Skipping with Excitement!

My day began with a cold tootsied, wet pantsed little boy waking me up at 6:45.  After a quick diaper and pj change I kindly brought him in bed to cuddle (not letting his cold feet touch me) hoping he'd fall back to sleep.  That didn't happen.  Especially when the other one woke up at his respectful time of 7:00.

This regular early morning was brought on full force with coffee, Mickey, and the search for something delicious to bake.  The original request was cinnamon rolls...don't have any.  Blueberry muffins...mix poured in a bowl, all to discover, we're all out of milk.  Thankfully I had a box of Trader Joe's Cinnamon-Sugar coffee cake.  Why can't cereal be enough?  Who needs milk?  (Jack sure doesn't!)

Anyway, finally, it was time to hit the gym.  But, I figured I'd make a call while in route...for excitement #1.  Setting up lawn care service!!!  What has happened to me?  I used to be excited about new shoes?  Now I'm excited about my yard being weed free!  YIPPEE!

Then, my second excitement for the day!  A treadmill workout = 30 minutes of non-stop running.  Well, I lie, I did stop, once, to fix my iPod which inevitably ran out of charge.  That's right...3.25 miles in 30 minutes.  I couldn't help but think that the 2004 Erin would be disappointed in the pace of this run, however, the 2012, post-baby Erin was super pumped!  To make it even better...I stayed on that treadmill and finished out the mile with some intervals!

Excitement 3...taking a walk in our new double stroller.  I won't dwell on how short the walk lasted (down to the end of the street).  Hopefully someone learns that his Mommy likes to take walks and he'd better get over it!

And of course I'm super excited about this awesome weather we've been having!  The scent of magnolia and honeysuckle are filling the air!  I love the Easter flowers in bloom!  I love the green grass!  (And in a demented way can't wait to see all the weeds die and watch a lush lawn grow in its place!)  I love the sun shining so much that Mr. Hollywood needs his sunglasses and Romy needs his hat!  (If only both boys would have an overlapping nap in the afternoon I could REALLY enjoy the spring UV's!)

So, for now, I'll bask in the excitement of all that makes me happy and save the eye-rolling miserables for a day when I can look back and say, "I don't remember it being that bad"!

Leapin' Lizards!

Change!  I try to embrace the inevitable!  I attempt to control what I can and roll with the punches in what I can't.  Some days I handle change better than others!  Some days I'm glad to pour myself a chilled glass of white to help myself relax into the adjustment.  Other days I clap and giggle with glee as I witness my world spinning!

February was a month filled with change!  The return to work was a dreaded change!  How would I handle waking up for the day daily at 5am?  Get 2 boys ready in the morning?  How would Roman adjust to going to the sitter?  Well, let me tell you...waking up at 5am, some days, its like sleeping in!  There have been days where Roman doesn't want to go back to sleep at 4am.  Or between Roman and Jack, I get 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep - from 10 - 1 before the trips bouncing between bedrooms begin.  I do it because I have to!  Thank goodness for coffee!  And Roman's adjustment, normal!  But, upon my return to work...conversations with adults!  Making the world have healthier oral hygiene daily!  I love it!  What I don't love, seeing my boys for less than 2 hours daily.  

Jack teaching Roman how to knock down blocks!

Change 2 began 2 weeks after returning to work.  We decided out day care situation needed to change.  I struggled with this change.  Mostly about Jack's adjustment.  Thankfully it didn't take us too long to find Cindy and Ashley!  The first week was tough for Jack.  He tested Cindy's boundaries.  And ours.  But after only a few weeks, we've seen so many positive changes in Jack!  His language is better!  His manners are better! He plays better and instead of asking for Mickey during his morning diaper change, he's asking to play!  And, it only took him 2 weeks to ask about "going to Cindy's" on our Friday at home!  

Change 3 brings me to what I first mentioned of clapping and giggling with glee!  Jack peed in the potty!  YIPPEE!  We're  not quite to the point of officially potty training, but, we're getting closer!  And I bought pull ups in anticipation!

Mr. Hollywood!  (I couldn't take a picture of him using the potty ;-)!!!)

Change 4...Roman eating rice cereal!  I figured at 3 months old, we'd give it a whirl!  We did with Jack!  And you know what...he got more down the hatchet than I thought!  Although, it didn't help him sleep through the night! 

Yummy Cereal!

 Wow...how much more can happen?  Well, we spent a long weekend at Grammie and Pop's!  Elizabeth and Ben came home and we had so much fun!  Ben and Jack took seconds to warm up to each other and were soon running laps around the house, giggling and squealing with glee!  (There were multiple attempts at pictures.  Although, these boys were always moving...there were lots of blurry photos of the backs of their heads ;-)!!)  Poor Roman spent most of the weekend either watching the big boys, dreaming of joining them, or crying.

