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| From 2011-05-28 |
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Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Memorial Day weekend 2011
We had a long weekend at the cabin and had a great time. It was a mixed bag in terms of weather (certainly not swimming weather!), but overall pretty good. The highlights of the weekend were two visits -- Saturday and Monday -- from our new friends who have a daughter a little older than Ben & Maddie. We also had a visit from my aunt and uncle, Ann & Brian, on Sunday. It was so great to catch up with them!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Last music class
Last night was Ben & Maddie's last session of ECFE music class, which we started in September. They absolutely adored that class and they don't yet understand that we won't be going next week, or the week after, or the week after, etc. It'll be interesting to see when the reality sets in for them.
The class consisted of singing and dancing, sometimes playing little instruments. And the last thing at the end was playing in/on a parachute. We would put the kids in the middle and ride them around in a circle. Then have them sit under and do "Where are the children, where are the children? Peek-a-boo! We see you!" That was always their favorite part.
It was amazing to see how they progressed over the course of the school year. At the beginning they just kind of sat there, eyes glazed over, watching the teacher and all the other kids. By the end, they were among the most engaged. Ben even tried to sing along a couple times. Maddie entertained everybody with her funny laugh.
And nearly every time, they wanted to give the teacher, Sue, a hug and a kiss before we left. It was so sweet.
The class consisted of singing and dancing, sometimes playing little instruments. And the last thing at the end was playing in/on a parachute. We would put the kids in the middle and ride them around in a circle. Then have them sit under and do "Where are the children, where are the children? Peek-a-boo! We see you!" That was always their favorite part.
It was amazing to see how they progressed over the course of the school year. At the beginning they just kind of sat there, eyes glazed over, watching the teacher and all the other kids. By the end, they were among the most engaged. Ben even tried to sing along a couple times. Maddie entertained everybody with her funny laugh.
And nearly every time, they wanted to give the teacher, Sue, a hug and a kiss before we left. It was so sweet.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
My advice for a new parent
Looking back on the past 2+ years with Ben & Maddie, I've given some thought to the various things we've done as parents that have worked or not worked; lessons we've learned (often the hard way), etc. So I thought I'd share....
1) Consistency is key. You will feel like you're doing the same thing over and over and over, but that's what babies and toddlers crave. They feel more secure if they know what's coming next (especially when they become toddlers). Having days filled with running errands and going to other people's houses is crazy insane for a baby or toddler and too much stimulation. Babies, especially, love being in the same place all the time, doing the same things they did yesterday. Toddlers are a bit more open to doing new/different things.
2) Start some good practices right away when they are babies. Don't think that you can do something now and then change it later without it being a major hassle. Some examples: put them to sleep in their crib right away on the first day home from the hospital so you don't have to re-train them later how to sleep alone; rocking them to sleep is another example...if they get used to you rocking them to sleep, they won't learn how to fall asleep on their own; add a little variety to bedtime routine in terms of which parent (or other person) is in the room so that they don't become dependent on one single person to always do bedtime routine.
3) Use pacifiers only as a last resort. Try some other soothing methods first. We loved the recommendations in "Happiest baby on the block." There's also a music CD with soothing sounds (including one that sounds like the womb) that we found to be extremely effective at soothing the babies and helping them fall asleep. We ended up ditching the pacifiers altogether at 3 months and are so thrilled to not have to "fight" with a toddler to take it away (like so many of our friends have had to do)
4) Naps are sacred, especially for the first 2 years (but also up to age 3). I think the only thing that should trump a nap would be a trip to the emergency room. Otherwise, do whatever it takes to make sure the baby is down for his or her nap(s) at the same time everyday.
5) Sleep training is awesome. There are lots of books out there on how to "train" your baby to sleep better. We used "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and I was truly amazed by how well it worked. That book was dead on right. Every time we encountered some weird sleeping problems, we looked in the book and found the perfect solution. Make sure to find one of these books and read it before you hit the 4-month mark. Right around 4 or 5 months is when you need to be doing the first sleep training (unless baby is a preemie, then it might be later).
