ECFE

Early Childhood Family Education

It's a program here in MN, run by the county?? Anyway, it's awesome. I signed up for a class with Aubree and Ty goes to the sibling care playroom. He loves it. And I love getting to see another side of her personality. A side of her that is not reacting to or following her big brother. I love that she thinks the world of him, but I think it's great for her to get to be social without him. I think I watch her with hearts in my eyes the whole class! The class does some group singing and playing then they set out activities for the little ones to choose from. They can do whatever they want. Aubree LOOOOOVES the baby dolls. We've been 3 times and all 3 times she collects up all the baby dolls and gives them to the person of her choice. She got really comfortable with the teachers very quickly which is exciting. And get this. When it's time for the Mommies to leave the room and have our 'parenting education', she doesn't cry! All 3 times. It's so fun to see her grow and change. She always cries when I leave. Even if she's staying with someone she likes. A lot of times she calms down very quickly, but this class is the only time I have ever left her without a single tear. She has such a good time. And then, at the end, when they walk the little ones over to the room we're in... Ahhhh she is so freakin' adorable! I love to watch her look around the little room for me and when she spots me her whole body lights up. She runs over and gives me a huge hug. Pure heaven.

I should video tape this so I can play it to her when she's a teenager and says she hates me. Then she can see for herself that she did indeed love me at one point in time! Eeek.

Oh and the other cute thing. She cries when we drop Ty off at sibling care or Preschool. I should video tape that too! Show them how much they liked each other before they were teens. ~ Well, I'll just put it out there to the powers that be, that they are close and loving and will easily get through whatever little tiffs they get into. That they really will be friends.

I'm the Mommy!

First, Aubree is saying Ma-mee in the most adorable way I could just keel over and die. Laying with Ty at bed time gives me the same feeling. He holds me so tight and puts little soft kisses all over my hands and my nose. These are the moments when joy is almost painful. It's so awesome your body almost can't contain it, and sometimes it doesn't. We all know I'm a crier.

I was just locked away in our 'spare' room in the basement where we have all the Christmas presents hidden. I'm sorting things into piles of what is for who and how much wrapping paper do I have and what will I need to get so that everything will look SUPER? Our first Christmas as parents was pretty fun. But this year really seems to have swept me away. I love how Krisha described Thanksgiving as the event that kicks off the Christmas season. And that's exactly how it felt this year. The air started to cool, Halloween was a blast. Fall is in full effect and while we had no family around we were taken in by friends for Thanksgiving, and we were, so thankful. Then the snow started and the temp dropped and we put up lights and decorated the inside of the house on Thanksgiving weekend. The first weekend in December we went in way below freezing temps to get a Christmas tree. I think it was the fastest tree pickin' ever! The kids were so excited to get it up and decorated, Ty more-so of course. Now we're getting ready for guests at the end of this coming week. Wondering if we can get our crap in order in time. Crap, that is another thing I wanted to post about. We got rid of a lot of crap before we moved this time and there is STILL too much crap. Crap!

Ok, let me get back on track here. I was locked away in the hiding spot scoping out the situation, planning what paper to use and when to start bringing presents out. I need a few things yet and I want pretty ribbon so I can wrap everything beautifully, and that's when it hit me. I'm the Mommy! Clearly, I knew this before. But, this is the first Christmas that I feel like it's all about our little family. We have one Grandma coming before Christmas, and one after. But the actual holiday will be just us. This will be the first time since having kids that it will be just our family on Christmas morning! I am so excited. Don't get me wrong, I'm also EXTREMELY excited to have family coming. But it's fun to think of being the only ones who get to watch the kids freak out over all the stuff. Just us, our family. I love our family! I love the snow, I love that it's freezing cold out. It feels like Christmas. I haven't felt that way since before we got married I think. Yay Christmas!

Twirling & Other fun things

Aubree has learned the endless joy of twirling. Oh my god, it has to be the cutest thing ever. She sooooooo enjoys it. And the sound effects are to die for. Whoooo, wooooo, wooooooo! This little girl thing is pretty damn fun!

Ty knows how to do every gross boy sound effect that has ever existed short of farting with his hand and armpit. I'm sure it's just a matter of time! While I don't usually enjoy this as much as the two of them spinning circles together in the living room, I find it quite impressive in it's own unique way.

I am so grateful that I get to experience both worlds. And obviously, I got the two best kids to experience it with. I did not even bribe them to do this. They did it all by themselves and I was lucky enough to snatch up the camera in time to capture the moment. Awwww.

