Roseola ain't so rosy

We just returned from a whirlwind trip to Montana to spend the weekend at the Lee family's ranch. We had a great time and I have lots of adventures to share but need to collect all of the photos first so you will have to wait for the next blog post. In the meantime, I have to capture a few of life's little oddities that have happened recently.

In our quest to experience every single childhood illness possible (ha ha), Will has roseola. I took him to the doctor this morning because he was super SUPER cranky for most of our trip and has had a random high fever for about a week. This was one of those trips to the doctor that I was really hoping that he WAS sick, because if he wasn't, we were looking at a personality change that was taking the terrible two's to a whole new level. So here's more info on roseola if you are interested. We're hopeful that it will run it's course in the next few days. Until then, I'm bracing for more tantrums and flying-off-the-handleness, which I guess is something that Glenn prepares for every day by being married to me.

Both kiddos are changing so fast! Will is talking up a storm and his grasp of the English language is so much better than it was even a month ago. Today we heard a loud airplane (but he didn't know it was) and he said to me, "Momma, I hear something. I think it's a motorcycle." Granted, all of that was with his special Will accent which is sort of German with a Southern twang and maybe some Jamaican flavor thrown in. And he drops a lot of S's.

Reina is really becoming more human - Glenn hates it when I call it that - but she really is. She has a newfound interest in everything and if I don't give this girl some real food soon, I think she's going to inch her way to the refrigerator and fix her own snack.

Here's my attempt at a concise list of what they are both doing:

Will's Likes:
1. Anything on PBS Sprout: Dora the Explorer, Bob the Builder, and the especially creepy Dragon Tales. We try to limit his tv watching to one or two shows a day but when he has roseola well. . . . all those rules go out the window.

2. His chupee (aka pacifier): I hesitate to include this because I'm embarrassed that he still has his pacifier but file this under one of those parenting moves that I never thought I'd make. As soon as he feels better we are entering into Operation Chupee Eradication.

3. His baby sister: Suprisingly! He's very sweet to her (most of the time) and can now make her giggle.
4. Firetrucks: Firetrucks on tv, firetrucks on the road, firetrucks in books, firetrucks on shirts, you get the idea.

5. Aunt Wicki. He loves all of his relatives but she might just be his favorite person right now. Plus she has a cat.

Will's Dislikes:

1. Being told "no"

2. Being told to do anything.

3. Taking medicine, unless there is a significant bribe involved.

4. Thunder, loud airplanes or other sounds eminating from the sky. His new phrase is "I'm scared!" but it's said rather cheerfully and slightly out of context.

Reina's Likes:

1. Nursing on demand

2. Her feet. She grabs them, puts them in her mouth, takes her socks off and (my favorite) uses them to help hold things like a little monkey girl.

3. Anything she can hold in her hands and put in her mouth; her bottle, an empty Capri Sun package, Will's toys and mom's book - but only when mom is trying to read and nurse at the same time.

4. Her daddy! She lights up and gives a full-body shake when she sees him. She thinks he fascinating.

Reina's dislikes:

1. Not being allowed to nurse on demand.

2. Milk in the bottle that isn't warmed up enough. My mom started calling it "pickle juice" and the look on Reina's face echos that sentiment. "Why on earth would I drink this?!"

3. Bonks on the head from her brother - but really who can blame her?

4. Anyone else holding her after 9:00 p.m. That's strictly mommy time.

Here are a few photos. . .

This one is totally going to be in the slideshow at his high school graduation party. He loves hats and sunglasses. And not wearing pants.

This is a little photo series that I like to call "Baby Torture" or "Pictures that will only interest Lucy and probably drive her Dad crazy." Reina is my little baby lamprey eel when it comes to eating time. She starts off politely and will latch on to my arm, cheek, neck or shoulder, whichever she can access.

Then she'll start whipping her head around with her mouth open in the hopes that something will fall in there. She'll politely give me one last chance to produce the milk dispenser. Then the fussing starts . . . just a couple whimpers and then....Bam! Come on lady feed me. Put the stupid camera down. I'm starving here!

I did feed her, by the way.

Reina - 5 months old!

Our little girl is five months old today! Man - how time flies. I know that I say that every month but she is getting big! She is thisclose to sitting up by herself. She tries like crazy, especially when she's belted into her carseat. She's also getting really interested in our food. She tried to eat a tortilla chip today. Forget cereal and mashed bananas - this girl wants some nachos! I'm discovering that almost everything about parenting has its tradeoffs. I'm proud that Reina has yet to need any formula - I've been able to make enough milk for her (something I couldn't do for Will). BUT on the flip side, she prefers my method of food delivery over anything else so as long as I'm in the room, I'm her main girl....which is very flattering except for when I need just 10 minutes TO MYSELF TO TYPE ON THE COMPUTER!!!

Here's my smiley girl:

Wait, you talkin' to me?
Hey mom - is it snacktime yet?
Add this to things that I need to remember to thank Glenn for - showing Will how to make a drum out of a pot and two kitchen untensils. When Will was younger he liked playing with the pots but hadn't really figured out drumming yet. Add in a full set of lungs, a desire to sing and a wickedly strong backhand and you've got yourself some music!!
Ringo - eat your heart out. This kid's got some serious beat going on.
Hold on ... it's not a drum - it's a hat!

Finally, I'm including this picture for all of my non-Wyoming friends and relatives. This is the fourth of July. And we are wearing fleece jackets. That bit of blue sky in the background was fleeting. It's not raining at the moment but the skies opened up shortly after this picture was taken. Nothing like watching fireworks in the rain and 50 degrees on July 4. At least we didn't get pooped on.

No pictures, please.

Last weekend we went to a friend's wedding. We were "that couple" - the ones who thought it would be a good idea to take a 2-yr old and a 4-month old to a wedding. Will didn't even make it long enough to see the bride walk down the aisle. He was a little too chatty for my liking and I didn't want him to distract from the beautiful service. Will and Glenn spent the time playing in other rooms at the church while Reina and I watched the wedding. At the reception, both kids were doing pretty well. Will was busting some moves on the dance floor and Reina was busy being passed around and smiling at everyone. About halfway through the reception, she got pretty fussy so it was time for a nursing break. As I attempted to nurse her underneath a blanket, she got really fussy and then just as suddenly, became very relaxed. I felt something sticky on my hand and as I pulled it out from underneath the blanket I realized that my hand was covered in baby poo. As was my entire lap. My black and white dress had suddenly become black, white and green. Or yellow. Simultaneously, as I was being bathed in poo, Will poured a tall glass of lemonade down his the front of his shirt. That was when the fun really started. I packed extra outfits for both of them, but didn't think to pack an extra dress for myself. Lesson learned. As the title of this point indicates, I didn't take any pictures and you should be thankful for that.