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Rhett: Excuuuuuuuuse me. Do you know why I said it in a long, squiggly voice?
Me: No, I don't; why?
Rhett: Because my fart was long and squiggly.
I'm wearing my hair in a sock bun and Rhett's seeing it for the first time.
Rhett: I like your hair, Mom.
Me: Thanks. Why?
Rhett: Because the back of it looks like a donut!
Rhett's eating lunch before church while Chuck and I are running around getting stuff ready. Out of nowhere, Rhett asks the following:
Rhett: Mom, what kind of woman are you?
When I asked him what I meant, I think he wanted to know what my job is. When I asked him what kind of woman he thought I was, he said, "President."
In the car on the way home from church, we were talking about someone yelling swearwords at a friend of mine. We obviously didn't say the swearwords, nor call them that. I think we referred to them as bad words.
Rhett: What are those bad words, Mom?
Me: Well, I'm not going to tell you!
Rhett: But I want you to tell me so that when you say them, I can tell you to stop saying them!
Rhett often reminds us that "hate" and "stupid" are not allowed.
P.S. My parents got their mission call to Tokyo! How cool is that?!
(Argh. Stupid Silly Blogger. I didn't mean to post this but I guess I have to now.)
The little man is three months old. And while baby stage is still hard for me, man, I do love this little boy. And I'm finding such a difference between two and three months. He's more baby and less blob--hooray!
What's he into these days? Well, he LOVES his hands. He sucks on them at all times, making them wet which means they're always cold. Poor dude.
And of course, the rolling over. I thought it would come and go, not to be seen again until he was about five months old. But no. The kid is a master roller-over. Oh well.
He's a great daytime napper. I put him down and he falls asleep with minimal to no crying. He'll sleep for quite awhile, unless it's evening time. And at nighttime, well, we could use some straight-sleep nights, but what parents of a new baby don't? He started falling into a routine last week, but then, of course, it totally went kaput Tuesday. Awesome. I remain hopeful, however.
He is such a happy little one. Unless he's sleeping or eating, he's pretty much smiling. Of course, as soon as I pull out the camera, he gets all camera-shy. But some day I'll catch a smile. Oh we love this little guy!
Month 1
Month 2
BREAKING NEWS! As of 1:49 EDT on Friday, we are now at 10 people and 15 kits. I'm going to limit this to 15 since it is the holiday season and all (if you don't believe me, check out your local craft store). We. Must. Limit! Everyone else, you're in. I'll be sending out emails soon. And seriously, check out that picture of Ollie. I mean, really. It's awesome.
One pin on Pinterest led to another and what did I find? Only the second-coolest swap idea ever (second to the quiet book swap, of course). Jen from this blog did a swap for a toddler's "busy bag." I'd never heard of one before, but when I saw what she had in it, I wanted it.
So who is in? You: make x number of kits, mail them to me along with $10 to cover shipping (unless you're local and it'll be free!). Me: make my own set of kits, receive everyone else's kits, distribute, and then remail to everyone! Jen did 20, but with mail and all, I don't think that would be feasible.
If you want in, just leave a comment. If you think it's too busy of a time with the holidays and all, let me know and I'll think about doing it again later. But maybe having it now just in time for winter will be a good idea. Anyway, just comment and tell me you're in because, hey, it'll be awesome.
Again, for clarification. You would pick out which "busy" kit you'd like to make (see the above link for examples, but certainly you're not limited to this). However many people are involved with this swap is how many kits you'd make (as of Friday morning, that's seven). You'd have a couple of weeks to do this. Once you're done, you mail your completed part to me in Maryland along with money for shipping (probably around $10 for the priority flat mail box. If I didn't charge you shipping, I would lose a lot of money, something I'm not willing to do). I'd assemble them so that everyone has one of each kit. Then I'd mail them back. Let me know if this doesn't make sense.
P.S. Look at this totally awesome picture of Ollie. Doesn't he look like he's being attacked?! And yes, this is his Halloween costume. Any ideas as to what the rest of us are being?
