Conversations

Our Easter Announcement

2014-04-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

This year for Easter the grandparents each received a basket with a SURPRISE in the bottom!

...So yes, we are having another baby!

And, if you ask Martin the real feat in this situation is that I actually made it over TEN WEEKS without telling anyone. I've never known myself to be so secretive!

I'm eleven weeks today!

Rock and Roll

2014-04-11T08:44:00.000-04:00

Aubrey: Mom, this is a Rock and Roll Song! Sing with me!
Aubrey: (as loud as she possible can. Over and over for the duration of the song) ROCK AND ROLL! ROCK AND ROLL! ROCK AND ROLL!

Construction

2014-04-10T08:42:00.001-04:00

Aubrey: Mommy, where are we going?
Me: To grandma's house. The bridge is out on our road so we have to ALL the way around the long way to get to her house.
Aubrey: (pause) Mom! I got an idea! When we get to grandma's house I can get my tools and then I can help fix the bridge! That way we can drive down the road!
Me: Ok, that sounds like a great idea, Aubrey.

arriving at my mom's house.

Aubrey: Great Grandpa Leclair! We need to go get my tools so I can help fix the bridge!
GGL: I think you're going to need some machines to fix that bridge.
Aubrey: I know! My tools are machines!

Potty Dance

2014-04-03T21:45:00.000-04:00

Aubrey: (dancing around)
Me: Are you okay, Aubrey.
Aubrey: Yeah. I just have to go potty. Don't you know the potty dance, mom? This is the dance you do when you have to go potty.

Frozen

2014-04-02T21:43:00.000-04:00

within two minutes of Aubrey and Karalyn sitting down to eat dinner.

Aubrey: So, have you seen FROZEN???

some sort of conversation takes place, obviously resulting in a miscommunication, because not two minutes later.

Karalyn: (to Katie) Mommy, can you turn Frozen on? Aubrey hasn't seen it!

That movie is taking the toddler population by storm!

Freezing

2014-04-01T21:40:00.000-04:00

Me: Aubrey, can you please put a coat on?
Aubrey: I don't want to wear a coat!
Me: Well, it's cold outside. If you don't wear a coat you're going to freeze your butt off!
Aubrey: Oh no! And then I'll never be able to go potty again!

That would be one terrible side effect of freezing your butt off.

One, Two, Three and to the Fo'

2014-03-31T21:37:00.002-04:00

Aubrey: Ring around the rosy, pocket full of posies. .....We all FALL DOWN!
Martin: Hey Aubrey, how about you sing this song: One, Two, Three and to the Four. Snoop Doggy Dog and Dr. Dre are at the door!
Aubrey: Daddy, No! I don't want to sing that song!
Martin: Come on! Don't you want to sing the counting song?
Aubrey: Daddy, no.
Martin: Do you want mommy to sing?
Aubrey: Yeah!
Martin/Me: One, Two, Three and to the Four. Snoop Doggy Dog and Dr. Dre are at the door.
Aubrey: No! Not that song! The ring around the rosy song!
Martin: Don't you want to learn the puppy song?
Aubrey: Daddy, no!
Martin: This is so frustrating. It's like she knows it's not a kids song!

Some of the bigger trials of parenting...obviously

My New Favorite Song

2014-03-26T19:38:00.002-04:00

This is my new favorite song...its called Thunder Clatter by Wild Cub and it's Amazing! It's the type of song that really just warms my heart every time I hear it on the radio.

PS. I'm not actually that great with music but I've been listening to 107.7 pretty exclusively lately and they have GREAT music. If you live in the Rochester or Buffalo area you should definitely check it out!

You Know That Song

2014-03-16T17:36:00.000-04:00

Shortly after a reunion of college roomates in the Baltimore airport

Amanda: So. I keep thinking about this song. I think you guys would really like it. .....Do you know what song I'm talking about???
Katie: What? No. Not based on that description.
Amanda: Well. It could be a line dance or it could be played at a rave. I can really see Jenna dancing to it. Do you know what song I'm talking about????
All of us: No. Definitely not. Try to sing some of it.
Amanda: Da. daaa. I can't really think of the tune. You know! It could be at a rave OR a line dance!
All of us: We have no idea.
Zach: (starts searching for top forty songs on his phone and randomly calling off names)
Amanda: I think its a girl that sings it. It could be at a rave or a line dance.

