With love

 Yesterday was TH's birthday.  I still find it hard to believe that we are in our 30's.... he's 31!  I'm still a mere 30. HA! [I see you rolling your eyes! :)].  We went out to dinner Saturday night with good friends and then had a little "party" at my parents' during lunch yesterday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABE!!!

LM felt the need to help his daddy blow out the candles.... 

I was concerned he was going to catch his hair on fire!

 LM enjoyed cake more than anyone.

 Let me rephrase.... LM enjoyed icing more than anyone!  I'm still not sure he ate the actual cake.

Wordless Wednesday

(Sorry for the poor photo quality.  I took it with my cell.  It was too freakin cute to pass up!)

10 months

 It's so hard to believe..... my little Baby Boy is 10 months old! You are such a happy, happy boy.  A Mama's boy through and through (and that's ok for now! :) )  You're proudly sporting 2 bottom teeth and 1 on top.  I jokingly told your Nana that you've bled more in your 10 months of life than LM did in his first 2 yrs.  You decided one night you were coming out of your crib.... and you did!  Right onto the floor!  You were mad b/c I wouldn't hold you while you were sleeping.  *sigh*  I'm afraid my dear boy that you are doing to be a daredevil to the extreme.  You already wrestle with your big bro..... I'm picturing what it will be like several years from now... and I shutter.

 

Time is flying by!  It's hard to think that this time last year I was 7 months pregnant just waiting for him to be born.  It's amazing how the past few weeks his little personality is showing more and more.  How much he's picking up and mimicking.  

Baby Boy..... oh how you love your big brother.  You want to do what he's doing and have what he's having.  For example, I gave LM a sippy cup the other morning.  I then give you a sippy cup (it was more age appropriate.)  You immediately threw it on the ground and started whining.  So, I got out a sippy just like your big brother's.  You grinned and zoomed away in your walker.  You call out to your brother when you hear is voice.  Nana says when you wake up from your morning naps you start looking for LM.  He's normally still at school so you go searching the house for him.

At night... only Mama will do.  You don't want anyone else to put you to bed.  During the night when you wake, you only want Mama..... Daddy just won't do. (I really wish you would let Daddy have his share though!)  I've finally gotten to where I just let you cry the first time you wake up.  You'll put yourself back to sleep.  The second time is normally around 1 am or so.... I'll nurse you and put you back down.  If you wake up again, I let you cry and put yourself back to sleep again.

Baby Boy.... you are such a little blessing!  Happy 10 months little dude!

'Em are fightin words

I am a competitive person by nature.  Just the way I am.  Tonight my husband asks, "Want to run a 5k in March?"  "Yes! Sounds good."  I had mentioned a while back that I would like us to run one together.  Whole storey is...... TH has to run a 5k with a team he is a part of.  So, he wasn't asking me to run with him.  Just wanted to know if I wanted to run too.  He then adds when I mention about running with him.... "won't be able to keep up."
Then I get it......really get it.  I might be a little slow but it's all sinking in.  He's not asking me to run with him.  He's just inviting me to run since he's running with his boys.  Now, I'm just a little pissed.  And, my competitive nature kicks in.  My response, "I'll beat somebody on your team.  I swear I will."  "Men are naturally faster.  That's all I was saying." He's trying to backpedal now.  My initial response is OH HELL NO!  I'm getting jacked just thinking about it.

Now, I'm seriously getting into running this race and doing great!  I immediately text a friend who's a runner.  Text says, "I NEED you..... to run a 5k with me in March. TH's team is running in it & I'm determined to kick several of their a$$'s."

Won't you cheer me on?!?!  Mama needs some support and encouraging words.  I will do well!

Aren't I all about telling on myself this week.  First, I'm stubborn as a jackass.  Now, I'm a competitive to the death person.  What's next?  That I'm extremely confident.  *sigh*

Back to serious running tomorrow.  Words of advice if you're a runner...... feel free to leave them.  I've run a 5k before but I just did it to do it (and I was pushing LM in his jogger).  This time.  It's for keeps!

Because I can

Last night my sweet husband says, "You're just arguing to be arguing!"

