I have no idea what the date is...

So this usually happens over the summer because I'm not at work, I have no idea what day of the week it is nor the actual date.  But since I'm still out on maternity, I really have no idea because my days are filled with children, laundry, trying to figure out if I have five minutes to take a shower, etc.  Anywho, here is the perfect story to illustrate.  Yesterday, little man and I are at the supermarket.  I'm in the yogurt aisle choosing some yogurts for me, as big guy has plenty at home from last week's mammoth trip.

I'm looking at my favorite brand (muller greek corner) and see the expiration date says, "February 28th." Which I then said out loud, "what the hell?  These expire today!" Little man gives me a look like, I don't even know what dates are.  I'm getting myself all worked up.  I mean really, who is in charge of the yogurt area to have expired yogurt on the shelves, maybe I should talk to the manager or something.  Luckily, I totally forgot this injustice as I went to check out, presumably because I am the mother of two small children and can't remember anything, like that I need lime juice to make guacamole for the avocado I bought!

I get home and unpack my goods.  little man is happily chirping in his exersaucer and I grab my yogurts.  I got yoplait greek with fun toppings and check the expiration date once again and then it dawns on me.  Wait a minute, it's still January.  Those yogurts weren't bad.  Wait a minute.  I'm so glad I didn't say anything!  Then I realize there are more than 28 days in January and I'm an idiot.  And even funnier is that I had bought big guy all this valentine's stuff for his classmates... you'd think that i would have realized February hasn't happened yet.  Sometimes, I think I should have been born a blonde!

bread time!

Last weekend little man had his first bagel!  Sort of... meaning, we were all eating delicious everything bagels smothered with cream cheese while little man got to gnaw on a plain bagel that was cut in half.  He really seemed to enjoy making it soaking wet.  This of course was the first step to the next day, starting banana flavored puffs.  Which within 5 tries, he perfected the pinch between the index and thumb.  Now at the end of the week, he's a pro.  just picks them up and eats them.  Some still get mangled with joy and slobber though!

xmas extravaganza!

Xmas always turns out to be three days of presents, eating, joyful mania and family. Having three sets of grandparents can do that to a family! This year was even more zany because there was a whole other child to get presents, wrap, unwrap, and play! Here is how our three days went. Be prepared for surprises.

Xmas Eve- started out normal. Everyone was in good spirits and ready to go to uncle E and aunt K's house for presents with gmom J and all of aunt K's family who all buy presents for the kids as well. We were hauling all gmom J's gifts for the boys since she has them delivered to us so I get to wrap them! The weather was unseasonably warm and it ended up taking longer than usual. Big guy who had been having a great day so far said he didn't feel good when we got there. Cue falling asleep on couch under a bunch of blankets. Something was seriously wrong. He never naps! Anywho, we let him rest while adults ate the huge amount of yummy food. Upon waking up he slid off the couch. I took one look at him and had hubs rush him to the bathroom. Cue puking all over the bathroom floor! Oh no! Then we were cleaning and packing up to go home.  Puking all over someone's bathroom is a direct get out of their house!  Long story to short- we deduced he had gotten car sick. When we got home his belly got upset again and he went potty but then he felt fine. We opened a few gifts and took it easy.

Xmas Eve- feeling better 

Xmas Morning 

The Boys

Xmas morning- everyone woke up feeling good! We opened presents, to which there were even more than usual bc we only let big guy open a few the night before. Big guy got a lot of stuff! Mostly good and useable. Little man opened his gifts from the family, as we didn't get him anything! I know. But for big guys first Xmas, he got a new book. It's just not necessary this year bc he got much from everyone else. No big Xmas breakfast much to hubs and my sadness but we had a nice dinner and we let big guy play and nurse the tender belly. Around 11am we skyped with gmom Dino and pop pop. Where she unleashed 14 presents for big guy and 8 for little man. Whew. Even I was overwhelmed. Out living room floor at this point looked like a rainbow explosion of plastic! Big guy got some awesome stuff from Dino, cool board games and stuff he had actually asked for. Little man got lots of fun stuff to play with while sitting up and oh yeah, he mastered that skill that day as well.

Day after Xmas- we went over to gmom C, grandpa and uncle I's house for more presents! It was a short but productive visit. We didn't do adult gifts with them this year but they did renew our longwood gardens membership! Which is all I ask for anyway.

