The 9-1-1 Pull-up Emergency

This afternoon I received an exasperated voicemail from our daycare provider. Lucy had used-up the last of her Pull-ups after nap time and no one else in the classroom is her size (i.e., your daughter is a mini-giant). She wasn't sure what they were going to do for the remainder of the day (2 hours).

I understand Lucy is big for her age, but really? Let's think outside the box ladies. I'm sure someone in the next room (3-4yr olds) rocks a 4T-5T pull-up. Are you really telling me that Lucy wears the biggest size pull-ups of all the kids in the entire school? Really? Really.

Great Video's

A Magician & His Assistant:
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDcgTot2erE
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9dBp6HHm8o

Lucy Outtakes:
1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S60in1YuxnY
2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjDZSMEXSQc

Cabin Weekend:
Buckets of Fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rFkP9Isqps
Just Relaxin': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoiXepjS3Gg
Kisses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0Bc9LU8P0A

The Rachel Song

Lucy loves Ms. Rachel at school and we've heard this song on more than one occasion! We're not entirely sure what Rachel has done to wiggle her way into Lucy's heart...but Thank you Rachel for all you do!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0X74veFQyQ

Daddy Bars & Fruit Snacks...

Are we creating a good girl or foodie monster? Yes, I have stooped to rewarding (bribing) Lucy with goodies in order to encourage "good girl" behavior (it worked for Skinners rats). I know there are well-meaning parents out there that feel I'm creating a bad life-long food habit. Phewie! I feel I'm finally putting that B.A. in psychology to good use.
Research tells me that positive reinforcement is the most effective way to modify behavior. I want, more than anything, for Lucy to get dressed in the morning without throwing a temper-tantrum (is that so much to ask?). Since introducing daddy bars and fruit snacks to the mix, I have a happy, smiley two year old who is dressed without as much as a mild protest. But does the end, justify the means? Am I really doing Lucy a service by rewarding her with food? HECK YEAH!
To all the worry-warts and nay-sayers who feel that I am ruining my daughter by using food/stickers/etc to reward good behavior need to pour themselves a LARGE glass of wine and chill-out. This wine drinking, full-time working, loving mommy throws caution to the wind and trusts that genuine love, encouragement, and lots of "suckie kisses" will far outweigh the long term effects of a few "daddy bars".

We Came. We Stretched. We Plunged! (Part Duex)

Can't Wait For Next Year!!!

Three Men and a Baby.....No wait!

Three Babies and a Man...

Pics and a Quick Update

Mommy sneaks a kiss

Thanks to auntie Molly, Greta is now a HUGE fan of Bob Evans mash potatoes!
What a cheese ball!

Greta loves helping daddy do the dishes.

It's been an incredibly busy couple of weeks...which hopefully explains my lack of correspondence. The plague did eventually vacate the Norman abode...just in time for me and the girls to head south to Mexico, Missouri. That's right! I braved the open road with two babies for eight hours and it went really well. I was so proud....of MYSELF! I rocked the DVD player and snacks and books and suckies and toys and bottles and anything else they needed. And the visit was fun as well. It was great to see Mom, Molly, Ryan, Marina, and Teddy. We celebrated Marina's fifth birthday which amazes me. It seems like only yesterday that I was phone stalking Molly at the hospital wondering what birth feels like (still so sorry about that Molly).

Then last weekend we made the trek up to the Cabino for a fun day with the Huffer crew. The boys claim to have found a "secret spot" and actually caught a few walley's. Melissa, Bean, Lucy, Greta, and I just chilled and relaxed and enjoyed each others company. It was a great weekend.

Well, that's about it. I hope everyone is surviving this last leg of winter. I'm doing my best to stay positive that spring is near and am looking forward to begin training for the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon. Yup...I'm going to attempt to run 13.1 miles during Grandma's Marathon this year. I'm pumped and optimistic! Cheer me on!

One quick note...I'm happy to report that this happy mama just signed an offer letter from Wells Fargo's Internal Audit department. Lots of change on the horizon....

Public Discipline - Necessary Evil???

