So Ethan has begun to say some really cute things lately about his "boy," Alex. We keep telling him that Alex is our child, his brother; our baby, his brother; our little boy, his borther. He still insists that Alex is HIS baby - his child - his boy. Tonight, for example, Alex was loving on Steve and Ethan decided to get in on it a little. He went over and said to Alex, "do you know how much I love you?" Alex continued grunting and laughing and playing. Ethan answered his own question by saying, "because God makes me love you so much because you are dust my child." It was really just too cute. Steve tried to explain again that Alex is our child - Mama & Daddy's child just like Ethan is - Alex is Ethan's brother. Ethan didn't agree - "noooo, he'd dust my child cause God said." Well, ok - if God said, who are we to argue? Too cute....
On to the not so cute....that would be the one totally into the terrible two's and yet several months shy of 2 still. Alex has developed this nasty little habit; it goes something like this: Alex is laughing and smiling and doing something he's not supposed to be doing and pretending we are all ok with it. Mama (or Daddy, but usually Mama) says "Alexander David, stop it right now" or "Alexander David!" or "Alexander David, come here right now!" Alex turns to look at Mama (or Daddy if this happened to be the one time he's being the "heavy") and SCREAMS with a look very similar to the one I was giving him very much like a teenager who is vehemently making his/her point known by screaming "I hate you!" Yeah, this is so NOT cute and sadly for Alex, tends to create one of only a couple of different punishments: 1) Mama swats his hiney and puts him in the corner to time out or 2) Mama smacks his mouth and puts him in time out. This of course creates more screaming but in the form of crying with the world's worst fake pout turned real tears but eventually he will learn that screaming at Mama (again, or Daddy) is not acceptible behavior. Yes, that's right - he's not quite 2 years old yet and already getting spanked but nothing else seems to break the dimpled exterior to make him realize I'm serious - if anyone has other ideas on breaking that nasty habit of his, I'm all ears but before I'll actually try them, I want to see you make them work on this particular child who thinks everything is funny - even getting in trouble - unless his hiney or mouth gets smacked that is.
Back to the cute....tonight I took my sandals off and asked Alex (yes, same angelic demon child mentioned above) to put them in the shoe box by the door for me. He happily picked them up and ran to the front room to put them away. He came back to me grunting like Lassie while carrying one shoe - obviously, it was the grunt of "help, come with me please." I followed him and the panic left the grunt but not the emphasis - he took me to the trash can by the front door which is directly beside the shoe box. He's holding one shoe and reaching in the trash. I looked and sure enough, the other shoe was in the trash just out of his reach. He had accidentally put the shoe in the wrong "box" and couldn't get it out. Since I threw 3 pee-pee diapers in that can during the course of the rest of the night, I'm extremely happy that he told me about this as soon as it happened so as not to steep my shoes in pee all night. We got it out of the trash and I had to give it to him for him to put it in the right box as it wasn't acceptable to him for me to put the shoe away. When both shoes were finally in the "shoe box" rather than the trash at his hands, Alex happily walked away and then turned to look at me saying "hug...hug." Yeah, you're right kiddo - that ordeal deserves a hug. [Note: it's this type of cuteness that makes it really difficult to smack his mouth or hiney when he exhibits the above screaming behavior.]
Monday, August 16, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
What a day!
I honestly can't put my finger on exactly what made today suck so badly; but it definitely did. I think it was just the overall attitude of pretty much 95% of the people I spoke to today - Negative Nelly is the best description. It didn't help that an automatic payment I had set up to go through this Friday was sent through in error yesterday which then caused other items I had set to pay today to overdraw my account. It's the first of the month when 2/3 of the bills are all due so we're budgeted to the penny. After this week, everything is smooth again but with paying for a few things for our anniversary and for Ethan's upcoming birthday & our vacation, this week was really tight. But had it not been for the moron who posted the one payment too soon by 4 days, we'd have been fine. So I got to spend a lovely 30 minutes on the phone with them to get my money and my overdraft fees refunded (which they did) and then another 15 minutes with another payment postponing it for 2 days until the money that was erroneously charged is back in my account. All because someone can't read a calendar.
