2012

My attempt at 2012 in at a glance:

January - Cole was sick the few weeks before Levi was to be born.  We had our first taste of nebulizers....

February - We spent our last days as a family of 3, then welcomed little man into the world.  I expreienced my first c-section awake.  I much prefer to be completely knocked out while my guts are spread about the OR.  However, recovery was much easier this time.  I did experience my first stomach bug in a long time (thanks, mr. morrow :)) 2 weeks post c-section/post baby, and Cole had his first stomach bug.

March - I turned 30.  At the time it wasn't bad, however, I think it has now caught up with me....

April - Ryan worked alot, and he missed Easter.  We also started looking at property.  Ended up falling in love with one that someone else bid on and got before we did.  Cole had an ear infectoin

May - Cole turned 2.  WHAT?!

June - I don't remember June.....  Sleep deprived??

July - Ryan worked again for the 4th, but made it to dinner that night.  Fireworks are NOT COOL with little ones....  My dad got sick and had to have surgery.

August - We went to CA.  Just the 4 of us.  Cole was a TERROR on the plane.  Like the kind of kid NOONE wants to sit next to.  The kind I used to lothe when I traveled.  And get mad at the parents....  Yup.  payback....

September - Began the months and a half of sickness.  And the start of no kitchen.  It was supposed to last 6-8 weeks.  It lasted a whole quarter.....  Cole started school.  I thought he'd never stop crying.  It was bad.  Really bad.  Then one day it was like someone flipped a switch.  Different kid.

October - Lots more ear infections.  And the nebulizer reared its ugly head.  Again.  But we had Thing 1 and Thing 2 for Halloween, and they were super cute.  Even if we didn't make it very long.

Novemeber - We went to Pagosa.  The wearther was wonderful!  It snowed, they opened the moutain while we were there and Cole actually put on skiis.  Literally the cutest thing I've ever seen.  Levi finished meds while we were there and managed to stay healthy until we got back :).  Cole's become an airplane pro.  Thank.  Heavens.  Seriously.

December - How is is possible that Cole just had his 3rd Christmas?!  And Levi his 1st?!  Once again, I'm hating fireworks as I sit and type.  I'm not so secretly super excited that the weather is really nasty so there are fewer people out shooting them.  I even looked up the radar to see what it was going to be like at midnight.  Our kitchen is finally ALMOST finished.  Key word.  I'm a little afraid that weve been forgot about because there are just a few things left. 

Well, that's what I remember from each month.  Crazy the things you remember.  2012 was a good year.  For the most part.  It gave me our second little man, who is one of the lights of my life.  The other being a super hard headed 2 year old.  2013 will hold a few resolutions I'm determined to keep.  We'll see.....

2 Year Olds are Funny

Super behind on updates, if anyone cares, but wanted to document some of the funnies of our lives these days.  Cole HAS to do everything himself.  He talks NON STOP.  Loves to sing, and makes up his own words to songs or makes noise.  He always pretends to play a guitar when he sings.  He also makes this funny sound, like "nnnggg" if he's singing.  He has an imaginary friend names Gagu.  Tonight he told us that Gagu lives in a rice crispy house and is very small.  He goes to school with Cole, but they don't get to see each other because Gag (nickname for Gagu) is in his own class.  He makes these facial expressions that seriously crack us up.  Just love that little boy even though he has his terrible 2 moments daily!

6 Weeks Wednesday...

Without a kitchen!!  I'm DYING!  There's nothing!  So far, all the electrical is run, the gas and water and the support columns are gone, with an overhead beam in their place.  The floors totally jacked up. Bare concrete in spots and a "trench" that's been covered up with quickcrete to run electrical under the floor.  No stove. No oven. No sink. No counters.  I keep reminding myself that I've done this to myself, but IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS!  Tomorrow cabinets are (fingers crossed) going to go in.  However, they were also supposed to go in last Thurs.....  Once it's done, it'll be nice, right?? It's got to be.  It surely can't be worse than not having anything!

