Everyone feeds himself or herself in our house.

And while that sounds like a simple thing, it's really pretty remarkable!

We have really been working with Lily on her meal habits. About a month ago, I got fed up. Completely fed up. Dinner time was complete misery. Lily wouldn't eat the majority of her food unless we fed it to her. And even then, she wouldn't eat much supper and 30-45 minutes later she'd be all up in our faces crying "I want something" which is code for "I want a snack and I want it to be something good like fruit snacks or cookies or candy or cereal."

So one day, I instituted new rules, no exceptions. We will no longer feed Lily her food. She must feed herself, she's plenty capable. Secondly, she must eat everything on her plate (which by the way isn't ridiculous portions.... nice, realistic amounts of fruit/veggies/protein). If she finishes everything on her plate, she gets a treat (one cookie or one piece of candy). If she doesn't finish her plate, it gets plastic wrap on the top and put in the fridge and if she starts in on "I want something" that plate gets pulled out of the fridge. At least that's the threat, but ever since we started this rule, she EVENTUALLY eats everything on her plate! It takes her a while sometimes, and often I have to remove her plate from the table at least once and put it in the fridge. She'll then scream that she wants candy and I say "No, you didn't eat your food" so she screams to get her plate back. This usually works well if I wait about 2 minutes before getting it back out and then tell her if she gets back in her seat, I'll bring her the plate. Most of the time, she'll then finish her plate so that she can get a piece of candy.

As for Tyler, about a month ago, he really started to show an interest in utensils and would fuss and grunt for someone's fork or spoon. Mostly he just wanted to chew on it and bang it on the table. Then about a week and half ago, he was able to use a spoon to feed himself applesauce, with my help on loading it up.

Then this week, I made the bold move to entrust him with an actual bowl of applesauce on his tray and let him completely feed himself.

And he did great! He didn't throw the bowl full of applesauce on the floor and managed to get about 90% of it in his mouth! Last night, I made the even bolder move to give him a container of strawberry yogurt. I was sure that it was going to end up all down his bib and in his hair (but it was bath night so I told myself to relax.... even if it was in his hair, we could deal with it - I don't know why I get so worked up over messes.... I really need to chill out).   Anyhow, again he did really well and managed to pretty much eat the entire container of yogurt. I think he did a better job than even Lily does with getting out the last few spoonfuls. 

He's so proud of himself!

EEEEEEEEESE.

We had a really gorgeous afternoon today so we let the kiddos carve their pumpkins. 

I tried to get Tyler to dig around in there and get the guts out.

He contemplated it for a second or two, but he wasn't too interested in sticking his hand inside.

 

 

Lily drew the face on her pumpkin and then helped Daddy cut it out.

Tyler held on to that scraper like he might stick his hand in there.....but he never did.  Lily wanted to cut by herself but Daddy said he had to help.

Lily didn't hesitate for a minute before she said she was NOT touching that yucky stuff on the inside.

 

And the finished product!   

I only had to tell Tyler one time to stay out of the seeds we'd pulled out.  And he only tried to take one bite of discarded pumpkin.  He immediately spit it back out.  I guess raw pumpkin doesn't taste that good.

 

It was so nice this afternoon, we played for a while after we finished the pumpkins.

 

 

Photo creds go to Lily on these next shots.

 

Tyler looks petrified.

 

Tyler was really fussy all day yesterday and off and on today.  I don't know what's going on with him.  He is getting 2 more teeth so maybe that's what's bugging him.  Though, I give him teething gel and/or tablets and that doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

Ever since he was sick, his appetite has been suppressed.  It's picked back up a little in the last few days, but with DRAMITICALLY reduced variety.  He won't eat meat of any kind, hardly any vegetables, rarely any breads (crackers or otherwise).  He has been eating the crap out of a cantaloupe that I bought and it's not even a good one!  Occasionally he'll eat peas or a bite or two of banana.  He's been living off of yogurt, out-of-season cantaloupe and applesauce. 

 

Except one night last week, he had been SUPER fussy so we put him to bed around 6:30pm (and he had only eaten about 2 bites of dinner).  A couple hours later he woke up screaming his head off right after Joel and I had made a few chocolate chip cookies (a vice I just can't seem to give up).  Tyler took one look at those cookies and he started grunting and whining and reaching for them!  So I had to share.

