Date with Mommy

Joshua's new firetruck, a birthday present from Donna. He LOVES it. It was all I could do to get him to bed last night (without truck) and this morning when I went to get him, the first thing he did was point to it and say "po po, open, peas" ('po po' is anything with a light on top, it was still in the box, and "peas" is please) - hmmm, would that count as Joshua's first sentence?

he's pointing to the door saying "wies" because I asked him if he'd like to go to chick fil a. He was also saying "caw, hairpane, toot, bike" because he was naming all the things he wanted to ride at the mall. Hmm, I think Craig gets that same look on his face when I ask if he wants to go to chick fil a.we had to go grocery shopping at walmart first, much to Joshua's dismay (as you can see). Unfortunately for him, there's not $489 in his piggy bank yet. If only I had known there were riding mowers at walmart... this would have saved us many a detour to Lowe's
yup, he's still miserable.

then we went to the mall. Here he is riding the "toot" (train). Poor little guy, not having any fun at all.

Here he is with his Chick fil A (or "love in a bag" as Amy Beth likes to call it). I had to post this picture because I wanted to point out that the firetruck is on the table. He was upset that it wouldn't fit on the tray with his food but was able to compromise and let me put it on the table.

and he's back to work. He got his little fireman from his other firetruck and brought him to me saying "wide" (that's 'ride' of course). It took a little explaining, several different ways, because he wanted to put him IN the firetruck, but the doors don't actually open. The end result was the fireman riding on the top of the firetruck and Joshua saying "p'ten" (that would be 'pretend', as in "the doors are pretend") I may have to call the fire station and see if they take visitors :) Oh, and he wanted to wear mommy's sunglasses, obvs.
So why, you ask, are there no pictures of Zoe? She was at Mother's Day Out today and Joshua and I had us a little date! Joshua had to stay home 'sick' since he had a fever last night, and a little bit today. Looks sick, doesn't he? I'm thankful that it's just a fever and otherwise, he's his normal, cheerful self.

Also, ear thermometer, where have you been all my life?! We got one Wednesday as a birthday present for Joshua and it was SO much easier than the real thing! Joshua screamed of course, but only for the 3 seconds it took to take his temperature. Thanks Andrea (not that she reads the blog)

Flashback

I love that he dressed up as Daddy for Halloween last year (I say as though he picked his own costume). Some kids get to dress up as superheroes from the movies, but Joshua got to dress up as a real live one. How'd she sneak in here... Zoe was all smiles this morning (then the camera battery died)

back to our flashback... I don't think we took one un-cute picture of Joshua last October. I know, I'm biased.

ok, maybe this wasn't the greatest. Here he is with his pals across the street

Well that's it for me. I was so determined to go to bed early last night but then ensued the Great MouseHunt of '08. Mr. Mouse finally met his end at 5am. Moment of silence. I really wouldn't have had it out for him so badly had he not chosen to inhabit the closet that Zoe's living in. Due to my sleep deprivation and a dead camera battery that I kept forgetting to charge, we were pretty camera shy today.

Help a Sister out!

Please support this great ministry in my great pseudo-home state of Tennessee. Amy Beth is hilarious, I learned about her bloggy from Emily, and I look forward to it every day, sometimes several times a day. In addition to brightening many a day, she has an awesome heart for God and shines His light for all to see through her Starlite ministry which teaches girls/young women to live for their True Love, Jesus. The Lord has undoubtedly used Ms. Amy Beth to lead many of these girls to give their life to Christ. I feel so strongly about her ministry because I wish there had been someone like her in my life when I was a young girl, needing to know my Savior loved me.

Here's how to help her out... (but you have to do it by midnight on Friday, sorry)
http://ministrysofabulous.com/2008/10/20/a-huge-favor-por-favor-see-how-i-did-that/

If that deadline doesn't work for you, or you don't feel like doing what she needs help with, you can always go to www.Starliteministries.org and support her as you see fit. Or post this on your blog. Whatever.

Look at Little Miss Holding My Head Up

or you can call her Little Miss Mohawk what a show off...

