Tuesday, August 2, 2011
That explains alot...
While I was trying to clean up toys yesterday in Lennox's room, he started grabbing toys from their appropriate location and yelling, "NoOOOO!!! I just NEED to make a mess! I just NEEEED a Mess!!" At least I have a good reason for my house looking like it does... Lennox NEEDS it to look that way!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Lennox - 3 years old!
How can three years have passed? I cannot and don't even want to remember my life with out the joy I get from being a mom! This boy, Lennox, is such a mess. He keeps me thinking deeper, laughing harder and loving stronger than I ever have.
My niece, Avery, was in town for Lennox's birthday so we had a little family party with the grandparents. The next day, Jay and I took the kids to the water park.
He is really into puzzles. He found a jigsaw floor puzzle in his closet one day and, much to my surprise, he was able to put it together on his own! I was so proud. I guess hiding the puzzles because there are lots of pieces to make a mess with is really depriving him of brain stimulating activity! I'll have to stop that. Anyway, he's up to 20 piece jigsaws. I have definitely discovered that it is worth it to pay extra for Melissa & Doug... the cheap ones just don't fit together as nicely.
Lennox likes to wipe off my kisses but that only results in extra kisses. Gosh, when is it inappropriate to kiss your child's face off? I hope not any time soon. I don't want to be THAT mom! He likes for me to give him butterfly or butterPLY kisses. Those are the only ones he doesn't wipe off.
He is starting to describe situations but he hasn't gotten to the stage where his story gets to the point. It's more like "What did you today?" "I was in dere and I lucked (looked) at you and den I turned and I lucked at the door and it closed. Then, I lucked and I saw the floor and I turned and lucked at the box..." and on and on!! ha ha. I like to ask alot of questions just so I can hear these stories! That is, if he answers me. He is an expert ignorer. He ignores about 80% of what I ask. That's a low ball estimate too. I end up asking the same questions 5 times before I make him look at me and give me an answer. The answer usually has nothing to do with what I asked but usually is a distraction or an excuse. His answers ALWAYS begin with "because...." "Because, I need to go outside." "Because, my belly hurts." "Because, I need my daddy!"
This boy has to have the last word. Gosh, where does he get this bad behavior?? Must be his father. Last night he said, "I need some milk." I said, "you want more MILK?" "Yes, more milk." So, I gave him milk and then he argued me down that he needed "apple duce." I walked away from the table and did a few things only to come back and hear him mumbling something about "I didn't say milk. I said duce." but it was all under his breath! ha. Argumentative much?
Another 3 year old boy thing is sound effects. Everything has a sound effect. He loves to "pow. pow. shoommm. shuwsh. boom! pow." all day long. He likes to "wreck" his cars because that means there are LOTS of sound effects. He also likes to see real wrecks on the road... he says, "ooh, luck! they wrecked!" I'm trying to teach him that real wrecks are no laughing matter. Maybe year 4 will bring about empathy?
Oh, another favorite of Lennox's is traffic lights. "You had to stop on red. YOu had to stop!" I pointed out that there is also a yellow light while we were on vacation. I thought telling him yellow means slow down and get ready to stop would interest him. It did but then he cried all the way home because he "just needs a yellow light!!" Sorry man, I wish I could control the traffic lights and then you would only know green means go!
At his 3 year checkup, Lennox was 36.5" (25th percentile) and 34 lbs (75th percentile... if that's the correct weight, it is hard to recall!).
