Happy 1st Birthday Ethan!

"Young boys should never be sent to bed,

they always wake up another day older."
JM Barrie, from the movie Finding Neverland

The Easter Bunny brought independent mobility and some whole milk to Ethan!

And he is off...it was a few days last week of attempting to crawl, getting the legs caught up, completely concentrating, (you could see the concentration and thought process on his face each time he tried), but he did it. He is now doing a silly crawl just like Kendall did. He has one leg bent so that the foot is flat on the floor and the other is in crawling position. This form of crawling is conducive to laziness since all he has to do is a slight rock, and he is in sitting position. In the same moments he also managed to now be able to go from a lying position to a sitting position, and also when he is walking, (with the help of another), he will bend down to pick something up from the floor. I think he conquered some fears in his own time. We should now refer to things in "Ethan's time," since he seems to be picking and choosing which milestones he would like to hit in the strangest order.

He is still repeating many things we are saying. He likes to pull off his socks and attempt to put them back on again, and I was saying to him the other morning, 'Ethan where are your socks?' and he turned and picked out of his play basket his sock, and turn to hand it to me, and said' "sock." He also is saying "dis" when he has something in his hands he wants you to have, and is officially saying "thank you." it sounds nothing like the english words for thank you. But the sound is thank you, and he uses it appropriately and will nod his head, each time you give him something he wants or would like. So cute!



He is also drinking whole milk and LOVES it. I prepared the bottle this afternoon and handed it to him so that I could grab something else and I turned around and he was chugging it and objected loudly as I removed it from his grasp to prepare to snuggle with him. So that was an easy transition.


We had a ANOTHER busy weekend. Kendall and I went to the bridal shower for Heather. (Kendall is the flower girl, Andy is the best man) Kendall was quite cranky through much of it and would not take a picture with the bride. It was over her nap time, so I couldn't expect too much from her, but I can always hope for a miracle, can't I? But the Lord let my two year old be a two year old that day. I think he finds humor in it. Over all though, it was a really nice shower, the bridesmaids did a great job.

We then spent Saturday night at my parents and slept over bc we would just be driving back down anyway for church in the morning. This option is so much easier on me.



That morning Kendall got to find her and Ethan's combined Easter Basket from the Easter Bunny (Mom-Mom & Pop-Pop) In all honesty I haven't made up my mind about Easter Baskets quite yet since we have an egg hunt as well and both sets of grandparents get them things for Easter...do I really need to get them more candy or toys? And we do have Santa come to our house, but for some reason I really want Easter morning to be a time we go to church and are reminded of the sacrifice that was made for us, not searching for a basket and then running around scrambling to get ready for church and then stumbling in all frazzled. If the Easter Bunny comes, I think I would want him to come after church, even perhaps after we eat our Easter meal. I know this will be hard for little children, and they will constantly be on me about when they can hunt for their basket and eggs, but in return I can constantly remind them of the real meaning of Easter.

Kendall did love her basket. It had a pair of crocs for both her and Ethan. Kendall got two princess jibbitz (Cinderella and Ariel) and Ethan got cars, from the movie, Cars. Kendall also received some water color paints, which she really enjoys doing, maybe you too will get a painting in the mail. Kendall likes to say, 'look Mommy, its art!' And of course it had some candy, and also fruit snacks. Oh and balls for Ethan to play with since that is all he really enjoys anyway.





The egg hunt was fun. I think that Ethan enjoyed it more then Kendall since we were searching for what he thought was balls. It was so cute, once he would find one he would hold it in his hands and then when he spotted another he would throw the one he was holding really hard and pick up the new one. Kendall did have fun searching, but I think she thought it was a little silly. I can tell that she really thinks things through and this is funny if you think about it; we are picking up eggs from a bunny that have candy in them.






We then started playing an ongoing game of Blockhead. Well I wasn't there at the start, but once Kendall passed out and Ethan was getting a bath and cuddling with my mom and Mom Mom I got to play with Andy, my sister, and cousins. If you haven't played Blockhead in awhile, you should, it got really addicting. They had even named the pieces, 'blue cheese,' for the piece of wood that is shaped like a piece of cheese, and is, well, blue, and 'the recliner' for the piece that obviously looked like a recliner, and 'juicy fruit' for the piece...well so on and so forth.

Nothing brings me more joy...

