Tongue tied??

maybe, but a fool he's not.

Recent doctor's visit-

Me: I'm concerned about M's tongue being tied. My husband had this as a child and I've noticed that M can't really stick his tongue out.

Doc: Ok let's take a look. He pulls out the fat Popsicle stick thing and starts poking around M's mouth.

M: aaargh

Doc: puts his index finger about 2 inches away from M's mouth. M, can you touch my finger with your tongue.

M: uuuhuh M takes the Doc's finger and pulls it to touch his tongue.

Doc: laughing his @ss off I think he'll be fine.

Curious George party

I know this is a little late, but it's been crazy around here AND can you believe that I didn't take one picture during the party???? So I've had to gather some up.

M love Curious George so that was our theme. Before I started planning, there were a few things I knew I wanted to be different. I LOVE having parties, but I hated buying all this stuff just to see it in the trash at the end of the day. So my plan this time was to try and make or buy as many things that could be reused as possible. Another small motivation was that I'll be in newborn-lala-land for A's 4th birthday, so I wanted to streamline this whole process. Here are a few pics and ideas from our Green Curious George birthday.

Invitations - Tiffany (miragreetings) did an awesome job again!! I thought of just sending them via email, but our family really enjoys getting the photo, so out they went.

Plates, cups and utensils - I have some reusable plastic plates from Sam's that we used. I'm kicking myself for being so obsessed with having matching themed plateware and not using these more often. I also found some wonderful cups and utensils from Preserve. Their products are made in the USA, from recycled plastics and are BPA-free! Napkins - We have friends over quite a bit and I'm always unprepared because we don't use paper products. We had a small set of 18 x18 in. dinner napkins that we share, but it's never enough for our little friends. So I made a huge set of little napkins. I used fat quarters from our local fabric shop and mix-matched the colors. I cut each piece about 9x9in, double sided them and then stitched a seam on the right side. Here's a tutorial from Sew Mama Sew. Very easy, but lots of ironing and sewing.
Banner - I wanted something bright and fun for birthdays, but I was tired of buying or making one, just to have to start again in a few months. So I made a generic one for all of our parties. Again I used a variety of Fat Quarters. I cut a template out of card stock and used this amazing gadget that looks like a pizza cutter to cut all my fabric!! Amazingly easier than pinking shears. I double sided my triangles and just sewed them on the right-side out. Then I bought two 4 yard packets of binding and strung them together. Very easy. Here's another page of tutorials from Sew Mama Sew. Party favors - I bought some Curious George scrap paper and made some blank coloring books. Very easy. I took 10 sheets of recycled, white paper, one sheet of scrap book paper and folded them together. Trim as needed. Then, I sewed right down the middle to bind it. I put a blank label on the front for their names. Then I paired it with the twig pencils(found here) and some homemade binoculars from toilet paper rolls.

Games - We bought a pool for the summer and decided to fill it with balls for now since it's not quite warm enough for water. The kids LOVED it. We also have a pinata, of course. Cake - I love making my kids' caked for their birthdays.

All dressed up for Daddy

I love how much she loves her Daddy.

It's Genetic

I'm absolutely convinced, now. This morning M, spilled some milk on the breakfast bench. I was running around doing my morning chores, so I tossed him a rag and said, "Clean, up." As I'm running back and forth, I see him cleaning it up, but then as I've got one foot in the laundry room, I see him turning the cushion over! Where in the world did he learn that from???

Summer's here

... at least compared to the rest of the States. Well I know it's gonna get HOTTER so technically 83 degrees is spring for us.

Happy Birthday M!

My sweet baby boy. I can't believe you're two today. When I look at your sweet little face I can't believe how fast you're growing up. All my heart can remember is the overflowing joy I felt when we snuggled for the first 3 months of your life. Finally after having such an independent and hot natured baby, God gave me you, a snuggler. As you sat in your highchair this morning, which has become sporadic lately, I could still see the glimpse of the crooked smirk you would flash at me while you were still sleeping 18 hours a day on my chest. And I'm so thankful that your infectious and unbelievable adorable giggle hasn't left you in this past year. When you throw your head back and unleash your laugh on the world, all of my frustrations and worries are blown away. I love you for that.

My dear, sweet, baby boy, you have come a long way in one year. This past year you have learned to communicate with short broken sentences instead of hands, teeth and yells. You are one of the most polite two year olds that most people know. You absolutely love and adore your big sister, who has taught you many new words, some colors and maybe a few numbers. You are rougher and tougher than most boys come, loving dirt, cars, bugs, and dinosaurs more than anything else. You've got a mean curve ball and can roar any two year old out of the room. Right now you are a Daddy's boy and I don't mind so much. I miss your cries for me and our snuggling, but I love seeing you and your Daddy form a bond that is unmistakably magical.

