Before I became a mom, and more precisely the mom of a talking, independent, stubborn, very curious little boy, I would of never been able to guess the types of questions I would answer or the types of requests that would come out of my mouth. And I’ve decided it’s time to start writing some of them down because there’s no way Jayden will believe me later the things I’ve had to answer or ask him to do. Here are a few of the latest questions that have come up, that I’ve had to create answers for. You’ll notice there is a running theme in the majority of the questions going on right now…
Jayden: Are those the tracks for the Polar Express?
Jayden: Does Dora have guts?
Jayden: Would a T-Rex eat my Rudolph?
Jayden: Are there guts in my neck?
Jayden: If I’m a T-Rex, what kind of dinosaur am I eating for breakfast right now?
Jayden and I did a little Thanksgiving craft today while Willow was taking a nap. And while most days I am completely frustrated and exhausted that lately everything with Jayden tends to be a battle, there is usually a moment during the day where things are easy and I am reminded how much I love the kid. Even if I have to tell him that he is most definitely NOT allowed to smile in my pictures to get him to stop ignoring me and smile.
Royal’s parents flew back to Washington early Sunday morning. However, they didn’t leave before Royal came home with a HUGE bag of pecans that needed cracking. I figured Royal was paying back his mom for all the times he’s had to snap green beans, or cut corn off the cob, or stuff potstickers, or frost christmas cookies, or any of the other projects she seems to have going when we show up. Let’s just say Norma and my hands were pretty sore from cracking the nuts…funny how the morning after Royal brought the nuts home, he and his dad went hunting…
For Willow’s birthday dinner, we went out and got some pizza. I would of loved to have a picture with the 4 of us in it, but Jayden was not having any of that. So, here’s 3 of us. ;)
Then we got home and got right to the business of eating cake!
Once Willow took a bath, got cleaned up, and dressed for bed, we opened her presents. And by we, I really meant Jayden.
For Willow’s birthday, I found this rocking chair on craigs list for $20. I thought Willow would love it, since she’s been rocking in Jayden’s rocking chair lately, and that of course makes Jayden really want to use his rocking chair again. So, I picked up the rocking chair, bought some paint, and got to work.
Jayden helped me pick out paint at the paint store and helped paint the chair pink.
I painted the edges brown and her initials on the back. I think it turned out real good!
I can’t believe Willow is already a year old! She even woke me up at 2am this morning to remind me what I was doing last year at 2am. She’s so thoughtful!!! Last year, I was waking Royal up to tell him to call the midwife because my contractions were really close together, and Willow came flying out just a mere 2 hours later! This year, she’s getting a bunch of teeth and needed a little tylenol and some hugs from her mom so she could go back to sleep.
Here’s happy little Willow right after she was born.
And here is Willow 1 year later! Wearing her birthday cake hat that she REFUSES to keep on. I suppose it’s just the beginning of “I don’t really care if you made it for me, I’m not wearing it” I’ll try not to let it hurt my feelings. :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!!
and
Happy Birthday to my Mom, who Willow gets to share her birthday with!
(I wish I had a more recent picture, but my mom refuses to let me take any pictures of her…grrrr)
We have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting. And finally, yesterday evening Royal’s parents arrived! Jayden was so excited all day, I could not control him, he was all over the place. Next time, Grandma and Grandpa need to fly out on a plane that gets here at like 8 in the morning! :) While we were waiting for them to arrive, I kept picking up the house, I got chili cooking in the crock pot, and then I picked up after the kids, did some laundry, picked up toys, did some dishes, and walked out into the living and caught Jayden doing this.
He was making beds for Grandma and Grandpa to sleep in. I think he forgot about the one downstairs that they usually use.
This is Grandpa’s bed
And this one is for Grandma
I have hardly seen the kids today. I had a doctor’s appointment this morning and then I went and did a little Christmas shopping. Jayden ignored me pretty much the whole day, because he had Grandpa to boss around and get to do whatever he said. And Grandma has been all over Willow. Fine by me! It’s a nice break! It’s like getting a mini-vacation while still getting to stay at my house!
Grandma did a little boxing with Jayden this evening.
And while he was boxing, Jayden wanted to make sure Grandpa didn’t get away, so he built a gate around him. There are gates built at this house daily. Jayden uses them for keeping T-Rex’s out of different rooms. I guess now he’s figured out that if he can keep something out, he can also keep something in.
And this girl has a birthday in just 3 days! Woo hoo!
The weather here has been so great lately! 75 degrees and sunny! And while I think this weather is a little freakish and I kinda wish it was colder, it has been nice to play outside without worrying about hats and coats and stuff!
On Saturday, the kids were starting to come down with a cold and I just couldn’t handle an entire day of cranky, whining kids at home, so Royal and I got them dressed, loaded them up, and headed to the zoo. Well, we forgot the zoo is now on winter hours, so we got there a good hour before it opened. Bummer. There was no way I was going to drive all the way home, so we went to a park and played there for an hour and then went back to the zoo when the gates were open. Wouldn’t you know it, but I forgot my camera, and Jayden got to feed the giraffes! I can’t believe I didn’t have my camera! It was sweet! He got giraffe slobber all over his hand and arm. Willow kept acting like she wanted to feed them too, so we gave her a leaf to give to the giraffe, but when his long, black tongue licked her arm while reaching for the leaf, she kinda freaked out..sad… Oh well, I have one more free coupon for giraffe feeding, so maybe we’ll try to hit it up again next time I’m at the zoo with my camera!
I managed to get a lot done this weekend as far as projects were concerned, because pretty much once we got home from the zoo, we stayed here because the kids and their colds went downhill in a hurry. :)
I finished Willow birthday cake hat! Here’s a little preview. It’s not her birthday yet!
I also made a happy birthday banner. The pattern is here!
And since I was on such a roll on completing things, why stop there?
I made Jayden a new apron because we are going to be taking a cooking class together and making gingerbread houses! I love this apron because it doesn’t have ties, so he can put it on himself. The neck strap has eleastic in it so it stretches over his head and the waist strap velcros around his back and to one side. Genius! You can find the pattern here
And last, but not least, I made a giraffe rattle because there are a ton of people I know who are pregnant and I’m going to be sending them presents and why not include a little cloth giraffe that even has a bell on the inside so it jingles when it shakes around! So, prego friends, don’t be surprised to be getting one of these in the mail!
Willow is still scooching around the house, and she is getting freakin’ fast at it too! On one hand, there are some major benefits. Things like, she manages to mop up water that Jayden spills on the floor, I don’t really have to worry about her hands being extra filthy because she doesn’t use them to scooch around, she can move around without having to drop any toys she might be carrying. However, there are some troubles that come with scooching.
Things like, you have this cute pair of shoes.
But the sides of them are getting dirty and thoroughly thrashed.
And then you have this pair of brightly colored flower pants.
But when you turn them over, the backside is all faded and worn out.
Here is the speed scoocher in action! You should see her on the hardwood floors!
And while we are working on standing and walking now, I still stick her on her tummy to try and get her to crawl every once in awhile. She is getting much more tolerant since she’s figured out she can move from that postition. It’s not really crawling, it’s more of dragging.
