Monday and Tuesday were Harry's first 2 days of preschool!  We visited the school last Friday for about an hour so it wouldn't be a total culture shock.  He seemed to have fun, and we talked about going to school all weekend.  "I gotta go to school!" is what he repeated over, and over, and over again.  Monday morning rolled around--the big day.  I had to work in the morning, so Travis had the job of getting both kids ready and taking them to 2 different places (I would not have wanted to switch roles that morning with him!)  He said when they pulled in to Katrina's neighborhood to drop Elliot off, Harry was protesting that no, he had to go to school!  I was so anxious to leave work and pick him up to see how his day went.  He got such a good report both days!  His teacher said he participated in everything and was a good listener.  He has also learned a lot in the short time that he has attended school.  He has learned the frog cycle (egg, tadpole, frog!  Big frogs have no tails!), the butterfly cycle, and has painted both days.  That is something I have never been brave enough to try.  I thought it was pretty cool that he has learned things that he was obviously ready to grasp, but I don't think I ever would have thought to talk to him about.  Numbers and letters, yes, frogs and butterflies, not so much. We went out to lunch today with Esther and and one point he was saying, in a not very inside voice I might add, "cocoon, cocoon, cocoon!"  Once this kid gets ahold of something, he never ever lets it go!  So far, we have been very pleased and my greatest hope is that he continues to enjoy it, have a great time, and learn all kinds of things that he won't stop talking about.  Oh yeah, and get potty trained.  That would be nice.

My Big Boy heading to school on Monday

Harry's manner of speaking has totally been cracking us up lately.  Everything is "I gotta...." as in I gotta go to school, I gotta walk (hates riding in the stroller or a cart now), I gotta have a snack, whatever.  It is usually said with an urgent tone, which makes it so much more funny.  He also adds in some dramatic flair when trying to find something.  "My 20...I'll never find it!"  This is hilarious for 2 reasons.  Of course, he would be currently attached to a foam 2 and 0 that he carries around everywhere calling it his 20.  He also says it in a most pitiful tone while he is wandering around aimlessly not actually looking for his beloved 20.  He would prefer me to stop whatever I'm doing and search for the 20 for him.  He is too much!

Elliot will be one in less than a week and it is really throwing me!  I can remember this exact weekend last year, how awful I felt being so pregnant and so sick with a sinus infection, how I fell down in the snow walking out to my car and losing my cell phone in the process, how work was so horribly busy and having one of my techs call in and not being able to find a replacement, and how I had so wished I would have done what any normal and reasonable person would have done and said...sorry, I am overdue and I don't think I need to be working this weekend.  What was I trying to prove anyway??  We have such a wonderfully normal weekend planned this year and for that I am grateful.  I am also a little nostalgic though.  As horrible as that last weekend was, the next day ties for one of the 3 best days of my life.  The anticipation of meeting my new little baby was so great, I would be lying if I said I didn't miss that feeling.  Not enough to try for another yet, so don't be getting any ideas!   

Elliot's new favorite game--dumping and stacking coasters 

I have officially decided that potty training is not fun.  Especially with a non-willing participant named Harry.  I'm not sure what the deal is.  I think he conceptually gets the idea of what he should be doing, he doesn't like having a dirty diaper or the sensation of having wet clothes, and he knows that he will be rewarded if and when he goes in the potty (because he talks about it all. the. time!).  It also doesn't help that I am not a very patient person and I think--all right, I KNOW my expectations of him tend to run on the high side.  It's just that when the frequent trips to the potty end up with screaming and fights and tears, I'm sure it makes us both want to give up.  We are on the second day of trying to go with just undies except at naptime and bedtime (he calls them Wendy's!  ha ha!) to see if that will speed the process up a bit.  The first evening didn't go well considering we had about 4 accidents in roughly 2 hours, but I am not going to give up on him just yet.  I refuse to believe that he is not ready...he is almost 3!!  Unfortunately, he is every bit as stubborn (or strong-willed as they are calling it these days!) as I am so I'm anticipating a long stand off!!

You don't REALLY believe my Mommy, do you??? 

