Friday Photo Show

Sorry about the lapse in posting. We are very tired...

Action Plan for 4am Wake Up

James is going through a phase (I hope) where he has a bad dream (not quite a nightmare) and wakes up before 5am, but after 4am so he thinks he is up for the day. You can imagine how excited we are about this since we also have a newborn who really does wake up every 3 hours to eat.... Should this ever happen to you or someone you love,  feel free to adopt our "action plan."

#1 Watch a couple of videos and play some low-key games until the sun comes up.

#2 Pile all the kids in the car with the promise of something fun at your destination. For us - on Sunday - it was boats in the harbor in Annapolis, MD. 

#3 Keep the kids awake while you make a beeline for Starbucks (or other pick-me-up of your choice).

#4 Hold an adult conversation in a boring tone of voice until the little ones drift off into catnap la la land.

#5 Enjoy coffee and adult conversation without interruption.

#6 Arrive at destination. Kids will wake instantly the moment you apply pressure to the brake pedal (how do they do that?).

#7 Enjoy destination and well-rested kids. Immediately start talking about the afternoon nap so they don't think that morning catnap counted for anything.

Windshield Wipers

I have no idea who taught him this...

James woke up with a runny nose and when I offered to wipe it, he said:

"No thanks Mommy because I have windshield wipers."

All Dressed Up

and no one to see it.... What is it about little girls that makes you just want to buy every cute little thing you see? I dressed Molly in this onesie (a hand me down from BFF Emily) and these sweet embroidered pants (purchased at the Gap outlet for $3) to go to the "train store" (that's Barnes & Noble to James).

What I find hilarious is that I put her in this outfit and then put her in her car seat and covered her up to her neck in a snuggly blanket knowing full well that she would sleep for the next three hours and no one would even see her face, let alone her cute little corduroy pants.

If I am doing this now - at three weeks - I can only imagine the clothing drama that she and I will be battling in junior high.

Did I mention that the pants have pockets?! Molly can't even see eight inches in front of her face, but her pants have pockets. Hilarious.

Friday Photo Show

OK - I know I said, "no commentary on Fridays," but really - it's me - you didn't actually think I could do that, did you?

This is what Molly looks like for most of the day...

Despite her being a great sleeper, this is what I look like for most of the day...

Where da baby? We may have gone a bit overboard on this particular pattern....

I see many mommy/daughter spa days in our future.... Molly LOVES having her hair washed!

We Didn't Keep the Receipt Buddy....

Themed Outings

and continuing with our theme of death and dying (so appropriate for a toddler!)... Monday was the George Washington Birthday Celebration parade approximately one half block from our house (so appropriate for a newborn!). Brian's parents were in town, Uncle Kevin made his way over and we stood out in the cold waving at every school board member, clown and shriner that passed. Mysteriously, there was no George Washington, which made me think that I should have thrown James in his Halloween costume and made him walk the parade route.

So here we are waiting for the start of the parade. Please note Molly sleeping through the parade in her plastic bubble stroller seat... She didn't even stir when 40 Revolutionary Army soldiers simultaneously shot their guns about 5 feet from us. Brian's mom, however, jumped into the next time zone.

Here is James giving daddy "earmuffs" - so helpful!

and that brings me to death.... This car passed and James said, "that looks like my hearse!" (he has a matchbox car that is a hearse - no, he does not know what a hearse is used for)...

but this is what was hanging on the side....

Spot on, my son, spot on.

Uncle Ken

My cousin Ken (Uncle Ken to James & Molly) was in town for business for a couple of days. After patiently enduring a brunch with a fidgety James and a crying Molly, Ken wanted to see the Arlington National Cemetery - so off we went.

The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier happened about one moment after we arrived and James was quiet and still for the first 5 minutes of his entire life. 

Those of you who have met James probably don't believe me, so here's proof:

Happy Valentines Day!

To: You

From: James

James made cookies for his little preschool classmates. He helped me cut out the heart shapes from the dough and then decorated all 10 himself. They were very "festive"....

So Much Love

Sleeps Like the DEAD

Light as a feather... stiff as a board....

Progress?

On his journey to discover that he is, in fact, not the center of the universe - James has moved from indifference (reference: "No thanks, she's still boring")...

... to mild interest.... Here's James right after he said, "I'm just going to sit right here next to my baby sister."

... to the realization that Molly, cute as she is, cannot hold a conversation. We have heard him have a couple of one-sided "conversations" with her like -

James: Hi Molly, can I sit here?

James: Sure James.

James: Okay, thanks.

... to outright ownership. Today after preschool -

Me: Hey buddy, how was school?

James: WHERE'S MY BABY?!

Oh, if only he could change diapers. His or hers, I'll take anything.

We Are Fam-i-ly

Who do you think Molly looks like? Me? Most people say me. 

Here's a pic of me a bit older than Molly:

We have stared at her long and hard and after thoughtful consideration, 

we think she looks like... 

JAMES.

Here are some examples:

James 2006

Molly 2009

James 2006

Molly 2009

I mean, really - cheeks anyone?

Friday Photo Show

Here's a new thing I am starting.... Friday Photo Show. No commentary, just pics collected throughout the week. Enjoy.

Happy Birthday Grandma Honey!

and just to add an exclamation point....

Here's Grandma Honey with James last winter:

I do hope this rare Molly Moment (eyes open, not sleeping) makes up for the fact that I didn't get a card in the mail.... I'm sure she's thinking, "Happy Birthday Grandma Honey!"

Do You Think...

... they meant the shirt or the baby? Either way, I guess we're in trouble...

Toddler Quiz Answers

Aaaah, you were so close! I will give you each one point for "bed" for #1 although James told me it was a "chair bed." Duh.

#2 = "A Book Train"

#3 = "A Truck Tea Party" and I am not kidding. He made it before his nap and it was the first thing he said when he woke up. "Look Mommy, a truck tea party!" He is nothing if not innovative.

Toddler Quiz

OK - can you guess, in the eyes of James, what the following are?

#1

#2

#3

Good luck!

Don't worry, I wouldn't make a post without a picture of sweet Molly.... She's doing great and big brother James is doing a great job of getting her used to NOISE.

Thanks Uncle Kevin!

Best Uncle ever! A BIG thank you to Kevin for coming to stay with James for 24+ hours while we were at the hospital having Molly. He not only hung out, played with, fed and bathed James, he also prepared a lunch and took him to preschool - no small feat of logistics.

He also brought James to the hospital to meet Molly (see earlier post) which resulted in a priceless video and so we are forever thankful.

Also, bonus points to Uncle Kevin for being prepared.... as we were leaving the house, I passed through the kitchen to find Kevin's "How to Survive Taking Care of James Stash": 2 Red Bulls, 2 Power Bars, and one Carnation Instant Breakfast. Smart man.

Here are the boys with Molly: