We’ve had a crazy couple months! Brett’s goes to kindergarten and takes floor hockey. Bailey goes to playschool 2 days a week and is taking dance. On top of that, we found out Bailey needed to get her tonsils and adenoids removed. Brett had this done at 3 years as well so we kind of knew what we were getting into. What we underestimated was the difference between Brett and Bailey!! Brett had a rough couple days and then slowly got better. You could tell he didn’t love drinking when he was supposed to but did it because we told him it would help him feel better. Bailey took 15 days and was MISERABLE!! She was so brave going into surgery and then was so angry coming out. It took multiple adults to hold her thrashing body in recovery from pulling her IV out. She yelled at nurses and insisted on going home NOW! She was given stickers, icecream, juice, and multiple toys in attempt to calm her after waking. At home, she hated taking medicine, didn’t want to drink and fought us on anything you can think of. During this amazing time, Brayden was teething and cut his 1st 2 teeth, both boys were hacking like seals and Brett had an ear infection. When Bailey was starting to resemble her peaceful self, we discovered a rash on Brett. Apparently he is also allergic to penicillin (as is Bailey, their mama and Uncle Brett), which he was taking for his ear. We caught it, stopped it and thought he would look better soon. They said it could get worse before it gets better, and boy did it!! I had to keep taking pictures of his various red spots to show Brett and he would say “oh yeah, that does look bad.” Such is the life of having 3 children, as my father tells me.

Brett is doing great in school. We go for his first parent-teacher conference tonight!
When Bailey is feeling well, she skips. Everywhere. She is loving her playschool.
Brayden is a joy still. Smiles all the time. Laughs at his siblings and is so easy going. He recently has discovered the art of squealing! He does this often.

They still had their funny things to say…..

In Bailey’s 2 hour long yelling fit at the hospital, she yelled that “it hurts really badly and I am SO mad!!!” I was so proud that she was using words to describe her feelings and used correct grammar. At that point, you had to take whatever positives you could find!

Bailey was looking at a picture. “Where was I?” “That was before you were born, you were in my belly.” “I didn't like it in your belly it was so dark, I was scared.”

Urgh, I really like it. I like it really bad

Everything is numbers with Brett. In negotiations about eating, “Mom can I just eat 4 and 1?” In the car he loves to play “how many?” He’ll say “I know how many three 2’s is” Then he’ll ask me to give him more to figure out.

Brett had a homework assignment to memorize your home phone number. So we were practicing. Bailey says, “Why do I need to know.” I said,” In case you are ever away from mommy and you need to call me, you need to know my number.”
She responds, “But if a monster asked for your number I would say no way! Because they would say where is she and they would gobble you up!”

One of Bailey’s new phrases is “I don’t like it….I LOVE it!”

Brett can be a little bossy sometimes. I told him one time, “remember, you are still a kid, you don’t have to tell Bailey what to do.” In complete seriousness he replied, “Oh yeah, I forgot. I thought I was in high school.”

Bailey was missing her friend. “I’m going to get Colin a blue ladybug (like her pink nightlight). I will sneak in his room and you will drive me home.” Apparently next we need to discuss stalking and breaking/entering.

Brett was having a hard time one day going to school. When I hugged him goodbye he said, “I don't think I like being away from you all day at school.” Then he blew kiss from the stairs before going in.

Bailey has been big on using similes. “I love you as long as a bronchisaurus’s neck.” “I like this as far as Texas.” “I love Brayden all the way to space!”

”Oh I forgot to tell Colin something...Colin I love you”

”Mom this banana tackled this one down”

Bailey has been the Queen of Indecision. She insists on something and then is appalled the next minute when you gave it to her. Which has made things really interesting. One morning for breakfast, she was very excited to eat. We agreed upon what cereal, said she couldn’t wait for her blackberries and sat down at the table. Then during breakfast she refused to eat said blackberries stating that she can NOT eat them. I explained that she had asked for them and I was not getting her something different. A large fit ensued. Shortly later, when she had calmed down she said “I'm sorry I was so upset about the blackberries, that was silly. I forgive you mom.”

We took a trip to Wisconsin to Barbie and Bobbie’s. The Thornburg boys met us for a visit. Kids had a great time and got to play at Badgerville during the Wisconsin football game. Bailey’s summary – “I just love those Thornburg boys, Will is SO silly!”

On the drive home from Wisconsin, Rob was complaining that he was SO tired and said he needed a nap even though he was driving. I told him that wasn’t a good idea since he was driving with his family in the car. Bailey’s solution – “Daddy just go to sleep, use your imagination and pretend you can't hear mommy.”

We were rushing one morning to get Brett to school. He asked to open the door. Then he said “Hold on the alarm is on, so bad guys don't come in and take our stuff.” Bailey said ”yeah like my banana.” Brett said “no not your banana.” Bailey said, “well maybe they are hungry!”

Bailey tends to be a little dramatic, if you haven’t noticed. Mondays are hard for everyone but especially her since daddy and Brett are gone. One morning, she told me, “my heart is broken when daddy is not around”. He liked that one.

Brett was preparing for wrestling season – ”I like to take the under hook and wrap my arm behind, then use my right arm to push and throw them down….see mom I push with this arm and pull with this one”. He then asked if I needed to video him so I could see what he was talking about.

Brett and Bailey were playing and racing cars. I overheard Brett say “That’s ok, I haven’t found a lady yet. But after this race I’ll have lots of money for my wedding”.

Bailey came over and whispered “I have a secret; I have the eye of the tiger.”

In the car Brett asked me if I knew about the Gorillagator. I misunderstood him and asked him to repeat himself. Sure enough, Gorillagator. I said I wasn’t sure what that was. He said it was a ½ gorilla, ½ alligator. I replied, “of course it is. Where does it live? The jungle or water?” Thinking I’ve stumped him! Without pausing, “Both mom, he lives in the swamp in the jungle”.

Bailey was up crying/screaming at 3:30am. I was dealing with a teething Brayden so Rob went to see what was wrong. She wasn’t making sense and yelled even more that Mommy didn’t come. I went to help and she was crying that she didn’t have a music box. I told her you don’t have one, we’ll talk about it later, go to sleep. The next morning, I asked her why she was so upset about a music box and why did it occur to her at 3:30 in the morning! She said she just had a bad dream, where she really wanted a music box. I told her (in her dream) that we would get one and took her to the store. When we got to the aisle where they were supposed to be, there were all gone! Hence the 3:30 am fit about a nonexistent music box.

Listening to music in the car, Brett was singing along. There was a dramatic pause in the song, Brett just started cracking up. “I thought she was done and then she just started YELLING!”

Bailey wore a cute dress to playschool one day. I asked her afterwards if anyone complimented her on it. She said, “yes, Ms. Laney did…And Brian.” I said, “oh what did Brian say?”. “he said I had a beautiful dress”. I said, Oh that was nice, what did you say back? “Whatever” What?! She said, “then I said oops, thank you. I forgot my manners!”

This Brian apparently has also asked her to be her partner when they walk in the hallway to hold her hand. Daddy was teasing her about this later. Brett yells, “Are you in love with him?!” Very exacerbated, “NOOO I don’t think I’m in love with him, he’s just NICE to me!”

When Brett was covered with his rash, I told him he had to stay home from school. He agreed, “I think I just need to lay on the couch and watch shows.”

Daddy boxing Brayden

Bailey's Lullaby

Fall 2013

Update - Brett's First Day of Kindergarten!!!

He was ready to go and went in without a problem. I, on the other hand, am a wreck! Even Daddy fessed up to a tear or two.
Can't wait to pick Brett up at the end of the day and hear how it went!

Summer 2013

Wowzers. And just like that summer is over and I have a child starting Kindergarten. Brett is excited and ready. I am not. Did we read enough books?! Does he know his numbers and letters? Will he listen to his teachers and be nice to other kids?! I’m sure yes to all of these but come Monday, he will officially be off to school and will be influenced by others throughout the day more than me. It’s scary, slightly terrifying actually. And in a blink of an eye, he will go off to college…Ohio State I’m sure. That will be ok. Brett did make a couple of good buddies in his pre-k class last year. They were on the same T-ball team this summer and will have the same teacher for kindergarten. I’m comforted in knowing they are good kids and I get along well with their mothers! That’s a little reassuring.
Bailey is sassy as can be. Sweet, smart, silly and sassy. She and Brett have been attached at the hip for the most part this summer. I think she’s really going to miss Brett when he’s at school all day. They loved going to the pool the last couple of months. They are becoming quite the little fish! Must get that from their mama!
Brayden is a joy. He is such a chill, happy baby who just goes along with anything. He’s sleeping great, usually 10-11 hours at night and he’s starting to form a good nap pattern. He eats like a champ and is growing like a weed. I know he’s only 3 ½ months, but I already miss him being a little baby! He’s smiling a lot and loves to watch what Brett and Bailey are up to.

Funny things they say

Bailey woke up and asked if anyone made it through the flying nunchucks!? B1&B2 enjoyed watching the American Ninja Warrior show the night before.

Brett saw someone on the Salmon Ladders (also American Ninja Warrior), “Mom, are you seeing this?!”

After a day with mommy and Brayden, Brett said he couldn’t wait to get home and see his sister.

I had all kids at the doc for the boys’ appointments. Both were due for some shots. I tried to talk Brett into being the example for Brayden and show him it was ok. Well, that backfired. Brett screamed and cried inconsolably, which made Bailey lose it too. I’m holding Brayden, getting a screaming Brett off the table and trying to calm a hysteric Bailey. Brayden’s turn was next, but Bailey started yelling at the nurses that she didn’t want them to hurt Brayden too. A second nurse had to take the older 2 out in the hallway for Brayden to get his shots…who by the way, whined for a second and then was fine. We had to go to Portillos afterward for hotdogs and milkshakes. We all needed it.

As I said kids have loved going to the pool. Had to have a few talks with Bailey though, she was having a little much fun splashing the lifeguard on duty and then deliberately splashed the older ladies on the side who just ‘dip their feet in’.

B1&B2 phrases I hear about 50x a day…Can I tell you something? You know what? Is it ok if….

Bailey ran into my bedroom yelling there’s a bug in Brett’s room, it’s between the windows! I tried to explain this wasn’t a big deal but went in to help defuse the situation. I walk in and Brett turns from the window with a hammer in his hand….I then I had to explain that we don’t need to break the window to get a bug that is OUTSIDE!

We were listening to music in the car. I can’t remember what song was playing, something about standing up for something. Bailey GASPS! “WHAT do I stand for?!”

Another day, we had the windows down. Bailey decides it was too windy; she didn’t like it because it was messing up her hair.

Rob and I were blessed to have Camp Grantie again. (Rob and I get to go downtown for a night and Grandma Nancy, Great Auntie Barbie and Great Auntie Bobbie come watch the kids. We were doing dinner the night before and then the aunts went to their hotel. I was getting Brayden ready for bed and Bailey comes in with her head down. “This is a bad day, a bad thing!” I asked her what was wrong; we had such a fun day together. “Barbie and Bobbie LEFT!” and slams her head down in her hands. Such a dramatic little one.

Bailey insisted she needed a backpack and school supplies for her ‘play school’ that she will be doing. She wanted to be just like Brett. So we ordered her a book bag when they were on sale. She asked for it every day. I told her we would have to wait until it comes to us but I could tell her when it shipped so she would know within a couple of days. She says “NO, don’t tell me when it ships please, I want to be surprised.”

We were going to dinner and told the kids we were meeting some friends, the Colellas. Brett says “Oh no, we’re going to have too much fun!”

We were meeting our friends Colin and Logan at the Children’s Museum. Bailey ran into the hallway asking if she could wear a certain outfit. I said sure, that would look great. She said she wanted Colin to remember that he loved her. Oh boy.

Bailey was being silly as usual. I asked her if she lost her marbles. In all seriousness she says “I don’t have ANY marbles!” So I asked where did they go? She says “They died. They were with Uncle Brett and they died.” Bailey mentions Uncle Brett almost every day.

Brett has been playing military a lot. We were walking at Navy Pier and past a Marine flag. Brett said he was going to be a solider. I said something to the extent of “we’ll see when you get a little bit older.” He immediately started reassuring. “It’s ok Mom, I won’t die young like Uncle Brett. I’ll make sure that I won’t get super hurt”

Bailey and I were driving downtown. To entertain herself, she brought these flashcards on the Presidents. We were crossing a bridge and she said she wanted to go swimming. But then decided, “if we went over there, I would lose Obama in the water!”

Summer 2013

June 2013

So it’s been a busy couple months! Baby Brayden is here! Our beautiful baby boy joined us on May 7th. He was bigger than the other 2. 8 lbs 5 oz and that was a week early! Rob and I found out our induction was scheduled for 12:30 am, so we got the kids ready for bed and went downtown for a date! It was great; we had a wonderful dinner, enjoyed a movie and then went to the hospital to have a baby! An older couple sitting beside us during dinner, made conversation and said she had to ask the obvious question ‘when will the baby be joining us?’. Their faces were priceless when we said tonight!

While we were in the hospital having Brayden, one of the Blackhawks’ players was also having a baby. Rob saw Duncan Keith (#2) outside the hospital during our stay. Our little boys were born within the same hour! We didn’t realize it at the time, but we also walked out and shared the elevator with his wife and baby. Maybe the boys were playoff good luck charms?!

Brayden has been a dream of a baby, sleeping and eating well. Which is nice, because an infant in addition to two others is a little crazy! Brett and Bailey adore their brother. Brett, especially, is so attentive and asks constantly to hold Brayden. We learned early on that Brayden has to sleep with his arms free. His hands are always by his face. I would put him in the tightest swaddle and he would grunt and squirm until his arms were out. Future escape artist?

Shortly after we were home with Brayden, Brett and Bailey both took turns getting strep throat. It was hard keeping them away from Brayden. One night a sick Bailey talked Daddy into sleeping in her room…in her small bed and in the ‘pink tornedo’.

A couple other things noteworthy…Brett turned 5 AND finished Pre-K!! Brett had a blast having his cousins come in town to celebrate his birthday. He received Batman and Spiderman costumes; they are often the outfit of choice when leaving the house. You can bet this elicits a comment…or many comments! It definitely makes people smile.

The funny things they say:

Bailey begged to go to wrestling with the boys one night. After she came back, she said 1. she listened to scary music (Daddy's heavy metal) on the way, 2. was not afraid of the big kids, 3. was SO tough, 4. her favorite part was 'throwing Brett'. She then asked me to paint her fingernails:) Proud daddy, happy mama!

The kids love Lucky Charms. So does mama. We have it occasionally. Brett loves to pick out the red hearts and give them to me. He says it’s his way of giving me love. So one morning Brett gave me his lucky charm heart, and I said ‘Brett its sticky!’. He said, ‘That's just because I wiped it off...because I accidentally put it in my mouth…’

Brett - ‘I'm going to work at a super big company and have an office and say 'I need 62 things of money'

Bailey – I’m going to have 14 babies

I told Brett ‘You have to eat your dinner to have a snack.’ The kids were asking for a cookie after not eating much at dinner. Brett replied, ‘ I'm going to have different rules when I’m an adult’.

When it's kids' choice for dinner, they pick Red Lobster for fish! They love fish, which is unfortunate, since mommy doesn't know how to cook it! Brett requested I get lobster tail so he could split it with me and then last night ordered crab legs with daddy!

Brett - ‘I'm going to have a convertible until I get a wife. Because then I will have a wife and kids’

Kids were running outside. Brett is very competitive and made a point to beat Bailey. She started to get upset and then said, ‘Awww I guess I need to eat more chicken so I can catch up to Brett...’

Bailey was my little helper with Brayden when Brett was at school. She loves helping to give him a bath. She says ‘are you taking him a bath now?’

Bailey loves teasing Daddy. Would say that may be her favorite thing. She told him the other day ‘I wish your name was Winniett! Oh yeah, Hey WINNIETT!!!’ Knowing full well that Rob HATES his middle name.

Bailey and Grace were playing with a Minnie phone. They were pretending to take pictures of each other. Then Bailey would say ‘Oh that was a good one, who do you want me to send that to?’ Apparently they have caught on that I take most of my pictures with my phone!

