Neal, Michelle, Madison, & Wilson: February 2012

Do you watch "Gold Diggers?" I hate that show! But Neal watches it all the time, and I just can't handle how dumb they are! Seriously... but I thought this name was appropriate! I think there are people waiting to see some "pay dirt" from me, aka: PICTURES!! So I will give you a few golden nuggets--highlights of the last few months.

I never knew what the "jump" from one to two chilens would really feel like. Well, in a nutshell it has been a little rough. I think we are now in a groove, and things are looking up and up. I cannot imagine what it would be like three, or four children!! To think I wanted six! Let's just say that number has dramatically dropped. :)

A typical day for the Bastian home would go something like this:
Maddie is up at 7:30 I go get her out of her crib tent (her cage), she runs into my room straight up to Wilson, "WISSON!! WHISSON! WISSON!!! And then Wilson is up at 7:31 -- all because Mom left her bedroom door open. You would think I would learn... someday people, someday. Then we just bounce around a few naps, which can be tough, if Maddie hears Wilson she is worried and therefore cannot fall asleep, "Uh-OH! Mama! Uh-oh! Wisson!!" and I reassure her, "He is fine" hoping that he in fact "fine" because I left him rolling around the front room... And when I try to put Wilson down, Maddie wants to play so she bangs on the door, "Herro, Mama? Herro? MAMA!" Until I come out, so sometimes naps are a struggle. But I love when they overlap! Even if its for a half hour!

A few things that are complicated:
1)Grocery Store: Remember when you could just "run" to the grocery store? Without hauling a baby in a car seat? Well, it is a site to see, I have Maddie in the front of the grocery cart, Wilson in the basket. Issue: No room for food! Then, Maddie gets out of every contraption that holds her down, so she joins Wilson! I move Wilson to the front of the cart... Then Maddie tries jumping out of the side of the cart... so I eventually give in. I HOLD her, with Wilson in the cart and a ton of groceries. So what do I do? NEVER TAKE THEM!!! I If I can avoid the family circus, I do!!!
2)Gym time! I discovered the YMCA, they watch your kids for FREE 2 hours a day if you go workout. I am highly motivated! 2 hours to myself... I am GAME! However the parking lot leaves less to be desired. People must think I am CRAZY. Well, surprise, I AM!! I carry Maddie on one hip (since she will just run away from me), and Wilson in the car seat on my other forearm. It is a workout before my actual workout! I have tried using a leash with Maddie in the parking lot... I have tried carrying Wilson without the car seat and it is a disaster every time. So I just keep my usual, Maddie on the left hip, Wilson on the right forearm.
3) Showers: yea, I cannot leave a toddler alone, nor can I leave a 6 month old. So they come with me. Maddie in, Wilson out in the kick and play. Maddie wants Wilson to have a shower too, so she opens the curtain every thirty seconds and throws water at him. I have removed her toys, then she goes after the shampoo, so I put the toys back in the shower and I let her throw water. It is a sight to see. I just have to make sure Wilson is far enough away that she can't reach him.
4) Going to the bathroom: I run, and pray they don't hurt each other, or roll into a table, or that Maddie does not give him her sippy cup with "big girl milk" or that she doesn't feed him--she loves to do this, cheerios are her favorite to "share" it never turns out well!

So now that I have bored you to death I will share their cute pictures. I have more pictures, but I need to download them, so maybe four months from now, you will see them!

Little Kiddos ready for Church: