I am writing this post several days later, so the times may be off a bit.
Today Matthew started blowing kisses, he is literally learning something new every day. He may even be waving bye-bye, but I am not sure yet.
7:00ish - Me and the boys are up and eating breakfast. we play throughout the morning while I pack and get the house ready for our trip to Edmond and Carl's trip out of town on business.
8:00ish - Carl is up and starts playing with the boys while I forge ahead and shower and whatnot.
11:30 - Lunch and final packing as I watch the radar and make sure the storms are not going to meet us along the way. Panic running through the house looking everywhere for the video camera (only to be found the next day in the bottom of the stroller).
12:30 - We are out the door. Matthew is asleep within 20 minutes and John is watching "How to Train Your Dragon" Yes, still one of his favorite movies and first choice going on 2 years now. We hit 1 construction zone and a wreck before we leave Texas, so it is slow going.
2:00 - John's first request to pee. We stop at Starbucks and get us all a snack and drink and potty. Unfortunately Matthew was sleeping, but had to be interrupted.
3:00 - John's second request to pee. Why did I get him a drink? I pull over on an access road. (Stop judging, boys are easy).
4:00 - finally make it to Edmond. Matthew has been crying on and off for about 30-45 minutes. Overall, a long, but not a bad trip.
4:00 - 7:30 - Play, eat and be merry with Grammie and Granddaddy. balloons were waiting all over the floor when we got there to break the ice with Matthew and it worked! He was in a fantastic mood and super friendly.
7:30 - bed time for Matthew, pretty simple, just a bit longer because I wait until he is asleep before leaving.
8:30 - bed time for John, he gets to stay up a little later. But with no nap, he was exhausted. He popped out of bed for various reasons a couple of times, but slept through the night. Matthew had a little more trouble, but overall, everyone was fine.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A Week in the Life: 4YO and 13.5 MO (Saturday)
Note worthy: Matthew started saying "hot" today and waving his hand like he is cooling something.
6:00 - My alarm goes off... good intentions...
7:00 - I get out of bed. Still before the boys. Even though I hear little man kicking his feet, the one cup of coffee is already making the day seem like a great one! I tackle one to-do item and schedule the dog sitter and read Audra's blog. Reading hers makes me realize I really do not add much feeling to my "week in the life", so watch out... today's could be long (again...good intentions). I heat the pool because John is so excited that it is Saturday and Daddy does not have to leave for work.
7:30 - Get Matthew out of bed and downstairs to help me feed Bailee. Almost every morning the first word/sign he uses is about the dog. We go outside while Bailee eats and he wants me to read a book that John had left outside, and then... here comes John! Pancakes (from yesterday) for both of them with strawberries.
8:00 - I have John wake up Daddy (one of his favorite things to do) and then we all get ready for the Tball game and leave about 8:45.
9:00 - Tball game. John always seems so excited about the game and is ready to go, but when he is out there, oh man, it is hard to watch. He does not hustle AT ALL and he plays in the dirt. Nana and Da are at the game and get some time with Matthew. I have to admit that the games are SO slow, they do not keep score and it is all a learning process for them. BUT, John did get the game ball today.
10:30 - Home and have a snack (cereal bar for MJ and juice and a fruit roll up thing from the game for John) and then play out back and inside for a bit while we get ready to go on a walk with Daddy.
Play for a bit inside and then all four of us go on a walk in the neighborhood. John brings 2 buckets, one for treasures and one for bugs. He also brings a pad of paper and pencil to write down what he collects. Along the way he found a caterpillar a lady bug and a roly poly. All of which did not make it very long outside of nature. We walked into some open houses, John thought that was pretty fun.
12:30 - Daddy goes to get us McDonalds. We are being REALLY bad this week, of course the week that I journal it and have evidence.
1:00 - nap for Matthew, play for Daddy and John, shower and pedicure for me! YEAH!
2:30 - I swim with John and Daddy goes to run errands. He is more and more confident in the pool and I bet by the end of the summer he is swimming like a fish. After Daddy gets home, I go up and get Matthew and we all swim for half hour or so and have ice cream. I never got my camera out for this, but I am sure there will be plenty this summer.
4:00 - Ran a few errands together. I am sure there were snacks in here somewhere, but I am writing the 2nd half of this day a few days later....
6:00 - we are done with errands, and both boys are hungry. we decide to stop and eat at a restaurant. Surprisingly, they held up well through the 30 minute wait. Matthew is super messy when we go out, and can be hard to entertain once he decides he wants to get out of his seat. Overall, this time he was really good. John typically engulfs himself in the coloring book that comes with the menu or on the iphone. He was great this time too. Overall it was a good outing.
7:30 - home, bath, bed.
8:00 - can not really remember much of what we did after this because I am writing this last part several days later (busy weekend that just got away from me, but I wanted to finish these posts)
6:00 - My alarm goes off... good intentions...
7:00 - I get out of bed. Still before the boys. Even though I hear little man kicking his feet, the one cup of coffee is already making the day seem like a great one! I tackle one to-do item and schedule the dog sitter and read Audra's blog. Reading hers makes me realize I really do not add much feeling to my "week in the life", so watch out... today's could be long (again...good intentions). I heat the pool because John is so excited that it is Saturday and Daddy does not have to leave for work.
7:30 - Get Matthew out of bed and downstairs to help me feed Bailee. Almost every morning the first word/sign he uses is about the dog. We go outside while Bailee eats and he wants me to read a book that John had left outside, and then... here comes John! Pancakes (from yesterday) for both of them with strawberries.
8:00 - I have John wake up Daddy (one of his favorite things to do) and then we all get ready for the Tball game and leave about 8:45.
9:00 - Tball game. John always seems so excited about the game and is ready to go, but when he is out there, oh man, it is hard to watch. He does not hustle AT ALL and he plays in the dirt. Nana and Da are at the game and get some time with Matthew. I have to admit that the games are SO slow, they do not keep score and it is all a learning process for them. BUT, John did get the game ball today.
10:30 - Home and have a snack (cereal bar for MJ and juice and a fruit roll up thing from the game for John) and then play out back and inside for a bit while we get ready to go on a walk with Daddy.
Play for a bit inside and then all four of us go on a walk in the neighborhood. John brings 2 buckets, one for treasures and one for bugs. He also brings a pad of paper and pencil to write down what he collects. Along the way he found a caterpillar a lady bug and a roly poly. All of which did not make it very long outside of nature. We walked into some open houses, John thought that was pretty fun.
12:30 - Daddy goes to get us McDonalds. We are being REALLY bad this week, of course the week that I journal it and have evidence.
1:00 - nap for Matthew, play for Daddy and John, shower and pedicure for me! YEAH!
2:30 - I swim with John and Daddy goes to run errands. He is more and more confident in the pool and I bet by the end of the summer he is swimming like a fish. After Daddy gets home, I go up and get Matthew and we all swim for half hour or so and have ice cream. I never got my camera out for this, but I am sure there will be plenty this summer.
4:00 - Ran a few errands together. I am sure there were snacks in here somewhere, but I am writing the 2nd half of this day a few days later....
6:00 - we are done with errands, and both boys are hungry. we decide to stop and eat at a restaurant. Surprisingly, they held up well through the 30 minute wait. Matthew is super messy when we go out, and can be hard to entertain once he decides he wants to get out of his seat. Overall, this time he was really good. John typically engulfs himself in the coloring book that comes with the menu or on the iphone. He was great this time too. Overall it was a good outing.