...then a baby sleeping for 12 hours at a span through the night. Ethan has accomplished this task finally! He was a bugger there for awhile. Some let their kids cry it out so on and so forth, there is all sorts of sleeping methods. Mine is quite simple. Never wake a sleeping baby. (there are those that wake the newborn every 3 hours to put it on a sleep/wake/play schedule, ferberizing them). Help the child in distress. There are those that once the baby gets older they let it cry it out in their crib refusing to feed it or pick it up, just occasionally soothe it rub its belly if necessary. I on the other hand cannot not bear to hear a baby crying for me. It rips my heart out. I tried this with Kendall bc she was a terrible sleeper and it never worked and I would have my head under a pillow crying. If I know that I can get that baby back to sleep and do it within 5 minutes a majority of the time, well then I am doing it.

These methods have been adapted for one primary purpose: Mommy and Daddy getting sleep. Because I know personally if I do not get sleep, I cannot function. I have two small children to take care of that DEMAND my attention from sun up to sun down. Mind you two, 13 months apart. I know there are those with 8 babies at a time, but they get the reality show and can now afford a nanny. There is no down time, and I have tried upping the coffee consumption, I am now immune to caffeine. And Lord knows if Andy doesn't get the sleep he needs. its ugly.

It has been 2 years now of me not getting a full settled nights sleep, bc as all mom's know, that ear is ALWAYS alert. It doesn't matter if they sleep through, you still wake up to listen. So if I know how to milk the night and get 5 more minutes of sleep out of it, well then guess what?

If a certain method worked for you and your baby, well then that is just great. Just don't preach to me about it and that I am just so naughty for not doing it. Why do some people do that? If it works in your house, more power to you, but do you live with me? I think I got it, and if I don't I will soon find out.

I just want to let them be little. They only stay this way for so long. Soon enough they will be shutting their door to their room and deciding when they want to go to sleep. I think we are taught to over analyze every move our child makes and are made to think that there is some method to their madness and we as the parents need to adhere to what these experts are saying or our child will have some misdiagnosed behavioral disorder with a fancy name and big price tag.

I mean honestly, have you heard of someone who is 21 and still needs their mom to rock them to sleep? They grow out of it. They grow out of everything. I just want to hold them while I still can.

If they gave me a hard time about the rocking or I was stuck in a room for hours on end, well then yeah, obviously I would rethink things, but I'm not.

I am all for taking and giving advice. But I like to pick and chose what works for me and my children. Are we all not fearfully and wonderfully made, wonderfully meaning, unique. So one way may not work for another child. I also tend to take the advice of the person who has been there and done that.

Don't get me wrong my kids are not barbarians running around with no structure hanging from the ceiling like a monkey. I am not some hippy mom who lets them roam the house naked, letting them form the rules. I believe that children thrive with discipline and boundaries, but I also firmly believe in abundant love, fun, and comfort that we form as a family. So what works for my kids, may not work for yours. Like many things in life it is all about balence. I am learning and we make adjustments when needed.

Like I mentioned before, in my house we like to get as much sleep as possible. If this means I go in and feed a baby at 3 a.m., because he is waking and is hungry, for 10 minutes to have it go back to sleep and sleep until 8 a.m., well guess what I am doing it. And if it takes a binky to go to sleep, well then they get a binky. (the binky fairy will come soon. there is a deadline above us,ok, so don't worry they won't go to Kindergarten with it)And if they need to come into my bed at night for some comfort to go back to sleep bc their teeth hurt, or they are scared of the monsters, well then guess what, jump on in under the covers, I'll return them when they get back into that deep comforted sleep. And horror of all horrors, if I want to rock my babies to sleep at night, well then I am going to do it. Who does this affect other then me, and I like to do it. I am going to rock and rock and rock my babies.so there. I like this cuddling time, I like to have them curl into me and fall asleep in the safety of my arms. They both fall asleep in under 10 minutes, I sit in there longer to watch them sleep, pray, read a book, be alone, think, and just listen to them sleep. Kendall will be too big to do this and will soon be a big girl, she already is asking to be put in her bed right as she shuts her eyes, she will look at me and say, 'in my bed mommy?'

And sure there are times when Kendall will give me a hard time bc she is having a hard time settling, and sometimes Ethan isn't ready for bed. But for the most part, I have learned that unless they don't feel well, they are going to go down without a fight.

