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.

Easter Eve

Since Sundays are always so busy at our house, we decided to institute Easter Eve in hopes of savoring the spirit of the day a little more. We figured, we do it at Christmas, why not Easter? We had a new breakfast casserole recipe and checked out baskets first thing. We did an indoor day-long egg hunt, and we prepared food for the following day's feast. It was a lot of fun and mostly stress-free since we didn't have a church service to get everyone ready for.

Chloe got Easter candy, a pull-string bunny, and a PlayDoh set that comes with Mr. Potato Head-esque pieces

Her first Cadbury Cream Egg

My first creation

Chlo's

A Morning with Wormy

Finally

...a dinner everyone loves. Monday has become spaghetti night at our house, one of the happiest nights of the week, second only to pizza night. Both kids love spaghetti and the homemade cheese muffins that come with it!

Yum

29 months

Chloe is really into learning and crafting this month (I guess that's true every month, it's just who she is). Her favorite things are Play-Doh, coloring, and puzzles. Her drawings have become more and more purposeful and less scribbly. She likes to draw pictures of each of us which consist of a big circle (that I usually help with) and an appropriately placed scribble for each eye, ear, nose, mouth, and a small tuft of hair. Her puzzles have become more complicated, too. Her favorite one for now is one of the USA with states sectioned into Texas-sized groups. She likes to play basketball, dance, and sing songs with motions. I don't know where she learned "I May Never March in the Infantry" but it's her fave these days. She sings it over and over marching and zooming about, yelling "YES SEWR!" as she goes. She's still quite girly, putting on makeup and doing her hair in front of the mirror with me on the rare days I actually do that stuff. She is becoming Eli's second mommy (poor guy!!), rebuking (No eat chalk, Eli! It's yuck!) and praising (Good walking, Eli! Big Boy!), feeding (like he needs help) and cleaning (he's a messy boy like daddy) him. She is smart and pretty and funny and loving and sweet...and.. I could go on and on, but no one likes a braggart. ;o)

A Day at Moo U

Today we spent our family time at NC State's Vet School Open House. Friends from church told us about it and encouraged us to come spend a few hours with the animals. We had no idea how big of a deal it was! Apparently, this day attracts some 10,000 visitors each year. There was a really interesting self-guided tour taking you through dozens of animal skeletons, anatomy labs, and even live surgeries. There were demonstrations from milking cows to the K9 unit, giveaways, and plenty of animals to have fun with. It was really, really cool. If you ask Chloe what her favorite part was you'll get an enthusiastic "Riding Bus!" After much prompting she may tell you about petting a falcon and climbing up on a bale of hay to look at baby chicks. She also got to feed a guidedog a "cookie," which really helped with her fear of those guys. Eli loved the dogs playing flyball. Daddy loved the fistulated steer who apparently had some mouth-foaming beef with me. I think I loved petting the rabbits and learning about run-over turtle rescues more than anything else. It was a great day.

Chloe petting a miniature falcon

Chloe at the Horse fence

The fistulated steer (before he decided to come after me)

The tired fam on the Wolfline

Contemplatively riding the bus after a long day

Daddy Blog: Speed Bible Reading

Please bear with me, blog devotees, as I try to begin semi-regular posts from the Daddy's perspective. The interuption in wit will be short, I promise. The other night Chlo and I were relaxing in the living room; me reclining in a chair and Chloe sitting on the sofa reading her Bible. Mommy had just left for Bible study. I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to Chloe's fast-paced jabbilings, but I did catch, "E-i seepin'". I figured she was referring to her brother until she said, "E-i seepin'. Samwul! Samwul!". Being a little dense, I thought she was then talking about her friend at church. But then it slowly dawned on me and I leaned over to look at her Bible. Sure enough, there was Eli telling Samuel to lay back down and wait for the Lord to call him again. This toddler Bible that she adores is more than 500 pages. As I was calling Terri to tell her how our child is amazing, Chloe starts singing "Zacheus was a wee wittle man" and I almost didn't catch on again. And again Wormy was in the right spot...there was Zacheus sitting up in the tree.

Feeding the Ducks at Dook Gardens

Photos by the wonderful Monica Raab

A Happy Spring Day

Crying Wolf

This video is especially funny to us since we live in a mixed household. Check it out!

Mr. Sandman, Bring Me a Dream..

We awoke this morning to another beautiful day, so I decided that we would walk to the Natural Science Museum dowtown. The kids enjoyed the stroll in the brisk morning air, and had a great time at the museum. Chloe loved feeling like a big girl and peering in and pointing to all of the exhibits and repeating to me verbatim whatever I told her about each animal. Her favorite part was still the aquatic life downstairs. Today she was a particular fan of the Oyster Toadfish who has just chilling on the tank's sandy bottom. When Chloe saw him she exclaimed, "Look! That Fishy's asleep in his sandbox!" We walked in the butterfly conservatory and had fun watching them flutter around her heads, then we grabbed a muffin at the Acro Cafe and headed home. It was a great morning :)

The Name Game

We've been teaching Chloe her full name. It's really cute to hear her enunciate it. The other day when Daddy asked her what her name was she replied, "My name is Co-ey Wayne Coful." "Good job!" "And Eli Wayne Coful, and Mommy Wayne Coful..."

It's a bird... a plane.. It's SUPEREGO

Chloe while standing in the chair: "No, no Chloe, sit down!" Sits.
Chloe while sitting on the table: "Get off of the table, Chloe!" Gets off.
Chloe after yelling at Eli: "No, Chloe! Don't yell at Eli." Stops yelling.
Chloe after throwing a toy: "Don't throw toys Chloe!" Picks up thrown toy.

How's that for Self-Monitoring? Sure does make my job easier!

