Some Things I've Learned

Since becoming a parent, I've learned so many things. Here are just a few:

1. Every item of clothing you own will be covered in slobber and cracker (or other snack) crumbs. I pulled out a jacket I hadn't worn in a while and put it on only to realize the entire right shoulder was covered in some sort of food -- graham crackers or cheerios, I'm sure. They were stuck on good and NOT coming off. I obviously didn't know it had gotten that dirty or I wouldn't have hung it back up in the coat closet. The same goes for pants. Annabelle is always grabbing my legs with little grubby hands, so wearing a pair of pants more than one time before washing is pretty much impossible.

2. Food takes on a whole new flavor if found on the floor. Both of my children are picky eaters. Jacob wasn't always picky, but it seems the older he gets, the less he eats. Annabelle has always been this way. We've gone through many a meal where she rejects any food given to her by spitting it out and throwing it on the floor. When I've had enough and decide to give up, I wipe her hands and face and get her out of the chair. The second her feet hit the floor, she begins to eat all the tiny pieces of food she rejected and threw down. So, she won't eat the food while she's sitting in the chair, but she will eat the food after it's been spit out and thrown on the floor. Apparently it tastes better.

3. I can get my children to eat anything if we "have dinner on the floor." When Jacob was younger, if I was in a hurry and didn't have much time to feed him, I would let him sit on the kitchen floor while I fed him yogurt or something else fast and easy. This trend has continued with Annabelle. Occasionally, when I'm in a hurry to get somewhere, we'll have "dinner on the floor" and when we do, they will eat ANYTHING I serve them. On one such occasion last week, Annabelle ate two slices of lunchmeat and an entire bowl of green beans. This is unheard of. She never eats lunchmeat. And green beans???? Jacob happily gobbled up all his green beans as well and talked about how good they were. What???? Although he used to eat veggies, any green vegetables he consumes now is accompanied with the promise of a "tessert" (dessert). I'm thinking we should just get rid of our kitchen table and the high chair and start having every meal on the floor. The funny thing is, if Annabelle sees me get food from the refrigerator, she now promptly sits down on the floor, expecting to be fed.

4. Bathrooms are fascinating. Ever since Annabelle discovered the toilet and threw Minnie Mouse in for a swim, we've kept the bathroom doors shut at our house. Annabelle is fascinated with the toilet and loves to play in the bathroom. She seizes every opportunity to sneak in. When Jacob uses the potty, he usually comes out with his pants down, asking for help. As soon as Annabelle sees him, she takes off as fast as her little legs can carry her to the bathroom, knowing the door is open and this is her chance. I quickly chase her down the hall and catch her just before she climbs on the stool to look in the mirror or opens the toilet to splash in the water. I caught her in our bathroom once giggling with delight as she splashed her hands in the toilet water. Eeeewww.

5. Chilren are ALWAYS listening. The other day, I decided to bake cookies and enlisted some help from Jacob. While we mixed the batter, we were listening to music. We usually listen to Jacob's music, but on this particular day, I decided I needed some "Mommy music." The playlist consisted of a wide variety of music, which included Alabama's "Dixieland Delight." As the song played, I wasn't really listening and didn't think much of it. All of sudden, Jacob sings, "Make a little oven....make a little oven....Mommy, make a little oven!" I didn't know what he was talking about. "Yes, we are going to put the cookies in the little oven," I said. He continued to sing, "Make a little oven!" It took me just a few more seconds to realize what he was singing. He was singing a line from "Dixieland Delight," but it wasn't "make a little oven" he had heard in the song. Boy, am I glad he interpreted the word as "oven" and not what it really was -- "lovin'." Ok, back to Jacob's music from now on.

I have one more funny moment to share from our cookie baking experience. Before we began, Jacob and I both washed our hands. About midway through, Jacob got down from his chair and ran off as if he were on a mission. He came back, thumb in his mouth, holding Mr. Monkey's cousin. "Jacob," I said, "we are not supposed to put our hands in our mouth while we're cooking. We'll get germs in the food." He quickly held up his other hand and said, " It's ok, Mommy...I can just use this hand to make cookies." Of course.

