Halloween

Candy is like crack to Cayden. Even that is an understatement. When Cayden so much as has a tiny little sucker, the entire day is out the door. No naps, no rest, no quiet.

The point of my story is I will be eating a lot of Halloween candy over the next few weeks. Wish me luck.


We are dressing Cayden up as a chicken. He thinks he is the cutest thing ever, he loves to go look at himself in the mirror and then pretend he can't look at himself any longer with the biggest smile on his face. You bet there will be pictures to follow tomorrow.

Friday

Another week gone.. and I wont even begin you tell you about my feelings of the month of October already gone... Eesh!!

Another Five question Friday hosted by the wonderful, Mama M.!

Rules: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog, answer them, grab the MckLinky Blog Hop code, and link up!


Five Question Friday, 10/30:

1. What were you doing the last time you really had a good laugh?
I am pretty sure I had a good laugh this morning as I picked on DH. Okay, that sounds mean. But it was all in good fun, I promise.


2. Who was your first CELEBRITY crush?
Easy! Jonathan Taylor Thomas!!!! My sister and I had a poster in our room of him. And yes, we kissed it. He was just so dreamy.

3. What is one talent that you wish you had?
Is organization a talent?? Because I really wish I was organized. I tend to just have random cabinets and closets filled with random stuff.. Don't ask me to be quick when I am looking for something. And lets just pray that I will never have to downsize in the cabinet/closet department. Although that might make me get organized. Doubt it.

4. How often do you and your spouse go out w/o the kids? Is it frequent enough?
Without Cayden???? I can't even tell you the last time we actually went on a date. Not since we have moved back to Colorado. And not before we moved. That's how long it's been because I couldn't even tell you. I can only remember going out on our anniversary in December. So obviously, it's time to get a babysitter and have a night.

5. What colour(s) is your bedroom?
I don't like my bedroom. At all. It is white.

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Cold

I just wanted to let you know....

Nothing is worse than sitting in a cold exam room wearing nothing but a sheet waiting 30 minutes for the doctor to come in.

That's all!


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Please say a prayer for Stellan. He is back in the hospital and tomorrow is his first birthday. Feel better little buddy!

Crazy?

It was brought to my attention that I sounded a little crazy in my Not Me!. Well, I could very well be heading there.
But, am I allowed one crazy day here and there?
Yes, I ignored all housework for an entire afternoon.
Yes, we stayed in our pajamas until noon yesterday. We were getting caught back up!

We are preparing for a very long deployment next summer. Stressed about it? Yes. Scared? If you only knew. I have not really faced the reality of it and haven't really talked about it out loud too much. We will survive here at home, what else can we do about it?
You could say I am taking advantage of Daddy being home. I have been known to run off to shop by myself in the evening these past couple weeks.
We all have the days when we say out loud, "you are so lucky Daddy is coming home in an hour!". I am so blessed that I still live an hour and a half away from my family and I can head there (or vise versa) when I feel lonely. A lot of the wives here survive with four kids while they are thousands and thousands of miles away from family and their other half is gone for a year.
I still have winter and spring to prepare for him to leave, but I know it will be here, like, tomorrow.
It is so much to take in. An entire year without him.

Not me!

Are you feeling guilty for being so tired that you just forgot to brush your teeth before bed? Did you leave clean laundry in the washer for three days straight just to have to re-wash it to get that smell out? Join the fun over at MckMamas blog.. you wont regret it!

This weekend, I certainly did not go on strike... I was definitely not fed up with my lack of sleep help around the house and not cook dinner or clean for the rest of the day. I would never bail on my responsibilities like that.

I was not craving homemade chocolate chip cookies this week and therefore I did not make a special trip to the store just to buy chocolate chips and baking soda. I would never go out of my way to feed my cravings.

I do not still take advantage of my DH getting off early on Thursdays. I did not fix dinner earlier in the day just so I could run out the door and not have to worry about it. I did not drive 30 minutes by myself just to wander around the mall aimlessly, get my nails done, and even let the hair-straightening-stand straighten my hair. I don't treasure my little-bit of mommy time one single bit.

My sweet dog did not figure out how to open up her bed that resides in her cage and pull all the fluff out. I did not just re-stuff it and do not have to re-stuff every time she is in there longer than 5 minutes. I am not too cheap to just go buy her a new bed.


What have you not done this week?

5 ? Friday!

It's Friday already?! Can't fathom how this week went by so fast..
Hop on over to Mama M's blog and join in the fun!




1. Whats your favorite horror movie?
I HATE horror movies! I used to be able to watch them in high school but I just can't take the feeling! I know, I am a wimp!


2. Bath tub or Hot tub?
Hot Tub!!! Mostly because I do have a huge garden tub, but it doesn't have jets! The jets are what make the experience, right?

