Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!

OK-so its been a while. Lets get caught up...seems like that's all I do these days anyway!

• First and foremost: Baby Lukas #2 will be arriving somewhere around Sept 19!!!!
  
  


• Second: Its a boy! We would have been quite happy with a girl, but there is a joy and profound sense of relief at hearing "there's his thingy, its a boy!" We have already traveled much of this road and we like to think we have done pretty well...so far...we have yet to see if Max will ever need therapy! lol. Not to mention, who doesn't love bunk beds? This means our boys get to share a room-an experience I had the joy of having my ENTIRE life! On a more practical note, this means that we already have EVERYTHING we will need aside from diapers=yay!
  
  


• Third: We are moving back to Paris. Whew! I am sooooo ready to be back where I love. The only thing keeping this from being an absolutely perfect situation is that Cody will have to commute....which SUCKS! We pray constantly for something to come up closer to home. We have no desire to live like kings, we just want to be able to happily provide for the children we are given and live in peace with the ones we love around us. Is that too much to ask? I think not. However, I am not God-and frankly, He hasn't shared much of His plan with me. Apparently it is a need-to-know basis and I just don't need to know. I like to think He is trying to help me build character...(personally-HE's GOD. Just sprinkle some character on me and be done with it!)
  


• Fourth: I will become an aunt for the first time in about 10 weeks! Noah Aaron will be arriving sometime mid July and we can't wait! It is going to be so much fun watching all the boys get into trouble together! Now if I can only kick my butt in gear and get to planning the baby shower............planning....not my forte.....procrastinating....thats more my speed.
  

I think that sums up what has gone down since I have been gone. Geeeze! When you put it on paper (or in type) it looks less impressive and sounds a little more whiny. hmmm. Oh well, that's life.

Update, Snow and Monkeys

Well we have been working on potty training for about a month. So far it is just getting better. No serious setbacks or "ooops's". I havent changed a single dirty diaper/pant in a full month and we still only use one diaper or pullup a day! I can't believe how much we are saving!!! $20 worth of diapers have lasted almost 3 months and we still have at least 20 left from that pack. Max is fantastic-when we are at home he ALWAYS tells me when he needs to potty. In the last week he has started asking to go potty when we are out and about. We have even ventured out into the world a few times in big boy unders! Even when I put him in a diaper or pullup, he still asks to go to the potty and he ALWAYS comes home dry! So proud! I think it may take a while to get out of the nighttime & nap time diaper but hey-I will take what I get and run with it! This is pretty good for a just-over-two little dude and NO incentives. If he doesn't know what he is missing, why start? He has no idea that he could have forced my hand into bribery and that works for me. In my mind, he gets all the love and hugs and support a little one can manage from his dad and I. That, along with a roof over his head, all the food and drink he could possibly want and enough toys to entertain a small country, and I would say he has it great. The least he could do for me is learn to poop in the potty. Now, don't think I am in any way criticizing moms who have to use the reward system. I am not. You have to do what works for you and your child. However, I think moms (and dads) set themselves up. You think that it is going to be easier to do this or that if you promise the little monster something. That sets yourself up for a lifetime of this habit. Once they know they can work you, they will! I just don't have intrest in that. Wasnt raised that way. Thats all.

Monkey

We recently joined a playgroup here in Fort Smith. Through this, we have gotten to do all kinds of fun things. The most recent discovery has been the Monkey House. It is a large building full of inflatable toy/bounce around/ maze type things that you pay to go to and hang out for as long as you want. Max LOVED it! FOr the first time since the fall he (and I) worked up a sweat playing and exploring. It was great. We will most def be back.

My least favorite part of the bolg. Snow.

I hate it.

We have had tooo much this year.

Traps us inside and makes mommy and Max go crazy.

That is all.

The Land of Potty

I don't really intend to blog about BM's or the like-but I love reading about them-so mom's who do (KIM) don't stop on my account-I love a good gruesome story!

I just thought I would post how it has been going since we are a little over a week into it. Max has a firm grasp on "poop goes in the potty", that was established the first few days. I haven't had to change a dirty diaper in a full week! Yay! The "wet" is a work in progress. He tends to do pretty well. I haven't figured out how to make him be dry in the morning or after naps-we are at about 50% right now. (Maybe a little less) I think I am going to have to cut out his just before bed sippy of milk and his pre-nap gulp also. THIS could get ugly! I think that for a 2 years and 2weeks old kiddo, he is doing pretty fantastic! Good thing we are doing this in the winter-if it were summer we would be up a creek! As it is, we are trapped inside anyway-this gives us (me) something to focus on, no matter how mundane!






