Diet Day 1(ish)

I just realized it's been MONTHS since I blogged!  Sorry about that!  As always, life is busy with 3 kiddos during the week, 2 kiddos during the weekend, baby birthday, anniversary trip, and other summer travel plans.  I might update on all that later. 

For now, here's a brief description of what's going on...  Michael and I have decided to diet.  I'm making 3 homemade meals/day.  These are more than just peanut butter or turkey sandwiches or a bowl of cereal.  I have new recipes for (nearly) every meal for 5 weeks straight.  I have carefully calculated the number of calories in each meal, day, and snack, as well as the appropriate number of calories for Michael and I to safely lose weight (~2lbs/wk).  We have set some goals for ourselves and have some substantial rewards for when we meet our goals and significant progress.

Each day I am putting LOTS of work towards these meals.  So, of course, I'm taking pictures!  Michael and I are also rating each meal with 0, 1 or 2 thumbs up.  Anything that gets 2 thumbs up from either of us is a keeper!  We'll incorporate those recipes into our regular menu.  Anything that gets 0 stars from either of us is automatically out.  It's hard enough to diet, much less eating food you hate.  Those recipes will be thrown out and replaced with something new.  Any recipe that receives 1 thumb up from each of us is given another month to grow on us, changes can be made to improve upon the recipe if need be.  If we try the recipe for 3 months and it only gets 2 thumbs up each time, we'll throw it out and look for something new.  Get the idea?  I'll explain more later.

Day 1(ish)
We were supposed to start our diet today (May 31st) because I planned the weeks Sunday-Saturday and I didn't want to start dieting before vacation.  However, we had a wedding yesterday, and spent the night in Kansas City, so we weren't going to be home for breakfast or lunch today, but we were yesterday.  So I made Day 1 breakfast and lunch yesterday (Saturday) and Day 1 dinner tonight (Sunday).

Breakfast - Broccoli and Sun Dried Tomato Quiche
4 thumbs up!  Awesome!  The kids gobbled it up too!  Connor ate more than anyone!

Lunch - Turkey, Apple, Chutney Sandwich
3 thumbs up!  I was a little critical because breakfast was AMAZING and lunch was just good.  ;)  The kids liked this one except for the spinach.

Dinner - Smoky Pork Stir Fry
2 thumbs up.  Meh.  I thought the pork tasted really good.  Michael doesn't really care for Asian food, so giving it one thumb up was generous.  The kids weren't crazy about this meal.  Avery ate her pork, but no veggies, Connor didn't eat any of it.  The lack of a response from the kids made Michael and I each put a thumb down.  Ya can't win them all.  :\

So overall, not too bad of a day!  9/12  In case you're worried about our kids, they are not on a diet.  They are given an opportunity to eat each meal, and a serving is made of each meal specifically for the kids.  But if they don't like it and want something else, they can have other things to eat.  I forsee this especially being an issue for salads.  They'll also have ample opportunities for snacks.  :)  Here's to a new, healthier diet!

I have turned the titles of each meal into links to the recipes.  Ifit looks good or sounds good to you and you're interested in the recipe, you'll have them right here!  :)  I HIGHLY recommend the quiche!  :D

Chill out, People!

So I posted a rant like this probably a year or so ago.  Avery got into the dryer and I took pictures and people freaked out.  I've included some of my thoughts from that time in this rant.  But first, let me set the stage...

My Aunt Cathy posts all sorts of different pictures and memes on facebook.  She also watches Avery and Connor for Michael and I so we can have an evening out or a day off from kiddos here and there.  I have every confidence that my kids are extremely safe and well cared for in her loving hands, arguably more so as she has them for a brief time and therefore devotes all her time and energy into them, where as I also have a house to run so my time is divided, she's also a nurse so, should something happen, she is better equipped to deal with a situation.  All that being said, she posted a picture on facebook that is putting some people into a panic and getting people all bent out of shape.  It's not a picture of my kids or anyone I know, but I sincerely do not see why people are panicking so much.  The picture shows a sleeping infant in a roasting pan laying inside an open oven.  The caption on the picture says something to the effect of, "Overprotective parents leave newborn with grandma and grandpa for the first time, so they send pictures like this every five minutes.  Funny or wrong?"  Cathy also added her own note saying to Sis and me that SHE wouldn't do something like this, but no promises on what Uncle Ed may or may not do.  People then proceded to comment on how wrong and sick it was.  Now, I suppose, people are entitled to their opinion.  And the picture did ask people what they thought of the picture, so it did call for their opinions, so I suppose I have no right to be upset.  But having been called out in this way in the past, it struck a nerve and really pissed me off.  It also brought up a lot of anger and frustration at people who had reprimanded me before, when I didn't then, and still do not believe I've done anything wrong.  Anyway, I wrote this rant on facebook and decided it might be a bit too strong for on there, with so many eyes.  Also, I didn't want to open up a commenting can of worms with people and have to respond or defend myself on the way I parent.  So I took my thoughts off and I'm posting them here instead, where the readers are silent, though the don't necessarily have to be, just the general track record, and I can say my piece.  I am a good parent.  I watch my kids very closely.  I teach them right from wrong and they are safe with me and with my Aunt Cathy.  So everyone needs to just lay off!

Oye to the ve, I think people are too sensitive.  It's meant to be funny and cute.  Obviously this child was in no danger.  When Avery first started climbing I was working on laundry and she climbed into the dryer.  I knew she was there, she was in no danger, and I snapped a couple pictures because she looked cute.  People freaked out about it.  I know there are bad people in the world who do horrible things, and when my child was of age to understand, obviously I taught her not to climb in the dryer, the same way I'm teaching her to stay away from the oven when I'm opening it to bake.  Why do we need to make people feel bad when they've done nothing wrong and the kids are safe?  I know there are stupid people in the world who are reckless with their children, but I am not one, so don't lay the guilt trip on me for taking a cute/silly picture.  If you need to condemn or say someone did something look at the neglegent parents, not me and not the people who took this picture.  Rant over.

Travel Challenge

So Michael and I decided today to challenge our family to travel throughout the kids' lives.  :)  I remember when I was a kid going on some great family vacations.  We want to do that for our kids to, only bigger!  :D  Michael and I decided we'd like to try to visit all 50 states with the kids before they graduate from High School!  :)  I'd like to incorporate this challenge with a pinterest craft where you take a picture in each state you've been, cut it out in the shape of the state, and pin it to a US corkboard map!  :D  Obviously, Alaska and Hawaii will be big trips as they are not in the continental US.  That's when I got the idea that those two trips could be celebration trips for when each of the kids graduate!  :D  As the kids grow up we'll see differences in their personalities and be able to figure out who would love each trip more.  Then, when Avery graduates, the four of us will pack up for a week in (I'll go ahead and guess this one) Hawaii!  Then, a year later, when Connor graduates and Avery will have time to be home from college we'll all go (again, just my guess) on a cruise to Alaska!  :)  Michael and I love to travel and we're anxious to share this joy with our kids!  Plus, it gives Michael and I an excuse to get out and see a little more of the country than we've seen ourselves.  ;)  For now it will be little trips to Iowa for Tugfest or Missouri for a Royals game.  But as the kids grow we'll venture farther from home.  :)  I personally can't wait to see the Smithsonian, a musical on Broadway, the Pacific ocean, and Nashville!  There is so much to see and do!  I can't wait!  :)  Wish us luck!  We've got a little over 17 years to get it all done (except for Connor's graduation trip)!

Monday

It has definitely been a long Monday morning, and it's only 10:45am.  :\  This has the makings of a very long day...

When Avery woke up she was soaked through her diaper, through her jammies, and all over her sheets and blankets.  Fabulous.

Dayton was chasing Avery with a shovel, making her scream.  I told him to leave her alone and asked him to go play in Avery's room (so the two would be seperated for a while because they were getting on each other's, and my, nerves).  Fake cry turns into a real meltdown.  Perfect.

Out of eggs to make breakfast, so I try to adapt and give Avery a biscuit.  She grinds it into crumbs in the carpet, rug, and loveseat.  Awesome.

After making her help clean up her mess, I grab the vaccum from downstairs.  It's apparently full, and leaves a pile of rocks and dust on the landing and the top of the stairs when I sit it down.  Ugh.

I vaccum up Avery's mess, but the noise wakes Connor up early from his nap.  Why me?

Finally we have a moment of everyone getting along, playing nicely, not fighting, whining, or crying.  Avery unzips Connor's jammies and says, "Arms up."  I tell her not to pull his arms up (he's standing by the coffee table in the breakfast nook and doesn't have excellent balance yet), but it's too late.  She says it again, pulls his arms up, and he falls to the tile floor.  Is it naptime yet?