I'm wondering if I'm laboring under a great delusion. I have never been shy to admit that being a mom to little kids is quite difficult for me. There's a lot that I don't like about it (the acting, the playing with Little People, the wiping of bums, the broken sleep). Of course there is a lot I do like (the cute baby voices, the cuddliness, the new baby smiles), but really, it's hard for me.
So I've been thinking about ways in which my life will be easier once the boys are older, and here's what I came up with:
1. Because it's on the brain, camping. No middle of the night feedings when it's freezing cold and dark. Ability to take longer hikes. Ability to take hikes without kids strapped to you. Backpacking! Need I say more?
2. Feeding. Older kids can feed themselves. If they're hungry, they can get themselves a sandwich or yogurt or an apple or whatever. Then they can clean up after themselves. I also have hopes that they'll be better eaters with better palettes.
3. Running. I am so excited for Saturday morning runs with my boys and weekday morning runs without them.
4. Shopping. Grocery shopping, while certainly more expensive with growing boys, will be accomplished without kids during the day.
5. Crafting. I know that as kids get older, bedtimes get later so I might not have my three-hour block at nighttime, but still. They'll be at an age where they can entertain themselves. (And by "entertain" I mean "do homework.") Or I'll just do it while they're at school!
6. Full-day outings. Certainly now I am committed to naps for both kids, but I am pumped for the day when they don't need them. Doing things like going to the zoo, visiting Smithsonian museums, hiking, or taking other day trips will be so much easier with kids who don't need naps. Sure, I'll occasionally forgo a nap now, but because Rhett still needs them, we pay for it in whininess and tears and tantrums.
7. Hanging out with them. As expressed, sitting on the floor with cars or blocks just isn't my favorite thing, no matter how much I love my children (all the way to Pluto and back, just in case you were wondering). But going to soccer games, school functions, back and forth to mutual, all sound like my kind of things.
8. Dating my husband. At a certain point, Rhett will be allowed to watch Oliver without requiring a babysitter. That means dates with Chuck will be more regular and frequent and free. Hopefully we'll still like each other then. Heehee. (Maybe we'll have to keep up that annoying kitchen dancing.)
9. Bathrooming. I won't have to constantly ask if they need to go to the bathroom. I won't have to wipe a bum after they go poo. No more diapers!
10. Driving. No more car seats! No more strap buckling! Heck, at some point, they'll be able to drive me!
Okay, wow. I should just stop now. It seems like everything will be easier. Maybe the only thing I can think of that will be harder is just the feeding of two teenage boys. So I'm sure I'm missing somethings where it will be harder. Cajoling kids to do homework? Suppressing teenage boys' hormones? What?!
In my quest to camp at all state parks in Maryland, we went to Cunningham Falls this past weekend. Except for last year when we were rained out, we've camped on this same weekend in October since we've been married thanks to the Maryland version of UEA. Love it.
We had perfect, if not a little cold, weather. And really, a little cold is always better for me than a little warm. In addition to great weather, we had great company. This year, three awesome families joined us. (And no, I'm not just saying this because I know some of the co-campers read my blog.) Normally when camping, Chuck and I turn in around 7 p.m., willing ourselves to stay awake until at least 8. But because we had others joining us, we stayed outside and chatted and played games and froze and it was seriously so fun. Plus, I love love love seeing Rhett play with his friends almost as much as he loves playing with his friends!
While the preceding week was a bit difficult and going camping for just 24 hours is never easy, it was definitely awesome.
I'm pretty sure Ollie was the warmest of all of us.
Here are the four oldest kids eating breakfast. Sarah was kind enough to make Mickey Mouse pancakes for Rhett and he loved them.
Always with the Bruno bacon tongue.
Ollie was slowly sinking down in this photo shoot.
How Ollie spent the hike.
Exploring the waterfall.
Rhett still asserts his position of "no pictures until I'm four." But we still assert ours of "We don't care. You're getting your picture taken anyway."
On the hike.
Taking a rest stop with my little boys.
Look how pretty Maryland is in the fall. It's what keeps me here in the summer and winter.
I told you: Rhett is forever looking sideways. We thought for sure he'd fall asleep in the car on the way home, even placing a friendly wager between husband and wife on it. We both lost as he made it the entire way home awake. Oh well, at least he napped once we got home.
