Cheerios

They've never been a huge hit at our house, but since this crazy coupon shopping we've been doing, we ended up with a few boxes.  And Chase has taken a liking to them!

He just ate a 1/2 box of them.  Seriously.  I'm really not exaggerating.  He kept asking for more..which consists of him making a little fist in the air and making this funny muffled "ooooooh" sound.

So not only is he eating large quatities of somewhat healthy food, he is also signing for it, and asking for it verbally!  Wait til I tell the ST!

Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action

Bryan has been gone the last 2 days and will be back on Saturday.  He's attending the Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action conference in DC, and I am incredibly jealous.

I mean, I think it's great that he is involved with this group...he's much more in tune with the political side of Ds than I am...but I just think that it would be really interesting to see some of the speakers that are also involved with the group.

For example, he's met Patricia Bauer and Rep. Kathy McMorris Rodgers already, and he's still there for 2 more days. 

Oh, and he gets to stay in a hotel room all by himself :)

And we miss him.

Monkey Says...

I asked Ian to clean up about a hundred baby food lids that he and Chase like to get out and spread around the living room.  He did it, (willingly!) and moved on to something else.

Chase (aka Kid Destructo) realized something was actually put away and immediately dumped them out again.

Ian hears the commotion, rushes over to see what happened, then stands with his hands on his hips and says in a totally exasperated tone, "Chasey!  I just cleaned this house up!"

Other Chase News

He is the proud owner of a front top tooth!  But he won't show it to you.

Chase even closes his lips over the toothbrush, so we basically are brushing blind all the time.  Even when he smiles, you can't really see it. 

But if you get up all close and personal and wedge a finger in his mouth, you will notice a big old chiclet tooth in there, and it's buddy is well on the way.  So that makes almost 10 teeth, I think.

Time to get him some Big League Chew, no?

Walking...? Maybe...?

So, honestly, I've been getting really frustrated with this whole walking deal.  Chase is almost 2, and will stand and climb and walk holding our hands.  He'll walk behind push toys.  However, he will do all of these things WHEN HE WANTS TO.  

I can't push or bribe or suggest or try to trick him into practicing his steps.  I've decided that he is just stobborn.  Stubborn like his big brother who decided it was easier to crawl until he was almost 15 months old.

So what do I do with this?  Do I just let him continue on with his own little timeline, or do I try another tactic?  I want him to walk.  I know that's my agenda (hello!  there is a reason why most moms aren't carrying around a 2 year old...it's called back pain...), but I'm also thinking about him...about how he could play and keep up with the other kids so much easier if he was on two feet.  

So Chase's PT brought in a pony walker for him.  I was all excited if not a little weirded out because it's kind of a scary looking contraption.  Maybe this is the answer to giving him a little more confidence on his feet.  

Guess who doesn't like being in the pony walker?  Guess who would prefer to not be confined in it?

Gah!

BUT.  This weekend, Chase took maybe 5 steps between Bryan and I several times!!  On his own!  And then he did it again with his Play Therapist (Hi Carol!) on Monday!!  So maybe.  Just maybe...this is the beginning?  And maybe by the time he's wearing shorts this spring, he won't be raking his knees on the ground for a second year in a row...?

Hilton Head in Photos

Belated photos of our annual Hilton Head trip...

We had a good time and not only were able to hang out with Great Grandma Maddex, but this year Grandpa Doug and Grandma Mary and Uncle Todd, Aunt LeShayne, and cousins Tori and Tristan met us there.

I know there are a million photos here, but I liked a lot of them :)  For some reason, my computer has decided that I will not be allowed to move the photos, so they are in a really weird random order.

On our last night we went to a Japanese Hibachi restaurant.  Even Chase liked it!  We have photos of us eating because Bryan had a stomach bug and couldn't eat anything...so he took pictures instead!  What a guy :)

I like this one of the kids eating with chopsticks.  They were so serious.  And yes, those are shrimp on Ian's plate.  He ate every single bite except for a few zucchinis that I stole from him!

