I need video surveillance for this kind of thing

We keep finding Meri inside Isaac's crib with him. I think what happens is that when he's taking a nap in his crib, she hears him crying, goes to investigate, climbs in to take matters into her own hands, strokes his head, gives him his binky and if that doesn't work, piles toys on him to make him happy (fortunately just soft toys so far). It is totally possible she's just trying to help. However it is perhaps equally possible that she gets bored/wonders where Isaac is, goes to find him, climbs in his crib, wakes him up, he starts crying, and she quickly tries to cover her tracks so she doesn't get busted. Hmmm. It's difficult to say. Jury's still out on this one. It's hard to find anyone who'll convict her with that sweet, angelic face.

"You gotta see this"

Last night as I was getting ready for bed, Coop checked on the girls and then came back out of Meri's room laughing. He told me I had to come and see what she'd done. He pointed at her pathway of books and the balancing act she'd completed on her rocking chair:I, however, having already seen what she thinks books are good for (she did it during quiet time) looked at her. Here's a closer look:And here:
We're so proud of our daughter, who is going to give birth to a baby giraffe! I can't believe she fell asleep like this! On a similar note, the other day while I was browsing around Lakeshore Learning and the girls were playing happily, a lady came and asked if I was their mom. She was trying to hold back her laughter as she told me she'd just overheard Jell say, "There we go. I feel SO much better when I'm not pregnant." So basically, being pregnant is a little bit on our minds these days! I also just overheard Meri say, "My baby is a monkey." Jell replied, "Oh, yours is a monkey? Mine is an elephant. Are they going to get married?" This mommy hopes her babies don't grow up quite that fast. Oh and yesterday Jell informed me that "baby brother can't grow up ALL the way inside your tummy! He needs to come out sometime!" I would agree wholeheartedly. In fact, I insist he come out sometime. Preferably September 2nd. We can't wait!

Hooray for Meri!

You know how every once in awhile something comes easy in life? And it's such a relief?! Well, Meri is potty-trained!!!! I guess I shouldn't say we're 100% there because she still gives lots of false alarms where she thinks she has to go but she doesn't really, and most days she has one accident, but other than that, she's amazing! We've really only been at it for about a week and a half. She's wearing panties all day, even when we leave the house (just try and convince her to put a diaper or even a pull-up, known as "special nighttime panties" on instead, and see how offended she gets). She tells us when she needs to go, even went all by herself yesterday when we apparently didn't hear her, and she even woke up dry this morning! Regardless, I am still a bit jumpy. Anytime she says anything that I realize I didn't hear or understand, I jump up and ask, "What? Did you say you need to go potty?" Most of the time she shakes her head "no," and I swear she rolls her eyes at me. But in my defense, she doesn't yet speak with perfect clarity. "Hey mom, I see a kitty," sounds just like, "Hey mom, I need to go potty." At least that's what everything sounds like to a nervous mom who knows that when she does have to go, there's not a lot of time to dilly dally. But no complaints here! She's such a stubborn, independent kid that we've joked for awhile that once she decided she wanted to give it a try, she'd be potty-trained instantly. Not far from the truth. A couple of months ago she was throwing the panties across the store when I suggested we buy them and start going potty on the toilet, and now don't you dare try to put a diaper on her. I know that stubborness/independence won't always bring us such joy, but for today - three cheers for Meri!