So, he got really excited when he came across this pint sized Foo Dog.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
lions
Rafa has really taken a liking to lions. It's one of the few preferences (other than their obsessions with pink and blue) that I've noticed in SylRafa.
So, he got really excited when he came across this pint sized Foo Dog.
So, he got really excited when he came across this pint sized Foo Dog.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
lyrics
R: Ma-ry had a little lamb, a little lamb, a little lamb. Ma-ry had a little lamb, it's fleece was white as snow.
S: Je-sus was a little lamb, a little lamb, a little lamb. Je-sus was a little lamb, his fleece was white as snow.
A little mixup, but you, it'll preach!
S: Je-sus was a little lamb, a little lamb, a little lamb. Je-sus was a little lamb, his fleece was white as snow.
A little mixup, but you, it'll preach!
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
exploring
The other day, Rafa was practicing handstands like any 2.5 year old who can't really do handstands. He walked his little feet up the wall, but of course his little arms couldn't hold his body up, so his head came crashing to the floor. I know this because I was standing right there. Now, before you think I'm a terrible mom, I did go get him an ice pack with cars on it for his head.
Then, yesterday, while putting away the frozen peas (which SylRafa currently enjoy, much to my delight), I brought my elbow down on the ice chute of the freezer door. Much silent pain dancing ensued as my children looked on with sweet concern. Side note: they had both been whining and crying so I did learn a new technique to get them to quit their crying.
They learned that when we bump ourselves and it hurts, ice can feel good. I had left the ice pack out for them to touch and look at and returned to whatever it was I was doing. The next time I turned around, I saw my sweet boy sitting cross legged on the floor. He had the ice pack in front of him on the floor. Over and over again, he would slap his open palmed hand onto the floor and then placing it on the ice pack. It seemed like he couldn't quite get himself to hit the floor hard enough to be satisfied that the ice did anything and had to keep trying. But that's probably a good thing.
Then, yesterday, while putting away the frozen peas (which SylRafa currently enjoy, much to my delight), I brought my elbow down on the ice chute of the freezer door. Much silent pain dancing ensued as my children looked on with sweet concern. Side note: they had both been whining and crying so I did learn a new technique to get them to quit their crying.
They learned that when we bump ourselves and it hurts, ice can feel good. I had left the ice pack out for them to touch and look at and returned to whatever it was I was doing. The next time I turned around, I saw my sweet boy sitting cross legged on the floor. He had the ice pack in front of him on the floor. Over and over again, he would slap his open palmed hand onto the floor and then placing it on the ice pack. It seemed like he couldn't quite get himself to hit the floor hard enough to be satisfied that the ice did anything and had to keep trying. But that's probably a good thing.
Monday, May 19, 2014
sharing the tub
Oscar had his first sibling bath! Rafa fights baths and we were short on time today, so we let him skip and put Oscar in in his place. Sylvia was happy for Oscar to join her and he loves bathing and with more mobility than the baby tub. So, it was a win-win-win as far as the kiddos were concerned.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
FOMO
Fear Of Missing Out. It's for reals, people. And two of my kids got it. I am just about at the end of my going to sleep rope.
Except for Sylvia's colic, I think this is the worst she's ever been. She just does not want to sleep--ever. And she'll do everything to stave it off. Singing, talking, screaming, crying. And, since her little body is over tired, they're all adrenaline-filled, passionate, expressions so loud that I sometimes wonder if the neighbors are going to call the cops. We just built a porch on our house and I kinda think that maybe our unconsciousness was telling us that we would need to put an exterior wall between the wailing and our sensitive ears.
For the longest time, we were ignoring it all. Supposedly, if she never has the expectation that someone will come, she'll quit doing it. Yeah, except that one of her stall tactics is to ask to go to the potty. [We still have her sleeping in diapers because we still have them in cribs--our attempt to protect any semblance of peaceful slumber.] So, it seems inevitable that each time we ignore her pleas, which always includes a request to go to the potty, we end up changing the sheets in her bed. So, we often give in. And, I fear the desperation is fed.
Interestingly, she was better with the grandparents when we went out of town and also most nights that D has them by himself. So, it must be me. I think the only solution is for D to do bedtime every night...
