Past vs Present

I read this on a friend's blog and was cracking up in agreement so I wanted to post it too.  Let me know if you agree with any of these statements:

PAST: how can i get this guy to kiss me tonight?
PRESENT: how can i get out of sex tonight?

PAST: i hate when guys fart. nasty.
PRESENT: i love when my baby toots! maybe then he'll sleep better...

PAST: i love my boobs they are perky and great!
PRESENT: ugh...boobs. saggy and gross. only needed for milk.

PAST: *talking to a friend* want to use the restroom with me?
PRESENT: *talking to your kid* mommy is going to the potty. do you need to use the potty? do you need to go pee-pee in the potty?

PAST: $50 purse? its super cute...ill buy it.
PRESENT: $20 jeans? im pretty sure i can find some cheaper...

PAST: going out with friends at 8pm? thats a little early but ok see you then.
PRESENT: going on a date at 6pm? hmm well it'll take like 2 hours to eat and then that puts us home around 8 and then its bedtime...i dunno can we do earlier?

PAST: the gym is such a great way to meet guys.
PRESENT: the gym is a necessity so the "mom butt" doesnt appear.

PAST: sorry my car is dirty! just move my school stuff and water bottle and running shoes.
PRESENT: sorry my car is dirty! just move the crushed-into-the-seat-cheerios, and lost sippy cup and old diapers and tissues and wrappers and dirty clothes and pardon the stains.

PAST: if its rated PG-13...we'll call it good.
PRESENT: there are little ears. PG is pushing it.

PAST: hey sorry im late! there was traffic.
PRESENT: hey sorry im late! i was walking out the door i got pooped on and we all had to change and then we got in the car and totally forgot the diaper bag and when i went into the house i had left every light on and when we got back in the car i realized i had put the keys in the diaper bag to remember to grab it. and i forgot to grab the bag. and there was traffic.


Can you think of any more?

100.4

I guess a temperature of 100.4 for a 2 month old means they need to be taken to the ER.  I thought it was 101.  Yep, I have 3 kids and I don't even know the magic number.  I need a better memory.

Anyway, when I took Oliver to the doctor on Monday and he had a temperature of 99 the doc was surprised when I told her it had been 100.4 the day before.  I knew Oliver wasn't feeling good, but I didn't know he was right on the borderline of needing to go to the hospital.  She said if he had come in with a fever of 100.4 she would have admitted him for monitoring at the hospital and ordered a urine test, chest x-ray, and spinal tap, but because he appeared to be on the way to recovering she just ordered the x-ray.  Woah, a spinal tap on my 2 month old baby?  That's a scary thought.  What a blessing that it had started to come down on its own!

The x-ray showed that he does have pneumonia so he had to get an antibiotic shot and goes for another one today and then will be given an oral antibiotic.  Poor little guy!  I am thankful he is getting better and I am thankful for medicine to help him get better!

2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back

Henry had 6 fit-free nights in a row!  Then, he had a fit last night.  At least he's improving.

And I have to face it:  I have quite a bit less free time now that Oliver is here.  Time I spent blogging or cleaning or on projects is now spent nursing or changing or holding him.  I am definitely not complaining.  I just need to realize that while he is this little, I won't be getting as much done in a day.

I am thankful to be a mommy:)

Lost Feet

Henry's latest bedtime antics include him claiming "my feet are going to get lost."  What is he thinking?  What does that even mean?  How can I explain that it is NOT going to happen?  Why is he doing this and when will he stop?!

No matter what I say he can't be pacified.  He never had any trouble sleeping until we moved him out of his crib.  Even when we took the binki* and he was still in the crib he slept fine.  I used to be so proud of the fact that we could just lay him down for naps and bedtime and he would go right to sleep.  And, I don't think it's all from the baby because he started doing it before Oliver was born.  Some nights, Henry wakes up more times than Oliver!

Advise and tips are welcome.

*What is the correct spelling for binki?  binkie?  binky?  binkey?

Brain Regan Anniversary

Happy 6th Anniversary to us!  Our anniversary isn't actually until the 18th, but we went on an early date to see Brian Regan because we love him.

Before the show, dinner at Buca Di Beppo, of course!  Our favorite!

Our fabulous friends, Steve and Kiera, who also went to Brian Regan, came to dinner with us since we weren't sitting by each other for the show.

This is a picture in Buca...

Is this not the best picture you've ever seen?!  

That one little boy is holding up that little girl's dress so the other little boy can take a picture of it!  I cracked up when I saw it!

