Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Does It Matter??

I love this!!

And Another Tooth Gone...

Last night at dinner, Jackson suddenly reached into his mouth and pulled out a tooth!  (That's not something that happens every day, thank goodness!)  He was so excited about it!  I was just as excited that he hadn't swallowed this tooth like the last one!!  LOL. This morning, the tooth fairy brought him a shiny new quarter and he was on cloud nine once again.  Tonight as we were sitting on the couch together, he can't seem to keep his fingers out of his mouth...  do you think he's just obsessed with his teeth or the money that comes from losing one?  LOL.

Peyton and I had a fun morning yesterday as we went to our local Library for Baby Rhyme Time.  I have been reluctant to go to any story times because of the unknown...  the unknown of how Peyton will react and the unknown of the experience for me.  But we put on our big boy pants and just went and I'm glad we did.  There were a total of five kids at the program (Peyton was the only boy and the tallest of them all including those older than him - he's gonna be a basketball player when he grows up I think).  The leader read stories, sang songs, got out some shakers for the kids and played a song for them to dance to, and then got out a basket of toys for the kids to interact with.  The whole thing reminded me of my friend Mary Mollitt back in Winston-Salem and her Mary Time programs she would do at the Children's Museum where I worked.  Peyton did so good walking around, picking up books and handing them to other parents, and just being full of laughter and good spirits!  :-)  We are going to check out a special story time for 1 year olds tomorrow!

On Friday, we are going to a meet up with a Stay At Home Mommy group (I can't find any Dad groups here in Des Moines, so I inquired with a Mommy group to see if I could join).  I hope they like us so we can officially join after the meet up!  <Fingers crossed>

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Riding the Santa Express!

A few weeks ago, I bought tickets for a special train ride in Boone, Iowa.  When we told Jackson about this special trip we had planned, he was about to burst!  BUT the train ride almost didn't happen for him.  He has been having a lot of trouble following directions at home and was on the verge on losing this very special event if he didn't shape up.  Luckily, he was able to pull himself together and do much better the last couple of days so this afternoon (after nap) we got in the minivan and went to the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad Museum to ride up to the "North Pole" to see Santa on the Santa Express!!  Here are some pictures of our fun afternoon...





The best moment for me when when the train was starting to move and Peyton (who was in my lap) all of a sudden started to smell very ripe (if you know what I mean).  My heart dropped and I thought I was going to have to change a dirty diaper right there in the middle of the train with no way out and no escape from the smell!  Luckily, he was just passing gas!  THANK GAWD!  LOL.

Once we arrived at the North Pole (after about 15 minutes of the train going down the track and all of us singing Christmas Carols and listening to a story) the train stopped and Santa got on board!  He came around to all of the kids on the train and gave everyone a bell.  Then we all got a yummy sugar cookie and a cup of hot chocolate!  Then we sang more songs as the train went back to the station.  It was a very fun experience and Jackson was on cloud 9 for the whole experience.  He couldn't quite figure out why there was no snow at the "North Pole" but we told him it was a bit early for snow there and he seemed to be happy with that answer.  :-)

Here is a quick video I shot on the train after Santa gave the boys their gifts...


Anyway, we would highly recommend this event for those with young children!  Enjoy!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thankful

What a great Thanksgiving we had this year.  The weather was very nice (mid-60's all day) and we got a lot of good quality time with family!  This morning I woke up and made breakfast for everyone.  Turkey bacon, hash browns, eggs, and bagels with cream cheese.  Yummy!  Then we all watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV while I baked some scalloped corn for later.  Afterwards, Daniel then made some Rosemary Walnut bread and Sweet Potato Casserole.  I LOVE Sweet Potato Casserole!  YUMMY!  After lunch, we all took a short nap in the early afternoon and then loaded into the car and went to my uncle's house for dinner.  Turkey, raisin/apple dressing, cream peas, broccoli, garlic knots, and all the goodies we brought.  My mom cooked the turkey and boy was it juicy!  Daniel was nominated to cut the turkey (since he's a vet) and can you believe he'd never done it before?  He did a great job though!


