Holiday Shopping Carnival

I love shopping. I love picking out gifts for people. But there are those people who are so hard to buy for. They buy everything for themselves, what is left? Here are a few of my ideas. Melanie is hosting a Holiday Shopping Carnival, where I hope to get ideas for those hard to buy for people. To play along, you make a list of 5 things that you are going to be giving this year along with a link as to where to buy them. Enjoy!

1. Pop Up Books by Robert Sabuda These are so fun to look at for everyone. You can also find them at Amazon.

2. Smartwool Socks I know Melanie said no socks, but these shouldn't even be called socks, they should have a much more delicious name. I love these, my husband loves these, my 3 year old son loves these. I will definitely be handing these out come Christmas time.

3. I am in love with Etsy. I have written about it before, but check out these hats for babies or kids I love the cupcake hat. There are so many great things on Etsy, it is hard to pick one!

4. I love headbands. This year, I am really wanting a headband from J. Crew, but it is hard to spend that much money on a headband for myself, so I think it would make a great gift! I can see it with hair swept up or all down, curly, straight, just an easy accessory for that holiday outfit or with jeans and a t-shirt. Here it is.

5. Music is always a great gift. I love getting new cd's because I rarely buy them for myself. Deliberate Kids is by Phil Joel, it is a Christian kids cd. Phil Joel used to be in the band, Newsboys. And oh so fun! We listen to it nearly everyday.

What is it about breakfast?

Sage told me "Mommy, I have Holby's little sister in my belly!"

And then he told me "I am going to name my baby brother Bulldog!"

And no, I am not pregnant.

Saturday

It's off to a good start.

Drew is staying home.

I slept in, until 8:30!

I'm enjoying my coffee and muffin while the boys ask endless questions to Drew. I love it when Sage has someone else to talk too.

Sage woke up at 4:30 with a bad dream. He came running, screaming and crying into our room. He said "Someone shoot a bad guy in my room, or not." It must have been disturbing because he wanted to sleep with us and he keeps talking about his bad dream this morning. He also said "Mommy, I am happy because I poop in potty but I am sad because I have a bad dream."

I remember having bad dreams and being so scared that I couldn't run to my parents room. It was so real. I dreamed that their were snake like animals with gerbil heads all over my floor that could eat me. I think I even woke up and could "see" them and couldn't run to my parents room because I was so afraid.

I am off to pack up Sage's 3T clothes and help Drew put plastic up on our windows. Our goal is to not turn on the heat until after Thanksgiving. It is 65 degrees in our house. We double jammied the boys last night. Only a week and a half to go!

An Early Morning Conversation

Sage: "What are you making?"

Me: "Coffee."

Sage: "Mmm, I yove coffee!"

Me: "You don't know, you've never tasted coffee. You have to be in college at least to drink coffee."

Sage: "No, when I am a mommy I will drink coffee."

Me: "One problem, you won't ever be a mommy, but you will be a daddy."

Sage: "Oh, and daddies drink coffee?"

Me: "Yes."

Sage: "When I am a daddy, I will ask you, please will you make me coffee?"

Me: "When you are a daddy, you will have a wife and I bet she will make you coffee."

Sage: "Oh."

Why didn't I tell him he could make his own coffee?

My Life as a Celebrity

I was thinking after I wrote On Running what would happen if I could switch lives with a celebrity for a day, week or month?

Well, it wouldn't be so much a switch since a celebrity wouldn't really be able to live my life of grocery shopping and going to Target with a stop in at Starbucks, inside Target.

More, what would happen if I lived the life of a celebrity for a little bit. I mean the whole thing, kind of. What if I had a nanny, cook, house cleaner, whatever celebrities have for themselves? But, also the paparazzi, the bodyguard, the wearing disguises etc.

What would life be like? Would I be able to handle it?

My first thought, is of course! Who couldn't handle it?

And then, I think of the scrutiny. I can hardly handle my self imposed guilt let alone someone mentioning out loud to my face (on a tabloid) that I gained weight, went outside without make-up or whatever. I would probably melt down at the first criticism.

Would it be fun for a day, week or month? Or would it be awful?

Would it be worth it to be able to afford those clothes and have someone do your hair? It would be fun. Maybe. For a little bit.

But it wouldn't bring my life more joy or more meaning. I would still struggle with being content. I still wouldn't have all the answers to life's big questions. Basically, it boils down to this, money won't bring me happiness, contentment, self-worth, just things. And reallly, life is not about things.

What is life about? That is a post for a different day.

Don't forget, you read it here first when you see this as a reality series!

Facing My Fear

Fear of failure, of not measuring up, of not getting it right, of disappointing.

My life could be summed up by fear.

In college, I couldn’t decide on a major. More like I couldn’t find something that I wasn’t afraid of failing at. I wasn’t the best student and there was always one class that kept me from staying in a major. Fear of failing. I could write a list of what the major was and what the class was that kept me from pursuing it.

The one that I regret the most is journalism. I took Journalism 101, twice. I had to improve my grade and it kept me from pursing it as a major. Also, I was afraid to take the English proficiency test. You had to take the test and pass to get into the journalism school.

Now, I realize that is what I wish I could do when I grow up.

My blog is my writing outlet. I read blogs and read that they make money and I want to do that too. But, I don’t really know how to do it, to get it started. Fear. Excuses. Those two go hand in hand.

I am taking the plunge. I am applying for BlogHer ads. Maybe they won’t accept me, maybe they will. I won’t know unless I try.

I'm also going to start writing more. For me. Maybe you will get to read it, maybe you won't! Time will tell.

My new life verse needs to be Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

But I also have to look to the source of that strength, ask for it and believe it.

As Sage was laying in bed with us, he told me he wants to be a doctor when he grows up. I said “Oh, what kind of doctor?” He said, “Dr. Seuss!” And then he asked what kind of doctor he is. Maybe we’ll have more than one writer in the family or maybe not.

Deceptively Delicious

I bought it. I own it. I read about it on the internet and thought, hey! I know how to puree food. I can hide vegetables in my dinners without my kids figuring it out!

I pureed my heart out yesterday, broccoli, carrots and sweet potatos.

I made Spagheti Pie, page 116. I even used ground turkey instead of beef.

I set it on the table, everyone oohed and aahed. Or maybe that was in my head.

I dished up a plate for Sage, Drew and Kolby. I cut Kolby's into bites. Drew did the same for Sage.

Sage said "Hey! Mine has broccoli in it!"

And he was right. Broccoli puree was in the meatballs. Apparantly not pureed enough for his eyes!

On Running

Remember when I wrote about running a 10K? And then sometimes, I would mention every once in a while that I ran this morning or that it helps to keep me sane?

I have gone running once in the last three weeks. It did not go well. I knew it would be hard, I was dreading it and I didn't feel good starting out. I didn't run my usual route, I went for a shorter one and still didn't run the whole thing. I estimate I ran a mile and a half.

Today, I read that Katie Holmes ran the NYC Marathon and I was jealous. I should have ran that. Nevermind the fact that I haven't run more than 6 miles since my 10K in April. It just made me think, if she can do it, so can I!

