Welcome Home

It's been a long time.  I have a good excuse.  We have packed up our bags, loaded the car and moved, but not very far.  That's right.  We have been riding the real estate roller coaster for the past 3 years and have finally SOLD our home, it's been under contract 3 times and we backed out twice because the houses we were buying did not work out.  But finally we found a house and have decided to make it home.

I love this house, while it does need some major updating and paint, it is the perfect house for our family of 5.  Complete with mature landscaping, a bonus room and waterfront back yard.  So while it doesn't feel like home yet, I'm betting in the next few months and years when we start making memories it will.  

Guess who used the potty today!

Me!!!! We are no where near potty trained, we could be if I put more effort into it. But Margot is definitely interested. In face today she did not have a diaper on, which is nothing new and she had to go...number 1 and 2 so she found a potty and went.

She is not a fan of applause or praise. It's just when a girls gotta go a girls gotta go. Love my Giddy!

And they're off....Part Deaux

Exactly one week after his big sister's training wheels came off, Noah decided he would like his off too.  So off they came and the first time he got on his bike without them he took off....

Seriously.  Of course I predicted it the week before.  When I tell people he is riding his bike at 4 YEARS OLD without training wheels, shock immediately comes across their face.  Suffice to say, I now have two children riding on two wheels.  And that is all we do everyday...ALL DAY LONG.  Daylights saving time showed up right in time.  He is just a touch proud of himself...

I'm so proud of my boy.  And the best part is when he gets on his bike and is about to take off he says "You can do this Noah...You can do it!"  And he's right he can do it, even with rain books that are too big!

And poor Margot all she wants to do is ride a big bike too.  Here is Josh helping Noah get started and holding a very upset Margot who is flailing her limbs trying to get on too.

Luckily she does get to particpate in the ice cream celebration for such a big achievement.  She went ahead to the freezer to get them to ensure I would not forget.

And they're off!

Meredith has been asking for some time to take her training wheels off.  Like months.  I haven't because let's face it, driveway time is my favorite time of the day and with three tikes running and riding all over, I knew chasing after one on a real bike was not ideal for me.  It's really all about me.  Besides Meredith has been riding her balance bike for quite some time and was already AMAZING on two wheels, who needs pedals right???

Tonight though I broke the news to her that her best little friends A and E had taken theirs off and were riding without them now.  So that only set me up to having to take off hers.  And luckily Josh was agreeable and he did.  Five minutes later she was like this....

She kind of took to the whole thing like a fish to water.  I'm pretty sure that strider bike had a lot to do with it.  We love those bikes.  Before I knew it she was going up hill to.  We still need some practice but I'd say she did pretty good for her first 15 minutes without training wheels.  And I'd say my days of the balance bike in the driveway are over, at least for Meredith!  Margot has been eyeing it for some time so she is thrilled!

And this little guy, well he is a whiz on his strider bike too.  Actually he's better on his strider bike than most adults on bikes.  Noah is pro on anything with wheels.  And with the way he's wheeling up and down the hilly streets our neighborhood I think he will soon be without his trianing wheels too.  Luckily for me, he's a cautious little guy!

And not to be left out of the milestone department, tonight Margot learned to double fist freezy pops!  Now that my friends is talent!  So proud of my Giddy!  And seriously how grown up is she looking now!  Not to mention every time her sister got off her big bike, Margot did indeed try and get on.  Every single time.

Pennsylvania

This week at school, Meredith, presented her very first "big" school project to her class.  I say "big" school because we have done the yearly "About Me" posterboards before, but this was an actual presentation on one of the 50 states.  Each kindergartner was given a state.  They had to identify it on a map, find and color or make the state flag.  Identify the state bird, tree, flower and a famous person from that state.  They also had to tell about one "fun fact" of that state.  

While Meredith thought there were much cooler states than Pennsylvania on the map, she was happy that she had her very own project to do.  And when she realized that Hershey was a city in PA, where they make chocloate, like the famous Hershey bar, the state became much more alluring to her.