Two days later driving down red dirt roads in Georgia:

Ginny: Hey, I think this is the song Amanda was talking about!

And it was.

Post Wedding Trantrum

2014-03-15T15:48:00.000-04:00

Me: Ok, Katie. It's time to leave. The wedding is over and our shuttle is leaving.

Katie: I don't want to leave. I want to keep dancing!

Me: Yeah. I know. But we're leaving. Come on.

Katie: I just want everyone to know that I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS DECISION!

back at the cabin.

Katie: I want to keep partying! I want to dance!

Me/Ginny: We'll stay up and hang out. But I'm pretty sure we're done partying.

Katie: I want to party! You guys are lame!

Me: I think you're being a little dramatic.

Katie: I want to be dramatic! I AM BEING DRAMATIC LIKE AUBREY!

Me: You've got to be kidding me (walks away into bathroom)

Katie: Oh fine! Walk away from me! You're lame!

Katie: They are having a party at the cabin next door. I'm going to go over there with those cool people!

Me: Bye Katie!

Ginny: Are you going to let her go there?

Me: She'll be back in five minutes.

...less than five minutes later

Katie: I did not fit in to that party.

...Katie, we love you! Also, you know you're in a good place when you're legitimately comparing yourself to a three year old.

Spirit Animal

2014-03-14T15:38:00.000-04:00

Server: Hi, My name is Brandon. I'm going to be your server today.
Ingrid: What is your middle name Brandon
Brandon: Umm, people don't usually ask that. It's Joseph
Ingrid: That is solid
Brandon: Most of my friends call me BJ. You know, Brandon Joseph
Me: They do not call you BJ! Do you know that that means?!
Jolene: I'm pretty sure he knows what it means
BJ: Yeah. I like it. It's a good nickname.
Ingrid: Ok. BJ.....what is your spirit animal?
BJ: My spirit animal...
Me: I'm thinking maybe Falcon
Ingrid: No, he's definitely a meerkat. I definitely see meerkat. Don't you?
BJ: Ummm.... I guess I could be a meerkat.

End of meal. At this point we know a lot about BJ. His nickname. College major. Dream job. Dream place to live. That he's the best man in his brother's wedding. That he likes to play mud volleyball while drinking. That he is 24. That he despises dark chocolate. Probably a few other things that I don't remember at this point.

BJ: Ok, with your bill I'm going to put a little survey card. You can go online and complete the survey. There are some questions about me also. I put my name on the back of the card. I actually put BJ. Normally I put Brandon because I don't usually get so personal with my guests.

Got to Go Check Something

2014-03-13T15:30:00.001-04:00

Aubrey: (walks by Ingrid)
Ingrid: Aubrey, did you just fart?
Aubrey: (smirking, sheepishly) Yessss.

...a few minutes later

Aubrey: (walks by Ingrid)
Ingrid: Aubrey, did you fart again??
Aubrey: (sheepishly, smirking) Yesss.
Me: Aubrey, did you fart or did you forget to wipe your butt?
Aubrey: (pause) Ummm....I just got to go check something

From the bathroom...
Aubrey: uh, MOM. We're gonna need some new underwear in here.

....
within 30 minutes

Aubrey: (exits bathroom)
Me: Aubrey, did you wipe your butt??
Aubrey: (annoyed) Yes Mom!
Me: Did you wash your hands?
Aubrey: (pause) I just have to go do something.

Frustrating

2014-02-21T07:45:00.001-05:00

Aubrey is going through a very frustrating age where everything is a fight. Our interactions are either incredible or teetering somewhere between slightly frustrating to I want to die. There is no baseline. No happy medium. It's all poles around here. A few recent screams from my toddlers during a few of our many recent arguments

Aubrey: I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A BATH! I WANT TO BE DIRTY FOREVER!!
Me: Aubrey, you need to get clean. I don't really care what you want.
Aubrey: GET ME DIRTY AGAIN! GET ME DIRTY AGAIN, NOW!
Me: If you want to get dirty you'll have to get yourself dirty (leaves Aubrey standing alone, and naked in the shower which is now turned off)
Aubrey: (for probably 15 minutes): I WANT YOU TO GET ME DIRTY! I DON'T WANT TO GET MYSELF DIRTY! GET ME DIRTY! YOU'RE RUINING MY DAY!

