June Break- Finally

Each year since I started this blog in September I have taken what I like to call a 'September Break', focusing more on my family, the beginning of another school year and spending time outdoors and less time blogging.  I think I'm already doing a pretty good job at the latter lately, but it's been a while since I took a conscious, purposeful break.  Last September, because Ezzy was born and because I was sure there'd be lots to blog about I didn't take my annual break.  Then in October and November I was still on maternity leave so I knew I'd have time to blog.  Then came Ezzy's 1st Christmas and I couldn't miss documenting that, although I sucked at blogging in December after going back to work.  After the beginning of the year, I think I just forgot I had said I was going to take one soon and just kept on blogging when I had the time and then I would remember....so, ladies and gents, this is it, I'm taking a June break this year.  More time for me to finish up my school year and get ready for a fun filled summer with my two boys.  I'll still do Ezra's 9 month post, any pre scheduled birthday posts and my Project 52 so you'll still get a general idea what's going on with me, I just won't sit down and write out any formal posts again until July.  There you have it folks, see you in 31 days!  Hope you'll join me back in July!

Project 52- Week 20 and 21

Somehow I completely missed a week- I posted Week 19 on a Thursday so I guess I just didn't even think about it that Sunday to post another week.  At this point I'm so far behind that you're gonna get 2 weeks at once.

Week 20 (May 12-18)

Happy Mother's Day to Me

Ezra hearts his new ball

Tongues

My other music man

Xylophone (sorry it's so blurry)

 

Week 21 (May 19-25)

 

Climber

 

 

Like Big Bro, Like Little Bro

8 months!  A few days late

 

Finger foods

Dinner time

Tool bench

 

Puzzle Time

Watch Out Ladies- Gage has Game!

My kid, I tell you, he knows no stranger...which is a good and bad thing, I suppose.

This afternoon we were at a cookout of some good friends of ours.  Jeff's (the host) sister, Rachel, was there.  Gage has probably met her once before but didn't know her name or anything.  We played for quite a while, Gage ate dinner and played ball with Daddy.  When he decided he was tired, he told me he was going to go in and dream, or pretend to be asleep.  He went in the house for a few minutes., then promptly came back out and asked the 1st girl he saw, Rachel, if she would like to snuggle with him.....it was pretty much the funniest thing I've ever heard.  I'm sure she was caught a little off guard and I told him that we didn't ask people we didn't know to snuggle with us.  He wasn't deterred and asked again a few minutes later.  She said she'd love to and they went inside and snuggled under a blanket while he told her all sorts of stories.

I went in a few minutes later and he was singing to her.  I asked if he even knew her name.  He said 'No.'  I told him that before he asked someone to snuggle with him, he should at least know her name.  He proceeded to say 'What is your name?'  When she said 'Rachel', he replied, 'You are snuggling with me and my name is Gage!'  He looked up at me- very proud of himself. 

So gentlemen, the  take away lesson- always ask a girl her name before asking her to snuggle and it is still  probably only cute if you're 3.  

Stream of Conciousness

I wish I had time to blog more.  I wish I had time to catch up on all of the stuff that I should've blogged about.  Instead I think I'll just pick up from here.

I measured my kids' waists tonight.  They are the same.  17 inches.  That's how fat E is/skinny  Gage is.  E is wearing the same swim trunks this summer that Gage did the summer before he was 2.

I hate Windows 8, anyone w/ me?  It's already freaked out on me twice during this post.

It's Memorial Day weekend and it was 55 today...hmm...not very pool like if you ask me.  Good thing I have all summer. 

Gage told me he ate 'antelope' yesterday for lunch.

Gage takes about an hour and a half each night to go to sleep.  AND he doesn't nap at home= cranky kid.  Any suggestions??

I wish I had time to workout, but it's kind of advised not to run after dark if you're a girl, unless you run REALLY fast, which I don't.  If I did, I probably wouldn't need to work out.

