18 months

I know it is a little late (only a few days) but let me tell you those few days have been rough. The boys are talking more but understanding less so it seems. They both are blessed with their father's selective listening. They are finding joy in finding new "rules" to break. They are teaming up to try and open doors and climb on things. They are dropping a nap. Among other things.Really it has been a difficult time for us all. We are also getting back into the swing of things after vacation, a virus and teething. Yeah things in our house have been fun. We have played with potty chairs but nothing solid and only 1 success each. So now that I have given you a glimpse of the hard things going on in our house lets talk about the good.

The boys are growing bigger and stronger every single day (Official weight and height on the 16th). They are SMART. Oh so smart. Sometimes they are way to smart for my or their own good. They are repeating EVERYTHING. They only have to hear it once and they are using it in context. Sentences are forming and getting longer. Simple commands are being followed (when they want to). Owen knows all of his body parts (we are still working on cheeks because he likes you to pinch them). Ethan is using sentences daily. I am so proud of my boys.... Even when they drive me batty.

Car trip with toddlers part 3

Ahhhh the last post about being in the car with toddlers. We got off to a much earlier start on this leg of the trip and got on the road just before what would be the boys nap time. This greatly simplified things as the boys slept the first 2.5 hrs of driving. I was able to buy us more time before having to stop with snacks and toys. One of the best things I did was snacks and toys were in totes within reach behind the drivers seat so I could reach them and Erick didnt have to stop. When we did stop we looked for places to roam. A few fast food places still have play areas (sometimes you have to ask staff if you can use it because of signs saying no diapers on equipment). If you tell the staff that you have a LONG dive they take pity and let you play. This greatly helps with energy and restlessness. After meals we put on a movie. The boys love Cars, Nemo and Elmo. These 3 movies saved us. Toward the end of the drive things got hairy. Kids get sick of the car and want to get out but it is late and you are so close. We chose to drive and listen to the boys whine a little. Once we got to our destination we let the boys play and explore the new house (and even our house once we were home). Doing this allowed Erick the time to unpack the car, me the time to set up beds and then the boys didnt freak out in the morning in a new place. After the car was unloaded we did the normal bath and bed order of op. Other then the amount of stuff and the time change traveling with toddlers was fun.

Some things I could not have done without:
Their PnPs
Their bedding (blankets and pillows)
an ice chest
juice boxes (capri sun 100% juice)
uncrustables
goldfish crackers
books
DVD player

car trip with toddlers part 2

I know I know "where is part 1?" well part one is Not off to a good start. Really though if that is the most interesting thing to happen to us I am OK with that.

After our exciting and late start we finally got on the road at 3pm (only 9 hrs after when we were hoping to make the trip. We were mean parents and wouldnt let the boys nap until we got in the car or heard from the Dr. They were tired. So after being up for 9 hrs they finally took a 3 hr nap while we drove. When we stopped for dinner we found a place with a play area. When we sat down to eat we read a sign that said "no children under 4 or in diapers". WE were the only ones in the place so I begged the guy to turn a blind eye and promised that the boys wouldnt climb into the tubes. He allowed us to play. When it was time to get into the car the boys went willingly having spent a good 30 min running. We got them strapped in and put on an Elmo movie. Ethan started singing as soon as he saw the red furry monster. And not another peep was heard from them. I kept checking to see if they were sleeping but nope they were hooked on Elmo. When that ended we had to stop for a second so I could change the movie (the boys are still rear facing) it was a far reach to the player so I didnt want to do it at top speeds. The boys love cars and it has a good soundtrack so that went on next. Not another peep. After continued checking we saw that at around 9:30-10p Ethan was trying to block out the light with his blanket so the movie went off. Owen was out cold and we were only about 2 hrs form our destination. We thought we were in the clear.

Not long after the movie went off Owen woke and he decided he was done being in the car. He would cry for his paccie, i would give it and he would throw it. Then the same process for juice, water, blanket, goldfish and brown bear book. But at this point we are 40 min from where we are headed and it is a little after 11p. Rather then stopping and fighting over getting back in the car we continued on our way and with Owen's process.

