UPDATE...I'm Back

Back on Blogger...check me out twostickykids.blogspot.com
twostickykids.blogspot.com

New Place, New Name...but same old LALA

Hello there!! I am excited to announced that we are moving...the BLOG that is! I am starting things off new & fresh with a new blog, new name & new location. Please update or sign up to be a follower at the new site! I hope you'll join me on this new adventure!!

Tootles to Life in Lala-land! It's been a fun ride!!

http://twostickykids.wordpress.com/

-Lala

Whatyoueatin

Anytime my hubbie or myself is chewing something or go into the kitchen, the four syllables I hear is "Whatchou eatin?" My little lady loves to eat...but she is very particular. Even things she normally like she will tell us that she doesn't like it just so she doesn't have to eat it! But hey...she is active and healthy and happy, so we will let her do pretty much whatever she wants :-)

The second time around I am much less afraid of giving my little man things. Especially since he is such a big boy and seems to be saying the same four syllables as his Sissy, except its with grunts or his eyes! He has had (already) scrambled eggs, biscuit, mashed potatoes, crackers, donuts, pasta, french fries and cake! I never, EVER would have done that with the Abster, but he was ready and so was I! He has great hand-eye coordination!

A little bit of what both kiddos are doing:
ABBY
-started 2yo class @ Frazer. She loves it! They do art, music, playtime and will have parties this year!
-partially potty-trained...we regressed a bit, but hey she is still young and doing good most of the time!
-Her favorites right now: PB&J sandwiches, applesauce, hummus, cottage cheese, sausage & bacon, pancakes, coffee-milk (mostly milk mixed with cool coffee) broccoli & chicken nuggets. She loves DORA, Calliou, Word World, still loves Mickey, but her favorite is Jake and the Neverland Pirates.
-She is going to bed around 9pm, and waking up round 7:30/8am. Still taking one nap on most days from about 2-4pm. If we don't get that nap in, we normally find her wiped out around 5 or 6 only to wake up around 7 and be the GRUMPIEST PERSON ON THE PLANET...unfortunately she gets this from me :-)
-TALKING< TALKING, Talking...which is good unless she repeats something less than favorable...mommy and daddy need to wash their mouths out :-) Her favorite things to say are : "chill out brother" (hears that one from me) "Thank you so much", "Yep", "How you doing? Abby Fine", "Daddy workin?", and my favorite, "I love you so much (insert name)"

ETHAN
-we are already in full swing of planning this little guys 1st birthday (did I really just say that? OMG!) time has flown but we are enjoying this little guy so much!
-now only eating a bottle only 3 times a day. One before breakfast, another 8 oz at noon/1 and our last one around 5 or 6.
- he is eating about 3.5 ounces of fruit or cereal for breakfast, and having about 4-6oz of veggie or pureed meat with veggie for lunch, then more cereal for dinner.
-he is on the move...boy is he! This little guy vanishes in a flash. His favorite place to go is his Sissy's room or wherever he isn't supposed to be. He is his fathers child. Any cord, electrical outlet, sharp object, etc...he finds and wants. Thank goodness Abs was more timid like me as a crawler.
-He LOVES his Sissy!! He wants to be wherever he is, and do whatever she is doing. She likes this most of the time!
-Loving his mommy and his daddy - unfortunately Daddy gets a horrible symphony everyday now is he doesn't pick both up fast enough! Ethan crawls and cries behind him...loves his stinky daddy :-)

All for now! Pictures to follow! Tootles!

