4.29.2013

Spring has sprung and why we love it:

Windows open for the first time in forever.
Muddy boots because we have no lawn and why would you want to walk anywhere else but in the mud.
Skinned knees because Emmie doesn’t know how to just walk, she has to run…down pavement.always.
Meeting the neighbors after climbing out from under the wintery rock we’ve been living under for months and months. In just four houses there are 4 toddlers, 2 six month and unders, two baby bumps, five dogs, I think we all went to UND and half of us graduated from Fargo South.
No socks with our shoes because the “snow is all done.” (I hope!)
Running to and from the car without blustery wind at our face.
Sidewalk chalk that Emmie helped herself to, courtesy of the neighbor’s garage. (Thanks for sharing Shea!)
Neglected blogs because children are awake with the sun still shining at bedtime and no one wants to go to bed when “the lights are still on.” (Even with blackout shades, she knows it’s not dark out.)
Grilled steak and burgers and potatoes and all things wonderful that don’t require a hundred pots and pans to be cleaned.
Painted toes because it’s almost barefoot season.
Finding out quick dry is the perfect thing for a toddler to use. I wish I would’ve taken a photo of her painting Andy’s toes…she thought it was the funniest thing ever.

4.25.2013

Thursday thankfuls

The 40% off sale rack at Gap Kids where I snagged Em an adorable new suit.

Nana picking up Em from school while we carted Ethan off to church. Yeah, church. Ethan is finally getting baptized this Sunday and we had to meet with the pastor.

The pastor, who didn't give us the heavy sell or guilt trip on church and was actually really nice and laid back.

The pharmacist who did not fill Emmie's prescription that would've cost $467 and instead called the dermatologist and recommended another medication...for $9.

(I'm not thankful for the postal service who I believe has found the package containing my new watch and is holding it hostage for an unknown period of time.)

Friends and appetizers and happy hour, even if you think you're getting Thursday night's special...but it's only Wednesday.

All of the people that read my blog and have overlooked for my slackass blogging lately.

Mother Nature for finally giving in and sending some sun and warmth our way.



4.18.2013

The things she says.

It's crazy how much Em has grown up lately...besides the whole toast incident. She is talking like a mini adult and it is so fun to hear what she is going to come up with next. She's got stories and ideas and opinions...oh so many opinions. And questions (Why? Why? I believe her max was seventeen times in the three minute drive from daycare to home.)

She loves her brother. So much. I almost can't even believe it. (Knock on wood it continues forever and ever.) When she wakes up, she always tries to sneak into Ethan's room if he's still sleeping. The other morning she found him awake, hanging out in his crib and this is what I overheard:

Ethan's awake! Hi Ethan! Good mornin' little boy. Hi little mister, buddy boy. I lub you. I lub you. Ethan, you wearing socks? Ethan it's a school day. You wear an outfit? Guys! Ethan's awake!

On our way home from school:
 
Ethan, I like your outfit.
[waiting for a reply]
Ethan, say thank you.
[waiting for a reply]
Ethan, you need manners.

Just a regular old Tuesday:

Dad, do naxix with me. Take off your pants.

When I was wearing black and white striped socks and she put on her zebra slippers.

Look mom! Tinsies! (Yes Em, we're twinsies.)

And she likes to sing...until she sees the camera:

 
 

4.16.2013

Just another Midwest blog post about the weather.

But seriously.

I try not to complain about the weather. We choose to live here. We have no control over the weather. But for reals, I've reached my limit. Well, that's a lie...I'll just sit inside and take whatever Mother Nature is dishing out and wallow in the gloomy weather and an ice cold Bud Light...because, there's nothing else I can do.

This weekend I met the masses at Hobby Lobby in preparation and/or out of fear of another snow day with a toddler that had already been stuck in the house way too long.

In the clearance section, I spied a little house you build and color. I gave it shot.

Ten dollars well spent my friends.

Really, it's just cardboard with some fairies and butterflies. And you color it, all the live long day.

Ten bucks!
We didn't get as much snow as my friends in Bismarck (yes, you need a snow blower!). And Betsy, I too long for the green grass and sun filled days of last year. And to be a huge copy cat let's reminisce:

April 2nd...Andy's day out from the hospital. 70 degrees.
Soaking in the sun, watching Em get crazy with a tub of water.


And one final note just to put it in perspective...Ethan is almost SIX months old...his skin has never even felt sunshine. Vitamin D supplements, yes please.

4.11.2013

Look mommy!


You never know what this phrase is going to get you when you turn around. A new picture colored sweetly…or the walls colored with markers. A toy laid gently on Ethan’s chest…or a blanket laid smothering his face.

