31 Months

This has been the fastest month in the history of my marriage. I feel like I just sat down to type Chlo's 30 month post yesterday, and can't really imagine there being anything new to say today.
We started potty training last week with a little guidance from our favorite doctor, and I am happy to say Chloe is doing great. It of course started out rocky, with Chloe returning to her withholding routine, but she has already started going more often, and hasn't had an accident since last Wednesday!
In other news, Chloe continues to be such a sweet girl and a great helper around the house. She is beginning to pretend a little more, and likes to pretend to be Mommy, which is always endearing.
She is really into Thomas the Train and putting together puzzles. She is quite adept at figuring out pretty advanced puzzles alone or with very little help. She does ages 3+ and a couple of 5+. We bought her a new Bible with better pictures and longer stories, and she is really excited about that. Her old one is being shifted to the occupant just one door down. I hope he gets excited about the stories and clings to the Words as Chloe does.
This month's faves:

Books- Rooster's Off to See the World and Little Cloud by Eric Carle, Thomas and the Birthday Party, and Minerva Louise at School

Songs- This Old Man, ABC Song, Angels Watching Over Me, Father Abraham

To Do- Play in Water, Go to Church, Cook, Puzzles, Help Eli, Help Mommy do laundry, Tickle with Daddy, Water the Flowers, Climb and Jump off of stuff

Foods- "Watermelly", DoughNos (bagels), chicken, muffins, and for one beautifully weird day... a southwest grilled chicken and spinach salad

Another month down! School is getting closer every day.
Here's to more posts in June.

We Interrupt This Sabbatical

with an actual post!


I know it's been awhile, and I'm sure lots of really cute, blog-worthy things have happened. Probably an equal amount of cute and annoying, but unfortunately for all of us, the annoying is all that really sticks with me. Hence, the reason for the blog in the first place. Ah, well.

We've actually been quite busy being hospitable as of late. First with Sir Lancelot Huff's four day visit while his mommy had a baby....

Then with a week of TootieDoins.....

topped off by a day of Grandmas!

We've had so much fun around here that we just didn't have time to share it with all of you! Hopefully as things come to me I can put up a quote or two, but for now, I mustneeds get back to preparing meals for others and cleaning up little messes.

They Were Cousins, Identical Cousins

Revive Us Again

We are trying to re-find normalcy around here after a week of vacation followed by a week of late night revival. The kids are beginning to settle back into their eating and sleeping patterns, with Chloe refusing to eat anything but cereal in milk three times a day, and Eli phasing out of his morning nap. Yup, things are finally settling down. We got the chance to visit with extended family who happened to be down in Myrtle Beach while we were visiting back home. The weather was horrific with insane winds and really cold nights. We never even made it to the beach. We did, however, make it to Ripley's Aquarium, a really cool tourist destination. We gawked at the colorful fish, walked beneath the sharks, and petted some horseshoe crabs and rays. It was a fun day.

Seeing Double

Is it just me or are those two looking more and more like twins every day??!?!?

My Hamms

I pulled out a new toy I've had stashed away for awhile now. A pop-up soccer goal. The kids were both running around like crazy in the backyard, squealing and chasing their balls. I thought, "Perfect! They will love this!" And they did... so much for exercise and getting energy out.

Pullen Park

Daddy Blog: Getting Warmer

I was wiping the table off after supper (Terri was at a gym class. I kept looking at the table waiting for a kid to pick up a rag and go at it, but alas...) and Wormy was polishing off her nuggies.

Chlo: "It's cold." Referring to the dishrag.
Me: "Really? I think it's kinda warm."
Chlo: "No, it's kinda cold."
Me: "No, it's warm."
Chlo: "No, it's cold."
Me: "Here, feel it."
Chlo puts her hands on dishrag.
Chlo: "It's kinda cold."
Me: "Alright...but I think it's warm!"
Chlo: "It's werm."

