More stuff to remember about Molly

She decided all on her own to stop sleeping in her crib.  Monday night, Oct. 28th she would not stay in the crib.  She was crying and flipping out every time I put her in bed and left the room.  She was crying, "Come to my room Baden.  Come get me Mase." Then she would climb out and we'd put her back.  Once we found her in bed with Braden and neither one of them were able to sleep.  At 10PM, I finally laid down with her in the double bed in her room.  At 10:45 she was still arranging pillows and talking to stuffed animals.  I told her that I had to go to bed and that I'd see her in the morning.  All she said was, "night Mama".  I checked on her a few minutes later and she was sound asleep.  The next night I rocked her to sleep and as I was laying her in the crib she startled awake and said, "Not dis bed!".  She's been sleep in the big bed ever since without any problems.  I don't even have a bed rail to keep her from falling out.  Now we just need to find the time to take the crib down and return it to my aunt who let us borrow it 9 years ago.
Molly also says the funniest things, at least they are funny coming out of a 2 year old's mouth.  She won't be funny for long, I promise.  When she doesn't like what you are doing or doesn't get her way she forcefully says, "I'm the baby!"  This is completely my fault.   The past 2 years have been filled with me saying, "Just give the baby what she wants." Or, when asked why Molly gets to watch TV on school night my answer has been, "Because she's the baby." 
When you are holding her and she wants down she says, "Stop touching me."  She is very polite and almost always remembers to say "Thank you".  She is also very quick to apologize when she realizes her actions are not going to benefit her the ways she had hoped.  "I sorry mama."
We do have other children!  On Oct. 25th Braden tested for his yellow/orange belt in mixed martial arts.  It was fun to watch and we were very proud of him.  Mase is about to wrap up his first season of flag football.  As is always the case, he has a blast while at practice and games, but he never wants to go to practice or games when it's time. 

Things I need to Remember About Our 3rd Child

I wasn't going to be the parent who neglected documenting the 3rd child's life.  Well, I AM THAT PARENT.  Her baby book isn't finished and I haven't updated this blog in almost a year.  I'm updating now so in 30 years when she says, "Mom when did I..." I'll maybe be able to find the answer.
Molly,
I can't remember how old you were when you started walking.  I know it was during the playoffs and the Thunder were on TV.  You started speaking in complete sentences at the ripe old age of 20 months although I don't remember what your first word was or when you said it.  I also do not remember your first complete sentence.  You refer to both of your brothers as Mason.  We aren't sure if you think this is the word for brother, if Mase is your favorite, or if Braden is just too hard to say.  You are in a phase where you start 9 out of 10 sentences with the words "I need..."  For example, "I need milk cup."  "I need water."  "I need hold you."  "I need my Holly." "I need sucker." etc...
You took up the paci at the age of 17 or 18 months.  Really you are just a follower and your best friend takes a paci.  Being the 3rd child you are, when you asked for a paci I just dug around in a drawer until I found one you had refused to take as a new born, and I gave it to you.
You climbed out of your pack-n-play at Brook's house when you were 20 months old.  You soon figured out that you could also climb out of your crib.  However, you must have hurt or scared yourself because you have only done it once.  You climbed out of the pack-n-play several times and made big messes when you were supposed to be napping, but you have stopped doing that as well.
You are very independent.  You push chairs around the kitchen and climb up onto counters to help yourself to whatever you think you "need".  We have locks on both top and bottom pantry doors.
When you and Mom were in FL, you walked on the beach barefooted, but after being picked up by Mimi you refused to put your feet in the sand.
Like your brothers, you are a tiny little person.  You are almost 2 but you still face backwards in your car seat.  You'll get to turn around soon, I promise.  We add Carnation Instant Breakfast to your milk to try to pack on the pounds.  You are healthy and growing, just tiny.
Being the 3rd child does come with perks.  You had your own trick-or-treat bag and were allowed to steal candy out of your brothers' bags on Halloween night before bed.  When you flew with Mom to FL to see Mimi instead of giving you something to drink so your ears wouldn't bother you I just gave you dumdum suckers.  You ate 8 in one day.  Your brothers NEVER got to do this, I assure you.  You just walked into the room where I am writing this blog post and said, "I need more candy."  Your Dad answered, "I left some on the counter down there.  Just go get it."  Not all the perks involve candy.  You have been rocked to sleep every night of your life and will continue to be until we no longer fit in the chair together.  This could get embarrassing for you.  Another perk is being allowed to play with Mom's iPhone and iPad.  I never handed my phone over to your brothers and let them have free reign.  You have moved and deleted apps, yet I still give you my phone whenever you ask.
One area where you have not been neglected is picture taking.  Most of the pictures have been taken with a cell phone, but I'm pretty sure we have more pictures of you than both of your brothers combined.  We love you dearly little sissy!
Love,
Mom

