The big celebration

Since I'm so late in posting about my son's second birthday, I will go ahead and honor my very first niece for turning 12 today, and I will post about Major's birthday on Miss Kaylee's birthday.

So, 15 days ago, Lil Major (who is not so little anymore), turned two. Because his birthday was the Monday after Easter, we partied ALL weekend long.

Saturday was a little cool, but spring had FINALLY arrived. We took full advantage.

It started w/ a small party w/ both sets of grandparents. We hunted for Easter eggs, ate yummy BBQ'd hamburgers, indulged in sugar cookies and cupcakes, and opened lots of presents. Poor Major had a terrible cold and wasn't feeling all that well, but we made the most of it. He got lots of snuggles from Mema and Grammy, so it was still a good day.


helping Papa put together his new bike...


My poor boy was too sick to go to church on Sunday, so Daddy and Major stayed home and rested while I went to church with Mema and Papa. But, he definitely wasn't too sick to open his Easter basket...



And after a good nap, we headed outside for some golf lessons with Daddy and to ride the new bike.


So, Monday was his actual birthday, and we were still partying! We met up with Aunt Jayme and the girls and with cousin Michele and her kiddos and her sister w/ her kiddos -- 4 moms, 9 kiddos, and 2 baking babies (more on that later) for some fun at the zoo. It was pretty windy, but we didn't let that stop us.



And it wouldn't be a birthday without a trip to Freddy's for burgers, fries and frozen custard. Yum yum!




My little bambino turned two! He's the most amazing kid, if I do say so myself. He learns something new every single minute, I swear! He is talking so much, making sentences and putting thoughts together. He loves to read and watch Cars and drive trucks and play trains. He told us "love you" for the first time recently, and he just melted my heart. He says thank you when you give him something, and if something is confusing or unexpected, he says, "oh dear." He waits excitedly for Daddy to come home each night, and he grabs your hand and says, "walk with me" when he wants to show you something.

Oh, he is such a joy, and we love him so much...and come this November 11, Veteran's Day, our 10th anniversary, he'll have a little brother or sister for us to love just as much!

Happy 2nd Birthday, big brother Major!

Helping Kids

In the last several weeks, there have been 3 deaths in Wichita that have just devastated me. They were all children - all under the age of 19 months.

The boyfriends of the mom in two of the cases (men who are NOT the childrens' father) are accused of MURDERING them...abusing them, hurting them, and ultimately killing them. Both moms are 20 and have multiple children by different men. They left their precious charges in the "care" of monsters. One of the kids (19 months) was abused so severely that the medical team said they'd never seen anything like it. His fingernails were pulled out, his leg was broken and was deformed, he had sores in his mouth from being stabbed with a fork, his collar bone was broken -- there was not an inch on his body that hadn't been severely injured.

To make all of this worse, in both of these cases, neighbors and/or family members had reported to the authorities suspicion of abuse. In both cases, the authorities decided that no further action was required and the report didn't suggest abuse. Now, both kids are dead. The third case is still under investigation - the child was a newborn.

On one hand, I'm almost glad the children are safe and secure in our Father's arms...they can't be hurt anymore. But, seriously, why did this have to happen???

I have a good friend here in Wichita who is working feverishly to adopt two children from Eastern Europe. These two boys (Alec and Zhenya) are about to be transferred to a mental institution, and if Stephanie can't raise the money and finish the paperwork by then, it will be too late. These precious boys will spend the rest of their (short) lives strapped to a bed, with no stimulation or opportunities for learning or physical contact.

They deserve so much better than that!! See, the reason they'll be transferred from the orphanage to the institution is because they have Down's Syndrome. Most of them have living parents, but these parents chose not to keep them because of their disability. Stephanie loves these children so much! Her youngest son has DS, and it's given her a love and a heart for these kids. I'm amazed daily at her passion and strength! These two boys in Eastern Europe need her and her family! Here's another tidbit about Steph. She has 9 children of her own...yet, she still is willing to open up her heart and her home to bring these boys HOME. Amazing!!

Steph has a blog where she writes about their adoption journey. One of my favorite posts is this one where she writes about another family's adoption journey and the impact it had on her. And I can't find the link right now, but she has a friend who just came home from starting the process in Europe to adopt some children, and her report of the conditions was horrific. The children (4 and younger probably) were inside a large playpen where they were TIED to the walls, so they couldn't move. These kids who are 3 or 4 weigh 20-25 pounds, they can not walk, they can not speak, some of them can not even sit up. They need our help and love and rescue!

