ye olde facebook statuses

Doing dishes at sink. Small boy saunters into room carrying a framed picture from my side table. Casually reaches up to grab a full cup of water off my kitchen table. Wiping up mess. Small boy is slapping the puddle happily. He smells suspicious. This is what I get for installing child locks on all my kitchen cupboards and drawers.

I appreciate that our crayons are non-toxic, but I wish they could be infused with essential vitamins too, since they are such a staple of our son's diet.

Theia just informed me that she is going to help "un-dust" the living room.

Until his bottle is safely in his hands, Emeth behaves as if he thinks I am just going through the motions of preparing it in order to taunt him. Crazy kid.

Eliza sneezed while eating breakfast, then came out with "Mama, I blessed my pancake right out of my mouth." (It was true, unfortunately.)

took Emeth outside today so he could get some variety in his diet. Dirt and a few rocks made for a nice change from the usual crayon bits and shriveled up peas from under the table.

Special brand-new-one-year-old accomplishment of the day: removing diaper and peeing out through the bars of the crib during naptime. (dec. 6, 2011)

Eliza just made me a card with a picture of a zoo on it. I asked her what animals were pictured. Without hesitation, she pointed to the animals and said, "This is a calliline, and this is a burkel." She's great :).

I challenge anyone anywhere to accomplish less in more amount of time than I can.

Pushing the screens out of every open window within his reach has become an important daily item on Emeth's to-do list

Theia: "Did Jonah have a wife?" Me: "I don't think the bible tells us whether he had a wife." Ingrid: "Maybe Mary was his wife!" Eliza: "No, Ingrid. Mary was *God's* wife."

Four long-haired females and hardwood floors do not mix well. Not to mention all the synthetic doll hair! It seems their are dustballs the size of Kansas tumbleweeds rolling through here no matter how often I sweep. At least there is one household member not contributing to the situation. ;)

One barbie shoe in the mouth, and one clenched in each fist. Emeth is very industrious about his little-brother-ly duties this morning.

Is listening to the girls one-up each other with tales of their "terrible dreams" from last night.

I question my effectiveness when I give Emeth my warning "no-no finger," and he playfully bites it.

I love watching babies express themselves pre-speech. Emeth waves his arms and yells at the top of his lungs (in a good way) every time a gust of wind hits him while we walk. He won't tell me verbally how that makes him feel once he starts talking, but for now I understand him perfectly, and I totally agree :).

Emeth is now saying three words: "Dad," "Dog," and "Duck." Never mind that all three are pronounced identically

Emeth apparently thinks I've become too relaxed during his diaper changes. A little reminder of the dangers of changing boys was in order.

Emeth is walking around the house, handling forbidden items, while sternly saying "Don't touch!"

Overheard: "Let's pretend Mommy and Daddy are going on a date, and Cruella DeVil is our babysitter."

Annoyance: When the erasers have been chewed off of all the pencils - even the unsharpened ones.

Theia to our dinner guests last night: "There's a dead pig shoulder in that - but don't worry, it tastes REALLY good."

Emeth is convinced that the bathroom is the most exciting room in the house, and nothing will persuade him otherwise.

February marks the beginning of my allergy season. Emeth is trying his best to imitate my uncharacteristically violent sneezes. He gets a kick out of them.

Still a little unclear as to why Ingrid thought it would be a good thing to throw Emeth's brand new sandals in the trash....

Heading out for a date, hear Eliza caution the babysitter, "you better not make us watch any adult movies while they're gone!" - We'll have to explain later that to Eliza, "adult movie" = "Secretariat"

Sometimes it's fun to switch on dance music in the car just to watch Emeth rock out the moves from his carseat.

Eliza's response when she went to greet Emeth after his nap and found his bedroom door locked: "Well, I guess we'll never see him again. Too bad."

Me: "Ingrid, why is this skirt out here on the floor?" Ingrid: "It just camed out by itself." Me: "You mean it just grew legs and walked out here?" Ingrid: "Uh-huh."

Theia to Eliza: (apologetically) Sorry, there's kind of a lot of dragons in this house." Eliza: (understandingly) "That's alright, our house is like that too."

Eliza is singing a very disjointed but mostly sentimental song, loosely based on "The Hokey-Pokey." Yes, it is as strange as it sounds.

Ye Olde Facebook Statuses

Eliza: "Mom, I need you to give me a big hug, because sometimes I get a little fussy if I don't get a hug."

Eliza just stumbled into the living room all bleary-eyed, proclaiming she wants to stay up, "...because we didn't even do school yet." But alas, school with a half-asleep four year old at 11:45 on a Saturday night was not on my agenda, so she was tucked back into bed.

This morning while doing errands the sky was very cloudy, but there were a few holes revealing a very vibrant blue sky, or as Eliza put it "Look Theia! Some of the clouds are showing the sky to us!"

Sometimes I hear myself talking to my kids, and I sound so... old

Ingrid (in an accusatory tone): "Mom! Emeth kissed me and hugged me! And then...and then...and then he pulled my hair!! And that wasn't very nice!"

 It's hard to concentrate on learning your letters when your little brother is trying to use your toesies as a teether. Poor Eliza.

(After catching Ingrid in the act of dunking her doll in my coffee cup) "Ingrid! Do NOT touch my coffee! - Ingrid: "I wasn't touching your coffee, Cinderella was touching it!"

"Eliza, it's time to stop talking and go to sleep." - (desperately) "But I didn't tell you enough things yet!"

Even though it's annoying, I still find it irresistibly cute when Emeth immediately dives under Ingrid's chair, searching for leftovers, the minute I put him on the floor after a meal. His manner is so intense, he is after the prize! I usually have to clean him up twice.

Eliza, picking up a garage sale item: "Ew, that bag smells yuck! That bag smells like a man!"

I just had one of those halo-ringed moments of parenthood where I happened to glance out the window and was completely arrested by the fact that the most adorable children in the world were out there, laughing and swinging on swings, in my backyard. I'm so blessed.

Eliza's first celebrity crush: "I wish I could marry Buzz." Yes, that would be Buzz Lightyear.

