Show & Tell; The "If" Game

1. If you could relive any memory in your life, tell us what it would be, and what/if anything you would change about it?

This one is a little hard.. obviously I have 3 days that are pretty amazing.  My wedding day & the birth of my sons.  If I had to pick one, I would choose the day that Jakey was born.  My wedding was already perfect and so was Ryan's birth.  I would go back to the day I had Jake so that I could enjoy it a little more.  I went through almost my entire labor at my house trying to pretend my contractions weren't the real deal.  By the time we got to the hospital and checked in, it was already time to deliver the baby.  I would go back in time and check into the hospital a little earlier so that I could have relaxed a little more and had time to take it all in.  Time to prepare myself a little more mentally and enough time to have gotten that epidural!

2. If you could be any celebrity or well-known person, show us who you would be.

I think Giuliana Rancic is an amazing woman, she's beautiful, successfull, and funny.

3. If you won the lottery, tell us would take the lump sum or take the money overtime, would you continue working or quit right away, would you reveal who you are, and what are some of the first things you would spend with your money?

If I won the lottery I would probably take it out as one lump sum.  I would quit working for a few years so I could enjoy my time with my babies before they went off to school.  I would go back to teaching once they were both in school.  I would not want to reveal who I was... weird.  Some things I would spend my money on... I would pay off all of our debt, including student loans.  I would buy both Tim & I bigger cars so we would have enough room for another baby.  I would buy a bigger house and buy all the things I wanted to make the inside my dream house.  I would put money away into our savings account, as well as money for Elyse, Ryan, and Jake.  I would take Tim to Europe- since he's been talking about wanting to go for years!

4. If you could live anywhere, show us where it would be and tell us why.

We would move to Georgia.  Tim & I have been talking about moving to Georgia for a little while.  I think the only thing keeping us in Arizona is the fear of the unknown.  I think Tim would jump at the opportunity to go.. but it would be too hard for me to leave my parents & Rebecca and her babies.

5. If you could have one magic power, what would be and what would you do with it?

I would have the power to teleport people.  I would bring Elyse to Tucson every week.  I miss my baby girl.

Ryan's First Trip to the Dentist

 

I booked Ryan's first dental appointment for Sept 24 @ 4:45 pm.  & Honestly, I was pretty excited about it.  I thought he would do a great job.  I wanted to see how the dentist would examine his teeth and how Ryan would respond to it.  The office I took him to was pretty neat.  They had toys for the kids, books, and two tvs playing "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs."  We waited only long enough for me to fill out some paperwork while boys played with Daddy.

 

 

When the dental assistant called Ryan's name, we walked back together.  She took us back to our room, sat us in the chair, and asked a few questions.  I told her that I did not have any concerns about Ryan's teeth, yes, I brushed his teeth every day,  no, I do not floss his teeth, and no, he does not fall asleep with a sippy cup.

 

She leaned the chair back so that we could watch the TV on the ceiling, but Ryan had no interest in the TV, he wanted to read his book.  After waiting about 5 minutes the dentist came in the room.  They had me sit sideways on the chair and have Ryan facing me with his legs around my waist and lean him backwards so they could look at his teeth.  She put her gloves on and stuck her fingers in his mouth and he clenched down and would not let her look in his mouth.  She tried using the little mirrors they have, he let her use that for half a second and he shut his mouth again.  Then, she grabbed a tooth brush to try and bribe him, again, that lasted for half a second.  & then she was all done!  All done?  What did she do?  Pretty much nothing.  She looked at his teeth for a total of 1.5 seconds and had me sit him up.

 

The only thing she really told me was to make sure he drinks plenty of water and that he shouldn't have chocolate or strawberry milk.  Waste of insurance money?  Probably.  & you know what?  I still give him strawberry and chocolate milk a couple times a week.  But I scheduled another appointment in 6 months anyways.

 

 

 

He did get a goody bag with a sticker, tooth brush, and tooth paste.

 

 

Tooth paste isn't too exciting for a two year old.  The dentist told me that toddlers don't need tooth paste.  That the tooth brush alone will get rid of the junk on their teeth.  So I wonder why she gave me tooth paste, and regular crest toothpaste. 

 

 

 

& here's Jake playing while Ryan looks at his toothpaste.