A Freaky Friday Moment

Chloe sitting on her bedroom floor, quietly playing
Enters Mommy, carrying Chloe's brown shoes
Chloe: glances up , "Those go in the closet."
Mommy: amused, places them in the closet
Chloe: enthusiastically "Thank you, Mommy!"
Returns to play as Mommy exits

Got Me a College Man

My good friend from college paid a visit to our family Friday night. Being the first time since graduation that we have seen each other, it was a much anticipated event. Ever the Ladies Man, Jamie immediately stole my little girl's heart. She read with him and talked to him, and gazed at him the whole evening. When it was time for her to go to bed, she couldn't turn away "Bye Mr. Jamie, Bye Mr. Jamie, Bye Mr. Jamie, *Smack*walks into wall, shakes it off*...Bye Mr. Jamie, Bye Mr. Jamie...."

One Boy, Two Girls, Three Hearts Beating Wildly

Setting: Church, toddler nursery, Sunday evening
Cast: Sarah, age 4; Ryan, age 4; Chloe, age 2

Sarah and Chloe are playing happily together
Enter Ryan, sweet, smooth, blonde-haired, blue-eyed All American toddler boy

Chloe: (points at Ryan) "Ryant!"
Sarah: hears Chloe, jerks head up, sees Ryan, immediately scurries over, delivers Ryan a bear hug
Ryan: reciprocates hug, begins chasing Sarah
Chloe: stands alone, watching


(I can't imagine how it will be when she really does have her heart broken)

You're Always On Her Mind

Chloe eats, sleeps, and breathes potty these days. Well, not literally. That would be pretty gross, but she is obsessed nonetheless. She puts pull-ups on all of her Dollys, babies, and Blue. She then sets them on their potties, diapers still on. She changes their diapers all through the day, and changes her own pull-up multiple times. She sits on the potty and reads her Bible (no other book will do) for long stretches, and when she is done gets some "paper" and flushes and washes her hands. No byproduct has actually made its way into the potty as of yet, but I suppose this is still progress in one way or another.

Last week she put Dolly on the big potty and Gouly-Gah (dirty Dolly) on the little potty, when the unthinkable happened! Dolly fell in! Chloe fished her out and brought her dripping to me, tears trickling down her little cheeks. I told her Dolly had to take a bath, then showed her how to turn on the washing machine and to pour the soap in. She bravely helped me get Dolly ready, gave her one more kiss, put her in, and shut the lid. By then it had become too much, the tears could no longer stay in their places, they had to be set free. She cried and cried and cried, with a brave heart the whole time. She sat by the washer and every few minutes I would hear "Mommy, Dolly clean. Bath over. Get her out." To which I would have to reply, "Almost! Not Yet!", a favorite household phrase. I finally distracted her with a video that captivated her thoughts and emotions through the wash cycle and halfway through the dry. It had been over an hour when she couldn't handle anymore. She ran back to the dryer, "Mommy, Dolly clean. Please get Dolly." So, we got her out, still a little damp, but bright and sanitary. What a joyous reunion took place in our hallway. I don't think I will ever forget the look in her eyes when she beheld Dolly for the first time since giving her over to the washer. For the rest of the day she clung tightly to both Dollys, never letting them out of her sight for even a moment. Even now, a week later, she keeps them close by and often says at random, "Dolly's a brave girl, Dolly took a good bath!"

Little Mommy

Eli has been sick for a couple of days and Chloe has been intermittently helpful and sweet to him. Yesterday he woke up from his nap screaming. It seemed nothing would calm him. She ran to me, "Mommy Eli is crying!" She opened his door and got him a clean diaper out. As I picked him up she said, "Shh, Eli, it's ok." Then I laid him down, still screaming, to change his diaper. She reached out and grabbed his little hand and began to hold it and kiss all over it. He jerked away and instead of being ill at him, she started singing "Chloe Loves Eli, Chloe Loves Eli" to the tune of the household favorite "Mommy Loves Chloe." He cried right through it all, but her sweet spirit made my stress melt away.

The Incident or "Popeye, Save Me"

This happened nearly a week ago now, but I haven't had the time or patience to relate it, until now.

It was a normal early Spring day. Bright and beautiful. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. The kids were whining. We had just finished the noontime meal, and I was cleaning up the table. Eli was crawling on the floor, whining. Chloe was hunched over a chair, doing her whining thing. I'm at the sink, washing up some dishes. "Five more minutes until nap." "Noo! incoherent whining!" A moment passes. Out of the blue, "Need help." "What's wrong?" No answer. I look. Chloe is still leaning over the chair, whining, seemingly needing no help. I go to her room to get her bed ready for nap. "Chloe, come on, naptime!" I yell. "Whiiiiiiiiiiiine." "Chloe, please come now!" "Hysterical whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine." Sigh to self. Head to dining room. See Chloe still leaning over a chair. Become very frustrated. "Chloe, you must obey. It's naptime!" "Hysterical cries and screams." I finally sense something is actually wrong. Run to Chloe. Look around. Can't figure it out. Wha?? OH! There! Her elbow. Stuck in the rails! Ok, no biggie. "Mommy's here. Mommy is going to help. Be brave girl." Push. Hmm.. Pull. Hmm.. Push. It's worse. Elbow is purple. Turned at a weird angle. At a loss. Begin to pull on rail to break it. Remember CPR class, don't break rail, might splinter. Oh yeah, got it. What now then? Panic sets in. Screams are hysterical now. Better call 911. Try to dismiss the feeling of how stupid both I and this situation are. Try one more time to get her out. She freaks. Can't breathe. Beginnings of an asthma attack. Didn't pick up the stupid inhaler yet. Kick self. Must run for phone. Run toward phone. What is that I see? Olive Oil! Genious! Run back to Chloe. Dear God, Thank you! Please let this work. Open lid, pour on oil. Shudder at what it's doing to her brand new white GAP blouse and the carpet (yes, even in the midst of it all). Slather it on. Wiggle her around. Freedom! Ten minutes of apologies, hugs, and tears followed by an extra long nap from the low after the adrenaline high.

The end.

28 months

Chloe is still very much into competing with Eli for all things, and copying him at every chance. We do, however, have a lot of fun during his naptime when she converts back to her spunky 2year-old self.

Chloe loves to be a helper. Her daily jobs include running the microwave for morning oatmeal and bacon, using the dustbuster to clean up little messes, sorting the silverware after we run the dishwasher, helping me load the washer and dryer, and picking up toys. I have never asked her to do any of this (aside from toy clean up), she just loves to be with me, doing the things I do. She also looks forward to putting the groceries on the conveyer belt, carrying small grocery bags into the house, alerting me to Eli's dirty diapers by bringing me a clean one, and fetching his jacket and shoes when it's time to go.

Chloe is becoming more and more independent. She insists on getting into and out of her chair alone, no matter how difficult it is. She likes to put on her shoes, brush her teeth and hair, and get herself onto and off of the potty. "No, Mommy" has become a favorite phrase lately. Apparently I can be a tad overbearing in my willingness to help.

Chloe has become enamored with the potty and all things associated with it. She asks to wear panties during the day and independently goes and sits on the potty several times a day. She never actually uses it, though. She waits until her nap diaper to pee and poop. I am not pushing anything right now, just letting her do it her way. After all, my ways haven't really worked so far.

Chloe can recognize her name, and even "wrote" it in the bathtub tonight (bathtub crayons!). She scribbled what looked like a U (or sideways C!) and said "C" then she made a perfect lowercase "h" and scribbled three more letters naming "l, o, eeeeee!" as she wrote. Needless to say, we were amazed. It's so fun to have a book"Worm". I know one day we will have lots of fun comparing our favorite literary works and discussing school assignments.

Daddy's Little Girl

Daddy sitting on the couch watching basketball
Chloe enters, looks quizzically at the screen
Daddy: "Daddy is watching basketball!"
Chloe: "Daddy watch basketball!"
Chloe climbs up on couch next to Daddy, stares at screen
Chloe: "Co-ey watch basketball!"

Age is Just a Number

Chloe: EI is Oooone! Coey is Twooooooo! Mommy is Siiiixxx!
Me: No, Mommy is twentysix
Chloe: Mommy is siiiiix, Daddy is sevennn
Me: No, Mommy is twenty-six, Daddy is twenty-six

(A couple of minutes pass)

Chloe: Mommy is twenty-six!
Me: That's right! And Daddy is twenty-six.
Chloe: (Shakes head) Nooo, Daddy is sevennn... Mimi is eigghht... Grandpa is niiiiine.... Grandma is tennnn.... MeMaw is eleven........Papa is twelff...Mommy is twenty-six!

An Anecdote of Example

Yesterday I was folding clothes in my room, standing with a clear view into Eli's room. That's where the kids were playing. Eli wasn't in my line of sight, but Chloe was. Was she ever. I am watching, she doesn't realize it.. yet. She is quietly reading a book, then out of nowhere, she, without any provocation, lifts her book above her head, rares it back, and.....sneaks a peek out of the door where I stand watching. She sees me, self-corrects, and pretends to scratch her head with the book! Like I am going to buy that. I give her the look and she goes back to quietly reading. I need to put some dish towels away, so I decide to make a quick trip to the kitchen wherein I hear "doont...doont...doont...doont.. BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...doont..." I quickly run into Eli's room, and for once, Chloe was so into what she doing she didn't hear me coming or have time to get into "position innocence." What do I see? My sweet little girl holding Eli's head between her hands and rhythmically beating it into the closet door. That's what I'm struggling with.

Now, I know the "(gasp) I can't believe you left the two of them alone" attitude. I have had more than one run-in with it of late. But, please, please keep in mind, I have a small house, I can hear everything, they are never that alone. And, as small as it is, it's still virtually impossible to keep clean. I relish the few minutes they play together so that I can check my email or do the dishes or fold clothes or even use the bathroom alone. It doesn't happen often, and when it does, I take advantage of it. :o/

I Say Reason, You Say Excuse

I haven't posted in quite some time because I really haven't been able to come up with anything uplifting to talk about. Many of you know I'm not really a "baby" person, per se. I mean, obviously I love my children dearly, but I just don't enjoy that first year of life. At all. That's why this whole regression thing that Chloe is going through is really stressing me out. Where once I could (finally) understand her and (finally) interact with her through play and such, now I feel like I have two babies in the house instead of one. Chloe talks in baby talk, she pushes, she crams large amounts of food in her mouth, and puts everything else in there as well. I have to take away her big girl toys that she played well with a few weeks ago, but have now re-become choking hazards. And sadly, it's not just a precaution. Sunday she choked so badly Daddy actually had to perform abdominal thrusts to clear her airway. Four whole grapes catapaulted through the air. She is playing in the toilets, whining incessantly, sucking on a pacifier, hitting, shoving, banging, throwing food on the floor, and any and every other frustrating one-year-old habit that she sees Eli perform. I have to admit, I'm at a loss. I'm tired, I'm annoyed, and I just don't really know what to do.... Help!

Be Mine

Clever Daddy gave Chloe the neatest Valentine. It said:

D

(heart)

C

And she was able to "read" it. "D Daddy heart C Co-ey"

Sweet.

Hey Jealousy, You're Still There..

Eli: plays with Mommy's hair. Tugs at it gently and giggles.
Chloe: sees this, runs across room, grabs Mommy's hair, giggles.
Mommy: "Hair. Eli, can you say hair?"
Eli: smiles, touches hair, babbles a bit
Chloe: pushes closer "Chloe say hair, too."
Mommy: Sighs. "Chloe, can you say hair?"
Chloe: "Aaa-Daaaa-Baaa"

Hey Jealousy

Standing in the kitchen with Eli, Chloe is in the living room playing
Mommy: "Hey Eli, give me five!"
Sounds of toys dropping to floor and little feet running
Chloe screeches into the kitchen. Hand is held up and open in high-five position
Chloe: "Chloe give six!"