Gone

Well my little guy is on the move. He started trying a few lunges forward here and there. Then outta nowhere he just took off. Now he comes to visit everywhere we go. His big sister is really starting to like her little brother and he just loves her. This morning we were having snuggy time in the bed and he tackled her. Pretty sure he is only getting beat by 3 or 4 pounds by now. Not a chubby baby, just a big boy and boy is he strong. I may have a reverse mullet hair style before the week is over. His fave thing to do is hold on to mommy by the back of her hair :-)

He is such a happy boy...he wasn't always this way. And I wouldn't be either if I had terrible excema and bad bad gas. Now he is on regular formula and taking 8 ounces 4 times a day. He eats cereal for breakfast, and has 4 oz of meat and veggie for lunch, then rice cereal mixed with fruit or just a fruit for his dinner. Goes to bed around 7pm and gets up to eat at 630am. Lately I have been trying to get up then or a little before to workout, so he sometimes goes back to sleep after the morning feeding. Still has 2 naps a day. Much better napper now (thank goodness) 1-2 hours a pop! YAY!! I can get so much done during this time! Thank you for being such a sweet boy, even though you really really really love your daddy now! I cannot believe you are already 8 months old and I am planning your 1st bday! You are truly a blessing "Ghee"! Mommy loves you!

Abby is doing great potty training, besides the poop incident of 2011. We basically started over this week. She wears a pull up 99% of the day. And tells me when she needs to go potty or goes by herself. The pull up is just precaution. We never had any really luck with "real" panties. But we will try them again next week. This is working for us...so it makes sense to me. She is totally my child, and I get frustrated with her sometimes only to have to remind myself....its not her fault. I am her mom afterall :-) But I love her flair for accessories of all types.
Our only issue right now is the lack of her baby gate that baricaded her in her room at night. She started climbing...after all she is her fathers child too. So instead of getting hurt we decided to take it down. Now we have a visitor almost every night but once. I think this is a phase of being able to get out...but we will see. It normally doesnt bother me because she snuggles up to her daddy leaving him all 1 foot of the bed on his side, but last night I got a nice kick to the face. What a fun way to wake up. After we handle this pacies and blankets will be the next to go. Wish us luck with it...will surely not be fun :-)
My sweet girl - you are silly, crazy, funny, loud, loving, caring, messy, "squishy", sticky, beautiful, smart and special! We were blessed the day you were born and cannot believe how time has flown. You say the darndest things and catch us off guard all the time. Thank you for putting up with me when I am frustrated...we are so alike that can me hard sometimes! I love you my little B!

On an ending note, My Grandma or Gigi as Abby calls her ending up having double bypass instead of single bypass. She was in the CICU for over a week. And thankfully is home now and doing good. She is a tough cookie and I know she will fight to get every last bit of her strength back. After all she has two little people who can't wait to love on their Gigi again :-) Get well Gigi! Behave and walk like your supposed too! We love you!

That's all for now! Planning on having a great weekend with friends celebrating my birthday and theirs. And a kiddo free one...they are going to one of their favorite places...Mimi & Pop Pops house!

Tootles!

Taking pictures just got more complicated :-)

The Greatest Woman UPDATE

My grandma will be having open heart surgery/ single bypass at Jackson Hospital early Friday morning. I feel really good about the surgery but prayers are still welcomed. Please pray for the doctors performing the surgery and for a speedy recovery. She has two little people who will be missing her while she is recovering.

The Greatest Woman...

I figured the next blog i posted would be about my fabulous trip to Kansas. But instead it is about my beloved Grandma or what my sweet Abby calls her Gigi! On Monday she will be having another heart cath and a possible stint. This is really hard for me! I know what she means to me, but it is a whole 'nother story what she means to my children. Please pray for her Monday morning that everything goes great! She is a blessing in my life and I thank God for her everyday!

Please Join me!

La

Man it's HOT

This heat outside is RIDICULOUS!! I mean seriously...for a simple errand to Target at 9am...and in order to get out the stroller, get both kiddos in, and get inside, I already look like a just did 30 on a treadmill! AHHHH! But thankfully, last year my mom and dad AKA Nana & Papa got a swimming pool at their house. I didn't really get to enjoy it last year being a humungo preggie, and b/c Abs wouldn't stay in too long. However, this year Abby and I got to take Mommy & Me swim classes at Wynlakes. It was really great and our teacher was FAB! Abby really got comfy in the water. It really is nice now to put her float vest and swimmies on and her just swim around the pool...shallow end of course. Before she would get in one minute and be playing around the pool instead of inside it. Now because someone wants to be soooo independent or a BIG girl as she would say it is awesome! I am so proud of my little swimmer...I mean we have a ways still to go, but for a 2 year old she is doing great!