The Beginning of Fall

I think everyone looks forward to Fall.  I know I do.  Cooler weather and holidays.  This year Fall started on a Saturday, Sept 22.  Jakey woke up nice and early!  He was excited for Fall just as much as momma was.  We decided to start our morning with an early morning walk.  There was a yard sale two streets over from ours so we decided to stop by.  We got Ryan 5 pairs of pajamas, a shirt for Jake, and a car ramp for both of them.  I love yard sales and good deals.

 

 

 

Everytime we push Jake in the buggy he always gets so excited and grabs on to the steering wheel.  It makes my heart smile.  He's so sweet.

 

 

By the time we came back from our morning walk, Ryan was awake and he wanted to go for a walk too so we dragged out the wagon.  I can't wait until it's a little bit cooler so we can go on nice, long  family walks.

 

 

 

 Ryan likes when I pull them in the street.  He makes this obnoxious screeching sound while giggline and covers his ears.  Riding in the street is loud and bumpy.

 

 

They had a literacy event at the Children's Museum so I wanted to take the kids.  Outside the museum, there was a table set up for free books for the kids.  Ryan picked out a Barney book.  Of course.

 

& Jake picked out a book about sea animals, but he spent most of the time eating it instead of reading.

 

I enjoy going on Field Trips with my second graders to the museum, but it's more for preschoolers & younger elementary grades than it was for my 2 year old.  Ryan was interested in the lego table.  He could play legos all day.  The other room he liked was the food room.  There was a room where you could plant vegetables, go shopping, and it had a little kitchen.  Ryan spent a majority of the time planing carrots.  He planted every carrot the Children Museum had.

 

After a couple of hours of legos and carrots, we all got hungry and headed home.

 

 

 

 

That night, before bed, I pulled out Ryan's 1st Halloween costume and tried it on Jake.  Isn't he a cute little monkey?

 

 

 

& Here's Ryan wearing it.  I think Jake liked it a little more.

 

 

Happy Fall!

 

JTR- 9 months old!

Jakey is now 9 months old!  Wasn't Ryan just turning 9 months?  Didn't I just buy Ryan his St. Patrick's Day outfit and have him wear it for his 9 month pictures?  Geeeez.  9 months.  That's longer than Jake was in my belly. 

 

We we're so busy around the time you were turning 8 months old that I didn't devote a blog to you.. and we didn't take you out for your 8 month pictures.  It still makes me sad but we literally didn't have any extra time.  The last pictures I took of you before you turned 8 months was the last night sleeping in your very first bedroom.

 

8.28.12

 

We were so busy that I didn't take my camera out for over a week!  I won't let that happen again though.  I missed a whole week of pictures in your precious little life.

 

When I did get my camera out again, I got it in perfect timing.  The first time you ever pulled yourself up to stand up was on Ryan <3  You love Ryan.  You had been pulling your self up on the bottom of the coffee table for about a week at this point and I'm sure you would have stood up if the top part of the table wasn't there but it got in the way so you had to bend over.

 

9.8.12

 

Two mornings later you pulled yourself up in your crib for the firs time!  I was on the phone with Century Link trying to pay the internet bill and when I walked in your room to see you standing, I got so excited that I wasn't listening to the custermer service lady anymore.  I ran out of the room as quick as I could to grab the camera and you had just started crying.  You wanted momma.  Seeing you stand up in your crib made me so proud.  My little baby is getting so big.  I told everyone at work how big you are getting and about your new accomplishment.

 

9.11.12

 

You also spent this month perfecting your crawl.  The first time you crawled was the day we were moving everything out of your room to move it to the new house, which also happened to be the day before you turned 8 months (8.29.12.)  After about a week, you were crawling like a pro.

 

Your favorite time of day is after your bath and you & Ryan spend an hour or so playing in Ryan's room.  You crawl all over the place from toy to toy.  When Ryan was your age he used to roll from toy to toy, seems like not that long ago.  You never did that and you didn't army crawl for long either, you went straight to crawling and standing.  You crawl over momma when she's in your way.  You crawl from room to room when you notice I'm not in the same room as me.  You crawl into the kitchen and climb up my legs every time I'm making breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

 

I spent most of the day holding you.  Eeeeeek.  I held Ryan a lot too when he was your age because he always wanted me.  Well, you always want me too so I give in to your sweet face and walk around with a baby on my hip almost all day long.

