I'm sorry Tommy.

I'm sorry, Tommy.  You turned THREE nearly two months ago, and I'm finally getting around to telling everyone about it!  You turned 3!  We were so busy laughing with you that I forgot to post about it! 

For some stats...at 41 back breaking pounds and 41" in height, you beat your sisters at something, finally!

 

You are the most mercurial McGhee.  You can travel from outrageous laughter to stompy, pouty wailing in mere seconds.  You're, hands down, the best hugger--wrapping your arms around me and Daddy, ferociously, clinging to us as though your life depends on it, and holding on long enough for me to realize how fleeting this attention from you will be.

 

And, holy smokes, you're potty trained!  You were, by far, the easiest at this!  One day, you peed on the potty and the rest was history!  Nice work, little dude!

 

Handsome and smiley, you are our Tommy.  You insist you are not Thomas; nor Tom.  You embrace Tommy--that fun filled variant of your name...

Tori is your best pal.  You do everything you can to keep her interested in playing with you.

 

Tori's first day of Pre-K.  When she left, you spent the day clinging to Daddy, telling him how much you missed her and Dani.

 The king of comic relief...it is often a stretch to get you to pose for pictures without a silly face. 

 You know that ice cream is best eaten in only a diaper, in the sunshine.

 You love all things that drive.  When you aren't scooting around the house on a dump truck, you are pretending to drive!

 And, did I mention fearless?  You're the kid with the hand open feeding the goats, with your big sisters behind you watching to see what happens.

 Never one to shy away from a good tea party, you accessorize with clip on earrings and cheetah print feetie pajamas...while keeping it masculine with the Mario hat.

 You are the crack-up king---distracting Dani and Tori at meals while they laugh at your antics.   Sweet talking strangers wherever we go because you are just so friendly, and cute.

You, Tommy are our biggest bundle of energy, our little dude.  Our super, smiley light, that shines the brightest in the glow of your sisters, who adore you too!  Happy 3!

Pre-K doin's.

 I've always thought that things like pre-k graduations are so silly and unnecessary.  Logically, I buy into the idea that kids don't need participation trophies, and that we don't need to make up silly milestones for them.

Then, I had a kid in Pre-K.  I'm not saying I don't think it's silly, because it is.  And it's certainly unnecessary.  But, the kids all seemed pretty proud about graduating, and I'd be lying if I told you I didn't get teary during the ceremony.

It started with Dani being named "Pre-K Student of the Year" for her school.  This meant she got to attend a local baseball game and was recognized on the field--and got to run out onto the field with the home team.

She stayed out there for the National Anthem.  She was so proud.  And, it was pretty awesome, the whole family got to watch her from the stands.

 Two days later, it was Pre-K graduation.  Nothing like a hot summer night in an un-air conditioned elementary school cafeteria.

 Dani got to lead the assembly by holding the mic and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.  (teary mommy)

 Look at this kid's face.  She's walking to receive her Pre-K "diploma".  She's beaming.

It's impossible not to be excited for her--because she's so excited about being ready for real school!

 Tori and Tommy managed to sit relatively still during the event.

 An attempt at a family photo was, as usual, like herding cats.  Tori is channeling her inner Bangles "Walk like an Egyptian" vibe.  This was the best, of many attempts.

It's amazing how fast this time flies.  Dani's headed to kindergarten.  Kindergarten!  (And Tori to Pre-K)

When we were driving to the Mohawks game, the night she was receiving the Student of the Year honor, she was in the back seat telling Tori, "To be the student of the year, you have to work hard and do your best every day in pre-k, Tori."

She is amazingly smart, and articulate for her age.  (I realize every parent says this.)

And, we're so proud of her.

 

A few kid sayings of late...

Some weeks ago, Tori hopped into the coveted second row minivan seat (that Dani had asked for) and when Dani protested, Tori's response was, "You snooze, you lose, kid."  (Thanks Grandma.)

Now, all three kids vie to be the first at anything so they can hurl the "you snooze you lose" taunt.

 

Last night I was talking to Dani and Tori about my parents' impending visit.  I was mentioning that there were a few things in the house that I wanted Grandpa to fix.  I told them that Grandpa could fix anything.  Dani disagreed.  "Grandpa can't fix people, mommy."

 

At dinner tonight, Tori announced that she would like to call me Bethany.  When I said no, she could call me mommy, she settled on mom, and told me if I were a balloon she would pop me.

 

Dani's favorite jokes to tell these days;

What do you call a cow with no legs?  Ground beef.

Why can't you hear a pterodactyl going to the bathroom?  Because the "p" is silent.

 

 



Skating!

 We went to an ice skating birthday party last weekend!

