He speaks!

Luke has been working on his verbal skills for quite a while. For the last few months we've had:
Ca (say it like you live in New Jersey)- Car
Tuk- TRUCK
DooDoo- Choo choo
Tray- Train
Dawwwwg- Dog
Momeeee- Mommy
Dadeeeee- Daddy
Poppy- Both Papa and Grandpa
Meeeee- Both Mimi and Grandma

I'm know there are others but these are the most common.
This morning, as I was putting him in his car seat and battling the giggling and flailing arms (he thinks it's funny to struggle with me when we're buckling up), he looked square at me and said "where's daddy?" My reply: "oh hunny- he went to work." (the time change has us in a bit of a scramble this week with our morning routine)
Luke: "oh. bye."

I stood for a minute, letting it seep into my caffeine-defficient brain cells that I just had a conversation with him. Granted, it wasn't a Shakesperian Sonnet, but still- we just communicated in a much deeper level than we had before today! I knew it was going to be a good week. I just knew it.

The Important Things

Ok- It has been almost a year since I blogged. LOTS has happened. But, the biggest is that I'm giving up some of my major committments, (I won't name them and make them feel bad) so that I can spend more time on the important things.

The biggest thing that needs my attention is my family. And documenting important family

moments. I've been a bad mom. Well, I've given up documenting in lieu of actually doing things with the kids. So not really a bad mom, just a bad record-keeper.

So, I'm going to promise myself to post once a week, whether it's something tiny, something funny, or something huge. I rely on this as my documentation. (Mommy brain=bad memory)

Don't worry- I'm still working full time for Ralph and monogramming at night. Those weren't the things I'm giving up!

Today's post: Big hiney.

Yep, Emily Grace (in her desire to be big (big girl)) thought she was giving me a compliment by telling me that I had a big hiney.

Her exact words were (as I was bent over tying Luke's shoes while he was rocking in the glider and trying to hit me with a plastic golf club)

"Wow mommy, your hiney is really really big and bigger!" (Bigger? Rub it in, kid.)

And I said "that's not a nice thing to say to an adult"

and she said "That's ok, I like you. I'll be big when I'm 5."

I'm having flash backs to the Kellogg's post-Christmas commercial where the little girl comes down stairs and says "SANTA!" to her mom's rear end while she's bent over digging through the fridge... I'm even wearing the red shirt today.

Does it get cuter than this?

I can't stop watching Luke babble. It puts the BIGGEST smile on my face. I hope you enjoy as much as Chris and I do!!

New Love- Chevron DIY

Most of you know my love for crafty things. I don't blog about crafty stuff NEARLY enough to equal my passion for a good project.

My newest love is for all things chevron!

Check out these plates! And the best part is, this whole project was done for under $5. I see these in my future... especially at a certain little man's first birthday party!!!

***Notice, those spacers in the middle are dollar store candle sticks!***

Instructions at Tatertots And Jello
And I wonder if you could use Stevie's Carbon paper idea from the personalized boxes to make this a little simpler. I love a short cut!

If I only had a spare wall- and maybe not a plaster deer head:

Contact Paper Chevron Wall Art

Can't find chevron fabric? Try this! Nobody will ever know...

How to make Striped Fabric into a chevron patterned pillow

And... best for last! I might try this painting technique on some of those berber floor rugs! I'll start small to see how it works. If my plans go well, I'm picturing a giant white/gray and light blue chevron rug in the dining room... stay tuned.

How to make your own chevron-inspired rug

Save the drive-ins!

I always wanted to live in the days of Jacquie O, A&W drive thru restaurants, pedal pushers and Drive-in movie theaters.

A few years ago, some friends suggested a double date to a not-so-local Drive-in so Chris and I jumped at the opportunity. For $5 a person ($2 for kids) you got two movies for the evening. Where else can you get 6 hours of entertainment for $5 (well, plus gas)??

Being there was like driving into a piece of history (sort of).

