Dinosaur Boy

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 12

     When my brother, Shane, was a baby, he had this stuffed dinosaur that made the funniest noise when you squeezed it. A strange, high-pitched, scream like squeal. When Tobin was first born, we were over at my parents house, and my Mom brought out the dinosaur. We took turns squeezing it, and laughing at the hilarious noise it makes.

     When Tobin was a newborn, he cried like the dinosaur squealed. It was the funniest cry ever! I'm so sad he doesn't do it anymore. And I'm sad I never got it on video. But, I guess, when your newborn baby is crying, the last thing you do is go grab the video camera, right? Anyways, we got to calling him, "dinosaur boy," because of his cry. He, literally, sounded just like the toy dinosaur. And the name stuck. So much, in fact, that Addy upon hearing Tobin cry in his chair tonight said, "ohhhh, it's okay, dinosaur boy." Matt figured it out. She was calling him dinosaur boy.

     Made me feel all warm and cozy inside. Adelyn, calling Tobin by a pet name already. Thankful for these sweet family moments. So thankful. It was a good day. Thankful for sweet, happy days.

A beautiful tree we saw on our walk today.

Adelyn wanted to help me walk Roxy, and get the mail, so she had to get her baby ready, too!

Keeping baby warm.

My blue-eyed baby boy. :)

Flowers for Mama from Matt.

Tobin has a bubble on his chin. Cutie.

Matt had never seen what happens to a gummy bear when you leave it in water. So, we did a little science experiment. Addy sure enjoyed it.

Sweet like candy to my soul

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 11

     Whenever I'm feeling sad, or lonely, or having a hard day...there are two things that can always make me smile. Children and my sister. Here are some things that made me smile today:

1. Adelyn touched my check after I changed her diaper, made a very sweet face, and said, "I love you so much, Mama!"

2. Playing with Addy and Casey. They use their imaginations all the time now, and it is so fun to pretend with them. We pretended to be dogs, and lions. We pretended to cook. And we also played a very rousing game of "put the bunny and bear in timeout because they were being bad and hitting Rapunzel." Seriously. It's a game they play. Casey holds the bunny, Addy holds the bear, and the bunny and the bear "hit" Rapunzel (a doll Adelyn got for Christmas), and they have to go to timeout for it. It is so hilarious to watch them. What makes me laugh the most is what Casey and Addy say to the bunny and the bear. We hear things like, "okay, I said no, that's a timeout!" "Now, no hitting, bunny!" "Now, no hitting, bear!" And my favorite is from Casey boy, "YOU DO NOT HIT, BEAR!"

3. Watching my sister laugh is contagious. She has a great laugh. And she laughs a lot. Being around her when you're sad is kind of impossible, because she laughs too much. It's almost impossible to be sad if you're laughing. I'm so thankful for her.

4. Sophia and Tobin. Such sweet little ones. I got to hold Sophia for a whole 5 minutes today before she wanted her Mama. :) And Tobin, his sweet smile is amazing. I love his smile. Also impossible to be sad around my happy boy. His smile is so warm and genuine.

     That's why Tobin, his smile, Sophia, Adelyn, Casey, and Patty are sweet like candy to my soul. Because they are genuine. The real thing. Real happiness. Real smiles. Real laughter. Real love. I know Dave was talking about a different kind of love when he wrote Crash, but whenever I hear the line...sweet like candy to my soul...I think about moments like these: laughing with Patty, and playing with babies. That is what is sweet to my soul.  

He likes to be a firefighter! :)

Adelyn has a very bad habit: hair chewing! Ugh...don't know how we're going to stop her from doing it!

Bunny and Bear in timeout.

Roxy sleeps through all the noise.

Don't they look sad?

An Outdoor Adventure Morning

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 10

     I love the winter. I love the cold. However, today--being a little warmer than usual--was really nice. Matt was off today, so right after breakfast (and we got to sleep in until 8:30-yay!), we packed the kids in the double stroller, and went on an outdoor adventure! For Matt and I, that means, a lot of walking, and not one, but two playgrounds. For Adelyn, it was an outdoor adventure. We were out for about 2 and 1/2 hours. She had a blast! We stopped at the playground in our neighborhood first, and met some new friends. A set of twins. And their very sweet grandma. We played with them for a bit, but when Adelyn started getting feisty about one of the twins taking her swing, we decided it was time to move on. We went on a looong walk to another playground. A brand new one in another neighborhood. She had so much fun there! Except for when Matt and I tried to make Adelyn take a ride on the alligator.