Ian looks out over the surf.  It was SO COLD out there...the wind was whipping around, the sand was freezing, the water was frigid.  But that didn't matter to my boy!  I love the curls coming out of his hat and his droopy pants here.  So cute :)
It wasn't even too cold to dig holes on the beach, although Ian told Aunt LeShayne that the hole they dug wasn't as big as the one that his daddy could dig, but that his daddy was sick and couldn't come out...:(  Bummer.
Tori, Tristan, and Ian...
Yes, even Chase made it outside.  He was none too happy about it.  I think he made it for a total of maybe 15 minutes.  He wouldn't even put his feet down on the sand.  
Messing around at Grandma's place.   Perhaps this is why Bryan wasn't feeling well later on...?
We all made it to the top of the lighthouse...this was Chase's first time!
Enjoying the view.  Chase was not impressed with this side, apparently.
We all got stickers that said "I climbed 114 steps!"  Chase climbed them vicariously through Bryan.
This is really blurry, but I love Chase's face.  He plays this game with Bryan whenever he rides on his shoulders- he leans over and turns Bryan's head around to look at him and laughs at him.  Funny :)
There was a cool playground by the harbor that the kids had a blast on.  Tristan and Ian were so cute together...
Chase found stairs on the playground.  No need to explore anything else.
This is Chase crawling away, then stopping to wave goodbye to me :)  
Half a Chase.  But I love his expression here.
Tori mothered Chase all weekend.  He was not happy about having to sit at the lunch table...the more mobile he becomes, the less he tolerates sitting still...
The Maddex men (well, 1/2 of them)- Todd, Bryan, Chase, and Grandpa Doug- eating at our favorite island spot- The Salty Dog.

Thanks Great Grandma, for providing such a great vacation spot for all of us!  We love seeing you :)

Soccer

Nw that Ian is 4, he can play on the Micro soccer team in the local youth soccer program!  I just signed him up, and the season starts in March.  I think I'm  more excited than he is!

Anyone have any good leads on where to buy little tiny soccer cleats for not a lot of money?

Happy 4th Birthday, Ian!

My first baby boy, you are four years old today!  

You are wild, inquisitive, loving, and sensitive.  You have a smile that is contagious.  You make up silly games, play with words, and wrestle with your brother.  You are gentle and rough, organized and chaotic, sweet and full of spice.  You are my Boo Boo, someone who drives me nuts but is so incredibly cute and wonderful that I can't help but love.

I love how you light up for your family, how you think about others' feelings, and how you ask questions for understanding.  I love your little boy take on the world, and the incredible way you understand even the most complex concepts.  I love your language and your laughter, your monkey antics and the way you sleep on top of the covers at night.

You love school, going to Gaga and Papa's house (even spending the night by yourself now!), helping me cook and bake, rough-housing with your daddy and chase, and playing with cars, marbles, and magnets.  You ride your bike (without training wheels!) like a maniac, and you love playing with your friends.  

Oh, and you wake up every morning with crazy, crazy hair.

I help you open presents at your birthday party...your first party with your very own preschool friends :)

Getting ready to light the candles on your cupcake tower (I made cupcakes with dirt and worms for your insect-themed party!) with all your friends looking on...Playing with your first set of Legos.  Do we have another Uncle Scott on our hands??  Daddy told you step by step how to build a lego bulldozer, and you built it all by yourself!  You are so serious sometimes.

Happy birthday, Eenie Beanie.  You make me so happy and proud.  You give me something to laugh about every day.  Here's to many, many more years :)

Not Dead, Just Busy!

So, the stomach bug was fun.  Only Ian and I caught it, so Bryan and Chase are safe...for now.

I recovered in time for Ian's birthday party on Saturday, and had everything ready to go thanks to Angelle who made the cupcakes for me while I was hanging over the toilet on Friday :)

This was the first birthday party that Ian has had his own friends at...like, not just our friends who have kids.  We invited the whole preschool class plus the neighborhood gang, and I prayed that everyone wouldn't be able to make it.  Luckily, only half the preschool class made it, so we only had 14 kids running wild through the house.

Bryan took all the pictures on burst mode, so there are more than a thousand (literally) to upload or download or whatever the appropriate terminology is.  I will get to that tonight maybe.   

We did church Saturday evening, which was a worship evening just for the volunteers and small group members to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of Elevation.  It was pretty rowdy and lots of fun :)  Then we did regular church on Sunday morning, where they played a video highlighting year 3 of Elevation...and there was our family!!!  Our family photo that was taken at Chase's dedication made it into the montage, so that was cool.  We are famous.

Sunday afternoon was filled with coupons and shopping and some playing outside and then a cookout with the Gallers family.  I seriously need to get some better coupon organizing going on here, because I am starting to dread Sundays for that reason.  

Oh.  And while I was crazy coupon shopping, a random lady stopped me to say, "You are just so cute pregnant!"  And I said, "Oh, thanks!  But I still have like 19 weeks left!"  And she said, "Ohhhh,"  and looked at me kind of sadly.

Ok.  That is all my randomness for the day.   Off to get the kids up from nap.

blech.

Apparently when you clean up kid vomit there is a good chance that you will get the bug, too.

I won't even tell you what we had for dinner tonight, either.

And Bryan is also 'feeling funny'.

Please, dear God, let this be a quick virus...

Awesome Day. Not.

