Heart my boys

They are a pretty amazing bunch and I just love them so much! All through the day I am just so grateful for my hubby! You do so much Dave. I know I don't ever tell you enough how much I love and appreciate you. You go above and beyond the call of duty every single day! I'm a blessed girl.
And my two little guys. You make my life sweet.

Happy Halloween!

Early morning with tts made this little photo op interesting! Can you tell Caleb isn't digging it this am?

Lucas on the other hand, didn't mind so much :) It is his first halloween after all and he's kinda excited!

Caleb just wanted to sit on my lap.

I'm not a fan of Halloween. Dave really isn't either. Since we're kind of lame like that, we'll probably just walk down a very decked out for Halloween street instead, and pass out some candy. I'll be attempting a costume picture later today...for now, here is a matching outfit picture. Thanks Bubbie!

Can You Guess who came to visit?

I'll give you two clues....
Picture 1.

And picture 2

Pretty easy to figure out. Two boys plus two hats...Nani was in town this weekend!

Thanks for a fun visit mom! We love you :)

Happy Friday!

another picture mom?

Caleb loves staring at Lucas and talking to him

Oh Caleb, you are such a sweet big brother!

And this little guy just loves to sleep!

I was loading the dryer with clothes in the hallway and I overheard Caleb singing to Lucas and staring at him while he sang. I think he's singing "lu lu I love you" Auntie Jenny taught him that song during her last visit up here. So hilarious!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend :)

Randoms

Lucas, your arm keeps breaking free from inside your sleeper (we swaddle you in it with both arms and tuck the sleeves in, but somehow that left hand/arm keeps coming out.

baby had the breakfast table honors this morning.

I am glad it is Thursday :) Ready to work on our yard this weekend and spend some quality time with all my boys.

Yesterday I had a cry fest on the phone with my sister. It was a bad day. Both boys had shots, and both boys needed some extra comfort. Caleb was in melt down mode most of the day after our shots and both were fighting sleep.  At one point we were all three on the couch crying-at the same time, I had both boys on my lap. Caleb trying to hug and hold me while Lucas tried to nurse, and me just trying to keep it all together, until I just decided to hold them and cry with them! Ha. Just one of those moments of total craziness. A moment I'll look back on and laugh. And thank you Jenny for always bringing me back to reality! With a funny story or some random about your life that makes me laugh. I am so grateful for family and friends who can share little tidbits of advice and encouragement! There are so many little moments in our day, good and bad mixed together. Thankfully the bad becomes mostly a blur and the good wins out :) So thank you to our family and friends who help us along the way in this journey of life!

A red headed friend

Caleb has a very loved friend. His name is elmo. Every single morning, not only does a big blue eyed boy greet me at the door, but so does a red head furry little friend. And elmo must join us at the breakfast table. Either sitting next to Caleb in a chair, or staring at Caleb on top of the table next to the flower vase. So we have three elmo stuffed animals, a few elmo books (which is where the discovery and love of elmo began) and a couple videos of elmo.

I snapped this last picture today after lunch. I can tell Caleb's resisting nap time when he goes off to play by himself (while i love that he's playing by himself, I find it hilarious that he does so because he doesn't want to sleep) So I was actually pushed out of the bedroom door this afternoon and then told 'bye' and he went in to play with some toys.  I let him, for a few minutes, enough time to take a picture and chuckle, and then we read our nap time stories and off to bed went the toddler; with elmo of course ;)

Daddy's Helper

Daddy's right hand 'lil' man!
Our backyard is still a work in progress. The retaining wall is now up...The dirt and mud? Still a plenty (great for toddler, not so great for mama). So this weekend we'll be doing more yard work. One boy will be helping, the other...probably cuddled up in my arms :)

don't ya just love all that dirt caked on that cute little bumby.

somehow, despite a little boy standing as close as can be next to dad, the work gets done and dad gets that certain boy involved and feeling so proud!

always nice to just relax after all that hard work!

my lil snuggle bug :)

So far this week...

So I wrote this post on Tuesday, and never got to finish it! OH well. Better late than never. Had I written this post, today, well let's just say it'd be a completly different post!!! Dr. day and shots for both boys...it was a fussy, bad nap day, cranky boys, weepy mama kinda day. We made it through though, now I can look back on my nice Monday and Tuesday and hope for a great Thursday and Friday :)
Our days have taken on a great routine that I am finally happy with. Both boys have been sleeping in till 7 or 8am! (Despite going to bed before 7, growth spurt?) Which is just glorious. I like looking back on those 5:30/6am wake ups and being grateful that for now anyway, we are on the 7/8am wake ups.  We never take it for granted that's for sure!
Our mornings are spent eating a good breakfast (love the easy clean up, why did it take me so long to have Caleb sitting at the table for breakfast and snacks? Oh well! Makes me appreciate it now. Especially since he has the new routine down pat. Only took a couple days. Now 'ready eat' is his cue and the food is already ready and the tantrums have dwindled down several notches! So have the toddler munchies. Thank goodness.)
After breakfast we play in his room and read books while Lucas nurses/plays/and naps. We take a nice run/walk with the stroller for snack time around 10. Or we go to a playgroup/momsclubactivity. When we come home we play outside before lunch time. 12 o'clock is lunch and nap time and our afternoons are usually spent playing outside. I've been forgoing so many activities and just staying home a little more because it is easier and more relaxing just doing our own routine at home. It felt kind of crazy going to something everyday so for now we're just doing things a couple days a week. Trying to drop dave off at work and pick him up was also getting to be too much. He comes home for lunch still which breaks up the day for me nicely! Caleb is so entertained by Lucas and it is easier to do nursing/tummy time playtime/naps at home. So I am enjoying the relaxation of being home with my boys and the change in season as we prepare for all the holidays coming up. Hopefully it continues to be a nice week!

Although...3:30am this morning being greeted by ants around my kitchen counters and a black widow spider on my front porch (while I tried to spray the ants outside in my skivies with a broken flashlight, all at 3:30am)...was not the best way to spend my time!  Not too easy going back to sleep either. (but i'm glad I discovered it before it got worse! Thank you. Lucas.) The situation is under control now....(lots of dead black widows around our house though. Yuck!) Talk about disgusting and disturbing. I was at safeway at 7am picking up ant traps.

I am joining a weekly bible study with a group of women and I'm really excited about it! Because it is every week, I finally decided I should start pumping so I can leave Dave with some milk for Lucas. Lucas took his first bottle at lunchtime today. Dave was pretty excited about it ;) Kinda cute. I'm excited for future date nights with hubs while the boys are home with grandparents and aunties

So, even though it is only Tuesday...it looks to be a good week :)

2 Months

My sweet Lucas! You are two months. 
What you've been up to this month:
Weight-15lbs
Length-25 inches
You nurse about 8 times a day, which is usually about every two/two and a half hours during the day, and a 6 hour sleep stretch at night (you've given us a 7 hour and an 8 hour sleep stretch this week)

 Pretty exciting and not expected at all! We had to sleep train big brother before those sleep stretches happened with him.
You take a long afternoon nap (anywhere between 2 and 3 hours usually) in your crib at the same time as Caleb, which is very nice. And a few cat naps in the ergo/stroller/my arms through out the day.
You rolled over for the first time yesterday! You lay on your tummy and seem to enjoy it now. You grunt a little and try to look up at big brother. I think you're trying to figure out how to move already. The dr. was very impressed with how high you held your head up while on your tummy for your visit. She said you're holding it as high as a 4month old would! Wow.
You are content just to lay on your back trying to suck on your hand. I watch as you try and get it in your mouth. You are very determined! But you don't get frustrated with it at all. You are so content with the world it seems.
We love you so much Lucas. It is as if you've always been part of our family. You just go with the flow and are so easy going. I can't believe how different you and Caleb are already, but I can already see how much you love each other. Caleb loves giving you kisses and hugs and you smile whenever he is near. It is so sweet to watch and I am so glad that I will be able to watch you two grow up together! We love you so much Lucas!
Happy two months little man!

Videos of Lucas

Some pictures and videos of Lucas during playtime. Still trying to catch the smiles and coos on camera.

Sleep Sounds

Oh Lucas, I love your sweet little sleep sounds.

First Roll

Lucas you rolled over for the first time today! You were laying on your tummy and next thing I know you were on your back! I watched as you kicked your legs a bit and tilted your tummy. It happened so fast. You just looked around once you were on your back. Didn't seem too surprised! But I certainly was. Announced it to Caleb and called Dad to share the news!

We love you Lucas Gregory! You sure are anxious to explore your world. You lift your head so high on your tummy, trying to watch big brother play. You lay on your back and play with your hands so content! It makes me happy when I watch you as you work so hard to try and get your hands in your mouth. You are such a determined little fellow!
These pics are from Saturday, but I'll try and get a video and or pic of you rolling next time:)

Brothers

I hope you two will always love each other, protect each other, and be there for one another. I hope you'll be best friends. Right now you are still so young, but already Caleb adores you Lucas, and Lucas you love staring at Caleb and watching him play. You smile at him when he comes close to you. We love you both so much!

Caleb and Lucas, you bring us so much joy and happiness. I hope you'll always know how much you are loved.

Oh Lucas, we love you so much! Your sweet little sighs and hums, your soft baby skin and baby blue eyes. Your peacefulness and those tiny fingers and toes. You are so precious and we feel so blessed to have you in our life :)

Smiles from Lucas

We love your sweet smiles and coos. You are such a content and happy little guy.

Lovn on that double chin!

Last night you did an 8 hour sleep stretch for the first time (amazingly you have been doing 4-6 hr sleep stretches since you were a month old) We can't believe it. Especially since big brother was well over 6 months before he thought we should receive some shut eye that lasted for more than 2 or 3 hours at a time :) I have now come to the conclusion that it isn't the size, the gender, or breast or formula. It is simply the baby. And probably the fact that we're a lot more relaxed this time around. (We have learned so many helpful things from trial and error. Lots of error!)
We love you so much Lucas Gregory!

