Super Kaleb!

Super Kaleb holding up the wall with his super-human strength!

My fly guy!

It was a lovely Sunday morning and Kaleb was in our bed, trying to get me out of bed, as usual. He's flying a little airplane toy around and says aloud... Mom, I can't fly. Superheroes can fly, but I can't. Can Moms and Dads teach kids how to fly?

While we hope to give him the confidence to spread his wings and fly in many areas of life, it wasn't too long til this mom figured out a way...

Bright and early Monday morning, Super Mommy has an idea! She whips out her sewing scissors and random black fabric in her sewing stash & a Zorro-like super hero was born! With his awesome black cape and mask, Super Kaleb, with the power to fly, can conquer the world!

What is WRONG with me?!?

So yesterday I had peanut butter for lunch. That's it... no bread, no jam, no milk, just peanut butter. Thoughts running through my head: luckily there was only a couple of tablespoons left in the jar or it could have been really bad! Why, why, why? Maybe I'm pregnant... pretty sure I'm not! Is it really SO bad if it's natural PB? Maybe I need to go back to work, so I'm not around food all day long.

What's the craziest "meal" you'll admit to eating?

Happy Half Birthday, Dylan-Dylan!

Party Animal!

Sweet Cheeks!

Dylan is 6 months old today...insane how fast time flies! I can hardly believe it and feel like it was just yesterday that Ben was running red lights to get me to the hospital so we could meet our sweet baby boy! Dylan-Dylan is our little sweet pea, the sunshine we love to wake up to, and the best baby brother ever...just ask Kaleb! He gives sweet hugs and slobbery kisses, and is so cuddly! I just want to squeeze him and love on him all day long... and sometimes I do! Lately he's been really playing with his toys and shows a preference for his Vday cheetah, baby Leap, and musical Star Stacker. He also loves his piano exersaucer and can turn himself around and move side to side in it. Dylan has started scratching my arms when I hold him facing outward, really gently, but I think he's just exploring and curious about textures. He's also started playing in my hair, pulling at his pant legs and bringing them up to short length. He loves reaching for his feet and staring at his hands and the ceiling fans. Dylan loves his daddy and whenever Ben comes home, his eyes just follow him wherever he goes! Lately he's been really splashing in his bath, completely soaking me and the entire kitchen floor... so cute! He also loves to laugh, play "booga-booga-boo", and be tickled! We're so tickled he's ours... Happy Half Birthday, Dylan-Dylan!

Potty Trained... At Last!

First day in his big boy underwear.

He insisted that McQueen goes on the front... and you know this 2 year old always thinks he's right and his mom has no idea what she's talking about. I love the proud face and figure eventually he'll figure it out!

So a week ago, I decided it was time to bite the bullet. I had a game plan... be consistent and make it fun. And a little bribery never hurt a two year old, right?!? We upped the ante: 2 pieces of candy every time he went, & a sticker chart working up to a new toy. That paired with fun undies, LOTS of PRAISE, and the new timer trick, and I'm happy to announce that Kaleb is FINALLY potty trained! Well, at least he's taken huge strides over the past week, with only 1 day time and 1 night time accident. He's gone in public a few times and told us when he needs to go, too, so I think we're well on our way. Fun K comments so far: I have a little superman on my pee-pee! I love going peep and poop at the same time. I did it! I'm so proud of me! Mcqueen is for daytime, Superman is for nighttime.

Love Bugs on Valentine's Day

Baby, I love you!!!

 

A Kid & His CARS!!!

 

Bare Naked Baby!

Dylan's happiest part of every day is whenever he's naked! I guess he loves to be loosey-goosey and the freedom from diaps and layers?!? We love it too, since he's so roly-poly, ticklish, and cute all over! It's kind of long & the videotaping is not the best, but check him out! We love our sweet pea, baby D!!!

Monkey See, Monkey Do!

Catching up with Papa Stock on the way home from Gramma-Gramma's.

So you know how your kids figure out real quick what's important to you?!? Kaleb's new fav. past time is talking on the phone. Over the past few weeks he's answered my phone twice before I could get to it...luckily it's been Bri both times! :) While I'm talking he'll say, "But I NEED to talk to her, Mom!" He's also been demanding to talk to his grandparents....endearing, I guess?!? He loves to "show" them his room...he'll take the phone with him, start playing, and set the phone beside him. He still carries on somewhat of a conversation, but is distracted of course, and they can barely hear him. Lately he's been getting calls on my phone as well. It goes something like this, "Oh hi, Sar. How's my girl today? (uh-uh, uh-huh and after a polite 2 minutes or so) So, is Kaleb busy?" Gotta love it!

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall...

So, this one's for my mom... a picture of my fabulous mirror that I found for my birthday! I've been wanting a nice mirror for our dining room for 2 years now, and last year Ben said I could pick one out for my birthday. Well I looked and looked and looked and looked, and never found anything I loved (within my price range.) On my birthday this year I finally found one, and it was the perfect price as well. If you haven't checked out Kirkland's for home decor, you really should... esp. if you design on a dime, like your's truly.

