Art Critic

This weekend, Grandma, Xander, and I drew some pictures with markers. Today, Xander was looking at Grandma's picture above. He told me "This picture is NO good." Wow. Since when did my son become an art critic? I told him that I thought it was very nice. Then, explained, "No, Mommy, it's yucky. There are bugs all over it." I guess Grandma did a good job with the bugs after all.

Here are some more of the pictures we drew. Xander wanted to put them on the refrigerator like the mouse in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma Carla and Grandpa Tom came for a visit this Memorial weekend.

Aria enjoyed napping with Grandpa.


Grandma taught Aria the important skill of sticking out one's tongue.


The weather was super hot. We had fun swimming at the big pool in our neighborhood as well as playing with the sprinkler in the backyard.


Dolphin and I even got to go to a kid-UN-friendly restaurant, the Roaring Fork, while Grandma and Grandpa took care of the kids.

Demon Children

So much for red-eye reduction! My two demon children were being pretty sweet to each other for a moment.

Can you guess Xander's favorite color?

It's really quite an obsession. All of his art work from school comes home on the same color construction paper. It's really his only "favorite" of anything. If you ask for a favorite food or animal, he can't pick one. There's no doubt on his current, favorite color.

Daddy and Daughter

One day, I think, the hair styles will be reversed.

D-D-D-D-D-Dora

If you haven't seen "Dora the Explorer" before, it's a very repetitive, formulaic kids show. One of the songs in every episode is played when Dora needs "The Map". The lyrics are basically "I'm the map" repeated many times. Xander found this roll of paper towels and told me it was "The Map". So, we drew The Map's face on it.

The next step

Xander really is doing well on the potty. No accidents and he's in underwear during his nap, too. The next step is nighttime training. I'm a bit nervous about this because we have enough sleep disturbances in this house. Any advice for us?

Xander had been dry in the morning for a serveral days in a row. Last night, I strategically placed the baby gate so that Xander could get to the bathroom, but still not find his way into our bedroom (which is why we have the gate up). Dolphin found him in the morning, naked from the bottom down. He had gone to the bathroom all by himself. Of course, he didn't put the diaper back on, but hey, diapers aren't made to be put on by yourself. Does that sound like he might be ready?

I have a water proof mattress cover on his bed. Of course, Xander sometimes migrates to the floor to sleep. I guess my new steam cleaner will come in handy if there is an accident on those nights.

Bumbo Fun

Aria is getting so strong! Like anything that Aria gets attention for, Xander had to do it, too.

Hand that Rocks the Cradle

If you have ever seen that movie, "Hand that Rocks the Cradle", you'll recall a seen where creepy Rebecca DeMornay's character is nursing the heroine's child. It's very unsettling. I had a bit of an unsettling moment like this last week. A teacher at Aria's school accidentally gave Aria the breast milk of another mother. It wasn't very much because she realized the mistake almost right away. I'm trying very, very hard not to be too bothered by it.

Worst, and most unlikely scenario, she could have contracted a fatal disease from this. Best case scenario, nothing happens. So far, it seems to be the latter. I realize that some people share breast milk, and I guess I'm ok with the concept if it is pasteurized.

As for the teacher, it was a teacher is is really never in the infant room. She is normally with the 2 year olds. The school is meticulous about labeling, and this never happened with Xander. They also told me when they could have not said anything. So, I'm not pulling her out of school. I think she is safe there. It is just unnerving.

Mommy doesn't know EVERYTHING?

Yes, believe it or not, I do not know everything. Xander got SO mad at me in the car because I said that I didn't know the Bumble Bee Song. "Yes, you know it, mommy!" It was a song that Mr. Darren, his music teacher, taught him at school. Fortunately, we have the internet these days so I could look up the words for the next car trip.

How do you get brave?

Xander and I had a pretty abstract topic for conversation: bravery.

Xander: "Sometimes its dark out and scary"
Mommy: "I like it when it is dark outside. I'm not scared. I'm brave."
Xander: "I not brave...I am brave sometimes. How do you get brave, mommy?
Mommy: "Well, you have to practice doing scary things over and over. Then, you get brave."
Xander: "Uh-huh. Ok. You have to practice."

Extra life

Xander and I hit the pool again this weekend. It was SLIGHTLY warmer and really still too cold to swim. We toughed it out for a while and then played on the warm playground to dry off. Xander found this mushroom and told me it was from the "Mario Game". I sure could use an extra life, Mario!

A Visit from Uncle Sam

The kids' Great Uncle Sam had a layover in Austin this week. Some day we'll have to pay him a visit in DC. That's right...I have an Uncle Sam who lives near the nation's capitol.

Dolphin has never been to DC, but I think he would LOVE it. There are so many fun museums and things to see. I can't wait to show him and the kids around there.

Playing is more fun with someone else

Xander was bugging me to play chase with him. I told him that I couldn't play chase because I had to hold his sister for a while. He responded that she needed to share her mommy with him. He wasn't upset or anything, but he obviously wanted and deserved some attention. So, I suggested we play with some toys that didn't involve running around. He pulled out his doctors kit. Then, we both preceded to play with patient Aria. She was quite a good sport about the whole thing.

