My tiny mother...

It goes without saying that Natalie is very bossy!  Lately she's taken to telling me to go to bed.  I've been able to tell her no without much of an explanation (which, knowing Natalie, is pretty impressive) for about a week.  Last night that all ended with this conversation during our post-story snuggle....

Kate: *yawning* it's been a long day.  I'm tired.
Natalie: I'm tired too
K: Okay, let's do hugs and kisses and then you need to go to sleep.
N: Are you going to bed?
K: No, I'm going to go downstairs and eat dinner and talk to Daddy.
N: But you said you were tired.
K: I am, but it's not my bedtime.
N: You always tell me that I need to go to bed when I'm tired.
K: Yes, that's true.
N: Well, why don't you go to bed when you're tired?
K: Because I still have things to do.
N: That's why you're so grumpy in the morning!  You need to go to bed so you are nicer to me & Paddy when we wake up.

Awesome.... she's right, and she figured me out and she made me feel like crap all in one conversation.  She is my tiny mother.

Complete(ish)

Here is the purse I started a few days ago from this pattern. I ran out of the red yarn right at the end and decided the Raspberry might be cute. I decided to give a try to 2 backgrounds. The lighter backgound gives a better idea of the colors and the darker seems to show the pattern. And then of course, as predicted, Natalie took it immediately upon seeing it this morning. She told me she does not want me to put a ribbon on it and would prefer a flower so I'm going to make one and attach it. I think I will find an equally bright, 3rd color for that and will post pics when its really finished. :)
The best part of this is that I have made that kid 2 sweaters, a poncho and 2 hats. She refuses to wear any of it. I make myself something and she steals it immediately.

Disclaimer...pics taken w/ cell phone so sorry for the quality.

Moments ago...

One of the black women I work with and adore came into my office.  The following quote may keep me in stitches for the remainder of the day!

"Kate!  You know I love ya 'cause you keepin' it real, right?  You have got to SLOW YOUR ROLL, Sugar.  Enough snow dancin'!"

Slow my roll!  Awesome :)  Snow in the forecast for Friday!  More snow dancing has commenced - there will be no slowing of my roll this winter!

I've been trying all weekend to get a picture of Patrick. My mom bought us this frame for Natalie and I got a matching one for Patrick. It took me two days to get his hand & foot impressions because he NEVER stops moving. I've probably taken 50 pictures of him today and this is the best way to show you why I still haven't got the right one for his frame...

he moves from one piece of furniture to another. Always deep in concentration...


then he sees something interesting....











and then he grabs a toy (like a saw) that is completely innappropriate for an infant. Can't frame that one. Or is that the perfect picture to capture his personality? Hmmmm....

The adventures of Patrick....

Patrick is in to everything! He hasn't been sleeping well and I thought it was related to his never ending cold. Now I'm thinking his brain had gone into quadruple overdrive in preparation for his 15 new skills.

This weekend he figured out how to climb UP the stairs. He also mastered pulling up on to any surface that would hold still for him. He now creeps around those surfaces. And has discovered that pursuing the outlets, cords and dog bowls are ways to get his Mom and Dad to come running. Here is (IMO) a hilarious series of pictures to demonstrate how he first cleaned out under the coffee table (see the 4th picture for the resulting 'debris') and then climbed into it. Obviously his dismount needs some work. I'll be surprised if we make it thru this phase w/out a mild concussion or some body part in a splint. This kid is nuts!

Natalie on how babies are born...

"Mommy! When Paddy got too big inside your belly he blew a hole in it near your belly button and crawled out. Then you had to go to the hospital to get it fixed!"

Seriously...you can't make this stuff up!

When I picked N up last night Jelena was already in stitches. Apparently that bully Dougie was having a really bad day and so all the kids were instructed to leave him alone,etc. I guess N told one of the teachers that "Dougie is rotten because he is on his period!"

Where does this stuff come from?

You can't make this stuff up!

