Tuesday, February 19, 2013

On Returning to Work

Things I Will NOT miss upon returning to work:

  • Really bad daytime TV. I've watched more episodes of Four Weddings and I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant (BTW, I totally call bullsh*t on that show) than I care to admit.
  • Looking like a homeless person when dropping off A & N in the mornings
  • Not seeing the bestie and other buds regularly
  • An up-in-the-air schedule

Things I WILL miss upon returning to work:
  • Not working (duh)
  • Living in warm-up pants and OSU hoodies
  • Getting two bonus days with my husband during the week
  • Having time to plan & prep dinner
  • Cuddling this guy any time I want, for however long I want:

Sunday, February 17, 2013

My Week (58) in Instagram


1.Tuesday 2/12/13: Decorating cupcakes for Aiden's preschool Valentine party :)
2. Tuesday 2/12/13: All smiles once Daddy gets home from work.
3.Wednesday 2/13/13: Bonus day with the Nolanator!
4. Thursday 2/14/13: My newest Valentine :)
5. Thursday 2/14/13: Handmade valentines from the boys. SO. PERFECT.
6. Friday 2/15/13: Chillin' out max, and relaxin' all cool...
7. Friday 2/15/13: I don't know about him either, Justin.
8. Friday 2/15/13: Our new artwork display in the kitchen. Love this.

Want to link up? Head over to Suzanne's blog!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

No. 2 and No. 2

My wallet wants I want to live in a world where I'm not diapering two kids at the same time.

I lived there once. I KNOW it exists. We were so lucky with Aiden, who took to potty training relatively easily, and thus was in underwear and (mostly) accident-free by the time Nolan arrived.

And even though there's a five-month-shorter gap between Nolan's and Justin's ages, I had some grand, lofty  aspirations that the same would hold true; that Nolan would magically suddenly "get" that he was destined to use a potty.


As has been typical, however, Nolan has other plans.

He has NO INTEREST in the potty. Zero. Zilch. None.

Our conversation this morning (since I KNEW that a No. 2 was on the way once he finished breakfast):

     ME: Nolan, let's go sit on the potty!

     NOLAN: No, Mommy--no potty! (He then proceeded to defiantly fold his arms across his chest. Pretty sure 
      he considered the topic closed.)

    ME: C'mon, honey--if you poop on the potty, you'll get M&Ms!

    NOLAN: NO, MOMMY!!! NO EM-EMS!!! NO POTTY!!! STOP, MOMMY!!! (And at this point 
     he's wagging his finger at me because I would even DREAM to make such a request.)



Truth be told, I've only just introduced the idea to him. We haven't tried the weekend marathon of underwear-only yet, but it's sounding like a better idea each time I fork over the cash for another pack of size four Pull-Ups.

I also realize all kids are ready in their own time, and that pushing this will probably just make it more stressful for both of us...but MAN, the money we could save, especially since Justin is a pooping MACHINE and goes through diapers like it's his job (which I guess it kinda is...).

I guess I'll just keep offering. At some point, being a Big Boy is going to sound more appealing, right?

...right?!

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Monthly Mumbles, February Edition

10. I'm supposed to be giving Justin a bath right now, but he fell asleep, and I'm just not feeling mean enough to wake him for what apparently amounts to torture in his little mind. I've still got plenty of time to get us both cleaned up before we head out to lunch with a friend today, but I thought what they hey, might as well do my monthly round-up!

9. January 2013 was the fastest month on record in my life. (On that note, I can't believe we're almost halfway through February, too!) I know it's because it's the last extended vacation time I'll ever be on maternity leave (PROMISE), but that rationalization doesn't really help. I still feel like I blinked and lost 31 days.

8. We've been doing an EXCELLENT job on one of our New Year's Resolutions--Mike & I have made some serious progress on our finances. After adding another child to our brood, this was a year I thought this particular goal would be insanely difficult, but refinancing our home loan and getting a lovely tax return have really opened some doors for us.

7. Unfortunately, one item on the New Year's Resolutions list isn't faring quite as well; I've been horrible in my attempt to lose weight. But that's gotta change. I'm NOT enjoying the extra poundage I see every time I catch a sideways glance of myself in the mirror. Gotta get motivated...but of course I just ordered five boxes of Girl Scout cookies. FAIL.

6. The aforementioned tax return is funding one "fun" item; yesterday, we pulled the trigger on bunk beds for Aiden & Nolan. Now it's not a true bunk bed per se, but the lower height and the stairs (as opposed to a ladder) make this mama a bit less nervous about her little men falling from great heights. Plus I'm loving the extra storage. I can't wait for it to arrive next month.


