E.N.E.R.G.Y.

Can I borrow some energy from my Twoddler...PLEASE!!!! G-Man has off the wall, chart topping energy that I wish I could bottle up for resale! I would be  rolling in that disgustingly dirty "Dolla Dolla Bills Ya'll!"

I have NO energy. Maybe I should eat better...Probably! Maybe I should exercise a little more....Definitely! Maybe I should get more rest.......(Love to...If it were possible!) Maybe I should just give G-man a big bear hug squeeze and try to absorb some of his energy...LOL! I, being his mother, can most definitely do this!
As for all you lovely elderly people who try to touch, grab, kiss, hug my G-man as though in a desperate attempt to STEAL his youth.....Well you MAY NOT!!!!

(Sorry Ally McBeal Moment escaped my head and went to the keyboard!!!)

This new Year has started off great and I can feel in my bones it will be a FANTASTIC Year!! Yes...I say Fantastic. I just really hope that I can step up a notch on the energy factor because both of my children are growing at a dangerously rapid pace.

G-Man has so much energy it literally takes me an hour to hour and a half to get him to settle down and nap. Why go thru all of this frustration??? BECAUSE...if he does not nap he will run around in an over stimulated, overly exhausted adrenaline rush that will undoubtedly end in a crash that is much too late in the afternoon thus resulting in a late bedtime which then will be accompanied by an overly tired and "Cranky" (That is polite) Twoddler the next day.

*Take breath*

Though he is semi transitioning into the No Nap zone, he still desperately NEEDS a nap. He just doesn't want to miss a beat. He is learning at warp speed and everyday I look at him and not only see his physical growth but his developmental growth as well. As I stare at my once baby boy, I now see a growing little person, and I am saddened by how fast time is ticking away.
He wants to do everything by himself now. From brushing his teeth, getting dressed/undressed, putting on his socks and shoes, taking his plate to the table, putting his dishes in the sink to changing his own pull up (sometimes and only when pee pee). I watch him do these "Big Boy" things and desperately rack my brain for the photographic memories of him just learning to walk or eat with assistance. I sigh and then hope that I am doing a good job raising him. I hope that my imperfectly perfect lessons will be instilled. I hope that the day where he will be so angry at me that he shouts"I HATE You" will never come. I hope that he uses the tools we teach him to make good choices and "right" decisions. In the end he will unquestionably become his own person, make his own mistakes and successes, learn and live how he feels is right for him. I just pray that I can muster up the energy to keep up with him along the ride!!!!

Just 7 Months old - Learning to cruise

Now at Almost 3!

The "Picking" Phase continues

The last few days have gone by so fast I can barely remember what day it is! What I thought was Friday turns out to be only Thursday. With the weekend quickly approaching we have two Birthday parties (1 adult and 1 child).

In the Friend news.....two of my friends have recently announced that they are expecting.....And.This. is. Fabulous!!!! I am so excited to be able to be a part of their journeys and quite honestly live vicariously through their experience and journeys as well. no more baby bumps here...Nope! Only Bump you will see on this belly is from the Cookies and Mojo donuts, red meat (I Know!) breads, rice, wine, beer, chips...well everything not good for you!! I do eat healthy..I just also give in to my cravings.

With the twoddler...well He has gone from picking his butt and inside his diaper to picking his nose! I would warrant this another bad habit from school. Along with SPITTING!!!! I.Can.Not.Stand.The.Spitting!! He spits on me, David, his sister, friends, our friends etc. It is completely out of hand and disgusting. Quite frankly so is the nose picking but we have all been known to dig in deep to get that pain in the ass, stuck like super glue, hard dried like cement, Booger or the huge gooey globs from time to time. So, I just encourage him to pick in the bathroom with a tissue. I let him know that picking his nose spreads germs and if he needs to blow his nose or get a booger he can go to the bathroom and get a tissue. This is something new. Maybe it is along the "Self Exploration" of his body, a bad habit picked up by a kid at school, or from me getting his "boolers" (What I used to call them as a little twoddler) myself. I did get quite excited when I would get those stubborn boogers out! I guess nose picking is a rite of passage. I mean I have seen grown ass adults digging in deep in their cars while at a traffic light.

Side Topic: Isn't it hilarious how people think they are invisible in their vehicles?! Similar to my Twoddler who thinks if he covers himself with his blanket or closes his eyes, he too is invisible.
On the other hand maybe those people just don't really care.

Now, I guess I should be happy that he is no longer fascinated with his poop and picking his butt when he has poop in his pull up. So I guess we will just have to wait out this nose picking phase and hope that it will pass just as the other phases did.

Now with the spitting.....I have tried everything and he still spits. He says his friend at school spits so now he is a spitting machine! We make him apologize, explain that we only spit in the sink after brushing our teeth or outside if we have to, or if we are sick and need to spit in the sink or toilet. We have tried putting him in a 2 minute "Cool Down", taking him away from the situation and explaining that we don't spit on people because it is gross, spreads germs, is not a nice thing to do to someone etc. Nothing seems to be sinking in. Sometimes he just does it and thinks its funny! If he is picking this up from school...What is next?? If this is just a phase..I am READY for it to pass now! Please and Thank You!

