A Monkey and a Banana

I'm the Photographer!

Can you believe how great these pictures turned out?? Dad and I went and took some pictures of my friends for Fall at the pumpkin patch. These are some of the ones that I took. I didn't even do any photoshopping on them. Ok, I did lighten them up a hair, but that's all.

Pumpkin Pictures

Take My Poll

Ok, I've just been wanting to try this. Take my survey ------->
Even if you don't ever comment on my blog, but read it (I know who you are), take the survey. I'd like to see everyone's answers. If you want to explain your answer, comment here.

Tree Plea

Have: One huge artifical Christmas tree (8ft?)
Want: A tall skinny Christmas tree

A few years ago, we bought a really nice artifical tree. It's very full, nice, from Hobby Lobby. It was going to be our forever Christmas tree. Problem? When the baby was born, we had to move the piano into our dining room, and we don't have any room to put the tree now. I'm curious if anyone out there in blog world wants to switch trees for the season. Sorry about the picture being blurry, but it's the only one we have. It's either that or . . . go without Christmas (did that sound pitiful enough?)

Goodnight Moon, Hello Margarita!

Ok, so it's the middle of the afternoon, and I don't have a margarita in hand, but the boys are napping, and I wanted a book title, too. I really don't have much to say, but I haven't blogged in a few days which means that I don't have any new comments, and I miss them. Antidote anyone?

Z now takes his pants and diaper off. Not so great. The other day, I was washing dishes, and I went to check on him. He had pulled down the changing table pad off of Ca dresser and was lying on it with his pants and diaper off. I think he was waiting for me to change him. Today, he came in the kitchen where I was cooking with his pants and diaper off saying "poo poo." Yep, you guessed it. There was poo poo in his diaper. Luckily, it hadn't spilt.

Ca is starting to sit up better. Only thing, he'll throw his back back. If I wasn't there to catch him, he'd slam his head on the floor. He's such a sweet baby. Smiles every time you smile at him. Squints his eyes cuz his smile is so big.

We go to the park almost everyday the last couple of weeks. If you are looking for me in the afternoon, that's where I'll be. The weather has been so nice and they are so good there. I think I'll take them today, too.

Ok, I've wasted enough of your time. I'll try to think of something more interesting to blog about, soon.

I'm It?

Ok, you guys that think you're so crazy/weird/stange? - not so much.
- typing while people talk - do that, but it has to be a really boring conversation. I also play my fake piano during church if the sermon goes through a lull (not that this happened very often, Pastor T.) - I play scales or try playing that 5 against 3 that I never got in college. Darn that Beethoven!
- sing all the time - do that, too. I think I've butchered every song cuz I'm horrible at remembering words. Plus, my dh and I have tons of songs that we made up for the kids, but no, we will not share them. My dh has one about being glad that we've got 10 toes instead of 11.
- analyze every song you here - do that. Sometimes, I have to go to the piano to figure it out. They programed us.
- messy closet? - yep.
- Conversations with self? I argue with myself. I take both sides of an arguement and me, myself, and I go at it.
- clearing my mind? - I erase a chalkboard.

All right, you probably want new ones, so here:
- I count too, but I count seconds, not items. I do it to calm myself when I'm trying to get something done in a hurry. Something about the rhymthm of it keeps me in pace and realizing that it's only taking seconds calms me. It takes about 54 seconds to change a pee diaper.
- I like to pretend I'm on a cooking show when I cook. I don't do it outloud, but I describe everything I'm doing and explain how to do it. Watch out, Rachel Ray.
- I have to know the time at all times. I can't stand being somewhere where there's no clock on the wall. BTW, A., why isn't there a clock in your bedroom?
- I wear makeup almost everyday. Even if I have no plans to go anywhere, I put on makeup. I just know the day I decide not to, someone is going to ask me spur of the moment to go somewhere and an x-boyfriend or someone that I want to appear put together to will be there. I'd hate for someone who I haven't seen a long time to see me without makeup and think, boy, she looks aweful.
- I'm a little OCD when it comes to my routine. If you throw me off, I pretend not to care, but inside, I'm freaking out.
- We refer to coffee as our "personality." Used to be Dr.Pepper, but now it's coffee.
- If you offered me a hot buttered roll or a chocolate fudge brownie, I'd take the roll.

Ok, so I know some of those are really lame, but you guys took all the good ones. If you haven't been tagged, consider yourself tagged.