I don't doubt that I could do it. If I had someone to watch my kids while I go running, clean my house, do the laundry, fix dinner, wash dishes etc. Am I making excuses? Kind of. But at the same time, I haven't been able to get out of the house to go for a 3 or 4 mile run let alone train for a marathon!

It's hard being so dependant on Drew's schedule for me to be able to exercise.

I just have to get my lazy butt out of bed at like 6 to be able to run and get back for Drew to get to school. It shouldn't be that hard, right?

But it is. It is that hard. It is hard to get out of a nice toasty bed and go outside in the wind and cold.

I need to do it. I want to do it. Do I want to do it badly enough?

300th Post

In honor of my 300th post today, I am going to give you a list of 300 things about me. Just kidding. Only 100 things. Most people do this for their 100th post because it seems to make more sense that way, but hey, my way is fun too.

1. I am a natural blonde.
2. I always will be.
3. I get highlights (figure that out!)
4. I kind of want to go less light blonde, more natural.
5. I don’t make sense.
6. I graduated high school in a class of seven.
7. I am the youngest of four kids.
8. Mom says I am the “frosting on the cake.”
9. She was enjoying the cake, God decided it needed frosting.
10. She will deny that, kind of.
11. I have the best mom ever.
12. She loves Christ with her whole heart.
13. Don’t tell her, but I wouldn’t mind if I turned out like her.
14. I am a Midwesterner living on the East coast.
15. I want to move.
16. I have two boys.
17. I want more kids.
18. Sometimes, I want to be pregnant now.
19. But, more, I want everything in God’s timing.
20. I kind of want to adopt.
21. That kind of scares me.
22. I want to live in a city.
23. I don’t want to live in a suburb.
24. I live in a city and I like it.
25. I do wish we had a backyard.
26. But we have parks!
27. I still carry my almost 20 month old, 30 pound baby in a sling and the Ergo.
28. I am excited to use a sling more for my next baby.
29. I use Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers.
30. I love them.
31. I am excited to buy smalls for my next baby.
32. I nursed both my boys, Sage for nine months, Kolby almost 14 months.
33. I think next time it might be longer.
34. I kind of want twins.
35. I would want them to be identical but would take fraternal.
36. I don’t care if they are girls or boys.
37. I daydream.
38. Good and bad things.
39. I have to turn the bad things over to God.
40. My thoughts can really run away from me.
41. I am a consumer.
42. I don’t like it.
43. I struggle with being content.
44. With everything- what I look like, what I drive, what I wear, what my boys wear.
45. I have a great husband.
46. He is younger than me.
47. I wish he was home right now.
48. My favorite colors are pink, green, blue, black, and grey.
49. I wear mostly black and grey.
50. I tell myself that patterns and colors will go out of style.
51. I wear mostly plain colored shirts.
52. I branched out and bought two button down striped shirts.
53. If I could dress from only one catalog, it would be J.Crew.
54. Most of you thought I would say the Gap.
55. I can afford the Gap, when it is on sale.
56. I don’t like extreme weather.
57. And I like October to be about 50 – 60 degrees.
58. Actually, I think it should be 50 – 60 degrees everyday all year long.
59. I should live in the Northwest United States.
60. I probably never will.
61. This is hard.
62. And boring.
63. Do you really want to know this stuff?
64. I read “Confessions of a Jane Austin Addict” and it made me want to read all the Jane Austin books.
65. I have read “Pride and Prejudice”.
66. I have read half of “Sense and Sensibility”
67. I am going to re-read it and finish it.
68. I like to read.
69. I don’t watch tv, that much.
70. I used to be addicted to tv.
71. I watched Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, America’s Next Top Model, Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, The Bachelor and that probably isn’t the end of the list.
72. That was last year.
73. My husband is in grad school.
74. He isn’t home a lot of nights,
75. Hence the ridiculous amounts of tv.
76. Now, I read.
77. I tried to learn to knit.
78. I knitted one wash-cloth.
79. It’s yellow, and my favorite one.
80. It’s not very good.
81. I can’t remember how to cast on.
82. “Knitting For Dummies” doesn’t help me.
83. Does that mean I am more than a dummy?
84. In my mind, I am crafty.
85. In my mind, I can sew and knit.
86. In my mind, when I sing, it is pretty.
87. It isn’t.
88. I was in choir in high school.
89. They let anyone who signed up.
90. I argue with Drew that shopping is a hobby.
91. It probably is, but just not a good hobby.
92. I want to love Jesus more than anything.
93. Why is it so hard?
94. Living 1200 miles from family has made me grow (up).
95. It has been good.
96. Sometimes, I don’t want to move back.
97. Only sometimes.
98. I wash dishes 3 or 4 times a day.
99. Our dishwasher leaves sand and grime stuck to our dishes.
100.My best friend, Loopty, remembers details better than anyone I know. Like who my first kiss was.

My Cousin, The Hero

My cousin made news back home.

That's just how good folk are in Iowa.

Garage Band

And he pooped in the potty happily ever after.

Drumroll Please

And the winner is: # 98! Tyna!

Thanks for playing everyone, it has been fun to get so much email!

Maybe some day, Rocks in my Dryer will host another giveaway and I can again reach 428 comments. That is probably more comments than on the whole life of my blog!

Meet Gregory

Gregory is what we named our GPS system. We chose the British man to give us our directions. He sounds less irritated than the American woman when he says "Recalculating", which he says when we miss a turn he told us to take. (Disclaimer: My in-laws gave us this for an early Christmas present.)

Today, Sage was asking me what we are going to do today. I told him that we are going to a park this morning, have lunch at home, play, take naps, play, eat dinner, play and then it will be time for bed.

He told me that I could stay home and he will take Kolby to the park.

Me: "How are you going to get to the park?" Thinking about transportation.

Sage: "Gregory will tell me where to go!"

Me, laughing: "Your hilarious, Sage."

Sage, laughing: "Yes, I'm hilarious."

It makes me giggle just thinking about it!

Grocery Shopping Day

I'm participating in NaBloPoMo. I will be posting everyday in the month of November. Every. Day. Saturday and Sunday included. And Thanksgiving. Hold on to your chairs, I know you are excited.

Thursday is my grocery shopping day, the Thursday closest to the first and fifteenth are my BIG grocery shopping days because that is when we withdraw money for our budget. That would be today.

I say BIG because I plan meals for 2 weeks and get everything that I need for those meals and hopefully I just have to do fill in ingredients that I missed, milk, bread and fruit runs.

Today, our stops were:
Babies R Us – not groceries but it is on the same road as all my other stops
Trader Joes
Sam’s Club
Stop and Shop
Target

And yes, I do buy groceries at Target, have you seen how cheap their shredded and string cheese is? And yes, I pick up other Target necessities, like shirts, I mean shampoo.

Grocery shopping is not my favorite thing. It might be one of my least favorite things. I mean, to take the boys with me, it is my least favorite thing. I don’t mind it on my own; I enjoy it!

