We went and saw sharks!

We recently invested in a membership to Sea Life Minnesota.

Oliver loves the sharks!

They are all he can talk about for days after we visit: "I go see sharks, mama?"  It is really hard to avoid going to Sea Life MN any time we go to the MOA.  And, he seems to think all malls have sharks.  Recently we went to Roseville and as we walked in the doors Oliver said "This a mall, Mama?" I said yes, and he replied "I see sharks?"  I had to explain that there were not sharks at this mall, and Oliver decided that it was a yucky mall.

Auntie got him a shark hat, here he is modeling it, along with his new shoes!

I just love watching his face light up every time he sees a shark.

(Personally, I prefer the tortises.  You can see one in the background)

I think Oliver was less impressed with this guy:

Jeez Papa, this guy is ugly!

I did manage to get my favorite threesome to slow down long enough

to take a nice picture.

Well, two out of three isn't bad...

Ello Bandy-ions

I don't have any fun pictures to share for this post, but rather a few cute things that I wanted to remember.

Tonight Oliver and I were outside.  I decided to do some general cleaning up of my flower gardens--something that has been neglected this year with the arrival of Ememlia.  Oliver saw me "playing" in the dirt and since he's 2, and a boy he asked if he could help.  I said "please do" and he started repeating me saying "Ollie peas to help."

The first task I assigned him was to pick all the dandy lions.  We talked about the fact that they are yellow, and are called dandy lions.  In his cute pre-school speak it came out as 'ello bandy-ions.  He kept saying "I found another one ucky 'ello bandy-ions, Mama!

After the bandy-ions were all picked, he started collecting pine-cones but kept referring to them as pineapples.  He'd say "pineapples bery ucky" and I'd try to explain that they were called "pine cones" and were yucky, but that pineapple is yellow fruit and is yummy. 

He wasn't buying it.

And just for fun, here is a picture of Oliver with a strangely dirty face (?).

Who's who?

Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

Granted, one is about 3 weeks older than the other in these pictures, but I can't get over how much they look alike.

The top one is Oliver, the bottom one is Emelia.

This is my new favorite picture of Oliver...

It captures him perfectly--half sweetheart, have trouble maker. 

I think this picture must have caught him transitioning between his two selves.

And my favorite picture of Emelia.

For now.

She is smiling at herself in the mirror.  One of her favorite activities.

And my babies together.  They make my heart melt.

"It not working"

Lately any time I take out the camera Oliver flashes his cheesiest grin. 

I was trying to figure out how to take videos on my new camera the other night, because I wanted to capture Oliver dancing along to "The Voice" but I got this instead:



10 Things

Ten things to know about Emelia.

1.  She crys.  A lot.  Now before you roll your eyes and say "of course she does Ann, she's a baby"--hear me out.

She crys for hours.  With a feriocity that threatens to bring down the roof on my 100+ year old house.

Emelia has cried more in her first four weeks than Oliver did in his first 6 months.  After one marathon 5 hour session I called our doctor, and he suggested I bring her in.  She performed well for him--which made me happy.  Not because I want her to cry, but because I didn't want the doctor to think I was crazy.

When she wasn't better the next day, he asked me to come in again.  We have no answers, but I feel better knowing that a seasoned vetran of pediatrics confirms what I've been thinking... she crys A LOT.

2.  She hates having her diaper changed.

3.  She spits up--a lot.  I think this may have something to do with #1 above.

4.  She has really long fingers.

5. And toes.  She couldn't wear the newborn size clothes because her feet were to big to fit in the footies!

6. She sleeps better than Oliver did (thank goodness).  Usually two 3-4 hour stretches per night.

7.  She is really strong.  She was holding her head up before we left the hospital.  The other day she almost rolled over straining for her nuk which was just out of reach.

8.  She is pretty in pink.  Which is good because we have a lot of pink.

9.  She is the loudest sleeper I know.  I still get up at night thinking she is fussing, but she's not. Just grunting, squeaking, snorting and yes, crying... in.her.sleep.


10.  She squeaks.  A lot.  Andy has nicknamed her "Little Mouse."

Wearing "big brother" shoes

I knew that there would be some bumps in the road as Oliver learns his new role of big brother.  Overall, he is adjusting nicely.

As I've previously mentioned, he loves Emelia and is very affectionate with her.

 Except when he hits her.

Which he has done twice.

Which really isn't that bad considering she was born three weeks ago.  Right?!

Then there is the acting out.  Good grief.

Oliver and I no longer speak the same language.  Here are some illustrations.

When I say "no" Oliver takes it to mean "go ahead."

When I say "stop" Oliver hears "keep doing that."

The "I-read-everything-on-the-internet-I-can-find-on-parenting" mother in me knows that he is testing his boundaries and that I need to be firm and consistant which will provide him with the security he needs to feel loved.

The human in me says "for-crying-out-loud-I'm-going-to-pull-my-hair-out-if-you-don't-behave" -- lets just say it's been a bit rough. 

A high point for me came on a night when Andy had to work late. 

We sat down to dinner, Oliver, Emelia and I, and we were all in tears.

But we are learning each day, and surviving...one day at a time.

Oliver & Emelia

It's official.  Oliver is smitten.

Everyday when Oliver and Andy come home from work and daycare, Oliver asks, "where'd the baby go?" (assuming I'm not holding her) and runs to check the usual places-the swing, the bouncy chair, the play pen. 

It has been so fun to watch how he interacts with her... he is so gentle and loving. Oliver asks to hold Emelia every day.  He hugs and kisses her more times than I can count.  My heart melts as I watch him gently kiss her on the top of her little head and say "I love you baby."

I think it is safe to say that Oliver is smitten with his little sister.

So am I.