Friday, January 23, 2009

Tate loves her big brother!


Tatum thinks Spencer is hilarious. Sometimes I think she loves him more than she loves me, since I certainly can't get her to laugh this hard. :)

Best hiding place for a 3 year old...


So I was taking a shower and I came out and couldn't find Spencer.

Tate Claps!

Who knew I'd have such a sensitive daughter?

I had no idea what a big transition it would be going from having a son to having a daughter... For the most part, I thought that I could treat them the same, at least during the baby stage with no major problems. I guess not.

Last week Tatum was nursing and for some reason thought it was a good idea to bite me. So I responded in the exact same way I did the first time Spencer bit me. I flicked her cheek very lightly and said in a firm but quiet manner, "we don't bite." Now when I did this to Spencer (3 years ago), he stopped nursing and started laughing at me. But when I did this to Tatum, she looked at me like I had killed her best friend and broke out in the most heartbreaking cry I've ever seen or heard. I felt terrible! So when she had finally calmed down I went back to nursing. She bit me a second time and being aware of what had just happened, I didn't flick, I just pulled away slightly and said very quietly, "we don't bite." She started balling... AGAIN! I really thought I had been nice about it. Guess not. So we tried to nurse a 3rd time. This time I was very aware of her feelings and wanted to be extra careful not to upset her. She bit me AGAIN! So this time, I didn't say anything, I didn't do anything, I just carefully pulled away. I even smiled so as not to show that I was upset in any way. She still cried bloody murder! But it was a delayed reaction... She looked at me kind of crooked and hurt, as I looked back smiling, then after about 5 seconds the quiver lip started and the inevitable tears... Let's just say we were done nursing for the afternoon.

So yesterday, on the same topic, we were playing in Spencer's room and he wanted to play shark. So I was shark and he was Shamu. So without thinking I did to Tate what I have always done to Spencer (and he ALWAYS laughed). I made the sharky noise (duuuum dum, duuum dum, dum dum etc..) and then pretended the shark bit her in the tummy. Well, to my surprise, at the time, seeing as I wasn't thinking clearly or remembering the biting incident of the prior week, I thought she would laugh. But clearly I was mistaken as she looked at me in utter disgust and fear. She cried and cried and cried.

Needless to say, I am now starting to realize that I have to be extra careful not to hurt Tatum's feelings. I am also figuring out that these 2 kids are going to have to be disciplined in quite different ways. I am pretty sure all I will have to do is look at Tatum crooked when she does something wrong in the future and I'll get my point across.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Family Photo

Last time we had a family photo of all my family, it was 2 years ago and some people had their eyes closed, others had nasty attitudes and I had braces. So last week when my big brother Dom & his wife Melinda were in town we got one! And a nice one too... everyone is looking at the camera and everyone looks like they're somewhat happy to be there. Maybe next time we'll get Nathan to crack a smile. At least his eyes are open. Baby steps...

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Tate is 8 months...

So here's the latest pics of our not so little baby girl... Spencer couldn't help but be a part of her pictures, so he went and got his puppy too...


Thursday, January 08, 2009

Daddy's Little Girl

If I learned anything from my father, it is the art of nazi cookie baking. My father never really cooked growing up, aside from pancakes, waffles or coffee cake on Sunday mornings. He was, however, the avid baker... at least when it came to cookies. To this day, my favorite cookies are his peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips on top. I recently learned that he, as I do, always puts 5 chocolate chips on each cookie. Apparently OCD is genetic, at least when it comes to cookies. Tony also pointed out how I line up the cookies to cool and once they are cool they go into neatly stacked lines. My father never allowed us to eat any cookies that were being cooled, didn't want to throw off the count or mess up his lines. No one was allowed in the kitchen during his cookie baking process. But we would always go sneak a spoonful of cookie dough when he wasn't looking And now I find myself doing the same thing, aside from one thing... I do let Spencer help. But if Tony tries to get himself some cookie dough, it's a spatula to the hand! Like father, like daughter, at least when it comes to our anal OCDness. ;)

Friday, January 02, 2009

St. Jude's Comet

My friend Susan recently posted a blog and I thought it was hilarious, so I am copying her! ;)

1. Put your iPod (or media player) on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

Here goes.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Bubbly Toes (Jack Johnson) -- I do think toes are cute, as long as they're not hairy!

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Spirit in the Sky (Norman Greenbaum) -- Very accurate.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Scrub (TLC) -- Actually quite the opposite.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
If feels like Christmas (Muppets) -- How ironic, we totally took Christmas down yesterday.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Angel (Jack Johnson) -- Interesting. I totally made a video of my babies and had this play with the footage of right after Tate's birth.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Tiny Dancer (Elton John) -- Spence, Tate & I dance when we have nothing better to do for absolutely no reason.

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Hey Mama (Kanye West) -- Love it.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
The Way You Look Tonight (Michael Buble) -- Tony IS hot.

WHAT IS 2+2?
New York's Not My Home (Jim Croce) -- Really?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Little Moments Like That (Brad Paisley) -- It's SOOO true.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Cocoon (Jack Johnson) -- Not true. Not gonna be over soon EVER!

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Irreplaceable (Beyonce) -- I hope I am irreplaceable.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Son of a Preacher Man (Janis Joplin) -- HA HA

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Go On (Jack Johnson) -- Can you see the theme? I LOVE Jack.