 

 

That's chocolate on his face.

 

About 15 minutes later, he was ready to go back to bed!  I guess he just needed a little chocolate fix.  Don't we all?

 

 

He also has no problem eating these "spinach cheddar" Cheeto things.  He dug them out of the diaper bag one evening and went to town.  At least he was offering me one after he got busted.

 

Tyler is still at only 4 words.....well maybe 4.5 words.  Today while we were taking pictures of the pumpkins, we were saying "Say Cheese!"  And of course Lily was pulling a great big "CHEEEEEEEESE" face and Tyler started going "EEEEEEEEEESE."  Too cute.

 

His sign language is going well.  He's very good at doing "more" without me showing him first.  We're trying to get "milk" down but he's not really consistently doing that one.  I'm also doing "eat" but he's not getting that one yet.

 

We got the new stove installed this week!  You'd think that would be the most exciting thing.  But no, it turns out that the BOX that the stove came in was the most exciting thing.  The kids have been playing with that like crazy.  The first couple days, Lily just wanted to be in the box with it all closed up.  Eventually we cut a door and a window in it.  It's slowly starting to lose it's appeal so probably it will go out with the trash at the end of this week.  A fun distraction while it lasted!

 

 

And here's a couple pics from last weekend that I just found on the camera.  Meme and Papaw were giving pony rides.  The kiddos just eat. that. up!

 

 

 

We are pooped out.

What a weekend!  I feel like we haven't stopped moving for days.  I feel like I went shopping 47 different times.  I went with just Lily once for clothes, by myself a couple times for miscellaneous items, with both kids to the outlet mall for shoes for Tyler and a shirt for Lily for pictures, to Lowe's about 3 times, to Walmart I think twice.  We did about 6-7 loads of laundry - I lost track. 

We've had major progress on the kitchen renovation....I'll post pictures in a few weeks when it's completely done.  Thanks to Meme and Papaw's babysitting yesterday, Joel and I could go shopping kid-free and get everything purchased or ordered.  Joel then spent a lot of the rest of the weekend installing things.  He's one handy feller.  I think I'll keep him.

Today we spent the afternoon taking pictures in the park for Tyler's one year milestone.  He's 13.5 months.  Poor planning on my part to get it scheduled with Aunt Ree closer to his actual birthday.  Better late than never though! 

Meme and Papaw came to help entertain the natives and witness the mayhem that is photo shoot day.  Here are a couple snapshots I took from Meme's camera.  Marie's pictures to come at a later date!  We took some of the whole family first.

Joel and I were reviewing the pics on Marie's camera......

While Tyler was getting his solo pictures done, Lily was living it up on the playground.

Tyler had a little fun on the playground too.  Swinging with Auntie Ree.

When we got home, Lily was giving Meme a makeover.  I really love what she did with Meme's makeup.  Very classy application of lipstick. 

 

 

My Little Work Helper

Tyler has had a mild fever (100.0 +/- 0.5 degrees) since Wednesday afternoon.  I stayed home with him yesterday and today so that he could get some rest since he doesn't sleep very well at daycare.

 

When he wasn't sleeping, he was fussy. Today he wanted to sit on my lap (and bang on the keys of my computer).  Luckily he slept a lot this afternoon so I could get some work done!

 

In other developmental news, we've been working on sign language with him.  We had long since abandoned sign language with by this age.... but Lily was up to nearly 100 words by now.  Tyler's still at 4 and really he doesn't even use those 4 words that often.  But, he seems to be picking up on the sign language really well!  Today, unprompted he signed "more" during lunch when I was feeding him yogurt.  When he appeared to be done eating I asked him if he was "all done."  Then I tried to give him another bite and he shook his head no and did the "all done" sign.  Tonight at dinner, Lily hollers, "Look!  He's doing milk!"  Sure enough, he was making the milk sign, although we think it was just a coincidence because he didn't actually want his milk.  We'll have to keep trying that one because he'll probably catch on to it pretty quickly.  