Stella - 9 Months
This post is pretty late. I actually started it on time but I couldn't finish it because all I could think about was how much Stella hates to sleep. Since she hates to sleep, I get no sleep. Therefore, I only think of sleep and dislike those who prevent me from getting any!! Ok, I don't really dislike my child but I have had a few ugly thoughts about her in the midst of a nightly battle with putting her to bed!! BUT... in the past week, night time routines have settled down so much! Going on vacation really messed her up. That wasn't her fault. Poor Girl! This is the main problem... she needs to eat dinner about 5:30 so that she can have her bottle around 7:15 and then she doesn't miss her window of drifting off to sleep between 7:22 and 7:26! That might not sound like a problem to most but when you don't get home half the time until 7, that's a problem! Thankfully (sort of), football season has started so I should be home by 5:30. What's not so great about that is that means I need to be at work by 5am. Meaning I need to get up by 3:45AM!!!?!?!?!?? BOO. So anyway, if we miss her teensy tiny window it's a battle of clawing, screaming, rubbing eyes, throwing pacifiers, head butting and Stella gets mad too! ha. Just kidding. It's all her :). Anyway, sometimes it's an hour long battle, sometimes it is 2 hours! Really, it is crazy. I do lay her down in her bed sometimes but she immediately starts howling. I can't let her do that for more than a few minutes. I just can't stand it. I'm not sure why though because she is no happier in my arms. She just fights, fights, fights.
She is so determined.... about everything, not just staying awake! If she wants something you have she WILL get her hands on it and you have to literally pry them off. She has a serious grip! In the past month, she has started really crawling, crawling really fast, pulling up on EVERYTHING, and now she thinks she can let go and stand by her lonesome! She is into everything and all over the place. Her favorite place to go is the bathroom so I'm sure she will be playing in the toilet in no time! She loves to pull up and hold on with one hand but she isn't quite sure how to let go and sit back down. Yesterday I found her under the kitchen table with one hand on the under side of the table and she was just crying, crying, crying. She didn't want to fall but she wasn't sure how to let go! so cute!
She has a few tricks. Bri showed her how to make sweet eyes and now she can do it on command! It is so stinking cute! She can give high fives and she can clap with me but not by herself. She gives sugar by leaning in and giving you a wide open mouth kiss. I hope she tones that down because she has already tried to make out with Jenson and Devin! ha. When she's on the bed, Jay taught her to fall backwards when he says "weeee!" She thinks that is so fun. She likes to play patty cake and motor boat. She also likes for me to pretend to drop her. She likes to chase balls and dump out laundry baskets or the contents of open drawers. She likes to taste each item in the laundry basket/drawer too. To watch her, you would think she was tasting to see what each item was... "yeah, that's a sock, I'll put that over here. That's a shirt, let's stack it on this side...." Anyway, because of that I try to make sure she is only emptying clean clothes baskets! Her favorite toys are whatever Lennox is playing with. I think this month we've turned the corner into sibling rivalry. Before, she wasn't much of a threat to Lennox but now that she is mobile, there has been quite a bit of kicking and pushing and slapping and stepping on toes. I watched him ever so politely squoosh her fingers under his shoe. I didn't really think he would do it, that's why I was just watching. I was wrong. He straight up stomped them into the ground!!
Stella weighed 18 lbs, 10 oz (25th) and was 28.5 inches (75th) at her 9 month checkup. Her head was 95th percentile. My kids have block heads I guess! Oh, she figured out how to put the balls in her gumball machine and push the lever to get them out. That's a whole month earlier than Lennox figured it out so she must be smart! I mean, smarter than Lennox is a near genius!! ha ha. Don't we all think that of our kids!!?!?!?!? :)
Stella loves to eat! She will eat anything you give her except avocadoes... which is cannot understand. She really likes spicy things like blackened fish and even wing sauce! I know? I hope she will continue to eat whatever I give her... unlike her big brother. She is so sweet, even when she has attitude. Even though it would be easy to lay her down and have her go to sleep, I do love that she immediately turns around and reaches for me. She does love her mama. Who can resist those chubby arms and big blue eyes? No me. She's a stinker but I'll keep her.
She is so determined.... about everything, not just staying awake! If she wants something you have she WILL get her hands on it and you have to literally pry them off. She has a serious grip! In the past month, she has started really crawling, crawling really fast, pulling up on EVERYTHING, and now she thinks she can let go and stand by her lonesome! She is into everything and all over the place. Her favorite place to go is the bathroom so I'm sure she will be playing in the toilet in no time! She loves to pull up and hold on with one hand but she isn't quite sure how to let go and sit back down. Yesterday I found her under the kitchen table with one hand on the under side of the table and she was just crying, crying, crying. She didn't want to fall but she wasn't sure how to let go! so cute!
