So JR and I met with our realtor yesterday. First, I was excited that we were meeting at Starbucks. The coffee is expensive, so I rarely go - but I always think of it as a lovely treat. Second, our realtor was about 10 minutes late, and I started to get upset because I just thought that it set the tone, but JR explained that he was late because he stopped to talk with someone after his morning radio show. Then I was kind of impressed because I have heard his radio show before, he does a morning real estate show and is the #1 realtor in The Austin/South Austin area. After speaking with him, I felt completely confident in the home buying experience. I pretty much felt that, whatever JR and I didn't understand, he would explain and he is watching our backs so we dont get screwed over. Third, I was even more shocked to find out that after meeting, we were actually going to look at the three houses we had said were our top 3.
House #1 - TERRIBLE. I think JR picked the house because of the backyard. It had and okay deck, and the yard was huge, but it also has a built in outdoor fireplace. The inside on the otherhand needed MAJOR improvements, and the layout was just strange to me.
House #2 - Was the house that I posted before - It was our favorite. As of now the house is listed as pending, so he let us know that before going in. The house was pretty accurate with the pictures, however the carpeting upstairs was going to need to be replaced, and the kids rooms and guest room were going to be pretty small. The downstairs was awesome - but the upstairs was just okay...but I was definitely willing to go for it.
House #3 - The upstairs was good. Again the bedrooms were a little on the smaller side, but doable. The downstairs was just a mess. The layout was poorly executed - the half bath had CARPET in it, the dining room had carpet - which I know a lot of people with carpet in their dining room...but I guess having kids makes me NOT want it...and even without kids, I just find it strange to have carpet where you eat....not as strange as having carpet where you pee, but still. Our dining area now is carpeted, and I HATE IT! and I really dont want anything like that again.
From there, we went back to our old neighborhood where our Realtor talked with the neighboorhood sales office lady. We looked at their model home and fell in LOVE. So we have decided that we are going to build our own house. Everything will be brand new, and we get to pick what goes where and which design we want. She drove us over to the lot we wanted...we even got to pick that - due to how the sun rises and falls and what we like better - I seriously never thought about that before! LOL The lot is only a short distance from the park and pool. We only had to pay $1000 in earnest money to secure the lot and we will be signing paperwork tonight and from there they will apply for the building permits, and we will make an appointment with the studio to go pick out all the things we want...flooring type, appliances, doors...etc. I am so very excited. The house will be finished at the end of January or early February which is perfect timing for us. We are wanting to close in Feb. so that our first payment wont be due until April...that way we have the money we would have used on rent for March to use for some knick knacks and moving expenses! I feel like I'm living in a dream world right now! Who would have thunk it? Now I am just hoping JR and I can keep our upgrades to a minimum as far as cost goes, and hopefully, get everything we want for less than what we were approved for. I mean just because we were approved for it doesn't mean we need to use it! LOL
So our house will be 4 bedrooms, with a game room upstairs, we are still trying to decide whether to do 3 bathrooms or 2.5...its a $3,500 difference, and while it would be nice to have 3 full baths, I would rather use the $3,500 on floors or granite counter tops...so we are still working on that. The house will be almost 2240 sq. feet, and well, I don't even know how else to explain it...it's kind of a you have to see it. But, I can promise that I will be taking plenty of pictures through the building stage and the final product...and Logan's birthday is in March, so hopefully all our friends and family will be able to make it. I would love to have a house warming party before that when we first get in it...but too many of our loved ones live so far away and I think it would difficult for most people to travel all the way here twice in (basically) one month. So maybe we can just do a house warming/birthday party for Logan!
Sorry to tell you guys, but basically for the next 4 months this will be the majority of what I write about, so you will probably be thoroughly bored with me. I apologize in advance. I am just so excited!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Valet!
Oh man, last night JR and I went into San Antonio to help out one of my dad's friends who own a valet company. Apparently they are pretty big in Austin but they were just getting started in San Antonio, so they didn't have an actual crew. My mom came to stay with the kids. We worked from 3 to midnight and while JR got to stay in one place and was in charge of the keys, I was actually driving cars and RUNNING all over the place. It was literally 0.6 miles from where we parked the cars to the house where the wedding was. I thought I was going to DIE! LOL Today my whole body feels like it got hit by one of those cars. ON the brights side, we made some extra money, and I got to drive 3 Mercedes, a Lexus, a rickety old Jaguar, a brand new Jag, a band new Ford mustang, and a minivan and a few "normal" cars! LOL
In a few hours, JR and I are going to drop the kids off over at my cousins house, and then we are heading out to meet our Realtor! I am so very excited. I guess it still hasn't sunk in - We are going to be homeowners!!!
In a few hours, JR and I are going to drop the kids off over at my cousins house, and then we are heading out to meet our Realtor! I am so very excited. I guess it still hasn't sunk in - We are going to be homeowners!!!
Friday, October 28, 2011
It's Official!
JR and I just got the phone call. We have been approved for a loan to buy a house! Woo hoo! I can't contain my excitement. There is also a possibility of being able to be in our new home earlier than we hoped if we can negotiate a buy out on our lease! HOLY SMOKES! We are meeting with a realtor on Sunday with some potential properties and will start the house hunt next week! I just can't believe it! YAY!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Buying houses!
It is finally going to happen...I think?! JR met with the bank people yesterday to get the advice on what we need to do in order to buy a home. From what they told us, we have everything in order. We have one last bad debt to pay off - but we are down to about $400, so we should have that paid of pretty soon. They told us that even with it on the credit report we are still fine, but we both just want to get it off ASAP. Our lease is up on Feb. 29, so we are hoping to be able to close on a house somewhere between mid-January and mid-February.
I am pretty nervous for a few reasons. We have been discussing buying our own home for about 4 years now. We were going to buy the house in La Marque, but the guy was asking too much and by that time JR's job was in north Houston and he didn't want to commute so far, and I was pregnant with Landry so the house just wasn't big enough. Then we moved to Spring and we wanted to buy that house after leasing it for a year...but 6 months into the lease we moved to Kyle. Our first house here, we loved- loved- loved. However, the owners weren't really wanting to sell, and in order to buy they were wanting a lot more than we could afford. So, we moved to the house we live in now. When we moved in, we were on a lease to own plan so that %50 of all our rent went towards the down payment on the home. JR and I thought that this is what we would do. However, during these years, JR and I have been working hard to improve our credit - and it has paid off! We just refinanced our car, so JR's credit score had to be pulled. We were pretty shocked how much it has gone up in the past year. Turns out, we SHOULD be able to qualify for an FHA loan and we can actually buy a house that we REALLY want.
I'm not going to lie, I wasn't thrilled about living in this house for much longer, but since I thought that is what was going to happen, I became a little creative and starting deciding what we could do to make the house more appealing. Now, I don't have to. One thing we did learn from living in this house, is that we like having the space. While it may be a manufactured home, this house is quite large. So we know that we definitely want a 4 bedroom house, we know that we do NOT want carpet - although we have both decided that if there is carpet, we will have it removed on our own. We have already found a house that we really really really like, I am just hoping it is still on the market in January. It has been on the market since April...so hopefully, fingers crossed, no one else will jump in there and get it.
The timing couldn't be more perfect either. JR and I have said since I was pregnant with Logan that we wanted to own our house by the time Logan started school. We didn't want to be moving around alot, and because I moved so much - I really didn't want my kids to have to go through making new friends in a new town every 3 years the way I had to. Since Logan will start kindergarten next fall - this will be perfect. We love our town...honestly, it is a little bigger than what I had hoped for, but it is perfect. My biggest concern is that the kids wont get to be as rounded as I hope they can be. The great thing about small schools is that you can choose between so many different electives. In larger schools, you basically have to pick one path. For example, if you choose band, you can't do choir or athletics, or some of the arts. If you choose to be a cheerleader (and make the squad), you can't play volleyball or basketball. When I was in school (and yes things have changed, even at the smaller schools) you could be a cheerleader, play every sport you wanted, be in the band, and take art classes. At smaller schools today, there are some choices you have to make, but there is more chance of getting to do 2 or more of these things than you have at a larger school.