6. If you let a 15 month old walk around wearing only a diaper, nakedness is just a few short seconds away. Annabelle can now take off her own diaper and is quite proud of her accomplishments. After I change her in the morning, I'll sometimes let Annabelle run around wearing only a diaper until she's eaten breakfast. She is a messy eater, so it's just easier to wipe her down afterwards rather than change her clothes. The other day, I put her down and began to make breakfast. Annabelle came walking into the kitchen wearing nothing but a big, cheezy grin. After a few minutes of searching, I found the missing diaper in the hallway. As soon as I put the new one on, Annabelle began pulling at the tape. No more "only a diaper" for her. She will be clothed 100 percent of the time from here on out.

7. If you pay to have your carpets and furniture professionally cleaned, be prepared to enjoy no more than a half day of cleanliness. Our carpet was beginning to look a bit stained and our furniture was definitely in need of a good cleaning, so we had everything professionally cleaned. With the rough winter we've had in terms of illness (stomach flu twice and what seemed like neverending colds) I thought we were long overdue for this. Everyone in the house was finally better, so it seemed like a good time. After the cleaning, our furniture looked so good. No more milk stains or snot stains or spit stains. Our carpet was clean and fluffy again. Aaaaaaaahhhhh. What a great feeling -- to have clean carpet and furniture. Not for long. Of course, Jacob and Annabelle both got colds immediately after the carpet cleaner left our house. As gross as this may be, I can tell you, furniture doesn't fair well against small children with colds. So, was it worth it? To pay big bucks to have everything clean for only a few hours? I have to say....yes, it was. A few moments of cleanliness is better than none.

A Weekend of Play

I just finished washing an entire weekend's worth of dishes -- pots, pans, sippy cups (with all their various parts), and everything else that wouldn't fit into the dishwasher. I know. You are jealous, right? If only you could be me......

So, what have I been up to this weekend? Obviously, I spent no time doing dishes. A quick glance at the mile high laundry pile tells me I have neglected that chore as well, which makes me wonder what in the world I will wear tomorrow. The same question stands for Jacob, Annabelle, and Heath. Hmmmm...it's looking more and more like a late date with the washer and dryer is in my future.

This weekend was all play and no work. I blame the weather. It was so incredibly nice -- especially after it's been so cold and rainy. Today, instead of our usual after church naps (there is nothing better than a Sunday afternoon nap), we headed out to the park after lunch. Jacob was able to ride his tricycle, which he is still trying to master, and Annabelle was able to experience a little freedom, toddling around on her own while we followed close behind. This weekend was our first little glimpse of spring. I can't wait for more days like these!

Yesterday, we went to the mall to do a little shopping. I was armed with gift cards from Christmas, so that made the experience even better. Guilt-free shopping is great. Apparently, everyone else in our area decided they would go shopping too. The stores were packed. If each person who was in the mall yesterday bought at least one item, I'd say our economy was very well stimulated. Or maybe they were just spending gift cards. Do gift cards count towards stimulating our economy??

After our little shopping trip, we went to Macaroni Grill for dinner -- one of my favorite restaurants. Going out to eat with a three year old and a 15 month old is definitely interesting, to say the least. We just walk in, cross our fingers and pray for the best. The parent who sits beside the little one doesn't really get to eat. His or her entire time at the restaurant is spent entertaining in any and every way possible, cutting up food, feeding, and searching for snacks. Whoever sits next to the older one has the pleasure of trying to make him sit still and STAY in his booster seat, and manipulate him into eating his dinner. Yesterday evening was no exception.


