Happy October!

We were the "Gone Batty" family for Halloween!  I re-used the batwing idea from last year, but added straps so the boys could actually get them on and off themselves... and I made the hats from plain beanies.  Brad's has wings, the boys' just have eyes, ears and fangs since their wings are on their bodies.  They had a lot of fun playing bats this year, and wore their costumes for hours! Not to mention at the ward Trunk or Treat, Eli's school party, and even Gymnastics!  Trick or treating in our neighborhood was SO FUN.  Owen ran to every single house until he just couldn't move anymore, and made Brad carry him home.  Then we got to hand out candy to the later trick or treaters.  The weather was so GORGEOUS this year too!  We haven't had a warm Halloween since we left AZ!

Earlier in the month, in fact the DAY we had our ultrasound and found out baby#3 is a GIRL, we headed down to Hartsburg, MO for the annual pumpkin festival.  We enjoyed climbing around the big pumpkins, on the haybales, and through the haymaze.  The boys' got their first taste of cotton candy, and the hi-light of their day - a horseback ride!

 Eli has been enjoying pre-school SO MUCH this year.  For their first field trip this month, they went to Peachtree Farms just outside of Columbia.  Moms and little brothers got to come too, so that was nice.  We took a hayride, and each kiddo got to pick their very own pumpkin from the patch.  We fed goats, held baby bunnies, heard donkeys go "HE HAW," saw giant catfish and more!

 

                           
And I couldn't help snapping a pic of Eli and his best buddy Lydia... awwww aren't they cute?  Lydia's mom and I are good friends, and have been doing playgroup together for over two years.  Now these two get to go to pre-school together.  One day when I was picking Eli up from school, he was sad that they had to part from eachother.  He told me in his sad voice, "Mom, I MISS Lydia.  I LOVE Lydia.  I love the way she talks.  I love the way she sounds.  And........ I love the way she runs!"  Now if that's not true love... =)  Owen really likes her too, and even though he is nearly as tall as she is, she likes to be a cute little "Mom" to him.

All in all it was a great month, with great weather!  Gotta love October!

Naked Bats

The week before last I watched a friend's little girl during the day while she was out of town. After using the potty one afternoon, Eli did not want to put his pants back on. Trying to reason with him I said, "We don't walk around naked in front of our friends... that's embarrassing." Eli responded, "Bat's fly around naked - that's embarrassing too!" I busted up laughing. I have no idea where that came from, but he agreed to put his pants back on before leaving the bathroom.

Here are a few pictures from their adventures. Eli and Ivy got along surprisingly well... alternating between boy and girl games.

Hiding from "Sharks"

Playing Butterflies

Ocean in the Tub

Pretty Princesses

Princess Cake aka. Poptarts

Sailing to the Promised Land

Watching Curious George with their Babies

More Princess Cake

Dress up... Again

Ok, so it looks like girl games won out the majority of the time, but Eli and Owen didn't seem to mind! Ivy looks like she could be related to us, so I had fun pretending to have three kids. I think these boys could use a sister... what do you think?

Potty Updates and Funnies

I have slacked off on this blog in a major way! I don't even know why... I've been thinking that maybe my life right now as compared to last year is just comfortable rather than adventurous or exciting, haha. Unless you count the adventures in potty training and taking care of sick kids, and then getting sick yourself and still having to take care of kids! I felt more motivated to blog when I got to talk about things like Boston, New York, DC, Cape Cod etc. I'm sure Missouri has some hidden gems out here that we just need to get busy uncovering. At least it is finally starting to warm up!

