Playdate

Last week we all loaded up & we went to Mrs Katies house!!! Katie is probably my sister from another Mister. We lead identical, yet VERY different lives. Both of our children were both 2 weeks apart ( Jack was born on Andys due date & Andy was born on Jacks due date! Ellie was born 2 weeks after Ryan) we both have the same sleep/eating/you name it parenting situations plus the mom crazies & I just love her!
My friend Emily, just had her second baby a few weeks ago too! I have known Emily literally, my entire life. She & my sister have been friends since they were 2 years old. Her little boy Sam, is about 2 months older than Andy =)

Katie has a big fabulous house with a whhoolleee room dedicated to a train table & a super awesome play kitchen, so of course Andy was like "OHMGEE" and he actually told me he didnt want to leave =X

I also got to meet a new mama! Her name was Jenny, she had a 4 year old boy, a 2.5 year old boy & an 8 month old girl & I REALLY liked her, which speaks volumes because I'm not usually a fan of "girls" But I really enjoyed meeting Jenny!

It was funny because at one point or another, evey one of us was nursing a kiddo, and it was kind of cool to find a group of people who "do what you do" and your comfortable with! I might have had more fun than the kids, I'm not sure.

Check out the pictures!!

Miss Ellie! She was born 2 weeks after Ryan was.

Sam, this is Emily's son.

Andy leaned over to Ellie & said "Hey baby!!!" (I think Andy has an Ellie crush, last time he saw her at the play ground, he sat down & just held her hand!!!)

He got to play with some COOL planes!

Baby Eliza! Emily's teeny tiny daughter!!!

Andy & Ellie.

Ryan stole Ellies duck. Nice one Ryan!

I gave Ellie a new duck & all was good in the world.

How cute are they?? I hope my boys dont fight over her!

Jack, Katies son. I just LOVE this, he looks TOO cute & thoughtful! He told me to take a picture of him eating, so I did!

Ryan checking out his surroundings.

Andy, Ryan & their new buddy playing trains.

Katie & Ellie and Jenny & Julia.

It was nice. It was good for the kids, it was good for the mom!! We all had a really nice time & hopefully, will be doing it more often, especially as the weather gets nicer!!!!

Andys Adjectives

Ah..I remember the not so long ago days when we WISHED Andy would talk more!

Oh how the times have changed!

Andy now uses words in ways we didnt know he understood! Here are some examples.

Andy used to say "Want car song"

Andy now says "I want a really COOL car song"

Andy also knows the difference bwteen WANT and NEED.

As in, "I want more water" and "I NEED more chocolate eggs"

Mike was playing Music Videos on Demand for Andy, put a song on to see what it was & then said to himself "Ah, thats gay" and turned it off..

Several minutes later, I passed through the living room, Mike put it on a song *he* wanted to hear & Andy goes "No dad, 's gay song, turn it off"

Thanks Dad!!!

I've also lately heard "No, DONT sing!" and "I dont like it" and so many other wonderful phrases it makes me wonder why we ever craved for Andys speech to pick up in the first place!!!

(kidding, of course, I love even the crazy things he says!!!)

Ah..he NEEDS more chocolate eggs.. he IS my son, huh?

10 Months!

My little( BIG) Ryan is now 10 months old!! I just cant believe it!

Here are 10 things about him,

1-Ryan can not only walk, but he can RUN!

2- Ryan can get on ( and off!) both the couch & (low) beds by himself.

3- Ryan can take his own diaper off.

4- Ryan likes to drive cars & trucks, he vroooms them acrossed the floor JUST like his big brother!

5- Ryan likes to pull his brothers hair.

6- Ryan LOVES the pets, he pulls Echos ears when she steals his Cheerios & he lets out screams ONLY emitted for the cats.

7- Ryan likes to repeat "Uh Oh" and attempt to say Andy's name.

8- Ryan LOVES Mommy. We have special snuggle/wrestling time on the floor when Ryan dives head first into mommy, giggles & rolls over head first onto the floor. He thinks its the best thing EVER.

9-Ryan is the size of an average 24 month old. Hes a beast!

10- Ryan is the happiest baby anyone who has met him, has ever seen. Friends, family, doctors. He is smiley, giggly & just all around HAPPY!

We love you Ryan!!!!!!

Who loves shoes??

I dont.. actually...I'm a flip flop kinda gal myself...but I like cute shoes for my kids!! And I LOVE free shoes, and I love even more droolin gover the cute little pink shoes on this cute little pink baby!!!

