What a difference no commute makes!

This video doesn't do it justice because I started filming late but it fills my heart with joy to see how excited Caleb is to see Matthew! The move to Nebraska gave us lots more time with Matthew including the occasional lunch date! His commute in dc was an hour and 15 min each way, sometimes longer. Now it's 20 minute each way. It's amazing. I can't describe it. Caleb has a level of excitement to see Matthew that Addison never had and I think it's because of the commute. Below is a video of Caleb and I meeting Matthew for lunch.

Electric Guitar Dancing

Caleb loves to cut a rug, especially when it's electric guitar! Check out his moves below and how he politely says and signs "peeeeaaasss" when the guitar sound changes. Maybe there is hope for Caleb to inherit Matthew's musical ability vs my lack of ability!

Addison Reading Cinderella

So it isn't just "The Lorax" that Addison can "read" aka memorize. Her memory continues to astound me.

Part one
(my phone rang so it stopped recording for a second)

Part two

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom: Shirtless Meals

I see many of my fellow mom's posting pictures of the sweet little ones eating and often they are shirtless.  When Addison was a young toddler I would wonder why this was--were they hot?  Were they THAT messy?  Was it just before bathtime?  I finally learned that most of my mom friends did this because even though their child wore a bib, they were still messy.  Messy, WITH a bib on?  How is that possible I thought?  Then there was my Addison....the child who always does things differently than the norm.  Of course I had no idea how abnormal she was until I had a normal, messy, toddler.  (Please do no misunderstand me, abnormal is wonderful--I am not complaining).

Addison has always been a fairly neat eater.  It may fall around the edges of her plate, but rarely has it ever gotten much on her shirt or bib on an everyday basis.  Even before 12 months she was not messy.  So as I said--I wondered, why the shirtless meals?

Enter my sweet Caleb.  Oh my dearest little Caleb.  I have learned why shirtless meals make sense...his sleeves and even pants are covered in anything he eats.  Every.  Single.  Meal.  Well today is the last day he will stain the sleeves of a shirt.  He will be eating in a short sleeved onesie until summer---then we go shirtless.

All you moms out there feeding shirtless, I commend you for figuring this out sooner than me.  I confess, I was a little slow to figure this one out :)

Sun Catchers

In Addison's Highlight's Magazine, they had a cute, easy and FREE little art project idea--An Umbrella Sun Catcher.  It doesn't "catch" much sun it was fun to make and fun to admire!

Supplies:

• Coffee filters
• Washable markers
• Spray bottle of water
• Glue stick
• Bathtub crayons

Steps:

1. Cut coffee filters in half to look like an umbrella.
2. Using markers decorate/color the filters.
3. Spray with water bottle.
4. Allow to dry completely (doesn't take long).
5. Using the glue stick glue umbrellas on a window/glass door.
6. Add rain and umbrella handles with the bath tub crayon.  I only had orange, but blue would be neat for the rain!

Addison did these umbrella handles all by herself!