Wii

We hooked up the new Wii balance board the other night.

Actual Age: 32
Wii Age: 40

I guess I have a little incentive now. What's a game know anyway, huh?!
My new best friends: treadmill and exercise ball

Randoms

A few things I've been meaning to write but keep forgetting....

• I've always wondered if I would like a pair of UGG boots but never took the time to try them on. Was in REI the other day and they were just sitting out calling my name. I didn't even have to ask a sales person to get them from the back. Yep, big mistake. They were heavenly. So soft and squishy. Just like I imagined. Now I have a post office slip to get pick up my package. My package from Zappos. Yep, I was bad. I splurged. It's killing me that they are here but at the post office. Can't wait for Monday!
• Late Christmas post: Hubby was fantastic with my stocking this year. He really took some time and thought about it. Not that he doesn't every other year. This year was just different....special because all the items were something I use all the time. The chap stick in the blue tube. Brown pony tail holders (without the metal thing on them). Emery boards. Foot scrubber (you know the ones, the file thing to get all the rough skin off). The good square gum in the pop out package. A new water bottle. Thanks Babe....your the best!
• We met Lisa and Nate at Carl's Jr. for lunch and to let the boys play in the play area. Neither one of us had been there so we figured we'd try it out. Not such a hot idea. That place is way intimidating for 2-year olds. It's an endless maze of tunnels that is two stories high. One way in and only two ways out. One of the ways out was too complicated for our boys too. If they got stuck and couldn't find their way out, we had to go climb in and find them. Not very cool. Oh and did I mention not very clean....yuck! I should have known it was going to be a bust when Monkey asked to go to the "bounce pace" after only time up in the tunnel jungle.
• It's killed me to put the 3-6 month clothes away yesterday. I had to though. The pants were starting to look like capris on our Little Man, and according to hubs, capris were not meant to be on a man's body (there's nothing metrosexual about my husband...that's for sure). How can he be in 9 month clothes already? Slow down little buddy. You're growing much too fast for your Mama's taste.
• So when I was pregnant with Monkey, I joined Babycenter. You would get little info updates every week on what your fetus was up to. I like all that stuff, so I found it pretty cool. After he was born, you still got updates every week on what goes on at each new stage. Long story short, I still get updates. Some get deleted. Some have pretty decent info in them. When he turned two, the updates went from "your toddler this month" to "your preschooler this month". Yikes!! When did he become a preschooler. Your still a toddler in my eyes Monkey. Not ready for you to be a preschooler yet. Unless it would mean an end to the terrible two tantrums and drama. Nah....still not ready.
• I now know what my mom has always meant when she says her brain is always going in 400 different directions. She would start one thing and end up completely on the opposite end of the house doing something entirely different than what she had planned. It's happening to me more and more lately. Last week I put both boys down for naps and was headed to my room to get on the treadmill. I stopped in the kitchen to fill up my water. I opened the cabinet to throw something in the trash and noticed something had missed the trash and spilled. Pulled the trash can out and scrubbed up the mess. Continued scrubbing to the back. Opened up other side of cabinet and pulled out all the bottles and stuff and scrubbed that side too. Noticed that the outside of the cabinet had a few splashes of something on it so cleaned the outside too. Before I knew it I had cleaned the outside of all the cabinets, the dishwasher, stove, and microwave. I was on my way to clean the inside of the microwave when I remembered the treadmill......so much for my workout.....it succumbed to Mommy brain.
• Fast forward to the evening I scrubbed all the cabinets. Taking Monkey's spaghetti o's (yes, I know, not very healthy.....and so the story goes) out of the microwave and I dropped them on the floor. O's splashed everywhere, including my newly scrubbed cabinets and stove. Monkey exclaimed in the background "uh, oh spaghetti o's". Yep literally....I had to laugh!
• So potty training is on hold. Like bedtime, I don't know what happened to make it so bad. You're on strike, and I'm not gonna fight ya. Yesterday was the last straw when you straightened out as I was trying to put you on it and your feet went straight into the water. Socks and all. We'll try again later!
• Did I mention that I really detest the word "no"? It's the most popular word at our house lately.
• Any plugs for the best Hawaiian island to vacation on?! Hubby and I are trying to plan a vacation for this spring using our airline tickets we won this summer. I'm still not completely sold, as I don't know if I can leave my baby for a week. He says I'll be fine once he gets me on the beach with my swimsuit, a book, and the ocean in the background. He might be right! I never like to admit that.

