5 Favs - IT IS BLIZZARDING OUTSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snow + ice = insanity in Eastern NC… Here's what I did before all the craziness on the roads began!

1. Laundry

No dish towels… Hopefully we'll have power to do the rest of this mess!

2. Grocery Store

Got M

Essentials + Valentine's Day Candy

Bananas, hot dogs, bread etc… 

3. Pay Mortgage

Don't need to get the eviction notice during the snow : ) 

4. Pick up taxes

Totally unnecessary but always like to know we'll be getting some of our hard earned $$$ back!

5. Go to work

Got some last minute stuff done at the office. Left seriously in the knick of time….

Wisdom of Chesteron - Fairy Tales and Birthdays

"When we step into the family, by the act of being born, we do step into a world which is incalculable, into a world which has its own strange laws, into a world which could do without us, into a world we have not made. In other words, when we step into the family we step into a fairy-tale"     
~ G.K. Chesterton

Today is R's 2nd birthday! Her fairy tale was made of "cheeeee balls" and juice boxes for her snack/party at school.

I made the Kibbe go-to-breakfast of special occasions… Waffles! I seriously contemplated taking some extras that I had cooked and frozen out of the freezer but I stepped up and brought my A-game to the day. (Note: putting warmish butter into coolish milk/egg mixture causes the melted butter to seize up a bit. Is this was is supposed to happen in the recipe?!?!? I mean I get the physics part and I understand why it happens but it just does not SEEM like the recipe would want it to happen)

Waffe anyone?

Well I managed to not make a HUGE mess with the waffle iron like I did here. 

Pretzels totally offset the "cheeeee balls" nutritional content, right? 

I think the bottle of cheese balls were about half the size of R but she toted those things into school so proudly this morning and drug them halfway up to E's class and back down to her room. Her little BFF at school (not even exaggerating) ran up to her and was trying to give her a present and R would NOT let the cheese balls out of her grasp. It was super super super cute. He was desperately trying to get her to take it and she was totally not understanding what was going on. Oh toddler love!!!

After dinner, we had cupcakes and R opened a few more presents today, on her "actual birthday" as E has reminded us 50000 times : )

I was leaving the driveway this morning thinking: 2 yrs ago today I left for work with one 21 month old and came home from the hospital a cold, windy, 36 hours later with another character in our family's fairy-tale.

It's been said many times, many ways, Happy Birthday… to you!

Sweet, sweet R. How is it that you are 2? (despite you are holding up 4 fingers : )

I, as usual, cannot believe it. 

You have blossomed into a big sister ever since M was born. You are putting words together more and more everyday. You are giving the potty a try and you are not letting E boss you around all the time. 

My favorite thing you do is 'nuggle' on command. I'll pick you up out of your crib and say "Snuggle me please" and you wrap your arms around me tight and bury your head into my neck and we will snuggle and rock for a few seconds. 

You love doing everything your big sister does and sometimes you know just how to get under her skin. You love being a big helper with your little sister and come in the room when I change her and you will announce "Big stink!"

Recently you have really enjoyed reading books especially with Papa. 

You are still a huge fan of eating. "Me eat now?" or "Cup pease" is often heard 10 minutes after a meal or snack. You are not the cleanest of eaters but come on now, what 2 yr old is, right? 

This is frequently overheard at the table:

Papa - R you are a NUT {in reference to your crazy eating habits/behavior}
R - New nut, new nut!

You love yogurt and hotdogs. You cannot stand peanut butter… at all. 

You love to sing. You sing Christmas carols that E learned for her preschool program. 

You are a wild child… especially at church. You don't like wearing your shoes and you would run around in circles throughout Liturgy if I allowed it. You get all your energy out at school where you have the world's nicest bestests teachers a 2 yr old could ask for. You have a friend in there who, it is reported, that you all run together and play together and scream at each other…. ALOT. 

You have already picked out a book bag that you want to take to your 2 yr old preschool class in the fall. I think you are going to have a blast with all the art projects and singing and dancing. 

