See, here's the problem...I'm sure you'll be surprised to hear, but I think my kids are the most adorable creatures to ever walk the earth. On top of that, I am trying to work on my photography skills. AND, I am trying to make sure Tim misses as few precious moments while he's gone as possible. What this all boils down to is that I end up with a sh*t-ton of pictures. I have gotten better recently about really honing in on the best ones, and deleting the rest (otherwise my computer would explode). That strategy got blown out of the water yesterday.
I was getting ready for work in my bathroom when my mom - who was helping me get the kids ready - popped her head around the corner and said - get your camera. This is the scene I saw when I walked in Dalton's room. Darby was not willing to play, but the little man was just cuteness after cuteness. Each expression different. I just couldn't choose. This was the fewest I could wittle it down to. Enjoy.
I had a meeting last night, so by the time I got home it was almost bedtime. On nights like this the pickins are often pretty slim when it comes to photo ops. So I can't say these are our best pics ever, but they are kinda quirky...
The kids were playing in Darby's room. Darby started out by bouncing on the inflatable pink cow, and then decided Penny should ride with her. She needed some sort of baby carrier for her, so, logically, she went on a hunt for some Mardi Gras beads. I've got to hand it to her - I don't think Graco will be coming out with a line of these anytime soon - but it actually did work.
Meanwhile, Dalton set to work packing Oink the suitcase for a very important trip (I'm not sure where). As you might expect, he was smart enough to pack a pile of flags, some pirates and some mega blocks. That's our little boy scout - always prepared.
At some point Stella ran under the bed. The business end of a mini flag may have prompted that. As a result, both kids had to crawl under as well. While under there Dalton managed to score Sasha the doll's paci, that must have rolled under there. It promptly went in hs mouth - despite the fact that he never had much use for pacis when they were available to him. Darby of course freaked out because it was Sasha's. When he gave it up to Sasha, Darby immediately popped it her mouth. Chaos ensued.
Dalton tidbit: He really alternates between 3 phrases right now.
The first being "I got it!" which relates to both him wanting to do things and him picking everything he can find up off the floor or counter or table and handing it to me.
The second phrase is "Rain, rain, go away..." followed by a bit of gibberish and ending with "day". He repeats this ad nauseum, regardless of the weather. But to his credit, he does ramp it up on cloudy days.
The third phrase is "big truck", which, shockingly in Texas, he sees everywhere. This is closely associated with what we'll call Phrase 3b - "Jeep!" This is the most exciting phrase to utter, and he gets it right a respectable amount of time. Those Hummers and random boxy SUV's have a tendancy to throw him. Darby has appointed herself the Jeep spotter police. If she didn't see it, it wasn't a Jeep.
On the Darby front, she is currently obsessed with her bathroom. She has told me numerous times over the past 4-5 days how beautiful it is. I have no idea why. I guess that's good though...
So Sunday morning the kids got up godawful early as usual, and I got a wild hare (hair?) to take them to go get donuts
D&D both wanted chocolate frosted donuts, which they both ate top down. Or at least top halfway down, which translates to really just the icing.
After breakfast the Monsons (and Claire) headed out. We had to get this pic for posterity of course. We sure have some good looking kids.
Dalton did his part to help load the car. And, of course, had to say goodbye to his "ladies".
After they left, the three of us ran some errands. The kids made some new friends at Old Navy. They're very nice, but kind of quiet.
After nap, the Bridges came over for pool time and dinner. Dalton, as usual, was a wild man in the pool. In this video it seems like he sees the camera and decides to pose.
Darby, unfortunately has become more and more resistant to the pool's charms. Whereas last year she couldn't get enough, this year she has been much more skittish. She doesn't want to get her face wet and no amount of coaxing and cajoling can get her to practice the things she learned in swimming class. Because Dalton is a loose cannon and may throw himself in the water at any moment, with no fear at all, I got her a floatie suit. Even with 3 vigilant adults in the pool I was still worried about what he would do, so it was comforting to know that she wasn't going to go under if we looked away for a second (I understand the dangers of the suit, and I would never leave her alone in the pool in it for even a minute). Even though she was perfectly safe to get off the step in the suit, she clung to it, or me, and wouldn't do much of anything.
