growing pains

Colt turns 2 years old this week. Seems like just yesterday I was in the hospital smelling his sweet baby skin. I don't know what in the world is going on with me lately but the fact that his turning 2 is hard to swallow. I cry often thinking at how big he's gotten. He's not longer my bite size baby. He's a little boy. He knows what he wants. Sometimes it's not his momma but most of the time it is.

The first year of a babies life is amazing. They go from being a pile of goo in your arms to a walking & talking being in a short 12 months. The growth is amazing! Then comes their first birthday and it's so much fun. One of the biggest bashes of their life. You prepare, buy all the food & decorations and enjoy the special day. Turning 1 is really fun! Then they turn 2...

I feel like I'm on a roller coaster. From birth to the 1 year birthday is a gradual climb to the top...they're learning so much and becoming a little person. Now, after reaching the top, all I can do is hold on as tight as I can and try not to let life pass me by. Soon he'll be 3, then 4 and off to school and then college. Sound depressing much? I just don't want it to be going so fast.

Op, here I go. Crying again. Dang!

Control yourself woman!

Anyhow, the reason for all the tears is plain and simple. I just absolutely love my life. I absolutely adore my children. I'm so thankful I get to be their mom. I thank God every single day that I get to hold them, teach them and love them with every ounce of my soul. I should be happy that Colt's 2 and healthy, and trust me I am! I just want time to slow down a bit. I really love him.

it's a bed for big boys

Yesterday I had a bug up my butt to re-arrange the rugs in the house, move some pieces of furniture and change Colt's crib into a big boy bed. I'm not quite sure what possessed me to want to move Colt's bed around. He hadn't ever fallen out of his crib. One time while I was drying my hair I could see into his room in the reflection of my bathroom mirror and he was straddling the side of his bed like a Clydesdale horse. I snapped at him and he never did it again. So I know he's got the muscles and the height to get out...what he lacks is the balls.

I convinced young Andrew to please get out his tools and change his son's bed around. He obeyed...even though I could tell what he was thinking by the random glaces he was giving me...You're totally putting the cart before the horse here. You're also totally getting up all night with him if this backfires because after all...It was your idea, Woman. It's amazing after 3.5 years of pure marital bliss all it takes is one glance from the hubs and I can piece together 3 or 4 sentences. Sometimes we don't even need to talk. Our eyebrows do the work for us.

Bedtime came around. We said prayers, tucked Colt in like usual and started to walk away. I wish I had a picture to capture his face. It was the most adorable/break your heart kind of face. His bottom lip started to pucker out as I walked out and he made a face like...Don't leave me Mom. This is weird. I'm kinda scared.

I closed the door and he started to cry. I then heard him trying to open the door. A few seconds later the cry turned into some pretty seriously wailing. I heard the closet door. I heard him dump his toys. Five minutes later, he kicked it up a notch. Boy oh Boy was he putting up a fight. He does this funny thing lately when he's in trouble or when he's not wanting to nap. He'll call out for Betty [his great grandma, who lives across town]. Does he think she's magically appeared to save him for the wrath that is about to strike down upon him via Mean Mommy? I guess so. It makes me laugh though...Bebee! Bebeeeeeee!

Andy finally goes in about ten minutes later and tries to calm him down. Five minutes go by and all I hear is Colt still crying, but now he's crying for Betty and me. Apparently Betty needs back up.

I go in. Sit on the edge of his bed while he cries at the door and calmly tell him...It's going to be okay. We're going to bed. No other options. I'm making your mind up for you since you seem to be so very confused. He eventually lays down. I lay with him, hoping I don't break the bed. I tested that theory a few weeks ago by actually crawling into his crib with him one morning and hanging out in there for a bit. It didn't break then and I've lost a few since then so I figured I was golden.

Finally, after about 10 minutes of me talking him into a sleepy haze and him getting over his hiccups from his cry fest, I tell him I'm leaving now...I love him...Jesus loves him...Peace out little man. He falls asleep. Victory is mine.

So this morning, after last night, I wasn't really looking forward to nap time. I put him down, and he practically chased me out of the room. I couldn't shut the door fast enough. He cried [not as hard as last night] for about 5 minutes and then a hush fell over the house. I waited a while longer before I checked on him and he'd fallen asleep on his toy box [which is a really soft fabric ottoman, so I was ok with it]. About 20 minutes later he falls off the ottoman, starts crying and that was the end of nap time.

I did put him down for a 2nd nap this afternoon since the first one suuuucked and he only cried for 1-2 minutes then slept for 1.5 hours...in his bed! I was proud of his progress.

Tonight I was preparing for another meltdown or 2. Or 3. Or 4...but wouldn't ya know it after we did our routine and I tucked him in I didn't hear ONE PEEP!! Not ONE SINGLE PEEP!!!

That's a big change! I'm really proud of him for being a good transitioner. Although this doesn't make me want to start potty training any sooner :)

I kinda of feel like since he'll be the big #2 in just a few weeks that all these things [ie. potty training, big boy bed, learning to ride a bike...] need to be done soon. But really, he's still just a little nugget. Still really young. I mean, I compare him all day long to my 4 month old, when really, he's still a baby himself. I need to take a chill pill...some call it Xanax. Anyone care to share? Caring is sharing.

take me to your leader.

i be a lazy potty mommy.

Colt got a potty.  He's gone in it a few times but won't tell me has to go.  After he's pooped or pee'd in his diaper and I ask him what happened, he'll say 'Poo! Potty?'  Clearly, he knows where it's supposed to go.  We're just not getting there.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm a lazy potty mommy.  I think my son is fully capable of learning to go in the potty and even alert me when he needs to go.  He has always liked to figure things out and has generally been a fast learner.  There have been times when I catch him starting to poop his pants.  A good mother would alert their child, spring to their feet, run to bathroom [toddler in hand] and assist in the poo fest.  I, on the other hand kinda don't care.  With Molly my hands are typically full and it's so much work.

I sound very lazy and very dramatic here, but to start potty training you have to FULLY engaged, mentally and physically.  I'm just not there yet.  Granted, I can promise you Colt will be potty trained by the time he reaches kindergarten...I'm just not on the band wagon yet.  You'd think having to purchase Size 6 and Size 2 diapers every time I go to Babies R Us would be getting old, and believe me it is. My pocketbook isn't a fan either.  I just said pocketbook...That's a weird word. Pocketbook? Anyhow...Hello, ADD.

My plan for potty training is this...

Take him to my grandparents house for a week and ask them to please, pretty please,  potty train my son.  He really likes his Pat and Papa.  I feel like he would listen to them better than me.  Ahhhh, if only it were that easy...

No, really,  I'm going to wait for Andy to be home for a few days in a row and then his diapers are disappearing.  Call me crazy.  I just think Colt won't like pooing/peeing in real undies.  He'll run around naked for a few days.  Whiz all over the house I'm sure and hopefully he'll get the hang of it somehow. 

Until then...he can poop in his diaper.  It's easier to change a diaper than it is to follow through with potty training.  I sound like a super lazy mom!  Anyone else feel me though?

[Before I started typing this post I was weeding with Andy in the front yard and kept blacking out.  He instructed me to come sit down for a while and drink some water.  And he's a paramedic now, so I do exactly what he says.  Anyhow, I'm still kinda dizzy so this post may make no sense at'll...there fore I apologize if you just wasted you're time.]

hip baby

I always love when my babies can sit on my hips. I'm much faster at everything if I can have at least 1 hand free while maneuvering through the house. I can't believe how big Molly's getting! Seriously, home girl's getting all these fat rolls and extra chins. Tonight she had two dinners. Thinking about introducing oatmeal soon...She be hungry!! 4 months old!!

excuse my pj's and baaad bedhead. it happens.

brotherly lovin'

Ever since sweet Molly came into our lives Colt has loved her a little more every day. I'm not just saying that either. He loves everything about his shishy [sissy]. He always runs over to her and saying, Hiiiiiii with a sweet, cheesy smile totally mocking the face that Mommy, Daddy and any other grown up makes while talking to a baby. He never once has showed any sort of jealousy towards her and he's always been so gentle and loving. Which has made the transition from 1 to 2 kids totally enjoyable.