Today, Sage was in rare form. Not so rare, just naughty. Touching everything, picking everything up, climbing on the displays, stepping on things. He is so curious and just like his father, he wants to figure out how it works. So he pushes it, pulls it, fiddles with it and drives me crazy!

But, we made it through all those stops. I caved and we ate pizza at Sam’s Club for lunch. And it made Sam’s and Target much more enjoyable for all! (I say caved because I was completely planning on coming home for lunch, it was just taking too long and I knew it would be easier to eat out to be able to get home and take naps.)

On Hand Washing

First, one word or two? Hand-washing. Hand washing. Hmm.

I hate hand washing. I mean, strongly dislike, we don’t use the word hate in our house. (A whole different post.)

But I do it.

About 8 million times a day. Not kidding. Wake up, go to the bathroom, wash my hands. Help Sage into underwear, change Kolby’s diaper, wash hands. Empty bathroom garbage, wash hands. Make breakfast, wash hands. Maybe twice while I am making breakfast. Dress kids, shower, wash dishes, wash hands. Change Kolby’s diaper again. Wash hands. Play with the kids or “work” on the computer, wash hands. Fix snack. Wash hands.

Do you see the pattern? It just goes on and on. And that isn’t counting the times that I rinse my fingers off as I prepare food.

My fingers have had it. Seriously. For the second time this fall, my thumb and pointer finger just start protesting by peeling all layers of skin off. I am pretty sure all seven layers of my fingertip is coming off.

It is not pretty. Nor does it feel good.

So now after I wash my hands all the time, I am trying to put lotion on too. So, now I am washing hands and putting on lotion. Between those two things, I barely have time to change diapers and fix meals!

Ah, the joys of being a stay at home mom.

Great Expectations

Everyone has them for themselves. What they should get done in a day. How much money they should make. How big their house is. What kind of car they drive. How cute their kids will be dressed.

That’s mine. How cute my kids will be dressed. Specifically my girls. (Which I don’t have, yet) I expect that my little girl will wear a super cute outfit everyday. With matching hair bow. And socks. And shoes.

I look at my boys who each own one pair of shoes that fit them, running shoes to be exact. Okay, so Sage has flip flops and crocs that fit too.

And I can’t imagine my little girl only having one pair of shoes. I mean, she will need a cute pair of practical shoes for everyday, which will be hard to choose just one and at least one pair of dressy shoes. That is just the essentials for a little girl, and then you look at all the cute shoes that are just cute and therefore, she needs them.

And then I look at my boys’ hair. I haven’t cut it since August. And I don’t plan on it. For two reasons, I am lazy and cheap and I like it a little longer, okay that was three. I also, don’t brush or comb it everyday. That is evidenced by one day when I decided to gasp! brush Sage’s hair before we left the house and he said “Mom, we don’t brush my hair in the morning, silly!” About the only time, I brush their hair is right after a bath. I am not going to get into how often or not I bathe my boys!

And I remember my expectation of the matching hair bow everyday. Which would require it to be put into her hair everyday, and her hair to be brushed everyday. Okay, so I plan on at least brushing it everyday, maybe. I do remember going through a period of time when I would not allow my mom to brush my hair, except for church, once a week.

So, I have to ask myself, will I be able to live up to my expectation when or if I have a little girl? Part of my head, says yes. But, reality crowds in and I think she might be lucky if she isn’t wearing blue!

A Contest

I know, you guys are rolling your eyes, thinking, she is doing it again, entering another contest.

But this time, it is YOU who gets to enter the contest! Right here! On my blog!

I know! Exciting!

Guess what it is for?!

$20 Target gift card! You can get something for yourself, make-up or a shirt or shoes or candy or whatever your heart desires!

Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer is hosting The Fall, Y'all Giveaway and I have decided to play along.

All you have to do is leave me a comment. That's it. Am I paying for readers here? Maybe. I will draw the lucky winner, Friday morning. Please make sure you leave me an email address that you check regularly. Oh, and I will only be mailing to an address in the United States.

If you want, click on the The Fall, Y'all Giveaway and enter some more contests!

Because I don't want to forget

Me: "Sage, what is your favorite color?"

Sage: "Pink!"

Brothers

Ring around the Rosy.
Steamroller.
Building towers.
Knocking towers down.
Jumping on the couch or bed (until they get caught).
Laughing.
Tickling.
Rough housing.
Running.
Spinning.
Looking at books.
Matchbox cars.
Going down the slide.

Playing together.

I Made A Mistake

I bought Halloween candy 2 weeks early.

I bought bite size.

I opened it the same day I bought it.

I told myself not to count the wrappers because they hardly count, they're bite size.

Not the Point

I have been trying to live a greener lifestyle. Trying is the key word. I bought Tide because we used it all summer at my in-laws and the smell oh the smell. I grew up on it and so did Drew and it smells “clean”, that is just what Proctor and Gamble wants to hear, darn them. I know clean doesn’t have a smell, yada, yada.

Anyway, one of the things that I have been doing is taking bags with me to the grocery store and sometimes Target, but I do use those to line our bathroom garbage with so sometimes, I need them because I am too cheap to buy the little garbage bags.

One day, I had to return something to the mall and stuck it in my Trader Joe’s cloth bag and off we went. As I purchased Sage’s jeans and shirts for fall, I said, no thanks to the bag, I brought my own. At GAP, the sales lady said, “Oh, it is store policy to give you a bag, so they know you didn’t steal it.”

Right away, I thought of several holes in her theory. Like, ummmm a receipt. Do I need to go on?

But, it was my last store, the boys were anxious to be leaving the mall, as was I, and I took the bag that she folded around the jeans and stuffed them both in my own bag.

I used the GAP bag to line my bathroom garbage.

Parks and Coffins

We walked to the park today. The one that is next door to the parking lot and garage of a funeral home. I haven't seen much activity there before, one funeral I think.

Today, as we walked up I noticed two men rolling a coffin into the garage. I wondered if there was a dead guy in it. I didn't pay attention to the garage much as the kids played. I was too nervous that Kolby was going to step face first off the climbing wall about 9 feet up.

As we were walking home, I noticed two guys wheeling a gurney with a body bag on it. No joke! The coffin was open and it looked like they were doing a little rearranging.

I thought about saying "Hey, kids! Want to watch a dead guy get put in his coffin?" And then I just decided to walk a little faster as I started typing this out in my head.

Names, Again

You can probably tell by my kids names that I don't want them to have the same name as five other boys in their class at school. We thought long and hard about what to name them.

We picked Sage Andrew because Sage means wise and we want him to be a wise boy/man. Andrew is after his dad.

We picked Kolby Bo___ because I had nannied for a Kolby all through college and loved the name. Bo___ is my maiden name.

After naming Sage, we realized that it was a unisex name.

I was okay with that, at first. I mean, we can't rename him, especially now that he is 3!

But, here is what really bothers me. We met a couple out here and they are acquaintence's. We saw them only when our mutual friends invited us all to a bar-b-que or a birthday party.

They had a little girl this summer. They named her Sage. They too want her to be wise. Sophia also means wise.