I have 17 days of work left 'til August.

I wish I had time to read more.

I really need someone to help me fix the header on this thing so I can have pictures of both my boys.  Can anyone help?

I used to love my slow cooker.  It broke, so I bought a new one. This new one went in the trash Th. pm. after it had burned about its 48th thing.  I thought slow cookers weren't supposed to burn things.  Anyone have one that's not Crock Pot brand they really love?

Gage is funny and cracks us up.

Ezra is a champ at finger foods.

I like posts like this b/c I can write a bunch of stuff down but it doesn't have to make sense or be cohesive.

I have a lot of errands to run, which means money to spend.  I wish I had more money.

Gage went bowling for the 1st time this am.  I'll post some pics tomorrow.

Ok, I think that's it for tonight. 

Dear Ezra- 8 months

Dear Ezzy Pie-

8 months!  I can hardly believe it.  I feel like I'm missing you grow up.  As much as I'm nervous about being home with both you and Gage all summer, I cannot wait to see more of you.  It's silly but I feel like I'm missing things with you because I literally see you for about 1.5 hr a day.  (I'm pretty sure it was like this with Gage too, I just don't remember very well.)  I just can't get any more time with you right now and you need your sleep to be happy worse than I need to play with you, so I'm counting down the next month so that we can spend more time together!  Currently, you are a terrible napper at school (hence needing to sleep the entire time you're home during the week) and it's starting to frustrate me.  You've been there for 6 months and I can count on one hand how many times you've taken a decent nap.  But man, are you a trooper!  You are so happy to see Momma when I pick you up and I want so much to play at home at night and you do too, but you just can't stay awake long enough.  And I can't be selfish and make you stay up just so we can play.

Man, this letter has a sorry tone.  Sorry about that, little man, just fresh in my head at the moment.  Let's talk more about how awesome it is to see you getting stronger, smarter and quicker every day.  I feel like you have grown so much in the last month.  Let's see- you are now crawling- it just happened one afternoon and you didn't take it slow, you were full force and have been going ever since- even on the beach 3 days after you learned.  It's still a belly crawl, but I don't think you're even interested in getting up on your knees since you can get anywhere you want to go at this point.  We literally cannot turn our back.  You are across the room in a matter of seconds chewing on a cord or trying to steal Gage's toys.  It won't be long now...you have tried to pull up on a couple of different things.  You haven't quite been successful but I expect it anytime.  Speaking of Gage, since you have learned to crawl, you crawl up to him and in his lap trying to take whatever it is that he is playing with.  Of course at this point, he doesn't realize you just want to play and doesn't understand why you're pulling at him.  But you love your brother so and it's so obvious.  I just can't wait 'til you guys have that mutual feeling and can express it.

You have just started eating 3 meals a day and started finger foods.  You're actually not bad and because you like putting things in your mouth so much, it comes natural.  With the increase in food, you have started to drink a whole lot less milk.  It makes me kind of sad that you're growing up and I'm not sure if this was the case with Gage at this point.  He wasn't in school at this age so I have no idea how much he really took in, but at least the liquid that you're getting at school is still coming from me!  You weigh around 18lbs, but are growing so quickly out of your clothes.  You wear mostly 9 month clothing but seem to be busting out of that some days.  Not sure how long you are, but I guess I should check that out pretty soon...don't think I've even measured you outside the doctor's office.  You are still an awesome sleeper at night, although in the last month buddy, you've had some rough nights.  Poor thing- you had a fever for 4 days at the beginning of the month and slept with us for almost a week.  That was followed by an ear infection and it took a good 10 days probably for you to get back in your bed and comfy- but we succeeded and you're happy.  In the last few days you've been a little restless because your top two teeth are coming in and they sure do look like they hurt.  I'm ready for them to bust through since that's when 'they' say they stop hurting.  Just like your brother, you're going to have a big gap, but oh well, it gives you personality!  You still love your dinosaur popper the best, but you also like to play in your Exersaucer, door way bouncer, love your crib aquarium soother and will scale the room to get to your tool bench.  You also want to play with whatever Gage has.  You aren't quite sure how you feel about your Learning House and your dancing donkey yet.  This week you did get to take a bath with your brother one night in the big boy tub since Daddy wasn't home and Mommy was trying to get you both in and out quickly.  You loved it though and I have a feeling, many more baths together are in your future.   Your only consonant sound is still 'g', I'm so curious to know what your 1st word will be.

