Happenings Today...

My old man

2012-02-14T08:44:00.002-05:00

Internet, for a couple of years now we've been dealing with quite the "cast of characters" that visits our house daily.

It use to just be solo acts but now it is usually a duo.

The most recent characters to visit us are Old Man Owen and his Sidekick John.

Let me state I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS CAME FROM!

Most of the characters that visit us are from shows, or movies, or books.

Old Man Owen and his Sidekick John?

It still stuns me.

And the voice that goes along with Old Man Owen......ABSOLUTELY KILLS ME! The face that Thomas makes in order to get the voice he wants.....KILLS Me!

You guys, I can not contain the laughter!

The kicker though, was driving home yesterday Thomas declares that he is now Owen. The voice starts just as we pull into the driveway. I open the loser cruiser door for him to get out and I'm greeted by a hunched back man-boy saying "oh my back!"

Where does he come up with this stuff?

Thomas Trouble and Mr. Mean.......life is most definitely not dull with you two here!

I will cherish every character that ever walks in our house :)

Two peas in a pod

2012-02-10T08:14:00.006-05:00

Internet, my little guys couldn't be any more different yet they are most definitely two peas in a pod. Everything about them separately is unique yet together they are a pair.

Last night we tried a trial run of David sleeping in a twin bed. I'm not quite ready to move Thomas to the top bunk so I just put David at the other end of Thomas' bottom bunk.

You guys, they did awesome!

David didn't even try to escape and neither one of them made a peep until morning. Thomas is our early riser though so he woke David up immediately. I told him that next time he wakes up before David that he needs to sneak out so he doesn't wake him.

There were a few yawns from David this morning but without a doubt he felt quite BIG this morning.

There's nothing like preparing for a new baby to make your existing baby seem so big.
After I snapped this picture I removed the pillow above David's head. Its clear he's not quite use to one. They already asked if they could sleep in there again tonight!

Now.......if only we can ditch the diapers!

Recent Questions.....

2012-02-08T07:40:00.004-05:00

Internet, ever since we broke the news of Baby G3 to the boys, Thomas has asked questions daily.

A few recent ones........

"Mom, when the baby comes out, will we have sneakers for it?"

While putting Thomas to bed he asked "Mom, is the baby getting ready for bed too? What does it do to get ready?"

"Mom, why does the baby get to go to work with you every day?"

"Mom, when the baby gets out, will you leave the baby with us when you go to work?"

"Mom, how do we give the baby a bath?"

"Mom, when will the baby start kicking me?"

"Mom, when the baby gets out, will it be cold?"

"Mom, what's the baby doing right now?"

Growth

2012-02-07T07:19:00.004-05:00

Football Party 2012Football Party 2008
And to think that next there will be one more little body in the mix!

Birthday Prepping....

2012-01-24T09:19:00.003-05:00

You guys, my baby isn't really a baby any more. But I guess he never really was a baby-baby to begin with.

He's always been two steps behind Thomas desperately trying to keep up.

It's comical to watch. As I've said before, just when you don't think he notices, he's noticing everything without skipping a beat.

He's a sidekick through and through.

And recently Thomas has used it to his advantage. I can relate though. I can totally remember my sister's putting me up to the dirty work tasks of "go ask Mom and Dad such and such....." And it's exactly what Thomas does now. If I say "no" to Thomas' requests I can time it to about 10 minutes later when David will come up asking for the same thing but saying "Thomas really wants....xy and z."

He'll practically do anything for him.

Yesterday a catalog came in the mail. It was a "party supply" catalog full of all different themed birthday party paraphernalia. You probably know by now, but picking your party theme is a pretty big thing in our house. You get to pick your theme and you get a homemade cake to match it.

Of course within 5 minutes of looking at the catalog Thomas already had his next party picked out.....Dino Train.

A funny thing happened with David though. He couldn't pick. Perhaps it's because up until now, Thomas has picked everything for him whether David knew it or not. David's just been too busy following his lead and trying to keep up rather than forging his own way.

He looked and looked and looked through the pages of that catalog. Then this morning he brought it to me and said "Mama, I can't find a party" with disappointment. And it dawned on me that everything he picked, Thomas poo-pooed.

So I took about 10 minutes before work this morning and I thumbed through the pages with just him. We laughed at the dog party and despite Thomas' cries of "Nooooo", it seems like that's what he's settled on. A dog party. For today at least. He picked it though. And that's a pretty big deal in and of itself.

A little comparing....

2012-01-23T11:06:00.005-05:00

The below ultrasound pictures from Thomas and David are from approximately 18 weeks. Baby G3's ultrasound is just shy of 13 weeks. Although he/she was measuring 13 wks 1 day on the day of the u/s. He/she has consistently been a little ahead of my dates.

ThomasDavidBaby G3

Internet, these pictures never cease to amaze me!

So much excitement!

2012-01-20T19:19:00.002-05:00

Internet, we broke the baby news to Thomas Trouble and Mr. Mean today. They were definitely blindsided and most likely they don't grasp the whole thing. Thomas gets it but David not so much. When you ask David where the baby is, he will at least say "it's in your belly."

One thing is certain............they are excited!

The questions have been priceless and by far the best have been.....

Thomas: "Can we keep it?"

and

Thomas: "When did the baby get there?"
Me: "A little while ago."
Thomas: "How did it get there?"
And without hesitation he answered his own question.
Thomas: "It must be because I prayed for it a couple of times."

One thing's for sure..........

This baby is going to have two pretty darn awesome big brothers!

Expanding.....

2012-01-13T19:32:00.002-05:00

Baby No. 3 coming in July!

Ferris Bueller

2012-01-04T08:50:00.002-05:00

Oh you guys......Thomas Trouble pulled a fast one on us yesterday.

He faked that he didn't feel well so much that I fell for it, Einstein fell for it, and even his teacher fell for it. We were all waiting for him to vomit.

He woke up telling me he didn't feel good. Telling me something different hurt every time I asked. Then he refused breakfast. Then he laid on the couch whining. Einstein brought him to daycare and he wouldn't participate in any activities telling the teacher every 2 minutes that his belly hurt. She waiting for the que to rush him to the bathroom.

My mom guilt got the best of me at 9am and I called to check on him. She told me of the shenanigans that were going on and I felt it was best to get him out of there before he did indeed erupt.

She kept Mr. Mean for me.

We got home and I quickly got him situated on the couch with a towel and a bucket. Turned the TV and waited.

Then he starts smirking at me. The kinds of smirks he does to signal he's happy.

You guys, I was on to him.

Two minutes later he started asking "Mom, can I please have a snack?"

I got him some banana bread and he perked right up. Not laying down again. Then he moved to the floor and started playing with his toys.

So then I started prodding and asking him questions and I got him to admit that he just didn't want to go to school. He was giving me ridiculous reasons such as "you forgot to pack me banana bread and I just really wanted to come home and have some." Mind you, it's what we prepared for him for breakfast and he refused.

You guys, he totally pulled a Ferris Bueller on us!

So from that point on I shut the TV off and made him work for me. He helped me around the house for a bit and then kept going to his room and sulking. A little later he even asked if I'd bring him back to school. Nope. Not going to happen.

He got my message. I didn't have to yell. We talked about lying and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf". He apologized to me and he apologized to his teacher when we picked up David.

This morning he woke up with a cold and when I asked him if he had a cold to see how he'd play this he said "Yeah, I have a cold but I'm going to school. Other people go to school with colds so it's okay, right Mom?"

Yup, he got my point!

New Year - Project Life

2012-01-01T09:03:00.003-05:00

So I'm trying something new this year. Another attempt again at documenting my family's life via pictures and words. I know, I know, I failed miserably last year and the year before with my picture-a-day attempts. I think I can do this though and I've got about $100 invested into it to start.

It's called Project Life.I've been eyeing these kits for about a year now and after seeing one in person at a friend's house, I was sold. I had to have it!

I'm excited to do this as I feel there will be lots to document this year.

Happy New Year!

Car talk

2011-12-30T11:09:00.003-05:00

A conversation from the boy behind the mask while driving home the other night.

First let me set the stage and say that this boy was offtheflippinwall! And honestly, that's probably an understatement. I don't think my family has ever seen him so crazy.

So we are driving home and he is talking a mile a minute. When not talking, he was trying to sing a long to the radio. To be blunt, he was driving us all nuts, Thomas included.

So all of a sudden he starts saying "Hi." Followed by more and more "Hi"s. Then he says "Mama whatcha doin?"

I didn't respond.

Then he says "Mama, why you not talkin to me?"

I'm still silent.

He finally says "Goodbye!"

It all went so fast and the way he said "goodbye" was as if he had had enough of me too! Like "pffft!"

Einstein and I couldn't stop laughing!

Purging

2011-12-29T07:52:00.005-05:00

You guys, secretly, I'm a bit of a hoarder. You might not know because it's not visible hoarding, it's more like tucked away-hidden-hoarding. If that makes any sense?

And sadly, I think Thomas Trouble has kind of inherited this from me.

So I've made it my mission to get rid of "stuff".

I started with his room. I have to strategically plan how I do this. Since he has the hoard-ish tendencies too, I must be stealthy and I must do it so he doesn't know I do it, like when he isn't home.

Have you guys ever piled up 5 years worth of McDonald's toys? Yeah, don't do it. You'll want to vomit.

I filled THREE trash bags from basically just his bedroom alone. I got rid of broken stuff, five years worth of McDonald's toys, odds and ends and this.........You guys, it was hard to part with the stuff in the above picture. THAT is a prime example of my secret-hidden-hoarding. It was all crammed into an overflowing bin high up in his closet.

Over 3 years worth of projects from school.

It was something that I've been trying to do for a while but just couldn't bring myself to actually do it. But I did and while his room feels better, I don't. I went through each and every paper and I did save some of it. I saved the stuff that had his picture on it, had hand or foot prints, had words that came from his mouth, and a few things that he adored such as hats.

It was hard you guys.

And so far I haven't been busted for anything I pitched. In fact, when he saw his room his reaction was a really enthusiastic "Thank you Mama for doing this! This was a lot of work!"

You have no idea Thomas Trouble. No idea.

His most favorite Christmas gift

2011-12-27T08:03:00.002-05:00

You guys, before leaving the house this morning I asked Thomas Trouble what his most favorite Christmas gift was. His response........

The disposable electric Oral B Winnie the Pooh toothbrush.

Seriously?

And to think I spent 4 hours yesterday putting together various Playmobil sets.

Santa will remember this next year!

Somebody pinch him!

2011-12-13T07:35:00.002-05:00

You guys, Mr. Mean did great yesterday. However I don't think he's convinced he's really in the preschool class.

When I arrived to pick them up yesterday afternoon, he quickly said "Mama, I show you sumthin." and he walked me over to the closet that holds all their nap pads. "My bed's in there" he said. Then he very animatedly said "I stay up here ALL day!"

This morning, when I went in to get him from his bed he told me "Mama, I goin upstairs." I confirmed his statement and tried to reassure him that yes, it was his classroom now too.

You guys, I heard it two more times before I left the house.

And Einstein heard in a few more times after that.

The best part though, is that when he tells you "I goin upstairs", he's got this huge smile that goes from ear to ear:)

I big.

