My Girl

Sarah Grace is beginning to show an interest in fashion. She has started helping me to pick out her clothes, and then accessorize herself as she sees fit. Bracelets and necklaces confiscated from Mommy's jewelry box, any pair of shoes she chooses, regardless of who the real owner is, hats, and of course, assorted items from drawers that she gets into and can manipulate onto her body in any manner. Yes, even underwear on the head, socks on the arms, and once, one of Joshua's undershirts as pants. Wish I had gotten a shot of that! Today, she has found a hat. It is this fuzzy fleece thing that belongs to a long outgrown outfit of Thomas. She dons it and romps around gangster style, but the best addition was the football. She has had a firm grip on the 'buaball' for about half an hour now, not letting it out of her sight or the hat off her head. Thomas is completely nonplussed and is avoiding her.

Otoscope

Gotcha!

It never ceases to amaze me the things that children do. I sincerely believe that even at 17 months of age, they know that some things are just not acceptable. And yet, they weigh the consequences against the thrill of the action. For instance, Thomas knows that he is not supposed to take toys in our kitchen. Despite this, he will run the risk of taking his big Tonka truck in there to zoom it across the uncarpeted floor. Now, I realize that this is more exciting than pushing it around on the carpet, but it is a hard, fast rule at our house. No Toys In The Kitchen. None. Period. And so, he gets his spanking for disobedience, and still sneaks to do it again.

Sarah Grace has a innate need to be on top of the table. There is just something so desirable about being on the table rather than up to the table, that she will take the risk (inevitably a spanking) and get on the table. The other day at lunch, I took Thomas to potty and get cleaned up from the meal and left Gracie eating. She was joyfully cramming food into her mouth and taking her time chewing it up, and only about half way done with her meal. So, I left her with instructions to stay in her seat and finish her lunch. Mommy would be back for her in just a minute. Upon my return, I rounded the corner to see her perched on the edge of the table, peacefully watching out the window, holding her plate and finishing the last few crumbs up. Feet dangling off the side, like Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn on the raft. Relaxed as a cat.

I know it does not help to reinforce the rule, but I tiptoed back out, got the camera, and caught my little rebel on film. The first picture is one of sheer contentment. The second is of guilt. She had been caught. It reminds me that foolishness is indeed bound up in the heart of a child. Some seem to be bound tighter than others.

So Far, So Good

It is Tuesday. The end of Tuesday. I have no idea where Monday went. Or Sunday, or even Saturday, for that matter. But I remember Friday night. I remember that because Joshua and I had a night out. The rest, gone. Somewhere over the edge of baby brain-dom.

You see, I have a stuffy head and nose. Yeah, I know. Pity me. But, for reasons I can't fathom, this makes me less sensible than my normal self these days. For instance, I cried twice last week because I could not breath through my nose. I am not given to tears all that often, so it made the dawning of Tylenol Cold and Sinus that much more sweet. The fact that it took me several days to think of this is a testament to how numb my brain is.

I know I have done things in the house, because the laundry is still under control and you can still walk through my living room. I know I have interacted with my children because there are pictures to prove it. And they are still pretty responsive to my pathetic attempts to be a Mommy. I know I have been shopping in the past few days because there are groceries in the pantry and a couple of new kids books laying around.

So, if you think you can't function at half capacity, I beg to differ. Fortunately for everyone involved, the stupor is wearing off. Even the one that is not Tylenol induced. I think we will all survive and live to tell another story.

Thomas is back to the nightly breathing treatments. I feel bad
for him, but it does make for some great cuddle time.

Sarah Grace getting to know Matthew Elizabeth a bit better. Baby just
kicked Sarah's hand! Gracie simply smiled and pushed back a bit.

Royalty

There is new head gear in our house. You would think that with all the freezing cold weather, I would be talking about warm hats that have matching warm gloves (something that is on the list go get, just in case the skies decide to spit forth snow this year...) But no, I am talking about crowns.

Granny and Papa Joe came to visit for a bit this morning. After about a week and a half of being out of town, they came bearing gifts of foam for my children. To say the kids were excited by their new 'hats' in a bit of an understatement. So, without further ado, meet King Tut and Princess Grace...the Alabama versions of them, anyway!

Weekending

The weather in north Alabama has been unreal. 70 degrees over the weekend. Rain was the forecast, and while it was a tad cloudy at moments, for the most part, one would have never guessed it was January around here. We celebrated my Dad's 50 birthday on Saturday, and it was wonderful to be able to have all the guests, young and not as young, outside to enjoy the evening. I would wager that everyone stayed up much later than they should have, and I know that Thomas and Sarah Grace slept in until 9:30 on Sunday. (An unprecedented event, I can assure you)

Mom giving her 'old man' a squeeze.

