holiday version of a random list

• I'll start the list out right, on a very lovely note: Eliza slept through the night last night! Can I get a "Woot! Woot!" (I'd love to say I'm well rested, but, come on. I have 4 kids. One of them is bound to wake up while on vacation.)
• It seems like O almost always has an asthma attack while we are visiting my parents.  If I count back, she's been on steroids the last 6 visits with my family.  (most of those are when we were visiting Michigan, two of them were when we went to Florida.)
• Poor O has had 1.5 weeks of various steroids in her body.  First with her rescue inhaler for several days, then the nebulizer, then an oral steroid AND the nebulizer. 
• I have introduced E to the world of Swamp People.  That show just makes me laugh a little bit. (while at the same time hiding in a corner since I have a weird fear of Alligators.)
• E and I went to Greek Town in downtown Detroit last night with some friends from college (E's old roommates.)  We left the older 3 kids at home with my parents.  It was SO fun!  The place had a lot of dairy free options for me to eat (which was wonderful) and we had a wonderful time visiting. 
• Speaking of yesterday, I had two wonderful people come visit me during the day at my parents house.  The first was my beautiful cousin, that I've blogged about before, and her baby girl.  We surprisingly didn't get along very well as small kids, but we've grown to love each other as adults.  I SO wish she was closer so we could hang out more. The second person was one of my college roommates, and a childhood friend.  It was so great to catch up.  Facebook is good at keeping some of the major details up to date, but there are some things that are just better learned in person.
• I'm dreading Christmas a little.  I actually LOVE Christmas.  It is one of my favorite holidays.  But, it is on Sunday, and we leave on Tuesday morning.  It just makes me a little bit sad to think about leaving already.
• I haven't run a single time since we've been here.  I forgot my cold weather running clothes and I'm not about to brave 38 degrees in shorts and a t shirt. 
• My momma is making pancakes for me so I'm outie. :)

2 months

Pride Cometh before the fall defiance

The other day Isaac, Eliza, and I were leaving the library.  Our library has a drive through drop off directly in front of the doors of the library itself.  When I opened the door to walk out, Isaac bolted out, running right towards the road and drive through. 

Sure he was going to run into the road, I yelled "Freeze!"

Isaac stopped instantly. 

I was amazed.  And, if I'm being completely honest, a little proud of myself.  I, some how, managed to get a child to actually STOP when I meant it.  Go me.

That's when it happened.  Isaac, still standing in the same spot, turned slightly to look at me.  He had his two fingers in his mouth and a mischievous smile on his face.  With the same grin, and looking right.into.my.eyes. he slowly put his right foot, tip toe first, into the road.

In case you were keeping track,
Score:
Isaac-1
Mommy-0

Go me.

Zeke

Isaac is TWO!

Isaac,

I am writing this the day before your second birthday.  Today reminded me so much of the same day two years ago.  The weather was so similar, (warm, breezy, sunny) and as we all took a walk, I couldn't help but remember the walk I took when that day when I was in labor with you.  I talked with you on that day, telling you to come out and join us.

I can remember your birth so vividly (sometimes more than I can even Eliza's birth. Maybe because your birth was so long.)  Its hard to believe that 24 months have gone by since that amazing day.  Not only do you get cuter every day, you've done a lot of other amazing things in one year!

in the last year you have:

