More fun things

1. As previously stated, Cooper now folds his arms for prayer.  A couple of days ago, Cooper was standing on the floor, while we were saying prayer.  I have to admit, I had one eye open during the prayer because of Cooper.  The whole time that the prayer was being said, Cooper's arms were folded tightly.  He also spun in a circle, the entire time, as well.

2. My brother, Kory, came up with a nickname for Maycee.  He originally called her May May, but when everyone else followed suit, he had to come up with something more unique.  He now calls her Mayonnaise.  Maycee knows that's her name from Uncle Kory.  Today while she was chatting with Stephen during her potty break she said, "Who calls me Mayonnaise?"

Stephen responded, "I don't know.  Who calls you Mayonnaise?"

Maycee, "...Uncle Kory.  He's so silly.  We should beat him up."  This was said in her most sarcastic voice.

The "beat him up" phrase came from Aunt Krystal.  She has her reasons....

3. Cooper now waves at everyone.  I love it.  Whether we are wandering in a store, or walking outside, Cooper waves.  He waves at the cars, or at the people wandering around.  I love the people that wave back and smile.  Let's be honest.  It's because my boy is the cutest thing ever.

Two little sickies

For the last couple of weeks, Cooper has been a little off.  I figured it was either teething, or he was getting something.  That something came at full force on Saturday night at bedtime.

Cooper threw up everything he had eaten that day.  Consequently, the only things I could get him to eat was cottage cheese and milk.  It was gross.  Stephen took care of everything.  Cooper even threw up in Stephen's arms.  The mess ended up on Maycee's bedroom carpet, the bathroom floor, and eventually into the toilet.  Stephen cleaned the entire mess.

Sunday morning Cooper threw up again.  This time Maycee followed suit.  Since Stephen had an early morning church meeting, I was solo in the cleaning and cuddling of the kiddos.

When Stephen got home from his meeting, we laid the kids on the couch to watch a movie.  We had to clean up the rest of the throw up aftermath.

Maycee and Cooper laid on the couch and cuddled with their blankets.  Maycee started to play with Cooper's hair and then they ended up holding hands.  It was the cutest thing.  Stephen tried to get a picture of it.  I now have proof that, sometimes, they get along.

Maycee is feeling much better today, but Cooper still has lingering yuckiness.  My poor little kiddos.

Swimming Lessons, Tres

Yesterday was Maycee's last swimming lesson.  Kind of.  I signed her up for another two week session with three of her friends.  I'm really excited about it.

BUT, I wanted to post some pictures from the last weeks worth of swimming lessons.

Here they are crawling around the pool and making monkey noises.

This picture cracks me up.  As I have said before, Maycee has no fear of the water.  This is the first time that Stacie let the kids jump off the the diving board.  Most of the other kids slowly scooted down the diving board until they were on the end.  They were a little reluctant to jump off.  Maycee ran down that board and jumped with all of her might.  No fear.

I also found out through the course of the lessons that Maycee is the youngest of the group.  She is also the wiggliest.

Here they are doing 'bobs'.

This one is cute.  I didn't get the picture centered right as she jumped, but I love her facial expression.

Now for the crazy story.

On Wednesday's lessons, the day we had just barely returned from the farm, Maycee had an incident.  As soon as we finished lessons that day, Maycee told me she had to go to the bathroom.  We ran into the house to use the bathroom and as I pulled down her swimsuit and placed her on the toilet I noticed that she had pooped.  In her swimsuit.  It was everywhere.  And gross.

Maycee hasn't really had an accident since we started potty training the last time, so I was a little flabbergasted.  I was so embarrassed as I told Stacie and her mom about the incident.  They were very kind and helpful.  That made it easier.  They had to shock the pool and keep everyone out for two hours.

Ever since then, Maycee has worn a swim diaper.  I am taking no more chances.

Gross.

Surprises.

Stephen is getting really good at surprises!  I am very impressed.