And here's Mister I Love To Write (he'll say "white" "penh" "paypew" "dwaw") I'm amazed he was using crayons. Usually he wants only a pen.

Not much to say...

Zoe's trying on her winter coat. Thanks, Aunt Emily!

who me?

Joshua trying to measure his measuring giraffe. He wanted to wear his "hairpeng" (airplane) pajamas and his "mine" (dinosaur) robe. I'm glad he let me take the robe off before bed.

Mr. Caterpillar, back for more

First, because it makes my day that she reads my blog, Nonna, this one's for you! Thank you for being such a wonderful grandmother, for giving us (all your grandchildren) so many wonderful memories, and for continuing to pray for me and my family, laugh with me on the phone, write me letters, know what's best for me... and tell me so. God has used you in such an amazing way in so many lives, especially mine, and I love you! I can't wait to see you in a couple short months and introduce you to your new great-granddaughter.

Zoe got to chew on her first toy today. She was chewing on everything else she could get her little gummies on, so I wrapped her fingers around Mr. Caterpillar here. Incidentally, he also happened to be Joshua's first and favorite toy for a good month or two. He's been in temporary retirement for about a year, but now he's back for round 2.

Some halloween candy has been recalled so go here to check it out & make sure you don't eat any! (thanks Jackie & Rosemarie)

No Ma'am...

Mommy: "What are you doing?" Joshua: "Jump" Mommy: "do you need a new diaper?" Joshua: "no" Mommy: "are you sure?" Joshua: "no" Mommy: "it smells like poo in here" Joshua: "no" Mommy: "be polite" Joshua: "Ma'am"

I think this may be why he wants nothing to do with the big boy bed. He knows he's not allowed to jump on it, but he is allowed to jump in his crib. Hmmm...

Also, Craig put up a 'tent' for him with his blanket on Tuesday, and he's HAD TO have it every nap & bedtime since. Aaah, to be so easily pleased.

**I have added photos to my post about Joshua's lettuce incident. I like how Leslie edits in italics so I'm copying her.

This is what happens when Joshua is allowed to pour his own goldfish. He did do a great job of getting them in the bowl, but I think we need to work on portion control.

Free Coffee

If you click on the Dunkin' thing, you can go to their website & input your address so that they can shower your mailbox with some free coffee love... if my link doesn't work, go to Jen's blog, her's does.

...or if you're a hater - a Dunkin' hater, that is - go here for some free Starbucks at Barnes and Noble. Or you can do both. Or neither. Whatever you like.

For these 'hot' tips, I thank Jen, whose blog is always Christ centered, funny, interesting & educational.

**aaaand, if you want the chance to win more free coffee, visit Get the Bean to enter her giveaway.

Who's your Mommy

Here are a few pictures of me when I was a baby. I think Zoe looks a lot like my baby pictures. Definitely moreso than Joshua (mini-Craig, as I sometime like to call him).

Dad, you can thank me later for cropping you out of this picture. It was obviously very early in the morning and you were not interested in having your picture taken (moreso than usual). I'm 5 days shy of 1 year old in this picture Same Easter. Who's that poor little girl in the crib watching her brother eat Easter candy? Look at my cute sad face... and my stylish nursery!

This is on my first birthday. Apparently I knew way back then that I would love a helicopter pilot! Check out my chunky thighs... and, ahem, is that a comb over??!!!

the Lettuce Meltdown

hmmm. I wonder what could be under these blankets on the floor...Oh, of course, it's Elmo... with a piece of lettuce on his nose.

Hmmm. I wonder what's under this piece of lettuce...

But of course, it's the Count ("Daddy"). I guess Joshua thought he looked hungry.

