Our Week So Far

You know it's a rough week when it's only Wednesday and you've been to the doctor 3 times already. Kaitlynn had a stomach virus followed by some other illness causing her high fever, and even after her fever broke she was so miserable that we continued to get her checked to see if we missed something. Looks like she's on the tail-end of a virus, so I'm hoping for a better day tomorrow.

There's a children's book called "My First Atlas" at the doctor's office that has kept Connor very entertained during our office visits this week. He just begs me to read the book and explain everything to him about the Earth, continents, oceans, equator, etc. He has such a thirst for knowledge and I always feel guilty for not indulging him when I'm too tired or impatient, which is often.

Earlier this week, we woke up to our first fall weather day. I took the kids for a walk and the weather was so invigorating. I was in such a good mood that I told myself I would indulge Connor's desire to talk and ask questions and see how far we would get. We began talking about the fall season and things that might happen in the fall (leaves changing colors, fall festivals, Thanksgiving, etc.). We talked and talked and talked. Throughout the day, Connor continued to ask questions about fall and I did my best to answer thoroughly. By evening, we were still talking about fall. I was giving Connor his bath and he asked again, "So Mom, what else in the fall should we talk about?" I was so worn out from talking that I told him I just couldn't talk anymore. It made me wonder, if I hadn't given up, would he still be talking? About fall? My guess is yes.

Tonight at the doctor's office Connor pretended to be the teacher and was reading Kaitlynn and I a book (because yet again, I was tired of talking and I told him it was his turn). He did a great job of "reading" the book, and at one point I made a comment about his story. "If you have a question," he said to me directly, "you can just raise your hand."

Afterwards he stood up and asked if I wanted to hear a joke. "What animal can jump higher than a house?" he asked. "Any animal," he continued, "because a house can't jump!" Pretty funny joke for a 4-year-old!

And no, there is no point to this post other than documenting our crazy week!

Connor the Soccer Player

In case you're wondering, no I do not have a post about today's Texans game for obvious reasons. :-(

Yesterday was Connor's very first soccer game! Our whole family managed to attend and it was quite entertaining to say the least. Connor was super excited and his team did very well despite their first-game jitters.

Here's Connor last week when he got his soccer jersey. Look at that face. Pure excitement!



Here he is doing one of their pre-game drills.



A few highlights from the game:

• Connor was the first one on his team to be the goalie. He was actually very good but got bored every time the players moved down the field to the opposite goal.


• Connor spent most of the game admiring his shadow while running after the ball.


• At one point in the game, most of the players got tripped up and ended in a big pile on the field. Connor was 3 feet away but that didn't stop him from joining in. He saw the pile and proceeded to throw himself down in quite the dramatic fashion.


• The final score of the game was 2-1 with Connor's team being the winner. The only goal the opposing team scored was from...wait for it...Connor. Yes, he managed to score for the opposing team.

Here's Connor the goalie. He was seriously into it.



Here's an action goalie shot. Check out his professional stance!



The other siblings watching the game.



In the picture below you can see Connor running while watching his shadow.



Here's the entire team. Can't wait for next week!

Master Bedroom Redo

Since I've become so inspired to finally make some much-needed updates to our home, I decided to tackle our master bedroom next. (And it just so happens to be Master Bedroom day on Show Us Your Life on Kelly's Korner, so I linked up for fun!)

I have been so embarrassed about the state of this room for so long. It had become a giant storage closet of sorts with the kids' clothes and things piled in diaper boxes in the corner. I also had a huge container of pictures and wall hangings that had just been sitting against the wall, just waiting to be hung, for over 2 years. 2 years!! Anyone that knows me well would be surprised that I had let our room get so cluttered and undecorated, but honestly I just didn't have the energy or motivation to deal with it since we moved in almost 3 years ago. Maybe it was a phase?! Anyway, as I said, I'm very embarrassed but here are some "Before" shots:

Here's the room when you first walked in -- bland to say the least!



Here's the other side of the room. That god-awful mirror was already on the wall when we moved in and after having it there for 3 years, I have to admit it has become nice to use when I need a full-length view of my outfit, ha!



And finally, here is the source of all my shame (I jest. Sort of.) The kids' bedrooms are upstairs but over the years I've found that I prefer having their clothes and things downstairs because that's where we typically get them dressed and ready. Hence, the dreaded corner lined with diaper boxes and plastic containers full of clothes, diapers, you-name-it.



So, on to the redo.

First, I got rid of the cluttered corner by cleaning out my dresser to make room for all the kids' clothes. What didn't fit in the dresser now resides in the bathroom closet.

Second, I found some new bedding. I hate painting so much that I managed to find some bedding I really liked that would work with the existing sage green walls.

Next, I dragged out some old curtains that we used in our old house. Turns out, they match the new bedding perfectly. Although they are too long, I was able to bunch them up and make them work by using some tassles I already had. I also ordered a bench to go right under the windows in the room, mostly for some additional storage for all my books.

