Grumpasaurus

There's a new kind of dinosaur living in our house now. His name is MM Grumpasaurus because he caught MG and MB's cold. I normally wouldn't say anything about him, but I can't help myself in this case. I do feel bad for him catching this cold, though, because it is a really awful one. He has to talk a lot at his work, so the sore throat part of it is pretty bad. I've managed not to get it.... yet. As long as he and I don't have it at the same time, we'll be ok!

Road Trip?

A couple of nights ago, we went out to the store. MB doesn't like the dark, so he was crying all the way home. MG decided that it would be funny if she also added ear-piercing screaming into the mix. This made MB even more upset, so it was one crazy ride home. This is one example of why we choose not to make the trip to visit my family in Tennessee right now.

I've been actually feeling sad about not visiting. My mother and brothers all want us to visit and have no understanding that this would be difficult. They've really been giving me a guilt trip. My brother tonight "Mom really needs you to come. All she talks about is those kids." It's not just feeling that the kids aren't ready. It would be a rushed trip because I used up so much time for maternity leave. We choose to take several small vacations nearby to conserve leave time. Well, sitting around worrying is no way to spend my precious free time is it?! Sigh. This is really the major thing that's bothering me.

MG is doing well in preschool. It's helping me to be able to attend it with her, too. She's improved with helping clean up her toys at home now that she has to do it at preschool. I think it's really going to help her be ready for kindergarten so that it won't be such a shock to her. Especially since we'll have all day kindergarten by that time. It's helped her socially too. Usually when I take her to my work, she looks down at her feet when my supervisor tries to talk to her. Well, not anymore!!! When she walked into the office, she said "Hi Mr. Gregor!" right to my supervisor. He was so surprised. It's so wonderful to see her growing in this way.

I got to hold a friend's little 9 month old girl today. She feels like a little feather compared to MB. My friend hasn't got to hold MB yet, but I can't wait to see the look on her face when she gives it a try. I swear MB feels twice as heavy. I'm getting something called a hip hammock to lug him around in. I do love love love his adorable chubbiness, but my poor back is having some problems with it. He has been sick for a couple of days, so I've really been holding him and rocking him a lot more. I have a carrier that just puts too much pressure on my back... it's just not made for a big baby.

Well, despite getting worried about things sometimes, I'm overall very happy. I'm much happier since having kids. It's just so much fun raising kids. They're both so sweet and funny...just like their daddy.

First Words!

Today MB talked!! I really wasn't expecting it this early...he's just 8 months old. I was in the kitchen with MB in his walker. He likes to start out at the sink, and then he walks backwards to the hallway. Whenever he does that, I always wave at him and say "bye-bye!" We've been doing this for several weeks. Today he answered me, and said "bye-bye". Then I got MG to say it to him, and he answered her too. I was so surprised! It made me cry, too. It's very bittersweet. They don't stay babies very long.

Today MG said something new, too. She was putting together a puzzle, and she said, "Chris, I need help." I thought that I was hearing things, and then she repeated it. The teacher was calling me Chris at the pre-school, so I guess that's where she picked it up. I said, "I'm Mommy! I'm Mommy!"

I've been remembering MGs first words. The very first thing she said was "Oh!" Then a little later she started saying "Wow!" I think that she started saying "kitty cat" soon after that and then "Daddy". It's funny the first words that they end up saying. Hmmm...I wonder if first words hint at the kid's character. MG is very curious and inquisitive and full of wonder of the world "WOW!" MB is ready to go go go, just as soon as he can get those chubby legs moving. "BYE-BYE!"

Preschool 2nd Day & Update on Randall

The second day of preschool went fine except that MG was a little sleepy this morning. She's not used to getting up and doing things that early in the morning. I need to work on getting her to bed earlier. She didn't want to stop playing with the toys when it was time to listen to her teacher's lesson and storytime and was the only kid standing over next to the toys looking at her feet. The assistant teacher was really good about talking her into joining the other kids. She tricked MG into thinking that she made the decision herself to join the group. She told MG that she could not play with toys, but she could stand there if she wanted to. But she wouldn't be able to hear the teacher or see the wonderful things she had brought to share with her. She finally went over and sat down with everyone else and did fine the rest of the class. I was a little embarrassed, but feel that this is all part of learning to listen to teachers and follow directions. I'm sure she'll do better as we move along.