6) Babies and toddlers have a strange reaction to being overtired. They actually sleep less. They will take a long time falling asleep and/or wake up earlier than usual. The solution to this is to put them to bed earlier than usual -- 15 or 30 minutes earlier. It's quite amazing how well this trick works. Do that for a couple nights and baby will be back to normal and you can go back to normal schedule. (this also works great for when the time comes to change sleeping schedules -- like switching to two naps a day or one nap a day, etc. Or if the child has been sick and doesn't sleep well at night)
7) Schedules are a necessity, and it should be your schedule, not determined by the baby. Over the months, you will change this schedule (when they eat, when they sleep, etc), but there should always be a schedule. Nap times should be at the same time every day; bedtimes at the same time. (This goes hand in hand with the consistency thing). Changing your schedule when it's necessary will be some extra work for you (and most likely extra crying and unhappiness for baby) but it will sort itself out in a matter of days as long as you stick to your guns and not try to revert back to the old schedule thinking that will make the baby happier. The big change points tend to be around 4 or 5 months -- when they settle into a two-nap per day routine -- and then sometime between 6 and 10 months when they are eating solid foods three times a day and then again around 14-16 months when they go down to one nap per day. There will be another when they ditch the nap altogether (sometime between 2 1/2 and 4 years old)
8) Start teaching patience around their 1st birthday (if not a little earlier). When they are whining or asking for something and you are busy doing something else, say "yes, momma will get you that in just one minute." And then try to get to it as quickly as you can -- but not immediately. The younger they are, the shorter this time needs to be. But as they get older you can stretch it out. Rule of thumb is by their age. So a 1 year old can wait 1 minute, a 2-yr old can wait 2 minutes. If you start teaching patience early, it will pay off when they are toddlers and can be much louder and annoying in trying to get your attention.
9) Teach some sign language. We started when they were six months old probably. By their first birthday, they were proficient in at least a few key signs that made life way, way easier for those months before they could talk. The key ones that helped us were "more", "all done", "mommy", "daddy", "milk", "bath".
1) Consistency is key. You will feel like you're doing the same thing over and over and over, but that's what babies and toddlers crave. They feel more secure if they know what's coming next (especially when they become toddlers). Having days filled with running errands and going to other people's houses is crazy insane for a baby or toddler and too much stimulation. Babies, especially, love being in the same place all the time, doing the same things they did yesterday. Toddlers are a bit more open to doing new/different things.
2) Start some good practices right away when they are babies. Don't think that you can do something now and then change it later without it being a major hassle. Some examples: put them to sleep in their crib right away on the first day home from the hospital so you don't have to re-train them later how to sleep alone; rocking them to sleep is another example...if they get used to you rocking them to sleep, they won't learn how to fall asleep on their own; add a little variety to bedtime routine in terms of which parent (or other person) is in the room so that they don't become dependent on one single person to always do bedtime routine.
3) Use pacifiers only as a last resort. Try some other soothing methods first. We loved the recommendations in "Happiest baby on the block." There's also a music CD with soothing sounds (including one that sounds like the womb) that we found to be extremely effective at soothing the babies and helping them fall asleep. We ended up ditching the pacifiers altogether at 3 months and are so thrilled to not have to "fight" with a toddler to take it away (like so many of our friends have had to do)
4) Naps are sacred, especially for the first 2 years (but also up to age 3). I think the only thing that should trump a nap would be a trip to the emergency room. Otherwise, do whatever it takes to make sure the baby is down for his or her nap(s) at the same time everyday.
5) Sleep training is awesome. There are lots of books out there on how to "train" your baby to sleep better. We used "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and I was truly amazed by how well it worked. That book was dead on right. Every time we encountered some weird sleeping problems, we looked in the book and found the perfect solution. Make sure to find one of these books and read it before you hit the 4-month mark. Right around 4 or 5 months is when you need to be doing the first sleep training (unless baby is a preemie, then it might be later).
