November In A Nutshell: Thanksgiving Fun, Go Fisch! AND December So Far: The First Few Weeks

I have to begin by saying that I actually DID intend to skip writing in November. Why? Well... I bet you can guess but we'll get to that in a little bit.

We started out the month with a whole lot of excitement and anticipation. After all, it was finally baby month! The kids asked me almost everyday if today would be the day. Sometimes, the excitement was just too much to stay awake through.

My two little best buds often went up to the empty crib and pretended our little bundle had already arrived. They'd coo and pretend to tickle, and ask me if they were being "So sweet!"

While prepping for baby and doing our laundry, Vash opened up one of his drawers and found that he had fresh pajamas and underwear. "Mommy! You did my laundry! And I was so surprised."

Lol. I guess I slacked a little too much on my chores the last few weeks. He couldn't remember EVER having that many clean clothes.

My little Diva has gotten into the habit of asking what something is, and then immediately replying, "Oh I love (Fill in the Blank)!"

Example: R: "Mommy is that ice cream?"

Me: "Yes, it's Chubbby Hubby ice cream."

R: "OH!!! I love chubby hubby!"

After watching Bambi or some other heartbreaking film about orphans, Vash sobbed to me, "I don't want to wose (lose) you!" And has since been extra cuddly and loving. Hence, him sleeping in my bed.

And Rhyla has always enjoyed sleeping in my bed so she can ask for back rubs whenever the mood strikes.

For a short while earlier this month, Vash had a pet. After finding this little guy crawling along outside, Vash declared it was too cold and begged to be allowed to keep him. Well, I just couldn't bear his pouty face and so the caterpillar, who Vash named "Coat-toes" got a home in a glass jar. Vash took really good care of him; getting his food, asking if I though he needed water, taking him out for fresh air... But then we got a more exciting addition to our home... and Coat-toes was understandably forgotten. Let's just say I wasn't too broken up about having to release him back into the wild. 

Rhyla is obsessed with pictures of her teeth. Every time I take her picture, she asked me to get her teeth. And ever our parrot, she has begun to quote movies now too. After watching Monsters' Univeristy, I called her name and she corrected me, saying, "Mommy, my friends call me squishy."

We got a bit of early snow this year. Wasn't a lot and it wasn't a big deal... except that we told the kids it wouldn't snow until Christmas. So Vash, who is learning about the seasons and in what order the holidays come in, knew that our baby was supposed to come before Thanksgiving... and if it was snowing that meant that Christmas was here and Thanksgiving had passed. So upon looking out our back door and seeing the snow, he yells at me, "It's snowing! Hey! (Accusingly) Fischer didn't come yet..."

I just love the kids' faces in this picture. You'll notice Rhyla is leaning to avoid the sun in her eyes. She HATES sun in her eyes. Whenever I'm driving and the sun is setting, she asks me, "Are you burning your eyes?"

Miss Diva also cried her eyes out until I agreed to take her for a haircut... at Wal-Mart of all places... She was looking shaggy, so I guess I wasn't spoiling her too much. Craig and I think she might want to be a hairstylist when she grows up. She loves getting her hair played with and playing with hair. Literally, she'll ask to brush my hair and if I let her, she'll do it for like 45 minutes. That's a lot of patience for a 2, almost 3, year old.

A gymnast move gone wrong. I warned her that bending over backwards was dangerous. Just like Rhyla warned me once, "Those chicken shells are Berry (Very) dangerous!"

 I told Vash he had magic hands after he gave me a backrub, and so Rhyla walks up and asks, "Can I have magic too?" Then hurriedly rubs my back to show her skill. So cute...

While Vash was at Preschool and before the stork came for a visit, Rhyla got a lot of one on one time with me; something I'm grateful for and will endeavor to continue to have with all my kids. Anyway, we spent a good deal of that time at the mall; shopping, playing with toys, riding the rides. Once, Rhyla got onto a tall ride, but couldn't quite get down. 

"I need a little help here!" She called. 