And we have a routine at bedtime. It is typically:
bath
jammie time
The kids snuggle with Andy while I clean up the bath stuff, get rooms ready and a bottle for E
Kendall curls up with Daddy and reads or watches a show
I give Ethan his bottle, kiss him, and if Kendall is misbehaving he doesn't get rocked that long and he is put into bed just about asleep, or just plain tired and wants to go to sleep
I then go in and get Kendall and we go into her room and depending on the time, read a book, say prayers, I snuggle with herk and then for the most part she knows this is quiet time, and she will play with my hair, tell me she loves me, and she is either out, or says good night and I can put her into her bed, and I watch her drift off super fast.

Ethan was hungry at 3 a.m., every night, and since 3 months of age he has only ever woken up once at night, unless he is sick, for a bottle, and is right back to sleep, no messing around. He is a big boy and 7 hours was long enough to go without nourishment. I can't dispute that. So for the past 4 nights he has slept right through. Not a peep, unless I hear him searching for his binky, then I go pop it back in.

Kendall weaned off a bottle at 16 months. I then gave her a sippy cup of warm milk while we read, and then after about a month or two of that, she wanted nothing after her snack. She might want some water or juice occasionally right before going to sleep. So I plan to do the same with Ethan. He too started a sippy cup at 6 months and just gets a bottle before nap and bedtime now. So he is not attached to the bottle either.

So all in all sleep is back in the Fink house, is it time for another?
think again.

But for some reason now with the uninterrupted sleep, I am more tired.
Alright, stepping off the soap box.

For those that don't know, Kendall LOVES to dress up. She is gathering quite a collection and as I type this she is wandering her play room in a head band with cat ears, her cinderella nightie, striped leggings and her blue, plastic high heels. She thinks that she is a princess. When she sees a princess on tv or in a book, she will say look mommy, a princess, like me. And being a princess leaves her to what she thinks is complete accessibility to anyones high heeled shoes, and pretties. (defintion: Pretties are jewelry and accessories for your hair; things that to Kendall make you pretty) When we are at my parents Kendall can usually be found in one of her aunts rooms exploring the closet for the perfect pair of heels or in the chest which holds all aunt michelle's hair pretties and chunky jewelry. Her imagination is just blossoming and she can make any room her palace. Just recently we were climbing through the play set at the park and she reached the top and said, "we are in the tower of mines castle guys." To explain the picture above, Kendall asked Aunt Meghan if she could wear her princess shoes. This was at the end of a reception for our pastors installation service on Sunday and Kendall walked around making sure everyone saw how pretty she was in her dress, stockings, and heels.

To continually egg on this interest in all things princess, this past weekend Kendall received a stuffed Cinderella from my sisters boyfriend Eddie, from his business trip to Disney. She thinks this doll is just fabulous and carries it around much of the day. Cinderella already needs cleaning since it seems Kendall had a mystery injury while in sunday school and had a little cut on her finger that bled on Cinderella before they could bandage it. We are hoping to get it cleaned through the magic of oxyclean which my mom has, I am out, and not only that my mom has more patience with stains. So we will be sending Cinderella to the doctor to get fixed up.Kendall will most likely cry, but we can't let Eddie see Cinderella in this state, she is brand new, and not only that at least 3 times a day since she has had the doll she breaks into a crying spell because Cinderella has "bled on her dress, from my boo-boo, oh my boo-boo look mommy, it hurts." (the cut is barely there, but she likes to relive it) So for my sanity as well, Cindy needs a new look.



Ethan is still at the frustration stage with the mobility. He is now completely pulling up on things and slowly and cautiously cruising around and will occasionally turn and release to grab the next available thing. He is quickly learning though, that not all things are stable. I back him up completely though. When you think too much about walking, it can be pretty scary.

He is starting to take an interest in books, and will say, 'book.' They are mostly picture books that contain animals, but for awhile there I thought he was turning into his Daddy and opposing books. It's good to know that he will be cuddling up for story time with Kendall and I soon. And as far as Andy and the reading...he will read about current sports until his eyes begin to hurt. Put a book in front of him, forget it. To confess to his senior year professors, I did ALL of his papers that had to reference reading any sort of book. I on the other hand cannot imagine not reading. Beyond reading close to 200 children's books a week, some over and over again, I also average 2 to 3 grown up books a week. I mostly read when I am rocking the kids. Sometimes at 3 a.m. after Kendall has woken up scared of the monsters. What I think has been 10 minutes turns into 90. And we wonder why I am super tired. But Andy does pitch in and melt to Kendall when she asks, "Daddy, can you read this?" And he has been taking her to the library and picking out pretty good books. I think we are converting him. :) Baby Steps, its ok to start with a fairy tale.

