Tonsils

 This girl got her tonsils out last Thursday. Apparently, we've got enough tonsil tissue to fill a grain silo. Mallory was a trooper, but her stubborn personality outweighed her common sense. Sister was in so much pain she refused to drink.....anything.....for days! Including pain medicine. No matter how much we pleaded or what we offered her, she refused! Well before she shriveled up like a prune I took her back to the hospital, where we remained for 2 more days. The nurses referred to her as "Fort Knox." She had her lips sealed so tight, nothing was getting in! She had more drool than a newborn bulldog.

 Brady enjoyed a staycation at Grammie Lou's while Jeff and I sorted out hospital time. He wasn't thrilled his wing man was benched, but like a true gangster, he played on!

 3:00 on Saturday was the magic hour. Mallory had been holding a sucker for 3 hours and she finally gave it a lick and that was the magic key that unlocked the steal gates.

 Or it could have been the FOUR gift bags Grammie brought as bribery?? Who knows. Either way I was so grateful she started eating and drinking, and drinking and eating and drinking and eating! She also started to talk again! Quiet is not an adjective I use to describe Mallory, so it was so strange not to hear her voice.

 Today she is back to normal. More importantly she is sleeping without the crazy obstructive sleep apnea. Her tonsils were so large that they were giving each other a high five while she slept. Not cool!

Both my kids are tonsil free and hopefully our close relationship with our ENT is coming to an end. He is a wonderful man, but one I don't enjoy seeing!

 For now we are enjoying the weather and hospital free days.

See ya later alligators!

Beckham Who?

Brady started soccer! Yesterday was his second "game." This is a very low stress, non-competitive league. There are more adults than kids running on the field. It is meant to be an introduction to the sport. Well, hello soccer meet Brady. Mr. B really took to the whole kicking the snot out of a ball idea. He was so taken by the concept, he really had no interest in any other drills. Forget the whole team concept. Brady is a one man goal striker kind of player.

 

 

 "Seriously! Pay attention! I'm about to score AGAIN!"

 Eat it goalie!

 GOAL!! Every time he kicked it into the net (all 400 times) he celebrated like it was his birthday, on New Years Eve and it was raining cookies! My cheeks still hurt from smiling so much.

 Move over Beckham, Mr. B is in town

 Stretching those 5 year old hammies! You don't want a silly injury to side line ya!

 Our sweet supportive Mallory. She cheered for Brady and then quickly knocked him down to steal a shot. (she's not even on the team).

Brady is on the Dolphin team. He is apart of the TOPSoccer program. Its a league for individuals with any kind of disability. They have a coach and several volunteers to help wrangle the players into some form of a functioning team. It is a wonderful program to give our boy access to a game I think he really enjoys.

Addendum

Since this blog is a diary of their lives, I feel it is important to document as much information as possible....for the soul reason to tease them later in life....in front of their peers.

According to Mallory "foreheads" are now called "Head boards" no exceptions, please don't try and tell her differently. It's nonsense.

You may be having "waffles" for breakfast, but Mallory will be having "wafKles."

Happy labor day!

M.R.S

 Photo bombed by a stick

 The instant Mallory turned 3 she became a different little girl. It's like she took off on a blazing trail, leaving her first 36 months in the dust. She enjoys conversations and her imagination is exploding. She is also blowing up the growth chart. The little M.R.S. isn't so petite and at her well check the Doctor said "whoa! that's a bit more growth than I like to see in a year." I think he forgot that she is 50% Shannon and they grow'em big on their side.

 Her vocabulary is vast and unique. The following is a list of Mallory's version of English:

swimmy soup = swimming suit

cup cake = cuhpp ccaakee

Popsicle = hopscicle

Santa = anta

school = cool

hand = hind

snow = no

(she forgets her "S")

 Between Brady's approximations and Mallory's Yiddish I am becoming trilingual.

Whatever is coming out of their mouths I am grateful for every word. Now that we know how communication flows for a typical child, it highlights how hard Brady has to work for every word.

