Running to the room

I think that it is part of the territory...I think that I will have cancer and die. I work on an oncology unit..........

Tonight we had Patrick and Amy over for drinks. At this time (she just got a GREAT new job) we work together. We talked about work, about life....it made me want to hold my babies. So tonight, when they left, I picked up these young men, and held them in my arms. What a wonderful, lucky, blessed life that I live. I hope that I am able to appreciate it and live as much as possible. Period. From one of my favorite songs by Darius Rucker, "It won't be like this for long." (Yes. I am listening to it on repeat right now. )

So here are some recent pictures. I had to snap some of the boys with their favorite accessory...the blue blankets.

(Owen stared to cry because Cameron took BOTH blankets!!)

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Mat was making a stand for the rain barrel and the boys were playing in the mud.....

Just want to say.....look at me....9 minutes before Wednesday...and I am posting to the blog. Yay! One thing checked off for the day tomorrow!!

MOM

The life of a mom.

I am grateful that I am the mom of these two sweet men. Their endless supply of fun is a great thing to have around all day. I have been lucky to be able to spend so much time with them watching them learn and grow. They are even going down slides....by themselves....at the park. What a change from a short year ago!

This job is harder than I ever imagined. They keep me on my toes. It is hours filled with dirty diapers, healthy meal choices, and endless amount of toddler activities. This job has two boys running in different directions, currently a month long of two runny noses, and the oh-so laughable tantrums. To be honest the hardest, "keep me up at night" things, will happen in the future. Will the boys ever behave at play date? Will they be nice to other kids in school? Will they be honest, happy, successful....... the list goes on. I read books, talk with other moms, and work hard at building a life that is wonderful, healthy, balanced, and happy for these two little ones.

I am proud to be a mom, I struggle to be a mom, and I am blessed to be a mom. I am grateful for the pure WORK that my mom and dad put into me.

What a wonderful life.

Sleepy

1. Updates to the house
This picture is first....so I must admit....glad to get more stuff done to the house. After I took these pictures it again reminded me of the curtains from Sound of Music. Interesting...yes. So hopefully they continue to grow on me.

I want to also thank my mom for spending an afternoon teaching me to make the curtains. AND my sister who a few YEARS ago insisted that I purchase window coverings.

One last note: I changed my one and only New Years Resolution. I am not doing a garden anymore. Instead, I am going to tackle the side of my house that is overgrown with weeds, random trees, and Ivy.

2. Language
I think that this might be a theme of the month. I am working with the boys on speaking, "using their words," and doing sign language. Cameron has started to catch on and I must admit...it makes me pretty proud in Target when the boys use sign language to communicate with me.
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3. Antibiotics
Last week I noted how I NEEDED Cameron to get better. To be honest both boys were still pretty sick. Nights have been rough (even my dad on Monday morning was extremely exhausted). Well they started antibiotics (thank goodness!!!) and they have finally started to get better.

Cameron HATES to take his medicine. Hates. He might take a small little sip and then figures it out and refuses to open his mouth. He shakes his head and seals his lips. If I finally get some meds slipped in...he spits it out. I started to put it in yogurt and I am finally getting the meds in...most of the time.

Basically, the boys are getting better....I think.

4. Pajamas

This has been a common theme in our house this week. I must admit there was a day...almost two... that the boys did not get out of their pajamas. I wish that I would of snapped a picture of this.... I put shoes OVER the pajama feet to go outside and play. Yes. True.

5. The fights...we have survived

I can't believe that this is the only picture that I have of the fighting. They are starting to wrestle, hit, push, and grab each other's face off. No joke. It has not been fun for mom. So here is a picture of Cameron pulling Owen's hair.

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Right now the boys usually fight because Owen wants to do whatever Cameron is doing.

One last thing I forgot....climbing. The boys are able to climb onto the couches and chairs. Sigh.

April

1. Trip to Valpo On Sunday afternoon I decided to make a quick trip to Valpo with the boys. I did not work Monday night and was picking them up early Monday from Greg's. On Sunday evening Mat told me he would also have Monday off...he was going to come with us! This made it for a FULL day of visits. Here are some pictures from the quick trip.

2. Baths

The boys enjoy taking baths. It is a good thing because Owen's new favorite thing to do is cover himself with his food at the end of the meal. I am sure as adults we encourage way more than appropriate. Oh well....that is why I am grateful that they enjoy baths!

**When Owen pulls his shirt...that is his sign for "done." He also says the word, but this is his personal sign language for the word.

3. Wednesday

That means Cameron has to catch up on his sleep, get over his cold, and be is normal, happy self soon.....right?

