Blast Off!

Moses is really enjoys outer space, rockets and the like. I guess it is keeping with the whole Buzz Lightyear thing! So we thought we'd make sure he got the chance to watch the launch live on TV.

He was really impressed with it all. He helped count down and then got really excited with the shuttle launched in the air. I have to admit it was really cool. He was holding his Buzz toy and hit the button that recited "To infinity and beyond!" moments after lift off. I guess he felt like narrating a bit. I asked him if he wanted to go to outer space one day and he said no. I'm ok with that, I like my boy on the planet Earth!

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

I was really excited about heading to the beach for Memorial Day Weekend. I wanted to spend some time in the sun and playing with Moses in the sand. I was also ready for some help with my boys and I KNOW my parents were looking forward to some special time with them.

It all sounds good on paper! Moses had a minor cold on Sunday and Monday. I felt a little throat scratch Sunday and thought I better go ahead and get something for it. I got some antibiotics for a throat infection and thought I'd be fine. By that night I was 100 times worse. I went back the next morning and got a higher dose. By this time Moses is fine and I'm thinking it can only get better. I WAS SO WRONG! Brett got it too. I was starting to wonder if we should go to the beach at all. We talked to my parents and decided to go. They could help with the boys and we were surely going to get better.

WRONG AGAIN! We both go worse. By this time it had spread to our eyes, ears, and noses (TMI warning...It is the nastiest thickest green snot EVER) and it never lets up. I went to the doctor in EI because I was pretty sure my ear drum had a tear or had ruptured. He gives me new antibiotics, prednisone, and a nasal spray. Since I can't take a decongestant while nursing all that fluid as built up all over my sinuses. YUCK

Then the worst thing happened. Sutton got it too! I don't think he has as bad off as his poor parents, but he feels yucky. The three of us did a lot of sleeping and lying around being pitiful. Let me tell you nothing is as sad a croupy 7 week old coughing spell.

As for Moses, he got a lot of grandparent time. Lots of boat rides, a trip to the beach to make castles and play in the waves, playing in the baby pool on the deck, and helping Gaga and Papa in the yard. Oh, and we taught him to pee of the deck. So, future wife of Moses, I'm really sorry. Blame his desperate potty training mommy if he is still doing this at 35. I will try my best to make him stop before then.

Needless to say I am pastey white and look like death and ready for a beach do over! Not the way I wanted to spend a long weekend. I am very lucky that parents are so great and took really good care of all of us. As of right now Brett and I are still trying to get better and I am going to take Sutton to the doctor tomorrow just to make sure he's ok too. Luckily kids are resilient. I just wish I was!

It Helps to Be Prepared

Look out for the flood, we are potty training!

What a Difference a School Year Makes!

I tried (sigh) to get a photo of Moses on his last day of school but he was not exactly up for it. But I wanted to document a before an after.
Really? He is like a completely different child! The baby face is GONE. He's so much bigger and can do so many more things. Here are a few things that Moses learned this year in school.

- He knows all his shapes

- He knows all his colors

- He can count to 10.

- He can sing all of his ABC's

- He is more focused on his artwork

- His vocabulary and sentence structure are great. He speaks so clearly and his sentences are really something

- His social skills are really nice. He has learned to share a lot better and play with kids and not just around them.

- He has made some great friends. We hear about Conner, Sam, Haley, and Katie all the time.

- He can sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Jesus Loves Me, Praise Ye The Lord, and few other songs.

I really will miss his sweet teachers Mrs. Janice and Mrs. Mary. They have been such a blessing in our lives. I do believe Mrs. Mary, who is an older lady, would take Moses home with her! She had all boys and has a special place in heart for them.

It has been hard to get information out of Moses about his days at school, but here are somethings I do know about what goes on day to day. When he gets to class they have a snack. They do artwork everyday, have learning time as well as music class and Chapel. They sing a song about giving a hug, sharing and a smile and shaking hands (Everyday when I ask him what he did at school, without fail he would respond, "Shake hands.) They have playground time and come in for there lunch. After lunch is story time and free play until I come to get him. Before he leaves Mrs. Janice gives him an M&M. Moses always remind her to eat the broken pieces.

Moses has had a wonderful experience at school. He has grown by leaps and bounds in ways I don't think I could have helped him. I am so excited to see what he will learn next.

A Visit From Lindsey!

I always get asked why I blog. My usual answer is for my kids. It gives a frame of reference much larger than their baby books. It also keeps family and friends up to date. I can't begin to tell you how many people tell me they read this blog. People I wouldn't even begin to think had any sort of interest in our lives!