Anyway, I really hope that everything will go according to plan. I am really excited and so is JR. I can't wait to own a home that my kids will grow up in. As it is now, Logan is 4, and has already lived in 4 towns and 5 houses - Landry is 2 and has lived in 2 towns and 3 houses....wouldn't it be nice if this next move is our last move for at least 10-20 years! LOL
http://awp581023.actris.mlxchange.com/5.4.00.19166/Tools/MultiImageViewer/MediaViewerDlg.asp?Mode=1&DefaultTab=0&Address=&SysPropID=1395723675&PageType=3&ShowImages=1&ShowLinks=1
Here are some pictures of the house we are looking at!
I am pretty nervous for a few reasons. We have been discussing buying our own home for about 4 years now. We were going to buy the house in La Marque, but the guy was asking too much and by that time JR's job was in north Houston and he didn't want to commute so far, and I was pregnant with Landry so the house just wasn't big enough. Then we moved to Spring and we wanted to buy that house after leasing it for a year...but 6 months into the lease we moved to Kyle. Our first house here, we loved- loved- loved. However, the owners weren't really wanting to sell, and in order to buy they were wanting a lot more than we could afford. So, we moved to the house we live in now. When we moved in, we were on a lease to own plan so that %50 of all our rent went towards the down payment on the home. JR and I thought that this is what we would do. However, during these years, JR and I have been working hard to improve our credit - and it has paid off! We just refinanced our car, so JR's credit score had to be pulled. We were pretty shocked how much it has gone up in the past year. Turns out, we SHOULD be able to qualify for an FHA loan and we can actually buy a house that we REALLY want.
I'm not going to lie, I wasn't thrilled about living in this house for much longer, but since I thought that is what was going to happen, I became a little creative and starting deciding what we could do to make the house more appealing. Now, I don't have to. One thing we did learn from living in this house, is that we like having the space. While it may be a manufactured home, this house is quite large. So we know that we definitely want a 4 bedroom house, we know that we do NOT want carpet - although we have both decided that if there is carpet, we will have it removed on our own. We have already found a house that we really really really like, I am just hoping it is still on the market in January. It has been on the market since April...so hopefully, fingers crossed, no one else will jump in there and get it.
The timing couldn't be more perfect either. JR and I have said since I was pregnant with Logan that we wanted to own our house by the time Logan started school. We didn't want to be moving around alot, and because I moved so much - I really didn't want my kids to have to go through making new friends in a new town every 3 years the way I had to. Since Logan will start kindergarten next fall - this will be perfect. We love our town...honestly, it is a little bigger than what I had hoped for, but it is perfect. My biggest concern is that the kids wont get to be as rounded as I hope they can be. The great thing about small schools is that you can choose between so many different electives. In larger schools, you basically have to pick one path. For example, if you choose band, you can't do choir or athletics, or some of the arts. If you choose to be a cheerleader (and make the squad), you can't play volleyball or basketball. When I was in school (and yes things have changed, even at the smaller schools) you could be a cheerleader, play every sport you wanted, be in the band, and take art classes. At smaller schools today, there are some choices you have to make, but there is more chance of getting to do 2 or more of these things than you have at a larger school.
Anyway, I really hope that everything will go according to plan. I am really excited and so is JR. I can't wait to own a home that my kids will grow up in. As it is now, Logan is 4, and has already lived in 4 towns and 5 houses - Landry is 2 and has lived in 2 towns and 3 houses....wouldn't it be nice if this next move is our last move for at least 10-20 years! LOL
http://awp581023.actris.mlxchange.com/5.4.00.19166/Tools/MultiImageViewer/MediaViewerDlg.asp?Mode=1&DefaultTab=0&Address=&SysPropID=1395723675&PageType=3&ShowImages=1&ShowLinks=1
Here are some pictures of the house we are looking at!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
more partying!
My best friend Dana's birthday was 20 days ago. Unfortunately due to her very busy work schedule and me having kids, we weren't able to celebrate until last night! Doctor Dana lives in New Braunfels now which is only 30 minutes from where I live, but its still hard for us to get together because of schedules. I absolutely love this woman! We went to Trudy's for some more of our favorite drink...Mexican Martini's! I love those things, but I hate getting up the following morning. Anyway, we had a really great time. I love hanging out with her...she's the best of the best.
Also celebrating, Landry is doing really great at using the potty. She has been going in the potty almost every time. HOWEVER - any of you that have gone through the potty training process know that when potty training, your child doesn't usually learn peeing in the potty at the same time as they learn to poop in the potty. At least, all of my friends tell me their child learned at different times...as did Logan. SOOOOO, while Landry is doing great with peeing, the pooping thing is still a ways off. Unfortunately, she is at a stage where she understands the sensations that come from needing to pee pee, but she isn't there yet on pooping, and because we use "au natural" method...there is nothing to catch the poop! So....we have that whole issue. Usually it isn't a big deal - maybe I am used to it, but most of the time I put a diaper on her around 5, because I know that she will usually poop somewhere between 5 and 6:30. As I mentioned above...I went out with Dana last night - Landry apparently didn't poop until around 9 - and unfortunately she didn't have a diaper on, so JR had to clean. OOPS!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Fun weekend!
I don't even know where to start. We had so much fun this weekend. We went up to HOuston on Friday night to stay with some friends. We played poker, craps, black jack. We drank and drank some more. We were up until 6:30 in the morning. It was so very much fun.
On Saturday we got up, after very few hours of sleep, and got ready for Landry's party at the Children's museum. I had never been, so I honesyly didn't have any sort of plan, so we just made our way through the rooms. Logan was a mad man. He was very interested in pretty much everything. Landry enjoyed the magnets. LOL Once we got outside Landry got a little more involved in the playing. Logan wanted to go back in, but it was really neat. All the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. Most of the kids were soaking wet - OOPS! It was a really great time. At the end, we had cupcakes on top of the parking garage! Bwahaha! Let's just say I am not a party planner! LOL
After the party we had to find a JC Penney's so that JR could buy some clothes. It took about an hour and a half to find the store, find something to wear, and get back to Brittany's to change, which made us 30 minutes late to the wedding shower we were trying to get to for one of JR's friends from High school. Oops! Luckily, no one really noticed as there were plenty of people, and more arrived after we did! I love JR's friends. Oddly enough I actually know quite a few of them from our days at Texas A&M at Galveston. It was really fun to hang out with everyone. His high school was so different from mine..for one it was a private school. Two, it was an all boys school. Another big difference was that the people in my school(S) were always trying so hard. I dont know what they were trying for, but it was always something. Trying to fit in, to have the best story, to be better than the person on their left....I don't really know how to explain it. JR's friends were just normal people. They were all easy going. Even when JR wasn't around I never felt excluded. Sure it helped that I knew a few of them...but honestly it was more of a conversation starter because I only knew these people for a few months and haven't seen them again in 10 years. Except for one...the groom to be. The point is, I love all those guys, and I totally understand why JR would miss his glory days of high school. In fact, everyone was referring to the wedding shower as the pre-game warm up to the actual 10 year reunion. After I had seen that most of the guys were drinking whiskey (and a lot of it) I thought that we wouldn't make it to the actual reunion. We were all having a really great time, and after hearing the stories - apparently they hung out like that every weekend.