For a long time he'd call her, Moll and just recently he's perfected it, now sounding like Molleeeeeee. With a very, very long 'e'. I've been thinking a lot lately if my kids like their life. I try to always give them their time with me. One on one. We laugh a lot during the day. They're fed, cleaned, hugged and loved. Typically spoiled. I especially love watching Colts love for his sister grow. I've always been extremely close to my brother. We have so many awesome memories together and to this day he's still one of my favorite people. I think how cool it would be if Colt got a brother one day or if we were able to give Molly a little sister...but right now, I love watching the brother/sister bond grow. It's so precious.

The other morning when Colt woke up I walked in his room holding Molly. He started squealing, Molleeeeee?!...Piyo?! He wanted sista to come hang out in his quarters for a while. And lay on his Piyo [pillow]. It was super cute.

I have no doubt that if some jerk tries to mess with Molly, Colt will be the first to sit on him and make him PAY!

uncle penter

Uncle Spence is always good for a nap on the couch.  My kids are blessed to have such a good loving uncle.

Penter n' Colt...

Penter n' Molly...

senior picture

e & a

Our friends Lane and Laurie just recently lived one of the biggest days of their lives. If you've been reading my blog for a while you might have read this.

It was been four long years that Lane and Laurie have been trying for a baby and on August 2nd the Lord answered their prayers. They welcomed not one, but two precious baby boys into the world. Ethan [6lbs, 15oz] and Aidan [6lbs, 5oz] arrived and they are more adorable and perfect than ever imagined.

Laurie took these pix.

I have been in a constant state of praise since they were born. I find myself tearing up just thinking about the miracle they are. The struggle Laurie has had to endure...The close call when they were 20 weeks old and almost entered the world extremely premature...The hard pregnancy...The bed rest...The shots...The negative pregnancy tests. On Tuesday I got to hold this little miracle in my arms.

God is so good.

He loves his people.

That is not up for discussion.

potty 911

Colt is to the point where we should start potty training.  But who knew finding the perfect potty would be harder than the SAT's.  We've bought two in the last two days and immediatly determined neither work. 

Anyone have any suggestions?  I've been reading reviews like crazy but figured I'd take your word for it. 

A few things to note:
Colt is pretty tall for his age.
Colt is quite beefy for his age.

And His butt is larger than life.

can your shoes do this?

I finally went to get some new shoes the other day.  I had been running and started to get some really bad knee pain so I decided it was time to bite the bullet and get new shoes.  The lady fitting me for my new running shoe couldn't believe at what I'd been wearing.  She pretty much took my shoe and twisted it like a wet noodle.  Apparently,  if your shoes can do what my shoe did in the top picture you should burn them because they're giving you no support.  In fact they're probably hurting you.  She said I was pretty much running barefoot these last two months and she was surprised I didn't get a stress fracture or something.

I got fit after waiting in line for a while and walked out of there with a $120 pair of shoes.  It honestly kinda ruined the rest of Andy and I's date night we were on.   We went to dinner and the whole time I was thinking how dumb to spend that much money on a pair of shoes is.  So the next day and asked to be fit to a pair of clearance shoes.  I felt much better about that.  Lets just face it, I'm no marathon runner and honestly any shoe felt like I was walking on white puffy clouds compared to what I was running in before.

I've since worked out in the shoes a few different times and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I've yet to run in them.  That was supposed to happen today but I've got the energy of a two-toed sloth.  And I've kinda been feeling like crud lately.  A few bad stomach aches, no energy and a skipped period will make everyone and their mama ask if you're pregnant again.  I'm pretty sure I just feel like yuck. 

Anyhow, go check your running shoes and see if they bend like mine,  you should toss them.  If you have any other fitness questions, just ask me.  I'm a professional here.