We had laughed that we liked the meaning so much we could name a girl Sophia! Don't worry, Holly, we won't name our girl, Sophia, you already have that name in the family!

I was (ehem, maybe still am) bothered by this. I am irritated that they named their little girl Sage after meeting our boy Sage.

Am I justified in that?

At least, we will probably never see them again.

The problem is that boys names are difficult to pick and find and just when a cool, strong, solid boys name is found, a little girl pops up with the same name.

There are not too many names that are only boys names. There are a lot of girls names that are only girls names, so can't parents of girls just back off?!

I have a slight double standard because I thought it would be kind of cool to name a girl Andrew and call her Drew. But we aren't going to do that, I promise!

Man of the House

Drew has taught Sage that when he isn't home, Sage is the MAN OF THE HOUSE (said is a low, growly voice).

His job? Kill bugs and therefore, protect his mother.

He has completely embraced being the Man of the House. We were reading books on the couch and I notcied a small bug crawling up the wall. I said "Sage, there's a bug, what are you supposed to do?" Without flinching or thinking twice, he reached out to grab and squash the bug. Unfortunately, his skills aren't as good as his fathers, because the little bugger scurried away behind the couch. He looked up at me, startled and said "Oh no, it got away!" And sometimes, he brings me small pieces of dirt and shows me the dead bug.

Yesterday, Drew took the boys to the park while I hosted a baby shower. At the park, Drew saw a professor and his wife, Drew was chatting with the wife and suddenly Sage ran up, hit her on the hip and yelled "Me just killed a bug on the slide, me the MAN OF THE HOUSE!" Of course, she didn't understand what he said and after Drew translated, Sage was brought back to apologize for hitting. She in turn gave him a high five for killing the bug.

This all started because one day I told Drew that I had killed a spider in our house all by myself. I took a picutre of the monster and then prepped myself by saying "You can do it, you are bigger, you can do it, you can do it", before I grabbed it in a paper towel and ran to the bathroom to flush it. I was scared to squash it because I didn't want to feel the sqaush in my fingers so I only grabbed it lightly and of course, it fell out on the floor in front of the bathroom. I screamed, waking Kolby from his nap, picked it up again and threw it in the toilet and flushed almost in one motion. I quickly closed the lid and hoped nothing would ever crawl back up for revenge.

Sage also likes to tell everyone "That when Sage and Daddy are gone, Holby is the Man of the House! And when Sage, Daddy, and Holby are gone, Mommy is the Man of the House!"

More Stories From the Toilet

I want to write something, but am having a hard time coming up with anything besides more poop stories and how I want to give my 3 year old away and have him come back after he learns to poop in the potty and not his underwear.

My mind is consumed with poop right now.

I can't tell you how much of my day I am thinking, Does he have to poop, now? Did I give him enough fiber filled foods today? Should I ask him if he needs to go poop? Do I smell poop? Is it Kolby or Sage? Did he just fart? Does that mean he might need to poop? I fart without needing to poop. Should I make him sit on the potty to poop?

That is what I think about all day long (and world peace). And then, after he poops in his underwear, I think, should I spank him? Is he being disobedient? Is he exercising his strong will with poop? I am a failure. I don't know what to do. I should google poop.

My google search from Wed. said that he has had a bad experience with pooping on the potty. It hurt and now he associates pain with the potty. So, I have to make sure that he eats fiber foods. Foods that get things going. He has been drinking straight juice (oh the horror!), eating peaches or pears. His poop is the perfect poop. Not too hard, not too soft, slides right out kind.

It said I should let him poop in a diaper in the bathroom. Except, he won't tell me he needs to poop so how am I supposed to put said diaper on?

My friend said I should sit him on the potty the same time everyday and train his bowels.

I think that is my next step. And maybe spanking.

My First Challenge

Challenge: Finding joy in poopy underwear.

Joy: Drew was home and took care of it!

My Second Challenge

Challenge: Finding joy in figuring out how to get Sage to use the toilet and not his underwear

Joy: Undiscovered



So, he gets it, he understands the process, he just doesn't want to go through the process. This morning, he was holding the doorknob of the bathroom, talking to Drew about what it means to be a big boy and use the toilet. He said "I want to be a big boy and poop in the toilet." (Insert small grunting noise here) "I pooped in my underwear." Drew made him stand in the grossness of poop in his underwear and that made him (and me) upset. (I was not about to discredit Drew in that situation, though, Sage needed to realize how upset Dad was) It did make him mad when Drew said he wasn't going to clean him up.

The consequences that we are all sufferring, will be no Cubbies tonight and no dvd's until he poops on the potty. The big fat tears of sadness at no dvds and no Cubbies, hopefully, show me that these are rewards that will work with him.

I'm having a hard time finding joy in potty training. In fact, I dare say, Sage isn't really potty trained, but I am. I am trained to remember how long it has been since he last went and tell him to go. He doesn't go so willingly anymore. He says "Otay, but, I sink that maybe not today." Or something to that effect. He hasn't peed in his underwear in a while, but also, rarely does he say "I have to go to the bathroom!" and go. Once in a while that happens. I think if I let him, he would pee in his underwear all the time, I think.

Potty training is stinky.

A New Day

I like that I can tuck yesterday behind me and start a new day today. It helps that Drew encouraged me to go running this morning. Time away and exersing does a world of good for me. And the weather is cooler. I am not sweating today!

I have taken care of 3 kids all day, my 3 year old and 18 month old and my friends 9 month old. In addition, I have done 2 loads of laundry, dishes, swept and mopped the floor, swiffered the other floors, did a Bible study on joy and baked a cake. And fed all three of them and kept them in clean diapers, well not the three year old!

Why is today so different from yesterday? I have still dealt with poop, although not on me!

I am so affected by weather. It has been so hot here for far too long. It cooled off today.

I went running.

And most importantly, I read my Bible and did a study on Contagious Joy, a Women of Faith study guide series.

I want people to think of me as joyful and I want them to catch joy from me. The thing with joy, is that it is always there, but I don't always choose it. I have to ask to see it. Sometimes, every day requires me asking for joy, many times a day.

One of the quotes in the side of the study from Barbara Johnson says "We all have seen dreams turn to ashes- ugly things, hopeless experiences- but beauty for ashes is God's exchange. In the midst of the darkness, you will learn lessons you might never have learned in the day."

I am going to start asking God to show me joy that's unaffected by the changes in my circumstances or emotions. Easier said than done!

My Life

I heard Kolby walk into the dining room while I was showering (Blues Clues doesn't keep his attention) I towelled off and my mama instincts told me to check on him. He was standing on the dining room table.

After lunch, I finished putting the dishes in the sink and then came to the living room, thinking it's really quiet. Sage is half laying on the couch and looks at me guiltily. He said "I just pooped and peed." Wonderful.

I went to the front door to sign for a UPS package. Kolby followed. I scooped him up to carry him back inside. I got a woof of something awful. I went to change his diaper and noticed poop was oozing out the leg. I looked at my shirt. Of course.