Around 9:30 we left for the actual reunion in downtown Houston. IT was even more fun than being at the house. I refrained from drinking very much. I only had about a beer an hour...and it was the smart thing to do because JR, or BillyBob as all his friends called him, had enough to drink for an army! I wish I had enough time to tell some of the stories form these guys...it is literally crazy to think of all the crap they pulled and got away with. It's even more impressive that they are all very lucky to be alive.
Luckily we stayed at a hotel close by because I was so tired. The drive back from Houston was rough. Thankfully I wasn't hung over. JR drove half of the way, and I drove the other. By the time we got home we all took a 3 hour nap! It was such an amazing weekend, but man - I am still tired from it!
On Saturday we got up, after very few hours of sleep, and got ready for Landry's party at the Children's museum. I had never been, so I honesyly didn't have any sort of plan, so we just made our way through the rooms. Logan was a mad man. He was very interested in pretty much everything. Landry enjoyed the magnets. LOL Once we got outside Landry got a little more involved in the playing. Logan wanted to go back in, but it was really neat. All the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. Most of the kids were soaking wet - OOPS! It was a really great time. At the end, we had cupcakes on top of the parking garage! Bwahaha! Let's just say I am not a party planner! LOL
After the party we had to find a JC Penney's so that JR could buy some clothes. It took about an hour and a half to find the store, find something to wear, and get back to Brittany's to change, which made us 30 minutes late to the wedding shower we were trying to get to for one of JR's friends from High school. Oops! Luckily, no one really noticed as there were plenty of people, and more arrived after we did! I love JR's friends. Oddly enough I actually know quite a few of them from our days at Texas A&M at Galveston. It was really fun to hang out with everyone. His high school was so different from mine..for one it was a private school. Two, it was an all boys school. Another big difference was that the people in my school(S) were always trying so hard. I dont know what they were trying for, but it was always something. Trying to fit in, to have the best story, to be better than the person on their left....I don't really know how to explain it. JR's friends were just normal people. They were all easy going. Even when JR wasn't around I never felt excluded. Sure it helped that I knew a few of them...but honestly it was more of a conversation starter because I only knew these people for a few months and haven't seen them again in 10 years. Except for one...the groom to be. The point is, I love all those guys, and I totally understand why JR would miss his glory days of high school. In fact, everyone was referring to the wedding shower as the pre-game warm up to the actual 10 year reunion. After I had seen that most of the guys were drinking whiskey (and a lot of it) I thought that we wouldn't make it to the actual reunion. We were all having a really great time, and after hearing the stories - apparently they hung out like that every weekend.
Around 9:30 we left for the actual reunion in downtown Houston. IT was even more fun than being at the house. I refrained from drinking very much. I only had about a beer an hour...and it was the smart thing to do because JR, or BillyBob as all his friends called him, had enough to drink for an army! I wish I had enough time to tell some of the stories form these guys...it is literally crazy to think of all the crap they pulled and got away with. It's even more impressive that they are all very lucky to be alive.
Luckily we stayed at a hotel close by because I was so tired. The drive back from Houston was rough. Thankfully I wasn't hung over. JR drove half of the way, and I drove the other. By the time we got home we all took a 3 hour nap! It was such an amazing weekend, but man - I am still tired from it!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
A response to Nikki's Nutshell!
I was going to comment on Nikki's blog, but it turned out to be really long so I just made my response a blog of my own! If your confused, read her blog first.
Ohhhh, Nikki - so many things! First - your stories crack me up! You are NOT in the minority, but at the same time toddlers aren't generally difficult 90% of the time. It's only a stage. He WILL move past it, I promise. In my experience, my kids usually feel more comfortable at home, since that is what they are used to, but they also seem to listen to other adults better than they would me or JR. For some reason, my kids seem to behave better for me when we have company. I don't know if they just sense that I will have less patience for them, or if they feel that they need to behave in front of others, but they do. Not always, but for the most part.
Aiden is gaining more independence, which is probably why he is fighting the essentials in life. Before, he brushed his teeth because mommy helped him do so and because he probably didn't realize he had a choice (which he doesn't) but now he thinks he does. He may be thinking, I want to play, not brush my teeth. Try giving him time to adjust to these things..."Aiden you can play for 3 more minutes and then we need to brush your teeth." If you have a little timer that dings, that can be helpful since he doesn't really understand how long three minutes is. Then you can count down, "2 more minutes...1 more minute...ding - okay it's time to brush your teeth!" You can even try singing a song about brushing or cleaning, or bathing...etc. I still do this with Logan, but because he's older we show him the clock and tell him when this number gets to the "8", we are doing this...This method really helped Logan - and now it's helping him to learn time. However, I will say, that singing to Logan just annoys him...singing doesn't work for every kid.
The shyness is also a phase. Landry hasn't hit it yet, I mean - when she was a baby she would only let JR or me hold her, unless she had been around the other person for a while. But Logan was really shy for a long time, even up to starting school..he was usually okay with adults, or cousins, or people he already knew, but when it came to other kids he would usually kind of go off on his own. Now he is warming up, but he still has shy moments. I am not saying Aiden will be shy forever, it may be a short term thing, or it could just his nature for a while. I think Logan's had more to do with the fact that he wasn't really around other people. Landry isn't shy...but she will clam up around other people, it's like she reverts back or something. I know she can talk - ALOT - but when we get around my parents or something she wont talk or answer when you ask questions. Annoying - yes, but she will get passed it as will Aiden.
As for Travis - it truly will change. I know I have said that before, and it hasn't yet, but it really will. I can remember when Logan was an infant, there were times I thought he hated me because he only wanted his Daddy. As he got older, he went back and forth between JR and I. For the past ummmm...2 years (and Landry may have something to do with this) he has been a momma's boy. He still plays with JR and loves on his daddy, BUT I am definitely his favorite. LOL On the other hand Landry is a Daddy's girl. She puts up with me throughout the day, but when daddy gets home she becomes an angel child with him. It's been like this for literally 2 years! Then all of a sudden 2 days ago, all she wanted was me. She wanted to sit with me, read with me, play with ME. I would put her in JR's lap and she would cry for ME...this never happened before. The jealousy between the kids was ridiculous! But still - this is just a phase, it may last for a while, or maybe only a few more days, but it wont last forever. Are you the one that usually picks Aiden up from daycare every day? Maybe you and Travis could work it out to where he could pick him up a couple of days of the week or take him a couple of days??? Or maybe on the weekend they could have a boys day and do something together where mommy isn't an option.
As for Mr. Lion, if it comforts him, I say let him have it. Keep doing what your doing with keeping it at home, but if it makes him happy at home - I don't see a problem with it. He will out grow it, eventually! Landry still wants her blanket with her at all times. I do the same thing...she can have it at home, but it stays at home - we dont take it to the store, or in the car - unless we are going out of town.
Now - separate stories of my own that are not in response to Nikki's blog but do relate!
Landry has an affliction for clothes. She loves them, she likes to pick out what she wants to wear, she likes to take ALL her clothes out of her drawers and play with them, often putting them all on, one outfit after another. HOWEVER, she also HATES wearing the clothes for longer than necessary. She usually starts crying that her clothes are wet..which they aren't...and then takes the clothes off. Normally it wouldn't really bother me. I mean, we are at home - no one can see if she is clothed or not, and if she wants to be naked - whatever, I personally don't have a problem with it. The thing is, #1 her main thing is her shirt...she doesn't mind so much having jeans or shorts on, it's just her shirt, so I am wondering if something is going on there, and #2 she is lying...saying her shirt is wet just so she can take it off. It isn't wet. If you want it off just say, I want it off, but dont tell fibs! Ughh
The weekend before last we went to dinner with my parents, my sister and her boyfriend and my niece and nephew. It was a mini celebration for Landry's birthday because we wanted to be able to celebrate with my niece and nephew. After dinner, Logan ended up going home with my parents to stay the night with Isabella and Isaiah. I went on Sunday afternoon to pick him up. When I got there, I asked how he was. Both my parents said he was great. I asked if he minded, if he argued, if he talked back. They again said he was great...no tantrums, they didn't have to get on to him and that he had a blast. Okay great! I call him downstairs, he is happy to see me. I get big hugs and then things changed. I went to put on his shoes, and he started throwing a fit. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to play in the garage, he wanted candy, he wanted a different pair of shoes, he wanted his sister....blah blah blah. Logan has this thing where if he doesn't want to do something, he just starts naming all kinds of other things that he would rather do. I guess he does this in hopes that out of all the things he says, I will say yes to one which will delay whatever it is he doesn't want to do. My parents were both shocked...they said those were the first tears he shed the whole time he was at their house and that he hadn't acted that way at all. I guess I am just special! :) I should also say that Logan was asleep before we got a mile from the house! I guess he was sleepy! LOL
Ohhhh, Nikki - so many things! First - your stories crack me up! You are NOT in the minority, but at the same time toddlers aren't generally difficult 90% of the time. It's only a stage. He WILL move past it, I promise. In my experience, my kids usually feel more comfortable at home, since that is what they are used to, but they also seem to listen to other adults better than they would me or JR. For some reason, my kids seem to behave better for me when we have company. I don't know if they just sense that I will have less patience for them, or if they feel that they need to behave in front of others, but they do. Not always, but for the most part.
Aiden is gaining more independence, which is probably why he is fighting the essentials in life. Before, he brushed his teeth because mommy helped him do so and because he probably didn't realize he had a choice (which he doesn't) but now he thinks he does. He may be thinking, I want to play, not brush my teeth. Try giving him time to adjust to these things..."Aiden you can play for 3 more minutes and then we need to brush your teeth." If you have a little timer that dings, that can be helpful since he doesn't really understand how long three minutes is. Then you can count down, "2 more minutes...1 more minute...ding - okay it's time to brush your teeth!" You can even try singing a song about brushing or cleaning, or bathing...etc. I still do this with Logan, but because he's older we show him the clock and tell him when this number gets to the "8", we are doing this...This method really helped Logan - and now it's helping him to learn time. However, I will say, that singing to Logan just annoys him...singing doesn't work for every kid.
The shyness is also a phase. Landry hasn't hit it yet, I mean - when she was a baby she would only let JR or me hold her, unless she had been around the other person for a while. But Logan was really shy for a long time, even up to starting school..he was usually okay with adults, or cousins, or people he already knew, but when it came to other kids he would usually kind of go off on his own. Now he is warming up, but he still has shy moments. I am not saying Aiden will be shy forever, it may be a short term thing, or it could just his nature for a while. I think Logan's had more to do with the fact that he wasn't really around other people. Landry isn't shy...but she will clam up around other people, it's like she reverts back or something. I know she can talk - ALOT - but when we get around my parents or something she wont talk or answer when you ask questions. Annoying - yes, but she will get passed it as will Aiden.
As for Travis - it truly will change. I know I have said that before, and it hasn't yet, but it really will. I can remember when Logan was an infant, there were times I thought he hated me because he only wanted his Daddy. As he got older, he went back and forth between JR and I. For the past ummmm...2 years (and Landry may have something to do with this) he has been a momma's boy. He still plays with JR and loves on his daddy, BUT I am definitely his favorite. LOL On the other hand Landry is a Daddy's girl. She puts up with me throughout the day, but when daddy gets home she becomes an angel child with him. It's been like this for literally 2 years! Then all of a sudden 2 days ago, all she wanted was me. She wanted to sit with me, read with me, play with ME. I would put her in JR's lap and she would cry for ME...this never happened before. The jealousy between the kids was ridiculous! But still - this is just a phase, it may last for a while, or maybe only a few more days, but it wont last forever. Are you the one that usually picks Aiden up from daycare every day? Maybe you and Travis could work it out to where he could pick him up a couple of days of the week or take him a couple of days??? Or maybe on the weekend they could have a boys day and do something together where mommy isn't an option.
As for Mr. Lion, if it comforts him, I say let him have it. Keep doing what your doing with keeping it at home, but if it makes him happy at home - I don't see a problem with it. He will out grow it, eventually! Landry still wants her blanket with her at all times. I do the same thing...she can have it at home, but it stays at home - we dont take it to the store, or in the car - unless we are going out of town.
Now - separate stories of my own that are not in response to Nikki's blog but do relate!
Landry has an affliction for clothes. She loves them, she likes to pick out what she wants to wear, she likes to take ALL her clothes out of her drawers and play with them, often putting them all on, one outfit after another. HOWEVER, she also HATES wearing the clothes for longer than necessary. She usually starts crying that her clothes are wet..which they aren't...and then takes the clothes off. Normally it wouldn't really bother me. I mean, we are at home - no one can see if she is clothed or not, and if she wants to be naked - whatever, I personally don't have a problem with it. The thing is, #1 her main thing is her shirt...she doesn't mind so much having jeans or shorts on, it's just her shirt, so I am wondering if something is going on there, and #2 she is lying...saying her shirt is wet just so she can take it off. It isn't wet. If you want it off just say, I want it off, but dont tell fibs! Ughh
The weekend before last we went to dinner with my parents, my sister and her boyfriend and my niece and nephew. It was a mini celebration for Landry's birthday because we wanted to be able to celebrate with my niece and nephew. After dinner, Logan ended up going home with my parents to stay the night with Isabella and Isaiah. I went on Sunday afternoon to pick him up. When I got there, I asked how he was. Both my parents said he was great. I asked if he minded, if he argued, if he talked back. They again said he was great...no tantrums, they didn't have to get on to him and that he had a blast. Okay great! I call him downstairs, he is happy to see me. I get big hugs and then things changed. I went to put on his shoes, and he started throwing a fit. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to play in the garage, he wanted candy, he wanted a different pair of shoes, he wanted his sister....blah blah blah. Logan has this thing where if he doesn't want to do something, he just starts naming all kinds of other things that he would rather do. I guess he does this in hopes that out of all the things he says, I will say yes to one which will delay whatever it is he doesn't want to do. My parents were both shocked...they said those were the first tears he shed the whole time he was at their house and that he hadn't acted that way at all. I guess I am just special! :) I should also say that Logan was asleep before we got a mile from the house! I guess he was sleepy! LOL
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
# 600
Wow, 600 blogs! Too bad I don't have a whole lot to say!
I woke up this morning with my throat hurting a bit. At first I thought - CRAP! I am getting sick - just what I freaking need. But, now that I have been up for a while I realize that I think my throat is sore because it got so cold last night and I breathe through my mouth when I sleep. So I am good. On the other hand, the kids have had allergies for over a week now. I am thinking about giving Logan so children's allergy medicine. Not sure though. It isn't horrible, they can still breathe and everything - but both of their noses run so bad and then dry up and they have crusty boogers all the time...ughhh it's gross! So I am not sure what it is in the air that bothers them, but I dont like it. Grrr!
Landry is still going at about 50% with the potty training. It is actually starting to irritate me, because I know that she knows how to go on the potty, she does it half of the time. For some reason though she doesn't do it all the time - Ughhh! Irritating. I haven't gone as far as to put her in panties when we leave the house...I am going to wait until she is at least at 85% progress. I am so tired of buying diapers though. I am ready to get the point where she only wears a diaper to sleep in...and then no diapers at all!
Well, I am going to get started cleaning the house...I want it to be spotless when we leave this weekend, because I want to come home, put our clothes in the laundry and not have to worry about coming home to a dirty house...I hate that.
Happy Hump Day!