Seems like just the other day I was at the doctor's office and the nurse says "Okay you need to go to the hospital. Straight there, don't drive back to The Mount"… 5 hours later another Kibbe girl graced us with her presence. 

Happy Birthday my sweet, sweet, crazy, loud, loving (not so) baby girl!

The Weekend's Top 10

10. Early naps = blog post so you are in luck

9. R breaking my substantially thick chain that I wear my crucifix on. 2 yr old grip-o-death? Just ask Uncle Kev about R's face-pinching abilities.

8. Can I pul-ease get a preschooler sized music stand? I think that would solve about 90% of my issues with E at church. A 1000 page (not exaggerating here) book is not conducive to 3.5 yr old hands. AT ALL.

7. 3 month old with a stuffy nose? Probably one of the more pitiful human beings I have come into contact with recently. M has gotten the big girls stuffy nose/head cold. She's totally off her napping game and waking up after 30-45 mins probably because her nose is filled with stuff she cannot blow out.

6. Seeing Uncle Kev and Grandpa Joe. Always a highlight for any niece/grand-unit. Uncle Kev had E and Grandpa Joe had R and they were both simultaneously tossing the kids up in the air and screams of delight made it slightly easier to watch because my heart may have been skipping a beat.

5. E waking up screaming at 12:30 AM… Not wanting to talk. I herd her into the bathroom in the hopes that she won't rouse R and M. Still she's not saying a word just howling. Finally "Mommy I need some socks". Seriously? "okay not a problem." Then on the way to church 8 hours later, "Mommy I had such a great sleep last night" Oh really now. Well at least someone did.

4. Jibbe's cooking fried chicken for dinner. Yeah you can ask again, Joanne how the heck did you end up with the world's best MIL? Well my hubby might say "well my MIL takes me to the airport at 5:30 in the morning so I don't have to spend an entire paycheck on airport parking?" Take your pick. We got good ones : )

3. Bath night at Grammy's house. Why is bath night so…. well, you know, dreadful?!?!? The extra work for drying hair? The water over the floors? The fighting over the bath toys? Not sure. But I could dedicate an entire post to 'Why we don't like bath Nights.' Anyhow, change of scenery + Grammy (or Jibbe) help is ALWAYS an added bonus to bath nights making them somewhat not as stress-filled

2. College friend's bridal shower. Here's a shout out to all you blog stalkers! I LOVE you all and miss seeing y'all. Thanks for waiting on E and me hand and foot so I could keep M semi-quiet during the party. See ya at the wedding!

1. R licking the backs of the chairs at church… If she is sick for the next 3 months we will know why

7 Quick Takes - The Friday Evening Edition

And now back to our regularly scheduled program-a-rama!

--- 1 ---

Here's another picture-less potty update. I let R wear her big girl undies this afternoon and she kept them totally dry!!! until she ate dinner : ( so a washing of the high chair seat was in order {perfect segway into point numero 2}

--- 2 ---

About laundry. 

Because I know you want to see my laundry room!

Anyone else want to size up their laundry piles? {crickets}

--- 3 ---

K. That one was boring.

Drinking milk from the bowl… NICE!

I started a policy of setting a timer to beep at 7:50 in the morning. That gives me 5 minute buffer to get done the last few things in the next 300 seconds so we are marching upstairs to say prayers at 7:55. This puts us loading up on time and pulling out of the driveway early by our standards! Except when my button in the van does not want to close the garage door so I have to back out, get out, press the button and run back to the van. {Please try and feel bad for me and my problems}

--- 4 ---

E decided to have an 'animal meeting' during her rest time… in our bathroom. Seriously the animals were lining the floors and tub. How can I pass my germ-a-phobia on to my children?!?!?!?

--- 5 ---

Dear spring/warmer weather - COME BACK TO MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

--- 6 ---

Woke up to this...

Now this kind of snow is awesome. Pretty snow. Pretty sunrise. Pretty ride to school/work. Pretty roads and school was NOT canceled!!!!!!

--- 7 ---

Throwback Friday? 

These are from E's swim class a few months ago. She wants to go back to swim class but I cannot think about when she might go back. Spring is coming and E informed us she wants to do gymnastics {thanks Sesame Street}. Which is fine. I need to call to do the free trial class before we make a 2 month commitment.

Any-how… Happy Friday. I'll be doing a giveaway here in a few weeks so check back

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

                               

WWRW - Volume 9

Team Captain

Still reading the same book from last time...

but since it is 1500+ pages I guess that's okay

MOI

Ehhhh… I have picked up the Brain Child book once. Not really in a good reading mood. Probably because I don't really know what I want to read next. Have you read the article about the family who had 12 kids how they paid for college? If you haven't go check it out and tell me what you think. I think there are some legitimate points to be taken away from it but it seems quite rigid. My favorite thing to take away from it is the building/rebuilding of a car. I know just about zilch about cars so I think it would be AWESOME for our kids to learn about cars by rebuilding them. Uncle Kev - are you game for overseeing this : )

E

The March edition of High Five came in the mail the other day so High Five has been atop of E's reading requests.

R

She totally looks like she could be reading… right?

R has seemed a bit interested in the High Five Archive binder that I have made but seriously the girl cannot sit through a fourth of the magazine. Which is funny to me because I remember E sitting and intently listening to High Fives when she was close to 2. There's probably a lot more going on around R so I'm not horribly surprised she won't sit still.


M

Maybe I'll start reading her Buenas Noches Luna before bed… I'll check in next week and let you know if that's actually happened : )


Got any other suggestions? I could totally get into this link up because I REALLY SHOULD READ MORE!!!!

Five Favs… 5 Best Baby Brands

Since everyone and their mother is pregnant and due in June, I'm feeling a bit left out (not); If I had to register for 5 new baby items for a baby shower these are my picks… {I'm not getting compensated by anyone to recommend these so these are straight up legit : ) } (Smiley faces in italics look silly, don't they?)

1. Baby Trend Carseat

Please note the handle after looking a the cute sleeping bebe

The handle on this carseat is what makes it awesome. The triangular handle on the BabyTrend makes it super easy to grip in three ways. Most other carseats you can only hold with one grip. This has been a keeper at our casa.

2. Britax Convertible Carseat

Yes it looks like R is sitting in an easy chair but I promise it is a Britax

Britax carseats are definitely in the more expensive range of convertible carseats. However, Britax carseats are some of the safest carseats around - from what I understand. Why not register for one and if people want to go in on a big gift for you, you will have it. If you don't get it then - no big deal because you won't need it for 6-9 months anyways. 

3. My BrestFriend Nursing Pillow

Multifunctional?

I really really really like this nursing pillow over the boppy. The My BrestFriend nursing pillow is super firm which is found for squirmy newborns. There is also a clip so you can position it around you before nursing. This has been toted along to the hospital with us each time. 

4. Lands End Medium Zip Tote

I am not into tradition diaper bags. There are too many pockets for things to get lost in. The Lands End tote is awesome if you are looking for bag with a bit of organizing pockets (that don't zip) and one large zip top to seal everything in.

5. Bravado Nursing Tank Top

I LIVE in nursing tank tops. Why? Because I don't have to worry about exposing my {unsightly} lower torso every time I am nursing around other people - work, church etc. So nursing tanks are essential. I did not 'find' / get recommended the Bravado brand until M was almost here. I had a few tanks from Target that worked well but the fabric did not hold up super well after 2 kids. Bravados are on the slightly pricey side but if you are nursing do yourself a favor and spend the extra 10 bucks on yourself. Think about all the $$$ you are saving by nursing and then ten bucks seems like nothing.

Anything else I am missing here? What baby item can you not live without?

Anyone given the MamaRoo a whirl? They look pretty darn fantastic but I don't have one.

M is 3 months!

M is 3 months old now.

Let's think that over… my baby is 3 months old. Now how did that happen? Time is flying because it seems like I was just pregnant. Okay not missing being pregnant of course but still I am having some trouble wrapping my finger around having a 3 month old. But I'll try and move past that.