Back in the day, I was a darn good skater.  Fast forward 25 years and all I can say is, it's not like riding a bike.  It was HARD!

The kids had a blast.

Dani, to no one's surprise, was cautious, Tori, fearless.

Tommy was deemed too little to skate.  So he just made faces from the sidelines.

 Daddy was the official photographer of the day.

 Down goes Tori!

 I think I can do this...

 And afterwards, cake and pizza!

Good times with good friends.  Happy birthday, Liam!

And the first one is off to school.

Dani started Pre-K this week.  Pre-K!  While it would sound sweet and nostalgic to *sniff, ask where my little baby went, but, I was pretty excited for her.  While I'm a big proponent for kids home with parents, I realize they miss out on the camaraderie of peers. She's going to meet kids that she can't boss around and make friends and have a blast!  So, yesterday was the first day of half-day pre-k through the school district.  Wes brought her to school and picked her up.  The school has a dress code, which I'm a fan of, and hope that the petty materialistic bullshit that comes with peers can be avoided, in part, for awhile because of it.

Of course, when we were shopping for bookbags, Dani had to have the Mario and Luigi design.  No cute Hello Kitty or anything...

She literally got a happy meal toy yes, bad mommy buys happy meals with a Luigi in it, and has been a fan ever since.  I should mention we do not own any Nintendo game system that exposed her to Mario and Luigi before the toy.  Since then, we've been intermittently watching the Super Mario Super Show on Netflix....for those of you too young to know what that is, it's a show from 1989, which is a mix of cartoons and skits with actual people (Captain Lou Albano from the WWF plays Mario).  Worst show ever.

 Soooo, back to Dani and school and such.  They let the parents in on the first day to check out the classroom.  Dani's been very close-lipped about the day-to day at school, only telling me that they are learning manners and what to do.

 Today was the second day, and we decided she'd take the bus.  To be honest, we ranked the elementary schools so that we'd get a school that she could take a bus to.  Our city is small and we can drive to any school in less than 10 minutes, but I didn't want us to have to drive her because we were too close to the school (packing up 3 kids to deliver one would suck!).  So Dani got on the bus today!  She (and the girl next door) were the first kids on the bus.

On the way home....Wes waited at the stop--and the girl next door got off, but not Dani!

I had filled out a form months ago that asked if we needed child care transportation, and I had put our sitter's address and said Tues and Thurs were the days.  BUT when we got the bus pass, it was for our home only.  Wes called the bus garage and they said the school had to set up the alternate transportation but that they were swamped and he should wait a day or two to call.

When he asked the driver where Dani was, he mentioned that she was on the way to the sitter.  Wes calls Miss Ruth to give her a heads up and see if Dani was there yet, and Dani arrived at Miss Ruth's house.  She was crying at that point, as she had to switch buses and she kept telling the driver that he was not going the right way to our address.  But all ended well, with Tori and Tommy being super-excited to see Dani get off a school bus! 

 It's been a wild ride, these few days.  Dani really seems happy to be going to school, like it something that is hers, alone.  I've got to literally interrogate her to find out what she did all day, not because she didn't love it, but because I think she liked it so much she can't really describe it.

 Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I think Tommy and Tori are happy for the 33% additional attention...one less kid they have to share mommy and daddy and Miss Ruth with!

Where are you going, my little one?

Dear Dani,
It is happening too quickly.
Just a few minutes ago, I swear, I was a nervous and pregnant 35 year old, wondering how I would ever know what to do as your mom.  Wondering if I would do okay, if I would have that magical moment where I laid eyes on you and fell in love.  And I did.  Wondering if I would know how to raise you, and teach you and be your mom.  Really, it feels like yesterday.

But it wasn't.  Today I enrolled you in Pre-K.  In just a few short months, you're going to be riding a school bus, headed to school to make friends, and learn even more that you can imagine.  You're an amazing little girl--with a brain like a sponge, always learning, never forgetting, and consummately polite.  We're so proud of the girl you are becoming.

And, on days like today, it feels like you're becoming a girl too quickly, and it makes me want to squeeze you tight and ask you not to grow up, to stay my baby.

Like we sing at bedtime, "when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad".  You, my love are one of my favorite things.  My big girl is going to school.

Where does the time go?

 Our sweet little Tori turned three yesterday.  Three!  I swear, just a few minutes ago she was a wriggly little baby.  A quiet, easy, little baby.  Wow, that didn't last long!

She's our little free spirit.  So often silly, and almost as often mischevious.  When things get quiet, it's not because she's behaving, but because she's getting into something.  And she's just so hard to get angry at, because she is just. so. damn. cute.  It's those eyes.  Those big brown eyes that make you melt a little bit inside when you look at her.  She's the kid that strangers stop you to tell you that she is just precious and adorable.  Because she is.

