Just Today

So many things...just from today...forgive me it I get to rambling...

I was sitting on the couch as Dora the Explorer ended. I thought to myself - I would really like to read some of MY book (an adult book with no pictures) and thus I allowed another TV show...Ni Hao Kai'lan. (For those unfamiliar - Dora helps kids learn a minute amount of Spanish and Kai'lan helps them learn a wee bit of Chinese.) I looked up from my book and saw Saela sitting on her couch (criss cross applesauce style) holding 'her baby' in her arms and it just warmed my heart. She is going to be a good Mama someday. She diapers her babies, puts them in timeout (for not listening...hmmm, I wonder where that comes from) and puts them on the toilet. Miraculously, her babies do go potty on the potty. Maybe...just maybe some of our lessons on potty training are starting to sink in...but I digress - a very good Mama indeed. All of that makes up for the 1,012 times that she said no to me today and had to sit in timeout.

Asher...well he is just a ham. Saela and I were looking for the TV remote (so I could unpause the 2nd Dora of the day) and we got down on the ground to look under the furniture. When I got up, Asher was on the ground too "helping us look." He got this huge grin on his face like "look Mom, I can do it too." It was so funny and sweet. Later on I was changing his diaper and I pinched my nose and said STINKY and he looked at me, smiled so wide, put his fingers by his mouth and said 'stinkies.' At first I thought I was imagining things...then he did it at least five more times! This made up for the fact that he pooped in the tub tonight. Yes folks...turds in the tub.

I guess mostly I'm writing because I just want to remember this day. We had breakfast, played, read books in the corner of the couch and watched a little TV (where I noticed my little girl growing up right before my eyes). We went to the grocery store and they were great. Saela held the coupons (I didn't tell her that she got the expired ones) and Asher held the bananas as always. The kid really loves bananas. We came home, played and had lunch. Ravioli. Out of a can. Then nap time...beloved nap time. I did read a little bit of my book and it was extremely relaxing. (I even left the mess in the living room!) Kids up, played, looked for the remote and then took a short wagon ride to avoid pending meltdowns. We had not even exited the driveway when Saela exclaimed, "I am going to be sweaty forever." Not two minutes later, she busted out with, "The sun the sun, it's burning my arm." Maybe she's the ham...or just our drama queen. Steve thinks she gets that from me...I have no idea what he is talking about. I never overreact about anything... Back in...dinner, bath which will be further known as "the incident" and milk for Asher. Then to bed with his new loveys: a green football pillow, blue soccer pillow and sports blanket. Dora's Birthday Adventure was then finally finished with Saela sitting calmly and peacefully in my lap. We read books which she put in a circle as we finished them and then lights out for her.

All in all, tantrums, sassy talk and poop in the tub aside...it was a good day. The good far outweighed the bad and all I can say is that I'm just so lucky and God has blessed me so much. Life is just going by so quickly and they are growing up so fast and I just wish that I could stop and hit rewind sometimes. Pause. Stop. Don't grow so fast. Yet each stage is better than the one before. I guess all I can do is record life when I can - so I have it to look back on when my memory fails. So many times, I've thought, I need to remember this moment only to have it erased by the next one. So here it is because I didn't want to forget today, the way I felt or the moments that took my breath away.

Bedtime with Saela

A few nights ago Saela grabbed my hand while we were chatting/saying prayers etc. and said, "Put your hand on your heart." Then she busted out with the Pledge of Allegiance in its entirety. I was amazed! They must have taught it to her at school. It was a very proud Mommy moment.

Tonight, we had this conversation:

Me: Okay - we can snuggle for a few more minutes and then I have to go cut up some carrots.
Saela: Umm, I do not really like carrots.
Me: I would like you to try just a few with dinner tomorrow.
Saela: If you cut them up, I will try a few.
Me: Great, that makes me happy.
~after a moment of intense thought~
Saela: Umm...(pause)...will you cut them up really small.

I couldn't help but bust out laughing. She was so serious and it was SO funny! That's my girl.

Just Because

Just because...I love these kids.

Just because...I love these expressions.
Just because...I love these pictures.

Just because...they are not fighting - (yet!)

How Can it Be? 15 Months!

Destructo...I mean Asher is FIFTEEN MONTHS OLD today. How in the world did that happen? Into everything would be an understatement at this stage in the game. He is definitely a mover and a shaker...from bouncing to music to tearing up the place...he's always on the go. That is until I say, "Asher, it's night night time." Then he shakes his head "no" and burrows right in for a little snuggle time. He'll be climbing up the stairs and we'll say, "Do you want to go to bed?" He'll shake his head, turn around and head back down the stairs. It's too funny. His vocabulary is expanding rapidly...and mostly just so I can remember - his current words are uh-oh (still his favorite), Mom (rarely Mama - which is both cute and a little sad at the same time), Dada, mo (more), up, dah (dog), please (by signing), yes (by a head nod) and no (mostly by shaking his head vehemently - but sometimes out loud.) The time is going too fast...wish I had a rewind button. We love you little guy - Mom, Dada, Saela, Jax & Jilly.

Museum of Life and Science

Earlier this month we had the pleasure of spending some time with the family of one of Steve's colleagues. They are members of the Museum located in Durham and graciously brought us as their guests.

ASHER

(Just sittin' in the sand surveying the scene.)

TYLER

(He is just a few days older than Asher!)

ABE
(Abe is a couple of months younger than Saela.)

SAELA

(Hard at work under Asher's supervision.)

We had a lot of fun at the Museum which included dinosaurs, bugs that looked like twigs and leaves, spiders, snakes, farm animals, a musical play area, drawing areas, a cool satellite map, and this really really cool graphics thing that adjusted to your body shadow. After the museum, we headed to Chuck E. Cheeses where the kids had a blast getting tickets - although, I'm not sure who had more fun - the kids or the dads? When we were driving away, Abe said (to his parents) something to the effect of "Daddy lives at home, Abe lives at home and Saela lives in Cinderella's castle." He's clearly going to be a charmer. All in all, it was a great day - the kids totally passed out on the way home. Thanks again to Ken, Kim, Abe & Tyler!

First Haircuts

We finally bit the bullet and had

Saela and Asher's first haircuts on 7.18.10.

What's that you say...if we do this I'll get a balloon?

Hmmm...it doesn't look much different.

Tell me again what we did here?

I can easily think of of 1,000 things I'd rather be doing right now.


Okay, not the most fun adventure in the world -

but I sure am one handsome dude.

Swinging Sensations

Both Asher and Saela love going to the park near our house. We try to go on the weekends before it gets too hot outside. Located only about 1/2 mile from our house it's a short wagon ride (well sometimes it seems long) from our house. Most assuredly - the swings will bring smiles and laughs.