• started and graduated speech therapy.  You went from "babbling" at 15 months, to being well above where you needed to be with the amount of words at 20 months. My favorite part of this?  You learned how to say "mommy" and "I love you." Swoon.
• you weaned. It was quite sad for me, as your mommy.  I had hoped to continue our nursing relationship until you were at least two.  However, when I was 6 months pregnant with your baby sister, there just wasn't enough milk for your liking.
• stared "school".  You love mother's morning out, (and so do I!) and your teachers dote on you. 
• became a big brother!  I can't believe how well you've done with your new role.  I expected some jealousy, maybe even some acting out towards Eliza.  However, you've been super!  You are a big helper to me, and love to "hold her.  Hold E-wi-wi, mommy."
•  started throwing tantrums.  Its to be expected.  You ARE two, after all.
• gained 6 pounds!  Woah!  You weighed 18lbs at a year, and you weigh 24 lbs now.  Way to grow, buddy!
• you had tubes.  These were a life saver in a turbulent ocean.  Seriously.  I think you'd write your ENT a long thank you letter if you could , you know, write and stuff.
• lost some of that baby look. :(  Mainly because of all of the teeth you have now!
• moved into a big boy bed.  You went straight from the crib into sharing a room with A in a bunk bed.  Its rough at times, especially since you get up so early, but you love being close to Bubba.
• Learned all of your animal sounds.  Your favorite: the elephant.
• Stopped screaming in the car.  this was a welcomed accomplishment by all who ride with us.

You've had an amazing year.  I'm so glad that God gave us you, Zeke.  Happy birthday!
Love,
Mommy

p.s. here's your birthday video. :)

and, if you want to see last year's birthday video, its here.

Stay calm

It's amazing to me how people can be.  All people, really, but especially E and I.  I've had some on-hand experience with this the last few weeks in relation to staying calm or, essentially, being patient.

E hates shopping.  I mean, totally loathes it.  He's the type of person that buys a gift just to "get it over with."  We just bought a gift for his mom that I thought was rather pricey for what it was.  He say to me, "well, it may be bad to think this way, but that's another $20 off what we have to spend on her."  (Obviously, his love language isn't gift giving, folks.  How lucky for me that mine is.)

So, E hates shopping.  Sunday afternoon, we dropped the big kids off to help my MIL put up her tree, and we talk the littles to Target to go shopping.  Target normally isn't the worst place on E's list (that's saved for special little "hells" like Hobby Lobby or Old Time Pottery in his opinion.) but Target on the weekends, in DECEMBER, are pretty crowded.  I had a few things to look at and price.  After the first one, E was getting antsy.  I asked "which color do you think looks better?" he replies: "the first one" with out even glancing over at what I'm holding.  

It only went down hill from there.  We went to the toys, and he is just standing there, staring (maybe going to his happy place?  Lowes or Costco possibly) while Isaac is climbing out of the cart and drinking out of his coffee cup.  The only thing he says "can we get out of here now?" over and over. 

what's my Achilles heel when it comes to patience?  Screaming/crying/whiny children.  Isaac has a sinus infection and he has been very prone to crying jags (well, that sinus infection and he's almost 2).  He cried so much yesterday, I can't even begin to explain how shot my nerves were.  It wasn't just sad, I don't feel good, cries.  It was screaming really.

I'm making dinner rather late in the evening,  (Our original plan was to go out to a local pizza place for kids eat free Monday night, but we decided against it because of Isaac.) and Isaac is throwing a fit about every.single.thing.  He wants the cheese I'm shredding.  He wants the tortilla I'm frying.  He wants the tortilla chips I'm setting out.  I give him a small bite of each, but he's screaming because he wants more.  He's hanging on the fridge because he wants an apple.  All.while.screaming. 

Then there's the bigger kids.  Asking for markers, fighting over who has the best green.  "Mine's dried out!  MoMEEEE!  Mine's dried out!"  "Can you get me some glue?"  "Mommy, I need the crayons!"  "He took my idea!  Look, mommy!  He stole it!"  "She's looking at my paper!"

E's over on the chair, peacefully rocking Eliza.  Completely unaware, or unaffected, by the commotion in the kitchen. 

That's when it hits me.  This is MY Target-on-a-Sunday-in-December.   Let's pay for our stuff and GET ME OUT OF HERE!

Because I can hardly stand to post an entry with out a picture... pictures!

Two years ago

Two Years Ago

One of Isaac's besties was born to my closest friend.

  this is how *I* looked.  Very pregnant.



this is what Isaac looked like.  Well, part of him, at least.