Jacob happily ate the olives and the bread he was served, then he was done. When his actual meal was brought to the table, he wanted no part of it. He mainly wanted to crawl around in the booth and NOT sit in his booster seat. Annabelle sat happily in her seat eating her graham crackers. Happily, that is, until the crackers were gone. When she realized she wasn't going to get anymore, her temper flared and she began to throw her head back against the seat. I was a little embarrassed because I knew she had to be bothering the woman who was sitting on the other side of our booth. Maybe she thought the booths had a new massage feature or something. I can only hope. Although, I suspect that "massage feature" was probably a little more jarring than she would have liked. Annabelle finally calmed down once the spaghetti arrived. The girl loves anything covered in tomato sauce. Thank goodness for tomato sauce.

After Annabelle finished eating, Heath offered to hold her while I ate. She wanted out of her seat and threw a fit to show us exactly how she felt. So, off she went to Daddy while I scarfed down my food. We then boxed up Jacob's hardly touched meal and left the premises. Just another typical dining out experience for the Duncans. Tip: If you're hoping for a nice, quiet dinner out and you see our family walk through the door, you may want to consider another restaurant. However, if you're looking for some free entertainment, definitely stay. I promise we won't let you down. :)

Just for fun, here are a few more recently taken pictures:

Why yes, these are safety goggles.

By the way, Annabelle had her 15 month well visit last week! She is still little, but growing up strong. We were hoping she would weigh at least 20 pounds, but she came in just under our goal at 19 lbs. 5 oz. One day, Annabelle, you WILL get to face forward in the car. One day. Only a few more ounces to go!! Her weight puts her in the fifth percentile among babies her age. She may be tiny, but she's healthy and that's all we're really concerned about!

Over the ground lies a mantle of white....

Can you believe it? Snow. In Bluffton.

We were graced with a dusting of the fluffy white stuff, measuring in at around one inch. I realize one inch of snow may not sound like a lot, but the quantity didn't matter. The snow began to fall and everyone in the neighborhood was outside having a glorious time. Around here, we only see snow on TV and in movies, so actually getting to feel it, taste it, and play in it was definitely an unforgettable experience.

Jacob and Annabelle were sick (still are) with nasty colds, complete with a horrible cough and fever. But, I just couldn't let their colds ruin their opportunity to see snow; so, I bundled them up and took them outside for a few minutes. (First, it was the pants on the ground song. Now, I'm taking my sick children out to play in the snow. I'm thinking my chances for receiving the Parent of the Year award aren't looking so good anymore.) Jacob had a ball. Annabelle was pitiful, begging to go back inside and get into her crib. After all, it was close to 10:00 PM. Thankfully, I was able to get a couple pictures before her big meltdown, so I'm happy about that.

Annabelle was beside herself with excitement. Just look at that face.

So, THIS is snow, huh?

Of course, since he went to bed so late the night before, Jacob slept in Saturday morning. I went against my better judgement and woke up the peacefully sleeping little boy around 7:30 in the morning to allow him some time to play in the snow before the sun melted it away. When he looked out his bedroom window and saw the yard covered with a thin blanket of white, he hurried out of bed and couldn't wait to go out to play.

He and Heath immediately started a snowball fight.

And here is our little snowman.....

...and his little snow family.

It was most definitely a fun weekend...and to top it off, Heath's brithday was Saturday. He got to celebrate in the snow. It doesn't get any better than that!

Funny Stuff

Good Morning! I hope everyone has come prepared for this week's discussion on Pat the Bunny. You all have read the book, haven't you? Good. Now tell me, Annabelle, did you enjoy the book? What did you think of the main characters, Paul and Judy? Were they interesting enough for you? Jack, were you really able to smell the flowers with Paul? Tell me...did the bunny have soft fur? What were your thoughts on Daddy's scratchy face? And Jacob, give me your opionion on the ending. Did you feel like Paul and Judy were actually saying "Bye-Bye" directly to you? Did you wave to them, just as they were waving to you?