Apparently, this is the most terrifying piece of playground equipment ever created. She screamed at the top of her lungs when we set her on this. We knew she was a bit apprehensive, because every time we have gone to this playground, she avoids this guy at all costs. Even if she has to walk past him...she does it very slowly, and carefully. Keeping her eye on him the whole time. But, the screams. Oh my. "NO! I DON'T WANT TO RIDE THE ALLIGATOR! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

     Tobin just slept the whole time. Snug as a bug in his seat. He's such a love. And such a good baby. We have been blessed with sleepy babies. All he does is sleep and eat. And smile.

     I'm so thankful that it was warm enough for us to spend the entire morning outside. Even if I am a little sad that Winter seems to be ending before it even really began.

Mid-yawn.

There were two in the bath, and the big one asked, "WHAT'S THAT?"

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 9

     Ah, new discoveries. I absolutely love that look on a child's face when they are seeing something for the first time, or learning something new. It's almost as if you can see the wheels in their brain turning. Even the way they breathe changes when something new is being discovered. Adelyn has been learning lots of new things lately. Left foot, right foot. Left hand, right hand. Counting between 11 and 20. And 20 and 30. How to spell Adelyn. How to spell Mama. Dada. And Tobin. Creating shapes, objects, and pretend food with dough. Cutting with scissors. (They're kid-safe...no worries!) How to ride a tricycle. Well, we can add a new one to the list. Learning about private body parts.

     I thought that I would combine Addy and Tobin's bath tonight because, honestly, I was tired. I thought I had some time before Adelyn would notice things like Tobin's penis...but I was wrong. From the first second I put him in the tub with her, it was:

Addy: What's that? Mama, what is that? Mama! Mama, what is this?

Me: Oh, well, we can't touch, but that is baby Tobin's penis. That is where he goes pee-pee. He has a penis because he's a boy. And you have a vagina, because you are a girl.

Addy: Penis. Vagina. Vagina. Penis.

Me: Yes. You're right. Addy, can you play the flute for me? How about your xylophone? Can you play that?

Addy: Penis. Vagina.

Me: Yes. You're right...oh, don't touch. Don't touch, Adelyn!

Addy: Mama, you have a penis.

Me: No. I have a vagina because I am a girl. Dada has a penis. And Uncle, and Opa, and Uncle Shane, and Casey, and Uncle Mario all have a penis. And Mama, and Tante, and Oma, and Sophia, and Grandma, and Aunt Stephie, and you...we all have vaginas because we are girls.

Addy: Mama, you have a penis.

     It was a night of new discoveries. I am so thankful that I am home. That I am here for these moments. For new discoveries. For tantrums. For nap time. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner time. For brisk walks outside. For brief trips to the playground on chilly, damp days like today. For books before bed. For hugs, and kisses, and cuddles from Addy. For watching my sweet Tobin look up at me and smile after I nurse him. These are the moments that I live for. These are the moments I will remember forever. Funny how a discussion about private parts makes me so incredibly thankful to be a Mama.

Right after our penis/vagina chat.

Hopefully, Tobin will forgive me for taking his picture with a pink towel behind him! Hey, I use it to keep his body warm in the tub. Who wouldn't love a warm towel wrapped around them in the tub?

Is this the sweetest, or what?

Adelyn crying about wearing these elephant pajamas. She wanted her frog pajamas.

Trying to take her pajamas off. "I want the frogs!"

Really mad now!

All better.

Adelyn's Responses

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 8

Adelyn's Responses

     I'm always asking Addy tons of questions. I love to hear her responses to them. They just make me smile! Here are some questions and answers between us the past few days:

Me: Did you sleep well?
Adelyn: Mmmmhmmmm! (Big smile)

Me: What did you dream about last night?
Adelyn: I dream about Omi! I dream about Opa! I dream about Uncle Shane! I dream about Dada! I dream about Mama! I dream about little baby Tobin! I dream about Kiki! (translation: Casey) I dream about Grandma! I dream about Aunt Stephie! I dream about Tante! I dream about Uncle!

Me: What's your favorite color?
Adelyn: My fav color is PINK! My fav color is PURPLE!

Me: What is your favorite animal?
Adelyn: a duck

Me: I love you!
Adelyn: I love you so much, Mama!

     I was having kind of blah day. Feeling a little lonely. Feeling kind of sad for some reason. When Adelyn came and sat on my lap, and gave me kisses, and hugs, and cuddles. And Eskimo kisses. And when I said, "I love you," she replied with, "I love you so much, Mama!"

     Instantly better. 

My beauty!

My handsome guy!

Bath time.