HE WALKS!

That's right-- Drew is starting to walk now. We are so excited! In fact, today he was standing up from sitting on the floor (while holding a toy). So, I guess he learned a thing or 2 from his older sister. ;)

Yippee for Baby Signing Time!!

I'm so excited because 1. Baby Signing Time is coming out with 2 more DVD's (volumes 3 and 4) and 2. we are going to get to preview them free! My blogger buddy and fellow MoM, Jill, got to do this, too, so I contacted the company and they are going to mail them to us for a preview. I can't wait for L&D to see them so that I can get even MORE songs stuck in my head forever! They are catchy tunes and L&D have been communicating so much with signs that I don't know where we would have been without Baby Signing Time. I'll update the blog once we have the preview...

Trashy Town

Yes, it's true-- we let our children dig in the trash. But these items are bringing them such joy that we can't resist taking them away. They were both so mad when we needed to pry them out of their fingers for nap time. And they remembered them as soon as they woke up! P.S. Isn't Drew's new haircut cute? He was getting pretty shaggy for a minute there...
Oh, and Libby would not go to sleep tonight without the cardboard box that holds some little board books. Okay, what's the deal??

Libby Walking

I FINALLY took some video of Libby walking all over (and being silly, too):

Update on Libby

Libby is pretty much back to her ole' self now and her rash is finally gone. I had called the pediatrician on Tuesday and they said it was most likely viral, so there was nothing they could do for it. So, we continued with Motrin/Tylenol as needed and I stayed home with her to get some rest since she was up all night Monday. I felt like I had a newborn again, only this time, with no help since Darrell was out of town on business. He's going out of town again next week, too. And Drew stayed in the clear from this virus, so 3 cheers for that!

FINALLY Drew takes his first steps!!!

Today we decided to have L&D try on the cute monster Halloween costumes I bought to be sure they fit. They do and are so cute on them!!! I wanted to take pictures and post them, but want to leave it as a surprise on Halloween. They are a little bulky so Drew didn't know what to do (think of the little brother all dressed in his snow suit in the movie A Christmas Story-- a classic!). All of a sudden, he was just standing there for several seconds. Then, we went to look in the long-view mirror and you won't believe it, but he took about 3-4 steps over to see himself!!!! We just about did cartwheels to praise him and he was really motivated by this. He kept trying and trying, but only with the darn costume on! What's the deal with that? I told Darrell I'd keep it on him all weekend if it weren't thick and very hot to wear. I'm so happy for my little Drew-- FINALLY! Funny thing is that once when he was taking steps, he actually pivoted his foot to turn and walk the other way. Now, you mean to tell me that he didn't have the skills in that little body of his? I tell ya... it's all about confidence, so hopefully he's getting some!

Red Bumps and a BLUE MOON

Friday night at dinner, Libby looked wierd-- sluggish as if she were sedated. She was so groggy and almost fell asleep in her plate. I picked her up and she was hot all over. So, I gave her Motrin and put her to bed. She slept and slept and slept. She was still warm on Saturday, but no fever on Sunday. Still very groggy with little appetite, though. She was grouchy this AM, but seemed to be getting better. But during bath tonight, I noticed she had a rash all over her trunk. I suspect Fifth Disease, but will call the pediatrician tomorrow morning. She has been up a lot tonight and wants me to just stand there or rub her back. Poor thing! It seems that by the time a child gets the rash, the virus is no longer contagious. I called the sitter and no one else has had a rash or even had fever in the last several weeks. I could have brought it home from one of my students, though. Let's just pray that Drew is not next!

Speaking of my little boy, Drew, he is something else! Saturday night, I went up at 11 PM before I was going to bed and did my usual check of L&D. I looked into Drew's crib and saw him like this:

I had to run out the room and get Darrell and we both had to control ourselves from laughing hysterically. The little stinker took his pj pants and diaper off (notice them above his head). Guess he was hot or something! Well, I carefully got them back on, but should have known better. That's because the next AM, he surprised us yet again-- with the pants and DIRTY diaper off. Too bad he decided to learn how to finger paint with other medium. It was so digusting, but at least now I can say both of my kids have done this (Libby beat him to the punch several months ago). I hear that a lot of babies/toddlers have done this, but it doesn't make it any less icky! EEEEWWWWW

They're Getting Brave

L&D are growing so quickly, which means they are learning new things every day. Libby is now walking more and more and getting better balance. Drew is becoming an expert at walking on his knees all over. Too funny!

