you know what's sexy?

There is no deep thought in this post. Now that we're all freed from that burden....

Last night, I responded to a last-minute invitation to join some friends at a bar*. I excitedly jumped at the chance for some girl time.

 I had been working in my yard ALL DAY LONG. Staining the fence, digging up plants, etc. etc. I looked like a mess and only left myself about 5 minutes to be presentable enough to leave my yard. I came in the house and put on some green pants from when I worked in a group home, a black polo-style shirt I got to hide my post-partum belly, and the black sandals I just wore hiking. I never feel like I can quite shake a frumpy mom shadow these days. Whatever. I threw my hair up into two "messes," which accentuated the "not out to look impressive" look in my mind. I'm fine with that. I like to go out like that on purpose sometimes. (I'm not sure it counts as not taking yourself too seriously if you have to think about it this much, but I try, anyway.)

I go to leave and Pat says, "Some guy is going to hit on you looking like that."
"No one's going to hit on me, Pat."
He shrugs in disbelief. I add:
"This is not the bar to go to if you want people to be hitting on each other." It hovers nicely beyond the college scene without going into the old perpetually drunk scene. I tell him the only interactions I have with guys there is annoying my friend's husband, who works there and is often our server. (Maybe he's not annoyed. I don't know. But I think servers must get annoyed with the girl who comes in only for a root beer or a cheap appetizer. Sorry, bar-tending world.) Knowing I'm totally right about the crowd that would be there, I head out the door.

When I return home, I proudly announce that no one hit on me. See? As mom's night out looking as it gets!
Then I remembered and had to admit:  "Well, some dude made a call at me and [my sexy friend] well after he had passed us walking to our cars." Then I remembered another fact that needed to come to bear on the situation. "But, come to think of it, I also got hollered at while I was planting flowers yesterday." (I look SO messy like that and I'm not being humble.) "And I used to get hit on a lot more when I was pregnant. Come to think of it, most of the time when I get hit on, it's at times like that! It's not when I'm dressed up or looking nice. Why is that?" I ask my husband these things because he's a guy. He would know.

(Here I'll include a quickly-assembled collection of photos I'm calling my "If you want to get hit on....". I'm doing this for educational purposes, but also because people like to post pictures of themselves in sexy poses online. Sorry these are uncensored. I didn't know which parts to bleep out.)

Do something really disgusting. There were no males around as I scraped unidentified goo off this bathroom floor, but I'm sure it was safer that way.

Wear your hair up in messes and have a young child with you.



[         TOTALLY CENSORED        ]

Okay, I actually just couldn't find a picture of me pregnant and pushing a stroller.
I didn't know at the time how incredibly hot it was.
Such sexyness is probably too much for a family-friendly blog, anyway.

Wear a t-shirt you got in 8th grade that is totally worn and covered in paint.

Forget makeup. Opt for construction mess.

See? I went home with this guy. :)

We threw around some ideas that would explain this phenomenon. I know I am not the only one who has noticed. Other friends would testify that they get hit on more when mowing their yards or pushing a stroller or whatever. Pat concluded the discussion by saying, "I think the only qualification for a guy to think a woman's sexy is that she is a woman."

Is he right, world? Is he right? What gives?


-----


*It goes without saying that, even though I don't like beer, I think it's SO much cooler to go hang out at a bar with my friends than to go all get our nails done or something. It also goes without saying that we don't get drunk or go there to party hard or anything, so no one's mom needs to worry about us. 

just thinking about the weather

Some ambient music to begin this post: 10,000 Maniacs.


My son is obsessed with the weather. This morning, he asked me to turn on NPR so he could "hear the weather report." (I know. I'm going to have to buy him a sitting chair, some spectacles, and a pipe for his next birthday.) Most mornings, when the weather comes on, Israel suddenly perks up and, once it's over, he repeats back to me everything it just said. On good days, I get a replay of some other station's weather from a friend who really and truly just likes to call and talk about...the weather. We know the 5-day forecast around here.

Never missing an opportunity for some sort of lesson, I've been teaching Iz about the weather. Beginning when the leaves started to turn, we watched videos and talked about the tilt of the earth and how it makes seasons. We've learned that different places in the world have different seasons. We've learned that we have four seasons. (I just realized I'm including myself. "We." I already knew this, of course. He's the one learning. And maybe Eden, but she hasn't become involved in our discussions yet.) He's played computer games, putting leafless trees in the winter scene and green trees in the summer scene. He's dressed cartoon characters in seasonally-appropriate gear. He knows his stuff.

But this is a really bad year to try and teach your preschooler about seasonally-appropriate weather. We've had rain, thunderstorms, and 50-degree temps just like the rest of the midwest this year. (Of course this started to happen right after I explained to a friend who just moved here how much worse our winters are than winters a couple of states south.) So when we've been able to go work in the "garden" outside or put on just a T-shirt and hoodie before heading outdoors in the middle of winter, Israel has been thoroughly confused. There's been a bit of a progression in his understanding of what's going on.
It started on a sunny, warm, winter day:
"Is it summer?"
And continued on a mild, wet day, after a few wet days:
"Mom? What season is it going to be after the rainy season?"
And, on the day it thunderstormed and melted all the snow:
"This weather is CRAZY! It's winter! It shouldn't rain in the winter; it's apposed to SNOW."

I agree. (Maybe because he was largely repeating things he's heard me say.) I usually make fun of people who think Indiana weather (or Kentucky weather...or everywhere else's weather) is some sort of crazy anomaly. But THIS? This is the strangest weather I've seen yet. I haven't put much stock in predictions about the end of the world. But I think the Mayans might've been onto something. This just may be the end of our calendar as we know it.


And now, a closing song by R.E.M.

Back to helping my 4-year-old make sense of it all...or not.

The last 9 months

This post is mostly for Grandparents, but you are welcome to it. It's a repeat of a post-style I did in January, which is the life of my kids as captured by my facebook posts. It was prompted by one of those days parents have when they feel like their children' childhoods are slipping right through their fingers. Enjoy as much or as little of it as you want! (And please excuse the font issues; I have fixed it and fixed it and saved and re-saved the changes, but they keep being jacked up!)

Sept. 4, 2010 This morning, Pat let Israel help him make our own crushed red pepper. Before he washed his hands, Israel picked his nose. It's a fun morning.

Sept. 3, 2010 Eden finished drinking her milk, handed me the cup, saying urgently, "ah duh coffee, more pease, waduh ice in!"

Sept. 2, 2010 Israel, pretending, looks up at me and asks, "Hey, horse! Do you want to eat this field?" And he KEEPS repeating to Eden: "Hey, horse...you must be tired. I read you a story. Now it's time to go to sleep. Hey, horse..." I don't think Eden is a very compliant horse. ‎"Hey, horse, it's nice and cozy up here...."

Sept. 1, 2010 Israel, out of the blue: "It's sorta buggy outside, so we might want to watch Sesame Teet." He likes experimenting with conditionals.

Aug. 31, 2010 Today, an older lady in Aldi complimented me over and over about how well-behaved my children were! I'll take that over "cute" any day! So cool to have someone else affirm your kiddos!

Aug. 30, 2010 Israel has more stamina learning his letters when he's "teaching" them to a stuffed animal.

I recommend the walking path at Heekin for preschooler biking adventures.

Aug. 29, 2010
Eden, singing: "Now I know my ABCs. ABCD,XYZ."
Israel: "You cannot sing that because you do not know how it goes."
Eden: " [some word] WANT to sing A,B,C!"
Israel: "But, you do not know how it goes!"
Eden, singing: "A,B,C,D, Now I know A,B,C. A,B,C!"

Aug. 27, 2010 Eden is crying in bed and I heard Israel say, in his best impersonation of his mother, "I don't want to hear it!"

Aug. 27, 2010 Eden: "Hey, Mom! Cacka gums!" Me: "Cracker gums?" Eden: "Yeah." Me: "What's that?" Eden: "Um...beans! Look a dat!"

Had fun with the kids at their first trip to the dentist. Israel LOVED it!

Eden handed me her empty cereal bowl and said, "More, please." Then she lightly pushed on my arm and said, "Later! Bye!"

Aug. 26, 2010 Tonight, Israel seemed to be experiencing growing pains in his leg and said of Pat's kiss: "It didn't work." It's a sad night in the McCrory house.

Aug. 25, 2010 Israel: "I do have more reasons."

Aug. 23, 2010 I put Eden in her crib and she says, "Kisses." So I give her a kiss. "Thanks," she says. As I leave the room, I hear Israel trying to sing "This little light of mine" to Pat. "It just gets too hard for me," he says, "and I can't remember it." This continues to be a week when I'm amazed how fast my kids are growing up.

My kids did a great job at the library today! They were so well-behaved I had to tell you about it. They cleaned up after themselves, said "please" and "thank you," and shared with each other. It's nice when they act like you've taught them to. I know it doesn't always happen, but it's SO NICE when it does!

Aug. 22, 2010 Eden is going around the house pointing out everything. "Yook at dat kidd-uh cat!" and then she pointed to the box of cereal: "bay-suh ban!" This morning comes the sudden realization that she's saying a lot more than I expect/understand to be words most of the time. and, "Ee yike ih song!" Me: "Do you like that song?" Eden: "Yeah."

Aug. 21, 2010 Me: "Israel, you are SOOO cute! Who made you so cute?" Israel: "Daddy." (big smile and giggle)

Aug. 19, 2010 Israel just asked Eden if she would babysit his "Ellie" (cookie monster doll).
This morning, my mom and I were discussing Israel's crazy ability to dribble milk off his bottom lip.
Me: "I think he has my lips." [Israel smiles.] "Yeah, when he smiles, he barely has a top lip. Must be my lips."
Israel: (in silly voice) "I don't have your lip!"
Me: "Well, whose lips do you have?"
Israel: "I have MY l...ips! YOU have YOUR lips!"

Aug. 18, 2010 Eden got so mad in the bathtub tonight, she made herself puke. Oh, Eden.

Aug. 16, 2010 "I realized that I cannot sleep when there are shadows in my room." -Israel
The real kicker is that there ARE NO SHADOWS IN HIS ROOM. There were sometimes, but there are not.

Aug. 14, 2010 "Tinkle tah ow I watuh we are. Abuh da kie...." Name that song as sung by Eden McCrory.

Aug. 12, 2010 Mommy's sentence of the week: "I didn't ask you what you WANTED to do, I told you what to do." Israel's sentences of the week: "But, but, but I was just..." (or its cousin: "But, but, I don't WANT to...") and "Mom! Sorry for disobeyin'!" It's the beginning of another stage, I guess.
Yeah, Israel has also started "reasoning." "If I do that, I will get a pankin'. If I don't do that, then I WON'T get a pankin'? If YOU do that, then I will give YOU a pankin'." We are still working out the bugs. Today, he said he was "pretending" when he said he would spank me (for doing something with my food at the table?) If it weren't about disobedience, these conversations would be pretty funny. Let's not get our kids together for awhile. It could be dangerous! :)

Israel is attempting to free-style these days.

Aug. 9, 2010 Favorite Israel moment of the weekend
My mom: "Israel, do you want to say the blessing?
Iz: "Blessing."
My mom: "Do you want to say the prayer?"
Iz: "Prayer."
...Me: "Israel, do you want to pray?"
Iz: "Jesus, thank you for the food. Aaay-MEN."

Aug. 8, 2010 paid a visit to my sister-in-law's kindergarten room this evening with Israel. Her room was the most fun-looking there, but Israel was mostly impressed with the potties that were "just his size!"

Aug. 6, 2010 were finally able to take the kids with us to Raven Run today! Israel LOVES hiking!

Aug. 4, 2010 We were found outside at Minnetrista when the thunderstorm suddenly hit. Yea for an unforgettable moment!

Aug. 3, 2010 Eden is throwing her obligatory fit about our horrible cooking.

Israel, out of the blue during dinner: "Mom, you're married. Where is your weddin'?"
- We were married before you were born. [pointing] There are pictures of our wedding.
"That was your weddin'? I like your weddin'."
- Thanks. We do, too.
"I like your dress. And I like you, too. And, Daddy, I like you, too!"

Aug. 2, 2010 The kids sit on the counter while I make chocolate chip cookies. Before each ingredient, Israel asks, "Can I pour it?" After each mix, he asks about the beaters: "Can I lick it?" It's easy to make a kid happy.

"Mom? Can we have cookies now?"
-Not yet, but I like your enthusiasm.
"I like YOUR tu-tsie-stats!"

Jul. 31, 2010 The kids had a great time with the Jones kids. I could not believe how quiet it was with 4 under 3 in our house! Yeah for good kids, books, and play dough!

Making playdough for my kids took about 5 minutes and made me feel like super-mom. Happy rainy Saturday to us!

Jul. 29, 2010 I'm in an epic struggle with a 1-year-old over 1/8 of a green bean. ‎45 minutes after is started, the battle ended...and we both won! WHEW!

Jul, 26, 2010 Israel asked to see the GAP mailer that came in and started "reading" it to Eden at dinner. "It, it, it makes you fee bettuh, it gives you a feeling in your heart...." Ummm...?

Israel and Eden are playing together in a cardboard house and pretending it's raining inside, holding their hands up to catch it. Days like this, I'm glad they're so close in age!

Jul. 25, 2010 When I finished getting Eden dressed, she stood up, looked in the mirror, and said, "I coot!"

Jul, 24, 2010 Why was Papaw a firemen?
-You'll have to ask him.
I will have to ass kim?
-Yes, you will have to ask him.
[visibly upset] But, but, I thought you said I have to ask Papaw!

Jul. 23, 2010 Israel is learning to set the table. I can tell him to go in the kitchen and get a fork for "Me, you, and Daddy," and he goes by himself, gets the right number of forks, and puts them in the right spot! I'm amazed and surprised! I can't figure out why that's possible since he can't reliably count objects yet. I mean, he can count to 12, but can't always count, say, four fish or whatever. I'm a little puzzled.

Proof that kids can remember more than we expect them to: Israel came up to me out of the blue carrying the green goggles I last saw this winter and said, "Mommy, are these the snowman's eyes?" And they were!

Jul. 22, 2010 After reading "Where the Wild Things Are..."
"But why didn't he want to stay with the wild tings?"
"Because he wanted to go home where his mommy loved him and made good things to eat."
"But why she make good tings to eat?"
"Because she's a mommy."
..."But...YOU make good tings to eat!"
"Why, thank you, Israel."
"You make good tings to eat...like...BOCK-EE (broccoli)! Bockee is a good ting to eat!"

Jul, 21, 2010 I walk in the bathroom to check on Israel, who had just finished going potty like a big boy and found Eden standing facing the toilet, shirt pulled up, pulling her stomach out.

This morning, Israel was talking to an imaginary person and they were shooting off "fireworks." After lunch, I asked him if he could flap his wings like a bird and he smiled at me and said, "I don't have any wings." I guess someone bumped his imagination switch.

Warning to all parents of 1-year olds: Suddenly, your one year old will be approaching 1-1/2 and I don't care what they tell you...s/he will turn into a tantrum-throwing toddler right before your eyes! Just when you think you know a person! Geez! :)

I had a lady in the store yesterday tell me she was impressed with how "alert" Eden was. It's a great compliment for and INFANT.... What on earth will people do when I'm insisting that she "use her words" and tell her she "knows better?"

Jul. 20, 2010 After Israel incorrectly corrected my song lyrics, I said, "Goodnight, Mr. Argumentative." Israel said, "No, I not argumentative, I'm just Izzo."

Jul. 17, 2010 Okay. The ride home summarized. Adult: "Look at the mountains!"
I -Deeja, do YOU like the mountains?
-Yes, I like the mountains.
I -She said, "Yes, I like the mountains." ...Daddy, do YOU like the mountains?
-Yes.
...I -He said, "Yes." ...Eden, do YOU like the mountains?
- ...YEAH!
I -She said, "Yeah." Papaw, do YOU like the mountains?
- No. (Being ornery.)
I -Huh?
- No.
I -Huh?
- No.
I- Huh?

Eden kept interrupting saying (far less understandably) "Ee, MOUNTAIN! Look! LOOK! LOOOOK! (Adult: "What is it, Eden?" Ee, MOUNTAIN!"

Conversation with my kid:
Iz - Why you say we made it?
Because we buckled up in time.
(Repeat many times.)
Iz- Why you buckle up?
...Because you told me to.
Iz- Why did I tell you to?
I don't know. Ask yourself.
Iz- Izoo, why... Mom, why I tell you to?
Ask yourself.
Iz- I can't do that

Israel: "We goin' tuh to see the fwans right now. They are veey boo-fuhl!"

Jul. 10, 2010 Israel, with stickers all the way up his arm: "I'm Mike and I'm havin' a hard time. Mom, can you help me because I'm Mike?"

Jul. 8, 2010 Tonight, we prayed and thanked Jesus for the rain. Me: "Israel, is there anything else you want to thank Jesus for?" Israel: "ME! [squeezes eyes closed and assumes slightly quieter tone] Jesus, thank you for me. A-MEN!"

Me: "Israel, go find the cup of water you brought in the house." Israel: "Mom, I've looked and looked and looked for my cup of water all day and I can't find it."

Israel: "Do you want some lunch?"
Eden: "Yeah!"
Israel: "Well, Mommy's making us some lunch. Do you like quesedillas?"
Eden: "Yeah."
Israel: "Do you like va-ca-tion?"
...Eden: "Yeah!"
Israel: "Well, we have to get ready to go on va-ca-tion!"

Jul. 3, 2010 famee date night!

Jul. 2, 2010 Israel now dresses himself, gets himself glasses of water, and buckles himself in his car seat. Where'd that baby go?

Jul. 1, 2010 I left the dining room to get a towel and return to Israel chewing my cereal and saying, "Mommy, I like it when you share wit' me!"

Jun. 30, 2010 Israel: "When I get little, I can have TWO birthdays."
Me: "When you get older, you'll have 1 birthday. Everyone gets 1 birthday a year."
Israel: "I have TWO reasons for 2 birthdays!"
Me: " What are they?"
Israel: "I CAN have 2 birthdays. That my reason for I can have more cakes!

Jun. 29, 2010 I love it when my son asks me to cover up his stuffed animal, too.

Jun. 28, 2010 At Eden's check-up today, the nurse asked, "Can she let you know what she wants without crying?" Eden has at least a 100 word vocabulary, but I still almost said, "No."

Jun. 24, 2010 My children just came hopping through the house on all fours saying, "Ribbit! ribbit!" Let the joint pretending begin!

Jun. 23, 2010 Actual conversation I just had:
Me: "Israel, go potty."
Israel: "Mom, I just want to cry."
Me: "Well, you can go to your room and cry after you go potty."
Has anyone else ever used crying as an incentive to obey?!?!
He just actually took me up on my offer because he wanted to. "I'm sad." "Do you want to go be alone for awhile and cry?" "Yeah." ???

I was wrestling in the floor with Israel. He "bit my leg." I started demanding to have my leg given back, so he took his time to make a big spit bubble and tried to "put it back." HA! Eww...

Jun. 22, 2010 Israel is getting freckles.

Jun. 20, 2010 We have all taken our first turns going down the (pretty stinkin' fast) slide!

Jun. 19, 2010 I load the dishwasher. Eden starts to unload it.
Me: "No, no, Eden." [puts the item back]
Eden takes it out again.
Me: "Eden, no, NO." [puts it back again]
Eden takes it out again.
...Me: "Eden, NO."
Eden hands it up to me. "Yah weh-cuh. Yah weh-cuh!"

Jun. 17, 2010 Israel to Eden: "Judah and Nomi comin' to your house!"
Eden: "Huh?"
Israel: "Judah and Nomi are comin' to your house!"
Eden: "Huh?"
Israel: "Judah and Nomi are comin' to your house!"
...Eden: "Huh?"
Israel: "Judah and Nomi are comin' to your house!"
Eden: [starts crying]
Israel: "No, YAY!"

Israel comes out of his room: "Hi. I'm Mike. ...Do you want to sing while I pay the dums?"
I sang with him. He kept a really consistent beat, too! It was one cool version of the ABC song.

Jun. 15, 2010 Israel: "What do we do with the hard rain?"
Me: "We stay out of it."
Israel: "We tell it to go away?"
Me: "No, it's good for the plants to help them grow."
Israel: "That nice of the rain."

Jun. 10, 2010 Israel and Eden are running back and forth from the front door to the back door. Israel: "One, two, tee, GO!" Eden: "Tsee, tsee, GO!"

Jun. 9, 2010 Israel and I were counting. I said, "One...." Eden said, "Two!" Israel and I counted to nine and Eden said, "Ten!" Now she is saying, "2,1,2,1,2,1, 6!"

I love the sound of my children reading books out loud to themselves.

Jun. 7, 2010 Israel: "Eden, it's not a 'weese,' it's a 'fing!'"

Jun. 6, 2010 Israel: "Where does Jesus live?" Me: (buying some time....) "Where do you think Jesus lives?" Israel: "Conner Prairie."
What would YOU say? In your heart? In heaven? Everywhere? I opted for "kind of everywhere..." at which point Israel became afraid of Jesus because he thought he must be a giant and called him a "bad guy." (Did I mention we read about David and Goliath and Jack and the Beanstalk?) Geez! I have some bad theology to undo in the morning! :)

Jun. 5, 2010 Israel last night: "Mom, I have fingernails." Israel this morning: "When I have boogers in MY nose, they are...yucky!"

Jun. 4, 2010 Funny thing Israel said today: "We did see horses and cows! It was piddy cool. It poop."

Jun. 2, 2010 Apparently, Eden wants her new hobby to be climbing on top of the dining room table.

Jun, 1, 2010 Kudos to Kim the Aldi lady for telling the other concerned parents that Eden has NEVER acted like that in the grocery store and then helping me carry my larger-than-usual load of groceries out to the car. It was a rough trip, but Kim ROCKS!

May 31, 2010 My kids have been swinging in our back yard!!!!

May 29, 2010 We're setting the last posts in for the swingset! Tomorrow we SWING! (Israel's already asking where the slide is. Again, he is just like his mom.)

May 28, 2010 Israel just told me, speaking of the shredded toilet paper I told him he cannot have, "I will be disappointed in you if you take it from me."

11:42When prompted to say, "Sorry," (a word she can both sign and say) Eden immediately starts to throw a fit. (If she does not say it, she also immediately returns to the wrong she was doing.) This seems like a heart issue. With Israel, the battle is over once he says the right thing as well, but I don't remember how we go...t there. Anyone successfully taught this to their kid?
11:51: She is still in time out. If I tell her I love her and want to play, but that she needs to say sorry, she says "Pay!" and when I say, "But you need to say "sorry," she puts her hand over her eyes, turns her head away, and then starts crying. Oh, the stubbornness!
12:04: ...and...Israel just busted his lip while playing a game with me. He's so tough. HE'S OFFERING HER HIS ICE, saying, "It'll make you feel better!"
12:32: I settled for "Out, please," because it was lunch time. Hope something was learned....

May 27, 2010 Israel just put his shirt on by himself for one of the first times and said, smiling, "I'm poud of me!"

Israel just ate about .50 worth of chapstick. Can you tell I'm on a budget?

May 25, 2010 At the end of a prayer time that went, "Israel, do you know who made x?" "Jesus! Thank you, Jesus, for making x..." Israel suddenly piped up with his own realization: "And Jesus made ME!' [squints eyes closed and smiles big.] "Jesus, thank you for making ME!" I hope he is always that grateful for the life Jesus gives him.

The kids picked a bunch of strawberries from my neighbors garden. YUM!

May 22, 2010 Burris playground = Disney World to a toddler

May 21, 2010 Sophie (our dog) eats the food Eden leaves behind; Eden eats the food Sophie leaves behind....

Parent's confessional: Mistake of the week #1: Saying, "Obey the first time," on the 3rd time. Mistake of the week #2: Israel said, "Are you feekin' kiddin' me?"
Well, that one is mostly his dad, but I'm not innocent in the matter. It gets muttered under our breath when going to deal with Israel doing something frustrating. Israel said it when I told him to go get his shoes, so it wasn't very funny at the end of Defiance Week.

May 18, 2010 Eden just said, very clearly, "Walk! Sie! (outside) Ribwer! (river)" I wonder what she wants to do?

Israel (out of nowhere at lunch): "I want to be a professor!"
Israel has said (awhile back) that he wanted to be a firetruck. HA! He usually says he wants to be a fireman, though. He has also said he wanted to be a dinosaur when he grows up. We're encouraging professor. :)
Brenda Miller added: That's funny, when I was reading him the Richard Scarry book on Monday, he pointed at the picture of the professor and said that's what I want to be...so I said you want to be a professor when you grow up?

May 16, 2010 This week, Israel became afraid of the shadows in his room. Tonight, it's the tree shadow on the curtain.

May 10, 2010 We made it to Kentucky. I still can't talk, but Israel managed to fill in the silence for me. When we pulled up in front of my parents' house, you would've thought he was at Disneyworld (or the Sesame street equivalent). "Yay! We at DEEJA'S house!"

Having no voice makes disciplining a 2-year-old pretty difficult and strange.
Brandon wrote: I think it's high time that you develop a glare like mom had when we were little. A glare followed by a fingernail pinch on the back of the arm...
Pat's cousin, Jennifer, wrote: Give him the "eye".
I wrote: Brandon and Jennifer, I TOTALLY just did that after employing other means. You know what happened? He LAUGHED at me! Oh, Pat should be home soon...Pat should be home soon....

May 7, 2010 My kids are going to be foodies! Of the deglace, Israel said, "I like to dip in it. It make me pretty happy." Of the ribeye, Eden said, "More! Meema!" They each had seconds of the perfectly soft gala apples, the green beans with garlic, and the parsley mashed potatoes. Tonight, we ate like kings and queens!

Yesterday, we found out Eden broke 18 lbs.

May 6, 2010 Eden insists on saying, "Hi, Daddy." when she sees me. (Yes, she can and does say "Mommy," too.)

May 5, 2010 Israel has had 3 dry nap times WITHOUT PULL-UPS...IN A ROW!!!

May 3, 2010 Me: "Israel, are you tough?" Israel: "No." Pat: "Israel, are you humble?" Israel: "Yes."

May 1, 2010 Pat and Israel McCrory will now attempt to make a BLT pizza.

I used to work with a man who would cuss out God every time he didn't like the weather. Yesterday, my son screamed, angrily, "WIND! STOP IT, WIND!"

April 28, 2010 Israel had a LONG prayer tonight. He'd pray, say amen, and then say, "I can pray for another person." The last "person" he wanted to pray for was me to go on the elevator. (Where?!) I told him he could thank God for elevators that make him happy, but he didn't need to pray for me to go on the elevator. So he prayed, "H...elp ME to go on the elevator and not be afraid and push the buttons to go up and down. A-MEN!"

We often sing the Johnny Appleseed song with Israel before bed. It ends with "Amen!" (pronounced "ah-men" here). Israel ALWAYS says, "On the bus!" I always just thought it was b/c he wanted the wheels on the bus song (another favorite) to come next. Tonight, I asked him why he says that. He said, "because the men on the bus!"

April 26, 2010 Israel has a new phrase from today that took me forever to figure out. Let's see if you can guess it: "Fing-uh-pah-kuh." (Answer: Swing your partner!)

Once again, Israel finished his lunch and started running laps around the table, saying, "Sophie! Underwear!" ...Why???

