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Thursday, March 29, 2018

Conversion, Kale, Fall Down.

it happened.
I knew it was coming. But I really thought it was a ways off.
We are officially in a big-girl/toddler conversion bed.
Nothing will be the same again.
We had been playing in her room and we suddenly realized that she had very little problems eradicating herself from the walls of the crib. These walls I have come to love and cherish - even though they've been well-beavered up by her little budding teeth. In an attempt to ensure that she doesn't fall out and hurt herself, we decided to put up the toddler barricade. that really is just a roll bar that covers half the front of the crib - and it's not fooling anyone.

Sure other things have been happening, I went to Fargo to do the logistics and organization of Demographics Conference and left Matt alone for a night. But nothing compares to sleeping on a crib mattress tucked into the backboard hoping that the crying didn't wake the other one up. Some nights aren't terrible but some nights end at 515am because she's up and there is no convincing her that her bed is a wonderful sanctuary of solitude. But I'll take the nights because naptimes SUCK. See, before the crib wall was lowered, she was sneaking books through the slats of her crib and reading them at night before she fell asleep - now she has the open opportunity to go and get them off the shelf and sit in bed and read them... I think the dark of night eventually convinces her to give up but nap time never gets dark. We've pulled a foot tall stack off her tiny bed.

MJR: Those people are exhausting.
ALR: I know, you left me with those people earlier this month.
MJR: For them not being very verbal, I feel like they are collaborating to gang up on me.
ALR: I agree - it's like they have some weird bond and 6th sense.

We've been exposing E to some non-toddler foods... creamed kale, Caesar salad, salmon, Brussel sprouts, swordfish steaks, seaweed seasoning, gyros, lobster bisque... actually the only thing she's been adamant about not liking is orzo pasta - which surprised us because the girl will eat her weight in rice. G's food options continue to expand... turkey, peas, spinach, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, blueberries, apples, bananas, pears, and prunes. Daycare has been surprised that we haven't been
bringing in as much homemade stuff but between work, lack of sleep, and the feeble attempt at keeping everything moving in one direction I haven't been able to do much homemade stuff. We also attempted our first restaurant/eating out experience with the babies. It could have gone way worse.

E's vocab has gotten more extensive - from animal identification (Elephant, cow, puppy, giraffe, bear) to clothing (sock-ey, shoe, pants, coat, hat) to other randoms - bite, messy, cheers, funny, sleepy... we are catching on to more and more.
However here's the phase we are in... that is driving her father and I crazy... everything is thrown and doors - ugh - she is insistent that doors need to shut... when she comes in a room, when she leaves a room. ALL the time.

Supper time
EER not happy with her meat.
EER throws food from table.
MJR begins to get after her.
EER with arms outstretched: It Fall Down.
ALR turns away.

Monday, March 12, 2018

Blizzard, Conference, Grandparents, Puff

You know those moments when you look around and go... is this my life?
That was me on Monday night... we'd been dumped on with a blast of snow and Matt was in Fargo for UMAS. I had a baby monitor in my pocket and an unstarted snowblower at my feet and a driveway that was suddenly longer than I remembered. I did get the snowblower started and I did have help from the neighbor and I did leave some for when Matt came home. Daycare even closed early, work even closed early and the snow just dumped.

After 4 days and 3 nights without Matt, I was so glad for him to be back home on Wednesday. I don't know how single moms do it. I'll admit, I think I relied on Peppa a bit too much while I worked to put Grady to bed.
I had a big meeting at work regarding next year's conference. We presented
a synopsis to the Governor's office of what we've done and what we are planning. They asked a ton of questions and we'll see what comes from here.

Some things going on with the kids - EER is still in a war with Lola... those two seem to no end be picking at each other and pissing each other off. Her vocab is continueing to grow. Matt and Grady both are getting chewed out every now and then "Dad, Stop it" "Gae-ey Stop it." I will admit the way she says, Grady makes me smile EVERY time!


Here's what developed with Grady over the past month - he LOVES
the tub. He has a chair that we use in the tub that puts him in at an angle and he will kick and push and kick until I'm soaked, the ground is soaked, Eleanor is irritated from all the kicking, and he's good and played out. Listening to him giggle is the best tho.

It was a grandparent filled weekend. Michele and Randy came down for some camera work and we went out to Mom's for her birthday. Grady had ended up going into the clinic for a cold but all is okay. I'm ready for the weather to break and spring season to actually come.




MJR and EER downstairs before work.
ALR comes down with GRR.
MJR: Eleanor what's outside?
EER: SNO!!!!!!

ALR: Eleanor, quit pulling on Mom's pants. I don't like that.

EER stares. 
ALR: Should I pull on your pants? DO you like it?
ALR tugs at top of pants
EER laughs and pulls pants off.
EER runs off.

MJR snickers in the background: That backfired for you.
ALR: You remember that in 15 years and see if you are still laughing.

MJR quits smiling.