What is K up to? (pee pee on the potty???)

I added the "pee pee on the potty" so you know what you're getting into when you begin to read this post!

We have a toddler potty (a kid pot as I like to call it) in our hall bathroom. Whenever I use that bathroom, I try to get K to sit on it, just for kicks (for the record: I have NO desire to potty train/potty learn. Pre-B, I was gung ho. B was born...I'm totally fine with 2 in diapers!) Normally, K runs from it screaming and I laugh. Sometimes he'll sit on it and "sing" me a song (??)

Today, I had him sit and he started screaming, but it wasn't "NO, don't make me" screaming, it was screaming combined with him tugging on his pants to get them off...

I figured he'd run away once the pants were off.

Nope.

He ripped off his diaper, grabbed some toys from the edge of the tub and sat down.

I said, "are you going to pee pee?" He just smiled and seconds later...there it was...

Granted it was all over the rim of the kid pot and not IN the pot, but, none the less, he peed on (literally) the potty!

I cleaned him up (along with the kid pot) and let him flush the big toilet (I told him that was the privilege for peeing on the potty)

Then, all the fun was over. I went to put his diaper back on and he HATED that. I mean, I had to practically sit on him to get him to lie still and once it was on (forget the pants!) he was on the floor, kicking, screaming and bawling! Ohhh boy...

So now I don't know what to do. I'm NOT ready to PT him...I don't have the energy for that! But, I don't want to delay something that he wants to do...

Mamas??? Help!

The blog "year"

On Sept. 1st, I started using Google Analytics to 'track' who came to this blog, from where, what they looked at, how long they stayed, etc...Not for really any other reason other than I was bored and thought it'd be fun!

Here are some interesting facts:

Since 9.1.08, I have had 1,512 unique visitors! And a total of 5,657 visitors!
4,087 of my visitors came from the United States. Canada, South Korea, Australia and the United Kingdom rounded out the top 5!

My top 5 most popular posts have been:
#5 - Menu plan Monday
#4 - The post I did on Cloth Diapering
#3 - My Bloggy Carnival Giveaway
#2 - My 200th Post Giveaway
and #1 - My main page

The day with the highest traffic day was Oct. 29, 2008. I didn't post on that day, but it was during the Bloggy Carnival Giveaways, so I'm thinking it was due to that.

The top 5 search words or phrases were:
#5 - 'giveaway'
#4 - 'journey picture'
#3 - 'free cloth diapers'
#2 - 'unc midwives' (an astounding 14 visits just for that alone!)
and #1 - people simply typed in 'the jones journey'

Branching off of the keywords, here are my favorite keyword searches that brought readers to my blog (I wonder, did they stay??)

*oddly enough, 2 people found our family blog my searching for IHOP's new pancakes (I take that back, in reading through the list I found 9 more searches for IHOP panckaes!)

*I want to know what was found when typing "box on the wall" + "chiropractor" (for the record, I tried and never found our blog!)

*Another favorite - "rat tail" hair -comb -gray

*I want to say congratulations to the person searching for "Contractions are 2-5 minutes apart and 45-60 seconds long" - hope you made it in time! ;)

*Also, congratulations to the one searching for "how to get a UNC medical records number" - hope you had better luck!

*I feel for the person searching "nonstop nursing in the evenings"

*Person searching for "how to find some me time" - did you?? Do share!

*"terra post chunky house call nurse" is definitely one of my favorites!

*I wonder if we have a 'twin' family out there, do share if you found me by searching for "the screaming tunnel"

*UNC was a popular topic, adding to the midwives, medical records number search was:
~health care my record
~hospitals birth stories
~chick-fil-a
~walk-in clinics
~midwife birth story (sorry to let you down on that one!)
~midwife reviews (They are AMAZING!)
~midwives appointments
~midwives VBAC (DO IT!)
~women's hospital clinic B

And finally,
*Wish I would have searched for "Walgreens drive thru how does it work?" before going myself!

Thanks for sharing the year with us! :)

How tired are we?

Zach and I often chat on Google chat in the evenings. He takes B back to our bedroom and gets him to sleep while I clean, blog, fold laundry, etc...

Tonight, B was exceptionally fussy.

After some time, it was pretty quiet. I was hoping that he had indeed fallen asleep and soon, I would be following suit.

I sent Zach a message trying to ask him if B was indeed asleep and here is the conversation that followed:

Terra: How is her?
No, not her, he?

Zach: Nope
Wide
Awake

.....
what?

Return to "Normalcy"

Whatever normalcy is around here with 2 under 2.

Decorations are (almost) down - only the snow man out front and the garland on the banister to go

Benjamin is sleeping

Keaton is coughing

I'm way behind on laundry

...home sweet home

Christmas #2

We were able to head to VA earlier than planned on Friday. Zach got off work and we were on the road to VA about 5pm.

The boys napped most of the way there so we let them play for a bit before getting them ready for bed.

Benjamin woke about 20 mins after falling asleep - super congested. Long story short, we were up just about the entire night with him.

Saturday night - repeat of Friday with about 1 hour more of sleep.

The boys got spoiled rotten and got lots of fun stuff.

Update on Keaton

We got him into the pedi this morning...

Time for me to vent. I'd like to make a note of how ridiculously stupid it is for there only to be 1 office open (note: our pedis office consists of 7 offices located throughout Raleigh) the day after Christmas. Could they not just be short staffed at every office? I'm thankful we got in when we did (930am) when only about 5 families were sitting in the waiting room, as opposed to 10am when there was standing room only! But still...am I the only person who sees the problem here?

ANYwho...Yesterday afternoon, Keaton was wheezing while breathing. He only had a couple episodes of this and the episodes only lasted a few minutes. He didn't seem to have trouble breathing (nor did it slow him down!) We had a long night with Keaton coughing a lot up until about 3am. He sounded great this morning, but, knowing that we were going out of town, I couldn't leave without knowing all was ok.

The pedi said that his congestion is NOT in his lungs (praise the Lord) his nose is definitely "congested" (really? the snot all over his face couldn't tell you that, you HAD to look up his nose?!)

She re-filled his Albuterol for his nebulizer and gave us a prescription for basically a "Wheezing suppressent" (Zach has the paper at work and I can't remember the name). If he starts the wheezing while breathing again, we're to start the suppressent for 5 days and see what that does.

I find it very interesting in the past couple of weeks, I've found the following things are linked to asthma in children: Tylenol, vacccinations and c-sections. (And isn't it funny...they tell you to give Tylenol before your child receives vaccinations....hmmm)

Both boys are down, time to finish cleaning and packing.

Continued prayers for Keaton would be greatly appreciated. As well - that Benjamin doesn't come down with anything, that I would get better (I'm fighting a cold, too. Can't seem to beat it since I'm not getting any rest) and safe travels for this weekend.

Our Christmas Morning

I started off the morning making a cheater's version of these. I didn't make them from scratch, I used canned bread sticks....sue me ;-) I did make the drizzle for it...fo rizzle.

Ok, so daddy got K dressed...he's in a Halloween shirt...on Christmas morning...That's what you have to do to keep up with the Jones'!

Keaton woke up very early (I'll explain in a minute) and by 7am, had played with "All" his gifts. By 8am, he had a CD punched into his face trying to grab it out of Zach's hands and by 11 had run into a wall or door...I forget how many times. Poor kid. We had to start breathing treatments last night and he was awake most of the night with a wheezy-cough. I'll be taking him in first thing tomorrow morning before we head out of town.

K digging into his stocking - Teething biscuts and lots of Mega Blocks (don't tell him it was only half the pack - he gets the rest for his birthday!) :)

Clipo, Clipo, Clipo...He got SO excited every time this commercial came on TV...

Today consists of cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning for me. I refuse to come home to a dirty house Sunday night!

I made out like a bandit this Christmas :) I got a craft mat and rotary cutter, as well as a paper cutter. I got a Sugarland CD, $20 in iTunes cards, a cookbook, some yummies from Bath & Body Works and 2 wristlet keychains from JimmyPickles. Yes, it was a fun morning... (and I'm probably forgetting something, sorry honey!)

Here's B enjoying his Christmas toy - the ONLY toy for his age left at Target by yesterday afternoon....(well, that he didn't have... there were 2 others, but no sense in having duplicates...) Look at the pudgy hands...agggh, I'll eat him :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Merry Christmas!

I'm the enV of all my friends...(and 4 month appt)

THAT'S what happened this weekend. ::headsmack:: I got a new phone! I got the enV2 in maroon. I'd been eyeing it for along time and, long story short, I have to give up some of my birthday money, but it was definitely worth it - I no longer feel the urge to throw this phone out the window anymore.

We had a very.long.night. Benjamin got to sleep for about 45 minutes and then woke up screaming...he never really slept well until again until about 5am when I decided to try to see if he'd sleep in the swing (future reference, this will be the first place I try!) It was a really long night and I was really worried he may have an ear infection. We tried everything. Rocking, bouncing, swaying, shushing, nursing, bottle, letting him cry, etc...nothing was helping.

