Happy Halloween!

What a strange holiday. Let me preface by
saying Halloween is not my favorite of the holidays, but I do
my best, especially now with kids. In the last week or so Lex
has learned about skeletons, ghosts, grave yards, spiders, and
candy. All about candy. Alan’s mom got him a book that just
names candies and treats. He, of course, has the book memorized
already. Fortunately this year he’s just learning words. I have
no idea how I’m going to explain things next year when he asks
why he’s getting cards with skeletons on them.

All that said, we had a good day today. We
went to a special Halloween playgroup this morning. Lex didn’t
want to put on the monkey costume, but when we got there I took
off his hat and shoes (like usual) then his pants and shirt and
he didn’t object. I think he was so distracted by the other
kids running around in costume that he didn’t even notice
himself becoming a monkey. I got a great picture of Lex, Eve,
and Dylan together, but it’s on Michelle’s camera. I’ll post it
when she sends it to me. Eve wore her costume all morning with
a resigned sort of look on her face.

Then we came home and Lex asked for a banana for lunch :)
So cute! So we read stories while he ate his banana and milk
and then it was nap time. Eve slept through lunch and stories,
but woke up just as Lex was falling asleep. I was desperate to
get a few bills paid (you can only put that off for so long!)
so Eve “helped” me pay bills for awhile.

This evening Alan’s parents came to visit and we got
everyone dressed up again. His mom stayed to hand out candy so
the rest of us could go out trick-or-treating. Again, I felt
weird walking my 2yr old around the neighborhood with the sole
purpose of collecting candy. We tried to at least get him to
say “trick-or-treat,” but he usually he didn’t and people oohed
and ahhed and gave him candy anyway. Several tried to give Eve
candy too. We had to politely decline, so they gave Lex extra
candy instead. When we got back he plopped down on the floor
and ate more candy than he has ever eaten in his whole 2 years,
5 months, and 6 days of life (so says the ticker above). When I
put our candy in the basket this afternoon, Lex was playing
with it and asking what each different kind was, but not once
did he ask to open or eat the candy… but after tonight I
think that innocence is gone.

Anyway,
putting my cynicism aside, we did have fun today and the
kiddies were adorable in their costumes. Thanks to Grammy Lynn
for getting them!!

Some pictures:

Lex
waits patiently while Eve gets ready.

Parrish
the pirate and his big sister Chloe.

Off we
go!

Knocking
on Parrish’s door.

So
cute.

I’m not
sure who’s happier about the candy
collection.

Eve
helps herself to some M&Ms.;

Being a
duck is hard work!

I didn’t
know monkeys could read!

(I hung his Halloween cards on
the hearth and he’s been going over to them all week and
reading them, like books.)

Storytime for the chocolate-faced
monkey.

7 Months!

Eve is seven months old today! Go Eve!!
She was so happy she started clapping :) And how did I reward
her… I put her in a big, fluffy, movement-hindering duck
costume! She spent the day with a “what the heck is going on?”
look on her face. Welcome to life, Eve!

Up and running!

I got my first childcare baby today. She’s
7 weeks old and doesn’t actually start coming here until the
beginning of December. So I guess I’m off to a soft start, or
something :) Anyway, she’s adorable and her mommy works with
Alan, so she is right near by. I’m excited. I’m also going to
run a classified ad for a week to see if I can get a few more.
Wish me luck :)

Baby shower

We had a great weekend. Saturday
we went down to MA for Julie’s baby shower. Anna, Jim’s
sister-in-law, threw a spectacular baby shower. Julie was happy
and radiant and glowing and very pregnant. Lex and the men went
out for BBQ and ice cream, while us ladies played games and
decorated bibs. Eve got to play with Julie’s 6mo old niece,
Lucy. Eve talked up a storm while Lucy explored. Actually, Lex
was really funny when we first walked in. We’ve been there
enough that he knows their place and is comfortable there, but
when we talked in the place was all decorated (presents
everywhere, stuff hanging from the ceiling, Jim on a ladder
hanging more stuff from the ceiling, etc.) and Lex was mind
blown. He just walked around in awe. It was great.

