One

And they're off! Dave and Laney arrived safely in Long Island on Friday; Dave said that Laney was the perfect angel on the flights--literally, a passenger told Dave that Laney was the most well behaved child he had ever met. My child????

Laney's been having a great time in Long Island with Dave's family. She's been super well behaved and cooperative-which doesn't totally surprise me--she loves being busy and new adventures and being the center of attention. However, I am a little dismayed that when Dave asks her if she wants to talk to me on the phone, she replies--No thank you. Maybe later.-- This is the same child who insists that I not leave her side in our house. She better bring some of that independence home with her. And I must say, that I'm going to be less likely to cater to her neediness when she is home-I know that she can be independent now.

Elliot looks around for Dave and Laney every now and then, but is thrilled to declare that Laney's toys are now 'MINE'. We went to a little car show and parade yesterday and then out for ice cream. This morning, we headed up to Sand Harbor with friends and had a great time. It's been super hot here, so it's great to spend a few hours at the beach. Dave took our camera to Long Island, so unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of our adventures.

Just taking care of one child is definitely easier and less stressful than taking care of two children. But it's a little lonely too. I miss Laney's chattering and chaos! There's just not enough noise and graham cracker crumbs without Laney. There's little conflict with having just one child but I miss hearing Laney and Elliot scamper around the house laughing. I can't wait for Laney and Dave to come home! And, I'm so excited for baby #3 to arrive---more noise, mess, screaming and certainly less sleep but more laughter, fun and love.

Ring Around The Rosies

Delaney and Elliot have been too cute after dinner--they both run right outside and play happily by themselves for a good chunk of time. It makes me a little nervous for them to be 'on their own' in our enclosed backyard, but I can watch them from the kitchen window while I clean up.

In Other News....

Dave and Delaney are headed to Long Island tomorrow for a long weekend. This will be Delaney's first trip away from home without Mommy. And this will be the first time that I've been apart from Delaney for more than 16 hours or so. And this will be the first time since Elliot was about 24 hours old that they'll apart for more than a few hours. I'm definitely going to miss my Laney-Pie. And worry about her. But it'll be good for her--to be 'on her own' and get to see her NY family--a big adventure for a big girl.

This trip has been posed to me as a 'vacation' for me as well. And undoubtedly, taking care of one toddler is easier than taking care of two toddlers; however, I doubt that I'll be eating bon bons and watching Oprah all day. I am looking forward to having some one on one time with my little guy--even if he's been an absolute terror all week.

V & T Railroad

For Father's Day, we headed to Virginia City to ride the train. Virginia City is a super cute little town with a ton of history--but don't ask me for any specifics because I was too worried about the train falling off the cliff or the kids throwing themselves onto the tracks to pick up many details from the tourguide. The kids--especially Elliot--enjoyed the train ride, complete with whistles, steam and lots of noise.

Thankfully, the train ride was new and different enough that Elliot was content to sit right on my lap for the entire 30 minute trip--no small feat!

It was the perfect little day trip for us.



In Other News....Laney kept telling Dave--Happy Birthday-and-Happy Daddy's Day--throughout the day.

At one point today, she said--Daddy, come play in my room. Daddy's my best friend.-- At least that's what we thought that she said; she later informed us that she was saying--Teddy, come play in my room. Teddy's my best friend (meaning her teddy bear!). But I'm sure that Daddy would have been her second choice! :)

Elliot's been a handful the last couple of days-definitely asserting himself. I suppose that as Delaney grows out of the terrible twos (which for the record she entered at about 12 months....and enters the horrendous threes!), Elliot will enter his very own terrible two stage. He shouts--NOOOOO--and--MMIINNEE about a hundred times a day. And he definitely has shown that he can throw a fit or two himself. He suddenly thinks that he's too big to hold his mommy's hand. But he's still my little boyfriend and when he saw me today after I had returned from a walk with the pups, he shouted--MMIINNEE MMOOOMMMYYYYY!

Delaney has taken to telling everyone--I'm two, but I'm almost free (three) and after my birfday, I get to sleep in a big girl bed.

