Happy Thanksgiving 2013!

 

Master Food List

Just in case you thought I was a totally normal person, I present to you.......my master list of every single food my boys will eat.

I have plenty of things to think about and remember each day. I decided to clear up some space in my brain and write down everything Ryan and Lucas will eat. The first column is foods they will both eat. (On a good day). The second column are foods Ryan will eat but Lucas will not. The third column is foods only Lucas will eat. You will notice Ryan's column is heavy on the protein, while Lucas exists on a few fruits and the occasional muffin. Both boys enjoy their crunchy salty carbs.

The list looked pretty impressive to me when I first wrote it all out. However, it isn't really a big list when you look at it. I posted this on our refrigerator. I can't say that it has made mealtime any less frustrating for me, but I like having the information down on paper to reference when I'm too tired to remember what to make for them.

So what do you think? Would your children's list look similar? Am I slightly nuts for doing this?

Gingerbread House

Ryan built and decorated his very first gingerbread house yesterday! He was really excited about it.

Grandma Jan came over to help out.

We all got in on the decorating action.

While Ryan mostly supervised.....and ate sprinkles.

I think it turned out really cute. It may not last too long in our house though!

My Week

It's been almost a week since I've posted anything on here. Partly because of computer problems and partly because of sick boys. Here's a little review of what's been going on with us:

-I hosted a Clothing Swap at my house on Thursday Night for my Mops group. It was SO much fun! I ended up with a cute new blouse and an awesome tall pair of black boots. I love my Mops friends!

-Ryan is now a big boy (and he knows it). He has been learning letters and he can now write "R" and "A".....halfway to writing his name!

-This guy is crazy. He is still up all hours of the night banging his head against the side of his crib. I was up with him no less than 4 or 5 times last night. I'm going to talk to his Dr. again about this behavior at his next well-check.

-Speaking of last night, Ryan slept in his own bed until 5am!!!! This hasn't happened since, oh, never?! I have no idea why he didn't wake up sooner and come into our bed before midnight, as he has done every night for the past 2+ years. I told him this morning how proud I was of him. And I may have even offered him a special surprise if he can do it again tonight. I'm praying this wasn't just a fluke!

Newish Stroller

Testing out the new(ish) stroller!

Done

This is going to be one of those posts where I'm just keepin it real with this whole motherhood thing. Most days by around 7pm I am DONE. Like stick a fork in me, I'm past the point of overcooked. I'm burnt to a crisp. It's not so much a physical tiredness, but more of a mental and emotional one.

I don't remember feeling this way just a month or two ago. But lately I'm running out of patience a lot quicker with my boys. I'm yearning for a moment to just be by myself during the day. To not have someone needing me for something. To not have someone climbing on me, biting me, licking me, jumping on me, pulling my hair. Lately my boys seem more like energetic puppy dogs than little boys.

I think that because I am an introvert, I need time to myself each day to recharge and get my thoughts together. Because I don't get this, I'm left feeling drained and empty by bedtime. Once dinner is done I just want the boys to go to bed. I want to sit by myself for a minute and just think and not have someone touching me and needing me and demanding my constant attention.

Maybe this all sounds selfish, but it's honestly how I've been feeling lately.  Of course I love the boys' hugs and kisses. I love playing and rough-housing with them and being their provider for all things. It's good to feel needed. But sometimes I just want to be needed a little less. I know that motherhood is about giving of yourself and taking care of others and putting your own needs aside most of the time. But it sure can be emotionally draining.

Stitch Fix Review #4

 Stitch Fix #4 arrived today! Do you remember last week when I posted about my bad experience with Fix #3? Well in addition to refunding me my styling fee of $20, Stitch Fix offered to send me my next fix right away. This is a big deal because the company has become so popular lately that there is about a month long wait right now. I was very pleased with their customer service and excited to see if this fix was better. And it definitely was!

I loved two of the items, was kind of "meh" about two, and hated one. For the first time I am keeping two items!

41Hawthorn Abrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan

This is a keeper! I love this cardigan. It's a dark greenish teal color and incredibly soft. I love the long drapey look of it.

Under Skies Tuckerman Airy Knit Sweater

A fun color but I look horrible in it. It made me look 20 lbs heavier and I felt like it was kind of flimsy for the price. Short loose sweaters just don't flatter me.

Ellison Baldwin Stripe & Colorblock Henley Blouse

If I could dream up the ugliest blouse ever, this would probably be it. Why do you keep sending me ugly striped blouses, Stitch Fix? No more! I requested a "cute" blouse, imagining something in a floral or polka dot print. Blech. I couldn't take this one off fast enough.

Under Skies Lannon Embroidered Button-Up Blouse

I wasn't in love with this top when I first saw it. I liked it more after trying it on because the cut was very flattering. Adam actually really liked it and wanted me to keep it. But I decided to send it back because I wasn't loving the navy blue color. It doesn't look right with dark jeans but I'm not sure what else to wear it with. Back it goes!

Renee C Dana Striped Jersey Skirt

I was really excited to see a maxi skirt in my box. I tried it on and loved it. Ryan told me it looked like a marriage skirt and wanted to know if I was getting married. That made me like it even more! I'm just not sure what tops and shoes to wear with it in cold weather.

