{what I've learned about two-year-olds}

The past six months have taught me a lot about two-year-old boys...

They like to randomly lift up their shirts and show their bellies (and no, I have no idea why his diaper is hanging out.)

 

They like frogs and dirt and bugs.

 

They love grilled cheese.

 

They love their "big boy chair," aka booster seat.

 

They love to smile for the camera and yell "cheese!" 

 

They adore campfires and grampas:

 

They have almost a full set of teeth (but you still have to deal with teething with those 'two-year molars.)

Sometimes they pass out and drool during car rides after eating blue suckers.

They LOVE to play outside.

They haven't yet developed any artistic skills -- but are very proud of anything they "draw." 

 They love to make sure they are properly groomed (ha.)

They are mischievous and cheeky.

They are sweet and still have kissable baby cheeks!

They are finally able to help out with some chores!

They are fantastic conversationalists.

They can drink from a regular cup...but still prefer a sippy.

They are mostly nice to their sisters...but sometimes not.

They are always good for a laugh.

They make holidays a million times more fun.

Two-year-old boys (well, at least mine) are both frustrating and awesome.  Cormac will test his limits constantly, will be sneaky, gets frustrated almost instantly if something doesn't go his way, loves to run through the house shouting (we are working on his 'whisper voice' and 'inside voice') and can be really, really, really particular about things.

Leaps off EVERYTHING.

Will pretend to have phone conversations on his play telephones.  He will get irritated if I interrupt.

In fact, totally awesome at pretending and making up stories.  Each night we make up a different story before he goes to sleep about a giant.

Loves singing.  I sing constantly and it is so fun to hear him chime in now.  Favorite songs: Johnny Appleseed, Hickory Dickory Dock, ABC's, Bananas in Pajamas

Favorite foods: mac n cheese, goat cheese, broccoli, chocolate pudding, fruit snacks, garlic bread, and Greek yogurt.

Still has no interest in going on the potty.  Sigh.

Still very affectionate.  Loves giving hugs and kisses and "'nuggling."

While most can't decipher what he is saying the kid can talk up a storm.  I am amazed by how perceptive he can be.  Of course, sometimes he thinks it is funny just to spew gibberish.

Incredible memory.  He may not remember any of this in a few years, but he remembers random things that happened months, even a year ago.  It is pretty cool

Well, that is my kid, halfway through two.

Two is exhausting.  

Two is constantly interesting.

Two is teaching me a lot of parenting lessons.

But I've heard three is harder.

So I'm just gonna enjoy two.

:) 

january 'no sweets' challenge : check-in #2

It has been a week and a few days...anyone else out there still 'sweet-free'???
Has your sweet-fast been relatively uneventful, or are you feeling a bit like doing this...

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Even though I am not a huge sweet eater, I have to say, I've had my moments of weakness.   Moments when I have wanted to cave.  Like during The Bachelor when I love to eat some sort of dessert with Hubby and indulge in both the sugar and the drama.   Like when I want to dump a load of sugary sweet creamer into my coffee.   Like when I am giving Cormac a sweet treat and I usually would grab a cookie or two for myself.

As I read the paragraph above it just sounds a little silly.  I don't need any of that...and usually I feel somewhat icky after I eat sugary stuff anyway.

Honestly, it has already been completely worth any small sacrifice.  Why?

Here is what I've noticed after less than two weeks:

- I feel less sluggish.  
- I need less caffeine to function.  I know - WHA?  I am a 2-3 cup a day coffee drinker normally, because, well, I need it.  Or I did.  Or I thought I did.  Surprisingly the last few days I have not needed the afternoon caffeine fix.  Also, I've been waking up in the morning more refreshed, and less focused on getting my butt down to the Keurig and getting that coffee brewing.
- I feel "thinner."  Not saying that I actually am thinner, as I haven't checked the scale recently and I probably don't look any different...but I feel somehow "thinner."

Anyone else feeling just plain better?  Is it inspiring you to make other healthy eating choices as well?  I know I have been drinking a lot more water since starting the challenge.  In fact, sugary foods/drinks are just starting to sound 'eh' to me.

Tell me how you are doing!!!!!!  I hope, if you are truly doing this, you are noticing results and feeling encouraged by them.  Happy Friday!

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{christmas in minnesota}

Every other year we travel to my hometown in Minnesota to spend time at Christmas with my entire family.

