I Had To

I have a video to post from Thanksgiving but I had to share this story real quick before I forgot it.

Tonight Michael took Oliver for a doughnut run. That is his favorite thing to do right now. In fact if we go out for dinner on the way home, without fail, he will say, "Wesley down, inside. Oliver doughnut with Daddy." He LOVES them. And as skinny as the kids is we usually yes to the doughnut run. Tonight, before they got the doughnut, Michael took him to see some Christmas lights. He was mesmorized. After they drove away he said, "I miss them (the lights)" Then later we were saying prayers. Michael asked if he wanted to pray. He said, "yes." It was quiet. He giggled. We said, "Thank you God for what?" he said, "lights." Hilarious.

Mad Skills

He just surprises us everyday with all the he does especially with what comes out of his mouth. I have a few quick stories. A few days ago I bought Oliver an advent calender. On the cover there is an illustration of Santa and Mrs. Clause and some kids opening presents and then at the top in the corners are two little angels. One playing a trumpet and the other playing a violin. Well I decided to show him the calender. I handed it to him and he examined if for a few short seconds then pointed at the violin and said, "violin," then at the trumpet and said, "trumpet." and then, as if to summarize, he said, "instruments." Seriously. I remember saying the word instrument to him a few days before but I kind of just said in a sentence thinking to myself that's a big word and I'm sure he doesn't understand it. Well I guess I was wrong. His little mind and all the things it can store never ceases to amaze me.

Then the other day when I went in to get Oliver up in the morning he asked me for cooking monster. How he even remembered that he had a cookie monster doll is besides me because he hadn't played with it in months and it's not like he doesn't have about a billion toys to keep track of. But for whatever reason that morning he wanted cookie monster. So I went into his closet and got him out. He then took cookie monster and opened his mouth and said, "brush his teeth" I said, "You think Cookie Monster needs to brush his teeth?" he responded, "Yes." Seriously.

Alright now to the video. Michael shot this last night while Oliver was shooting hoops in his bedroom. There's not much more I need to say about this video except it is pretty hilarious. However I will say there must be some sort of gene that gets passed down from generation to generation in the Fay family that causes the men to LOVE the Suns. It's like Oliver was born to go to Suns and games and high five the gorilla. In fact that is what he talks about a good deal of the time. Today I took him and Wesley to the park and there were, as always, other kids playing. Oliver took a special interest in a little girl fairly close to his age. He just kept chatting her up and a lot of it she nor I really understood. Although I did manage to catch part of what he was attempting to tell her at one point and he said, "uh, uh, uh suns game, uh, uh gorilla." He was trying to tell her about the game and his favorite part of the game the gorilla. She was not all that interested but he was very excited to share his passion. So funny.

Prayers

Michael and I decided the other night that it was time to start saying bedtime prayers with Oliver. We weren't sure how he would respond but from the very start he thought "saying prayers" was so fun. We have little bedtime routine now. We read books. Usually he makes us read "Walter Farting Dog" and that totally ridiculous book deserves a blog post in and of itself. Then after we have read as many books as he can convince us to read we say prayers. We ask, "Who do you want to pray for?" And he responds, "Mimi, Papa G., Nana, Papa, Auntie Steph and Uncle Stephen, Wesley, and Mommy and Daddy." Sometimes Norma is included in this list. Other times not I guess it depends on if she eats any of his snack that day. He closes his eyes and folds his hands and then proceeds to giggle through most of the prayers, we don't know why he thinks it is so hilarious but he does.

Now last night we said, "Ready for prayers," he said, "YES!!!" Then he picked up one of the six thousand monkeys in his bed grabbed one of the monkey's hands and then the other and put them together in a folded position then gave us a look like, "okay, I'm ready." I laughed so hard and then told Michael to go get the camera. Unfortunately we didn't get the monkey folding hands thing on camera but we said our prayers for a second tim e so you all can see how cute it is. Oh and I almost forgot, at the end of the prayers, without fail he yells, "Amen!"

Checking Himself Out

The other day I had the boys down on the floor together. Wesley is getting better at sitting up and although he can't do it by himself yet he can sit in the Boppy be somewhat stable. I was holding this mirror toy we have in front of him and he was checking himself out, laughing and smiling. I think he will probably follow in his brothers footsteps and be a flirt even if it is just with himself. He also tries to kiss or eat his brother. You can decide which one.

Something for ME!

The advice I always get from mothers who are further along in their mothering career is, "Take time for yourself. Whatever you do take time everyday to do something for you. It will make you a better mother if you do." And with two very little ones who always seem to need me for something I am realizing more and more just how important it is to follow that advice. So I have decided to do something for me. Something I have always wanted to do. This Jan. I am running the Rock 'n Roll half marathon here in Phoenix. Some might call me crazy. "How in the world do you have time and didn't you just have a baby 5 months ago? Well I'm not always sure how I find time but thanks to a mom and mother-in-law who live close and can pop down to watch the kids so I can run I seem to be able to get all my workouts in. AND yes I did just have a baby 5 months ago and that is why it is the perfect time. I have had a total of one month over the past two and half years where I have not been pregnant or breast feeding so it was time to do something with my body for myself! So come Jan 17th I will need any and all support! Hope to see you there.

I look happy and tired. The way I do most of the time now-a-days!

Me and my sweet boys!

Playtime with Nola

We had my girlfriend Laura and her little girl Nola (13 months) over this morning. At first Oliver wasn't so sure what they were doing in our house. He had a complete meltdown. Who knows why. But then he got over it and they played together. Here are a few shots from the morning.

I told Oliver to hug Nola!

