Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the ultimate master of Fox in Sox.

We love you!

Exiting

Reid and Finn had another blood draw this morning for the Magical Mystery Tour that has become their erythrocytes and ferritin levels over the past 16 months. The good news is, they no longer cry and shriek when they see the tourniquet being tied on their upper arms. In fact, for the past 6 months, both boys will watch with great interest as the needle is inserted and the blood begins to make its way up the tiny tube. Only after the needle is removed from their arms and a bandaid is applied do the tears start to flow.

As they see their blood being packaged up for the lab, both kids start crying and chanting: Give me my blood back! Dr. M took my blood! That's my blood! Put it back!!! They think that it's cool when the blood is being drawn, but not so cool when they realize that they won't get the blood back (we're waiting until age 3 to explain erythropoiesis).

This is all very interesting to me, because for the past month, I've been explaining to both children that poop isn't meant to be kept inside your body. It needs to be pushed out. Preferably every day. And (very!) preferably, into the potty. This was their first blood draw since potty training in September, so I assumed they would be fine with the parting of another bodily fluid. I was wrong.

I guess I should be happy that my kids know that blood belongs on the inside and poop belongs on the outside.

(...and a phone photo for good measure)

Phone Photo Friday: Potty Training Edition

We're playing along with LauraC's Phone Photo Friday.

In our home, today marks a very special day. It's our one week anniversary of being diaper-free!

Initially, we were going to hold off on the potty training process until Finn and Reid were closer to age 3. That was the plan, up until my good friend (and fellow twin mom) reminded me that the boys will be 3 in January. January in Alaska means many layers of polypropolene, snowsuits with numerous zippers and snaps and big, bulky snow boots. It makes good sense to limit the wearing of these winter-weather items while in the beginning stages of potty training twin toddlers...for both prolonging the lifespan of your washing machine and, most importantly, to save your sanity.

So last Friday morning after the boys woke up, we put them in underwear and had them pack up the 150+ diapers that we had stashed around the house and set them aside for baby Corrina.

And then we began our diaper-free life!

Normally on the weekends, we spend much of our time out of the house. Whether it be running errands, hiking, zoo'ing, or bouncing...we are usually anywhere but home. For obvious reasons, we chose to stick close to home for the first couple of days of Potty Training Boot Camp (PTBC). But despite being home for two days straight (with the exception of walks around the neighborhood), the boys had a blast!

We let them play outside in their underwear...(and brought back the BabyLegs after a 1.75 year hiatus!)

...and allowed their mattresses to magically become jammin' dance party bouncin' beds.

Finn and Reid have always loved jumping on their matresses when I am changing their bedsheets. But when we brought them downstairs, turned on some beats, and handed them their guitars...they found a new favorite activity: Bouncin' Dance Party!

WAY TO ROCK, F & R!! We are so proud of you!

Cute & Funny

Hey, that's my name!

Lefty

Before the boys get dressed for school in the morning, they have a cup of milk to tie them over until breakfast. They drink their milk while laying against this huge purple pillow. For whatever reason, one side of the pillow has always been much more popular than the other. To minimize fights, Finn and Reid take turns laying on the coveted side of the pillow (on a side note: toddlers are strange, aren't they?). This morning, it was Finn's turn. Reid knew this, however he decided to run to the pillow and flop down on Finn's side. Finn immediately balked, so I intervened:

Me: Reid, you know that it's Finn's turn. Please scoot over.

Reid: (he scoots over to make room for Finn) Mama, Finn can sit. I do the left thing!

Me: You did the what?

Reid: I was being nice. I do the left thing!

Me: You were being nice, thank you! But what do you mean "the left thing"?

Reid: I do the left thing!

Me: (trying not to bust out laughing) Ooooooh! The right thing. Yes, you did the right thing!

What did you do this weekend?

Us?  We just hung around.

Popcorn!

As far as I'm concerned, there is only one way to eat popcorn: air-popped, butter-laden and generously sprinkled with nutritional yeast. If I had only myself to prepare dinner for every night, popcorn served in this manner would be the Dinner of My Dreams. Unfortunately, Finn and Reid have become a fan of the bright-yellow junk that they sell at the Alaska Zoo and have no interest in the real deal. I won't comment on the person who is responsible for this, but I can assure you, I plan to change it.

*Yes, I know that giving popcorn to kids under the age of 4 is not advised by the AAP.

Puddles!

The Money Tree

Last week, while Brook was recovering from the flu (yes, the Swine variety), I was the designated dropper-offer and picker-upper at the boys' daycare (for obvious reasons).  Daycare drop-off is normally reserved for Brook because he can do it in about 1/16th the time that I can.  So it was nice to spend an extra few minutes in the mornings with my boys, especially when I'm left with a little toddler comedy to share with my co-workers:

Finn:  Mama, where are you going? (asked as I was kissing him goodbye)

Me:  I'm going to work!

Reid:  Mama, are you going to go make me my money?

It's never a dull moment with these guys!