On my 30th birthday, I am thankful for...

Although my list is not overly in depth, i find my reflections to be timely...

-I am thankful that Will has finally started to go to the bathroom on his own, or at least pee. His diaper still works for a poop holder...someday that will change too. He also tells me I am his best friend. A sweet compliment from a 3 yr old.

-I am thankful for Emma's first roll on Wednesday, December 7th. Big deal for her growing life.

-I am thankful for Reese's constant energy and enthusiasm, especially at 6:00am when she tells me her eye are open and she is smiling-and that she wants hot milk and disney junior...also her affinity for birthdays, because she was sure today was her birthday. She assures me I am invited to her birthday party.

-I am thankful for my loving husband who does all he can to make my birthdays special and rememberable...or at least he says I will be surprised tonight.

I am blessed to have such wonderful family. My 20's were great, they gave me my independance, a lifelong partner, higher education, a great job, and a most importantly healthy kids. I am sure 30s will enhance all of the great things I already enjoy.
Happy Birthday to me!!!

Witches

When carving pumpkins with Grammy and Papa Bill, Grammy said something about witches.

Reese: To hell with the witches.

Alissa: Reese, what did you just say?

Reese: To HELL with the witches.

Alissa: Were id you hear that?

Reese: (without skipping a beat) Papa Bill.

Emma Rose

Reese: Mommy, can I hold Emma.

Me: Sure, but you have to be careful.

Reese: MOMMY, she won't break...

The RECORD...

I recently received this message from daycare;

"Erin-I just wanted to fill you in on Will's day...He's had a rough day. 7 time outs before lunch. Hoping for a better afternoon." -Will's Teacher.

I think he was going for the record...to think, my kid is already an overachiever!

James...

When attending a 30th birthday party with James and being 37 weeks pregnant, I asked him to carry my cell phone in case the babysitter called...

His response as he is putting the phone in his pocket..
"Erin, do you have any idea how awkward it is to carry two phones. They are heavy and it doesn't just fit right..."

After making this statement, he looked at me and the words connected to his brain...my response, "No honey, I have no idea how awkward it is to carry two phone." Then my legs go numb because the baby is resting on my nerve endings...

Feeling Dramatic

Recently added to Reese's language (thanks to Grammy Deb), when she doesn't feel quite right and tired...

"Mom, I am feeling dramatic." (I couldn't agree more!)

James and Will

Last night we decided to take potty training seriously with William. So James and I set the date for Thursday as his first diaper free day...
When James decided to tell William about the start to the rest of his diaper free life-William decided to close his eyes and 'sleep' on the counter. No arguing, no yelling, just snoring.

I think William has us figured out...

Animal Science

One week ago...
Reese: Mommy-what are these? (pointing to her chest)
Mommy: Those are nipples.
Reese: Who has nipples?
Mommy: Mammals have nipples. Anything with hair has nipples.
Reese: Do you have nipples?
Mommy: Yes, i have hair, so i have nipples.
Reese: Does daddy have nipples?
Mommy: Does daddy have hair?
Reese: Yes-so he has nipples.
Mommy:Very good.
We continued our conversations about other animals that do and do not have hair and nipples...
Reese: Mommy, does milk come out of my nipples?
Mommy: Only mommy's have milk from their nipples, to feed their baby.
Conversation ended, so i thought...

Last night...
Reese: Mommy, crocodiles have nipples.
Mommy: No, crocodiles do not have hair.
Reese: Why not?
Mommy: They are reptiles.
Reese: Whats a reptile?
Mommy: Reptiles are lizards, crocodiles, frogs-they are slimy animals without fur.
Reese: What about a butterfly?
Mommy: Butterfly's are insects, they don't have fur.
Reese: Yes, mommy, caterpillars have fur and they are a butterfly before their cocoon.

How can I argue with that?

Our black baby

Recently Aunt Lissa watched Reese and Will in her UIHC hospital room while James and I went to get an ultrasound of the newest addition to the family.

While we were gone, Reese was asking Alissa about the pictures of the baby and I was informed the conversation went something like this...

Alissa: Reese, do you know where Mommy and Daddy are?
Reese: Getting pictures of the new baby.
Alissa: That right, just like my baby (showing pictures of her most recent ultrasound of Baby J)
Reese: Lissa, will Mommy's baby be black like yours?
Alissa: Reese, there are no lights in Mommy's tummy, so all babies pictures are dark.
Reese: Oh....

Siblings

When Reese is being moody or not a good listener, William always highlights her behavior.

"Mom, Reesie not a good listener. Will a good listener. Mom-I am a good listener. Right?"

Makes me laugh, because he never misses an opportunity to point this out...

Morning chatter

My kids do not know what sleeping in is...5:45-6:15am is are usual waking time...

However, what perplexes me about this time, is Reese's need to talk...

Reese: "Mom, do dinosaurs have tails?"
Reese: "Mom, do birds have tails?"
Reese: "Mom, do owls have eggs up their butts. Mom-owls have eggs up their butt. Up their butt. Mom! Owls have eggs up their butt."
Reese: "Mom, am I a rock star?"

And this was just the first 30 seconds... I do wake up with a smile.

Bad words

Recently on a trip home from a store, Reese was very upset she did not get the chips she wanted. I stuck to my guns and told her that she was not a good listener and therefore would not be rewarded. As a tired and upset child she yelled all the way out to the car and on the way home. She then got clever...





Reese: "Mom, roll up the windows."





Mom: "Reese are you cold, here is your blanket. Will and Mommy want the windows down."





Reese: "Mom, roll up the windows or I am going to yell a bad word!"





-She did not yell the bad word, nor did the windows get rolled up-but I give her an A for creativity.

My Big Girl

I always say that I parent my kids based on their readiness to do something. Forcing something doesn't seem fun for either them or me. I thought that Reese's binky was going to be the exception to this rule, a 4 y.o. with a binky seems rediculous and annoying. Last night, completely unexpectedly and unknowningly she announced at the dinner table she was a big girl and was not going to suck on her binky! I about fell out of my chair. Daddy and I cheered her on and created as many rewards as we could in that moment. I am proud to say that last night and this morning, no binky was used. She even refused the binky when her brother handed her one... I remain optomistic that William will one day decide he doesn't want his binky either. Until then, one binky down and one to go. :)

Continuation of my 50 month sleeping through the night...

This morning (March 3)-Laying in my bed next to me-

Reese: Mommy-I slept through the night in my own bed!
Mommy: No Reese, you didn't. You came in after you went to the bathroom (at 1am).
Reese: Darn it!

March 1st, my 50 month old sleeps through the night

Yeah for Reese!!! At 50 months she slept through the night in her own bed. What makes this even more remarkable, is that she woke up in the middle of the night, went to the bathroom, and then went back to her bed!

To celebrate, we are going shopping and she can pick out anything she wants-at the Dollar Store!!! She is hoping for a 'golden treasure'.

Will's Art Work

I am sure Michelangelo started on walls before ceilings...

Juice Apples

Reese: Mom, there is juice in my apple!

Mom: There is?

Reese: Yes, these are juice apples! I love juice apples!

not ice cream

When playing with the ice cream play-dough set, Will kept forgetting that it was not real ice cream. Thankfully, it doesn't taste very good so he never actually ate any.