Pillow. Drinks. FT daycare

So we bought Eleanor a pillow for her bed... maybe I'm too soon with it, whatever. Here's how it went down. We opened the box, she was excited. We put the pillow case on, more excitement. We put it on the ground, still excited... and then she does nothing but wants to sit on it. Sure, she'll grab a blankie to cuddle... sit on the pillow and lay back - which results in cracking her little head on whatever is behind her. To which she thinks is not comfortable. OH my this little girl! We've even tried demoing it with her... hopefully a monkey-see, monkey-do situation. She still thinks it's more fun to sit on.

It's been a crazy couple weeks.... we were lucky to get another visit from Petroffs. They were in town for the sports show and also wanted to give us a Christmas present of a date night out. So they took on all three kids...who are 6 months and 10 months apart and we went out to my friend, Stacy's bar (Thomas and Moriarty's)- which we've been trying to do for some time.

The next weekend we took in the Muledeer Foundation Banquet at the Amvets - hard to believe another date night out. We cached in a Christmas present and had Eric and Amanda stay with the kids that night.

The next week was Grady's official start to full time daycare - bittersweet for me. I love having him with me as I won't miss any moments. Afterall, I saw both kids roll over for the first time in my office on the floor. However, I always enjoy a little bit of free time to myself and the ability to catch up on work.

That took us to the end of February...
Potty training is a bit rough with hit and misses but mostly a lot of sitting and heading books on the potty. But she does think it's fun to help Dad outside.

Grady is getting sturdier sitting up. We'd just wish he'd sleep through the nights a bit better.
We unofficially celebrated his 6 months... hard to believe that it's already here - where has the time gone?

Blue Lips, Gov, Valentines

When people talked to us before we had kids they told us we would be tired. I figured but I never really knew what tired through your bones felt like. People keep telling us how we will miss these days and I believe them. I'm just hoping I can remember these crazy days. Grady has had another bout of sickness and has been up with that or sleeping at the foot of our bed. When we finished with the nebulizer we discovered a little knob of a tooth starting to think about poking through. We will sleep again - just not this month.

We've had a random week. Aside from Grady fighting a fever, we also were invited to Jackson's 5th birthday party in Minot at the Sleep Inn. It was fun to go but we also had Randy and Michele come to partake in our pool fun. Eleanor LLLOOVES the pool. The girl will go until her lips are blue and her arms are shaking. It was nice for them to spend sometime with the kids.

After we got back, I had a packed week, I assisted with the Main Street Summit that the Gov put on for the state. I took Grady the second day of the conference - not every kid can admit they've met and taken pics with the Gov twice.

We had Valentine's Day.. and it was pretty unromantic on our end - between being sick and swamped at work, we didn't really think too much about doing anything special. We did get a kick out of Eleanor who was very possessive over her Valentine's Day box.

EER: Mine, Mine, Mine
ALR: Eleanor, can we take a picture with your Valentines box?
EER: Mine!!

The week ended rough... Matt and I got sick...together. Our biggest worry was that daycare was going to call and have us pick up the kids while we were sick. We felt pretty sad for ourselves. I'm so ready for the winter and the cold and sick to be done.

 Gov (during his closing address): Why we are all here?... It’s about improving lives for the people who are here now and our children because they can stay and have opportunities.  So current and future North Dakotans - I got a chance to meet Grady… he’s wearing a super stylish cap – super cute and adorable, unbelievable. The Gradys of the world, we want to make sure we are setting up the opportunity to live and prosper in this great state.

Climbing, Words, Pink Paint, Daycare

After a week of sick... we spent the weekend in recovery mode. A little bit of clean up, a little bit of relaxing, a lot of EER&GRR. Our world changed a bit when we saw Eleanor crawl onto the side of Grady's crib and work her strength up and over the rail so she was beside him. I'm not sure if he was scared or excited by this. I'm hoping we aren't anywhere close with her taking on her own crib.

Eleanor's been a bit of a handful lately. She's picking up on words but definitely is coming into her own spirit. She knows what she wants and doesn't. She's got a love/hate relationship with Lola. She for sure knows who Mama and Da are and will yell at us. Other words include Peppa (her favvvvvorite TV show), potty, poop, apple, more, mine, out, bye among the lot.

She decorated her Valentine's Day box this weekend. Since Grady's been in recovery mode and still weezey and congested, we thought it best to stay home. We had the family come over to watch the game. Grandpa and Eleanor worked on her Valentine's Day box for day care.  It was very much a collaborative effort with some encouragement and some serious handwashing when it was all said and done. Grady did not make a Valentine's Day box since he'll be at work with me. He hung out with Grandma and watched the commotion of art.

The other big Grady news is that he officially started daycare. His first day was Monday. It was a bit weird to not have him around all day. It went pretty well - it does make pick up and drop off a bit more challenging but we'll find our new groove.

EER: Mama, Mama!
ALR answers her.
MJR: why doesn't she call out for me?
ALR: She does. She just says Mama better.
MJR: Do you think there's a reason?
ALR: I don't know...maybe it's because she's interested in Llama Llama lately and hears it more.
Later that week in bed.
ALR: I heard you reading to Eleanor while I rocked Grady to sleep. I could tell what book you were reading by the cadence.
MJR: really?
ALR: Yes, you read the train book and Llama Llama.
MJR: Yeah, do you like what I'm doing with Llama Llama?
ALR: I couldn't hear the words, just the rhythm.
MJR: I changed it to Llama Llama Red Pajamas and Daddy Llama.
ALR stares: seriously?
MJR: Well, you said she was good at saying Mama probably because of Llama Llama. So I'm taking control of the game.