My family, which includes my parents, four siblings (plus three spouses and eight grandchildren!) only gets together about once a year, due to my sister living in Montana, and me in Kentucky.

So we treasure the time we have.

Our brief four day visit to the farm was both relaxing and chaotic, with all of us (most of the time) at my parent's farm (that I grew up on) - which is a big farmhouse, sure, but still feels a little crowded with seventeen people in it.

Plus, one day, my mom invited a bunch of our extended family over for a post-Christmas open house celebration, so that day the house was extra full.  Full of food and laughter and some relatives I haven't seen in years.  Such an special/amazing day!  

I took a LOT of photos over those four days.

Here are some of my favorites...

girl cousins - fin and bel

cousins/besties - spence and casey - making a delicious batch of guac

my dad and his daughters (plus my sister's baby, Selah)

my sister and I

tried to get a 'normal' shot of the cousins...but thankfully I ended up with a bunch like this. :)

the whole fam after church 

our dog colbie loved the snow - and the playhouse grampa built

my dad's latest project in retirement...he installed this entire fireplace, complete with a barnwood mantle from our former barn 

some of the guys brave the cold for a stroll (or some cross country skiing) 

cousins playing with auntie jen!

warming hands by the stove!  the temps were single digit at best during the daytime! 

girl cousins!  

selah's first solids!  she also did her first roll!

winter sky at dusk on the farm

There was a ton of laughing, a 'new year' slideshow, lots and lots of beer consumed - some good and some not-so-delish, a few jaunts around the property despite frigid temps, several raucous games of Catchphrase, lots of shrieking kiddos, more food than can be described accurately, plenty of cousin scuffles, and the normal amount of talking over each other just to be heard.

I love my family.

As always, was tough to leave, not knowing when we will all be together again.  I think it helps us, though, to appreciate the time that we are.

And to my dear home state of Minnesota...I brought your mean, bitter cold back here with me.

Brrrr.

january 'no sweets' challenge : check-in #1!

I've decided to check in on Fridays on Mondays with those participating in the January "No Sweets!" Challenge.

So...how were the first couple days???  Did anyone fall off the wagon immediately?  Even if you did have a slip-up -- no worries!  Start over again!  You can do it!

As for myself, I've never been much of a dessert person...so I cannot imagine how it would be for a "sweet tooth" like I know many of you might be.  (The 'No Dairy!' month will definitely be the hardest for this girl. I need cheese!)

However, even two days avoiding candy, dessert, and even sweetener in my coffee was interesting.

Not horrible...but not super easy, either.

- Went grocery shopping January 1st and did not buy anything that qualified as a sweet.
- Packed up and put out of reach anything in our kitchen that was a non-perishable candy/sweet.  Out of sight, out of mind, folks!
- Had a 'dessert craving' last night after dinner.  Instead enjoyed a second glass of wine.  Hmmmm...wine doesn't qualify as a 'sweet' right?

So for those that are cutting sweets out of their diet this month along with me, what have been your struggles so far?  What are your coping strategies?  Has it been easy/hard?  What are you substituting for your sweets?

How do you FEEL?  I think that is what I really want to focus on with these challenges.  Not necessarily the number on the scale, but how cutting out specific elements of our normal diet can make a positive impact (or negative???) on us both physically and mentally.  I think we will all feel better in both aspects of our lives.  Which, in turn, will help us look better.  YES!

I have also read that cutting out sugar can benefit your skin - clear up breakouts and even skin tone.   Added bonus!

I strongly encourage keeping a journal throughout the experience and sharing what you are doing with others -- it really helps hold you accountable and it is nice to have someone cheering you on!  :)

Let's do this, ladies!  (er, and guys!)

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{a resolution and a challenge}

I love lists and I love goals.

Every January, like many, I have a list of resolutions.  Of my list of ten (!!!) last year I accomplished many (gave birth completely drug-free, drank more water, baked more, hosted a baby shower) and several I was not as successful (stopped attending yoga/pilates at around 28 weeks while pregnant, and still haven't run a half marathon.)
This year I am going to keep it simple.  One resolution : be more present.  Specifically - be less plugged in.  No, I am going to be blogging less.  But I have noticed recently how habitual it has become, for me and for seemingly everyone I know, to be on my 'smart' phone and being connected to that world.  Lately I have been feeling like because of the easy access to the internet realm I am less involved in what is going on right in front of me.  Same with people I am hanging out with - everyone in my life - friends, family, Hubby - seems to be glued to the screen.

