mommy mode

Bad Blogger

2008-12-09T12:27:00.005-06:00

I may be a bad blogger but I am still good at putting pictures online. Go here

www.dropshots.com/Sparkmans

and I promise a post over the Christmas break.

Gone to soon

2008-07-15T15:48:00.007-05:00

I found out this morning that my sister died yesterday in a car wreck. I don't even know what to think.... We only found each other 13 years ago and in the last few have not been good about keeping in touch. Still, I loved her and am deeply saddened to have her out of my life - she was a truly good person.

Much to her joy, she had a baby girl at 42. Maple was her and her husband Steve's greatest accomplishment. I am so grateful that although Maple was in the car, she is uninjured.

I love you Sam and I am sorry we didn't have a whole lifetime to be sisters.

Sorry

2008-03-24T10:38:00.010-05:00

Okay, I have been so busy and so lazy that I haven't updated in a while. I promise I will post an update and stories soon but I have put up some in photos. Click the pictures to see more.... Love to you all.

Post Thanksgiving Thanks

2007-11-30T09:50:00.000-06:00

I just picked this Thanksgiving sheet up from school, so it is a little late. Here is what Shane is thankful for this holiday season...

1. Pop-Pop's and Me-Maw's farm
2. My Friends
3. Grandma's Dog
4. My Brother

Although Gray is the only family member she is actually thankful for, I am guessing she isn't really thankful of the farm or the dog but the people who they belong to.

Currently, we are also thankful for our newly potty-trained boy. He has been wearing under ware ( NOT panties, as I was sternly instructed by Worth) for a week now.

Crazy Urban Legend

2007-11-09T09:28:00.000-06:00

The kids are both sick now - runny nose, constant coughing and small fever. As all parents know (and most adults) coughing gets much worse at night. The doctor even prescribed a heavy duty cough syrup with codeine for Gray to help him sleep.

Last night, around 10-ish, we are sitting on the couch listening to Gray hack up a lung and I felt so helpless. I just wanted him to stop coughing and sleep. I got on-line and found a crazy remedy; another "Mommy Blog" that said she tried smearing the bottoms of the kids FEET with Vicks Vapor Rub and putting sock on and it cured the cough 100% of the time. REALLY?!? 100% of the time!?!? Okay, I hopped up off the couch, grabbed the Vicks and headed to Gray's room - what is the worst that could happen? Minty, soft feet right? I smeared that boy's feet in smelly rub and shoved the socks on - I was so quick I didn't even wake him up.

THE RESULTS: After this scientific test I can tell you it works. Now, not 100% but his cough reduced by 70% and eventually he got into deep enough sleep that is stopped. It was a miracle for my sleep that is for sure. I will let you know if this was luck or really works because Shane, Gray and myself are getting the treatment tonight.

Dr. Ronie signing off.

Sickness and hate

2007-11-06T13:44:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Gray stayed home with croup - fun for us all. He is fine but sounds awful. Here is his after nap look...
The hate part comes from the Princess. Yesterday she laid on her bed, writhing and screaming "I HATE YOU MOMMY FOREVER AND EVER!" What makes a poor, innocent 4-year-old react this way you might ask? One word - candy. Yes, that is right - she didn't eat dinner and I wouldn't let her have candy. I deserve jail time in her mind. What do you think she is going to say when all that left-over candy disappears after tonight?

Happy Halloween

2007-11-01T16:33:00.000-05:00

Fun was had by all. Kids got WAY too much candy. Shane ate so much that she was still grumpy this morning! Oh well, a couple of times a year won't hurt them and can't we all remember making ourselves sick on Halloween candy?

Click pictures to see more.

FINALLY

2007-10-23T12:27:00.001-05:00

Here is one of my favorite new pics...Click picture above for more shots.
Sorry it has been so long. Just like everyone, life has been busy here and the blog fell to the bottom of the list. I will try to update you on life....

The most disturbing this to happen lately is that Gray has gotten an opinion and is thinking for himself. Gone are the days of “Shane, what do you want for breakfast” and then making two plates. He doesn’t want to watch the same things, eat the same things or do the same things. Now, I will say that MOST of the time, he will still follow her lead but I fear those days are numbered. He is omni-aware that he can say no and not do what big sister wants. Damn, that went by quick.

Other Gray news is the potty training fun. He isn’t as quick as Shane was – she was done by now. But he is trying and doing good. I think the whole world will hear me hoop and holler when I don’t have to buy diapers anymore.

Shane started Pre-K this year. I am amazed with how quickly her letters & numbers skills are coming along. She is writing words (she filled out the cutest card for her Pop-pop’s birthday) and starting to recognize words she see often in books. She likes to read along with me and is even “bugging” me to tell her what billboards say. It is so much fun! She is also very inquisitive of the world around her. She loves to ask how things are made. We recently covered candy, tires, signs and cloth but she stumped me on light bulbs.