I AM excited to say that Eli is potty learning like a champ! I thought he might NEVER poop on the potty, and Brad and I even joked that it would probably take him a year considering his stubbornness over other issues (ie. solid food, sleeping through the night, drinking from a cup which he still refuses... you get the idea). Anyway, one day two weeks ago I happened to catch him at just the right time and he was able to go just a little. We celebrated and bought a train... and he felt he had accomplished what he needed and refused to try again for another week... then we had another lucky day, and now he's up to 4 poops on the potty this week! He has a special poop chart he puts stickers on, and we made it with five boxes... he gets another train when he fills up the chart (though I should have made it with more boxes... I thought he might be stubborn about it and now I can't believe I have to buy a second train this month). Anyway, the next chart will have to be like a month's worth so we don't go broke, lol. But I'm so proud of him and he's been so proud of himself! I love calling Daddy together to make the big announcement everytime he's successful =). So he is totally diaper free, even at night, and has been for a month... and now I'm very nearly free of poop cleanup duty. It's amazing how easy having only one child's diapers to tend to seems to me now, haha.

While I'm finally blogging, I thought I'd post some of the funny things the kids have said lately. They really do keep me laughing and bring a sparkle to the days around here! At three, Eli comes up with the most hilarious things, and Owen's emerging grasp of language really cracks me up too.

Eli:
"Mommy, some dinosaurs poop in the potty and some dinosaurs poop in the plants."

(While trying on my bracelet) "I'm wearing a bracelet - like a girl... when I turn a girl I will be a mom!"

"When I grow up I'm gonna be a baby... but I'm not a baby yet!"

Eli is really fascinated with pregnancy and birth - he has two aunts expecting babies soon and talks about it a lot. He often tells me he has a baby in his tummy. During one such conversation, I asked him where his baby was going to come out. He looked himself over and said "This little TINY hole!" while pointing to his belly button.

While walking around with his eyes closed - "I can't see, but I'm still walking!"

One day out of the blue he says "Oh no! Daddy's lost!" We had to call Daddy at work to confirm he was not lost and would be home for dinner.

Another random comment - "Oh no! I need more seashells for my collection!' I had no idea he had a collection, or knew what one was!

I was sitting on the floor and Eli was on the couch - he looks at me and says I'm going to give you a blessing (puts his hands on my head) - "Heavy Fader, take you this day, eat the food and bless the food, Jesus Christ AYYYMeeeen!"

I drove through a puddle one day and Eli says "That was a might splash!" I think he picked that one up from Thomas the Train... he also likes to say "Thomas is applying his brakes" while playing trains.

When upset and crying he will yell "I need a binky in my mouth!"

He is very into understanding emotions right now, and identifying facial expressions of others, as well as noting what he is feeling. He frequently changes his face and tells me "I'm cross" or "I'm grumpy" or "Look, I'm happy now!" He will also tell me "I can't, I'm busy!" in a cross tone of voice when I ask him to do something - oops that one could be my fault =). He also likes to tell me that he is frus-us-strating (frustrated).

*Warning - next comment involves the word "Nipple"
Brad was working late one day when we were all sick... I was worn out so I took a bath with the kids to kill two birds with one stone. When we got out, I was dressing and Eli points to himself and says "These are my nipples." Then he observes, "You have big nipples." Nice... I agreed and quickly put my shirt on. He notices and says "Oh, you keep them safe. So they don't get lost... so no one tries to STEAL them!" Hopefully this is not offensive, but I got a good laugh from that one. I don't know how they'd get lost or stolen, but obviously he realizes they are special, haha.

Owen:
When anything gets on his hand he says "Oh! Binger!" (finger)

When he gets covered with a blanket, or can't stand up quickly, or anything happens to restrict his freedom of movement he starts yelling "oh duck! duck!" (stuck)

He lets me know everytime he is pooping by announcing "oh! Poop!" And then adds "steeky" (stinky) when he's done.

Owen LOVES to stir up trouble by looking Eli in the eye and saying simply "Miiiiiiiinnnne!" no matter what Eli is holding. It sends him through the roof every single time!

