Babywearing Conference 2008

I decided last minute to head on over to good ole' Chi-town for the babywearing conference and I am SO glad that I did. I had a really good time and learned even more about wearing my precious little Bebo. I wish that I would have known about this with Monk because I just love it so much. I am just going to have to have lots more babies so I can wear them all :) I spent lots of time on the merchandise floor and did a seminar and learned from the maker of the Kozy Carrier and the maker of Ball Baby a little bit more about the Mei Tai.

This picture was taken while driving. A little dangerous I know, but I just had to get a pic of the city and of the dark rain clouds over head.

Ok could there be a hat that was any more adorable than this? I got this from the Moby booth. They sell these hats together with a receiving blanket and they were oh so cute. They are for newborns, but still fit Bebo. The thing I love most about it is that it stays on a babies head unlike most newborn hats.

So now maybe you all don't feel too bad about our gas prices being $4.19. SHEESH! Overall I really had a great time and was proud of myself for navigating the big city. I know a lot about driving to Chicago because I went to school near there for a year, but I don't know a whole lot about the outskirts so it was a little scary, but I did it man! I even parallel parked in a tiny little spot. I am hoping that the next conference is hosted around here. Any volunteers?

Church Picnic

Monk had a blast at the church picnic. Lots of his friends were there AND there were PONIES to ride! We couldn't stay long, but while we were there it was sure fun. He even got to feed some goats.

Summer Fun Pics

Took the boys to get their picture taken together because I had a $4.99 coupon. Can't beat that man!

Been Busy

We have been busy over here lately. Summer makes the time pass so quickly doesn't it? After dinner we all usually go outside to play or go for a walk. It is so nice to get out and talk to the neighbors. The happenings of this weekend were two visits to the ER. Nothing serious we just had two crabby boys and thought that something had to be up. With Monk he follows a pattern when he is coming down with something so I usually have a pretty good clue. He takes a couple 3 hour naps, sleeps until 8 am, and starts really overreacting to things. Then it turns into hour and a half naps and waking up SUPER early in the morning like between 5-6 am. This pattern had started and since he just got over a cold I suspected an ear infection. Sure enough the kid has a double ear infection. He just had this a month ago!!! I have to bring him into his regular doc, but the ER doc was talking about possibly tubes. Today I brought Bebo in because I thought he had an ear infection as well. He has been acting really strange lately. He has been more fussy, crying when you lay him down, and taking shorter naps. It is sooo hard to tell with babies you know. They go through so many changes. Anyway I decided to take him in and they didn't find anything wrong, which is a good thing, but now we just need to figure out what Bebo needs to get him back to normal. So that is what we have been up to. Nothing real exciting. Hopefully in the next couple days here I will be back on my regular posting schedule.

Feeding the Ducks

A Tuesday in Pictures

We started our day at the park with some friends. Monk had a great time playing and I had a good time talking with some of my friends.
Today we finally figured out the awful smell that has been hanging out around our house. I say it reminds me of a port a jon and Fisherman says it smells like dead fish. The smell has been emulating from this here tree. It looks pretty, but the smell is deadly. CRAZY!

It was hard to capture it in a picture, but the sky was amazing tonight. I love when the light shoots out from behind the clouds.

Fisherman and Monk played with the umbrella. Fisherman was showering Monk with the hose while he ran back and forth covering himself with the umbrella. Trouble is that Monk didn't do a very good job of keeping himself covered.

Bebo just hung out, can't blame a guy for chillin'.

To end the night Monk had a "sink bath" and a Popsicle. This is where all our Popsicle eating happens. It is very convenient.

Lucky to Have You

Happy Father's Day Fisherman! You are one of the best Dad's there are out there in my eyes as well in the eyes of your two boys. You are the get down on the floor and play with my kids because there is nothing else in the world you would rather do kind of Dad. You love your kids with everything you are and everything you have and it shows in your day to day interaction with them. You give your kids the greatest gift they will ever receive and that is your time. They will forever remember the times that you spent with them being a pony on the bed or the countless number of books that you read together and laughed until your sides ached. Your kids love you Fisherman. I can see it in their eyes. Monk would rather be with his Daddy on most days because you are so good at creating this care free world that is full of hugs, games, and laughter. You are the kind of Dad that puts together a kite even though it took you a long time just to see the joy on your child's face when it flies in the air. I appreciate all your interaction too. You make living life in this house so much more fun and remind us all to not take things so serious. I love you and so do your kids. We could not ask for a better husband/Daddy. Thanks for choosing me to have your children with. All our Love, the Mama, Monk, and Bebo

Could kiss you all over!

