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!