Avery is sent to her room.  After a few minutes of crying, I hear the snaps of her diaper coming open.  I race in to put it back on.  Mom win.  Close the door behind me again, more crying.  Who even cares at this point?  I'm about ready to melt down myself.

Connor is tired from a short nap.  He's still working on a couple of teeth and is plenty fussy and cranky.  He's also nice and needy right now and fusses if I'm not in eye sight and/or holding him.

So what I'm going to need is two people...

One person needs to take my kids tomorrow morning.  I plan on sleeping in.  You'll need to pack the diaper bag yourself, dress them, change them, feed them.  I'm taking the day off.  Also, take them out of the house, because I plan on being here and frankly, don't want them here for my day of freedom.  Get the carseats in your car yourself, I'll be resting.  When you bring them back at bedtime, you can get them in their jammies and to bed.  I'm aiming for a full 24 hrs for myself.  I know all you other moms are laughing your heads off at the idea.  I know I signed up for this.  I'm just grumpy.

The other person is going to need to clean my house.  I need time for myself, but if the kids are gone, I can't help but want to take advantage of that and get some much needed cleaning done.  Start with the dishes and laundry, both of which will need to be done to completion throughout the day including folding and putting things away.  Clean the kids' rooms, sweep, mop, vaccum, windex the doors and windows, pledge the wood furniture and ledges shampoo the carpets, bleach the kitchen and bathrooms, clean out the fridge and make dinner.  That should be good on the house.  But since I'm taking the day to myself, please don't talk to me or try to chat.  Just focus on the house, I'll worry about me.  Checking in if I'd like lunch is fine.  Discussing the dinner menu is fine too.  In fact, it would be best if I didn't know this person at all, then I won't feel quite as rude when you're doing my work and I'm not even talking to you.

Grrrrr!  I'm a grump!  This morning has not gone well and it makes me think of other things that haven't gone well and here we are.  Ugh.  Mondays.  Thanks for listening.  I'm back to the real world and off my dream island now.

<Rant Over>

Vacation

Because I should post something positive considering my poor behavior on that last post, let me tell you about the vacation Michael and I are taking...

Why
In May Michael and I will have been married for 6 years (together for 8.5).  I know that the 6 year anniversary is typically not a big, exciting, or highly celebrated anniversary (although, why not, right?!?).  It wouldn't have been a particularly special day for us either, as we wanted to celebrate our 5 year anniversary in a big way.  However, we celebrated our 5 year anniversary with a two week old baby boy, so it wasn't an ideal time for a vacation.  In May Connor will be a year old and he and I will be ending our time of nursing.  That seems like a much more appropriate time to leave my kiddos for a week.  :P  Not to mention, Michael and I have two beautiful kids, we work hard, and we deserve a nice break to kick back, relax, and just be in love.  A week devoid of responsibilities, just to focus on us, to celebrate us, to revive us.  :)

When
Well, as I mentioned above, we'll be going in May, specifically the 19th-24th.  I wanted to make sure we were on vacation on our actual anniversary so we could enjoy the day and not worry about travel or anything.  Not sure what we'll do on our actual anniversary, snorkeling with green sea turtles, swimming in the cenotes, catamaran tour, or a candle lit lobster dinner on the beach, but we'll be together, so it'll be awesome!  :)  Another great thing about the date of our trip is that we'll get back on a Sunday and then Monday will be Memorial Day, so we'll have the day off to spend exclusively with the kids when we get back.  :)

Where
Well, I've mentioned the beach, but in case you haven't heard (or aren't on facebook) we're going to Mexico!  :D  We'll be going to an area about an hour outside of Cancun called Tulum.  Our resort is the Catalonia Royal Tulum.  Look it up on TripAdvisor, it's a beautiful place!  Should be nice and quiet, as it's an adult-only resort.  I decided if we're vacationing all the way in Mexico to get some quality time away from our (wonderful) kids, I certainly don't want to have to deal with other people's (far less well behaved) kids while we're there.  18 and over!  Yay!  :D  It's not a big party spot either, so it should be a very nice, relaxing place.  :)  And they have a spa!  So I can get a massage and be even more relaxed!!  :D  Yay!!  Finally, it's an all-inclusive resort.  So once we get there, everything is taken care of, the flight, the transportation, the room, tips, taxes, it's all covered.  Of course, we'll bring some spending money with us, but it will be for souveniers.  :)

Who
Obviously, Michael and me.  :)  We'll have a family vacation in August when we go to Tugfest.  This one will be just the hubs and me.  :)  Can't wait!

