Abe and I just got back from Chuck E Cheese a little while ago. Unfortunately, Trey's ears are plugged up(to the point where even the pediatrician reared back and said "eww! yeah, he's gonna need some antibiotics.") and it is overflowing out of his nose (and occasionally, his coughing mouth) so he wasn't able to go with us...I don't think he minded...he got to have a true sick day. You know, lounging on the couch, watching too much tv, whining...the works! A bunch of moms got together at the CEC today to you know, blah blah blah...it was fun, but I'm a little out of practice at serious girl talk. Sometimes it seems like sport....all the while the oblivious moms are chatting, the babies are swapping spitty cheerios and half-eaten pretzels(probably why they are always coming down with something).

As you can see from these pictures, we are getting alot of use out of this spiderman fold-out couch. Trey of course, never noticed the couch as much as now(because Abe noticed it, right?)and rarely does what he's doing in this picture. Abe is lounger supreme, though....he throws those arms back like he's gonna have a good sit-down with you.

The picture with the guitars was a little spur of the moment hootenany with mike, pop and Trey(actually Abe picked up a different guitar too at one point). They want to be in on the big kid stuff, too! Poor vegas looks like he's going to break out into a lonesome howl! This last picture was when we were pretending to fit in at "cracker country" at the Florida State fair. You can just see Trey pining to sit on that barrell someday. Kettle corn and a string band...ahhh, that's all a cracker needs...

Ok! Mucho apologies for taking so long on this entry! I got the pictures on here last week and then it just took me forever to write anything...and yes, believe me, I know alot happens in a week(let alone a few weeks) of babies' life. Let me just say that Abe is standing like a champ now. He can pretty much keep his balance even when big brother comes over and noses around in his business. I always think the next stage (rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, etc...you get the point!) will look so wierd, but it never really does! It looks really natural and it seems like they've always been doing it. Just like now, it is hard to remember when Trey didn't talk. We have this video of him saying mumble jumble a little over a year ago and it fascinates me!
The lectures crew is comin in this weekend (hooray for all of you who are making the long trek! we can't wait!). It should be really fun having the house as packed as humanly possible. I know the bebes will love it, too. Now they won't have to only see their ol boring mama!
These pictures are from a week an a half ago. We were playing outside in the beautiful saturday weather(I hope it's this nice while everyone is here!). If you will, notice the sheer exhiliration on Trey's face (it's blurry, but I think might actually be drool coming out!) while Mike is tossing him to and fro (which he wasn't interested in until he saw Abe enjoying it...ah the sibling struggle!). Also, you can just feel how much concentration Abe is using examining these flowers. He was so excited to crawl around in the grass!
The other pictures on here are of our(Michael, Sarah, Mike and me) trip to Medival Times. We decided to do this instead of traditional christmas presents this year. We had a rootin, hootin, hollerin, ye olde tyme bash! It is really an absurd place with way to much merchandise to hock, but it's definitely a fun subculture to wonder at. I mean, these actors were way into it! Our knight(go blue!) threw the carnation and Sarah caught it...MiLady Sarah! It was really hilarious. Also of note is Michael's rapt attention to the gruesome scene in front of this classic "stone" wall(it's all in the details...heehee) and my fortune to be sharing the air with a honest-to-goodness knight(he wasn't much of a conversationalist though!)!

Well, gotta go get some pre-guest cleaing done before the boys arise with sunny eyes. See you all soon!

Now, I'm not a doctor, but I feel I'm living proof that 2 colds can begin in each nostril and marry each other, thus producing a cold that defies previously held expectations. If you are shaking your head, wondering, "how can this be? surely not!!", I'm here to disprove you. All you have to do is look around my house at the discarded tissue boxes and medicine containers to see the battle that's been raging for a week now. Not only has it enlisted my nostrils, but the sweet nostrils of my boys. The sweet peaceful sounds of play are now relpaced by the occasional body-rattling boom of coughing. Mine is starting to subside a bit, but the boys are in the trenches. Poor Poor soldiers. They need their mama more than ever, now.
Mike has started his classes once again. This week has been a really full week for him with his two classes and soccer tryouts at school. We've barely had a chance to see him at all. Thank heavens for Martin Luther King Jr. day on monday! Now our common 2 day weekend has been turned into a 3 day Mikefest(and boy did I need it...the boys too...they are probably sick of just seeing their ol mama comin at em with a tissue! "no! not again! my nose is already raw!")

Trey is really starting to say sentences now. It's funny how they parrot you without really knowing what the syllables are, yet. He will say, "I want orange" or "I want get down". Come to think of it, that is how most of his sentences begin lately("I want"). I suppose that means I will have to start pushing the "please" since it does sound a little pushy...not that he is, he just sounds like it to an outsider.
Abe is super mobile now and bugging Trey to death. It's so funny. I finally understand how Michael(my younger brother) never meant to annoy me when we were little. I used to get so frustrated when he wanted to do whatever I was doing. Likewise, Abe is so curious about everything(especially if Trey is doing it) and is constantly snatching things out of Trey's hands(to which Trey will take it back with a swift "NOT").
Now, you may be wondering why I put the core of a pear as a picture on here, but you would be mistaken. It is not a mere pear core. It is also the ever-famous, ever-knowledgable, ever-helpful "MAP" from the dora show....or at least, so says Trey. It was sitting on the plate the other day and I, the unnoticing adult that I am, was going to discard it. Of course, Trey knew what it was and pointed out to me...so then we had to sing the song.."i'm the map, i'm the map, i'm the map" and so on and so forth (thus cementing me as a complete looney mother).
Well, I hear both the boys awake upstairs now. They have finally adjusted back to our Eastern time zone(much to my dismay). Trey is singing something and Abe has just had enough of his bed. Off for now!

What is it about a car trip that makes you think about all the things you want to change when you get home? Maybe it's the constant attention you are forced to give your body in the car. This constant attention makes you so sick at yourself and the unhindered binge during the holiday season that you resolve(for the zillionth time) that you will crank it up and get serious about your health as soon as you turn into the driveway. As if this mental torture weren't enough, you start thinking, I need to get less annoyed at things and be a more patient person(of course the moment you start thinking this, one of the kids lets out a miserable 10 minute whine from the back seat until you can't stand it and have to pull over at any available sanctuary). I think I'm in good company, right? From the new displays of self-help books at Barnes and Noble and the sudden resurgence of people joining the gym, I gather I'm not the only one feeling like shedding my old skin. Anyway, from these pictures, you can see that the holidays were mostly good despite all of my blog kvetching. Sometimes, it just feels good to have a keyboard catharsis.
The kids had a really great time when they weren't in the car. It was great to be around family where they were the stars of the show and we just got to sit back and enjoy. Trey, of course, misses everyone now and occasionally will ask where one of his beloved family members are(immediately answering his own questions, "grea-tt mammaw houw"? "Ni-Ni houw?") They definitely got everything that they wanted(and didn't even know that they wanted) You can see on here that one of the favorites was the trumpet(courtesy of my cornbread). I put the picture on here of him holding it the opposite way(I guess that's why the recommended age is 3). Another thing that grandma and dad-dad(his version of granddad) got him was the tricycle(bikickle). I think I heard more about bicycles in the past month than Lance Armstrong. It's amazing how everything relates back to a coveted object for a toddler. The two most common words this season were Snowmen(nomen) and Bicycle and luckily, he got both. Another great gift was this indoor spiderman tent from Aunt Suze and Great Grandma. Both he and Abe loved that thing. There is just something about a fort that kids love. I know I was the same way. There is a pic on here of them and their straight up static hair. I know I've written alot about Trey and his Christmas, but I guess it's just that he's more verbal about it. Abe of course started doing a lot more this trip(this always happens for him with change of scenery). He's way more mobile now and will whip himself up into a sitting position without batting an eye. He's also started really mimicking(especially when people laugh...he can really parrot your guffawing).
Oh yeah, and Mike and I had a good time, too. After we had our family christmas memories(see picture of the whole Tolbert gang) , we got to have our fun trip to downtown Chicago for a night while the babies stayed with the g-parents. I have been doing my own sorry version of Wicked(a really great musical about the wicked witch of the west's background before Dorothy) since we saw it. It's sad that the voice in your head doesn't match what's coming out of your mouth, but it's just my family. I don't care if they have to endure it. I can't resist recreating it for them!



