Somebody is a Little Excited

Christmas is still 17 days away but Luke is more than ready. 

I've done a lot of shopping online so packages keep getting delivered to our house.  When we get home I say, "ooh a package arrived today!"  Luke responds, "Santa was here! There's a train in there Mommy!"  Every. Time.

At least 2 afternoons this week when I picked him up from school he told me Santa was coming to our house.  It's hard to explain to a 2 year old that it's not the 25th yet and we still have a few weeks.

Today we're getting into the car and I hear a train.  I say to Luke, "oooh do you hear that?"  He pauses, listens, listens again, and says "IT'S SANTA!!!!"  "no bud, just a train"  "Santa on a train?"  "no bud, just a train."

And the "best" of all...while at the grocery store today an older gentleman walks by us, gray/white hair and long straggly beard.  Luke yells, "IT'S SANTA!!"  I wanted to disappear.  Super awkward and obviously NOT Santa. 

It could be a long 17 days. 

I am thinking about a new blog but with the craziness of the holiday season right now it's definitely not happening until after the new year.  So for now only picture-less posts.  Happy Weekend all!

Ideas...

Working on a different blog...taking ideas for names.  No more Live, Laugh, Love. 

Thanks to anyone that comments!

Change of Plans...

Assuming there's still people out there that have stuck with me and check this blog, I've used my allotted amount of picture space on blogger so I need a plan B.  As I was posting this morning they said, nope!  And since its easier to share my story through pictures right now, stay tuned...I had a really good post for today too ;)

Yuck

My weekend entire week in one word. Yuck.

We've experienced a family first this week.  Every single one of us was sick...it just got passed around from Lauren, to Luke, to myself and Zach.  Now we're hopeful its on its way out the door!

Lauren got sick at daycare Tuesday so we made plans for her to stay home Wednesday.  Luke was normal all day and night, then woke up screaming at 10:40, then pretty much every hour the rest of that night.  Both kiddos were home Wednesday but with little to no puking.  yay!  Back to school Thursday and Friday.  A million loads of laundry later we thought life was returning to normal.  Then Saturday I felt a little off, and it hit Zach and I both like a ton of bricks Saturday night.  You heard me right, two parents down, a cranky baby who still isn't quite herself, and an extremely bonkers two-year-old.  Awful!

This never happened with Luke but he was hardly ever sick since he stayed home for the first 18 months.  Lauren catches everything under the sun and is so kind to pass it to her big brother.  And of course Mommy and Daddy can't stay away, sick kids are so sad, you just have to snuggle them.  So Zach and I are on the mends and I'm still doing tons of laundry but we're gonna kick this stomach bug to curb!

Be gone sickness, be gone.

My Loves

6 Months

Our baby is 6 months old.  Say what?  Her first 6 months went so much faster than Lukes.  Here's her 6 month bio.

She sits up completely on her own.
She still puts everything in her mouth and drools like crazy.
She is completely weaned and on soy formula.
She has an allergy to milk (it was an eventful month).
She smiles a ton and just starting making a 'baa baa' sound.
She 'growls' at people....still fine tuning her talking :)
She still isn't rolling over and doesn't seem to care or want to try.
She hates rice cereal.  We're basically just starting solids for real due to the allergy scare and testings.
She started refusing her paci from time to time.
She loves the boys in her life (daddy and brother).
She is almost back to sleeping through the night but feeds once a night a few times a week.
She grabs at anything and everything.
She wears a mixture of 6 and 9 month clothing.
She dislikes wearing headbands but is getting a little bit more hair.

Happy Half Year Birthday Lauren! 

Fall Fun

We've been soaking up fall the past few weekends.  Parades, pumpkin patch fun, tractors, paint, leaves, acorns, walks, woo! The only thing left is baking fall goodies and of course Halloween fun. 

The artist himself!

"Look Mommy, I driving the tractor!"

Our handsome little fella.

The pumpkin before.

The pumpkin after.

And one of the little lady since she couldn't partake in the pumpkin fun this year.

Why?

We've hit the "why" stage.