Here are some pictures from last weekend! This was little man's 3rd time in the pool, and I think he just loves it too! He gets hot so fast that outdoor activities aren't a realy option for him...so he just chills in there.

How she smiles now, when I take her picture...please let it be a phase :-)

Unless I can catch her before she knows what I'm up to :-)

Toofies and Tee Tee

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while...I have been in the bathroom alot lately! But for good reason :-) Abby decided last Friday to bring me every diaper that she had wet or unfortunately pooped in. I have tried several times to start potty training...but it was just so frustrating because little man is so needy and other mom's of more than one know sometimes you just have to suck it up and can an idea. So as grossed out almost 2 1/2 year old poops make me, I was willing to put up with it until Miss Priss decided she was ready. And I guess she was...we have been going to the potty in her princess potty since Friday night. So almost a week! It has been wonderful - except for the occasional poop on the floor or finding her putting like 10 wipes down the toilet! I finally conquered our biggest issue today (so far) which was actually wearing underwear. My child has been running around since last week without any panties on...even when we had company to cookout on the 4th. Luckily they love us and know we are weird anyways :-) So as of now...we are almost potty trained. She still wears a pull up for naps and for sleeping...since I don't want to have to take all the sheets off, clean comforter...you get the drill.

My little man Ethan is growing so fast! He is sitting up good and strong, and we think he will be crawling sometime during the next month. He is a little behind his sister who started at 6 1/2 months, but not too far behind. He also got his first "toofy" yesterday! It has been white under the skin for a while...glad that sucker is out in the open. Maybe now the little guy will chill out a bit :-)

Anyways, here are a few pictures of Ethan's Baptism and other silly moments! All for now! Tootles!

Our precious little Ethan




Our little family

Talking all the time! I wonder where he gets it? :-)



Playing

Sitting like a big Boy!


You guessed it...she is my child! Miss Priss and her love of dress up!

What we've been up to - Pictures!

Hanging out

Eating Ice Cream with cousins

Learning to sit up

Eating & Hamming it up...always :-)

I'm Back

We have been so busy around the Marshall house that I rarely get to check email much less post on the blog. While we were away the kiddos and I enjoyed a wonderful time at the beach with Mimi, Ethan turned 6 months old, Abby and I took Mommy & Me swim lessons, and we purchased a fabulous new...drumroll please...air conditioner...bombombom! haha! Life with 2 kiddos is hard and tiring, but we are making it work! Anyways, onto those crazy kiddos of mine:

ABBY - is two going on 12!
She is already flirting with boys ( i wasn't prepared for this to start so early)
She is sleeping from 9pm until 7:30 or 8am - thank goodness
Is a chatterbox! We can understand her almost 99% of the time!
Is funny too! Love to say thank you so much momma for even the simplest of tasks like getting her more juice, or saying all better whenever she does anything :-)
Eating anything sweet or carbs! She is a tiny little gal, but boy can she snack! Loves steak, chicken tenders, ,mac and cheese, green beans, bacon and the only child i have ever heard cry for broccoli!
Is starting to realize brother might be loads of fun one day...she will lay on her tummy and talk with Ethan and tell him Good Job brother! She loves when he laughs!

