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