Big Boy Bed and First Swim

Today is Lucas' first night in his 'big boy bed', really the crib without the side on it. He hasn't tired to climb out and he is not big enough to fall out yet but we had to get him started since he has taken to kicking the railing that slides down because it makes this great noise. All fine and dandy but it wakes up Ava so time to remove it and learn to sleep like the rest of us. We will see how it goes as often he sleeps with his legs hanging out the side of the crib or his head stuck right up against the railing. Hopefully he doesn't fall out tonight.

Ava is doing much better, unfortunately she is not back to sleeping all night but it is not too bad. She had her first swim the other day. Not too sure how she felt about it, she was very quiet but didn't seem too upset. She is rolling all over the place, she can't seem to get all the way over but she is going back to side to back to the other side over and over. She is so aggressive with her toys. Nothing like her gentle older brother. I am worried she might pull the baby gym over on herself one of these days. She has started to turn around in her crib, a whole month earlier than Lucas. They say that girls do things faster. She is trying hard to sit up always bringing her head and legs up looks more like she is doing sit ups at the moment, even has a moan when she tries, and she has a very deep voice so sounds very funny. Maybe she wants to join Opa at the gym!

They are doing good together Lucas has said a couple of times "I love you so much Ava" and gives her a big hug. He loves getting the chance to hold her now, he has to be watched very closely as he likes to just push her off when he is done. Ava still loves to watch her big brother, almost more than Mommy.

Final thought - I almost forgot. Lucas has not forgotten where he came from. He often sings himself to sleep and tonight he sang "God of Nations" (NZ national anthem) What a proud little Kiwi. He must be gearing himself up for their World Cup debut!

I need a Drink

So Peter was not working at home today and for some reason it was a crazy place today. Lets see if I can paint you a picture:

1. Ava was up 3 times last night which is 3 times more than usual (I knew our luck would run out some time), so I started the day out tired.
she looks cute but she causes a lot of chaos!



2. We get into the car to go and drop Peter off and the car will not start, think the starter is gone.


3. Lucas was playing hockey outside waiting for Lori to come and pick Peter up to take him to work (thanks L-Train) and he knocked himself in the eye with his hockey stick = bruise number one.





4. Ava would not take her morning nap (that is nothing new though)


5. Lucas tripped and knocked his eye into the door downstairs = bruise number two on the same eye this time with cut and bump.
6. Lucas only slept for 1 hour at nap time today, that is 2 or 3 hours less than normal.


7. It took me 2 hours to get Ava to go to sleep tonight.

I am ready for Peter to come home!

Look at me rolling over!

"No they are not baby toys Mommy! Ava likes to share with Lucas"

Here's hoping for a better day tomorrow.

I WILL Win!!

Ava and I are fighting. Not sure what I have done to make her so angry but she is very angry with me. Yesterday she let me have it all day, she took a break for about an hour around lunchtime, then she finally exhausted herself at 5pm when she passed out for another hour, Finally in bed for the night at 7pm. Thank goodness. Can't say today has been much better but her anger seems to have calmed a little. Hoping for a better evening anyway.

I think every mom obsesses over something and mine is sleep. I think it is so important that kids get the right amount of sleep and if you live in my house you seem to need a lot of sleep. Ava has not yet learned that she would be a much happier person if she would just let go and go to sleep. It may be a bold statement but I think she is worse than Lucas was. Maybe a little better at keeping herself occupied when she is awake but probably a bit more stubborn when it comes to going down for a nap. She hates napping so much that if I go upstairs with her (nap time or not) she starts to cry and stiffens up. I don't know how I lucked out to get two kids that have an aversion to sleeping. It must be their fathers fault, it certainly is not mine. But I will win this battle one day.

On a less frustrating note Lucas is still making me laugh everyday. Still loves to play with Ava's baby toys ("When she is done Lucas can have a turn") and continues to get time out for throwing things.

Lucas still has things a bit mixed up. He calls himself 'you' and Peter and I 'me' or 'I'. It gets a bit confusing when he says things like

Lucas:"You want to have a drink?"

Mom: "No thanks Lucas I am not thirsty."

Lucas: "You want to have a drink!"

Mom: "That is very nice of you Lucas but I am not thirsty".

Lucas: "LUCAS WANTS A DRINK!"

Mom:"Oh sorry Lucas I thought you meant me."

Not exactly sure how to get him to figure that one out.

A little over 3 weeks and Lucas gets to see Aunt Elissa and Aunt Emily in the same room. I can't wait to see his reaction, I am convinced he thinks they are the same person.