So we jump into another week which seems like it is going to be a normal week with nothing much planned before we start to get busy again...famous last words.

The Taming of the Two Year Old

Everyone has recovered from their featured illnesses of last week. Appetites are back,(the demand for lollipops is in full swing & the consumption of noodles is plentiful), energy levels are up, ("play mommy, play with me" is the choice phrase of the week),the circles under my eyes can once again be hidden behind concealer, and Kendall's defiance has returned.(she was down & out for a few days there, but could still manage and good fight)

We now have the "naughty spot," in full swing. She is given a warning about her negative behavior and the spot is threatened, and then upon second address, she is in it with an explanation as to why she is there and that she is to stay there until she hears the beeping. The timer is set for 2 minutes, and I return her to the spot again and again, with no words, until she just sits, (screaming and crying is permitted, after all she is in the naughty spot, but it is ignored). The timer goes off, and I go to her, explain the behavior again, " Kendall you were in the naughty spot because...", that I didn't like it, ask for an apology and a hug, and tell her that she needs to listen to Mommy.

The hard part is deciphering what I deem is truly a negative behavior bc I do not want to over use the spot and have it lose its novelty. I have to think, is she bored, is she hungry, is she tired? I try to redirect her, or feed her, or give her some time alone, based upon what I think is the issue and then if the tantrum or negative behavior continues one warning, and then that is where she is.

Thanks Super Nanny.

Easier said then done, but we are trying to tame a two year old child, not a dog. Thankfully Kendall does not act out physically or dangerously. Sure there are the occasional slaps from her, but I believe that they are impulse, because once they are addressed once, the behavior stops. I think that was me making the mistake of slapping her hand when she was bad. I am now going to limit those actions to situations where I deem she is putting herself or someone else in danger. Where no warning is needed because she is knocking someone over the head or running into the street after I have taught her not to. Because what I have learned from spanking or slapping, is monkey see, monkey do, at this point. She every once in awhile is caught slapping Ethan or the cat followed by words of discipline, and I feel defeated knowing that I taught her nothing about the behavior that warranted the act, just that it hurts when you do it and you get their attention. I used to also apologize after the slap because she would cry. Saying, " I am sorry I hit you but you were...." With the naughty spot the only one that needs to apologize is Kendall. I am not making her cry because I hurt her, I am making her cry because she is doing something she doesn't want to do, and that is life my friends.

Last night she was put in the naughty spot by Andy. I believe after many warnings from both him and I she continued to act up at the dinner table and then threw Ethan's cup off his high chair missing him only by luck. Andy followed through and put her there, I set the timer, and she sat. I smiled thinking, oh she's got it. Today she was put there after a tantrum that involved meal time and throwing things all over, and I put her there, she took every opportunity to get up! Frustrating. But she did endure the two minutes and then began to behave again.

Kendall all in all is a sweetheart. She means well a majority of the time and is extremely caring. It is just these few incidents during the day that I am put to the limit. I suppose that is a two year old.

Today was Kendall's two year check up. She was so well behaved, everyone there commented on it. I explained to them that Kendall also believes she is a doctor. We at home are constantly being examined by her with her Dr. Kit. So her behaving there at the doctor's office today was merely her being respectful to her colleagues. She does occasionally have unruly patients at home, most especially in Lily the cat, she can be quite the aggressive patient, so she understands the importance of the cooperative patient.

Kendall weighed in at 26 1/4 pounds.(Ethan weighed 25 3/4 just last week)
She is 34 1/2 inches tall ( will find out Ethan's height in 2 weeks)
Her head is 18 3/4 in circumference. (Ethan's is the exact same size right now)

She got her shot like a champ and received a Dora Sticker and some pretzels for her behavior.



This past weekend was also Andy's birthday. (the 2nd) We celebrated with a family party on Saturday night where the kids were both crank balls. Andy then had a poker tournament with some of his poker friends here at our house on Sunday. My sisters and I entertained each other and the kids. Kendall told my sister Meghan upon her arrival to our house that Daddy was having a friend party. She even helped me make a cake for this event and we sang to him with everyone that was there.

So now some screeching calls and I have to go tame some kids and prepare dinner...

