Sweet Tooth

I have had such a sweet tooth since Landon was born. I am literally cooking something sweet about every 2-3 days. As soon as the cookies, brownies or rice crispy treats are gone I am busy making another batch. It would be okay if everyone was enjoying these delicious treats but I am overindulging and before Jeff gets more than 1 or 2 cookies I have eaten the other 12 or so leaving Hayden to have 1 or 2 as well. You'd think I would be as big as a house but I guess that is one nice thing about nursing. Hayden has really taken an interest in baking as well. He helps me crack the egg, mix the ingredients and spoon out the dough onto the cookie sheet. He then turns on the oven light. I asked him to watch the cookies and let me know when they were ready and this is the position he got in to take on his job.

Bless Us O Lord

To Grandma's House We Went

We had a nice visit with Grandma this past weekend. We were able to see Angela, Amber, Donnie and Sue while we were there. It was nice to take the two boys to visit. Hayden loves to see her dog, Shorty. He was excited to feed the dog left over scraps from lunch which was Hayden's vegetable soup and some turkey he didn't eat. He then had fun playing with grandma's ace wraps while Angela and Grammy wrapped her leg to help with the swelling. Grammy, with Hayden's help, then recovered the metal chair that the grandkids and great grandkids have set in for years and years. I can remember sitting in it when I was a little older than Hayden.

Can't Ya Tell

Hayden loves All About Kids. I think we have gone every week for the past month and he hasn't tired of the place yet. What better way to burn off energy than to run around this place. You can't beat 4 hours of fun for only $5. The place was so busy this time that he was a little timid on the usual slides and trampolines so he spent most of his time just running up and down the mat in the extra space they opened up due to the large crowd. He did try out the big fun dome they have there which he never tackled before and he climbed up this big inflatable slide with the help of Dede. We were busy running around when all of a sudden we were surprised to see Dede. She was getting cabin fever after being home with all the snow we had so she decided to surprise us by showing up. Hayden found a friendly 3 year old little girl who loved pushing him in the bubble car. Afterwards we went to McDonald's where Paul and Jeff joined us as well. Hayden and I had a great time while Aunt Jilly watched Landon since she had a snow day.

Don't ya love how he just runs down the trampoline instead of jumping. The he gets to the end and can't jump in the foam pit due to all the kids so he just runs back down and starts all over.

Sometimes You Just Need a Little Push .....

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Daddy and Hayden

Connor, Carson and Hayden

Driving through the neighborhood one would think we were invaded by snowmen. These cute little creations are decorating the snow covered lawns of many. Andrea and Addison created a whole snow family that were very stylishly decorated. I felt a little bad that Hayden and I had not ventured out in this last snowfall. He has played this winter outside with Aunt Kellie and cousins Connor and Carson. They went sledding down the hill at my parents house. He played outside with Aunt Jilly being pulled around the snow in a laundry basket (closest thing to a sled that we have.) He has played in the snow with Daddy and Linus and less than 5 minutes with me. I must confess I hate the cold, love to look at the snow from the warmth of my house but really don't want to be out in it. I was feeling bad that Hayden hadn't gotten to take advantage of the abundance of snow so after seeing this idea online somewhere I was able to let him play in the snow without the coats, scarves, boots and freezing temperatures. We were able to enjoy the snow in the warmth of our bath tub. Yep that's right. I filled the tub up with snow and we made a little miniature snowman. He was so cute and Hayden wanted to share him with Daddy. So after giving him peppercorn and toothpick body parts Hayden took him to Jeff who was laying in bed recovering from his hernia repair. Today we did the same thing and even made snow balls that we threw against the tub walls. This was such a great way to enjoy the snow and not be a bit cold. Hayden did wear his gloves and even put on his snow boots even though the boots were not needed.Mixing it up
Making our baby snowman

Mommy's favorite way to play in the snow Sharing his creation with Daddy

Isn't he cute

Sledding with Connor

Making snow angels with Aunt Jilly

Woo is that Fun

Serving a Time Out

To the people in cyber world out there reading our blog it may seem that our life is nothing but fun times with a well behaved toddler 100% of the time. Well we don't live in a fantasy land and it's the same world you all live in. I probably lose my temper more than most, am easy to frustrate, raise my voice and have good and bad days just like everyone does. I am the "intense" one in our home and Jeff is the laid back, go with the flow, why worry, calm and collected one. Our toddler is probably not the typical toddler as I really do feel he is better than most two year olds but he is a two year old and so that automatically means that toys are strewn throughout the house, tears are shed almost daily on his part, and there is an occasional tantrum and lots of not listening. Diapers are found in strange places that I happen to leave them laying around, beds are unmade, laundry is clean but not folded sitting in the basket for days but rarely you will see a little boy serving a time out. Yep that's what is pictured above. Hayden did something to warrant a 2 minute timeout. He doesn't get these often and most of the time it's for not listening to a warning such as no spitting or failing to follow directions or repeatedly throwing food on the floor. He serves his time surprisingly well. He has been known to send himself to time out. Mommy and Daddy both have gotten time outs as well. I threw a shoe into the TV room to get it out of the kitchen. Now this was not an angry throwing of objects but just a get these out of the way. Well we have a rule of no throwing inside and Hayden caught me throwing the shoes so I had to serve a time out. Jeff served a time out for the same reason as well. It's kinda cute cuz I will ask Hayden to pick up his toys and sometimes he won't. I then tell him if he doesn't help me pick up his toys then he will have to take a time out. He will choose a time out every time and then when his two minutes are up he will go and pick up all his toys. I am dreading the day when time outs turn into tears and not staying in his time out spot requiring me to repeatedly put him back in time out. For now when he gets a time out it's as if he has been stuck in the spot until I come and get him out. He doesn't move at all and then he says he's sorry and that's it.. time served.

