The Paci Has GOT to Go

So if you've seen more than one picture of Cameron, I'm sure you are aware that he likes loves his paci.  It's the "don't leave home without it" kind of thing.  For Alex is was his "blankie" - we only made the mistake of forgetting that on one trip to Megan's & had to break down & go to Walmart in search of a replacement.  The replacement got us home but was discarded as soon as we walked in the door in place of the real thing.

Cameron goes to bed right around 8:00 - that's his choice.  When he goes to bed, he wants something to drink though he'll go without it & he wants his paci - which he will not go without.  He won't say "hey Mama, I'm ready for bed" - that would be too easy.  He instead says "Mama, Mama, Mama" until I finally answer & then nothing - he bascially wants me to look at him when I can see how tired he is I'll ask if he wants to go to bed & he'll nod.  That's the extent of the "speaking" part of his half of the conversation - grunting & "Mama" - not because he can't talk - because he won't talk.  I'll work on that one right after I fix this paci issue as that was the bane of my existence today.

With Ethan there wasn't anything in particular that he HAD to have so we didn't know better when we introduced this blankie to Alex and thought it was so cute how much he liked it.  It wasn't until later when we realized that this particular blanket is a specialty item (given as a gift by my boss when I had Ethan & Ethan gave it to Alex as he never was into any ONE thing) that it could be a problem & was when we couldn't find it or as mentioned before, forgot to take it somewhere with us.  This brings us back to Cameron.  We knew better with Cameron - we have no excuses.  Hey - we didn't get him a one of a kind blankie or stuffed animal.  We got him a paci - we made sure we had more than one at all times.  We can't go wrong, right?  WRONG....we've been to the store late at night on more than one occasion to buy a new set of pacis when they vanish into thin air.  Now, however, he's 19 months old (almost 20) - we're not buying more pacis.  He needs to give them up.  If you've seen him lately, you know that's not really happening.  I decided today it needed to.

I didn't just "decide" really - I was driven to this great idea by the fact that from the moment I got home from work tonight I didn't see a paci anywhere.  Steve was fixing dinner - he'd be leaving for work right after we ate then it would be homework time & a little play before bed.  I wasn't the one home today but would be the one putting him to bed so I usually make sure I know where a paci is before Steve is gone.  Did I mention it's Monday & most everything about my day screamed "MONDAY" so why would this be any different?  I forgot to ask Steve about the paci.

So I'm doing homework with Ethan when the grunting "Mama" conversation starts.  It was early tonight - started around 7 but he's been eating a lot & sleeping a lot the past few days so I didn't think that odd - growth spurt time I guess.  I kept telling him to go upstairs & play with Alex while we finished homework.  Finally I gave up & told Ethan to go ahead & put him in his crib.  He was essentially begging us to do it.  Ethan came back downstairs - finished the last little bit of homework through Cameron's wailing & I told him, "ok, time to find the paci."  Ethan went up to look for it & called back down, "Mama, he just wants you."  I was in the kitchen checking counters, floor, fridge, etc & yelled back that he didn't really want me, he just wanted the paci.  We traded places - Ethan went downstairs to check the toy bin, pack-n-play, etc while I went to Cameron.  Alex is now in the game looking through the mess we call "Ethan's room" where they'd been playing.  Cameron whiningly says "Mama" - I give him his sippy cup - he chills out, drinks a little then starts the "Mama" wail again.  I said, "I know, honey, I'm looking for it.  Do you know where your paci is?"  He shook his head yes.  I let him out & he went to Ethan's room & then Alex's & started to go downstairs.  At this point Ethan & I have both checked all areas of the 1st floor - I vetoed his decision to go downstairs - it wasn't down there.

I told Ethan to get his library book & we read instead.  Cameron calmly drank his milk while I read the bedtime story to them & then we said prayers.  When we finished, I sent Ethan & Alex out of the room & told Cameron that we couldn't find a paci but it was bedtime.  He snuggled into my shoulder and then pulled back.  I said, "I think it's time we give up the paci anyway.  Right?"  He shook his head yes in agreement.  "You can do it, right? You don't need that silly paci."  He smiled & again shook his head - apparently that was a shaking of his head as if to say "yes, I do need it" because he started wailing again as soon as I put him in the crib.  Ethan & Alex then got to help me straighten most of Ethan's room & then again I moved the crib away from the wall to check behind & under it.  This was after I called Steve & he assured me Cameron had a paci at naptime & then didn't bring it out of the crib after nap so it "must" be there.  It wasn't but I did find one of the pacis we had before the last late night trip to RiteAid for new ones.  The problem is - with that trip to RiteAid, we had to switch to latex instead of rubber pacis because they didn't have the rubber ones & now he doesn't like the rubber ones anymore...the old one was rubber.  I happily told him I found it - the wailing ceased instantly & I went to wash it.  I brought it back & gave it to him & he looked at it like I was giving him a completely foreign object & handed it right back to me.  I gave it back & said, "it's just the old one sweety.  Go ahead, it really is a paci."  He again handed it right back though this time he did get it closer to his mouth first.  So I took him & the paci out of the crib & sat with him - he again gave me the paci.  So I sucked on it for a few minutes to prove it really was a paci then tried again to give it to him.  Nope - he wouldn't take it.  I told him it was all we had & he'd have to take it & put him in the crib & walked away....

Instant wailing again - wailing in itself I could stand but the fact that he was wailing "Mama" as if to say - "how could you do this to me, you are the only one who can help me, please Mama, please help me" - that is a bit beyond what I can stand for a Monday night.  I went back to Ethan's room which is still utter chaos & again got the boys out of bed to help me look....finally, I found another old paci - this one oddly is latex that he refused earlier in the paci progression at about 6 months old so we had to find more rubber ones.  He decided though later that latex were ok & started using that one again about 4 months ago so we now have 3 "good" pacis - the 2 we bought last & this old one.  You have absolutely no idea how happy I was to find this paci which, by the way, we hadn't seen in a week.  I washed it, took it to a wailing Cameron who happily took it, ceased all noises, laid down contentedly & went to sleep in roughly 4 minutes.

From start of the "find the paci" game to the end was roughly an hour and 15 minutes.  I still did not find either of the newest 2 pacis that we have & which he had this morning when I left for work.  Tomorrow either before I get home from work or when I get home from work, Ethan's entire room will be cleaned & I'm fairly certain there will be at least 2 pacis found in the clutter.  Also, Cameron is now allowed to have a paci at naptime & bedtime & no other time....in a couple of weeks, those will be gone as well.  I can't handle another hour+ search for a paci.  My meds just aren't strong enough to sustain that :)

Conversations

Ethan – On earrings

Mama, [D] has another earring. 

He does – he got another one? 

No, he dust has an earring.

Yes, he does.  His Mama & Daddy said it was ok so he has an earring.

I’m gonna get a earring, too.

(Alex) Me get earring when I get bigger me get earring, too.

No – the only people in our house who will have earrings is Mama unless they are over 18.  When you are 18, if you want an earring, you can get one.  Until then, only Mama will have one.

Well, but I want to have one when I’m 10.

No, when you are 18 if you want one, that’s fine.  If Mama & Daddy say it’s ok for you to have an earring you can but otherwise, you have to wait until you are 18.

But D has one.

Yes, that’s because D’s Mama & Daddy said he could.  For him, that is completely fine – there is nothing wrong with it.  But your Mama & Daddy said no so you can’t have one.  When you are 18, you can make your own decisions and if you want one then, you can get an earring but right now, you have to get permission from Mama & Daddy and we said no.

Ok, but when I’m 10, I can get one.

No, when you are 10, Mama & Daddy will still make your decisions and Mama will say no.  If you ask Daddy and he says yes, the answer is still no because Mama already said no and you can’t ask Daddy if Mama already said no.  When you are 18, you are old enough to make your own decisions so you can do it if you want to and if you pay for it yourself.  Until then, Mama & Daddy make your decisions so the answer is no.

(Alex) Only Mama can have an earring because boys can’t have earrings.

No, boys can have earrings if their Mama & Daddy say they can.  Your Mama said no so you have to wait until you are 18 and then, even though you are a boy, if you want an earring, you can have one when you are 18.

Ok then – I don’t want an earring anyway though.

Alex – On Spiderman (at church this past Sunday)
Mama, I’m Spiderman.

Ok, then.

I’m Spiderman, so I can do this [points his hand at the wall] and do this [some sort of funky somersault] and then do this [points his hand at the other wall] and make you dust fall down.

You think, so, huh?

Yep, cause I’m Spiderman.

pause in the Spiderman topic at which point I think that conversation is completely over

Can me push the button?

Yes, push “2” please. 

Ok – this one right here.  Me push it cause me can push the button. 

Are you going to be my helper this morning and help me sing & dance & push the button on “The Love Machine?”

Yep.  Me will help you.

Good, cause you are a good helper.

Elevator doors open [does some sort of spin kick move out of the elevator] Yeah, cause I’m Spiderman & Spiderman helps people [points at walls & people at random as if like Spiderman trying to shoot webs at people].