This is just today and it is only 2:30 pm.

Wine anyone? I mean, whine anyone?

Thoughts on Prayer

I was reading something and the writer said that God didn't answer her prayer. She was writing in reference to her three year old son being killed in a car accident and her prayer as the doctors were trying to revive him were "Please, Lord, not my baby boy, take me, not him." Then she said that God did not answer that prayer.

It got me thinking.

Does God answer all of our prayers?

I think he does.

I think sometimes, I just don't want the answer He gives. Sometimes, it would be easier to think that he left one unanswered rather than accept His answer.

I think, His answer might be no or wait. And those answers might feel unanswered to me.

But if I don't accept an answer, is that letting Him be God of my life?

I think that if I believe everything in the Bible than I have to believe He answers all my prayers.

I have been thinking a lot lately about Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsamane, Mark 4:36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will but what you will." I have to admit to reading about this on another blog but I can't find the exact post. The last line is what I have been thinking about the most. "Yet not what I will but what you will." Jesus prayed these words while waiting for the Roman guards to come arrest him and sentence him to be crucified. He didn't want to be crucified for my sins, but he wanted to do the will of his father, God. He asked God to take this cup from him, he asked him to save him, please, daddy, he said, don't let them crucify me, but not what I want, Lord, but what you want.

I don't have a tragic story to compare this to, I haven't had to ask God to save my child or my husband. I pray that if I ever do, I will be able to say, "Not my will but yours be done."

Another prayer for me, is that I will accept the Lord's answers.

For me, these are profound prayers that I have been dwelling, for you, they may be like duh. I feel like I have to apologize for writing these things because I haven't experienced deep sorrow or tragedy in my life. I feel like I haven't lived through the test.

And then, I remember my childhood. And I remember that God is faithful. And that, my life isn't what I would have willed as a 6th grade girl. And for that, I am thankful.*

God does answer prayer. All of them.

*If you would like to know the rest of this story, please email me through my profile page. I am not sure I am ready to write out that story for all of the internet to read.

The Right Time

Drew and I have been talking lately about the right time to have another baby. This is not an announcement, don’t read ahead!

Okay, so I have been thinking about it and talking to Drew. Not much talking about it from his side.

My thoughts are, I kind of want to get pregnant in February or March and have the baby in Ocotober or November. That way, we will move the end of May, beginning of June, we will have time to get settled, get Sage in a preschool, Kolby would be 2.5, Sage would be 4. Kolby could be walking in and out of stores, Sage might even be able to buckle himself in the car. And Sage, Kolby and I should be able to have a pretty fun summer going places. But it is the beginning of flu season, and if a newborn were to get the flu or a fever, it’s just not good.

My other thought is to wait until after we move to get pregnant. Then the baby would be due in March or April, flu season would be over. Sage would still be 4 and Kolby would be 3. He should be potty trained (I’m still hopeful that he will be easy, although, I thought he would be an easy newborn since Sage wasn’t and that didn’t happen) or at least close. He would be able to help a lot and then the baby would be fairly small and easy to take places for the summer.

My last thought is, how silly am I to think we will get to choose when we will have our next baby!? It’s not like our first two have been in our perfect plan but they sure were in God’s perfect plan and we have learned that His plan is best.

Sometimes, I just wish I knew His plan, so I could make mine.

And sometimes, I think I want identical twins.

Overdone MasterCard Commercial

"Everybody Poops" $6.95

"Does A Pig Flush?" $5.95

Sage pooping in the toilet today without crying.

Priceless

No Cable

We cancelled our cable subscription. It didn't get us too many channels but it assured us the major networks. Now, those channels don't come in, we get fuzz. So, we watch lots of dvds.

Drew has always wanted to cancel our cable and not have a tv. We kept it because I wasn't on board with that for a long time. And then, this summer, I hardly watched tv at all and it was great. So, I mentioned we should cancel cable when we get home. He didn't forget. And cancelled it right away.

I wanted to take it back.

I didn't.

I found a way to cheat.

I watched Grey's Anatomy online today.

I think I will all season.

Maybe Desperate Housewives too.

Yes, mom, I choose to watch trashy tv. And I like it.

A Prayer Request

I found this blog through Rocks In My Dryer yesterday. I went back and read the whole thing beginning to end and now can't stop myself from hitting the refresh button every two minutes.

In case you just keep reading without clicking over to their blog, Copeland was born Sept. 18. She was born with trisomy 18. I don't even know exactly what it is, but the outcome is death. Babies with trisomy 18 do not live very long. In this case, they were hoping for a few hours and have been given a week so far. It has been a daily, hourly, minute struggle for Copeland, her mom, dad and big sister.

I have been praying for this family as soon as I started reading the story. The strength and faith of the mamma, who is my age, 28, is incredible. The sermon that I heard on Sunday and now reading through this blog continually reminds me of God's sovereinty. I want to pray for a miracle for baby Copeland. And I don't think it is wrong to pray for that. But, I have to pray for God's will to be done.

It has also made me think about how they are just treasuring every minute they have with Copeland and rightly so. They don't know how many minutes they have with her. It made me think of my two boys and how I don't treasure every minute. I don't treasure every minute because I expect to have hundreds, millions of minutes with them. But, I have no idea how many minutes I have with them. I could have millions or hundreds or only five. I don't know.

It scares me and it is one of my biggest fears, to lose a child or my husband. I don't find comfort in the fact that I know God is sovereign or that He will give me grace to walk through whatever His path for me may be. Everyday, I have to give myself to His will. Everyday, I have to ask/tell Him that I want to walk in His will, whatever that is for my life. And that, is all I can do. I can't worry about tomorrow or the next 10 minutes because I don't know what it will bring but I know Whom I can count on. I know I can count on Him because He has been there for me every step of my life. Protecting me from things I didn't see, He has been faithful. He has proved to me that He will always be faithful.

And now, I am going to read some books with breakfast dishes in the sink, pajamas on, and the wonder of when the window guys will knock on my door.

Sometimes, I just don't know what to say

I don't have a cute story.

I don't have a cute picture.

I am not depressed or sad.

I am just here.

Living life. Getting through. Enjoying it. Just being.

Drew is in Rome, he left Saturday. Sage and I are using a red marker to cross out each day and there is a heart around Sunday when Sage will get to see him again.

And that is it. The boys and I are just exisiting. I am praying everyday for patience, help to not lose it, to keep our house running smoothly while dadda is away.

And again, I think, how in the world do single moms do it.

Sage has done and said some cute stuff. Kolby too. He just is cute. His little legs that carry him around the apartment. He drags bags of toys around with him while his tongue sticks out in concentration. He screams every time Sage tells him no, which is, approximately, every minute. Sage will tell Kolby not to breathe because it is bothering him. He cries in frustration when he falls or is bumped. Then they will be sweet and Sage will give Kolby a hug while simultaneously pulling him over.