Monday

Two more wake-ups! Thank you God for answering my prayers tonight!

Bedtime Battles

I'm not quite sure where or when we went wrong with bedtime Monkey. Was it us? Or was it just you starting a new stage? I don't even remember when this all started. I just know it has been going on for a REALLY long time. Maybe it was when your brother was born. I can't even remember if it was going on before that or not.....something tells me it was.

It's really sad to me because I had always thought bedtime was suppose to be sweet and wonderful. Full of bedtime stories, singing songs, kisses, cuddles, and sweet good nights. I guess it was this way for a while. But. Something. Happened. Something really happened to send you into a tizzy every single night. EVERY. NIGHT. We don't get one night here and there that is sweet. Every night is a battle.

We have the same routine every night. Jams on. Brush teeth. Say prayers. Read books with blanket and Zeba in the chair. Give kisses (if you haven't already started to buck and twist). Turn out the lights. Into bed (this is where the battle begins). Sing Twinkle Star (usually while you are crying because you know what is to come). I stand at the door and sing My Bonny and Twinkle Star again (both are interrupted because I have to tell you multiple times to lay down and stop crying). Lately I have just kept the door cracked when I step out, but it doesn't really matter. You still scream and cry at the top of your lungs. You will throw Zeba or blanket out and then cry for us to return them to you. I could go on and on about the drama that unfolds over and over again.

We have tried everything (we think). We've tried sitting in there with you. We've tried standing at the door. We've tried just shutting the door. We've tried being nice and sympathetic. We've tried being ugly and stern. We've tried music and night lights. We've tried special blankets and buddies. Even your McQueen and Mater cars have graced your bedtime routine. Nothing works.

I don't know what to do Monkey. It's frustrating and exhausting. I don't like to admit it, but I dread bedtime. It's no fun for us either. We don't like hearing you cry and scream. We don't like it one bit. When does this phase end? I'm so ready to be done with bedtime battles. Aren't you?

hmmmm

How do you go about getting black ball point pen and the smell of toddler vomit out of your micro suede couch? Again, I'm done.

Stick a Fork in Me

I'm done!!

Trying to stay strong.

Please come home soon.

I'm not good at this single parenting thing!

XOXO

Snow Doggies

Dogs blink too!

Shiloh & Sam~

Life has been a little hectic lately with Dad gone. Sorry I haven't tossed the green toy more often for you in the last two weeks. Life will return back to normal soon....I promise. Your sad eyes at the window kill me. Understand that it would not be in my best interest to play in the snow with you while Monkey is running free in the house.....bad news my friends.....fun for him....not fun for Mommy. It was awfully sweet that he spread out HIS blankie for you the other day. I'm not sure if you know how cherished that blankie is. So for him to offer it up to you and even pat the floor for you to come sit down on it was HUGE!!! You rank in his book! Oh and your welcome for all the treats the other day. Monkey figured out how to get into your treat jar. It was bad enough him looking at me with sad eyes when I told him no more bones, but to look over and see your sad eyes at the door.....uncle....I gave in. One day full of cookies never hurt anyone, right.....I have days like those too. Hang in there! Dad will be back home one of these days and all will be better!!

XOXO,

Your Mommy

PS. Thanks for warning me that those three rascally moose were eating my little trees the other day. Silly moose!

Moo!