As you can imagine, an endeavor like this is very very costly, and it's also time sensitive (the boys will be transferred this summer, at the latest). Steph is hosting a giveaway for a quilt that she made if you donate to their adoption fund. You can donate on her blog here.

If you can spare a few dollars, please consider helping her out. I love that I can be a part of the amazing thing that her family is doing by adopting these kids -- just by giving and praying and supporting her. I'm so excited to get to know these boys and watch them interact with their brothers and sisters and learn about our God. I don't know if adoption will ever be what God has in mind for our family, but I'm absolutely sure that God wants me to support Steph in her journey to adoption. Can you help, too??

This Morning...

This morning when I went in to get my TWO YEAR OLD (yes, he turned two while I've been absent from my blog...pics to come soon) up for the day, I saw the sweetest, cutest, melt-your-heart sight.

He was sitting up with his stuffed giraffe in his arms, and he was showering Giraffe with kisses. Then he picked up Bear and covered him in kisses. Then he told me, "blankie kisses," and he covered his favorite blankie (made by Marge) in kisses.

And mama swooned. My boy. So sweet. Adorable. And such a lover. Please, Major, stay like this forever.

March 1

Who knew that time goes in warp speed after you have kids?? My boy is going to be 23 months old this week, and then in a month, he'll be 2. Wow! Actually, he already seems like he's two to me (we've even seen a couple temper tantrums already), and I've called him 2 a couple times.

He's still such a joy. He learns so quickly, and it's so fun to watch his little personality emerge. He loves cars and trucks and trains and airplanes (I think I see a transportation themed bday party in my near future), and he also loves ALL sports...but mostly ba-ket-ball. He can spot a basketball hoop from a mile away. He also loves to pray, and it just melts my heart every time I see it. He bows his little head, mumbles his prayer, and then pumps his fist in the air and shouts A-MEN!! (the prayer is at the end of the video...first he has to play w/ daddy's elbow)

We've been spending several hours each week at the YMCA, where he LOVES to play in the Kid Zone. I kept him out of there for a long time, but it was due to my own fears, not his. Now we both love it! Actually, I think we both NEED it! =)

I'm done w/ my one of my part time jobs - the one that was most stressful. Now, I just have 3 part time jobs that I'm doing. Ha! I'm doing some internet research (from home, in my jammies!), I'm still teaching classes at the Y, and I'm subbing in the schools. I had my first assignment last week. It went fairly well, although the 7th graders just about did me in...and I sent one of them to the office. I have two days of high school girls PE this week - pray for me!

Here are some of the activities that happen when Daddy plays hooky from work (not really, he took a vacation day so I could work)...we LOVE it when Daddy is home!

So MUCH

Wow! Three posts in the same month (just barely!). When was the last time that happened??

So much is going on, so much has happened...I've had productive days and days that I just look at the pile on my dining room table and want to scream and pull my hair out. I've figured out that I'm one of those Type A personalities (that's not the surprise) who wants everything to be perfect, so I just keep putting things off b/c I don't have time to see them to completion RIGHT NOW. Thus, the mess on my dining room table, in my office, in my closet, in my bathroom cabinets. Grr. I hate this.

I AM determined to get organized, though. We are trying to do some rearranging in the basement, and this will require me to get rid of A LOT of stuff and organize A LOT of stuff. I started w/ a couple boxes of stuff that I've been toting around since elementary school and high school - no lie. I found notes I wrote in junior high, papers and cards I wrote to my grandma when I was a kid, pep rally Mums from high school, sheet music from marching band. Oh boy!



I went ahead and spent some time looking through all of it again, and decided it would be the LAST time I looked through it all b/c then I trashed it. There's just no reason to read AGAIN about who was mad at who in seventh grade.

I also organized all my scrapbooking stuff. I'm THIS close to selling all of it...but then...what if I want to pick it back up again? What if I want to start making cards? Well, at least it's organized for now.

My office if full of junk, and I want to turn it back into a storage room - it's intended purpose - and move the office out to the main room of the basement, where I'll be forced to keep it organized or be REALLY embarrassed.

So, with all of the reorganizing going on, I still have everything else. I've put in my notice at my super time-consuming, bothersome job, and I'm fully certified to sub teach in the schools. I was supposed to complete my first assignment on Friday, but we had a snow day. And I'm glad. I was exhausted.

Last week was made up of driving back and forth all over the state of Kansas (or so it seemed) taking my MIL to the hospital and back to visit my FIL (he's well and home now), and taking the boy to the babysitter, going to teach at the Y, driving across town for meetings, and trying to get all my errands done before the snow hit on Friday.