She has a few tricks. Bri showed her how to make sweet eyes and now she can do it on command! It is so stinking cute! She can give high fives and she can clap with me but not by herself. She gives sugar by leaning in and giving you a wide open mouth kiss. I hope she tones that down because she has already tried to make out with Jenson and Devin! ha. When she's on the bed, Jay taught her to fall backwards when he says "weeee!" She thinks that is so fun. She likes to play patty cake and motor boat. She also likes for me to pretend to drop her. She likes to chase balls and dump out laundry baskets or the contents of open drawers. She likes to taste each item in the laundry basket/drawer too. To watch her, you would think she was tasting to see what each item was... "yeah, that's a sock, I'll put that over here. That's a shirt, let's stack it on this side...." Anyway, because of that I try to make sure she is only emptying clean clothes baskets! Her favorite toys are whatever Lennox is playing with. I think this month we've turned the corner into sibling rivalry. Before, she wasn't much of a threat to Lennox but now that she is mobile, there has been quite a bit of kicking and pushing and slapping and stepping on toes. I watched him ever so politely squoosh her fingers under his shoe. I didn't really think he would do it, that's why I was just watching. I was wrong. He straight up stomped them into the ground!!
Stella weighed 18 lbs, 10 oz (25th) and was 28.5 inches (75th) at her 9 month checkup. Her head was 95th percentile. My kids have block heads I guess! Oh, she figured out how to put the balls in her gumball machine and push the lever to get them out. That's a whole month earlier than Lennox figured it out so she must be smart! I mean, smarter than Lennox is a near genius!! ha ha. Don't we all think that of our kids!!?!?!?!? :)
Stella loves to eat! She will eat anything you give her except avocadoes... which is cannot understand. She really likes spicy things like blackened fish and even wing sauce! I know? I hope she will continue to eat whatever I give her... unlike her big brother. She is so sweet, even when she has attitude. Even though it would be easy to lay her down and have her go to sleep, I do love that she immediately turns around and reaches for me. She does love her mama. Who can resist those chubby arms and big blue eyes? No me. She's a stinker but I'll keep her.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Poor Baby
This baby has been feeling really BAD!Stella had to go see the doctor Saturday. She was diagnosed with Roseola. I didn't believe the doctor because Saturday night she woke up with a horrendous, seal-like bark = croup. I cursed the doctor and the $100 I spent getting her diagnosed (I am always fearful of ear infections). Today, she broke out in the rash... from Roseola. Sorry Doc!
She has been so miserable since Thursday. Her fever finally went away on Monday. She wouldn't sleep. She couldn't get comfortable. She didn't want to be left... for any reason. She didn't want to play. It was just plain sad. I hope my baby doesn't get sick again. Ever.
8 month weight - 18 lbs, 5 oz
Saturday, June 25, 2011
1 until 3
In one month Lennox will THREE years old!!! WHAT? Where does the time go? He has gotten so big lately. He is not so easy to pick up and throw on the old hip anymore. I still do it. But it's a chore. I'm not sure how long you are supposed carry your child around but I feel sure I'll be doing it until he won't let me. He is my baby boy, afterall.
He has outgrown most of his 2T's, especially the shirts. I would guess he weighs close to 40 lbs. I did try to weigh him at my parent's recently. They have an old school scale, not digital. He got on and then he said to me, "now you try." I stepped on and he exclaimed, "Ooohhh, you can make it go really high!!" ha. Somehow that is just not very exciting for mommy!
