That Explains It...

Have you ever wondered why Avery has blonde hair and blue eyes, yet no one else in the family does? Well guess who came out of the womb after him:

Yup, it's Baby Hitler in footy PJs.

But really, is it just me... Or is it rude to ask someone if their son is really theirs? Practically every time I go anywhere with all 3 kids, someone asks if they're all 3 mine, or if they all have the same father (yes, really), or how did Avery get that hair? Sometimes people try to be sneaky and just say, "Look at that hair!" I know that's code for "your kids look nothing alike."

But by far, my all-time favorite rude question asked about Avery's hair is this: "What color hair does your mailman have?" Am I the only one who sees a problem with this question - even as a joke?

Advertising Works

Now I know why some parents in the 80's were so against commercials that target children.

My kids used to only watch the Disney channel (I know, it is an advertisement), but over the past few months they've gotten into Nickelodeon more and more. As most parents know, the difference between Disney & Nick is that Nick has commercials, while Disney doesn't (sort of). At first they thought the show was over every commercial break and went to their rooms to play instead of finishing the show. Then they realized that the show comes back after those commercials, and got mad when the commercials came on. Then they realized that those commercials are full of fun toys and junk that they need to have in their rooms!

Abby is certainly a victim of commercial targeting. Just about every time a Barbie commercial comes on, she runs to me and says "You know, there's this new Barbie out there that has wings that pop up!" Just so I know, you see....

I've also always wondered why Nick runs bathroom cleaner commercials during shows like Yo Gabba Gabba and The Wonder Pets. Are they hoping that the kids will run and clean the bathroom after the show? My kids just don't do that. Sure, parents supposedly watch TV with their kids - but what parent just sits there and listens to "snacky-snack-snack snack-snack" for 30 minutes, when they could be washing dishes or starting a load of laundry, or taking a shower while their kids are so engrossed in this show??

Now don't get me wrong, I don't let my kids watch TV all day - but I do take advantage of clever shows like Gabba or The Wonder Pets. They're just too good not to watch, and I do feel that they are not violent or inappropriate in any way, and my kids do learn something each time.

Now back to that bathroom cleaner. Abby came up to me just a minute ago (while watching Gabba), and said "Mommy, can you buy one of those new toilet brushes that cleans under the edge better? Cause our toilet brush is no good, and this one cleans the edge much better." Does advertisement work, or what??

Now if I could just get one of the kids to clean the toilet with that new brush....

It's Cold

Sorry - it's too cold to blog.

Monday Memories

Remember how things were before you had kids?

1. I could go to the grocery store without prior planning, and without hunting for 3 coats, 6 mittens, 3 hats, 6 socks, and 4 shoes!
2. I could go anywhere in 30 minutes or less, and spend less money doing it!
3. I could eat at actual restaurants.
4. I only had to do laundry once a week.
5. I only had to clean my house once a week.
6. I could watch TV shows during the day that did not have Rockets, Tiggers, or Jaguars in them.
7. I could take as long of a shower as I wanted, and at any time I wanted.
8. I went entire days without getting food, snot, or playdough on my clothes.
9. Speaking of clothes, I dared to buy "Dry Clean Only" before I had kids.
10. I also dared to wear black.
11. I spent my days wishing I had kids.
    

A Long Post About Shoes!

I have never in my life thought about shoes as much as I have in the past 5 days. I decided on Monday that Ethan should finally start wearing shoes. We went to church Sunday, and he was the only kid with no shoes. When we go out to eat, he's the only one that seems to defy the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" rule. I've always felt that you should hold off on shoes for as long as possible, and if they never walk outside - then they never need shoes. It is winter, so Ethan has not really walked outside, ever... But on Monday, it was super nice and warm outside (70 degrees!!), and I decided to let the kids play in the yard. I stood Ethan in the yard and realized he needed shoes. Not only did his socks get mulch, grass, and mud all over them - he also looked odd outside without shoes, for some reason.

