Back to normal?

Yesterday was better. We decorated cookies and had play time at my friend's house. A good distraction from the last week of torture. Today is looking up. McKay is acting like his normal cute self. Teething bites, that's for sure. It's been a long week. But I'm hoping he stays happy and nice. Tomorrow is his birthday, after all. And just so I don't have to write it on his birthday post, let me note here that McKay has not been the easiest baby. I don't love him any less, but boy this kid is sassy. And cries a lot.

Gavin's been walking around talking to me like a robot with his arms moving up and down. Crackin' me up. And this morning he asked if he could have a Buzz Lightyear ship for Christmas. Where did this two-year-old learn that already?? I think today we will take it easy and clean up and go to library time.

I love that Brian's family is here, but today I miss my brothers and sisters and feel lonely in UT all alone. Someone come see me!!

Reality Check

Let's just remember that we need those little wonderful and seemingly insignificant moments to keep us going from one day to the next. If it weren't for those, I wouldn't have anything to look forward to. Take today, for example. Just one of those days. Tomorrow has to be better, right?

For the record, I recall few moments where McKay wasn't crying. My soothing skills were sub par today. Gavin went to the bathroom on the wood floors in the kitchen. Just stood there and peed. McKay fell head-first off the suitcase they had him posed on for his birthday pictures. His red forehead will certainly need to be edited. Gavin had a meltdown after I turned off his new favorite show that he's never seen before.

And for the record, McKay was in bed at 6:30, Gavin is at Walmart with Brian, and I am sitting in silence staring into the oblivion wondering what to do with myself.

I give. Uncle!!

Cherishing the Moments

I started this little mom group with a group of people I've met throughout my life. Once a month it's part book club and part girls-night-out. But mostly it's about being a better mom. We've only read two articles so far, but I'm glad for how it has brought things to my attention and made me focus on what's really important. Because I often do forget. If it sounds interesting to you, let me know and you are welcome to join us.

Last month's article and assignment were to record some cherished moments. Even to make them happen more often in our homes. I know that all stages are good and have their perks (and non-perks, of course) but I am appreciating opening up my planner and having virtually empty weeks. Very different from my former life! I get to fill in my book with whatever I want to do. So this month we've been good about library time, jumping off the couch, hiding in the same spots over and over, playing with little friends, baking together, and me actually sitting down with Gavin when he says, "Come watch Elmo with me, mom."

This month I've cherished:

-a little baby boy army crawling like a wounded soldier around our house

-Gavin calling me "Mother" or "Mama Bear" instead of mom

-making sugar cookies for our Dr. Suess party

-getting our bike trailer out and seeing some happy boys sitting so close together

-McKay pulling himself up onto my legs

-snuggling on the couch

-Gavin standing at the corner in the kitchen just after he woke up from a nap with those perfect, glossy eyes and my favorite closed-mouth smile. "Is it time for waking up?"

-knowing that McKay likes me the best (Most days this is wonderful. I do however think he should branch out a bit.)

-not apologizing to everyone who comes in the door about my mess in the front room. We're playing here, you know.

It's officially been one year this week since I've been home full-time. Boy, some days seem so, so long - but this year has really flown by. At first it was a hard adjustment. I didn't feel like I hardly knew what to do with myself. Me, a homebody?? Never! I thought I had to have an errand to run or somewhere to go every single day or else I'd go crazy. I thought that's what I had to do to be one with the rest of the world. But that was then. I see it now. Home is the place for me to be. Our best memories are made right here.

Christmas Gifts

For Christmas 2010 I did the Twelve Days of Christmas for Brian. I planned a date for each month in 2011. The days have already been set aside, tickets have been purchased, babysitters arranged. Good idea, huh? I never did take a picture, but in January we went ballroom dancing in Salt Lake and for chinese at David's Kitchen. Yumm-0!