Check out the cutie patootie & her mama, who are giving away a free pair of See Kai Run shoes to one lucky winner, and enter for yourself!

Through Hazel Eyes

Wait..maybe I should say..dont enter..because I want to win. Yeah..thats it, just go look at her cute blog & even cuter kiddos!!!!!!

Ryans 10 month well check

Ryan had what should have been his 9 month well baby check today. Although, he'll be 10 months in a few days!

He's almost 23 pounds and he is 33.7 inches tall. I THOUGHT the nurse said 37 inches, but the print out says 33.7 so...

Either way.. when the NP showed me a growth chart.. all the averages were way down there.. and then up above was Ryan! If you follow his mark over til it meets up with the average height..it shows that he is the average height of a 24 month old.

I'm not shocked.

However, the NP sure was!! Ryan has been walking for 2 months now. He is RUNNING now! He can climb on & off the couch & the (low) beds. She said the highest milestone for his age on their computer is "pulls self to standing" so she was reading as she had to add extra notes "RUNS!!!!" She was qyuite impressed & we had a proud mommy moment where she agreed when I said "All parents think their little one is so developed & ahead of schedule but I think he really is!" and she said "OMG..he IS!! Doesnt he know how old he is????" lol

Well..his weight is lacking.. which I knew. Since starting baby food around 6 months Ryan has had constipation issues. I'mt alking hard rabbit poop that he grunts & screams to get out =(

Last time we talked about it she said she had no idea what to think of it, and he should have 2 oz of pear juice a day.. which we have been doing, to stick with P foods, prunes & pears & to keep an eye on him. When I leave the house for errands, Mike would give Ryan puffs, of a biter biscuit & bam, he'd be constipated again. So since its gotten pretty bad, I've sort of stopped baby food all together the last few weeks. I give him little bites of table food but I've mostly wanted to just see what his bowel movements do. I have figured out, cheese gives him diarreha. Which is... I guess better than the painful poos.. but not ideal. So.. the plan for now is, switch fully to table food. No baby food anymore.

Andy was such a picky eater ( and still is!) I have been at a loss of what Ryan CAN have at this age, so we went over some good options & I need to run to the store to pick up some soups, frozen veggie, Yo Baby, etc for him to try out. The plan is to mostly worry #1 about his comfort level.. we cant have him hurting trying to poop.. but since his weight is dropping ( which also, is due to his mobility however) then getting more food in him. The kid WANTS to eat, that isnt the issue, it sjust figuring out what backs him up & what doesnt. So, I'm supposed to give this a try for a little while & if we dont figure it out ourselves, she is going to refer him to a pediatric GI specialist. She said alot of kids have constipation issues, but it can be hard to figure out at this age if its a GI issue, or just certian foods in itself. So! Lets all cross our fingers we can get it figured out with out the help of a specialist. Ryans had *different* bowel movements since he was born in comparision to Andy, but i'm hoping its just since hes so big, his body is doing things a bit differently!!!

So, if you have any ideas of good finger foods, let me know!! We never really got to do the food thing with Andy..so Its sort of like the first time all over again!!!

Happy Birthday Husband!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!!!!!!!!!!

I've loved you since you were 22.. and I'll..hopefully.. love you until your 100!!! ( B/c after 100 all bets are off..I signed up for THIS life time, duh LD!!)

..That being said.. please, start picking up your sock, 'kay? Thanks.

Here are 27 ( I mean..25 plus 2) things that I LOVE about you!!!

1. Your hot.
2. Your smart!
3. Your sensitive to my needs.
4. Your a great husband!! The BEST!!
5. Your a rockin' dad!
6. You gotta purty mouth.
7. You ( help) make really cute babies.
8. You fold a mean basket of laundry.
9. You smell good ( once you've scared the shit goblin away, that is)
10. You put up with ME!
11. You feel good too, I love gettin pit! =0)
12. You occasionally, are REALLY funny!
13. You play a rockin air/crotch guitar to 80 hair bands.
14. I like kissing you!
15. You make great 'dillas.
16. You put up with ME. Yes..I listed it twice b/c its that big of a deal.
17. You have a GREAT sense of humor.
18. 
    You have fart humor too!
19. Your probably the most loyal, willing to help person I've ever met, even when the people dont deserve it!
20. Your alot of fun, you can always make me smile, or have a good time.
21. You are working your butt off for our family to make sure I can be with the boys. Your family values are exactly like mine, but not selfish & much better!
22. You never cancel my TIVO's (well, rarely)
23. Timbertop Bathroom adventures.
24. The hospital visit & your ever faithful ness, compassion & worry.
25. You love my family.
26. You sing me sweet songs!
27. Your the best man I've ever ever met & I am SO lucky to have married you!!