For my birthday, Stephen got me a new kitchen faucet and sink!  You have no idea how elated I was.  I am definitely a grown-up now that I get excited over gifts of kitchen appliances/accessories.

On Tuesday after swimming lessons, I drove down to my parents' house to pick raspberries.  I had to be back on Wednesday at 2:30pm for swimming lessons again.  It is a 3 hour trip to the farm.  I cut it really close, but made swimming lessons with 1 minute to spare.

When I arrived home at 3:45, this is what I found:

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!

Stephen used his bachelor night to put in my sink and faucet!  I am SO elated, I cannot even tell you!  Not only did I get rid of my 6 inch deep sink and crappy two-handle faucet, I was upgraded to an 8 inch sink and an awesome 'on sale' one-handled faucet.

It looks awesome!

Stephen enlisted some help, but was on the job from 5pm to 9:45pm.

My hubby is the man!

Stephen, I love you, I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOU!!!!!

It's Monday.

Today something amazing happened.

On a Monday, I know!

This morning, Maycee yelled from the other room, "Mommy!!  I gotta...I gotta...I go...I go potty!"

I ran back to her bedroom to help her out, when I found her on the toilet with the deed already done.  Suh-weet!

I guess they really do go at their own pace and eventually figure it out on their own.  I was worried that I wasn't properly preparing her to do it by herself.  We're getting close.

Now if those darn bottom cheeks didn't always get in the way to pull up the underwear, we would be set.

Two Wedding Weekend

Wow.  I don't know what it is about summer, but it always seems to be crazy, busy.  This past weekend was no exception.  And, like a good photographer, I have no pictures to document it.

Stephen sluffed work on Friday and we went to my cousin's wedding in Logan, UT.  Wowee, it was hot.  To top it off, I forgot my temple recommend.  I think this is the third time.  I really need to keep better track of that thing.  Good thing my bishops always answer their phones.

After the wedding and the luncheon, we stayed the night in Logan at Kory and Charisse's.  Kory and Charisse, however, were not present.  We just borrowed their house while they went camping.  And some yogurt.  And cereal.

Stephen was very excited that he was able to watch their neighbor get arrested.  He sat on the couch, watching through the blinds, the entire time.

At 5 am, I woke up to someone opening the front door.  Luckily, Stephen is a sound sleeper and didn't wake up at all....  The "intruder" snuck back to the bedroom, where we were sleeping, and whispered loudly, "Stephen!! .... Stephen!!!!"  Good thing it was Kory.  He was worried Stephen was going to beat the daylights out of him.

...

No worries there.

Saturday we headed down to Bountiful for Stephen's cousin's wedding.  We met Stephen's family at his parents' hotel and used the swimming pool.  It amazes me at Maycee's lack of fear.

We got to the reception at 7pm and hung out with the cousins.  Maycee was elated that she was able to play with Bethy.  They ran all over the place together.  Thank you, Beth, for being such a good playmate!

In front of the outdoor pavilion, where the reception was held, was a very steep and grassy hill.  Maycee was the first child to run up and down that hill.  Apparently that opened the floodgates for the rest of the kids in attendance.

Late that night we drove back to my parents' house and went to church with them.  At 9am!  We are used to 1:30pm.  It really threw us for a loop.  We stayed for dinner and then headed back to Boise at 6:30pm.

That was our whirlwind weekend.

Whew.

It's hard to remember

I am trying really hard to remember all the of the memorable things that happen, but it's difficult.  So sporadically there are updates.

1. Maycee asks what time it is a lot.  For the last week or so, she has asked that question at least five times a day.  I have no idea why. There is never a follow up.

2. Maycee loves the song "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction.  The chorus sings, "You don't know you're beautiful!"  Maycee sings the chorus like so, "You don't know you're pretty!" Hilarious.

3. The other day we were outside and Stephen noticed how how awesome my onions were looking.  "Your onions are crowning!" He said.

He thought he was so funny.

4. Maycee is a Cooper whisperer.  When Cooper goes off on his jibberish, Maycee translates for us. For the most part, she knows what he wants.