Then I asked Jeff for another simple update: removing the mirror that was attached to the dresser. I just like the look better without it (plus, who needs another mirror when we have the wall-sized mirror on the other size of the room!)

Speaking of mirrors, we had our favorite contractor over to build some custom trim around the wall mirror. I love the way it turned out, and it was much easier than removing the mirror and having to repaint/retexture the wall.



Next, I changed out the ugly brass doorknobs and ceiling fan for a nice bronze color. (Our house is filled with these brass fixtures. Why do builders do this??)

And finally, I added some of my favorite family pictures and other wall/room decor to add just the right touches to the room. Here are some closeups of some pictures we hung. I love the ones of Connor and Kaitlynn as babies at the same age. Even I have a hard time telling them apart in the photos!










So here you go, the final result! I admit I'm so proud of the updates and I feel like the room is SO much more welcoming and reflective of my personal style.










Now, on to the next room... :-)

Snaggletooth

I've known for a while now that my baby girl is a gap-toothed beauty. I don't have any past pictures that show it well, but her two front teeth have a good-sized gap between them. I'm sure it's something only a parent can appreciate and love. But yesterday, my daughter graduated from gap-toothed to gap-toothed AND snaggletoothed. (Is that a word?) Take a look:









The story: Connor (admit it, you knew he was involved) was chasing Kaitlynn around the house trying to "get" her. Well, he got her alright. He gave her a little punch in the back which sent her flying teeth first into our hardwood floors. She got up crying and then there was a little something crunchy in her mouth. Bye-bye front tooth. Hello snaggletooth.

As a follow-up, we visited our dentist this morning just so he could have a look. He doesn't think the break went through the nerve, so the tooth should be OK (some baby teeth that break will "die" and turn gray). But he suggested we visit the pediodontist (children's dental specialist) when Kaitlynn turns 2 to have it cosmetically touched up. Oh boy, can you imagine how that visit will go?

Playtime

Here's an example of how playtime at our house usually goes these days:

Awww, so cute. Sister and brother playing together so well!


Both are so happy and enjoying their time together!


Yep, you won't find any discord here.


But wait, it appears trouble is a-brewin'.


Uh-oh, she's decided that she wants his toy instead.


And she is NOT happy that she doesn't have it.


There, that's better. I think it's pretty clear who won this battle.


Get used to it, buddy. We women always know how to get what we want! :-)

15 Months

Kaitlynn turned 15 months old this week. She had her well baby visit and weighed in at 24 lbs 12 oz (75th percentile) and 30.5 inches long (also 75th percentile). She must be leveling off because she was at the 90th percentile the past few visits.

At 15 months, Kaitlynn:

• Wears size 5 diapers.


• Uses the following words regularly: Mama, Dada, Puppa (puppy), Babba (bottle and baby), Ah-duh (all done), and Uh-oh. We've also caught her saying "ba-thuh" (brother) a time or two. And she recently started to shorten Mama and Dada by crying out "Ma!" and "Da!" when she really wants to get our attention.


• Understands many things we're saying. If I tell her "Take this to Connor" or "Bring me your drink" she will usually do it. Unless of course she is in a stubborn mood, which happens frequently. :-)


• Gave up her morning nap after she turned 1 (mostly out of convenience for our schedule) but usually cat-naps in her carseat when we're on the go.


• LOVES wearing shoes and will bring them to you to put them on. She also lifts her legs and arms to assist you in getting her clothes on.


• Is quite the social butterfly, going up to kids and strangers all the time to say hi, give them a high-five, or just stare them down.


• LOVES to brush her teeth. I'll call out, "Who wants to brush their teeth?" and she'll come running every single time.


• Loves books and likes to sit in your lap to read them.


• LOVES her pink blankies from her MeMe. She has one in her crib and one in her carseat, and they always seem to make her very happy!


• Has become quite the little daredevil, always running and climbing and getting into trouble.


• Is at the stage where she seems to be constantly covered in bruises. As soon as one clears up, she'll take a tumble and another one takes its place.


• Has a head full of blond hair with sweet little curls on the ends, though nothing close to the curls Connor had at her age.

Here are some recent pics of Kaitlynn. It's getting harder and harder to get a good shot because she's constantly on the move!

Just to illustrate a typical morning, you'll find Kaitlynn all happy and smiles one minute...



And crying and whining the next. Gotta love those terrible 2's!



She loves to mimic what her older brother Connor does. Here she plays with his laptop, which she has decided is one of her new favorite toys.



Here is an example of those bruises I mentioned.



And here are the sweet curls.



Just for fun, here is a picture of Connor at 15 months. See what I mean about the curls??



Back to Kaitlynn...she has to do whatever Connor does, including riding in the race car shopping cart.



Wow, she actually looks a little angelic here. Don't be fooled, ha!

10 Signs You're Probably Not the Best Mommy on the Block

1. Your 4-year-old knows all the words to Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" and Lady Gaga's "Disco Stick."

2. You catch your toddler eating discarded crumbs under the kitchen table and you think to yourself, "Oh good, now I don't have to sweep."