 

Tonight, Lily was "super super duper duper DUPER" cute!  (That was one of her favorite things to say tonight.)  She was all wound up and talking, talking, talking non-stop.  She was playing pretend about 47 different things and I could hardly keep up with her.  She was "shopping" and "going swimming" and putting Diego in time out for hitting Ellie and she was getting candy for everyone and serving it out of empty shoe boxes. 

 

I didn't take any pictures of Lily tonight, so here's one from a week or so ago in her Doctor coat.

 

 

Fall Festival, (15 year reunion), Holiday World, Pumpkin Patch

This past weekend, we headed to Evansville because it was Fall Festival time and my 15 year high school reunion was happening.  I can't believe it but I didn't take ANY pictures of the reunion festivities.  Which is such a shame because I looked hot.  H-O-T hot.  Just sayin'.....

We hit up the Fall Festival twice..... a pregnant ladies dream world (not me) and a dieting woman's WORST NIGHTMARE (yep, that's me).  My prediction going in to the long weekend was a gain of 6 pounds.  I was close.  I gained 5.4 pounds.  In 3.5 days.  And the sad part is, I really held back!  I didn't even eat everything I wanted (or have eaten in years past....).  Sigh. 

We took the kiddos to the pet parade on Saturday morning.  The paper said the parade started at 9 so we got there about 8:30 to get a seat.  The parade didn't start until after 10:00 so you can imagine the natives were getting restless and it was a bit challenging to keep them entertained.  So we took lots of pictures to pass the time!

We walked around a bit.

We melted down a little bit...

We hung out on Daddy's shoulders.

Grams was walking/running/dancing/spinning/singing up and down the street with Lily.

And FINALLY, it was time for the parade to start!!

The kiddos were very excited to see Elmo....

And a whole crew of Duck Dynasties impersonators.....

All that waiting and the parade lasted approximately 10 minutes.  Sigh....it's worth it, right?? 

After the parade was over we got some grub.  Tyler of course ate EVERYTHING.  Lily had some corn on the cob and we convinced her to try a corn fritter by telling her it was a pancake.  And then we convinced her to try a Monster Ear by telling her it was a donut.  And she tried a deep fried Oreo, well because it was an Oreo.  No convincing needed.  And now you can see how I gained 5.4 pounds in 3.5 days.  Ha!

On Sunday, we made a stop at Holiday World for Happy Halloween Weekend since we still had some free tickets. 

We met up with Grams, Katie, Brandon, Ayden (Minion #1) and Mackenzie  (Minion #2).

First up, the carousel.  Lily wouldn't have anything to do with it.  Screamed her head off - so she and I sat that one out.  Joel took Tyler on the ride.  I think Tyler was ok until the carousel got up to speed and then he was over it.

Lovins for Grams!

Then we hit up the Fairy Tale choo choo train.  Again, Lily screamed her head off and DID NOT want to ride it.  But I dragged her (literally kicking and screaming) on to the train.  Once she found out that she would see Humpty Dumpty and Little Bo Peep, she calmed down a little.

Next up:  Tea Cups!

And the playground!

And for the one brave little soul, the roller coaster!

And then the Jeeps.

And then, the moment Lily was waiting for all day: Trick or Treating!  She started out the day dressed as Doc McStuffins, but had to strip down due to the heat before we got to the Trick or Treating.  That girl was IN to it.  She was saying "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you" every time.  So cute.

Tyler had pretty much been ready to leave for, oh, two hours, so as soon as we finished getting the goodies, we hit the road!

Today was pumpkin patch day with the kids' daycare.  Lily has been looking forward to it for a week!  Tyler got to go too!  We went to Hackman's where we learned about all kinds of weird pumpkins, squash and gourds.

They had several animals there for petting.  Lily really loved looking at the animals but she was NOT interested in touching them.  Tyler on the other hand wanted to pet everything!

Trying to take their picture together, in a posed fashion, is like hunting for unicorns.  Completely fruitless, never gonna be successful.

There was an attempt to get a group shot of all the daycare kiddos.  I took about 17 pictures and this was the best shot. 

This pumpkin patch had not only a corn maze (which wasn't really a maze so much as a REALLY LONG trail through some corn) but also a small hay bale maze.  Lily thought it was a real hoot!

And finally, time for the hayride to find our pumpkins!