Dr. John

Today we were getting ready to go outside. I had asked John to grab his shoes and bring them to me so we could put them on and get going. He wasn't obeying, and my head was killing me (I've had a pounding sinus headache today). Finally I told him "I need you to help me because Mama's head really hurts". He promptly responded "Maybe you should put some cream on your bottom." All these years people have struggled with headaches, and the fix is so easy. I'm guessing he came up with that because the antibiotic has been rough on his tummy, and thus rough on his bottom, and we've been putting cream on it to make it better. Either way, it was pretty comical.

Cheese Heads

OK, this time I'm WAY overdue, so it's going to be long. We've been recovering for quite some time.

Two Wednesdays ago we left for a lovely drive up to Wisconsin for Aunt Shannon's 40th birthday. 15 hours or so later, we arrived. There and back we drove through the night, or should I say Buck drove through the night. That and the DVD player coupled with the fact that our children are amazing made the drive almost easy. It wasn't really any tougher than if we were making the drive alone. John and Eve were both amazingly great in the car. We borrowed Mom's van (WHEW! That was nice!) and they were such troopers. The only little bit of fussing or complaining was about an hour before we got to Wisconsin, and I was pretty antsy too.

We spent 3 days with family, managed to see them all, and had a blast! John was particularly fond of Cousin David's room and all of his cool toys. He was so excited about all the toys that even though he'd only slept 6 or 7 hours the previous night in the car (compared to the normal 11 or 12), he didn't even nap the next day! He really enjoyed being with family and playing with his cousins, David in particular. When we were psyching him up for the trip he got so very excited. We were going to "Miss Consin" to go swimming and see Cousin David. He told everybody he saw, and woke up each morning and after each nap asking if we could go right then. Little did he know it was such a long trip to go swimming! At any rate, it was such a great time with family. Unfortunately John spiked a fever while we were there and things started to go downhill. Looking back on it, I should've seen it, but didn't. The night before we left he was crying in bed. I went to check on him and he was crying in his sleep. I thought it was a nightmare and finally managed to calm him down. Mom said the day we left he put his hand on his head and said his boo boo hurt, but he hadn't fallen. Both John and Eve really started to unravel as the visit went on, but I kind of thought it was just being in a different place with so much excitement and no schedule. Come to find out when we got home that Eve was starting an ear infection and both of John's ears were badly infected with blisters in them. They were both put on antibiotics for their ears. They both had nasty noses and coughs, too. Needless to say, last week was just about recovering and getting back to schedule...and about blowout diapers. We put stinky diapers in grocery bags before we throw them in the trash. We usually have a huge pile of them. This is the only time I've ever run out! John seems to be feeling better; although, even when his ears were really bad only half the time did he say they hurt. It's hard to tell. Eve seems to be feeling well for part of the day and pretty cruddy other parts of the day.

As far as what they're doing these days...

John cracks us up more and more with what he says and does. It's so fun to watch his little mind work. He's constantly correcting us for saying "yep" since we decided we didn't want him saying that. We haven't figured a way to explain casual situations versus formal questions, so it's just turned into "don't say yep, Mom" and we just concede that we're wrong. I know that's only going to get worse. John has been going through a nasty tantrum phase. Today was actually really good, I don't think we had any. It's been so hard for me to tell if it's attitude or not feeling well. I think it's probably been a combination, but it's been one long one (pushing an hour or so) after another. Eventually he'll sit in one place and finally calm down and is able to calmly say "Mama, I'm calm". The frustration of the tantrum lasting so long and still not getting what he wanted doesn't seem to ward off any future tantrums, though. Surely he'll figure it out. On a more positive note, though, he did the sweetest thing ever ever ever last night. Eve was super tired in the car and fussing and fussing. He started singing in the sweetest high voice (I've never heard him do this) a mixture of Silent Night and Away in a Manger to her, then he kept telling her we were almost home. I still can't get over how sweet that was. Today he was pulling her around in the wagon. He really is so sweet to her, and in general. Oh, and he's started to test out different fake laughs. I wish I could describe them adequately, but I just can't. Suffice it to say, it's hilarious.

Eve has gotten to be very fast. She plays around a lot on her own, but has started to develop a little bit of an attitude and makes it well known when she's ready for someone to pay attention to her or when she's frustrated. She refuses to lay on her back when being changed and hates getting dressed, but she's pretty much always hated that. She blows more raspberries than anyone I've ever known. She just started snooting and shaking her head back and forth (not to say no, just to be cute), and even does it in response to someone else doing it. Both of those are very very cute. She's becoming much more independent with play and eating, but on the flip side she's started to snuggle more. She still likes to sit with me, but not for as long. She's much too busy. Unfortunately she hasn't been sleeping well lately, but I'm hoping that has to do with her not feeling well. She has also seemed to turn into a picky eater lately, but I think that may be because we haven't figured out the best schedule for feeding her. Oh, one of the cutest things, she's started to wave. I don't think she actually means to. I think she just thinks it's cool that her hand can open and close like that, but she does it pretty often, and John never has waved much, so it's really cute to me.