The younger crowd.

So, after the wonderful marathon sleep on Sunday, I get home from church to find that the children are both ready for a nap. This pleases me to no end, because the nursery was crowded and I was ready to collapse, as well. So, we had a restful Sunday afternoon, then a family night. We rented the movie Cars, which was precious, made English Muffin pizza's, popcorn, and peaches.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend, full of memories and fun. It helps that weekends come so often...

The Quilt Ottoman

We have one of those nifty ottomans where the top lifts up and there is storage on the inside. It is large, as it belongs to one of those nifty chair and a halfs, and we use it for spare quilt storage. The kids are excellent about not getting into the 'secret spot' and yanking out all my beloved quilts. The other day, however, we ransacked it and tossed all the quilts out on the floor. Thomas and Sarah Grace needed no prodding to go rolling all over them! What ensued was a room full of laughing toddlers, billowing blankets, and much happy squealing!

New Laundry System

Have you ever noticed how quickly laundry can pile up? Especially if you have to carry it across the house to get it to the washer and dryer. Especially if you are pregnant and you have to carry it across the house to get it to the washer and dryer. Especially if you have two toddlers who need to help and you are pregnant (therefore afraid of tripping over them) and you have to carry it across the house to get it to the washer and dryer. Need I go on? Do you get the point that my laundry skills are in sore need of repair? This being said, you should also note that of allllll the household chores there are, I would rather spend the day doing laundry!

So, I entered this perpetual state of having to tell my husband where to find clean underwear and socks, because they were not in the obvious place. This routine went on for about three weeks before it occurred to me that there was a simple fix. Get a laundry hamper for the utility area. Four of them, actually. Whites, darks, colors, and linens.

So far, it is working out wonderfully. There is always an empty basket. Sort of. One that is void of dirty laundry, anyway. And this is what happens when the clothes are out...

Sayings

'Oh, my goodness! Bwess my soul!' This phrase is often to be heard around the Freeman household as of late. Correctly, too, I might add. Thomas will drop something or bump into something or be surprised by something and out pops some silly phrase. 'Howy cow' is another, which translates into holy cow, and 'oh, dear' can be heard loud and clear for a variety of reasons. A personal favorite, 'Let me tell you' is how he frequently introduces himself into conversation.

While Sarah Grace doesn't have quite the use of her vocabulary that Thomas does, she will often be heard (repeatedly) calling 'gaket, gaket!' (jacket or blanket, which ever one it is she is after) 'up', which could mean up or down or in or out or help. Also, when she does get her beloved jacket on her little body, she immediately starts patting her head with both hands and demanding 'hut', pronounced hat by you and me. She will also poke her little fingers into your mouth, eyes, nose, and ears as she cheerily calls out 'ouths', 'eyez', 'nooz', or 'eerz'.

Frequently, after these episodes, you can hear Thomas calling out 'tiss it' (kiss it) as Sarah Grace has jammed her finger more harshly than intended. Thomas is also quick to offer to 'tiss it' should he hear me or Joshua, or even Sarah Grace yelp in pain over some small incident. In his mind, a quick 'tiss' makes it 'allll better. otay?'

Another laugh at our house would be our mimicking Sarah Grace. One afternoon on a family car ride, Joshua and I were chatting back and forth and he yelled out 'WOOT, WOOT'. To our great entertainment, Gracie called back to him, 'oooo, hoot!' Then there is Thomas and his 'it stuck'. This could mean that something is actually stuck, or that he is stuck. Being crammed into his car seat results in a loud 'IT STUCK' and 'OPEN IT' several times before he accepts the fact that he is going to have to stay put.

Mornings are greeted with 'duice, pwease, I need duice' (juice) from Thomas, with Sarah Grace echoing sweetly, 'duice?' Another morning favorite is the plaintive answer 'oatmilk' (oatmeal) when I ask what they want to eat. When I announce Diaper Time, Sarah Grace has been known to drop whatever she is doing and lay down right there, sticking her feet high into the air, waiting patiently for the clean diaper, while Thomas hollers 'Wadies first' (Ladies first) and runs off to another room to put off his Diaper Time for as long as possible. Then, as soon as the dirty duds are all done, Sarah Grace starts chanting 'tash, tash' and Thomas obliging manipulates the baby lock so that she can toss any waste into the cannister.

At computer time, Thomas climbs up into my lap and begs for me to 'say Thomas on tumputer.' So, we go to Word and write 'Thomas', then 'Saywuh', then any other word or letter that Thomas can think of. Around lunch and dinner time, if I am wondering out loud what to make, I hear 'pish sticks' (fish sticks). This is a favorite of my children, despite the fact that I can't stand fish. Ironic how these things work out, eh?

