More Sponge Proof

Aiden is obsessed with this book:



We went to the library on Saturday to see if it was available. It was not, so instead, we got two other books by the same author. He proceeded to rip one of them up on Sunday am...but my point is this. All he kept asking for was, "Moose, muffin." (I had purchased it on Amazon but it hadn't come in yet and other similar books were being used as brides to poop on the potty. Apparently only Moose, Muffin holds some weight with him.)

Anyways, he wouldn't stop asking for it, even when I explained over and over again that we have to share books and that someone else was reading it. I got so frustrated with him, I asked him to drop it!

Well, I used that phrase again apparently, and later in the day when I asked him what I said, (expecting him to say that he had to share) he responded, "Drop it!"

Currently, he says, "Moose, muffin. Drop it." Not just once, but over and over again. Thank goodness I didn't say anything else. I am anxious for him to use it in the right context when I ask about something else. Then I can laugh at myself for teaching him this new phrase, right???

Sponges

"They" say that the child's brain is like a sponge and absorbs more than you may realize.

Well, my child's sponge absorbed the word or what sounded like the word bitch, and what is even more amazing is that he knew in what context to use this word. Hmph...where did he learn this?

Let me give you the story.

Sunday

Waking up to the sounds of Aiden on the monitor saying, "Rip it. Rip it." I awoke in fear and shook Russ because I was so afraid it was his library book and insisted that he go look.

Confirmed- library book ripped.

Two hours later, we are in the car returning the books to the library. Run errands at Lowe's and Target. We, Aiden and I, head over to TJMaxx. My mission- find a pair of red pants for Eli for Easter. (I know- it sounds strange but I found this awesome gray blazer that has a guitar stiched in red on it, and I wanted to find a pair of red pants to match.)

I asked Aiden to look at a book so that he would stay put. At that point, I realized my first misatke was not using a cart. Then, I learned my second mistake. When I couldn't find any pants, I asked Aiden to put the book back so that we could leave. Uh Oh! FULL BLOWN TANTRUM!!! The kicking, the screaming, the crying, the pinching, the hitting and him yelling, "Bitch!" as I am pulling him, carrying him, etc out of the store. I wanted to crawl in a hole and die.

Later, we drive to my mom's to drop off outside play toys for them to use during the week. I ask my mom to watch what she says. She says that she doesn't say that word. Between you, me and this blog, her favorite sayings are as follows: Jesus, Mary and Joseph and Son of a Bitch. I said okay and dropped the subject.

Proceed to yesterday:

Dropped the kids off at her house and while there, she was trying to close a shade. It wasn't working. She hollared, "Son of a Bitch!" She gasped and covered her mouth.

Enough said.

:-)

It Was Just the Boys...

You know when you leave your family, you think of all the things that can't be forgotten or else it just won't be the same or right (even though deep down you know it will all be okay), and you think about all the things that need to be done...

You get where I am going, right?? Well, I got up at 3:45 yesterday morning to get ready for my 6am flight to NY. Started off with a cold shower! We ran out of oil. STUPID!!! So that was a good way for me to start my day. After that though, my day was just fine and uneventful.



Well, something did go wrong and it all ended up being okay. Poor Eli woke up with a cold yesterday, and then last night, he cut his chin. He couldn't catch a break. Russ had to deal with a very fussy baby. He had to figure out how to bleed the lines of the furnace to get heat and hot water. He has done it. I knew he could but the poor guy had a lot of road bumps last night.

I just called him this am to see how his morning went. Russ took a shower, and Aiden proceeded to empty the entire tissue box. One more road bump.

I think he is excited for me to come home. I am not sure I can leave this wonderful shower that is in my hotel room! Ha! Just kidding. I can't wait to go home and be with my boys!

PS- Apparently on the way into the house last night, Aiden tripped and hit his nose resulting in his first nose bleed!

Every Day is Ground Hog's Day

Structure is very important for kids and babies. I get it; I live it! Aiden thrives on it, and Eli is starting to fit the mold of it as well. But I am miserable. I feel miserable. I love my kids; I love my kids; I do- I really do! But, I am tired. Every day is the same. We get up, have milk, change diapers, go the bathroom, take the dogs out, get dressed, get them out the door, make tonight's dinner, take my own shower, and off to work I go. Work all day. Come home to my children's' worst time of day as we rush to get dinner on the table, fight Aiden to eat, and then bath time...then wind down time and then bedtime. At this point, as I walk down the stairs after putting Aiden down, it is anywhere between 8:20 and 8:45...and Russ and I may or may not have even given each other a hi, how are you kiss. By this time, I don't want to turn on a computer to catch up on personal emails or even do some online shopping. I don't want to organize the millions of recipes I have printed online or paint the trim in my kitchen. Because honestly, then the weekend comes, and I have two kids to take grocery shopping and get the house clean...and maybe find a few hours for play time.

This may all sound like I hate my life or that I am complaining because I have kids and don't appreciate them- trust me. I could have possibly never had children due to my stroke. I am thankful for them. But lately, the same day in and day out with very few moments of personal time, husband wife time or even pleasant moments with my kids because of the constant fighting and inappropriate touching or throwing or whatever other chaos going on.... (that is a horrible sentence that I can't even fix)- my point is- I can't wait for Aiden to learn to love his brother- I can't wait for Eli to be walking and to pinch his brother back- I can't wait until I can actually ask someone to watch the kids for one night- just once- to be selfish- and honestly, I don't' think it is very selfish of me to take care of me for one day. That will make me a better mom, right?

Breast, Breast, Breast! (And more embarassing moments as a parent!)

Just in this past week, I have had two moments of utter embarrassment.

One- took Aiden to Kohl's where he proceeded to scream, "Breast! Breast! Breast!" as we went past the bra department. There was a man standing there just looking at me as I just stayed silent trying to get us past there as quick as I could.

Two- took Eli to his one year checkup. I got the worst nosebleed of my life it seemed yesterday. It wouldn't stop. I had to pack my nose, try to undress my child to be weighed and mesaured all while keep tissue packed...it looked cute, I am sure. I was pretty self-conscious!

Do you have any embarassing moments with your baby or toddler???

Pooping, Bribes and Popsicles

It is amazing to me how a bribe will always work for Aiden. He is currently working on potty training, and this week, he is starting to finally do number two on the potty. All it takes is a bribe of getting to go down to the park and play on the swings! Remember- we are in Maine...it has been so cold, and we have had so much snow that going the playground hasn't been an option for a long, long time. What an easy bribe!

Oh- and chocolate always works too!

Last night, we used popsicles for him to finish his dinner. The most surprising thing- Aiden actually formed a sentence!!! He said, "Daddy, milk please." For him, that is a HUGE step! And the finale, Eli, at age one and 11 days, ate a popsicle, and only had one drip on his high chair! He amazes me!

I Belong on Food Network

We are in the process of redoing our kitchen. Russ and I have been struggling with how we wanted to organize our spices. It is amazing how much space they take up! We contemplated getting round tins and put magnets on the back and mount them either underneath and along the cabinets OR taking a piece of metal and making a piece of "wall art." Instead, we decided to get square tins with clear tops and put them all in ONE drawer. I made labels with clear return address labels...and this is our process:





We are very happy with our new spice drawer. I feel professional; I feel like the chefs on Food Network~! Ha! I think we will like it more and feel more organized when the last bits of this remodel are done, so we can really put things were we want. I still haven't hung up the paper towel holder yet because aren't sure where we want things and don't want to hang it up yet until the work is all done...