All in day of a stay at home mom. I smell of bleach (from crazy bathroom cleaning) and a dirty diaper ( i hate that the smell lingers in your nostrils for longer then necessary)...cannot wait to shower!

Our Weekend

Playing in the snow with Daddy, Celebrating a birthday with family, spending time with cousins, shopping with Mommy & Daddy, Ethan reaching another milestone, sledding, barfing, and then a double ear infection....

It started out so good right? It was a really fun weekend until the very end. Our little Ebee is sick. What started out looking like the stomach virus Kendall had since he lovingly spewed all over me, is now a double ear infection too. Yucky.

But lets recap.

When Andy got home on Friday Evening he took the kids out to play in the snow, racing Kendall around in her friend Sarah's pull sled and making a snowman. Saturday we got up and went to my favorite place to shop, Target, and among other things, purchased Ethan his front facing booster seat! When I was at the doctor with Kendall last week, he asked if I had moved him into one yet, when I asked if I should he said, oh he will do just fine.

We then went to Andy's sister, Jenn's birthday lunch with the kids behaving really, really well, surprisingly. I am one who really dislikes taking my kids to restaurants, and mostly for selfish reasons. I probably wouldn't even want to go out to eat to see Oprah if it meant bringing my kids. It is just really stressful for me. I think through the eyes of other patrons for the most part. And who would want a screaming kid next to them while they are paying good money to not be at home eating? So I spend most of my time entertaining them trying to keep them as happy as can be. In doing so, I miss mostly all of the adult interaction at the table, don't really get to see the menu because a little hand is snatching it from me, so I either order something I had pre-kid at that place, or something I know would be on the menu. Then when the food FINALLY arrives, I have to get them excited about eating, make sure they eat, and give them most of my food, because of course whatever Mommy is eating has got to be better, and by that time my food is cold, and I really just don't feel like eating because everyone else is done, and ready to move on, and in all honesty, if they are ready to go, so am I, lets get the kids out of there! Of course Andy is there, and he does help upon being summoned, but they really just want their Mommy to do it, and lets be honest, I think that one of us should enjoy a meal and be able to socialize, if we both were taking care of the kids the entire time out would be pretty pointless. So I am resident, self-volunteered watch dog, making sure needs are being met, the toy that dropped is picked up, their thirst is quenched, that their diapers are fresh, and that they are at least at medium volume level, which is still quite loud, but manageable. I would much rather have whomever we are to eat with over our house for takeout from wherever it is we were going to eat, and then my kids can feel free to roam, play with their toys, watch a show, or take a nap, and do it with me just watching from a distance while I can interact with people older than 2 at a meal. But it isn't all about me when we go out to eat and I realize that, so I will continue in this way.I am not complaining about my kids, they are my world, but when it comes to something where they have to stay seated for an adult determined amount of time, I anticipate catastrophe, and annoying glares from fellow diners. The glares are understandable, I used to be one of them. So I am sorry Oprah, but if you want my kids and me for lunch, you have to come to my house.

And that is my venting about that. Back to the weekend.

For some reason, we went to the Q Mart after birthday lunch. I don't know what I was doing when this decision was made, but it was, and I went, not knowing we would spend 2.5 hours in there. But really, I was so involved with the people watching, that I didn't even notice the time go by, and again my kids were good, and I like the places that sell the country stuff. Other then that, I could go on about the Q Mart like I did about restaurant eating, but I will save that for another time. Lets just sum up the Q Mart for those who don't know about it...It really is a place that appeals to my people watching habit, I watch people and wonder why they love it so much and also, snottily why they are wearing what they are wearing. (as I am there too) But let me stand up for myself and say that we are only there typically for the meat market, that is fresh that day, a real deal, and really great meat, the country store, and the occasional sticky buns, and it is in and out. The Q Mart is an indoor flea market, that smells of everything fried from mexican food to oreos, and sells scrunchies, French fries, and ferrets within 100 feet from each other. Enough said. But Kendall had a great time with her cousins, and if it tired her out for an easy bedtime routine, well I was all for it. What I did gather is that Ethan like me, is a people watcher, his head would stretch and follow some people as they passed and I would catch myself doing the exact same thing at the exact same person.

