Santa

At the tree lighting ceremony a couple of weekends ago the kids got to sit on Santa's lap and get a goody bag from him. Then we went inside the firehouse and had hot chocolate and cookies and cupcakes.

Last year Manny was so scared of Santa that he'd cry and go the opposite direction. I was afraid this year it would be worse...but I was wrong. We first saw Santa at Adam's and he sat next to him but didn't really say anything, just sat there looking at him. Then he was first in line at the tree lighting ceremony to sit on his lap.

He doesn't say anything to Santa as he sits on his lap, he just kinda sits there and looks at him. At home it's a different story. I like PBS because there are no commercials, but on Disney and any other channel everything he sees, he wants. "Mommy I want that!" Mommy I want that!" and so on and so on with every commercial. It doesn't matter what it is, he wants it. So I started to say "That would be nice" after each thing he "wants". He now says, "I want that be nice!" I just yes everything he says. The kid doesn't need anything; we could open a toy store with everything we have. Of course none of the cars or trucks have tires on them. He has this obsession with taking off every tire, no matter how hard it is and he chews on them and calls it his "gum". Now he's never had gum so I don't know where that assimilation came from.

He surprises me everyday though with what he knows. He saw a trumpet on one of my mother's carolers and told me, "That's a trumpet." His new phrase is also, "I LOVE my mommy, I LOVE my mommy..........." I love you too love bug!!!!

Our first snowstorm

We received our first real snowstorm today. They closed schools everywhere before it even started doing anything. I had plans to run to Walmart before the snow came and I never made it out early enough. The snow started at 9am and it's still snowing at 7:30 tonight. There is probably 9-10 inches out there. I took the kids out to play late this afternoon and they had a blast. Manny is at a fun age and is really enjoying everything this time of year. I have Santa pictures to post too...

They helped shovel the driveway, or should I say made more a mess that then had to be re- shoveled. Manny thought he'd be able to ride his bikes in the snow; that didn't work either.

I am hoping for no school again tomorrow. I love snow days and especially as I slow down here in my pregnancy, it is nice. I have 9 more weeks and am started to feel "huge". The kids are crazy in school with the holidays and the snow, so I'd rather not deal with them. The other part of me would rather have the "snow days" in the spring, that way it's less days I don't get paid for while on my maternity leave. Either way I guess I win.

Sweet things

I am home "sick" today with Manny. I decided to keep him with me today to monitor his breathing. He has a cough and last night was really rough with breathing and wheezing. We had serious issues with this last winter so I didn't want to let it get away from us. I took him to the doctor and she said his lungs are clear, thank goodness. She gave me a new inhaler because the old one didn't seem to work. She also gave me prednazone for those emergencies when I can't get to her right away. I am glad he is not at that horrible point right now. I'll put him back on his allergy medicine and hopefully see improvement.

Yesterday was our anniversary and Manny (big) managed to spoil me yet again. We went out to dinner Sunday night because he works late all week. He started off the night by giving me diamond hoop earrings. They are absolutely beautiful!!! These are practical everyday small hoop ones and I love them! Then yesterday at work I get a delivery from edible arrangements...yummy!! I love the fruit, especially the white chocolate covered strawberries that re requests especially for me. To top it off he comes home last night from work with another gift....a Coach bag. He said he heard me mention the other day that I needed a new purse...now I would have settled for a Marshall's or Target special....but I am in love with my Coach bag!!! I love my husband and I love times like these when he spoils me. I did feel guilty though and told him he should have saved the bag for x-mas.

Handy Manny

Daddy got Manny a tool set. Manny was so excited by it that he told me he is a builder. The chainsaw is his favorite tool.


I am so excited and proud of Manny. He has been "potty trained" at daycare for some time now. He uses the potty all by himself (he'll yell "Shell I done" just to let her know) and pulls up his own pull up and pants. (His pants are always on backwards, he likes the tag in the front and many times inside out.) He remains dry all day and in the same pull up all day. The minute we get home that all ends. He can sit in a wet or poopy diaper forever at home and run away from me changing him. Tonight he told me he had to go potty, climbed up on the toilet all by himself and wet potty. I am so proud of him for doing it finally at home, even if it was just one time.

Every night during bedtime he plays the same questioning game. "Mommy, where's Daddy?" I answer him. "Where's Pop-Pop?" Answer. "Where's Gamma?" Answer. "Where's Daddy?" Answer...so on and so forth through all of them over and over. Finally I've had enough and I tell him I am leaving if he doesn't stop it and go to sleep. Well tonight he says to me, " Ha! Ha! I locked the door, you can't leave!" It was so cute the way he said it because he seriously thought I was locked in and he was controlling me. I had to laugh at him.

I want to win a sling

The Domestic Diva is giving away a sling and I want to win it so I can wear the new baby!! I think, or shall I say I know that I am going to have my hands full with Manny (he'll be 2 months shy of 3) and a newborn and Taina. If I can wear this baby it would be awesome!!!

Baby update

I had another sonogram today because the last grouch didn't get a clear picture of the heart, so today's sonogram was especially for that. The woman today was so sweet and friendly, she actually did my first one at 6 weeks. She showed me everything and gave us some pictures. Manny (big) came with me and of course when she showed him the proof that it is a boy he had to have her print a picture of it. She was pushing down trying to get a good picture of the heart and the baby started kicking or pushing back at her. I started laughing because I knew what he was doing and she laughed too because she felt it. She said he is measuring bigger than 26 weeks 4 days, actually 27 weeks 6 days. That pushes up my due date to February 5, instead of the 15th. This is not going to work in my schedule. I plan on working up until the 14th so that I can have every extra day to spend with the baby...being that I won't be paid. Also my social studies classes are having special culture classes with a dance instructor coming in to teach them different dances. They they put on a performance for the parents after the 5th day. I can't miss that!! We figured it is at the end of my pregnancy and something easy for me to work with my last couple of days. We'll see, he'll come when he's ready. With Little Manny they thought he was big, over 9 lbs so my doctor induced me. When he was born, 3 days later he was 7 lbs. 15 oz.. I am thinking the same may happen for this little guy. I can't wait to see what he looks like, will he resemble his brother? Will he have all that hair too? Can he please have my green eyes? And like to sleep? I don't think that is too much to ask!!!

Halloween 2007

The kids had a great time trick or treating last night. Manny got the hang of it pretty quickly and said his version of trick or treat at each house. I wish I had it on tape for you all to hear because it is so cute. He also got very excited at the first house who gave him a lollipop. He ran back to me to show me his p-pop and smile from ear to ear. At Uncle Chris and Aunt Jenn's house he got to take the candy he wanted and I think he took a handful of 6 lollipops. Of course the night couldn't end without a spill. He was running to keep up with Taina and fell, hence the scrape over his right eye. I think he was more worried about the candy that fell out of his bag than being scraped up.