Things on a DAILY basis...

What is it with little boys and using words when they do not need to be used? Lately my posts have been about my son and not my daughter...Why, you may ask, because she is so stinking cute and you want to hear more? Because my son is driving me CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lately, all that comes out of my son's mouth are these odd words and phrases. And they are for no apparent reason, with complete inappropriateness (is that a word?) and really, why?

Here we go:

butt

poop (not because he just did)

fart (see above)

eyeball (exactly, HUH?!)

poopoo

BLEHHHHH (complete with tongue hanging out)

Phrases include: "Oh my buuuutt." And yes, there is an extension of the letter U. "Oh my eyeball" Not because something is in there either.

And then there's the jumping off EVERYTHING. Running in the house, talking back, getting sent to the corner, often, Saying "What?" waaayyyy to often and just not being a very nice kid. And spitting!! MAN, spitting in any way he can think of. I am sooo incredibly sick of this one. This little thing here is a main reason for the corner chair now.

AND THEN we go to the doctor this past week and she says she is so impressed with how good he is, how polite, how interesting, how calm, how adorable he is. She doesn't have many patients that are as well behaved as him. Did I bring the same kid with me?! Or does she say that to everyone. She said she doesn't...

But, look at that face.

No you're not Mom

Me: making my adorable wipe holders.

Hayden: playing cars on a ramp with the changing table pad.

Me: "Hayden, don't stand on that chair, go get a different one."

Hayden: "No, this one's fine."

Me: "No, go get a different one because that one isn't safe and you can fall."

Hayden: "No, really, this one's fine I didn't fall."

Me: "Well, I said you need to get a different chair and what I say you do because I am Mom."

Hayden: "No, you're not Mom, you're Babe."

Never got a different chair. Didn't fall.

WHAT?!?!? He's 4 already!??

Four years ago....Headed to the hospital at 6:15am. Got the call at 5:30am to come on in to be induced. Prayers were finally answered. Having tried everything possible to get this baby out, it was just going to have to be this way and I was completely fine with that! At 9:13 pm our Hayden James arrived. 8 lbs 4 oz, 21 inches and perfect!

3 weeks

The first year just flew by so dang fast! One minute I was holding him all swaddled up and the next he's zipping around on his little feet. Seriously, SLOW DOWN!

First Birthday

I look at him from time to time and am just amazed that I carried this little baby in my arms and now he's this 'big' little boy who loves Corvettes, Transformers and preschool. He counts, signs the alphabet, remembers the smallest details, swims like a fish, and is in love with his sister.

The last year was a struggle with him. I am hoping he was just "testing the waters" and will start to settle down soon. He is a very sensitive guy but pretty tough when he needs to be.

As I type, he is enthralled in playing with his new Legos he got for his birthday. He is totally fine with Buddy building and himself observing how it's done. These are the little things I love. Playtime with Buddy and his little Buddy. It's quiet and he is playing, perfectly content.

So, now we're off to start his forth year. I cross my fingers tightly that it is the start of a good one!

FOUR YEARS OLD!!

Happy Birthday Grandma Ginny!!!

Today is my Grandma B's 90th birthday!! I can't believe it! She has had so many struggles the last few years, that my family is celebrating whether we are with her or not!

I will be having a glass (or two) of Chardonney this evening to aid in the celebration. That is her favorite. This weekend, she is taking in a show, a little shopping, maybe a movie and a nice hotel stay with her girls; my mom, aunt and a few bottles of Chardonney. She's getting out of "the home" as she likes to call it and enjoying the weekend the way she wants. Wish I could be there...

So, I will raise my glass later on, say "Cheers" and think of all the wonderful times that I have been lucky enough to have with my Grandma in just one third of her lifetime.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!

Four years ago...

Four years ago today was my due date with my Hayden. Four years ago today I was jumping up and down trying to get him out. Four years ago today I was a bloating, water retaining whale who had done EVERYTHING to get this baby out. Okay, maybe not everything, but alot of things. Four years ago today I watched my due date sail past me without even the slightest contraction.
And now, I would do anything to get that time back. Revisit being pregnant with my first baby. Feel those rolls, kicks and hick-ups. Minus the 60 pound weight gain of course.
*Sorry, no picture will accompany this post. It really wasn't a pretty time for me.

My Swimmer!

