There can be no companion better than a brother, and no friend better than a sister.
Once in a while I wonder if these two will make it to their teens without killing each other. But most days? I wonder what one would do without the other.
They do everything together. If Addie's playing with dolls? They both play with dolls. If Garrett's playing with dinosaurs? Addie's playing with dinosaurs. They drive cars together. They 'cook' together. They color together. They dance together...
If you throw one in a pile of pillows, they want the other one in there with them.
Addie doesn't like getting her picture taken...unless Garrett's getting his taken. Then she tries to sneak in.
They read together...
They try new things and imagine together... They get into trouble together...
They both love to be outside... picking fruit, kicking a ball back and forth, playing in the dirt, throwing rocks.
They're finally learning how to take turns.
They both get excited when they hear dad coming up the stairs after work...
They're both curious and excitable...
Addie does a fine job at keeping up with Garrett and fighting back... They chase each other, they laugh together, they tickle each other, they see who can scream the loudest, they race.
They snuggle...
They push the limit together, taking turns being the first one to dare doing something they know they shouldn't, and the other one always follows. Think- climbing on the table, inching away from the shopping cart, sneaking marshmallows before dinner, throwing balls in the living room, pounding on tables at restaurants... It's almost like they already communicate through looks, like a, "Follow my lead on this one, I'll take one for the team." expression.
They amaze me everyday. They make me laugh. They surprise me. They entertain me. They teach me to be patient. They teach me how to love better. It's nearly a nightly occurrence that Paul and I look at each other as we're all hanging out and playing, like we're both thinking, how did we get this lucky?
I had two days last week were I swear to you, I was being punked. Every time we arrived anywhere BOTH kids were soaked through. Like, I'd change them and we'd leave and they'd drink nothing and 10 minutes later we'd arrive somewhere and it was as though a gallon of water pee had been poured in their laps. How do they do it?? Addie went pant-less on more than one occasion, and Garrett had a diaper change on the ground at October-fest behind one of those wooden-painted-poke-your-face-through-photo-op signs. And the next night we stopped at a store on our way to dinner and he was so wet that he rode to dinner in just his diaper, while I held his clothes out the window to dry while Paul drove. And he went into the restaurant in wet pants that were too short, a jacket zipped all the way up without a shirt on underneath, and no shoes. I should get a metal. Oh, and I failed to mention that on the drive, (in just the diaper) he ate one of those cracker snacks with soft cheese, and decided to use the cheese as body paint. And I sure did put his pee soaked man capris on right over his cheese legs. Baths later are easier than a whole box of wipes now. That's kinda become my motto.
Speaking of Garrett, I saw an ecard on pinterest that said, "I just punished my child for acting EXACTLY LIKE ME." Garrett is a strong-willed, independent free spirit. Just like me. And it drives me crazy. We're going though a bit of a rough patch, he and I, and I've had some moments I'm not proud of. I want to not yell at him. And I swear he knows it, and some days wakes up in the morning, his sole mission being to get me to do just that. A couple of days ago he Melted. Down. because I wouldn't let him have bubble gum and frappuccino for breakfast. Yesterday, while I was in the other room with Addie, (I'd left him in the dining room playing with a fold-out Curious George magnet board thing that I thought he was really in to), he climbed up onto the kitchen counter and ate an entire bowl of caramel popcorn (probably about 2 cups)! And right as I walked in the room to check on him he was licking his hands, and he looked up at me and said, "nom, nom, nom." (I can't get mad at that part, it was really good.)
On Monday we were heading out to go curtain shopping with my sister in law. (Same day as the bubble gum incident, actually.) I was late. Garrett was mad. Our van was in the shop so we loaded in the Explorer that doesn't have a DVD player in it (!), and the gas tank was beyond empty ..like, wow, there was enough gas to actually start it, empty. I drove to the nearest gas station with a screaming toddler, a surprisingly happy Addie, and me saying, "please oh please oh please make it" over and over again. And we made it! Have I told you that some parts of California have broken the 5 dollar a gallon mark the past couple weeks? But the gas station I pulled into was only $4.77, so I guess it was my lucky day! ha...ha... I turned to Garrett and very loudly and diplomatically explained to him that I needed him to BE QUIET for a minute while I got some gas. I was yelling as I dug through my purse...digging...digging...finally dumping everything on the seat.... No wallet. NO BLEEPING WALLET!!! I called Paul and calming said, "Will you please run upstairs and see if you can find my #@&*^$@ wallet?" He found it and I started driving home. Then it happened. (No I didn't run out of gas.) At a stop light I turned to Garrett and yelled at him louder than I've ever yelled at him before. He stopped crying. He looked at my, like I was a crazy mom possessed by satan. I apologized over and over and I think I cried a little. We made it home. We made it to the gas station. We made it to Annie's. Everyone was fine and it was an ok day. That night Garrett gave me a kiss good night and was walking down the hall with Paul to go to bed. I called him back and he came back to me. I sat down on the floor and took his hands. I told him again how sorry I was for losing my temper in the car. I told him that I want to try harder and be better but that I'm still going to make mistakes sometimes. But that I love him so much and that I always will. He gave me a little smile and then he turned and sat on my lap, snuggled in and gave me a hug. He got up and Paul took him to bed and I just sat on the floor and cried for a few minutes.