Cameron – on not being held
Uuuu, aaa, uuu

Just a minute Cameron, I have to finish fixing your brothers something to eat.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, uuuuuuuuuuuuu [silence while he plays a few minutes] uuuuuuuuuuu, aaaaaaaaaaaaa, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, aaaaaaaaaa, uuuuuuuuuu [silence while he plays], UUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Boys!  Dinner is ready.  Hurry so I can get Cameron!  Cameron James – I’m coming, calm down, you are fine. [said while walking towards him]

Instant silence and big smile
[I pick up a sippy cup and go back to the kitchen to fill it for Alex] Instant AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cameron – I am coming.  I promise.  I will pick you up [said over his screaming from the kitchen]  I really am coming.  Here Alex [give Alex his drink, turn to leave kitchen]. 

(Ethan) Mama, where’s my drink?

Where’s your cup? [said with an exaggerated tone while I ignore the continual whining from the other room – total whining as there is not 1 tear on the boy’s face – it’s all just noise (and it’s not that he’s dehydrated as I changed him prior to this conversation which started because I put him in the pack-n-play after changing him rather than sitting down to hold him and he peed again during the conversation)]

(Ethan) I don’t know.

You get a drink when I get your cup that you had 2 minutes ago that I told you not to drink all of so you’d have it for dinner.  Find it immediately before I go to Cameron or you’ll wait till I’m done with him before you get it. [again, ignoring the constant AAAAAAAAAAA from the front room]

(Ethan) Oh, look, here it is. [full]

Good now sit down and eat.  Cameron, I’m coming.  I am coming right now [walking towards him].  See, here I am.

Instant silence and huge smile

You are completely rotten – all the way to your core – I just had to fix your brothers something to eat before I could get you.  You were fine.  [as I pick him up]

Giggle – duck head – lay on my shoulder – go immediately to sleep

*Note – this child is absolutely rotten beyond belief.  All that screaming just so he could snuggle & go to sleep*

It's the little things that get the best compliments

Steve called today to tell me the snow is now packable and therefore "snowman ready."  Ethan was all set when I picked the boys up from daycare this evening.  I told him we'd check the snow when we got home and if we could make a snowman, we would.

We got home and I checked the snow already thinking Steve was mistaken.  Sure enough, the snow just crumbled in my hand - wouldn't pack at all.  I'm thinking if you have no gloves on (which Steve likely didn't but I did and Ethan would), the heat from your hands may make it packable and therefore good snowman making snow.  However, this will also give you frostbite as to make the snowman, you'd be touching that snow an awfully long time and it's bitingly cold (frost-bitingly even).  So I had to break the news to Ethan that we couldn't build a snowman because the snow just wasn't right. 

His face fell, "but I want to pway in the snow wiff you and Owix; I don't want to fix dinna."  I had told him if we could make a snowman we would but if we couldn't, I'd need to fix dinner.  I told him to go on in the house and I'd get him dressed and let him play while I fixed dinner.  He said, "wiff Owix?"  Alex's cheeks are still chapped from our last snowy adventure and as the sun goes down, so does his energy level so I decided Alex should stay inside with me which also meant I could actually fix dinner and not stand outside with Alex helping him up every few minutes.  Ethan decided it was ok as long as HE still got to play in the snow. 

In the house, Ethan stripped off his pants so we could put 2 layers of better pants on for added warmth, then the snowboots with pants tucked in, the gloves and hat (coat never came off) and he was ready to go.  I opened the back door and out he went. 

As you can see, he was quite happy to be out there.  The first thing he did was unstack those little chairs you see laying beside him in the snow.  I then asked him to stack them back up so they wouldn't blow away and as I helped him do that, he showed me the gaping hole in the snow where they had been "stuck":  "Dey was stuck wight dere, Mama.  Look at da grass.  I'm gonna put snow on it."  And he proceeded to do just that as I went back in the house. 

Alex proceeded to lay on a pillow with his sippy, paci & blanket right over the gate from the kitchen into the living room.  He was not at all concerned with the fact that he wasn't outside - he was tired and completely content to lay right there until it was time to eat.  He was just resting up before dinner actually because he was full of energy when I said it was ready - jumped right up and started grunting for me to move the gate.

I had already given Ethan the 5 minute warning and he's said "Ok, Mama."  Because the stipulation to go outside when I'm fixing dinner whether in the snow or in the sunshine is that he has to come in when I say it's time.  However, when I said, "it's time to come in, Ethan.  Dinner's ready."  He said, "NO!  It's not time.  I'm not coming."  I said, "Yes, you need to come in."  E: "No.  I don't want dinna.  I want to play in the snow."  Me: "If you don't come in right now, you won't play in the snow at all the next time it snows or anymore in this snow."  E:  "No.  I'm staying right here."  I looked at him and waited a second for my last statement to sink in because he's almost said "no" before I got the statement out of my mouth.  Yep, it registered.  Not a word was said as he suddenly started walking to the house and came straight in.  Smart boy - I could almost see the "on second thought" lightbulb turn on in his head.

Inside, I started stripped off the cold layers as he told me he thought he needed some hot chocolate.  Hey, I can totally handle that - no problem.  Stripped and redressed in warm, dry clothes, he sat down to eat while I strapped in the energy ball known as Alex.  I wasn't even done yet before Ethan reminded me, "I really think I need some hot chocolate, Mama.  Look how cold my teeth are.  They really need some hot chocolate to eat."  That's right folks - apparently you eat hot chocolate to warm your teeth rather than drinking it.  I chuckled as I told him I was making it and to eat his spaghetti.  He proceeded to eat every bite while he played in and ate/drank his hot chocolate.  He kept insisting Alex really needed some, too, but as Alex was fully engrossed in his spaghetti, I thought it better to let him finish one mess without handing him hot chocolate to make another one. 

The best compliment came after dinner.  Ethan told me I was a really good Mama because I made really good hot chocolate and gave him ice to cool it down so he could "eat" it better and it was yummy with his dinna followed by, "fanks, Mama.  I wuv you."  Yes, I do believe I'll keep this boy of mine and since Alex was so sweet laying on his pillow and then ate all his dinner with minimal mess on the floor, I think I'll keep him, too.

Snow - How we love you :)

YEAHHHHH!!!!!  We finally got really good snow.  Roads were horrible on the way to work this morning but I went with a smile on my face knowing I would be able to play with boys in some really good snow. 

I left work a little early so I'd get home with enough daylight to enjoy it.  It took about 10 minutes (maybe a little more) to round up the boys stuff and layer them up.  Then we headed into the backyard for a change of pace.  Ethan trekked out before I could get Alex to the door so I asked him to come back & wait for us.  His snow boots were already completely covered in snow.  We have about 6 inches at least in the backyard.  I suck at estimating measurement so it could be more - no clue.  The boys and I played about 5 minutes or so before Steve finally made it outside to join us but no luck finding the camera.  We threw snow at each other and the boys used the snow covered slide a few times.  Alex wasn't too thrilled that we wouldn't let him swing but Steve was right, with the wetness from snow on his cheeks already, it would have been a little too tempting for frost bite if he was swinging through the already biting cold & wind. 

Alex headed back inside after sliding a couple more times because he can't seem to keep his face out of the snow so he tends to get colder faster.  Ethan got to stay and play some more though.  I showed him again how to make a snow angel.  We made matching angels and then turned around to view our handy work.  Somehow Ethan must think snow angels are bad though because no sooner did we check them out then he started wiping them away.  He used his hands to smear them fully while crawling through them and then said, "Mama, let me teach you something.  Let's dust do this."  He proceeded to crawl up to the back fence and I told him he could just show me and I'd watch.  He got to the back fence and said, "Now Mama, look."  Sure enough, he'd made a cute little trail in the snow.  I was cold just looking at his snow covered pants.  Then again, I had only 1 layer and he had 2 but still, the snow angel was enough to soak my one layer so the snow angel and the crawling had to be getting to him.  So I changed the game, "I bet you can't get me."  He fell for it and the chase was on.  I got most of the way to the door and he said, "You can't get me."  So I turned around and he was right there.  I, of course, got him and we threw snow at each other a few more times and then I had to break his heart.  "It's time to go in, honey."  E: "But I wanted to make a snowman."  Me:  "I'm sorry, babe.  I wanted to, too.  But Daddy said the snow isn't the right snow to make a snowman [blame Daddy for this one - I get to be the good guy].  E: "But why?"  Me:  "You'll have to ask Daddy.  But right now, look at your pants.  They are completely covered in snow and probably wet so we need to go inside and dry off and warm up and then we can come back out a little later when our clothes dry."  E [crying]:  "But I wanted to make a snowman."  Me:  "I know, honey.  But look over there where we started it, the snow isn't packing to make the snowman so Daddy said we can't.  But we'll go warm up and I promise we can come back out later."  E [still crying]:  "OK.  [walking through the door] but I wanted to make a snowman." 

Inside he calmed down as his Daddy explained the difference in snowman making snow and what we have while I stripped his wet layers and found him dry pants.  It helped that he got his Valentine chocolates and got a pallet on the couch under a blanket to warm up while Daddy made him hot cocoa.  It didn't help that Alex wanted it all, too.  Ethan did share his chocolates and even tried to share the cocoa but Alex wanted it ALL and was trying to spill it and Ethan wasn't interested in sharing his pallet so it wasn't so much fun for me.  But the playing in the snow part, THAT part was awesome.  And Ethan didn't want to go back out tonight so I guess I'll have to wait for tomorrow to get my next dose of snow-filled fun.  So glad the boys like it as much as I do (by the way, apparently Alex wasn't all that happy to be inside either but I got the pleasure of missing that meltdown since I was outside still).