Click picture above for more shots.
In September, we traveled to visit all the grandparents in Oklahoma. We got to stop in OKC and visit Grandma and then went and spent a few days on the farm. I love going out there because it reminds me of my childhood – I grew up in the country and loved the freedom that comes with it. Run fast, hard and far – you can go much farther on the farm before someone yells STOP. We got to race on the Gator and Quad (farm vehicles for you city folk), fed cows, a horse and Clarabelle the donkey. Me-Maw and Pop-Pop took us all over the Atwoods in Altus and fixed the kids up farm style. They both got a pair of cowboy boots, Gray got a hat and Shane got a Farm Princess shirt. Of course, she didn’t need the shirt, anyone who sees her choice of boots will clearly understand that she is a farm princess. We all had a great time.

We are gearing up for Halloween festivities. I hate it being in the middle of the week! Shane has changed her mind a hundred times and has finally settled on a black cat. Gray can’t decide between being a pirate, puppy or his sister – I am steering him away from the later. I will take plenty of pictures and post more then.

Here is to you having a good day...

Long time gone ... again

2007-10-09T08:28:00.000-05:00

I know I have been bad. I am trying to pull stuff together for an update - we have been busy with starting Pre-K, potty training and visiting family. I will get new stuff up soon.

Until then, watch this video - although not all the words are true for us YET, days still feel like this.

Happy Belated July 4th

2007-07-06T12:17:00.001-05:00

Click picture to see more July 4th.
The Sparkman's had a grand time thanks to Worth's firework shopping abilities. We thought for sure Gray would be able to make it to dark this year but that was a no go. He said the fireworks "scar me mommy" and he was done before the show began. Worth did try to take out our neighbor's house with a wayword rocket but beyond that it was a good evening. We spent the day at the park and napping with a little swimming to round out the activities. Gray has been a little sick this week so it was pretty low-key.

The boy is talking up a storm. He is starting to speak in sentences and knows when he is being funny. They are still very close but starting to fight over toys more. Gray is really good at saying sorry after he has walloped Shane upside the head.

Click picture to see more.
Shane has discovered makeup. She got a kit for her birthday (not from me) and now loves sitting in front of the mirror and putting it on. The other night she wanted to do my face. You know when you are asked to close your eyes and you feel a wet smear from your hairline to your mouth that you are in trouble. After she sufficiently coated us with glitter she did our hair (I got FIVE barrettes) and put jewelry on us so we could be "Rock-n-Roll Girls"

Worth and I went to Denver for a few days of business. My aunt came up from Houston to watch the kids. They had tons of fun and Gray is still walking around looking for "Rene". Worth took a few days vacation and drove to Denver and camped out. He shot this great picture. Next time the whole family will have to go.

Sparkman-Simpson

2007-07-03T08:14:00.001-05:00

I can even make myself skinny!
Go to the Simpson's Movie web site and you can too.

Good Taste

2007-06-11T21:41:00.000-05:00

Shane's "Five Favorite Songs-EVER"

1. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
2. Dancing Queen
3. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
4. Mary Had a Little Lamb
5. Daisy Bell

Gotta love the variety!

Playing catch up

2007-06-01T16:14:00.000-05:00

Sorry so long since the last post – so many things to update you about. I will start most recent events and go back. Click any of the pictures to see more.

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos
Shane had her long awaited ballet recital. She did great, no stage fright - which I was afraid of. True to Sparkman form we lost her new ballet shoes 2 weeks before the big event and no one in town was restocking. Luckily she has a school friend in another class (Carson – the little girl in blue in many of the backstage pictures) who loaned us some for that night.

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

All the girls were hysterical and I had a cry a little to see our girl up on stage, doin’ her thing. She is so great and has such a sweet disposition. She decided to “take the summer off” from ballet, so we will see if her interest returns in the fall.

Mother’s Day weekend was very nice. We went to Hot Springs with Grandma and just relaxed. Mainly we tried to find things to keep the kids entertained with but they had a great time. I got a wonderful gift from Worth, a pair of diamond earrings. They are the first nice jewelry (besides my wedding ring) I have ever had. Shane brought me the present and I said “Wow, a little box, I never get little boxes” - now she likes to tell everyone that “Mommy got a little box with diamonds, she never gets little boxes.”

The Friday before Mother’s Day we returned to Arkansas Children’s Hospital with Gray for his MRI. We got there at 7 am and had him sedated by 8 and back awake by 9:30. As any parent knows, it is terrible to let your baby be sedated. I would like the think I am fairly level headed and don’t over react too often but watching Gray’s scared little eyes while they are giving him gas made me uneasy and weepy. Coming out of anesthesia was WAY worse. He was inconsolable for about an hour. He was insistent that they take the IV out of his arm before he would stop screaming or drink anything. When the nurse finally caved he got better quickly. We then went to meet with Dr. Bower – he said Gray didn’t have what he was looking for but they did see a very small “black spot” at the base of the brain. They don’t think it is any big deal but now we have to go have a neurologist to check it out. We are hoping to get that appointment in the next month or so. As for the swallowing issues, we just continue thickening his liquids and go back for another study in 9 months and hope he will be retraining himself to swallow properly.