Grammie, Pop, & the boys!

Ben & Jack playing

At the zoo!

We're still dealing with digestive issues and have him on reflux medicine.  Although, after a few weeks on it, I'm not sure reflux is our issue.  Ugh!  I know he'll outgrow this and its a change I'll embrace with open arms!  Likely giggling and jumping for joy!

Bowling!

When Romy's not crying or sleeping, he's smiling!!!!

So Long, Farewell...

"I leave and heave a sigh and say Goodbye"...

This is the last full week of my maternity leave.  I can't believe its been 8 weeks!  Eight weeks of sleeping in increments of 2 hours or less (except for those few nights of Grammie/Nana help).  Eight weeks of attemping to get household chores done, shower, eat, and hopefully nap at some point during the day.  Eight weeks of going to the gym every day - well, that's a huge lie!  Only 4 weeks of that, and every day...did I mention how long it takes to get household chores done?  Not to mention having to time out running any sort of errand?  I think I've gone to Target atleast 8 times in the past 8 weeks!

Afternoon Stroll

I wish I could say that in 8 weeks time, I have a baby sleeping through the night.  It was my goal!  At 4 weeks.  I'm still going to hold out hope that by 12 weeks, this dream will come true!

In 8 weeks Roman has grown (to a whopping 10 lbs), gone through 3 different kinds of formula (not to mention breast milk), had an ultrasound, an EKG, and his first illness.  [Ultrasounds for clicky hips and his butt dimple and the EKG for his heart murmor.  All "concerns" are normal!] Yep, we've gone through formula...I don't remember Jack having such digestive issues, but, maybe he did!  And he's a Croup kid.  Hopefully this will be his 1 and only time, but I have a hunch its unlikely!

Happy Boy

Playing Outside (apparently Mommy's nap wasn't long enough)

Oh yeah, and Jack seems to like him now too!  He gets excited to see Roman in his swing or bouncer and gives him short little snuggles...always when he's being burped!  And Roman definitely likes his big brother!  He's starting to watch him and always smiles when Jack is near!

Roman's first UD vs XU game!

And Jack has grown up this month too!  His language and combination of words is getting better and he likes playing with our new Tablet.  His imagination has also evolved...not only in play, but in general...thus leading to nightmares (that he's actually able to tell me about)...like the big scary fishes!  (Def: the lobsters getting out of their tank at the grocery.)

Playing games on the Tablet

Reading all by himself!  (Daddy set up the foot-rest the 1st time, but now Jack does!)

Wee!  (Sledding is fun this year!)

We've also experienced our first case of the tummy bug too.  Not so much fun!  A full load of laundry has never been produced so quickly!  And I was forced to have both boys to myself.  I know, this is slightly horrible, but I have a long way to go to master the art of giving both boys the attention they want and need simultaneously!  Jack tends to want/need something as soon as Roman starts crying and he dives in for the cuddles as soon as Roman is placed anywhere but my lap.

Teaching Jack "Go Flyers"

So, in my 8 weeks of maternity leave, I bid adieu to not getting out of bed until 7 or 8, morning snuggles with both boys over a cup of coffee and episode (or 2) of Mickey Mouse Club House, trips to the gym, a DVR that isn't filled with all my shows, a clean house, laundry baskets that are rarely full, daily naps, wearing comfies, and dinner on the table every night between 6 & 6:30 (not to mention new recipes being tried)!  I am ready to get back to work, but Mark has commented on how nice its been that I've been home.  (I think he likes the fact that he doesn't have to take Jack anywhere in the mornings, and he can come home and crack open a beer and know dinner will be served shortly!)  Maybe someday, this will be the norm...but for now..."Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye"!

My little sports fans!

Jack - September 2009

Roman - January 2012

I told Mark after I took Romy's picture today that it reminded me of the picture I took of Jack 2 years ago.  (Obviously using the same spot on the couch too!)  We sure do love our Anderson Redskins and Dayton Flyers in this house!  

Then and Now

January 2011

December 2011

They're still a couple of wierdos =)!

Merry Happy Merry

December was a whirlwind month!  Our family adjusting to its addition, the guest room being occupied, and celebrating the holidays!

Jack has begun to warm up to his little brother!  He finally realizes that this little baby isn't going anywhere!  His adjustment has been less than seamless.  It helped having his grandparent's help through out the month...someone has generally been able to provide him with the attention he needs.  The hardest adjustment for him though, has been at night, if I have to tell him to "wait one minute" so I can go wake up Daddy to take care of Roman.  (This has become much easier once the bottle was the only form of feeding!)  He now says "bye" to Roman when I drop him off at Eva's and always lets us know when Baby Roman is crying...just in case we weren't aware!  And Jack doesn't like when we bathe his brother, as his brother hates being naked!