 Yes. That's the table and frig.  I guess at least we have a frig inside...

 Look at everything behind Cole. Lol.

8 Months - a little late..... And some other....

Since he's almost 9 months old, thought I should say what's going on while he's still officially 8 months.  Levi's moving about.  Gets where he wants to go with this funny army crawl thing. He's getting better about not throwing himself backwards when he's sitting, but I still don't leave him up without pillows behind him.  He's getting alot more vocal too, and sleeping like crap. What happened to my sleeping baby?!

This past week has been rough.  It's the first time Ryan's been gone - like not at home at all.  At least when he was working late, he'd come home at some point.  Monday I woke up not feeling great.  Thought it was a stomach bug, but now I'm convinced that I was dehydrated.  My milk dropped off to nothing even.  I was freaked! Then Monday I had levi asleep on my bed (like usual) and went upstairs to put Cole down.  10 min later I came out of Cole's room and was met by HORRIFIC screaming.  The kind where you know something's wrong.  I knew it.  He'd fallen off my bed.  I flew down the stairs to find my precious baby flat on his back screaming his head off on the hardwood.  His face was swollen, and bleeding.  I freaked.  Literally.  Called Ryan - his flight didn't leave till that night - told him to meet me at Tx Children's, ran accross the street pounding on the neighbors door to come and be with Cole.  Luckily my mom was on her way over already because I didn't feel good. When I pulled into the ER, Levi was still hysterical and bleeding more.  I pulled through the circle thing, intending to just leave my car.  A police officer was walking up and kindly parked for me.  Turns out Levi's fine.  By the time we saw the dr, he'd calmed down and Ryan had him smiling.  I still thought I was going to pass out.  He was just bruised and nothing was broken.  Praise God.  But seriously.  When did I turn into this crazy person?!  I used to be the calm one!!

 see the line on his nose? and his upper lip?  That's from the bed.  Couldn't been ALOT worse!

 First time in the wagon together!

 Cole at the pumpkin patch for his field trip :)

First time getting his face painted

Pictures

So, I've fallen SERIOUSLY behind on this, and I feel if I don't do it now, I won't be able to look back and have these photos!  Here's from the summer!!

 at the houston zoo

 balcony in san diego

 check out the gorilla!

 san diego zoo was amazing

 cole loved flying the planes on the uss midway

 la jolla

 condo

 he thought being buried was awesome

 6 months

 7 months

 bff's that is when they dont hate each other

 breakfast with the elephants

Slightly Behind....

So I kept waiting until I had pictures to share, but I lost the cord to the camera.  It's still lost....

We went to CA in August and had a great time.  Cole screamed bloody murder when we first got on the plane.  Quite embarrassing.  Luckily it only lasted about 20 min.  I know.  I say only.  At the time it felt like HOURS!  But he did fine the rest of the time and fine on the way home.  Other than the fact he wanted his seat belt across his shins.....

He also started school last week.  Can't believe he's in preschool!  He really likes the concept of going, but isn't really crazy about me leaving him.  His teachers are SUPER nice and comforting.  And I LOVE the director.  When I dropped him off yesterday he sounded like someone was ripping his eyeballs out of his face while he was awake.  I mean blood curdling screams.  He apparently settled right down, though.  Thank heavens.  No one wants to have THAT kid......

Levi turned 7 months old.  How the heck is that possible?!  I get teary eyes thinking about the fact he's not going to be little forever.  He had his first cold also.  Totally not fun.  Made me wish he wasn't attached to that darn paci.  He couldn't breath so he couldn't suck.  Not.  Cool.  At.  All.  But he's better and we all got our flu shots.  He got weighed before hand and is 16lbs 3oz.  Cole was almost 28.  Creeping up there.  Slowly.  Who would've thought having salmonella almost a year ago could put you so low on those darn charts?!

And so, that catches up.  Kind of anyway.  Pictures to follow once I locate my cord......

6 Month Scare

Levi turned 6 months yesterday, and had his checkup this past Monday.  His stats are:

weight: 15 lbs 5 oz
height: 24.75 in
head: can't remember!!

