1 Star Ravioli's

Moving.  I'm sure we've all been there.  You go into that "I really don't want to buy groceries so we're going to eat everything up in the house and eat meals that make School Lunches look like a 5 star restaurant" stage.  This includes Hamburger Helper, Poptarts, Mixed vegetables and today's lunch....
1 STAR RAVIOLI

Why did I name it that?
Because I realized I didn't have any sauce and had to use tomato juice instead.  Worst. Raviolis. EVER.

And I also found out today that the movers (who were supposed to be coming on the 13th) will be here on Friday.  A week early.  AWESOME!  They don't come when it's convenient for you.  They come when they can and then you deal with it....  luckily God blessed me with a positive attitude and a sense of spontaneity and adventure!  I'm going to call it "camping" when the house is empty and have plans to do lots of fun stuff.  We'll be able to go out during the day and enjoy stuff because there won't be anything to do here!  ...I will still have the computer, though.  And the internet that I'm using from the neighbors....hehe!  One of the only "pros" in living in a densely populated subdivision!  There's always going to be somebody out there that can't figure out how to put the Security Code on their internet!

In Case of a Break-In, NEVER SLEEP NAKED!

True Story:  So I was having an extremely difficult time with everything on and was just having a seriously rough couple of days  I'm talking "turn-of-the-cell-phone-and-shut-down-the-computer-for-an-entire-weekend" kind of thing; which, if you know me, is totally...not like me. 

Sidenote:  I have a fabulous neighbor.  At first we just did favors for each other and watched each other's kids when one or the other needed to run an errand without it taking 3 extra hours.  We helped each other out etc.  Then we started having "porch dates".  Usually completely unplanned mommy nights where we bummed in our sweat pants and exchanged parenting "Oh I KNOW!"'s over some big girl koolaid. AKA alcoholic beverage.  These nights ended up in us getting completely off topic and at some point laughing our butts off while making gigantic plans with complete intent on keeping them knowing full-well come next morning we wouldn't : )  And then it turned into friends exchanging things that you usually don't tell other people.  And that has been the evolution of my friendship with our neighbor!  Ok....so back to the story...

I had the curtains closed all weekend.  (I did take the boys for a walk and to the park...and I even checked the mail!) I had essentially just checked out of life for a little bit.  I didn't put in my contacts or put any makeup on.  ..................I know.  I'm dead serious.  It was that bad.  All I did was clean and play with the boys and do the everyday chores while cleaning up messes that I'd just cleaned and on and on, rinse, repeat, etc. Well Jennifer must've been a little concerned because I hadn't been answering her texts, calls, or messages (I'm not sure she knew just how hardcore I was going with the whole "house hermit" thing).  So that night I got the boys to bed and waded through the mountains of laundry in the hallway to get to my room.  I thought..."Heck.  I might as well take a nice bath and then I'll wrap and go to sleep..."  I did some yoga.  Took a bath. Shaved my legs, even!  Got out, put on my wrap and instantly felt better.  But the way I put the wrap on with the saran wrap over it I couldn't get my PJ pants on so I just decided to chill on my bed -- full on birthday suit over here. 

As I'm laying there in my skibbies I hear something downstairs and just chalked it up to the ghostie in my house or something random because there was NO WAY it was a burglar.  Then I heard another noise....then silence....nahhhh. I just imagined that.... All of a sudden my bedroom door starts to open up so I'm quick scrambling for my glasses but all I see is pitch black and the first thing that comes to my mind is --- OH MY GOSH! MY HOUSE REALLY IS HAUNTED!  Then I started thinking of the quickest gun to grab from our stash under the bed when I hear, "Sara?" ---- It was Jennifer and our other friend Ms. Brittanie coming in to check on me and do an "intervention" (makes it sounds like I was on crack or something! haha!)  Most awkward  moment ever!  My terribly messy hallway and they climbed through my laundry and got to see my horrifically messy room AND me in nothing but saran wrap! They also brought me a "Get out of jail free" card for babysitting because Jennifer knew I needed a break.  And they brought me some "beverages"! HA!  It was so fun.  Then we decided to give the neighbors a show and I chased them out of the house (in my blanket) and threw shoes at them!  The neighbors had watched these 2 clowns actually break into my garage and they didn't even call the police!