Then back to my real job. For those I work with who may read this, I would like to thank all those who called with system questions (no sarcasm intended). That was the highlight of my day because for the most part, I understand what I'm doing on that and actually felt like I accomplished something by helping you all work through it as well. Beyond helping out a few people with this issue, I can't tell you anything at all that I accomplished today. I can tell you that I was extremely busy all day and even left work late eventhough my boss was gone already and boarded a plane before I even left for the day. I can tell you that I could have stayed for another hour and still not been done - but I can't for the life of me think of anything I actually accomplished today. That and the negativity all day from every corner and I was completely drained when I got home.
What sight greeted me? Alex walking towards me with paci & blankie in tow grinning a huge dimpled smile with twinkling eyes and saying "Mama!" around the paci. That should make it all better, right? We're not done yet. I went to the restroom (I have a 4 year old (almost) and a 1 1/2 year old, I have no privacy) and Alex follows me in and sits right in front of me on the foot stool (he somehow thinks if Mama is going potty, he should sit down in the bathroom, too, and just smile at me). I asked if he could leave the bathroom and give Mama a minute and he very clearly said "no" while he stood up and gave me a kiss and sat right back down to wait. OK - some may think this is gross but I'm way over the privacy thing and it was really quite cute. I finished my business and he followed me out and helped shut the door. Then I went in the kitchen for something to drink and heard Ethan (who had still been napping - they took late naps today) come down and ask why his daddy hadn't awakened him. Steve told him that he & Alex had just come down a few minutes before and that I was home. He immediately came in the kitchen to give me a hug and kiss. Yeah, the negativity is definitely starting to melt at this point.
I head back into the living room and Steve went next door to try to help our neighbor whose AC had gone out (he was looking to see if they have a reset switch - they didn't so he couldn't help but the AC did come back on but not at full force - at least it's SOME air though). I sit in "Mama's chair" and Ethan is on the couch and Alex is sitting on the steps (I assume waiting for Steve to come back in). I asked Alex if he could come sit with me and give me some "loves." He happily obliged and sat with me cuddling for a good 10 minutes at which time Steve returned so Alex went to give Steve a turn and Ethan came over to cuddle some, too.
Seriously guys, for anyone out there who has had a bad day and feels totally drained, I highly recommend a cuddle session with one or both of my boys who have recently had a nap so are nice and cuddly and not whiney (NOTE: if they have not napped at all, run the other direction as your day will not improve by cuddling with my sleep deprived children). While I was still drained and tired after the cuddle-fest, kisses & hugs; I did have a happier outlook - the world wasn't so bleak anymore.
So a huge thank you to Alex & Ethan for being good this evening, cuddling with me and eating dinner & dessert without making a mess and without making me beg. I totally needed that. Love you, boys!
Then back to my real job. For those I work with who may read this, I would like to thank all those who called with system questions (no sarcasm intended). That was the highlight of my day because for the most part, I understand what I'm doing on that and actually felt like I accomplished something by helping you all work through it as well. Beyond helping out a few people with this issue, I can't tell you anything at all that I accomplished today. I can tell you that I was extremely busy all day and even left work late eventhough my boss was gone already and boarded a plane before I even left for the day. I can tell you that I could have stayed for another hour and still not been done - but I can't for the life of me think of anything I actually accomplished today. That and the negativity all day from every corner and I was completely drained when I got home.
What sight greeted me? Alex walking towards me with paci & blankie in tow grinning a huge dimpled smile with twinkling eyes and saying "Mama!" around the paci. That should make it all better, right? We're not done yet. I went to the restroom (I have a 4 year old (almost) and a 1 1/2 year old, I have no privacy) and Alex follows me in and sits right in front of me on the foot stool (he somehow thinks if Mama is going potty, he should sit down in the bathroom, too, and just smile at me). I asked if he could leave the bathroom and give Mama a minute and he very clearly said "no" while he stood up and gave me a kiss and sat right back down to wait. OK - some may think this is gross but I'm way over the privacy thing and it was really quite cute. I finished my business and he followed me out and helped shut the door. Then I went in the kitchen for something to drink and heard Ethan (who had still been napping - they took late naps today) come down and ask why his daddy hadn't awakened him. Steve told him that he & Alex had just come down a few minutes before and that I was home. He immediately came in the kitchen to give me a hug and kiss. Yeah, the negativity is definitely starting to melt at this point.