Her Daddy helped her research the state on the Internet.  They looked up several pictures and printed them out.  Meredith colored her flag and a few of her pictures and we cut them out together.  She did all the gluing with a little bit of help regarding where to place them on her posterboard.  She identified her capital and drew the star and labeled it accordingly.  She then labeled each item on her poster board.  

Here she is immediately after her presentation.  Notice the box of Hershey's next to her posterboard.  At the end she told the kids...."Today I brought each of you a chocolate candy bar from Hershey, PA!"  The kids were amazed.  She impressed them big time.  I guess it would have been more truthful to say, I brought them to you from Sam's who had them shipped in from Hershey, PA, but we won't bother with those technicalities in Kindergarten.  

My girl was beaming....and she had every right to be.  She delivered her speech with a loud, clear voice and hit every point dead on.  She did better at 5 years old in a room of her peers, than I would have done at 33 years old in a room full of mine.  Meredith, I could not be more proud of you.  Job VERY WELL done!

(Sorry for the blurry picture, I was excited and happy and wrestling a 22lb octopus with flailing arms while taking it.)

Her poster board.  I will save it forever, along with the video of her presenting it to her class.  When did my girl get so big?

Superstar Skater

Have you ever seen an 18 month old skate?  Me either.  But this one did....at on the slick floors at the skating rink.  She went to a birthday party with her older siblings and INSISTED on skating too.  So we put some on her and away she went.  Everyone there was most impressed.  Hmm is there an Olympic sport for skating?

A date with her daddy

Meredith and Josh once again attended Sacred Heart's father/daughter dance this weekend.  She loved getting all dressed up and going on a date with her dear old Dad.  They met some friends to eat before the dance and I was told the excitement started then.  Lots of squealing and giggling with lots of little friends!

She was just a tad excited when her daddy gave her a dozen pink roses.

Lots of sweet girls and I heard lots of giggles.

The girl has moves like Jagger.

But the highlight of the night was when she lost her first tooth.  Yes, at the dance.  I heard she had lots of cheers from her friends and they were all as excited as she was when she lost it.  That night when she got home, she was beaming from ear to ear with a pearly, white tooth to show me.  And I have to admit I cried. It is such a big deal, like kindergarten, but worse.  And I was also a little upset that I didn't witness it firsthand.  She had been promising me for weeks she wouldn't lose it at school, because I didn't want to miss it.  Her daddy was more than happy to witness a first, firsthand though.

When she got home though, I noticed the tooth she lost was not her loosest tooth in her mouth.  It was the other.  The tooth that was the loosest when she left for the dance was still in there, but now laying side-wards at a 90 degree angle where the other tooth was.  So with that I asked if we could pull it and being on her high from loosing her first tooth she said "Sure!" and out it came!

I mean does she look excited or what!  Her first two teeth.  And the tooth fairy was very generous....two in one night....she had to be!

Going to give the Bigs a run for their money.

You may remember that my Noah is the one who would normally sneak into my pantry in the wee hours of the morning to get black and white cookies.  Or whatever other snack he deemed appropriate at an ungodly hour.  

Well apparently his little sister has decided she is going to give him a run for the money.  After she was up, changed, fed and playing contently with some toys this am, I decided to sneak onto the computer to get a few work related things done.  And all at once I noticed that she was not chatting up her toys like she ususally does.  So I went looking for her.  She wasn't on the rug near all of her toys where I had left her.  

Instead I heard a rummaging sound coming from the pantry.  These days I have learned to keep my camera out and available, because with babies you have to act fast.  I grabbed it off the island when I saw this....

Notice the already open and eaten pack of gummy fruit snacks to her left.