He learned how to say "Nuhse" (nurse), so now asks me in plain English when he wants it. I am not ashamed of extended breastfeeding, but I don't really like to announce to every one in ear shot that I'm still nursing my 16 month old. I never had to really deal with that with Eli because he called it "some" or would just give me a look. Owen doesn't care where we are, he'll just start announcing "Nuhse, Nuhse!" when he wants it (usually just at naptime though thank goodness). What's realy cute though is when I repeat back to him "oh, you want to nurse?" he gets a sheepish yet gleeful smile and says "Okay!" and immediately jumps into position. Once at a friend's house I was getting him set up to nurse and he completely lifts my shirt and says "OFF!" That was a new one and I was glad I was at a breastfeeding friendly friend's house!

When he doesn't want to fall asleep at night, he will start asking to "Wap" (wrap) meaning he wants me to get up and wrap him instead of laying there. I fell for it a few times, feeling overjoyed that he was requesting the wrap... only to realize it was just his sneaky way of trying to delay bedtime. What a stinker... they learn so early....

Cuddit (carrot)

Rek Rah (breakfast)

'Cuz Catching up is Hard to Do

"They say that [catching] up is hard to do;
Now I know,
I know that it's true..."

We really did celebrate Christmas and the New Year, and we really did have an AWESOME time! I LOVE the holidays with these two little squirts of ours. We ended up taking a last minute trip to Utah the week after Christmas, and in spite of the ETERNAL DRIVE, we had a blast with the fam. It was great especially to see our new nephew Trevan, and to see Kenadee all grown up, to have our boys totally thrilled with their cousins and their aunts and uncles and grandma and grandpa, and to see my cute little sis with a baby growing in her belly! I WISH I had pictures to upload, but my camera BROKE while on vacation and so I can't upload the pictures I took until it gets fixed. So I might as well MOVE ON because the further behind I get, the less motivated I feel to blog. I'll have a nice belated Christmas post probably in February when things are up and running again. In the meantime, I might as well try to stay updated, even without *gasp* pictures. I think my camera is one of those things that's hard for me to live without....

Ok, so the weather has been horrid here the last few weeks (where hasn't it been?). Finally we jumped from below zero temps up to the 40's. I have never been so thrilled to see snow melting. I am a convert to seasonal change - having grown up in AZ we thought winter was when it went below 60 degrees. Having lived in UT, and MA and now here, I can tell you I am in LOVE with the Fall. I feel the most excited and happy at that time of year. I don't even mind the descent into Winter... but I only like it until January. That's right people - February in AZ is pretty much the end of the *cold* season, and that time table is still in my bones. By mid to late January I am going OUT of my mind for a change! Thankfully out here in MO, I think Winter is fickle and that we'll continue getting surprise warmups like this until Spring. I'm also planning an AZ trip for next month to help get me through =).

Things have been pretty even keel around here since the holidays. We've just been holed up enjoying the new toys, the library, and of course our playgroups and friends. The boys both had well checks - Eli for his 3 year and Owen for his 1 year (though he was already 14 months!). Eli is in the 61st percentile for weight at 33 pounds and 71st percentile in height at 38.5 inches (3feet 2.5 inches). Owen is in the 88th percentile for weight at 26 pounds 10 ounes, and 99.7th percentile for height at 33.75 inches (2 feet 9.75 inches). Both boys have big heads in the 95th percentile. Owen most remarkably is advanced in his gross motor and verbal skills. At 14 months he climbs chairs, stairs, goes down the slide by himself, and runs. Eli did not even walk on his own until 15 months!!! Owen also has over 30 words in his vocabulary, with new ones every day - average for his age is around 5. I thought it would be fun to make a list of the ones he says the most frequently:

Mom
Daddy
Eli (Yi-Yi)
Owen (Oh-wee)
Yep
Nonononono
All Done (ah duh)
More (mo)
Mine (mah)
Water (wa-er)
Hungry (hungy)
Sippy (bid-ty)
Binky (bee-ky)
Car (caw)
Whale (wee-o)
Bath (ba)
Read It (ree-uh)
Uh Oh
Shoe (s'oo)
Nurse (sus or sssss)
Up
Cracker (ca-cuh)
Cheese (teese)
Bye Bye
Meow (mow mow)
Doggie (goggie)
Baby
Hi
Diaper (dah-peh)
Fish (fis)
Whee!
Splash (spas')
Turtle (tuh-to)
Pizza (pee-tah)
Shark (ssssock)
Here you go (he go)
Thank You (cake oo)
Breakfast (brek beh)
Did it! (did i')
Dinner (ninna)
Banana (nana)
Apple (appo)
Car (gar)
Truck (guck)
Mine (my)
Roar! (rar!)
Tree (gree)
Basketball (bah bo)
Get up (ee up)
Potty (paw ee)