M is such a relaxed little trooper. She is patient with me and her Papa and her big sisters. She only gets super mad when she is hungry or when she is tired and does not want to be in her carseat (but then she falls asleep almost immediately in the car).

M has been rolling over for a few weeks now?!?!? Not consistently by any means and she surprises herself when she does. She is either really alert or really sleeping. She has the brightest eyes and if you talk to her you'll likely get a cute grin. She'll coo back at you a lot if she's laying down.

M has been kind to me at nights. She wakes up once or twice a night to eat and then goes right back to sleep. She will take a bottle which did take some coaxing. She is still 100% breast(milk) fed. Probably the longest time any of my girls have gone without supplementing with formula so I am thrilled about that. I have not done anything in particular in the sleep training department other than getting ready for bed and feeding her and putting her down. She'll fuss for 5-10 minutes but then usually goes to sleep (I say that now and she'll probably up and do something CRAZY this week).

She's been a great little worker bee. She has been good for me at both offices and let's me get my work done. She's been to Charleston with me and Papa for a work trip.

Her latest trick is she likes to get really stiff and stand up and look around. I cannot wait for her to be strong (and big) enough for the jumpers that hang from the doorways. She is going to go to town.

She survived Turkey Day and Christmas and got lots of love from her family especially her cousins. She has a friend up the street who is going to be such a great playmate and she does not even know it yet.

The jury is still out on who she looks like. E and R are so so so very different it will be interesting to see if she'll be in between them or what. She still has the sweet little layer of fuzz on her head that I like to runny cheeks over. I've never had a fuzz-head baby so we've been using the hair bow strap for special occasions.

Crazy… Crazy… Craziness Kibbe Style

Today we celebrated R's 2nd birthday. Two I know?!?!? Well today is not her actual bday but Papa is going to be gone on the day so OF COURSE we did it so he would be here. Now we had a fantastic time with family and friends. Uncle Kev even made the seriously long drive from The Fort to come celebrate - so I totally owe him a trip out there. {Don't know how The Fort would handle Hurricane Kibbe but only one way to find out.}

Papa did a knock out job on the grill. Grammy brought a great Greek salad and Jibbe came with the world's best coleslaw - don't ask me how she does it, it is just awesome. The kids played with only a few sharing issues which was likely due to the timing of rest time more than anything. Adults talked. Candle was blown out. Cake and ice cream were eaten. Boxes were torn open. Presents were played with.

It was a really great birthday.

Now, if you'd like to know how it all came together. Buckle up and hold on because it was INSANE!

The weekend started with 4 STRAIGHT days of no school. Saturday Papa was making cabbage rolls for our church fundraiser so it was solo Mama and the girls. Waffles from the freezer for breakfast. Then we headed out to Hallmark to get a card for the bday party we were going to later that afternoon (R has a little friend born 8 days before her so it was a bday doubleheader for these not-so-little 2 yr olds)

Well after some searching I could not successfully convince E (and R) to get him something from there. So onto Wally's for our party's supplies plus the present. We checked everything off our list at Wallys and checkout was a breeze until we got to the ONLY Mickey cup in the store. Seriously I checked. Okay the cup does not have a barcode - lady walks back to get another one. Oh they are part of a two-pack. So she walks back to find another two-pack. But there are none. On the third trip she finds another stray cup that belongs with a two-pack but it was not the right cup for the pack with Mickey. Finally I said look, I will buy the one single cup for the two cup price. All the while E, R and M are huddled in and around the cart and other patrons checking out keep confusing M for a boy. Purple, people. She is in PURPLE. FINALLY they let me buy the mis-matched cup pack and we are off to the races.

We get home. Super quick lunch. Rest for R. E and Papa go to the dump. Controversy over the card because R signed it first and E was not thrilled. Nor was she happy the present had been wrapped without her witnessing the event.

Moving on to the party. The girls behaved - for the most part - at the party. The cake was AWESOME. Super super cool and everything matched the Cookie Monster theme. No one is particularly ready for bed after all the sugar but it is not bath night #winning.

The morning began with the usual 5 am wakeup call but M was already up at 4:30 for a snack so getting up was not horrible. I'm getting the girls bags organized and laundry cleaned up and last minute list made for my run to the store after church.