April 25, 2010 Israel's throwing a fit about having to put his shoe on by himself (which he's been required to do all week). Lezlie's response: "Dry it up and put it on." Pat's response: "I'm not going to be here your whole life to buckle your shoes." Yup. We are parents.

April 23, 2010 Me, tucking Israel in for his nap: "Israel, are you my snuggle bug?" Israel: "No, I-I-I-I'm not a nug bug. I'm not a bug. I'm just Izzo."

April 20, 2010 The other day, Israel sang, "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes...nipples!" It got a laugh from me and Pat. Now Israel randomly yells, "NIPPLES!" during any song.

April 19, 2010 While getting dressed, Eden said, "Bible...so..." so I started singing "Jesus Loves me," and she insterted some of the right words at the right time! She is 13 months old and I think this is AMAZING!

April 16, 2010 We had a great time being hosted this evening. What a treat to be served dinner...and dessert! Israel (who refused to talk upon entering the house) left saying, "I love you!" and blowing kisses. Eden left with berries on her shirt.

April 15, 2010 Israel said, "When I'm a man, I will shave. I will have hair on my cheek when I get older and I will sleep up there (top bunk)."

April 14, 2010 I can tell Israel to go use the bathroom and change his underwear...and it HAPPENS! It's the small things....

Explanation #1: "Because you could break things and hurt people."

April 13, 2010 Today, Eden started saying "thank you" (DEE-doo!) when she receives something instead of when she hands something to you.

April 12, 2010 I'm hunkered down on the couch. Israel: "Can I come pay for gzou?" Me: "Absolutely." Israel: [squinting his eyes, which is funny since I rarely close mine...] "Jesus, pease help Mommy to fee bedduh. ...Jesus, pease give Mommy some money. A-men!"

April 11, 2010 Israel (spontaneously): "Every day of my life, I. Will. Bless. duh. Lord. For He's...gooooood!"

April 9, 2010 Can YOU explain to me why Israel is running laps around the dining room table, saying, "Sophie! Underweeeeaaaar!"

Eden does not like strawberries. But she does like an egg and cheese burrito with sour cream and Taco Bell's fire sauce.

April 8, 2010 Israel was talking about who has babies in their bellies again tonight with the following conclusion: "I want to be a baby so I can come out of Daddy's belly!" Hmmm....

April 4, 2010 When I was putting Israel to bed, he told me two things: 1.) I don't have to go to sleep right now. 2.) I need to vacuum.

April 3, 2010 Telling Israel about the crucifixion: "The people fought Jesus, but Jesus didn't fight back. We want to be like Jesus." Israel: "He fight forwards?"

April 2, 2010 Israel is actually skilled at helping water the plants in my neighbor's greenhouse. Eden just likes to stand on her toes to look in and watch.

April 1, 2010 I just put Eden in the same dress she wore LAST year.

March 29, 2010 Eden, at her 1-year check-up, weighed in at a whopping 17.25 pounds. (3rd percentile.) What a girl!

March 26, 2010 Israel is eating lunch with his backpack on, asking, "We gonna go to Deeja's house soon?"

March 25, 2010 Our friend is in labor this morning! Israel: She have a baby in her belly? Me: Her baby is coming out of her belly. Israel: She gonna jump? She gonna hop out?

March 24, 2010 I just prayed for Eden and after I finished, she said, "Amen."

March 22, 2010 I think my daughter may undermine the doctrine that it is not for humans to bear offspring better than themselves.

Israel is listening to Mozart and screaming, "Everybody clap your hands in the air!" He's so eclectic.

March 20, 2010 Best event of the picnic: Israel sees our friend's dog run into the river and says something about "fimming." Pat turns around to find Israel, pants and underware at his ankles, saying, "Can you take off my shoe, Daddy?"

March 19, 2010 On our first visit to the White River this year, Eden learned to say "river," "rock," "duck," and "stick."

March 18, 2010 I just put on my logicola t-shirt and Israel said, "Mom, you just look so cool!" "I love you, Israel." "I love you, too, Mom."

March 16, 2010 Events of the day: 1.) I only gave Eden one longer nap. 2.) That meant we could spend the morning at the new Heekin park playground. 3.) Totally unrelated, Eden took a head-over-heels tumble down our concrete steps. Horrifying. Worst fall ever. 4.) She's still amazingly happy, if scuffed up.
She cried a bit over this. Her head is scraped a bit and will definitely be bruised from the outside corner of her right eye to well past her hair line. :( She got ice and tylenol and didn't act like it bothered her past that. I'm curious if it'll be worse tomorrow. [still feeling bad about it]

March 15, 2010 Israel just walked past me, said, "Bye, Mom. See ya!" and blew me a kiss on his way out of the room. He promptly returned and said, "You can come with me."

March 13, 2010 Israel: (with no antecedent, and very matter-of-fact): "I'm just very angry because I'm very sick...because I'm sad...." Me: "You're mad because you're very sick and you're sad?" Israel: "Yeah. I'm very angry because...because...I'm just very disappointed." Come again?!

Israel bowls a 72, which is almost as good as me.

March 12, 2010 I've realized one of my parenting lines is, "Stop making my job hard."

March 11, 2010 We're returning from the largest children's museum in the world. Eden says, "wuh, wuh... ts.ts.ts." about the trains.

March 11, 2009, I was looking into the eyes of my newborn baby girl. March 11, 2010, I take out the camera at breakfast and she says, "cheese!"

March 10, 2010 I spread out the home-made compost in the garden using my bare hands because it felt so wonderful. Eden also thought the dirt felt wonderful and Israel didn't let it get in his way. Pictures to follow; laundry first.

March 8, 2010 Israel just told "the Aldi lady" on the way out, "I love you. Peace out!"

March 7, 2010 And so Israel's Mulberry Street live basketball network begins.

This morning, Eden prefers Israel's Super Grover and he prefers changing her baby doll's "poopy" diaper.

March 6, 2010 I crammed Eden's feet into my favorite shoes for the last time. Bummer. (She might have to go shoeless tomorrow. I had no idea she was almost out of these shoes!)

We had Eden's first birthday party today! (But I'm holding onto her not being 1 until Thursday.)

March 3, 2010 "Israel, what are you doing?" "Nuffin." "Israel, what are you doing?" "Nuffin. ...I, I, I just was diggin' in my butt, but...I'm alright."

As I was putting egg rolls in the oven, Israel said, "Mommy, you gonna make me very happy." "How?" "Because you gonna make me happy with LUNCH!" (I guess he REALLY likes egg rolls.)

March 2, 2010 Eden now says, "ba" for ball and is trying to figure out how to throw one. Dropping it or pushing on it without letting go is as close as she gets today.

March 1, 2010 Eden has been SO high-maintenence today. I'd been checking fo signs of teeth and thought, "Maybe some are coming in up top." Then, suddenly, her next bottom tooth appeared this evening.

11:30 dance party in our kitchen

Feb. 27, 2010 This afternoon, Eden was able to correctly point out a moon in one of her books. Tonight, I asked Eden to find a truck on a page in another book. While she wasn't able to do that, she did respond by saying, "Vroooooom!"

