Oh Paci, where are you?

So what happens when you tell a two year old that she can only have her paci when sleeping? Well, in my case, I began to notice that I could no longer find any pacis.  Then Graham saw Ellison emerge from her playhouse with two pacis in her mouth.  So he inquired... and well you must love the honesty of a two year old.. . "I hide them". 

So on our way to school this morning, I asked Ellison about her pacis...

"I hide them under the couch." 
"How many did you hide?"
Ellison pulls out her hand and starts counting fingers, "1, 2, umm... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.  7 pacis!"
"There are 7 pacis under the couch?"
"Mmhmm."
"Why did you put under the couch?"
"I suck them and then I throw them and hide them."

So when I got home tonight, Graham and I checked under the couch. And well, sure enough Ellison was telling the truth - pacis galore! 

Later that night, when Ellison was caught with a paci . . ."I'm gonna hide it."  And she ran straight to the playroom and tossed it under the couch. 

I sure am going to miss this honesty when Ellison is older.

Park Anyone?

Feeding the swans at Lake Eola.

Very Zen.

I am beginning to think I am spending my entire life at one park or the other. Case in point, let's review my week:

Tuesday: Park day rained out
Wednesday: Took kids to park
Thursday: Park playdate
Friday: Planned to go to park, but played outside instead
Saturday: Park in the morning, Park in the afternoon
Sunday: Park playdate with my sisters

Good thing I don't consider this a waste of time.  In fact, I consider this pretty awesome.  In fact, I think I will take the kids to the park tomorrow.  Yep, its a date!

It's a First

Ellison drew her family!  I see faces . . . this is major!

10 Weeks

This Big Sister . . .

loves her "little man".

Dylan is 10 weeks old today! His big thing right now is smiling. He will smile back when someone smiles at him.  He is all boy - loves to smile at his train artwork.  And the Humpty Dumpty Song is also responsible for a lot of smiling.

According to Ellison, Dylan has decided that his favorite animal is a shark and he likes goofy a lot. She likes to torment me and tell me that he likes lizards - he would not dare do that to his mommy!  (I am a bit scared that Ellison now likes lizards - thanks to the new Princess on the block, Rapunzel)

Ellison can't wait for him to grow a little more and play with her.  She has some extravagant plans regarding their playing. For instance, he can ride in her Barbie Car until he gets his own Shark Car, then they will race. Mom and Dad will race with them, but on foot. I would say she plans to play dress up and dolls with him, but on a consistent basis I find a necklace in his carseat and a doll by his side.

From a Mommy's perspective, Dylan is a super sweet baby.  The reflux is gone and so is the crying! He still refuses to breastfeed, but I am finally coming to terms with it.  According to the lactation consultants, his refusal and high palate mean that we have a musician.  Time will tell.

We love you baby Dylan! 

Perfect Disney Combination

For years, Graham and I have wanted to check out Animal Kingdom.  It took two kids and Disney passes to finally get us to venture out there. Well in typical Disney fashion, they have a winning combination.  Let's see. . . we have Princesses, Minnie, Mickey, and real, live animals.  Plus, during the parade (which is short and not nearly as bling-bling as Magic Kingdom) the characters will actually come up to the kids and hug and talk to them (Ellison had 4 characters come up to her). And the Lion King Show beat out the Ringling Brothers Circus from last weekend, first, they weren't slinging $20 junk from every angle, and second, the acrobats did not mess up once! Dylan slept through the entire day until Lion King.  He loved every moment of the show... I mean just give a baby lights to look at and you are golden!

Definitely

On the ride home today, Ellison and I had a conversation that went something like this. . .

Ellison, first we are going to Publix to pick up stuff to make Aunt Kim's cake. Are you going to help me make it?
Definitely
Did you have a snack at school today?  
I definitely had pretzels.
Ok, well after we make a cake, if we have time we will go to the park. Ok?
Mommy, I definitely want to go to the big park. Ok.  Definitely.

So when Ellison ran down the hallway this evening and told me I "definitely had to see daddy and definitely bring my camera", I definitely did. 

And wow, I am so glad I did.  Graham said he was saving Dylan from a similar fate.  Way to take the bullet!

And one of the little man - luckily yet to be traumatized by his big sister . . . or his Daddy. Although it is a definite possiblity that he will be in the near future. Those two are nuts!

I Blame My Mother!

On Saturday, Graham and I took Ellison to the Ringling Brother Circus. (No Pictures = FAIL) On the way home, I was making plans for a busy Sunday out and about, when my husband called me out and said I had problems staying home. (Ha, I realize this is not news for anyone who follows my blog.)