Sunday Driver

Some kind soul gave my mom a gently used mini power wheels knowing she had two little grands that would love to have fun with it. It really is pretty cute. Chloe has gotten good at going straight, but has no concept of turning. Yesterday she was driving it around the house after church, ran smack into the front door and announced "We're Ho-ome!"

Happy Birthday to Who?

It's funny how only 3 little months ago when Chloe was having her birthday party, she didn't get what the fuss was about. She couldn't have cared any less about her presents or the decorations or any of it. Wowie have things changed. All week leading up to the big day, I would sing Happy Birthday to Eli, mostly to teach Chloe the song. Wails would ensue nearly every time: "Nooooooooo, Sing Coey Birthday!" So I did. "Eli is one! Yay!" was always closely followed by "Coey is two! Yay!" When I would say something about Eli's birthday party, she would politely correct me. "Mommy, it's Coey's Birfday Party." Then when the day finally arrived, she still insisted that it was all for her, the presents were for her, the decorations were for her, the cake was for her. In the end it worked out fine. The girls ended up opening all of the presents and playing with all of the new stuff. It was good though, cause at least for now, Eli just doesn't get it

"It's Baby Coey's Birfday Party"

Cookies Are a Girl's Best Friend

Chloe: More cookies please, Mommy.
Me: Chloe you already had your cookies. Why don't you go get a toy and Mommy will play with you.
Chloe: I wanna play with cookies.

Lions, Tigers, and Midmorning Snacks

Chloe loves eating teddy grahams. She was eating some today, and absolutely cracked me up. I looked over at her as she picked one up, looked the little guy straight in the eyes, and said, "Hi Bear!" Then put it in her mouth, chewed, swallowed, and announced with a smile, "ByeBye Bear!"

Little Jack Frost Get Lost

This morning we were headed out to Target to get some essentials. The sun was out, the sky was bright, the air was brisk. It was really a beautiful day. As Chloe walks toward the car she looks around and yells "Bye Snow! Bye Snow! Byyyye Snooooow!" (Let me remind you all we have only had about a half inch of snow this entire winter... and that was two weeks ago!...Kid brains are such mysteries.)

I'm No Big Kid Now

Me: Let's put on big girl panties today so you can peepee in the potty!"
Chlo: Peepee Potty!
Me: Yeah! Do you wanna be a big girl?
Chlo: Big Girl Ella! Big Girl Sarah! Big Girl Lissa!
Me: That's right! Where do big girls peepee?
Chlo: Big girls peepee potty.
Me: That's right! Are you a big girl???
Chlo: Noooo, Big Girl Ella, Big Girl Lissa, Baby Chloe.
Me: Oh. Don't you want to be a big girl?
Chlo: Noooo. Chloe baby!

27 months

Chloe is once again really into her ABCs and finding Blue's Clues. She chatters endlessly here at home, with me only understanding 25% of it, and clams up as tight as a.. well,.. clam when we are in public. She is trying to become more and more independent, wanting to do every single thing on her own. This can be incredibly frustrating as it took her nearly an hour to get her own shirt on this morning. She is also asserting her independence by refusing the potty, knowing that it's what I want her to do. She has taken to the word "no" and is mastering the art of the temper tantrum, lying down kicking and screaming in Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell, the parking lot, and at home within the past week. Absolutely mortifying. My sweet little girl has become slightly demon-possessed in the past month. Here's to turning from the darkside and embracing the light in month 28.

I'd Like to Buy a "P" Please

She's amazing. Absolutely amazing. I would pay money to have the bladder control of my daughter. We started the day with Chloe in big girl panties and me in high hopes. But as the day wore on, my dreams were dashed as she continued to refuse the potty. I even tried to trade her my cookie for her peepee. No go. Literally. She remained completely dry from 730-230 when I finally caved and put a diaper on for naptime. That girl has an iron will.... and a really big bladder.

Becoming a Kid

Chloe put her shoes on all by herself this morning :)

What?

Chloe is confused about the definition of the word "what."

Chloe: It hurts
Me: What hurts?
Chloe: What hurts.
Me: Show mommy what hurts...
-or-
Chloe: Its broke.
Me: What's broke?
Chloe: Whats Broke.
Me: Show mommy what's broken..

Somehow Chloe took away that "it" and "what" mean the same thing. So now when something's broken, she points and says "Look, what's broke!"

Preschool Praises

Our Wednesday morning Bible Study at CBC has started back up. Chloe got to move up to the two-year-old class, and is right at home. It is so neat to see her in her element. The class before was a nursery where the kids got to run around and play the whole time, fun, but not Chlo's thing. Now she is actually in a preschool classroom with other Colonial preschoolers. She gets to do crafts and lessons and stories, and she just loves it. The teachers have high praise for her attention span and her obedience week after week. She is such a teacher's pet in the making.

First Snow

It was so exciting to wake up Thursday morning to a yard covered with shiny, white snow. At 5 when I was throwing up yet again, the meteorologists assured me once more that we would only be getting some nice sleet and freezing rain, so when I looked out an hour later to see a glimmery grass, I couldn't believe it! I could barely wait to get Chloe out of bed and dressed so she could go out and meet Mr. Snow before he went away. As soon as she saw it out the back door, she could barely hold in her excitement. "Snow on slide! Snow on car! Snow on my trike! Sno-ow! Sno-ow! Sno-ow!" This was the day we had been waiting for, I mean, this was the stuff only seen in books! This was Chloe's very first snow, ever. She ate her waffles in record time, and I suited her up the best I could. She went outside with Daddy while Eli and I watched at the door. She got outside, looked around, and Surprise!... she was terrified of it. Refused to touch it, refused to play in it, refused to do anything more than look around repeating its name over and over again. After a few minutes of Daddy's prodding, he gave up and they came back inside. As soon as the door closed, Chloe turned, pressed her face to the glass and said, "Bye-bye Snow, See ya later!" Sigh. Maybe next time.

