Wednesday, December 30, 2009

A Whole Lotta Firsts

This Christmas break seems to be the weeks for firsts in our household. It all started on Christmas day when we put Oliver down for his nap at Mimi's and Papa's house in his pack and play. We heard him wake up from his nap and talk to himself and then next thing we new he was out of his pack and play and, very cooly, walking into the kitchen and family room like "it's no big deal or anything but I did just get out from my pack and play." Well we didn't think much of it until the next day when we put him down for nap in his crib just like any other day. I went out for a run, Michael worked on his computer, and Oliver talked to himself and his monkeys like he always does. But when I opened the front door and stepped in the house I heard an ever so soft little knock at Oliver's bedroom door (on the inside of his door that is) and a little voice saying, "mommy." I looked up at Michael and said three little words that changed everything, "he got out." So Michael swiftly got up from the computer and opened Oliver's door. There he was standing there looking ever so pleased with himself and repeating those three little words, "I got out." Michael put him back in his crib and told he was to stay in there and that he was to take a nap. Ha. Michael then lay down at the foot of the crib and waited to see what would happen. And, not more than a few seconds later, there went Oliver. One foot over, perched precariously on the top of the crib balanced perfectly, then the other foot over, and a very graceful decent to the ground. Inside our hearts we knew, it was ALL over. The days of two kids in cribs were long gone. Goodbye crib and hello big boy bed.
So Michael got his tools and quickly removed the front rail of the crib. We didn't have the smaller rail to put back on ( it was at my moms) so we put some cushions down and told Oliver this is your new bed, your big boy bed. We attempted to teach him how to lay on a pillow and use a blanket (hard to remember when this was a foreign concept but at some point it was for us all I suppose). Then we said okay you need to take a nap and left the room. Only a short minute passed when there he was, in all his glory, standing in the middle of our living room. Our escape artist was at it again and now he was into opening doors. What were we going to do? WE tried again, one more time, putting him in there and telling him it was time to take a nap. We said, "Mommy and Daddy are going to take naps too, we are tired." to which he responded, "no you're not." And before I could even get settled in the recliner for what I was hoping was a moment of peace I heard the door open and a little voice call out, "Hey Michael, this is not working." Well that sent Michael and I right over the edge. We began to laugh histerically. Tears streaming down our face we heard Oliver say, "I am not joking." Yep, that is exactly what he said and with no lack of dramatic flair and attitude. It was then we decided to give up on a nap for that day. Oliver- 1 point. Mommy and Daddy- 0.
And the saga continues. That night he was so exhausted that all he could do was put up enough of a fight for Michael to lay on the floor next to his bed until he drifted off to sleep. The score was even. BUT then there was nap time the next day. He really liked the idea of a big boy bed. In fact the idea had put a little bit of an extra jump in his step, a sort of grown-up swagger you might say. But the reality of actually sleeping in the bed he was not such a fan of. We once again tried to put him down for his nap. But the second we would leave the room he would run to the door and open it up and cry and scream at the top of his lungs. So we tried a child's gate secured to the outside of the door frame. Ah this must be it, we thought, this will solve our problems. But we failed to remember that he had already successfully climbed and dismounted from the crib so why not this pitiful little child's gate? Now it was time to get serious. He had gotten out and woken up his brother and it was time to lay the smack down. ( I should mention that at this point Michael had made a run to Home Depot to purchase something to go on the door to make it impossible for little man to open). And so I said, "Oliver, you must stay in here and take a nap. I have to go help your brother who is crying because you woke him up. I love you. Take a nap." And who knows why but this one request he seemed to listen to and heed. When Michael got home and went in to attach the contraption he had bought he found Oliver just sitting there, chilling on his chair. And so finally he took a nap in his big boy bed. Oliver-1 Mommy and Daddy- 2. We win.
However I must add that every morning and every day after he wakes up from nap he says, "this is not working." We ask, "Your bed?" He responds, "Yes, bed is not working." And he continues to insist that his bed needs batteries. In his words, "Needs batteries. Two. Mimi batteries (Mimi put in the batteries)" We did ask him where he felt his bed needs batteries? And he pointed to a place were there were two screws and said, "right there."
It has been an interesting week but Michael and I both agree that at the end of the day, when all is said and done, we lay in bed and look in the monitor and there might be nothing cuter in the entire world then our little man fast asleep with his head on his pillow in his big boy bed. Well except for his equally adorable baby brother laying asleep on his tummy with this thumb in his mouth in the room next door.







Here is our sweet baby boy who is getting bigger everyday. This week he started sitting in his very own high chair.