I was struggling getting Bailey to eat her lunch. For some reason if I said the Jack and Jill rhyme, Bailey will take a bite of carrots. I had to say it 20x, but we sure got the carrots taken care of!

I’m not sure if she understood the full capacity of what she said…But Bailey told me ‘Mom I like to push your buttons!’ On the other hand, she may have known exactly what she’s saying!

We were in the car, listening to the radio. I said ‘whoa’ about something. Brett said ‘MOM, did that pop your mind?’. (blow your mind)

Brett helped Bailey put on his Spiderman costume. He said, ‘Go show mom Bailey, you look so cute!’

Brett and Bailey were getting ready for bed. Brett was done with school so we said they could do a sleep over if they wanted to. Bailey said yes, then no, then yes again. She loves staying with Brett but she also LOVES her pink room, tough choice. Daddy asked her ‘Why do you keep changing your mind?’. She said, ‘that’s what girls do…’

We were watching the Voice and it was Danielle’s turn (young, pretty, blond girl). Brett says ‘I like her…she’s so good, and beautiful. I think I love her’. OH no.

We’ve been keeping up with the Blackhawks through the playoffs. Especially since Brayden’s buddy’s daddy was playing! Rob thought it was a good idea to get the kids hockey nets, sticks and pucks…to play INSIDE! They are having fun but I’m sure my poor floor is going to pay the price. Brett asks to play every time the Hawks are on and he’s getting good! The kids usually had to go to bed before the game was over. Bailey, being the first kid up a number of times would come in our room, ‘Where’s daddy? Did the Blackhawks win?!’

The kids now have Blackhawk stickers in their rooms (Patrick Kane for Bailey, Jonathan Toews for Brett). Bailey said now if she gets scared in her room, she will just look at Patrick Kane and she’ll feel better.

June 2013

Wrestling Part 1

Wrestling Part 2

Is it Spring yet!?

I can’t not believe Baby #3 will be here in a few shorts weeks! Apparently this kid is on track to be significantly larger than the previous two, so the doctor has encouraged me to induce a week early if I have not gone into labor yet. Due to this, we have nicknamed little brother as ‘big baby bruiser’.

In Brett’s school they were reading a book about polar bears. Mrs. Bolger commented that polar bears can grow to 7 feet tall. Brett told me this during lunch and then said ‘that’s almost as big as your dad!’

After a hectic start to the day, Brett tells me ‘Mom it looks like there’s yogurt in your hair.’ I figured the light from the window was reflecting funny…until I reached up. ‘Oh, that’s because there’s yogurt in my hair’.

Bailey - ‘Hide, my daddy’s going to come and say boo! Hes a french model.’

We were at Bailey’s dance class and there is a fish tank by the lobby. Brett says ‘I wanna get the fish out.’ I explained, ‘We can’t. Fish need to be in the water. If they are out, they will die.’ He said, ‘No, I want to take it out and eat it.’

I was driving downtown with the kids in February. They saw some Valentine’s Day decorations and asked what it was. I said ‘that’s called a cupid, it’s like a baby with a bow and arrow and it’s pretending to shoot you with love or nice, warm feelings for someone’. Brett says, ‘I have that.’ I asked, ‘What do you have?’ He said, ‘I have what you were talking about, for you…and Bailey’.

Bailey saw me packing their lunch; we were going to the museum for the day. She yells, ‘BRETT, we have humus!!’ He responds, ‘YES, I love it!’

All the kids have been interested in letters and the sounds of letters. At breakfast I asked them if they could figure out what was cool about the word ‘Blueberries, buh-buh blue buh-buh berries, it has 2 b’s.’ Brett’s reaction – ‘just like Justin Bie-ber!’ Bailey says ‘I’m going to be your girlfriend!’ and shoots her fist in the air. Letter lesson fail?

They also have been very big into rhyming words. This has gotten us into trouble when we explore word families such as truck, kitchen, and lick...Next topic: words we can not say.

Kids were asking what ‘exaggerate’ means. Rob said ‘like if I said my muscles were as big as a house, that would be an exaggeration’. Without missing a beat, Brett says ‘Dad, your muscles are a small as a mouse!’ This has been repeated often. Kids think it’s hilarious.

