A Morning at the Nature Museum

On Wednesday we went with the Weltz family to the Charlotte Nature Museum.  

The kids had a great time and I am always amazed at how well they all get along.

The boys really enjoyed playing with the puzzles and books in the story nook.

Lizzie put on a great show in the puppet theater!

Patrick went up and down the slide so many times and you could see how 

proud he was that he was doing it all by himself.

Finn loves playing in the water area (notice he's holding a turtle - fake, thank goodness!)

He did get a little nervous going down the slide, so his sweet friend, Preston, held his hand and helped him down.  

And, Ginny followed - someone's gotta keep an eye on all these boys!!

What a great morning with our friends!

p.s.  Did you notice the fantastic shirts from my friend, Nancy?  They say "My Mom is so going to Blog This!"

Little Things Thursday

Who needs all those outdoor toys when you have DIRT and WATER?!?

Nap Time!

We put the boys down for a nap on Saturday, and were thrilled to find that they actually slept!  When we went to check on them, our hearts melted.  It seems they like to do everything together - even sleep!

Little Things Thursday

Today I'm focusing on things that make "muchkin" and me happy!  Just like last pregnancy, I have been craving turkey subs - lots and lots of turkey subs!  I go to Harris Teeter at least 3 times a week for a foot-long sub.  

And if the sandwich didn't make me happy enough, I learned that with Harris Teeter Sub Points, I get every 7th sub FOR FREE!!  

Now that makes me HAPPY!

On days when my stomach can't handle much, even a sandwich, I eat watermelon.  

A WHOLE WATERMELON!

For my birthday this week, I indulged in my favorite dessert - Key Lime Pie from 131 Main Restaurant.  I have been craving it for weeks but held out for a special occasion.  It was a perfect end to a great birthday!

These are the little things that make me happy!

Happy Birthday to me!

Yesterday was my (insert very young age) Birthday.  It was a great day!  

My guys showered me with flowers, gifts and the promise of a night out with Gill!

After breakfast, the boys and I headed to the Parkers for a playdate.  We had a great time and were pleasantly surprised when the Weltz clan showed up as well!  Even though there were 7 kids playing, it was surprisingly calm.  Once playtime was over we went to Brooklyn Pizza for lunch.   (Nice mother I am, my big head blocked Patrick from the picture!)

The afternoon was quiet, but when a beautiful Edible Arrangement arrived from my parents and sister, it wreaked havoc.  Patrick said "ohhh, flowers!"   I tried to explain to him that it was fruit, but he would not hear of it.  Finn and I enjoyed the pineapple but each time I gave it to Patrick he said "no" to the "yellow-apple".  On my final attempt to offer him the fruit Patrick said 

"Listen Mommy, NO APPLE".  He sure told me!

My birthday ended with a night out with Gill - it was perfect.  We went to Sushi 101 while Paula, our fabulous sitter, was home trying to coax Finnegan to sleep or at least make sure he didn't wake Patrick.   It was great to come home to a quiet house with 2 sleeping toddlers!  What a fabulous birthday!

Oh, what a night!

We did it!  Yesterday we converted the nursery into a Big Boy Room!  A process that we thought would be done by naptime took us until about 4pm.  So, the boys didn't nap and went into their room for the first time when it was bedtime.  They loved it!

Finn checks out Patrick's Bed:

Patrick jumps on his own bed and Finn makes sure we spelled his name right!

Let the wrestling begin!

Bedtime was interesting.  We had baths, stories, milk and then it was time to say goodnight.  Gill and I tucked them into their new beds, turned off the lights and closed the door (with a gate on the other side of it, of course).  By the time we got downstairs we could hear the giggling!  A few minutes after that, we could hear them jumping, running, reading, counting - pretty much everything BUT sleeping.  It was hysterical, but we expected it.  

We went back into their room every 15 minutes or so, and put them back to bed, turned the lights back off, etc.  After 3 HOURS my boys were sound asleep in their beds.  I am so proud!  I'm dreading another night of that, but proud, none the less!

Memories from a Nursery

When we were expecting Patrick and Finnegan, Gill and I spent hours planning the nursery.  I would design

 (and re-design) the perfect nursery and Gill would execute it.  Actually, Gill would wait a week, knowing I would change my mind, before he started anything.  When we finally had a plan, it was so amazing to see it come to life.  It was the perfect nursery, everything I dreamed of.  I spent hours in the nursery, wondering what it would be like when the babies arrived.  There were many nights that Gill would come home to find me sleeping in the rocker - the nursery was my favorite room in the house.

