That is Enough!!

Tonight at the baseball game some little girls were playing (Steph being one of them). Cadence started crying and Steph must have said something (?), Cadence cried louder and harder. All I hear is Steph yell, "I SAID .. ENOUGH!!!! I was trying to figure out if I say that figuring I must! We get home have dinner, Steph starts crying or fussing about something and I hear Robert say, "Steph! That is enough!!"

Also at the game - Steph had Skittles. She ate most of the bag, sharing some with Cadence. Cadence's mom then gets a new bag of Skittles. Steph goes and sits by Cadence and her Mommy. I tell Steph that she can't have any and Cadence's mom reinforces what I say. Cadence then asks her mom for some, Steph says loudly and with authority, "No Cadence, you cannot have anymore! YOU have had a TON!"

Steph, Cadence and another little one were playing. Steph had to share with the other little girl. Steph came up and told me that girl was being a stinker!

Steph

Steph has been crying going into her Sunday School Class. This week I told her that I would go sit with her for a few minutes and then go to my class...so I did just that - she was happy and didn't cry and when I left she was fine. When we got in the car after church (which is hours later) she said, "Thank you for coming to my cwass, mommy!" I couldn't believe she remembered and even thanked me!

Sammy and Disneyland, with a bit of Steph thrown in

Today Sammy and I went to an Educational Doctor to get some tests run on him - basically learning style, academic tests etc. The doctor was great - we'll know more next week. He tested about where I thought he would which confirmed what I was thinking. He said he is a visual learner - I thought he was auditory... Sammy, of course, was a trooper and a hard worker. The doctor was very encouraging to me and helped me with some ways to help him read better. Sammy wanted to go to Disneyland after the appointment... so we did. We had a great time. I didn't know what to do with myself without a stroller, backpack, lunch, purse, camera, 4 other children... I put money and credit cards in my pocket and locked the keys in the car (on purpose - we have a door code). We got right in, had lunch, went to all the rides he wanted and headed home, stopping off at Starbucks on the way.

When we got home - Steph said, "Mooooommmmmm, you went to Disneyland and you didn't take me??? You are mean!!!!" That is no exaggeration - it is exactly what she said. We all laughed so hard!! She had a big smile on her face.

Funny Steph Sayings

A couple months ago a lady with a really large rear-end - like Aunt Fanny in Robots...bent over in front of Steph...

Stephs says, "That is a big booty Mom!" with LOTS of expression.

A few weeks ago she saw a lady with a gold squarf wrapped around her head and her kinky hair was sticking out of the top of the scarf - Steph said, "Look Dad, it's a queen!"

Just Stuff

My allergies are TERRIBLE. I have sneezed 100 times in the past hour. Well -maybe that is a slight exaggeration.

Jessy hit a two-run triple tonight - a shot over the left fielders head - the grass was wet so it slowed the ball down or it would have been a homerun!

UCLA advanced to the elite Eight! I believe I am winning the March Madness Pool...I'll confirm it later! Robert thinks I'm in the lead because I picked Memphis and he picked Texas A&M.

Today Nanno was trying to sit by Steph and make her share the chair - I said, "Nanno, don't bug her, she is crabby!" Steph turned to nanno and said, "YEA Nanno, Don't bug me, I am crabby!" I couldn't believe she got all the pronouns right! It was HILARIOUS!

Wendy Skyped us today - We go to say hi to her and the kids in Italy. Steph was eating an orange (actually a "cutie") and I held it up to the camera and then her little girl Katie - tried to get it with her mouth - it was soooo cute!!! Neither toddler could figure out why it wasn't working. We all laughed at their expense!

Mom and Dad Ardo took Steph to In-N-Out Burger. I told them she eats a hamburger - she barely touched it. When they went to put her in her carseat, she scurried all over the car playing hide n seek. She'd hop to the back, they would go to get her and she would hop over the seat to the front etc. Grandma finally got her in her seat by suggesting she go "hide" in it!!! She said Steph wasn't being bad - isn't that just like a Grandma???

I'm reading Aunt Jane's Hero - Great book by E. Prentiss. I recommend it!

