Piggies

Am I the only Mama out there that just can't get enough of toddler and baby piggies? Man are they scrumptious.

Seven weeks...

... the secret love affair with hands begins.

A Day in the life of Tripp

I have been tagged by Beth to describe a day in the life of me. It varies from day to day, but here is a pretty typical day.

Between 2:00 and 3:30 AM - Bebo starts wiggling his little body and grunting from in his bassinet. 10-15 minutes later I finally get up. Change his diaper while trying to pry my eyes open and keep them open. Make my way over to my chair where I nurse and play on the computer.

4:30 AM - I am usually finally back to sleep (Bebo was doing well at night, but now the last two he has decided it is cool to stay up in the middle of the night again)

6:00 AM - there is some more wiggling and grunting, I take Bebo into bed this time to feed him in an effort to get him to fall back asleep right away so we can sleep a little while longer.

Between 6:30 and 7:00 AM - the Monk wakes up, Fisherman gets him and they play downstairs until Bebo wakes or Fisherman has to go to work (this is one of my greatest pleasures during the day, thanks honey)

7:30 AM - I wake up, Monk and Fisherman come up stairs, Monk puts his arms up for me to pick him up and I cuddle his sleeper goodness asking him how he slept.

7:35 AM - I have been trying to get Monk breakfast before I wake up Bebo so that he doesn't ask me 50 times for breakfast while I am nursing Bebo. So I grab some yogurt and some oatmeal and get Monk settled in his high chair.

7:40 AM - fisherman leaves for work

7:41 AM - I get Bebo up, change his diaper, and start feeding him.

7:51 AM - Monk is "all done" so I put Bebo down, he cries while I get Monk cleaned up and out of his high chair.

7:55 AM - finish nursing Bebo and get spit up on. Leave this shirt on in hopes that my shower will be soon.

7:58 AM- Monk asks for smartees, Mama says, "no you just had breakfast."

8:00 - I try eating some breakfast while Monk plays and Bebo is in the bouncy.

8:10 - If Bebo allows, I clean up breakfast, start laundry, and get Monk dressed for the day while he tells me that every article of clothing I put on is, "too big" and cries a little each time he says it.

8:30 - Talk to Cousin on the phone for a short time while doing chores and/or holding the baby.

8:34 - Monk is in the drawer getting smartees for himself, I grab him and tell him no.

8:50 - Get Bebo dressed for the day.

9:00 - Feed Bebo

9:05 - Monk asks for a snack, Mama says, "no you just had breakfast."

9:25 - I get spit up on again, maybe I change my shirt this time if we are leaving

9:30 - Option A./ Attempt laying Bebo down for a nap or wrap him in a wrap if it is a cleaning day. Then we clean the house while he naps Option B./ We put Bebo into his car seat if it is an errand day Option C./ We put Bebo into his car seat to go to the doctor because we have been doing that about once a week lately. Option D./ We put Bebo in the car seat to go to a playdate or do something fun with Monk and I.

11:00 - Whatever option we chose we stop to feed Bebo.

11:05 - Monk pulls the chair over to the counter and gets some chips off the counter, brings them to me and says, "Cracker." I usually give in at this point which is not the best idea because it is so close to lunch.

11:30 - I put Bebo in the bouncy and attempt to make some sort of lunch for Monk and I. I have to usually make it really fast because for some reason Bebo is fussy at this time of day. He cries while I make lunch almost everyday.

11:35- I wrangle the wild toddler into his high chair while I hold Bebo and stand at the counter eating my lunch and get spit up on and if I am lucky I changed my shirt back to the crappy shirt after I changed it to a good one to go out.

11:45 - Monk is done, I get him out of his high chair and then finish my lunch.

11:55 - Monk goes back into the bouncy or in a wrap while I clean up lunch, fold some laundry, and maybe finally brush my teeth for the day :)

12:00 PM - Change Bebo's diaper and maybe Monk's and feed Bebo

12:05 PM - Monk asks for Smartees, Mama says, "no you just had lunch." At this point I am a little sick of being asked for a snack so my tone is not as nice as it was in the morning.

12:30 PM - Attempt to get both boys sleeping so that I can take a nap myself since I am getting up in the middle of the night still (one of the highlights in my day)

1:00 - Monk is finally done taking off his socks, taking his whole crib apart, and playing tad 500 times and goes to sleep.

