Circus

This place can really be a circus sometimes. This morning was no exception. It all started with me being awake at 5:30 (not sure why I was up) and sneaking a peek at little Grayson on the morning of his 6 month birthday. NEVER DO THIS! I know better, and needless to say he woke up. I gave him a bottle and put him back down by 6. Then, at 6:10 Dylan showed up to 'snuggle'. This is his go-to expression when he doesn't want me to shoot him down and send him back to his own bed. So, I let him climb in.

Breakfast was soon underway. That's when I got this great idea to film and take pics of Grayson's first spoonful of solids. He did really well! Then, Olivia asked for a bite. I gave her a small taste. Apparently, the baby food tastes as disgusting as it looks because she proceeded to vomit her entire breakfast on the bar. (Blueberry muffins are not as cute the second time around.)

On to getting Dylan and Olivia dressed for our morning preschool/gym routine. Olivia looked adorable in a red and white watermelon dress with two bows in her hair and white sandals with green polka dots. She disappeared to the bathroom to brush her teeth, but was TOO QUIET for TOO LONG. So, John went to investigate. She was standing in a pool of her own urine sucking the toothpaste out of the tube. Did I mention what a cute little outfit she was in??? Uggh, so John started to take off her clothes to give her a bath. She completely freaked OUT! Screaming bloody murder trying to grasp for the toothpaste tube on the counter to continue her snack, she slipped in her pee and John fortunately was able to catch her. You can imagine that the screaming escalated to a 15 on a scale of 1 to 10. I had been listening to the chaos and was really proud that I had refrained from jumping in the middle. That was until this last screaming episode. So in rushes Mommy to save the day and 'rescue' my baby. But, because I was so frazzled I COMPLETELY flaked out and left Grayson on the changing table. When I realized what I had done I sprinted back in to the room and THANK GOD he hadn't rolled off. I started to cry, which shocked me a little. What if he had fallen?

In the end everyone lived, had breakfast, cute clothes on, and were out of the house by 8:39. TGIF!

Grayson is growing

Little man, oh how I love him!! I could really eat him sometimes. I hate to admit this, but when I stopped breastfeeding about a month ago, Grayson became a new baby. He used to be soooooo uncomfortable and gassy, but now he is so smiley. I really wish that I hadn't been so stubborn and that I had given up the nursing a few months ago. In fact, I can count on 3 good naps a day with one being about 3-4 hours long. Then, at night he is a solid 7PM-7AM sleeper. It is amazing. When Gray is awake he is such a joy. If Olivia or Dylan walk into the room, he lights up! He is constant drool, giggles, sleep, and smiles. I am so glad we ended this baby thing on a positive note! I wouldn't change a thing! I love my baby G.

Imagination

I've read about kids and their imaginary friends, but Dylan has taken this to a new level and 'is' the imaginary friend. Lately, it has been a character named "Doggie", but it can also be any range of animals. "Doggie" is quite lovely. He barks, bites, and tackles his sister. He doesn't respond to the name "Dylan" AT ALL!! And, when you try to 'call him off'....it gets worse. John is the master of managing "Doggie". He totally buys in and tries to talk to "Doggie" by offering treats and calling him to various rooms like an actual dog. I know I am a horrible parent because I have no patience for this. Instead, I crush his creativity and ask that he put Doggie away. I am on a mission, a time table, I don't have time to coerce Doggie into using the potty (not the grass), and taking a bath (not licking himself)....

These kids!!!

Outdoor time, so cute.

Kids love to 'pet' babies (especially the bald ones)

Olivia cruising in daddy's 'race car'

Innocent Grayson, doesn't know what he has in store.

Olivia loves her baby bwuder

Landfill Field Trip!!! WOOHOO

Over the years we have collected oodles of gallons of leftover paint along with some electronics that require special disposal. Usually anything that requires any type of disposal is 'not my department'. As moms we own a lot of household tasks, but this is generally one that i avoid. Especially if i have to drive to the actual LANDFILL. Today was the exception, with all 3 kids in tow, I stepped outside of my comfort zone and headed to the 'toxin dump'. The aroma was as lovely as I had expected as I lined up with 20 or so other people. The kids were kind of flaking out in the backseat when Dylan CAME ALIVE. He had so many questions like, "where are we? why is there a mountain in Florida? what is that smell? do the bugs eat the garbage? are they going to take all of us and dump us in the mountain with the garbage? will they take our car and will we have to walk home?", etc....

