30 months and 3 months

Wow. I guess I blinked. 

Nate is now 2.5 years old and 'Rissa is 3 months old.

 

The nerd in me has figured out she is one tenth his age.  Okay, I get it, the math is not hard to figure out.  What is hard to figure out is the concept of time these days.  Where has it gone?  How has it gone by so fast?  And even more importantly, how can I slow it down?  Somehow it seems to go by even faster with baby #2.  I want these precious kids to stay little longer.  I love watching them grow and become more independent but I want to relish these moments....and have plenty of the pure cuteness to reflect on in their teenage years, when perhaps, they are not so cute.  Lord, help me to enjoy every second I have with these kids.  It really is going by way too fast.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the cutest Mickey and Minnie I have ever seen!

Nate LOVES being Mickey Mouse and has worn his costume every night for the past week. In fact, he will not answer to Nate when he is in it, we have to call him Mickey Mouse in order to get any kind of response.  Crazy kid.

And now to play catch up.....

Last Sunday, Daddy fed Marissa for his second time (she doesn't get too many bottles). Nate now thinks church = pumpkin patch, and loves to go out and run around the pumpkin patch after church.  This week he found his pumpkin.  It was one of the smallest ones there and it was still attached to the vine.  He was very excited about it.

We attended a fall festival, Nate LOVED his pumpkin tattoo.

We went over to some friends and carved pumpkins.  We actually got to through the cleaning out phase, then Nate had a melt down and we had to go home.  Maybe next year.... 

I don't think I have mentioned that I am back to work part time.  It has gone well. I did not think it would be as hard to leave my second child since I know were she is going and I love the staff.....boy was I wrong.  I still cried.  But all is going really well now. 

Nate's class had a party on Friday.  He was being stubborn and would not let Daddy take his picture with his friends.  Oh well.

Mommy's department won the annual costume contest, with a spoof of the A-Team (for all of those familiar with the therapy world, we were the ADL Team).   

And today is actually Halloween.  We went to church, then went to visit Granny.  Mickey and Minnie were quite popular with all the residents.

Then after a nap, it was time to Trick-Or-Treat!

 We actually only made one stop at Gram-Aunt and Uncle Mose's House.
 

Then we came back to our house to hand out candy.  Nate really got into the spirit of things and wanted to be the one to hand out the candy. I was pretty pleased with his ability to hand out candy/share.  He was a little stingy and would only give each kid one piece...but at least he was giving things to others without complaining! 

And the grand finale of the evening (drum roll please.....), Nate went poop in the potty for the first time ever!  No, there is not a picture to follow, but don't think I did not consider it!  We have been trying to bribe him with every possible treat, so here it is 30 minutes after bed time, he is already hyped up on candy, and yet we had to fulfill our promises of ice cream, M&Ms, and a football.  Hope this is a continual treat and not a one-time trick!

This is the way we roll

Earlier this week, Marissa really began rolling front to back quite easily. 

She is pretty proud of herself. 

Mommy is a little sad.  It already seems to be happening too quickly.  Is this how every milestone will feel with the second child?   

Congrats on the increased mobility, ladybug!

Almost 2 and 1/2....terrific or terrible?

 

On Monday, November 1, this handsome little guy will officially be 2.5 years old.

I am understanding now what "they" mean with the phrase "Terrible Twos".  Yet, I also completely understand and fully embrace the term "Terrific Twos".  Just look at that face.  His Mona Lisaesque smile leaves one wondering, at this exact moment, if he was being a terrible two or a terrific two.

And the answer is yes.

I love, love, love having a two year old....most of the time.  He is energetic, enthusiastic, full of life, full of exploration, curious, and becoming more and more independent.  He is saying hilarious things to us and responding to questions with adult answers like "Not right now, maybe later" when we ask him to do something like pick up his toys or eat, when he is really not in the mood to do so.  But this also means he is exploring boundaries and pushing the envelope as often as he can. This sweet child can throw some monster fits, typically right before bed time.  It is tiring, I am not going to lie to you.  I don't know how much having a new baby in the house is playing into it, but he is fully terribly terrific and terrificly terrible all at the same time.  I would not trade it for the world!

Picnic!!!

What does beef and broccoli stir fry and chocolate milk say to you?  Apparently to us is says PICNIC!

Nathaniel insisted we have a picnic outside tonight....and although the menu did not appear to be picnic conducive, I can assure you it was!  We had a fun backyard family picnic tonight. I wish you could have seen how excited Nathaniel was. 

We swang, we laughed, we loved.  It really does not get much better than this!

Grinning with Granny

Granny moved back into her assisted living facility last week; so after church Sunday we took the kids for a visit.  Marissa was all smiles for Granny!

My pumpkins at the patch....

The church we have been attending lately has a huge pumpkin patch each year.  Nathaniel thought it was great fun to run through the pumpkins and was not too pleased when asked to sit still for a picture.  So we did the best we could...

And Marissa was none to pleased with the sun.

We had fun, although the pictures don't quite relay that!

10 Weeks Old

 Week 10 has been exciting in Marissa-land.  She has discovered functional use of her hands and loves to play on her mat, batting at and/or grabbing the animals. I guess there is real empowerment there.

And the smiles and gurgles are flowing freely.  She has Daddy completely wrapped around her finger every time she flashes one of those adorable tootless grins his way - which is more often than not now.

We also got an adorable quilt made by Auntie Mandie (mommy's very best friend) - and some other goodies!  It is so fun to be this loved!

Not a picky eater!

