"My booster"

I forgot that I was supposed to update about the ladybug's latest checkup. I guess it wasn't very memorable, so there wasn't anything about it that was fresh on my brain. I was very happy that she handled the appointment so well. There was a child "flipping out" across the hall, and I was afraid it would rub off on my girl, but she was the perfect patient. I only had a few more questions to ask that were specific for Syd, so it didn't take as long as Rush's appointment. Syd weighs exactly 30 pounds and is 36.5 inches tall. She also got the flumist and a pneumonia vaccine booster shot. Even after she got the "booster" in her leg, she just flinched and teared up a little, but there was no dramatic crying or bucking around and sweating like we have experienced in the past.

Not to disappoint in the drama department, though, she has said on a fairly regular basis for the past week while limping and grabbing her leg, "Oh, Mama, my booster is still hurting." I thought that not calling it a shot would make a difference in the drama factor, but apparently boosters hurt just as bad... and cause limping.
Miss Fran is getting very interested in letters and finding them in books. She knows most of the ABCs by sight, and she is beginning to know all of the numbers. Rush has also started showing a greater interest in learning his letters. You have to relate them to things he likes, though. So we talk about what letters Mater, Lightning, Sarge, Doc, Fillmore, Flo, and Ramone start with each night in the bathtub. Everything is more fun when you relate it to Cars, right?

A new favorite question around our house is, "What letter does __________ start with?" A few days ago, Rush asked, "Moooomm, what letter does spanking start with?" So, I said, "S". He then said, "What letter does time-out start with?" Wonder what kind of day he had been having? :-)


The twins made a "train" this weekend using chairs, the shopping cart, the stroller, and the table. It was about 30 minutes of entertainment that didn't involve any sort of fuss or injury, so it was well worth the rearranged mess. Rush also wanted you to know that this is how cool three year olds smile for pictures these days, since this is the only smile he will currently give when the camera comes out. And if you were thinking you wanted to borrow the monster t-shirt he is wearing, then forget it. He watches for it to cycle back into his drawer and wants to wear it immediately. My friend, Lisa, sent it to us in some clothes her boys had outgrown, and I bet she never imagined she would be providing Rush with his new favorite shirt.

P.S. Fran dragged a bar stool from the counter over onto herself, and gave herself a huge goose egg on her head (or as she says, "My goose bump is still hurting, Mama, so be careful when you brush my hair."

Goose bumps and boosters! How will we ever survive??

WAR EAGLE!

Photo shoot and a Checkup

Please tell me... is it this difficult other parents to get a picture of their two children facing a camera and having their eyes open at the same time? Just wonderin'.






These are the cute little outfits that my aunt and uncle got them for their birthday. Syd adores her sweet little skirt. It has shorts sewn in under it, but she gets quite angry if you accidentally call them shorts. It's a skirt, people. Don't get it wrong again. Big girls wear skirts, so it's a skirt. Rush also loves his pwane t-shirt. He loves airpwanes. And Big Buzz. And Mater.

Sweet Rush had his 3 year checkup yesterday, and he was such a good sport. We have always done their checkups at the same time, but last year's was a DISASTER, so I did separate days this year. It was so much more pleasant. I did not have to sweat which makes me happy. I can also concentrate and focus on one child at a time. I told Rush there wouldn't be any shots. Whoops! There was a booster that he had to get. He got the flu mist, too. It was our first time to do flu mist, and I am a skeptic. I am convinced he will get sick. His pediatrician was pleased with his weight gain. He is up to 28 1/2 lbs. and is 35 1/2 inches tall. He gained almost five pounds this year! I never would have guessed it! He gave me some suggestions to help with him being a picky eater. Some of them weigh in heavily in the "Mama Guilt" department. I want Rush to eat anything that he will eat. Basically, in a kind way, the doctor was letting me know that I have essentially turned him into a picky eater. The new rule is: if we have something "normal" for dinner that would be a food that most kids would eat, we will offer it to both kids. They eat what we eat. There is no follow up with toast and yogurt to make myself feel better. I am going to try it along with a couple of other suggestions he gave us to possibly help increase Rush's appetite. My throat is getting tight just thinking about it because I know until he gets used the system, he will probably be a little hungry from time to time if he puts up a fuss about dinner. I can do this, right? Everything he said made sense, and deep down, I already knew it all. If that little booger had come into this world weighing 8 lbs., I don't think I would be this way. I just feel like we have been fighting for three years to get him to an adequate weight. We will try it, though, to see if we can help him become a healthier eater. I have had numerous doctors tell me that, although he is small, he is PERFECTLY healthy. I have just got to finally learn to listen. Overall, the checkup went great! Syd's appointment is on Monday. I will keep you posted...

First Day of Ballet Class

I just love this picture of her! That little skirt was the most exciting part of the ballet class, and she just insisted that it should be pulled down in the front to hang under her tummy. Syd started her first ballet class last Wednesday afternoon. I was a little nervous about whether or not she would be willing to be left in the class by herself. Every time we talked about starting the class, she always mentioned that I would be leaving her. She wanted to know where I would be, etc. Three is kind of young to be brave about something like that, but she handled it beautifully. Rush and I waited for her outside the classroom on some bleachers, and we had fun playing cars, reading books, and doing the Same/Different cards I got at Target. It was good one-on-one time with him, so everybody was a winner! When the class was over, the door to the classroom opened and all these little cuties came running out. The look on Syd's face was so expectant (and slightly petrified). It showed me that she had really been a tad nervous about whether or not we would be waiting for her like we said. Rush and I were happy to reassure her that we had been there the whole time. When I asked her what she learned she said, "We do Hokey Pokey, we stand in a circle, and we do a front roll." OK. Not sure what that had to do with ballet, but I am sure there was probably a little more to it than that. In perfect kid fashion, when I asked her what else they did, she said, "Nothing. I can't tell you because I don't know. I don't remember." Yay, Ballet!

It is a small miracle that I got the picture at the beginning of the post. There were SO many kids in the gym because there was one class ending as another began. Oh my goodness! No one was interested in smiling for my photo efforts. :-)

A Picnic Table, Play-Doh, and a Hose Pipe

I threw the hose PIPE in the title for all my southern folks that grew up calling it that like I did! :-) We had a fun morning! There was a small break from the oppressive heat this morning. It was a little taste of the cooler months to come. This was our first weekend at home since the twins' party, so we needed to check out some of the outdoorsy gifts they received. We broke out the Play-Doh (Thanks, Leslie and Jimmy!) on the new picnic table (Thanks, Gigi and Papa!), and then jumped around on our the new Hoppers (Thanks, Uncle Charles, Aunt Pat, and Lindsey!)!! They had so much fun! Rush was a HUGE fan of the Play-Doh!! I played around with the camera a little bit, although it didn't do much good. I still only know how to use it on AUTO. :-)I also sat around and drank two rather large cups of coffee, just soaking in the everyday-ness of our morning. Phil was watching Game Day on the first football Saturday, so I am sure he didn't mind our morning trip outside. ;-)We ended the time outside "rinsing" the bouncy balls off. It ended with both children being soaked by the hose. They loved it, and I didn't mind it either. They were laughing hysterically. I think they liked it because they were wearing their clothes, and normally getting their clothes soaked wouldn't be allowed. It felt like they were getting to break the rules!