Mr. Attitude

Alex got a Valentine that I am now thinking he fully understood when I read it to him. His Valentine from Mama & Daddy had a cute puppy dog on the front and it said:
Happy Valentine's Day to an incredibly cute, lovable son...
[Inside] You have no idea how many times this has kept you from getting in really big trouble.

Maybe I just didn't notice how much his pushes the envelope trying to get away with stuff until yesterday. Either way, I've now noticed and I have no clue how I'll make it till the "terrible two's" are over - especially given that he's not even 15 months so we have a long haul before 2 years even.

He wants whatever Ethan has. Ethan will give it to him and get something else; Alex immediately drops item 1 and wants item 2. The only positive outcome of this is that he is completely bottle free and has been for about a month because he wants Ethan's sippy so we just stopped giving him a bottle, even for bedtime which up till then, he'd still been using. He didn't even notice. Why? Because Brother had a sippy so he wanted one - really he wanted Ethan's sippy but whatever, it's a sippy. Ethan occasionally gets Sprite which Alex isn't allowed yet and Ethan has 2% milk to Alex's whole milk or we wouldn't care at all what cup he took. And by "we" I totally mean Steve & I as Ethan has an absolute conniption fit when Alex dares to take Ethan's cup - even when they do both have the same drink. Oh joy.

Of course, it doesn't help when we tell Alex to stop doing whatever or give Ethan's toy back or give Ethan's cup back or whatever and Ethan pipes up in a nasty little tone, "YEAH OWIX. Stop it!" Even telling Alex to come to us, Ethan tries to "help" us parent. Me: "Alex come here please. Alexander David - come here right now." Ethan: "Owixanda Davit. Come to Mama. Come right now. Come to her. OWIXandA. Come to Mama. (pause) Mama, he's dust not listening to you." Uh - yeah, cause he can't hear me over you telling him.

Tonight at dinner he did it again. Alex was picking his bowl up which usually precedes him flipping it over onto the floor. As I'm not a fan of picking up spaghetti off the floor, I said "No sir. Put that bowl down." Ethan: "Owix! Don't pick you bowl up. Dust leave it on da table." Me: "Ethan listen. I am the parent and Daddy is the parent. You are the child and Alex is the child. You do not tell him what to do. We tell him what to do and we do not need your help. Do you understand?" Ethan: "Yes. (pause - nasty tone) Owix, you dust need to eat you dinner!" Me: "Ethan Tanner - do not tell him what to do. The only person you can tell what to do is yourself. Not Mama, not Daddy, not Ethan...I mean, not Alex. Just Ethan - NOT Alex. Understand?" (yeah ok so he flustered me so much as I was trying to save Alex's plate from the floor again that I said the wrong name. I so hate that).

So anyway, Alex has 2 parents and a parent helper and he listens to none of us. He tonight sat quietly on the floor and proceeded to take every piece of paper & magazine out of the cubby beneath the table in the living room. The table he is told multiple times EVERY day not to touch. He did this while I cleaned the kitchen and Steve watched the news. He'd been quietly playing with a toy so Steve didn't notice when he switched to quietly removing all the stuff he's not supposed to touch. Steve then got to bellow repeatedly to get Alex (& poor Ethan who did nothing except watch Alex remove all the stuff) to pick it all up and put it back. Ethan was doing just that as Alex was taking more things out. I could hear all this from the kitchen and thought, "oh good, he doesn't just do it to me; he does it to his daddy, too." After the 5th or 6th, "Alex, NO! Put it back! Give Daddy the paper." I went to the gate and said in my best "do it now" voice, "Alexander David, come here right now." He looked at me and grunted "huh?" "Come here." He came over and I bent down to his level and looked him right in the eye and said in a very loud, stern voice, "stop taking stuff you know you aren't supposed to have and go clean it up." He'd been smiling when he came to me but as I spoke his little lip quivered. I stood up and he walked back over and started picking up the stuff, quivering lip and all. Steve actually started to laugh because of the expression on Alex. That is precisely why I end up doing most of the discipline I guess - because Steve can't chastise without cracking up - he couldn't even give the stern look to start the talk if Alex had looked at him with the grin he'd given me. I hate having to do it but I'll never get through the official terrible two's if I don't stand my ground now.

So these are just a few examples but he is totally "Mr. Attitude" these days. You tell him something and he ignores it. He just grunts at you like "whatever" (which I'd hoped to wait till he was a teenager to get that attitude) and goes about whatever he was doing. He whines to get Ethan in trouble if Ethan doesn't give him whatever he was playing with. What Alex hasn't yet realized is that if we are in the room when he whines for that effect, it doesn't work because we can see that Ethan didn't do anything. Of course, Ethan hasn't quite realized that either because he still insists, "I don't know what's wrong. I didn't do anything." When he gets fed up though and pushes Alex down, that's when he gets in trouble. On second thought, maybe Alex does realize that and therefore continues to harass Ethan until Ethan has had enough and pushes him away which then gets Ethan in trouble and gets Alex what he wanted. I'll have to pay better attention to that aspect tomorrow to see if he is that conniving at his young age and nip that in the bud quickly.

Banter

The other night Steve picked me up from work as we had some errands to run near Lexmark.  Steve and I were giving each other a hard time.  To understand the context, I'll backtrack.

That morning Alex tried to follow me upstairs as I ran to get my cell phone before leaving for work.  He ended up falling down on the 2nd step.  He bit his lip in the process and cried until I soothed him with kisses and his paci.  Steve harassed me for this asking why I hadn't put the gate up - "that's what it's for."  Fast forward several hours, Steve was giving Ethan a bath while Alex played in his room - all upstairs.  (NOTE: I was at work and cannot be held accountable for what happened next.)  All of a sudden Steve heard thump, thump, thump followed by instant crying.  He ran to check and Alex was screaming at the bottom of the stairs - his paci was apparently on the 4th step.  Steve has no idea how far he fell but it's likely he was at least 4 steps up as Alex wouldn't have left the paci mid-trek.  This time he got a bloody nose and a fat lip (he only bit it that morning and the fat lip hadn't formed).

So this is why we were giving each other a hard time.  Alex was fine and laughing and other than the fat lip, had no lasting side effects from either fall.  I said in a mocking tone as I got in the car, "why didn't you put the gate up - that's what it's for?"  He then tries to justify it saying Alex was playing contentedly in his room and Steve didn't think he'd get up.  I then told him I was only going to be upstairs for one minute and didn't think it was an issue since Alex was with Steve when I started upstairs.  The bath was going to last at least 10 minutes and he likely fell all the way down not just 2 steps.  I told him Alex falling in his care was way worse than when I was home.  We were actually joking during this and not truly accusing each other since Alex was really ok and both boys do fall - it's part of growing up and as long as they are ok, we kiss the boo-boos and continue on.  Some boo-boos are bigger than others (like a bloody nose & fat lip) but Alex was happy so that's all that was important.  We were even laughing during our exchange.

We were headed to Old Chicago Pizza for dinner during all this.  After 5 minutes of our banter, Ethan interrupted saying, "Mama, don't make me mad before we go to Old Chicago.  Dust don't make me mad at Old Chicago cause I'll dust be mad."  I looked at him and said, "you'll be mad, huh?" with a smile on my face because his tone had been as light as my & Steve's - he'd caught on to the banter aspect.  He then said with a twinkle in his eye, "you can dust wait till we go home and then make me mad.  It's ok after we get home for you to make me mad."  He had the cutest twinkle in his eyes and was laughing by the time he finished saying this.  I'm not sure where it came from - where that idea about making him mad later or any of it originated but he apparently wanted to join in the banter and he had the exact same twinkle in his eye that Steve has when he does that.  It was unreal the resemblance and it was just so darn cute.

Wishing

Yesterday we spent some time in Louisville. Steve had gotten a speeding ticket just across the river from Louisville in Clarksville, IN, the last time we went to Illinois. He opted to go to traffic school and was scheduled to go yesterday. [Side note: if you have to do traffic school, do it on Superbowl Sunday - a 5 hour class was 3 hours 45 minutes because the instructor wanted to go to a party.] The boys and I didn't want to just stay home so we dropped Steve off and went to play at the Malls in Louisville.

With our brand new Sit 'n Stand Double stroller, we first headed for Oxmoor. We ate lunch, got Alex his first pair of tennis shoes courtesy of Stride Rite, checked out the Disney Store and then ventured around "just to see" what was there. We happened upon an indoor water fountain and Ethan asked why the money was in there. I told him you can throw pennies into the fountain and make a wish. He thought this was a GREAT idea.

I happened to have 2 pennies. Ethan threw in the first one and I asked what he wished for. He mumbled several times before I could make out what he was saying. You see he was so excited that his wish would come true; his wish "to be a Superman" was going to come true because his penny went into the fountain. He was sooo excited. I said, "you want to be Superman." He said with eye brows bouncing and sheer joy on his face, "oh yes! I wish to be Superman."

He immediately asked for another penny to make Alex's wish. Since Alex was fully enthralled in his dried mangos in his new snack cup, I didn't think he'd mind. Ethan threw in Alex's penny and then told me that "Owix wished for a princess." Me: "He wants a princess?" E: "He wants to BE a princess." Me: "Oh. OK. Well, let's see what else the mall has." E: "But wait. What's Daddy gonna wish for?" Me: "Well, I don't know. I guess Daddy will have to make his own wish because we're out of pennies." E: "OK. I'll tell Daddy to make his wish."