I have a new approach to potty training. This is day #2. I set the alarm on my watch for every hour and 15 minutes and make Sage go to the bathroom. I realize that most of you are probably thinking duh! But, come on. He was doing so well that I started to ask instead of tell. And then he started wetting his pants. But, I can hardly remember to go to the bathroom myself, so I needed a reminder. It is going well so far. He did wet in his underwear this morning but I had started off every 2 hours and have since made it more frequent. I need to teach him the self-discipline to go to the bathroom.

This is #1,578 approach to potty training. We even went back to diapers for a couple days. But I decided he was too smart for that when he would say "Me just peeing in my diaper."

I am not worrying about #2 in the potty yet. Let's get #1 consistently in the potty and then we will go back to trying for #2. He will be potty trained in time for prom, I think.

Life is mundane. Life is good. Life is all about pee in the potty.

A Conversation

The scene: Kolby is laying on the changing table while I change his diaper. Sage is standing next to me.

Sage farts.

Kolby giggles.

Sage: "Farts aren't funny, Bo!"

Me: "Oh, Sage farts are very funny!"

How to Shoplift At Target

1. Take a preschooler and a toddler with you (I take boys)

2. Seat one in the seat and one in the cart

3. Use the underneath part to hold your bags that you brought with you

4. Also use the underneath part to pile your intended purchases

5. Remove items from underneath and place on conveyer belt

6. Pay for items

7. Bag your own items in your own bags (Why is it that no cashier knows how to bag things in bags you bring yourself?)

8. Wheel cart with kids still in it, out to your car

9. Put bags in trunk

10. As you start to lift the preschooler out of the cart, notices items still in the underneath part that weren't paid for

11. Wheel cart and kids back inside store

12. Pay for items you almost shoplifted

13. Don't expect a thank you, it was only $10 worth of stuff

Frustration

I didn't think I would write another post about this so soon, but it is on my mind and it is making me lose my mind.

Potty Training.

I hate. it. It is so far, the hardest thing I have done/gone through as a parent.

Yesterday, not so good in the whole potty training realm. He pooped in his pull up during nap time and the pull up leaked pee on my bed, on the quilt that Drew's grandma made, the quilt that I can't put in the dryer.

He holds his poop in. He squeezes his cheeks together and walks around on tip toes.

He has accidents all. the. time. He doesn't care if he pees in his underwear.

I have prayed. This morning, I gave it all to God. But, the first accident he had this morning, I felt the frustration flare up. I am half tempted to go back to diapers. Let him pee and poop in his pants for as long as he stinkin wants. I am ready to throw in the towel.

I know he can do it. This morning as I was getting up to go running, he was in the bathroom and had just finished peeing by himself! No one told him to go to the bathroom, he just went. I don't get it. I am at a loss. His pull ups from nap time and overnight have been dry (except yesterday and he didn't want to go pee before he took his nap because he had to poop and he coudn't pee without pooping) for a week.

Is he rebelling? Is he controlling me? Has he found something to hold over me? Or can he really not hold his pee? Is he too young? Am I a wimp?

I am open to advice, not criticism. I am open to help, to encouragement. If you want to refute my methods, keep your mouth shut, I don't need that right now. If you want to offer encouragement, a funny story, or something that might be helpful, please write a comment. I write that I am not open to criticism because I am already down about this subject and don't need to be brought lower. My thoughts tell me enough that I don't do it right, that I am failing, I dont' need to hear it from the internet.

What's In A Name?

My parents named me Kristy Marie. I was named after my Aunt Marie Kristine. They wanted to call me Kristy so they named me Kristy because they always said, “we’ll name them what we are going to call them.” (Never mind that my older brother is named Bradley and he was called Brad, unless he was in trouble)

I always thought Kristy was such a little girl’s name. I thought I forever sounded like I was a six-year old girl with braids. What if I wanted a career? And my name is Kristy. It doesn’t exactly command respect.

Did you know that when you get married, you could change your name to anything you print and then sign? I had thought about it a little bit and didn’t think of it again until the day Drew and I went to get our marriage license.

As we stood there, making the most important decision of our life by obtaining a marriage certificate, I made another decision. I dropped my middle name, Marie, and used my maiden name as my middle name and changed my first name from Kristy to Kristin.

At first it didn’t matter because I lived in the same city and everyone knew me as Kristy so it kind of seemed like a joke, something my brothers made fun of me for, something that didn’t really mean anything.

Then we moved. I could introduce myself as Kristin. Except, I wasn’t Kristin. I tried to become Kristin and there are still people who know me as Kristin, but it always sounds funny to me when they call my name, leave a message or introduce me to someone else.

And, not too long ago, I decided that I should have thought about the spelling more. K R I S T Y. I should have spelled it K R I S T Y N. Then, it makes sense as to why Kristy is spelled with a y.

Five years after changing my name, I kind of regret it. I wish I kept my name as just Kristy or maybe I wish I had spelled it differently. But, I probably would have regretted if I hadn’t changed my name, I wouldn’t have known what it was like to be called Kristin and I wouldn’t have known that it would never feel or sound right.

I don’t regret dropping my middle name and using my maiden name, I love my maiden name. I love it so much, Kolby’s middle name is my maiden name and consequently, that is how we got his nickname, Bo. And he is such a Bo. And such a Kolby.

I love my kid’s names. I hope they don’t want to change them!

On Potty Training

Sage has been potty training since we got back from MN. Literally, the day after we got home, I announced "No more pull-ups." And he went with it. The first 2 days were horrible. Accidents all. the. time. The third day dawned and I thought if it doesn't get better, he is going back to pull ups.

And miracle of miracles, no accidents!

The next day, we had planned to drive into Boston and tour Fenway and Harvard. I was nervous about Sage and public bathrooms and accidents. I packed 4 pair of clean clothes and ended up using one of the pair of shorts for Kolby because I forgot to change his diaper! Oops. I felt like we were on our way. The sticker chart was working, everything was great. I bragged to my sister how good he was doing.

Then I don't know what happened. Different accidents started. The kind where he starts going in his pants and then stops and finishes in the toilet. It was exasperating but I played it cool, no big deal. And then I played it disappointing. The accidents didn't let up. They got worse.

You might have read the letter. I was fed up. I called in reinforcements and called grandma. She said, it sounds like he has found something to be rebellious and control you. It sounds like you need to spank. She said the S word!

I decided to threaten Sage with the S word. I told him that accidents are not tolerated in our house. If he is going to choose to pee on the couch or floor instead of in the potty, he will have to get a spanking because he is disobeying.

He has had one accident since and it seemed to truly be an accident.

We are still working the sticker chart and I don't even want to think about how much money we have spent on cars and books to get to this point. The guitar is still looming over his head. I still have to tell him to go to the bathroom. Or maybe I am not brave enough to find out what happens if I don't! I hope when he is sixteen I am not calling him on his cell at school telling him to go to the bathroom.

Don't get me started on going number two. Battle. He holds it. He walks around on tip toes with his cheeks squeezed together. We talk about how everyone poops. He names everyone he knows. Yep, our neighbors, mailman, dogs, friends, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Why does he continue to look amazed everytime we answer, "Yes, grandma poops."