I was proud of myself for not over doing it on the food this year and keeping in line with my diet (I've lost over 39 lbs since August)!  After everything was cleaned up and the kids had played for a while, the pumpkin pie came out.  I had fun feeding it to Peyton while he held a small fork and did everything with it but poke at his food!  ;-)  I'm so thankful for Peyton!  He's so precious when he laughs and I love his chitter chattering (except when we are sitting in a restaurant and it just becomes screaming)!  I love that the more you tell him, "No, don't do that," the more that he just does it anyway.  (See picture below).  Is there something in our brains that just makes us do things regardless of being told not to?  Regardless, I can not imagine what my life would be like without him. 


I'm also thankful for Jackson who can always make me laugh and melt my heart with his eyes.  Today's laugh was over a tooth.  He has had another loose tooth for the last week or so and been working hard to get it out.  Today at lunch when he was eating a PB sandwich, he announced that the tooth was gone!  OH NO!  The only thing we can figure is that he swallowed it.  You should have seen the look on his face when I suggested that.  The look of fear that A) he had swallowed something that was not food and B) that the tooth fairy wasn't going to come if he didn't have the tooth.  When Dad told him that he would poop it out, I quickly added that he was NOT going to go searching for it!  You know he's gonna try!  EWWWW!

Finally, I'm thankful for my husband, even when we both get on each others nerves!  LOL.  He's always such a good sport and helps keep me sane in those moments of craziness in our house!  Two screaming children and a howling dog is enough to drive anyone crazy!  He truly is my other half and I'm lucky to have found him!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Gobble Gobble!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Baby Kisses!

Peyton has started doing the sweetest thing...  now when I'm holding him and say, "Give Daddy kisses."  He leans his head in and kisses my mouth and then laughs.  It is sooooo sweet!!  I can't imagine it gets any better than that!

Jackson had a good day at school today!  I was really excited to get an email update from his teacher tonight.  Here is part of the message from her:  "Update on Jackson – He is doing really well.  He has been doing a lot better with his impulses.  He is doing a really good job of keeping his hands to himself and is no longer needing consistent reminders regularly.  He is doing a better job of being honest and not saying everything was an accident. He is taking responsibility for his actions and being more apologetic when something does happen.  All around, I’m proud of the progress that he has made thus far."  Sounds good to me!  Now we just need to work on being more consistent at home and we are all set!!

Daniel (Dad) and I went to see Twilight's Breaking Dawn Part 1 yesterday at the movie theater.  OMG - BEST. MOVIE. YET.  Loved it and can't wait to see it again!!

Aside from Turkey day, I am really looking forward to this Saturday when we are riding the Santa Express in Boone, Iowa.  It's an hour and fifteen minute ride from the train depot to the "North Pole."  I can't wait.  Pictures coming soon!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

A Stripper Is Born...

So Peyton has been doing something new over the last couple of days.  He's figured out how to unzip his sleepers and within a few seconds takes off all of his clothes.  LOL.  I wish he would have figured this out during the warmer months of the year!


Jackson has had a good couple of days at school this week (haven't hit anyone so far - YEA)!  Anyway, last night we took the boys to Incredible Pizza in Urbandale.  Didn't know what to expect (I've heard mixed reviews) but we had a lot of fun there.  The food wasn't bad and the games were a lot of fun.  I loved the bowling!  Here is a pic I took of Jackson there...  isn't he just adorable? 


On a personal note, I just had a remote starter and bluetooth added to the new minivan and I'm soooo excited (Thanks Daniel for the early Christmas present)!  It's like my old car now, only bigger, but less cool.  LOL.  ;-)

Friday, November 11, 2011

How to really love a child when they are driving you CRAZY!

I need to remember this...