3. Do you prefer to view a movie at the theater or at home?
I can't even remember the last time I watched a movie in the theater! So today, I would chose to watch a movie in the theater! Speaking of, we are planning on taking C to his very first movie this weekend. Lots and lots of popcorn!

4. If you could chose a maid, cook or chauffeur, which one would you choose?
If you speak to me on a daily basis, you know the answer to this.... a maid!!!!! Hands down. Possibly a maid who would write my grocery list. Is that asking too much?

5. Electric Slide, Boot Scootin' Boogie, or the Macarena?
Electric Slide all the way! Mostly because its the one I know the best (well, except the Macarena.. but the slide never gets old!)

Cayden's cake

I am still working on getting my sister to send me all the pictures from Cayden's party (she was large and in charge!) but she is a busy woman.... So I will show you his cake! We had a doggy themed party and my friend Laura made an AMAZING cake. Everyone loved it and it tasted as good as it looks!

Well, baby.

Today was Cayden's 2-year well baby visit.. The thing with army doctors is you will never see the same doctor twice. This can be a good or a bad thing. Today we saw a civilian lady and she was trying to get Cayden to say things on command and she just got blank stares. Kind of funny! He is in the 80th percentille for weight and 75th for height. He's a big boy! 31 pounds and 3 feet exactly!


Taking a morning ride on the new scooter.



Snacking on chips and guac with mom!

Not Me! Monday

It's time to 'fess up! Not Me! Monday is here again.


This past week, it was not me who ran over the stroller. My sweet husband did not park it behind the truck, and I did not freak just a little as I backed out of the garage and wonder if I ran someone over. I always look behind vehicles before I back out.

It was not me whom you saw setting up a crib at 3 am on Friday morning. I did not give up on the toddler bed thing for now because I was out of ideas on how to get the little guy to stay in his bed for just one whole night.. I am not happy in the slightest bit that he can't escape his bed at midnight.

At this moment, my living room does not already look like a day care center's rec room. I did not just go to bed last night without putting away all the new birthday presents first. Nope, I hate waking up to a messy house! My house is always in order..

What are you brave enough to admit that you did not do this week?

Happy Birthday Cayden Bug!

I love you more than words can explain!!!!!




Your very first picture!



Daddy and your first picture



Mommy and your first picture!


You on your first Birthday!

Honesty?

I am not going to lie....


I am a little choked up this morning.

I can't believe my baby is two!!!!

Two years

Today is the day that I celebrate (and cry) the last day of having a one year old. It seriously chokes me up. How on earth did these last two years go by so fast, in such a blur? How am I so blessed that God chose me to be the mommy of one stinkin' adorable kid? Something I will never comprehend, why He chose me. There is nothing better in thee world than being a mom. I would not have it any other way.
Cayden has the best sense of humor. When I am getting frustrated with him because he wont go to sleep, he will make a totally funny face or bat his eyelashes and scrunch his nose and I literally have to cover my face and laugh so he can't see it. It's like he can sense that I need a good laugh. I love the way he always asks for a "hug" when he is getting sleepy, and that he is learning so much so fast. He is such a joy, even when he is trying my patience.
You never believe anyone when they tell you time is going to fly.
I can't even describe it.
I'm going to be the mommy of a two year old tomorrow?
But he is still a baby! My baby!

I think about the day before I went into labor.. They wouldn't admit me into the hospital because I wasn't dilated enough. I swore I was in full blown labor. I had to call Kele's commander's wife at 4am because they sent him to the field a week before my due date. Thank heavens I wasn't in labor because he might have missed it. I don't remember much about the night of sleep before my water actually broke, but anyone who is 9 months pregnant probably doesn't get much sleep. Whether I was counting seconds in between contractions or trying to find a comfortable place for my legs to lay, and that was just the beginning of my sleepless nights. The second I got out of bed at 7:15 am, my water broke. He was even kind enough to let me have one last night of (sorta) sleep. Labor wasn't fun and I don't have many good memories of that hospital, but it was all so worth every single second of every single day that I get to spend with my guy.
I am so blessed to get to stay home with him. He has taught me so much more than I thought possible.


Here's to planning a successful SECOND Birthday party and another year with my healthy, smart, handsome, lovable two year old!


Here are two pictures of me in labor :)

Friday Friday!

I found this on yet another blog that I stock and thought it was a cute idea! Plus I have nothing else to write about :)

1. What phrase, or phrases, do you say a lot (holy cow, geez, seriously?)
Uh oh and Oh no! are a frequent in this house hold. Mostly because there are a lot of accidents around here.
Really??
Seriously??
Ugggggh! (followed by an UGH by Cayden)

2. Swimming: Are you a kamikaze off the boat, take the plunge from the deep end, or a gradual, slow submersion from the shore or shallow end kind of person?
I am definitely the total opposite from just jumping in.. I like to take it slow. Plus, I most likely don't want to get my hair wet.



