Barf-o-rama 2009

Cooper brought home a friend from Kindergarten last week. The stomach bug. It made its way through our family for the last week.

You know they're sick when they fall asleep in the puke bucket.

The Rowyn Caboose

I left Rowyn with Riley while I went in to brush my teeth the other morning and I came out to find she and Camdyn had built a 'train' out of the kitchen chairs and used Rowyn as the caboose.

She was a happy little caboose.

Everything is good with Gerber Graduate Puffs. =)

Swinging

St. Patrick's Day was such a beautiful day. The kids and I all went outside on the swingset, little Rowyn thoroughly enjoyed herself.

Crazy Camdyn!

Lumpy meets Lundell

Camdyn had her first dentist appointment yesterday. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to being a little anxious about the whole thing. When we were called back, Camdyn jumped up in the chair like a pro. She cooperated and was absolutely perfect through the cleaning, although, she did tell the dental hygienist that she hated the orange flavored fluoride she was given.

I was fairly confident going in to the appointment that she had at least one cavity. Unfortunately, she seems to have inherited teeth from my side of the family. We brush her teeth twice daily, but she still has 3 cavities. They decided to try and get some xrays and things quickly headed downhill. The hygienist tried over and over to get the film setup, but Camdyn was done with the dentist. Another girl was called in to assist...Ann. She made the mistake of putting her fingers in Lumpy's mouth to try and hold the film in place. Lumpy bit her. Poor Ann. The xrays never turned out, Camdyn had ripped her bib off, was spinning in the doctor's chair, and had flung her sunglasses they had given her half way across the room into the sink.

In comes Dr. Lundell, who my siblings and I have seen since we were kids. By now, Camdyn was refusing to open her mouth, bribery was no longer working. He did manage to get a quick peek at two of the cavities and told us to schedule two separate appointments for the fillings. He also recommended Nitrous Oxide. Really? Could you really fill them any other way? ;)

She got her new toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, a pencil, and a sticker. I got a stress headache.

Caitlin, anyone you know ever bite the dentist? :P

The Leprechaun Trap

First of all, I can take no credit for neither the inspiration nor construction of this fabulous idea. My mom found the idea in Family Fun magazine and put her own spin on it. She and the kids made the trap while I was at work, I came home to find it all set up on the kitchen table. Riley and Camdyn worked on it with her, Cooper was too busy playing outside (typical boy, right?!). Apparently, there was only one short meltdown from you know who, but Mom promises me she was able to easily redirect her. One never knows with Lump.
The ladder was made from twigs and twine, the top of the hat is the trap part and only affixed with a piece of scotch tape...so the Leprechaun climbs up the ladder, falls in, and gets stuck.

It looks like the trap worked...sort of. The little Leprechaun fell in, dropped his gold coins, but was himself able to find his way back out. The kids were SO excited when they woke up in the morning to find their trap had worked. Seriously, I was in the other room and could hear them screaming and squealing!

Thank you, Mom, you're the best. Camdyn says you're the bestest Grammy ever. She went on to say she is going to be nice today when you babysit.
We can hope, right?!

Steps

If anyone can tell me how to right this video, let me know. lol

Camdyn's 3 Year

Camdyn had her 3 year exam on Tuesday. They tested her vision by playing a game of sorts. She passed it without issue, and afterwards, the nurse asked if she wanted to play another game.
Camdyn told her no.
By the look on her face, I'm pretty sure that's not the response she was expecting.
After some coercing, she tested Camdyn's speech with some flash card pictures.
Camdyn weighs 40 lbs and is 41.25". She the average height of most 4 1/2 year olds. I was worried that was going to put her on track to be 6'4 by the time she's an adult, but turns out to be 5'9 instead. That could explain why my 3-year-old wears size 5t...well, the height and the little belly she has (is that not PC?) Okay, she's just SOLID. ;)

The dr told us that Camdyn has Excema and that we need to continue lubing her up morning and night with the big ole tub of Eucerin we have. She also prescribed her some hydrocortisone cream, as well. When she asked if I had any concerns, I addressed some of the behaviors we've seen, especially hitting Rowyn. Her words of advise?
Perhaps she's acting out, because her skin is so itchy.
What? Is she for real? She hit Rowyn, because her elbow was itchy? She purposely knocked Rowyn down, because she has a dry spot on her calf?

More firsts...

Rowyn tried Cheerios for the first time yesterday.

And she LOVED them!

It's so frustrating watching her trying to get them into her mouth. It takes all my willpower not to just pick it up and feed it to her. If it took me so long to eat, I'd be a heck of a lot skinnier!

Washing them down with some good old H2O.

And the really big news for the day?

Rowyn took her first STEPS!

She walked from the couch to Mommy and then from Mommy to Grammy. She did it several times and then when the kids got home from school, she showed off her new trick to her big sister, Riley, by walking to her. My little 9-month-old is just trying to grow up way too quickly.

Watching her today, literally brought tears to my eyes.

First

Rowyn went outside for the first time this year. She loved it, I loved it, Camdyn loved it. I think winter should only last during December. The rest of the time it should be sunny and warm. I'm going to drop an email to Mother Nature, let her know what's up.

Lumpy was busy digging a grave? Okay, not sure what was going on there, but I do know it had something to do with a bug. I can't wait for the colors of spring. Green grass, blue skies, and some pretty daffodils blooming all over.