6) Babies and toddlers have a strange reaction to being overtired. They actually sleep less. They will take a long time falling asleep and/or wake up earlier than usual. The solution to this is to put them to bed earlier than usual -- 15 or 30 minutes earlier. It's quite amazing how well this trick works. Do that for a couple nights and baby will be back to normal and you can go back to normal schedule. (this also works great for when the time comes to change sleeping schedules -- like switching to two naps a day or one nap a day, etc. Or if the child has been sick and doesn't sleep well at night)
7) Schedules are a necessity, and it should be your schedule, not determined by the baby. Over the months, you will change this schedule (when they eat, when they sleep, etc), but there should always be a schedule. Nap times should be at the same time every day; bedtimes at the same time. (This goes hand in hand with the consistency thing). Changing your schedule when it's necessary will be some extra work for you (and most likely extra crying and unhappiness for baby) but it will sort itself out in a matter of days as long as you stick to your guns and not try to revert back to the old schedule thinking that will make the baby happier. The big change points tend to be around 4 or 5 months -- when they settle into a two-nap per day routine -- and then sometime between 6 and 10 months when they are eating solid foods three times a day and then again around 14-16 months when they go down to one nap per day. There will be another when they ditch the nap altogether (sometime between 2 1/2 and 4 years old)
8) Start teaching patience around their 1st birthday (if not a little earlier). When they are whining or asking for something and you are busy doing something else, say "yes, momma will get you that in just one minute." And then try to get to it as quickly as you can -- but not immediately. The younger they are, the shorter this time needs to be. But as they get older you can stretch it out. Rule of thumb is by their age. So a 1 year old can wait 1 minute, a 2-yr old can wait 2 minutes. If you start teaching patience early, it will pay off when they are toddlers and can be much louder and annoying in trying to get your attention.
9) Teach some sign language. We started when they were six months old probably. By their first birthday, they were proficient in at least a few key signs that made life way, way easier for those months before they could talk. The key ones that helped us were "more", "all done", "mommy", "daddy", "milk", "bath".
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Easter 2011
We spent most of the day at Marge Beissel's in Hastings. It was great to see her family again, including many we haven't seen in a couple of years.
Ben & Maddie had a great time, including a ride with aunt Lois on an ATV, playing at the nearby park, an Easter egg hunt (and the candy that came with it!) and generally trying to keep up with the bigger kids.
Grandpa Jerry would've been proud seeing Ben play with a football. Maddie was like an addict trying to get more candy by stealing from the other kids.
The funniest moment of all was at mealtime. Ben & Maddie had gobbled up the few black olives I gave them from my plate. So Lois went and got them a much bigger plate full. Us adults went back to talking and we basically got a sentence or two out of our mouths and the plate was empty! We gave them some more but when that plate was polished off, Maddie pounded her fists on the table and rolled her eyes and gave this classic -- "that's not fair!" scowl toward the people across the table from her. Everyone just happened to be looking at her at that moment and we all roared with laughter. It was classic!
By the end of the afternoon (after no nap), they were extremely tired and cranky. But both were asleep before we got out of the Hastings city limits. After the 30 minute drive, they woke up when we stopped at our friend's house.
He was just setting up their giant trampoline (the kind with safety netting all around) and Ben & Maddie got to try it out. They were in heaven! They just keep saying "jump, jump, jump!" and "wee!" and things like that. They were having so much fun. Maddie cried when we left, clearly upset that she couldn't keep jumping.
They went to bed early tonight (although not easily) so I'm hoping for a good long sleep.
Here are pics from today...
Here's Ben with Lois (sitting) and Marge (standing):
Ben & Maddie had a great time, including a ride with aunt Lois on an ATV, playing at the nearby park, an Easter egg hunt (and the candy that came with it!) and generally trying to keep up with the bigger kids.
Grandpa Jerry would've been proud seeing Ben play with a football. Maddie was like an addict trying to get more candy by stealing from the other kids.