Other smaller things...

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

Last weekend we went on a nice nature mini-hike at a great trail in Bella Vista. We got to hear birds, bugs and frogs and the whole time our city girl kept asking when we were going home. Actually, she did have fun but I think a couple of hours was plenty on the trail. We packed a picnic lunch and fun was had by all.

Gray now knows how to escape from his bed. Very scary, not from the stand point of him falling because he is very good at being a dare devil but – HE IS FREE! Wow, that came fast. Worth put a chain lock on our back door last weekend – enough said.

Not always funny

2007-04-17T09:29:00.000-05:00

This morning's conversation:

Shane: Where is your Mommy?
Me: She isn't alive anymore.
[quiet]
S: Why did she die?
M: She got a disease and couldn't get better.
[quiet]
S: Your Daddy got a disease too, right?
M: Yes
[quiet]
S: When you are a Grandma are you going to get a disease?
M: I will do everything I can not to Honey.
S: When I am a Mommy your are going to be a Grandma, right?
M: Yes my Darling.

Happy Birthday Monkey Boy

2007-04-13T10:41:00.000-05:00

Happiest Birthday to our sweet boy who thinks everything is a jungle gym (including his Mommy), loves bananas, and is a big fan of the Wiggles and peek-a-boo.

SIDENOTE: He also love Play Dough - big problem with Play Dough and 2-year olds, they put it up their nose! Worth had to hold Gray down while I took the tweezers to his nostril last weekend. NOT good birthday fun. We love you darling boy.

Click picture for Easter pics.
Easter was great! Pop-Pop (Lee) and Me-Maw (Rose) came to visit and the kids had a blast. We hadn’t been able to visit in a while so in two days we covered Christmas, Easter, Shane’s birthday and Gray’s birthday. The Sparkman’s know how to pack-it in! We are all about the quality!

We attended an Easter egg hunt on Gray’s birthday. We were very late because of naps but the people took pity on us and gave us a candy bonanza. They gave Rose two BAGS of candy and she made sure they got it all. That night we had a mini-party and a Cookie Monster cake. Easter morning the giant bunny stopped at our place and the kids hunted eggs in the freezing sunshine – the hunt was short. Needless to say, by Sunday night they were worn out and full of sugar!

Click picture to see party pics.
Then on Monday, Worth and I took Elmo cupcakes to Gray’s school. Shane goes to the same school and since I made 35 Elmo cupcakes and there were only 9 kids in Gray’s class, Shane’s class got some too. I am quite sure the school hates me now considering how much food coloring it took to get the frosting red. Let me just say, between blue Cookie Monster cake and red Elmo cupcakes Gray has had some colorful diapers – I know, thanks for sharing – right?

On Tuesday we returned to Arkansas Children’s Hospital to get Gray’s swallow study done. The speech pathologist gave him an F-. She said in her 15 years there he was the worst she had seen. What that means for Gray is that every liquid he swallows, he aspirates. So when he swallows a lot of the liquid goes into his lungs - they were shocked he has never had pneumonia. This is probably what causes all his rasping and hopefully he doesn’t have asthma. The bad side is he MIGHT have minor lung damage and he can’t drink any liquids, all his drinks have to be thickened. This first meal after the hospital, we put a thickener in and he took a drink, scrunched up his little face and said “Donlike it” and spit it out. We are learning a lot and becoming inventive on how to thicken the liquids. The first days he has been drinking much but it is getting better. We will return to Children’s soon for an MRI to check to see what can be done to help him. Hopefully, he will outgrow this by the time he is 8. It wasn’t good news at all, but being at Children’s makes you realize how lucky you are and things could be MUCH worse. Gray’s condition is worrisome but not life threaten and treatable.

I also want to say how great Arkansas Children’s Hospital is. They are WAY understaffed and are in WAY too small a space, but everyone there is great to work with.

Another busy weekend ahead with a visit from Grandma and a birthday party for Shane to attend. Maybe we will even venture to (dare I say it) Chuck E. Cheese's for small party for Gray.

Lifelong best friends

2007-04-04T09:29:00.000-05:00

Shane told me this morning that Gray and her played in my tummy before they came out. They played patty-cake and that was all because there wasn't any toys in there ... or food.

Glad to know that about the toys, that would be worrysome.

Planet Earth

2007-04-02T09:33:00.000-05:00

I must insist that anyone reading this blog (hopefully, many more that that but...) start watching Planet Earth. It is a series that Discovery Channel is airing: it took 6 years to film it and it is the most beautiful thing I have ever watched. It will make you appreciate the magnificent place we live and I hope make you feel the urgency I feel to protect it.