Now just for fun I have included yet another included-in-the-DNA "boy-ism" for you. I swear we haven't taught him this and he has yet to see more than 1 min of TV ever! (No TV's on while the boy is awake) So I can only conclude that he was born with the knowledge of concealed weaponry! He stuck this non functioning and clean lighter that looks like a double barrel shotgun (now known as his "shooter") in his sock so he could have his hands free to play with his cars! His daddy was sooo proud! I was completely speechless!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Happy 2nd Birthday to the coolest little big boy I know. I wont talk about how fast you are growing, that will only make me sad. The fact that you have never wanted to be a baby has always been bittersweet for me. Max, you have turned our world upside down in every way imaginable. We wouldn't change that...at least not most of the time. Ask me at 3am, (which is when you have decided to start getting up since turning 2...) I may have a different answer. However, we love you very much. My one, my son. Your father and I look forward to helping and watching you grow. We are excited to see where God will take you in life. What are your dreams and ambitions? Will you always love tractors and car shows this much? Will mommy every be able to drive through another construction zone without pointing out every large implement to passengers? Do I really want you to be start talking like a big boy, with "r's" and "f's"? Right now you still sound so little and sweet. I have no idea what I will do when you grow out of your nap. Right now I need it as much as you. I love the slow way you wake up, so grumpy for everyone-unless we are by ourselves. I could go on and on about how fantastic you are. About how my favorite thing in the world is watching you and daddy play boy stuff. It is perfect. Thank you. My one, my son. You have made life very sweet.

Jan 8th 2009

7lbs 5 oz 21 inches long

You are so loved!

Jan 8th 2010

22lbs 8oz 31in

Jan 8th 2011

27lbs 35in
So big!

*Love*

Current Events

Like NOW! This is what is happening in our front yard right now-much to Max's delight!

Notice the work "glubs" he had to put on so he could feel like a part of the excitement.

Yay for things that have to be done with tractors, big saws and dump trucks! And thank you worker men for choosing today to work-I had a rather restless 2 year old!

Side note: All the excitement distracted us from potty breaks...grey sweats are now in the wash.

Wow!

It has been 2+ months since I checked in last! (Well-I actually keep up with everyone else-just not my own blog!) To say things have been nuts around here would be a gross understatement.
Lets recap the last 2 months of 2010 and the first part of 2011:

• October: super busy!
• November: Cody got new job. I was put in charge of closing our movie store.
• December: Christmas. Packing. Quit my job. Packed some more. Apartment hunting. Moved. Started new job for me: full time SAHM.
• January: Got moved in to apt in Fort Smith. Max's 2nd birthday!

And here we are. We finally have the last box unpacked and (pretty much) everything where it is supposed to be. We still don't have any real living room furniture, but that will come in time. It has been quite the adjustment. One that I still struggle with at times. I am not used to being so far away from my family and the routine I knew. But it is coming together and I am starting to enjoy the new place. Instead of going into tons of detail at this time, how bout some pictures! Here is what we have been up to!

Oh! Did I mention that Max has done some serious growing? Well my little guy is not so little any more. He is now 35 inches tall and 27 lbs. Not fat, but definitely tall! He also had his first haircut, five days before he turned 2-I couldn't put it off any longer. :-( He is quite the talker now. Lots of words but still no "r" or "f" sounds. This means that "fly" is "sly" or "truck" is "chuck" He can count to 5 with a little help and will sub in the right letters ,usually, if you do the ABC's with him...like if you say a,b,c,d,e..? he will say "s" (his F). So, everyday is new and amazing for him-I will never tire of seeing the world through the eyes of a toddler-priceless!

October 2010=Favorite Month!

October has always been a busy month for our family. This year has been no different. We have been going non stop since the first of the month and a family wedding. Cody's mom tied the knot (it took me 3 tries to spell "knot" correctly...) down at the lake on the 2nd. Tons of fun, family and...shall we say stress? Yes. Whenever there is family involved there is stress. But good times.
Ooops-I forgot the parade! We actually started the morning of the wedding off with Max's first parade! He thoroughly enjoyed it which was no surprised to me, it had horses, firetrucks AND tractors all in a row! It doesn't get any better than that in his little world!
(and isn't his little hat just KILLER! I love that he will actually wear one-boys in hats=CUTE!)
Then wedding.
Then mommy and daddy's birthday. Yummy


Then on to general October fun. Leaves. Cooler weather. Playing with chalk, glow sticks and reading car magazines with daddy. Our 4th anniversary was stuck in there somewhere. It kinda got pushed aside-we have bigger fish to fry. More on that in a bit. (NO, I am not pregnant!)

My little pumpkin with his first pumpkin!Good Bye (almost) October, until we meet again next year!

Thanks for the award from The Sparacino Chronicles:A Writing Adventure . You are supposed to list 7 random things about yourself and pass it on. Enjoy!

1. I ALWAYS eat any chocolate candy "deconstructivly". This means that I will eat a Kit Kat by eating all the chocolate off the outside first and then eat the wafers from top to bottom, one at a time. This applies to all other candy bars. (Snickers are tricky!)