Sweet Spirit

The recent lack of posts has been a direct result of a yucky stomach virus that hit our family hard this week. The kids and Patrick got it first, and I haughtily thought I had escaped, when it knocked me flat. I was lying in bed (all day) yesterday when Chloe wanted to come in and visit. We told her that Mommy's tummy hurt so she had to sit very still on the bed. Her normal routine includes bouncing on the bed and landing on top of me, so I was a little nervous to have her up there. She climbed up and sat down beside me. She talked and laughed for a while, then she leaned over, pulled my "beenky" up to my chin, kissed my lips, and said "Be careful, mommy's tummy hurts." What a sweet, sweet spirit.

Uncabee's Girl, Part II

Chloe has added a new line to her morning monologue. Each morning, she runs out of her room, full speed, zooming toward the kitchen: "Hi Mommy! Hi EI! Daddy Work! UncleB Work! Done!(hands me her paci) Chloe cup and waffles! Mommy cook waffles."

She talks about her UncleB all day. She reads books in her own secret language, and throws in an UncleB to most every story she tells. When she sees the letter J, she proudly exclaims "J!Uncabee!" Every time the doorbell rings or someone knocks or the wind blows the wreath she yells "Uncabeeee!" and dashes door-ward. On Mondays and Wednesdays before John comes to sit while Patrick and I run, I practice with Chloe, helping her to recount her day so that she can share it with UncleB when he gets here. Yet, inevitably, once he steps through the door, all she can do is smile her sweet smile and say "UncleB, UncleB, UncleB" over and over again. It seems love even turns toddler brains to mush.

Little Miss Priss

When I woke up from my Sunday afternoon nap, I looked a little like Arch Hall, Jr. When I walked into the living room, Chloe took one look at me and said "UH OH Mommy Hair!"

The Beholder

Chloe got a wooden version of the age-old paperdoll for Christmas, complete with magnetic dresses, shoes, hats, and magic wands. Yesterday Chloe was playing with it when she brought me the doll, wearing nothing but its slip and a strand of pearls, and said "This mommy. Mommy pretty."

A Look at Christmas

26 months

Chloe is becoming more and more vocal as she grows up. She loves to repeat everything we say right back to us. It can be pretty comical sometimes (ie "Come here sweet baby!"). She especially loves to chase and tickle while yelling "I got you!" in her little girly voice. She is very independent and refuses to be helped in most situations. She doesn't want to do things if she thinks it's something I want to do. The potty is still more for feng shui than anything else. If I ask her if she wants to wear big girl panties or use the big girl potty she immediately recoils and refuses. However, if we don't mention it, sometimes she will just go use it all on her own. I guess she will just give up the diapers when she is good and ready. I don't think there is much more I can do right now. She is a sweet big sister who is really trying to learn how to play with Eli, taking him off of my hands more and more. She loves to sing and read and play with cars and trains.

Wake U-up!

Patrick has been dreaming of the day when Chloe would finally open her own door in the morning, run down the hall, come into our room, and wake us up. He was convinced that it would be sooo cute. He's talked about it for months. Today it happened. It wasn't cute. It was downright annoying.

Doctor's Orders

After days of fever and two weeks of green gook, Patrick finally took Chloe to the doctor yesterday. The verdict was in... sinus infection and confirmed asthma. He sent them home with our first ever antibiotics, a liquid steroid, and an appointment for an asthma evaluation next week. Relieved that we knew what was wrong and had something to make it better, we were ready to get the medicine in her! Cue stress. Chloe hates taking liquid medicines. She reacts the same way to medicine as she does to doctors. With wails and thrashing that leads to hyperventilation and occasionally vomiting. Not a pretty picture. Last night we tried mixing it with her juice, per the doc's advice. No go. Today, Patrick decided to just give it to her straight. I suggested a little medicine cup. And lo and behold:

Patrick sets cup full of thick pink liquid on kids' play table.
Chloe walks up, intrigued. She stares at it. Evaluates it. Thinks it's a trick. Starts to walk away.
Eli crawls up. Pulls up on table. Reaches for cup.
Chloe feels threatened. "No, No Eli. That's Chloe's cup!"
Throws it back in record time. Hands cup to daddy.
Asks for more.

Ah, success.

Visions of Christmas

We have been so excited about our first Christmas with both kids that we couldn't wait for it to get here. The kids were getting a train set and train table from their Mimi and Grandpa, and we absolutely couldn't wait for them to see it. We woke up Christmas morning with Eli and we waited. And we waited. And waited. And waited. Chloe just wouldn't wake up. All the adults were sitting patiently around the tree, waiting for the children to be ready. About nine o'clock when Chloe still hadn't roused, we had to put Eli down for his nap. A little later, Chloe got up, and she was sick. Really, really sick. I tried to show her the train and she responded with weeping. She wasn't really interested in opening presents, though she slowly did, and sweetly enjoyed it all. By the end, it was time for her to go back to sleep. She just couldn't make it any longer. She fell asleep, Eli got up. We started all over with him, opening his presents, and letting him wreck the train. The weather was rainy and yucky keeping us housebound with the new tricycle. It was all in all a good day, just nothing like we envisioned.

Over the River

The day before we left for Christmas in Shallotte, I told Chloe that we would be leaving for Mimi's house the next day. She doesn't seem to really understand things like "tomorrow" "later" or "in the morning" yet. So, I further explained by saying we would be going to Mimi's house after she went to sleep and woke up. Then, the unthinkable happened. Chloe napped. She never naps. I mean never. When she woke up, she came out of her room, beloved pink shoes in hand, and announced "Mimi's house! Let's Go!" Sheesh. I tried explaining that she would have to go to sleep again and when the sun was out, we would go, but she was fixated. She followed me everywhere all night long, shoes in hand, "Mimi's house, Mimi's house" repeating all the while. Finally, she took a rest to sleep. The next morning, Chloe zoomed out of her room, shoes in hand, giggling and squealing "Mimi's HOUSE!" We packed up and headed out. I have to add, it was by far, the most peaceful car trip we have had to date.

