4 no 3 Kisses

Sorry Lydia. You do things like this and we just need to document them to remember them...

Lydia's nap time request was granted for 4 kisses on her cheeks. Not 3 and not 5 but 4 kisses on her cheeks. Request granted. Hugs given. Sweetly covered up. Blinds closed. Room and child ready for sweet slumber. And I close the door the dramatic tears begin "No mommy I only wanted 3 kisses on my cheeks and I don't know what to do with kiss 4".

Mom silently groans and quick on her feet says "Oh, I will steal kiss number 4". Leans down and takes away kiss number 4. Problem solved right?

Oh, no! Your tired little body could not compute that I had taken away this kiss. Realizing that you could not be reasoned with in this tired state of mind I told you to go to sleep and close the door.

45 minutes later (which mind you you threw your toys, stomped around your room, and had a complete fit over this 4 kiss issue) you were still going strong and definatly not anywhere near sleeping. I went into your room and you could not even remember why you were upset. (Can we say tired???). I laid you back down, covered you up, even took a chance and kissed your cheek, and you were happily sleeping before I was back down the steps.

Tea Party Bribery

After a fun morning with a certain 3 year old, I needed a nap and so did she. So I bribed the little girl with a cupcake tea party IF she slept! AND I am happy to report - cupcake tea parties are great motivation. After nap, we baked cupcakes and ate dinner quickly so we could enjoy our tea party! 

The highlight of the tea party was James got home just in time to enjoy some party time too! 

And the next morning, the tea party dishes still had icing on them. Even tea party dishes don't magically clean themselves overnight... 

Dad's Busy Week

For a multitude of reasons, James had a chaotic week at work and had some really long hours. Lydia did ok with this for a couple days but by the end of the week she was bitter that her dad was not at home in the morning when she woke up and wasn't home before dinner. (Yes, she is a very fortunate little girl that her Dad is usually home when she wakes up and gets to come home before dinner most nights!).

We will skip posting the pictures showing the little girl laying in the floor crying and kicking her legs because "Dad is not home" but some more positive pictures!

After realizing Dad was not home one morning we made plans to write Dad a note on the driveway after our walk (Lydia is up before the sun every single morning!).

Lydia's Note: "I miss you". 

DeAnna putting a more positive spin on Lydia's drama: "We Love Dad". 

Laying out toys for Dad to play with (and yes, I was home and available and willing to play but what you can't have is what you want!). 

DeAnna once again trying to put a more positive spin on Lydia's drama. Once the little girl quit whining over the fact that Dad wasn't home when she woke up (notice not even a tear stain!) we took a picture to send Dad. Lydia really knows how to work her smile to pull on her Dad's heart.

Despite my best efforts Lydia really doesn't see why her Dad has to work and in her 3 year old wisdom doesn't yet appreciate her Dad's work ethic. One day she will learn but at the end of last week, I was quite thankful for Friday and for this dramatic little girl to have her Daddy home for the weekend! 

Lydia's Projects

Lydia and I had ALLOT of time together last week so we did soooooooo many projects and activities. To say we were busy was the understatement of the week. 

Letter C craft with cotton balls. But the best part was a new bottle of glue! 

Lydia has been wanting to learn how to write her name. So we made some name cards. 

We read the story about the Israelites and God's cloud of fire telling them where to go. Lydia then needed to make a cloud to tell her where she should build a tent. Kept her very busy for a day :) 

Playing with the name cards (again!). Best toy in the house last week. 

Dot ART! 

Sometimes you are painting and the urge hits you to run some laps through the house. And Lydia did not let the urge go unnoticed! 

OH, we also read the story about Joseph and his coat and Lydia needed to make a coat too. (Ofcourse, what fashionista would miss an opportunity to make a coat!). 

Lydia related well to Joseph's brothers because "I get jealous when Dad talks to you". This wasn't a news flash to James or I but it was a nice opportunity to talk about good choices to make when we are jealous. 

Lydia decided to challenge herself with the scissors and cut each shape out and not just the box around the shape. Pretty tricky I believe (and this took her days and days to complete!). 