In February, we started off with John and Michelle at the Blue Plate Diner as seen on Diners, Drive-ins, and Drives. Good food. Good company. We have a few more of Guy's joints that we want to check out...

We left the boys with Shauna for the night and drove up to Logan to see Brian Regan. We laughed and laughed. The four of us went for hot chocolate and visited in our hotel lobby for a bit. On the way back home we stopped by Sweet Cake, a new gluten free bakery in Kaysville. Holy moly. I was in heaven. How come the stuff I make doesn't taste like that? The boys were well taken care of and we were happy to see them.

It was nice to have a night out with my favorite boy. I'm glad we're taking time this year to make sure we get out - even if it is just once a month.

Dr. Suess Day/Read Across America

The idea for this party was certainly not my own. My friend I used to teach with reminded me about Read Across America, a day that we celebrated faithfully when I taught 5th grade. She said she was going to do some reading activities and I thought, Hey - we should do that, too! I think she may even have said 'dorky' (dorky to throw reading parties and be email friends with librarians), but I say brilliant. I'm a teacher, you know? It's just who I am.

Gavin and I had a great time getting ready for the event. It wasn't stressful or too much because we were able to take each part and work on it together. We delivered invitations, went to the copy store, cut coloring pages, and made cookies.

Look at my little helper. Sugar cookie dough keeps him entertained for at least an hour.
Everyone got a cookie with their initial. You know, for reading day.
I didn't realize that everyone would actually want to come! Turned out it sounded like fun to my neighborhood mom friends. I invited all of the little kids who weren't in school. The day before when only two people told me they wouldn't be able to make it, I realized that we were going to need a different venue. I called to schedule the primary room at our church. We ended up with 16 moms and 25 kids plus a few babies - certainly a crowd too large for my little front room.

We started off with a little read aloud (by the former Mrs. Robinson) and then had the kids grab a little library card I made them. They went around to different moms who had their kids' favorite books and got a stamp or punch for each story they heard. They wandered and listened to books for about 20 minutes. It was so fun to see them engaged and excited about books.



After that they colored a Dr. Suess doorknob hanger. I loved to see how the kids naturally hunkered together on their tummies. They listened to Suessical, The Musical and danced around the room.
And lastly, cookie time. Always a hit. Gavin could. hardly. wait. to get his little fingers on that green G.
This isn't the whole crew, but most of them. I love these kids. Not only are they my friends' kids, but they are my (primary) kids, too.

A super fun day that I will for sure need to repeat next year. A fun new tradition for us! Thanks, Amy!

Eleven Month McKay

Eleven months? That's crazy to me! When people ask me how old you are, I can't even say 11 months. It's like I'm skipping right over it just because I can't believe what's about to happen. I say, "He's going to be one in a few weeks." How is that possible? It seems like we just got you. But at the same time, you've been here forever.

You are so funny lately. This has been your face this last month. You don't do it as much anymore, so I'm glad I caught it when I did. You would do this when you were eating especially. Not sure what it meant, but it got a laugh every time. It's easy to make you laugh these days and you are babbling nonstop. You are loud loud. Loud. Screaming. Shrieking. Gavin says, "Too loud, McKay."
You have been ALL OVER the house. There is no stopping you now! I've had to be more faithful about picking up random stuff that you might choke on now that your world has expanded by 1200 square feet. You started army crawling and have been perfecting that in the past few weeks. You crawled all the way from the front room back to find me in my room. Pretty far for a little guy! You're trying to get your knees involved and it's been so fun for me to watch you progress day by day.

You love your toes and bend in half to reach them. You are always wearing just one sock and I've given up trying to keep them on you all the time. People are going to report me for not keeping you warm this winter...

You are loving your food and are a good eater. In recent days, multiple people have joked with me about starving you. "He looks malnourished." You LOVE your carbs. Bread, grahams, and noodles. You love yogurt, too. You'll try anything and can do the sign for 'more' and do your lips like a fish when you're ready to eat.