5. Last week I took our car in to get the oil changed.  When I gave them the keys, I immediately shuffled both kids into the bathroom for a potty break.  In the bathroom, Cooper realized that his voice echoed.  However, just the sound of his voice wasn't as cool as the sound of him screaming at the top of his lungs.  He thought it was hilarious.  The screaming continued into the lobby. Sigh.

Swimming Lessons, Dos

Maycee has had swimming lessons everyday since Monday.  So, three days.  Thus, today was day three.

On day three, Maycee got a little over excited while playing with one of her classmates.  While the instructor had looked away for a few moments, Maycee slipped off of the steps and was floating underneath the surface of the water.  In those moments, you freak out, and instinct takes over.

I jumped in.

Fully clothed.

With my 28 week pregnant body.

Good thing Cooper was distracted by his bag of peas.

Maycee didn't even miss a beat.  As soon as I pulled her above the surface, her and her classmate were again playing as if nothing had happened.

I did, however, get a small applause from the other mothers watching from the sidelines.

Pictures from day two:

Swimming lessons has definitely made us more adventurous.

Swimming Lessons

Today was Maycee's first swimming lesson.  It was also the very first activity that I have taken her too, other than church, that she had to obey a different adult besides Mom and Dad.

In all honesty, my child was disobedient and had a very hard time focusing or listening to her instructor.  Good thing there were only four kids in the class.

The first thing Maycee said to her instructor, Stacie, was "I'm wearing a diaper.  Cooper's wearing a diaper too."

Maycee has been potty trained for a month, but I was a little nervous about this setting and she begged me to let her wear a swim diaper.  Thus her first statement was correct.  She did, however, tell Stacie that she was 3.  A few minutes later she amended her earlier statement by interrupting Stacie, "I'm 2," she said.

While talking to another mom, I glanced toward the class and noticed Maycee had jumped out of the swimming pool and was heading toward some floating noodles that were to be used for another class....Yep, she's mine.

All in all, I think it was a good first day.

In other news, Cooper loves to whisper.  It cracks me up.  He walks up, leans in close, whispers his psychobabble, and laughs hysterically.  Cooper has also learned to 'jump'.  Jump is in quotations because he really can't get his feet off the ground.  He sure gives a valiant effort, though.

The little one inside of me is having a boxing match with my uterus.  All the time.  I don't know what the deal is, but I feel like #3 is already giving the other two a run for their money.  Oh, help us all....

AND Stephen and I just made 3 batches of strawberry jam.  Yum.

How we spent the weekend

We've been doing a lot of things this summer.  It has been fun, but the other stuff, meaning the menial neglected tasks, were piling up.

Saturday we did one of the biggies.

We cleaned out the garage.

It looks awesome!  I'm so proud of us!

That evening, to celebrate, we took the kids to the closest splash pad.

Maycee and Cooper were so much more daring than last time!  As you can see, Maycee was soaked.  She ran through any water sprayer that she could.  I loved when Cooper stuck his finger in one of the sprayers when it was off.  Nothing happened, but I had images of a lot of great possibilities....

Tender Mercies

The last few weeks my body has really deteriorated.  I feel like I am in constant pain.  When I feel like I am doing well, it decides to shoot right through my body.  Pain is a constant.

As much as I hate to admit it, I have been using my pain as an excuse to be cranky, irritable, and moody.  It's been rough.  The central focus of my attitude has massed upon Maycee and Cooper.  My poor kids have had to handle a 'cranky mama,' so to speak.

Today is Wednesday.

I have been dreading this day since Sunday.

Stephen went to Garden Valley with the youth in our ward.  He was home for about 10 minutes after work and then headed off.  He will probably roll in around midnight.

The only reason I've been dreading this night is because of bedtime.  Bedtime has turned into an awful 1 to 2 hour session of temper tantrums and refusal to sleep.  I really didn't think I could handle it by myself.  I've been praying for help since Sunday.

