Fun, Easy, Educational.

This is an activity I did with M today. I've been stressed about her colors, even though I know that colors is a THREE year old milestone and M isn't even TWO. Anyway. I colored 2 big note cards with each color- wrote the name on one side and colored the other. M and I did it together, but I think it would work better if your child was older because they would understand that only ONE color can be used on each card. After that I used contact paper to laminate. M isn't getting the colors, but it's fun to use them for a match game. I laid out one of each color on the floor and then held the other set. She picked one from my hands and then matched it with the same color on the floor. She does amazingly well at matching!! The colors will come soon enough...

Teaser

I am figuring it'll take me a few days to get the pics up from tonight, so I'll give you a teaser now! G is standing now- I counted 4 seconds before he fell yesterday! What the heck?! He thinks it's hilarious and pumps his hands up and down really fast. He is FINALLY eating!! WOOHOO!! We're up to twice a day and he's actually opening his mouth for the spoon! BIG accomplishment. He climbs the stairs when he remembers they are there. So annoying. Out with the gate from the basement! We all have bad colds lately...so fun. The best part is the snot all over their sheets when they wake up. YUM! M was up 1/2 the night feeling bad last night. Grr...G actually slept from 12:30 until 7:30. Didn't get to enjoy that ONE BIT! M usually ends up in our bed now which sucks...since we got back from NE Missouri it's been more often than not. It would be sweet but she likes to push her feet into me repeatedly. Makes for good sleeping...
So sweet. See his shiner?? Don't know where that came from!I'm getting ready to send out photo card invites for M's 2nd bday party. I chose the third photo. What do you think?!
So sorry, but it's impossible to turn videos, so turn your head!


I am considering posting a series on cloth diapering- the ins and outs, why we do it, the different systems, accessories, washing, and how to get started. I have BOTH kids in cloth again ALL of the time, except when we go out and I know M hasn't pooped in awhile. heh. Anyone interested? I know a lot of you already cloth diaper, but some don't. Could I push any of you over the edge to do it?? Leave me a comment and let me know if it would be helpful! If you're irritated that I'm going to start posting about cloth again, consider the cute kid pictures that'll go along with it!

A Strange Sort of Longing

I long to read a book. The kind of book you can emerse yourself in for hours. The kind of book you feel sad about finishing. The kind of book you feel like you're living in as you read it. I haven't read a book since M was born. I used to go to the library and get 8 or 10 books at a time. No more. I know that as the kids grow I will have more time to do things I love like read, but right now it is NOT happening. I have been looking at the parents of my patient in the ICU all day who are reading books I would never dare pick up (Dean Koontz), and I'm jealous. I long for a book.

Win a Beco!!

So this site is giving away a FREE Beco baby carrier- the one I could NEVER make sense of buying because of its expense!
http://www.babysnazz.com/contest/
Wouldn't it be great to win??

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Aunt Molly!!!Seriously mom, What the hell are we doing?The hair I love so much...
Ooohh the drool. (This one is also for my friend Ryanne who got G this little outfit- oh so cute!)

Our week

Well, these are from two weekends ago when B took the kids to the pumpkin patch with Grandma Lana. I didn't know the pictures were on the camera until today...
Carly, Reese, M and G went. They seemed to have a pretty good time.This week we went to NE Missouri to visit all of B's extended family. I didn't take hardly any pictures- big surprise. We had a great time although we are very glad to be home. M didn't ever take a nap (much to my dismay and there was a lot of crying involved...). They were both so so tired and run down. G was up 3-4 times a night (at least every two hours) and we need to get our routine back. We visited tons of people and didn't get everyone in! I'm so glad M has this time to spend with B's Grandma Della. It's nice for them to get to know our grandparents while they can. M just loves playing with all the cousins. Everyone is older than her and she just soaks up the attention. It's very sweet. In all, the kids performed well. Everyone is impressed with M's speech and singing abilities, and G's motor skills and red hair (more on this later). We got back just in time for M's gymnastics today and after that lunch and then a nap. I was prepared for another screaming match but she was very glad to be back in her bed and laid down without a fight! *sigh of relief* Here are the only pictures I got- the kids LOVED playing the "Pano." G especially thought he was big stuff when he was pounding on the keys!
G- sometimes I am not sure whether people constantly point out G's red hair because they think it's cute or weird. It sometimes makes me think others think my baby is a freak of nature or something. Just for the record- it's starting to make me feel self conscious that the only thing anyone has to say about my baby is, "Well would you look at that hair!" I think it makes him special.Since I got home I chilled out for awhile BY MYSELF in the chair and watched some DVR. It was exceptionally nice. Then I got off my rear and M woke up. We've been putting away laundry since. Back to the real world tomorrow of saving young children...