In keeping with the theme of neglect, I do not have a picture to accompany this post. 

Last Day with the Cousins

I've kept these two kiddos since they were babies and now they are moving away.  With promises of swimming, SonShine School, being close to Mummers and Granddad, and sharing rooms with their cousins, I'd convinced them to live with me instead of moving.  Unfortunately, they've changed their minds and tomorrow will board a plane for a city far away from here.  Things will be a lot quieter around here and we won't like it one bit!

The Story of Mase's First Loose Tooth

A little over 2 years ago B lost his first tooth, and for the past 26 months and 10 days Mase has prayed EVERY night that his "teeth will fall out soon."  Well, on May 15th that prayer was answered.  Mase is nothing if not persistent! He pointed out his loose tooth to me about a month ago.  He actually had 2, both center bottom teeth.  On Tuesday he asked me to "just yank out my tooth".  I tried.  Not much makes me squeamish in my job as a mom, blood, stitches, poop on walls, poop in vents, vomit, etc...but pulling teeth is just something I can't do.   Right before bedtime he asked Austin to give it a try.  Sure enough, it came right out.  There was quite a bit of bleeding (I'm not sure it was really ready to come out).  Mase didn't cry or complain one bit.  He was sooooooo excited.  It was pretty late at night so the only phone call he was able to make was to his Grammy and Pap.  Thanks to facetime, they didn't have to wait to see his new smile.  As is tradition for our pack rats boys, he wrote a note to the Tooth Fairy asking to be allowed to keep his tooth. The Tooth Fairy, while cringing at the hoarding habits of the males in this home, obliged his request.  Thankful for the blog, the Tooth Fairy was also able to leave the same thing B received for his first tooth, $5 and a Batman toothbrush.  Mase was so excited, he even took his tooth to school the next day to show his teacher, Mrs. Potter.



Merry Christmas

No one is looking at the camera, but no one is crying either!

Molly goes to school!

3 months is so grown up! She was off to school today. It was not so easy for me to leave this sweet baby girl in her very own class at SonShine School even though I teach just upstairs. I haven't even put her in Bible class yet.

She had a great day despite not really taking any naps. Her brothers started school a few weeks ago, but that's old news since there's a baby in the house.

Mase is off to Pre-K this year with the best teacher ever. He loves it. When I picked him up on Day 1 he told me that school wasn't long enough. Everyday I ask him, "What was the best thing about school today?" 4 out of 5 days he will say the snack center. His class got a new smart board last week and his teacher was having trouble getting it to work. Apparently Mase walked up to the board and said, "This is how you do it." He got it working. At car pool his teacher asked if Mase had ever worked with a smart board before. Smart boards are a new thing for Mase, but he's good at anything that has a screen and he can't even read yet.

B is in 2nd grade this year. There are 2 things that shock me almost everyday. One, my baby is in 2nd grade, doing things that second graders do. Reading, making his own friends, etc... And two, I have a baby. You'd think after 3 months I'd be used to having her around. When I ask B, "What's the best thing that happened today?" he almost always says recess. Although the other day the new game they learned in PE turned out to be the best thing. I love when he explains the rules to a "new" game. I just pretend I've never heard of or played capture the flag.

Taking this baby GIRL thing to the extreme

Do you like her purple lipstick?
She has thrush and we are treating it with gentian violet (a purple die). I'm actually quite proud that I have managed to keep it off her face and only in her mouth.