Minus One

I am minus one child this week. Our daycare provider, "Ms. Linda," is on vacation this week, so Ella went on vacation to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Joe's parents live in Stevens Point, which is about 2 hours away. They have big plans! Swimming, going to the library, making cookies, just to name a few. I miss my baby, but it's giving me some one-on-one time with the Nate-man, and it's giving Joe and I an opportunity to get some projects done around the house.

We are tackling ceramic tiling in the upstairs bathroom. The old linoleum was beginning to curl up at the edges near the tub, so it was time for a new floor. What we didn't realize was that it takes a lot more time and money than we originally expected. We have all of the supplies and the toilet is now sitting in the tub, so we're half-way there! Well, maybe a quarter of the way there. Okay, we're not even close to being done. I also purchased paint for the master bathroom. The color is "Melted Chocolate." Yum! I finally weeded around our mailbox and added some rocks around the perimeter. Other tasks on my list to accomplish this week:

1. organize hall closet

2. organize office

3. clean

4. make sweet potato puree for Nathan
5. touch up paint on kitchen cabinets

6. take Nate for his 9 month pictures (can you believe it???)

I'm taking bets as to whether or not I will actually finish all of these tasks.

Poor Nate is cutting even more teeth. He now has 4 on the top and 3 on the bottom. He was an angry man yesterday. Nothing a little Tylenol couldn't fix. He isn't yet bringing his knees underneath him while on his tummy, so I think crawling is a ways off. Like I've said before, that's fine with me! Nathan has discovered his voice, and man, does he use it! Maybe it's because he has to yell over Ella to be heard. It even sounds like he says, "Ella." Ella says, "He said my name, see?" That's her new thing, adding "see?" to the end of sentences. "I'll just stand on this chair and get the Skittles off the top of the fridge, see?" But getting back to Nathan and his yelling...he's so loud that he makes other children cry. Let me explain...

We met Joe's parents in Appleton, which is roughly half-way between New Berlin and Stevens Point, to "exchange" Ella. Our friends Paul and April, and their son, (our Godson), Jackson, live in Appleton. We took the opportunity to visit with them for the afternoon and give our boys a chance to play together. Nate played by himself while Jax slept, but when Jax woke up, Nate was ready to go. Too ready! He was so excited, he started yelling loudly and reaching for Jax. Jax did not think this was cool and began to wail. And I mean wail! Windup and everything. I felt so bad! Every time Nathan would make a loud noise, Jackson would start crying. I hope they can get over this incident and remain friends. I mean, it would suck if Nathan continued to yell at Jackson when they are 12 years old, and Jackson would continue to cry.

Backing up a few days...did I mention that I went to my first OT session? It was the initial evaluation, so she took measurements, tested my strength, and applied some kineseotape. I have another appointment this week where she will most likely do some ultrasound treatment on my wrist. At least, that's what I would do, if I were an OT.

This past Friday was Christmas in June! We started a tradition last year with Joe's sisters and their husbands. Instead of getting gifts for each other, we all go out to dinner and then do something else. Last year we went bowling and listened to some live music. This year we went to a Brewers baseball game and tailgated beforehand. It was a beautiful day and it was nice to catch up. We decided to wait until the summer since Julia was very pregnant around Christmas this past year. We tossed around the idea of going to Green Bay for our next Christmas gathering.

On Saturday, Joe and I packed up the kiddos and went to Lake Michigan for a picnic. It was another beautiful day and Ella thoroughly enjoyed her Superman ice cream. She had it dripping down her legs. I even wiped some off her feet! That evening,we invited our nephews, Dylan and Henry, to spend the night. Ella had a blast playing with her cousins. They went swimming, played on the swings, and made up a great game of running back and forth on the porch and then launching themselves onto the air-mattress. All three of them slept sideways on the air-mattress and actually went to sleep without much trouble. Needless to say, Joe and I were exhausted!

On a sadder note, one of my co-workers passed away last week. She had been battling cancer for quite some time. I attended her funeral last night. It was, of course, very sad, but it was also more of a celebration. Her name was Bernadette, but she always went by "Bunny." So, at the end of the service, as the pallbearers were walking out, music suddenly came on that the family had set up..."The Bunny Hop." So fitting! Her husband declared yesterday, "Friend Day." So to all of my friends and family, if I don't say it enough, I'll say it here: "I love you!"

I am entering a contest where I could win $100 and other fun stuff. All I have to do is tell you about this:

There’s a great new “linky” service available and I wanted to let you know about it. It’s called MckLinky – www.mcklinky.com. After realizing the need for a new, reliable linky capability, Brent Riggs and MckMama got together to create a free, easy to use linky service for all their blog friends.
MckLinky is a free link list feature that allows you to do include lists of other blog links like MckMama does on Not Me! Monday. You can use MckLinky any time you want your blog readers to leave a list of links on your blog. It’s simple, reliable, free...and loads of MckFun!