Between 2:30 and 3:30 - Monk wakes up, I go to get him out of his crib sockless. He says, "Hi, Mommy" in the cutest little voice EVER! After nap I get Monk a snack and some juice. Bebo wakes up and I feed him.

3:40 - After Monk finishes his snack he asks me for something else to eat, SHEESH!

4:00 - Finish nursing Bebo while monk is crawling ALL over me in the chair "picking apples" and stepping on Beb's face practically.

4:05 - put Bebo in the bouncy and possibly a movie for Monk if Mom has time for a shower otherwise this is time for chores, getting the mail, picking up the house, or starting dinner (does not happen very often).

5:15 - Bebo eats again (and I wonder why he is chunky :))

5:30 - Fisherman gets home and washes his hands to make dinner if it is not made already.

6:00 - Eat Dinner while hopefully Bebo is napping in the swing for a little while.

6:45 - Play time for Monk and Bebo eats again.

In Between I finish up the chores for the day while Fisherman tends to the kids which usually involves walking around with Bebo as this is his fussy time. If Bebo is good or if I wrap him sometimes we both do chores.

7:45 - Jammas, Books and teeth brushing for the Monk. Bath and Jammas for Bebo

8:00 - hugs and Kisses for Mama from Monk and then it is to bed for him. Bebo eats.

Between 8:30 and 10:00 - Bebo goes to bed, possibly with some more feedings in between there. If I have more time, I blog, pick up toys, shower, have a snack, and possibly talk with Fisherman for 15 minutes. AND finally my day is done when Bebo shuts his eyes. I go to bed too in order to get the most sleep I can for the night even if it is only 8:30. It usually takes me awhile to fall asleep though because my mind is racing thinking of the things that I need to do the next day.

Soon I will be going back to work and I don't even want to think about what my mornings are going to look like then. If you want to see a busy working mama's day look at Ange's blog.

I tag Jen from the Frego family blog. Don't feel like you have to do it.

Bebo and Mama

Paycheck

I have been trying for days to catch Bebo smiling with the camera. He has been smiling since about 5 1/2 weeks now, but I just couldn't get it to happen. We spent many sessions like this on the floor just waiting.
I go down to his feet to catch a few pictures of those so hopefully he forgets that he just saw me and I am new and exciting to him when I come back up to his face.
Getting the right idea with his mouth being open, but not near as cute.
Come on buddy, just one!

That's a start.

Yup there it is, one of the best reasons there is to being a mom. He also just started cooing the other night. I do enjoy the newborn, but I also really love when they start interacting.

Beatin' the winter blahs

Today the Monk and I decided to take a trip to the aquatic center. We wrapped Bebo in the moby and spent some fun time together. We need some variety in our days since this snow will not go away.

Happy Easter!

Feeling Better

How Come?

How come Monk gets all the weird sicknesses? We ended up going to the doctor today because I thought that Monk had strep throat, well I was wrong he has hand, foot, mouth. We have not been out hardly at all so I am thinking that some kids are just more prone to sickness. His whole mouth is covered in sores, he talks like he still has his pacifier in his mouth even though he doesn't, and he is drooling like crazy. It is pretty contagious, we are crossing our fingers that Bebo doesn't get it. I wish I could take it all away for him. We are going to have to undo a lot of things over here after he gets better because there has been a lot of movie watching and ice cream.

This Boy...

...is pretty sick with a high fever that even fever reducers can't take away. We are hoping that it is not the fever virus going around that is lasting a whole week. He has had a lot of drooling and will not swallow a thing so I am guessing a sore throat? This busy little toddler does not want to do anything but be held. These pictures were taken today after the motrin got his fever down to 101 so he was feeling a little better. We had a good time laying on the floor, taking pictures and then looking at them. I can't wait until you are better little man.

Six Weeks

Seven O'Clock PM

A fussy baby in the hoppediz.

2 Year Old Entertainment

I heard from a couple different people that two has it's hard times, but that it has a lot of fun times too and we are finding this to be true. Monk is making us laugh everyday at the little things he says and does. Here he is playing with a fisherman and attempting to take off his pants to put a swim diaper on him because what fisherman doesn't need a swim diaper?

Get to know Tripp

I have been tagged by Beth She was right on the money with assuming that I would be up with my baby tonight. Usually he goes to bed around 8:30, but is deciding that it would be more fun to hang out with Mama for awhile.

