Fears of a Toddler

Some children fear the dark, some children fear the boogeyman, some children fear dogs or spiders, but not my Carleigh. My Carleigh fears the ever, scary VACUUM! Yes, anytime that mommy or daddy gets out the vacuum cleaner, she runs and jumps onto the couch, top of the end table, or her daddy's lap!! It is so cute! I wish I could capture it on film!

Another thing that she fears is teeth brushing time! We sing a little jingle while getting the toothbrush and toothpaste. She runs away at lightning speed!

Cody on the other hand is not scared of anything! He will play in the pitch black darkness, do flips off the couch and his new favorite feat is to stand on top of the end table. I think I need to get both of them in gymnastics!! Hmm...maybe I should ask their physical therapist??

Learning is taking off!

Carleigh is really taking off! The other day, Matt was wearing an Ohio State sweatshirt. She pointed to the O and said "O!" I was really shocked since I really haven't started working on letters or numbers with her. I guess "Sesame Street" and her Lulu Spider is influencing her. This got me motivated and this summer we are going to have "summer school" with mommy!! She also is very imitative and will copy anything I do. She is such a little learning sponge right now! I am hoping that she will be able to attend our new preschool at my school when she is 3 years old.

Cody has some changes in his preschool class. His former teacher will be having a baby within the week, so Cody will have a long-term substitute teacher for the remainder of the year. Hopefully Cody will do well with a new person. I am also planning on going with Cody to his preschool field trip to Parky's farm in May. His favorite word is cookie and right now it is his favorite food. And....he loves Cookie Monster! (Although Elmo is still his all-time favorite!)

We are also planning on taking the cribs away and transitioning to toddlers beds for both Cody and Carleigh. And if that isn't adventurous enough...we might be boarding the potty train too!

Blessed

For awhile, this song has been in my heart. I have been so blessed by God with a great husband and two amazing blessings from God. This song is sung by my favorite singer Martina McBride.

I get kissed by the sun each morning
Put my feet on a hardwood floor
I get to hear my children laughing
Down the hall through the bedroom door
Sometimes I sit on my front porch swing
Just soaking up the day
I think to myself, I think to myself
This world is a beautiful place
I have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones that love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

Across a crowded room
I know you know what I'm thinking
By the way I look at you
And when we're lying in the quiet
And no words have to be said
I think to myself, I think to myself
This love is a beautiful gift

I have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones that love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

When I'm singing my kids to sleep
When I feel you holding me
I knowI have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones that love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

Counting down 'til Spring Break!

Okay, I have 8 more school days until Spring Break. Can ya tell I am excited? Matt and I are taking our toddlers to COSI (Center of Science and Industry) in Columbus over Spring Break. Actually, we are going on my first weekend off. My mom and dad are thinking about going too so, we thought about finding a hotel and staying there overnight on Saturday, March 31st. My task now is to look for a nice place with an indoor pool so Cody and Carleigh can swim. They LOVE swimming! We took them to COSI February of last year, but neither was walking well enough to enjoy it. I have no doubt that they will have a blast in the Kidspace this year! I also really want to enjoy the exhibits more thoroughly. It will be a fun weekend trip.

I am also looking forward to the lazy days of summer. We are planning on going to the ocean and this will be Cody and Carleigh's first time to a beach and an ocean. We are also planning on going to the Indianapolis Children's Museum sometime in the summer. Now that they are walking and exploring everything, we are planning to do alot of fun things with them. I have been waiting for this special age for awhile. We have exciting plans for the backyard: Cody's Kangaroo Climber will be transplanted there, Carleigh will have a playhouse, we will be getting a different sandbox and will be getting a swingset. I can already vision the giggling and smiles as Cody chases Carleigh in the backyard.....nothing is more precious than to hear my children laughing and playing with each other.

Carleigh's Gotcha Day!

Two years ago today, we brought home a precious little baby girl! I received the call in my classroom the morning before. The social worker said that she had been born on Sunday and could we pick her up that day. Of course! Well, the hospital decided to keep her another day due to feeding issues, so that evening my sister, mom and I went shopping for baby girls clothes and other necessities!! Cody, my mom and I went to the hospital to pick her up. I remember seeing her in the hospital nursery and instantly falling in love with that tiny little baby. Now, that little 6 lb., 0 oz. baby is a full blown toddler!! She is talking up a storm and loves life and exploring everything around her. Oh, did I say that she is sassy and spunky? We are so blessed to have Carleigh Elizabeth in our hearts!!

Misc. Birthday photos!

And even more photos!

Cousin Brittany and Carleigh...note that Britt has her neck brace off! Praise the Lord!
Sherry, Aunt Connie and friend Emily!

Opening presents!

More birthday party photos

Cousins Riley, Ryan and Raygan having fun at the party!

Her birthday cake

Carleigh's Hello Kitty Birthday Party!

Carleigh's birthday party was yesterday. We had her party at Richard's Pizza in Fairfield. They have really nice party rooms and we had plenty of room to have a party and it went very well. The food and cake were great and Carleigh had so much fun celebrating with friends and family. She is set for the summer! With 15 new summer outfits and dresses, I don't think I need to buy her anything other than a swimsuit! We are buying her a playhouse for our backyard for her birthday present. What a fun time for all!

Another sick one...

Yep, you guessed it! Carleigh is sick now! I just knew that she was going to get it since she always has to put Cody's sippies in her mouth! She started with a high fever last night and has been battling it all day. She did eat a little bit better today. We are hoping she gets over it quick as her birthday party is Saturday. Boy, I can't wait for the summer and get a chance to air out this house. It would be nice to get all the germs out! The stomach bug and the same illness that my two got is going around my classroom and school. It would be nice to close the school down for a few days to get rid of what is going around our school. I haven't have my whole class since our snowy period a couple of weeks ago!

Over Spring Break, I plan on giving the whole house a thorough cleaning and I am going to do a "clean sweep" where I toss and give away some things that I nor the kids use anymore.

What a week!

Last week, Cody was spiking a high fever Thursday - Saturday. We took him to the pediatrician on Saturday and he was tested for strep. The strep test came back negative and the dr said that he had pockets of infection on the back of his throat. He started eating Sunday and his appetite was normal on Monday. On Sunday night, the temper tantrums began! He had a very bad day at preschool on Monday so we decided to keep him home on Tuesday. Wednesday wasn't much better. Thursday was a much better day and today he was tantrum free!! Cody also got to spend the night with Pappaw and Mammaw (Jen's parents)!! This is Cody's first sleepover away from us! What a milestone! I have only been away from him for 1 night when I had a teacher conference when he was 10 months old. Matt has never spent a night without him. It seems weird tonight just having Carleigh at home but she is loving all the attention! I am sure Cody is on Cloud 9 with Pappaw!! No doubt there will be interesting stories told tomorrow! Now that Cody's adoption party is over, I am planning Carleigh's 2nd birthday party. It will be Saturday, March 10th. We are having it at Richard's Pizza and Carleigh will have a Hello Kitty Birthday party. It has been several months of parties here: Christmas in December, Cody's 3rd birthday party in January, Cody's adoption party in February and Carleigh's 2nd birthday in March! Then of course Matt's birthday is in April! Whew!! Then we will be done for quite awhile as my birthday isn't until September!!