Recent Pictures

I haven't been too good with getting the camera out or download pictures once I do take some.  But, here are a few recent pictures.

Evan at the dentist

Sleep Ideas

I started to post this on Facebook, but by the time I finished it, my rant was over and I felt better.

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Ideas for how to help a nearly 2 year old get back to bed at 1:30 in the morning?  He has woken up and stayed up 3 times recently.  Ideas that have been (mostly) discarded: 1) a straight jacket (unless it is branded as a toddler swaddle blanket - then it is okay), 2) giant cribs for him and his twin so at least they aren't fighting over animals or lights when he does wake up, 3) driving to Chicago to go to Ikea when it opens in the morning so at least he sleeps in the car, 4) ear plugs (not for him) and 5) finally soundproofing his room.

Things you should take into consideration when thinking of ideas: 1) he has a twin and they share a room, 2) they turn two at christmas 3) they have been "transitioned" to "big kid beds". 4) #3 really means they have mattresses on the floor because they were climbing out of their cribs and then fell out of their beds with frames.  5) There is nothing else in the room besides stuffed animals and books, nor can anything be introduced because they will systematically dismantle / climb on / push over / jump off whatever else is in that room 6) he is a very sweet and loving boy 7) nothing makes him happier than sleeping on somebody 8) we love him very very very much and want to help him sleep 9) I really don't want ideas, I just needed to vent.

Wrong side of the equation

This morning, I opened Alex's and Evan's bedroom door to find Evan on top of the changing table and pulling the blind off the window.  Alex was holding the bag of wipes and was systematically pulling them out. The baskets in the table had been removed and everything was strewn across the floor.  I called John to help and we started cleaning up (I suppose luckily, due to an earlier incident that only myths are made of, there was no diaper cream in the room).  John told Evan "We don't climb on the changing table Evan". At some point Davis joined us to help clean up.  A conversation ensued along these lines:
Davis: "I hope you guys learned your lesson"
John: "Unfortunately Davis, I don't think they learned a lesson"
Davis: "Not them, Mom and Dad, I hope you learned your lesson"
Mom: "Indeed you are right Davis, Mom and Dad have learned their lesson"

This made me happy

Alex goes to highchair jail

One night this week I came home from work, greeted at the door just by Evan.  Davis was playing in his room, but Alex, he was strapped into his high chair in the dining room.  I asked why in the world was Alex stuck in the dining room almost ready to pull the chair over by trying to grab the baby gate.  John said this:
"If he's in there, he unzips the chair cushions and eats the foam.  If he's in here (the kitchen), then he grabs knives off of the shelves and drags stuff out of the cabinets.  So then I put him IN THERE (the dining room) and he crawled up on the table and was swinging from the chandelier. So now he's strapped in the high chair".

That's my Alex.

Davis first "week" at preschool

Leaving for his first day

Excited for his first day

Davis' class