Pampered Princess Needs a Nap

I was super lucky to have my mom come up and help out around the house for two days.  Between the laundry, the kitchen, and the craft room, our house is looking in tip top shape...I give it about two hours after she leaves until it's back to is chaotic state.  Even with all this help, I am exhausted.  Little Guy fought tooth and nail (and won) not to take a nap today...something has to be done about the decreasing hours of sleep we're getting in our house.  This weekend I plan on brainstorming and kicking off Plan Sleep on Monday.

Music Circle

We started a little music circle with some friends from playgroup.  Today was our first meeting, and it was PRECIOUS!!  Little Guy loved singing and playing with the puppets, but the GIANT exercise ball was just a little too tempting, so he also spend a chunk of time pushing it around.  We can't wait for next week, and future weeks when the babies can join in the singing so us mommies aren't always showcasing our hidden singing "talents".

Bloody Bacon

Today I had my first follow up appointment since confirming my pregnancy last month.  I met with the midwife to go over standard paperwork as we get ready for the next 30+ weeks.  Apparently having a 9.9 pound baby puts you at risk for gestational diabetes the second time around, so I had the pleasure of doing the glucose test at 8 weeks AND I'll get to do it again at 28 weeks, LUCKY ME!  I am happy to report that ALL 5 vials of blood work came back perfect, my blood sugar coming in at 106 and everything else looked great!  I followed up this overly long doctor visit with dinner with my boys and I unfortunately found out that the bacon intolerance I suffered from with Wesley is back...it's a sad sad day and looks like I won't be enjoying pork in its finest form until July.

Mr. Martha Stewart

Little Guy is officially sick today and it stinks!  He has napped on and off all day, and while I HATE seeing him sick, I have to admit the all day snuggles are so precious (I just wish they didn't come with a fever ridden baby!).  Aside from the snuggles, there was another small silver lining- Tuesday is Law and Order: SVU marathon day on USA, so we got to spend A LOT of time with Stabler and Benson!  We have to give a shout out to Daddy, or as he refers to himself these days, Mr. Martha Stewart- between exhaustion, queasiness, fevers, and just general care of an active child, I have not been holding up my household duties very well, and Daddy has stepped in to the rescue!  He's not only bringing home the bacon, he's frying it up, cleaning the pan, and putting it all away...we love you Daddy!

Weekend Recap

We had a fun filled weekend! Daddy got to do a little pheasant hunting, or should we say pheasant searching- they never saw any birds, total bummer!  We had two fun play dates with the Schroeders and big news in their house, Miss Lizzy Bug is walking!  I know walking is a milestone all parents are excited to see their children meet, but then you realize how good you had it before they could terrorize anything and everything they saw!  Sticking with our weekend tradition, we hit up Black Bear for some yummy breakfast, enjoyed a smoked leg of lamb for lunch and rounded out the weekend with some family photos at the park!  I got our Christmas card ordered just in the knick of time; they should be arriving next week and then the real fun of assembling, addressing, stamping, and mailing begins!

No Black Friday

I've been doing Black Friday for a while now, and this was the first year I didn't set foot in any store, outlet, or mall for the big day!  It was due in part to being under the weather and in part to being more sane and smart...we spent a leisurely quiet morning at the park with Noah and his mommy before coming home to rest, rest, rest.  Maybe next year Black Friday, but in the meantime, Cyber Monday is just a few short days away...

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year we have so much to be thankful for!  We are all happy and healthy and looking forward to a wonderful holiday season and an amazing 2013.  We kicked off the celebrations with a family gathering at my parents.  It was a fun time, complete with deep fried turkeys, grandma's yummy stuffing, and WAY TOO MUCH DESSERT!  Our family photos didn't work out like I planned, but there's always tomorrow for that!  Little Guy loved playing with his older cousins (second cousins if we're being exact!)- big boys just fascinate him and they loved teaching him animal noises and playing catch!  I didn't feel well after all the festivities, but that sounds about par for the course these days...

Movie Dates

Today I had a special date with an extra special friend- Heather and I went to see the final Twilight Saga Movie: Breaking Dawn Part 2.  We were supposed to go for her birthday, but with 4 kiddos between the two of us, we were lucky to get there at all (even if it was three weeks after her birthday!).  Following up a great girlfriend date, I ran home to get everything ready for our second Thanksgiving dinner the next day at my parents' house.  Surprisingly enough, I was in and out of the grocery store and Michael's with NO extra long wait...Costco was a different story!  I ran there before the movies and even though I got there EIGHT minutes after opening, I had to park in the LAST row and navigate through crowds just to pick up pictures...it seems the holiday shopping madness has begun!

