March in Texas

I seriously am loving this little stretch of Spring. Aside from the horrible pollen, the weather has been amazing and we have spent a lot of time outside. We have been on our playset nonstop for the past week. It is so nice to just have that option.

Yesterday I took the girls to May Valley splash pad and let them play. We got there late (5ish) so we didn't have a long time to play but it was great. Can't even believe it is Larch and we are outside in bathing suits.

The nicest part of the splash pad was the girls actually interacting and playing with each other. Last year Norah was just learning to walk so she couldn't really play with Claire. But now they are so close. The call one another "sweety" and "honey" and really look out for one another. Sure they are driving me nuts (boycotting naps and getting into everything) but having them so close is beginning to really have its benefits.

Big girl bed

Tonight is Norah's first night in a real bed. She's less than a month away from two and starting this process much sooner than her sister did. But Norah being as advanced and precocious as she is was very much ready to trade in her crib-turned-toddler-bed for her "princess bed."

A slight tear forms...my little baby really is growing up.

Fire station visit

We toured the station with friends on Friday followed by a great play date in the park. Here are some highlights!

Where's my peanuts?

I had Claire's ENT appointment today as a follow up for her "raspy voice" issue. I knew the ENT with both was going to be a challenge but I didn't foresee it being as cumbersome as it was. We had a very long wait time...like two hours of waiting. The waiting room itself is a challenge but it's the wait in your actual room that becomes the scene of a horror movie. We spent one hour in the actual waiting room. We blew through the majority of the good snacks- gummies, suckers, goldfish and applesauce packets. I was left with the lone bag of Elmo cereal. Strike one. Claire become obsessive with using the potty in the waiting room. Nearly every 10 minutes she needed to go again. She did go once but that was on try 3. I watched people barely budge in that room Nearly an hour and fifteen minutes later we were called. But then the next level of waiting ensued. The "I'm trapped in a tiny cell with two toddlers with expensive/breakable equipment" waiting. First they were using the exam chair as a jungle gym. Then when they discovered the buttons to adjust it went further downhill. They began to scream because they couldn't sit still. They felt compelled to touch everything. You can only say no so many times before you realize they aren't listening. They tune you out because they simply don't care. Then came questions. Claire turned to me and asked, "mom, where's my peanuts? You know my peanuts like Carson when he got potty." I didn't want to answer that, especially trapped in a room with paper thin walls and ears all around. I just said it wasn't the place to talk. I don't want to have the whole gender conversation with my two year old in a doctor room.

But then came the standoff. She and I just met the moment that pushed me over the edge. I can't recall what lead me to take away the promised reward - cake pop - but I took it away.
Claire: no (slam on door)
Me: no cake pop!
Claire: I want cake pop! (slam door)
(horrified the nurses think child abuse is going on) me: no cake pop!
Claire: I. Want. Caaaaake pop!
Me: I'm calling your dad.
Claire: I don't care!

So this was going nowhere. It was then I realized I was trying to reason with a toddler. I was more insane than I thought thinking that could work. It just can't. A rational toddler? No because that is like a unicorn, just a mythical creature that doesn't actually exist. It's no less frustrating having that epiphany. I lost my cool...I think everyone could see the frazzling going on. Even with the doctor in the room the kids were ill behaved. Claire wouldn't let the doctor speak to me. When he talked she kept saying: "Dr. Raney! Dr. Raaaaaaaaaaney!" until he would have to stop to acknowledge her. Totally like a drunk person. Rude. Obnoxious. Toddlers are little drunk people. It's just illogical to fight with them because they just won't listen. It's embarrassing and humbling but it is all part parenting.

Nearly two hours later we were on our way out...but the day didn't go up from there. Upon getting home, Norah's skin erupted in a complete rash takeover. She seriously gets every rash out there. But this was all over. Arms, legs, tummy, back, neck and even behind her ears. After having one bad doctor experience I couldn't imagine going through it all over again. But I had to. Thankfully Mike met us at the after hours office so I had help. But they gave him a good performance.

So doctor day ended and both kids are still in medical limbo. Claire needs more tests which we are doing tomorrow. And Norah's rash needs a few days on Benadryl to see if it improves. So hopefully doctor day doesn't turn into a week of doctor visits....

The case of Norah and the iPhone

Norah has a phone addiction. Like bad. She throws fits to "spell" (her spelling app), look at pictures or watch Sophia on my phone. She moves apps, randomly replies to texts (jibberish), occasionally deletes a photo or two (perhaps more but I haven't noticed), definitely takes self portraits and on an occasion or two has blogged. But lately she's discovered how to make calls. And she cannot be stopped.

It all started Friday. Claire handed her my phone when she was having a for in the car. Seemed harmless until I heard the phone ringing from the backseat. It's not just that she dialed, but she figured out how to put it on speaker AND turn it off Bluetooth, rendering me incapable of stopping her antics. She feverishly called my mom, my sister and Mike. She reached my mom and that was it - an addiction was formed. She made conversation for a couple minutes and my mom hung up. But it wasn't enough. She called back. And called back. And called back!

Now she is a maniac. She says she wants to look at pictures but in reality she wants to make calls! Now everyone answers the phone "hi Norah" because she does it so much. What's better is her conversation:
"Hi gwanma...I got mommy's phone!"

Hopefully this little habit begins to die down or I'm going to kill all my minutes!

What happens when Norah takes my phone...

No more bugs!

I've been behind lately. Between Mike traveling back-to-back weeks and the virus that swept through our house, not much free time.

Regarding our "bug" status: Friday was our first day out of the house. We went to boot camp and enjoyed the fresh air with friends at a park afterwards. While it was great to be out, I noticed both girls were still snotty and just off. I took them to the doctor and both had sinus infections. Felt good knowing they would really be on the mend. Since starting Suprax, they've really returned back to themselves. I feel relieved. It was a LONG two weeks.

The weather was beautiful Sunday so we decided to picnic. Our friends, the Kramers, joined us. While there we stumbled upon a church group singing. They brought a collection of instruments to share with the kids. I can honestly say it was a unique experience. We coined it an "OIT" moment (only in Texas). The randomness and Evangelism topped with the marketing push (yes they handed me a card) just made for a great memory. Norah really loved playing the maracas and Claire really took to the triangle!

This week marks the countdown to my half marathon! Lisa and I did a great (and challenging) 5 mile run today with all 4 kids in tow. As Claire is staying the course with potty training, I have found we make lots of random and frequent potty trips. While on mile 2 today, Claire screamed from the jogger she needed to go. So I did what I needed to do and had her squat in the bushes alongside the trail. She was a little hesitant at first but she did it! We finished with no more potty breaks which was great. Just lots of flung items (shoes, socks, cups...the usual) making minor setbacks. We followed the run with playtime at our house. The kids had a blast and it was great to have time with friends to break up the long days.

Hoping to stay strong until daddy gets back Thursday. But we are healthy!