New Shoes

Bless Nana's heart! She bought Olivia a brand new pair of shoes last night. And guess what they had on them? Dora! Olivia LOVED them - of course we knew she would! It took all I had to hold her down to take them off last night. She wanted to sleep in them. How funny is that? The first thing she said when she woke up this morning was that she wanted to wear her new Dora shoes. And I let her. No point in trying to keep them clean for long, as hard as Olivia Grace plays at daycare, they'll be filthy by Friday. Maybe even sooner than that if she fancies a mud puddle.

Nana also bought Cooper a little Curious George monkey. It's so cute and Cooper loves it. He'll smile and coo at it and try to devour the stuffed animal in his mouth. He's so fun to watch. I still think he likes Olivia's Boots doll (Dora's pet monkey no doubt!) better, but Olivia refuses to share with him. I've tried to sneak Boots to Coop a few times and Olivia all but threw a tantrum when I did. And I dare not buy him one too - she'd stake claim on that monkey in a heartbeat! Cooper is growing so fast - he's discovered his feet and it's so fun to watch him try to put his toes in his mouth. He has the hardest time with those fat, chunky legs of his! I can't believe he'll be six months old in a week. Wow!

So Al and I put the deposit down for the Play Zone to have Olivia's birthday party. Last year everyone that I invited plus some showed up at our house. I have never had that many screaming kids in my house at one time! :) The kids had a ball, but it was so cramped in my house that you could hardly move. So, we vowed that we would never, ever, ever do that again. The Play Zone will be super fun though, it's an indoor playground and Olivia is at the perfect age to really play there. It doesn't seem like it's been almost three years since I had Boo Boo. My hips (if they could talk) would probably say they can believe it!

Saving Cooper Part 2

Poor little Cooper better hurry up and grow up or he's never going to make it! Last night I had Cooper on the floor under his play gym. He was having a ball! And as usual, Olivia was harassing my poor little man to death! When she wasn't running around him full force, making me think she would fall on him at any given moment, she was sitting beside him playing with his feet and kissing him on the head.

Which is exactly what I thought she was doing last night! Olivia loves cereal - sans milk that is. So, for a snack before bed, I gave her a small cup of dry cheerios. She took her position in front of Coop talking away to him. Her conversations are usually like this:
Olivia: Hey Cooper
Cooper: Coo Coo
Olivia: What u doing Cooper?
Cooper: Coo Coo
Olivia: You a pretty baby Cooper

So I guess I let my guard down since Olivia has never tried to feed her brother before. After a few minutes on the floor, I hear, "Here Cooper, eat some cereal" and it clicks in my head - OH MY GOSH SHE'S FEEDING COOPER! I snatch him up off the floor and sure enough, he's got cereal in his mouth! I almost freaked out - but Al was there and he calmly told me to flip Coop over and get the pieces out of his mouth that way. I got all the pieces out (or at least I thought) and laid him back down. He starts choking on a piece and threw up everywhere. Thankfully he was fine and started laughing at Olivia after that. Little Stinker!

I know Olivia wasn't being mean, she was only sharing with her little brother. They love each other so much and I know Livvie just doesn't understand that Cooper can't do all they things she can right now. But I tell you what, for the first time I felt like a horrible mother!

Princess Olivia

Olivia is a huge fan of Dora the Explorer. She has 500 million little Dora dolls, several "pack packs", a Dora costume (complete with wig), and the Dora talking playhouse. It's like someone literally threw up Dora in her room. Olivia's favorite Dora doll is her Princess Dora - she'll tell you that she wants hair like Dora's that goes over her ears. It's very cute. However, Olivia didn't have any Dora PJs and she has desperately wanted some. She had one Dora nightgown that was so tight on her that I was afraid that if she took a deep breath, it would tear. You can insert a nice mental image of Olivia ripping her nightgown off like Hulk Hogan if you like - that's what I always do!

Anyways, Nana had bought Olivia some Dora PJs as part of her birthday presents. Now, Olivia's birthday isn't until April 4th, so Nana thought she had cleverly hid the garments from Ms. Diva. Oh, how wrong she was! Of course, Olivia wouldn't be my child if she weren't nosy. She gets it honest from her Mama! From my understanding Olivia went plundering through the house and found the pjs. So, last night Olivia slept in her new purple Princess Dora nightgown! It was very cute, it doesn't look like a nightgown at all really and Olivia fell in love with it.

All was well until this morning - I had to physically hold her down on the bed and pull it off of her. She screamed the whole time "No Mommy, No!!!" I felt bad, but she couldn't wear it to daycare. So, after wrestling her and finally getting her clothes on, she cried and made me feel guilty all the way to the nursery. Another trait Olivia shares with her Mommy - she knows how to work a guilt trip!

She knows my name

Olivia has asked me several times what my name is. I always tell her the same thing - that my name is Mommy. Al and I try really hard to call each other Mommy and Daddy in front of the babies. Well, I guess Olivia has overheard someone call me Mandy because lately when she feels like I'm not showing her enough attention, she yells "Mandy! Mandy!"

