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. 

What's Been Going On...

I want to blog so bad guys, I really do.  I want to let you know what's going on with us and tell you how we spend our weekends, but by the end of the day I'm just too exhausted.  I have good intentions, especially Sunday nights to sit down and write out a few posts for the week.....it just doesn't happen.  Any free time I have I want to read other people's blogs, watch TV or just chill out.  I have things I want to document on here, if not for anyone other than myself, but time just catches up with me and it just doesn't happen.  Our weeknights around here are pretty routine and there's little to no time for anything until the boys go to bed and then I start the routine of getting ready for the next day.  So not much to tell then, but I'd like to share our weekends sometime.  At least I'm still going with my Project 52 so I'll at least know something that went on each week of 2013.  There are a few posts I'd like to write too, for sake of a baby book. 

This past weekend was amazing weather, not amazing like 80-degree-summer-came-too-soon like last week, but like mid 60s to 70s. Gage got to go on a play date, to the park with Daddy and for a family walk. And we ate entirely too much ice cream in the last week.  Ezra didn't get to spend too much time outside, but I'm going to try soon to get him out in the grass for some fresh air. 

Speaking of Ezra, when we were at his 6 month well check, which I'm pretty sure I didn't post about the doctor called him weak and lazy.  I wasn't offended but he was definitely not trying to show off for her that day.  She said he'd be a late crawler, but so was Gage so again, I wasn't surprised.  However, Ezra has proved to be very different than Gage in every way and this will be no different.  Ezra will crawl before Gage.  Gage could rotate at this age, as Ezra does, but E is almost up on all fours and at times, inching with his hiney in the air.  He has moved forward, by half rolling and half inching.  I know some kids roll to get places, Gage never did, but I think Ezra is for sure gonna figure it out.  He does a whole lot less 'flying' now and more getting up on his knees now.  It definitely won't be long.

Currently, Gage is still taking his music class on Sundays and is obsessed with all things marching bands and musical instruments.  He is also obsessed with Jake and the NeverLand Pirates and can quote the entire opening scene.  His obsessions seem to change weekly/monthly, but when he becomes fixated on something, boy does he?  Is this normal toddler behavior?  I'm thinking it probably is, but since he's my first one, I guess I really don't know.  Gage continues to crack us up on a regular basis- he is really quite the witty, funny kid these days.

What's in store for us?  This weekend Ezra is 7 months old, HOLY COW and I'm hosting a jewelry party while Gage and Luke head down to Blacksburg for Gage's 1st ever live football game.  Hopefully another update won't be so long coming.

Stay Tuned...

This weekend was the weekend of birthday parties around these parts!  We had a ton of fun, but no pics to share.  Our brand new computer that we purchased in November has taken a crap....awesome!  The luck we have.  Anyway, I have a week in pictures to show you, Ezra's 6 month post, some birthday parties and a great Spring Break week coming up....but you'll have to stay tuned until we're back up and running and I can download the pictures.  Happy Snow Day!

Sad for Gage

Just a few weeks back, Gage's preschool teacher that he loved just up and left.  No warning, no head ups, just was out for a few days and when I inquired, they said she wasn't coming back.  Apparently, no one knew what had happened and to this day there hasn't been much said.  As much as we think our kids are flexible and as hard as it is at this age to tell what's really going on in their heads...this change affected Gage.  He seemed to act different all around.  He was acting out more at home, was a little more withdrawn and seemed to be more sensitive.  I couldn't figure out if it was a stage or what the stressor was.  I talked to his teacher (the other one in the class who knows him best) to see if she had noted any changes and she said that she, too saw many of the kids acting out and just generally having a hard time with it. Again, these are 3 year olds, so what could be a phase for some of them, could actually be them acting out again stressors as well.

In any case, she told me there was another one of his buddies that was having a particularly tough time as well and that because they played together all the time, they seemed to be acting out together.  Btw, my kid is THE WORST when it comes to peer pressure.  He is always acting like someone- I assume this is relatively normal in the preschool population.  She said that she hoped they could get through it together.  Insert kicker.

