Car Accidents and Chiropractors

On July 4th, at the fireworks celebration, there was a tent set up with a sign that said "Free Massage". It turned out to be a chiropractor's office and they were doing free evaluations. I have been having low back pain for a while so I sat down and he could feel that my lower back was definitely out. He gave me a coupon for my first visit free, including x-rays. Yesterday, I went and did the first exam and got x-rays and scheduled my follow up for today. Today, when I went, I had to take the boys, which he said would be totally fine. (They were great.) He showed me the x-rays and showed me that my spine isn't straight but totally leans to the left. Then he showed me the x-ray of my neck. A normal neck is supposed to have a 35 to 40 degree curve. Mine is at negative 13. Not good. And, totally explains all the headaches that I have been having. So, there is some serious work to be done to straighten out my spine and get my neck to curve the right way again. I will be going three times a week for six weeks. That is a long time! He also popped my lower and upper back in to place and started my neck. I can't say that I feel better today. I have a really bad headache and just feel achy. But, there are other things to blame these things on, so I don't know what is caused by what.

He also said that my neck could only have gotten so out of what from a car accident and whiplash. We were in what I thought was a minor accident which I can't even remember when it was. I know we were wearing jackets. And it was cold and we were on our way home from having lunch at a friends house after church and there was a baptism at church that morning. And I am thinking that if I have whiplash, maybe the boys do too? And what about Drew? We were all in the car. And then my next thought is this. The boys were in the car, in their car seats, which we didn't replace. If I could get whiplash and not know it, can the car seats be damaged and we can't tell? Should we replace them? Is there someone, somewhere that can check them?

And I am afraid to ask him about the sling. My spine pulls to the left, the side that I wear Kolby. And it has become a necessity in my life.

And he says he can help with Kolby's consistent ear infections. So many decisions!

Does she only give things away?

Steph is at it again, giving away another baby carrier. And I am at it again by entering. Go here and check out the site that created and donated this new baby carrier. It is called a Podonbutai, it combines three Asian style carriers. I can't even begin to describe it, except to say, WOW!

I just wonder how all these contests of hers work. I mean, somehow she has to get people to give her stuff to review and then also give one to give away?! And, who pays to ship all this stuff she keeps giving away?! Too many logistics. And running to the post office with three small boys?! I guess that is why one is always attached to her!

Do you ever have one of those days where you start to type and everything sounds dumb? It just doesn't sound exciting or even entertaining. That is today.

I wanted to write about a new review site and I wanted to direct you to the cool new link on my sidebar, but I can't get it to show up and then when I decided, I will just write about it, everything sounded dumb. But, it isn't about me. Well, actually, this blog is kind of about me, because it is mine. Anyway, getting off subject.

Mama Speaks is a cool new review site. A site geared towards moms, written by moms, with reviews of things your kids or babies might need. I just entered an easy contest just be sending an email!

Also, since I have been entering so many contests and doing so little real blogging, I apologize. But! Guess what! I got my sling! It is this one. And it is so beautiful. The cherry color seems to be a muted cherry color which for me is just perfect. I don't like my reds to be too red, know what I'm sayin? So, now I can stop entering contests for slings, except maybe a pool sling... And, I love to use it! I have already used it so many times and it is so easy. I just put Kolby in the hip carry and off we go.

Today, we went to have lunch with Drew and of course it was the perfect opportunity to use my sling and after a little bit, my shoulder started to hurt. And I thought, oh man. I am not sayin a word to Drew about this! But then I realized that it was the shoulder that I had the diaper bag slung across, not the sling! Amazing! It is so great because a lot of his weight is sitting on my hip. I can't believe I have never had one of these. I almost want to have another baby sooner just so I can sling em around! And last night, for the fireworks, Kolby totally fell asleep in it. So sweet. I am trying to get a cute picture of us, I already have one of Drew and Kolby!

Entering Another Contest

I know, I just keep entering. It's kind of like playing the lottery. I keep entering and I keep thinking that the more I enter, the better my chances are! At least I am not wasting a $1 per ticket!

So, go here to enter. Do I need to mention that it is Steph from Adventures in Babywearing again? And then check out SuperMomz. I already see stuff that I want. I have always wanted one of those video monitors? Haven't you? I would love to watch how Bo puts himself to sleep! And next time, I am pregnant, I will definitely be buying a belly band! (To clarify, this is not an announcement, I will make it very clear when it is!)

Oh, and I am entering to win a Moby Wrap!

Relaxin

Well, I didn't think that my time here would be so wonderful. Don't get me wrong, I thought it would be great, just not wonderful. Today, my mom graciously watched the boys while I went with my best friend, her sister and her other sister to get a massage. A 60 minute full body massage. I have never had one before so I didn't know what to expect. It was fantastic, fabulous, incredible. So relaxing. Wonderful.

After that, we went to Zoey's Pizzaria for a New York Style cheese and pepperoni and a zookie for dessert. A zookie is a chocolate chip cookie freshly baked topped with ice-cream! Heavenly. A perfect lunch after a massage!

The boys are napping and we have plans for a park and maybe Cheeseburger for dinner (hey we're on vacation here)!

Another Contest

So, I have to enter another contest for a Solervei ring sling. Go here to enter yourself! If you win, you could always give it to me!

I never win.

I didn't win the sling. That is all.

Today, the boys and I drove to my home town! We are going to stay with my best friend for a couple nights, then stay with my parents and then go see my brother and family! It should be a nice change of scenery for us! The only plans we have are to hang out. I am secretly hoping we can hit a pool sometime. And by hit, I mean go to.

Kolby and Sage are taking naps at my parents house and I heard Kolby cry out so I went to check on him. I peeked in and he couldn't see me. He was fussing but still laying down. I watched him find his passy, put it in upside down, find his green, silky, soft blankie and rub it to his cheek and roll over. It was so sweet. I wanted to go in and swoop him up, but then it would have defeated the whole self-soothing thing he was in the middle of. It is moments like that, I want a video of in my head for all times.

I want that sling!

So, I have been reading Steph at Adventures in Babywearing for quite some time. I have linked to her more than a couple times siting great contests that she has. And she has done it again! This time a ring sling made from Solerveil, a fabric that blocks UVA and UVB rays while keeping you cool at the same time.

And I need it! Need, people. Let me explain. We have had swimming lessons this week. Sage and Kolby are both in the parent help class. But! Kolby's was cancelled so he joined Sage who worked with his teacher, Katie and I worked with Kolby. Kolby hasn't loved swimming lessons. Let's just say that it is an improvement that Kolby isn't crying...as much during the "lesson". By lesson for Kolby I mean, I hold him and twirl him around and give him 8 million kisses and hugs to reassure him and try to keep a smile on my face while he cries. I try splashing (but not his face, or he will cry harder), I try helping him do the back float. All this to say that I want to take the boys to the pool or lake around here, but how?! This sling would be the answer to my problems. Why not just buy it? Because I just bought a sling and lets just say that Drew wasn't totally excited about it! (Hi babe!) But it is totally gorgeous and I so need it! Remember, Kolby doesn't walk yet? I need it just to help me in and out of places like Target, pretty much anywhere we go, I am going to start sporting Kolby in that sling.

So, click here to enter the contest. And check out KimzKreations to see the woman who makes these slings! Did I mention that you get to pick the color of the fabric and slings? And if you would like to donate to my sling fund, please email me! That last part was a joke, by the way, unless it is you, mom, then it's not a joke.

Trip to the Zoo in Pics

Monkey!


Giraffe!


Tiger!


Buzz the Polar Bear doing tricks for lard!


Waiting for the seal show. At least we had snacks!