She did this last night when we stopped and got gas. I was reading a magazine and she was chatting away. I was honestly half paying attention to her because the kid talks NON STOP anyways! So all of a sudden I hear "Mandy, do you hear me?" I turned around and said "what did you say?" and of course she repeated "Mandy, do you hear me?" Trying to explain to Olivia that I'm Mommy to her and Cooper and Mandy to Daddy and everyone else is like trying to explain algebra to a 1st grader. It just wasn't happening! I finally just gave up and acted like it didn't bother me (although the constant, Mandy Mandy Mandy Mandy Mandy I heard the rest of the way home was aggravating) and she finally forgot all about it. At least for now. I know Olivia and I know that when I least expect it, she's going to bust out with "Mandy! Do you hear me?"

Cooper is feeling lots better! He's finally my sweet little man again. He's learned that he can make noise so that's all he does all day! He just babbles away - it's too cute. And he's found his feet, but he can't quiet hold them yet; his fat little legs just won't cooperate right now. He's such a fun baby. Should I be worried he'll be worse than Olivia Grace? Is that even possible?

Spanking BJ

I've mentioned Olivia's baby doll she has affectionately named Baby Jesus. Well, last night she was playing with Baby Jesus and Dora in her room. All of a sudden she comes running up to me carrying BJ in her arms. "Mommy! (insert loud short scream) Baby Jesus was ugly to me!" "He was?" I said. "Yes, give him a spanking and put him in time out!" And she was serious - she handed, or more like threw, the dirty little doll in my hands and just stared at me, waiting on my next move. Now, don't get me wrong, this is really cute, but there's just something *WRONG* with punishing (even though it's pretend) a doll named Baby Jesus. I just couldn't do it. All I could think about was God looking down on me and saying "YOU DID WHAT!?" "It's ok Livvie, he didn't mean to do it" is all I could come up with! She apparently was satisfied with that answer because she grabbed Baby Jesus out of my hands and rushed back in her room to play. We repeated this cycle for about 20 minutes until she finally had enough of BJ and Dora. I guess they don't get along and it was frustrating Olivia! :)

I want, I want, I want

For all you parents out there, the age that a child tells you they *want* everything they see is three years old! Olivia is in the phase right now....among other phases too. It really doesn't matter what she sees, she just knows she wants it. If we're at the grocery store, she wants the vegetable oil or she'll die; if we're at the Sonic, she wants two corn dogs, a hot dog, and a grilled cheese sandwich and every flavor of milk shake they make. At first I thought it was cute, but lately, it's been driving me nuts! I could give you a list of all the things she's told me she wanted lately, but this blog would go on forever.

So, to explain the picture - Olivia told her Nana she wanted a set of drums for Christmas. Al and I were totally against the idea unless Nana kept them at her house. Well, guess what Olivia got for Christmas? Yeap, the drum set. And trust me, she loves to play it. Of course, it didn't stay at Nana's because Livvie threw a fit and just *had* to have it at home. I'm trying really hard to stay positive and try to picture her as some famous drummer in an all girl rock and roll band. And in my mind, I think of how I'll look back at this time and laugh. Cooper, on the other hand, hates the drums and screams bloody murder the second he hears them. I can't blame him though, she hits the darn things so hard I'm surprised they aren't broke yet. And if she was just old enough to actually have some rhythm, it wouldn't be so bad! All I know is her drum set is ranking on up on the list of things I hate!

In the Army

A few months ago Al and I got Olivia a new puppy - a mix between a Shitzu (very appropriate name by the way) and a Yorkie. He was cute - black and white, and Olivia named him Rocky Balboa. Ok, so maybe her Daddy named him Rocky Balboa, but whatever! Truth is, Olivia loved this dog, but with both Al and I working in Florence, and having to leave the dog in the house all day, house breaking this dog just wasn't happening. So, we made a choice.....we had to get rid of Rocky. Thanks to Anna, we found someone to take Rocky off our hands. What in the world would I tell Livvie though?

The lie that I am forever bound to is this - Rocky joined the army to learn how to herd sheep. She bought it - and so far, hasn't really mentioned him since. She has told a few people where Rocky has gone, so I guess she's ok with it. Although she did act like he was still here the day after he left which I thought I was kind of strange, but she's past that now. She dropped crayons on the floor and screamed, "No Rocky! Don't get them!" and jumped down off the couch like she was protecting them. Like I said, she's past that now, but it did sort of give me the hibbe jibbes (I have no idea how to spell this). I'm really surprised at how well she is taking Rocky being gone. I guess she didn't love the dog as much as I thought she did!

I should have probably told her that we gave Rocky away because of her absolute refusal to use the potty. If I EVER get Olivia potty trained, I'm going to throw a huge party. I feel more stressed out about potty training then anything else I've been through. She's making this transition so difficult and slow. I only hope that when it comes time to potty train Cooper, he's much more willing to learn! Speaking of Cooper, he seems to be feeling better, but he's not at 100%. He's smiling and cooing more which is the Cooper I know. I really hope this isn't some forshadowing of how it's going to be with all his teeth coming through. I just don't think I could handle it!