So, I changed his socks and headed to Payless to have them measure Ethan for shoes. There are no better shoe stores in my town - sad, huh? They said he was a 5 1/2, so I headed to the toddler section and tried on a cute 5 1/2 shoe. Hmm... I couldn't even get his whole foot in there. Maybe he needs a 6? I try a 6. Same problem. A 6 1/2 - same thing. I put a 7 on him, and it fits, but the straps will not close. I took off the 7 and held it up to Ethan's foot upside down (that's how he'll wear it, actually). The 7 is way too long for his foot.

I drove straight home and began researching baby shoes. Turns out I was right, they shouldn't have shoes until they can walk, and then only outside. Well, Ethan has been walking for 2 months... *shhh* I start to feel like a parent that just found out their kid has some sort of disability. Not that I'm comparing this to that - I just felt like Ethan was somehow different all of a sudden. He's normal, but has this one thing that makes him special.

I decide to google "shoes for baby feet that are too fat". Bingo! I find a nice article about choosing the right shoe for your baby. The shoes all sound awesome, so I look up some of the brands. Umi, Pediped, See Kai Run, L.A.M.B., Roberto Cavalli... The least expensive seems to be around $30, the most expensive around $175.... hmm...

So I e-mail a friend that prefers European shoes, assuming that she would know some of the brands - European or not - and she does. She tells me that Marshall's carries Umi. I immediately (okay, the next day) drive to Marshall's and look at every baby shoe they have. They only have Umi for girls, so I decide to try every boy shoe they have on Ethan. After literally trying on about 15 brands of shoes, each in a size 6 and a size 7, I give up and grab a pair of Converse. I loosen all the laces, pull the tongue back as far as it will go, and squeeze Ethan's foot into the shoe. I tug at the back of the shoe, I slap the bottom, I loosen the laces again, I adjust his sock, check to see if his toes are curled (they are not), pull at the back, loosen the laces, straighten his foot, slap the bottoms, and PRESTO! Ethan is wearing a shoe! I pull them off, and go pay for them.

The shoes sat on his dresser for 2 days before I even tried to put them on his feet again. I went through the same tug, slap, loosen, etc thing to get one of the shoes on his foot. Then I realized that I could fold down the back, thread the laces the wrong way through the eyelets, and possibly, hopefully, get these shoes on Ethan's feet a little easier. The shoes are canvas high tops, by the way, and remind me of 80's punk every time I look at them. I love them.

Yesterday, I put the shoes on Ethan with the backs folded down. It only took me about 5 minutes that way! Progress! I stood him up in his new shoes, and he stares at them for a second, then takes a step. Have you ever seen a dog wearing booties? Daniel and I used to love watching a TV show with funny pet videos, and every episode there would be a dog wearing booties, walking around like each step is into a big puddle of honey. It's hilarious. Please don't tell Daniel that I told you he used to watch that show :o)

So, here is Ethan, walking like a dog with booties on. Then he sits down, unties one shoe, and cries. *sigh* Off to find Pedipeds....

It's Been a Year!

Last year, January 8 was on a Monday. I know exactly what I was doing that day - from 8 am to 12:30 pm I was in labor, and from 12:30 to 12:56 I was pushing a 9 pound, 7 ounce baby out of my... you get what I'm saying... Then for the rest of the day, I was admiring my big baby.

Ethan is one today! He's just so cute and sweet - I'm really, really happy that he surprised us & decided to be born!! It's been a really good year. The third baby leaves you feeling this way, I think. By now I'm a pro and I know how to take care of a baby - finally!

Ethan has just started pointing in the last week, as well. It's the cutest thing. Ask Ethan where mommy is, and he'll look right at me and point. Ask Ethan where Daddy is, and he'll look right at Daniel & point. Ask Ethan where Nana is, and he'll look right at his spinning gear toy and point. Why? I don't know! But it sure is cute.

What a great baby to end my pregnancy days on! (If I do stop here....)