 

 

You love going for walks.  You wake up earlier than Ryan and I enjoy my mornings alone with you.  You also go to bed earlier than Ryan and I love my night time cuddles with him.  I take you for walks on the mornings you're up earlier than Ryan and you love the buggy.  You squeeze onto the wheel so tight.  When I pop my head in front of you, you give me the biggest gummy grin.  I can't help but smile in awe at how perfect you are.

 

 

 

I took you to the doctor for your 9m check up on 9.28.12.  You are a peanut!  You and Ryan both are the tiniest little things.  You are a whopping 14.8lbs and 27inches long.  You're 5oz smaller than Ryan was when he turned 9 months and a little more than an inch longer.  This time around, nobody's worried.  Daddy and I make tiny babies and you're perfectly healthy.

 

You do everything you're supposed to do, you roll, crawl, sit up by yourself, pull up on stuff, you even walk along the couch!  Ahhh.  You're growing too fast.

 

 

Yesterday you turned 9 months (officially.)  Daddy had a meeting so right before he came home I found a cute little outfit for you and had you all ready to take pictures.  We drove over to Agua Caliente Park.  As soon as I set you down, you wanted me to sit with you.  Ryan and I decided to take a little walk around the park so you could give all of your attention to daddy.  As we were walking away, I watched Daddy play with you.  I heard him baby talk you and tickle you and kiss you.  Sometimes I think there is no way anyone could love you as much as I do, but I know Daddy does.  You're a lucky baby.. & we're so lucky to have you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy 9 months little Love.

A letter to my parents

So many people have parenting all wrong.  Being a good parent doesn't mean buying your child everything they want.  It's not about your child having the latest and greatest toy.  It's not about keeping up with technology and getting them the newest DS or iPod.  It's not about spending loads of money.  It's not about having an excessive amount of Christmas presents under the tree and making sure that everything off of their Santa List is crossed off.  It's not about buying them a shiny brand new car for their 16th birthday.

Being a great parent has everything to do with making memories.  I can't tell you a single birthday present my parents ever bought me until my 18th birthday.  It's not because they didn't buy me presents.. I'm not even sure if they bought me what I wanted or what I needed.  I can't even remember.

If you want to know about my childhood, I wouldn't tell you the things they bought me, I wouldn't be able to tell you how much money they spent on me, I would tell you about the things we did.

Every summer my parents took us to Martinez Lake.  Before we left our house, my dad would make a list of all the meals we would be eating and a list of all the things we needed to take with us.  The list would sit on the counter in the kitchen and I always enjoyed watching my dad cross things off the list.  My brother and I loved the drive out to the lake, we enjoyed the dips in the road and would beg our dad to drive faster so that we could feel our stomachs up in our throats and laugh.  My dad always drove faster and he always laughed along with us.  My parents spent all day swimming with us and taking us on the boat, teaching us how to tube and later, ski.

I did girl scouts for 4 years.  Girl Scouts was something that my mom and I did together.  My mom was active in Girl Scouts every year I did it.  My mom went to Girl Scout camp with me, she did Brownie over night, she took me door to door to sell cookies.

When I was a little girl, my mom used to watch a ridiculous soap opera.  I shouldn't say when I was little because she still watches the same show.  When I was home from school on breaks, my mom would come home and fix us tuna fish sandwiches and we would sit on the couch and watch her show.  And as silly as it sounds, I looked forward to watching it with her.  That show stuck with me all throughout college.  I don't watch it anymore, but when I'm flipping through the channels at 11:00-12:00pm, and I see it on, I still watch it.  My brother, Chris, is 36 and he still watches it sometimes too.  He told me that it reminds him of being a kid and watching it with mom.

My dad taught me how to make a fortune teller with a piece of paper one night when I couldn't fall asleep and mom taught me how to draw a star on newspaper the day that my dad went to get us a family dog.

The year after I finished 6th grade my parents bought a family pass to Six Flags and we went a few times that year.  My dad and I waited in line on the Superman ride so that we could be first in line.  When we got to the top we'd always wave to Superman.

In elementary school, my brother, Steven, and I came home early from school on Wednesdays and waiting on the  fridge was a list of chores we had to do.  My parents involved us in cleaning up our home.  I am appalled at how many kids don't have chores anymore.  I was responsible for cleaning my room, the bathroom,  sweeping and mopping the kitchen, and unloading the dishwasher.  Sure, I hated the chores when I was younger.  However,  I was apart of a family and my home and as children, we still have responsibilities.  I'm already looking forward to having chore charts for Ryan and Jake and giving them responsibilities too.