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4. Play dates

The boys love to go over and play with the twins. They have AWESOME toys there and usually everyone is getting along. Late last week I text Tanya to see if we could come play, threw the boys in the car, and was there within 15 minutes. LOVE IT.

5. Curtains & Pedicures

Sunday afternoon my mom and I got pedicures and then spent the afternoon making curtains. I have one window with curtains...hopefully to make the next window soon! Anyways, it was great to spend time with my mom.

Vocab

1. Only child Cameron LOVES to be up from his nap early, and alone. There are times that the minute Owen wakes up, Cameron smile melts away and the tears begin to POOR. These pictures are taken during the last few minutes of Owen's nap.

2. Words

These boys are starting to talk. I am also trying to teach them sign language (which is starting to catch on). One quick example.....Owen is starting to say "more." I taught him the word in sign language so now when he wants more yummy food, he says the word, AND does the sign. And "yum," also a major word in our house.

3. The Bulldogs

Once again the Bulldogs made it to the National Championship game. It was an exciting time. This is a picture of us celebrating after the Final Four win on Saturday night.

3. Clean floors

I FINALLY got on my hands and knees to scrub the kitchen floor, and the cabinets. I needed to change the water 4 times AND it took me over an hour. Disgusting. Yes. I am the first to admit. Anyways, I was scrubbing the floor......

....and the boys were doing this......

4. Nap time

I need to post this. The boys are sleeping right now for naps. This quite lets me catch up on dishes, write this quick blog while watching Parenthood (amazing), and maybe lay my own head down for a rest. Nap time is the BEST time.

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5. Friends

These past few weeks we have been trying to get out of the house. The boys do much better with being busy. We usually go to a friend's house, destroy, and leave. So grateful...we still have friends!

Wednesday

It is pretty obvious that I am not able to keep up with this blog. I want to have these small memories in a few years so I decided to try and keep it up once a week. Hopefully on Wednesday. *****NOTE: I CAN NOT GET THE POST TO PUBLISH CORRECTLY. I ALSO DON'T HAVE TIME TO KEEP TRYING TO FIX IT. SORRY~I KNOW IT IS ANNOYING******* 1. Birthday Party The house has been pretty crazy lately. As the boys reach their 18th month milestone they are changing...A LOT. Busy, busy, busy. Last weekend I had a small break in the craziness and had a small get together at my house. Shelby got people together from work to celebrate my and Amy's birthdays. She got here early and we cooked food, had some drinks, and watched Butler get into the Final Four...AGAIN! Here are some pictures of Shelby starting a fire. I haven't had a fire in the fireplace in years. Yes, actually years. It was a nice change (though my house still smells like a fire.) Anyways, grateful for the time spent with friends.

**Shelby was wearing all black so all you can see was the skin from her ankle.

2. Outside "Out"

The boys LOVE LOVE LOVE to play outside. There are no tantrums, no tears, no fighting (usually).....it is great. They just walk around, play with balls, and enjoy the fresh air.

Sort of sad that it is snowing outside right now...but still they LOVE being outside.

3. Owen

It has been crazy hard to get pictures of Owen looking at the camera. Yesterday afternoon he actually let me get one...and boy is it cute!

4. Apples "puls"

The new, WONDERFUL, thing that we do in the house is eat whole apples. The boys walk around and eat apples, sit and relax to eat their apples....they just love to eat whole apples. Maybe it is because the apple is in the shape of balls or maybe it is just because they are so yummy. Either way, it keeps them occupied for awhile with a healthy snack.

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5. Sleeping

The boys both slept 20 minutes longer this morning. It was a nice surprise and much needed little break. So just to review, the usually get up around 650 or 7am. This morning 720!!!

sigh

Today was the type of day that I need to sit down and write out 5 things that make me grateful.

1. Top Chef
LOVE LOVE LOVE the show Top Chef. I am not able to watch much TV and this show is one of the few that makes the cut.

2. Giggles
The boys love to play chase and their laughs are contageous. They can play chase all afternoon!

3. Sales

The past few weeks I have been searching through the sales. I had coupons and was able to get some 24 month and 2T clothes. Cameron is wearing one of his new pajamas in the above picture.

4. The big 2-9

It was a beautiful day on my birthday. We had a BLAST. In the afternoon Mat and I went out to shop for bikes and ended up buying gourmet cupcakes. Yum. Here are the boys enjoying the special treat out in the great sunshine!!

5. Extra Pay

I hate picking up work. I actually used most of my awesome tax check in order to survive a few weeks without having to pick up any work. So basically everyone else pretty much felt the same way. Not only that....but people are starting to quit. That means that are starting to offer extra money to stay a few extra hours. It makes work a little more tolerable.