One kid down, one kid up. Other kid down, other kid up. Today's naptime = fail.

Feb. 26, 2010 I forgot to tell you that Eden said her first SENTENCE yesterday. Two word while talking on the phone: "Hi, Baby!"

Israel last night: "Mom, I don't need any kisses. ...Mom, kiss this cheek. [Done.] Mom, I need two kisses. [Done.] I need two kisses on the other cheek. [Done...] I need a LOT of kisses!" [I kiss all over his face. He smiles even bigger.] "I don't need ANY kisses." [He wipes all over his face, smiling.]

Feb. 25, 2010 Eden now says, "Dance! Dance!" (Okay, it's more like, "Di! Di!" but she "dances" while doing it or claps and so I know what it is.)

Feb. 22, 2010 Pat just gave Israel a wedgie. And I'm telling.

I know I've posted too much today, but Eden's sporting some pigtails! I'll have to post pictures.

Kiddo snapshot 1.) Israel got a spanking and a stern talking-to about why we don't put things in the plug-ins. I asked, "Do you understand?" He said, "Yes," and gave me a voluntary hug and kiss.
Kiddo snapshot 2.) Eden spent 10 minutes throwing a fit rather than using words to get down from lunch. (Did I mention she now says, "All done!"?) Once she calmed down, I got her out and she wrapped both arms around me, laid her head on my shoulder, and patted my back.

Israel is sitting at the piano saying, "1, 2, 3! Why you sad, Baby? Why you sad, Baby? Why you saaaaaad, Baby?" I guess he likes coming up with his own blues songs.

Feb. 20, 2010 We spent the day with Deeja and Papaw and returned home to find our snowman knocked over...again.

Feb. 17, 2010 Israel discovered two things upon returning home. He was excited about the "bicycles" hanging from the house. He cried when he saw some kid ran up and kicked over the snowman.

I am the mother of two toddlers.

Having a 2 year old clean his own room is MUCH harder than cleaning it yourself.

I know it may be gross, but I like burrowing my face into my son's cheek when it still smells like his morning-breath drool.

Feb. 15, 2010 I just told Israel to say, "Yes, please," and he said, "Yes, sir." I never use the word "sir."

Feb. 14, 2010 While I was talking on the phone, Eden picked up a hand-held game, put it on her head, and kept saying, "Hi!"

Okay. Two posts for Israel lovers. Post #1: As I was getting out of the shower, I hear a voice coming from the register in the bathroom. It said, "Israel, did you really drop your drumstick in here?" I heard some scratching, and then, "It's gone, man. It's for real gone. It's not coming back."
Post #2: I came out of the bedroom wearing a long sweater and Pat and I were joking about how all I really needed to put on were some leggings or tights. Israel said, "Mommy, you need to put some pants on. Put some pants on, Mommy."

Feb. 12, 2010 Israel's first time bowling = success

I'm leaving Eden in her baggy pajamas and tousled hair because I like it.

I think taking away books for the day is a strange punishment, but I hope it'll be effective.

Feb. 10, 2010 Israel just asked me if I have a penis. And so the discussion begins. I hope I can keep it at, "So I can't pee standing up!" for many, MANY years. Right now it's the same way he's asking everything else: "Mom, do YOU have coffee?" "Mom, do YOU have a lot of food?" "Mom, do YOU have a penis?"

Okay, today Eden started imitating Israel's "smile," by shutting her eyes tight and smiling and independently said the word, "baby" while looking at a book of baby faces. I'm pretty sure I'll never have to directly teach this child anything.


Feb. 8, 2010 Last night, Israel woke up crying 5 times. (That's the last time we'll EVER keep him up so late.) Today, I told him that if he didn't finish eating his apples, he would have to go straight to bed without playing. He then started asking if he could go straight to bed.

I just received the first Eden-initiated open-mouthed kiss on the cheek.

Feb. 6, 2010 We just returned from sledding down the McCullough hill. It was a first for both kids and a second for me.

I love this snow! Yesterday brought the beginning of a snow fort, a snowman, snow cream, a warm bowl of chili, and hot chocolate made with milk on the stove.

Feb. 5, 2010 Accident #2 today. I'm trying hard not o be too annoyed, but I think I'm not going to offer fluids for 48 hours.

Pat put Israel's old socks on inside-out last night in the dark. Today, Israel examined his socks: "This my new sock. [rubs the fuzzy, inside-out bottom] It, it...it feel. It very 'pecial."

Feb. 4, 2010 Returning from Bracken Library to make a quick lunch, Israel opens the pantry and says, "I have a good idea. We could have some-uh dat...and some-uh dat...and...some-uh dat."

Feb. 3, 2010 Today, all that potty training mess and frustration feel well worth it. I'd do it again.

Feb. 1, 2010 Eden McCrory demonstrates two of her most recent accomplishments: walking and saying her version of the English word, "dog."

Jan. 31, 2010 Eden just walked from the dining room table almost all the way to the corner chair! (That's a good 10-15 steps for those of you who don't know our house.) Israel is stacking alphabet blocks 10 blocks high.

Jan. 30, 2010 Pat: "Do you like my shoes?" (old-school Converse) Israel: "Yeah. They're cool!"

An evening at Kohl's

I have come to admit that I must have actually, accidentally donated all our spring clothes this winter. Just as I had started building up a wardrobe post-children, too! I find myself with 0 pairs of shorts as the weather gets warm. Pat's not much better off.

So this evening it was off to Kohl's to begin again. I can't say I'm excited by an excuse to get all new clothes. I'm mourning the loss of the shorts that fit right and the white skirt that made me feel downright pretty. I tend to cherish those few and far-betweens I've picked up here and there that actually fit well. The fact that they are few and far-between means finding enough of them all in one season is...well...I'm trying to remain optimistic. So begins this year's summer shopping and all women agree, it is an eye-opening experience. Here's the good, the bad, and...well, the ugly doesn't even make it out of the dressing room.

- I narrowed down the pile of 25 or more shorts in 6 different sizes down to two pairs in two different sizes. I put the first one on for Pat. "You look like your mom," he said. (No offense, Mom, it's just that....)

- There seems to be a conspiracy to fit all females into the under-13 or over-45(ish? I may need to re-think that number later in life...) categories. I look ridiculous in one and...not wise enough for the other. :)

- Israel is a great helper and could run things between me and Pat when I was in the dressing room and Pat was outside finding things that he thought would look better than what I had picked out.

- Israel said of one of the two pairs, "I can wear those when I get older?"

- I bought that pair of shorts.

- Pat offered up that maybe we should also buy some chocolate. I told him that's not the sort of thing you do the day you get your first pair of shorts for the summer.

- On the way home, a policeman zoomed closely around a car to pass him coming toward me, riding the yellow line. He wasn't going to hit me, probably, but he was being a jerk. I honked my horn at him. Then I said I couldn't believe I had done it. Pat said, "I dare him to come try to mess with my wife."

- I'm not sure if Pat said it because he would give it to the guy or because he thought I would, but I was glad.

