Happy Happenings

Aren't they cute when they are getting along?? It has been happening more frequently, thank goodness!! I bought them matching leotards with skirts and they like to put them on and dance to the song "Bubbly". Elisabeth has turned out to be an incredible babysitter-so much so that I got the entire kitchen cleaned (including wiping down the cupboards AND scrubbing the floorboards-impressed??) yesterday. They came downstairs, though, covered in Halloween face paint. Word to the wise-when you don't hear anything going on after 20 minutes, check on the kids :)

Pictures...at last

These were taken at a local restaurant that we love. The bottom one depicts a very stressful 18 month old....I think she is saying, "If only I had more than 4 teeth, I could chew this damn thing!" Don't you love their outfits?? I realize, with a 9 year age difference, I am not going to get them in the same clothes but matching colors is pretty close. I don't think I will be able to pull it off much longer :(

Happy Friday!!

Last week at this time, I was looking forward to a relaxing weekend at home with the kids and shopping at Gymboree and Baby Gap. That dream ended up in the toilet - so to speak :) I'll lower my expectations for this Friday in hopes that tomorrow and Sunday will be a tad bit better than last weekend. On top of me feeling better, Isabella's 3 week diarrhea episode has finally ended. I have NEVER, EVER smelled anything as rotten or horrible as that stuff! WHEW!!! It was terrible!! Poop never makes me sick but this stuff made me hurl-even before I had the flu. Night after night she would wake up and have it stuck to her entire body AND all over her crib. Did I say how awful it smelled?? Anyway, after 3 weeks of it, we took her to the doctors and she apparently had some sort of bacterial infection-most likely from bad milk or meat. Because she is now turning the corner and pooping normally, she does not need to be on an antibiotic-which would cause more diarrhea. NO THANK YOU!! I will say she was a champ at drinking Pedialyte. That kid could down 2 liters just looking at her. Now, however, that is all she wants to drink. If I hand her some yummy grape juice, she just gives it back as if to say, "That doesn't look like my orange drink so take it away, Woman!" And that is the look she gives me. Being sick has spoiled her somewhat in that she got what she wanted when she wanted it. Rude awakening, Chickee. Her little butt was on the time-out bench last night because she refused to get dressed. She would kick and scream and fight me so I put her on the bench where she would scream and cry (but she stayed put)!! Then we would try it again and back to the bench she would go. Finally, I whispered into her ear about the kitties on her socks and like a 1 year old, she didn't realize I had tricked her into getting dress. 1 for MOMMY!!! I must say, though, that I get a good laugh when she is angry. I know it is mean but she is so frickin' funny! I told her she couldn't pump the baby soap into her bath last night which made her mad. She hit the faucet, the side of the tub, splashed the water all the while yelling NO at me. I just want to pick her little body up and kiss her. My mother would tell me to pick her little body up and spank her backside. I guess that is why my mother raised 5 well behaved children and I am raising 2 hellions that don't listen:)

Sick blogger :(

I have been a very bad blogger...but I have had a good excuse! I have had the flu...and not the sneezy, sniffly kind...the kind that allows you to loose 8 pounds in 5 days without even trying. That is the only good thing about being sick! I thought I was all better on Monday and then WHAM! I was sick AGAIN! UGH! I am home today, feeling better, but taking it easy. There are beds to make, laundry to do, dogs to feed, dishes to clean up....and guess what?? I DON'T CARE!!! it can all sit there until my darling comes home and does it :)

Pictures from our weekend....

Meeting Martin

Camera found!!! Will post pictures later:) This weekend has been a busy one and it is only Saturday night! We left for Syracuse yesterday afternoon, met my parents for dinner at this neat Italian restaurant and then relaxed until this afternoon-by relax, I mean eat and shopped. Around 2, we drove to Cortland, NY where about 25 families were gathering to meet Martin, a World Child coordinator from Vietnam. We had had the great pleasure of spending many days with Martin while we were in Vietnam and it seemed like he had touched many lives by the amount of people that were there to see him!! We also got to meet Ava Linh's and Phoebe Jade!! We had spoken to their families over the phone and via the internet but had never had the chance to meet these little angels after they came home! There were many other children running/crawling/being held-all adopted from Vietnam through World Child/Family Connections...it was so wonderful to see :) So many little faces that looked just like Isabella!! We are all planning on meeting again in Ithaca on February 8th at a Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year (Tet). I wish there was a holiday every month!!