For the record I hate gummy snacks.  They are sticky and cause cavities.  They are not filling, I'm sure they are full of sugar, even if they are also "made of real fruit."  They are the one snack that not only provides zero nutrition, but they leave your kids still hungry and wanting for another snack, even your 13 month old.  One pack just doesn't do it.  But obviously I buy them...

I buy them because I was not denied junk food ever.  I was also offered healthy options, although now I rarely take them.  I just tend to eat the junk food out of the sight of 6 little eyes.  Therefore I use the excuse that my gummy snack purchase help me teach my tkes, that moderation is key.  Really I'm just a huge sap.

Apparently Margot has missed the bus on the  moderation is key lesson.  Pack number two....showing her mad skills on opening it alone.

Mom...I'm not asking for help....I'm showing you I can do it by myself.   Not once did I cry or protest for you to come to the pantry to help me....but if you want to see how I do this, I will show you.
This is how you do it....Tear it off.

Dig right in and get one....See it's open.

When you finish your second bag....just go right in for your third....like my mom said they are NOT very filling.  It defintely takes more than one bag.

Yes...I did, I opened that one too and ate it before you got here....I know I'm so incredibly smart.  My big brother and sister have taught me so well.

 Mom, I had no idea that three packs were not okay....I didn't know I swear.  Noah said it was fine...Sorry mom.  But can I finish it now....I'd hate to waste it.

Thanks Mom, you're the best.  I'm not sure why Ta-ta and Noah say you are the meanest mom ever sometimes. I totally disagree with them.  Hmmm does that get me another pack after this one?

She literally ate three packs of gummy snacks while I snapped over 30 pictures.  When I finally picked her and her trash up and shut the pantry there were plenty of crocodile tears.  Luckily she is like her brother in other ways too and recovered and moved on quickly.  I guess I'm going to  have to start keeping a very close eye on the pantry again.

Watch out world here comes Margot!

Today the caboose started Mother's Day Out.  It was a rough one.  I didn't cry when my big girl started Kindergarten.  I didn't cry when my mamma's boy started Pre-k 3.  But today I shed a tear as my caboose started Mother's Day Out.  It's a milestone.  She's growing up and I'm so not ready for this.  She is growing much faster then the other two did.  It's just not fair.  I miss those newborn days.

  I used my day to run to the grocery, run a few errands, then get a hair cut.  I didn't sit around the phone like I did when I first left Meredith at Mom's day out.  Nope, I'm a seasoned Mamma now, and I know she was in very capable and loving hands and she would be okay when I got back.  

What a difference a year makes....or 6 for that matter!

One year ago on the 4th of July we took this picture....

this year we took this one....

 Life is constantly chaning and boy does it change FAST.  A year ago, we were missing one tiny human in that picture.  She had not even made her presence into this world.  Yet to make her mark on our family.  Amazing isn't it.  The whole process.  That is nine months time, you can make one of these...

 And that in a single year she will become this....a talking little thing with a personality out of this world.  Always smiling, always happy, but oh so demanding and tough.

It really is incredible.  Six years ago this past May, Josh and I stood on the porch steps of St. Mary's Assumption and took this photograph. 

Then six years ago this very month we decided to start a family.  We were newlyweds and old enough to begin a family, but we had no idea how much it would change us.  How much we would grow, and how quickly it would all happen.  These past six years have been some of the most incredible years of my life.  So much change in what appears to be such a very short time....but enough time to turn the two of us into this...

And I have to say....it is simply amazing.  I'm not sure where the next six years will take us.  However, I do know, that we don't plan on adding anymore to our brood.  In fact if we do, it will be nothing short of a miracle.  A miracle that will cause me to visit my OB and question his knot tying techniques.  But to think that we created these guys is a miracle in and of itself!  And for these tiny three little miracles, Josh and I could not be more grateful.  I just wish they would stay this little.

Time is flying....

Look who finished his first year of preschool....

(this is noah and his best little friend Bella....I have no pictures of Noah without Bella and for his two year old preschool year I will always remember Noah tagging along with his sweet friend Bella.  They were obviously looking at Bella's momma.)