When I was about 10, I was having a girlfriend over the spend the night. Dad came back and interupted us and told me I had to come watch something on PBS (a death sentence to a 10-year-old). I whinned but he would not relent. Dad didn't make my friend come watch but I had to go for an hour and watch The Miracle of Life. I am sure I was mad the whole time, and this was in the days before it was common to record and watch later. But looking back I really respect my Dad for making me watch "that kind of stuff" all my life. PBS became a major part of my life growing up, of course it was one of only 3 stations we got but even if we would have had the hundreds of today I know Dad would have made it a priority to watch this kind of programming with me.

Now that I am the parent I know my kids will suffer the same fate as I. They will be forced to watch The Miracle of Life, Cosmos, and now Planet Earth - and I am sure many others. Thank you Dad for helping me appreciate life and the beauty that is science. I will remember you every time I pass this on to my kids.

Adoption

2007-03-26T13:54:00.001-05:00

This morning I was telling Shane how her "Uncle" Kyle and "Aunt" Jane were in China picking up her new cousin. She has a friend at school, Liem, who was adopted from Vietnam, so I was relating the two. I told her about picking out her new cousin a present (she thinks Eliza needs a ballerina – shocking). Then she asked why they were going to China. I told her some children are adopted and it is very special, just as special as those kids who are born into a family. All of a sudden she is crying.

"Shane, what's wrong honey?"

sniff, sniff ... little voice from the back seat ...

"I want to be adopted."

There is no pleasing princesses.

Hello Spring

2007-03-23T16:42:00.001-05:00

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share PhotosI have been meaning to get these posted all week. I am not sure how many people stop by to look at the kids but click the picture above and you can see all the park pics.

We bought Shane & Gray their first helmet for bike riding. I realize it is a little early for Gray but all you have to do is look at his forehead and you will see why I want to get him use the the idea of wearing one. Shane was thrilled to get a new accessory in pink. She was disappointed not to be able to get the princess helmet (too big) but once we found pink with silver she was fine. She also got an ultra-obnoxious horn for her bike. We inherited this bike from her cousins Zach & Andrew, she is almost too big for it already but it is a great start point. She LOVED riding it, I think she liked her first tastes of freedom.

Gray is getting to be so funny. Anything Shane says or does he is right there too. He mimics her every move. The best is when he tries to say what she does and it doesn't come out quite right. But the newest thing is that he is starting to have his own opinion. He doesn't always want her close anymore and really doesn't want her around when he is trying to get mommy time. "MY MOMMY" he will yell at her and then slap her. She is so patient with him and usually doesn't hit back.

Off for another weekend of park play and library trips. Maybe we will do a hike?

Another tribute for Shane

2007-03-08T09:28:00.000-06:00

I think I will let her live in her fairy tale a little longer. She still thinks Gray is her boyfriend and she will marry him or Daddy someday.

Princess Party

2007-03-01T09:50:00.000-06:00

Click on the Shane's picture to see photos of the big event.
Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

The party went good and was well attended. I think we had 10-12 kids there. Lots of fun, TOO much sugar just as planned.

Lindy and Sydney. came to visit from Plano and we all had a great time. Shane was thrilled to have Sydney stay at our house for her first "sleep-over". Syd is layed back and enjoys building with blocks for playing outside. Shane is a drama-queen that is all about playing dress-up and dolls. They are as different as girls can be but they do great at finding common ground. Shane said they will be friends when they are big and have babies in their tummies. So sweet.

The party was at 10 am - great time to shove a bunch of sugar down kids throats! It was a rainy day so I think everyone was glad to have a place to take kids to burn some energy. We played Pinata, ate cake, built crowns and opened more presents than I could believe. She got SO much stuff we have put some of it away for the next rainy Sat. It was like Christmas in February. I think she felt very loved and had a good time.

After the party and lunch, Lindy, Syd, Shane and myself went to Build a Bear Workshop and the girls got to build stuffed animals. Of course, Shane picked the pinkest kitty and put her in a purple fairy costume. It was fun, but by the time we said our good-bye's and got to the car things got ugly. Shane turned into Medusa. She had just reached her limit of niceness. It was a long trip home!

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped control the kids! Big thanks to Jeff, Dylan and Dad (Worth) for risking valuable parts of their bodies to hold up the pinata while the kids swung a bat at it.

Growing up TOO fast

2007-02-22T09:22:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday tomorrow to my princess.
Today is the day before Shane's 4th birthday. So sweet, so cute, so already been french kissed. Yes, read that again –– I did say french kissed.

Last night, while putting my darling to bed, I was giving her kisses and she stuck her tongue out. I asked her what she was doing and she said she was going to stick her tongue in my mouth. I asked her where she learned to do that and she said it was a game they play at school called "Tounge-Strum". She said she plays it with Christian - I knew that kid looked like trouble. When I asked if anyone else played she said "YES, 2 girls and a boy –– Christian, Carson and me".

Damn.

