Friday, May 30, 2008

the 80s

...seem to be Jake's preferred music. I decided to experiment this afternoon. With our direct tv we've got separate channels for the 90s, 80s, 70s, 60s, 50s, and 40s. We listened to them all for a bit. Only when the 80s were on did we get the head swaying and hand clapping.

Yep...that's how Jake dances. I will have to attempt to get it on camera because it is the funniest thing to watch. I think that it'll only be perfected as he gets older and can add the "white boy" move that Chris and Andy are so fond of.

Liz will do a little swaying but she doesn't seem to be much of a dancer. She likes to wave though.

I am totally exhausted these days. I'd love to go to bed now but I'll probably end up waking babies up. Plus this ends up being my only adult time that is chore free...although I should fold some laundry and stuff diapers for tomorrow.

We cleaned out the basement yesterday. What a nasty job that was. But we got it sorted into 3 piles - keeping, trashing, selling. It's amazing how empty it now looks. I'm hoping for a good turnout for the yard sale - I want to get rid of this stuff!

Sunday, May 25, 2008

10 months

A little late but better than never! Here are the twins' 10 month picture with Gayla the dog. It's getting harder to get them when they aren't moving.

Milestones this month: Well we've got 2 walking fiends on our hands. Not walking alone but along the furniture. And everything can be used as a helpful tool for standing. I watched in amazement the other day as Elizabeth walked herself along the couch to the wall and then down the hall. Later that day I watched her use the fridge to stand...walk along that to the trashcan and attempt to pick through it. Note to self - find out if they make trashcan locks. They are also quite chatty and love to say mama and dada. Not saying Alexa just yet...maybe she'll settle for lala. Foods are preferred in a non-puree form. That puree stuff was just a messy disaster waiting to happen anyways...very sticky and ended up everywhere! Liz has decided she prefers an all 4s crawl over the belly crawl. She's much faster that way. Jake is a quick little snake that still prefers the army crawl...and he is very fast. He's also mastered sitting and has even managed to get himself into a seated position twice in the last week. It's nice to be able to sit him on the floor and not have him topple over. That's the one area he was behind Liz in.

Other funny things: Liz likes to scrunch up her nose and breath funny. I have yet to catch it on camera but it's a hoot. She also makes this interesting noise with her lips that I can't imitate. Maybe it's because I have more than 1.5 teeth.

Jake likes to cluck. He thinks it's funny when we do it back to him. I think we've also discovered why he's always seeming to shake his head no at us. It's his way of dancing. He gets his whole body into the "no" groove...especially when there is music involved.

Nothing is sacred. I used to think it'd be great to have a coffee table. Now I'm thankful we don't because it's not like we could keep anything on it. The only reason J and E don't get into Alexa's stuff is courtesy of the superyard my dad bought.

Here's how most use it:
This is how we use it:

as the world turns...

over and over...flattening everything as it goes.

That is how this week has been. One of those weeks that is long...yet fast.

Just 7 itty bitty days ago I was frustrated with Chris for being gone so much. Now he's home pretty much all day. That's what happens when no one has a job. I think we've seen more of each other in the last week than we've seen in the entire 6.5 years we've been married! And yet we aren't ready to kill each other...must be true love.

Chris was asked to voluntarily resign from his job on Monday afternoon. To me that means "you're fired but we want to be nice about it". It was mutual but it still stinks because it wasn't like he had anything else lined up. So we've gone from a one income family to a no income. Hopefully that won't last for long. We are both job hunting for at least temporary jobs.

Why temporary? Because this has made us change our point of view. I love where we live right now. Maybe not the exact crowded unmaintained 2 bedroom house that we rent but being close to our friends and having so many options of things to do. But it is expensive. And I have always felt that living down here we are only going to be able to keep our heads above the water...just enough to breathe without drowning.

So now we have the chance to relocate and try something new. To go somewhere and make some new memories to help wash the bad taste of failure out of our mouths. To get the chance to get ahead and build something more permanent into our lives.

