My 3-year-old teaches me new things everyday. Like how to hang small toys from his small toddler basketball net (they have to be a certain way according to him). But I'll focus today on some of the things he has taught my 16-month-old daughter.

One of her first words was  "BobBuilder," made possible because it is one of the boy's favorite shows. Another favorite: Thomas the Tank Engine, which my daughter fondly calls "Percy" (the green engine). She has definitely been exposed to a wider and more interesting variety of kid shows than if she were the first child, or if she had an older sister.

While she loves babies and baby dolls, she is very interested in his toys--his tools and cars seem to be her favorites recently. But I haven't figured out if her attraction to them is based on his desire to keep them out of her hands or not.

Another thing he has taught her is that it is great fun to run down the hallway squealing. They love to take turns doing this, while I unsuccessfully try to convince them that it is more fun to sit quietly while I read them a story.

He has taught her it is fun to play in the dirt and splash in the bathtub, and that under her bed makes a perfect fort to play in. Despite their disagreements over whose turn it is to play with select toys, the girl is an eager student, and her big brother is all too willing to teach her.

Holy cow (an expression my son dislikes because cows are big and scary)! It has been so quiet here today! My son went to my mom's house to visit and spend two nights, and I cannot believe how quiet it has been here without him! I never realized just how big of a motormouth he *really* is. I know some days I feel exhausted because of the constant talk, but with just me and my 16 month-old daughter here, it's been downright peaceful here! LOL

We are going to pick up our son tomorrow morning at my brother's house. We're meeting my parents there because my husband, father, and brother are all going to work on my brother's back porch cover. So, I'd better enjoy the quiet while it lasts!

My daughter was funny today. First, she had to check my son's closet a few times to make sure he wasn't in there (it's one of his favorite hiding places). Then she puttered around the house all day, randomly playing with toys. I think she enjoyed being able to play with whatever toys she wanted to, without having her brother yell at her or try to rip them out of her hands. I think I need to keep working on the sharing concept with them... ;)

all of those times when I noticed my mom getting teary-eyed. I never understood why she was so sensitive about things, like the Hallmark card commercial, or the wedding on television. But I'm beginning to understand it now. Before I was a mom, I never knew I could feel so deeply about another human being.

It's been a gradual process. I remember the first time my husband and I went away for an overnight trip and left the kids with my mom at our house. I was choked up as soon as we got into the car, and cried when we left. Then, my son started preschool, and after I got him dressed, made his lunch, and got his backpack ready, I started bawling like a little baby. It didn't stop until after he was at school. Books that I read where bad things happen to little children trigger tears, and when I landed on the movie "Father on the Bride" while channel-surfing the other day, it brought tears to my eyes to think of MY babies growing up and getting married.

Today my son is taking his first trip away from home, staying the night at grandma's (my mom's) house. I thought I was ready for this. He was so excited, getting his things together, talking about going to grandma's house. I was even looking forward to it a little, as he had been especially mean to his little sister this week and I think they both needed a break from each other. But when it was time to go, and as I got him buckled into his carseat and loaded my mom's car with his things, I got choked up again. So many things went through my mind... Will he be OK? Will he miss me? Will he sleep alright? Will he behave and do what grandma says? Will his sister miss him? Will their drive be safe? What am I going to do with him not here?...... It was all I could do to keep from sobbing as I kissed him goodbye. They waved as they left. I went in the house and cried.

I have been driving past the Goodwill store on Rosedale Hwy. for several months now, noting that it has *books* and packaging supplies, and thinking I should really get in there. I'm addicted to reading, and I could do some serious damage in a store like that. I finally got to get in there last week. It was heaven! So many books to choose from! Nice hardbacks, light paperbacks, even a large selection of kids books. I tried to hurry, as my husband was unaware I was making that stop and he was in charge of the children at the time (which I think is a frightening concept for him sometimes LOL), but I ended up browsing the books for a half-hour before tearing myself away and buying two paperbacks I had been wanting to read. :) It cost me a whole $1.60! If I had more free time, I would probably be in there on a weekly basis. But I shudder to think what it would be like if I let my kids loose in there for too long LOL. I WILL definitely be making another trip there, as soon as I finish with the two books I bought. And maybe next time, I'll get something nice for the kids too. ;)

Ugh. I hate when the kids are sick. They're cranky and unhappy, and it never fails that once one is sick, the other inevitably comes down with it too. I am a little surprised that they have a cold right now--it's not really cold and flu season anymore.

Neither of them napped enough today, and they were driving me nuts by the time bedtime came. I couldn't do anything right or fast enough, and I was mean because I wouldn't let them play with the humidifier. *sigh* Hopefully both will be feeling better tomorrow. I need to get a good night's sleep so I don't come down with what they've got.

Today my two kiddoes and I took a trip to Borders for their "Little Book-A-Roo" storytime. We learned about it from the RaisingBakersfield.com flyer I got in the mail recently (which also was what brought me to this site). It was a really well-designed storytime! We got there about 5 minutes early, and found a seat on the carpet in the kids book section. The storytime began with a song, and then all the kids were given a nice snack of goldfish crackers and juice. This was a great idea, because at least for the first story all of the kids were fairly quiet as they chowed down and listened to the story. The lovely storyteller read us three books: Never Take a Shark to the Dentist, Leo the Late Bloomer, and Puppies for Sale. The books were so cute, but by the end of the reading time all of the kids were getting wiggly and not-so-quiet anymore. Then they all got to have some crayons and coloring book pages to color with.

It was a nice time out of the house, and a great way to hear some new books. My son was mainly interested in looking at all of the other books there, but it was a good experience for him to try to sit quietly while the storyteller was reading. Hopefully we can make that excursion more often. Sometimes it feels like we never leave the house, but then when we do leave the house I remember why we don't go very often. It's a major production to get everything together and ready and into the car. But, I think this trip was worth the stress. :) I love the bookstore, so it was also a struggle to not buy a bunch of books...