We window shopped a bit more and headed for the car to go check out what the Mall at St. Matthews had to see. First stop - the cleanest family restroom I've ever been into and I've see pretty much every family restroom in Lexington and several others. This bathroom was cleaner than well, a really clean person's bathroom (not mine, because I don't clean nearly as often as I should.)

What did we find when we ventured a bit further? That's right, another wishing fountain. Ethan was downright giddy. We had reloaded on pennies - somehow we only 2 again but that's enough. I asked Ethan who he was wishing for. He was wishing for himself again. Me: "Ok. What did you wish for this time?" E: "I wish to be Superman again. I want to be Superman two time." Me (chuckling at his excitement): "Ok - you can be Superman again." E: "Now I need to wish for Owix again." Me: "OK. But this is our last penny." E (throwing the penny): "Owix wishes to be another princess." (He is only 3 - he doesn't quite understand the difference between a prince and a princess - they are all the same to him.) Me: "OK - Alex can be a prince again, too." E: "But what about Daddy's wish again?" Me: "Daddy will have to fend for himself again, I guess." E: "Yeah, I guess, too."

After a bit more strolling around, we left, picked up Steve and headed for home. We went out to eat back in Lexington and Ethan remembered to tell his Daddy one important thing. "You'll dust have to make your own wish, Dad. We dinint have another penny."

Bowling with Grandma on the Beach at Rebekah's House

Yes, you read that right. 

After I picked up the boys tonight at day care, I told Ethan our "plan" for the night.  We were going to meet Daddy at his work and eat dinner with him.  Then we'd go home and he could help me put he & Alex's clothes away and clean their room and then we'd have a bedtime story and go to sleep because it would be bedtime.  Ethan asked if he could play with his car.

Me:  What car?
Ethan: My bwo up car I got for my birfday.
Me: (realizing he meant an inflatable car for the pool Steve's mom got for him a long time ago) No honey.  That's a pool toy, not an inside toy.
Ethan: (excitedly) Then we wake up we can go swimming in the pool wif my car.
Me: (laughing) No honey.  It's too cold outside to go swimming now.  We'll have to wait till summer.
Ethan:  Then we'll go to the beach and Owix can go swimming wif me at the beach at Webekah's house and you'll get a chair and a umbwewa.  And Jonathan will watch us.
Me: (not understanding that he'd said Jonathan) And Roger will watch you?
Ethan: Nooo, JONATHAN...you know, Webekah's fwiend?
Me:  Jonathan?  Rebekah's husband?
Ethan:  uh huh
Me:  Ok, Jonathan will watch you?
Ethan:  Yes, on the beach at Webekah's house.
Me: So we're going to go to the beach at Rebekah's house and I'm going to sit in my chair with my umbrella & Alex will swim with you while Jonathan watches?
Ethan:  Uh huh...and Roger is going to sit there for a long time.
Me: Uncle Roger?
Ethan:  Uh huh.
Me: When are we going to do this?
Ethan: Um, I don't know.  (thinking - with finger on chin) Um...dust when we go to Webekah's house to the beach.
Me: Ok and Jonathan will watch you and Uncle Roger is just going to sit there.
Ethan:  Yes, because he's my uncle.
Me:  Yes, he's your Great Uncle.
Ethan: Yes, and Uncle Keevin is my grandson.
Me: (laughing) no silly, Uncle Keevin is your Great Uncle, too.  You are Paga's grandson.
Ethan:  Yes, and Nana & Amma [Grandma]. 
Me:  Yes.
Ethan:  And Amma is going to go bowling wif me.
Me: She is?
Ethan:  Yes.  She's going to go bowling wif me on the beach at Webekah's house.

OK - the other day I told him to just play with his imaginerary friend so he'd be quiet and not wake Alex.  He told me I was being silly.  But clearly, he has quite an imagination.  I'm mean really, the last time I was at the beach I was pregnant with him so he's never even seen the beach, much less seen me sitting in a chair under an umbrella at the beach.  And where he got this idea that there's a beach at Rebekah's house, I have no clue whatsoever.  We have been bowling but not with Amma and definitely not at a beach. 

So there you have it folks - our next vacation will be bowling on the beach at Rebekah's house.  So I guess I should let Bek know that she needs to plan on moving to the beach or getting a bigger back yard and lots of sand.  I'm thinking a small pool would be plenty for the water portion of the beach since his story only mentioned that he & Alex would be swimming and they don't need much water for that.  I'm sure since it's at her house, he wouldn't mind Amelia tagging along either.

No, I don't...Yes, you do

I'm sure you've all played the game where you say "did so" and some one else says "did not" and you do this repeatedly until one of you changes your answer causing the other one to change their answer accidentally.  Ethan has his own version of this.  If we tell him he can't have something that he wants, he bucks up and then doesn't want anything.

Today the boys had doctor's appointments at lunch time so Steve got lunch on the go and came to pick me up so we could take them together to the ear checks (follow-up from last ear infections and both had perfect ears).  Ethan wanted tacos and due to Alex's reflux and mine, too, Steve just got Ethan's lunch at Taco Bell and got us McDonald's nuggets because though Alex hasn't been eating because he didn't feel well (which I thought was teething and turns out is a virus), he likes the nuggets so Steve was hopeful that would get Alex to eat - no luck - but he did eat dinner tonight so is on the mend I suppose.  Apparently though, Taco Bell's kid's meal toy was something that Ethan wouldn't understand how to play with.  I don't actually know what it was but took Steve's word for it.  Ethan was being really good but wanted "his toy" since Alex got a good one from McDonald's but didn't want to share.  I told Ethan if he was good, when I picked them up from daycare this evening, we could go to Walmart to get a toy for him.  At first he said, no, this wouldn't be ok cause he needed a toy to play with.  However, he soon found his monster truck in the backseat and decided my plan would be ok afterall.

So tonight I picked the boys up from daycare and as I buckled Alex into the car, Ethan was telling me he wanted to go into the backyard to get his "keys."  I'm pretty sure they didn't play outside today so I'm not sure what he was talking about.  Since it was almost dark out and the ground was basically mud anyway, I told him no and made him stay until I could get him in the car.  As I buckled him in, he resorted to crying and begging.  This is he new phase - which I am absolutely not ok with but am trying to be patient with. 

As I pulled away from the house, he said "I don't wove you anymore." 
At this, I laughed and said, "you do love me anymore." 
E:  "No, I don't wove you anymore."
We played this game for a bit and then I said, "do you still want a toy?" 
E:  "No, I don't want a toy.  I don't want to go to Walmart." 
Me: "Ok.  That's fine.  We'll just go home then."
He took about 15 seconds to respond and then said, "But I do want a toy.  I do still want a toy, Mama."

Ah-ha kid.  Gotcha.  Mama has played this game before and while I probably lost a lot, I learned a thing or 2 along the way.  He'll eventually learn but this catches him quite often.  If he's mad because you didn't give him what he wanted, he'll answer "no" to every question you ask after that.  He suckers himself out of ice cream, trips to the mall to play, going to feed the ducks, all kinds of things by doing this.  But I was in a good mood tonight and just messing with him.

Me:  "You do?  Are you sure?"
E: "Yes, Mama.  I do want a toy.  I do want to go to Walmart to get a toy."
Me:  "Well then what do you need to do?"
E: "I'm sorry, Mama."
Me:  "And?  What else?"
E: "I wove you, Mama."
Me:  "So what do you need to do when we get to Walmart?"
E: "I need to go get me a toy."
I chuckled and said, "before you can do that, you need to give Mama kisses and a hug because you said you didn't love me anymore and I need you to give me kisses to make up for it."
E: "Ok Mama.  I wove you, Mama & I want a toy."

And the keys were totally forgotten - whatever they were. 

By the way, through the entire conversation above, Alex was saranading us with "uh uh uh uh uh."  You see when he's in the car he wants 2 things:  1) the music to be on, 2) to be able to go to sleep - even if it's for only the 10 minute drive from daycare to the house.  Within 1/2 mile of daycare, he's typically asleep.  As soon as Ethan finally caved, I put the music on for Alex who immediately started dancing in his car seat - smile blazing.  The smile faded though when I kept reaching back to tickle his leg telling him he couldn't go to sleep cause we were almost at Walmart.  He got a flashy thing for a toy at Walmart though so he didn't hold it against me. 

And Ethan, well, he got a Zhu Zhu pet after giving me my kisses - bunches of them.

Favorite & Least Favorite Words

Ethan's favorite word or should I say, question, is Why?  The answer we've all heard from our parents, "because I said so," has no impact on Ethan.  He responds to that one with "why did you said so, Mom?"  Oh great.  I've spawned a child that needs logical reasoning like me - guess I should start compiling that "book of instructions" for him like the one I apparently requested for Christmas when I was little.

Steve thinks he's found the answer.  He has started explaining to Ethan that God made everything.  This morning Steve & Ethan wanted to show me what Ethan has learned so far:

Steve:  Ethan, who made snow?
Ethan (with excited animation in his voice & sparking eyes, smiling):  God did!
Steve:  Who made rain?
Ethan:  God!
Steve: Who turns the heat up outside?
Ethan: God (snickering)
Steve:  Who's the best in the world?
Ethan:  MOMMY!
Steve:  Awwwwack!  Daddy! (& here I thought this was rehearsed and "God" was suposed to be the answer.  Nope - Steve was hoping for Daddy to be the answer).