Bailey was sitting by me and saw a video for a ‘flying squirrel’ wrestling move. She asked to see it. And then asked to see it 4 more times. She said ‘that is soooo tough and awesome.’ Daddy was proud to hear that one.

Someone during lunch said that wrestling was fun. In complete seriousness, Brett said, ‘No wrestling is not fun; it’s tough and hard work. You have to practice a lot.’

Brett and Bailey being sweet one morning
Brett – ‘Bailey where did you get that dress? It’s beautiful!’
Bailey – ‘Oh THANK YOU!’
Brett – ‘Bailey, I don’t have to go to school today!’
Bailey – ‘Oh yay! I love today!’

We took an unexpected trip to Ohio to check on Grandma (from Ohio) after some surgery complications. I was trying to pack quickly so I could drive with the kids the next morning. Brett saw the pile of his clothes, ran to his drawer and pulled out 2 pairs of dress socks and threw them in the pile. ‘I’m going to bring these incase there’s any parties going on!’

When we were dressing the next morning, Bailey said she was going to wear her ‘I Love Papa’ shirt, because she thought grandpa needed some extra snuggles.

On the way to Ohio, I may or may not have gotten pulled over by the highway patrol for slightly going over the speeding limit. As we are waiting for the officer to come up to the window, Brett is shaking his head in disbelief…’this isn’t happening…this has NEVER happened before’. The officer assures me if my information checks out, he will just give me a warning. While we are waiting, Bailey asks why we were pulled over. I said ‘Mommy was going a little too fast…not SUPER fast…but faster than they want me to go’. Bailey says ‘OK drive slower. Mom, ok? You promise? Drive slower.’

Uncle Phil was talking with the kids about what we were going to name the new baby. They decided ‘Bear Urlacher Harman’. That was before Brett’s favorite player left the team When I told him the news, he actually started crying.

Bailey named our car Angus (after the horse in the Brave movie). We were going over a bridge and she yells ‘Gallop Angus! You’re galloping!’

Bailey was running around and I literally just said Bailey be careful. She falls right on her face. I paused and waited for the crying/screaming to ensue. Then she yells ‘DOWN goes BAILEY!’ and jumps up. Well done little lady.

Bailey ‘Brett, don’t give me a frown…’

At lunch Bailey says ‘I suddenly don’t like lettuce’.

We were eating at a Red Lobster. Bailey asked for the ‘Crabsters’ and Brett said ‘I don’t want shrimp, I want the fish like out of the water!’

I put Bailey’s hair into pigtails. Brett says ‘Oh you don’t look like Bailey; you look like the new girl in town!’

Brett asked to have dinosaur chicken for his snack after nap because it would be a healthy choice.

Brett knocked over Rob’s glass of water on the floor, so he grabbed some towels to clean up. He then looked with complete excitement and said 'Mom you are going to be so happy to see this, it’s going to look all nice and shiny!' And with delight, he scrubbed the floor. That excitement for cleaning can only be attributed to Grandpa from Ohio.

Brett farted, gestured for me to light a candle and said 'the boys are stinky, the girls are not'

Bailey was sleeping in Brett’s room and was being quite difficult and dramatic about getting up…Bailey says ‘I’m not ready to get up, I'm going to lay down some more.’
I said, ‘Bailey grandma’s coming, we need to get dressed and have breakfast.’
‘I'll come down when my plate is on the table! And on my plate will be a pancake, banana and strawberries!’
Humored I said, ‘I don't think we'll have pancakes, what if its cereal?’
She says ‘Then I will have lucky charms!’ Throwing herself back on the pillow.
I guess I appreciate that she knows what she wants…

Focusing on eating has become a chore and I find myself giving multiple prompts to eat. Frustrated one evening when they were talking and playing, I said, ‘Come on guys, I’m tired of waiting for you to finish eating’. Bailey says, ‘Well then you can just go in there and relax’

Bailey comes down wearing her Buckeye’s cheerleading outfit laughing ‘Grandma Nancy’s going to be FURIOUS!’

We were relaxing one evening watching the Voice. Brett says ‘I don’t want you to go on that and no one turn around!’ Apparently Brett agrees with his father about my singing ability!

