Rainy Days and Mondays

2/1/11

These two things don't have me down (even though it has been raining here off and on since Sunday).

But my little punkin' having a cold definitely does. And if he could say, "Thanks, Mommy! I appreciate it!", I'm sure he would. I have no idea where I got it from, but he definitely got it from me. And I absolutely hate it.

Well, wait. I probably got it from making multiple trips to Jake and Parker's pediatrician's office over the past three weeks. I swear, I have been to take one of them at one time or another to see Dr. B. a whole four times (including the trip we made yesterday - Monday - for him to listen to Parker's chest and lungs, check his oxygen level, look into his nasal passages and ears, and test for RSV - which was negative by the way - Thank you, Lord!).

The great news is, Parker seems to be on the mend, and so am I. But in the mean time, he is eating less and spitting some of his meals back up when he coughs so hard during feeding time, he's almost accustomed to having his nose suctioned out by the big green bulb, and he's had more time in the shower than I have because letting him breathe in the steam from it seems to help.

My poor baby! Did I mention I hate this? Sniff...sniff...

Another thing that doesn't have me down is thinking about what an awesome time Jake had at his first swim lesson.  He was all over it!


Yep!  My first born is a real fish in a human body.  I have no idea when I've seen him this ecstatic over something (well, except for maybe when he got Bullseye - the horse from Toy Story 3 - right after Parker was born as his gift "Big Brother" gift).


He kicked, he splashed, he nearly refused to give back the diving stick, he floated on his back (but not in the most relaxed way - we'll have to work on that one), he went completely under water...several times, he was scolded for not wanting to give back the diving stick, he blew bubbles, he jumped from the side of the pool, and he cried - not for being scolded, but because we had to leave. 


So it goes without saying that he's asking us almost every day when he'll get to go swimming again, and I couldn't be happier that he's loving every minute of it.
And speaking of loving every minute of it, I have some lovin' to give my littlest squeaker (because this cold has nearly taken all of his voice) - right after I give him another few squeezes of that big green bulb and another few ounces of the only thing on his diet, Similac Sensitive.

Goodnight!

ideas

1/27/11

Tonight while Parker lays against my chest swaddled in his Aden & Anais purple monkey swaddling blanket and Jake lays next to me in our bed watching Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated, I've been looking for several of them.

Jake's fourth birthday is a month from today...so, so hard to believe, but that's beside the point. I thought for sure this may be the year where he has his own wish list for the type of party he would like to have, but I swear he has changed his mind more often than I've showered in the past three weeks. And then there's the little issue of his answers to the magic question ("What would you like to do for your birthday, Baby?") being things he's pulled straight from his massive imagination. Like wanting to see robots sitting at the table next to him sharing his birthday cake? Okay, yeah. So after that one (and I'm sure now you understand why) I've pulled the trigger, and I'm taking this one into my own hands. Maybe next year, Buddy. So tonight I officially went on what I'd like to call a "Birthday Party Idea Hunt", and I think I may have found the perfect one. I'll definitely keep you posted on what I come up with...just as soon as I quit changing my mind as often as Jake has (Yes, he gets it from me.  What can I say?). And just so you know, planning my oldest baby's birthday party is pretty much more exciting than Christmas shopping for me, so I'm seriously okay with being able to create his party...for at least one more year anyway (Thank you, Baby, for being so indecisive.).

I've also been looking for ideas for a bathroom re-do.  The bathroom that Jake and Parker now share is in need of a touch of Parker.  As of right now, it's all about Jake with pictures on the walls and countertops of him playing on the beach and monogrammed towels that hang from a decorative towel rack.  I've absolutely loved it, but I loved it for Jake.  Ideas and inspriation to make it the best of both their worlds...here I come!

And last but not least, this blog is ready for a makeover.  After all...we are no longer a family of three.  We've added one more, so changes are on the way.  As soon as I finish planning a birthday party for my favorite soon-to-be four year old and making over the bathroom, of course.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

1/26/11

Today, I'm loving ...

that I feel like my two week hiatus from blogging is finally over.  It's so about time ya'll!...

this sneak peek of Parker's photo session he had this past Sunday...

that Jake has his first swim lesson coming up this Saturday morning.  And holy cow, is he pumped?!...

that I was actually able to fit into a pair of pants that I was wearing pre-Parker (And I pinky swear you they didn't have elastic in the waist.)...

my DVR...and that it always has something waiting for me to watch when it's three o'clock in the morning and absolutely nothing else is on other than infomercials for the Shark vacuum or Proactive... 

the cough and congestion medicine Jim picked up for me at CVS (which is weird that I even need it because I don't sound or feel bad at all but somehow I have a cough)...

additional thirty percent off sales at Gap just when I needed one...

having a working washer and dryer.  And I don't think I even have to elaborate on that one.  Ha!...

the whimpers and cries that are coming from the newborn squirming on my chest...

which means I have a four ounce bottle to make and a hungry mouth to feed...

which means...

Goodnight Everyone!

in just two weeks...

1/22/11

our family of three has become four...

ounces have been gained and a half inch has been grown...


two little boys are now brothers...

nurses are now called friends...


highs have been reached from the smell of lotion...

entire days have been spent in pajamas...


feeding and sleeping schedules have been established...

no hour on the clock has gone unseen...


hundreds of kisses have been placed on newborn skin...

feelings of completeness exist...


and hearts are more overjoyed than minds could imagine

Bonding

1/21/11

It's what we


and they


have been doing


for the past thirteen

 

absolutely wonderful, blissful days



and I wouldn't trade one for the whole world!

On Hold

1/13/11

This blog


has been


on hold


so that I


can hold him.


Parker Andrew Bryant Landers
January 8, 2011,  9:09am
7 lbs., 7 ounces  19 inches long

Welcome to our family, our hearts, and our lives forever!

We Love You!

Mommy, Daddy, and Big Brother Jake


Random but True

1/5/11

If looks could kill, I would give our 12-year old Sheltie a super mean one right about now. She has either whined or barked off and on all.night.long. And by off and on, I mean Off................(long pause...oh about ten minutes long...long enough for me to get relaxed and sleepy again) and On (repeat this process at least a hundred times). If she only knew her life span rested in our hands and just one quick trip to our vet clinic. But with her brain cells numbering the teeth she still has left, she wouldn't know.

I had two strangers ask me yesterday when in the world I was due to have Parker - all because I "look like I'm ready to pop." Awesome!

Jake has been in our bed since 1 am. He went for quite a stretch of staying in his own bed, at least a good month or so. But for the past two weeks, he has stalked my side of the bed, climbing in with random things in tow (his blanket that he'll probably go to college with, his Toy Story garbage truck stuffed with Matchbox cars, and let's not forget the green aliens from the same movie or the Batman that sits on my bedside table at this very moment).

Last night Jim went to a meeting at Jake's preschool about what to expect as he enters K-4 in the Fall. He said he was more than glad he took one for the home team and went to that one himself. He was blown away by just how different his routine will be and what a big boy he will become next year. Sniff...sniff...

The Bachelor started on Monday night (which has me now saying T.G.I.M), and I just have a few words - Fangs, Hot Pink Wedges, Ruby Slippers (only they weren't really slippers), and Slap-in-the-face.

The alarm on Jim's cell phone jams every morning to "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and The News.

Now that I mention alarms, mine is about to do the same thing, so I guess it's about time I get my day on.