2011-12-12T08:01:00.003-05:00

You guys that's what Mr. Mean told me last night while getting his pjs on.

Today was a big day for him. One that he's been looking forward to for about two months now.

Today Mr. Mean officially moved up to the preschool class at daycare.

I made him his very own Christmas nap pad cover last night and he giggled with delight over it when I showed him this morning.

When Einstein dropped them off, he wanted to go upstairs to put everything in his new cubby......I wish I could have seen this!

And as excited as Mr. Mean was to be "upstairs" now, I think Thomas Trouble is just as equally excited to have him in his class.

When I asked Thomas if he would be good to David today, without skipping a beat he responded "Mom, of course I will be." I also overheard Thomas tell him this morning "David, you're going to be with all my friends!" This will be the only time they are ever in the same class and I really hope they are good to each other.

I really really wish I could be a fly on the wall today but instead, I will eagerly await to pick them up and hear all about his big day!

Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree.........

2011-12-09T07:47:00.006-05:00

Internet, I have been collecting Christmas ornaments long before I ever knew I was collecting them. My mother started that tradition for me when I was little. When I was old enough and had enough of my own, I stored them in my own containers in my bedroom. I eagerly awaited the day I would get to put them on my own Christmas Tree.

Little did I know that Einstein had his own collection too. Ornaments from all the way back to 1977. Special handmade ones and ones that marked various points in his life.

Combining the two, we've already got 34 years of memories on our tree. Each of us have ornaments that represent times in our lives that we never knew of each other......my volleyball ornament for instance. Volleyball was a huge part of my life but he wasn't there for that. Einstein's sail boat ornament and his scuba diver......memories of his that I don't know about.

Yet combine them both and if by chance something happened to these ornaments, I'd be devastated!

Our tree is the biggest memory saver of our lives together. Picture ornaments of nearly every year we've been together, the places we've traveled, ornaments that represent Thomas Trouble and Mr. Mean. Our life is on that tree.

I never put it all together like this until decorating our tree this year. This is the first year I let Thomas have free reign of the tree. You guys, he gets how special it is! He wanted to know about every ornament. Where they were from. Which one belonged to who. His excitement while decorating was so fun to watch!

And isn't that what it's supposed to be about?

Since our tree is a representation of the life we've built, well then it's no surprise that it's a pretty darn awesome tree!

Heaven help me......

2011-12-08T10:16:00.005-05:00

Internet, I'll start with the good first.

Mr. Mean gives THE BEST hugs and kisses! He puckers up and smacks them on. They are what I wake up to and what I say good night to. For that, I am very blessed.

But behind those kisses is one ball of fury!

From dawn til dusk he is operating at 110% of pure "terribly two" adrenaline. I'm pretty sure if I was home with him all day long I'd be waving my white flag.

The comforting part is that for everyone other than Einstein and I, he behaves pretty well. I get the occasional report at daycare that he's had a rough day but for the most part, when compared with others his age, he does well.

But the second he sees me coming for him in the afternoon it's like he says to himself......."There's Mama! I'm gonna play her like a fiddle!" It starts from the moment he sets eyes on me until the moment he kisses me goodnight.

For instance, Tuesday I picked him up and he played one hell of a game of "catch me if you can" and "look at me I'm standing on the table." Followed with "I'm going to hide under the third row of the van and see how crazy I can make you!" And that my friends is only about a 15 minute snippet of the shenanigans he played. Poor Thomas Trouble sat silently horrified of the rage that was his mother!

You guys he has no fear. He's numb to everything I say and everything I threaten despite understanding everything. I fear age three with him. I do.

And I'm secretly hoping that this horrific behavior of late is due to 1. Christmas 2. He's moving up to the preschool class on Monday and he knows it. 3. He knows that pretty soon diapers will not exist for him.

For now though, I'll be glad that he goes to bed easily, sleeps through the night, puckers up and holds on tight when giving me hugs.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year......

2011-12-01T15:18:00.005-05:00

Internet, probably just like most of you, Christmas is my most favorite time of the year! December 1st is the official Christmas kick-off in our house.

One thing I adore doing during December are Advent Calendars and counting down the days. For the past few years we have done the traditional chocolate advent calendars and my quilted wall hanging.This year I decided to introduce one more thing and that is counting down to Christmas with Christmas books.I have seen this idea swirling around on a bunch of blogs for the past few years and have always wanted to try it. So for the past month I have been collecting Christmas books.....scrounging up the ones we have, borrowing some and buying a few too. I'm short only two books but in a few days I will have wrapped and labeled 24 Christmas books! One for them to open and read every night.

I can't wait to see Thomas Trouble and Mr. Mean's faces when they come in today!

Happy Christmas Season to you!

And just like that......

2011-11-02T09:04:00.004-04:00

He's FIVE!

Happy Birthday Thomas Trouble!

I made him an extra special birthday shirt this year and went out of my way to make banana bread at 10:00pm. (I'm usually in bed then!)

Why the big fuss?

Well, this is his last "Birthday Special Day" at daycare and I wanted it to be exactly what he asked for. Because next year.....(big gulp)....he'll be in k-i-n-d-e-r-g-a-r-t-e-n. Which means my days of being able to make ridiculous shirts and what not, are numbered.

Never before has the quote "The days are long but the years are short" ever been more apparent than at this milestone of turning five years old.

Of course that's why!

2011-10-26T07:46:00.003-04:00

This past weekend I was on a mission to reclaim my upstairs living from back from all the toys that have accumulated there.

It's easy for us to fall into a lazy routine of piling the toys up on the fireplace instead of putting them back to their right spots. Einstein and I are just as guilty of this as the boys.

That all ended this weekend though. I scurried around cleaning up while my three guys were outside.

When Thomas Trouble and Mr. Mean came back in the house they were quick to tell me....

"Awesome! You did a great job Mama!"

Then, after a few minutes, Thomas said to me....

"I know why you wanted the fire place cleared off. It's cause my birthday is coming and that's where we put my presents. And, when it's Christmas, it's so Santa doesn't trip coming out of the chimney."

How could I argue with that?

Something is happening....

2011-10-21T09:59:00.005-04:00

Internet, in 12 days Thomas Trouble will be FIVE.

It's bittersweet for me. FIVE kind of seems like that magic number. While he's definitely NOT a toddler any more and really hasn't been for a while, I still don't quite see him as a big kid yet.

But a funny thing is happening. Until this point, I've wanted to bottle him up and keep him little.

Now though, I find myself looking to future. Not rushing time, but wondering what he will be like when he is 7? 10? 12? 15? 20?

Constantly.

Instead of always wishing I could keep him little, I keep finding myself wishing I can keep him, HIM.

There's so much good in him. There's so much uniqueness in him. There's so much gentle and caring in him. There's so much imagination in him.

These are now the things I want to bottle up.

Because if I can help him preserve these things, I think I'll have an easier time watching him become that big kid.

Yeah, so what?

2011-10-17T11:43:00.003-04:00

You guys, he really does take everything but the kitchen sink to bed with him!

1. Little's bed
2. Big Boy's bed
3. Rocket's top
4. Cup of water
5. Pretend Mr. Potato Head hat
6. Buzz stuffed in a tissue box
7. Tissue Box
8. Pajamas
9. Blaster gun....just in case!
10. Little Einstein's doodle book
11. His first teddy bear

And just so you know, there was more at the foot of his bed!

Regression

2011-10-17T07:29:00.003-04:00

Internet, want to know what I've done all weekend?

I've avoided stepping on a whittle crawling "baby".

Huh? you ask.

Yeah. You read that right.

This all started over the past two weeks when we've reverted to the use of bibs with David. He's always been a fairly neat eater however there's one thing that seems to get him, or us, every time.

Syrup.

The routine in our house is to dress the kids in the morning BEFORE breakfast. I know, sounds a little ridiculous but I usually leave when breakfast is being served and, well, I'm the one who dresses them. Whatever. It works for us..........when syrup is not involved.

So after too many outfit changes in a half hour's time, bibs it is.

Little did I know the impact a simple bib would have beyond the big boy high chair.

Apparently bibs in our house mean that once wearing one, you can then crawl on the floor, lose all vocabulary, and make fake baby noises as if you were an eight month old.

Wait.

Add drooling to that list too.

Let me tell you, a 30 lb., drooling, crawling, eight month old, I mean 2.5 year old, is a site to be seen and hazardous to your feet!

I'm not really sure where this is all coming from but it's a bit ridiculous!

This morning I put my foot down and told him "David, you are a toddler!" And then he went hysterical. I refused to put the bib on him to which he replied "I'll get another one." Smartass.

I think I'm just going to ignore him.

Glasses

2011-10-10T20:56:00.003-04:00

Today I took Thomas Trouble and Mr. Mean for a little Dunkies breakfast date. They thought it was pretty cool sitting inside.

Nearly everyone that we encountered snickered at as though. Why?

Well, because Thomas insisted on wearing his fake glasses. The ones that have eyebrows.

It is nearly 9pm now and he's laying in my bed....STILL WEARING THE GLASSES!

Along with wearing them, he's made me call him Simon all day. You know, from Alvin and the Chipmunks - his most recent obsession!

The best part, is when he takes the glasses off and winces/squints. He really does look like a person that needs glasses! And after looking at them all day long, they've grown on me and I think he looks absolutely adorable in them. Eyebrows and all!

I told one woman in Dunkies this morning that making him leave them at home was one battle I didn't think was worth fighting. As with everything I counter lately from the fingerprints EVERYWHERE throughout my house to him wearing the fake glasses.........none of it really seems to bother me. Sure, I could do without the fighting and whining that goes on daily. But the other stuff.......it rolls right off my back. There have been little things happening lately....gentle reminders that time is moving way to quickly. And I will miss this all some day.

Even the fingerprints.

Someone's got a mouth!

2011-10-06T08:57:00.003-04:00

I won't tell you who, but one of these guys told a baby the other day to "Zip it!" and then told me that "I'm gonna throw you in that puddle!"

I'm sure you have no idea who, right?

Sure you don't!

Kisses

2011-10-04T09:03:00.004-04:00

Internet, thought I'd give you a glimpse of one of my favorite things about Mr. Mean......

When he gives me kisses he "blows them up." Meaning, he smacks his lips and makes the kiss sound SO loud! I compare it to fist bumping and blowing it up at the end.

Every time he smiles and giggles and waits for me to tell him it was the best kiss ever!

He really does have a lovable alter ego:)

Heaven Help Me....

2011-09-09T09:30:00.004-04:00

You guys, last night it took all I had to contain myself.

Do you have any guesses as to which little darling I'm about to tell you about?

Thomas Trouble had been saying a few fresh things to me and I called him out on it. I started yelling a little bit but before I could finish, his protector and keeper swooped in.

With his face squished up and his eyebrows up The Mean One runs over to me and says........

"Hey! Don't yell at my brother!"

I have to admit, he did in fact, silence me.

I don't think I ever have to worry about anyone messing with them!

Mental Pictures

2011-09-08T07:53:00.003-04:00

Internet, yesterday for the second day in a row, I didn't recognize Thomas Trouble when I picked him up from "school." His teacher changed the play area a bit bringing out the dress up clothes and washer/dryer. It is amazing to me how much something so little can tickle their fancy.