He He!  And I was.  We weren't really arguing just had different opinions on something.... I don't even remember what so obviously it wasn't overly important.  I may, and I repeat may, have been wrong but I'll never admit it and you had better not tell TH!  At the end of the "argument", that's when TH said, "You're just arguing to be arguing."  What was I supposed to do?!  I was to into it at that point to concede.

And my husband might just have compared me to a mule or a jackass and  mentioned something about stubbornness! HA!  

So..... to my sweet, dear husband.  This picture is for YOU!  At least I'm a cute jackass that can cook and has birthed you two precious boys (who are also inflicted with the jackass trait :)

Do you ever just argue to argue?  I sure do.  In my opinion, it's a game to be "won" all in good fun.

Wordless Wednesday

Won't even matter

I don't think there is much out there than causes a woman to stress, think, analyze, over think, research, worry, love, thrive and generally enjoy more than motherhood. I'm sure there is but you get my point right?!  Being a mommy.... a good mommy is a hell of a lot of work but oh the reward.

I was talking with a friend recently about random things.  The topic turned to our children.  I told her how I had been trying to get LM to use the potty.  And, he just ain't feelin it!  We talked about how he speech was going and slowly, slowly improving.  After talking for a few minutes, I finally said, "You know?  I've quit stressing over it.  It is what it is.  I'm doing what I can but I'm done making things such a big deal.  He'll use the potty when he's ready.  He'll talk when he talks."

Her response, "It won't even matter." 

She continued to say, "When he's 10, you will only vaguely remember these problems.  You're giving him all the love, support and help you can.  You're doing everything right.  It WON'T even matter in the grand scheme of things."

And know what?  She's right.  I have a hard time remembering now when LM first crawled.  When he took his first step.  I have everything documented but the actual remembering..... I really and truthfully don't remember a lot.  And that's the good stuff.  When in the hell will I care about the "bad"..... and it's not bad!  It's just all part of being a parent and dealing with what comes along.  It's all part of a child moving along at his pace!  Not me trying to move him along.  I won't lie and say it's easy because it's not.  But again..... "It won't matter."

I do know this..... My husband and I are blessed with 2 great little boys.  Each day is a day to be cherished.  Peeing or not peeing on the potty..... who cares?!?! :) 

100%

When I was pregnant with Baby Boy, I made a decision.  It was a personal goal for me.  I decided that Baby Boy would only have breast-milk and no formula.  I can't really pinpoint the reason other than I just got the idea in my head and that's the way it was going to be.  I breastfed Lil Man until he was 10 months old but he had formula here & there.  And if you don't know, that stuff ain't cheap!  I think I tallied up the cost of formula for LM, and it was around $700.  My goal...... no formula for BB!  If he had to have formula, it would only be the few samples I had been given from the hospital and pediatrician. 

Baby Boy will be 10 months old come January 25th.  I am proud to say up to this point...... no formula!  Toot! Toot!! (That's me tooting my own horn! :) )  I did invest in a M.edala P.ump in Style B.reast-pump.  And really, can not imagine accomplishing my goal without it.

And if you haven't seen Baby Boy..... he's one healthy little dude!  At his 9 month wellness, weighted in at 22 lbs & length was 28".

I'll let you in on a little secret though...... I'm about over the breastfeeding / pumping deal.  2 more months though!!  I can do it!!

30 and 3

The Hubby is 30 yrs old.  Lil Man is 3 yrs old.  This is what happens when a 30 yr old & a 3 yr old share a piece of fudge pie.

They both have mouthfuls of pie.

They take turns having bites.

They FIGHT over the last bite.

Like father, like son.  When it comes to sweets, sharing takes a lot out of them! 

Wordless Wednesday

Snow..... Southern Style!

8".... that's how much snow we had.  It's been so much fun!  I know.... some of you folks get 8" and think it's nothing.  It's BIG stuff 'round these parts!

 I begged TH to go out and get pictures before we went out and played.  I didn't want to see sledding paths and footprints everywhere.

Time to play!!

Baby Boy and I getting ready to sled down the hill.  I was pumped!  This time last year when it snowed I was pregnant with this little guy.  This year...... we both get to play!

