Donuts

I absolutely love Dunkin Donuts coffee. Although I have cut back significantly, I stop there about once a week or once every two weeks to get some coffee. We drive right by one on our way to day-care, so of course when I do stop have to get Tessa a munchkin. It's pretty sad, but she even recognizes it when we drive by. She always says "Donuts! Dukin Donuts!"

Last week I was at the drive-thru and as the guy was handing me my coffee Tessa started yelling "Muffin Man, Muffin Man". I laughed so hard and then told the guy that my daughter called him the Muffin Man. He laughed, but he is either Indian or Pakistani (they get VERY offended if you accuse one of being the other, so I aplogize for not being able to recognize the differences), but I'm not sure if he really understood what she meant (the song, of course). We've never gotten muffins from there, so I'm guessing there was a picture somewhere and that prompted the loud outburst.

Here comes the Muffin Man!

Yeah (not for the faint of heart)

As you may have read in some of my previous posts, I have been getting really frustrated with the whole potty-training process. I feel like every one around us just transitioned so easily and we are really struggling. Well, in a very proud moment, Tessa POOPED on the potty tonight. After pee'ing a couple of times I knew she had to go and I just left her underwear off. Every time she looked like she was getting ready to poop, I scooped her up and we ran to the potty. She actually sat on it for several minutes each time (she tooted a couple of times). She got to the point where she was telling me she had to go poopoo. Finally, she was sitting on the potty and told me "Go get Ellis, mommy" (aka Bye Bye I want to be by myself). So I went around the corner and left her alone. I peaked a couple of times, if she caught me she just blew me some kisses and said bye bye. Ever since she could crawl, she has always wanted to be by herself when the does the #2. So, privacy she wants, privacy she gets.

I rewarded her with a BIG Hello Kitty band-aid (don't ask, she's obsessed and it worked) and lots of hugs, kisses, and high fives. Hopefully we can keep this up.

My babies

Tessa always wants to "Hold It". I keep trying to explain that 'It' is a 'Him'. The second video is of Ellis blowing bubbles. Sorry for the bumpiness, Tessa is now obsessed with watching videos of herself on my camera and always wants to take it from me.

My Moose

Today McDreamy is 5 months old! He is truly a wonderfully awesome little man. He has been such a great addition to our family. We have just recently started him on solids (baby cereal and vegetables) and so far so good. I'll be making most of his food as I did with Tessa. I know I keep saying this, but he just such a happy baby. He always has a huge grin on his face (my cousin Kim said he totally has my smile) and loves to laugh. Of course his favorite is Tessa. No one can crack him up like she does. He's also very active. HIs teacher has a hard time containing him in the Infant room as he just scoots and rolls his little butt all over the place. She is predicitng that he will be moving up to the Infant II room fairly soon as it is more designed around mobile babies.

I am, so thankful for my wonderful family.

My buds

Ellis and Tessa watching cartoons together on Sunday morning.

On another note, I am getting really frustrated with potty training. It seems like all of Tessa peers (even the boys) are doing so great and most of them are in underwear and Tessa just can't seem to not pee in her underwear. She continues to pee on the potty (no pooping on the potty yet), but then five minutes later she will pee in her underwear and THEN tell me. I know I shouldn't compare her to other kids and let her develope at her own rate, but it just makes ME feel like I'm doing something wrong. At this rate, Ellis may be potty trained before her.

Teeth

Well, my handsome boy has started cutting his first TWO teeth. I have tried to get a picture, but it is impossible. But they are his two lower front ones. He chews on his hands and feet a lot, but in general they don't seem to bother him that badly. I have used the Baby Orajel and he makes the funniest face of disgust. THAT I should try and get on video. I also have these teething tablets that are natural/organic and just dissolve in his mouth. He doesn't mind those and they seem to do the trick. I just can't believe he is growing up so quickly.

Good Job, Mommy.