Yesterday Jelena was about to pop to tell me something at pick up... here's the conversation she relayed that took place over lunch...

Jelena: Do you kids know where your milk comes from?
Ashton: It comes from cows boobies!
Natalie: YOU'RE WRONG! It comes from the penises underneath the cow. You pull them and milk comes out!
Other kids: Yes, that's right. You pull the cow's penis and milk comes out!
Ashton: Oh yeah, that's right!
Jelena: No, boy cows don't make milk. Girl cows don't have penises.
Kids: Yes they do! You pull them and milk comes out. They have hangy penises that milk comes out of!
Jelena: No, that's a girl cow. Its called an udder and its like when Mommy's breast feed their babies. The udders are girl cows breasts.
Kids: Yes, thats right! Like when Mommy's feed babies w/ their boobies!

Pictures!

Nattie's been really into dress up lately. Caught these today. I'm sure there will be more to follow :)
wearing Patrick's snow suit. Crazy that its only too small in the arm & leg length.
This super hero was giving her favorite sidekick a hug!

Patrick wasn't especially excited to be a tiara wearing superhero queen.

Just thought this one was hilarious. She told me that when she wears her super hero headband over her eyes that she can see in the dark. LMBO!

You can take the girl out of Vermont...

but you can't take Vermont out of the girl....

Natalie has developed a strong liking for wearing socks w/ her sandals in the middle of winter :)

This Morning...

N: Mommy!
K: Yes?
N: Your hair looks pretty today!
K: Thank you!
N: Like mine only more like a wrinkly chicken nugget.

LMBO!

Natalie....

Today Natalie gets her seasonal flu vax. She spent the entire morning commute complaining because she only gets 3 vaccines and why does Patrick get to have 4. Is she serious?

She has also started diapering herself and baby. She's stealing Patrick's size 2 diapers. The truly crazy thing is that the size 2's fit all 3 of them...though on Nattie they look like a teensy bulgy bikini. She doesn't pee in them. Just gets naked and then diapers herself. What a weirdo.

and finally....the icing on the cake...

She saw me putting a liner in my undies the other day during my period. I explained to her that I was keeping my undies clean. She now lines her underpants w/ toilet paper every time she goes. That's been fun to explain to the preschool staff.

*sighs, shakes head, rolls eyes and quakes with fear of her teenage years*

Better late than never - HALLOWEEN :)

Here are the pictures from Halloween. Enjoy!

This was Patrick being pleasant. He was not impressed w/ having to hold still and observe.

very serious business this pumpkin carving...go muscles! And I promise - we do feed her!

I promise to wear make-up and get some sleep before I get into any other photo's!

Taking it all in. Cutest pumpkin ever!

Daddy & Pretty Princess!

Love the rain boots :)

Hay ride! Patrick is skeptical!

Girlfriend does love the cotton candy :)

bounce house face! She loved it and went in twice. Due to her super bouncing skills this was the only picture that came out clearly and its hilarious!

Conversation with Natalie - 10/29/09

Last week a big spider (think quarter sized) ran into our garage and under the car. We never saw it again. Nattie & Jame looked around but it was 'gone' somewhere and that was the end of the issue...or so I thought. FF to yesterday morning. we're driving to school and she starts talking about the spider under our car. I try to explain that he's home in the garage but she is adamant that he's under the car.

Me: no he's not still under the car because he fell off a few days ago when we went over a big pot hole.
Nattie: Nope, he's definitely still there.

Hmmmm....really wracking my brain now....and then I had an AHA! moment.

Me: He's definitely not there because spiders don't wear seatbelts and he fell off when his spider leg couldn't hold on.
Nattie: Yes, I think so too. Spiders don't wear seatbelts. He fell off!

She accepts this and agrees with me. We move on to another topic.... FF to last night.

"Mommy?! I think that spiders do wear seatbelts. I think they wear tiny, special seatbelts. One's made just for spiders. They have to or the police will yell at their Mommy's. I'll bet you he's still under the car!"

How do you argue with that?

