Robbie learned how to tie his shoes today! We have tried to teach him several times, and today he finally got it. He mastered both techniques. "One bunny ear" and "Two bunny ears!" He's so proud of himself and so excited! He's such a big boy!

Austin climbed out of his crib last night for the first time. This isn't so much a milestone as it is an annoyance for me. I am not ready to move him to a big boy bed yet! I am hoping that he doesn't attempt the climb again for a while! Robbie never climbed out of his crib, so this is totally new territory for us!!

We just got home a bit ago from taking Austin to the Emergency Room. He stuck a raisin up his nose this morning, and we had to take him in to have it removed. It was not a pleasant experience for him at all. I think it will deter him from putting things up there in the future. But, we won't be giving him raisins again for a while, just to be on the safe side.

Wow, it's been three weeks since I updated this! Sorry for those of you who were awaiting updates (anyone?) The kids have been keeping me super busy. What with Easter and playdates, and warm weather, is it any wonder I haven't written? We have been too busy having fun!

Easter was a nice event. The Easter bunny hid lots of eggs for Robbie to find, and both Robbie and Austin loved their Easter baskets.





We have been having a lot of fun playdates lately.

Last SAturday we went to Deda and Memaw's house and had a blast playing outside!



And then Sunday we took the kids to visit their good friend Marshall Aidan and Seth. We all got to spend the night so mommy and Daddy could visit with their parent's Dana and Lee. We really enjoyed it.

Yesterday we went to my sister, Heather's house where Robbie and Austin got to play with their cousins Melissa and Nick. Memaw and Aunt Kassi came too! Austin and Nick played with lots of toys together, which Melissa and Robbie jumped on the trampoline and enjoyed the sun. We ate hot dogs and hamburgers and then stayed the night. I was so proud of Austin. Usually when we stay overnight somewhere he doesn't sleep well (which is why we don't do it often.) But last night we kissed him goodnight, put him down in the playpen and he went right to sleep without so much as a whimper and slept 12 hours straight! I was very impressed. Perhaps we will be able to do overnights more often now! As long as we make sure to let him play outside all day and wear himself out! :)

So that's about all we have been up to. I will try to keep these updates coming more often, so i don't have to write a novel next time.

Eric and I celebrate our third wedding anniversary today! 

Robbie lost his first tooth back in January, and he lost the second one today! Both his front bottom baby teeth are gone! He's growing up so fast

Both of the boys have pink eye. Robbie picked it up at school yesterday, and must have passed iut on to Austin. They both woke up with their eyes goo-ed shut. Robbie's eyes are both really red, but he doesn't seem to have much discharge. Austin on the other hand is oozing Green goo like crazy. It's disgusting.

I took them both to the doctor, and got them both eye drops. Amazingly, Robbie didn't give me too much trouble when I put them in. I just put a drop in the corner of each of his eyes and let him blink them in. once he realized it didn't burn, he was fine. Austin put up a bit of a fuss, but only because I had to hold his head still to apply the drop. He was ok with it, but he really hates when I have to wipe the goo. That's worse than the drops!

Hopefully it passes soon, and hopefully my husband and I don't get it. I really don't want to be passing pink eye back and forth between the four of us for weeks and weeks.

As far as the chewing goes, Since Robbie bought his new shirts, and his bracelet he doesn't seem to be as fixated on chewing his shirts. Every once in a while I catch him with it in his mouth, but I think that's more habit than anything else. He REALLY doesn't want to have to buy himself any more clothing for a while.

For the last month or so Robbie has been chewing/sucking on his shirts. All of his shirts that we bought him for school back in September have holes along the cuffs and neckline because he can't keep them out of his mouth. It is driving me crazy.

I don't know if it is a nervous habit, or if it's an attention thing or what, but he is rapidly running out of clothing suitable for school, because every day he comes home from school with holes in his clothes! I have tried putting him in short sleeves with a tighter neckline so he can't get it in his mouth, but then he just chews on the bottom hem and puts holes in his shirts that way! He also chewed up his gloves in the same manner.

I am taking him to walmart this weekend to have him buy himself new shirts (out of his birthday money.) He's not happy about it, but maybe that will keep him from chewing?! I don't know what else to do.

I am going to mention it to his speech therapist at school to see if it's a sensory thing, and I may make him a dr's appointment as well to see if he's got an issue with his teeth/mouth. He's also a big nail biter, which drives me crazy, so maybe there's something to this chewing. Then again, maybe it's a stress related thing, or something he does just to drive me nuts.

Maybe it's just a phase?

I updated this with a lot of backdated entries yesterday, not realizing they were all going to show up and clog up everyone's friends pages. I am so sorry about that! 

Austin's bm's are back to the proper consistancy completely now. They are still frequent, but then again, he has always been a frequent pooper since his surgery, so I would say we are pretty close to back to normal now! Whew!  I thought that illness was never going to go away!