I also found time to take a meal to a friend who's on bed rest, make a thousand calls to my sister and mom to see how Sis was doing w/ some VERY early contractions, go to my Mom's group, attend a slumber party w/ our Mom's group leadership team, play in the snow w/ my son, and take our annual family outing to the train show. Whew. I'm glad it's all over.

Now it's time to start another week. Pray that I can be productive and not get sucked into FB and blogs and stinkin' bejeweled blitz. I need a week to get some other stuff done!!

And since you so patiently listened to my rant and complain, here are some pictures from around our house lately.

Mema's glasses...

Reading the paper w/ Daddy...

Heading out to play in the snow...

Mommy's helper...

His first snow angel, perhaps??


My sweet sweet sweet boy...

Not a Mama Post

Wow, I think that this might be one of the first posts since Lil Major was born that is NOT about being a Mama...but then again, it kinda is in a way.

After I had my little bundle of joy in my arms, I knew there was no way I'd be able to leave him and go back to work full time. So, I found a part time job. It was the best arrangement I could have asked for. I worked 24 hours a week, 3 days a week, and my mom watched my kiddo. Great, right?? Yeah, it was, until the economy tanked and I lost my job.

Ok, move on. So, I did. I found another part time job. At first, this seemed like an even better deal (aside from the 65% cut in pay). It was only 10 hours/week (or so I was TOLD), I could work whenever I wanted, and some of it I could do from home.

What I DIDN'T know at the time was that I would NEVER work just 10 hours/week, my cell phone minutes (that I paid for, not the company) would shoot through the roof, and I would work 7 days/week. But, still, it was part time...averaging about 18 hours/week.

So, here's the rub. I didn't know how easy I had it working full time. I went to work for 40 hours each and every week. I played on the internet, I paid my bills, I made my doctor's appointments...all during my 40 hours. Which meant that when I got home in the evenings, I could do whatever I wanted to.

Working 3 days/week at my first part time job, I never once got on the internet, I paid no bills, I made no personal phone calls. I had work to do! Work that had to be done in just 24 hours/week! No biggie. I still had a couple other days of the week to myself.

At THIS job, I work harder than I've ever worked at any job. I get paid the least of any job I've ever had. I work more days/week than any other job I've ever worked. I do have a pretty decent boss who backs me up, but I also have a "dotted line" to corporate, which is not fun at all.

Let's sum it up: I make 65% less, I work 65% more, I have 65% more stress, and I get 0% of household stuff done while I work.

I get it though. I am paid by the hour, and I only have a few hours to be, physically, at my place of business, or on my computer at home, so I have to make the absolute most of the time I have. Which means no fooling around.

I don't have any idea why I thought I would work less by having a part time job. Aarrrgghhh!!

Don't worry -- plans are in motion for yet ANOTHER part time job which will require less headaches in some ways and WAY more in another way. I'm trying to substitute teach. No extended days. I can say YES or NO to an assignment. No taking work home with me. AND, I can make the same $$/month by working 6 days/month instead of every day/month!

I'll let you know how it goes.

21 months

I can't believe it's been a whole month since I last posted. I guess it was a pretty busy month, but still. Time goes by so fast these days.

My boy is 21 months old today! He is amazing, he's the smartest kid out there (we all say that about our kids, right??). =) Well, at least his Mama is proud of him.


His vocabulary has grown and grown this month - he's starting to repeat words when we say them (uh oh - better watch out now!), and every day I hear something new from him. I can't even remember all the words, but here are some of them: wa-wa (water), bounce, choo choo (complete w/ the arm motion for the horn), tra truck (trash truck), shoe, sock, elbow, knee, lap, and NO. I'm not so crazy about that last one, but I guess it had to show up sometime. I still haven't heard YES out of him.



He has some favorite activities and most of them have to do with Christmas gifts. He got a train table and a basketball hoop that are very popular around here. I'm trying to push the boy towards b-ball rather than football -- just call it a paranoid mama. He still loves to read books, but now he comes to you with a book and asks to sit in your lap to read it.


He loves to put on his Daddy's shoes and belts. It's hilarious to watch him try to walk around the house w/ a big belt wrapped around him twice, and humongous shoes on his feet. I should just keep my camera attached to my body at all times to capture all of this. Here's my best try.



When we rock together at the end of the day, he puts his head on my shoulder, and I ask him for a kiss. That little booger lifts his head, puckers up, leans in towards Mom, and then turns his head really quickly and says NO in the cutest little voice you've ever heard. Then he turns his head back and puckers up so I can kiss him. Oh, it's one of my very favorite things.