THEY TURNED MY FROWN UPSIDE DOWN!  : ) 

It turned into a fun night.  I'm lucky to have good friends!  Sad I'll be leaving them behind --- but I'll take these memories with me forever!  : Justin Bieber on the porch in the blacklight.... ding dong door ditch -- OH YES WE DID!... dancing around the living room with the kids blaring music at night...never say neverrrr...

Am I Bald Yet?

WARNING:  I'm extremely stressed out!  and I'm not going to sugar-coat things or pretend that it's all happy-go-lucky because right now, it's not!  Things are a little rough right now...but OH WELL. THAT'S LIFE.  and this is just temporary phase.

I feel like 1/8 teaspoon of jelly trying to cover an extra large piece of toast.  There's just not enough of me to go around!  I'm so busy doing all the other stuff I'm not really getting time for myself.  AH!!  Christopher has been acting out like crazy.  I've been getting random adrenaline surges during the day...probably because I'm constantly worrying that he's going to get out and run down the road (which he's already done).  Even at night in my dreams I dream that he's escaping the house and I HAVE to get out of bed to check on him.  Why do I clean the house? Honestly.  I really can't think of a good reason other than it's the "thing" to do.  I cleaned Christopher's room (we do every night...but I vacuumed it today) and tonight, after telling him to go to bed 800 times and having to swat his tush, I hear him at 10:30. 2 and a half hours after I put him to bed!  What did he do?  Dumped all of his toys in the middle of the floor and tore up books and the back of a chalkboard thing into a million tiny pieces. 

 I know it's not just me feeling this way because thankfully I found a wife and friend who's having the same things.  Military life: you get to be married AND be a single parent. (Really not looking forward to deployment). Christopher's in the terrible-two's, Rob's gone, and we're getting ready to make another huge life change.  Things are crazy stressful.  I just want to melt into the floor for a little bit.  Sometimes I'm not sure whether to hysterically laugh or just break down into tears.  Occasionally I opt for both.  I do devotionals to re-center myself and I try to stay positive...but some days it's just so hard.  Today I said about 50 prayers for strength and patience.  I can't imagine what my day would've been like if I hadn't prayed.  I swiffered the floor only to have a delicious looking bowl of buttered peas and ravioli with homemade sauce hit it...because they weren't chicken nuggets and that of course puts a damper on my happy attitude. I don't know.   I feel old, a little mediocre, and boring.  I want to spend a little money on myself and not feel guilty about it.  I want to feel pretty and cute and be able to get my nails done or get a new cute outfit occasionally.  I need a haircut...I need something different. 

Wisco Vaca

Had such a wonderful time visiting the family! 
Some of our trip hi-lights were:



Buscia and Ryan! (She got Christopher hooked on
bologna sandwiches!!!)



--- Christopher escaping Buscia (means Grandma in Polish)'s house; we heard a boy outside that sounded exactly like Christopher. Ding Ding Ding! It WAS Christopher!  He'd managed to sneak out of his room (that we had jammed the door on while our bedroom was right next door), changed his own pull-up, attempted to put various pants on, made a "bony shammitz" -- aka: bologna sandwich --  for the trip, got the tackle box and fishing pole from the garage (which he had to go outside to get to), grabbed his lifevest from downstairs, talked to some people walking their dog (that's when we heard him outside), and by the time I caught him he was already on the dock heading for the pontoon boat with tackle box in hand saying "Mommmy!!!  I GOIN FISHIN!".....   Seriously.  HOW IS MY HAIR NOT GRAY YET?!?



Papa meeting Ryan



---  Everyone meeting Ryan for the first time!

---  Waking up and going for a pontoon boat ride around the lake with Rob and Christopher

---  Going to the fireworks on the 4th of July with my hubby and just getting to hold his hand and walk around without having to worry about chasing a 2-year-old or changing poopie diapers.  That evening we weren't Sara&Rob: Mom&Dad.  We were just Sara&Rob.  It was a nice break!

---  Sitting around the campfire with hubby and the family.  Oh and the one night in particular when Christopher got to stay up WAY past his bedtime (*cough cough* ....11:30pm!!)  He was a riot!  Being such a clown and entertaining us all; pretending that the fire was trying to eat his sucker!  
-- Watching my Dad and Rob light off fireworks (illegally) in the driveway with The Boellaard Clan: Papa and Gigi, Aunt Shelia, Adam, my Dad, Michael, Wes, Mar-bear, Rob, Christopher, me and Ryan!  We were the envy of the neighborhood!

