My kids

Ahh...my kids. My kids are exhausting. Just ask Nana. She was here this weekend and had that standard mix of emotions when anyone leaves our house - sad to go, relieved to get some peace. It's not just the physical exertion of keeping up with them, but the emotional drain they cause. Both are high-maintenance. And clingy. Very, very clingy. Leo often wants to sit on my lap and when Serafina sees him up there, she needs to be held too. I try to remind myself that they won't be this little for much longer and there will come a day when they won't want me to even touch them, but right now, it's a little draining. That's why Nana's visits are so awesome for me. They cling to someone else for a while.

Today we had the post-Nana visit let-down, which caused plenty of melt-downs (though they probably would have occurred regardless of Nana's visit).

Here's Serafina getting cranky while Tom tries to read them a book.
She's not always miserable, though it sometimes feels that way. It also seems like she's super difficult because Leo wasn't like this at her age. Tantrums for him were a notable event. My mom got Serafina laughing and said, "what a sweet laugh she has; too bad we don't hear it more often."
Here's a more peaceful moment, eating melon.
Seeing herself in a mirror in her favorite book.
Her talking is coming along. She isn't saying full words or anything that would be recognizable to a layman, but she is at least saying her own words more consistently. She says, "Eee" while signing eat almost every time. We are feeling better about the whole thing, but I still have nagging worry. My mom assured me that she's normal, just difficult. I appreciate hearing that and need to hear it. I also need to talk about my concerns with the pediatrician and I'm glad her 18 month check up is coming up soon.

Oh and Leo. How can he be so loving and wonderful and such a holy terror all in one little body? Today he had an extended tantrum about a box that wouldn't stay closed. Sigh. Yet yesterday, he ran up to me while playing with the kids outside just to say, "I love you, Mom," and ran off.

Making a mean face.
Cute smile.
Some how, he's picked up the phrase, "friggin' guy". Okay, I think I know where he got it. He'll say it to Serafina when she's in his way. For example, "get out of my way, you friggin' guy." Last night as I was trying to get out of the mall parking lot, he said it about the car in front of us causing us delay, "friggin guy" and then continued to repeat the phrase the entire drive home. Lordy.

A happier face

And a messy face.

Miserable

Poor Serafina. She's so miserable. Poor me. She's miserable a lot. Certainly more often than her brother was at this age. Of course, I blamed the usual reason...teething. And it easily could be. But the people who know Serafina, know that she's just a moody little thing.

Happy Valentine's Day

Well, our gorgeous weather came to an end and we woke up to rain. I moved our "Make a Valentine" playdate to my house and covered our dining room table with paper recycled from our easel. Our friends arrived and some of the kids got to work making Valentines. The glitter glue pens were a big hit with my kids. I had intended to make some Valentine cookies, but it didn't work out, so Leo and I made a last minute batch of Big Bad Wolf Brownies from my 1975 Mickey Mouse Cookbook.

Here's Serafina getting crafty.

Leo loved making them.
I had to document Leo drinking milk because he isn't a milk drinker. He was so enamored with the crazy straw he received in his goody bag from Maia's party, he was willing to try it. After a few sips, he was over it.

Maia turns one

Our friend, Maia, is turning one tomorrow. A little Valentine's baby. I got to meet her the night they brought her home from the hospital. She's a little doll and we were so happy to celebrate with her today at Gymboree.

Addison greets Serafina.
Leo having a blast.
Serafina found this glittery purple ball and didn't let go of it the whole time. I was worried she would throw a fit when we had to leave it behind, but she handled it well.
Shaking some maracas. Serafina is still holding the ball.
Parachute time. Don't drop that ball, Serafina.
Yummy cake.

Pancakes and Hot Rodding

This morning everyone slept in a little and the kitchen was a mess. I asked Tom if he would take us out to breakfast. He said yes. I got the kids ready in record time and we headed out to a kid-friendly breakfast joint.

Doesn't Leo look thrilled to be there? He enjoyed it all, especially the Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes and the little cup of syrup that came with it.
Serafina didn't have such a good time. She was launching food across the table with impressive speed, distance and even some accuracy. She flung a banana slice right onto Leo's plate. Most of everything else ended up on the floor. We left a good tip.
The twins that live a couple doors down have a motorized buggy. Tom and I hate that thing. The kids are sweet, but they drive that thing up and down the cul-de-sac and it's noisy and they tend to crush the plants in our front yard. Plus the thing seems really unsafe. Leo has been begging to go in it and today I gave in and let him go for a ride. I made him put on his helmet and he said, "the other kids aren't wearing helmets." Ah, and so the humiliation of having the most neurotic mother begins.
The car's owner, Rico, takes him for a spin, while Sophie (left) and Colleen give them a Secret Service escort.
They even let him get behind the wheel, with Colleen as co-pilot.
Definitely not a good driver.


In his most recent Highlights magazine, they had an art project for a sponge puppet. He named it Sponge Bob.

Valentine's party

Today was the Valentine's party at Leo's school (a little early, but they won't be in class again until after the holiday). I wasn't able to stay for the party because I had to bring Serafina home for her nap. To make sure I had some pictures for the yearbook, I asked a couple of parents to take photos. When I checked our class site tonight, there were 121 photos uploaded. That gives me plenty of material to crop and re-crop and obsess on.

Here he is modeling his crown and necklace after we got home. Kinda of a goofy smile.
"What are you saying about my goofy smile?"
"Are we posing for pictures? I'm ready."
So happy with his loot.
Here's the Valentine he handed out. When I saw this charming robot in a catalog, I immediately order it. I didn't consult Leo on this one. In the coming years, I know he'll be passing out Buzz Lightyear, Spongebob or whatever other popular character cards, so this was my chance to get in something a little more unique. We stuffed them with lollipops.
I thought the robot card was the cutest until I saw this homemade fish card.
He brought home this little jar filled with candies. When it was my work day last week, I helped the kids make the lids. The teacher brought in the salt dough and then took the finished products home to bake. The dough was a little dry and tough to work, but I didn't realize just how much so until the next day when my hands were aching from trying to shape it over the lids and roll it out for the kids to cut out hearts.