Apparently though his focus had been on answering why questions with God answers.

Leave your brother along - Why? - Because God wants you to be nice to your brother.  He's watching.
Take a nap. - Why? - Because God wants you to rest. 

Brilliant idea because apparently once you say, "God said" or "God wants" Ethan drops it . . . until now.  He finally came back with "Why, Daddy?  Why does God want me to weave Owix awone?"  So Steve comes out with the story of Cain & Able as the answer.  I honestly think this response utterly confused Ethan to the point he no longer remembered the question which is what ended the why's for the moment.  But I don't care; as long as the Alex harassment stops & the "why" barrage ends, Steve can explain whatever he wants.

Ethan has a favorite question, but Alex has a least favorite response . . . "No!"  Alex actually listens when you say "no" and will stop whatever it was (usually).  However, not without instant tears.  The fact that you said "no" means that you caught him and he has to stop.  The fact that he has to stop, breaks his heart into a million pieces.  I was once asked in reference to Ethan & his cuteness, how I could tell him no.  My answer: "oh, you can."  With Alex, it's even worse because with those dimples and that quivering chin and tears, it is so hard to stick to it and not cave.  But I steal myself & repeat the "No" and try to distract him. 

Ethan never had that reaction to "No."  Then again, rotten child that he is, he rarely listened to it anyway.  But Alex hates to hear "no," hates more to be in trouble and doesn't even like when Ethan is told no or gets in trouble.  He is definitely my people pleaser but also gets his little feelings hurt so easily.  I sometimes think he thinks he's in trouble just because of my tone on "NO."  This is because he'll cry but come suck up (& beg) at the same time.  The simple "NO" didn't mean he was in trouble, of course, but he would be if he didn't listen.  I'm just stern so he knows I mean it.  Poor kid - he makes me feel like such a mean Mama sometimes but I know I love him & he still loves me so I guess I'm doing something right.

Even with the constant why's and the tearful no's, I think I'll keep them both.  They're too cute to give them away.  Even if I do say I want to sometimes, I wouldn't know what to do with myself without them. 

Alex the Communicator

So Alex isn't quite talking yet but don't mistake that to mean he can't tell you what he wants.  I've been told that when I was little, I had my own language that only Megan understood.  Apparently I would say something in total garble and Megan would translate and then I would shake my head that, yes, that is what I had said.  I assumed it would be similar with Alex & Ethan as I thought that was a trait common among siblings.  Nope - I was mistaken.

Don't get me wrong.  Ethan will still tell us what Alex wants but he does that all on his own.  He's not "helping" Alex.  For example, he didn't ask Alex what he wanted for Christmas and then translate.  Nope - he just looked at Alex and then looked at me and said, "he wants a drum for Christmas."  Unless he's telepathic, which I doubt, he just wanted Alex to get a drum for Christmas so he could play, too...and so he could have a little band with his guitar (that he asked for) and a drum for Alex.  When Alex tries to tell us something, Ethan lets him get it out fully so we can understand.  I think that's actually helping Alex communicate better.

Alex has a very expressive face - from his twinkling eyes, to his deep dimples to his cute little mouth.  He uses all of these to make his point.  He mostly grunts - and he has a few different grunts.  There's teh "uh" - low key, used to get your attention so you look to see what he has or to say "here, you can have this."  He'll use that calmly to make himself known.  However, if you don't pay attention, he'll do an angry sounding "ack, uh, uh, aaaaa, uhhh, ack, uh, uh" with no pause for breath until he has your undivided attention.  Then he'll point or grab or something so you know what he wants.  When you figure it out, you ask, "do you want up here?" or "do you want that balloon?" or "you can't reach it?" and he'll firmly - with both dimples showing & grin blazing, shake his head yes, vehemently.  He grunted last week at Eileen's house.  I looked and he was holding Amelia's rattle.  I said, "did you steal Amelia's toy?"  He grinning big and shook his head, yes.

He also has the excited, "ack, ack, ack, ack, ack, ack..." - just because he's so happy & likes the sound of his own voice.  He did this the other day until I thought I'd lose my mind.  I yelled (or maybe bellowed), "ALEX!" to be heard over him.  He stopped & looked at me and said, "huh?"  I said, "stop that.  Be quiet.  Do you understand?"  Without missing a beat, he excitedly shook his head, NO, and started back up with "ack!"  Steve laughed so hard, he gave himself a coughing fit and said, "well, I guess that answers your question."

I overstated, or maybe understated, the first part of this.  I shouldn't say Alex isn't talking yet as he does say "Ma-ma," "ba-ba," and "ba" (which is both ball and bath as he loves baths) as well as "buh-buh" (which is bye-bye).  I think he says "da-da" occassionally also.  However, he rarely does this on cue.  Steve asks him to say "daddy" and he almost always replies with a devilish grin & "ma-ma-ma."  Quite the imp.  So you see, he is quite communicative as these few words as well as the tone & type of grunt typically get his point across.

Even Ethan fully understands what Alex needs or wants.  If I'm in the kitchen in the evenings when Steve is at work and Alex starts grunting, I'll ask Ethan what he wants.  The answer is almost always "he's stuck" or "I don't know."  The "stuck" part means first off that Ethan actually looked at Alex and discovered that he was either between the couch & loveseat, behind the recliner or trying to scale the gate to the stairs and truly got himself in a position he couldn't get out of.  If the answer is "I don't know" - it could still be one of the previous stuck situations but Ethan didn't want to break his concentration from what he was doing to find out; or it means Ethan was "playing" with Alex & Alex was tired of it and Ethan didn't want to tell me that Alex just wanted Ethan to leave him alone.  With this response, I'll tell Ethan to ask Alex what's wrong.  If the latter was the issue, I'll hear, "I'm sowwy, Owix.  I'm done, Mama."  However, it's just the concentration thing, I'll either hear again "he's stuck" because now Ethan has looked at his brother or "what's wong, Owix?"  Then Ethan will tell me wha the problem is:

• He's dust tired, Mom = Alex took his blanket and paci to the stairs and looked longingly upstairs or he took the blanket & paci and laid his head on the couch.
• He dust wants you, Mom = Alex is standing with his blanket at "my chair" patting it
• He wants his "linus" (aka Alex's blanket's name) = either Ethan found it & gave it to Alex and the grunting stopped or that Alex is standing in the middle of the floor with his paci & no blanket near him & Ethan doesn't see it anywhere

Other things he wants could be just out of his reach and Ethan will tell me he wanted whatever it was & usually that he got it for Alex.  He's really an excellent brother.  Occassionally, however, the issue is that he wants what Ethan has and Ethan doesn't want to share.  Ethan then has to either get Alex another toy to play with or...SHARE.  That is unless that "something" that Alex wants from Ethan is Linus in which case, Ethan has to give it to him; after all, that blanket is like an appendage & you can't take someone else's arm.

So Alex is 13 1/2 months old and just about as communicative as Ethan.  This probably means that next year at this time, I will look very forward to going to work as that's likely to be the only place I'll get some quiet time.  Ethan talks from sun up to son down (meaning when he goes to sleep) - I'm fairly certain Alex is well on his way to that same schedule.

Snow Day...FINALLY!

So yesterday we finally got the snow everyone else in our family (ok, those in Illinois & Eastern KY & Virginia anyway) have gotten and bragged out.  We didn't get nearly as much as they've had but it was enough for us.  We hadn't asked for much anyway, just enough to go sledding. 

I knew Ethan liked snow and sledding because from the time the very first flake fell this year, he's asked us to go sledding.  Every morning he wakes up and looks outside and comes running to say, "Mama, it's snowing.  It's snowing again, Mama," at which point I've usually had to break it to him that no, it isn't snowing - it snowed already and it's still out there.  We got a little bit of ground cover but not enough to sled even for someone as light weight as Ethan and each time he sees that remaining snow on the ground, he thinks it is actually snowing.  He even tried to argue the point with me one day saying, "Yes, it is, Mama - look, see, snow."  I had to tell him yet again that it was not snowing - it snowed already and that was still on the ground from last time and had to stand at the window with him to show him there were no flakes in the air.  That all changed yesterday.

I was getting ready for work and it was snowing.  Ethan came downstairs and did the usual, "Mama, where's Daddy?"  Me: "He's in bed sweetie." E: "Where you going, Mama."  Me: "I've got to go work.  But guess what."  E (sleepily & rubbing his eyes): "What?"  Me:  "It's SNOWING!"  E (not at all sleepily): "It's Snowing?" (runs to the window) "It's snowing a lot, Mama!"  Then he started doing the pee-pee dance and since he hadn't been yet, I knew he meant it so I broke his heart and made him leave the window and go pee.  Then he came out of the bathroom smiling and said, "Can we go sledding now, Mama?"  I told him we would when I got home from work and he'd need to be good for Daddy and then we could go sledding when I got home.  He promised he'd be good and was so excited he giggled behind his hand as he watched the snow.

Fast forward to lunch time - Steve & the boys came to see me for lunch cause we had errands to run and bills to pay and Steve had the day off.  One of the errands was Walmart and Steve checked-out while I took the boys back to the car.  I put Ethan in the car & shut his door and then turned back to the cart to see Alex sitting there smiling at the snow and waving his hands through the flakes that were falling on him.  Until that moment, I had no idea that he liked snow until that moment.  The look of sheer delight on his face as he waved through the snow flakes that were falling was so cute and funny at the same time.  I picked him up and he laughed and laughed as I put him in the seat and buckled him in and he kept just staring at his hand as he flipped it back and forth looking for the snowflakes that had already melted.  Then I went around to buckle Ethan who asked me if I wanted some snow.  I told him I had enough and he asked if I was sure cause he had some right there in his cup holder - then he looked and so "Oops, it melted."  Too funny.