Alright, the time has come to wrap this installment up. Off to enjoy our last day of holiday vacation before regular routine starts in tomorrow(and all of my resolutions and plans unfold...really...seriously...I mean it! Here's hoping, anyhow).

not for the squeamish

Saturday was supposed to be my fun day...as it was, I wish I'd just stayed in bed that day. I woke up that morning feeling sick in the throat and had to cancel going to a party that afternoon and my catch-up with Shanna that evening. When I started feeling a little better, Mike and I decided to take the kids for a walk around the neighborhood and to play at this park near our house. On the way back from the park, Mike and I were rambling on about the future as many of our conversations while we walk lead to this subject and out of nowhere, my foot was pierced (I felt a crunch) by this very sharp, very rusty, very long carpenter nail that was discarded in front a newly-constructed house. The theory that we have is that the stroller flipped the nail up and my foot amazingly smashed down at just the wrong moment. I had never had anything like this happen before, so how are you to know what to do? My(and Mike's) first reaction was to try and pull it out. Unfortunately, the shoe had a death grip on the nail and it wouldn't budge. Next, Mike called my parents and frantically told them to "just come" not giving them any details as to why they heard my crying/hyperventalating in the background. They thought we had been hit by a car or something, of course. Trey was also upset by this point saying, "mommy doin? oh no!"(this of course made me cry even harder) Once they arrived, my mom drove me to the ER and Mike, my dad and the boys all met me there. To remove the "subcutaneous foreign body", first they had to cut the shoe(they couldn't pull the nail through the shoe or it might have gotten stuck and relodged in my foot. At this point, I didn't care what they did...i can always buy new shoes) Next, they gave me a tetnus shot, sedated(with morphine and something else) me to the point where I no longer knew anything I was doing besides the breathing excercises I learned for childbirth. Then, they gave the ol, "one, two, three, PULL!!" move and it was out! When I got home, Trey noticed my foot and asked, "booboo?" It's exactly what I mentioned in a previous entry, honed missiles!!! Now at least he says, "booboo? no no no". Anyhow, I just wanted to pass this little fun day along for all of you and let you know that I am now part of that elite group who have been impaled by a nail. I know you are oh-so-jealous!! I put these pictures on here to memorialze the event and to thank my mom in advance for all the help she is going to give me this week while I, like batman, will hobble. I also want to say that Mike has been amazing, too. He took care of everything this weekend and helped me so much in the hospital. It was like giving birth all over again. He is a great partner. Ok, that's enough for today.

May your foot(and unfound hand) rest in peace Batman. Upon discovering Batman(his current beloved object perhaps only second to "key") with a severed-at-the-ankle foot, Trey was somewhat confused..."oh no...baaman...kay, baaman? Kay??" I actually think he found the foot first, which is kind of sick. Being the equal-opportunity mother I fancy myself to be, I don't want him to think Batman is out of commission simply because he has to hobble...I just say, "look, batman can still run! runrunrunrun!" (and then I realize that I truly have become insane so that my children can be sane) This seems to be another one of those life lessons we run accross from time to time...kind of like the time his balloon got away and floated at warp speed into the heavens. He talked about that one for weeks, "oh no...where boon go?" Maybe that kind of loss is the most he's ever experienced...oh the finality of it!!
To this day, when he sees a balloon, he'll mention it, saying, "uh-oh. where boon go?"

I've put a picture on here of Abe and his trusty index finger. A few weeks ago, I noticed him just sitting in his high-chair with it fully extended. It just looks so bizarre to me...like it has a mind of it's own. He's not even really thinking about doing it, but it looks as if he's checking to see where the air currents are headed. All of the resteraunt pictures on here are from Chili's. It's sad when your 22 month old assumes you are going to eat every time you get in the car to go do something. It's even sadder when you pull into the chili's or cracker barrel parking lot and they squeal with delight, saying, "EAT!!!" I'm a good mom in other ways... I promise!!

Friday morning in Florida and I finally turned the heat on for the first time today. I guess I felt a little guilty yesterday when the babies woke up with frostbitten toes and noses (Trey hates wearing socks to bed...I have a suspicion that he enjoys running the tag of his cherished blanket through his toes as his nightly ritual...oh the quirks of toddlerdom!)

