I believe that my scale will agree that I continue to gain and lose the same three pounds. On Friday, I am three pounds lighter than I am on Monday morning. There is a pattern here and I believe it has something to do with Pancake Saturday, fast food lunch on Saturday, and - insert bad food here - Sunday. Now, this is purely a theory and one I will test after I indulge again this weekend. Maybe I will be able to get some good exercise in when the rain clears out. Hopefully I will be able to bundle the boys up and get a long walk in after Pancakes...maybe.
We went to a MOMS Club activity today. We took our drum and instruments and the kids played with the music a little but Cole found all of the Thomas train pieces and we lost him after that. We got home just after noon and the boys ate lunch and went down for a nap while I had a work call. The call went okay but I feel like we are in a holding pattern until we have assigned tasks and deadlines. I do feel like it is the calm before the storm but I am ready when the storm hits and we are all committed to making this work.
Anyway, that is it for our Friday. Once again, this one wasn't thrilling so I will end with another Haiku:
Boys have energy
Man, they make a lot of noise
Is it nap time yet?
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
When can we say he is potty trained?
So, Rhys was up at 5 this morning and I brought him downstairs to avoid waking up Cole and to let Chris get another hour of sleep. Cole woke up around 6 and I heard him go into the bathroom upstairs. I called up to him to let him know where I was and he came down moments later. He told me that he went pee-pee. I asked him if he took his diaper off and he said no. I assumed that he had and when I went upstairs, I mentioned to Chris that there is probably a diaper laying around since Cole must have taken it off. Chris realized that he hadn't put one on him the night before! Cole went all night without wetting the bed and took himself to the potty as soon as he got up. Is it safe to say that he is potty trained now and any time he has an accident, it is just that? I am going to say, "yes." I am proud of him and glad to know that we are well on our way to less accidents. Cole did have an accident with poo today but I think that he will soon want to avoid the discomfort and embarrassment and will poop on the potty regularly. I will be glad when my blog isn't full of potty talk.
I am hosting an at-home sales party tonight for Close to My Heart, a scrapbooking and stamp supply company. My friend, Kate, is a consultant and I hope she gets lots of sales. Chris should be home just in time to help me get the room set up. I am planning on making some pumpkin muffins and veggies with hummus dip.
I am posting this blog entry now because I am not sure if I will be up for it after the party and wanted to take this opportunity while the boys were napping.
I am hosting an at-home sales party tonight for Close to My Heart, a scrapbooking and stamp supply company. My friend, Kate, is a consultant and I hope she gets lots of sales. Chris should be home just in time to help me get the room set up. I am planning on making some pumpkin muffins and veggies with hummus dip.
I am posting this blog entry now because I am not sure if I will be up for it after the party and wanted to take this opportunity while the boys were napping.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Dance parties ain't what they used to be
We hosted a dance party as a MOMS Club activity today. It was fun but amounted to us playing some They Might Be Giants kids music and letting the kids play with toys. Cole was the only boy and I am sure he didn't mind one bit. I was happy to keep my friend's daughter while she got some studying in and she stayed with us through lunch. It was so nice for Cole to have a friend over and he was glad that she stayed after the other children were gone. He always hates to see his friends leave.
I feel like we are making great strides with Rhys and his sleeping and with Cole and his potty training. He stays out of diapers when we are home and has gotten into the swing of things pretty well. Today, he even pooped on the potty. I only mention this here because we have struggled with getting him to do that and this is only the third time ever he has done it and he took himself upstairs and did it all on his own. I am proud of him and he was proud of himself. The funny thing is that he insists that it looked like a pine cone. He came down and said, "I pooped and made it a pine cone!" That is noteworthy because it just is.
As for Rhys, he only woke up once last night and it was just before 2am. He went down at 8pm and finally woke around 7am. This is also noteworthy because we have struggled so long to get him to do it. For both of these things, I have concluded that we did little to influence the behavior. Cole will be potty trained when he is ready and Rhys will sleep through the night when he is ready.
Admittedly, I am a control freak and leaving these milestones up to my children has been hard. We read loads of books and seek advice from "experts" and fellow moms but, at the end of the day, our children will lead us and they will do things in their own time. Our job is to make sure that when they are ready, they are given the guidance to do it right and to be safe. Being a parent is both a journey and a destination. I am enjoying my ride and the view is beautiful from where I sit.
I feel like we are making great strides with Rhys and his sleeping and with Cole and his potty training. He stays out of diapers when we are home and has gotten into the swing of things pretty well. Today, he even pooped on the potty. I only mention this here because we have struggled with getting him to do that and this is only the third time ever he has done it and he took himself upstairs and did it all on his own. I am proud of him and he was proud of himself. The funny thing is that he insists that it looked like a pine cone. He came down and said, "I pooped and made it a pine cone!" That is noteworthy because it just is.
As for Rhys, he only woke up once last night and it was just before 2am. He went down at 8pm and finally woke around 7am. This is also noteworthy because we have struggled so long to get him to do it. For both of these things, I have concluded that we did little to influence the behavior. Cole will be potty trained when he is ready and Rhys will sleep through the night when he is ready.
Admittedly, I am a control freak and leaving these milestones up to my children has been hard. We read loads of books and seek advice from "experts" and fellow moms but, at the end of the day, our children will lead us and they will do things in their own time. Our job is to make sure that when they are ready, they are given the guidance to do it right and to be safe. Being a parent is both a journey and a destination. I am enjoying my ride and the view is beautiful from where I sit.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Walks and coffee, aches and pains
I have had a pain in my abdomen for a while now and it seems to be getting worse rather than better. I am not sure if it warrants a call to a doctor but I will monitor it and if it continues to get worse or simply doesn't get better, I will make an appointment. I have had fibromyalgia since college and muscle pain can so frequently be mistaken for something else so I hesitate to be alarmed since it could just be that. Anyway, I mention that here for documentation sake and in case there is a pattern of activity or schedule that makes it worse.
In spite of my pain - and maybe resulting in it - I took the boys to a nearby park that is also a farm. We walked the perimeter path which is 2.4 miles long and we also walked around the barns and looked at the animals. Rhys and Cole were both really bundled up since it was about 40 degrees when we set off. I struggled to get back up the hill to the car after the walking. I was huffing and puffing and Cole turned around and asked, "What is that noise?" I laughed and said, "I am just breathing!"
We got home and had lunch and the boys took turns napping which meant that I didn't really get down time. I cooked chicken enchiladas for supper and Cole ate some chicken and all of the guacamole. After we ate supper, we headed out to Starbucks for a coffee and a bite of dessert. We had a nice evening and I will cap it off with a soak in a warm tub. My side really hurts!
In spite of my pain - and maybe resulting in it - I took the boys to a nearby park that is also a farm. We walked the perimeter path which is 2.4 miles long and we also walked around the barns and looked at the animals. Rhys and Cole were both really bundled up since it was about 40 degrees when we set off. I struggled to get back up the hill to the car after the walking. I was huffing and puffing and Cole turned around and asked, "What is that noise?" I laughed and said, "I am just breathing!"
We got home and had lunch and the boys took turns napping which meant that I didn't really get down time. I cooked chicken enchiladas for supper and Cole ate some chicken and all of the guacamole. After we ate supper, we headed out to Starbucks for a coffee and a bite of dessert. We had a nice evening and I will cap it off with a soak in a warm tub. My side really hurts!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Prevention is the best medicine
Well, today Rhys had his second flu shot and I decided to make soup. Now, I have made soup many times before but never completely from scratch. I used the carcass from yesterday's chicken and simmered it all day with some veggies and herbs. I strained it and added some chicken veggies and noodles. I blended up the carrots and some celery, peas, chicken and broth for Rhys. He seemed to enjoy it and, once again, I was glad to know what he was eating and to be able to share a meal with him. Cole drank some soup through a straw and ate his grilled cheese. At least we use whole grain bread!
I am really tired and don't think I will make it out for a walk tonight. I will take the boys to a park tomorrow for a walk and some playing. There is ALWAYS tomorrow. The weather is really cool now and the soup really hit the spot tonight. I am hopeful that we all stay healthy during the winter and at least the boys have had flu shots.
"You are getting heavy." (Comment I overheard Cole making to his bear while he was carrying him down stairs today)
I am really tired and don't think I will make it out for a walk tonight. I will take the boys to a park tomorrow for a walk and some playing. There is ALWAYS tomorrow. The weather is really cool now and the soup really hit the spot tonight. I am hopeful that we all stay healthy during the winter and at least the boys have had flu shots.
"You are getting heavy." (Comment I overheard Cole making to his bear while he was carrying him down stairs today)
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Diesels and Steamies
I got up with Rhys around 6:00 and decided to just stay up so I took Sasha for an early walk. We went about 1.5 miles. Mid-morning we headed over to Leakin Park to check out the trains that run as part of the Chesapeake & Allegheny Steam Preservation Society http://calslivesteam.org/. Several members of the society have steamers and diesels running on the second Sunday of every month from April through November. We only learned about it recently and decided to go out today to let Cole have a ride. They are impressive little engines that amount to an adult size model train. It got quite busy and they didn't allow babies to be held so I stayed at the station while Chris took Cole. One of Chris' co-workers came with his wife and daughter so they all rode together. The rides are free and last about 10 minutes. They have picnic tables and a play ground nearby so you could really make a day of it. It was bitterly cold and I was under prepared for the temperature so we only stayed for an hour and then grabbed lunch at Panera Bread before heading home.
When we got home, I ventured out on my own to Target for some Christmas shopping and general browsing and then on to the grocery store for food shopping. I believe that I was able to get enough food for two weeks - time will tell. I roasted a chicken, some acorn squash and potatoes, and sauteed some green beans for supper. Cole had some of everything and Rhys even had some roasted acorn squash that I blended in the food processor. It warms my heart to be able to cook one meal that everyone enjoys. There were no arguments and Cole gobbled up his chicken, ate the beans inside the green bean shells, and had a couple bites of squash and potato.
I took Sasha out for another walk after dinner and actually ran half of it. Now I sit, drinking a cup of coffee and blogging in front of a football game while Chris does the bedtime routine with Cole.
Life is really good. Really, truly, I am blessed.
When we got home, I ventured out on my own to Target for some Christmas shopping and general browsing and then on to the grocery store for food shopping. I believe that I was able to get enough food for two weeks - time will tell. I roasted a chicken, some acorn squash and potatoes, and sauteed some green beans for supper. Cole had some of everything and Rhys even had some roasted acorn squash that I blended in the food processor. It warms my heart to be able to cook one meal that everyone enjoys. There were no arguments and Cole gobbled up his chicken, ate the beans inside the green bean shells, and had a couple bites of squash and potato.
I took Sasha out for another walk after dinner and actually ran half of it. Now I sit, drinking a cup of coffee and blogging in front of a football game while Chris does the bedtime routine with Cole.
Life is really good. Really, truly, I am blessed.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Aunt Ellen Rocks!
My dear friend Ellen came to play with us today. She came packing a transformer action figure and a sleeve full of kid-friendly tricks. She got here around noon and we took her downtown for lunch and a walk in the harbor where we checked out a visiting Norwegian tall ship. She taught Cole some fun new tricks including climbing into newspaper boxes for photo ops (see above). It was great fun and I am sure no lasting damage done :) I miss her and all of my pre-baby friends so much and hope to bridge the gap between my old life and my new one. The fault is mine alone if I don't see my friends and I am going to make more of an effort to spend quality time with the people who mean so much to me. What a great day we had!
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