Tickling Baby Roman

Hugs!

As for Jack's fun tidbits this month:

• He can reach the light switch
• "Set Go" is a game of chase, created by Daddy.  Jack says, "set go" and one must run around the house and hide from Jack, all while Jack is yelling, "Daddy/Mommy/or whomever's name is playing this game of giggles with him.  
• He is quite the dancer!  He gets his moves from his Mom!  Jack and Mark will just start shaking their butts!
• Like many 2 year olds, he wanted to take all the ornaments off the tree.  He was allowed to take a few off...mainly, the jingle bells!  There was a lot of jingling happening!
• We also discovered he is Mark's son when it comes to gifts!  He must open them as soon as he see's one, even if its not his!  (Thank goodness Roman didn't know what was happening!)

Checking out the tree...figuring out what ornaments Mom will let him have!

HeeHaw!

Yep...I went to wake Jack from a nap and found him like this!

Who needs a bed when you have a comfy chair?

As for Roman...he is quite the neglected second child! I realized after Jack had torn through all the Christmas gifts that we didn't document Roman.  Like most newborns, he slept through the entire thing.  He doesn't do a whole lot for me to report on ;-)!  Just eats, sleeps, poops, and cries!  He has started to coo and make happy faces, which make my heart smile!  

Roman's 1 week Drs appointment

As always, Christmas was a delight!  We celebrated in Cincinnati early because Christmas Eve & Day was spent at Grammie and Pop's and New Years Eve & Day was spent at Nana & Papa's!  Oh what fun!  

Seeing how well Lightning McQueen drives on the new train track

Christmas #1

Columbus:

"Playing" the piano!

Reading a new "Cars" book...the first of many times!

More Presents!

 Coldwater:

Roman's very own toy box!  

Madison!  Patiently waiting her turn!

Princess Stickers!  Such an easy thrill!

The big one's wore him out ;-)!

Helping Nana

Playing Beauty Parlor

Perhaps I shall take the opportunity to utilize this nap time to either nap myself or work on organizing
 this house!  It's absolute chaos!

Giving Thanks!

As I'm waiting for this nap time to end, I figured I'd utilize my time...not by doing laundry, but my keeping my rear on the couch!  Yes, I should be napping too...and I did, for about an hour.  The littlest boy hasn't been giving me a good napping stretch during the big one's nap time the past few days.  I guess I should be thankful for the hour nap I am able to have!

Anyway, this has been quite the month!  I was one happy lady when football ended after a 10-week season!  We had things to do to get ready for #2.  Like, spending as much time with Jack as possible!  Not to mention, finishing the basement.  After going to Lowes every weekend for nearly 2 months, we have a functional playroom!  There are still some things that need to be done, but, there's carpet, and lots of toys!  And, Jack loves playing downstairs!

I know I had fun tidbits about him this month, and of course, with preggo brain (now new mom brain), they all escape me!  The biggest development is the words and phrases he's been putting together.  Some still need to be translated and even take me a few repetitions to understand, but, we're getting there!

Helping make dinner

At the Zoo

Big Boy Buzz Cuts!  (Don't worry, he's dripping jellybean juice!)

Thanksgiving Day!  Wheelbarrel Races!

Kisses!

Last dinner...just the 3 of us (plus Grammie)

And there was the arrival of Roman!  Grammie came down to take care of Jack while we were at the hospital and we let her go home on Friday!  Unfortunately, Jack's time with Grammie was a bit rough.  He'd been sick (Mark was round 1, I nearly coughed Roman out, and Jack is still getting over the nastiness that made its round!), and, he frankly, just had a rough time without us being home.

The adjustment is going as I'd expected.  Jack's taking more and more interest in his little brother everyday, but still doesn't do much other than touch him.  He understands when Momma has to feed him and definitely doesn't like when I can't put him down for his nap, or be there for him when he wakes up in the middle of the night.  (Inevitably, both boys have needed me at the same time the past few nights.  The first night I tried to take care of both boys needs by having everyone climb into our bed so I could feed Roman and Jack could be next to me.)  But, we created this "momma monster".

Roman is adjusting to his new world, and Mark and I are beginning to figure out how to best meet his needs.  He's been nursing well.  And needing the boob a little more than I'd like!  The peanut will nurse for an hour at a time, mostly, because I think its comforting.  His poor tooshy is raw from the output of poop so diaper changes are even more upsetting to him.  We've been supplementing with formula since we came home from the hospital and decided today that we'll be doing more bottle feeding than nursing - for the simple issue of him nursing for so long.  (I'd like to be able to leave the house, should I so choose ;-)!)  Our first outing will come tomorrow, for his 1 week checkup!  Hopefully we can get out of the house within a reasonable time-frame!

Meeting Grammie!

Meeting Nana & Papa

Meeting Pop!  

Watching Mickey!