Outta Here

About three or four weeks ago Kilian was frustrated when I made him go to his room after he displayed some disrespectful behavior. He thought he should be able to stay in the room with me and plead his case, but I didn't really want to hear it. So, while in his room he came up with a check mark system.

When Brad and I reached a combined total of 50 check marks (for "not being good grown-ups"), Kilian was going to leave us. So over the course of weeks we've accumulated several check marks, sometimes just one or two, but I once "earned" 25 in just one incident. The paper with the checks is usually taped to his door.

Today I "earned" check marks 49 and 50 and he said he was leaving after supper and after we walked the dog. I just asked him lots of questions, like "How are we going to let you know if you have a new brother or a new sister?", and "Aren't you going to be sad that you'll miss the grilled salmon your G-Pa is fixing tomorrow night?".

He went from leaving, to going away for just three days, to deciding that it really wasn't fair for him to give me 25 check marks on that one day. He has decided to remove 20 from our total. WHEW! Lucky us!!

The part I love is that while Kilian was debating what to do, opportunist Lucy looks at me and says, "Mom, I think you are the best parent in the whole world."

Soccer, Strawberries and Saturated Fat

While waiting for baby, we've been staying busy. Camille continues to change dresses about 4 times a day. Sometimes she adds interesting accessories such as her brother's t-ball cap and soccer cleats.

Kilian is enjoying this soccer season. He tried it when he was 4 and did not care for it, so we took a long break. He is much more into it now. No more picking up trash and playing with the ants in the middle of the games. I sure wish I had a camera with decent zoom...*hint to Brad*.


A funny, but telling, picture that Brad got. Here are me and my belly acting as a jungle gym for the girls at a game.

And finally - Miss Lucy with some strawberry glasses at the dentist. She did great during her checkup!

An interesting note about Lucy...one afternoon she wanted cereal and milk, but we were out of milk (bad mom). I said she could try it with half and half and poured a little bit. She LOVED it and asks for it all the time now. I usually pour a combination of milk and half and half in her bowl now. I think she is still under the 10th percentile in weight, (50th in height) and we're not at all worried about his new habit.

The Expiration Date

For some reason I look forward to this weird little milestone with each new baby. I'm so pleased to announce that our milk will not expire until after this baby's due date!! Not that this gallon will even come close to lasting that long...and not that our babies ever come as early as their due date.

Stupid Rule

"Stupid" is one of the words we are not allowed to say in our house. Camille recently learned this word, and very soon after she learned how I feel about it.

So, this is what I sometimes hear while riding in the car with her:

Mom, is stupid is a bad word? We cannot say stupid. We can get in trouble if we say stupid. Stupid can hurt people's feelings. Stupid is not nice. I don't want to say stupid. We can't say stupid. Stupid is not a good word.

Repeat about 3x.

She seems to understand, yet manages to work that word into conversation about 30 times between our house and the school when it is time to pick up Kilian and Lucy.

Oh happy day!

I have been researching and studying and comparing and shopping for a baby sling. I had decided on the Hotsling brand. The pricing looks something like this

Local baby boutique: $59.00

Hotsling website: $48.00 (plus shipping)

Ebay: $45.00 (free shipping)

Target.com: $39.99 (plus shipping)

I cannot begin explain how happy I was to find my size sling in the above neutral pattern on a clearance shelf in Target for $9.99 this morning! I guess someone ordered it through Target.com, then returned it to the store. It is in perfect condition.

Now is the part where I annoy Brad by asking how I should spend the $30.00 or so that I "saved" by finding this.

It is also the part where I annoy myself by noticing how tiny that model is carrying an infant in the picture above.

An embarrassing solution

Camille and I were drinking chocolate milk together this morning and I somehow let some drip down my face and on my shirt. Perhaps I should start using a straw cup like her. She watched me dab the drops with a paper towel and said: "Maybe if we can find a bigger bib, it can be for you!".

Presidential

Kilian's class put on a play called "First Grade Goes West" last week. They did a great job. Kilian was Thomas Jefferson, and a very good one, might I add.


I'm posting a video (1 min 18 sec) for family or anyone else that could use a refresher on the Louisiana Purchase!

Kilian is in the center, with white hair, a vest, and his arms behind his back.