That Time That Wednesday Totally Kicked My Ass

I wrote this last Wed/Thurs and am just getting around to editing it and posting it.

Max woke up at 3:15 a.m. laughing hysterically. He stopped after a few minutes and went back to sleep.

When he woke for the day he came into the living room and immediately got upset. After some prodding I discovered that he was upset that it wasn't Christmas. "Want a Fristmas Free" and "Time a to open da presents" were repeated in abundance.

After he got over the fact that it wasn't Christmas, he wanted his pants off. He likes to run around with a naked bottom so he can easily access the potty. However, today he was in onesie pajamas (Christmas ones, funnily enough) and whenever Ritchie would take them off he would cry "Jammies on!!" so Ritchie would put them on and he would cry, "Pants off!". Ugh. Finally I just got him dressed and loaded him in the car for preschool.

This was all before 8:00 a.m.

The rest of the morning was fine. The weather here has been AMAZING. Like, mid 70s. That's great and all, but in some sort of post partum hormonal fit I threw away ALL of my spring/summer clothing leaving me with 1 short sleeved shirt.

Clearly, I needed to shop.

So, I went to the store (Nordstrom - the only place I shop. Seriously. It's ridiculous.) and started picking out some t-shirts to try on. That's when I spotted her. Mindy. My personal stylist at Nordstrom.

Yes, you read that right. I spend SO much money at Nordstrom that they have assigned me a personal stylists. I was called a few months back and told that Mindy would be available for all of my shopping needs from here on out. I met with her once (they gave me $100 to spend if I did!) and spent entirely too much money and then proceeded to avoid her like the plague.

There's nothing wrong with Mindy. She's adorable and sweet and has fantastic taste. My issue with Mindy is that she's entirely too good at what she does. She knows what I want before I do and brings it all to me while I stay cozied up in the dressing room. "T-shirt?" she says? "That will look amazing under this adorable loose, drapey top and these cropped pants. Do you need me to have someone from shoes bring up something that will work with the outfit?"

Um, no Mindy. I spend enough money at Nordstrom all on my own, thankyouverymuch.

Anyway, today she spotted me before I posted her thus making avoiding her very difficult. She locked me up in the dressing room and brought me every single amazing item that they had and proceeded to confuse me very much.

Now, I'm in the dressing room surrounded by clothing and having this conflicted internal dialogue with myself.

"I only need some t-shirts - something for the change in weather, you know."
"But, these high waisted black cropped pants would be so cute on a date night!"
"We only have date night once a month and most of the planned activities are nothing that I need to get dressed up for."
"But I could dress them down, too - with my Toms and a t-shirt (what I freaking came for in the first place, now I had 60 to choose from)"

OMG. I know these are first world problems (um, if that, even) but I was seriously upset to be in this situation.

So, I bought the cute black pants (and the t-shirts I came for) and got the hell out of there.

How did this become a story about shopping?

Anyway, Ben and I picked Max up from preschool after our great shopping adventure and Max was crying when we got there. This isn't usual as Max loves preschool and adores his teacher and friends there. She said he had been fine all day and just started crying towards the end.

So, we went home and the crying continued. So, we ate a little snack and the crying continued. So, I put him down for nap and the crying continued. I tried to put Ben down for his nap then so I could tend to Max's crying better but Ben wouldn't fall asleep with Max crying. So, Ben started crying whilst Max's crying continued. It was 2:00. I hadn't eaten anything since 8:30 a.m. and I was STARVING. So, I let both kids wail and gobbled down a salad as quickly as humanly possible (luckily I had pre made it). It took me 3 minutes to get my blood sugar stable enough to deal with two screaming children.

However, in that 3 minutes, while scarfing said salad to regain some fuel I decided I'd better call Ritchie.

People, do not starve yourself and dial. Bad, bad idea.

I spit into the phone, "If I can't regain some control here in exactly 5 minutes you're going to have to come home and help me - I can't do this." (or something equally dramatic)

Anyway, I finally got them calmed down and apologized profusely to my sweet husband who had already left work (he turned around and went back) to help. How did I get so lucky that when I was apologizing and telling him I don't know how he puts up with me he said, "You're so worth it - and you're not even that bad!" Haha! I love him so freaking much.

So, I finally get both boys to sleep and 30 minutes later they both wake up, screaming. I got Ben and fed him and tried for 1 hour to get Max back to sleep before finally using my last resort of a fruit strip and milk in bed. He finally fell asleep after eating his snack in bed. Yeesh.