Recently I was watching our wedding dvd and because it rained various times and the ceremony location got moved thrice and delayed a lot, there was a lot of wait time for our guests.  As our videographer (er, my uncle who was randomly handed a camera) panned across the crowd I felt like something was odd.  Then it dawned on me - not one person was hunched over their phone.  They were people-watching (as in "real" people, not Facebook) or conversing with friends or relatives.  That was in 2007. If our wedding was held today that would not be the case.  I would wager at least 75% of our wedding guests would be on their phones surfing the internet or texting or emailing or Instagramming.

Anyone out there disagree with that?

Please don't misunderstand.  I am not complaining about technology.  I love it, clearly.  But I also feel distracted and sometimes depressed by it.  Also, I honestly think it is rude to be constantly on your phone when you could be spending quality time with someone right in front of you.  Just sayin'.  I am guilty of it - not just with my phone but even sometimes with my camera.  I'll be so eager to capture moments on 'film' and then scrolling through them that I miss the moments that are happening in the meantime.

So I resolve to change this about myself - and perhaps gently encourage the same change in those around me.  Shouldn't we use the time we have with people to really be with them?   What conversations are we missing?  What beauty is passing us by because our eyes are glued to a tiny screen?   At least think about it.

Besides the resolution to be more present, less plugged in - a challenge.  Since I love exercise and being healthy in general I figured a fitness goal is appropriate.   This will have nothing to do with exercise or weight-loss, but rather I'd like to change my diet in some way.  I am not sure what specifically will be most helpful to me.  I've given up junk food for Lent before.  I've gone months without caffeine and years without red meat.  These all yielded great results, but, besides weight loss, I can't remember how else I benefitted specifically.   So when I ran across this graphic on Pinterest I was intrigued...

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I like the idea of eliminating something each month and seeing/feeling how it affects everything in my life.  I think being able to exert self-control is important.  I don't like feeling like I am bound by any one thing.  I believe what you put in your body can have a major effect on all aspects of your well-being - mental and physical - so I am curious and excited to see how cutting out each of these things will affect and benefit me.

Plus, I am forcing encouraging Hubby to do it, too!   Extra fun!  :)

So - January challenge - no sweets!  Starting today I am living in the world of black coffee, no desserts, and clearly no candy.  Since I don't drink a lot of pop anyway I am cutting that out, too.

Anyone else want to take the challenge, too?  
I will be blogging weekly updates about the experience, and would love to hear how it goes for anyone else, as well!

Happy New Year, friends!

Finola - 7 months!

 Dear Fin, 
Today you are seven months...
and you are teething.
Again.
The worst bout yet, with a fever and all you want to do is lay on me or be in your crib sleeping.
So that is what we have done.  I'm sorry you are having a rough day...but I kind of am relishing the extra snuggling.
I don't get to do much of that with you, like I did with Cormac.
Things are definitely different when you have two babes!
But you have been the perfect "second born" child, and sibling to a "big personality."
I know your true personality hasn't emerged yet
(I am finding that it really shines through at age two!)
but so far, so good
little one.
Now for the update...

Personality:

You are getting a lot more vocal about likes and dislikes.  No words, yet.  But lots of new noises and facial expressions.  For example, the 'piggy face.' This is the exact expression I made as a tiny girl.  Chin tilted in the air, eyes squinting, nose scrunched up.  You make this expression when I'm basically trying to force-feed you vegetables.  You make it when you believe someone should be paying you more attention.  Once you realize someone has noticed your 'piggy face' (and usually it makes them laugh) you start giggling, too!  Sometimes you will just start making this funny, excited, wheezy shrieking noise.  Even when you are alone in your crib.  You could do it for an hour.  Since it is a 'happy noise' I just let you do it.  You get extremely angry during middle of the night diaper changes.  You will whip both legs up and kick them down onto the changing pad at full force, all the while yelling your displeasure about a cold bottom.  In fact, even during daytime diaper changes you make things difficult now...twisting your whole body around and trying to flop on your tummy whilst I am trying to wipe your bum.  

Likes: 

eating paper, scooting to wherever mama is, fruits, mirrors, cords, the jumperoo, headbands (you haven't tried to rip one off your head even once!)

Dislikes: 

nighttime diap changes, skipping naps, vegetables, especially green ones

Veggies - EW!

Eating:
Lots of baby food!  I've lost track, but you've tried nearly everything allowed.