I know there are several more phrases that spout from their mouths every day, but these are some of my favorites. I know the list will grow, and some things will drop off. I write them down for my memory and to share some of our sunshine with you. Blessings.

Pea In The Pod

Baby playing peek a boo! See the little face?

Profile shot! Notice the way this one arches it's little head back...is that a tell-tale sign??

Today, I went for THE ULTRASOUND. You know, the one where we can peek inside my own belly, thanks to technology, and see the little person that has been flipping around in there keeping me up at night? The one where they will tell if it is a boy or a girl?

Well, congratulations! It's a....baby! No, we did not find out. I so enjoy the not knowing, the surprise of it all. So for now, just rest assured that this is our little Matthew Elizabeth. And he/she is quite healthy and remarkably active. The gal that did the ultrasound commented on how incredibly active this baby is. I just laughed and agreed with her. This kid is making Thomas and Sarah Grace look like knots on logs.

I was also told that my due date is moved up to mid April rather than the end of April. This is great news, to me. It means that maybe we get to meet this little person sooner than we originally thought!

Resolutions - 2007

I have been flipping internet pages, if you will, reading up on some of my habitual blog stops, and I am beginning to notice a common theme. Resolutions. People really do make them. I have never been one much for making, or sticking to them if I do make them, but I am thinking that maybe now is the time to grow up. Or to at least make some realistic ones and be grown up enough about them to strive to reach them. Goals, really. Things I would like to accomplish in the next year.

So, with each one of you as my witness, here we go. No pressure. =)

1) Get involved in a regular Bible Study.
2) Read some of those Top 100 Books - Goal - 10
3) Finish decorating my poor children's bedrooms.
4) Begin a more scheduled day for my small family.
5) Try more new recipes. (I know my DH will love that one!)
6) Resume Quiet Times and journaling. (As a mommy of 2.5, this will probably be the hardest.)
7) Grow more in my relationship to my Savior.

I think that should be enough to keep anyone busy. Keep in mind, 2 year old, 1 year old, and baby due in April. These little precious people take up much of my time, and they deserve it. I find that most days, even if it is a day spend 'putting out fires' in the wake of those cute kids of mine, though, I simply don't make time for things that will better me. It is much easier to sit down in front of this computer and read about other folks, play games, or even make blog entries.

So, as I prayerfully endeavor to continue growing with my children and my husband, trying to keep pace with the demands of a four-soon-to-be-five person home, maintain friendships, keep commitments, and all the other day to day pieces that complete the puzzle that is my life, I hope not to lose sight of these 7 Resolutions. Not being a particularly disciplined person, this will take tons of prayer and quite a bit of fortitude. =) Bring it on!

Thomas the Builder

This morning while Mommy and Sarah were napping, Thomas and I decided to ring in the New Year by assembling a kid-sized table and chairs. The pieces have been in the garage for a while, in one of IKEA's wonderful flat boxes, but he and Sarah are just now getting big enough to really appreciate having the table to play and eat on.

For those of you who haven't dealt with IKEA furniture before, it's pretty simple to put together. So simple that the instructions have absolutely no words. They're composed entirely of line drawings of something vaguely resembling a man performing the assembly of whatever the "thing" is. All fasteners and tools are provided.

Thomas jumped right in at the beginning, helping me put the pieces for the table and each chair in separate little piles. The first steps involved joining parts of the frames with wooden pegs, and Thomas was more than happy to "Push it!" once I'd gotten all the holes lined up (sometimes even before). Once things were pretty well framed up, it was time for the bolts. Upon seeing the little wrench being turned, Thomas lost interest in unfolding all the screwdrivers on my Leatherman tool and came to see what he could do. A few instructions later he was happily tightening the bolts on his chair. It took him a couple of tries to figure out how to keep the Allen wrench on the bolt head, but he had it down by the second bolt. With one chair assembled and tested, it was time to "do Gwacie's!" Pretty soon I had a little boy proudly playing on furniture that he had a real hand in putting together.

Thomas shows off his skill with a wrench!


Gracie appreciates her chair.


Thomas is proud of his accomplishment.

Can you tell that I'm pretty proud too? I was excited to see Thomas's enthusiasm and ability. Excited, because I learned pretty much every primary skill I have just as Thomas did today - by just being around and involved as Mom or Dad did things. Dad rarely took me aside and said, "OK, son, today we're going to learn about... hammers and saws," but I helped build more than one deck. We never did "Fire Building 101," but I helped gather and burn a lot of brush. I fondly remember "doing stuff" with Mom and Dad, and I'm pleased to find myself well-equipped for life as a result. I'm hopeful that my kids will get to enjoy many similar experiences, along with the future benefits they'll provide.