Sitting in "the box" together

I told Oliver to read Nola a book. But as you can see from the picture above this one it only lasted for so long. Apparently Oliver needs to work on his dramatic reading abilities.

It's Only the Beginning

When my mom was over the other day we set up the pack and play mostly for Wesley who has just decided in the last week or so that he likes to roll over. Of course, as soon as we got it set up, Oliver decided it was the coolest thing in the play room and hopped in and starting jumping around and throwing balls and monkeys all over the place. Poor Wesley. Never any peace and quiet. Or anything to himself. After a while we did convince Oliver that he could go in with Wesley but he had to be gentle. I got some shots of them rolling around together.

It is SO fun to watch them interact and I know that this is only the beginning of their interaction. The other day Oliver starting doing this horrible high pitched scream and then a few seconds later Wesley started doing it too. You can tell he is trying to be like his brother already and make more noise than him, if that is even possible.

Together Bath Time

The other night we decided to put the kids in the bath together and see how it went. And overall it was a success. Oliver did a good job of respecting Wesley's space for about 10 minutes and then he said, "Momma hold Wesley." 10 minutes was enough sharing for one day it seemed.

Finally learning to open his eyes and smile showing his teeth!

A Spotlight on Wesley

Having a big brother is rough sometimes. He steals all the attention and talks ALL the time. Poor littlest brother needed to have a blog post all about him.

Wesley is now eating cereal and continuing to plump up those thighs that don't really need all that plumping. The other day we gave him some carrots. The face says it all. Literally. I spent the majority of the next night awake due to some stomach cramping. So I am backing off the carrots for a while and sticking to cereal so we can all et some sleep around here.



Last night we got home from dinner and Wesley was in a particularly festive mood. He thought the song Michael had made up and was singing to him was the funniest thing of all time. Is there anything better than a baby cracking up? I don't think so.

The Railroad Park

I took the boys to the Railroad Park the other day and we met up with Brie and her kids Bella and Tyler. Tyler and Oliver are only a few weeks a part and they had a lot of fun together running around and playing together. HOWEVER I have to say that Oliver was checking out Bella. Sorry Sophia but he might be angling for the older woman! Here are a few shots from the day.

Oliver and his crush Bella.

Having fun in the sand.

Chasing each other.

Oliver and "Wesley Brother" as he calls him.

Riding on the train.

Marathon Interview

So I should preface by saying that this video of Oliver is really long. But I think it is worth it to watch it from beginning to end. The other night Michael set up the video camera at the dinner table and started to ask Oliver some questions. Michael has been determined to get the video camera out as much as he can to conduct these interviews because Bill and Marsha did this a lot when he and Steph were kids and the footage is totally priceless. In fact the video of Steph saying, "I'm Michael Fay, no I'm Michael Fay," made it to the wedding slideshow.

And I must say Oliver did not disapoint. This interview is hilarious. The highlight: about half way through when Oliver lifts up his shirt and picks up his monkey and proceeds to "nurse' it. You will just have to watch and see what he says when Michael asked him what he was doing.

I have to share one last little story. I should tell you first that a few days ago I sang Oliver a little piece of a a song that goes "shake, shake, shake....shake, shake, shake...shake your booty." And so yesterday we were outside playing when he proceeded to pick up his morrocan style shaker and sing "shake your booty." I almost wet my pants. It took me a second to decipher what he was singing and then I remembered the other day and it all came together. I tell you, this kids misses nothing.

Shout Out

So as you can see I have been trying to make our blog look a little cuter. It's harder then I thought it would be figuring out how to do but it's looking a bit better and I will continue to work on it. And although we are a ways away from New Years and I am making a sort of New Year's resolution. I am going to try and blog more. I know that his resolution will make my Canadian relatives, especially my Nona, VERY happy.

Some of you have probably visited our friends, the Anderson's (John, Brie, Bella, and Tyler) blog. Not only am I impressed with her cute layout. Hopefully Brie you don't mind me stealing some of your ideas. But she is so good at keeping up with her blogging. Along with her pictures (and she is a much better photographer than me so you all will have to deal with my less than excellent photography skills, thank goodness for Steph) she also shares such sweet stories and thoughts about her kids and motherhood in general. My hope is to spend more time documenting all the sweet moments, funny stories, and most importantly HILARIOUS things Oliver (and Wesley soon) says. I worry all the time that these cute phases will pass and I will forget what they do and say. So hold me to it blog followers and I will do my best to keep up!

Happy Halloween!

It has been a fun beginning to the holiday season in the fay house these past two weeks. Last Sunday we went to our church's Trunk or Treat event (people decorate their cars and kids trick or treat out of the trunks) . We all went as pirates. Oliver had a blast walking around, seeing all the kids costumes, and going in the big jumping pit. Wesley has fun too and looked super cute in his pirate costume and mustache (we used washable marker don't worry great grandmas).

Yesterday, for Halloween, we headed up to Bill and Marsha's and were joined by Mimi and Papa and Carol (my mom's friend visiting from out of town). Their neighborhood is very safe (thanks to the overly cautious gate security) and filled with kids so we thought it would be a great place to go. We were glad we made this choice because one house handed out play dough. Where were these people when I was little? I wasn't sure how Oliver would do. But I was quickly reminded that although he is born from too people who were, as kids, VERY shy, he is definetely NOT. He just walked right up said, "Trick or Treat," Got his candy and that was that. When we got back to Nana and Papa's we let him dump out his candy and choose a few to eat. On the way home we heard from him, more than a few times, "more candy." Overall, it was a success.

I should say that Wesley was a pumpkin. He looked very cute and slept through most of the trick or treating festivities. Next year it will be a different story:)