We waited 15 minutes in the burning sun for a 7 minute seal show that was less than impressive.


Uncle Achoo (Matthew) and Sage in the mist zone.


Sage is "driving"! He wasn't very good, I guess my no Power Wheels rule didn't pay off for him!


The last ride. He did much better "driving" this car er boat!

Summer Boredom

I might sound like I am complaining a bit, I just need some suggestions!

I'm bored. I think Sage is too and it is only the middle of June. We are taking swimming lessons this week and next. We went outside to play this afternoon and there weren't any neighbor kids out and Sage wanted to go in after 15 minutes. I offered to go to a park. And he declined. I offered the big park. No takers.

My other quandary? Kolby. He is hard to take places. 15 months, 26 pounds, not walking. Not loving his stroller as his big brother runs around. Did I mention 26 pounds? He crawls around on the street staining his knees, shorts, ripping some shorts and scraping knees. He likes to push the cozy coupe or big wheel around, but it doesn't last long.

And swimming lessons? Kolby is not a fan. On day 3, he has gotten better, but I can't imagine taking him and Sage swimming anywhere by myself. Sage can't be trusted because he can't swim by himself but isn't scared. Kolby has a firm grasp on me at all times. By firm grasp, I mean, legs and arms wrapped around me with his cheek smooshed next to mine or into my chest. Although, today, I was zooming him around and he wasn't holding on, at the end of the 30 minute lesson.

So, any ideas?!

I leave you with pictures!


Sage running through our crazy sprinkler! The novelty lasts about 10 minutes!


Me and my Bo.


Caught!


Learning to walk or ride?


What I do most of the day, inside, outside, on the street, on the grass, on carpet, behind a car.


We went to the zoo this weekend and this is how Kolby enjoyed the views! More pics and a special zoo post to come!

I've Been Meaning to Update

Kolby. Remember when I asked for prayer and faith that Kolby would walk by the end of May? I wanted Janelle, our physical therapist to see Kolby take a few steps.

Well, he hasn't walked yet. God answered my prayer with "Wait." I don't always understand why he tells me to wait but I am still waiting.

Kolby is cruising along everything. He pulls himself up to everything and will walk along it, around it and over it. I got him a walker and he does great with it, even turning corners! He hasn't figured out how to back it up. It comes down to the balance. He won't do it by himself. I try to let go of his hands so he can practice and if I do it more than twice in a row, he sits down. I don't think he is scared he just doesn't have the confidence. He has the strength, he just won't use it.

In other Kolby news, he fell down the stairs yesterday and it was totally my fault. I wasn't close enough to him. I was watching him go down the stairs and then he started rolling. down. the. stairs. I felt awful. And he didn't stop crying until I gave him some milk. I wished I still nursed him so I could comfort him.

The Spew

I am ready to go home now. Vacation is over. It was fun. Now, I am ready for my own house, my own stuff, my own kitchen where I know where everything is, my own bathroom, my nice shower, my house. But, we aren't on vacation, we have 11 more weeks!

That means something needs to change. Probably my attitude. It's not that I have a bad attitude, I am just ready to be back in the familiar. Ready to go back to our parks, our everything.

The suburb that I am living has a ton of shopping. Too much shopping. So much shopping it can be overwhelming, addicting and not fun at all. Everyday I think about where I could run to real quick. And then I look at the boys and realize it just won't work, none of us are up for that challenge nor is our checkbook!

We have been going to the Y most days. Yesterday, I ran 4 miles on the treadmill and was so proud of myself. Do you know how boring treadmill running is? BORING! Anyway. The kids place goes to the gym everyday at 11, it doesn't work the best for us, but Sage has been asking and asking to play in the gym and play basketball! Every. Day. So, yesterday and today, I try to make it there at 11 for kids gym time. Yesterday, Kolby's nap went too long and we got there at 11:35. Today, I had to take Drew's sister to her car (long story), we got there at 11:25. The kid were still in the gym! I said Sage would like to go in the gym with the other kids. She asked how old he is, I said 2.5. "Oh, they are supposed to be 3 to go in the gym." He turns 3 in a month, can he please go? They are too strict and won't let him. I told Sage that we have to wait until his birthday for him to go in the gym. He was so good. He just walked in the kids place like nothing was wrong. And when I picked him up, he didn't say a word. I, on the other hand, felt like crying. I went up to the treadmill and felt so sad. I wanted to start crying! I didn't even run a mile before I quit. I felt silly going to get my kids so soon, so I did some weights and then went to get them.

As we drove towards the in-laws house, I started to dread going back to the house. I don't know where I wanted to go, but it wasn't there. I contemplated a McDonalds or something, but don't know where one is.

Sage is being such a stinker lately. Like awful. He is being so disobedient and so disrespectful. This morning I was thinking about how I want four kids and how if I have four kids, I am going to be disciplining all. day. long. I read Proverbs 13:24 this morning which helped. The paraphrase is "He who spares the rod, hates his son but he who loves him, will be careful to discipline consistently." I needed to read that to stay strong in my discipline. Days like today, make it tough!

She has great contests!

Steph is at it again, another contest for a cool prize. This time, you can enter to win a $75 gift certificate from MamaKanga! It is a great site that offers different types of sling for babywearing. If I were to win, I would be getting a mei tei! I think the colors are neutral enough to carry a boy or girl so when Kolby can't be worn anymore, my next baby would get good use out of it too!

Dinner with Distractions

Saturday night, Drew and I went on a date. We did the typical dinner and a movie, I mean movie and dinner. We went to the early show so we only paid $4 a person!

Anyway, my point is the dinner part of our evening. We went to a great restaurant along the river and sat outside. We actually weren't sitting outside, we were under the canopy which the restaurant considered inside. I tell you that because it is a small detail in my story. There were quite a few open tables but we were seated directly in front of a table of about 12 guys. They were all ordering beers and smoking. The waitress had to tell them that they couldn't smoke there, but if the would step over the flower boxes, they were allowed to smoke there. They were loud. And they were staring all the waitress and any woman who walked around the restaurant at all.

I noticed something as I tried to be distracted from their obnoxious pointing and staring and loudness, why is it that the loud, annoying guys that make obscene comments and point to all the woman are ugly? And I don't mean homely, I mean just flat out ugly. I don't get it. I mean, I am sure that there are attractive men who stare at women but they just aren't as obvious. Seriously, these guys were straight arm out, pointing at women and then their creepy eyes would follow their prey across the room.

I was embarrassed for them. And if I ever have a daughter someday, she won't be a waitress.

Random Things About Me That You Probably Don't Care About

My favorite colors are green and pink, okay black too.

I like having long hair.

I love bags and purses.

I love shoes but don't buy too many because shoes in a size 10 or 11 just aren't as cute.

I think I am in the middle of being girly and a tomboy. Meaning, I keep my toes polished, and usually dry my hair but can get ready in 20 minutes if needed, usually I just need 30 - 40.

I like to blend in with the crowd.

I wear mainly plain clothes, not too many prints because in my mind, I won't get as tired of plain colors as quickly.

I love shopping at Target, could spend hundreds of dollars and way too much time.

My boys are the cutest ever!

I have a like/hate relationship with my bangs.

I probably won't cut bangs after I grow these out.

I use cloth diapers for Kolby.

I try to be "green", reduce, reuse, recycle. But will be the first to admit that I am not that great at it.

I enjoy going to the Y more after I am done than during or before.

I am a fast reader, if I am interested in the book.

A Confession

Sometimes I get bored as a stay at home mom.

And it has been more evident to me lately. I know there are other factors, like living somewhere new and temporary that play a large part in my boredom of late.