You tuned into the movie via your car radio, although I think we watched a total of less than 10 minutes because there was so much going on around us! The experience was complete with a greasy snack stand and high-school crushes in the making, a warm summer evening breeze and lighting bugs all around. It was perfect.

The drive-in we visted was in Eden, NC, a solid hour from our house.

http://www.edendrivein.com/

We found out after that long drive that there was a drive-in 15 minutes from our house! So this summer, I thought we'd put a date on the calendar to go visit the Walkertown, NC drive-in. But, I'm sad to report that it's status is "dark." I can't believe we missed it. It's gone- done forever, or until it lands a new investor- and we never even knew it was there.

I am determined that this summer we will go back to Eden and we will help this little piece of history that has survived since 1955 continue to thrive. Even if it's just once, I want Emily Grace and Luke to experience this little piece of American heritage, before it really is gone...

Check out his website to find drive-ins in your state and help keep the drive-ins alive!

http://www.driveinmovie.com/mainmenu.htm

Chew Toys for Two

Luke AND Zoe are teething at the same time. I cannot explain how much fun we're having...

This morning Zoe lost another one of her baby fangs (as I've come to call them- tooth is an understatement with this animal) and simultaneously Luke was SCREAMING for either a bottle or baby oragel- whichever we could reach first.

Luke is on his third tooth- another bottom guy! The top still looks swollen but I can see the white tip of a bottom tooth that has broken through. That makes 3!


He is actively chewing on anything he can get his hands on which includes but is not limited to:
Paci
Fingers (not just his)
Burp Cloths
My shoulder
My hair
Emily Grace
Emily Grace's hair bows
Chris' phone
Chris' sunglasses
Car seat toys
Car seat
blankets
sheets
spoons
I try not to let a lot of foreign objects into his reach but as you can see, I often miss something.

His favorite made-for-teething toys:
Get this Silver teething ring at Bed, Bath & Beyond and use your 20% coupon. The silver stays naturally cool so you never have to put it in the freezer. It's easy to hold and doubles as a rattle! This silver teething ring is by far is his favorite!

RazBaby silicone teether- Babies R Us.
It is considerably less expensive but also less effective. It's a little large for his mouth and a bit heavy for him to hold at this age, but it's great for him to chew on!



And Zoe's chew toylist includes:
Our new area rug
My favorite blue chair
Coffee table legs
The metal side table legs
The metal bars on her kennel
Kiwi's collar
Kiwi's tail
Emily Grace's hands
Emily Grace's hair
Luke's hands (it's funny, she's not biting them- she likes to get their hands in her mouth and she delicately gnaws on them. Of course I don't LET this happen, when I see it I yell at her to stop. )
Luke's feet
Luke's shoes
Luke's socks (I've now thrown away over 20 socks!)
Luke's car seat (common chew toy)
Luke's car seat toys
Any dirty laundry- jeans, socks, bibs. You name it, she'll chew on it.

Yet the chew/teething toys we've purchased for BOTH of them sit mildly used. I'd never trade these memories in for anything!

This is the song that never ends...

Remember that one? I won't get the lyrics stuck in your head for you. I'm betting the title did that on it's own.

Anyway, the new never-ending song at our house is from daycare. It's actually a diversion tactic at school that also drives people (me) crazy with it's inexplicably simple lyrics.

Emily Grace, Emily Grace, jump up and down
jump up and down
jump up and down

Emily Grace, Emily Grace, jump up and down
and sit...back...down

We have been singing that song ALL weekend. From Friday when we got home to 10 minutes ago when EG went to bed. And we've all had to jump. I hope I burned extra calories from all of the jumping.

She makes us each take a turn:
Emily Grace
Mommy
Daddy
Luke (who LOVES this song, by the way. I don't think it will be leaving our home in the near future...)
Kiwi
Zoe
Bailey (EG still includes her name in EVERYTHING we do as a family)

And then my favorite:

EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY, JUMP UP AND DOWN...

I think this song will be in my head for days.