Sam, Gage's aforementioned BFF, up and left too.  I went to pick Gage up from school Thursday and he proceeded to tell me that Sam was in a different class.  I figured he meant that Sam was in a different class that day because it was a snow day and more than likely their numbers were down.  However, when I went to look for his cubby, that Gage said he couldn't find, sure enough, it was gone.  His portfolio- gone, too.  Oh no!  I thought, not a chance.  His teacher had just mentioned him last week and Gage has just said he played with him last week.  On Friday, I inquired about Gage's bestie and sure enough I find out he's moved classes.  When I asked, I definitely got a sketchy answer so there's far more to the story than I know, or probably will ever know, but for now, I'm just really sad for Gage.  His teacher that he really liked left and now Sam, the one kid I know he played with every day and one of the more well behaved of the class.  Gage has one friend left that he talks about often so I'm hoping he'll stick around.  I just feel really bad for Gage and it's hard to know how much he knows and really understands.  I mean he told me right away that Sam was no longer in class with him so I know that he understood that, but to have a conversation about it, is different.  I just hope it doesn't affect him too much and he still enjoys school.  There's been a lot of changes in my little dude's life in the last 6 months.....a new bro, a new class at school, potty training, losing a teacher and now a good friend.  Geez!  I know kids tend to bounce back easy, I just feel sad for him.  And in the midst of one of his fits or tantrums, I have to remember maybe there's more going on.

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead!  Grrr....I dislike you, Daylight Savings Time!

The Last Few Weeks

I have really enjoyed doing my Project 52 pictures every week.  It's definitely made me take more pictures of our every day life and appreciate the little moments.  I also think it'll be fun at the end of the year to go back and see how the kids grew week by week.  It also helps me to keep up with blogging once a week, even if it's just to show pictures.  So, let me think what we've been up to lately.
Luke's sister and her family visited last week.  Sloane is exactly one week younger than Ezra and it was great to get them together. They live in Austin and obviously we don't have many opportunities.  It was nice of them to bite the bullet and travel up here w/ a new baby.  Our plan is to go out there this summer, but right now just wasn't feasible w/ my not being able to take off any more work before June.  We got some really cute shots of Ezra and Sloane checking each other out.  Gage had a blast playing with Uncle Mark and Aunt Annie as well.

 

Also, I posted about 2.5 weeks ago that we started solids with Ezra.  Well, he hates it, people.  He really does.  I've never met an almost 6 month old baby that doesn't want to eat.  It kinda stresses me out.  I mean he just screams when we try to feed him and spits everything back at us.  It almost appears he doesn't know how to eat.  However, this kid puts EVERYTHING in his mouth, and I mean everything.  Tonight he wouldn't even attempt to eat b/c he was too busy eating his bib.  He could sit for an hour probably and just chew on one toy.  I mean, I guess this is normal.  I dunno, Gage never did it.  Do other people have puppies for babies?  It's just kinda weird to me.  He literally will chew on my face and anything that comes within inches of his mouth.

Ezra has his 1st cold, which always sucks.  Noone wants to see their baby sick.  I was pretty sick for the last 2 weeks and he felt really crummy on Monday.  Seems to be a little better today but was pretty hard to entertain on our day off.  Good thing the Gov't was closed too, I might have been crazy trying to entertain him all day alone.

We have a jam packed March so I have a feeling the rest of the month will go by fast!  Hopefully I'll have time to post here and there.  I was supposed to take my 'September Break' sometime this Spring, but hasn't happened yet.  April, maybe? 

Project 52: Week 2



 

Photos from six out of seven days again this week.  I'll consider that once again a victory. Linking up with Kat at Living Like the Kings.



 

Saxophone

My pantsless boys

gs

Playin'

Mommy's phone

70s child

Ezra's new chair

My balding baby

Project 52: Week 1

Ok, so it's Monday and I'm already a bit late on this post; however, I am determined.  I am determined to do a Project 52, plus I now I have some company.  Both the ladies at Living Like the Kings and the Paper Mama are both doing photo challenges that I could link up with.  I might change it up each week, sometimes I'll do my own, sometimes I'll try and link up w/ one or the other of them.  The Paper Mama has fun weekly photo goals by category, where Living Like the Kings just shows you her week in photos.  Plus both of these ladies have been known to link up to Scavenger Hunt Sunday, which I'm determined to do one of these days.  However, my photo goal this year is our life and my family, so I'll be focusing on taking more pictures of them and not other things.  Here is week 1:  Only missing one day, not bad I'd say.