I just keep doing the same things over and over. Wake up, change diapers, feed the kids, clean up, get dressed, go to the Y, shower, play "rolling" (roll the ball back and forth, back and forth), play airplane, play with little people, watch them play while I read, change diapers, try to get Sage to pee or poop on the potty, make lunch, eat, clean up, play, lay them down for naps, play, play, play, pick up Drew from the bus, dinner, clean up and bed time.

And why is it when I am bored, the less I want to do? Does that make sense? Everything seems like such an effort. An effort to go outside and play or go to a park.

This is also compounded by the fact that Sage got sick last night. We were finishing dinner, Drew had just gone outside to mow and Sage throws up. I was so glad to have Drew's mom to help clean it up. I just can't handle throw-up. I gag and puke myself. I snuggled him on the couch until bedtime, having a sick toddler is good for something! He had a rough night too. He was up at 1 am and between 4 and 6, between the boys and the dog, there wasn't much sleeping for our family. Sage was burning up so at 4 I gave him Tylenol and at 5:45, he was back asleep and slept until 8!

DISCLAIMER: I am so blessed to be a stay at home mom. Believe me, there is nothing in the world that I would rather do, but sometimes I struggle. I am pretty sure this has more to do with being in a new place for such a short/long period of time than anything else. Also, I was so busy right up until we moved. I no longer have other babies coming into my house 3 or 4 days a week, I don't have friends to meet at the park or for lunch. But, it is temporary and I will start making the most of it. We didn't go the Y this morning, but that will be something normal in our daily routine and I can plan things for us to go do by ourselves, like the Big Park, MOA, Como Zoo, Children's Museum and I am sure we can find some other fun, free stuff! See, I am feeling better already. It is just this cooped up feeling.

I am guessing this little sickness came from the Y. Last week, they told me that someone had broken out in the chicken pox and had been in the child care the day before. So were mine. They have both had the vaccine, so I guess we'll find out if it works!

The randomness of this post is astonishing, I just need to get back in the groove of blogging again.

Suburbia Randomness

I am not sure what to write and usually when I am feeling this way, I just stay away from my blog.

I must admit, I am feeling a little lonely here in suburbia. It is so weird because there are people everywhere but everyone is in their own world. We went to the park this afternoon and were the only ones! Sage asked why we drove to the park and didn't walk.

Driving here is so easy! There are huge parking lots everywhere you go, I never have to parallel park or need change to plug $1.25 per hour in the meter.

There are so many stores here. Too much shopping. And everything is the same, by that I mean, everything is a chain store. It is weird/funny to travel through out the country and see how everyone is a lot the same and a lot different all at the same time. I should expand on that...

I am blaming my sadness/loneliness on suburbia and moving somewhere new, but honestly, that probably isn't it. I haven't been reading my Bible or keeping up in my prayer journal lately. I have excuses, but they aren't good. I know it is what keeps me going, keeps the joy in my life and yet, it is so easy to putter out on it. I wrote in my prayer journal today so hopefully I am back in the game and will get rejuvenated quickly!

I am missing my own home and my friends. Three weeks before we moved, a really nice family moved in two houses down. She is a stay at home mom and has a two year old girl and is due the 16th. I was sad to leave them. I would have loved to make a casserole and buy a new baby gift to take over. We did get to play with them several times, especially since they have a yard!

Drew's first day of work was yesterday, he leaves at 6:45 and gets home at 6:15, thanks to a one and a half hour commute. It is a long day and he is tired when he gets home. It should be an interesting summer.

I almost forgot! I got to run yesterday and today in my new running skirt and I love it! It is so comfy and so much more flattering than shorts! I love tricks! If only my running were going as well as how much I love my new skirt!

/End rambling.

Weekend Wrap Up

We drove 900 miles, saw my cousin get married, met my new (2 month old) niece, Sophie, forgot to take a picture of the cute baby, ate pizza at Happy Joe's and had an ice-cream sundae for $2.85 (I forget how cheap the midwest is!) and now we're back. The best part was watching Sage sing, dance, wave his hands in the air, and play the air drums and guitar at my parents church this morning. Let's just say that, it is hard to get people to clap there, so he was definitely noticed. It was so cute.

Drew starts work tomorrow which means it is my first day in his parents house with the boys by myself. Kind of, his mom has Mondays off.

I'm having a hard time finding things to be positive about so I am just going to bed and leave you with this: do not read anything into the last post. If I have an announcement it will be very clear.

Purely to Link to a Contest

Steph at Adventures in Babywearing is once again hosting a contest. This time it is for a $50 gift certificate to Vincent Shoes! If I win, Sage or maybe Kolby will definitely be getting a new pair of shoes. Like Andy or Hampus or Martin or Sam or Smith or Stan or or or. I can't decide, they are all so cool!

But if I had a girl, she would definitely be getting Love, okay so nothing is definite, but...

Go check out Vincent. And shop away! They even have some on sale right now!

We're off for the weekend, have a great one!

I am a Suburban Mom

This morning, I went to a pilates class at the Y and then ran into Target, picked up Drew and we went and opened a new checking account (why are there no banks that service the midwest and east coast?), then stopped in to Starbucks for my fave, java chip frappuccino and then home again and played outside in the yard (did you catch that we played in the yard and not on concret!) and then made lunch and put the boys down for a nap after cleaning up from lunch! (I am pretty sure that was a run on sentence, but I don't care!) And I was driving a mini-van!

And now, you should go visit Steph at Adventures in Babywearing because she is hosting another contest for a cool cd! I am always on the look our for music for Sage since he takes everything and makes it a microphone or a guitar!

Settling

I think this is how I will feel all summer. Like I am settling into something. A different house, a new routine, a new YMCA, a new car. Just settling in for the next 3 months.

It is exciting and a little bit draining too. Drew hasn't started work yet, so this week we are settling into a routine with him around. Next week, the boys and I will start settling into our own routine.

We got a membership to the YMCA, signed the boys up for swimming lessons (yea!) and started working out there this morning. The boys seemed to do okay with the huge room and huge group of kids. It is like the church nursery times twenty! Sage told us that he and Kolby cried. But the workers didn't say anything, although the same girl that checked them in, checked them out and I doubt she had left the door the whole time. I think it will work out. Sage wanted to go but said he would like to come back sometime.

Sage and Kolby are both starting in the Skip swimming lessons, so I will be in the pool with both of them. Although, we have to do two different swim times so that they can both have my full attention. It will be a mad dash since we only have 5 minutes in between classes! I think Sage will love it and Kolby will hate it. I hope and pray that Kolby will get used to it. I am going to try to take the boys before we start, so we can go over our rules and hopefully Kolby will be less scared since it is a zero entrance pool.

Drew's dad wants me and the boys to use the mini van for the summer (we drive a Saturn). So in a few days, we will be settling into a new van (for the summmer).

So, the name of the game is settling. Do you think that in life I will ever feel settled? When we go back home, I will know we are on the nine month countdown of moving again, but where? Maybe that will help me clean out closets!

We Made It!

We pulled in by 1:00. Thanks to the time change, Kolby woke up at 5:15 so we were pulling out of the parking lot by 7:30 and Kolby was napping by 8.

It was another smooth drive, although there was a buzz in the air. We all wanted to be done driving and just get there! Drew might have sped and I might have stayed turned around, without my seatbelt on a little too long, but I don't want to write anything incriminating on my blog.

We are pretty much unpacked but need to make a Target and Ikea trip for some stuff we didn't want to pack, like a potty seat. It's not like Sage uses it anyway.

On the Road Again, I just can't wait to get on the road again

After 5 short hours tomorrow, we will be to our destination!

