Same Post, Different Day

Yesterday I posted about Dylan and Isaac's love for Michael's dog food. I also posted about Dylan's latest desire to pour Michael's food into his water. I even posted pictures.

Unbeknownst to me, Todd had his own version of the same story. Here is his version, as told on my web site.

The Crime Scene

The Victim

Evidence Found at the Scene

The Only Witness

Suspect Confesses Under Interrogation

Do I dare ask which version you prefer?? As for me, I think I prefer Todds. =)

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

Does that mean 4 pictures are worth 4,000 words?

We have been having a problem with both of our kids lately. One that neither Todd nor I can find a solution for.

Dylan and Isaac are transfixed with Michael's dog food.

If Isaac is left unattended and free to roam around upstairs, he beelines it for his room...and goes straight to Michael's food. He loves to dig in with his hands and stuff as many pellets of food in his mouth as he can. We have no idea if he actually chews and swallows the food, but we have pulled out as many as seven pellets from his mouth.

Our solution: shut the bedroom door. This will work for awhile longer. Until Isaac learns how to open doors. And reach them.

And then there's Dylan.

Dylan went through the same stage Isaac is currently going through, but luckily she grew out of it. (That's why we know how to prevent Isaac from eating Michael's food.)

Recently Dylan has wanted to feed Michael. Whenever she sees Michael's bowl empty, she grabs his cup and wants to get him more food. For me that's great. I often tend to forget to feed him. I know, bad dog owner!

There have also been some occasions lately where all is quiet. Too quiet. Isaac is with me and Dylan is nowhere to be found. I assume she's playing in her room. You know what they say about assuming...

I often go down the hall to check on her and find her taking each of Michael's food pellets and putting them in the wall. That sounds strange I'm sure, but let me tell you what I mean.

Michael has a doggie door. It's cut into the wall with a magnet plastic door on the inside of the room, and another leading out to the house. That means there is about a 6-inch area between the two flaps where Michael walks over to get in or out. Dylan likes to push open the inside flap and put Michael's food between the two. And in case you're curious, Michael doesn't like to eat his food where Dylan leaves it for him.

I think we've outgrown that stage. At least, I haven't noticed any food in the wall lately. That's a good thing. But this is apparently the next stage.

Yup. Dylan now takes Michael's dog food and pours it into Michael's water. And Dylan gets put into time out. She's none too pleased as you can see.

Oh the joys of having two kids and a dog.

101 Goals in 1,001 Days

I found this fun web site where they talk about setting 101 attainable goals to be acheived in 1,001 days.

I thought it was appropriate to set these goals on my 30th birthday. Thirty is kind of a monumental birthday so today sounds like a good day to set goals for this next phase in my life.

I'll update this list with my completed tasks from time to time to let you know of my progress.

My start date: Saturday, February 23, 2008.
My finish date: Saturday, November 10, 2010.

Here's my list of 101 goals.

personal

1. spend three hours once a week for a month on me and only me
2. go to bed by 10pm every night for a month
3. make a 101 list
4. return all phone calls within 24 hours for a month
5. return all e-mails within 24 hours for a month
6. get a pedicure as needed for 6 months
7. have a meal with friends once a month for 6 months

marriage

8. talk without distraction each night for a week
9. say I love you every day for 6 months
10. give hugs and kisses every day for 6 months
11. celebrate anniversary somewhere other than home overnight
12. find one new thing we both enjoy doing together
13. laugh together each day for a month
14. have date night once a week for a month

spiritual

15. attend all HFPE meetings for a year
16. read scriptures personally every day for a month
17. attend all three meetings on Sunday for two months straight
18. have 100% visiting teaching for a year
19. read the book of mormon cover to cover
20. prepare Sunday lessons before the weekend starts
21. no caffeine for a month
22. watch all four conference sessions
23. say personal prayers each night for a month