Their Daddy

My husband is such a good daddy. He loves his boys so much. He loves playing with them and they love playing with him. Ca always smiles BIG for his daddy. Dh will change diapers, let me leave them alone with him (usually, I'll take one of them), feed the baby, he's amazing. The other night, he was dreaming about playing with them. Every once in a while, he'll talk in his sleep. Besides that fact that it wakes me, I like it, b/c it gives me insight to what he's dreaming about. In the morning, I can never remember exactly what he said, but it's still funny to me. He must have been tickling them in his dream cuz he said, "I'm gonna get you," in a definite playing with kids kind of voice. He prays over them, speaks words of encouragement, calls them "mighty men of valour," reads Z's Bible to him. He's a good daddy and I am so thankful for him.
Thank you, Lord, for giving me such an awesome husband. I know that these boys lives will be different because of it. They get to see a little of you in him everyday. They'll understand your love as the Father because of the love they get from their own daddy. They'll learn how to be good husbands and good fathers to their own children. They'll have the confidence they need to accomplish anything b/c of the encouragement they get from him. For this, I am so grateful.

Kungfoo Ca

We have a new nickname for our 6mth old boy.
Ca was Kungfoo fightin' - doo doo doo. do doo do doo
Yeah, he was fast as lightin'- doo doo doo. do doo do doo
He was oh so frightenin' - doo doo doo. do doo do doo
He has a grip like you wouldn't believe. It grabs on to your neck skin with those skinny long fingers and yanks it towards his mouth. What makes it even more painful is his super fast growing claws, I mean, nails. It's like a wild cat coming at you - ROWR - I literally cut his nails every other day for my own protection as well as his. If I'm feeding him, WATCH OUT, he'll grab my arm with both fist and yank the spoon towards his mouth. He holds on for dear life so that when I pull away, his whole body comes with it. He's so strong. My wrist ache after feeding him. Guess that's what happens when you name your child "spirited fighter."

Dinner at My House

Today, we had a white trash lunch: generic lean pockets and mixed veggies. Dh was working all day, and I don't generally cook for just me and my 2 yr. old. Z loved the lean pockets. To get him to eat veggies, I usually end up spooning it for him. I know, I know, but it gets them in his body. He's learned, however, that I won't make him take the spoonful of veggies, if his mouth is full already. So, it has to be done with precise timing. Today, I saw that his mouth was empty and I quickly grabbed a spoonful of veggies to shove in his mouth, but his quickly grabbed a hot pocket bite and slipped it into his mouth before I could get the veggies in there. It was too funny. He's getting faster than me. Ca has revisited the blowing raspberries faze. Unluckily, he decided to do this during dinner. I'd give him a bit of pureed food, and he'd take it, but then start blowing. I'd have to cover his mouth with the spoon so I didn't get hit. Dinner in a home with babies is just wild. But way more fun!

Stole Mom's Book

Ok, so maybe I shouldn't have addressed the issue of someone scraplifting my card. I totally scraplift most of my stuff. Granted, I've never given anyone a card that I scraplifted off of them, but still. These are my lastest pages. Mom has a new scrapbooking book that's so awesome, I stole it. My birthday's coming soon - I'm going to see if she'll get me one. It's called "Best of Becky Higgins Sketches" by Creating Keepsakes (I know books are supposed to be underlined, but they didn't give me that choice). It has sketches or outlines of scrapbooking pages and then a picture of a scrapbooked page using each sketch. They are organized according to the number of pictures on the pages. So, if I have 5 pictures I want on a page, I go to that tab and look at all the sketches using 5 pictures. It really makes scrapbooking easier. Mom's techniques improved dramatically when she started using sketches. Blah, blah, I know none of you care, but if you are serious about wanting to scrapbook and don't feel talented enough, this is so helpful.

Pity Party

Every Friday, I have nothing planned. Every Friday, the boys miraculously wake up from their naps at the same time. Every Friday, everyone is busy. Sob, sob, sob. So, we went to the park all by ourselves. It was a nice park day, too. You missed out. So it wasn't the first time we've been alone - not even close, but I still would have liked to have company. I think what makes me so sad about it is that every time, I think, if sis lived here, she'd go with me. Then I start missing her really bad. I start dreaming about daily playdates and morning coffee we could have together. I could home school the little ones, she could take the older ones. I could teach music, she could teach Spanish. Why is it that when I finally get a family of my own, she moves away? WHY DID YOU MOVE?? Ok, I know the answer to that. Sorry to unload on you. You are so nice to read this. I love you, sis, and miss you so much.

Suspiciously Familiar

At church on Sunday, I was given this baby shower invitation that looked suspiciously familiar. They had an insert in the pocket with the shower details.



This is the birth announcement I made when Z was born. I had a picture of him in the pocket. Pretty ballzy, eh? I'm not offended by it, of course. Flattered, I guess. I just thought it was funny.