Happy Friday

Beautiful Friday!
When I woke up this morning I asked Dave if he'd be willing to call into work sick and then we can just head out of town and go to the beach for the day. His response "you knew when you married me that I wasn't that kind of guy who would call into work (claiming to be) sick " Yeah...and that's one of the things I love about you Dave; you're my solid rock (but I'll still keep trying to convince you every now and then, just because). So we'll settle for the fact that it is Friday and we are happy that it is almost the weekend and we can always go to the beach tomorrow :)

more pictures mom?

okay...if you insist....
happy as a pig in a mud puddle (i'm glad my lil shadow can happily entertain himself outside while I get a few things done inside the house, i.e. this picture taken from inside lucas' bedroom window during a diaper change)
who needs a sandbox when you have the 'all natural' dirt to play in?
My little nature boy came inside covered in dirt dust, all over those cute toes, hands, and face. And I just smiled and wiped it up before he climbed into bed for a nap, thinking how thankful I am he has a place to play outside that is safe and where he can explore his world. (I caught him sprinkling dirt between his toes, must have felt nice). Life is good.

Hope everyone has a fun filled weekend! And if you're feeling like you need a pick me up, digging your toes in some dirt might do the trick :)

Ready eat!

Is it any surprise that Caleb's first two word phrase would revolve around food? Considering his first words besides dada and mama were about food (apple and banana as I recall). When the Dr. asked if he was making two word phrases I said not technically...he says Hi (insert name here) or bye (insert name here) he says thank you and excuse you but I don't think those count...or at least not with the dr. I wasn't concerned though. Caleb has his own time table for things, starting from day one :) Anyway. I think we've been using the word 'ready' so much around here and with the new food changes and all, It didn't surprise me when yesterday as I was making dinner and Caleb was playing outside, he came running in shouting with joy "ready eat!"


And since we are on the topic of Caleb's languge, last night Caleb was chatting with himself in his room for 45 minutes (he apparantly had a lot to say!) before it finally got quiet and he went to sleep. We were wondering what could possibly be making him so happy and chatty. It sounded like he was just a running babble stream practicing all his words...we heard him singing, 'lu lu....lu lu...' and just talking up a storm. This morning upon opening his door and seeing his bed I realized why all that talking was going on. He was having a slumber party with elmo, baby, and monkey. No wonder such a happy guy!

Choices and Control

The Toddler Years :)

There have been a few changes around here as of late.

Take 1.

We sit while we eat (while Caleb eats lunch and dinner at the table, I became pretty lax about breakfast and post nap snack time around the time i started throwing up my marbles everyday pregnant with lucas) now that things are back to normal around here, mama got a little fed up with the toddler munchies....plus not so healthy to be snacking at leisure all am! so....as of yesterday.

Breakfast at the table 'you choose caleb' "do you want to sit in your chair or high chair?" tantrums are a given usually, but we're working on some calming techniques "lets take a deep breath" "I see you're really upset about sitting in your chair, you can come over when you're ready" so after maybe 10 minutes or so (yesterday was a good 20) Caleb announces 'READY!' and saunters over to the table to eat....and then sits there a good 45 minutes and our little am munchies have come to a screeching halt! thank goodness. I realize this whole ordeal has been my doing and starting in the first place and I didn't mind it when I was so sick I could hardly move off the couch...but 9 months later I am so over the breakfast on the couch scenario. 3 meals a day in the high chair and 2 snacks (sitting the whole entire time) is how it SHOULD be. (At least for my sanity around here) The challenge will be at playgroups (when a lot of the kids wander around snack in hand, and when friends are over, but so far it has been fine. Caleb chooses a spot to sit and eat and then when he is all done he can give it to me to hold in a special spot. He likes to shove it all in at once or carry it with him...but no more....finish chewing first please) I am realizing I need to do my own thing and be OKAY with that. Just because someone else does it differently doesn't mean it is wrong and I should not be embaressed or nervous to do my thing with my child. I tend to feel judged which is so ridiculous! I need to just be okay with sticking to our 'rules' even when out in public or if people are around! I guess I sometimes worry Caleb will have a TT, but what's the big deal about that...so he does and if it becomes bad we can always leave.

Giving choices, allowing frustration and acknowleding it, having 'calming down time', letting the tantrums run their course, setting boundaries, and finding my inner 'zen' has helped. A lot.

Three years in college working with toddlers and learning great communication tools has helped, but it is different when you have your own child and your home is your work. I strive for routine for all of us, for the boys' sake as well as my own. Staying consistent is truly what makes the difference. But giving more boundaries is what has needed to happen. With so much going these past few months of pregnancy and baby and enterting the toddler years, the eating situation got out of control along with just control issues in general. It felt like a battle of wills, but now that we've gotten back into our routine and the boundaries are set and the choices are given within the boundary we've set, I'm happy to say...It has been a much happier place around here. (Exhausting, but happy)

A couple good parenting books have helped as well....especially with those tantrums.

So wish us luck as we continue through 'the toddler years'