Preschool Fall Par-tay

Sophia had her Fall Party today at school. Parents were invited. Even though I was sick and feeling unwell I did not want to be the mom that missed her daughters first Fall Party. I took a ton of pictures between the birthday party for her classmate Melissa and the party this afternoon. Check out the dropshots account for more pictures. This video is kind of long, but Sophia LOVES this song. She sings it ALL. THE. TIME. Last night I had to get her out of the tub because she was doing this in the tub and I was affraid that she would hurt herself. She makes Shannon and I take turns and Gavin, even though he cannot walk let alone run, is also given a turn. Mary and Steve were given turns in bath last night. I think she likes to sing and jump more than anything else right now.

When we got to the party they were eating cupcakes and drinking apple juice. It really was apple juice. Even though Sophia likes to call ALL juice apple juice. Here is a picture of Sophia enjoying her cupcake. Gavin was such the mac daddy. ALL the kids loved him. One girl took a special interest in him, he was in heaven! I love this kid. He is sooo cute, I could eat him with a spoon. Here are a few with him and various friends.

OK, I am not sure if blogger is going to post these pictures/video so, they are all on dropshots for your viewing pleasure!

Enjoy,
Dandy

Halloween Hullabaloo

I took the kids to church tonight for their Halloween extravaganza. Sophia was not really 'dressed' as anything, but her dress was Halloween-y. I purchased this outfit off ebay and she should be able to wear it next year too.




Gavin was a monkey. He is a monkey, so it was quite fitting. The costume is to die for and I will surely have to get some professional pictures for his first Halloween.







Sophia and I both seem to be sick. I think Gavin has lucked out so far. Considering Shannon was alseep at 7:00 when I got home I think he may be feeling a bit under the weather too.

We finally got some decent rain today. Thanks be to God. We really needed it.

I don't really have a whole lot to add tonight, I am tired. Look for a better update later in the week.

Elmo. I don't like him. Well, maybe I do.

I had to buy Sophia the must have toy last year for Christmas. That toy was the TMX Tickle Me Elmo. She was only 18 months at the time and did not really care for it. Recently I was going through her closet and found it. I brought it to the room she was in (which happened to be the bathroom, she was bathing) and put him down on the floor and 'tickled' him. She screamed and said, "mommy, I don't like him." She was adamant that she did not like Elmo and wanted him out of her sight. She spent the next few days running over to my ebay pile and yelling, "Elmo, I don't like you!"

Gavin woke up early one day from napping and I put him in his bumbo while I was trying to finish folding some clothes. I had the Elmo, so I thought I would see if it would entertain him. It worked. So I have one child who doesn't like him and another that finds him rather funny. Gavin likes to immitate Elmo slapping his leg. It is rather comical to watch.

We had tickets to go to Sesame Street Live. I was a little worried with her new found disdain for Elmo. But, we packed up and went Saturday morning to check it out. We met our friend Dylan and his mom Leslie there. Sophia was scared of these life sized hairy people at first. But, by the end I think she had a good time. We came home with a Zoe toy and an Elmo balloon (thank you Leslie!). I think Elmo is back in her good graces as she now carries the balloon all over the house! I am waiting to break out Tickle Me Elmo and see what happens.

Did you miss me?

Sophia went to stay with her Grandma Mary and Papa Steve last night. I am certain she had fun. So, when I picked her up I asked her if she missed me. She nodded her head and said yes. I asked her if she missed Gavin, again she nodded and said yes. I asked her if she missed daddy, she shook her head and said uh-uh! I told her she shouldn't tell daddy that ;)

We got home from school and I played with her for a bit before it was time for her to take her nap. We had fun cuddling and watching Bob the Builder on PBS. She tuckered out and slept easily. Shannon was home by the time she woke up. I went to get her up and brought her out. I had a thing to go to so I asked her if she wanted daddy to hold her. She laid in his arms for several minutes, just hugging and cuddling with him. It was very sweet. I suspect she did in fact miss daddy afterall.

She has been sleeping better. It is no longer a struggle to get her to go to bed and stay in bed (knock on wood). She is also napping and sleeping in (until 6:30-7:00). She has almost stopped asking for wubanub completely. Eating is still a bit of a struggle, but somedays are better than others, and that gives me hope.

Gavin I have decided wakes when Sophia does, or rather, maybe she wakes him up. With Sophia gone Gavin slept until 7:00, had a bottle and went back to sleep until 8:30, when I had to wake him to go to his MMO (Mother's Morning Out) program. He ate a hearty breakfast of an order of pancakes from McDonald's. He really does eat a lot.

I attended a dinner event at church tonight. The CMS superintendant Dr. Peter Gorman was the speaker. I learned a lot about the school district Sophia will likely be a part of. They offer so much I did not know about in terms of magnet schools and such. I have some time to think about where I might like her to go, if we choose to go that route. In the meantime it gives me something to research.

I saw several people at the dinner that I knew and am starting to feel more at home at Sardis. I am planning to take the new member class in November. Keep me in your prayers that this will go well. I would like to get Shannon back at church. I know that he has drifted spiritually, I hope that I can get him back on that path.

Dandy

Updates on us...