M and B

Brady and Mallory are getting along famously. They are two peas in a pod at school. Mallory actually got put in time out because she tried to escape to another area where Brady was playing. I didn't see this camaraderie coming. I figured they would ignore each other and carry on with their business. Instead, they wash their hands together, hang their back packs and grab each others check in tags. Mallory forgot to check in properly the other morning and Brady quickly picked up her slack.

I am so grateful 3 years ago my midwife said "suck it up and have another baby!" Seriously! Jeff and I made our minds up that Brady would be our one and only. Thanks to that frank and honest piece of advice Miss Mallory is currently on the scene.

I couldn't ask for a better sibling for Brady. She is nurturing, feisty, a translator and partner in crime.

She keeps Brady on his toes.

They are equally silly.

I refer to Mallory and Brady as my faux twins. Most people assume they are actual twins and give me a funny look when I tell them they are 2 years apart, not 2 minutes.

I know there will come a day when Mallory surpasses our boy, but I'm pretty sure she won't leave her wing man behind.

 This boy has earned a special place in her heart.

(this is our sweet neighbor, she is so lovely and patient with our kids).

1st Day of Preschool

Mallory has been anticipating the first day of school for weeks. She shouts "I'm going to school" to anyone who is within 100yds. The garbage man knows, the mailman knows, our sweet neighbors Betty and Nancy know and even the 80 year old man with 2 hearing aids knows! The anticipation quickly turned into anxiety as visible in the pictures. I think what she really meant was "my Mom and I are going to school." When she figured out that I am not part of the school deal, she wasn't the biggest fan.

Brady is extremely empathetic and could sense Mallory's discontent. He quickly took action. He knew that humor was the only way to cure his sisters jitters. And by humor I mean dancing, lions, booty shakes, fishy faces and a sweet smile.

"Fishy face Shannon"

 



 

"Sweet smile"

 

and Brady's version of the twerk

 

 

 "Come on Malls, shake your booty"

 Mallory's mood quickly lifted thanks to her spiritual leader, Mr. B.

 



We are just a 5 minute walk from school. The kids love crossing the bridge. It's perfect for his pre school workout. Nothing gets the brain ready to tick like a few pull ups and a light jog.

"Honk if you think school is cool" Only 7% of participating drivers agree. Boo for this quick impromptu traffic study.

Brady's symbol is a leaf and Mallory is a pig. Brady tried to swap out another kids symbol, apparently "Adam" has the coveted car symbol. I think B might try and arm wrestle him for it.

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Brady and Mallory quickly settled into their classroom. I am thrilled they will get to spend this time together. This is Brady's 3rd and final year of pre-K and then he's off to the big leagues.

3 and a slap on the knee

 Everyone says that the year of the Three is tough. "Two is nothing compared to Three!!!" Well I agree, but instead of listing off all the terribly annoying things this three year old does I thought I would focus on the rich sense of humor this girl has! For instance, when the camera comes out Mallory insists on a butt shot. There are a variety of these "poses" in my cue, a rich selection that makes me laugh.

 She is incredibly inquisitive. While at the store she will loudly ask if the man in the check out aisle has a penis! Followed by; does he have a car seat?

 Thankfully Brady is my laid back child and slightly more conservative with his inquisitions. He is more concerned if someone has cookies rather than knowing about their anatomy.

 When heading to a play date Mallory asks the following questions.... in this order: 1. Do they have toys- yes 2. Do they have food?- yes 3. Do they have eggs?- maybe

 Apparently a dozen eggs qualifies our playmates for friends of the year. Nothing makes her happier than 12 lovely eggs in the fridge.

 Before Mallory offers a proper greeting to anyone, she instantly asks "you got games?" as in "you got games on your phone?" The answer better be yes or she will exile you to never, never land.

Yes, life with a 3 year old is challenging, but it is also hilarious, slap your knee hilarious.