He is getting taller...he can reach to the next highest drawer and further onto the kitchen counter and table. I have to be extra careful that breakable and dangerous things are FAR out of his reach.

My kiddo has been sick for the last 3 weeks. It started out as a runny nose and a cough when he woke up. It was just annoying at first...but then, the symptoms continued, and then his runny nose started producing green nastiness and then his cough got worse, and then he got a fever. Finally, I called the doctor, and they had us come in. They said he was starting to get a double ear infection and his sinuses were all messed up, so we left w/ a script for antibiotics. And while we were there, they gave him his 2nd H1N1 vaccine, and wouldn't you know it, but my tough boy didn't even CRY when he got poked?? He's way tougher than his dad and mom!

I'm praying for healing, because we're getting tired of being stuck in the house. Well, I've still had to leave to work, but he hasn't been out much in the last week, especially. Not that we want to go anywhere, it's supposed to be a high of 9 for the rest of the week!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas, filled with lots of food and laughter and games and gifts and family, and a little bit of snow. It was so fun to see Major's face as he walked out and saw his gifts and the lights...what a blessing to have him in our lives!

20 months!

My boy turned 20 months old yesterday. Where does the time go?? It seems like just yesterday my mom was telling me that once he hit 4 months, he'd start sleeping better...and I thought, are you kidding me?? 4 months is forever away! And here we are...20 months!!

He's growing and learning and so fun and SOOOOO cute, if I do say so myself.

His vocabulary changes every day, and I'm convinced that it grew by leaps and bounds during the 5 days we spent w/ cousin Captain. Some of Major's latest words are: cracker, milk, water, marshmallow (do you see a trend here??), duck (it had been just the quack sound for duck, now it's very distinctly DUCK), goose, moon, balloon...and I'm pretty sure he said, "where go Mama?" the other day.

I'm so proud!

He smiles and giggles and laughs no less than a thousand times a day. He loves to snuggle w/ his mama, and when he's tired he grabs my arm, and he wraps himself all around me. When he wakes up, he grabs everything out of his crib to take with us to the living room. And then he has to make sure we turn everything off and shut all the doors we pass on the way out. He LOVES music and loves to dance. Any kind of music and this kid starts bouncing to the tempo. And when a song finishes, or a dance ends, he's the first to start clapping and shouting "Yay, Yay!"

Some of his favorite phrases that he says...that we encourage him to say over and over and over and over are, "Oh YEEAAAHHHHH!" and "Oh boy!"

Whenever anyone leaves, or Major leaves somewhere, he must POUND IT with everyone within a square mile, and we can't leave until he finishes. Thanks for that one, Captain!

Oh, how I love my boy. I love his sweet hugs and kisses. I love his voice as he calls out for Mama when he wakes up. I love his giggles and games and tickles. I love how he brings books to me and then turns around so he can back into my lap for reading time. I love how he puts his stuffed giraffe on his push car, so they can ride around together.

I love how excited he is about all the Christmas lights everywhere. If he walks into the room and the Christmas tree lights and the garland lights and the lights on the mantle aren't all turned on, he insists that I do it right away. When we ride around in the car, he points and oohs and aahhs over all the lights around town. And he TOTALLY gets unwrapping gifts...in fact, I don't know how he's missed the wrapped gifts that are under the tree -- must be the thousands of lights that are everywhere else in the house. =)

There are some things that aren't so much fun, but I guess it means he's learning -- I found 5 socks in his trash can today, I'd been wondering where they were...and he's learned to unlock and open the dishwasher, and how to take his tray off while he's sitting in his high chair (and throw it to the floor), and how to climb up into the chair in the living room and stand up, almost giving his Mama a heart attack as he just about topples over the arm, and he's FINALLY learned the fine art of a sippy cup, and man that kid can drink water and milk.

Life is full and busy and crazy and exhausting, but oh so much fun!


Here he is petting the dog we saw at the Night in Bethlehem at a local church. He was so cute all bundled up, and he just stood there petting the dog for as long as I'd let him. He loves animals!

And here are both my boys at Daddy's favorite restaurant, Jack Stack, in Overland Park.

To sleep or not to sleep?

That is the question I ask myself every morning when The Colonel gets up for work. See, I like to have a little time to myself before Major wakes up, but that means I need to be up by 6:30am at the latest. And even then, that's sometimes too late to get up.

