Sleep

This is what car seat sleep looks like after a weekend in Chattanooga with your cousins.

This is baby sleep.

Big Girl Bed

My baby girl moved from her baby bed to the big girl bed shortly before Spencer was born.  This is a great visual of what it looks like when she sleeps.  Crazy.  Just all over the place.  Also, we are down to TWO pacis in this house and she keeps chewing on them.  After the last one is gone, its gone forever.  I'm thinking that we might lose them all before we go to Hilton Head next week... and they will be gone forever.  Yes?  Does that make me a bad parent?  Probably yes.  Ask me if I'm real concerned.... wait, actually don't.  

Little Moments

One of my most favorite students made Elizabeth her own 'garf' for wear.  I was thankful because it meant I didn't have to share with her anymore.  It also happens to be her FAVORITE color and she's in love with it.  She's only worn it once in public, but she wears it around the house all the time!  I think it was a hit?  Yeah?

Typically, Elizabeth is my sleeper.  She sleeps later in the mornings and later after her nap.  Occasionally I get some time with just Hayes.  While he wasn't a super cuddly infant, he is a very cuddly preschooler.  He climbs up very close and wants to sit in your lap.  He likes to hug and give kisses too.  It is a huge change from his infant behaviors of 'get away from me and don't touch me'... and I love it, chocolate smudge and all.

Laundry for the masses...

Sometimes the best part of my day is coming home while these two are still sleeping.  I can do laundry and load the dishwasher before I get to hug and kiss all my littles.  I hate waking them up, but sometimes it is necessary.  Like this one below, I have to wake her before gymnastics every week.  Never fails.  She loves to sleep.  She goes to bed willingly.  She is a strange breed, but I love her.  

The above child was pouting because I was still doing I said laundry and wasn't going to stop until I finished sorting it.  He says, 'I don't like you doing laundry Mommy.'  Me either bug.  Hayes is so helpful with the laundry though. He's only 4, so I don't let him do much as far as the chemicals are concerned, but he helps in other ways. He sorta the dirty stuff into baskets.  He helps to swap the clothes over from washer to dryer. He also helps to fold things, match socks, and put his clothes away. I don't plan on doing his laundry forever, so I love that he's interested in helping. 

Not so sure Libby will feel the same way!

Back to School

My littles started back to school the same day my students did.  We had an extended Christmas break due to some extreme cold here in Georgia and they enjoyed an extra day home with Lori Beth over break!  LB is our new sitter/nanny and we LOVE her!  She picks the kids up from school 4 days a week and takes them to lunch or home or to play and then home for a nap.  They pretend as though they don't like her, but they ask about her every day when they wake up from their nap.

This is the photo that I got from a random number on their first day back.  I have no idea who sent it, but I'm so glad they did.  Don't you love how Elizabeth is posing with her legs AND her cheeeeeeese face?!  Hayes looks a little unsure of this whole ordeal, but he's sporting an awesome hat AND his mittens.  Love these kids and their sweet little quirks of personality that God gave them.  They are such a joy!  

Baby bit my nose!!!

Tonight while I had a successful mom/wife night, I heard a familiar screech from upstairs.

I managed to make dinner for tonight AND tomorrow night.

Record breaking success here!

Hayes yelled down, 'Baby bit me!'

I know he is usually telling me the truth, so off I went to investigate.

I discovered that, Baby did, indeed bite his nose.

Thankfully this time she did not leave teeth marks.

Or break his skin.

Off to the bath she goes....

She didn't get a nap today, so bedtime at 6:57 p.m. is nothing short of necessary.

And yes, she will sleep until tomorrow morning.

She will likely sleep later than I would like her to on a school day.

That is also part of our normal routine...

Sleeping late on school days and rising early on those days when I just want to wake when the sun rises.

But, the reason I wanted to blog tonight was to write Hayes a note.

I was thinking about all the little things that I love about him...

and I'm afraid that one day in my Mom Brain I'll forget.

And I never want to forget.

