Pictures from June

Since I let life and busy get the best of me in June - here are some of my favorite pictures from the month (I just now went through them...)  I will try to start catching up on  real blogging soon....

Loves!

Patrick by Numbers: 10

My oh my how time flies.  I seriously can't believe that I'm already having to think about Patrick's first birthday.  But here we are and I have pinned two pins.  I've still got 60 days - easy cheesey.

*Is 100% obsessed with Puffs.  He has now tried blueberry, sweet potato, and strawberry-banana.  Does not have a distinguishable preference.

*Enjoys eating real blueberries.  Does not enjoy when just the skin is left on his tongue.

*Apparently has no need for teeth.  He is still the toothless wonder.

*Had ear tube surgery and took it like a champ.  Seriously, within a couple hours he was crawling around and playing like nothing had happened.

*Ear tubes has not produced the magical sleep that I had anticipated.  Oh well.


*Loves playing peekaboo more than any other child I know.  It is especially funny when he plays with my long skirts.

*Giggles if you touch anything to his nose.  T-Rex is a favorite.

*Everything.  Literally everything ends up in his mouth.  He cries like I ran over his puppy if I take my keys away from him.  To, you know, drive the car.... silly mommy!!

* Occasionally will stand for a second or two without any support.  Ms Tonja and I do not like where this is headed.

*His big chunky thighs are also a super ticklish spot.

*He has a sixth sense to know when the door to the back room is even the slightest bit cracked.  He's not allowed back there and he knows it, so he bolts any time he gets the inkling.



*Is starting to learn what "No" means and sometimes obeys it.
  We are going to need to put a lock on the kitty closet though...

*Still breastfeeding like a champ.  All night long.  Good thing I love that baby.

*Has a great time drinking/dribbling water out of his mouth with a sippy cup.

*Goes down for sleep best with Daddy singing.  Something about Daddy's shoulder must be magic.

*Spent the night at B&B's while we got a full night's sleep.  I only made Sam call to check on him 3 times.  I wanted to atleast 6.

*Has started driving cars around on the floor.  He is definitely William's little brother.  haha!

*Unless completely absorbed in play time, he does not want to be put down or left for any period of time.  Even to walk to another room.  Even if he can still see you.  I forgot how bad separation anxiety can be.  But he still doesn't usually cry at school.  Count blessings where we can.

*Has started razzing in full force and he loves to get belly raspberries.






*For some reason, he loves the dishwasher.  We can't do dishes with him around because there is nothing that will distract him.  We can't even move him to another room (separation anxiety... and he'll just speed demon crawl right back!)

*Says Mama & Dada, and I swear I heard him say Ni-Ni - which I'm sure means NightNight.  I WAS putting on his pjs.... hmmm.... maybe?! ha!

*Will pull on my clothes if he is really hungry; also pants like a dog while I'm getting undone for him to eat - he's SOO excited and just can't wait!! lol!!

Loves.

Patrick By Numbers: 9

Patrick is becoming a big boy... or well... a big baby.  Seriously - this kid is large and in charge.  Well, he could always be chubbier (and that would make me oh so happy - LOVE chubby baby thighs) but he really is quite perfect just the way he is.  But he's growing much too fast.  9 months old already!?!  Say it isn't so!!

*Weighs 20 lbs 2 oz - 28 inches tall - Sitting happy at 50th percentile for both

*Is a regular speed demon when he sets his ind to it.  One knee on the floor, one foot on the floor and he is off.

*Can cruise around tables and move between furniture if his arms can reach.

*Is already starting to try and climb.  His first success - William's chair.  William didn't like it.

*Loves fruit.  Any and all fruit.

*Does not like turkey from  Gerber.  I can't really blame him.  I barely like real turkey.  I'm a big fan of ham myself.

*LOVES the beach.  He had no problem playing in the sand or the water at Robin Lake at Callaway.  He might be the only beach bum in our family.

*Bedtime is usually right after 7pm.  Sometimes he gets all crazy and stays up late refusing to go down, but not too often.

*Still nurses all night long.  And only commits to going to sleep for real if he's sleeping with me.  In his crib, sleep only lasts maybe an hour at best usually.  Though, he only sleeps for two hours at a time with me - so it's not a huge improvement.

*Is officially experience separation anxiety.  He has a death grip on me in the mornings at school and he cries when he sees me in another room of the house.  While I don't appreciate the crying, I do appreciate that maybe he will love me more than Daddy.  William certainly didn't the get the "Momma Boy" memo.

*Loves to hold hands and walk.  It's kinda difficult sometimes to get him to bend at the hip and sit down he loves it so much.  He's strong too!!

*Is ticklish all over.  We love to make him smile and giggle, so he gets tickled a lot.

*Loves to play "I'm going to get you" - probably because he gets tickled at the end.

