Grace's First Day of K5

Grace is back to school this week - and boy were we ready!  Last year, these were tearful days.  However this year, she is ready to go without any apprehension.  Way to go Gracie!

Sorry, but I just don't get it.

  I am really trying not to buy much of anything for Mae, but she is still a baby and some stuff is just too funky to pass down.  And it seems like everyone I know is pregnant.  So I do find myself in baby stores every once in a while. 

For the record, I literally HATE BuyBuyBaby.  Less than I hate Babies r Us, but I do hate it.  Really I do. 

That being said, their coupons suck me in once in a while.  And I always leave kicking myself and thinking, "Well that wasn't worth the $10 I just saved.  Next time I will just order it from Amazon.  I really will.  I promise."

Anyways, I find myself wandering their towering aisles every once in a while.  And interacting with the same clueless sales lady. 

One time after failing to understand some sort of coupon thing she was talking about, I said, "I guess I am just really tired."  I was not about to admit that I am not smart enough to grasp Buy Buy Baby's coupon policy. She said, "Oh maybe you should take a nap!"  No shit lady.  Its like when I am pregnant and people are like, "Oh you are sick?  You should eat crackers."  Yes!  Crackers!  The dry, crunchy things!  I never thought of that! 

Although, one time I did have this exchange with her. 

"Yes, this is my third baby."

"Oh wow!"

"Yup, it is interesting to walk around here seeing all the stuff that babies just do not need."

"Oh. Uh. Okay." 

 Sometimes I cannot help myself.  I was trying to make conversation, but just ended up being rude.  So it is no wonder that she doesn't like me.   

There are some new products that I love. Such as the aden & anais swaddle blankets. Being obsessed with swaddling, I really wish I had those for Grace and Andrew. In fact, I still swaddle Mae, (even though my favorite baby site, dr. sears, says not to) which would not be possible without these blankets.  And the pampers swaddlers that have the blue line to tell you when the diaper is wet - those are great.  When Grace was just a tiny baby and we had to record those wet diapers, I remember not being able to tell if they were wet or not. 

Awe, remember baby Grace?

Anyway, it is interesting to see how much all the stuff changes every few years.  The car seats keep getting bigger and bigger.  I can fit in some of them.  Seriously. 

And the products more and more ridiculous.    

Such as Boogie Wipes.  Special wipes for a runny nose.  Because babies cannot use kleenex?  I guess?  I didn't know this. 

Or this thing, kidco portable activity seat, I cannot even imagine where one would use it....no idea. I love that it has close to 5 stars in the reviews.  I am sure people are like, "Well I am an idiot for buying this ridiculous seat.  But I don't want to be the only fool, so I will give it a fabulous review so other parents buy it too!" 

And finally, I know EVERYONE has this Sophie the Giraffe French teething toy, and the babies love it.  And please do not take offense if you bought one of these.  

But I don't get it. 

I really don't get it. 

It is just too expensive (Yes, I know I buy a $4 latte like every day.) 

I actually kinda think it is some sort of social experiment to see what people will buy.  If it wasn't "French" would people still buy it?  Would they pay less if it were from another country....like Cambodia or Kazakhstan?

Maybe someone will buy it for Mae and I will finally understand the appeal.  

Will she be like a French baby?

Will she look oh so refined?

Will she want to wear a beret and eat brie?

Will she start cooing in a French accent? 

  

(Don't you love this smug smirk (somewhat French, err, Parisian) look on her face.  I can just hear her..."You stupid Americans!")

I won't be buying one.  But if the Le Expensive Baby Toy company wants to send me one to review, I will gladly do so. 

Andrew's Birthday

 

We celebrated Andrew's birthday in Mexico, because that is soooo much easier for everyone (me).  He got some fun gifts, danced to his favorite song, ate stick donuts (churros) and got to break open a pinata. 

 

And....them do have meatballs in Mexico!

Grace got really into the pinata.  She was taking out all of her pent up frustration.  It was sorta scary.

Andrew was really excited about these batman socks.  Which are no where to be found.  I think they probably got thrown away with all the wrapping paper.  Whoops.

The boys hanging at the bar. 

 



alternate version of reality

As I am pulling out a spare outfit for daycare for Andrew...
"I not wear that today."
"I know buddy, we are just bringing this in case you need to change clothes.  If you pee in your pants."
"I not pee in my pants.  I potty trained."
"Well you peed in your pants yesterday."
"No.  I not do that.  I potty trained." 

Oh Andrew, I admire your confidence and and wish I could create my own alternate version of reality just like you. 

Similar to a conversation I had with my husband.

(I will preface this by saying that Kevin did take off work to take me to the doctor and postpone a business trip due to me being sick.  And he sent me flowers for our anniversary.  He is an awesome husband.  Seriously.  But this one I couldn't resist.)

I had to go to the doctor for nausea and dehydration.  They gave me an IV and some zofran (asked if I was familiar with it - hilarious).  They sent me home and told me to drink lots of fluids and eat sugary things like jello.  So on the way home Kevin ran into the store to get jello. 

"Hey Kevin.  This is sugar free jello you bought."
"Huh?"
"Well remember the doctor said I need to eat things with a lot of sugar?"
"Yeah.  Well they don't make jello with sugar.  It is all sugar free."

Oh Kevin, I admire your confidence and wish I could create my own alternate version of reality just like you.

I would also like to note that I was at the doctor on our 8th wedding anniversary.  The IV took about 45 minutes to administer.  We were in our own room.  They turned off the overhead lights and just had the lamp on that they use to do pelvic exams.  So it was actually quite romantic.  Well, it would have had a chance of being romantic if we weren't just on our phones the whole time. 

Jump!

Tummy time with a view

This is why my kids go to daycare

Grace came home with this sentence she wrote. The teacher said their lesson of the day was about accountability. How great is that?

And Mae came home with this artwork. Sandy footprints. Finally, I have something for her memory box!

Mae's silver star day

I haven't made any updates lately as I was trying to follow the old saying...."If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all."

But today I am nothing short of ECSTATIC that Miss Mae finally took a bottle at daycare! She even got a silver star sticker.

Go Mae!