While I Was Blogging (or Ainsley Loves the Vacuum)

So, while I was working on the previous post, Xander was napping and Ainsley, who previously feared the vacuum with the tenacity of Satchel from Get Fuzzy, decided that she now loves the vacuum. She's been pushing it all over the house painting it with her paint brush, giving it hugs, dancing with it.  

"My vacuum!" she says.  "Want my vacuum in upstairs." 

[I pretend I don't hear her.] "Mommy, want my vacuum in upstairs." 

"No, you aren't going upstairs by yourself with the vacuum."
"I say please!"

So, she decides that she's going to go into Xander's room.  I find her in there throwing stuffed animals into bed with Xander, who she's woken from his nap.  You know that scene in Labyrinth when Sarah has eaten the poisoned apple thing and she goes into "her room" with that weird trash hoarding puppet & the puppet tries to turn Sarah into a trash hoarder like her? That's what I think Ainsley was doing to Xander.  "You don't have nearly enough babies, Xander."

Anyway, I ended up having to get him up...and this is what I find in the living room after refilling my coffee.

She was adamant that Xander
have all the pieces.

Helloooo Popschlags!

Yesterday, we had a visit from the Popschlags!  Rachel, Eric, and Augie came to hang out, watch some tube, eat, and generally be merry.  

Tin Roof Tangent: They came bearing the most awesome gift: Tin Roof ice cream!  If you have access to Blue Bell, you must try some Tin Roof. It's vanilla ice cream with chocolate covered peanuts and  chocolate syrup swirled in. Its awesomeness will melt your face off.  Actually, we'd been searching for Tin Roof for years. When Sean discovered that, being a northerner, I'd never had Blue Bell ice cream, it was one of the first things I ate when I went to Texas.  (He is right. It is the best ice cream in the world.)  Then he started looking for his favorite flavor--Tin Roof.  We looked at every grocery store and gas station we went to in Texas and any other state that carried Blue Bell.  We did this since 2002.  Even though the Blue Bell website said Tin Roof existed, I started to doubt it.  Until a couple of weeks ago when I found it in the Muncie Meijer! But they only had one...and haven't had any since then.  However, the Popschlags have come through and brought in a shipment from Indy.  That's how awesome they are--they'll pick up 2 gallons of ice cream and transport it with dry ice.

Augie and Xander

For those of you who were at Ainsley's first birthday party, you may remember the Popschlags--they brought wee baby Augie.  

Augie, with Rachel, October 2009

Big hugs!

When they arrived Ainsley was "napping," so we were able to let the boys hang out.  Aug was enchanted by "beebee."  All he wanted to do was give hugs. Lots and lots of big almost-2-year-old boy hugs. Xander, for his part, mostly just appreciated the attention from a kid who didn't kick him or hit him or run away from him screaming, "He's trying to get meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!" 

Those boys were adorable together. Augie wanted to hug a lot--and Xander got into it.  At one point Xander licked Augie from cheek to forehead. That move prompted Aug to run to his momma in confusion.  I laughed so hard.  Such cuteness.

Augie and Ainsley

I was way more concerned with Ainsley's interaction with Augie.  Ainsley is going through that awesome selfish/hitting/mean stage.  While there was some initial selfishness and most too-hard hitting was accidental and in play, Ainsley did well.  At one point she actually SHARED.  

Recently, A discovered the Kitty Chaise (a doll chaise lounger that I found at TJMaxx and bought for the cats when I was single and then became the name of Molly and my jewelry "business").  While Eric and I were transporting the Tin Roof to Karen's freezer, Augie and Ainsley decided to sit together.  Luckily, Sean knew I'd want to see the cuteness and snapped a few pictures. Below is the cuteness.  Bask.

Ainsley Is a Nerd and Xander Bats Clean-up

This morning, when we got up to get Ainsley out of bed, she ordered us out of her room.  You see, she was reading to her babies and needed to finish the story.  She'd lined them all up along her bed and sat in the center reading her book about trains.  I found this adorable.

Sean then informed me that her new ritual when she wakes up is to say "good morning" to each baby and give it a kiss.  Because she sleeps with approximately 4,000 babies (remember her bed?), this takes her forever.  Also, because I sleep like the dead and never wake up, it's what wakes Sean up every morning.

Nom Nom Nom

Today, while we were at Target I decided to get her a new plate--as we're going to need them because Mr. Big Boy is practically off baby food now; he only wants people food or a bottle.  She was given the choice between a plate with flowers, a plate with monkeys, and a plate with letters.  "Want letters," she said.

