15 Months

Elliot had his 15 month well baby visit today. He is 20 lbs 10 oz (5 %tile for weight) and 30 1/4 inches (25 %tile for height). He's a peanut but weighs more than Delaney did at 2 years and and is only one inch shorter than she was at 2 years. The doctor said that he had perfect 15 month old legs---bruises and scrapes everywhere!

I took both of the kids to Elliot's appointment and they were great-it was busy but manageable. Delaney kept telling the doctor that she wanted to get naked too! When Elliot was crying after his shots, Laney told him to relax, calm down and take deep breaths (we probably tell her this 10 times a day); it was sweet and cute.

Present cold excluded, Elliot is great. He's a total boy and is crazy busy. I never understood how much of this boy / girl stuff is innate before I had one of each; it's crazy-he turned 12 months and became a complete boy. Our house was 'Delaney-proofed' but wasn't even close to being Elliot-proofed. We've moved a good portion of our furniture to the garage to keep him from climbing on it and then diving off of it. He's full of mischief and is quick to run off with Delaney's favorite doll while laughing. He loves to wrestle / tackle, taking Laney to the ground and checking her against the wall. He uses all toys and non-toys as pretend swords. He thinks that he's a 2 1/2 year old and has little interest in 'babies' his own age-he prefers to run with the big kids.

He has the best smile and beautiful green eyes. He gives wonderful hugs and is a total flirt. He's a sweetie and loves his mommy more than anyone.

So Much Better

Today was so much better than yesterday. The sun was shining, the babies were well rested and everything was just all around easier.

We spent a couple of hours at the park this morning with friends and then went to the park after nap for about an hour. Both Delaney and Elliot are more content and happier if they can play outside for a chunk of the day---and I know that I am too! The kids were great; they were well behaved at the doctor's office and got along really well.

Each morning I have no idea how the day is going to be-but I would take a day like today anytime!

A Long, Long Day

Delaney woke up this morning at 5:15 AM, and it has been one long day. Delaney is pretty much a little monster when she wakes up too early, and today has been no exception. By 6:15 AM, she had eaten breakfast and changed into her clothes and was ready to go, go, go.

Laney only napped for a little over an hour, which did not make my afternoon very pleasant. Elliot has a cold, so he's not his usual happy, easy-as-can-be self and just wanted to be held. When Delaney got mad at me, she started shouting--I want my daddy! I want my daddy! Mommy go work! Honey, trust me, I would have jumped at the chance to switch places with your daddy today!

They fought. A lot. There was hitting, biting, pulling hair.... They were just wretched.

Dave came home around 6:30 PM (thank god he didn't work late) and I stayed in our bedroom until they were both asleep! As my friend says--I had one of those days where if I could've quit, I would have!

Gardening

Dave and the kids did some gardening today, planting bulbs for spring. Elliot would dig a little, throw some dirt and then make a run for a) the street or b) to torment our neighbor's cat with his little rake. Delaney, on the other hand, was pretty attentive to her job.

Dave and Laney also hung up a birdfeeder in our backyard. Delaney then started to yell-Birds, where are you?? Where are you birdies?? Wake up and eat your food!! But don't take my toys!!!-. She was very, very concerned that the birds would take her toys.

I haven't seen a bird by the feeder yet, and I must say, it would take a tough little bird to brave our backyard-with two pups and two toddlers!

STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING.....

..... AND GO PEE, ELMO SAYS!! Delaney probably shouts this phrase (give or take a few words) about 50 times a day. She'll yell this phrase across the museum, in the grocery store, at the library.... Everywhere. She's been completely brainwashed by the Elmo Potty Time video.

She wore undies for 5 days straight last week-only having about one accident per day-and then decided that she wasn't so interested in this potty thing and wanted her diaper-sometimes. So now, we're changing her from diapers to undies and vice versa at her every whim. Dave and I can barely remember what she is wearing and will be saying-Delaney, do you need to pee? Delaney do you need to pee? Delaney do you need to pee?-for like the 20th time before realizing that she has a diaper on. Or, we'll be ready to go to the park with no potty necessities and then think-Oh my God, she's wearing undies, and we're headed to a bathroomless-park for two hours!

Laney's doctor has instructed us to let Laney take the lead in potty training--When she wants to practice, let her, but it has to be her idea. Laney has pretty much been running our lives since she was born 2 1/2 years ago, so that shouldn't be a problem-Dave and I know all too well that we can't get Laney to do anything that she doesn't want to do.

Chunky Puppy

Dave took Penny to the vet's office today for her annual shots. She weighed 17 lbs-as much as Clancey! A year ago, Penny weighed 13 lbs, so she's gained almost a 1/3 of her previous body weight in one year-that's pretty appalling and I'm somewhat mortified that I've allowed her to get so chunky. The vet even gave Dave a pamphlet about canine obesity. The weight gain must be the product of fewer walks (especially in the winter) and the fact that Elliot loves to 'feed' her-meaning throw his food from his tray onto the floor for Penny. I must admit that I've welcomed Penny acting as the clean-up crew after meals, but no more!

Penny is now on a strict exercise regimen and diet! She is not happy about these lifestyle changes at all but she'll thank me later.

Messy Valentine

This little boy is the best Valentine that a girl could ask for; he has beautiful green eyes, a great smile and gives the best kisses!

He bought me a pink rose, and after using it as a 'sword' to attack his sister, he even gave it to me.