*Has conversations with William.  I'm sure that they know exactly what they are talking about.  Sam and I have no clue, but it involves lots of "da ba ga" sounds.

*Sam thinks he has said "DaDa" to him.  I'm not so sure.  I think what he actually heard was Patrick saying "da   da" while Sam was in the vicinity.  Not quite the same... ha!

*Loves Puffs and he is very happy that he can now efficiently get them from table to hand to mouth now.

*He has such a personality and loves to entertain.  His funniest trick right now is shaking his head side to side and then grinning really wide.  It doesn't sound like much but it is so cute and funny.

*His eyes light up when he smiles.  No - his whole face lights up when he smiles.

Loves.

To my Daddy

Today is your birthday.  And I probably should have told you all of these things before, and I probably ought to tell you all these things to your face, but we aren't sappy kind of people...  We like to laugh together, and play, and talk about random things.  I have always liked when you teach me something.  You've been doing that my whole life.  You taught me how to swim, how to ride a bike, how to hammer a nail, how to be a goalie, how to make biscuits & waffles and the list goes on.  You taught me how to be a good parent. You were patient and I can't remember you raising your voice ever, even during those "awesome" years I put you through.  You taught me how to discipline without force and to love without bounds.  You taught me how to create stability in my home.  You always told me I was smart and could do anything I wanted.  I know that I can always count on you.  Even when it's difficult to ask.  I will always think of you when Indiana Jones is on, when I see a little girl with french braids, and hear the song "Hit the Road Jack".   I want to take my boys on adventures like we went on - rafting the river, camping in the woods, 10 hour car rides to an island in Florida, sleepovers in the treehouse, bike rides in the azaleas.  You are a good daddy.  My favorite.  I hope you have a wonderful birthday - you deserve it and more.  I love you.  THHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSS Much.

Love - Meg

My thoughts on TIME

This is going to jump around a bit, be a little stream-of-consciousness, and I probably should've put in my own two cents weeks ago but thought better of it.....  Until I overheard something that really just brought it all back to the front for me.... people really should be more aware of who they are talking around.

I didn't read the TIME article - and I refuse to buy one to read the article since the cover was only meant to polarize, inflame, and sell.  I am sure that they succeeded.  It was all over facebook, blogs, work discussions, etc.  I heard that it was a lot about attachment parenting.... babywearing, cosleeping, etc.  Not necessarily extended breastfeeding exclusively.  Again, I didn't read the article.  Oh, but I am mad at the response I've seen, heard, and read.  People who don't know anything about breastfeeding or attachment parenting giving all kinds of damning feedback.  Like they know best.  You know what I think - if you haven't done hours and hours of reading on the topic and that's not how you parent your children - then shut up!!  You have no idea what you're talking about!!  It's just like the people who don't/didn't breastfeed their children telling me just to give that baby a bottle with cereal in it to make him sleep better/through the night - I "can just pump more".  Ignorant.  I suppose their hearts are in the right place - which is the only reason I stand there and take it with a smile - but there is a direct correlation between milk production and the baby at the breast.  I already work - I can't exactly just give the baby a bottle at night instead of breastfeeding him and hope it all works out.  Especially since I want to continue breastfeeding past a year.  Which further polarized people.  Again, do your own research, your own reading before spouting off something based on your experience FORMULA feeding your kid.  (and you know what - I get to say that because William was formula fed and it is a completely different experience and set of rules)  It is now recommended to breastfeed until atleast 2, and there are plenty of places all over the world where it is VERY common to breastfeed past that - 3-4+ years of age.  There are ALL kinds of benefits to the child - go do your own reading on the topic.  Patrick will wean from the breast when he is ready, not when I have decided that he SHOULD be ready.  There is nothing 'disgusting' about a child breastfeeding.  Oh - and I totally breastfeed in public without a cover (Patrick no longer tolerates the nursing cover or blanket over his head/body) and I am barely if anything exposed for a millisecond and you would have to be staring & hovering to get a peek worth all the effort.  Frankly - there are millions of trashy girls giving more of a show than I am on a daily basis in their regular clothes, nevermind the barely there swimsuits.  There is not a single thing 'disgusting' about me feeding my child.  How dare people say I should feed them in the bathroom or hide it away/cover it up like I'm doing something dirty.  That is precisely part of the problem and one of the many reasons why it is so difficult for women to succeed breastfeeding.  The people who say these types of things should be ashamed of themselves.

One of my most proud moments was when William was "busy feeding the baby" and brought his Hilbert to his chest so he could "eat".  I may not have been able to breast feed him, but atleast I am raising him to believe that breastfeeding is normal and not something to be hid behind closed doors.

