28 February 2009

And then there's Andrew..


I think the other moms in our preschool group are impacting Andrew for the better. They're all very health-concious and one mom in particular has chosen to not feed her family sugar but once a week - they eat tons of fruits & veggies and her 5-year-old loves to eat salad! Andrew is now constantly asking me about the foods we eat, "Is this healthy?" It's a constant, everyday thing with him and it's a wake-up call for me because some things that I feed my children are really not healthy (chicken nuggets are a staple in our home). And now Andrew is more willing to eat more veggies when I tell him it's very healthy and it will make him strong. I did tell him, though, that some things aren't healthy, but if you eat them every once in awhile, they're still okay because they make us happy. I mean, I think we'd all agree that a chocolate-chip cookie makes everything better when you're having "a day".

And I don't know which mom (or TV show) taught Andrew this, but he now comes up to me, taps me on my arm, and says, "Um, excuse me please..." when he wants to get my attention.

I don't think Andrew has a mean or deceitful bone in his body - I'm starting to see other kids his age do/say things that just aren't nice, but he seems oblivious to it all. I hope he skips that stage altogether! He does, however, tease his brother relentlessly - nothing makes my blood boil more than when I hear Josh's screaching followed by Andrew's giggling.

We also had a little incident on Friday. We made a quick trip to the store, I was obviously in la-la-land because when I went to buckle Andrew in his seat, I discovered a bag of suckers in his hands! He most definitely had a guilty look on his face so I knew that he knew that he did something wrong. I told him that we had to go back in the store to let them know that he took this candy and didn't pay for it. He didn't want to do it and he was embarrassed, but I told him that he'd be okay and that I'd hold his hand. When we got to the customer service desk, he looked up and handed the candy to the employee and said, "Um, um, um. I didn't pay for this." The employee was perfect, she told him that taking things was wrong, but he was doing the right thing by being honest. Let's hope this will be his first and only offense.

We started the Hooked on Phonics program this school year - I'm really liking it. We're about halfway through (we're taking it very slowly) and his reading is really taking off! He can also do simple math addition & subtraction. Four-year-olds are fun because they have a natural desire to learn anything and everything. Oh, and he's reached the "why" stage. Someone told me that you have to answer every why so that later on, they'll still want to ask you questions.

Andrew has a great sense of humor. Often I'll catch him breaking into a fit of giggles. When I ask him what's so funny, he'll tell me a story about something that happened that day that was so funny to him. Most of the time, I can't understand what the heck he's talking about, but I can't help but giggle with him.

Andrew had swim lessons in January - it was a pretty intense schedule (4 days a week for 4 weeks), but he can now float and he can do a rudimentary form of freestyle. And he loves it! I totally recommend swim lessons in January - it makes the dreariest part of the winter fly by. Here is some video that I took the last day of his lessons:


Bliss

A few weeks ago I started going to a yoga studio. I took classes before I had Andrew and I've done videos, but going to an actual studio devoted to just yoga is amazing. The studio is warm, with lighted candles and soothing/funky music. I go in the evenings and the lights get dimmer throughout the practice. When I went last night, our teacher went around to each student and dabbed some sort of eucalyptus oil on our foreheads when we were in the shavasana pose(mmmmmmm..). And my favorite part - I can breathe from the bottom of my belly to the top of my head after a workout - I am completely relaxed (and yet sore the next day). Yoga is so unique that way - it's a rigorous workout for your body, but it also focuses on the mind and spirit. I needed to do SOMETHING for my naturally-tightly-wound-self. I think I've found my sanity.

27 February 2009

Oh Josh

Note Josh's fashion ensemble: Dino Jammies, light-up sneakers, camo pullover.

Josh is two. Two-year-olds are crazy. And funny. I wonder if he'll be an early reader. He is obsessed with words. He points to random words and says, "Whasthasay?" (What's that say?)

He is bound and determined to choose what he wears. Most of the time I give in. Even when he wants to change into pj's. There is a little boy in our neighborhood that is ALWAYS in his pj's - I've always wondered why, well now I know.

He calls applesauce "apple yuck." I'm the only one in this house that likes it, apparently. The other night I made soup, he took one bite and he was done. He had snacks just before dinner so I didn't push him to eat and I let him leave the table. He then ran up and down the hallway and every time he passed us, he'd say, "No soup!"

He's reached a new level of obsession with his grandma. I'm not really sure why, but every time he sees a door to a house (in books, around our neighborhood, etc.), he says "Grandma!"

When he wakes up in the morning (and lately it's been befor 6:30 am), he'll yell, "Andrew! Andrew!" I think he realizes that yelling for mommy will do him no good.


He is SO talented in the art of tantrum throwing. I mean, he throws some good ones. He's a stubborn little thing, but he's still sweet and cuddly, so we let it slide.

22 February 2009

" A Sun" ????!!???

Every night for the past 2 weeks Josh has requested me to sing "A Sun." I've tried "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam", "Once There Was A Snowman," "Itsy Bitsy Spider." I haven't gotten it right and Josh is fed up with me. So I'm asking all mothers of toddlers, what do you think he's asking for? (Thanks for your help!)

I asked his nursery leader to give me a list of songs they sing, listed below:

-Book of mormon stories
-Child of God
-Popcorn popping
-Once there was a snowman
-In the leafy treetops
-If you're happy and you know it
-The chapel doors
-Head shoulders knees and toes
-Love to see the Temple
-Sunbeam
-Wheels on the bus
-Twinkle little star


-I feel my saviors love
-Family can be together forever
-Trying to be like Jesus
-Jesus said love everyone
-I know my father lives
-My Heavenly Father loves me
-Happy Family
-Family Prayer
-Away in a manger (christmas)
-Did jesus really live again (easter)
-Love is spoken here
-Reverently Quietly

10 February 2009

He'd swim through shark-infested waters just to get me a lemonade

If you're a Dr. Laura fan, the above statement will make perfect sense. This is a shout-out to my husband who puts up with my craziness, and believe me, I'm crazy. This weekend we moved all our junk across the hall to an apartment that has the same amount of bedrooms, but a larger living room. We moved for a corner. It was totally worth it to me, but for Randy it was an act of true love. I am a lucky girl.

05 February 2009

I Miss My Babies

Today I dropped my kids off to Grandma & Grandpa's house for the weekend. I've been so excited for this. A whole weekend without children. To do whatever I want. Well, except for that pesky little chore of moving (we're just moving to an apartment across the hall). But every time I pass their bedroom, I want to go sneak in there to watch them sleep and give them a little snug. But they're not there. Sad.



Grandma took some pictures while the boys were with her...they had a great time: