Augie started crawling a bit this week.  Well, not exactly crawling but he will shove his face onto the ground and then pull with his hands and push with his feet with all of his might to try and inch his way to what he wants.  I realized as I was trying to videotape his new skill why he may be a bit behind in learning to crawl:  it is nearly impossible to keep Elek and B away from him when he is on the floor!  They are drawn to that baby like a magnet and they love smothering him with kisses, hugs, and toys.  Which is great and all, but it means that I am far more likely to let him chill in his walker while I'm doing the dishes than I am to leave him on the floor to practice his gross motor skills.

Andrew has been working on teaching Augie to "clap" on command and today we were absolutely sure that he really got it.  This morning before work Andrew asked him to clap and he did!  He did it for me throughout the day as well.  He has also demonstrated that he knows that "splash" means while in the tub :)

Took the kids to the park today.  Usually I wear Augie in the ergo when we are out and about, pushing him in the swing every so often.  But today I could tell he really wanted to get down and explore so I put him down in the grass and he LOVED it.  It was so neat watching him enjoy the new sensory experience of running his fingers through the grass.  You could see that initial hesitation about touching a new type of material but he was soon, of course, hooked.

The other day in the car Beata and I were talking about different Disney princess movies.  She asked what the prince's name was in Snow White and I said I didn't know but and then went on to explain that the Evil Witch cast a spell which said that only true love's kiss could wake Snow White from a deep sleep.  Then Beata got very excited and said, "Mom, that's the prince's name!!!"
"What, B?"
"That's the Prince's name from Snow White, mom! His name is "True Love's Kiss!!"
Too cute!

All 3 kids have had a cold for about two weeks now.  At this point Elek and B just have lingering junky coughs but Augie seems to have relapsed.  His nose had stopped running but started up again yesterday.  He also had ear drainage out of his right ear which tells us that he has an infection but, thanks to the tubes, we don't have to worry about the infection causing him pain! Hallelujah!!!

We surprised the kids and took them to Disney last Friday with the Hershmans.  They loved it.  Elek cried throughout the Pirates ride and the Haunted house.  On both he kept crying, "what now?  what now?"  as he wanted me to let him know what to expect next.  The first part of the haunted house where they corral everyone into those creepy rooms was pretty bad as both he and B were screaming bloody murder that they wanted to get out.  I had to crouch down on the floor and hold and talk to both of them.  Some people laughed understandingly but there was one woman who I am pretty sure thought Andrew and I deserved "worst parent ever" awards.  As soon as we got to the ride portion of the show B calmed down and was good to go but, like I said, Elek continued to be majorly freaked out.  I did feel a little bad but mostly I felt like going on scary Disney rides and realizing that you come out fine on the other side is just a right of passage.  Amy and I also took the kids on Thunder Mountain.  B was pumped to go on it from the get go.  Elek was begging me to not make him go on it until I promised him ice cream and a lollipop after at which point he immediately stopped crying.  Elek and B ended up loving the ride and wanted to go on it again which we would have done if the line hadn't been so long.  Excited that there might be a future filled with thrill rides with my kiddos!  B loved meeting the princesses.  I'm pretty sure Elek did too :)

Sunday was a perfect day.  Went to Sherwin Williams (I am painting over our ORANGE dining room) without kids.  Stopped by the beach on the way home to discover that it was BEAUTIFUL out there.  Turquoise water and a cool breeze.  Saw that our neighbors were out there with their son-in-law and our friend Chris and his kids Aiden and Rowan who are close in age to Elek and B.  So I came home and told Andrew that we going to break his no-beach-in-the-middle-of-the-afternoon rule (he doesn't like the direct sunlight) and bring the kids out there.  So we lathered up all 3 of the kiddos, packed them a lunch, and headed out there.  It was perfect.  The kids all played (the Peters showed up with Sebastian too) while Lisa and I went surfing.  It felt so good to get back in the water and it was nice to chit chat with a friend between sets.  Augie LOVED the beach and according to Andrew was perfectly well behaved while I was surfing. After the beach Andrew went to boxing while I hung with the kids.  Then the Sherwin Williams color specialist came out to the house to help me choose a good color palate for the house. After that I got to go for a jog to the top of the causeway and back.  I did the 4.4 miles in 47:45...slow but my fastest time yet!  Then I came home and cooked up some yummy chicken.  It really was a perfect day.

