A Week of Major Milestones

This post almost had the title "A Plumber, a Mechanic, and the Easter Bunny." We had a big week last week. Major milestones for both kids!

Monday - Lucy loving her toes. Warm weather meant baby leg warmers and bare thighs. Her thighs are so stinking soft and smushy. I could nibble them all day.

People ask how I deal with two kids and no bathtub? We shower and we're lucky to have a big shower.

On Monday, Elliott showed interest in using the potty. We jumped in with two feet (metaphorically, not actually into the potty). Go big or go home, if you will. He went straight to underpants and has done really well with #1, not so well with #2. A big help was staying home for Monday and Tuesday of last week so we could be near the potty. Being housebound with yucky weather made us a little stir crazy so I took to pinterest for toddler activities.

Baking soda + food coloring + vinegar = a half hour of easy entertainment!

My plumber. This is what happens when he pulls up his own underpants.

Lucy got herself under the car. The plumber's little sister is a mechanic.

We arrived at Elliott's school on Wednesday just as the Easter Bunny was getting ready to meet the kids. Creepy Easter Bunny! Lucy sat with him and was adorable as can be.

She was unphased by his creepiness.

Elliott was appropriately terrified of him.

On Thursday 4/17, Lucy sat up all by herself. She was so proud!!

It warmed back up so Elliott could play outside in his underpants. He came back in with his first (of many) round of bruises and scrapes for the season.

Spring has sprung!

Daddy's Week at Home

When in rains, it pours. That seems to be the nature of Jesse's work these days. We were so lucky to have him home so much during the first few months of the year. Work has picked up now and he was gone for three weeks, home for one week, and now gone for two(ish) weeks. It was wonderful, on many levels, to have Jesse home for a week. We had beautiful weather and got to enjoy time outside. Elliott was sick (bummer) but it was a huge help to have two parents for that. 

Lucy is rocking!! This video is from 4/10. (As I write this on 4/22, she is crawling).

Nice weather made for our first trip to the zoo in months. Elliott and Daddy enjoyed a picnic lunch.

We spent quite a bit of time at my parents' house as I was preparing to co-host Jen's baby shower that Saturday. Lucy goes right for the big construction toys!

She can even make them make noise. Check out her yummy thighs!

I mentioned that Elliott could ride on a tractor (I meant the pedal tractor). He started crying for Poppy's Massey Ferguson and Daddy made it happen.

After the tractor, Elliott started talking about a screwdriver and beelined for Poppy's tool box. He knew exactly what he wanted and where to find it.

Safety is still important in the kitchen.

Elliott helped Poppy take the big leaf blower back to the barn.

Lean in!

Is anyone looking for a landscaping crew? I know some people . . . 

It isn't pretty but it's forward movement! 4/12/14.

Daddy left again on Sunday :( After a brief stop at Jen's birthday BBQ, Elliott and I dropped him at the airport and went straight to a birthday party for one of Elliott's classmates. Here is Elliott with his friend Harrison.

Elliott was excited to help Colin, the birthday boy, open his gift from us.

Colin approved. Elliott then helped open the rest of the gifts, with approval from Colin and his parents.

Coco came over that evening to bring Lucy home (they watched her for the afternoon while we went to the party). Elliott wheeled his wagon up to Coco's minivan so he could reach the door handle. He did not get in but we are in trouble with this one. He's adventurous kid. While playing outside the next day, he managed to open the tailgate of Jesse's truck and climb onto the deck off our bedroom. The deck is one story up but can be scaled in a series of steps (not easily). He's a brave boy. Time to invest in neosporin and band-aids.

Cousin Fun

We had a cousin sleepover at Coco and Poppy's house two weeks ago. The kids LOVE being together. They get all crazy in their excitement.

Penny wanted to snuggle with Lucy.

Penny should take advantage of her size now because she won't be bigger than Lucy for long!

It's getting to be Jeep weather. Elliott is big enough to reach the pedals this year but his steering skills still need work.

This reminds me of driving with a 16 year old with a learner's permit or a 90 year old grandma.

Hey! Look at my bowl hat.

This was the first time we put Elliott and Ned to bed at the same time. During previous sleepovers, we put Elliott to bed and then sneak Ned in later. It only took a few "do I have to separate you" threats before they went to sleep. This was story time with Uncle Mike.

Even Humphrey and Dutch got in on the cousin love.

On the following day, we stopped by the maple syrup shack near our house. Elliott got out of the car and promptly covered himself in mud.

Back at home, Lucy snatched the remote for Elliott's robot and actually made his wheels spin.

Science Museum, Play with Friends, and Giggles

Elliott is helping me write this blog post. Commentary in quotes is by Elliott.

"That's where cars and trains are."

Elliott playing at the Science Museum. 

"Putting the balls back in."

"Lucy. She's in a big girl seat. I don't see her back. And I don't see yours because it's back there," as he reaches around me to see my back.

Lucy prefers riding in her big girl seat in the stroller. She rests her feet on the back of Elliott's seat just like Hollyn, the High Roller. 

"I'm resting."

"Lincoln and Lucy. Lincoln trying to pull Lucy a little bit." He was pushing, if we are going for accuracy.

"That's Lincoln and Lucy a little bit."

"She's getting Lincoln. She's trying to get Lincoln."

It looks like Lucy bounced to make Lincoln push her around. He such a big boy, already walking around!

Turn up your volume to enjoy some Lucy giggles!

"I'm eating one of Levi's cupcakes. There's a robot right there. See him? He's right there. We were eating green cupcakes at Levi's party at Miss Essa's shop where Levi's party was."

Translation: We had a great time celebrating Levi's fourth birthday. Her party was at Vanessa's art store and the kids all painted letters.

Last Days of March

Not really a theme here. Just some snapshots from the end of March.

Elliott is becoming quite the little builder. Rather than making a house with his Lincoln logs, he built a fence.

I took an early picture. He eventually had all of the pieces in his long fence.

Lucy and I went on a shopping date with Danielle and Emma. Budding fashionistas!

Lucy (left), Emma (right).

Guacamole! Yum! (Actually, she doesn't seem to be a huge fan of food yet but I'm sure her time will come.)

Sending a picture to Daddy as we snuggle in Elliott's bed.

Lucy loves jumping. On this afternoon, I tried unsuccessfully to put her down for a nap. I eventually gave up and put her in the jumper. She went nuts in there!

Elliott went for a ride in Poppy's bag. Smiles all around!