Cantata Captivation

Sunday night was the Christmas Cantata at our church. It was the first time that Chloe has participated in anything taking place in "big church". About halfway through the second song, I ran back to the nursery to retrieve her. I just had to get her; I knew she would love it. She enjoyed the singing, especially when the Children's Choir joined the adults for one song. She sat still and listened, mesmerized by the music nearly the whole time. It wasn't until the end, during the gospel presentation, that she got a little restless. It felt so wonderful having her close to me, enjoying our church family in their praises to God. I just can't believe how quickly she is growing up.

Let the Games Begin

Recently, when Eli really began to make his own way through the world, it finally hit Chloe that he is actually a little human- one that is completely imposing on her turf. I have to admit, I really thought my kids were special and were somehow above battling for attention. I thought maybe we were just incredible parents whose children just felt so loved that they wouldn't possibly want or need any more of our time. I figured it was obvious that they were both loved the same. That they both had mommy's heart wrapped around their little fingers. Surely Chloe was mature enough at two to realize that Eli is still a baby and he simply needs more of mommy's time. Obviously, this doesn't mean he gets any more of her love. Of course they know all this. My kids are geniouses.
HA! Why as parents do we even waste time filling our tired little brains with these kind of thoughts? It's ridiculous the kind of silly, somewhat self-righteous thinkings that we can think. But as they say, the truth always comes out in the wash (or something nonsencical like that.) And the truth has taken my house by storm- its name is Sibling Rivalry. The last week or so Chloe's brainwaves have looked a little like this:
Eli can pull a book off the shelf? Well, I can pull the shelf off the shelf.. And I can throw it. Take that.
Eli can crawl fast? Well, I can crawl faster, stop him, sit on him, and squish him flat.
Eli's sucking on a crayon? Watch me, Mommy, I can chew a crayon, spit it out, and make a Monet.
Eli's eating another leaf? I'll eat a leaf, too. I'm not scared.
Eli's putting sand in his mouth? I can eat the entire park. It's so yummy.


This isn't to say that it doesn't go both ways, though Eli's brainwaves look more like this:
Uh oh. What is she doing? Yo, Chlo, Back off. She's my mommy. That's right, walk away. Don't even think about touching her.. Wait... Mommy... what are you doing.... Mommy?.. Put her down...Mommy! .. what.. are.. you.. doing.. but,but, you're my mommy.. Waaaaaaahhhhhh!


It hasn't been all bad, either. It seems that this has all been some sort of backwards process to bringing them closer together. More and more times I have found them chasing one another all through the house, around chairs, under tables, squealing happy squeals the whole time. Chloe has all but retired the infamous "N-n-n-n-n-no, EI" and replaced it with "Silly EI" which is much more tolerable, and kind of endearing. Chloe has been sharing her toys when asked to, even her beloved trucks. So, in a way, it's nice. Not to mention, seeing your two year old crawling around the backyard with a tree's worth of leaves hanging out of her mouth is pretty amusing in that I-don't-know-whether-to-laugh-or-cry-so-I-think-I-will-laugh-(at-least-this-time) kinda way.

'Twas A Saturday Before Christmas

This morning Cindy had Tamara and I and all of the kids over for lunch and a playdate. The girls got to hang out and bake and decorate Christmas cookies (and eat and eat and eat.) It was so much fun! Chloe had lots of fun playing with different toys, patting out her gingerbread dough, and eating all of her favorite foods, but the best time was had outside on Sara's awesome swing, her slide, and her trampoline. My kids both adore being outdoors, and were in absolute Heaven this afternoon.

The girls got a chance to roll out their own cookies........

.....unfortunately, none of their dough actually made it into the oven before it was eaten.

Come Let Us Adore Him

Saturday evening, just as Chloe was sitting shirtless at the table finishing her messy supper, and Eli was pantsless, getting ready to have his bath, we got a friendly knock on the door. It was a group of real-life-carolers. Our first of the season. Patrick went out on the porch with Eli as they started singing, and I struggled to make Chloe decent, quickly wiping food from her chest, frantically squishing her arms into a sweater I saw nearby, and scrambling to the door, sweater still unbuttoned. I was so excited for her. She had never seen carolers before. Just as we stepped outside they were singing "....the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay." Chloe immediately looked up at me wided-eyed and with her little sweet voice proclaimed, "Jesus!" She stared on in sweet amazement as our new friends continued to praise the Lord in song, and as I struggled to hold back the tears.

The Importance of Being Wormy

In my family, everyone has a nickname. Everyone. My great-aunt Tootie has lived in the same town for seventy years, and most people still don't know her name is Barbara Ann. I have an Aunt Dick in that town whose real name is Nannie Ruth. No one calls her that. My Uncle Chub is actually a Jeff. My brother is called Henry by these people. They've always called him that. Nevermind that's not his name. Nicknames are just a part of us. It's what we do. I grew up with several. Some nice, some not so nice. All in love. I'm still Turtle to my mom, and I love that. I'm Terd Bird to my Daddypa, and in a weird kinda way, I love that, too.

Nicknames are interesting things. Not like birth names at all. With a given name, the parents rack their brains for months on end trying to decide on the perfect name. There are books and websites and lists and discussions and occasionally arguments and hurt feelings. All because you want your child to have the name that suits them perfectly. Nevermind you don't actually know the first thing about your child. Birth names are born of hopes, expectations, traditions. Nicknames are born of reality. Birth names are planned, nicknames just happen. At least in my family. So follows the evolution of Wormy.

When Chloe came home from the hospital she was jaundiced, so she had to sleep on a biliblanket. The "blanket" was actually a hard plastic paddle with an incredibly bright UV light (think tanning bed) with cords coming off of it. You placed the paddle under her, wrapped a blanket tightly around, and plugged it in. Stick a little hat on her head, and voila, she looked just like a GloWorm. Hence her very first nickname, "Chlo-Worm". That lasted for a bit, but as southerners do, we shortened it. So began "Worm" and sometimes "The Worm". Not long after, she started to move. And as in all things, Chloe crawled in her own special way. Never with her belly off of the ground. She just slithered around the house like an inchworm. Thus, "The Worm" gave way to "Wormy." And it stuck.