3. You frequently hear the following phrases from your own child: "Mom, why do you like Coke so much?" and "Geez, Mom, you're in a MOOD!"

4. Your son has been begging for over a year to play sports and despite signing him up numerous times, you keep cancelling when you find out the games are in the afternoon because you don't feel like being outside in the hottest part of the day.

5. Your child has to remind YOU to remind HIM to brush his teeth.

6. You're in such a rush to put your kids to bed at night so you can have some alone time that you don't even realize it's still sunny outside.

7. And then you go to Target the following day to buy black-out curtains.

8. You hear your youngest child suddenly start crying in the other room and instead of running to see what is the matter, you send the older one to find out what's wrong and report back.

9. Your kids are so accustomed to eating fast food that you go through the drive-thru and before you even place your order, your 1-year-old is holding out her hand for her share of the french fries.

10. During a drive with the kids in the car, you hold the phone up to your ear and periodically say "Uh-huh" to make your child think you're on the phone so that you don't have to answer anymore questions.

A Stunning Victory!

The Courtright household is on a major high tonight! All 6 of us attended the Houston Texans season opener against the Colts (last year's AFC champ, I might add) and witnessed the exciting victory for our team. It was an awesome game and the perfect start to our winning season. You may think that's a presumptuous statement but folks are taking notice of the Texans finally, and even one of the reputable ESPN analysts has predicted the Texans will go to the Super Bowl this year. I'm just sayin'.

Anyway, it was such a fun time with the entire family and here are some pictures to document our day. GO TEXANS!!!

Kaitlynn was stylin' in her Texans cheerleader outfit with matching bow. She looks so cute that you can overlook the fact that I drove 1.5 hours round trip yesterday to pick up her bow so she'd have it for the game, haha!



Kaitlynn and I having a tailgate snack.



And Connor took this picture of us. You can see how hot and sweaty he was from playing football before the game. It was HOT!



Our 4 kids walking into the game. LOVE it!



Once inside the stadium, I let Kaitlynn walk around to burn off some energy. She found a window ledge and assumed it was a little seat just for her.



Our family of 6 before the game. It's a rare treat to have all of us together at a game, and it was a blast!



Kaitlynn loved climbing the stairs in our section.



Jeff held Kaitlynn as he walked up and down our section giving high-fives after all our first downs and big plays. Kaitlynn loved joining in with the clapping and cheering.


Not surprisingly, Connor was probably the most animated of our group. He truly digs football.



Now I would like to close with a prayer. Specifically, Connor's prayer. The exact one that he prayed before his early bedtime tonight.

"Dear Jesus, thank you for a wonderful day. Please help the Texans win all the games, because the Texans are always the good team. Amen."

I couldn't agree more. :-)

All About Connor

It's Connor's 2nd week of school and he just completed his first big project. The assignment was called "All About Me" and Connor was asked to find pictures, magazine clippings, etc. of things that describe himself and affix them to a yellow star that was provided by his teacher. Of course, the parents were asked to help and I admit I probably helped a little too much, but then again...he's only 4!

Here's Connor working on his star.



Connor and I brainstormed a list of things that described him (his family, his favorite food/color/movie, etc.) and then we printed some images from the computer to include on his star. The star turned out great and I told Connor that he was probably going to have to talk about his star in front of his class. Well, that was all it took. He was super excited and wanted to practice. So he stood in front of me several times introducing himself and talking about his star, and then he gave repeat performances for the rest of the family later in the day. This was right up his alley.

Here's Connor doing a dry run of his presentation about his star.



When it came time for his school presentation, I asked if he would be nervous. "I'm not shy of school, Mom," he told me indignantly. So he gave his school presentation today and I couldn't wait to hear how it went from Connor and his teacher. Mrs. Day said she was cracking up the entire time Connor talked about his star because he was so into it. She offered to hold his star for him while he talked about it, but he insisted that he wanted to hold it himself. He went on to describe (in great detail, said Mrs. Day) everything on his star and was so excited to present to the class. I must admit, I assumed he would get stage fright but that wasn't the case at all. And you gotta love his enthusiasm! Way to go, Connor!

His teachers hung all the kids' stars in their classroom and I couldn't resist getting a picture on the way out.



Here's the only close-up of Connor's star I managed.



In case you were wondering, here are the things that were on Connor's "All About Me" star:

• In the middle, a recent picture of his family.


• A picture of Lightning McQueen from one of his favorite movies, Cars.


• An orange crayon to represent his favorite color.


• A CiCi's Pizza logo, his fave place to eat (you wouldn't believe how much he eats when he goes there).


• A sticker of a soccer ball with Connor's name on it, because he's going to start playing soccer this fall.


• A picture of Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, another favorite movie as well as his Halloween costume this year.


• A Houston Texans logo (duh) and a picture of Connor in his football uniform and helmet.


• A picture of an airplane that Connor drew because he loves to fly.


• And finally, Connor's name in his own handwriting.