Welcome to the Baby Book Club. Ok...so we really don't have in depth discussions about Pat the Bunny, but we do have storytime. For the most part, all three children will sit (relatively) still through at least one book. The big favorite is a baby picture book entitled, Splash. It's all about water and bathtime fun. Annabelle and Jack LOVE this book. I think they mostly enjoy looking at the pictures of babies. For Jacob, it is a bit babyish, but he knows it by heart and can actually "read" it to them himself. Annabelle particularly likes the part about bubbles. "Buh-puh," she says, then wants you to read that line over again...and again...and again...and again.

Sometimes Annabelle gets a little bored with books. When the boredom sets in, she gets out of her chair and dances for us. It makes for a nice intermission. Very entertaining. I can tell, Jack can't wait to get up and dance with her someday. Soon enough, Jack, you'll be able to dance too. Don't worry. I know he's already got some great moves stored in his head because he watches Jacob and Annabelle break it down everyday. :) After all, my children are professional dancers...or so they think.

When Jack gets bored with someone else's book choice (mainly, Jacob), he usually sits quietly in his little Bumbo seat, chewing on his bib or focusing intently on pulling off his socks. Other times, he's just working on a great, big spit-up.

Jacob gets a little upset at times because I won't read his selection. Unfortunately, Jacob, I don't think Jack and Annabelle are quite ready for The Giving Tree.

Side note: See those chairs Annabelle and Jacob are sitting in? They are not just chairs. They are so much more. Everyday, they become something new -- boats, mountains, houses, forts, rivers, baby beds, stairs, etc... Who knew?

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Jacob has been back at it again -- cracking me up with his imaginative conversations. (Not that he ever stopped.) Some of the most recent:

Last night, Heath had just made a pot of coffee when I found Jacob in the kitchen and told him it was time to take a bath. Jacob replied, "I want to take a bath in hot coffee!!" What????? All we could do was laugh.

The other day, he was evangelizing the Imagination Movers. Jacob pretended all of the Movers came to our house to be in his band and he told me, "I'm telling Mover Smitty all about the Lord Jesus. Mover Smitty, Jesus lives in our hearts."

We visited Heath's parents over the weekend and as soon as we pulled up in the driveway, out of the blue, Jacob said, "Grandma calls pants, britches." What made him think of that all of a sudden???

A few weeks ago, my sister (ok, maybe I had a hand in it too) taught him that Pants on the Ground song that the old guy wrote and sang on American Idol. Jacob never really sang it and I have to admit, I was a little relieved, as was Heath. Heath was just waiting to hear his Sunday School teacher tell us Jacob had been singing something about his pants being on the ground. Like I said, he never really sang it...until last night...completely out of the blue.

The words of the song are actually: Pants on the ground. Pants on the ground. You look like a fool with your pants on the ground; however, as you heard, Jacob created his own version by changing the word "fool" to "Pooh." Not exactly sure what that means. I'm not sure Jacob knows what it means either. For those of you who are not familiar with these lyrics, an older gentleman showed up to the American Idol try-outs and sang this song he had written. He wrote the song as a message to the younger generation of men telling them to pull up their pants and stop wearing them so low -- You look like a fool with your pants on the ground. Anyway.....I guess Jacob will be another singer for his cause. Ummmmmm....does this make me parent of the year or what?

Everyone asks me if Annabelle is saying any new words. She has a few:

Bubble: "buh-puh"

Peek-a-boo: "boof"

Ball: "bah"

Papa: "pah-puh" or sometimes "buh-puh" Papa and bubble sound just alike.

Duck: "guck"

Cracker: "cack-ah" also sounds like "quack-quack"

She uses the sound "dih" or "buh" for everything else.

I can tell she understands a lot more now. She'll follow through with simple commands. If you ask her to do something, she'll do it. My favorite thing to do is to ask her where a certain toy is. She will wander through the house until she finds it and brings it back to me -- so cute! The only problem with her following commands is that she also follows Jacob's commands: "Annabale, stand up in your high chair," or "Annabale, stand up in the bathtub." Ugh. It's already beginning. He is going to get her into so much trouble...or it could be the other way around. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.