We got to his appointment and they thankfully got us in pretty quickly. We got him weighed and measured (more to come...I know you're on the edge of your seat!) and I got confirmation that a few spots of dry skin on him is indeed eczema. He got one vaccine shot (Pentacel - DTaP, Polio and HIB combo) and the oral Rotavirus vaccine. I asked the pedi to make sure it wasn't his ears or throat or anything. She said it wasn't - both looked fine. But felt his gums and said that his two, bottom front teeth were fully in & the gums were "bulging" - she informed me that he may not get teeth for a couple months, or we could get them in the next week. Joy. (I'm not taking it too seriously as we were told at 2 months K would be getting teeth "any day" and he didn't til 9 months or so).

Atleast we only have Keaton's 2 year molars to go and we'll be done with his teething madness.

OK, stats:
Head cirum. - 42.5cm (50%)
Weight - 17lbs. 10oz. (90%)
Height - 27in. (97%)

To compare - at 4 months, K was:
15lbs. 12oz. & 27.5in.

We can scratch that off the 'to-do' list for the week!

Our weekend

I feel like it has just flown by! I'm not even sure what all happened, except we just stuffed ourselves with my chili. We pretty much finished Christmas shopping. I swear, next year, we will NOT wait this long. It's driving me batty!

Keaton said some new words this weekend...
"gotcha" :)
Unfortunately, I can't remember the rest right now :)

Benjamin is super close to rolling over! I have to stop cheering when he's so close, it keeps scaring him (OK, I'm getting excited and ok with this milestone!)

This week, we will finish up Christmas shopping, have Benjamin's 4 month appointment (see below) and we'll head to VA for a quick, Christmas celebration on Friday. whew.

Picture Time!

Yes, you're looking at this picture the correct way. B thought this was comfy. How do I know? He slept for an hour like that?? (Dr. Davis - are you wondering why he won't nurse on one side?! haha!) P.S. - Check out the thigh rolls....love it!

Zach practicing for Sunday morning service...sorry, "practicing"

Not sure what was above him as the tree is only a couple inches taller than he is, but I love the look of amazement :)

I was trying to be creative...eh...not so much

I think "TAAAAIN" (train) was coming from his mouth...I think...?

"Oh Wow"

I'm normally pretty anal about what Keaton eats. I mean, we're NOT healthy eaters, but I don't let him drink juice, have lots of sweets or anything like that. If I'm having a dessert, I'll let him taste, usually the least sugar-filled part of it...

Well, the holidays have ruined that. He's been eating Sandtarts with me, we stand by the Peppermint Marshmallows and munch all day...

Wednesday was the straw that broke the camel's back though...

When my mom was in town last weekend, she bought us some egg nog. The only time I notice it was when I'd open the fridge for meals, and I couldn't drink egg nog with meals...it has to stand alone!

Well, I went to get Keaton's sippy out of the fridge and I saw it. I couldn't take it anymore. I had to have a sip!

So I poured myself a cup and wouldn't you know, Keaton turns around - he knows something is amiss. He is being left out!

I looks and says, "Guh" (which I'm thinking this time meant, "Give" haha) I said, "Say please" (Forgetting that he has that one down now...) "Peeeeease" So I give him a tiny sip.

This is my son. I know he was birthed from me if for no other reason the second that delicious, thick drink touched his tongue, his eyes lit up and "OH WOW" escaped his lips - complete with a tummy rub, followed by "yummy yummy!" hahahahahah, I love it!

I had to chug the rest and show him it was "all gone" so he wouldn't beg for more (ie: wailing and gnashing of teeth!)
------------------
Benjamin discovered his voice a week or so ago. If you see us and we have blood pouring out of our ears, that's what is going on. This kid can screech! I don't remember Keaton being this loud - of course, up until this point, he'd spent the better part of his short four months screaming and crying all day....and all night. So, noise was kind of relative by that point. But B is loud. That's the only way to describe it.

When I taught pre-school, one of my 3 year olds had given me an ornament (I'm thrilled her mom wrote her name and the year on the back - I will never forget Meredith McGimsey...Seriously. I loved those kids. I can see the whole class now...Noah, Beth, Carter...ok, I won't name all 13, but I bet I could! haha!) Anywho, the ornament. It's a felt bear and super cute. Well, I was sitting at the "tree" tonight with B and he starts YELLING at this bear, grabbing for it. I tried to show him lights and other shiny ornaments...He'd push them out of the way to get to that bear! It was hysterical!
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I keep thinking of things to brag about them throughout the day and when I sit down to write, I can't remember it all...

Oh well...maybe tomorrow. :)

4 months

Well, silly me posted pictures instead of talking about B yesterday! He turned 4 months! How quickly this time has passed!

