cuteness

One little bit of cuteness from our long weekend:

Mommy is too sleepy now to do a full update, but the short non-photo version is: Nate is 6 months old today (!), great visit with Grandma and Grandad, lingering colds that seem to be getting worse in the kid-set, carrot cupcakes, trip to the farmer's market, visit from Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Larry, date night out for Sarah and Jamie, lots of little house projects completed, snowstorm in MN...will G&G's plane take off to take them home tonight or will the weekend extend until tomorrow or Tuesday?

happy weekend

Happy weekend everyone!

Facepainting is a new fave activity around here. Check out Abby's bumblebee!

Some saucer time.

Chewing on sophie the giraffe.

Trying out his new highchair...matches his big sister's chair, and her old tray makes a re-appearance!

Abby and Nate both took a nap at the same time today. What are the odds? Here they are after waking up...

Abigail's present box had a post-it note inside that said "Open Valentines presents from Grandma and Grandad!" ... a much anticipated event. Abigail reminded us that she would have to open Nate's present too, because "he's still a baby." The Dora's Valentine Adventure book is a huge hit. And Nate liked his Count the Hearts book with the shiny pictures and tasty pages!
And, who can resist sticking cute stickers on this cute guy?

survival+

Dear readers: as I approach the end of this 36 hour solo-parenting adventure, a few reflections on this experience, today in particular.

My brain feels a little fuzzy, much like this picture.

Today I did not take any pictures, so am raiding the photo archives to find some visual representation of today. I also did not go to work today. Mondays are my "day off". I am still working on defining what exactly that means to me. I did however see lots of cute baby buns today:

We did use our imagination a lot today... And we went to Tykes Yoga where we played with hula hoops, among other things.

Abby and Mommy also wore our matching pink slippers. (Thanks Grandma!)

And we had (count them) ZERO temper tantrums!

And, lesson learned from last night (and from discussing with wise mommy friend Melissa): put the youngest to bed last. Bedtime tonight was tear-free for both, lights out in both rooms by 7pm, I had one polite request for "a sip of water" from Abigail at 7:30 (who is this child masquerading as my daughter?), and other than that, all is quiet upstairs. KNOCK ON WOOD! Mommy feels she has earned this glass of wine. And an early bedtime. And we'll be glad to have papa home for breakfast tomorrow!

home alone

We're home alone. Papa is off for a last-minute work trip to North Carolina. Estimated return time to airport: 10pm Monday night. Here are the children, sweetly occupying themselves while mommy makes dinner. Abigail squeezed out the world's smallest poo, and received a half of a jelly bean (vs normal two jelly beans for poop). Did I mention how effective bribery is chez nous with the nearly-three year old set? Nate chewed on his rattle and squealed.

There is no photo documentation of the 6:30 - 7 pm time period (was that really only 30 minutes??) where Nate was in meltdown mode and uncharacteristically did not want to sleep in his crib upstairs without being held. Abigail was downstairs unsupervised (I shiver a little just typing that), she did remarkably well keeping herself entertained ... emptying the dish towel drawer, "filling" (aka emptying) the Brita water pitcher in the sink, putting Po down to sleep, etc.

I hesitate to utter these words, but: I think both of them might be sleeping now. (Which means I should be too.) Papa, if you're reading this.... enjoy this night of sleep in a hotel room with no children under 3 in sight. I hope you get to sleep in until 6:30 or something crazy like that.

I credit Abigail's good behavior tonight with a) having taken a nap today, b) finding a very special post-it-note in her present box that read "face painting!", and c) lunchtime bath and pjs (with Nate, while papa was still here) so that all there was left to do tonight was brush teeth and get in bed.

Finally, thank goodness that Abigail was taking care of Po today... one less thing for mommy to worry about. Earlier today, Po enjoyed his first bites of rice cereal, just like someone else we know!

We also owe many heartfelt, but un-photo-documented thanks to:
Auntie Clare for an afternoon visit and helping us get through naptime
Grandma and Grandad for a fun Skype session before dinner ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDAD! Can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks.

sweet

Hello sweet potatoes!

Again, still sort of uncertain about things, but generally having a good time.

Mini-mama Abigail takes things into her own hands.

rice cereal

Big day for Nate-o! Rice cereal! Nate had been looking at our food longingly for weeks so we finally gave it a go. Abigail was thrilled to be a part of this milestone. Nate's not 100% sure what to think about food, but it was overall a pretty positive experience for our little hungry man.

Doesn't seem like that long ago that Abigail was just starting on the solid food adventure.... Abigail didn't start rice cereal until right around 6 months. Nate's a little before 6 months, but oh so curious about food food food. And it's telling of our busy-ness of late that we have not yet gotten a highchair for Nate....oh second child that he is! Abby would like him to have the same chair that she uses, and we will probably do just that. Bumbo seat for now though!.

carrot, hair

Here's Abigail, post carrot induced extreme temper tantrum ("I said I wanted a REALLY big carrot!!!! This isn't a REALLY big carrot!!!!"). Mommy refused to wash and peel a larger carrot, but Abigail still did get to have a special cool-down time on papa's lap during dinner, sub-par "small" carrot in hand. But, turns out the joke is on her, because Nate discovered what fun it is to pull Abby's hair! How perfect!

In other less dramatic mealtime news, we had two blog-worthy quotes at breakfast today from Abigail:
cheerfully, after consuming a large breakfast: "Can you imagination that? I ate all of my breakfast!"
quite seriously, with furrowed brow: "Nate's teeth aren't born yet."