Move over Miderman boots...

We have decided to tackle the boxes of stuff we brought from CO and haven't opened yet. Our garage has about 10 plastic storage boxes that we have not touched since the move. We've decided that it's time for most of it to go. So, next week, I'm having a garage sale.

In the course of going through boxes we found a pair of ski boots. They were Hubs ski boots from the 80's. Now how these made it onto the U-Haul in CO Springs, I am not sure. We chuckled about the blue and purple coloring - and how Hubs was most certainly the hottest man on the slope at the time. Then, they were tossed into the garage sale pile. Little One spotted them and insisted trying them on.
It was so hillarious! He stood there for a good 15 minutes - trying to figure out how they could "skate". We did our best to explain that you had to be up high on a snowy mountain in order for them to work. Once he was done with the boots, he ran up and down the driveway - telling us that he was skating down the snowy mountain. Aunt Ally, I think you've got a nephew whose going to love hanging with you in the winter... :)

Two Months!

Two months already? Where does the time go?

Here's a little bit about Baby Brother...

My blog friend Jenny sent the onsie he is wearing - and it cracks us up because if he could talk, that's exactly what he would say! He's my little need structure and routine baby. The rest of us, not so much. I've been asking God to help me become more scheduled and routine for much of my life. I never thought he'd do it through a two month old baby...
He has two favorite spots - he likes to sit in his bouncy chair on the kitchen table and look out the window. He also loves his bassinet - not for sleeping, but for watching the bear mobile.



We love you Baby Brother and the joy you've brought to our family!

Tender Heart

This evening we went out to dinner. As we were sitting there, Little One's eyes got super huge and I could see fear and panic on his face. He then says in a defensive voice, "Baby Brother!" and points. There is a couple walking out of the restaurant with a baby carrier. Bless his little heart - he thought they were leaving with his baby brother. The idea that there is more than one baby and baby carrier in this world is so surprising to him. The other day at Bible study when he saw the three additional baby carriers in the front room he proclaimed: "So many baby brothers!!".

A couple of days ago we were in Target, and he saw a Christmas display. He wanted to go see it - and in order to do that we had to walk through the Halloween isle. We walked by a tall figurine that looked like the grim reaper. Little One stopped in his tracks and said "Mama - Santa scarried me!" And now, he is convinced that the Grim Reaper is Santa, and that he is very scary. Oh dear.

And today, he was on a hug kick. I was chopping up pineapple, Hubs was trying to fix the grill. Little One just started hugging. "Hug Mama! Hug Dada! Hug Baby Brother!" Running back and forth, giving lots of hugs. And they were genuine sweet hugs. While hugging he'd say "oh, so sweet..." Then, he says: "Watch this Mama! I hug tree!" and he ran out the back door, hugged a tree, and came running back in. The tree got lots of good tree huggin lovin tonight...and I had to smile.

I love these moments of sheer innocent sweetness. I have to be careful, because I find that I can steamroll right pass them because of how driven I am to get things done. Everyday I find myself asking God to give me sensitive ears to his little voice. Little One is discovering the world, and I want to take it all in with him. It's these sweet things I want to remember down the road, rather than how clean my house was while he was growing up.

Give me a tender heart, just like my son's Dear Lord...

Where I've been...

I have a toddler that has discovered that doors and drawers open - and OH! there are so many fun treasures behind all of these doors! So, I've had lots of days of this: (yes, that's my kitchen counter he's standing on...)

And this: ("Look Mama! I reachin it!")

But not a whole lot of this:Yes, the Miderman boots are back with a vengeance. I know I said they were too small. They are. That won't stop him! He wore them for two days straight (bed time and all.) When they finally came off, I hid them again. (I'm still not sure how they resurfaced a second time..) I have never smelled such a stinky pair of toddler shoes!

Little One is seriously into taking everything out of drawers and showing it to me and talking about it. I've been picking up mess after toddler mess. I thought we already went through this stage. I guess not. He wants to open the refrigerator door and stand there and describe all of the food he sees. While hubs and I were eating dinner, he was in the pantry, taking every spice bottle off the shelf and bringing it to us. "Watch this Mama!" "This one for you, Dada!" Oh! I have spicey in my shoe!" Was the jest of our dinner conversation.

Today I thought I'd venture out into the real world. I took the boys to the YMCA childcare - and I went and worked out. Afterwords, I ventured to the grocery store. We were not in there 10 minutes and the whole deal went way south. What was I thinking? By the end, he threw the biggest tantrum ever in the grocery store parking lot (more to come on that one), took a nap at 5:00 because of the tantrum, and now is WIDE awake in his room. It's 11:15 p.m. And he is telling his bears and books to go to sleep. I was just sitting in there with him, and was nodding off. My only hope is that this will mean he'll sleep in??? We'll get better at the whole venturing out - but right now it's pretty crazy, and I'm not sure I like it.

Anyway, I've been super busy with my little men. Little One is keeping me way on my toes - in between feedings and diaper changes of Baby. Oh well. Such a sweet season. I know someday I'll look back and miss this craziness with all my heart.

Better go try and get him to find some sweet sleep...

Have a great weekend!

Rebecca

Muffins!

This week I have tried two different muffin recipes that were so delicious! One was super packed full of calories, the other was super packed full of good for you goodness.

The first was this recipe from Paula Deen. Of course, it's loaded with butter and sugar... but it the apples, raisins, and spices make for a perfect fall recipe.

