Big Boy Bathtime

The little man has graduated from the baby tub to the Big Boy Tub...after a week of Brad and I getting as wet as the child we decided it was time to ditch the baby tub. So I went on a search to find a bath ring, so Brady could sit up in the tub and play around like his brothers. If Brady could talk this is what he'd have to say about the whole experience..."Its was a pretty cool thing to be in the big tub with all the bubbles... oh, and the bath toys!! Now that's what I'm talking about...no more stupid wash cloths and hair brush. Gimme the cups, squirters and boats. Hey, I'm liking this big boy stuff, now keep it coming."

Halfway to Fargo

I write you today from the van… Yes the van. We are traveling to Fargo for our friends Mike and Kari’s wedding this weekend. And no I didn’t drag along our desk top… We’ve got a new lap top. My dear hubby won this fancy schmancy laptop at a banquet this week, and gifted it to mowah. So I though I’d try it out on our little road trip. Forgot the headphones at home, so there goes the idea of catching a movie. So instead I’ll write a little note (or two).
It’s been almost 5 months since we’ve seen our Fargo friends, so Brad and I are very much looking forward to this trip back. So much has been happening in our lives over the last 5 months it doesn’t seem like its really been that long. But at moments its been an eternity… You really take for granted your Happy Hours, coffee breaks, and pop-in visits when you’ve got friends around. And its not until you don’t have those things any more that you start to feel lonely. Sure your girls are still your “girls” and you can pick up the phone and give a call, but nothing beats seeing your friends laugh and smile. And unfortunately at times, its true… out of sight out of mind. Although you never forget your friends, you just lose touch with them when you move away. We rarely spent time talking on the phone to one another, instead we’d get in the car and drive to see each other. And with a 4 ½ hr drive now separating us its harder to do just that.
Making friends in a new city is hard. Especially when you work full time and have kids. There’s little time for “me time” and it takes time to find people you click with. Sure you get along with your co-workers, but you’re around them 40+ hrs a week (more than your family at times) and so you need a change of scenery. Plus if you wanna bitch about someone at the office, its safer to do so with an outsider. Thankfully my boss and the other gals at the office are super, and make going to work every day easy. That’s the great thing about a new job… you love what you do, and don’t dread it.
So to take full advantage of our weekend back in Fargo we’ve got big plans… Of course Brad will meet up with his hockey buddies at Tailgators and do nothing exciting. Whereas the girls and I have big GREEN plans. Preface: For the past couple years a group of us girls have teamed up and greened up for the big St. Patty’s day run in Jamestown, ND on St. Patricks day. It’s a different kind of marathon that what you’re thinking… Not long distance running… Long distance drinking. The St. Patty’s day run is a “pub crawl” where you start at bar on the south end of town and work your way through town on foot, stopping at and having a drink at every bar on the list (about 12). Of course you’ve got to get into the spirit and dress the part so we get creative shirts made up and go all greened out for the day. We never worry about crossing the finish line, and either do the other 1200 people… the goal is to be standing by the end of the night. And that will be our goal tonight as well. Pictures to follow...

