Imagination Backfire

You know how you're constantly saying things to your kids like:

"Just go outside and PLAY!  You're kids, have FUN, use your imagination!"

Well, every once in a while, "imagination" can backfire.

These lovely marks on their foreheads would be the result of playing "vacuum" on the trampoline.


Yes....vacuum

Basically they held each other up by their feet (think wheelbarrow race game) and then "vacuumed" the trampoline with the other person's forehead.

They have now learned all about a trampoline burn.

And yes...I laughed...and still do every time I see their heads.

But in my defense I DID put some ointment on their heads while laughing.

A Public Service Announcement

As a public service, I am giving you a list of what a CRAZY 16 month old can do in under one minute.  For those considering having one of these anytime soon, this is your warning.

*Scale a changing table in search of a binky with toes clinging to the top ledge, hanging on for dear life.
* Open bathroom closet, find and use TONS of Q tips, leaving them scattered around the house
* Get into the bathroom, climb up on the step, reach hand sanitizer and wipe it all over their hands (at least they'll be germ free.)
* Fill the toilet up with unused diapers
* Do acrobatic tricks on the couch
* Climb up on sister's bed and jump
* Climb the oven (really, this shouldn't be possible.  But somehow they can squeeze their toes into the part where the drawer pulls out on the bottom and then hold onto the handle of the oven and pull up...THANK GOODNESS the oven didn't open)
* Turn on Daddy's Xbox
* Change the TV to speak in French (which you will have no idea was even possible until it happens, leaving you unsure of how to fix it.)
* Climb onto kitchen table, get pencil/crayon/marker/pen left behind and go crazy coloring on things such as: table, chairs, walls, shelves, doors, window sills, face, books.  (And no, you can't hide the pencils/crayons/markers/pens, the 16 month old WILL find them.)
* Empty the dog food bowl
* Open and remove DVD's from their cases
* Run full speed with blankets over their faces so they can't see where they're going

* And lastly.....

Ta Da!

Consider yourself warned!

(P.S. 16 month olds also know how to get you so wrapped around their finger that you don't care about all the chaos they create, their slobbery kisses, sticky hugs and screams of excitement somehow outweigh it...in case you still think you want one.)

She's Here to Help!

So, you know Claire, that crazy red-headed 3 (almost 4) year old we have living in our house that always has very important things to say?  

Well she is here to help all those people that are pregnant in the world with naming their babies.

After pondering the complexities of life - as she often does - she had some questions regarding the name of one of her boy cousins.

"Why did *Bob and Sally choose to name their boy *Bobbie when they could have named him something better, like Marty?  Was it the only boy name they knew?" 

(*Names have been changed to protect the innocent.)

I explained to her that Bobbie was named after some family members.

Claire's response:  "Well...I still like the name Marty, because it's the best name in the whole world for a boy!  That or dad, but you can't name a baby 'dad'.  That's the PROBLEM!"

And she's right, that IS the problem.  It would sure save a lot of confusion if we just named babies "mom" and "dad" so that kids didn't have to first learn those and THEN learn their parents had OTHER names that OTHER people call them, and then have to figure out why THEY can't call their parent's by the OTHER names.  Do you get my drift?

But since that isn't happening, I got Claire to give us a list to help with naming babies since "dad" and "mom" aren't options.

Bad names for boys:

Pinkalicious

Rapunzel

Bubble Puppy

Juice Box

Booger

Kitchen

Felicia

Unicorn

Camille

Good names for boys:

Marty

Dad (even though you can't name a baby dad)

Reagan

Erik

Bouncy Ball

Bad names for girls:

Marty

Ken

Acorn

Bad Guy

Archen

Scooter Ike

Capen

Gomen

Plate

Cookie

Shirt

Good names for girls:

Madi

Ashley

Princess

Shanna

Rapunzel

Princess Peacock Princess

Great Style Girl

Dance

Lady Gaga

Felicia

Musical Unicorn

Taylor Swift

Barbie

Hannah Montana

Isn't she thoughtful to make it all so simple?

You're Welcome!

A Mother's Concerns

Addison has met physical milestones right on track.  Rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, walking, climbing, running and small motor skills have all been moving right along.

The one place I have concern is with her speech.

After a LONG winter with a TON of ear infections, Addison got tubes in her ears a couple weeks ago...which could be a blog post in its own.  But let's just say the surgery went well...coming out of anesthesia was about as smooth as her coming out of the womb...meaning she came out kicking, screaming bloody murder and inconsolable...it was super awesome, especially since there were multiple people in the recovery room coming out of surgery.  Nothing like coming out of anesthesia to a baby screaming like a mad person.

ANYWAY...the doctor said there was SO much thick gunk in her ears that they wouldn't be surprised if she could hardly hear before, and that she should definitely have a huge improvement, which in turn should help her speech.  

So I know the tubes weren't going to be an instant fix, and she wouldn't come home speaking in full sentences, but the worry of her speech is still there.  And the thing that makes me worry more is when I do the one thing I've always tried so hard not to do....compare her to other babies.

Why do we do that!  Why do we compare them with others? 

YES, Addison says some words:  Hi, bye, mom, dad, thank you, uh-oh, wow, that, Cuh (for Claire), Iz (for Lizzy) - And Brielle is also referred to as Cuh.  

She seems to be babbling more and mimicking sounds more as well. Her screaming has decreased since getting the tubes, which is nice, but as silly as it sounds, I guess I was hoping for a quicker move into trying out some words.  Why am I being so ridiculous?

I know I need to stop focusing on her speech and look at what a happy, healthy, beautiful baby girl she is.  

I am SO blessed and lucky to have her.

Besides...maybe I'll regret wanting her to talk more when she does and won't stop.

So maybe her not talking more is a blessing in disguise...right?  Right?

I'll start looking at it that way.