Bedtime came at 8pm.

Cooper went down, and then a few minutes later, Maycee went down.

I didn't hear a peep out of them.

Silence.

I didn't write this to get sympathy.  Or to have people worry about my condition.  (I'm talking about you Grandma....)  I wrote this to remind myself, and anyone else who would care to read this, that Heavenly Father is there and He loves me.  He's not going to take away my problems, or make everything better.  I need to grow.  BUT He will help me if I ask with faith.

The Kiddos

My kids make me laugh.  Sometimes they also make me bite my tongue, or make me run to my bedroom for my own time out.  BUT I love them SO much!!!!!!

1. Lexi Jo is now a favorite person in the Post household.  Maycee asks to go see her at least twice a day.  She hasn't gotten her name down perfectly yet.  Maycee says, "Mom, can we go see Juwee Wex?"

I reply, "You mean Lexi Jo?"

"Yeah, Wexi Jo."

2. Cooper can dance.  He's so cute!  He stands in one spot and bounces up and down and turns in a circle.

3. When we went to Cooper's doctor appointment, it was one of those hot days. 109 degrees.  As I walked the kids up to the door, we stopped at the sidewalk when we saw a huge grasshopper sitting on the ground.

"What's that?" Maycee asked.

"It's a grasshopper," I said.

"What's he doing?"

"He's resting...he's tired.  It's hot!"

I turned to grab Cooper's hand and heard a gross crunch sound.  I looked back at Maycee and saw that she had stepped on the grasshopper!

"Maycee!  What did you do?!"

"...I stomped him Mom."

I didn't even know what to say.

4. Ever since Maycee learned to open a door (thank you very much Kory Richard!!), Maycee has been unable to resist coming out of her room during nap time or bedtime.  We really tried everything to try and get her to stay in her room.  We found one thing that works.  We purchased a kid doornob attachment that makes it almost impossible for her to open the door.  Heck.  It's difficult for me to open the door with that thing on.

While going through the bedtime routine one evening, I forgot to put on the door attachment.  I put Maycee in bed, shut the door, and then walked over to Cooper's room to put him to bed.  As I walked out of Cooper's room and shut the door, I saw Maycee's door opened.  The door was just slightly ajar and Maycee's little face was poking out.  I could tell she'd been waiting for me.

"Mom," she said, "you forgot to put the door lock on."

I laughed so hard on the inside.  I do that a lot.  So as to not seem out of my mom character.

I put the attachment on and bedtime went as per usual.

The world could now rest in peace.  Everything was in it's place.

5. Cooper's little devil side is starting to come out.  At a full sprint.  He throws tantrums when he doesn't get his way.  And he hits.  Awesome.

6. Having a little copy cat around, I find out new things about myself.

While talking to Sister Augustine on her play phone, Maycee said, "I can totally do that."

I just laughed and didn't think anything of it.

A couple of days later I heard a new story about Maycee from Shane.  While the two of them were upstairs playing with all of the new toys, Shane pulled out a squeaky giraffe and said, "Look Maycee, it's a giraffe."

Maycee took the toy out of Shane's hands and said, "That is totally a horse."

After these stories and paying attention to myself I realize that I say totally all the time.  I need to quit talking like a teenager.

7. While at Winco we saw an Arabic woman dressed in full Arabic attire.  Maycee noticed her right away and shouted, "Look, Mom, it's Mary!"

My best guess is that she thinks it is Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Kuna River Bike Trail

We have this awesome bike/running trail in Boise.  The downside to it is that it is downtown.  I hate going downtown...but the bike trail is that cool.    It follows the Boise River.  So on Saturday we headed off at about 10am to the Boise bike trail.  We had to make a quick stop at Wal-Mart to get a tube to fix Stephen's flat tire.

When Stephen came out of Wal-Mart we realized we had forgotten the tool to fix the tire, so we had to go back home to fix it.

...

At this point it was 11:30.