Lucky Mike is off to Epcot on a school trip today. Originally I was going to meet up with him there, but it all got too complicated to coordinate how Abe was going to get his milk(In case you didn't notice in my earlier chronicles, he really doesn't take the bottle as I'd hoped). So, for this trip, I won't get to enjoy the Epcot delights(mostly I just go for the food in each country...oh and that sweet girl in Japan who makes those bird candles.."a beak, tweet, tweet". I could stand and watch her for minutes!) One day, we will brave the theme parks with kids in tow, but I have no death wish to do that any time soon. Long waits and even longer whining present a mammoth hurdle in my mind.

In the dental frontier of my life, I got 2 fillings yesterday and am still a little sore today. As I lay there in the torture chair looking at the dead bugs in the florescent lights(why don't they clean those! ? As if a patient has trust in you when faced with death...even if it is bugs!?) I thought to myself, "at least those wasps don't have to get a shot in the gums!" Why is it when you have any kind of medical procedure, your children are like honed missles targeting that area? Same thing when I had a c-section...a knee to the incision...and this time, an elbow or headcrash into the exact point of pain in the jaw. Well, I guess all of this dental pain could be to remind me of the pain of cutting teeth. Poor dears don't even know that it will get better. They just assume that life as they know it will continue with tooth pain and endless drool! I suppose I should explain some of the pictures on here. Starting from the top: a classic example of Trey during his day...pantsless(he's found he likes to pull them off now...nonstop fun!), chewing on something(probably chose the flower because he knows he's not supposed to chew on the identical ones we have in baby class at church...classic defiance...like I care if he chews on the one at home without the germs!)while trying to manuever himself into an im possibly tight chair (he is, probably like most toddlers, constantly experimenting with these types of situations, if there is a way to accomplish the seemingly impossible(even if it means bruises and blind will), he is going to do it). Although, I'd like to say that I'm always open to these kinds of learning experiences(by the way, this example is as tame as they come...I won't have the camera out taking pictures when we find that he's cut his tongue with a razor while "brushing his teeth"), I'll have to admit that most of time, I approach the situations with a little more skepicism(as only mothers can, i suppose).
The rest of the pictures are fairly self-explanatory. As you can see, we started the christmas festivities promptly after the annual fatfest(see other family picture around the thanksgiving table). Trey and Abe love(and I mean relish) the christmas lights and decorations. Nothing is better to really enjoy the holidays than to spend it with awe-struck children. There is also a picture of Abe, in sheer playing concentration. Mike and I were just commenting yesterday on how much we love when he is sitting upright...belly full and pooched. The last picture here of him is when he crawled into the kitchen. He likes to find himself in there so that he can kick the cabinets as hard as is possible for a baby (see earlier sentence about babies hurting my sore jaw). Well, for all of you who have suffered through this incredible saga of a blog entry, I applaud you for enduring my meanderings. Ta-Ta!

Check out those molars!! Trey has got quite a set of teeth! Obviously, I will notice them all the more since, for me, each one is a little monument to an ever-common trial of parenting. Teething days. All of a sudden, my usually amiable toddler is whisked away and replaced by an unrelenting whine-box full of contradictory flailings in the supermarket and emotional highs and lows only experienced by pregnant women. And when they are done? back to the sweet, curious boy that has captured my heart.

Both of the boys are feeling better now, although I think we've discovered that Trey has a reaction to penicillin....rashes and fun indicators like that. In other daily events, I have begun the long process of weaning Abe...sneaking in one bottle during the afternoon every day. Sad to say, that he is not all embracing of the idea, but every day he seems to get a little more experienced with the bottle...poor little guy. I just keep saying to myself, "it's now or later". These days there are just so many firey hoops to jump through. Catch me when the boys are 12/13 or 17/18 and I'll probably think these days were a cake walk(you older parents are probably winking knowingly as you read this).