How
We have been saving for close to a year for this trip.  We've saved garage sale money, babysitting money, Christmas and birthday money.  It's a big deal for us to spend this kind of money on something as frivilous as a vacation, but you need to treat yourself every now and then and not simply work and save your life away.  So we're doing something nice for us.  :)  Mama is going to watch the kiddos for us while we're gone.  I'm so thankful for her and her willingness to help, constantly, and at a moments notice.  I am very lucky to have her in my life and that she's so close.  :)

I think that about covers it all.  :)  We're very much looking forward to our vacation together!  Should be a nice break from life and a fun, quiet week together.  :) 

We're going on two other substantial trips this year, one to Tugfest in August with Avery and Connor and one to Vegas in October with Michael's work.  It's going to be a busy year!!

Snarky

Someone posted a meme on facebook that said, "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups."  I wanted to comment, "That reminds me, you shouldn't get together with more than two of your friends at a time."  But I didn't.  Good thing my brain-to-mouth (or hands in this digital age) filter works (most of the time) or I'd get myself into a lot (more) trouble.  :P  ;)  Shame on my snarky brain.  But not many people read the blog, so this is a fun tidbit just for you.  :P

My Food #momlife

Friday I decided to log (as best I could) my day.  I read an article about stay-at-home-moms that talked about one cup of coffee all day that was just reheated 1,000 times.  I laughed because I totally do that.  So I decided to keep track for the day.  ;)  Mybe I'll start blogging a #momlife series in different things...  We'll see...  Enjoy.  ;)

7:15 am - Pour a cup of Wednesday's coffee (that's still in the coffee pot), Reheat
8:45 am - Reheat 2/3 cup of coffee
9:15 am - Finished first cup of coffee!!  Yay!!  (Earlier than usual)  Pour a second cup of old coffee, Reheat
10:00 am - Still haven't taken my coffee out of the microwave, Reheat, Add creamer and sugar, Finally take a sip of cup number two
10:15 am - Finished cup number two!!  Yay!!!  I'm hungry, but there's a lot of housework that needs done, so it's off to work I go!  Breakfast will come eventually
12:15 pm - First meal of the day, leftover Pork Parm (1/3-1/4 of a chop is all that's left for me after cutting off some of it for each kid) and Veggie Pasta
1:00 pm - Praise the Lord!  Naptime has arrived!  Time for a Dr. Pepper (because it was on sale instead of Pepsi this week) and watch an episode of Bones before I'm back to cleaning (can't waste the motivation and cleaning energy on the rare days that I have it)  ;)
2:15 pm - My soda isn't done, but I finished my episode of Bones from yesterday and another full episode, so it's back to cleaning
6:00 pm - My amazing hubby grilled burgers and dinner is served (after I feed Connor his peas, of course)
6:45 pm - Eat 1/2 of an orange, left over from Avery's dinner
8:45 pm - The kids are in bed and I get a glass of sweet, red wine

Just another day in paradise.  :)

Catching Up

Well, since it's been a month since I blogged, I figured I should get back on here and say what's been going on.  I'll try to keep it brief.

Christmas Baking
The last few years through November and December Mama has come over and we've made treats once or twice a week throughout the holiday season.  We continued the tradition again this year.  We had lots of yummy treats and everyone gained plenty of weight thanks to them.  ;)  I love doing this every year!

Advent Gifts
At the beginning of December I wrapped 24 Christmas books and put them under the tree.  Each night Avery got to open a gift before bed.  It didn't take long before she realized they were all going to be books.  Even on Christmas morning when she was unwrapping her presents we'd ask what they were and she'd say "A book!"  It was a fun new tradition.  I got several new books and am looking forward to continuing this tradition for years to come.

