Surprise, Surprise!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T30cr3QeZtY

Something Cute

Two or three weeks ago Aunt Jan and Uncle took Tigi to see the new movie "How to Train Your Dragon." Tigi LOVED it! She loved it so much in fact that now, we've had this discussion everyday:

Tigi: Mommy, I want a REAL black dragon.
Me: Well, if you can find one, you can keep it.
Tigi: You help me look for one downstairs?
Me: I think if one was in our house you'd already know it.
Tigi: Mommy, can you take me to the pet store to buy a black dragon?
Me: I don't think they sell those there.
Tigi: YES, they do!

I love how everything at her age is real. She can say something is make believe or "just pretend", but I don't think she quite understands that part just yet. :)

2010 - Here's to a New Decade

I know it's February. I also know that I completely slacked off on the posting of anything at all over the holidays. We did plenty; I promise there was no lack of activities. Summing it up in a few words...Devin's 80's Birthday was fun, Thanksgiving was wonderful in New Harmony, Christmas was perfect in Las Vegas and Cancun was absolutely fabulous over New Years (minus the flying there and back).

The kidlets are great.

Tigi is a 12 year old trapped in the body of a 3 year old. She tries to interrupt every conversation with a 1/2 mile radius by asking who/what are you talking about and why? It is genetic, apparently and I'm sorry to have passed off such a trait to her. I'm especially sorry it blossomed at such a young age. :)

When she's not trying to get the downlow on your convo, she's busy being the boss of anyone and everything (namely Alex and Fisher). But if you ask her if she's the boss, she'll dutifully tell you she's not, just mama and papa. I'm glad we've got the answer down, I just wish the understanding would sink in.:)

She's hilarious in her pre-teen answers like "even if you put that up there, I can still reach it and I'll get it when you're not looking" or the timeless "Mama, you're a crazy driver" or something about my "crazy hair." She's already asked me for her first car (not a toy car, a real car like mommy's) and when can I teach her how to drive so that she can drive herself to Grandma Zeke's or Gma Jerri & Gpa Garth's houses to see their horses.

Every now and again we get a glimpse of her 3 year old self with conversations like this:
Devin: What's that song you're singing?
Tigi: It's Backyardigans, The Knights of Right.
Devin: Oh...Are they called The Knights of Right because they always choose the right?
Tigi: Yeah. But.....sometimes they choose left too.
:)

Current Tigi Favorites: Speaking to you in her robot voice, changing into atleast 10 outfits a day, loving Alex (sometimes still a little too much), watching her shows (Backyardigans are the fav), singing songs she composes on the fly and, of course, playing with friends, going to dance and preschool.

Just a note, after three years of adoring and gobbling them up, Tigi has now decided she disdains peas. Apparently they are too closely related to green beans (which have gagged her since 6 months) for her liking.

Alex is a growing boy (albeit, slowly). I'm proud to say that he's out of the single digit percentiles and is now approx. 17% for height and weight (30" and 22lbs) at 15 months. He's still a little fella, but he can definitely keep up with his sister. They play so well together now (with the exception of when Tigi starts wrestling...22lbs versus 40lbs is never going to turn out well). She drives him in her Barbie Mustang and plays soccer with him. They dance, jump on the tramp and chase each other in circles like wild children. I love it!!

He definitely knows what he does and doesn't like and will tell you so by nodding yes or no. He's a junkfood magnet! Other favs include yogart, milk and cheese. (Let's hope he never becomes lactose intolerant). He's still not a superb napper and decided his second nap was unnecessary at the wise old age of 14 months. So, some days we run on a one hour nap. It's lovely.

He's still a momma's boy and will make it known to anyone who dares to physically come between us (including Devin or Tigi). He's creeping into the tantrum phase, but for the most part is a pretty happy dude. He doesn't really say much yet, just Mama, Dada, OwId (Outside), Ohoh (Uh oh) and oof oof for Fisher.

Current Alex Favs: Playing outside on the park or riding his harley, attempting to play fetch with Fisher, sitting on my lap, anything with buttons (the fax machine and laptop provide the most choices), picking your nose for you, and last, but definitely not least...playing in Devin's truck. Alex could spend hours just standing in the driver's seat moving all the controls and steering wheel. :) He doesn't love tv like Tigi always has, but he does enjoy an occasional "Signing Time."

