currently #5

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THIS WEEK'S THEMES: Capturing, Releasing, Sending, Mending, Recommending

Elliot and Emmett are currently...

Capturing pictures on their fisher price play camera. Whenever Elliot fishes his toy camera out of the bottom of the toybox, he always knows just what to do- he follows his baby brother around while looking through the viewfinder, then when the time is right, he pushes the shutter button and with a "BOING!" Then he sometimes looks up at me, smiles and says, "cute!"

Releasing fuzzy caterpillars, spindly spiders, and shiny beatles back into the wild. One of Elliot's favorite things to do now, thanks to my husband, is to go "bug hunting." He is very careful with his little friends, unlike some of his friends at the playground, and he is always sure to set them back into the grass or on a tree with a little "Bye bye, buggy!"

Mending any "boo boos" that Mama or Daddy get with sweet little toddler kisses.


I am currently...

Capturing crappy iPhone pictures instead of using my nice DSLR, like I should be. I've been a bit lazy lately, which makes me sad because I know each time that I don't get out my camera are more memories lost. I've been wanting to start a 365 project- I should probably get on that. I need some motivation!

Sending good vibes out into the universe to all those looking to buy/rent a new house. I keep hoping that the good karma will come back to us and we'll finally settle upon our dream house/location in Costa Rica. Right now we're so undecided that we actually have TOO MANY choices. How is that even possible?

Recommending a glass of wine... or three, for myself. Seriously people, Emmett has had a fever for probably 16 days so far this month, and I've about had it. I don't know what is making him so sick (and neither do his doctors, apparently) but I'm beyond ready to have my baby 100% healthy and happy again.

currently #4

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THIS WEEK'S THEMES: Coveting, Imagining, Asking, Saving, Fearing

Elliot and Emmett are currently...

Coveting his rubber ducky collection- Elliot is, anyways. He insists on taking his rubber duckies (usually in a bucket or basket) everywhere we go.

Imagining that he's a dragon. He yells, "Giant Dragon! RAWWWWRRR!" Multiple times a day now. It's pretty funny- except when it scares Emmett.

Asking for "more snackys" "more snackys cheeeeeeeese" (that's how he says please). The kid is always eating, but somehow isn't gaining any weight. I guess he got his mama's metabolism? Emmett has also now mastered how to ask for "more" food. But if he's thirsty it's a different ball game. If he sees a cup that's out of reach, and he's thirsty, he proceeds to FLIP OUT until it is retrieved for him. He has two levels of thirst- 1. I'm not thirsty at all, and 2. GIVE ME WATER BEFORE I DIE!

Fearing his new speech therapist. Elliot's beloved speech therapist has been replaced by a younger (fresh out of college) woman, and Elliot spends at least the first fifteen minutes of every therapy session hiding on the couch under his blankets. I can't figure out why- she's really quite nice.

  

Elliot and his duckies (crappy instagram pictures, sorry)

I am currently...

Imagining how blissful our life will be once we finally leave the states and arrive in Costa Rica! I really can't wait. I know you're not supposed to wish your life away... but really, I've never anticipated something  so much in my life. I just cannot WAIT to finally start living our life there. (ps: we are also discussing possible plans of having baby #3 in Costa Rica. Maybe a home birth? Shhh.)

Asking myself how I am ever going to weed through all of the boys clothes, and toys, and (in Elliot's case) blankets to decide what we will/will not bring to Costa Rica. We are going to be limited to probably about 6 suitcases... and I expect four of them to be for them. They have A LOT of stuff. I'm nostalgically attached to many of their things, so it's going to be sad to sell/give away what we can't take. Sigh. Small sacrifices, right?

Saving every extra penny for our upcoming move.

Fearing the unknown, a little. I wouldn't be human if I didn't, right? I'm always worrying that something will go wrong.... like we'll really struggle with the language barrier, or we'll end up lost somewhere on the side of the road, or what if we get there and absolutely hate it? That's highly unlikely, but you never know! Most of the time, I'm filled with anticipation and excitement, and thinking positively. It's only every once in awhile that my mind wanders to the "what ifs". Then I remember that God has a plan!

currently #3

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THIS WEEK'S THEMES: Borrowing, Dancing, Building, Throwing, Buying

Elliot and Emmett are currently...

Borrowing they both like to "borrow" toys from eachother... which really means Emmett tries to take whatever Elliot is playing with, and then Elliot says, "No No! Ellie's toy!" and takes it right back. He's stronger than Emmett, so big brother wins this battle... for now.

Dancing on poles. Well, Emmett is anyways. I have no idea where he learned this from, but anytime he finds something remotely pole-like, he grabs onto it and dances like a maniac, while squealing with delight. He does this with the rails on our balcony, lamp posts, and most recently the pole that sticks up out of Ross shopping carts. I have to admit, it's pretty amusing!

Building elaborate trains. Elliot's new thing is lining up all of his blocks into a long snake that winds around his room, and calling these creations "choo-trains." To his dismay, Emmett's favorite thing to do with said trains is destroy them. 

Throwing fits, occasionally. Emmett has started throwing mini-fits when he gets mad. He throws himself onto the floor and whines... then gets up two seconds later like nothing happened. It's pretty cute... for now. Elliot also throws fits sometimes, but his are FAR less cute.

Buying ... nothing, but if they had it their way, probably all the goldfish and multigrain cheerios in the world. They just can't get enough!

I am currently...

Borrowing nothing, really...  but I should be borrowing library books! I'm sad to admit that in the almost two years that we've lived here in Texas, I haven't borrowed a single book :( That makes me sad, guys! I checked out books from the library on post in Arizona all the time! I just haven't had the time to read, lately. Now that I finally have some free time in the evenings, since the boys go to bed pretty early,  I've been using those couple hours to relax with my husband or get online. Hence my recent blogging streak!

Dancing with Elliot while I clean. In the mornings, when I get down and dirty to vacuum, scrub the floors, etc (and let's face it, I have to do that every day because toddlers are messy) I put on a music choice channel on TV and we all boogie. Elliot gets excited when I get out the vacuum now, because he loves when I chase his silly little dancing butt around the living room with it.

Building up my music collection- again. I've gone through three laptops in the last six months, so I lost my music a few months ago. Well, thanks to flvto's music downloader, I'm slowly building up my music library again! And that makes me one happy woman, because I can't live without my music. 

Throwing away a whole bag of trash a day. I don't know how we do it, but somehow we are filling up a whole kitchen garbage bag each and every day. It's nuts! I need to invest in some eco-friendly garbage bags. Any recommendations? 

Buying a lot of new bras. I've always had small boobs but MAN! Since Emmett is only nursing once or twice a day now, and only in the evenings, all the bras that I bought while pregnant with him no longer fit. It seems like my boobs are smaller than ever! I remember reading somewhere that the fat cells in your breast tissue are replaced with milk glands, and that the fat cells don't return until several months after weaning. Untl then, I guess it's back to an A-cup for me, lol! Oh well... at least I don't have to worry about sagging boobies when I get older ;)

Currently #2

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THIS WEEK'S THEMES: eating, loving, missing, moving, talking

Elliot and Emmett are currently...

Eating broccoli & cauliflower... and lots of it. They are definitely not complaining one bit about Mama & Daddy's diet. I'm so glad my boys are veggie lovers like me.

Loving their Mama, and sometimes I swear only their mama. Elliot especially is going through what started off as an endearing but is now extremely frustrating "mama only" stage. He only wants me to do everything- not daddy. Mama has to make him his food, cuddle him, pick him up, wash him in the bathtub, fill up his cups, build towers with him, etc. No matter how many times Aaron asks "can Daddy help you?" his response is always the same- "No, Mama. Mama, help!" Emmett has always had a special relationship with me, but neither I or Aaron are surprised, seems how I'm the one with the boobies. (ha!)