BUT, that means I have to get my booty out of bed that early. I always wake up when The Colonel gets up -- what I mean is, I open my eyes for a brief moment and glance at the clock. Then I lay there and think about getting up.

But my bed is so warm, and my puppy is usually snuggled next to me, and it's so COLD in the house.

But, if I don't get up, then the boy will wake up, and I will be forced to try to get ready while he turns my closet upside down...he pulls dirty clothes out of the hamper on to the floor, all of the Colonel's belts come off the rack, my makeup brushes are yanked out of the drawer...all while I'm trying to wash my face, brush my teeth and attempt to look presentable.

It's not that I'm still tired when the alarm goes off in the morning (well, sometimes I am), it's just that it's so cozy in bed and I'm not always ready to start the day. Of course, if I don't start the day on my terms, then my super busy toddler will start the day for me.

What a dilemma!

Since I became a mom...PART 2

One of the things I forgot to mention the other day about SINCE I BECAME A MOM is that I have lost my short term memory...since I became a Mom.

If you tell me something, and I don't immediately write it down or put it on my calendar or add it to the very large and ugly stack of papers on my dining room table, then I will promptly forget it forever...or until I'm lying in bed or standing in the shower or in some equally inconvenient place.

Which is why I forgot the very thing that made me write the SINCE I BECAME A MOM post, the one thing that triggered my mind into thinking about all the things that have changed...it just flew right out of my head. And believe it or not, wine did not have anything to do with me forgetting...this time. =)

So anyway, here it is:

It's the holidays. The air is crisp, the leaves are falling, the skies are blue and beautiful, and most people are in good spirits. So, charities are out in full force (including my employer, but that's another story, altogether) asking for money. They tug at your heart strings and play you videos and show you pictures and ask for your donation to help their cause.

In years past, I had NO problem ignoring most of these pleas. I chose not to answer my phone or open my door. I scrolled quickly past the blog posts and deleted emails without reading them (sorry if some of them were from you). I read my bulletin during church instead of paying attention to the video. But then....but then, I had a child. And all of a sudden, everything changed.

Every time I hear a sad story about a child who is ill, I think about how it could be my child. Every time that I see a child go without medical care or food or love or shoes, or anything! my eyes well up, and I start thinking about adopting a little baby from India so they don't have to live on the streets. I come home from women's dinners and church activities and craft fairs, and I tell my husband that we NEED to give to this charity and this missionary and that cause. I tell him the stories that I heard, and just when he might be about to agree to give...I hear about ANOTHER cause that needs my help! Aaahhh!!

What do I do??

We are not made of money. In fact, we are SO not made of money. If only I wouldn't have wasted so much money years ago when we were young and single and had 2 amazing incomes....oh wait, that's another story, too.

Anyway, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to give to all the great things that I hear about, but we can't. So, I choose the few that we can help monetarily, and we decide to pray and cry for the others. And thank God every single day that we are SO blessed to have a healthy and beautiful child...a child who never goes hungry, who has lots of shoes and too many toys and is surrounded by friends and family who love him unconditionally.

Just another way that things have changed since I became a mom. If you are looking for somewhere to donate some of your love and finances to, these are some of the organizations that I have fallen in love with. Check them out if you get a chance:

World Vision - a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision provides hope and assistance to approximately 100 million people in nearly 100 countries. In communities around the world, we join with local people to find lasting ways to improve the lives of poor children and families.
- and a special story about World Vision here

Reese's Rainbow - International Down Syndrome Orphan Ministry -- Outside of the U.S. children born with Down Syndrome are viewed as outcasts with no ability to learn or be functional members of society. They languish in mental institutions, hidden away from the world in shame. Reese's Rainbow provides financial support to families trying to rescue and adopt these children.
- a personal story about plea for help for Reese's Rainbow

Samaritan's Purse - For over 35 years, Samaritan's Purse has done our utmost to follow Christ's command by going to the aid of the world's poor, sick, and suffering. We are an effective means of reaching hurting people in countries around the world with food, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ. This, in turn, earns us a hearing for the Gospel, the Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Our emergency relief programs provide desperately needed assistance to victims of natural disaster, war, disease, and famine. As we offer food, water, and temporary shelter, we meet critical needs and give people a chance to rebuild their lives.

The Luca John Foundation - this is a charity that was founded by my neighbor's daughter and son-in-law after they lost their little boy shortly after his birth. They provide support (both financially and emotionally) to families who lose infants. It's amazing to see the love that has come out of such a tragic thing.

If you're looking for a cause to support this holiday season, all of these are amazing. If you already have your favorite cause to give to, thank you so much for your giving spirit. Reading these stories makes me realize how blessed we are to live in the way that we do. We are so lucky....and there are so many others who need our help!


