Blame it on the Droid

There has been a lack of blogging in this house and I'm going to blame it on the Droid. Yes, Dave and I got new phones and figuring out how to use them to their fullest has taken over our lives. So far, I know that my phone can be a level, a metal detector, it know my every move, finds me coupons based on my shopping location, keeps track of my to-do lists for my different gps points, it price shops for me, it reads bar codes, I can talk my text messages instead of typing them, it has google maps/gps with voice directions.....and the list goes on.

So, sweet children of mine, I am taking a break from logging your cute, sweet moments and milestones so I can play on my phone. I know, I know.........

Mentally Challenging Conversations

They sound like this.....

"Mom, when was I two?"
"2 Years ago."
"Was I Cooper's age?"
"No, Cooper is 1."
"So I was 1 when I was Cooper's age?"
"Yes."
"No. What I want to talk to you about is when I was 2. Was that when I was older or younger than Cooper's age."
"You were older."
"Was I always older?"
"Yes, always were and always will be."
"Even when Cooper's Sam's age (6)."
"Yes"
"No, Sam's older than me."
"Darling Child, what do you really want to know here? What's your real question?"
"When I was 2, could I talk?"
"Yes."
"Thanks mom." And Layla goes back to her room to play and, for some reason, I can't remember where I left off on my bank statement I was trying to balance.

Bother or Brother?

Sunday was our last day on the trampoline for the winter. Before we put it away, the kids enjoyed all 15 feet of it in the beautiful 70 degree weather. As Layla was trying to show-off her moves, Cooper kept falling into her.

She eventually just gave up and the two of them just started running around on it. As they did, Layla kept saying, "Cooper, you're my bother."
I laughed, because her mix up was actually a cute play on words. But she kept saying it so I said, "Layla, don't you mean Cooper is your BROTHER?" To which my first born child replied, "Well yes, he is always my brother, but sometimes he is also my BOTHER."

A Very Happy Little Girl.......

Yesterday was THE day Layla has been waiting for. We took her to the mall and yes, she got her ears pierced. Wow, really not a big deal. All the things I had worries about are a non-issue. She got up in the chair, picked her earrings, got them both pierced at the same time, cried for a minute, looked in the mirror and was all smiles. She is great at cleaning them, had no problem sleeping on them, pulling clothes on and off over her head, etc. She is so excited and so proud!

A Very Happy Mama.........

Today is my something-something birthday. What a great weekend Dave and the kids have made it. When Dave came home Friday evening, he sent me to get a manicure. When I returned home, I was greeted by jazz music, candlelight and my 19 month old son in his suit jacket and a towel draped over his forearm. I had entered a five star restaurant, complete with a 19 month old maitre de, a 4 year old server and a very handsome chef. The chef even gifted me with a necklace I had been eyeing at a local art store. What a great birthday! Thank you Dave, Layla and Cooper for making it so special!

Now that I'm 19 Months.......

..........I like to vacuum, sweep and haul groceries into the house for mom. Yes, again, Cooper is the happiest when he's working and contributing to society (hopefully society will still require him to do so as he grows up). He also loves doing forward rolls by himself and is trying to master a backwards roll. He will walk down the stairs by himself, without holding onto to anything, and gets a little offended if you even gesture to help him. He makes the same frustrated, closed mouth sigh/grunt I make when I keep dropping something or can't get a knot out of a shoelace. He is also trying to be much braver when you break his heart by correcting him or taking something away. He cries, but purses his mouth shut and tries really hard to be brave and get over it. He loves, LOVES, L O V E S to dance and gets way too excited about horses, cows, trucks and tractors! And he is, by far, the most stubborn of my children! He is getting so big! And, by the way, letting him vacuum was a BIG mistake! When I took it away to finish the rest of the house, he cried, screamed and was latched onto my legs.......the whole time!

On the Road Again

Layla, Cooper and Mommy spend 1 hour in the car together every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as we take Layla to school at ICA in Des Moines. I don't love this adventure, but I love the reason I do it and so does Layla. That makes it all worth it. I also love the car conversations. Here was today's......

"The other Ella (she has two in her class) asked me if I wanted her bracelet and I said to her, 'Sweetheart, you keep your bracelet. You need it more than I do.' Mom, I don't know why that Ella thought I needed that bracelet and I don't know why I called her sweetheart. It just seemed appropriate at the time."

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.............she just sounded so grown up that I looked in the rear view mirror to make sure she was still my little 4 year old.