The craziest part about 2010 is knowing that in 10 years, Devin will be 40, Tigi will officially be a teenager at 13, Alex will be in the 5th grade and 11 yrs old!! It makes me want to stop time for a bit and enjoy us as we are right now. :) Where will you be in 10 years?

Meet Fisher Baldwin

He's tall, loves long walks and good snuggle. :) And he's our puppy!!! I was really wanting to get a puppy this year, but really didn't want to pay for one. So about a month ago I stopped looking.

Then just yesterday a guy we know from work sent me an email wanting to know if we knew anyone who'd take him in. A family had purchased him and sent him to be trained as a service dog for their child with cerebral palsy, but he's too hyper. (They obviously need mellow dogs). So he's already had quite a bit of training, which makes him a great package to me!

A few Fisher facts:

- He's a 10 month old Silver Lab.

- He NEVER barks inside and rarely outside.

- He loves to lick Alex and Tigi's faces, which they definitely don't like!

- He loves for you to through the ball or stick for him, but has a hard time remembering to bring it back. :)

- He's kennel trained and sleeps without a peep all night until you let him out in the morning. Awesome!

- He's already over 70lbs and is two inches taller than Alex.

- Alex was totally afraid of him at first, but is slowly getting used to him. I wouldn't go as fas as saying that he likes him yet.

- Tigi LOVES him!

Alex's Big Day

Alex's 1st birthday was on 10/24 and we had all the fam and friends over to celebrate. It was a bit of crazy day for me with Super Saturday and all, but never fear, Cafe Rio catering came to the rescue! And it was oh so delicious!

Alex didn't want to touch his cake (even though it was a scrumptious "orange crush" flavor). He gave the frosting a couple licks and that was that. No smashing of the smash cake at this Cookie Monster bash.

More news on "Everything Alex"...

1. He's a HUGE yogart lover!! You have to be careful with letting him see the jar, because if he sees it out, he wants it NOW. No negotiations.

2. He's the cutest little walker. I just love that little diaper bum.

3. He's growing, but still in the 5th percentile (29in and 19lbs). He'd have to grow 2 inches and gain 4 pounds just to hit the 50th percentile.

4. He's a great communicator. Signing, he can tell me eat, more, drink, paci, milk, night night, diaper and bath. He's also a pro at shaking his head yes and no. He's definitely a big tease too.

5. He's FINALLY a normal sleeper!!! For about the last couple months, his schedule has become very regular. He sleeps 8p-7a and takes two 1 1/2 hr naps. Of course then we go and have to deal with time change, it always messes everything up.

6. He's super helpful, just ask him. He'll be the first one to help you clear out the cabinets, the drawers, the recycle bin, the dishwasher or my work files. You don't even have to ask him to do it, he's that helpful.

7. He's such a MAMA's boy! He always has been, but as he gets older, he can express what he wants so much better, and most of the time what he wants is "Mamamamama."

I love it because he so lovable and snuggily!! He loves to give AND receive lots of hugs and kisses. :)
8. He's smart. (Isn't that what every mom says?) But he's smart in a way very different than Tigi was. He's very motivated by cause and effect. He likes the remote, because it changes the tv (much to our displeasure), he likes toys and electronics with buttons and lights and music. In comparison, Tigi likes to tinker with tools and things, but Alex wants to know how things work (just like his papa). It really amazes me how different girls and boys are, innately.

9. A couple more things he loves: pacies, animals (specifically puppies, kitties and cows), music (he's got the beat, just like Tigi), his big sister (he follows her everywhere and loves it if she'll play with him), Goldfish crackers, bananas and his little lullaby sea horse in his crib.

Happy birthday little man!!

Baby Gap Casting Call

WE WANT TO WIN!!! Who wouldn't want to win a trip to the Bahamas?! Or atleast a Gap gift card. :)

Here is Tigi's voting link:

http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/entries/dmbaldwin1/245021291/

Here is Alex's voting link:

http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/entries/dmbaldwin1/745021017/

Here are the rules: You will have to do a quick registration, then you can vote once a day, EVERDAY until the deadline on November 17th.

Thanks for your support!!

Photo Session!!

I had some photos taken of the kids on Thursday and here are a couple sneek peeks. Advance warning...they are absolutely adorable!
http://brittanyrulisphoto.com/?p=75