Happy Valentine's Day (from Will)!

He felt like mugging for the camera, which rarely happens. And I didn't even bribe him with candy this time.

Life

Pictures first--how about that?

Our pitiful constipated son. I got him a potty hoping it would encourage him to poop, not necessarily in his new "magical royal throne" or whatever Fisher Price is calling it these days... He's doing better now, for those of you not already disgusted by the subject and who for some reason care about regular bowel movements. Enough already. Poor thing though.


Big T--3 months already??





I'm back--aren't you oh so glad!--to blogging. Once I go a few days without giving an update, it's too easy to wait another week...another month... But I'm trying here.

I love the TLC reality show "Jon & Kate + 8" about this young couple with both twins and sextuplets, and it makes me realize how much crazier life with kids could be. But "Colin & Libby +2" is still plenty hectic. Colin's weeks have been really busy recently--my theory is that all the clinic patients just love him best and wait until he's working to come in. He claims he's a "black cloud" and just gets stuck with more patients on a given day than the other fellows, but at least he likes what he's doing. Most of the time, at least. Again, I claim his "popularity" must be based on his award-winning colonoscopies (& ALL the other stuff GI docs deal with...As his wife, I feel compelled to say it's not all about poop...though he does have some amusing anecdotes, probably best not to be shared on this blog...or a cocktail party, for that manner...). After spending half of the weekend at a conference in Pinehurst (though golf was not a part, to his dismay), Colin took Will to his first basketball game! UVA was playing Wake, and Colin attests that Will actually sat and watched a good portion of it, until he was lured away by french fries and the row's fascinating folding chairs. Thomas--my little shopping buddy (seeing as he has separation anxiety when apart from my chest)-- and I went to the mall. FYI--Old Navy is having a 40% off sale on ALL baby/toddler clothes. Get ye over there and buy your child (or friend's child...or my child...) some cute spring clothes for cheap. Then we went to church on Sunday, which we continue to love. What a blessing to find such a great community so quickly.

Generally I spend my days keeping the boys fed, changed, cleansed, and clothed. Well, the latter three are not always a given. I do feed them though. And I do at least two loads of laundry a day and disinfect the kitchen well after all meals and snacks and vacuum weird things off the floor every afternoon and in the meantime try to teach a headstrong, energetic toddler he's not the boss and ....Can you tell I'm trying to prove stay-at-home-moms actually have something to do? :) I'm also forcing us outdoors every afternoon--Will needs to hit things with Colin's golf clubs (oops--Colin--now you know!) and throw rocks at the house (and his brother), Thomas needs fresh air, and I need to walk. They both sit in the stroller for twenty minutes while I circle the neighborhood and pretend that's enough cardio to whip my post-two-babies-bod back in shape. I can dream. I totally see why some women go for a tummy tuck...though convincing my husband of an elective surgery one day would not be easy. By the end of the day, especially on those days when Will slams Thomas' door just to rouse him from his first nap all day, all I want to do is watch the most brainless TV possible or aimlessly roam Marshalls (the closest store to us, and indeed, a place to find great stuff) looking for a good deal. And I do both from time to time. I found some awesome baby blue Pumas for cheap last week. And American Idol, Lost, and America's Next Top Model aren't too bad, right?! We do watch the news and are following this election closely (Colin & I will likely cancel each other's votes out, to give you a hint of our leanings). And somehow, though Thomas is still waking up multiple times at night, we can't get to bed before 11.

It's a wild time, and I love it. It can be isolating--spending your days with little kids--and it's certainly, let's just say, "trying" at times. But I'm reminded by the ultimate source of wisdom (that would be the Bible) that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. For me, this is definitely the time to change stinky diapers and the time to pick Legos out of the chair cushions. The time to prepare dino nuggets and halved grapes and the time to hold screamers. The time to read stories and the time to make pretty darn good truck noises. The time to rock a baby and the time to teach a toddler who Jesus is. It's a good time.

Gotta love the Bumbo...

Cousins

Will wasn't in the mood to pose, but here are the two youngest--Carson at three days, Thomas at two months...

I'm an Aunt!

Baby Nell (Derek & Renee's daughter) made us aunt/uncle several months ago, but today our boys got another cousin...

Welcome, Carson Luke Allison! My sister, Catherine, and her husband, Matt, were thrilled to meet their healthy 7 pounder early this morning. They are all doing well, and I can't wait to head up there this weekend and see the little dude. Supposedly Matt is posting pictures on their blog tonight--http://allisonantics.blogspot.com/--in case you want to see his "mini-me".

(Random info probably only of interest to the grandmothers :)--Thomas had his 2 month checkup today, & he's over 14 lbs already...95% for height & weight...his mom must have good milk, huh?!)

In my humble opinion...

There are a few new things around here that I just have to talk about, that I really, really like.

Our Inglesina Twin Swift stroller...
I researched double strollers way too thoroughly before big T came around, and no one seemed too pleased with any particular one. Not to mention they tend to be very pricey. I contemplated getting a double jogger, but I'm so glad I didn't--there's no way I would be willing to run pushing Will's 30 lbs, Thomas' 10-15?, & the contraption itself. Not going to happen. A few months ago I decided on this one and found a good deal on ebay. It's lightweight, folds up so flat, is comfy enough, and turns without trouble. Just a recommendation for those of you out there preparing for another baby... This one works for us!



