To my birthday boy

Dear Noah,

Happy belated birthday!  Can you believe you are two?  Me either.  I'm not sure how it happened or where the time went.  I swear just yesterday you were learning to sit unsupported.  Do you remember those days, because I am trying to figure out how we got from there to here so quickly.

But yes, you are two.  Your daddy says I baby you too much.  I let you get away with things I still don't let your sister get away with.  But you're the baby right?  That's what I keep telling myself.  And you are and you always will be.  Even when the caboose arrives.

You have totally swept me off my feet.  I fell in love all over again for the third time.  It was a love just as strong and powerful as the 1st and 2nd.  When you were born that early morning 2 years ago I grew a whole second heart and I love you with all of it.  I cannot describe it in words, but I love you my little boy.

When I found out you were a boy, I was elated.  I secretly wanted a boy.  I know you aren't supposed to say that, of course I wanted you to be healthy, but I also wanted you to have a penis.  And when I found out you had one, I was beaming inside.  See I didn't grow up with any brothers, it was just me and my sister and then along came Meredith and we know she is all girl.  Pink and sparkly are her domain.  But, you were brand new.  And you totally intimidated me at first.  I had no idea what to do with a little boy and those little boy parts I wanted you to have.  But I learned quickly.  I'm amazed at all the boy things I have learned in two short years.

You have changed my lift little man.  That phrase momma's boy doesn't even cover it.  You are such a little momma's boy.  And such a little boy.  You are into dirt, playing rough, getting messy, trucks, trains and airplanes.  You are rough and tumble and have no drama.  Rarely do you shed a tear.  You do know how to work the lip, but tears are not your thing.  However at the same time you give the best cuddles, you climb in my lap look at me and say "Wuv you momma....es cuddle!"  And cuddle we do.

You love to talk and you have the vocabulary of a three year old.  You talk non-stop.  You also love to sing. LOUD.  Even in quiet places like church.  You answer the phone when it rings, you tell me which way to go when I'm driving, you tell me how to fix things, or when to sit, come and play or when you want anything.  In fact you are very bossy...you get that from your dad and your sister...definitely not from me. 

You have climbed out your crib and now sleep in your "boo bed."  You love your blue bed, it has blue sheets and you named it that yourself.  We tried calling it your "big boy bed", but you would have none of that.  It is your blue "baby" bed.  It is definitely not a big boy bed.  You make that fact known immediately.  Because you are the baby.  Your refer to yourself as the baby.  I often here you say "baby do" or "baby's turn" when referring to yourself.  I could eat that up.  See why it is so hard for me to accept you are two.

Part of you wants to grow up.  To follow your sister and join in on the big kid games, yet part of you still wants to be the baby and snuggle and cuddle and be carried everywhere.  I'm okay with that, if it is possible I promise to carry you in on your first day of high school.  Which hey at the rate you are gaining weight may very well be possible.  You weigh no more than 24lbs fully dressed.  You are my bean pole, very tall and very thin. 

You got a John deer gator for your birthday.  Absolute best gift ever.  You love that thing.  You drive better than your sister does, hell you drive better than your daddy does.  Don't tell them I said that...they would totally cry.  You are such a big boy on that thing.  You drive it all over the drive way and even go off roading.  All too soon I know it will be a real vehicle and so I beg....please s.l.o.w down.  Stay little, just for a little while longer. 

I love you my big two year old....my baby!
Love,
momma

I'm back....but making no promises

Well here is my first blog in almost forever.  I had to just take a break.  For a while I quit reading blogs, quit blogging, in fact I went ahead and took my own blog out of my favorites.  Life just felt like it was too much and as much as I wanted to head over here and write down the million cute things my kids were doing and saying or blog about birthdays and holidays and every little mundane thing in between I couldn't.  Seriously, I could not bring myself to even log in to blogger.

In the last week or so I started trying to catch up on blogs, it made me miss mine.  A lot.  Then I had several request by friends (mainly Carrie) to please blog.  And then one from my husband.  So that did it for me.  At least two people missed me!  I'm not promising to be here everyday,but I feel the urge to blog again so here I am. 

Playing catch up. That probably won't happen.  But I will blog about my birthday boy whose birthday I neglected on the blog.  And since this blog is for them to one day read, I will definitely post that soon.  Noah man, I am sorry.  I just needed a moment.  One day you will understand that.  Or maybe I am just preparing you for middle child syndrome now.

In other news.  In case you haven't heard Internets.  I am preggers with number 3.  The caboose.  And yes there is only one little caboose in there with a nice strong heartbeat.  Along with two very large polyps, but that is another worry for another day.  What is life without something to worry about your children.  This has been the month of worries for me.  I am hoping next year will be a lot less worrisome.  I am also hoping in the next week or so I can stop vomiting, but I'm not expecting that to happen either.   For the record little caboose, I have been sicker with you than I was with either your big sister or big brother.   

Noh a big brother....WOW that is scary....I hope saying that gets less scary in the next 32 weeks!  I have to admit the thought of having three little stepping stones soon scares the crap out of me, but I'm ready!

So here I am back in action.  I hope you all have missed me.  Expect some more of me and a whole new look soon. I think the look was really getting me down.  Yeah it had nothing to do with my exhaustion, life, anxiety or pure laziness when it came to blogging.....it was all the look.

Welcome back interenets!  I hope you are still around and continue to come back.

Much better

This weekend was fabulous.  Did you hear me?  FABULOUS!

We packed up the car and headed out Friday afternoon with not a care in the world.  We left our two little monkeys in the very good hands of their Mimi and hit the road.  We stopped for an impromptu dinner at Ruth's Chris then continued on to our hotel.  We checked in grabbed our coats and headed to the Bay front bar complete with outdoor fire places.  I had another glass of wine and Josh had a drink himself. 

The next day we got up and played the entire day by ear.  We had a late lunch, saw a movie, shopped, went to an art walk and then did appetizers for dinner followed by late night pizza.  We slept in, we snoozed and we went about our day without a care in the world.  I remembered why I fell in love with my husband many years ago.  I realized we continue to have so much more in common than just our home and children.  We are still the crazy couple that stayed up all night on our first date talking and then watched the sunrise.  A little more sleep deprived, but that same couple indeed.

We vowed to each other not to make it so long before we take another trip just the two of us.  Then we hurried home to snuggle our babies.

Thank you Josh for being the wonderful husband and man you are.  I am very lucky you love me too!  Thanks for a fabulous weekend.

Avoidance

Dear Internets,

I've been avoiding you, yes I have in a bad way.  Trust me it's not you, so don't take it personal, it's me, all me. You know when you have that project, or test to study for, or appointment and you really just really can't even think about it.  You avoid the topic or subject or in my case blogger at all cost.  I haven't even been reading blogs until tonight.   It's sad and true.  I have no idea why.  I've actually gotten anxious and nauseous thinking about how I haven't blogged or documented milestones or told any of the cute antidotes that have happened here in the past few weeks.  And that my friends was a clear sign that it was time to step away from the computer. 

These past few days I've been feeling down and like crap.  Not depressed and no I don't need medication (not that there is anything wrong with that, I just haven't needed it).  No, just typical off days.  Days were I can't get my shit together or anyone else's.  This week alone, I lost my keys at the movies, my ipod,  my 23 month old --- oh I kid the ipod is not really missing!   But you know the days or weeks when we just can't get it together, we all have them.

I feel  like my life is constant choas and I'm always exhausted and just can't get it straight.  I'm treading water as fast as I can and I am barely staying afloat.  In fact several times this week I have been late  (GASP!)  Me, the one always early was late, more than once. 

So this weekend my husband is whisking me away to a romantic weekend on Mobile Bay.  Be jealous, it's the first time we have gone away for a weekend together since Meredith was born.  I know far too long since the last time.

I am hoping I will have time to regroup, relax and then be back, back to my old self.  Handling the daily chaos and easily staying afloat. 

I promise not to avoid you when I return.

xoxo,
2 tikes!

what she says....In which she becomes her mother

Let me start this off by saying in college, I made what some people (uh-hm my mother) would call a very poor decision.  Let's be honest, I made several poor decisions in college, but this one really stands out to some people (uh-hm again my mother.)  At 19 I got a tattoo.  Yes, a real one, one that hurt like all get out going on.  It's small well smallish, it could almost be covered by a quarter, but not quite, and oh it's on my derriere.  Yep, got a permanent Phi Mu stamp right above my derriere on the right side.  What can I say, damn sorority girls.

For five years I concealed it very well in front of my mother, always picking bathing suits that hid it or jeans that didn't go that low when I was in front of her, until that one fateful day at a camp on Lake Pontchartrain.  That day I didn't do to good a job, to be honest I'd had it so long and had kind of forgotten about it.  Oh well, now she is taking it to the grave, right mom?

So that brings me to today.  Today Meredith brought a gift to her little friend in dancing whose princess party we missed Friday afternoon due to the swine flu.  Yes, she was devastated.  The little girl had brought Meredith some of her princess party favors.  The favor included a glittery princess wand, princess socks and 3, yes 3 princess tattoos!  My 3 1/2 year old was in love!  She got in the car declaring "Oh I just love it, love it, love it!"

"Mom can we put on my tattoo now?"

"Huh?"

"My new tattoos from my friend"

"What you know about tattoos girlfriend?"

giggling

"Momma, can we put it on now?"

"No bug, we can put them on at home because we need water to put them on."

"Momma you got a tattoo"

"Yep, I do"

"Momma your tattoo is on your heiny cakes" that's our fancy word for booty

"Yes it sure is!"

About 30 minutes later we arrive home.

"Momma, can we put on my tattoos now?"

"Yeah bring it here, where do you want it, right here(pointing to her upper arm) or right here (pointing to her lower arm)?"

"No Momma!  I want it on my heiny cakes just like you!"

At that point I started imagining her pulling her panties down to show her little friend where she put her new princess tattoo and then telling everyone about her momma's.

"But if we put it there you won't be able to see it, see momma can't see hers."

"Okay, put it here" pointing to a very acceptable arm location with a sad face

Thankfully hers will wash off, maybe at 15 she will still believe mine does too!

Disney -- Was 10, now 11 things I learned at Disney and you should know too!

Since our very recent trip to Disney I thought I would make a list of 10 things 11 things I learned at Disney this year....in no way is this list anything other than my personal thoughts, but use it like a bible people!

11.  Strollers to bring or not to bring? -  The Disney strollers are expensive, they are not comfortable, but they are convenient in that you don't have to bring them from home or fold them and bring them back to the room on a bus.  But then you do have to bring the tired/cranky child back without a stroller if you use a Disney a Disney stroller.  Remember you will also be tired and carrying a 35+lb child is heavy, carrying two is nearly impossible.  We brought our umbrella stroller to have one to wheel one child back, we wish we had two late at night.  Our intention was to leave it at the park during the day parked outside a restaurant and then to use the Disney double while at the park to only push one.  Then at night when we were leaving we were going to pick up the umbrella stroller to wheel the sleeping/tired child back to the hotel.  However, our kids hated the Disney stroller, it is not conducive to napping or sleeping and they fought over the Maclaren we brought from home.  Next time I will bring two umbrella strollers and forgo the whole renting from Disney.  Pushing two is also easier than navigating a double and not a big deal to us. Last year I brought my very big baby jogger,that is super comfy, lots of shade and easy to push, however it is not easy to fold, not compact, and heavy which does not make it a great stroller to transport on Disney's bus system.  On  Disney's bus system the children must be removed from the stroller and the stroller folded to get on the bus.  When you take the monorail you can keep them in the stroller and just wheel it on....so convenient!  The buses are not though, your husband will be the one to hold that stroller while standing on a breathing room only bus.  Just something to think about.

10.  Meal Package--  The jury is still out as to whether this is a good thing. After our trip last year, I said I would never go without it.  Well you know what they say about saying never.  Anyway the package we got allowed for 1 snack,1 quick meal, and1 table service.  And those come with an entree, a LARGE (overpriced)drink, and a desert.  Now let me say that if I didn't have the meal plan I may just opt for the entree and a smaller drink. However my meal plan obviously pays for a large drink, an entree with a side, and a desert.  I would never buy the desert if it wasn't with the plan.  At least not with every meal, especially a quick service meal which is like fast food.  But it comes with it right....don't be silly guys,Disney doesn't give away anything for free. You are paying for it.  Decide if it is worth it. Also the sit downs come with a desert as well, for every person you get a desert, a bunch of money spent I normally would not spend.  If we did get the desert we would all get one to share....just saying.  And the price range has to be pretty big for the meal plan, one lunch cost us $60 and one $100 and they were both covered for a sit down,you know which base you are paying right....remember Disney isn't giving anything away.  Oh and another thing I had a friend mention you could bring bread and get peanut butter packets and jelly and make sandwiches to save money, I did not see that or any PB&J packets at all. I did see lunches that people made ahead of time and brought in.  But let's be realistic unless you have a kitchen in your hotel and are staying off Disney in a condo with a kitchen and bringing lunch in,you have to eat, I just don't know if the meal plan is the way to go.

9.  Reservations....decide where you want to eat 6 months from now....Seriously --  Yes,my friends if you don't make dinner reservations when you book your trip or 6 months out at least.... forget about it.  Josh and I came home with 2 adult sit down dinners and 1 child sit down dinner.  Not because we were sick of Disney food and refused to use the money we had already spent on the dinner.....nope we simply could not get a reservation.   We even ate at a place that used 2 table service credits and we still didn't get a chance to use all of them.  So the day you book your trip book your dinners.  You don't even have to show up the reservations you make, unless it is one that needs a credit card reservation which is only a handful.  You can make the reservation, with good intentions to show and then not and there is no penalty, which is a major part of the problem, but that is a different story.  So make one for at least every day in case. That being said if you want a character dinner, call the day you can to reserve your spot, especially if you want to dine at Cinderella's table in the castle at the Magic Kingdom.  Which also leads to this,if you don't use all of your meal plan vouchers you do not get a refund from Disney.   So book those reservations early.  Some of our favorites are Akershus(Epcot princess dinner), Sci Fi Cafe(where you eat in a car),  Chef Mickey (character lunch at Contemporary), 1800 Park Fare (Cinderella dinner at Grand Floridian), we also did breakfast at Crystal Palace (nothing to write home about, but very conveniently located in the Magic Kingdom.)  There were also two other restaurants that were in the Magic Kingdom and looked good an Italian place right when you enter and a sandwich place, but we couldn't get reservations at those.

8.  The food stinks,but you aren't there to eat right?-- Okay let me start this by saying I am originally from New Orleans, so I like spice and flavor in everything I eat.  The food at Disney is all the same and after a few days taste the same too, it's just prepared and served a different way everywhere. Seriously, it is all the same and mediocre at best.  And after 5 days of eating Disney food, you would give your first born for McDonald's or something else that isn't served in a Mouse ear tray.  Trust me.  At this point take a break from the park and go to downtown Disney.  Guess what....they have a McDonald's and other restaurants that are much better than Disney food.  Or at least I think that!  Take a night to go shop and pay a very inflated price for a big mac or make reservations at Rainforest Cafe and take a break from Disney dining.  Especially when you have no reservations that night (not for lack of trying) and you cannot eat another hamburger,nugget or chicken wrap!


7.  Don't feel like you have to do it all --- Disney is huge.  In fact we saw quite a bit this last time that we didn't even venture to last year when we went.  And you know what our kids didn't know they missed anything.  Disney is big, trying to accomplish it all with 2 small tikes in not possible. Don't' try and your kids won't know the difference.  We went for the week.  We love Disney and we love not feeling like we have to cram it all in 4 or5 days.  We stayed 7 nights and although some people think that is too long,but it was just right for us.  That being said we hung out at the pool one afternoon and took a night at downtown Disney.

6.  Remember your kids ages, let them act that way,you try and remember not to-- If your kids are 22 months and 3,expect them to throw a tantrum when they don't get their way or when they are just plum exhausted.  However remember you are probably in your 20s or 30s and you throwing a tantrum to is not going to solve anything and just cause the whole situation to get worse quick!  And me to write about you on my blog.  There were more kids crying and adults yelling than my poor head could take. Remember they are kids guys, no crying would be unreal. 

which leads to...

5.  For being the happiest place on earth, there are a lot of tears at Disney --  Disney days are long, it requires patience and kids will be immediately whacked off their normal, typical schedule and out of their routine.  However kids are pretty resilient and will normally do well.  It's the parents who struggle and spend the afternoon in tears fighting with their significant other about whether he brought the camera, left the wipes at the hotel, brought the rights snacks in the backpack or walked the wrong way down the street.  Oh I kid, but realize it is long days for everyone and you will see more tears from tired kids and exhausted parents.   Try to just roll with it and save the reprimanding at loud decibels for when your kids are in their normal environment, with their normal routine.  If you expect them to roll with it, learn to roll with it too.

4.  For being geared towards kids, Disney is pretty damn dark! -- The rides besides the teacups, dumbo, magic carpet, carousel, and roller coasters are pretty freaking scary.  Even Small World scares the crap out of me, although the kids love it!  But Snow White's ride, Pooh's ride, and Peter pan are pretty dark and really loud as well as lots of the shows.  Noah sat with a sheer look of terror on his face and occasionally cried.  Meredith covered her ears and eyes for most of them.  Of course Meredith covers her ears a lot!  It's her thing, her coping mechanism if you will and who am I to mess with that?

3.  If you kids don't sleep with you at home, they won't sleep with you in Disney either! -- So from about day 1 our kids have slept in their own beds.  They go to sleep on their own and sleep all night upstairs in their own rooms, in their own beds.  Unless they are sick and wake up sick in the middle of the night that is where they are.  That being said it is very interesting and frustrating trying to get two small tikes to sleep in one hotel room with us.  Josh and Noah shared a bed and me and Meredith, they were pretty certain they could stay up until whenever and it was party time.  Josh and Noah often strolled the resort grounds to get him to sleep.  Just don't expect Disney to always exhaust them and them to fall asleep magically in the room with you.  Tinkerbell doesn't sell fairy dust for that!  One night they did fall asleep and stay asleep as we transported them onto the bus and then into the room.  One night, the rest was a battle between us and them!

2.  The Monorail Resorts - If you can afford it, go for it!  The convenience is worth it.  Enough said!

1.  Those Mouse ears only look good in Orlando! - Disney sells it all and almost every ride dumps you right into a store of some type.  Your kids will want and to be honest so will you!  Remember those mouse ears are not quite as cute in your hometown.  Even if the trip is a once in a lifetime thing, limit the mouse paraphernalia.  Don't go overboard....seriously...no one sported their mouse ears once we hit nola!

Because having nothing going on right now, would be too much to ask for!

I would love to write a continuance post about Disney, but that won't be happening right now.  Why?  Because of the other things going on.....mostly the swine flu!

On our flight home I noticed Noah's nose was runny, I figured it was bound to happen.  We were on a flight with hundreds of other people in really close quarters, breathing the same air, spreading multiple germs for almost 2 hours.  Not to mention every time his pacifier fell out of his mouth at Disney he or we would pick it up and give it back to him. Sanitary? No.  Convenient?  Yes.  So yes, we obviously brought home germs.

By Monday he had a fever, and by Tuesday so did Meredith.  This morning it was confirmed that we have swine flu.  Well them, not me.  I tested negative.  However I feel as crummy as they do and have even taken two naps myself.  So really I'm convinced I got something.  Maybe they didn't stick that thing far enough up my nose....talk about uncomfortable.

Anyway we do have the swine flu.  Thankfully the kids are resting quietly now, which would leave me time to upload the hundreds of pics I took at Disney or I could nap instead.  For the third day in a row, the nap is going to win out.  Sorry.

Well I will nap as soon as the dishwasher installer and his loud talking wife are finished.  Did I mention that my dishwasher went out as soon as we got home?  It worked twice and then was apparently fried in an electrical explosion or something.  All I know is the electrician showed me some very burnt up wires and told me how lucky I had that green/ground wire or I wouldn't have a house anymore.  Yes, thank God for green wires. 

So as soon as I am feeling up to it, I promise to post some pics from Mouse world.  I also promise a very exciting and interesting and possibly educational post about my top 10 tricks/tips/lessons about Disney world.  Oh it will be so exciting....not really, but we can pretend.

Well that's all I got today.  I'm working on my list, maybe I'll crank that out today to, or I'll just to continue to administer the oinkment for my kids swine flu.....isn't that cute....my friend whose husband works in the ER told me about that one....apparently that's how we treat the swine flu here is south mississippi.....thanks Laura!

In which I truly lose my mind....Disney world part 1

Exhausted.....in one word.....exhausted.

The trip started out rocky and down right rough, but by Sunday things were much better.  On Friday night at about 11:30pm, Josh and I made sure that everything was packed.  We loaded the truck, we packed our carry ons, we set out our tickets.....tickets.....shit....did we do the online check in.....shit.....JOSH CAN YOU PRINT THE TICKETS?

At that point, I pulled out my laptop to find the email with the confirmation number of our flight,  the email I never printed out or the confirmation number I never wrote down....do you see where this is going?  Exactly.  Apparently in my chaotic state of late, I deleted the email from Southwest, which was deleted from my delete box.  So there was no email or trace of me ever purchasing anything from Southwest in cyberland.

So we picked up the phone at 12:00am and called Southwest to give them our name and find out exactly what time our flight was and check in.  That is when the nice ticket lady said...."I'm sorry but you aren't booked on ANY flight on Southwest tomorrow."  I wasn't on the phone, but if you know me you know what my reaction was or what I would have told the very nice ticket lady.

Instead I listened to the part of the conversation I could hear and got wind of the bad news....the very bad news....then fumed....WHAT THE FUCK!  I BOUGHT THOSE TICKETS!  After I insisted we were on that flight and that we had better be, I started to question myself.....did I book those tickets.....did I forget.....did I mean to do it when josh got home from work......I booked the trip on a weekend while he was on call at the hospital.....I did get the tickets right after I booked Disney right? right? right?  BRAIN WORK!!!!

Yes, the doubt crept in and my husband after giving 3 credit card numbers and our last name several times, hung up the phone with the nice Southwest lady with no seats on any plane departing from New Orleans and headed to Orlando.....or really any flight at all.

It is now 12:30, my kids are in bed and are so excited about our big plane ride and trip to Disney that was supposed to happen in less than 12 hours.  What the hell?

So we try to book more tickets on Southwest assuming I just forget, even though I know I didn't.  But at this point what do you do?  The Southwest lady checked and double checked and our family has no seats on any plane going anywhere.  Panic starts to set in.

My more reasonable husband gets a little panicky too, he decides to check our credit cards....good one.  But, the credit card company's website is down and we can't look up our records to see if we did purchase them.  And to save paper our credit card company does it all online.....so why isn't your website working!!!  I jump on my computer to purchase more tickets, but Southwest's website is showing all flights are booked to Orlando the following day. I am about to cry.  I cannot disappoint the two tikes sleeping upstairs, we have been talking about this trip for months!

So Josh, being his calm, collective self, calls Southwest back.  Tells the lady the situation and that we need to purchase more tickets now, he rationally explains that we need to get to Orlando tomorrow, and then politely asked her to please help us out, because the direct flight we were supposed to be on is sold out.  I am thinking...give me the phone...I'll get us on that plane....lady you are so lucky it wasn't me to call.  I know I booked that flight...dammit! 

The nice Southwest lady takes a minute to check out the situation and dig a little deeper, as she says.   What?  Don't these people dig deep every time someone calls and says they did book a flight before you tell them they didn't????  So again we give her and spell our last name to dig deeper....several minutes go by.....I'm am totally freaking out...... and voila, she finds one.... except this flight was in October of last year.....yes genius, that was our Southwest flight from our Disney trip last year......just book us a new freaking flight!!!!  So now I am yelling...."just book another damn ticket.....Josh,tell her to book us more tickets." 

 Am I happy  the price has more than doubled than the price I had thought I already paid...NO!  But we need to get to Disney world dammit and apparently I am really a chicken with my head cut off and need to start taking moments to breathe and write things down or print things out and put them in places they won't get lost!  Either way.....book us another flight already!

So the lady keeps looking.....several more minutes go by....and I am just beating myself up....how could I forget to get tickets....who does that.....did I really do that.....I'm not that stupid....I know I booked those damn tickets....I know I paid exactly X amount of dollars for them.  Josh I did book them, I know I did!

So I tell this to Josh and still being his calm, collective self, simply tells the lady..."Mam, that is our last year reservation and I need to be in Orlando tomorrow is there another flight you can put us on?"   Me, I'm still yelling in the background....I have no idea how he puts up with me for the record.

And that is when she says...."Hold on sir....let me keep digging....I'm still not convinced you aren't booked on a flight out tomorrow.  "WHAT?"  What would give this woman any indication that we MIGHT be booked tomorrow.  Either we are like I've been saying....or we aren't like your other lady told us.....what is to be determined....I didn't book the tickets under Mr. & Mrs. Smith.....I booked them under the names I gave you and spelled out for you multiple times.......is Southwest trying to give me heart failure.....come on!

The lady is looking....I am thinking alternating thoughts and at the same time.....HA I did book those tickets/please let her find our flight/ha I know I booked the flight/come on PLEASE find them!

At about quarter to 1am, she found them.  On an earlier flight than what I swear I booked.  Or let me say an earlier flight than I know I booked!   Yes, my flight was leaving about noon.  The flight she had us on was leaving a little after 8am.  Did I mention we live 2 hours from the airport.  The rest of the flights out were booked.  So I took a deep breath, cursed myself for deleting the email and in general not being more responsible and thanked my lucky stars she found our reservation and that we didn't hurry and book a second more expensive reservation without getting to the bottom of it.  And oh Southwest I am not letting you off that easy....I know I had that reservation....you need to be more accountable too dammit!

Okay Internets.....here is the pivotal learning part of the post....you probably already know this and do this....if not take note and write it down.....THOSE FREAKING CONFIRMATION NUMBERS THEY GIVE YOU ARE PRETTY DAMN IMPORTANT....WRITE THEM DOWN!!! DON'T JUST PRETEND TO!

So at 1am we are scrambling, instead of heading out for the airport at 730am liked we planned, we are now having to leave at 430am.  It is 1am....I decide to shower that night and then sleep, but my heart is racing, my adrenaline is pumping and I can't sleep.  I get into bed at 130am and I toss and turn and at 430am, Josh and I grab to sleeping tikes out of their beds and load them in the car.  We hope they will sleep until we get there.....

They are both wide awake by the time we back out the driveway.  They are on their way to the Magic Kingdom.....the excitement is bubbling out of them.  There is no rest for the weary.  For 2 hours we say....
"Yes guys we are on our way",  "Yep we are headed to the big plane",  "Yep we are going to DISNEY world!", "Nope we are not there yet!"

And eventually we board our flight and arrive in Orlando......Ahhhh!  But there will be no napping or resting....we check in.....we load onto another bus.....and we head to the Magic Kingdom!

to be continued....

What I like to dub the..."The I'm going to disney world and you're not!" snack day

Today was Meredith's first snack day of the year.  It also happens to be 3 days before we leave for our 2nd trip to Disney World.  I don't know who is more excited me or the tikes.  This year on snack day the kids also get to bring a small toy for show and tell.  The only show and tell brought that day is by the snack helper/line leader.  And to 3 year olds that is a VERY big deal.

Meredith was one of the last kids in the class to bring snack this month.  So we have been patiently waiting our turn to bring the snack and show and tell for what seems like an eternity.  This gave us plenty of time to think about what we were bringing.

Last week Meredith decided what she was bringing to show and tell all on her own.  She picked her small toy airplane and her small minnie and mickey doll.  That way she could show the kids what she would be flying on to get to Disney World and the Mickey and Minnie to show them what she would be seeing there.  She truly thought of this all on her own.  Then I took it one step further and made rice krispie treats shaped like mickey mouse's head with chocolate dipped ears. 

This morning Meredith decided to take it one step further and wear her Minnie Mouse dress and Minnie Mouse hat we got from Disney last year.  So as you can see we had a themed snack day/line leader day.  The theme I am sure seemed to be "I'm going to Disney World and you're not"  especially to the other three year olds.  It was not my intention for that.  I was a little worried though, especially since her little friend in the class really wants to go to.

However those were just silly fears, because her teacher sent me a lovely letter home today saying how much the kids loved Meredith's snack and show and tell, and how fun the snack day was.  I think it was a big hit!

Meredith got in the car with a smile beaming from ear to ear saying "all da kids LOVED my snack and dey thought dey was mickey mouse poppa-sickles, but really mom, dey were just krispie treats on a stick!  Isn't dat funny mom!  And mom EVERYBODY loved my hat!  And dey thought I was Minnie Mouse!"

Apparently Meredith's approval rating just soared in her preschool 3 class!

Here she is ready for snack day!

With her basket of snacks, and her show and tell.

Close up for the show and tell.

And because he is so handsome and wants to go to school with his sister so bad, here is my man with his show and tell too!

First haircut

Yesterday Noah received his first hair cut.  While I would have loved to have waited and let his curls grow, I have be honest, my boy doesn't have any curls.  Unless it rains and is muggy, then we get a few....like 2.  So yesterday I loaded my man up to see Ms. Lauren and cut away his wings.  She was shocked he was almost 2 and this was his first haircut.  What can I say we had a mohawk for a long time with little other hair.

Here is the before....see those wings over his ears.

Mom are you really going to let that lady near me with those scissors?

Now that I have a sucker, she can do anything she wants.

Ladies Man!

My handsome little boy and our favorite hair dresser!

Becuase you had a bad day...

You know that song?  This one...

Because you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day
 
Well it's Meredith's favorite song.  Seriously.  If you come into my house any given day, you may just catch her naked except for her underwear, belting out this song at the top of her lungs.  And not because she constantly has bad days, I mean how many 3 year olds have bad days?  Especially ones that often munch on Happy Meals for lunch, goes to dancing school, play school, has multiple play dates and owns 3 pairs of red shoes.  Exactly, not this three year old.  No sir-ree, no reason for a bad day here.....at all.
 
Today though was a different animal....she had a great morning.  Dropped her brother off at school, went to dancing, then we went to get a 99cent sonic mini oreo sundae, then to Hobby Lobby (her favorite store - no idea why, because it's not mine), then to lunch and then to Mimi's.  Where she played all afternoon.  She played with her dolls, rode on the golf cart, fed the ducks, and all kinds of fun stuff.  She even got ice cream for a snack for the 2nd time that day.  Which is unheard of normally.  I am the healthy snack momma, I tell ya.
 
Anyway her day was busy and the plan was to have her daddy pick her up on his way home from work.  But when your dad is constantly on call as her dad was tonight, sometimes those plans have to change.  So I went to pick her up and head to get her snack for school tomorrow.  Do you know what can cause a 3 year old's world to come crashing down?  Changing plans on them.  Plans they were looking forward to.  When I walked into my mom's to pick up my daughter that I had dropped off 4 hours earlier, I was met with Satan's spawn instead.  Okay not really, but it was so not my child.  Not the one I left earlier.  Not the one I went through 19 1/2 hours of labor with no epidural just to wind up with a damn c-section anyway.  Yes, not that one in deed.  Instead I got one with a surly attitude, on the verge of a complete breakdown and drowning in tears and other fluids draining from the senseless fit being thrown. 
 
I did what any good mother would do.  I threatened a punishment, I told her I was NOT happy with her choices and I told her I was disappointed in her behavior and then I left her there and headed to get her snack without her.  The snack I specially ordered for her class to go with the "I'm going to Disney world and you're not" theme I have going on for snack day tomorrow.....but that is a post for another day.  Anyway I left her.  I was bewildered. I normally get tears and a fit when she has to leave Mimi's but normally she straightens up when I correct her.  Today not so much.
 
About an hour or so later I met back up with the devil's spawn said child.  We looked eye to eye, she told me I was mean. I told her to go to time out and think about it.  She cried, I banged my head on the counter.  Five minutes later I sat her down to talk to her.  She said she was sorry and hugged me.  Then she threw another fit with screaming and crying and real BIG tears.  I'm not even sure why.  Can 3 year olds have PMS? 
 
I sent her to her room.  She stayed there screaming for a while.  She finally emerged and we hugged and I told her I loved her and she sat on my lap and she cried about crying and then I told her enough....move on.....you had a freaking bad day.  Sing that damn song you are always singing at the top of your lungs.  She didn't want to because she was having too bad a day to sing.
 
So about 6:30 we had both chilled out.  Josh went back in to the hospital and the tikes and I went up to start an early bed time routine.  Once everyone was in bed, stories were read, songs sang and prayers said, I tucked Noah in and then went to tuck in my girl.  She asked me if I loved her, I responded as I always do "to the moon and back."  She asked me how far that was, I told her as I always tell her "as far as she could ever imagine."  I kissed her and told her I was sorry, she said she was sorry too.  I looked into her deep brown eyes and saw myself looking back at me.....God bless me when she is 16.  I am going to need it.
 
Meredith remember always that I love you! I am sure there will be times when you don't like me and I don't like you, but I will ALWAYS love you.  No matter what!
 
**By the way you love that song, because the chipmunks sing it.  I love it because you sing it!

The cheerleaders and the hunk!

This past weekend we took the kids to the USM game.  It was Noah's first game, since his previous games were when he was in my belly!  It was also Meredith's "first" game, since she didn't remember ever going before.  It was also her first time to bring a friend somewhere, I have to say that is a pretty big girl move!

Here they are all dressed up in the USM garb, making funny faces!  Look at the happiness in those smiles.  To be young and innocent again!

The girls trying to get Noah to sit by them....he was too cool for that!

Gearing up to go!  Eagles to the TOP!

Best friends!

Pre-game we tailgated with the masses at USM.  We watched the bands, the cheerleaders and dance team and the kids were very interested in people watching.

The game was alot of fun.  We didn't have the typical game experience though, we watched it in a catered suite that Josh's office owns.  Talk about style.  The kids loved that.  They were right in the end zone with only glass between them and the field and several hundred feet of course, since we were on the third floor!

The girls played, cheered and had a ball.  Noah watched the game intensely, clapped, cheered, flirted with the girls both big and small.  Overall we all had a great time, it will be hard to go back to watching the games in the stands.  At one point during the night, Noah tried to crowd surf in the stands.  He had 5 adults up and out of their seats trying to catch him, someone did, I guess the boy knew what he was doing.  He also tried to climb over the glass railing the entire night.  Finally he took his shoes off and stacked them against the glass to get some height, he then climbed on his shoes and tried to boost himself over the edge....he came close.

At half time we headed out to get the three tikes home and in bed.  It was a great game.

The homework begins

On Friday, Meredith came home with homework.  I know who gives homework over Labor Day weekend?  Apparently the three year old teachers at Meredith's preschool, that's who.  The homework was to complete the silhouette with some of Meredith's favorite things.  Like her favorite colors, hobbies, food, animals, games, toys and so on. 

Thankfully this little homework project was easy, because in true Mandi fashion I waited until Tuesday to complete the assignment due no later than Wednesday morning.  I actually had to take my SD card to get pictures developed this morning.  Nothing like last minute.  I know as she gets older these projects will become a little harder and more involved so I will have to work on this procrastination thing. 

And yes, I said I will have to work on the procrastination thing because we all know homework and projects is as much work for the parent as it is for the child.  Just ask my mom and the endless science projects she had to do for us.

Here is my girl working on her silhouette....the other random worksheets are homework sheets she assigns herself daily.  My girl lives for homework!

Checking out the final project.

So proud of her work.

The finished product!

Here is what it all means.

Things Meredith likes...

- dancing

- Brownie-her dog

- her family

- coloring

- pencils for homework

- spaghetti and meatballs

- cooking

- baking

- dressing up

- princesses

- her favorite animal - monkey

- going to work with her daddy at the hospital

- oatmeal

- cookies

-the color pink!

I know these will change one day, so I love that I will have it documented at the age of 3!

The ants coming marching 10 by 10....

After a very busy, but very fun weekend....Monday rolled around.   Even though it is a holiday and I have an extra set of hands home to help with the Monday, it is still a Monday.  Since Noah went to bed at 6:30pm last night due to skipping his nap, he was up bright and early at 7am.  This was not his usual 8:30am, therefore I was forced to drag my tired ass out of bed an hour and half earlier than usual.  It nearly killed me since I couldn't sleep last night.  Josh had left to do rounds so he could get back home and spend the day with us, otherwise I would have made him get out of bed and get him.

So after I fetch a Noah man, we got in my bed to snuggle.  Noah's idea of snuggling and my idea of snuggling are very different.  Before long we heard Ta-ta coming down the steps and that was when I decided to get up and make oatmeal....much to Noah's delight. 

As I opened the pantry door there they were.  Hundreds, or thousands maybe.  They were having a standoff  and I was armed with my Method cleaner...what else should I have used around all the food?  The war on the ants began.  Thankfully the kids didn't pick up on my anxiety or start screaming with me.  They took the ants in stride and looked at me like I had officially lost all of my marbles.  If Josh would not had arrived on the scene and confirmed it, I may have thought I was seeing things, that's how lax the children's responses to the ants were.  Yes, even my Meredith who cannot stand a tiny bug within a 25 foot radius of her, did NOT react to the ants.

So there went my Monday, by 8am, I had made 3 bowls of oatmeal (2 for my growing boy and 1 for Meredith), unloaded an entire pantry of food, threw out 4....yes 4 garbage bags full of ant infested foods or foods that were at least a year or two out of date.  I had wiped down the entire pantry with bleach cleaner, used several of my finest choice words, text my husband about the dire ant/pantry situation and begged him to leave his patients in the ICU and come and help me....for the record he didn't. And cried...I did I cried over the ants.  I even thought about putting the house up for sale, because at that point it seemed easier than getting rid of them.  All of this by 8am. 

Yes, it is a Monday.  I don't even know what holiday it is today, because by golly I celebrated it yesterday and today was a typical Monday morning at work for me.  Stay at home moms don't get holidays, vacation time or sick leave.  I think I may put in a phone call to the union sometime today....oh wait I bet they have the day off.  I guess I'll quit crying now and go back to battle the ants.  I googled how to kill ants, but those websites weren't very optimistic and were making me realize just how many ants were hiding below the surface where I couldn't see.  My Monday morning had been bad enough already without reading that....so I quit.  

Anyone have any advice on how to get rid of them?

What she says....the fairy

 Blair this one is for you....

So a few weeks ago a friend of mine and fellow blogger posted a story about a special fairy.  This fairy is the clean up fairy.  After countless days of begging and pleading for Meredith and Noah to pick up their toys....and threats of throwing their toys away if they didn't pick them up, I took Blair's idea and went with it.  I told Meredith about the fairy.  I told her how she came at night and picked up any toys that were left out and gave them to boys and girls that didn't have any toys.

After my preschool explanation of this fairy and how she worked, my daughter began to cry.  At first I thought it was because she was so sensitive to the fact that some boys and girls had absolutely no toys.  I went into lots of detail about that and here she was sobbing about how some kids had no toys and she was going to share them.   I was impressed.....about to pat myself on the back...who said parenting was hard?  It wasn't but a few seconds later and then I realized that she was crying because she didn't want that fairy to come and give her toys to anyone.  It wasn't that she wanted to share with others who had no toys, it was that she didn't want to share with anyone....toys or no toys!  I know I will continue to work on that sharing thing, right after I get this clean up thing working.

Anyway I digress....back to the fairy.   So I go into detail and explain and re-explain how it works.  That night when the tikes are in bed, the play room, and their bedrooms are spotless.  I helped, but they did the bulk of the work.  Meredith worried about the fairy and Noah picking up due to his sister's persistent begging so that the fairy won't come.  The next night same thing.   In fact their have been times where we couldn't leave the house with the play room a mess in fear that the fairy would come by while we were out. 

A few days go by, the picking up continues and I realize my child is genuinely afraid of this fairy.  She is losing sleep over it, literally.  She can't sleep at night in fear of the fairy coming in her room at night to get her toys.  I am frustrated.  I didn't paint this fairy out to be the bad guy.  I didn't say she looked like a wicked witch and pulled toes.  So I really didn't want to have to say she was pretend and go back to living in a pig pen, but let's face it....we all need sleep....and by sleep I mean in our own beds.   So I did it, I broke down....I told her the damn fairy wasn't real.  She was just pretend.  She could sleep, there was no fairy coming.  It was just me and I was just going to throw those toys away if they were left out. 

My moment of truth did not change the mind of my 3 year old.  To her that fairy she still exist and I am just saying that she is pretend so she will sleep.  We still pick up at night.  She still stays up at night in fear of her.  I guess I need to make sure that the fairy brings a few surprises to let Meredith know she is a good fairy.

But today, the fairy thing backfired completely.  Meredith, Noah and I were in the backyard playing outside, when they started moving the pea gravel that is in the sand boxes under the swing set and dumping it all over the yard.  I quickly halted this and told them we needed to pick it up and put it back.  PRONTO!  They just stared.....

"Guys....NO, NO, NO,  the rocks stay under the swing set!"

"but why?"

"Because....I do not want pea gravel all over the yard."

"but why?"

"Because....it will kill the grass"

"but why?"

"Because when we cut the grass it will get shot across the yard by the lawn mower."

"but why?"

"Because IT BELONGS in the boxes under your playhouse and that is where it needs to stay"

"but why?"

"because I freaking said so.....BECAUSE, BECAUSE, BECAUSE!"

"but..."

"No...stop right there...let's pick up....RIGHT NOW"

"No mom, let's just leave it.  Da fairy will come when we are sleeping and just throw it away.  Okay!"

I realize I was outsmarted by a 3 year old this afternoon.  Lord help me when she is 16.

On days when she just dresses herself

My diva.  She has a fashion sense that is totally her own.  Some mornings we completely bat heads over the wardrobe.  Many of you may think like my mother, why on Earth do I give her the choice.  Well let me just say.  She doesn't always get to choose.  Sometimes when we are going somewhere or on Sunday mornings, I choose for her and that is that.  She knows that and typically does not fight me on this.  As long as the outfit meets her very picky standards.  Most of time I let her pick between two things.  And others I let her have free reign.  I figure what does it really hurt if she gets to pick her clothes for the day.  I'll tell ya, not a damn thing.

  It has gotten easier since I have gotten to know what she likes and what she does not like and will refuse to wear.  Remember when I said I only bought pink things, I did that way I didn't' have a drawer full of clothes not being worn because they weren't Pepto Bismol pink.  I started buying clothes that meet her very high standards of 1)not being tight around her arms  2)not being empire waisted and being tight across her chest 3)not being tight on her waist  and 4)not containing too much frilly stuff....then we got to a place where we are good.  I hated wearing stuff I did not like as a child.  I'm changing that with my own children. Here are some examples...

She loved this one....didn't want to take it off.

She totally put this ensemble together....do you love the shirt hair?  Yes, a yellow shirt she wore all day on her head like hair.....ALL DAY.  To the grocery, McDonalds, Target....ALL DAY!

Dress up at the discovery center.  She loves dress up and totally gets into character when she does. 

More dress up...this is my recent favorite princess ansemble she has put together.  We typically always wear her green dress, with a crown, heels and a purse.  See her side picture for an example.  However today, she totally mixed it up and had on a blue dress with two or three tutus underneath it.  This totally broke her no tightness around the waist rule, oh well.  I guess rules were meant to be broken.  Oh and when we are in princess garb, we have to play the part and refer to her as princess Meredith.  Today she waited for her little prince to wake up from his nap so he could dance with her.....he didn't cooperate when he awoke.

I wanted you to see the multiple layers under that dress.  I like to encourage her creativity and decision making skills.  I love it!

The kitchen wasn't the only room to get a makeover...

The kitchen and living room weren't the only rooms in the house to get a face lift.  I also re-did the "much in need of a new look" play room.  The room was originally Meredith's nursery, which was super cute and super gender neutral, since we definitely weren't finding out. 

That lasted all of 17 weeks.

Then Noah came along and both of them were bumped upstairs and it was transformed into the play room, or the room of crap that we own way too much of!And since it is one of the most seen rooms in the house, aside from the gorgeous kitchen, it needed an overhaul.

So here is the before....

And here is the after.....

I have to say it is much improved.  I also got some new plantation shutters in the toy room as well as the bedrooms, I love these things.  Mom you were right.

My cute little "by order of the management" prints that I got from etsy.  As well as Meredith and Noah's ugly dolls I picked up in NYC.  Meredith was happy to put hers on the wall she thought it was special.  Noah was just happy the damn thing was out of his room.  He hates that ugly doll.  When I first brought it home he whined and threw him down the stairs.  I went and got it and brought it back up and he slapped me, screamed, grabbed it from me and threw it down the stairs again.  I got the message, but I love to aggravate him with it....I know cruel!  Anyway the first couple hours he wouldn't go in the playroom without screaming.  But fear not Internets, he got over his fear and now is back to destroying the play room in 2.4 seconds!

Close up of the signs, aren't they cute!

Come on in and see what a difference one's sanity makes...

Oh Internets!  You have stuck with me through this horrendous renovation.  You have patiently waited and some of you may even continue to check the blog occasionally in hopes that I have posted pictures of the fruits of my labor and many months of blood, sweat and tears.  Well I did, it took almost as long as the renovation. 

I have lost my sanity through this process, I am slowly gaining it back.  But come inside and see what happened.  Realize that the living room is finished, but I am awaiting additional furniture.  I will post more pictures when it all gets here.  My photography skills are not the best....deal with it.  I also swear that I took better before pictures, but for the life of me CANNOT find them on my computer.  My organizational skills went out the window the day they started with this....

But alas we are finished. Things were not done on schedule, I cleaned better than I did in my entire life due to some peoples inability to use visqueen. And low and behold I survived. I guess I am cut out for that kind of work.

So here is the before......

And the after.........

Again the before.....

And the after....

Looking into the kitchen before.....

Looking into the kitchen after.....

The new brick wall on the living room side.  That mirror isn't staying there, I just don't know what I will put there.

Looking from the kitchen into the living room.

Before......

After.......

Looking toward the stove/cook top with the old island and floors and without the wall.

Before.....

After.....

The breakfast area before.....

After...

(I need a closeup of my new table, it is made from on old door from a house in Nola)

And now just some details.

My new chandelier over the breakfast table....

The new brick floors, I love them.

The new island.  I have bookcases on each end.

My new kitchen faucet.  Sorry it is blurry, but I love it!

The cabinet I had built on the brick wall on the kitchen side.  I use it as a china cabinet.

So what do you think?  Anything I left out you want to see?  My new hardware wasn't installed yet in these pictures, it is now do you need to see that?  Do I need a close up of anything else?  Please humor me, say something!

Preschool Photo Shoot

Today Meredith started 3 year old preschool.  She could not wait!  We have been waiting for this day for weeks.  I thought she would get a little nervous and change her mind, but as you can see..... that did NOT happen! 

What a difference a year makes.

Ready to leave...."Can we go now?"  This was after three outfit changes and tears over what she could wear.

Her cheesy grin....it's what I get when I say smile....or say cheese!

When I told her to pose like a big 3 year old going to preschool, I got this....hmmm.

The obligatory preschool bricks shot, I think I got this last year too.

The I have had enough pictures....seriously mom....my friends are in this parking lot.

Her new classroom.

She jumped right in and played.   I even got a you can go now mom. 

Here she is with Mrs. K! I love her already. I wish Meredith would have taken the time to look, since this is the only picture I got with Mrs. K. Oh well. I have lots of others from today!

Because I love this picture

Recently, my two tikes have become the best of friends.  They finally have gotten to a stage where they will play together for long periods of time.  Inevitably they will fight, but I have lessened my reaction time and have started given them time to work it out amongst themselves.  Meredith is normally doing the working out, she has gotten to be a fantastic big sister.  Noah adores her and loves the attention and soaks it all up.  I know that this bond between them is just starting to form and will grow throughout the years. 

Just found these and had to share...

Remember that beach trip we took in June....yes the 2nd one we took. Well look what I found more pictures.....and I had to share....they were too cute!

Here we are about to ride go-carts This was by far Noah's high-light of the trip!

There was also ice cream on the trip.....all over a certain 19 month old.

but he made such a cute grin....remember I told you he was messy.

The girls enjoyed some too!

We also rode trains, swings, carousels, and a Ferris wheel....when I say "we" I mean everyone under the age of 4.

We played the longest round of miniature golf ever....

even the kids were tired of waiting....come on big people....play already!
Meredith actually made a hole in one on the last put!

And the other highlight riding the wagon to catch crabs...well at least Noah's highlight...he hated the beach....here we go!

the luxurious wagon ride.

Got our nets and lights ready!

My handsome boy and his spike!

Me and my girl.

The sunshine in my life.....my two tikes!

21 months old

Yesterday my baby turned 21 months old. Just 3 months shy of 2 years. And today he pooped in the potty.

"Poo Poo pop-pey"

"Do you want to poo poo in the potty man?"

"uh-huh"

"let's go"

And we did, and he did, and Meredith and I cheered and clapped and scared the shit out of him. Literally. Seriously he thought we were insane and he almost cried, then he realized we were freaking ecstatic and he was too. Clapping and saying yay and saying "bid boy!" 21 months old.....21 months. I guess we are possibly ready to start potty training....maybe.

Big Boy School

Noah started Mother's day out yeserday. He will start going one day a week again this year, however we are at a new school. The days just worked better with our schedule. He will also be doing more acitivities at this new school. He was really excited to get a "ba-pak" like his big sister! He was also thrilled that his "ba-pak" said "RAWWR!"

He is such a handsome man.....don't you think? His sister ready for her first day of dance class and Noah ready for school.

Mom, I can carry this by myself!

Look how cute he is.....ignore the mess around him.

Ready to go!

This was just as hard as Meredith's first day of Mother's day out! sniff, sniff.

Noah did great at his new school. He loved the wagon ride and playing outside. He was fine the teacher said as long as they were doing stuff. I went to pick him up right as he was eating lunch....like a big boy. His face lit up when he saw me and off we went. We will see how it goes again next Tuesday!

Dancing Girl

Yesterday Meredith started dancing school again. This is her second year. We are trying out a different school, much closer to home and with a better schedule. We will see how it goes. My girl is already ready for the recital and wants to know when can she dance on the big stage.

She has come so far from last year.

Showing off her cheesy grin and new dancing back-pack. She gets a canvas tote she has to use at school and so this backpack she had to have is now her dancing bag. Girls!He is going to be so sad when he figures out they aren't going to the same place.

What she says.....Three year old drama

This truly happened....

"Meredith if you keep it up we will not read books tonight......I mean it, we will just say prayers and sing the goodnight song.....no books.....stop throwing a fit or WE WILL NOT READ BOOKS!"

Well lately I realized I am a big ball of threats that are not carried out......the fit continued.

"That's it, no books tonight. Let's go march up the steps....no books"

"BUT I WANT BOOKS.....WAH!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Nope, sorry, I told you, you were going to lose books....that's it."

She stops crying, we brush her teeth, she climbs in her bed, I climb in too, she is actually smiling, we sing the good night song, I say her prayers with her, I give her a big kiss and go to leave the room. The wailing starts.

Josh explains..."Meredith, Mommy is not reading you a book, here are your books, you can read them if you want, but you lost that privilege tonight. Do you know why?"

"WAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ.....DAT'S NOT FAIR!"

All of this because I filled a pink sippy cup for her to bring to bed and she wanted the princess one. When I refused to switch and dirty an additional cup she lost it, she never recovered, despite the fact of losing her "mommy reading books to me" privilege. Life is never dull.

Being the Mama to a boy

I have resorted to the fact that Noah will NEVER leave the house clean. Meaning no matter how many times I change his clothes into something nice, new or clean .... he will inevitably get it dirty, stained or soiled before he steps a foot out the door.

When he was a baby and we would leave to go on an outing, I learned quickly to pack another "nice" outfit...because the one he was wearing was sure to be a mess by the time we reached our destination....if it hadn't been already. This outift was in addition to the standard change of clothes/onseie.

It never failed he would have an explosive diaper the minute we pulled out the driveway when he was a newborn. Spit up all over his church clothes as we were walking out, or jam a cookie in his mouth when I was grabbing my keys and all purpose bag only to drool the chocolate chips down his shirt and shorts.

Once I even made Josh turn around less than 3 miles from our house to get a different outfit for him since we were going somewhere nice and he had so many cute outifts hanging in his closet and DAMMIT I wanted him to look presentable for his cousin's party! He was only 3 or 4 months old. However no more....no more I tell ya!

Yes, I am throwing in the towel. I can't help it. Gain freaking loves people like me --- Mama's of little boys. And Shout and I are to the point where we are spooning in bed now, we have become that close my friend. This year I am taking a different approach. I refuse to spend tons of money on cute clothes only to be ruined. So when you see Noah dressed in garbage bags don't say anything. Oh I kid....partly. I am taking the different approach though. The "I don't give a shit" approach.

Noah is what he is, a busy little boy. And I am embracing it. That cute little chocolate stain will be a reminder of how good that cookie was and why none of his clothes cost very much money! I would say I am holding out for a day when he is a little bit older and stays clean or cleaner, but since I throw more of Josh's clothes away due to awful stains even shout can't handle I am not holding out much hope.

So Mama' of boys....tell me are you little tikes a mess too?

School Daze

It's that time of year again....

school supplies, new school shoes, new school clothes, new school bags, the perfect trapper keeper, the anticipation of finding out who was going to be in my class, who my teacher would be, when I would have recess, lunch, gym and all other things I loved about starting school.

As a kid I could not wait to shop for school supplies, new uniforms and even penny loafers.....seriously.

Now I have a kid and I am instilling that same back to school excitement.....and honey she is taking to it.

Today Noah was having an off day so Mimi offered to take care of him and rock him while Meredith and I ran errands. Then it dawned on me she was soon going to be starting school and my days to take her shopping to get the school supplies she doesn't even need yet was starting to run out. So today we took advantage of it.

We went to the dance store to get her new tap shoes and leotards for dancing next week, then we did lunch and headed to Target to get the supplies.

We got crayons, markers, pencils, a pencil box, scissors (or cuts), a princess folder, a princess notebook, white sticky glue, a composition book and a new lunch box. Like I said she doesn't need any of these supplies besides the lunch box, at her preschool I pay a supply fee each semester and everything she needs is provided. Which is nice, but I like new school supplies and my little studios tike does too, so we got some school su-pwies for home too. After all she begs to do homework and write her letters everyday. I think it safe to say they will definitely get used.

Next week I get to crush her heart when she finds out she doesn't get to ride the big yellow bus to school.....she is very anxious to do that and get started.

What she says - Prayers

Last night we were saying our nightly prayers, which I always follow up with by asking everyone what they want to pray with. Meredith has now started that ritual by being the one to ask. She starts with Noah and he always prays for Ta-ta. Then she ask both Josh and then myself. After she is done I ask her...she normally prays for her friends, family, animals, her monkeys and whatever I pray for. Last night was a different story though....

"Meredith what do you want to pray for?"

"Um a little boyfriend, just my size for me to dance with."

That's my girl!

My new favorite thing to love....Onstar

Since we bought that brand, spankin', new gas guzzler from the On Star people, or GM we get On Star for a year for free. For the first couple of weeks I never hit that little, blue button, but yesterday as the tikes and I drove to the beach for the third time this summer I decided to test it out. Josh had to hang home and go to the thing called work, so I was sitting in the front seat by myself listening to the Wiggles since Noah won't wear the headphones and thinking....this may be a long three hours.

With that I hit the button.....

"Hi Mrs (butcher my last name), this is On Star do you need help with directions?"

"Yeah sure"

"Okay it says you are in (name of at town I couldn't hear) and what city and state do you need to to?"

"Gulf Shores, Alabama"

"And what destination?"

"I need directions to the Gulf Shores Surf & Racquet Club"

"Okay Mrs. (butcher my last name again) I'm not finding that, how about the Gulf Shores Resort"

"No, I need them to the Surf & Racquet Club"

"Okay let me put you on hold while I look that up"

No, NO, No, Mr. Onstar keep talking to me, everyone I know to call is busy, I'm bored, please keep talking to me, honestly I know how to get to the Surf & Racquet Club! I could tell you if you can't find it. Just talk to me, how have you been? what's been going on? How are the kids?

"Mrs.(please give up on my last name) we have found it, would you like it downloaded to your navigation system?"

"Sure...why not....guess you are busy"

"Okay have a nice day!"

After that I went back to listening to the Wiggles and the Backyardigans, and then the Wiggles again.

I did have some interaction with what my family calls the "Bitch in the Box" directing me where to go. Needless to say it wasn't the same route I was taking so I often got the...."Oh fine go your way dammit, don't have directions downloaded if you won't listen"....or "Make an illegal u-turn and go the OTHER way....fine I assume you are stopping and getting food since you won't listen." Her and I didn't get along so I eventually turned her off.....damn bitches in the boxes.

But we made it, got here went to the pool, dined at a great beach restaurant, then headed to ride go carts. The kids had a great time, in fact after riding the big go carts, Noah would scream and hold his seat belt when it was time to get out. It didn't matter we had to sneak him on, since he was a good foot and a half too little to ride. Nope he loved it, and I'm not talking about the small cars, but the big fast ones. We let him ride twice once with me and once with his Mimi. Both times he was broken hearted getting off and then as we left he cried the entire way to the car, with real tears.

I have also used Onstar two more times to find destinations that I already knew where they were, once to show my parents how it works, and the other just to start a friendship with the lovely Onstar people, I'm working up to the chatting stage.

By the way, if you need a 2 bedroom condo in gulf shores...let me know, fall rates+ a family & friends discount can apply to you! Just leave a comment for more information!

What she says....favorite quote from the summer

"Dude....step away from dacouch!"

"What?"

"Mom...Dude....step AWAY from da couch"

Can I buy a vowel please?

Last night as we were heading in from playing in the back yard the kids stopped short in front of the television. I continued on to begin getting ready for the bath and bedtime routine. It was a quarter to seven and the tv was tuned to Wheel of Fortune.

My two tikes parked their little fannies in front of Pat and Vanna.....are they even still on their? I didn't even notice. Anyway they parked their rears and stared in amazement, watching the remainder of the show. Every time the audience clapped, so did they. Meredith repeated every letter they asked for and Noah tried to repeat her. The clapping and giggling went on for the full 15 minutes.

Josh and I had to stop and watch them to figure out what they were clapping at, at first. Then we watched in amazement. They were like two little zombies who couldn't resist the show or the clapping.

On the backburner

For the past several weeks that is exactly where this blog has been. While I somewhat use the blog to chronicle my children's lives and record milestones, it is mainly for me. An outlet if you will. Adult interaction. A place I can come and retell a story or a funny situation or just express my feelings. So I needed a break.

With the summer winding down I decided to put the blog away and soak up the last few days of summer with the kids. There has been lots going on around here. The kitchen is finished. I am still waiting on the new hardware and that will need to be installed once it arrives....which should be anyday, but overall the kitchen is finished. Hallefreakinluja! The pictures will come soon.....my camera is in the shop. I promise I am not just stalling to be mean. I have now taken on the task of redecorating my family room and dining room. However that is slow going. I will post pictures of the completed and beautiful renovations as soon as my Nikon is fixed. I promise!

Since my blogging has slacked off this summer drastically here is a recap...

-two beach vacations
-two trips to see Grandpa
- a trip to the Aquarium
- a tea party for just the girls
- Noah started gymnastics
- both tikes finished up with gymnastics
- swimming lessons
- pottery painting
- many trips to the "BIG" movies to see kids flicks
- many trips to Mimi's pool
- a few trips to the local country club pool
- going to a restaurants just for desert after dinner
- many evening snowballs
- dance camp
- got RID of the PACI, well one tike did
- bible school
- story time at the library
- booked a trip to Disney for the fall
- threw a pool party
- got rid of the loser cruiser
- bought a bus
- got a blow up pool for the driveway
- popped the blow up pool on the second day we owned it
- summer birthday parties
- some backyard barbeques
- dinner parties
- sleepovers
- a new kitchen
- lost my mind
- a new living room
- sleeping in until 9am
- yelled at contractors
- got bricked!
- joined the gym
- gained 2lbs since joining...attributing that to muscle gain
- no more napping for 3 year olds
- skipped naps for 1 year olds
- more waiting until 9am to wake the kids
- a trip to the waterpark
- many late evening bike rides
- successfully weaned Noah from his bottle
- unsuccessfully weaned Noah from his "uh-oh"
- neighborhood walks
- fired my husband from landscaping duties
- hired a landscaper
- got some much needed pea gravel....thanks Cole!
- moved furniture around alot
- actually painted the toy room by myself
- had three rooms painted professionally, including the repainting of the toy room
- movie nights at home
- many mornings snuggling in mommy's bed
- lots of mornings with cinnamon rolls for breakfast
- found my mind last week and now I am slowly adjusting to having it again.

Yes another summer has come and gone and with that my blog vacation. Things will once again be up and running around here at 2 tikes! Looking forward to getting back in touch with ya!

Here is a small glimpse of our summer....as you can see I didn't take my camera out too much!

And it's finally Friday

Whew! Anyone else feel that way. Sometimes I think we should hold an awards banquet on Friday nights for everyone who needs some sort of recognition for surviving the work week. Since my job as a stay at home mom has grown to include managing the renovations, runner of all errands, making and maintaining all appointments. This summer has been especially hectic.

However the kitchen is *almost* finished. I know I keep saying that, but I want in 100% complete before I show you the final product. So here is where I am........I am waiting for the painter to come back today to patch holes in the ceiling where the old, and very much off center, chandeliers were. By the way the new ones look fab-u-lous! I am also waiting for my new hardware to arrive, which should be in by next Monday and my new kitchen faucet, which should be here by Monday. Oh and the ceiling has to be repainted, once the a fore mentioned holes are patched. After that I promise to post pictures. The before and afters will be very dramatic and very beautiful. If I may say so myself. And if you don't think so, just lie okay. My sanity needs that white lie!

That being said, I am ready to take on the next project. In a year or so, you did not think it would be immediate, hell no. I need at least a year off.

On other news my little ballerina finished her week of dance camp. I survived week one of belonging to and going to the gym. By Thursday I had actually ran a short distance on the tread mill, it felt fabulous.

My little man was also evaluated for speech therapy today, however he did not qualify. Thanks to the speech therapy boot camp going on around here since I tested him 3 months ago! He is mildly delayed, by about 10%, and the therapist and I both feel the delay is from the fluid that was camped out in his ear canal the first 6 months of his life and by his 2nd birthday he should be caught up.

The tikes are growing so fast and this has also been an emotional week for me. The kids will both be starting some type of school this fall. Meredith will be attend 3 year old preschool, 3 half days a week and Noah will once again go to a 1 day a week Mother's day out program. I debated on two days for Noah, but since those two days were on opposite days of Meredith's three, I thought it was definitely more important that we have a day at home where the three of us could just snuggle in bed in our jammies all day. So they are both going to school and honestly this schedule is not so much different from last , so that is not what upsets me.

What upsets me is that this year gets me 1 year closer to next year. I know.....seriously this is what I worry about. And next year my baby girl, my first born, my mini Mandi, will be starting 4 year old preschool at her big girl school. The same school she will hopefully, baring any major unexpected changes in our life, graduate high school from. Saying that scares the complete crap out of me. When did she grow up and who let her?

I lay in bed each night thinking of how fast they are both growing up. Each day Noah changes, he is a little less baby and whole lot more big boy. I think about how life is finite. How each day passing is one day gone. This happens every now and then, I worry about the passing of time. I worry it is happening too fast and I am not savoring it enough. There is always so much on my plate. So many appointments to make and keep, so many errands to run, so many activities to schedule.....does it slow down?

Anyway it is Friday, the kitchen is almost finished, my brain is about to have two days off, I'm going out with the ladies tonight and might just have a martini. Have a great weekend internets!

Empowered

Last Friday, I posted about how I went to the gym and it really kicked my ass. I am out of shape. After a week I am still majorly out of shape, but it's getting easier and I am feeling 100% better. I love to work out. I mean that. Going to the gym and dropping the kids off for a quick step class or other class is not a chore to me. It is empowering. I feel great.

Setting time aside to work out each day alone, is the first thing I have done for myself and only myself in a long time......well aside from that new Gucci purse I picked up in NYC. Seriously, this is the first time I have set aside time each day to do something for just me. Something that makes me feel better, look better and overall just boost my self esteem and self confidence. I can't believe I let 4 years go by without working out.

Granted working out also benefits my family as well. I am happier, which means my kids and husband are happier. I am in better shape and able to be in better shape for my family. It also teaches my kids to stay in shape and remain active. Not that either of them have a problem with activity right now.

I encourage all of you to get in shape, don't wait until tomorrow life is way to precious to put things off. Do something for you today, it will feel good!

4 years too many

For the past few weeks I have been on a kick where I feel the need to get back in shape. I don't know what brought this on so suddenly or urgently, because I've been talking about getting back in shape since May of 2006. It just hasn't happened, until today.

And no I didn't all of a sudden get in shape, but I started on my way. Yesterday, I loaded up the tikes and headed to one of our local gyms. The one with the old people and arthritic pool because after working out for the first time in 4 years, I knew I would feel like I had arthritis and need to relax in it. Anyway yesterday, I went down there and signed us up. Dropped the kids off in the nursery to get them used to it and then took a tour. I tell ya, that really wore me out.

Today was a different animal though. I showed up to the 20/20/20 class. 20 minutes of step/cardio, 20 minutes of upper and lower body toning, and 20 minutes of abs. Holy Shit! I thought I was going to die and there the old lady next to me was hanging in there like a pro. I on the other hand gave it my all and honey I was wiped out. It was a damn good workout, I will definitely be at that class on Fridays from here on out.

The kids also did great, they cheered for me when I picked them up and told me they loved me. It's nice to have two adorable cheerleaders. Poor Noah also had to walk to the car because my arms hurt so bad I couldn't hold him.

It has been a little over 4 years since I have worked out like that and nothing has ever felt so good. Pre-baby body here I come!