Early Start To Father's Day

I asked Delaney a couple of days ago what Daddy would like for Father's Day. Her reply?--Cupcakes with pink sprinkles. Interesting..... Especially since Dave doesn't really like sweets and I'm pretty sure that pink isn't his favorite color. Since then, she's been asking me about 100 times a day---Is it time to make Daddy's cupcakes???? Today after her very, very short nap, I gave in and we got started on the cupcakes. I told Laney that we had to wait to eat them---She said--Oh, okay, after we sing Happy Birfday then we can eat them. Oops--wrong occasion!

Elliot helped decoate the cupcakes. Instead of sprinkling the sprinkles on top of the cupcakes, he mashed the whole little container into the cupcake---repeatedly.

Perfect Morning

I never get sick of going up to the lake. The kids, Dave and I love it there. It's beautiful during every season, but I love, love, love summer days at the beach.

The kids and Dave played and played in the water---it's great when Dave is there because then I don't have to go into the freezing water! One of our friends joined us for the morning, and we had the beach to ourselves.

You would think that the kids would be totally exhausted after waking up pretty early and then playing all morning at the beach. But no. They took their little naps when we got home and then were ready to go. Dave and I certainly could have used a longer nap!

Why is it.....

....that these two little kids always turn into angels right before bedtime, becoming so sweet that I have to force myself to put them to bed at a decent hour?

Farmers Market

We headed to the farmers market in Gardnerville this morning. Laney and Elliot fed the very overfed ducks-they weren't at all interested in eating and Delaney kept yelling---Ducks, it's breakfast time! Eat your breakfast NOW!!!

We then headed over to storytime under the trees-a great program. As always, Delaney was a great listener and totally was into the stories and craft-a visor for daddy for Father's Day-complete with glued on trucks and cars. She was pretty pleased with herself!

We've been having a great week with Dave at home--we've played at the beach and done some one-on-one things with the kids. It's been wonderful to have Dave at home-I'm 27 weeks pregnant now and am totally starting to feel it. I feel good but big and tired and my legs get a little achy after being on my feet all day. I think about when I was pregnant with Delaney and I could just come home from work and relax, sleep in on the weekends and put my feet up to read a magazine or watch tv---HA!-Not anymore--I have two crazy toddlers to run after and carry around. But I wouldn't change a thing. I am so excited to be having this baby.

Baseball

After dinner, Dave took the kids outside to play baseball. It was more than a little funny! But adorable. And the kids had a great time. They threw the ball and chased the ball and then threw the bat and chased the bat! They laughed and laughed and laughed-the best sound ever.

Pajamas

Elliot has been doing great without his binkies. It definitely takes him awhile to fall asleep and he chatters a TON in his crib but really, he's been doing great--not crying at bedtime and once he falls asleep, he sleeps well, and he wakes up with a big smile on his face. I am so glad that we de-binkied him now; the dreading is over, it's done, and Elliot is great!

Spooner Lake

We headed to Spooner Lake this morning for a 'big adventure hike' (as Delaney said repeatedly throughout the day!). It was quite the adventure--the hike itself was a little over 2 miles but with two toddlers, just getting to the trailhead was a hike.

The kids were wonderful--they love being outdoors and exploring and Delaney had TONS of questions--Why is this / that here? What is this / that? Why is this flower yellow? Why is this rock big? What is this plant doing here?--She was quite the chatterbox. Elliot had a brief scuffle with a giant pinecone---he tried to squoosh it with his foot (he tries to smoosh or squoosh just about everything these days-but the pinecone was about as big as his little leg), and flipped over the pinecone, doing a somersault, and landing in the dirt, but it didn't seem to bother him one bit.

Laney and Elliot have a ridiculous amount of energy right now---after the hike, they 'rested' in the car (didn't sleep but kind of zoned out) for the 20 or 30 minute drive and then were ready to go, go, go when we got home.

Dave has this week off from work-it's the first vacation that he's had off since Delaney has been born that we're going to 'stay home' and not travel, and I'm soooo looking forward to it. We definitely got our little vacation off to a good start today!

Binky-Less

This little guy has been without his binky since he woke up from his nap Thursday afternoon. I had been planning to take away his binky (cold turkey) when Dave and Laney headed to Long Island in a few weeks (thinking that it would be easier if I just had him to take care of), but I was starting to dread it and decided that no time is better than the present!

Elliot's done a great job---only a couple of meltdowns during the day and a tough time falling asleep at night (especially the first nite) and at naptime. It totally breaks my heart to hear him cry from his crib---Mommy, binky, binky, binky, PLEASE---especially since I know that one little thing would instantly soothe him. But this 'feels like' the right time---he's communicating and talking so well and it's three months before his little brother or sister arrives (giving him plenty of time to forget about binky, right?). But it still makes me a little sad--he's getting so big.