We ended up at the Kuna bike trail, which follows the Kuna River.  That one is 10 minutes from our house as opposed to the 30 minutes to downtown Boise.

In hindsight I think the Boise trail was a little too gung ho.  That thing is miles long.  The Kuna trail is probably a half mile.  I'm really out of shape.  So the half mile was a perfect fit.  We enjoyed ourselves.

We had to make a stop at the little Kuna River.  That thing was cold.  I never got in far enough to let the water touch the tops of my feet.  The kiddos walked right in without even flinching.

I tried to take a picture of Cooper without having to walk in the water.

It wasn't very successful.

Yeah for fun!

After naps that evening we took advantage of Stephen's $10 coupon to Coldstone.

Mmmmmm.

The kids were all over that one.

Fireworks are my Favorite

Yesterday was SO much fun!  I love planned, fun holidays.

The morning was pretty lazy and relaxing.  Stephen was doing a run for his workout, so the kids rode in the double stroller with Stephen pushing them and I rode my bike next to him.  It worked out pretty slick!  I'm SO glad I wasn't running.  There is no way I would have been able to keep pace with Stephen.  Especially when he "let loose".

After 'naps' (I say naps loosely because Cooper only slept for an hour and Maycee sat in her room and played for an hour) we went to the Meridian pool.  Love that place.  It cost us $7 for all four of us to get in.  Awesome!

I really should have pulled out the camera.  It was so fun with the kids!  We met some of our friends, the Augustine's and one of Stephen's co-workers and his family came along.  Shane and my mom also showed up to join in the fun.

The pool had a pretty big shaded kiddie pool that was only a foot deep.  Maycee and the other girls preferred the big pool to the kiddie pool.  Maycee really needs to get into those swimming lessons.  (We start in a week and a half!)  Maycee swam around with her little floaties.  It seemed to be her goal to always swim out of sight of Mom and Dad.  It drove me crazy.  Good thing there were an extra 4 adult eyes on her.

We eventually got back to the kiddie pool and Cooper was in hog heaven.  He found out that he could walk around in the kiddie pool.   He walked between Stephen and Shane for 10 to 15 minutes.   It was SO funny.  He would giggle and then intentionally fall face first in the water.  Either Stephen or Shane would pull him up and he would giggle.  I don't think he even swallowed any water.  He knew what he was doing!

After an hour and forty minutes of the pool the kids were done.  We all packed up and headed for home.

We ate dinner and packed up again to head off to Ann Morrison Park to watch the fireworks.  We waited to watch the fireworks for 2 1/2 hours.  The Augustine's came along with us again.  It was a lot of fun!  The only thing I brought to entertain the kiddos was 4 balls.  It worked like a dream.  Stephen would chuck those balls as far as he could and the girls would chase after them, bring them back and then ask for them to be thrown again.  It was hilarious.  And the girls loved it.

Maycee, Lael, and Daphne.

 

Maycee and Daphne played so well together.  Here they are watching a video on Jordan's smart phone.  That night when everyone was getting comfortable to watch the fireworks, Daphne didn't have her own blanket, so Maycee said, "Daphne, we can share my blanket."

I was SO proud!  Thank you Maycee for sharing your favorite possession!

Lael, with her leftover ketchup on her face.  Apparently she also had some on her neck. :)

Jordan, Lani, and baby Felicity.

It was amazing to watch the kids see the fireworks.  It was so worth the wait and the extra hour it took to get out of our parking spot....

Maycee and Daphne

In the middle of the firework show, Maycee leaned over to me and said, "Mom, fireworks are my favorite!"  I love my little girl!  She is getting SO big!

Thanks, friends, for coming to hang out with us!

15 Month Checkup

...that was really a few days from his 16 month birthday.

Maycee was very intrigued in Cooper's doctor visit.  She had to stand on a chair next to the doctor and see what she was doing to Cooper.  It was really cute.  It's a good thing Cooper didn't have to get shots.

Stats:
23 lbs - 49th Percentile
30 in - 7th Percentile