Then the next day I did what I told Garrett I would do, I tried harder to be better.
Paul and I went to a fund raiser for...something...I guess I don't know what we funded, but it was fun. Dancing With The Whittier Stars. One of his fellow Lion's was one of the stars, so we bought the tickets from him and then paid more money to cast our votes for him to win, (he didn't win) but just between you and me, there was a guy dancing who owns a bike shop here in town who I thought did amazingly well, so he may have gotten a few bucks worth of votes from me.We hung out with the family on Memorial Day. Auntie Annie made the kids 'Thing 1' and 'Thing 2' outfits. They are so cute. In the bottom left corner, Garrett is doing his newest "party trick". That's what he does now when you say, "Garrett, where's your chest hair?"I can't get enough of this little ray of sunshine.We went to the park to have a barbecue tonight. We invited Paul's family to join us.And then the things I didn't take pictures of...
Paul wanted me to have a kid-free Saturday yesterday. So my mother in law took me to downtown LA to do some shopping. It's crazy! A 25 minute drive and I felt like I was in a different country. But I got some great fabric, ricrac and beads for super cheap. I'll show you what I make...when I get to it.
Phil's best friend and his family are in town from Seattle for the friend's mother's memorial service. The kids and I went to it, and even though I didn't know the woman, I really enjoyed the service. I like funerals. Is that weird? I guess I married the right guy. (For anyone new or confused, my husband is a funeral director.)
I was talking to the friends wife that night about raising children. We were talking about how the little challenges that come and go in the process seem so overwhelming and never ending when you're going through it, but then when you look back it seems like no big deal, and very short-lived. I needed that conversation that day because I'm smack dab in the middle of one. Garrett thinks that sometime between the hours of 3AM and 5AM is a fantastic time to be wide awake and ready to play. And if I disagree with him, which I always do, then he thinks it's a fantastic time to scream and throw his blankets and pillow out of his crib, and scream some more. One night it was bad enough that he and I ended up in the guest room together, which is where I learned one of his tricks while he was awake and I was faking like I was asleep. Have I told you that I cut the feet out of his sleepers and put them on him backwards so he can't unzip them and strip down? Yeah, I do. But somehow his diapers were still coming off and sliding down into his sleeper and then he'd pee all over. I was about 2 bedding changes away from writing a letter to huggies and then I caught him in the act. My wild child is now pulling his arm out of his sleeve and reaching down into his sleeper to undo his diaper! He did it while I was laying right next to him! So if you're wondering if there is a roll of packing tape in his room now, and if I wrap tape around the waist of his diaper every night, the answer is yes.
I got tired just writing that. So let me end on a better note. My brother, Taylor, who moved to Alaska a couple of years ago and got married last October is moving to St. George, Utah. He and his wife started their 6 day drive yesterday, each driving their own vehicles. Sounds boring. They planned to tow hers but there was a miscommunication at u-haul, and their reserved tow thing wasn't available. Anyway, the better note, my sister in law is pregnant. I'm finally going to be an aunt! My niece or nephew is due mid-November, just a couple days after my Lulu's 1st birthday.
I try to remind myself often that this is my journal, not a lot of people read it, and although public journals need to be filtered from time to time, I try to let you take as real of a look into our 'window of life' as possible.
Yesterday...
Garrett only took one nap, which is becoming more and more normal these days.
He had a melt down because I kept taking a pen away and wouldn't let his write all over me and himself, so I drew a tattoo on his arm. I know, awesome mom moment. Especially because we're in the 'monkey see, money do' phase of life.
