Sunday, July 31, 2011
Church
I have really been wanting to go to church lately, and I hate to make excuses, but it's been really hard with Andy's tummy issues-- we didn't want to take him and have him scream throughout the service, or have me not be able to calm him down.. and his scream was such that even in the nursery, the entire congregation would have heard it. Literally.
But I made up my mind that we were going today. Eddie was going to play golf, but it was canceled so he came too! It was wonderful! Andy slept in my arms the entire time (ahhhh), and Cal had a great time in the nursery... after he got over the drop off. He does NOT like to be dropped off! My goodness! He cried when I left him (Eddie can't handle the crying, it breaks his heart, so he waited down the hall with Andy while I did the dirty work)...
After we got home, I made the boys take some pictures-- it's rare that we are all dressed nicely (at the same time!).
Cal says "cheeeeeeese" every time the camera comes out now, and we end up with...well, cheesy pictures:
After Eddie left to play golf (which was truncated by a storm), I took a few more pictures of Cal and Andy just for fun...
But I made up my mind that we were going today. Eddie was going to play golf, but it was canceled so he came too! It was wonderful! Andy slept in my arms the entire time (ahhhh), and Cal had a great time in the nursery... after he got over the drop off. He does NOT like to be dropped off! My goodness! He cried when I left him (Eddie can't handle the crying, it breaks his heart, so he waited down the hall with Andy while I did the dirty work)...
After we got home, I made the boys take some pictures-- it's rare that we are all dressed nicely (at the same time!).
Cal says "cheeeeeeese" every time the camera comes out now, and we end up with...well, cheesy pictures:
wish the lighting was better :(
trying to grab Cal while holding Andy:
works for me:
After Eddie left to play golf (which was truncated by a storm), I took a few more pictures of Cal and Andy just for fun...
and while I took above pic of andy, cal went and found some cars and....a plunger!
the motley crew
Sleep Update: 10 weeks
Mr. Andy will be 11 weeks old on Wednesday (cah-razy!), and I want to take a minute to do a sleep update, so I can go back later on in life and remember this stuff.
In weeks 9 and 10, I felt like Andy was making a lot of progress sleeping. He was taking 2 great naps in his crib, at least 2 hours each, and a few cat naps in between. I have been trying really hard to follow the eat, wake, sleep cycle, and felt like that was working well.
Then, last weekend, we went out to dinner with some friends Saturday night. We had a sitter and left milk for Andy. Well, long story short, Andy wouldn't take the bottle, screamed like crazy, and our sitter texted me before I even ordered dinner. There was no calming him. He screamed for 2 hours straight. I came home before ordering dinner and found a distraught baby and sitter.
That night, I guess he was so exhausted from all the crying, he slept a 6 hour stretch. I was PUMPED! He only got up one time that night and I was SO SO excited! I thought we were turning a corner. The next day, he was still worn out because he took two AWESOME naps in his crib-- it was just great all around!
You know how the bible says "Thou Shall Not Boast"? Well, I was telling everyone what a great sleeper he was and that he slept for 6 hours and he only got up once and wasn't that so great..... well, he SHOWED me! That next night, Andy got up 5 times. Yes. 5 times. And each time, he was a challenge to get back down again. Not just a feed and back in crib. This was a feed, rock, burp, change, rock, pace, bounce, feed....ack! The next day, he went down for his morning nap (in the crib), and slept for all of 15 minutes. hm. I rocked him again and put him down again, and he was awake 15 minutes later. I knew he was exhausted because every time I rocked him, he fell asleep instantly.
We ran some errands, and he dozed a bit in the car, and then it was time for afternoon naps. Again, he fell asleep while I rocked him, but then was awake again after 15 minutes! This went the ENTIRE nap time! I was soooo worn out from the night before and I spent the entire time Cal was down, trying to get (and keep) Andy down. It wore me out.
That has pretty much been the trend this week-- a lot of broken naps... I'm trying different things to get him to nap longer. I just can't figure out what has changed...
Our pediatrician says it's time to let him cry it out. I am ready for this HOWEVER, Andy sleeps on his stomach and I am not comfortable with him crying it out until he is capable of flipping back and forth. Is that bad? I just don't want him on his face screaming... if he could roll to his back and then back to his stomach, I'd feel better.
He is napping right now, and I put him on his side. I think part of the problem too, is he is liking his paci and likes to fall asleep with it in, but when he's on his stomach, he can't turn his head without the paci getting caught and waking him up. He isn't able to put the paci in by himself yet either...that will help too.