I guess I found it funny because it was such a grown up way to say it.

Vash was super proud of his Lego creation. I take pictures of just about every one he builds and send it to Craig. He always wants me to "send it to Daddy" whenever I snap a pick of something he knows is cool or fun. Funny story: Vash asked me to write a letter to Santa. As per his request, it read; "Dear Santa, I want powers to make me feel better when I have a cough with a cold on it."

The Man Of The House taking a "nap". He must be having a lot of vivid dreams lately. Once he told me he dreamed of roller coasters. The other day he told me, "I dreamed that a bird came and ate our pepperoni. Then he pulled my hair out."

These two are just adorable when left to their own devices. While eating lunch, Vash broke up his cookie and then asked Rhyla in what order he should eat the pieces. "Should I eat small or bigger or large?"

And of course, you can't truly enjoy the outdoors without wearing your hats over your face while carrying a big stick. Craig read to these two a lot while he was home, and they adored "I love you forever." They loved it so much that they sit and read it to each other through out the day. But since they can't actually read yet, they tend to just repeat their favorite part of the story over and over. "He grew and he grew and he grew! She crawled to the boy. Back and forth, back and forth. I love you forever, I love you for always. My baby you'll be."

This is a girl that loves to be decorated. She often sneaks into my room, finds my jewelry box, and asks me, "Can I have your pretties?"

And now, the moment you've been waiting for. The most adorable reason to not touch a computer or anything that might distract for even a minute; Introducing Mr. Fischer Samuel!

Because he's my tiniest baby so far, (Though still big as far as babies go) we nicknamed this cutie "Peanut."

He's just the most pleasant and sweet baby you could ask for. I was having to wake him up to eat because he was just content to sleep. Instead of full on crying, he makes a snarling noise when he's hungry. He's a snuggly, happy, patient, little doll that makes contented purrs whenever he's... well... contended. I just can't sing enough praises. 

And the kids adore him. After all, they had to wait such a long time to meet him! In fact, I came home from one of my last check ups and Vash was upset when I walked in with my belly instead of a baby. "HEY! Where's baby Fischer?" They love helping to burp him, singing to him, and encouraging him during tummy time. 

They loved holding him in the hospital. And they especially loved that the hospital staff sent them home with gourmet cupcakes as congrats for becoming a big brother and big sister. Rhyla has just been such a good little mommy to him already. She never lets us call him "the baby"... She always corrects, "He's MY baby."

The other night, I must have eaten something that upset Fischer's tummy and he was fussing a bit. Rhyla crawled into bed with us and kept saying, "It's ok Fishy Fischer. Rhyla's here." Then she'd pat his head and kiss him and sing to him. 

Hands down my favorite picture of Craig with the baby. I was truly blessed to have him home for three whole weeks to deliver and recover from having Fischer. And his break even fell on Thanksgiving, making it the first holiday he was home for since starting this job.

All bundled and ready for home! Funny story: at his first check up he smiled every time we covered his eyes from the bright office lights. Oh, and the doctor thinks my babies are so good looking and healthy, he was already pestering me to have another! The kids have actually started asking if we could have a girl baby now too, but I keep telling them my body needs a bit more of a break. Craig told them to go ahead and put in their orders with Heavenly Father, anyhow!

Now for our Random stuff the kids have said segment:

Vash:

On the haunted mansion; "We have to fly in like ghostest!"

After pulling on a fist of my hair; "I'm tugging your hairs because I love you!"

After some project of his bit the dust; "Epic fail."

While I was cooking dinner; "I smell it and I want to eat it!"

After I heard a loud crash from upstairs: "I'm ok! I just fell off my chair but I'm ok!"

While we watched an SNL skit of a guy screaming his head off; "He doesn't know how to be quiet. I know how to be quiet."

Rhyla:

A few of her chants that she sings whenever she's naked, "I'm a naked girl, I'm a naked girl! Belly, belly bottom!"

When I tried to sleep in one day: "Open your eyes! The sun's up!"