As for the littlest in the family. Well she has decided to keep us up at night for hours because she wants to practice her new skills, crawling and clapping....all while babbling and carrying on conversation with "Dada" being her prime word. So sweet, really, but figures I am the one who she spends the majority of her time with and she says Dada first.

My wonderful hubster is working on a website for me..Yay! Only because I started this blog to write and I really want to write about so many things (sub Categories, if you will) of this main blog. A website will enable me to create different sections and do a little more than my blog site. I will keep my blog site though because I am a fan of Blogger. On a personal level I am working on a project that I hope to get self published by the end of this year or very latest beginning of the next. It has already been a work in progress since mid 2013. This New Year is going to be my year to let go of Fear! The Fear that has disabled me from trying so many things.


"The Mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something,  you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent." - Arnold Schwarzenegger

The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/arnoldschw164989.html#AYO0YCQjsLjirmLJ.99

The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/arnoldschw164989.html#AYO0YCQjsLjirmLJ.99

The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/arnoldschw164989.html#AYO0YCQjsLjirmLJ.99

The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/arnoldschw164989.html#AYO0YCQjsLjirmLJ.99

Oh the Holidays!

When will these run wild, free and NAKED days end? As much as I really love my son to express himself however he find the need, at some point he really just needs to keep his clothes on. I know that kids will learn all of their nooks and crannies, becoming quite fascinated with them too! I also am aware that these stages are innocent and all kids go thru them. However, playing with poop and your butt are just gross! I have mentioned this before but it is like my son can not get enough of his hands  down his pants!!!!! To go the extra mile he will even smell his hand after his deep exploration into the abyss of his butt crack! He does this just to identify whether he has gone poop or not and then replies ever so sweetly, "No Poopy Mommy, No Poopy." or "Poopy Mommy, Poopy!"
As though feeling the poop come out isn't indication enough....he MUST EXPLORE it!

It really just amazes me because I wonder how, where, why certain behaviors such as these occur? I am not walking around the house with my hands in my butt, playing with my poop, or doing a dig and smell excavation!

Who needs a drum set when you have an empty cracker tin and 2 empty paper towel rolls? He started drumming with clothes on and somewhere during his set ended up butt booty naked and drumming away!

MOVING ON.....for now!

I am starting two different segments to add to my blog. Just because I can and my brain is like explosives on the fourth of July. Sometimes I just have so much going on that I need to get it out while other times...eh, not so much! So, my first is The Elf Diaries. I figured it is the Holiday Season and we have just began our journey and tradition with the Elf on the Shelf. I thought it would be fun to write a little bit each day from our Elf's perspective. Even Elf's have voices too.
My next little blurb I am adding will be letters to my hubby. My husband is the greatest! With that being said he always like to "Have Fun." He likes to play around, make jokes, etc. So, I am going to write him a little loving letter blurb every time he may do something that.......well let's just say in the heat of the situation may make me want to strangle his gorgeous neck. (Welcome Ally McBeal Moment!)

And in other news: The Holidays have begun

I want to talk for a second about this time of year. First off the holidays are government affiliated days where branding and marketing really goes above and beyond to pimp themselves. It is all a conspiracy theory, right? The government wants to control every aspect of our lives. Listen, I don't really know the answer to that statement other than everyone has their own opinions just as with anything else, and rightfully so.

People go crazy spending money, and well just go crazy! Black Friday no longer is fun because you have people who will literally kill you to get whatever percentage off the retailer is offering, really....seriously, REALLY?!

You have grouchy people who are even more grouchy because most people around them are cheerier even if only a wee bit cheerier due to the Holiday season. Remember that saying, misery loves company? So true!

Fruit cake exists in surplus. Maybe it is good? Not sure as I have never tried one. I am more of a apple pie / pumpkin pie girl myself during the holidays.

People become obsessed with buying gifts. So much so that they are no longer buying out of the kindness of their hearts but buying out of : obligation. People are overspending, and buying to receive in return. First major lesson is to not expect anything from anyone. Expectations are your ego speaking. It is how you view or want things or people to act, not what or who they truly are.
The holidays are not about this!!!! They are not about things and what you can obtain! Every year it is as though it gets worse. This is what I do not like about the Holidays!
Gifts are nice, don't get me wrong but I am the kind of person who appreciates the sentiment behind the gift. I honestly would rather receive nothing if there was no sentiment behind the gift.

The holidays are days where retailers bank with goal setting sales, marketers bank from retailers ads, and consumers..well they just really go to the bank and for what? A day that is essentially just like any other unless you are celebrating the true sentiment behind the holiday. The only difference is a holiday day has its own special title. It's not just Sunday it's Easter Sunday or not just Wednesday it's Christmas. Everyday we should be thankful for our gifts, blessings, people in our lives. Everyday we should be aware of our religious beliefs, journeys, traditions. All year long we can give to those we care about. All year long we can celebrate life! Yet, we do not do this. This holiday season I am really trying to reflect on what is most important so I can pass this along to my children.