As far as "milk" you drink mostly formula now.  I still breastfeed you once or twice daily, usually during the night or in the very early morning, but that is it.  We are nearly done.  I purposely started transitioning you to bottles after you turned six months, when you had been mostly breastfeeding.   It was time.  However, I sincerely enjoyed every moment our our breastfeeding experience together, and would not change one thing!  

Sleeping:

You are a girl who loves her sleep.  Naps continue to be twice a day, about two hours each time.  You did skip the morning nap for the first time last week, but then took an extra long afternoon one.   Most of the time you go down smooth as butter...but occasionally you'll cry it out for up to twenty minutes.   Still waking up once a night for a feeding, only on occasion will it be twice.  This is progress!

Milestones:

*You sprouted your first two teeth!  Both on and just after Thanksgiving.

*Started inch-worming and army crawling forward just after turning 6 months.  No true crawling yet, but you can quickly scoot forward to wherever you want to go across the room, so we do have to watch you.

*Move from sitting to crawling position with ease.
*Can take two toys and whack them together.  Clearly a genius.  ;)

*You slept through the night for the first time EVER.  Once.

Health/Measurments:

*Weird rash/chapped skin appeared around your mouth the week you got your first teeth.

*Seems like you perpetually have a head cold.
*Lots, and lots, and lots of drool.

Memories:

*Your first Thanksgiving!  You were a sweet little dream baby the entire two days we spent at the grandparents...despite your first tooth popping through.  You let lots of relatives hold you without much fuss (unless mama came into your line of vision) and you laughed and laughed with your Pop Pop - you very much love your Pop Pop. :)
Here you are at your first turkey feast!  With your Mimi...and then with the guys.

*First visit to Santa!

"Uh, Santa, you are invading my personal space." 

"I love sparkly headbands!!!"

will turquoise be your favorite color, too?

my cuddly chunk in her first fleece half-zip

 Sibling Relations:
Good!  Er, sort of?!  The holiday season has been interesting because things have been crazy and Mama has been distracted with lots of things and Cormac has been especially "spirited."  But overall he  still seems to love you and you still light up at the very sight of him.  You seem especially amused when he is throwing a tantrum.  I wish I felt the same!

Here is your brother's seven month post - so fun to see how similar you were at this age in some ways...and how very different in others!  

Wait, why do I have to bath with him again?

mama snuck into a pic!

You've got an awesome dada, girl.  Trust me on that one!

thanksgiving...teething with crazy mouth rash (of course!)

Well, it has been a whirlwind of a month, packed full of holiday craziness, and sick kiddos (and mama!)  You never fail to brighten my day, though, with your easy smile and giggle, curiosity, and laid-back ways.

Love you, baby girl.

Mama+Dada

santa visit : third time's a charm

We trekked off to the mall on Wednesday to visit Santa.

Despite all three of us having colds, we headed out that morning (uh, well, 11am...as early as I can manage with two kids) and met Hubby so he can share in this always very joyous experience.

Ha.

The past two years we've done our due diligence and taken Cormac to visit the man in red,

only to see him make disgusted faces or flat out throw a tantrum

I know there are many parents who can relate.

Here is Cormac his first Santa visit, four months old...

Santa looks amazing.  Cormac looks like Santa smells bad.  This is literally the best picture I have from the experience.

The next year was, in fact, worse.  

We saw Santa at Paul's work's "kid party."

Amid the pizza and bouncy house fun, 

Santa arrived.

He may as well have been an ax murderer.

My 1 1/2 year old was not happy, 

clearly...

Then they hit the age of two, 

and suddenly Christmas is less "fun you force upon them" and

becomes something magical they actually want to be involved in.

This year, we started hyping Christmas early (both Santa Clause lore and Jesus' birthday) and he has been watching Christmas movies on Netflix since way before Thanksgiving.

He can sing Jingle Bells, Up on the Housetop and Oh, Christmas Tree.

This year, I knew our Santa experience would be much, much different.

And it was...

He was too scared to ride the train, any coin-operated animal, or the merry-go-round at the mall

("Maybe when I am older," he told me.)

However, this year, he was able to sit on Santa's lap and declare emphatically that for Christmas he wanted "A d-ire engine!" 

Oh, and smiled dutifully for mama (who incidentally had to be told by Santa to stay off the rug if I wanted to take my own photos.)

I couldn't have been prouder.

Oh, and Finola was there, too.  She made weird faces.

But at least I expected that, this time around.

:)