We never actually went in to see the doctor. Eric put a call in to the surgeon. He was seen by the surgeon the night Eric took austin to the ER so he already knew the situation. When he heard Austin wasn't any better he prescribed flagyl. It's meant to get rid of bacterial infection in the intestines/bowel. It seems to be helping. He hasn't had too many super runny diapers. One of the side effects is constipation. lol. Only problem is, the stuff tastes absolutely horrible, and I have to hold Austin down and force it down his throat. He threw up once from it because he gagged so forcefully. Anyway, hopefully after the two week regimin of flagyl he will be right as rain again.

Austin still has the diarrhea. It's been 4 days now! We are taking him to the dr today for a follow up. Luckily we have been able to keep him hydrated. Austin doesn't have an appointment, but we are hoping the dr can squeeze him in. If not, we will more than likely take him back to the hospital. Poor kid just can't get any relief.

He has the stomach flu. Eric and I both ended up with it too. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers! We were all pretty sick yesterday. Today, Austin seems to be feeling a little better. he's certainly in better spirits. He still has some bad diarrhea, and a horrid diaper rash. But he's got a big appetite today, and no more vomiting. So hopefully he's seeing the tail end of it. Eric is feeling better today as well. I never got it very badly (knock on wood) so I am tip top shape today. And it seems to have skipped Robbie completely thus far (knock on wood again)

Eric just took Austin to the emergency room. He has been having bouts of vomiting and diarrhea for the last two days. It's probably just a stomach virus, but we have to take him in just in case he's got the dreaded enterocolitis that can sometimes be a complication of the pull through surgery Austin has last year. Please keep him in your thoughts, and if you pray, please say a little prayer that he is ok. Thanks.

Ugh I am sooo glad it's Friday! It has been an interesting week. I was in the hospital on Tuesday. I was sitting here at my house and all of a sudden got incredibly dizzy, with blurred vision and nausea. I freaked out and called Eric and he came home and took me to the ER. Turns out I have some leftover fluid in my ear from the inner ear infection I had last week, which was throwing off my equilibrium. I was also dehydrated. So after a few hours of IV fluids, the doc wrote me a prescription and sent me home. Only problem is, the pills they gave me to help me with the dizziness make me so sleepy that I can't take them while I am home alone with the kids, cause I just fall asleep sitting up! So I have been dealing with the dizziness during the day, and taking the pills at night once Eric gets home. As a reult I have been asleep before 9 pm every night this week!

Happy First birthday to my baby boy! He's one! 

This time 6 years ago I was just starting to go into labor. I can't believe my baby is 6 years old already! Happy Birthday big boy!

We had a great Christmas! The kids' loved all the gifts Santa brought for them, and I am STILL cleaning up the mess from yesterday.

After we opened all the gifts in the morning we went to Eric's dad's house and hung out there and ate and just enjoyed each other's company it was great.

I didn't get many gifts. In our family, Christmas is about the kids, as it should be. I got the minish cap to play on my DS, some make-up and an animated christmas doll from Eric's mom, and a red lobster gift card from Eric's dad and his wife for Eric and I, along with an offer to babysit so we can actually use it!

I got to thinking today about all the traditions my family has around Christmastime, and I thought I would share.

Every year we put up our Christmas tree after thanksgiving (usually it's the Saturday after thanksgiving, but this year we strayed a bit and left it longer, so Austin wouldn't have as much time to pull it apart). On the day that we put up our tree we always play Christmas music while we decorate, and once it's all done and lit we eat cinnamon rolls, drink cocoa, and watch the polar express.

Every year Robbie gets to pick out a new ornament for our Christmas tree. Austin will also get to pick one out once he is old enough. I think it will be interesting to look back and see how the kids' interests change from year to year. Last year Robbie chose a transformers ornament. This year was cars.

Usually every year a couple of days before Christmas, we drive around at night and look at all the lit up houses in the surrounding neighborhoods. We can't do that this year though, since our car is out of commission :(

We always go to Eric's dad's house on Christmas day. This year we are starting a new tradition. Since we aren't home for Christmas dinner, I am making a big family dinner on Christmas eve. I think we will probably do this every year from now on. This year we will be joined by my mother-in-law, my mom, and my two younger sisters. I am making a spiral ham, homemade mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes (with the mini marshmallows on top), asparagus and crescent rolls.

Also, on Christmas eve Robbie has always been allowed to open one gift. It is always Pajamas to wear to bed, so that he will be all dressed for pictures in the morning. Austin and Robbie will both be opening their Christmas jammies on Christmas eve. This year they got matching red plaid ones.


On Christmas eve, before the kids are put to bed to await Santa they get to watch a Christmas movie, or get read a Christmas book (whichever they choose).

Santa always leaves candy canes on our Christmas tree after he leaves the gifts and eats the cookies and milk. (Robbie and I will bake cookies for Santa during the day on Christmas eve)

On Christmas morning, the kids will be able to open their stockings, but they won't be allowed to open anything else until after breakfast, which is always cinnamon rolls.

I think that's about all the traditions we have. Or at least all the ones I can think of. What are your family's holiday traditions?

We finally finished our christmas shopping. Even though We had to go out in 6 degree weather (feels like -17 out there!) and went 100 dollars over budget, it is gonna be totally worth it to see the kids' faces light up when they wake up christmas morning. I feel very accomplished!