30 months

I can't believe my girl is already 2.5 years old! Halfway to kindergarten age! This month we have seen an incredible surge in her ability to communicate verbally. She still likes to revert to whining and talking Eli-style several times a day, but when she wants to, she surprises us with incredible sentences. While she has become more prone to tantrums, at the same time she is more loving, and has some trouble being alone at night. She loves practicing jumping, running, skipping, and twirling in her Sunday dresses. She still can't jump with both feet off of the ground and it cracks me up to watch her try. Pottytraining is on the backburner while we continue to retrain her to "let her pee-pee out", but she has gotten much better at doing that. She still loves to read and sing and work puzzles and build towers. She loves playing in the sprinkler and being outdoors in general. Bubbles are still difficult for her to blow, she just can't get her mouth right, but when one accidentally comes out, she is ecstatic. She loves praising us for every little thing: "good nap mommy! good shower daddy!, etc." making us smile. She is Eli's number one interpreter and advocate, making sure I give him anything he might desire: "Mommy, Eli needs his cup." or "Eli needs cookies, too." Chlo is such a serious and smart, sweet and caring little girl.

Favorites:

Songs- Ring Around the Rosie, I May Never March in the Infantry, This Old Man, Jesus Loves Me

Books- Minerva Louise, Thomas the Tank Engine, Jesse Bear What Will You Wear?

TV- still Cedarmont Kids Sing-a-longs

Places to Go- Park, Church, Backyard, Library, Sam's Club (they have free cookies)

Foods- strawberries, pizza, oatmeal, french fries

Friends- Grace, Ella, Sarah, Ryan

Strawberry Fields

We took the kids to pick strawberries this morning at a farm over in Apex. We had lots of fun picking and tasting our wares. They also had horses to pet and peacocks to gaze at and three billy goats gruff that pretty much just stood around.


Most of Chlo's berries skipped the basket and went straight to the tummy.


A glimpse of both kids enjoying our time.


Chloe petting the "turtle" (how sad that our child hasn't seen enough rocks to know it's not a turtle???)


She really enjoyed walking up and down the rows.

Little Mommy II

Chloe and Eli are both sitting at the table coloring while I putter around. Suddenly I hear a commotion and turn around just in time to see Chloe digging itty bitty crayon pieces out of Eli's mouth. When she was done I hear, "No eat crayons Eli! Eli need obey Chloe!" wagging her finger all the while.

More From Mimi's

Riding her Daddy's horse, sporting her five new hairbows and her too-big shoes.


Loving fresh strawberries

Wisdom of the Worm

Eli: Ravrah
Me: What, sweetie?
Eli: (adamantly) Ravrah
Me: I don't know what you're saying, I'm sorry, Buddy!
Chloe: (matter o' factly) Eli said Ravrah.
Me: *laughs*
Chloe: *laughs* Chloe funny!
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This morning Chloe came in to "cuddlebug" and saw a FarSide book on Daddy's nightstand
"Uh-oh, Mommy take book from Mimi's house! Oh no!"

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"Mommy want to play with the doll, too?" (I continue to be amazed at her blossoming ability to communicate.)

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After riding the water slide
Daddy: Chloe, you were a brave girl!
Chloe: Daddy a brave girl too!
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Last night at the dinner table apparently anticipating Daddy's daily questioning
Chloe: Chloe, what did you do today? I play in water again!
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After playing in the pool, while eating pizza in the room, points out window to ocean
Chloe: "Play this water!"
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Water Fun

The kids had a great time playing in the water at Dunes Village. Mimi and Grandpa came down Friday evening to hang out with us, play in the water, and eat pizza. After the fun was over, they sweetly took the kids back to their house for the night leaving Mommy and Daddy kidless for 18 hours. It was much appreciated!

Chloe has always been a waterbaby (making it even more annoying that tears are shed every time she has to take a bath) and this time was no exception. She immediately took to the water, sticking her head under the sprayers, playing water basketball, and "swimming" all about. She rode a neato car float in the lazy river, but was utterly bored and insisted that she be able to return to the fun spot after just one round. By the end of our time there she was going down the adult sized waterslides with Daddy! Before they even reached the bottom she yelled "AGAIN!" every time. She giggled and squealed and laughed and just melted our hearts. Above all, my incredibly cautious little girl was fearless for a day. I wish I would have been able to capture more on film, but Eli is also fearless and not quite as competent.