My favorite Christmas gift (somewhat embarrassingly) is this Electrolux vacuum. It's cordless, weighs practically nothing, and picks up all the nasty dirt and crumbs my three men and I leave behind. I'm a little obsessed--I vacuum all the time now, and I used to loathe dragging out that Hoover. I'm a huge fan.


Overstock.com...Not only did I purchase Thomas' crib bedding from this site, I bought this oriental-style rug for our den. We're not in the market for the real deal now, but this one was inexpensive and surprisingly good-looking/feeling in person. And it'll conceal spit up and juice stains like a champ.


Also, two books that have resonated with this mom who's afraid of letting her children run the household--John Rosemond's Parenting by the Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising your Child & Betsy Hart's It Takes a Parent. Good reading.

These companies should pay me for this advertising! In any case, it's a change from the constant mommy-babble about the boys :)

Stuck Inside

So, it's finally gotten cold--REALLY cold--down here. Meaning, mama's not leaving the house. Since I'm not pregnant anymore, I can't tolerate weather that entails I don scarf, hat, gloves and puffy ski coat, nor do I want to spend 30 minutes bundling up the kiddies only to have both of them poop right before heading out the door... Nope, it's inside for us. And with that comes the task of entertaining two little guys, one of whom will shriek "Bob" (aka "the Builder") while banging on the TV if not otherwise kept occupied. (Oddly, he'd never seen the show before, so I'm not sure where he acquired this recent obsession with BTB--it must be one of those things just ingrained in his two-year old boy brain.) Here's what we've been up to...

Documenting Thomas' wide range of emotions (all within 30 seconds)...

Disgruntled...He should be, seeing as how Will derives pleasure in dropping sharp-edged trucks on his little head...

Wary...& wondering when the aforementioned big brother is plotting his next move...

Quite pleased with himself...Just passed some really stinky gas?

Coy...flirting with his favorite milkmaid to get some lunch...

Sleepy...what every mother loves to see...

And we've been holding the camera out in front of ourselves--here's what we got!

(Will seemed to think I said "blink" instead of "smile"...)

We did venture out to Great Clips--Will got shorn once again...

Aww--such (momentary) brotherly love! Note Thomas' frightened (or at least suspicious) expression...

Home from the Holidays

We had a wonderful Christmas up "north" seeing as many family and friends as we could--We did use the video camera more this year (watching Will open every present under the tree, whether or not it belonged to him, was quite entertaining), but the pictures below are some of the few I took... Remarkably, both boys did great with all the driving, which was the best gift they could've given us :)

Catherine is due in less than 2 weeks...Can't wait to meet little Carson!

Can you tell Will doesn't like to sit still for long?!

Feliz Navidad!

We're headed to VA this evening and I doubt I'll update the blog from there... but I wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and fun-filled time with friends and family!

Nothing too new here...Thomas is 6 weeks old today and is doing great (though not sleeping much at night yet)...Will is going through a naked phase and also considers it amusing to remove his diaper at inopportune times...He also seems a little confused about the Christmas story and has named his favorite teddy "Jesus," and he gets very upset when we neglect to refer to the bear as such. I guess it's a common name in Latin America--granted, pronounced differently--right?...I am happy but very tired--the lack of sleep is catching up with me, as is the utter lack of "me-time" during the day--it'll be good to have family around to love on the boys this next week! And Colin is of course eager for some time away from that awful pager. I'm sure we'll have more stories when we return... Until next week, take care!

And, most importantly,
Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Words: Isaac Watts, 1719
Music: Lowell Mason, 1848

Happy Birthday, Will!

December 15, 2005


December 15, 2007

(The following 3 pictures were taken tonight at Chuck E Cheese... Let's just say the birthday boy should sleep well tonight...)





We love you, William Christopher! Happy Day to our favorite 2 year old!

Our Week in Pictures (With a few musings from Libby)

It's been cold, but I dragged Will outside a couple of days ago. I even convinced him to wear his hat by fibbing that Daddy called and said he needed to put it on. Colin is definitely the preferred parent at the moment, seeing as he doesn't have a baby affixed to his breast when Will most needs a tricycle-pusher or Lego-builder. Will is getting much more accustomed to having Thomas around, and he's sometimes even helpful. Besides announcing "PU" when he smells a stinky diaper, he's getting quite adept at inserting the paci back in his screaming brother's mouth. That's a start.



When Opi was in town last weekend, we tried to get a good Christmas card photo. I think these are much more amusing than the couple that were halfway decent. Here you go folks--our attempts in getting a family of 4 to smile for the camera. This is real life.



Our boys...



Please excuse T's obscene gesture (see left hand...) This is the only picture of him semi-smiling (gas-induced though it may be)...taken today, his 4 week birthday.

Elfed

I just spent 15 minutes of precious both-boys-asleep time to do this, so please check it out!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1162805046

It's TOO funny.

Here is the one my sister created, if you are interested: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1127727921
That one in the middle is one fine dancer.