Playdate At The Duck Pond

Yesterday my sister and I took the kids to feed the ducks. I have some really cute pictures I wanted to share.


Taking the ducklings to the pond.





The boys kept eating the duck food.


Lauren was too busy posing to eat.


The big ugly ducks got a little aggresive and came out of the water. One got a little nibble of Ben's thumb. I thought he was going to start crying and we would be done feeding the ducks. Instead, he suprised me by saying, "Silly duck, I'm not food!"

Walkiversary

Two years ago today Lauren took her first steps. No, I don't normally remember those kinds of dates. Who do you think I am, super mom? I think not! The reason I remember is today is my nephew's 2nd birthday. Lauren's first steps were over shadowed by Drew's birth! But, she can take solace in the fact that I will never forget the day she learned to walk. I can tell you Jack was about 15 months old when he walked and Ben was around 18 months old. See Lauren, it was a blessing is disguise. Happy birthday Droopy, we love you!

Zoo Babies

My sister and I took the kids to the zoo this morning. We went in the 'cool' part of the day, but my kids' hair was wet after an hour and a half.

Hineys times six...



Gator gazing...


I love getting together with my sister and nephew; we try to do it every week. Some weeks don't work out due to sick kids or other engagements, but I love that my kids get to spend time with them. I don't mind the drive I just hate other drivers! It seems there is always some snafu along the way. I curse the rubberneckers until I become one. After driving with my foot on the break going 5 mph for mile after mile by the time I get to the wreck and have open road in front of me I feel as though I have earned the right to take a look. It is a vicious circle, everyone takes their turn rubbernecking creating a back up that can go on for miles on a Friday afternoon in a metro this size.

Friend Or Foe?

Poor baby Drew has had a big transition from only child to one of four! He has a blanket and a stuffed purple horned frog (his parents went to TCU) that he sleeps with. As you can see in the picture Ben took great pleasure in taking the frog away from Drew and laying on it so he couldn't get at it. Drew pulled with all of his might and even got Lauren to try to help him, but even with their combined forces they couldn't release the frog.

If that wasn't enough, Lauren has a genetic disorder, she laughs when other people get hurt, just like many in her mommy's family have done before her. Depending on who you are she is either a good or a bad combination with a new walker. Every time Drew would take a spill Lauren exclaimed "Whoa", pointed and laughed then asked anyone who was around "did you see that?" and laughed some more.

The Rules

I am taking care of my nephew this weekend. Last night we had pizza and watched the first half of the Husker game at Elsie's house. Before we left Jack gave Drew a run down on the rules at Elsie's house.

Jack: Baby Drew, the rules at Elsie's house are 1. No crying, 2. No spitting, 3. No biting, 4. No closing the gate and 5. No peeing in your pants!

Poor baby Drew, he followed most of the rules. He was really good and went right to sleep in the pack n play, without any crying. But, I am afraid he broke the no peeing in your pants rule!

Done

We turned Drew back over to his parents at lunchtime today. I am going to miss that little dude. I have learned that we are officially done having children. I enjoyed having Drew; it was great to have a baby around again. But, I don't think that my kids would like to have another sibling. Ben started pouting yesterday because he hadn't gotten his quotient of cuddles this weekend. We took all four kids to a friend's house for her birthday party last night. One of Ben's biggest fans was at the party so Ben parked it in his lap and snuggled in for most of the evening. Ben wasn't his happy smiling self until we came home from lunch. I am not sure how he knew that Drew was gone, but it really seemed like he knew everything was back to normal when we got back.

At breakfast, Travis was playing with Drew and Lauren looked across the table and shouted "NO, Lauren's daddy!"

Jack was an enormous help with feeding Drew and holding his hands while I changed him. He was really proud to be the big cousin and I think he felt good knowing that he was needed. But, this morning when I asked him to feed Drew so I could change Ben and Lauren's diapers he told me that he was getting a little tired of always feeding the baby. This leads me to believe that he wouldn't be the huge help all the time if we had another one.

I did learn that I could do it, but I don't think my household would be as happy. I missed my own kids. I was just spread a little too thin, everyone had all of their basic needs taken care of, but it seemed like all four of the kids were feeling a little shorted. I wonder if people with really big families know each of their kids individually. I guess we will just need to get our baby fix by taking care of Drew every now and then. I do hope that it was as good for Nicole and Trey as it was for me because I would like to take him every couple of months. I certainly got to know him a lot better when I had him to myself rather than just getting together with Nicole for a playdate.

Bennis The Menace

Jack and Lauren are having the best time with their cousin Drew! Ben and Lauren were the first to get up this morning and Lauren and I actually carried on our first conversation.

Lauren: Where's baby Drew?
Me: He's sleeping.
Lauren: Why?
Me: He's tired
Lauren: Why?
Me: Because he played hard with you yesterday
Lauren: Why?
Me: Because he enjoys your company
Lauren: Why?
Me: I'm not sure
Lauren: Where's Jack?
Me: Sleeping
Lauren: Why?
Me: Why do you keep asking me why?

This morning Lauren held the bottle while I held baby Drew. Jack was highly pissed off when he saw this happening.

Jack: I am the big cousin that is my job!
Me: Well, you were upstairs, so Lauren had to do it
Jack: Did she feed him his fruit?
Me: No, he doesn't eat his fruit until later this morning
Jack: I get to feed him his fruit and his bottle next time since Lauren has already had a turn!

I asked Jack to sit with Drew while I was doing the laundry this morning and Drew was not happy that I had set him down. Jack was hollering from the family room "mom, he wants two people to sit with him!" I wasn't in the laundry room two minutes when Lauren came in announcing "Drew crying" and pointing like a mad woman. I am not deaf, I am fully aware that he was crying, but the laundry doesn't wait. Jack and Lauren are such good big cousins.

Ben on the other hand has no love for baby Drew. Ben sneaks away at every opportunity when I get busy with the other kids. I found him in the pantry in the dark shoveling cookies into his mouth. Another time I found him rooting around in my office. He doesn't show any interest until out of the blue he comes over to bop him on the head with his sippy cup or pull his toes. I guess Ben is feeling a little threatened that his position as youngest boy is being taken!

Can We Keep Him?

My sister dropped my nephew off this morning for the weekend. This is the first time Drew has been away from his mom AND dad overnight. My sister has left him with her husband overnight, but I am the first overnight babysitter. I am actually quite honored! She has already called twice and he has only been here for 7 hours, but whose counting! Jack loves having Drew around. He is being a great big cousin. He is being really helpful. I can see the benefits of having kids further apart! He fed him his green beans and his bottle tonight. Luckily Drew is a pretty easygoing kid and took it all in stride. As Jack was feeding him his bottle we discussed Drew.
Jack: Mom, do you think Aunt Nicole will let us keep baby Drew?
Me: I don't think so sweetie
Jack: Why not?
Me: Aunt Nicole loves baby Drew very much
Jack: So do I!
Me: Yes, we love him, but Aunt Nicole is his mommy
Jack: Maybe we should just ask?



I took the baby to finish up the feeding just in time for him to blow chow all over me. I am not sure if Jack still wants to keep him. After I got everyone all cleaned up Jack said "I am going to sit way over here in case he throws up again"