Today was another smooth sailing kind of day. I can't say enough how good my boys are, it is amazing. It doesn't bother me in the least that Kolby ate a bag of goldfish, a box of raisins, chocolate milk, one chicken nugget, one apple, some macaroni and cheese, a bag of teddy grahams, some gatorade and some juice. (That was lunch and dinner included in that list and he did eat a whole banana for breakfast.) I give him a small bag of toys and he takes everything out and throws them into every crevice that he can find and believe me, we are packed like sardines so there are plenty of crevices. I am a little scared to unpack the car and find all the food he didn't eat and just threw!

After stopping at McDonalds for lunch again and getting the big Shrek and the donkey in our happy meals today, (yesterday was one of the baby Shreks) Sage informed me that he wants baby Shrek on his cupcakes for his birthday! He has never seen any of the movies so I guess the marketing through McDonalds is working.

We bought the movie Prince of Egypt to watch on our trip and made a big deal of giving it to Sage and letting him watch a new movie. He asked to turn it off half way through.

Sage broke down five minutes from our hotel. He woke up from his nap and his pull up was wet and he wanted changed. We were at a gas station and I told him we would have to wait. He cried until we got to the hotel then I showed him the pool and he forgot about it and so did I. Then we came to our room and his jeans suddenly got wet and I was like oh no, your pull up is leaking. And I started to take his jeans off and he started crying again and then pee started coming out his jeans. I took him to the bathroom and he finished peeing on the floor. He did get to go swimming and he is so funny. He told me he didn't cry in the pool or when he took a shower.

They are both asleep in our luxurious hotel room with granite counter tops, a pull out couch, a portable crib, king size bed, fridge, and microwave, and free Wi-fi!

On the Road

We started our journey today, day one of three. It has gone so smoothly. Let me expand on how smoothly. We wake up to the boys at 6:30am, after going to bed at 1am because we are procrastinators and we waited until the day before moving for 3 months to do things like pack and clean the fridge. We were on the road by 8am watching Cars, slamming milk and eating Cheerios and granola bars. Kolby napped about an hour, Sage watched two Veggie Tales. 10:30 snack time, Teddy Grahams and juice. Time to play with toys until lunch. Drew is determined to not stop until after noon. 11:56, we pass an exit with about five restaurants. Drew turns off the air conditioning because we are low on gas and he doesn't want us to get stuck. There are no places to eat for 45 minutes. By that time, the only way, that Kolby won't cry is for me to hang my arm behind me, draped over my seat and let him pull and pull and pull. We see a gas station sign and a sign that says some town, that way, 7 miles. We get gas and I ask if we should go into some town or is there a better place to stop? Next exit, McDonalds! And not just any McDonalds, a nice, clean, pretty one. We get back in the car and tell the boys they need to nap and within 10 minutes they are both asleep. I start to doze and then Drew wakes me up because he thinks he sees a funnel cloud. It starts to rain, hard. We pull off on an exit to wait it out. The boys wake up. We pull back on. The boys go back to sleep. Sage wakes up and eats his ring pop and asks for water. Kolby took a two hour nap! We drive into our hotel and Drew notices a screw in our tire, leaking air. Drew and Sage take it to get fixed for $16 in about 30 minutes. We go swimming. Sage loves it! He can even stand in the shallow end. Kolby hates it! We go to dinner at a Hut that serves Pizza. I don't even know how to explain the most awkward meal we have ever eaten at a restaurant. The waitress stood at our table while Drew signed the credit card slip. Enough said. We came back to the hotel. Put Kolby to bed with minimal crying, like hardly any and now I am using their free high speed internet! Sage still isn't asleep, maybe because I am on the computer and Drew is watching softball? That is how a smooth day of traveling goes. Tomorrow, day 2!

We're Home

And I'm supposed to be packing... um yeah, I'll get to that. We're just moving for the summer, so I don't have to pack the entire apartment just the essentials and I keep telling myself that they have a Target and the Mall of America, so I can pick it up if I need it!

Seattle was incredible. So beautiful, I want to move there. I will try to post some pics and blog more about it later, like in June.

BUT, Steph at Adventures in Babywearing is hosting another contest! This time it is to win some awesome products from Skip Hop, hosted by Mason & Matisse. You may remember that I was digging the Dou diaper bag. I ordered it in kelly green from another store. I literally ordered the bag and then clicked on to Steph's site and read about the contest and the 20% just by entering the code insider.

Have fun shopping and saving!

And We're Off!

Drew and I are leaving on a jet plane and taking a "second honeymoon". My mom is here to take care of the boys and I know she will take great care of them!

I already cried last night about leaving the boys but I know it is healthy for me to leave them and I know they will be great but man, I'm having a hard time! Kolby is helping to make me feel awful by only wanting me to hold him and such and oh yeah, I took him to the doctor on Tuesday and found out he has his third ear infection and his third bronchial infection. He is on amoxicillin and albueteral inhaler. I really need to research amoxicillin and ear infections. I am not convinced that I need to give him medicine for it but this wasn't the time to mess with it when I am going out of town.

Sage is so excited for us to leave. Mom has been here for a few days and he has demanded us to leave many times!

We are getting into our crazy time. Our trip this week, then when we get home, we have a couple of days turnaround until we move for the summer. So, yeah, I am feeling a bit unsettled and I can't imagine how my little babies are feeling and wondering what is going on. It should be an interesting few weeks and then summer!

Big Decisions

This is huge, people, life changing kind of decision.

I currently carry a diaper bag everywhere I go. It carrys my wallet and cell phone and some chapsticks, my essentials. It also carries the boys essentials, diapers, wipes, 2 sippy cups, 2 snacks, bandaids, neosporin, purell, sunscreen, and kleenex with the random receipt crumpled at the bottom.

So, the life altering decision is this: do I want to carry a fun summer purse (suggestions welcome) also and leave the diaper bag in the car as I go in and out of stores or do I want something that can be taken in and out of the diaper bag like this? Really, really, serious, important decisions.

I know that I don't need to shlep the diaper bag with me everywhere I go, but I do need it in the car.

That's all I've got.

Mothers Day

It is hard for me to put into words the way I feel about Mothers Day. I remember not long ago, not really remembering Mothers Day, cards were always late, maybe I would remember to call, but now? Now, I wonder why the whole world doesn't stop for Mothers Day. And honestly, I feel like this is the first Mothers Day that I have felt this way, even though it is my third Mothers Day celebration. Something hit me today or this year or sometime.

Something that I can't quite explain. Something that is so fierce, so overwhelming, so scary. The pastor this morning was talking about what an impact our moms have on us. He was talking about Timothy and how his grandmom and momma taught him about Jesus and to love the Word of God. How, I have that power to instill the love of the Word to my kids. How, I have the power to show them that we base decisions on the Word, on what God says.

My mom showed me that. She showed me that even through tough, hard things, stick to what the Word says and you will be blessed because of it. Tough, hard things that the world and your family are telling you to do one thing, that it would be okay this time, but God isn't super clear in the Bible but we know that to do things His way are always the best, even when it seems like the hardest way.

My mom also showed me her love for the Scriptures. Many times, when I would be coming down the stairs, rubbing sleep from my eyes, she would look up from reading her Bible and writing in her journal and give me her good morning smile.

My mom also showed me the power of prayer. She kept prayer journals so she could look back and see what God had answered and how. I know she still prays for me, my husband and my kids. I know I can pick up the phone and hear her pray for me.

We laugh about how "preachy" she can get and sometimes, we tell her to stop, but it is always good stuff to hear. She can just keep talking about it like the energizer bunny.

Love you, mom! I guess I should have written this in your card, (which you will probably get in the mail tomorrow, heehee) but it just came to me!