So, there's the sleep update. Hopefully, we can keep getting those long stretches at night...
Cal starts camp again next week for the month of August and then school starts in September...!!!! It starts at 9:00, so I am going to have to figure out Andy's napping around drop off and pick up. I might make him nap in the car for the morning nap! I don't know what else to do-- unless Eddie does drop off every day....
Side note: I am going to be doing some mega tummy time this week so that we can start crying it out sooner!
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| party at my crib! 12, 3, 5, 6...really allll night! come on over! |
In weeks 9 and 10, I felt like Andy was making a lot of progress sleeping. He was taking 2 great naps in his crib, at least 2 hours each, and a few cat naps in between. I have been trying really hard to follow the eat, wake, sleep cycle, and felt like that was working well.
Then, last weekend, we went out to dinner with some friends Saturday night. We had a sitter and left milk for Andy. Well, long story short, Andy wouldn't take the bottle, screamed like crazy, and our sitter texted me before I even ordered dinner. There was no calming him. He screamed for 2 hours straight. I came home before ordering dinner and found a distraught baby and sitter.
That night, I guess he was so exhausted from all the crying, he slept a 6 hour stretch. I was PUMPED! He only got up one time that night and I was SO SO excited! I thought we were turning a corner. The next day, he was still worn out because he took two AWESOME naps in his crib-- it was just great all around!
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| you mean I am supposed to SLEEP at night? |
You know how the bible says "Thou Shall Not Boast"? Well, I was telling everyone what a great sleeper he was and that he slept for 6 hours and he only got up once and wasn't that so great..... well, he SHOWED me! That next night, Andy got up 5 times. Yes. 5 times. And each time, he was a challenge to get back down again. Not just a feed and back in crib. This was a feed, rock, burp, change, rock, pace, bounce, feed....ack! The next day, he went down for his morning nap (in the crib), and slept for all of 15 minutes. hm. I rocked him again and put him down again, and he was awake 15 minutes later. I knew he was exhausted because every time I rocked him, he fell asleep instantly.
We ran some errands, and he dozed a bit in the car, and then it was time for afternoon naps. Again, he fell asleep while I rocked him, but then was awake again after 15 minutes! This went the ENTIRE nap time! I was soooo worn out from the night before and I spent the entire time Cal was down, trying to get (and keep) Andy down. It wore me out.
That has pretty much been the trend this week-- a lot of broken naps... I'm trying different things to get him to nap longer. I just can't figure out what has changed...
Our pediatrician says it's time to let him cry it out. I am ready for this HOWEVER, Andy sleeps on his stomach and I am not comfortable with him crying it out until he is capable of flipping back and forth. Is that bad? I just don't want him on his face screaming... if he could roll to his back and then back to his stomach, I'd feel better.
He is napping right now, and I put him on his side. I think part of the problem too, is he is liking his paci and likes to fall asleep with it in, but when he's on his stomach, he can't turn his head without the paci getting caught and waking him up. He isn't able to put the paci in by himself yet either...that will help too.
So, there's the sleep update. Hopefully, we can keep getting those long stretches at night...
Cal starts camp again next week for the month of August and then school starts in September...!!!! It starts at 9:00, so I am going to have to figure out Andy's napping around drop off and pick up. I might make him nap in the car for the morning nap! I don't know what else to do-- unless Eddie does drop off every day....
Side note: I am going to be doing some mega tummy time this week so that we can start crying it out sooner!
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| huh?? Tummy Time?? Noooo, thank you! |
Just Another Day in Paradise!
(in pictures)
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| trying to hold as many golf balls as possible |
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| my son, the hoarder: 3 golf clubs, 2 golf balls, a car and a boat...all for a bath. |
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| reading a golf book... |
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| hey mom, this chair feels a little small |
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| his new truck, stuck in Hank's tail |
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| trying to remove the stuck truck from hank's tail. Notice the boots. It wasn't raining. |
And lastly, quick story of errand running this week:
I had to run to Marshalls and had both boys with me. It was 104 out... I unloaded my double bob, loaded the boys in the stroller and headed in the store (sweat broken). A random man stopped me and told me he felt sorry for me dealing with a double stroller and 2 kids in this heat. I wanted to tell him that I was trying to get inside out of the heat, but he was in my way... instead I smiled and told him it was lots of fun... I managed to squeeze the stroller through the "in" doors and started walking through the store looking for the needed items. Cal kicked off one of his crocs (shoes) right when we rounded the first corner of the store. I didn't want to fight with him to put it on, so I left it on the front of the bob where the feet go and I would just put it on him as we were leaving. I went up and down a few aisles and found just what I needed and headed to the check out. I bent down to out the shoe back on and it wasn't on the stroller. Hmmm... so, I walked back to the baby section, where we were doing most of our shopping, and it wasn't there either. So, not one to get frustrated, I decided to walk the lap of the store again, this time staring at the ground. Cal wears these shoes every day. He can take them off and put them on by himself, which is huge in our chaotic house.
I walked another lap around the store (almost felt like I was working out, pushing my jogging stroller laps around a store...but not quite). No croc. UGH. I figured it must have fallen to the ground and then gotten pushed under some of the racks. So, I got down on the ground of Marshalls, on my hands and knees and looked under racks. All of them. I spent about 20 minutes on my belly looking for the stupid shoe. There was a woman working in the department where I was so I asked her if she'd seen a shoe. She started laughing. Seriously, lady? Oh, by this point Cal was screaming MOMMMMAAAAA!!!! Over and over and over again...just because he can (see above video).
I went to the check out to pay and see if maybe someone kind had turned in this stupid shoe. It couldn't just walk out of the place, right?? I paid. No one turned in a shoe. So, I made one final lap around the store, going up and down each aisle, looking under each and every rack...no shoe! So we just left, Cal wearing only one shoe!
I wish I could say something clever about it magically appearing, but NOPE! Still no shoe! I called the store today to see if someone had found it, but no one did... or if they did, they didn't turn it in. Maybe somewhere in Durham, there is a child with one leg who has a new (to them) croc... if that's the case, I hope they enjoy it. Oh, and the stroller fit in the "in" door, but wouldn't fit out the "out" door. And the IN door had a sensor on the other side, so I couldn't get it to open for me. I had to ask a girl to go out and then come back in so the doors would open for me....
Just another example of me living Just Another Day in Paradise!!!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday Night Humor
I have never been to this blog before, but I can promise I will be visiting again in the future.
Hope this makes you smile...I have read it a few times and cracked up each time--
Hope this makes you smile...I have read it a few times and cracked up each time--
And that’s why you should learn to pick your battles.
hahahahahahahhahaha (can you imagine opening your door and seeing Beyonce staring at you???)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Museum fun
Yesterday morning I took the boys to the Museum of Life and Science with Sally and Ashly and their kids; both are Cal's age and both moms are so fun!
They have a train ride there that we decided to do-- Cal LOVED it! It's only 10 minutes long and when it was done, Cal started saying MORE MORE! It was really cute.
Here are some pictures from the day
I was a little apprehensive about taking both kids to the museum on my own (without Eddie or my mom), but going with friends made it sooooooo much easier! I had to go nurse Andy in the bathroom, and Sally and Ashly just took Cal with them so he could keep playing-- I can not imagine trying to contain Cal in the stall with me while nursing Andy! ACK! (Thanks, Sall).
We had a great time playing and Cal was worn out when we got home, although his brief nap would make you think otherwise...
They have a train ride there that we decided to do-- Cal LOVED it! It's only 10 minutes long and when it was done, Cal started saying MORE MORE! It was really cute.
Here are some pictures from the day
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| Sally and Brad: he was excited about the train ride too! |
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| me and Cal and Andy-- it was a tight squeeze on the bench for all 3 of us! ha! |
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| choo chooooo!!! |
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| the kids on a dinosaur! |
We had a great time playing and Cal was worn out when we got home, although his brief nap would make you think otherwise...
Sunday Funday and Cousins
My mom is keeping my nephew, Jackson, this week while my brother and sister-in-law are on a vacation in the BVIs (and I'm only slightly jealous...), and this past Sunday, after naps, we went over to my parent's house to play on the deck... well that lead up to the golf course, and we all know how much Cal loves to hit a golf ball!
Seriously, if I would let him, Cal would hit the ball 8 million times. He never tires of it. He will swing and hit and then sprint over to the ball and to it all over again. He has zero regard for direction and will hit it whatever way he pleases. He is VERY focused when "playing" and is very into the game! In the clip above, he heard some sirens about midway through and started going "woowoo!", but that is the extent of his distractions!
After the boys played on the golf course, we came in to eat dinner. Jackson says the blessing in his house every night and he was determined to lead us in blessing this night too! Cal had worked up quite the appetite and was ready to dig in. We all held hands for the blessing and Jackson was holding Cal's hand while Cal was shoveling food into his mouth-haha!
After dinner, my dad got down on the ground to play with the boys-- they were so cute climbing all over him...makes me feel so lucky to have my family nearby!
Today, I put Jackson's carseat in my 3rd row and went with Cal and Andy and my mom to pick Jackson up from preschool! He was so excited to see all of us! After we got everyone strapped in and ready to go, Jackson said about 10 times: "we go to Cal's house now? Cal's house, okay? Cal's house!" So my mom had no choice but to let him come in to play with Cal! The boys were so cute together! I grabbed my phone and tried to get a few pictures, but they were moving so quickly that I couldn't get a good one!
Seriously, if I would let him, Cal would hit the ball 8 million times. He never tires of it. He will swing and hit and then sprint over to the ball and to it all over again. He has zero regard for direction and will hit it whatever way he pleases. He is VERY focused when "playing" and is very into the game! In the clip above, he heard some sirens about midway through and started going "woowoo!", but that is the extent of his distractions!
After the boys played on the golf course, we came in to eat dinner. Jackson says the blessing in his house every night and he was determined to lead us in blessing this night too! Cal had worked up quite the appetite and was ready to dig in. We all held hands for the blessing and Jackson was holding Cal's hand while Cal was shoveling food into his mouth-haha!
After dinner, my dad got down on the ground to play with the boys-- they were so cute climbing all over him...makes me feel so lucky to have my family nearby!
(I have a video of this but it isn't uploading....hmmmm)
Today, I put Jackson's carseat in my 3rd row and went with Cal and Andy and my mom to pick Jackson up from preschool! He was so excited to see all of us! After we got everyone strapped in and ready to go, Jackson said about 10 times: "we go to Cal's house now? Cal's house, okay? Cal's house!" So my mom had no choice but to let him come in to play with Cal! The boys were so cute together! I grabbed my phone and tried to get a few pictures, but they were moving so quickly that I couldn't get a good one!
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| in the playroom, Cal is cracking up in the picture--hands over mouth and all-- love it! |
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| hugging it out :) |
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Monthly pictures
Since the boys' birthdays are so close together (16th and 18th- of Sept and May), I decided to continue taking monthly pictures, but to do them together. Seems like a great idea in theory, right? Well, here is some evidence to the contrary...
So we will see if I continue monthly pics like this...it can only get easier...right????? (that was a joke...)
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| Andy is not so sure about this... |
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| Cal's got a tight grip! |
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| Attempting a kiss... |
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| dad suggests Cal hold the sign... |
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| Cal suggests throwing the sign |
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| Cal's done |
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| Dad comes in to assist |
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| Andy is terrified |
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| sigh |
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| we have a winner!! |
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| LOVE this one :) |
22 months
I am in shock that Mr. Cal is 22 months old! Are you kidding me? Wasn't I just planning his 1st birthday party?? I have already started planning for his second...and I am SUPER excited about it!
Cal continues to be SO MUCH FUN. I have noticed lately that as Andy is getting easier, Cal is exercising a bit of his "terrible twos." A lot. He will fall to the ground at the drop of a hat and act like his entire world is over if he doesn't get exactly what he wants, exactly when he wants it.
All of that being said, Cal is a really good kid. We are so lucky to have such a sweet, caring little man for Andy's big brother!
Cal loves to explore new things and every time he sees something new, he gasps and says "woooahhhhh!!!!!" Even if I am taking out a new trash bag and flapping it open (you know what I mean?), Cal thinks that is just hilariously funny! It's pretty awesome... and makes me so excited for Christmas! Can you even imagine his reaction to decorations/lights/gifts??
Here he is with some new sunglasses:
Cal is extremely timid around other kids. We are working on this, and I think camp in August and school in the fall will be a HUGE help. He really loves his buddy, Brad, and is comfortable around him. This is great by me because I adore Brad's mom, Sally! Below, we had a little swim get together at a friend's house, and Brad's family was there too... I guess Cal thought Brad's food looked good...!
It's funny because Cal is not shy around adults AT ALL and usually hams it up quite a bit. He gets really shy when other kids are around... he likes to just stand back and watch them (usually with me holding him!). Remind me I am writing this when he gets in trouble in school for being too social! ha!
Cal is obsessed with golf and trucks. That is not new this month though... he has also developed a love for basketball, or BACK-E-BALL, as Cal says it! My mom got him a little hoop after seeing Cal watch Rachel's video. He loves to "shoot" hoops and when he misses he will say "awww, MAN!" and when he makes it, he screams "ahhhhhhhh!" NO CLUE where he learned those things, but it is hilarious, still!
Speaking of... it is like Cal's vocabulary has quadrupled in the past month. He talks NON STOP. Literally. If he's awake, he's running his mouth. Most of the time, it's martian talk and we can't understand it, but he is really getting verbal and has quite a large vocabulary. He will also repeat everything you say. Seriously, everything. I get down on the ground and coo to Andy, so Cal has started "cooing" to him too... Eddie was imitating the wonderful Charlie Sheen and said "winning, DUH." So now Cal says DUH all the time (nice, right?).
It is SO neat to watch him grow and learn new things. I am amazed at how he picks things up and how he processes.
We are working on his ABCs....haha:
And just for me to look back and remember...
Cal sleeps (in his crib still) for at least 12 hours every night, usually 7-7.
Cal naps in the afternoon around 1:00 for at least 2 hours (very minimum), and the other day slept from 12:45 until 5:30... seriously.
Cal eats EVERYTHING. He loves loves loves ketchup and requests it at every meal. He loves to dip his food/fork/fingers into it.
Cal has been exposed to juice finally...we held off this long, but I was worried about him getting dehydrated with this heat and not drinking enough water. We dilute the juice quite a bit and he LOVES it. He is drinking a TON now, so I am happy. I am trying to enforce milk with meals and juice in between, but that can be tricky. I will hand him his milk and he will say, "no milk. juice. apple juice." and then when I tell him he needs to drink milk, he says (in a very southern accent): "but I waaaannnnnnt it!" hhahah
that's about it!
I will post more about the 2nd birthday party plans once they get a little more finalized. I can't believe it's only 2 months away!
Cal continues to be SO MUCH FUN. I have noticed lately that as Andy is getting easier, Cal is exercising a bit of his "terrible twos." A lot. He will fall to the ground at the drop of a hat and act like his entire world is over if he doesn't get exactly what he wants, exactly when he wants it.
All of that being said, Cal is a really good kid. We are so lucky to have such a sweet, caring little man for Andy's big brother!
Cal loves to explore new things and every time he sees something new, he gasps and says "woooahhhhh!!!!!" Even if I am taking out a new trash bag and flapping it open (you know what I mean?), Cal thinks that is just hilariously funny! It's pretty awesome... and makes me so excited for Christmas! Can you even imagine his reaction to decorations/lights/gifts??
Here he is with some new sunglasses:
Cal is extremely timid around other kids. We are working on this, and I think camp in August and school in the fall will be a HUGE help. He really loves his buddy, Brad, and is comfortable around him. This is great by me because I adore Brad's mom, Sally! Below, we had a little swim get together at a friend's house, and Brad's family was there too... I guess Cal thought Brad's food looked good...!
Cal is obsessed with golf and trucks. That is not new this month though... he has also developed a love for basketball, or BACK-E-BALL, as Cal says it! My mom got him a little hoop after seeing Cal watch Rachel's video. He loves to "shoot" hoops and when he misses he will say "awww, MAN!" and when he makes it, he screams "ahhhhhhhh!" NO CLUE where he learned those things, but it is hilarious, still!
Speaking of... it is like Cal's vocabulary has quadrupled in the past month. He talks NON STOP. Literally. If he's awake, he's running his mouth. Most of the time, it's martian talk and we can't understand it, but he is really getting verbal and has quite a large vocabulary. He will also repeat everything you say. Seriously, everything. I get down on the ground and coo to Andy, so Cal has started "cooing" to him too... Eddie was imitating the wonderful Charlie Sheen and said "winning, DUH." So now Cal says DUH all the time (nice, right?).
It is SO neat to watch him grow and learn new things. I am amazed at how he picks things up and how he processes.
We are working on his ABCs....haha:
And just for me to look back and remember...
Cal sleeps (in his crib still) for at least 12 hours every night, usually 7-7.
Cal naps in the afternoon around 1:00 for at least 2 hours (very minimum), and the other day slept from 12:45 until 5:30... seriously.
Cal eats EVERYTHING. He loves loves loves ketchup and requests it at every meal. He loves to dip his food/fork/fingers into it.
Cal has been exposed to juice finally...we held off this long, but I was worried about him getting dehydrated with this heat and not drinking enough water. We dilute the juice quite a bit and he LOVES it. He is drinking a TON now, so I am happy. I am trying to enforce milk with meals and juice in between, but that can be tricky. I will hand him his milk and he will say, "no milk. juice. apple juice." and then when I tell him he needs to drink milk, he says (in a very southern accent): "but I waaaannnnnnt it!" hhahah
that's about it!
I will post more about the 2nd birthday party plans once they get a little more finalized. I can't believe it's only 2 months away!