On Tuesday Thomas was literally right in front of me and I didn't even notice. He was dressed as a sort of train conductor/mailman. He got a kick out of the fact that I didn't recognize him and was full of giggles as he said "I'm right here Mama!"

Yesterday, he was wearing a dress and a pocketbook. This time I giggled.

Despite not having a physical camera with me, I still took pictures......mental ones. And I'm writing this down because I don't want to forget what it's like to see him so enthralled in innocent and imaginative play. He's on the brink of that magic number..............5. Everything changes at 5 and while Thomas might be ready for those changes, this Mama is not.

Don't ever let anyone take your imagination away Thomas Trouble.
It is one thing that is ALL YOURS.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-09-05T16:28:00.000-04:00

I'm back at it again this week with Menu Plan Monday hosted by orgjunkie.com.

Last week was not a great meal week in our house as Irene left us in the dark until Wednesday night. She's long gone now though and we're back on track!

So this week all my recipes I'm trying out are from www.skinnytaste.com. You guys, I've tried a bunch of the recipes from this site already and I'm in love! She also posts WW points with each recipe if that's your thing.

So here goes.........

Monday: Balsamic Chicken with Roasted Vegetables. My sister made this over the weekend and gave it the two thumbs up. Can't wait to try it tonight! *Update: This dish/recipe is a keeper. However, it will wreck your roasting pan! I recommend either using two disposable pans or layering your pans with tinfoil for easier cleaning.

Tuesday: Keeping it simple with BLTs and salad.

Wednesday: Pork Chops with Mushrooms and Shallots. You guys, shallots make everything better!

Thursday: Lowfat Baked Ziti with spinach.

Friday: Leftovers or maybe Pizza :)

Happy Eating!

Oh Irene!

2011-08-29T15:12:00.003-04:00

Yes Internet, Hurricane Irene unleashed her wrath on us! Enough so that last night we went to bed with flashlights after playing super heroes for HOURS.

This is actually a first for us. Einstein and I have never gone without power together for more than a few hours. There's a first time for everything!

I can't participate in Menu Plan Monday because currently my refrigerator is being run on a generator and I am unprepared for our meals this week.

I CAN tell you that for the first time in a long time (hangs head in shame) I cooked 6 out of 7 nights this past week! Woo hoo! And I stuck to last weeks plan! I give an A+ to 2 out of 3 recipes. The recipe I won't make again is the chicken with spinach, cheese and roasted red peppers. The chicken was very blah.

Tonight we will be doing grilled chicken on the grill with a lovely garden salad.

Fingers crossed that our power gets turned on soon! I can't listen to Thomas tell me that his light isn't working only to then seconds later tell me he forgot the electricity is out.................one-more-time!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-08-22T11:25:00.005-04:00

Okay you guys, now that summer is almost over it's time to get back on track! I'm sure we're not the only family out there that tends to "wing it" when it comes to dinners in the summer. Honestly, who wants to heat up their kitchen when it's hot out? And who wants to clean up their kitchen when there is still so much daylight to be use outside?

Well, I've finally hit my breaking point! Weeks of eating this and that and eating out are finally weighing me down!

Last week I perused a bunch of websites looking for a few quicky, easy and somewhat healthier looking recips to try. I started with two and I was very happy with them as was Einstein!

When I on the recipe hunt, I look at a lot of "Menu Plan Monday" posts by fellow bloggers. A lot of times they link right to the specific recipes which makes it super easy!

I know I don't have a good track record when it comes to sticking with any particular kind of posts around here, but this is one I'd like to try.

So here is what my family will be nibbling on this week........

Monday: Salad and precooked chicken tenders.

Tuesday: Pork Medallions with Balsamic-Honey Glaze and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Wednesday: Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp, Asparaugs and Basil

Thursday: Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Melted Mozzarella with Salad

Friday: Leftovers. Or mabye Einstein will take me out because the kids will be away!

Another humdinger.........

2011-08-22T08:06:00.004-04:00

Mr. Mean was swimming with Grampa in Lisa's pool. A few words words were exchanged and then this........

"Grampa, I NOT playing with you any more!"

And he swam away.

You guys, where on earth did this sassy two and a half year old come from?!?

Point Taken!

2011-08-16T06:59:00.005-04:00

Internet, there's nothing like common sense from your 4.75 year old to toally put you in your place.

His innocence gets me every time.

Yesterday was not a good day at daycare pick up. The two of them were going in two different directions, being loud, climbing on me and just all around making it difficult to put sneakers on, gather their belongings and check them out. By the time we made it home I was angry at their antics.

I punished them for a little while making them play in their rooms. They could play together but there was no TV and no playing in the living room.

One thing you may or may not know is that Thomas Trouble is pretty much the opposite of trouble. And one thing that REALLY gets him upset is to get in trouble. It weighs on his conscience something fierce. And when he does get in trouble, like yesterday, he'll repeatedly check in to find out if I'm still mad.

He got me yesterday though. He came into the kitchen while I was making dinner and we had a little talk about his behavoir. I reminded him that he's almost 5. And that 5 year olds go to kindergarten (even though we have another shcool year before THAT) and that 5 year olds don't climb on their mom's like that.

You guys, he stopped what he was doing, looked up at me and very seriously said....

"Well I don't know how to be 5. I have to learn."

At that moment he wasn't being fresh. He was being totally legit.

And it made me realize that I need to slow down. He's totally right. He DOESN'T know what 5 is. He's still 4 for 3 more months. And I need to back off.

And since we're on the topic of growing up, take a look at this picture.....

It's a picture of an almost completely closed door of a room that's dark. No biggie, right?

WRONG.

You guys this is HUGE.

This is Thomas Trouble's room. You know, the kid who has been a NIGHTMARE sleeper since he was 1. Well he doesn't keep lights on any more and he tells me to pull the door over.

Proof, yet again, that everything happens on his own time.

I'm in for it with this one!

2011-08-15T09:58:00.003-04:00

You guys, he is just something else!

Gramma asked Mr. Mean this weekend, "David, who's a good boy?"

His response.....

"My brother Thomas."

Did Santa buy that?

2011-08-12T07:48:00.005-04:00

Internet, Thomas Trouble is catching on to commercials and it's kind of freaking me out.

I have no shame admitting that he is a movie junkie. His collection of DVDs is probably his most prized possession. And I'm okay with it. He spends the majority of his day playing indoors and outdoors, learning and reading. Movie time is his quiet time and it's his way to unwind.

When it comes to TV I'm a little sad that he's moved on from Nick Jr. to Disney and tries to get me to put on Cartoon Network. I fight that last one. Bottom line, he watches regular TV too.

So last night he's watching something and a commercial comes on for the Happy Napper. I think it's a knock-off of the Pillow Pet. He tells me that he still sometimes takes naps and that he really really wants one.

Then today while dressing him, yes, in front of the TV, another commercial comes on for some sort of be-dazzler. It wasn't the actual be-dazzler but it was similar and he was SOLD!

Lately, with all of his WANTS, I tell him he'll have to make a list and remember these things for his birthday and Christmas. And he always tells me "that's a really long time away."

He's a smart cookie though and today he balked at my "put it on your Christmas List" comments.

He said "Mom, I can't get it for Christmas or Easter (yes, the Easter Bunny brings a small gift in our house). Mom, you have to use money for these."

It made perfect sense in his mind. Stuff from Santa and the Easter Bunny just appears..........voila!

I wonder if Santa puts a Happy Napper under the tree this year if he'd ask me if Santa paid for it?

Rocks in his Socks

2011-08-11T09:29:00.003-04:00

No, not really in his socks. I just liked that it rhymed.

But there are rocks in his pockets just about every day.

You guys, I did laundry last night and FOUR rocks were collected from my dryer!

FOUR!

What is it with little boys and rocks? I just don't get it. Is it because each rock is different? Do their differences make them special and collectable?

I'm not kidding you, every day I pick them up from daycare, Thomas Trouble tries to convince me to bring the ones in his hands home. And every day I tell him that he needs to leave them and that they will be there waiting for him tomorrow.

And despite my pleas to EMPTY YOUR POCKETS NOW, he still manages to smuggle some into the house.

As I was emptying my dryer of rocks for the umpteenth time, I tried to remind myself that this too shall pass. That one day, I'll probably miss finding these rocks.

I don't like rocks in my dryer, but I do cherish the treasures that come with little boys! And some day, there won't be any.

Simply stated.

2011-08-09T08:02:00.002-04:00

Internet, whenever we do something out of the ordinary, something that is a treat, I always ask Thomas Trouble "what was your favorite part?" I ask because I like to see from his perspective what exactly tickles his fancy. Sometimes it is so simple and sometimes it really is the big things.

We are coming off of an extended weekend away. We spent it with Nana, Pop, Lisa, Donald, Charlie, Abby and William.

Note that whenver there are cousins involved, be it one or be it all 5, my kids are over the moon.

The highlights of this weekend through my eyes would be going on the boat, having a campfire, going to the movies and of course seeing Pedro and friends.

So of course I asked Thomas on our way home yesterday.

"Thomas, what was your favorite part of the weekend?"
His response, simply stated, was "William."

He simply just liked playing with him all weekend and sleeping next to him.

They truly are "best buddies."

My hope for Thomas is that this never grows old and that he'll always enjoy just simply being with his best buddy William.

A fish called.............

2011-08-01T10:32:00.003-04:00

David George Genereux!

(He says his whole name now if you ask him and for whatever reason I always find it funny when kids learn their names!)

But seriously Internet, he turned into a fish in a matter of hours yesterday!

And these two piddly pictures don't do him any justice.

This boy can hang with the best of them now and there's no stoppin' him. He's got his swim on fo sho!

Everything about him was moving.......arms, legs, and mouth! To say he was proud of his new found accomplishment would be an understatement. I think everyone at the pool heard him say, at least 100 times, "I swimmin'!"

He was climbing in and out both on the steps and up the ladder. He was jumping and going under then popping right back up. He was even putting his face in the water and "swimming under water".

I probably shouldn't be that surprised considering he has shown so much progress in just his kiddie pool........but he was a sight to be seen!

And I can't not mention my bigger fish, Thomas Trouble. He got to swim with just a bubble yesterday and was very proud of that! He was able to dive for torpedos on the stairs and loved diving in the deep end with Uncle John!

I can not wait for swimming lessons!

Bzzzz Bzzzz

2011-07-28T08:48:00.002-04:00

Internet, after dinner nearly every night, we watch an episode of "How's it Made?". Lately Thomas Trouble has really been into it. In fact last night, he was in a deep trance so fixed on it, although I forget what the episode was about.

Tuesday night, however, the first part of this episode was about honey. This was kind of a sore subject since this past weekend Thomas got stung for the first time by a wasp. He was hysterical at the time of the stinging and kept asking "why did he sting me?" I think he couldn't understand WHY because he didn't feel he did anything to provoke it.

Any who, towards the end of the honey segment on "How's it Made?" Thomas abruptly declared "I'm not eating honey!" We had a chuckle about it figuring that even though it wasn't a bee that stung him, it was close enough and he's staying away from them for good!

Also over the weekend, we took the boys blueberry picking for the first time. More on that later. We ended up with nearly 7 lbs of blueberries! Yesterday Einstein was washing some to pack for work when he noticed a rather large bug among them. Note, that we just got Thomas eating blueberries again.

Einstein says to me, "Can you imagine if that bug had ended up in Thomas lunch? He'd never eat any fruit again!"

Pedal Thomas, pedal!

2011-07-21T21:35:00.003-04:00

You guys.....

I had one of those ear to ear grinning proud mama moments tonight.

We've been working on getting Thomas Trouble to ride a bike with training wheels since the snow melted.

It has been excruciatingly painful to watch him awkwardly try to pedal. I would actually cringe my whole body while watching, hoping and praying he'd get it.

We haven't been able to tell if he just doesn't have the coordination, strength or even interest. Up until this point, we've been lucky if we could get each foot to go forward.

Did I mention that we've even tried TWO new-to-us bikes? Yeah, we have. Same results.

Until tonight.

You guys, he did it. He pedaled all by himself. It was still painful to watch him get started and I do think it's a strength/coordination thing. But he did it. And I made a really big deal out of it.

I was proud.

But most importantly he was proud. He knew he did it.

We took him down the side street next to his house and he said "now I can ride my bike to go play with the kids!" and "can I ride this to school?"

It was just the right motivation he needed to night.

Internet, Thomas Trouble is growing up right before my very eyes.

Nobody told me what an oxymoron parenting is..........while I want him to pedal and I yelled "faster" to him tonight. Inside I'm wishing I could slow him down.

Camping

2011-07-21T09:33:00.005-04:00

Internet, if you go back through the archives of this blog, you'll quickly catch on that Thomas Trouble has some sleeping issues. Ever since he was little, he's never really liked his bed. I have pictures of him around a year old, asleep standing up. He has always fought bed time no matter what we do.

What keeps him awake?

Fear.

Fear of what? I don't exactly know. I know that he does not like to be in his room alone. If someone lays with him or lays in his extra bed, he's okay and he can soothe himself back to sleep through out the night. But left in his room alone, he still wakes up every night.

The Mean One.......is a super sleeper. He likes shades down, lights off and the door closed and welcomes his snuggle bed when he's tired. He is the complete opposite of Thomas Trouble when it comes to sleeping, and, well, just about everything else I guess too!

One thing that has given us a bit of sleeping relief this week is camping.

No we didn't actually go camping.

Thomas did.

In our living room.That's right folks.....Thomas Trouble has been camping out in our living room. Complete with a tent, sleeping mat and pillow. Flash light, books, clothes, DVDs......you name it!

But guess what?

He's stayed asleep every night with no wake ups!In our house, we'll take sleep any way we can get it :)

The Tank

2011-07-20T10:34:00.002-04:00

Internet, you might remember last year we got Thomas Trouble a fish tank. We had a few ups and downs at the beginning with a few deaths but then things went pretty well.

Well fast forward to a few months ago and all but one fish died. We're not the best "fish people" yet some how this lone fish has lasted.

This past weekend Einstein and I were without TT and the Mean One. Einstein had a bag full of fish tank stuff in his trunk (that has been in there for months) that we needed to replace. So like every other couple that finds themselves childless with nothing to do.........we went to the pet store! (Doh! We really are losers!) I know right, you're probably thinking "they couldn't find anything better to do?"

Any who, we replaced all the essentials that needed replacing and we decided that the lone fish needed some friends. We bought two mickey mouse fish and a sucker fish.

On the ride home I said to Einstein, "You know that the second Thomas Trouble knows these are called Mickey Mouse fish AND he finds out there's a girl and a boy fish, that he's going to name them Minnie and Mickey? Right" We had a little chuckle over it.

Sunday night before going to bed TT and I are checking out the tank. He asks me which is the girl and which is the boy. Then I asked him if he's thought of any names yet.

"The boy is Mickey. The girl is Minnie. The sucker fish is Donald Duck. And that one is goofy. This is their club house."

He couldn't be any more predictable!

He keeps me hopping!

2011-07-07T13:06:00.003-04:00

You guys, Mr. Mean will be 28 months old on Saturday and he is STILL scaring the Bajeezus out of me almost nightly.

This morning was no exception.

You know that sixth sense I've mentioned before that I have?

The one that causes a knot in my stomach and makes me go in and check on a sleeping Mean One?

Yeah, well that "he has a blanket over his head" sense is still working because this child STILL loves to smother himself.

I'm not kidding you that my heart starts racing every time I enter his room and his head is wrapped. Thank God he's a deep breather and I can usually see his back rising and falling instantly.

This kid kills me one racing heart at a time!

I probably shouldn't be surprised that he already practices holding his breath under water. Yeah, he does that. He's pretty proud of it too.

I think I have a future stuntman on my hands. You be the judge.

For Memory's Sake.......

2011-07-05T10:28:00.002-04:00

Just a few words and phrases I love right now!

When my guys want to show me something.......
Mr. Mean: "Mom, look a me!:
Thomas Trouble: "Mom, watch this!"

The way Mr. Mean calls sneakers "neakers."
The way Thomas Trouble still has trouble prouncing yellow...."lellow."

Just a random thought.......

2011-06-21T07:17:00.002-04:00

Will I look at them when they are 50 and still think to myself "wow, I grew them"?

Great minds at work

2011-06-09T10:29:00.002-04:00

Internet, a few things I love about this picture.....

The way Thomas Trouble is sitting up so straight.
The way Mr. Mean's chin barely makes it over the countertop.
The serious faces they both are wearing.
That Thomas Trouble is wearing only pj pants. (he demands to wear ONLY bottoms lately.)
That Mr. Mean's blankie is right there with him.
The way that Mr. Mean is just looking and never too far behind his big brother.
That this picture screams THEM.

These are my boys at this moment right now.

And man do I love them!

First trip up for the season.........

2011-06-06T08:34:00.004-04:00

Friday night we took our first of many trips to Maine for this season. Thomas Trouble has been asking FOR MONTHS "when are we going to Maine?"

I tried to not tell him we were going until the last minute however I needed the bribe. For two days he told everyone all about his upcoming trip to Maine.

He LOVES Maine.

And I can't help but think just how lucky my boys are! Growing up we spent one week of every summer in Maine and it was the highlight of the year! I have SO MANY memories up there. How lucky are my kids that they get to experience that every other weekend?

This weekend did not disappoint. We played at the beach, took a dip (they did, not me!), drove "the Jeep" all around, "mowed" the lawn, caught a toad, cleaned the boat, dipped our toes, found some baby birds, and watched far less TV than we usually do!It was a good weekend indeed.

On the list for our next trip up........
*Making smores
*Going to The School House for ice cream

My boys are so so lucky!

ICE cold, Baby!

2011-06-03T12:49:00.002-04:00

Internet, when Thomas Trouble was little he use to drill ice cream like you couldn't believe!

No, we didn't feed it to him ALL the time but in a family where both parents LOVE ice cream, he's following suit!

When I say he use to "drill ice cream" what I mean is that he could bite into it no matter how hard it was. He would take the biggest spoon fulls I've ever witnessed without flinching!

Can you say BRAIN FREEZE?

It didn't exist for him! Trust me, we've pushed the limits and every time, nada! Nothing would happen and he'd keep on eating that ice cream!

WELL.......

Things have changed. He can no longer "drill" his ice cream.

He's no longer invincible when it comes to brain freeze.

Now, when he takes a bite that's too big or too much, he'll grab his forehead and announce to everyone "BREEZE FRAIN"!

He's got it all wrong and every time I have to stop and think about what he's said.

It's kind of like a double spoonerism! The F and B have been reversed but so have the words!

And just like the way he pronounces yellow as "lellow"........I'm not ready to correct him!

It was inevitable.........

2011-06-03T07:44:00.004-04:00

You guys, I knew that someday this would happen.

I've tried not to "go there" with my thoughts.

As much I've tried pretending that it wasn't happening.....

It has been.

And with each day it is becoming more and more apparent.

"Buzz Year" as Mr. Mean calls him, is kind of becoming a thing of the past.

And I'm actually fighting back tears as I write this.

The days of watching Toy Story, Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 on repeat aren't happening any more.

Instead, they have been replaced with Scooby Dooby Doo on Netflix.

Days of Thomas Trouble telling me "I'm Buzz" have been replaced with him telling me "Mom, I'm Scooby."

And another thing I've been noticing.......the second child follows whatever the first one does which means that my thinking that "it's okay, Mr. Mean will pick up on the Toy Story addiction right where Thomas Trouble stopped....." are just so false.

I thought the first one grew up too fast.....

Mr. Mean is only steps behind him. Not really 28 months!

Slow down guys......Mom needs you to be little for a little bit longer!

Scooby and some new accomplishments

2011-05-23T11:38:00.004-04:00

Internet, both of my guys are hooked on Scooby Doo lately. I mean, majorly hooked!

Lately I find myself calling Thomas Trouble "Scooby" more and more. And when he's really playing the part, he puts paws on his hands and feet.And more proof that THIS one is growing up.........

He can spell his name outloud and is quite proud of himself for it. He's been writing it for months now with no problem but he's just recently been able to say it without any help.

He can tie his shoes. He still needs someone else to do it for him so that they are tight enough but Internet, he's almost got it!

He almost doesn't need me any more! Just kidding! He'll always need me, right?

And just like that, it's gone.......

2011-05-23T07:05:00.003-04:00

Internet, remember how Mr. Mean use to be the only one allowed to call Thomas Trouble "Tommy"?

Yeah, well he doesn't do that any more. I think we might have heard it, maybe, once this weekend.

It's Thomas now. And I think Thomas Trouble is delighted about it.

Me, well, it's just another reminder that Mr. Mean is growing up WAY to fast. And it kind of baffles me.......

He has said "Tommy" for months now. Without even thinking. And now all of a sudden it's "Thomas" without even thinking. How does he not flub it up? Do you know how many times a day I get their names wrong when calling them? How does he nail the "Thomas" so fluidly after saying "Tommy" for months? Are little big brains that focused?

My baby's getting big.

Without a doubt.......

2011-05-10T15:18:00.004-04:00

there is indeed a mega mind inside that mega head!

A very big MEGA SMART BRAIN that I simply adore to watch learn and grow every day!

It's all a front

2011-05-10T10:04:00.003-04:00

Internet, I bet you'd never in a million years guess that this MEAN face would be the requester of kisses? Am I right?Well guess what? Every single morning he says two things to me.....

"I wanna kiss!"
"I wan one more!"

And he throws himself at me. He really does! I have witnesses.

The boy that never wanted to be cuddled as an infant loves stealing kisses from me. And "knock-me-down-squeezes" too!

Let me tell you.......I'm never empty!

Cherishing It

2011-04-15T15:08:00.003-04:00

You melted me last night, Thomas Trouble.

I'm not sure you know the impact of your actions yet, but sometimes I think you do.

And last night, well, I think you KNEW that I needed those double handed "I LOVE YOUS" you flashed me.

Thanks for that Thomas Trouble.

And right back at ya!