Patrick sleeps seventeen times better when he sleeps with me.  He will learn to sleep in his bed by himself when HE is ready and not a minute before.  We test it out periodically - and so far the answer has been a resounding NOT YET.  In contrast, William was champion sleeper (when he wasn't sick or colicky), developed a specific bedtime on his own, and could put himself to sleep when he was a bit older.  All babies are different and not one specific method is one size fits all.  Really, what's so bad about letting the baby know that you are 100% there for comfort, support, and beyond?  I don't for one second believe that I am raising a child who will not independent, self-assure, and able to conquer anything he sets his mind to because he slept in my bed for X number of months/years.  Get over yourself people.

I can only imagine what people would say about feeding a baby donated breastmilk.  I have been fortunate to not need any of the milk I have frozen.  It seemed silly to continue to grow a freezer stash, when by the time Patrick was five months, none of it had been touched.  Not a single ounce.  So I began donating it.  To moms who simply wanted to do everything in their power to give their children the benefits of breastmilk but for one reason or another could not fully provide it themselves.  Please, explain to me, how that is disgusting?!  I have donated over 500 combined ounces to 3 mommas- not one of those children has had a reaction to my milk.  They haven't had tummy troubles because of it.  The same cannot be said of formula.  For the brief second that Patrick had a formula bottle when I was having issues in the beginning and we were confused and I didn't know what to do -   he was in so much pain from the switch, even though it was maybe 2 very small bottles.  Why put a baby through that if it's not necessary?  I think it great that the moms are getting out of their own ways and asking if anyone has milk and I think it is great that there are avenues that those of us with abundance can help their babies and give the moms peace of mind.  

Oh and just for the record - I wasn't a 100% babywearer - but I do hold/carry around my babies as much as I can.  In a baby carrier, Moby, or on my hip.  There will come a time when they don't want to be held, will be too big to hold, or I can't physically do it anymore - but until that moment comes - I will pick them up and hold them close.

I'm not writing this to inflame anyone or judge anyone's parenting decisions.  I really try very hard not to put any one parenting style down just because that's not the way I would do it.  But you should have heard/read the things people are saying about the way I choose to raise my children.  I just can't sit there and not say anything.  And honestly, I don't care if you breastfed or gave your child formula, I've done both and they are both growing into beautiful boys.  I don't care if your kid sleeps with you or has only slept alone, I've done both and they are both growing into happy independent boys.  And if you would like to have an intelligent conversation about any of it - I will be more than happy to chat for hours.  I love to talk about my children, breastfeeding, and everything in between.

Loves.

Elmo on Elmo

Two days ago William wanted nothing to do with the potty and we were fine with that.  Yesterday, William decided he wanted to sit on the potty an try to go teetee.  I think it had to do with him catching eye of the treat bag and he couldn't have one unless he sat on the potty.  He didn't have to really go either time, but he did sit and read an Elmo book on his Elmo potty seat.  He even understood about pointing down so the teetee goes in the potty and he did manage to get two drops out.  We are still VERY far away from for real potty training - but this is such a big jump - we will take the progress!!  It's funny how precise he is about how things are done - meaning - he wants to do it all himself; moving the stool, placing the Elmo potty seat just so, scooting back, getting his book.  It's funny really.

Contrary to what Patrick's teachers may think - the kid LOVES the water.  (Walked in to school this morning and they had video with the waterpark sprinklers to show me of Tat just screaming .... so strange - I think it was the shooting water)  Bath time has become a super soaker event.  He splashes and he splashes BIG.  Instead of trying to control it - I just pulled the shower curtain so the water wouldn't escape the tub.  Of course, William didn't understand why Tat could splash that big but he couldn't, so I pulled shower curtain over farther and hollered for Sam to get the video camera.  They were having such a big time together.  I just can't get over how much they enjoy each other.  No wonder people have more babies - such joy.

Sam always manages to get sick on the weekend or holiday.  I don't know how he does it - but he is never down for the count on a weekday when I can go to work and the kids can go to school.  This time he has Strep Throat.  Neither of us have had it before.  Apparently it really sucks.  And it's really contagious - so he was quarantined to the back room all day.  That left me with two very mobile and antsy children.  I'll be honest, I wasn't so happy about it in the morning.  I might have even given Sam a little attitude about him being sick all the time... ha.  Just pay back for all the comments he's made about my "weak" immune system...

I took the boys to the park in the morning so William could ride his balance bike - he's actually getting pretty good at it all of a sudden - and Patrick "wanted" to swing.  I think I caved on the 'no-tv' rule just because I didn't feel like arguing with a mini person about it.  I even felt a little bit like the nap whisperer for a second when both boys went down for naps at the same time.  Patrick only slept long enough for me to load the dishwasher and scrub the shower though.... I got the kitchen mopped by throwing puffs at him to eat.  He is loving puffs every bit as much as his brother did now that he can get them to his mouth.  I was in a better place about the quarantine by the afternoon and we all just played and played.  Tried to take the boys outside to play on the "island" (blanket) but of course it started raining as soon as we get out there and I have the only two year old in the world who wouldn't want to play in the rain.  Silly kid.  All in all it was a great Monday holiday.  Love those two boys so much.