Few and far between...

I know my posts lately have been few and far between. I have noticed that I have been letting less of my thoughts out. I think about things a lot, but I never have the energy to get here and post them. This morning I will let you have a few and hopefully it won't bore you too awful much.

Breastfeeding: Yes, we are still breastfeeding as illustrated by the ticker at the top of the blog...I feel ambivalent about it most days. There is so much of me that's ready to be done, but I know it's really best for him and with winter coming up, will help protect him from illness and comfort him when he does get sick. There really isn't any reason for me to stop. I feel like he and I have a connection that M and I never had. He depends on me more than she did or does. There's comfort in that. Sometimes I feel like I failed M and that our relationship is strained by her independence. I know it's just normal toddler stuff, but it doesn't keep me from wishing she wanted me just a little bit more. The parts I hate are the parts where I have to depend on someone else to watch my patients at work while I find the time to pump, the fact that I haven't worn a bra that fits in over 7 months and I have to wear an XXL shirt to fit my boobs in it, and the part where I can't seem to get in the habit of dieting because I don't want to take away his nutrition or work out too much that it dips my supply. I know I could probably do it and not cause a problem, but I can't get past the thought of it. The part I love so much is when he wakes in the middle of the night (I know, I know) and I pick him up and he snuggles in to eat and throws his arm over me. It's so very very sweet or when M is napping and G and I lay down in my bed and nurse together. So anyway, that's where we are.

I am content. I started realizing this last week sometime. Two weeks ago (almost) I got an IUD (Hopefully not TMI for most of you). It's hard to explain the feeling of freedom I have. It's not that I would be devastated with another baby, someday I do want one or two more, but right now I want to enjoy the two amazing children I have. I am so looking forward to the next year and watching them play and grow together. Every month gets a bit easier (I know it's going to get hard again when he starts walking in the next month...) and more fun to go places with them. Life is good, life is fun. Not to say there aren't down days.

I feel so lucky. I have an awesome family. My husband puts up with all sorts of variations in my mood and attitude and seems to love me in spite of it. I have wonderful in laws that live about 5 minutes away that take my kids on the slightest notice. My mom lives 5 minutes away (although she travels during the week) and is always available by phone for "not-so" important conversations... I was actually thinking about this last week when my mom was on a cruise for two weeks. There were periods she wasn't available by phone and I was seriously bothered by it. I don't usually think of my mom in terms of sappy love, but I really missed her. I take for granted that she'll just be there. My kids are totally amazing. They are smart, happy, and healthy. I'm reminded to be grateful of this every day I work. We have good jobs and plenty of money (although we never seem to feel like it). We can provide for our family and then some. Not everyone can say that...So lucky. I am lucky. There are many other things I am thankful for- the rest of my family, good friends, etc, but I don't want to be too overly long-winded...

My dad is now out of my life for now...it's a pretty long story that I sortof teased you about in one of my posts, but his drinking has reached the point where I don't feel it's in my best interest or the best interest of my children to be involved with him. Who knows what the future holds. I have separated myself emotionally from the situation which is probably why I seem so matter-of-fact about it. There is a lot of relief in not having to think about him. I feel much closer to my extended family- my grandparents and my cousins and I feel like they are suddenly "real" people in my life. Crazy!

I guess that's all the thoughts I have right at this moment. Hopefully you enjoyed them.