...especially when Peyton is throwing himself on the floor, screaming, while banging his head on the floor.  The doctor assures me this is normal toddler behavior and that I am supposed to ignore it.  OMG - I'm having a very hard time with that.  Today, Peyton pushed the toy stove out into the middle of the floor, climbed on top of it, and started giggling as he stared back at me while sitting on top of it.  Luckily, he decided to get off as I was within reach and caught him.  Is it any wonder my hair is falling out??  LOL.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Sick brings Snow?

After several days of coughing and chest congestion, Peyton's cold traveled to his right eye so we went to the doctor Tuesday morning for some medicine for his eye infection.  Poor kid looks like he was in a fight and lost with his eye and irritation around his eye from his constant rubbing!  :-(


Yesterday we woke up to 2.5" of snow on the ground and Jackson was very excited!  I was not however as I really had not been looking forward to the first snow and driving Jackson to school in it.  Luckily, it was really not bad and we made it to and from school with no problem.  By the time I picked him up most of the snow had melted.  Jackson was very cute when he came running up to the car and said, "Daddy, I ate all of my lunch and had no reminders today so when we get home can I go into the backyard and make a snow angel?"  I felt bad telling him that most of the snow had already melted in the yard and that it was too wet for him to do that today.  We had a good afternoon together and later I took him and Peyton to Nana's house while I had something else to do.  

While I was at my meeting I received an email from Jackson's teaching telling me about a problem he had during the day where he hit another little boy at lunch in the back and left a mark.  The teacher said that she talked to Jackson and the other boy and gave both of them reminders about keeping hands to themselves.  Now remember what Jackson told me when he got in the car this afternoon...  I was really upset that he lied to me and intentionally did not tell me what happened.  When I picked him up from my mom's house he of course didn't remember anything and was really quiet.  I think he was embarrassed that he got caught.  Anyway, no cartoons for him today and we talked about it for a long time last night.  So disappointing!

My new challenge during the day is that Peyton has figured out how to climb up on the couch.  So Daddy had to get creative and now Peyton is really ticked off that he can't get up on the couch anymore.  See what I did...


Anyway, I'm looking forward to a nice warmer weekend with everyone feeling and acting more like themselves.  Here are a few pics from last week that I took of the boys...  my heart is filled with so much love for both of them!


Saturday, November 5, 2011

Memories...

Last night, Daniel and I were going through some old photos and found a few videos of Jackson's very first Christmas with us.  I had to post this video because I can not get over how much he has changed in two years.  His voice, his words (notice that he called me A.J.), and sucking his thumb (I thought we would NEVER break that habit)!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Run, Baby, Run

Yesterday was a good day until I went to pick up Jackson from school.  This was the first day that he was going to be walked across the sky walk to me across the street by a 5th grader.  Peyton and I got to the parking lot at 3:00 p.m. and watched as all the kids started coming out of the school and walking over the sky walk and across the street.  At 3:08 p.m. I looked at the clock and thought to myself, "Where is Jackson!"  As I looked back up at the sky walk, I saw Jackson's coat and backpack running the wrong direction on the sky walk back towards the school.  I quickly got out of the car to make sure I was seeing my son and I was!  His classmate Alexis came up to me and said, "Jackson thought you were going to pick him up in front of the school."  My heart dropped.  We NEVER talked about that and I have NEVER parked in front of the school...  always in the parking lot across the street. 

I grabbed Peyton and ran across the street at Park Avenue, and then ran across the street at SW 9th all the while keeping my eye on Jackson who was walking in circles in front of the school.  As I got across the street I yelled for him and he came running to me.  I was so upset, scared, confused, and many other emotions all at once that I didn't know what to say to him!  He evidently saw a van that looked like mine in front of the school and thought it was me and went running to it.  We had a long conversation with him when we got home about what happened and what he needs to do in the future.  I honestly have never been so scared and felt so helpless in my life because when I saw him running the wrong way on the sky walk, even if I yelled, he would have never heard me!  Thankfully nothing bad happened and I'm glad to say today he did walk all the way across the sky walk and street to me waiting in the parking lot.  :-)