Just gotta dance!

Today was pretty ordinary. We didn't even leave the house this morning. Usually we go somewhere around 9 a.m., but today Colin and Audrey were so into their boxes that we just stayed home. It was much nicer this morning so I dusted off the croquet set and tried to get something going with them. But, Colin threw the balls and used the mallets as a lever to pull up the wire "thingies" (for lack of a better word). So, we picked things up and came back inside to the boxes. Why mess with a good thing, right?

The boxes that I'm talking about are from Audrey's new car seat and from an old box of Audrey diapers. Colin put all kinds of stuffed animals in the big box and called it a cage, cave, house, bed, etc. as he played with it. We eventually put windows in it and he learned to get out of it by tipping it over and falling down with it. I put a pillow in Audrey's little box and she was very content just to get in and out of it and a few of her own choice stuffed animals in there. Whatever they did this morning, they both went down super fast for naps and slept about two and a half hours! It was very nice and quiet with Clayton and Cammy asleep, as well.

During dinner Colin commented,"it's nice being a family". I've made this comment several times meaning that it is so nice to have all of us sit at the dinning room table together for dinner each night. He has been agreeing with me frequently. I just smiled and agreed with him, but later I thought just how wonderful that is. Not only IS it so nice to be together in that way, but he RECOGNIZES it. After our nice family dinner was over, Colin went over and turned the stereo on and an Irish CD began to play. Not long after, Audrey toddled over and enjoyed watching him laugh and dance (and did just a bit of dancing herself, in addition to playing with the buttons on the stereo). That is what you see on the video. Our living room is not always that messy, but (as I said before) we didn't really leave the house much today and it showed!

Happy Anniversary!

Today was our fifth wedding anniversary. What do you think of when you think anniversary celebration in St. Louis? The City Museum, of course! Well, I was actually thinking we would drag our little ones to a nice restaurant (one that actually had food for adult tastes). But, Clayton suggested the City Museum and I eventually agreed because we are a family now and we could ALL have a good time.

Though we had a great time, this photo of Colin and Clayton looks like Colin wants to go home. In fact, this was taken right after a STERN talking to about running away from your parents in a crazy public place with lots of strangers. So, then he was made to pose for this photo. Poor guy!

Here is his real mood for the remainder of the time there. This was taken in the ball pit in the toddler section with Clayton. Audrey and I spent this time building block towers and knocking them down repeatedly.

I'm not sure when the rooftop became open, but we paid the extra money to see the top of the City Museum. This is a picture taken there while Audrey and I get a nice sprinkle of water as we cross the "stepping stones". Audrey LOVED this part! Clayton let Colin go down the slide in the background and he bumped the side of his face pretty bad. Clayton felt bad the rest of the evening because of Colin's red cresent near his left eye. Colin will be just fine, though, and already is.

We did have a very nice anniversary together. Clayton had to go back to work tonight, but he had the last three nights off so I can't complain too much.

On another note, about Clayton's job, we went out last night to the Fenton City Hall where he recieved an award for Officer of the Quarter. It was presented in front of the city council. He is the first to receive this award - ever. His superiors really like him, respect him, and know he is a very hard worker who loves his job. He was given a gift card and a key chain with his number on it. I'd love to say that Colin and Audrey sat/stood proudly as they watched their father receive this wonderful honor. But, to my own horror, I have to admit that Colin crawled around under and on the chairs while Audrey made complaining noises and wanted to eat everything in the diaper bag. What can you expect with little ones who are an hour past their bedtimes!? I know they are proud of him. On the way home, Colin made us laugh even after his unwanted antics at the city hall. I asked him what he would like to be when he is older and I listed off teacher, police officer, doctor, etc. He interrupted me to say, "I want to be me! And, that's all!" His delivery of these words was much better and I can't replicate it through the computer, but it was hilarious. After we laughed at him, he kept asking us to ask him what he wanted to be so he could say the same thing again and again! He is our funny little monster.