We got to the show really early so we decided to walk a few blocks to McDonald's for ice cream.  It was a scary few blocks.  At McDonald's we were asked for a quarter by a scary homeless man.  We gave it to him and he threw it on the ground.  We're pretty sure he was crazy.  

We loved seeing Brian Regan this past weekend.  He is so hilarious!

One of his best sets was when he was talking about getting old and how his body is changing...absolutely hilarious!

Also, he was talking about telling his kid to stop swinging spaghetti noodles around by his mouth:

"Don't you know the paint on the walls is more important than the joy in your heart?  Wipe that smile off your face and start acting like an adult!"

It just hit me more as a real reminder instead of a joke.  He's right.  Sometimes I forget that my kids are kids and not just small adults.  They deserve to act like kids!

38 Weeks!

I am excited to have about 2 weeks left!  I know due dates aren't exact, but once I get to 38 weeks I feel like I will be meeting my baby SO soon and it could be any time!  The doctor commented at the last appointment about his head being down and really low.  I can definitely feel the pressure down there.  Sometimes when I get up it feels like he's just gonna fall out!  I don't know how people fit more than one baby in there sometimes!  Our hospital bags are ready but the car seat isn't ready yet.  I recovered it and still need to do one final thing before it's completely done.  I better get on it!

I feel really blessed because a friend of mine's sister was pregnant with twins and had a "bleed" like I did and she lost both babies.  I know there are many women who suffer the pain of loosing a baby and my heart aches for them.  I am SO thankful my body was able to heal and that I will be holding my baby soon!  I think parenthood is the hardest but also most amazing job in the world.  Little children can teach us so much as we try to teach them.  I am so thankful Devin and I have been trusted with a few of Heavenly Father's special spirits to raise and love.  After my wonderful husband, my little kiddos are my greatest blessing!

And I'm so excited because tomorrow Devin and I are going to see Brian Regan!  He is hilarious!  We went a few years ago and absolutely loved it so I got us tickets for our anniversary this year.  I can't believe we've been married for 6 years.  It's funny to think that now a days many marriages don't last more than a few years.  We've still got eternity to go!  What a blessing that as long as we keep our covenants, we will be together even after we die.  And our children too.  What's better than that?  I say nothing.

Doc Appt & The Singing House

I had my 37 week visit yesterday.  The doctor said the baby had grown since my last visit.  She felt all around my belly and thinks he's small--not even 6 pounds yet she said.  That's fine with me.  (One of the symptoms of someone with gestational diabetes is having a "big baby." Hm...)

Oh, my favorite part of the visit was when she looked at my blood sugar numbers and asked if I made them up.  I couldn't believe it.  I was so insulted.  Wow.  When she saw my reaction to her accusation she said she was joking.  I think she was trying to call me out but then realized I really was telling the truth.  They were so low she didn't believe they were real.  Well, lady, I don't tell lies and I do not like when people question my integrity.

Between the time that the nurse took me to the room and the doc came in I heard them talking in the hall...

Doc, "Did she give you her numbers?"
Nurse, "Who?  What numbers?"
Doc, "Miss Ruthann.  Her blood sugar levels.  She's diabetic."

I wonder if the doctor even read my whole chart because it was never confirmed nor was I diagnosed with gestational diabetes since I could not complete the test.  We were only testing my blood sugar to see what they would be like over a couple of weeks instead of attempting the test again.

Ug, I can just feel the attitude oozing out of this post.  I am so moody lately.  My blog probably seems really negative and boring to read.  Part of it is because I'm stuck at home all day with daycare kids and don't get any social time whatsoever except on Saturdays if we go out and a little at church on Sunday so I'm not super chipper lately.  I hope it's mostly from the pregnancy hormones and I can be back to normal in a few weeks!

Some good news though...December 17 is my last day watching kids!  I CAN.NOT.WAIT!!!  Then at the end of January I will have one little girl back, but she will just be two days a week.  I think I can handle that.  And if not, I won't have to.

After sorting out our priorities, Devin and I decided the best thing for our family is that I stop watching kids.  I don't necessarily think that watching kids is a bad thing, but for ME it's not a good thing.  I can not give my own kids the attention I want to with other kids here and it kills me.

I read this in an old church manual and loved it...

I tied the napkin around Fred’s neck and placed before him his glass of orange juice, his cereal, his big glass of foamy milk. In my own opinion I classified among the superior mothers whose children are brought up in the approved manner of an enlightened day. Fred ate it all dutifully and then slipped down from his chair.

‘Now can I go over to Jimmy’s, Mother?’ he asked.

‘But Fred,’ I remonstrated, ‘you were over there yesterday, yes, and the day before. Why not have Jimmy come here today?’

‘Oh, he wouldn’t want to.’ Fred’s lip quivered in spite of his six years of manhood. ‘Please, mother.’

‘Why do you like Jimmy’s house better than ours, son?’ I pursued. It came to me suddenly that Fred and all his companions were always wanting to go to Jimmy’s house.

‘Why,’ he explained hesitantly, ‘it’s ‘cause—it’s ‘cause Jimmy’s house is a singing house.’

‘A singing house?’ I questioned. ‘Now what do you mean by that?’

‘Well,’ Fred was finding it hard to explain, ‘Jimmy’s mother hums when she sews; and Annie-in-the-kitchen, she sings when she cuts out cookies; and Jimmy’s daddy always whistles when he comes home.’ Fred stopped a moment and added, ‘Their curtains are rolled clear up and there’s flowers in the windows. All the boys like Jimmy’s house, mother.’

‘You may go, son,’ I said quickly. I wanted him out of the way so I could think.

I looked around my house. Everyone told me how lovely it was. There were oriental rugs. We were paying for them on installments. That was why there wasn’t any Annie-in-the kitchen here. We were paying for the overstuffed furniture and the car that way, also. Perhaps that was why Fred’s daddy didn’t whistle when he came in the house.

I put on my hat and went over to Jimmy’s house, even if it was ten o’clock and Saturday morning. It came to me that Mrs. Burton would not mind being interrupted in the middle of the morning. She never seemed to be in a hurry. She met me at the door with a towel around her head.

‘Oh, come in. I have just finished the living room. No indeed, you are not interrupting. I’ll just take off this headdress and be right in.’

While I waited, I looked around. The rugs were almost threadbare; the curtains, dotted Swiss, ruffled and tied back; the furniture, old and scarred but freshened with new cretonnes. A table with a bright cover held a number of late magazines. In the window were hanging baskets of ivy and wandering Jew, while a bird warbled from his cage hanging in the sun. Homey, that was the effect.

The kitchen door was open and I saw Jerry, the baby, sitting on the clean linoleum, watching Annie as she pinched together the edges of an apple pie. She was singing; singing “Springtime in the Rockies .”

Mrs. Burton came in smiling. ‘Well,’ she asked, ‘what is it? For I know you came for something; you are such a busy woman.’

‘Yes,’ I said abruptly, ‘I came to see what a singing house is like.’

Mrs. Burton looked puzzled. ‘Why, what do you mean?’

‘Fred says he loves to come here because you have a singing house. I begin to see what he means.’

‘What a wonderful compliment!’ Mrs. Burton’s face flushed. ‘But of course my house doesn’t compare with yours. Everyone says you have the loveliest house in town.’

‘But it isn’t a singing house,’ I objected. ‘It’s just a house without a soul. Tell me how you came to have one.’

‘Well,’ smiled Mrs. Burton, ‘if you really want to know. You see, John doesn’t make much. I don’t think he ever will. He isn’t the type. We have to cut somewhere, and we decided on nonessentials. I am not very strong and when Jerry came we decided Annie was an essential if the children were to have a cheerful mother. Then there are books, magazines, and music.’ She pointed to the radio. ‘These are things the children can keep inside. They can’t be touched by fire or reverses so we decided they were essentials. Of course good wholesome food is another essential, but we don’t buy things out of season, and our bills are not large. The children’s clothes are very simple and I make them. But when all these things are paid for, there doesn’t seem to be much left for rugs and furniture. But we find we get almost as much pleasure from our long country walks, with Jerry in her buggy, as we would in a car, especially if we had to worry about financing it. We don’t go into debt if we can avoid it. Moreover, we are happy’, she concluded.

‘I see,’ I said thoughtfully. I looked over at Jerry and Fred in the corner. They had manufactured a train out of match boxes and were loading it with wheat. They were scattering it a good deal, but wheat is clean and wholesome.

I went home. My oriental rugs looked faded. I snapped my curtains to the top of the windows, but the light was subdued as it came through the silken draperies. The overstuffed couch looked bulky, and not nearly so inviting as Mrs. Burton’s old day-bed with pillows you were not afraid to use. My house was not a singing house. I determined to make it sing.

I think this story has such a great lesson and I always want to remember it.