So I had my first real taste of "Public Discipline" yesterday afternoon courtesy of Lucy. I guess "public" is relative as it was only in her school classroom. But public enough for me, thank you. The whole thing felt like a painful episode of "Super Nanny"...the ultimate struggle for power; naughty vs. nice; 2 year old pitted against weary, embarrassed parent. Except it was my painful episode and my audience was professionally-trained school teachers.
I'm not sure what possessed Lucy to go on a "slapping-spree". But there was no way I could turn a blind-eye and race out of the room to the car where I have cleverly installed restraints. Nope, this behavior required immediate consequences. Sooooo, armored with my shaky resolve and 2-3 online parenting articles, I plopped that mass of flailing arms and legs in a chair in the corner and calmly told her she was in timeout for 1 minute (because Lucy can tell time??) for hitting, well, everyone in her path. And then I stood up. And she stayed put........for about 5 seconds.
Ding - Round One. I chase after her like an idiot; dragging her back to the "timeout chair" three or four times. Each time resulting in immediate escape. Greta begins to cry and I start to feel a little overheated (why did I wear my tundra parka?).
Ding - Round Two. Lucy gives-up on the "hit-and-run" tactic and tests the waters by throwing herself on the floor right in front of the chair and playing dead. As I "gently" pick her up and set her back in the chair, she immediately melts back to the floor. I'm now sweating...a lot. Greta is wailing and a teacher has taken pity on the child and picked her up. I conceded and peel off my floor-length parka to reveal red and white polka-dot flannel bottoms and an old t-shirt (no bra). Lord...can it get any worse?
Ding - Round Three. Yes, it can get worse! Two well-dressed parents waltz into the room and are now part of the peanut-gallery watching me struggle to keep Lucy in timeout for a whopping 60 seconds (may I remind you I am still in my f-ugly Pj's). I can start to feel victory slipping through my fingertips as peer-pressure/embarrassment start to chip away at my already weakened resolve. Lucy's current ploy is sliding herself and the chair away from the "timeout spot". Really? Really.
Ding - Round Four. Greta's in tears. Lucy is now in tears. I'm almost in tears. But wait! Can it be? I check my watch again and....the clouds break, waters part, and miracle-of-miracles, Lucy has stayed in the "Timeout chair" for 1 minute! VICTORY! I want to jump up and down and celebrate (wait...no bra) but decide that a quick exit is best. I grab my coat (way too hot to put it on), put Greta back in her car seat, and turn to help Lucy into her coat. "Lucy, let's get your coat on. It's cold outside." NO!
Ding....

Part 2 - Kiddo's had FUN too!

The girls had a great weekend too! Maya and Lucy made brownies and a cake. The adults were nice enough to eat the finished products for them! Yummy!

The girls were amazed by the minnows Norm bought for ice fishing. Lucy loved her fishies-in-a-jar so much that she took them to bed with her Saturday night.

Greta was so proud of herself this weekend. She gets stronger everyday and will take those first solo steps soon! OMG!

Syrupy Goodness...

Ok let's be honest, I am not one of those sappy mothers who cannot possibly put into words the joy and reward of being a mom. "Mother of the Year"...probably not! Not to say that I don't try...but unlike some, I always seem to get caught-up in logistics and never quite find that peaceful serenity that so many drone on and on about. My peace and serenity is found when the babysitter is on time or the in-laws have agreed to watch the girls for the weekend. My peace is sitting in a quite coffee shop with a cup of tea and a people magazine. Very rarely do I pair "peace and serenity" with "Lucy and Greta". (Like I said, not really winning any awards). But this morning, despite myself, I had a moment. A moment of such peace and serenity that I felt it necessary to step away from my normal "cup-half-empty" attitude just long enough to blog about it (don't worry, still as self-absorbed as ever). So please forgive me for this momentary lapse in, well, normal-ness.
As most of you know, Lucy has "graduated" to a big-girl bed. The transition has been fairly seamless minus one little hiccup...she can now get out of bed at will! Awesome! This has lead to some super-fun bedtime throw downs where a pile of Lucy's favorite "bed-things" end up in a heap on the floor outside her door. It's also led to a nasty little habit of Lucy wandering into our bedroom at 4:00am (when she knows our defenses are down and our resilience is weak) wanting to crawl into bed with "Mommmmmmyyyyyyy". This habit was quickly squelched with the simple addition of an alarm clock in her bedroom.
But this morning I heard little whimpering's and made the decision, despite my better judgment, to throw caution (and sleep training) to the wind and go get the little munchkin and bring her back into our bed. Now here it comes, what you've all been anxiously waiting for, that moment of peace and serenity. That syrupy goodness of my little bear sleeping sweetly next to me. Tucked neatly into a ball in my nook, with her chubby little arm around my neck, suckie in mouth, and her silkie clutched tightly in her other hand. Peace and Serenity! Fleeting but wonderful.
I may not win "Mother of the Year" and for the most part, I'm perfectly ok with that. But I'd like to think that in those moments when no one is looking, I just might be a winner in Lucy and Greta's eyes...and that is something I'm also perfectly ok with!

