Announcement

After months of going back and forth about doing it, I've decided now's the time to make the leap.  I hope you'll come with me over to my new home and blog, and have patience with me as I poke my way around trying to learn WordPress. 

http://lifesbetterthemilkyway.wordpress.com/

Letters to Bennett: 5 months

B-b-b-benny and the jettttssss,
You, my little one, sure do have a lot of nicknames.  On any given day you are called some combination of the following: Bennett, Bento, Bento bean, Bennigan, Benny Bear Butt Cheeks, Bento Schmento (thank you daycare for that one), Benny and the Jets, etc.  Don't hate us, we use them lovingly.

You have just started to do the most adorable talking.  You've always been loud and quite verbal, but in the last week or so you've started with the "ba" and "da".  I love listening to you bababababa dadada the day away.  You have so much fun trying out different sounds with your mouth.  I could watch and listen to you talk for hours.  You are the happiest little guy, and everyone tells me so. 

As much as you are definitely my "easier" baby, you are proving to be every bit as stubborn as your brother in many ways.  At daycare you take cat naps a few times a day, but rarely nap longer than 30 minutes.  Stinker!  Jodie said you've started to kick your legs and fuss when she starts walking you down the hall for nap time.  You know what's coming; such a smart little guy. 

You also hate formula.  I've been able to pump enough that you only get one formula bottle a day at daycare, but it is a rare occasion that you drink more than one ounce of that bottle.  Today you had sucked down all of you breast milk bottles by 11:00 and still only drank one ounce of formula between then and when I got you home to nurse you at 5:00.  Stubborn much?

Speaking of nursing, I want you to know how much I enjoy our special time together.  One of my favorite times during the day is when we get home from work/daycare and the two of us leave the big boys behind and go into the nursery so you can eat.  It's a few minutes for us to relax and unwind together before jumping in to our evening routine of supper, playing, bath, and bed.  I look forward to that time with you so much Bennett.

You have outgrown all of your 9 month sleepers and are wearing two-piece outfits in size 9 or 12 months.  Why do you have to get so big so quickly?

I'm amazed at how much control you have over your hands now.  You can grab anything you want and have a lot of fun playing with toys during diaper changes, car rides, whenever.   You set your eyes on something and you find a way to get it in your hands...... and eventually your mouth too.

You are the sweetest little boy Bennett, your smile is contageous, and your giggle is heart-warming.  I love you sweetheart!
-Mama

I'm tired

When I was pregnant with Griffin, I was surprised at all the things that people don't tell you about when it comes to pregnancy, having a baby, and parenthood.  Things, that if you knew ahead of time, might just make you reconsider wanting to bear children of your own.  At least the second time through you have an idea of what to expect. 
Or so I thought. 

Then I realized that there is a whole new set of rules that people with more than one child don't tell you about.  It's a cruel game really.  Lead you on until it is too late to go back, and then, bam, hit you with the not-so-glamorous reality: life with kids is hard. 

Going places is exhausting.  You never have enough hands to carry everything/one you need and being away from the comfort of your own home is hard on you and your kids.  Schedules get tossed aside and the daily routine you have grown to thrive on is turned upside down, leaving a wake of tantrums, tears, and little sleep.

Having people over to your house is almost as hard.  Trying to get the house in presentable condition enough in advance before guests arrive, but not too early that a toddler has time to undo your work, is a science I've yet to master.  And I can't blame it all on the two year old either, because I just don't have the time and energy most nights to do a whole lot of anything once the kids are in bed.  That means the floor goes unswept, the living room doesn't always get picked up, and, well, you get the idea.  Preparing for company is a stress I just don't want to deal with most of the time.

Marriage with kids is hard.  Anyone who has kids, knows this.  If not, ignorance really is bliss when it comes to this one.  Marriage with one kid was definitely a challenge the first year as we learned differences in parenting ideas and worked our way through babyhood for the first time.  However, if that first year with one was a challenge, the first year with two is proving to be.... well, the hardest thing I've ever done. 

Once upon a time, with only one kid, one parent could be "on" and the other could have a break.  Now if we're both around, there are no breaks.  One gets one kid, and one the other.  All energy and efforts are spent on the kids and little to none on each other.  I was painfully reminded just how little Travis and I interact on some days when I went to kiss him goodnight the other day and made a comment to him about shaving since his cheeks were smooth.  He told me he shaved two days ago.  Right.  We've worked out a system for the weekends where one of us sleeps in each day, and on the day you have to get up early, you get to take a nap when Griffin does.  That's fine and all, but whether I get to sleep in or not, I'm still up 5 or so times a night, so ....