Daddy and Christopher eatin' BLT's

--- Cooking breakfast for the guys at my Dad & Mary's! 
--- Playing in the toyroom that Grandma Mikey set up for Christopher.  He called it his "park"!
--- "Camping" in Grandpa Scott's backyard with Rob, Christopher, Ryan, and I all in one tent!  It was so much fun!!! Complete with a campfire, swingset, AND it was free!  Plus if it rained all we had to do was run in the house.... not a bad deal!

--  The OLD RED MILL in Little Hope, WI!!!  Words cannot describe it....but an upcoming Youtube Video will : )


--- Riding in the car with Christopher and Grandma Mary.  Car pulled in front of us and Christopher appropriately used daddy's phrase: STOOOPID HIPPIES!!!   ....funny how kids pick up on the things you don't want them to say!



Ryan and Aunt Shelia at the lake

--- Hanging out with my brother and his friends for a night! ....oh that was interesting!!!  Way too much to recap but the jist of which was: ghost stories. cemetary. ditch. traintracks. security guard. more ghost stories.

---  Washing and waxing the car with Christopher

---  Taking the boys to the lake with Auntie Shelia and Adam ... Christopher REALLY loved swimming! ...or so he claimed.

---  Goin on historical adventures with the boys



--- Heading out to Lake Wazee and hanging out with Grandpa Jack (dropped the weiners in the dirt...TWICE!) my mom, and Grandma Bev for the day.  Swam off the drop-off and supermanned over a 200 foot drop.  Amazing sensation!  You can see the tops of trees!

--Attempting a beer-off with Jimmy (my cousin). HA!  He's the ultimate champion forever.  I forfeited! 

---  Get-together with Rob's family!  They're all so much fun!  Especially his Aunt Gail.  She's got baby magic!  Ryan just absolutely loved her.

Auntie Gail working her baby magic!

Gigi Meeting Ryan!



My mom, me and the boys @my newest favorite place
on earth:  Old Red Mill, Little Hope WI





 



Best Picture Award --- Grandpa Scott & Gramma Mary @ 2 Lakes



Jimmy & My Brother: The Winners



Summer in Wisco

Having fun in the hot and humid weather! Had Ryans baptism on the 3rd and stayed out at buscia's (it means 'grandma' in polish) house on the lake. That was fun until we woke up the 1 morning and heard a kid outside talking to some people who were walking theyre dog and he sounded exactly like christopher.
Rik a minute to realize it actually WAS christopher and he was "going fishing on the pontoon boat"! Had gotten the tackle box from the garage and a pole from the basement and everything! By the time I caught him he was on the dock in his pullup saying ' Mommy I go FISHin!' He also made himself a 'shamitz'  (aka sandwich) they morning.....found the load of bread on the floor in the kitchen. I swear....I might get gray hair by the time I'm
25!

Rob is now in Virginia....AND WE MISS HIM LIKE CRAZY! Before he left we were both stressed and rubbing each other the wrong way. Especially because we weren't getting any time together down in kansas. At least up here we had family to take the boys so we could go on a date! It was much needed. I love my boys but theyre demanding! Rob and I have been on the backburner. I loved being able to walk around and actually get to hold his hand and just spend time with the 2 of us. With Rob being gone I realize how much I really depend on him and miss him!  It's so easy to get stuck in the 'same old, same old' of everyday life. I guess i'm thankful for the military life because it teaches you to never take anything for granted. 

Took the boys to the lake today. Actually got christopher in the water with me and he was kicking his feet! So fun!

Words of Wisdom from Grams

My Grandma is my role model and I couldn't have asked for a better example.  She's such a wonderful woman and if I'm ever half of what she is; I'll be in good shape.  Here are some wonderful words of wisdom from my Grams that I'd like to share --

"We must not pray for Life to be easier, but for God to make us stronger.  We shouldnt' pray for tasks equal to our might, but for God-given might equal to our tasks.  When we grow weaker, God's strength can be more radiantly displayed in us.  HE is there, HE cares, and HE will supply us with what it takes to cope, that we might be "strenghtened with all power... (Col. 1:11)".

