G is 11 months (+1 week)

So, I'm a little behind. Again.

Little G turned 11 months old last Saturday and I just can't believe it.  In just a few weeks, he will be a year old.  I look at him in my arms and he seems so small.  But when he's playing or being held by someone else, he looks so big and grown up.

At this age he:
- sleeps about 12 hours at night, but will wake once to eat around 5:30
- takes two naps
- will eat everything he can get his hands on
- never plays with baby toys (and never really has)
- will let you know how upset he is if you take something away from him
- tries to bite you when he's tired, or hungry, or you've taken something away from him
- loves to see his brother in the morning or after naps
- has bruised his face 3 times this month
- likes to eat "big people food"
- points to places, people, things that he wants
- likes to play "you can't catch me" for just about everything
- likes to chase his brother around the house
- wears 12 month clothes
- loves to take baths
- still nurses several times a day
- enjoys playing with Play-doh containers and my pots and pans, he likes to put the lids on and off
- has started to put item in containers
- STANDS ALONE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS

Happy 11 months, G-unit!

Here we go again...

Well.  It's happened again.

My summer is almost over.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have one more day with my kiddos and I am so sad.  I've had such a great time getting to spend each day with the boys.  Every summer I realize how much time is missed when I'm at work.  I can't wait for the day when I get to stay home with them.  Someday it will happen...

For now, here's a slideshow of some fun times with the boys.

Love

I love this boy and his hypersensitive hearing...

And I love this guy, who is always up to something...

E the Photographer

E likes to snap away using my camera (Canon Rebel XS). Here are some of his photos, as well as the fun I had editing them.

Week of Firsts

I had my first full week of vacation alone with the boys.  No mom coming to help clean up for Evan's party, no Paul on vacation.  Just me.  I think it took E, G and myself into a whirlwind.

We had a lot of tantrums, biting, crying, screaming, throwing, pinching.  I think E is starting to realize that I don't cave in (like Grandma might do). We have had a better week this week.

G is crawling on his hands and knees more regularly than Army crawling.  I've started putting him down awake to fall asleep.  It's actually helped me become less stressed because now I'm not hoping he will fall asleep quickly so that E doesn't barge in and wake him up.  Luckily, G has done rather well...as have I.  Yes, he's cried and fussed a bit.  But usually, he goes down within 20 minutes for a nap.  It's definitely helped at night.  He's now sleeping a solid 12 hours!

I'm hosting my first "preschool readiness" session with some friends and their kiddos on Friday.  Planning is becoming bigger than I thought it would, but I'm enjoying it.  Hopefully, it will turn out well and my friends will walk away with some great ideas for their kids too.

I'm excited for the holiday tomorrow and that Paul will be home again!

Potty Training Regression

We've hit a low.

After what we thought might be a new high.

E has "accidentally" pooped in the toilet twice.  The first time it was just a little bit and he stopped himself, jumped off the toilet and asked for a diaper.  We made a big deal about how great it was that there was poop in the toilet.

The second time, he was trying to pee and pooped instead.  A lot.  I was rather shocked at how much. I let him know how great it was that he pooped, we called Paul, he had a lollipop, and we even got him a new toy. But since then, he has not wanted to pee in the toilet at all.  By the time he went to take his nap, he hadn't urinated since he first awoke at 6:00.  After his nap around 2:30, I tried to get him to go on the toilet, and he refused.  He asked for a diaper, and hesitantly, I gave it to him.  The rest of the day, I kept trying to get him to go on the toilet and he continues to refuse.  We just spent the last 40 minutes trying to get him to go before bedtime.  He has yet to go.  I know that he is afraid he will poop again if he tries to pee.  Sigh....

HELP!