These words were squealed with excitement at 7am this morning.

Look mommy!

Followed by:

Look at my butt!

Andy and I turned; there she stood, naked from the waist down.

What’s going on with your butt? I asked.

She turns, squats down.

Look!

Her peanut butter toast, wedged between her cheeks.

[insert shocked face]

And she was so proud of herself too.

[insert trying to hide the smirk on your face]

In these moments it's so hard to be a parent. All you really want to do is laugh...but you maybe need to reinforce the fact that this is not awesome?!

But seriously, what was going on in her little mind to come up with this? Like hey, I'm just watching Dora in my jammies and eating my toast...I wonder where else I could put this? 

Needless to say, there were some life lessons learned in Fellows house this morning.





 

4.08.2013

Five Months!


So sweet. So happy. So bald.

My boy turned five months old this weekend!

He's my calm, easy going little fella...until he gets the least bit tired, then he freaks right out.

He's at the perfect happy go lucky age. No longer a newborn and not yet mobile.

He laughs at anything and everything.

His skin is awful. He has eczema that is under control one minute and flaring the next.

He's a drooling machine.

And he puts up with his sister's shenanigans.




4.03.2013

The corner

February.
 
That's when I posted the picture of our bedroom. And I said I would be putting something in the corner that weekend. Well, I did bring up the shelves and put them by the chair that weekend...but that's where they stayed. For two months.
 
And they probably would've stayed there a bit longer, but we've had company. Repeat company that has seen the shelves sitting on the floor for weeks on end. [And is silently judging me, I just know it.]
 
You see, our builder has had a lot of interest in our floor plan. And because we really like her, we let her show our house to prospective clients. And she throws in a nice little gift card every time she visits, which is a bonus.
 
Side note: We've literally shown the house seven times in the last couple months. So we clean and tidy and try to make it look like we don't have a dog or a toddler.  And I feel like we're selling our house all over again and I'm waiting to hear if the people liked it.

Anyways, I just couldn't go another showing without doing something with the shelves.
 
So, the corner. 
 
 
Now this is where the paragraphs leading up to the photo are supposed to have entertained you enough to not care that the corner is just, meh. 

I really like the shelves - pulled from the depths of the basement and painted aqua. The décor is also from the basement because I didn't have time to go shelf filler shopping. (And I will admit that I find shelf filling one of the most difficult jobs ever. And this one was a bit more difficult because my main task was hiding the outlet and cable thingy.) I needed something pretty tall and wide...and thankfully I'm a hoarder and had enough on hand to do the trick.
 
There you go, that's it. Pretty boring, but the outlets are hidden and the shelves are off the floor.

And now off to the next task at hand....people, there's paint and there's paisley, let's hope it turns out!

 

4.02.2013

More Easter

I forgot to mention what the Easter Bunny brought Ethan.
 
Cereal!
 
Though it looks like he's notsomuch a fan, he did a good job eating for his first time.







4.01.2013

Easter Fun

We're so cliche over here at the Fellows' house. It was Easter,  there was dying of eggs, egg hiding, the whole nine yards.
 
It was actually pretty fun. This is the first year Emmie really got what was going on and of course we watched the Dora Easter special about a hundred times leading up to the big day. Because nothing says He's Risen like Dora and a hip hop Bunny.
 
We invited Liv, Kristy and Nana over on Saturday to have a good ol' egg dying party. That lasted about five minutes. I think picking out the color tablets was the most exciting part for them. And then Emmie figured out she could smash the eggs together and it was on.
 

 

I figured the egg dying wouldn't hold their attention for long so I had also planned some finger painting. Who doesn't love an unfinished basement for all of this messiness?! I unrolled some wrapping paper and hung it backwards on the wall. Feet and feet of paper to use and shocking, Emmie still goes for the wall.

 
 
Easter morning we woke up and started the egg hunt. Wouldn't it be super fun if I posted pics of Emmie running through the grass in her sweet Easter dress, the sun shining as she filled her basket with eggs. Yeah, well it's still winter so that's not happening.
 
She was however super stoked about the Easter eggs she found around the house.  Again, I knew an Easter basket wouldn't hold her attention for long, so I had to figure out how to extend the process. Some eggs were filled with ONE M&M (which rocked her little world). The other eggs were filled with one sticker. The sticker had to be matched up with another sticker on a brown paper bag that held her treat.
 
 
(Wake up. Put "lenatard" on. Carry on with day.) 
She found playdough, coloring books, a make up brush of her own so she stops using mine, you know, the usual....


And Bandaids. Best treat ever!