Updates

I'm such an inconsistent blogger these days. In fact, it's been MONTHS since I've blogged, weeks since I've read the blogs I love and used to read every day. Things are just so busy and time gets away from me.

So updates:

Elliot: Is 2.5 years old. ALREADY?? Got his first REAL haircut and looks so much older. Can hold a conversation now, loves his little brother to death (and calls him Chubba Chubbas if you ask what his little brother's name is), has not lost his love for big trucks, airplanes, his puppy or mac and cheese, has lost his love for Yo Gabba Gabba (YAY!) and just about all food. He has found new love in Team Umi Zoomi, Dora and Diego and Mickey Mouse, oatmeal, Nutella sandwiches (chocolate sandwiches he calls them), and swinging on the big kid swing. He's a little clown, always running, jumping and laughing.

He is mostly well behaved, but when he isn't it's downright UGLY. He gives the best hugs and kisses. And no matter how old he gets he's still my baby!

Cole: Is 9 months old. ALREADY, again??? He thinks his big brother is just the coolest kid on earth and his dogs are the funniest things. He is my Jack of All Trades - Master of None kid. He can speed army crawl across the floor but hasn't quite grasped the hands and knees crawl. He can stand a few seconds on his own, but then tries to lunge himself forward thinking he can walk...he can't. He can take steps when holding onto fingers and gets mad he falls after letting go. He can shovel food into his mouth with his hands, hold his bottle, but not a cup and mimic peoples sounds so well. He's Mr. Serious, takes everything in and gets mad when things do go his way exactly.

His reflux is under control and we are starting the weaning process of his meds...I hope it works!! He's a little Chub Nubbers and I love him!!

Elvis: Seems to be having more frequent seizures :( But he's fat, lazy and happy...at least when P is bugging him.

Priscilla: Has a luxating patella, is starting dog school next month ($100 she's the only one that doesn't graduate) and is still crazy and annoying.

In other news...I have started a little business selling my crocheted creations. I have found a love in making things, especially hats. So head on over to Facebook and like my page. Then order something...I ship!!

I leave you with a precious photo of my little guys...taken by Yes M'AM Photography

Winter, Winter, Go Away

I am so tired of winter. We are ALL so tired of winter. After 2 snowstorms just 3 days apart our front yard had so much snow that it went up to the top of the fence. Not really conducive to playing outside. Then the temps dropped to way below 0 for days.

The last couple of days were beautiful, almost 50 degrees, highly unheard of in February in the frozen nothern Adirondacks. It was a spring tease, but I made the most of it and got out for a walk with the boys. The sun was shining and, even though it was super windy, we all enjoyed the fresh air.

You would think that after living here my whole life, minus one year spent in NC, I would be used to how long and cold our winters are, but I'm not. I never will be. I hate them. HATE THEM!!! I long to live where it's warm enough for a light jacket or sweater in the winter. Where, if it snows, it's not often, much or stays around long.

I'm tired of giant snowbanks making it difficult to get out of my driveway without near collisions everyday for months, tired of bundling up the kids just to go to a store because it's frigid, tired of waiting for spring and summer, that are so short it's almost like they never came.

Time to start some serious work on the hubby to go south, or west, or anywhere.

Well Check Updates

The boys had their well check visits on Wednesday, Elliot's 2 yr and Cole's 4 month.

Elliot's stats

30 lbs

35.5 inches

Cole's stats

16 lbs 3 oz

26.75 inches

Cole gained 2 lbs in a month so it was no wonder his Zantac dosage suddenly stopped working. We've upped his dosage and hoping in a couple more days things will be back to normal. Of course he's been sick since his appointment...maybe a reaction to his shots? Mostly some real nasty diapers (diarhea) and a little vomitting (definitely NOT spit up). What fun :/

Elliot is just wild and crazy. He only needed a flu shot and that certainly wasn't going to slow him down. He's saying more full sentences like "You make me mad."...yeah, that was a nice one! I wouldn't let him continue to play in the ground pepper he spilled everywhere so I could clean it up and that's what he yelled at me. In true Mom of the Year fashion I replied with "Yeah? Well you make me mad too...now go over there so I can sweep." So he stomped his foot and SCREAMED! Ah....2 year olds.

Time Goes by so Quickly

I don't know where it goes, but it's only here for a fleeting second. It seems that by the time I get home from work, have dinner, play with the boys is bedtime. First for them and then before I can blink for me. And the day is gone. So quickly. I hate it.

So, it leaves little time for blogging.

Elliot is now 2 years old, Cole is 4 months. How the hell did THAT happen??