10 Years Ago:
Hmmm it is hard to think back that far. I was 17 years old so that made me a junior in high school. I was busy worrying about what other people thought of me, hanging out with friends and going to parties. I was working at the good ole Family Fare in the bakery department, driving Betty the tan jetty, and living life to the fullest. I must say that I really liked my high school years. I would not trade them for the world. I didn't spend much time doing school work, but rather playing every chance I could.

Things on my to-do list today:
Well the day is almost over so I think I will list what is on my list to do tomorrow.
* do the 8th and 9th load of laundry this week :) (I have been keeping track because I want to know just how much laundry I actually do in a week.)
*Go to the mall to find a new outfit for Easter and Bebo's baptism
*Spend time with my boys since it is Saturday
*Sleep
*Pick up the house a little bit
I try not to leave chores to do on the weekend since we are all home so I don't really have a whole lot on my to do list for tomorrow.

Three of my Bad Habits:
1. Avoiding things that make me uncomfortable for instance funerals, visitation, telling people things that make me uncomfortable.
2. Saving the best part of a food for the last bite
3. Biting the skin around my fingernails.

If I suddenly became a billionaire:
I would buy a house on some land, not a big one, but just a perfect one for our family with a pull barn for Fisherman :)
Help out the Lakeshore pregnancy center in some way shape or form. Volunteer as well as give money to those Mamas that can't afford much.
Travel to lots of cool places
Do something that I really love without a thought to the cost of it
but most of all I would hope that I would live life much like I do now just loving my boys and my friends.

Five Jobs I've Had:
Family Fare Cashier, carry out, and Bakery
84 East
Freedom Village
Eagle Design & Technology
The Cutting Club Salon

Five Things People Don't know about me:
1. I can sing with my mouth closed and it sounds like there is a little life living inside of me.
2. I don't vote and have NO interest what-so- ever in politics
3. I generally don't like fruit desserts. I feel that it is a waste of my time, give me something chocolate. Fruit pies are the worst!
4. I would love to open my own store, I am not sure what I would put in it, but I would like to own my own non the less. Probably something with baby wearing stuff or scrap booking.
5. I have to have at least three different shampoos in the shower at a time. I need to alternate smells everyday. My husband thinks I am nuts, but has learned to live with the many bottles that sit on the seat in the shower.

I am going to tag Tracy and Jen Don't feel like you have to do it, but it is kind of fun :)

Big Boy Bath

Bebo has graduated to a sink bath. He has been having a sponge bath up until this week. Check out that tummy!
And the double chin. I was wondering where he was hiding the 10 pounds 14 ounces. I love the first time they are submerged in water. They make so many funny faces like what in the world is happening to me.

Fifty-Five Degrees

We all need a little fresh air in our lives, what a difference it can make.
Where Bebo hung out while we played in the sun.

Any Advice?

Bebo had his first bottle tonight. I have heard from several places that you should wait 4-6 weeks to introduce the bottle and so that is what I did, but he is not taking much of a liking to it. He did ok the first 5 minutes and then didn't want to have anything to do with it much after that. Does anyone have any tricks up their sleeves that I might not know about? Did anyone have this problem with their babies and did it end up turning out ok? On a good note Bebo had another weight check today and weighed in at 10 pounds 14 ounces. YES!!!!

Not Sure

I am not sure how we avoided this hair malfunction after naps and night time for two years, but it sure has been making an appearance a lot lately.

A Good Weekend

This weekend our family split up. Fisherman and Monk went up north to the cabin while Bebo and I stayed home. It was a good weekend for everyone. Each child was able to have some one on one attention and I was able to relax a little. I have not been without children for probably more than one hour total in the last month so it was nice for me just to have the baby for the weekend. While Fisherman and Monk played outside sledding, riding the tractor, and the four wheeler I scrap booked, watched movies while I nursed, and even went to Target while the baby slept. Another pleasure that I indulged in was a bath along with a pop. I have not had a bath for at least 10 months and I am giving up pop for the most part so it was a REAL treat. I felt like I was an adult again. This weekend gave me lots of time to think. I thought about how much I love my boys and how I need to strive each day to be the best mom I can be and I also thought about what a great husband I have. I don't give him a lot of credit sometimes, but I am so in love with the dad that he has become.

Twenty-Five Months 3/08/08 - Monk

Monk you are one month past two years old. This past month has been one of your rougher months so far adding a brother to your life and all, but you have managed to keep yourself together most of the time. We don't get to spend near as much time together as we did before, but we are making it work. You are enjoying reading books with me on my lap while I feed Bebo and are learning that you can bring things to me any time and that I am more than willing to play with whatever you bring. You love Bebo to death, to the point that sometimes I have to ask you to lay off. You are constantly bringing him things and giving him "hugs." Hugs to you are putting your face REALLY close to his face, I am not sure where you picked this up.