I was making myself a salad while Joshua was coloring in his sesame street coloring book. He decided that the Count was "Dat" (if any Sesame St character looks like Craig though, it has to be the Count...since Joshua pointed that out). He said "Dat," trying to hand me the book as I was trying to throw out some wilted lettuce. I took the book, put the lettuce in the trash, and Joshua started having a Meltdown. Allow me to describe. Lots of tears, jumping, pointing into the trashcan, pleading "Dat, Dat, Dat-dyyyyy". I showed him that I had not thrown the Count a.k.a. Dat in the trash, but he kept on... finally (since he daren't touch the trash), I got a piece of lettuce out for him - worry not, the trashbag was about 20 minutes old - and immediately the meltdown ceased. He grabbed the book out of my hand, put it on the floor and, oh so lovingly, laid the piece of lettuce on the picture of the Count saying "Dat." Apparently, he wanted Daddy to have some salad too, how sweet. He also then gave a piece of lettuce to his Elmo postcard, said "Nap" and ran off to get blankets with which to cover him. Later on, he said "Dat, nap" and moved Elmo's blankets to Craig.

**I just want to add that this story has been published mostly for Craig's amusement. I have just been informed that he does not have blog access at this time - grrr - so I may be less motivated to blog until he can actually read it. I know, you're sad.

In other news, I rocked the vote (gotta love early voting, it was still way crowded though) and got a FREE massage today. Lucky me :)

homework

I've been tagged by Emily to provide you with the 6th picture from my 6th folder, and explain it, for your blogging pleasure. I'm sorry to say that I couldn't meet the challenge as the 6th picture was the first picture ever taken of our little Zoe, and she was nursing. So, here's the first one of her not nursing. So tiny!!

Leslie & Rosemarie, I'd love to see what you girls have got in that 6th folder of yours!

dat, guy guys

Here are some pics from last night - boo hoo. Joshua knows that Daddy is at work, whenever we talked about Craig today, he said "dat, guy" or "dat, guy guys" because Craig told him that he was going to work to catch some bad guys. Thanks for keeping Craig and all the other good guys in your prayers!

It took a few tries before we got Zoe in the picture (blogger is doing this underlining thing and I don't feel like fooling with it)

Joshua loves his "yo-we." Today, I .was trying to wake her up from a nap that was going on 4 hrs long, and Joshua kept coming up to her, patting her and saying "wakey wakey yo-we." Once she was awake and I put her down on her playmat, he sat right down next to her, made it play music for her, and started imitating her funny noises. He also laid down on his back and grabbed his feet like a baby. Too funny.

this is one of the ones we cut her out of. oops. Joshua's wearing his "hairpang" (airplane) PJs, thanks Ma!

Craig and his babies. (awww) I'm sure you can see where they get all their good looks!


Zoe's little miss poker face in all these pictures. At least she didn't blink! As a nice gift for mommy, she slept from 10ish last night until 7:30 this morning!! I actually woke up to an alarm clock. I can't remember the last time that happened!

birthday cake

I thought I had posted these, but I guess not. Some of you might remember that Joshua got whole wheat banana bread for his bday cake last year (everyone else got real cake). This year, he got a chocolate cake w/ vanilla icing. Craig even let him have a few bites! He wasn't too sure to make of being the center of attention, or of the candle

last week was 'fire safety' week at mother's day out. They must have done a good job teaching him to stay away from fire. He just stared at the candle until we asked one of the other kids to blow it out for him
My friend took this picture of me licking my finger and wiping the dorito cheese off his face. So 'mommy' of me. Ewww.

Joshua's bday party & our "Sunday best"

I know I'm a few days behind but we've been busy.
Here we are in our Sunday best today... Joshua kept pulling the leaves off this silvery plant (it came with the house, I don't know what it is called)
my sweet baby girl!
We got Joshua this keyboard for his bday b/c he's always coming up to the computer saying "nano" (piano). I hope he likes it for more than a week!

me & our babies!!
Craig tying Joshua's shoe - Joshua was trying to put his head down on Craig's shoulder, so cute!

Joshua was trying to play with his bday presents but had to drag them away from the other kids first.
they're follwing him & he's dragging it away
such a long day for the bday boy!

thanks for the cute outfit Grandma (Mom)!
Zoe did not want to be put down to nap, so Craig did a lot of holding.