The next morning I woke up feeling funny but attributed it to the pasta from the day before being too heavy in sauce, garlic, and onions. So I continued on. Kendall & Ethan had slept in and so we did too, and it was too late to race around to get ready for church. Instead I ran some errands. I was in Target, (again, I know, but it is 5 minutes or less away), with Kendall, and as we were shopping I felt the need to just throw up, so I ran to the medicine aisle, swiped a bottle of water on the way, grabbed a bottle of pepto caplets, and popped in two, willing them to work instantaneously. We had plans to go sledding! So I ignored it. I went into Mommy-mode.

We went to lunch with the Landis' (another interesting restaurant adventure, but this time there were other small children, so the entire place was chaos and filled with people from our party, so Kendall wandering, no big deal, and Ethan was quiet, (little did I know) & I didn't eat bc I didn't feel well, so all focus was on that and making sure restaurant behavior was established.

We then went to meet my parents at my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop's for sledding. I of course felt terrible, but pushed it way down because my kids were going to go sledding. So that we did. Ethan did not want to be put down the entire time, he went in to play, we assumed that he just didn't really like the snow all that much that day. Kendall on the other hand relished in being the snow bunny!

(he even looks a bit sick in that picture...poor baby)

Kendall just loved sledding and went down this run my dad created, much like those he created for us when we were little, and she went down all on her own after her first time down with my dad. She giggled the entire time. I hope to attach a little video of her, perhaps she will become a bobsledder, she had no fear. You get to see a little of her bossiness involved with the run and then which way she wanted to be pulled to do it again, but all in a day of sledding and life with Kendall.I think my dad is really looking forward to teaching her to ski next year, and I secretly hope that she just loves it so that I can go skiing again, I miss it so much, but never have the heart to voice that since I know it requires a lot of extra cash and a sitter for the day. I love to ski but haven't been able to do so because of being pregnant for two years and now having babies who's needs come first, and I don't mind that one bit, but its ok to miss something.


Ethan and I didn't eat dinner that night, and it looked really good, I could now go for some. Then like I knew it would happen, Ethan drank his bottle and fell off to sleep at 6:30, and then within 5 minutes, threw up all over me. After a shower, two separate baths, and a redressing, the day was done, and we were shipped home, me deteriorating the entire ride.

After a night of me being freezing then hot, babies waking up, and tossing and turning, the next day began, and one look at Ethan and I knew something was up and it wasn't just the tummy. There was something in the cry that told me, ears. After waiting it out and waking up screaming from a nap, I decided to take him to the doctor. As we were getting ready to go I doubted myself bc he began to perk up, and questioned Andy, who just told me there was no harm in taking him. When it was confirmed that he had a double ear infection, Ethan just giggled and smiled at the doctor. Amazing. He said that Ethan was the happiest and the sickest baby he had seen that day, that's my kid. He then asked since Ethan had no fever what made me think it was his ears, I said the cry, and he said, no its just that mother's intuition, it freaks me out personally. And how was I feeling, I know, Mommy's get lost in the sauce, I guess ok, I had not eaten anything, but really had no time to think about my ailments. I suppose that was for the best.

Andy did stay home yesterday to help out. But of course I was nasty. I believe I was just overwhelmed and sick, and I really wanted him to be a miracle man and heal everyone. I can get pretty mean when I don't feel good, some sulk, I bark. Looking back, I know him helping with Kendall, bc all E wanted was his mama, was more helpful than anything he could have done. I didn't have to worry about her once, she was with Daddy.

Last night Kendall was being super silly, and letting out her growing imagination, she gave us all new names, hers is Lu Lu, Andy's is Crack Jack, Ethan's is Do-Do, mine is Tsst-Tsst, and this morning she named Lily, Vlump, Vlump. No idea where she came up with this, but she thinks it is hilarious, and actually uses these names when addressing us. She is turning into her mother...but don't tell anyone.

Oh and Ethan just LOVES his new seat in the car. I love when the get to face they front for the first time it is as if there are seeing things in a new light. He had a huge grin on his face like he knew he was a big boy now and danced and clapped away to the music.

And another week begins...

Long Blog, but a lot has occured in a few days, unusual for us to some extent. (it only took me two days to finish)

Snow Day!

I woke up this morning at 5 a.m. to go and pop Ethan's binky back in his mouth and happened to notice that familiar glow that happens when it is snowing while it is still dark out. I couldn't believe how much had fallen and knew that Kendall would be so exited!

