Wednesday, September 29, 2010

What Goes Around Comes Around

I haven't posted since Sunday and I can chalk all that up to the fact that I decided to start my 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels that night. If any of you have ever tried that workout DVD you all know its KILLER. I think you have to do about 60 pushups and I can do two. With my knees on the floor. And someone else pulling me up. I can still barely move my arms. My abs hurt when I laugh and my back is killing me. I have a habit of overdoing it when I decide to start working out and I am pretty sure I did just that. Because even after being as sore as I was, on Monday I started the Couch to 5k. So my legs feel like jello. Not that blogging takes up a whole lot of energy, but I have just felt like being lazy and trying to regain feeling in my arms.

Plus yesterday Dave got sick at work so it seems like the flue is making its rounds at our house. Oh joy. I am loving the cooler temperatures, but I am not looking forward to flu and cold season. Blugh.

So basically we are still alive but just enjoying being lazy and trying to feel better.

Since the only reason anyone comes to this blog is to see pictures then here is a funny one we took of Rowan the other night. He fell asleep on his boppy pillow and he just looked so cute we had to take a picture.

IMG_3802

I can't believe he is already almost as big as his pillow! *tear*

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Haircut and Trip to Grandma and Papa's

Yesterday Kensley got her hair cut for the second time. I can't believe I am saying this, but she did really well. She sat on my lap with minimal fussing and we were done in about 15 minutes. Luckily, I have a great hairdresser and she is so good with Kensley. We got a good amount cut off because her hair is shorter in the front than in the back so now it is a lot more even.

This is what it looked like before:

IMG_3619

And here she is after is was cut:

IMG_3815

IMG_3816

After her hair cut we went and spent the day with my mom and dad. I love how when we pull in the driveway Kensley starts saying, "Papa! Papa! Where is he?" She definitely loves her Papa and Grandma. (It may have something to do with the amount of sugar they give here while we are there...) I think Rowan is starting to like it there too.

IMG_3805

Doesn't he look like L.L. Cool J here? Remember how he always used to wear one pant leg rolled up? No? Am I showing my age here? Don't answer that.

My dad actually held Rowan for a little bit! My dad is one of those guys that doesn't really like to hold little babies. He is afraid he will break them. But Rowan isn't exactly what you would call a "little" baby so I had to take their picture together!

IMG_3820

Rowan is definitely spoiled. I don't think he gets put down the entire time he is there. Here is hanging out with Uncle Colton.

IMG_3822

This weekend was pretty rough for me. What I thought was possibly the flu has turned out to be mastitis. I feel like I have been hit by a bus and then dragged under the wheel for a few miles. I started to get sick Friday night and today I still feel pretty bad. Luckily, I have been able to pump like crazy all weekend and have been alternating hot and cold presses and things seem to be getting a little better. Oh the joys of being a mom. Life doesn't stop because you are sick!

Friday, September 24, 2010

The Best Toothless Grin on the Planet

IMG_3800

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Great Potty Training Disaster

So Kensley is now 2 1/2 and I am starting to feel a little bit of pressure from my family and possibly some other moms that she should start potty training. The thing is, I just didn't think she was ready because she shows NO interest in going on the potty we bought her. She never tries to take her diaper off or wakes up with a dry diaper or any of the other signals they tell you to look for. But for some reason my insanity kicked in and I thought Monday would be as good as any a day to start.

At first I stripped her down naked and let her run around the house. I pumped her full of diluted apple juice. Sippy cup after sippy cup until she wouldn't drink any more. This is where it might be good to note that my child is SCARED TO DEATH OF THE POTTY. What started this? I have no idea. I can't think of one traumatizing incident she would have had on it, but none the less she is petrified of the thing. So just getting her to sit on the potty was a feat in itself. I literally sat on the floor beside her with my arms around her hugging her while she cried, "mama" in the most pitiful voice.

An hour later nothing.

Not a single drop.

So I let her get up and the moment I turned around to pick up Rowan she peed all over the floor. I picked her up quickly to try and sit her back on the toilet and she is kicking and fighting me again to even sit down on it. I never once raised my voice, tried to talk to her soothingly that when she starts to pee she needs to sit on the potty.

Starting to dawn on me that this is going to be hard. This kid is nothing if not completely stubborn.

Don't ask me where she gets that from. No. Idea.

My husband was telling me awhile ago that someone he knew potty trained their daughter by putting her in real undies with a diaper over them. That way when she went she felt herself go and it was uncomfortable and she didn't like it and said potty training occurred. I thought. "why not" and did the same with Kensley.


I sit down to feed Rowan and I look up to her making her, "I'm pooping" face. I rush to set Rowan down and go over to her asking her if she is going potty. I start to pull her underwear down when I see just how much she has already gone.

sidenote: K lives on green beans, raisins, tomatoes and black beans. This tends to make her poops very, very ummm....soft.

I know this is going to be a disaster so instead of trying to sit her on her tiny little potty I take her into our bathroom and try to set her over the regular potty. At this point I am just trying to get her underwear off and not get any of this mess anywhere but in the toilet. Well, if you think she has a fear of her little potty....multiply that times a billion and that is just about how petrified she is of the "real" potty.

As I am pulling her undies off she begins thrashing like she is having a seizure. Kicking and scratching and screaming her full head off. And this is where it gets bad.

Poop starts flying everywhere.

All over the walls.

All over the floor.

MY FACE.

I can barely hold on to her at this point and she throws herself down on the floor smearing it all over. She tries to run out of the bathroom and slips and slides in it. I am screaming in horror and shock at this point. I honestly didn't know what to do.

I pick her up and try to take her upstairs. She must have some sort of ESP because she knew full well where I was taking her. THE BATHTUB.

You all know how much she loves that place...

I am covered in crap at this point. My hands are slipping off of her because SHE IS COVERED IN CRAP. It is on my walls going up the steps and all over my carpeted stairs. I get her in the bathroom where she is still freaking out and she gets more all over the floor and walls in that room. I get her in the tub and begin to turn on the shower and just hose her down. I get her out, diapered and I put her in her room to play until her dad got home.


I then cleaned poop off every surface imaginable for the next hour. 

Guys, I found it in between my toes. 

So I guess what I am trying to say is that it didn't go so well.


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Exactly How I Got Rowan To Come Out!



P.S. No, this is not me. Although it very well could have been if I had been cool enough to tape my own sweet dance moves for all y'all to see.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Growth Spurt?

IMG_3579

Poor Rowan. I think he might be going through a growth spurt right now. Yesterday he ate 8oz at a few feedings and he did again this morning. Plus, he just hasn't been very happy lately. He needs lots of extra snuggle time and constantly wants to be held. Look at that face...pitiful right?! How can you say no to that? ha!

Monday Meandering

Did anyone else watch the Colts vs Giants game last night? I really thought it would have been a closer game but I am still glad the Colts won! Whoo hoo! It was cracking me up last night because Kensley would yell "GO GO!" and "TOUCHDOWN!" after we did and then yell "BOO" and "STOP!" when the Giants had the ball. She is the perfect little cheerleader ;) Plus I loved all the coverage on the Manning brothers. They seem like such a great, supportive family. As much as Peyton was glad to win you just know he felt bad for his little brother and wanted him to do well also. Dave tried to get me tickets to this game, but even in the nosebleeds the tickets were $500. *Sigh* Maybe someday...



While watching the game last night we figured out that our three favorite shows are on at the exact same time this season. 9pm on Thursday nights must be THE TIME to be on tv. We watch The Office, Grey's Anatomy and Fringe religiously and they are all on at that time on Thursdays. Of course we can watch them all online the next day but which one do we watch on TV? Not everyone owns a DVR people. Grrrrr.


I have a feeling Joshua Jackson may win out... ;)

Sunday, September 19, 2010

She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy

Today we stopped at Matt and Ashley's house for a few minutes and Kensley got to ride around with Kyle on his John Deer tractor. At first she didn't really want to go for a ride, but once he took off she loved it. Poor girl bawled her eyes out when we had to go.

IMG_3780

IMG_3783

Seriously, How cute is this?! Looks like they are off on a date huh? Just don't tell daddy that.

IMG_3784

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Our week

This week has been really nice weather wise so we have been spending a lot of time outside running around and enjoying it. Kensley loves running all over the yard picking up sticks, leaves and acorns. I'm really trying to think about what we will do once the weather turns too cold to play outside. There are not a lot of indoor options around here...

IMG_3593

IMG_3607

IMG_3642

Next week we are taking her to get her hair cut to her chin. Its starting to look stringy at the ends and she never lets me do anything to it anymore. Its a constant struggle just to get it brushed most days and we usually end up throwing it in a ponytail. I'm thinking it will look better cut short. I'll miss her long locks though. She just looks so grown up.

IMG_3691

We started back at the gym this week and I have really enjoyed being able to work out with no interruptions. Trying to do pilates at home with a two-year-old hanging of your legs is kind of difficult ;) Plus Rowan can sense when I am doing anything for myself (eating, going to the bathroom, working out, etc) and starts fussing the moment I start. I have taken K with me a few times so she can play in the daycare they have and she loves it. She cried the first day but walked in anyway and she cried when it was time to leave. The second day she went right in and sat down with one of the workers and started coloring. I think its just as good for her to get out of the house as it is for me.

Rowan is doing great. He is only waking up one time at night usually around 5am and then sleeping till 9 or so. During the day he is pretty content laying under his floor gym or sitting in my lap. He LOVES to sit up. Pretty soon we can break out the bumbo seat and I know he will love it.

IMG_3701

By far his favorite thing right now is when you pick him up and walk him all over the house. He loves looking all around and probably likes being high up as well!

IMG_3726

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Pinch Me

I can't believe I'm almost 29.

I can't believe I am married to my best friend.

I can't believe we have been together almost 8 years.

I can't believe I get to stay home with my children every day.

I can't believe I have the two best kids on earth.

I can't believe when I was a little girl I wanted so much when I grew up and I got it all.

I can't believe I graduated college 3 years ago. 

I can't believe how amazing my friends are.

I can't believe how much my family means to me.

I can't believe that when it comes to life I truly hit the lottery. 

I can't believe how blessed I am.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Mommy's Little Helper

 IMG_3718

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the transition from one child to two would go so smoothly with Kensley. We were very concerned with how she would handle it. It had been just us three for a long time and she was used to our undivided attention. We couldn't have guessed how much she would truly lover her little brother. This is a typical scene in our day to day life.

IMG_3720
She refuses to let anyone help her. Poor Rowan is trying to find the nipple because she has yet to learn how to hold the bottle steady. But don't you just love this? It completely melts my heart. Remind me to look at these pictures in a few years when they are fighting like cats and dogs. You know. To remind me of the good times.

IMG_3721


Sunday, September 12, 2010

2 Month Check Up

IMG_3542

 Stats

Weight: 15lbs 4oz

Height: 23 inches

Head: 15 3/4"


 Rowan had his two month well visit on Friday. We were really excited to get there and find out just how much our *ahem*... little... man had grown. I couldn't believe it when the nurse said he was already 15 lbs. He grew a full 3 lbs this month! Our pediatrician told us that Rowan is the size of some 9-month-olds.  Whoo boy! Should I start stocking my fridge now?

He also got two shots and an oral vaccine. He did really well and only cried for a minute. He was over crying about the first shot by the time they gave him the second. Such a tough guy. While we were there our doctor asked if we wanted to give Kensley her flu shot. We figured we might as well since we were already there. Guys, it broke my heart. This was the first time we have been to that office where she hasn't been deathly afraid of the doctor in I can't even tell you how long. We got her arm out of her shirt and all ready to go and when the nurse walked back in Kensley was all smiles. The nurse asked to see her arm and she proudly showed it off. As soon as the nurse poked her with the needle her smile faded and she looked at that nurse like she had just killed all of her hopes and dreams. She started crying, "boo boo, boo boo" over and over. Honestly though, she freaked out more about the nurse trying to give her a Dora band-aid. The girl HATES band-aids. Luckily, I thought to grab a sucker from the front desk and when I handed that to her all was well again. Alright, you got me...I gave her three suckers. I suck at this parenting thing.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Cupcakes and Chuck E. Cheese

Yesterday Kensley turned 2 and a half years old. When I was little (and I think for most kids) it was very important when you turned a half year older. I always remember telling everyone, "I am three and a half!" so I figured when I became a mother it would be something fun and special if we celebrated that half birthday. Once I had my daughter it became even more important because I realized just how precious each and every day is. I have seen mothers who have lost their children much too early and I want to make sure I never forget how blessed I am. I want my children to never forget just how much we love them. Oh, and its another good reason to have cake. ;)

We started off the day by going to a new cupcake shop that opened in our town. They specialize in the most amazing cupcake flavors and to be honest I was really, really hoping they would have red velvet cake. (Note to self: Must start back on my diet tomorrow).

IMG_3727

IMG_3731

IMG_3733

You can see to my great pleasure they had red velvet and it was sooo delish!

IMG_3738

We tried to get out of the shop without giving her the cupcake, but the birthday girl insisted. So she had a cupcake for breakfast. Call the parent police on us.

IMG_3739

IMG_3741

IMG_3746

IMG_3748

We stopped for some Chick-fil-a in the car and then it was off to Chuck E. Cheese! Can I just say that I have never been to a Chuck E. Cheese? I know. I lived a sheltered life. I have heard horror stories about these kind of places. Festering with germs and completely disgusting. Ours was just newly renovated though and I figured now would be a good time to go.

IMG_3753IMG_3754

And we completely hit the Chuck E. Cheese lottery. Since school is back in session there were literally two other kids there with their parents. We had free range over that place, and we took it over.

IMG_3756

Of course any game that involved balls were Kensley's favorite. We played Skee Ball countless times. On the way out Dave told me he though he blew his arm out from throwing all day long.

IMG_3758

IMG_3757

IMG_3768IMG_3765

We all had a great time and it really all comes down to the point that we were together. I know when she gets older she isn't going to remember the 10 cent bracelet and straw she won at the end of the day. She is going to remember sitting on her daddy's lap and the fact that he blew his arm out throwing balls to win her as many tickets as we he could. We will look at this picture and laugh at the fact that we were all trying to smash our heads together to fit inside the little red circle when in fact we didn't have to, it was just a reference to the center of the photo. She will remember that today was a great day. Well, she is only two and a half so maybe she won't.


chuckEcheese

But I will.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Happy 2 Months Rowan!

Dear Rowan,

Yesterday you turned two months old (but really, you were 8 weeks last week. Don't ask me how this works. Let's just say you were born on the 5th so your not really a month older till the 5th.) The reason I am just now writing to you is because you didn't give me one single solitary second to write to you yesterday. You spent your entire second month birthday crying. I hate to break it to you, but you were a huge party pooper. Yes, I know it's your party and you can cry if you want to...but what is so bad about turning two months old? What is there to be so unhappy about? Just wait till you move out and have to pay your own bills and wipe your own butt and then we can talk about unhappy.

IMG_3229

Let's see...what have you been up to this month? This month things finally started to get a little easier. You have been sleeping in four hour chunks. You usually go down at 10pm and wake up around 2pm and then 7am and we get up for the day around 10. It hasn't been too bad and so much easier than the every-two-hour milk marathon you were on before. You are eating just about 4oz at every feeding which is good because I can finally keep up with you and you get very few formula bottles anymore. You look like a baby twice your age though. We thought your sister was big at 2 months, but when I look at you I think you could easily pass for a four month old. You are also wearing 3 month clothing and don't fit in any of your 0-3 month clothing anymore. This makes me so sad, but I am so happy you are one big happy and healthy boy.

IMG_3485

This month you started cooing and smiling and it gives everyone great pleasure to sit and talk to you and try to get you going. The other day I was laying on the floor talking to you and you had the most determined look on your face as you tensed your whole body up, clenched your fists and let out a huge coo. A lot of the time it sounds like you are about to cry, but then we realize you are just trying to talk to us. You also smiled for the first time this month and it melts my heart each and every time I see it. You are not doing it too often just yet and when you let a little one slip out we can't help but laugh. It seems you must be having very pleasant dreams because you can often be found smiling as you snooze.

IMG_3566

Speaking of snoozing, we have a very specific approach to getting you to sleep. During the day the only way you will sleep is in your swing, with your blanket and the Coldplay station playing on Pandora. At night, we swaddle you and lay you on your side and turn on the ocean waves music. That ocean wave music works amazingly well. So well in fact that your dad and I noticed that its working wonders on us to. The other night your daddy put you to sleep and when he came out of the room he said he had to hurry up and get out of there before the ocean waves lulled him to sleep.

IMG_3295

Rowan this month has been another amazing one. It seems like it has gone by so quickly and that is because it really has. If there is one thing that I learned from having your sister it is that these days are gone in the blink of an eye. I just try to remind myself of that and take each day and soak it all in. I just know that in a year from now, two years from now, five years from now and especially 18 years from now I am going to miss these days. These days were I can hold you close in the middle of the night and hear you breathing. These days when I can kiss on your cheeks a million times and you never once look at me funny or tell me to stop. These days when fit just perfectly in my arms. You were made for me buddy and I am so lucky to have these days.

Love,

Mama

Friday, September 3, 2010

My Little Twinkies

HPIM2877

Kensley at 2 months old

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Wordless Wednesday

IMG_3485