He is usually a very happy baby (compared to K up until this point!) He loves "talking" - he jabbers all day long! He is super smiley and makes me melt with every gummy grin! He is trying so hard to roll over (I'm not encouraging it!) He loves his toes (who doesn't?!) He loves chewing and sucking on his hands. He still would rather be in the wrap snuggled up next to me than any other place (and I would rather that too!)

He's been sleeping thru the night since about 6 weeks (minus the snafu with HFM and a few days after...) He just doesn't like to nap (taking after Keaton)

He loves being in his jumperoo and jumping and making the silly thing make all sorts of noises.We've had to move it up to the 2nd level - we're not sure if it's because he's that long or if it's his weight weighing it down (I'm not kidding!)

He loves his big brother and watches everything he does (and laughs when K gets into trouble! hhahah!)

We go on Monday for his 4 month check up and 2 vaccinations (1 shot and 1 oral) ((I promise soon, I'll write about what we're doing and why!)) I'm SO excited to see how much he weighs, I really do feel our scale was pretty accurate in saying 18lbs....we shall see!

So that's my baby at 4 months! I could eat him :)
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On the mommy front, I'm just about done with Christmas. I've been busy doing a lot by hand this year and it's been so much fun.

To go along with my peppermint marshmallows I "made" peppermint all purpose cleaner! I bought some 7th Generation All-Purpose cleaner and some peppermint essential oil. In a separate spray bottle I poured 4 oz. of cleaner and a bunch of drops of oil. I shook it & started cleaning...ahhhh, Christmas on my counters! yummmmmy!

I can't wait to show off some of my hand made goods, but not til after Christmas!!

I was also accepted to write for another blog, 24 hour menu. It's a recipe blog that I really enjoy reading. I'm super excited about this! I've really been enjoying coming up with ideas and writing for {busy mommy} as well.

Time to throw dinner in the oven! Til next time

Our Weekend in Pictures

Why is Keaton so excited???
Paul Bunyan visited our home this weekend!!! Ok not really, we got a tree though! A really, really ridiculously short tree!

Keaton enjoyed eating sand tarts, the best cookies ever.

Here are the Peppermint Marshmallows.

It wasn't all fun and games this weekend though. Keaton normally takes off for the apartment after getting out of the van. My mom said, "Should he hold your hand?" I said, "He normally doesn't." He plopped on the ground. He hopped up. Fell right back down...Now he looks like he visited Fight Club. (Dr. Davis, I'll have him in to see you soon, haha!)

Fun night! (& weekend!)

Bebe was in town again! She made a semi-last minute trip so we could do some "baking." We actually made Peppermint Marshmallows*. The original plan was to make them for us and maybe give some out, but at the last minute, I decided to take them to the worship teams' Christmas party tonight.

But, a tragedy happened in the midst of the baking (no real BAKING was involved with the marshmallows)...my stand mixer died :( It was a sweet and generous wedding gift from my co-teachers when I was teaching at a pre-school in Roanoke when Zach and I got married. (What a sweet surprise that shower was...They tricked me into thinking it was an end of the year picnic...and it was really a kitchen shower for me...love those ladies!) Anywho. Long story short (b/c I'm VERY tired) my mixer started smelling bad...and then got really hot...and then...that's all she wrote :( My mom felt really bad and even bought me a new one today. It's one that I've been eyeing for a VERY long time because you can get awesome attachments for it to make pasta and to grind food, among other things! I'm excited to find a reason to use it! :-D Shouldn't be too hard!

We did a teeny bit of shopping at Archiver's. I have a special project up my sleeve that I plan on showing off here soon!

And tomorrow, I hope to show off the new addition to our apartment!!! It was a hard find, but so fun!

Tonight, we had the Christmas party at the church for the worship team. So I took the Peppermint Marshmallows and a yummy dessert. Both were a hit (and of course, my dessert making ego has been stroked once again as everyone gah-gahed over my treats!)

We had a friend from church stay here at the apt. with Keaton (since he goes to bed at 6 and the Christmas party didn't start until 7 - he is NOT pleasant when he doesn't get his sleep!) and we took Benjamin with us. Shanna, who was one of our doulas, was thrilled to see and hold Benjamin the majority of the time (and I of course, didn't mind the extra hands!) I got to talk with other adults (gasp!) and get to know a couple of people that I didn't really know before (even though we're "friends" on Facebook! haha!)

Well, this is one tired mama. I must go get some sleep! I need to start on some more Christmas gifts tomorrow!

*Checck back for the Peppermint Marshmallow recipe

Yes, Drill Sergeant!