Both Brett and Bailey have new rooms preparing for the new arrival. As I was working on switching the closets, Brett is running back and forth. He moved 6 or so Ohio State wall stickers to the front of his new door stating he wanted everyone to know before coming into his room that he likes OSU!

One Saturday am, we were watching Kung Fu Panda. Rob asks if he looks like the panda with ‘no hair’. Brett says, ‘No I think mommy looks more like him with her big belly’. You can always count on the honesty of a child!

Brett - ‘It’s not about muscles, it’s about believing in yourself’

Bailey’s traumatic naptime –
It was naptime for the 5 kids…I was putting the boys in Brett’s room. I hear a huge crash and Bailey screaming. I run in her room to find she just jumped off her bed and knocked stuff off her desk but it scared her. I finally get her to calm down and I walk out of the room. I get 2 feet out, ‘MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY, there’s a spider on me!!!’ I go in expecting to tell her it’s nothing and sure enough there was a HUGE centipede crawling on her blanket. I flip it back trying to knock him on the floor and off of her. The sucker was quick and went back behind her bed. We looked and looked and couldn’t find it. So I tried to calm her down again and said he probably crawled back into the wall and was scared of her yelling. She seemed fine and I walk to the bathroom. It’s not even 30 sec ‘MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY it’s BACK!’. I run back in, the creepy hairy looking thing was on her pillow right by her head and she was paralyzed screaming. I throw the pillow off, getting him to the floor and stepped on him FINALLY. She is still screaming and tells me to make sure I flush him down the toilet. I have her come with me and we do it together. Bailey is terrified of her new room at this point and refused to sleep in her room by herself. I frankly didn’t blame her, I hate those crawly things. So she settled taking a nap in our room but requested me 4x to ‘shut the door so the buggies couldn’t come in’. I didn’t think I should tell her that they could crawl right under it…

Bailey was ‘writing on her paper’ I asked her what she was writing. She told me it said ‘you complicate my heart…’ Her poor first boyfriend, I can’t imagine what she’s going to put on her love notes if this is what she says at 3 years old!

From Rob: Last night I was watching a few minutes of the Illinois/Iowa dual from a few weeks ago and paused it as we were going out and shovel. Brett said something to the effect of “no score.”
I said, “no Brett, it’s 2 to 2, see here” and pointed to the score at the top corner of the tv.
He responded, “no dad, they are ear to ear so no one is going to score.” Dallago & Lofthouse were paused on tv tied up ear to ear.
A few tears slipped out.

Bailey told me she wanted a Lion King book. I told her she has one. She said ‘No, I want one with the CD to listen to’. I said, ‘Maybe we’ll have to look for that’. She says ‘you Better!’ I looked at her and said ‘what?’ She apparently assumed I just couldn’t hear and repeated, ‘you Better!’. I said, ‘Try again’. Almost getting it, she says ‘May you please Better?!’

Getting ready for Spring

What do you think? Blue or Pink?

Winter 2013

We’ve had a busy winter! We drove to Ohio for Christmas and stayed with Grandma and Grandpa for a couple days. We came back and celebrated Bailey’s 3rd birthday! Have had a number of illnesses; colds, stomach flu, ear infections – all fun things to have. Rob and Brett still do wrestling a night a week and Bailey is continuing her dance class. The kids are constantly challenging us and entertaining us with the funny things they say. Brett and Bailey really love each other and are creating games to play all the time. They currently are into either Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Power Rangers. Mommy and daddy are typically the teacher/sansei or the bad, evil guy. I’m guessing depending on how they are feeling about us at the time.

Funny things kids say

‘Daddy your muscles are getting bigger, it looks like they are going to break your shirt.’ (This was actually said right after the last blog entry; Rob lobbied for me to add to blog and resend to everyone, but I thought it could wait)

We were eating somewhere and Brett asked to have some calamari. He’s had it before but this time he said, ‘Oh it tastes like fish AND chicken’. I thought that was a perfect description.

One Saturday Bailey suggested we should go to Dunkin Doughnuts (one of her favorites). Brett said, ‘We just went, we can’t go all the time because it’s not good for us!’ Brett has become our voice of reason.