I keep thinking and hoping this will get better once I'm getting more sleep.  I'll have more time to invest in him and in myself.  I hate that we don't have/make time for each other, but if we're being honest, I miss time to myself more than anything right now.  For example, it has taken me over a week to write the blog post since the day I started it.  I just don't have the time anymore.  The only reason I am finishing it tonight is because I just put Bennett to bed half an hour early and I'm still sitting in his nursery, in the dark, typing away, while Travis and Griffin are taking a bath.

I couldn't tell you the last time I spent even just one hour in my house alone.  Travis gets to drive to and from work in quiet peace, and since he is working in town right now, he leaves the same time we do in the morning and gets home almost an entire two hours before us.  Two hours to himself, five days a week.  What I wouldn't give.

HOWEVER, my life is awesome, it really is.  I am tired, but it is because I have two beautiful, sweet, loving boys that take up my time and energy.  Is there anything or anyone better to exhaust myself over?  No.  And even though I still get up with Bennett way too many times each night, I don't (usually) mind.  I love nursing him.  There, I said it.  I didn't think the day would come where that would be true, but it is.  He's my last baby, and he's growing up way too quickly, so I'm trying to enjoy even our middle of the night bonding sessions.  The won't last forever.  Soon enough he won't need me to rock him anymore. 

Until that days comes, please pass the coffee, it's going to be a long night.

3-2-1 Cake

I have to share this for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.  Chances are, if you're on Pinterest, you've seen it.  And is anyone not on Pinterest?  Didn't think so, but I'll continue anyway.

3-2-1 Cake.  You need to try it.  It's perfect for those days when you need a quick sweet fix. 

1 box Angel Food Cake Mix
1 box of any other kind of cake mix (I used Devil's Food)
water

Mix the two boxes of cake mix together and keep them in a sealed container.  When you're ready for a single serving of cake, all you need is 3T of the mix, 2T of water, mix them together, and microwave it in a mug for 1 minute. 

That's seriously it.  3-2-1.  Done.  This is the easiest "mug cake" recipe I've seen yet.  Definitely worth a shot.

Photo and recipe are from here.

5QF

1. How often do you shave your legs in the winter?  Once a week, if I'm lucky enough to get that much time to myself.

2. Valentine's Day cards for your spouse: funny or romantic? Funny.  The man hates that "made up holiday" anyway, so I better make him laugh instead of being sappy.

3. What are you most looking forward to about spring? Spending time outside with the boys.  Going for walks.  Warm weather. 

4. What's your favorite way to pamper yourself? Hmm, I don't really have time for that.  If I did though, I would want a day to myself.  I would get to sleep in, then drink my coffee and play in the internet in peace and quiet.  I would take a loooong shower and get ready at my leisure.  I would go shopping alone, buy tons of clothes and stuff that I don't need but I want anyway.  I'd go out to lunch alone then go get my hair cut and highlighted, get a massage and mani/pedi.  Then Travis would have a steak and crab legs dinner ready and on the table with a bottle of wine when I got home.  That day will never happen, but I can, and will, dream!

5. Does your tax return go into savings or do you spend it instantly? Savings, all of it, though I would looove to spend some of it.  We took money from savings to put down on my car this past summer and we'll put it right back when we get our tax refund.  We live on the edge like that.

Blast of random newness

My boys love each other.  It is becoming more clear as the days and weeks go by.  Griffin has started to notice that his actions elicit grins, coos, and squeals from his little brother.  And he's never been one to shy away from being the center of attention, so he eats it right up.

 Raking right up there with his Papa on Griffin's list of favorite things are his blankets (special, next best, and others), dolls (Princess and Puppy), and loveys (Froggy and Beary). *Yes, they are all named.  No, I did not name them.*  I can tell when he is a particularly good mood when he will bring one of those objects and tell me he's going to share it with Bennett.  This usually involves shoving it into his mouth or laying it over his face, but the intent is there.... for a minute or so until it's "Griffin turns".  He's proud to share, and it's the sweetest thing to watch.  Griffin loves getting Bennett's attention in the car and often barks out commands of "Look at me!" or "Look this way!" so he can report back to me what Bennett is doing.

Griffin has been starting to play make believe as well.  I love it.  This past weekend he grabbed Bennett's blue tub from the bathroom, took my cooler from the kitchen, and found his rain boots.  He put on the boots, slung the cooler over his shoulder, sat in the tub, and told me he was driving to work in his car. 

He's started counting and will randomly shout out a "one, two, free, free, five" and wait for us to shower him with praise. 

I really need to start keeping an actual paper log of the funny things he says, since I've wanted to do that since far before he could talk.  The kid is hilarious.  And crafty.

G: I need a hug, Mama.
Me: Sure you can have a hug, sweetheart, come here.
G: (after I picked him up and hugged him) Need it more Skittles please.
Me: No, Papa said you already had enough Skittles.
G: (pauses and thinks) Get down please.

Notice Griffin is sitting in his "car" in this picture.

Notice also that this is another picture that I wanted to delete but didn't.