When I asked if Miss Candy (her teacher) knew about the game she said they did it when she wasn't looking.

Damn, damn.

I explained that it probably wasn't a good game to play because you could pass on bad germs. That seemed to work for her. As the conversation continued, she started telling me stories about her friends that I know weren't true. And then she changed the game to be licking each others cheeks. So how much is true and how much isn't I will never know. This morning she told me that they didn't play that anymore because they could catch each others colds. When I asked if she played it yesterday she got mad and said "I said I didn't make it up but now I say I made it up". I don't think that is something she can completely create without assistance from other kids. I am sure those no good 5-year-olds corrupted my girl - older kids can be such bad influences.

Obviously, I am kidding but it is amazing how quickly we get to address adult topics with our kids. But I can remember my cousin kissing all of us with an open mouth when he was 2-3 because he just thought that was how it was done. He was also caught under a table naked with a girl "checking things out".

It is just natural and I have to remember not to project adult thinking on innocent/curious behavior. Yesterday she flipped me off and I asked her what she was doing and she was just showing me her sore on her finger.

That being said, I have a daughter that is free to a good home. I don't think I will be able to withstand watching her go through puberty.

Princess Weekend

2007-02-21T14:57:00.000-06:00

Well, last weekend we went over the river and through the woods to Tulsa. Shane loved the off-off-off Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast and eating a the sub-par restaurant. Just goes to show you don’t have to go over the top to impress a soon-to-be 4 year old. We did have fun swimming at the hotel and the Sleep Inn in Tulsa fixed us up. Our company is a corporate client, so when we reserved the room the manager upgraded us to the suite. It was great and Shane thought they were giving her royal treatment.

We are now getting ready for the party on Saturday. I am excited to have my best friend and her daughter coming from Plano for the event. Worth is thinking we are going a little overboard for her. He feels that the birthday should be contained to one day and not a whole week, so we don't spoil the kids. I, on the other hand, am all about birthdays and love to go a little crazy and spoil the birthday person (I was trained by my Grandma). Now, I agree that you don't have to have tons of gifts but you should make a big deal about the birthday. I guess over the years we will have to find a happy medium.

Happy Valentine's Day & belated birthday

2007-02-14T12:11:00.000-06:00

Happy Belated Birthday to my sweetheart. Worth turned 37 on Jan. 25. Here is the cake Shane designed for her Daddy. I informed him that this was a monumental year for him because this is the first year I would have to buy TWO boxes of candles for his cake. Only 36 candles to a package.

And on the Valentine's side - I told Worth my ideal date tonight would be a pizza and an grown-up good movie after the kids are in bed, so that is the plan. And before you even ask, no I didn’t mean “adult video”. Shane and Gray awoke to balloons and candy this morning. Gray LOVES balloons and I even let them have a piece of chocolate after breakfast –– what do I care, their sugar rush will hit after they are in school.

We had another cold weekend .... trapped with the kids. Our big outing for the weekend? Sam’s Club. Okay, sad but true. At least there they can run and get a free snack – win, win. It is never as bad as I make it sound. We had a dance contest, read a lot of books, watched too many movies, ate pretty good and took long naps. But spring will be a welcome change.

We are gearing up for the "Princess Weekend in Tulsa”. Worth and I are taking Shane to see the stage production of Beauty and the Beast, staying in a hotel (with the all important pool) and going to a restaurant, which is so exciting to her. I have her a new dress, of course and pink glitter shoes. She is so excited. Gray is staying home so she will get 24 hours of all attention on her.

Gray is becoming more and more mischievous with time. He has been in more trouble in his 21 months than Shane has to this day. When you tell him not to do something he will look at you with a sideways grin and do it anyway. He is starting to crawl out of out of his crib. I am terrified of the day we put him in a big bed and un-cage the beast. Before I know it he will be out of bed, out the front door and hitching his way to NYC.

Long time gone

2007-02-05T16:38:00.000-06:00

Okay I am going to try again to resurrect this blog. I have been so bad over the last year but the kids are changing so fast that we can’t possibly keep you all up to date unless I do entries here. So, I will make every effort to post here if you will stop by and read sometimes. I will keep the pictures coming too.

Here is a shot of Gray and Jeep this weekend. As you can tell they are in love. Well, this isn’t entirely true - Gray is in love and Jeep is in a permanent state of toleration. We are lucky the dogs have adapted so well to the kids.

We are all about to go nuts with this cold weather –– trapped in the house like a bunch of crazy people. The days start out good and then they slowly go down hill, parents nerves get frazzled, children get edgy wanting activity. Thanks to our friends that let us come visit and thank goodness for the mall’s play area but we are all ready for some time at the park. There is only so much Wiggles any of us can stand.

Happy 2007 and here is to my being a better blogger.