Overall this box was SO much better than the last one. I got a cute skirt and cardigan to add to my wardrobe. (And they were both free thanks to my Stitch Fix Credit!) I am still loving this company. Receiving the box in the mail brings so much fun to my day! Want to sign up and join in on the fun? Use my referral link here to try it out!

Stitch Fix Review #1
Stitch Fix Review #2
Stitch Fix Review #3

What? What? What?

I've heard stories about kids who ask "why?" all the time. Why is the sky blue Mommy? Why is the grass green?

Well we seem to have skipped right over the "why" stage with Ryan and gone straight to the "What?" stage.

Ryan asks "What?" all the time. I try my best to explain things to him and answer when he's asking me a question. But sometimes it drives me bonkers. Here are a few examples of conversations we have.

 

Me: Ryan, please go get your socks.

Ryan: What?

Me: Go get your socks.

Ryan: What?

Me: Go get your sock!

Ryan: What?

Me: GO GET YOUR SOCKS!

Ryan: What?

 

Or here's a more common one:

 

Me: (Mumbling to myself, reading a recipe)

Ryan: What Mommy?

Me: Nothing Ryan.

Ryan: What?

Me: Ryan, nothing. I was just reading a recipe.

Ryan: What?

Me: I was just reading that I need to add one cup of flour.

Ryan: What?

Me: Nothing! It's nothing! I wasn't talking to you.

Ryan: What?

 

Anyone else going through the "what" stage?

Bunk Bed Practice

Head Banger

Shortly after Lucas' first birthday, he started banging his head against the side of his crib. He also bangs his head on the floor during a tantrum. But the head-banging in his crib has been the most distressing to me. He wakes up in the middle of the night, sits up, and slams the back of his head against the crib rails. Over and over and over.

I spoke to his doctor and researched this behavior online. All sources said that this is a way for toddlers to self-soothe. Something about the repetition (and pain?) is somehow soothing to them. I was told not to worry about it and that it peaks around 18 months of age.

Well, it's been hard not to worry about this behavior. Or ignore it. Particularly in the middle of the night when all I can hear is the SMACK SMACK SMACK of my baby's head against solid wood.

We finally got smart last weekend and decided to add more padding to the crib. We dug up Ryan's old crib bumpers and tied them to the crib on top of Lucas' existing bumpers.

It's like a little padded cell now. Lucas is still banging his head all hours of the night, but it sounds much less painful and dangerous to him. I still hope this stops soon!

Stitch Fix Review #3

I was incredibly excited to receive my stitch fix box #3. It feels so special to receive my box of clothes in the mail each month, chosen just for me by my stylist. You can read my previous reviews here and here.

Unfortunately I was let down with this box. There were sizing issues as well as quality issues with two of the items. This will be the first box where I send everything back. I don't even want to post the pictures of me in the clothes because they are so unflattering. But oh well, here is my honest review. (Read my entire review....there is a happy ending!)

Chris and Carol Scarlet Drop Sleeve Striped Knit Top

This shirt was ok. I liked the color, but I had previously told Stitch Fix that I do not like the dolman-style sweaters. They make me feel like a bat. I'm frustrated that they didn't seem to hear my feedback. The fit of this one seemed too slouchy to do anything for my figure. I think I need more structure in my tops for my body type.

Ellison Jasmen Striped and Layered Hi-Lo Shirt

Not only did I think this top was ugly because of the hi-lo style, but it had two snags in it! Receiving clothes with holes in them is not what I signed up for. Adam thought it looked like a men's shirt.

Tulle Aston Embroidered Trim Cardigan 

This was cute but way too tight and short. It is a size medium, but fit like a size small. And I'm not sure if it's supposed to be a 3/4 length sleeve, but it looked that way on my long arms.

Darling Kinlie Floral Aplique Cardigan

At first this one looked cute and I figured it had potential. But then I put it on and again it fit like a size small. Too tight! (Are you sensing a theme here? I don't think I've gained weight, but these clothes sure make it look like I did!) Then I noticed that it has stains on the back! Shame on you Stitch Fix.

Mystree Phoebe Dot and Stripe Sweater Dress

I requested sweaters or dresses this month that I could wear over a pair of leggings I own. While this dress fits that request, I don't really love sweater dresses. The style looks a little old to me. Adam and I nicknamed this the Mickey Mouse Dress.

After I tried everything on, I was feeling really frustrated with my experience. 2 out of 5 items were damaged, and 3 out of 5 were too small. And a couple were just plain ugly. So I emailed Stitch Fix. I explained my frustrations, and within 24 hours I received a response.

They offered to credit my account with $20 towards another "fix". In addition, they asked me to send them an email listing specifically what I am looking for, and they will try their best to accommodate my requests. I am very happy with the way they handled my complaints. Even though this box was a bit of a let-down, I am still very excited about my next box! I think the thrill of receiving surprise items in the mail is what keeps people coming back for more "fixes". I really hope my next box is fabulous!

Want to try out Stitch Fix for yourself? Please use my referral link here!

Cute Conversation

Ryan says so many cute things at this age. I don't want to forget a single one!

We were talking about marriage the other day. I told Ryan that someday when he is a big man, he will marry a pretty girl and live with her. He emphatically told me he does NOT want to live with Mary, but always wants to live with Mommy.