After Vash burst into tears because he ate some hot sauce; "What happened to my Vash?"

While nibbling some broccoli; "I'm eating little trees!"

As we were driving in the car; "Can I make friends with the beautiful mountain?"

As she was falling asleep; "Ice cubes are cute."

Don't you just want to kiss all over those cheeks? That's basically what I spend most of my waking moments doing these days.

Just a fun shot of Rhyla's wild hairs. Craig asked her once if he accidentally made her chilly. She sweetly answered, "No, you make me fine. You're my daddy."

The pirate king here now understands conversations between adults and actually pays attention to them! After giving birth, they instructed me NOT to take baths. Well, out in Arizona that was not something off limits and I love a good soak in the tub: especially when I'm recovering from childbirth. So, I tried to just enjoy my showers but after about four days I just couldn't take it anymore and decided to take a bath. Well, Vash came in as I was getting ready to hop in the tub and he frowns at me. "Mommy, the doctor told you not to take baths." I didn't even realize he'd heard me talking about that!

Rhyla wearing her pretend earrings. The kids heard the expression, "That's the spirit" for the first time recently. Well, they definitely misheard it because they always say, "That's my spirit!"

Guess who decorated the tree this year. 

Yep. All by themselves. That's why some branches have no ornaments and others have five each. I thought about redistributing them for balance, but since the tree didn't fall over when they were done, I've just let it be.

Peanut just being his adorable self. He enjoys looking at the lights almost as much as the kids enjoyed finally getting to put them up. We set up the tree the day after thanksgiving and Vash was peeved that I made him wait that long. We'd be driving and all the houses would have Christmas lights on them and Vash would groan and say, "Mom, the whole world has it's Christmas lights up." Not even five and he's prone to peer pressure...

Rather than stay in bed, Rhyla continues to fall asleep on the stairs. Not sure why. It isn't comfortable. 

Already a mini teenager. Craig let him play a game called micro miners on the Kindle, and he'd sit there just enraptured with it. (Note to self: watch for game addiction with this one!!!) He was thrashing around on the floor the other morning and when I asked what he was doing he says, "I'm stretching my bones so I can get bigger."

My boys. Vash's preschool teacher told me the funniest story about him last month. She said it was time to line up and go home but Vash didn't want to stop playing. Everyone else was in line and Vash was standing in the play area just refusing to go. Mrs. Somers told him that she needed to leave and he had to go home too. So he pouts and says, "Fine. I'll get in line. But I will slither on my belly like a snake!" Then he dropped to the floor and actually slithered to get his backpack and then into line. She said she had to turn away and cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

Craig got the kids new coats. Vash was so stoked, he turns to Craig and announces, "Dad, I look awesome."

And of course Rhyla picked out everything pink. She even picked out a coat that's fur lined hood matched her hat and scarf set, despite purchasing them at separate times and stores. She has an eye for fashion I guess!

So as far as the holiday went; We were able to cook a big thanksgiving dinner and were grateful that the leftovers lasted us nearly a week. Always a plus when you don't want to cook and have a newborn.

We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and Vash decided red and green were his favorite colors after watching watching the Rockettes kick around in red and green costumes.

Rhyla, who's having a picky eating streak didn't eat a single bite of anything we made for thanksgiving. True story. I'm pretty sure she survived off cereal and the fresh juices Craig was making with the juicer.

We took the kids to see Free Birds in theaters and, courtesy of a weekday matinee, had the whole place to ourselves. Oh! And we tried Sweet Frog for the first time. I'm basically addicted to that frozen yogurt now...Dreaming of it way too often! LOL.

We went and saw the Christmas lights down at the fair grounds. It was kinda pricey for what you get, but I think we'll do it again next year and just bring more money. I figure the kids will all be older and honestly, the more people you bring, the better the price becomes. (They charge per car, not per person.)

Anyhow, we've had a blast thus far and are ready and set to go for Christmastime! Wishing everyone the merriest!