If they haven't seen it, they should

A couple of weeks ago we checked out "The Safe Side- Stranger Safety" from the library. Let me interrupt myself and say that David is scared of movies. Any eerie music frightens him and he just chooses not to watch innocent DVDs like "Toy Story." That's fine. So, I was worried that he would even get through the first five minutes of this video.
My kids loved it! It's put out by Julie Clark and John Walsh. I had seen the previews before, but I was afraid it would scare the kids. Both boys really enjoyed it and practiced some of the tips that they give. (If you pick Drew up, he may say, "Help, this is not my dad!") The producers of the DVD really worked to establish the difference between "don't knows" and "kinda knows" and give appropriate ways to handle situations that may arise.
I had to give up watching "Law and Order: SVU" when I became a parent. It was too disturbing since half of the episodes were "ripped from the headlines." But the sad truth is, there are more sickos out there than not. When we went to the petting zoo at the State Fair, I was much more concerned about the people (possible perverts) there without kids than I was the boys getting bitten by a billy goat.
I still won't send either of my kids to a public restroom by themselves until they are much, much older. I don't care how nice the restaurant is, that is just foolishness to me. However, I will end up purchasing this DVD and make the kids watch it periodically. We teach our children to be friendly and I make my kids say "hi" to every Tom, Sue, and Harry at church, but there has to be some boundaries in place. The boys are just too precious to us to risk them getting hurt.
I thought I'd share- most people that read this blog have kids that are pretty precious to me too. :)
Keith just informed me that it sounded like I called most of the population pervs. I didn't mean it like that...I guess I shouldn't go on sites like familywatchdog.us and freak myself out.

they are amusing...

Drew has been David's shadow the past few days. They are always together, but Drew has had to be within mere inches of David lately. So, the other day, David announces that he has to do a #2, and Drew follows him in and is right there with him the whole time. I hear David giving a play by play of everything he is doing. Once his hands were washed, he yells proudly, "HEY MOM! I just taught Drew how to poop!"
Actually David, I am certain he has known how to do that since day one.
Today David told us that Jesus took six bottles of water and made them into a line!!! That wouldn't be very miraculous would it? We tried to explain that it was wine, which is a bit like grape juice, but David has had neither (can't imagine the stains either of them would leave on my carpet) and he quickly lost interest.
Drew continues to delight us with funny one liners that are only funny when he actually says them.
Mmm, oatmeal, MY favorite!
I wuv cheetah hugs.
Hey, that's my kiss, give it back!
Also, his eyes-closed Stevie Wonder meets Snoopy dances are priceless.

Solutions that start with the letter "P"

Guess what? I solved Drew's poopy talk problem. I dug out our copy of Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi. It completely fulfills Drew's need to talk about excrement while also putting a very scientific spin on doo doo. Example: "Different animals make different kinds of poop/Different shapes/Different colors/Even different smells." And yes, it is a little bit weird to snuggle up to my little cherub with his blond curls and choo choo flannel pajamas and discuss whale poop. But he loves it.
While I am dishing out solutions, I'll let you in on a little trick that I have been doing for the past few months. About once a week I take a can of peaches in juice, and dump it in my blender. I then put it in my popsicle molds. The result? A pretty good serving of fruit that my kids think is dessert. This won't work if they have been eating the delicious Edy's all fruit bars, they will always be way better.
I usually let them have a peach pop in the bathtub or if it is a rushed morning, I use these to entice the boys to the breakfast table. Popsicles and eggs? The novelty is not lost on them.
Lastly, all the sneaky chefs/Seinfields are right. You really can put a big scoop of pumpkin in lots of things. My boys are really into making sugar free pudding. About 1/4-1/3 of a cup can be added to butterscotch, chocolate or french vanilla without really changing the taste or texture. I am nuts over pistachio, but I haven't messed with that flavor- the color would just be too funky.
And there you have it- poop books, peach pops, and pumpkin pudding!

Dear David and Drew,

Just so you know, I would never have any desire to take you to a monster truck rally. I wouldn't be brave enough to take you in the crowded arena on my own. I physically wouldn't be able to carry you both across the freezing parking lot. I don't think I would find the deafening roar enjoyable. In fact, if it were left up to me, I probably would have sat you in front of the t.v. with your toy monster trucks and put on your "Truck Jam!" DVD. I doubt I would have bought you cotton candy. I probably wouldn't have kept you up past your bedtime.

What I am saying is, you boys need to be really thankful you have the sort of dad you do.

I know he's thankful for you two.