You were playing in the dishwater tonight while I was cooking dinner. I was washing bottles and pump parts. You were "helping" brush out the bottles. You picked up one the cones to my breast pump and exclaimed "milk a cow!!" I about died laughing. Guess you had to be there. If he only knew how much attaching one of those cones to your boob really makes you feel like a cow! Thank goodness you will never have to know this Monkey!!

A Whole Hand

Yesterday you turned five months baby boy! Today we had so much fun taking your picture. The camera came out and you were ready to give me all those sweet, silly faces you make. You are practicing sitting up all by yourself. For a minute or so, you will sit up so proud....with a look that says "I'm big stuff now". (Hint: I'm not ready for you to be "big stuff" quite yet!)

I forget how fast these firsts come. Seems like just yesterday I was cuddling you for the first time. Now your eating rice and oatmeal but still lovin' your Mama's milk. Although, you get quite distracted lately. I've been taking you into your room more often bc there are less distractions (ie. your big brother, unless he discovers we're missing from the room) and you will then eat better.

You love to read books (or eat them I guess). You love to chew on your links. You love to stand and play in your activity center. But your brother is still your most favorite form of entertainment!! Somehow I doubt this will last forever, so I'm loving right now!!

You are full of squishy, kissable baby rolls. I could eat your fat little feet. I could stare into your big brown eyes for days on end. Happy 5 months Little Man!! Mama loves you to the moon and back!!

Christmas Really Late

Christmas was full of.....

cookies and sweets

Santa babiesplenty of firsts, like candy canesa night of Christmas caroling with the familydressing up handsome boys ready for Christmas Eve mass new big boy toys too (which makes for a happy Daddy and little boy) snowman pinata fun at the Gift Exchange tractor rides (thanks Santa and hold on sweet baby boy)

lots of presents to unwrap (we were spoiled)beautiful bows to grablots of John Deere greensmiles and giggles! But most importantly it was full of love. Love for baby Jesus. Love for all things wrapped. Love for Santa and the Elf on the Shelf. Love for family and friends near and far. Love for each other. It was a wonderful Christmas season. Nothing better than the twinkle in a child's eye on Christmas. We are truly blessed. Everything about Christmas was magical! You two little boys made your Mommy and Daddy giddy with excitement! We love you both so very much!

Captured

This captures it all! Including my heart. You are the love of our lives! So willing to give a smile to anyone. You are the happiest baby ever. The one Mommy needed. The answer to our prayers. You have a fantastic glow about you at all times. I can't stop snuggling you and kissing those squishy cheeks. I want to freeze time and keep you this way forever, yet I'm so curious as to how your personality is going play out. Wondering if you'll stay as laid back and happy as you are right now! I'll wait though Little One. You are such a joy! Thanks for always bringing a smile to our faces!

Love, Your Mommy

Escape Artist

It happened. The dreaded crib escape. You are a climber, a dare devil. Always have been. Why wouldn't we think you would be the one to figure it out. You had climbed out a few times in the last few months, but we assumed we still had some time before the big boy bed be initiated.

Rewind to last Thursday night. I woke to you shrieking at 12:30. Like blood curdling screams. When I got out of our room, I found the light from your bedroom shining down the hallway and you standing at your brother's door screaming "Mommy, Mommy". You were terrified. It broke my heart. You had fun though. There were toys out in the living room. Books spread out all over your bedroom. You found the can of air freshener and decided the ENTIRE front of your dresser needed sprayed.....so much so that it was dripping off the front on to the carpet. Thank goodness you didn't get into the jar of Vaseline too. We cleaned everything up and then we sang "Twinkle, Twinkle" until you drifted off to sleep.

The next 3 days you got out of bed after every nap and every morning. (Oh did I tell you that your Daddy left for work Friday afternoon, so it was my battle to fight with only his reinforcement via telephone.) So Monday night I turned your crib into the toddler bed. You thought it was pretty cool.