"Stand fast, stand firm, and even when we feel like going AWOL, remember that Jesus dwells in us -- and with His presence, power, and promises, we can face anything, rise above everything, and bring God glory."

Grams with my Dad and Christopher @ 2 months

Fathers Day 2011 -- Sharpie, Sharpie

Mommy tried to sleep in.  There was the first bad idea!  I had been awake with Ryan since 3 and was going back to bed at 6:45.  Woke up to feed Ryan again at 8 and listened down the hallway for Christopher (usually he knocks on his door and wakes me with a very loud, annoyingly sweet, and deliberate "MooooOOOOOOMMMMMYYYYY!") but heard nothing and assumed he was sleeping.  Oh how very wrong I was....

Skip forward to 9:15 a.m.  Rob woke up to go downstairs.  Shortly afterwards I hear from below..."What the hell?!!"  I then heard him come back upstairs.  After standing in our room in silence for a few moments he said, "You should see what he did."  Hesitantly I started down the hallway, immediately noticing that Christopher had indeed opened the door to his room, scaled the 3.5 foot gate, and stealthily wreaked mischief on our house. (After pulling his lamp off of his dresser and overturning all of his drawers in his own room of course.  Oh and taking Ryan's baby bath out and pouring shampoo into it...)  Ohhh that little house terrorist....  He climbed up on the counter and got himself a snack of crackers that were all over the floor.  Got into my craft cabinet and got the markers, crayons, and sharpies out.  The laptop was on the floor.  The top of the fishtank was tore off and the fish were floating in a reddish murky water which turned out to be an entire bottle of fish food.  All 4 of my full bottles of hair product and lotion were squeezed into the toilet and my makeup was everywhere and then there was the "beautiful" colorings all overWhich brings me to "Sharpie, Sharpie".  Oh and did I mention Christopher was naked?  Yup.  But even after all of that you just can't be mad at a 2 year old who's showing you his "beautiful" drawings who was so proud of himself for feeding the fishies and gettig himself breakfast and making tattoos on his arm "like daddy"... :)  OH WELL!  iT'S LiFE



HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!



SHARPIE, SHARPIE

Sharpie, sharpie everywhere.                            

Sharpie in my child's hair.

Sharpie on our living room floor.

Sharpie on the patio door.

Sharpie on the tv screen

Redpinkyellowblue AND green.
Sharpie, sharpie everywhere.
Sharpie on the rocking chair.
Sharpie on the fishy tank.
Sharpie on the piggy bank.
Sharpie on the baby's swing.
Sharpie on my decorational thing.
Sharpie on the kitchen table.
My mental status? : unstable.
Sharpie on the DVD's.
Somebody tell me I'm dreaming, please.

Sharpie on the booster seat.
                 Sharpie on my child's feet.
                       Sharpie everywhere I look.
                            Sharpie on the blue cookbook.
                   Sharpie Sharpie everywhere!!
            I'm going crazy -- I SWEAR!
     Is that Sharpie on the window glass?
   Sharpie on my child's ...?
 Ask me how I cleaned the mess!
 Goo gone and baby wipes worked the best.
  -- A very Sharpie poem
 Sara

Live Laugh Wrap / DIY Spa Prices

Please Help! VOTE!

So I entered in the Mary Kay Makeover Contest and if I win I get to donate $2500 to the charity of my choice.  I want to donate it to the Apple Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  I know it's a long shot -- but these ladies helped me out so much.  They gave me support and helped me out with things like diapers etc when I was a single mom and my significant other left me.  They are so great -- they offer help to parents and they do parenting classes and have a wonderful "Smart Women" program.  They're the most fantastic group of women I know and I want to give back to them because what they did for me was priceless.

https://www.mkmakeovercontest.com/US/EN/Gallery/  follow the link or search for me "Sara Miroslaw"

You can vote 5x / day!  PLEASE DO IT!

