our week in review

Tuesday I took the kids to the doctor for their annual flu shots. Isabella does not like shots and asks me prior to every visit whether or not she has to get one. For some reason Tuesday she forgot to ask me and didn't remember until she heard one of the nurses mention it at which point she started crying and continued to cry until the doctor came in. Lucky for him the nurse was off that day so our actual pediatrician was the one giving the shots. Poor guy. Usually the girls love the doctor and only get agitated when they see the "shot nurse" as Bella calls her. They calmed down of course after the shots, gave Dr. Jain a hug and were back to being friends. Bella and Will did fine with their shots and had no reaction. Amelia continued to complain all day about her leg. I gave her Advil and let her take an extra long nap. At bath time that night I pulled the band aid off her leg and there were two huge welts were the actual band aid had been. Amelia always complains about band aids and wants them off as soon as they are put on..weird considering most children treat band aids like stickers. I called the doctor the next morning and we were told she most likely has a latex allergy. They told me not to worry, to keep her away from latex for now and as she got older we would see where to go with it. Okay but I'm thinking this is a pretty big allergy to just go with. I guess we'll see.

In other news, I put in my two weeks notice at my part-time job and my last day will be next Saturday. It is bittersweet for me. I really enjoy working and interacting with the girls and I'm really going to miss that. This store and I weren't a good fit and it's time I move on.

Elmo live...

Will loves Elmo. LOVES him. All he has to do is hear Elmo talk or start laughing and he crawls over to were Elmo is and starts laughing along with him. For the past couple of months there has been a huge mysterious box in Target with an itty bitty little screen that plays a 30 second clip of the brand new Elmo coming out..Elmo Live. We were looking for a birthday gift one day and Amelia pressed the button and started the demonstration and Will's head spun around so fast. After it ended we started to walk away and he started yelling and shaking in the cart so we went back and pressed the button again. We probably stood there the first day for 20 minutes. Now he knows where the big green box is and if we go near the aisle and he sees it, he starts hopping in the cart seat and kicking his legs and laughing until Amelia pushes the button and Elmo comes on screen. Well, Elmo Live was finally released today and he is no where to be found in any stores in Huntsville or on-line unless you want to pay $100 on e-bay. Even though I get made fun of tremendously I guess it sometimes pays to start your Christmas shopping in September. I pre-ordered my Elmo weeks ago even though Jason asked me what the big hurry was and why I had to pre-order Elmo!! Seriously. Does anyone remember the original Tickle Me Elmo Craze? I can hardly wait until Will sees him in person and not on an tiny screen.

Fall Break in Ohio

Isabella was on fall break last week from all activities and we decided to take advantage of the break and take a trip. We headed to Ohio and spent the week visiting friends and family. The first weekend we left the kids with NeNe and Poppy and Jason and I traveled to Minster for the annual Oktoberfest. I hadn't been back in 3 years and it was nice to see people I haven't seen in years and Jason enjoyed all the jugs of beer. We also took the kids to the Fair while we were in town. The girls wanted to ride the rides this year and were pretty cute..unfortunately I didn't have my camera for most of them. They also rode the ponies. Amelia's pony was named Joey and she was a bit skeptical at first but eventually he grew on her. The entire ride she kept saying "Whoa Joey Whoa". Isabella was more serious and didn't say a word the entire time she rode her pony Dollar. We went to Lynd's Fruit Farm and picked some apples and a few pumpkins. We don't get a lot of chances to pick apples in Alabama and the kids had a fantastic time. Now I just have to find some time to make some pies!! Jason and I also had a chance to do some tailgating and go to Hineygate while we were in town. There really is no place I would rather be during football season than at Hineygate and we had a blast being back on campus again..it had been too long for us. And lastly Will is taking steps on his own and we think he will be walking soon!!

for the love of Bear Bear.

Amelia has a special friend Bear Bear that I bought for her before she was even born. She received other stuffed animals and loveys but from the start Bear Bear has been "The One". She carries him tucked under her arm everywhere she goes. From the time she wakes up until she goes to sleep, Bear Bear is her ever faithful companion. If by chance she has set him down and suddenly remembers this fact, the search for Bear Bear frantically begins. In the middle of the night if she subconsciously feels he is not in her arms, she wakes up screaming his name and the search begins. Usually Mommy or Daddy have to provide middle of the night assistance in locating Bear Bear. I have even contemplated sewing him to her pajamas so I can get some much needed sleep again. Bear Bear's fur, once a soft ivory chamois is now permanently stained and crusty feeling and almost rubbed completely off on the ears. When Bear Bear receives a bath Amelia waits patiently in front of the washing machine watching him spin around and around. Because of her deep love/borderline obsession for this animal he is not allowed to leave the house and has been on very few outings. To the hospital for stitches and on each of our overnight trips where I watch that bear like he's one of my children. I know the drama that will occur if anything happens to her beloved bear. Even though she carries him around everyday I have very few good pictures of her with him. We did take Bear Bear to the photographer for her one year photographs and there is now a poster size picture of Amelia and Bear Bear in one of the malls.

Bear Bear and I have a love/hate relationship. I love that he is able to comfort Amelia and she has such a special bond with him. I love that this one stuffed animal can usually stop her tears as soon as Amelia sees him and he is in her arms. But it annoys me to no end having to explain why Bear Bear can't go outside, or take a bath or go to the mall. Every single day. Losing him is just too risky. We have two spare bears. They are still fluffy and snowy white, almost brand new. Purchased shortly after the noticeable attachment to Bear Bear began. I didn't want to imagine myself on eBay searching frantically and paying ridiculous amounts for a bear I originally only paid $20 for. $100 for a bear that stops a screaming child, buy it now. A bargain my friend. She takes the spare bears in extreme situations but has somehow always been able to tell the difference. I have said, only half joking, that I should take the spare bears outside, roll them in the mud and run over them with the car a few times. Maybe then they too will lose some fluff and be a little more crunchy..a little more loved. So here's to you Bear Bear. Thanks for comforting Amelia in her time of need and thanks for all the late night wake up calls.

Assume = ass out of u and me.

The kids and I were browsing in the children's section of Barnes and Noble this morning when I came across one my favorite types of people- the total morons. I told this woman that I really liked the bicycle that was attached to the back of her stroller..probably one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Her response - are you pregnant again? While I realize my six pack abs are probably a thing of the past after three c-sections I don't look pregnant either. I was seriously dumbfounded. I said no, I'm actually not pregnant. Mrs. Moron says well I just thought after three you were probably pregnant again. Not that you look pregnant or anything I just assumed you might be. And you probably shouldn't wear that shirt, it confuses people. First, the shirt in question is from JCrew hardly a staple for maternity clothing. Second, unless you are Trinny and Suz I doubt I'm going to take fashion advice randoms on the street.

Some people I just don't understand. I am used to the comments about Amelia and Will being so close in age but I have never once been asked if I am pregnant again. And to aggravate me even more..I still never found out where she got that bicycle.