He wants to have a Robot birthday party this year. Last year I debated on the Elmo party but I knew he would be totally over Elmo this year, so I went with it. It turned out that he was totally over Elmo by the time his birthday arrived. This year, I've started working on robot decorations but I'm sure he'll be over robots by the time the party rolls around. Oh well... I guess. Last year he was so into heavy equipment. All he wanted to do was play with trucks and loaders and diggers. This year he rarely plays with those things. His new favorites are his K'nex & Mr. Potato head. At any point in the day, he either has a Mr. Potato Head or K'nex in hand or he has played with them in the last 10 minutes. I really am amazed at how many times and how many way you can put a Mr. Potato Head together! Lennox likes anything that can be put together and taken apart. This week he discovered floor puzzles in his closet that had never been opened. Well, he opened them and, to my surprise, he is really good at putting them together. I guess I thought he was still too young for them... plus, maybe I just didn't want MORE toys with a million pieces. I think I just have to get over myself on that!
Lennox still loves his Buzz, the Big Buzz. He also wants a Transformer. I tried to buy him a $8 "Transformer," thinking he wouldn't care. Well, he was over it in about 2 days. He has requested a real Transformer for his birthday! His new random play toy... besides the laundry basket... a "pillow bag." Yeah, it's what most people call a pillow case. He likes to get inside the "pillow bag" and be carried around the house like a sack of potatoes! When he "can't get the head in the pillow bag," it is nothing nice. Yes, he still has that pesky temper. I didn't expect it to go away. I was hoping he would be able to control it better over time. I'm still hoping. Lately he has resorted to bodily harm. He isn't harming anyone else, just himself. Yesterday we were playing baseball in the yard. He didn't want me to show him how to hold the bat because he already knows. I threw the ball but he couldn't hit it (kind of hard to hit the ball when the bat is pointed at the ball before it's thrown... but he already knows). He banged his bat on the ground, threw it across the yard, slapped himself in the head 3 times, then almost bit a chunk out of his own arm! wow. He sat in timeout for hitting and biting himself!? That's a new one. Anyway, that's been the standard lately. Throw the toy, slap yourself in the head or face, then bite. Usually it's his own pointer finger. Crazy guy.
We took Lennox to the movie theater for the first time yesterday. We went to see Cars II. Wow, what a disappointment of a movie!! I couldn't believe that Disney would let an awesome movie like Cars be followed by THAT... boo. Cars II was boring, entirely too long, and half of the humor is geared for people who can read! Not ideal for an almost 3 year old. After it was FINALLY over, I asked Lennox if he liked the movie... I was still trying to pretend like it was a great fun. His answer: No, I don't like that movie! Ha. So much for those 2 hours and $40. At least we made a memory.
We just went outside to watch Jay light some branches on fire. Our neighbors have junked up, I mean, decorated their back yard with Christmas lights. Lennox said, "Hey look, Santa is bout to come!" ha. Not so much. Maybe it will be Christmas in July?
Every sentence of Lennox's still starts with "because." Every time I asked him "are you sure?" He says, "no I'm not sure." Which means, yes I am sure. He still won't eat most food that is good for him. I am not giving up. He does like fruit and meat. He just doesn't like many vegetables. I am going to start bargaining again... every time he tries a new food, he gets 3 chocolate chips. So far, he tasted a tomato and some roasted squash. He didn't eat them but at least they went in his mouth (for 3 seconds).
We're still working on letters. He still doesn't know them. He does like to write. He can write his first and last name... ha. SIKE. He can draw a pretty nifty circle though. He also loves doing the sticker books where you find a sticker to match the shape shown. Hopefully that is going to help with letter recognition as well.
He has outgrown most of his 2T's, especially the shirts. I would guess he weighs close to 40 lbs. I did try to weigh him at my parent's recently. They have an old school scale, not digital. He got on and then he said to me, "now you try." I stepped on and he exclaimed, "Ooohhh, you can make it go really high!!" ha. Somehow that is just not very exciting for mommy!