It's confirmed - I'm winning the March Madness Dodson Pool - I have 64, Robert has 61, Jessy and Nanno have 58, Sammy 43 - Dani is really not in the running at all as she just "picked" whoever. The important thing is that I AM BEATING ROBERT.

Goodnight!

Steph counting Eli's toes

Stephanie

Steph had her procedure today (see blog on 2/27). She was a trooper and did GREAT. They gave her a shot in the arm which basically put her to sleep in my arms. We then took her back and the doctor put an IV in etc. It was really strange to see her that asleep - she was out completely - I was glad when it was over but it actually went really well - it was easier than I expected. I watched the whole thing - I stayed back to stay out of their way but it was pretty interesting! The dentist said her teeth had a LOT of pits which made them very susceptible to cavities. They put sealants on the two molars that had no cavities in order to protect them! She slept about 1 1/2 hours after they were all done and then was back to her normal self - a little grumpy and tired but just fine. She was nice and thanked the doctors. There was a little boy that was in after Steph - same age - that had to have 8 teeth pulled, no crowns and then spaces put in to hold the spots! The dad was upset because he wanted him to have front teeth and they kept telling him that it couldn't be done. I felt sorry for the dad. They told me after he left that he was a really bad case and that Steph's was NOT bad - now to me - 6 cavities is bad - but not in their world I guess! When we left for the day, the poor little boy was back in for his procedure.

Dani's dentist told me 2 weeks ago that her teeth had too many pits so we are going to have her molars sealed this week!

A Walk to the Horse Stables!

Not sure who is checking who out here!

Dani looks like she is walking into heaven!

Steph and Dani with their "sweet" faces!

Steph and her 6 cavities!

Steph had her pediatric dental appointment today. She was hilarious - sat so perfectly - even let them take x-rays of her back teeth - both sides!

She has 6 cavities - 4 regular fillings and 2 that will be crowns - one root canal. I know shocking - but yes - they do root canals on toddlers! He ACTUALLY said her teeth were not that bad! He blamed it on the bottle to which I said that I have 4 other kids that had bottles and no cavities - to which he said that the statistic is 1 in 3 babies on bottles too long will get cavities - so...I guess the bottle coupled with her genetics (thin enamel) didn't work - it's all our fault! All of you out there with babies on bottles - stop them at one year!! Or you have a 33.3% chance of a very large dental bill.

Her "surgery" for all this will be April 16th. Unless - they get cancellations on March 5 and they call!

Stephanie at the Dentist

Steph had a dental appointment yesterday! I know - she's way too young but it was necessary. If you care to watch the video - she was so cute!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1VJzeaptFg

Steph

Robert drove by the horse stables. She lifted her head, put her nose and the air - sniffed (making the sniffing sound) and said, "I think I 'mell horse booty dad!"

No More Bottles

The kids and I gathered in the kitchen (Monday or Tuesday) for a "throw the bottle away" ceremony. We all kissed it and threw it in the trash...even Stephanie. We grabbed the rest of them out of the cupboard and put them in a bag. She doesn't know it but they are all on top of the fridge in the bag (yes, even right now!) I kept them just in case...not sure why I kept them but I did...probably because it was harder for me - my last baby with a bottle. I guess the next thing is potty training. She goes all the time on the potty but still wears a diaper. That's probably my fault too. She's just growing up way too fast. Not that diapers are sweet and touching or anything...

She hasn't had the bottle for 4 or 5 days. Occasionally she asks, but we remind her that we kissed it goodbye and then she asks for water or yemonade. I think I am struggling more than she is! The sad thing is that without the bottle she seems even older!

Every morning Steph comes up stairs with a HUGE smile on her face, crawls into my bed and kisses me saying in her VERY raspy voice, "good morning mommy." It is so cute. Robert gets it sometimes as many days he is gone before she is awake - but she is twice as happy when he is still there.

Weekend Pictures

Papa's Sauce

A friend told me to put a drop of Tabasco on Steph's tongue whenever she sticks her tongue out.. So...I warned her! A little while later she stuck her tongue out at me. I went to the cupboard, pulled out the bottle and showed it to her - she smiled really big and said, "OOOHHH, Papa's sauce!" She was really excited about it until I put it on her tongue...She hated it - fortunately. We used it two times today. Hopefully she will stop sticking her tongue out.

