Pictures - Slideshow

Thursday, January 25, 2007

A Tooth Tale

Teeth are really kind of neat.
They help us when we chew our meat.
We could only have a smoothie
If our grins were not so toothy.

That is way we are so proud.
That our littlest one gets very loud.
Telling the world that underneath
Her gums are growing two front teeth.

One has started to appear
And so now we can begin to fear.
That she may do some careless deed
Like biting a finger helping feed.

And I have a right to feel downcast.
Our family dentist has a forecast:
That daddy will need insurance to file
To pay for each girl’s perfect smile.

And before you think I am drunk on daddy juice,
Make sure you have read “The Tooth Book” by Dr. Seuss.

Sorry, the picture is tough to see. Click on it to enlarge.

Friday, January 19, 2007

The Great Snow of '07

Yesterday was our first snowfall experience in North Carolina. The precipitation came in from the southwest and began with snow as we were waking up. This turned into freezing rain in the late morning. What would be pretty much a non-event for folks from the north, was quite the havoc wreaker for the local inhabitants. Because middle school starts first each day, followed by elementary, and then high school, the late decision to delay schools only impacted the high schoolers. With traffic playing bumper cars on most roads (conditions to this observer weren't all that bad), the delay became closure. The middle and elementary schools had a one hour early dismissal.

Both Camdyn and Mommy shared disappointment in not getting the day they were hoping for from the weatherman, but got to spend some time frolicking in the splendor during the afternoon. Also, Camdyn will get the day off when the high schoolers have their make-up day.

McKenna and Keeghan stayed home. Their preschool is open/closed depending on the schools, so who knows what happens when the school grades are split. Keeghan kept mommy busy with her fussiness resulting from another ear infection. McKenna must of also been busy with Keeghan and the trip to the doctor's because she slept through the outdoor adventures.
The ice "shell" that formed around this leaf is now being preserved in the freezer for weekend viewings. The leave was returned to its natural habitat.

Today we found out at the bus stop that school was being delayed an hour this morning. This was a complete surprise since nature wasn't giving any reason for concern. The reasons for this decision will most likely remain a mystery.

At least Camdyn knows now that there is a chance for enjoying snow. We adults will just have to learn to fit in by losing our minds when it does.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Camdyn's Post

Camdyn enjoyed taking pictures with mommy's camera so much, she received an inexpensive digital camera for Christmas. Here is something she wanted to share:

I love it. It's so beautiful. I can not believe my eyes. It's a picture of a girl wearing a crown, so she is a princess. I love it so much. That's all I want to tell you.



Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Leadership & Crowns... what a day!

This morning Camdyn had her dentist appointment. It was scheduled for 10 so I gave her two options: she could go to school and be picked up early or stay with me while I took McKenna and Keeghan to school. She took option #2. Surprised? = ) I'm not. She has been very curious about their school and has been very jealous of the projects they make. (She would have been in heaven at age 2 with McKenna's two teachers and the wonderful projects they make!)

When we got to school, Camdyn asked why it looked like a church instead of a school. (Their preschool is at a United Methodist Church.) McKenna declared "because it's a church and a school!" After that confusion, I told McKenna she got to be the leader and show "Sister" where to go because she didn't know. McKenna was so excited! Off she went leading big sister, pushing the buttons to open the doors and heading into the "gym" where all the kids and parents hang out until it is time to go the classrooms. Normally, McKenna hangs shyly by my side while all the other kids run around but today she led Sister right out into the fray. Camdyn was having a great time!

Then it was time to go back to the classrooms. There are two "wings" -- to the left are the 3's, 4's and Kindergarden Readiness and to the right are the Infants, Young 2's and 2's. The teachers on the "young" hall do such a fabulous job of making all the kids feel welcome with a good start to the day. McKenna introduced Camdyn and they extended that same warmth to her -- she positively glowed!

With much fanfare, Camdyn and I headed out. We had 20-25 minutes to spare and she decided she wanted to come home to play. After that, we headed up to the dentist. Camdyn did a great job during the initial "exam". The dentist was concerned that one of Camdyn's back teeth did not fully develop its enamel and basically had a divot in it. He suggested it was due to her ear problems during the tooth's development. He wanted to put in a stainless steel crown and could do it the same day if we came back at 11. They encouraged us to run and get lunch for Camdyn as she wouldn't feel like eating for a couple of hours after the procedure. Of course, the closest option was McDonald's so off we went.

Back at the dentist office, Camdyn got her crown and teeth cleaned with nary a problem. The dentist said she did great and was very cooperative... I think that was because of the laughing gas... So Camdyn now has a "silver" 12 year molar.

Camdyn was delighted to have the rest of the day off from school and McKenna was delighted to see "Sister" at pickup. That delight wore off shortly after arrival home...

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Marcey asked me to make a post...



So I did. Enjoy. One baby is cuter than the rest, but see if you can figure out who is who.