She can throw a tantrum like nobody's business.  Wailing and flailing like the world is coming to an end.  But as she grew closer to three, she grew closer to the ability to reason.  When you explain the whys to her and tell her how she should be acting, she understands.  She doesn't always like it, and doesn't always do it, but she understands.  And for the zany, middle child, who is always going a mile a minute, she will surprise you with how much she knows, how much she understands.

She knows her letters and numbers to count and by sight.  And big numbers--she will hold up her Urlacher jersey and say, "I'm fifty-four, Mommy."  She will dance around and tell you she has a pelvis, and a patella, and a cranium, and point to them in turn.  She's learning about the body with our leap books, and will wiggle her fingers and tell you they are phalanges.  And, it typical toddler (silly) fashion, she describes what she learned about the digestive system...the food goes in my mouth to my BOOTY!

She's pretty much potty trained, because the reward of playing on Mommy's tablet is incentive enough to get it done. 

Adventurous in every way--from her love of broccoli, "ninos"  (tomatoes) and every fruit and veggie imaginable--to leaping in the pool, jumping on the bed, and never letting discretion be the better part of valor.

If she wakes up in the middle of the night, she ends up in my bed.  But unlike her big sister, who is happy with her own pillow and her own space, Tori insists on sharing my pillow, on snuggling so closely to me that I can feel her breathe on me.  As she starts to fall back to sleep, her arm always reaches around me as she snuggles up tight. 

Everything Tori does, she does intensely.

And her little brother adores her.

We all do. 

 For years, I've been close to an old Italian man--he's in many ways like a great grandfather to me. I bring the girls to see him every few weeks.  His name for Tori is "estrella", for star.

How fitting.  Our Tori is a star, a shooting star, bright and blazing, grabbing our attention and filling our lives with light.

And she's been doing it for three years.

Three years.

Love you, Tori.

 

Tommy is ONE!

Daddy baked a cake, went shopping for presents--and the big sisters even got presents too!  A first birthday, from Tommy's perspective.

Wow, this ladybug kitchen timer is really neat.  I sure like to play with it.  Why is everyone singing?  It's really distracting me.

Daddy took my toy away.  This sucks.  What's this thing in front of me?  It's awfully squishy.  Maybe I should just smear it around for a little while.  Hey, this is kind of fun.  Is it paint?  Am I drawing?  I should put some in my mouth maybe.

This paint stuff's pretty tasty.  But it's more fun to smear all over.  Thanks Daddy!

Little Dude is one today.  My last baby, isn't really a baby anymore.  He's running full-on into toddlerhood.  I swear, it can't be a year already...I just brought him home from the hospital.

He's our inquisitive little guy.  He never stops making noise, but really only says "da da".  He loves his sisters and they love making him laugh.  He can shake hands, and Tori almost taught him how to high five tonight.  He's almost as big as she is, and is just absolutely enamored with her.  While he's a bit slow in the talking department, he's got amazing dexterity.  He has never held his own bottle--despite the fact that he is a complete chow hound.  He refuses to hold it and will wail in anger until you acquiese and feed him.  He's great about playing on his own, unless he wants your attention, in which case, you must drop everything to pick him up, feed him or play with him.  He's so LOUD--screeches of happy and wails of frustration.  I often wonder what people walking by must think--I am guessing they refer to our house as the crying baby house.  Tori's in the 2 year old "I did not get my way so I will sit down and scream at the top of my lungs" phase.  So it seems like someone is always screaming in this house--and if it's not angry babies, it is the back and forth happy shrieking that kids do for no apparent reason, other than to torture their mommy.

As I unpacked some 2T clothes for the little dude tonight, it hit me.  He's the last one.  No more babies, just little people starting to grow up here.  I'm not packing things up anymore, but bagging and boxing them to pass on to another mom, because we won't need them ever again.  No more bouncer, or walker, or exersaucer.  Pretty soon, we'll say goodbye to the high chair, as Tommy will have a place at the dinner table.  I thought as I contemplated these things, I would be wistful and nostalgic, but truly, I'm not.  I'm excited about the promise in little Tommy (and Tori, and Dani) about the people they are becoming and their next "first".  I can't wait until he can talk back to me, and say "mommy".  It's going to be a great year, for Tommy, and for all of us.

Dani's Big Week.