Anything You Can Do I Can Do Too

Chef Hayden whipping up some mashed potatoes with Dede.

He has become such the big helper wanting to do everything that we do. You name it he wants to do it - load/unload the dishwasher, vacuum, dust, cook, sew, read, burp the baby, change the baby's diaper, bathe the baby, sweep, mop, fold the clothes, put clothes in the washer and dryer. He does it all. Now if only he could do it without my help then I'd be out of a job. I'd be able to prop my feet up and read a good book while dinner was made, the house was clean and the baby was tended too. Do you think he'll still be intersted in this once he's a teenager? Nah, I didn't think so.

So Long, Farewell, Until we meet Again.......

Hayden absolutely positively looks up to his older cousins Connor and Carson. He really idolizes Connor and wants to be just like him. If I need him to do something and he doesn't want to all I have to do is bring up Connor. For instance, Hayden often doesn't want to wear a winter coat and once I tell him that the coat used to be Connor's then he happily puts it on. The weekend before the boys moved to Arizona we went to cheer on Connor at his basketball game. Hayden got into to the game cheering for Connor and clapping when the crowd would. He got his own popcorn and watched the game from the comfort of peepaw's lap. The weekend before he got to spend some time over at grammy's which was also Connor and Carson's house for the last few months. The boys had fun posing for the camera and then it was off to brush their teeth. I don't think Hayden actually understands that Connor and Carson are on the other side of the country and that he won't see them as often as before. It really makes me sad to see them go but at least they won't be gone forever. I know they are having a great time in their new warmer sunnier home. Now if only we can get them to create a blog so that we can see all the new memories they are creating.

Our not so Little Landon

At 5 weeks Landon flashed us his first "real" smile then about a week and a half later he gave Jeff his first few giggles. I got to witness them too. I wasn't fast enough to get them on camera. Landon loves his bathes as much as his older brother does. It's one time of the day you know they both will be happy as long as the water is nice and warm. Landon has been such a happy baby since getting started on his reflux medicine and the occasional use of his gripe water. We had to switch reflux meds due to insurance and within 3 days our happy baby was gone and in his place a red faced, tear streaked, unhappy hurting baby. One hundred and sixty five dollars later (the cost of his prescription) our happy baby is back after restarting him on the medicine that works. It is so worth it to see him happy and smiling as opposed to the alternative.

He is sleeping well, even going the occasional 9 hours (about two weeks ago and hasn't happened since but it was great when it happened) without waking. Granted he is still in his swing just swinging away at night but I will just enjoy it never the less.

He went for his 2 month check this week and again is in the 75th percentile weighing in at 12 pounds 10.5 ounces and 23.5 inches long and his head is 41cm. It's hard to believe he is already 2 months old and out of his newborn clothes and diapers. 3 month sleepers are almost to small. Our little Landon isn't so little after all.

Happy 2 months Landon! What a joy you are and a wonderful addition to our family. It's hard to think that just 2 months ago you weren't here with us yet it seems like you have been apart of our family for much longer. We can't wait to see what your future holds. I am in no hurry though so take it slow and stay a baby for a while. I always have said I am not a newborn person. If i could have toddlers and skip the newborn phase I would have a house full. Now I am starting to rethink that. I look at him (especially when he is sleeping) and think how could I wish this time away. This is amazing and I want it to last longer. It is so much easier and enjoyable when he is not hurting and screaming all the time. If this is what all newborns are like then I think I could do this a few more times (although i don't think I could convince Jeff for more than 1 more)

All about Hayden and Mommy

Today was an awesome day. Hayden and I spent the day together just me and him like old times. Dede kept Landon for a few hours while Hayden and I went to AAK and attended open gym. We had a blast. It had been a while since we had been and Hayden was much more adventuresome today. Here are some photos I captured. I even got him on the trapeze swinging with so much delight but am having trouble downloading it onto my blog. There wasn't a square inch of hat facility he left untouched.... balance beams, trampolines, bars, slides, foam pits, trapeze, inflatables, rock climbing.... he did it all. We then went to chick fil a for lunch and play time in there play center. While eating lunch side by side Hayden put his head on my arm then took my hand and brought it to his face and gave me the sweetest kiss on my hand. He is such a sweet sweet boy. On the way home he told me he is a big boy and old. He told me when Landon gets old and is a big boy he can come with us. He loves his little brother and it will be so much fun watching them grow up together.