7:30 - home, bath, bed.
8:00 - can not really remember much of what we did after this because I am writing this last part several days later (busy weekend that just got away from me, but I wanted to finish these posts)
Friday, April 27, 2012
A Week in the Life: 4YO and 13.5MO (Friday)
6:45 - MJ is up and extremely ready for the day while I am extremely ready for a cup of coffee. I make whole wheat pancakes from my stash. Follow link and keep this in your pantry! feed the dog, feed the baby, drink coffee.
7:30 - Carl is getting ready to leave so he goes up to wake up John to tell him goodbye. John eats and then watched Ni Hao Ki Lan and plays while Matthew plays with the soccer ball the blinds.
8:30 - I shower and Matthew plays with the glass door and all the bubbles. I tell John that we are going to go on an adventure but we have to get responsibilities done first, so we go upstairs and the boy picks up like I have never seen him pick up before. He REALLY wanted to go on an adventure.
9:30 - we get in the double stroller armed with a cardboard egg crate and head down the street to meet our neighbors to go on a nature hunt. The boys (all 4 of them) had a good time. It was a SUPER slow walk and we looked at almost e.v.e.r.y. s.i.n.g.l.e. roly poly that we found and examined a hundred rocks and leaves and flowers until he picked out what he wanted to keep in his "treasure box". The walk was cut a little short when Corbin sliced open his toe (the boy had been fighting his shoes all morning and then Emily finally let me go without and look what happened! If only he was old enough to learn the lesson. :)) so we headed back.
10:45 - played outside with bubbles, I made a grocery list and the boys chased each other for a while.
11:15 - I can not longer ignore Matthew's constant sign for food. I make him a grilled cheese sandwich and a prune and John has a turkey and cheese sandwich with oranges and carrots. while they are eating I clean up the glass lid that Matthew shattered in the bathroom earlier today (don't ask how he got it because I am still unsure) and complete my dinner and grocery list. I give Matthew some Tylenol, he is drooling like crazy and whimpers every bite he puts in his mouth.
12:15 - nap for MJ and Mike the Knight for John and I. Then play dough (lots of fun today for me and it usually is not due to my lack of creativity) and then that Pirate hunt game that he loves so much. He was sorely disappointed when we could only play it once, but I could only find like 5 clues. I need to ask Johanna where the rest are.
3:00 - Matthew is up and I make them both a shake with Carnation instant breakfast, a banana, peanut butter, milk and ice. They both slurp it down in a hurry (I should have made more). John also has some cheese bunny crackers and I give Matthew those fiddle sticks.
3:30 - we head to the dry cleaners and store, but before I am through 2 stoplights John is asleep. Matthew is a great car rider, so I just turn on the radio and drive slow and enjoy some music and nice weather. I decide to drive to the far away grocery store that has fresher produce due to the peace and quiet. Get what we need, but it takes a long time because I do not know the store layout well and I double back several times. Ugh!
4:30 - home and Matthew needs a snack so I give him a baby rice bar thing. I start dinner a shrimp pasta (it was good, but not healthy and super rich). John is playing his Angry Bird board game thing and Matthew is exploring as usual.
5:15 - Carl is home and dinner is ready (this timing NEVER works out). Everyone eats it except Matthew. :( He gets a squeeze pouch after dinner. I clean the kitchen while the boys play in the living room. I join them after awhile and then me and the two boys head upstairs and take turns burying each other in the stuffed animals.
6:45 - Matthew wants to eat again, so of course John does too. I give them both an oatmeal muffin thing (cooked and froze on Monday I think). Then we make more crayons and play hide and seek and wrestle in the living room until bed time.
7:30 - bed for Matthew, no problems. John and Daddy watch Whale Wars.
8:00 - bed for John. Tonight we are reading "Dinosaurs Before Dawn". It is a chapter book he picked out the last time we were at the book store. He cuddles super close to me and gets a little freaky at sounds while we are reading it, but it is not really scary. I think he just anticipates it might be.
8:30 - I manually run the sprinklers because we have some leaks, and we can only water on trash days. TV time, talk time, bed time.
7:30 - Carl is getting ready to leave so he goes up to wake up John to tell him goodbye. John eats and then watched Ni Hao Ki Lan and plays while Matthew plays with the soccer ball the blinds.
8:30 - I shower and Matthew plays with the glass door and all the bubbles. I tell John that we are going to go on an adventure but we have to get responsibilities done first, so we go upstairs and the boy picks up like I have never seen him pick up before. He REALLY wanted to go on an adventure.
9:30 - we get in the double stroller armed with a cardboard egg crate and head down the street to meet our neighbors to go on a nature hunt. The boys (all 4 of them) had a good time. It was a SUPER slow walk and we looked at almost e.v.e.r.y. s.i.n.g.l.e. roly poly that we found and examined a hundred rocks and leaves and flowers until he picked out what he wanted to keep in his "treasure box". The walk was cut a little short when Corbin sliced open his toe (the boy had been fighting his shoes all morning and then Emily finally let me go without and look what happened! If only he was old enough to learn the lesson. :)) so we headed back.
10:45 - played outside with bubbles, I made a grocery list and the boys chased each other for a while.
11:15 - I can not longer ignore Matthew's constant sign for food. I make him a grilled cheese sandwich and a prune and John has a turkey and cheese sandwich with oranges and carrots. while they are eating I clean up the glass lid that Matthew shattered in the bathroom earlier today (don't ask how he got it because I am still unsure) and complete my dinner and grocery list. I give Matthew some Tylenol, he is drooling like crazy and whimpers every bite he puts in his mouth.
12:15 - nap for MJ and Mike the Knight for John and I. Then play dough (lots of fun today for me and it usually is not due to my lack of creativity) and then that Pirate hunt game that he loves so much. He was sorely disappointed when we could only play it once, but I could only find like 5 clues. I need to ask Johanna where the rest are.
3:00 - Matthew is up and I make them both a shake with Carnation instant breakfast, a banana, peanut butter, milk and ice. They both slurp it down in a hurry (I should have made more). John also has some cheese bunny crackers and I give Matthew those fiddle sticks.
3:30 - we head to the dry cleaners and store, but before I am through 2 stoplights John is asleep. Matthew is a great car rider, so I just turn on the radio and drive slow and enjoy some music and nice weather. I decide to drive to the far away grocery store that has fresher produce due to the peace and quiet. Get what we need, but it takes a long time because I do not know the store layout well and I double back several times. Ugh!
4:30 - home and Matthew needs a snack so I give him a baby rice bar thing. I start dinner a shrimp pasta (it was good, but not healthy and super rich). John is playing his Angry Bird board game thing and Matthew is exploring as usual.
5:15 - Carl is home and dinner is ready (this timing NEVER works out). Everyone eats it except Matthew. :( He gets a squeeze pouch after dinner. I clean the kitchen while the boys play in the living room. I join them after awhile and then me and the two boys head upstairs and take turns burying each other in the stuffed animals.
6:45 - Matthew wants to eat again, so of course John does too. I give them both an oatmeal muffin thing (cooked and froze on Monday I think). Then we make more crayons and play hide and seek and wrestle in the living room until bed time.
7:30 - bed for Matthew, no problems. John and Daddy watch Whale Wars.
8:00 - bed for John. Tonight we are reading "Dinosaurs Before Dawn". It is a chapter book he picked out the last time we were at the book store. He cuddles super close to me and gets a little freaky at sounds while we are reading it, but it is not really scary. I think he just anticipates it might be.