How to break a mommy's heart

2006-03-29T16:32:00.000-06:00

I was scared and (I'll admit it) freaked out to be having a boy. I know what to do with girls, I have had 35 years to figure it out, but a boy?? Aren't they dirty, loud, smelly and I do like snakes but not in my house. But Gray is the most laid back, good humored, loving little guy I could have ever asked for. I realize that I will still have a smelly boy some day but that is why babies are so cute, so you fall in love with them before you have a room with a closed door, loud music that reeks of sweat socks (or other substances) when you do go in.

Okay, I got off on a tangent. Gray pretends to love me whenever I am around. The other day I found out the truth. His "teacher" at daycare is Ms. Kim and when I dropped him off he did a swan dive out of my arms and into hers. I told him I was offended and went to lean to give him a kiss and he turned away and buried his head in her shoulder - next step, remove knife from heart. He wouldn't even wave goodbye. Now, nobody needs to email me and tell me he is just a baby and he does love me - I know. But it is still a killer when your baby snubs you!

He is doing great. I have taught him to say A-Choo and bob his head. It is soooo cute have him say "choo" and then laugh in his deep raspy giggle. The other morning I came in to get him out of bed and I said good morning - he responded with a head bob and a "choo", he really likes to make me laugh.

Shane is good too. Very, very, very sensitive these days, cries at the drop of a hat, but I think normal and happy. Gray and her have discovered they can play chase - big fun for both. They talk to each other in the back seat of the car and are making up new games every day. Shane's favorite is to play Cinderella. Gray is Prince Charming, the dogs are the step-sisters, and I play the evil step-mother AND the fairy godmother. This skit comes complete with Shane running across the playroom and stopping mid-room, shaking off her shoe and then continuing to run. I am then expected to pick it up and look for Cinderella and fit the glass shoe to her foot. She gets the sweetest, eye-lash flutter look on her face - she might be an actress (what mom doesn't say that?)

We are all doing good here. Looking forward to spring and being able to take the kids to the park more and get out of freakin house.

2006-03-03T15:19:00.000-06:00

I hate that is has been so long since my last post. I will work on getting better about that. I am sure that everyone can relate but I feel like I am in super busy mode all the time.

We had a wonderful birthday for Shane. She is still our “Pink Princess” but she is just exploded into a girly-girl – so what else were we to do but through a VERY pink party. We had pink cake (yes, I made it), pink balloons, pink streamers – we even had pink milk. Several little people came and lots of her adult friend. We even had Me-Mom and Pop-Pop there. She got lots of Barbies and dress up clothes. I think she had a great time. Our dear friend, Jamie, even came dressed up as Snow White! Check out the party pics -click here

On Shane’s birthday we took her out to dinner and let her eat ice cream – pink, of course. She got a ballerina outfit and even slept in it that night! She loves to dance and play mommy to her dolls. She is very sweet but we are going through a stage where she likes to challenge us. She should be a strong willed girl. She love to say “Mommy, I need to tell you something” very seriously – I say “Yes Shane” - “Ummmmm, I like Dora the Explorer” - that always cracks me up.

Gray is doing great – he is our own personal bulldozer. He doesn’t sit still. Shane use to sit on our laps and let us read books – not Gray. He is always on the go until he falls asleep. He is walking pretty good now, one month earlier than Shane. He looks like James Brown when he walks. At the last doctors visit he was up to 22 lbs. - not bad for 11 months.

About a month ago he had a ruptured ear drum but that is healing up good but we have found out he has asthma. We are hoping he will grow out of it but right now he is having to get use to an inhaler. Beyond that he is happy and healthy and has shed more blood in his short life than Shane has all her life. He loves to blow raspberries and walks around with his tongue hanging out. He says Mama and Dada pretty well – now we have to work on Shane.

Love to you all and more posts soon.

In the Genes

2005-11-21T13:57:00.000-06:00

I don’t really remember when this started for me, I am sure very early. But after this weekend I am convinced that is must be part of our genetic make-up. Shane, at 2 and a half, has already learned how to beg for things on store shelves and play her Daddy. We were at Wal-Mart (which we have decided never to take the kids there again) and Shane saw yet another thing she wanted; asked for it; was told not this time; and then turned on her heal, looked at her Daddy, cocked her head and said in the sweetest voice ever “Pleeeessseee Daddy” Worth and I just looked at each other and were in awe. How does a girl know to do that to her Daddy? To Worth’s credit he held tight but I could see him buckling if I hadn’t been there for support.

I must say though, that I am very excited about Christmas this year. This is the first year Shane will understand Santa Claus, leaving cookies, more presents under the tree than when she went to bed. I have always loved Christmas but to see it through the eyes of my children is just magical. We have already started a few traditions. We went to a paint pottery place and I let her paint an ornament. Her first Christmas we did her hand print and I will do Gray’s this year and now every year forward we will go paint ornaments. And, of course, I have frozen blueberries that I got from a local farm this summer, waiting for the blueberry pancake on Christmas morning tradition that started last year.