We've got a new talent

Winking.  Or something resembling it. 

I won!

A little over a week ago, the mommy message board I spend a good amount of my time frequenting celebrated its 1 year anniversary with a bunch of really cool giveaways.  Believe it or not, I actually won one of them, and I got my prize in the mail today.  It is a beautiful, hand drawn henna design on a canvas, from one of the other women on the board.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  She incorporated my and the boys' names into the piece, and I am so thrilled with how it turned out.  Her work is beautiful.  Take a look at her etsy shop and see some of her other work for yourself.

Cheeeeeese

It's not often that I make in out from behind my camera to be in pictures with my kids.  And when I do, I usually hate the way I look in them.  However, if I keep deleting every photo of me and the boys that I don't like, they won't have any pictures with there mom to look back on.  So, I will suck it up, and only delete the extra bad ones and try to let some of the others through from time to time.  Like this one, from before work this morning. 

Who moved my cheese?

I mentioned in a previous post that we were forced to switch clinics due to a change in insurance on the first of the year.  I was bummed.  Really bummed.  I didn't really know much about the new clinic, but I knew how much I loved everything about the old one.  The one we had been going to for as long as we have lived in thise cheese-filled state of Wisconsin. 

Yet, there was nothing we could do since our beloved doctors and clinic were no longer in network with our new insurance.  So with an open mind and several referrals and recommendations from friends, I put on my best make-the-best-of-it face and took Bennett to see his new pediatrician yesterday. 

I wanted to, and still might, cry.  This clinic is so very different, and not in a good way.  It wasn't really any one thing that I didn't like, but every little thing on top of the next added up to a big turn off.  The clinic is very small, we had to wait a long time and weren't seen until 25 minutes after our scheduled time, they have a lot of little things that are just outdated and things of the past at most clinics these days.  The doctor was nice enough, but I just didn't get a good feeling from the whole experience.  I want to go back to where they know us and we know them.  The place where when I brought Bennett to see his doctor for the first time, he told me that he had my husband's coloring without my husband even being there.  He knows who we are.  Travis will be emailing his HR person tonight to see if negotiations are still in the works to get us back in network with them. 

*sigh* 

Aside from all the newness of everything, his appointment went well.  He is, like we already knew, a big boy!  His current starts are:

Weight: 16 pound 9 ounces (80th percentile)
Height: 27.5 inches (99th percentile)
Head: 54th percentile

(That is an entire inch and pound more than Griffin was at the same age.  Actually, it is only 1/4 of an inch shy of where Griffin was at SIX months.  Yes, B will be our big one.)

We talked about his head shape, since that is still a concern of mine.  It was nice to hear from a second professional that it likely isn't a big deal.  He said he has positional plagiocephaly (fancy terms for a flat head), but that since his skull plates are still very open, it will probably correct itself.  Whew. 

We talked about Bennett's pooping troubles and got some suggestions to try for that too.

Other than those two issues I brought up, he seems to be in perfect health.  He didn't cry until his second shot, but he did have a rough day and night of being fussy and more irritable than normal.  All that means he he got extra snuggles and extra eating sessions.  I didn't mind either.

Letters to Bennett: 4 months

Bennett,
Happy 4 month birthday, my sweet boy!  We have been so busy this past month and you have gotten so big on us.  In fact, we had to go out on Sunday and buy you some new winter clothes that fit since you have outgrown all your warm outfits already!  How does my tiny little baby already wear 9 month clothing?  Time sure goes quickly these days.

Daycare has been an adjustment for you.  You don't nap very well there, but each week progress is made.  You also get two bottles of formula each day when you're there, and those are giving your tummy a little bit of trouble.  We're going to your new doctor tomorrow for your 4 month check-up and we'll see what they have to tell us about that.  I have so many questions to ask them, you would think I have never done this before!

Sleeping.  Well, not your best subject in school, if you know what I mean.  You go to bed at 7 and get up for the day around 5.  Between those hours is really anyone's guess though.  We're up twice on a good night, more on most nights.  Maybe when you start eating solids in a couple months you'll stretch that out a bit.  At least that's what your mama is hoping for.  I suppose a growing boy needs to eat, and you don't get six chins by skipping night time meals, right?  You're starting to take longer naps in your crib during the day too, though sometimes I hold you on the weekends because I miss you so much during the week. 

I love to watch you watch life.  You love to watch your big brother and follow him around the room with your gaze and a big gummy grin.  You've been very nice at sharing your toys with him too, though the same isn't always true the other way around.  You haven't rolled over yet, either way, but you're getting close.  Tummy time is a lot more fun for you now and you love spending time in your exersaucer banging away at the toys.

I wish I had the energy to post a picture tonight to go with this letter, but I promise I'll put one up tomorrow with your 4 month stats.  I love you Bento Bean!