Sprinkler

Four Month Stats - Bebo

Today Bebo had his four month well baby and his shots. Monk always got brown band aids, but Bebo got this tweety one, a tye die one, and snoopy. We are moving up in the world of shot band-aids I guess. Anyway he weighed in at 14 pounds 5 ounces which puts him in between the 40 and 50th percentile and he was 26 inches long which puts him at the 75th percentile for height. Sometimes with nursing Bebo and not supplementing him I get wrapped up into the idea that he is not getting enough to eat, but if he is staying in the 50th percentile then I would say he is. I just need to keep telling myself that. The doc said that he looks healthy and that cereal is a good thing. It is always good to be reassured at the doctor that your child is growing and developing as they should. What a blessing!

A Family Pool Party

We had a great time as a family while the boys played in the pool for a little while on Saturday. It was so hot outside that we needed to do something to cool off. I took so many pictures and could hardly just choose these. I hope that you enjoy!

Top 5

I have been tagged by Beth so here it goes...

FIVE things under $5 I could not live without:
1. Seamless Pony Tail holders
2. Toilet water
3. Shampoo
4. Soap
5. garlic
That was hard to keep it under $5

FIVE favorite movies:
1. Blow
2. P.S. I love You
3. Riding in Cars with boys
4. All the Pirates movies
5. In America

FIVE baby names I like:
1. Graham
2. Carson
3. Myles
4. Ellery
5. Karley

FIVE songs I could listen to over and over again:
1. Beautiful Day - U2
2. Agnus Dei - Third Day
3. Bring the Rain - Mercy Me
4. Safe and Sound - Matthew West
5. Give a little bit - Roger Hodgson

FIVE people who have influenced me in a positive way:
1. Fisherman
2. My parents
3. My two boys
4. My friends
5. My sister and brother

FIVE things that are always in my purse:
1. Check book
2. A little mirror
3. A pen
4. Coupons
5. Pictures

FIVE dates that have change my life forever:
1. September 1, 2001
2. February 8, 2006
3. February 6, 2008
4. December 14, 1980
5. September 3-15 (?), 2001

FIVE obsessions I have now:
1. Blogging
2 Reading Blogs
3. Taking millions of pictures of my kids
4. Facebook
5. Babywearing

FIVE places I would like to go:
1. Hawaii
2. New Zealand
3. Alaska
4. Australia
5. possibly on a cruise, I have never been on one

FIVE appliances/kitchen tools I can't live without:
1. Fridge/Freezer
2. Can Opener
3. Microwave
4. Dish Washer (yeah that one is pretty sad I know)
5. knife

Twenty-Eight Months Old 6/08/08 - Monk

Monkadilly, I cannot believe how fast the time is moving at our house and how each day that passes you learn some new word or new thing and I hear "Woo-hoo, I did it Mommy." Seeing the smile on your face and the excitement in your eyes that you have accomplished a new task you were trying to complete gives me so much joy.

You are slowly starting to play us as parents already. If Daddy is giving you a time out, you suddenly want Mommy. If I punish you for some reason (usually for not listening) you run to the person closest to you for a little sympathy. The other day we were playing at Sarah's house and you ran to her and put on your best act that your mom is the meanest person in the whole entire world. I knew this time would come, but I didn't know it would be this soon.

I have mentioned before that you are particular about certain things. The thing that you became especially particular about in the last month is how you go to bed in your crib. Your head needs to be on a certain side of the bed. You have about 10 nuks in there that you need to have in a pile right next to your head and most often you need to have "Nuk Teddy" (a pacifier with a teddy bear on it) in your mouth. Tad needs to be on the right side of your head and your birthday monkey on the left side. You need to have big Frankie put over you and another blanket on top of that to "keep you nice and warm." You are a crazy little man that loves predictability.

Saying "love you" has become second nature to you. Your dad and I are always hearing it from you randomly and so is your little brother. It makes us feel special Monk, thanks.

Your love for all things cowboy has slowed down a bit although you still enjoy wearing your "Hee-Haw" every now and then. Your new obsession is Knights, which is also from the backyardigans. You use the cover to your doctor kit as your shield and say, "this my knight." You talk about dragons and sing about being a knight, "that's right."