If it doesn't make sense to you, no worries. Disregard it. Thanks for reading!

If You Say So

Ella and Nathan accompanied me to Walmart last week. Ella asked me if she could walk, instead of riding in the cart. My immediate thought was, "Hell no!" But then I realized I should probably give her a chance. So I did, and she actually did okay. At one point, Ella picked up a large package of Snickers and asked if we could buy them. My immediate thought was, "Hell yeah!" But then I realized I should be a responsible parent, so I had to say "no." After going back and forth a few times, she did finally listen and put them back, after saying, without skipping a beat, "If you say so mom." Just imagine a two and a half year old saying that! I couldn't help but start laughing! Ella says the funniest things and makes me smile several times a day!

Ella is getting to the point where some days she naps and some days she doesn't. I have started to implement "rest time" where Ella has to play quietly in her room for an hour or so. A few days ago, I went up to check on Ella, just to make sure she hadn't gotten into anything too crazy in her room. Imagine my surprise when I discovered her in her bed, all covered up, fast asleep! I guess that day was a nap day.

Nathan has 5 teeth, with another one about to pop through. He sits up like a champ and is really pushing up on his arms while on his tummy. He hasn't yet gotten his knees underneath him, so I think we have a little while before he starts crawling. I'm okay with that. Things will get interesting once I have to start chasing him around too! He continues to wake up once during the night to eat. I'm still nursing when I'm home with him and then he gets formula when he's at Ms. Linda's. I just couldn't keep up with the pumping anymore. It does seem like Nathan is sick more than he is healthy, so did my antibodies from breast milk do anything for him? He just finished up a round of antibiotics for a possible sinus infection. He is healthy right now, so let's keep our fingers crossed that he stays healthy for at least a week! Otherwise, he is a very happy baby. He is so quick to smile and laugh.

It's been feeling like summer around here for the past few days. We filled up the pool and had a blast swimming this afternoon. Joe decided to join in on the fun as well.

Here are some pictures and a short video from this afternoon

Now I Have Some Time

Okay, okay, I have a little time now. So instead of watching a re-run of SNL with Joe, I'll type a little bit. You're welcome.

I actually drove from New Berlin, Wisconsin, to Northville, Michigan with 2 small children, all by myself. And it was a success! I was expecting the worst, but we made it! I had the greatest idea ever, and checked out some new DVDs for Ella to watch. It kept her occupied almost the entire drive. I also would hand back a "surprise" every so often. I had a bad of goodies from The Dollar Store to keep her busy as well. Nathan didn't sleep very much, but he did entertain himself quite well, playing with the several toys I put in his lap...that is until he threw each and every one onto the floor. He also enjoyed just watching Ella. Man, that kid just gets a kick out of his big sister! Of course, both kids fell asleep 15 minutes before we arrived. Figures.

Our trip was wonderful! I was able to catch up on a little sleep, which is always amazing, thank you mom and dad! Kari, my friend from high school, and I went to this random bar, Karl's Cabin, and enjoyed some drinks and dueling pianos. It was a blast! Kari is coming to visit this August. I also got to see another high school friend, Cortney, and her cutie-pie 10 month old, Lorelei. I think Nathan has a crush on her. Hehe.

I also got to visit with my friend Christine and her hubby, Andy. The have an adorable 15 month old, Danny. I had never met Danny in person, and hadn't seen Christine in over 2 years. It was so nice to see them. We tried our hardest to get a picture, but it's almost impossible to get 3 kids to sit still and look at the camera. Oh well!

My dad and I took the kids to Maybury State Park. Ella loved seeing the baby animals and riding her bike through puddles. She did not, however, enjoy getting pecked on the finger by a rooster. Luckily, my dad caught it on tape, so we can re-live it in the future!

My aunts and uncles came over for a visit, as well as 3 of my cousins, Natalie (who is also my Goddaughter), Ben, and Matt.

It was a jam-packed visit like always, and, like always, it went by too fast. My dad drove back with us, to give me an extra hand, and then took the train back a few days later. He and Ella enjoyed some quality time together when I went to work. All in all, a very successful trip!

A few days after we returned from Michigan, I finally went to the doctor for the wrist pain I have been experiencing for over two months. He thinks it's early carpal tunnel. I'm not convinced that it is, but we'll see. He wrote me a prescription for...wait for it...occupational therapy! I have my initial evaluation this coming Wednesday. I was also given a prescription for naproxen sodium, or Aleve, which helps with pain and inflammation. It seems to be working. I'll get treatment for a month, and then see how I feel. I'm glad that I am finally doing something about it.

I had a new babysitter come over on Friday morning so I could go grocery shopping all by myself, and clean my house. I am finding it nearly impossible to keep my house clean with 2 children. Especially since they NEVER seem to nap at the same time. And if they do, do you think that I'll be cleaning? Nope. I'll be putting my feet up for a few blissful minutes of peace and quiet! The babysitter is from our church. She's a student at UW-Madison, my alma mater, and is home for the summer. Sweet!