As for Eli, we have both lost interest in potty training, so maybe we'll give it another whirl when the weather turns warmer and he can run around in just his drawers. He's a very opinionated three year old, and though he is still a warm little lovey boy, every day can be a constant battle over the most basic things. Eating, or even trying anything that is not on his approved list is just not going to happen - no matter the threats or bribery, lol. We recently started an "Eli and Daddy (or Mommy) special day, to take place once a month. This month he and Daddy went to the mall to ride the carousel, had pizza and ice cream, and then went to the sports store. Eli had a BALL and when I asked him what they did, all he remembered was "it was just me and daddy." I'm hoping the special attention cuts down on some of the negative behavior patterns we've seen lately, and if it helps, we might start instituting the day out as something to earn - for now it's just a given. Eli also still keeps me laughing with his three year old wisdom. Here are some recent ones:

Me: Eli, are you my pumpkin?
Eli: No, I'm not a pumpkin! I'm not orange!


Eli was getting impatient while Brad was getting ready. I tried to explain to his understanding...
Me: Daddy needs to shower before we go because he's stinky.
Eli: No Daddy's not stinky... he pooped in the potty!

A couple of "cloth diaper models" pictures from just before Christmas:

Tis the Season

We've been really enjoying the Christmas season this year. With two little boys, and one in particular with an enthusiasm for all things Christmas, it's been an especially magical holiday season so far. And with the boys' birthdays smushed in with all the festivities, they are going to wonder what happened to the stream of gifts come January! Our mailman has become known to us as our own personal Santa, as he's had to come to our door with packages a handful of times already - and he even has a gray beard! Ho ho ho!

Putting up the tree after Thanksgiving was full of excitement. "Oh, my Chri'mas Tree! A beautiful Chri'mas Tree! You made me a Chri'mas Tree" was all we heard out of Eli. He also helped me hang a few lights out on our deck and in the front bushes... he was right underneath me with excited chatter the whole time. At one point he exclaimed, "Oh, I'm so HAPPY to see this!" Since we were preparing for his birthday at the same time, I think he presumes all the hoopla is JUST for him! Both boys got a kick out of playing in the tree box and hanging ornaments - they rearrange them on a daily basis. The tree is also the main delicacy for Eli's dinosaurs right now...



This past weekend we went to see Santa at Bass Pro Shops. It was both of the boys' first experience with the jolly elf. I'm not huge on promoting Santa and have tried not to focus on him very much (I think Santa represents some good things, but I don't want him to overshadow the celebration of the Savior's birth, or to promote the rampant disease of materialism that is getting harder to avoid these days), but it was fun to share a whimsical tradition with our kids. The store was decked out like a winter wonderland, and they had all sorts of activities for the kids. Owen tried really hard to climb into the enclosure with the remote control monster trucks - he was sure he needed to hold one! Eli saw the electric train and stopped dead in his tracks - so you can guess what we stood around watching for TWO HOURS! Oh well, the line for Santa was long anyway. We finally pulled him kicking and screaming from the trains to go get a quick picture. Neither boy would sit with Santa, but we did get Eli to tell him what he hopes to get for Christmas - A TRAIN. Specifically "Stepney" from Thomas & Friends - of course the one that is hard to find. Thank goodness Santa knows how to use ebay =).