Poor MB has a cold and a tooth coming through his gums. He's not a happy bobo right now. He has thrown up solids twice and formula once today, but is keeping down mommy's milk. I guess that must be the gentlest thing on his tummy, so I'm glad that I'm still doing that. Poor little guy. That reminds me, I held a little girl today who is 9 months old. She felt like a little feather compared to MB. When I hold or see other kids under a year old, I realize just how big he is. All kids are different and are adorable thin chunky or in-between!

I talked to my brother and found out that, Randall, (the little boy who was accidentally shot by a neighbor in TN) got to go home from the hospital last Wednesday. He is in quite a bit of pain as he heals, but he has had so many visitors and well-wishers. That has kept his spirits up. He has several critters to take care of too. He has an aquarium full of fish and two turtles to take care of. My mother went to see him and said that he is using his right arm (the one that had the mildest injury) and was feeding his turtles. His left arm is having to be reconstructed. It's very interesting. They have put part of his abdominal muscle into his arm and have actually sewn his arm to his abdomen during this process. I think he has to have it like that for a few more weeks. He's not to happy about not getting to wear clothes. He is in great spirits, though.

I'd better go. My rare hour of free time is about up. Both kids are napping, but I really had better wake MG up so that she'll go to sleep at a normal hour tonight! Have a great week!!!

First Day at Preschool

MG loved her first day at preschool. This was really a day to decide if we want to enroll her. It went really well. MG has been showing just a little shyness, but they were able to get her to participate in the activities. She was very excited about it. All the way there, she kept saying "Goin to school!" I think it will really help her.

I think that having the mothers stay at first is a good idea to help the kids make the transition. I really underestimated my supervisor. I was able to work it out just fine to take some time off to go with MG to preschool. We did experience a very small tantrum at the end because MG wanted to do her own thing, but I think it will get better as she gets more used to the routine.

Now I'm extremely tired because MB got me up twice last night. I may have to give him a little infant tynol for those teeth...poor pudgkins. He was very good for Daddy while I was away. Metal Mark is getting some father/son time which is really nice. It's also nice for MG to get some special time with me and time doing something without little bro tagging along. I think it will be really good for us all.

Chocolate COFFEE Chocolate COFFEE Chocolate COFFEE

I've kind of lost track, but I'm sure it's been more than two weeks since MB has slept through the night. And MG has got up during a couple of these nights too! What's going on here? I feel pretty zombie-like. I need some miracle zap of extra energy. I've tried to obtain extra energy from CHOCOLATE and too much COFFEE, but it is not having hardly any affect on me. I guess nothing can substitute sleep.

Getting up isn't so bad, but I have too much on my mind and then I end up not being able to go back to sleep right away. Sigh! I have noticed two teeth just barely barely poking through MB's gums, so this waking in the night must be due to teething.

It's downright cold here today!!! It feel good, but the cold weather caused me to rush out to the store to get MB something to wear. This is no easy thing. He's big for his age with thunder thighs. Very adorable, but I have to get size 24 months in pants made of stretchy material. He's tall, but not as tall as a two year old, so these pants will have to be rolled up or hemmed. Anyway, I panicked because I had very few warm things for him to wear. I did find several things today. MG has actually lost a lot of baby fat, so she can wear some things from last year.

I found a preschool that I think we like for MG. It meets just once a week and does not require the kid to be potty trained right away. The only thing we have to work out is that they like for a parent to stay with the child the first few times without siblings. I work that morning, and will have to see if I can miss a few hours of work here and there. Not so easy if your supervisor doesn't always understand about kids. Wish me luck! I think it's a very important thing for MG.