And to end on a light note...one more thing SINCE I BECAME A MOM...my jeans no longer fit, I run into doors and walls because my hips stick out more than before, and coffee has become a non-negotiable.

Since I became a mom...

I get less done, I cook more, I snuggle and hug and kiss and love more...

...since I became a mom.

I notice cute kids "driving" the cart from the little car in front. I notice moms who are mean and impatient and rude to their kids in the store. I check out that super cute stroller on the bike path. I smile and tease the baby in the cart in front of me.

...since I became a mom.

I can no longer tolerate F bombs. I couldn't really tolerate it before, but now it just really grates on me. Now I'M the one muttering under my breath about those idiot kids.

...since I became a mom.

I can no longer watch movies about sad things unless it has a happy ending. And I especially can't want shows or movies where kids are hurt. (I bawled like a baby through Australia today and don't even get me started on Slumdog Millionaire.)

...since I became a mom.

I ABSOLUTELY can NOT understand what possesses someone to hurt or sell or torture or kill a child. I can understand the frustration and impatience you feel with a child, but they are depending on YOU to care for them. How in the world can a caregiver do so much damage to a child. (Little Shaniya's story in NC is eating me up!)

...since I became a mom.

I now understand what people meant when they said, "you'll feel differently when it's your own." Boy oh boy, do I get it now.

...since I became a mom.

BUT, I still don't get how all of that love is inside of me. Where did it come from?? How in the world did it just SHOW UP when my boy was handed to me? And where did the extra love (and patience and adoration and appreciation) for his daddy come from? God is amazing, that's all there is about it.

...since I became a mom.

Now, I can really appreciate the sacrifice and the AWESOME AWESOME gift that God gave to me when He allowed His Son to die, to SUFFER so immensely, on the cross, just so that I could live. Oh, what a sacrifice it was. I can't even fathom.

...since I became a mom.

nerve endings are closer to the surface, tears come more easily, laughter and smiles come more readily, chores go unfinished, priorities change...

...since I became a mom.

And I'm SO loving all of it!!

So Big

My boy is getting SO big. He learns something new approximately every nanosecond that he is awake. I am just amazed!

I just watched him (purposely) drop his sippy cup of milk on the floor. Then he marched over to the oven and pulled off one of his washcloths. He took the washcloth to the spill and bent down to wipe it up. Apparently, one wash cloth wasn't enough because he went back for one more. Then he tried to throw the washcloth in the trash, but I'd locked him out of the pantry where the trash can is.

We hear a new word almost every day now, too. Last night he said "drink," which is how we refer to his cup and anything that he drinks. It was bedtime, but his cup was sitting on his dresser, and he wanted to finish it before bed, so he pointed and said, "drink!" He also just started saying "Off" as soon as he wakes up, because he wants me to turn OFF all the stuff in his room - fan, radio, humidifier. So sweet.

He picks up on EVERYTHING! Oh, how I love this boy. More and more every single day...even when he's pulling everything off of the counter or out of the drawers, or dumping his milk on the floor so he can fingerpaint in it, or when he's wriggling while I'm changing a poopy diaper or tugging on my pants screaming while I'm just trying to make lunch as fast as I can...I love him...

Who's Really In Charge

It's obvious by these pictures who is REALLY in charge in our house...

Now that the boy can climb up into the chair like a big kid, and he knows exactly what to do with the remote, I think that we will have to watch Colby's Clubhouse nonstop from now on! I love this kid!!


I made some chocolate cookies today, and I think they were quite popular w/ the male species in my house...

The light of my life

Since my blog is seriously lacking in the cute boy area (cute boy = my kiddo!), here's a video of the kid's latest antics. As much as his daddy is opposed to him becoming a soccer player, I think the boy has some skillz! =)

Fall is here!

Life seems to be passing me by FAST! My last post was at the end of August, and now here it is October and the weather has turned cool and the leaves are changing, and I'm the mom of an 18 month old!! Wow!!

We've had a very busy week so far -- the boy had his 18-month check along with 3 shots, I had a check w/ my doctor that resulted in some medicine and a flu shot, and I also took my first trip to the dentist in 4 years. Luckily, my teeth still look great after all that time. I've taught 6 aerobics classes, driven all over to drop off and pick up my son, attempted to take the dogs to the vet (our walk-in clinic we love is closed for a couple weeks, but I didn't know that til I got to the office), and went to Fire Safety week at a local museum. And it's only Thursday!!