Just laugh with me, please

2011-04-02T11:16:00.005-04:00

Now Internet, trust me when I tell you that I know things could always be 1,000 times worse. I know this. So by no means am I looking for any sort of sympathy. I'm actually just looking for a few of you to maybe have a few laughs with me.

Because right now, I'm finding it a bit funny!

I thought once March was over, we were going to be done with GERMS.

April Fools!

April 1st brought with it a whole new set of germs!

And just to recap, for memory's sake and so I'll remember NOT to jinx myself the next time my kids seem like they've been way too healthy like I did this year.

Feb 25....Thomas starts to not feel well. Lots of complaining of headaches.
March 2....David and I get the stomach bug.
March 7....Thomas gets the stomach bug.
March 11....David is seen for his well baby visit and Thomas is seen for the headaches. She thinks its allergies and gives us nasal stuff.
March 14....Thomas has strep.
March 17....David has Influenza A
March 19....Thomas has Influenza A (although it's not confirmed)
March 30....Thomas has strep.
April 1....David gets the stomach bug.
April 2....Thomas gets the stomach bug.

I'm officially waving my white flag.
I surrender!
Mercy!
Uncle!
Just please, please, please, take these germs away!

So much to catch up on......

2011-03-28T11:21:00.003-04:00

Oh my gawd Internet, I have neglected this "spot" for far too long now! Shame I tell ya!

Some highlights that I will get to soon.......

Mr. Mean turned TWO! Oh yes he did. And we had a Backyardigans Party! You know the saying "the terrible twos"? It is oh so true!

Also, we spent a week "where dreams come true"! And get this......WE MET THE REAL BUZZ! We did........I've got pictures to prove it!

Do stayed tuned because the updates are coming!

And just a little teaser/for memory's sake here are a few phrases that prove The Mean on is Oh So Terribly TWO........

"No!"
"I want it!"
"No!"
"I need it!"
"No!"
"I need it now!"
"No!"
"I don't want to!"
Did I mention "No!"?

And as far as pictures go for the other blog......I've got them! Not every day like I had hoped but I've got LOTS!

And because I like posts with pictures the most (ha! I rhymed!) here's Thomas Trouble making his very own jelly sandwich ALL BY HIMSELF the other day. He was so proud of himself!

My Despectables

2011-03-10T09:17:00.005-05:00

Internet, Thomas Trouble recently moved up a level in his swimming class. He's now an Eel. When Einstein brought him to his first class last week, all the other little eels were there with goggles, except for Thomas Trouble.

Einstein fixed that problem when he arrived home on Tuesday night with not just one pair of goggles, but THREE. (Just a little side note.......Einstein has a ridiculous obsession with buying in bulk and buying at BJs. He finds any and all excuses to go there. This is a topic for another post!)

So not only did Thomas get goggles but someone else did too.

And I can't help but giggle every time I look at this picture!Have you seen the movie Despicable Me? Thomas actually calls the movie "The Despectables". I'm not sure why, but I can't find it in my heart to correct him either. Can you see the resemblance?

Time flies when you're having fun!

2011-03-09T11:13:00.004-05:00

Internet, my baby is TWO today.

And the saying, "Time flies when you're having fun" couldn't be any more true!

I feel bad admitting this but his first year was long, most likely because I wasn't having fun. He was sick. He was constantly cranky. And he threw up........a lot.

But shortly after his first birthday, he started coming to life. He was no longer sick. He wasn't cranky. He started walking and a new personality started to form.

I finally fell in love with this little boy and this past year has been a blast!

Sure, he has his moments. What toddler doesn't? And sure, his looks most definitely could kill. But those looks are him. He's skeptical.

And behind those looks there is a little boy that greats me at the end of the day with "Hi Mom Mom!" while running to hug me. There's a little boy that gives the best "squeezes" and is never stingy with kisses for me. There's a little boy that will hear a large sneeze or a cough or any other strange noise and say "okay?" He adores his father and will often cry when he sees him leave to go somewhere. He adores laughter, being silly, dancing and singing. Just not my singing. And he absolutely adores his big brother whom he often refers to as "My Tommy".

You guys, behind those dirty looks and scowls is SO MUCH LOVE!

He was most definitely put here to rock our world which he does daily.

And we wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy Birthday Mr. Mean!

Love,
Mom Mom

And it happened.........

2011-03-08T09:33:00.007-05:00

Internet, to be blunt, my baby is growing up!

Tomorrow he will be two although when you ask him how old he's going to be he says "four". And he says it with a giggle just to let you know he knows he's messing with you.

Punk.

Two kind of monumental things happened during this past week in the world of Mr. Mean.

First, he doesn't have any beloved, warmed bottles any more. They are officially a thing of the past. And I didn't even take them away on purpose which makes me a firm believer, yet again, that things happen for a reason.

Mr. Mean's last bottle was on Tuesday, March 1st. I didn't know it was going to be his last. I can't even tell you if I held him because I wasn't paying attention because I didn't know it would be the last one. Chances are he inhaled it while standing in the living room watching TV with one of his blankies and then went and chucked it in the sink. I'm guessing that's how it happened, but honestly, I don't know.

What I do know is that the next day he had the stomach bug which meant no bottle. Wednesday turned into Thursday with him still sick and again, no bottle. It was then that it dawned on me, the Powers To Be have decided for me that it was time.

He hasn't missed a beat. He hasn't asked for it. And he also hasn't flooded the bed. Last night though, him and Thomas Trouble were both on my lap while I was on the computer. We started looking through some pictures and we came across one of Mr. Mean drinking his bottle. You guys, he started bouncing and yelled with excitement "that's my bottle"! I felt a little twinge in my heart for him.

The only thing I ask the Powers To Be........please please please be gentle to this Mama and don't take his blankies away yet!

The second monumental thing that I HAVE worked on all winter happened today!

I'm going to leave you with a picture though and see if you can figure it out! Only my loyal readers who know the ups and downs of my quirky Mr. Mean will probably get it.
I love this KID!

We were due.....

2011-03-04T10:43:00.005-05:00

Internet, this Winter has been good to us. Compared to last year, that is, when every other week it was something.

We've managed to avoid all the illnesses that have been going around minus your average cold. The kids have both had those but they have lead to no where.

I've been knocking on wood and saying my prayers that while we've been healthy, we would either stay this way or get it over with before our trip to Disney that is coming up this month.

Wednesday we got hit.Mr. Mean got it first. He was so pathetic and I felt bad so bad for him. You know he's sick when he won't let me put him down and easily falls alseep in my arms. HE NEVER DOES THAT! I think I had some sort of version of it too. I never actually got the pukes but I did have a fever, chills and stomach pains that were oh.so.painful!

The Mean One and I spent Thursday hunkered down on the couch. He slept almost the entire day waking only to have a popsicle. Then he'd go right back down. Around 2pm he let me put him in his crib and I woke him up shortly before 5:00pm. He POPPED out of his crib with a great big smile on his face. When I asked him if he felt better he gave me the biggest up and down head nod saying "Nup".I then bathed him and he was AS GOOD AS NEW.

Praying that Einstein and Thomas Trouble are either spared or get it over with and out of the way quick!

The "place where dreams come true" doesn't have time for the sickies!

In the Zone!

2011-02-28T08:46:00.004-05:00

You guys, he kills me!

Just look at these two pictures for a moment.......They could be interpreted two different ways.

First, look at the scowl! It's classic Mr. Mean at his finest! I'm convinced that his looks could kill. He's like an angry little artist!

Or, you could say he's just in the zone. Deep in concentration trying to pump out his finest work!

Bawhahahahaha!

Another thing to note about these pictures, he uses both hands.

We've been told that it's still a bit early to identify which hand is the dominant hand. And I know that it's common for children at this age to use both but I'm finding it very interesting to watch and I think because of his arm, he might be quasi ambidextrous. For weeks now (or even longer) he uses crayons, markers, pens, and pencils with both hands. When it comes to eating, he consistently uses his right hand with a spoon and his left with a fork. He knows that his right hand can not turn properly to use a fork in that hand. There are more things I've noticed as well. Most importantly though, his minor disability or deformity (I don't know how to properly identify this "condition") isn't slowing him down in the least!

And angry artist or not, I love this kid with all I've got!

In the car yesterday..........

2011-02-22T12:38:00.003-05:00

Thomas Trouble: Knock Knock?
Me: Who's there?
TT: Cargo?
Me: Cargo who?
TT: Cargo beep beep.

Lame, I know. But he nailed a joke!
And we weren't even doing the knock knock stuff. He kind of just pulled this one out of left field.
Definitely reason for documenting!

That Einstein.......he's a gooda!

2011-02-17T11:22:00.003-05:00

Internet, this Winter feels long.
And I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels this way.

I made it through the holidays feeling pretty good. I didn't over eat like I usually do. And I didn't have loads of extra goodies left over either.

But then the end of January hit and I started to feel the slump.

I'm not at the heaviest weight I've ever been but I am most certainly THE SQUISHIEST I've ever been.

This is a hard thing to deal with for me. While I'm no spring chicken any more, I did use to classify myself as an athlete. I had muscles. I had hard abs. I played many sports growing up and by high school, volleyball was my number one sport playing it practically year round. I even played through my sophomore year of college but then a back injury was making it hard to continue that kind of pounding. And I quit. It's kind of funny though.......this was all prior to ever knowing Einstein. So to him, I've never been an athlete. (I did show him my scrapbook recently to prove I was!)

While that was a long time ago, I've been able to pull it together and kind of keep up.

Not any more though. And I've been lacking any and all motivation.

But Einstein's been good. In fact I've kind of been joking and calling him Mr. YMCA lately much to his dislike. We've got a family membership to the Y and he's determined to use up any and all benefit it has to offer!

This past Tuesday night, in his quest to get me motivated, he pushed me to attend one of the group exercise classes. Knowing how much of a big-fat-socially-retarded-weenie I am, he even agreed to do it with me.

You guys, he went to Yoga with Weights with me!

He was one of only 3 guys in a room FULL of women.

He broke the "silence" for me.
He was my crutch.
He made me feel the "muscle burn" I've been missing.

And most importantly, he made me find my motivation again.

Thank You Einstein.
While things like that and social situations are very easy for you, having you go with me was a big deal to me.

It's on!

Shouts from a four year old

2011-02-16T11:09:00.003-05:00

Internet, we're not entirely sure where he came up with it, because Einstein and I certainly don't call him this often (even though it is his name) but.......

When Thomas Trouble is not too happy with what Mr. Mean is about to get into, he can be heard yelling.......

"DAVID GEORGE!"

And it's usually followed up with.......

"OH NO you don't!"

I've been hearing this here and there lately but Einstein first heard it last week on a morning that I left the house before them. I got a phone call about it and we both had a good laugh over it.

We have a good laugh about a lot of things.
And I like to think it's what makes us tick.

The Brothers

2011-02-15T09:35:00.003-05:00

Internet, I momentarily melted last night........

Thomas Trouble: "David, wanna play this game with me?
Me: "Thomas, I don't know if he can."
Thomas Trouble: "I'll teach him. I'm his big brother."

I try not to put too much pressure on him regarding his role as "big brother." I try to tell Thomas that Mr. Mean learns from ALL of us and that he's always watching ALL of us. That said, when circumstances get a little out of control, and these two need intervening, I do use the "big brother" role reminding him that he has to lead by example.