That's not what I've taught Keaton to say...I feel like I need to say it to him! I'm so glad that Keaton knows what needs to be done during our day (before we go anywhere, when we come home, etc...) But I wish he could grasp the fact that I am merely 1 mama, with 2 hands, moving as fast as I possibly can with 2 children underfoot.

Before we left for this chiro this morning, this is what played out.

Me: alright, Keaton, let's get socks & shoes on
K: shooooes!!!
Me: Yes, sweet pea, grab your shoes
K: (they were on the floor next to him, he picked up one & screamed "shooooe!")
Me: Yes, get your other shoe
K: "Hmmm" (complete w/ finger next to the mouth as if he's pondering one of the great mysteries of the world...
Me: Keaton, it's behind you - turn around...
K: (he begins spinning in circles)

Meanwhile, I put Benjamin in his car seat...

K finally sees his other shoe and is sitting on the couch screaming "SHOOOOOOE" at me...

I grab Keaton's socks put them on him and get his shoes on

I start to look for Benjamin's blanket to drape over him

K is screaming "LIIIIIIIIII" and pointing at our "Christmas tree" - the lights were still on

"Yes, Keaton, I'm getting there, I'm looking for Benjamin's blanket..."

I find the blanket, and I hear, "LIIIIIIIIIIIIIII" again

I run around & unplug the lights

I hear, "Jaaaa...Jaaaaa" (jacket)

"Yes, Keaton, I will get your jacket...hang on mommy needs her glasses and phone..."

I get my glasses, stick my phone in the back pack

I get K's jacket, put it on him...

"DREEEEEEEEEEE" and he's shaking his sippy

"Yup, we need your sippy, take it to the bookbag..."

He instead feels the need to bring it to me - I'm trying to round up mail to drop off on our way out.

I take his cup and stick it in the bag with the mail

At this point, he's shaking the handle on B's carseat screaming "Uhhhhh" (up)

"Yes, Keaton, it needs to go up..."

I start to put it up and he runs to the door, "Edy! Edy!" (ready)

At this point, I sit on the floor and ask K to come to me..."Edy!!!!"

"No, Keaton, come here now please...."

At this point, I try to explain that mommy is going as fast as she can and I thank him for being a big helper in getting ready...

We head to the chiro...which went great until time to walk out into the parking lot - a nice little melt down with sympathetic smiles from all the patients there (ugh)

We head to a friends' house to get a couple items we were borrowing and he has a MELT down while we're there (sorry, again, Kristen!!!) I put K back in the van, he starts smacking B's car seat base screaming, "B!!!!!!!!!!!!" Yes, sweet pea, Benjamin's seat goes there...

I drive thru McD's and get lunch.

I get 2 nuggets in his belly before we get to the apartment. (this is typical and he knows he'll get the rest of lunch when we get inside) We walk in the door and it begins again....

"JAaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" trying to take off his jacket....I get it off for him

"Eaaaaaaaaaa...eaaaaaaaaaaa" (signing eat) "No, waiiii....SHOOOES"

I again sit on the floor and take K's hands and say, "Sweet Pea, I am moving as fast as I absolutely can! I know you want to finish your lunch...." "EAAAAAAAAAA"....."Yes, you want to eat, but you need your shoes off...." "SHOOOOOOOOOOOES" "Yes...Which would you like? To eat? Or Take your shoes off?"

He seriously thought for about 1.565332221 seconds and said, "Shoes, peeese"

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Ok, sweet pea, we'll take off your shoes..."

Shoes off...."Ea, peese"

YES!

I get him set up to finish the nuggets...

"mama"

"Yes sweet pea...

(pointing to the tree) "liiii"

HAHAH

"Oh, you're right Keaton, I need to turn the lights on..."

Where in the WORLD does he get this OC behavior (hmmm....) ;-)
----------
This mama got a much needed night out tonight!

No, I didn't go to O'Charley's and get the Cotton Candy Cosmo I've been eyeing since before Thanksgiving. No I didn't go bar hopping with friends.

No. I went ALONE To Joann Fabrics and Michael's. ALONE! Oh how nice it was to be ALONE for a bit!

Of course, as soon as I walked in the door, I saw Benjamin and couldn't stop gah-gahing over him for about 15 minutes :)
-----------------------
Now for some observations from the night.

Oh kind cashier from Joann's. I'm sorry you have to wear that hideous "no sew" scarf (no offense to "no-sew" wearers...but hers was AWFUL), a Santa hat, listening to Christmas music by the door that keeps opening all day long. But that is really no reason to get an attitude with me.

To the employee's of Michael's. Thank you for your attempt to help us reach items that are 15+ feet off the floor with the large ladders, but really, is there no better place to keep them but in the middle of every single isle?