"But look, baby! This one has monkeys!  They're so funny!" I tried not to push her one way or the other--but that monkey plate was really cool. 

Alas, my child did not want monkeys, "NO. WANT LETTERS."  My kid knows what she wants.  On the way home, I let her hold her letters plate and told her she could have lunch on it today.

"Cover up letters?" she wondered.

...or Not So Nom Nom
Ainsley's "leftovers"

"Well,  yes, but then you can eat and find them again!"

"Ok!"  Her excitement made me think that maybe she'd eat better, as Ainsley's diet has been a point of discussion and concern since she was born.

We got home and I fed her hot dogs and stars with cheese--two of her favorites.  While the plate was awesome, it did not make her more inclined to eat.

Currently, she's in her bedroom "napping."  I can hear her dictating things to her babies, who knows if she'll go to sleep.

Leftovers shmeftovers

Her loss, however, is Xander's gain.  He already knew stars and cheese are awesome.  But today, he has discovered that hot dogs are also awesome!!

I honestly think that Xander is going to skip Stage III baby food altogether.  I can mash up practically anything we're eating for dinner--and it's so much cheaper.  Plus if we aren't feeding him what we're eating... He. Knows.  And he gets really ticked off if we have something that he doesn't. Lots of "MMMmmmMMMMM"ing and grabbing.

We're so lucky to have one kid who picks up the other kid's slack!

Choklit Nilk

NILK NOW.

Today, Ainsley brought me her play glass: "Choklit Nilk?"

Me: "Oh! Are you pretending to drink chocolate milk?"

Ainsley (with a look of irritation): "NO. Want choklit nilk now."

Her exasperation that I'd even entertain the notion of pretend chocolate milk was hilarious.

Playing Together and Cruising

Isn't my brother cute?

I realize that I've been doing a lot of Ainsley or Xander separate posts, and since this is Ainsley and Xander's blog, I felt it was time to report on how they're doing--together.

Don't LOOK AT ME.

Right now, according to Xander, Ainsley is the coolest thing that has ever been on the face of the Earth. Ever.  According to Ainsley 90 percent of the time, "EEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEee!!" to the pitch of dolphins as she runs away from him.  The other 10 percent though makes up for the attempts at dolphin communication because it's then that she decides to take care of him or love on him or play with him.

You play on *this side*, Xander!

Her favorite thing is to insinuate herself into whatever he's doing and show him how it's done. This week, I put the legs on the toy Uncle Brian bought for Xander for Christmas.  Xander loves to stand up--and now that this toy is a table/toy, it's become awesome again. He was playing with it just fine.  Ainsley decided to come over and show him how to play.  She was telling him colors...I have a feeling I'm not going to have to teach as much cause Ms. FancyPants will do it her own big girl self.

And Now for Something Completely Different

So, I caught Xander cruising on video...it's brief...but what I love about this video is Ainsley interacting with Mr. Man as well. Please to enjoy.

Xander EATS

Mac n Cheese: WIN.

Up to these past few weeks, Xander was contented to have his bottles, the occasional Puff, and maybe some baby food.  Lately, however, Xander has decided that baby food is for suckers and losers.  All he wants is REAL FOOD.

Please, please feed a Boomer.

So, to appease Mr. CrankyPants, I've broadened his diet. He's trying all sorts of mashable foods now.  His current favorite is macaroni and cheese.  Bananas are also made of win.

The new food developments have made Xander much more appealing to dogs, of course.  He hasn't figured out yet that he can actually *feed* the dogs, but that'll come. 

Is this Ainsley's? AWESOME.

For now though, Xander is content to wander around the house in search of food stuffs.  His most recent discovery?  Ainsley's goldfish travel container.  He found it in the basement and played with it as a toy until he discovered the delicious goldfish filling!  Of course, right now he doesn't chew very well, so we have to keep a good eye on him so that he doesn't choke--but I don't think it'll take too long to develop his eating skillz--he's clearly taking after his momma in that respect!

Ainsley Rediscovers Her Tent

I had to promise her candy to
get her to peek her head out for a pic.

Now that Xander is mobile, Ainsley finds herself in a constant state of alert.  If he actually catches her, she goes insane and hits and punches him.  At one point, she hit him with a Strawberry Shortcake lunch box.

So, in attempt to protect him and prevent her from spending the next six months in the chair being punished with a tanned bottom, I've pulled out the tent that Aunt Jill and Uncle Joe bought her for Christmas last year.