Today in Pictures

I guess I just got a bug today, or maybe it was just about that time. I seem to have taken a lot of pictures. Here are a few.This one was actually taken a few days ago. Shhhh! TV is talking! We're such bad parents.

John had his first Krispy Kreme today. Again, to have waited this long...we're such bad parents.

Gotta do better with the second one. Eve gives them a thumbs up!John and I baked cupcakes for Grandma's birthday today. He quickly learned the skill of licking the beater (or the "drill" as we call it...helps make cupcakes more manly).
He learned from an old pro.

John was very creative with mixing the icing.

Until he got caught red-handed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!!!
Took some pictures of Eve today and I think I finally kind of captured her blue eyes.
Here she is at 8 months plus a week or so.

This is John at about 6 months.

Eve again. Her poor face is really chapped from all the drooling and the dry dry air.
John again.

Important Milestone

They don't put a place in the baby books, but they should...at least for boys. John reached an important milestone yesterday. He stuck his first foreign object up his nose. He was playing with play-doh while Buck was on the phone with his boss. John told Buck his boo boo hurt and pointed to his nose. Buck asked his boss to hold on while he extracted play-doh from John's nose. He had to blow his nose a few times, but the glob finally came out. What color was he playing with? Green, of course.

My Hard-to-Discipline Child

I have two stories about John.

1. He has seen people play hide and seek, but doesn't quite get the concept. He has started enjoying hiding under the fitted sheet on his bed. I found him under it the other morning and thought it was funny. Now, it's a regular occurance. He keeps hiding under there and asking me to count (here's where the hide and seek comes in). The funny part is that he counts with me...loudly. He doesn't really expect me to look for him either. We'll work on that game some more later, I guess. He also has evidently become a hoarder. This morning when I went in to get him, I expected him to be under his sheet, but didn't expect to also find: his pacifiers, his blankets, a handful of stuffed animals, a few shoes, his turtle night light, a few stickers (that he got for going pee pee on the potty and decided to put on his belly), and I think a few other things. It was pretty funny. Goodness knows what I'll find tomorrow morning!

2. Yesterday was tough for me because John wasn't wanting to obey, and I was irritable. God sure has a way of working these things out. I don't even remember what John had done, but time out wasn't working (he wouldn't sit there), spankings weren't really helping, and I couldn't think of any good threats. I was just frustrated and he wouldn't obey, so I took him up to his room. I told him he had made me angry, and he could stay there until I calmed down (usually it's until he calms down). He wasn't upset at all, and I don't think he learned anything from it, but I got to breathe and finish feeding Eve. When she was done and I had calmed down, I went upstairs to talk to him. I asked him to sit in front of me and listen while I explained why he was in time out. Fortunately I had calmed down. The whole time he was distracted and playing with other things. He started with the dresser drawers, the walked to the other side of me. He started making funny faces at me, then started raspberries. Finally he pursed his lips in a funny kissy face (I don't really know how to describe it with words) and got closer and closer to my face...while I was talking and explaining discipline to him, mind you. He finally touched my lips with his silly-face lips and stood there, backed up, and continued to come closer, stand there, and back up again. How in the world I finished that without laughing and peeing my pants, I have no idea, but God really managed to lighten my mood.

How Time Flies

It really hasn't been that long since I posted, but it seems like I'm so far behind. Maybe it's beena while because John has just been beside himself lately. I think we're in a fit pitching phase. Oh, it's so nice when those pass. He's just really had trouble controlling his emotions and calming down. In between, though, I have to give him lots of credit. His manners have been unbelievable! I really am proud of him for that. He also keeps saying the funniest things. If only I could remember them all! One of his cute things lately is asking "really?". For example, he has superhero magnets he got for Christmas. He likes to take them off the fridge and ask who they are (sometimes we have to call Daddy because Mama doesn't know them all). Last week he picked one I knew. "Who's this?" "That's Wolverine" "Really?". You have to hear his voice. He still makes it go super high as he gets to the end of his question. It's so cute and funny.

Eve has done a lot lately. She went to an occupational therapist for her eating. I felt kind of silly because she seems to have figured it out and is eating fine, but I figured why not be proactive and make sure it doesn't develop a speech problem later. To sum it up, her gross, fine, and oral motor skills are at the advanced side of normal. She may always stick her tongue out when she's concentrating (just like Michael Jordan) but she's able to overcome that and they don't think it'll cause any speech issues. She doesn't seem to have any sensitivity issues or weaknesses with her tongue now. They suggested that she may not be eating a whole lot because of 1. my scheduling (I should wait until she's more hungry), and 2. her developmental skills make her more independent and she wants to have more of a role in her eating. That fleshes out into MESSY! It was interesting to sit in the assessment, and I got a little puffed up as they raved about her. Speaking of motor skills, today marked the end of an era. She's been moving around pretty quickly lately. Today I had her up in the play room while I finished mopping the floor downstairs. The playroom is upstairs, but has three steps down into the room. She was pretty upset that I left her...separation anxiety is starting to kick in. So upset that I found her in the hallway upstairs. She had just made her way to the top of the three stairs. I'm so glad I found her right at that moment. The top of those three stairs is only 3 or 4 feet from the top of the main stairway! We'll be putting a gate up sometime this week, needless to say!