Lil Man's heading down the hill.

Carrying one child while trying to help another.  This is exhausting stuff that's for sure!

 Time to go again!

 And out comes the 4wheeler.  Yep, that's me!  LM and my dad are pulling me.

Even Jake got in on the fun.  Truthfull, he played more and harder than the kids.  He was worn out by the end of the day.

Time for TH to have some fun.  Snow knows no age!  It brings out the kid in us all.

Family shot!  Baby Boy had enough of the cold.  I only stayed outside for 15 mins or so with him.

 My parents came over to play in the snow with the boys.  As they were leaving, of course LM wanted to go with them.  I was worried about him getting stuck at my parents' house.... but I let him go.  10 mins after they left, my Dad calls needed TH to come pull him up a hill in our neighborhood.  He did.  I called them about 30 mins later to make sure they made it home.  They had..... ONLY they couldn't make it in drive way.  Dad had to get a running start to make it up another hill.  He got up it and then couldn't stop.  TH had to go pull him out. 

Lil Man and Nana built a snowman

This was our snow days.... Southern style.  So much fun!!

Christmas Day

 

 Christmas..... It started for us on Christmas Eve.  We visited my mom's side of the family for a late lunch.  Mom, the boys and I did this by ourselves.  (TH and my dad were at home working ALL day on a present that had to be assembled.  I'll come back to that!)  I didn't take a single photo at this gathering..... I was too busy trying to keep LM in eyesight and taking care of BB.  Whew!  Two little ones wear a person out at something like this..... there's soooo many people in my mom's family that a little 3 yr old can easily get "misplaced".  More than once, I dumped BB is someone's lap and said "Hang onto him a minute will ya?!"

Christmas Eve..... we went to a friend's house for dinner.  It's our little gang here in the "hood" that hangs out all the time.  You know you love your friends when you spend (and want to spend) Christmas Eve with them.

Christmas morning.........

 

 LM got a train table.  Can you say in love!  "Santa" was super tired though so only a little bit of the track was put out for Christmas morning.

 BB.... playing his "new" piano.  (And I say new like that b/c it's actually one we had from when LM was tiny.  TH and I didn't think BB needed a whole lot so he only got a couple of new presents.)

 Daddy helping his boys open and assemble a few gifts.

LM making an interesting face while opening one of his gifts.  Must have been hard work!

 

My sweet 9 month old!! Yep, this little dude turned 9 months on Dec 25th.

 Family shot!  We take one every year in this exact same spot.

And yes, TH and I are lookin a little rough but .... it is what it is! :)

After we exchanged gifts with just the 4 of us, we headed to my parents.  My dad always, always cooks a big Christmas Day breakfast.

 LM getting some help from his Uncle.... another J.ohn D.eere tractor.  B/c we obviously only have 5 gazillion at home.

 Excited about something!!

 Poppa and Nana got him his very own tool bench.  And he loves it!  So does his baby bro too actually. *grin*

LM and Poppa checking it out.

After breakfast, we headed to my Dad's parents for a late lunch & gift exchange.  Then, on the 26th we celebrated with TH's family.  More photos to come.  From this point on, I didn't have a camera.  I'm collecting photos as we speak.  More Christmas to follow. 

I've been a slacker about posting b/c I was sick for a few days and TH went to Arkansas duck hunting.  Life just gets in the way of blogging sometimes. {grin}

Wordless Wednesday

Whose toy is it again?

As I'm putting BB down for bed tonight, I hear lots of laughter and ruckus coming from downstairs.  It's TH and LM...... flying the helicopter LM got for Christmas.

Let me explain.  TH found a remote control helicopter that fits pretty much in the palm of your hand in a toy store.  He HAD to buy it for LM for Christmas.  Now, this toy is nowhere near age appropriate!! Like not even close.  Well, he bought it and gave it to LM.  Needless to say LM loves it!..... even though he isn't allowed to touch the thing.

Tonight I hear LM laughing like a loon while TH is flying the thing.  Not sure what my husband doesn't get about "quiet time" before bed time.  I had the pleasure of cuddling one baby while listening to my other baby enjoy fun time with Daddy.

All is right with the world.... my world anyway!