I had a little car trouble today, well a lotta car trouble today, and we were trying to figure out our plan of action to get it in the shop without missing work.  It seemed back to normal on my way home from daycare this afternoon and we thought we should drive it again tonight after it sat for a while to see if it acted up again.

Luke was already in his pj's but was my backseat driver for the ride.  Because if your car breaks down on the side of the road at night in the dark of course you want to be stranded with a 2 1/2 year old. 

So footie pj's and all we went for a spin.  The entire trip he asked "why?" "Why your engine light on Mommy?" "Why we go this way?" "Why we driving?" "Why we go in a circle Mommy?" "Why, Why, Why??" It didn't matter what answer I came up, and believe me I started to get creative, his response was, "why?"

Whoever decided to teach him that one is in big trouble. 

Meet Kyle

Luke and Kyle.  

Who is Kyle you might ask, apparently its his monster on his shirt.  I learned all about him when I picked up Luke and "Kyle" from school today.  This kiddo sure has a wild imagination and told his teachers all about Kyle today.  The boy sure knows how to make me laugh.

5 Months

Lauren turned 5 months old last Wednesday!  Here's a little bit about her.

- Sitting up on her own.
- Eating a mixture of breast milk and formula.
- Wearing 6 month clothing.
- Is fascinated by her feet.
- Thinks its an awesome game to take out her paci and try to put it back in on her own.
- Is super ticklish in her belly.
- Has a super cute smile and laugh.
- Doing better with tummy time, still not quite rolling over.
- Putting everything in her mouth.
- Drools constantly.
- Sleeps for about a solid 5-6 hour each nights.
- Has started eating during the night again 4-5 nights a week.
- Has hair coming in more and more in the front and losing it in the back.
- Likes to test out her lungs and see what kind of noises she can make and how loud she can make them.
- Loves to look at/watch daddy.

Happy 5 Month Birthday Lauren!

Solids: Take 1

Long time no type.  We're still here and going strong though.

Today Lauren had her first try at some solid foods.  That's a bit misleading though.  I made her some rice cereal, one part flakes, 4 parts formula.  So it was more like formula with a teeny tiny bit of cereal.  Luke was so excited for Lauren that he insisted he wanted some rice cereal too.  I tried to explain to him that it was like cardboard and not good at all but the kid insisted.  So he had his own bowl too...which he didn't eat one bite of. 

Here's a play by play. 

"You want to give me what!?!"

Looking at her big bro to see if he is going to eat it.

This is the look I got after he insisted on his own bowl.  Told ya so kid.

I got her to smile...she had no idea what was coming.

"Dis-gust-ing!"

"Please Daddy, make her stop!"

She wouldn't even swallow it. Just let it sit in her mouth then spit it all out.  We'll try again in a few more days :)

Small Things

It's the small things that really count.  With the craziness that seems be our normal right now little things like this make me smile.

This was on Luke's daily paper from school today.  When the smiley face is shaded in it means he went to the bathroom on the potty and notice the dry pull-up ALL day!!  What a guy!

I am one super proud Mommy tonight :)

4 Months

Lauren is 4 months old already!  She is really starting to turn into her own little person.  She recently realized she has hands that can grab things, help her put things in her mouth, shake things to make noise.  It is one of my favorite things to watch her do, she works so hard just to grab it then pulls it directly to her mouth.  For this reason, one of her favorite places to be is the bouncer.

She also is super interested in her feet - no quite sure what they do but just stares at them and grabs for them too.  

She is so close to rolling over, gets about 2/3 of the way from back to front and about the same front to back.  She always gets stuck on her arm and gets frustrated but I'm thinking it will be pretty soon to at least make it one way.

She is a talker.  She loves to watch you and make noises back at you.  Her daddy is the best at getting her to laugh, most adorable thing ever by the way.  She will smile at anyone and everyone.  Overall she is just one happy baby.

She is still nursing, well getting pumped bottles during the day, and sleeping all night most of the time.  I still have to watch what I eat but as long as I stay in check she is good to go.

She started daycare last week (I criiiiied!) and is doing great!  They always say she is so happy and smiley.  She goes with the flow, takes bottles from them without issue, and just seems to enjoy her time there.  She doesn't nap well at all there but then again she didn't nap well at home with her big brother running around.