Fast forward again to after work.  Even though I left on time (for once), everyone was going about 10 miles an hour to get home so it was dark when I got there.  Steve wasn't daunted by this - he was still determined that we should go to Shriner's Hospital where there's a nice hill to sled rather than in the front yard.  So while I proceeded to put my cuddle duds and jeans on, Steve put the snow pants & boots & gloves & coats on the boys.  He did Alex first and he truly looked like the boy from A Christmas Story - he kept taking a few steps and falling over - he could get back up but he had to roll over and waddle a little...too funny.  I have a picture I'll post later.  All of us bundled up, we loaded the boys in the car.  Steve packed out the sled my dad made for me (all wooden) when I was little, which we learned last January is still excellent for sledding and I can still fit on it, and Ethan's tobogan (which I can't spell so not sure if that's right) & the rubber tube and loaded the trunk.  We went first to blow up the tube at the gas station and seeing how dark it was, Steve said when getting back in the car, "maybe we should just sled at home,"...so back home we went (I personally think he should have just listened to me in the first place but oh well, it was snowing - who cares).

We went home and the boys were so excited.  Ethan got out and went right over to the yard and waited, impatiently, for his tobogan.  I got Alex out and we put a scarf on him.  I sat him down and he started walking straight out into the yard.  A few steps later he toppled over and started fussing.  Turns out when he bends over or looked down, the scarf covered his whole face and that ticked him off.  I took the scarf off and he went walking down the hill and made it halfway down before he fell.  I went to help him up and turned him over (he was face first in the snow) and he was smiling ear-to-ear and laughing - had no problem with a face full of snow.  Back up the hill, I went down first on my old sled with Alex on my lap and he laughed from top to bottom and couldn't wait to get off when we stopped so he could walk around more.  I rounded him up (Steve was taking pictures) as Steve headed up the hill to try to help Ethan with his tobogan.  With the wind Ethan couldn't quite get on it right (it's flimsy little thing and wasn't very cooperative for a 3 year old to deal with).  I headed up the hill with Alex and then handed him off to Steve as I helped Ethan get on the tobogan good.  Then down the hill he went and promptly turned sideways and stopped...I followed and turned him back around and gave him another push and he zipped down the little front yard and jumped right up to go again.  But at the top of the hill, he decided he'd rather push Daddy than sled again himself.  Steve tried to go down on the tube but the hill wasn't steep enough and the snow not deep enough for a tube yet so he gave up and played in the snow with Alex a little as I tried to get Ethan back on the sled.  He was not interested though - he just wanted me to get on my sled and let him push me.  Hey - I couldn't deny him his only wish so I had to go down the hill again...such a pain - oh well - I tried not to like it too much but wasn't very successful.  Ethan followed all the way down and I asked if he was ready to sled now and he wasn't so I asked if he wanted me to pull him up the hill.  He did want to do that but was trying to stand on the sled.  When I told him he'd have to sit down, he decided he didn't want to.  So instead he helped me pull it up the hill where Steve got on and rode it down the hill (possibly with Alex but I don't really remember).  At some point, we put Alex inside the tube to keep him corralled a bit. 

At this point, both boys were pretty cold but not interested yet in going in - it had been about 10-15 minutes outside by now (seemed longer but it wasn't really).  We wanted to get the boys to go down together so we put Ethan on the tube and then put Alex on his lap - they ended up basically laid out flat with Alex laying fully over Ethan.  I got beside them as they went down the hill to be able to see Ethan as well as Alex in the picture cause from the front, you only saw Alex.  Then I ran down and got a good picture as they stopped of both of them.  I'll post this, too, but Alex's expression is priceless - he absolutely loved it and laughed all the way down the hill.  As Steve pulled Alex off Ethan, I got a good one of Ethan, too, and though you can only see a small piece of his face due to his hat & coat, you can see the total glee on his face, too.  They had such a good time.  As we walked back up the hill, Steve went ahead to open the door so we could usher both boys in.  Ethan didn't quite realize that was the plan until we got right to the door.  He had no intention of going in but sadly, it wasn't his call.  Inside, we started peeling off layers and any piece of skin that was bare on any of us was bright red.  We quickly warmed up the boys and yes, with us all being sick either now or recently (cause Ethan is much improved as is Alex already and Steve but I'm still coughing my head off daily), we probably shouldn't have gone out but we don't get many chances and the boys had so much fun, I couldn't deny them of it. 

And the adventure seems not to have done too much damage.  Alex's face is slightly chapped but otherwise, neither one is any worse for the wear.  I am pretty sure I made myself worse but I can take it - the expressions and laughs from both boys made it all worth it.  We had planned to go out again today but when I got home, Steve & Alex were still napping so I laid down while Ethan watched Dinosaur Train on KET and the next thing I knew it was 4:30 and Steve had to leave for work a little later so we have decided to wait and try again tomorrow.  I realize, too, that it's going to be extremely cold tomorrow but Steve plans to get the boys face masks after work tonight to ensure they get full coverage and again, we'll make it a short outing.  They enjoy it far too much to deny them so I'm going - cough or no cough (and there will be a cough).  I can't wait!  I love snow!!!

Dr. Ethan

So I think I told you that Ethan got a medical kit for Christmas and insisted on giving everyone check-ups.  Well, he's still in doctor mode and is quite a good doctor, I must say.  Each time Alex falls or hits himself with something and cries, Ethan checks him out and tells either Alex or us that Alex is ok - he'll be ok.  But that's not his whole act. 

Ethan went to the doctor the weekend before Christmas and was diagnosed with a sinus infection - he got antibiotics and cough medicine as he had a pretty nasty cough as I mentioned before.  Well I had/have a cough through the whole Christmas/New Year holiday and tried his cough medicine at one point to see if it would help since Ethan couldn't take it because it was so nasty it gagged him each time I tried to give it to him.  OK - this is truly the nastiest cough medicine I've ever had in my life - truly disgusting - makes me feel bad for making Ethan take the 3 doses I made him choke down.  He did take the full course of antibiotic and got much better but still had quite a cough - not as often but when he did cough, it was bad and not getting better since he couldn't choke down the cough medicine without puking.  So Sunday, he coughed and then came to me and said "Mama, I dust have to go to the docder."  I said, "You do?  Why?"  He gave me a truly priceless expression and waved his hands and said completely matter-of-factly, "For my cough" - kind of like "well duh."  It was truly comical.  Since I was planning to try to get an appointment for Alex on Monday anyway, I decided it wouldn't hurt to have Ethan seen also to see if there was something else wrong or if we could get a different cough medicine. 

I called Monday and got both boys appointments but unfortunately Steve was working so I had the infinite luck to be able to take both boys to the doctor myself...oh joy.  We get into the doctor's office pretty uneventfully.  Ethan was quite helpful carrying coats and trying to take Alex's hand to guide him, etc.  He's really an excellent brother.  Then we get into the room and this is where "Dr. Ethan" showed up again.

He sat in the seat the doctor usually sits in (it spins, so I thought he wanted to spin....nope).  He looked at me and put his hands on his knees and said, "So, what's wrong today?"  I said, "what's wrong?  Are you being the doctor?"  He said, "Yes, so what's wrong today?"  I said, "Well, Alex is sick, not me."  Dr. E:  "Well bring him to me."  At this point, Alex was playing in the floor with a ball, ignoring us entirely.  I said, "You get him."  Smart boy that he is said: "Give me the ball and he'll come to me."  So I got the ball, handed it to Ethan and Dr. Ethan said, "Owix, come hewe.  Come hewe, Owix.  Look, I have your ball."  Alex dutiful went to Ethan - to get the ball though, not so much to answer questions as Ethan would soon learn.  Dr. Ethan:  "Owix, what seems to be wrong today?"  Alex then took the ball and walked back to his corner to play.  Ethan just looked at me and with a little giggle said, "he didn't tell me."  I told him he'd have to go to Alex if he wanted to ask.  So Dr. Ethan got down and went over to Alex and kept stooping down & cocking his head to put his face right in Alex's face as Alex kept bending over to pick up the ball.  Dr. Ethan did this about 5 times and each time asked, "What seems to be wrong today?"  "What's wrong today?" "Owix, what's wrong?"  Then he looked at me and shrugged and said, "he won't tell me."  He then giggled and shrugged and started to play ball instead.  This whole thing was quite cute and Ethan's face was so expressive, I truly wish I had video as my description can't do it justice. 

So then the doctor came in and asked who wanted to go first.  Alex was totally disinterested and still playing with either his ball or the wire slide toy thing he got from Aunt Megan for Christmas (which is an awesome attention drawing toy by the way - those little things with the wires and wooden or plastic pieces - ours is wooden - that slide around the coils back & forth - really great to keep a kid occupied in a doctor's office when the ball is no longer interesting or in the car when you're waiting for a script in the drive-thru).  So I looked at Ethan who was almost shyly standing sort of behind the doctor with a look of excitement.  I asked if he wanted to go first and he said yes.  She asked him (using exactly the same words Ethan had been using so I actually laughed & then had to explain), "what seems to be wrong today, Ethan?"  Ethan looked at her and said "I dust have a cough."  She said, "You have cough?  So how long have you had this cough?"  He said, "Ummm....let me think (tapping finger on upper lip)....ummm, I don't know."  So I chimed in and answered the rest of the questions and then she started listening to his lungs and stuff and Ethan said, "I have one of these too & a termometer &  a shot."  He told her all about it and was so grown up sounding it was totally cute. 