Then, a little while into our pool time, she decided to blow bubbles. This was heartening. Jordan and Dalton joined her - Jordan without putting his face in the water at all, and Dalton dunking his whole head. Full spectrum.
That's when I decided to see if I could get her to swim while holding my hand. Once she realized the suit wouldn't let her go under, she got into it, and eventually holding my hand became holding my finger. And finally I was even able to shake her loose from that. First we went from the step to the first bench. Then we went from the step to the second bench. Then we bypassed the benches althogether and went from the step, all the way to the far end and back again without stopping. I could not have been more proud of her. And her confidence level shot through the roof. I'm hoping this will be the push she needed to re-foster that love of the water. (see video)
Dalton loves Mommy's earrings. He stared at them for 15 min.
Coming home from Nana's
A pretty decadent day for my current circumstances. Darby was up at 6:30, but after I got her breakfast she let me doze until Dalton woke up at 8. Of course, right as he woke up she decided she wanted a story.
Mommy: I can't - I need to go get Dalton.
Darby: But you could read
the story first...
Mommy: No Darby, I can't do that
Darby: Wait a minute I listen to her on the monitor as she goes into Dalton's room.
Dalton: I want see Mommy.
Darby: You have to wait until Mommy reads a story
first.
Dalton: I want see Mommy! She re-enters my room and says: It's ok, now we can read the story.
Mommy: No Darby.
Dalton: I want see
Darby.
Mommy: Apparently he wants you She goes into his room with the story. There is a bit of mumbling.
Dalton: I want see Mommy. She returns to me.
Darby: I read to
him, now you read to me.
Working his way back above water
Darby's new buddy Claire
Dalton's girl Gabby
At 11 I had a massage, and when I got home Anabel and the kids were there to visit. We had a nice lunch, and then went to my Mom's to pick up Dalton (Darby was still asleep). We hung out for a while - Gabby and Claire keeping Dalton occupied, until my Dad delivered Darby. At that point we hit the pool.
The teens loved playing with the toddlers, giving Mommy a much needed break. Dalton was his usual subaquatic self, although now he's getting much better about diving in, coming up and staying above water - at least partially. Still no fear.
Dinner was Babe's chicken, homemade Sangria, and some adult conversation with Anabel. A banner day.
Friday night was swimming and hamburger night over at Nana and Pa's. Dalton was an animal in the pool (see video). Darby has been less and less into it. She hung out for a while, but then insisted on getting out. She ended up wrapped in a towel, in a lawn chair, on the side of the pool - watching. Need to work on that.
We ended the evening with popsicles. Always a crowd-pleaser.
Last night we had a boring old classic dinner - Mango, blueberry, chocolate chip, rainbow sprinkle pancakes. Apparently they were ridiculously hot (no) because Dalton spent about 10 minutes blowing on them and having me blow on them.
After dinner we had a rousing game of jump off the trunk onto the couch with our magic wands. Again - a classic. (see video)
Yesterday morning Darby reprised the Jeep conversation. Interestingly enough she started it at the same point where we saw the Jeep Wednesday that started the whole thing. The view on the corner must have triggered her. I was able to get a bit more information about how the whole process of turning my car into a Jeep was done. Basically we need to buy the puzzle pieces at the "Store of Cities" - and put them together one by one. Seems easy enough. What's nice is that it only costs $8.29. And the first thing we have to do is put on the back "J-E-E-P". I was a little put out though, because apparently we're doing Daddy's car first. He and I are both getting yellow Jeeps - just in case you were wondering. And, of course, she reiterated again, that the basket of toys in the back seat could stay.
