the handy man

My Dad is the handiest man I know. He can fix or build anything. This weekend when he came to visit, I asked him if he could build a gate for the deck. Drew is crawling all over and is more interested in going down the steps than staying on the deck. Jason decided he didn't want to put up a metal gate, he wanted a wooden one. My Dad said he would take a look and see what he could come up with. We went to Lowe's on Sunday. I say we because my purpose was solely to finance the operation. (I know nothing about anything other than appliances in Lowes.) My Dad was all business and chose his lumber like he was choosing a new car. Checking every piece and pushing several pieces to the back. Most of the time I was on my phone answering emails but I became more interested in his selection process the more particular he became. We came home with all our supplies and he had the gate built and installed within two hours. Amazing. But I didn't expect anything less from my Dad because he is amazing.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I had to call my friends at poison control after a certain someone found a bottle of hand sanitizer. After giving them the date of birth and child's age, the lady's response was "Are you calling about William?" The one and only.

2. I consider myself a professional at "watching for signs of drunkness in a two year old". This may drive me to drink eventually.

3. The wonder boy also took a Evil Knieval like ride down a steep driveway into the street as I'm screaming and sprinting after him when we were at our friends house for dinner.

4. I am currently recovering from another double ear and a sinus infection. I'm beginning to think I'm not only allergic to nature but Alabama in general.

5. Drew turns 10 months old on Friday. Still NO teeth but he's starting to cruise around the furniture.

6. Nene and Poppy arrived Saturday and we celebrated Nene's birthday. Amelia was in charge of picking out the cake. Her first choice was a huge Owl graduation cake and her second choice, a double chocolate Cheeseburger. She finally settled on a cookie cake with balloons.

7. Will enjoyed his time with Poppy this weekend and stuck to him like glue.

8. My mom has graciously been getting up with Drew since she arrived. I'm enjoying the extra sleep at night and the early morning exercise outside.

9. I have quite the little fashionistas on my hands these days. I think this is going to lead to huge problems down the road for their Dad. I had to look everywhere for a denim skirt for Bella that she could sit down in. Hello people. She is 5..I'd like more than a 3 inch inseam.

10. Babies, babies everywhere. Bella is begging for a new baby -sorry sister. I feel like every day I'm getting another birth announcement, text message, phone call or email from someone announcing their exciting news. I'm so excited for all my friends and I'm even more excited that this blessed even't won't be happening in my body.

The Invisible Woman

ten on tuesday

1. The terrible two's with a two year old boy are way worse than the terrible two's with a two year old girl. That's all I'm going to say about that..

2. Good thing I'll be an expert in 12 months when I get to experience the terrible two's again with another little boy.

3. Potty training week one is over and we are back in diapers. Will had two accidents in his underwear and he totally freaked out. He wanted nothing to do with them after that. I don't want to push him too hard so I let him put the diapers back on. Guess who's putting himself on the potty now?

4. When I typed this post, I've spent 221 hours of constant togetherness with the littlest members of our family. That's a lot of togetherness.

5. Drew has picked this week of all weeks to start cutting teeth. Pretty awesome given all the togetherness and drug recalls on the market. It's also made me realize sadly, I'm not 22 anymore and I can't survive for days on 3-4 hours of sleep.

6. Drew likes to suck his thumb and his toes while he's eating his dinner. It's really messy and drives me totally crazy.

7. I took all four children to the grocery store this week. I forgot how much I really dislike grocery shopping with all the children. We're like a circus sideshow and everyone has to stop and talk to us. Really, they're all mine. Do you think I'd be insane enough to bring four children that are not my own into a grocery store?

8. If you're my friend on facebook you already know about our run-in with the peace protest. It still disgusts me, even days later that a group of people would march on the street with a sign that says "soldiers suck". I wanted to pull over and throw them in the back of my van and drive them to the nearest recruiting station. Some people need to learn a thing or two about service and sacrifice.

9. Two houses have sold on our street this week. Are you my new neighbor? I'm hoping for some kids for Isabella and Will to play with.

10. We're having dinner tonight with our favorite redheads. I can't wait for a night of adult conversation and the kids are excited to play with their friends.

goodbye nap..

I'm going to take a deep breath before I write this blog because it's been a tough week here in more ways than one. Isabella is officially a big girl and has decided on her own (or more accurately with her friends) that she no longer needs to be napping. Ahh, I knew this day was coming but I really didn't need it to come this week. When I am taking care of four kids on about four hours of sleep every night. Here is how the story goes..
I picked Bella up from school on Tuesday and she told me that one of her friends is still sleeping in her parents bed every night. Interesting is my response to her. I also look her in the eye, and reply "Don't get any ideas. I sleep in my own bed. You sleep in your own bed." I don't believe in co-sleeping with my children. I love them but when I'm sleeping, I want to be sleeping. Without anyone touching me.
The next day I pick her up from school. She immediately announces that she isn't going to be taking naps anymore because taking naps is for babies and she isn't a baby. Her friend doesn't have to take naps anymore and Isabella 1)is older than her friend 2)sleeps in her own bed all night 3)isn't a baby. I mean really do these kids not talk about My Little Pony and Barbie Dolls anymore?! For the love..I put all the kids down for their naps and fought the girls for over 1.5 hours. I say "girls" because my dear five year old kept waking up or sending her three year old sister to the door to check if it was time to wake up. Pretty nice of her, huh? I thought my head was going to pop off and fly in to outer space I was so furious. We had another long discussion about napping and decided that if she wanted to try not napping that was fine. However, she will be attending all day kindergarten, five days a week next year (it's required by the state, not my personal choice) and is required to have a 45 minute rest period after lunch. She doesn't have free reign of the house during nap time and is required to stay in the toy room for the entire two hour period. I do not stay in there with her and she isn't permitted to come out and speak to me. I know this probably sounds harsh but our house is very open and echos and all four bedrooms are upstairs. It gets really loud, really quickly. Also, this has been really hard on Amelia. She is completely heartbroken that Isabella isn't napping anymore and I don't want her to think she's doing whatever she wants while everyone else is stuck napping.
The transition is going as I expected it would. There have been some bumps and we're still working them out but I know we'll get there. This really just isn't the way I would have preferred to handle things.