Forever,
Mama

I live for the weekends

How much to you want to kiss/pinch/squeeze/eat these cheeks?  I can't get enough of them.

And what about these fellas?  All tuckered out after a big morning of playing in the snow.

trying to catch my breath

Remember when I had three luxurious hours each afternoon while both kids napped?  Seems like ages ago.  I don't have that luxury of free time anymore.  At least not until I become better at managing my time between work and home.  Whew.  Being back to work is exhausting.

Shower at 5am, out the door at 6:30, and home again at 5pm.  Then we have two hours to make and eat dinner, give bath(s), and play/read before it is bed time for the kids already.  Bennett is going to bed consistently by 7, and Griffin by 7:30.  I have no time with my kids during the week. 

Once they are in bed, then the dishes need to be done, lunches need to be packed, and, on a good night, I can squeeze in an hour or so of "me" time before it's time to get ready to turn in for the night.  Sometimes I even talk to Travis for a minute or two, too.

As much as I miss my kids, I really am happy to be back working and getting everyone into a solid routine.  My job leaves something to be desired these days, but it is great to be with adults again and have structure in my day. 

I'm hoping I can find a balance very soon because I miss my kids, I miss my friends, I miss Travis, and I miss time for myself.  The days are just not long enough sometimes.

Now, here are a few updates on the kids, since I don't have time to blog much anymore, and they are still busy growing, changing, and being funny...

Unfortunately, I haven't taken a real picture of either one in over a week.  Just a crappy cell phone pic here and there.  Bad mom.

Bennett is huge. For real, he is going to be bigger than Griffin in no time.   I can't wait to hear his 4 month stats in a couple weeks.  At our new clinic.  That's another post entirely, and I hope I find time to write it.  Also, he should sleep though the night once.  That would be really nice.

Griffin has started eating fruits and veggies, regularly! Nearly every day he gets "clean plate club" at daycare. It only took him two years.  At lunch today he even told me "super tasty apple".

Griffin is still the comedian of the family and using our few short hours together each day to make me laugh.  Like the other day when we were driving home from daycare and he yells out "Yummy!" from the back seat.  Knowing I hadn't given him any snacks, I turned around to see what could be so good back there.  Turns out it was his boot, propped up on his lap, so he could pick little chunks of snow off the bottom to eat. 

Or the other day on the way to daycare when I turned up the music and asked him if he wanted to dance, while I bopped to the music up front.  He did not, and wasn't shy about telling me "Stop dancing Mama.  Don't do that.". 

Sleeping Beauty

Eat it. Just eat it.

I don't do resolutions, but it just so happened that my going back to work and the start of a new year coincided, and there are some changes I'm trying to work on.  My eating habits at work for the better part of the past three years have been, in a word, crap.  I kept my desk drawer loaded with snacks, candy, and other junk.  I went to the grocery store deli at least twice a week for lunch, and I mindlessly ate my way through the day.

It's safe to say I have lost all of the baby weight I am going to lose by doing nothing, and anything else I wish to shed will require a bit of effort.  Exercising is not something I have, or am willing to make, the time for right now.  Keeping up with my kids is about as much exercise as I'm up for.  So that leaves diet change.

Here's the plan.

Breakfast.  A bowl (or mug as I prefer) of oatmeal and coffee.  Oatmeal is filling and good for boosting my milk supply.

Lunch.  Something prepared the night before, preferable loaded with more healthy than not food.  All this week I had this- whole wheat tortilla spread with cream cheese and topped with diced cucumbers and turkey slices, string cheese, red/orange/yellow peppers, and carrots.  It looks like, and is, a lot of food.  But it is healthy, and it keeps me full until dinner.  On Friday I had dessert too, because after the week I had, I deserved it..

Snacks.  I don't keep them in my desk anymore.  What I do keep is hard candy to keep my mouth busy when I get bored and think I'm hungry, and tea.

Dinner.  Being back at work has forced me to start thinking at least a day or two ahead about dinner plans since I don't have time to run to the store and grab something after work, nor do we have time to mess around deciding what we should eat when we get home.  We have precious little time with the boys between the time we get home and when the go to bed, so we try to make the most of it.  This week we've kept dinner simple, and I've been stocking up on crock pot and chicken recipes so I can prepare healthy meals in advance and not resort to boxed processed stuff as often... We just placed an order for 36 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts, through the place Travis has been doing work for, at $1.75 a pound. 

That's it.  I think I did really well this week.  We will find out on weigh-in Tuesday.

Day one: survived

I am exhausted, but we made it.  Wanna hear about it?  Bennett surprised me by only waking up ONCE last night.  That in itself was a miracle since the previous night he was up five times between 10 and 5:30.  Yeah, that sure was fun.  Anyway, I got about 6 hours of sleep before my 5:00 alarm rang and it was time to start our day.