Oh, and then there's Oscar. Yeah, this kid won't eat or sleep, ignoring all his basic needs, if there are people to flirt with, toys to play with, or the world to watch turn. He pretty much only falls asleep in his crib, the only exception being the car if he's REALLY tired. Which he was today.
Oscar refused his second nap of the day, so he was WIPED OUT by our dinnertime. For the first time ever, I had him in one car and SylRafa were in the other with Papi. He had JUST fallen asleep when we arrived at the restaurant for dinner. I noticed the sun was in his face and moved the sun shade on his car seat and the plastic rubbing against plastic made his huge eyes pop open. This is also the major downside of a hybrid. Shortly after we stopped, the car went quickly from idle to off. So, there was no sitting while the motor ran for a few minutes to make sure O entered into deep sleep before extricating him from the car. So much for my all-star parking place. I told D I was going to make a few laps until O really fell asleep so that we wouldn't bring an incredibly overtired baby and two toddlers into a restaurant for dinner. It worked. This time.
At least Sylvia would often just cry for a few minutes as a baby (or at least that's all I remember) and wear herself out and go to sleep. Oscar's refusal this afternoon was more like 45 minutes of fighting sleep before we gave in and rescued him from his crib. No lie, I fear what he'll be like when he gets to Sylvia's age. Somehow, I think having been through it once before isn't really going to prepare us for what's ahead. The third one's the charm, right?
Except for Sylvia's colic, I think this is the worst she's ever been. She just does not want to sleep--ever. And she'll do everything to stave it off. Singing, talking, screaming, crying. And, since her little body is over tired, they're all adrenaline-filled, passionate, expressions so loud that I sometimes wonder if the neighbors are going to call the cops. We just built a porch on our house and I kinda think that maybe our unconsciousness was telling us that we would need to put an exterior wall between the wailing and our sensitive ears.
For the longest time, we were ignoring it all. Supposedly, if she never has the expectation that someone will come, she'll quit doing it. Yeah, except that one of her stall tactics is to ask to go to the potty. [We still have her sleeping in diapers because we still have them in cribs--our attempt to protect any semblance of peaceful slumber.] So, it seems inevitable that each time we ignore her pleas, which always includes a request to go to the potty, we end up changing the sheets in her bed. So, we often give in. And, I fear the desperation is fed.
Interestingly, she was better with the grandparents when we went out of town and also most nights that D has them by himself. So, it must be me. I think the only solution is for D to do bedtime every night...
Oh, and then there's Oscar. Yeah, this kid won't eat or sleep, ignoring all his basic needs, if there are people to flirt with, toys to play with, or the world to watch turn. He pretty much only falls asleep in his crib, the only exception being the car if he's REALLY tired. Which he was today.
Oscar refused his second nap of the day, so he was WIPED OUT by our dinnertime. For the first time ever, I had him in one car and SylRafa were in the other with Papi. He had JUST fallen asleep when we arrived at the restaurant for dinner. I noticed the sun was in his face and moved the sun shade on his car seat and the plastic rubbing against plastic made his huge eyes pop open. This is also the major downside of a hybrid. Shortly after we stopped, the car went quickly from idle to off. So, there was no sitting while the motor ran for a few minutes to make sure O entered into deep sleep before extricating him from the car. So much for my all-star parking place. I told D I was going to make a few laps until O really fell asleep so that we wouldn't bring an incredibly overtired baby and two toddlers into a restaurant for dinner. It worked. This time.
At least Sylvia would often just cry for a few minutes as a baby (or at least that's all I remember) and wear herself out and go to sleep. Oscar's refusal this afternoon was more like 45 minutes of fighting sleep before we gave in and rescued him from his crib. No lie, I fear what he'll be like when he gets to Sylvia's age. Somehow, I think having been through it once before isn't really going to prepare us for what's ahead. The third one's the charm, right?
