Some fun on Saturday

So, despite the ND loss on Saturday, I think we managed to have some fun. We decided to set up this little tikes playground that I found at a great deal on craiglist this summer. Mario thought we should put it up right when we got it, I wanted to save it. Of course, when I decided that maybe he was right and we should put it up now, I had to profess how intelligent he is and how he is awesome at everything. MJ really likes it...and Joey does too, but I haven't let Joey play on it as much. Presently, I just enjoy having someplace to send MJ when he wants to jump and climb as I think is part of the genetic code of all male toddlers. I tend to keep Joey inside while MJ plays (either sleeping or just downstairs). He climbs over to the sliding glass door and bangs on the window trying to get out. Poor guy... if he didn't eat grass and everything else. I might let him wander out on his own.

After the kids were asleep, Mario and I celebrated his promotion at BAH (have I posted that yet? I don't think I have). He skipped a promotion level and went straight to Senior Associate at Booz Allen, which other consulting firms would call a Manager. He worked very hard for this. Along with a hefty salary increase, bigger bonus, and more vacation time, BAH gave us this super big bottle of Champaigne. So we enjoyed that while we watched.... Night at the Museum... it was the movie that came in the mail that day. I actually kind of enjoyed it...but maybe that's the champaigne talking.

And rather than making another post... MJ and Joey came along with me as I voted on Tuesday (like they had a choice). I told MJ he could help me, and he seemed rather excited about it. But in the end he stayed in the double stroller the whole time looking at the new books we just got from the library. I gotta tell you, walking up to vote is fun. The parking lot at the school was full of cars... you'd think there were tons of people voting. I'm sure some of the cars were teachers trying to work somewhere, but really, there are just all those people helping you vote PLUS all the people waiting outside to approach you with things. I totally felt I was being sized up as I walked towards them... "Is she liberal or conservative? She looks young, but she's pushing two kids in a stroller." One guy who came up to me was actually a write in for a Board Member position. I had already planned to add him in and vote for him, so it was neat to talk to him and tell him that. I've been trying to search the election results to see if he won yet, but no luck. Of course, then when I left everyone was thanking me for voting, and I wonder if thied try to guess who I voted for. When we got to the car MJ said, "Mommy can I go and help you vote?" I tried to explain that I was all done. I guess that's a tough concept to grasp.

Joey driving and flashback

I'm trying to remind myself to enjoy watching Joey play more. It's easy to get busy with other things and let Joey and MJ play happily on their own. But I realize they are growing up too fast to just let it all go by. So, here is Joey driving his car. He can pull himself up on things and cruise around. He can also climb up stairs. He tried to climb on the car by himself, but he needed a little help.

I think he liked being able to ride the car.

I noticed that Joey was playing with these magnetic darts on the floor and looking so cute. I then remembered that I had taken a picture of MJ playing with darts and wearing the same shirt. So, here is 1 year old MJ playing with darts and 8 1/2 month old Joey doing the same.... it was even in the same spot in the room (except now in 2007 we have new furniture there). Thanks, Uncle Christian and Aunt Michelle for the dart board gift from Christmas 2005. Some may not think it is in a great spot for playing darts, but it's home for the last 2 years has been hung on the door to our coat closet. Kids love it there and it's easy to move around wherever you want it.

Updates

So, we are 1 week into toilet training, and MJ seems to be doing really well. I'll have to detail this ordeal (mainly so that I can look back and remember how I did this when it is Joey's turn). It's an interesting thing, b/c in the beginning, there will be accidents. So while you think having a kid out of diapers means less mess, it doesn't initially. I've done lots of laundry (mostly on half accidents) but even a little wetness on a kid is not okay. If it was milk, juice, many other things, I'd be fine. Well, anyway, there's been laundry. And then the near misses in the bathroom... But today, we had 0 accidents. He wore the same pants all day, and he's done great when we go out and about. Actually, last Tuesday (day 2 of his potty training) I had to take him out of the house for 2 hours while I went to teach. I think it was a mostly successful attempt, but it taught me that I don't have to fear leaving the house.

I also think that half of the annoyance of toilet training is that it is an emotional thing...at least it was for MJ. On Monday, he started getting it, but then was afraid to go and would hold it until he had a diaper. This frustrated me so much, b/c I figured, he did it once, what could be stopping him from doing this again? I can see how expanding this over several days could drive any parent crazy. I've been afraid to note his minor successes in case they backfire and he reverts back to his old ways. If I post tomorrow that accidents have started again, you'll know why!

In the meantime, there's Joey. Who thank goodness is such a sweet and content little boy. But he is curious, and tries to get into everything. Most things in our house are already baby proofed. But it's fun to see him open up doors and pull out baskets so he can find toys (which are mostly toddler toys, but he likes them too). He really likes the Weeble Castle the Kaza's gave us (Thanks!). Oh, and while I was busy with MJ once upstairs, I came down only to find my little Joey who previously had just been exploring stairs and getting up the first one to the landing, and already turned and was heading up the big flight. I guess it's time for a baby gate at the bottom of those stairs too! I was proud of him. He also had taken interest in reading. If you have little ones like mine, I read to them nearly every day for as long as I could remember. At first, they just sat there b/c that's all they could do. Then they would bat at the pages and impatiently turn them as if you weren't reading fast enough. And finally, they get to a point where it seems they are actually just waiting for you to tell the story. Joey seems to be content with that now, and is enjoying the other skill that comes with that, actually attempting to read on his own. Which when they are younger (at least my kids) reading meant attempting to tear pages and eat books. And now he tries to sit and actually turn he pages. So cute!

Since I realize I have a severe lack of Joey photos (maybe not on this blog, but in our home collectin) I thought I'd put a few up now.

I'm not sure why he is only in a diaper, but it's always fun to show some baby skin every once in awhile. Note MJ's cool Sarge underwear behind Joey.

"I'm cute, and I know it."

For some reason, it's cute when they first learn how to make a mess. It was fun to watch Joey explore like this. Then they get older... MJ knows that knocking letters off the fridge drives mommy nuts.