8:30 - I manually run the sprinklers because we have some leaks, and we can only water on trash days. TV time, talk time, bed time.
Week in the Life: 4YO and 13.5MO (Thursday)
Let me preface that I had a SERIOUS lack of motivation yesterday in all aspects of the day, so I write this the day after and might leave out details.
Firsts things first.... Matthew started saying "fish" or some variation there of yesterday!
7:00 - John comes down to wake up both of us. What is our deal?!? we NEVER sleep this late and this week we seem to a lot.
7:20 - After some cuddles, we all get up. Carl gets ready and John and I go to get Matthew. Matthew LOVES when John comes to get him in the morning. We eat breakfast (oatmeal for John and toast with PB and strawberries for Matthew). As we take turns getting ready, Matthew explores again with a bucket on his head, John puts finds his "show and tell" since he is line leader today, he also puts together a puzzle and colors a bit.
8:30 - leave a bit early for school so that I can take pictures. It is the letter Y this week, so John decided he wanted to name one of his bears that he had yet to name "Yippee" and take him as show and tell with a name tag on. So... that is what we did. My camera was giving me trouble for some reason at school, so I only got one with it, but one with my phone too.
9:15 - home after Starbucks because my coffee pot needs descaling. Matthew and I play bubbles out back and with the toy box toys and then of course a snack (banana). He is pretty cranky, so I also spend a good amount of time with him on my hip this morning.
10:20 - lunch (because he is asking again for food) is bubble biscuits and string cheese. followed by a pears, spinach and peas pouch at 10:45. we play a bit more outside. he LOVES to be outside. and I LOVE our pool fence and the shade in our backyard.
11 - 1:45 - Matthew naps and my friend Emily comes over for lunch and chat.
2:00 - Pick up John and head home. the rest of the afternoon is pretty much the same as normal. toy box and upstairs play because I am organizing all the while. :) snacks (animal crackers for john and cereal bar for Matthew, and then later spoon fulls of peanut butter and milk for Matthew). I tried to get John to nap because he was in a horrible mood when he got him, but no such luck. We also pulled out a toy from Christmas that we had not yet....a crayon maker.In the picture below John is a monkey doctor and is fixing the toy that has a brown heart (what?!).
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5:00 - dinner. fish sticks, blueberries and sweet potato fries (don't judge my processed meal). get ready for Tball, play downstairs. John reads me some of his "box books". He picked the last one ins the set that he has never read and did a GREAT job!
6:00 - Daddy walks in the door, scoops a sandwich I made for him and takes John to Tball practice. This is the first practice I have missed and I am NOT sad. It is on the other side of town and it is hard to watch Matthew and help John. Not my favorite part of the week.
Matthew and I read some books, ply with more bubbles. he is saying bubbles, but it sounds exactly like bubba. we take an extra long bath, because we can. then it is time for another snack, 2 homemade french toast sticks.
7:30 - bed time for Matthew. no trouble. Carl and John get home after a slushy. Quick bath in my room for John and then off to bed. He was up several times tonight (couldn't be the slushy) and downstairs with various reasons, but eventually fell asleep.
8:00 - we watched some TV and were extremely lazy and fell asleep early.
Firsts things first.... Matthew started saying "fish" or some variation there of yesterday!
7:00 - John comes down to wake up both of us. What is our deal?!? we NEVER sleep this late and this week we seem to a lot.
7:20 - After some cuddles, we all get up. Carl gets ready and John and I go to get Matthew. Matthew LOVES when John comes to get him in the morning. We eat breakfast (oatmeal for John and toast with PB and strawberries for Matthew). As we take turns getting ready, Matthew explores again with a bucket on his head, John puts finds his "show and tell" since he is line leader today, he also puts together a puzzle and colors a bit.
8:30 - leave a bit early for school so that I can take pictures. It is the letter Y this week, so John decided he wanted to name one of his bears that he had yet to name "Yippee" and take him as show and tell with a name tag on. So... that is what we did. My camera was giving me trouble for some reason at school, so I only got one with it, but one with my phone too.
9:15 - home after Starbucks because my coffee pot needs descaling. Matthew and I play bubbles out back and with the toy box toys and then of course a snack (banana). He is pretty cranky, so I also spend a good amount of time with him on my hip this morning.
10:20 - lunch (because he is asking again for food) is bubble biscuits and string cheese. followed by a pears, spinach and peas pouch at 10:45. we play a bit more outside. he LOVES to be outside. and I LOVE our pool fence and the shade in our backyard.
11 - 1:45 - Matthew naps and my friend Emily comes over for lunch and chat.
2:00 - Pick up John and head home. the rest of the afternoon is pretty much the same as normal. toy box and upstairs play because I am organizing all the while. :) snacks (animal crackers for john and cereal bar for Matthew, and then later spoon fulls of peanut butter and milk for Matthew). I tried to get John to nap because he was in a horrible mood when he got him, but no such luck. We also pulled out a toy from Christmas that we had not yet....a crayon maker.In the picture below John is a monkey doctor and is fixing the toy that has a brown heart (what?!).
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5:00 - dinner. fish sticks, blueberries and sweet potato fries (don't judge my processed meal). get ready for Tball, play downstairs. John reads me some of his "box books". He picked the last one ins the set that he has never read and did a GREAT job!
6:00 - Daddy walks in the door, scoops a sandwich I made for him and takes John to Tball practice. This is the first practice I have missed and I am NOT sad. It is on the other side of town and it is hard to watch Matthew and help John. Not my favorite part of the week.
Matthew and I read some books, ply with more bubbles. he is saying bubbles, but it sounds exactly like bubba. we take an extra long bath, because we can. then it is time for another snack, 2 homemade french toast sticks.
7:30 - bed time for Matthew. no trouble. Carl and John get home after a slushy. Quick bath in my room for John and then off to bed. He was up several times tonight (couldn't be the slushy) and downstairs with various reasons, but eventually fell asleep.
8:00 - we watched some TV and were extremely lazy and fell asleep early.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
A Week in the Life: 4YO and 13.5MO (Wednesday)
6:45 - 7:15 - Carl and I lay in bed snoozing on and off trying to talk ourselves into getting out of bed. Then my real alarm clock started chiming a sweet little sound.
7:15 - 8:40 - both boys up and eating breakfast (french toast and strawberries for MJ and oatmeal and orange juice for John). I make lunch (PB&J, orange, carrots and cheese) and snack (graham crackers and cranberries), get us all ready. Matthew eats and then toddles around with a bucket on his head and then plays with the phone, John eats and plays with CARS legos. we brush teeth and then out the door.
8:45 - 9:20 - Drop John off and then head to Lowe's only to figure out while in the car that I forgot my wallet....back home.
9:20 - 10:30 - Me and Matthew time. He has a snack (a wheat hot dog bun, what do you do?), we play in the kitchen and "wrestle" in the living room, he plays with the remotes and magazines, we play out back for a bit and then upstairs for a bit.
10:30 - lunch. scrambled eggs with cheese and spinach, blueberries and crackers.
11:00 - 12:30 - book and nap. Note that this was only about an hour and half. I sat for a minute and watched last nights "New Girl" and then twiddled around on the internet trying to talk myself into getting up. I thought I at least had another hour to get stuff done....