Besides the excitement over the Christmas tree and lights, and all the ornament re-arranging that's been going on, probably the BEST thing about this year is having Eli really get into the Christmas Story. We talk about it every night during family scripture study, and do a little something different for our Family Home Evening lessons each Monday night. Eli loves learning about Jesus, and he also likes talking about babies coming out of mommies' tummies... so learning that Jesus was once a baby IN a mommy's tummy and he came out in a stable full of animals has been exciting for him. He can't get enough of hearing the Nativity story.

We put a little basket under our tree with a baby wrapped in it, and Eli likes to hold and kiss him and tell me "You're Mary and I'm Joseph" and "I love the baby Jesus." He also likes to pretend he is the baby Jesus and makes me wrap him in his towel and lay him in a "manger" every night after his bath. Owen really likes the fact that there is a donkey in the Christmas story, and he can even "eee awww" for it. The new favorite song around here also is Away in a Manger. While Eli seems to understand the general idea of Christmas, there are still a few gaps.... last week when we got a dusting of snow overnight, he looked out the window first thing in the morning and proclaimed "It snowed! God gave us Christmas!"

One of our recent FHE lessons was about the Wisemen and the gifts they brought the baby - we put a treasure box under our tree (and will not put any wrapped gifts there until Christmas morning) and filled it with pieces of paper on which he wrote/drew things that we could do that would be like giving gifts to Jesus (sharing, being kind, reading scriptures, helping others etc). It's been fun to review and add to it every week. We still plan to play Santa and have him leave some special things in the boys' stockings, but we try to emphasize that the reason Santa gives us gifts is to REMIND us that it is Jesus' birthday! To remind us that Jesus is the greatest GIFT we've been given. To remind us to give back to Him and to each other. So Merry Christmas everyone!

Perfect

This conversation occurred today while I was getting the boys dressed. Eli has a pair of adjustable waist jeans, and I noted out loud that they were getting tight and I actually had to loosen them up a setting.

Brad: Eli, is mommy fattening you up?

Eli: No! Mommy is NOT fat!

Me (gently sarcastic): Yeah Brad, geez!

Brad: Eli, is mommy pretty?

Eli: No! Mommy not!

Me: Well what am I Eli?

Eli (looking right in my eyes and with a serious voice): You're PERFECT.


You had better believe that I scooped that boy right up in a hug and wiped a tear or two from my eyes. He doesn't know that I've been struggling lately with doubts and discouragement about my own parenting; that I've been trying really hard to be a more patient and joyful mother; that I've been frustrated and worn out a lot. But apparently whatever I've been trying to do is good enough for him. Thanks for the pick-me-up Eli! Maybe 3 years old won't be so bad... =)

Like a Dinosaur

The other day I was just about to cook dinner when Eli needed a diaper change. I got him cleaned up, but he did NOT want another diaper OR pants on. I figured bath time was just an hour away, so I let him run around half naked. After a few minutes, he excitedly came to tell me something...

"Mom! I got a tail! I got a tail.... like a dinosaur!"

This was said as he was looking down at his naked self. Pretty imaginative if I do say so myself. Needless to say, I busted up laughing and still get the giggles when I replay it in my mind.

Two and a Half

Two and a half has been such a wonderful age! Now that Eli is almost three, I figured I had better get around to this post! It was bad timing to hit an age milestone in June this year because of the move, but on the other hand, waiting a few months to write about it has given me time to take a lot more notes!

I'll admit, pre-two and two was kind of rough, but at two and a half it was like a light went off in Eli's developing little mind. The raging tantrums cooled down, and the language and imagination revved up. Eli regularly sings songs he knows, makes up his own songs, "reads" books from memorization, pretend plays and re-enacts scenes from his favorite books and movies, loves to climb and slide, and of course he provides me with an endless commentary on life from the eyes of a two and a half year old. He still loves his sea creatures, but has recently made an obvious shift in preference to Dinosaurs and Trains, with Lizards and Bats rolling in close behind. Needless to say we've been doing a lot of bat related activities this Halloween season. Favorite books of the moment: Stellaluna, Dinosaurumpus!, and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?. He now officially goes to sleep at night with a story and a cuddle instead of nursing (since June), and will even request Brad over me for this bedtime routine! We read scriptures together before family prayer and bedtime, and he is really into it right now. The other night we had to re-enact Nephi getting the "grass pwates" (brass plates) for a half an hour straight.

