Milestones

Dear John Paul,

    You are 6 weeks old and are growing so much!  Each night dad and I go  to bed and say to each other "I can't believe how big he is getting."  You have already changed so much since your birth.  You can hold your head up for long periods of time.  You have really started to focus and look at people.  You smile.  You "talk."  I love when I am talking to you and I can tell you are focusing so hard and then you smile so big and let out a soft "coo."  I can just tell you are thinking and telling your brain to do these things!  Your beautiful smiles brings tears to both dad and myself.  We love you so much John Paul!

Thankful

Thankful for so many things...

My house.  Sometimes I can grumble and complain when all the toys are out and Fulton has dragged out our vacuum, broom, and pots and pans to play with, and it begins to feel small  (just ask my husband about these grumblings).   In truth I really do like my house.  I love that the trim is painted white. I love that the monthly payment doesn't break our bank. I love that the basement is practically finished so that we have two living spaces, and I really love the light shade of blue in the bedrooms.  At night when I tuck my freshly bathed well feed children into bed, I smile at the safe, warm, clean house we are able to give them.  Some mothers in the world would give anything to give their kids just that.

Fulton and John Paul.  My list wouldn't be complete who these two.  Thank you boys for making my wildest dreams come true.  I wouldn't have this title of "mom" without you.

Change.  My life has moved very fast in the last few years.  I am so thankful for how easy it was to embrace the change.

Friends.  Many more have been added to the mix in the last few months.  I am so thankful for the beautiful women in my life who inspire me - as  a wive, as a mother, as a  woman.

Mom.   We are two very different people, but have always had a good relationship.  My mom set a great example for me - it was never about her it was always about us kids.  She loved and spent true time with us as babies and toddlers and kids.    As I grew up she let  me become more and more independent without "breathing down my neck", but she still always knew just what was up and what was going on in my life (I am thinking of my teenage years here).

Bill.  This guy is really my other half, so it's pretty precise to say I would lost without him.  We make a good team, and he brings out the best in me.  He works hard. He reminds me to "relax" when I am stressed about nonsense. He is funny.   And he is good looking!

Swimming in Crayons

If your house is like mine at all then you are swimming in crayons.  (okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration)  I am not sure how exactly but we ended up with a hundreds of crayons, but we did.  So one night when Fulton and I got bored...

We unpeeled crayons (this took a long time).  Broke them, threw in a cup cake  tin, and baked them at 250 for ten minutes.

It was fun and helped us "use up" some of our crayons.

Right Now

I look at my baby boy John Paul and I am in love.  This little man grows more perfect everyday.

Some days for Fulton are hard.  He knows what he wants but struggles with the words to say what he wants and that results in a meltdown.  Hunger and fatigue often lead to meltdowns too.  It's tough being two that's for sure.  

My husband is awesome and I don't tell him that enough.  

Right now it's way fun watching the neighbor's lawn service.  

Picture Love

I love this picture and everything about it.  Bill is unshaven.  Our Bed is half-made.  We just changed J.P.'s diaper on our bed even though we have a changing table.  But this is life. This is our life and I love it.  I love how my husband looks at his sons and I love that J.P. is starting to stare at Bill and J.P's eyes move towards Bill's voice.  So, this picture might not be considered photographic art (see J.P's blurred hand), but it's us and it's real.

Lessons in Motherhood

If there is anything motherhood has taught me it's this...  nothing compares to a well rested and well feed child.   It IS ok to skip events because of nap time and it's ok to build schedules around nap time.  Don't let people make you feel guilty about skipping "non-essentials" so your child can nap.  You know what lack of sleep does to your kid, and why would you purposely put him through that melt-down?  

If the toddler has been sleeping for quite a long time, go ahead and prepare his lunch now so it will be ready as soon as he wakes up.  Don't even give him time to realize he is hungry.  Just offer it to him and be amazed at how much he eats and how much smiles he is when he is done.

Unrelated picture, just remembering my deer sweet toddlers face as a baby.  

Last lesson...ENJOY every moment your two year old wants to snuggle.  He becomes more independent each day and these moments are fleeting.

Our Current Bedtime Reading

-The Teddy Bears' Picnic is a favorite from my childhood.

Pizza Bake

So easy and not very costly.  I love this dish and so does my family!

3 and 1/2 cups of bisquick
1 cup of milk
1 can of pizza sauce
16 pepperoni
2 cups shredded cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Spray 13x9 glass dish with cooking spray
In medium bowl stir bisquick and milk until soft dough forms
Drop half of dough by spoonfuls evenly over bottom of dish (dough will not evenly cover the bottom of the dish)
Drizzle half of pizza sauce over dough
Scatter half of pepperoni
Top with 1 cup of cheese
Repeat layers

Bake 20-25 mins until golden brown

Halloween

We bought Fulton a Elmo costume.  He loves Elmo, but the costume? Not so much.  He cried and cried when we tried to get him to wear it. I had a backup plan.  He would wear his winter coat (it's camouflage) and one of Bill's hunting hats and be a hunter. 

As it approached trick or treating, he wanted nothing to do with being a hunter or the Elmo costume.  However, he was intrigued that kids would be coming over to get candy.  "Kids where are you?"  He kept saying as he stood on the chair and looked out the window.  Finally, the first trick or treaters arrived.  As Fulton saw the neighborhood full of kids, I asked him if he wanted to go.  "Shoes” he called.  "Hunter or Elmo?,"  I asked.  Hunter it was. 

Once we got outside and started going door to door it was like MAGIC for mom.  

Fulton, seeing your face and experiencing this, your first real trick or treat, with you …it was amazing.  It was also nice for me and you to have this special time together just us.  (I have to spend a lot of time feeding John Paul these days, something you don't like so much). 

The greatest part of being a parent, of being YOUR parent, is getting to relive the adventures of youth...to experience the magic and joy and newness again. Only this time I get to be with you!