I head back into the living room and Steve went next door to try to help our neighbor whose AC had gone out (he was looking to see if they have a reset switch - they didn't so he couldn't help but the AC did come back on but not at full force - at least it's SOME air though). I sit in "Mama's chair" and Ethan is on the couch and Alex is sitting on the steps (I assume waiting for Steve to come back in). I asked Alex if he could come sit with me and give me some "loves." He happily obliged and sat with me cuddling for a good 10 minutes at which time Steve returned so Alex went to give Steve a turn and Ethan came over to cuddle some, too.
Seriously guys, for anyone out there who has had a bad day and feels totally drained, I highly recommend a cuddle session with one or both of my boys who have recently had a nap so are nice and cuddly and not whiney (NOTE: if they have not napped at all, run the other direction as your day will not improve by cuddling with my sleep deprived children). While I was still drained and tired after the cuddle-fest, kisses & hugs; I did have a happier outlook - the world wasn't so bleak anymore.
So a huge thank you to Alex & Ethan for being good this evening, cuddling with me and eating dinner & dessert without making a mess and without making me beg. I totally needed that. Love you, boys!
Monday, August 9, 2010
A wonderful anniversary weekend
Friday was our 5th anniversary - 5 wonderful years and 2 wonderful children. You can't just celebrate that one day - so we celebrated all weekend. Friday night we went out to eat (with the boys) to start our celebration with good quality time. On the way home, we rented a movie then put the boys to bed and watched a movie together for the first time in a long time without the boys. That was great - the movie was pretty good, too, The Bounty Hunter.
Saturday morning we lazed around then went to pick up lunches to deliver to the Habitat for Humanity build that Lexmark is sponsoring. The off to get my haircut before going to Aunt Eileen's house for a few hours yard saling (during which time, we made more money with only 5 items in that sale than we made in the yard sale at our house a few weeks ago in which we had 20 pairs of shoes, mass amounts of clothing and several other items). The boys got some quality time running around then Ethan got some quality learning time helping Jonah with the lemonade stand while Alex napped. Then homeward bound with a short stop for ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery where we were treated to ice cream by the employee whose paycheck Steve & the boys had found lying on the ground when they were feeding the ducks on Friday. That's right, being a good samaritan and returning the guy's paycheck and he rewarded the whole family. Steve tried to pay (I mean, the guy was a college student and we knew how much his check was, not much) but he said no and then rang us up and paid the bill himself. Class act really. I was impressed. After dessert, we got dinner and headed home (well, I told you we celebrated all weekend - Saturday's celebration was in the form of dessert first, dinner later).
However, that dessert first dinner later thing haunted me a bit as I went to bed with a slight stomach ache but thankfully the boys slept in a bit Sunday. That, of course, meant we didn't quite make it to church. Steve then had a great idea. "Want to take a ride?" "Where?" "Well, I've never been to Lake Cumberland." "OK, let's go." Yeah, lots of planning goes into our adventures. I was confused though when Steve gave the boys baths first and yelled down to me to get underwear for Ethan. I asked why when he could just put on his swimming trunks. Going to the lake to me means going swimming. Apparently, Steve just meant to go take a ride to the lake and come home - no, thank you - let's swim instead. Alex has my mindset on it.