3. Have any tattoos? If not, what would you get?
I do have an "I-just-turned-18" tattoo on my lower back. Please don't call it a tramp stamp, because it isn't. I have much more "klass" than that. :)



4. What is your favorite tree?
Favorite tree? Really? Hmm... I guess the aspen tree because it always reminds me of the cabin and they are be-a-utiful when they change colors in the fall. Second best is a christmas tree... for obvious reasons. Who doesn't love to have a tree in the center of their house all decorated and lit up for a month? And third, a grapefruit tree. The smell brings back many memories from Arizona and I would love to have a fresh grapefruit in the morning.. which would also mean I live somewhere WARM.




5. Two pronged question: What is your favorite non-physical thing about your spouse? What is your favorite physical thing about your spouse or significant other?
My favorite non-physical thing about my spouse is definitely the way he helps me calm down when I am super stressed I guess. He will jump in and unload the dishwasher when I have more important things to do, or put the small one to bed when I have just had one of those days. So he is a stress-reliever in a way :)

Physical thing.. I love his bright blue eyes! yep! That's the winner!

Not Me! Monday

Are you feeling a little guilty for ignoring your real farm when you were stuck on the computer feeding your virtual goat? Did you drink orange juice straight from the carton just to make sure you got your daily dose of vitamin C? Join the fun over at McMama's blog... besides, it's a lot cheaper than therapy!


It was not me who decided to dye my hair this week for the first time in years just to try and make it shinier... I did not choose the same color that I have naturally and I am not sad that not one person has noticed...

Upon moving back to civilization, I definitely did not get myself hooked on caffeine. I am not a frequent customer to Starbucks and I don't tell myself I need another drink just so I can get thru another naptime that isn't happening. Or to get rid of my caffeine headache. Nope, I would never turn into any of my relatives.

DH does not get off work early every Thursday afternoon and I would never take advantage of the poor man. I have not sat on the porch waiting for him to get home so I can run a few arronds by myself the second he walks thru the door. I do not drive around aimlessly with the music blasted until the very last second that I have to go inside and start dinner. I promise I would never throw a load on him the second he walks in!

I did not walk into a conversation between my Mom and Sister that started with "have you checked your cafe today?". My Mom was definitely not referring to a Facebook application. And they were obviously not serious at all.

I did not turn off the TV and lights to go to bed, only to remember that today is Monday and I should post a Not Me!. I have not sat here for the last half hour with my eyes half closed stocking other blogs.

Nope.
Doesn't sound like me at all.

33.

I finally decided that it is time to switch to the big ol' toddler bed.... a battle that I knew wasn't going to be easy.

Boy, was I right.
The good part of the story is that he has stopped taking his diaper off every time.
Have I told you about that?
Well, lets just say I have dealt with more poop and pee and baths than I wish to discuss.

The first three days of this new bed was--- rough. It took at least two hours of laying with him and literally fighting him to stay in bed before he finally gave up. Not fun. My friend asked if I had tried what Super Nanny does. If Super Nanny does it, it works then, right?
Every time he comes out of his room, just silently pick him up and put him back in bed.
Sounds simple!

First nap... take a guess how many times I silently put him back in bed.








Prolly still too low...



Thirty-three. 33. 33 TIMES!

When I was at number 10, Friend assured me that "sometimes it takes kids 30 times! Be patient!"

I don't want to say my child is high maintenance, but he has never been very simple in the sleep department. I guess I should have listened to that pediatrician who told me to stop rocking him to sleep when he was 6 months. And I said, out loud, "I'm not going to stop! I could rock him to sleep for the rest of his life!"

Ahem.

Now, nearly two years later I have found myself still trying to rock a toddler who doesn't want to be rocked but would much rather run around his room and throw books outside his door.
Hence, why I am trying the Super Nanny game.

Last night it took 17 tries (and a glass of milk) before he finally stopped coming out. Only 17! I wont mention that it was already an hour past his bedtime and he still decided to grace me with his presence at 5:15 this morning. Maybe he will be tired enough to go down for his nap a little easier today? I will take anything under 30 at this point.

Plane

Cayden Bug getting cozy with our neighbor on the plane....


He was so good on the plane! On the way to Chicago, we were lucky enough to check-in with a sympathetic-I'm guessing-Mom who gave us an extra seat. Since he isn't two yet, there was no way I was about to buy a second ticket for him if I didn't have to! On the way back it was a packed plane so we weren't so lucky. We at least got a window seat but it was very tight, if we dropped something on the floor there was no way I could reach down and get it.. there was just no room to hardly move! We had Moms sit next to us on both flights so I think that helps because they don't get annoyed as easily as non-moms (is that a word?). I love this stage, he understands what I am telling him finally and knows that it wasn't okay to run up and down the isles like last time. He was SO excited to be on a plane!