A Tiny Santa to Sleep With...

conversation w/ Natalie this morning....

Nattie: Mommy?
Me: Yes.
Nattie: When is it going to be Patrick's birthday?
Me: Not until next spring. First we have Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then Valentines Day, then my birthday. Then it will be Patrick's birthday.
Nattie: Oh.
Nattie: I love Santa. Do you think he'll bring me presents this year?
Nattie: Do you think he'll bring Patrick presents this year?
Me: Yes, but we need to write him a letter and tell him you've been a good girl and what you want most for Christmas.
Nattie: I want to tell him to bring me a Tiny Santa to sleep with every night and talk to and tell secrets and whisper.

Gosh I love her!

Kids say the darndest things....

Yesterday at the pool Nattie was in "why" mode. Everything was why. I was definitely starting to lose my mind with the explanations and justifications. I get to the point where I don't care anymore if its making her brilliant...I just want her to stop asking me why. Then she said this....

"Mommy, see that lifeguard? He's got a tatto on his arm. It's an A for Natalie on his arm. Do you think it will wash off in his tubby tonight?"

I can't express how hard I laughed. Then he asked what she was curious about so I told him. He assured her that it wouldn't wash off in the tubby. She seemed satisfied with that and moved on to a new topic.

I'd also like to note that it wasn't an A for Natalie on his arm. It was an N. So, now she recognizes B (for boy, baby, etc), N (for Natalie), K (for Kate & kite), M (for Mommy) & P (for Patrick)....of course, she calls them all A!

Pictures

4th of July - brave Nattie gets up close & personal


Kaylie gets comfy!



Sharing some smiles!

My two favorite fella's

Nekkie booty shakin' w/ Mom's shoes and new vest.

Fashionista!

Natalie's first rainbow.

8/7/09 - sweet babies at 6am. Making my morning start out perfectly!

This weekend!

After the sleeplessness that was last week I knew this weekend wasn't going to be easy. Friday night was fine but Sat a.m. Patrick woke up at 5 to eat...I fed him and went immediately to work. Worked to make up time from his pedi appt and then ran to the grocery store, Target and BJ's. Scooted home at 15 above the speed limit and gave Jame a 3 hour nap so that he could enjoy his Red Sox game in Baltimore. He left, I parented solo (and badly I might add - do you ever realize you're acting like a giant a-hole to your kids but just can't seem to stop???) for the remainder of the day and was even too tired for a glass of wine after the monkey's went to bed. He got home safely at 2am but I was up every hour between 11pm and 6am so I might as well not have slept at all. P has a cold (just a regular one this time - finger's crossed) and was having a hard time breathing. Jame got up at 10am but went right to work on a big project for his class that was due today so I kept on keeping on. It is now 5pm and I'm getting my first break since 5am yesterday. About 20 minutes ago Nattie drew the picture of me that I have uploaded. Its 1) an amazing picture with a head, facial features, hair, arms, legs, etc...and 2) it also is a perfect, visual description of what I feel like right now. I can't stop laughing!

Conversation with Nattie - 7/9

Yesterday we saw an ambulance and Nattie & I were discussing how they were bringing a sick person to the hospital. Then the following statement came out...

"Mommy, they probably are really hot but the Motrin didn't work but they also have a broken elbow but their blood came out and they bit their tongue. But after they rode in the ambulance they didn't feel better so they had to go to the hospital but then they could be fixed. See that tree, I bet they fell out of that tree and broke their elbow but they also bit their tongue and got blood. You can't swallow the blood, that would be gross. Kind of like if you bit a monster and got a tiny piece of the monster in your mouth."

I've added punctuation to make it easier to read but it was really more of a run on sentence. Blows my mind where this stuff comes from!

Kids say the darndest things....

Me: Natalie, I am getting frustrated. If you don't stop my head is going to explode.
Nattie: And then there will be blood, and brains all over the wall!!!

I was laughing so hard over this it totally alleviated any ounce of frustration I was feeling.