Many Christmas Celebrations
We went all over seeing various people for Christmas this year.  Our celebrations included a dance with Grandma and Grandpa Counterman in ElDorado.  Sis and Adam came too, and all the kids had a great time!  The following day, on Friday, we had Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Heorman's house in Benton.  It was fun getting together with everyone, especially with Sis' jello shots!  ;)  On Christmas Eve, Sis, Adam, Dayton, and Mama came over to do our Christmas together.  We had Chinese from the best place in town, Pho Chopstix!  Yum!  As always, Mama spoiled us all rotten.  :)  Later that night we went to Church where Avery played games, made a snack, and made a craft.  We also took family pictures (which will hopefully be delivered to my email soon).  On Christmas Day we got to stay home!!!  This was the first time since Michael and I have been married (6 Christmases) that we haven't driven to Topeka on Christmas morning after we opened our gifts.  I must say I enjoyed the quiet day with Michael and the kids.  That night we went to Sis and Adam's for dinner with them and Grandma and Grandpa Counterman.  Again, a nice, low-key get together was very nice and relaxing.  Mama even stopped by for a bit, so we got to see her for Christmas too, which was great!  :)  The day after Christmas we went to Topeka.  It was great seeing all of Michael's family.  The kids were well spoiled again!  When it was all said and done, I was glad to get back home and relax for a bit.  The holiday season was a busy one this year, but great!

New Years Eve
We spent NYE at Sis and Adam's again this year.  We've gone over to their place for a few years now.  It's another low-key get together, which is awesome after the chaos of Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We had food, drinks, Dr. Who, and we narrowly flipped the channel in time to hear "3, 2, 1, Happy New Year!"  Of course, we only managed to find the Dallas celebration...  Guess they weren't replaying New York.  :P  One of these years we'll spend NYE in Manhattan and watch the Little Apple Ball Drop!  Looking forward to it!

A Look into 2015
With no babies on the way, us already being settled into our house, Michael stable at his job, me happy as a SAHM, and our roommates happily in their places, I think 2015 ought to be a quiet year in the Voss family.  Connor will turn a year old in 4 short months.  That completely shocks me.  Where has my baby's first year gone??!??!?  Michael and I are planning a trip to Mexico for our 6th anniversary in May (because we missed the trip on our 5th anniversary due to having a 2 week old).  Avery will turn 3 this year, and then we'll take another trip to Vegas a couple short weeks later.  Apparently that's how I cope with my children growing up.  :P  All in all, I'm looking forward to this year, but most importantly, I'm looking forward to who I get to spend it with.  :)

G'Night!

In love with my son

When I first got pregnant with Connor, I wasn't as excited as I wanted to be.  3 months earlier I'd had a miscarriage (if you can call it that, there was no fetal growth, the egg had been fertilized and attached, but everything stopped there).  The miscarriage scared me for my future pregnancies and I didn't want to get too attached (to what is now Connor) in case it was doomed to be another failed pregnancy.  The emotional trama is too much.  Eventually we got to the doctor.  We were nervous as we waited for that dating sonogram and for the doctor to find the little blip on the screen and hear the heartbeat.  Finally, there he was.  Nothing more than a round blob, but his heart was beating.  We exhaled.  What a relief.  Still leary, I asked to schedule our next appointment 3 weeks out instead of 4, not a big difference, but the wait between those early appointments is excrutiating.  Any slight relief is welcome.  My doctor allowed it to ease my worries and keep me calm and hopeful for a successful pregnancy, I appreciate him a great deal for that.  He did tell me that the baby would probably be too small at the next appointment (10 weeks) to hear the heartbeat with the doppler, we would likely have to do another sono.  Darn!  ;)  Fast forward 3 weeks, we couldn't find the heartbeat using the doppler and would need to wait for the sono, the room was a little backed up.  I was excited for the sono but scared during the wait.  What if my worse fears came true twice.  When we got in to see him, not only did my doctor find his heartbeat, we saw his arms and legs, we saw him moving and wiggling around.  Incredibly active for 10 weeks developed.  We got a video, my doctor said it was the best he'd seen a kiddo do for the camera.  Another exhale of relief.  I was finally ready to invest and get truly excited about my pregnancy.  :)