What is most important to me about the Holidays:

Time- time spent with my loved ones because when your time is up that's it -No backsies

Traditions- building on top of our childhood traditions and making new ones with our children

Giving- for the right reasons- donating- being kind- Giving with sentiment and thought behind the gesture of the gift

Being grateful - taking a moment to reflect on all that I have to be thankful for everyday not just on Christmas morning or at Thanksgiving dinner.

What I love about this time of year:

The Cinnamon Pine cones and Brooms....LOVE IT!!!
Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Ham, Stuffing, goody foodies that you don't necessarily eat or make on a daily basis.
Witnessing acts of true kindness - I love this all year but it seems the Holidays bring more of this out in people.
A fresh real Christmas Tree.
Holiday Movies old and new - The classic collection - Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch etc
Holiday music.......sing out loud......windows down, system up, singing............umm Jingle Bells!
Our Family Photo- Finally at least one a year with all of us!
The church services and programs.
Holiday Lights....Love to scout neighborhoods that are on the verge of Holiday Light War!!!
Santa, Hot Cocoa, the crisp coolness that we get very briefly here in FL.

I really do love this time of year....so I guess I'll take the good with the bad and let the Holiday Festivities begin!

Snowman courtesy of Targets $1 section

Santa was found in $1 area at Target too!

Here he was telling Santa and the Snowman that he wants a BIG Lightening McQueen and BIG Tow Mater for Christmas.

Mumbling about Manners and Meltdowns

In our home we burp, belch, fart, and well... many, many other disgusting things that we needn't go into detail about. However, we are teaching our children that manners are important. Grayson may indeed burp or fart and giggle afterwards, primarily because he takes after his father, but he will MOST of the time say excuse me.

He will say Thank You on the majority of occasions without being prompted and usually instead of saying "You're Welcome" he will reply again with a "Thank You."
This makes me soooooooo proud! He even will say, "Bless You Mommy!" And "Achoo," Grayson...when he sneezes. So freakin' cute the way he says it.

I don't demand that he uses his manners but I do give him a soft little nudge when he has forgotten to do so. I explain to him that using his manners is polite and courteous. Those are little parts of what being "Kind" is all about.

In a world where there is more negative than positive it feels, the constant struggle I am finding is teaching my kids to stay humble and kind hearted, compassionate and loving. While at the same time being an individual who is confident, strong, secure and independent.

As my babies grow, I realize more and more the dangers they will face. The hard truth that I can not be with them at all times hits me in the face like a freight train. The mere fact that as much as I would love to put them in a hazmat suit, especially G-Man, now that he is in Preschool, but realistically can't, makes me a wee bit nervous.

Those gentle moments become a fight with time grabbing them away from you as you watch helplessly while those moments slip thru your fingers.

If teaching and using manners will help to keep the thought of being kind and courteous chugging in their growing brains than YES....MANNERS are MANDATORY!

On the flip side, I would like to ask where in the Hell do these freakin' Manic Meltdowns come from? AND why must they almost always have one while you are out in public. Honestly, I know it comes with the territory but my son takes it one step further. When you go to pick him up off the floor he yells "Ow!" or "Help!" 

I already had the audience, but now I have them flocking! People are turning and gawking faster than a dog runs to his bone. I really think I will start to charge admission to these meltdowns. It doesn't embarrass me so much to have onlookers, that is not the issue. It just really annoys me. I feel there opinionated glares and my inner Ally McBeal wants to bite off their heads like a T-Rex when he hasn't eaten all day!

 

When you are a parent, you are being a role model at all times. So maybe my teenage rager would have yelled or said something sarcastic back at these onlookers, but Mommy really would be setting a not so good example if I let that inner teenage rager out to play. It has been years since she's played and is really rusty. She may say something pretty dumb anyways thinking she has made an effect, walking away proud, before later realizing she just made a total ass of herself.

It always sounds better in your head. Thus, the reason I am super fond of my inner Ally McBeal, she never disappoints and always leaves me satisfied :)

I can't tell you how many times I have gotten the advice to just ignore him or walk away and leave him there. This does not work in my situation because G-Man doesn't care if I start to walk away with the mere threat of leaving him behind. At said time of meltdown, all he wants is whatever he WANTS. Plus, have you seen the movie, Cool Runnings? My child runs that fast...Yup! As fast as a freakin' Bob Sled speeding down the ice track!

I have tried the whole kid on a leash thing and it worked temporarily ...until..he realized that he was restricted. Then that cool Owl on his back wasn't so cool anymore.

The kid is just so headstrong and fast. He has more energy than it would take to manually move this world!!!  Maybe I should bottle this and sell it!!????

Can We Please.........Leave...the ..MELTDOWNS...at home!!!!