I broke a grass in the kitchen. I tried to brake it's fall by using my knee, and I think it actually broke on my knee first before exploding on the tile floor.
Both kids got dangerously close to running out of diapers.
I looked at Pinterest and dug through my craft stuff for ideas for Addie's first birthday...because, ya know, I have less than 6 months to plan.
Addie took only one nap, and it lasted for six and a half hours! I started to worry at 5 hours, and even asked for advise on facebook, but she was as happy and energized as could be when she woke up.
I feel like I'm constantly surrounded by baskets of clothes that need to be washed and baskets of clothes that need to be folded and put away. But I do ok at ignoring it. (Pinterest)
Garrett spent a good part of the day pulling out every toy, every book, every kids DVD, every magnet, as well as some of my craft stuff, and putting each thing in a different place throughout the house.
It was grocery shopping night, which I dread. But it had been too long, and I figured it was time because Garrett had toast for breakfast that had honey and butter flavored crisco pan spray on it, and ramon noodles for lunch. (Don't judge, this is a safe place.)
Paul gave me a $130.00 grocery budget. Not bad, right? I started at Costco, and after getting diapers and wipes for both kids, I was down to $19.04 for food. It was the first time in my life that I thought I should maybe try cloth diapers. Then I remembered how I almost throw up when I have to wash out an outfit that is the victim of a blowout and I scratched that idea.
Unrelated to diapers, but related to money, I had to get gas in the van. I try to close my eyes when I fill up, but I accidentally saw the price. I forced it out of my head, but I think it was about $4.55 a gallon.
Needless to say, I had a lot of little things that were pushing me to wanting to throw in the towel for the day and go to bed.
Speaking of towels, it was bath night. Both kids were cranky. We were behind schedule. The groceries that we couldn't afford were all over the kitchen floor, which probably still had bits of glass all over it. Paul and I weren't fighting, but there was just enough frustration, mess, and unhappy sounds from the kids, that if you were looking in the window, you could have probably seen the tension.
I bathed Garrett while Paul turned on some music in the hall and took Addie to put all the diapers away. Garrett almost choked to death in the tub. He lunged out in fear, and drenched me. But it was fine because he needed to be comforted and the choking was my fault.
As Paul and I were about to pass in the hall, me with Garrett bundled up in his towel, and Addie in his arms headed to the bath, we both just started dancing to the music that was still playing. We didn't talk, we just danced. Both kids started laughing. Paul and I started laughing. Garrett wanted to get down and dance. Still laughing, towel falling off, he carefully held the corner over his manhood and didn't miss a beat. It was the happiest 5 minutes of my week.
I love my kids. I love my husband. This, sometimes less-than-glorious job as a full time wife and mom isn't so bad.
We got home from a 10 day trip to Utah last night. Well, me and the kids 10 days, Paul, less than one day.
He had a trip to Canada with his dad planned and I didn't want to stay in California while he was gone so my mom flew out and drove to Utah with us, then Paul flew in Sunday afternoon and we left yesterday morning.
There's so much to blog about, but right now, I'm just going to tell you about the drive from hell. I mean, the drive home.
Generally speaking the kids do just fine. We have some tired/grumpy/hungry/bored/poopy moments once in a while, but that's to be expected, and so far we've gotten along just fine. We always do the drive in one day. Only once in maybe 25-30 times have we stayed in Vegas, and that was just me, my mom, and Garrett. But that was mostly for me because I was over 8 months pregnant with Addison and couldn't sit any longer.
I won't go over every detail of the drive, although it's riveting. I'll just paint a little picture of the suffering Paul and I endured, bullet point style.
We forgot something and had to go back. (we weren't far, but still)
We had a last minute stop for breakfast with the Elberts (best part of the day), but that breakfast included two drink spills. One by Garrett, all over himself, and one by Addison, she's a grabby little one.
Garrett dropped a crushed cracker and spilled apple juice into my computer bag. (luckily no harm done.)
We started about 5 different movies for Garrett and he was bored out of his mind before 15 minutes into each one. He will only watch Shark Tale. I'm embarrassed to say I bet he's watched it 25 times since we turned him forward facing in his car seat. (at least 5 times yesterday) I hate that movie and I've never seen it. It has a siren sound at one part and I STILL think I'm getting pulled over every.single.time.
Garrett pooped 4 times between Cedar City and Las Vegas. Thankful for wipeable leather seats, because the diaper changers that happened in the car were not pretty.