2. I cannot stand eating bananas because they give me "fuzzy teeth". Laugh if you want, that is what I have always called it and no, I cannot describe it-if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand!


3. I am compulsive about how the bath towels are folded and have finally succeeded in getting Cody trained properly. Now on to Max...
   
4. I would prefer an early, quiet morning to sleeping in late every time.


5. I love to cook with fresh garlic but I can't stand to have the smell on my hands for days and days. Enter: Kitchen gloves-for garlic and jalapenos only-I am not some weird sissy who won't touch raw meat-ie-Cody+raw chicken!


6. I really have no interest in ever owning a dog-they always want to be my friend-yet they lick their own butts...hmmm...pretty much gross.


7. I have never ridden a roller coaster of any kind. Open to it-just never had the opportunity.

I am passing this along to:

Better Than We Could Pray For

Joy, with a side of chaos

Our Ordinary Life

Snot

(Note: gross out factor-pretty high)

Yep-snot. Its that time of year. I like to think I am girlie but tough. I think Cody likes to think he is manly and tough but I would like to set the record straight...manly: yes. tough: still undecided.
He has his father's DNA all the way. Mark (my FIL) is a great man and a wonderful father/grandfather but his most obvious fault (other than his penchant for making me insane by somehow cornering me with words which is infuriating-lol) is that he has an EXTREMELY weak stomach. Dirty diaper=RUN. Spit up=RUN. Snot=RUN. Vomit=Don't even mention it! I can count on one hand the number of times Cody has voluntarily changed a dirty diaper. (he is great with just wet) You would have thought that our trip down Pyloric Stenosis Lane would have gotten him over the yuck-but alas. (Back story: When Max was newborn he would projectile vomit EVERYTHING out of his stomach quite often, getting progressively more often until he was diagnosed at 7 weeks. It was an easy fix-simple surgery and 2 nights in a children's hospital, but the weeks leading up to this were FILLED with copious amounts of slimy, stinky spit-up. Cody handled it fine)
Fast forward to today.
Enter: Cold Season, aka-Snot Season
Max has been dealing with a bout of gross. No other real problems, just lots of snot.
This morning Cody took Max outside so I could finish getting things ready for the day unassisted. So sweet. As I am finishing up and I have both hands full of 2 lunch boxes, 2 sippy cups of milk, a diaper bag, my phone, keys and trying to shut the front door I hear... "EEEEWWWWW-Mommy, this is tooo gross! Clean up on isle Max! Grab a tissue now! EEEWWWWW!!!" And yes, that was Cody. My poor little boy (max) was standing in the middle of the driveway looking quite confused with both hands full of snot and more just dripping from his raw little nose. I did rescue the little guy but I just had to share. I have a wonderful husband and Max has a father that couldn't love him more but...Come on! Man up Cody! lol *sigh*

That is all.

Be glad there aren't pictures!

Bits and Pieces

I have learned that I am not going to be able to keep a cohesive blog, it will always be just bits and pieces. But I guess pieces are good too, I mean, I love Reece's Pieces and York Patty pieces. So...here are some "pieces" of us.








Last night Max climbed into this basket. (after unfolding and scattering 14 baby blankets that I can't bring myself to store away) He then proceeded to read his current fave book, Who but a Father.

And bath time is once again fun-thanks in large part to bubbles...although all he really wants to do is eat them in scary amounts.

He sacked out, like really sacked out one day. It makes me sad to see how full my arms are in this pic in comparison to...

We went to the parish wide rummage sale (something I really NEVER do...I DO NOT go to second hand yard/garage/rummage/ sales. No prejudice just never liked it.) But we went this year and one of the parishioners saw Max climb on this cow and ride. She bought it for him. He loves it. Thus it is in my house. Thank you. Did I mention that it moos? No? It moos.

All 4 of us girls got to go out for a night of bowling and dinner. (with our dudes) Thanks mom and dad for watching Max, sorry he was such a pill. :-/

He loves tractors-just so we have that covered...

Here he is trying on his new fall jeans and shirt...and hamming it up all the way!

I call this his Waldo shirt-for some reason he really likes the whole stripy look-he was sitting there just rubbing his hand on the stripes like they were bumpy or something. Dunno-but it was cute.

And although there are no pic to illustrate, he has begun to improve his communication skills. My youngest sister has tried to teach him a few signs. So far the only one he has stuck with is "more" and he uses it ALLLLL THHHHEEEE TIIIIIMMMMEEE! Other than that, he also says please, tractor, key, dad, mom, out, deer, baby, Paul (an older gentleman with a red tractor), P, Nananan for Nana and Nonnie, Ieya for Yaya along with variations of all my sister's names. So we are getting there.