Tonight's Parenting Moment Brought to you by The Nudist

This weekend is the one weekend a year our neighborhood allows a garage sale. I've had 2 babies in 2 years. Both of the aforementioned babies are old enough to actually think about getting rid of the baby stuff that's had my home consumed for the last two years. We have so much stuff that literally I figure if we ever do have another baby, I will just buy the bare minimum again. I would much rather do that then keep this stuff for the next however many years. Anyway, I digress. Every night this week, I've been starting around 8:30 and working into the night cleaning out and getting ready for an epic garage sale. Kimber has also chosen every night this week to literally play for an hour or so in her crib before going to sleep. We end up going in her room anywhere from 2-6 times each evening telling her to go to sleep, re-covering her with her blanket, threatening, swatting, taking away stuffed animals, picking pillow and blanket off the floor, etc. It's quite ridiculous. Even more so now that I see it written down. So tonight I was in and out of the garage and had Kimber's monitor on the kitchen counter. During one trip in, I hear her saying "I need a new diaper".  I thought to myself "wow, okay that's good. She's recognizing she needs one". I went over and glanced at the monitor screen only to see Kimber, butt naked standing in her crib. Being the responsible mother I am, I rushed the monitor upstairs to show Clayton so we could be mortified (read; giggle because we are mature) together. When I went in Kimber's room and turned on the light, she grinned and stuck one naked leg up on the side of her crib like she was going to crawl out. She has never climbed out of her crib. Being in the moment, I said "well if you're gonna climb out, go ahead". "Okay" she said. And she did. Climbed that little naked butt out of her crib and onto the ground. This girl. I could hardly keep myself composed from laughing, much less try to figure out how to even begin to scold her.  Hope everyone is having a good week!!

2 in a row? Whaaaaat?

I feel like my last post mainly talked about Tealle, so I thought I would write some about Kimber. 2 kids...equal love, equal time dedication on blog. Kimber, Kimber Kimber. Wow. First, she has the sweetest heart. She wants to make sure everyone is included. She pretty freely gives hugs and kisses. And, she wants everyone else to kiss too. This is slightly awkward when it's Clayton and my mom she's specifying. haha. But, I say that to express that she's an extremely loving little girl. This fact makes my heart happy. It means that we've loved on her enough to teach her how to love others. She says "I Love You" randomly, which makes me think it is sincere and heartfelt. A few weeks ago, while I was changing her diaper she said "Mama, you're my best friend". Be still my heart. So sweet and genuine. She's at her best when Clayon AND I AND Tealle are all with her. I would term her an "includer". I use that term because I took a strengths test in college and that was one of my top 5 "strengths". And, I see that in her. Compassion, love. These are good qualities. This gives me hope for the future. Notice how I prefaced what I'm about to type with that sentence. lol. I have heard people say that "threes" are harder than "terrible twos". Well, that may be true, but I could care less at the moment. Because frequently I am pretty sure someone has stolen my compassionate sweet little angel and replaced her with the most bratty, difficult two year old I've ever seen. Therefore, I would say, I'm experiencing "terrible twos". TERRIBLE. When Kimber was a baby, there was a pretty long span of time that we didn't really take her many places for fear that she would scream and cry. She wasn't the most patient or chill baby, so we didn't take too many chances with public appearances, especially church, weddings, etc. I still see people with their sweet infant in a wedding and I think "that never could have been me". Anyway, we are somewhat in that stage. You never know what will set Kimber off into a fit. One day, redirecting her away from something is a breeze. The next, she's thrown herself on the floor and uttered such screams that Tealle is literally scared to death. I don't blame her. Because I'm slightly afraid too. But only to the point that my strong-willed nature kicks in and I remind myself that this. child. will. not. beat. me. It's like there is such extreme anger over something as "small" as one of us buckling her in the high chair when she wanted to do it. It seems small to us, but toddlers crave independence so I can understand why she's upset. I try to think about why she's responding the way she is but I'll be honest, a lot of the time, I am pretty sure she's gone insane. She screams pretty much every night in the bathtub. Why? She doesn't want to take a bath. Um, too bad sweetie. You have corn in your hair and you still smell like the syrup you apparently had at breakfast this morning. These are battles I have to choose. There are other things I can let go. As any parent knows, it's a delicate balance between letting them grow and learn but not letting them get away with things that are not going to be good qualities or lessons in the future. Okay, enough negativity. I should also quantify all of my comments with the fact that I have a theory on why Kimber is so "difficult". She's smart as a whip. I'm not saying easier kids are not smart. Each child is different. This is just her personality and a lot of it is her nature. How do I know? She's just like me. Over-achiever? Yep. Frustrated when she can't do something perfectly? Yep. Wants to be able to do anything? Yep. Wants to communicate effectively with anyone she encounters? Yep. The jury is still out on whether we will clash more often, or if we will just understand each other since we're similiar. I'm betting it's a little of both. Age 2 update: There are so many things to share. Kimber speaks so well it's amazing to me. She's been using complete sentences for quite sometime, and they onlly get more advanced. At her 2 year checkup, the doctor was telling me how the main milestone for this age is speaking. He asked if she could say at least 50 words. I said yes and asked her to talk to him. Of course, she wouldn't. (shocker) She just sucked on her pacifier and stared at him. This was okay with me because she usually cries. I had promised her a sticker if she could be a sweet girl during her checkup. I assured him she was speaking fine and he started to leave the room. When he was almost out the door, she took out her pacifier and said "Mommy, can I have a sticker now?" hahaha. He poked his head back in, completely shocked. It was a highlight. Very funny. Kimber is still true to size with clothing. She wears a 24 month or 2T, but 2T is still pretty big for her in bottoms. She's tall but narrow. We are already having issues with finding jeans that are long enough but fit in the waist as well. I see dollar signs. Gonna have to look hard for the right jeans. She still wears a size 4 diaper. She uses the potty occasionally, but not regularly, and definitely NOT for #2. I'm thinking she's going to be one that eventually makes up her mind to do it and until then, she can't be bothered. So, we just mention it and let her decide. Stats: 36 inches tall (93rd percentile), 26.5 pounds (this was around 74th percentile) Foods: dislikes - cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes (except french fries & tater tots) favorites - chicken nuggets (especially from Old McDonald's), macaroni & cheese, steak, spaghetti, any kind of fruit, yogurt