Needless to say this was quite the educational opportunity and field trip. We talked all about recycling and reducing garbage and I think he actually paid complete attention and GOT IT. I guess I should try to consider trips like this from the kids' perspectives rather than being annoyed that i was on trash duty. :)

Bath time blabbering

Tonight we left the 'big kids' in the bath together while we ran around like maids and put all of the daily toys away. We know this isn't the safest approach leaving two kids alone in standing water, but considering they have been through ISR bootcamp twice we figured if they were in danger they would float to safety :)

Anyway, I had the proudest moment tonight when I overheard my little Mr. Manners schooling his 'baby girl' (that's what he calls her, we didn't promote this). Olivia was screaming "MINE!" trying to snatch his favorite bath toy when Dylan said, "No screaming baby girl. If you want it you have to say please." And, you know what, she did!!! It was beautiful. I was beaming. The best part about kids is that moments like this are so fleeting, because in about 2 minutes this blissful moment turned into absolute chaos. It ended with me removing Dylan from the bath kicking and screaming, followed by him telling me that he wanted a new Mommy and Daddy. He even went on to explain which ones he wanted...Miss Lisa and Mr. Cullen. He thought it out and explained that Brayden could move into our house, and he could take Brayden's room with his new Mommy and Daddy...I should be offended, but I love the creativity!

Kids' perceptions

I was watching Modern Family a few weeks ago and it was the episode where Claire's former coworker (played by Minnie Driver) came to visit. There was a scene in the kitchen where Claire was talking to her three kids about her former 'career woman' life....when she used to work...and they all stared at her in disbelief, doubting that she could have ever really had a job, let alone a career. It really made me wonder if that same exact scene will play out in my kitchen in 5 or so years.

April 26th marks my last day at Franklin Templeton, and I have a teeny tiny bit of anxiety around my new role as 'Stay At Home Mom'. This is not a person that I ever thought I would be. I busted my ass in school collecting degrees, then busted my ass trying to climb the corporate ladder for almost 7 years. In that time I realized that my family is my purpose, not my job or my income. I guess its time to redefine myself by my contributions to my children and enriching their lives, as opposed to my career in corporate America and my annual performance review. Even typing this I know I am making the right choice, but I can't help but wonder if I will find myself in the kitchen with my clueless children trying to justify my newfound identity in 5 or so years. Listen here kids, I was once a career woman with a promising future :) Being home was just more fun!

Easter

This weekend was CRAMMED with exciting activities for the kids. We went out for dinner and music on Friday, attended an Easter Egg hunt on Saturday and then came home and made our own Easter Eggs, had Easter at home Sunday morning, and rounded out the weekend with Easter dinner at Nana's on Sunday night. Per my previous post regarding spoiling kids, these are the times when I feel like my kids are spoiled and they don't even know it. To be honest, we know it, but we like it so I'm not sure what is worse. I don't think they would know what to do if we woke up on a Saturday and didn't have plans to keep their weekend exciting! Plus, we get the added benefit of some very long naps!

Friday:


Saturday:




Sunday:

The moment we lost Dylan's attention (BELOW)

Grayson, 5 months

This wonderful, happy, beautiful, smiley baby is STILL not sleeping through the night. It is a miracle if you ask me. I don't understand what else I could do. I can heartlessly let this angel scream for 30 minutes in the middle of the night, and he is relentless. There is no stopping the screaming. So, I give in each night around 3:50 AM (yes, the time is that predictable) and I make a bottle. After the bottle he is back in bed until 8. I have never had one like this, so I'm really still a little shocked that he is not fitting into the baby mold that I had in mind. Lucky for him he is so perfectly adorable! (And, yes he is still sleeping in the closet) :)

Spoiled, but not

As a mother, I never really wanted to be viewed as 'that mom' with the spoiled kids. But, secretly there is a part of me that does like this perception. I mean, not the bratty, spoiled kind of kids. But, I am okay with being able to give our kids an abundance of experiences (which may encompass toys and other mindless gifts) if that makes them feel special. I guess that's how spoiled really begin though, isn't it? You try to give your kids the world, and then they grow to expect it. Somehow I am going to have to keep it real, maybe by revoking a toy or two. But, I have to admit that I really like not making them go without.