And to see how some of them have turned out:

Thursday, January 4, 2007

Average...

Out of 100 kids, 50 are bigger and 50 are smaller. Keeghan is right in the middle of the pack! The doctor called her the runt of our litter as she is smaller than the other two were at the same age.

Official Stats:
weight: 15 lbs, 11 oz.
height: 25 3/4 inches
head circumference: 16 3/4 inches
One flu shot
Two immunizations by injection
One immunization taken orally

Other than the pain and suffering caused by the shots and strangers touching her, she is a healthy little girl. (Her ear is looking better...)

New developments since yesterday:

Inexpicable fear of strangers: Either she has entered the stranger anxiety phase or she is a whole lot smarter than we think. When either the nurse or the doctor went near her, she started crying... so either she doesn't like strangers or she knew what was coming next...

Projectile spitting, target -- Mommy: She has learned that if you do the "raspberry" thing, food will come flying out and cover anything in its direct path. She makes quite the mess! Fortunately her new high chair from Santa has a much smaller tray that actually fits in the sink. She also doesn't slump over anymore!

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

A little of this... A little of that...

School has started up again! Back to our regular routine -- we actually almost had one before break.

Yesterday, McKenna and I had this conversation:

Marcey: Are you excited to go to school?
McKenna: Yes.
Marcey: To see your teachers?
McKenna: Yes -- to see my people.

The world is hers. She has such an interesting perspective and you never know what is going to happen with the good time girl.

Yesterday, we were in the grocery store. I have the big cart and McKenna has the little kids shopping cart. She likes to put things in it -- sometimes the things you would expect like fruit snacks; othertimes, it was like yesterday when she wanted the wide egg noodles... So I am doing my usual herding... McKenna over here, McKenna out of their way, McKenna stay behind Mommy... and I round the aisle and start to turn on to the next one and hear this "WAAAAAAH" from behind me. I turn around and McKenna has her cart careening over on two wheels from going too fast. She is petrified as her cart topples over on its side. She is screaming very loudly, the cart is blocking a major intersection (canned vegetables and the seafood counter) and I am getting "the look" from women all around me. I pick her up, right the cart and move us all out of the way. We decided the best course of action was to put the cart away and her to walk beside me. She decides we have to go back up to the front of the store to put the cart in its proper place (I wish they could do this with their toys...) and back onto our shopping. Thank goodness that we had not gotten french toast sticks or milk yet, I don't think I could have convinced her to continue to shop!

She has grown up much faster than Camdyn. The influence of an older sister has her saying things that Camdyn didn't say until she was 4 or 5. Words like "hate". She has already told me that she hates me. This morning, in fact. I said good morning to her and she says "I hate you" and goes off to lay on the couch. Most mornings we start with "I hungry". She's still 2, right? She came around after Keeghan got up. Keeghan always makes McKenna happy. Wonder how long that is going to last...

Keeghan is back to normal -- she doesn't want to be held anymore. She is a squirmer and I can barely hold on to her. She is much more content on the floor, in her exersaucer or anywhere that her sisters can entertain her. She lights up upon seeing them -- just as they do when they see her. She is rolling front to back, back to front, propping herself up and has started scooting backwards. Crawling is coming very, very soon. She has her 6 month check-up on Thursday. We'll post the official stats then.

Lucky for me, both McKenna and Keeghan took naps this afternoon. One was ready, the other forced because of attitude -- any guesses which is which? I finished up some work and headed up to the bus stop to get Camdyn. We are very lucky that it is 3 houses up the street on the corner. I love watching Camdyn come off the bus (I keep meaning to take the camera) -- she is usually the first off and comes flying across the street. She is so happy to see me/us. Today, she even grabbed my hand to hold it as we walked back. It was nice to get to ask her about her day without the attention competition -- Conversations with her are always interesting. She told me about art and repeated some rhymes she is learning at school. I told her about her dentist appointment next Wednesday. She told me she found out today that bugs live in your mouth and then decided that she need to eat her snack in the bathroom so that she could brush her teeth as quickly as possible.

Later, she starts coughing. A little clear your throat kind of thing... "Why do we cough, Mommy?" she asks. Here we go again, I thought... (Someday I will have to post about my abyssmal failure on explaing why businesses go out of business and how my 4 year old daughter came up with 5 more plausible explanations. I need to start saving up for her MBA now) Anyways, back to today's story... I preceed to tell her there are several reasons for coughing. As per the usual protocol, she asks me to name them. I tell her sometimes she might have a little tickle in her throat she might need to clear up, she might be sick, she might have eaten something that caused her throat to need to cough. Is that all the reasons,Mommy? she asks. That is all I can think of Camdyn...

"Mommy, you need a Mommy teacher kind of like I have a kid teacher -- you need a Mommy teacher." At this point, I start coughing trying to hold in my laugh.

I'm off to find my Mommy teacher. Maybe she can cook dinner and put away the laundry too.