Elek woke up the other morning and was very excited to tell me about "the best dream [he] ever had" in which he was fighting bad guys with Peter Pan and ...oh crap...I forgot the other super hero that he was fighting alongside :(  I am a bad mom.  I should have written this down when it first happened because he was so excited about it.  Crap.  I will ask him tomorrow and try to remember to post.  I just know what it wasn't Buzz because I remember being surprised that Buzz Lightyear was not included in this "best dream ever."

We are getting estimates for redoing our kitchen.  We haven't changed a single thing yet and remodeling is already a pain in the ass.  Pray that our marriage makes it through this!

Off to call my mama!

It was a good weekend.  Friday night we had dinner with the Hershmans at Captain Katanas.  It was during this outing that the adults at the table realized that we are the only two couples who are crazy enough to regularly continue the "Taco Tuesday" tradition.  Every week we fool ourselves into actually looking forward to going out to dinner together with 5 children in tow.  5 children who are growing exponentially more silly and unruly with each restaurant visit!  Due to this increasing rambunctiousness we tend to spend more time disciplining and doing our best to quiet and calm goofballs like these two

than we do enjoying our meal and engaging in the adult conversation that at least I know I crave after being locked up in the house with these crazies every day!  This particular dinner, complicated by one poopy diaper (Augie's), one bump to the head (Beata's) by a wooden pelican, lots of loud potty talk (by Elek and Kole), and a lot of frustrated screaming for food (by Hayden), resulted in us coming up with the great idea that, since Amy's parents would be in town for the coming week, we should take advantage and go out for an ADULTS ONLY dinner the following weekend!!  As Steve pointed out, dinner at Publix would amazing as long as it was without kids.  An actual sit down restaurant would just be icing on the cake!  Amy and I made plans for this Friday tonight and....we can't wait!!!!

Saturday morning Andrew took Elek to his classmate/friend Nolan's birthday party at Pump-It-Up while I stayed back with Augie and B.  This was the first time that one of our kids went to a party without the other. I felt it was important to try to separate them for this one since I've been a little worried about Elek's socialization with the kids in his class since we know that, according to Elek and B and their teachers, they mostly play with each other on the playground at recess.  While Elek was having fun at bounce house central (and then later going to the hobby shop with his daddy), B and I enjoyed reading books, going for a short bike ride, and arts and crafts.  It was nice having her alone but I did realize that things have changed a bit. It used to be that it was a lot easier having Elek and B one on one.  Now I realize that, at least when I need to get things done and when Augie is awake, it is easier to have Elek and B together since they are able to play together.  Once Augie was asleep though, it was an enjoyable and peaceful morning.  When they boys got back we all hung out for a little while and then I arranged for a new babysitter, Elizabeth, from the 400 block of Deland to come over and watch the kids (while Augie slept) so that Andrew and I could go surfing with Lisa.  We got to stay out for 2 hours (Elizabeth called as soon as Augie woke up from his nap and we headed home) and I got up twice!!!  The feeling of standing up on the board was amazing and it felt so good to be back in the water (though it probably wouldn't have felt nearly as good if Lisa hadn't lent me her spring suit because the water was freezing!)! After getting back home I called Grace and asked her if she would want to go to dinner with just me....no kids.  To which she responded, "hell yeah!"  (apparently she is smarter than Andrew, me, and the Hershmans and knows well what a pain in the ass dinner out with kids can  be).  Before leaving for a late, 8:30 dinner, the kids watched Rapunzel (the favorite lately) while I spent some quality time with Augie on the mattress in the playroom.  I told Andrew that I realized that it was probably the longest stretch of quality time that I had spent with him since we were in the hospital together over 7 months ago.  Sad huh?  Between house work and two very over zealous siblings, uninterrupted one-on-one time with an infant is unfortunately very hard to come by :(  I so enjoyed it though.  He is at the best age right now.  Just a rolly polly ball of slobbery, gummy love.

Oh yikes.  Way past my bed time.  Anyways, after putting the kids down Grace and I headed to The Mansion for a diaper, whine, and interruption-free dinner full of laughter!

Today the whole fam went to Lowes to look for some fixtures for the main bathroom.  The kids were amazingly well behaved so we stopped by Starbucks and had a special treat.  Then we came home and I headed out surfing with Lisa for 45 minutes before I had to run home so that Andrew could head to boxing.  I made a new recipe for dinner, chicken in a sundried tomato and goat cheese "sauce."  It was more the texture of a paste that I had to pat down on the chicken...I must have messed something up.  Either way though, it was delicious!  Lisa stopped by to give me some decorating ideas.  Then we ate and hung out till bed time.  I returned some emails and now...here I am! A good weekend :)

Random:

A little worried that B might have some form of insomnia.  Not that it's severe or anything but it usually takes her a good 45 minutes to an hour to fall asleep.  She just talks to herself, sneaks out of her room, and talks to herself some more each night, long after Elek has passed out.  She even does this when she is clearly exhausted.  I don't get it.  Just hope she doesn't have my sleep issues when she wakes up.