Happy Babies!

Lucy is such a little helper these days. She was so proud of herself when the two of us made a cake. She helped stir and decorate.
As always, Greta is smiling. She continues to amaze us with her happy, easy-going nature. Even though this pic was taken at 9:30pm and she was crashing our happy-hour, we couldn't help but let her hang out with us. How could we not with that smile!

Thank you Nanie!

Everyone loves their hats! Thank you Nanie!

WOW!

Has it really been 2 months since my last post? For all you faithful followers, I'm sorry for abandoning my post (pun intended). The Holidays and then James' National Sales Mtg left me too tired and busy to take time to reflect on life.

Having said that, I'm happy to report that all Norm's hard work has paid-off and the mtg was an "EPIC" success. James is still basking in the glow of congratulatory emails...and I am basking in the glow of the recent return to normal. Although there was nothing "normal" about this weekend. James surprised me with a fantastic date night (on his allowance) to a great steakhouse where I drank too much wine and ate too much food. (Thank you Tim and Melissa for taking care of the girls on such short notice).

Steak dinner aside, I believe my favorite part of the weekend was Friday night when Norm and I woke up at 1:30am to Lucy crying out for Mommy...not her normal sleepy noises but a real cry. Low-and-behold, Lucy threw-up all over herself and her bed (joy). After hosing her off in the shower I laid her next to daddy in our bed. As I was returning with her diaper I hear her announce, "I Pee"....really? Really? Really. I can't think of anything more fun than trying to clean-up puke-filled sheets while dry heaving into the laundry basket and then scrubbing our mattress because I didn't have the forethought to purchase a water-proof mattress pad for our bed. Oh yeah, and all at 2:00am. Who needs a good nights sleep anyways?

Well, if you've gotten this far than hats-off to you. I would have bailed at throw-up but I appreciate your tenacity and time.

Back-of-the-envelope update: Lucy is doing great. She seems to have hit a really nice stride right now with a lot more hugs and kisses and a lot less whining and temper-tantrums. A real joy to be around these days. Greta gets bigger and stronger every day. She is pulling herself up on anything that stands still and crawls as fast as her little peg-leg will take her to keep up with Lucy. Her new favorite foods include Chef Boyardee ravioli and hot dogs! Dinner of champions.

PS: New Years Resolution - Read the bible. Status: Page 12.

Slave Labor

Don't tell social services...but I think we may be on to something. [Note: anyone interested in "light" cleaning services by a very bossy, strong-willed, energetic toddler is in luck. Lucy charges only $100/hr. (Fee does not include snacks, juice, or M&M's necessary to fuel this whirl-wind).]

Trick or Treat

Lucy and James had their first Trick-or-Treat outing tonight. Not to be sappy and syrupy and obnoxious...but it really was adorable. I think Norm would have had more fun if the neighbors knew that he was also trick-or-treating himself...for adult beverages that is.

Sister, Sister

If a picture was worth a thousand words...

Its so much fun to watch Lucy and Greta enjoy each other. They're always so happy when they are around each other. It's amazing.

EARS OF CORN???

Nope! Ears of Beans and Mac & Cheese. Sound crazy, well it's not. At least it's not if you're Lucy and you truly believe that Daddy can pulled cut green beans and macaroni and cheese from ears (hers or his).

I can't say I've seen anything as cute as Lucy trying to find green beans in her ears. Then prclaiming in Lucyese how amazing it is that daddy can do it! (Or at least that's what I imagined she was saying. The only words I could make out were daddy, blachky, bleachgy, blah.)

Recent Great PICS!

A Rare Mommy/Lucy Pic...

I just love it when Daddy catches Lucy and I having fun together!

Fun at the Huffers Pool!

We have been so luck to be able to hang out at Tim and Melissa's Pool this summer. And we've come to find out Lucy is quite the little fish! And when she's not swimming like a fish, she's busy giving Daddy fishy-kisses, jumping on the trampoline, eating on the counter, riding in the little coupe car, playing with Bean in the sand, and generally having an awesome time!