All Aboard!!

In continuation of the train theme, we all went on a choo-choo train ride for Ryan's birthday! We were a little concerned about how he'd do because he seems to have some sensory issues (ex. he doesn't like swinging). But he was a champ! He started of the ride with a ham and cheese sandwich...yum!

He was literally in awe almost the entire time and was very good at sitting still (or on someone's lap) for almost the whole 90 minute ride.

A bonus - the Easter Bunny was on board! He came to visit Ryan and Lindsey and gave them both hugs and love.

Though reluctant at first, Rye eventually donned his train gear, as well and even got his picture taken with the conductor!

Lindsey, of course, slept the entire ride and was wide awake the minute we stepped off the train.

Choo - Choo! Ryan turns 2!

Though it truly seems like we were just celebrating his first birthday yesterday, here we are, celebrating the big 0 - 2. We went with a train theme this year for a couple of reasons. The invitations were so cute (a little train ticket!), he is LOVING choo-choo trains right now, and tomorrow (his actual birthday) we're taking the whole family - and grandparents - on a choo-choo train ride in Wilmington.

Ryan had a blast. Him and Grace tag teamed the opening of gifts and, like last year, were so interested in playing with each toy right away, that it was hard to get him to concentrate on opening the next gift. Plus, now they can talk so each time they unwrapped a gift there was a cacophony of "Open it!'s" that followed.

In an effort to save some money - and really personalize the cake - Mommy got adventurous and made Rye's birthday cake herself. It was a two layer (one chocolate, one vanilla) cake with white frosting and a horrible rendition of a choo-choo train.

Luckily, it tasted better than it looked. While it was nice to make something special, next year we'll just order a cake. So much easier.

Our little lady lion, Lindsey

One of the perks of having a second child? One more child to brainwash. 'Nuff said.

Men and their Grills

There are a lot of things that moms and dads get excited about when they have a child of the same gender. For instance, moms get excited about little girls because they know it means dress up, barbie dolls and tea parties. Dads get excited about little boys because it means legos, G.I. Joe's and playing catch in the backyard.

Case in point - Daddy and Rye got to do some "male bonding" the other night with one of the classic "guy" activities: grilling! Ryan was a champ. Though he needed that mighty tongue to help get the job done, he was able to put the doggies on the grill, roll them around and, when all was said and done, scarf them down with the rest of us! Ryan is in the "cook it" stage and wants to play a role in preparing EVERY meal. Usually that means pressing buttons on the microwave or dumping noodles into the water. So this was a very special meal for him to play a role in making. He took his job very seriously and loved every minute of it.

Kiss Me, I'm Irish!

Lindsey Paige got into the St. Patty's Day spirit and donned her shamrock outfit, courtesy of Nana. She'll be two months old tomorrow and is already doing so many things! We get smiles (honest to goodness, real smiles!) and she can hold her head up really well (despite her massive cheeks). Just think, only 21 more years till her first green beer!

Parenting requires a strong stomach and stellar sense of humor

Two pieces of advice for anyone thinking about becoming a parent - make sure you have a fairly strong stomach and a stellar sense of humor. You'll need them to get you through the pregnancy and, really, the next 18 years. Case in point: last night Mommy and Ryebread tried to engage in some potty training. Rye said he had to pee and eagerly took off his pants and diaper and sat on the potty. We tried relaxing and the "let it flow" technique daddy created - nothing. We tried reading a book - nada. We tried squeezing the pee out - nope. No pee. Rye had enough and said he was all done. He got off the potty, yelled "Naked Baby!" and ran into the dining room. Mommy scooped up Lindsey (yep, she was along for the potty lesson) and went to go round up the naked baby, who was hiding in his new favorite spot - under the dining room table. When I crawled underneath (yep, still holding Lindsey), Ryan proudly exclaimed, "Rye Rye Pee!" Sigh. Yep. Right there, under the dining room table, was a little puddle of Ryan pee.

Mommy explained to Ryan that we don't pee in the living room (seriously, it's not a sentence I ever thought I'd utter) and that we pee in the potty. So - impromptu bath time and since Lindsey was queen of spit up that day and Mommy needed a challenge, she threw her (not literally) into the bathtub as well.

Fast forward to the end of bath time. Lindsey came out first and got swaddled in a nice, warm towel. With one arm holding Lindsey, the other holding the phone to talk to Grandma and two eyes on Ryan to make sure he doesn't stick his tub markers anywhere they don't belong - the worst sound possible erupted. Lindsey pooped right in Mommy arms! Sigh.

After the release of multiple bodily fluids, there isn't much left for a parent to do but laugh.