In the last month, you have helped me celebrate my 1st Mother's Day as a Mommy for 2 and gone to the beach for the 1st time!  You tried to eat the sand of course and took your 1st nap under an umbrella.  I can't wait until the next time we get there, you're gonna be a mad man at the end of the summer.  Watch out Ocean!  You'll get to go swimming for the 1st time this weekend and I hope to put you in swim lessons soon.  This month you'll finally get your big boy car seat installed....it's just been so easy to continue to carry you in your bucket.  But it's getting to be about that time and I think I need to put it to rest.  You still seem to love it though and take the best naps.  It does make Mommy's arm hurt though and sometimes even go numb!

Ezra, I love your fiery personality- you definitely keep Daddy and I on our toes.  I love that you love Gage so much and I just can't wait for you to be the best of friends.  You are quite the handful sometimes, but a joy more so!  I am so fortunate to be able to stay at home with you this summer and watch you grow.  I really do have the best of both worlds!  I still love cuddling you at night before you go to bed, but unfortunately you're a busy boy these days and don't love it as much as you used to.  You prefer to lay down when you're tired and you are usually asleep within a few minutes.  I feel like there's so much more to say and to describe you but the thing that sticks out the most is just how happy you are and how good natured.  Everyone comments on your big smile and big eyes!  Ezra, you are loved so much.  I honestly don't know where the last 8 months have gone, but I am looking forward to more.  I just wish I had more time to write about you and your brother and to keep these memories forever.  I love you my Ezzy Pie!

Love Your Momma

Dear Gage- 3.5

Dear Gage

I cannot believe that this past Tuesday, my sweet baby turned 3 and a half.  I swear you have grown astronomically in the last 6 months.  Although you haven't gotten much beefier and still weigh about 28lbs and wear 18 mos. shorts and swim trunks, your jeans and shirts are clearly too short and it's finally proof that you're growing! 

Gagey baby, you are soo soo smart.  Again, you'll read this in just about every letter, but I just can't say it enough.  I am so so proud of you and Daddy and I know how blessed we truly are to have you in our lives.  Shortly after your birthday you learned to write your name and although we haven't practiced as much with you as we want, it is still fairly legible.  You love to practice spelling your friends names and ask often how to spell certain words or how to read others.  You are awesome at IDing 1st letter sounds and are hardly ever wrong.  That's probably one of your favorite parts about preschool.  However, your teacher reports you love numbers and like to help everyone with the date each day.  She also talks about how hilarious you are and she always has funny stories to share. 
You have just recently learned to pee in the potty standing up and are super proud of yourself.  It took a year but I'm ok w/ that- any sooner and we would probably have dealt with a lot more messes.  We've also taken off the rail on your big boy bed and you have given up Soothie Bear and your Nuk!  (You gave up your Nuk months ago to Santa Claus, but it is just another part of you growing up.)  You are super clever and very intuitive, you are always watching and know exactly what's going on.  You have your moments of sassiness but mainly when you're tired or having a bad day you're super whiny.  Overall I'd say you're a pretty darn good listener for your age.