Since Bebo came along your personality has emerged even more. Some of it good and some of it not so good. You are talking more than you ever have and are a dancing fool. You love to listen to music and to sing familiar songs whether they be songs from the backyardigans or music from kindermusik.
Your two favorite things that you are constantly asking to do this past month are to watch movies and have snacks. You LOVE candy as a snack and pretty much the only candy that you can have is smarties. So your smart little brain drags the chair over to the candy drawer and grabs as many smarties as there are people in the living room out and you deliver them in an effort to be able to have some candy yourself.

At times I can't understand what you are saying, but I know if it is said with a smile and in this certain pitch that my answer needs to be no. You love to gallop. Wherever we are you whether the store or at home you are never afraid to gallop from here to there. I have been trying to keep you busy with new things all the time. One of your favorites is playing in the water (shown above). A couple cups and you are happy until you take your bib off and get that wet too.

Monk we are going to make things work as a family of four and each month is going to get better and better. You are going to love playing with your brother before you know it. Thanks for making me laugh this past month. Not a day goes by that you don't make me laugh with your toddler antics. I love you buddy, more now than I ever have before.

Love, Mama

One Month 3/06/08 - Bebo

Ok seriously I don't know where the time has gone. How can you possibly be one month old already. It seems like we were just leaving the hospital and I barely knew you outside of my womb. I have enjoyed this last month immensely. Bebo, you are as sweet as candy and everyone that meets you says the same.
You are content just hanging out and love to stare intently at my face. We have a rhythm you and me. I know what you want most of the time. There are those couple hours in the evening that you seem to be a little grumpy, but what baby doesn't have that time?
This month has been filled with lots of dirty diapers, lots of spit up, and lots of love.
There is nothing that I love more than to hold you close to my chest, hear you breath, feel your feet tuck up to your chest, and soak in your sweet smell and feel your warmth. I want the days to last forever and while I love seeing you change and grow, I am having a hard time standing by and watching it fly by. I love you like I've known you my whole life.
Love, Mama

Probably gonna need a miracle...

...to pull it together today. Here is a run down of my night last night.
8:30 I am thinking that Bebo is going to have his longest stretch of sleep which is about 3 hours. I can't fall asleep for some reason and keep signing kindermusik songs in my head.
9:00 Bebo is up and wants to eat.
10:30 I am finally sleeping
1:15 Bebo is up to eat. He wants to stay up.
3:15 I am finally back to sleep
3:30 Monk is making noise and calling for Daddy over the monitor on and off until 4:00
5:00 The alarm goes off to feed Bebo. I am WAY too tired so I decide to see if he will sleep a little longer.
5:15 Bebo is up to feed
5:45 Monk is up for the day. SWEET!!!
So at most I am calculating 4 hours of VERY interrupted sleep. Fisherman usually gets up with Monk in the morning, but he got home at 3 from doing a floor all night and needs to work today. He is usually here to help at night as well, but he has cadets tonight so it is just me all day. I am hoping that my kids come out alive.

Nothing else to do

Bee-bo 1:14 am. I even got a smile out of him this early in the morn, must have been gas. I knew I would suffer some consequences from all your sleep during the day yesterday.

Pericarditis oh how I hate thee

So I have been down with a bout of pericarditis. Those of you who don't know what that is, it is an infection in the lining of your heart. It causes pretty severe chest pain, shortness of breath, an achy feeling in your joints, and fevers galore. I have a chronic case in that it keeps coming back and according to doctors there is no prevention. The only treatment is steroids, anti-inflammatory, and rest. When I first started getting this before Monk I didn't like it, but I could at least rest and get rid of it. Then Monk came along and I could no longer get the rest unless it was the weekend and Fisherman was home. I started really hating this because as all you that are mamas know, Moms don't get the chance to be sick really. Now two babies are in our home and I REALLY loath this thing, in fact I would rather give birth twice than have this with two kids. Waking up in the middle of the night to feed a baby with a fever and chills is not my cup of tea. On the weekends things are pretty easy because Fisherman is home and he is OUTSTANDING help (thank honey for all you did this weekend). Two points being that if you become a sick Mama it is a tough gig and two I have come to realize that I could have about ten kids if neither of us had to work.