Baby Powder is the Devil

I hate the stuff - I've never really used it with either of the babies, but I had some just in case. I really should have went with my gut feeling on baby powder. It really is the devil. Olivia has always had a fascination with the stuff - for whatever reason I don't know!

So, I'm awaken (awoken, woken up, whatever the right word is here) bright and early by Olivia around 6:30am (on a Saturday!!!!) and she wants to play. Groggy, I tell her to go play in her room and she dashed off and did just that. She NEVER listens to me, but this morning, she did. I was happy, although now that I look back on it, I should have been suspicious. So, about 15 minutes later, Cooper starts fretting, letting me and Al know it's time to fill his tummy. As Al walks by Olivia's room I hear "My lord Olivia, what have you done?" Can I tell you that I was scared at this point? Al comes back in the bedroom and tells me to go look at what Olivia did. Now I'm REALLY scared. I go in her room and everything - I mean everything - is covered in white powder. Yeap, Olivia had found my bottle of baby powder and COVERED everything in her room in it. *She* was covered in it. Poor Blue was now blue and white, the Wiggles piano didn't stand a chance - they were smothered in the stuff. "Just let it dry Mommy, just let it dry" she says. She probably really deserved a spanking, but I just couldn't muster up the strength so early in the morning. So, an hour later, I think I had pretty much all the baby powder cleaned up - although she will forever have toys that have baby powder stuck in holes and creases. And her Dora playhouse has a new roof of stubborn baby powder that won't come off. It gives it a nice look I think. I will never ever buy another bottle of baby powder again. And I'm not sure, but I almost positive I'm going to be sick from inhaling so much of the stuff.

Baby powder is the devil, simple as that!

Chucky Cheese and Broken Hearts

Where does this kid come up with all this stuff? I promise you, I can *never* be prepared for anything that comes out of Olivia Grace's mouth!

On the way home yesterday, Olivia tells me she wants to go to Chucky Cheese. Ok.....I've never mentioned the place to her so I guess she's heard other rugrats at daycare talking about it. Her exact words were "Mommy! I want to go to Chucky Cheese and eat pizza in the bathtub on my plate!". Hmmm....I wasn't aware they had bathtubs at Chucky Cheese, but who am I to burst her little bubble? So, we made a deal.....if she starts using the potty, we'll go to Chucky Cheese. I'm sure this tactic will work for a few days, but like all the other tactics I've tried (remember the Dora "pack pack"?), it'll fail too. It's destined to fail - I just know it. And have you seen the lines at Chucky Cheese? My gosh, they were all the way to the street the last time I went by there.....so she's definitely got to do something really good to go! Maybe I can take her to Pizza Hut and pass it off as Chucky Cheese? Ha!

Also during the ride, Olivia tells me that her Poppy Alton has broken her heart. Poor thing! I asked her what he did to her and she said "nuffin, but he broke my heart!" I think this is my mom's fault - if Olivia is mean, she'll say that she's breaking her Nana's heart. Too funny though - Olivia is such the drama queen already that she even said it in the most pitiful voice ever. Of course, Poppy Alton didn't do a thing to her, she just doesn't forget anything. I know I'll have my hands full with this one!

My poor little Coop is still under the weather. Now this breaks my heart! I feel so bad for my little guy, but it seems that his fever has finally broke. I just hope he gets to feeling better real soon because he's not my sweet little happy man right now. Between him being sick, and Olivia refusing to use the potty, I'm totally stressing! Have I mentioned how much I hate potty training?

My Poor Little Man....

Cooper had to go to the doctor yesterday. :( Poor thing was running a fever and just seemed absolutely MISERABLE! Thankfully, he just has a really bad cold. The doctor (if that's what you want to call her) tested him for RSV but it came back negative. Not once did it cross her mind to maybe check his temperature since I had "mentioned" he was running fever. UGH! I miss my regular doctor - I am so glad Cooper sees him at his next appointment. I guess even he deserves days off, I just don't like it when they fall on days my kids need to see him.

So after spending two hours and fifty dollars at the doctor's office, Cooper and I went home. It was nice to have some time with just him. I don't think he and I have had any time like that since I came back to work. He rolled around the floor, cooed and "talked" to me, then ate a big lunch of formula and apple sauce. He ate the *whole* jar of baby food. He's a growing boy! He took a nap while I watched Baby Story on TLC. You know, they probably couldn't have aired any of my labor and delivery with Coop - all you would have heard was BLEEP this! and BLEEP you! and BLEEP that! I'll have to tell you the story of Cooper's birth later, but just know it wasn't as pleasant as my first experience!

Olivia can be so sweet to her little brother! After picking her up from Nana's, we went and got a pizza for dinner. On the way to Pizza Hut, Olivia was singing to him, "Cooper, Cooper, where'd you get you smile" - it was so cute! And he would just coo right back at her. She hears me singing that song to him all the time but that was the first time she'd sang it to him. Of course, two seconds later, I had to scold her for hitting her little brother. Yes, I suppose she can only be sweet for seconds at the time! Ha! By the time we got home, she was crying about something (there's NO telling) and Cooper was crying from Olivia hitting him and making so much noise. I could have probably pulled all my hair out if weren't for the pizza.