Tomorrow is Mom's Day Out, and it's my turn to be OUT! I'm meeting a friend for coffee, and then I'm debating about coming home to clean or hitting the mall to do a little shopping. What a decision, huh?

I know I've been absent from here lately, and I've been spending my blogging time on facebook, but I think I'm missing my blog. Maybe you'll see more of me in the near future!

In the meantime, here's a new recipe I tried today. It was SO yummy! I only made half the recipe because my butternut squash was small. And I may have calculated the curry powder incorrectly because my soup had quite a bit of spice. I liked it, but others may not like it that spicy. I paired it with hot Naan right out of the oven. Oooh boy! So good!

SLOW COOKER CURRIED SQUASH SOUP

INGREDIENTS
1 large butternut squash (about 4 lb), peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 10 cups)
1 large apple, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 3/4 cups)
1 large onion, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
2 teaspoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
3 1/2 cups Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
1/2 cup canned coconut milk (not cream of coconut)
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 small red apple, unpeeled, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup), if desired


DIRECTIONS
1. Spray 4- to 5- quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, toss squash, apple, onion, curry powder, salt and white pepper. Pour broth over vegetable mixture.
2. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours.
3. Pour about 3 cups of the soup mixture into blender; add coconut milk and brown sugar. Cover and blend until smooth; return to cooker. Blend remaining soup mixture, in 2 more batches of 3 cups each, until smooth; return to cooker.
4. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 10 to 15 minutes longer or unto hot. Serve topped with chopped apple.

I got the recipe from the Pillsbury website -- here's the link: http://www.pillsbury.com/Recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=46164&WT.dcsvid=Mzg0Njc0OTg1OQS2&rvrin=DBBD7E49-9BFB-43A8-A8E2-10E93C187E70&WT.mc_id=Newsletter_PB_10_06_2009&rvrin=DBBD7E49-9BFB-43A8-A8E2-10E93C187E70

The Longest Week EVER

Things have been pretty busy and chaotic around here lately...my "part time" job (have I posted about that yet?? it requires its OWN post) has taken over my life, I'm planning a surprise 40th birthday party for The Colonel next weekend, and we have friends and family coming into town - in fact, I'm awake and posting at 4:41 am because all the little things I need to accomplish were bouncing around in my head not letting me sleep. I got up to make a bunch of TO DO lists before I forget what I need TO DO, and now here I am - posting.

So, on top of all of this, we had a very unwelcome guest in our home this week. It showed up late on Sunday night - just after I'd closed my eyes to go to sleep. The Stomach Flu invaded our house. It started with Lil Major and went something like this:

Day 1 - puking (every 30 minutes for about 13 hours)
Day 2 - fever and rag doll syndrome (the boy would NOT move and when you picked him up, he was just limp)
Day 3 - appears to be getting better, little spurts of energy, and then...
Day 4 - Diarrhea AND Daddy gets the bug - bad!

I caught a hint of it on Wednesday evening - terrible headache, exhaustion, but maybe that was from not sleeping for 2 nights as I lay on the floor next to my son, with the puke bowl only inches away. Then on Wednesday as I drove from meeting to meeting, I started looking around my car wondering what I could puke in if I needed to. Luckily, I didn't need to. I came home from my meeting to find The Colonel had come home from work sick, I forced Lil Major to go to bed early, and we were all in bed by 7:30pm. I slept hard and long that night and woke up Thursday feeling almost normal.

Too bad The Colonel couldn't say the same. He's been moaning and groaning ever since. AND NOW, Mema has it, and it may have hit her the worst! So, it's kinda weird how it's affecting those of us who have been around the kid...the less time you spent w/ him, the worse it hits you. Makes no sense. And I feel so bad for Mema b/c she's miserable, and her TO DO list is as long as mine to get ready for next week. Bah!

Just to show you how bad it's been, I didn't even THINK to get out my camera and take a picture of my super cute but so pitiful limp noodle son as he lay on the floor (seriously, he NEVER just lays anywhere unless he's asleep in his crib!).

And we had to cancel Mom's Day Out this week (b/c it was my turn to work, and obviously, I couldn't take the sick kid w/ me). And my TO DO list is growing and nothing is being crossed off. And it's stinkin' 4 something in the morning, and I'm not sleeping.

And it's only Friday morning.

The LONGEST week EVER...

16 ½ Months

It’s been WAY too long since I posted. I think about posting, I start to plan out posts in my mind, I think about which pictures to post…and then…life happens, or I read all of your blogs, and then I never post. But, I’ve read some of your posts about the new things that your kids are doing as they get bigger, and I decided I need to do that for Lil Major...especially since I haven’t added much to his baby book lately.

