Popped Through

We have a tooth!!

Yet, the drool has not stopped and he's still cranky. 

I think the second one must be on it's way.

Compromising, sort of....

I have found that at certain times, while parenting a female toddler, compromise is a necessity. Ellery and I have certainly had our "toe to toe" battles, some of which have lasted HOURS. The majority of these times had to do with the lesson of obedience and respect. Definitely no compromise in those situations.

However, this afternoon was a good example of when to just let go and let her BE.

Yesterday she found the pink shirt and heart shorts in her closet.  It's been there all summer and she showed NO interest all summer.  But of course when it's 45 degrees outside she wants to wear that outfit.  I let her run around the house in the pink shirt.  Today she woke up from her nap and again was determined to wear the pink shirt and heart shorts.  She already had on the grey long sleeve shirt.  Mommy saying "no" to the pink shirt was not an option in her mind.  So I told her she could wear it over her grey shirt but HAD to keep on the long sleeves.  Then I told her to go into her room and find her jeans.  I believe a conversation when something like this:

(After sending her back to look for the jeans, she came out to the living room empty handed and looking frustrated.  The heart shorts were on the floor in the living room.)

Mommy:  Ellery, where are your jeans?  Didn't you see them?
 Ellery:  (sigh, sitting down on the floor) Listen.  I could not find my jeans and these (picking up the heart shorts) are the ONLY thing to wear!
Mommy:  (Laughing hysterically) You can wear those heart shorts either under your jeans or over something else but you must have something to cover your legs.  It's too cold outside to just wear those heart shorts.

The black leggings is what she came out with.  I said, "Okay, sure.  You put them on."  She's learning to dress herself and it's hysterical.

She's not even 3 yet and I will definitely have my hands full when she's a teen.

I found these antlers in her preschool bag this afternoon.  They have small bells at the ears and I had to bribe her with a treat to get her to wear them.  Again, purely for my enjoyment!

The outfit seriously cracks me up.

Now.  For this little guy!!

Walt had his 6 mo. check up yesterday.  He has a slight ear infection, from that nasty cough his sister gave him, remember?  Poor little guy was NOT happy last night after all of his vaccinations and cold.

Here are the stats!

16 lbs. 6oz.

16 3/4 inches

He is army crawling.  Loves to chew on shoes.  Tries to pull himself up on the edge of his crib (gotta lower the mattress).  Sits up and babbles.  Still going to bed at 6:00 pm and wakes a couple of times at night.  I'll nurse him once and then soothe him the other times.  He has slept straight through the night before, just not lately.  I started feeding him rice cereal a few days ago, it's going okay. He'll start veggies soon, maybe this week, maybe next.  We'll see...

It's crazy how kids change over time.  A few short weeks ago this little girl and I were NOT getting along.  Now, she loves me, we're friends, she snuggles with me and I feel like I have my daughter back.  Loving this time!!

The Weekend

It has been an insane weekend, but SO MUCH FUN!

I will admit to being the extravert in the family and therefore Christmas parties are my absolute FAVORITE thing.  When I'm feeling down and gloomy I find that going out and being with friends is just what my soul needs.

We had a party Friday night, Saturday morning was the Christmas production at our church and Saturday night.  I REALLY wanted to go to a party tonight as well but knew that it wouldn't be good for the family.  Cary was partied out and the thought of my kids going to bed with out us one more night just didn't sit well with me.

Walt has come down with a nasty sounding cough, which he got from his lovely sister who can't seem to keep her hands off of him and has yet to figure out how to cover her mouth when she coughs.

Ellery LOVES doing crafts.  I've been giving her some craft Christmas ornaments made from foam stickers as little afternoon projects.  We also made a paper chain to decorate the little "tree" in her play room.

It reminds me a bit of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree but I think it's perfect!

Just Celebrating....

We are just enjoying the holidays! Ellery has been loving her "cone" time (advent calendar). The first several days were candy treats which will "hook" any toddler to anything. But lately we've had small items, like a bell and teeny tiny baby Jesus. Those little treats she loves as well because anything small gets put into a little purse or something only to be lost in the chaos of her toys. Huh, sometimes Christ can be like that a little too, huh? Celebrated over Christmas but just a small enough part of the year that He gets put in a little box and forgotten about in the craziness of life.

As soon as Ellery started running off with the bell and baby Jesus I grabbed them and hid them so they wouldn't get lost.

I've also been giving the kids small gifts to help celebrate the season.  They were given Christmas PJ's,

Popcorn boxes, so Ellery and Daddy could watch Beauty & The Beast's Enchanted Christmas (something I recorded on TV), stamps for decorations, books and other fun small things....

Walt enjoyed movie night from the comforts of his exercauser!