He tackled me with hugs, trying to bring me to the ground.

He took me out to a romantic dinner at Applebee's (oxymoron?) and grabbed fistfuls of artichoke and spinach dip, rubbing it all through his hair and all over the bannister next to his seat. He was the best date I could have asked for--although he did flirt with a number of older women at the restaurant.

And They're Done!

Delaney has finished her masterpiece(s) and instructed mommy on exactly who should get which Valentine. I followed all of her instructions. They'll be in the mail shortly--or rather, as soon as I can brave the post office with two toddlers.

Sweeties

Delaney and Elliot can be so precious. They actually played together for 45 minutes the other night; Dave and I were able to sit on the couch and read magazines-that's pretty much unheard of in our house. In fact, we often wonder why we have furniture at all--since we're always on the floor with the kids.

Delaney's been fighting her nap each and every day, and it's getting harder and harder for me to convince her to lay down and sleep. I think that she still needs a nap but I'm not totally sure. But I definitely need her to nap! Dave and I joke that Delaney has more willpower than he and I (and the rest of the free world) combined. She certainly has taught me a lot about willpower and persistence, and if nothing else, I've had to work on my own willpower and persistence to make sure that we don't give into her every whim. Delaney's amazing-she can follow me around for hours, saying (okay-screaming at the top of her lungs)-I want cartoons, I want lollipop, I want whatever-mommy-doesn't-want-me-to-have. She doesn't give up and can't be distracted. She has definitely made me a much more patient mother and person.

Dave taught Elliot how to 'sword' fight this past weekend-this has definitely added an interesting dimension to my days. Now, besides trying to keep the little guy from catapulting off of a box, a chair or a table, I'm dodging attacks from whatever device he currently is using as a 'sword'--a stick, a spoon..... Elliot has developed a little warcry when he charges at Delaney and I with his sword. Needless to say, Delaney is absolutely clueless and has no idea what he is trying to 'play'. So is our pup Penny. I guess this is what people mean when they say that boys and girls are different!

The Valentine Queen

Delaney has been working hard on her Valentines. Really, really hard. She puts so much thought and work into each one that it really is precious. I figured that she could easily make 30 Valentines over a couple of weeks-enough for close family and friends. Nope, she probably spends about 20 minutes on each Valentine-so, if you're reading this, you probably won't be getting one! :)

Most of her Valentines have a 'theme'--butterflies, flowers, little stickers, big stickers, red, pink.... It's been so much fun to watch her work on them. And she's super insistent about how each Valentine is created--she doesn't want any advice or help (no surprise there!) and tells you when she is 'done' with one of her masterpieces.

In Other News....

Elliot has been my fussy baby this week--very unlike him. I don't know if it's teething (he's cut two teeth in the last two weeks), the frustration from always trying to keep up with his big sister and the other 'big kids', or the fact that he constantly is bumping his head, scraping up his face and bruising up his little legs, but man, has he been cranky.

Last Sunday, Elliot went flying head first down a 'big kid' slide and wound up with a facefull of wood chips--many abrasions on his face. On Wednesday, he fell backwards on concrete--big goose egg. On Thursday nite, he did a flip off of the futon. Today he ran fullspeed and headfirst into the wall (he had a towel over his head and was playing his crazy boy version of peekaboo!). And I can't even count the number of times a day that he falls while trying to climb up on a kitchen chair, the coffee table, couch...... Or the number of times that he slams his fingers in a door. He's remarkably resilient and really doesn't get too upset when he does get hurt--that's the good part; he also doesn't have the same sense of caution that his big sister has--that's the bad part. I see many trips to the ER in our future!

Delaney had a really good week. She's always challenging and never 'easy', but she really is growing up. She only had one bad tantrum all week. We can talk to her so much now and she absorbs EVERYTHING that she sees and hears--for better and for worse. She's opinionated and spunky and slowly is learning how to express herself in a positive way! Delaney's so much less clingy to me than she was even a few months ago. However, this newfound independence brings a new set of problems--she's not nearly as likely to stay right next to me in a store or parking lot and has started to 'wander'-which can be really scary, when I turn around and suddenly can't find her. She can be quite defiant and can really argue with us now-I don't think that this will improve for the next 20 years or so, but we'll see. But she also says, "Mommy are you happy?-I'm so happy" and sweetly asks me "Mommy are you awake now?" when I get her out of her crib (yes, Delaney, I'm awake!)--which makes me happier than anything!

Tickles

Delaney and Elliot can really play together well. It's adorable-they'll run around the house, holding hands and tickling each other; I love it. Elliot would play with Delaney every single second of every day--Delaney likes to play with Elliot a few times a day. So-when Laney does want to play with Elliot, his whole face lights up and he gets so excited-it's sweet and also so vulnerable.

Lampe Park

The nice weather has returned for a few days, so we explored Lampe Park in Gardnerville with a few friends. The park is wonderful-has a duck pond, an huge playground and tons of open space to run around.

Delaney and Elliot were particularly impressed with the ducks and geese. When we told Delaney that the park had ducks, she ran around, shouting--Ducks, where are you, where are you, come here duckies... It was pretty adorable. She was thrilled when she 'found' the ducks and enormous geese-one goose definitely weighs more than both of my children-and threw bread for / at them. Elliot ran around, chasing the geese with a stick and trying to climb into the water; he was thrilled!