The second is Banana Oatmeal Muffins. It's the perfect recipe to use those frozen bananas in your freezer...

Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Preheat oven to 375

Using a whisk attachment beat 3 bananas

Add:
3/4 cup maple syrup
1 egg
1 cup raisins (golden are wonderful)

Mix together:
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup rolled oats

Add to wet ingredients. Mix only until moistened. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full.
Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes.

These turned out so yummy - and were so easy! Little One loves them, and I love that the recipe calls for no white sugar.

Enjoy!

One thing that has really surprised me is how different Baby Brother and Little One are as infants. On our first visit to the pediatrician, she recommended that I read Secrets of the Baby Whisperer and Happiest Baby on the Block. I checked Secrets of the Baby Whisperer out from the library - and I am devouring it! It is such a helpful book. The author claims that there are four baby types - and she gives a little quiz that helps you determine what kind of baby you have. Little One was a text book baby - Baby Brother, he's a touchy baby - meaning I have had to deal with him in completely different ways than I did with Little One. This book has seriously been my life saver. I also like it because she describes how an infant communicates through cries and body language. And, she is so right on! It's been so helpful, as I can watch Baby Brother's arms and legs and listen to his cry, and I've been able figure him out!

One more thing - I like it because it gives a good middle of the road approach to scheduling. She not extreme on either side - and I really appreciate it.

It's and easy and down to earth read - and I highly recommend it! She has also written a book about toddlers - and I'm anxious to get my hands on that one too....I'll take all the help I can get! :)

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Things happen around here when I'm changing Baby Brother's diaper.

Tonight I was changing him and Little One comes in and says:
" Mama! I made Christmas!"

What could that be?

I go to check it out - came around the corner into the kitchen and he's sitting on the floor of the pantry licking his fingers. He had pulled my plastic sugar container off the shelf, dropped it, resulting in a huge pile of sugar on the floor. I think he thought it looked like snow. Yes, Son, you made Christmas. White, sugar, yumminess...it's all Christmas.

Never mind the fact that I spent nap time today mopping the floor.... Oh well.

" I dumped da bath Mama!"

While I was changing Baby Brother, Little One came running into the room.
"I dumped da the bathtub mama! Come see!"
Upon walking into the bathroom this is what I found:

(A reenactment :)

The biggest bubble bath EVER!

Baby Brother's take on the whole deal - A big yawn - Big Btother keeps us very busy! Mama couldn't agree more. :)

Six Weeks

Here's some pictures of our little guy. He'll be six weeks old tomorrow!

The closest we've come to a smile.

Just Chillin

My Burrito Boy

This is the face we get if he's not burritoed. He's pretty picky about that.

Up Up and Away!

I have a million things to do. The last thing I should be doing is blogging. Clothes to fold and put away, dishwasher to load and fill again, toys to pick up, thank you notes to write, birth announcements to send, papers to file, bills to pay, grocery list to make, blah blah blah ... today is one of those days when I look around and have no idea where to start. It all needs to be done! Yet, I need to take a break.

Yesterday was my birthday. It turned out to be a good day - although it started out kinda blah...I was pretty homesick. I just wanted a good old friend to come and take me to lunch. But, then I got lots of phone calls - and a beautiful, GIGANTIC Peace Lilly delivered to my door - a birthday treat from my MIL. The plant had a mylar balloon attached - which kept Little One busy for most of the afternoon - that in itself is a great gift!

The plan was that after Little One was asleep Hubs would run and get some Mexican food for dinner. He works just up the street from the Cheesecake Factory, and I had asked for a slice of White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle cheesecake for my "birthday cake" so he brought that home too. We had a great evening - we watched Funny Face - I love Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn!(taking a break to watch Sarah Palin's speech - Whom I also love!) He gave me a wonderful foot massage - and then I asked for my cheesecake. He responded "You can have your cheesecake, but I have another dessert for you to choose from."

He then got up and presented me with a little pink cake box and a card.

Now is a good time for some history. In Colorado Springs there is a hot air balloon festival every labor day weekend. And, it's my birthday tradition to go. It's one of my absolute favorite things to do. I love getting up early in the morning, stopping at *Starbux* on the way, and watching the sun and the balloons rise against the Rocky Mountains. You can always feel fall in the air - and it's so delightful. Here's some pictures from last year...



Now, back to last night. I opened the card and it had a bunch of animals holding a bouquet of balloons on it - with a piece of folded paper inside. My Sweetie wrote - "you missed them this year, sooo.... we're bringing them to you! Love, the Boys." I unfolded the paper and it was a print out of this.

My Sweetie wants to take me on a balloon ride for my birthday! Now, I am pretty excited - but I am a little nervous too. When I was in Jr High I won a hot air balloon ride through a yearbook competition, but I gave it to my Dad for Father's Day - because I was too scared to go. But, this will be a lot of fun, and a great memory, and with my Hubby by my side, I'll be able to do it. It's pretty romantic and I'm really looking forward to it. We don't have a date for our ride - but I'll be sure to post about it when it happens.

The cake box - it was a sweet little cake decorated with a hot air balloon. He had it special ordered - how cute is that? We are going to cut that cake tonight with Little One so we can have a birthday party. This morning he stood at the top of the stairs and said "Mama's Birthday Today!" (Which it will probably be mama's birthday until it's Daddy's birthday in 22 days... :-)

I'll post pictures of the cake and birthday party tomorrow. :)

Break time is up - here I go....