Yesterday, as we drove home he asked "Someday, when me get bigger, me not poop anymore?" No, buddy, you will always poop.

Third Times a Charm

Today is Drew's birthday. His 27th! Happy birthday, love you!

I wanted to make a dessert. My first choice, cupcakes. After lunch, I mix the ingredients together and fill the tins. I stick them in the oven and set the timer for 10 minutes and start to wash my dishes. About 7 minutes in, it starts to smell like something is burning. But, it can't be the cupcakes, they are supposed to bake for 12 - 15 minutes and it has only been 7. I peer inside the oven looking for whatever is burning on the oven ground.

After 10 minutes, I take the cupcakes out and they are smoking. They are most definitely what was burning. I had the rack on the bottom, that is all I can figure out.

And then I threw away 23 cupcakes.

So, I finish the dishes, get the boys tucked in for their naps and decide chocolate chip cookies are the way to my mans heart. I mix all the ingredients together. While adding the Crisco, I think, weird, it seems to smell funny and the 2 Crisco sticks I used look white and fresh and this jar that I never purchased but it must have been purchased by the people who lived here this summer so how old can it be looks yellowy and odd. I thought it was my garbage that was smelling and surely this won't be a problem. I dump it in, mix everything together, add the chocolate chips and take a big old bite of cookie dough. It tastes like stale nuts.

And then I threw away 4 or 5 dozen cookies worth of dough.

And I am not going to find out if the third time is a charm because I refuse to mess up more yummy desserts that my mouth has already been watering to eat.

Another Kolby Post

Kolby had a doctor appointment yesterday with his orthopedic doctor.

First, he had x-rays of his feet which I didn't know he was going to have. I had brought Sage with me thinking it was going to be an in and out type of appointment. As we walk into the x-ray room, Sage and Kolby both look around nervously. I had already prepped Sage that he wouldn't be able to stand next to mom and Kolby while they took pictures of Kolby's feet. As we walked in, I showed him where he would stand behind the window with the nurse. What I didn't prepare him or myself for was Kolby's fear. As soon as I set him down on the table, he started crying and wriggling. I could see Sage wringing his shirt behind me getting more and more nervous as Kolby continued to scream. I said "Sage, they aren't hurting Kolby, he is just scared." I turned back to Kolby and heard a wail behind me. The nurse helped with Sage and got him calmed down after I promised chocolate milk when this is all over. Kolby continued to scream and wriggle but the x-rays came out so we didn't have to redo anything.

First fiasco, over! Then, we waited in the examination room for probably 20 minutes. I read Tarzan about death and mean people to Sage who had many questions about why that ape is so sad and sleeping. Seriously, can Disney be any less kid friendly?

The PA walks in who is not our normal doctor. It ends up, he was in emergency surgery for many hours. We looked at his x-rays and his bones are all lining up perfectly, exactly how they are supposed to! Praise God! He said a couple of times, this is so different from 10 - 12 years ago. The correction is great and wonderful.

Our physical therapist has been wanting to get Kolby inserts for his shoes to help with his very flat foot. The PA suggested that is not something we want to do right now, as we don't want any hint of Kolby's foot to turn back in. I also asked about the type of shoe Kolby should be wearing right now and was told a shoe with a flat lace. Meaning that when you hold a pen in the middle on the bottom of the shoe all sides should be equal. We went to Stride Right today and got him New Balance size 6, extra wide running shoes. He had Converse size 4. Funny, they didn't seem small...

So, it was a good visit, he also got bigger shoes and a bigger bar. And our next visit is March 11, 2008. He'll be two. Isn't that crazy?

A Rockin Giveaway

I know, I know. I wasn't going to do anymore contests. I don't win and they are boring for you, my dear readers. But! This one is so cute! So, here it is. The contest. And the Rockin Site.

Dear Sage,

You peed on the couch today.

This is something that I don't want to forget. Not because it was funny or even brings a small smile to my mouth, just because someday, when you are doing something that I can't even think what it might be. I want to be able to respond with, you peed on the couch.

I was getting ready for the day in the bathroom and yelled at you to remember to go potty if you needed to. When I came out to the living room, you were laying on the couch and looked up at me with your half sad look and said "Me wet." That was the understatement of the year. You were soaked and laying in your own pee. Two days ago, you didn't have one accident all day, not even a whoops I started and now I am running to the bathroom accident. Same pair of underwear all day long. I was ready to buy you that guitar. Yesterday, you peed your pants twice. I wasn't sure of the circumstances and gave you the benefit of the doubt that you couldn't get your pants down by yourself. The first time, I was in the basement switching the laundry, the second, I was getting Kolby ready for bed. I should have known better the second time since the pee was right by the bookcase and there was no attempt at your pants or underwear being pulled down. But today, you were laying in your own urine, on the couch.

I immediately called my mom, your grandma, and she told me to 1) calm down 2) spank your bottom. I think you are lucky she answered her phone because I don't know what would have happened if she didn't answer but we probably wouldn't have had a fun morning at the park and instead we would have all been miserable and mad at each other at home.

I will always love you, Sage, even when you pee on my couch. Someday, I expect a replacement.

Love,

Mamma

Kolby's New Trick

Every Child is Different

I remember "baby-proofing" for Sage. We didn't do much, just kind of as needed, things that would really hurt him, we removed. When he opened cupboards or drawers he wasn't supposed to, we slapped his hand and told him no. I watched him all the time, I was always right there or close by.

Kolby's feelings get hurt when we tell him no in a firm voice. But, look what he does that Sage never did...


See the heater that runs along the baseboard, he steps on that, hoists himself on to the end table and then stands there. The time before when Drew caught him up there, he was actually standing on the windowsill waving hi.

We made it!

We are so glad to be HOME! It is wonderful to have our stuff, our space and not be in the car! I finished book 3 of Harry Potter and bought 4, 5, and 6 today. I know, why am I blogging? I should be reading!

Sage is potty training, officially. He has had three accidents today. But, he catches himself and then finishes in the potty so I am hoping he gets better at this. Someone told me 3 days. I am counting on that 3 days. Hopefully, in 3 days, we will be out buying him a guitar! That is his promised toy, it just doesn't seem to be that important to him.

I need to unpack the bathroom. Not only have we unpacked but reorganized since we had people living here all summer and now we have to put our stuff back where it belongs. Drew took the boys to the park, hopefully, I get done before they get back so they don't start dumping shampoo all over the bathroom.

Journey

Our second day of our three-day journey has ended. The first day, we drove 490 miles and sat in traffic through Chicago for 2 and ½ hours. The boys did incredibly well and we all slept until 8 am this morning. An 8:00 wake up for my children is highly unlikely. Yesterday, we drove 430 miles. Today we are scheduled to drive miles but will be going around New York City so we will see how many hours that translates to.

Our schedule is to drive about 4 hours, then stop for lunch for about an hour, and then drive the remaining time to our destination. So far, it has worked great. Kolby has been taking morning and afternoon naps and Sage slept for 2 hours yesterday.

