Bread & Jelly + the Peanut = Perfection!

Today was a day to mark in the record books!  The dual checkup!  It actually exceeded my expectations as I had prepared myself for the worst!  Jack actually listened to directions from the nurse and was weighed and measured before I'd even emerged with a dry-diapered babe!  He sure did earn his sucker!

So, the stats are as follows:
Jack, 36 lbs, 41" tall.  (89th percentile for weight, 98th for height)
Roman, 16lbs, 28" tall (2nd percentile for weight, not sure his height)

The average of both = PERFECTION!

I kept telling myself this as the evening progressed!  A teething, sore-legged baby and an over-tired 3 year old.  They're perfect!  They're healthy!  They're happy (usually)!  And I'm doing "all" the right things!  (Thanks Dr. Fix for reinforcing my parenting skills!  Have I mentioned that I love her?)  Fussing, crying, arguing, crying, not listening (although I know you passed your hearing test), giggling, crying, sleeping...PERFECTION!

Roman's first football game!  1st game (er. scrimmage)!

3

Oh, Super Jack!

Super Jack

How you make me giggle!  I can't believe we're celebrating Birthday #3!  It seems like yesterday that I was anxiously awaiting your arrival with a bowl of ice cream resting on your bump!  Today I've already tucked you back into your bed once, and gave you the last warning about taking away your beloved car!

Bed tent (that hasn't made it a full night!)

You have grown up so much this past year!  Your communication (the good) has improved!  Your sentences are still short, and you sometimes have trouble getting your thought out, but, I understand you!  You're challenging your boundaries and the rules we've done our best to enforce!  Although, sometimes you break us.  And everyone knows that you know how to break me first.  Your belly laughs and smile light up a room!

The biggest change for you this year was becoming a big brother!  You are a great big brother! You have amazed me in your willingness to share with Roman - including your cars!  You have the ability to make him smile and stop crying better than anyone in the world!  You've even shown us your protective side - when Papa tried to put him on the green (Jack) swing while you were swinging in the blue (Roman) swing.  And you try to tell him not to put things in his mouth!

You have started to learn your numbers and your alphabet!  You're even starting to sing songs!  The greatest joy comes from the "Bumble Bee" song!  You even requested a "Dinosaur" song, to which I had to make up lyrics!   You've started to dress yourself and are even requesting to use the potty alone!  And, you've started to help in the kitchen - muffins are a favorite!

Your imagination is going in full force!  You're constantly running from Monsters.  You're building more and more with your Legos and blocks...bridges and castles are a current favorite!  And sometimes we hear your jibberish from the other room while playing with any of your other toys!

You are such a love!  I can always count on you for a hug and kiss!  You still like to know where we are at all times and the constant question in the house is, "Mom, what are you doin'?"  or "Where's Dad?"!  And all things farts, burps, and poop is the cause for an immediate smile and "no, way" response!

McQueen bike helmet!

3rd Birthday Present!  A Trike!

Happy Birthday to you Jack!

A fun filled 4th of July weekend

The Garza's were in Ohio!  Yippee!  

The big boys golfed!

The little boys played, inside and out.

And Roman was baptized!

Playing cars!
(Post naps!  The first couple of hours were time for adjustment!)

Nakie Bruns Babies

Taking turns hitting the ball.  One had a much better grasp on baseball than the other!

Taking a break from "Ready, Set, Go" to cheese!

Cooling off!

Romy's first cake! 

Ben's turn!

Jack's turn!

The attempt for a cousin picture was less than stellar!  

How about this one?

Roman's Baptism!

I think they were telling secrets!

An attempt at a family photo!

June B.U.G.

June was a pretty fast going month!  It began with a weekend away!  Followed by a week of potty training and finishing up sleep training!  Followed by another weekend away for me and Mark and weekend in Coldwater for the boys.  Followed by a week of a stomach bug & re-sleep training.  Followed by a week of dealing with a kid bug.  Ugh!  

I heard 3 is worse than 2.  And, its true!  That sweet little face you see below is FULL of attitude and stubbornness.  I've no clue where he gets either!  We've had a couple not so easy weeks and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we've figured out (for now) how to deal with the "Trying Three's"!  (Sad thing is, is we're not 3 yet!)  But, the big boy has done an awesome job potty training!  Papa got him to poop in the potty for the first time while the boys were in Coldwater and Mark and I were ridiculously excited.  I always thought parent's who took pictures of first poops and jumped up and down were off their rockers, but had I been there, I too would've captured the moment!  Not long after, Jack had a poop so big that he clogged the toilet!  Guess who was the first to congratulate him and give him a high five!  Yep, I'm one proud (and disgusting) Mom!!!!

New big boy swing

Another "fun" happening this month was our participation in the Tough Mudder.  We signed up for the event not long after I had Roman.  I've got to say, it was a great way to get my tired toosh to the gym, and do more than just read a trashy magazine on the elliptical.  The event started out glorious!  It was an amazing gathering of people, and some of the most fit people I'd ever seen.  (Bodies to be jealous of!)  I was anxious as our heat gathered in the starting gate.  I teared up when they played the National Anthem and when we were praising our military.  And then, it began.  12 miles of hell!  Mark's desire to run amazed me.  (He's not one to do cardio...ever.)  I was actually the one who told him we needed to walk (it was hot and the course was hilly and uneven terrain).  He encouraged me through the obstacles, threw my ass over 10' walls, and helped me up when I slipped in the mud (a lot)!  And then, somewhere around mile 10, the sky's opened and the mud became muddier and the exhaustion and desire to sit down and be "done" hit.  But, somehow, we trudged through the last 2 miles both slightly disappointed that due to the weather, obstacles were closed (although some I knew I was going to attempt (ie electric current fields)).  But, we finished - together!  I know, it sounds sappy, but it was a great event for the two of us to do together!  Mark may participate in the Mudder again.  I think I'll try my hand at a 10k, on a paved road, and maybe have some fun at a Warrior Dash!

Tough Mudder (before)

The "Sweat Hogs"

Post event, I spent a lot of time spraying our clothes and laundering them multiple times in attempt to get all the mud/clay out.  After an extra night in Coldwater, Jack decided to show us how strong he is!

I need a banana!

And Mr. Roman has mastered the art of sitting up.  And he's sleeping through the night!  He is such a happy little stink and craves constant attention from anyone!  And, he is wanting desperately to be on the move.  Every day he's getting a little closer to figuring out how to crawl.  He'll turn in circles on his belly and his constant rolling over gets him into some interesting locations!    

Concentrating on the buttons!

The difference a week makes

A week ago, Mark and I were in Vegas - celebrating my milestone birthday with great friends from college.  Did we win you ask?  Depends...money, notsomuch!  Well, I won $8.50...and then I returned from drowning a $.99 margarita and it was gone!  Sunburns?  Obviously - its the desert!  Quality time together?  It was much needed and I didn't miss the boys until our return day!

Look at those chandeliers!  At "Paris" (I think ;-)!)

And this week, we're back to reality!  Jack is being potty trained!  He had a day of accidents and has done great ever since.  He still doesn't tell us when he needs to potty, but we'll get there!  And Roman has slept through the night and started sitting up.  We had to deal with a day of the boys coming down from being at Grammie and Pop's house...you know, the constant attention/being held, different rules, back-to-reality adjustment!  It was a fun day and I was definitely ready to book another flight to anywhere =)!

Look who's sitting up?  (With a little help from Tonka!)

Someday he's going to kill me ;-)!

"Picinic" lunch!  Sandwich cheers!

So far, this summer has been great and we're only a week in!

Where do I begin?

Frankly, I'm not sure!  It's been quite some time since I last logged in to share about the loves of my life!  Certainly, I should have tons to babble about or a lengthy list to be bullet pointed.  However, I do not!  We've been busy...with every day life.  The joys of two kids = Less time for everything other than them! 

After a looong 4 1/2 months, Roman finally turned a corner!  Well, that was awhile ago, since today my happy little baby turned 6 months old!  We're on our 3rd reflux medicine and yet another formula!  He loves eating food and is finally consistently drinking 6oz bottles!  He's a rolling machine and continuously watches his big brother!  He is our little extrovert!  He cannot be in a room by himself and I hear myself asking Jack to go to whatever room he's in, because that's all he really wants!  As for sleeping through the night...we're getting close!  He just needs that paci popped back in his mouth and a quick snuggle! 

 Jack is getting so old!  His brain is constantly going...so much so that he's blabbering about well after his bedtime, and being put back to bed, numerous times!  He can be such a great helper and such a sass!  He's constantly making us giggle!  The other night we had grilled pineapple, which he was refusing to eat.  However, in order to be given a treat, he has to eat everything.  After being handed his fork to help him, his response to the pineapple - "Mmm...DOLICIOUS"!  (Also, imagine the cutest 2 1/2 year old's voice, inflection and all!)  Not to mention a trip downtown with Mark, to which he described the buildings as being Castles!  He also has his moments that break my heart (and make me rephrase my "no") because he'll whine, "Mommy, say yes".  (Maybe he hears "no" a little too often!) 

The boys have become buddies!  Roman wants to be everywhere Jack is and Jack will usually grab various toys for Roman or share his cars!  Although, first thing in the morning or post nap, Jack still wants to snuggle with me!  I'm not going to complain!  Roman can't return hugs and kisses yet =)!

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"!