To us, the name Wormy is beautiful. It's wrapped up in memories, in experience, and in love. I doubt she will go through life saying "My name is Wormy, nice to meet you." But, if she did, that would be okay, too.

Praise Music

Today when we were coming back from Wednesday morning Bible study, I hear from the backseat, high above the sound of Sunny 93.9's all Christmas all the time, "Yes! Jesus Looooves Meeeeeeeeeeeeee. Es, Jesus Loves Meeeeeeeeeee. Bible tol me sooooooo." It was completely unprompted and so sweet. Seeing as I never taught her that song (how did I overlook that one?? I mean, what a great Mommy I am! Sheesh.), it caught me completely off guard and warmed me all over. I just love the sounds of praise pouring from my children's little lips.

"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise' ?" Matthew 21:16

Mama's Got a Brand New Blog

I finally got around to trying my hand at designing my own banners for the kids' blogs. Neither one is very sophisticated because we don't have any photo editing software on our computer, and the blazing speed of our dial-up doesn't really help either. But, all in all, I'm satisfied with my first attempt at blog individuality. Thanks to UncleB for getting me started with the html wahwah.

I put age-tickers at the bottom of both of their blogs for those times when you just can't remember how old they are. I know I have those moments often.

By the way, I'm fully aware of how incredibly lame this post title is. I just couldn't help myself.

Trucks, TV, and Ty

Chloe is really into trucks and trains and transportation in general right now. Her favorite video is Kidsongs: We Love Trucks and her favorite book of late is Dumpers and Diggers. That being said, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition couldn't have picked a more perfect time to set up shop in our neighborhood. We have had so much fun walking up and down the street checking out all the dumpers and diggers and fire trucks and big trucks and lights and cars and stuff for the past two days. Chloe was completely enthralled with the frontend loader yesterday and loved the diggers dumping their loads into the dumptrucks. Today she especially liked the demolition derby cars that they used to crash into the house to kickstart the demolition. Upon seeing a big truck pushing one of the cars out of the way Chloe remarked, "Uh-Oh, Car Broke." Later, she was very busy feeding her baby a bottle and managed to completely miss the trackhoe ripping the roof off the house. Only a toddler could manage that. We also had great fun counting the many wheels and watching the helicopters and airplanes circling overhead.

We were up close and personal with Paul and the other guy yesterday. Still have only seen Ty from a distance. Paul seemed kinda stressed and not really the stroller-full-of-babies-staring-at-him kinda guy. The other guy seemed really cool. I have no idea what his name is. Neither does anyone else. Several conversations have gone kinda like this- "Not Ty or Paul, you know, the other guy." "Can't think of anyone else." "You know, he's broader, dark hair, kinda young." "Oh yeah. Him. Yeah, I can picture him, don't know his name though. So he's nice?" "Yep, really nice."

I'm excited about watching a house being completely built from scratch in a week. I'm really excited for the family. It's neat to see how God can use even Hollywood to bless His children. And selfishly, I'm really hoping for a new playground. I saw them do that once before. Anyways, if nothing else, we have another week of truck sightings to look forward to. And maybe sometime this week we will run into Ty. Not that I care. Wormy just really wants to meet him.

25 months

Today is Chloe's 25th monthday. I can't believe it. I know it's so cliche to state over and over and over again how fast the time has flown, how quickly they grow up, how its seems just like yesterday they were born.. but, well, it's cliche for a reason! Chloe just isn't a baby anymore at all. She is a full-fledged toddler speeding toward little-girlhood.

A FewLikes: Daddy, Chicken Nuggees, (Y)Ogurt, EI in spurts, Blues Clues though not as much, Christmas Trees, Trucks (she always will, big or small she likes them still...), trains, her rainboots (preferably worn with just a diaper and a necklace), lights (on!), her kitchen, her new toy broom (watch out dirt!), being a helper, necklaces, uninhibited toes, cake, looking at pictures, singing (especially Coey's CCC's [abc's] and "TootToot oss we GO"), (L)ollipops, bubble baths, stroller rides, being independent, being outside, kicking balls, running fast, BIG slides, her friends "Ewwa and Sawa", hairbows

Dislikes: Loud noises, most foods, dirt, trash, messy hands, EI in spurts, vegetables minus french fries, nonpoultry meats, being helped, disorder, sleeping in a bed that's not her own, peanut butter, spots on Dolly, waiting, getting her hair washed

Happy 25 months, Little Girl!

Daily Chlocabulary

Face hug- v. to embrace another's cheeks between the thumb and forefingers of both hands, drawing their face closer to your own

Usage:
Me: "Chloe, give mommy a big hug"
Chloe: "Nooooo. Face hug!" [gives face hug]
Me: "Ow."
Chloe: [giggles and kisses]

Where does she get this stuff??

The Moment

The long awaited moment finally took place this morning.
I was eating my breakfast, Chloe was going on another "trip" to the back of the house. She turned, smiled, waved, and said "Bye-bye Mommy. I love you!" And off she went.

Happy times.

A Levitical Laugh

I ran across this verse tonight in my study of Leviticus and in light of a recent post, I enjoyed a chuckle.

"As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them." Leviticus 26:36

A Little Love

This just warms my heart.

Giving Thanks

I just wanted to take a quick moment and thank all of you who so sweetly took time to thank me for my blog endeavor. It was such an encouragement to hear how much all of you enjoy reading about my precious little children. I am so blessed to have such wonderful and supportive family and friends, and I am so happy that I can share their lives with you all even though we are so far away.