Pretty sure the bite marks on my shoulder will still be there by tomorrow, and Emeth's ears might still be ringing with my primal shriek.

Theia: "I think these pants are too small for me. They're giving me a pant rash."

Sometime I should record about 5 minutes of my daughter's make-believe play and write a fantasy adventure based on it. 5 minutes contain enough plot twists to fill a 2 hour movie.

After helping me with dishes for awhile Theia tells me "Mommy, you do such a good job of cleaning, I think I'm going to let you finish up here." I think I'm supposed to feel flattered.

I am having second thoughts about escorting my sister-in-law around the town. I may have four children, but the seventeen year old is not my daughter, thankyouverymuch miss hairdresser.

"Ingrid, are those panties clean?" - "Um, dey're a *little bit* clean."

Well, the morning started well, but I could have done without the episode that necessitated stripping the crib, sterilizing the bars, and giving the 9 month old a full bath, all before breakfast.

Emeth has discovered that standing up and clapping his hands gets him a lot of positive attention. I love it.

Eliza, at the dinner table: "Mom,  can we get another chicken that's dead and has it's head cut off?"
After that description, I'm not so sure I will want to get another whole fryer chicken anytime soon. Sheesh!

Few things make me feel more maternal than walking through the house at 6am, making sure all my sleeping children are properly covered.

Theia: "Mom, did you know that orphans can jump even higher out of the water than dolphins?"

I think Emeth is under the impression that I sweep all the food scraps into a pile in the middle of the kitchen floor solely for his personal convenience. *sigh*

Theia wanted to go see her little neighbor friend this morning. I explained that we couldn't, because her Mommy went back to work this week, and now she's in day care. Theia's response: "She goes to day care?! She's probably just playing with washed-up old toys who have no owners."
Can you tell what movie she watched last night?

After this day, I think it's pretty safe to say that Emeth is officially walking. (Oct. 22, 10 1/2 months old)

My kids are entirely too capable of making messes that only I am capable of cleaning up properly.

Typing has become a lot more difficult ever since Emeth ripped half the keys off my keyboard.

Would someone please tell the almost 11-month old that he is too young to be opening doors...

If only we could figure out a way for daylight savings time to benefit parents of small children.

I'm thinking about moving all of Emeth's toys into my kitchen cupboards, and all of my mixing bowls, food storage containers, and food prep gadgets into Emeth's toy box. I think that may be an arrangement more suitable for both of us.

Theia: "Mom, can you change Emeth's diaper? He smells like macaroni and cheese!" I'm not sure whose macaroni and cheese she is referring to, but I guarantee you, mine smells considerably better than Emeth does right now.

While my niece, Sydney, helps me organize her playroom, I ask her a question about a particular toy. She replies "That goes to my Rapunzel - No! Not that Rapunzel! My NAKED Rapunzel!"

Ye Olde Facebook Statuses - the prequel

When I started doing these compilation posts, it was November of 2009, and I went as far back as I could go on my facebook profile before they stopped displaying old statuses (about 3 months in my case). It made me sad when I thought I wouldn't have a record of all the cute things Theia and Eliza had said before July-ish of '09. I wondered how much I'd already forgotten. I didn't discover until recently that you can actually download a copy of everything you've ever posted from facebook, and it's pretty easy. So I did it this week, and it was so fun to be reminded of so many things that I had forgotten from two to three years ago.

Starting in December of 2008:

had Theia help us shovel the walks, but she insisted that she was "baking" leaves.

are "goin to our new house in Fwoda!" (according to Theia). (December 31, 2008, the day we left our home in Michigan)

apologize for their daughter's first accident, on the lap of our first supper guests... (Theia. January '09. Sorry, Luke!)

I came into Theia's room this morning with a scarf headband on and she exclaimed "Oh, Mama! You put a princess on your head! That's boo'ful'!

woke up today to Eliza standing by our bed with a dripping wet digital camera. We concluded that the water puddled around the toilet was probably related. (February '09. Eliza was 19 months old)

are listening to Theia singing a song we've never heard, about a "hipdo-bottom-us".

I picture miniature troll-like creatures every time Theia asks for an "ogret" (yogurt).

are informed every day that dragons are animals, and are then immediately comforted with the assurance that they are not real. (Theia, 2 1/2 yrs old)

Just had to run to the rescue of Ingrid since Eliza had climbed into her crib and was sitting on her head. Its amazing how many third-borns survive infancy. (Ingrid would have been about 7 months old)

does not like catching lizards in her house. But, she likes it much better than NOT catching lizards in her house, if you take my meaning.

don't like spiders in the house who could probably beat me in a fistfight. (obviously Florida's climate took some getting used to)

Theia: "Im already getting bigger like Mama. Cuz Mama's Reeally big".

Daddy! The sun is...is...its trying to get pink!! (Theia)

are going to "the parking lot" with the girls. (What Theia and Eliza used to call parks)

Wish Eliza wouldn't play in the toilet.

wondering about the vegetable peeler I found in with the q-tips today.

Eliza's newest trick: climbing on top of her dresser during her nap and taking all the pictures off the wall.

love listening to Theia and Eliza singing together in the back seat. Eliza is always a few beats behind and it sounds great :)

Theia is making up songs about Jesus in her carseat. The doctrine in the lyrics is questionable...

once again kept their kids out past their bedtime. They will retaliate by waking up at 6:30 am tomorrow.

don't think that cleaning crayon off the table/walls/carpet/couch should be part of the daily routine around here. But lately, it is.

My daughter is convinced that her name is really Ariel. (Theia)

Theia, after several other verses, came up with this: "He's go-ot Mama, in His hands, He's go-ot Mama, in His hands, He's go-ot Mama, in His hands. He's got *pause* Big Mama in His hands!

Ingrid CAN walk, but doesn't yet consider it an efficient form of transportation.
August 10, 2009 at 1:44 pm

watched Beauty & the Beast with the girls tonight. We could have fast forwarded to the part where she "spins" and wears "the Belle dress" and turned it off immediately and they would have been just as pleased.

"Daddy, is the Man-Garbage going to come and put our garbage in his truck?" -Theia

Theia informed us yesterday that even though she stays dry, she doesn't want to be a "a potty train".

My baby is 1 today. She's taking steps, when she feels like it, only just cut her first tooth, and still only weighs 18.5 lbs! We're glad she's stretching out her babyhood. (Ingrid - August 23, 2009)

has one child who tries to covertly place her peas on Ingrid's tray while the other one tries to snitch them off her tray. Hopefully Ingrid came out even.

Theia to Eliza: "You silly punk!"

I love how Eliza calls both of us either "Mamadaddy", "Daddymama", or sometimes "Moddy".

My daughters have graciously confirmed for me yet again that ironing is a complete waste of my time.

loathes the frustration that comes with watching your child reduced to sobs because she doesn't want to try some food that I KNOW she will love once its in her mouth.

For other ye olde facebook statuses, click the label below this post.

Ye Olde Facebook Statuses

It seems that most bouts of happy, carefree laughter in this house eventually end with a loud thud, followed by wails. I wish they could play without hurting themselves :(

explains for the umpteenth time that "ellemenno" is not a single letter of the English alphabet.

Emeth loves pulling the moss out of all the artificial plants in the house (and eating it). I do not share his enthusiasm for this activity.

"Mama, I think you're beautiful with a towel on your head." Ingrid's flattery knows no limits.

has given up on her last 40 winks. It's too hard when my face is being clawed and my hair is being pulled by an exuberantly affectionate 7month old. It's a good thing he's cute.

"Re-diclious" - one of Theia's favorite words, almost always said with palms held up and an all-knowing upward roll of the eyes. Cracks me up every time.

The homeschooling moment of the day goes to Eliza for this little tidbit of anti-knowledge: "The 'A' says 'buh', as in 'Dog'".

Woke up early this morning to Theia knocking on our door: "Daddy, I just coughed a little, so I think I might have a fever or something." (Ten minutes later) "Do you think you'll want to be getting up soon?"

Ingrid: "Mama, I think you're beautiful because I like that skirt you're wearing."
(can you tell that Ingrid keeps me buttered up pretty good?)

Sometimes I feel like I am actually dumber than I was as an 18 year old. I distinctly remember feeling smarter back then.

Theia: "Mommy, I reeeally want to watch a movie - just to give you some peace!"
(I didn't buy it)

"Here Mom, here's a thousand dollars for you" says Eliza as she hands me 20 cents in change.

Babies are such a nice shape to hold.

Usually I don't encourage playing with food, but when Eliza held up her noodle and said "Mom! Look what letter I made with my spaghetti!" I was proud.

Theia must really enjoy hearing me say the same thing six different ways.

When jessie returned from his errand this morning, Eliza excitedly explained to him that mommy caught some "tater tots", and we are going to watch them turn into frogs!

Ingrid calls me anxiously from across the room: "Mom! M-o-om! I think I'm scared!" Then the thunder crashed and removed all doubt.

Theia to Eliza: "Oh, don't worry Eliza. You are NEVER going to get old; not until you're like, fifty-five."

Ingrid: (politely) "Mommy, there's some peanut butter on my face, and I couldn't lick it off with my tongue. Can you wipe it off for me?"

Eliza: "Why didn't you name me Rudolph? Was it because I didn't have a shiny nose?"

Ye Olde Facebook Statuses

Due to transportation issues and Jessie's very late night, we stayed home and had home church this morning. Half the congregation sat on the preacher's lap.

Eliza: "Theia, do you want to feel me? I'm all sweaty!" Theia politely declined.

Eliza just requested that I do her hair in a "french fry" braid.

Theia: "If I tell you I like what you made for dinner, can I have a piece of candy?" She thinks bribery works both ways.

I really wish I could record how hard Emeth is laughing at Theia right now! He is practically exhausted from laughing.

Eliza does NOT like spretzel butts (spretzel butts = brussels sprouts).

is snuggling with a sick and very out-of-sorts almost four year old who could throw up on her at any moment. Ahh, motherhood.

I think it was too late in the day to start cleaning the girls' room. I wish I'd never opened this Pandora's Box.

In the meat department at Publix tonight, Theia, eager to display her knowledge loudly says "Did you know those are actually animals? But they're all dead!" Yes. Thank you.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with one being complete and utter squalor, and 10 being Howard Hughes like sanitation, where does your house fall? I think mine is below the median.

To hear Theia talk, you'd think Jessie spends all his time at work daydreaming. It's tough being an "Imaginer".

has many things to do, but there is a six month old asleep in my lap, and he's too sweet to put down.

Eliza: "Aren't you so glad that I am your precious little girl?" Am I ever

"I don't want to miss out on my beautiful painted tony-nails" was probably the worst excuse for not taking a nap that I've ever heard from Theia. It didn't work, either.

has discovered that when Theia sweeps the floor, it does not look as good as it does when I do it, but it looks a whole lot better than it does when I don't do it. And I can live with that.

Went into Emeth's room to get him up this morning, and he greeted me by grabbing his crib bars and pulling himself up to stand. Sheesh, he's only 6 and a half months old!

Theia called Kay earlier so they could wish each other a happy birthday. Theia expressed shock when Kay told her it was warm there; "WHAT?! But you live in Michigan, it's ALWAYS cold there! Don't you have any snow right now?" I love eavesdropping on her phone conversations. (this was in June)

Eliza to Penny: "I like your baby. She's fancy."

Theia: "Why do you have to do that?" Jessie: "Because its part of my job." Theia (incredulously): "Its part of your job to work?!"

I love how all three of our girls always refer to their toes as "tootsie-toes".

Okay Emeth, I know you have to grab everything, but do you really have to grab EVERYTHING?!

Came out this morning to see Ingrid lying on the couch, fast asleep. When she woke up Jessie asked why she wasn't in bed, and she explained that there was a "biskeeto" in her room keeping her awake. Smart two year old.

Emeth has this special, shocked-sounding cry he pulls out just for naps. I'm not sure why a nap is such a shocking thing after all this time.

Theia: "...and please help me to be proper. Amen."

Today Theia was looking at a history picture book when she came to me excitedly, saying "Look at this! He looks just like Uncle Warren!" She was pointing to a picture of Amelia Earhart.

