Slow Down

It's so hard for me to wrap my head around how quickly the time is flying where it concerns my children.  In less than two weeks Aric will be 20 months old and Kellyn will be 4 months old.  Where on earth is the time going?

On Wednesday, being the good mother that I am, I left Kellyn lying on her play mat and Aric watching tv while I went upstairs to put sheets on our bed.  I heard Kellyn fussing a bit, but it was nothing too alarming.  After a while I went to the top of the stairs to check on the two of them.  Kellyn was lying on her stomach and rotated 90 degrees on the mat.  My thought was that Aric must've "helped" her and I really shouldn't leave them alone even for the couple of minutes that I had been upstairs.  I didn't think about this episode again until last night.

We were eating dinner, while Kellyn was lying on her play mat.  I watched Kellyn use her legs to scoot her body around and rotate her position 90 degrees.  She then proceeded to work hard at rolling over and eventually made it onto her belly.  It wasn't Aric "helping" her the other day, but Kellyn acting on her own accord to get into that position.

My baby is growing too fast.  I want to hold onto her tighter and cherish the sweet moments now, because I know it won't seem like such a long time until she's running around with Aric. 

One Sick Little Boy

On Friday morning we discovered Aric had a temperature of 100.  I stayed home from work with him that day.  Over the weekend his temperature was very high and it was obvious that Aric was not himself.  By Monday morning, he still had a temperature and Ryan took him to the pediatrician.  She said Aric either had an ear infection and is getting over it or he is just starting one.  Today after two doses of antibiotic Aric's fever is broken and he is acting more like himself.  My house is littered with toys, but it's so nice to see signs of having my little, rambunctious boy back.

Saturday night.  His temp had been over 103.  This was after a dose of motrin, tylenol and a tepid bath.

At one of his worst points.  He never sleeps on the couch like this.

Miserable

One kid with an ear infection and a high fever + One kid with a cold = One very tired Mommy.

Do These Ruffles Make My Butt Look Big?

Catching Up

I know I haven't written anything in awhile, but I have been exhausted.  I thought I was just uninspired, but I really think I've just been too tired to even think.  Thankfully I'm feeling a little better with some bonus free time this week.

On Wednesday I had an unexpected free day when the little boy I've been watching stayed home with his dad.  It was so nice to get out of the house and run errands.  I felt so productive buying Aric new shoes for his quickly growing feet, mailing birthday packages, returning something for Ryan and even managing to squeeze in a visit with a friend who has never met Kellyn.  I was tired from taking my own two kids out, but I felt free, which made me realize how I've felt trapped by my own commitments.

After an extremely difficult day at work yesterday, I've been "blessed" with a day at home.  I say "blessed" because the price for staying at home today is a sick little boy.

Aric woke up this morning crying, congested and running a fever.  He's currently napping in bed.  Poor guy!  Hopefully he feels better soon.

Even though I've been tired, we have been busy playing, getting Aric to try new foods and just enjoying our little family.  One of our recent victories was Macaroni and Cheese.

I wouldn't have thought there was a need to call Macaroni and Cheese a victory.  I thought that it was just typical kid fare.  Nope, not at our house.  Basically Ryan had to trick Aric and throw a macaroni into his mouth for him to even try it.  After the initial freak-out, Aric realized he liked the taste and has since eaten Macaroni and Cheese on two separate occasions.  (He absolutely refuses leftover Macaroni and Cheese.  It's okay, though, I could do without that, too.)

Stealing a creative idea from a friend, Aric and I enjoyed working on this project:

The card is currently in the mail on its way to the recipient.  I thought it was a fantastic idea to allow Aric to play create art and something that I know our families would enjoy.  I'll have to keep that in mind for future occasions.  Thanks Carmen for the inspiration!

I'd be remiss not to mention Kellyn.  She's such a sweet baby and is so alert lately.  She loves to smile and talk at herself in the mirror.  She's also very aware of babies, her brother and faces.  Sunday was her last night of sitting with us in church and next Sunday will be her first night in the nursery.  She wasn't fussy per se, but she was LOUD.  Kellyn didn't want to sit still through the entire service.  She wanted to look around, shriek, and coo at everything in sight.  Normally it's very cute, but when you're trying to keep her quiet in church the cute factor vanishes rather rapidly.  My baby is just growing up too fast!

Too Tired to Blog

Since I'm too tired to write an actual blog entry, I'll leave you with some recent photos:

Keeping Aric warm with Baby Legs while airing out his diaper rash.  Don't call the fashion police!

Wearing his sunglasses on top of his head like Daddy and Mommy.

Kellyn is three months old already!

Aric trying to pull Kellyn out of the stroller.