This week was a hard week for Kendall. She came down with some stomach bug and was out of commission for the greater part of the week. She seems to have bounced back today and her appetite is returning. It is always worrisome to me when she doesn't eat at all since she is tiny to begin with and gives me a hard time about eating anything that is good for her. We were at the doctor when she was running a continual fever and he said to just keep her hydrated and not worry too much about her food intake until it gets to be more then 3 or 4 days. We have her 2 year check up on Monday so she will weigh in then.

Ethan continues to pick up the pace. He is now sleeping through the night. Hallelujah! I don't know why I am so surprised, it happened around this time for Kendall as well. But when you go so long without sleeping through the night you begin to think it may never end! I think the trick is sleeping on his tummy. They tell you not to put them on their tummy's so I never did. (but for some reason I let him sleep with a pillow and blankies) So Ethan has found on his own, tummy sleeping, and this suits him wonderfully!

He is all boy and continually makes me laugh at these boy things that he does. I was one of three girls with alot of girl cousins, so I am not too familiar with boys. Today he found it fun to fly around the downstairs in his walker and crash into things and laugh hysterically upon impact or run over things and laugh while his sister screamed at him because he was running over her doll house! He moves super fast in this walker and is a bruiser in size, so the impacts were quite forceful, none the less, he found this incredibly fun. He is such a brut in this walker that when he is put in it, Kendall races up the stairs to get shoes on because her little toes have been run over many times while he has raced around.

He is still at the same spot with walking. Since he refuses to crawl he doesn't have the security in the falling and balence, so he is a little weary to just GO! But in due time. I am no longer concerned for him since I know he can do it, its just a matter of him knowing he can do it.

Kendall has now entered the terrible two's. Again, I don't know why I am so dismayed by this. I knew it was coming. I knew since she has been an angel to this point that it was only a matter of time until she gave me some bumps. I was just saying to my good friend Steph this morning, it almost is as if she turned 2 and a switch went off and a monster was released. She certainly has her moments. I know it could be worse. Because for the most part, she is a good girl, it is just that you never know when the switch is going to go off and release the beast. So today is a new day for me, and I am willing myself to be the big girl, the mama, and take charge. Kendall will be getting timeouts and learn the fine art of who the boss is. She certainly has been testing me. Immediately after this decision was made, we were working through a tantrum over play-doh because everything has to be precise. I turned to her and said, "Kendall, Mommy said that you are going to get only two containers of play-doh today, because that is all you need." She began to screech, and I said, "No, mommy is the boss, and if you do not want the two things of play-doh, then we will not play with play-doh." And with that she turns and looks at me and says, "No Mommy, I am the boss." We have a long road ahead of us...



Beyond being sick earlier in the week and beyond the terrible two's being terrible, today was a snow day, and we did enjoy ourselves outside until lunch time playing with Kendall's best friend and neighbor, Sarah. It seemed as though even Ethan loved the snow and watching the kids run in it with a little look of envy on his face. Next year E.

and he begins to walk...

i do not care what people say, i think sometimes they forget that i also have another child just 13 months older, but i do want ethan to walk or crawl or something that gets my back out of this hunched over and painful position. i hear, 'oh once he goes you will be begging for those immobile days.' 'fraid not my friends. i loved it when Kendall did it, and i am excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel for ethan. It makes my life so much easier. really...i spend a majority of my day picking up toys and walking ethan to the toys or to assist him in kicking a ball all over the house. seeing my little ducklings waddling behind me will bring me so much joy and back relief.

ethan has REFUSED to take any steps away or to me. he began taking a step or two for my mom a few weeks ago, but since he is a mama's boy, when i would peek in to observe he would collapse in tears, as if to say, 'i can't do it mama.' if he is walking, holding my hands and i let go of one hand he frantically reaches for it. if it is not done in a timely manner, well then we have a tantrum. but today he let me release his hands as he stood for some time and then decided to take steps away from me. Andy was able to see this accomplishment as he was coming own the stairs having just gotten home from work. however, you cannot get over excited about his newly obtained skill bc he starts to giggle and move super fast and crashes to his bottom. so i suppose once his confidence is up a little higher and he gets ahold of the concept that walking requires some patience and concentration he will be on the move!

i glanced in my baby book a week ago and saw that i never crawled until i learned to walk. good information to have known while i was upset about Ethan not crawling yet.

oh well.

so hopefully there will be some video soon

Monday, Monday


I actually write this on tuesday morning bright and early as Kendall curls up next to me complaining that her tummy is sore. A fun day with Daddy off from work and Mommy even getting a nap ended yucky. I should have known while taking my first nap in ages that this was a sign of things to come.