Wonder Woman

How on earth do "those" moms do it?  Clean the house, take care of the kids, have a job, make dinner, keep track of doctor's appointments, & have time to do their hair/makeup and look awesome?!  HOW?  If I work out in the morning then I have to get up at 5...otherwise if I wait both the boys are awake and then I'm not able to get ready for the day until noon and I just feel crappy.  If I want to get a shower in then I have to get up at 4:30 so I can be ready by the time the boys are awake.  I feel like I'm going slighty mental!  I know all moms hit this level of sleep deprivation: the days and nights blend together to feel like one eternal,constant day that's separated by a few short naps in spurts.  It's crazy!  And time is flying by.  I cannot believe Ryan is 8 weeks old.  So much for having his pictures taken at 2 weeks.  And for getting our family picture in.  We STILL don't have one.  My "we'll do it tomorrow" philosophy has taken us 2 months down the road and it still hasn't happened.  I feel like time is slipping away right through my fingers. 

I know Ryan is going to grow up so fast. Christopher is growing more and more everyday.  He doesn't even want to sleep with Na-Na anymore...I cried a little.  He's been attached to that dog since he was 6 months old and now it's a thing of the past.  I can't believe my baby is pottytraining and peeing and talking and drawing.  If I could go back in time I would want to hold him one more time as a baby.  I'm slightly emotional today.  I'm sad that they're growing up so fast.  I'm sad that our time here is almost coming to a close and so much has happened here.  Christopher first started talking, it was our first "home" together, we had our baby here...so many memories!  Rob's clearing and getting ready to leave and then we won't see him for 3 1/2 months.  I know he's not going to be deployed and not in any immediate danger...but it's still 3 1/2 months regardless.  He's going to miss out on a lot of firsts with Ryan...first time eating cereal.  First time rolling for real.  First time sitting.  First time crawling.  First time eating solids.  First time playing with a rattle.  And I'm stressed thinking about all of the things I need to handle on my own when he's gone!  Ok.  Enough of the stress part!  I know I'll be just fine...it's just an emotional day for me.  My babies are already growing up so fast! 


Christopher drew a picture today.  On the bottom was "Mommy" and on top the page were "angels in the sky".  It was such a wonderful and amazing thing to hear coming from a 2 year old!

Live Laugh Wrap

Well I'm one step closer to one day owning my own Spa / Health & Wellness Store!  I've started my own business thanks to It Works!  I signed on to distribute through them and am loving their body wraps and their products!  When I go back to Wisconsin in July I want to take the Reiki class in Madison.  After we move to Florida and our next station I'd love to get a spare room to set up a wrap room and DIY spa stuff !  This is wonderful!  I also can't wait until I get a laptop. This one is still broken and I absolutely hate the videos off of my phone!  Not to mention I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off...How do other women do it?  Be successful with the kids while having a job and keeping up with the house work?  WHAT IS THEIR SECRET?!  Maybe I need a cape....at least then I could pretend to be Wonder Woman... 

Here's my facebook webpage:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Live-Laugh-Wrap/216186755080376

I'm Proof!

Happy Birthday to Me

I like to think that if I liked cake more I would definitely like this cake.  http://blog.pinkcakebo.com/   It might not be very modest -- but my birthday is pretty much my most favorite day of the year.  I think that birthday themed music should be played everywhere I go as the soundtrack to my day and that a red carpet should be rolled out where I walk. (Sidenote: That's what Christopher and Ryan can help with in a few years!!)  I would like breakfast in bed with my tiara served on a silver platter.  I would sleep in until 10 and wake up to the radio announcer saying, "Happy Birthday to Sara _______.  You're the best ever.  Love your hubby".  Then I would be escorted by my wonderful boys on a birthday shopping trip where I would get an astoundingly cute dress that I would wear to dinner that night with my hubby where I would order steak.  Fish...maybe.  I would come back from dinner to see that Christopher and Ryan had baked me the above cake!  And then we would have ice cream instead, after deciding the cake was too beautiful to eat.  Next I would open my presents / cards...both of which are homemade.  Christopher made me a stuffed squirrel or something and Ryan made me a bracelet (because he's the more sensitive one of the boys).  Then the hubby and the boys would give me manicure / pedicures and foot massages.  All the while telling me I was the best ever :)  Then we would end the day by playing Sorry or Trouble maybe and they would let me win.  Which they wouldn't have to let me win because I would anyways!  Annnd then we would sit down and watch a movie and then I would go to bed early to an immaculate house (because of course they had cleaned it for me!)  Ahhhh....that would be the ultimate birthday!

