teeth time!

As we were driving (really, whenever we are driving anywhere) the Boy likes to know where we are. He asks what road we're on, and where we are in relation to other places he knows. It's very strange for me to hear, mostly because I can't remember ever really caring about where we were as long as I knew the destination. I knew we'd get there because my parents said we would. It wasn't until I started driving that I learned about the directions (Hubby would likely say that I still don't get directions!).

So whenever the boys ask about this stuff (they both do it, just Boy2 usually does it when his brother isn't around) I answer their questions in awe. They seem to get it from their Dad. He said he could remember doing the same thing, but he'd attributed it to the fact that he'd known quite a few truckers growing up, and had been on many a road trip. I think he's pleased to see that the genes are carrying that through.

Daddy's big job (that is his most important job) in this home is tooth brushing. He is the official tooth brusher and if he's not home to do it, they'll accept me grudgingly. The kids like to sing the ABC's while their ivories are polished, so they are getting really good with their letters.

We went to the big mall (again) and the kids had a grilled cheese from McD's since they were hungry. While eating it, the Boy told me it was the "best meal I've had in my whole life!" So cute! And yesterday we had dinner with Hubby's great Aunt and Uncle, and dessert was cake and ice cream. While eating it, he said again "this is the best dessert I've had in my whole life!" Where did he pick that up?

My little Dinosaur is feeling better. Her fever hasn't been back since Saturday morning, and so she's slept the last two nights in her own bed (thankfully!) but fir some reason I'm more exhausted today than I've been in a long time. Not even my morning coffee seemed to be effective today. I blame the long winter and the dull overcast day it was today.

Happily, though, the daily highs from now on are "supposed" to be seasonal enough to help the snow melt. An average of +5 is nice after the long, cold past six months. I really am itching for the sunshine and warm breezes to start!

Boy2 has been a bit of a handful. He loves his sister so much and he tries so hard to get her to laugh, he sometimes forgets and does something that yes, makes her laugh, but also is potentially harmful to her. And he just doesn't seem to understand that. "But she likes it" is all fine and good, but when it hurts her, she'll stop smiling awful quick! He is quick to apologize, though. And very liberal with hugs and kisses!

reflecting

I've been reflecting today on the changes that have happened so quickly in our lives. Children grow up way too fast (I know. They are still little. But so much happens so quickly!)

My beautiful fair-haired boy who turn three last Saturday looked so foreign to me when I was at the hospital. I was probably expecting a little replica of his brother who was so dark, and out comes this little pale bundle of cute.

Both boys were 9 lbs 10 oz when they were born, and so I was more than a little surprised when my little Girl was born 1)before her due date 2)only 8 lbs 3oz and 3) female. And she was the spitting image of her oldest brother except for having a smaller head. Three very different kids and three very different experiences. But wow, does time ever just rocket past!

nums and noses

Yesterday was a sad day for Boy2. I picked up a num of his off of the floor, looked at it, and saw IT. A little tiny break in the silicon, two side by side. The perfect incisions made by a couple of teeth.

Instead of doing what I normally do and simply throw it out, I called Boy2 over. "Can you put this in the garbage?" Of course the inevitable "why?" "Look. Your teeth made holes, so now now it's broken. This one has to go."

So he put it in the trash, and promptly found another one from his little hiding places all over the house (it's like he's a squirrel with nuts stashed around the house!). I looked at the place where I put the nums, and I though "Okay. Once these are gone, that's it. They don't make nums for over the age three, so we just won't buy them."

When I told him that, I don't think he quite understood. There was a num in his mouth.... that's all that mattered. This morning he wanted to have it when he came downstairs. I said no (like I always do) but I noticed his "dragon".

Now a good friend in Saskatoon (whose little girl I watched last year) sent these to the boys for Christmas (well, it was her daughter that got them for them) and they have a little pocket in their tummies. The Boy likes to put coins in his, but Boy2 I think forgets that the pocket is there. I asked for dragon and his num, then I put the num inside of dragon. The idea was for dragon the guard the num on his bed, but he's carrying it around the house. At least the soother isn't in his mouth.....