12:30 - 12:45 - My little precious decides it is time to get up and I let him talk praying that he will go back down.
12:45 - 1:00 - I go up there and try to cuddle in a chair with him to see if he will go back to sleep. No luck.
1:00 - Downstairs to make breakfast bubble biscuits (linked yesterday) while Mathew explores the kitchen and dining room.
1:40 - Out the door to get John and pick up a birthday cake ball from Starbucks for him (okay, me too).
2:00 - get John and head to Lowe's for the 2nd time. Set up an installation of a phantom screen door for the back door, get three bags of dirt and two more plants. On the way out of the parking lot I noticed smoke coming from one of the grassy areas. When I got out to look at it, it was a grass fire and it was super windy. I pulled the car out of the way and called 911. I could have gone inside, but by the time I got both kids out the car and got inside it would have been a long time. So John got to witness a 911 call. He thought it was pretty cool.
All of us played out back for a long time and I planted a few more pots and plants in the back. It is so shaded back there and pleasant right now. I am going to miss that as soon as it is blazing hot!
They both had a snack (cheese crackers for John and an oatmeal muffin (made on Monday) for Matthew with milk.
We also play upstairs with some music instruments (homemade by John) and the tool bench. LOTS of noise!
4:45 - can't hold MJ off any longer. Downstairs for dinner. Hot dogs, mangoes, apples, green beans.
5:00 - 6:15 - back outside for more playing with bubbles and planting.
6:15 - baths for the boys, they had a good time today laughing and splashing. I took this picture, they look so different! Matthew was getting TIRED after bath, I think his 1.5 hour nap is catching up with him. See the crank in his face when I tried to get a monkey towel picture.
Time for me to shower! John watched Dora and MJ had another snack (apple/strawberry stick things) and milk and played with the glass shower door as I threw water on it.
6:45 - I blog while the boys play in the living room and place chase. I LOVE when they giggle at each other.
7:15 - Bed time for Matthew, but a little trouble tonight. I let him fuss while John finishes Mike the Knight and then we play in the living room for a bit. I go up and soothe Matthew back to sleep, but only to wake up as soon as I am back downstairs. I put John to bed about 7:45 and by that time Matthew has fallen asleep on his own.
8:00 - I go out and water the newly planted flowers and pick up out back a bit. Then I have a hard time finding motivation, so I sit on the couch and watch TV and then head to bed about 10. Carl gets home shortly thereafter and wants to go cuddle with John. He falls asleep up there and comes down sometime in the wee hours of the morning. :)
9:20 - 10:30 - Me and Matthew time. He has a snack (a wheat hot dog bun, what do you do?), we play in the kitchen and "wrestle" in the living room, he plays with the remotes and magazines, we play out back for a bit and then upstairs for a bit.
10:30 - lunch. scrambled eggs with cheese and spinach, blueberries and crackers.
11:00 - 12:30 - book and nap. Note that this was only about an hour and half. I sat for a minute and watched last nights "New Girl" and then twiddled around on the internet trying to talk myself into getting up. I thought I at least had another hour to get stuff done....
12:30 - 12:45 - My little precious decides it is time to get up and I let him talk praying that he will go back down.
12:45 - 1:00 - I go up there and try to cuddle in a chair with him to see if he will go back to sleep. No luck.
1:00 - Downstairs to make breakfast bubble biscuits (linked yesterday) while Mathew explores the kitchen and dining room.
1:40 - Out the door to get John and pick up a birthday cake ball from Starbucks for him (okay, me too).
2:00 - get John and head to Lowe's for the 2nd time. Set up an installation of a phantom screen door for the back door, get three bags of dirt and two more plants. On the way out of the parking lot I noticed smoke coming from one of the grassy areas. When I got out to look at it, it was a grass fire and it was super windy. I pulled the car out of the way and called 911. I could have gone inside, but by the time I got both kids out the car and got inside it would have been a long time. So John got to witness a 911 call. He thought it was pretty cool.
All of us played out back for a long time and I planted a few more pots and plants in the back. It is so shaded back there and pleasant right now. I am going to miss that as soon as it is blazing hot!
They both had a snack (cheese crackers for John and an oatmeal muffin (made on Monday) for Matthew with milk.
We also play upstairs with some music instruments (homemade by John) and the tool bench. LOTS of noise!
4:45 - can't hold MJ off any longer. Downstairs for dinner. Hot dogs, mangoes, apples, green beans.
5:00 - 6:15 - back outside for more playing with bubbles and planting.
6:15 - baths for the boys, they had a good time today laughing and splashing. I took this picture, they look so different! Matthew was getting TIRED after bath, I think his 1.5 hour nap is catching up with him. See the crank in his face when I tried to get a monkey towel picture.
Time for me to shower! John watched Dora and MJ had another snack (apple/strawberry stick things) and milk and played with the glass shower door as I threw water on it.
6:45 - I blog while the boys play in the living room and place chase. I LOVE when they giggle at each other.
7:15 - Bed time for Matthew, but a little trouble tonight. I let him fuss while John finishes Mike the Knight and then we play in the living room for a bit. I go up and soothe Matthew back to sleep, but only to wake up as soon as I am back downstairs. I put John to bed about 7:45 and by that time Matthew has fallen asleep on his own.
8:00 - I go out and water the newly planted flowers and pick up out back a bit. Then I have a hard time finding motivation, so I sit on the couch and watch TV and then head to bed about 10. Carl gets home shortly thereafter and wants to go cuddle with John. He falls asleep up there and comes down sometime in the wee hours of the morning. :)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A week in the life: 4 year old and 13.5 month old
6:00 - I hear MJ, but turn the monitor off, he has gotten into a habit of falling back asleep until 7:30 or so.
6:45 - no luck. Carl gets up (he leave late today so that he can see the boys this morning because he will get home after bed tonight) I get up and get him breakfast (ham, strawberries, yogurt and a cereal bar). I have coffee, dog, fix John's lunch (turkey and cheese, strawberries and blue corn chips).
7:30 - John literally crawls down the stairs. He seems to have a pulled muscle or something in his left quad. He lays in the floor and pouts while MJ things it is a game and tries to climb on him and play peek a boo (pretty funny to me, but not John!)I get him some Tylenol and carry him into the table.
8:00 - Daddy leaves and John is eating breakfast (home made french toast sticks that I froze a week or so ago). We do his word strip for school. This week it is the letter "Y" so he picks "Yak". After breakfast he searched the google images and finds a picture of a yak that he prints, cuts and glues on the word strip and writes the word. I get ready while Matthew toddles around in the bathroom and living room and John watches Diego.
8:45 - Out the door to drop John off. He hobbles into school, but seems as he walks in the classroom. Matthew and I head to Little Gym.
9:30 - Little Gym. This is Matthew's 4th time to go and he is getting better and better each session. This time he actually turned around and faced the group in circle time instead of burying his head. Very little tears this time and lots of clapping. A few more times and I think he will love it.
10:30 - home and time for an early lunch. Grilled cheese sandwich (ate the whole thing), BBQ beans (two bites) and left over cauliflower and cheese (3 bites).
11:00 - book and nap. he is just now starting to be still and listen to books. I am trying to read more and more with him because I feel like I started so late with him and he does not have the interest in books that John does.
11:00 - 1:40 - work for an hour or so, type this blog, clean up house, play date preparations, emails, try to schedule Lowe's to come out and put in a pull back screen door, sort socks and laundry, steamed apples for MJ afternoon snack, put in John's other car seat to pick up Garrett, started hash browns to make breakfast bubble biscuits (huge hit and easy to make a lot and freeze).