Now all the giggles and cuddles aside, I've been know to say that you are full of piss and vinegar, which isn't a total lie, but I guess I wouldn't have it any other way. You're head-strong, full of life and energy and have this amazing old soul in your eyes. I know as the years carry on that you will teach me a lot about myself and I'm privileged to have you in my life. I love you baby boy.

Please don't feel sorry for me

Please don't look at me like that. I knew what I was getting myself into when I got pregnant and still had two small children at home. Well maybe not AT the time, but like the midwife says, "If you're not, NOT trying then your trying."

To the moms at swim class:

Yes, I carried my almost two year-old, kicking and screaming, under my arm into my daughter's swim class while 7 months pregnant, BUT we were late and I do remember reading in some parent manual that the "football" hold is good for something??? Besides, when I did the math, these damn classes cost more than I'm willing to admit, so we were NOT going to be late.

To the little old lady at Randalls:

I really wasn't going to leave my child in the store. You see sometimes they don't listen and I'm too round to chase after them. Lord knows it'd be a chase too, because he was standing next to the candy with that little twinkle in his eye. You know the "let's play" twinkle. So I resorted to a threat and wouldn't you know he called my bluff. So what's a mom to do? I left the store and hid behind the pillar. Now stop shaking your head; the security guy was right there and watching us the whole time and if things got really ugly I would have sent my 3 year old after him. Now SHE'S fast!! After you left from being so disgusted with my parenting techniques, my son saw that I meant business and came running out looking for me. We talked ( in caveman-speak, of course) about how he needs to stay close to mommy, because it's dangerous if he gets lost. There were kisses and wiping of tears and lessons learned. Now I've just got to work on my 3 year-old's fear of abandonment.

To the man walking by my house and looking in the window:

I promise I'm not crazy. I know you usually see me running around with half naked kids and you probably think that the neighborhood is going to crap. We are good people. Promise. When you happened to look in the window I wasn't losing my mind. Cursing and yelling to myself, yes! but for a good reason. You see I was trying to wrap a freakin' guitar for my husband's birthday. It's the shape of the damn thing, because I swear I'm a good wrapper. And who in the hell designed tape so that as soon as you tear it off, it curls up and sticks to itself???? I had to try and un-stick it with one hand because I couldn't let go of the wrapping paper that was strategically placed in the one spot that would keep me from running out of paper and just wrapping the damn thing in foil. So you see, completely rational behavior. I'm okay now though, don't worry I got the thing wrapped and hidden in the car. I'm just going to tell hubby that the kids helped.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY !!

" You know Mommy, sometimes people just cry." - A

Randomness

M is a nose picker. We've been under the weather around here and last week I cuddled with M during nap time to keep an eye on his fever. Now I know he's all boy. His toots can drive a grown man out of the room, a 2 foot fall doesn't put a pause in his step, and he can throw like a 5 year old. YES, Daddy is proud...but a booger picker... and a closet one at that! So we're cuddling in bed and as soon as I get my 6 1/2 month belly comfy, I see this tiny little dirty finger shoot up his nose. It stayed there until he fell asleep. Yup, now I know how those slimy streaks end up appear on his sheets every morning.

I feel like I have a red light on my front porch. Good lord I've had 3 men stop by today. We have a pine tree out front that died during the hurricane that is apparently a siren to all the lawn guys in the neighborhood. I know she needs to come down, but I thought I'd give her until spring. I know, I know, pines are evergreens and it doesn't make sense but I hate to see her go.

A has stepped into attitude. I feel like I should write this in her baby book, but wouldn't you know that they don't have a spot for it AND it would be the only entry in the last three years!!! So one day I was sitting on a blanket on one of our premature spring days and getting ready to settle in and watch A follow her BFFN (best friend for now) around the playground like a little puppy, when it happened. A snubbed her BFFN. I couldn't believe it. A huge milestone in a girl's life and I was there to see it. Brought tears to my eyes. Then, of course, I pulled her aside and we talked about how being a mean girl hurts people's feelings and she should remember how it feels when her friends are mean to her. Blah, blah, blah. I shooed her off to play and exhaled. A explained that she was being the mean girl because her friend was teasing her. Ah haa, the snubber got snubbed! I know it's not what I'm supposed to be feeling, but I'm relieved. My baby girl will be able to fight back. A's heart is just so open to the world and as her mother I'm always worried that she will be the girl who suffers many heartaches, because she loves so much. Very hard for a mother to see, but I LOVE who she is and how her love for complete strangers is endless.

I had it by the tail feathers

but that damn PEACE just slips away every time. Well at least I can say I gave it a shot. We really tried to be one of those calm, simple families but my temper's too quick, my kids are too loud and my family's too big!!

How I scared peace away:
1. Hubby had a cancer scare. He's ok.
2. Dad's cancer is back. He's going to be ok.
3. Super-modern ultrasound technology scared us, but baby is ok.
4. A has learned how to be mean and I'm now THAT mom on the playground with THAT child. The kids will be ok.
5. M started yelling talking. I'm not ok, yet.

I missed y'all and can't wait to post more.