At 3.5, you wear mostly 2T shirts w/ some 3T mixed in.  Only 2T with adjustable waist shorts fit or 18 mos. otherwise, size 7.5 shoe.  I'm not quite sure how tall you are, but I guess based on the 1st paragraph, I need to measure you soon.  Your very favorite things are still musical instruments and I don't believe there is a day that goes by that you don't play multiple ones.  You also LOVE to watch marching bands on YouTube and like to pretend that you're in one on a daily basis.  You love Jake and the NeverLand Pirates and can recite tons of episodes.  You love your baby brother (and playing with his toys), but hate that he can now move and take toys from you.  You are enrolled in two different music classes, one at school and one at Gymboree.  We can't wait until you can take some formal lessons of your own.  You also still love books and are finding new favorites all the time.

The last few months have been a little rough on  you-there have been lots of changes at daycare and Mommy worries.  You have lost a few teachers and friends in the last few months and its taken some getting used to.  You seem to take it all in stride although I know it affects you in some way.  This has been probably one of the biggest challenges for you in the last 6  months.  Some of your favorite friends to play with are Xander, Sawyer and Sam.  You love to talk about Charlie and Katherine from school and although you don't see him often, you love Jake as well.  In the last few months, you've gotten to hang with your Nana and Grandiddy of course, but also got to see your Uncle B and hang with your Aunt Annie, Uncle Mark and new baby cousin, Sloane.  You didn't see much snow this year and only got to play in it once or twice.  You did get to go to your 1st Va Tech game with Daddy when you guys went down to the Spring game last month.  You've started to give up your naps at home and I can't remember the last time you actually slept (although you have quiet time each day) but you still manage to sleep almost every day at school- probably because you get up so early during the week.  You are still the pickiest eater and I've almost given up at begging you.  We've been pretty lazy lately and usually just fix you something we know you'll eat during the week.  One thing you have tried recently that you've liked are tacos, so at least it's 1 more thing I can make that you'll actually eat.  It's just so frustrating that sometimes when I try to make a meal that I think you'll like and you eat none of it.

It's just a few short weeks away that you'll get to stay at home with Ezra and I for the summer and although it will be challenging, Mommy's really looking forward to that time with you.  I feel that it's so brief now and routine.  I hope to go swimming, to the beach and to visit Nana and Grandiddy.  We're also supposed to be flying to TX to visit your Grandma, Grandpa and cousins this summer. 

Honestly Gage, I love picking you up from school every day and hearing how your day went and what you learned.  You are a sponge and you have a passion for learning.  I love watching you grow on a daily basis and am so proud of the boy you're becoming.  I wish I could take all the credit, but somehow God just made you laid back, easy going, sensitive and smart.  I know there are things I'm missing in this letter, but my brain is fried right about now.  We love you so much Gage and we always will.  I can't wait to see what the next 6 months have in store for us and I can't even imagine you'll turn 4!  Always looking forward to what you'll say next.  Happy 3.5 years, Gage!

Love Mommy

Project 52: Week 19- Late as Usual

Another poor show this week.  I swear, I just don't have the time or think about taking pics of our every day life, although I know that's what this is all about.  I think I have pictures from 4 days and if we hadn't gone to the beach I'm sure it would've been less than that.

Puzzle

1st beach trip

Playin' with Nana

I think I hear the ocean

Chillin'

Doing what he loves best

 

 

Beach cutie

Wordless Wednesday: Side by Side continued

Gage, 8 months

 

Ezra, 8 months

Project 52: Week 18

Once again we're just about done with Week 19 and I'm posting Week 18.  Hopefully one of these days I'll catch up.  Only 5 pics again, I have a feeling that's my not-so-good average.  I need to be more creative...

Gage playing a violin in music class

 

 

So happy about his new soccer ball

1st time swingin'

Yep, 7 months later

 

 

Makin' pizzas for dinner

 

 

Project 52: Week 17

In true fashion, I'm late as always BUT I have pictures of 6 days of this week.  How many times have I made it to 7?  I think just once....oh well, close this time.  Here was our week last week, although we're already half way through this one.  I was sick part of the wek.... do I get a break?

Cupcakes for Sawyer

Cupcakes with Sawyer

Who needs toys?

7 month old cutie

New dinosaur toy

Bucket Head