Another great reason is I get to keep in touch with people from my past. I have reconnected with friends from elementary school to college and learned a lot from them. One of my favorite is Lindsey! Since Lindsey lives in Houston I never get to see her. I knew her from college and YAB. We never had the chance to have a true long conversation but now since we read each others blogs we have become so much closer!

The funny part is WE COULD NOT BE MORE DIFFERENT! We have a lot in common but our daily lives are total opposites. Not only are she and her husband childless and not sure about the whole parenting thing, but they are avid marathoners and travelers. By travel I mean living in Asia and Europe! They are cat people and we are dog people. And don't even get me started on the team she cheers for. Thank goodness she has her husband to redeem her! I wish her blog wasn't private so I could tell you to read it. It's awesome and so interesting!

Anyways, I was very excited that Lindsey was in town and made some time to meet Sutton and I for lunch. I had the best time! We got to really catch up and she had the chance to snuggle on Sutton. I feel very honored that she made the time for us during her busy weekend. We hope to see you soon LT! Hopefully at the new address!

Got to Be NC!

When Moses was about 9 months old we went to the Got to Be NC Festival at the fairgrounds. We mainly went for the Pig Jig which is a pig cook off. This year I really wanted to take Moses because I knew he would be old enough to actually go on the rides. I also heard the words tractor parade and knew we couldn't miss it. So, when the playgroup email went out I suggested we go with our friends.
Can I just say, WE HAD THE BEST TIME!! It was free to park and get in and it was not crowded at all. They basically shrink the State Fair and have it really geared for kids. There was a place to feed animals too. Moses did not want to go in at first but once that first goat took his carrot he loved it. He felt the same way about the pony ride.
But the big hit of the day was the rides. We need to start saving up our money now for the fair this year. This little boy has no fear and wanted to ride everything over and over again. (Also, NEVER had to wait in line for a ride!)
How cute are these kids! We were talking about how much we hope they are all still friends when they get married so we can use these pictures during a slide show.
We had such a blast with our playgroup friends, that we convinced daddy to take us back after nap time. When your kid is this happy somewhere how could you resist?

Mother's Day Part 2

This year for Mother's Day I decided to get crafty with the gifts. I found cement stepping stone markers you can make for the yard. I thought it would be fun to make them as part of the present. (I also was pretty confident I would not be able to do it on my own!) Moses was excited about helping Gaga complete hers. He loves a "project."

I love this picture of Sutton's little foot! His hand wouldn't spread out enough because he was asleep so we did his foot.
That weekend my Aunt Brenda stopped by to see us and meet Sutton. She has lots of grandchildren ranging from 6 to 19 so it has been a while since she's gotten to spend some time with a little tiny one!
And of course we had to stop by and see Grand Mollie on the way home. She loves little tiny babies just as much as her daughters and grand daughters! Sutton was very happy to meet her. If my math is correct he is her 14th great-grandchild. (I am the second youngest grandchild by about a month of seven grandchildren). Whew!

I am so glad we got to visit so many special women on this Mother's Day. I feel equally blessed to be a mother to such sweet and wonderful boys.

Mother's Day Weekend Part 1

For Mother's Day weekend we traveled to EI. The biggest reason was to attend a wedding for my friend Ali. I have known Ali since she was in middle school and I was in high school. She started out as a friend's sister and turned out to be so much more! We spent so much time at the Kroeger's house growing up. Her parents were, and still are, the best! Having a baby was NOT keeping me from this wedding!

Ugh, I wanted a picture of the two of us all dressed up. But, NOTHING is making me feel good about post pregnancy fat arms! But doesn't my husband look handsome!

Here is the beautiful bride and her new husband, Brett! It was such a sweet ceremony and incredible reception. Moses was asked to be the ring bearer but with my surgery and his unpredictable two year old behavior we decided several months ago to forgo that idea. I felt just awful about it but Ali was great and completely understanding.

I have to say, this was the best time I've had a wedding! I couldn't dance or even have a glass of wine, but I did get to see tons of people I have not seen in long time. Especially, the couple above! My friend Jimmy and his new wife Megan! I really hadn't had the chance to spend much time the Megan or really see Jimmy in forever so it was awesome to hang out with them. There were also people there I hadn't seen in well over ten years. Ali, can you and (your) Brett get married again so we can see all these people more often?!