Drew is picking up and using more and more words daily. Here's a list (of what I can even remember) that he says:
book, ball, eeoowww (cat), kack kack (duck), fish, moah (more), ball, Dada, Mama, car, baby, kacker (cracker), up, bye-bye, go, no, cheese
Signs he uses: cheese, milk, cookie (uses it for cracker, though), Daddy

Libby isn't quite as intelligible yet, but the words she uses (that we understand) include:
eeeee (cat), Dada, bush (for flower), Mama, bye-bye
She uses a few signs, too: more, eat, cracker, milk, Daddy, bath

Both have learned how to turn the TV on and off and on and off and on... until Mommy and Daddy outsmarted them with a purchase of a plastic "TV Guard" from Babies R Us! I'm actually jealous of the millionaire who invented it b/c it really isn't rocket science with a $6 piece of clear plastic. Now they try to touch the buttons through the clear plastic and it's kind of mean, actually, because they don't really get why the TV won't go on or off!

While I was at Babies R Us, I noticed they had more Halloween costumes out. Last year, it got a little tricky to find costumes in the stores b/c they sold out so fast. So, this year, I'm acting early! I got 2 cute monster ones-- 1 hot pink and 1 blue. And I'm sure that this will be the last year that I will be able to put them in cutesy matchey outfits of my choice!

Another cute thing Drew is doing is making monkey noises if I ask him, "Are you a monkey?" He gets so excited with "oooh--ooh--eeee--aaahhh"! But here's the funnies thing--- today Darrell was driving them to the sitter and heard a humming sound and felt a breeze. Yup-- Drew figured out how to open the back window using his foot. It went up, down, up some, down more, and on and on. Time to activate the child window and door locks in the cars!

Where have 17 months gone?

I can't believe I forgot that the babies are 17 months old today! And I don't care what others think-- I will call them my babies forever and ever. I just cannot believe it!

Libby took NINE steps to me the other day, then squatted down to pick up a toy. Okay, so isn't she the one that needed PT? Drew still has no desire, however, he is now walking on his knees instead of crawling. It actually looks quite funny, so I'll have to catch it on video!

Freaky Wednesday

Boy, am I glad Wednesday is over! Either there was a full moon or the stars were completely out of alignment for some strange reason. I got a call while at a student's house on a home visit from my dad (who is still here with William) that William got a really bad splinter from my front porch and needed to go to Urgent Care. I raced home, went with them, then to the pharmacy, and back home again. I was supposed to be at my office, so I raced over there and bam-- pulled over for speeding. It is a VERY long story that I don't wish to blatantly post on the internet here, but luckily, I know someone who was able to help clear my terrible situation.

Then I found out that around the same time, my next-door-neighbor got into an accident with her girls. Luckily, everyone is okay, but the car that hit them is totaled and the other driver had some minor injuries.

Luckily, L&D had a good day at the sitter and were fairly pleasant during dinner and bathtime. I just hugged them extra tight that night b/c I realized how lucky I am to have them with me safe and sound!

Phew!

Well, we were able to speak to our families and it looks like we were all spared from Hurricane Gustav. They are still having lots of rain and some wind, but it seems the worst is over. Most have evacuated and haven't returned home yet, so we're unsure of their homes, but we have heard there are trees and powerlines down. It looks like they won't be able to return for a few days or so. What a big relief! I know we could not have handled another tragedy like Katrina, so it looks like our prayers were answered. We're having a lot of fun with Pops and Cousin William while they're here. We went to the pool and BBQ'd with neighbors this weekend. I felt a little guilty, though, enjoying our beautiful sunny weather! They should have a lot of fun tonight going to a Nationals game with Darrell, too.