The funniest moment of all was at mealtime. Ben & Maddie had gobbled up the few black olives I gave them from my plate. So Lois went and got them a much bigger plate full. Us adults went back to talking and we basically got a sentence or two out of our mouths and the plate was empty! We gave them some more but when that plate was polished off, Maddie pounded her fists on the table and rolled her eyes and gave this classic -- "that's not fair!" scowl toward the people across the table from her. Everyone just happened to be looking at her at that moment and we all roared with laughter. It was classic!
By the end of the afternoon (after no nap), they were extremely tired and cranky. But both were asleep before we got out of the Hastings city limits. After the 30 minute drive, they woke up when we stopped at our friend's house.
He was just setting up their giant trampoline (the kind with safety netting all around) and Ben & Maddie got to try it out. They were in heaven! They just keep saying "jump, jump, jump!" and "wee!" and things like that. They were having so much fun. Maddie cried when we left, clearly upset that she couldn't keep jumping.
They went to bed early tonight (although not easily) so I'm hoping for a good long sleep.
Here are pics from today...
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| From 2011-04-24 |
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| From 2011-04-24 |
Here's Ben with Lois (sitting) and Marge (standing):
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Monday, April 4, 2011
Our first big injury!
We had our first visit to the ER today for a significant injury!
We were in Rochester visiting my brother and other friends. Our last stop of the trip was at a retirement home to visit my Dad's best friend. We stayed a bit too long and it was past naptime. As we were leaving his apartment, Ben got a little wild, tripped on the carpet and landed head first against a sharp corner --- putting a good sized gash in his forehead.
We took him to St. Mary's Hospital and they rushed us into the pediatric ER section. Ben got 6 stitches (along with a mild sedative). The doctor thinks the scar will heal completely and not be visible at all after six months. Here's hoping that's true!
Here's a pic of him in the ER while we were waiting for them to start the stitches. The gash looks bigger than it really is because the blood had smeared around under a protective bandage they had put on when we arrived.
We came home after that. Maddie fell straight asleep in the car. Ben was a banshee the whole way home and was a nightmare child until we got him in bed tonight. He's sleeping now -- hopefully he'll make it through the night.
Jamey and I are also exhausted. Thank goodness I scheduled another vacation day tomorrow -- I need a vacation from my so-called "vacation" in Rochester!
We were in Rochester visiting my brother and other friends. Our last stop of the trip was at a retirement home to visit my Dad's best friend. We stayed a bit too long and it was past naptime. As we were leaving his apartment, Ben got a little wild, tripped on the carpet and landed head first against a sharp corner --- putting a good sized gash in his forehead.
We took him to St. Mary's Hospital and they rushed us into the pediatric ER section. Ben got 6 stitches (along with a mild sedative). The doctor thinks the scar will heal completely and not be visible at all after six months. Here's hoping that's true!
Here's a pic of him in the ER while we were waiting for them to start the stitches. The gash looks bigger than it really is because the blood had smeared around under a protective bandage they had put on when we arrived.
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| From 2011-04-04 |
We came home after that. Maddie fell straight asleep in the car. Ben was a banshee the whole way home and was a nightmare child until we got him in bed tonight. He's sleeping now -- hopefully he'll make it through the night.
Jamey and I are also exhausted. Thank goodness I scheduled another vacation day tomorrow -- I need a vacation from my so-called "vacation" in Rochester!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
It's finally spring!
The temps hit 50 degrees today and it was a perfect day to try out Ben & Maddie's new trikes -- complete with handles for Mom & Dad to push until they learn how to pedal themselves.
I got them at the Mothers of Multiples club garage sale last weekend. I sold almost all of my stuff, but then came home with a pretty big haul of new stuff for them!
Below are a few pics from recently that I've neglected posting on here. You'll see that they got new rainboots -- matching -- which they adore!
And here's one from a couple weeks ago when they were both sick. Both had strep throat and Maddie also had pneumonia. We think it's cleared up now. Going back to the doctor on the 11th to get checked out again. I hope this is the end of "sick" season. It's been a long one!