If you've not heard me say it before, I'm a big believer in mom's gut in knowing the gender of her child.  It can be wrong, but I think sometimes you just have a gut feeling and it's right.  My gut was 2 for 2, 100%, batting 1000.  We found out we were pregnant with Avery and two weeks later I was calling her Avery, certain she was a girl.  That didn't keep me from panicking a little before we officially found out.  I didn't know for certain, my gut could be wrong, but it wasn't.  That late May afternoon we found out we'd have a baby girl in October.  Score one for mom's gut.  Names are probably one of the most difficult decisions for expecting parents.  We knew Avery's first name right away, but took months to come up with her middle name.  Well, if we had a girl the second time around, her name would be Kennedy Mae.  The name came quick and easy.  We agreed about as soon as the name was picked.  Done.  But my gut was talking to me, and as much as I wanted another girl (being one of two girls in my family and loving it and wanting the same great experience for Avery), I had a feeling we would be having a boy.  We worked for months to come up with a name.  I can't remember if we had his name picked out when we went into the sono and found out we were having a boy.  But by Christmas it was settled and we shared his name with our families.  This was when they all found out we were having a boy.

I wanted a girl.  I knew about girls.  I'm a girl, I have a daughter and a sister.  I knew what it was like.  And while I had been watching Dayton since he was about 9 months old, I still felt unprepared for a son of my own.  I wasn't disappointed when I found out we were having a boy, like I said, my gut had been telling me for months, which was why we agonized over a boy name for months, when the girl name had come so fast and easy.  My gut told me that girl name wouldn't be used.  I worried that my son wouldn't have cute clothes because girls are so much more fun to shop for.  I worried that he and his sister wouldn't get along well the way my sister and I had because they weren't two boys or two girls.  I worried that I wasn't ready for a messy, rowdy boy, when all I'd really experienced so far was my own sweet baby girl.  But all of my worries were for no reason.  In the months that would follow, as Connor grew and we prepared for his arrival, my sweet daughter left the baby stage and became a toddler.  She began climbing on things, wrestling her cousin to the ground, getting her own sass and personality.  My sweet baby girl acted more like a messy, rowdy boy with each passing day.  I saw a lot more of myself in her than I care to admit.  ;)  Karma continues to show me in her and I can't help but think I owe a lot of the adults in my life an appology for my childhood self.  I had a full blown toddler when Connor arrived, well on her way to the terrible twos (which, I've heard, don't hold a candle to the threes), with a stink eye that could have taken out several people if looks could kill.  ;)  To be quite honest, I was looking forward to the baby who wouldn't do anything.  And I wasn't scared of having a boy so much anymore.

Connor hasn't grown into all his boyish glory yet.  I imagine a day will come when I'm pulling rocks out of the washer that were left in his pockets.  I doubt he'll want his hands to stay as clean as Avery does.  I imagine he'll get her back for all the wallering she's doing to him now (out of pure love).  But for now, he's still my sweet baby boy.  He's just starting to move, and his little personality is beginning to shine.  I've heard that no two kids grow up in the same household, even if they are siblings.  I believe that to be true.  I'm not sure if it's because of his happy demeanor, because he's my second child, or because he's simply not a toddler yet, but Connor's first 7 months have looked very different from Avery's.  I went back to work about 2 months after Avery was born.  I continued to work at night and on the weekends until she was 19 months old when Connor arrived.  I haven't worked since Connor has been a part of our family.  Avery had to learn to self soothe and cry herself to sleep.  We were two very tired new parents.  Connor is my baby.  I can't stand to hear him cry.  He has to self soothe far less than she did.  This shoe may drop sometime later in his life.  Avery had to learn to be away from me while I went to work.  Connor tends to get very upset if he can't see me.  Spoiled little stinker.  I had a harder time learning how to be a parent to one, than a parent to two.  I was not the Mommy I wished to be when Avery was little.  Now that Connor's here and I've got a couple years of Mommyhood under my belt (which is pretty hard to believe) I'm closer to the person I wish I'd been for Avery, but still not there.

Now, to the reason I got on the blog today and began writing.  I am so completely in love with that little boy I was worried about.  The little boy who's pregnancy didn't make me jump up and down in the beginning.  The little boy who's name concerned me for months, trying to find the perfect one.  The little boy who wasn't the sister for Avery that Sis is for me.  The little boy who'd be dressed in boy clothes and not like another princess daughter.  The little boy who will likely grow up to be a silly, rowdy, dirty toddler.  I am in love with him.  Head over heels.  Gaga.  Smitten.  He can do no wrong.  He's my baby.  He's my little guy.  He smiles constantly.  He bounces and bobs.  He scoots across the floor and when he looks up and meets my eyes he smiles so big his eyes start to hide behind his chubby cheeks, just like mine.  :)  I feel like I'm a better Mommy for his first months than I was for Avery's.  But I'm a better Mommy for her in her toddler years than I was when she was a baby.  And the plan is to continue to get better the older they grow.