Seals are cute, and babies are cute; but babies barking like seals - not cute.

 

 

 

Ye Olde Facebook Statuses

Eliza, mixing up children's songs: "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly....and Bingo was it's name-O!"


We finally had the appliance repairman out to look at our washer this morning since it has been taking forever to drain and spin. The culprit? Seven baby socks collected in a grimy, impenetrable mass in the drain. I wondered why Emeth had so many unmatched socks!


Contrary to popular belief, the presence of large amounts of candy in the house does not increase the happiness of young children.


Since we got our swingset, the girls get up about an hour earlier than usual and head straight outside to play. And Ingrid now calls our backyard "The Park".


Reviewing opposites with Theia. Did you know that the opposite of 'beautiful' is 'boys'?


Ingrid's naptime request: "Can I just sleep in my belly?"


Theia: "Mommy, I need to go get a q-tip for Emeth's ears. They are so dirty - I saw a booger in one of them!" (P.S. it was NOT a booger!)


Earlier Eliza came to us with a handful of hair, explaining that, her hair was too long so she cut some off. Should I put "Tangled" on the shelf for awhile?


Eliza shows drawing to Jessie: "Daddy, this is a witch, and she's mad." Moments later she walks to my side of the table and shows same drawing to me: "Mommy, this is you, and you're mad." --- Now hold on just a minute!


I love it when Emeth gets so excited, he just has to bite something.


And now we have come to that point in the evening where all the children are asleep and I can finally tackle that mental list I've been accumulating all day just for this moment. Except now that it's here, all I want to do is to go to bed myself.


I've been thinking about how much more productive I could be if my family didn't eat, or wear clothes.


"Eliza, do you like my haircut?" - "No, I don't like it cuz it's not very pretty, and I wanted them to cut it just like mine." If you ever want a candid opinion, ask Eliza.


It is very difficult to type one's status with one finger whilst one's 5-month old is trying his hardest to rip one's glasses from one's face.


Eliza has been repeatedly measuring my height with daddy's measuring tape and informing me that I "weigh" "forty-nine ten".


Well, THAT was an epic diaper change.


I love it when Eliza asks me "What on earth are you doing, Mom?!"


At a neighbor's garage sale Eliza stood with her hands behind her back, keenly observing the very outgoing elderly gentleman in the wheelchair for some time before politely inquiring "Sir, are you old?"


"Miss Bev! You have sandals like Jesus!" But I actually don't think Jesus ever wore crocs.


Theia, intently watching the "I am 16 Going on 17" part of The Sound of Music says, "I wish I could be 16. When am I going to be 16?" - Not for a VERY long time, little girl!


I actually enjoyed handwashing two days worth of dishes on our patio this morning. It's too nice a day to waste it on a bad mood. However, I will welcome the appliance repairman with great enthusiasm tomorrow!


I hate sorting through Emeth's drawers. Packing away all the clothes he will never wear again is a very melancholy task; and such a frequently recurring one too!

ye olde facebook statuses

Eliza, proudly: "Mama! Ingrid can say FORK now!" - "Oh! Um.......good." *that is not the way either of them pronounce that word*

"Ingrid, pull your pants up!" - "No, I'm good."

Theia (with her hand on the doorknob): "Hey Mom! I'm going out into the world to pick flowers!"
Ingrid to Jessie: "I like your head, Daddy!" I guess she doesn't want him to feel left out of the hair compliments.

In the quest of some peace and quiet this morning, I sent the girls outside to play, except for Theia, who told me "No, I'll stay inside with you Mom, so you'll have someone to talk to." Can't really say no to that now, can I?

I think the girls need a lesson on relations. Within the last 5 minutes Theia has asked whether she came out of my belly or grandma's belly, and Eliza has told me a story about "Uncle Grandma."

I have become very adept at undoing buckles one-handedly, due to the fact that Ingrid thinks it is her sacred, un-shirkable duty to make sure that all buckles on Emeth's bouncer, swing, or carseat are properly fastened at all times, baby within or not.

Theia: "Can we please take a nap?" - Me: (surprised) "You sure can!" - Theia: "I actually meant can we have a drink of soda." Nice try.

Theia to Jessie: "Yes, oatmeal sounds GREAT for a snack! You're such a good snacker-boy!"

Eliza: "Mama! I just found a big frog in our backyard, and it's a MIRACLE!"

Emeth is very annoyed with me because I can't stop coughing while he's nursing. I didn't know a 2 month old could glare like that

I am now listening to the girls play "hide in the sink" as Eliza calls it. I'm glad they aren't playing it literally.

Staring at my sleeping son and wondering what he'll look like when he grows up.

 Eliza: "Sometime I want to go somewhere where we can see bats and pigs - cause I've never seen bats OR pigs!"

Eliza: (during the pink-eye epidemic) "Aren't my eyes beautiful when they're pink?" I hate to break it to her, but no. Pink does not always equal beautiful. (Longest 10 days of my life, by the way)
What Jessie and I hear from Ingrid many times a day: "Daddy/Mommy, I so like you. I so so SO like you."

I'll admit, it's been a really rough week with sickness and whatnot. but Ingrid is now potty-trained, and Emeth laughed today, so it hasn't been all bad :). (Note: feb 17, Emeth’s first laugh)

Theia was all giggles tonight after Emeth burped right in her face in response to her wishing him a good night.

 People think children are expensive, but really they've saved me so much money in what I didn't spend at yard sales because I couldn't pull over and browse with all of them in tow.

I love it when Emeth smiles and kicks his little feet in excitement when he sees me crossing the room to pick him up out of his swing. It's nice to be so popular.

Eliza: "Actually Mom, I DO want to go for a walk; I LIKE for my legs to hurt!"

I so enjoy hearing Theia say "tony-nails" that I can't bring myself to correct her most of the time.

Theia to Jessie, giddy with excitement: "I get to help Mommy clean my bathroom!"

Just watched Emeth roll from his tummy to his back unassisted and on a flat surface for the first time. Now he's trying to roll back with his whole might and main. (Note: Mar 6, Emeth rolls over. 3 months exactly)

Eliza: (To my sister at the end of her visit) "Are you going to stay here for a little while, and then go home?" Rachel:"Yes, I will go home this afternoon." Eliza:"I think that's a good idea. I would like to sleep in my bed again."