At midnight we pull up get the boys out and into the house. I get them a snack and come milk. We let them run while we bring things in and set up beds. As soon as they saw the beds they were asking for nigh night (poor things). We go ahead and do the normal bath process just quicker and get them into bed. Not a peep was heard til after 9am. As soon as the boys were up we got ready for breakfast. By the time we were leaving for breakfast they were asking for bed again (only took 15 min to get ready). Breakfast and family visits then nap.

The boys really are taking it well but are really testing their limits because we are in a new place. Today is more family and naps. Tomorrow another 8-10 hour drive. I hope this one is as easy as the last one.

Not off to a good start

argggg so tired and upset
Yesterday Owen developed a fever. At noon it was 101.3 at 7 pm it was 102.4 (after 2 doses of Tylonal and a cool bath). So I called the on call pedi. He said what I was doing was right and to call back if when we went to leave in the morning Owen still had a fever.

When we got up to leave for vaca at 6am Owen still had a 102 fever. I called the on call again (like I was told to) and got scolded for not just waiting til 730 when the pedi opened. Then got told he needed to be seen and to call at 730 to get an appt. so we go out to breakfast. At 730 when I call I get told that only 2 out of 6 pedis are in the office today and the first appt is at 430p. I cry they call they call the pedi and she says they can squeeze me in at 10a. Screw that I will go to urgent care (they open at 9 am).

At 9a we are waiting outside urgent care. First in line to get told they no longer take our insurance. So we run to the pedi and ask for the 10a appt back. Nope taken. They can now squeeze us in at 1130. Fine. The nurse takes pity on me and says if we go check in for our 1130 appt she will pull an oops and put our chart in as soon as I bring the paperwork. So we check in and sit down. It is now about 915. 1115 we FINALLY get called.

No sign of fever or anything when we go back. They order bloodwork. ***. We are told not to leave town til the bloodwork comes back. Dr tells us if we rush over right this instant we may get the call back before lunch. It is now 1230. We have had lunch and the boys have yet to nap. We hope we get the call soon so we can start our 13 hr drive (if the boys nap it wont take us 13 hrs it is really an 8 hr drive with no stops at all). FML

Hello

I know you are there. I can see you. OK OK I really cant see who is reading this in that sense. BUT I do get an email telling me IP addresses and locations. So I know someone is reading this. I get on avg. 9 views a day. I know that is not a lot but it is still a number. So let me know who you are. What do you want me to write about? What do you want to know? What questions do you have? here is your chance.

Potty Time

Let me start by saying that No we are not potty training. We are however encouraging the fact that the boys are interested. They are starting to want to sit on the potty and they are telling us when they are dirty. So today I am playing with them on the floor and Ethan comes over to me and tells me poo poo. So I look and he isnt dirty. I take him in the bathroom and have him sit on the potty. He sits there for 5 min and nothing. He asks to get down, I let him down and tell him we will try later. Five min later he poops. He comes up to me and tells me poo poo, I change him he walks away and poops again. grrr. Then I repeat the process with Owen.

How do I teach the difference between a fart and poop? They dont seem to know the difference. I know farts can lead to poop but they want to sit on the toilet NOW and then get off before they poop.

1 perfect baby

Ultrasounds are exciting and terrifying all at once. You go in and you lay down. If it is early you have to take of your pants. If you are lucky you have someone with you in case the news isnt great or in case it is outstanding. Then the Dr comes in and in my case puts the wand in (I have never seen Erick's eyes so big) and you get to see it. A perfect baby. Two years ago our journey of trying to get pregnant and all the difficulty was pushed aside as we viewed our perfect little baby. For the next for weeks we were blissfully ignorant as to what lay in store for us. But in that instant of seeing what we created on that screen our worlds changed. It was real and I was pregnant.

*** Sorry if I fooled you but nope this is about the boys and I am not currently pregnant***