Movie Monday

Title: He Loves Him Some Chapstick

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My favorite things about today....

- getting to hold Liam during church while he slept blissfully through the whole thing.

- this morning when Miles would start to laugh at something that he anticipated would be funny, but hadn't actually happened yet.

- having the whole house to myself for an entire hour while everyone else took an afternoon nap.

- watching Miles run around the house so fast that he almost lost control turning the corner.

- miles peeking out of his room when he was supposed to be in bed going to sleep - and me trying really hard not to laugh.

- skyping with my parents.

- getting nothing done.

Faker...

Today I was getting ready for work just like any other day.  Everyone in the house slept, except for me.  Just as I was putting on the finishing touches (it takes an army, people) out walked Miles - making it the first morning he has been awake when I've left since the time change. 
We spent some time together - which made me later than I wanted to be - but was still totally worth it.  Just when I was leaving he started what I thought was going to be a huge fit.  It really just turned out to a half-hearted fake whining that was short lived.  Part of me was a little disappointed that he wasn't super upset to see me leave, but then a bigger part of me was happy that he obviously didn't care.  It was as though the whining was for my benefit - an effort (albeit a lousy one) to seem sincere in his plead for me to stay and play with him.  So, I got to leave with the satisfaction of 1. Knowing he was okay, and 2. Knowing that he cared enough to make me feel missed. 
It was a little bit like I got the best of both worlds.  This little guy knows just how to work it.  I am in big trouble.

Wordless Wednesday - getting ready for bed...

The Many Moods of Bathtime

disgruntled                         contemplative                          content

When Daddy dresses me for bedtime....

A nice little update...

 Dustin was sick last night and so bear took his place at dinner - Miles was thrilled and couldn't stop laughing or telling me that "Bear" was sitting next to him.

This last week Miles and Liam's nanny was on spring break with all of her friends.  While she was having a great time on the sunny beaches of Florida the boys were being watched by their Nana, Papa, and Aunt Carrie.  Miles and Liam loved it - in fact, Miles loved it so much that he decided he didn't need to take a nap for the entire week!  (I think he might have snuck one in accidentally on Monday.)  By Friday even Dustin had a hard time getting him down for a nap.  After the weekend we all returned to being well-rested in spite of the time change.

Getting ready for a walk

Some interesting things that have been happening recently....
Liam is smiling and laughing like crazy.
Miles has started to say many more word phrases which is sort of exciting.  I can't wait until I can ask him what he did all day and he can actually tell me.  Some of his phrases as interpreted by his mama (a.k.a. me).....
  -  bubye coughr (think throaty irish brogue) (bye bye car)
  -  mo mo (no more)
  -  mo cheap cheap cheap pweeze (this is exactly how he also imitates the sound a chick makes.) (may I please have another chip mommy?)
  - no no (I just did something that I know I wasn't supposed to do, and I think I need to go sit in time out.)
  - uh oh (Mom, I just left a really nice little something in my diaper for you....would you like me to go give Dad a hug? OR I just dropped something on the floor and want you to pick it up)
  -
  -  Okay, that's about it, but I was really thinking there were more.

Dustin has been doing a lot of free-lance design work recently, which keeps him busy - especially since he usually has to do it during Miles' non-existent naps.
I have been awaiting the arrival of my diploma so that my husband can take me out to celebrate (which is what he says - I think he just forgot to get me anything back in December and so he made up the excuse that we have to wait until I actually have the diploma in my hands - which is starting to make me wonder if I really did graduate, or if they were just joking since it still hasn't arrived.)
Liam can sit up against things that will prop him up, and is cooing like crazy.
Miles is getting so smart.  The other day we were eating spaghetti and he saw me twirling my fork.  He tried and tried to do the same thing with his noodles.  We've resorted to being sneaky about things.  For example, we have to be really careful that he can't see us open the spray bottle for his wipes because I've learned that all it takes is for him to see it once and I'll be chasing a little one year old around the house who is chasing a distraught dog who is getting squirted - much to his chagrin. 

Miles and Liam's new room.

Miles' bed is officially finished, which called for a total bedroom makeover (actually just some rearranging to make the boys' room a better fit for two little ones.)  When I so meticulously planned it out a little over a year ago I really had no intention of there being more than one bed, so we've had to rethink the design a bit. :)

Movie Monday - double the fun!

Today there are two movies that I would like to share!

What you'll see in the first one (if you can stick it out long enough.)

- Miles sporting the old-school LL Cool J one-leg-up jammies.

- a quick glimpse at Liam

- Miles' mad transportation skills

- a REALLY worn out piece of paper with fire engine stickers on it that Miles sleeps with most nights.

The second video we took last week of when I made Chap Chae (a traditional Korean dish - and my personal favorite.) Here you'll see...

- the most silent meal I've ever sat through (Miles was VERY busy).

- Liam's sweet duds that his father put him in.

- My obnoxious voice mocking Dustin.

- Miles taking about 3 minutes to eat one noodle.

- Liam hiccuping in the background.

- a WHOLE LOTTA lip smacking.

when will I learn?

Many people don't know this, but before I was a high school art teacher (about six years ago) I was a daycare teacher at a private early childhood school (glorified daycare) for two-year olds for about a year and half.  It wasn't my dream job, but I learned a lot about children.  I will forever respect those that go into this profession because they are often overworked and underpaid.  It was probably one of the hardest jobs I ever had (beside bailing - but if you ask my brother he will tell you that I didn't actually ever bail - even though I spent a WHOLE summer doing it.) (Yes, I'm talking about you Collin.)  ANYWAYS, one thing I learned was that children pick up on EVERYTHING and will learn anything you put in front of them.  Their parents were always surprised by my expectations in their children, but their children always lived up to it eventually.  Whether it was getting 16 two-year olds to sit quietly for circle time for an entire 15 minutes, or teaching them to drink out of a regular cup, learn their letters, or potty training them. 
Now, the secret is to apply this teaching to my own children.  I think my kids are extremely smart (doesn't everyone think that of their own children?), but I tend to lean on the side of a realist.  I find myself not expecting Miles to know things, or to pick up on things, but he continuously proves me wrong.  For example, I haven't been really enforcing colors or shapes on Miles because he seems so young.  However, we put his "stars" on every night and for the last two months he has pointed out every star shape to me in every situation we've encountered one.  He's also started calling circles "balls" whenever we see them around us.  If that isn't him telling me that he is more than ready to learn, than I don't know what is.  Also, we read this book called "Five Little Pumpkins" and there is one little part that goes "OOOOOOOooooooooo".  He will continuously turn to that page and make the sound himself.  He knows just where it is.  Then today Dustin told him that they might go to the zoo and see the sloth.  Miles ran into his room and picked the book "Slowly Slowly Slowly Goes the Sloth" right off his shelf.  What a smarty-pants.  I guess I need to realize that he is really soaking everything in.  I feel like I've been holding him back now.  Shame on me - I should know better.