Theia (singing): "It's a worry-freeeee......economy - Hakuna Matata!" It's easy to forget lyrics when you don't know the meanings of half of the words...

He's really cute, but I wish he would GO TO SLEEP!

One of these days, while I'm checking facebook with him draped over my arm, he's going to puke all over my keyboard. I just know it.

At 14 weeks Emeth already weighs more than Ingrid did at 8 months. (15 lbs)

Theia: (thoughtfully) "I really don't know who I'm going to marry when I grow up." (pauses - then, emphatically) "But, I would LOVE it if I could marry Uncle Warren."

Emeth seemed pretty out of sorts tonight before the diaper change in which he managed to "fire hose" me. That cheered him right up.

My girls are so creative in their production of messes. today we've even had a "cleaning mess" created when Eliza took a rag, got it sopping wet, and proceeded to clean her mirrored closet doors with it. just follow the trail of puddles...

I don't think anyone can get bigger smiles and laughs out of Emeth than... Emeth. That boy loves the mirror.

Why do children universally take one bite out of the middle of their peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and continue biting straight down the middle until the contents are smeared halfway back to their ear lobes?

After being pestered repeatedly I said to Eliza in exasperation "No, Eliza, we are not having that tonight - how many times do I need to say no before you will believe me?" She hesitated, then answered timidly "Um...three?" I guess I should make a note of that.

ye olde facebook statuses

After days of relentless begging, I finally made the time to sit down and have a tea party with the girls yesterday. Did this satiate their thirst for tea parties? By no means! They are back at it with a vengeance.

I love that Ingrid has to bark at every dog she sees when we're out and about.

I choose going to Walmart the day before Thanksgiving with 3 toddlers in tow and a full-term baby in utero as my form of purgatory for the day. Light a candle for me.

If I had a dollar for every stranger who's told me they're sure I'm having a boy throughout all 4 of my pregnancies...

Eliza somehow managed to bite through both her lip and her tongue today. Two separate falls. Poor little disastrous child. :(

Jessie called Eliza a "little corker", and she responded (quite innocently) by calling him a "little porker".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Following are the statuses we posted at the beginning of active labor,

after the birth, and the next morning. We were on the naughty list with our fb friends for not revealing the sex for over 12 hours :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Really? Already? Bring it on! :)

As of 9:48 tonight, we are a family of 6. Everything went great!

So, what does one DO with a boy? :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Theia, while holding Emeth this morning: "He loves me so much - and he thinks I'm so pretty." ........What am I raising?

Theia and Eliza are both very concerned about Emeth's lack of teeth. They have both said that the reason he cries is because he has no teeth.

(although Eliza usually refers to him as "she" or "it").

I had forgotten how infants automatically make you 20 minutes late for everything

(on a good day).

Theia: "God watches out for us cause he's really big, right?"

Me: "He watches out for us because He loves us.

" Theia: "Yeah, and also because He's a really big guy, and He doesn't want to step on us."

Overheard: Theia to E & I: (enthusiastically) "Let's go look at that dead lizard in our room again!" Moments later... All in unison, gleefully: "Eeeeeeeeeewww!"

We took Emeth to church for the first time today.

He slept angelically for about 10 minutes, then spent the rest of the time with mama in the nursery, where he could grunt loudly to his heart's content.

[stolen from my brother's status the morning after the girls spent the night at their house]

As I am pouring her syrup this morning, Eliza informs me: "Uncle Pat, I will obey you. I won't even hit you."

Eliza and Ingrid both refer to all varieties of nuts as "almuts"

- sort of a hybrid of almonds and walnuts (?).

I love hearing the girls call each other "my little honey" when they play together.

Mealtimes are feeling more and more like purgatory these days. Seriously NONE of my children like sweet potatoes?? That hardly seems fair.

If Ingrid introduced our family to you, you would know us as Sayah, Yaza, Ingan, Emiff, and Mama and Daddy (Or the interchangeable "Moddy").

Ingrid to Jessie: "Mama has hair, you have a head!"

Hey you. Didn't I just get done telling everybody what a good baby you are?

I am washing our sheets for the third time in as many days. Babies (especially boys) are hard on sheets.

Theia: "I'm afraid Emeth's gonna get sick, cuz I'm sure I saw Daddy kiss him on the cheek yesterday." (in response to being reminded that "We only kiss babies on the head.")

For Eliza, anything that happened in the past was either yesterday, or last night, whether it was 4 hours ago, or 4 months ago. [and I have to include this comment from my sister, who posted in response an example of a typical conversation with Eliza] "Hey, hey. Knowwat Aunt Robin? I saw a alligator yesterday" - "Really? In our house?" - "Yep. And it was eating blueberry pancakes, but........my Daddy put diapers on it." - "Wow. When did that happen again, Eliza?" - "Last night"

I can't imagine why this piece of hair over my shoulder should be so stiff and crusty. hmm....

Theia: "Maybe I won't get married, I might just stay here forever.... buuuuut, I really like wearing wedding dresses."

Toys with "Parental assembly required" should really specify a minimum IQ for the assisting parent.

Eliza: "Dad! Firemans live on trees! Did you know that?"

...You learn something new every day...

Play-doh is meant to be used once, and then thrown away, right?

And the brilliant quote of the day goes to Jessie: "Ingrid! If you'd just be still, you'd quit moving around like that!"

Bathtime for Mr. Emeth; who knows what might be lurking in those lovely neck rolls of his...

(Hopefully not) overheard while eating out tonight: Eliza: "Daddy, don't worry, that's just my bottom makin' noise." - Jessie: "I won't. Please eat your supper.

ye olde facebook statuses

Eliza finally got it through her head that you don't answer "Yes Sir!" to a woman. She now answers me with "Yes Man."

Whenever Ingrid wakes up from her nap before her sisters do, you can tell she feels a great weight of responsibility. She never fails to rise to the occasion and ensure that there is enough noise and mischief produced to compensate for her sisters' absence.

Wise ponderings of Theia: "We shouldn't get mad and lose our temperatures. We should have good temperatures, not bad temperatures."