I LOVE YOU MIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope today is a good one for you babe!! Jew Rock & Jai love you.

Glamour Mom

For anyone needing a new nursing tank. Check out Glamourmom. And since yo ulove me, please click the link above to use me as your refferal =0)

I LOVE their long tanks in the summer with a skirt, or in the winter under a sweater. They often have a buy 2, get one free sale going on & have discounted colors of the month as well!

Thanks!!!!

Give a cat a home.

Give a cat a home & she will be grateful.SO grateful she rubs all,over you, even if you are hateful!

Give a cat to a home who already has ( and dislikes!) a cat, and she will be shooed away from this rubbing with the smack of a hat ( not really but I'm going for a rhyme kay?)

Give this cat to a home who uses an air mattress in the attempts to get a toddler to sleep alone & you will get a husband who yells PPSSSTTT when the cat gets near the air mattress.

Leave a cat alone, near an air mattress & she is fine. Scare a cat with a PSSSTTT, who pops the mattress, who makes the dad mad & her lives wont be nine!!

Then you have a (almost 27!!) 26 year old dad & a (almost 3!) 2 year old who attempt to sleep together in a twin sized bed for 2 nights.

Give a mom a project!!! Figure out the bed dilemma!!! Go mom GO!

But, when you give a mom a project, she cant just put a new bed in a room. That mom must remove a chair, move it to another room, move a storage unit out of that room to make room for the chair, I mean, isnt that fair?? Its only nice, to make room for the chair!

Then, you have an extra storage unit! What to do with it???

Put it in the laundry room!!!!

But, of course, you still have a bed situation to figure out.

Buy a new bed!!! Good bye to the money that hasnt yet warmed the pocket of a cranky dad with a pounding head.

We have a bed!!! And a cranky mom, move out of the way, its almost the end of this very long day!!

But, give a mom a bed in a very small house & mom cant just put it in the corner looking all ugly yet useful!!! She must arrange & make things look ... gooseful!?!?! ( wtf rhymes with useful???)

Mom must MOVE!!

Move mom MOVE!!!

Move the dresser, move the book shelf, take apart the book shelf & make a table!

Reorganize the closet the size of a mouse , pull out the lady bug the size of a HOUSE!

Which scares the boy who throws a fit which makes dad crabby & so angry he could to spit!

So mom saves the day & throws things in a bucket..She calls it a day, take a glance at the room...shuts the door & says....

Fuck it.

Moral of the story.. stop being so damn sappy & leave the f-ing cat outside next time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer-Mike & I were both suprisingly delightful during this wonderul event, but.. I AM tired.. and my rhyming skill sare lacking.. so, I improvised!!!!

Olive You!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Bitchin New Blog

Okay Okay Okay..I'll post a link for those of you who cant figure it out.

Be warned.. If I talk about you on & you get pissed..

Well.. that sucks, I gave ya'll a good warning!!!!!!!!!

My Bitchin New Blog

Even rock stars need naps..

No matter WHAT they say!!!

Andy & Mommy

I had to run to the mall today to get my 6 month check on my wedding band, so I thought I'd take Andy with me. I told him we'd go ride the horse ( carousal) and the truck too & have some fun.

We loaded up in the car & he goes "We ride horse & truck & I SO excited..Then home, and nap and then Gamma & PawPaw & Cassie... I cant WAIT!!" Then he giggled & said "we drive doooowwwn the hill!!!!" and we laughed together. It was ADORABLE.

I cant believe how much he's talking & the things he can say, they just come out of no where!!

We got to the mall (((shudder))) and we did good, trying on some clothes for mommy, taking care of the ring, we rode the "santa sleigh" because Andy doesnt like to even get remotely close to the horses, but the sleigh is (as I was told by the operator) the most popular seat, actually.

Then we got an ice cream!!! Andy told me he'd hold it with 2 hands & that mom needed to just sit it down & not hold it for him. LOL

We took the ice cream to the car in a bowl, which caused a slight melt down, but was quickly forgotten as I abandoned the cone out the door as quickly as possible ( I dont litter..it was food, so..doesn't count!!!)

We went to Target to continue the quest for Moms dream dress.. and instead tried on swimsuits.. Hilarious, I know. I actually found one I really like & don't look too awful in, but I have real issues with spending $40 on something I might never actually wear...

