hummmmm

Back Home.. went to N.C.... saw people.... had fun... now back to same-ole same ole!

Where'd the toddler go?

So I am wondering what happened to the oldest toddler. Where did she go? When was she replaced by this confidant, happy KID? I somehow blinked and missed the switch. She isn't a baby.. she's a little girl... GIRL... who likes pretty nightgowns, playing dress-up and make-believe, going shopping, Littlest Pet Shop toys. She's a little GIRL who likes singing songs I had no clue she knew, who talks a mile a minute about everything, who screams out "Wow, that's AWESOME!", and can hold down a fully cognizant conversation. Some part of me is still refusing to accept that she's no longer a baby... I keep underestimating her in everything. Last night, Aidan was "showing her butt" in the tub (playing too much and spitting water at me) and I finally took away the privilege of story time. She went to bed before Bit. Silly me was wondering if she would understand the whys and wherefores. I was thinking hard about how to explain it to her "at her level" HA! Aidan tells me herself as she lays down...
"I wasn't listening Mommy? I wasn't listening in the tub? I don't get a story? Tomorrow I get a story if I listen? I'll listen tomorrow Mommy and not play in the tub. I sorry Mommy."
I sat there beside her bed feeling stupid. Here I thought I'd crouch down and possible have to calm a toddler down from a tantrum because surely she'll be upset 'cause they don't understand at this age.. and then.. she lays down without a fuss and lets me know she understands and will do better tomorrow.. looking at me with wise and knowing eyes.

Aren't they supposed to be in the grunting, pointing, drooling stage still?

DON'T BLINK!

Milestone check point

I haven't written as much as I should about how the girls are doing.. esp. Ainsley. First of all... both of the girls are on a major growth spurt. The clothes I bought them three months ago do not fit and I am worried the clothes I bought them recently won't fit much longer either. Ainsley is almost 28 inches tall and to my surprise.. she's almost 18 pounds. Aidan is 34.5 inches tall and is finally at the 25 pound goal. I am aware that they are behind others their age but they are still doing great.

Little Bit is taking off with speaking. Every day she says a few new words.. she also tries very hard to repeat things. She's at that stage where she'll very earnestly start speaking at you.. using consonant sounds.. trying so hard to put her thoughts into words. It sounds like gibberish but it's cute. I'm not surprised that she's picking up on language a lot quicker than Aidan. Bug refused to speak until she knew she could speak in clear, complete sentences. She wanted to do it only if she could do it right. When she did try to say a new word.. she'd whisper it in a very unsure manner. Bit, on the other hand, will just throw out any sound and keep throwing them until she gets close and be satisfied with that. How can people only have one kid? Seriously, one of the best things about having them is to see how similar or how different they are.

As for Ainsley's temper.. it's still there and when she's unhappy.. we all know about it. However, either because underneath it all she's a good-natured girl or I'm an exemplary parent (haha) she's starting to calm down more readily. She also listens now. She'll pick up her toys and follow two step instructions. (ex. pick up the ball... put it in the wagon). She's learning how to color and lately I've noticed she's slightly less inclined to eat everything. She favors her left hand still (though with two broken bones in the right.. no wonder) and her interest in pictures and books is growing. Bit also has a really good memory and she's just as "aware" as Aidan was. She also has one hell of a sense of humor.

Easter Sunday

So excited to put out the baskets!!

John and I actually had to wake the girls.. they apparently wanted to sleep late. Aidan went straight for the living room.. she was so excited about all that she got. Everything I picked out was a hit especially the "magna" glass and Minnie Mouse. Little Bit seemed happy too. She definitely knew which was hers. Both of them were very possessive over their goodies.

After letting them have a bite of candy and playing a bit.. we got ready to go and we met John's family at some church on the island. The service was actually pretty interesting although the music was way TOO LOUD! Aidan and I did not appreciate the volume.

Afterward, we went to John's parent's house and stayed the day. Once again I learned that I need to be more generous in my heart when it comes to my in-laws. We had a good time at their house.. especially the girls.

Their present

Playing

Of course, the obligatory Easter Egg Hunt

Things...