Ingrid appears in our bedroom doorway promptly at 6:45 [on Saturday morning], climbs into bed with us, and immediately asks "I'm so cute, right Momma?" Well, yes. Not as cute as you would be at 8, but quite cute nonetheless.

Eliza was having some *ahem* "gas issues" at the dinner table tonight. She was scowling deeply, so Jessie asked her what was wrong. She replied, with great irritation, "My chair keeps burping on me."

Its cute, but kind of sad when Ingrid covers her eyes with her hands every time we walk by the life-size, animated Grim Reaper in Sams Club.

I am such a BAD MOM. I apparently put the skirt on Ingrid's lamb THE WRONG WAY. There is nothing that could ever make it right again, judging from Ingrid's reaction. Things will never be the same.

Eliza: (whining)"Mo-o-o-om! I have jelly on my hand!" Me: "Well, just lick it off!" Theia: "But we aren't supposed to lick other people. You only want us to lick ourselves." Hmm, that wasn't exactly the message I wanted her to take away from my suggestion...

Eliza: "I growed up, so my name is Theia now."

‎"Thanks Daddy, you're a cutie pie!" Eliza is very generous with her compliments, however misapplied they may be at times.

On the way to church Theia theologizes from the back seat "We have to help people who aren't nice to us, not just the kind ones." Eliza, with great conviction, chimes in "No Theia! We don't help people who are mean to us!"

I love sneezing and then hearing three girls cry out "Bless you, Mama!" in enthusiastic unison.

Well, I put lunch on the table, and no one cried. It is a good day.

Theia was very excited after class at church tonight to tell us about how Jesus fed so many people with just 5 loaves of bread and "two loaves of fish". :) I love her excitement.

We finished our lesson on insects today by modeling an ant using play-doh, toothpicks, and twist-ties. I left the table for a few minutes and came back to find that our ant had mutated into a many-spined monster that was truly terrifying.

It is so motivating to be cleaning the house with a 3-year old tagging behind, proclaiming "This house STINKS!", in a tone of deep disgust.

I hope Eliza has better dreams tonight; we've been hearing about "the bad man with fire all over him" ALL day.

Theia to Eliza: "I know! Lets pretend we're milking a rabbit!"

I wish this baby didn't feel it necessary to perform "Riverdance" in its entirety every morning from about 2 to 4 am.

Eliza has taken on the role of Daddy's personal trainer. She hovers over him while he's doing crunches saying "Okay,one more time, Daddy!" and, "Daddy, you're awesome!"

We were awakened at 4 am by a barely awake Eliza, running down the hall and screaming for her daddy. She went right back to sleep after being tucked in, and this morning, when asked about it, she explained that a dinosaur was tickling her chin, and she didn't like that.

Theia really needs to fine-tune her entrapment skills. She thinks she's so subtle, but she's not :).

ye olde facebook statuses

Josie & Clara are over and all the girls are playing "Fox & the Hound" (as in Disney) together. I can't figure out why this involves them changing into a different princess dress every 3 minutes.

The girls are drawing. Theia drew a picture of our family, and Eliza drew "a monster spitting out fish".

Eliza is already "telling on" the baby, before its even born. "Mama! The baby is kicking Ingrid ON PURPOSE! That's not very nice". (Ingrid is lying with her head on my belly).

I have decided to take the laid-back view about Theia and Eliza playing with the dead dragonflies they found on the patio, even though it makes me shudder slightly. They are running around the yard with them "to make them fly".

I overheard T and E saying Happy Birthday to Ingrid this morning. I gently reminded them that Ingrid's birthday was over a week ago. "I know." Theia replied, matter-of-factly, "we just wanted to bless her."

I enter the bathroom to find Ingrid with a toothbrush in one hand and Boudreaux's Butt Paste in the other. Thankfully she was not successful in removing the lid.

Theia: "My fake name is Aletheia Vangelis, but my REAL name is Theia."

Theia suggests that we name the new baby "Pony". Somehow I don't expect that will make it to the short list.

The girls are playing dress-up. Eliza comes out of her room wearing ONLY pajama shorts, proclaiming, "I'm pretending I'm a daddy!"

My eldest is under the deluded belief that if she asks the same question, with slight variations, about 4,892 times, she will eventually get the answer she desires.

Jessie and I took the girls to the park to teach them to ride their bikes last night. I think they taught us more about patience than we taught them about riding a bike.

Theia thinks the words "precious" and "special" can be used interchangeably. It always makes me feel wierd when she asks if I can please make a "precious snack" for her.

Eliza at our bedroom door this morning: "Dad, are you getting up? Its already 40:19!"

Jessie and I are amazed that Eliza, since turning 3, seems to have quit sucking her thumb cold-turkey, without any interference from us. Apparently, thumb-sucking is beneath a 3-year-old's dignity

After looking under my daughter's beds I have come to the conclusion that about 75% of the toys they own have taken up residence there.

Ingrid has a sweet penchant for skin-to-skin contact. Often when she snuggles with me, after a few minutes she lifts my shirt enough so she can lay her head directly on my belly. Its not because she wants to feel the baby, because she's done it for months, and she doesn't really understand about the baby yet anyways.

I had the bad fortune to drop a large glass jar on my ceramic tile kitchen floor immediately after Ingrid had dumped out the entire box of Legos on the same floor. Needless to say, mama got to clean up both the Legos and the shattered glass.

Eliza's bedtime prayer: "Thank you that we could go to church, and thank you for my fwip fwops" (I glance down to see that she's wearing mine) Theia's bedtime prayer: "...and thank you that we could go to church, and that all the beautiful people were wearing beautiful dresses..." I love bedtime.

Jessie just took five girls, all dressed in princess dresses and tutus, outside to marvel at a gargantuan spider in our bushes.

Theia to me: "Would you like to have a pet cat, or would it poop in the house?" I'm glad she makes it unnecessary to come up with these excuses on my own.

Eliza's prayer tonight: "thank you that Mama's belly's gettin bigger, an thank you that there's a baby in it. Amen." Amen indeed.