ETHAN - is 6 months old - Already???
He is such a sweet boy, but much fussier than his sister
He is sleeping from about 6:30-7pm until about 6 or 6:30am. Then normally will go back to sleep until 8 or so...I love that part!
He is napping about 3 times a day still...but they are for only about 45 minutes
He is razzing, cooing or making funny noises all day
Is starting to roll over in his bed from his tummy to back....this doesn't make him happy since its tight quarters for him to then roll back over to go to sleep :-)
Eating 8 ounces about 4 times a day
Loves real food....squash, apples, pears, sweet taters, zucchini, cereal and prunes
Weighs 18 pounds...yes you read that correctly...18lbs! Funny since his big sister was 19lbs at a year!Sitting up for longer periods at a time...stay tuned to see if he is like his sister and starts crawling by the beginning of 7 months.

Now we are just enjoying our time and planning on spending many days outside and at my parents pool! That is all for now! Pictures soon...I promise!!

What might have been

So I have been a bad blogger and I am aware of it! But it is crazy getting out a sentence much less an entire blog these days. Anyways, this one isn't about the kiddos, I promise the next one will be. This is about something unexpected that happened last night...it was truly a WOW moment! One I couldn't believe I was seeing in person or how much things could have changed so quickly...thankfully nothing terrible did happen.

Last night, I was about to enjoy the season finale of Desperate Housewives (sidenote: I NEVER get to watch my favorite shows anymore...at least when they are actually airing. Thank you Charter On Demand) anyways I sit down and the show comes on and I hear a loud LOUD bang! Of course I look out my window and there is my poor mailbox all catywhompass (not sure on that spelling..never have spelled it before..haha!) So I march on outside with my hands on my hips to await the moron who hit it. Well she got out and I heard a baby screaming, and I immediately felt sorry for her! I have been there when your child just won't calm down and you are more focused on that than doing what your supposed to be. But then after she got her kiddo out and walked over to my driveway I began to sense this wasn't going to be a fun converstation. She was just so upset and hyperventialting! I kept repeating it is just a mailbox when I realized she couldn't stand up straight. So I told her to take a seat on the driveway and calm down. I then asked her for her child and she gave her right to me! I knew then, what I had suspected! She was drunk! Part of me felt sorry for her, but seriously....my children sleep on the front part of our house! How could any mother do this???

Later as the cops were arriving, my neighbor and I were joking as to how she missed my trash can which was in the "line of fire". That's when my heart sank and the truth about really what might have been really hit me. Starting at the fire hydrant on the corner of my house...missing it by only a foot or so, were the beginning of tire tracks into my yard only about 15 feet away from where my sweet boy was sleeping! My sadness for this girl went from that to rage and anger in seconds. The tears came and I realized how lucky we had been. This girl had missed a fire hydrant, trashcan, coming into my house and instead of hitting the power pole that was just to the other side of my driveway (and the transformer too) she hit my measly bird poop covered mailbox!

I couldn't sleep for a few hours after I was already inside after talking to police. I don't know if she was arrested or if her boyfriend had gotten in trouble for his part, I didn't care. I just felt lucky, scared, exhausted, and sad for this girl and her child. Today, there was a knock on my door...and there she was. Much more put together and in control, with that same beautiful little lady with her. She apologized and said how sorry she was. Also that this was her wake up call!

I guess my point of this blog isn't to share a juicy, crazy, "really that happened to you" story, but to share it in order for you to help someone who you see struggling. I could have been rude or angry with her...I was of course but I didn't show it. I instead tried to be as compassionate and understanding as I could be. She obviously needed help...and sometimes it just has to slap us in the face to realize it!

I had my "a-ha" moment as Oprah would say!

I know it's late but Ethan wanted me to tell you that he hopes you had a "Hoppy Easter!" haha! This little guy is growing like a weed! He changes everyday and I am sure when I get home Sunday from my trip this weekend he will have changed even more!

We had a great Easter this year! What a good time to celebrate what we have all been given! Here are a few pictures of some of the festivites!

Looking for eggs with daddy at the Easter Egg Hunt

She shook every egg...looking for "monies" :-) or "clink clink" as she sometimes refers to them!

Abs and the Easter Bunny! She loved him! And was hysterical when we told her it was another little kids turn! What a great improvement from what happened with Santa this year!