I'd like to think it's working.

Heavy Guilt

2011-02-14T10:59:00.002-05:00

Internet, last night it hit me.
And it hit me hard.

There was Thomas Trouble, sitting in his bed like he does every night looking through books.

Last night however, he wasn't looking at his usually books. He was looking at two little photo books of when he was a widdle baby.

He loves doing this.

What got me though, was when he got to the end of the pictures and saw the empty pages.......

"Mama, you need to put more pictures in. Why did you stop?"

Yup Internet, it was a dagger to my heart.
It was a great big "you suck!"

"Mama, you need to put some pictures of me big in here."

I felt like saying, "Oh Thomas, you think that's bad? Your little brother doesn't have ANY photo books!" but then I realized I'd probably breakdown in tears if I actually said those words, so I didn't.

I just told him that I would DEFINITELY add pictures to his photo books.

And I again I refrained from telling him that I have a BUNCH of photo books waiting to be filled.........I might have cried again.

Internet he's well past four years old and I have miserably failed at keeping photo albums.

This is what I hate the most about digital photography..........I never develop pictures unless they are being given as gifts. In the "old" days, I couldn't wait to use up a roll of film to be able to "see what I captured". In fact, most times I'd buy a little photo album when paying for my developed pictures. It was so easy.

Not any more though. I take a million times more pictures and then they just take up my hard drive.

You know what's worse......our old dog, the one that we only had for EIGHT months......

He has more pictures in albums than Thomas Trouble.

The guilt.
The guilt is so heavy.

Promoting the wrong skillz

2011-02-08T13:17:00.003-05:00

Oh Internet, last night I had a vision.

It wasn't a good one.

And before I get to it, let me confess.

Yes, Mr. Mean will be two years old in one month and one day and he STILL has a bottle every night.

Don't judge.

He use to like to be held like a complete baby laying back drifting in and out of it with his blankie by his face and slowly drink his bottle. It was so soothing for him. We could instantly put him in to bed and not hear from him until morning.

Now........well, that bottle is sort of like crack to him.

It's kind of like he needs the fix but wants no part of being held like a baby and most certainly doesn't want to go right to bed.

But last night I noticed something else and I finally think it's time to pull the plug.

You guys, the vision I had, was of him in college shot-gunning a beer.

Just what every parent wants to see their child do, right?

Last night he stood there, in the middle of the living room and chugged that bottle dry. While he didn't do it as quickly as if he were actually shot-gunning a beer.....HE NEVER ONCE CAME UP FOR AIR!

Yup, I think it's time. And while I know he will miss it, I think my heart might twinge every time I hear "where's my bottle!" which I've come to enjoy hearing from him.

My baby's growing up.

Another thing to remember

2011-01-28T16:00:00.002-05:00

Roe-puder.

It's how Thomas Trouble pronounces computer.

Is it bad that I don't have the heart to correct him? Is it wrong that I ADORE every mispronounced word that comes out of his mouth?

Internet, the number of words he incorrectly says is dwindling down, at a very fast rate.

I'm holding on to the last few, such a "roe-puder", for as long as I can.

Remember when he stopped saying "can you pop this?" I wasn't done with that yet but it was gone.

Yet again, it's another example of how no one ever tells you it's the little things that will really get you as a mother.

And on a side note, if he happens to tell you that his Leapster Explorer is a Wii, just go with it. He thinks he's pretty cool.

And I do too.

Giving it ANOTHER whirl

2011-01-26T14:36:00.003-05:00

Internet, I made this resolution last year, and failed miserably.

I am not a quitter though.

You might have already noticed over there on the top right that it says "every day in photos" with a date underneath it.

That my friends, is my new (giving it another whirl) resolution.

I am putting it on a different blog to make it easier for myself because I have a goal. And that goal is to fill that blog up as much as I can with pictures and just a few words of the year 2011. At the end I would like to put it in a book.

I feel confident that it is January 25th and I have only missed a few days. I use 3 different means of taking pictures...........my iphone, which I'm trying NOT to use because the quality is bad, my point and shoot which I'm also trying to phase out and my mackdaddy DSLR. This project will hopefully help me sharpen my photo skills which I started pursuing in 2007 and didn't keep up with after the addition of Mr. Mean. (Nope, not blaming the screaming baby of 2009 one bit! wink wink) Since I am using three different instruments, it takes a lot of time to update.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I already do!

Up a me.

2011-01-25T13:18:00.002-05:00

"Up a me."

That's what Mr. Mean says when he wants me to pick him up.

I just don't want to forget it!

The Hat

2011-01-19T12:09:00.005-05:00

Internet, if my last post didn't prove that Mr. Mean is quite quirky, then maybe this will.

Have you been able to see the pattern with him? First it was with his shoes. He didn't like anything but these one particular pair. He would cry when I tried others. Eventually I was able to break him down. Then he did the same thing with overalls. Do you remember?

Well now it seems he has an affection for a hat that is AT LEAST one size too small.

He absolutely-no-freakin-way lets me put any other hat on his head. I take that back, he did allow me to put a Red Sox cap on him recently. But as far as winter hats go, forget about it! It's this hat or no hat as far as he's concerned.

It's so small that you actually have to tug at it on top to get it off. The straps barely fit around his chin to velcro it.

The funny thing is, I think he knows it's too small. Because if he's not outside, he whips it off. As soon as we get in the car........off with the hat. As soon as we get in the house........off with the hat. But as soon as we pull up somewhere that requires him to get out of the car I start hearing "My hat! My hat! Cold out!" So he knows his hat is too small for him but at the same time he knows he needs a hat. What gives?

Mind you, in this house, A LOT of winter hats can be found! I've tried. But yet again, this is a battle that just isn't worth it.Mr. Mean, as long as your head and ears are warm, I guess it's okay for you to wear your too small hat.

Even if on some days you look like you have a mullet or look like an Egyptian Sphinx.

Whatever it takes

2011-01-18T10:31:00.002-05:00

Internet, I'm not really sure what to make of this other than IT PUT HIM RIGHT TO SLEEP.He cried for "my boots" for 30 minutes last night. And when you've already got a migraine, you're kind of willing to do whatever it takes to put a screaming child to sleep.

In this case, we gave him exactly what he wanted.

He was asleep within minutes of putting Thomas' boots back on.

Mr. Mean aka Sybil

2011-01-13T08:37:00.004-05:00

Dearest David,

Oh how you can change in a mere 24 hours!

Yesterday was a delightful day with you. You got to sleep in until almost 8:00am. You woke up with a silly smile that delcared "I'm up and it's going to be a good day!" And oh how it was! You were playful and loveable giving hugs to all of us, including Norman. You even kept your mittens on and didn't complain in the snow. And when it was bed time, you hunkered right down.

Fast forward to this morning.

Good Lord, Holy Moly, I did't know the sight of an orange hooded sweatshirt could so easily set you off.....causing your mood to snowball from there on.

You were barely awake when I was gathering your clothes from your dresser and at the sight of your new sweatshirt, you lost it! Why? Do you not like the feeling of fleece? Mama needs to know these things Buddy! I need to figure out what sets you off :( Just know that I don't purposely do these things to annoy you.

Your vocabulary is growing every day........I just need a few more words from you so you can more easily communicate your likes and dislikes to me.

The raging tantrums aren't cool.

Mama loves you no matter what Davey Baby, but I just really hate starting my mornings off like this.

A Big Boy Moment

2011-01-10T13:10:00.004-05:00

Dear Thomas Trouble,

Yesterday you made me proud.

It wasn't a big deal, per say. It was a regular Sunday at Church with an added bonus of you getting a gift.

While you still wouldn't walk down the aisle by yourself to recieve your Children's Bible Stories book, you did let go of my hand to recieve it and you continued to stand there as tall as you could in front of the entire congregation.....without me, along side of your fellow Sunday School friends. I was able to sit in a pew while you stood there and then you sat there with the other kids to listen to the Children's Message. You didn't make me sit there with you.

Not a big deal at all. But kind of a big step.

You looked like a little big kid up there. And it made me proud to see you stand so tall.

Love,
Mama

Maybe he's onto me?

2011-01-07T15:28:00.004-05:00

The scene: Thomas Trouble's room
When: Tuesday night, bedtime
Who was there: Me, Thomas Trouble, Woody, Buzz, and Big Boy

Tucking Thomas Trouble into bed he says to me........

"Mom, will you tell me a story from your mouth?"

Ha! Internet, I nearly burst out laughing in his face! Is he onto me that I usually talk out of my ass to him and make stuff up as I go along?

I kid.

In his defense, he wanted me to TELL him a story. A made up story opposed to one from a book.

He loves this stuff. In fact, the story that I started Tuesday night and called "Toy Story 4" has made for 3 easy nights of going to bed for him. He loves drama. Add he loves cliff hangers.

I kind of forgot where I was in the story though. But I have no doubt that he'll be able to tell me EXACTLY where I left off.

Talking out of my mouth indeed! *wink wink*

Self Portraits

2011-01-05T10:18:00.005-05:00

Internet, unless my sister is around, I'm rarely EVER in a picture with my children.

So......sometimes I have to take the matter into my own hands.

Last night was a tough one with the Mean One. And as a distraction and as a way to document that even though he was-THIS-close-to-bringing-me-to-tears-and-tearing-all-my-hair-out, I still love him.

Behold, the self portraits.
And of course I got one with Thomas.It's funny, because I have another one with him from October of 2007 and I'm wearing the same shirt. (Its one of those really really worn out (loved) t-shirts that's so thin it could rip at any moment!)This one can be found here.

The Arm Update

2010-12-30T08:32:00.004-05:00

Internet, I apologize if I've left anyone hanging with regards to Mr. Mean's arm from this post.

The short story is that Mr. Mean does indeed have an arm deformity. It's called Radioulnar Synostosis. What does that mean? It means that some time when Mr. Mean was still in utero and his arm bones were forming, his two forearm bones never completely separated. His radius and his ulnar are fused at the proximal end near his elbow. It also means that his radial head is dislocated.

Mr. Mean will never have full movement of his forearm/wrist. His wrist is in a somewhat fixed position. The doctor does NOT encourage surgical treatment. He said in a patient like David where only one arm is affected, surgery is not the best solution. He says that studies don't show much gain for patients that have the bones separated and that surgery usually only causes more problems down the road.

So we are leaving his arm as is.

Yes, his arm is different. Yes, it's somewhat visible. Mostly only to the people that know about it. The good thing is that David doesn't know the difference. He was born like this so his brain has already made adjustments. He's adapted. And we're told that he should continue to adapt. We will go back for a check up during November 2011 and we will go from there. Right now we are to watch for muscle growth and development. If we think he is lacking in that arm, then we will most likely put him into physical therapy. I'm hoping to get him into therapy this coming March.

Mr. Mean is unique. And I've kind of already known that from the start! He's been my firecracker since the get go so why stop now.

I'm not thrilled that he has this. I am however relieved. The initial diagnosis that we got prior to visiting the specialist at Children's was not a good one. That diagnosis carried a big can of worms, and not good worms. We are relieved that this is an isolated occurrence. He is otherwise 100% healthy and for that, we are extremely grateful.