Theia to me: "Is it ok if I wave to the garbage man?" Me:"Sure it is." Theia: "Yeah, they're usually friendly folk."

Ingrid refuses maraschino cherries, but eats pimento-stuffed green olives with great enthusiasm.

Eliza, after suddenly noticing my belly: "Momma! Your baby is already bigger! You can take it out now!"

Yesterday when Jessie got home from work Eliza looked quizzically at him and then asked "Daddy, did you get your hair cut?" Strange question to pose to someone who has been shaving his head completely for quite some time.

There's nothing that gets you out of bed faster than the sound of shattering glass in your kitchen. I think the gate needs to go up on the almost-2-year-old's bedroom, since she thinks graduating to a toddler bed gives her free license to roam the house at all hours.

ye olde facebook statuses

Theia: "Daddy, there's a very evil spider on our wall, can you come kill it? Its VERY evil."

I am teaching Theia and Eliza how to make their letters. Theia immediately filled her paper with 'A's, but when I checked Eliza's work, I found that she had only embellished the 'A' I had made. "I'm givin' it wings, so it can fly", she explained. Sometimes the age difference really shows.

"twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a ......dinosaur in the sky..." Pay close attention when Eliza is singing. It’s always a rewarding experience.

We were reading the story of Jesus' birth yesterday (which is a year-round favorite in this house) and Eliza was looking intently at the picture of the Magi. She pointed to each of their gifts and proudly recited "Gold, um, fishies, and myrrh!" She's probably thinking, at least one of the gifts was age-appropriate ;).

Theia and Eliza's PB&J sandwiches are talking to each other. One is named Jess, and the other Holly, so I gather.

I am so glad that my children like fresh veggies with hummus that I don't even mind the double-dipping. Much.

Yes, we are the owners of those children who sprinted across the dance floor during the bride and groom's first dance at the wedding today. *groan* I picked a poor time to turn my back (for all of 2 seconds).

Fishstick: eng. noun. def. 1. A vehicle used to convey ketchup to the mouth 2. An upright figure used to represent human characters in child's make believe. (from the unabridged dictionary of Eliza's pre-conceived notions).

Every morning Eliza comes bounding up out of bed with the same question, "Mama, can I have breakfast for cereal!" (that's not a typo, she always switches those two words.)

It’s amazing the things we hear coming out of our own mouths at times. For instance, Jessie just said, sternly "Theia, DO NOT call her sugar again. She just told you she's Sleeping Beauty!"

Why do little girs think that going to the bathroom in public restrooms is a recreational activity?

Ingrid climbs up into my lap several times a day just to make her impish little wrinkled nose face at me and rub noses with me, then she climbs down and continues on her merry way. I love it. :)

Theia, of the mosquitos swarming around her head: "They think I'm their best friend, but I'm NOT!"

Theia: "Mom, the wrists of my feet are hurting."

I love that my husband is never daunted by any challenge. He has a "can-do" attitude that constantly amazes me. When I ogled a meal on the front of a magazine cover last week, he secretly studied the picture in detail, went out after I was asleep last night, and after church on Mother’s Day quickly whipped up an incredible lunch of grilled shrimp tacos, complete with mango/cucumber salsa, avocadoes, and green onions. Love you babe!

"Eliza, you need to go potty before you eat your supper." "But I went potty YESTERDAY!"

I flushed a bug down the toilet tonight, then spent the next ten minutes convincing a petrified Eliza that it would not come back up and get her if she sat on the toilet.

The girls are painting, T and E with water paints, Ingrid with water. Surprisingly, Ingrid doesn't seem bothered by the lack of color on her canvas.

I know no greater horror than walking into the bathroom to finish my children's baths to find that the youngest has just discovered the plunger and is trying to plunge the drain of the bathtub. That water couldn't drain out fast enough!

I appreciate that people think my children are so cute and well-behaved. I just wish they didn't always wait till I've taken a mouthful of food to tell me so.

It would be nice to have a meal in which Ingrid does NOT wipe her hands in her hair.

I was trying to quell Eliza's irrational fear of hand dryers in public restrooms; "They can't hurt you, Eliza", when Theia chimes in with "Yeah Eliza, only alligators can hurt you." I interject, "well, they aren't the ONLY things that can hurt us" to which Theia replies, "That's true. Crocodiles can too."

I guess I should be thankful that I wasn't bit by a dragon today; I just didn't think to mention it in my bedtime prayers like Eliza did tonight.

Jessie and I were sharing a little longer "goodbye" than usual when Eliza piped up from the breakfast table "Aww, are you guys gonna get married?"

Eliza: "What are you eating?" Me: "Fattoush and tabbouli." Eliza: (vehemently) "I don't want some tush and belly!"

I am having a sneak peek today at what life might look like in 12 years or so, when my daughters are all having pms at the same time. I don't know what their excuse can be today. Easter candy, perhaps?

I was going to work out, but I am having way too much fun watching my daughters do tae bo in princess dresses.

"We just paid the toad!" proclaimed Eliza, as we passed through the tollbooth before the Skyway.

"Go! Go!" yells Ingrid insistently at every red light. We now officially have three backseat drivers.

ye olde facebook statuses

Gleaned from the last month or two of facebook statuses:

Theia, while laughing and pointing at the mohawked little boy in front of us: "Look Mama, his hair is up like a chicken!"

"What color are his shoes?!!" asks Eliza enthusiastically, as she comes bounding up to the door to size up the pizza delivery guy.

Eliza, while leaning over the pier: "You can't let me fall in, cause then you wouldn't have a me."

Theia's substitutions when she can't think of the right word or phrase crack me up. Yesterday "Ring the doorbell" was "ding-a-ling the jingle bell." Close enough, right?

Eliza's "What do you think you're doing in this world?!" sounded rather rude, until Theia translated for me. "No, Eliza. You mean 'What in the world do you think you're doing'" (spoken with extreme condescension).

Eliza: "Hey Mommy, I had a nice nap!" "Oh, good." "And, I have big poopy in my diaper!" ........"oh.".......

Theia, while playing with Jessie's toy gun: "Um, excuse me ma'am, do you mind if I shoot that giant?" I don't think she spends enough time playing with boys.

