Stick a Fork in Me. I'm done.

For the past week I've felt a little like I've been operating a small catering business out of my kitchen. As you know we were working on freezer meals for which I volunteered to make two of the meals all by myself. We also hosted 2 BBQs over the weekend and Danielle's Samoan friend and her family over for dessert last night. So in the past week I have made the following in mass quantities, not including regularly served meals:

15 lbs of Cafe Rio Pork (along with the dressing, rice, and all of the trimmings)
4 quarts of Mango Chicken
6 Quiches
8 trays of Enchiladas
5 batches of Goulash (thats 5 times Mom's recipe)
1 9X13 pan of funeral potatoes
2 9X13 pans of panipopo (Samoan sweet rolls)

I also went to the grocery store and Costco a total of 5 times. Good thing I now have a freezer full of meals because I am tired of cooking and dishes!

(I'll include the recipes for some of these in a later post)

Drama

I really hope that Tyler is never for some reason interviewed by DCFS. I fear for the things he may say that would give the wrong impression. I think you know me well enough to know that I don't abuse my children and try to not even raise my voice when I'm disciplining. These are direct quotes from Tyler over the last week:

"I don't like it when you say those bad words to me." (Bad words to him are whenever I tell him no)
"Please don't drop me down the stairs, Mom." (I was taking him by the arm and leading him downstairs to his room for a time out)
"It makes me sad when you scream at me." (I had been telling him strongly, but not loudly that he needed to find something to eat that wasn't a peanut butter sandwich)



(These photos don't have anything to do with the post but were just funny photos I had on my phone)

Vanity

Anya really doesn't have much interest in other babies her age, but she loves looking at herself! She's loved the mirror for a long time, but today I had a big picture of her up on the tv screen. Anya kept looking up at the tv and smiling at the photo.

Mr. Independent

Bryce has entered a new phrase of independence lately. He's very observant of whatever Tyler's doing and wants to help with puzzles, playing with cars, trains, etc. Even when he's eating he wants to eat what Tyler's eating and in the same way. Example: I served both of them a quesadilla yesterday for lunch. I cut Tyler's into triangles and broke Bryce's into little pieces. Bryce wouldn't eat his until his quesadilla was in a triangle too. He's also insisting on using a fork and having his food in a bowl. He has a small meltdown if he's not given it to him like this. Its messy but I guess its good practice. I even caught him trying to put Tyler's shoes on this morning.

Four Months

We're into four months now. Whew! So Brandon and I were quite pleased with ourselves for "training" Anya to sleep through the night and she was even starting to take a very reliable long morning nap. Dealing with a three month old was easy as pie...until she started teething. Now we're back to square one. Anya's been reminding us that she still possesses that impressive set of lungs and is not opposed to exercising them on an hourly basis between 1 and 4 am. She went in for her four month appointment today and it was both reassuring and not so reassuring to hear that this is all perfectly normal.

In my vast four months experience as a parent, I keep re-learning exactly one thing: it's not about me. Anya's pretty much learning and growing and adjusting to life on her own. We've got good days and bad days and I'm just kind of along for the ride.

These days, Anya loves...

--Being outside. The end-all-be-all cure for whatever ails her. Luckily, we live someplace where she can spend most of her days outside.

--Chomping down on anything and everything. Particularly blankets, pacifiers and Sophie.

--Dancing with her dad. Anya loves it when Brandon grabs her arms/legs and moves them to the beat.

--The Itsy Bitsy Spider.

--Hearing her own shrieks and giggles.

--Doing little baby crunches with her head and shoulders.

--Standing (with the least amount of support possible). She's already showing a little independent spirit.

--Splashing around in the bathtub.

--Anything with a face.


Anya does not like

--Aching gums.

--Being bored.

Teaching Tyler Scripture Stories

The other night I was telling Tyler about Captain Moroni and the title of liberty. He always wants to hear the stories in the gospel art book that include someone with a sword or who look like they're in battle. I told him the story and then reviewed it to see if he was listening.

(Pointing to the picture)
"Now who's this?"
"Captain Moroni"
"Whats the flag called?"
"The tifle of liberfy" (close enough)
"And what does the title of liberty say?"
"We're supposed to fight with our families"

Gotta work on those prepositions.....

Bryce's Babblings

I'm not sure if Bryce has just taken a significant step in his verbal development this week or if I just wasn't paying as much attention before but he's at least attempting to say quite a few words now.

Mama and Dada are now consistent and purposeful.

Na na (for night night) is becoming more consistent and in fact a few times when he's really over due for a nap and over tired he'll crawl down the hall to me crying and saying "na na. na na." Over and over again. As if to say "Put me to bed already Mom!" Joking around last night - We put Tyler in Bryce's bed and then left the room and Bryce let out a big "Na Na!" to Tyler on the way out.

He's also started to say "Bu" for book whenever its story time and today we were reading the story "Where is Spot?" and every time I pointed out the doggie he'd say "Da" for dog.

I also think I caught a "Ba" today for ball too. I remember Tyler started out this way too only saying the first sound of each word. But I think if I keep reinforcing and listening for it - it'll come.

FYI - I also got him to take a few steps holding on to the couch yesterday and today he really likes taking some rather drunken like steps while holding onto a miniature stroller we have.