Mommy Advise Please

We moved Henry to Jaxon's room so the nursery would be ready for the baby.  The day came last week when he climbed out of the crib on his own.  After that, I don't dare put him in it since he could fall on his head or something.  So, he was pretty cooperative the first night and will still go to bed good, but the problem is he wakes up in the night and cries for water or for us to fix his blanket.  Then, he's up for about an hour complaining about anything he can think of...his pajama shirt is broken, his blanket isn't quite right, he needs more water, etc.  It is driving Devin and me crazy!  What should we do???!!!    

I was thinking of setting a cup out and telling him that if he wants water he needs to get it himself.  Then, after getting up with him once, shutting our bedroom door so he knows we aren't going to stay up with him and his shenanigans.  I don't want him to feel like we'll never help him, but he mostly cries for water and he can do that himself and the rest of the excuses he comes up with are all fake anyway.  I'm willing to get up if he really needs something, but I feel like he needs to know we aren't going to be up every night (usually twice) for an hour at a time.  Advise please???!!!

Being up during the night means he falls asleep while playing.  His feel are dangling!

Oh, and the pains I was having have gone away so I don't think they were just from my uterus being "worn out."  I think they were related to having the flu.  I am really glad I am feeling good again and it doesn't hurt to move anymore.  I'm just extremely tired!  

3 women I know have had their babies in the past week and I'm so close, but still so far away!  I can't wait!

36 weeks

And I still have to check my sugars 4 times a day.  They are alway where they are supposed to be so I don't know what we are checking for anymore.  Devin says I should just forget about it.  The hardest part is waiting 2 hours after eating to test.  I get so hungry!  My stomach doesn't have much room to fill up so my meals are small and don't fill me up for long.  Most times, by the time it has been 2 hours I feel weak and shaky.  At least the baby is doing good and I'm almost done being pregnant.

Things That Change When You Have A Baby

I found this here.  I thought it was cute.

What changes when you have a baby? A better question may be: What doesn't change? Here, writer and mom Rebecca Woolf lists her most notable post-baby observations. Then scroll down to read our favorite comments from readers about how their babies changed their lives.

1. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.

2. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid. [See a reader's perspective in #22, below.]

3. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.

4. You respect your body ... finally.

5. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.

6. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.

7. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.

8. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago.

9. Your heart breaks much more easily.

10. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.

11. Every day is a surprise.

12. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)

13. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.

14. You become a morning person.

15. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

And from our readers...
1. "You discover how much there is to say about one tooth." — Ashley's mom

2. "You finally realize that true joy doesn't come from material wealth." — Anonymous

3. "You now know where the sun comes from." — Charlotte

4. "You'd rather buy a plastic tricycle than those shoes that you've been dying to have." — Sophie's mom

5. "You realize that although sticky, lollipops have magical powers." — Roxanne

6. "You don't mind going to bed at 9 p.m. on Friday night." — Kellye

7. "Silence? What's that?" — Anonymous

8. "You realize that the 15 pounds you can't seem to get rid of are totally worth having." — Brenda

9. "You discover an inner strength you never thought you had." — Ronin and Brookie's mom

10. "You no longer rely on a clock — your baby now sets your schedule." — Thomas' mom

11. "You give parents with a screaming child an 'I-know-the-feeling' look instead of a 'Can't-they-shut-him-up?' one." — Jaidyn's mom

12. "Your dog — who used to be your 'baby' — becomes just a dog." — Kara

[Many readers begged to differ, saying things like, " I disagree with number 12. My dogs are my additional children," "Nothing about previous babies, whether two- or four-legged, changes when a new miracle comes along," "My dog will never be 'just a dog," and "This is sad to me. My dog is still my baby too."]

13. "You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you'll be late." — Tracey

14. "You learn that taking a shower is a luxury." — Jayden's mom

15. "You realize that you can love a complete stranger." — Dezarae's mom

16. You find yourself wanting to make this world a better place. — Arizona

17. If you didn’t believe in love at first sight before, now you do!  — Ciara

18. You start to appreciate Sesame Street for its intellectual contribution.  — Anon.

19. You have to quit watching the news because you see every story from a mother's perspective and it breaks your heart. — Brooke&Boys

20. You just plain love life more - everything comes together and becomes better because of one tiny person and your love for them. — Anon.