...

Me: Ok Aubrey, let's put your coat on and go home.
Aubrey: I DON'T WANT TO WEAR A COAT.
Me: Aubrey, it's cold outside and it's winter. You have to wear a coat.
Aubrey: I DON'T WANT TO WEAR A COAT!
Me: Aubrey, Daddy was going to bring you home a chocolate milk tonight, do you still want him to do that?
Aubrey: Yes.
Me: Then you have to be a good girl and cooperate and put your coat on.
Aubrey: I DON'T WANT CHOCOLATE MILK! I DON'T WANT TO PUT MY COAT ON!
Me: Aubrey, what did I say this morning? I don't want everything to be a fight with you.
Aubrey: I WANT EVERYTHING TO BE A FIGHT!!!

...

There's so many more - I can't even put them all into words. I'd show you a video, but it'd hurt your ears.

Three...whoever coined the phrase terrible twos clearly wasn't parenting my child.

Random Acts of Kindness

2014-02-14T20:12:00.000-05:00

Me: It must have snowed last light because there is snow on the road, but there isn't any on my car so I think it all blew off.
Lexy: Yeah, I had about two inches on my car.

...A couple days later....

I FINALLY realize that the reason the snow keeps "blowing" off my car before I wake up is because Martin is brushing it off when he leaves in the morning.

Me: Martin, are you brushing my car off in the morning?!
Martin: Of course, you my girl.
Me: That is so amazing! I can't believe I didn't thank you for this sooner!

...And that sums up why I am the easiest person to surprise. period.

Time

2014-02-12T20:20:00.000-05:00

Me: You remember I'm working late tonight and you need to pick the girls up by 7:30, right?
Martin: Yeah. We've been doing really well lately. You can tell your mom that I might surprise everyone and be early!
Me: Yeah......I'm not going to do that.

hours later, just before 7:30

Me: So you're going to get the girls.
Martin: Yeah. I'm driving through Shelby right now.
Me: Oh, so you're going to surprise no one and be late.
Martin: Yeah... maybe by the time we hit our fiftieth wedding anniversary I'll have figured time management out. Sometimes even as I hear myself talk I think what am I thinking??

You Rock, Dude

2014-02-11T20:10:00.000-05:00

Me: (putting toilet paper under the sink in the bathroom)

Aubrey: Mom, thanks for getting us that stuff. We totally needed it. You rock, dude!

Sick

2014-02-10T20:08:00.000-05:00

Aubrey: Mommy, I REALLY don't want to be sick anymore!
Me: I know, honey. I really want you to feel better too.
Aubrey: I really want to get better so I can drink the green milk Grandma got for me!

Bad For Your Body

2014-02-09T20:07:00.001-05:00

Aubrey: (pointing the soda my niece has brought for us to share) Mom, you should drink that stuff. That stuff is bad for your body.

The next morning, soda still sitting on the table

Aubrey: Mom. this stuff is bad for your body. You shouldn't drink it.
Me: You are right, Aubrey. It is bad.
Aubrey: Yeah. You can drink either milk or water. Milk comes from the cows and water comes from the sink.....Or should I say, from the water tower?

Cultured

2014-01-30T13:38:00.000-05:00

Me: Ugh. These blankets are all messed up. They're not even covering your whole body!
Martin: Well, fix them if you want. I'm just going to lay here.
Me: Ok.......let's start from the very beginning.
Martin: (to musical tune) It's a very good place to start.
-pause-
Martin: You should be impressed with how cultured I am
Me: What? Cause you've seen the Sound of Music
Martin: I don't think very many people would sing that so quickly.

The Sword in the Stone

2014-01-29T13:35:00.000-05:00

Dental Hygienist: What is your favorite movie, Aubrey?
Aubrey: Well..... the BESTEST movie ever is.....THE SWORD IN THE STONE!
Dental Hygienist: Really. Wow. That's a different one.

...

Aubrey: That is my sister. Her name is Sylvia.
Dental Hygienist: Oh, do you like to play with your sister?
Aubrey: Yeah. We played in my room for a little bit and then we came here
Dental Hygienist: What do you like to play with your sister? Do you like to play with dolls?
Aubrey: Well....actually.....I really like to play with my blocks.
Dental Hygienist: Oh! What do you like to build with your blocks
Aubrey: I build a REALLY TALL TOWER!
Dental Hygienist: Do you build a tower so tall until it falls over?
Aubrey: No.....actually.....Sylvia knocks my tower over.
Dental Hygienist: Well that's what little sisters are for, huh?

