Inconceivable!

The other night Jack was crying and Isaac said to him, "Don't cry like that, Zucchini."

I was a little confused until I remembered saying that when Jack was first born I thought he looked a bit like this character from "The Princess Bride." One night Jack cried and Jeremiah told Isaac to say, "Don't cry like that, Vizzini."

Aha! Zucchini = Vizzini.

50 First Words

At Kenley's 18 month check-up I was asked how her vocabulary was coming along. I told the Dr that she said about 20-25 words. He said that was great. For that age 8-9 words is average and he said she was ahead. She's really not a big talker and so I thought that perhaps I had exaggerated. When I got home I made a list of words that I knew she had said - even if I'm the only one who knows what she's saying. There were 27 words on the list. Since then I've been keeping a running list, writing new words (and phrases) as she learns them. So here are Kenley's 50 first words, in no particular order.

* dad * that * more * baby * dog * bird * poop * please* Isaac* garbage * wow * no * stop *
* teeth * brush teeth * don't do it * ball * Hi * bye-bye * shoes * uh-oh * off *
* ow * up * boo * bite * ew * go * book * mom * hold * fish * eat * Jack * ta-da! * eye *
* down * come on * wash * mine * me * help * work * gross * ride * Elmo * water * hug *

Somebody PLEASE Remind Me It's Worth It!

So last night I discovered first-hand why my mom refers to her child-bearing years as "The Zombie Years."

Jeremiah had been down at his parents house helping them put a cover over their back deck. I came down later after team teaching with the missionaries. It was getting kind of late and I knew I had to get up at 8:00 super early to help clean the church house so I decided that I would drive the kids home. I was certain that because it was late that all the kids would be asleep by the time I got home and I could also turn in for the night.

I was almost right.

All three kids did fall asleep on the way home. I pulled them out of the car one-by-one and laid each one in their bed. Isaac stayed asleep. Kenley stayed asleep. Jack woke up. I had fed him just before leaving but I hadn't checked his diaper. I went ahead and laid him on the floor for the diaper change. The instant I placed the last tab of the new diaper across his belly I heard him *phbbt*squirt*tinkle*. Which wouldn't have been too bad except for the simultaneous *blaugh*cough*hic* from across the hall in Kenley's room. Since I wasn't sure if Jack was done doing his business I ran in to Kenley's room to find that she had vomited all over herself, her bed, her pillow and the carpet.

I pulled her out of bed and started to walk her to the bathroom when she started puking again. Nothing says "parenthood" like letting your toddler vomit into your bare hands. She finished barfing into the toilet and I got her into the tub to clean her off and cool her down. Then I put all the bedding and surrounding items into the washing machine and put some carpet cleaner on the floor in Kenley's room. Surprisingly I still remembered that Jack needed another diaper change.

Anyway, after getting Jack's diaper changed for the second time, and Kenley washed off and in bed it was about midnight and Jeremiah (who is also sick) got home. Kenley heard him and got out of bed. As tired as she was she was so restless and kept screaming no matter what either Jeremiah or I did. She was up until 5:00 this morning. She finally relented to sleep in our bed. On top of the covers. At the foot of the bed. Like the family dog.

And that's when Jack woke up...

The Nerve!

I wonder if my mom ever got comments like these from strangers who made it their business to point out that she had 7 children. I just had my third and even I got looks in the hospital when I said that I had a 4-year old and a 18-month old at home. They looked at me like I was a stupid little girl with poor judgment.

Others thought that it was wonderful that I was willing to be a mom. My feeling is that it is up to my husband and me how many children we have and how close we decide to have them. I know that it's a privilege to be a mother and an opportunity that not all women are presented with. I love each of my kids and I take good care of them. If anyone wants to question that- Bring. It. On.

It's Like Real-Time Revelation

For family time on Tuesday we watched The Living Scripture video of David and Goliath. When the animated David on the video said he would fight Goliath he did it with the drama you would expect from the young hero. We were surprised at how much of the story that Isaac already knew. We'd like to think that he learned about it at home, but I don't remember talking about it with him and neither does Jeremiah, so someone in the Primary is doing our their job.

Anyway, yesterday morning I told Isaac that he needed to take a bath. His response was, "I never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever want to take a bath! I want a cookie. So go make me a cookie."

Mature as I am, I responded likewise, "I never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever want to make you a cookie!"

"How about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" he asked.

"I never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever want to make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!"

We went on in this fashion through a variety of foods but when I told Isaac that I never, ever wanted to make him a Pop Tart, that was the final straw. He started breathing deeply, puffed out his chest and stood as straight and tall as he could as he declared with authority, "God told me to have a Pop Tart...and to be good."

Who am I to argue with that?