As for Ethan and I...we chilled out and sweated while Daddy & Abs looked for eggs! It had to be the hottest day yet! Don't you just love this face!! haha!!

"Reading" his book from the Easter Bunny! :-)

The kiddos with their baskets! Glad they at least match in this picture (didn't plan it) since I didn't capture a good one of them after church in their actual outfits!

That is all for now! Hope you enjoyed this brief update! Life is hectic, tiring, fun and I should start doing a better job blogging again soon! Ethan has slept through the night the past week and a half! WHoohoo!! Tootles!

2 years & 4 months!

So this post is seriously delayed...but better late than never right?
Abby and Ethan both had their doctors appointments on the same day and at different times! I know you must think I am a crazy person, but I wanted to get them over with and Wednesday are the only day Abs has Mother Morning Out and that I had someone to keep E man while I took his big sister after school! To say I was worn out after that day was an understatement! Thankfully I got to leave the next day for a great trip to the beach to celebrate my bestie Kelly and her upcoming wedding! Anyways onto the stats and what these kiddos are up to:

Ethan - (1st victim of the day...haha!)
Height - 25 1/2 inches - 50%
Weight - 15.45 lbs 50%
Head - 42.5 also 50%

He got 2 shots - thankfully the combine 3 into a booster now...sissy didn't have it so lucky. He had a great visit, was a little touchy when Dr. D came in, but made it through. He is such a sweet boy. Still more cranky/fussy than his sister was but really loves to be held and loves kisses...and to kiss you back! I know he doesn't know what it means but he loves to open mouth slobber on you...I love it too!! He is rolling from his tummy to back like a pro and is close to rolling from his back to tummy. He loves to sit propped up or in his bumbo! I have a feeling he will be like his sister who not only started sitting unsupported at 6 months but started crawling at 6 1/2....we shall see. He is still sometimes waking up at night...but fusses a litttle then back to sleep. Waking at 5:30 or 6 (ahhh!) everyday! I cannot wait for him to give it a little longer for waking...5:30 am is hard on me :-) He has been eating solids for a few weeks now! Since he is such a big boy we started him on rice cereal a little earlier. He has had sweet potatoes, squash, apples and prunes so far! And he loves it!

Abby:
Weight - 23 lbs
Height 35 1/3 inches

She is such a smart girl! I was so excited that she had started liking the doctor again. I mean she has always loves Dr. D but since she could realize she got shots there she didnt quite have the same view of it. Well I was also excited that she wouldn't get shots again until she was 5...so they told me at our 18 month appt. But they have since added one more! So she had to get one! I felt terrible, but when I told her she could go see the "fishes" (fishtank) and get a sticker she was fine! She is growing like a weed and is just so intelligent! She can identify and say all her ABC's and can count up to 12 and indentify them too! She bust out with such funny things to say...this morning I told her she needed to take a nap today (we are having a problem with them now) and she says "that's a good idea momma!" The hardest thing now is when she says something borderline inappropriate and not laughing. Ev and I were talking the other night and she said no talking and then put her hands on both sides of my face and said "are you listening to me?" I tried hard to keep it together but she is just so quick to catch us off guard!

She is such a people person and man can she flirt! I didn't realize they could start doing that so early, but here she goes :-) We are working on potty training...not going bad or well...just kinda taking our time!

That is all for now!

MOOOOOO...Abby is Two!

WOW is all I have too say! My little sweet girl turned 2 Saturday! I still cannot believe it! We celebrated with a wonderful barnyard themed party and hayride with our family and some friends! We really had a great time - the weather was perfect!! Thank you for all who came to celebrate with us!! Here are some pictures from the big day!! Happy 2nd Birthday ABBY!! This kiddo knew that I have picked up the cupcakes for her party the next day! So of course she asked for one! :-) I will give her one everyday to see her smile like that!! Abby's cake (that she ending up not eating b/c she wanted a cupcake :-) go figure...haha!) The birthday girl in her new 2 outfit! Daddy & his Abby The barn goodie bags!