Missing their "Gumpa!", Aaron's dad, who came to visit for Emmett's birthday. Elliot sure did keep him busy, that's for sure!

Moving allll the time, especially Emmett, who is fully walking now, and getting rather fast! Oh boy!

Talking more- both of them. Elliot is coming up with new phrases, questions, and statements every day. He's currently obsessed with colors and counting, and insists on pointing out the color of everything. The other night, we had an... uh... interesting conversation about the color of his peepee. He ended up deciding it was yellow.


I am currently...

Eating amazing labor & delivery crunchy ice. Oh man guys, I can't get enough of this stuff.

Loving the fact that my dear friend trusts me enough to choose me as her labor/delivery coach, and also gave me the wonderful opportunity to photograph her labor, delivery and (eventually) birth. I am so beyond excited.

Missing my babies, especially Emmett, who went to bed tonight for the first time in his entire life without nursing. Since I have been in the hospital with my friend, Aaron had to put him to bed. He has been going down for his morning nap without nursing, though, so hopefully it wasn't too hard on him.

Talking my friend through labor, and we've also been talking a lot about baby names (this is a little dangerous). I even added names to our baby name list. I'm battling some serious baby fever right now! Ahhh! I don't know if it's because I'm living vicariously through her, or because I'm a bit nostalgic since just a tiny bit over a year ago, I was in the same place she was, about to welcome a new baby boy into the world...

hh!

Currently

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THIS WEEK'S THEMES: hoping, reading, wearing, making, planning

Elliot and Emmett are currently...

Hoping to go to the choo-choo park. There is this awesome park in Temple, TX where you can take pictures with/on old trains and railroad cars, and they have this awesome wooden train playground... they pretty much lose their minds every time we go, since they are both currently obsessed with trains. 

Reading Dr. Suess books. Elliot has insisted on reading the same book, "Are You My Mother?" every night before bed for the last two weeks. For the month before that, it was "Go Dog Go." Well... at least he's predictable?

Wearing long pajamas... because Texas weather is bipolar. There were deadly tornadoes in northern Texas yesterday, and although we were under a severe thunderstorm/tornado watch, thankfully the only thing the storm blew in was a little chilly morning air. Since Emmett insists on playing out on the balcony half the morning, long pants and sleeves it is! (It is currently 72 degrees... which isn't that bad, but it sure feels cold to us wimpy Texans!)

Making me laugh. Emmett is really off and walking now, and to Elliot's dismay, his new favorite thing to do is follow his brother around (on two feet) while squealing at the top of his lungs from the sheer excitement of the fact that he can walk now, too! He always wants to do everything his big brother can do, so I imagine he must be pretty thrilled at his latest accomplishment. Elliot, however, is less than thrilled...

Planning to go to the choo-choo park this week, if Daddy comes home early one day.

I am currently...

Hoping to go grocery shopping tonight or tomorrow... we need to restock on fresh fruits & veggies for our new diet.

Reading sadly... nothing. I haven't had time to pick up a book since {gasp} Emmett was born. But now that they've settled into a nice, predictable routine, I plan to start reading again soon. I have no idea what book I want to read first, though. I'm just excited to start turning those pages!

Wearing jean shorts for the first time in over a year, my friends! I finally bit the bullet and went out and bought myself some jean shorts that actually fit my post-baby body. Yes, I had to go up a size (or two). But what matters is that they look good, and I feel comfortable in them. Wearing clothes that fit is much better than trying to squeeze my booty into shorts that barely button...

Making a list of 101 of my favorite songs (which is #68 on my day zero project)

Planning to have a really great weekend spent eating lots of healthy food and getting out for a couple family walks/hikes. We will also visit the local Rabbit Fest fair, where we will be able to do more walking but will also be tempted to eat all sorts of Texas-sized, fried treats... yikes.