Keeping up with the COOPS, thanks to ELMO.

We've been cooped up. Kinda bored, kinda cranky (Cason). Therefore, not much to report... unless you want to hear about newborn poop and spit up...

I do manage to take pics of my babies almost daily (they are just so dang adorable) amongst the changing of diapers and nursing. Which by the way, I am pretty sure the job description for a mother of a newborn and toddler in diapers reads something like:
- must change LOTS of diapers
- must not mind the smell of POOP
- must not mind smelling like sour milk and spit up
- must be okay with spending a good portion of the day nursing
- must be able to clean up the same toddler mess 14 times in one day
- must remember to feed toddler (some days the time gets away from me. But does it look like I starve him? I didn't think so.)
- must be willing to sacrifice productivity and "to-do's"
- MUST know how to give lots of kisses. (I think I might kiss my babies too much.. although, is there such thing as too much?).

The weather has really been teasing us lately. It's actually quite cruel. Case-man takes after his dad and would rather be outside playing than anything else. Boy, does he love the outdoors. So since he can't go outside, we have been watching more TV than I would like to admit and trying to come up with indoor activities. That means lots of ELMO and such. I would like to publicly thank ELMO, however, for keeping my child entertained during these cooped-up months. Cason now knows how to effectively operate the TV and DVD player. This makes for many tantrums when I say enough TV because I don't want a broken DVD player or because I would rather he not be a couch potato...

Sometimes we come up with non-television activities.

Blake, this playdough comes in SO handy on COOP days.

Last week two wonderful surprises arrived in the mail; two packages from two very special people. Two very welcome distractions to our day (not to mention television time). Cason knows very well what a package in the mail means even if it isn't for him, so these packages meant more than their senders might have even intended. Aunt Dana (aka BFF since age 5) and Grandma Gwynne (aka BFF's mom and my second mother) are so incredibly generous and thoughtful. Cason played with Aunt Dana's Elmo package all day long... tissue paper and everything. He has been carrying the Elmo Easter eggs around ever since as well as the four, yes FOUR additional Elmo figurines. And little Luce has thoroughly enjoyed her bunny-warmed head and tootsies.Grandma Gwynne's delightful package arrived just an half hour before we were to leave for Big Bear last Wednesday (post to come). I have to thank Gwynne profusely because the animal dress ups couldn't have come at a better time. They kept Cason busy those last few moments while I buttoned things up. A serious life saver. And, here as I type this, Case puts on each hat, runs to my room where there is a full-length mirror and giggles at himself while simultaneously making the corresponding animal sound (or sign). Thank you thank you Grandma Gwynne (I also adore the sweet baby bracelet for Luci. Simply precious).

Is that monkey spatula darling or what? Cason thinks it's for him...

We are very spoiled around these parts. We have some very kind family and friends. Wait until you see the Elmo frenzy Grandma's Easter Bunny created!