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A couple weeks ago, I took Elliott downtown on a bike trip to get a hat, while Natalie was napping.  She woke up before we got back and was very jealous that she didn’t get to go on a bike trip downtown.  So, we went today!  It was fab.  So much easier with Natalie than Elliott.  No need to worry about her walking away as I judiciously chain up my bike and the kids’ seat. (My awesome bike was stolen a month ago – boo.)

We also convinced Dad to meet us for a little, err… big, delicious super special treat – a 3-scoop sundae from Ghiradelli’s.  Boy, we’re going to do this again!

Mom.. enough with the pics. I gotta dig in!

OMG. Delicious. Why don't we do this everyday???

Then, Natalie and I went to the American Girls store to browse. (Her choice over Disney store).  She played with more than a dozen dolls.  Near the end, she started realizing….

Natalie:  Mama, can I take one of these girls home?

Me: No, Natalie.  We’re just here to look.

Natalie: But please Mama.  I really need one.

Me: Maybe you can ask for one for your birthday or Christmas.  For a very special present.

Natalie: But why do other girls get to take home dolls now?

Me: Maybe its their birthday

We then had a convo about how not everyone even gets a Bitty Baby (Natalie: Why not, Mama?)  I stuck to my guns.  No $120 dolls today.  Or tomorrow (as she pleaded 25 times).  In a world where she gets so much of what she wants, I do feel its good that she has to learn that she doesn’t get everything she wants, right when she wants it.  And, when we got home, she played with Elsa, Baby Natalie, Baby Ellie, her loveys and countless other things she does have.

Sorry. Gotta get it out. 5:30 wake ups are just too early. I long for the days when my kids slept Til 6:45

We’ve had a fun 4th of July weekend.  Yesterday, we went to the 4th of July parade in Hinsdale for the 3rd year running (though missed our good friend Molly who moved to Pittsburgh and had always gone!) and a BBQ at our friend Edmund’s house.  Today, we went to the beach with JAC (Jira, Alex, Clayton).  In reality, the babes all had their moments of whiney-ness – but there was a lot of cuteness too.

Anyone bring some PB&J???

Elliott: Seriously, Clayton, you wouldn’t believe it… the water is like 50 degrees.  You should try it
Clayton: Yeah right couz….

I was trying to explain 4th of July to Natalie.  The convo went something like this:

Me: The 4th of July is to celebrate the United States – that’s the country we live in – independence from England.  England wasn’t the boss of the United States any more and people had more freedoms.  Do you know what freedom is?

Natalie: No

Me: For example, we have the freedom to go to church or not go to church.  The freedom to go to a religious school or a non-religious school.

Natalie: Or a high school

Me: Yes, or a high school.  We also have the freedom to go work or not work.

Natalie: Or to work in California.  Or just go to work work.  (She proceeded to talk about people and freedoms in other countries.  I couldn’t exactly follow everything.)

I’d say, good first steps for understanding a complicated – but essential – concept like independence and freedom.

PS Jordan is responsible for uploading the few 4th of July pics we have.

In other breaking news from the Linville household, Elliott’s newest word is Croc – as in Crocs, the blue shoes Natalie wears all the time.  I think that “Croc” has become the “kleenex” of “shoes” for him.

Last week, we celebrated Elliott’s 15-month birthday!  Today, we had his doc’s appt.  His stats:

Weight: 26 lbs, 6 oz (90th percentile)
Height: 32.5 inches (90th percentile)
Head Circumference: 19.75 inches (98th+ percentile)

On a positive note, his ears that have had fluid for the last few months and one of his ears was clear, so we don’t need to go to an ENT.  On a less positive note, the doc heard a heart murmur so we have a precautionary cardiologist appt in a couple weeks.  My friend needed to take her little girl a couple months ago – nothing too concerning, just watching – and I’ve heard that you need to keep your kid still for 45 min.  How is that possible!?!?

I’ll hopefully post soon about his developmental milestones soon!

“We need to make sure we bless Dad first because he is really far away in Indianapolis.”

“Mom, can you make sure that I don’t sleep to long.  I don’t really like sleeping a long time.  I’m really smart.  I know that I’m missing out on fun things when I’m sleeping.”

“No, Mom, our brains are thinking…. hmmm, I want to stay up and play but our BODIES are saying, I’m so tired. I need to rest”

7:40 pm

Natalie: Can I just have one more story tonight?  For a really special treat?  Please, please.  Just one more story.

Me: No Natalie.  It’s past your bedtime.  (After 4 more times of asking…) you seem to ask for a lot of special treats.

<Prayers and singing ensue>

7:46 pm

Natalie: Mom, I’m really hungry.  I really need some more food.

Me: No, Natalie.  We talked about this a bunch of times at dinner.  Dinner was your chance to eat.  You’re not getting any more food tonight.

(Repeat this convo 5 times).

Me: Good night, Natalie.

Natalie: Just one more hug!

Me: Good night.  I love you.

Natalie: I love my whole family.

7:50pm

Natalie: Mom, I need a new bandaid.  This bandaid has been on for 57 days.  Its been on a long time. (Insert whine and increasingly persistence.)

Me: Okay, but I get to do all the parts of taking the bandaid out of the wrapper.

<Bring her back to bed and tuck her in>

7:53am – Convo has moved outside of the bedroom

Natalie: Mom! You forgot to brush my teeth.  Why?  I don’t want my teeth to fall out.

