Squash and Prunes...Yummy

Freddie really hasn't met a food he doesn't like. So squash and prunes? Bring it on, he says!

Little man has been a bit fussy today and yesterday. I think I feel a little tooth bud coming in right down front. He hasn't been sleeping well and basically just wants to be held all the time.

When Ainsley was a baby I so prepared myself for all the typical stuff...fussiness during teething, distraction during eating, biting, etc. But she did none of those things. So I prepared and then waited for it and it never came. Freddie fits in to all the typical stuff. I have to nurse him in a quite dark room so he doesn't get distracted, he bites me while nursing and now he's definitely feeling the teething pain.

Speaking of teeth, I took Ainsley to the dentist for the first time on Friday. I will not be going back to that dentist for reasons that I'll explain below...but Ainsley did awesome. I HATE dentists. I have horrible memories of them from my childhood - I had terrible teeth. I can't even sit comfortably through a cleaning. I just want to leap out of the chair and run far far away. I was even super anxious waiting to go back with her and then I had to sit in the chair with her on my lap...oh goodness, my heart was racing.

But Ainsley was a trooper and even though she was scared she did so well.

So the reasons that I hate this place that I went...

1 - I had the first appointment of the day - 8AM. Apparently someone else did too and there was only one hygienist and one dentist. They didn't take us back until almost 9.

2 - The dentist came in and looked at Ainsley's teeth and said she saw a dark spot on one. It is very small, like a pinprick but she needed to get x-rays to make sure it wasn't decay. Well, guess what - x-rays of a 3 year old's teeth are taken the same way an adults are. Can you imagine that and any 3 year old allowing someone to shove a giant, sharp, plastic thing in her cheek and waiting while they take a picture? The dentist tried to help and was a complete idiot about it. She put it in backwards twice. I finally grabbed it out of her hand, shoved it in Ainsley's mouth and said "Take the freaking picture!!!" Needless to say, it was not a good shot with my giant thumb in the way and Ainsley gagging and thrashing about. The dentist said I should just pay extra attention to that tooth while brushing and check it again in 6 months.

Well we brush her teeth twice a day, every day and I've even tried to start flossing...so I really hope it's not decay. Then again, I had a cavity in just about every one of my baby teeth, so hopefully she didn't get that from me.

I guess we'll see in 6 months.

Bath Time is Our FAVORITE Time

I am blessed with children who love baths. I have friends who are not so lucky. Bath time is not really my favorite time because I get soaked and I'm all crammed up in my little bathroom. But if the kids fought it, it would be way worse.

This is why I get soaked.

This guy loves to kick and splash and he is way too big for the baby tub. I will probably give it another couple of weeks and then bathe him with Ainsley in the big tub.

Ainsley has always been a fan of the bath. She has a gazillion toys in there and she just pretends to swim in the ocean.

And afterwards aren't they so cute in their towels?

I Blinked...

...and suddenly she was such a big girl riding a bike all by herself!

Can you believe it? Because I can't. She was so proud of herself.

Can't believe this guy will be right behind her.

Slow down little ones.

I Think Fall is on the Horizon

So normally, I say Summer is my favorite season...but this summer has not been so great and it's been so freaking hot. I swear that having that little butterball boy changed my chemistry. I never used to sweat at all. I would rarely get too hot, but I can't handle it these days.

So I have to say, that I'm kind of glad the hot days of summer are coming to an end. I feel like fall is on the horizon and I'm welcoming it...even though that eventually means winter, which is still and will always be my least favorite season. But let's not think about that now, let's pretend that the 75 degree days of early fall will last for eternity.

Today I left work early to take Freddie to his 6 month check up. He is doing fabulous. Weighs 20 lbs and 12 ounces. The doctor just oohed and awed over him. I know I've mentioned it before, but it can't hurt to mention it again...I freaking LOVE my pediatrician. Seriously if I could just have her move in with me, I would. She is amazing. She is on the top of my "Reasons I don't want to leave Richmond" list. So listen up any potential NOVA pediatricians...if I come to your door, you'd better be at the top of your game. Cause I will drop you like a rock if not...I've seen the best, and I have no time for anything less.

Reasons that she's the best: 1 - She ALWAYS remembers all of us. Now, does that mean she has a memory like an elephant? Not sure. But she always remembers little details, like where I work, and a cold Ainsley had when she was Freddie's age, and that Clif is away, etc, etc. She may write all this stuff down and check it out right before she walks in...but I don't care. It shows me she cares. 2 - She is sooooo available and down to earth. She even told me today that if we move I can always call her and she will always call me back. 3 - She just knows things. Like that you can smell a child's breath and know if they have strep throat, or smell a child's diaper to see if he has a urinary tract infection, or that there is a high chance for little boys with acid reflex to have other digestive issues. And she's always been right. 4 - There don't seem to be any time limits on her visits. Sometimes our visits only last 5 minutes, but sometimes they last 45 and she never rushes and never complains. She's always patient and answers ever odd question.