21. You finally find out the real reason you have those breasts. — Anon.

22. In response to #2 [above], I'd say that where you were once afraid, you're now fearless. I was always very timid and shy and let myself get walked all over … but now where my kid's concerned, I'll speak my mind and really connect with my inner "b"! — gummismom

23. The support you get from other people surprises you, because the people giving it are not always the ones you'd expect. — japanese_macaque

24. Nothing is just yours any longer. You share EVERYTHING! — DylanLsMom

25. No matter what you've accomplished in life, you look at your child and think, "I've done a GREAT job!" — Anon.

26. You want to take better care of yourself for your child. — Treasor

27. You can have the most wonderful conversation using only vowel sounds like "ahhh" and "oooo." — littlehulk2008

Is This Normal?

Jaxon has been having some serious fits lately.  He's 4 and he throws more fits than Henry who is 2.

When he gets mad, Jaxon says things like, "I don't want to live with you," "I don't love you," "You're lying," "You don't love me," "That's not fair," "You're not my mommy," and on and on with all kinds of stuff.  I don't know where he gets this stuff because Devin and I certainly never have said anything like the previous quotes to each other ever.  He doesn't even understand what he's saying half the time.  It's like we raising a teenager in a miniature body.

I know he doesn't mean the things he says and I don't take them personally, but when he has these drawn out fits it wears on me.  I get past the point of knowing what to do about it.  It's like there's no reasoning with him because he just argues back with some of the lines quoted above.  These fits are hard to manage!  His fits don't happen very often, it's just that when they do, they seem to go on and on.  And of course, if he is hungry or tired they are worse.

I just don't know if this is normal.  My Oma (grandma) said I didn't say thing like that or act crazy-out-of-control-mad when I was little.  I know Devin banged his head on the floor when he was younger, but I don't think that continued much past age 2.  I wonder if Jaxon is more difficult than most kids his age or are we just lousy parents?

Where did this sweet boy go?

Oatmeal

One thing we do in our house is that if the kids don't want to eat the dinner I make for them, they only have one choice...oatmeal.  I'm not a restaurant and I'm not going to make anything they want, but I don't want them to go hungry either.  

Some nights, Henry prefers to eat in the Bumbo, on the table, without his shirt on.  

He's so cute in church when we sing hymns, he just says, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus."  Sometimes when we aren't singing he still wants to and when we tell him to sing quietly, he gets upset and says, "Singing. Jesus" and keeps going!

The Name Game

On our date, Devin and I discussed the name of the baby.  We had decided on Oliver, but I had to admit to him that every time I talk about the baby, I can't really bring myself to call him that.  I just end up saying, "the baby."  I don't know what it is.  I remember calling both Jaxon and Henry by their names pre-birth, but I just don't like to call this baby Oliver.  But, there is not another name we agree on and playing the name game is getting harder and harder!  I don't know what we're gonna do!

4 AM

I don't know what's going on, but every morning at 4:00 am anything in our house that breathes thinks it's time to start making noise to wake me up.  This means the dogs and Jaxon and Henry.  It's driving me crazy!  I have to get up at 5:30 and when our dumb dogs come running into our room at 4, I can not get back to sleep!  Then Jaxon usually needs a bathroom break and for some reason has to come let me know he went in the toilet and not his bed.  Then Henry cries for "water" or the "other one," meaning his other binki since he sleeps with two and if he can't find one, he cries for me to come help.  Devin tries to help, but it only makes Henry scream louder.  So I'm basically wide awake after all that.  I NEED my sleep!  No wonder I can't hold my eyes open after 9:00 pm!

Oh a happier, less complain-y note...I made bread (it was vegan, if you are my crazy vegan family and wondering, but only because we didn't have any eggs) yesterday and it makes the most delicious toast!  Homemade toast + UT peaches = heaven!

The Park

Okay, so I seriously can't stand teenagers at the park.  I just think, Really, guys?  You come to hang out at the park?  Did you forget it's for LITTLE KIDS?!

I especially love when they yell swear words at each other and carve those swear words into the cement.  That's fabulous too.  There are babies and toddlers around, knock it off!!!

(Can you tell I just got home from the park where I was trying to enjoy the whether with my boys and there were teenagers there?)

I don't understand why they go there.  I never hung out at the park in my adolescent years.

Sneaky Crunchy

Jaxon has been the star of this blog lately.  Here is another great mommy moment I experienced the other day...

I heard a crunching noise and saw this on my bedroom floor:

Then I found him in the front room like this:

When I found him, I told him he was not supposed to sneak ice cream cones to eat for snacks.  (Seriously, one in each hand?!)