Hello World from Baby Stojan!

Hi Peeps: My parents have told me that I have a choice A. make an appearance or B. send out a press release because mainly my mom is tired of the questions about when I am coming (maybe Dad is too but I don't have to listen to his mutterings during the day about this question).

I thought and thought and thought and decided that I am really quite content right where I am and am going to stay. I will come out eventually but have you met my sister? I need to be ready to live with her!

I have heard rumors that she tends to bring lots of germs into the house. I guess she is getting better about washing her hands but a few extra weeks for my lungs to develop would really be good.

My sister also talks a big game of rocking and cuddling me. I think if I have a couple extra pounds on me to make me durable I would have an easier time with this rocking and cuddling she is talking about. Or maybe I will just be more mentally prepared for this love and adoration.

Not to mention, she is determined to pick out my clothes for me. My mom laughs every morning at the clothes my sister picks out so I hear the words "weather appropriate" mentioned often during the day. I think that I need some extra time to figure out how to regulate my own temperature REALLY REALLY well.

Another reason I am staying right here, I do really have life made right where I am. Food on demand. I think in your all's world sometimes I may have to make my demands known. TOO MUCH WORK FOR ME. And sleep. I sleep when I want. I hear allot of commotion from my sister about this whole napping thing and I think I  prefer this "sleep when I want thing". (My sister would defiantly prefer naps on her schedule!).

BUT back to my parent's demand. People, you just gotta quit emailing, calling, and texting. My mom is threatening to start sending out daily birth announcements and the names for these pretend birth announcements are not going to be good! I predict allot of confusion.

And you know the best part of all of this: I am in complete control of this entire event! Ha, yep me! My parents have no control. My doctors - you got it - no control (which bothers them I think - doctors I am learning have a god complex!). My sister - who believes that she controls everything around her - this is my first chance to tell her NOPE! We babies take the responsibility of this event very seriously. SO, people you just gotta let me do my thing (and leave my mom alone - my sister causes enough drama)!

Unborn babies everywhere have a little chant that we chant through out the days (hey, we get bored sometimes too) - the baby is in control, the baby is in control, the baby is in control!!!!! So on behalf on pregnant mommies all over the world - you are not the one cute person with a cute antidote to ask pregnant mommies. Your just one phone call every day for weeks and weeks (when you have not called for months) isn't endearing at all. Say a prayer for the pregnant mommy in your life, leave her alone, and rejoice when you get THE call that I have decided to come into the world!

One day soon "Baby Stojan" will come. But today is not the day and my Dad will defiantly call, email, text, and post pictures when I do!

Baby Doll Faith's New Bedroom

We have slowly been transforming my office into a bedroom for a certain Baby Boy. Lydia is thoroughly enjoying the new baby gear in the house and has taken claim to it ALL. The Baby Dolls seem to enjoy rocking, reading books, and sleeping in the crib - with white noise turned ON - most of all. Baby toys are apparently not that interesting and she can't wait to get her hands on the diapers - and we wonder why the diapers are in a closet still in their package... The Little Mommy of the house (i.e. Lydia!) is very very very excited to change diapers!

James and I do hope that this little boy will be half as excited to rock in the rocking chair and read books as his sister is. She has picked out the first stack of books that she will read to him already!

Lydia's Work

We really are loving the fall weather and have not been doing many projects (sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and playing the backyard are favorite activities right now!). We did do a few projects. 

One day the need to glue AND the need to be outside was sooooo great that we just moved our glue and craft supplies outside to the picnic table. Score! 

Her favorite projects that needed to be displayed for the world to see. 

Have I mentioned Lydia has become obsessed with Noah's ark??? Oh, yes. All things Noah are amazing right now. We have talked about making a cloud and tent and pretending to be Moses so maybe we are preparing to move to another Bible story (but pretending to be animals and running through the yard is a very exciting activity and may continue!). 

Dot Art. This particular project turned into a complete mess. I never knew a little girl could make such a mess with Dot Art but there is a reason there is only one picture ;) Fun was had by all and we perfected our hard and gentle Dot Art technique this day.