overdue

I'm not even sure where to begin. I thought that I'd be posting a lot, but life has sort of gotten in the way. I spend my days at school, chasing some really awesome 5th graders around and eating bon-bons (that's code for working my TAIL off, not getting a second to even sit down, and still having hours of work ahead of me at home). Then I pick up my own adorable kiddos, take them home and chase them around my dirty house until daddy gets home from work, or it's their bedtime...whichever comes first. On days when I'm particularly fried, I rely on the computer, not Calgon, to take me away. Shane calls me "gamer". I'm addicted to games on fb--I especially love Fluffy--it's kind of my escape. Line up and match colorful, cartoon birds...build goofy rooms in a birdhouse...repeat. Mindless, just what I am craving.

School has been a bit overwhelming to say the least. Like I said, I have an awesome class, and I love my school, but I'm still learning the new grade level. Thank goodness I get to work with my BFF...truly don't know what I'd do without her. :) I LOVE YOU NIKKI!!

My own kids are great, I'm the one who can't keep up! Calder is now 16 mo. old and unloading the dishwasher, opening the refrigerator, and climbing up on our counter-height stools are his 3 favorite things at the moment. Caydree would rather be playing outside with the neighborhood kids, than hanging with us in here. This just makes little bro jealous, so then we go outside too, and he is a train wreck because he wants to be just like the big kids. :( Poor baby...

No real big news health wise. Everyone bringing home, getting over, or spreading around some sort of cold/flu/bug at all times, but we are managing to stay pretty "well" all things considered! Calder hasn't really had any major injuries lately (KNOCKING ON SOME VERY HARD WOOD RIGHT NOW)...but I'll always keep you posted. He is one tough kid. I got a letter from Kaiser in the mail telling us that his pediatrician won't be working for them after this month. That was very sad news to us--we love her. So now we get to start over with someone else, or maybe just go with our amazing cleft team ped in San Diego. Farther to drive, but already knows our story. Don't know what we will do.

Calder is not really doing much talking. He can say a few things, but as soon as I tell someone he can say something, he never says it again. I personally think he is doing it to drive me crazy. I'm biased, but he is beyond smart and has the funniest personality, if we aren't staring in baffled amazement, we are cracking up. Tonight, Caydree sneezed and Calder just grabbed a tissue and took it too her. No prompting, no questions or comments, he just noticed. Mind you, this was in the middle of his favorite TV show, Yo Gabba Gabba...so the fact that he even heard her sneeze was pretty miraculous, so the tissue delivery just set me over the edge. ;) He is doing quite a bit of sign language, but everyone asks him so many questions that we eventually guess what he wants so he doesn't really need to rely on it for communication yet. It's saved a lot of frustration, but it's causing some too! I keep thinking that one day soon, he will just open his cute little mouth and entire sentences will pour out...a mother can hope...

He is actually pretty vocal, but I can't wait for summer when I can take him for some speech therapy sessions in SD. I will also be able to really spend some quality time with him really learning his speech patterns, etc. This part of being a working mom is hard. Who really knows what he's "saying" all day? I don't really think we are behind, but I just want to stay on track.

I will see if there are any new pictures on here to post...but no promises. I have a camera full that I need to download.

Caydree and "Fuzzy Heart" at the movies watching "Tangled"

Calder on his new "quad"

Here is a short clip of some of the basic signs that we use daily. He knows quite a few more, but these are his most frequent.

new stuff...

So, I told myself that I would try to post on here every week, and now I am noticing that it's not really working out that way. Hopefully, once school is out in the next 2 weeks, I will have a little more time on my hands, and will be able to update here rather than FB. I threw a couple of pictures and video up on there from the weekend, so I will try to add some here too.

We had a busy 3 day weekend, did some stuff around the house, had wonderful friends over, bbq'd with family, played in the sprinklers, shopped for new clothes, got new brakes on the truck, and hung the surfboard border in the bathroom..I know, finally...right mom?! LOL. Pretty productive.

Calder is now getting brave and standing "on his own"...doesn't really want to hold on anymore! He's gotten very good at falling/getting down from standing, and when the coffee table isn't in the way it's all good! ;) He's already seen many a "bonk" and I'm sure we will be in for many more. He is ALL boy...well, except for the fact that he quite often plays with sister's toys...girly ones...but that's not really his fault. He especially loves the babies and this one little barbie mermaid doll...pretty funny!

He also got his first tooth about a week ago, bottom middle left. The right one looks like it is just ready to pop out any time, but nothing yet. He wants more and more to feed himself, and I finally gave in and started the puffs. He loved the yogurt melts, and I figured as long as they dissolve, why not try some other ones.? I feel like he'd eat the whole can if I let him, and we have to watch sister, as she likes to give him "lots and lots" at once, which he also eats, all at once! Too funny, he's not a big fruit kid, at least with baby food. But I did try a new one the other night, seems to be his very favorite...vegetable risotto and cheese. Yes, they make this as a baby food, and it cracks me up that this would be his favorite. He has good taste!

He is so very close to talking, I can't stand it. He will occasionally make some "ma, ma, ma" sounds...but nothing really directed at me yet, I can tell he is just experimenting. He does a lot of yelling, at Wally, the vacuum, mamma and pappa's dog Sarah...he tells them exactly what he's thinking! He shakes his head no, for lots of things...he seems to love the reaction we give him, so now that he's figured it out, he's doing it a lot! His personality is just so fun, he is sillier and more smiley than Caydree was, so it is fun to see that develop. He will laugh at just about anything, loves to dance, and can't get enough of his sister!

We have our big cleft team meeting this week on the 3rd, so I am anxiously waiting to hear what they will say about a surgery date...fingers crossed for mid July.

Caydree is just as sassy as ever...she is finishing up her last 2 weeks at Ms. Linda's family home daycare. Next year she will be coming to my school site for a kindergarten readiness program. I'm looking forward to having here there, but I know it will be a big transition for her, and that she will miss her normal routine, and friends. I guess that is how life will be from now on, she's going to be 4, and mommy just doesn't want to let go yet! Every time I turn around she seems older, and as much as I love it, it's just hard to believe!

I will continue this tomorrow, and put some pictures and video up...but for now, I've got bottles to make, and need to sleep! Nighty-night!