We might not have a baseball player on our hands, but we have a feeling we have one hell of a soccer player in the making! Have you seen him kick a ball? He's got something there, for sure!

Christmas

2010-12-26T13:27:00.000-05:00

Internet, this year......by far, was the most magical Christmas I can remember in a long time!

Four is a great age for the Christmas Crazy!

From doing the Elf on the Shelf, to visiting Santa, to going to see Christmas lights.......Thomas Trouble (and Mr. Mean too) enjoyed it all.

The best part for me, were the reactions I got from Thomas Trouble on Christmas morning.

Of course he always wants everything he sees, but for the entire month of December two things remained constant when people would ask Thomas Trouble what he wanted from Santa........the Lego Toy Story Train Set and a Toy Story bedroom (sheet set).

Santa came through and got him a few other things too. But his reactions to those two things alone, were the best gifts for me this year!They were both quite surprised when they found a piece of Santa's ripped suit stuck in the fireplace. Thomas Trouble was SPEECHLESS for that and Mr. Mean grabbed it and ran it over to us. I need to come up with something super clever for next year!After opening our presents at home, we spent a nice relaxing day at Nana and Pop's house.Playing the piano at their house is a must do!

Another conversation.......

2010-12-21T15:07:00.004-05:00

Another conversation during "pillow talk" from Thomas Trouble......

T: "Mama, I want to go to the place where dreams come true."
Me: "Maybe some day when you get a little bigger."
T: "Mama, I really want to meet the real Buzz."
Me: "Hopefully some day we'll get to Thomas."
T: "Mama, the place where dreams come true is really far away. You have to go on an airplane."
Me: "You do?"
T: "Yup, you do. On the airplane you'll have to hold on for a few minutes but then it will be okay."
Me: "Okay."
T: "Mama, when you get to the place where dreams come true it's called vacation."

Internet, do you think he's been discussing things with fellow classmates?

Pillow Talk

2010-12-21T14:54:00.004-05:00

Internet, I think I've told you all before about how I love to talk to Thomas Trouble when he's laying in bed at night.

At four years old, he tells me EVERYTHING.

I know this won't always be the case. And I know at some point in the future they'll be a "keep out" sign on his bedroom door. But right now, I'm inhaling it while I can.

A few nights ago I was laying on his spare bed and he was tucked into his own. He started talking...........

Let me first tell you that he likes to talk about two things.

When he was a baby.
or
When he's a grown up.

This particular night, we were talking about when he is a grown up.

He started off my saying "Mama, I'll still visit you when I'm grown up. But I'm going to live in a different house with a different family."

Me: "I hope you'll come visit and have dinner with us."
T: "I will but then I'll have go to home."
Me: "Will you really have to leave?"
T: "Yes because I'll be a grown up."
Me: "What are you going to do for work?"
T: "I don't know. Be a struction worker."
T: "Maybe I won't work."
Me: "You'll have to work."
T: "Why?"
Me: "Because you'll need money."
T: "Why do I need money?"
Me: "You'll need money to take care of your house and to buy food so you can eat dinner every night."
T: "Mama, I'm not going to leave when I'm a grown up. I'm going to stay in this house."

Cowgoat?

2010-12-19T10:40:00.000-05:00

December 19th was the Church Christmas Pageant.

Thomas Trouble had been gearing up for it all month. He was going to be a goat.

At the first and only practice he needed to be at, he freaked. It took close to 45 minutes to peel him away from me so that he could preform.

He eventually let go and walked with the kids.

Right before it was time to go, he was allowed to pick an animal costume of his choice. And while I think the costume was that of a cow, he WAS a goat.He showed everyone who came to our house the week leading up to the pageant. He even tried it on.

But on the morning of the pageant he wanted no part of it at all. He was a disaster in church and I thought for sure my little cowgoat wouldn't be able to carry through with it.

Then he napped. Which is fairly rare. And he woke up like a new person.

And Internet, he ROCKED it!He was the cutest cowgoat I've ever laid my eyes on!

And it must be noted that while Thomas Trouble was busy being a cowgoat on stage, Mr. Mean was in the audience yelling "Where's my Tommy?" nearly the entire time!

Little does he know that next year he'll be up there too!

Friends

2010-12-09T15:01:00.004-05:00

Internet, it's taken four years but I can finally say that these two are now friends! This is usually how I find them in the morning before school. Thomas Trouble is big enough to let the Norminator in and out of the back door and he can even put his morning biscuits in his bowl for him. He says 5 is too many so instead he gives him 4 and one extra. Made you think about that one, right? We just go with it!
Norman and Mr. Mean still have a lot of work to do on their friendship though. It's kind of like a work in progress. The Mean loves him and is constantly looking for him calling "Wo Wo?" However Wo Wo still looks at Mr. Mean as a complete threat!

For Memory's Sake

2010-12-06T11:07:00.002-05:00

Just a few not to forget.......

Mr. Mean's vocabulary has TAKEN OFF!

Wake ups use to only include "Mom! Mommy! Mama! Dada! Dad!" from the crib. Now they are "Moooom! Whereareyou?"

In fact, his "Whereareyou?" is kind of like his phrase of the day. Yesterday he kept looking for Thomas Trouble while he was outside with Einstein. Mr. Mean kept going to the top of the stairs saying "Thoma, whereareyou?"

Yeah, it's not really Tommy any more either. It's more like Thoma pronounce Tom-a.

He also likes to tell you when he's having fun. He'll giggle and say "It fun!"

He's still fearless and body slams anyone he can when he's on the couch. I spied him trying to launch himself off the couch the other day and stopped it all before it got ugly.

He copies EVERYTHING Thomas does. EVERYTHING. Just when you don't think he's watching he is. It's almost like he's programmed. If Thomas walks a certain way, Mr. Mean doesn't miss a step and is instantly walking that way too.

And he still likes his bottle. Really likes it. And looks for it when it's around that time. He doesn't sit that still for it any more though. Partly because I think he knows that when he has it, bed time follows. And lately at bed time, he tells me "No. I play."

I had a hard time with Thomas Trouble getting bigger.

I'm having an EVEN HARDER time with Mr. Mean getting bigger.

Christmas Crazy

2010-12-02T12:33:00.009-05:00

Internet, it's what I call this time of the year.

I love it and hate it all the same. I love everything about Christmas. But I hate that I feel like it's always rushed. Christmas music before Thanksgiving......I can't do it.

Now though, that's a different story. I could listen to it all day long! (One of my favorite things when I was little was to listen to it while falling asleep in my cabbage patch bed tent! ha! And my Bing Crosby Christmas CD was my favorite!)

One thing I particularly love to do during this time of year is to make stuff. Ornaments and baked goods.

The past two years I've failed miserably at the ornament making. I found the things I wanted to make. Bought the supplies but ultimately started just way too late in the game.

This year........oh Internet, this year has been different.

I've been rockin' my Christmas Crazy for a few weeks now. I might not have been listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, but I might have been crafting!

I can't link to the crafter's ideas I have lifted. (Perhaps I can add that later! It would require going through a ton of blogs!) But I can share a few things I have been making........

(These were the first thing I made and they were all donated to a church's Holly Berry Fair.)

(I use my dining room light as my drying rack!)

(This was made and donated to a charity as a silent auction item. But I've made more!)

(These are TOP SECRET! And I did make them!)

And considering that last night we put our tree up and started decorating......I'm well on my way to thoroughly enjoying my Christmas Crazy!

School Pics

2010-11-23T09:29:00.004-05:00

Yes Internet, I still get candid pictures of my boys while they are at school.
And they still make me smile more than you know.

Today's pictures and little note was especially needed.

It was one of those chaotic mornings that led to rushing to drop off late. And prior to that, Thomas Trouble was being fresh and got in trouble.

And he carried on whimpering and whining all the way until I left them. Not to mention that he was practically in tears at the window waving bye.

Which is not like him AT ALL.

I did give him extra hugs and kisses and told him I wasn't mad any more. But he kept it up. And I pulled away feeling badly and thinking "hmmmm could he be getting sick?" Because of course whenever my kids aren't themselves, I wonder if they are getting sick.

But then I got an email and it said.......

"Just thought you would like to know Thomas was fine after you left and started playing. :)"

And it had pictures attached.

It was EXACTLY what I needed this morning. Thank You Paula!

And suddenly, all is right in my world again.

(I love that in the first picture the boys are in the same position. And I love that in the second picture Mr. Mean is turning a block into a phone. He turns everything into a phone!)

Tommy

2010-11-22T09:22:00.004-05:00

Internet, I'll admit it........when Thomas Trouble was born I cringed every time someone called him anything other than "Thomas". He was not a Tom or Tommy to me. He didn't look like one and it just didn't sound right to me.

That said, I have always known that there will come a time when I have absolutely no control over what anyone outside of my home calls him.

What I didn't know, was how strongly Thomas Trouble felt about his name until a trip to the ER some time this past year. He had to wear an ID wristband while there and I told him that's so that everyone would know his name. When we later got home and I tried to take it off of him, he wouldn't let me. He told me "Mama, I have to wear it to school so everyone knows my name. They don't know my name. They keep calling me Tommy!"

That's when I realized how strongly he felt about being called Thomas only.

Enter Mr. Mean. Who as you all know, plays by his own set of rules. You can probably sense where this is going!

For months now we've all had a name from him, except Thomas. I'm Mama, Mom, or Mommy. Einstein is Dada or Dad. Norman is Woe Woe. Thomas hadn't yet been verbally identified.

Until this past week.

And you guessed it.

Mr. Mean calls him Tommy.

And suddenly, I love hearing the name Tommy. Not because I like the name Tommy or because I think he looks like a Tommy, because I don't. But I love hearing the Mean One say it. It didn't roll off his tongue until he perfected it. And when he says it, you can actually see him move his mouth like he's trying really hard to say it perfectly.

Thomas on the other hand, hates it. And usually says "Mama, make him stop! My name is Thomas!" when his brother calls him.

And just when I thought I had name control in my home, I don't.

Leave it to you Mr. Mean!

A memory that makes me laugh!

2010-11-19T11:40:00.004-05:00

Internet, I have a memory of going out to dinner once with Einstein that always makes me laugh! It's probably not going to come across as funny here......but in person, at the time, it was REALLY funny.

It was before we were married. We had gone to a Mexican Restaurant called La Poloma. It's yummy!

We both ordered the same thing (I know, boring, right?)......fajitas.

When Einstein's hungry, he eats FAST. And anyone that knows this restaurant, knows it's usually very busy and there's usually a wait. Combine a wait with being hungry and you end up with a person that inhales their food!

So dinner comes and we're eating and talking and having a good time. Einstein finishes before me and is sitting there watching me eat my fajitas.

I get to my last fajita and am peeling that paper off the fajita. You know, the paper that lines the bottom of the plastic fajita container that has a lid?

All of a sudden Einstein has this look of horror on his face while watching me peel the paper of my fajita shell. He quickly opens the lid to his empty fajita container.

It is empty. Completely empty with NO paper.

Yes, you guessed. Einstein ate the paper!

And he finally figures out what he's picking out of his teeth.......fajita container paper!