Anyway, I've gotten side tracked. The appointment went well and he's doing great. Afterwards, we picked up Ainsley a little early and headed to the playground for about an hour. The weather was amazing. So much so that when we got home, we played outside after dinner for another 45 minutes. These pictures are from that.

Freddie is sitting up like a champ. He can't get into the position and he pretty much refuses to roll over - he just screams when he's on his belly...but he likes to sit up.

Ainsley loves to play red light/green light. Except she just runs, doesn't really listen to the rules at all. She also likes Simon Says...which she also doesn't really play correctly, but whatever.

Hope you all are enjoying the nice weather, I hope it stays.

I'm such a big boy

Look what I can do...

Until my big sister knocks me over...by accident of course.

But I still love her, she's my favorite person in the whole wide world.

I think she loves me too, cause she got way more upset then I did when I fell backwards!

Finally...

I got exactly the giggle I was looking for...

Not really sure why waving swords is so funny, but hey whatever floats your boat little man.

It's that time of year again...

Are you ready for some football?

We are!!!!!

Happy football season everyone!!!!

Rough Week

I feel like some of you probably think I've been kind of hard on Ainsley...and I probably have. I probably expect more than I should out of a three year old. I'm really trying to work on that. When you have a second child your perspective really changes. You have this new little baby that needs everything, and suddenly your toddler seems like she should be able to drive and do laundry and bathe herself...when in fact, she can not. So anytime I'm at my wits end, I try and remember that and try and diffuse the situation differently. Which is probably why I end up cleaning her room of toys :) It's either that or yell and scream...and I know that just goes right over her head.

Really, I have such a sweet little girl. She's just going through some growing pains.

And this little guy...well, what can I say. He is a lot of work, but a bundle of joy.

So this week, I feel like we've done better not battling it out every night. But I, personally, have had kind of a rough week. My poor babies are not used to seeing Momma so laid up. The house is ridiculous. I don't even know how else to explain it. I haven't really cleaned all week. I just do enough to get by each night, which leaves it...well...disgusting. I had a new plan to come home on my lunch breaks and clean, but then I got super slammed at work and haven't had a lunch break all week

So here is a picture of my gross eye. I have pink eye.

I'm not really sure how you get pink eye unless you come into contact with some kid that has pink eye. Well, my kids don't have pink eye (thank heavens). I am praying and crossing every appendage that they do not come down with it.

This minor illness has really knocked me on my rear. And now tonight I'm feeling a sore throat and head cold coming on.

So, it's been one of those weeks. Oh, and it started last weekend with a trip to visit a friend of mine where we sat in an hour of traffic and got rear ended. A 2 hour trip took 5 hours. Fun times. So it has definitely been ONE of THOSE weeks.

I will most likely be bailing on my good friend's bachelorette party this weekend, which makes me very sad, and trying to get as much sleep as possible.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

What Its All About

Today was a tough day...probably for lots of reasons. I only got a few hours of sleep, I'm having some sort of random allergy attack in my eye, Clif had to leave, Freddie's been kind of fussy and Ainsley bolted from me in the store and for a few moments I was really nervous and then burst into tears when I found her. And as I'm typing this she's throwing a fit and hitting me with a necklace.

But this makes it all worth while...

This Too Shall Pass

Dear Ainsley,

First, I hope you know that I really do love you. Sometimes mommy goes a little insane, but I still love you. Sometimes I need just a moment away because you are three and you don't listen, you love to scream "NO" in my face, you don't say please or thank you, you hit me, you hit Freddie, you insist on being in the room while Freddie is going to sleep but refuse to stay quiet, you throw tantrums when you don't get your way, you won't go to sleep at night and many other things.

I'm sorry that I took all the toys out of your room last night, but I thought I might go over the deep end and it was something to keep me occupied other than having yet another battle with you.

I know that deep down you are still my sweet, precious girl and when we are locked in battle, I try and remember that. I know that you are going through a difficult transition with Daddy away all week and a new school with new friends. I also know that you are three and it comes with the territory. And finally, I'm trying to believe with all my heart those words my grandmother said often..."This too shall pass."

I just hope that when you remember your childhood you remember all the hugs and laughter and not the nights I go crazy and remove every toy from your room and lock them up in mine.

Dear Freddie,

Please stay cute and sweet and 5 months old forever. But I know, even though I don't want to believe it...this too shall pass.

Love,

Mommy