While I tried on clothes Andy sat there & gave me the silliest grin..I was just praying he didn't bust out with "moms fat tummy" or boobies or something loudly through the dressing room walls. But it was a shy I have a secret grin.. and he told me he loved me, offered me his hand & we went through the rest of the store.

We found 50% Thomas the train stuff & stocked up for upcoming birthdays, and as I set the basket down to check something out for Dads birthday..Andy tried to pick it up for me & says loudly "Oh NO!! I TOOOO small, its TOO heavy!!!!" in the most adorable voice EVER!!

I simply love him, and I had a GREAT day with him today!!!!!!! =0)

Holy Crappers

I have been gone for ever!! Did ANYONE miss me??

Mikes gone back to school, hes 1/2 way done with his degree!! Co-op time is rapidly approching, but with the economy the way it is, we're not entirely sure whats going to happen with that.He's definately got a busier work load as his classes go on, I cant even tell you what hes doing b/c its all just jibberish to me, but I'm super proud of how well he's been doing, his grades & that he's gotten this far. I mean.. you couldny pay me to want to go back to school!!

So, for now, hes gone like he would be with a normal job, wakes up, heads out & comes home at a late dinner time. At first I thought it was great! The house stayed cleaner, the boys got back into regular nap time routines, I was exercising during nap time. I got alot more done, you name it.

Thheennn we got sick. Both boys had temps up to 103, and luckily, they both got over it in about 2-3 days, but I am just starting the road to mend. When you dont get a break, your body doesnt get a rest & its pretty hard to kick a virus that way.

Luckily, Mike was really sweet last night & when Ryan decided he wanted to stay up late & play with Andy, Mike sent me to bed at 9:30 and put both boys to sleep when they were done playing. I definately feel better today & I think if we can do that again one more night, I'll be able to fully kick this by the weekend.

Andy is just peachy. Or.. cheeky, as he prefers to call his new pal, Percy. Oh, that Percy is so cheeky, is often his new line. Or "go fast go fast, Hurry Hurry!" or another line from his new favorite show, Thomas the Train. Now that his fever is gone, he's doing alot better, his vocab never fails to amaze me. He's really just blossomed the last few months. He asks for specific things, he tells me "I looveee it" in regard to whatever he just got ( water, juice, etc) He always tells me he loves me SO much, or asks for a kiss, or if he runs a toy into my foot, he will run to kiss it. He's really really sweet & for the most part, I am really proud of his manners!! Of course, he IS 2, so he has his moments, but he's a good natured, sweet buddy! We've been doing alot of pretend play lately.. He nags me over & over "You Hungry? Hungry mama??" ( I ask him over & over b/c he often says no in the AM, lol) and then will tell me he is going to make me french toast. Go into his kitchen & he cooks for me. Then he brings he coffee, he puts a cup on the table & goes "bbuuurrrrrrr" (the noise the expresso machine makes) and brings it to me & says "Here hot mama" ( what dad says in the morning) and then we drink our coffee, he says "Its good, want more?" and makes me more. Its A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E. I am just loving the level of pretend he's been getting to lately. The best is when he cooks in his chef outfit!

And on to Ryan.. Ahh Ryan.. He's not quite 10 months old yet, but boy... He amazes me. He's been walking for 2 months now-

He is obsessed with food, until he goes to his well check next week & I discuss my worries with his tummy troubles yet again, he's still on a limited diet, but the poor guy, he sees food & runs at it like an untrained puppy!! He's managed to try pizza and chocolate chip cookies in the last week.. Both of which went over well, of course.

He's also learned how to remove a diaper, ahh the first true sign of being related to Andy!! He'd been playing alot more too, he runs cars or trains up & down to mimic Andy & is really into putting things inside of other things.He was playing with a bucket of cookie cutters the other day whilew I cooked & was carrying arounf the bucket, putting them all in & taking them all out. He likes to take his pacifier out ( or cookie, or whatever is in his mouth, or hand) and *feed* it to you.. aka, cram it in your face. He's a blankie boy. Yay!! His lovey blankies are Aden & Anais muslin swaddler blankies. They are by far the best blanket eithjer child has had so far & the top of my "must have" list for anyone having a baby! He sees his blankie, grabs it, puts it in his mouth & just rolls forward happily with it.. then trails it around behind him asa he walks away, often, still in his mouth. He even steals MY blankie in the morning, pushes it to his face, breathes deep & then giggles at me. (Yes, I still have MY baby blanket.. you gotta problem with it????)