I woke up this morning with my throat hurting a bit. At first I thought - CRAP! I am getting sick - just what I freaking need. But, now that I have been up for a while I realize that I think my throat is sore because it got so cold last night and I breathe through my mouth when I sleep. So I am good. On the other hand, the kids have had allergies for over a week now. I am thinking about giving Logan so children's allergy medicine. Not sure though. It isn't horrible, they can still breathe and everything - but both of their noses run so bad and then dry up and they have crusty boogers all the time...ughhh it's gross! So I am not sure what it is in the air that bothers them, but I dont like it. Grrr!
Landry is still going at about 50% with the potty training. It is actually starting to irritate me, because I know that she knows how to go on the potty, she does it half of the time. For some reason though she doesn't do it all the time - Ughhh! Irritating. I haven't gone as far as to put her in panties when we leave the house...I am going to wait until she is at least at 85% progress. I am so tired of buying diapers though. I am ready to get the point where she only wears a diaper to sleep in...and then no diapers at all!
Well, I am going to get started cleaning the house...I want it to be spotless when we leave this weekend, because I want to come home, put our clothes in the laundry and not have to worry about coming home to a dirty house...I hate that.
Happy Hump Day!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Landry's birthday!
As I have said before, Landry is having several mini celebrations for her birthday this year. Poor Logan is getting confused. When we woke up on Saturday, I was singing happy birthday to Landry, and Logan said, "no, she already had her birthday." It ought to be interesting to see what he says this weekend when we are celebrating AGAIN! LOL We took to the kids to the carnival in town Saturday evening, and we all had a blast. There were some rides that Landry couldn't ride, but she had so much fun and it turned out to be a really great idea! I wish I had a picture of it, but I took the kids through a fun house...Landry was getting sleepy so she wanted me to hold her, and Logan decided to go ahead of us. Some fun houses have mirrored walls, but this one had the clear plexiglass walls through the maze part. I have to tell you that we barely made it through...I was laughing so hard - Logan kept smashing his face into the walls...he just couldn't figure out how to put his arms up so that he wouldn't walk into the glass. I laughed so hard I thought I would have an accident! It was GREAT!
I can't wait for this weekend! I am ready to see family and friends, I can't wait to go to the children's museum, and I am excited about JR's reunion. I think we are going to have a lot of fun! I know Logan is excited because he asks every day if it's time for trick or treating! He really wants some candy! LOL
I can't wait for this weekend! I am ready to see family and friends, I can't wait to go to the children's museum, and I am excited about JR's reunion. I think we are going to have a lot of fun! I know Logan is excited because he asks every day if it's time for trick or treating! He really wants some candy! LOL
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Happy Birthday!
Two years ago today, JR and I were blessed with a precious little girl. I can't even begin to explain all the emotions I have. I honestly can't believe she's 2. This day has been creeping up on me and now that it's here I wish I could rewind or just pause life for a bit. I love her more than words could ever express. She and her brother are my world. Here are some photos of her two years!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Yikes! Bad mommy moment!
So a friend of mine text me this morning asking what Landry was into these days. While the question is pretty straight forward - it sent my head into a tailspin! It is pretty simple. Landry likes Dora - okay she LOVES Dora. She likes sunglasses, and her lunch box...JR and I have already decided to get her a purse! She loves stuffed animals of any kind, but really likes puppies. However, she calls a lot of animals puppies, so that really isn't saying much! She also like "Team Umizoomi" but not as much as Dora. She likes to climb, she likes going to the park, and she likes walking around with a blanket over her head like she's a ghost. So, see, it's pretty easy to name off things she likes, but then I got to thinking about toys that she actually has...that's where the bad mommy comes in. She has a barbie, a little doll stroller, and a few other toys that are specifically for her, but for the most part - she just plays with whatever her brother is playing with. Right now they are playing a lot of power rangers! I guess I should do a better job of buying some girly toys. OOPS! The thing is - I really dont buy toys. The toys we have come from Birthdays, Christmases, the occasional Dollor Store toy to keep Logan quiet while I run through the store, and a lot of McDonald's happy meal toys! I just rarely buy toys - I don't really know why - I guess, I just figure they have plenty of toys as it is...I should know since I have to pick them ALL up almost daily! But the truth of it is, Landry is going to want to play with WHATEVER Logan is playing with, so I don't really need gender specific toys...however, I am going to try to be more concious of it - I also know, that as she gets older she will be more specific about what she wants - so I guess I'm not so bad afterall! LOL
Thursday, October 13, 2011
An impromptu poke in a pumpkin patch
This morning when I dropped Logan off at school I noticed that the Methodist Church across the street had pumpkins EVERYWHERE! So, I took Landry over for some photos!
I was informed that I needed to take Logan and get some photos of him as well...DUH - I was planning on doing this, I just hadn't planned on doing it today. I didn't want anyone accusing me of favoritism, so when I picked Logan up, we went back across the street for more photos!
Now Lucky me, we get to go back again for a family photo...although our friends Chris and Katy have a Christmas Tree Farm (actually it's Chris' parents farm) about an hour from here, so we may be going up there this weekend along with taking Landry to the Carnival! So, we have a football game tomorrow night, pumpkin patch, jumpy place, and carnival on Saturday (Happy Birthday Landry!) and on Sunday we are resting! LOL
I was informed that I needed to take Logan and get some photos of him as well...DUH - I was planning on doing this, I just hadn't planned on doing it today. I didn't want anyone accusing me of favoritism, so when I picked Logan up, we went back across the street for more photos!
Now Lucky me, we get to go back again for a family photo...although our friends Chris and Katy have a Christmas Tree Farm (actually it's Chris' parents farm) about an hour from here, so we may be going up there this weekend along with taking Landry to the Carnival! So, we have a football game tomorrow night, pumpkin patch, jumpy place, and carnival on Saturday (Happy Birthday Landry!) and on Sunday we are resting! LOL
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
party like a rock star!
I was really really late this year as far as getting anything done for Landry. the main reason for my tardiness has been indesicion. Where do I want to have her party? Do I want a theme? How big do I want to go this year? Will it interfere with other crap going on - such as, we are going to Houston the following weekend. So pretty much last minute we decided to have 3 miniature parties.
We celebrated this past weekend with my parents, my sister Vanessa and her boyfriend Kyle, and Isabella and Isaiah. They were in town because of a three day weekend and it will be Thanksgiving before we get to see them again, so we decided to get together. We met up at the Cracker Barrel in San Marcos and had a really good time. Logan and Isaiah are too funny together. Logan is just plain wierd...I dont really know how to explain it - but he is really really strange. My mom bought Landry the cutest little coat and hat...I couldn't get a very good picture because she cant stay still to save her life but you can check out my facebook for some that my mom took, and here is one I took the following day...but again you dont get the full effect!
The next mini celebration will be this Saturday on her actual birthday. There is a musical festival here in town and they are having a carnival, so we thought it would be fun to take the kids over and celebrate her birthday at the carnival.
Then next weekend, we will be travelling to Houston for JR's 10 year high school reunion. So we decided that since we were going to Houston and all of JR's family is from Houston we would just invite everyone to celebrate with us at the children's museum. I guess we didn't really go all out this year, but I honestly couldn't make a decision on what to do, and she wont remember anyway...so it is what it is!
