It's All Fun and Games Until You Get Stuck Under a Chair

"Oh, look, I'm a super cute baby, and I'm playing happily under a chair..."

 

"Dinosaurs!  I love dinosaurs!"

Grayson: Oh no!  I'm stuck!

Austin: Don't worry, baby.  I'll save the day!

 

Austin: It's ok, baby.  I here.  I save you.

And all was good again.

 

04.21.2014

Lots of Cooks in the Kitchen

The boys love to help me in the kitchen.  Our kitchen is not big, and we all end up on top of each other, with the boys sharing one stool, then someone falls off or gets pushed off...I'm not sure which...then one ends up on the counter, with one on the stool, and a baby in my arms, desperately trying to stir and take part in anything we are doing.  So, on this particular evening while I was making dinner, I rolled the boys' kitchen into our kitchen so everyone could cook.  They were so cute about it.  They tucked towels in their pants, just like Daddy, and wore gloves, just like Daddy (when he grills).  Cooper had picked out a recipe book and chose lots of different things he was making.  Grayson was in charge of emptying the cabinets, in their kitchen as well as the tupperware cabinet.  And Austin went between being sous chef and asking me if he could put out the fire in my kitchen. 

 

"Do I look like Daddy?"

04.23.2014

Baby Down! Baby Down!

Let me set the scene for you:  I was in the kitchen; Coop and Austin were playing in the living room; and Grayson was standing at the baby gate at the playroom door (I had put the gate up because there were little toys scattered all around).  Suddenly, I heard a crash and a cry.  I poked my head around the kitchen corner to see Grayson laying under the babygate.  (He was fine, more of a whimper than a cry, really.  Scared him more than anything.)  And just as I was walking over to slide my little guy out from under the gate, I hear Cooper, "Austin, Baby down!  Quick get the stretcher!"  And off they went.  Running to their room and seconds later, running back to the "scene" with the "downed baby," carrying their stretcher.  They had firemen hats on, paramedic gear in hand, and they were ready to save the baby.  In total and complete seriousness.  I stepped back and let the paramedics do their job...while I snapped pictures.

 

 

Grayson quickly went from being a little unsure of what his big brothers were about to do to him, to being a great sport and thinking all this attention was super cool.  Austin and Cooper both, at the same time, put on their stethoscopes and immediately checked Grayson's heart.  They talked to each other and to Grayson in their "worker fireman" voices, because, well, it was very serious business. 

 

Austin was in charge of the shots.

"Mam, I think your baby is going to be ok."

04.22.2014

Cooper's First Race

Cooper  and I signed up for our neighborhood race.  A one-mile Fun Run for him and me, and then a 5K for Grayson and me.  This was Cooper's first race, and I was so excited for him.  He was so excited about getting a medal at the finish line. 

Pre-race!  He was excited to stand at the very front of the start line.

 

Once they said "go!", he took off!  Like a cannon!  I was almost sprinting to keep up with him!  He kept that pace for a good block, and then asked me how much farther.  Hehe.  I reminded him that was had an entire mile, so he might want to slow down a little, which he did.  We only walked a few times throughout the mile, and anytime someone would start to pass us, especially a boy his age(ish) or older, he would take off again, turn back to me and would say, "Come on mom!  Let's go!"  

 

The home stretch--we could see the finish line!  I told Cooper my rule that if you can see the finish line, you can't stop running.  He did great!  Ran his little heart out all the way to the end. 

 Crossing the finish line!!  I was so proud of him!!

 

 His first medal!

 

After the Fun Run, Grayson and I ran the 5K.  It was the first race I've done in way too long, and it felt so good.  I'm really looking forward to doing more races with my boys.  Surely at least one will enjoy running, right?  And to be honest, I got a little teary when Cooper and I finished the race together.  It just meant so much to me that my big guy was doing my thing with me.

 04.26.2014