First Thanksgiving

Today we had our first Thanksgiving dinner with Grandma and Grandpa DeTar. I am telling you, this was a spoiling way to do a dinner. My mother-in-law brought over EVERYTHING, all we had to do was eat. It was a nice way to kick off the holiday week!  Daddy spent the day in traffic (he HATES going to the city!) and poor Grandpa Cliff didn't get to dinner until almost 6:30, but we still had a nice time being together. 

Lunch Dates

Today we had a special lunch date with Auntie Golden, Auntie Erin and Baby Lizzy Bug.  It was nice to see everyone on a Monday since they're on Thanksgiving break!  Daddy is pretty proud of Little Guy's new trick he mastered over the weekend...he now moos whenever you ask him what a cow says or he sees a cow...it's pretty precious, the only problem is he moos now whenever you ask him what any animal says...

Under the Weather

Well, if I am being honest, being pregnant with no baby at home wasn't easy, and being pregnant with a toddler is certainly not for the faint of heart.  We're both feeling a little under the weather today, me with all day morning sickness, Little Guy with the beginning stages of a cold ( I hate this time of year for that one reason!).  We spent FOUR hours napping this afternoon before heading out to Fitzsimmons Family Birthday Celebration.  Family parties are always a good time, but they're more fun when you're feeling 100%.  Let's hope we're all recovered before Thanksgiving!

So much to Be Thankful Four

Our family fall cards went out this week!  I was pretty excited to send them, not just because I think they are pretty gosh darn precious, but because they announce our exciting family news!  Our little family of three will be four come next summer!  Daddy can't wait to meet his daughter (he's convinced it's a girl) and I am excited for this little boy to be able to wear Little Guy's hand me down clothes...we'll have to wait until July to see who's right.  In the meantime, Little Guy is getting ready to be the best big brother ever!

Date Night

Daddy had to a take a last minute trip to Oregon today (complete with a solo movie date and a quiet night's sleep!), so Little Guy and I had a mommy-son dinner date at Panera.  I love that he's big enough to count as my +1, and quite the ham when we're hanging out.  We miss Daddy A LOT when he goes out of town, especially during the late night wake up sessions, and we can't wait for him to be home tomorrow!  Little Guy has something extra special to show him...he's cutting his first molar!  I discovered it during back floats in our morning swim lesson.  I have to say, I am a believer in the amber teething necklace, I had no idea he was even cutting this molar!

Bananas

Little Guy is bananas over bananas....on a typical day, he'll eat three or more bananas!  I don't know much about bananas, other than they are great at preventing cramps, so I thought it best to check with Little Guy's doctor to make sure there was nothing to be worried about, like say a potassium overdose.  No worries, he's good to go!  Now it's off to Costco to stock up, three pounds of bananas at a time.

Best Buddies

Little Guy LOVESLOVESLOVES his dogs, especially Winston.  And well, Winston, could really do without ANY attention from Little Guy...Not one to be deterred by a little under the breath growling, Little Guy spends most of his day chasing Winston with the hopes of hugging him, "petting" him, and lately, helping him with his "shake".  The only time Winston wants anything to do with Little Guy is when Little Guy is shelling out dog treats- which happens all day long now...a win win for both little fellas.  Here's a video clip of the best buddies hanging out!

Vacuums and Birds

Today was opening day of pheasant season so we went out to the ranch for Daddy's annual BBQ.  It was delicious as always, and even more fun for Little Guy this year- there were children to play with and we brought along one of our favorite toys, the wagon.  Here's Little Guy with his buddies Chloe and Jack:

He may be cute, but he's not much of a wagon puller!

After the BBQ, we came home to wind down and rest...except for the fact the house was in desperate need of a vacuum job...Good thing I have the world's cutest helper!  Little Guy vacuumed each room with me- me with the Dyson, him with his lawn mower.  That lawn mower has gotten a lot of usage since August (thanks cousin Brady and Trevyn!)

Let's get to cleaning Mom!

It's Rough being a Baby

We started out our chilly day with a fun INDOOR swim lesson...then the day started to go downhill from there and by the time dusk rolled around we were one hot mess.  Little Guy cut his third bottom tooth AND developed his first major diaper rash.  He took one trip down the slide and was a screaming wreck while he tried to climb up my chest.  After changing his diaper and seeing his poor bum, I could understand why he didn't even want me to touch him and hold him.  He refused to sit in the bath or his high chair, so he was a dirty hungry boy when bedtime rolled around.  I was geared up for a rough night ( I went to bed at 7:30 myself), but all in all, it wasn't half bad.  It just breaks my heart when Little Guy is hurting...