I started the Harry Potter series and I am already sad to know that this series will end. Today is day three of our journey, which means I start book 3 of the Harry Potter series. Obviously, I do little if any driving and the kids are great!

Hi! It's been awhile since we chatted. I know you didn't miss our little chats and I am not sure that I did either. I am trying to figure that out. We went to camp and stayed the whole week (I was planning on coming back in the middle of the week and leaving Sage there) and then Drew had the computer and then I just haven't had much to say.

Our time at my in-laws is coming to an end. We leave on Sunday to start our drive back to CT. There will be so many adjustments again. No more mini-van for us, back to our small Saturn. No more Nana and Papa to listen for the boys so we can go out for an hour after they are in bed. No more Nana to clean up dinner while I bathe and get the boys to bed. No more magical food appearing in the cupboards and milk replenishing itself in the fridge. No more Nana to take Sage at just the moment that I think I might strangle him (I kid). No more dustbuster to clean up the crumbs under the high chair. No more dishwasher that works. And the saddest of all, no more Target discount.

Drew will be back on a school schedule, things never done, things always hanging over his head, night lectures, night classes. I will be babysitting again, at least two mornings a week.

There are things I am looking forward to, things like my coffee maker, my own bathroom, my own apartment, my own space. It will be nice to back in out city, with our parks, our cement backyard, our pizza places, there are definitely things I am looking forward to doing and seeing again!

I am sure you heard...

about this.

Drew and I were on a dinner boat cruise with his company. We were not traveling along 35 or were we anywhere near it.

The captain of our ship received a call from his wife and then told us "35W bridge just collapsed." At first, I thought he was joking. I kept staring at him but his expression never changed. My first thought was "I should call my mom." I went down below to grab my purse and cell phone. There were two voice messages already, I ignored them and called my mom. She hadn't heard the news yet. I listened to my sister's voice wobble as she checked up on us. And then my fried, Deb who is in Seattle. I received more calls from friends and family through out the evening and an email this morning.

Last night, as I kissed my boys, my prayer of thanks for bringing our family back together safely brought tears to my eyes.

I pray for the families who didn't get back together safely last night, prayers that they will find comfort and peace.

The BIG Announcement!!

Kolby took two steps yesterday!

We went to a puppet show, which we missed but there was a playground and Drew was making Kolby stand on his own and then just like that, one, two and grab Drew's hands.

My heart is overflowing with gratefulness to God. It is hard to express, how proud this Mama is. His next appointment to check his feet is Sept. 12 so we have more than a month for his walking to develop. At his last appointment, the doctor said that probably once he is walking on his own, he will be done wearing the Dennis Browne bar at night. My heart rejoices and my eyes fill with tears. We will definitely be having a celebration when Kolby is done wearing that bar!

Down but not Out

So, Tuesday night, I woke up with the flu, in the middle of the night. I had a stomach ache when I went to bed and hoped it would be better in the morning. No such luck.

I felt awful all day. I think Sage watched about 8 hours of tv. Both boys were generally good and for that I was grateful. Sage kept saying "Me no want you be sick anymore." And then his true confession for why: "Me want to go outside."

Today, we are expending some of Sage's energy. It is really humid and he is sweating a lot but he wants to play outside. He has sweat running down his cheek and the tip of his nose!

Too cute and funny not to post

Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam. The last question was, "Name seven advantages of Mothers Milk," worth 70 points or none at all.

One student who had also partied the night before, was hard put to think of seven advantages.

He wrote:
1.) It is perfect formula for the child.
2.) It provides immunity against several diseases.
3.) It is always the right temperature.
4.) It is inexpensive.
5.) It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa.
6.) It is always available as needed.

And then, the student was stuck. Finally, in desperation, just before the bell indicating the end of the test rang, he wrote...

7.) It comes in such cute containers.

He got an A!

A Birthday Party in Pictures

Sammy blows bubbles while Sage pops them.

Sage and Sammy were the only two to run through the sprinkler. Sage insisted his shirt should be off and Sammy managed to get hers soaked.


Squirt guns were a big hit. Sammy and I are ganging up on the injured Britta (she fell off her horse, for the full story go here)

Sage is totally breaking the rules by squirting someone on the deck, my guess is his dad, which makes it a little okay!

Table full of gifts.

His favorite present from Nana and Papa, a drum set. I know his face shows no expression, but I kid you not, this is how his face looked after opening every. single. present. Maybe it is good, he won't have to fake a great reaction when he gets something he hates!

Blowing really hard! Tate, Britta and Chase making sure he does it right! The wind ended up blowing out the candle for us. He tried this one time and then told Drew he wanted him to do it. Drew refused and he just kept looking at us like, come on, already blow out the candle for me! Then, the right wind came.

Birthday Boy.

Krista and Kolby

Chase enjoying his cupcake.

He woke up, came into our room and said, "Now, me play mine drums!" The mean parents we are, we made him wait until the next day to play his favorite gift. In our defense, it was 9:30 by the time the last guests left!

He even shared with his brother!

My Sister Started a Blog

And with 4 kids, she has some good stories and quotes! Go check it out!

Tomorrow is Sage's third birthday. We're throwing a party for our family. It is our first official birthday party for Sage. I feel old saying that I have a three year old.

Then on Sunday, we are getting a family picture taken, by Drew's cousin, Molly. I am thinking white shirts and khaki shorts for the boys and a white dress for me. And I just remembered today that the pictures are Sunday, so I pray I can find something today! I am just waiting for Kolby to wake up so we can get shopping!

My Child is Branded

I don't know how it happened. Well, maybe I do. I might have let him watch tv and play with toys. I will even admit to encouraging Thomas! And here is my reasoning. It's a train. He likes trains. And he likes Thomas but guess what, he doesn't love it. He doesn't seem to love anything in particular. He will watch Cars over and over and we are throwing him a Cars themed party, but he doesn't see stuff and have to have it. He recognizes it. Like McDonalds and Starbucks. He calls McD's, cheeseburger, because that is his favorite thing to eat there. He also recognizes Target. Someone once told me that it is a form of reading.

While driving, he talks constantly. He tells me he needs things like a truck, a race car and his newest obsession, convertibles and RV's. I point out all the Jeep Wranglers and the Jeep Unlimiteds. Because someday, I will have one. Someday. My hair might be gray or gray under the blonde highlights and my underwear might be called granny, but I will have one. Way off track here.

But, I do have lines that I won't cross. I will not ever buy him or my other children character clothes. I hate, despise them. Then, the other day, I was at Target and saw some Car sandals, and thought about how much joy he would get when wearing them. I totally almost bought them for him. And then I remembered it would be cute for a day and then I would be annoyed. And, he has worn some character pajamas, they were hand me downs and he didn't have a clue who Buzz Lihtyear was, at the time.

I like that Sage is constant in liking cars and anything musical. He plays air guitar and drums all. the. time. He plays with matchbox cars endlessly. I don't think that branding my child could be avoided because of the world we live. But, I do want to teach him the importance of contentment and the difference between need and want. But really the importance of contentment. It is a lesson that I can learn and relearn every single day.

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!