health, beauty, and fitness

24. lose 15 lbs
25. ride the elliptical 3x’s a week for a month
26. go for a walk 3x’s a week for two months
27. don’t eat fast food for a month
28. make dinner every night for two weeks
29. stop biting my fingernails for at least one month
30. get LASIK
31. take a yoga class
32. drink only water for one week

for the house

33. get Dylan into a twin bed
34. organize the kid’s clothes and closets
35. keep the car clean for one month
36. organize craft room
37. keep craft room clean for two months
38. get Isaac into a twin bed
39. redo kids’ bedrooms
40. redo master bedroom
41. paint kitchen

travel

42. leave the country
43. visit a national park
44. see Wicked somewhere in the country
45. stay at the Hotel Coronado in San Diego
46. visit a state I have never been to
47. visit a friend out of town
48. start an Italy fund

reading

49. read each day for at least 30 minutes for two weeks
50. read a book by a new author
51. go to the library twice a month for three months
52. start and finish a book in one day (at least 175 pages)
53. read the ensign every month for 6 months
54. read the entire book club book for six months

finances

55. put money in a travel fund for NY
56. put all spare change in jar for 3 months
57. make and keep a personal budget for two months
58. don’t use the credit card for a week other than necessities (food, gas, bills)
59. for one month spend money only on necessities

hobbies

60. use the camera everyday for a month
61. finish family cookbook
62. blog every day for one month
63. bake something new once a month for six months
64. be comfortable with and "get" my camera
65. complete two Daily December Journals and have them printed
66. take a photography class
67. take a German class
68. be proficient in photoshop

crafts

69. complete three mini albums
70. complete two different knitting projects
71. decorate the master bedroom
72. take a knitting class
73. complete a new sewing project once a month for 6 months
74. finish Dylan’s scrapbook
75. start Isaac’s scrapbook
76. finish Isaac’s scrapbook

for others

77. be a secret santa
78. donate clothing or other items
79. donate blood
80. do a random act of kindness for someone in the neighborhood

for dylan

81. hug her, kiss her, and tell her I love her everyday for a month
82. say prayers with her every night for a month
83. teach her to ride a bike
84. sign her up for soccer
85. enroll her in swim lessons
86. get her potty trained
87. teach her to do a somersault
88. read or sing to her every night for a month

for Isaac

89. teach him the ABCs and to count to 10
90. take a mommy and me class
91. enroll him in swim lessons
92. get him potty trained
93. read or sing to him every night for a month
94. say prayers with him every night for a month
95. hug him, kiss him and tell him I love him everyday for a month

household chores

96. clean all the bathrooms once a week for a month (I hate this chore!)
97. get all the laundry and ironing done on Fridays for 3 months
98. wash and dry pots and pans each night for a month (no air drying!)

odds and ends

99. no tv on in the bedroom for a week
100. no computer for three days (at all)
101. no tv with the kids for a week

The Battle I'm Losing...

I have been so lucky. I'll be the first one to tell you that. My kids, both of my kids, are wonderful sleepers. They always have been. For months they have been sleeping for at least 12 hours at night, and take 3-4 hour naps each afternoon. And they both take their naps and go to bed at the same time so there is no overlapping of any kind.

Recently these habits have started to change. And I'm beginning to think my luck has finally started to run out.

The fact is, I'm losing a battle. A battle I'm not prepared to even begin fighting yet. I don't even want to admit there is a battle brewing. I'm in total denial.

Dylan is beginning to think she doesn't need a nap anymore. I know differently. Trust me. She still needs her nap. She's not a pleasure to be around when she hasn't had her nap. And I need her to take a nap. I need those 3-4 hours each afternoon just as much as the kids do.

But, Dylan is growing up. She's getting older, and my coveted afternoon nap will no longer exist for her. The question is, when do I decide to give up and let that nap go? How long do I fight this battle that I'm bound to lose? I want to fight this to the death. The problem is, when Dylan doesn't sleep, Isaac doesn't sleep, and there is no way Isaac is giving up his nap at 15 months old.

