Tag Archives: kids

Our Little Student

28 Aug

First Day of School

I wish I had more pictures of Nia’s first day of school to share with you but we’re still not up and running with our own internet so we have to keep all of our online activity short and simple.  With that said – I just wanted to let you all know that Nia (and Mommy) did super.  Even Nate handled the whole thing well.

After he and I walked her to her classroom (which I plan to do for the first few weeks of school), we ran some errands together and then came back home where we read some books and snacked. (He had Goldfish crackers and juice while I had coffee – this was the earliest I had to be up in like 10 months or something!  Talk about spoiled!)

It was really nice getting to devote all my attention to Nate. He’s always had to share mommy and daddy so I’m really glad I’m able to give him some quality one-on-one time now.  This first day though I felt like it was more like I was watching the clock – I really couldn’t wait for us to get back in the car and pick up the big sis from school.

Nia told me she had a lot of fun and her teacher said she was wonderful (I’m sure she tells all the parents that during the first week but it was still nice to hear).  Nia said she did all the typical preschool stuff – heard stories, colored/drew pictures, ate snacks, played (and she “shared the toy doggy”)…  I’m just so excited for her and all the neat things she’s going to get to do.  She even got her first sticker from the teacher from being good in class – it says “100%”  Nate even got a sticker today – his said “I visited the Post Office.”

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“How do you spell lotion?”

15 Aug

SpongeBob SquarePants?  Backyardigans?  Ariel?  Little Mermaid? I don’t know?

It doesn’t matter the word – sometimes it’s a bunch of words – Nia is now going through a phase where she wants to know how to spell EVERYTHING.  Part of me thinks it’s neat that she’s showing an interest in learning how to spell but the other part of me finds it a little bit silly at times. It’s not like she’s really paying attention to me as I grant her request – she usually just goes on to the next thing.

She has started picking up on certain words as I’m reading to her though.  The other night she kept interrupting me to point out every “at” or “to” on a page.  She would say, “Why is there an ‘at’ there?”  Don’t get me wrong, I’m really proud of her for being so smart, it’s just sometimes she goes overboard.  I’ve started to give her limits on how many words I’ll spell in a row.  I’ll say, “Ok – one more.”  She’ll say, “How do you spell one?”

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Tiny Girlfriends

13 Aug

So Sweet

This weekend Nia got to have a blast with her best friend from Savannah.  Avery and her parents came to stay with us and it was such a great time.  It just amazes me how much these two little girls click.  They went to the same daycare together since they were like six months old or something and were inseparable from the start. Their cribs were even next to each other!  Taking Nia away from her Avery was really hard for us but it seems (thankfully) the distance hasn’t hurt their friendship. 

As soon as Avery got in the door (around 11:00 pm Friday) Nia and her were hugging and screaming and destroying the house.  It was so awesome hearing them giggling at 7:00 am and watching them hold hands as they walked.  This was the first “sleepover” for both girls and they did great.  They actually went to sleep and they were in the same room!  They were playing really hard though and we did keep them super busy.

On Saturday, we went to Stone Mountain Park and stayed out until 11:00 pm watching a laser/fireworks show on the mountain.  Before that, the kids ran around like crazy in a big barn full of foam balls and nets to climb.

Best of Friends

On Sunday, we went back to the Georgia Aquarium (it was Avery’s first visit there) and had a picnic near the tank of the Beluga Whales.  (It was so crowded there we couldn’t find a table!  It all worked out for the best though – just look at what we got to see while we ate!)

Our Entertainment during Lunch

The girls played so well together and it was like they had never been apart.  Andrew and I got along really great with Avery’s parents too (even the big kids had a ton of fun) so I know we’ll be seeing more of them – I just wish the girls could grow up together.  We just have to do all we can to make sure they keep in touch and see each other as much as possible – it would just be so sad to not see where their friendship leads.

Munchkins

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What about Nia?

5 Aug

It’s just the way it is.  Babies get more attention.  I know Nate is not a baby anymore but he’s still in that age range where people notice him and talk to him.  It happens all the time when we take the kids out to eat or shop.  People approach Nate and start goo-goo talking to him.  Nia usually doesn’t pay it any mind but I think she’s started to catch on that these strangers are going all silly over her brother and not her.  The last time it happened was particularly sweet to me.

The waitress was having a conversation of sorts with Nate.  As it continued for a good few minutes, Nia sat up taller, stuck out her head, smiled her hugest smile and batted her big eyes, hoping she’d get something from the lady – anything.  The waitress never even glanced up at Nia.  She walked away leaving Nia to wonder, “How’s come she didn’t see me?”

Well, I saw you Nia.  Mommy always sees you – no matter how many smiles and laughs Nate is sharing with others – you have my attention – and you don’t even have to work for it.

Beautiful Princess

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Memory Queen

23 Jul

Her stack is bigger than mine

 

We don’t even let her win!  I actually try really hard to get more “Memory” cards but she wins almost every time!  It’s pretty amazing watching her sweep the table – taking pair after pair.

She’s addicted to playing.  In the morning, “Wanna play “Membory”?  In the afternoon, “Wanna play “Membory”?  A few minutes after that, “Wanna play “Membory”?  Before dinner, “Wanna play “Membory”?  Recently, our good friends from home (West Virginia home) came to visit us and experienced the round-the-clock “Membory” marathon that I endure.  She had Julie playing any chance she could.  (Thanks Julie! You’re a real team player!)

So far, Nia’s a super good sport about losing too.  “That’s okay Momma.  Maybe you’ll just win next time.”

