Worm Fest!

OK, I know this is gross...but anything that keeps the kids busy for 2 hours at a time is worthy of a blog post.

Vivi discovered those worms they sell at the hardware store and somehow talked Daddy into buying a box. (They come in containers that look exactly like Chinese food to-go boxes...mmm...chow mein!) I rationed them for her, pouring out small, squirming, tangled piles, one at a time. Somehow managed to ration a week's worth of worm time.

A pile the size of my fist contains enough worms for her to torture, I mean care for, for about 2 hours. She lines them up, washes them, names them (Wormy), sells them, puts them to bed, feeds them and basically handles them to the point of exhaustion. Yes, it's gross. But don't tell Vivi!

Poor worm

all clean

Harv gets tired of the worm fest after about 10 minutes and moves on.

"Time for another bath, Wormy."

"

Slightly overdue blog post!

Early summer...2011. Not only does Harv have all his teeth, (and has taken care of that nasty drooling habit) he has hair to spare.

 

I finally got tired of chasing him around with scissors and called for help. Thanks to Ashley, we had Leonie come to the house for a first class haircut. It was bittersweet because this amazing German woman (who somehow got Harv to sit patiently like a little gentleman) was moving back to Germany! Thank you Leonie for a wonderful first haircut experience.

Big Boy Haircut!!

Toofers!

All that drooling finally paid off- two bottom teeth are finally here! Harv is now almost 6 months old and after a restless day of whining and fussing, he finally sprouted two sharp little teeth! We immediately decided to turn him loose on the rice cereal since he has been extremely attentive during mealtimes. He grabbed the spoon out of my hand and shoved it in his mouth. Yep, guess he's ready to try eating...

The teeth are too small to capture on film just yet- they look like tiny pieces of translucent rice- so here are some current pics of the whole gang.

And Viv is talking up a storm. I just unzipped her Barbie purse for her and she said, "Thank-you-mommy." AWWWWW!!!

Check out the drool stream!

Such is Life (especially during the holiday season)

Do you know how many things I had on my "to do" list today? About 20. Guess how many I got done? None! Well, I almost finished putting the groceries away. I drove by them with the stroller about 100 times before I was able to stop and throw the bag of yogurt into the fridge. But not before the crying started up again. (It was Harvey crying, not me...this time.) The kids seem to have worked out some kind of system where one signals the other just before nodding off that it's their turn to wake up and take over "keeping Mommy busy" duty.

So the pumpkin bread is unbaked, the laundry unfolded, the presents unwrapped, the cat is hungry...but all is well in babyland. How can I complain when I have these silly little faces answer to?

 

Toys!

Harvey played with a stuffed dog- his first toy! He was holding it and shaking it and looking rather proud of himself. We continue to indulge Viv in her Toy Story obsession. In fact, she's watching a Toy Story 3 trailer on the computer as I write this. She got a Buzz for an early Christmas present. She calls it her "doll."As long as Harvey doesn't reach for Buzz or Woody nobody will get hurt.

Hahaha!

3 months old!

The fact that I'm taking the time to update the blog while kids are sleeping is a testament to my dedication to keeping it up to date! I'm looking forward to looking back and remembering this crazy time. I convince myself many times a day that this is a time to savor- and it truly is! But I'm usually thinking it during the most chaotic of moments. Amazing how much more noise 4 people make than 3! It is a wonderful time. I am so grateful that everybody is healthy and growing. I do cherish the quiet late night hours that John and I frequently spend watching ER or reading. It seems like a tiny miracle when they sleep. So now I'm off the listen to the quiet.

The newest member of our family, Cookie Monster! Unfortunately, it's impossible to explain "waiting for Christmas" to a 2 year old in the middle of Borders...

No words necessary for this pic.

Grandma and Grandpa! Why the silly face, Grandpa?