This tent sat out for months after Christmas last year, and Ainsley showed little interest in it.  Now, however, it is the most awesome thing in the world.  I've positioned it in the basement behind my chair and put up a wall of chairs and toys to keep Xander out.  Miss A now spends her evenings playing in the tent.

The first night that I got it out for her, upon seeing her tent: *GASP* "TENT!"

She grabbed her picnic basket and stayed inside until it was bedtime.  Right after going inside, Xander started throwing a fit because he wanted a toy he couldn't get.  From the tent, I heard, "What's going on out there?"

"Xander is angry," I replied.

"OK. I in my tent."

Things Heard from the Tent

• Awww what's wrong? Want hugs and kisses? (Presumably to an upset baby...)
• That's gross! (I have no idea what that one's about.)

Ainsley Puts Things in her Mouff

Toothbrushes

Ainsley prefers double fisted
tooth brushing.

Well, Miss A is at it again.  First, I'm not sure I mentioned this before, but Ainsley loves to brush her teeth.  She has two toothbrushes that, if I'd let her, she'd carry around and brush her teeth with all the time.  I say "if I'd let her" because I don't let her.  Why not?  You'd think that letting a kid brush her teeth constantly would be a great way to promote oral hygiene.

You'd be wrong.  For 10 minutes (if that), Ainsley would brush her teeth. Then she'd go pet Sadie with her toothbrush. Then she'd brush her teeth. Then she'd drop the toothbrush in the toilet. Then she'd brush her teeth.  Then she'd go dig around in Ms. Fat Blacky Beaner's litter box. Then she'd brush her teeth.  You see where I'm going here.  So, no, Miss A.  You cannot keep your toothbrush with you forever.

Chapstick

I'm painting my lips green
for St. Patty's Day!

Ainsley was adamant about coloring this morning.  So, we dug out the coloring book and crayons and let her at it.  I'd left her alone for something--to get Xander, to make breakfast, who knows...when I returned, I first noticed that she'd pulled all the crayons out of the tin so she could line them up.  Oh A, you're so predictable!

Then I noticed that her mouth was green.  "Ainsley! I told you that you don't eat crayons!"

"Chapstick, Momma," she grinned.  She then started rubbing the green crayon on her face.

She loves chapstick--I have no idea why the green one became her chapstick, but it made me giggle.

Xander Is a Big Boy

Lately, Xander has started moving in leaps and bounds.  It used to be that he would army crawl around the house.  Now he does a right proper crawl.  His most favorite thing to do right now, though, is to pull himself up onto things. The other day, I went to wake him up and decided it'd be a good day to document some cuteness for the Interwebs.  This is how I found him in his bed.  

Seriously, Xander is the happiest damn baby you'll ever meet. He has his crying and fussing moments, but he is So. Chill.  I guess he has to be as a reaction to his sister, Captain Cranky Pants.

BIG BOY!

Anyway, lately, X is pulling himself up, so when we go to get him out of bed, he's no longer laying around chilling with Max, his Grinch dog. Now he's a Big Boy, standing up and yelling in his crib.  Big Boys stand in their cribs and chew on them.  Big Boys get excited and jump up and down in their cribs and then fall down. Big Boys find that hilarious and lay on their backs laughing.  Oh yeah, being a Big Boy is pretty awesome.

Can you hear the theme to Jaws?
I can.

Xander will pull himself up on anything he can.  I've forgotten what it's like to have an almost 9 month old baby in the house.  Lately, it seems we spend our days chasing after Mr. Big Boy and protecting him from our stuff and our stuff from him.  For example, my table in the living room ("The Mess" as Sean calls it) often will have random bills/mail on it.  Did you know how tasty bills and mail are?  I didn't. But I do now!

Can I haz stairs nao?

Another new discovery Mr. Big Boy has made is the steps.  Right now we have to leave the steps up to our bedroom open because Ms. Fat Blacky Beaner can use her paw to open the door and if she gets stuck up there, she pees on our bed in protest.  Ms. Fatty is a bitch, by the way.

This has allowed Xander to discover the stairs.  He can't crawl up them yet, but he is VERY interested in them.  You may recall Miss A's fascination with the steps (and her fit throwing when I put the gate up to stop her). Xander is no different.  At the moment, he'll just stand at them.  Then sit down and look at me..then stand at them again.  Rinse, repeat for 20 minutes.

Ainsley has the coolest stuff!

Ultimately though, Xander's favorite thing to do is to play in Ainsley's room.  Because A's toys are everywhere, Ainsley's room is a bounty of toys and awesomeness.