So, this week has been good. We have stayed inside every single day until Friday. And, until about halfway through, I didn't even know that I would have wanted to do that. I always try to keep us going outside or on a play date or errands or something each day. It gives us something to do, gets us moving, and keeps kids entertained. But, this week, as it progressed, I found it just as fun to stay at home playing with all of our new toys, eating all of our meals together, reading lots of books before naptimes, and just staying cozy in the house. Plus, the first half of the week was SUPER cold, in the 20's, and then the second half was rainy. Even in the evenings with Vic home, we had low-key meals and nothing on our calendars. And do you know what I found interesting? Atticus, for the most part, was easier to put down for naps, easier to convince to eat all of his meals, and easier to keep entertained. So, while I still like getting out and about, it has been a really fun, very cold, week to stay indoors.
And, as with all moments spent with Atticus and Grace, we have some funny and sweet memories to share:
As Atticus was putting up his farm animals one day, he runs to me with a goat in his hand:
"Yook Mommy - an udder! wheres the milk? maybe its at dampma and pop's? we betta dough det that milk!"
Upon lots of moments that he almost falls or a toy almost falls or something else almost happens, I hear "oh that was a cose one!"
His new way of getting you to come to him: "I need show you sumping!"
His new sweet way of delaying something such as bedtime or naptime: "I need sumping! I need...." as he dreams up something to need.
The other day, as we were face timing Molly and GG, I told him he could not hold the phone until the end of the call. He tends to walk around showing people the floor or under his chin and not really using facetime for its purpose. So, I was making him wait. Meanwhile, the mailman comes to the door and I have to run outside to sign for something and it was taking awhile. I left the phone, mid-call, on the counter. I came back in and Atticus has it in his hands and while grinning really big, he says "I got it now!! hahaha!"
Grace started off her week needing to be held 24/7. I mean, she was perfectly happy and as you were putting her on the ground, before her little bottom had even touched it, she would start crying. I don't know if she just got used to being held so much the weekend before or being with me so much, including when she slept (we shared my bed half of each night, which by the way, was so fun because she was soooo snuggly and cute!), but she didn't want to be left alone. And her cries are so high pitched, that she was not the most pleasant person to be around. Fortunately, out of the blue, it ended Tuesday. Anyways, as she got back into her routine, she got back to her little sweet, stinker self. She has continued to attempt to touch things, like the CO2 detector and the night lights and as soon as you say "No Grace.", she turns, grins as big as she can, and then reaches that little hand out to touch it. She does come away from it, but not before she smiles adorably as she still goes for what she wants. Also, now in the bathtub, she will reach for the edge and stand up. I will tell her very firmly: "Grace, sit down on your bottom." And it's hilarious, because she follows directions exactly, while grinning of course. Then, if Atticus is bathing with her, he has to stand and let me tell him to sit and then praise him when he sits down just like I do with Grace. Good grief they are a lot of work.
One of the funniest moments of the week, and it has happened more than once, involves the new circus tent. It really is a great tent. Atticus, Grace, and I can all fit inside and play and they love it. Well, the other morning, Grace crawled in and Atticus followed her. Then she crawled out and Atticus crawled out. She immediately saw this as a game and went in and out over and over laughing and laughing as Atticus copied her. They were both giggling and being so sweet. It ended with Atticus getting a little too wild and kicking her by accident, but it was still fun and I love that they play together at this age.
Grace also has learned to put toys away. Genius, right? Well, we have bins for each of our groups of toys: ranch set, legos, zoo animals, trains, etc. As Vic and I were eating dinner, Grace goes to a box and starts picking up all the toys and putting them in the box. It was just so funny because she meant to do that with each toy. We are always putting up toys, so I guess she learns quickly!
In the morning when Vic leaves, he gives us all hugs and kisses and we usually exchange I Love You's and then I usually say "Be Safe!" as he walks out the door. Occasionally, Atticus will also yell really loudly "BE SAFE DADDY!" as Vic leaves.
For awhile, Atticus has been able to sort of count to 11 or 12. If he is going slow, he will do all of the numbers. If he is just counting fast, he usually skips 2 and 4. It is 1-3-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12. However, in the last few weeks we have added another number to our range. The number is....46 5. Spoken just like that. 46. 5. "Atticus, how old are you?" 46 5. "Atticus, what time is it?" 46 5. "Atticus, how much do you weigh? (when standing on the scale)" 46 5.
