grrrr

i must apologize for the delay in the blog. I'm having serious problems posting pictures and what is a good blog without pictures?? I will say that Abe is successfully walking now...he sure took his sweet time! He's definitely covered in scrapes and bruises from all of his attempts...as I write this he has a ever-growing goliath knot right between his eyebrows. Not quite sure how that happened. Usually I don't hear anything, then I hear a *thump* and then a wail and then there is a bruise. This may sound cliche, but "I can't take my eyes off of him for a second!" He also has roseola right now. at least I think he does. I pretty much self-diagnosed it from what I've read on every dr. site online. fever/ irratibility/loss of appetite for a few days, then a rash and upper-resp. congestion...that's our Abe....plus you can see two little teeth razoring their way through on his lower gums. Poor buddy. Trey is doin well now too. What is it with illnesses lately? He had some not-fun scalp issues that I took him to the dermatologist for. The cream she gave us is really working now and it is starting to look like a normal head. We had to shave his hair off to get to the problem though, so he is pretty bald right now. Everyone says he looks just like Mike, which I think he secretly likes. I wish I had some pictures on here. I also have some of Abe walking...it was just like everyone said...when he started, he just went...I will try to post some again after I write this. As much as I try to embrace technology, sometimes it really pushes my buttons! As I'm writing this, I realize that I need to take more pictures and plan more fun things for the boys to do. Mostly we have just been playing at the mall or outside lately...we got a pool which Trey loved doing his version of a cannonball ...basically putting one foot in not so solidly so that he plops down and makes a big splash. He loves to be surprised... one of the several differences between him and Abe...don't make a loud mechanical noise unless you want Abe to get freaked out instantly. In other news, we have been doing a lot of packing lately. For those of you that don't know, we are planning to move at the end of June(when Mike finishes his Masters degree). Where? Bowling Green, KY of course! It's been a ton of deliberation and prayer and we are just going to trust our instincts(which seem to be hurling us up there). It's so much harder to make these decisions now that we have little boys in tow. They are our most important consideration and we obviously cannot forsee the absolute future, so we are trying not to put undue pressure on ourselves about our decision. God will take care of us, wherever we are and they will be happy because we love them more than anything. Anyhow, keep us and our babies in your prayers as we attempt this little transition! Off to play with Trey(who is playing the harmonica right now while tapping his little feet).

Take a good look at that pitiful face. Have you ever seen the like? Unfortunately for him, that was only the tip of the iceberg; the view from the top; the calm before the onslaught of wretching. Shortly after this picture was taken on Sunday, we returned home from lunch to take some naps. He was crying some when we laid him down, which we should have realized was abnormal for him(he generally settles right in and enjoys his snoozes). After a little while, Mike went to check on him and he was so terrified by the sight that he roused me to come in there. Oh, I can't properly descibe to you, i'm sure(and you may be thanking your lucky stars) the situation we faced. Abe was a human island in a sea of once-food with the waves of chunks lapping around him. I have never seen such a revolting mess and my little child is sitting smack in the middle of it, with it covering every inch of his body(we're talking in his ears, people). He was shaking of course and weak and we were trying not to throw up ourselves. He is feeling somewhat better today, i think, but he is still not totally himself. However, he is actually starting to smile now. It's not like him to go a few minutes without smiling. It's also not like him to fall asleep with no prompting while you are holding him. Of course, we are just waiting for Trey to get it too(or ourselves...please no!!)
Don't you like their hats in this picture? Unfortunately, Abe looks like Wimpy(i think he's the one who eats all the hamburgers) from popeye and Trey's hat is actually a handcrafted slipper which he somehow manuvered onto his large cranium.

The next picture is a "yeti". Those are Mike's socks and Trey is "stomp! stomp! stomping" like Pablo from the backyardigans, saying "yetiyetiyetiyet-eeee!"

Lastly, I'd just like you to take a look what we've got Trey reading(if you click the pic, it will get bigger). Too bad I haven't even read that one, yet......ah, one day, I will read all of the classics.

Hmmm...I don't know why these pictures are turning out so blurry. I hope they aren't this distorted when I post. We just got back from the FL state Strawberry Festival in the heart of downtown plant city. woopee! It is already summer here for those of you in cooler climes. I am sunburned from the 2 hours we were out today and I was sure that our kids were going to have heat stroke. I remember this story a few years back about this woman who was arrested at the fair because her children were the color of overripe strawberries by the end of the day. Child neglect was the charge. That was my fear today. During the pig racing, the bike tricks, the obnoxious puppet show, the miles of vendors keeping cardiologists working(aka: funnel cakes, turkey legs, polish sausage) all I could think about was the magnifying glass that I(and my snow-white children) felt trapped under. Smoking little helpless ants. Besides all that, I dropped my shortcake so that it splattered( as only a bowl mostly full of whip cream can) all over the ground. Trey was not happy about this...oh no...the heat, exhaustion, etc had danced on his nerves too long at this point.
Needless to say, there are no pictures on here of our day. It was too hot and bright to think about it. I did put a recent one of Abe trying to get on the bike (I hope you can see the sheer determination on his face). He's converted it into a walker. Notice that Trey's shoes are a little too big for him (by 16 years or so), but he doesn't seem to mind.


I don't know what Trey was so happy about in this picture because I was not around (Mike took the picture). Speaking of Trey being happy, Trey has actually started to tell us what his feelings are (or Vegas' or Abe's or mommy's). So far, he's got "happy" and "sad" down. "Trey happy? yeah, trey happy." "Trey sad?"(complete with pooched lip and depressed voice). We'll see if this turns into a good thing or not. When I didn't immediately read a book he brought to me the other day, he said, "Trey sad?" Oh, brother! Although, I'll take that over whining or a tantrum any day!

yeah, we don't buy into the brand names or anything

Spiderman, blues clues, backyardigans...they got us early! Abe is surrounded in this picture!

Here are some new pictures of random tolbert house sightings. Notice the difference in Abe's hair in this top picture and the picture of him standing out in the yard. He is no longer "that poor mullet head kid" with strangers thinking "why don't they cut that kid's hair?". I just couldn't do it for the longest time. His hair is so soft and baby fine and I was afraid that the course adult hair would overtake. I must say, it was difficult to watch. It's grown out a bit. Our kids end up looking like marines-in-training for a while when we cut their hair because we aren't very good at the "fade" aspect. Oh well, maybe they won't be mad at us later when all their baby pictures are embarrassing.
In another picture, Mike is hoisting Trey up into the tree...nothing like having a taste of something you won't get to do all the time but will constantly ask for. Also, there is a lovely picture with all of us squeezing on this poor squashed batman couch learning our colors. I look like I'm the one most interested in relearning them.

It's finally friday, thankfully. The weekend(however fast it might fly) will be here in a few hours and our family will get to hang out! Yips! Time to get the bambinos up and have oatie-oatmilk.

a preview of more to come: Abe battles vile germ passed from Trey. Trey battles being 2. Abe and Trey battle each other over one of the hundreds of balls we have at our house. Mom battles near insanity while both are crying with snot pouring forth without abandon. Abe close to walking(takes mini-step and then falls forward). Trey getting slowly getting better after round of antibiotics. Mom edges back to normalcy and sees the light at the end of the tunnel. Kids edge back to their adorable non-sick selves.

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).