Friday, May 16, 2014
twin love
I am not a matchy-matchy, dress in themes kind of gal. And Rafa would be happy running around in a diaper most of the time. One morning, he decided to make our morning task infinitely easier and rather than protest every single outfit in the closet, he chose his little jumper, but only if Sylvia would wear the matching dress. Even I will admit, they're pretty cute in their matching clothes.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
say please
So, we are fairly dedicated to the enormous task of teaching our children to say, "Please" and "Thank you". So, at least when we're around, we constantly make our children repeat their whiney "I WANT" requests with a nice voice and common courtesies. I'm convinced we will be fighting this fight for at least 20 more years... In any case, we persevere. When Sylvia is in a good mood and not desperately seeking out something Rafa has stolen, she does often use your pretty voice and say please.
The other day, I was helping her put her shoes on. We successfully got one shoe on. Then, she grabbed the other and hid it behind her back away from me and said to me, "Mami, say please."
The other day, I was helping her put her shoes on. We successfully got one shoe on. Then, she grabbed the other and hid it behind her back away from me and said to me, "Mami, say please."
Monday, May 12, 2014
some picky eater
We have a slight obsession for a salsa-dip thing here called Creamy Jalapeño. It's essentially ranch dressing with cilantro and jalapeños. And it's a little spicy.
Tonight I served the kids dinner. And for at least 2 of the items on his plate, our typically picky son stated that he likes them before sitting down.
And then I gave them a few tortilla chips, which I, of course, was dipping in the spicy Creamy J. Seeing what I was doing, Rafa asked for some, too. Which he usually does and then when I get close with the new thing, he changes his mind.
Shockingly, this time there was no changing his mind. Even when his eyes were watering and his face was red, he kept going back for more. It's a small victory that we can now add one more thing to the Rafa-approved list of foods.
Tonight I served the kids dinner. And for at least 2 of the items on his plate, our typically picky son stated that he likes them before sitting down.
And then I gave them a few tortilla chips, which I, of course, was dipping in the spicy Creamy J. Seeing what I was doing, Rafa asked for some, too. Which he usually does and then when I get close with the new thing, he changes his mind.
Shockingly, this time there was no changing his mind. Even when his eyes were watering and his face was red, he kept going back for more. It's a small victory that we can now add one more thing to the Rafa-approved list of foods.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
9 months!
Nine months! Oscar is already nine months. Where did the time go? By this time, the twins had already been to spring training and Europe... Oscar has been to Marshall, Texas... Poor kid.
We had his 9 month appointment and I think he's the most balanced of all the Vassariños. He still takes after Sylvia having a relatively small head while being tall.
Height - 29.5" (90%)
Weight - 20 lb. 6oz. (63%)
Head - 17.76 (52%)
He's had more ear infections than we'd like at this age, but not quite enough to warrant tubes. Other than that, he got a clean bill of health!
Oh, and tooth #6 is coming in. SIX! I guess we should start feeding him table food... He's telling us something...
We had his 9 month appointment and I think he's the most balanced of all the Vassariños. He still takes after Sylvia having a relatively small head while being tall.
Height - 29.5" (90%)
Weight - 20 lb. 6oz. (63%)
Head - 17.76 (52%)
He's had more ear infections than we'd like at this age, but not quite enough to warrant tubes. Other than that, he got a clean bill of health!
Oh, and tooth #6 is coming in. SIX! I guess we should start feeding him table food... He's telling us something...
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Saturday, May 3, 2014
music
We got in the car this morning and Rafa said: I want the music of Jesus.
Yes, sweet boy, you can listen to the music of Jesus.
Apparently Jesus has very discerning taste because most songs were not up to snuff...
Yes, sweet boy, you can listen to the music of Jesus.
Apparently Jesus has very discerning taste because most songs were not up to snuff...
Thursday, May 1, 2014
home!
Just before going in to surgery:
And home again! Watching TV and eating goldfish. A 2.5 year old's version of heaven.
And home again! Watching TV and eating goldfish. A 2.5 year old's version of heaven.
surgery day
Today's the day! Surgery in a couple hours. It's so great that the kids are old enough now that we can tell them what will happen and it helps them understand and be calm about it all. We told Sylvia last night that she would be going to school alone and Rafa that he couldn't eat in the morning, that he would be going to the hospital, that he would get to play with toys with a doctor and nurse and when he got home he would get to watch lots of movies. The movie part pretty much sealed the deal.
So, here we are waiting to go in.
I'll update when we're all in recovery.
So, here we are waiting to go in.
I'll update when we're all in recovery.
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