What you thought was even cooler was that you could get out of it and run around the room after the door was closed......until you realized I wasn't coming back to play. Then you started into your crying jag. And cry you did bc I forgot to mention that I put one of those door knob safety thingymibobs on to keep you from opening your door and running amok throughout the house. I was envisioning very scary things that you could get into while I was in slumberland and you were "playing" in the house. I shutter to think the thought.

Fast forward to Thursday night. Mommy was beyond frustrated, exhausted, and desperate for a less drama at bedtime. I was minus my partner-in-crime, aka. Daddy, and was, honestly, at my wits end with the bedtime battle. I think you were pretty frustrated and confused to. So to confuse you more (i'm so, so very sorry baby) I got out the Allen wrench and took the spring platform off your bed. I then reinstalled the front part of your crib to make it back into a "crib". Then I shoved your mattress back in, but it now rested on the floor (bc the springs were gone)....creating about 6 more inches between you and the ability to climb out.

I brought you in to look and your "new bed" for the second time this week (once again I'm so very sorry for the confusion), and you were rather upset that I couldn't get in with you now (you see, your toddler bed had become the new bedtime story place and I had cuddled with you for a while on two separate occasions where you were so worked up and crying you could barely breath :(

Needless to say we got everything worked out and bedtime last night and tonight have been way less dramatic than the previous 3 nights. Again baby, I'm so, so sorry for all the crazy bed confusion. I never wanted it to happen this way. The transition to big boy bed was suppose to be cool and fun not crazy and abrupt. I guess that's one the reasons I call you Monkey, huh. We needed your Daddy. He always seems to have the good ideas (hence, the take out the springs...yep the idea came from the man himself). He's so much better at bedtime with you than me! Hopefully this will buy us some time until he gets home. Please don't sprout a tail that will launch you out of this bed. I don't know what we'll do. Here's to less tears (both me and you) and more sand from the sandman!

Love you!

Happy Birthday

Happy 2nd Birthday Monkey!!

TWO!!!! Where have the last two years gone! I cannot believe my baby is TWO! You are the light of our lives Monkey. Constantly moving and jabbering. Your zest for life is voracious! Your giggle is still as contagious as it was the very first time we heard it. You delight us to no end and sometimes leave us scratching our heads the very next minute. You challenge us in good ways and sometimes not so good ways. You humble us Monkey. You make us remember that parenting is an adventure unlike anything else we'll ever experience.

You love anything that moves. Animals, bugs, trucks, planes, trains. You have a love for anything John Deere green. Which, by the way, melts Mommy's heart because I'll always be an Iowa girl at heart. Your favorite song is "Big Green Tractor"....imagine that. You ask for it every time we get in the car. You jumped for joy yesterday when I found it set to a slide show of tractors and combines. You also love, love, love trains, which melts your Grandma K.'s heart since she is a tried and true Union Pacific employee. And your new favorite lately.......monster trucks.....so much that your Daddy and I are pretty sure we will be going to the Demolition Derby at the State Fair this year....who knew!!

You could sit and read books until the cows come home. The other day you were even "reading" your truck book to your little brother. Made my heart go pitter patter. Your favorites currently are Corey Combine and the Big Surprise, Snowmen at Night, and I Stink (the later we have read 4 times since opening it this morning....thank you Aunt Lisa).

I love to sit and watch you play. You have always played so well on your own. Today you were telling the driver of your school bus to "dwive careful"....maybe you've heard me say that a few times. And speaking of hearing things a few times, when your little brother was fussing a bit today you ran over to him and said "it awright honey"....hmmmm think I call you two "honey" very often.

The love you already show at such a young age for your baby brother makes my eyes all leaky. You never forget to kiss him goodnight. You even have shared your beloved blanket with him a few times. You are quick to ask where he is if you think he should be somewhere he isn't. Makes me so proud!

I can't wait to see what this next year has in store for us Monkey. Your curiosity, ever-growing independence, and strong-willed determination will make for some memorable moments. Your sweet smile and contagious giggle will always brighten our day. God has blessed us. I am head over heels in love with you!!

Happy Birthday sweet boy!!