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Annie hasn't been blogging since she joined Facebook. For those of you who aren't familiar with Facebook, I highly advise signing up. It's FREE and everyone you know is there and logs in on a regular basis! It took 4 months of Auntie Lynn nagging me to sign up and I can't believe what I've been missing!!

Delicious

Carter told me tonight after sipping bath water from a wooden spoon that it was delicious.

My cooking must be crap.

*wink**wink*

Happy Couple

Well, didjahear? Auntie Lynn and Uncle Matt are getting married. Finally, it's official. YAY for the happy couple!!!

Which for me means that I will be spending the next year helping Lynn plan and prepare for her winter wedding day. I will need to throw her a winter party, go on a winter diet, write a winter speech, and try to be the bestest big sister I can.

Can you say S-i-m-o-n?

Thinking back to when Carter was the same age that Isabelle is now....about 21 months....he, like her, was just starting to use his own version of 'words'. I use the word 'word' lightly. Since many of the things that Carter said and Isabelle says now at this young age are often jibberish. Yet, they tend to use the same jibberishy words....I find this so fascinating.

For example, Carter's first verbal identification of Simon was in the sound of the name "Me-Me". Why in the world he called Simon MeMe, we have no idea, because everyone I know called Simon by his name, which is to no surprise, SIMON. Not MeMe.

He did this for about 3-6 months, and then one day MeMe finally became Simon in the eyes of a 2 year old boy.

As Isabelle toys with different sounds every day, she babbles sounds of jibberish, just like Carter did. I was shocked recently when I made a startling realization...

Daily, she continues to point at something and shriek "Nee-Nee!", then runs around all happy and giddy. The first time I heard this I thought she saw Auntie Lynny walking past the window and that she was here for a surprise visit. After checking the driveway and finding no car belonging to an Auntie Lynny, I was perplexed as to what in the heck was this "Nee-Nee" that Isabelle is so enthusiastic over.

A day or two pass as this same "Nee-Nee" behavior continues, and it suddenly dawned on me: Belle is calling Simon "Nee-Nee". Can you believe it???!!!

Isn't it strange that Carter called Simon MeMe, and Belle, 22 months later, not being able to remember a day that someone called Simon MeMe, calls the dog NeeNee????????????

I wonder, is it a developmental thing that a child of this age would only be capable of making a certain kind of sound to say the same thing an adult would be able to say clearly?? They can't pronounce S-i-m-o-n, so possibly the closest thing to it that can come from their mouths is a two syllable MeMe or NeNe??????

If there were a 3rd child, would this child at approx 18 months be calling Simon some version of MeMe or NeeNee???????

I think I'm cracking the code of toddler language here! This is history in the making people!

(If anyone needs a translator for their toddler, I'd be happy to assist. A small fee may apply.)

This is so strange to me.....I told one of my co-workers this and she asked, "Well, what is something that the kids hear you say to Simon often?", suggesting that maybe they are mimicking me talking to the dog. The first thing that popped in to my mind INSTANTLY was, "SIMON, NO BARKING!", which surely doesn't translate to MeMe or NeNe.

blogging when I should be sleeping

Tonight at dinner I held up on my fork a huge slice of cooked carrot. I turned to Belle and said, "Look Belle, a carrot!" Isabelle, being the animal sounds genius that she is, said:

Belle: Moooo-o-o-o
Me: No, honey. Not Moooo.
Belle: ........(thinking)........OINK!
Me: No, not OINK, either.

I suppose in her little world of learning animal sounds everything MUST have its own sound.
Even a carrot.

Carter's Hiding

It's bedtime, and Carter is all tucked in. He insists on hiding under the covers for daddy to find him. "Okay, give me a kiss and I'll go get daddy." I said.

Daddy enters room where Carter is under the covers hiding.

Daddy: C-a-r-t-e-r, where are you?....are you under the bed??
Carter: nooooooo...
Daddy: Are you in the tent???
Carter: nooooo....
Daddy: Are you in the closet???
Carter: noooooo....
Daddy: Are you in the dresser???
Carter: nooooooo....
And on and on and on.

Needless to say, Daddy found Carter. Perhaps it was the sound of Carter's voice that gave him away. After all, he sure was in a good hiding spot.

Lesson Learned:

Small boy brushing teeth left unattended results in baby sister's dolly getting bath.

Potato Head

Tonight I helped Carter search desperately for Potato Head's other ear...never thought I'd ever say that out loud...

It's not what it was

And now, the moment we've all been waiting for, I present to you:

THE CAMP SHAY NOOZE

Hmmm, as it turns out, the video clip is too long to upload.

You'll have to request a copy on DVD. Please send all letters of request to Annie and Jeremy. Thank You.

Tonight I tore up some grass in the yard in preparation for flower beds, and Carter was playing with the worms saying how CUTE they were...ugh.

This morning I dropped the kids off at daycare and as I was walking out the door Carter said all in one breath: "By-mom-I-love-you-I-love-you-too!!!" as if that was how the saying really was. One day he'll catch on that he just says "I love you" and the other person says "I love you too".

He cracks me up.

As I mentioned earlier, he is a HUGE fan of Blues Clues. In the show, you have to look for Blue's Clues. Blue is the name of the blue (imagine that) dog. The clue is Blue's paw print on an object, illustrated in the next image:

DO YOU SEE BLUE'S CLUE????

So, as the show goes on and on, suddenly you will notice a blue paw print which is when Carter will holler, "A clue! A clue!"....You should have seen him this morning when he realized that his blankie had tiny blue paw prints all over it. This thing that he has been carrying around with him for YEARS all this time has had Blue's Clues written all over it and today he shrieked, "MOM! A CWO! A CWO! Bwoo's Cwoo's on my bwankie!"

And the child was happy for days to come...

Changes

Did I mention how much the kids LOVE Blue's Clues???

I can put an episode on, and be in the shower listening to Carter yell at the screen, "Over THERE!!!" and "A CLUE! A CLUE!!". And Isabelle loves it to. She yells whenever she sees a ball.

Jer informed me today that his work route will be changing mid-October. Apparently they cut so many routes, that by the time it was his pick, the only route left had 2 overnight runs and he passed it up. Which means he is back on the relief board. Once again, we will be getting calls at 3am, and Jer will be on call 80% of the time that he is not actually working...which means he gets one scheduled day off each week-Monday...

What this amounts to for us is unpredictable pay checks, unpredictable work hours, lots of on-call, and probably less money than usual. This puts a huge strain on our newly comfortable routine, a strain that I am not looking forward to. The good thing; it will only last 6 months, and Jer is most senior on the relief list so hopefully it won't be quite as bad as the last time around 6 months ago.

Next week Jer and I will have some vacation time. I am hoping to get some bulbs in, and create some perennial beds along the fence. We also need to put another coat of paint on that darned fence before winter...and our new appliances arrive Wednesday!!! The kitchen is finally getting a new face.

Future projects for the upcoming years will include a play set/swing set for the kids, landscaping to include a few trees and perennials, patio block outside the porch, and I would like a garden. Now that the kids can run and play more independently in the yard, I can spend time outside in the garden....dream it and it will come.....

COMING SOON!

Camp Shay News! Live - with Carter, Isabelle and Jarod

Keep checking future posts for the clip...

These just in!

Sorry, but due to lack of time, all you get is the pictures. No narration today. Don't cry.

New Pictures...

New pictures...comming soon!!!!!

A Birthday?

Someone's Birthday is upon us so don't forget to wish her a Very Very Happy Birthday!

Just another fun-filled day with Auntie Lynny

Everyone knows that feeding ducks with Mommy is funner than feeding ducks with Daddy.

Wordless Wednesday

Snap-Crackle-Pop!

This morning, while blow-drying my hair, I was sushed by my husband. He made a point to walk to the bathroom, pop his head in, and say,

"Ssssshhhhhh! Carter can't hear his Rice Krispies crackle."

Mee-e-e-e-e, Me-e-e-e-e!

One day, mommy and Auntie Lynn took us to the fair...

Laa-la-lah-la-la.

Ohmigod!

What is that???....a goat?

He wants to eat my shirt? Um...No.

You better look out Mama or he'll want your shirt TOO!

Oh goat, you're not so bad.

Unfortunately, my brother DOES NOT like you!!!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

Why men shouldn't take messages‏

Wordless Wednesday

Mighty Mississippi

Auntie Lynn took Carter out on the river on Sunday. I am told he had a wonderful time, enjoyed every minute, and was a VERY good boy. Looks fun to me!!!

They will be doctors some day

Since my kids don't have ANY toys, they are forced to play with diapers...

