Survival

Despite the odds, my parents survived their visit. Yes, my mother spent a full day in a hotel bed and spent several days feeling queasy, and yes, my mother needed an antibiotic for a sinus infection within a day of arrving back in Pittsburgh. Everyone gets sick after visiting us--it's really quite the phenomenon. Grandma B and Pepah's visit didn't exactly go as planned but we made the most of it. We're excited to see them again in July!

Back To Blogging

Yes, we survived the move. Really, with the help of good friends, it really wasn't that bad. And it was soooo worth it--we're truly enjoying our new house and it felt like 'home' within days.

Since the move, we've been sick. Like constantly sick. Laney had a nasty stomach bug (are there any stomach bugs that aren't nasty??), Louisa had a bad cold, Elliot had a bad cold, Laney had a bad cold, Louisa had another bad cold, I got a stomach bug, and Dave got a stomach bug---we're still waiting to see if Louisa and Elliot get the plague. Aunt Lynde came out to visit and also got the stomach virus--on her flights home to Richmond; she got swine flu (literally, she tested positive) within a day of visiting us in November, so I think that it's safe to say we've been stricken from her list of desirable places to visit. Thank God my parents have been visiting and have been so unbelievably helpful--I actually was allowed to have a sick day and lay in bed instead of trying to make it through the day with three little ones. Still, I feel very badly--there's nothing like traveling about 2500 miles to be thrown into a house full of vomiting and snotty noses.

Still, we've managed to have some fun over the past few weeks and have reached a number of 'milestones'! Read on!

Bike Riding

For Laney and Elliot, bike riding has become a big thing. Laney has had a bike since she was a little over two years old but has just recently started to take an interest in really riding it. She was a little sensitive that most of the kids could ride a bike with ease. In true Delaney fashion when she decided that she was ready to learn, it came fairly easily. She is very proud that she can ride her bike around the block.

Elliot can pedal but still is figuring out how to really get going. He's been super patient and often pushes his bike around the block (with helmut on, of course!) when he gets tired of pedaling.

ALL Undies, ALL The Time

That is--all the time, except for bedtime. When Laney got the stomach flu a couple of weeks ago, I figured that it was a good time to potty train Elliot--it might seem like not-the-pefect-time, but for me, I figured that if we were going to be stuck at home for a few days, we might as well bite the bullet and put that little boy in undies! It really has gone very well. There have been a couple of issues; however, as Dave reminds me, we don't want his buddies to read this when he's 12, so I'll pass on the details.

I have a 'have no fear' approach to potty training---all undies, all the time (excluding bed time). No pull-ups, no wimping out and putting him in a diaper because I'm worried that he'll have an accident on the train ride / at the birthday party / in the stroller..... It certainly wouldn't work for everyone and I don't know if I would really even recommend it, but it works for me.

Bath Time

Louisa has recently graduated from her baby bathtub to the big tub. This was a super easy transition although she looks so, so tiny in that big tub.



AND, she has started to occasionally take a bath with Elliot--this made me a little nervous as Elliot can be very hyper and wild in the tub, but he's been great while bathing with Weezy and tells himself, 'Be nice to baby, be nice to baby, be nice to baby'. Super cute! Now, if I can just get all three of the munchkins in the tub at one time, I'll be really multi-tasking!

Sweeties

Summer arrived this weekend---and really, it's about time, considering that our Spring was so chilly and un-spring-like. Louisa is now stable enough to ride in the wagon with Elliot and Elliot is now big and strong enough to pull Louisa around in the wagon---now this is nice! They were adorable. There are very few things in this world that make Weezy happier than her big brother and big sister. And yes, Elliot is not wearing any pants or shorts---this happens when you're 2 1/2 and are in the midst of potty training.

Something More

Well, I suppose that Pepah and Grandma B are getting a little more than just germs during this visit---lots of tickles, snuggles and smiles too.