Bennett's Vocabulary Update

Bennett's latest vocab:

• dog = "voof"
  
• avery = "eeh ahh" (two syllables of high pitched humm)
• santa = ho ho ho

In addition to the sounds he's making, he has all kinds of hand signals.

• daddy headphones = hands on ears (like rainman)
• sit down HERE = pound on the couch at the location where he wants you to sit.
  

Very funny: Jamie and Ben were down at Kevin & Julia's house (neighbors who have a yellow lab). Ben saw Veronica drinking from her water dish, so he thought he'd do the same. He goes over to the dish, dumps his head in the water, and gets his face all wet. Comes up out of the water with "voof ... ahhh" (dog ... water)

Losing Teeth

Connor and Avery are in the business of losing teeth lately. Connor has lost 2 in the last week, his second one was on the same day as Avery's first (Jamie actually pulled that one to finish). Connor's losses leave a funny hole in the bottom of his mouth.

More pics at FLICKR

Connor's Drivers License

Connor was filling out his Legoland drivers license this morning.

He noticed that they "already had 'place' written on the card" for him, so he only had to write in the Pyrus part of the address!! :)

Bennett's Vocabulary

Well there's not much to it - so far (at 15 months):

ma-ma (even after my request to him to say "da-da")
woowoov (woof, i.e. from a dog)

Loves Veronica, the neighborhood dog, as did Avery and Connor. Everytime we go out to the front yard, Bennett immediately points towards Kevin and Julia's house, and says woowoov -- heading over there to see the dog.

First Day of Kindergarten

The first day of the rest of their school lives...







They have NO IDEA how many days, months, years, they have to now get up early and get to school on time. :)

Avery and Connor are in separate classes - we thought it would be best, since if they were together, Connor would do all the talking, and Avery would do all the school work.

Daddy after day 2: "are you guys following the rules?"
Avery: "so far no principal"

Little Walking Man Status

Bennett is walking up a storm now (13 months). He can walk from Connor's room down to M&D's room. And then downstairs he's cruising all around the family room and kitchen, making turns, etc.

He usually cruises with the right hand up and forward - that must be his navigation device. :)

Connor Has No Memory

Kids are in science camp this week. Tonight I asked Connor what they did in camp today. His answer:

"Dad, that was morning, and this is night -- it's a long time to remember."

He Sucks !

Setup: Bennett has been slowly learning to use a sippy cup. For a while, he would allow the cup to go into his mouth, but just think the contents will just pour into his mouth. He's finally starting to learn the sucking part...and the kids are well aware of his progress.

Jamie was out somewhere with all 3 kids, when a friend asked the kids, "how is your baby brother doing?"

Connor: "he sucks!!"

Finding a Mate

Driving the kids around tonight, doing some Mother's day shopping.

Connor: "Daddy, when Avery and I are Mommy and Daddy..."
Avery: "No Connor...I have to find a new boy!"
Connor: "Ya, and I have to find a new girl. Where are we going to find them?"
Avery: "You have to look around! Maybe school, maybe after..."

Not Perfect

so sweet

Daddy: "Connor, if you're not good, I'm not going to sleep in your bunk bed next weekend"

Connor: "Daddy, I'm being good. Not perfect...but pretty good..."

Connor: "Tell me when I'm being 'un-good' "

Cupboard Not Broken

Our refrigerator broke last night, so we had to empty all the food out of it, and turned it off.

This morning, Connor was concerned about the missing food, where it was, why, etc. I showed him that the milk, juice, etc. was out in the garage fridge things were fine.

When we got back to the kitchen, Connor figured out:
The Dippy Stix are ok, cuz the cupboard is not broken!!

Avery Count by 2s

Avery last week was writing down numbers, counting by 5s. We asked where she learned that, apparently not at school - just "in my head".

Yesterday, Auntie Julie was here, and Avery was showing her this -- counting by 2s.


You have to follow the flow around the top middle, couple half-lines, then down to next line.