I doubt it.

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Sweet Memory

1 Jul

Tonight, I was feeling a little brave – not in the “I’m going to save a life” way but in the “I’m going to let the kids make cookies with me” way.  I’m calling that brave because I am a nervous person when it comes to cooking – especially cookies.  Even when there aren’t kids distracting me, I still do something dumb like use baking powder instead of baking soda.  Despite my fears, this baking experience went wonderfully.

Yum

Yum

The kids helped me put the ingredients in and I let them put their hand on the blender as I mixed.  They had a blast helping mom cook but, of course, they had a better time helping mom and dad eat.

Cookie Face

Cookie Face

 

Happy Kids

Happy Kids

 

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Too Young to Point and Click?

30 Jun

Computer Kid
Nia is really becoming a computer game junkie and I’m wondering if I should be worried.  She’s not playing shoot ’em up games or anything like that – it’s all educational stuff – but I still can’t help but think she’s a little too young to want to play on the computer every day.

The other part of me though thinks it’s good for her because she’s going to have to learn how to use one eventually so what’s the harm in starting at 4?  I’m actually impressed at how well she can work the mouse and use the keyboard to type her name.  She even knows how to fix her typing if she messes up. I sometimes catch myself staring at her in amazement as she drags and drops things on the screen by using the mouse.

It’s funny because I think about what I was doing at her age.  I didn’t even know what a computer was.  In fact, I really didn’t even touch a computer until my senior year in high school and then it was one of those huge beasts that didn’t even have a mouse.  Nia’s already smarter than me!  I wouldn’t want it any other way.  Now, if we can just teach her how to blog and pay the bills – well, maybe coloring pictures and learning how to spell are enough for now.

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When You’re a Wife and a Mom

21 Jun

I was recently thinking about all the funny things that happen to me now that I’m a wife and a mom.  Things that I probably wouldn’t have even considered doing before the kids or the hubby. I may make it sound like I’m complaining, I’m really not.  I treasure every gross, annoying, tiring and space-invading event that happens to me. For example, when you’re a wife and a mom:

  • Your body parts are no longer your own.  Andrew slaps my butt – now Nate slaps my butt. And, even though they are now closed for business, Nate still tries to reach down my shirt from time to time.  I feel so used.
  • Nothing is ever boring.
  • I no longer get grossed out when it comes to snot or boogers – even the really gooey ones.  I’ve watched Andrew blow his nose in the shower by holding one nostril to empty the other one.  I cannot rest until I’ve made sure every last yucky green guy is removed from Nia and Nate’s noses.  I will shove tissue after tissue up there and when that doesn’t work, I admit it, I pick their noses.  (Of course, making sure to let them know THEY are not allowed to pick their own noses.  What a good example I am, huh?)
  • I’m sure you’ve heard this one before but I can no longer go potty in private or in peace.  The kids follow me in most of the time and I’m forced to waddle off the toilet because I have to save the boy from falling over the bath tub or getting into the trash.  Even when the kids aren’t in there with me, the dog comes in and stares at me, breathing his warm, smelly breath in my direction.  It about drives me bonkers and I end up taking my frustration out on him.  I ask him, “Do you freakin’ mind?!?!”  He just keeps breathing on me.  Perv dog.
  • I cook breakfast, lunch and dinner almost every day.  Before married life, I pretty much only cooked some Ramen noodles or a tuna sandwich.  I was pretty much petrified to really cook a meal.  Now, I love it.  Especially when Andrew and the kids say “mmm.”  I never would have thought I would love cooking like this.  There is just something about it that makes me feel like I’m taking care of my family.
  • I’m at home during “talk show” time during the day and I don’t even get to enjoy it. I just feel bad watching tv when I should be reading to the kids or playing with them or taking care of house stuff.  Besides, who really wants to watch Ellen dance anyway?  Well, actually I do. I’ve tried recording the show but it’s just not the same.  There’s just something about watching a talk show in the middle of the day that makes it even better.  I can’t really explain it…I guess that’s why they’re scheduled to air then right?
  • You remember which sock is missing its partner.  It doesn’t matter whose sock it is.  If I see a pink ruffled sock at the bottom of the hamper, I say “there it is!” because I remember I washed a pink ruffled sock last week and couldn’t find its match.
  • It’s really hard to diet when you’re constantly surrounded by delicious food you’re not supposed to eat.  Cheese puffs, fudge-striped cookies, ice cream, frozen chicken nuggets with ranch dressing, french fries…

I could keep going but those are probably the best examples.  I wouldn’t trade in my titles for the all the peace and quiet and sanity in the world.  I feel so blessed and loved every day and it is because I’m a wife and a mom.  Thanks fam!

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Our Little Mermaid

21 Jun

Nia is finally getting over her fear of going under water!  Today, she went under all by herself at swim lessons!  She was so excited.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get the full underwater event on camera, but I thought you would like to see the action I did capture.

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Missing Phone

20 Jun

Remember that toy phone I wrote about in the last blog?  The one that came with the playhouse?  The one I said I didn’t know where it was?  Well, I found it – or more, it found me.

As I was taking out the garbage, it beeped at me.

Yep, I had to dig in the garbage (past the dirty diapers and old food) because I could not knowingly throw the phone away.  Don’t worry, I doused it with Lysol wipes.

If you’re wondering how it even ended up in the trash can, you probably can guess.  Nate slipped it in there the other day.  I thought I saw/heard him put something in the can – but I wasn’t about to go garbage diving.  That was until I realized it was his phone.

The things we do for our sweeties.

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