5. Aiden had an interesting weekend; he puked all over himself and his bed two nights in a row. Y-U-C-K. We're totally mystified as to where this is coming from, though, since he shows no sign of being sick. Mike's done a little research, and we're attempting to change his diet (like he's going to eat anything anyway) to see if maybe he's developed a gluten allergy (this can apparently come on at any time)? Last night we were puke-free, but if it happens again, I'm calling the pediatrician. Cleaning up a vomit-soaked bed and throwing a nearly-five-year-old in the shower (all while my 10-week-old snoozes on) are not things I enjoy doing at 3:15 in the morning.

4. Been thinking about Mom an awful lot lately. Truth be told, she's never far from my mind, but she's there even more so in recent weeks. The unfairness of it all just seems to be weighing me down. I want to so badly to share with her all the fun things the boys are doing. And I know "she's in heaven watching down" and "she knows" and all that stuff I'm supposed to say, but it's not the same. I want to hear her response when I tell her what a great sleeper Justin is, or how Nolan says "I wuv ooo!" now, or that Aiden called his harmonica his "hanukkah" the other day. It's the missing interaction that stings the most. :(

3. A few of my friends have had a really crappy year so far, but one in particular has been suffering through the worst kind of injustice. I'm going to remain vague because it's not my place to share, but I hope she knows that she has my complete support. I'm in awe of her strength in handling such a craptastic situation, and I'm confident she'll make it through to see happier days. :)

2. Justin's two-month checkup last week revealed he's a whopping 11 lbs 11 oz, which has jumped him up to the 50th percentile. No more tiny newborn--just a full-fledged infant. And while my uterus is begging to do this again, my brain has been telling it to shut the eff up. Justin will remain the youngest sibling. PERIOD.

1. I have to go back to work next week. I think I'll just leave it at that.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

My Week (57) in Instagram

Kinda diggin' this whole grid thing. Fewer photos to scroll through = win. :)


 1. Sunday 2/3/13: Early morning finger-painting
2. Sunday 2/3/13: Aiden loves to feed Justin
3. Monday 2/4/13: Lunch date with two of my loves :)
4. Thursday 2/7/13: Two-month checkup
5. Friday 2/8/13: Selfy with Nolan at IHOP 
6. Saturday 2/9/13: Two of me Irish lads
7. Saturday 2/9/13: Balding out with Uncle John
8. Saturday 2/9/13: Aiden was a little tired :)

Want to link up? Head over to Suzanne's blog!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Two Months Old

We've reached the two-month mark. Already.



(I just took a small break from my post to cry into my sleave.)

You'd think with having done this twice before, I'd be well prepared for how quickly the time flies with an infant. But no--his growth surprises me daily. I find myself constantly asking, "Isn't he too young to be doing that?!" I'm pretty sure I'm just living a in a state of denial. I want so badly for him to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n so that I can bask in his baby glory, but that's not what's happening.

At two months, Justin:

--has been sleeping through the night (we're talking 7-8 hour stretches) for a month. He totally wins at sleeping. It's GLORIOUS. Seriously.
--is gaining weight like a champ. I won't know his actual numbers until after tomorrow's checkup, but my guess is that he's around 12 lbs, which is nearly double his birth weight. Dude likes to eat.
--still is not fan of bath time. It's getting better; he only screams occasionally now, instead of the entire blessed time.


--is one HAPPY kid. He smiles constantly--mostly at Mike (Daddy is apparently MUCH more interesting that Mommy), but he's been sweet with me lately, too. And that smile could melt an iceberg in five seconds flat.
--will NOT take a pacifier 90% of the time. It's like his tongue is spring-loaded. I totally blame my mom for that one (she was not a pacifier fan).
--has spent more time being awake during the day. This has made it a bit more difficult for me to get stuff done around the house, but I'm not complaining by any means. He does have a tendency to sleep like a log every time I take him out to introduce him to someone. Oh well.


--can hold his head up like a boss. He's got enough neck strength that he doesn't mind sitting in the bumbo chair already.
--looks as though he might have lighter eyes like Aiden instead of brown like Nolan. (We'll see about that, though; I'm pretty sure I went on record about this time with Nolan saying he'd have blue eyes, too.)
--is so darn sweet, adorable, and easy-going that he's REALLY making me dread my return to work in a few weeks.

Check out how he compares to Aiden & Nolan at two months :)

Sunday, February 3, 2013

My Weeks (55 & 56) in Instagram

Trying something a little different this time--grids!!!

* Contemplative baby * Too damned cold * Me & my Number 1 *
Chillin' with Daddy * Cuddling with Daddy * Wrestling with Daddy *
Happy Boy! * Visiting Grandma (PooPoo Jo) *

* Girls' Night started at Piada with Abby * Then on to shooting zombies! * Truth, onesie-style *
Checking out the snowflakes * New big brother shirts * Sleepy man with some big ole lips *
Squeezy-applesauce is the best * Lookin' chunky with Papa *

Want to link up? Head over to Suzanne's blog!