His Little Patootie

Last week Chloe suddenly became an overt Daddy's Girl. We always knew she was one deep down, but now there is no denying. Every evening when Patrick gets home she makes a crazymaddash to the door yelling "DADDDY! DADDY! Daddy's HOOOME!" and immediately wraps her little arms tightly around his legs, leaving him immobile until she gets her way and he picks her up. And up is where she stays the rest of the night. Under no circumstance is Daddy allowed out of her sight, and preferably not out of her touch. Tonight Patrick posed the following brainbender in typical SAT style:

Eli is to Mommy as Chloe is to_____.

She has even started singing along with Daddy's special Chloe song.

"My Wormy, My Wormy/How I love you so/My Wormy, My Wormy/Love you more'n you know/You are my cu-tie/Yes, my little patoo-tie/My Wormy, My Wormy..."

Hearing Chlo enunciate the words has made me a firm believer that Patootie should be every child's first three syllable word.

Scary Stuff

Over the past few months, Chloe has started taking on a spirit of fear. It started somewhat understandably enough, Chloe was deathly afraid of flies, or anything that kindasorta looked like a fly. They are annoying enough, and if you had never seen one before, I could see how it would be a little unsettling to have one buzzing in your ears or divebombing your face.. I'll never forget the first time she reacted to one. It was a Sunday morning. Chloe was in our room puttering around, I was in the kitchen, and Patrick was in the shower shaving when we heard the most heart-wrenching scream to ever make its way out of our child's lips. I jumped a foot and Patrick sliced his neck, then both of us came running. We saw Chloe sitting in the corner trembling, weeping, and pointing. Pointing to a fly. You can only imagine the mixture of emotions we felt when we saw the object of her terror. Since then, we have had to strategically place a throw rug on our bathroom floor to cover up a black mark in the linoleum that Chloe is convinced is a bloodsucking fly. Even now as she seems to be on friendly terms with flies, even professing her love for them, she still won't even come in the door if the mark is peeking out from under the rug.

Various other creatures and objects have become sources of great anxiety over the past few months. We had a few weeks where the vacuum cleaner could only enter the room after I built a fort around her on the couch to keep her safe. Then there was the candle era. She refused to even enter a room if a candle was burning, even if it was 5 feet off of the ground. Then, the sound of buses or big trucks. Or trains. Then specks of dust or dirt. All were things she has been around since birth, things that she sings songs about, many of them things she likes, making this all even harder to understand. Yet however bizarre all of those phases were, the present one takes the cake.

It started yesterday when we needed to leave for errands. Normally I open the door and Chloe rushes out and stands by her cardoor while I fumble along with Eli and the twenty bags full of necessities for our half hour outing. We were walking out when Chloe jumped and stopped dead in her tracks. Thinking she forgot her beloved Dolly, I sidestepped her, told her to go get Dolly, and went ahead to the car. I got Eli all strapped in, unloaded my bags, and turned to go get Chloe and shut the door. To my surprise, she was still standing there, frozen, with tears rolling down her cheeks. I called to her, she refused to come. I picked her up and put her in the car, not giving it a second thought. Fast Forward. We came home, got unloaded, and I sent her to the house. She stopped on the yard side of the doormat, trembling, crying, pointing. I couldn't figure out what was going on. The only thing out of the ordinary anywhere near the doormat was a leaf that had blown into the corner. I picked it up and threw it into the yard. She still wouldn't move so I carried her in. Fast Forward to this morning. Time to leave for errands again. Same thing. Stop at door, cry, yell, point. No amount of coaxing would get her out the door. I pick her up and carry her to the car. Fast Forward more. We come home laden with bags of groceries and boxes of diapers. I put Chloe down next to the car, on the concrete parking pad. I get Eli out and head toward the house, turn to call for Chloe, and can't believe what I see. Chloe is still standing right where I left her. Bawling, crying, and once again, pointing.
Me:"Chloe what's wrong?"
Her: (sniffle, snub, wail, point)
Me:"Chloe it's ok. Tell mommy, what's wrong?"
Her:"Leeeeeeeeef"
Me: "What did you say sweetie?"
Her:"Leef. Leef"
Me:"Leaf? Seriously?? Leaf??" (pick up leaf)
Her: "BWAAAAAAAAAH" (plasters self against car, screams)
Me: "It's a leaf. You like leaves."
Her: "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"
This time, refusing to give in to the insanity, I walk on toward the house, coaxing her to follow. Several agonizing minutes pass, when she finally takes a step, keeping a wary eye on the grass. She slowly walks toward the house, never leaving the center of the concrete. Never erring to the right or left, straight and narrow all the way. Then she notices a leaf dangerously close to the sidewalk, ready to pounce out and maim her. Terrified, she breaks into a run, finally ending the painfully slow trail of tears. Just outside the door she demands to be picked up and carried in, still not brave enough to walk near the leaf's essence that remains in the corner.
Eventually we make it inside without casualty. I close the door. Instantly she runs to it, plants her face against the glass, and yells "Hey leaf! See ya later!" Sigh.

New Profile Pic

...is Chloe's 2 year portrait. It is also doing weird things on the screen.. I don't know why.. her face isn't really that scrunched up.

This Just In..

I feel like I've entered the Twilight Zone. Today for lunch Chloe ate all the kidney beans out of my vegetable soup. The only thing not a vegetable in my vegetable soup, true, but still amazing. I will keep you updated on further dietary developments.

Going Green

As I write this, I am still too shocked and amazed to do anything more than relay the big news. Nothing clever, nothing witty, just the facts. Here goes. A few minutes ago as I was finishing up my salad, Wormy climbed up into my lap, and started eyeing my food. I ignored her, waiting and watching to see what she would do. Ok, take a deep breath. You'll never believe this... CHLOE ATE LETTUCE. Several pieces of it! FYI: Lettuce is a VEGETABLE ... but please, please let's keep this little fact between you and me. Chloe never needs to know.

Another Look

Here are some pictures my mom sent to me :o)

Chloe and Daddy at the zoo

Melissa and Chloe working on their new puzzles

Artsy Party