I guess I like to quiz Tessa a lot. I'm always asking her to identify different shapes, colors, letters, numbers, objects, etc. She amazes me all the time with what she knows and how quickly she learns. We read 'Brown Bear' a lot. This is a series of three books: Brown Bear, Panda Bear, and Polar Bear. For some reason when I read it, I will read "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see? I see a ......" then wait for Tessa to identify the next animal "Red Bird" or "Water Buffalo" she will scream. She also like to read the books herself, and sometimes will read the entire book out loud.

The other night she decided that she wanted to read it to me, and started quizzing me. So I answered "Red Bird". She replied by saying "Good Job, Mommy" every time I got it right. I even got one wrong on purpose and she said "No, that's the Macaroni Penguin. Good job, mommy."

Boss Lady

I always wanted to be called Boss Lady. In construction the Amigos (NOT politically correct - I know) will call a female supervisor Boss Lady. I prefer this to Hefe (which is what they call male supervisors). It's too close to calling me a heifer. Well, it seems Tessa has achieved this title before me. She is one bossy little lady.

Her teachers keep telling me that she is definitely the "leader" of the class. I'm really worried that she may be more of a bully than a leader. There's a big different in having people following you willingly versus being forced into submission, as may be the case with Tessa.

When she speaks to us, it's usually in a loud, direct command.

Sit down, Daddy, Sit.
T: Eat it, Mommy Me: No Thanks, T: EAT IT! MOMMY!
Go peepee, Daddy. Go peepee like a big girl, Daddy.
Mommy, you drive, etc.

When she wants you to come with her, she is very insistent, and will totally ignore you when you say "I don't want to come, I'm reading this book". It's like she doesn't even acknowledge our response. She just keeps on insisting on you coming, or you eating whatever she wants to shove down your throat. Now she has started SNAPPING her fingers to get you to come. She did this to Mike and Opa this weekend and both of them reacted with "Did she really just snap her fingers at me?" I don't know where she picked this up, because neither of us are finger snappers. It was pretty funny at first, but now I'm worried that she is learning some bad habits. We're really going to have to work on her manners.

Grandparents Day

Today was Grandparents Day at Tessa & Ellis' school. They invite all of the Grandparents to come to the classes and have a snack with them and do Circle Time. Omi had to work, so she couldn't make it, but Opa got to go. He first went to Tessa's class. She was so excited to see him and showed him his picture on the Family Collage in the class room. Then they sat down for snack time. Tessa made sure Opa had a chair (picture Shrek sitting in tiny chair) right next to her. Tessa ate her half of a muffin and drank her juice and then she apparently went on to eat Opa's muffin half and drink Opa's juice. That's my Girl! She sure does love to eat. Then they all got to read some book during Circle Time and then they finished with a song and a dance. Opa also stopped in on Ellis' room and was rewarded with a HUGE grin from him. I know I am biased, but Ellis is one handsome little man.

Siblings

When I was preggers with Ellis, my dear Aunt Kathy told me that one of the great joys of having multiple kids is watching them entertain each other. I now know what she means. With Ellis becoming more and more responsive and vocal, Tessa is really getting into "entertaining" Ellis. She will try to make him laugh or make him happy. She tells him "It's OK, baby" when he cries or will give him a pacifier. We have to watch it sometimes, though, because she does NOT understand the concept of 'gentle' just yet.

Last night Ellis was laying on the floor on his stomach and was watching Tessa running around our bedroom (naked) after her bath. I went into Tessa's room to get her pull-up and jammies. Next thing I know, I hear Ellis squealing and laughing. Tessa was on her tummy in front of him and making her baby noises trying to entice some giggles out of him. He thought this was hilarious. He loves to watch her. She also had these big styrofoam blocks (from my new computer packaging) and for some reason he thought it was really funny when she placed them in front of him. It was just so much fun to watch the two of them interact like that. I am looking forward to what the future has in store for these two.