Bennett was up at 5:30 and hung out with Travis while I made bottles and got ready.  We woke Griffin up, said goodybe to Travis as he left for work, and I finished getting the three of us ready and loaded into the car. 

I dropped the boys off and held off the tears until I was in the comfort of my own vehicle again.  And then I was sad, but only for a few minutes.  I got to work and was warmly greeted by everyone and pleasantly surprised to find that my (new) boss was off for the day so I was free to ease back into things at my own pace.

I waded through 2,000+ emails and spent most of the rest of the day looking over what was done in my absence and semi-freaking out because things were missing, incomplete, or moved.  Deep breath.  This isn't like going back after my last maternity leave.  Since I started my leave in September, our director resigned and a new one took her place.  It's only expected that there are some gaps and holes to be filled, but it was a little stressful when there was no one there for me to ask about them today.  I don't like when people move my cheese, so to speak.

I decided to call daycare during my first pumping break at 10, just to check in.  She didn't answer.  Rationally I knew that meant she was either changing a diaper or giving someone a bottle.  However, a teeny tiny part of me assumed that she didn't answer because Bennett was crying and she didn't want me to hear that. 

She called me back a few minutes later.  Bennett was having an ok day so far.  He was happy but not eating or napping much.  Hmmm.  4:00 could not come fast enough. 

Here is Bennett's first daycare report:

Naps:

9:15-9:45

11:30-12:00

1:50-2:30

Bottles:

1 oz - 8:45

3 oz - 10:15

4 oz - 12:15

2 oz - 2:45

Diapers:

Wet: 4

BM: 0

Comments:

:) Very smiley and happy am

So, not totally horrible, but certainly not great.  Obviously my 3 month old needs more than an hour and 40 minutes of naps in a day.  And more than 10 ounces of milk.  Sigh.  She asked if I would mind switching bottles since B was struggling with eating.  I reluctantly agreed, though didn't really think one day was much of an effort.  She suggested the NUK brand, the same as the pacifiers he has. 

Little buddy was out cold by 6:45 tonight, and as soon as I'm confident that he isn't waking up anytime soon again, I'm off to buy new bottles.... just the thing I wanted to do tonight.

Got lunch packed up, my boots tied tight

Tomorrow's the big day.  Back to work after 15 glorious weeks off.  I'm a mixed bag of emotions right now.  I spent all day preping for tomorrow.  I packed up my pump and gathered my sanatizing bags and towel to dry pump parts on.  I dug out my cooler and washed bottles.  I measured out enough breast milk from my tiny freezer stash to feed Bennett tomorrow.  I gave my boys extra snuggles, kisses, and I love yous.  I ran to the grocery store and picked up some food to make lunches and a few dinners with this week, and picked up a box of oatmeal so I can have breakfast at work each morning.  I painted my nails, washed 3 loads of laundry, and tried on my work clothes to see what fits and what doesn't.  I packed a bag of diapers and spare clothes for Bennett to keep at Jodie's.  I printed off new updated pics of my three favorite boys to proudly display on my desk.   I gave Griffin a few extra treats today and held Bennett a few minutes longer before putting him to bed tonight.

Tomorrow will be tough.  But I have done it once before and I know I can do it again.  Fact of the matter is, I don't have a choice.  I love my job and the people I work with.  It will just take some time to get into a rythm and our new normal routine.  Since I've been on leave, the director I've worked for for the entire time I've been at my job resigned and a new one took her place.  Lots of changes.  I don't like when people move my cheese.  And I am going to miss my boys so much.

But, ready or not, my 5:00am alarm will be sounding in no time, and back to work I will go.  I can do this.  I have to do this.

Outdoorsmen

I live with three of them.  I can't think of a single better way to spend a Friday morning than playing in the freshly fallen snow with these three.  Except maybe when we went in for cocoa to warm up when we got too cold.  I'm really going to miss spending weekdays doing things like this as a family.

"Baby" toy

I was helping B play with one of his new Christmas toys yesterday when G decided that he really needed that exact toy at that exact moment.  I told him it was Bennett's turn and that it was a baby toy anyway, so he should go find a big boy toy to play with. 

Apparently, a baby toy meant a toy for his baby...

 And after play time for baby comes story time.

::Sigh::

How am I supposed to leave these guys and go back to work on Tuesday?  Anyone have a surplus of cash they want to give me so I don't have to? 

Outsmarted by my 2 year old

I had a doctor appointment this afternoon and left while Griffin was still napping.  When I came home, he was showing me a project he did while Travis took Bennett back to the nursery for a diaper change.  Then the following exchange took place.

Me: Did Papa get you a snack when you woke up from your nap?
G: Nope, not.
Me:  Come with me, quick, don't tell Papa! (giggle, giggle)

We walk into the kitchen and I put a pack of Pez refills in his dispenser just as Travis comes back.