And know I'm laughing again! It's so so silly but it gets me every time!

His Royal Roundness

2010-11-18T09:48:00.003-05:00

You guys, it's hat season! My favorite!

And that's because HIS big round face gets magnified while wearing a hat and I LOVE IT!That smile sure helps a lot too!

This past installment of His Royal Roundness is my favorite......click here!

My Four Year Old

2010-11-18T08:38:00.002-05:00

Internet, there's nothing that gets to me more than to be complimented on my children. Just as I'm sure all of you do, I constantly hope I'm molding them and serving them well.

So yesterday, I'd like to think that I was told Thomas Trouble is "so cute" because of the way he was behaving and talking to me rather than how he looked. Mostly, because he looked like an absolute train wreck!

He was wearing running pants with a waffleknit crew neck long sleeve shirt that was WAY too big on him. He had just taken his hat off and had a very bad case of hat head. Not to mention that he was dirty because he had just come off the play ground!

But he was sitting there on a chair in the waiting room of the pediatrician's office and he was being good. He wasn't all over the place like he normally is. And he was using please and thank yous!

So when the woman sitting across from me said to me "he is SO cute", I really hope it was because he was being a good little boy. Because honestly, at that moment, he really was being a good little boy. And I really appreciated that compliment.

Maybe just maybe, I am serving them well!

His Baby

2010-11-15T08:28:00.003-05:00

Internet, the other day Mr. Mean woke up from a nap and I asked Thomas Trouble to go in and talk to him for a few minutes while I finished what I was doing. When I finally got in there, I was greeted with a crib full of "stuff". Apparently Thomas Trouble was keeping the Mean One busy by just handing him things from around his room.

One of the things that was in the crib was a doll. It's one of those dolls that has pockets, snaps, zippers, ties, etc. etc. I guess you could call it a learning doll or something. Mr. Mean got it for his first birthday but hasn't really shown much interest in it.

Until now.

This is how I found him the other night.And this morning after he woke up and got out of his crib he was demanding "my baby". And from that moment on, he walked around the house with his "baby".......hugging him, scolding him with "No Baby" and wiping his baby's nose with tissues.

Let's see how long this lasts!

Did you hear him this morning?

2010-11-12T09:17:00.002-05:00

Internet, I put striped socks on THE MEAN ONE this morning and good Lord he lost it and I had to deal with a whole-lotta mean-ness! Seriously, he totally LOST IT.

Have I told you before how he doesn't like change?
How it took two weeks for him to finally wear a new pair of shoes?

Socks though? Come on!

Yes, about 99% of the time he wears plain white socks. Occasionally we squeeze a pair of navy blues in there.

Today I dressed the boys alike. Nothing fancy just jeans and navy blue turtlenecks. I opened Mr. Means sock drawer and in front of me were a pair of gray and navy striped socks. The same socks he wears in white almost every day.

Based on the reaction from these socks, you'd think they were fluorescent stripes with thorns on the insides! YES, the tantrum was that bad.

What did I do though?

I called for back up. "Einstein, get his shoes, QUICK!"

And we covered those bad boys up.

He got over it. Only after laying in my lap for a good 10 minutes.

He likes to prove his point.

*Note taken Mr. Mean........you do not like striped socks!

Thomas Trouble Turns 4!

2010-11-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

Internet, I know you'll probably find this incredibly shocking, but Thomas Trouble wanted a Toy Story birthday party.

Can you believe it?

Oh. You can? ha ha ha We are going on two strong years of Toy Story infatuation in this house! It's insane!

I digress......back to the party.

He was one very happy four year old for sure! Honestly though, it doesn't take much to please him. Just have his extended family over and he's all set!Unfortunately Abby was missing. She was there. Spilled her mouth. And then they quickly got her out of there as to not infect anyone else!Telling everyone that the new Jessie Doll he got is what he's always wanted!Thomas Trouble, while I sometimes wonder if you're ever going to like anything other than Toy Story stuff, I secretly dread that day that I'm not tripping over some piece of Toy Story paraphernalia.

You thanked me for your cake when you first saw it. I melted inside. I hope you always remember to show that kind of appreciation. You'll never know how much I enjoy making your cakes every year!

Mama loves you Thomas Trouble.......to infinity and beyond!

Mr. Resourceful

2010-11-08T15:46:00.002-05:00

If Mr. Mean isn't carrying around a stool, he gets creative!9 times out of ten he's got his stool but on this particular day we were in our downstairs family room. I totally caught him getting into the DVD collection.
Nice steps though, huh?

Jessie

2010-11-07T20:22:00.005-05:00

Internet, Thomas' Trouble's reaction to opening his Jesse Toy Story doll was downright priceless!

Beware, I'm not done with the birthday recap! It was kind of like a week-long birthday bonanza!

Conversations

2010-11-06T15:24:00.004-04:00

Internet, I've said it before and I'm going to say it again. The conversations between Thomas Trouble and his cousin William are priceless........especially the phone conversations!

Last night we got a surprise call from William. There was one moment during the conversation that was totally foreshadowing of the two of them in their elder years.

I'm not sure what was being said on William's end but I heard Thomas say......

"Talk a little louder William. I can't hear you."

Although in their elder years, I'm sure it will be something more along the lines of "Hold on William, I have to turn up my hearing aide."

They kill me. They really do.This photo was taken during the above conversation.

The Stink Bug

2010-11-05T08:22:00.004-04:00

Internet, I wish I caught this morning's excitement on video because my words will do it no justice! The Mean One was a hoot!

Let me back up to share, yet again, another noticeable difference between No. 1 and No. 2. No. 1 (Thomas Trouble) does not like bugs! It took us about 3.5 years to get him to willingly hold worms. He freaks at the sight of them! (He may or may not get that from me. However I do put a brave face on for the sake of not wanting him to be a weenie!) No. 2 (Mr. Mean) tries to kill every bug in sight! He goes right for them. He's been found wailing away at my walls with golf clubs before because there was a spider on them.

No. 1 is afraid.
No. 2 is NOT afraid.

So back to this morning.......No. 1 and No. 2 were playing. I was secretly enjoying the moments of them playing together because there was no screaming but rather giggles. A wonderful early morning noise to my ears!

They were in No. 2's room when all of a sudden No. 1 blurts out "STINK BUG!!!!" and comes running out. Sure enough there was a stink bug on No. 2's wall. Internet, I don't do stink bugs. They're big! So I called for backup, aka, Einstein. He comes in with a paper towel and instead of killing it he catches it. No. 1 takes a look and then No. 2 wanted a look as well.

That's when things took a different direction.

Einstein bent down so No. 2 could look. After looking for a second, he WHACKS it with a stuffed animal and the bug falls to the floor. No. 1 is now jumping and freaking and No. 2 is now clearly on a mission to rid us of the stink bug!

The hysterical part in all of this.......the way that No. 2 stood behind No. 1 using him like a shield. He was cheering his little brother on for sure, but he was literally keeping an arms length distance.

No. 2 took a couple more whacks with the stuffed animal and eventually stomped on it with his foot. He was determined! No. 1 circles around him from behind cheering him on and ducking when he'd wind up.

When it was all said and done, No. 1 was quite proud of No. 2. We kept hearing him say this........"Davey, you were SO BRAVE!"

I really really wish I had this on video. Trust me when I tell you it was quite the sight!

Sleepy

2010-11-04T08:40:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, I know.......another picture of Mr. Mean sleeping.

I'm sorry. I, personally, just never get sick of a sleeping baby!

But there's also something else of interest to me in this picture. It could just be the way he fell asleep or it could be becasue he can not twist his wrist. But do you notice how his right arm/wrist/hand is positioned? He's not clutching the blankets.

I'll try to refrain from sleeping pictures for a little while. I can't promise though!

30 Days

2010-11-03T08:58:00.003-04:00

Some of you may know that November is National Blog Posting Month. It's a silly little challenge to try to post every day in the month of November. I don't think I participated last year, but I have in years past. I'm giving it a whirl again this month. Also, I realize I haven't gone private yet. And I'm not totally sure I'm going to.

Here's a little randomness today..........

Dropping Thomas off at school today he gets out of the car and says "Mom, am I still 4 today?" He also thinks that Sunday is Thanksgiving and that we are having cake for his birthday after we eat Turkey. I think this happened because he likes to keep birthdays and holidays in order. On Sunday he asked what was after Halloween. I told him his birthday and then Thanksgiving. Well his birthday past and he isn't quite grasping that we are having a party for him after the fact. He thinks his party is Thanksgiving!

We got Thomas a Star Wars Red Light Saber for his birthday. He LOVES it as does Mr. Mean. Could you hear him screaming for it last night?

I woke up this morning disgusted with the state that I live in. DISGUSTED. Are people really okay with the state of affairs here? Are they that uneducated that they can't read between the lines? Are they okay with working hard to pay for other people? Ugh. I could go on and on but I won't.

Lastly, what's a post without a picture?

I took this on Sunday night after I put one skeleton to bed. Every night he ends up completely on top of his blankets. The more the merrier. And this is why we usually put him to bed in fleece feeties!

FOUR

2010-11-02T09:12:00.006-04:00

Thomas Trouble, I bought you this book as part of your birthday present. I cried in Target while reading it.I think it's fitting right now. You probably won't 'get' it yet but I do plan on reading it to you tonight.

You are four now. You are not a toddler any more. You are a little boy. You are learning. You are growing. And you are more and more turning into you!

I most definitely do wish I could keep you little, but I have a feeling the world has big things in store for you and I can't wait to see them!
Happy Birthday Thomas!
Mama Loves you!

Halloweenie

2010-11-01T12:39:00.006-04:00

First Internet, check this out.........
I told you Mr. Mean wasn't always mean. Look at that handsome smile! And what's better, is that they are BOTH smiling! This is now my new favorite picture of them.

So Halloween was fun. I've dreaded what Mr. Mean would be like. You see, he doesn't like things that are out of the ordinary. For example, it took me two weeks to get a new pair of shoes on him. His old ones were too small. Overalls.........hates them! Yeah, he's got an opinion and he's not afraid to use it. So the thought of having him put something like a costume over his head, well, it made me a little nervous. At 3:00pm yesterday, we tried it and as I had imagined, he wanted NO PART OF IT.

So when last night came and it was time to hit the road, you can imagine how surprised I was when he willingly walked the streets of our neighborhood decked out like a dragon.You guys, he loved it!

And Thomas Trouble had a hell of a night too! His little buddy Aiden was visiting his Gramma's house and they got to go trick-or-treating together. It was a last minute surprise that put the icing on his cake, for sure! (I wish everyone could witness these two together. I can only imagine what they would be like if they lived across the street from one another!)

I had so much fun observing the innocence of Thomas and his friend this year. His friend kept correcting me when I'd call him by his name and he'd say "No, it's Batman!" They were really trying to BE their costumes. And at each house that gave them more than one piece of candy......well I think the whole neighborhood heard about it! Nothing was expected and it was all still so new to them.
And as for the new "usual" that takes place on Nov. 1st every year........I'm teary about the thought of tomorrow.

My baby will be 4 tomorrow. FOUR.

He is a full-fledged little boy.
And such a joy.

Excuse me while I go wipe my eyes.