As I was giving Ethan his bottle in his room I hear Andy start yelling franitcally for me. I deposit Ethan in his bed and go into our room to find Kendall leaning over Andy throwing up. Complete panic because I am deathly afraid of stomach viruses. I hate throwing up I acually still cry when I do it. So I command Andy to the shower, strip Kendall, put her in there with Andy, and then race around stripping sheets and blankets and throwing them into the washer at warp speed. When everyone is wrapped up and cozy in my bed again, I jump in the shower with it as hot as I can stand it hoping I am killing germs.

She made it through the night. Although she is up early than usual. So I hope it was just some fluke thing.

I will get it, not matter how much I bleach. That is just the way. I just don't want Ethan to get it.

The weekend was fun though, we went to Ryan's Birthday Party, where this disease was most likely contracted since there were a ton of kids in a small space playing. However, Kendall & Ethan seemed to really enjoy playing with their cousins. The pic to the left is E & Ry they are 6 weeks apart. Kendall was in her glory when her prince arrived, (Eddie, my sister Meghan's boyfriend), and when he left, spent the evening racing around in circles with Marlaina, Brynn, & Molly.

Sunday was its usual going to church and hanging out at my parents.

And yesterday we went to breakfast with MomMomMom, Andy took Kendall to play at our neighbor's house, her BFF Sarah , and later we went over for some take out and more playtime.

So it was a great weekend, until the barf incident.

But as I finish this, she is clapping along to the Diego theme song...so perhaps the worst is over, now I just get to go around and obsessively clean all surfaces today. Good Times.

A Week's End...

This week our baby girl turned 2.
Can I believe it? The time has flown.
As I watched her sleep on the night of her birthday, most likely at the time she was born two years ago, I was reminded of all it took to bring her to us, our little miracle, and all that she was that day as she turned 2.
I thought...
she now speaks in sentences, she has interests; favorites, she is starting to share her feelings verbally, she is forming friendships, her personality is booming. She makes sure to remind me that I have polka dots on my face. (freckles) She loves life. She loves her brother Ethan with all that she has. She loves her new Dora Bike that she got from Mommy & Daddy for her birthday. In her own words, " I love it, love it, love it!! It is the best, ever, ever!" And not to leave her brother out, she makes sure to tell him, "When you get Big E, like me, you get Diego bike."



The morning after her birthday as I was attempting to get her dressed Ethan began to cry, so I was infamously side tracked. She took off telling me she would 'be right back guys." Ethan is calmed, and I am off to find her. This is what I find as I enter the kitchen. (Image Left)

We were able to go to the Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey on her birthday. My mom & I took the kids. They enjoyed it so much. It is perfect for their age group. I can only imagine what it all seemed like through their eyes. Kendall loved the hippos, and we returned to see them again at the end of our visit. Ethan especially enjoyed the tunnel we would go through that surrounded us by sharks. (typical boy)


Kendall just loves birthdays, so for it to be hers, this was quite the week.

Ethan has had own week as well. It seems as though this week he has gotten noticeably older all of a sudden. I can remember that with Kendall. In a week's span she would all of a sudden obtain all these skills. He of course is not crawling or walking. He stands for some time on his own, and will hold on to things and stand freely. However, we believe he prefers to just scream to have his needs met instead of accomplishing these tasks on his own. He has become much more vocal, adding the words, "again" and "balloon" to his vocabulary. (for those who don't know he says, Mama, Mom, Hiiiiii, Dada, Pop-Pop, and Ball) I also think he is attempting to say Thank You, since when I hand him something the syllables that come out of his mouth sound just like that. It is no surprise to me that he is starting to talk. I talk all day and now his sister is doing the same, so he just wants to get his word in edge wise amongst two blabber mouths! He is now stacking blocks, throws a ball directly to a person that asks, is starting to follow directives like, 'give that to mama, please," he is also dancing, (he looks just like an old man ), and loves to take things apart and put them together again. His toy of choice still remains to be a ball, which couldn't please his father more. But oh he has a temper. Kendall didn't throw temper tantrums well into her second year...this boy...look out, he throws his entire body into it!


Now if I could just get the bugger to sleep through the night and crawl or walk.

We are now off into our weekend.

We have Ryan's 1st Birthday Party tomorrow. (our cousin)

Andy is off on Monday. Thanks Presidents.

Enjoy Yours.