Christmas was good but hectic. I think we need a new strategy for Christmas because we need time for ourselves. It was rush, rush, rush in the morning, drive to my sister's an hour away, back home after only 2 hours there, an hour for us and back out the door to my brother in laws and home to bed. It's no fun for us or the kids. So, starting next year I plan to alternate years with each side. This way we can spend quality time with a few than just a little time with all. AND we get some time for our little family, just us, to enjoy unwrapping presents and playing.

Elliot's birthday went well and his party was good. My monkey cupcakes were a hit. What cupcakes you say?? Well, I had a brilliant idea that instead of spending $50 on a cake I would spend a few dollars and make cupcakes. I was in the baking aisle of my local grocery store when I spotted the CUTEST monkey cupcake liners and thought "I should make monkey cupcakes."

Well, I did. I spent the majority of MY birthday making those cupcakes for Elliot's party.

I think they were pretty good. I'm super proud of myself and just might have to do it for Cole's first birthday, although maybe not monkeys, but something fun!!

So now I leave you so I can head to bed. I hope that for 2011 I can do better on the blogging front.

Pics of my monkeys...

Cute liners

Step 2 (baking was step 1) ~ Body

Step 3 ~ Faces and ears

Step 4 ~ Eyes and mouths

Close Up

Hats

I tried my hand at crocheting a couple of beanies for Cole. The first one is very plain, but it went well so I tried a striped one. The first try was too small, not even close! The second I thought was still too small. However, I was trying to put it on him while he was sleeping and I didn't want to wake him. I just couldn't wait to try it. That didn't work so I tried it on him the next day. It fit, I just needed to add a couple more rows (then I added 2 too many...oh well).

Here they are!

Christmas 2010

Happy Snowflakes Christmas

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This and That

It seems I'm right on target timewise with this post. I don't seem to post much anymore. Life with work and the boys has gotten busy.

I went back to work on Nov. 1st. It hasn't been fun. I have had mess after mess to clean up. Lots of reservations to handle and I miss my boys so much. I have been testing out working at home 2 days a week, but unless I can figure out a "office" in this house, I don't think it's going to work long term. Plus, some days it's so hard to work and not give in to the desire to play with Elliot and Cole.

Cole had his 2 month well check on Nov. 12th. He was 10 weeks, 12 pounds and 24.5 inches. A few ounces and 2 full inches bigger than his brother at this age. He's already moved into 3-6 month clothes.

Elliot is still an awesome big brother. He is becoming such a big boy. I can't believe that in 5 short weeks he will be 2....better start planning that party.

We had a very untraditional Thanksgiving. We decided to get away for a couple of days and took Elliot to an indoor waterpark on Thanksgiving morning. He LOVED it.

And since I am done Christmas shopping, except a couple of things for the hubby, I have decided to use my extra time and teach myself to crochet. I made a hat for Cole last night. Didn't turn out half bad. I'll post pics soon!

Happy Halloween

I know the night is almost over, but I just had to share pics of my boys. Elliot had a blast on both trick or treating treks. He even learned to say "Trick or Treat" just in time!

The End is Near

I can't believe how fast time is going by. I have one week left with the boys before it's back to work. ONE WEEK...SEVEN already went by...HOW???? It's just not enough. Even more than when I returned to work when Elliot was born, I feel this overwhelming desire to stay home with them. No, not desire, a need, an overwhelming NEED to be a stay at home mom. Just the thought of going back to work makes me sick to my stomach. I MUST win the lottery by November 1st, I must. I NEED to stay home.

Cole has been diagnosed with reflux. We put rice cereal in his bottle and he takes .5 ml of Zantac twice a day. At his 2 month well check we will evaluate how he's doing and possibly stop the cereal. All the crying, fussing, screaming out in his sleep in pain from the acid coming up, spitting up has pretty much stopped. He's a whole new baby. Last night he slept 7 hours straight. May have been a fluke, but hopefully the long sleeping spells at night continue. Elliot starting sleeping 8 hours a night just before I returned to work...maybe Cole is following in his big brother's footsteps. My boys love me ;)

They Grow Up Too Fast

So, because wondering minds want to know, that being MY wondering mind...I measured and weighed the boys this morning.

If my measurements are correct:

Elliot: 30 lbs 34.5 ins

Cole: 9 lbs 21.5 ins

Updates

Cole had his weight check on 9.15. After a weekend of him barely eating I was worried. The nurse wanted us to make him eat every 2 hours. All that happened was he ate less than before. So instead of stressing us all out, I let him go back to his own schedule. I guess that was the trick because he gained 8 ounces!! He passed his birth weight and weighed in at 7 lb. 4 oz...one ounce over! NO MORE WEIGHT CHECKS!!

He hasn't stopped eating since. He has become Mommy's little piggy.