The stomach flu thankfully exited our home last week, but not without claiming another victim first...me.  It was awful.  Last Thursday was one of the worst I have had as a parentn.  The kids were totally healed which I was grateful for, but that also meant they were at full speed while I was crashing and burning.  I was alone with them from 8 am until 7 pm not able to keep anything down and barely able to be upright.  A couple of times throughout the day I had to take them to the playroom and I sprawled out across the doorway so I could rest and also so I could tell if they got out of the room.  It was utterly pathetic.  Travis's car was in the shop that day getting new brakes and tires, so he didn't have a way to come home and help and I was so weak I was afraid to drive them to Katrina's.  The second Travis got home, he got the kids and I went to bed.  He took them to Katrina's on Friday so I could try to recooperate.  All of this adds up to the World's Most Lame Valentine's Day ever!!  We had already planned on having some friends over before I got sick, and poor Travis got stuck with doing most of the cleaning and cooking for that night, and I definitely wasn't a very good hostess.  I think everyone still had a good time, and I eventually started to feel better by Monday, just in time to pull off a 12 hr shift at work on Tuesday!

Not to leave little Ellie out, but the little guy is just so darn easy!  Other than the few frustrations of him being my constant little shadow, he is still our sweet, cuddly little fella.  We are starting to plan his first birthday party here in a few weeks which is freaking me out a little.  One year old??  Seriously??!!  It hardly seems possible.  Here are the list of words he is saying so far:  Dada, dog, clap, tickle, and Oscar (said Oker).  Yes, that is right.  My child who I love more than anything said our dog's name before he could squeak out a Mama!  I am his favorite person in the world and look at the treatment I get!  Everytime I try to get him to say it, he says baba.  Sigh.  I still love you, sweet boy!

Since I have been seriously slacking in the picture department, here are some peace offerings!

Don't let your brother see you with his letters!!

Sharing (for once!) a Cheerio snack

How on Earth do his eyes stay so blue??

Still totally in love with numbers and letters...I hope that never changes!!

December has flown by at absolutely break-neck speed!  And to be truthful, in my old age it is exausting!  Here is a quick snapshot of what we have been up to lately:

Who needs toys when I have my trusty gate to play with?? 

• Elliot is now 9 months old!!  3/4 of a year old if you can believe that!  He got a perfect report at his well baby check.  Here are his latest stats:  Weight is 17 lbs 11 oz (20th percentile), length 28 1/4 in (75th percentile) and head was 46cm (50th percentile).  I continue to be baffled about how is weight stays on the low side, because I'm pretty sure the kid could eat a mountain of food unless I cut him off first!  His hemoglobin was good and he got a flu shot to boot.  Hopefully we can make it out of the cold and flu season without having to go back to the doctor until he turns one.
• Work has been so hectic and so not fun.  We got a new computer system at the beginning of the month, and that coupled with being busier due to the time of year made for some bad times.  Thank goodness that I had a few vacation days to use by the end of the year so I have been off work for about a week.  I am working about 4.5 hours on Christmas morning, the weekend after, and my regular Monday and Tuesday, and then.......hello my new best friend, Part-time!  Hip hip hooray!!  I really could not be more excited or grateful for this new opportunity and chapter in my life.  Work for Travis is having it's typical holiday slowdown period which is both good and bad.  He will be extremely busy when the new year starts, so I think the short break in action is good for him.  He actually took yesterday off, we took the kids to Katrina's and we did every bit of our Christmas shopping since we haven't had a free weekend all season.  It was fun, but tiring, and reeeeally stinking cold.  But it's all done and I can officially be excited for Thursday.  We have some big things up our sleeves for these boys!
• Harry is pretty much non-stop from morning to nap time, then from the afternoon till bedtime.  For the most part though, he's not wild or out of control.  He's just really active, funny, and extremely talkative.  It is almost humorous to think back a few months ago and remember that we were actually worried about his speech.  Just this morning (after sleeping in until 9:30--not sure what I did to deserve that!) he came in and started telling me immediately about what we did Friday night.  He is also into singing songs--unfortunately he doesn't know too many of them so we sing the ABC's, Jingle Bells, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and The Backyardigans ad nauseum, but it's still fun.  He is also still obsessed about the Wii, so much so that he now imitates what all of our Miis look like and act like on the games.  I really think acting could be in this kid's future some day!  : )

Our plan for today is to relax and rest up for an action packed next few days.  Harry's 3rd Christmas (and the first one that I think he will start to realize exactly what is going on!) and Elliot's 1st, definitely things to be excited about and grateful for!

Look at us being soooo good.....are you watching, Santa???