Travis:  What are you guys doing over there?
G: Pez!!
Travis: Did you tell Mama what you got for a special treat after your nap today?
G: Mike and Ike!!

Lesson of the day - never trust a 2 year old when it comes to treats.

Letters to Bennett: 3 months

Bennett,
3 months old today, and such a big boy you are already.  You're wearing all 6 month clothing and bigger, rocking the size 2 diapers, and filling out more each day.  A happier baby I have never met.  You are so content to hang out and take in your surroundings and rarely make a cranky peep.  You've really started to notice more of what is going on lately and enjoy watching your big brother play and interact with you.  You're quick to give up a smile for him and he likes to perform for you.

Mornings are your favorite time of day.  Early mornings, that is.  You wake up and greet the day with squeals and screeches of delight every morning.  I've never seen anything like it.  You are SO loud!  Sometimes when you're happily yelling you end up choking on your spit from getting so into it.  Adorable.

Sleeping is more hit or miss with you lately.  You still haven't slept through the night yet, but most nights you are up just once.  The last few, however, you decided we should hang out three times each night.  I disagreed, but you won, like you always do. 

You love bath time and get one every three days.  You'd probably like one every night, actually.  You have a dirty diaper once every week to week and a half.  It's great!  I usually try to talk you into doing that when your Papa has you, and so far you've been pretty good about complying with that wish of mine.  I've started putting a bib on you most days because you blow many excited spit bubbles when you "talk" and end up getting the front of your outfits wet. 

I'm so excited for your first Christmas this weekend.  It's not even here yet, and already you've received several presents.  You are one lucky, and very loved, baby.  You are going to be the most handsome little Christmas Elf in your new outfit from your Godparents on Christmas.  I can't wait to proudly show you off.

You continue to bring so much joy to my life Bennett.  I'm going to be so very sad to leave you at daycare 5 days a week in just a week and a half.  I have enjoyed these last three months at home with  you more than I ever expected to.

I love you my happy little Bento Bean!
Always yours,
Mama

Checkin Up

I love the weekly babycenter emails I get for both kids.  From pregnancy on, each week an email with developmental milestones, parenting tips, and other great info shows up in my inbox.  It's full of useful stuff, and if you don't get them, you should.  I was a little devastated last year when my updates changed from "Your Baby This Week" to "Your Toddler This Week". 

And then I got today's email.  "Your Preschooler This Week".  Babycenter.com, you're officially on my list.

Anyway, today was Griffin's two year checkup.  It was relatively uneventful.  That's a good thing, if you were wondering.  Short and sweet.  He was impressed with Griffin's taking and I was amused that he kept saying the doctor's name while we were in there.  We were given the go ahead to switch him to skim milk, who knew!?  His current stats are:

Weight: 26 pounds 10 ounces (33rd percentile)
Height: 34.72 inches (somewhere near 50th percentile)
Head: 19.09 inches

His next well visit isn't until he's three now!  Wow.  That's not entirely true though since he wants to see us back in six months to see how our winter went.  If all goes well, we will take him off of the Flovent then.  We've yet to make it through a winter without him ending up in the hospital, so I'm cautiously optimistic that this is our year!

I had the Pedi look at Bennett's head while we were there too, since he has developed a very obvious flat spot.  It makes me cringe whenever I look at it and I feel terribly guilty that I don't hold him enough and that is what caused it.  He said it was pretty normal and that we should keep giving him tummy time and encourage him to turn his head in different ways when he's laying on his back.  He was optimistic that it will even out on its own in time as his neck gains strength.  I hope so. 

Mama's Little Helper

When my mom asked me for ideas for the kids for Christmas, I didn't have many.  They have all the clothes, books, and toys they need (and that we have space for).  My mom is a very talented sewer, so I asked if she would make Griffin an apron to wear when he helps cook dinner.  This is what she came up with.  Made from an old pair of bibs and some fleece.  How much do we love it?  I am so excited for him to open this up on Christmas morning. 

Letters to Griffin: 2 years

Goots,
My sweet, intelligent, humorous, loving little Goota Bear.  You are two years old today!  We have had a very busy year and you've grown into such a charismatic firecracker of a toddler.  You can always be counted on for a laugh and know just when someone needs a hug and kiss.  You have such a caring heart Griffin, and you show me this as you shower your little brother with love and kisses every single day. 

When I was looking back at your one year letter I was amazed at how much actually has changed this year.  There was a list of seven words you could say at this time last year.  Now you are saying phrases and short sentences, and they are usually nothing short of hilarious.  You are such a polite little guy too, saying please, thank you, excuse me, and bless you.  We're still working on you're welcome.  You are a good eater when you want to be, and are even starting to eat some fruits and veggies you haven't touched in a year.  You're still a meat and cheese kind of guy though, and I'm afraid you've got your Mama's sweet tooth. 

