September 28, 2014

Technically it's midnight so I can go ahead and start celebrating. Because even though I spent my day completely exhausted, my mind wakes up at night and I lay in bed for hours just thinking. Tonight, I'm thinking about how September 28th 2015 marks four months since Elizabeth was born. That blows my mind. How did that even happen?!  I'm also thinking back to September 28th 2014 and how I can't believe that it's already been a whole year since then. That was the day I got an actual positive pregnancy test. It was a Sunday and honey was at ward council. After church, we got home and got out of the car. I pulled honey to the front of our house, out of earshot of Abigail. Honey was almost annoyed because he thought I was going to say something about our weeping spruce (which has since been somewhat fixed). I told him I was pregnant and he was so insanely happy. I'm pretty positive that my honey is at his very happiest, most euphoric state of mind in the seconds following finding out that we're going to have a baby. It was a wonderful moment and such a happy day. 

Time is such a crazy thing. Thinking about the last year and the last four months. Each seem like forever and just the blink of an eye... Simultaneously. A year ago I found out I was pregnant... And now my precious Elizabeth is already four months old.

I'm overwhelmed with wonder and gratitude and I'm just left completely speechless. 

Shooting on pooh bear

9.27.15

Sunday mornings seem to be especially difficult for me to get out of bed. Today was no exception. I even took Brady potty and then got back in bed and made him snuggle me for at least an hour longer. 

His treat of choice lately for going potty is one of those mellow creme pumpkins. See? Here it is. 

Brady thought I was hilarious this morning saying "Brady, do you have a soccer ball on your shirt?!  Oh, no. You have a basketball!!!"  He kept laughing like crazy (even doing that weird head nod laugh like a muppet or something) and saying "do it again!!!!" a million times. I love that he thinks I'm so funny. He flatters me.  

We take selfies together. Because we share this love of iPhone photography. 

Brady really wanted to play hockey but he was smart enough to realize that "yeah, in a little bit" was code for "I'm never getting out of bed" so he set things up accordingly. 

We took turns shooting on pooh bear. Who is large enough that, even though he didn't move, he was able to block most all of our shots. 

Abigail joined us. She was being a bossy pants until I reminded her that this was Brady's game that he set up and was letting her play. I explained that she didn't have the authority to decide the rules (or yell at people with minor infractions) and surprisingly, she was receptive to that. It made it pleasant for all of us. 

I find the paint on my ceilings so interesting. Anyone else have ceilings painted anything other than white? 

Brady is so independent. He wants to do everything by himself. I know that's typical for a two year old, but he's actually really good at stuff and it's still making me sad that he's growing up so fast. 

But then he'll give me a tantrum or two just so we can reminisce about his days as a constantly crying newborn. ; ) 

He's still high maintence sometimes. As honey said tonight... "Ugh! It's so frustrating!" about how Brady threw so many fits so easily and how he only ever wants me and never honey. 

I'm a mean mom, but our kids do seem to prefer me when they need nurturing. Maybe eventually Brady will learn that Christopher can comfort him too. Maybe. 

Brady calls the shots

I had hoped to keep Brady in a crib til he was at least three... Preferably even 3.5 if he would do that. But, that obviously didn't happen because once he started climbing out at 2.5, there was no turning back. 

I also had hoped (still kinda am but am losing hope) to keep him in diapers til at least January... After he turned three and our holiday traveling was over. I potty trained Abigail when Brady was just a few weeks old. She wasn't ready for it and I was stupid to do it. I only did it because the timing was right... It was the dead of winter and I was already home 24/7 with my colicky newborn anyway... Might as well potty train my 2.5 year old so we can enjoy our summer and already have this mastered. As I said, so stupid of me, but that's what first kids are for, right? 

Anyway, for the last two years, I've had so many power struggles with Abigail about going potty. I've never cleaned pee out of my carpets, but the potty training thing isn't appealing to me because of all the power struggles we've been through. The actually potty training was easy... It's just been everything since then. So, for the last two years, I've been changing Brady's diapers while telling him "I'm never potty training you" and "I'm going to keep you in diapers forever." Literally, that's what I would tell him while I changed his diapers. Even when he was like 12 months old. Poor guy, his sister ruined things for him. In my head I knew I was doing things differently with him. I kept telling him that he would have to potty train himself. 

And then more recently I read "it's no accident" and how it's better to wait too after your kid turns three and looked at my calendar and saw that that would work best anyway for the same reasons that that timing was so convenient for me to train Abigail. Holiday travel done and already inside for winter time. 