This month we started a fun tradition. Gavin's been excited to tell me when you wake up and he throws your door open, turns on the light, and checks in on you. He climbs on the rocking chair and into your bed and instructs me to help you jump. The two of you laugh and laugh while we do 'Monkeys on the Bed' before you get up from your nap.

For the record, you do say mama now. It's usually when you're getting upset, but you know who I am. Thanks.

I'm getting all ready for your big day and just trying to eat up your babyhood. Gosh, you're cute!

Something in the Air

Today was the worst church day ever, which is weird, because our best church day ever was just last week. Our kids couldn't stop moving or crying. All three rows ahead of us had meltdowns as well. Kids who are usually happy had tear-stained faces. Moms who are usually put together looked a little frazzled today. You could feel it in Primary.

McKay cried more tonight than he has in months. From 4:00-7:00pm Brian and I were trying to keep it together. We finally went on a walk at 6:00 - in the rain, no less - just to get us a few minutes closer to the blessed bedtime. Some days are just like that...survival. Once we got McKay down I totally felt like we deserved a medal.

It's time for the weather to warm up and let these kids out.

2 3/4

These days:

You are as sweet as ever. We had a few weeks back there in November/December that were iffy. You were hard to please and downright defiant. I'm sure another stage will come along, but for now, that one is over. You are huggy and lovey and enjoy snuggles and loves. In general a happy and compliant boy. No less than five times a day you randomly announce, "I just love you, mom (or dad)." We just love you, too.

I am surprised at your verbal skills. We have full conversations. You sometimes say What??with a funny face and tone when you don't know a word or we're throwing too much at you. But for the most part, you know what we're talking about. You have a great memory and can recall conversations or incidents with detail and tell anyone who will listen all about it. You have lines of movies memorized. Recently you looked at me so seriously and said, "I see a dragon and I just have to...kill it, you know? It's just who I am, mom." (How to Train your Dragon - your favorite). Of course, you ask lots of whys. After we get four or five down the list, I can't think of the reasons why anymore.

Things we hear regularly:

"Mom, ask me if I had a good rest."

"Dad, how was work today? What did you play?"

"What are we going to do today? I know what we should do! We should play hide-and-go-seek!"

"How can I help, mom?"

"I need a hug of you."

"I did it all by myself."

"What does that do for?"

You love stories. You want to hear them, read them, and now you tell them. Currently we have a "Super Gavvy" story every day. You love to wear your super cape and be Super Gav or Batman killing monsters, dragons, and witches. It's fun to watch your imagination grow and see you pretend more.

You know what you should and shouldn't do and have a hard time keeping your hands off 'off-limits' items. Right after you've done something that you know we won't like you'll say, "I won't touch that again, mom." We don't even have to say anything and you know. But you still do it. And do it again. It's just hard to resist some things when you're two.

You have been potty trained for several months now and are getting so independent. Last week you got your pants on all by yourself for the first time and said quietly to yourself I'm the best. I was glad that I was close enough to hear that. You can't wait to be 5 so you can go to school and learn your ABCs. No matter the age group, little friends or the 15-year-old kids we work with at church, you mesh into any group and quickly become one of the gang.

You are a good helper and will throw things in the garbage or recycling bin or the hamper. You fetch diapers and keep McKay company and make him laugh if I really need you to. He thinks you are super funny. You love your brother, but lately you tell us to put him across the room on the floor with a toy and then you can have us to yourself. You are learning to share your stuff with him. You get a little freaked out when he starts eating and sucking on your things.

You are a friendly little boy and have lots of "buddies." You often talk about them by name and wonder when we'll be able to play with them again. Neighbors, cousins - you love when we get to visit someone or have them over. You are more obedient and these days you spend less time in time out than in days past. I see you weighing consequences (like getting to 3) and deciding to stop what you're doing.

We do just love you, Gav. I can't believe how big you're getting. If I could freeze you this way right now, I would.