1:40 - 2:15 - pick Matthew out of bed and plop him in car seat. Head to school to get bother and his friends for play date at our house.
2:15 - 4:45 - play date. Three of John's friends came over to play for a bit. Activities included, bounce house, balloon rockets, roly poly hunting, feet in the pool, video games, snack, coloring, random playing with toys. Overall it was a hit. Matthew and I sort of just tagged along and had a great time. John is good with his friends, although he gets his feelings hurt so easily.
4:45 - 6:00 - walk up to Kroger in our double stroller for bread and dinner. BAD dinner choices and it was awful tasting, so I pulled really random stuff together to fill their bellies. Fruit, granola bars, lunch meat, cheese, prunes, etc.
6:00 - 6:30 - baths. both boys like baths so that makes this part of the day one of my favorites. Matthew is actually only in the bath about 5 minutes, but then John stays in for a long time while Matthew and I waller around in his room and get it picked up. Matthew was handed out the love and giggles tonight and I was eating it up!
6:30 - 7:30 - John watches Peppa Pig and then Mike the Knight. Matthew explores the living room and kitchen and swings by to grab a bite of banana from me at the sink every now and again. Everyone seems happy. I am in and out of the living room playing and talking to Grammie on the phone and cleaning, cutting coupons, etc.
7:30 - Bed for Matthew, seamless.
8:00 - Teeth, potty, diaper, book, bed for John (with 1 sock on his foot so that his boo-boo from yesterday won't bother him. Yep.). We are on our second round of "The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name". It is a chapter book and we read one or two every night.
8:20 - Carl is at a work event, so I am on my own. I water the trees out front and the new plants out back, pick up, laundry, blog, plan tomorrow, work a bit, pinterest a bit. bed time 10:00. :)
6:45 - no luck. Carl gets up (he leave late today so that he can see the boys this morning because he will get home after bed tonight) I get up and get him breakfast (ham, strawberries, yogurt and a cereal bar). I have coffee, dog, fix John's lunch (turkey and cheese, strawberries and blue corn chips).
7:30 - John literally crawls down the stairs. He seems to have a pulled muscle or something in his left quad. He lays in the floor and pouts while MJ things it is a game and tries to climb on him and play peek a boo (pretty funny to me, but not John!)I get him some Tylenol and carry him into the table.
8:00 - Daddy leaves and John is eating breakfast (home made french toast sticks that I froze a week or so ago). We do his word strip for school. This week it is the letter "Y" so he picks "Yak". After breakfast he searched the google images and finds a picture of a yak that he prints, cuts and glues on the word strip and writes the word. I get ready while Matthew toddles around in the bathroom and living room and John watches Diego.
8:45 - Out the door to drop John off. He hobbles into school, but seems as he walks in the classroom. Matthew and I head to Little Gym.
9:30 - Little Gym. This is Matthew's 4th time to go and he is getting better and better each session. This time he actually turned around and faced the group in circle time instead of burying his head. Very little tears this time and lots of clapping. A few more times and I think he will love it.
10:30 - home and time for an early lunch. Grilled cheese sandwich (ate the whole thing), BBQ beans (two bites) and left over cauliflower and cheese (3 bites).
11:00 - book and nap. he is just now starting to be still and listen to books. I am trying to read more and more with him because I feel like I started so late with him and he does not have the interest in books that John does.
11:00 - 1:40 - work for an hour or so, type this blog, clean up house, play date preparations, emails, try to schedule Lowe's to come out and put in a pull back screen door, sort socks and laundry, steamed apples for MJ afternoon snack, put in John's other car seat to pick up Garrett, started hash browns to make breakfast bubble biscuits (huge hit and easy to make a lot and freeze).
1:40 - 2:15 - pick Matthew out of bed and plop him in car seat. Head to school to get bother and his friends for play date at our house.
2:15 - 4:45 - play date. Three of John's friends came over to play for a bit. Activities included, bounce house, balloon rockets, roly poly hunting, feet in the pool, video games, snack, coloring, random playing with toys. Overall it was a hit. Matthew and I sort of just tagged along and had a great time. John is good with his friends, although he gets his feelings hurt so easily.
4:45 - 6:00 - walk up to Kroger in our double stroller for bread and dinner. BAD dinner choices and it was awful tasting, so I pulled really random stuff together to fill their bellies. Fruit, granola bars, lunch meat, cheese, prunes, etc.
6:00 - 6:30 - baths. both boys like baths so that makes this part of the day one of my favorites. Matthew is actually only in the bath about 5 minutes, but then John stays in for a long time while Matthew and I waller around in his room and get it picked up. Matthew was handed out the love and giggles tonight and I was eating it up!
6:30 - 7:30 - John watches Peppa Pig and then Mike the Knight. Matthew explores the living room and kitchen and swings by to grab a bite of banana from me at the sink every now and again. Everyone seems happy. I am in and out of the living room playing and talking to Grammie on the phone and cleaning, cutting coupons, etc.
7:30 - Bed for Matthew, seamless.
8:00 - Teeth, potty, diaper, book, bed for John (with 1 sock on his foot so that his boo-boo from yesterday won't bother him. Yep.). We are on our second round of "The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name". It is a chapter book and we read one or two every night.
8:20 - Carl is at a work event, so I am on my own. I water the trees out front and the new plants out back, pick up, laundry, blog, plan tomorrow, work a bit, pinterest a bit. bed time 10:00. :)
Monday, April 23, 2012
A week in the life: 4 years old and 13.5 months old
I have started this post for 3 weeks now and stopped it because I decided it was an odd week and I wanted to post about a "regular" week.... well, I figured out that we really do not have "regular" weeks, and that I actually like it that way. It keeps things interesting
6:15 - Carl is up and out the door for work.
7:15 - I am still in bed when I hear John come down the stairs. He gets in bed and cuddle with me. Short lived...he turns on "bubble guppies". I get up and make some coffee, feed the dog, plan the day, start a grocery list....
7:45 - MJ wakes up and immediately asks for breakfast. Dinosaur oatmeal and grapes and strawberries for both of them.
8:20 - Finish grocery list while John plays with helicopter legos (he JUST got in trouble and I took his CARS legos away, and it takes things literally, so the helicopter legs were readily available. I need to be less specific). Matthew is bouncing around the kitchen, talking and playing and walking in circles.
8:30 - MJ asks for more food (note breakfast was less than an hour ago) and I give in about 8:45 and give him a blue corn chip (Food That Should Taste Good brand, yummo!).
I do a little laundry and then while Matthew plays in the laundry room (a regular activity), John and I print out some more activities for our red "summer activity book" from the computer.
9:00 - all 3 of us go into living room to play with soccer ball and various toys from the toy box. John plays with the ipad (drawing game) and I make some videos of them (going to attempt the video montage of this "week in the life"...uh huh).
9:45 - Matthew asks for MORE food, I give them both gogurts and then we all get ready for the day
10:15 - Matthew asks for MORE food (not kidding). I give them both a prune and a carrot cake muffing.
10:15 -11:35 - Target, get lunch at Chik-filet, and stop to get gas.
11:45 - lunch out back. Matthew has decided that he wants to use a fork. I am all for it! He actually did pretty good as long as I put the food on the fork. After lunch, they were both playing out back and John got a cut on his foot and then...well....all went to poo after that. I think the boy has a low pain tolerance. Several minutes of calming down the ALL OUT screaming we finally made it inside to get a band aid on it. and he watches Mike the Knight.