She is 13 lb 3 oz and is 25 inches long wearing 3-6 month clothing.  Happy 4 Months Lauren!

So Handsome

The boys went to the barber shop for haircuts this morning.  It was Luke's first real haircut.  Apparently he sat fairly still, didn't cry at all (which is all he does when we buzz it at home), and was really good through it all.  We prepped him all week telling him he would get a lollipop if he sat still and didn't cry, success!

Before

During

After!

Reward!

L&L

Ready to hang out by the pool.

BIG smile!

Wax lips are fuuuun!

Panic Attack

So Luke just threw out his paci.  It was our last one, like ever.

For the past year he has only been using his pacifier for naps and bedtime.  Then for the past 4 or 5 months he was only using it for naps and bed at home and was paci free at daycare.  We were down to two pacifiers in the house and right before we went to the shore he chewed one of them up and threw it in the garbage.  I have made sure he completely understands what happens to things we put in the trash, the trash truck takes them and we NEVER see them again.  Last time wasn't a huge deal because we still had one left.  Today he told me he bit his paci and needed to put it in the trash.  I looked at it and sure enough he had chewed a nasty spot in it.  So I reminded him we have no more pacifiers at all and if it goes in the trash you know what happens.  He quickly told me the trash truck takes it and I finished his sentence with it never comes back.  He seemed satisfied with this outcome and off to the kitchen he went.  I was secretly having a panic attack inside.

I followed him to the kitchen, he opened the trash drawer, looked at his paci and dropped it in.  Then he froze and just starred at it.  I reminded him I can't take it out, its trash now.  He looked some more then slowly closed the drawer.  I smiled at him on the outside, as to say Mommy is so proud of you, you're such a big boy and you'll do just fine without your paci.  In my mind though, it was like "OMG what are we going to do?!?! He's never going to sleep again, I love my sleep, he HAS to sleep.  There goes our mute button.  OMG, what just happened!" I know, I'm crazy.

So back to his room we went, he climbed into bed for a nap.  I say my little love yous, give him kisses, and close the door.  Then I go downstairs and tell Zach that its gone, forever!  We debate if we should take it out, but no we can't, the trash truck takes it and its gone forever, remember.  And I'm not wasting another dollar on pacis.  So thats it, its GONE!  I'm still silently freaking out, why you ask....he's been up in his room for 45 minutes and is still awake!!!!  No paci can't signify the end of sleep for me, can it?!?!  I've been waiting for this day forever but now that its here, and final.....AAAAAHHHHHHH!

This is How I Ride

The kid knows how to get comfortable.

Just chillin' in the back seat on the way to the beach.

His legs were crossed Indian style with the hands up behind his head on our trip around the mall.

well that sucked.

Our past week was pretty much awful.  We had to come home from vacation, I have a busted up toe, a sick kid, and a husband who landed in the hospital for half the week.  Ugh, so our house is all a bit mentally and physically drained.  Even the kids, its surprising how much they can pick up on when you don't really tell them any details.  So I'm happy tomorrow is a Monday (I won't be saying that for long seeing as my summer is almost over) because its a fresh start to hopefully a much better week.  And because I don't want to go into details about any of our suckiness I'll leave you with a few more pictures from vacation from my moms camera.

Sun and Sand

We soaked up a bunch of both last week at the shore.  Luke finally warmed up to the idea that the beach is fun on Thursday...with only 3 days of vacation left...but then he loved it!  We splashed in the water, made things in the sand, and watched a lot of boats and planes.  Lauren stayed off the beach but got a lot of snuggle time with Moms.  Packing for a vacation with an infant and a toddler requires a lot of work, and we remembered everything for them but Zach forgot his camera and I forgot my camera charger.  So I only have a few pictures for now, the rest are on my moms camera.  Thank goodness she had what she needed and extra batteries! 

My guys on the boards.

One of my favorites, Luke watching the ocean.

Clifford!

"Hey Ernie!  Let's ride."

Ice cream and smoothies, mmm!

The girls on the boards.

Driving his boat through the sand.

Man Down

This is what happens when you ask a 2 year old to pack a few cars for the beach...

