4th of July

So our 4th was a partial washout....we went to the Port Jeff Parade and the kids had a good time. Of course, Baz was more interested in the giant clock next to where we "parked", but he watched the show, too. His fave were the giant tractors that spewed these huge flames that nearly burnt our eyebrows! He got to say "hot" and "ow" over and over, to break up the "clock" mantra. It was notable because it was the first time we stayed for the entire parade since before we had kids. The afternoon was full of barbecue and salads- I got a little carried away, so in addition to my mom's Potato salad (yummy), I made a cucumber salad, taco salad (actually, George made that one), pasta salad, and for dessert strawberry pretzel jello salad. The kids weren't big fans, but they filled up on hot dogs and were happy as clams! The fireworks were the washout part....we got to the amphitheater with plenty of time to spare and George took a gamble on the rain getting better, not worse. Guess what- as we sat in our primo seats front and center, the mist turned to a sprinkle, then a steady sprinkle, then a downpour. That's it....we packed up and ran- by now George and Anya were pretty soaked (I was OK because I had a chair and umbrella), so it would have been a looooong night. During this time, Baz was happily playing in the van with Grandma as Pap-Pap napped. Thankfully, neither kid complained that we went home without seeing fireworks and they were both bathed and in bed before the actual show would have started. Our neighbors didn't help that situation at all- I'm amazed by the fireworks they're able to get their hands on and the guts they have to set them off. I just think about the injuries that could happen from a misfire! Poor Anya called me back to her room to tell me she was frightened by the fireworks and can't I ask them to stop? Luckily, she was so tired that once I laid down with her (probably her original intent anyway) she was almost instantly asleep. Both kids even slept until after 7am, too- wonder of wonders!!!!

Baz started a new thing today- "ooh ooh aah aah" as in the monkey sound. He does the Wiggles dance that goes along with it too- soooo cute! I had a realization about him lately- thank God we had Anya first- after the sleep issues we've had with her, it's such a pleasure to put him in his crib, give him a quick kiss, and walk away. Of course, he does still wake up once or even twice in a night most nights, but it's a quick visit to reassure him, then back down he goes. If we had that first and then the horrible nights of Anya's, the adjustment would have been much more painful. Makes me wonder what a third babe might bring.....

Anya had her first dry night the other night- woohoo!!! I've really made no concerted attempt to break her of nighttime wetting and losing the pullups, but I would definitely welcome it. First, we moved her sippy cup of water to the other side of the room (just in case she has a water emergency in the night) and she did fine with that, but still woke up wet. Limiting fluids before bed is hard since we have dinner at 5:30, tub (with the warm water smorgasbord involved) at 6,then bed by 7-7:30. I'm just hoping that one of these days, her bladder realizes it can in fact hold her urine until the morning and we can cross the pullups off our list, but for now I'll take pullups over middle of the night bedding changes!