Holy Crap!

BOY does Carter like to POOP on the potty! (no pictures, I promise)
It is so exciting to see it in the pot rather than smashed all over his bum...this will really save money on wipes. YIPPIE! I love this potty training thing!!!

He is doing so well. Like I said previously, he likes to go at least once every 30 minutes. Usually when we are in the house just playing he likes to go every 10 minutes. He is so proud!!! He can stay dry all day long. Nap times still require a diaper (obviously), but we have decided to take the plunge and go all underwear; no diapers during the day...unless we leave the house.

Now I have to figure out where to get like 20 pairs of underwear cheap and fast. During potty training, you can never have too many pairs. I'm on a mission.

Age is just a number

A direct quote from Uncle Ken, "Now that Annie will be less than a third of my age instead of my being 4 times her age, I am happy to wish her a very happy Birthday!"

For my birthday, auntie Lynn came over to babysit so that Jer and I could go out to eat. Funny story this one is....

Auntie Lynn gave Jer his birthday present on July 5th, 2008. His birthday was November 13, 2007. She had a card signed by herself, and my mom and my step-dad, and a gift certificate inside....SINCE NOVEMBER 13TH OF 2007. The gift certificate expires on July 16th, 2008. In order for Jer to use his birthday gift certificate before it expired, it was crucial that we get a sitter. No better time to do that than on my birthday. Auntie Lynn, possibly out of guilt and obligation, volunteered to babysit for us. So, we got to use Jer's birthday gift on my birthday just days before it expired. I'd like to thank auntie Lynn for both creating a problem and providing a solution in such an efficient manner!

Carter is so excited about going pee-pee on the potty. He goes and goes and goes. His new thing is to stand over it and 'aim' like daddy does. This weekend, he took a huge dump in the potty, just like his daddy does! (Don't worry, Jer doesn't read my blogs). Tee-hee-hee.

Uncle Andy has moved to town, and is staying in our basement. Lucky for us, he has a satellite dish, and we finally have cable again!!!! Unfortunate for me, I haven't gotten to bed before 11pm for the past few nights....damn that cable television, DAMN!!!

The kids like to play with daddy's poker chips. Yesterday, while running around naked, Carter wanted to put the chips in his pocket.... Now, just think like a 3 year old for a second. If you were Carter, and you were naked, and didn't have any shorts on that had pockets, but wanted to create a pocket, where would you make the pocket be????

I had to explain to Carter that his butt crack did NOT a pocket make.

And Bob The Builder was fixing my kitchen yesterday, just after he returned from the frozen tundra.

It's a strange life we live, indeed.

Summer of '09

My kids.....they crack me up. One of the things about mommyhood that I enjoy the most is watching them when they are in their own element. And happy. Because they can be in their own element and be crabby. Trust me...but for them to be comfortable and happy....is sometimes quite hilarious.

For example, Isabelle with a book; if you could hear her babble you would agree.

Isabelle singing 'Itsy Bitsy Spider'.

Isabelle and her non-stop scare tactics....'boo!'

Isabelle and her love for laying on the floor.

Isabelle and her belly laughs when being chased by the mommy-monster and KNOWING the monster will eat her.

And my little man, Carter. Who, is gorgeously tan and blonde with blue eyes. He is so sensitive and loving. He is my echo, my shadow, my little helper. He is so good at going potty on the potty chair, that for a measly M&M he will squeeze out 2 drops of pee-pee....every 60 seconds....for 60 minutes straight.

He is SO serious about coloring, that he lays himself on top of the table.

He, like his sister, loves the new wagon from Grandma Diane. Now mommy and Daddy can pull both the kids together in a more acceptable contraption than the ole wagon hitched to a car by twine pulled by Simon's leash tied to the steering wheel. Thanks to Grandma, we are a more civilized family.

Complete with flowering baskets and pots hand potted by the most wonderful of all people.

Both my kids are fascinated by water. They love baths. They love pools. They love sprinklers.

Thank goodness it is summer since they are rarely fully clothed and more often than not barefoot.

We are over our horrible illness (hand-foot-mouth), Isabelle finally has her molars in, and she is due in no time for shots. Carter will turn 3 in August. I think he will get Spider man underwear for his birthday.

As for Simon, he has met his match: The Water Bottle. That's right, no more barking in the house!!!!!!