After the party we had dinner with Alan’s parents. Mac
& cheese, yum, yum! I think there was some sort of meat
product as well ;) And a good time was had by all. Sunday we
stayed home and relaxed. The kids (ok, the parents too!) were
soooo tired! Nap schedules always get messed up when
traveling.

PS. Thanks to
Grampy Don for the use of his camera! We can’t go to a party
without a camera.

Waving

Eve has just discovered that her hands
open and close. This fascinates her! She sat through dinner
last night fixated on her opening and closing hand. So far it
seems to just be the right hand that opens and closes, but then
she’ll bring her left hand over to touch and feel her right
hand, like she’s trying to figure out what’s going on. It’s
amazing how everything is so new and interesting to a
baby.

Little monkey

I had Lex all snuggled up
in his duck towel after bath tonight and he was so happy. He
loves the duck towel. Then I said “next week you get to be a
monkey” and he immediately said “want to wear the monkey
costume!” So we went down stairs and he put it right. Hat and
everything. He was so happy and, I’ll confess, he’s sleeping in
it now!

Some swinging videos

Both kids are sleeping now and I should be
cleaning my house and finishing my to-do list before the
childcare lady comes tomorrow for my “Welcome to Childcare”
inspection… so… what am I doing… BLOGGING of course! Or
should I say PROCRASTINATING, of course. What’s wrong with me??
Oh well, enjoy the movies.

Eve: scooting,
banging, and drooling on my floor.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS62juF-vVQ]

Lex and
Uncle B playing with a swing at the nearby Shaker
Village.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBX4u9zsNoc]

Eve on
the baby swing at the playground. She does like
swinging!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X_eQGi2On0]

Eve
loves it when Lex pushes her in the swing. She laughs and
laughs. See how he tries to get her out then gives up and keeps
pushing, then says “Swing Eve swing!”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1uCZRnzJnA]

Four for Lex

  1. Lex got his first bee sting
    today. We were in the car, about to drive home, and he started
    screaming. We iced it and gave him an oatmeal bath. He’s
    sleeping now. What a harsh shock when you know nothing about
    bee stings. Books and toys make bees seem sweet and friendly,
    but that’s not always so!
  2. Lex
    learned Patty Cake yesterday. I showed it to him a few times,
    but he wouldn’t do it with me. Shortly after that he started
    doing it by himself, but still won’t do it with anyone else. He
    claps his hands, make full-arm rolling motions, pats his hand,
    marks a B on his belly, then makes a grand gesture towards the
    oven. So funny.
  3. Lex has become
    quite the singer. He entertains himself by pushing a button on
    his Leap Frop radio, which then plays a short, quick song. He
    sings along, but sings much slower, so the music stops long
    before he does. He does this a lot in the car.
  4. Lex knows his alphabet (the song anyway) and
    knows his letters, but he has recently started lining his
    letters up in a random order across the fridge and saying “It’s
    the alphabet!” Then he’ll run his finger along the letters and
    sing the alphabet song. I explain the disconnect, but he hasn’t
    fully gotten it yet. So cool watching him
    learn.”

Four for Eve

  1. Eve has her first cold.
    She’s handling it like a trooper, but you can’t help but feel
    bad for her.
  2. She loves to
    laugh! She laughs if you kiss her neck or her nose. She laughs
    if you tickle her. She laughs whenever Lex is in the room. She
    loves to laugh.
  3. Eve has bug
    bites all over her head. We were outside Saturday and Sunday
    evening and the mosquitoes just ate her up.
  4. Eve is getting so good at keeping everything
    down. Sometimes you can see her trying to keep it down. She
    works hard and is very often successful.

Daycare it is!

So, I have I told you all yet that I made a
decision?? Wahoo!! Daycare it is! I wrote up my policy
handbook, I have my 2nd and final “welcome to childcare” (ie.
inspection) visit on Wednesday and then I’m good to go! I met a
woman tonight who has been doing it for 12 years and she had
lots of great advise. She also said don’t bother advertising.
She said there is so much demand that you can get plenty of
business from word of mouth alone. She actually turned away 2
people this week and said she would send them my contact info.
So, we’ll see. I’m feeling more confident by the day and
(hopefully!) will love my new career.
(Here is a picture from Alan’s
phone)