He wants to have a Robot birthday party this year. Last year I debated on the Elmo party but I knew he would be totally over Elmo this year, so I went with it. It turned out that he was totally over Elmo by the time his birthday arrived. This year, I've started working on robot decorations but I'm sure he'll be over robots by the time the party rolls around. Oh well... I guess. Last year he was so into heavy equipment. All he wanted to do was play with trucks and loaders and diggers. This year he rarely plays with those things. His new favorites are his K'nex & Mr. Potato head. At any point in the day, he either has a Mr. Potato Head or K'nex in hand or he has played with them in the last 10 minutes. I really am amazed at how many times and how many way you can put a Mr. Potato Head together! Lennox likes anything that can be put together and taken apart. This week he discovered floor puzzles in his closet that had never been opened. Well, he opened them and, to my surprise, he is really good at putting them together. I guess I thought he was still too young for them... plus, maybe I just didn't want MORE toys with a million pieces. I think I just have to get over myself on that!
Lennox still loves his Buzz, the Big Buzz. He also wants a Transformer. I tried to buy him a $8 "Transformer," thinking he wouldn't care. Well, he was over it in about 2 days. He has requested a real Transformer for his birthday! His new random play toy... besides the laundry basket... a "pillow bag." Yeah, it's what most people call a pillow case. He likes to get inside the "pillow bag" and be carried around the house like a sack of potatoes! When he "can't get the head in the pillow bag," it is nothing nice. Yes, he still has that pesky temper. I didn't expect it to go away. I was hoping he would be able to control it better over time. I'm still hoping. Lately he has resorted to bodily harm. He isn't harming anyone else, just himself. Yesterday we were playing baseball in the yard. He didn't want me to show him how to hold the bat because he already knows. I threw the ball but he couldn't hit it (kind of hard to hit the ball when the bat is pointed at the ball before it's thrown... but he already knows). He banged his bat on the ground, threw it across the yard, slapped himself in the head 3 times, then almost bit a chunk out of his own arm! wow. He sat in timeout for hitting and biting himself!? That's a new one. Anyway, that's been the standard lately. Throw the toy, slap yourself in the head or face, then bite. Usually it's his own pointer finger. Crazy guy.
We took Lennox to the movie theater for the first time yesterday. We went to see Cars II. Wow, what a disappointment of a movie!! I couldn't believe that Disney would let an awesome movie like Cars be followed by THAT... boo. Cars II was boring, entirely too long, and half of the humor is geared for people who can read! Not ideal for an almost 3 year old. After it was FINALLY over, I asked Lennox if he liked the movie... I was still trying to pretend like it was a great fun. His answer: No, I don't like that movie! Ha. So much for those 2 hours and $40. At least we made a memory.
We just went outside to watch Jay light some branches on fire. Our neighbors have junked up, I mean, decorated their back yard with Christmas lights. Lennox said, "Hey look, Santa is bout to come!" ha. Not so much. Maybe it will be Christmas in July?
Every sentence of Lennox's still starts with "because." Every time I asked him "are you sure?" He says, "no I'm not sure." Which means, yes I am sure. He still won't eat most food that is good for him. I am not giving up. He does like fruit and meat. He just doesn't like many vegetables. I am going to start bargaining again... every time he tries a new food, he gets 3 chocolate chips. So far, he tasted a tomato and some roasted squash. He didn't eat them but at least they went in his mouth (for 3 seconds).
We're still working on letters. He still doesn't know them. He does like to write. He can write his first and last name... ha. SIKE. He can draw a pretty nifty circle though. He also loves doing the sticker books where you find a sticker to match the shape shown. Hopefully that is going to help with letter recognition as well.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Stella - 8 months
Stella has been busy, busy, busy this month. She had a very LONG car ride to NC for Samantha's graduation. When we got there, she decided she could sit up all by her big self AND she got 2 teeth (on the bottom)! She did so great with her teeth that I didn't even know they were there until she smiled at me. This past weekend she decided that she could go from belly crawling to sitting all by her lonesome. She also thinks she needs to have whatever anyone else is eating. If you don't give it to her as she demands (by short, high pitched screams and big round puppy dog eyes), then she will try to get out of the seat so she can grab it right out of your hand. I like a girl with determination! So far, she has eaten avocado, banana, spaghetti, squash, carrots, and bread. I tried to give her shredded cheese but she could not get down with the texture. She clamped her mouth shut and turned her head. Then, as I tried to feed her the rest of her baby food, she opened her mouth and ate it but she cried after every bite! She thinks she is a big girl now... she doesn't want that puree! I definitely think bananas are her favorite. She double fists them as soon as they hit the tray.
