Daddy don't love Mommy

Last night, I got a really bad craving for a strawberry milkshake as we were driving to Grant's parents'. Dana had frozen strawberries, but no vanilla ice cream. Grant, being the wonderful, doting husband that he is, agreed to drive down to Safeway and pick up some ice cream. Eleanor wanted to go with him. As I was buckling her into her carseat, I told her, "Eleanor, you and Daddy are going to go to the store and get ice cream, and when you get back, we're going to make strawberry milkshakes because Daddy loves Mommy!"

Eleanor scowled and said, "No. Daddy DON'T love Mommy! Just Eleanor love Mommy."

Grant immediately started explaining to her that they could both love Mommy, and she immediately returned his explanations with protests that only she could love me. I just kissed her and left them to it. I'm sure they probably argued all the way to the store.

The strawberry milkshakes were delicious! They completely satisfied my craving, although I could have eaten more than I did (and probably would have made myself sick). If any of you are wondering about my intense random craving, you probably are one of the few who haven't yet heard that I'm pregnant again. I'm 16 weeks now, with a due date of Sept. 7th. We don't know yet whether it is a boy or a girl (that seems to be the first question off everyone's lips lately), but we will be finding out toward the end of April. I had wanted to do some cutesy post with Eleanor saying something or wearing something indicating she would soon be a big sister, but time and energy have left you with this. I guess it will have to do. We are SO excited! I am even starting to feel movements now and then, and of course, my tummy is getting poochy.

P.S. We were in Utah

Cough--Cough--Atchoo!

Wow! There's a lot of dust that has settled on this blog. Eleanor and I just got back from a trip to Utah. We left with Grant on the 12th (he flew back last Monday to get back to work). I hadn't been able to blog because I was so busy preparing several different projects for my family in Utah. I couldn't even mention that I would be unavailable for a while because our arrival was planned as a surprise for my dad who celebrated his 60th birthday (and I couldn't blog about it and ruin the whole thing). We had a great time; we didn't even let the cold we all caught right before the trip ruin our fun. I'm looking forward to posting pictures and telling all about it as soon as I get a chance.

Until then, sorry the blog was out of commission for so long.

Carnival!

We went to a carnival at my mom's school last Friday and had so much fun. First, we met my mom in the library, where she was in charge of the silent auction.

They were auctioning off these cute little rocking chairs, so Eleanor decided to play Goldilocks with them and test them all out. She also enjoyed the bear that sat on the chairs for display.

After getting a little food, we started using our tickets. Luckily, Grandma was able to leave the auction in Grandpa's care and come join us. It was fun to let Eleanor try their little challenges, because even if she didn't win, they gave her a candy. In this picture, she's golfing. Check out that form!

Then, she tried bowling. Two gutter balls and one that nudged a pin but didn't knock it over. Oh well.

Spinning the wheel. There was also a little "pond" filled with rubber ducks. The kids just had to reach in and pick one up. If there was a dot on the bottom, they got a prize. If there was no dot, they got a candy. I don't think Eleanor even noticed whether she got a prize or a candy, but she sure liked picking up those ducks. They also had one of those blow up bounce castles for the kids to jump around in, but we avoided that. Eleanor would have been trampled! Grant and I did bingo a few times while Eleanor played with Grandma. Neither of us got bingo, but we still got prizes!

They had a cookie walk that we all tried a few times. Grandma was determined to win, so she did it over and over until she got her granddaughter some cookies! This is Eleanor's "cheese" face.

First taste of cotton candy. Mmmm. Check out all those necklaces she won. She has had so much fun with them here at home. "Necklace" in Eleanor language is pronounced, "neckbrace." I think she gets it mixed up with bracelets.

Grandpa and Grandma with Eleanor. He IS smiling. It's so fun to have grandparents so close!

Grandma and Eleanor doing the fishing game. They visited this spot quite a few times throughout the evening.

Yellow sunglasses, woohoo!

Valentine Fun

We had a fun day on Valentine's Day. We started out with a playdate at the park with Larissa and Briggs. It was a bit cold, but the sun was out. The kids had a great time. Eleanor went down the slide once, and it must have shocked her at the top because she kept saying there was an owie in there and refused to go down again.Larissa and Eleanor.

Eleanor and Briggs.

At first, Eleanor didn't know what to make of this bridge. She kept sitting down on her bottom as if it was a slide. I had to hold her hand to steady her at first, but then she got comfortable with it and was running across. She also liked holding onto the rail and jumping.

Briggs wasn't too fond of the jumping at first, especially when he was trying to walk onto the bridge while the girls were jumping, but he eventually decided to join in.

Jumping. If you look closely, they're all mostly in the air in this one. So cute!

After playing for a while, Briggs went to have lunch with his daddy, and we went to have lunch at Larissa's house and played some more until Eleanor hit her boiling teapot stage of needing a nap.

After a good nap, I let Eleanor open her mail. She got a sweet Valentine card from her grandma and grandpa in Utah. When Daddy came home, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Matthews', and Eleanor got to pick out a treat bag that had bubbles and other goodies. All the other cousins came, and she had fun playing with them.

It was a really fun day. Valentine's Day ended up being more about Eleanor, but that was fine because Grant took me out the night before. Grandma Cline came over to watch Eleanor, and we went out for a nice dinner, just the two of us. I love knowing I have such a sweet Valentine every year!

Self Discipline

Tonight, after a busy evening, we were trying to get Eleanor out of her clothes to put on pajamas. We had managed to remove her shoes, socks, and pants without much protest. When it came time to lift her shirt over her head, she began screaming, fighting and flopping about, all the makings of a good tantrum. Even the offer to let her do it all by herself did not inspire enthusiasm. Finally, exasperated, I asked her if she needed a time-out. This is how things went:

Me: Eleanor, do you need a time-out?
E: (calmly) Uh-huh.
Me: (pointing to her room) Ok, go in there for a time-out.
(She walks to her room and goes in. Grant follows to close the door, but as soon as she is in, she turns and closes it herself. Just after closing it, she fusses and cries for less than 10 seconds. Then, she opens the door and comes out. Grant and I look at each other, skeptical.)
Grant: Ok, are you ready for me to take your shirt off?
E: Uh-huh.
Grant: Hold your arms up.
(She raises her arms pleasantly as Grant removes her shirt.)
Grant: Before we put your bottoms on, why don't you come over here and let me change your diaper.
E: Oh. Sure. (She lies down in front of Grant.)

Grant called her "Dr. Jekyll" for the rest of the evening. I guess all she needed was a time-out, and she knew it.