New schlews

Some people might call them shoes, but in this house they are called schlews.

Braedon got some new schlews this week because his other ones were getting too small.  However, these aren’t just any pair of shoes, these are his workout shoes.

For some reason he refers to these as his workout shoes.  Maybe it’s because mom and dad have workout shoes, but I’m not sure. 

These workout shoes can make you kick real high, run real fast, jump, and even help with yoga…according to Braedon.  Too bad they don’t make his voice quieter.  I was doing yoga yesterday morning and Braedon brought in his weights saying he wanted to workout with me, but he had to put on his workout shoes first.

Besides completing work outs this week, pretty much the only other thing we got accomplished was this giant car puzzle.

We were pretty proud of it too.

You see this girl has been making me tired lately.

Really tired.  She doesn’t feel the need to lengthen her stretches of nighttime sleep and almost 12 weeks of that has caught up and tackled me to the ground.  I’ve been surviving off of Starbucks, they are my best friend right now.  I would totally take it this way if I could.  Although a few nights of really good sleep would be nice too.

Maybe I should just look into one of these.

Wouldn’t that be awesome?

Random

Peyton loves peanut butter.

I made oats in a jar the other morning for breakfast, which is just oatmeal in an almost empty peanut butter jar.  This is so good though because the oatmeal melts the peanut butter from the sides and bottom of the jar!  All I can say is yum.

Peyton enjoyed the leftovers…for about 2 hours.  Too bad peanut butter prices have skyrocketed.  That is going to be me next time.  Trying to get every lost drop!

Braedon was in the sharing mood again.

Tummy time has been more successful lately.  Adi actually stays awake after eating and will go down for her nap awake and happy. 

I just want to grab and kiss those cheeks!

I can’t believe she is already over 10 weeks old!

Play time

Does anyone ever feel guilty if they don’t have something planned for their toddlers most days of the week?  Just me?  I feel like since Braedon stays home with me I need to get him out once a day to do some kind of activity.  On the days we don’t go out we usually will have a craft morning and do at least one project at home together. 

Yesterday was Mommy and Me on the Row.  I’ve mentioned this before but Santana Row has mommy and me once a month and there is always a ton going on.  Yesterday they had Snoopy and Charlie brown there as well as a little kids entertainer who played live music that included all of little kids’ favorite songs.  They also had crafts set up at little tables in front of the music where they got to decorate leaves, had a booth for face painting and balloon animals.

Braedon didn’t know who Snoopy was.  What a deprived kid.

At first he didn’t know quite what to think and was a little scared of the big, white dog so I didn’t want to push it.  Instead, we went and worked on decorating leaves.  Then he started asking about Snoopy so we went back and he got a little closer…

and we finally were able to get close enough for a picture.

Maybe this year we will be able to get him all the way to Santa’s lap…

Although I won’t hold my breath.

Today we went to a story time at one of the libraries in Santa Clara.  This was probably the best story time I have ever been to, but also the most crowded.  I couldn’t believe how many people were there.  The target group was 2-3 year olds and unlike the other story times I have been to there was very little reading and lots of songs and interaction for the kids, which was great.  Although Braedon just sang the theme song for Wonder Pets the whole time.

Thankful

Since November is the month of giving thanks and celebrating Thanksgiving, I thought I would take some time to write down what I am thankful for at this point in my life.

First of all I am thankful for an amazing husband! 

I don’t know how I got so lucky and I thank God everyday for him.  He is the most understanding, caring, supportive, compassionate, and wonderful person I know.  To top it off, it turns out he is a pretty awesome dad too!  I sure do love this guy!

I am also thankful for these two.

Braedon is the sweetest little guy and makes me laugh every day.  He brings so much joy and excitement into this house.  I can’t imagine life without him.  Then there’s Adilyn.  I fell in love with her the second I saw her.  She is an absolute doll and would cuddle or listen to you talk to her all day long.  She is starting to make cute little cooing noises and smiles constantly, which makes me melt. 

I am also thankful for the opportunity to be able to stay at home with Baeo and Adi. 

I love being able to be there for them every day, watch them grow, figure out new things, and see them through all of their firsts.

Not to mention, have a little fun!

I am also incredibly thankful for my parents, brother and sister.

My family is very close and I know that we will always be there for each other.

My parents are the most supportive and selfless people I know.

My family is not only family to me, but they are friends, and I love that!

I’m thankful for my friends.

Because everyone needs laughter in their lives.

Or a shoulder to lean on if needed.