Sophia is finally napping again! Yay Sophia! She is sleeping a lot better these days and I cannot complain too much. She is not eating very well at school though and if anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them. She eats okay at home. At school, she only eats her fruit snacks. Should I ditch the fruit snacks and try to force her to eat other things? Right now as it is I am feeding her when we get home. I would like to avoid that.

I have not yet started potty training. But, I think we are getting close. I have some big girl undies, I may try putting her in them on Thursday and see how we do. I want to do it on a day when we will be home all day. I think there is a book out there on potty training in 1 day. I may try that route. You get a doll (preferably one that wets itself) and teach her with that. She is very much into mimicking these day and might be the way to go. I just bought a BIG box of diapers so if she were to train now it would be just my luck! (Gavin can luckily grow into them).

Gavin is also doing well. He is such a happy baby, so cute too. Everyone always comments on his blue eyes. Sometimes I think he is too pretty to be a boy. But boy he is. He is all over the place now. He army crawls better than any baby I have ever seen. He is starting to walk if you hold his hands. I don't think it will be too much longer, probably by his first birthday. He is adjusting well to his Mother's Morning Out program. He eats well, very well. More than Sophia, sometimes more than me. I am looking forward to our next trip to the pediatrician to see what he weighs now that we are done breastfeeding and he is on formula and eating us out of house and home!

Shannon and I are both doing well, staying busy and out of trouble. I have started a bible study with a group of moms with young children. I am enjoying my time and fellowship with this group of ladies and look forward to Fridays each week.

Check out the dropshots account I have added some new pictures.

Dandy

Success!

We are on day 8 of no nap, however, I think she would have napped yesterday if I tried a little harder. It was kind of late in the afternoon and I did not want to mess up bed time. The really good news is that she slept until 7AM this morning. I hope that this is a new trend for us. She actually woke a little before 6, but I explainedthat she couldn't get out of bed until it was light outside and she seemed to do ok with it.

We are on day 7 of no wubbanub and I think she is just about done asking for it! I thought giving up her paci would be a lot harder than it ended up being. For that I am thankful.

Next: Potty training.

27 Minutes

Well after 27 minutes of screaming and finally falling asleep, little miss Sophia slept for about 4 hours and came pitter pattering in our room screaming for her na-na (Sophia speak for wubbanub).

*Mama na-na, I can't find it, na-na mama.* Repeat.

I had only just laid down to go to sleep and as exhausted. Knowing I had to get up at 6AM to go to the hospital for a CT Scan, I was unable to get to sleep. Sophia was crying (sobbing really) I can't find na-na mama. WaAAAAaaah! Na-Na!!! Shannon decided that I needed to deal with her as he had to get up for work. I really did not want to cave in and give her wubbanub, so I picked her up and off we went to her bed. I put her in bed and crawled in next to her. I ran my fingers through her hair and sang our song taking turns... (na na na na, na na na na.... hey hey hey.. goodbye). Mommy my turn, nanana hey, hey, hey, bye. She is soooo darn cute when she does that. I should really get it on video and post it. After about 45 minutes I was able to get her to sleep and climb back into my own bed.

Then it was 430AM and pitter patter was approaching rapidly. No crying this time, just not tired anymore. 'Mommy I hungry!' was my greeting. So I got up and got her a sippy cup of milk. Hoping to buy me some time I put her back in bed with said sippy and told her it was the closest thing to wubbanub she was going to get and go back to sleep. I climbed back into bed once again hoping to get an hour more out of her. It was not meant to be and a few minutes later back she came.

Mary came over with pancakes for her and I was off to get my belly scanned. She went to school or shool as she calls it. And appeared to have a blast as usual. I was tired from my long night and short morning. So, I was really REALLY looking forward to nap time today. I even went out and got a gate to block her door off. I was going to nap today if she had to scream through it! So I had Todd put the gate up and I got Gavin down for his nap. I fed Sophia a snack and gave her a few fruit snacks to take in her room. I shut the door and gate and went to lay down. Soon after I left she tried to come out and was unable, prompting her to scream and scream and scream. I decided after 30 minutes I could not let her wake Gavin up (although at that point if he were going to wake I think he would have) and went to lay down with her. Needless to say she did not nap. at. all. So, we are on day 3 of no nap. A short night of sleep. No wubbanub. I am not sure how I made it through the afternoon, but I did. Yay! ME! (or more to the point how Sophia made it). Luckily I have great in laws. Mary called to check on us. I was not feeling well (a side effect of all the stuff they pumped me full of to do the CT Scan.) and Mary decided it was best I get my sleep and she came and took Sophia off to wear her out and get her some food and hopefully sleep (sans wubbanub)!

I will be going to sleep now. It is almost 8 and I anticipate a full 10-11 hours of sleep! Yay! Mary and Steve. I hope you two are faring well with the little princess.


Dandy

RIP

Tonight Sophia was hopping out of bed laughing like ha ha mommy, see I don't have to go to bed. So I took one of her wubbanubs and told her if she did not go to sleep she would be loosing another. She practically mocked me, so out came wubbanub! She cried and cried for about 27 minutes. I had to go and reassure her a few times and tell her to get back into bed, but eventually (27 minutes later) she fell asleep. I am hoping that this will get easier and easier.

It started out being a punishment (that worked), but I am hoping for this to be permanent. Stay tuned for more in the continuing saga of the wubbanub.

RIP Wubbanub.

Dandy