Pictures at bottom: Julie (J), Bennett (Pokey hair), Avery (longer hair)

Daddy's To-Do List

On a recent weekend, Connor was writing this on a fireman's hat.
Daddy's To-Do list:
- CLEEN CAR
- PLAY WITH MEE


test 2

1,2,3 Children

Your Clothes:

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN
confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

Preparing for the Birth:

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don't bother practicing because you remember that last
time, breathing didn't do a thing.

3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

The Layette:

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes color-coordinate them and fold
them neatly in the baby's little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean & discard
only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up
the baby.

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your
firstborn.

3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical
swing.

Pacifier:

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you
can go home and wash and boil it.

2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with
some juice from the baby's bottle.

3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

Diapering:

1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need
it or not.

2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.

3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain
about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

Activities:

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby
Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call
home five times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a
number where you can be reached.

3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees
blood.

At Home:

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older
child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Swallowing Coins (a favorite):

1st child: when first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the
hospital and demand x-rays.

2nd child: when second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for
coin to pass.

3rd child: when third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his
allowance!!

Preschool Update

Quick thoughts from what they've been learning in preschool (despite the kids best efforts to forget anything they do, not able to tell us when we ask at night):

"There are seven continents..." (cont-EEE-nents)
Circle time
10 stars, get to get a prize from treasure chest

Avery is getting really good at writing her letters. Very precise.
Connor, not so much. BIG letters, usually roaming all over the page, out of order, etc. He's getting better...

Need More Rest

Connor always wants to go to bed later (what kid doesn't?) and wake up earlier. He's not one to be requesting more sleep.

Last night, he got up about 10 minutes after we put him to bed, to go potty. His logic was classic:

"Daddy, I just don't have to wash my hands afterwards, EVERY SINGLE TIME, cuz I just need to get some rest..."

Daddy's To Do List

Connor made a fireman's hat out of construction paper, and wanted to write something on the inside. What he came up with:

Daddy TODO Wash Car Play With Me

Awesome Connor!!

Kids have really taken to the XBox lately, since we got them the Shrek 2 game for Christmas. It's a great game for them, cuz you don't have to be facing the way you're running - the character just runs in the direction you point.

Also, it's a co-op game, with the ability to switch characters amongst us, and allow players to join or leave at any time.

Anyway - we're trudging through all the levels, many of which have a tough enemy at the end of the level. We all came upon a troll, and 3 of us were "down" (aka died). Connor was the only character left. He was scared and didn't want to do it. Wanted daddy to do it for him. We talked him into trying, and he was making progress.

After a LONG battle against the troll, taking directions from us, he finally BEAT THE TROLL.

Avery was watching from the couch the whole time, and when Connor finished:

"Awesome Connor!"

What a loving sister...

Connor's Interpretation

Daddy is sick this weekend, standard head cold. Connor's take on it, as he's walking downstairs and telling Mommy:

"Daddy's neck hurts, and his nose is full"

(sore throat and stuffy nose)

Avery Stiches

After a Huntington Beach geocaching session on the weekend, A & C spent a couple nights with GMa/GPa. Get a call in the evening that Avery had "an issue"... Apparently fell down in the corner of the house, hit her chin on the floor? (to this day, still not sure what happened, Avery doesn't remember or won't say).

They took her to hospital ER to get stiches while Daddy drove up there in case needed. 4 stiches later, Avery P is all good. Got them out 4 days later at Dr. Anna's office.

Funny - Avery described the night: Connor couldn't go to the hospital with us, so he went to Uncle Dann's to "take over the night" [apparently meaning sleep over].

Baby B -- 6 Months

New Year's Eve at LegoLand to watch the brick drop. 6pm NYE for kids - fun stuff.

6 month stats:

• 19.5 lbs, 29 inches, 8 TEETH
  
• Sitting up by himself
  
• Lay on tummy for a while, push up to cobra, roll over if there's something out of reach to grab.