There were a lot of tears from Bountiful to Vegas (from Garrett, Addie slept great), so we decided a break was in order so we did a little Bass Pro Shop wandering...watched the fish, played in the jeeps and boats, etc. That's when Addie decided it was her turn to poo. And that one poo was equal to the four of Garrett's combined. Which is why she's 'dressed' how she is in this picture.
Garrett would.not.eat. I got a tiny bit of fruit in him, and he finally got interested in some vanilla sandwich cookies, so I gave in. He 'ate' 4 or 5. Then I looked back and saw the stack of cookies...all he'd done was pull them apart, lick out the frosting and pile the cookie pieces on his lap.
The elevation changes were killer. Every time MY ears popped, Addison would SCREAM!!! I didn't want to take a crying picture, but don't let that happy face fool you.
They were both so tired but could not and would not sleep.
Addie got so worked up at one point that she started choking and she threw up so we had to do an emergency pull over.
I plugged my ears for probably 20 minutes at the end.
I almost made Paul pee in a bottle because of course he HAD to go right during the few seconds that both kids were asleep, and they ALWAYS wake up when we stop.
And then, 14 and a half hours later we were home. We each took a kid, changed diapers and put jammies on. They both were asleep within seconds of putting them down, literally, no feedings needed.
I swear I'll never do the drive with both kids in one day again.
We all four fly to Utah in three weeks. We'll see if I'm still singing the same tune after two hours in a plane with two under two.
Maybe I'll blog tomorrow about the trip, if my attitude is better.
I also need to tell you about Levi, the dog that is no more. Some crafty DIY stuff. The play room that right now, only exists in my head. Geez, I hate being behind...not to mention the kid's blogs.
Addie rolled over today for the first time! (Actually Paul said she did it once at 3 weeks, but it was a fluke.) Today may have been a fluke too, but I saw it and it's just as exciting with kid #2! Glad I was watching, cause it happened on the couch and could have easily resulted in an injury. She went from back to tummy. She's been pushing with her feet and leaning to her shoulder a lot, but I didn't think she'd make it all the way over this soon.
Garrett has this new vigorous marching in place, arms swinging, giggling dance thing that he does and it is so darn cute.
Addie watches me wherever I go in the room, and smiles whenever I look at her, which is a lot, because I love looking at her.
Garrett stands by the fridge and holds onto the handle when he's thirsty, if I don't respond fast enough he smiles and points over and over. Not so looking forward to when he can pull the door open.
Addie takes long naps now! Like two 3+ hour naps a day. Yesterday her second nap was 4 hours. Makes for a happy baby and a happy mom. The nights are still the same. Usually one wake up that just requires a binky and she's right back to sleep, and one early morning feeding and she falls back asleep when she's full.
Garrett walks out to the living room when I get him out of bed in the morning and let's out a big dramatic sigh as he looks around. Kind of like a "Ok-I'm-well-rested-and-these-toys-aren't-going-to-play-with-themselves-so-I-better-get-started" kind of a sigh. I love it.
Addie's done with colic. (Knock on wood/she probably was getting over it by the time we made it to the doctor, or never really had it. OR, the medicine works great.) She's a content, happy little girl. She fusses less now than she ever has and the days with her are very peaceful. We still give her medicine, usually once, at the most twice in 24 hours and we could give it to her 6 times, but never have. She's very curious and likes to see what's going on, just like her brother, but she's really become 'chill', just like I (used to) describe her brother.
And the other 'Parenthood'... Do you watch it?? If I had to pick one show to watch and give up everything else, I would absolutely choose 'Parenthood'. Brilliant writing, incredible acting, amazing dialog style. I love everyone in it, and everything about it. It really gets me thinking about real life and makes me want to be a better parent. As I was sobbing while watching last nights episode, I looked at Paul (who was also crying), and said, "I can't believe I have to wait a week for the next episode!" I felt so happy for Jasmine and Crosby, and so heartbroken for Joel and Julia. Like I know them personally and like it's a true story or something! ...That's good TV. Today when Paul came up for lunch he said, "So... have you been thinking about Parenthood?" I said, "Yep, all morning. I even feel like I need to blog about it." I can't even begin to explain the family it's about, each of their stories, and how they all intertwine, (except that it's about a couple, their 4 adult children, and each of their families), but it's worth checking out.(There's a baby, a boyfriend, and (hopefully...we'll find out next week) another baby missing from this picture.)
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