Another Rainy Day

Another rainy day and the baby is asleep...here's what is happening in the house:

I broke down and let Lily get her jewelry-making kit out. She received this from a classmate for her birthday. This is the kind of gift we (Brian and I) dread--Brian also dreads makeup gifts. I would get this gift for my sister's daughter because I think it's funny to do things like that. :) Anyway, we've put this present off for 8 months and I had to finally allow it to come out. She wants to make jewelry for me and all her girl-classmates. :) It is keeping her busy!

Samuel wanted me to take another picture of him in this pose. Maybe he's embarrassed to be caught watching Lily make jewelry.

Obsessed much? Hunter wearing his Ben 10 shirt, just finished his Ben 10 Wii game (because Mom is no help!) and is now watching a Ben 10 cartoon. As I type this, though, he's in the kitchen talking Lily into letting him make some jewelry. :)

Hunter did talk Lily into sharing her supplies so I got out the lacing beads for Samuel. I think I got these in the dollar section at Target awhile back. Looks like we'll keep busy today...

Independence Day

(* Samuel is in a no-shirt phase of his life*) Happy 4th of July! It's been a fun but exhausting weekend. Friday, my Mom, sister and I went shopping at an outlet mall--tons of good deals!! Saturday, we were at Brian's parents' house. We played outside a ton and it was miserably hot--but super fun! Today, we went to my parents' house and had fun swimming and playing Uno (I won 3x!). :) We are all pretty wiped out and I am really looking forward to the next 2 days of having Brian home and relaxing from all this busyness!

Big Day

1) I had taken Hunter into school and was back outside getting the others out of the van (don't usually have to do those 2 separately but I was actually late)...anyway, Lily said, "I see a deer." and I said, "Oh, you do not." and she said, "What is that?" so I look...it's a deer! Ha! Right next to the playground. I was able to get her and Samuel out in time to see the doe run away. How exciting! I guess she knows what she's talking about.

2) Samuel proudly told the teacher (Hunter's tutor) that he pooped in the potty. She congratulated him and he smiled big at me. The only thing is that he has NOT, in fact, pooped in the potty.

3) After we got home from school and I let Samuel out of his seat, I grabbed the baby and the diaper bag and headed inside (the twins are always up and out of the van in a rush). I locked the door, as I usually do, and looked around. What's missing? Oh yeah, Samuel. I rushed back outside w/the baby. There he is...opening the gas tank door on the van.

4)I survived a trip to Target w/4 children. There were 2 tantrums, a bloody lip (not caused by me--ha!) and a threat of "you will NOT get a (free) cookie if you do not stop (fill-in-the-blank)" given to 2 children.

6 Months Old

Nathan has been with us for half a year now. How is that possible? It feels like forever but it's gone fast, too.

He is still a happy, easygoing baby. He doesn't cry much and we appreciate that about him! My only complaint is that he seems to be interested in his Daddy much more than his Mommy. Boo hoo! Of course he likes me but he looks at Brian with just adoration and anticipation of what crazy thing he will do today. Ha!

Other than that, he's perfectly on track. He had his appointment today--weighs a whopping 22 lbs, 4 oz. Oh...and he did say "Ma Ma" the other day. I know he doesn't know that's me but it was still cute!

Nathan's Blanket

My 1st 3 children were given cross-stitched blankets by my Grandma--the twins have animals and Samuel has Eeyore. Unfortunately, my Grandma is not able to keep up with the demand anymore--it's hard work! However, my Mom found the cutest pattern in a magazine so my Dad found someone to cross-stitch it for us. Here is the end result. It's the cutest blanket!!

This Is My Daughter

Brian just told Lily: "You are so your mother." It's so true. I asked for someone to pick up the movies (there was a handful on the floor at that time) and Lily jumped at the chance. She then pulled them all out (this is starting to sound like my Mom now) and decided she would organize them by type. All the Barbie movies together, Strawberry Shortcake movies, etc. Ingenious. :) She's enjoying it, too--just like me. In fact, I just finished laminating a blank to-do list...

Oh...and Lily is in pajamas w/uncombed hair because she didn't feel well and even threw up this morning. This is the story of our lives for the past year.

No Lie

This kid here started potty training himself. No lie. I had made some attempts but it was hard trying to balance baby-care and potty training. We talked about it a lot but he was very resistant when we brought it up. His exact words were, "Me HATE the potty.". Then, yesterday, he told me that he wanted to sit on the potty. I was like, yeah, whatever... Hunter was reading me his story so I just told him to take his pull up off and sit down. Well, he did--he went from little potty to big potty repeatedly (stark naked!) for about 45 minutes. Then, I peek in at him (he did NOT want me in the room and I was so hopeful at that point, I was okay w/that) and I see him going!! Wow! I asked him if he went and he said no. I showed him that he did and congratulated him and he wanted none of it!! He finally did pick some gum and stickers (I was ready) but didn't want to tell anyone (I didn't tell him I had already sent out a mass text).

He went again last night and then today, he woke up dry and went to the potty. He is not wearing a pull up right now and I am okay with that because he's been to the potty a couple times and has gone. I can't even believe it. And I was worried--not really but I was feeling the pressure to get him trained. He was the same way w/the pacifier--I didn't think he'd ever give it up but one day he just said he was done. This is even better than giving up the paci, though. He has told me a couple times that he is a BIG BOY. Yeah!!

*Disclaimer: I realize things could change at any second. I did tell him we will NOT be buying any more pull ups. We'll see if we can make this stick.*