To my defense though . . . I blame my Mother! She was never afraid to venture out with 3 kids. One example, she took all 3 children, at a young age, to D.C. on a train by herself for a vacation.  Crazy? Yes. However, it was the most memorable vacation of my childhood.  Now anyone reading this is probably thinking (in a rather sarcastic tone), "yeah, and it was the most memorable vacation for your mothers too."  And well, you are probably right.  But doesn't that make for a great memory and a fabulous time?

Speaking of things I (or Graham) can blame my mother for. . .

We were driving past my old elementary school and the information board had info on a PTA meeting.  Graham turned to me and said, "I bet your mom was on PTA."  I responded, "Are you kidding me, she was President for a couple of years!" 

So it was no wonder as a child that when I would play with my dolls and role play, instead of heading to the grocery store, I would head to "meetings". And well, some things haven't changed!  My dolls are now named Ellison and Dylan. (Again, don't think this is a bad thing - PTA, here I come) 

Blame it on my mom, it's just who I am!  

Here are a few pictures of us staying at home . . .



I finally decided on a double stroller.
Woo hoo! Ellison loves it.

In fact, I took Ellison on a walk and happened upon my dog.
Yep, Graham and Nana had no idea that Bella had escaped.

Doesn't Dylan look so happy?

Ellison obviously wore him out!

Again, super happy!

After our walk to the park today.

Nana's Visit

Started off Camera Shy (or annoyed depending on who you ask)

And then she quickly warmed up.
(I have about 100 more, if you care to see them)

Resemblance?

Graham swears that there is a resemblance...

What do you think?

Pop!

My little bubble popped this week.  Just when I figured out how to juggle 1 toddler and a newborn, school started! POP! Luckily, reinforcements aka my fabulous family came to the rescue. End result? A new bubble.

MY KIDS

Yes, they are mine!  And I adore them. A few photos from our morning:

Ellison's Guide to Cold Weather Wear:
Pick a dress with no sleeves, beg Mommy to let you wear it, add leggings and a sweater. Don't forget the silly bands and the pearl necklaces. Perfect.

Oh yes, that's lipstick in her hand.

And let's see if I can back out before Mom gets to the car!

I am just a passenger - normally a sleepy one at that!

A Scary Text

The text message I recieved from Aunt Kimberly:

E said to me 2nite. . . she and her boyfriends get married every day at school and stick tongues out . . . how does Daddy feel about that? ha ha

First thing, wow the whole boyfriend thing started early! Second, how funny is it that Art and Kim find humor in torturing Graham (just wait until they have a daughter)!

First Smiles

Dylan has become a regular smiler this week.  I have failed to get it on camera until today, not because he is the second child, instead because my charger is still missing.  Luckily, Grandma let me borrow her camera for the day, phew! 

Dylan has also become a wiggle worm.  I have found him a little to close to the edge of things... which means time to stop leaving him in places he can wiggle off of.

And just a few more super cute photos of our little man...

Day with Big Sister

 

Ellison had one question for Ariel, "Where is Prince Eric?"

Ellison making sure that I see my favorite Princess, Belle.

Very happy that I did!

Graham and I headed to Disney with Ellison for a Big Sister Day.  We had a plan... see Mermaid and see the Fairies.  And we had great success from the start.  Ariel was 10 minutes away from being on location, so we were third in line.  This is huge for non-Disney people - typically Ariel is a 45 wait (which is why we have never waited).  Then the Fairy line said 45 minutes, so I waited in line while Graham and E explored.  Well, 45 minutes was un-truth, 20 minutes later I was texting Graham to come back quick.  Success.

The day was then filled with rides (Small World is her favorite), a parade, and a show. Good times had by all.  How do I know it was a success, well the whole way to the car Ellison cried, "I want to go back. Turn around, turn around. I want to go back to Disney."  Yep, success!

Just a warning

Just a warning, my cameras (all of them) are dead.  Battery charger is lost in a box somewhere.  So, I leave you with the last picture taken until I find the charger.  Hopefully I can get back to my blog obsession soon.  Especially since we are headed to Disney this weekend. 

Daddy's Little Helper

Something about yard work turns Ellison into Daddy's Little Helper:

Ignore lack of clothing - just not important.
Plus it was a warm day!

Yes, we do yardwork in pearls.

Ellison was doing such a great job picking up the leaves.

 

She also did a great job with dumping them out.

And making sure she got them all out!

 

Her slightly evil response when asked "why"...
evil laughter.