We have had a bit of a rough past month due to this stubborn last tooth that is slowly coming in, a double ear infection and now a cold, but we have still had some REALLY good times. My favorite times with you are when you get up from a nap and Bebo is still sleeping. We play trains, have a snack, and go outside to get the mail together. It is Monk and Mama QT. I love your little voice Monk, the things you say, and most of all your smile. You are one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Love you, Mama

Randomy Randomness

I have been tagged by the Mama over at this blog to list 5 random things about myself. It might be hard to think of 5, but here it goes.

NUMBER 1 I think that I have mentioned this before in a previous tag, but I HAVE to have at least 3 different kinds of shampoos in my shower at a time. I like to rotate and smell different from day to day. If I had to wash my hair with the same shampoo every single day, I think I might be admitted into the nearest mental hospital.

NUMBER 2 I often find myself disgusted at how much pressure is put on Americans to do so many things that waste our time when that time could be spent doing things as a family or having a date with your spouse. An example of a waste of my time (or actually Fisherman's time) is GRASS! It is soooooooo stupid. You have to spend lots of money on watering it just so that it will grow and also on fertilizer. You have to waste at least an hour a week cutting it, man it is stupid. Did I mention that it's stupid?

NUMBER 3 I am so excited the the Mole is back on TV. It can be addicting man! I was so excited that it was starting this summer that I marked it on my calender.

NUMBER 4 Fisherman and I have not been on a vacation in three years and we are going on one this summer. I cannot wait! Now it will be with kids so then is it really a vacation? I am just excited that I don' t have to do laundry and clean my house for a WHOLE week.

NUMBER 5 I think that there are a lot of people that do this, but take a shower and dry myself off in the SAME exact order every time. I shampoo my hair, rinse, put conditioner in my hair, leave it in while I wash my body and shave, rinse it out, wash my face, and I'm done. I should really switch it up one of these days.

I tag the soon to be Mama at the Little Feet blog. She just started her blog so we should break her in with a good ole' "tag your it!"

ARRRRGGGGHHH!!!

Four Months Old 06/06/08 - Bebo

Bebo today you are four months old. You have been such a joy to me in the last four months. Sure we have had our days when you don't really care to take long naps and you cry just a little more than normal, but overall I am enjoying these baby days so much. You have started playing with toys a little in the last couple of weeks and of course as with all babies everything you can get your hands on goes to your mouth, including clumps of my hair. Everyone told me that these link thingys were a must have and so I gave them a try. They have been your favorite thing to hold unto so far.
The greatest thing about the last month is that you have started smiling and laughing even more. You are starting to prefer your Mama and a couple other people you know well over people you don't know as well. I love this about you because it makes me feel special and loved.

Everyone is guessing that you are a going to be a brown eyed little man. They still have a blue tint to them, but almost look grey.

One of my favorite things to experience with you is to watch you when I have to wake you up. You snuggle in my neck after I pick you up out of the crib. After I get some snugly warm time with you I put you on the changing table where you throw your little arms all over the place, arch your back sticking your tummy up in the air, and make little grunting noises. It makes me smile every morning that I have to work and have to wake you from your sleep.

You have been blowing raspberries or razzing (whatever you call it) in the past couple months and it never fails to crack me up. You are such an easy going little guy. It is almost hard to find things to write about because you just like to hang out, smile, and be talked to. With your brother I was constantly trying to find things to entertain him, but with you, you just love the people and things that have been placed around you.

Bebo, not a day goes by that I don't say to you that I love you and can't get enough of you. You make me smile, help me to appreciate this crazy life I'm living, and make to want to be a better mom. I love my boys with everything that I am. Love, Mama

Baby FoHAWK

I am crazy in love with little boys and FoHAWKS! I think Bebo will be sportin' this look a lot this summer.

He's a Cereal Man!

We decided to give Bebo some cereal today. He has seemed a little hungry in the evening and so I thought that possibly this could give him just a little more to make his tummy happy. I decided to go organic this time around. Has anyone else out there tried this?

Pretty content before the show began

Whoa not so content anymore. The first couple spoonfuls made the bottom lip come out. At first we thought it was because Monk was screaming in an annoying two year old manner right beside Bebo, but it happened the second spoonful even though Monk had left the scene to "wash dishes."

A couple more spoonfuls and he seemed to be enjoying the experience a bit.
Somewhere in the middle of the feeding he started blowing raspberries making the cereal go all over the place.

Overall a good first feeding. Hopefully just this little bit at night will give him what he needs to make it until his bedtime feeding.