Hayes,

You wake much earlier than I even dreamed to be awake most days.  I wish I could bounce out of bed the way you do, with more excitement and curiosity than most.  You greet each day with an eager attitude and a heart to seek fun each hour.  You bounce (literally) from your bed to the potty on your toes.  Your calf muscles are something to be envied by all people!  I think part of that is genetics (thank your mommy, daddy, and PawPaw for that) but part of it is also the fact that you have used your toes as your mode of transport since you discovered that you could walk and run instead of crawling.  You didn't toddle for long, you ran.  I often tell people you have two speeds, asleep and wide ass open.  Forgive me, there is not a better way to say it.  You bounce from your potty break to the designated location.  Sometimes I let you play downstairs while I snooze/watch tv upstairs until your sister wakes.  You have always liked to play by yourself and I'm grateful for that.  I am very thankful that God blessed me with a child who can entertain himself, most of the time.  You greet me each day with the same phrase, 'Mommy, I'm hungry/thirsty.  Can I have milk and a brown poptart?'  As long as I provide both of those and a tv or some toys you will happily let me enjoy some more quiet until at least 8 am.  Praise Jesus.  This past summer you learned to dress yourself, but you still have a hard time putting things on the right way.  Occasionally you will complain that your underwear isn't right, it is usually backwards.  You also hate to sleep in underwear, naptime or bedtime.  Most people don't get that, but I do.  You also love to go 'mando' as you say.  I have a battle each day to keep socks and shoes on you, but not like your sister.  You just don't want to put your socks/shoes on until we are 'about to weave the house right now.'

You will happily eat poptarts all day every day if we allowed it.  You enjoy anything that is processed food and I'm sad that I created such a picky child.  Oops.  One day... You are a bit like Rain Man/Sheldon Cooper when it comes to routine.  If something is different with your day or different than you anticipate it to be, you get upset.  Today BeBe had to take you to school because PaPa was sick and we thought you might have a bit of a hissy fit, turns out you were fine.  You like to eat food bars (granola bars dipped in chocolate) and gummies.  You drink almond milk and you love it.  You also like watered down apple juice.  And lemonade from chick fil a.

When you hope to avoid any activity that you know is necessary you say, 'I not feeling too good.'  I silently laugh at you.  You have just learned to sniffle and you do it a lot.  If your Aunt LeLe was near by she might cause you physical harm.  She doesn't like sniffles, just ask Buddy.  Speaking of, you love your aunts and uncles.  You enjoy being able to see them often via FaceTime and I'm very glad Apple has the technology for us to do so.  You like to 'see' them when you talk to them and you tend to think that any conversation without an iPhone is useless.  You say your prayers each night and thank God for every single person you love.  I'm glad to say that they all make the cut.  You also thank God for Walker at school and for your favorite color red.

Hayes, you are so sweet to your sister about 95% of the time.  The other 5% you are trying to wrestle her to her death or roll her over with your head.  For some reason, this is fun for you... not so much the rest of us.  This is usually why she bites you... back to the beginning...  You and Libby love to watch Charlie Brown, any holiday movie will do and that makes me a little bit crazy.   I'm over watching 'spooky Charlie Brown' and I'd like to watch the Thanksgiving or Christmas episodes, but I've learned it is not all about me.  You and Libby also love to watch Disney movies.  I am beyond thrilled that you love to sing along with every song you have learned.  It makes me happy to think that you love music as much as I do.  You know words to songs that I don't even know!  You are meticulous and play for hours with puzzles, blocks, and your mens.  Yes, mens.  You will also sit in front of the tv with your mouth hanging open just like your Daddy.  You don't like to take naps in your 'real clothes', you prefer your pajamas.  Can't blame you there.

You think that anything edible is better with yellow sauce (chick fil a sauce) and you would dip any food in that if I would let you.  You don't like to be bothered with a nap or the potty or a meal because you are too busy playing.  If I could feed you while you played you would be thrilled.  Your manners are getting better and you have turned into a snuggly little boy here lately.  I spent 2-3 years wondering why you didn't like to snuggle, but now you are quite a lovebird.  You like to share your affections and snuggle with me.  It makes my heart so happy.

Hayesface, I love you so.  You are growing up too fast and I'm not happy that you will be 4 in about a month-ish.  You are going to be a great help with Spencer Brynne in April.  I apologize that this is random, but I had a lot to share.  PK would say this is a 'thought thread'... mostly I think its scattered MomBrain.

Love you lots,
Mommy

Lake Living

What can I say?

Lake life is great.

The kids are all smiles.

Husband clearly enjoys it as well.

And I'm busily taking pictures between tours on the float that the kids ride on.

Someone explain to me why Hayes will ride that float and get tossed all around....

But he REFUSES to jump off the boat, dock, or go down the slide?!

Elizabeth does all willingly....

and sometimes she falls asleep while riding the float behind the boat!?

Spring Break Goals

We moved in August. 

I have yet to paint any of the house on the inside.

It is beginning to annoy me.

Mind you, I'm the WORST about starting a project and not every finishing it.

THE.  WORST. 

Just ask my husband, it is probably the most annoying trait I have.

I have grand ideas about things.

Very lofty ideas.

And I start the project, get about 1/3 of the way through, and find something else to do.

Maybe I just have extreme adult A.D.D.

Either way, I'm beginning to annoy myself.