My mom used to make a lot of my baby clothes with her sewing machine.  I played with dolls for quite a while when I was younger... I loved my dolls.  One day my mom surprised me with a baby bassinet that she had sewed for me, along with dolls clothes and hats, a pillow and a blanket.  Mom mom made a few of my Halloween costumes too.  In 4th grade I wanted to be a cheerleader and I remember my mom sitting in front of her sewing machine taking the time to make the cheer leading outfit that I wanted and matching it with the colors of my school.  Now that I have children of my own, they can enjoy my mom's sewing too in their baby blankets, crib skirts, and Christmas stockings.

My dad used to take me to McDonalds to get Happy Meals.  I'm sure my mom did too but I specifically remember it being my dad.  My dad was in the military when I was younger.  He went to Saudi Arabia for a year and I bought him a birthday card.  On the back of the card was a little thing you could tear out and when you folded it and taped it, it became a money bank.  I folded that money bank together and put it in my parents room.  It sat on a shelf on my parents dresser as I put in my extra change so that my dad and I could go to McDonalds when he came home.  Yes McDonalds is gross and germy, but kids love it.  They can always take baths and wash their hands.  I want Ryan and Jake to love going to McDonalds with my dad as much as I used to love going with him.

Kids remember the things that you do with them.  Go on family vacations, go camping, help them with their homework,  eat breakfast and dinner together,  make traditions and stick to them. Take lots and lots of pictures even if you feel too embarrassed or think you might embarrass them.  Pictures are a great way to remember the memories a little more vividly.

Every quarter in elementary school my school had awards assemblies.  Since I was such a smart cookie I always received awards.  My parents came to as many of them as they could.  In 4th grade, my dad showed up and my mom couldn't make it because she had to work.  I had gotten an award and after the assembly my dad came up to me to take a picture of me with my award and instead of giving him a big huge grin, I didn't smile at all.  Why?  Because I was embarrassed that he wanted a picture of me.  This silly little memory sticks out in my head all the time because I feel quilty.  I never want my children to be embarrassed of me and I wish I never felt this way either.  My dad was simply proud of his little girl.  So dad, if you ever read this.. I will gladly find that award from 4th grade and pose for you with the biggest smile so you can take my picture.

I did get the car.  But it wasn't for my 16th birthday and it wasn't brand new.  The summer before I started my senior year in high school my dad told me that he would buy me a car if I took college classes as a senior.  Easy enough right?  So that's what I did.  I took college classes while I was still in high school.  That car lasted me ten years.  I actually just traded my parents a different car for it.

My parents loved me unconditionally.  They were proud of me and they let me know it.  They grounded me when I caused trouble.  They weren't afraid to put me in my place and they weren't afraid to tell me no.  They may have been scared to let me start going out with friends and especially when I got my first boyfriend at 15..but you know what.. they trusted me and they let me do it.  As I grew older, I could also feel their love for me get stronger as they became more supportive of my life and every decision I have made.

Today is September 25, 2012 and 41 years ago today, my parents stood up and vowed to love each other for the rest of their lives.  Along the way they raised 4 children and became a grandparent 7 different times.  I'm sure being married for 41 years hasn't always been easy.. but they did it.  They've made it.  They beat the odds of marrying young and becoming teen parents.  They have loved each other for 41 years and they continue to love each other.  They have stayed faithful to the vows they made... through parenting, moving, military, deployments, and every other obstacle they have had.

Happy 41 years mom and dad.  I could never put into words how thankful I am for everything you have done for me and my family.  I love you both so much.

If I thought they have been amazing parents.. you should see them as grandparents...

You're my Sunday

 A few years back when Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman had their first daughter together, they named her Sunday Rose.  I read somewhere over the internet or a magazine that they named her Sunday because when you're single Sunday's are always so lonely, but when you have someone to share your life with, you look forward to Sundays because they are family days.