18 month check up

Still no camera. Boo hoo. We had Isabella's 18 month check-up yesterday and eventhough I was a horrible mother for not asking for specifics, I do know she is in the 50th percentile for weight and height (on the American charts). I think she is about 24 pounds. She was really good until the nurse brought the shot in. She knew what was going to happen when I yanked her pants down - then they crying started! She tried covering up her leg but it didn't work too well. Two women against 1 flailing baby--we won! I did feel bad though-she was pissed!! She did get a sticker and that seemed to help :)

Tonight we brought home McDonald's thinking it would be easier than going out-Todd was at work so it was just the girls. Isabella managed to spill Elisabeth's drink, dump her hamburger WITH KETCHUP on the floor, and pitch all of her fries on the floor. Then she proceeded to help us clean it up with a baby wipe. After scrubbing the piano, wall, floor, and furniture with the same baby wipe, she used it to wipe her mouth. UGH!! Nothing is easy with a 1 year old-especially when they are not strapped into their high chair :)

Settled back in...

No pictures this time...my darling husband did the unthinkable and lost our camera. Luckily my youngest brother Aaron gave us a gift card for Best Buy...it will go towards a new digital camera:) The tree and decorations came down today. We had 4 huge boxes plus the tree. It is nice to be back to normal again. Next weekend a bunch of families from Upstate New York are meeting in Cortland to see one of the Vietnamese employees with World Child. He was such a wonderful help and support system while we were in Vietnam and he is here learning about the new procedures that are being implemented. We thought we would never get to see him again!! And...we get to meet up with all the families we have talked to over the internet and heard about!! It should be a wonderful get-together :)

Got to run and check on Isabella. She is upstairs screaming her frickin' head off. She has now decided that she doesn't have to go to bed at 8 or 9 or 10 and will scream until I finally go into her room and rescue her. UGH! I think she has my number. It is 1-800-SUCKER.

Home from the holidays.

Shane playing Elisabeth's Guitar Hero game on the Wii BEFORE she even opened it!! (Yes, Shane, I just posted a picture of you in your underwear on the internet for all to see. Tell me how to take the damn clicky noise off of Isabella's new wagon and I will delete it!!)
Isabella and her new tu-tu
Aunt Catherine and Lucy
Liam showing off his many teeth
Uncle Shane and his baby girls
3 generations
Elisabeth, Lucy, and Isabella
Elisabeth, Lucy, Isabella, and Rebekah
Our family
Aaron, Shane, and Mom


We are finally back home, unpacked, and settled in. Tomorrow we are all back to work and/or school. BOOOOO!!! Here are more pictures of our holiday. Lucy was baptized on Christmas Eve...my sister Rebekah is the one holding Isabella and standing next to Elisabeth, who is holding Lucy. The picture of my dorky brothers was taken on Christmas Eve. My mother asked them to go to church with us and they decided to shake things up and dress like Uncle Eddie (from Christmas Vacation). They went to the Salvation Army for a mere 60.00 dollars they got some nice fur hats, plaid coats, dickies, and polyester pants. They looked ridiculous but we couldn't stop laughing at them. Any yes, they marched right into church looking like this. My mom was so happy they were going, she didn't care what they looked like :)

Pictures from Christmas

Christmas in Syracuse

Santa found us at Nanny's house. And he was very good to all. Elisabeth got a new computer (the new XO kind where 1 gets sent to Africa and the buyer also gets one), a cell phone, new Heely's, a new jacket, clothes, a guitar game for her Wii, Uggs, and many other little things including a great stocking from Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Shane :) Her grandparents and aunts/uncles spoiled her silly. Isabella got a Red Flyer push wagon, Elmo toys, Little People ark, talking teddy bear, clothes, and a stocking from Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Shane. We have had a wonderful time playing with Liam and Lucy and will miss them very much when they all leave on Friday night. I will post pictures tomorrow....

The cutest things kids say and do....

Say..
Elisabeth shared with me the reasons why she wanted to get married. Here they are...
1. She wants a big diamond ring.
2. She wants to wear a pretty wedding dress-no lace, though.
3. She wants someone to catch the mice in her house for her.