That isn't how today went, though!  Although it was still a pretty good day.  One year older, one year wiser.  Woke up and donned sweats and Rob's old blue T-shirt.  Did laundry.  Watched Rob leave on the cycle. Watched Elmo.  Did some laundry.  Put the boys to bed and then got my cute floral dress on and did my makeup with Ryan in the carrier.  Sadly Ryan had been projectile vomiting and he actually started choking today.  Of course I still had the baby carrier tied around my waist when I had to go tearing off upstairs carrying Ryan to get the snot sucker because he couldn't breathe.  I was so scared.  I took him into Geary and the same nurse that was in there as last time was there...long story short I don't like her.  She's a nurse with a hoity toity God complex and we do NOT get along.  But thankfully I got a wonderful birthday present: answers.  Ryan has an obstruction and air bubble all throughout his GI tract.  More than likely he has a very sensitive tummy and the doc said to keep with the Colic Calm and we'll be going to see a specialist soon.  Until then gas drops, small feedings, and frequent burps.  Right now I'm watching Robert play College Football and I'm blogging.  We're annoying each other.  Had a delicous grilled steak dinner and am heading to bed soon.  Thanking everybody for the wonderful birthday wishes!  I have such sweet family, friends, and acquaintances and that is truly a gift!

IT Works Wrap Results!

Lost a total of 2 inches after ONE WRAP!  AMAZING!!  Not to mention my stretch marks looked so much better and they're hardly red at all.  Love these wraps so much -- they're magical!  I also love that I can do them at home when the boys are sleeping and don't have to pay a babysitter to go to a salon to get them at a marked up price.  I would pay probably $120 for the whole thing if I got them from a salon after I figure in babysitter etc!  Crazy!  If you're interested in getting a single wrap from me to try them out for yourself they are only $20  :) Seriously!  Only $20!  Or you can order a box of 4!  Send me a message on youtube, twitter, or email if you'd like to try them!  livelaughwrap@gmail.com    IT WORKS!

http://www.saramiroslaw.itworks.net/Cart/Detail.aspx?pid=v45JQ31111tW0rK45

Don't Worry....Be Happy

I'm sitting here pre-stressing about the drive to Florida already.  Mind you it isn't until OCTOBER.  Every day for the past week I've thought about how I'm going to manage overseeing our house being packed up.  Taking care of the boys.  Signing out of the house.  Making sure the movers come and go to the right place.  Changing our address with the Post Office.  Cleaning the house out and getting the security deposit back.  Then getting me and my 2 boys in the car and driving the 18 hours (that's without stops) to our new home in Florida that I've never even seen before.  That we won't even have until Rob gets to Florida.  All I can think about is feeding Ryan every 3 hours...stopping...doing it all by myself. 

Ugh.  Such is the life of an Army Wife.  Don't get me wrong...I'm truly blessed to be married to my husband and it's an honor.  And I'm excited about actually being in Florida.  It's not the destination that's the problem.  It's the trip there.  This summer is going to fly by.  Seems like we're just getting settled.  I can say that I think I've finally made a really good friend down here (Jennifer) and now we're getting yanked out already.  But I can't think about that... Whewwww.....Woosah....
  

 

PICTURES FROM OUR WATER-FIGHT WITH JENNIFER AND THE GIRLS TODAY!

Hangin' Out

Ryan and I are hangin' out tonight :)  Things have been moving at light-speed lately.  I absolutely cannot believe that he's been here for almost 5 weeks already.  5 weeks when I was pregnant seemed to last forever and now the days and nights are all meshed together and just flying by.  Attempted a workout tonight...but I got 15 min into it and Ryan started fussing and Rob came home.  No such luck! haha.  Maybe if I keep these workout clothes on I will wake up and be super motivated to just do it first thing...hmmm.... I could be on to something!

Things with Ryan have been going better.  I like that he can be awake and happy during the day now!  Christopher has been Mr. Mischeivous and wanting to take off out the backyard and into the road.  The other day he took off and fell in our driveway and smacked his head super hard -- now he's got road rash and a gigantic goose egg on his forehead.  I figured this would deter him from future sprints....NOPE!  Took off again tonight and mommy had to go chase him down with Ryan in the baby carrier.  That was a sight...I'm sure.  Neighbor kids knocked over our grill tonight.  Nice -- didn't even bother to tell us OR pick it up.  Good thing it didn't start a fire!  There were hot coals in there from Rob cooking us steaks!   HAHA!  Ryan just made a super high-pitched screech.  Scared the crap out of me!