We've always known his soft spot was small.  It's been that way since he was born, but Monday she couldn't feel it at all.  He did have head growth, but she wanted me to take him to Tx Children's for head xrays.  Apparently the soft spots are supposed to close somewhere bt 9 months and 1 year, but can close anywhere bt 4 months and 2 years.  If it closes too soon, however, sometimes it doesn't give the brain room to grow, and it you don't open the plates back up, the brain will not grow causing different developmental issues.  So I took him immediately in, and we had the results by that afternoon.  Thank heavens!!  all his sutures looked fine, and we will jut continue to monitor his head growth.

  We couldn't have ordered a better dog.  He LOVES the boys!!

Squishilisciouse!!

As far as milestones, he can sit up, but gets side-tracked often (usually by Cole) and tips over.  We've started apples as well as bananas, and he eats alot better from someone other than me :).  Guess if it's me he wants milk.....  He still eats about twice in the middle of the night, and after I walk upstairs the first time, he ends up spending the rest of the night in our room.  He's still a good napper during the day, thanks heavens! 

Funny Things

Wanted to document some of the funny things Cole has said lately.  We were driving to my parents office for an outing, and I hear from the backseat, "I forgot to pump my boobies!"  He's starting singing and his version of Jesus Loves me goes like this, "Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible told me so. Little ones him belong. They are weeks, Him be strong!" All done while swaying back and forth and followed by YEAH!! without clapping his hands.  I walked in the closet today and he was completely naked, cradling a pretend baby and doing squats while he shushed.  The other day I look over to see him licking Levi's leg.  He looked up at me and said,  "Baby Leeii tastes like chicken!"  I just love this little boy!

Rain = baking!

I feel like it's been raining for weeks, even though it's just been a few days.  What do you do when it rains? BAKE! I tried 2 different recipes so far, and wanted to write down the one for blueberry muffins because I changed parts of it, of course!  So I took this recipe http://allrecipes.com/recipe/to-die-for-blueberry-muffins/ and made the following changes:

1/2 c whole wheat flour
raw sugar instead of white
Almond milk and added about 1/4 of a c
Dusted the blueberries with sugar before adding them in
used brown sugar on top

They're delicious!!

5 Months and Life

Today Levi is 5 months old.  Holy Moly!!  Where in the world has the time gone?!  For my own reference: He's rolling over from back to tummy.  All.  The.  Time.  Then gets frustrated because he can't always get back to his back.  Just sometimes.  He laughs all the time.  Especially when Cole messes with him.  If he's grumping I tell Cole to go see him, and he always smiles huge.  Even when Cole is a little rough. Today Ryan heard Cole say he was riding the pony Levi.  He went running and Cole was laying on Levi's head and Levi was face down.  Just taking it, though.  Just wait till he's old enough to fight back!

We started "solids" at 4 months - oatmeal cereal mixed with pumped milk.  He's starting to like it more and more.  At least opens his mouth now, anyway....

As for life, Ryan's been working late.  Again.  I almost had a melt down last week when Cole didn't nap.  I had a friend coming over, so I didn't put him down for a "late" nap.  He ended up coming to me at 4:30 with his eyes closed, literally, saying, "my eyes! My eyes!".  Funny, yes.  Not so funny at the time.  He fell asleep the instant he sat in my lap, so I let him sleep for an hour.  He woke up less than happy.  Then screamed about dinner.  Screamed about Levi getting a back.  Screamed about his bath that was coming after Levi was put to bed.  To the point that Levi was SO worked up he didn't eat.  I FINALLY got Cole bathed and in bed.  Only to discover he was going to freak out every time I shut his door.  Ended up in his room for over an hour before he would finally let me leave.