And look who got the keys to kindergarten....

Here she is with her key and sweet friend Grace.

And look who got a tad emotional.....okay A LOT emotional....(and who might need a tad of botox!)

And look who is literally hell on wheels......in the blink of an eye it will be her....the baby going to kindergarten....time please slow down!

Being the first

Margot was not the first born, in fact she will be our last.  The caboose.  However, she will not let a title like "the caboose" get her down.  No sir-ree, in fact she is determined to be the first at several things.  She was the first of my babies to sit up at 5 1/2 months.  And now she is the first to get up and crawl on all fours at 8 months.  She's been on all fours for a while and inching forward little by little, but last Monday is what I am calling her  official crawling day.  It was the day she crawled all day and proudly showed she could get wherever she wanted.  Although she did do quite a bit of crawling on Saturday And Sunday as well.

But Monday is our day.  In fact when Josh got home Monday evening, she crawled right over to him and landed at his feet with her arms up.  It was very sweet.  He was amazed and finally believed my proclamation of her crawling abilities. 

I'm betting she is also going to be my first to walk, since she is already starting to pull up.  She just has to do it by her first birthday.

Milestones

Today my baby girl clapped for the first time.  She sat on the bed with me and the older two tikes and as we belted out three different renditions of "Pat-a-cake"  she clapped.   And we all clapped and cheered and a little part of me was very sad inside, because it is all happening too quickly....not that it was happening....just happening too quickly.  So I'm soaking it in and relishing in every. single. second.

She's clapping and waving......and I'm going to find three very heavy bricks, for three very little heads.

The memories I want to last forever

Tonight my little man made a very big milestone....no not potty training....we did that a few weeks ago.  No tonight marks his second night of going to bed WITHOUT his pacifier.  The pacifier I dreaded taking away for a few reasons....

1. I am pretty sure he was more addicted to it, than his sister was, if that is possible.
2. My hands are pretty full and this was one more thing I was putting off.
3. There was no Disney world trip planned to try and bribe him with.

However Mimi and Poppa came to the rescue with number 3....no we aren't going to see Mickey Mouse....but they did promise to by my boy a "shewiff car" that he had been eyeing in the toy store for his birthday IF he got rid of the paci.  And I was not sure who was more excited....Noah or Mimi.  Noah was pretty stoked someone agreed to get him a "shewiff car" even though he already has a gator.  And Mimi is always excited when she gets to spoil her grandchildren...which she does quite well.

So yesterday, Mimi kept all 3 tikes while I went to a meeting.  When I got home they showed me a bag of pacifiers.  A bag that Noah had willingly collected and put his pacifiers in.  He then gave them to Mimi to take home.  Later on that day he found one....under his bed...he put it in his mouth....and when I found him he told me that Mimi forgot one....then he asked me to hide it with him under his covers so Mimi and his Daddy couldn't find it.  I guess he knows who lets him slide in the family....me.

I laughed and then I took his paci and said he could only have it at night time OR I could call Mimi and give it to her so he could get his sheriff car.  He told me to give it to Mimi and so I took it downstairs and hid it. 

That night he went to bed.....WITHOUT a pacifier.  And he slept all night WITHOUT a pacifier. 

At 7am the next morning, Noah was ready to call Mimi and report his news.  And as promised Mimi and Poppa picked him up from school today and took him to get his sheriff car.  He then stayed at Mimi's that afternoon to work on it with Poppa.  When I picked him up around 3, the sheriff car was finally finished, however it needed to charge for 24 hours before it could be driven.  Explain that to an almost three year old without any tears.  He was genuinely heartbroken as was his Poppa seeing this.  Poppa promised that as soon as the sheriff was full of gas he would bring him over the next day.  And with that promise we finally got him into the car to head home.