Eli is a loving big brother, often saying "I LOVE Owen, I LOVE him!" while in the same moment practically wrestling the poor little guy to the ground. But even with all his newfound hobbies and independence, Eli still loves to be my little shadow. He will follow me from room to room even if he is involved in play, and he likes to be of "help" for any and all projects (laundry, lawn mowing, sanding, repairs, and most recently - painting!). I will often find screwdrivers jammed into various openings in my furniture. Eli tells me on a regular basis "I wuv you mommy! I wuv you SO MUCH!" He is still a hugger, cuddler, kisser, hand holder and a special joy to our family. He likes to say "I'm a wittle baby," and it's hard for me to believe that my wittle baby is growing up so fast!

And now for the motivating reason for this post - the Eli-isms that put a smile on my face! Some of them are just cute, others are pee-your-pants-funny!

Earlier Quotables:

During a big storm this summer: Oh, the thunder is singing!

While petting Owen's head: Oh, so nice. E-I nice broder.

He is interested in the fact that babies come out of moms' tummies and sometimes makes references about random people coming out of tummies: Gama K. come out the E-I's tummy!

His favorite babysitters in MA were leaving the house: Take the boy! (meaning take him with)

Recent Quotables:

We sometimes refer to poop as a "turkey." Eli points to his diaper one day: I got a turkey in there! Mom, I pooped a turkey!

While playing in our toyroom: My tummy hurts! My tummy hurts! Got a baby in my tummy!

Grocery shopping at Walmart I nearly ran into one of the stockers and told him I was sorry. The person was a man, so Eli says: Oh, sorry other daddy!
A few minutes later in the bakery, a woman with a tray full of fresh bread had to squeeze past us in a small isle. She was very petite - shorter than me and very skinny except for a tiny pregnant belly. Her hair was back in a net. I said nothing to her. Eli noticed her squeezing by and said: Oh, sorry! Sorry wittle guy! (he had to pause and think about what to call her).

Me: Owen, stop throwing your food on the floor!
Eli: Mommy don't say that! You'll make Owen cry!

Me while driving: What is WRONG with you?! (said to oncoming crazy driver).
Eli: Mommy don't say that! You'll make Daddy cry!

About anything and everything: I do it! No, I can't do it! It's kinda too hard!

About anything he doesn't understand: Oh no! What's happened?

Standing on top of our slide: I'm tall! Like Daddy does!

Owen was wearing monkey pj's and Eli was wearing his "Sunny Dog" pj's: I'm Sunny. Owen's a monkey. Mommy's a big monkey. I love my big monkey!

While watching Dancing with the Stars: Mommy's not tall. Mommy's wittle. And Daddy's big! (not sure if he was referring to the dancers or to us).

Eli was playing with his baby. Me: Are you the baby's daddy?
Eli: No, Daddy's the Daddy!

While playing with my hair: Mommy has long hair... like a dinosaur!

While in trouble and crying: I need my friend mommy!

I was changing my shirt after painting. Owen started crying so I picked him up. Holding him shirtless pushed my nice post-baby-stomach-pooch out and Eli noticed: (pats my stomach) Oh, Mommy's tummy is really full... so coot (cute)!

While sitting in Sacrament Meeting (church) Eli says to Owen: Owen, you came out of Mommy's tummy and got born. You got wittle (little)!

Last but not least, my favorite prayer he has given recently. He likes to say one every single night no matter who else prays, but most of them are pretty short. He was feeling thankful: Heavy Fader, Take you dis day, and Gama Gapa wuv us, and Owen wuv us, and Mommy wuv us, and Daddy wuv us, and Book of Mormons, Daddy read Book of Mormon, and Jesus wuv us. Amen. (wuv = love).