I am thankful for the ability to run!  Running is my me time, my outlet and I don’t know what I would do if there ever came a day where I physically could not do it.  I love to run!  Because of that, I am also thankful for Remicade.  If it weren’t for Remicade I would not be able to train for and run a marathon with my brother and dad.  Well I could but there would also need to be a porta potty following closely behind on a truck or something….and then I would be thankful for a porta potty because nobody likes to poop there pants in public.

Last, but certainly not least, I am thankful to have God in my life.  Without him I would feel completely lost and for him I am thankful.

What are you thankful for?

Siblings? Really?

Braedon:

Adilyn:

Braedon:

Adilyn:

Braedon:

Adilyn:

Braedon:

Adilyn:

Do you really see many similarities?  I thought I did at first, but now I’m not so sure.  Anyway, I had a request to post some comparison pictures of Braedon and Adilyn and I thought that it might be fun to compare them side by side at similar ages.  I promise that Derek is the father of both of these kids!

Two months!

I can’t believe Adi is already two months old.  Time is flying by!  She had her two month check up yesterday and it went well.  Here are her stats.

11.3 pounds

23 1/4 inches tall

She is smiling more each day and I love it!  She absolutely loves attention too.  I think she could listen and watch me talk to her all day if I would let her.  If I have been talking to her for awhile and then step away to go do something real quick she will make these little squeals like she is saying, “Hey, where did you go?  Come back here!  We were paying attention to me!!!”

At two months our daily schedule looks like this:

7 am:  Gets up to eat, hangs out on our bed while dad gets ready for work and I work out.

8-9:30 am:  Naps while Braedon and I get ready for the day and eat breakfast.

9:30: Eats and then we usually go to play group or do some kind of daily outing.

Noon:  Eats and hangs out in the living room while I fix Braedon some lunch.  All three of us play on the floor for awhile until nap time for both of them.

1-2:30: Nap, while Braedon naps until about 3.

2:30: Eats and hangs out with me.  This is when we usually do tummy time and have deep conversation.

3:30-5: Nap while Braedon and I play.

5: Eats and then hangs out in her bouncer while I make dinner.

6-7:30: Nap

7:30: Eats and then hangs out with dad.

8:30: Bedtime for both Adi and myself

11 pm: When Derek comes to bed he wakes both of us up for one more feeding.

Sometime between 3 and 4 am Adi wakes up to eat and then goes right back to sleep.

7 am: Up and repeat!

I feel like I finally have this whole taking care of two kids thing under control and we have been enjoying lots of play dates and other fun outings.  Although I feel that having two kids is so much crazier and by the end of the day I am spent!

Halloween 2011

This was the first year we took Braedon trick or treating and let me tell you, trick or treating with a 2 year old is pretty entertaining.

We headed out early and were the first ones on the street in our neighborhood, which was nice because by the time we were done our neighborhood was filled with kids, and yes even adults…dressed up…trick or treating…really?  Anyway, back to Braedon. 

I followed behind cracking up because watching a little dragon run down the street and up to neighbor’s doors ringing the doorbell, then knocking two times…always two times…and then getting distracted by their porch decorations, benches, chairs…is for some reason hysterical to me. 

Once they opened the door he would say, “trick or treat,” not once or twice, but usually three times as he grabbed for the candy and quickly stuffed it in his bucket.  He would usually conclude the conversation with a, “Happy Halloween!” and then scurry off to the next house, running of course.

Unless there were flowers to smell.  I guess that he lives by the saying "Always stop to smell the flowers."
As for Adi, well she wasn’t a fan.

Maybe she was just bitter because she didn’t get any of the good stuff, or for the fact that her mom dressed her up as a lady bug.
We trick or treated for almost an hour and then headed home so Braedon could participate in handing out the candy.  We had heard from neighbors that our neighborhood gets hit hard with trick or treaters and that you will easily go through at least 500 pieces of candy.  They weren’t joking.  We were out by 7:30.

Braedon was the designated candy hander outer.  This was good if you came dressed as Nemo, a Yo Gabba Gabba character, or Lightening McQueen.  They all got at least three pieces.  If you came dressed in something scary, forgetaboutit.  Braedon would call you out as scary and skip right over you.  I also couldn't guarantee a quick candy hand out. Braedon felt the need to go through the bowl either looking for his favorite candy to hand out or all the colorful ones…I couldn’t figure out what he was doing.  All I know is he was taking his sweet time in deciding what piece of candy to hand out.  I also know that the last candy to go had brown wrappers.  I also know he would sneak some candy into his own bucket on occasion.
This was probably the most fun I have had on Halloween in a long time!  Kids are awesome, especially when it comes to holidays.

Happy Halloween!