6 am...

BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

{SCREAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

Somehow E was 'looking out her window' and ended up with a shiner that would make you do a double take at the size and color - it is so bad. Tears, ice, and a black and blue forehead not exactly sure how it all played out but the shiner remains. Later we cannot find this month's High Five magazine for the car ride. E leaves wailing. R is totally unphased by the craziness.

Nothing horrible to report from church.

I was HOPING that R would take a snooze on the way back from church but E was being loud and crazy the entire ride so no nap for R.

Drop Papa off and it is solo girls for our trip to the HT to get the cake, balloon, ice cream and orange juice. We survived the parking lot and getting through HT on their mammoth double rider "oh you have your hands full cart". Last stop, the bakery. Annnnnnnd…. there's a problem as soon I say it's the Minnie and Mickey Mouse cake. Grrrrrrrrrrrr…. {not freaking out, not freaking out} Annnnnnnnd they don't have our order made nor is there a 'kit' aka the figurines for the cake.

{TEARS and SCREAMS} thanks E.

R again totally oblivious

The bakery lady was insanely apologetic and got a better than what we would have gotten with the figurines cake done in record time. E is still not convinced.

However, this totally throws a wrench in my timing, as does checking out and forgetting to pay for the balloon and going back to pay for that.

Okay we get back home at 11:56. and the party…. starts a noon.

AWESOME.

Papa came through on pretty much everything but walking into the house as people are arriving is daunting plus I just totally needing 20 minutes to organize M's room so it was not a complete disaster and put our clothes away in the laundry room.

Anyhow… that did not happen.

Fortunately my mom was there to HELP ME!!!!!!! Everyone pitched in don't get me wrong but it is always reassuring to have your mom around. I felt like I ran around with my head cut off for 2 hours bouncing between kids, food, feeding M, going outside with the kids, cake, present, conversations?

R fell asleep in Papa's arm and Mama is trying not to be jealous!

Everyone had a good time I believe so that's all that really important.

Just glad we have family and friends that understand our craziness

I promise a post with R's bday later

My Child Got Assigned Homework Over Facebook

And it was the best thing that happened to our fourth-straight day, out-of-school, don't-know-how-to-occupy-another-minute blues. Okay not blues but it sounded good. 

Here's the gist of the assignment:

"Draw a large heart on regular size piece of paper or construction and have your child decorate it. It doesn't have to have to be glitzy and glamourous. You can add stripes or circle polka dots for them to color in, scraps of paper to glue on, whatever. Siblings can get in on it too and we'll present them as well."

Didn't give me a chance to snap the clean slate pic

Siblings can participate… Fantastic!

R proceeded to announce hone-wooork through the homework-exercise

Clean slate

In the beginning was the heart...

Enter out craft grab-bag which has evolved between homework assignments and clearance items at Hobby Lobby

E focused on the beads

She was SET on doing the project without help - except that pesky glue bottle messed her up. 

R did dots, crayons, a Cars sticker, glittery pom-pom and strips of ribbon
in a span of 7 minutes

R was thrilled to get her hands on all things art!

More beads and outlining for E

Move over crayons… the beads and glue are here

I gave in and let R do beads. I don't THINK any were consumed

I was super impressed that R sat and 'worked' on her homework and did not lose interest. 

Sticky hands were confusing 

No homework would be complete without pink feathers

I had to tell them it was over so M and I could get ready for work in the afternoon

The sisters homework

This exemplifies R and her craziness 

Can't wait until they walk hand-in-hand into school proudly displaying their art. Kinda makes me wish they were twins 

E 's heart kite

So thankful for this homework assignment because it managed to occupy 1.75 hours this morning and was not as dreadful as I was imagining. Running between screaming M with blow out diaper that required an emergency bath, and to E to help squeeze out the glue because that was pretty much all she would let me help her with and supervising R and her demands for everything in the craft bag EXCEPT the pink feathers - was in retrospect highly unstressful for what it was. 

Thank Goodness For Preschool!