Band Aid

As is common this time of year, I tend to reflect on the past year and begin wondering what the next has in store. It has been a magical year in many respects--mostly, of course, because 2008 brought "little" Noah home to complete our little family.
2008 is also a year that has brought much anxiety about the economy, jobs...etc. I know many people (myself included) are "cutting back" this year on Christmas. By "cutting back," though I hope we mean in the commercial sense and not in the spiritual sense. Despite the uncertainties of today, this Christmas is a light that shines brightly and guides us on the path to the hope of 2009 and beyond.
For some, this hope is all they have. I think of the song "Do They Know It's Christmas" that was done in 1984 by several muscians under the name BAND AID. Every year that song really puts things in perspective for me.
I am putting it on this blog to remind myself NOT to cut back on the spirit of Christmas....the spirit of hope.

Oh--and by the way, my dear cousin Karin will appreciate this--there is LOTS of footage of Duran Duran and our beloved Simon LeBon!! I'm sorry, but I still think they are HOT!!!!

Bowling!

Yes, toddlers CAN in fact bowl! Aunt Claire took the boys bowling with their friends, A,D&C yesterday. I believe Alex bowled an 88 and Noah was right behind him coming in strong with a 79!!! Noah seems to have a true love for the game....er...at least for the bowling ball, as he spent some quality time hugging his bowling ball.

Speaking of hugging....poor Inky (our little 10 pound yorkipoo)was almost hugged to death last night by Noah. At one point I looked under the table to find Noah standing there "hugging" Inky's rear legs while lifting his rear end off the floor. Needless to say, Inky was NOT amused. Noah has so much love to give, but (like everything else) he loves with gusto!!! He gives a new meaning to the phrase: "Love hurts."

Weekend Happenings

Another jam packed weekend has come and gone. Alex had TWO days in row with no potty accidents-YEA!! On Saturday, Coici, Alex and I baked cookies while Noah supervised. Alex LOVED cutting out the cookies with the cookie cutter, but it was killing him not being able to eat the raw dough. That evening, Ms. Amy and Eduardo came over and we "decorated" cookies. Translation: The guateposse ate all the decorations while the adults tried to limit the slobber on the cookies. So, to those of you who will be recipients of these special cookies....um....enjoy! I heard that little Eduardo was as wired as my boys were that evening.....gotta LOVE the sugar rush!
Sunday was a whirlwind of activity with church, a birthday party in Bloomington and then dinner at Casa Willis. The birthday party was for Ben, who turned the ripe 'ol age of 8. It was held at Wonderlab, which is much like The Children's Museum here in Indy--my little men had a BLAST!!!! It was great--LOTS of things to explore, room to run, AND cake and ice cream to boot!!! Alex was so loaded on sugar that he babbled the entire way home from Bloomington (one and a half hours)! Noah just crashed...passed out cold... After a WONDERFUL dinner at Casa Willis and more play time with Eduardo, we all crashed happily! We are truly blessed to have so many good friends!!!
Here is what I learned this weekend: The amount of fun one has on the weekend is inversely proportional to the amount of laundry that gets done!!!
Tommorrow: Bowling balls....stay tuned!

Twas the Night Before Navidad

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the casa,
not a creature was stirring - ¡Caramba! ¿Qué pasa?
Los niños were tucked away in their camas,
some in long underwear, some in pijamas,
while hanging the stockings with mucho cuidado,
in hopes that old Santa would feel obligado,
to bring all children, both buenos and malos,
a nice batch of dulces and other regalos.
Outside in the yard there arose un gran grito,
and I jumped to my feet like a frightened cabrito.
I ran to the window and looked out afuera,
and who in the world do you think that he era?
Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero,
came dashing along like a loco bombero.
And pulling his sleigh instead of venados,
were eight little burros approaching volando.
I watched as they came and this quaint little hombre,
was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:
''Ay Pancho, ay Pepe, ay Cuco, ay Beto
, ay Chato, ay Chopo, Maruco, y Nieto!''
Then standing erect with his hands on his pecho,
he flew to the top of our very own techo,
with his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
he struggled to squeeze down our old chimenea.
Then huffing and puffing at last in our sala,
with soot smeared all over his suit de gala,
he filled all the stockings with lively regalos,
none for the niños that had been very malos.
Then chuckling aloud, seeming very contento,
he turned like a flash and was gone como el viento,
and I heard him exclaim, y ¡esto es verdad!
Merry Christmas to all, ¡y Feliz Navidad!

Playing Catch-Up!

Wow, time really has a way of flying by!

POTTY TRAINING UPDATE: Alex's progress can be best described as consistently inconsistent. Sunday he managed to be accident-free ALL DAY. Dry through nap and even while we went out for about an hour. He is back to about one accident a day, which is really not that bad!

Oma and Opa came to visit over the weekend, so we had a great time with them. Opa, Alex and I went to church Sunday morning and left Noah at home with Oma. When we got back, I was not sure who needed a nap more: Noah or Oma!

Noah and Alex also got to experience their very first St. Nikolas Day. We put the boys' boots outside Saturday night and by Sunday morning they were filled with treats!!!






For those of you who are unfamiliar with this German tradition, see
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23

Alex was so excited about the treats, but his true fascination later became the boots themselves. I will update the blog later with photos....stay tuned!

Animal House

Tonight Alex built another elaborate Lego Masterpiece complete with every farm/zoo/wild animal known to man. He looked at me proudly and said, "Mommy! Animal House." How true....on so many levels.

***We now interupt this blog to bring you breaking news on the Potty Training Front****

IT'S GOING REALLY WELL!! Only one accident today, and it was because Alex was too engrossed in the above-mentioned Animal House. He was playing with legos, stood up, peed, and returned to playing like nothing had happened. Noah looked at him totally horrified!!!! After I picked my jaw up off the ground, I attempted to whisk him away to the potty. His reaction: LOUD screaming and crying of "MOMMY PWAY!!" I think this a true "phase" of potty training--how to stop playing long enough to go potty.

Noah is handling the potty training thing rather well. When Alex or I say "potty," he screams "Puppy" and runs and hugs Maya. I have tried to tell him that we are NOT saying "Puppy," but really....rationalizing with an 18-month old....not so easy! So, everytime Alex yells "potty," the dogs get extra lovins!!

Buenos Noches

There comes a time in every man's life.....

...when he has to learn to make peepee in the potty. For Alex, that time is NOW. That's right--he is officially in training--POTTY TRAINING! On Monday, my little boy turned in his Elmo diaper for brand spankin new "big boy" undies (ok...so they have Elmo on them, but still....).
Claire swears by the "cold turkey" approach (straight to underwear....pull ups only for naps and nightime), so I'm willing to go with it (especially since SHE is the one who will be with him the first five days of this little adventure!)
I am afraid to write this, but he has done FABULOUSLY making both #1 and #2 in the potty!!!!! That is not to say that he is accident-free, but he DOES seem to be getting the idea (must find wood to knock on....). My evenings go something like this:
ALEX: "MOMMY!!!! PEE PEE!!!"

MOMMY (hurling pots and pans off the stove and leaping over dogs (and poor litte Noah) in an attempt to get him to the bathroom): "ok...you need to make peepee in the potty...want a story?"

ALEX: "All done" (note...no peeing)

Repeat at least 23 times until....that moment....when he gets "that look" on his face and ACTUALLY goes! Priceless!

Of course poor little Noah just wants to be in on the action, so if I leave the door open, I end up having to pry Noah off of Alex's lap--I've learned to close the door.

I will keep you posted on Alex's progress....and the number of pairs of underwear we go through in a day. So far, that number is 4. But tomorrow is another day.