Rowyn Camille

Rowyn had her 9-month check up yesterday. She is long and lean, my smallest baby of them all. She's 17 lbs, 11 oz and 29". Her ped told us to start giving her table food. What, table food? This is all just moving too fast for me. ;) So last night, we gave her french cut green beans and some plain spaghetti noodles cut up into micro pieces. I have no idea how she got any into her mouth...but I do know she managed to jam a green bean piece up her nose. That was lovely. She wasn't a huge fan, so we followed up with some good old oatmeal with bananas. Don't tell anyone, but I LOVE that stuff. I've been known to buy a box for myself, but I prefer it with skim milk, not the boob juice. ;)

Today she and Camdyn shared some Annie's spaghetti o's. You would have thought I was trying to poison her, what a drama queen. A jar of organic spinach and brown rice went over much better.

In a little less than a month, my brother, Brendan, is getting married. He and Christina met, as he says, the old fashioned way...on Myspace. lol The kids are all getting excited about going to St. Louis for the big day, and today Camdyn and I talked about it.

Camdyn, who is getting married?

Me!

Who are you marrying?

A-Tina! (Camdyn's version of Christina)

We may have to watch that girl pretty close at the wedding, she may just hitch a ride on Christina's train on the way up the aisle.

I cracked open the windows today, it was so gorgeous out, I couldn't not. It wasn't long after that, that Camdyn came running up to me.

Smell that, Mom?

Smell what, honey?

It's summertime now?!

Camdyn watching a pup named Scooby Doo this morning. Apparently, the monster was a scary one today...look at the suspense! She built herself a comfy little spot on the floor, which she eventually used as a boat and sailed into the kitchen for breakfast.

Rock on Rowyn

Rowyn is 9-months-old today. I can't believe it, seriously. It makes me sad. Since she is our last baby, she's supposed to take her time growing up. Apparently, she didn't get that memo.

I surprised her while she was playing with Riley's Barbie Guitar.

No smile?

Maybe a little cheesy one.

Now, back to rockin' out.

That's her new trick...workin' the pointer finger. She especially loves to poke your eyes out with it. So much fun.

Lily Luna

Rowyn may be trying out for the role of Lily Luna in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

*For those of you who haven't read all 7 of the Harry P. books (shame on you!), Lily Luna is Harry and Ginny's daughter.

Static Sunday

The kids jumped in the bounce house for awhile today. They were quite amused by the physics of static electricity on their hair.

Lumpy attempts to focus on her crazy hair...probably won't be framing this one for the wall. ;)

Rowyn was a bit freaked by the whole bounce house. With all the noise, she was probably in sensory overload. She just stole Hutch's favorite ducky from him...poor dog is so blind, he didn't even see her coming.

Camdynism

By now, you know my 3-year-old is anything, but boring.

Since the Camdyn Alert has been on elevated status, my parents mentioned taking her to their house some days, to not only give her some one-on-one time, but to also keep me from losing my ever loving mind.

My mom mentioned it to her yesterday.

Camdyn, do you want to come to our house some day while Riley and Cooper are in school?

I can't. I have lots of busy, like picking up toys. Maybe in summer.

For the better part of 1/2 a hour, Camdyn ran circles around the kitchen island, while singing (okay, screaming).

When Mommy could no longer take the noise, I told her that was enough, it was time to settle down.

Her reply?

I can't, my feet are moving too fast! Help, Mommy!

Rowyn and the Roomba

...and from across the room, she spots him.

It doesn't take her long to catch him.

You can just see the determination in her eyes, as she plots her next move.

Poor Roomba never saw it coming...

As she mercilessly rips out his innards.

(and no I didn't let her eat any dirt collected in there...God knows she finds enough crap off the floors :P )

A Little People Day

This is what Camdyn and I did today, played Fisher Price Little People all morning. Even Rowyn partook in the fun, by drooling all over the Walmart man. Camdyn got a little out of control with the dinosaur, he ended up smashing the whole town into oblivion. It happens, you know.

After uploading the pictures off my camera, I found this one of Lumptastic all decked out for snow fun. It was dated 2/21, and since I was working that day and her Daddy was in Rochester, MN, it must have been taken by Aunt Megs. Am I right? Oh, and Lori O...if you're reading, was this snowsuit Natalie's? I got it from Abby K when she used to work at the hell hole with us. :P

New Kicks

Rowyn's new kicks arrived yesterday from the Umi Shoes contest we won the other day. She got the Puggle in Rose/Pink. They're all leather, very soft, and super easy to get on. We're very happy...and guess what, my mom won a pair today! Hope you signed up for your chance to win!

Toilets and Chicken Pox

I've been giving some serious thought to putting a potty chair out on the deck. My daughter managed to clog the toilet twice in two days...and don't forget the plastic cup fiasco. Tuesday she announced that Cooper had put Bath and Body Works lotion down the toilet. Yes, bottle and all. Never mind the fact that Cooper was in school during the time of the crime. Clyde had to remove the toilet once again, I'm thinking of buying stock in those wax rings we have to keep buying. Yesterday was the roll of toilet paper, which thankfully, I was able to plunge. I tried to explain to her that unless her butt is ginormous, there is no need for that much toilet paper.

Cooper came home from school with a letter from the bus driver, he's been given assigned seating for 4 weeks for "slapping hands and changing seats". Riley was all too happy to report this to me the second she walked through the door.

Rowyn is cutting the mate to the tooth that came through last week. I don't know if that's what is waking her up several times a night or what, but Mommy is tired!

Riley lost tooth number 3 yesterday and when I got home from work last night, she had to give me the play-by-play on how she lost it. Tooth Fairy came and left some green...all is good in a 7-year-old's life.

Camdyn and I had quite the conversation prior to my leaving for work. She took her sock off and noticed the indentations it had made on her foot:

Look, Mommy!

Yes, honey, it's marks from your sock.

No it isn't, it's Chicken Pox!