So, one of my plans for Atticus, now that the craziness of holiday eating is over, is to make him start eating vegetables. He will refuse to eat anything that looks like a vegetable. So, Tuesday night, we had grilled chicken, brown rice, and carrots. He loves both chicken and rice, and Vic put two round sliced carrots on his plate as well. Normally, he would eat, ignore the carrots and be done. But, this night was different. First, of all, he fell in love with these peppermint balls that GG made at Christmas and she sent us home with a bag. He has asked for one after every lunch and dinner since then and our bag only has a couple left. But, each time I would make him eat his entire meal before he could have one. Those things must be delicious because he always eats his entire plate. So, this night, when he asked for a peppermint ball mid-way through his meal, I told him he had to eat his entire meal first. About 2/3 of the way done with his dinner, we convince him to put a carrot in his mouth and as he starts to chew, he has this TERRIBLE look on his face. We sing the "chew and swallow your food" song over and over and keep reminding him of that peppermint ball as he chokes it down. He was very dramatic but so funny and when he was done, we praised him and he was so happy! He of course, asks for the peppermint ball and we have to remind him that he still has more to eat. He gets to the end and we are all done and he is refusing to eat the carrot. It was getting ridiculous, he was starting to throw a fit, we were threatening no books at bedtime, etc. Vic finally set a timer and told him that he had to eat it by the time the timer went off or he was going straight to bed. It beeped and he got nervous and finally ate it, with a dramatic, cringing face and chewing so slowly wanting to spit it out. We cheered him on and finally it was gone. And he got his peppermint ball.
Last night, he was ready for bed and I told him it was time to read books. He looks at me and says "No Mommy! You don't read books! You don't match! Daddy needs to read me books. Daddy Matches!" While it was true that my clothes didn't technically match and Vic's did, surely he thought that word meant something else? And why was it so important?
It also makes me laugh that Atticus knows the stores we frequent so well. When we get in the car, as we did on Friday, he will usually ask if we are going to HEB or Target or Hobby Lobby. And, yesterday, we were actually hitting all three of those stores plus Chick-Fil-A. As we left Hobby Lobby, he yells "Bye Hobby Yobby! See ya yater!".
Grace, this week, has started a new game. As we are playing on the floor, she will bring me a toy and give it to me. I will say "Thank you Grace!" and give it back to her or put it on the ground next to her. She smiles, picks it up and then gives it back to me again. We continue this game at least ten times and each time she is just pleased as punch that she has given me that toy. And, what is so funny, is that if I don't give it back to her and just hold onto it, she will reach for my hand as if to say "hey - we are not done with this game yet!".
Grace has also found her tongue in the last week or so. Vic had a meeting after work that lasted until about 8 one night. She had been kind of needy and wanting to be held (later I think it was a tummy ache?) and when he got home, he took her for awhile. I got busy doing something and when I came back to the two of them, she was so happy! I'm sure it was mainly because she just needed some Daddy time. But, he told me to just stick my tongue out at her and she would get happy. Sure enough, this week that has worked. He would stick his tongue out and she would mimic it. Then she would use that little pointer finger to touch his tongue and just laugh! And he would do the same to her. Over and over. While these games are not that exciting, there is nothing cuter than getting that giggle out of her over and over and over. I love that sweet little sticking out tongue!
Yesterday, at Chick-Fil-A, right before we ate, I thought maybe we should say a prayer for our food. So, as I asked Atticus to fold his hands, he said "No mommy; we don't pray at Chick-Fay! Only at home!". Clearly, this is reason enough to pray at other places than home! And, isn't it funny how many things can be taught to them right now that they soak in and just know as fact?
Okay, I'm about out of stories for the week. It's funny how many little things I've noticed by just staying home with them this week instead of out and about to our normal play places. But, one last one. Atticus, as usual, comes up with a pile of books to read each night and usually gets on a kick of the same 7 or 8 for a week or two. Right now, they include Elmo's The Firehouse, Giraffes Can't Dance, and all of the Llama Llama books he got for Christmas. The other day, as Atticus was getting in trouble for something, he asked me "Daddy take all my yama yama books away?". He continued to say this throughout the day if he thought he was doing something wrong. I asked Vic later and he said that yes, another night, he had told him he would take his yama yama books away if he bothered Grace again. So, at least we know Atticus listens sometimes and remembers!
It is so cute to put Atticus to bed lately. He has to tuck in his Woody doll, his two puppy dogs, and his gingerbread man and usually some other toy that has made it to bed with him that night. It's an ordeal but so cute to watch him cover up Woody with his blanket. And, Grace, has been so cute too. I always lay her down and cover her with her soft, pink afghan that Melbo made and she just looks up at me and smiles through her paci, as I tell her goodnight. I tickle her tummy and tell her I love her and she just grins! Then, I can watch her through the monitor, as she runs the afghan through her little fingers over and over, laying there until she falls asleep. So sweet.
And last but not least. When Atticus is in trouble and I've sent him to sit in the corner or to his room, Grace gets curious and decides to crawl to him to see what he is doing. I usually let her and of course he loves that someone is giving him attention while he is in trouble.. Apparently, this morning while I was out and Vic had the kids, he said Atticus was in trouble and Grace crawled in to see him while he was crying. Vic said in between sobs, Atticus said "Dacie (sob) you (sob) have to yeave (sob sob) my woom. I'm (sob) in tubble!"
So, this has been our week. Lazy, relaxing, funny, frustrating, and fun. It may be awhile before we have another one like it!
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