Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Dreaming of...

This is my living-dining area. It was when we first moved in, so the walls are now adorned with framed pictures, but the rest is still pretty... blah. I love my obnoxious sectional, but a friend came over not long ago, and said, "You really need to cover these pillows."

The yellow ones are pier1, and I liked the striped ones because they have a nautical feel. But, let's face it, I just can't afford super fab pillows, and with 2 of my own kids 24/7, and 4 other kids in my care 40+ hours a week, I don't have much time to sew.

I don't know if it was the look on my face that prompted her to say, "Well, they're not total eye sores."

I think we all know how you feel now (we, as in me and my pillows).

Well, well, Christmas is coming and maybe if I'm really good Santa will get me some of these babies:


Pillows

Or maybe I'll just get some time to cover those old "eye sores".

While your at it, Santa, I'd really like a new dining set too. My "thrifted" dining chairs keep poking me in the bum because pins stick out of the cushions.Ikea Dining
This table and chair set from Ikea is only $310! Please, Santa, pleeeeeaase!

One of these rugs from Anthropology would be nice to cover my bare carpet too.
rugs
Okay, I'm done!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Blogoholic.



Okay, so I may a little addicted to blogging. I'm really just trying to "journal" my life. We are supposed to be journaling, right? Writing with a pen and paper is just too old fashioned for me. I'm an up with the times kinda girl.

Last week, Landon dumped out a whole bottle of baby soap and a whole bottle of Tresemme. I was irritated, but whatever. So, we went out Saturday and bought two new bottles.

What do you think he did with the new bottle of baby soap today?

That's right, he dumped it out. But wait-- there's more. He got ahold of the dish soap and dumped that out too. He also knocked over a lamp which resulted in our last lightbulb breaking. So, we went out to get
  • dish soap
  • another bottle of baby soap
  • and lightbulbs
We got home, I changed the lightbulb in the lamp, and I put all the soaps up high and out of reach. Well, guess what...

Harper just knocked over the same lamp! Ugh.
And you thought girls were expensive.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

My baby's sick. :(

This happy guy is not so happy right now. Poor guy had a fever of 103.4 last night. He kept me awake from the wee hours of the night until the sun came up. Thank goodness it's not my week to teach YWs, because there was no way I was going to church. Plus, it totally drives me crazy when people bring their sick kids to church, to get everyone else's kids sick. I got Landon ready, and sent him off with Daddy.

Harper and I went back to bed and I dreamt I was in the hospital having surgery for the second time, when I looked out my ocean-view window, and a horse with humungous cat eyes galloped out of the ocean. It was creepy. I really don't know why I shared that.

Anyway, my husband is really wonderful because he did two loads of laundry tonight and made dinner. It was de-lish. Beef fajita goodness topped with roasted red and green bell peppers, shredded cheese, sweet tomato salsa, and cool sour cream. Ohh, gosh, you can tell I worked at Chili's. Ha. But seriously, it was good. I'm so thankful my hubby cooks. He's baking cookie brownies right now. Excuse me while I go grab a bowl of ice cream, to top it off, and eat my worries away.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Bunco and Will.i.am (Not Bunco with Will.i.am...I wish)

{can't you just see how much he loves me smooching on him?}

Last night, I hired a babysitter and was off to Bunco with the girls. Remember, it's basketball season so Anthony is gone 13-17 hours a day, minimum. I was not going to pass up an opportunity to get a little break. We don't play Bunco for money, by the way, so quit judging me. No gambling here.

I had so much fun, but it was nice to get back to the boys. They don't have separation anxiety, but I think I do. My arms just don't know what to do without a baby in them! So here comes the best part of the night...

The babysitter said Landon was a "big help." He was good. The whole time! I'm so happy. Last time we went out, he threw a toy that happened to hit his brother in the head. The week before that, he got kicked out of nursery for swinging from the curtains and bashing his face on a nearby table. I was thrilled to have a good report. So, I gave him three balloons and we played with them the rest of the night. Literrally, we didn't go to bed until midnight yesterday. I'm such a bad fun mom.

Here's this video that my kids are sick of, but I can't stop watching. If Anthony died and I had to marry a celebrity, it would definitely be Will.i.am. Not only can he sing, but he is so dang cute, and sensitive! On Oprah, there were these families who were losing their homes to foreclosure because of the economy, so he bought their homes for them (and he cried)! I love when guys cry. Seriously, it's so hot sweet. He does it for lots of people, including his mom and grandma. He's amazing. Okay, watch the vid.


Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Landon Bombastic


We all know Landon is what child development experts call the "spirited child". He's textbook case.

Intense: When he's happy, he bursts into peals of laughter, always smiling, laughing and moving. When he's sad or upset, he is inconsolable.

Persistence -- we value persistence in our society, and Landon has it -- he will stick to something for a long time. But he also has the negative kind, stubbornness. He "locks in" to ideas and has trouble unlocking. He can never take "no" for an answer; he'll ask for the same thing 20 times in a row. (He has asked me for a cookie at least 12 times since I started typing this).

Sensitivity -- emotionally; his feelings are hurt very easily. And physically; he hates turtlenecks, hoodies that come up too high, even socks. Everything feels too tight and constraining. He wants to wear the same adidas velcro shoes every single day. Putting his high top converses on is torture for us both.