Visitors

These pics are from Tuesday after kindermusik. G started puking on Tuesday afternoon until wed morning for whatever reason...I changed his outfit more than once as well as mine. That red outfit was one we bought for M. Cute.
It's been a week of visitors. Wednesday my friends Val and Zach were in town from Kentucky. They stopped by with their daughter,Emma, who is just over 2 weeks older than G and just as tiny! They were really cute together. Emma is crawling too, but G is so much faster. Why are my kids so concerned about making a run for it?!
This isn't a very good picture, but you can see Emma's delight with M.Two cuties chewing on toys!The three of them.Good-bye kisses!Today my Aunt Dixie and Cousin Melanie brought her two kids Mollea and Grady to play. We had a really good time but for some reason didn't take any pictures! We played here and then ate lunch and went to play at Pleasant Valley Park. Melanie's brother is a police officer in Pleasant Valley and he gave us a tour of the department and the JAIL! Woohoo! Pleasant Valley Jail! M was BEAT. She finally laid down for her nap at about 2:30 and slept until after 5!

My Guy

Better late than never, eh? This is his 7 month shoot from today. He did good but he was pretty tired, so not quite as wild as usual.
We went to the doctor the other day and he really is in the 5%. He's 15 lbs 2 oz. So tiny! He looks healthy to me and with all of his movement, I think he's just burning it off.
To bed around 8 or 8:30. We still aren't sleeping well, usually up twice a night to eat, however last night was an unusual not at all. I dream fed him at 11 and then he didn't get up until I woke him to eat at 6. I'm learning to cope with it as it really does seem to me that he's hungry. If offered a bottle by B he takes it all, so it's not just me that he wants. Takes 2 naps a day- usually about an hour or 90 minutes each. He's pretty flexible about it though.Doesn't really like the baby food thing. He will take a couple of bites but then turns his head and screams if I try to hard. I'm trying not to get frustrated about it and just let him lead me. I know that eventually he WILL eat...it's just a matter of patience.
He crawls everywhere and pulls up on everything. He can climb stairs (as Pepper found out at her house last week) but usually stays off of them (except the one in the bathroom). He is very steady when he gets up and looks all around just steadying himself with one hand. He tried to take off the other day- turned around and tried to nearly walk to whatever it was he wanted, but he didn't make it. I guess you could say he "cruises" but it's not very coordinated.We have teeth! Saturday his first bottom tooth came through and I think the other is through today, but it's hard to tell. He has done really well and no rash like M always had! Woohoo!!! We've been using up the teething tablets though!

Songs

So M LOVES to sing. Here are the songs she knows from start to finish without prompts:

Rock-A-Bye Baby
I love you a Bushell and a Peck
Twinkle twinkle
Jesus Loves Me
Happy Birthday
I love you (the Barney song)

There are many others she knows part of but not all the words. Sometimes I'm not sure she acutally knows the words she's saying, but more just making the sounds that sound right.

Well, last night I got home from work and she came over and hugged me and put her little hands around my face cupping my chin and started singing I love you a Bushell and a Peck to me. It was one of the most precious moments I have had with her in her life thus far. I wish I could have gotten it on video. I hope I never forget it.

Just things...

Not much happening...as I said, I've been trying to cut back on the vast amount of pictures I've been taking. Here are just a few from today. We made pumpkin cookies this morning (M and I) and then invited the cousins over this afternoon to help us decorate. It was a fun time.
We got a swingset at the garage sale a couple of weeks ago. Monday and Tuesday the boys got it put up and ready to go. M thinks it's awesome. It needs some stain and some new swings and it'll be good as new! Our fence is totally gone now so we have an open and bigger back yard. It's pretty nice unless I want to keep M corralled.

G is getting wilder by the minute. He had his dr appt today- he's in the FIFTH percentile for real now. 7 mos and 15 lbs 2 oz. Woops. I think he just burns all the calories he's eating. I'm not going to force feed a baby a bottle who seems satisfied after nursing. That would be silly. He's not taking great to baby food- he really doesn't like it much. She just wants me to keep offering and go to twice a day from once. We'll see I guess!

Tonight I took the kids to ZR to shop around and then to Burger King for dinner. yum yum, eh? I got M's hair cut short short short. She looks like a pixie. I hated to do it, but I'm tired of looking at all the scraggly hair on her head. It's awful! I am praying that it will come back in nice...I'm sure it won't :(