1 kid is a breeze

This week was a glimpse of what its like to have only one child. Dylan and Riley spent the weekend with my mom and dad, having fun at the lake... While Brad and I kept Brady with us and ejoyed spending QUITE time with him. Having never expereienced what comes with just one child was kind of nice. Fortunately I was blessed to have twins first and a singleton second, so I didn't know any different. Those fellow MOMs that had it the other way around have every right to cry for the first 6 months. One baby is a breeze!
With just one the noise level is certainly different and werid... Car rides are strangely quite and awkward as I talk to the back seat but see no kids in my mirror. Of coarse Brady is around the corner just out of sight, and can hear what I'm rambling. But the sweet little faces smiling back at me are missing.
Dinner was on a whim all week, as we didn't have to stay on a tight schedule, or worry about nutritious offerrings. So lets see, Sunday night was pizza (delivery), Monday Chinese, Wednesday Brad did make a beef stew in the crock pot, accompanied with left overs, and tonight... we'll I'm not really sure what we had for supper? I had some crackers, licorce, and cheerios. And I thought I saw Brad with a bag of chips, and crown royal (Tuff day today). We did make Tuesday into a little date night and ate out at Fitgers. Brady slept the whole time so it was really like we were on a date all alone... Since the weather was nice we took a walk along the lake and stopped for a carmel sundae on the lakewalk. Brady was happy to be outside in the fresh air, and spending that special time with him. He got all our attention!
Around the house there is still certainly evidence that 3 kids live here, but at least for these past few days, when i put something away it stays there for longer than 10 minutes. With just one child its a little easier to stay caught up on laundry too.
In addition you'd think with only one kid to get ready and out the door, you'd never be late for work... we'll I've learned that's not always the case. Even when you subtract 2 kids from the equation, my lateness doesn't improve. It just gives me fewer people to blame it on.
Aside from the clean floors, pee free toilets, and tidy shoe closet...Its the empty beds, and the absent hugs and kisses that make me excited for my big boys to return. A break is always nice and needed... but i'm ready for them to come home. Life just isn't the same with 1 kid.

Brady is 6 months

Another month has flown by and Brady will soon be 6 months. At this stage in the game he is doing a even more neat things... like sitting up. He's been quite the curious character from birth, and so now to be able to sit up on his own and look around the whole room he can keep better tabs on his big brothers. For some odd reason though, he likes to reach for the toys furthest from him, and therefore tips over forwards. No rug burn yet. He could have a pile at his feet, but he's reaching for the one 2 feet out.


Rolling over has become another fun thing to do too. He can go from back to front and front to back... but exactly when he wants to. Often times you'll hear muffled cries as he's rolled onto his belly and can't figure out how to get back over again... he only likes tummy time so much. He can really get himself all turned around and most times ends up a good couple feet from where he was plopped. The only problem we're having with all this rolling is that Mommy is called into his room at the wee hours of the morning, because Mr Antsy Pants has got himself hung up in the rungs of the crib. He's been found with legs sticking out, or his head right up on the rungs, today at nap time he was pinned on his belly with an arm between the mattress and the rungs and his sucky jabbing his face. I think I might have to tie this kid down!? When we don't have wild nights, he's sleeping straight through from about 7:30pm-5:30am with a little tweaking I'm hoping to see a later wake up time...soon.



With 6 months of age, comes FOOD!! Yes, its time to unleash the taste buds and explore the fanciful world of food. He's been hanging in there with the rice cereal, and so we've introduced every child's favorite...SWEET POTATO! No big face of enthusiasm, or rejection, so it went pretty well. Its hard to tell how much got to his belly...the hands were in the way a lot, and orange is such a fun color to smear everywhere. Say goodbye to the crisp clean clothes...and bring on the ZOUT.









After a busy morning of playing and eating its time for a big fat bottle of milk and nice nap before we do it all over again in the afternoon...

Just a Quickie

Just wanted to write a quick note to let all my faithful readers know that YES I am still alive. Its been super busy around here balancing work and home life, so the free time that I do get, I am spending with my feet up. I swear I'm always 3 loads of laundry behind... when is the laundry queen gonna visit again ;-) We spent our muggy Labor Day weekend out at the lake with my parents. Great to see the hot sun one last time before snow, but the we could have did without the 35 mph winds. Makes it a little tough to get out on the lake. The boys had a blast playing at the beach with Grandma, and all the water fights against Mom and Dad. Grandma couldn't fill those water balloons fast enough! Brady was a super good boy, and enjoyed many long naps in the jogger under the big shady tree. I hope he can nap that good in a crib now?!
I have a list of reminders to go back and write about, which I hope to do later today or tomorrow, so the next time you visit be sure to look back a few weeks to see the new entries. So long for now...