I love to watch you play by yourself and use your imagination.  You're so creative already!  You like to put your hat one, jump on your CAT truck and tell us where you are going - usually Nana's house, work, school, or the store.  Your memory is like a steel trap and the things that you retain after minimal exposure astound me. 

You are quite the popular little man at daycare and you love your friends there.  It makes me so happy to see everyone swarm to the door when you arrive and see how you have formed bonds and friendships with these kids you spend your weekdays with.   I've been so lucky to have gotten to spend the last three months at home with you.  If only we could do that every year!  I am going to miss you so much when you start back at daycare full time again in January.  It is going to be hard for me to leave you and your brother there and go to work every day, but I feel better knowing you have each other there.  You are a wonderful big brother to Bennett, even better than I could have thought. 

We had a great day celebrating you today and I tried my best to make it a special one for you.  We started our day with streamers on your door and balloons in the living room.  We opened presents, went to a play date, went out to lunch as a family, got a visit from Jill and Nick, and enjoyed just spending time together being silly.

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY GRIFFIN DANIEL!  Bring on year #3.

I love you sweetheart.

Always,

Mama

Birthday Party

Since Griffin's birthday is ever so (in)conveniently located a week before Christmas, we have to be creative about when we celebrate.  So we had his party a bit early this year.  It was wonderful.  I don't know who had more fun - him getting presents and attention from everyone, or me, watching him in his glory.  I didn't get many pics, but here are a few shots of the fun. 



In 5 days I will have a two year old.  I don't want to talk about it.

5QF

It's been a while since I did one of these, and since I have a few minutes, here goes...

 

1. What is your favorite Christmas cookie?

Any that I didn't have to make?  Hmmm, since I'm drawing a blank right now and can't think of many kids, I'll go with frosted cut-outs.  Heavy on the frosting.

2. What’s your favorite holiday movie & why?

Hands down, no contest, Christmas Vacation.  Why?  Because it is HI-larious.  "Merry Christmas, shitter's full!"  "Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse." "Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, kiss my ass. Kiss his ass. Kiss your ass. Happy Hanukkah."  "Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?"  Need I go on? Because I could.

3. Is there a gift that you bought for your kids that you wish you hadn’t after they opened it?

Hmmm, not yet.  Although Travis curses me daily for buying Griffin a 101 piece play food set.  Not even kidding, he brings it up every.single.day.

4. What is the messiest room in your house right at this moment?

The kitchen.  No wait, living room.  Or maybe Griffin's room?  3-way tie?

5. What is the furthest you have driven for the holidays?

4.5 hours two years ago when we spent New Years at the cabin.

Jingle Bells: Part II

Jingle Bells, as performed by Griffin, while he dotes on his little brother, all while melting my heart.

Jingle Bells

It's the most wonderful time of the year.  Griffin has been going to daycare one a week lately, and each time he goes, he comes home with another adorable craft.  Last week they made jingle bell bracelets.  He was so proud of his work and asked to show Bennett as soon as I picked him up that afternoon.

 Today he came home with the most precious hand-painted ornament I have ever seen.  I may have shed a tear or two when he came running through the door to show me what he did.  I asked him if he wanted to hang it on the tree, and he proudly placed it right on top of a branch of his choosing. 

And as to not be out-crafted by my small child, Bennett and I did some holiday projects today too, including some baking, if you can call it that.  These are yum-o.  Pretzels, caramel-filled Hershey kisses, and an m&m on top, just for fun.  I thought it best to do a trial run before I actually bring them to our holiday goodie swap next week.  Travis didn't mind.

Tis the season to be jolly!

Healthy Holidays Challenge

I'm now 10 weeks postpartum.  You know what that means.  Time to get rid of the baby weight.  And just in time for the holidays too, adding an extra special fun twist to the challenge.  Well, this year Travis and I have decided to participate in his company's Healthy Holidays challenge.  What better motivation to lose/maintain weight than money.  You know, besides feeling good about yourself and fitting into your clothes again.

Anyway.  We are on a team with two other people (Shrinking Santas), competing against 30 other teams of four.  Depending on your starting BMI, you can earn points for losing or just maintaining your weight through the twelve weeks of the challenge.  It's kind of fun actually.  After one week, Travis and I both lost weight.  I like that we submit our poundage on Tuesdays, so if the weekend is a little foodier than it should have been, we still have a couple days to remedy it.  I try to stay off the scale until Tuesday mornings, but haven't been totally successful with that.  Money or no money, I'm excited to see where we are at the end of the twelve weeks.

In unrelated news, my kids are cute.

Talented friends

Excuse this little brag, but look what my good friend April made for Bennett's door!  The most adorable ribbon wreath, complete with a cute little puppy hanging in the middle.  It's hard to tell from the picture, but these are the exact colors in his nursery.  Imagine my surprise as I saw the mailman drive up our driveway this morning and leave this little gem at my door.  I can't wait for Travis to get home and hang it up.  LOVE IT!  Thank you April!!