So, I have a week off from school and I have a to do list.

Here's hoping I'm going to check at LEAST half of them off the list. 

My goal is 100% completion, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't get it all done.

Clearly, #4 & #5 take priority.  :) 

And I can't take good care of the babies if I don't take care of me.

# 6 & #7 are also pretty important as well. 

The rest are just things I want to get done.

Here's hoping the babies take long naps during the week!

Disney Day 3. Wednesday....

We ventured to Hollywood Studios to see the Star Wars ride for hubby.

We weren't even into the park before we got to meet Minnie!

Hayes and Elizabeth were thrilled!

It was a great start to our day.

This is the Muppets fountain.

I think Miss Piggy is beautiful, always have.

We watched The Muppets 3D show & Elizabeth LOVED it.

She giggled and bounced around the whole entire time.

Daddy rode the Star Wars ride.

Also, took his picture on this weird Star Wars thing.

Then he spent about 3 hours in line trying to enterain this girl.

Well, not 3 hours, probably more like 20 minutes.

Kid is not patient.

Stabbing daddy with his own glasses.

Making faces at each other.

Daddy wins!

Look at her grin!

Hayes got to meet Phineas and Ferb.

We LOVE them and want to live where they do.

They get 100 days of summer vacation.

We only get about 60....

Elizabeth wasn't really sure about those guys and bailed on them pretty quickly.

See.

So we took a family photo instead!

She was also terrified of Mike and Sully.

Can't say that I blame her, Sully was huge and Mike was just creepy looking.

I truly felt sorry for the cast member who gets the Mike job.

Also, I want to know how the cast member moves those arms!

Tricky!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!

Coming up next, Buzz & Woody.

We rode the Toy Story Mania ride and had a blast.

Thankfully we did a fast pass for that one so we didn't have to wait too long.

To say he was a little excited would be a huge understatement.

They both squealed and gazed lovingly through the windows as we waited.

Hayes meet Buzz.

Hayes was speechless.

Woody and Hayes discussing his Mr Potato Head shirt.

Good choice for that day Mom!

Elizabeth went RIGHT to Buzz and hugged him!

Family picture!

At least I've got Daryk trained to look at the cameras and smile...

Art of Animation studios drawing and coloring in the pictures of the Disney characters.

She wasn't really feeling it...

We got to meet our favorite Neverland character, Jake!

We also got to see a Disney Jr interactive show and my kids loved it.

It was really dark and no flashes were allowed, so no pictures of that.

But there was lots of dancing and singing along with Mickey and crew!

After nap time we headed out to the pool for some water fun.

I believe she had a good time in that fountain!

Hayes had a blast squishing it underneath his feet.

They both look like they are pretty relaxed at this point.

Squishy fountain face!

When we planned this trip to Disney World I had nightmares visions about riding Its a Small World.

I love that ride.

Who doesn't?

But that creepy little song sticks with you for dayssssssssssssssss.....

So, we rode Wednesday night after dinner and a few other rides.

I had promised my mother in law that we would ride and tell her all about it.

The little people loved it.

Elizabeth was asleep in that pink coat draped over my shoulder.

Hayes looked like that for most of the ride.

He squealed and laughed and yelled out about all the animals as we rode along.

We also rode Under the Sea with Ariel that evening.

Clam shells are the preferred method of travel in the ocean.

That's a wrap people!

Friday night consisted of some feet dancing/walking with Daddy after big brother went to bed early.  

Do any of you parents have suggestions/ideas about fixing the picky eater syndrome?

We have started putting him to bed early if he refuses dinner...

Mind you, we aren't starving him.

But the child cannot survive on food bars alone.

If you'll notice her giant belly AND grin.

I think she loves him.

Daddy was home alllllllllllllll weekend.

He didn't have a wrestling tournament.

We haven't had him home for a weekend since November.

No joke folks.

It was SO nice to have Daddy home for a day or two.

This is my new book.

I bought it from Amazon, my favorite website everrrrrr.

I love Jill Conner Browne.

Go buy all her books right now.

You'll laugh until your belly hurts and then you'll laugh some more.

If you can't appreciate Southern sass, humor, and charm... don't bother reading.

You just won't understand...

We snuggled up today for a little bit after naptime.

They were still for about 5.5 seconds.

But it was a really sweet 5.5 seconds.

Can I get an amen?

And then this happened after bath and before bed.

My heart melted and I got a little weepy.

I love those people right there.

So tall!

She barely fits in the pack and play anymore.  I cannot believe she is one whole year old. 

Where did my itty bitty baby go? 

Safe to say that she's pretty cozy in that little bitty space too. 

Chillin' in the pack and play taking a nap at BeBe & PaPa's house.