Loungin'

Bath time

Peace

Lunch



My music man

2012- A Look back and A Look ahead

So here it is, the 1st day of January 2013 (when this post was started) and I realize that I have posted twice in the last month!  I can't even believe it myself, I'm not sure I have ever been a more pathetic blogger.  I am determined not to quit though and to pick up where I left off and forge ahead.  My life has been crazy lately, but at some point, things have to calm down again, right?

When thinking about 2013, I have big hopes and when thinking about it in a blogging sense, I have a few goals, I'm sure not ones that I will meet, but perhaps, at least strive for if I write them out.
a) 20 mins a day I will take the time to write, I mean really, 20 mins, I should be able to handle that.
b) 20 mins a day I will take the time to read- I would love for this to be a book- but for now I think blogs count.  I think I already meet this goal, as most of what I do when I nurse/pump is read
c)  I so wanted to take part in a Project 365 this year, but I knew it was an unreasonable goal on my part.  I wanted to make my very own blog that was just pictures of my beautiful family.  I did, in fact, even take a few today, however, I just know there's no way I'll be able to post pictures every day, I just don't have the time right now.  However, my goal is a Project 52 instead and that at least once a week I will post pictures from that week to show you how life is going in my neck of the woods and how my boys are growing at breakneck speed.

As far as 2012 is concerned, although cliche, one of my very favorite blog posts to read this time of year is a year in review.  I think it's so awesome to go back and recap an entire year and reflect, both for the reader and the writer.  Personally, I like to take this time to enjoy watching my family grow and to remember all the more significant moments in our lives.  Last year, I remember this posting taking me FOREVER as I linked up to several posts and copied several pictures over and I just don't see myself having that time this year.  Instead, I will review briefly month by month the highlights and when I have time (if ever) will go back and link up pictures.  I'm sure this won't be super exciting for the average individual to read, but this post is more for me and to recap what is important to us.  Now hold on, this is sure to take me a few days...(ha, so I started this process and have it written in print that this year I would by no means do what I did last year, but instead pick one significant event from each month or do pictures.  However, I really do like how last year's turned out...

Without further ado, January brought news of little Ezra, although I didn't share it with the blog until much later.  It also snowed the ONLY snow of 2012 for only a few hours.  I entered lots of photo challenges and Gage got a hand me down tool bench.


In February, it seemed there were lots of birthdays and I worked a lot.  Gage had his 1st real injury- chipping both his front teeth- and he had his 1st weekend with Nana WITHOUT Mommy and Daddy and we were childless for a few days.


In March, Gage read an entire book to himself, I told all of you guys I was pregnant and started my weekly updates, Gage started to tell us he loved us on a daily basis, we went to the St. Patrick's Day parade (which is one of Gage's favorite pastimes) and Gage's imagination started to run wild.


In April, I continued to grow, Gage had an awesome time at his 1st Easter Egg Hunt, he had his 1st lollipop and the O's started their best season in years.  We once again enjoyed Ticonderoga Farms, this time with friends and we enjoyed a nice, restful Spring Break.  All in all, pretty uneventful.


May, as usual, brought warmer weather and a trip to the Outer Banks.  I blogged 4 times total ALL month, one WW post, one birthday post, one letter to Gage and one quick update.  I spent most of my free time this month starting to study for the Praxis test AGAIN, that this time I failed by one point.  We found out we were having another BOY!



June, whew!  This is where my school year comes to an end each year and I get to be a stay at home Mom for a few months.  My favorite time of year.  I usually have time to blog a bit more but with studying this year I only blogged 6 times this month.  This month brought our annual trip to the OBX, a much needed break from studying, the actual Praxis test and Gage's fear of public potties.  Thank God that didn't last long.



