Redneck Baby Proofing

Yeah, I am not winning any mother of the year awards here.  I still haven't really baby proofed the kitchen.  I bought the safety latches and realized that I really don't want to drill.  At all.  So we have come up with some 'redneck ways' to keep the kids out of the bad cabinets.  Yeah, we are classy like that!

The flu

Well, the reason I haven't posted in a while is that we have been battling the flu.  At least we were a couple of weeks ago.  Now it is some upper respiratory funk.  Just when you think everyone is healthy and well, the sneezes and coughs begin.  We have been out a few times, in between the illness in the family.  I went and met some local mommies for coffee a few times.  They are a wonderful group of women and we all enjoy each others company.  We have missed many gymboree playgroup classes.  I am hoping to make them up with the art class soon.  IF, I can get the girls healthy! 

The girls are doing well, albeit snotty and coughing, but well.  They are talking more and more each day.  Jill has even begun putting 2 words together such as 'Milk good' and 'Bailey No'.  Kate is talking more also and is really good at mimicking words.  Both of the girls have showed a lot of interest in helping around the house.  They like to bring me dirty dishes so I can lift them up to drop them in the sink.  They like to sort through the laundry and help me put it in the washer.  Jillian also has started asking me to lift her up so she can wash her hands in the sink.  And of course what one does, the other is sure to follow.  

They are both obsessed with shoes right now.  It doesn't matter if it is daddy's shoes or mommy's shoes - they want to wear them around the house.  Some other favorites are fur lined crocs and some fur lined winter boots.  They love to wear shoes around the house.  Even over their sleepers.  They are also very into pretend play.  Everything becomes a phone and a wild conversation ensues.  It's amazing to watch them create a whole conversation with a pretend phone - "A-lo, uh huh, bailey, mur, no no, uh huh, bye bye".  I do have to say that they are such a joy to be around now that they are communicating better.  Everyday brings new discoveries.

Jillian putting the baby in the chair to eat

Kate walking around in my shoe

Mommies poor little sickies

Cruising the house in their boots

We had just come back from a walk in the neighborhood and neither of them wanted to get out of the wagon.

Katelyn trying on daddy's shoe

I don't feel good

The girls showing off their new shoes

Hmmmm Red Velvet Cupcakes

I recently made some cupcakes for a mommy lunch meet up.  I stashed a few aside for me, uh I mean the girls, before taking the rest to lunch.  The little ladies loved the cupcakes.  Of course Jillian, so much like me, licked all the icing off first.  Kate devoured hers just like momma.

Kate signing 'all done'

Toddler Coozie

After breakfast, the girls get their sippy cups filled with cold milk. Both of them will grab a burp cloth, wrap it around their cup, and continue on. I don't think they like cold hands. Perhaps I should invent a sippy cup with a coozie?!

The beauty of it all

The girls are very adept at 'drawer digging'.  They like to take out and put back everything within a toddlers reach.  Lucky me!  Yeah that's my sad attempt at being sarcastic.  I realize this is a stage and that they will eventually grow out of it, like in 16 or 17 years.  

Recently while unloading a drawer in the master bathroom they stumbled across some old makeup brushes of mine.  I don't mind them playing with the brushes.  In fact, they have been carrying them around for a couple of days now. They pretend to paint the walls, comb their hair, and brush the dogs. As long as it keeps the girls away from the cotton balls and a repeat performance of "let's spread 500 cotton balls all over the bathroom".  Never......Again.....  And don't get me started on the q-tip incident's.  Yeah, that's plural for more than one.

Naughty Kate

I firmly believe that all children are drawn to the household's pet food and water.  It's this inexplicable force urging them to explore and play.  Whether it is a dog or cat, it's all fair game.  Luckily the kids haven't eaten the dogs food....yet.  I am sure a day will come when I catch Jill happily chewing on some dog kibbles or Kate licking the water bowl.  I have caught Jill using her fork to stir the dog food, so I am pretty sure a taste test is just around the corner.  

A few days ago, the girls were VERY interested in the dogs eating.  Kate laid down on the ground right next to Bailey and watched every mouthful he was eating.  Luckily our dogs have never shown any food aggression unless the food in question is a pigs ear.  Just to be on the safe side, I shoo'ed both of the girls away so the dogs could eat in peace.  Yeah right!  Jill amused herself with some other task while Kate went back to watch.

This time I had the camera in hand and caught Kate red handed or wet handed while happily splashing in the dog's water.  Good times!

Splish splash

Busted, but I will give you my sweet smile to distract you

I will now apologize to Murphy by giving him a hug.  The cuteness of the whole scene will make mommy forget that I was playing in the dog's water, yet again.  Mission accomplished! 

More Park Fun!

We had absolutely lovely weather yesterday.  The high was a balmy 62 so the gals and I headed to the park.  We took full advantage of the warmer weather before the snow predicted this weekend.  They had a wonderful time playing.

Ice on Heritage Park lake