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| From 2011-04-02 |
I got them at the Mothers of Multiples club garage sale last weekend. I sold almost all of my stuff, but then came home with a pretty big haul of new stuff for them!
Below are a few pics from recently that I've neglected posting on here. You'll see that they got new rainboots -- matching -- which they adore!
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| From 2011-04-02 |
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| From 2011-04-02 |
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| From 2011-04-02 |
And here's one from a couple weeks ago when they were both sick. Both had strep throat and Maddie also had pneumonia. We think it's cleared up now. Going back to the doctor on the 11th to get checked out again. I hope this is the end of "sick" season. It's been a long one!
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| From 2011-04-02 |
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Sickness all around
Last Wednesday we took Maddie to the doctor -- diagnosis: pneumonia and strep throat. Friday we were back with Ben. Same symptoms (although not pneumonia) but we haven't gotten the results of the strep test back yet. It was supposed to come today but we didn't get anything. UGH. We started Ben on the antibiotics, anyway.
It's not fun when both are sick -- lots of whining, clinging and not very good sleeping.
Here are a few pics from today. I had a couple empty Kleenex boxes, so I showed the kids how they could put little toys in and take them out. That kept them busy --- especially Maddie -- for a good 20 minutes or more.
Ben decided to climb on top of the toy garden...
Despite the illnesses, I took them outside yesterday and today for a little while. We finally have some good weather. Amazing how much the snow has melted in a short period of time. Can even see some of the grass!
It's not fun when both are sick -- lots of whining, clinging and not very good sleeping.
Here are a few pics from today. I had a couple empty Kleenex boxes, so I showed the kids how they could put little toys in and take them out. That kept them busy --- especially Maddie -- for a good 20 minutes or more.
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| From 2011-03-19 |
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| From 2011-03-19 |
Ben decided to climb on top of the toy garden...
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| From 2011-03-19 |
Despite the illnesses, I took them outside yesterday and today for a little while. We finally have some good weather. Amazing how much the snow has melted in a short period of time. Can even see some of the grass!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
More changes
We ditched the high chairs this weekend and the kids are now sitting up at the table in booster chairs. Of course, they just thought that was the greatest thing ever!
They've also gotten really good at getting up on any piece of furniture (or out of their cribs!) and to reach up on countertops to pull things down. Today I found Ben had gotten up on a chair and was "reading" the newspaper. Yeah, Ben!
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| From 2011-03-13 |
They've also gotten really good at getting up on any piece of furniture (or out of their cribs!) and to reach up on countertops to pull things down. Today I found Ben had gotten up on a chair and was "reading" the newspaper. Yeah, Ben!
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| From 2011-03-13 |
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| From 2011-03-13 |
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Is it March already?
I've really neglected writing in here, so here's an update:
Ben & Maddie have really changed a lot in the last couple of months. The most noticeable thing is their desire to "help" with everything. Ben, especially, likes taking his own clothes on or off (and sometimes his diaper). Maddie likes to offer to help (the way the word comes out sounds more like "hellf") with just about everything.
Ben loves to "cook." I give him a pot, cooking spoon and some dried beans. he'll spend the better part of an hour stirring the beans, dumping them from one container to another and, of course, spilling them all over the floor. Then he'll say "mess, mess".
They go to the YMCA quite a bit -- to the child care center -- while Mom or Dad gets some exercise. They love that. We're still doing music class on Thursday nights and they get so excited when we tell them that's where we're going.
AS you'll probably see from the pictures, they both seem to have grown a lot. Ben's face has started to fill out and he's looking more like the bruiser kid we expected he would be (like his dad and grandfather).
We're looking forward to spring when they can get out in the fresh air more often. It's been a long winter cooped up in the house!
Ben & Maddie have really changed a lot in the last couple of months. The most noticeable thing is their desire to "help" with everything. Ben, especially, likes taking his own clothes on or off (and sometimes his diaper). Maddie likes to offer to help (the way the word comes out sounds more like "hellf") with just about everything.