July, usually my favorite month of the year.  A complete month off from my job.  However, this year, July was damn HOT and I was REALLY pregnant.  Gage and I had an awesome time, just the 2 of us, going to music class, chilling at the pool, hitting up the library and doing all kinds of SAHM stuff.  We also went to the 4th of July parade, that I might not brave again b/c of the heat.  I was super productive and blogged more than I have/had all year.  Gage moved into his big boy bed and I made letters for his room. (something I still haven't done for Ezra's)  Gage's potty training moved forward, I had time to enter some photo challenges and I reflected on Friday the 13th.  I actually had time to read a book and reviewed it!  Pretty sure it was the last book I read....I say, 6 months later.  We spent Luke's birthday at Dutch Wonderland, a place that was pretty much heaven to Gage and did a guest post on another blog, Great Expectations.  My belly continued to grow....



In August, we started to get ready to be parents of two.  I anticipated each day could be my last with Gage as my only child.  I started to get ready for going back to work for just a few weeks and had to make tons of sub plans.  We went back to the beach for our annual end of the summer trip and celebrated our 5th year anniversary in Baltimore/Annapolis.  The O's got DC excited again and I did a couple of reviews.  Gage and I reflected on our summer and I reached full term.


In September, I started back to school, but only for a few weeks when my sweet baby boy, Ezra made me a Mommy for the 2nd time.  This is when our lives changed forever as we knew it and everything has been a blur since then.  The O's were awesome!  and entertained me all night long the night I was in labor.  There were tons of birthdays and we finally got Gage's big boy room finished and Ezra's nursery started.  Sloane, our niece was born just one week after Ezra and I remembered things I had forgotten with Gage.


October brought changes and getting used to being a Mommy of 2.  I blogged a lot this month because I was at home on leave.  The O's went to the postseason and Ezra was hospitalized for a weekend.  We had a few follow up visits and all seemed to be well.  We went pumpkin picking, had a horrible late season hurricane and Gage had an awesome time trick or treating as Iron Man.  I celebrated 3 years at We're In For It (renamed We Asked For It).



In November, I went back to work :( and Luke got to stay home with Ezra. We celebrated Gage's 3rd birthday (which I never had time to blog about, because I went back to work).  President Obama took a 2nd term and I attempted 30 days of Thanks.  Gage officially became potty trained and I took both boys to the doctor together and lived to tell about it.  Ezra had his 1st OBX trip and celebrated his 1st Thanksgiving.


In December, 2012 came to a close and I blogged two times, that's right, count them TWO times.  I found life back at work and with 2 kids was a little crazier than I thought.  I had good intentions, it just never happened.  I celebrated my 32nd birthday and we spent the holidays at Nana and Grandiddy's house.  Ezra celebrated his 1st Christmas and New Year's Eve.  He outweighed Gage at the same age and one of the most unthinkable things happened at an elementary school in Connecticut.


That's it folks!  2012 in review.  Looking back, I realize it was a pretty uneventful year except for my pregnancy and the birth of Ezra.  We are very lucky to have the life we do and are blessed with two beautiful sons.  I'd love to spend the time to link up to all of my old posts, but I think I'm just going to post this for now.  I'd rather have it up, then not and I'll try to link it later if I have the time.  Goodbye 2012....here's to 2013!  Hopefully another great year!

I'm back...kinda

I haven't blogged in over 3 weeks.  That's crazy to me.  Notice how my blogging stopped when I went back to work.  I am just crazy busy.  It's really nuts what one job, two kids and Christmas time can do to your free time.  I had tons to blog about, I even have half a post about Gage's 3rd birthday that I never had time to finish.  But 3 weeks later, I'm thinking instead of playing catch up I'll just resume my normal blogging (hopefully) when I find the time, which I'm not sure when that'll be.  I haven't even done WW the last few weeks....argh!  I have been reading blogs in my spare time (ie when I'm pumping at work) but that's about as far as I can get back in the blogosphere.