When she left after checking both boys to get the scripts for them (antibiotics for Ethan's pussy ear & cough & antibiotics for Alex's not quite pussy ear that was "brewing" an ear infection), I put Alex on the table to change his diaper.  When I finished and got him dressed, Ethan came over to him and patted his leg and said, "Now Owix, I'm going to give you a widdle shot, ok?  It will dust hurt for a minute but then you can have a sticker."  Alex looked at him and immediately tried to get off the table.  Ethan was quicker and took his imaginary shot (he didn't actually have his kit with him) and touched Alex's leg with it.  Then as I put Alex down, Dr. Ethan said, "Hewe Owix," and tried to hand him something pretend but stopped midway and asked me, "Mama, can I give him a sticka?  Can he have them now?"  I told him that yes, he could.  Alex was, as usual, playing with a toy on the floor and not really acknowledgeing this exchange so Ethan again looked at me and said, "where can I put it?  Can I put it hewe?" (pointing to his chest). I told him he could so he rubbed Alex's chest like he was smoothing on a sticker.  He truly takes pretend all the way - I vaguely remember that age from when I was little. 

Ethan was such a good patient, he got 2 real stickers - Batman (who he frequently refers to as Spiderman - we'll have to have them both side by side to show him the difference cause he doesn't get it) & Iron Man.  These 2 stickers totally occupied him until he passed out in the car on the way home.  Well, I shouldn't say "totally" as I had him on Alex detail a few times as I tried to check-out, etc.  This works more as a way to tell what he's doing & where he's going as Ethan actually speaks and Alex just grunts and as he walks down the hall & tries to get away, it's much easier when Ethan is on his heals saying "no, Owix.  Come back, Owix....Mama, Owix isn't listening...."  Thankfully checking out didn't take long so Ethan didn't have to play monitor for too long and I only had to chase Alex down twice.  Ethan did manage to keep hold of both stickers and the back of Alex's jacket as I held Alex's hand and we walked to the car.  Then Ethan got to let both Batman & Iron Man act out amazing feats for the next 15 minutes till he fell asleep.

The Next Day...

Here's the follow-up to the events of yesterday's blog:

1)  Ethan woke up shortly after his daddy got home and came in to again ask to sleep in our bed.  I couldn't deny him again so let him climb in.  But he forgot his bottle (sippy cup that he still refers to as a bottle) and needed a drink.  I'm tired and not going to get it for him which makes the lip quiver.  For some reason his daddy thought I should go get it but was more awake than I was and wouldn't go get it himself...oh well, Ethan can get it.  So Ethan climbs down and then hovers at the end of the bed looking into the hall.  I had told Steve about the ghost conversation at this point.  Steve tells Ethan, "it's ok; nothing is out there, Ethan.  The light is still on in the bathroom so there's enough light and there's nothing to be afraid of."  Ethan quickly responds, "Ghostez are nice, Dad.  Dey are God's friends; dey help people."  OK so apparently our discussion sunk in a little and I have to say, this was super sweet to hear him say.  Steve replies that yes, Ghosts are nice.  I think Ethan then told him that they were outside, not in here and they help people (repeating that part).  So Steve told him to go ahead and get his cup and come back.  Ethan did and we all went to sleep.

The going to bed at 7:30 thing came back to haunt us this morning though.  While Ethan really didn't go to sleep till his normal time, he was still in "rest mode" by 7:30 if not fully asleep until a little after 8:00.  So this morning, my alarm goes off and I look over and Ethan is staring at me and says, "you phone, Mama." in his stage whisper (cause I use the alarm feature on my phone).  He's been awake already and saw the light on the phone come on before the sound even.  I turn it off and roll over for my 5 more minutes on snooze and Ethan continues to stare.  With someone, even my child, staring at me, it was hard to get my quality snooze sleep in so I got up as the phone went off the second time.  Ethan follows me to the bathroom and says, "Owix is awake, Mom."  Nice try kid, I can see Alex's bed and he's nowhere near awake.  Me: "No he isn't and you better not wake him up.  Be quiet."  E: "I want to take a shower with you, Mom."  (way to change the subject; smart boy because he knows just the talking will wake Alex at this point anyway).  I close the door and he continues to talk....I was too tired to really notice last night, but I bet he even talks in his sleep.  We take a shower and then head back to the bedroom, me telling him to whisper the whole time.  Turn on the light in our room cause Steve is going to have to get up now anyway since Ethan's awake.  Steve dutiful deals with Ethan while I get dressed and then I head downstairs and take Ethan with me so Steve can sleep a bit more. 

What a day...and night.

Well Alex is sick just in time for his birthday. Poor baby. He was a little whiney earlier this week but otherwise no symptoms. The hoarse voice (which is completely pitiful on someone who can't talk yet) came on yesterday evening, the cough (even more pitiful than the hoarse-ness) today and a low grade fever this evening. So now I get to call first thing tomorrow to try to get him in tomorrow. We were just there and he was fine. It was such a nice weekend though, we played outside which he thoroughly enjoyed and he did wear a jacket but I think it was probably too much for him. This fall weather is tricky - feels great but there's an underlying cold to it.

In the past when he's been hoarse like this, he's had an ear infection. In fact, all but one of his ear infections were diagnosed after he woke up hoarse with a low grade fever and we took him to the doctor. The other one was diagnosed at one of his well baby checks – that one apparently was mild and likely had just started. Had he not been hoarse the other times, we may not have even known that he was sick because he still smiles & laughs and gives those super sweet looks. He’s still happy as a little lark or seems to be – just a little more clingy than normal. He did have a little fluid in 1 ear last Friday but looked clear, not cloudy so no meds needed. However, since I’m not the doctor, I’ll reserve final diagnosis to her. Who knows, it could be something else – even a regular cold. We’ll see.

Our Weekend

Yesterday Steve worked a split shift so shortly after he left for work at 10:30, the boys & I headed out for some errands. First on the list was to go to the Party Store where the Police Department was again doing the free Kid Print Ids. We had told Ethan we were going to go let the police take his picture which he thought was really cool. Since it was at the Party Store, I thought I could get some supplies for Alex’s birthday party next weekend as well….”thought” is the operative word there.

When we arrived, there was a big sign out front saying it’s their anniversary (15 years I believe) so they had several things going on. This sign sported a giant dragon which I somehow missed while trying to park. Not Ethan…”Mama! Look! A dragon.” Me (not enthusiastically as I was trying to park and as per usual, he’d been talking since we left the house anyway so I barely even registered what he was telling me to look at this time): “Yes, honey.” Ethan (not amused by my lack of enthusiasm or the fact that I hadn’t actually looked): “NO, Mama! LOOK! It’s a dragon.” I have now parked so I looked, sure enough, there’s a dragon. I become slightly more animated and say, “Yes honey, it is a dragon. That’s where we are going to the Party Store.” E: “For the police to take my picture?” Doesn’t miss a beat that kid. Me: “Yep.” E: “I don’t want to the police to take my picture, I dust want to see the dragon.” Me: “How about if we see the dragon while the police take your picture? They’ll give Mama a picture card to have for you and for brother just in case we ever need it. Will that be ok?” E: “Well, ok. But I dust wanna see the dragon.” Me: “OK, we’ll get the picture, see the dragon and get stuff for brother’s birthday party.” E: “OK, we’ll get stuff for my birfday party, too.”….that’s a whole other argument we’ve been trying to explain so I just pretend I didn’t hear it this time.

That's Dust Not Nice

Last night we took the boys to play at the mall play area after dinner.  Ethan loves it because he can play with other kids and run and jump on "furniture" without getting into trouble.  The last time we went, Alex was just starting to take a step or two so mostly crawling to the various play things and pulling up and checking stuff out, taking a few steps and dropping to his knees so as to better be able to get around without the other kids knocking him down.  Last night, he was one of those other kids - running (ok, waddling) everywhere checking everything out.

There was a little girl there (super cute) who was just his size and likely just walking or maybe a month ahead of him in walking.  He followed her around and then would try to hug her.  This was fine at first but when he "caught" her for that hug (which really was cute), she was right next to the fence so in order to hug her, he was basically pushing her into the fence which she was fine with her for a short hug, but the minute long bear hug was a bit more than she bargained for.  She was quick to let it be known that she'd had enough.  She was ok with being "friends" but wasn't into being sandwiched between him & the fence long term.  We got him to back away but then he just followed her around waiting for the next opportunity.  Someone jutted between them distracting him momentarily and he was back to waddling around checking everyone out and screeching at the top of his lungs to show how excited he was.  It's almost like he's saying, "WOW!  Check it out!  This is AWESOME!....WOW!  That's great, too!  OOOO! & check THAT out!  WOW!"....all in the form of a screech that I really think could be marketed as a way to shatter fine crystal.  I know it does a fine job of shattering my nerves.  Sheesh - I'll regret this I'm sure, but I can't wait for him to talk so he stops screeching and just flat out says, "WOW!  This is AWESOME!" or whatever it is he wants to tell us....I just hope he has a better "off" switch than his brother.