Cupcakes! TOO cute! Yummy too! They each had a different color and animal - some strawberry, chocolate & some vanilla!!

Eating her most favorite food...PIZZA!

Everyone singing Happy Birthday too her! She was singing too!

Blowing out the candles...with some help! :-)

Hot pink cupcake 1 - white shirt -0 :-)

Getting ready for the hayride

Maddie & Abby!! She loves her big girl cousins!

Feeding the donkey's apples & peppermints!

Her knew bike and helmet from Nana & Papa! She LOVES this thing :-)

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! Up next for us: Abby's 24 month appt & Ethan's 4 month appointments on Wednesday! Then some girltime for this momma & some of her besties at the beach celebrating our bachelorette Kelly! All for now! Tootles!

Abby hold...

HIM!! I couldn't believe my ears! I mean she has been the best BIG sister I could have ever imagined...but we haven't pressed the issue. And as I was finishing feeding him she asked to hold him! And she did so good. Ethan gets a kick out of his big sister and her dancing, singing and when she asks him "How yo doin etan?" so cute! Anyways here are some pictures for now!


My big girl coloring with those awesome invisible markers...she looks to big in the pic...sad :-(

feeding brother

Almost had enough :-)

What a sweet big sister and little brother!

Too Cute!

We haven't been up to much around here...just eating, sleeping, playing...repeat! haha!! Just so excited for this wonderful weather and being able to take little Abs outside to run around and blow off some steam! She is a hurricane...cat 5 to be exact! Anyhoo...here are some updates with the pics!

We love our hands! Stopped swaddling lil "Houdini" almost a week ago! This guy is almost sleeping through the night (fingers crossed!!) at least for a 6-7 hour period a night then waking to say Word to the momma!

Do you see it? Yep...an actual bow! Not a she's a girl so she will wear this bow even though she doesn't have enough hair bow...but and ACTUAL ONE! Hip Hip Hooray! She wore it for about 10 minutes...gotta work on that one!!


Like I said hurrican Abby right...well she can destroy a room in less than 5 minutes! What can I say the kids got talent :-) She loves to dress up...even made me wear some of her hats! My little fashionista! haha!

This little guy is just too cute! Okay yeah I'm a little partial...but that crooked smile gets me everytime! Tootles from our crazy world!

Little E

Three months have come and gone...and I am still baffled by that! Ethan is such a big boy and a sweet one too. All that said, he is totally different than the Abster was as a baby...it's funny that I can already tell how much their personalities are different! He is definately not as laid back as she was...what a shock! I knew we wouldn't get another calm baby! He loves to be held or talked too! He loves to eat! At 3 months he is taking about 6oz every 4 hours and taking little cat naps during the day and normally one in the afternoon that lasts about 2 hours. He still isn't sleeping all night...but last night slept for 7 hours straight (which is the longest ever) from 7pm to 2:30am. Then woke up at 6 for the day...haha! To say I'm tired is a understatement. Abby is the energizer bunny these days so my patience is a little thinner. Can't believe she will be 2 in less than a month! Will do a BIG Birthday & What Abby is up to post then!

Hope you enjoy these pictures of my little boy!

First time in the bumbo...not really really ready...but can hold his head up for a bit

Finally got to take a nap with him last week...used to have snuggy/nap time with Abby every morning! He's so not into it!

Hey Monkey!

On President's Day, my parents and I took the kiddos to the zoo! Abby loved it so much, and the weather was absolutely perfect! The last time we went was last summer and it was so freakin hot that most of the animals were indoors. SO this time we saw alot of our "friends!"

Papa & "Scarlet"....this gal loves hats!

Abs wasnt too sure about the tigers

The rhino...boy was he friendly :-)

Little Man - not really a clue where we are, but happy to be with his momma!

Looking at the lions

WOW! Abby says this all the time....so cute!

Thats all for now! Tootles!