...

Aubrey: Mom, are we coming back to the dentist tomorrow?
Me: No, not tomorrow.
Random person in waiting room: Probably in six months.
Aubrey: Then where are we going tomorrow?
Me: Well, you're going to go to grandma's tomorrow
Aubrey: (to random person in waiting room): I am not going to come back here tomorrow. I am going to go to my grandma's house tomorrow.
Random person in waiting room: Oh, that will be fun
Aubrey: Yeah, it is going to be SO MUCH FUN!

I Spy

2014-01-28T13:27:00.000-05:00

Me: I spy something......white.
Aubrey: Hmm.......oh! I know! Sylvia's Sock!
Me: That is white, but that's not what I'm spying. What else?
Aubrey: Mom! It's Sylvia's sock!
Me: That's not what I spy. What else is white?
Aubrey: Mom! I said it's Sylvia's sock!!
Me: What about my mitten? Is my mitten white?
Aubrey: Mom! I said it's Sylvia's sock! It is not your mitten! I said Sylvia's sock!
Me: I know Sylvia's sock is white, but that is not what I was spying.
Aubrey: I don't want to play this game with you anymore. You are not really good at this game.

Briefcase

2014-01-27T13:46:00.000-05:00

Martin: I am a business professional. I don't know if you realize this, but I have A BRIEFCASE.
Me: That's not a briefcase, that's a children's hard case lunchbox.
Martin: It's not about what it IS. It's about what's INSIDE.
Me: Ha! Ok, what's inside?
Martin: Paperwork. And my phone charger. The charger that I use to charge the phone that I use to network with other young industry professionals.
Me: Hmm. You might have a point. What kind of paperwork do you have?
Martin: My log book. And a day planner........and sometimes my wallet.

-pause-

Martin: Ok, well that might technically qualify it as a purse.
Me: Yeah, I was going to say - that's almost exactly what I have in my purse.
Martin: Well. For one fleeting moment I REALLY had a briefcase.

Alarm Clock

2014-01-26T08:00:00.003-05:00

*Thursday Morning*

Martin: So I've been doing this thing with Aubrey when I put her to bed. I can't believe how well it is working
Me: What are you doing?
Martin: Well, I put her to bed and she always says 'I want you to sleep with me'. So lately, the last seven times or so, I've said OK and then I lay down for a second and then I say 'Oh no! Daddy has to go set his alarm. I'll be right back!' And then I don't come back and she falls asleep.
Me: Ha!

*Thursday night*

Me: (waking Martin up in Aubrey's bed) Martin, wake up! Come on. Come to our bed. You're in Aubrey's bed.
Martin: Where is the alarm clock?
Me: Your phone is sitting on our bedside table. I just saw it.
-we walk to our room -
Martin: No. Aubrey took my alarm clock.
Me: What?
Martin: I did the alarm clock thing with her. And then I went downstairs for a little bit and then I came back up to take a shower. I was just in the shower and Aubrey opened the door telling me she couldn't sleep. I sent her back to bed and told her I'd be right there. When I got out of the shower Aubrey was sitting up in her bed. She had pulled the alarm clock out of my wall and dragged it to her bedroom.
Aubrey: Daddy! I got the alarm clock so now we can go to bed!

Ice

2014-01-24T03:59:00.000-05:00

Martin: (curling up into bed) Brrr. I am freezing.
Me: (lays into bed and attempts to rub chest with hands)
Martin: Ahhh! What are you doing???
Me: Oh. I was trying to warm you up. I forgot my hands are like icicles.
Martin: Ha. It's like its opposite day or something. Usually your the one yelling at me for cold hands. Except usually my hands are cold from being outside. Yours are cold because of some weird, hereditary circulation problem.

Small Crush

2014-01-23T03:54:00.000-05:00

Aubrey: I can't wait 'till Cory and the cows see my nails!

....

Aubrey: Are we all done milking?
Me: Yep. Now we just have to clean up.
Aubrey: Yeah. And then we will be all done and Cory will be sooo happy!

....

Aubrey: I think that Sylvia can't wait to see Cory.