It was so heavy he fell over! :)

3 Months

Lauren is 3 months old today!

A little bit about our little lady...

In 3-6 month clothes.
Is more alert and interactive.  She tries so hard to mimic your faces or sounds.
Loves to coo and "talk" to us.
Absolutely loves ceiling fans - watches them with a huge smile on her face.
Gets up once to eat at night and still eats every 2-3 hours during the day.
Cat naps during the day and sleeps two long stretches at night.
Moved into her crib this past weekend (Mommy is sad but adjusting).
Not a huge fan of the car.
Grabs a hold of whatever she can, doing really great at grabbing on the toys on her bouncer.
Still hates tummy time but loves to lay on her back and look around.
Is getting the most adorable chunky rolls on her legs.

Fastest 3 months ever!

If You Give a Toddler a Cookie...

...some icing, and a container of sprinkles, he'll dump the entire container of sprinkles on the cookie and make this awesome birthday cookie for daddy!

The kid loves to work in the kitchen baking, decorating, and of course eating - which is really just licking the icing off everything.

Happy Birthday Zach, we love you!

C25K

This Just In: baby weight doesn't just fall off after the baby is born.  Breastfeeding only does so much.

Okay, so that's not a newsflash at all but I'm struggling lately...both with eating and exercising.  I don't know what happened, I was doing so well for a while.  I need to try something different.  I hate working out, always have and I'm afraid I always will.  If I have more accountability though I might be more motivated to get moving.  So Saturday I started a Couch to 5K program.  Basically in 9 weeks its suppose to get you in shape to run a 5K.

Real Breaking News: I am NOT a runner.  I can walk all day and night but ask me to run and its sad.

So this is challenging to say the least but maybe thats what I need.  It breaks it into 9 weeks, 3 'runs' a week.  Week 1 is a 5 minute warm up walk, then alternating walking for 90 seconds then running for 60 seconds for about 20 minutes, then a 5 minute cool down.  On the screen it didn't seem so bad, in real life it was flippin' difficult.

Saturday I completed Week 1 Day 1.  A total of 1.3 miles in 18 minutes 30 seconds averaging a 14 minutes 11 seconds per mile.  Not too shabby I suppose.  The stats don't include the warm up or cool down.

Tonight I completed Week 1 Day 2.  I went 1.32 miles in the same amount of time averaging 14:02 per mile.  So its about the same.

I have an app on my phone that tracks all my stats, tells me throughout my run when to walk/run/cool down.  They also give you stats for each section of your run as you go which helps motivate me throughout. Another thing I love about my 'run' is a little bit of time to myself.  In a way that makes it almost relaxing...okay my last running section I feel like I'm going to die but there are a lot of relaxing parts too.

If When I finish my 9 weeks maybe I will actually try a 5K....anyone out there want to join me?

Um Wow.

Luke went to camp Tuesday and didn't use the potty once!  The kid was out of the house and seemed to forget everything!  Ugh, so frustrating.  We got home last night, put him back in just his big boy underpants and he used the potty again. What the heck kiddo?

Last night when bedtime rolled around I got Luke all set with the essentials and went to say my nite nite and give kisses when we realized the last pacifier in the house was missing.  I was happy, its about time to get rid of it anyway.  He sleeps perfectly fine at school with no paci so why do we still have to use it at home?  There was lots of whining but he eventually fell asleep.  Only problem, he was up several times last night. Boo.  Today he found it....cold turkey method...fail.

A falcon attacked crashed into our house last night.  The loudest bang came from the roof area, I ran out expecting to see a tree down or something broken at least.  The backyard was normal, I turned around and saw the back end of a bird on the point of the roof and one leg sticking straight up.  Feathers were floating down the roof and onto the ground.  I thought for sure the thing was dead, Zach thought he just knocked himself out.  Zach was right, about 10 minutes later it gathered its sense again and flew into the trees.  I'm impressed that it wasn't dead based on the craziness of the bang.

We are raising the worlds next Ants in the Pants champion here.  Watch out fellow toddlers and adults alike, this kids got game!

And last but not least, my sun shade bathing beauty.