Gray is about to start crawling. He will get up on his knees and rock back and forth and scream. It infuriates him not to be able to go. We went to the doctor last week and he is a solid 18 lb, 10 oz. Shane was that at one year - he is and a half months. He is the sweetest baby, doesn’t get fussy unless something is wrong. And the love-fest between the two continues.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Passing the torch

2005-10-11T09:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday my Grandma passed away, she was 88 so I can't say it was a shock. I am so grateful that she died peacefully in her sleep, she wasn't sick, so in a way it was a surprise.

My Grandma was the best woman I have ever known. I lost my mom at an early age and my Grandma help my Dad raise me. She was strong but gentle, she had an endless amount of love and generosity for her family. She would defend us, right or wrong, without question or hesitation. It is from my Grandma that I learned the meaning of being a family.

At her house birthdays were special, she would make you your favorite meal and dessert and gather the family together for a mini celebration.

At her house Christmas was magical, she would decorate the whole place, slave for hours making the traditional Christmas cookie - peppernuts. We would have a giant family Christmas eve where she made the best meatballs and Santa would always visit. And most of my Christmas pictures is all of us sitting in the same room in the same chairs (Grandma and Grandpa on the couch, Dad in the blue chair, Orene in the gold and Jason and I on the floor.)
At her house college football season was another holiday. We would set up several TVs in the living room to watch and turn the volume down so we could listen to the radio too – made sense to the adults. She would make more “finger foods” than we could eat and watch the Oklahoma Cowboys play and usually loose back then.

At her house everyday was a day that she did something special for us. Most of the time it went unrecognized. Grandma would make two batches of oatmeal cookies, one with raisins for me and one without for my cousin; she was almost always there when I got home from school; she sewed me some of the best clothes I have ever owned; she would keep our favorite foods stocked at her house; she would let me pick flowers from her garden to take to my teacher; she would make chocolate pudding in the middle of the week for no reason and to this day I still wish she was living with me to take care of me when I am sick.
I grew up thinking that we were like every other family - just like the Cunningham's on Happy Days. Now that I am grown I realize how special we really were. Most families are not as close as ours was. Most of my immediate family members are gone, which is sad for me but more so for my children.

So this is my life now, teaching my children all the amazing things that my Grandma (and Dad) taught me. Passing on to them the love and appreciation of family and keeping the traditions going. How I raise my kids will be my best tribute to them.

FEED ME!

2005-09-20T08:53:00.000-05:00

Gray is part baby part piggy. Not only does he get excited to eat food but he get down right demanding about it. There is no mistaking when it is meal time at our house. He has a scream that is louder than anything Shane has ever produced. At a typical meal he will eat cereal, a jar of applesauce, a jar of something else (pears, sweet potatoes - no to squash) and still kick back a 4-6 oz. bottle! After all this gluttony you would think it would be nap time but usually he wants to go play with Shane (his FAVORITE person). You have never seen a happier person than Gray after a good meal. When we use to feed Shane most all the food would ooze back out of her mouth - not our little man. That would be entirely too wasteful, 95% of the food stays in and gets put to good use. Not to be gross but he also is proficient in completing the digestive process. Let me just say he usually can't wear the same pair of jammies more than one night. When he blows it is from head toe - an AM bath is the norm. All of this makes for one happy baby though, he is such a joy and one of the two cutest babies ever born.

On Sunday, Gray starting sitting up on his own. Very surprising, we put him down for a nap and when he woke up he had aged a month. He was sitting up some, playing with toys he hadn't done much with before and damn near talking in complete sentences.

On a very exciting note, Shane is potty trained!! She hasn't had an accident in 5 days!! She still wears a diaper at night but the days are a go. We were even out a lot this weekend and she had no trouble using the potty in strange places. I think she really liked it. Maybe that is how she gets her adventure in - no slides or swings, but strange potties, YES!

One of Shane's new favorite words is actually. "Actually Mommy, that is my cup." "Gray, this is actually my Pinky Bear." So cute I can't stand it. She is also into dancing, we have put a cd player in her playroom and she loves it.

Dear friends, I must report the passing of Pauper II. We left the house for a few hours and had left him in a cup while I changed his water. Upon return I found Pauper II in the middle of the kitchen floor - dry. Poor guy was still alive and lingered 24 hours but he gave it up yesterday afternoon. I just left him in the bowl (dead Betas don't seem to float, they sink which is good news for a mother of a 2 year old) so Shane wouldn't notice and cleaned him up after bedtime. Shane has kinda lost interest in the last week or so, so I thought maybe she wouldn't notice him gone – wrong - that was the first thing out of her mouth this morning "Where's Pauper?" with such a worried little look. I told her Pauper was visiting Susan again. Needless to say Pauper III will be at our house tonight.

Growing so quick...

2005-09-06T12:05:00.000-05:00

Life continues to roll along for all of us. We are having a good time. Worth, Shane and Gray took me out for breakfast for my birthday and I don't know if it was age or hormones but sitting there looking at my family just made me tear up. Worth looked at me and wanted to know what my deal was. I couldn't really answer, just so happy to have two beautiful kids and a pretty happy family.

I can't believe the changes in Shane. She seems to be changing by the hour. On Sunday, we went to Target and she picked out her own toothbrush (Belle from "Beauty and the Beast") shoes (purple flowers) and a Halloween shirt (orange with a black kitty). She is so opinionated! Yesterday, she went all day wearing panties and only had one accident. I am so hopeful that by Christmas she will be done with the money pit that are diapers. Who knows, when they are both out of diaper we may be able to afford a second home.

Sad news, Pauper I died. We now have Pauper II - unbeknownst to Shane, I don't know how I will ever explain death but I do know it isn't going to be when she is TWO. I cleverly lied and told her Pauper had gone to spend the night with our dear friend Susan - we even called Susan to make sure Pauper was okay. The next day I drove to Pet Smart - praying all the way that they would have a match. Lucky me, they did. Shane was very excited to see Pauper had come back safe and sound from Susan's.

Our strong boy is coming right along too. He is rolling over on his own now and has started cereal. There is a new cereal picture on the picture page (along with several others). He is the happiest baby ever. Shane loves him to pieces, she brings him toys and any time he is crying she comes looking for me to make sure I know that "her baby is crying". Of course, nobody brings a smile to his face faster that her - although his daddy is a close second. I wonder how long the love-fest will last??

The Princess and the Pauper

2005-08-16T13:31:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the movie Finding Nemo we now have a fish for Shane. I am not quite sure how it happened, we were watching the movie, Shane starts whineing about wanting Nemo and all of a sudden I hear the words come out of my mouth "Maybe tomorrow we can go get you a fish." I put her to bed thinking that she would forget about it but the next morning she is talking non-stop about getting "Memo." We went to Pet Smart and let her pick out her very own Beta (much more durable than a clown fish - and cheeper). When we got home she really didn't show much interest, but now she loves her fish. When I asked her what she wanted to name him she said "Pauper" - at first I thought she said Popper but then I realized she meant the character off her favorite movie, The Princess and the Pauper, a completely awful Barbie movie. So now we have both a Princess and a Pauper living at our house. You can see our newest family member on the picture page.

Gray is doing great! We went to the doctor last week and our little tank is up to almost 15 lbs! He loves to talk to us, "Goo" is his favorite word but his vocabulary is growing. When he is in his saucer, he can scream (happy screams) louder than Shane. Yesterday, when I was picking them up from school, Shane started to cry (like she does about almost everything) we she realized we were leaving and Gray looked at her and then at me and started the scream right along with her. Sibling bonding has never been so painful.

Sappy

2005-07-28T14:21:00.000-05:00

I got an iPod from my wonderful husband for our 10 year anniversary. Now I am hooked on downloading some of my favorite songs. I am filling it with some of my 80's favorites, some country, some rock. I love that I can find only one song from an artist and don't have to get the whole album - like the Busta Rhymes & Janet Jackson song "What's it gonna be."

But my two favorites right now are by Martina McBride, "In My Daughter's Eyes" and "Blessed." These songs bring me to tears - I am truly a lucky girl.

Bloging, pooping etc.

2005-07-26T11:45:00.000-05:00

I am being inspired to do this by my friend EB and her endearing blogs. Every once in a while I will get an email announcing a new blog entry from EB and I am excited. Not because she writes about anything earth shattering but because they are fun to read. That is what I am hoping for, something kinda fun to read and interesting to those people that want to hear about our family. Also, something I can keep and my kids can laugh at and be embarassed by someday.

Good example of embarassed by will be this first entry. Poor Shane.

I am so excited, Shane is learning to use her potty! Yesterday at school she used it three times! Good news for our checking account because diaper are crazy expensive! Now, I know it may still take another 6 mo. to a year to get her completely off of diapers but we are making significant strides. This morning she asked to poop on her "big potty" which is a seat we got for her to sit on the actual toilet, not the little one on the floor. Only downfall, I get to sit on the tub and wait...and wait...and wait ... while she thinks about pooping and chatters along about colors, books and her hair. Of course the best part is when she done she gets to pick out a sticker, right now the rage is Care Bears. We have Care Bears stickers scattered all over the house.

Shane also got a hair cut last night. This morning I caught her flipping her hair and shaking her head while looking in the mirror - it was like watching a 1970's "Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific" commercial.

Gray is doing great as well. He is desperately trying to sit up and he is only 3 1/2 mo. I don't know if that is normal but Shane was older before she got it. He is our little pigglet - I dressed him in some jammies last night that Shane wore when she was 10 mo. They were a little big but not much. He is such a happy boy, I am however irritated. He was doing so good at sleeping through the night but the last 3-4 nights he has been waking up at 3-4 am. I love him but there is a limit! I think we may try a little cereal in the bottle soon.
More fun to come soon...