Tonight Noah went to bed at his usual time again without a paci.  However he got up three times to use the bathroom.  Finally after asking a fourth time to go potty in an hour, Josh told him no and the tears started flowing as well as the "I want my paci" cries.  My heart broke a little, but I knew better to give in.  He did it the night before and now he was the proud new owner of a sheriff.

So I laid with him and his daddy laid with him and we both listened as he cried broken heartedly for his paci and the sheriff he never got to ride today.

I finally asked him if he wanted me to tell Poppa to bring his sheriff back to the lady at the toy store and I would go get him a paci and he shook his head no while sobbing "no I a big boy."

Right now my two favorite guys are upstairs sound asleep side by side and neither one of them has a paci.  These are the memories I don't want to forget and the stories I want to one day tell Noah.  How much everyone loved him and wanted to celebrate this accomplishment.  How very proud of him we were at what may one day seem as very small accomplishment....because today, right now....this is huge.

A milestone

Yesterday my Noah reached a milestone, a big one.  He pooped on the potty, for the first time.  Awesome!  He got his beloved "tree" truck that he had been eyeing at our local toy shop.  The tree truck that he had been talking about for weeks and debating as to whether or not it was worth putting his little cheeks on the toilet seat to make some poop.

Well yesterday he did and he was handsomely rewarded with this....

And last night as I was tucking him and his tree truck into bed, he proclaimed...."my twee twuck is my best fwiend"  and who is one to argue with that.

And right now that tree truck may be his best friend replacing Hiro of the Rails for the time being, but this little girl comes in at a close second.  I know because he also lets her play with the tree truck too.

Notice I said he pooped in the potty yesterday.  Then last night he came down with an awful case of diarrhea and it has been running its course all day.  We haven't pooped in the potty since the first time.  I guess now we will now have to start all over.  And he already has his sights on a new "horse truck" to match his "twee twuck".

Starting out

Every where we go, people ask..."Has he just started walking?" And like the proud mother I am, I nod my head while beaming..."he has isn't he cute?" Most times I don't even have to add the "isn't he cute" part, people just add that in before I finish the head nods and replying yes.

My buddy, he is on the move. He walks with the biggest grin from ear to ear....beaming "look at me mom....I did it....I'm on the move." He occasionally will clap for himself and his whole face lights up.... as if saying "hey guys still a huge accomplishment...it isn't old yet!" And it definitely is not old. I could eat him up in his adorable toddling cuteness.

It's been a while since I have had a toddler....well not really, but it seems that way. There was so much of it I forgot. The awkward little steps, the looks of uncertainty but excitement simultaneously, the quick steps when they are on the verge of falling, they way they get back up undeterred when they fall, the arms up in the air as they take those steps, the way they struggle to stand on their own, the way they holds their breath when they're almost there. The way each and every time they stand and take off it is a new adventure.

I cherish these moments, because this time around I know they will be gone before I know it and in no time he will be running circles around me. Hell he already is.

My baby is growing up right before my eyes, and I'm just gonna take it all in.

He is on the move!

Hey there mom......Here I come!

Just a week shy of his 15 month birthday and the man is on the move!

Not that I was worried or anything.....of course I was worried....I'm a mother. However I knew you would walk in your own time....their is no rushing you my boy.

Look how big you are my boy!

And you haven't fallen once despite the flash going off continuously in your face!

Congrats my little man! I am so proud of you! I'm sure you will be running in no time.

Because this deserves a post of it's very own....

Noah DID IT! He took 6 steps on his own. He stood up holding on to his trusty ottoman and grabbed the bag of baby wipes and then walked.....unassisted.....taking 6 huge steps to the coffee table while holding his bag of baby wipes!

I am amazed and in awe. I started thinking this kid may never walk. He has no desire to and doesn't even really try. And he just stood up and did it. In fact he has never stood on his own, much less walk. I am so proud of you Noah man. I think my world is about to get a whole lot busier.

