boys. These are just to give you and idea of what they will be - things will look a little different Halloween night - especially the trashcan! I will put pics of the spider up later - Andrew is in a mood and it is not a trying-on-costumes mood!!!







The trashcan suspension system. Suspenders and handles keep the trashcan UP on Bryce.