Do..
We now lovingly refer to Isabella as a "CCD" - Candy Cane Destroyer. Every, and I mean every, candy cane she sees-she ripes it off the tree, breaks it in half, and sucks the life out of it. She will do this in private and public, fruit flavored or peppermint.

Getting ready for Christmas

This morning we went to the Corner Room for breakfast with Santa. Isabella has seen Santa Claus at least 100 times and prefers to continue to see him from far, far, far across the room. I tricked her into sitting on my lap close to him for the picture. Today, lucky for us we got a table near him so she could stare while we ate. Unfortunately, he left at 11 so our quiet breakfast was cut short :( This evening, I got time away with a friend. WHOOOOOO HOOOOO!! Todd stayed home with the girls while I went out to eat and shopping. Walking around the mall with no stroller and no whining was heavenly. We were supposed to get hit with a whopping 2-4 inches tonight but it looks like we are only going to get a little sleet. People around here absolutely FREAK at the thought of snow. They buy their milk and bread months before the "bad" weather hits and then nothing happens. Syracuse gets a foot of snow and life goes on.

Only 10 days left until Christmas!!!

Nanny's Visit

While Todd is away in Georgia on a golf trip, Mom decided to come down to PA and have an 'all girls' week. We went to church yesterday and then to The Garden's restaurant at the Penn Stater. It is a super huge buffet (the good kind) that made us all extremely ill. Isabella found the reindeer in the lobby and decided to climb on for a little ride.

I added a photo of Isabella and Elisabeth last year....how Isabella has changed :) Elisabeth is still a beauty, if I do say so myself!

36 hours and counting.....

since the last we diaper!!! How cool is that?? I am sure she could backslide or have accidents but WOW!! She did attempt to poop today in the middle of lunch but I grabbed her and got her to the toilet on time. She also enjoys watching others, mainly me, use the potty. Today she was standing there and all of sudden she screamed "poopy" (which she uses for pee pee) and started jumping up and down and clapping for me. It has been awhile since I got applause for going to the bathroom :)

Somewhat formal photos

This is my attempt at 'at home' photos. It didn't go so well. Elisabeth was the perfect model-Isabella was the complete opposite. After a full bag of M&Ms, promises of kitties, and many threatening remarks, these are some of the good ones and funny ones!!

Christmas Photos

I got weak this weekend and bought Isabella the most adorable Christmas outfit-a red skirt with fur trim and attached panties and a matching jacket. I tried the skirt on her last night to see if it fit then took it off before bath time. She decided she would put it back on-by herself. Wrong end, Isabella.

Pee Pee on the Potty

We have attempted to start potty training Isabella...don't tell my doctor, though. She would have a cow! We also aren't obsessed with it-if she goes, she goes. She does hold it for 2 or 3 hours at time and she knows how to wipe. I took her diaper off the other day and she waddles over to the baby wipes (she had on a dress and tights), got one out, and proceeded to wipe herself. She is too funny! She points to the toilet and says 'poo poo' and then to the candy and says 'm m'. She doesn't quite get it that you have to actually PEE before you get a candy. I think we will eventually end up with owning stock in Charmin and Hershey's and still have her in diapers :)

Elisabeth is also doing well...she just got an A+ on her States test...she had to memorize 16 states, spellings, where they are, and their capitals :) She is so smart!!! She and Isabella have set up a restaurant in our living room (lucky me). Well, Elisabeth sets things up and Isabella destroys them:) Elisabeth has also started playing with her dolls again...I couldn't find Isabella this morning (yes, Mom, I had the gate shut at the top of the stairs) and she was in feeding Elisabeth's doll a bottle. I am hoping she starts loving dolls-Elisabeth has every Lee Middleton under the sun!

Isabella's Trip to Build-a-Bear

Elisabeth, thanks to my father, has an entire collection of Build-a-Bear animals....clothing for every season included. Why would a reindeer need a bathing suit?? Anyway, Mom decided it was time to start Isabella's collection seeing that Dad has Elisabeth covered. The only thing about Isabella is that if she doesn't like something, she lets you know right away. We walked into the store and showed her the kitty cat. You can see her reaction from the pictures....and no, Nanny did not spring for summer or winter wear :)