No Title

Just jammin to my new Ipod Nano in pink that my awesome husband got for me. He combined my birthday, mothers day and anniversary and I am so excited! It is so fun. I even put photos of the boys on it. And it has a stopwatch so when I run, I can see how long I am actually running, instead of looking at my cell phone when I leave and when I get back, hey one minute can make a difference!

Now, on to what I really wanted to write about.

Yesterday, Sage, Kolby and I went to meet a family with a little girl one month younger than Kolby who was also born with bilateral club foot. She is not doing as well as Kolby. When Kolby doesn't wear shoes or when he does, no one would notice that his feet were clubbed at birth. His feet look perfect and pretty much like every other babies feet. This little girls are much worse. Her feet are still noticeable turned in. She has been through two surgeries in her short life. It breaks my heart for her. Guess what doctor she sees? The doctor we didn't go back to. When Kolby was 7 days old, we took him to Dr. Marsh at Yale New Haven Hospital. We were so glad that we were going to receive world renown care. We had done our research. We knew we wanted the Ponsetti method for treatment. It is the best. It is proven. Dr. Ponsetti is still seeing patients at the University of Iowa. He has done extensive research and his treatment is proven time and time again. In is non-invasive. It requires castings changed weekly with the casts going half-way up the baby's thigh. (I would show pictures of Kolby with them on but they are on a different computer.) We knew this was the best option for our baby. I knew it. We wanted the best and weren't going to settle. But, we were going to Yale, how can you get better than that, right? Wrong. So wrong.

We spent time talking to two residents, asking questions. Asking about the Ponsetti method. We were assured that is what Dr. Marsh practices. We asked the resident, if it were your child, would you bring him here or go somewhere else? He said he would take his child to the Childrens Hospital where the doctor is treating club foot everyday. RED FLAG! We asked how many club foot patients he sees. I don't remember exactly but I want to say 3 a year. Finally, we were taken back to the casting room and met Dr. Marsh himself. We asked him some more questions and he assurred us that he is excellent with club foot. In fact, so excellent he has been treating the same patients for 18 years! RED FLAG! Club foot is very correctable. It might take a few years and of course we expect to take Kolby in for check ups but he shouldn't need treatment at 18. 2 Red Flags. We went ahead and got casts put on Kolby. I held my 7 day old baby on my lap as the doctor "massaged" his feet and Kolby screamed and he slapped plaster around Kolby's foot and up to his knee. RED FLAG! We asked about the cast going up his thigh. Dr. Marsh looked up at me, crying and said that is the reason we don't put casts up the thigh. Implying that the reason was because of my emotions.

We made another appointment, hoping that we would find someone better. Right when we got home, we got on the internet and looked at Connecticut Childrens Hospital and found Dr. Thomson. Wonderful Dr. Thomson. We called afraid we wouldn't be able to get an appointment. We got one in less than a week. We are so fortunate. The second casting was so different. Kolby still cried. But they gave me sugar water to dip his passy in. And there were two of them doing the casting. Dr. Thomson would hold Kolby's foot in the exact position that he wanted and Tony would apply the plaster cast. Tony made sure the casts were smooth which made them look nice and he made sure Kolby could wiggle his toes. A world of difference.

After writing all that, I want to make sure that glory goes where it is deserved. Dr. Thomson has treated Kolby beautifully. But the glory goes to God. My BIG God. He corrected Kolby's feet. Kolby is close to walking because of God, not man. Kolby went to Dr. Thomson because of God. The Lord guided us to the best doctor in our state. We are forever grateful that Kolby's feet are so beautiful. My prayer is that Kolby will use his beautiful feet for the Lord. Romans 10:14 - 15 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Kolby's going to do great things!

Sage Funnies

He was looking at his football today and asked what was on it. I answered that's the Hawkeyes. He responded "Me yove hotguys!"

We were watching Rachel Ray and a cookie commercial came on. He said "What's that?" I answered "Cookies." "Me yove cookies."

We were watching Rachel Ray (still- and this is only like the second time I have ever seen it) and a commercial for Reeses Peanut Butter Cups came on and he asked what it was. I answered candy. He said. "Me yove chocolate!"

He is in a love everything phase. Pretty funny. He even told me he yoves boccolli! The sweetest is when he says, "Me yove you." Melt my heart.

He also yoves tum (gum), Bo, daddy, baseball, Cars, Boz, Veggie Tales, Coke, foffee, Yife (Life), Frosted Mini Wheats and usually whatever he is eating. These are in no particular order and he has never tasted Coke or coffee, but has declared his love for them many times. He might have heard those phrases slip out of my lips!

28

That is how old I am as of today.

10 years ago, I graduated from high school. I went to a small, private, Christian school and graduated with seven people. I think I know where 3 of them live and maybe what they are doing. Sad, huh?

Am I where I thought I would be 10 years after high school? I think so.

I am a stay at home mom with two boys. I don't think I really thought about where (in the States) I would live. I probably just assumed that I would live where I grew up. I didn't think we would live 20 hours away.

Which brings me to my new blog title, Seagulls in the Parking Lot, we live near the ocean and when I am at the grocery store or Target and see seagulls, it brings a smile to my face. To be able to tell my son, that's a seagull and not while watching The Little Mermaid, is cool. I am so glad that we don't have to tell him about crows! Yet.

I thought we would be living in a house with a mini-van.

I wanted to be done having babies by the time I was 30. (probably not going to happen!)

I'm tired and this post is going no where...

A New Title?

I am thinking of changing the name of my blog. I mean, seriously, Thoughts and Happenings? Pretty boring and unoriginal! When I first started my blog, I mainly wrote about Sage and the changes in our life. Mainly, the change of moving half way across the country. And boy, my posts were booorrrriiiing! I think the two people who read were my mom and Rach, who had a blog herself and made me think I could do that! Not that my readership is huge by any means, just that I know I have at least 3 more friends that read!

My point! Is that my title and my url are boring. I don't think I will change my url because, I don't want to confuse anyone nor do I want to confuse myself, and really, I am only thinking of myself here. But, the title of my blog could be easily changed. Drew suggets "Seagulls in the Parking Lot" because we still find it funny to see seagulls in the parking lot of Target or the mall! We have lived here two years and can't get over it!

Any other ideas?

I'm Feeling Guilty

Two words. Birthday Parties.

I haven't thrown a birthday party for either of my kids. Not a party where other kids are invited. We have had some of our friends over for their birthdays, though. Sage's one year, we had some Italian neighbors who came down and brought a pie for his cake. That wasn't American enough for me so I baked a cake and we had our own family celebration. I guess they did bring their little boy who turned one two weeks prior. Sage's second year, we had our friends Deb and Doug over for some cupcakes. Kolby's first year, we had Deb, Doug, Katy, Jeff, and Jeff. They were all over the age of 24. See a pattern here?

Sage's third birthday, we will have just moved about a month and a half earlier and will be living with Drew's parents. So obviously, they will celebrate with us, as will his sister. I don't have plans yet so maybe some more family will be around and that would be exciting because we haven't had family around for our kids birthdays.

Kolby's second birthday (I know way too far away, but I think ahead), I will probably feel more guilt because if we have a party for him, we should have a party for Sage and for Sage's fourth birthday, we will have just moved again (Lord willing) to who knows where and who knows who we will know.

Now, normally, I wouldn't feel guilt for not throwing my kids birthday parites. But, other parents throw their kids parties and invite my kids, usually feed us something and have fun activities for us. Here is where the guilt comes in. I am not recipercating the birthday party invites. Isn't that the dumbest thing?! That is the guilt I feel. But then I try to justify myself, well, we bring gifts to the parties. Does that make up for the lack of return birthday party invite? NO! Because, there are other people at the same party who had parities for their kids and recipercated the gift and the party.

