Funny picture catch up

It seems like the only moments that motivate me enough to capture them on film are the ones that are funny enough to be sufficiently embarrassing to the kids when they get older. Here are some of the most recent:

Leah wanted to get in her bed... no problem! So for an hour Leah and Jeremiah were just playing and reading and coloring in/on their beds. Lovely.

Playing Pirates, looking for buried treasure. Leah didn't like wearing her pirate scarf on her head very much. Oh, and do you like the clothes Jerem picked out for the day? yes, race car PJs about 2 sizes too small.

Leah's latest fascination: playing dress up. She puts ANYTHING on her legs like pants. This is her attempt at putting on her inside out brown leggings over her pjs.

You can't see in this picture very well, but thats her shirt that she had both legs in the sleeves and was walking around in it. She also puts on Gregs basketball shorts, Jeremiahs jeans, and any pair of shoes she can find. Funny Girl!

I'm not sure what Jerem is pretending to be here. It was while I was visiting teaching and Dad was in charge. But snow boots, backwards fireman hat and sunglasses are the perfect outfit for playing with water in the bathroom and then dripping it all over the house using his toy syringe.

This is me trying to get an after picture of Leah's first haircut. She also has a pony tail on the top. I didn't take much off, I just cut off the baby-mullet in the back. Don't worry, her curls are beginning to grow back.

I saved the best for last. Jeremiah came house hunting with us a few weeks ago and somehow managed to get a small scratch on his face, just to the right of his mouth. He decided to play Dr. himself rather than wait for mom and dad to patch him up. He did get the bandage on the scratch.... but what to do with all that extra bandaid? Well, just put it where it lands. Right over his right nostril. He came out of the bathroom to show us his handy work. SO funny!

My baby is growing up not out

Some of you with older kids may laugh at this because Leah is still just a baby, but to me, she's growing up.

Last week she insisted on laying down in jeremiahs bed for her nap. I was ready for the worst, playing with the blinds, knocking over the paintings on the wall, falling off the bed. But she just laid there quietly and drifting sweetly off to sleep. How can it be that my 16 month old is getting ready for a big girl bed?! Admittedly I was relieved to find that she did really well, since we're going to need her crib in about 6 months and I've already started eyeing bunk beds.

On another note, she may be growing up, but she's not growing out. This girl is still only 19 lbs. She's up from the heafty 17 lbs she weighed when she was 13 months, but still not heavy enough to officially turn her car seat around. She's still normal height and keeps getting taller, just not heavier. Her Ped. isn't worried, so neither am I. But goodness sakes she's teeny.

Funny kid

Jeremiah was playing with Playdough and set some on a chair under the table. I asked him to move it and he informed me that he could not because those pieces were fossils.

Right.

So we decided to have a little lesson about fossils using some of our toy animals, a dinosaur, a girrafe and an elephant. We made imprints and talked about how fossils are made, and what scientists can learn from fossils about the animals that lived a long time ago. After our little "lesson" he continued to play and then I looked over and saw this: Small bits of playdough stuck all over the front end of the elephant. I'm not sure what he was trying to make, but it was important that he cover THE WHOLE THING. He was so proud of it when he was finished.

The Apple and the Tree

Every night Jeremiah easily gets on his pj's, snuggles with me as I read him stories, and then gives me kisses as I tuck him into bed.

Immediately after I close the door I hear the pitter patter of his little feet, and a little knock at the door. I open the door to him telling me he needs me to put him back into bed. So I do, I ask him to stay there, he gets up again, and again, normally 4-6 times each night before he finally falls asleep in his bed.

This week I gave it some good thought after one particularly long evening and realized that he just wanted attention. I've begun asking him through the door what he needs, telling him that I already tucked him in, and I've taught him how to tuck himself in, so he can do it now without my help. I tell him I love him and say goodnight, all without opening the door..... He hasn't gotten out the last few days.

I wonder where he got his need for attention?

Then there's Leah.

She has these looks that could kill. first its the eye roll. Yes, my 16 month old rolls her eyes at me. Then there is the evil glare, she lowers her head and glares up at me past her furrowed brow. Then there's the "I hate you" look. It's much deeper and more manipulative than the evil glare. It's a pout and a wail all mixed together and combined with throwing herself on the floor, or the couch, or even burrying her head in the wall, then she looks up (just to make sure you notice her) and then breaks out of the pouty look just long enough to add in a little glare, then goes back to pouting and wailing.

Then she gets bored and goes and finds something to play with. :)

I don't know where she gets her drama.

Enthusiasm

I didn't expect so much enthusiasm about my subtle announcement. To answer your questions: No, I haven't been sick. If you know me very well, you know that I have enviously easy pregnancies. And yes, I know how lucky I am. Also, my due date is June 7th, which translates to the end of May for me. And I will find out on Thursday if the educated guess of a girl during the first ultrasound was correct.

There you have it, all you could ever want to know. :) Thank you for all of your congratulations.

Photo Catch Up

These are pictures we took at Thanksgiving with the Hirschi family. They were out taking photos for their family Christmas card, and we got to tag along. (this explains their coordinated outfits, and our clear misfit status.)

Leah, feeding herself a fruit smoothie: Utter Bliss.

Mysteriously quiet in her bedroom, I found Leah lounging on the rocking chair reading books.

Earlier this month, I was in the midst of a Christmas project, making two custom aprons for Greg to give at a gift exchange. It was great fun, and Jeremiah used the left-over pattern paper, in various shapes, and a stapler, to make himself a costume.

Then he insisted Leah needed a costume too, so he took care of that.

At first glance this is a cute picture of a three year old making a strange Mr. Potato Head. Until you learn that this is NOT a Mr. Potato Head. This is a police car....... yeah. It has "Pishoos" (the sound a gun makes, translation: shooters, or guns) to shoot the bad guys.

How can I not feel blessed this new year with these two cute and rather precocious little kids, and another one on the way?

Christmas Cheer

I have been a horrible photographer lately. But we did get a few this month.

First, this is our Christmas tree. It was delightfully A-symmetrical. This is the early season photo.

And late-season photo. Our heavy ornaments began sliding off the branches because they were so droopy. I am not a tree killer. In my defence, it was half dead when we bought it (I'm not joking, I did my best to revive it, and to prolong its life, but in the end, it succomb to death)

The kids slept in until 7:45, not bad for Christmas morning. These are before the festivities. Leah, as usual, is just happy to have her picture taken.

And Jeremiah is still tired, but happy that santa took a bite of his sugar cookie (and spit it out in the garbage because Santa can't eat that much sugar at 11 pm.)

The Aftermath:

In case you were wondering, Santa DID find the Ambulance Transformer. Jeremiah was thrilled, but added "But Santa didn't bring me a yellow car." with a sad face. PS - the yellow car was a last minute addition to the santa wish list on the day before Christmas eve. :) I love when kids do that.

Jeremiah had to build his lego sets with daddy immediately after opening gifts. Jeremiah says daddy is the best at building hellicopters.

" LOOK MOMMY! I got M&M's for BREAKFAST!"

This was a modest Christmas. both my kids and husband got modest gifts, we did not go overboard. HOW, then, did I get so spoiled this Christmas? My mom got me this pretty maternity dress. Oh wait, did I fail to mention that baby #3 is coming in June?

And Greg got me a BED! Hurray! AND he got me a strap for my ipod, AND a nice stainless steel water bottle. I was totally spoiled.

More silly pictures of the kids to come!