It Happened

Went to the park today and Ava cried most of the time, so I decided it was time to leave. Lucas had a temper tantrum. Full out laying on the ground kicking and screaming 'Not Yet Mommy, Not Yet!' Apparently it was not time to go yet. I was pretty proud of how I handled it, although there were some other things to keep me occupied, as Ava pooped right then so I walked a safe distance away from Lucas, wouldn't want anyone to know he was mine, and I changed Ava's bum. By the time I was done, Lucas was calmer and very sorry for making a complete fool out of himself. He asked very nicely if he could have one more swing before we went home, so of course I gave in. Phew that was a close one, thought I was going to have to drag him out of there kicking and screaming all the way.

So I thought we were done for the day but no, we get home at about 12:00 and I am getting his lunch ready, for some reason he feels throwing toys is a good idea. He knows "We only throw balls" so he gets a time out when he throws his train. He is not a big fan of being in timeout so he picks up his beaded necklace and throws it down the hall, this means a longer time out. Finally there are tears and lots of "sorry mommy, we only throw balls, sorry mommy we only throw balls, Mommy come and get me". Finally we are done, or so I think. It is now 12:30 and he has to test out the rules one more time. Picks up a little wooden camel and chucks it across the room. This time I dont even need to say it Lucas says "Time out, we only throw balls" and walks himself to timeout. Makes my job a little easier. He is now down for his nap, I hope that is all we have for today.

Poor little Ava's first word might be timeout if he keeps this up.

Such a Thoughtful Little Lady

Ava has decided that she will not go to sleep at night until Lucas is safely tucked in his bed. Such a nice little girl. I have tried and tried but she will not give up. Seems to be as soon as I bring her in to see Lucas and read a story with them, say his prayers and shut out the light she will go to sleep with no fight. If I try to get her down before that she exercises her vocal cords. I really don't think they need any more exercise they get enough of a work out during the day.

Apparently it is "Just my size, Mommy"! Someone has a big head

"Look Ava it is like this, jump, jump, jump" "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, whatever Lucas not everything has to be done your way, one day I will teach you that"


Burlington's version of the waterfront

Getting a little more brave, making mommy a lot more nervous

Count to Ten

Lucas is very proud of himself today. Peter and I were really surprised when it all came out but Lucas can count to TEN!!!! Sounds a bit like this.....

"yun, two, tree, tour, tive, tix, temtem, eight, nine, ten"

I guess he had to do something to get attention yesterday, Ava was baptised and everyone was here to oww and aww over her so Lucas must have figured it was a good way to get the all the attention back. It worked pretty good.

Ava did really well at the baptism, no crying at all, so unlike her. We had a really good day with family and friends. Beautiful weather which was nice, made the house feel a little bigger.

Some photos before we leave for the church

Of course Ava is not happy

Daddy and kids in church

Ava with her little lamb after everyone had left

Lucas had to play with the little lamb as well

Time is Flying By

Hard to believe Ava is 2 and 1/2 months now, time goes by so fast.

She is doing well, there is always something to complain about when it comes to naping but that seems to be the norm with my kids so won't go into too much detail. Bascially she doesn't like to nap, would rather cry the day away. We will get there one day and things have gotten so much better than in the beginning so that is nice.

She is off her medication and is no longer throwing up all over me which is fantastic and means a lot less laundry. Although she has started doing monster size poos and covering her clothes, so puke clothes have been replaced with poo clothes. At least it is only usually her own clothes and not mine as well.


Lucas is doing good as well. He is starting to get bored with his toys and needs more 'stimulation' so I have started doing quite a few crafts with him. He is such a boy (or maybe it is just toddler) when it comes to crafts though. He likes to make things and then see how big of a bang it makes when you throw it on the floor. Or see if his cars can drive through it. He also likes to glue things on and then once it is dried rip it all apart, than he wants it glued back on again so he can take it apart again.


Still a big hockey fan! "Go Sydney Crosby"

We are enjoying lots of smiles and a little bit of cooing from Ava. I suspect she is going to talk as much as Lucas and may even be louder than him. She definetly lets us know when she wants to be heard. She loves to watch EVERYTHING that Lucas is doing and just seems to not be able to get enough of him, lets hope that lasts. Not sure the feeling is mutual from Lucas though, he loves her for a couple of minutes and then says "Mommy put her in her bed". Lets hope that one day he likes her for more than a couple of minutes at a time.


You think I'm cute now just wait 2 minutes and I will poo all the way up to my neck, pretty funny eh Mom!




A little pea

Lucas loves Ava's things, he has played with the 'baby' toys more now than he ever did when he was a baby. I tried Ava in the bumbo the other day as her head is getting a little flat, unfortunatley she is still a little too young for it, so I was going to put it away. But it has now become Lucas' favourite toy. He often sits in it to have a snack or sometimes likes to put it on his head and walk around the house telling me that he can't see, pretty funny guy!




Yeah I still fit