Wednesday, August 3, 2011

One of those days.

I am having one of "those" days that normal mom's probably don't like to admit to having. You know the days that you look at the children, who you love more than anything, but can't help but to feel like you are being punished....Your head is pounding due to the constant screaming coming from the two babies, who you always imagined would play together happily... or not. You are wiping snotty noses, kissing boo boos, asking them not to hit each other, not to throw their balls at your face, not to dive off the couches head first, to please eat their breakfast. You are still in the clothes you slept in, teeth unbrushed, no breakfast, too little coffee, hair a mess, and you just want to scream "What happened to my LIFE?!?!" To top it all off it is boiling hot outside, so you can't send them outside AND the city's water lines busted so you can't even turn the sprinklers on to let them play. So there you are. Head pounding. Stinking. Hungry. Comforting crying babies. Fighting back your own tears. Feeling like you are the worst mom in the whole wide world. Then one little baby comes up to you and says, "Mom. Why are you so grouchy today?" And you sit down on the floor with them and tell them, "because you guys are SO loud." And that little baby says, "Oh. Well, I'll be quiet to make you better." Kisses you on the head and skips off.

And with that, you regain the patience to continue.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

It was the summer of 2011

I haven't blogged in two months. I blame it on the nice even number of blogs I have posted to date- 100. That's only minor OCD that I didn't want to change it to 101, right?

Either way, I decided that today was THE day to catch up on the summer....

This summer has been fast, slow, busy, boring, sweet and frustrating all at the same time. And it looks like it is only going to be about 9 days too long. Here's a wrap up of my summer with the two kids. We have started most days at the YMCA getting our workouts and play time in, we have helped out with two VBS's, fed lunches to hungry kids in the park, spent a week at camp, spent long weekends at the lake and watched WAY too much T.V.

I have also had a total of 15 hours of class this summer, so nap times, bed times, feeding times, and any little chances I get in between have been spent in front of my computer. Which lead to the frustrating part of the summer. I have felt like I have been behind the WHOLE time. But I made it. Summer school is now over and I am very close to being ready for the fall to begin. WOO HOO!

Kid update:
Carson is, well, LOUD. LOUD and NAKED. If I am not asking him to not yell, I am asking him to put some underwear on. I really don't mind the nakedness, but it's easier to keep his hand off his wee wee with his underwear on. Plus, when he goes outside naked, I'm afraid his butt will burn and I don't really wanna worry about putting sunscreen in places that the sun SHOULDN'T shine.
In addition to being LOUD, C is also getting a smart mouth. I just can't imagine where THAT came from. Case and point, here is a conversation we had the other day:
Me: Carson, I really need you to eat your banana.
C: Why?
Me. Because you need it to grow tall and strong.
C: I'm already strong.
Me: Ok, are you strong enough to pick me up?
C tries and fails
C: No.
Me: Well, then it looks like YOU need to eat this banana.
C: Mom, can you reach that up there.
Me: No.
C: Well, it looks like YOU need to eat this banana.

Smart. Ass.

Needless to say, he no longer hopes to be "tall like you, Mama." He's moved on to his dad. Which is better really.

Carson has also mastered the pool this summer. He loves to do cannon balls, belly flops and even likes to dive. But we have to be there to flip him back over or his swim suit floation device will hold him feet up. It's kinda funny to see just for a SECOND.

Carson has NOT mastered flushing the toilet. I regularly do poop checks around the house. With three toilets, one of which I never use, I find left over poop in the potty most days. It's really only an issue when the upstairs one gets missed for a few days...

Carson has also mastered being boss of Lyla. He regularly disciplines her by saying "No No little miss!" and "Lyla! I have told you a hundred time!" And "MOM! Lyla is being a pain in the butt". He is also great at being sweet to her. He calls her "sweetheart" and hugs on her and likes to carry her around. I frown on that, but whatever.

Carson has NOT mastered dressing himself. IF I can get him to get dressed, I can only hope for him to NOT come out with a crazy shirt, crazy shorts and of course his camo rain boots on the wrong feet...

Carson sleeps most nights on a pallet on his bedroom floor. Whatever. Gets EMBARRASSED if he falls out of his bed, when he does sleep in it. His (and MY) new favorite thing to do is cuddle in our bed and watch a movie. It's pretty cool he likes to watch them. He LOVES "Captn Jack" and regularly speaks in pirate. He has to do everything "MYSELF" and sheepishly asks for help when he can't do it. He is sweet and loving 90% of the time and the rest of the time he is a "pain in the butt". I'm sure I'll get in trouble for that when school starts....

Lyla is also LOUD. She doesn't have the vocabulary that C did at her age, but seems to be MUCH more aware of what she wants and is REALLY REALLY aware of how to get it. She has this high pitch squeal that will get even the most stubborn parents to jump to give her what she wants just to make it STOP. Then she laughs and smiles the sweetest little smile, you can't help but to think she is the sweetest thing EVER (or quiet the little devil...) Either way, we are screwed when she gets older...

Lyla LOVES to dance and my kids favorite summer activity is listening to "Energizers" from camp and dancing in her room. She is also the nosiest little thing ever. She gets into more than Carson ever did. She loves digging in my cabinets and hiding my cell phone in them. She also is naturally a girly girl (for now). She loves to put on jewelry, even that of strangers, carry purses and put bows in her hair. Too bad I am not much help in that department.

Lyla FINALLY started walking. She waited until we got to camp, then took OFF. She really hasn't been that unstable, because she just waited until she was READY. Not much on taking chances. This could be the only trait that saves me during her teenage years...

Lyla shakes her whole body up and down or side to side when asked a question. She doesn't bother SAYING yes or no, but there is NO doubt what her anwer is.

She is just as sweet, but busier now than ever, so less into being held. Which has been bitter sweet. I needed her to let me put her down, after 9 months of pregnancy then 14 months of carrying her, I was LITERALLY crooked. So my back/hips/neck feels better, but I struggle to just get a cuddle in. She likes to sit on the floor at bedtime across from you when you read and thinks every story is the funniest thing EVER, but doesn't really care to cuddle, she also doesn't care much for a drink before bed, so no cuddle time there either. She laughs when we lay her down because she's so happy to be in her bed, so no cuddling to sleep. But when she is sick she CUDDLES! Woo HOO! I mean, poor thing ;). I take advantage of hurting teeth, or colds!

Speaking of teeth, she still only has four. Wish me luck over the next few months. I'm SURE we are about to get a whole mouthful at ONCE. eek.

By four pm everyday I am usually about to go crazy. I really don't know how stay at home moms do it every DAY. By four, C is literally bouncing off the walls/furniture/floor and Lyla is so ready for bed she just fusses non stop. She likes to be fed at 5 and again at 6ish when we eat. And really the only way to make her happy is to hold her, but she doesn't cuddle when you hold her, she fights it, wants up, then wants to be held again and repeats. So I gave up cooking to tend to her during this time of day. Luckily, Josh really likes to cook and is great at it. Whew.

Between the before dinner tears and frustrations and the struggles a bedtime with a three year old, I go to bed every night more convinced I do not want ANY more children and thanking God for moments like that, because if it wasn't for breakdowns and temper tantrums we would NEVER want them to get older. At least with age comes greater control of emotions.

However, by morning, the miracle of motherhood has occurred and I am ready and willing to do it all over again. And until about 4pm- I couldn't be happier....