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Oh Come All Ye Faithful (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) -- Umm, I haven't taken all of my Christmas music off yet.

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Bang Bang (Dispatch) -- No, that's AFTER the wedding.

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Rodeo Clowns (Jack Johnson) -- Nearly Perfect.

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Someone Like You (Tyler Hilton) -- Didn't think I was a stalker?

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Testify to Love (Avalon) --

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Photographs & Memories (Jim Croce) -- It's true.

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Losing Hope (Jack Johnson) -- So true.

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Come On and Dance (Steve Miller Band) -- That would be hilarious... Dancing & boom, dead.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Kokomo (Beach Boys) -- HA! Never even been there. But I did do baton in elementary school and we always did it to this song!

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Love Me Good (Michael W. Smith) -- Huh?

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
White Christmas (Bing Crosby) -- from joy!

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Butterfly (Mason Jennings) -- yup.

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Please Remember Me (Tim McGraw) -- Wow. I am mostly afraid of dying young and not be able to watch my babies grow up or that they will forget me. :(

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
If There's Love (Citizen Cope) -- I guess that answers that question.

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
She Don't Know She's Beautiful (Kenny Chesney) -- For some reason, this song always makes me sad. Probably because I grew up thinking I was a tubby lardbutt.

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Photograph (Weezer) -- Uh? My pictures aren't up in my house because we're trying to sell it?

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
St. Jude's Comet (Paul Simon)

Thursday, January 01, 2009

My babies...

Had to post this picture. Their bums are the same size, all Tate needs is longer appendages!

Christmas!

I guess it's about time I catch you up on the last few weeks...

Christmas came early this year with a beautiful snowfall! Spencer & I spent the morning outside playing in the snow about a week and a half before Christmas. Last year Spencer was a little afraid of falling and walking in the snow. I think he didn't like the feeling of the snow crunching beneath his feet (my favorite part of snow). This year he loved it! We tried to make a snowman, but the snow was too powdery. We ended up having a snowball fight and making a ton of snowangels instead. I collected some fresh snow that day in a bowl for snow ice cream and it is still in our freezer!
Christmas baking commenced as it does every year, only a few days before. ;) Spencer always love to help bake. This year was no exception. He did a great job placing the thumbprint cookies and squishing them with a chocolate hug. He helped sift the flour. He even picked out what cookie cutters he wanted and did a great job not cutting into other cookies as he cut them out.Christmas Eve Grandma and Grandpa Jones came over for pizza and our annual frosting of the sugar cookies. I am so bummed that I didn't get any pictures, but turns out Grandpa Jones is a master cookie artist. Spencer spent most of the time adding as many cinnamon disks to one cookie as humanly possible. I think that cookie was left for Santa to eat. :)

We opened presents that night and Spencer was surprised with Kota, the electronic dinosaur, from Grandma & Grandpa. At first, he didn't even know it was there, but as soon as he saw it, he was in love. He asked very nicely if he could play with it. Even Tatum got a ride. I have a video of it and I will have to post it as soon as I figure out how.After we set out Santa's milk & cookies we headed outside to sprinkle some Christmas dust. Our friends, the Joynt's, gave us this last year and we totally forgot to do it. It's oatmeal and glitter. So Santa can see our house from afar and the Reindeer have something to munch on while Santa leaves our presents. Very cool. We will definitely repeat every year!Christmas morning Spencer was so excited that he got what he wanted from Santa, a bumblebee transformer. Tatum got Spencer's old stand up table to play with. We were worried that Spencer would recognize that it was his and ask why Santa gave it to Tatum. We were totally prepared with an answer, but fortunately Spencer didn't care. He was too excited about all of his presents. We opened presents and socks (I don't know why, but I have always called stockings socks) before Grandma & Grandpa Young came over. Tony totally spoiled me with the coolest present. I got the flip camcorder. It's the size of my phone and it is totally awesome! The video quality is great and I can carry it around in my purse. Tony had remembered how I always mention what crazy things the kids do and I wish he would have been there to see it. Now he can!
After the reveal of all our lovely gifts to each other, Grandma & Grandpa Young came over for breakfast and we feasted on Octoberfest sausage, eggs, ham, & my homemade cinnamon rolls with purple frosting. The purple frosting occurs from using the leftover green & red frosting from the night before. ;) We then opened all of our presents and Spencer got many more toys, including a playmobil castle! I think Tatum's favorite presents were the bows.

I just love this picture! The kids had just opened all their presents and were elated!Not over yet, now it was time to head over to my parents house for dinner & family fun time! I am a little upset I didn't really get any photos there, I guess there is always so much going on and so many people that I forget. :) But we had a great time and Mom made an amazing dinner. We got lots of cool gifts like a magic bullet from my parents, a marble slab to mix ice cream on (we love Coldstone) from Nathan & Sheri, and a cool REAL hot chocolate maker from Dom & Melinda. Tate even got a stocking hat that says, Future Agent. Wonder where that came from? ;) My Grandpa got all the kids a new illustrated kids bible as well. A very cool thing to have. I am proud that we got this photo of the kids just before we were leaving.
They all had so much fun and were very grateful for everything. We ended up heading out a little early than usual though, because the roads had iced over. :( But overall we had an awesome Christmas! Thank you to everyone for sharing it with us...