We had, of course, told the boys we were going to play in the water. We found a place to swim and got suited up (aka lifejackets on) much to Alex's chagrin as he wanted in the water right then and had no time to wait for a life jacket. Poor kid, we won out on that one. This spot wasn't ideal though as the rocks were pretty harsh as the waves from passing boats rocked us into them so we decided to find another spot. To say Alex wasn't thrilled is an understatement. We assured him though that we would find a better spot and play some more and he calmed down. We went around the lake about 30 minutes really to a better spot and found the dock but no place to get out there so started to pull away and you'd have thought I took Alex's favorite blankie and paci and sippy all at once at bedtime - he FREAKED. Steve then told him if he didn't stop, we were going home. He empathically said "uh-uh!" and then started saying "NO NO, BAD BOY, Bad, Bad, Bad, No NO!" Ethan then told him, "Owix, you betta hush or we have to go home. We can pway if you stop" and oddly, Alex mellowed out a little. Long enough for us to make it around the corner to a perfect spot to swim. This time Alex couldn't wait to get his life jacket on as he knew the quicker he did, the quicker he'd get in the water. My favorite part of this was when Steve, Alex & I were in the water and Alex was saying "Mon" (as in "come on") to Ethan telling him to get in with us. While Alex loves the water and everything about it, his brother isn't so sold. When he realied though that he could walk about 10 feet out and still only be at his knees, he, too, warmed up. Not enough for me to take him any further though as each time I tried he whigged, Alex laughed and Ethan went back to shore. Oh well, at least we have one water baby. When it was time to go though, this water baby had a total meltdown. I conned (aka - lied to) Alex to get him to come to me in the van so I could strip him and diaper & change him. He then pouted and didn't talk to me for a while on the way home. We've promised him more water fun at the end of the month and promised Ethan he can play in the sand at the water's edge as much as he wants (at the beach of course) and both have been appeased for the time being.
We really had a wonderful weekend. Quality family time all weekend - no chores of any kind. That, of course, meant that Steve did lots of work at home today so thank you, honey, for playing catch up today while I was work so I didn't have to help when I got home :)
Saturday morning we lazed around then went to pick up lunches to deliver to the Habitat for Humanity build that Lexmark is sponsoring. The off to get my haircut before going to Aunt Eileen's house for a few hours yard saling (during which time, we made more money with only 5 items in that sale than we made in the yard sale at our house a few weeks ago in which we had 20 pairs of shoes, mass amounts of clothing and several other items). The boys got some quality time running around then Ethan got some quality learning time helping Jonah with the lemonade stand while Alex napped. Then homeward bound with a short stop for ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery where we were treated to ice cream by the employee whose paycheck Steve & the boys had found lying on the ground when they were feeding the ducks on Friday. That's right, being a good samaritan and returning the guy's paycheck and he rewarded the whole family. Steve tried to pay (I mean, the guy was a college student and we knew how much his check was, not much) but he said no and then rang us up and paid the bill himself. Class act really. I was impressed. After dessert, we got dinner and headed home (well, I told you we celebrated all weekend - Saturday's celebration was in the form of dessert first, dinner later).
However, that dessert first dinner later thing haunted me a bit as I went to bed with a slight stomach ache but thankfully the boys slept in a bit Sunday. That, of course, meant we didn't quite make it to church. Steve then had a great idea. "Want to take a ride?" "Where?" "Well, I've never been to Lake Cumberland." "OK, let's go." Yeah, lots of planning goes into our adventures. I was confused though when Steve gave the boys baths first and yelled down to me to get underwear for Ethan. I asked why when he could just put on his swimming trunks. Going to the lake to me means going swimming. Apparently, Steve just meant to go take a ride to the lake and come home - no, thank you - let's swim instead. Alex has my mindset on it.