Gorda

I am so terrible about blogging. No excuses, although there are plenty, I'm just not good at keeping up here. So, I am even thinking I should just skip the whole run down of the last however long and the OMG my life has changed so much. I will just try to do better....again..... So, let's talk about Tealle, who is affectionately known as Gorda. :) How did she get that name? Well, the girl loves her groceries. Becky, Tealle's wonderful nanny and the reason for my sanity, has a son named Emilio that she sometimes refers to as "Gordo". I did take three years of high school spanish, so I mentioned to her that perhaps Tealle was a "Gorda". It's an affectionate nickname in both cases. It's just the spanish version of "the girl who sure does like her groceries" haha. Tealle's birth weight was 7 lbs 12 oz - similiar to Kimber, who was 7 lbs 1 oz. Tealle has always seemed bigger, more plump. :) At 4 month checkup, they were still right in line with each other, with Tealle retaining her 11 oz "lead" over Kimber. 6 month checkup wasn't much different either. I will have to get all of their papers in front of me, just to do a comparison at some point. BUT, let me get to the point. Tealle's 9 month checkup. I did actually blog about Kimber's 12 month checkup and noted that she was 21 pounds, 3 oz and 30 inches tall, wearing size 3 diapers and was true to size in clothes, wearing a 12 month at the time. (If I knew how to link the post I would, but I don't know how and it's sad). This morning, I took my 9 month old, wearing a 12 month shirt that showed her round belly and some 18 month jeggings to the doctor for her 9 MONTH checkup. :) She is 22 pounds, 1 ounce and 29.75 inches long/tall. In other words, she's part baby, part offensive lineman. I mean, the girl is huge and so dang cute you just want to pinch that little round belly. She's such a sweet little girl. She's pulling up on EVERYTHING and has been, pretty much even before she could crawl. But, she's crawling good too. She has great balance and babbles up a storm. She likes to be held (who doesnt'), loves to clap, and she's a great sleeper. Not sure how I managed to have a 2 year old who still wakes up once during the night most nights and then a little one who's been sleeping all night like a rock since she was 5 months old. She made her own schedule. We tried and tried to get Kimber on a schedule for months and Tealle just did it herself. She turns into a pumpkin at 8:00 sharp, sometimes earlier. And, Heaven help you if you are somewhere at that time. The dam breaks, and she's no longer easy going. I think that's fair. Also, we aren't fools. Someone is home with Tealle by 7:30. We don't push her limits. It isn't pretty. She's serious about her sleep and about her meals. Everything else is just details and she's very laid back. Last week, Tealle was sick, and I mean SICK, with some nasty diarrhea stomach bug. Somehow, until now, I had managed to shield my kids from any type of stomach sickness, but Tealle got it. She was a total trooper though. Drank her "smoothie" several times a day and never complained. "smoothie" = equal parts water and Pedialyte, mixed with rice cereal and sometiimes strawberry flavored acetaminophen for fever. I was pretty proud of the concoction. BUT, I am very glad we are past that now. It's scary having a little one so sick looking and feeling bad. If you had told me four years ago that I would drive 90 miles per hour home from work to pick up a sick child's diarrhea sample and rush it back to the hospital lab to be tested within an hour, I would have been mortified. Now, it's just part of the job. There's nothing I wouldn't do for those babies. Sometimes, well, actually most of the time, it's completely exhausting. This morning, I tried to start my car with my granola bar. But, it's also funny. I just tell people I have 2 kids 2 and under, and they expect the worst so if I do actually remember something or appear to be decently pulled together, people are pleasantly surprised. With that said, let's not forget that looks are deceiving. I think I sweated through my work clothes at least once, usually more, every day last week. Dang Gulf Coast humidity, and a consequence of a sick baby, a 2 year old, a full time job, oh and of course football season :) I've worn out more pairs of black peep toe heels than I care to count. I've carried a sick 22 month old into the doctor, hospital, up the stairs in those heels. I've carried a crying 2 year old a city block to school and back in those heels. Wouldn't trade it. It just helps to justify the Macy's bill that comes in the mail. Since I started this post October 1 and I am just now finishing it (15 days later) I think I will sign off for now. My internet explorer at work is not jiving with blogger lately, so this post will be ugly I'm thinking, but I will post pics when I can.