My Sweet Kids

So I'm really bad at updating the blog, and days go by filled with cute things that I never remember to write down, and I know that some day I am going to be sad that I didn't record more of their childhood.  So here's a brief update on each of the kids and a few things I want to remember.

Let's start with my Beastie, I mean, Aaron.  My sweet boy has officially entered the terrible twos!  I remember people asking me about this stage with Tori, and I would tell them that she reminded me of the nursery rhyme about the little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead, and when she was good, she was really, really, good, but when she was bad she was horrid.  Well, the same could be said for Aaron right now, so it seems to be universal for 2-4 year-olds, at least in our home!  I'll start with the good.  When Aaron is sweet, he is so adorable that I find myself picking him up and squeezing him tight to me in an effort to just absorb him somehow.  He still sucks his left thumb, and will nuzzle into my chest while sucking his thumb.  He also gives great hugs and very sweet kisses.  I think he is also about the most handsome little boy in the world, and he's going to break many hearts with his eyes someday!  One really cute thing he did about a month ago:  I hurt myself somehow and said "Ow!" and he looked at me with genuine concern and asked, "Owie?"  "Yes, mommy has an owie," I answered.  He climbed into my lap and motioned for me to come into his arms by reaching one of his arms around my neck and pulling my face down to him while saying "Tummere" (Aaron-speak for "come here").  Then he rubbed and patted my back soothingly while saying, "I know, I know," and "shhh," and "It's okay."  So incredibly cute!  The other night, he was up sick with a bad cough and I went in to comfort him.  I was cradling him in my lap and asked him if he wanted a drink of water.  He shook his head no, and I said, "No?"  In his little, sleepy voice he answered, "No thanks."  For some reason it was really touching to me that he would be so sweet even though he didn't feel good. 

On the flip side, he can be rather troublesome most days, and there are times I seriously want to strangle the child!  I've taken to calling him "Monster," and everytime I do, he roars at me and scowls and says, "I'm a monster!"  I'm also pretty sure my hearing will never be the same after this child.  I really need to find out if there is some sort of Guiness World Record for loudest child, because I'm fairly certain he would be a top contender for the honor!  He loves to bang his water bottle or sippy cup of milk against the table and spray it everywhere, he throws plates and food to signal he has finished a meal, and generally just keeps me very busy cleaning up messes most of my day.  Last night he wanted to try the potty out for the first time, so I put him on the toilet and asked him, "Where's the pee-pee?" (parenting has drastically dumbed down my vocabulary!), to which he pointed at his privates and proudly stated, "Right there!"  Tori of course had to be a part of these festivities and started chiming in about how cute his "little penis" is, so then I was alternating between explaining to her why that is not really appropriate and trying to get Aaron to pee.  Tori then decided she needed to go to the bathroom at that very moment, so I took Aaron off the toilet to let her have a turn, and of course, he immediately peed all over my bathroom floor.  I motioned frantically for him to stop and for Tori to get off the toilet so I could put him back on the toilet, but of course, he was done by this point and just thought the whole thing was funny.  So, I guess we're not potty training any time soon!  Even with all of the screaming, defiance, messes, and pee, I cannot even begin to express how much I love the monster!

Now for my little girl.  I am constantly amazed at what an incredible person Tori is.  It gives me hope for Aaron, because I remember her at his age, and I never would have guessed that she would be the sweetheart she has become.  I also don't know how I would get through most days without Tori.  She is a huge helper with Aaron and with chores.  She unloads the dishwasher, cleans her room, and helps with about anything else I ask her to do with a surprising lack of grumbling most of the time, though she is still a girl, so whining and pouting cannot be completely avoided.  She still draws on any piece of paper she can get her hands on and loves learning about animals.  This year in our homeschool co-op she has had the chance to dissect a flatworm and an owl pellet (she actually found a small bird skull in it!) as well as handle a real sheep's heart and brain.  Most little girls want to play dress-up and princess, but my little girl wants to dissect owl pellets and be a paleontologist when she grows up ("only if I don't have kids" she adds on).  I wouldn't trade it for anything!  I love how curious she is and that she would rather read a non-fiction science reader about animals than a book about fairies.  She is also very loving and cuddly.  The other night I was up late, laying on my back on the couch, reading a book.  She woke up and came out to get a drink, and Todd and Aaron were asleep.  She got her drink and came over and stretched out on top of me, cuddled up, and fell asleep.  I just wanted to stay there forever because I kept thinking about how big she's getting and that she won't be able to do that much longer.  I almost cried when I finally had to wake her up to get her in bed.  She is also very quick to express her love and always surprises me with things she says.  The other day we were driving home from the store and we had been talking about Christmas earlier in the day.  Out of the blue she asked me, "Mom, do you know what my favorite gift is?"  I made a few guesses, animals, books, toys, etc, but she just kept saying no, so I finally told her that I gave up and asked what her favorite gift was.  "My family and that we can be together forever," she answered.  Love that!  I told her last night at dinner that she was beautiful, and she said, "No, I'm cute!" I said she was both, and she laughed and said, "I'm cute-aful!"  She makes me smile.

Other than being the sweetest little girl on the face of the planet, helping me, reading about animals and drawing, Tori has lately been spending a lot of time building blanket forts all over our house, playing farmville with me, and calling people.  Yes, calling people.  She asks me on a regular basis if she can call Daddy at work, Gavin, Aunt Melenie, or one of her Grandparents.  I'm sure our teenage years are going to be fun!  Hopefully cell phone plans will get cheaper in the next ten years! :)  I love my Tori-girl and wish I could just keep her this age forever and ever. 

I am one lucky woman to be blessed with such beautiful, loving, wonderful children!