So, I started the day off with poor cranky Chase, whose nose is running like a river. He's not eating a whole lot, nothing seems to make him happy, and generally looks like he's sick. He actually fell asleep on my lap this morning, which never ever happens anymore.

Then one of the daycare kids woke up early from nap with a HUGE nasty pooh. I have a pretty strong stomach, but this was gross.

Then the other daycare kid woke up wet...which of course was followed by a complete change of clothes and bedding.

Then Ian started complaining about a stomach ache. I told him to go lay on the couch and rest for a little bit. Two seconds later, he's crying. It's because he puked all. over. the. couch. Every crack, crevice, and any part of cushion that is not covered in easy-wipe leather was contaminated.

Oh, and I forgot, my washing machine started flashing some weird signal this morning and won't complete a cycle.

I think I'm just going to go ahead and call it a day. I feel really awful for complaining about Chase's runny nose.

Facebook Addiction

I'm here to openly admit my FB addiction. It provides much needed adult conversation throughout the day at home. And the conversation is in little tiny tidbits, small enough for me to handle while I juggle snacks and meals and cleaning and diapers and entertaining.

And it's put me in touch with a lot of people that I wouldn't have talked to after parting ways in high school, which is cool.

Today there were some crazy photos posted reminding me of my freshman year in drama club...such fun memories :) So, admittedly, I have a problem, but it brings forth good things.

Another Snow Day...Ianism

Ian came into our room this morning and told us there was snow on the ground...at 3:30am.

Later, after I convinced him to sleep a little longer, he woke up again (in our bed) and let out a little gas...then fell out of bed.

He says, giggling, "I was so excited that I tooted and then fell out of bed!"

Drum Roll, Please...!

Back from the Big Sono. And like so many stories of odds and statistics in our lives...we have once again proved them wrong.

The nub theory is totally bogus.

We are having another BOY! 3 for 3, baby!

Everything on the scan looked good (but the Doctor had to throw in a cautionary, "Well, you know that the sonos are not 100% guaranteed to catch everything.") I found out that the placenta is anterior, which makes me feel like not so much of an idiot for claiming that I can't feel the baby as much as I think I should be able to. All limbs, fingers, and toes are accounted for, and no soft markers were mentioned.

I feel like I could possibly have an honorary degree in sono-tech-ness because I was watching the screen like a hawk trying to find all of those markers, and I knew what I was looking for.

I'm not disappointed about not having a girl, I just really really really thought it was a girl this time! I had these pictures in my head...and now she's gone...it's weird. I think having 3 boys will be fun in it's own merit, though...although I can already hear echoes of, "Oh, it's those Maddex boys again!" or "One of the Maddex boys probably did it..." Chase will be a good big brother to his little brother, and Ian will be a good big brother to both his little brothers.

I will never ever have any pink in my house! I really thought that I was going to be able to make a really cool pink and brown baby room.

I'm making a list of the benefits of having 3 boys:
1. No weird girl crevices to clean...!
2. Haircuts? No problem!
3. Hand-me-down clothing.
4. Don't have to buy new bedding.
5. Bryan will have to do public bathroom duty when they are older.
6. No weddings to pay for.
7. Teen pregnancy will not be an issue (well, on this side...)
8. I do like blue.
9. No one will have to go to ballet practice at the same time as a soccer game.
10. I won't ever have to play Cinderella or Tinkerbell or Barbies (maybe...?)
11. It's easier to pee in the woods for boys.
12. I'm not good at braiding hair or making pigtails even.
13. No one will ever have PMS except me.

Procrastination.

Can you tell I don't really feel like doing anything today except sitting on my butt and looking at the dishwasher that needs to be emptied?

Chase was up all night long and I'm tired. And the babies are sleeping, Ian is at school, and the older kids are playing nicely together.

So, I just wanted to tell everyone how excited I am that tomorrow is the Big Sono and after that I'll be able to really really think about names and nursery painting and all that fun stuff. Can't wait!!

You Know What Bugs Me?

It's not that the Charlotte Observer wrote an article about 2 local teens competing in ice skating for the Winter Special Olympics. That's cool. Those kids are amazing.

It's that they described the ice skating program at the rink as a program "...for Down syndrome kids."

Seriously, people who use words for a living should be aware of people-first language, right? And this isn't the first time I've seen it in this paper, either. I let it slide last time, but this time I wrote a comment online (Take THAT!). You can read it here and add your own.

And I also wrote a letter to the editor...which will probably not get published, but it made me feel better.

Croup.

Chase has croup again. Thanks to Erin for sharing her cold Friday night :)

Highly Recommended

I got my fetal doppler from Baby Beats and I totally love it. I got the base model, which is $25/month if you pay ahead for 3 months. The shipping was free, and it also comes with the labels and packaging to send it back when you are done so it's super easy to return.

Definitely worth it.