Wonderment

I've been reading Ravi Zacharias' "Recapture the Wonder" for the past couple of days. I know I'm only on the second chapter, but I just had a thought about what I've read so far.

He mentions that wonder is interchangeable with innocence, and specifically describes the wonder that all children are born with. You know that wonder - its what makes a nine-month-old baby stand in front of a window forever, just looking at nothing. Its what makes a four-year-old jump up and down at the mere thought of snow. This is the reason tiny babies become fascinated by their own hands. Its the thing that makes everything new and interesting to kids.

Can you imagine adults feeling the way kids do about anything? We wouldn't be able to get dressed in the morning without admiring our hands and feet for 10 minutes, snapping the elastic on our undergarments for 20 minutes and laughing each time, and teasing our hair with the hairbrush for another 10.

Anyway, if all kids are born with this wonder, do we as parents destroy it in part every time we say "hurry up!" or "clean this mess right now!"? Kids learn through that wonder - why do moms feel the need to burst those bubbles of amazement?

I am definitely not a patient person, and I hate to see a messy room. But my kids are fascinated with things like soap bubbles on the bathroom floor, squishy pudding on the kitchen table, and compacted snow on the carpet. Every time I yell at them, clean their mess, and say "don't do that again!" am I chipping away at their wonder?

Am I killing my kid's innocence?

The Case for a Surefit Slipcover

If you would like to keep your kids busy for an entire hour and get some cleaning done, then buy a Surefit Slipcover. Really, whether you need one or not. The price is justified when it's time to wash the things. Yesterday, I took the slipcovers off both of my couches to wash them, and my kids had so much fun playing with those bare cushions that I actually felt guilty putting the slipcover back on. In the space of an hour those cushions were boats, mountains, water, cars, houses, and planes. No one cried, no one fought, and no one bugged mommy! Amazing....

The Most Eventful End of the Year, Ever

Well, 2007 is almost over, but the last two weeks have been crazier than any other weeks I've ever had. As I mentioned in my last post, Daniel's mom visited us off and on for the last two weeks. Abby had her first school play - she was the best stage-frightened angel I've ever seen. Last Friday was Daniel and my 9th anniversary! Not bad for two kids who married their first love at age 18.

Unfortunately, two sad things happened in the last week as well. The saddest of the two still makes me cry a little from time to time. Our little kitty, Saliva, had to be put to sleep last Friday. She was just really, really sick, so I made an appointment with the vet. I thought maybe they would say that she wouldn't last too long, maybe one or two months... But they said she needed to be euthanized right then, she was so sick. Her kidneys had shriveled up, and there was no way she could have lived much longer. So, instead of going out to dinner for our 9th anniversary, Daniel and I headed to the vet with our tiny, sick cat. As the vet said, we'll never forget this anniversary...

The next sad thing is more bittersweet than sad, really. I like to breastfeed all my babies to a year old, at least. I breastfed Abby for 15 months, and I literally had to force her to stop. I did the weaning that time. With Avery, I didn't have much milk after 9 months because I was pregnant with Ethan, so on Avery's first birthday I said, "This is your last boobie, baby." Avery agreed and didn't fight the next night at all. With Ethan, though.... He just decided this week that he no longer wants mommy milk. *sigh* I was hoping to breastfeed him to 15 months or longer - after all, he is possibly my last baby. But now, I offer him milk and he just sticks out his tongue and smiles. How did this little cutie go from demanding milk every hour as a newborn to this?

So, in the last couple of weeks we've had to let go of a lot. That's always been hard for me - especially when it comes to letting the kids grow up. I can definitely see why some people have lots and lots of kids - it helps you postpone the final letting go for a while. If weaning is this hard, how will I deal with sending my kids off to college??

New Boots!

Grandma is visiting! And, once the first snowflake hit the ground, she said the kids needed snow boots. She headed to Kohl's, and came back with all the snow gear Abby & Avery will ever need (until they get bigger, at least).