And to the teenagers at Target tonight. Thank you for calling me a 'nobody.' I appreciate you wanting to wait until "ain't nobody 'round" before talking trash about the girl who awkwardly smiled and said hi to you, obviously recognizing you from school, but I still heard your conversation...wish I hadn't.
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Other than all that, it was nice ;-)

GIVEAWAY!

For starters, this giveaway is open to Raleigh/Wake Forest residents only due to shipping purposes. I simply cannot mail out all the prizes. I apologize for my far-away readers! Hopefully, there will be more giveaways to come!!

Also, this is giveaway #1, you have a handful of ways to win here. If you go to my musings blog, you can enter again (you can only win once though, but this does double (or something) your chances of winning!) There will be two winners here and two on my musings blog.
----------------------------------------
Onto the giveaway!

I want to start by saying that we, ourselves, have not tested out this product because it is not recommended for children under 2 - we still have a couple more months to go before we can try it out, but we are definitely going to be using it asap!

Sinupret contacted me about doing this giveaway and I'm so excited! Since we are hearing more and more scary things about cough & cold medicines, especially for children, it is so nice to know there is something out there that is natural and that works!

Dr. Sears has written an article for the Health News Digest about the product that has a lot of great information included in it.

The four giveaway packs I have include the following:

A sample of Sinupret for Kids (remember, not recommended for children under 2)
Cute yellow, toy binoculars
An activity book
A $3.00 coupon for Sinupret for Kids
and Dr. Sears' book, The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood (which I'm super jealous about!)

So, how can you win?

Leave a comment below telling me who would be using this product. Make sure you either leave me your email address OR have your email visible on your blog or profile so I can contact you.

For an extra entry -
Follow my blog (it counts if you already do!)
Head over to my musings blog and enter there!

Want another entry?

Blog about this giveaway and link back in another comment!

Just remember - you must be in the Raleigh, NC area. The winners and I will arrange a time to meet up.

I will pick the winner by using random.org. This giveaway is open until 12noon (EST) Friday, December 19. The winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be drawn.

Fort Raleigh

Yesterday I attempted to make a fort for Keaton. He didn't really grasp the sit beneath & play concept - more enjoyment was had running beneath and pulling it down. After the 167th time of putting the sheet back up, the fun was winding down :)

I need some toddler fort tips, mamas???


Of course, just sitting on the chair next to it is just as good :)



Sorry for the poor quality, but, judging by the leg, I think we will be retiring the swing soon....



Zach's parents got these PJs for Keaton. I was worried that they wouldn't fit. They just barely did...I just thought his pose was hysterical....

Raleigh, We Have a Problem!

I don't know which problem is worse, so I'll start with the first born.

Keaton, my little eating machine, has finally decided that eating is not needed anymore! I was really hoping we were going to skip this stage of toddler-hood! Now, since he did eat an entire PB&J sandwich at lunch and even asked, by signing, for more, it very well could be that his cold is just causing too much drainage to eat...but this has been going on for a week now. The child only wants to eat, teething biscuits, waffles and toast! I did get some encouragement from this site and this site (as well as some BTDT -been there, done that- mama's on facebook!) Any other advice is greatly welcome :)

Benjamin is a mama's boy! Susan, my mother-in-law, commented this weekend on how much B seemed to really enjoy the close contact (while being in the wrap) and just being held and snuggled close in general. Now, I love this as much as the next mama. However, yesterday, B was napping in the swing and I was snuggling on the couch reading with K. B woke up and I just happened to look over about that time. He looked at me, stuck out his lip and started pouting. I put K down and B started grinning. I picked up K, the lip and pouting. I put K down, he grinned!!

Ohhhhh boy! These guys are going to keep me on my toes!! :)

Here are some pictures:

B in his bumbo!

Cheesy grin from my sweet pea

My chunky almost 4 month old!

B in the onesie K wore 8 days before his 1st birthday!!!

hooray!!!!

I got my laptop back...Zach finished this semester (had his last final tonight)...one more semester down...

'nuff said!

20 months!

I cannot believe my Sweet Pea is 20 months 'old'!!!

What a busy 20 months he's had, too! :)

Here's a funny conversation that happened on our way home from church yesterday:

Me: Keaton, did you have fun?
K: Ge-uh (yes...from here on out "yes")
Me: Did you color?
K: "yes"
Me: Did you sing songs?
K: "yes"
Me: Did you kick the ball? (when I dropped him off in his class, he immediately went for the ball and was kicking it)
K: Ball??
Me: Yes, ball, did you kick it? (We were at a light and I turned to look at him)
K: (starts kicking like he would a ball!)
Me: Did you play with the kitchen?
K: "yes"
Me: Did you (at this point starting to wonder if he understands more than I give him credit for!) play outside (it was 40 and super windy, they BETTER not have gone out!)
K: (laughing) "Nooooooo" (!!!)
Me: Did you listen and obey your teachers? (Another light, so I turn around)
K: (BIG grin) Noooooo

We got home and I went to get his sippy out of his bag...what was in there?