Love,

Mom

Scribbles

We have always mastered large motor skills very early in this house. Fine motor skills? Well... I am working with David on attempting to write his name.
I was very pleased a few weeks ago when David made individual drawings of each family member. They were the adorable circle and stick figures. Really just heads with lines. The only differences were that Keith was a giant circle and Drew was drawn with a large O in the middle of his head. His paci. Mom and Dad didn't have noses or hair, but by golly David drew a pacifier on Drew.
This morning, the boys were again drawing as I was scrambling eggs. I could hear David saying, "This is a jellyfish. This is a clown fish." I was just happy that David was engaged in holding a marker and doodling. Then Drew piped up, "And David, look, this is a seahorse."
"No Drew, that is not a seahorse," David said.
I was standing at the stove, praying, "Don't break his heart David, he's only two and he's trying." But I quickly breathed a sigh of relief as David then said, "Drew that is a komodo dragon."
"Oh, it is!" Drew happily replied.
I really need to get a good filing/dating system in place to save these funny little pictures.

2.5

Drew is officially two and a half today. I have started a little tradition on their half birthdays; I dip strawberries half in white chocolate and half in milk chocolate. David and Drew will both enjoy Drew's half birthday dessert.
Drew is really feeling his oats right now. Yesterday he kept getting out of his bed at naptime which just about did me in. Finally, I told him if he got out again he was getting a spanking. Not two minutes later I could hear him at his door saying, "Hey Mom! Hey Mom! Hey Mom!" I charged upstairs, guns blazing, and as soon as he caught sight of me he said, "I wuv you! I wuv you! I wuv you!" while running back to his bed and simultaneously clutching his bottom. He got the wussy, half-hearted, does no good type of spanking. And it got so late that he ended up skipping a nap since we had to pick David up from school.
This morning, I told Drew to take his pajamas off. I then caught him bare arsed yelling that he had peed on the floor. He was right. I was furious (but not so furious that I didn't notice that he used the past tense of pee correctly, at least he has a great command of the English language.) I am not sure what possessed him but he had, in fact, made urine squiggles on the entryway rug.
Let's just all hope Drew makes it to three.

No more diapers for potty mouth

I think since we have gone ten days without an accident, I can say that Drew is fully potty trained. Hip hip hooray! He stays dry through naps and only wears a pull up at night- we are so proud of him.
However, little Andrew can't stop talking about poop. Everything is poopy this and poopy that. We are trying to ignore it. And when he calls David a poop head, we just tell David to say, "No, my name is David." Drew can work himself into a wound-up, hyper state just by saying poop. He loves it. I think his poo chants may be his favorite pastime right now. We have tried nonchalantly asking if the means that he has to go to the bathroom. Or suggesting that he go scoop dog doo. To no avail.
Suggestions anyone?

They don't come with a road map

I made a lot of rookie mistakes a few years ago- I read way too many conflicting parenting books, compared my kids/situation with others, and obsessed over my boys' shortcomings.
After all that self inflicted worry, I am happy to say that more and more, I feel I made, and am making the right decisions.
Case in point- we used to see a pediatrician that made me feel like I needed to apologize for coming in. While his philosophy was that kids are generally fine and very resilient, it always left me feeling like I needed to justify why I made the appointment.
Wednesday morning Drew told me that a frog was putting dirt in his ear and biting it. Then an hour later he cried and said his cheek hurt. So, sheepishly, I took him in. And our very sweet pediatrician looked in Drew's ears and saw that both were very infected. He had no fever, and was pretty happy, but something told me that I needed to give him the benefit of the doubt and take him to the doctor's.
Drew also usually wakes around midnight every night. Sometimes he needs a drink, or a hug. Sometimes he just comes downstairs and cuddles up with Keith. Yes, I have read the books. I know this is more than likely "habit waking." Maybe we could have a week of tears and then he would stay put. But a few nights ago, he said, "Mom, at night I have the burps, and they make the throw ups in my mouth." Poor kid always has had reflux. He's been on and off several medications for it. And his hearty appetite is his heartburn's worst enemy. I have only had heartburn while I was pregnant. But it was pretty painful; it would burn my throat and make me very thirsty. I know it may not always be what wakes him up, but sometimes I think it is. I'm glad we did what our hearts said and not Ferber.
I just wish I wouldn't have second guessed myself so much in the beginning. Kids aren't one size fits all.

We've been staying warm...

Well, obviously, we are still wearing very little clothes when in the house. But we dress warm when going outside. One of my friends knitted these hats for the boys.

German shepherds were bred for work. Military, police work, searching for drugs. Scout? I think she was born to watch over two little boys. She's been in the house lots more lately. Sometimes she stands at the door waiting to be let back out. Scout prefers the cold to being wrestled with. However the kids love her, and we are quickly running out of indoor activities. I don't think she really minds all of their affection, but sometimes she looks at me as if to say, "I am fed up."

"Relax Scout," I think, "They'll be gone all day soon enough and then you'll miss them."

Drew is constantly getting in to Scout's dog bones. Thank goodness he doesn't like the taste of them. I'll find him standing on a chair ordering her to sit, lie down, and speak. She obeys. And Drew loves being the boss for once.

I am ready for the last of the snow to melt. My kids need to burn off energy more than most. Lately, by the time Keith gets home, I feel a little crazy. Then I take my advice that I gave Scout. After all they will be in school all day every day soon enough. And I'll really miss days of ABC soup and Chutes and Ladders.