Well Brady started waking up dry a week or so ago. So instead of waiting for him to fill his diaper 30 minutes after he wakes up, I thought I would be so smart and have him pee on the potty so I could save that diaper. I know it's like 15 cents... but still. Also, I told myself that it would be a good habit for him to get into and that it would be good practice for him to learn how to go on the potty so once January came, it would be super quick and easy to potty train him. So that's what we've been doing this week... I just have him go on the potty after he wakes me up. All was going as planned. 

Until yesterday morning. He'd just gone potty an hour or so before and we were hanging out in my bed when he stopped mid sentence and was all "mom, I need to go potty."  And then he went. And that happened at least five more times during the day. And then he kept his diaper dry for almost 24 hours because he stayed dry all night and did the same thing again today. I only prompt him to go first thing in the morning when his diaper is totally dry. Every single other time is because he drops what he's doing and tells me that he needs to go. He loves going potty. He thinks it's so cool. He even stopped me yesterday while we were walking down the stairs and was all "mom, I love going potty! Going potty is so much fun!!!"  Ha. That's great kid. Can you share some of that enthusiasm with Abigail? She doesn't share your sentiments. 

So, now I'm torn. I don't want him to wear underwear til January but he's too busy calling the shots to ask me what I would prefer. 

Also, he totally dresses and undresses himself, he can fully do all the buckled to get snapped into his car seat and can undo the top buckles, and he can out his shoes on by himself (which, if you've ever attempted putting his shoes on, you know is a feat... Mom, can you believe it?!) and on the correct feet. And he can wash his hands by himself and eat sunflower seeds by himself. And he sleeps in a big bed (our guest bed) and doesn't take naps. 

WHAT ON EARTH IS HAPPENING TO THIS KID?!?!?! 

I'm panicking hardcore at how fast he's growing up. Also, I'm getting super sad that he's not going to be two for much longer. Because goodness knows I adore two year olds... three year olds, not so much. Please don't take my two year old Brady away. He is absolute perfection right now. 

So yeah, I would like to freeze time... But I don't call the shots. 

Thank you for no school

Woohoo! We had such a great day today! Abigail had the day off because of teacher work day and I was legit, so so so excited about it. I was excited that we would be able to have a slow morning to sleep in a bit (especially after our late night at Sara's), and that Abigail could come with us to story time at the library. Every time we go to the library she's all "is story time happening?!?!" with this adorable really hopeful voice and then continues "or did it already happen already?" in a kinda sad voice. It always hurts my heart a little when I tell her it already happened. So what're you supposed to do when all of the storytimes happen during kindergarten?!  Well, you for sure make sure that you get to story time on your kid's day off! So yeah, I was super excited to be able to take her. 

Elizabeth woke up at 6... Because she does that... And I put her straight back to sleep because if I'm not awake yet, that crap is considered a night feeding. And Abigail slept in til almost 9 I think because she was so exhausted from last night. Brady was up by 8 I think. We cuddled in bed and watched sports videos on my phone. Football, baseball, basketball, and videos of rocky (nuggets mascot) and dinger (Rockies mascot). He's so cute. Two year olds are the greatest. 

Abigail and Brady each had a banana muffin for breakfast (life is so much easier when I just let my kids do what they want and stop trying to get them to eat more just because I feel like their body should require more food) and Elizabeth woke up at 10:45 so I just grabbed her out of bed and promised her breakfast at the library. ; ) 

After storytime, I fed Elizabeth while Abigail and Brady played in the play area. Also, at one point, all four of us were in one of those purple chairs while I read books and Brady whined about wanting more space. Ha. 

While we were at the library, Jodi texted to see if we wanted to meet up at the playground at 12:45 so we stayed a little longer and then I told the kids we had to go. Story time is at 11... How we spend two hours at the library every time is beyond me. Seriously, that I had to pull my kids out at 1h45 seems weird to me even though I should know better by now. 

Anyway, we stopped by the house long enough for me to run in and grab snacks (since that would be their lunch) of leftover watermelon, banana muffins, granola bars, and water sippies. Combine that with how Jodi always brings enough food for an army (she brought apples, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes from her garden (probably the sweetest and most flavorful that I've ever tasted in my life... they were like candy), chocolate chip cookies, and crackers) and we were set. I had so much fun hanging out with Jodi. We don't get to see each other as much anymore since elle likes playing with boys and boy stuff and Abigail is all into girly stuff and princesses. Jodi brought several boys from church with her and elle so that worked out well for Brady, but I think Abigail felt a little out of place, even if she didn't mention anything about it. 

