Caught Red Appled

I've realized I've fallen quite behind on a fairly new blog.  I had a rough time, and I'm back.  I was looking for specific topics to all my blogs before posting them, and I have come to the conclusion that I need to just write.  Just get started.  It will come to me.  And its true!  As I sat down to write the best little story came to me!  And maybe its not for everyone, but its for me.  And its for my kids.  These are the kind of memories I want to leave behind.  The ones that draw out their unique personalities, and make me smile each time I read them.

Today it was apples.

 

My husband and I were talking in the kitchen when he happened to catch sight of our recently purchased apples in the corner of his eye. 

"Looks like someone has been munching..."

"That's not possible," I replied. "I haven't even opened the netting yet!"

Sure enough, as he held the apples up in my view there were several, white, bite marks pierced through the skin of one of the outer apples.  Not yellowed, or browning.  White.  Freshly done.

This being said.  My husband and I had seen both our children run in and out of the kitchen during our conversation.  But we never saw either of them come close enough to the table to have taken bites. And yet, here they were.  Nice little teeth marks through the netting.  THROUGH THE NETTING.

We assumed from the size of the bites that it had to be Finn.  More and more bite marks appeared in our apples, but we just couldn't catch him!  It was as if he was waiting for us to leave the kitchen so he could run in and quickly get another savory bite.  We wanted to see how he was accomplishing taking CHUNKS out of apples that were COMPLETELY IN A NET!  But our 1 year old was a ninja.

Hours passed. 

Luke went to work.

I intentionally left the apples sitting on the table, but anytime one of the boys wanted an apple (and they did constantly!  This must have been a really good batch!) they ASKED for it.  Didn't matter where in the house I was. 

The bite marks ceased for a bit, and than finally... I caught the apple biter.

And doesn't he look proud of himself!

Truth is, my kids do funny things all the time.  I take the pictures.  I write down thoughts that I want to elaborate on later, and I start to write.  And then I think its not good enough.  I delete it.  I sigh.  and I go to bed.

But at this point, who am I writing for anyways?  I'm writing for me.  I'm writing for whoever wants to listen.  And I'm writing for my children.  To preserve precious memories for them. 

They are everything to me. 

And they are enough.

 

Can you tell they had also been dropped a few times?

Obligatory Easter Post

 

I remember Easters past when we'd wake up to find eggs hidden, as far as the eyes could see.  Anywhere, and anything could have hidden Easter eggs... Flower beds, closets, dresser drawers, swing sets...  It was a day of fun, a day of family, and a day of peace.  The one day I could usually count on my sister and I getting along.  We were having way too much fun to not want to play nicely.  I remember twirly Easter dresses, and smacking each other with baskets.  I loved Easter... and I love looking back at memories of Easter.

These days, these small holidays are still for me... but for me through my children.  The smiles on their faces.  Their racing around.  Listening to them hold conversations I still don't quite understand... All these memories in the making...

 

 We didn't go out of my way this year (although I really REALLY wanted to), as our children are still fairly young.  They didn't really care for the "Easter Bunny" stories, and we're not pushing religion on them.

 

I did, however, hide bunches of eggs.  Finnley could only hold attention on as many eggs as he has hands at any given point.  2 eggs, and he was content.  He did not need to go looking for any more.  Atticus, on the other hand, couldn't get enough of the egg hunt.  He was constantly on the look out for more! 

 

 

We also ran into the funny story of mommy and daddy not communicating (a common occurance between parents who work opposite shifts, I'm sure), and both rushing last minute to pick up baskets and goodies for the kids. 

The baskets I picked out - this is prior to hiding all the eggs.

These were Luke's baskets for the kids

Luckily, I focused more on eggs and small goodies for in the eggs... where as Luke focused on small gifts for all day fun (bubbles, chalk, blocks, etc.).  Neither of us focused on candy (they did get some... just not a lot), as we knew the kids would become focused on it and would not want anything but candy all day long.  Problem averted. Thank goodness.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Breaking The Co-Sleeper

Many times throughout a given lifetime, one can expect to hear the phrase "it's not you, it's me."  The only difference is, in this situation, it is me.  It has ALWAYS BEEN ME.