I love being a mommy.  I've had a couple really stressful days (like yesterday!  Crying and tantrums from 7 am til midnight!) but thankfully hubby helps me out.  He offered to get up with Christopher today and he made breakfast, did the dishes, cleaned, made dinner, and potty-trained with Christopher!  So nice!  I dont' know what I'm going to do when he's gone...that's coming right up around the corner.  Just thinking about moving and finding new friends...not to mention the 20 hour drive with 2 boys is really giving me a migraine.  Feels like we just got adjusted and now we're leaving!  I am looking forward to it, though.  Florida.  No snow.  Grilling out all year.  Bring it on! 

MOMMY MOMENT OF THE NIGHT:
Changing Ryan's diaper.  Poop shoots out.  Literally. 8 inches and splatters all over my pants and the floor.  It was a totally disgusting, gag-worthy moment.  EW. 



Mommy and Ryan's beds in his nursery!



Oh the things I pick up with my toes...

Being a mom to an extremely picky baby who constantly wants to be toted around in a baby carrier means I have become very good at multitasking.  I can open doors with my toes and pick up toys so that I don't have to bend over which (would inevitably wake up Ryan).  This list includes a few things I've picked up with my toes over the past couple of weeks...The strangest of which being a radish.  And not just a radish...but a radish covered in slimy salad dressing.  After which I washed my foot in the sink....with Ryan still in the baby carrier, of course.

Mother's Day

Had a pretty good day today!  Got up and did my workout.  Had a little time to myself and then hung around the house for the entire day and pretty much stayed away from the computer and my phone. Didn't even put on make-up!  I just wanted to spend time with the boys and enjoy them.  I can't believe Ryan is already going to be 3 weeks old tomorrow.  That flew by!  I could almost cry because it's going by so fast... too fast.  I have to stop or I'm going to be a weepy mess!  Anyways...

Hubby and I had our R&R date last night and our awesome neighbor watched the boys for us!  She is so sweet.  Even though Ryan is as grumpy and colicky as he is she still did that for us.  Awesome Mother's Day present!  It was 90 degrees here today.  That would be nice if I wanted to go to the beach; but when I want to take my crying baby outside (because he loves it) it's bad because it's humid and way too hot for him to be out longer than 10 to 15 minutes. So as soon as we got back in he showed us his lung power!  Rob did a shrimp boil today and made homemade cocktail sauce with it -- mmm mm mmmm!!!  I even got fed the shrimp because I was holding little man.  Overall it was a pretty good day.  Now I'm sitting here relaxing and waiting for Ryan to wake up to eat so then I can go zonk out for a few hours!

Labor and Delivery of Ryan

A Journey Through Colic: 1

It's just a phase. That's what I have to keep telling myself. Some moments are far more difficult than others and I really have to tap into my inner zen to make it through the really hair-raising seconds that feel like they last an eternity; but, I know we'll get through it. I can't say my sanity will be intact but luckily it wasn't all there to begin with! I have high hopes that the Colic Calm that we ordered will do wonders for him. I guess we'll find out tomorrow!

When Ryan had his first long crying episode I just shook my head and attributed it to a little tummy ache or something that I ate that must've bothered him. The second episode I started to panic a little because I know how stressful it was dealing with this with Christopher. The third episode made me sad. The fourth made me determined. Determined to try anything that will help us get through this phase as smoothly as possible.

I'm glad we caught this early with Ryan. I really think he has a sensitive stomach and that's what's causing alot of his problems. I was breastfeeding...but am exclusively pumping and storing right now. (And we're probably going to run out of room in our deep freezer for all of this milk -- SERIOUSLY!) After he outgrows the colicky stage and his stomach develops a little more I think he will be able to tolerate breastmilk better without spitting up so much. I know...I KNOW! Breastmilk is the best milk...I KNOW! *Ideally* But that's also before you have food with preservatives and all of this other crap in or on it. In a perfect world I would be eating 100% organic and healthy all of the time and no dairy to agitate him etc...but I don't. When Christopher has mac -n-cheese -- heck yeah I'll have a little bit! If I'm walking around in a sleepless new-mom zombie daze and need a snack because my stomach is growling and it's the middle of the night? You bet. I grab a preservative packed fake fruit bar from the cabinet.