A Very Merry Christmas

Alright. I think I have found a moment to catch my breath and get busy on some blogging. Christmas day this year was such a blast but I have to admit that when 7:30 rolled around and the kids were in bed it took everything I had to at least stay up until 9. And I may or may not have fallen asleep with my glasses on sitting up in bed at about 8:45. But in my defense, I was up at 6:30, awoken by my oldest son who, although he had no idea he was supposed to wake up earlier than normal decided he should wake up earlier than normal. So up we got. Oliver was greeted with a new tricycle from Santa (although he will have to grow into it some) some new DVD's, a basketball pump and new basketball (he specifically wanted the pump) and books (an Elmo and Thomas one , among others, as requested by Oliver while sitting on Santa's lap). After he had opened all the presents Santa had brought for him (FYI- upon opening his final present he looked to me and said, "more presents?") and checked to make sure the cookies and milk were eaten and drunk respectively we got all packed and headed to Nana's and Papa's. Where he was, of course, greeted with more presents. After we had exhausted those resources and taken in some breakfast with Nana, Papa, Auntie Steph, and Uncle Stephen we headed to Mimi and Papa's to spend time with the Canadian fam. Who, when we arrived, were soaking a few rays of sun and swimming in the pool, well mostly in the hot tub but as you will see below some braved the frigid pool waters. All in all it was a fabulous day spent as it should be enjoying food and family.
I should add that little Welsey seemed to enjoy the day as well. He, of course, had no clue that Christmas day was different than any other. Except that there did seem to be a few more people clamoring to hold him than usual and there was an abundance of colorful paper to chew on. And for that I am sure he was thankful:)












A

Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas Eve

I feel like I have a lot of updating to do. So I am going to start with this post and then hopefully gather the energy to do some more later or tomorrow! It has been a fun and VERY busy week. My family is in town from Canada and from Florida so Oliver has gotten the chance to hang out with all of his aunts and uncles and cousins (technically great aunts and uncles and second cousins but that just sounds weird). He has been having a blast and so has Wesley for that matter with no lack of people to hold him and play with him. We decided this year since everyone was in town that we would host Christmas Eve dinner at our house. And we served the ever so traditional Mexican food..okay well not so traditional but I think it tasted pretty good so it all worked out.
And I convinced Michael to let me dress the boys alike probably for the first and last time in their lives. But in opinion, they looked pretty darn cute.











Monday, December 21, 2009

St Nick's Lights

We went with Nana and Papa the other night to St. Nick's Lights. Oliver loves looking at lights so this was the perfect place to go. It was hardly crowded at all and there was so much to look at. We even got him to sit on Santa's lap which was somewhat miraculous considering we attempted it the other day at the mall and he had a complete and total meltdown and wanted NOTHING to do with Santa. The other night he sort of backed onto Santa's lap and did great. He told him he wanted books. A Thomas the train book and an Elmo book:)



Christmas Came Early

Mimi and Papa G came over the other day to set up all of our Christmas present- a trampoline! Wahoo! I grew up with one and jumped on it for hours everyday so I am so excited for our boys to have one (well and a little excited for myself as well:) Of course it came with "some" assembly required. Needless to say it took 5 adults and about 5 hours to get the whole thing together:) But THANK YOU so much to my parents for our amazing Christmas present. We love it!






Sunday, December 13, 2009

Christmas PJ's

I had to poat a few of these pics too. My mom bought Oliver Grinch PJ's and they button down the front...so cute. and I found the ones Wesley is wearing at Target. I took these pics the other morning when they woke up and it was nearly impossible to get them to smile at the same time but I did my best.
I have to take a minute to write about poor Wesley who got the short end of the stick when it came to blog posting today. I CANNOT believe my little man is 6 months. Half way to a hear which seems unbelievable. He continues to be the sweetest and most chill baby of all time. And just recently started make some seriously funny noise, one of which sounds like, "da, da, da." I am going to do my best to get that on video but until then here a some pics of him and his brother.


Christine's Shower

Click here to view these pictures larger

Holiday Fun

It is a crazy time of year but so far we are enjoying every minute of the holiday season. Just this past week we went to an event our church put on called, "Christmas Unwrapped." The bigger kids (3rd grade through 6th grade) put on a short little production about Christmas story and then the younger kids came to watch, decorate cookies, do a craft, and pet some live animals. At first Oliver wasn't s sure about the whole thing. But then he found his friend Sophia.
And his other friend Caleb.
And he ate some cookies. Not sure what this face is all about. He actually really like his cookie.
And pet the donkey.
And this is him before all of that.

A few weeks ago we took Oliver to Desert Ridge to see Clifford. PBS is putting on an event every Wednesday of the month of December and each Wednesday there is a special guest. This next week Elmo will be there and I can't wait to see Oliver's face when he sees him. Anyways here is a picture of Oliver with Clifford.