Best Buds

The purpose of having our kids close together was so that they could grow up playing together and could be each others best friend. But almost 8 months into Joey and Carlee's relationship, I sometimes wonder why Joey is STILL so jealous of Carlee.

We spend many days on the step at least 3-4 times for "Carlee related" incidents. And there are countless warnings: if you (hit, sit on, poke, pull, jump on, kick) Carlee again..... There are days when literally all Joey has to do is look at Carlee and she starts to cry!

Joey's jealousy seems to never end - but just when I think all hope is lost that they will be those best buds Chris and I had hoped for, we have a weekend like we just did.

There were so many moments where my heart was so happy and I got tears in my eyes watching the two of them play together.

Yesterday, Carlee started to cry and Joey quickly ran to her side and loaded her up with toys, saying "here you go Carlee, it's okay." Then, as Carlee began to crawl around the house, I looked over and saw Joey crawling and laughing right behind her.

Today he did two things that I found particularly cute. In the morning, Chris and Joey spent some time building with blocks and right before they went up to take their showers, Joey left one more big tower that he worked hard to build. During shower time, Carlee woke up from her nap and I put her on the floor to play. Of course, she knocked over the tower. When Joey came downstairs and saw what had happened he looked at Carlee and said "Oh, Car Car. Tower knocked over. It's okay," and just built it again!

Later, Joey was playing with an old popcorn maker with the handle you turn. They were both in Carlee's room and I peeked in to find him helping her have a turn spinning the handle around. It was so sweet!

He has also started to get very excited as she eats new things that he also eats. This morning it was little pieces of pancakes and during lunch it was yogurt. He gets a big smile on his face and says "Joey eat yogurt. Carlee eat yogurt. Eeeeverybody eats yogurt!"

Joey has the sweetest little heart and despite all of the brotherly pokes and pushes he gives to his little sister, I know that deep down he loves her more than anything. And although Carlee sometimes gets annoyed with him, usually when he comes around the corner her face lights up. So I think I am done WISHING that they will become best friends, and am now just going to enjoy the fact that the ARE best friends!.....even if sometimes they don't get along :)

Ma Ma

The word "mom," "mommy," "ma ma" ~ is often a child's first word. There are wars between parents. Which will s/he say first? Ma Ma or Da Da? And whichever one wins - of course, is the favorite parent!

Well, I am lucky enough to be the favorite for both Joey and Carlee! :)

I still remember the first time Joey said "mama" - although I don't remember how old he was. We were in Target and he was sitting in the cart. He looked right at me and uttered the softest little "ma ma" you've ever heard. My reaction was as follows:

Immediate tears in my eyes and the highest pitched squeek you can imagine. Followed by "Yes, Mama!! You said mama!!" Then I realized I was in Target and quickly began to push my cart and pretend like nothing had happened as I ignored the weird stares I was getting!

As Joey's language progressed, "mama" turned into "mom." Then after time he moved from "da da," to "dad," to "daddy." It always bothered me just a little that Joey called Chris "daddy," and me "mom." I wanted momMY so badly because it was just way cuter than the old "mom."

And then finally one day it happened. I became "Mommy," and I was thrilled.

Now, Joey says "Mommy" so many times in one day that sometimes I think I would like to un-invent the word! I couldn't imagine getting excited when the next little one began to say my name as well! BUT - when Carlee said it I was JUST as excited as when Joey first said it.

Thankfully, Carlee's story is a little less dramatic. We were just at home, and she didn't exactly look at me when she said it. But don't worry - I still got the tears, and the loud squeek, and the "Yes, mama!!" I just wasn't in public so I didn't get any weird stares. Instead, I got Joey saying "ma ma" just like Carlee did to see if I would get excited for him too!

Tunnel Rats

We didn't leave the house all day and winter is starting to make Joey and I a little crazy. We needed SOMETHING to do that involved a little energy and didn't require us to go out into the windy frigid snow. So after Joey's nap I took out his tunnel which we hadn't played with in many many months.

I love the art of putting away a toy and then taking it back out again! Joey played with the tunnel FOREVER! When Carlee woke up he wanted HER to have a turn and he was so excited to show her the tunnel that he couldn't even contain himself while I changed her diaper!

I was a little skeptical about the chances that Carlee would actually crawl through the tunnel, but after watching Joey go through it once, she busted right through without hesitation! Joey was SO EXCITED that she crawled through it!!

My Turn

Today I was playing football with Joey when Carlee woke up from her nap. Joey begged me not to go get Carlee because he knew that meant the end of my undivided attention. Of course, I can't just leave Carlee in her crib all day - so off we went to get her. The whole time I was changing her diaper, Joey kept asking to play more football. So I set Carlee up with a "new" (old, but new to her) toy so I could still play with Joey.



So what do you think Joey did when I got Carlee settled and said, "Ok, let's play football!"

He ignored me and started asking for HIS turn to play with Carlee's toy.



I can't ever win! :)

And yes, he is even sitting in her bumbo. How he fits in an infant seat I don't even know ~ because at one point as a baby he was too chubby to fit in there anymore and would actually get stuck in it!

House Rules

My brother's girlfriend, Erin, gave Joey a new CD for Christmas and he LOVES it! I love it too because it is real songs and a good change from your typical "BA BA black sheep."

There is only one problem with the CD. Joey has a favorite song. So we have to listen to it over and over and over and over again. At least 10 times in a row each time!

Here he is marching around the house singing "House Rules," while eating a rice cake! (He's a good multi-tasker).

Excuse the shaky camera work - Carlee was on my hip!