McBride Life: March 2011

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Breakthroughs

TV Time -- Austin could actually care less about TV, but I think he liked
sitting next to his big brother

There have been some breakthroughs this week at the McBride house. Austin started walking on his own last weekend -- not all of the time, but he will just take off across the room and pause, change directions and plop down very gracefully. What's funny is that he cracks up at himself as he does this, which I have not yet caught on video.

Tyler has been amazing with the potty -- except at school of course -- but otherwise he's almost 100% -- even at night. He's transforming into this precious and precocious little boy right before my eyes. When he got in the car from school yesterday, he recited the Pledge of Allegiance and knocked my socks off. It's extra neat to see your young ones do something you don't personally teach them.

And of course, these 2 boys are running me ragged with their endless energy. Tyler doesn't just walk across a room -- he does a spastic dance, arms flying, singing at the top of his lungs. He even watches TV standing up sometimes, throwing his body across the ottoman occasionally to kick his legs and stretch his limbs in every direction. As someone with not a lot of experience with children, or boys, I'm in a bit of awe at the constant expression that comes from him in every second -- even as we go to brush his teeth he runs into the bathroom excited about something as simple as turning on the water. I could eat him up in one minute and the next I want to pull my hair out. The stamina this takes is beyond anything I've ever done!

We have been mostly stranded this week due to a family cold that has hit us all. It's bad enough to not feel normal, but we still have the desire to be normal -- and that's what's rough. I hope this week will bring health and some outdoor fun again.

In the meantime, my house is a disaster, we have a huge jelly bean addiction (due to potty training), and the kids are climbing the walls. But Scott is off for 4 days in a row starting Saturday and the countdown to the beach at the end of April is on!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Potty Wars, Teething, Stomach Bug & More Fun

Teething on the dishwasher -- poor baby

I think I'm in need of some more beach therapy. ;-) This week was great in many ways, but I'm also seriously tired and a bit frazzled -- perhaps mostly because Scott is having to work this weekend after traveling for 1-3 nights during each of the past 6 weeks (hopefully no more of that). He's of course very tired, too, if not more so.

I would think this weather would tip the scale in favor of sanity, but then potty training puts more weight in the other direction as does teething and sadly Tyler woke up at 5 this morning with his first stomach bug. He's doing much better now, but it was heartbreaking to see. It scared him but then he explained to me that he was "spitting up" like Austin does and that made us both feel better about what was happening.

Austin really wants to use the spoon -- I think we might need to wait...

Tyler's doing great with the potty training, except school seems to throw him completely off, as he's only gone once on their potty and then seems to think it's optional for a little while after he gets home. I put him in pullups at school because I don't feel like they are as committed to reminding him to go as I am (they probably just can't be) and it's a bit disheartening to me, but he only has 2 more months left of school and I'm trying to let him enjoy the process rather than stressing him about it.

Ironically, Austin is the biggest challenge to potty training at home. My little guy is obsessed with getting his hands on Tyler's child potty whether Tyler's on it or not -- probably because he's not allowed to get to it. While I'm waiting the long minutes for Tyler to go (he insists on me being there with him), Austin is either squirming passionately in my arms to get down or crawling fiercely toward Tyler and pulling on him -- causing Tyler to NOT go and even yell out in a bit of fear.

My 2 little messes -- love them

This little potty battle with the 2 of them happens quite often and I have actually heard the Jaws movie theme in my head as Austin makes his approach from another room toward the bathroom! And the rustle of his diaper is like a warning sound ;-)

All I can hope is that this means Austin will be ready to potty train much earlier -- but right now if he does get his hands on the potty he just throws it.

Cuz Time

All four of them in one shot -- a first I think!

We finally got together this week with Lisa and babies after more than a month of absence due to sicknesses and just being very busy.

Dominic and Tyler were so happy to reunite, Austin looked puzzled as he tried to figure out where he knew Aunt Lisa from and I was thrilled to see my sister.

Of course, we were running after our kids for the most part and the time flew by, but it was a beautiful day and a much-needed visit. The pics below are of our little ones on the swings -- the only place I had my hands free to take pics ;-)

Ashlyn loves the swing -- she is sooooo cute!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Candid Camera

With my camera always in hand, there are certain situations that really excite me. One is dawn or dusk lighting, where the sun is offering that magical glimmer in photos that you can only get on the right day (little or no clouds), and at the right time and place. Another is when something perfect happens or a fun prop shows up. Today we had especially good luck when a "prop" arrived in the form of a dandelion seed -- and at dusk! The dandelion shot is very common in photography, but I wanted mine of course. And Tyler, always unique, provided me some very Tyler shots. I have some classic captures, too, which I'll also post, but I think it might be these candid ones I end up loving the most.

Eyes crossed

Literally gagging on the seedlings

Not enjoying the taste

Cracking up at himself

Sunday, March 20, 2011

A Lesson in Finger (& Body) Paint

It started out innocently enough

There are many reasons I would not be good at teaching Elementary or preschool, and today confirmed just one of them. We had elaborate plans to go check out Fernbank's new nature exhibit, and then go to Piedmont park, but the dreariness of the day (and our sheer exhaustion) gave us reason enough to just stay home. I wanted to do something fun with Tyler anyway, so I pulled out the finger paint for the first time in a very long while and got pretty excited about doing it myself!

It started off innocently enough -- Tyler was timid about even getting his fingers in the paint, and to make him more comfortable, I told him to just go for it. He still was hesistant, so I got my own hands dirty, and thought it would be fun to paint a little heart on his bare chest to show him where his heart is and to make him even more comfortable with the paint and the process of getting dirty.

Well, the pictures explain how my little lesson in finger paint ended up. Needless to say, Tyler was quickly VERY comfortable, and it was a mess, but so much fun for both of us! I know the next person who does finger paint with him will have a rude awakening when Tyler starts smearing it on his body though -- not sure what I was thinking and I can't imagine if I was in charge of a whole class of young ones doing art. God Bless those who are!

I had told him not to touch his hair and face -- ha ha ha

The fun abruptly stopped when he rubbed it in his eyes and he got a literal hose-down in the shower!

We decide to stick to his favorite thing after that -- playdough

He loves to make snakes

Austin Who

My mom has said that Austin looks like he's straight from Dr. Suess's Whoville and sometimes I get pics that make me just have to agree, especially this first one.