I wonder lately if Ingrid has been slapping on purpose, so she can practice her newly learned skill of saying "sorry", and giving reconciliatory hugs. She seems to enjoy it a little too much.

Theia to Jessie at the gas station: "Daddy! You're a good gasser Daddy!

I've been thinking about the helpfulness of children who so willingly take your dirty dishrags to the laundry room for you... and deposit them in the dryer with a load of clean whites.

I have come to the conclusion that finishing a cup of coffe (or even a quarter of a cup) while its still warm is just something that does not happen to parents of toddlers.

I am hearing a lot of splashing and high-pitched giggles from the bathroom. Kinda scared to walk in there. (Updated) Just did, and was greeted immediately with "Mommy, can you please get out?" by Eliza.

Eliza does not want me to come outside with her, bacause I might "get all sweaty". God forbid.

It was actually feeling pretty good when Theia was brushing my hair, until I heard Jessie tell her to go put the upholstery attachment back on the vacuum cleaner.

"Eliza, I'm sorry you can't get on my lap now. Mama doesn't feel good" "But Mamaaa, I thought you were my best frieeeeend!"

I think my two year old just told me to grow up. "Mommy, don't act like a girl, act like a Mommy!"

I am not a fan of Eliza's latest trick of walking away with her head and shoulders down, hands hanging down to her knees, after she is reprimanded.

Eliza: "What happened to your arm?" Me: "I got a nasty bruise when I pinched it in the closet door." Eliza: "Oh, that's too bad. Can I smell it?" (????!)

Theia: "We would never want Mama's heart to break, so that's why we can't stick things in the outlets."

Theia: "Did I ever see a seacock?" Me: "You mean peacock." Theia: "Oh, you mean pee like some people say they go pee in the toilet instead of potty?"

Naptime conversation: Me: "Lets pray for Daddy because he's sick." Eliza: "Oh. Did he get bit by a dragon?"

I guess I should be glad that Theia is learning to listen more closely and correct her speech on her own, but I miss hearing her sing "When we all get to heaven/ what a day of rejoicing that will be/ when we a-a-a-lll see Jesus/ we'll sing and shout, Oh Rick, Oh Reeeee!"

I am cracking up at Ingrid's method of turning down food that is offered to her. She puts her finger in her mouth and squeezes her eyes shut, as if she's trying to make it disappear.

Eliza: "Do you have a funny face on your head?" I guess I must.

Our two year old has an obsession with coffee. Saints preserve us if she ever actually gets her hands on any.

There's nothing like having your 17 month old christen your new toothbrush before you even get it through the checkout line.

Jessie and I are now addressed as Moddy and Damma, respectively, by their two year old. Wouldn't mind it so much if "Damma" didn't so much like "Grandma".

Theia: "Mommy, is it ok if I make a huge mess in my room?" Gotta love those questions with easy built-in answers.

Well, Theia just summed up the rest of my life for me: "When you get old, you will get wrinkles on your face, and I will get a baby, and you can be my baby's grandma."

Our life now plays to a Disney soundtrack, since the girls figured out how to push "play" on the cd player.

We are still smiling at Theia's explanation for Ingrid's crabbiness: "She's sad because she isn't a butterfly."

A Few Nuggets.

I gathered these up from our facebook statuses since that's where I record many of the cute things the girls say/do on a daily basis. My mom is always saying "I hope you are writing these things down somewhere other than your facebook status". So here I am, dutifully recording them elsewhere:

We just left the mall, where Eliza begged every two minutes to ride the "alligator". It took us awhile to realize she meant "elevator".

I was told by Eliza that I’m "like a princess" today. I think that's about as high a compliment as you can get from a two-year-old girl.

Eliza loves all the princesses, Cinderella, Cinder-White, Cinderbelle, and Cinderaura.

Ingrid is skilled at walking into a room and immediately identifying which object will freak out her Mom the most when tampered with.

Theia: (flexing her arms) "Look how big my whistles are!"

We try not to laugh whenever Eliza sternly tells Theia to "Go lie down in your bed!" after one of us scolds her, but its really hard.

We never tire of hearing Theia and Eliza sing Jesus Loves Me; can't wait till Ingrid joins in.

We had fun shopping in spite of the fact that the outing ended with our daughter christening the floor of the Gymboree outlet store. (Yes, we cleaned it up.)

Theia is telling us a very scary story about an animal called "Chick-fil-a" who was "broke" by an alligator and bitten by a wide variety of other animals.

I was surprised to find a spool of thread in my hand after convincing the 1 year old to release whatever it was that was causing her cheeks to bulge and her front to be covered with drool. (I appreciated my big brother’s comment on this update: “Its nice to know you can still be surprised.”)

I was making pancakes this morning when my 3 year old came out and instructed, "Mama, put a big lot of syrup on mine. I'll come back and check on you in a few minutes." What does one say to that?

I give Eliza a fork so she can spear her food and then pluck it off with her fingers and eat it.

Theia asked Jessie earlier, "Daddy, did you ever see Mommy's wedding dress? Its SO beautiful."

We wonder when Eliza is going to stop calling both of us "Moddy".

We just had breakfast at Hardees in Jellico, Tennessee, where small packs of roving senior citizens terrorize families with small children.

We were just interrupted doing tae bo exercises that involved slow hip movement, by Eliza standing in our doorway (at 11 pm). We didn't notice for a few minutes and when we saw her she looked like she wasn't sure if she should laugh or run back to bed and pretend she didn't see. After we busted up laughing she decided to laugh with us.

Theia comes into the bathroom and says in a very patronizing voice "Mama, are you okay there in the shower?.....Okay, I was just checking on you."

We don't know how many times we've said "Eliza, that's Uncle Josh, not Robin, not Grandma" in the last 24 hours.

Dry cheerios were meant to be eaten one at a time, pinched between the thumb and forefinger, right? Then why do Eliza and Ingrid both eat them by the fistful, ensuring that only 3 out of 7 will make it into their mouths? (until later that is, when they eat the ones I missed with the broom off the floor).

Our children must not watch enough TV. Theia just handed an Elmo doll to Jessie and said "Here, Daddy, hold my little red baby for me".