Ben loves to "cook." I give him a pot, cooking spoon and some dried beans. he'll spend the better part of an hour stirring the beans, dumping them from one container to another and, of course, spilling them all over the floor. Then he'll say "mess, mess".
They go to the YMCA quite a bit -- to the child care center -- while Mom or Dad gets some exercise. They love that. We're still doing music class on Thursday nights and they get so excited when we tell them that's where we're going.
AS you'll probably see from the pictures, they both seem to have grown a lot. Ben's face has started to fill out and he's looking more like the bruiser kid we expected he would be (like his dad and grandfather).
We're looking forward to spring when they can get out in the fresh air more often. It's been a long winter cooped up in the house!
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| From 2011-03-12 |
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| From 2011-03-12 |
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| From 2011-03-12 |
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| From 2011-03-12 |
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| From 2011-03-12/ |
Sunday, January 30, 2011
25 months!
It's the end of the month ...that means Ben & Maddie are another month older. It's just amazing.
Today I noticed Maddie starting to use two-word phrases. She said "my shoes" and then as we were driving up to our house coming back from the YMCA she said "our house." Amazing.
Both are getting a lot better at using words when they are asking for something rather than the whiny "ugh, ugh, ugh" that we are so sick of.
Lately they've been a lot more vocal about their desires and wanting to do things on their own -- or just defying whatever we want them to do. Getting them dressed and/or diaper changed is usually a big ordeal these days.
Naps are also getting problematic, especially for Ben. There have been 3 or 4 days recently when he either didn't nap at all or slept for a very short period of time. All of them seem to be days where he poops right after we put him down -- and even if we change him and put him back, he doesn't seem to want to go back to sleep.
That's what happened today, but I left him in the pack-n-play after changing him, hoping he'd fall asleep. AFter awhile I didn't hear him, so I assumed he went to sleep. Maybe he did, but maybe not. About 45 minutes later I heard him and I went up to check on him. He was trying to push his shirt down his legs -- he had gotten it off his shoulders. Then I noticed that his diaper was off to the side and of course, it was a poopy one. Not sure how he got the diaper off, since he had a onesie shirt with snaps in the crotch and the snaps were still shut. Needless to say, he went straight into the bathtub and everything else went into the wash machine. Oh such fun.
Here are a couple pics from today...
And here's one that's been on the camera for a few days. Maddie, wearing her Dad's socks. Doesn't she look like a future fashion model?
Today I noticed Maddie starting to use two-word phrases. She said "my shoes" and then as we were driving up to our house coming back from the YMCA she said "our house." Amazing.
Both are getting a lot better at using words when they are asking for something rather than the whiny "ugh, ugh, ugh" that we are so sick of.
Lately they've been a lot more vocal about their desires and wanting to do things on their own -- or just defying whatever we want them to do. Getting them dressed and/or diaper changed is usually a big ordeal these days.
Naps are also getting problematic, especially for Ben. There have been 3 or 4 days recently when he either didn't nap at all or slept for a very short period of time. All of them seem to be days where he poops right after we put him down -- and even if we change him and put him back, he doesn't seem to want to go back to sleep.
That's what happened today, but I left him in the pack-n-play after changing him, hoping he'd fall asleep. AFter awhile I didn't hear him, so I assumed he went to sleep. Maybe he did, but maybe not. About 45 minutes later I heard him and I went up to check on him. He was trying to push his shirt down his legs -- he had gotten it off his shoulders. Then I noticed that his diaper was off to the side and of course, it was a poopy one. Not sure how he got the diaper off, since he had a onesie shirt with snaps in the crotch and the snaps were still shut. Needless to say, he went straight into the bathtub and everything else went into the wash machine. Oh such fun.
Here are a couple pics from today...
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| From 2011-01-21 |
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| From 2011-01-21 |
And here's one that's been on the camera for a few days. Maddie, wearing her Dad's socks. Doesn't she look like a future fashion model?
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| From 2011-01-21 |
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