Birthday Rehearsal

Brooke brought cupcakes to school today, to practice celebrating her birthday ... which is tomorrow.  It appears all went well.  She ate two cupcakes at school and has been trying to convince me to give her another since we have been home.  So far she is digging the whole birthday thing.

We also practiced a few other things...

Why, yes!  It is my birthday!

I'm THIS many!

I said I wanted a weasel and a weasel ball.  
What's up with all this Dora stuff?

Maybe Being Potty Trained Isn't So Great After All

Brooke has been making great strides with potty training.  In fact, she pretty much only goes in the potty now. Although, it appears that there is a downside to this new situation.  Last night she called me in at 1:30 AM to announce that she had a wet diaper and needed it changed.  Middle-of-the night dealings are not totally uncommon with her, but after a few drinks at dinner last night ... this one was especially challenging.

So we changed diapers and I stumbled back to bed.

"Cough Cough"
"Cough Cough"

Her cough (which is now going on about its 2 year anniversary) is back.  It actually started yesterday during the day, but when she woke up to the wet diaper it also set off the cough.  She needed her inhaler a couple of times and continued to cough until a bit after 2AM, until finally she (and I) settled back to sleep.  Well, for the next few hours, since she popped up at 6:31AM ready for the day to begin.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunday She Said

Heard her whining over the monitor at bedtime ...

"I can't sleep this late!"


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Enrique Iglesias' song "I Like It" comes on.  The chorus repeats "Baby, I like it" over and over.  Brooke sings along  ... until ...

 "Mama?  Whats he like?"

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"I want shoes with snakes on them" ... "For a party at Aunt Jackie and Uncle Tim's"

A Day At The Shedd

We had promised Brooke a zoo outing and as the week progressed we watched the forecast change to pretty unfavorable weather. This morning it looked gloomy, but also like the rain could hold out. Still, we didnt want to take a chance. Instead we packed up the troops and head to the Shedd Aquarium.

We spent a lot of time looking at fish and turtles, but also saw a few mammal friends as well.

And, as frequently happens, it looks like Ryan wasn't there. He was! The little guy just doesnt get a whole lot out of our outings ... yet. He did seem to enjoy looking at the fish when we first got there, but it was already close to his naptime at that point. We went to a dolphin show (which Brooke loved), and he had a hard time sitting through (though he clapped every time the audience did). After the show we went to see the Jellies. He looks unimpressed, but really he was just seconds from passing out ;) He then slept the rest of the time.

His Father's Son

Ryan has a pretty keen interest in the remote control. The remote has a face that lights up, and he notices every time someone uses it. When he get his hands on it, he pushes every button he can.

But, it appears that he might be interested in more than the fancy remote.  Each time he pushes a button he looks up at the television.  He expects results.  Sorry Buddy, Micky Mouse isnt on right now!

Pajama Day

Today is wear your pjs to school day! Youd think that would make life easy ... But she sleeps really hot and can't wear more than shorts and a tee. That's not gonna fly when it's in the 50's ;)

Conspiring

These two are definitely up to something. Then again, when aren't they?

Spirit Week

This week is "spirit week" at Brooke's school. Today, the kids were supposed to wear items to support their favorite teams. We have lots of favorite teams in this house ... unfortunately, Brooke only has one item of team apparel. So, today, we went to school in full Cubs spirit. Despite the fact that the Cubs are no longer in-it-to-win-it and the entire city of Chicago has moved onto something bigger and better. The good thing is that we realized her wardrobe is lacking, and that Brooke is in need of some Bears or Illini apparel in 4T of 5T (Hint: she has a birthday coming up!).


This morning she and Ryan were psyched about the Cubbies. Well, they were just psyched because they always are psyched. Anyway, here they are in typical 7AM party mode.

Sunday She Said / HE SAID

Mom: Ryan is a little bit bored

Brooke: What is Ryan bored from? (pause) Aunt Jean?


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(Brooke yawns)

Mom: Are you tired?

Brooke: No. I was yawning because I want to go to Hailey & Jillian's house.


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Brooke: Mommy, what's wrong?

Mom: These people are not the best drivers.

Brooke: We are the best drivers.


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Mom: I have a Dora song in my head.

Brooke: I not see in your head.


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We are outside and the neighbor stops to talk to us. She tries to get Ryans attention for several minutes. He gives her the evil eye. Two random people walk by ...



Ryan: HI!