Kids Gone Wild

Today we went to Kids Gone Wild with some friends from playgroup.  It was our first time there, and I can say it won't be our last.  Little Guy LOVED the giant blow up slide and the play structures were right up his ally.  It was a perfect way to spend one of the first rainy fall days!

Little Guy and Landon getting ready to race on the slide.

Me and Little Guy on the giant slide...we actually fell out of the bottom on this turn...

A big boy

We took advantage of the beautiful sunshine this morning and headed to the park with some of our favorite friends.  Little Guy seemed to miss the memo that he's still a baby...I look over and he's climbed up the stairs to the top of the play structure and is all ready to go down the twisty slide.  He didn't fall or mangle himself like the scene that was flashing through my mind, and then he did it again, and again, and again...until he was that kid with the beads of sweat across his upper lip...somethings only a mommy can love.

Shoveling Away

This weekend really caught up to me and then with the time change, it seems like my day is over before it's even begun!!!  A quick recap- we started our search for a big boy bed (we're hoping Grandpa will work his magic and make him something better than anything we could ever hope to buy...), had a nice dinner with my in-laws that included Little Guy trying out his new red convertible power wheels (courtesy of a family friend, Lord help us), a special celebration mass remembering Uncle Don, and a yummy family dinner with my parents, my sister, her fiance, BM/MJ, Aunt, and Uncle, and my two favorite guys...nothing too crazy, just right for us!  Then today we hit up the park with Noah, got in some exercise (gasp!) with his mommy, and anxiously awaited the arrival of our fall family card...it came and will go out next week, yay!  Here's to a nice fall week, even if I am wearing sandals and sweating in my capris!

I'd do yard work all day long with this cutie patootie!

Night Five, Six, and Seven

Well, we have completed our first week of night weaning!  There were a few hiccups with Little Guy spending one night in our bed (but not nursing) and dealing with day light savings time, but all in all, it seems like we are both transitioning well.  He is still LOVING his daytime milk (and I am still loving it too, so it's a win win) and I still get a sad begging cry at some point in the middle of the night with him rapidly signing milk (usually with his eyes closed because he's not even fully awake), but after a few quick seconds of cuddles, he's back to sleep.  If I am being honest, it makes me sad that he's not nursing all night, but in the same breath, also a lot less sleepy...and who doesn't love a well rested ready to play mommy in the morning???

Happy Birthday

to the most amazing crafter I know :)  My incredible friend Heather is celebrating her special day today, and I can't wait to help her ring in the next year with some relaxing girl time next week...In the mean time, here's to you Miss Heather, may your year be filled with love, laughter, and an abundance of happiness!

Here are two highlights from this past year...Sesame Street Live and Halloween...as I looked through all our photos, I realize that we NEVER take photos of ourselves on our outings, usually just our darling babes...Goal for next year, grab a few more girlfriend shots!

Who loves spaghetti???

Little Guy does!  Before children, I never really understood my parent friends who were nervous/anxious about the mess their children made in restaurants.  I figured the tables would just be bussed and the floors swept and all would be good...now I have a child, one who is a really "neat eater", and I shutter at the stares I get from other patrons as I pack up my child and leave with a small feast under his high chair.  Today was no different...after a GREAT swim lesson, we had a quick play date with Noah and his mommy before we headed out to lunch with the grandmas.  The boys shared a plate of spaghetti...and then for dinner tonight, Little Guy had spaghetti again...he REALLY REALLY loves eating it with his bare hands...

Yummy!!

Night Four

It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't our best night yet...Little Guy has a hard time getting into that deep sleep and apparently Daddy really missed us too...so it was a no win night for both my guys :(  We'll see how tonight goes.  The one thing he IS doing now, is laying in his bed awake, and then falling asleep, which is something new.  I know that it would be ideal for him to do this without me laying next to him, but we're taking baby steps (for both of us...)  Night Five, here we come...

Night Three

I hate to say it in case I jinx us, but we're doing okay!  Little Guy had a rougher time falling back asleep after his 4 am wake up, but 4 am is later than 3 am, so we're headed in the right direction.  Night four, here we come.  On to new topics, we had a fun photo shoot today with our buddy Noah, his mommy, the twins, and their mommy.  Jess was doing some work for a baby wearing website, so we got to model some stylish mei-tai carriers.  I can't wait until we have our fifteen minutes of fame...I'll be sure to post a photo when they're up and ready!