When we first got pregnant with Atticus, we swore up and down that we would not co-sleep.  Our number one reason being that Luke is such a heavy sleeper.  There was no way he would know where baby was.  However, cold nights in a not so upkept rental house caused us to take baby Atticus into our bed... Where he would thus stay for the next 3 and a half years ...regardless of moving... twice...

Here's the proof:

Atticus - Age: About 3 days

Atticus: Age: About 3 years

So, Co-Sleeping became the norm.  It really came so easily, and felt so natural.  I thought I was so terrible to be sleeping with my baby IN THE BED with me... Atticus' doctors said not to, people I knew thought I was horrible...

"You're going to kill your child!"

No I'm not...

"What if you roll over on him!?!?!"

Trust me.  I'm his mom.  That's not a possiblity.  My body just knows he's there.  Just like my body knows when he's hungry.  Or when he just needs me.  I just know. 

"What if you suffocate him with the blankets?!?!"

Trust me.  Again.  I'm not allowing the blankets anywhere around his face.  I'm watching what I'm doing.  I'm not really sleeping...More like watching him sleep.  But thank you for your interest in my child's safety.

Enter Finnley.  Again, it just came naturally.  We both slept better when we knew the other was literally RIGHT THERE.  I was more scared of him in the basenet where I couldn't feel him breathing than I ever was with him on my chest. 

Co-Sleeping does not work for every family, but it worked wonderfully for us!  It calmed so many fears.  It soothed my kids.  All of us slept better.  There are a million and ten reasons why I chose to co-sleep.  I weighed my options.  Chose what I thought was better for my children. And that was that.  But that isn't really what this blog was meant to be about anyways...

So... what happens when Co-Sleeping is no longer the best choice for the family?  When feet in the face, and punches to the stomach are not really the best environment for a good night's rest?  When the family just out grows the "family bed"?

Well, you start the transition phase.  You place them in their beds... and they find their way into your bed within the first few hours... and you allow them to stay there.... this phase is also known as the "mommy's denial" phase.  Where mommy does not want to believe that her babies are possibly old enough to sleep by themselves and not need her presence EVERY MOMENT OF THEIR LITTLE LIVES anymore.  I like to believe every mommy goes through this... not just me...

At this point you might just give into the thought of "they just aren't ready", and go back to step one. 
However, a few more nights of feet in the face.  Toes up the nose.  And then one punch too many to the "special places" later, you're back to the "they are sooooo ready for their own rooms!"

That's right...

and transitioning the kids to their own beds?  It was not all that big of an ordeal.

... for them...

For me?  THE END OF THE WORLD!

Looking back, they had both out grown co-sleeping a while ago.  Atticus could fall asleep on his own in his bed.  Habit brought him back to ours when he would awake in the middle of the night.  Finnley no longer liked sleeping with us in any way.  He wanted his own pillow.  He wanted his own space.  They didn't need us.  I needed them.

The transition to their beds took one night.  ONE NIGHT! I was all set for a long night of ups and downs.  Trips back to their room.  Crying.  Screaming. Begging...

Nope.

None.

I think Finn came to my room once.  For a bottle of water. Then took my hand, and led me back to HIS bed where HE wanted to be tucked back in.

Atticus and Finnley?  They're already back to feet in every direction.  Sleeping with limbs up on the walls, or hanging off the bed.

 

Someday, I'll get that comfortable again.  For now, I'm still listening in the darkness for little ones who need their momma.  I'm honestly looking forward to sick nights when I can coddle them again.  Have a family bed for another night. 

But there's also a part of me that is enjoying their little hops on the limbs outside of my comfy, cozy nest.

They're going to start taking trial flights any day now...

