Two right feet

Ale likes to be barefoot; he always has. He has also always forgotten where he puts his shoes even after infinitive reminders to put his shoes in the closet. The newest rule in our house is that he cannot get into the van without his shoes on. Yet it is a bit difficult for us to manage and on several occasions we have arrived at a destination only to find Ale barefoot! Today was no different with the exception that I broke the rule and knowingly allowed him into the van without shoes as we were going somewhere that was "barefoot friendly".

After our visit we ended up going to the local five&dime. Ale gets out of the car and....NO SHOES! Samuel had a pair of his shoes in the van for some reason and we also managed to find one of Ale's shoes in there. Ale ended up wearing his shoe and one of Samuel's. He insisted that he should wear one with one of Samuel's; who am I to argue? Thankfully they were the same design. He looked like a duck waddling into the store with two right feet, one a couple of sizes bigger than the other one.

Multiple uses for a rolling pin!

Dear Diary,

Today I found yet another use for a rolling pin.

The set-up: We have been walking behind Samuel to school in the morning however today I rode my bike with him, leaving the three others at home with AJ. It was a lot quicker. Then I thought...I have been walking a lot and would like to start biking some more. It definitely felt more free biking now than when I went around the block with Samuel when he was starting to learn early this summer and I was almost 8 months pregnant. I decided to buy a bike trailer. I should have held onto the one my sister gave us just before Samuel turned one but there was no need. Anyhow, I found one on clearance and had to put it together.

The conviction: The trailer is supposed to be put together without tools but, of course, the pieces don't fit exactly how they need to and some pounding is necessary. I managed to get everything together with the exception to the 2nd handle. It just didn't line up right. So I go to find a "pounding tool". Too lazy to search downstairs. We do have a tool area but it isn't ontop of my organization list right now. Why not use a rolling pin? Good idea.

Pound, pound, pound. It is working! Okay, a couple of dents in the wood but that would give me a nice story when I'd use it some other day to make crumbs or roll out some dough. That handle sure is stubborn. Pound, pound, pound. Do I see the rolling pin falling apart? Yup! I had bought it at an estate sale shortly after getting married over 9 years ago. Fell apart? Yup!!! Oh, well. I guess I really didn't like that the rolling pin had handles on it anyway. It served it's purpose yet again and the trailer did get put together (in the kitchen, by the way). And now I have my "handle-less" rolling pin.

Potty Training 101 & the Three Day Rule

We have a method that works well when it comes to any kind of training or weaning. We call it "The Three Day Rule" which basically is to wait until there is a window of opportunity. There is no sense training/weaning when a child is not willing. You have to catch it just right. The first day always requires a lot of attention and perhaps distraction. The second day is a continuation with the understanding that there is no turning back. The third day reality sets in and it becomes much easier from that point. It just works.

At least I thought that. Maybe we just aren't catching Annah at the right time. She has never liked to poop. That is from birth! She does poop on the toilet, however. Now tinkles? We are still getting there. I am starting to wonder if her training is going to be more gradual. She has a strong personality and with Andrea only being 2 1/2 months may be using that and withholding. Granted she is just over 2 herself and there is plenty of time. I guess time will tell. We may have our first non-three-day-ruler....but probably just the timing isn't right yet.

(I need to mention here that she calls Winnie "Winnie the PooP". It makes me chuckle. And what parent cannot hold a conversation about tinkles and poopies?

BWA

BWA..Baby Wearer Annonymous. Yup, that is me. It all started with a Bjorn over 6 years ago. And from there I have been out of control. My favorite is a mei tai however with Andi I have also grown partial to the sling. And there should be a BWA since it is a true addiction. I probably have too many carriers and it is pretty obvious since now Samuel has asked to "wear" Andi. It sure is a life saver and I wouldn't have it anyother way. You do adjust to doing things in a different manner. It's just the way it is.

The tech savy 6 year old

Or should I say 6 and a half year old since at that young age you count the 1/2 years too. Samuel just got his first e-mail address. He named it himself... "samuelsfirstemail@.......". It made me chuckle. I am amazed at what he learned on the keyboard at school already. He sent a message to Buppa (grandpa) asking him to ride bikes with him and another one to Papi.

Weight resistance

I started on the elliptical again 3 weeks post partum. With the exception of taking the week off while my in laws were here I am back on. Now 7 weeks post partum I am actually starting to feel some muscle aches. That is a good thing because at least I know I have muscles...those abs and thighs. Or perhaps my muscles are returning since I have added resistance to my workout; my daughter. And the good thing is that she is gradually getting heavier which is more natural resistance!

How many people can you fit....

It almost sounds like a joke. How many people can you fit into two double beds? Well, a couple of weeks ago we went to pick-up my mother-in-law and overnighted in a hotel. Even though there are six of us I see us as a single entity. We got to the hotel and then realized that seven people in 2 double beds would be a tad mooshed (even though 4 were children). But we made it happen. Perhaps it was due to all that training had when we promoted ourselves in our house to a king size "family" bed that we made it work. AJ, the two younger ones and myself on one bed (the youngest one is nursing). "Abuela" and the two boys on the other bed. Did we sleep? Yes. Was it comfy? Um, do I need to answer?