Your opinion matters, please respond to the following questions and help us "design" our home! :)
Should I take down the "believe" sign? It's really a Christmas decoration, but you can believe in many things, right? Should we replace the light fixture with a tiffany-style chandelier that we already have? Sentimental, but not sure it goes.

Out of the Mouth of our Babe!

Our little "goover"

So here's the latest on the hilarious things that come out of our two (nearing three) year old's mouth:

• I'm SERIOUS, Mom!
• I'm so proud of me!
• You need to mop the floor, Mom.
• I went potty by myself, so I can play outside by myself.
• Oh no, I made a big mess in my room!
  
• I love you more, too!
• Dylan is my best friend!
  
• I'm a good gluer boy.
  
• Natalie wants me to be her prince.
• Will you put your hair down, please?
• I'm sorry...I will NOT do it again, I promise!
• I'm SO happy!
• I love our house... muauh (pretending to kiss the house as we drove in the garage)!
• You're a goover! (goober)
• I'm so funny!
• Guess what? I love you!
• Umm...excuse me?

New Traditions...

Dylan's favorite part of the day...yummy sweet potatoes!

We're so glad when Daddy comes home!

Last month I went out with my girlfriends and HT shared a great idea on how to keep your kids talking to you and really opening up about the important things to them. It's called High/Low or Best/Worst and it's a chance for everyone to take a turn sharing the high and low point of their day. We did it as friends that night over dinner, and I have to say, the things that were brought up were things we wouldn't normally have shared. It was very meaningful and touching.

Since then we've started doing this with Kaleb around the dinner table and he loves it! Sometimes when he just wants to talk in the middle of the day, he'll say, "Hey Mom, what's your best part of the day?" He's a little young to really understand it yet, but I think it makes him feel important and it's a chance for him to share and have all the attention. His bests are normally something really simple: playing with his toys, friends, or going to the park, his worsts... well, the clock has been mentioned a few times. (I don't think he really knows what to say for "worst" and sees our big clock above the kitchen table, but whatever!) It's also a great opportunity for us to let him know how important he and Dylan are to us, as more often than not, the best parts of our days are because of them.

Another new tradition is something Ben has added to Kaleb's night time routine. After we've done all the things we normally do to help him get ready for bed, Ben normally lays down next to him and sings him a song before he falls asleep. Now Kaleb gets a choice between a song or a story... the Daily Adventures of Bela K. (Kaleb backwards) The main character is a girl who does all the things Kaleb does during the day, and K just loves it! "She's just like me!" he'll say and gets a huge kick out of it.

Traditions are so important to us, and I hope the ones we choose will help our little family grow closer together, and keep us that way even through the teenage years and beyond!

Snack Attack!

Okay... for all you Biggest Losers fans out there, since when does a piece of gum constitute a "snack" ?!? The last episode I watched they kept on referencing and advertising Extra Sugarless gum as a great 5 calorie "snack." (Jenna... please let me know if I'm misusing the "quotation" marks. ;) GIVE ME A BREAK... gum is NOT a snack, it is a breath freshener!

What is your favorite REAL healthy snack? Mine & KK's... low fat string cheese & fruit (esp. grapes.)

RANDOM!

So my friend Kari tagged me, and you know I'm a sucker for these fun survey type posts. Must be the Murdock side rubbing off on me! :) Here goes: 7 random/weird/unusual things you never knew about me.

1) I am color blind. Only a very small % of women are color-blind and I had to convince my 7th grade science teacher that I really am. Most of the time I try to convince people other wise. Now you know the real reason I can never be an interior designer!

2) I would LOVE to be a children's author. I love books, esp. children's lit. I wish I was talented & clever enough to be the kind of author I love to read.

3) I always have unfinished projects that I would love to get done, but may never get around to. Example: dragonfly re-upholstery job that's been in my garage for about 3 years now.

4) I have a "secret" crush on Jim from The Office. It's not much of a secret since I have a mouse/note pad that says I (heart) and a picture of Jim on it. I guess I have a thing for tall, goofy guys! LOVE YOU BEN!!! :)

5) I hate cottage cheese. It's a texture thing... I can't even put it in my mouth, although I know I've tried it. I can however eat it if it's in lasagna or mixed in something like that.

6) I always cheer for the underdog or the team that Ben's not cheering for. Way to go GIANTS!!!

7) I don't know my natural hair color anymore as I've colored it for many, many years now. I'm pretty sure my mom and grandma don't know theirs either, so maybe that's just our thing. I'm okay with it and know that my hair is/was the dullest brown there ever was!

Now it's your turn to join in the fun! I'm tagging Babs, Jilly, Kell, Mon, Bobyn, Jenna & whoever else wants to play. :)