- I may be too old for most juniors-sized styles, but I enjoy the benefits of being able to hang with the big girls.

staying at home and facebooking

Facebook is a crazy beast. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it. I hate the additional opportunities to offend friends you actually don't know at all. I hate the applications people are always asking you to add to your account. I have a love-hate relationship with the time I spend staring at pictures of people I never see in real life. But I am certainly not the first stay at home parent to admit it is a great way to feel connected to other adults when most of your daily conversation is with your toddler. (Oddly enough, most of my quick, "adult conversation" on facebook just repeats conversations I have with my toddler.) I love being able to capture and share little moments with my kids with just a couple clicks. Without facebook, I'm sure many of these little moments would just be forgotten.

My mom said I should compile the bits about the kids so as not to lose them. Doing so made me so grateful that we decided for me to stay home with our kids. You just can't plan when your kids are going to say something cute or hug you for no reason or take their first independent steps. And I get to be there for all of it. And, love it or hate it, because of advances in lines of communication and breakdowns in boundary lines, you get to "be there" for some of it, too.

By no means are you obligated to read this whole thing, but it's here for those who will enjoy it. Here are the last four months in the lives of my kids. It's not a scrapbook; it's facebook.

Oct. 6, 2009 - Lezlie: Israel, what do you want to pray? Israel: Um...Jesus, have a good day.

Oct. 9, 2009 - Pat and Lezlie spent the rest of the evening being served "bread, coffee, brownies, and ice cream...with salt" by Israel, reading books together, and then Eden just fell asleep in my arms. Sweet dreams, all.

Oct. 12, 2009 - This morning, Israel loves reading a counting book and Eden loves climbing up...anything.
Israel JUST switched from, "I not see it...I not," to, "I don't see it."

Oct. 13, 2009 - Eden just pulled herself up on Israel's riding toy and pushed it into the living room *while walking behind it*!

"Why aren't you guys sleeping?" Israel: "'Cuz, 'cuz, 'cuz...I cazy!"

Oct. 14, 2009 - Israel talking about my hiccups: "Sorry 'bout that, Mom."

Oct. 15, 2009 - Israel warns as diaper change approaches: "It pretty grossy."

Oct. 18, 2009 - Israel is screaming the words from gospel choir this morning: "HOSANA! FOREVER! FOREVER! HOSANA!" Then he looked at me and said, "It petty youd." Yes, it is.

I was shucking corn for dinner and Israel came in the kitchen and said, "Corn! Where are you, corn? Where are you?" and then answered himself, "Hiding from mommy."

Oct. 26, 2009 - My son is so tired, he's eating lunch with his eyes closed.

Oct. 27, 2009 - Looking at someone's birthday pictures on facebook...Israel: "It my birthday, this weekend. It my birthday, too, Mommy."

Oct. 30, 2009 - Israel is in time-out. Again. Lezlie: "Israel, are you having a hard time obeying?" Israel: "Yes." Lezlie: "What can we do? Let's pray for Jesus to help you obey Mommy." Israel: "Jesus, help Mommy obey Israel."

Nov. 4, 2009 - Eden says you have to get up pretty early to beat the human vacuum cleaner! (I guess vacuuming my house at 8:15 am is not good enough.)

Nov. 5, 2009 - Our son just ran through the house wearing a hoodie and socks. That's it. Obviously, it's father/son time in our house.

Nov. 6, 2009 - These days, you know Israel is moderately afraid when he shoves his hand in his mouth. Tonight, while we were stopped at the light by Timbers lounge, Pat suggested that he should talk to the huge Paul Bunyon figure to see if he would talk back. Israel promptly shoved his hand in his mouth.

Nov. 9, 2009 - Maybe reading "Where the Wild Things Are" to Israel is a mistake. "Let the wild rumpus start!" Grr...mumble...sigh.

Nov. 10, 2009 - Israel starts crying in the next room. I go in. "What's wrong?" "Sophie eat me up." "Sophie ate you up?" [Israel smiles and laughs.]

*Compiling this, I now realize that Sophie "eating Israel up" was also due to reading "Where the Wild Things Are." I had no idea at the time.

Nov. 12, 2009 - So this evening at dinner, Pat said, "Babe, I need to tell you something....these sandwiches are spectacular!" I know. That's good on its own. But then Israel looked at me and said, "Babe, BABE! BAAABE!..." When I stopped laughing, I said, "Israel, you call me Mommy." Israel said very dramatically, "Babe, I need to tell you something." I hope Israel keeps imitating Pat, but maybe not ver batim.

Nov. 13, 2009 - Israel spontaneously recites the alphabet for the first time: A,B,C,D,E,F,G...I,J,K,L, Mo, P. El, mo, pee. Elmo pee...Elmo pee.

Nov. 16, 2009 - Israel says of the new computer-generated Sesame Street segment featuring Abby Cadabby: "I don't like that." I don't, either.

Nov, 18, 2009 - Israel used the potty twice this morning and has almost learned to pull up his own pants, but I have a hard time not taking it personally when he saves his messiest stuff for the cloth diaper.

Nov. 19, 2009 - Israel is transitioning from calling his sister "Edie" to calling her "Eden." Kind of sad.

Nov. 20, 2009 - Israel is getting ready for the next phase! No bed rail, no sippy cups, answering "why" questions, and excrement where it belongs. Bring it!

Pat and Lezlie took a walk under Christmas lights with the kids and the dog.

Nov. 23, 2009 - Israel just got pretzels and tortilla chips out of the pantry to make himself a "taco."

Nov. 24, 2009 - This evening, Israel has smacked his face into his plastic basketball goal, ran full-speed, head-first into a lady's grocery cart, tripped over another grocery cart, had his hand smooshed in the door, and just got knocked in the head with the pantry door. If he looks beat-up this week....


Nov. 26, 2009 -While prepping the turkey this morning.... Israel: "He sleeping." Pat: "He's never going to wake up."


Dec. 2, 2009 - Pat and Lezlie are trying to teach Israel that he is their son and Eden is their daughter. Apparently, Israel does not buy "separate but equal."


Dec. 3, 2009 - Lezlie continues on in lessons in family relations. This morning, Israel said to Eden: "Good morning! Good morning! I your daughter!"


Dec. 4, 2009 - Israel: "Daddy, do the jerk! Jerk, jerk, jerk, jerk!"


Dec. 6, 2009 -Israel apparently coughed until he threw up in his bed. Pat found him running back into his room with a cloth diaper saying, "I clean it up!" He then came out, somewhat happily, and said, "What my do?"


Dec. 7, 2009 - I am up during the night with feverish Eden. Happily, something in me seems to remember this well and doesn't mind too much.

I showed Israel the first snow of the year. His response: "I want cereal."

Dec. 8, 2009 - Lezlie was taking a nap, heard things falling in the kitchen, came out to see her cat carrying a mouse in her mouth, which she let go in the dining room. The mouse ran away into the wall.

When ignoring us telling him to eat his dinner, Israel put his hand on his chin and said, "Um...I have to think about somethin'."

Dec. 9, 2009 - It's a croupy kind of day.