Now, please, don't misunderstand me when I post this.  Please don't think I don't love my daughter.  She was the one who made me a Mommy.  My love for her is fierce, unconditional, eternal.  She is my first toddler, and I know Connor's toddler years will run smoother than hers, because I'll be a better Mommy then too.  In this moment I have a wild and crazy toddler.  She's amazing and frustrating in the same moment.  I also have a baby boy, and whether it's because he's a baby, or because he's my baby and my last kiddo, or simply because of his winning personality, at this moment, he can do no wrong.  He is a constant source of joy, happiness, and a feeling of being blessed.  He doesn't require me to pull him off the dining room table, pull toys out of the toilet, tape together torn up books, or wash sheets and bedding when he takes off his diaper and poops on the bed.  ;)  He's a baby.  He wants to be fed, held, snuggled, smiled at.  At this moment in life, he's easier.  :P  And he's a relief in some trying, frustrating Mommy moments.  :)  Now, his screaming for 70 minutes during long car rides could go, but otherwise, he's basically perfect.  :D  These two are my life, their daddy is my lifeline and sanity.  I am blessed beyond measure.  In this moment I watch my 6 (almost 7) month old son scooting on the floor, kicking his feet in happy excitement, chewing on a book with those two new sharp little teeth.  He fills me with joy and makes me hopeful that maybe today I'll be the Mommy who does everything right.  I'm a realist, so I doubt it, but at least I'll be happy.  Because there's no other little guy I'd rather spend my morning with.  I don't need coffee (although I'll probably make some anyway) because a morning with him is the very best way I could possibly start my day.  I love you, Connor.  :)

A month of thankfulness

So, yeah, I flaked out there at the end.  :\  Sorry about that.  To make up for it, here are 30 things I'm thankful for (in no particular order).  Hope you all had a great November and are looking forward to a wonderful December.  Happy Holidays!