Oh, the guilt!

Things:

I'm digging: Canon SD700IS, Ergo Baby Carrier- I carry my 25lb. son on my front, no problem!

I'm buying (bought): Keen's for Sage in black and Croc's in black for me! And looking for shoes with arch support for Kolbs, maybe Converse?!

I'm eating: Caramel Nips and Kettle Corn Popcorn in the 100 calorie packs

I'm wanting: Pink Ipod Shuffle for running, of course. Skip Hop Duo in denim. And in all fairness, one of the handles of my current diaper bag is ripping a handle off. (that is a whole other post) Harveys seatbelt wristlet because I really don't need to carry my whole diaper bag around Target, Stop & Shop, Sam's Club and the million other in and out errands I drag the boys to.

I'm dreading: leaving the boys to go on a 5 year anniversary trip. Seriously, I don't think Kolby has spent one night away from me and I can't remember the last time Sage did. That said, they will probably do better than me! Also, 3 days of driving with the boys.

I'm thinking: There is only 4 minutes until Gray's Anatomy!

Happy May Day!

Is anyone doing May Day baskets? I wish we were, but I don't have anything to make for them and I can't get to a store.

Anyway...

I found an addicting website called Etsy. It is a place for people to sell homemade stuff. You can type in anything you are looking for. I typed in headbands and found this wonderful lady out of Seattle. I bought a headband from Target and was wearing it quite often, but by the end of the day, it was giving me a headache. I am so glad that I found the perfect fit headband. I ordered one tentatively, because what if she thought they were the perfect fit but I thought not. I received it in the mail a couple of days later and put it on right away. By the end of the day, I was hooked. Drew thought it was really cool and liked it a lot, so I got back on and ordered two more! One of the best features, is that they are reversible, so for the low price of $7, you get not one but two awesome headbands! I can wear my hair down or up with the headbands so they make me look just that much more pulled together in two seconds!

She did not ask me to write this nor did I receive anything free, I just love them so much I want everyone to know. And I have been checking back to see if there are any other fabrics I need...

Reality is setting in

We are moving for the summer. And I have been realizing lately how much I am going to miss about summers here. I am going to miss being able to walk everywhere. To the grocery store, post office, parks, J. Crew, library, farmers market, just about everywhere we go in the summer, we walk. And I am going to miss our friends. Meeting up with other moms and kids at parks or on rainy days, the McyD's playplace or mall playground. This would be our third summer here and I feel like I know where to take kids for fun things to do and my kids are easier to take everywhere.

I am going to miss the familiar. I am going to miss our city. I am going to miss our friends. I am going to miss our farmers market with awesome produce. I am going to miss our shaded park, two blocks from our apartment. I am going to miss our neighbors and watching Sage play with their dog. I am going to miss the beach. I am going to miss Libby's italian ice. I am going to miss Pepe's Pizza.

I am ready to settle somewhere and live there longer than two or three years. Will we ever? And where will that be?


I leave you with a picture of a street full of cherry blossom trees, a street one block away.

The Post I Brag About Me & my friends

Today was THE day. The Nutmeg State Half Marathon and 10K. I ran the 10K (6.1 miles) with two friends and one friend ran the half marathon with her husband.

It was a great morning for running, about 50 degrees and cloudy. It sprinkled just a bit at the beginning, but didn't last long.

The first two miles were tough. We started off straight up a hill and the hill went for a good mile and a half and I am not exaggerating. It was hard because I hadn't gotten the feel of it, meaning I hadn't gotten into a groove and BAM up, up, up and up some more. After the first two miles, it got a lot easier. We talked a little, passed somebody, and just had fun. I know it is hard to believe that we passed someone, but we did. I was pretty excited to pass him and if we had another mile, we totally could have taken a couple more! Slow and steady finishes the race!

After the race, we went to Marty's Cafe for brunch. It was a fun morning and I am so glad my family was there to share it and I never would have done it without my friends!

Debbie, me, Tara (ran the half marathon) and Katy


Over half way!


Sage running his own race while waiting for mama.


The Big FINISH!


Just because he is so stinkin cute!

Bloggers Without Makeup

I am posting a picture of myself wearing no make-up for a contest. Steph, at Adventures in Babywearing is hosting the contest!

I usually wear at least mascara because my mom taught me that it wakes us blondies up and makes us look alive! Most days, I also wear powder, blush and my favorite lipgloss by Burts Bees. I use Rhubarb and Radiance (clear) and could buy a couple more. I keep it in my diaper bag and purse and wish I had one in my bathroom!

Now, go check out the contest and look at all the other bloggers without makeup!

You have to walk before you can run

My son, Kolby, is 13 months old and not walking. It isn't surprising, he was born with bilateral club foot so he should be on the lower end of the normal scale. I am not worried or nervous that he won't walk, his feet are perfect. After all the castings and the 22 hours a day wearing the dennis browne bar, his feet are absolutley beautiful. I serve a Big God. I have written about him before. I had prayed that God would help Kolby to start rolling back to front when he was showing no signs of rolling at almost 8 months. God answered my prayer with a resounding YES! It was so exciting to me and still is. In fact, I have tears in my eyes remembering my joy. I have been inconsistently praying that Kolby would start walking by the end of May. He would be 14 months old. But, I realized the other day, that I have been praying without faith that God would do that. Meaning, I am praying but I don't believe that Kolby will really walk by the end of May. In my mind, I think that end of summer is more realistic. So, I am telling you that I am praying with faith, believing that my God can help Kolby walk by the end of May. If you want to pray too, that would be wonderful.

I am excited to say this publicly because I believe God answers prayer. I know that he doesn't always answer the way we want or in the timing that we want but I am excited to see what happens and I will let you all know if God answers yes or no.

Cool

Ever read someones blog and want to leave an intelligent or at least funny, memorable comment and can only think Cool! Can I be your friend? Wanna be my friend, your cool! I just read Steph's post and couldn't think of anything but cool! and wow! and I wanna do that! and Man, I need to be a better blogger, so I can do that! So, if anyone from Google is reading this, pick me! pick me! pick me! And if you aren't from Google, either go read what I am talking about or read on for more of my daily whatever it is that I write.

There are many things that i have wanted to do all my life or at least been interested in for awhile. 1) Running 2) Photography
3) Selling lots of stuff on Ebay 4) Making money off this blog (or at least free stuff) 5) I can't think of anything else. Okay, so not all of these are things I have wanted to do all my life and I am totally not giving myself enough credit because there are things that I am doing that I love, like being a mother and I have always wanted to do that! So, why don't I do some of those things. Recently, I have been running and actually like it! Surprise! Okay, not running, jogging, My motto is one foot in front of the other and slow and steady wins the race, I mean finishes the race. I will not every be a runner, I will always be a jogger and I am okay with that. I like jogging. But calling it jogging sounds lazy, so I call it running. Photography, I need/want a different camara besides a point and shoot and maybe take a class. But, both those things involve time and money. So... The last two are things I could do, maybe. I have sold stuff on Ebay but just stuff around my house (which reminds me I have some stuff I need to list) and I mean I want to make serious cash, okay I would settle for cash. Anyway, my point is, I don't have one. Blog, well, I guess I just need to keep writing? How do you blogbrities make it big? Oh, right, by not reading sites like mine. Well, maybe one day I will hit the jackpot when someone from Google reads this post after they google mom blog or something. Yeah, it's late and I need to go watch American Idol. Too bad Sanjaya got voted off last week... too bad.