When Patrick and Finn where finally home and in their nursery, we really enjoyed spending time there.  Every day, after naptime we would read stories, have tummy time and learn together.  In their nursery Finny and Pitty Pat learned to hold their heads up and sit.  The had so many firsts in the room.  I always found it to be such a peaceful and warm place to be and I believe the boys enjoyed it just as much.

Patrick used to guard the toy box from Finnegan - it was an indication of things to come 

(he now guards his "choo choos")

As soon as the boys could pull themselves up, they were looking out the window.  The loved to watch the cars go by, see the neighbors walking their dogs and wait for Daddy to get home.  Now, they say "hi" to the neighbors out the window, most of them by name.

Finn loved his crib - he would greet us every morning with a giant smile!  This past week, Finn has shown us that he no longer cares for his crib.  He has climbed out dozens of times and refuses to stay in!

My favorite part of the nursery was my chair and ottoman.  I nursed the boys for 8 months and we spent hours in that chair together.  After the morning feeding, we would all cuddle up and sleep together for an hour and a half.  

It was the best part of my day.  Now, Patrick and Finn sit in the chair by themselves and have 

no room for Mommy.

Today, we purchased toddler beds for the boys.  Tomorrow, the conversion to a "Big Boy Room" begins.  I don't know how to say "goodbye" to my favorite little room.   There are many parts of me that just don't want to let it go, keep the room as is, keep the babies SMALL and live in Never Never Land.

I will always keep the memories of our wonderful nursery and how much our family enjoyed 

watching my sweet boys grow up in it.

Sick Day

Our family is home sick.  Everyone but Pitty Pat (who is caring for the rest of us) has bronchitis. 

 The boys can't really figure out what's going on, but they are enjoying staying in their PJ's, riding their cars in the living room and eating daddy's chicken noodle soup - thank you Sara, it's delicious!

Hopefully the medicine will kick in soon and we will be on the mend.  

In the meantime, we're enjoying cuddling in our pj's!

High Crime Mugging!

The boys had their friend, Isabella, over this morning for a playdate.  As usual, she came perfectly dressed, with shoes and ribbons to match her outfit.  In addition, she had a beautiful purse filled with her "treasures".  At the end of the playdate the boys finally saw the purse and trouble began!  

Basically, Isabella was mugged in our home.  Patrick and Finnegan chased her up and down the hallway and would not give up.  But, Isabella is a tough cookie and put up one heck of a fight!  

Hmmm...I hope this doesn't mean my boys are going to be the bullies on the playground, beating kids for their lunch money!?!?

Little Things Thursday

As you may know, the boys and I have been going to Storytime at the Library.  It's taken quite a while for them to get acclimated.   For the last few sessions, I have found the trick for Patrick.  When we walk into the room, I give him a sippy cup with apple juice and 2 trains.  He sits in the stroller, happy and a clam, and enjoys the music & stories.  He rarely participates, but that's OK.

Today, the first 10 minutes went as usual, but when it was time to dance, Patrick asked to get up.  PERFECT!  He danced with me and Finnegan.  Yes, he clung close to me.  No, he did not let go of my hand.  But we did DANCE!

After, the kids were in the center of the room, but Patrick was still by my side.  I watched as a larger boy (in a crazy fedora hat, I may add) walked over to Finn and shoved him, knocking him over.  Before I could get to Finn, Patrick was there!  Patrick asked Finn, "Finn Finn OK?" and gave him a big HUG.  

Finnegan was fine, he was not hurt at all.  The only thing that ached was my heart.  Patrick overcame is fear of the large group for his brother, nothing could be sweeter - and I couldn't be more proud.

All Aboard the Birthday Train!

On July 5th we had the Finn and Patrick's 2nd Birthday Party at the Charlotte Trolley Museum.  Since the boys are so into trains these days, we thought it would be a perfect location.  Inside the museum was an actually trolley that all the kids could play on.

To entertain the boys and their friends, we had train tables set up, cardboard trains & conductor hats for them to wear, stickers, train whistles and lots of sweets!

  

After the party was over, we all got on a special trolley ride through downtown Charlotte - it was a blast!!  The boys got to visit the conductor and while Patrick cuddled up with his daddy and took it all in, Finnegan acted like a big boy and sat very proudly by himself.

   

  

It was a great day.  Gill and I loved seeing our boys so happy.