Let's see, to catch up....Luke and I never got the stomach flu that Gage had on Thanksgiving, thank God.  We just got our birth announcements ordered about a week before our Xmas cards (that have still not been mailed out).  We got professional pictures taken the 1st weekend of December, in which Gage was incredible naughty for, but such is life.  We have almost all of our Xmas shopping done, which is close to amazing.  I had a birthday this week and we got to go out last night to dinner.  Those are the highlights of the last few weeks, but my God, I had no idea how much time I wouldn't  have when I returned to work.  Now I get home close to 430pm every day and have 2-3 hours with  my  kids before we have to put them to bed.  And most of that time is taken up with eating, bathing and bedtime.  Sometimes I wonder how anyone does it all.  Then I remember that most people probably don't.  And that it will get easier as Ezra gets older and doesn't have to eat all the time and isn't fussy all.the.time.  Some days I feel like I'm crazy and some days I feel like we've had a productive day.  But OMG, I can't imagine January when both boys are going to school.  That'll take some getting used to to I'm sure.  Anyway for now, that's my update- I think I just needed to post once and hopefully I'll get back into the habit....once you get out of the groove it's hard to get back in.

Please pray for the families in Connecticut today.  I can't even fathom it...

Bye Bye Sandy

Well, we made it through Sandy in one piece after all.  We were very worried last night about our power going off, but luckily it managed not to.  I have seen some hurricanes in my lifetime, but this has got to be one of the BIGGEST and worse that I can remember.  My thoughts and prayers really go out to those in Jersey and NY that seem to have gotten hit the hardest. 

Things have been a bit crazy around here not having school/work for the last 2 days.  Poor Gage hasn't gone to school in a week.  I kept him home Friday and he hasn't been back since.  This weekend was pretty chill after our last few busy weekends.  Gage had soccer Sat. morning and then took a 3 hour nap.  We played outside a bit on Sunday and another LONG nap followed that.  We took a trip to the toy store Sun. night because we knew we probably wouldn't get out of the house for a few days.  Gage enjoyed picking out some gifts for his birthday that he is sooo excited is in 2 weeks!  Yesterday we spent the entire day indoors of course and it was quite the chore to entertain Gage.  We broke our TV limit by watching quite a few movies and cartoons. We also managed to dig out some toys from the bottom of Gage's toy box he hadn't seen in quite a while.  Today was a little better.  Luke took Gage to the mall this morning to burn off some energy since the weather still was not nice enough to play outside.  But tomorrow is Halloween and it's back to work and school they go!  Gage's school will have trick or treating tomorrow afternoon before the real deal tomorrow night.  It is going to be colder than usual here so we'll see how Gage does.  And unfortunately, although Ezra has a costume, we'll be staying in tomorrow night to hand out candy while Gage goes trick or treating with Daddy.

Here are just a few pictures we took in the last few days while hanging out at home. 

Ezra is finally digging his swing

The 1 month shot

The ever amusing crying-because-you've-taken-my-picture-48-times shot

Next to Teddy- now I need to go back and compare, b/c Luke and I are convinced he's grown a ton!



Oh, how could I forget!  We also carved pumpkins this weekend.  We did it last year as well, but it was way cooler this year for Gage to dig in and get all messy!  Luke carved two pumpkins for Gage- Spiderman and Daredevil, which we think both came out pretty nice.  I am not skilled enough so I opted to make the ever Pinterest popular milk jug ghosts.  Gage liked them though and they are super easy and cheap, so they're definitely a hit in my book and hopefully will look pretty cute tomorrow night on our porch.

Ewww....guts!



It's Spidey, do you see him?



This one is easier to distinguish- Daredevil

And these were just for fun and because we were stuck inside for so long and because I STILL have not gotten a cute shot of both my boys together.

I love a yawning baby

This one's kinda cute because it looks like Ezra's laughing, too.

Look at this kid's fat belly and look how curly his hair is when its wet

Gage got a cake pop while we were at Target, apparently this is how you eat one.

Story behind the above spider.  I took Gage to Target to allow him to pick out one Halloween decoration for our house.  He fell in love with this spider and just kept saying, I love her, I want to take her home with me.  She is my best friend, etc. etc.  He named her Sally.....which coincidentally he named his pumpkin last week, too.

This one might be the winner for the birth announcement

Now, people, do you still think they look alike?