Copycat

Kolby watches everything Sage does and then tries to do it himself. Well, not everything, but we are getting closer to the day of having two boys running around our apartment. I have a feeling that next winter, this apartment is going to feel very small some days, but that is a different post. When Kolby watches Sage use special soap (Purell) he rubs his hands together too. When he watches me put lotion on, he rubs his hands too. It is so cute. We captured it on camera in the tub the other day.

Sage gets ready to get his hair washed.


Kolby gets ready to get his hair washed too.



Oh my word, aren't my boys the cutest EVAH?!

Picture Post

I promise these pictures are right on the hardrive, sorry I can't figure it out!


Sage working the catwalk.


Preppy Boy


Two Boys! I say that when I am giving them both hugs or carrying them and Sage has started to say it!


Sage put on his own shirt!

Finally!

My BFF has started her own blog! Go check her out and tell her you want to see pictures!

Send her some blogger love, although with all the comments she got on her first post, maybe she will send some my way!

UPDATE****Links are all fixed, sorry for the mess-up. I usually check my links, I guess I got too confident and now I got shot down!

The SUN is SHINING!!!!

It makes my day. It is only 9am and I feel so happy and so joyful! I can't explain it any other way, except the sun is shining, David Crowder Band is playing and it is a good day! I have laundry started, my bangs are looking good, I think I finally figured out how to style them! I even feel skinny this morning and my stretch marks are fading on my stomache! I pray my joyful attitude continues as the 14 month old girl comes to play this morning.

It helps that I got to go running yesterday and am looking forward to a date night tonight with Drew! Any suggestions for a date? We always end up going to dinner and Target or the mall. It is nice to shop without kids! But it would be nice to mix things up.

A Small Big World

Since I am a blogger, I read blogs and since I have email I receive and send email. My point is that my big world seems small with so much communication coming in and going out. I love it. It also brings to mind that there are so many people to keep in my prayers.

Like my friends baby who is 5 months old and wiggled his way out of his grandfathers arms leading to brain surgery. He is doing great! Praise the Lord! The surgery was a success and he is home after 10 days. They were visiting family in Iowa and the mom and kids will stay while the dad travels back to Texas to work. Continued prayer is needed for them, obviously.

Like my friends baby who is 15 months old and has a brain tumor. She is going through chemo and the tumor has shrunk but there is still a long road ahead.

Like my blogger friend Holli whose mom was just diagnosed with a type of lymphoma.

There are many others. A lot of times, I will just send up a prayer as I read but I don't go back to the site again. I don't always know what to tell people. Of course, I tell them that I will pray for them. But do they realize that I am sincere? Do they realize that I am praying to a BIG God, to the one true God?

This is getting hard

OH! I forgot! My friend Rach asked me about toddler beds and since I love to write and share my advice and what we did because obviously what we did was the best, here is how we moved Sage to a toddler bed.

Actually, we moved him to a twin bed because someone gave us one for free and my in-laws bought the mattress and we are cheap like that. Sage was not quite two when we moved him, like a month or two shy. I don't remember exactly. We made a big deal of having Papa set it up and I took him to buy sheets (plain sheets- how exciting), then we left it in his room for a little bit while he still slept in the crib and then one night BAM! we put him in the big boy bed. We told him to not get out or he woud get a spanking, he needed to yell MAMA! and I would come get him. I made him practice yelling MAMA! MAMA! and that was that. Later, we sneaked in and checked on him and marvelled at how big he was and he hasn't gone back. I did buy the railing thing. We struggled with getting him to not take out the metal bar that is only velcroed shut in there and use it as a microphone. One night, we decided to take the railing off because really, he could hurt himself with the stupid metal bar. Who was stupid enough to design this to seal it with velcro? Do they think toddlers are really that dumb? He didn't fall out. And I felt stupid for buying it. Then the next night, he fell out. And we put it back on. And I felt stupid for taking it off. And then, we got really smart, and took out the stupid metal bar that didn't seem to do anything. And, we haven't had any problems since. End of story.

He did start to get out of bed by himself and come to our room. And we were all, oh! this is so cute. We can hear his little feet running down the hallway. And we let him do it. Then we rearranged their room to fit Kolby's dresser in the boys room and not ours and he stopped getting out of bed by himself and started yelling for one of us to come get him.

The cutest, best thing happened the other morning. Both boys slept in their own beds ALL NIGHT! But that wasn't the cute part, the cute part was listening to them talk to each other over the monitor. Sage would give us a play by play. "Dada, Holby said good morning to me. Dada, Holby said hi to me!" And when we walked in, Sage was sitting in his bed and Kolby was up on his knees holding the crib bars. (A new trick by Kolby) And it hasn't happened since. They haven't both slept through the night again and haven't woken up together. Probably because when it happened, I thought it was so cute and great and thought, "Here it is, we are making the turn. Kolby is going to start sleeping all night until 7am." I jinxed it.

Differences

It is so fun to have two boys. For some reason, I thought my second baby would be exactly like my first. Sage was so easy to feed. He ate everything you put on his plate and still does for the most part. He loves fruit. Any fruit. He will eat it first and usually ask for more. Same with cheese. And he eats vegetables really well too. Carrots, brocolli, peas, most veggies, without adding butter or salt! Kolby is not so keen on veggies, getting him to eat any is an accomplishment.

Take lunch today for example. I made grilled cheese sandwiches and cut up strawberries. Instead of grilling a sandwich for Kolby, I cut up a piece of bread and cheese and some strawberries. He quickly ate all the bread and then proceeded to tell me he was all done. Sage ate all his strawberries first, asked for Kolby's cheese and when told no, ate his sandwich. I put a piece of cheese in Kolby's mouth to help him remember that he likes it and then he ate the rest. The strawberries, I also had to put in his mouth so that he would remember. He ate a total of two pieces of strawberries. Sage asked for the rest of his. They both seem to have a bottomless pit for a stomache though!

I feel like i could go on and on with differences but my brain isn't functioning. We have entered the world of bad dreams with Sage and last night, he slept in our bed for a while meaning I didn't get much sleep. And Kolby has been waking up some too, so good times around our house!

Exuses, excuses

I didn't post yesterday because:

It was the Sabbath.

Our power was out from 10 pm to 2 am.

It was raining.

I had other things to do like... relax, wash diapers, put away the stuff from Sam's, meditate on the sermon.

Insert witty reason here

*************Abrupt subject change*****************

We went to a different church yesterday. It was pretty big with a lot of people. The nursery system was the best we have seen out here. Both kids were checked in, given a tag to wear and were both assigned the same number so if they needed me, 401 would pop up on the box. I kept checking expecting Bo not to make it through but he did. They even changed his diaper, but they did put him in Sage's pull-up! You would think that someone working in a nursery would realize that a 13 month old wouldn't be wearing a pull up and oh! the thing I took off him wasn't a pull up. Oh well. And, I am a little weird but a total stranger changed my babies diaper. I just don't like that, I don't know why. And I said when I dropped him off, I just changed him before we left, so he should be good. Seems like a waste of a diaper.

Yeah, the service was pretty good too. Albeit, lllloooonnnggg. The pastor spoke for 1 hour and 15 minutes. All in all, I think we would go back. We haven't found a church where everything "clicks". The church we have been attending, just isn't for us. Kind of a minor thing, is with the nursery. Sage just doesn't like it. He doesn't cry, he just doesn't want to go in. And when we pick him up, he is usually playing by himself doing something weird like cramming playdoh into a dolls mouth, by himself. He doesn't play with the other kids there. But, at the other churches that we have attended, he runs into the room, with a huge smile on his face and doesn't look back. And, when we go to parks or whatever, he tries to play with the other kids. There is just something there that isn't quite right. We can't put our finger on it, but we are going with our instinct and making this next Sunday our last. We happen to be in Kolby's nursery. It would be different if he acted the same at every nursery or around other kids.