I keep getting asked from those that know we are moving how I feel. Well...I'm nervous and a bit scared. The devil you know is always better than the one you don't know right? I second guess myself constantly and have that gnawing feeling I always get when nervous. But this is something that needs to be done. It's not going to be easy on Chris, Alexa or I. She seems to have inherited the gnawing feeling based on what she was saying to her grandmother last night. I guess the best way to trooper through is to start making lists of all that needs to be done in the next month.

Okay...done ranting I guess. To those that read this...thanks for listening!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Sunday...ho-humday

Sunday is supposed to be our family day. It's usually the only day Chris hasn't scheduled himself up to his ears. I know he's doing it to earn some extra money but there are days when I wonder if it's worth it.

Today is going to end up being like every other day...me and the kids. Thinking it was going to rain yesterday Chris accepted a game assignment. The plus is that I'll be getting the money for my un-named, not-yet-started diaper business.

And while I sit and type this rant (one-handed as Liz is in a cling-2-momma mood) my oldest is doing housework. So far she's vacuumed every room but my bedroom and the bathroom. Now she's washing windows. If only I could get her to do laundry...

Since I'm having issues loading the video...these will have to do for now!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Going visiting

I'm actually proud of myself. I packed for an overnight trip for four people in under 30 minutes yesterday! And didn't forget anything except my pjs.

I decided yesterday afternoon that we'd go visit Nokomi since Chris wasn't home and Alexa has been begging to see her. We got home a little before noon from our carseat appointment. I ran and packed while the twins were asleep in the car. Of course they woke up when I loaded the car so I brought them inside and got them all fed and then back into the car.

We arrived shortly after 3 with a few stops along the way. Grocery store - to pick up dinner for the night and McD's for lunch. Everyone (myself excluded of course) napped in the car.

Jake went straight to Nokomi. Liz didn't want anything to do with anyone besides me. And she totally freaked out about the dogs again.

She did finally adjust and would let them at least look at her without crying. But she still didn't want anyone else to hold her! And anytime I left the room she'd scream...or if on the floor try to follow.

I did get to see my sister Dyani and her little boy Blake (who isn't really so little anymore!). And visit my brother and his girlfriend. That's always nice. But I was more than ready to get packed and get home!

And it was a long trip. Lots of traffic and construction made for some long waits - a 90 min trip took about 2.5 hours. I'm just glad I didn't fall asleep in the car. And now we are somewhat on schedule with the twins already in bed...and Alexa hopefully soon.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Mother's Day

My Mother's Day started off bright and early yesterday with J and E deciding to climb on me. Amazingly Chris was able to hear them even though they weren't fussing. I think he's finally getting used to how early they wake up! They went out with Dad and I was able to sleep until just after 7. What...only till 7 you say? That's a late morning for us here!

We finally decided that we were going to go for a picnic in the park. Chris labored over lunch and getting everything packed up while I got the kids dressed and slathered with sunscreen. The picnic went over fairly well. Alexa enjoyed rolling down a hill and kite flying. Jacob and Elizabeth enjoyed eating grass, dandelions, and a bit of watermelon.

It all ended just after 12 when the kite got stuck in a tree and the string broke. Chris was trying to get it low enough for twins to see...not that they seemed to care. Getting Alexa out of there become top priority. All she talked about on the way to coldstone (mmm...ice cream!) was how much she missed her kite (but was happy to have it replaced with a lion king one).

Came home to do chores and make dinner. Then early to bed for everyone!

I can't wait to see what craziness Father's Day involves...

Friday, May 9, 2008

10 months

Another month has flown the coop. And only 2 more till the big 1!

In the past month Liz has gotten a tooth. They've both worked on their crawling skills. Liz is slow and steady while Jake practically flies across the ground. Both will use anything, including each other to stand up! And they've also started walking along whatever they are holding onto.

Not much is safe here in the Lion's Den. Everything has the potential to be eaten...or at the very least waved around, becoming a weapon of sorts. Remotes are a favorite toy.

Fights are common also. I never even realized they started this early! If you take something from Liz and she doesn't want you doing that she lets you know by her particular scream cry. She gets mad easy. Jake doesn't seem to care and in fact seems to get pleasure from making her mad. As I write this they are both standing at Alexa's little table on opposite sides making spitting noises at each other and trying to scavenge whatever has been left behind that may or may not be edible.

