Cute Face Bradley and Eleanor Climbs More Things

We've had a couple of sad, sick kiddos in mid February which was just the pits. Poor Eleanor got her first ear infection but after we made a romantic visit to Urgent Care on Valentine's Day evening (complete with bringing along Grandma Colleen and Kerry as reinforcements) we got her sorted out and both kids were soon on the mend.

Grandma reading time! The best time!

Stamps with Kerry, such fun!

Fun note: when a clingy child gets sick they basically attach themselves to your chest and don't want to be anywhere else ever. My favorite part was how both of my hands were required to be on her at all times as well, if I tried to look at something on my phone she would try to whack at the phone and then would grab my arm and bring it back to its proper place around her. A bit ridiculous to be sure.

 Or she would sit on my belly in a pinch. Poor baby Patrick.

Or desperately looking for me if Daddy managed to get her downstairs for a few minutes. 

Or falling asleep during meals because sleep at night was so bad. Poor little sweetie. 

Thankfully, we still had fun with Grandma Colleen and Kerry although they really didn't see much of Eleanor while they were here. We went back to the Prairie Fire Museum with them and Bradley had a blast exploring the Discovery Room with grandparents and Daddy. 

We got Eleanor in the room briefly at least.

And the grandparents even brought materials for a gourd birdhouse for Bradley. The kid had a blast painting it, such fun crafts with grandparents!

One thing that we discovered during the time of sickness was that Bradley had lost all tolerance for being told when to use the bathroom and we were forced to leave potty time decision making to the toddler. Which means that potty time dances have become a regular part of our daily routine now.

Me: "Bradley ... you're doing a dance, are you sure you don't need to go potty?
Bradley: Squirming around manically "No! No. No!"
Me: "Okay ... just let me know if you need to go. I will go with you. You get two M&M's!"
Bradley: "A blue one! And a red one!"
Me: "Sure, fine, yes, let's go"
After a few more minutes of dancing the boy allows himself to be led into the bathroom so he can do his business.
Eleanor: Lurking outside the bathroom "Boo one! Red one!" while holding up one finger because she knows she gets one M&M whenever Bradley goes to the bathroom and she behaves herself while I'm helping him. Yes, in order for potty training to work both of my children must get bribes. I recommend buying stock in whichever candy company owns M&M's.

Since there has been more angst lately I've been working on getting Bradley to make his "cute face" instead of crying and whining when he wants something. He tries it out a reasonable amount of the time and it is pretty darn effective on me. 

He's kind of my little guy right now too. He goes back and forth between Mommy and Daddy phases and I'm really enjoying some of the benefits of lots of Bradley attention at the moment. I get to hear exciting secrets!

We also watched a ton of shows while the kids were sick and I have never been so happy that the kids watch little enough tv on a regular basis that when they're allowed to watch basically unlimited amounts of shows they are happy little zombies. However, watching non scary shows remains a concern, Bradley insisted on wearing noise canceling headphones for My Neighbor Totoro because the "big guy" growls really loudly a few times over the course of the movie. Adorable.

Bradley had recently learned the value of the noise canceling headphones when Nathan took him to a monster truck show with a few of his work friends and their kids. Bradley was talking about the dragon that breathed fire for weeks afterward.

We're very happy to be back to a healthy household and I took the kids to Target on our first healthy day because we needed more bathroom supplies and I desperately needed to get out of the house. They have a Starbucks in the store so I even got the kids tiny flavored steamer drinks, which I recommend to any parent. Steamed milk spilling on clothes is so much nicer than hot cocoa spills.

And thank goodness we don't have to sit and watch shows all day anymore. I love when I'm busy working on something and leave the kids to their own devices. The games that they come up with are so great.

Bradley "fishing" with some pipe cleaner and a ball

Another ball is blocking the train track

Eleanor is ... being Eleanor

Bradley is in time out for doing something naughty. You can see how he suffers.

In his "boat" with car track oars. Eleanor is in charge of navigation.

Playing with little grape vines. There was adventure and a lot of conversation. Why do I buy him real toys?

Speaking of real toys, Bradley said he needed a hammer so I immediately looked on craigslist and we got him this ... might be overkill but they love it!

However, tv cuddles still remain pretty darn cute.

Bradley pays the foot no mind

And when he does find it there are many kisses and it's Eleanor's turn to ignore what is going on

"Protecting" Eleanor during the Snow Monster episode of Paw Patrol

Snow Monster!

Our love for monsters has only grown in the last few weeks

We go to a local playgroup every now and then and a couple weeks back they foolishly thought it would be a good idea to leave little bells out for the children to play with.

One thing I love about Bradley is that he may protest bitterly if another child tries to take one of his toys but as soon as Eleanor shows up he happily hands one of his cherished toys to her and there is great joy for both children. It would be nice if we were a little more kind to new kids but between being nice to strangers and nice to little sister I choose little sister every time. 

An Eleanor that feels better is both an adorable and frightening thing to behold

 Bradley may be adorable talking about flying like a birdie but Eleanor knows how to steal the show

Bradley hugs!

 Insisting she knows how to operate the remote control.

We've gotten outside a bit more lately thanks to some warm days and Eleanor not only feels better but she's a scary daredevil.

Big kid swing!

Bradley doesn't think this stick is big enough

 Oh yes, and she decided that at 20 months she can climb some of the very tall ladders on her own now.

Luckily for me, I have a helper to make sure she stays safe. He also likes to catch her when she goes down the slide and laughs hysterically when she runs into him and knocks him over. He's so proud of his maniac sister.

We had a bit of excitement over this past weekend when the furnace stopped working and the house got down to 50 degrees a couple of nights while we got things sorted out. Fortunately we have nice space heaters that kept the kids' bedrooms up to temperature and fortunately this happened before the baby arrived. Everything that is a hassle (sick kids, broken furnace, etc) needs to happen in the next two months because after that all must be ease and perfection while we adapt to having a third little Scott child. I think that will be excitement enough! 

I love Bradley and Eleanor chatter. Much of the time it's Eleanor telling Bradley off "NO Badley!" but lately it's been cuter and cuter with her asking for favorite stuffed toys and Bradley bringing them to her. "Kitty!" "Okay baby Ellnor, I bing you kitty" "Tank yuu!" "You're welcome!" They either ask for a show or for each other when they wake up from naps.

Here they are playing with the fun flashlights that Daddy got out for them the other night.

And we continue to prepare for baby Patrick.

I showed them my big tummy so they showed me their big tummies.

Feeding a baby.

Walking around sweetly holding and cuddling a baby. And then calling the baby his "strawberry" and pretending to eat it ... oh dear.

Eleanor has also developed a fake cry in the last few weeks that Nathan and I kindly call her Tarzan or George of the Jungle cry because it sounds like she should be in the jungle swinging from a vine when she breaks out the false tears. Poor thing, can't get any respect around here.

Toddler bums!

But don't worry, she gets even. She continues to poo during bath time at least half of the time we put them in the bath. And she does not feel sorry for doing so. Sigh.

Look at this face. She gets away with so much.