"Mommy, can you say, "I'm so proud of you, Rockstar'"?

About 15 minutes after nap started I hear a quiet jingle, “Mommy, I went poopy on the potty.” So I go up to help “put him back together”. He says, "Mommy, can you say 'I'm so proud of you,
Rockstar'"? Why yes, yes, yes,I can!!!!

Margaret just noticed the camera in her room (propped on top of the valence over her window) and I swear she’s waving at it!

No more diapers!

Last night was Andrew's first successful night with no diaper at all! He went down at 8:00 with nothing and we told him we weren't going to put a night-night diaper on him later (we had been adding it about 10:00pm). Next thing you know, he helps himself to the potty at 7:00am to go poopy! The greatest part is, he did it quickly, we helped him wipe, and then clumsily walked straight back into his room with no complaints! We told him we'd be back in a few minutes when
it was morning time and that was that - Hallelujah!!!

Croup, Round 4 and Margaret has teeth!

My poor sweet Andrew seems to contract croup when I'm not watching. During his first 15 months, he had the terrifying cough 3 times. The first time was the worst. As first time parents, you don't know when to give a little medicine and brush it off that all kids get colds, and when to freak out and dart to the ER. When an infant starts holding their breath, though, it makes you want to hold your own. Thankfully, he had been croup free for over a year, but it was back. The bummer this time is that he is old enough to question it. "Why does my throat sound like that? Why am I talking funny? Why can't I stop coughing?" So we went to our Pediatrician to beg for the steriods. This time, he is old enough for the shot to open his airways. Yippee! Another shot and another SCREAMING child (recall that BOTH of kids cry whenever EITHER of them gets a shot)!

Margaret has begun standing for 5-10 seconds before melting into a crawl. We are thinking she is working more on mobility than on teeth. She didn't get her first teeth until about 8.5 months, but on Labor Day, we saw a top tooth!!! Our children get teeth on Labor Day. Don't know what it is. Andrew first took a hunk out of Michael's finger on Labor Day:)

Andrew has started "preschool sports" at ACAC. There are 4-week sessions of soccer, lax, and then basketball. The first time of soccer was a HUGE success! He and 25 other little midgets wearing their blue t-shirts warmed up for their coaches, did their stetches and jumping jacks (THAT is a sight to see), and dribbled the ball around the indoor court. Sessions 2 & 3 weren't so great. Andrew didn't want to participate, complaining that it was too hot. They were outside and while the temperature wasn't too bad, it was disgustingly humid...the "why does anyone think there is anything good about living in the south" humid, wiping away all precious memories of the beautiful spring and the crisp fall days that feel like they will never come. Already, Andrew has identified humidity...and he loathes it. He is most definitely his Father's son.

Labor Day 2011 in Baltimore

The end of summer brought with it another trip to Baltimore.  Centered around the Vogel Family's annual Colts & Crabs Party (of which we rarely have any pictures, given that are hands are tied up with messy crabs or beers & kids!), there was plenty of time for new shoes....Andrew's first REAL fireman boots and Margaret's first walkers:)

Attempting to go to sleep with Keyes at the Vogel's - around 9pm at Colts & Crabs!

First shoe on

Second shoe on

BOTH shoes on successfully (note big brother's delight)

Let's Walk!

Learning how to eat crabs with Grandma, a crucial Killian skill.

Trying out the firetruck with Caroline

Don't look so thrilled, Andrew!

HUGE boots!

Caroline & Andrew at Grandma's fire station

"I want to pray for Mommy & Daddy tonight"

Grasping my hand in the parking lot of the gym yesterday, Andrew (nearly 3.5) stopped dead in his tracks, peered up at me and said gently, "I want to pray for Mommy & Daddy tonight."

After collecting myself, I said: "You don't have to wait until tonight to pray."

Andrew replied, "Okay. Thank you, God, for Mommy and Daddy, and oh, oh, oh....thank you for Maahgrit, too!"

I simply melted. For what more could a parent ask??? I am so grateful.

Earthquake

We all just experienced our first earthquake! Shortly after 1:00pm (after putting Andrew and Margaret down), I heard rumbling and things started shaking. At first, I thought it was a train going by. Since we live about 100 yards from the tracks, we hear and see it often. Correction. We used to hear it often. Now we don’t, unless we’re outside. In seconds it became clear that it was NOT just a train. My immediate thought was that a train had jumped the tracks and was barreling through the neighborhood…not a rational thought (in large part b/c of the huge ravene b/w our neighborhood and the tracks), but these are not rational moments. Simultaneously, I thought Andrew was having a party in his room. When he jumps on the floor, the chandelier in the dining room beneath him rattles. It started rattling like crazy and I heard so much other noise that I knew his two little legs jumping up and down couldn’t possibly make that much noise.

Suddenly, I just knew exactly what was going on. Even without having ever experienced anything like it, I somehow knew exactly what it was. I flew upstairs to check on the kids, to make sure no hangings were falling off the walls onto them. I didn’t say a word as I opened each of their doors. Margaret popped up, but went right back down. Andrew was actually close to falling asleep (he often doesn’t sleep anymore). He just peered at me, but didn’t say a word. No sooner than I decided NOT to scoop them up, the rumbling and shaking stopped. I stepped outside and talked to my neighbor, Heather. She confirmed my suspicions. I turned on the news to hear validation that there had been a 5.9 earthquake about halfway b/w Cville and
Richmond. REALLY?!?! By the time I turned to CNN, it was "the quake that rocked DC", as if the epicenter hadn't even been in VA.

"Jesus helps my broken heart!"

August 17th (Meg’s 11-month-birthday)

VBS was a HUGE hit for Andrew this summer. He participated at First Baptist (where we do Bible Study and MOPS during the year) and at our own Meadows Presbyterian while I taught 5-yr-olds at each. Margaret fended for herself in the nursery at both. The songs were all right up Andrew's alley (and continue to be in the car everyday!) and he loved the crafts and games. He doesn't understand why we can't go to VBS all week every week! As a parent volunteer someday, he will understand!

While singing a related VBS song today in the car, Andrew specifically asked me to turn down the music so we could talk.

Andrew: "Jesus helps my broken heart!"
Me (breaking through tears): "Yes. Yes he does, Andrew."
Andrew: "Mommy, why does my heart get broken sometimes?"

While trying to compose myself I'm thinking, "what do I say to that??". I have never changed the
subject so quickly, but I am so touched that he is connecting the dots!