Max ended up sleeping until 6 and yet still having a horrible evening. He was just completely off all day long. He's better today, but yesterday was a nightmare. Crying, whining, nothing making him happy. It was pretty brutal. Bennett was just his usual needy self and that's challenging enough but add to it a cranky Max and it's really rough. Even Ritchie didn't know how I made it through the day when he was at home experiencing it.

Today has been better. I survived. Learned some new tools (ahem, fruit strips in bed?) and am going to put it behind me.

Onward.

Update: I returned the cute black pants. I'll never wear them. They shouldn't give Nordstrom employees guns to hold to your head and force you to buy things you'll never wear.

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Project 365 - Days 53 - 59

Holy crap. Why can I not keep up with this?! I did so well in January. And, I have 10 long months to go.

I actually have been taking pictures and only skipped one day in the past 7 days (although I do have some extras from other days to make up for that day) but posting daily has proven too much for me to do!

Onward - here are the days.

Day 53:


Bennett - Getting loved on by his Grandma.


Maxton - His new favorite activity!! We do this daily. I think this may have been stolen from another day, though.


Instagram - Shoot. This is the only instagram photo I took that day. I was nursing in the dressing room.

Day 54:


Max - Outside, in his diaper, with a ladle, pointing to a helicopter. He's loving life right here.


Ben - Enjoying one of our heat waves. This was outside at 5:30 or so. Golden hour for lighting! Look at his sparklers!


Instagram - More gardening! It was mid 70s the last part of this week and we spent every second we could outside.

Day 55:


Bennett - A new fun way to play! He can officially sit in the swing!


Maxton - This might be one of my favorite pictures of him of all time.


Instagram - While shopping Max became very fond of these sunglasses with cherries on them.

Day 56:


Bennett - Stolen from today. Just a smiley little guy.


Max - Stolen from today. His new Toms. Love.


Instagram - Ben trying to escape the Bumbo.

Day 57:


Max - Chowing down on a strawberry.


Bennett - Watching the Oscars with Sophie.


Instagram - Oscar ballots. We never actually got around to filling them out this year. Whoops. We still enjoyed the show, though!

Day 58:


Max and Ben - I know I posted this one yesterday. But, it's just too lovely not to include. I love them.


Instagram - Oh, the Toms. I love those. Passionately.

Day 59:


Maxton - Happily painting away


Bennett - Quintessential baby: one sock, Sophie, chewing on some sort of ring toy.


Instagram - Max and I painted a bit today and he requested a "purple bunny tank". Voila. Ask and you shall receive.

6 Months and What I Know Now

Bennett is 6 months today. At the risk of sounding repetitive, I'm not sure how this is even possible. Wasn't he just born? It really goes all too quickly. I spent a little extra time yesterday just staring at him and soaking up his 5 month old-ness.

This is what he did with his sign the rest of the time. 

I did this post for Max when he was 6 months old and find SO much of it to be true still today. I love looking back at who he was then and seeing that so much of that still remains. I honestly panicked when I started thinking about writing one for Ben. It had been just Max and me for six whole months. We spent every waking (and sleeping) hour together. There was no demanding two year old dividing our time. Did I know Ben as well as I knew Max? I was horrified that I would sit to write this and find I had NOTHING to say.

Then, I really thought about it and realized that I know Ben much differently, but just as thoroughly. So, here it is: What I Know Now about Bennett at 6 months old.

Bennett wears his emotions on his sleeve. When he cries, his face is soaked with big, wet tears and his face his puffy and swollen. When he smiles, the clouds part and let every bit of sunshine that the heavens could possibly offer shine down. There's no second guessing how Ben feels about something and his emotions come in roaring waves. Easily upset, but just as easily as happy as can be. I see a lot of myself in Ben with these strong emotions and I think I'll really "get" him and how expressive he is as he grows.

 

Bennett is a mover. If he is awake, he is constantly moving. He rolled early on and is pushing himself up on all fours now and sliding himself backwards. Of course, in true Bennett fashion, this infuriates him. He wants to move forward and poor kid just keeps getting farther from his desired object. But it doesn't every stop him from moving. I often leave him sitting up (with a boppy around him) and return 2 minutes later to him across the room, on his belly, and facing an entirely different direction. I have no idea how this happens. He just MOVES all the time. Even if you're holding him he's never relaxing. He just reaches and arches and squirms. I predict we'll have a very energetic little boy on our hands.