Delaney was a little dismayed that Elliot is 'too big' for a binky but was satisfied when I pointed out to her that Elliot won't be wearing undies for a long, long time.---She needs to be a step ahead of him!

So-now we only have one baby in diapers and no binkies in the house---for about 3 more months!

Snowman

At dinnertime, Delaney decided to make a 'snowman' with her rice and even asked me for a carrot for his nose! Her rice snowman didn't hold together very well but it certainly kept her entertained. Now-if I could just get her to eat her dinner....

So Two

Elliot is 18 months but so reminds me of a 2 year old--for better and for worse! He has great verbal skills and is talking much more and clearer than Delaney did at his age (not that it's a contest and NOT that it makes a difference)---but it's a definite strength of his at this point. And he certainly shouts--NNNNNOOOOOOOOOO and MMMIIIINNNEEE--like a two year old!

Elliot also totally has the independent attitude of a 2 year old. He can be shy around others but at home, he wants to do everything for himself and by himself. He's a fairly content little guy and is pretty cooperative but so independent and strong willed---how was I lucky enough to have two such stubborn and strong willed babies???--Not particularly easy to parent but good qualities to have.

When Elliot was a baby I worried that he would be trampled by Delaney-but that hasn't turned out to be the case, he doesn't back down from Delaney one bit and often is the instigator of their little battles.

The Nurturer

Delaney loves, loves, loves to play with her dolls and stuffed animals. She can be such the little mommy. After we were all sick with a stomach virus, she had all of her dollies throw up too and then took care of them. She can be quite the nurturer.

This evening Dave was beat from a solid three days at home (no work) and curled up on the floor to try to 'rest' (ha-like that happens in this house!). Delaney quickly covered him up with a blanket, gave him a 'doll-doll' (her word for a treasured doll or stuffed animal) to snuggle with and read him books. Delaney is crazy stubborn and strong willed but can be unbelievably sweet and caring.

Up

Dave had the day off from work and took Delaney to see her first movie in the theater. Of course, Doll-Doll came along too. She loved the movie and the popcorn and was super well behaved. Dave said that if she sat back in her seat then the seat folded up with her right in it! Delaney told me that the movie was funny but that Doll-Doll was a little scared. :) Poor Elliot started to cry when they left for the movie---soon, buddy---but quickly cheered up when I took him for a ride in his little car and went to the park to climb and play.

Delaney never would sit and watch any television until well after she was two years old, but now she could be a serious tv bug if we didn't limit the amount of tv that she is allowed to watch.

Grandma Mimi To The Rescue

It's no secret that Dave and I have been more than a little burned out lately. Dave's been working every weekend and into the late night most days, and all four of us had a nasty stomach virus, so Grandma Mimi flew out to Reno to give us a hand for a few days. And we are so glad and thankful that she did!

This morning, we headed to a farmers market in Gardnerville. We fed the ducks, played on the playground for a bit and then headed to storytime under the trees. The kids were a little lethargic but overall it was a great morning and we even managed to get to the car before a storm hit.

My Puppy

Elliot loves to sit up on our big comfy chair and look outside, watching the trucks, cars, kids, pups and cats go by.

Sick, Sick, Sick

There's no good spin to put on this--my family has been sick, sick, sick. I came down with a stomach bug on Friday and my family quickly followed. Thankfully (I guess!), I didn't have the bug nearly as bad as Dave, Elliot and Delaney, and I quickly recovered. However, Dave, Delaney and Elliot have been sicker than anything with fevers, vomiting and all the rest! It's really hard for me when both Delaney and Elliot are really sick because no one is sleeping, they both need me all of the time, and they are so cranky.

Yesterday, we pretty much were in 'survival mode'---dirty clothes, towels, sheets were just thrown into the garage to deal with later. I plopped Delaney down in front of the tv for as long as possible. Nothing got cleaned. There was no picking up. I was completely and totally exhausted from being up with Delaney for hours and hours the night before.

Today, Dave, Delaney and Elliot seem to be on the mend. Everyone still is exhausted and cranky but can keep down some liquids and nibble on a couple of crackers.

Hopefully, everything will start to look up soon!