I'm thankful for:
1. My husband - kind, loving, respectful, gentle, and caring, my better half, my partner, the man I happily give my heart to each and every day
2. My son - sweet, innocent, happy, carefree, and unconditionally loving, my snugglebug, my wake up call, my noisy nurser, the little man who captured my heart before his birth and has never let it go
3. My daughter - loud, rowdy, polite, ever learning, and silly, who plays pretend, my mini-me (for better or worse), my goofy girl, the little girl who has the keen ability to frustrate me and make me want to squeeze her with hugs and cover her with kisses all out the same time
4. Our home - not just the structure, but the life that Michael and I have built for ourselves (with the help of many), the warmth in the winter, the cool in the summer, a house full of light and love and laughter
5. Our family - far and near, seen daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or even less often, they all hold a special place in my heart, good and bad, they make me who I am and ever change me
6. K-State basketball and football - an excuse to get out of the house, get out of town, get back to the place where Michael and I truly feel at home, our teams, our alma mater, we are proud fans and alumni
7. Our roommates - friends close by, live in babysitters and dogsitters, and a source of income that helps support me being a stay at home mom
8. Michael's job - AeTR has been good to us, despite frustrations with inconsistant job review and raises, they are a good company and Michael knows his job is secure, that peace of mind means a lot, and Michael's job also allows me to stay home with the kids
9. My job - a stay-at-home mom is the most frustrating, rewarding, hard, and amazing job I've ever had, there are moments when I love it, moments I hate it, and moments when I just feel like I'm going crazy, but I get to raise three awesome kiddos and that is truly a blessing
10. Family time - tonight we decorated the Christmas trees, drank hot chocolate, listened to Christmas music, and watched the Muppet Christmas Carol, this is just one example of the fun family time I get to have with Michael and the kids (and the roommates) (because I'm now a stay-at-home-mom)
11. Cool weather - as fall begins to come to a close and winter approaches I'm thankful for the changing of the seasons, though I'm not fond of the extreme cold that winter can bring, there are a lot of other things that I'm thankful for in this new season
12. New and first time experiences - Connor's first Christmas is rapidly approaching, Avery went out and truly played in the snow for the first time a couple weeks ago, a new Christmas advent book tradition, Christmas Eve PJ's and a snack with a movie, as my family grows and grows up there are new and exciting things to experience
13. Unending, unfailing, unconditional love - from my husband, to my husband, to my kids, from my kids, from my family and friends, to my family and friends, I'm reminded regularly of the blessings I have and am thankful for all the love I give and receive each day, sometimes it overpowers me, I am blessed
14. Coffee - my sweet amber nectar, refreshing and empowering, even decaf has a way of making my day better
15. Gilmore Girls - yes, I'm thankful for my favorite show, my tv friends, for my 7 seasons on DVD so I have been able to binge watch them for years before they arrived on Netflix, they make me laugh, cry, smile, want to eat, want to drink coffee, and make me want to be a cool and real mom
16. Heat - I know someone who's furnace is broken at the moment, and tonight will be a cold night, I'm thankful for the heat in my home, the blankets on my bed and the kids' beds, and the warm body I cuddle up next to each and every night
17. My car - I've had my car for 5 years now, it's been paid off for a year now, my parents helped me with the money to get my car and someday I'll pay them back for that, I love my car, it's my only car I've picked out on my own, the title was in my name from the day it came off the lot, I'm proud of it
18. Being a crunchy Mama - I use cloth diapers, I breastfeed, I make my own baby food, I shop at garage sales, second hand stores, and consignment sales, my kids don't have solids until they're 6 months old or sweets until they're a year, my two year old is still rear facing in her carseat, I'm proud (for the most part) of the type of mom I am, I believe I'm doing what's best for my kids
19. Food - during this season of overindulging on sweets, snacks, dinners, and drinks, I'm thankful that we have dinner on our table each night, that my mom and I enjoy baking each holiday season, and that my family is never hungry when we go to bed at night
20. Laughter - Connor's giggles, Avery's silliness as she jumps around, on the couch, on the bed, and the floor while she pushes on her Daddy, up far past her bedtime, the way Michael can make me laugh with his puns and nerdy jokes, I am blessed to have a house full of laughter
21. Our dogs - Harlee and Gabby were our babies long before Avery and Connor came around, and while they've taken a backseat since the children arrived, I'm still very blessed by their presense in our lives and I think the kids are too
22. Christmas decorations - we waited until after we returned from Thanksgiving with Michael's family to get things out, but I love Christmas decorations and I love the beautiful festive way our home looks
23. Timehop - trivial though it may be, I'm thankful for my timehop app that allows me to look back in time on this date throughout my time on facebook, I enjoy the peek into the past
24. Bedtime - my fellow young parents can relate most to this, I'm thankful for the time of day when two of my biggest blessings in life are asleep in bed and I get a couple of hours to myself without them at my side
25. Our fireplace - a peaceful center to our living room, a warm and cozy place to gather, a beautiful feature that makes me love our house even more, and best of all, gas, so no muss or fuss with wood or ashes
26. Our photographer - Courtney has captured so many beautiful moments in our family, and I'm sure she'll capture many more in years to come, I am blessed by each session she's done for us, her pictures are some of my most cherished possessions
27. Wichita - though Manhattan is where Michael and I feel most at home, Wichita is where our kids will call home, I'm thankful for the many entertaining activities here, the city always has things going on, and we'll spend a good chunk of our lifetime enjoying this great city, there were many other places we could have ended up, I'm glad we settled on here
28. Quiet moments - with a house in constant need of cleaning and two (or three) babies running and crawling around, with a husband away at work so I can stay at home doing what I love, with dishes and laundry piling up and dogs howling at imaginary people in the field behind us, when I find a quiet moment, I'm truly thankful for the opportunity to savor it
29. My Savior - I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me, in Him all things are possible, He cares for me is ways I cannot see, imagine, or do for myself, I owe Him everything
30. Technology - I watched as computers became a household appliance, I listened as the internet dialed up, I learned powerpoint and microsoft word, I texted and wondered why I'd ever need the internet on my phone, I took my ipod to Africa and added friends on facebook, and now I'm blogging so that I remember years from now what I thought and felt and how life was, and you can read, comment, and experience my life with me through the miracle of technology, that is pretty stinkin cool

So there, 30 things I'm thankful for.  So much more exists, but I'm sleepy and have a long week ahead of me.  Wishing you all a very happy holiday season.  :)

Day 19 - I'm thankful for my beautiful family!

We got our pictures back from Courtney of our family shoot a couple weeks ago!  I love her work!  :)