I have always been glad that I have married a man that is not a picky eater.  In fact, he is happy if I even cook!  Apparently Nathaniel has inherited that trait...or perhaps he is even easier to please.  Our conversation today went as follows:

Mom:  What do you want for dinner tonight?  Spaghetti?
Nate:  Uh...no.
Mom: Hamburgers?
Nate:  No.
Mom: Tacos?
Nate:  No!
Mom: Well, what do you want then?
Nate: KETCHUP (said with great enthusiasm)!

Yes, future wife, you are welcome.  Apparently I have set the bar very low!

Oh how he makes me laugh

So this morning was a comedy at the Yancy household...and all before 8:00 am!  As Nathaniel is eating his breakfast, I take Marissa into the room to grab a diaper.  As I return, I hear the crinkle of the bag....and I shout "Wait for Mommy"....but it is too late. 

He has dumped the entire bag out...and he is LOVING it!

What can you do but laugh (and grab the nearest camera)?

THEN later....I proceed to change Marissa on the ottoman in our living room.  Now I am sure Nate has watched me change her diaper before, but this time he noticed something was missing, and our conversation went a little something like this....

Nate:  "OH NO!  Where's baby "Rissa's wee-wee?"

Mom: (thinking how do I explain this to my two-year old?):  "Boys have wee-wees and girls don't.  Baby 'Rissa is a girl".

Nate walks away, and I think I must have handled that pretty well. 

He heads over to the couch and begins moving the pillows. 

I finish getting her dressed and turn around to find him laying on the floor looking under the couch. 

I ask what he is doing and he looks at me with big crocodile tears and says "Baby 'Rissa's wee-wee  broken"  and proceeds to cry and cry and cry....

I don't know if he thought he broke it and was going to get in trouble - or what, but it was pretty traumatic.

Is it wrong that I laughed as I "comforted" him?

The awkward 2 month check up (9 weeks)

And speaking of Band Aids......Marissa had her 2 month check up and her shots today. It is sad that as a parent you spend time trying to protect her from getting hurt, then you allow someone to purposefully hurt her with those mean shots...and she sure let Mommy know about her serious displeasure with the episode by being fussy most of the night.  Poor thing.

So here's a funny story about this particular visit (remember the non-stop pooping incident from her first visit?)...Marissa had not eaten when we got to the appointment and was hungry.  Great timing.  Right?  So Mom discreetly begins feeding her in a corner of the waiting room (I never would have been this bold with Nathaniel, but it's the second child, I am even less modest now). I was the only person in the area and was appropriately covered.  When lo-and-behold they immediately call us back.  So Marissa is SCREAMING through the weigh-in, measurements, etc.  We finally get into a room and Mommy proceeds to finish feeding the baby.  Now, please note that I am very familiar with her pediatrician, she has 2 kids about the same age as my kids and is a huge proponent of breast feeding so I really did not think it was a big deal to feed Marissa in the exam room.  I was covered, but not quite as well as I was in the waiting room.....when much to my surprise, an INTERN doctor steps into the room without so much as a courtesy knock.  This is a young, single, MALE...which would have been awkward enough....except it also happened to be the youngest child of MY BOSS...and someone whom I know quite well.  So there I am...boob hanging out...and of course trying to play it cool....cuz' well, that's how I roll.  I quickly cover my self, scold the sweet man for not knocking and try to laugh it off....all the while thinking Brian may or may not have just seen my boob.  A-W-K-W-A-R-D!!!  This is another great moment where my life could completely be a sitcom!

Anyway, back to Marissa...she is doing great!  She is growing like a weed and now weighs 11.46 pounds and is 22 and 3/4 inches long.  This puts her at the 50% for height and weight.  She continues to be at 75% for her head circumference.   She is on target with all her milestones and appears to be doing great....Yes, I heard all this as they were telling me....but could only think, my boss' son just saw my boob!!!...Good thing they wrote it down.  LOL.  They were very impressed with her holding her head up when placed on her stomach and said she was at a 4 month level.  That's what you get when both of your parents are therapists (just kidding, we probably do not do as much tummy time as we should)!

Each week she continues to become more and more alert.  She is interacting and cooing more now and in the past few days, she has discovered her tongue and likes to make the little motor sound.  In the very few moments where she was not fussy last night I happened to capture some of her "talking".  Enjoy!

Chicks Dig Scars. Right?

I am afraid Nathaniel just got his first (and hopefully last) facial scar.  He was pretenting to hide in his bed and when Daddy found him, he jumped up and smashed his forehead into his head board....and bled...and bled...and bled.  It was horrible.

But nothing some TLC, some ice, some Mickey Mouse, some "sips" (drinks of soda),  and a Band-Aid could not eventually cure.

Not-so-fun Farewell



The old saying holds true...all good things must come to an end.  What an incredible week we had.  I am so thankful for my family and all the joy they bring.  It truly is a fun adventure raising these kids together - even if we are far apart in miles.  Until next time....

Craig loves his cousin!



Fun at the Beach

On Thursday, we headed to the beach. We were met there by the Oberts and by our "Aunt" Carol.  It was another beautiful day, perfect for frolicking in the Ocean!

It was Marissa's first trip to the beach.  She was not impressed by the wind, but did seem to enjoy getting her feet in the sand!

 While the girls were having nice, clean fun...the boys were getting DIRTY!

We were thankful that Carol was in town for a conference and got to surprise everyone and visit the crazy cousin gang.  It is always good to see her.  On of my fondest memories as a kid was coming down to visit Carol and spending time on the beach, so it is only fitting that the first time Marissa meets Carol, it is on the very same beach!