Bailey was playing legos with Brett and she dropped a little piece down her onesie pajamas. She looked upset and said ‘Oh no, there’s a Lego IN me!’

‘I’m done eating; I just want to show off my moves’

We finally got some snow in Chicago! Brett and Bailey were SO excited to put on their snow pants and gloves and go outside. They did snow angels and shoveled, tried to make snow balls. Bailey was making snow angel, Brett walked over to her with a shovel in his hand.
Bailey said in all seriousness, ‘Are you coming over to hit me?’. I could not stop laughing. Who are we? The Sopranos?

Brett had some fish crackers left from his post wrestling snack. He asked if he could have them but in a very whiney voice. I said simply, ‘Not the way that you are asking, you are whining’. He went to the bathroom like I asked him to and I overheard him rehearsing in the mirror how he was going to apologize for whining and if he could PLEASE have his crackers. He came out from the bathroom and repeated almost verbatim how he practiced. I smiled and said, yes thank you for asking nicely. I feel he will do well when he has to practice public speaking for school.

The kids say prayers together before going to bed. Almost every night, Brett asked God to be with Uncle Brett so he’s not lonely.

Brett was running late for school, I gave him a list of things to do before he had to leave. He jumped up from the table, saluted me and ran off. Not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing?

I saw a great deal online for girls’ dresses (Rob you may stop reading and skip to next story). I let Bailey tell me which ones she liked, I put them in the cart so we could decide. We were comparing the few that she liked and literally as I say ‘Ok Bailey which ONE do you like best?’ She hit something and the page changed. I asked Bailey what she touched…and then I saw ‘Do your happy dance your order is on the way!’ She hit submit and ordered all of them! Thankfully I was able to contact the company and they could cancel the order. My darling 3 year old has already learned the ease and danger of online shopping!

Brett is obsessed with numbers these days. He is frequently telling us what numbers are on the clock. I can’t remember if I shared, one evening going to wrestling practice Brett read the clock to Rob every minute it changed. ‘Dad! It’s 1 minute after 6!’….’Dad! It’s 2 minutes after 6!’ All the way to Maine South. Now he is constantly asking addition questions. ‘Mom what’s 4 and 4? What’s 5 and 5? What’s 15 and 20?’ I found Rob’s old flash cards from teaching and gave them to Brett. He calls them his numbers game and literally reads each one, guessing the answer and goes through the entire box. This is not a trait from me. I remember flash cards, and I disliked them.

We took Bailey to American Girl for her birthday. She picked out a doll and named her Bella (it HAD to be a B name). She takes her upstairs every night and tucks her in the doll bed in her room. Bella has really helped with the whole little brother disappointment.

Bailey is our little comedian. Rob and I are nightly laughing at her antics. She is doing a great job finally with potty training and is thrilled to be wearing her Merida and Princess underwear. If she goes #2, she asks for privacy, a lesson learned from her brother I’m sure. Then instead of saying that she’s done, she’ll ask me to come in because she has a surprise! Every time she says, ‘I have a surprise...wait for it, wait for it…LOOK! Are you SO surprised?!’

After accidentally coming home with twice the candy we meant to from a candy store, Brett told me during breakfast ‘Mom, you shouldn’t go to a candy store when you’re pregnant!’ Apparently he was talking to his father about my inability to estimate weight of said candy. I said ‘Maybe the baby wanted candy?’
Brett was not humored. ‘Maybe he didn’t.’ Touché.

Brett wanted to play tic tac toe when I was trying to get dinner ready. I told him to practice and play himself. He continued to play then yelled, ‘MOM, I won!’. What a great self-esteem builder

Kids ask to do a ‘sleepover’ every weekend. They break out their sleeping bags for nap and bedtime and get to stay together on the floor. This typically leads to late talking and laughing but it’s so worth it.

Uncle Brett’s birthday would have been last week. I told the kids we were going to meet Daddy for dinner and asked where they thought Daddy would have gone with Uncle Brett for his birthday. Brett said immediately ‘The Owl Restaurant, that’s where he goes with his friends’. Bailey adds, ‘Let’s go and if we see a guy with no hair, than that’s daddy!’.

Winter 2013