Another thing I fell behind on is photos. Once again this comes form not being able to make a decision. I know I have to get family photos done. #1 The ones from last year just wont due...JR has lost 100 pounds since then and #2 Landry doesn't look anything like she did. I couldn't decide what to do though, where to do them, who to do them...blah blah blah. Then I started looking aroung my house thinking that I need to replace a lot of the photos that I have framed - but I love those photos, but I also dont have enough wall space to just keep adding framed photos to the house. So that is really overwhelming. Then I thought about getting Landry some 2 year old photos, and then realized I haven't had professional photos of Logan since his 1st birthday and would it be fair to do it for Landry? Also, my kids are terrible at taking photos...last year we had three cameras going just to get a shot! Ugghhh. So here is the conclusion....I asked a friend of mine to take the family photos...we are going to get a few of just Landry and a couple of just the two of them. She is a photographer in Austin, and isn't super expensive so all that is left to do is set a date which will probably be the first weekend in November. Plenty of time to get out Thanksgiving and Christmas cards...I am thinking of taking Thanksgiving outfits - and Christmas outfits. JR hates taking photos as much as the kids do, so we have to get it all in while we can. The pictures of Landry will be used as her 2 year old photos and I am going to make another appointment in March for Logan's 5 year old photos! One of the things that I really like about Amelia (the photographer) is that she really likes the more candid, interaction shots rather than the posed photos...and considering it will take hours to get a picture with all 4 of us looking at the camera and smiling...I am pretty happy about this. I am going to try to get at least one posed photo...but I am not holding my breath - and if it doesn't work - I wont cry about it! If you love photography or just like looking at beautiful photos you should check out her blog on the right hand side of mine....Amelia Marie Photography - and seriously check out her travel photography section...it is beautiful. Also while I am encouraging you to check out other blogs I have also added my cousin Bari's blog. She is in Africa right now and has been for about 2 months...she will be there for a year doing missionary work. Other than the fact that she is my cousin - her writing is amazing she really should write a book. Anyway! that's it from me! Have a good hump day!
We celebrated this past weekend with my parents, my sister Vanessa and her boyfriend Kyle, and Isabella and Isaiah. They were in town because of a three day weekend and it will be Thanksgiving before we get to see them again, so we decided to get together. We met up at the Cracker Barrel in San Marcos and had a really good time. Logan and Isaiah are too funny together. Logan is just plain wierd...I dont really know how to explain it - but he is really really strange. My mom bought Landry the cutest little coat and hat...I couldn't get a very good picture because she cant stay still to save her life but you can check out my facebook for some that my mom took, and here is one I took the following day...but again you dont get the full effect!
Then next weekend, we will be travelling to Houston for JR's 10 year high school reunion. So we decided that since we were going to Houston and all of JR's family is from Houston we would just invite everyone to celebrate with us at the children's museum. I guess we didn't really go all out this year, but I honestly couldn't make a decision on what to do, and she wont remember anyway...so it is what it is!
Another thing I fell behind on is photos. Once again this comes form not being able to make a decision. I know I have to get family photos done. #1 The ones from last year just wont due...JR has lost 100 pounds since then and #2 Landry doesn't look anything like she did. I couldn't decide what to do though, where to do them, who to do them...blah blah blah. Then I started looking aroung my house thinking that I need to replace a lot of the photos that I have framed - but I love those photos, but I also dont have enough wall space to just keep adding framed photos to the house. So that is really overwhelming. Then I thought about getting Landry some 2 year old photos, and then realized I haven't had professional photos of Logan since his 1st birthday and would it be fair to do it for Landry? Also, my kids are terrible at taking photos...last year we had three cameras going just to get a shot! Ugghhh. So here is the conclusion....I asked a friend of mine to take the family photos...we are going to get a few of just Landry and a couple of just the two of them. She is a photographer in Austin, and isn't super expensive so all that is left to do is set a date which will probably be the first weekend in November. Plenty of time to get out Thanksgiving and Christmas cards...I am thinking of taking Thanksgiving outfits - and Christmas outfits. JR hates taking photos as much as the kids do, so we have to get it all in while we can. The pictures of Landry will be used as her 2 year old photos and I am going to make another appointment in March for Logan's 5 year old photos! One of the things that I really like about Amelia (the photographer) is that she really likes the more candid, interaction shots rather than the posed photos...and considering it will take hours to get a picture with all 4 of us looking at the camera and smiling...I am pretty happy about this. I am going to try to get at least one posed photo...but I am not holding my breath - and if it doesn't work - I wont cry about it! If you love photography or just like looking at beautiful photos you should check out her blog on the right hand side of mine....Amelia Marie Photography - and seriously check out her travel photography section...it is beautiful. Also while I am encouraging you to check out other blogs I have also added my cousin Bari's blog. She is in Africa right now and has been for about 2 months...she will be there for a year doing missionary work. Other than the fact that she is my cousin - her writing is amazing she really should write a book. Anyway! that's it from me! Have a good hump day!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Sleep woes and hypochondria
Landry will be 2 in only 4 more days! Yikes! I seriously can't believe it - 2? The time seriously flies by. JR and I were talking last night and he made the comment that he thought she had turned a corner. He said, "It seems like she started the terrible two's early, but she is getting out of the stage pretty quickly." Hmmm...He may be right, I don't know. It seems to me that Logan went through this stage for a good 6 months...I think Landry is just a girl and she will just go in stages. There was a good month and a half of tantums and meltdowns, but JR is right - she has been pretty good lately. Or, maybe we are just getting used to it? I am going to go with her being better! Let's face it, Logan still has meltdowns when he doesn't get what he wants and the truth is I spoil my kids. I like to tell people that I choose my battles - and I will continue to say it, but if we are being honest - they get away with WAY too much. I am pretty much okay with it! We aren't over the top, they definitely get disciplined, and it's hard for me to think that I am doing it wrong when I keep getting told how well behaved they are. Sure they have their moments, but all in all, I have really incredible kids. I must be doing something right.
One thing we are having trouble with lately is sleeping. Landry is now tall enough to reach the light switch (which are pretty low on our walls). At night time I follow the same routine as I always have, but now after I leave the room she gets out of bed and turns the light on. She doesn't cry or yell, and she has stopped sitting at the door calling for me, but she just sits in her room and plays with her puppies. I don't know if she was just so excited about this new trick or what was going on, but JR and I stuggled with it for hours...and I mean HOURS! At 10:30, I had enough so I just put her in bed with me. IT WAS 10:30!!!! She usually goes to sleep at 8:30. She didn't fall asleep until around 11. What was she doing foor 30 minutes? TALKING. I pretty much ignored her, but she would not shut up! She just laid there talking and talking and talking. Granted - she has not slept with me since she was 3 months old - but geez! There is a small part of me that loved it...I got to cuddle with her and I love having her next to me...but the bigger part of me knows not to make it a habit. We will see what happens tonight, but neither of us got much sleep...the wakes up ALOT through out the night!