12:30 - nap for MJ, I clean, John watching TV
1:00 - John and I make dinner and these oatmeal muffin things (turned out pretty good, although I used honey instead of stevia and I think I will use more next time, not near as sweet as I wanted them to be). John really likes to help me cook.
2:00 - I finally shower and get ready while John watched Yo Gabba Gabba. We dance (he always asks me to dance during this show and Team Umizoomi) and he poops (this takes him 15 minutes, so it is noteworthy). Finish up some laundry and then go look at our the fish tank and our new fish Gilly.
3:00 - MJ is up and immediately asks for something to eat, yep. So he gets one of the oatmeal muffin things (linked above) and he eats almost 2 of them! Then John and I collect a bunch of scoops and spoons and containers and all the dry beans and corns in the pantry (left over from Thanksgiving craft) and go outside. For almost an hour both boys and I scooped and played and dumped and made a mess. This was a much bigger hit than I anticipated.
4:30 - Matthew wants more food, so I give him these organic "fiddle sticks" for babies, John is playing with helicopter legos again. Matthew finishes and is just following me around crying and whining (this is my least favorite part of the day) and intermittently exploring something he has found. On this particular afternoon it was a tomato off the table that he bit right into. Little stinker.
5:00 - I try to get them both in the living room to play so I can buy more time before I have to feed the bottomless pit that is my youngest son. This last about 15 minutes.
5:15 - prep dinner. Scrambled eggs with cheese, blueberries, carrot/raisin/pineapple salad, pureed cauliflower and cheese (they both had several bites of this without complaining).
5:30 - Carl gets home, but is in the driveway on the phone for about 20 minutes (this is pretty typical). Everyone is eating and then playing a bit. Carl and I have Stuffed Red bell Peppers in the slow cookers with couscous, goat cheese, and sausage. Super yummy, easy and healthy!
6:30 - John and Carl leave for a 7:00 Tball game. Since it is so late. MJ and I decide to stay behind. This was the first game or practice I have ever missed. I felt a little weird about it. I bathe Matthew and then we play in the living room until he wants food. I give him a squeeze pouch of Spinach, apples and rutabaga and some milk.
7:30 - book and bed for MJ. Super smooth and peaceful.
8:00 - John and Carl get home, quick bath for John and then off to bed without a fight. Super smooth and peaceful.
8:30 - watch TV, talk on the couch, write this blog, off to bed about 10:00.
6:15 - Carl is up and out the door for work.
7:15 - I am still in bed when I hear John come down the stairs. He gets in bed and cuddle with me. Short lived...he turns on "bubble guppies". I get up and make some coffee, feed the dog, plan the day, start a grocery list....
7:45 - MJ wakes up and immediately asks for breakfast. Dinosaur oatmeal and grapes and strawberries for both of them.
8:20 - Finish grocery list while John plays with helicopter legos (he JUST got in trouble and I took his CARS legos away, and it takes things literally, so the helicopter legs were readily available. I need to be less specific). Matthew is bouncing around the kitchen, talking and playing and walking in circles.
8:30 - MJ asks for more food (note breakfast was less than an hour ago) and I give in about 8:45 and give him a blue corn chip (Food That Should Taste Good brand, yummo!).
I do a little laundry and then while Matthew plays in the laundry room (a regular activity), John and I print out some more activities for our red "summer activity book" from the computer.
9:00 - all 3 of us go into living room to play with soccer ball and various toys from the toy box. John plays with the ipad (drawing game) and I make some videos of them (going to attempt the video montage of this "week in the life"...uh huh).
9:45 - Matthew asks for MORE food, I give them both gogurts and then we all get ready for the day
10:15 - Matthew asks for MORE food (not kidding). I give them both a prune and a carrot cake muffing.
10:15 -11:35 - Target, get lunch at Chik-filet, and stop to get gas.
11:45 - lunch out back. Matthew has decided that he wants to use a fork. I am all for it! He actually did pretty good as long as I put the food on the fork. After lunch, they were both playing out back and John got a cut on his foot and then...well....all went to poo after that. I think the boy has a low pain tolerance. Several minutes of calming down the ALL OUT screaming we finally made it inside to get a band aid on it. and he watches Mike the Knight.
12:30 - nap for MJ, I clean, John watching TV
1:00 - John and I make dinner and these oatmeal muffin things (turned out pretty good, although I used honey instead of stevia and I think I will use more next time, not near as sweet as I wanted them to be). John really likes to help me cook.
2:00 - I finally shower and get ready while John watched Yo Gabba Gabba. We dance (he always asks me to dance during this show and Team Umizoomi) and he poops (this takes him 15 minutes, so it is noteworthy). Finish up some laundry and then go look at our the fish tank and our new fish Gilly.
3:00 - MJ is up and immediately asks for something to eat, yep. So he gets one of the oatmeal muffin things (linked above) and he eats almost 2 of them! Then John and I collect a bunch of scoops and spoons and containers and all the dry beans and corns in the pantry (left over from Thanksgiving craft) and go outside. For almost an hour both boys and I scooped and played and dumped and made a mess. This was a much bigger hit than I anticipated.
4:30 - Matthew wants more food, so I give him these organic "fiddle sticks" for babies, John is playing with helicopter legos again. Matthew finishes and is just following me around crying and whining (this is my least favorite part of the day) and intermittently exploring something he has found. On this particular afternoon it was a tomato off the table that he bit right into. Little stinker.
5:00 - I try to get them both in the living room to play so I can buy more time before I have to feed the bottomless pit that is my youngest son. This last about 15 minutes.
5:15 - prep dinner. Scrambled eggs with cheese, blueberries, carrot/raisin/pineapple salad, pureed cauliflower and cheese (they both had several bites of this without complaining).
5:30 - Carl gets home, but is in the driveway on the phone for about 20 minutes (this is pretty typical). Everyone is eating and then playing a bit. Carl and I have Stuffed Red bell Peppers in the slow cookers with couscous, goat cheese, and sausage. Super yummy, easy and healthy!
6:30 - John and Carl leave for a 7:00 Tball game. Since it is so late. MJ and I decide to stay behind. This was the first game or practice I have ever missed. I felt a little weird about it. I bathe Matthew and then we play in the living room until he wants food. I give him a squeeze pouch of Spinach, apples and rutabaga and some milk.
7:30 - book and bed for MJ. Super smooth and peaceful.
8:00 - John and Carl get home, quick bath for John and then off to bed without a fight. Super smooth and peaceful.
8:30 - watch TV, talk on the couch, write this blog, off to bed about 10:00.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Day to Day Differences
Some day to day comparisons of my two little angles...
- Matthew will set and let me cut his finger nails without twitching once. I used to have to trick John or do it while he was asleep for fear of snipping off a finger during the wrestle match that had to happen.
- John was (and still is) my little cuddle bug at pretty much any point during the day. I get cuddles from Matthew after he is asleep or if he is in a room with people he does not know.
- Pretty much the same eaters at 1 year old, but Matthew eats more. They both go/went though phases of being picky or not and the volume of food. Overall I am pretty blessed with decent eaters.
- Matthew plays more independently than John did, although I think he is has to more often than John did too.