I am going to brag on myself for a minute - it's my blog - I do what I want - haha!!  No, seriously, last Friday I read my goal of running 6 miles.  I've been working towards this since January.  Well, technically, my first goal was a 5k and once I hit that, I turned my focus to a 10k... And I did it.  In 1 hour and 14:55 minutes.  I will totally take it.  I'm not running for speed.  I, quite frankly, wouldn't care it if took me 2 hours to run 6 miles.  I just want to finish. I am so proud of myself.  Sam wanted me to quit running when I got pregnant with William, I was just up to four miles at that point, and I never quite got back there by the time I was pregnant with Patrick - and then I was just nauseous all the time...  New goal - 8 weeks of making 6 miles feel good and then working towards a half marathon for the rest of the year.  Oh, and I definitely want to run the Callaway Twilight 10k in November.  I am for sure going to need new shoes before that though, mine are 3 years old - I'm pretty sure the running gods from on that!! haha!!

Loves.

Water Sand and Beaches

Sam went in to William's room to give him more water last night and he said to him in a whispery sweet voice, "Sam.............Your name is Sam..........."  Sam replied "Yes it is baby, but you can call me Daddy."  tee hee.  If you ask William what his name is he will now repeat William Thomas Rumer VERY emphatically.  And a couple weeks ago - everyone's names were Mommy Thomas Rumer, Daddy Thomas Rumer, Tatrick Thomas Rumer.  Hilarious.

The waterpark opened last week at school.  We went for the opening party and then promptly forgot to bring water diapers and swim clothes this week.  We remembered one day, only to forget the next.  We couldn't get lucky and have the boys go on the same day - so four days of the week we have an opportunity to screw up succeed.  Yay for us.  William is a hoot to watch play in the water though.  He runs around without a care in the world and doesn't rely on a single person for his enjoyment.  So cute.

"Tat Tat" is really developing the cutest personality.  I know I've said this aloud a thousand times, but he is really just the happiest baby.  Content and satisfied 85% of the time.  The other 15% he wants to be held instead of letting his parents get ready for work.  A little frustrating, but he's so cute, how can I say no?!  And he's ticklish all over now.  Making him laugh is my favorite thing to do - his whole face lights up and his belly jiggles.  I love it.

Patrick and William are really starting to play together every now and again.  Sometimes it even lasts for longer than 30 seconds. haha William is always very concerned that Patrick is "ok" and checks on him often.  Pats his head.  Tells him it will be ok.  Such a sweet big brother.  And Patrick follows William around like he hung the moon.  That has already started to annoy William a little bit.  Especially when Patrick grabs on him to try and stand.  William hates that pretty much all the time.

Apparently, William has been using the potty regularly at school to teetee.  Like - all the time.... Stinker.  We think it's probably because of peer pressure and routine.  Mostly peer pressure.  They go to the bathroom in groups, it's easier that way I am sure with a bunch of mini people.  We did succeed in getting him to sit on the Elmo potty this morning.  Only by promising him a treat if he tried.  I was planning on saving the tootsie rolls for when he actually goes - but since sitting on the potty is a success in and of itself right now - he got the treat.  We still aren't being pushy though.  As long as he doesn't go to kindergarten in diapers - we are good.

It was our Sixth Anniversary today.  For once in our life, planning worked out in our favor, and our anniversary is always around Memorial Day, which always equals a three day weekend.  Good for us.  :)  Yesterday we went to Callaway to swim at Robin's Beach.  We'd been trying to get up there for weeks, but the Fusion always foiled our plans. Not this time.  Which is why we were not to be deterred when we got to the gate and realized we would have to pay in addition to our pass because it was a "Special Events" weekend due to the Waterski & Wakeboard tournament.  Dammit - we were having our fun family day in the sun - we were not ABOUT to turn around!! Take that FUSION!!!  Can't get the Rumers down!! haha!!

It was totally worth it.  We had a great family day.  Patrick LOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS the beach and the water.  That kid is going to be the epitome of a beach bum.  William HATED the sand and only tolerated the water at this age.  Patrick thinks he can swim and tried often.  William has thankfully warmed up to the sand and had a great time digging tunnels, burying his animals, and making castles.  Patrick tried to eat the sand and throw it in my hair.  It was super cool watching the professional waterskiers... I used to waterski at my great grandparent's lake house and my adult body now notices how much it hurts, so I can't remember the last time I went.  These guys were crazy good cutting back and forth.  And there was something like Wake Skating...?  The board wasn't attached, so it was like skate boarding, but on the water...?  That was neat too.  William like pointing out the boats and watching the jumps.  I can just tell that this is going to be a great summer.

Loves.