Elek is at the age where he just has a hilarious way of saying things and even funnier facial expressions and mannerisms while saying them.  The other day I asked if he liked his dinner and he said "no....long pause...not at all."  It sounds like no big deal but if you were there you'd have cracked up too.  It was hilarious how adult like and serious he said it.

Don't know if I've mentioned this but Augie definitely knows who "dada" is and will always look to him and smile when asked "where's dada."

I started a token system with the kids to try and motivate them to help me around the house a bit and be on better behavior.  Elek is working toward 30 tokens for a light saber he found at Walmart (he has one token to go) and B just earned enough tokens for her long hair head band today.  I told Andrew that I can't believe that they have been capable of getting dressed as quickly as they do now that we have the token system all along.  Elek especially went from 30 minutes to get dressed (seriously) to 3 minutes flat...the little stinker!

Augie sleeps from 8pm to 5 am some nights and wakes up at 1am and 4am other nights.  The past couple nights it's been the latter and I can tell you that it is so much less pleasant a nights sleep than when the latter occurs.  Keep meaning to do sleep training but I can't find the energy to do it!

Augie can maneuver a walker with the best of them.  Frontwards, backwards, side-to-side, around obstacles, and 3 point turns.  The kid is a walker champ!

Can't think of anything else right now though I know that I've been meaning to write so many other things lately.  Guess that just speaks to how tired I am now that it is 12:15.  Off to bed!

I've been meaning to post on here for so long but something always gets in the way.  This morning, for instance, I was all excited to clean the first 2 hours that the kids were at school (their first day back after Christmas break) and then sit down to update the blog for the last hour or so.  I had just sent the kids out the door 10 minutes before and was on the floor playing with Augie without a 4 and 3 year old running all about when I heard a knock at the door.  It frightened the crap out of me since I had just been thinking about a friend who recently told me that her house, which is only a few blocks from ours, had been robbed at 11AM a few days before Christmas.  I looked out the window though and realized it was Andrew.  Phew, right?  Wrong!  I opened the door and he had a strange look on his face.
"What?  What is it?"  I asked....truly having no idea what it could be.  "You scared the daylights out of me.  I was just thinking about how Jennifer's house was robbed and I thought you were a robber."
"There was no one there," he said.
"What?"  I asked...still having no clue what he was talking about.
"You didn't answer your phone.  I tried calling but you didn't answer.  I tried ringing the door bell and everything.  There were cars parked there but no one was inside the school."
"NNNOOO!"  I said.
"Sorry babe.  They're both in the car right now."
"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" I said aloud (it was more of a scream inside of my head).
"Sorry babe," he said.
"I think I would have preferred the robber," I said.

It's been weeks since I've gotten any time to myself to clean this disaster zone we're living in.  I was so looking forward to those 3 hours of freedom (well...3 hours with just me and the baby that is.  At this point in the game, babies who do not yet crawl don't really count as freedom interference).  The night before though, as Andrew and I were laying in bed I told him that now that the time had come for the kids to go back to school I was sad and that it made me wish that I could keep them home and play with them instead of sending them the next day.  It wasn't until he showed up at the door with the two rugrats in the car this morning that it dawned on me that I apparently say things/ convince myself that I think things in order to feel like a good mom.

All I can say is thank god nobody answered the door to that school this morning!  Because no doubt they and everyone else they told would have had a good laugh and thought, "There go those crazy Lamoureuxes again! The same lunatics that brought their kids to school in pajamas one week after pajama day!"  (see lamoureuxlife for the full story on how I dropped the ball that day).

Random:
- Yesterday I said something to Elek about barfing.
"What does 'barf' mean?" he asked.
"It's when you throw up. When the stuff in your tummy comes back up and out through your mouth," I explained.
"Do you know who is in Star Wars?" he asked right away.
"Who?" I asked.
"Barf Vader!" he exclaimed.
Andrew and I cracked up and looked at one another proudly :)

- Augie started cutting his bottom left tooth a couple of days after we got back from Vermont and while we were in Jacksonville.  Both bottom teeth are now pretty visible.

All kids awake and rowdy...will write more....someday.