Breakfast with Creepy Doll

Dangerous Fun

Amity Moves

A few years ago, when I was still at the EBSPCA, I hired a woman to run the veterinary clinics. I had three candidates and when I met her, there was no question she was the one. It was a good decision on my part and the clinics thrived under her watchful eye . When I was there, we became friends, comparing notes on kids, pumping, annoying bosses and when I left, we became even closer talking about fertility, husbands, and much more.

So, it's quite sad that she is moving to Virginia on Monday. Her husband is in the Coast Guard so they move around every few years. I'll miss her a lot.

Here is what she had to say on her 'Rachel inspired' newly created blog.

Coincidence?

With some time to spare this morning before Jessica arrived and Parker and I left for Fun Friday, I took the kids on a walk around the block. They all walked the whole way which was quite nice for me. Zeke actually joined us too, which made it very exciting when a dog came by.

When we rounded the corner, I was chatting with Parker about whether he could see our house yet and asked him, "How many houses until our house?" He thought for a second and said, "!0!" 10 is a pretty popular answer for many number questions so I didn't think anything of it. I actually thought it was more like 7, but we started counting.

The first house is 3801!
The second house is 3817!
and so on.

And what did you know...the 10th house was 3863....our house.

Coincidence or another example of Parker's strange little mind.

Comfy?

This is how Michael found Parker sleeping the other day when he went up to close the window.

Actually...

Parker is still fond of the word Actually.

Last night, we were having dinner (pasta with shrimp and broccoli) and Parker hadn't touched his broccoli and I said, "Parker it's time to eat some broccoli. Broccoli is delicious."

He turned to look at me and said very seriously, "Actually...broccoli is yucky."

Michael and I cracked up and couldn't stop laughing.

How about them apples?

Parker grabbed an apple yesterday and started eating. The girls immediately thought this was the coolest thing in town and demanded bites. Parker was very good about sharing and gave each girl alternating bites. I asked him, when it was clear this wouldn't stop, if he wanted another apple, he said, "No, get one for Elizabeth and Miranda." So I took a big apple, cut it in half and they all sat quietly on the couch for a long while eating their apples.

Potty Training

We've started some preliminary potty training over here at Chez Long. Nothing too fancy yet, but changing the girls in the bathroom, having them sit on the toilet before a diaper change, letting them be a bit more diaper free.

This morning, Elizabeth pointed to her butt. I asked her if she needed to go pee pee or poop. She didn't really answer. I told her if she wanted to go sit on the potty that she had to take her jammies and diaper off.

So, she did. Then sat on the little potty on the ground. I got distracted with Miranda for a moment and then next thing I know, Elizabeth had taken the insert (full of pee) and poured it into the toilet and then flushed.

Very cool.



Oh, and just moments later, she got some tissue, blew her nose and then put it in the garbage.

Anything is good cooked in oil and garlic.

Fancy Track

Parker, Michael and I made a fancy track last night after the girls had gone to bed. I'm usually quite bad at this kind of thing, but with a little help from Dad, it came out very nicely and Parker was very happy.

preschool camp day three

No issues today. They made ice-cream and black playdough with glitter in it. I think it had to do with rocks. (It was a rock and roll themed week.)

The girls played on the tire swing until dizzy Miranda tried to jump off and jumped into Elizabeth. It was all down hill from there.

More reading

The girls are still obsessed with the Wheels on the Bus book. Today they ripped off a wheel and then were annoyed when it wasn't there for them to spin.

Drinking

Little cup, big bottle.

Too cool for school?

The kids wanted to wear sunglasses to take Parker to preschool camp.

Horsey

A while ago, a new thing entered the bed time routine. I'm not sure when it started exactly or even why, but every time before the girls go to sleep (for naps or at night), they have to say good night to this rocking horse that Amity gave us. At first they would just say night night, then they started kissing it, now they sort of hug it and lean on it for as long as you let them. Elizabeth usually does it first and I have to physically remove her to let Miranda who is waiting patiently to do the same. If Miranda happens to get there first, Elizabeth tells her "all done" when she get impatient. The whole thing is very bizarre.

Pre-school camp day two

When I went to get Parker today, I braced myself for the worst, but when he came running out of the room jumping and smiling, I was very relieved. Teacher Dale said he did great and had fun all day. I'm sure the giant marble run that she said up in the am (with a jump and flip) helped. He said he played outside a lot and even rode bikes, but who knows. Elizabeth and Miranda love dropping him off and picking him up because they get to play in the playground area with really dangerous age inappropriate stuff. Fun. Fun.

Preschool Camp Day One

I took Parker to his first day of preschool camp today. A friend watched the gals so I could ensure Parker was settled on day one. He was a tad clingy for the first couple minutes, but then when he saw all the cool stuff he basically forgot I was there. So when Circle Time started 15 minutes after camp began, I said my good byes and left. Before doing so a couple moms who were working (it's a co-op camp) said, Is this is first day here? Wow, he is doing really well. He adjusts so quickly! I smiled and nodded.

So, when I went to get him just 2 hours later (I had the girls with me this time), he was in tears. He immediately came over and hugged me saying he wanted to fix the track. Two working moms told me he was great all morning until about 15 minutes ago when he started asking for mommy. I spoke with the teacher just before walking to the car and she said, "Yes, he was upset about cleaning up the tracks when he wanted to fix the bridge." I thought no one knew why he was upset so I was glad to see she was paying attention. She gave me some tips about how to handle it and said, "Crying is ok here." She should come to our house. ;)

As we were leaving, a mom said "He is sure is good with numbers." No, really?

Adam Jacob Novik

Adam Jacob joined the world today at 6:11am. He was 7 pounds 11 ounces at birth and 20 3/4 inches long.

Mom (who had a natural birth), Baby and Dad Sam are all doing extremely well.


Congrats to all!

Ted's trip

Ted went missing tonight at Parker's bedtime. Rachel, Parker, and I looked all over for old Ted, and he was nowhere to be found. Parker had just been playing with Ted and Lion, and we knew he couldn't have gone far.

Parker said he was in the kitchen, but he wasn't in the kitchen. He said he was in the hamper, but the hamper wasn't there. Parker isn't always the most reliable witness, unfortunately. We looked in all the cupboards and all the drawers. We looked in the pantry, and under the train table, and behind the couch. That bear was nowhere.

Finally, we gave up. Sometimes Ted goes on trips, and Parker has to sleep without him. So Parker went upstairs for books with Mommy, and I went in to finish cleaning the kitchen. And only then did I happen to look up.

Issac and Owen Turn 2

We went to twins Issac and Owen's birthday party today. It was at Dimond Park right near our house. In addition to the birthday boys, all the twin families were there including Stella and Marley, Paul and Imogen, Marley and Malena, Fletcher and Sebastian, Cole and Sydney and pictured here Sammie and Charlie as well as



Sophia and Juliana (with dad Steve). They don't know it yet, but they will be getting a little brother in October.



Elizabeth wanted to climb this tree after she saw a three year old it.



But she was happy enough to eat some cake with her siblings and




Hang on this fire truck (a big hit with everyone.)


People who hadn't seen Elizabeth climb were impressed. They kept rushing to "save her", but she didn't need any saving. Miranda, on the other hand, did as she tried to copy Eli.