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A special video presentation of Ryan's first edition of "He Said" :)

Celebratory Balloon

Brooke got a balloon to celebrate a potty-training success. Of course, she picked one with Dora! Ryan is having a battle with a cold right now, so he isn't really feeling as happy as his sister right now, but enjoying a bit of fresh air nonetheless ;)

Sunday She Said

"I'm gonna hiccup, burp, and sneeze altogether, tomorrow."


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Mom: You are going to try the broccoli, arent you?

Brooke: I dont want to try the broccoli.

Mom: Why not?

Brooke: Its too bitey.


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"Mama, my diaper is tired"

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"Daddy, what's your favorite color at your work?"


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Daddy: What would you like for your birthday?

Brooke: A weasel and a weasel ball.

Daddy: What's a weasel ball?

Brooke: It's kind of like a weasel.


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"That bug is not moving. He broke his self."

Stairs!

Went out to lunch today with Aunt Jean and cousin Elizabeth. Lunch went great and the kids were well behaved (other than Ryan knocking over a glass and soaking the entire table ... but that was at the end of the meal and no harm was truly done). After lunch Ryan decided to show off for the girls. He crawled over to the stairs, and began climbing them. It was his first journey on the stairs!

He got up two stairs, across the landing, and then up four more. He didnt seem to struggle at all, but decided on the 6th stair to just lay down and hang out. What a showoff.

Thankfully Aunt Jean had her phone in her pocket and snapped a few pics of Ryan's first time doing stairs ;)

Ying & Yang

Brooke and Ryan may look similar, but their personalities could not be more different. We have noticed, that from birth, they actually appear to be almost polar opposites of one another. While Brooke was (and still is) more reserved and serious, Ryan is outgoing and silly. Brooke has never been warm to strangers, Ryan gravitates towards them. While Brooke was interested in books and constructive play, Ryan is interested in things that go and taking things apart. Toys Brooke loved as a baby are rejected by Ryan, while the toys that never seemed to stimulate Brooke are those that Ryan now loves the most.


Even more evidence of their different natures is their relationship with food. Brooke LOVED food. She would eat anything. We had to give her food in small quantities because she would take everything in front of her mouth and try to eat it ... without chewing. We had to break her food into tiny bites well past the age of 1, because she would take extremely large pieces and put the whole thing into her mouth. Her brother, on the other hand, eats to eat. He eats because he has to and wants to get the whole experience over with. He doesnt seem to really like any particular food, nothing really gets him excited. We can give him large pieces of food and he takes his time, tiny bite by tiny bite. While Brooke's first word was "more" (often said at the top of her lungs), Ryan continually repeats "done" and "all done" during a meal.


They do have some similarities. For example, both have shown a very early love and interest in music. But, again they differ. While Brooke has always felt the need to move to music, Ryan appears compelled to sing. Perhaps thats a good thing. We might have a band-in-the-making here in our house :)

Wordless Wednesday

Ryan Is 10 Months Old

Weight:
Height:
Still need to weigh him!

According to What to Expect the First Year, at 10 months Ryan...

should be able to

• stand holding on to someone or something X
• pull up to a standing position from sitting
• object if you try to take a toy away X
• say "mama" or "dada", indiscriminanately X
• play peekaboo X
• exchange back-and-forth gestures with you X

will probably be able to

• get into a sitting position from stomach
• play patty-cake (clap hands) or wave bye-bye X
• pick up tiny object with any part of thumb and finger X
• walk holding on to furniture (cruise) X
• understand "no" (but not always obey it)X

may possibly be able to

• stand alone momentarily
• say "dada" or "mama" discriminatelyseems to say some words, but not sure
• point to something to get needs met

may even be able to

• indicate wants in ways other than cryinggrunting a bit for things
• "play ball" (roll ball back to you)
• drink from a cup independently X
• pick up a tiny object neatly with tips of thumb and forefinger X
• stand alone well
• use immature jargoning (gibberish that sounds as if baby is talking in a made-up foreign language)X
• say one word other than "mama" or "dada" hi, done
• respond to a one-step command with gestures ("Give that to me," said with hand out)
• walk well

X means Ryan can do this at 10 months

Sunday She Said

"I drive mine horn and beep all the cars"


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"Tomorrow I'm going to be in space. With Dora."

Apple Picking

"I'm Not Tired"

"I'm Not Tired"
Originally uploaded by dawnrschneider

Talking Shop Over Breakfast