Home Again

We had a wonderful weekend playing in the water at our Myrtle Beach hotel and spending time with family. I promise to write more soon, but for now, check this out!

Keep Your Eyes to Yourself

Overheard about 200 times throughout this weekend while riding in the car.
Chloe in a very whiny voice: "No Eli! This Co-ey's window! That's (points to other window) Eli's window!"

Thank You for Our Daily Breads

Last week when Patrick was saying nighttime prayers with Chloe: "Thank you for mommy, daddy, eli, mimi, gampa, uncabee, memaw, lissa, papa, our house, and for eat muffins. A-men."

Today as Patrick and I were giving thanks for our lunch, Chloe was sitting nearby playing and apparently listening intently. Upon hearing "Amen" she quickly yelled "Nooo! Mommy! Thank you for eat crackers!" (She had eaten some on the way home in the car, and we had neglected to retrospectively thank God for them for her. We won't do that again.)

Thank You for Our Daily Breads

Last week when Patrick was saying nighttime prayers with Chloe: "Thank you for mommy, daddy, eli, mimi, gampa, uncabee, memaw, lissa, papa, our house, and for eat muffins. A-men."

Today as Patrick and I were giving thanks for our lunch, Chloe was sitting nearby playing and apparently listening intently. Upon hearing "Amen" she quickly yelled "Nooo! Mommy! Thank you for eat crackers!" (She had eaten some on the way home in the car, and we had neglected to retrospectively thank God for them for her. We won't do that again.)

An Easter Rant

I was so, so excited. I built the day up for a solid week at the very least. We talked about what to expect. We talked about the fun. The friends. The treats. It was going to be the highlight of the week, even if the weather was rotten, it was gonna be great. Thursday night had that Christmas Eve excitement to it. The true desire to get on to sleep so the morning would come sooner, yet the adrenaline darting about, making it impossible to dream. We got up Friday, had breakfast, grabbed our baskets, our camera, our coats, and headed out the door. We drove 30 minutes. Parked a mile away. Ran into our friends. Walked briskly, chatted excitedly, kids buzzed about. We were almost there.... the emotion in the air was exhilarating. This would be great! The first age group came into view.. wait.. what was this? An egg hunt? But.. but... the eggs, they're not hidden. It's just a soccer field covered in plastic eggs. Where's the fun in that? Eh- oh, well. They're one and two. They won't care. Hurry.. it's almost time to start and we're still two soccer fields and a baseball diamond away. Run, run. At last! Wow, look at all those people. Look at all those eggs! These little guys will be here forever picking 'em up. Ok, get in line. Basket in hand. Instructions crackling in the air.. announcing..something.. "Parents! You may go with your children bu- --ease, ple--- --- them pick up the--- ggs on their own! This will--- more-- fun.. On ---Mark! --Set Go!" Crazy running. Screaming. Yelling. Leaping. Chloe bending to try to pick up an egg. Reaches. Thwarted by a thirtysomething soccer mom diving atop dozens of eggs. Mom reaches. Scoops. Empties into son's basket. Turns left. Dives. Reaches. Scoops. Dumps. Wha?? What's going on? Chloe crying, terrified, confused. Field feels like mob scene. Parents running. Carrying kids. Must be first to eggs. Kids looking confused. Shy kids standing back crying. Parents throwing elbows. Less than one minute has passed. Field's empty. No eggs left. It's time to go. Look in our basket. Three eggs and a lesson on life.

Easter Day

It was freezing cold (literally), and the skies were a bit dim, but we had a wonderful day filled with good food and sweet friends. Our hearts were filled with joy as we celebrated the triumph of our Risen Saviour and thanked Him for His beautiful sacrifice.



Below you can enjoy the frustration that attempting to take a picture of two toddlers can bring.

Ahh, success.... kinda.