The pictures on here are of our trip North(why would we ever go south? swamps and alligators?). We had a really fun trip. First of all, the boys were precious cherubs during the car ride(which eliminates my primary stress of travelling). They either peacefully looked at a books or toys or went to sleep. Of course, Mike and I couldn't believe our good fortune....we get to talk? or listen to music? or sleep? or read? YES TO ALL! As you can see from all of these pictures, we stayed busy doing really fun, perfect fall weather-type things. We went to a park and played and rode a mini-train and a huge carosel(both the boys decided they wanted to be held mid-ride...why wouldn't they like going warp speed surrounded by creepy, flare-nosed horses and tusky, turn-of-the-century bobbing boars? I just don't know!??) Mike is reaching for his inner-child in one of the pictures(via metal sand-digging device). I don't remember ever having anything this cool at the playground when I was little! In this same historic park, there was a statue devoted to the Andy Griffith Show. Growing up loving this show(and having so many family members who did also), I had to get a bunch of pictures of it. Isn't the plaque great? Afterward, we went to this college-town burger place which was soooo delicious. Trey looks so old eating his big hamburger all by himself. Twas just yesterday, he was like Abe, all puree and no chunks.
Oh yeah, and the wedding was great too. I mean, it was beautiful and the food was good and the vows were meaningful. They both seem very in love....like most freshly-married folks I know. Though those times where exciting, I really wouldn't want to trade those early days for the comfortable, lived-in(like your favorite pair of jeans) moments we have now.
Well, as usual, I'll end this blog to go get a restless Abe. We are off to meet some people at the mall to play today.

The babies snot is a sherbert/key lime pie-tinted green these days. We all trekked to the doctor yesterday and she informed me that they both have ear infections and Abe in particular has got a bit of a "rattle" when she put that freakishly cold stethoscope on his chest. So, now we are armed with some antibiotics. Initially, I just thought I was lucky enough to have them both teething at once...alas, only when the stars align perfectly am I blessed with such a treat! However, they both started getting coughs which isn't the normal fare for a teether. We leave go to NC for a wedding on Thursday when Mike gets home, so you know we are already starting to get our gear together (YEAH...sure we are.). Grandma and Granddad are going to meet us there and graciously be our babysitters while we go have a "grown-up" night. I just hope I can remember not to break into any kids songs and remember how to have an adult conversation. In Abe news, he responded to twinkle twinkle little star(there I go with the kid's songs) by raising up his arm yesterday. At first, I thought it was a fluke, but he kept doing it. Later, when I tried to do it, he acted like "i'm not a trained monkey, mother dearest!" and just grinned at me. It's the first time he's really mimicked something, I've done, so needless to say I was excited. Besides mouth sounds, Trey's first thing I really remember was saying "bye-bye". We were at thanksgiving in VA and he just started waving. It's so great that Abe's starting to be at that stage. Let the fun begin(or I guess I should say, continue).

1. So, there are a few things Trey is learning these days: walk around Abe instead of on him. Don't bite Abe (or mommy, or daddy, or vegas). Pat Abe's hair (versus braining him). Mostly, Trey is actually becoming sort of fond of his little protege. When I go to get him out of bed in the morning or after a nap, he asks "Ab-buhh? nap?" Whereas he used to just say, "AB", he now really tries to pronounce his name like he hears us saying it ..either that or he say "bruddey"(aka brother). Of course, along with this new attention to his sib, he gained a little kernel of jealousy. If I'm feeding Abe or showing him a toy, Trey just kind of appears from no where(kind of like that butler in "mr. deeds"....."very sneaky"). These pictures are from this last week. The hat that Trey is placing carefully on the horse is part of my costume...you know, the basic nose-attatched-to-the-glasses complete with mustache and huge brows costume that is probably the saddest excuse for a costume...I got the hat to make it a little more authentic. I don't know how long Trey had ridden in the car with that chocolate on his face before we noticed it. I gave him a bite of cookie(the kid would be able to sense sweets through a ziploc bag inside of a tupperware container in a big chest that was buried at the center of the earth...."cookie???????") and many miles later turned around to discover his "remnants".
   
   
   This spooky pumpkin is our contribution to the neighborhood halloween decorations. Mike and Trey had a good time carving it (Mike had the knife, Trey pulled the goo and seeds out). Trey was pulled in two directions...he loved getting his hands in the pumpkin, but he was a little grossed out at the same time....maybe we keep him too clean. You can never have too many pictures on here of little Abe on his belly. Tomorrow we are going to go to Pasco's annual flapjack festival. Every visitor gets a free flapjack and for my money you can't beat the bigger than life walking pancakes in the parade. If you are so inclined, check out the link(below) and see them for yourselves.
   
   
   http://www.centralpascochamber.com/?page=fjfest