Z's First

See, I'm starting to get caught up. These are Z's FIRST birthday pages. One day, when I'm old and grey, I'll have nothing else better to do, and I can get completely caught up. Maybe I should just say oldER and greyER. Boy, do I need a root job. People are starting to figure out that this is NOT my natural hair color.

It's SHOCKING!

We went on a date! Yes, you heard that correctly, a date. It's the second we've been on since Ca was born (6mths). 1st one was with you, sis. We had symphony tickets, but I opted for shopping instead (you didn't see that coming, did you?). We went to JCPenney, got a few things, then to Chilli's to have chips, dip, and cheesecake. Yummm! Mom stayed with the boys. I hate asking for her to babysit, cuz she already helps out so much during the week when I teach. But we had a DVD and a bag of doritos for her and the kids in bed already. It was nice. It's amazing how fast you can get in and out of the car when you don't have two in carseats to take care of.

Playdough Playdate

Tomorrow (Saturday), I'm throwing a playdough playdate. I realize that most of you have plans on the weekends, but if you don't, come over. Bringing your own playdough and playdough accessories is optional. Swimming may take place, too, if we get bored of the playdough. Bring your suits or plan on doing a little skinny dipping (kids only on the skinny dipping, please). We'll start after nap - 3/4ish(?).

This, That, and . . .The Other

- I tried to be a fun mom in Z's pool today, but he just did not care. Didn't want to play. I am not cool enough.
- Ca flipped over in the bathtub tonight, face in the water. Ca was screaming of course, so Z, being the concerned brother, screamed, too. Took a while to get them both to calm down.
- Why can't I do bullets anymore?
- Saw A.'s sweater/shirt at Target. I found you out. Second hand store - WHATEVER!
- I really want a smoothie, but I'm debating weither it's worth the trouble.
- I've been putting Ca down awake at night and he usually goes straight to sleep on his own. He's been crying for the last 15 minutes, now. HATE hearing him cry. It makes me so on edge. Plus I feel guilty for his drowning tonight.
- So the drowning was a little my fault. I tried his sitting up bathtub chair for the first time. I remember w/Z, his weight always made the suckers stick to the tub. Forgot that Z was almost a year at that time and weighs a bit more than Ca at 6mths. The suckers weren't all stuck for Ca. I should have checked before I put him in it.
- Z tried to shave his lip today with dh rasor.
- Boys had their check-ups this week. Z - 2yr. Ca - 6mths (guess you figured that out). Z was in the 50% on height and weight. This is the same baby that stayed under the 0% in weight until he was 15mths. Ca on the other hand went from 9% in weight to 3% in weight in the last month. You should see how much I feed him. Could he have hollow bones? Dr. didn't seemed concerned this time, though.
- I feel under pressure and bought Halloween costumes. Ok, so it wasn't pressure, I just thought they were cute. It was the pressure of cuteness.
- Still crying
- We have church Fall Festivals to go to that they'll wear the costumes to. Fall Festivals - interesting - that's what the wickens call Halloween celebrations.

Playdough

I pulled out playdough for the first time today for Z. He thought it was cool Really loved the playdough scissors.

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Birthday Party

More pics at our myspace account

Rather Be Shopping!

Today, at the gym, I was dropping Z off in the nursery (Ca was asleep at home w/dh) and the nursery worker said that sometime I need to leave both of them at home and come by myself. She wasn't complaining about my kids, she was suggesting this so I could have some free time. I told her, are you kidding? If I was going to get some time all by myself, going to the gym would be the last thing I'd do. There's a nursery. That would be stupid. I'd go shopping. It's funny now how time to myself is so rare that I would really be picky about what I'd choose to do with it. A friend of mine offered me symphony tickets for this weekend - do I want to waste a sitter on the symphony? hmmm. Still think I'd rather be shopping. I went to the mall the other day and JCPenney's was having 70% off sale. I really wanted to look, but knew that I needed to get back. Plus I've got a gift card to Dillards. Yes, I'd rather be shopping.

Happy Birthday!!

Two years ago today, I held you for the first time. I had carried you in my belly the nine months before and in my dreams and prayers for many years before that. You are a miracle baby. I had begun to think that I would never be able to have kids on my own, but God blessed us with you. I want you to always remember that. God healed us just so you could be on this earth. Your birth gave me the most precious gift. The gift of being a mother for the very first time. You have grown so much in the last 2 years. You are no longer a baby. You are a boy. I love playing with you, making you laugh, watching you run and have fun with other kids, but what I really love is those sweet hugs and kisses you give me. I charish them because I know as these upcoming years go by, you may not be so eager to give your mommy a kiss. My dream for you is simple. I want you to love God, do whatever He calls you to do, and be happy. Oh, and call your mommy every week. Happy Birthday, Z. I love you! Mommy