We aren't ready to call any church "home". I think we jumped in a little too quickly last time. We'll try to do more research and visit more places.

Because I don't want to fail

I am writing this post at 9:26pm. We just got home from New York City. We went to the International Auto Show and Top of the Rock. Both were fun. Top of the Rock completly blows Empire State Building out of the water, it is so cool. I am so exhausted from walking around and it was just a long day.

As I sat down to write this, I told Drew what I was doing and told him I committed to writing everyday. He asked when I had last fulfilled a commitment to read my Bible everyday. Ouch. But, it is true. I have never read every. day. Sure, I have read the Bible through in a year, but even that was with somedays playing catch up and reading two a day. And as I think about why I seem more committed to this, it is because someone could point out that I failed, this seems public but reading my Bible everyday is personal. I don't usually get asked if I read everyday and I don't write everyday what I read about. I am sort of chewing on those thoughts and thinking maybe I should make a public challenge to myself. Maybe I should have a snippet of what I read everyday on my blog... Definitely requires more chewing!

# 201

This is my 201st post. Wow. That is a lot of writing. Amazing how much I can write about nothing. Except my nothing isn't as funny as Seinfeld nothing. Maybe instead of thinking of a title, I will just number my posts.

My best friend met Javon Walker of the Minnesota Vikings today at the Cheesecake Factory! That is how exciting my day has been, I feel the need to report that my best friend met someone famous or almost famous, since I had to google him!

Speaking of my best friend, I really miss her. We met in third grade at Bible camp and in 8th grade, we figured out we actually lived in the same city! Amazing. We were pretty inseperable after that. She went to the big, evil public school and I went to the private, Christian school so she would get dates for me to the dances! It never really worked exactly as planned, but we had fun anyway! My mom thought that she was a little wild. She was always bouncing around and so happy. She was/is fun to be around and always makes me laugh. The summer we were 14, we would go swimming and she started calling me Chunk because I was so skinny, it was just funny. I was the girl with knobby knees. Chunk has stuck, her whole family calls me Chunk, sometimes I wonder if they remember my real name! JK. People give her the strangest looks when they realize what she is calling me! She kept me out of a lot of trouble. We did a lot of driving around figuring out where people lived and who was hanging out at whose house. I love that she is still my best friend and that we can pick up the phone and our conversation is always easy, even if we haven't talked in a while. And even though our lives are in different places, me a stay at home mom, she a teacher, but we are both wives. And she is so smart! And her style is impeccable. Last time we were together we discovered we were envious of the others hair! I have always loved her gorgeous, long, thick brown hair and she has liked my blonde. When I am shopping, I try to think, what would Loopty buy? Man, I miss being around her all the time. Love ya, Loopty!

No Title

It has been a long week. Yesterday, I finally got to go running (4 miles!) while Drew took the boys to the park. We needed that time. Time away from each other, time for me to exercise, and time to be outside.

Today was our first morning this week that we would be able to leave the house. And it was 30's and pouring rain. To the mall! There was an indoor playpark that a lot of families took advantage of today. And a McDonalds for lunch. We got home just in time for naps and for some mommy friends to come visit. These visits are a blessing and difficult. Sage rarely naps while they are here, just too different from our normally pin-drop quiet apartment and so he "plays" with the 18 month old boy who comes with his mom. There are many lessons in kindness and sharing. In other words, conversations are short, started and stopped, and sometimes forgotten. I don't really get to talk or think through what they are saying. And it makes for a day of no kid breaks for me. So, now it is 5:00, dinner has been thought of enough to know that I have no idea what we are going to eat and I just want to lay down and take a break.

I know it is just one of those days and that tomorrow will be a new day and I am excited to be able to start fresh!

Haircuts all around!

My friend Laura, came to our house today and gave all 4 of us haircuts. Kolby's first! No more long, wispy hair on the sides. Here are the pictures that we totally staged because he is the second child and his haircut took 2 minutes and I totally forgot to take pictures. Anyway, he is so cute! (And yeah, that is me holding him, I got glasses, I am getting old!)












Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, I got bangs! I am so now. (Name that quote in the comments section)





In all honesty, I was so undecided while she was cutting my hair if I should get them or not, I finally just got them, already! Enough talking, just cut. And now, I don't know if I like them. Maybe I just have the wrong face for bangs. Maybe I just haven't had bangs in so long that I don't know what I should look like with them. Maybe I don't even know how to style them! AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH. What have I done?! Can I still wear a ponytail, a headband? Oh, I might have just messed everything up. But they will grow. But how long will it take them!!!

Blogs

I am wondering now why I decided to post everyday. Today is day 10 and I am running out of things to write about. Any questions you want answered?

It is fun to have a blog and to write. Somedays, I think yeah, that was a good post and others, eh, not so much. I like to write about the funny things the kids do and say. That reminds me, Tuesdays, I watch a 4 month old baby girl and Sage is so sweet to her. She was fussing and Sage told me "Baby Na want her blankie." I told him that was sweet but she doesn't have a blankie. Then he said "Baby Na want my blankie?" I think 2.5 is the perfect age to add another child. He is interested but still wants to play on his own, and he is sweet. Back to my original line of thinking. I like to write and think through things. I not only blog but I have a Bible journal that I write in when I do devotions. It helps me think through what I am reading instead of just reading to read. Although, I find myself being lazy somedays and just reading and I don't learn anything those days.

I also like to read blogs, for encouragement and entertainment. Some blogs offer both and you never know what you will get when you open up that page. You may or may not have noticed that I have linked to some blogs on the side. These are blogs that I visit at least once a week if not daily. Some are friends, some I don't know at all. But I have learned a lot from all of them.

I even stumbled across a life changing blog. It is Noah Steven. Go read as much as you can. I promise you will cry, a lot. The author is so real about her faith, her emotions, and her thoughts. She inspired me to want to deepen my faith.

Enjoy!

Thoughts on a Third Stroller

I have started running. More like jogging. As I jog, I get passed by runners, but ya know what? I am okay with that. I am okay with that because my motto is "Slow and steady finishes the race." And because my lungs might explode if I ran any faster.

In December, my friend challenged me to run a half marathon with her at the end of April. I was nervous to commit because 1) I am not a quitter. If I think I can't do something, I just won't do it. Probably not the best reasoning, but that's me! 2) 13 miles! 3) I hadn't ran since Sage turned one and that was only twice because then I found out I was pregnant with Kolby. 4) See number 3, I was pretty sedentary. But with encouragement from my husband and friends. I said okay. And then I found out that there is a 10K (6.1 miles) at the same time and I set my goal for that. I have been running, er, jogging about 3.5 miles. I haven't been getting out as much as I would like but love it every time I do.

I have always wanted to be a jogger, someone who can go run more than one mile and feel good at the end of it. I have always looked at those people with awe. And now, I am one of them. Although, I have a hard time calling myself a runner because I am so slow. 3.5 miles in 39 minutes, not too impressive. But, slow and steady finishes the race. The best thing about running? Time to myself. Time to listen to my music. Time that I am not answering why or putting a pacifier in someones mouth. Although, I would love a double jogging stroller. Why, after all the great things about running alone? Because, it is hard to get out when Drew is around. I have only gone an average of twice a week and would like to go more. And because the boys love it. They love to ride in the stroller and look around. Kolby can be the fussiest baby but put him in the stroller and he doesn't make a peep. Being outside makes us all happier and feel better when we get home. But, Drew says a jogging stroller is out of the question because that would mean we have 3 double strollers and that is ridiculous. In my defense, we have only purchased one and it was used. So, I guess i will just have to take what I can get and run when Drew is around!

HE IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!