Dani had quite the busy week.  To start, she got a haircut.  The at-home kind.  I was putting on my makeup Wednesday morning, with Dani and Tori "helping" me as usual.  Dani informed me she had to go do her hair and headed off to the bathroom.  She came back with a few hair clips haphazardly placed in her hair, and I thought nothing of it.  Later that morning, we were getting the girls ready for a day at Miss Ruth's.  Big Man was combing out Tori's hair, and I sprayed down Dani's and started to comb.  Huge pieces of hair were coming off in the pick.  A lot.  Like the way people describe their hair coming out after a few rounds of chemo.  I got Big Man's attention and held up a chunk so he could see, all the while standing behind Dani so she wouldn't panic.  Upon closer inspection, I realized the hair wasn't coming out at the root, but had been cut.  After breathing a sigh of relief that my child didn't have some mystery illness, I asked Dani whether she had cut her hair.  An instant, "NO!" followed by a follow up question by me and then an embarassed admission that she had used the scissors.  (And then the Big Man's question to me...."And why were the scissors accessible, mommy?")  Ugh.  I made a little pile of all she'd cut--good thing her hair is curly so it's hard to notice that there's a ton missing from the right side of her head.  We could have made Grandpa a nice little toupe with all there was!

We've been really struggling with Dani and the potty.  She's been in underwear for a few months now, but has steadfastly refused to poop on the potty.  She holds it all day, and then at night, sits on the potty and cries and begs for a diaper. It is a battle that she always, eventually wins.  As bedtime  creeps up, I just cave--we put them in overnight diapers to avoid nightime wets, and she will just wait until bed and poop into the (way pricier than a regular diaper) overnight diaper, which keeps her and Tori up, and drives me batty.

Last night, she had a little accident in her underwear, and I put her on the potty and told her to finish the poop there.  Tears, crying, and no more poop.  She admitted she had to go, but was scared.  So, mommy decided it was time for some tough love.  I put her to bed in her underwear, and explained that if she needed to pee or poop she should get out of bed and get me.  I knew that the odds were very good that she'd wake up wet, at a minimum.  This morning, she was soaked, but she didn't poop in her bed--that was my solace as I stripped her bed and gave her a quick bath in Tommy's toddler tub.  A few hours later, while I was in the basement folding laundry, Big Man opens the door and says, "Your eldest child is pooping on the potty and I think we're out of flushable wipes."  And she was!  And she said it was easy!  And that she wasn't afraid anymore.  For months she has been asking for this pink picnic basket toy, and I promised her that once she pooped on the potty, we would go get it.  So when Tori went down for a nap, Dani and I went to Target to pick up the reward, and a slushie (of course).

We came home and Dani reveled in her big-girl-ness!  We made cupcakes, and she helped me decorate them.  They were blue cupcakes with red frosting.  We all had one after dinner.

The red frosting was intense.  Tori looked like she was wearing lipstick, and Dani looked like she had walked into a door and was bleeding from her mouth.  At one point, she remarked, "Look mommy, it's like I have nail polish on."  She has absolutely no idea what this means:

Meanwhile, during Dani's big week, Tori provided much-needed comic relief.

And tonight, at bed-time, Dani was suddenly afraid to poop on the potty again.  Fingers crossed that she was over-tired and tomorrow she's back on track.

And then there were three.

Hey Dani and Tori, come quick!  Did you know you could actually see OUTSIDE if you stand up right here???

Tommy, of course we KNEW that!  That's mommy's car.  You're a silly baby.

Mommy has a CAR?  What's a CAR?  Can I have a CAR?

What are you two doing?  Why are you looking out the window?

Ahhh, outside.  Hey, Tori, let's ask mommy if we can go outside.
OK, Dani.
HEY--let me back in.  I was here first!!!  I wanna seeeeeeeeeeee!

Now there are three, mobile children.  Say a Novena for me.  Mommy.

April already?

Spring has finally sprung around these parts, and we've been busy!  Dani and Tori are growing by leaps and bounds.  They are finally, truly playmates and keep each other busy, drawing, running around and having tea parties.  By the time I get them to bed at night, and start to catch my breath, I'm too tired to blog, or really do much of anything. 

Tommy, after teething for literally four months, finally sprouted his two bottom teeth.  He's a big fan of the teething biscuit, although he is covered in goo from head to toe when he eats one.  He's dying to walk.  He wants nothing more than for you to hold his hands and let him stand up.  I predict that he will be taking his first steps within the month.  Heaven help us.

Tori's still our little handful.  She's going through a "mommy" phase  where she is practically glued to me every minute.  I actually kind of enjoy it, and if she's snuggled up with me, she's not getting into any trouble, which is what she usually does best.

I tore my calf muscle in a random incident on the stairs, trying to snatch Tori as she was headed up them unattended.  She's quite the climber.  After a trip to the ER and a follow up to the ortho, I've got a pair of crutches and a walking cast, which isn't much fun.

Dani asks repeatedly to play with my "crotches", which is the only amusing part of the damn injury!