Sweet Nothings from Monday

Monday: Steve was originally scheduled to work a split shift. That means he drops the boys off at daycare mid-morning, they play, eat lunch, take naps and then it’s time for Steve to pick them up. He’d then go home with them and when I get home we can do “family dinner” before he has to return to work for the 2nd half of his shift – usually a 4 hour break midday and then he goes back about 7:00-11:00ish. His work had another plan – he called me around lunch to tell me they’d just switched him to a straight shift meaning the boys would need to stay at daycare and I’d pick them up when I get off and he’d get home around 7:00 instead of going back at 7:00.

OK, no problem – Alex had at least enough formula for one bottle as well as enough juice for a couple bottles and then he can have water, too. Normally, he’d have that formula bottle at lunch (he had) and then would get more formula around 4 or 5 to tide him over till the last formula bottle at bedtime but he could wait till I picked him up and have formula while I fixed dinner. Daycare was fine with this plan so we’re all set.

The Wizard of Oz

This was the best date I've ever had!  I'm almost positive.

For those who don't know, yesterday my wonderful boss told me that she had tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the Lexington Opera House tonight but wasn't able to use them and offered them to me cause she thought Ethan would enjoy it.  So I called Sarah, my wonderful cousin, and she agreed to watch Alex so Ethan & I could go as Steve had to work.  So when I got home from work, I told Ethan about it - that we were going to see a play today and it had a scarecrow and a lion and a wizard and a tin man and a witch and even a little doggie, too.  He thought that sounded like a great thing to do.

This morning I'm giving kisses as I'm leaving for work and Ethan says, "I want to go to the play Mama."  I told him that we would go later tonight.  He said, "but I want to go now, Mom.  I want to see the scarecwoe."  I said, "Honey, Mama has to go to work and you are going to go to Kay's [the babysitter] and then Mama will pick you up and we'll come home and eat dinner and Sarah will come and watch Alex and you & Mama can go."  E:  "But I dust want to go now, Mom.  I don't want to wait."  I told him we couldn't, that it wasn't on now, it would be later tonight.  E:  "They are closed?"  Me:  "Yes, honey.  They are closed but they will be open later tonight."...This is apparently what I should have said in the beginning cause now he was fine and gave me kisses so I could go to work.

The Week in Review

I already told you about the fun game of “rotten boy” Ethan & Alex enjoyed Monday evening. Here are a few things from the rest of our week.

I got a very sweet voicemail this week from my guys. Steve was on his way to drop the boys off at day care and as usual, they called me on their way. I hear Steve saying “tell her, Alex. What did you want to tell Mama?” Then there’s Ethan saying “he wants to say Ma-ma-ma.” This action repeated twice and then as Ethan said “ma-ma-ma,” I hear Alex chime in “Ma-ma Ma-Ma-Ma.” The cutest thing – I love hearing his little voice through the phone. As I did when Ethan was that age and started to talk, I saved the message so I can replay it at my leisure.

The boys got a package from Grandma on Wednesday. The UPS guy is kind enough to hide them for us and leave us notes as to the location. Ethan was expecting this particular package cause “Ammaw” had told him a few weeks ago she had a Diego book she was going to send him. So when I saw the note from UPS, I put Alex down and before Ethan could get his shoes off, told him to come help me find it. I took him over to the side of the house (it was behind the big blue recycling can) and asked him to look for it. He looked around at all the items right in front of him…he hasn’t yet learned to look behind or under things without prompting, something I’m hoping he grasps soon as it’s about to kill me. “I don’t see it, Mama. It’s not here.” “Yes, it is honey. Just look, you’ll see it.” “No, Mama. I dust don’t see it. It’s dust not here. It didn’t come yet.” I’m standing right beside him and looking at the package in the clear plastic bag which is right behind the can that is RIGHT in front of us. I said, “stand right here with Mama and look…I bet you’ll see it.” As he moves, he says, “Mama, I dust don’t think it came yet. It’s dust….OH!” He found it. Such excitement in that little “oh.” “I dust didn’t see it but it did come, it is here. Look Mama it’s my package from Ammaw. Let’s open it.” (said while walking with said package to the front door).

We get inside where Alex was still patiently waiting for us and I’m barely in the door when he’s begging me to open it. I asked him to wait just a minute so we could take our jackets off yet and I could get Alex a bottle. He’d been patient while we found the package but usually when we get home if I’ve picked them up from day care after work, he’s more than ready for a bottle and if he can get it in before dinner, a 30 minute cat nap to get him through till bedtime. Tonight the nap wasn’t going to happen but he did need the bottle. Ethan not so patiently waited while excitedly showing Alex the package and then as Alex took his bottle and started guzzling, I started on the package. I had Ethan throw away the wrapping as I cut into the tape on the box and he comes running back, “is it my book? Is it my Diego book? Ammaw sent me my book.” I, by the way, had completely forgotten we were going to get a package much less what it was supposed to contain (other than something for Halloween) but Ethan has a mind like a steal trap. If you want to surprise him with something, don’t say it to him ever or even whisper it in his presence cause he’ll hear you and he’ll remind you, repeatedly. Package open, sure enough it’s his Diego book – Diego’s Halloween Party. And a book for Alex about his first Halloween and a couple of other things which I can’t remember right now but I’m certain if I woke Ethan up, he’d tell me what they were and exactly where they are right now.

So now that Ethan has his book and other items and Alex is trying to eat his book because the bottle is gone, I head to the kitchen. Ethan and Alex play well in the front room while I cut up hot dogs for beanie weenies (which both boys love). Steve should be home shortly as he is only working 4 hours this day because a very nice co-worker traded 4 hours Wed for 4 hours Saturday so that Steve could be home for Trick-or-Treat. Dinner is ready when I hear Steve come in but I need to cool Alex’s and get it on the table so need about 5 more minutes so I told Steve to read the book that Ethan was excitedly telling him about. I now know why I read to the boys more than Steve does. He doesn’t seem to have the patience for it and I put more animation into it. Then again, he had just gotten home and wasn’t even fully in the door when both boys ran to him (and then as he walked past Alex to put his badge & phone on the shelf, Alex cried cause he didn’t stop to pick him up first) … so I guess that could have played a part in his lack of enthusiasm for the book.

Thursday I was scheduled to work a half day as a co-worker from our Cebu, Philippines, office was visiting not just the Lexington office for the first time but also the United States for the first time and so we planned to go to Keeneland for the afternoon to give her a taste of Kentucky Horse Racing. She’s the Admin Assistant my group works with in Cebu so the other AA that works with her a lot and I had planned this afternoon out. Steve & I had an errand to run before I headed to Keeneland so he was on his way to meet me and called to tell me Ethan had asked if he was going to get to go to the horse races again and Steve had explained he’s have to wait till the Spring season. But I thought about it and realized I could take the boys if the other two AA’s didn’t mind. I asked and they didn’t mind and thought it would be fun so I let Steve know the plans were changing and called daycare to let them know we wouldn’t be bringing the boys that day. This time I told Ethan all the possible colors for the horses and then asked which one he liked since he does get to pick the color from now on….he still said green for him and purple for me and there was no budging off that. The first race we won $4.80 on one horse; the second we won $15.80 on one horse … all in all, we bet a total of $44 for the day and won most it back as we were only down $27.50 for the day and that includes admission and food (I did the math – we lost $21.50 to food and admission which left only $6.00 we lost on bets). Alex ended up spending most of his time in the stroller because he wanted to walk EVERYWHERE and as we were on a bit of an incline, he couldn’t do that very well and I didn’t particularly want him to crawl. I think the other girls enjoyed Ethan & Alex’s company – they were fairly well behaved considering neither had a nap. Ethan was especially excited when he got to pet some of the Keeneland work horses a few times between races when they’d come to the rail. Alex seemed to enjoy most playing with his brother’s sippy cup. Another good Keeneland day and both boys passed out in the car on the way home.

Friday’s entertainment is compliments of Steve’s status updates on Facebook. The first one he posted said something to the effect of don’t leave big brother’s old sippy cup lying around – Alex had picked it up and from the look on his face it was sour milk in it and that was enough to make Steve dry heave (he has a very bad gag reflex). Apparently, it was one of the sippy cups we hadn’t found in a day or two and it was nice and curdled. I think Steve may have had a worse reaction to it than Alex. The funny thing is though that Alex has his own sippy cup but will have nothing at all to do with it. He takes great pleasure in picking up his brother’s cups to enjoy them but if we give it to him, like with something he should drink in it, he doesn’t want it at all. This doesn’t bode well for the years to come – I can see him now doing exactly what we tell him not to do and if we do give permission for something he wants to do, not doing it just to spite us. A later status update from Steve said that Ethan & Alex were entertaining themselves at the coffee table my dad made for me. Ethan was filling cups (not sure if they were real or pretend cups) with pretend stuff to drink and both boys were drinking it. Alex, not even a year old, will pretend like this with his brother simply because Ethan tells him to. One day a while back, Steve & I were in the kitchen making breakfast or dinner (don’t remember which) and Ethan and Alex were at the gate. Ethan had a wooden spoon and was pretending to feed Alex who was happily eating whatever Ethan had on the spoon…happily that is until he realized he really was hungry and that pretend food wasn’t very filling.

Boys are such fun and they have so much fun together. Stay tuned for our trick-or-treating fun next.