 

I haven't told blogger yet ;) but Tim and I got a new (beautiful!) home.  We found this house and immediately fell in love with it.  It's bigger and perfect for our family.  I loved our two story home, but once Jakey came along, having stairs just became annoying.  I hated running up and down the stairs all day long for whatever reason with two babies.  A few months ago I knew it was time to start looking for a new place.  I was actually dreading it and a little bummed to be moving from the house that my babies were born in.

 

The beginning of August, our house spent time getting ready for us!  New countertops, new door handles, new roof, new stove, new microwave, new dishwasher, new paint (inside and out!) & looots of landscaping.  The lady who lived here before us foreclosed and I'm pretty sure she didn't take care of the house.  Our home is bigger, more cozy and even has a big backyard!  Big for Arizona that is. 

 

We started moving into our new house on August 24th.  Sundays have been anything but family days.  They have been long and stressful.  Lots of packing & unpacking, yet dinner, playtime, and baths still need to be done.

 

Fast forward a few weeks to today and Sunday became a Sunday again. 

 

We played.  We laughed.  Momma even got to do 5 loads of laundry and I still have about 4 loads left.  When the kids napped Tim & I went outside and picked weeds in the front yard.  Tim raked the front yard and made it look nice.  We cut down bushes in the back yard.  Our back yard is a jungle- it will definitely be a project.  We ate left overs for dinner.  We assembled our new bed.  & we even did some grocery shopping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of Tuesday (9/11) Jakey pulls himself up in his crib when he wakes up.  Have I also mentioned he pulls up on everything and crawls everwhere?? Ahhh.

 

 

I hope our future Sundays will always be Sundays.

 

 

 

 

 

Falling in Love

Everyone has their fears right before they are about to become parents.  At least I sure did.  When I was pregnant with Ryan I got a lot of advice from other people.  Some of it went in one ear and out the other.  Someone seriously told me that if I didn't wear maternity pants my baby might come out with autism, people told me to put rice cereal in his bottle, what brands of diapers to buy, how to cure teething, not to co-sleep, blah blah blah.

There is one girl I work with who I find comfort in talking to.  When I was pregnant with Ryan one of the first things she told me was "Having a child is like falling in love with someone new, and the feeling never goes away."  She has 4 children who are all in elementary school now.  She was telling me how she still thinks her children are the best things in the world, how she misses them when she's not with them and she thinks about them all the time.

I have had Ryan in my life for over 2 years, and Jakey for over 8 months.  They are still brand new to me but I find myself more and more in love with them as each moment passes.  If you pass me in the hall at work and ask me how my boys are, my response is probably "perfect."

Ryan and Jake ARE perfect.  They bring so much meaning to my life.  They bring smiles and laughter into our home.  When I'm at work, I miss them.  During my drive home from work, I'm thinking about them wondering what they're doing. When I lay them down for naps, I miss them.  When I put them down in their cribs at night, I miss them.  Sometimes I sit on the computer and read my blog over and over or go through my facebook albums and look at their pictures.

My hope is that my boys will always know how loved they are, how complete they have made my life and Tim's.

My sweet little Ryan Michael.  I can't get enough of him.  He learns new things, new words, new emotions every day.  He has the silliest little dance moves.  He is so carefree and funny.  He knows how to make mommy and daddy laugh and enjoys knowing he has the power to make us laugh uncontrollably.

Jakey is becoming more independent.  He's crawling everywhere on his hands and knees, he pulls himself up on everything.  He's finally sleeping through the night regularly.  He laughs and smiles so much.  He's growing too fast.

When was the last time you just sat back and looked at your life and realized how blessed you are?  Sometimes I think about it, and I feel completely overwhelmed.  Of all the babies in the world, God blessed ME to have the best ones, the sweetest ones, the most perfect.  He chose me to be the mommy to these two innocent human beings.

I hope every mommy out there looks at their children and realizes how blessed they are that they were chosen to parent the children they have.  To have these little lives to mold and help guide through life.  I pray to God that my children turn into amazing adults, I want them to change the lives of everyone they meet.  They sure have changed mine.

Ryan and Jake are snuggled up in their cribs with their blankets and I'm sitting here looking at their pictures on the computer.  Tomorrow is Friday which means that at 4:00 tomorrow afternoon I'll be home and get to spend the weekend with them.

I peek in on them a few times every night and just watch them sleep, watch them breath, watch them dream.  If anything is ever wrong in the world, you can watch your baby sleep, and suddenly everything seems right.

I am so, so blessed.