Toothbrushes, Ninjas, and Dog treats...Oh My!

What you need to know is that I have 'written' some really good blog posts: in my car, at the post office, in the pediatrician's office, in the shower...the problem is they just never make it onto my computer. I think this might be a sign that I need (wink) one of those snazzy new Bl*ckberry phones, but I am not sure.

The reality is that I have a lot to say and feel a bit overwhelmed at what it takes to get it all out. I have lots of stories to tell and confessions to make. I have questions to ask and things I simply just want to get off my chest. I am not good at taking "just a quick minute" to do much of anything--but these days, quick minutes are really all I have. Here is why:



I am not sure if you can see them all, but there are 12 toothbrushes in this cup. This is not staged. These are really all in my bathroom, our ONLY bathroom. And praise the Lord there are not 12 of us sharing it, BUT IT SURE SEEMS LIKE IT! When I walked into the bathroom today with tub toys, a towel, some dirty undies (not mine however), a hairband, and a few other things, I noticed the toothbrush cup. I grabbed my camera right away because it was the perfect picture of what our life feels like...like 12 people sharing a teeny, tiny bathroom!

In all honesty, things are going great. Ivan is growing and learning and laughing a lot. What he has not been doing a ton of is sleeping. But the last 2 nights have been a bit better. Oh, there is such a story to tell about how all of this started...it will make it here in the next few days...but tonight I will simply say that he is sleeping better again...Hallelujah!

So much has happened since I last wrote. So much. Here are a few of the updates and highlights:

• Ivan LOVES grape tomatoes. This is what happens if you don't keep your eye on the refrigerator to make certain that is closes all the way. I promise, he is like a ninja...he appears out of nowhere and then...
  

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(What you do not see here is a kitchen floor filled with spilled grape tomatoes...nope, not this time...Mommy has learned!)

• Ivan has a strong affection for airplanes. He hears them and throws his head back to see way up in the sky. He spreads out his arms and sways his little body. It is precious.

• Ivan also likes the swing-set. A lot. And he is not at all afraid of the ladder or the slide. Well, maybe now he is little afraid of the slide because that super cute gray sleeper from the refrigerator picture goes REALLY fast down the slide.

• He sings and dances when he hears music. (You should picture his arms slightly raised and his little legs bouncing...a bit like the "raise the roof" move, but with a little less rhythm!)

• Although Ivan has plenty of foods he likes, he is far more interested in feeding our dog.
  

• Speaking of the dog, the other day while I was helping Barrett and Maggie with homework, I heard a package rustling around the corner. Noticing that the little ninja master was out of sight, I whipped around the counter to find Ivan with a bag of dog treats. With wide-eyed shock that he had been found, Ivan pulled a dog treat out of his own mouth and gave it straight to our dog...a match made in heaven!

• His laugh still makes us all laugh and that smile...oh that smile!

There will be more stories and photos in coming days...I promise. But for now I need to go figure out WHO is using all of those toothbrushes...