I haven't heard anything more about Randall, but I plan to call my brother to see if he got to come home today. I'll keep you posted. Take care!

Another Poopy Incident

It seems that ever since I've had kids, I'm more scatter-brained than ever. I also make lots of silly mistakes. This happens when I'm especially trying hard NOT to do something awful. Like tonight, MB had an extremely poopy diaper. He was sleeping, so I was trying to quietly change the diaper without waking him and without getting any poop smeared on anything. Well, I managed to wake him up and get poop under my fingernails. I only do things like this when I'm specifically trying not to. Poopy incidents can be really gross, but I'm getting used to them...especially since I have two kids in diapers.

The funny thing about baby poop is that prior to having babies, I would start gagging if one of the cats missed the litter pan. Now I'm immune and have become an expert at cleaning up any type of poo ball that can be thrown onto the floor...just kidding. I'm sure there's a kind that would find a way to completely freak me out. Getting it under my fingernails almost did it tonight. I really had to scrub and scrub under them with dishsoap, and I'm still considering cutting them all off! I keep sticking my fingers up my nose to try to detect if there's any slight scent of poopy. Don't ya love it?

Watching What I Say

Well, everything gets repeated. I think I've gotten better with my language, but sometimes "damn-it" slips out anyway. This is not good, because MG has started saying it when she drops something. I told her that it's a bad word and that Mommy shouldn't be saying it. It's hard to tell her not to do something if I'm constantly doing it. Teach by example, right? I've got to really really really work on my foul mouth again.

Despite that, things are going well. I'm checking into getting MG started in preschool soon. One more reason I don't want her saying "damn-it" or anything more colorful. We're still not potty trained, so I'm trying to find a preschool class that doesn't require that. Many do. I think that she would love playing with other kids and learning new things.

Kind Kids

I talked to my brother on the phone tonight to find out how Randall is doing. He's going to be in the hospital till at least next Wednesday depending how a surgery goes. He has been getting lots of "well wishes" from other little kids, and I wanted to share two of them with you that are really sweet.

One little girl from his school broke into her piggy bank and insisted that her parents give all the contents to Randall. Another little boy who has several pet turtles called to say that he wants to give them all to Randall just as soon as he gets to feeling better. Isn't it neat that these kids want to "give it all" away to help a little boy feel better?

Disturbing News

Well, two terribly sad things have happened in the last few days. My brother's 8 year old brother-in-law was shot by accident on Saturday. He is the epitome of Huckleberry Finn...always playing in the creek and woods catching turtles, snakes and frogs. Around 3pm on Saturday, he was out in the woods looking for turtles. Somehow, a neighbor shot Randall. Both of his arms were injured. His right arm is going to be ok, but his left arm was hurt badly, shattering the bone and severely injuring the muscle. He was in serious condition and will be in the hospital for a while. The doctors don't know if he'll lose his arm or not.

This little boy is a tough little guy. I feel that he'll make it through this, but it really makes me upset that this happened. I don't know all the details, but it sounds like the neighbor thought he was a stray dog and was trying to scare away from his property. Please keep this little guy in your prayers. He's going to have a tough time staying inside and resting while his arms try to heal.

MM and I had been discussing what books and dvds to send Randall to help him feel better and give him something to do. Of course, we talked about The Crocodile Hunter show. Randall is one of his biggest fans.
It really was a shock when I learned that Steve Irwin died. It made my heart hurt just to think about it, and it was so upsetting especially after hearing about what happened to Randall. We really liked Steve Irwin too. He was just so funny and so wonderful in his work with animals and educating everyone ...especially kids...about them. I feel sad for his wife and kids. I'm also worried about how it'll affect Randall.

I feel better writing about all this. Both things are weighing heavily on my mind. I am very thankful that the little boy wasn't shot anywhere worse. It's a miracle that he wasn't killed. We are going to send him the books and a dvd about reptiles. I hope that will help him. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

***I wrote in green for all the lovely crocodiles, snakes, frogs, turtles and other slithering crawling things that little boys love.