Elliot is still a wonderful big brother. He tries to help burp Cole, feed him, console him when he cries. Still no jealousy either!

Now, if I could only get them to nap at the same time.

Brotherly Love

How sweet is this?? Elliot is already an AWESOME big brother. He likes to help feed and burp baby Cole and is obsessed with his toes.

Cole is very laid back, much like his big brother was as a little baby (now he has more energy than 10 toddlers and we can't keep up!). He does, however, seem to have a bit of an issue gaining weight. On the plus side, as of Friday he hadn't lost anymore, but he just doesn't gain. So we get to have weight checks every week until he hits his birth weight. Wednesday is our next one and I am hoping to hear that he has gained something. This little guy needs to grow so he isn't swimming in his clothes anymore!

Introducing....

Cole Thomas:

Born 9.1.10 at 12:39am

Weight: 7 lbs. 3 ozs.

Height: 19.5 inches

Head: 35 cm

Being checked out by awesome, big brother Elliot.

I'm Crafty!

I finished my letters for the boys! I just need to decide if I will attach ribbon and hang them or somehow attach them flat to the walls.

I'm Bad

I'm a bad blogger...I have been neglectful of my blog and therefore, my bragging about my little man.

I'm a bad cleaner...my house is a complete disaster, I just can't seem to keep up.

I'm a bad pregnant lady...I'm big, I ache and I'm OVER IT!

I'm a bad crafter...I've had the stuff to do both Elliot's and Cole's letters for their rooms for a week now and I haven't even taken the supplies out of the bags.

I'm a bad fur mommy...they have all been driving me nuts and I sometimes think of how nice it would be to not have so many. 3 cats and 2 dogs are wearing me out.

But, apparently, today I am AWESOME at complaining.

Finally

I have researched and researched and researched double strollers hoping to find ONE that would fit pretty much all my needs so I didn't have a garage full of strollers. I already have 3 singles which get used depending on what I am doing or where I am going.

The stroller needed to:
1. Fit a newborn and a toddler
2. Fit in my trunk (hopefully with room to spare)
3. Fit through doorways
4. Have sturdy wheels for our crappy roads and sidewalks. Air filled work best
5. Still be able to make shopping trips easy

I decided on the Valco Tri Mode EX with a toddler seat. It can function as a single or a double (#1), is the size of a single (#2, #3, #5), and is a jogger style so great for my long walks (#4). The stroller will hopefully be here by the end of the week and the toddler seat should be in stock mid August (Valco is coming out with a new version). Plus I will sell my other jogger so there will still be only 3 stroller in the garage!

I will give everyone a review once I have the stroller and then I will have to let you know about the toddler seat later. In the meantime, check it out here, I got the Hot Chocolate. Hmmmm, that seems fitting for my cold climate!

They Grow So Fast

Last night was Elliot's first night in a "big boy" bed. We have moved him to a twin bed. He has been trying to climb out of his crib, so his pediatrician thought we might want to try soon before he gets hurt. Then I had him sleeping in his new room in a Pack N Play because his room was so hot. Tried the crib yesterday and he wouldn't have anything to do with it.

So yesterday we set up the twin bed, got the room ready and tested it out. He was extra tired since it was past his bed time, but he went right to sleep and slept all night without an issue. I can't say that it will be that easy for his nap today or tonight, but I have hope it will all go well.

I am pretty sad about it though. Just means that my baby isn't my baby anymore. He's turning into my little boy instead. Why do they have to grow so fast??

Where Does Time Go?

I am having a hard time believing that tomorrow Elliot will be 18 months old. It feels like I just got home from the hospital with him. Every day is a new word, new skill.

He have even had his first real injury. Poor Elliot lost a fingernail. It still looks pretty yucky, but at least it's scabbed over and healing. We are just hoping the nail grows back, and it's pretty likely it will.

I also can't believe that in 11 short weeks, baby #2 will make his arrival. I'm excited and sad all at the same time. I'm excited to have another bundle of joy. I'm excited for Elliot to be a big brother. But I am sad because my baby won't be the baby anymore. I am sad because all my attention won't be able to be on Elliot and he will have to share his mommy.

I Won, I Won...#2

I won another giveaway...my second ever! I will be getting some address labels from Pear Tree Greetings, courtesy of You Don't Know. Thanks Brandy!!

I chose these labels because I plan to get matching announcements once the new baby is born.

Simply and cute...that's what I like! I'd post pics, but I don't want to get in trouble with the company so I will just link to the them instead.

Baby Boy #2 Has a Name!!!

Cole Thomas should be arriving in 3 short months!

Now, to make sure Tony doesn't change his mind on the name between now and then!!