Abigail ended up walking home with Jodi and all the kids and played at Elle's house for an hour or so. Brady and Elizabeth and I filled up the car with gas (because I was literally on empty and the kids were already buckled and I was worried my car might not start again... Ha) and headed home. I out Elizabeth down for nap and Brsdy and I were just sitting down for some ice cream when Abigail came knocking. So I got another bowl and we all hung out while we enjoyed some deeper butter pecan. Delish. Abigail will only take funny face pictures these days so that's what we do.  

Brady likes to do what we do. Always. 

And he likes to eat ice cream. 

Then I told the kids they could watch a show and one minute later said "actually, no you can't... You have to play outside first for an hour and a half and I'll let you watch a show at 5:30 if you still want to." Abigail was upset (rightfully so on me going back on my word), but I think she forgave me because she ended up playing with Presley and Lucy for the next several hours and didn't come home until dinner time. Meanwhile, Brady and I played in the yard. I tried to get him to play hockey with me but he insisted on playing baseball until his daddy could come to play hockey with him. The weather was perfect and my heart was positively bursting with how insanely adorable and funny Brady is. 

Eventually Elizabeth woke up and we got hungry. We ate a hodgepodge of stuff for dinner, including fresh salsa that's just tomatoes, corn, black eyed peas, and good seasons dressing. Y'know the easiest way for kids to eat salsa? Give them a small bowl of it and then just sprinkle broken tortilla chips on top. They can eat it all easily with a spoon and it's healthier that way since they're getting more salsa and less chips. I won't lie, I actually ate mine like that tonight too. So much easier than trying to use a chip to get the perfect bite that has a little of everything on it. 

Elizabeth tried out the jumper for the first time tonight. I out her in the bumbo for the first time two days ago and she did well, she pretty much just sat in the jumper too. Not too into the toys on it yet. I put her to bed and then the other kids to bed and straightened up. 

Today was wonderful. I didn't ever get frustrated with my kids. They were well behaved they didn't make huge messes. We went to the library, played at the playground with friends, and spent a lot of time outside in our yard too. We are delicious food that was also healthy. My kids wore clothes that we all liked. There were no power struggles over clothing or eating or going potty. When 5:46 happened (that's an inside joke now with my honey), then I wasn't herding kids upstairs for bed... I wasn't even noticing the time. I was soaking up how cute brady was and how happy I was. And then when I finally noticed the time at 7 something, I was just sad that we ran out of time in the day and had to call it quits for bedtime. That doesn't happen very often these days. Everything was just really really super great. I'm so thankful we had such an awesome day today. Days like today are just rejuvenating. And thankfully, it's even making me excited for the weekend! 

Abigail frequently prays that she's thankful she could go to kindergarten. But Abigail prayed tonight that she was thankful that she didn't have kindergarten. I had mixed feelings about it when I heard it, but several hours later and I'm still on a high from my day... I get it 100%... I, too, am very grateful that Abigail didn't have kindergarten today. 

Dinner at cousin Sara's

Uncle Dick is in town so Sara had everyone over for dinner. At her new house! It was such a fun night. 

Brady was all over the baseball and football games. 

The kids tables. Sara made excellent pulled pork bbq sandwiches and had tons of veggies and dip and chips and dip and we brought watermelon and grapes and it was just a feast. Abigail and bray demolished their plates plus seconds. It was all delicious. 

We all hung out on Jon's housewarming gift. It's pretty deluxe. 

The girls had so much fun together. Abigail was in heaven. 

Brady was only clingy to me from time to time. 

Elizabeth loved cousin Sara. 

Brady found this socking horse and was loving it. It must be genetics. 

Eva, Lizzie, and Abigail 

Eva and Abigail. I try to take a picture of them each time they're together. Abigail is older by four days. 

Eva is exceptionally tall. ; ) 

Sara took our group photo. She's promised to send it to me sometime in the next six months. 

Maycocks. The blood relatives. 

Thank goodness for no school tomorrow. We party hard. 

Colder outside

9.22.15

Abigail asked if it would be colder today. I told her "slightly." So she donned her puffy coat and socks. 

Elizabeth is so sweet. My arm is so awkward. 

An action shot. She spits up a lot. And spends the rest of her time drooling profusely. The girl is always wet. 

They really love each other. 

A lot. 

She's like a little pretend baby doll. 

I shaded her precious skin. 

Cinderella

We call her bubbles. 

All gone and I'm so sad. 

Wednesday is tennis day