I will be doing the dog pictures later this morning (we were out and about yesterday). But I did have to share these ones that I took. I tried to get one of all 3...I'll show the result of that one also.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

hmm...which food group?

So this morning we experienced something I've only read about. Alexa never did this...thankfully.

First a little background. Last night Jake and Liz had a self-feeding dinner of carrots, peaches, chicken and a few green beans. After waking with a very full and wet diaper I decided to let him get a little air. A common occurrence...it's good for preventing diaper rashes.

While he was airing out I decided to try and put some of laundry mountain away. Chris and Alexa were putting out the trash as it is Tuesday.

Suddenly I heard a sputtering, choking sound. I dashed down the hall to see Elizabeth eating something. I run to scoop it out.

And realize whatever she was eating smells really bad and doesn't belong on the floor. And that Jacob was covered with it as was Liz's pjs. Yep...she was eating his #2. That's family love I guess. I can see why she was confused as it looked just like she had last night with a little extra.

I grab Jake and holler for Chris to come lend a hand. See...these circumstances are different when there are 2 babies involved. You can't clean them both up at the same time! Unless you have more than 2 hands which I don't.

So I got Jacob stripped and sat him in the tub. Chris got Liz undressed to her diaper and let her roam. I cleaned up the floor and then started putting some water in the tub. Both babies needed a bath anyways...now it's done.

So that leads me to my title. Does it fall under a food group? Or was it considered junk food? Whichever one it ends up under I suppose I should be grateful that Liz gagged or who knows how bad the mess would have been!

Jacob's milestones

  • weight/length @ 7: 55.6lbs, 48.75"
  • weight/length @ 5: 42lbs, 43.5"
  • weight/length @ 4: 36 lbs, 39+"
  • weight/length@ 3: 32lbs, 36.5 inches
  • weight/length @ 2 years: 26lbs, 33.5 inches
  • weight/length @ 1 year: 18lbs, 29 inches
  • walking: 11/17/08
  • standing: 3/31/08
  • crawling: army, 2/5/08
  • first time rolling: 9/30/07, belly to back
  • first smile: 9/7/07
  • birth date/time: 7/8/07, 12:49am
  • birth length: 19.5 inches
  • birth weight: 6lbs, 1oz

Elizabeth's milestones

  • weight/length @7: 53lbs, 47.75"
  • weight/length @ 5: 40 lbs, 42.25"
  • weight/length @ 4: 34lbs, 38"
  • weight/length 3 years: 28lbs, 35.5 inches
  • weight/length 2 years: 24lbs, 6oz 33 inches
  • weight/length 1 year: 18lbs, 1oz 27.5 inches
  • walking: 9/1/08
  • standing: 4/4/08
  • crawling: army 3/16/08
  • sitting alone: 2/29/08
  • first time rolling: 11/23/07, back to belly
  • first smile: 9/7/07
  • birth date/time: 7/8/07, 12:50am
  • birth length: 18.75 inches
  • birth weight: 5lbs, 8oz

Alexa's milestones

  • weight/height @ 10 (really 10.8): 186, 5'3"
  • weight/height @ 8.4 years: 113 lbs, 55.5 inches
  • weight/height @ 5 years: 61lbs, 4oz 45.25 inches
  • weight/length @ 4 years: 49lbs, 42 inches
  • weight/length @ 3 years: 38lbs, 38 inches
  • weight/length @ 2 years: 32lbs, 8oz 35.75 inches
  • weight/length @ 1 year: 22lbs, 3 oz 29.5 inches
  • 1st day of preschool: 9/3/08
  • solo somersault: 3/4/08
  • whistling: 3/2/08
  • potty training: 10/7/05
  • walking: 12/21/04
  • standing: 8/23/04
  • crawling: 8/21/04, only a week, then became a butt scoot
  • first wave: 7/27/04
  • rolling: 5/2/04, belly to back
  • sleeping thru the night: 3/1/04
  • first smile: 1/20/04
  • birth date/time: 12/4/03, 10:41pm
  • birth length: 20 inches
  • birth weight: 7lbs