So here's my question, do I give in now and let one child sleep in peace, or do I fight this battle with all I've got and hope that Dylan lets me win for a little while longer?

And the Winner is...

In honor of the "awards season", I thought I would hand out a few awards of my own. There are only a couple, but they are VERY prestigious. (At least in our house.)

The first award is for "Child Most Likely to Eat Like Todd."

And the Winner is:

Dylan!

Every time we ask Dylan what she'd like for dinner her response is one of two things, a hamburger, french fries and a coke, or spaghetti and meatballs. Does that sound like Todd to any of you? Todd is so proud to show off his daughter requesting a coke for dinner. Fortunately, a coke is still juice or milk...for now.

Our next award is for "Most Polite Child."

And the Winner is:

Isaac!

Most of you know that Dylan is a pretty polite child. But she's got nothin on her brother. This boy says mama and dada, and thank you. Yup, thank you. It's not enunciated very well, but it is clear as day. He says it every time you hand him something...especially food. I can't begin to describe what a joy it is to hand Dylan something for breakfast, hear her say thank you, then hand something to Isaac and get a thank you from him as well. I know without a doubt that the reason thank you was his first string of words is because of Dylan's example. Let's all hope that he picks up only her good habits, and not her bad ones too! And just in case you don't believe me...check this out!

So Polite!

Next is the award for "Siblings Who Love Each Other Most."

The winners are:

Dylan and Isaac

These two really do love each other. My favorite thing to hear when we are driving is Dylan and Isaac talking to each other. Usually it is Dylan doing the talking, but occasionally she'll pass something over to Isaac and I hear him say thank you. I also love that she reaches across the seat to hold his hand, tells him it's okay if he's crying and she points out all the planes and cars as we drive by.

This award is for "Child Most Likely to Look Like Todd."

And the winner is:

Isaac

Here's the proof:

This award is for "Child Most Likely to Repeat Mom or Dad."

The winner is:

Dylan

Since she's the only one that can really talk, this should come as no surprise. Recently Todd and I have been working with her on the important phrases. Currently our favorites are "Move it, move it." and "Come on, people!"

Our last award is for "Most Likely to be Walking By Month's End."

The winner is:

Isaac

Again, this one was pretty easy to guess. Dylan's been walking for over a year now. We are happy to report that Isaac has decided he isn't afraid. He now let's go of things to take a few steps and will stand sturdy as a statue even while drinking some juice. I have no doubts that he will be walking across the room by the time Todd and I return home from California on Monday.

Note to Dylan: Watch out! Isaac's on the move and is heading for your toys!

I hope you enjoyed the few awards we wanted to hand out this season. It's a fun and easy way to catch up with what's been going on over here at the Bailey house.

Say What?

"Huh?"
"Dylan, say it again, slowly."
"What?"

This was my side of the conversation the other night when we were all in the car.

This is a pretty typical conversation. Dylan has a great vocabulary, but there are times when I just don't have any idea what she is trying to say. And, to be honest, it's rather frustrating when I keep asking her to repeat herself and she keeps saying it the exact same way. I can only imagine how frustrating it is for her to have to repeat herself numerous times to get her point across.

Regardless, on this night, I just had no idea. I finally turned around to look at her and she was pointing out the window at the Wendy's restaurant. And she wasn't saying ANYTHING that resembled the word Wendy's. Besides, I don't think she knows that it was a restaurant called Wendy's.

After seeing what she was pointing at, I asked again what she was saying.

Her response:

"A hangemer from Mickey Donald's."

Apparently she does know what McDonald's is and that you can get hamburgers there. I'm guessing most fast food restaurants look alike and to her Wendy's was "Mickey Donald's."

After finally figuring it out, it was so easy to understand that she was saying this all along. Obviously I need to brush up on my "two-year old" language skills.