Double duty

A lot has been happening! I really want to start updating more, even if it's something silly and stupid and it only matters to me :) Becauase I am really stupid and silly evidently. This past week Mark had some very exciting events. For starters he rolled over! We missed it the first time though. Brad sat on the floor with Mark and then got distracted by something on his phone. All of a sudden he said "uhhh....mommy?" and I looked and accused him of flipping him himself because I am NOT the mother who would miss this moment :) We turned him back on his back and got the camera's ready and in about five minutes he did it again. Unlike his sister he hasn't been interested in doing it much more. Maybe once a day. He spends a lot of time on the floor and gets himself on his side and is happy to stay like that. Maybe it's comfortable? He also got his first taste of rice cereal too. He had begun watching us intently while we eat and almost drooling on command so I thought what the heck? I was hoping to hold him off of this longer than Caroline did but no such luck. He is eating a very tiny amount everyday and seems to enjoy it. I was hoping it might help stop some of the spit up but it hasn't so far. As much as I hated Caroline's poop problems (I think I mentioned them before?) I hate the spit up even more. It happens all day any day everyday and all over my house. Spit up doesn't discriminate. I look forward to this phase being over. And to add to the spit up I think we are teething too. If not, then I would like some other explanation for the slimey drool he is usually covered in as of late. And the reason for sticking his whole hand in his mouth thus covering it in aforementioned slime. Or sucking on my shirt or arm or finger or whatever he can grab to gnaw on. And, he is grabbing so much more now. He has one certain rattle that he can grab and shake himself now. He's my genius :) And, the other day we found him holidng on to one of the hanging toys in his 'floor gym'. But, we don't think he realizes how to let go...he justs hangs out until he gets tired or something and then gets pretty angry until we help him release his fingers. Then all is well! He loves to smile and has a killer one and is so ticklish (just like daddy!) and I LOVE to hear his adorable giggle. Brad will tell anyone and everyone Mark is a momma's boy. I don't care. He's just jealous! Mark does prefer me to everyone else and they all call it 'being spoiled' but I don't! He does have a problem with not being held or having people put him down and walk away to probably do something important like pee but I am hoping he gets through that soon too. Brad can hold him and play with him but when he gets tired and wants to sleep only mommy will do :) I love it. Mostly. He started sleeping in his crib all the time over the weekend. This was the worst for me. I am the one to blame for him not being in there already. He did great and slept as good as he did in the pack and play in our room. I was worried because the PNP has a vibrate mode to it that instanly soothed him and the crib wouldn't have that. But, the nature sounds on the mobile seem to be just as calming and effective. He still gets up at night but Caroline never slept through either so I am not counting on it. We have a doctor's appointment in a few weeks but right now if I stand on the scale without him and then with him there is a 14 pound difference. I love my chunky monkey :)

And, Miss Caroline. She is so independent, stubborn and daring. Oy, I see a few emergency room visits in our future! She is into climbing on EVERYTHING!!! She wants to do everything herself and help with anything and everything. She knows no fear. Well, she does seem to be afraid of the potty. While I was pregnant she would want to use it every now and then and even did manage to do her business in there a few times. But, now that we really want to start the training process she is very much against it! But, in the last few days I think we may have some signs of turning a corner so to speak. I'm crossing my fingers. Her attitude is out of this world now too. She repeats everything I say to her and has now started telling me 'no, you don't talk to me like that' when I tell her she can't have popsicles for her morning snack. Or 'go away mommy' when I catch her doing something she shoudln't be doing. I don't know how both of us will survive the teenage years. She really has an amazing vocabulary and conversation skills to boot. She knows her pleases and thank yous, she can say some of our prayers, count to ten, say some of her alphabet and sings a million different songs! She loves to perform for me but when I want her to do it on cue she won't!Her memory is pretty amazing too. Not something that is always handy when mommy is trying to avoid something but fun nonetheless. She is the best helper in the world and loves taking care of Mark. Whenever he is crying in the car (which is ALL THE TIME lately) she makes funny faces for him and sings to him the song I normally sing. She loves to help burp him and give him his bath and do anything else I let her. I made up a song about Mark and I can no longer sing it because "he's my little man, mommy". I hope this lasts forever! The best part of having her talk so much though is how great we can communicate and I know exactly what she is feeling and wanting and everything else. Like last night as I was getting her 'jammies on and tickling her until she was breathless and she stood up and hugged me and said 'mommy, you're the best mommy!' I then had to explain to her why I was crying and hugging her so much ! <3