Tuesday, September 30, 2008

My reality....

This morning I was standing in front of the mirror drying my hair - and falling asleep standing up, with a loud roar and hot air blowing in my face...and I wondered why I'm so stinkin' tired. Please don't take this as complaining. It's not. I love my life and wouldn't trade it for anything. It's just my reality right now.

Here's a "typical" day.

Up at 5 a.m. shower, dress.
5:45 fix bottles and get lunches together
6:00 get Carlee up and throw her on the couch - feed her breakfast - get her dressed
6:30 get Eli up (well...this changes daily. Sometimes he gets up at 5 too) give him a bottle and feed cereal (this is new!)
7:00 out the door
7:30-4:30 work
4:30 pick up the kids
5:00 pick up Chris
Home at 5:45 ish
6:00 start supper while Chris plays with the kids
This is Eli's "fussy" time. So Carlee and I eat while Chris is trying to keep Eli from screaming his head off.
6:30 Give Eli his bath while Chris is eating
7:00 I give Eli a bottle while Chris puts Carlee in the bath (sometimes we switch off)
7:30 Eli to sleep
7:45 Read to Carlee and put her to sleep
8:00 exercise
9:00 clean up kitchen, wash bottles, pick up the mess in the LR
9:30 IN BED! Watch 30 min. of something I've DVR'd to wind down
10:00 ASLEEP! because I'll be up with Eli a couple of times during the night.
5:00 a.m. Do it all over again!

So...that's why I'm tired! Oh...and my husband helps me A LOT...so I'm not in this rodeo alone!

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Woo Hoo!

So, remember way back when I talked about loosing weight and how much of a struggle it has been my whole life...and now especially after Eli? Well, I've been pretty darn committed to doing this. I'm doing WW and exercising every chance I get. So, I lost 3 lbs. this week...making that a grand total of 21.5 lbs in 10 weeks. That means 2.5 lbs away from the camera that I want! I set little mini goals, so I get an awesome Nikon camera at 24 lbs. then another 10 lbs is family pics (can't wait for that Julie!) then another 10 lbs is a new chair for my bedroom. This is hard stuff...and I can hardly walk from Thursday's workout - but I'm sticking with it and feel really good.

OK, Eli and Carlee are both asleep at the same time...and that doesn't happen often! So, I'm off to clean the house - for the 100th time this week...I'm sure NONE of you know what that is like? :)

Thursday, September 25, 2008

rollie-pollie

Eli is on the verge of rolling over...if he could just figure out what to do with those arms that get in his way! Carlee was 10 months old before she could roll over - a direct result of chubbiness!

Oh, I just love this age. Everything I say to him in my crazy, high pitched voice puts a huge smile on his face. How can you not love that? AND...no more middle of the night bottle! YEA! So to bed at 7:30 and up at 5:30 - what a deal! I usually have to get up once to put his paci in his mouth...but I would do that anyway because I'm one of those crazy people who have to get up and check on my kids in the middle of the night. I do kind of wish I could get him to stay up past 7:30 so I could play with him a little more...but he doesn't agree. So, I'll just go with it.

Have I told you that I love being a mom.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Maybe later...

Another funny Carlee conversation on the way home tonight...

Carlee: Mom, can I go there?
Me: Can you go where?
Carlee: There...
Me: Yes (I have no idea where she's talking about - sometimes yes is just a good answer)
Carlee: No mom, say "maybe later".
Me: Maybe later
Carlee: No mom, I want to go now.
Me: OK
Carlee: No mom, say "maybe later".

And...this continued through several rounds...

I'm not sure about her. I guess everyone needs a good argument sometimes. Even if you have to make one up.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The ring...

My funny conversation with Carlee after we passed a billboard with a huge diamond ring (the one next to Toys R Us)

Carlee: Mom, why did Jesus put that ring on that sign?
Me: I don't know. Do you think Jesus put the ring on that sign?
Carlee: Um, yes. (in her, "of course he put it there" tone)
Me: I guess he wants us to see a beautiful ring.
Carlee: Why does he want us to see a beautiful ring?
Me: Well, I guess because he loves us.
Carlee: Why does Jesus love us?
Me: Because he thinks we're special.
Carlee: Oh, OK.

I love how a picture of a ring turned into a conversation with my sweet girl about Jesus loving us!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Medical Stuff

Carlee
Carlee had what I thought was 'pink eye' on Wednesday...Chris stayed home with her and her pediatrician called in drops just in case...Well, case confirmed - now I have it. I'm not as good of a patient as Carlee was. It's making me crazy and it looks and feels disgusting.

Oh, and still no Bumpy...but she's doing fine!

Eli
Eli had his 4 month checkup and shots today. He handled the checkup great - the shots, not so much. He weighed 18 lbs 2 oz...off the charts for weight - and he was in the 78th percentile for height...I've got a big boy! She was still concerned about the hydrocele - thinking at first that it had turned into a hernia. The conclusion ended up being that it was not a hernia. She said if it wasn't better in two months (at his 6 mo. appointment) she would refer us to a urologist and we would talk about surgery...In my mind, that's going to be a completely last resort. She said it would be a really easy surgery, but they would have to put him under...I'm not interested in that unless it's absolutely necessary. We're just going to hope that it goes away between now and then so we don't have to worry about it.

He was asleep by 7:00 tonight - which I'm certain means he will be up in about 2 hours wondering why I never fed him! So...off to bed. I'm going to whine a little about my eye so maybe Chris will get up with him again tonight...:)

Pray for Nathan...

Please pray for Nathan Pennington today. Nathan is 12-years-old and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer this week. Many of you know Nathan's step-mom Amy (Hurt) Pennington.

Amy asked us to pray that
1. The cancer is only in one location. 2. The cancer is in early stages.

I believe that we serve a God who can heal. So, I'm praying for complete healing for Nathan today.

Please also pray for Nathan's family - Amy and Thomas Pennington, his brother Saul, his sister Rachel and his mom Rhonda.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Breaking News...

Bumpy is missing.

We've looked and looked, but can't find "her" anywhere. I asked Carlee if Bumpy was a girl or a boy and she said "a girl mom. she's pink". OK.

The last time I remember seeing bumpy was Saturday at the Growing Kids sale. I have a feeling it may have fallen out in the parking lot when I was trying to lug all of Carlee's stuff (including her car seat) while I was pushing Eli in the stroller. I'm sure if that's the case, it's in a trash can somewhere.

It kind of makes me sad...I know it's time for Carlee and Bumpy to part ways, but I would have kept it - I've got a perfect place in my hope chest where it could have stayed until Carlee was older. I imagined years from now that I would pull it out and let her look at the dirty little blanket she slept with every night.

To top that off, we left "Silky" - which is by no means Bumpy, but will do in a pinch - at day care. So, tonight she went to sleep without the aid of either. This may be a new beginning! We shall see...

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Random pics

I'm hoping in a couple of years, I won't ever have to vacuum again...:)



My little man...


Becca - I did it! And I think it looks pretty darn good!



Happy Birthday Memaw

Today is my mom's birthday...and you know what she's doing for her birthday? Having a slumber party at her house with Carlee and Jenna. She's such a great memaw!

I can remember being so embarassed by my mom. If you know her, you know that she's never met a stranger. Always, everywhere she goes, she talks to people - oh my goodness, that used to embarass me so terribly bad. And on top of talking to EVERYONE, she's also extremely oppinionated, and doesn't mind sharing everything on her mind - like it or not.

If you ask any of my friends who've met her, guaranteed, they can tell you a story about something that she's said to or around them that embarassed me...

The day that I stopped being embarassed by her was the day that she almost died. I'll never forget sitting outside the hospital waiting room a couple of days after their accident. A few ladies from mom's work came to visit her. When they walked out, Kay Lynn (who is now my manager!) walked over to us and said something along the lines of "I went in there to help her feel better and it ended up that SHE made ME feel better". That's just the way my mom is. In the midst of extreme physical pain and the sheer pain and heartache of seeing her husband die, she was trying to make everyone else feel o.k. There isn't a selfish bone in her body.

Sure, she still says things that make me roll my eyes, and she's still bossy, and she still thinks she's right about everything...but that's ok. God gave her back to us that crazy day and I'm so thankful!

I love you mom!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Bumpy's Crag

We have about a 30 minute commute to and from work every day. Not too bad - it's nice to get a little talking time in...or at least back when we used to get talking time in. Now Eli cries most of the way to work and home - and not just a little cry - a "get me out of this car seat right now" cry. I read articles about people putting their kids in the car and driving them around to get them to sleep - not the case in our world.

So yesterday when he was screaming on the way home, my sweet Carlee offered him her "bumpy". If you're not familiar, "bumpy" is Carlee's blanket. She has had bumpy since birth. She holds it, sucks her thumb and rubs the "crag" - known to the rest of us as the tag. Bumpy is dirty and it stinks - and the "crag" has been rubbed down to just a few threads. But, she still rubs those few threads. Carlee may have bumpy when she gets married.

Chris and I decided early on that Eli wouldn't have a blanket and he wouldn't suck his thumb...until yesterday. When he held bumpy he got quiet. So, this morning we gave him a little blanket that he got as a gift with little "crags" all over it...and he hugged it all the way to work with very few tears. Chris said we may have to go to blankie therapy when he's 3 - but we'll worry about that later. Now he's a blankie man. Whatever works.