Pinterest Projects

I'll be the first to admit that, just as I did with the Twilight books, I resisted jumping on the Pinterest bandwagon for a while.  Then I caved.  And boy am I glad I did - on both counts.  It's so easy to lazily browse through pages and pages of pins with one hand while I'm nursing Bennett in the middle of the night.  I've come across so many great ideas, projects, recipes, crafts, products, etc. on there that I never would have otherwise been aware of.  I've even given a few of them a shot already.

Like this reusable calendar.  You make a note card for each day of the year and write one thing you did that day.  Each year you add to it.  I've got the supplies to make mine that I will start on January 1.

This one I've made more than once, only slightly modified.  Did you know that if you add a can of pumpkin to a boxed cake mix that you can omit the egg, oil, and water?  It's true!  I am slightly obsessed with making cupcakes using a box of spice cake mix, one can of pumpkin, and 1/2 bag of chocolate chips.  Try it.  Seriously, try it.  Y.U.M.

Travis has been working a bunch lately and I've been at home with the boys.  Our days can get a little repetitive, so I was thrilled when I came across this super simple activity to change things up a bit.  I bought a $0.97 pack of 100 pipe cleaners, got out the colander, and let Griffin go to town.  The first day it kept him busy for 25 minutes straight, no joke.  It was awesome.  The look of concentration on his face as he gently pushed the "cleaners", as he calls them, through the holes, was darn cute. 

I made these treat bags for Griffin's Halloween party at daycare this year.  Something cute and different I thought.  Plus, who doesn't like s'mores made with ghost Peeps?

There are actually a few others, some that I've pinned and some that I haven't, that I've worked one or am in the process of working on, but due to my reading audience, I can't post them just yet.  Check back after Christmas for more completed projects.  And if you haven't yet, go sign up for a Pinterest account, you won't regret it.  While you're there, look me up!  Username: milkyway

He's a riot

Griffin has been cracking me up non-stop today.  I'm know these aren't nearly as funny to read about as they are to hear straight from his silly mouth, but I need to write them down anyway so I remember to tell Travis about his comedian son.


Bennett was napping in the living room while Griffin and I ate our lunch in the dining room, so I kept peeking over to make sure he was still sleeping....
Griffin: Leave it lone.
Me: Leave what alone?
Griffin: Bento.  Sleeping. Swing. Stop checking.

While driving around the house on his truck....
Griffin: Going.
Me: Where are you going?
Griffin: Target.
Me: What are you going to buy at target?
Griffin: Bread
Me: Bread?  What else?
Griffin: Bananas
Me: Bananas? What else?
Griffin: Milk.
Me: Oh, milk too?
Griffin: Yep.  Chocolate Milk.

He was coloring while I was feeding Bennett this morning and I watched him pick  up a marker in one hand, a crayon in the other, then bring them together and say "Cheers!".

I was laying on the couch with Bennett this morning when I heard Griffin yelling from his room, letting me know he was up....
Griffin:  PAPA, are you!
Me: Good morning Griffin!
Griffin: No Mama! Way.  Go way! Papa!
Me: Papa's at work today.
Griffin: Back home.  Soon.  10 minutes.

After he had been tinkering around in the toy box for quite a while this morning...
Me: What are you doing?
Griffin: Hanging out.

Memories made

I gave Griffin some bulb ornaments to hang on the tree.  He started to pile them on top of one branch, then deemed them too slippery and made a new pile under the tree.  The tree is up, the decorations are hung, and we are ready to celebrate this magical time of year.

So much to be thankful for

It was tough, but I managed to not eat those delicious looking cheekers for Thanksgiving.  Such a handsome two month old I have there, don't you think?

Unfortunately I didn't get a family picture on Thanksgiving, or even a picture of the boys together.  Shame on me, I know.

On Friday we bundled everyone up and went to the Rotary Lights Parade.  It was a really nice time.  Griffin loved getting candy, and Bennett liked watching the lights go by.  I can't wait to take them down to the actual Rotary Lights display this year and let Griffin see Santa and the reindeer in the park. 

I'm really looking forward to the holiday season this year. Maybe more than any other year since I was a kid. Griffin is old enough this year to know what's going on, and I can't wait to see the excitement and wonder in his eyes as he experiences all things Christmas - lights, decorations, presents, etc. It will be our first Christmas as a family of four.
Travis and I were talking the other night about the holidays and different traditions our families had growing up. I loved the holidays; who doesn't?  Part of that was the family traditions repeated year after year. I want my own kids to have traditions they love as much as I did ours. With family being farther away, unfortunately we spend a decent part of our holidays traveling between our house, my parents' house, and my in-laws' house. That's the way it is for now, but we make the best of it.  And it doesn't mean we can't still have our own "things" too.  And we will.