A picture that he colored!!

He cracks me up all day long (and makes me feel like pulling my hair out, too!)

He definitely has a temper and is very strong-willed. Before B was born, we bought Dobson's Strong Willed Child. We also bought Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child to prepare for sleeping issues with B. I spent my time reading the sleep book...B has slept great (usually!) so now it's time to get back to SWC :)

He's wearing mostly 2T clothes now - for the length, NOT for the waist (though, as long as he's in a cloth diaper, the waist usually isn't an issue)

This child may look like Zach, but definitely has my cleaning tendencies! We cannot go any where with him picking up (most) his toys. According to his Sunday school teachers', he is the only child that cleans up before leaving (but I'm sure he's the child that dumps out ALL the toys too!)

So, after Christmas, I start planning the 2nd birthday party. I have some great ideas up my sleeve :)

----------------------------
On the Benjamin side of things, we did a 'faux' weigh-in last night...I stand on the scale, see how much I weigh, then Zach hands B to me and we (he) does the math to see how much B weighs....

18.5 is the number we came up with!!! 18.5 POUNDS! The child isn't even 4 months yet...Today he is wearing this onesie. This EXACT onesie. The one K wore 8 days before his 1st birthday!!! Now, it's not THAT snug on B, but it is definitely NOT loose on him! (I'll get a picture before the end of the day....or before he spits up all over it) ;-) Guess we'll have to find a new UNC onesie before basketball season is in full swing!!

No rolling yet (yay! haha!) He is starting to LOVE peek-a-boo (if he's anything like Keaton, which he is apparently, not, but, if he is, he will LOVE this game for a long time!) I've gotten a couple of giggles out of him. But he is definitely still our serious baby :)

We go back on the 22nd for his 4 month check up and we'll get an official weight/length check then :)

Well, things need to get done!

Happy 20 month-day, my Sweet pea!!!!!

Nothing Like Waiting til the Last Minute

As you know (or have learned) I love college football. I'm in a yahoo pick 'em group with a dear friend, her husband and a bunch of other people. I'm currently tied for 3rd place and, if you asked Zach, rather prideful of this position :)

As you may also recall, my laptop has been sent away to be fixed (not "Bob Barker" fixed...repaired!) so I'm having to use Zach's.

My laptop had all my important bookmarks across the top - kellymom, my chiro, my pedi (not linking these for privacy reasons!), craigslist and {busy mommy} to name a few. Well, also in that toolbar was the simple letters "YFB" - Yahoo! Football...my reminder to make my picks each week.

Normally these picks need to be made by 12noon, Thursday. 9 times out of 10, this is the deadline.

I'm talking to my mom and we're talking about football...then I remembered - MY PICKS!!!!!!! I did not make my picks this week!!

I can't breathe, I'm almost in tears as I'm frantically trying to remember my password remember - I have it bookmarked for easy access!!) I remember and I scroll to week 14...what do I see?

Deadline: Friday Dec. 5, 2008; 7:55pm...

What time is it??? 7:46pm!!!!

aggggggghhh

I've never clicked my picks so quickly!

My mom commented that I was taking my sports too seriously...but I'm tied for 3rd place!!!! Missing this week would have ruined that!

Now... Roll Tide! :)

Dueling Coughs

Such is the life with these two kids...

Yes, the Sunday school germs have invaded our home once again. Frustrated...tired...defeated - that's how this mama feels. I've decided to turn into a handwashing Nazi (I thought I was bad before) we are going to be washing hands all day long from here on out...I guess we need to find a stool for Keaton to stand on b/c my back will be killing me!

Right now, they're both asleep. One will cough and the other will mimic the others' cough...back and forth...I've been hearing that for 30 some minutes now.

Please be praying for our lil guys, that this would pass quickly, no ear infections would occur, that K would be obedient in using the neb, and for my sanity as I listen to coughing (which I HATE the sound of anyways), my patience as I listen to screaming all day, my persistence in the handwashing event of the century and my teaching skills as I try to get K to cough into his elbow (haha! my 3 year olds couldn't even do that!) and STOP touching his brother (whom he loves so so so much!)