.... and I'm so ready!

To My 18 Month Finnley...

 

Wow! 18 months already?  

You changed our life with your first breath... And yet, it has felt like you were always there.  You just fit in our lives so perfectly.  Like a puzzle piece that had been dropped under the table.  A piece to our lives that was always supposed to be there.  You just fit.  It's so difficult to think of a time when you didn't exist...

I'm not sure where the time has hidden, but It's definitely flown by. So many of your "firsts" have come and left, and you are turning into a tiny version of the man you will one day become.  Your personality is starting to blossom.  You know what you want, and when you want it.  You have your own opinions.  Your own favorites.  You just are all your own.

Let's celebrate this milestone with a look at the past...

 

 

 

What a wonderful toddler you have become.  You continue to amaze me every day.


Here's to your first year and a half...

....and the many, many more to come.

Target Friday

When we were younger, my grandfather would often take my sister and I out to do things.  Out to breakfast at the nearest donut shop, where his coffee would be spilled on my stuffed dog, and cause him to have a "spa day" when we got home.  Trips to a near by park, where we filled duck's tummies with stale bread.  No matter where where we ended up, my sister and I absolutely cherished these days...looked forward to them almost as much as Christmas!!    We felt "older".  That's all most children ever tends to want to be, "Old Enough".  Old enough to do the fun stuff.  To feel like they are just as important as the adults. 

My favorite place though?  Barnes and Noble.  These memories stand out the most in my mind.  We'd always start it off in the cafe. (Yes, Barnes and Noble Cafe... Not Starbucks.  Man, do I feel old!)  We'd take our hot chocolate over to their little bar, and shake every powdered spice on the whipped cream. A little chocolate powder.  A dash of vanilla.  Some nutmeg.  And of course, the cinnamon.  Then we were off to find a little table where we could sit and converse for a while. Whatever we felt like talking about.  Have questions about witches?  Wish Balto was really your puppy?  Concerned over the hard times your favorite book character was going through?  Nothing was off the table.  Absolutely nothing.  Once we were done with our drinks, we were off to find books.  This was our time.  As long as we stayed together, we were allowed to look at books by ourselves, while he went over a few aisles to look at his.  My sister and I felt very special.  Like we were adults.  These outings shaped our childhoods.  And trust me when I say they were shaped in the very best of ways.  My grandpa is very smart, and he knew what he was doing! That's for sure!  =)

I look at my children, and I know I want special memories for them too!  Traditions they will look back
on, and think "that was awesome, wasn't it?".  For some, it's "Family Game Night".  Others go out to dinner the same night every week.  Or maybe you're a "Family Movie Nighter".  For us, its "Target Fridays".  Target Fridays are definitely my current favorite.

Every Friday we go to Target.  The same Target.  Every Friday. Rain or Shine, it doesn't matter.  The staff in the Starbucks know my kids (yes, now it is Starbucks), and make them feel special.  The boys hand them their chocolate milk, and wait patiently to have it scanned.  Atticus' favorite spot is the big window where he points out cars as they pass by.  "RED! ANOTHER ONE!  THAT ONE'S BIG! MOMMY, A TRUCK!!!"  We love watching cars, and laughing at kids passing by.  Once Luke and I receive our drink its cookie time! The baker usually sees Atticus coming, and has cookies ready for him.  She waits patiently until Atticus asks for his cookie, and always finds it cute when he reminds her that he needs one for "his baby" too.  While the kids are munching, and slurping Luke and I get our grocery shopping done.   When the kids are out of their snacks, we stop by the deli.  The lady here also knows us and our kids, and always makes sure to leave a couple slices out of the bag for the kids to munch on.  We finish our last minute, forgotten groceries and head to the kids clothes, and toy aisles.  Let me say first, that my kids do not get a "reward" every time we go out to the store during the week.  But Fridays, Fridays are special.  Fridays they are allowed to get something.  Sometimes its new shoes.  Sometimes its a new hat.  And sometimes its a new toy.  But Fridays they are allowed to get something SMALL.  Because Friday's are special for us.  Not to mention, this also tends to create some good brother bonding when we get home.  They are both so excited about playing with their new car, or playing outside so they can wear their new hat/shoes that they tend to spend the afternoon playing together.

Fridays are a win/win for everyone.  Our routine makes grocery shopping usually go relatively stress free, and they create memories that we will all hold on to. The consistency also allows my children to know what they can expect, and creates an environment where my husband and I can catch up.  And we have some time carved out every week that we know we'll be able to spend as a family.

And I love our family. =)

It's almost always better to just say "yes"

In a world full of fears and scary possibilities, it is very easy to find yourself saying "Don't" and "No".  Don't climb that tree, you might fall! Don't ride your bike around the neighborhood, its not safe! No, you may not eat raw cookie dough, you might get salmonella!

Although all of these are sad, kids should be able to be kids, this last one is the most commonly asked by my son.  He wants... no, needs to take a huge spoonful of that cookie dough!  Seeing the opportunity to turn that "can't do" into a "can do", I went to my good friend Pinterest.  Surely another mom or two had already found the answer and pinned it. 

The link to the following recipe was broken, so I cannot give credit at this time.  However, if you believe it to be yours, please speak up. =)

Eggless Cookie Dough:

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter (softened)

1/4 tsp vanilla, 1/4 cup milk

1 cup flour

pinch of salt

1/2 cup chocolate chips

That's it.  Just mix it together.  Voila la!  Yummy in your tummy!

My boys and I had just as much making it as we did eating it. =)

Did you always want a family so young?

Have I always wanted to have a family so young?  My answer? absolutely.  My husband's?  Absolutely not. 

My husband comes from a family where you don't have kids until you're completely settled.  His mom and dad adopted him when they were already in their 40s and knew that they had the means for him and his brother.  I come from a fairly large family.  A family that realizes the time you have today is not time you can use tomorrow.  A young family. 

My mom was very young when she had me, and you know what?  I have always been thankful.  I've been able to have meaningful conversations, go see movies, and learn to garden with my Great Grandmother.  I've been able to spend every day with my grandparents, and they are still able to do just about anything with me.  Wanna go jogging? Sure, why not!  Wanna go walk around the mall? Let's go!  Want to sit down and make a puzzle? Which one should we make? Can you help me with this bacteria model that's due tomorrow?  Get your shoes! We're going to Hobby Lobby!

And my mother?  When I hit my teen years, she hadn't forgotten what it was like to be a teen.  Her high school memories were still so fresh that she knew EXACTLY what I was going through.  It's true, more times than not my mom are more like best friends than mother/daughter... but most of the time, that's better for me.  I have someone I know I can turn to, for anything, anytime.

Now that I have kids of my own its only gotten more awesome.  Unlike many other people my age, I have a brother my son's age.  Is it weird from time to time?  Yes, no doubt.  But the other 90% of the time, its pretty fricken awesome.  My son always has someone to play with.  My mom and I can hold meaningful conversations because we're going through similar things.  It bonds my mother and I in ways I never thought possible.  And it is amazing.

What's even more amazing?  Watching my Grandmother still play with my kids.  Hop through the grocery store over every line.  Dance in the kitchen, just because we can.  To see them snuggle up to read with her on the same recliner where she held me as I cried over starting Kindergarden.

In addition, last week I also had the privilege to watch my uncle wrestle with my boys! To listen to their conversations, and receive funny pictures of them while I was out on a rare date night with my husband. My uncle has always meant so much to me, and now he's going to mean a lot to them.  This is a never ending circle of love... and I'm loving it.

We are able to be such a closely knit family.  Is it hard to have a family before we have everything laid out, and perfect?  More times than not.  But the rewards are far greater than any house a college job could buy.  And this is time I could have never could have had back.  Memories that might never have been made it I had waited 10 or so years...