Brrrrrrr

It's 13 degrees out! I've been pretty impressed with myself and the cold weather so far. It's been in the 30's and I've been chilly, but I hadn't officially called it cold yet. We even walked to the park yesterday and I felt fine. Aubree doesn't seem to notice much yet, but Ty wasn't real happy that I only put a fleece on him. His cheeks were rosy and his cute little nose was pink and he didn't want to play once we got to the park. Oops. The funny thing is, every time before we go out he tells me he doesn't want a hat/mittens/jacket etc. and that he wants to be freezing. So a couple weeks ago when he didn't want to wear socks or shoes to run over to Leah and Owens house, I let him! He cried most of the way there. I felt bad, but he needed to understand why I want to put these things on him. Do you believe the very next day he wanted to walk over to their house with no socks and shoes again? Stubborn little guy, wonder where he gets that from? I had to remind him that it was so cold it made him cry, to which he stated very boldly that he wouldn't cry this time. Stinker. Anywho, we went to craft time at Micheal's this morning and walked over to The Children's Place to make an exchange, then headed to have lunch at BK with a play area until it was time for school. I knew it was cold because it hurt when I inhaled the frozen air, but I didn't know it was that cold! 13. That's cold. I guess I should start checking the weather before we head out!

And I'll throw in a picture of the painted living room. It's not the best picture, but it's the one I've got. I'll take some more when we get the christmas tree up. But it's quite cozy and warm feeling with the sunny yellow walls. Nevermind the constant mess and slight stink from the dishes I haven't done yet..

Catching up

I found my camera!! Yes, it was hidden in the deepest, darkest depths of the diaper bag. I knew I wouldn't be so careless with it. Whew.

Aubree has really started to talk a lot. It's funny how they do that all of a sudden one day. She's not real easy to understand. But she'll repeat things now, she's never wanted anything to do with that. It's so fun and sweet and cute. And she gets all excited about it. I love it!

We painted the living room yellow. It's awesome. It's so fun to have color in the house. And on a sunny day, it lights up the whole house. It gets so warm the heat doesn't come on.

Ty's room is mostly finished. There's a spot that needs to be sanded and painted, where the thermostat was. We moved that to the hallway. And he needs some baseboards in a few spots. But he's been in there for a couple weeks now and is really liking it.

Aubree got a big girl bed! She took to it immediately. It's so fun to see her so little in her big room with her big bed. I finally got her some sheets on BLACK FRIDAY. I got both the kids some holiday flannel fun sheets. Hers are multi-colored snow flakes and his are blue with penguins, in scarfs. Before that she was borrowing some of Ty's sheets. That's no good! I think she may be getting more sheets for christmas. Shhhhh!

Ty's in preschool and is loving it. I made him start a week later than planned due to a make out session with a yogurt container! I just couldn't bring myself to send him to school for the first time with a giant purple circle around his mouth. So, his first day was on Halloween. Could a first day be more fun? I don't think so!

I had hoped to write a lot more about all of these events. But it wasn't happening, so I thought I better get caught up before I forget. Better to have the memories recorded with less detail then not at all.

We went over to our fabulous photographer neighbors house for a little christmas photo shoot the other day. I can't wait to send out holiday cards!

Love

Ty and Aubree love each other. Really truly love each other. After all the eyeball poking, biting, toy stealing and screaming, they actually miss one another. Some days Aubree is ready for a nap a bit early and Ty almost always protests. ' NOOOOOOOOOOOO! I don't waaaant her to go to beeeeeed.' And when she wakes up and Ty is still asleep for more than 10 minutes. She blabbers at me and gets me to follow her over to his door and she points and pleads for Ty to come out! I guess it's a good reminder that love has it's ups and downs. The way they pester each other you'd think it was a battle to see who could drive who to insanity first. But it's not, it's love. Sigh, love. What a complicated thing! Today when Ty got up an hour after Aubree, she ran to him and threw her arms around him - and he let her. I think it was one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. The other that comes to mind is when Ty would hold Aubree's hand to help her learn to walk. He had such pride and joy.

And now I hear them spitting at each other. Love.

Long day

Why is it that some days feel so much longer than others? It's only 1:30pm and both the kids are up from their naps already. A lot of days they're just going down about now. But the morning seemed to go on forever and they were both super tired. So early naps were had. I am going to need some more coffee today! I decided to let them watch a movie to pass some time and give me a chance to putz around on the computer.

We are going to a Moms Club event on Friday morning. I'm excited and nervous. I'm excited at the possible friends to be made and many fun activities to do. Even if I don't make any good friends there, outings with other adults are much needed! There are some boys in Ty's preschool class that have Mom's in the Moms Club. It'll be interesting to meet them for real, I introduced myself in the hall in a hurry yesterday after class. One of Ty's teachers pointed me in their direction. Which reminds me I need to write about Ty going to school.

I got my sewing machine out of the box and plugged in! I even got a project together to start working on when I have spare moments (LOL, spare moments!). Actually I have more spare moments than I should because I'm not cleaning the house very well this week. Anyone who knows me knows that this is not out of the ordinary. But I have been doing decently well. Then it got cold and gloomy and I just want to sit on the couch and eat. Blech. I'm getting sidetracked. I even spent some time sewing this morning. Like 5 or 10 minutes. But it felt so good. I haven't sewn anything, I think, since before Aubree was born. No wonder I feel all creatively dampened! What did I work on? That's another post on the to do list! Hopefully I'll have a camera again soon so I can take pictures.

None of them have my blog address, but I just wanted to put out there that I miss my WA Mommy friends. I should probably email them. But what do I say? Hmpfh.