We've been busy this summer. We've been to Dallas, to Indianapolis, and to Oklahoma City. We've been to the zoo, Exploration Place, the park, and the pool. Time flew by, and I can't believe it's almost time for The Colonel and I to have birthdays. And our little bambino has been very busy, too.

So, here are some things that my sweet baby boy (who is growing up before my eyes!) has been up to lately:

You say: Hummer, Papa (which means Daddy and Papa), Up, cow, duck, and you just said drink for the first time.

You know where your body parts are: hair, ear, nose, hand, foot, knee, head, tongue, tummy

You know animal sounds: cow, duck, monkey, sheep

You know the signs for more and please. We’re working on: thank you, all done, and help

You are FAST – you can get into an unlocked cupboard or the pantry in record time! So, you keep Mommy hopping, that’s for sure! You also can open most of the doors in our house – sometimes it’s fun and keeps you occupied as you close yourself into your room or the closet and then open and close the door a hundred times…other times it’s scary, like when you open the door and try to get into the garage. Baby proofing has happened in our house this week, and Mommy is MUCH happier now.

You love the water. At the beginning of the summer, you were a little nervous in the pool, but ever since our trip to Dallas, you can’t get enough. You love the sprinklers, fountains, and hanging out in the pool w/ Mommy and Daddy.

You call every SUV a Hummer, much to Daddy’s dismay. You love to play with the trains and Daddy’s RC airplanes, and your favorite time of day is when daddy gets home from work and you play in the basement and on the stairs.

When we ask if you want to go outside, you get SO excited. You start kicking your legs and jumping around until we get outside.

You love to read, and you bring us books many times a day to read. You also love balls, any ball, all balls! Including the 6-pound medicine ball, which you carry around the basement like you’re a body builder.

You wear 12-18 month clothes, but most pants are too big around your waist. You wear a size 5 shoe, and you’re about 30” tall.

When we go out with the stroller, you would rather help us push the stroller than ride inside of it.

You’ve started to have a bit of separation anxiety, and sometimes you’re sad when we drop you off at the nursery at church or when we leave you with Mema and Papa. But, it only lasts for a few minutes, and then you get busy playing with your toys and having fun.

The night before you turned 15 months old, you decided that you were done nursing. You just stopped like that! Mommy was a little sad, but it was time.

Right after you turned 16 months, you stopped taking your afternoon nap. Mommy was ok with you having only one nap, but we wanted it to be an afternoon nap. So, we started finding fun things to do in the morning so that you wouldn’t get too sleepy, and now you just nap in the afternoon.

You are a pro at getting your diaper off, and you love to run around naked. But, after a freak peeing incident, we closely monitor your naked time. =)

My boy is so much fun. He loves his mama and daddy, and he's quite the cuddler. I love him so much, and as much as I welcome naptime and bed time, I also love watching him learn and discover when he's awake. Life is full and busy and stressful and fun and passing by way too quickly!

The Boy's Hobbies

Well, I guess if the Colonel has a bunch of new hobbies, it's only fitting for the boy to have his own.

Here's a little bit of what my kiddo has been up to lately (besides developing his personality and adopting WAY too much of his mom's temper and impatience...oh boy!).


Sprinkler fun on those scorching Kansas summer days...


Learning how to fly the remote control helicopter (in the house!!)
The first official haircut! Kelly said he was the BEST first haircut she's ever done. I think it was b/c Daddy was holding him on his lap.


100 degree days caused us to break out the new sprinkle pool for the backyard. Thank goodness we have big shade trees to sit under!!


And his newest thing, closing himself in the pantry so he can watch the light go on and off. Apparently, he's not afraid of the dark!!

The Colonel's New Hobby

I think my husband is going through a mid life crisis. He's given up golf (apparently, he's a horrible player now). He's given up his trains (he's done all he can w/ the space he has, or so he says). And he's on to something new...

Remote controlled airplanes! His first venture is a mini stealth bomber. But, he has his eye on several others, as well as an RC boat. Oh boy. We're in trouble.

Tonight we went out as a family to try out the plane. It's just made of foam so we have to make sure it's not windy. And, HELLO, we live in Kansas...it's very rarely ever NOT windy. But, tonight it was calm, so off to the park we went.

It was so fun to watch him fly the bomber around. Of course, Lil Major loved it, too, and when he wasn't picking dandelions and trying to eat them, he was watching his daddy intently.