I've become quite domestic lately.  My parents always have a huge garden, and my mom hasn't had time to do anything other than pick it.  Lots going on there: First my grandmother had surgery, my mom had to stay with them for a few days to take care of both of them seeing as my grandfather has Alzheimer's.  Then she gets home and my other grandmother calls one evening that she needs to go to the ER because she fell and busted her head open.  3 staples and a staple puller (literally.  They sent her home with a staple remover!) she was home.  Then my dad has had to have an outpatient surgery that was unsuccessful and was sent home with a catheter, and will be having another surgery this coming week.  Needless to say, she has had NO time to do anything.  BUT, that has all made me not want anything to go bad, so, I've learned to can pickles, make salsa and am currently making pasta sauce.  Quite domestic.

Stressball

Since having children, I've become the. biggest. stressball.  I used to travel the country, heck the world, and I wasn't as stressed out and freaked out about things as now that I'm a mom!  Now, I seriously have heart palpitations whenever one of my kids coughs once or has a runny diaper.  I freak out about the "what ifs" more than I EVER thought I would.  I've become that person.  The one that whenever you don't have kids, you say, "I'm NEVER going to be like that!".  Yup.  That's me.  And if when I have some sort of ache or pain, I always think the worst.  What.  The. Heck. Has. Happened. To. Me. ?!  So, this is me acknowledging I have a serious problem.  I have got to let go and just let God rule my life.  There's no way I can change whatever does really happen.  So I might as well STOP being a GIANT stressball.  All the time.  I need to just enjoy my life and my kids.  And not worry.  All right.  I'll have to come back and read this and see how I'm doing.....

4 Months & Summer Begins

Tomorrow my little squish will be 4 months old.  Seriously?!  Theoretically he can have solids now?! NO!!  I'm probably the only one that really likes the baby stage.  I like the older stages too, but I just like to have both....

Levi's not doing much these days.  He does laugh and smile and "talk", but compared to Cole, he's a lump :).  Not rolling over yet.  Still sleeping on his tummy.  Still waking up to eat at night at least once.  But he gives me a  long stretch.  It's just that the long stretch starts at 7:15 or 7:30.....  My deal with Ryan was Levi goes to nursery at church when he turned 4 months.  Really?!  Can't I keep him with me a little longer?!  I'm going to be a WRECK next year when Cole starts school!!!!

Cole, on the other hand, has really grown up!  I can't believe him!  He's really developed a little personality.  Not that he didn't have one before, but he does stuff now because he thinks he's funny.  Like if you ask him what color something is, he says white.  No matter what.  And he know the answer.  Every once in a while you can catch him.  Like if you have a sno-cone or popsicle he wants to try, he'll say he wants the red one.  Or green one.  Or orange one.  Then if you give it to him and ask him what color it is, it becomes white.  And then he'll sort of grin...  I also caught him saying the ABC's.  Then if you try to get him to do it with you, he doesn't.  Same thing with counting.  He'll count with you but always skips 3 and 4, even though he KNOWS they come after 2.  Ahhh.  My little monkey.....

 Did Tay's makeup for her gym banquet.  I <3 her!

I mean really.  Does it get any cuter than this!?

 EVERY time I try to take his pic, he gets crazy clown eyes

First smore over Memorial weekend at the ranch.  He wasn't crazy about it, but then again, I forgot his chocolate.....

Birthday!

I cannot believe Cole turned 2!!  It seems like just yesterday that I was pregnant with him, then that he was screaming. All.  The.  Time.  Now he's 2!!  He's turned in to such a wonderful little boy.  Super hard headed and full of love all at the same time.  He's a typical boy.  Always into something.  Always eating/drinking something he's not supposed to.  Like dirt, bugs, rainwater, you name it...

We had his party at the park in our neighborhood, and he had a blast.  Crashed afterwards.  We had his 2 yr dr app, and of course I forgot his records for the new dr, so we'll have to go back.  But the good news is he's finally back up in weight.  It only took us 6 months to get there....  He weighed 26lbs (25%) and was 34in long (35%).  I can't remember his head....

 I ordered maracas for the kids to paint.  It was Cinco de Mayo after-all....

I LOVE this picture.  Thanks Aubrey!! :)