Our evening entertainment.  It keeps Kellyn happy, being pushed around the house, and Aric likes to push or be chased by the stroller.

Artwork

What a sweet surprise when Ms. Autumn presented me with this masterpiece this morning:

It explains why I saw glitter on Aric's face last night.

Advice Solicitation

Aric isn't quite ready for potty training, but we thought we should take some steps towards getting him familiar with the potty chair.  Does anyone have any great advice on potty training?

Of course I'm not fooling myself.  I realize that given children's temperaments, genders, and maturity levels Kellyn could be potty trained before Aric.  But I hope not!!

A First, Two Rings, A Game and Hair Loss

This morning was a first; I let Aric pick out his clothes today.  He was actually quite choosey about each item as he picked them out.  This is what he came up with:

I'm wondering if this is a sign that he would like to go hunting.  I did read somewhere that it's fashionable this year to mix your prints, so maybe he's just trying to be on the cutting edge of fashion.  Either way I think he looks pretty cute.

I received some money this Christmas and decided to buy something completely frivolous that I have wanted for awhile.

I bought remembrance rings with the kid's birthstones.  I would eventually like to get two more rings with Ryan's and my birthstone and then have the four rings soldered together.  I like being able to look down at my hand throughout the day and be reminded of my two precious children.

These pictures are a little old (from the week of Christmas) but I finally got them downloaded off of the other camera.  We took the kids to a basketball game.  Aric has been to several already and really enjoys watching everything and clapping when everyone else does.  At least for maybe 10 minutes and then

he wants to run around and get into everything.

 

 

Kellyn was awake for part of the time.  After she fell asleep she startled awake every time they made a noise on the PA system.  We left after half time to put the kids to bed.  I just realized how tired I look.  I should get more sleep or a better under eye concealer.

I've started to notice my hair falling out again.  During pregnancy I don't lose a single strand of hair the entire time.  When Aric was about three months old I lost massive amounts of hair, especially up front around my hair line and had to cut my hair shorter.  This went on until Aric was about six months old.  I thought I was going to have to buy a wig, but it eventually stopped and the hair grew back in.  It has begun but at least I'm prepared for it to happen this time.  At least I think I am, I know I could possibly find myself crying about it during the worst of it.  My poor daughter is apparently taking after me.  She's lost all of the hair from her ears forward.

At least we realize this is just part of being a baby and it'll grow back with time.  It's just a little disconcerting so see when we are used to this:

I think they look so much like each other except for the hair.

Now I leave you with two photos that I liked from this past week:

Aric wearing his cool sunglasses.

Kellyn smiling at her mobile.

Hey Baby, We're Going to Have to Go to Home Depot Tonight...

...because I forgot to buy you something made out of P.V.C.

From a Carlton Card sent to us by my parents.

Seven Years

Dear Ryan,

Seven years ago I pledged my life to you.  Being youthful and naive, I didn't quite know what that would mean.  We've had our share of ups and downs, but there is no one I would have rather gone through the last seven years with.  I love you.  Always.

-Regan

Why I Don't Post More Pictures of My Kids

Football

REALLY?!?

Bonding

How sweet to see my two bonding together.  Even if it is over Saturday morning cartoons.

How oddly weird that they actually make a vibrating infant chair/rocker big enough to support an 18 month old child in which he can enjoy his very own toy bar.

Snow Days

We received several inches of snow last week over Christmas.  The snow was still around earlier this week and it warmed up enough to send Aric out to play in it for awhile.  He enjoys being outside no matter what the temperature is.  Maybe next year we'll actually buy something more suitable for sledding.

Balance

"Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends and integrity. And you're keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls- family, health, friends, integrity- are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life."

- James Patterson from "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas"

Right now my life is lacking balance brought on by a huge lack of time.  I love being a mom, but I'm having trouble managing my time, sleep, and schedules with two little ones especially since returning to work three weeks ago.  I know part of it will come with time as Kellyn gets bigger, sleeps through the night and maintains more of a set schedule.

I have a list of projects I want to accomplish, books I want to read and things I want to organize.  Right now it's just a mental list because I haven't even had the time to write it down.  I find myself wistfully daydreaming about what I would do with my free time if I only had some.  Too bad the only multi-tasking I can do during my commute to and from work is daydreaming.

I'm afraid my glass balls are getting manhandled a bit more than they should be.  I can only hope they will survive until I can improve my juggling skills.  I wish I could take my rubber work ball and throw it off of a high cliff.  Then maybe it wouldn't ever bounce back high enough for me to be able to catch it.

Truthfully I'm so exhausted I'm not sure that my thoughts are coming across in the way that I want them to.  My wish for the New Year is to find balance in my life and maybe a little free time to keep me from going crazy.