Me: Okay, let’s brush.  I guess I was just so eager to start stories that I forgot.

Natalie: Why did you forget?

<Bring her back to bedroom and tuck her in>

7:57pm – once again outside of bedroom

Natalie: Do you see this other boo boo?

Me: Yes, I do.  It looks like its doing fine.

Natalie: No, it hurts when I turn my hand upside down like this (and press it on the wall).  I really need a bandaid

Me: I think you’re fine

Natalie: No, I need one.  I really really do.  (Insert crying)

<Add bandaid.  Walk back to bedroom.>

Me: Natalie, you need to stay in your bedroom for now one.  No more getting up.  If you get up again, I’m not going to tuck you in and I’m going to take away your night light.

Natalie: But if I’m throwing up, then its an emergency.  (She had to repeat b/c I missed what she was saying.)

Me: Yes, if its an emergency, then you can get up.

Natalie: But then you still need to tuck me in!

Me: Yes, if you throw up and its an emergency, I’ll still tuck you in.  But a bandaid isn’t an emergency.

Natalie: But it kinda is because it hurts.

Me: Good night Natalie.  I love you.

Natalie: I love my whole family.

8:02 pm Depart bedroom

8:18 pm Still in bedroom – Success!

ADDENDUM

8:23 pm

Natalie: I woke up because Elliott cried!  Why did he cry?  Maybe he lost his Roro and Leopard.  You should go in there to check on him.

P.S. Open to suggestions by parents who have children popcorning out of bed too!

Just after Jordan’s birthday, Grandma and Grandpa came in for a visit!  Woo hoo!  Jordan and I got a date night out of the deal.  The kids got outings to the zoo, park, Chipotle and a couple new outfits/books.  (I told Grandma that Natalie is really into Elsa from Frozen – note her new t-shirt above!)  Grandma got 6 am wake-up calls and a free carousel ride.  Grandpa also got surprise wake-up calls and to tease N&E.  Win-win-win-win!

Wee!  Higher!

I’m holding on tight, Grandpa!

We all feel very lucky that G&G are a 3.5-hr (well timed) drive away.  Just about as far as you can be for visits every 6 weeks or so!

On May 29th, we celebrated the 33rd birthday of the world’s greatest Dad!  Why is he the best Dad? (From the viewpoint of Natalie)

1.  He’s STRONG (balancing 25 lbs in the right arm, 35 lbs in the left – that takes skill!)

2.  He loves the same fav foods as me – peanut butter, waffles, bananas and OJ!  Lovin’ this birthday tradition!

3.  He helps my little bro and me all the time – just in this pic, he’s helped Elliott into his high chair, put on a big, get his food and will clean that mess up afterwards!

4.  He’s super goofy, silly and funny.

We’re the luckiest!

Our kids have been blessed to have met and known 6 great grandparents (both of my grandmas, though Grandma Mary passed away before meeting Elliott, and amazingly, all 4 of Jordan’s grandparents).  At a time when a friend recently lost her mother, we feel really lucky to have healthy grandparents and even great grandparents!

Mammaw and Pappaw (Kathy’s parents) visited this past week.  They did a pretty phenomenal job of keeping up with the kiddos.  The week’s schedule was:

Mon: Birthday/Anniversary picnic at the Zoo (Jordan’s 33rd bday and their 62nd wedding anniversary)
Tues:  Playing with Elliott at Park West Park
Wed: Farm Zoo (on Nana’s gardening day – so Natalie tried spinach and radishes!?!), which included climbing on hay, a picnic, seeing cows/pigs/goats/chicks, petting a chicken and climbing a tractor (Only the kids did the climbing stuff! M&P get around well, so they may have been able to do those too!)
Thurs: Another bday/anniversary dinner celebration on the actual day (Thanks Nana for another meal this week!)
Fri: Baking and other playing at N&P’s house (usually just Natalie’s day but our nanny couldn’t come in, so they took both kids for 2 hours!)

I took 20+ pics of these 4 on the bench – in most, an adult was looking at Elliott.  Here, Elliott was looking at Mammaw.  Good enough!

Hey – why aren’t you looking at me, Mammaw?

Hey!  Big Sis – wait up!

Um, are you sure its okay I touch her?

The Kennedy Clan visited us from South Bend this weekend and our friend Vanessa who lives downtown joined us too – yay!  A big thanks to Jordan’s parents for hosting a  yummy dinner at their house and the Kennedy’s overnight.  (We’ve never tried sleeping 9 people in our 1000 sq ft condo – it probably could have worked, but I think everyone slept better with the extra space.)  Speaking of sleep, I begin typing this as Jordan, Natalie and Elliott are 2+ hours into their recovery naps.  (I just woke up myself).  In 27 hours, the combination of us made 17 trips to the park, 6 trips to the zoo, 2 trips to a museum, 11 trips to a BBQ (Jordan had 3 under his belt), 6 trips to Starbucks, 1 magic show and a few games of dress-up.  Whew.  These kids – ages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 – are busy ones!

Thanks for an awesome visit, Kennedys!  A big shout out to Clare, age 2, for keeping me in the know with what my kids are up to – she told her dad who told me where Elliott was and also told me when Natalie had a little #2 in her pants (AH – suggestions here?!?!  I’m tired of the lax commitment on her part – I just bribed her with “7 days of always going #2 in the toilet = 1 princess costume from the Disney store”.  I hope it works, for many reasons.)

Here are a few of the highlights caught on my phone (Thanks for the awesome visit!):