I don't know when it started, but my family always gives me a hard time about being a hypochondriac. I just go along with it - I don't know why...probably because I know that I am not a hypochondriac so I just take it as a joke. I have not gone to the doctor since May of last year - and that was because I was at the ER. Before that was in Dec. of 2009 when I went in for my 6 week check up after having Landry. I am not one to go to the doctor - unless I am in so much pain that I am praying for God to take me. When I start praying for death - I know it's pretty bad. I think my family thinks of me as a hypochondriac because I LOVE medical shows and information - articles, magazines, real life stories, or fictional ones - and I share this info. They think just because I share the info that I must think I have these 1 in a million illnesses. I dont think this....Although, I swear there isn't a day that goes by that I am not in some form of pain. But it isn't debilitating and I just live on tylenol and Ibuprofin when the pain gets bad I am not in a doctor's office every day. Anyway, last night on my way home from the grocery store I was listening to this program about exhaustion and how it has been upgraded to an epidemic. Apparently there are many many many exhausted Americans. I am one of them. I seriously spend much of my day so very very tired. At night however, I have to take tylenol pm in order to go to sleep. There are two reasons for this - and this is where it gets tricky, and also where my family has reason to believe that I am a hypochondriac. #1 I take the tylenol pm because I am an insomniac. Seriously, I was actually diagnosed by a doctor in 2006. Now, I don't go around telling people I am an insomniac...I just call myself a night owl. With out the medication, however, I will literally be still awake when the sun is coming up - I CAN NOT fall asleep. Once I go to sleep I usually dont wake up during the night, its just falling asleep that I have problems with. #2 The weather has been changing quite a bit over the past couple of weeks which causes my arthritis (which is not diagnosed by a medical profession - it is a self diagnosis) to flare up. Now - I may not be a doctor - but I dont need a test to tell me I have arthritis. I mean, the weather changes and all of a sudden my joints ache. I sit still too long, my joints ache. I over exert myself, my joints ache. It used to just be my knees and ankles - but it's now also my hips, shoulders, and hands. So - maybe, it isn't arthritis - but from the many people I know with arthritis and the information I have read on it - I am pretty sure that is what I have, so taking the tylenol PM helps with that. When it the pain gets REALLY bad, and I mean, I am in tears bad - I take Aleve because that seems to work the best. So back to what was said about exhaustion, studies have shown that one of the causes is anemia - which guess what? Yep, I am anemic...which was actually diagnosed my a doctor - EVERY TIME I have blood work. I dont really understand either because I eat green leafy veggies, and red meat. Unfortunately, I also need the aid of iron pills which I rarely ever take, because they make you constipated and who the hell needs that? Another cause for exhaustion in women is a thyroid issue...this I don't have, but apparently something like 17% of women have some sort of thyroid issue. Anyway, here is an article you can read about it for yourself. And again, while I dont believe it is truly life-threatening, I can see how it can be over time. Don't worry I dont think I am in danger of dying from exhaustion but lets just say I am in fact exhausted - whether a doctor says I am or not. If you get a chance to read the article, count how many symptoms you have..I have 13 out of 20.
http://healthybodydaily.com/dr-oz/dr-oz-exhaustion-the-difference-between-being-tired-and-exhaustion
Okay, for some reason, this is working as a link so you will have to copy and paste! Sorry!
Now after all of this, I am going to say that I have promised to go see a doctor. I told my grandmother that I would go over a month ago, and I just haven't done it. Why? a few reasons. #1 I have to find a babysitter #2 I feel like I already know what is wrong with me, so why pay a doctor to tell me what I already know #3 what if something really is wrong with me...do I really want to know? #4 I am too damn tired to make the effort to go!!!!
One thing we are having trouble with lately is sleeping. Landry is now tall enough to reach the light switch (which are pretty low on our walls). At night time I follow the same routine as I always have, but now after I leave the room she gets out of bed and turns the light on. She doesn't cry or yell, and she has stopped sitting at the door calling for me, but she just sits in her room and plays with her puppies. I don't know if she was just so excited about this new trick or what was going on, but JR and I stuggled with it for hours...and I mean HOURS! At 10:30, I had enough so I just put her in bed with me. IT WAS 10:30!!!! She usually goes to sleep at 8:30. She didn't fall asleep until around 11. What was she doing foor 30 minutes? TALKING. I pretty much ignored her, but she would not shut up! She just laid there talking and talking and talking. Granted - she has not slept with me since she was 3 months old - but geez! There is a small part of me that loved it...I got to cuddle with her and I love having her next to me...but the bigger part of me knows not to make it a habit. We will see what happens tonight, but neither of us got much sleep...the wakes up ALOT through out the night!
I don't know when it started, but my family always gives me a hard time about being a hypochondriac. I just go along with it - I don't know why...probably because I know that I am not a hypochondriac so I just take it as a joke. I have not gone to the doctor since May of last year - and that was because I was at the ER. Before that was in Dec. of 2009 when I went in for my 6 week check up after having Landry. I am not one to go to the doctor - unless I am in so much pain that I am praying for God to take me. When I start praying for death - I know it's pretty bad. I think my family thinks of me as a hypochondriac because I LOVE medical shows and information - articles, magazines, real life stories, or fictional ones - and I share this info. They think just because I share the info that I must think I have these 1 in a million illnesses. I dont think this....Although, I swear there isn't a day that goes by that I am not in some form of pain. But it isn't debilitating and I just live on tylenol and Ibuprofin when the pain gets bad I am not in a doctor's office every day. Anyway, last night on my way home from the grocery store I was listening to this program about exhaustion and how it has been upgraded to an epidemic. Apparently there are many many many exhausted Americans. I am one of them. I seriously spend much of my day so very very tired. At night however, I have to take tylenol pm in order to go to sleep. There are two reasons for this - and this is where it gets tricky, and also where my family has reason to believe that I am a hypochondriac. #1 I take the tylenol pm because I am an insomniac. Seriously, I was actually diagnosed by a doctor in 2006. Now, I don't go around telling people I am an insomniac...I just call myself a night owl. With out the medication, however, I will literally be still awake when the sun is coming up - I CAN NOT fall asleep. Once I go to sleep I usually dont wake up during the night, its just falling asleep that I have problems with. #2 The weather has been changing quite a bit over the past couple of weeks which causes my arthritis (which is not diagnosed by a medical profession - it is a self diagnosis) to flare up. Now - I may not be a doctor - but I dont need a test to tell me I have arthritis. I mean, the weather changes and all of a sudden my joints ache. I sit still too long, my joints ache. I over exert myself, my joints ache. It used to just be my knees and ankles - but it's now also my hips, shoulders, and hands. So - maybe, it isn't arthritis - but from the many people I know with arthritis and the information I have read on it - I am pretty sure that is what I have, so taking the tylenol PM helps with that. When it the pain gets REALLY bad, and I mean, I am in tears bad - I take Aleve because that seems to work the best. So back to what was said about exhaustion, studies have shown that one of the causes is anemia - which guess what? Yep, I am anemic...which was actually diagnosed my a doctor - EVERY TIME I have blood work. I dont really understand either because I eat green leafy veggies, and red meat. Unfortunately, I also need the aid of iron pills which I rarely ever take, because they make you constipated and who the hell needs that? Another cause for exhaustion in women is a thyroid issue...this I don't have, but apparently something like 17% of women have some sort of thyroid issue. Anyway, here is an article you can read about it for yourself. And again, while I dont believe it is truly life-threatening, I can see how it can be over time. Don't worry I dont think I am in danger of dying from exhaustion but lets just say I am in fact exhausted - whether a doctor says I am or not. If you get a chance to read the article, count how many symptoms you have..I have 13 out of 20.
http://healthybodydaily.com/dr-oz/dr-oz-exhaustion-the-difference-between-being-tired-and-exhaustion
Okay, for some reason, this is working as a link so you will have to copy and paste! Sorry!
Now after all of this, I am going to say that I have promised to go see a doctor. I told my grandmother that I would go over a month ago, and I just haven't done it. Why? a few reasons. #1 I have to find a babysitter #2 I feel like I already know what is wrong with me, so why pay a doctor to tell me what I already know #3 what if something really is wrong with me...do I really want to know? #4 I am too damn tired to make the effort to go!!!!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
More Mark and more potty progress!
I have the priviledge of watching Mark again today. He is really so sweet. This time, I have all three kids. Amber's follow up is at 4:00 today so she brought him over about 40 minutes ago. Logan is so great. When Mark started crying, Logan said, "I think he wants his mommy!" Haha, cracks me up. He has talked to the baby and is so gentle. Landry actually scares me a little! haha No, seriously, she has been gentle with him, but doesn't seem thrilled about me holding him..she follows me around saying, "hold me, hold me." I guess she does like me after all.
We have had more potty success. I haven't been very consistant..in fact I took a few days off because I wasn't feeling well. Yesterday I got back to it, but only about 50%, and to my surprise she pottied twice on the potty and only once on the floor. The rest of the time she was in a diaper. I have been super busy running errands today so she has been in a diaper all day, but I took it off about 20 minutes ago, so we will see how it goes. I still haven't read that potty book...I guess I am just not dedicated enough...she seems to be doing pretty well, even if her mother isn't being consistant or working very hard!