My Girl has had a rough couple of nights. Well.... so has Daddy, but we don't know why that is. The Girl woke up yesterday around 1 am with serious sinus congestion. Poor girl could hardly breathe through her nose at all! Then came the fever (which seems to not want to go away for long). It comes, stays for an hour or so, then it goes away for a few hours and comes back! The nose seems pretty good if she's upright, but night time has been a trial. Saline spray and snot-suckers (while one of the worst offenses a Girl could experience) are wonderful! She's still a happy baby, though.

I have been so pleased with my boys lately. They fight (of course) but they rush to help if I ask them to bring me something for the Girl, or sometimes for each other. The Boy asks Boy2 if he can read him the book. Or Boy2 will read to the Girl. It's so cute to watch.

this is the song that never ends....

I have been blessed (cursed?) with a unique kind of memory. The thing that I'm going to compare it to is a sieve. That's right.... a sieve.

Now, not everything goes through the holes of a sieve. Just sand and very fine, dry dirt. The big stuff (like rocks, clumps, bits of wood) stays.

The things that stick to my memory and remain for fast recollection are not necessarily the important things (like the fact that I have to pump the gas pedal a couple of times before starting Hubby's truck on a cold day), but bits of songs, dialogue, or passages from books or movies. In order to be able to readily retrieve the more "important" stuff, it seems it must first be drilled into my ears then stuff them so the information won't leak out.

The oddest things trigger this amazing gift I have and the trigger doesn't have to have anything to do with the response. A word can be said in one context and suddenly a song will start in my mind with that same word in it. Or someone will say something and I'll blurt something else (totally unrelated) from a book or movie. Thse are usually best left unsaid, since not everyone would get the reference...

We went swimming this afternoon, and Boy2's lips were turning blue. The song "I'm Blue" by Eiffel 65 started playing in my head and would not go away! Hubby asked why I was humming it, so I told him. Then itgot stuck in his head (ah! sweet revenge for all of the silly songs he places in my head!)

My brother Peanut Buttern posted a line fron My Fair Lady on Facebook and, sure as shooting, that song was in my head for most of the day.

It's worse when I don't know why the song is stuck and won't leave. It could be one I haven't heard in ages, suddenly ends up playing ad infinitum and will not leave! It's like having a record skip, but playing the whole song instead of four seconds of it over, and over, and over, and over, and over.....

thumbs up!

Over lunch today Boy2 and I were giving thumbs up to each other. For a little while there he was holding up his finger instead of his thumb, so I was working on correcting that. When we stopped for a little bit, I looked over to the Girl (who was sitting in the high chair watching and laughing at us) and I saw her sitting there, just staring at her hand as if saying "how do I get this thumb-thing up?" It was SO funny!

I'm thinking it's a good thing spring break is next week. The Boy is getting more and more antsy during speech sessions and other places we take him. He needs to spend some time just relaxing and not really going anywhere for a while. Just to recharge and get refreshed.

Amma called yesterday at lunch to tell us a couple of funny tibits, and while she was on the phone, the Girl let out one of her dino roars. When she asked if there was a dinosaur in the house, and I told her which child it was I think it surprised her! One doesn't really expect such a noise to come from such a happy, beautiful, and charming girl!

Boy2 is very happy being three. The only down side to having a birthday is that it is over too soon. This morning he was asking if he could have another birthday soon. The Boy was then asking when his was going to be. Five more months, Kiddo!

quilt

Oh Yeah. Here is the project I was working on for Boy2's b-day. I didn't get it done for the big day, but got it this afternoon. I don't think he's ever been THIS excited for bedtime!

Birthday pics

Here are a few pictures from the last little bit, including a couple from Boy2's third birthday yesterday. The Birthday cake was a masterpiece (though I say it myself) having two layers of chocolate cake with cherry pie filling in between and dream whip on top with maraschino cherries. Kinda a simplified version of a Black Forrest cake. All made by yours truly (with input and ideas from Hubby). I am SO proud of that cake!

These kids love each other so much! Best friends and worst enemies all at the same time (like all siblings are). This afternoon the Boy was a little sick and spent some time just laying on the couch. When he started feeling better, he told his brother and Boy2 just clapped his hands and did a little "hooray!" It was so adorable!

When Boy2 woke up this morning, he looked at me and said "I'm three now?" (holding up three fingers). "Yep." he just beams this big smile and claps his hands together. He's one step closer to being four too, just like big brother!