We had, of course, told the boys we were going to play in the water. We found a place to swim and got suited up (aka lifejackets on) much to Alex's chagrin as he wanted in the water right then and had no time to wait for a life jacket. Poor kid, we won out on that one. This spot wasn't ideal though as the rocks were pretty harsh as the waves from passing boats rocked us into them so we decided to find another spot. To say Alex wasn't thrilled is an understatement. We assured him though that we would find a better spot and play some more and he calmed down. We went around the lake about 30 minutes really to a better spot and found the dock but no place to get out there so started to pull away and you'd have thought I took Alex's favorite blankie and paci and sippy all at once at bedtime - he FREAKED. Steve then told him if he didn't stop, we were going home. He empathically said "uh-uh!" and then started saying "NO NO, BAD BOY, Bad, Bad, Bad, No NO!" Ethan then told him, "Owix, you betta hush or we have to go home. We can pway if you stop" and oddly, Alex mellowed out a little. Long enough for us to make it around the corner to a perfect spot to swim. This time Alex couldn't wait to get his life jacket on as he knew the quicker he did, the quicker he'd get in the water. My favorite part of this was when Steve, Alex & I were in the water and Alex was saying "Mon" (as in "come on") to Ethan telling him to get in with us. While Alex loves the water and everything about it, his brother isn't so sold. When he realied though that he could walk about 10 feet out and still only be at his knees, he, too, warmed up. Not enough for me to take him any further though as each time I tried he whigged, Alex laughed and Ethan went back to shore. Oh well, at least we have one water baby. When it was time to go though, this water baby had a total meltdown. I conned (aka - lied to) Alex to get him to come to me in the van so I could strip him and diaper & change him. He then pouted and didn't talk to me for a while on the way home. We've promised him more water fun at the end of the month and promised Ethan he can play in the sand at the water's edge as much as he wants (at the beach of course) and both have been appeased for the time being.
We really had a wonderful weekend. Quality family time all weekend - no chores of any kind. That, of course, meant that Steve did lots of work at home today so thank you, honey, for playing catch up today while I was work so I didn't have to help when I got home :)
Grandparents
My boys are quite lucky to have some pretty wonderful grandparents. I base this on the fact that I had some pretty great ones growing up so I can spot them pretty well. There's Nana (my mom) who always sends books and clothes and candy and cards just because but also remembers every event to make them feel special as well. There Amma (Steve's mom) who calls just about daily, not to ask us what they've been doing but to talk directly to them about what they've been doing. There's Paga (my dad) who builds them awesome mobiles and toy boxes and goes bowling with them even when he shouldn't because of his hernia. All 3 of them commemorate every birthday and Christmas and overall special event by spoiling the boys rotten (but the good rotten). I've realized though, that Ethan & Alex have some other honorary Grandparents in their lives as well:
Teddy Butler - Nana's husband so really that makes him Grandpa Butler; he's always been Teddy to me so that's what the boys call him, too. He puts notes on most of the boys cards as well, asks about the boys regularly and keeps up to date on all our goings on.
Mickey - Known as Grandma by most of the cousins; she's always been Mickey to me and "Grandma" is "Amma" (and the boys like Mickey Mouse so it's a nice connection for them) so they boys call her Mickey, too. She, too, asks about the boys and keeps up to date with them.
Richard & Jewel Bethel - they were like second parents to Steve growing up. They always ask about the boys and even talk to them occassionally on the phone. It's gotten to the point that when we go to Amma's house or call her on the phone, Ethan will often ask where "Wichad & Dewel" are.
Gloria Becker - One of Amma's best friends - she sends the boys cards for every occassion as well - birthday, Christmas, Valentine's day; the cards often have money in them, too.
Yes, my boys are very lucky - they have 3 biological grandparents and 5 honorary and step-grandparents. Anyone who has ever had great grandparents knows that 8 such grandparents who love my boys this much makes these boys truly blessed.
Teddy Butler - Nana's husband so really that makes him Grandpa Butler; he's always been Teddy to me so that's what the boys call him, too. He puts notes on most of the boys cards as well, asks about the boys regularly and keeps up to date on all our goings on.
Mickey - Known as Grandma by most of the cousins; she's always been Mickey to me and "Grandma" is "Amma" (and the boys like Mickey Mouse so it's a nice connection for them) so they boys call her Mickey, too. She, too, asks about the boys and keeps up to date with them.
Richard & Jewel Bethel - they were like second parents to Steve growing up. They always ask about the boys and even talk to them occassionally on the phone. It's gotten to the point that when we go to Amma's house or call her on the phone, Ethan will often ask where "Wichad & Dewel" are.
Gloria Becker - One of Amma's best friends - she sends the boys cards for every occassion as well - birthday, Christmas, Valentine's day; the cards often have money in them, too.
Yes, my boys are very lucky - they have 3 biological grandparents and 5 honorary and step-grandparents. Anyone who has ever had great grandparents knows that 8 such grandparents who love my boys this much makes these boys truly blessed.
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