So Sweet

Smiley

Six Week

Sutton

How It's Going - Six Weeks Postpartum

It's six weeks post pregnancy. Recovery has been a lot easier this time around. I've shed my maternity clothes, but I'm still not totally in ALL of my clothes but most fit just fine. According the "official" doctor's records I gained 24lbs and I have lost 20. Pregnancy or not, I'd like to lose another 10lbs and tone up the flab! I did manage a few stretch marks but I'm hoping they will fade. I've been using Mederma and if it doesn't work I'm going to be a little irked that I paid $40 for it!

Hormones have been INSANE! I'm going to blame a lot of it on lack of sleep, but holy hormones batman! I think I've only had one break down about something, but I'm walking a thin line here people. I take everything very personally, I even try to infer what people are thinking which is never good. I'm hoping this gets better pronto.

As I mentioned before, I'm not getting a ton of sleep. For the first 4 weeks or so I really tried to sleep as much as I could during the day because it really is the best thing you can do to heal, help with milk production, and maintain your patience. It's getting a lot harder to do that now. If I don't stay on top of the house work (the laundry crazy!) I get more stressed out and tend to want to lock out everyone who makes a mess! So, I'm now trying to skip afternoon naps. Sutton is sleeping better at night, but still not completely through. I'm ready for this!

My appetite is ravenous. I'm eating more than I was when I was pregnant. I am hungry all. the. time. I am craving the complete opposite things than I did when I was pregnant. I am one bipolar foodie! This pregnancy must have done some weird things to my taste buds.

I have a little more healing to do. You can still see one of my staples or stitches if you look closely but Dr. Placide said it will heal soon. That wonderful doctor even got rid of my old scar and made my new one much thinner. In case you are wondering, the scar is so low you can not see it when I wear a bathing suit. Personally, I consider it a badge of honor!

That's about it. Much better recovery this time around and I am super thankful for it!

Sweet Sutton is One Month Old!

Our sweet baby boy is a month old. He is so precious to us and I can't imagine life without him. I have already learned so much about our baby boy. He is such a snuggler. Sutton loves to be laying on my chest. Usually if I put him there and he hears my heart beat, he will fall fast asleep. It's the best thing ever! Right now he is still sleeping a lot, but his wake time is increasing. I can tell he has gotten into a bit of a routine already. His naps are usually at the same times and he understands night times for now.

Sutton hates to have a dirty diaper and this kid ALWAYS has a dirty diaper! I know it's been 2 1/2 years since I've had a newborn, but I don't remember this many diapers. Brett and I can't get over it. We actually know he's ready to be fed when we hear him in the middle of the night pooping! (So gross, I know but it's the truth).

He has also started to smile some. It's the sweetest thing. He'll be looking around and focus on a face and give us a grin. Especially when he sees his big brother. He's beginning to notice lights and ceiling fans too. He is really great at holding his head up as well. He is super strong and curious! At his doctor's appointment we got his new stats, 11lbs 6.5 oz and 22 1/2 inches long.

Sutton's eyes are still a shade of blue/grey. His baby hair has fallen out a little but I can already tell where it is going to grow back in. Sutton is still a chubby baby. He won't be weighed until next week's appointment, but I can tell he has gained a lot of weight. He has the most delightful fat thighs and round belly. He has already outgrown a lot of newborn clothes and we are into the "up to three months" clothes.

Little Sutton, you are so precious to us. We have loved every minute of this first month!

(P.S. I wrote this last week but stinky blogger has been mean and not noticed my new photos so I am just now posting!)

How to Play With Your Baby Brother

"He's Not a Nice Wolf"

It's Wolfpack Caravan time again. I feel like we've started a lot of traditions (a lot even before the boys were born) and I feel like I've written the same posts over and over! Moses had a blast playing last year and this year was no exception. Brett helps with this event and helped make some suggestions for the kid's activities. They had bounce houses and giants slides along with student athletes playing games. It took a lot to get Moses to leave that night!

It was good hearing the coaches speak and I really liked hearing from the AD, Debbie Yow. She is one smart lady! Brett and I swapped kid duty so we each could hear the speakers and enjoy both or our kids. We had to keep one eye on where Mr. and Mrs. Wuf were though. Moses is NOT a fan.

The next night, Brett took Moses to the baseball game. Moses was having a blast and was running a few steps a head of Brett. All of a sudden, he looked up and Mr. Wuf was about five feet ahead. Moses stopped dead in his tracks, turned and ran back to Brett!

When they got home, I was sitting talking to Moses about what happened. Here is how our conversation went:

Me: Did you have fun at the game?

Moses: I scared of Mr. Wolfpack

Me: Why? I'm sure he likes you a lot.

Moses: He's not a nice wolf. He's not a nice man.

Me: Why do you say that?

Moses: I can't give him a high five.

How can you argue with that?