Happy Note: a dear friend had her sweet baby yesterday! I haven't gotten all the detail yet, but his name is Josiah, he was born around 430pm and according to their doula, mama did AWESOME!!!! Way to go J.Leigh!!!!!! SO - if you go to North Wake - call me because I'm coordinating their meals ;-)

OK, I'm so excited about Keaton and his new words. He really wanted me to read a particular ABC book for him yesterday. I have the thing memorized we read it so often. Usually, I'll read it. Then we read it again and I *TRY* to have him repeat (it's usually, "no") or show him a sign for the word. Well, here's how our conversation went throughout the book. We had just finished one book (probably the X-men book, haha) and I asked, "Do you want to read another book?" (I signed book) he signed 'book' back and said, "Yeh." This was his first time signing book, so I got a little too excited about it ;-) I said, "Great!! Go grab a book (sign) and we'll read (sign) it..."

He brings back the ABC book. I open it....

Me: Apple.
Keaton: "Eh" (A sound, haha)
Me: (pointing to banana)
Keaton: Nay-nay! Nay-nay! Yummy!
Me: Cat
Keaton: Kitty, mew (first time making a cat noise!)
Me: That's right! A kitty says meow!
Keaton: (smacking the kitty) MEW MEW
Me: Duck
Keaton: Duck! (first time saying duck!)
Me: That's right! Duck! Quack quack!
(K looks at me like I'm stupid...moving along...)
Me: Elephant
K:....
Me: Fi...
K: FEEEEEESH FEEEEEEEEESH!!!
Me: That's right, Fish! Grapes...
K: mmmmm (while rubbing tummy)
Me: Hearts, Ice Cream, Jelly
K: Mmmm, telly
(insert 20 seconds of me trying to get a "J" sound out...)
Me: Key
K: Tey
(again, with the "K" sound...)
Me: Lemon
K sticks out his tongue. He knows lemons. He asks for one everytime we go out to eat...and then hates it!
Me: Milk
K: (signing milk, yay!) Mi!
(Me repeating Milk over and over...)
Me: Numbers....Orange...Pig
K tries to make a snorting pig sound, as usual, but just blows air OUT his nose ;-)
Me: Quilt
(apparently I've rubbed my arms like I'm hugging myself when I say that word, because that's what he did, haha!)
Me: Rainbow
K: TAIN!!!!!!!!!!
Me: Almost...Stars...now (pointing to train)
K: TAIN!!!!!!!!!! TAIN!!!!!!!!!! (the boy LOVES his trains!!!)
Me: That's right, choo choo
K: "too too" (hahahahahah, love it!)
Me: Umbrella...Vegetables...Whale
K: FEESH
Me:...Sure, fish!...Xylophone...Zebra
K points to his magnetic barn set on the door. I look at him and point the the zebra and repeat the word. He goes and points to the horse...Sure, a zebra can be a horse! :)

It was so much fun...we re-read the book again ;-) I won't put you through that though!!! :)

B is trying to roll over, every time he gets close, K comes running through screaming and scares B flat on his back.

For the record: I'm totally content with B not rolling! (K had been since 6weeks) because little did I know at this point with K, he was up and crawling/cruising in 2 more months...yes, my lil chunky monkey, you lay there :)

This lil piggy...

Well, yesterday was very productive. Zach had one more vacation day left for the year, so he took it yesterday (since Tuesdays are our long days - he leaves first thing in the morning and doesn't get home until around 945pm) Anywho. It really allowed me to get a lot done (I never get things done on the weekend because of football!)

I was able to make dinner (which is, almost (haha), always a given) - I made BBQ chicken in the crock pot and, if I may say so, it was the best BBQ I've ever had! I made a couple batches of waffles to put in the freezer for breakfast meals. And I was finally able to sort through Benjamin's clothes and put away what doesn't fit and find in a sea of boxes, what would.

Needless to say, my sweet, precious 3.5 month old is wearing what Keaton wore when he was 6 months old!!! (6-9 mos clothing) I even had him in 6-12mos PJs last night and they were snug!

Can we all say it together now - chunky monkey!!!! I can't get over all of B's rolls and his 4 chins and chunky cheeks - I just want to eat him up! It's not that he's just a chunk, either - he's long. When K lays on the floor next to him, B isn't much shorter than K!

I need to go. K wants to read his X-men Book :)

Amuse me...

I want to try something out... so, entertain me and do this please :)

Almost forgot! #16!!!!!!

Tooth #16!!!!!!!!! We are done until 2 year molars! Whew! The last eye tooth is breaking through and causing super pain for K. He stands and points at the teething tablets container! haha!

Hopefully, those 4 molars won't be too hard on him (and hopefully they will wait a while before trying to appear! It's been a long, full 11 months!)

Children are crying!