Congrats mommy's little man! I am very proud of you, you are getting to be such a big boy!

I just kept waiting

So Sunday we headed to mass and as soon as we sat in the pew I knew it could be a long hour. Noah was already squirming to get on the ground and cruise. I knew that this was not going to be a very enjoyable or enriching hour while trying to contain an almost 1 year old.

So I told Josh why don't we see if he will go to the nursery. Yes Noah goes to Mother's Day Out one morning a week, but he knows those ladies and it is very familiar to him. He has never been to this nursery staffed with college kids and bigger kids and rowdy kids and now I had myself wondering if this was a very good idea.

But I took him anyway, just to see. I set him down and he immediately crawled right over to a toy and pulled himself up to play with it. He then looked back and me and smiled and squealed. I guess that was his way of saying "I'm alright momma, just go away!" So I stood and talked to the college girl who is the director and waited. I then talked to the other young girl who was sitting and playing with him and waited. I then filled out paper work and signed him in and waited. I then got my pager in case he started crying and they needed to page me and waited. I then got them to test it out to make sure it worked and waited. I then went and hugged him goodbye and waited.

What was I waiting for? The tantrum, the tears, the "don't leave me momma" sobs. They never came. I started to head out and then turned around and stood there for a minute watching him. I watched as a 2 or 3 year old went near him and hugged him and just as I started to walk over to yank him off and grab my precious baby and run out the door, Noah pushed him away and the college girl redirected the older child to a different area. I then watched as Noah re-engaged in another activity and started laughing in hysterics. I just kept waiting though and finally the director or college girl looked and said, "He will be okay and if he isn't we will page you."

With that huge cue, I left the room. We were seated in church only about 50 feet from the nursery. I made Josh get up three times during mass to peak through the door and make sure he was okay. Those college kids hadn't instilled the greatest confidence in me, I mean they seemed professional with their early childhood studies, but still he's my baby. All three times that Josh peeked in he was doing great. All three times he was engaged in some activity and having fun. All three times I thought...Wow, my baby isn't screaming or crying and needing his momma. All three times I thought, my children are as different as night and day. I still can't leave Meredith in the church nursery without her losing her marbles.

I kept waiting and waiting for him to cry and then I kept waiting for mass to be over to run and get him and hug him and tell him how much I missed him. He is growing up so fast and I am so not waiting for that.

Where have a I been, where have I been...

Well tonight I went to a Miss America type pageant, well not really. More like a Miss Mississippi pageant, well no, not really like that either. More like a Mr. trying to be like a Miss on Bourbon street down towards Esplanade Ave. if you know what I mean. And for those of you that don't, I mean a drag beauty pageant. My better half was a contestant. Yes it was a night of many firsts. The first time my husband dressed in drag, what he did before he married me is his business and if he did it before....I don't want to know.

But yes tonight Josh was Miss Mya Grain.....get it?

Meredith also had a first tonight. I got a baby sitter to come and watch Noah so she could attend her first pageant....it was her first even if it was in drag. And she was all about it. All about her daddy painting his finger and toes like hers. All about her daddy having pretty hair and a pink dress and shoes like mommy's. Yes she was all about it until Miss Carrie showed up. Carrie walked in and swept Noah away into a playroom so we could get going. I love it how she just comes right in and does that.....that is my kind of babysitter.

Anyway Miss Carrie comes in and right then and there Meredith decides she is not going with her Mommy and Daddy she is staying with Miss Carrie. Apparently I am less cool than Carrie. That was the first time she wanted to stay with a babysitter and not go with me. And this was the first time that someone was cooler than me. Oh well, it was bound to happen.

Well good night all and tomorrow I perhaps I will post a picture of Miss Mya Grain and her fellow contestants. That is if she doesn't mind. And no he didn't win. There were much prettier men than my dear husband, which is fine with me. I like him better as a man anyway. He did great though, must have been all that practicing at work Tracy.