My sister was here this past week and I was amazed at the interaction between Stella & Amelia. They noticed each other immediately and crawled right to each other. Stella would sit and Amelia would stand and pat on her head. They shared their toys. really. They gave them back and forth to one another but, by the end of the visit, they seemed to be "taking" toys from each other instead of "sharing!" Stella would yell at Amelia and Amelia would just grin and stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down. It was so cute! I don't think I have ever seen such little babies interacting with each other. I know what you are thinking and I have to agree, they must be gifted! (just kidding ;))
Stella is still wearing some 6 month clothes and some 12 month. She's in a size 3 diaper. Her hair is still pretty sparce but the new hair is really blond. She still fights her sleep. She likes to play games with Jay and put the pacifier in his mouth and then put it in her mouth. She cries sometimes when I leave the room and I know she misses me when I'm gone. Sometimes when she sees someone she likes she grins and shivers because she just so excited! I love her sweet face. She reminds me of one of those cheap dollar store dolls with the hair etched in the plastic and big round, blue eyes and chubby cheeks. Kind of like Big Baby on Toy Story... but with both eyes working!
My sister was here this past week and I was amazed at the interaction between Stella & Amelia. They noticed each other immediately and crawled right to each other. Stella would sit and Amelia would stand and pat on her head. They shared their toys. really. They gave them back and forth to one another but, by the end of the visit, they seemed to be "taking" toys from each other instead of "sharing!" Stella would yell at Amelia and Amelia would just grin and stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down. It was so cute! I don't think I have ever seen such little babies interacting with each other. I know what you are thinking and I have to agree, they must be gifted! (just kidding ;))
Stella is still wearing some 6 month clothes and some 12 month. She's in a size 3 diaper. Her hair is still pretty sparce but the new hair is really blond. She still fights her sleep. She likes to play games with Jay and put the pacifier in his mouth and then put it in her mouth. She cries sometimes when I leave the room and I know she misses me when I'm gone. Sometimes when she sees someone she likes she grins and shivers because she just so excited! I love her sweet face. She reminds me of one of those cheap dollar store dolls with the hair etched in the plastic and big round, blue eyes and chubby cheeks. Kind of like Big Baby on Toy Story... but with both eyes working!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The Possibilities are Endless
Last night I was laying in bed with Lennox and he was flopping and squirming all around. Finally, he flipped over on his belly and spread his arms out next to him. One of them was under me so I exasperatedly said, "what are you doing?!" "I'm trying to ply," he said. "I'm trying to ply like dis... maybe my wings can pop out (like Buzz Lightyear's, I imagine)." I started giggling to myself... then, in a really sad voice, he said, "Ohhh, I can't do it!" :( I kept asking him if he knew any people who could fly but he never answered. The only answer he gave was that chickens can fly. I never told him people can't fly.
I wish I could see life through his eyes. He was literally trying to figure out how he could fly. In his world, the possibilities really are endless. I hope that as he gets older, he continues to try to figure out how to make his dreams come true and that he is not limited by what others tell him... well, maybe that is extreme. I want him to be safe. And obey the law. And his parents. But... I want his little mind and imagination to continue to flourish.
I wish I could see life through his eyes. He was literally trying to figure out how he could fly. In his world, the possibilities really are endless. I hope that as he gets older, he continues to try to figure out how to make his dreams come true and that he is not limited by what others tell him... well, maybe that is extreme. I want him to be safe. And obey the law. And his parents. But... I want his little mind and imagination to continue to flourish.
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