When Nathaniel was little, I did the same thing (probably because he said something he shouldn't have because he didn't stick out his tongue)...anyway, when I put it on his tongue, he said, "MMMMMMMMMMM!" as if it was the greatest thing ever - typical Ardavanis!

Stephanie

Steph has been sticking out her tongue when given instruction. Michelle caught her yesterday and steph proceeded to act like she was just wagging it bag and forth. Is that smart or what? Last night she stuck out her tongue at Robert two times. I am having trouble not laughing! She was sitting under my legs as I was standing in the kitchen. He instructed her somehow and she popped her head around my leg and stuck her tongue out!! I have to hide my face because it's really funny but soooo bad!!! Pray for us ... and her!!! I am taking her to the doctor today as she is still sick and coughing and today she seems worse.

Well- just got back from the doctor. She has a double ear infection and pink eye. No wonder she was so ornery! She was very friendly in the doctor's office. Wanted to say hi to everyone. She went and sat by a girl on the ground and the little girl gave her a dirty look and moved. Steph just sat there - I always wonder what she is thinking - I'm sure with her personality she is thinking, "I wonder what's wrong with her?"

In the picture she is actually sitting in the dryer. I was folding laundry and turned around and there she was! I know bad parenting to let her be in there, but it made for a cute picture.

Snooknoggle

We made up a word - snooknoggle - well Robert made it up. We always ask Steph if she sees it out the window as we drive. She gets really excited and tells us she sees it. She brought it up the other day too!

Stephanie words:

"yeah baby"
"snookgoggle" - it's supposed to be snooknoggle...
"yes" - she anunciates this VERY clearly and says it soooo cute
"loser"
"tummy hurt"
when she wants to get down: "may I please have a 'get down'?" all said in a high voice as sweet as possible!


The picture is from Jessy's 12th birthday. We can't believe she is twelve - the time goes so fast. Jessy is so sweet and fun - incredibly helpful around here too! She has a great sense of humor and brings tons of blessing to all of us.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Painting!

Dani & Steph Painting. This actually went really well. No disasters!

Stephanie Worshipping and other things

Today we kept Stephanie with us in church. At the end of the service we sang a few songs. A man near the front raised his hands really high. Stephanie proceeded to copy him with a serious look on her face. We all started laughing and almost could not hold it in. I think she did it twice but I could no longer look at her. She didn't know we were laughing as we were trying not to. People were coming up and making comments on her after church - it was very obvious. Mr. Farrell wondered if she could speak in tongues as well. The other funny thing is - there are 300 people in there - she copies the one! How funny is that?

Yesterday and I hestitate to say this one...she started singing the ABC's - Here's how it went..."a b c d e f g, h i j k l m n o P - Pee Pee Pee Poo Poo Poo, Pee Pee Poo Poo" Now - of course - I corrected her...but it was still funny! I promise - none of my kids have done that NOR have seen it in any movies. This was an original.

Only the 5th Child

I was in Costco today - Stephanie was her friendly self - smiling at everyone, yelling Hi to people, holding up 2 fingers for two, etc. I saw a lady I knew from church - she is new to our church - anyway - Stephanie said hi to her really sweetly with a huge smile on her face. The lady then asked, "How are you today?" and Stephanie replied with a smile, "Loser!" Loser said in the funny way they say it in Daddy Day Care. I started laughing because what else was I to do and said, "My daughter just called you a loser! I'm really sorry!" ...and proceeded to explain that she learned it from a movie (probably a movie she should definitely not be watching at 2 years old because of that very reason!) I then told Stephanie she is only allowed to call her brothers losers, but definetly not nice ladies from church!!!

Steph and "Me"

A lady over the weekend asked Steph her name:

Steph replied, "I'm me!"
The lady said, "You're me?"
Steph said, "Yah, Me!"

FYI - Steph used to be "you." She has now switched to being "me."

She says her name as Deffi Dawson - but only if I say, "Say Stephy Dodson!"