Birthday Boy

This was taken as soon as we get home from school. He had been waiting to open his gifts since he woke in the morning, but since we knew he would want to take his presents to school, we didn't let him.

He had birthday party in the afternoon. I brought cup cakes that I ordered from WalMart. It was decorated the same as regular cakes, except they are cupcakes. It worked well for school because we didn't have to cut it up. It was a Cars theme cake. I also brought vanilla ice cream and cookies. We all sang to him and he blew out his candles and they all ate quietly! After everything was cleaned up, I put Cars tattoo on everyone. I was worried that only the boys would like it but the girls liked it too. I had party bags for everyone that were there, full of everything Cars of course.

When we got home, he was finally given his gifts. He got everything Cars from his Nana and Papaw and I got him a toy vacuum (this one was overdue since I promised it to him one day when I went to the store by myself, but the store was out of stock!). Daddy got him a military helicopter with a motorcyle (we had to get rid of the guns) and his sisters got him Tonka service vehicles. They were all a hit with him!!

But with me being stressed out trying to get everything for the party at school on time, that when I got there, I forgot to take pictures. Bad mommy!!

Uses for a Laundry Basket #101

(Katie on the left, Jojo on the right.)

Thanks a million to the other mothers of twins for this idea. And an awesome idea it is too!

When no one is playing with you, it's up to you to amuse yourself

Katie is on the right doing an ode to the celery and Jojo is on the left playing with her tongue, twisting it to the side (watch carefully). We've nicknamed Jojo the Lizard Girl. By the way, she got that gene from me.

Oh, and Daddy wanted me to add that he has nicknamed Katie the Billy Goat, because she puts everything in her mouth.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Buddy!

Three years ago today, you made a very loud entrance into the world. You were the most handsome baby we'd ever seen, and it's gotta be said, you were also the biggest. Everyone in the Labor & Delivery floor in the hospital came to see the "big baby".

You were a challenging baby. Mommy had to learn to do everything one-handed because you refused to be put down. You also refused to sleep. It was as if you didn't want to miss any second of anything exciting that may happen.

You continually amazed us as a baby. Every time I thought you may get cranky, you would be in your best behavior, especially in public. You reserved your crankiness in the comfort of our home.

You were always ahead in your motor skills, but it wasn't until 2 1/2 that your verbal skills took off. And oh, how it took off. Everyday, Daddy and I are always amused by the stories you tell.

You are a loving big brother. You welcomed your sisters with open arms. They were YOUR babies. You are a bit rough, and also super protective. But you have to be, with 2 sisters to fend for all your life. I'm sure you and Daddy will have the greatest time scaring suitors away.

Matty, you and I are both strong-willed and so we've butted heads many times, but know that I will always love you. Both Daddy and I are doing our best, but being the first child, we don't always do very well. From day 1, you've always known what you want and don't want and been very vocal about it. And this hasn't changed now that you're getting bigger. You are highly independent. When you were 15 months old, you walked away from me when we were in the park, just to see a man mowing the grounds. You got as far as 30 feet away without even glancing back once. I was worried, but also very proud. I just knew you would grow up to be a very independent, confident, sensitive adult. Daddy and I will do our best to nurture your little soul.

Happy Birthday, Matty.


(Torturing Katie with his big boy hugs)

It's Time for Obedience Training

When dogs have behavioral problems, a great answer is to take them for obedience training. Do you think it works with toddlers?

Matty bit two kids in his class today. He told me about it as soon as I walked in when I picked him up. The teacher was quite amused that he was telling on himself. Oh, but I wasn't amused.

According to the teacher, Matty bit someone out of frustration this morning. But since it was out of character for him (everyone at school loves him for being such the model student), she let it go. But not 15 minutes before I picked him up, he apparently bit another kid. He didn't bite hard, thank goodness. Though I am trying to mentally prepare myself to be ambushed in the parking lot by a couple parents.

So I had a calm talk with him all the way home. Then somewhere between the school and our house, I thought there should be a punishment. I told him TV and video games aren't allowed this evening. Then the crying and the hollering and the "I want my Daddy" started.

He is probably too young for the punishment, and the punishment doesn't quite fit the crime (I'm all for natural consequences) but I couldn't think of anything else at the moment. I mean, what's the natural consequence for biting someone? Help me out, in case it happens again. Though I doubt that it would. I'm pretty good at scaring the bajeezuz out of someone.

Jojo Pulls Up

Nana called to check on us and asked Daddy if the girls were pulling up yet. Daddy said no, not really. Well, what do you know, that same evening Jojo decided to try.

For the past 2-3 weeks, Jojo hasn't done much. She stopped smiling much and stopped interacting with her toys. Katie took advantage of this and grabbed every toy that Jojo held in her hands. But in the last week, Jojo has taken off like a rocket. She plays, and explores everything there is about a particular toy. She can now sit up by herself, though she did fall a couple of times once and wanted me to be near her to feel secure again. Now she's pulling up. I place her in the middle of the crib (sitting up) and yet I find her on the side grabbing onto the bars. Still sitting up!

In the meantime, Katie has not done much. She is actually refusing to stand up lately. She holds her legs up if I try to make her stand up. I don't know why she's doing it, because it really requires more strength to keep her legs up then to just go ahead and let them down and stand.

I think they let each other have their own shining moment and take turns. They leapfrog each other, which I think is awesome. This way we can appreciate and celebrate each one fully. What clever girls.

Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back, so we're still Ahead

Matty has been sleeping in his bedroom since we moved him there some time in November. We progressed so well and so fast, it amazed us. But then the twins got sick and Matty regressed. I didn't make the connection at the time, but the hubby did. He theorized that since we were paying so much attention to the twins, he was feeling left out and wanted to sleep back in our room.

When the hubby was in the hospital, not only did Matty sleep back in our room, he slept with me on our bed. So to avoid frustration in everyone's part, I set up a sleeping back on the floor in our bedroom and let Matty sleep there.

Wait a minute. Weren't we in this exact same situation many moons ago? Not only did we take steps back, but it seemed we went back as far as the beginning. This wouldn't do. I made a deal wth Matty that he is to sleep in his bedroom in the beginning of the night. Whenever he wakes up, he is allowed to run to our bedroom and sleep on the flor.

It worked out yesterday, but this boy is just way too smart. Not 5 minutes after I said goodnight and gone downstairs, I heard running. I go upstairs to check on Matty and he was lying down on the floor in our bedroom.

I asked him why he was there, and he said, "I woke up, Mommy! Now I sleep in Mommy's floor." I rolled my eyes and said goodnight.

When Daddy came up and saw Matty on the floor, Matty said, "Mommy say to me I can sleep on Mommy's floor!"

Oh well. He DID start out in his bedroom.