Andy is learning to share with him..sometimes... They are loving playing with eachother. Andy got some new train toys a week ago & sat in the kitchen ALL night playing with them & Ryan just sat outside the gate staring at him & fussing. If Ryan came near the train, he'd pull at the tracks & Andy would get very cross! I asked Andy if he would play with his broither a bit since he was sad & missed him, Andy said "I share Gordon with Ryne" he handed him the Gordon train & Ryan just lit up! The played & giggled & were in the best of moods. I LOVE those moments, they ALMOST make me forget the moments when Andy places a little hand on Ryans chest & pushes him down, then burys his face in Ryans and growls at him..... Almost.. Not quite..

And then there is me.. Ahhh me. Well... I've lost 11.5 lbs in the last 30 days. Which is good... I havent exercised since Jan 16th.. I've learned Miller 64 is my new best friend, although, I havent wanted to visit with her as much lately.. I basically need to get better & get back to exercise. If I can lose 11 pounds in a month with out exercising half time time, and half assing my diet, then I'd love to see what I can do in 2 months of actually making an effort! But, I'm just un motivated, tired & well.. lazy. I like chocolate, it tastes good. Ya know?? But, once I kick this flu, I'm goin got get back on it. I'm finding myself really anxious for Spring. All this SNOW.. we're all stuck in the house, I want to get out, get some air, take some walks with the kids & get fit outside instead of with some peppy lady on On Demand!

Every year when the stores flower department starts carrying one of my favorite flowers

I just start getting the spring time itch!!! I've been findin gmyself wanting to re do our living room in something lighter.. but.. that isnt a realistic idea b/c you know me.. I cant just re do curtains.. I'd need the picture frames, the carpet & the candles to all match too!!! But, I've been trying to work some new art onto our walls...

I searched the web for ( non copy righted, of course) images of my favorite flowers, or just anything that really stuck out to me. Printed them from Walgreens and put them in gallery frames that I got for $1 a pop at Pat Catans. I've gotten a few up so far, but I'm starting by working them into the bedroom. I have a "family only" rule about photos in the bedroom. Lets be honest.. as much as anyone loves their mother/ in law/father/ in law/siblings/etc.. The bedroom is a personal place, and I really prefer not to wake up & see their faces staring right at me, or at any other bedroom moments. So, we only do pictures of the 4 of us in the bedroom. Extended family is pictured through out the rest of the house, but the bedroom is off limits, so its been fun to work them into the array of photos in the bedroom this week. I'll post a pic when they're all done.

Well, I think thats about it for an update on everyone. I need to try to get back into posting more once we're att at 100% and things get back to normal. However, I've been tossing around the idea of branching out, and this blog JUST being for family/kid stuff.. I dont know who reads this, but I need a place that I can feel free to really be myself, say what I want & to be honest? If I offend someone, then I dont need to apologize for it b/c its MY place. And this isnt the place for that. Unapologetic me needs a place to be just that, unapologetic.If I want to bitch about my mom, I can, if I want to bitch about my sister, I can. ( Not that I would of course, they ARE related to me, so they ARE perfect, duh) But If I WANTED to, I could, and they would know, hey..I might read something that might upset me..

This way, If I offend someone, or upset someone, or am crass or rude, then my reader can only be mad at themself for choosing to read my writings, because the warning was there. With this blog, it was started for family, and I think it needs to go back to that. I wont be posting a link to my new blog on here, I've had my personal thoughts, private postings, etc violated by people before so, for those of you who will want to read along into MY world.. you'll know how to find me when the time comes. Dont you worry ;-)

And for the rest of you.. I hope you'll still read along with my family updates, events & keep up with pictures of the boys. I'll be accessable other ways, and I'll be easy to find, but you have to *know* me, to know how to find me ;-)

See those of you there, and the rest of you, Cheers.

Claire

Are you there God? Its me, Claire

So, Lord.. People tell me.. you dont give people things they cant handle. "So they say" right?

I guess I just have a question for you..

W-T-F??

I was all "yeah..I can handle Andys 103.0 temp!!!" then I was like "shheeaa.. I mean,now it makes sense, this head ache is me not feeling too good, duh" THEN the kicker came.. Ryans 101 temp!! But oh NOOO!!! The nausea got so bad with me I POAS just to be sure b/c I got a bit freaked out!! ( Thank you for THAT one, SERIOUSLY man!!!!) But I mean...dude????

Sweet Jesus.. you dont know me very well, DO you??

You wonder why I question my faith in You.. BUT-I'm ready to make a deal... Dont let Mike get sick & I'll try to be a little better for ya.

Kay?? Thanks God.

Love ya,
Claire