He said, "Mommy, why are you mad at me?" and before I could answer, he also asked me, "Mommy, do you like me to eat ice cream cones?"

This kid is great!

Is It Over Yet?

That's how I felt yesterday at about noon.

Last Friday Jaxon went to the doctor and we were told he has pneumonia!  Then, Monday we took Henry to the doctor and he has an ear infection!  Poor little guys!  But, that's not what this post is about.  This post is about the events that happened today.

First, some background...

I have 2 kids, ages 3 1/2 and 18 months.  Five days a week I watch a 5 year old and his little sister who is 6 months.  Three days a week I watch a 5 month old little boy as well.  They were all here this morning.  Keep this in mind as you read about my day.

Now on with today's events...
Since Henry is doesn't feel well, he wants to be held ALL day.  I'm not exaggerating at all.  Usually I can put him up o the kitchen counter with me and he watches me as I do what I need to.  Well, he wasn't happy sitting on the counter.  He wanted to be sitting on my hip.  I just couldn't do what I needed while holding him so I put him down and he got upset.  He started to bang his head on the ground--the tile ground.  Devin says to ignore it, but I can only handle it so long so I put him in his room for a minute so I could finish and then I would hold him.  The whole time he was in his room, literally like 4 minutes, he banged his head on the door or walls.  Well, I guess he did stop for a minute or two to do this...

Looks like he's taking lessons from Jaxon.  

So, after a few minutes I got him out of his room and took him back into the kitchen with me.  There was dish water in the sink so he wanted to play in the bubbles.  (Notice the damage he had done to his forehead--yikes!)

He's happy!

Here's Jaxon in his Mr. Ray outfit.  He wanted in on the bubble playtime.  

I just let them put there feet in, but I guess that wasn't enough for Jaxon.  I left the room for a moment to change one of the babies diapers and when I came back this is what I saw.  He decided to get naked and climb in.  

Since Henry doesn't know how to take his clothes off yet, he just got in!  And he's pretty happy about it!

After they were all dried off and dressed Henry asked for a treat.  Well, he takes like 15 minutes to decide what he wants, so I put the bowl on the floor and let him mingle over his decision.  With how clingy being I was happy to leave him to himself for a minute so I could tend to some other things.  

I checked on him a few minutes later and I realized he was taking all the wrappers off the Kisses and putting them in the trash, only the Kisses that is.  He left the wrappers on the ground.  I took out the ones I could, there were 6, plus 2 he had sucked on before throwing away.  

I ate a few and saved a few.

This was Jaxon that afternoon.  I totally wanted to cuddle up right there with him, but I had a screaming toddler banging his head and 2 babies I had to deal with.  

Sleepy Nigh Nights

I consider one of our greatest successes as parents the fact that all that has to be done to put Henry to sleep at night or for his nap is to lie him down and he goes right to sleep on his own!  I know many kids do this, but Jaxon was never that easy so I really, really appreciate the fact that Henry does.  Often, we'll ask him, "Are you ready for sleepy nigh nights?"  And he'll nod his head or rub his tummy (the sign for please, indicating that he wants what was offered to him).  It is fabulous!

The "Wild Things" are at my House

The first time Jaxon read Where the Wild Things Are, he wanted a "wolf suit" like Max.  I ordered some all white footed pj's online and he loved them.  But when my mom made feet, hands, and a hat, Jaxon loved it all even more.  

Here is the good Max.

Here is Max after being sent to his room for making mischief of one kind and another.

He overturned his table, the rocking chair footrest, and his book shelf.  Plus, he threw his blanket and some stuffed animals off his bed.  We've talked about not throwing furniture, and Devin and I certainly don't do things like that when we are upset, but Jaxon still does it.  Any ideas for what to do when he goes crazy like this?

Bribery and Frosty

Here's how to make your kids behave while at the mall so you can catch the after-Christmas sales...

Bribe them with fishie crackers and candy.

Or, you could tell him Frosty the Snowman will eat him if he's not a good little boy.

No, we didn't really tell him that.  What kind of mom do you think I am?  He was just scared for some reason.

Jaxon loved Frosty though:)

Bum

Jax, "Mommy, don't tell me I smell like bum."

Me, "Well, sometimes your bum is stinky."

Jax, "Well, sometimes I itch it."

I hadn't even mentioned a smelly bum when he said that.  I was just helping him get his pants back on after he went potty.  Maybe he thought his bum was stinky?

Disclaimer:  My kids get baths every night.  We rarely skip, but sometimes their bums do get stinky.