Bennett likes to be involved. He gets very upset (huge, wet tears - it's all very dramatic) if he feels left out of ANYTHING. Especially something that Max is involved in. I thought I could have a little time before I had to bust out my referee whistle, but nope. Ben wants everything Max has, wants to do what Max is doing and wants to be wherever we all are. If I place him down and walk to the kitchen with Max he's devastated. If I bring him with me he's all smiles and squeals. It goes without saying that Ben does not allow anyone to forget he's there. I think Max will having a doting little brother to keep him very entertained.

I know this is a weird thing to say about Ben, but I think he's not going to be a big eater. Haha! I think he'd much rather play than eat (I mention this, I think because Max is the opposite. He'd eat all day rather than play) and doesn't care too much for his solids. He eats them, but wants to finish quickly and get out of his highchair. Same with nursing. Get in and get done. He's got much more important things to tend to. Like seeing what Max is up to.

Height: 27 1/2 inches 

Weight: 20 pounds 

Sweet as can be - We love you SO much, Bennett!! 

Just A Little Monday Love

I took some photos of my favorite boys today. It started out as a little photo shoot for Ben because he's 6 months old tomorrow (post coming soon on that big boy) and then Max jumped in on the fun and I got my favorite pictures of the two of them together to date.

For your Monday viewing pleasure.















And my favorite:


I couldn't love these boys more. And they're budding relationship just kills me. I smile a lot these days watching them interact. Having two is hard, but it's also comes with some pretty awesome rewards.

Brothers.

Project 365 - Day 49, 50, 51 & 52

I actually took pictures on all of those days! Now, if only I could blog daily so I didn't get so lost on my days and counting.

Day 49:


Max - Throwing leaves at the park


Ben - Being tickled by daddy


Instagram - The only instagram I took that day -after a library trip.

Day 50:


Bennett - Along for the ride while we got some yummy ice cream.


Maxton - He was more than along for the ride. He gobbled down an entire cone!


Instagram - I actually didn't take an instagram on Sunday. Whoops. This one is from today though. I broke down and bought Easter candy and now my diet is effectively ruined.

Day 51:


Max - His new hobby - gardening.


Ben - His new skill - sitting. It happened suddenly! Now he can sit for maybe 10 minutes or so and I feel comfortable enough to leave him there and run and grab something. Like the camera!


Instagram - Ben had sweet potatoes for lunch yesterday. Can you tell?

Day 52:


Ben - Sophie is back - BIG TIME. If you look closely you can see some sweet potato in his eyebrow still. We've washed his face AND bathed him and we're still finding sweet potato places.


Max - More gardening. We play outside the entire morning nap for Ben so we don't make much noise inside. We've been watering, digging and planting with the best of them!


Instagram - Yesterday Max decided, suddenly, that he was obsessed with Thomas trains. So, we took a little trip to Barnes and Noble to play on their train table. We may have taken a little purple train home with us for keeps (we bought one, we didn't steal it off the play table - promise).

How's everyone's Tuesday going?!

Guest Posting Today!

Hey everyone! I'm doing a very special guest post over at Texas Lovebirds for Carly who had a baby recently!!

I'm telling about my favorite motherhood moments in honor of the new mommy, so make sure to check it out!

Insta Friday 2/17

It's Friday again!! I love that it means the weekend starts tomorrow and I get two full days with my husband home!

Here's a little peek into our week:

From top to bottom; left to right:

1. Our idea of a fun filled Friday night. Crosswords. 

2. Sneaking in some snuggles with Max on Sat. morning 

3. While Bennett played with Daddy 

4. Greasy food at our bowling date 

5. Max and his super cool shades. 

6. Ben gets loved on by my sister who was visiting from Texas. 

7. Out for V-day. It was a family affair. 

8. Yummm, daddy's hand. 

9. Cutie pie. 

10. Mango margarita. It was the best margarita I've ever had. 

11. Playing with magnets. 

12. This is what I looked like at 11 a.m. this morning. STILL in PJs. 

13. Maxton bear. 

14. At 1 I had cleaned up some and was looking better. 

15. Ben!! Smile! 

I hope you had a great week!

Linking up with Life Rearranged for some Insta goodness!