- John almost had a full head of teeth by 1 year old, but Matthew has 4 that are fully in and 2 peeking their heads out. They both had the same gap in their front two teeth before more came in and pushed it together.
- Matthew has a little darker hair, but less of it than John did.
- They are/were both signing several words including "eat", "milk","more", "dog", "all done", "book" and we have added "Daddy" and "brother" for Matthew.
- They only walked a month apart from each other, John at 10 months and Matthew at 11 months.
- Matthew is still facing backwards in the car, as John was flipped around the day he turned 1 year old. The new regulations have changed saying that they should stay rear facing until they are 2. I am not sure we will last that long, but as long as John is in the third row and Matthew is in the 2nd row Matthew is perfectly happy and entertained.
- John could be distracted by TV for a little while at this age, but I am not sure Matthew has ever even looked up at the TV yet.... hmmm???
- Oh my, just read back to John's 13 month... he was "talking" a lot in comparison! Matthew will bark like a dog and say "da-da" for just about anything. That is it.... I need to talk with him more! He has not idea what an ear, eye, belly or elbow is, apparently John knew all of this....
- physically, Matthew is a bit shorter and heavier. I think John has Carl's body type and I think Matthew will have mine.
- Matthew sleeps less at night but takes longer naps during the day.
- Matthew will set and let me cut his finger nails without twitching once. I used to have to trick John or do it while he was asleep for fear of snipping off a finger during the wrestle match that had to happen.
- John was (and still is) my little cuddle bug at pretty much any point during the day. I get cuddles from Matthew after he is asleep or if he is in a room with people he does not know.
- Pretty much the same eaters at 1 year old, but Matthew eats more. They both go/went though phases of being picky or not and the volume of food. Overall I am pretty blessed with decent eaters.
- Matthew plays more independently than John did, although I think he is has to more often than John did too.
- John almost had a full head of teeth by 1 year old, but Matthew has 4 that are fully in and 2 peeking their heads out. They both had the same gap in their front two teeth before more came in and pushed it together.
- Matthew has a little darker hair, but less of it than John did.
- They are/were both signing several words including "eat", "milk","more", "dog", "all done", "book" and we have added "Daddy" and "brother" for Matthew.
- They only walked a month apart from each other, John at 10 months and Matthew at 11 months.
- Matthew is still facing backwards in the car, as John was flipped around the day he turned 1 year old. The new regulations have changed saying that they should stay rear facing until they are 2. I am not sure we will last that long, but as long as John is in the third row and Matthew is in the 2nd row Matthew is perfectly happy and entertained.
- John could be distracted by TV for a little while at this age, but I am not sure Matthew has ever even looked up at the TV yet.... hmmm???
- Oh my, just read back to John's 13 month... he was "talking" a lot in comparison! Matthew will bark like a dog and say "da-da" for just about anything. That is it.... I need to talk with him more! He has not idea what an ear, eye, belly or elbow is, apparently John knew all of this....
- physically, Matthew is a bit shorter and heavier. I think John has Carl's body type and I think Matthew will have mine.
- Matthew sleeps less at night but takes longer naps during the day.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Happy FIRST birthday week (MJ edition): Dear Mattew:
Dear Matthew,
Where has the year gone? It feels like just yesterday you were sleeping in the blue basinet next to the chair in the living room while life went on all around you. You were, for the most part, a relaxed infant and really only got fussy if you were hungry (haven’t changed much since). You would lay and soak it all in, especially big brother.
Now, when you have kids and look back at the pictures and stories of your first year of life, don’t be mad. Wait until you have multiple children and you will understand. I am that second child next to your Uncle Brent. Your Grammie had a hard time remembering details about me too. But I understand now. I write this blog (albeit, less often that I would like but am going to put out best efforts in the coming year) to serve as a baby book or at least the resource to make a hard cover baby book one day. And hopefully to give you boys a glimpse into life when you were small.
For some reason, I have a hard time letting go of the idea that you are not an infant anymore. When you do something that has logic or purpose behind it or is physically challenging, it blows me away. I forget that you are starting to make sense of the world and to understand and manipulate what is going on all around you.
For 6 months (give or take) I worked during your first year, however, our lives are both about to change, as I am staying home full time as of now. I could not be more blessed and excited to get this opportunity. I look forward most to having more alone time with you. Although I cherish the time when all of us are together, John is having some struggles right now between sharing with you and helping you to grow up. He just wants to be able to play with you uninhibited by your lack of understanding and coordination. One day, my dears, one day too soon.
If I had to pick one word for your personality as of today, it would be relaxed. However, if you are hungry, WATCH OUT, as it literally comes to blows as you smack your mouth and my mouth with an open hand, which I think is your version of “eat” in sign language that we have been working on. You could hardly notice when John snatches things from you, as it has been happening all your life (although the last week or so, I think I see a change in this pattern). You will let anyone hold you, especially if I am not in the room. You never went through a separating anxiety phase. When you fall and get hurt, you fuss for a second, but then it is over. Your overall attitude is a little shorter, but even when you were/are teething I can hardly tell (outside the immense drool).
Your face and the expressions you have, make life worth living! Your favorite thing right now is to scrunch up your nose and squint your eyes. You do this to either make me laugh or it is the sign that you are trying to get worked up and mad about something, but it is not all that important to you. It makes me laugh EVERY time. The sad face you have when you really are upset about something could quite possibly be the most heart wrenching look I have ever seen. It feels like I can see your heart breaking and then the tears come, I kid you not, so sad! When you get mad or just want a little drama, you throw yourself on the floor face first and waller around a bit, every now and again you will tilt your head to the side with cheek on the floor to make sure I am looking. We ignore this one quite a bit and it stops as quick as it started. Another favorite is the “am I getting away with this” look. It is pretty blank for the most part, a very innocent look. I get this when you are headed for the unlocked gate at the stairs or reaching something on top of the table or climbing on something new, or thinking you have escaped out the front door (I let him do this when I get the mail). As you begin the “forbidden” task you pause and look back at me, almost to say “I am going to do it anyway, but I really want your permission first”. (side note: Grandparents that are freaking out right now about my parenting skills, I see all of these things and this in no way should freak you out. Your grandsons are safe)
It was hard to imagine having a second child and how we were going to share the love. However, it is so true and there is no better way to say than our hearts grew just for you. You have made this family and this world better just by being in it. I miss you when you sleep and look forward to that smiling face peeking over the crib every morning. You are my sunshine (my very early sunshine, but my sunshine none-the-less). The words “I love you” can not explain a parent’s love for a child, but know that you boys are forever on my heart and mind. KISS!
Where has the year gone? It feels like just yesterday you were sleeping in the blue basinet next to the chair in the living room while life went on all around you. You were, for the most part, a relaxed infant and really only got fussy if you were hungry (haven’t changed much since). You would lay and soak it all in, especially big brother.
Now, when you have kids and look back at the pictures and stories of your first year of life, don’t be mad. Wait until you have multiple children and you will understand. I am that second child next to your Uncle Brent. Your Grammie had a hard time remembering details about me too. But I understand now. I write this blog (albeit, less often that I would like but am going to put out best efforts in the coming year) to serve as a baby book or at least the resource to make a hard cover baby book one day. And hopefully to give you boys a glimpse into life when you were small.
For some reason, I have a hard time letting go of the idea that you are not an infant anymore. When you do something that has logic or purpose behind it or is physically challenging, it blows me away. I forget that you are starting to make sense of the world and to understand and manipulate what is going on all around you.
