ScrumpyDaddy

As Abby was putting on a pair of her shoes yesterday I noticed that she was struggling to get the shoe on her foot. I hadn’t noticed it before because she has been wearing her pretend Crocs for most of the summer and other sandals. It was time to get Abby new shoes.

We went this morning to buy Abby new shoes. It is always an adventure to go shopping, especially with a 3 year old who wants everything and wants to touch everything. We headed over to Burlington to find new shoes. Why is it so hard to find shoes that don’t have a logo on them anymore. Everything is either Disney princesses or Dora. Of course Abby wanted the princess or Dora shoes, which of course they didn’t have in her size. They were either too big or too small. Try and convince a 3 year old that the shoes are too big or too small with out a major melt down is a challenge.

Between my husband and I we were successful. We found a pair of pink and white heart shoes that light up that satisfied her. She also picked out a pair herself. She found black shiny shoes with a little heel. She loved them instantly. She want to wear them immediately. I think she liked the click sound they made and the little heel. She was sooo cute in them that I had to get them.

We came home and she was stomping around the house all afternoon. She is growing up so fast. Her first pair of heels.

Today my daughter woke up from her nap and wanted to watch Jasmine. Of course I only have that movie on VHS. We really need to invest is getting the classic Disney movies, especially the princess ones, on DVD. Well…we get about 30 minutes into the movie and my daughter says, “It turns off.” Of course the VCR is trying to eat my tape. Right now my husband is taking the VCR apart and cleaning it to try and make it work again.

All Abby wanted to do was sit and watch a movie. She was being so good and peaceful. Hopefully we can get that moment back.

“It just turns on Mommy!” Though the pleasure was short lived. It turned back off. Daddy is now on his way over to Walmart to find a new VCR. Good luck Daddy!

Today was a beautiful day that we could not resist. We took the kids for a walk around our block. As we were walking Abby saw the entrance to our local park. There is a town park in the middle of our neighborhood. It is a great little park and so convenient. It has swings, three different kinds of slides, climbers, basketball court, baseball diamond, and a pavilion.

When Abby saw the entrance she said she wanted to go on the slides. Since we were having such a great morning and it was so wonderful out I couldn’t resist letting her go to the park. It was still about an hour until lunch so we had time and Zach wasn’t due to feed for another hour as well. Zach loved looking up at all the leaves blowing in the wind. The park is surrounded by trees. Dave and I relaxed on the swings and Abby had a great time going down the slides and playing on the swings. She is getting so good a climbing and playing on her own. She doesn’t need Dave or I there the entire time to help her and encourage her to have fun. She is really getting so big and confident.

The only problem with the park is that they keep the bathrooms locked. I guess they are only open if someone requests to use the facility for something like a party. This became a problem today.

Of course Abby had to use the bathroom while we were there. I really think if it is a public park they should have restrooms. It doesn’t even need to be regular facilities. A porta-potty would have been great. Luckily, my daughter is flexible and we solved the issue without having to go home early. I am sure you can figure it out for yourself. I don’t need to spell it out.

Zach is now 2 1/2 months old. Time seems to be really flying. He is getting so big and changes everyday.

Zach and Abby went for the well baby visit together, Abby for her 3 year check up and Zach for his 2 month check up. They did a great job and are growing well. There are no concerns with their health. Abby is now 31 lbs and 36.5 in. and Zach is 15 lbs 1 oz and 23.5 in. Abby was able to skip getting any shots. She did get a flu vaccine, but she is old enough now to get the flu mist, which is a spray up each nostril. Zach unfortunately had to get 2 shots in his legs. He only cried for a minute and then was ok.

In Zach’s 2nd month he started daycare with Abby. So far it has been a pleasant experience. Though, it is much harder to get 2 kids out the door and to daycare and get to work on time. I am still working on that. Some mornings are better than others. Dave is helping as much as he can without both of us being late for work. According to Zach’s teachers and the papers they send home about his day he is doing well. He drinks his bottles well and is usually in a pleasant mood. The bottles still remain expressed milk, which I am very glad of. My work place has been great about letting me pump several times a day. Zach is then nursing at night and in the mornings before school. He is doing great with both and seems to not have any kind of confusion.

One of the teachers asked me if Zach smiles a lot at home. I told her he often does. She said he is always smiling at school. That makes me feel good because of course I was feeling bad about taking him to day care so young. I had spent a year and a half home with my older daughter, but am not doing the same this time around. I have a job now that I love and want to keep. I grew up going to daycare and am no worse for the wear, so I figure they will be fine.

Zach is also getting much stronger and is able to control his head better. He loves to look all around when you hold him on your shoulder. He also can lift and turn his head when he is on his belly. Zach  has started to grab objects and bring them to his mouth. Unlike my older daughter Zach is a thumb/hand sucker. He can calm himself down at times by bringing his hand to his mouth and sucking on it. Sometimes he even gets just his thumb in there, but most of the time it is his whole fist. He also loves to “talk” to us. If you coo at him, he will coo right back with big smiles. He is also getting ticklish on his feet and belly. I can’t wait until he gives a good laugh. He does small laughs, but I love the sound of a good hardy laugh from the belly. Lastly, Zach is starting to sleep longer at night. Now he will go for 4 to 5 hours without eating at night and sleeps the whole time. We are starting to put him in his crib for the first part and then when he wakes up at 3 or 4 for his second feeding we then keep him with us in the bassinet. It is a good change for mommy and daddy. We can then have some more time just the two of us together without the kids.

Go Steelers!

Say ha ha ha!