Perceptiveness -- Landon notices everything around him. The smallest detail seldom escapes him. However, these details provide distractions which make completing other tasks difficult. Perceptive kids are often accused of not listening, when in reality, their attention is simply focused elsewhere. Adults have learned to screen out stimuli which are not important -- for example, we often drive on "auto pilot," not paying attention to anything around us except the other cars. Yet, we complete our task without mishap. Perceptive children have not learned to screen out extraneous stimuli, nor have they learned which stimuli are more important to attend to than others. I was exactly the same way as a kid. Oh, wait...still am.

Adaptability -- to transitions, surprises, changes in schedule or routine. On the days I babysit away from home, he is a meltdown master. Same with church half the time. He's used to our very scheduled routine at home, and doesn't adjust well to change. He likes to go out and do things, he's just very overstimulated. It helps to prepare and notify him. "We are going to church today. After Sacrament Meeting, you're going to play with your friends and fun toys."

Regularity -- Landon's eating, sleeping and elimination patterns are not regular. He's 2 1/2 and still has some problems sleeping through the night. He has a really hard time falling asleep, and is rarely asleep by 10:30. Nothing we have tried improves his sleeping patterns -- that's just how he is, and we are learning to adjust.

Energy -- activity level. Landon has limitless energy. From morning until night he is moving. Even compared to other two year old's, he is constantly moving and into something.

So, yes, Landon is a "handful", but he also has the kindest heart of any kid I know. He may be energetic and moody, but no matter how upset he gets, he never hits, kicks, or physically hurts others in any way. He plays very well with his friends and brother. He is always concerned about the welfare of everyone else. If he hears me run into something or even sneeze, he comes running and says, "Are you okay, Mommy? Are you okay, Mommy?" I hear that at least once a day, and it always makes me smile.

He is also seriously smart. I am stunned by how quickly he picks things up. He started using words at six months, and knew several by nine months. At fifteen months he could hold a conversation. He knows all of his letters and all of their sounds. He loooves books. That's the one time I can get him to sit still is when we're reading.

He is an amazing athlete already. He is so coordinated, can dribble, shoot, hit a ball with a bat, and throw a football as far as the moon. He makes me so tired, but he also makes me so proud.

So, please, stop judging me. He may be the one at the store screaming his head off because he wants the balloon he saw on the way in, or running around the restaurant like a maniac, but one day, he just might be your kid's boss.

10-15% of children are considered by experts to be spirited. If your child sounds like my sweet Landon, read this.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Harper the Great


When Landon was six weeks old, I went to my postpartum checkup and was scheduled to get an IUD inserted. It's a form of birth control that lasts up to five years. I sat on the procedure table with a sheet over my lap, and waited for the doctor to come in and get it over with.

Then I had a feeling. An unmistakable feeling...not to get the IUD. I started to argue with myself. I'm already on the procedure table. It's too late. I have to get it. Anthony and I talked about this. We are waiting five years.

Don't get it.

But I'm here, on the table, with a sheet over my lap. I have to!

The doctor came in. I had never met him before. He was African American with white hair, a white beard, and smile to match. He kind of reminded me of "God" in Bruce Almighty.

He asked if I had any questions before he began the procedure. I tried to buy myself some time (and courage), so I asked a few lame questions I already knew the answers to. What's the risk of ectopic pregnancy with this? How effective is it? Will I gain weight? etc.

He told me that he had tied women's tubes before, and they still became pregnant. He said if you're supposed to get pregnant, you will. Then he said, "Too many people listen to their heads, instead of their hearts. Do you want to get this today?"

I sat stunned and said, "Well, we're poor right now. We have to finish school before we have another kid. Logically it makes sense to wait..."

With firm authority he interrupted, "What is your heart telling you?"

"No." I sighed with a huge amount of relief.

"I'll write you a three month prescription for the pill. Take it, or don't."

Is that crazy or what? Not long after, I had another strong impression that I needed to try for numero dos. I'm so glad we did. And, I'm so thankful for a random doctor who was in tune and told me just what I needed to hear.

From the beginning of my pregnancy, I could tell Harper had a very gentle, but mighty spirit. I felt intelligence. And, when he was born, I felt like he was already smarter than me! He seemed like this wise little thing, and I still feel that about him. The funny thing is, my friend said the same thing when she held him. And my dad on a separate occasion.

He's such a good boy, and I can tell already he's destined for greatness.

In the mean time, he's Landon's best bud, and he's my snuggle bug, mellow and sweet. Unless you're trying to put clothes on him, that is. Either way, we couldn't imagine life without him.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Quote

"Nothing will surprise us more than when we get to heaven and see the Father and realize how well we know Him and how familiar His face is to us."
— Pres. Ezra Taft Benson

Monday, November 1, 2010

Nacho



My internet is unbelievably slow tonight, so I've only been able to upload two pictures from our Harper Halloween weekend. Facebook is inaccessible entirely, and that's where I usually do my mass uploading. Here's a word to the wise:

Do NOT get Clear wire internet EVER. Don't worry though, we are switching to U-verse with at&t next week.

Enjoy these pictures of our Nacho Libre and we hope your Halloween was fabulous!