It is quite amazing to me what the influence of older kids have on younger kids. Hayden's cousins, ages 8 and 5 were here for the weekend and the pool got TONS of use. All the kids were in the water most of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hayden pretty much wanted to do everything they did if he could.

At the beginning of the summer, Hayden was so enthused about swimming and taking lessons and being able too roam free in the water. That didn't happen. He didn't get to take swimming lessons because the times conflicted with preschool (summer session) and Maya's naptime. He wasn't bummed about it, but he did talk about wanting to go. Next summer for sure!

Anyway, when he'd get in the pool at the beginning of the summer he wanted nothing to do with going off the big step. He was content playing with cars and what ever he could use on the edge. FORGET kicking while being held. This was just a screaming match.

Then, I bought some "noodles" and he took a step. He would "swim by himself" with the noodle and kick around. This was awesome, he was finally moving! He was so proud of himself and showed off as much as he could. Just last month he would finally jump in by himself with the noodle. He even would move his arms while supported by the noodle. Major progress in June and July.

A couple weeks ago Buddy bought him a kickboard. Hayden took to that thing like a pro! Kicking around the pool, showing off.

And now, we have a fish! With his cousins here, he got to use some waterwings that they had brought! I thought he would be completely uninterested in them. He'd never seen them and they go on the arms. I think had I bought some and stuck them on him he would have thrown a fit. But, his aunt put them on him and sure enough he's jumping in just like his cousins, swimming with both hands and feet in motion and playing in the water like a "big"kid!!!!

And then, yesterday, I asked him if he could swim all by himself without the support of the waterwings just like Blake and Paige do. Ya know what he did? Swam all by himself without the waterwings, just like Blake and Paige!!! Granted not that far. He went from the bench, to me (probably 5 feet) and back again. But he did it alot! He loved practicing swimming.

The last thing he said when he got out of the pool was that he is going to do good in swimming lessons next time!

I just hope this continues into next April! YEAH HAYDEN!

The "sky" is finally clearing

The horrid week is over. My kids are behaving so nicely, with a little attitude thrown in of course. I am sitting here playing the "observant" parent. They are playing on the floor together, both laughing, both having a good time.
Maya is becoming an independent, daring, get into everything child. Hayden is becoming a boss to his sister, but is a protecter. He's loving, observant, sensitive, but his still all boy.
Hayden likes cars. Loves anything with wheels. There is not a day that goes by that there is not a truck, tractor, car, Monster Truck or plane that is not on the floor, table, chair or in his hand. He and Buddy practice the noises of what each vehicle makes. Hayden's faves? Corvette, Ferrari, and motorcycle. Anytime cars are involved, both their faces light up. They sit together on the couch/chair often, flipping through Motor Trend, AutoWeek or Automobile and Buddy tells Hayden all about each and every car. Hayden's favorite movie? Cars or Transformers, he can't decide. He likes to play in the sandbox with his big trucks, jump on the trampoline and loves to swim with Daddy. He is usually all play, all day but can sit back, relax and veg-out when he needs to.
Maya likes getting into everything. She climbs into and onto everything. Her latest discovery is planting herself on the shelf of the console table like she's part of the decor. Last night she wedged herself in the cupboard. Not the ordinary cupboard. The small one with the pull out. I was doing dishes, she was playing with dishes. One second she was sitting on the floor the next I saw a head sticking out of the approx. 18x18 inch space. She bolts for the stairs when she sees the gate is not up. I have found her sitting on top of the little play table the kids have upstairs. I walked into the house on Sunday after I'd been away for a bit to find her sitting on the end table, Hayden laughing at her and Buddy had made a quick trip to the garage!!! She's quick. Somehow, she has yet to fall from a high spot or the stairs. Knock on wood. She's not a cuddler, super bummed about that, but she will already, at age 1, just come to me and give me a hug or a kiss. That, I love.
Where am I going with this? I forgot. I was just thinking of the bad week that just passed. It lasted from Monday to Sunday. I am looking back and remembering all the yelling, crying, NO's that were said and wishing I could have calmed myself down a bit, taken a step back or just left the room for a moment. The last day and a half have been glorious by comparison. We've had a couple downers, but that is to be expected. Right now, both kids are playing, smiling, laughing, Hayden just started singing. I am praying the outlook continues.

Well, that was a bit of a ramble.