On Friday evening, I met 2 of my co-workers downtown to board the Edelweiss, a boat that cruises the Milwaukee River and goes out onto Lake Michigan. There was an event through "Metro Parent" and "Milwaukeemoms.com," called, "Girl's Night Out." One of my co-workers had connections and got us on for free. So we enjoyed free drinks, appetizers, and desserts for 2 hours while enjoying the sights. I won a $50 gift certificate to some women's boutique. I have no idea what they sell, but I'm a bit scared to find out. I'll keep you posted. We weren't even sure if the boat was going to sail (or motor, rather) because of the torrential downpour we were experiencing. I mean, it was really coming down. In fact, as we drove home, we encountered several roads closed due to flooding. It was a mess! But, I must say, it was a treat to go out with the girls!

And finally, earlier today, we went over to Brian and Jenny's for a swim in their condo's pool. It actually felt like summer! Finally!

Last year, we got kicked out because Ella was too young and in diapers. Not this year! She was a swimmin' fool! And then passed out in the car on the way home.

We ended our lovely Saturday with dinner and a movie, part of Joe's Father's Day gift. We saw "Hangover." Definitely funny, but not as funny as people have talked about. We did have some good laughs though.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Father's Day. Happy Father's Day Dad! I love you!

Just Too Much!

I want to write a new blog post, but I just can't right now. I'm too tired. I want to do it soon though because otherwise there will just be too much to remember! Joe is working late tonight, so I had to put both kiddos to bed, which isn't an easy task to do alone. Nathan threw a fit tonight. He's starting to get separation anxiety, which means as soon as I head for the door, the screaming begins. I thought we were getting past that. Luckily, Ella went to bed beautifully. I think we are getting to the point where her nap is going out the window. Some days she takes one, other days she doesn't. I'm not going to fight it anymore. I will start to implement "rest time." Otherwise, I may really lose it. Here are some topics I will blog about in the next few days. Promise.

Surviving our drive to Michigan
Our visit to Michigan
Going to the doctor for my wrist (finally)
Why I am excited for Friday and Saturday (oh I'll just tell you...babysitters!!!)

Check back soon. Or don't. Sometimes this blog thing is hard to keep up with!

Deleated!

For the past 3 days, I had been working on my newest post. I completed it last night, and somehow highlighted 80% of it and somehow deleated it. I refuse to re-type it. Sorry. Here's the short version.

- went to Six Flags with high school friend Kelly and her fiance Tom. Had a blast!

- babysat nephew Henry. He and Ella fight like brother and sister but have fun together. Went to the park, rode bikes, and Henry broke Ella out of her room after nap time. Really...he opened the gate for her.

- went to Ms. Linda's annual daycare picnic. Nice day, good food, bouncy house.

-driving to Michigan tomorrow with the kids...alone. Pray for me.

My Award

My friend Christine gave me this award. In order to accept this award, you must list seven things you love and then give the award to seven other bloggers...so here it goes!

I love: (in no particular order)

1. The new Powerade Zero. A sports drink that tastes great with zero calories. Awesome!

2. Ice cream. Enough said.

3. My husband. He's a great dad, he is very helpful and understanding, and he makes me laugh.

4. My kids. They keep me on my toes and try my patience, but they are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I just want to kiss them and squeeze them all day long!

5. My parents. They would do anything for me and they are really great grandparents!

6. Pandora.com. Really great Internet radio. Check it out!

7. Massages. Like ice cream, enough said.

I don't have seven bloggers to give this award to, but I have a few. The first person I will give this award to is:

April of Our Hidden Treasure. Her son is my Godson. She was my pregnancy buddy and now she's my "mommy of an almost 8 month old boy" buddy. Our sons were born 10 days apart. Our husbands are best friend from childhood, and they were born only 12 days apart. Pretty cool, huh?

My cousin Ben of Ben and Paul Go On a Walk. He recently graduated with his Master's degree from Northern Michigan University. He's a free spirit, hiking the PCT, or the Pacific Crest Trail. Click here to see a map. It goes from Mexico to Washington.

Jenn of A Day in the Life. Jenn is a friend from high school who recently had her second baby, another boy. She lives in sunny Florida and has her hands full with 2 boys under the age of two.

MckMama at My Charming Kids. I don't know her personally, just through reading her blog, which I came across through April. (See above) MckMama's blog is amazing. Her son, Stellan, is the same age as Nathan, and has had heart trouble from the very beginning. MckMama has inspired me to get back into photography (eventually) and really hug my kiddos a little tighter, thanking God for two healthy children.

Audrey at Red Earth Redhead. I don't know her personally either, but I follow her blog, and she follows mine. We both post on Babycenter.com and both have 2 small children. What more do you need in common?

Is five enough? That's all I got. Well, thank you Christine. That was fun!