For 6 months (give or take) I worked during your first year, however, our lives are both about to change, as I am staying home full time as of now. I could not be more blessed and excited to get this opportunity. I look forward most to having more alone time with you. Although I cherish the time when all of us are together, John is having some struggles right now between sharing with you and helping you to grow up. He just wants to be able to play with you uninhibited by your lack of understanding and coordination. One day, my dears, one day too soon.
If I had to pick one word for your personality as of today, it would be relaxed. However, if you are hungry, WATCH OUT, as it literally comes to blows as you smack your mouth and my mouth with an open hand, which I think is your version of “eat” in sign language that we have been working on. You could hardly notice when John snatches things from you, as it has been happening all your life (although the last week or so, I think I see a change in this pattern). You will let anyone hold you, especially if I am not in the room. You never went through a separating anxiety phase. When you fall and get hurt, you fuss for a second, but then it is over. Your overall attitude is a little shorter, but even when you were/are teething I can hardly tell (outside the immense drool).
Your face and the expressions you have, make life worth living! Your favorite thing right now is to scrunch up your nose and squint your eyes. You do this to either make me laugh or it is the sign that you are trying to get worked up and mad about something, but it is not all that important to you. It makes me laugh EVERY time. The sad face you have when you really are upset about something could quite possibly be the most heart wrenching look I have ever seen. It feels like I can see your heart breaking and then the tears come, I kid you not, so sad! When you get mad or just want a little drama, you throw yourself on the floor face first and waller around a bit, every now and again you will tilt your head to the side with cheek on the floor to make sure I am looking. We ignore this one quite a bit and it stops as quick as it started. Another favorite is the “am I getting away with this” look. It is pretty blank for the most part, a very innocent look. I get this when you are headed for the unlocked gate at the stairs or reaching something on top of the table or climbing on something new, or thinking you have escaped out the front door (I let him do this when I get the mail). As you begin the “forbidden” task you pause and look back at me, almost to say “I am going to do it anyway, but I really want your permission first”. (side note: Grandparents that are freaking out right now about my parenting skills, I see all of these things and this in no way should freak you out. Your grandsons are safe)
It was hard to imagine having a second child and how we were going to share the love. However, it is so true and there is no better way to say than our hearts grew just for you. You have made this family and this world better just by being in it. I miss you when you sleep and look forward to that smiling face peeking over the crib every morning. You are my sunshine (my very early sunshine, but my sunshine none-the-less). The words “I love you” can not explain a parent’s love for a child, but know that you boys are forever on my heart and mind. KISS!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Happy FIRST Birthday Week (Matthew Edition): Milestones
A few milestones and memories throughout the year (in no particular order)
Walking: took your first real steps right at 11 months, but just last Saturday (1 week shy of your birthday) you figured it out and now you walk everywhere.
Foods: You nursed like a champ for 9 months. I got super sick and had to take some medication that was not good for you. As I was debating switching you to formula anyway, I took the opportunity to stop. You switched to formula without any issues.
We started solids at 4 months and you have been a champion eater ever since. You will really eat almost anything I put on your plate. You devour the fruit first, but get around to the rest eventually. Some of your regulars: scrambled eggs with cheese, yogurt with pureed fruit, grilled cheese sandwhich with deli meat, meat loaf, ham and cheese baked in crescent rolls (thanks Aunt Abbey), oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon. fruit, shredded cheese, avacado (sometimes), mac and cheese, cut up hot dog, chicken fingers. (hmmm...not seeing a lot of veggies on here, maybe I need to overhaul our meals)
Sleeping: I can not remember when you slept through the night, but I think it depends on individual definition of "the night". You woke up at 5:00am for the longest time and would have a bottle and go back to sleep until 8 or so. Nowadays, you are my little alarm clock between 6:00 and 6:30. Once I put you down at night I do not hear from you AT ALL until morning, thank you my dear, thank you.
You nap 2 times a day right now, but are starting the transition into one. Your first nap is around 9:30 (give or take 30 minutes) and will be anywhere from 2 to 3 hours. Your second nap is around 3:30 and is usually only 45 minutes or so. You go down with smiles on nap #1, but fight that second nap pretty consistently.
Talking: hmmmm? I could argue that you have a sound that comes out everytime you see Bailee and it starts with a D, but pretty sure you are not talking yet.
Teeth: You have 4 right now and have since probably 9 months or so. I think you are finally cutting a 5th and possibly more.
Favorite things and activities: Shaking things (toys with rattles, containers with stuff, etc.) always puts a smile on your face, and we always say good morning and goodnight to a few select bears (sleep bear, pooh bear, Mr. Bear and Giggle), but other than that, you really have no vices. You enjoy Peek-a-boo and putting things into and out of a bucket/container/basket/etc. and of course a little game of stick your tounge out (Thanks Da). Climbing on and off something is pretty addicting to you (little red chair, Johns blue floor pillow/chair, pillows, the couch when I let you, the stairs, etc.). You have not really discovered the absolute wonder of outside, due to safety and weather, but Spring is around the corner and I think you will love it.
Walking: took your first real steps right at 11 months, but just last Saturday (1 week shy of your birthday) you figured it out and now you walk everywhere.
Foods: You nursed like a champ for 9 months. I got super sick and had to take some medication that was not good for you. As I was debating switching you to formula anyway, I took the opportunity to stop. You switched to formula without any issues.
We started solids at 4 months and you have been a champion eater ever since. You will really eat almost anything I put on your plate. You devour the fruit first, but get around to the rest eventually. Some of your regulars: scrambled eggs with cheese, yogurt with pureed fruit, grilled cheese sandwhich with deli meat, meat loaf, ham and cheese baked in crescent rolls (thanks Aunt Abbey), oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon. fruit, shredded cheese, avacado (sometimes), mac and cheese, cut up hot dog, chicken fingers. (hmmm...not seeing a lot of veggies on here, maybe I need to overhaul our meals)
Sleeping: I can not remember when you slept through the night, but I think it depends on individual definition of "the night". You woke up at 5:00am for the longest time and would have a bottle and go back to sleep until 8 or so. Nowadays, you are my little alarm clock between 6:00 and 6:30. Once I put you down at night I do not hear from you AT ALL until morning, thank you my dear, thank you.
You nap 2 times a day right now, but are starting the transition into one. Your first nap is around 9:30 (give or take 30 minutes) and will be anywhere from 2 to 3 hours. Your second nap is around 3:30 and is usually only 45 minutes or so. You go down with smiles on nap #1, but fight that second nap pretty consistently.
Talking: hmmmm? I could argue that you have a sound that comes out everytime you see Bailee and it starts with a D, but pretty sure you are not talking yet.
Teeth: You have 4 right now and have since probably 9 months or so. I think you are finally cutting a 5th and possibly more.
Favorite things and activities: Shaking things (toys with rattles, containers with stuff, etc.) always puts a smile on your face, and we always say good morning and goodnight to a few select bears (sleep bear, pooh bear, Mr. Bear and Giggle), but other than that, you really have no vices. You enjoy Peek-a-boo and putting things into and out of a bucket/container/basket/etc. and of course a little game of stick your tounge out (Thanks Da). Climbing on and off something is pretty addicting to you (little red chair, Johns blue floor pillow/chair, pillows, the couch when I let you, the stairs, etc.). You have not really discovered the absolute wonder of outside, due to safety and weather, but Spring is around the corner and I think you will love it.
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