Poop fest revisited

So this episode isn't as good as our trip to Ark City last fall but I certainly had some vivid flashbacks...

Lori asked if we would come to Minnesota for the weekend to attend Eleanor's First Communion. As her Godmother, I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity. Tommy had to work on Saturday, so it was just me and the kids for a 6 hour drive (mind you, that is without stopping and I am no fool, I knew there would be stops).

I picked up the kids from school around 12:30 and loaded them into the car and off we went. The first two hours were realtively easy because I timed the start of the trip during nap time. Upon waking was when the fun began. Steven had on pull-ups and they really aren't too absorbant. Our first accident was pee pee; I had pulled off to get gas and that was when he told me. I got him out, changed him, put on some new shorts and we were back on the road in no time.

Then, about 30 minutes later Steven told me he went poo poo and I got to the next exit. I didn't even bother pulling into a parking spot for this one because I knew there was no way that I'd be able to handle him and Lyla in the bathroom for this change. I pulled to the edge of the truck parking lot, laid him in the grass and got out the box of wipes and a plastic bag for the discard pile. Vivid flashbacks.

After this event I knew better than to put a pull up back on him. Diapers it was until the end of the trip!

Our longest stop was at the McDonalds in Story City. We never eat at McDonalds, I don't think our kids even know what a Happy Meal is. Since they are such picky eaters I went straight for the yogurt. Steven loves it and this was Lyla's first try ... what a hit. Of course, we then had to order ice cream. Another big hit.

By the way, just because Lyla only has a little bit of fuzzy hair doesn't mean she is a boy. Look at the outfit she has on - how could anyone mistake that pink shirt and big strawberry for a boy?!?! As you probably guessed, another McDonald's customer called her a boy, ugh.

Stats

Lyla's 1-year stats:

21 lbs, 11 oz = 50%

31 inches = 90%

We don't know where she gets the tall genes. Maybe Papa Gene?

Lyla's Baptism

What a handful!

Lyla's baptism weekend started with a visit from Uncle Scott, Aunt Lori, Cousins Zack and Eleanor. Lori and Scott are both Steven and Lyla's godparents and we are so happy that they both could come for her special day. Cousin Matt had to stay behind in Minnesota, we missed him; but we understand the importance of keeping committments!

Saturday morning Tommy had to work at the Education Fair held by the KSI 9th graders and their parents. Since they were almost desperate for people to come we all headed over to see Tommy and participate in the fair. Well, we didn't get to see Tommy at all but Eleanor got to play some fun games and we all watched a puppet show. Steven is definitely going to be a sideline kid - at least for awhile. He didn't want to participate in any of the games he just stood near us and watched. He really takes his time warming up to new situations and places. He did talk to me about the puppet show after the day was over so I at least know he liked that part!

After the fair, I drove everyone over to the skate park at Swope Park and dropped them off. It was nearing nap time and I wanted the kids to go down and be fresh for the baptism. Zack enjoyed the skateboard ramp - I think he said that it was the tallest one that he'd ever been on.

Tommy had to work until 3pm and the baptism was a 4pm mass. He was supposed to change at the Fair but I got a call from him while on his way that he hadn't changed yet. Great. I told him to just meet us at the church and I'd get the kids ready. Steven doddled a little but he and Lyla were generally compliant with my requests.

We got to the church with plenty of time to spare and Fr. Glenn gave us a quick run down.

The baptism starts at the back of the church with an introduction of our family and Lyla. Fr. Glenn said a prayer and then marked the sign of the cross on her forehead and invited us to do the same. Boy did she wiggle and squirm! She even let out a little cry; Fr. Glenn was quite the comedian throughout the whole mass with his first joke of "sometimes a cross is a hard thing to bear" when she started crying.

For Easter, our church has a little pond set up at the front with flowers and rocks surrounding it. They use this pond for baptisms instead of the traditional font. As we moved over to the pond, Lyla was wiggling and squirming like any good 1-year old would do! As I leaned her over the pond she clutched my hair and had quite a stunned look on her face. My scalp has since recovered.

After the water, she was blessed with crism oil and introduced to the church. By this time she was crying and I was struggling to hold her. Once I lifted her up and everyone started clapping she was beaming! I wish everyone had clapped throughout the entire mass!

Birthday Girls!

It is so special that Lori and Lyla share the same birthday!

Lyla turns 1

Today we celebrated Lyla's first birthday. We weren't able to have too much of a family celebration because daddy didn't get home until 7:20 or so but we still had fun opening her present. She got a PlanToys Eco Home doll house. It has a solar panel, grey water system, green roof and instead of a car the family has a segway! The people and segway are too small for her to play with right now but the house is so cute. There is even a windmill for power generation (again, pieces too small right now).

I did go to visit her over lunch and brought cupcakes to her class. She was done with hers before the other toddlers even knew what was in front of them. Like mother, like daughter!

Lyla's First Birthday Party Photos

Happy Easter

Turn the music on

Steven and I were playing radio the other day.

First he would sit on the chair, push the imaginary button and then start singing. Then, I would have to sit on the chair, push the imaginary button and start singing. This went on, back and forth, for about 20 minutes. It was hilarious. I luckily captured one of his songs on tape!

He is singing "you gotta shake shake shake your wiggles out, shake shake shake your wiggles out" and I have no idea what he is doing at the very end!

Music Appreciation

The kids didn't have school today because of Good Friday and Tommy was off work. The weather has been beautiful this week so he was looking forward to playing outside with the kids. So what does it do ... rain.


In an effort to keep the kids entertained, Tommy got out his keyboard and saxophone. The kids loved it! Lyla is usually not excited about loud noises and starts to cry if something is too noisey. It appears as though she might be growing out of that as she didn't flinch when the music got loud.
I got this photo in a picture message on my phone while I was on a conference call with our regional vice president and a market sector leader (the big dogs) at work. It was so cute and distracted me for a moment but I had to put it away and focus on our call. I love getting these little reminders of our awesome family during the day!