They do like each other

We didn't even have to pose these pictures...they sat together all by themselves. It's nice to think that sometimes they like each other.

Construction is progressing very quickly

Too tired to think of a title.

How sad is that? I can usually think of something but sheer exhaustion has taken over.

The house is now on the market. While we still have some minor things to finish up, the sign is now posted and we are officially listed. Steve and I have been incredibly busy trying to get everything moved out of the house and into the apartment or into storage. We have been taking alternate turns, one staying to cubsit, and the other going to the house. The process has gone much slower than we would have liked, but at least we are making some progress. The housekeeper should be coming this week and the carpet cleaners are scheduled for Wednesday.

The cubs have been handling everything pretty well. With the exception of Emily's molars coming in. She has been a real handful lately. At the last tooth check, she has three molars coming in. They haven't yet broken through but they must be causing some extreme pain for her because we are all feeling it. Too bad she isn't following Zach's example. He has a molar that has already come through and he didn't fuss a bit. He is such a trooper. Emily is not. She wakes up screaming in the middle of the night and won't calm down unless one of us is in there with her. So Steve and I have been taking turns sleeping on the floor in their room because we are afraid that her screaming will alert the neighbors, who will in turn alert CPS. It has been miserable. If I ever needed a back massage, it is now. I seriously doubt that there is any carpet padding installed in this apartment. I feel like Wilma Flintstone sleeping on a rock slab. Yabba Dabba Do. It will sure make me appreciate the upgraded carpet padding we are having installed in the new house.

We did drive by the house this weekend. Things are progressing very quickly there. It now looks like a house. I'm a little overwhelmed by how fast this is happening. It is exciting, but ulcer inducing as well, at least until the house sells. Steve's friend Brian has helped us move some of our really heavy furniture and we are very thankful to him. We have really great friends and family who have helped us with this huge transition. Many many thanks to all of you!!

Emily and Zach have been trying some new foods lately. Emily had some pineapple. She also had fruit cocktail which the first time she ate the whole serving while the next time she totally refused it. Fussy monkey. Zach has tried scrambled egg. I don't think he liked it very much but at least he tried it. That was huge for him. He also ate #3 Gerber spaghetti. This is the first time he has eaten a #3 food and been able to keep it down, so we are very proud of him. It's been slow going but at least we are seeing some progress. He has even started drinking some of his Pediasure from his sippy cup. I'm starting to feel a little less discouraged and a little more optimistic that he will be eating something other than pureed foods before he enters preschool.

The weather has taken a major downturn. Yesterday the temperature was in the 70s and today the high was only in the low 30s. It is sleeting and the overpasses and bridges are icy and dangerous. They said the temperature last night dropped 30 degrees in 30 minutes. I believe it. I had made a grocery run and stopped to fill up the car and the change was unreal. CRAZY weather. By Thursday the temperature is supposed to be back up near 70. No wonder everyone is always sick here.

Hi to baby Travis!

My best friend Leigh and her husband Scott welcomed a new addition on December 9. Travis De Ferreire Rothermel was born at 10:26 pm weighing 8lbs. 11oz. and measuring 21-1/2" long. Welcome to the world little guy!

Contraband

Surveillance photo of Emily slipping Zach some contraband while he was in time out. Obviously we need better security screeners during visiting hours.


Look at her trying to be sneaky and 'incognito'.

All about Emily

The other day I blogged excessively about Zach, so I thought it was only fair to blog excessively about Emily Bear.

She is a bright little girl. She notices right away when something isn't where it should be. She doesn't like wearing shoes and hates socks even more. She is very helpful and brings me things even though I don't want or need them. This morning she discovered the toilet paper roll. The joy!

She has tried several different new foods lately. The other night I was eating some pumpkin pie that we brought home from Grandma Bear's. I gave her a bite and she instantly spit it out. She kept standing next to me as if she were begging for food so I gave her another bite. I guess her opinion changed because she kept asking for more. She has also eaten beefaroni, mandarin oranges, fettuccini alfredo and her father keeps giving her Stove Top stuffing...yuck. Today I let her take a few bites of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Right now she is going through her clingy, woe-is-me stage. If I even look at her wrong she bursts into big crocodile tears. I know it's coming because I can see her working on it. It takes a lot of work to get those tears on demand. Unfortunately she is not a cute crier. Her face turns all red and blotchy. Some girls can pull off the woe-is-me tears and still look beautiful doing it. Emily will never be that girl.

She loves taking baths but don't get her face wet. She can't sleep without her Husky dog. She loves all things electronic. Buttons are meant to be pushed. She has also figured out if I take her hand and she doesn't want to go with me she'll just sit down. Stubborn monkey.

It never fails that she knows exactly when Mom's head hits the pillow at night. The minute I lay down is the same minute she starts crying.

Lately she has been resisting sleeping in her crib, especially at night. Daddy always manages to get her back to bed. Today I was met with a very loud resistance to her nap time. It was so loud that I thought the neighbors might call CPS on me. I finally gave up and brought her out to the living room while Zach finished his nap. I guess the bed wasn't good enough for her so she settled for the floor instead. Weird!

She is very protective of her little brother. Especially when he is in time-out. She'll sit with him and share her toys with him --- only in time-out. Toy sharing is off limits any other time. If Zach cries she is usually the first one there to see what is going on.

She has the best laugh in the world. She giggles too! When she laughs the sun is brighter, the sky is bluer, and the flowers smell prettier. Her laughter makes it all worth it.

Is it a little premature to join the High School Booster Club??

Apparently daddy doesn't think so....we are now members of the Boy's and Girl's Golf and Boy's and Girl's Soccer Booster Clubs for Byron Nelson High School, which hasn't even opened yet.

http://byronnelsonhighschool.ning.com/video/885902:Video:342