Unexpected potty training benefits

Well, this past week I got to see an unexpected benefit of Xander's potty training. It's the potty dance. Hilarious!

In addition, we're having all sorts of entertaining potty conversations. A couple of ladies in the restroom at a restaurant were giggling and Xander's and my conversation. I was telling Xander how it was the girl restroom, which was different from the boy restroom that daddy took him in. After I explained this, Xander decided that he didn't want to go in the girl restroom. So, we had to leave to go get daddy to take him to the boy restroom. On our way out, Xander asked if I could go with him. I had to explain that I'm not allowed (not to mention have no desire) to use the boy restroom.

Such a cute kid! Always keeping me entertained!

Two month check-up

Aria had her two month wellness visit today. She measured 23.25 inches in length (75th percentile), 14 lbs 14 oz (> 95th percentile), and 40cm head circumference (between 75-90th percentile). Yep, that's my big girl. The doctor told me I should bottle and sell my breast milk.

She got the usual 4 vaccines, 3 shots and 1 oral. She was QUITE expressive that she didn't enjoy any of them. After I nursed her a little, she seemed fine--no fever or crankiness yet.

Happy Mother's Day

It was a very ill Mother's Day this year. I went through a whole box of tissues today. Only mommy was suffering and everyone else was well. I guess that is a bit of a blessing.

Aria, who was coughing a little the past couple of days, seems rather fine. I really, really, really hope she stays that way. I'm hoping that I'm taking the brunt of the illness here.


Xander is not showing any sign of sickness yet. Here he is saying "cheese" on top of stone cow sculpture. Today, the kid who hates his picture taken decided that he HAD to have his picture taken on every single one of the cows.


Despite being sick, it was a rather nice day. Dolphin and Xander got yummy breakfast. Aria (and her teachers at school) got me a cute mug and tea. Xander made a T-shirt for me with hand prints and the phrase "I love my mommy." The teacher had asked the kids "What can you say to your mommy that will make her happy?" Almost all the kids said "I love you" except Xander.

Little people have taken over

It's a official! Our guest bath is now a kid bath. Mickey Mouse all over and even a dolphin shower head at kid height.

Xandifier

Although a little concerning for germ issues, it was also kind of cute when Xander offered up a pinky finger as a pacifier to Aria. When she sucks on his finger, it always makes Xander giggle.


As Aria becomes more skilled, Xander and her interact more. Here he is mimicking her putting her mouth on the boppy pillow. She loves to look at her crazy brother.

A day at the park

Xander's class had a play date and lunch at the park today. It was fun to watch Xander play with his friends. He had most fun playing his friend, Celeste, who shares the same birthday month as Xander.


Later, another one of his musketeers, Allison showed up. They climbed to the top of the tower and started yelling "Daddy" as loud as they could.


Xander's teacher got a chance to meet and hold Aria.


Besides all the playground play, we had a nice lunch. Xander and I baked Broccoli Cheese Cornbread to share. This was a new recipe for me. It had mixed reception. All of the kids tried it (because I baked them in cupcake tins and no kid can resist a cupcake). A few adults really liked them, but Dolphin did not. I was pleasantly surprised with how good they tasted, kind of like broccoli cheese soup in bread form. Xander didn't like it the first time, but the second try went a little better.

Perfect Timing - Potty Training Update

Xander has really made some significant leaps in potty training this week. All week long, he has be deciding on his own (without reminding)that he needs to go. He chose to use the big potty (instead of little potty) several times. He did not just PD (what he calls #1), but #2 on the potty, too. What a wonderful Mother's Day present--perfect timing!

Two Days

We've had two accident free days for Xander. Yippee! At the same time, he's also started to use the big potty (with a seat) instead of his little potty. Yippee! My fingers are crossed that this continues to go well.

Then, all we have to worry about is nighttime and nap. I've noticed for night time, if I let him out of his room before 6:30am, he is dry usually. This is a good sign for night time. Yay!

First day of school

Aria survived her first day of school. Her teachers said she did very well. She ate every 2 hours and had about 3oz each time. We had only given her a bottle once before so it was really reassuring that she did so well with it. I mean, really, this girl likes to eat...she takes after me! Her sleep was a little screwy, but it is still pretty erratic anyhow during the day. So, tonight she went to bed later than normal. That's not necessarily a bad thing as it was still before 8pm, but we'll see how she does tonight.

Every child in the room is assigned a color. We then use this color to label things like bottles, pacifiers, etc. Aria's assigned color is a nice yellow. Her car seat still has Xander's name and tape color (light blue).

As for me, I survived, too. Although, I sure did miss my little girl's smiles and snuggles. I got tons of both when we got home. Pumping went ok, too. I now have two pumps, one at the office and one at home. It's nice not to have to carry one back and forth. I kept myself busy today taking care of tons of errands before going back to work tomorrow. The errands were a good distraction to help me worry less.

I am Thing #2

Oh yeah...she's definitely outgrown this outfit now. I couldn't snap up the crotch or legs. I just had to crop that out of the picture.