Avery put on his boots and started posing provocatively - yes, I have spared you of photos that are both provacative and of Avery in his underwear. I swear, he does own pants.


Abby loves her new coat, snow pants, and boots! What parent can deprive their child of the joy of wearing their new snow gear indoors for an hour or two? She kept saying, "I need water...."


And, for good measure, here is Ethan wondering where his new snow stuff is. Silly boy - it's right there on Avery! He'll realize that next winter.

Monday Memories

Avery is definitely my drama baby. I've said this since the day he was born, and he proves it again and again. I have to keep a very close eye on this one. As you read this list, keep in mind that he is only 26 months old...

• When Avery was born, I went to the hospital and was sent home 3 times without being admitted. I was told that I wasn't "really" in labor. Two hours later, he was almost born in the car. We got to the hospital at 9:51 p.m. and he was literally born 6 minutes later, at 9:57 p.m.
• Before he was even born, my OBGYN wanted to do a C-section because Avery was breech, with his head tipped back, and his foot headed out first. Apparently this is not good at all.
• We couldn't find anyone to circumsize him until he was 13 days old. The doctor informed us that he screamed more than any baby he had ever circumsized.
  
• When he was 3 weeks old, he peed in his own eye while I changed him. He ended up getting a yeast infection in his eye. (Please see the lovely picture for more detail.)

• At 16 months, Avery broke his pinkie finger on a door. The cast covered his entire arm - shoulder to finger tips.
  
• When the doctor put the cast on Avery, he had to have three additional nurses hold him down. I was told that Avery is very strong.
  
• On vacation this year, Avery woke up with sores all over the inside of his mouth. He had hand foot and mouth disease.
• Avery is now deathly afraid of doctors.

My poor pumpkin. I don't know if I should ever let him play sports.

We woke up this morning to a beautiful white-covered yard.

Chores

"Phooey! Hard work! Vacuum is hot!"

Yup, it's hard work to vacuum the whole house - especially in only underwear and a t shirt.

Monday Memories

Pacifiers. How did parents ever live without them? Earlier this year, Abby gave up her pacis - by force. Come on, a three year old with a pacifier? I'll admit, I was afraid of what other parents might think, so I told Abby the paci had to go.
We tied the pacis onto a beautiful ribbon, hung it on the front doorknob, and waited until morning. We were so surprised - the pacifier fairy had taken those pacis and left Abby a huge purple sparkly box filled to the brim with princess paraphernalia and play make-up! That fairy sure knows what Abby likes...
The next day went smoothly - no asking for the paci, just pure revelry in that purple sparkly box. However, when bedtime came and no paci was offered or requested, I started to realize what we had taken from Abby. When she came in our bed around 4 am, crying because she wanted her pacifier, it only made me feel it more. We hadn't just taken away the pacifier - we had taken away the last little bit of baby left in Abby. Not that she's now an adult, but what about her is baby-ish anymore?
"Where did she take my pacis?" "Can you call her and ask her to bring them back?" The questions killed me as we lay there in bed, consoling Abby. I tried my best not to cry - this was my first little baby, heartbroken.
She still sneaks Ethan's paci from time to time, and of course we tell her no. But really, it was a three year addiction that we forced her to quit cold turkey. How would you have reacted?

Top 9 Things I Learned From Cleaning Carseats

I cleaned out the kid's carseats the other day. Interestingly enough, it was a definate learning experience. Presenting... The Top 9 I Learned From Cleaning the Carseats!

1. Where Abby's gum always ends up (hint: she doesn't swallow it, after all).
2. Where Lightning McQueen's lost car parts went.
3. Where the baby toys (yes, ALL of them) went.
4. Where 10 or more of Abby's hair barrettes went.
5. Nerds turn into a solid mass of melted pink goo, eventually.
6. Carseats do mold.
7. What that smell is.
8. How Avery finishes his McDonald's chocolate milk faster than anyone else in the car.
9. Why we go through Cheerios and Banana Puffs so darn fast. (see picture)
   

For those of you with no kids, or only one really small kid, you might be thinking that I'm disgusting and never clean our car. I cleaned these carseats out about 2 months ago. Seriously. Just wait - really, really soon your little "angel" will be a toddler too.