I thought about the bribery thing...I think we may have bribed Logan a few times with toys, although, I am pretty sure that was for pooping in the potty. I though about bribing Landry with new sunglasses...the girl can't leave home without her sunglasses and lunch box, which she uses to store her special toys...basically its her purse! LOL I think I am going to be in some trouble as she gets older.
Well, thats about it! Glad tomorrow is Friday!
We have had more potty success. I haven't been very consistant..in fact I took a few days off because I wasn't feeling well. Yesterday I got back to it, but only about 50%, and to my surprise she pottied twice on the potty and only once on the floor. The rest of the time she was in a diaper. I have been super busy running errands today so she has been in a diaper all day, but I took it off about 20 minutes ago, so we will see how it goes. I still haven't read that potty book...I guess I am just not dedicated enough...she seems to be doing pretty well, even if her mother isn't being consistant or working very hard!
I thought about the bribery thing...I think we may have bribed Logan a few times with toys, although, I am pretty sure that was for pooping in the potty. I though about bribing Landry with new sunglasses...the girl can't leave home without her sunglasses and lunch box, which she uses to store her special toys...basically its her purse! LOL I think I am going to be in some trouble as she gets older.
Well, thats about it! Glad tomorrow is Friday!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
why you gotta be so mean...
Here are some random stories about my princess...
Landry's new thing is to say I love you when she does something wrong. For example - After going to the bathroom, I walk into the living room to see Landry at the computer. As soon as she sees me, she says, "I loves you, Mommy." She is very much aware that she shouldn't be at the computer. Here's another one - Logan and Landry are off playing, Logan starts screaming, I run to see what happened (even though I know she has either bit him, pulled his ears, or poked him in the eye). Before I can even ask what happened she runs to me, throws her arms around me saying, "I loves you, I loves you." Oh, Boy! The newest thing that she started 2 nights ago is that she is fighting going to bed. I put her in her bed, give the hugs and kisses and leave. Less than a minute later, she is at the door yelling, "I loves you" over and over. Last night I just laid down so I could see her under the door, and told her I loved her too, but she has to get in bed and go night night. It actually worked! YAY!
Another lovely thing she has learned is, "no," "stop it," and "get away," or "go away." When we are walking across the parking lot after dropping Logan off, I try to hold her hand - she shakes her head, and says "no, get away." She also likes to say "I dont want that." Oh, she is just so sweet (yes, I am being sarcastic.) Honestly, she has her moments where she really is just the sweetest thing, but MOST of the time, she is just a ham. Usually she save all her sweetness for her daddy.
Since Thursday, Landry has not pee peed in the potty again. I went through my books and found a potty training book that I never read, and apparently going without a diaper is an actual method...and here I thought I just thought it up on my own. Another method is the potty training in a day. I haven't read much on it, but from what I gathered from the intro, you basically increase the childs fluids dramatically to get them to urinate frequently...I am going to read on that and maybe give it a try, but I have my doubts about it being done in a day...we'll see!
Landry has also become obsessed with Dora. Now, I would love to say that I am one of those parents that limits TV time, but I would be lying. I try to ease my guilt by telling myself that at least what they watch is educational - but, I still feel guilty. The truth of the matter is that we play A LOT. Now that it has cooled off, we have gone to the park, during the summer we were at the pool. We play with blocks, we have a story time, we have an art corner. The kids play together - but when the fighting starts, I usually just put on Dora, because I know that they will sit there and watch and leave each other alone. So, I admit, I am not the best mom- I dont have the best children, but I do the best I can - and so far, I think my kids are pretty fantastic. Plus, I dont think Dora is going to destroy their life - mine, probably - but they will be just fine!
I know that Landry doesn't do things to be purposely mean...but geez, she is so different than my cuddle bug Logan. The only thing that they have in common, other than blood type and parents, is that they are both stubborn to the core!
I know I talk about Landry quite a bit, but Logan is just at an age where one, he is much more independent, and two, he is old enough to know what will get him in trouble. He is full of energy ALL THE TIME, he loves running through the house over and over. He loves playing with his sister, especially if that means playing chase, or playing with cars, or climbing things. He is an exceptional big brother. 70% of the time he is looking out for her, loving on her (which by the way, she only accepts hugs form Logan and JR...unless she is too tired, and then I get hugs as well!). 10% of the time he is doing his best to annoy her, and the other 20% of the time she is doing everything possible to drive him crazy! All in all, while they aren't perfect...they are pretty close. Sometimes I can't believe how blessed I am...especially when Landry climbs on the table and starts making a mess...like right now - so I gotta GO!
Landry's new thing is to say I love you when she does something wrong. For example - After going to the bathroom, I walk into the living room to see Landry at the computer. As soon as she sees me, she says, "I loves you, Mommy." She is very much aware that she shouldn't be at the computer. Here's another one - Logan and Landry are off playing, Logan starts screaming, I run to see what happened (even though I know she has either bit him, pulled his ears, or poked him in the eye). Before I can even ask what happened she runs to me, throws her arms around me saying, "I loves you, I loves you." Oh, Boy! The newest thing that she started 2 nights ago is that she is fighting going to bed. I put her in her bed, give the hugs and kisses and leave. Less than a minute later, she is at the door yelling, "I loves you" over and over. Last night I just laid down so I could see her under the door, and told her I loved her too, but she has to get in bed and go night night. It actually worked! YAY!
Another lovely thing she has learned is, "no," "stop it," and "get away," or "go away." When we are walking across the parking lot after dropping Logan off, I try to hold her hand - she shakes her head, and says "no, get away." She also likes to say "I dont want that." Oh, she is just so sweet (yes, I am being sarcastic.) Honestly, she has her moments where she really is just the sweetest thing, but MOST of the time, she is just a ham. Usually she save all her sweetness for her daddy.
Since Thursday, Landry has not pee peed in the potty again. I went through my books and found a potty training book that I never read, and apparently going without a diaper is an actual method...and here I thought I just thought it up on my own. Another method is the potty training in a day. I haven't read much on it, but from what I gathered from the intro, you basically increase the childs fluids dramatically to get them to urinate frequently...I am going to read on that and maybe give it a try, but I have my doubts about it being done in a day...we'll see!
Landry has also become obsessed with Dora. Now, I would love to say that I am one of those parents that limits TV time, but I would be lying. I try to ease my guilt by telling myself that at least what they watch is educational - but, I still feel guilty. The truth of the matter is that we play A LOT. Now that it has cooled off, we have gone to the park, during the summer we were at the pool. We play with blocks, we have a story time, we have an art corner. The kids play together - but when the fighting starts, I usually just put on Dora, because I know that they will sit there and watch and leave each other alone. So, I admit, I am not the best mom- I dont have the best children, but I do the best I can - and so far, I think my kids are pretty fantastic. Plus, I dont think Dora is going to destroy their life - mine, probably - but they will be just fine!
I know that Landry doesn't do things to be purposely mean...but geez, she is so different than my cuddle bug Logan. The only thing that they have in common, other than blood type and parents, is that they are both stubborn to the core!
I know I talk about Landry quite a bit, but Logan is just at an age where one, he is much more independent, and two, he is old enough to know what will get him in trouble. He is full of energy ALL THE TIME, he loves running through the house over and over. He loves playing with his sister, especially if that means playing chase, or playing with cars, or climbing things. He is an exceptional big brother. 70% of the time he is looking out for her, loving on her (which by the way, she only accepts hugs form Logan and JR...unless she is too tired, and then I get hugs as well!). 10% of the time he is doing his best to annoy her, and the other 20% of the time she is doing everything possible to drive him crazy! All in all, while they aren't perfect...they are pretty close. Sometimes I can't believe how blessed I am...especially when Landry climbs on the table and starts making a mess...like right now - so I gotta GO!
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