Well the Easter Bunny just visited our house. I think the girls will be pleased. He didn't leave much candy but left some cool stuff. Aidan is really excited about putting out her basket. This is the first time she really knows what is going on with a holiday. Tomorrow the plan is to go spend the day with the in-laws ... church and dinner etc. They might have an Easter Egg hunt in the backyard as well.
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We spend last night in the hospital emergency room. Ainsley has BROKEN HER ARM AGAIN!! I cannot believe she has broken two bones in the same arm within 6 months of each other. I thought babies' bones were supposed to be flexible. This time it isn't the collar bone but her actual humerus bone. It just makes me sick to the stomach especially because she is obviously in so much pain. Of course the doctors wont give her anything for the pain because of her age. Monday I plan to talk to the Orthopedic Dr. and try to get him to give her a cast. Right now we just have a sling. I don't think it is enough protection.. esp. because she is so active.
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We were supposed to be leaving for N.C. on Monday but that will be pushed back until Tuesday or later.. it's dependent on how Bit is doing.
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I went to the doctor yesterday. I have bronchitis and early stages of pneumonia. It isn't fun.

Easter Playdate

Painting, Coloring, and Playing.. fun fun!

Easter Egg Hunt and Meetup

Today at the local park I took the girls to meet with our playgroup. The kids played on the playground and then we had an Easter Egg "Hunt". The eggs were all thrown about on the ground.. so it wasn't much of a hunt but the kids seemed to like it. We had a fun time. Bug filled her basket to the brim. Bit spent the whole time standing around holding on to her ball. (right now her most favorite toy in the world is a ball)

Loving that ball!

Making Friends

Trying out some goodies

She's fearless on the playground now.

Okay, I'm Impressed

I drew a stick figure of a person and showed it to Lady Bug. So, she proceeded to draw a family portrait.. Daddy, Mommy, Little Bit, Lady Bug, and Grandma.

Change of Plans

Well, I thought I had it all figured out and all the stuff ready to go for Half Preschool. My basic plan was that for the next six months I would work with Aidan on the letter sounds. She knows all the common letter sounds of the alphabet (C as in cat) but not the others (C as in cent) and I thought I would start teaching her the other sounds and some blended sounds (like sh) and that maybe by the time she starts Preschool at 3 she'll be ready to start blending the sounds into words. Weeeelll, I found the Leap Frog Talking Words Factory dvd at a yard sale for 50 c and after watching it for the third time she went over to her magnetic letters and started blending words. "Mommy," she called... "Help me... help me build words Mommy." I sat with her and in 15 minutes we went over "_at" words and "_it" words ... changing the first letter and she sounded them all out. Now she is sounding out the easy words in books (along with her large collection of sight words) Honestly, I'm at a loss with this child.. every time I think I'm pacing her... she goes faster.

10 Random Quirks About Me

1.) I HAVE to put my socks on before my pants.. I do not like the feeling of putting them on while I'm already wearing pants.
2.) I have a game that I play of keeping my hands under tap water as it is heating up as long as I possible can until I just cannot take it any more...
3.) I love and am proud of the fact that Bug and Bit eat salad. Why? I don't know.
4.) I do and have for years always stand on the outer sides of my feet whenever I am stationary (been trying to remind myself to stand normally but it doesn't feel right to my feet)
5.) Every night when I check-on the girls.. I stand in their room and imagine this protective shell around them and try to project as much positive and protective energy as I can towards them... I'm charging them up for the next day. :-)
6.) I am a closet case of O.C.D. I keep it really well hidden and control it fairly well. At one point while in high school it got really bad but I "cured" myself of the really crazy behavior.
7.) My unhealthy indulgence is chocolate milk... 2% with hershey's syrup. Hershey's syrup is a staple in my household.
8.) I don't really like cake, brownies, and other baked goods like them. I do like the taste and can really enjoy a slice here or there but for some reason I never want them.
9.) I think about death too much.. what could happen.. what if's.. I imagine myself and my loved ones dead all the time... Recently I've discovered that it is another symptom of o.c.d.
10.) I make a study of peoples faces.. analyze every little detail.. compare kids to parents faces... it's a hobby

Pic Post # 5 Just Too Cute

Pic Post #4 Best Friends

Pic Post #3 Sidewalk Chalk

Pic Post #2 Aidan and a Happy Hair Day

Her hair is finally long enough to somewhat put up... YAY!

An interesting way to sleep.

Pic Post #1 Visit to Baby Conner

Bug was wonderful with the baby and kept trying to take care of him.. she even wanted to hold him until he started squalling. Bit on the other hand wasn't too happy with someone else getting attention from Mommy and Daddy.