My Mama Told Me Not To Do It!

You know how parents have all those funny rules? I mean, like you have to finish all the veggies they give you before you get dessert? Well, I've found that it's really hard to get past those rules once you're the adult, and can make your own rules. There are a lot of things that my mom said I couldn't do, that I've found actually, yes I can do!

1. For instance, I can drink a soda before 11a.m. It's true! I've tried it - but I felt really guilty and totally expected to get sick afterwards. In the end, it all turned out okay. Go figure!
   
2. I've also learned that I can have more than one soda a day. It may kill me one day - but not yet!
3. Tampons. I can use them. Turns out that's not what makes you lose your virginity!
4. It's perfectly acceptable to shave above the knee. Many people (like me & Daniel) prefer it, and no one thinks I'm a tramp.
   

Despite these few rules that were made to be broken, I do find myself dishing out the same sort of advice to my kids:

1. Always tie your shoes - you'll trip if you don't. Avery has actually tripped on his own shoelace several times, but Abby has not.
2. Don't eat standing up. This bugs me even when Daniel does it.
3. Don't leave cabinet doors, drawers, etc. open. Ditto for Daniel.
4. You can't stay up even one minute past your bedtime, because you'll be cranky tomorrow. This is true. Very, very true.

I think mom-hood is just a never ending cycle. Moms make moms, and so on. How careful do you think Mary was with Jesus? After all, she knew He was God' s Son and the Saviour of the world. Imagine what that would be like! On the one hand, you wouldn't want anything to happen to Him - think how God would respond to that! On the other hand, you know God is watching over Him every second of the day - He's His Son, after all. If only I could have that kind of trust in God for my own children!

Does This Make Me a Bad Mom?

A little confession... But first, some background information...

Today is Ethan's very first Halloween! Abby was 3 weeks old on her first Halloween & Avery was 5 weeks old on his first Halloween. Of course they didn't get any candy... And Ethan is only 9 months old - I refuse to let my kids have candy that young... Right?

Now the confession:

I gave Ethan two little, bitty bites of Reese Cup today! He literally started bouncing after tasting it, and has been in such a happy mood since! Now I know why people say they have to have chocolate after a bad day. Although, if we go by that rhetoric, he should be trying alcohol soon.

Here's my little chocolate fiend!

"Pick me up, Mommy!"

**** 2 seconds later... ****

"Is that a camera?"

The Full Hands

I realize I have a 9 month-old, a 2 year-old, and a 4 year-old, but why does EVERYONE smile at me and my kids and say "you've got your hands full!" Is that code for "what the heck is wrong with you - get some birth control, lady!"...?

Since I had Ethan, I've realized how different it is for mothers of 3 (or more) kids about a year or two apart compared to moms who wait longer between kids. I didn't exactly plan to have my little sweeties this close together, but it is really, really hard. Seriously - going to the grocery store with all three kids makes me feel like I'm going to have a heart attack right there in the bean aisle.

I wonder what people with multiples do? I would never, ever leave my house.

On a blog I like to read, Peanut Butter and Jelly Boats, I found a great reminder that all the pandemonium I go through daily with my kids is actually a gift from God:

"He gives childless couples a family,
gives them joy as the parents of children.
Hallelujah!"
Psalm 113:9 (The Message)

Isn't that a great way to look at a pile of kids that all happen to be yours?

Chi-Chi's Birthday!

Happy birthday, Abigail Horizon! I can't believe you're already 4! You keep proving to me again and again that you're not a little baby anymore - you're a little girl. Even though I miss the days when I rocked you to sleep and changed your diapers, I'm so proud of you and I love the little person you're becoming.