Moody Mornings

Though I get up at 5 a.m. each morning, my alone time each morning seems to be getting shorter and shorter. I blame it mostly on our vacation to Hatteras, NC (though it was a wonderful trip!). That eastern time did a number on our sleep patterns AFTER we returned. So, now both children are usually up by 6:30, if not earlier (Colin woke up at 5:50 a.m. yesterday). Audrey is pretty good about laying in her crib and just babbling to herself when she wakes up. Many mornings, I listen to the monitor and enjoy the music of her little sounds. A few mornings I've heard some different sounds and when I come upstairs into her room, I am greeted by the above sight. Colin has learned, somehow, to get into Audrey's crib and they play in there for a long time before I come in. It is so cute to watch the two of them play together well. When he chooses to, Colin is a very good big brother and really loves his little sister.

I'm also posting a video I took of Audrey this afternoon when she woke up way too early. Sleep seems to be an issue with us these days. Well, except for Clayton - who is currently going into his eleventh hour of sleep right now. I should make him wake up soon!

Back again

I began this blog with good intentions, but being a mother of two, a wife, and a teacher proved to take up much of my personal time. Now, I find myself awake at midnight - something that has come to be routine lately. I put Audrey down at 8, Colin goes to sleep by 9, and I usually fall asleep with him. Often, I wake up around 11 or 12, as is the case tonight. I found my old blog spot and decided to try to begin again.

My little people aren't so little any more. My oldest "baby" will be three next month and I marvel at how much he has changed and grown. I also have to remind myself, daily, that he is becoming his own little person. Just today I asked him to take his plate in from our dining room after lunch and he said, "no, thank you." It was a very polite response - something we have been working on for a long time. But, once again, parental teachings come back to haunt you at just the right moments. I told him that was not the appropriate time to use those words, and he just repeated them. When I tried again, his new response was, "I'm busy right now." I'm not sure where he picks these phrases up, but it is beginning to become hillarious. Just the other night, while Clayton was helping with the bedtime routine and after he had pottied, Colin said to his dad, "Jelly beans BEFORE brushing teeth. Are you kidding me!" He said this in response to Clayton asking him if he was ready to brush his teeth after he pottied. We are currently having to bribe him with Jelly Belly jelly beans to even get on the toilet. I couldn't help it at that moment, I laughed! To my surprise, I haven't hear the phrase "are you kidding me" since then. But, it was only last night.

Audrey is a dream come true. I love her brother beyond reason, but she is darling in her own right. She is full fledge WALKING now! Every time she does it I remind myself that I need to get the video camera, but then I get busy with something else. She wakes up happy, stays happy (unless tired or very hungry) and seemingly loves everyone she meets after an hour or so. She is talking much more than Colin did at her age, even though I talked to him more. I'm sure having an older sibling makes a big difference in lots of ways. We went to the circus for Father's Day last night and she was a real trooper. She got very tired at the end, after being so hot all the way through, but stayed happy all the while. I still remember the moment that I learned that she would be a girl. We went in for our ultrasound and the tech told us all about her health and growth. I wanted to hear that she was well and okay, but I was on pins and needles about her gender. I told myself that it really didn't matter if she was a boy or girl, but deep down I knew that I wanted her to be a girl really bad. So, after the tech told us about her health I reminded her that we DID want to know the gender. She had forgotten and said, it's a girl! I remember sucking in my breath and immediately tearing up. For a pregnant woman, I was very good at hiding my feelings and wasn't usually overly emotional, but at that moment a flood of emotion rushed through me. The realization that I had a daughter did not really hit me until a little later when I really allowed myself to believe it. But that moment will be mine forever. Even so, I didn't quite believe it so I asked the tech if she was certain. She showed me the girl parts to prove it and said she was giving us a good view. Needless to say, Audrey is a girl. The sweetest little thing ever, too. Quite the little lady.

Everyday I feel blessed to have both a son and a daughter who are healthy, intelligent, and beautiful. Add a wonderful husband and friend to the mix and what more could I really ask for?