Happy Easter

We had a great day.

The boys opened their baskets from the Easter Bunny (and Grandma & Grandpa)

and ate way too much candy.

Bo also hunted eggs (both inside and out). He absolutely loved it. He was running around from egg to egg screaming with excitement. It was hilarious. He even dropped one of the eggs he was trying to get off the bbq grill and said, "do over" and put it back on the grill to grab again. So cute.We also didn't plan very well. He found way more eggs than would fit in his basket so he decided to upgrade to his fishing net. Smart Kid. And to round out the day, we had a fantastic ham for dinner and Bo even took a nap in the camper. It was a great day. Happy Easter.

Free At Last

Break out the champagne. We have been binky free for 10 days now. 10 days! And I say "we" because it truly is a family affair.

Last Monday (March 30) Bo walked into the kitchen with one in his mouth and one in each hand. I have no idea where he found them all but I was annoyed. I cut the one in his mouth right then and there and told him to go put the other 2 away in his bed for safe keeping or they would get cut too. Mean Mama.

Not even an hour later they were back, and true to my word, I again, cut the one that was in his mouth. Then what did he do but stand right there in front of me and stick the other one in his mouth. Ugh. The little turd.

But not really ready to deal with no binkies at all, I told him that it was his last one and he should go put it in his bed or I would cut it. He looked up at me and caught me completely off guard. In the most sassy of sassy voices said, "Fine, cut it, mommy, cut it!" Like he can threaten me. So I popped that green thing out of his mouth and cut it.

His entire body slumped as he let out the saddest mopey whine followed by, " I don't want my binkies cut." And that was that. The 3 year binky confinement had come to and end. Well . . . sort of.

It has been a rough 10 days but not as rough as I honestly thought it would be. We have had a few malicious retaliations of Bo peeing on the carpet which he explains with, "because I'm mad you cut my binkies." And many late bed times because he just won't relax enough to fall asleep despite me laying with him and rubbing his head. And many mornings of long bouts of crying which by the way seem to be the worst time of day for him binky-free (totally opposite of what I would have expected). And endless endless comments of "I don't want my binkies cut" and "let's go buy some more at the store" and "I'm sad you cut my binkies" and occasions where he won't play with me because he's mad I cut his binkies. And "I want hot milk and binkies but you cut my binkies." But overall, it hasn't been too terrible. Really.

Although I have not caved, there have been a few times when I really wanted to give him one just for a few minutes. Just for a few sucks. Just to see him relaxed and happy. Not because he's crying and I want to shut him up, but because I know how much he genuinely loves his binky and he's crushed. So pathetic and sad. I feel like I stole his favorite blanky or coolest tonka truck but then again he's not attached to anything other than his binky so that metaphor doesn't work, but you get my point. He misses it terribly and I hope he forgets about it soon. He remembers EVERYTHING and I'm afraid he will be making binky comments forever (and that would just down right suck).

Spring Is Here

The sun is shining and the days are getting longer, but more importantly, the weather is getting warmer and the snow is starting to melt. Finally. All the perfect makings for great sledding and outdoor fun.

First Haircut

I gave Sam his first haircut yesterday. I first tried sitting him on the bathroom counter in front of the mirror but he ended up wedging himself in the sink and playing with the water. It worked wonderfully. He was entertained and could not wiggle. Genius.

From baby . . .

To little man . . .

Sleep Re-Training

Sam was doing really well sleeping through the night for about a week before he got sick and it was wonderful. It took about a week and a half prior to that of letting him cry during the night to get to that point (which was hard, but worth it). Then when he got sick and didn't eat solid food a week and was one huge snot ball, I felt I had to feed him during the night or he might get dehydrated or starve or get more sick (just go with me on this one) or depressed from lack of comfort or hell, I don't know, I just felt like it was the motherly thing to do.

So now, he's feeling better and I am again sitting up in the middle of the night listening to him scream his head off. Do we really have to go through this all over again? And was I wrong for regressing to night time feedings while he was sick? Surely not, huh? I just hope he catches on quicker this time around. He's bound to remember, right? Right?!

All Hail Mr. Mom

Today I woke up feeling particularly shitty from this horrendous head cold I've been battling for over a week and decided that I better go to the doctor before my head and ears exploded. Literally. I mean it. I thought they might.

The pain was in my head like a normal sinus infection but during the night it migrated down into my jaw (weird, I know). And bad. It felt like I had been either punched in the face millions of times or had the most extensive dental work done that required hundreds of shots in my mouth and a fracture or two. Seriously, it hurt. I have never felt anything like it. And it still does.

Anytime I bend over, or even just squat down, the change in pressure about drops me. (Which by the way, I'm really not that tall, so why should just bending down do anything? It's not like I'm repelling down Mount Everest or anything. I'm just squatting down with my head up. I don't get it. But anyway) It pushes the pain even harder outward into my temples and ears and next time it happens I may just be cleaning up head splatter. Really, I might. Thank goodness I have a great steam cleaner.

But I digress, the reason for this post is my wonderful husband. Here I am sick and miserable, and here he is, exhausted from working his tail off all week selling houses so I can stay home with the kids, and yet he was the ultra Mr. Mom today. He did it all.

He made french toast for breakfast, cleaned up the kitchen, did the laundry while I was at the doctor, put both kids down for morning naps, straightened up the laundry room, cleaned out the refrigerator, cleaned all my junk out of the Murano, widdled down his 3 trillion t-shirts so they will fit in the drawer, plowed the driveway, shoveled the front porch, took the trash to the dump. You name it, he did it.

And now, it's almost 10:00pm and he's downstairs working. I don't know how he does it. The man is a machine. But he's my machine and I love him for it.

Madden Party of 5

Due October 2, 2009