Israel came out of his room, made some mad screams, coughed a lot, and threw a "fit" while he voluntarily walked himself back to his room, shut his door, and went back to sleep. Guess he needed more than 2-1/2 hours of nap?

Dec. 10, 2009 - Israel, while eating breakfast, looking at the table: "Hello, Mr. Noodle. I'm sick right now. I did go see Dr. B." We've moved into delirium.


Dec. 11, 2009 -Israel just made a horrible face and whined and cried needlessly. I said, "Your face just got ugly." Israel calmed down, looked in the mirror, and, with a bewildered look, touched his cheeks.


Dec. 13, 2009 -Highlights of the day so far: 1. Israel climbed in our bed this morning, gave us hugs and kept saying, "I love you, Mommy. I love you, Daddy." 2. When he spilled his milk, he said, "Oh, Jimminy!" 3. Upon finishing breakfast, he said, "Do the jerk!" ...and then he pretty much did it.


Dec. 14, 2009 -I've just realized that Eden is learning to TALK! This may be normal for a 9 month old; I don't remember. But as always with her, I'm playing catch-up! I wonder how long she's been able to do this?!


Dec. 15, 2009 - Israel was pretending to burn himself on his oven. He came to me all crazy and then said, very calmly, "I just freak."


Dec. 18, 2009 - Eden just stood by herself for 15 seconds! ...twice in a row. Could this be going somewhere?


Dec. 19, 2009 - Israel: "I like. pan. CAKES! I don't can lie!"

The mouse has made several appearances. In my frustration at getting the cat to guard the mouse's exit, I told the cat, "Stay here. It's a freakin' mouse!" Israel is now running through the house saying, "It's a freakin' mouse!"


Dec. 21, 2009 - When Israel was a baby, I came to the conclusion that he just liked to cry before going to sleep. The last few nights, he has voluntarily hugged me, given me a kiss, and then quietly asked me to leave him alone. So I kiss him again and turn to leave, at which point he starts to cry. I think I was right.

Tonight, Israel was listening to Josh Garrels' song, "All Creatures of our God and King" (not the old hymn) and exclaimed, "That my favorite!" before pumping his arm and saying, "Break it down!"


Dec. 22, 2009 - Eden can now feed herself lunch! Add to her list of things she likes (when feeding them to herself) green beans, potatoes, asparagus, and zucchini. Now, if I can just teach her and Iz how to cook....


Dec. 25, 2009 - Israel's understanding of why we give presents at Christmas: "People love me!"


Dec. 29, 2009 - My son is very excited about having put brussels sprouts in the oven.


Dec. 30, 2009 - Israel just hugged me and spontaneously said, "I love you very much."


Jan. 2, 2010 - It's 1:30am. Israel was crying in his cold room (space heater broke and it just doesn't get warm in there). After offering our room as a warm alternative and changing his diaper, he said he wanted to sleep in his room. After I carefully bundled him and gave him kisses, he said, matter-of-factly, "I wanna cry, Mommy." D...OES ANYONE ELSE'S KID DO THIS?!


Jan. 6, 2009 - In a moment of "can't take it anymore," Lezlie just gave Israel his first home haircut.


Jan. 7, 2010 - There are streamers covering the bathroom door, draped over the toilet (and the potty), hanging from the chandelier in the living room and the TV (where potty videos will be viewed) and balloons all over the couch and hanging in the bathroom. Treats prepared, cake baked, and the possum puppet is rigged with a squirt bo...ttle and wearing big boy underwear. Fingers crossed....


Jan. 8, 2010 - Israel is totally excited and has already showed the possum puppet how to pee in the potty and has promised to always go in the potty himself. So far so good according to script.
If ever I had wavered in my belief that I have a child with an iron will, I take that wavering back. Many prayers going up and best smile pasted on my face....


Jan. 9, 2010 - Pat and Lezlie love their son and have concluded that Israel is one of a rare few who actually prefers discipline to a party. Really. Not joking. Strange kid.
After a two month hiatus, Eden is finally interested in walking again.

Jan. 11, 2010 - Today, Israel is serious about learning to go potty and Eden is serious about learning to walk. Change is coming...and hopefully not in the form of diapers!
For the longest time, Israel said just about everything "make me mad." Recently, it's been "I'm just sad." Today, everything is "that funny!" I really don't know which has been worse.


Jan. 12, 2010 - I'm glad that the garbage collectors wave at my son when he stares at them out our window. Feels a little like Mr. Roger's neighborhood.
Post #1 was going to be about the accident-free morning, but right then it was interrupted by a posting of #2.


Jan. 13, 2010 - Eden had her first true encounter with snow...right in the face.
I'm hugging Israel goodnight. Israel: "Get out my way." Me: "That's rude." Israel: "Get out my way, please." Me: "That's still rude. Do you want me to leave you alone so you can sleep?" Israel: "Yes." Me: "How about you just tell me goodnight." Israel: "G'night Mommy. Please get out my way."


Jan. 16, 2010 - Israel has gone on two outings today wearing his underwear!


Jan. 18, 2010 - Israel is going through the house in a pointy pink hat saying, "I'm a princess, Mommy. I'm a princess, Daddy."
Three public places today and no accidents (unless you count a careful aim at my coat through the gap between the seat and the bowl).


Jan 19, 2010 - Israel is the only happy one in my house right now. 'Nuff said.


Jan. 21, 2010 - "Mom, can you get down and do the jerk?"


Jan. 24, 2010 - Israel just graduated from little boy to man.


Jan. 25, 2010 - Excerpts from Israel's bedtime conversation: I go in the fire and squirt water on the fire. And I wear a helmet so...so I can wear a helmet and go in the fire...and a jacket and I wear my boots. I can go in the fire and Sophie can go in the fire. She gonna come help people. When I get older, I'm gonna be a fireman. I'm... gonna ride in a firetruck. When I get older.


Jan. 26, 2010 - I went to the store to buy diapers and only had to buy one size!


Jan. 27, 2010 - Eden took 4 steps!


Jan. 29, 2010 - Me: Israel, what should we have for lunch? Israel: Pizza! I like pizza because...I-I like pizza. It's... [comes over and pats me on the back, then gives me a kiss on the cheek] I love it, Mommy. Pizza is good! It's very good.



Stay at home parents and facebook: capturing just about every little moment in the lives of those you love.


(For some reason, I feel like piling on the potential facebook slogans.)

family night

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Cold rockin' it on a Friday night. Israel was getting bored with just walking.

Hee, Hee! (Shammon?)

...And the winner seems to be the Michael Jackson dance with dad! Okay, so Israel hasn't quite got the footing down, but given his dad's influence, he'll get there. I have to share that as Pat watched his video, ho got that self-conscious grin of his and said, "You know, watching that video makes me think I'm pretty cool...cooler than I had thought." Maybe you'll agree!

In other news, Israel had his 6 month check-up and shots today. (He is starting to be suspicious of the doctor's office....) He is now 27 3/4 inches long, weighing 16 lbs. 3 oz!