Following the present opening, we still had a whole 9 days off for break. We hung out, we ate lots of yummy food, we went to the aquarium, which was a gift to the family bc I got it discounted for a year membership through AAA! But I'll talk about that in a later post. We had a family friend come for dinner and she brought big guy moon sand- which is all the rage now. It was a really great holiday and break. I'm so excited to watch the boys get older and see them enjoying holidays. Next up is big guy's bday- two parties this year- family and with his class. Keep up with us, we are not slowing down anytime soon!

more importantly, the tree got decorated

Big guy was juiced for Xmas this year. He finally understood everything it entailed. Santa. Presents. Reindeer. Magic.  Joy. More importantly, an Xmas tree that needed to be bough, brought home, decorated and then forced to not touch! Cruel, I know.

Naked Tree 

Just lights 

Mid-decorating 

All Done!

We went to the same place we've gone since we moved into our house. The church up the street so we can walk it home. This year, in a moment of brilliance, hubs brought the big red wagon and we were able to haul it home. We got it up, it was huge! And then let it settle for a few days. See below for the absolute joy of decorating!! And the best part, hubs and big guy decorated while I cooked dinner and little man played in the exersaucer! And they did a beautiful job :)

Belly, side, up

Today, little man figured out how to get from a lay down(belly or back) into a sitting up position! I was playing on the floor with him today and went to get my water cup. I turn around and he's sitting up. Hmm, I thought, did I leave him sitting up? So I put him back down and he struggled to get up. We ate lunch and had a nice two hour nap. Then we went to get big guy from school. Who is learning about space this week. Hilarious conversations have ensued. After dinner and playing, big guy is at the table eating ice cream and little man is on the floor with some blocks. And then he just starts doing it again. Lying down. On his side. Sitting up. By the time hubs gets home, it's effortless!!!

Dentist

Big guy had a dentist appointment yesterday which was also the coldest day since last january.  Not cool because we also had weigh-in.  I just kept him home all day because the appointment was at 9:50, least helpful time ever.  The appointment went really well.  No cavities! Two trouble spots we have to be mindful of, but nothing needing attention now.  Big guy did awesome!  Now, the goody bag of free floss, toothpaste, toothbrush, tv with doc mcstuffins over his head, marshmallow toothpaste and free toy for doing a great job also really helped!  I scheduled his and little man's appointments for july.  impressive, I know!

Weigh-in

Little man is flying through the 17th pound! He is officially upon yesterday's weigh-in, 17 pounds 11 ounces! Which is pretty awesome.  Apparently, pears and peaches are really enjoyable!  Next we have to tackle green beans and squash.  But this weekend we are going to have bagel.  Delicious!

Bath time

Little man is out of his ducky bath time seat! Since he's been sitting so well I decided to let him sit in the tub on the spongy mat big guy uses. Oh my! When I say this child is thrilled! He splashes the whole time with joy! I am usually soaked by the end. I still am nervous because he flails around so much and I don't want him to bonk his head. But I just have hubs help me out with  supportive arm. Next up will be bathing the boys together. Oh boy!

Sitting up and mobile

Little man has had quite the developmental burst over Xmas break. He is sitting up like a pro! We still sit within reach of him because he will flail back every once and a while, but he's upright. His new favorite move is leaning forward onto his hands and knees and kind of bopping back and forth before landing on his belly. He's managed a hand forward but ends up flat. However, he has this little army crawl/dragging technique where he pushes his left foot to propel himself forward. And it's very effective at getting him whatever illegal thing he really wants- paper clip, piece of fuzz, big guy toy,etc. it's amazing how fast it happened! Something about the myriad of new toys and being home with everyone!

Fish: A Timeline

Xmas posts will arrive as soon as photos are on the computer. Suffice to say, we had a fun, interesting and present filled holiday. One of the big gifts from Santa was a fish tank that big guy has been asking for since August. Following set up the day after Xmas, I was actually kind of excited, since I had fish growing up and the tank was my nightlight for many years. Please note that hubs did EVERYTHING the right way according to instructions on fish tank, my mom and various internet sites about setting up and acquiring fish. Here is a timeline of the Saturday after Xmas:

10:00am- arrival at petco. We spoke with Steve, least knowledgeable petco guy to be found. We got food, decorative rock, decorative plastic plant, net, water cleaning products, thermometer, heater and two fish. A yellow tailed guppy named Lemon and a suckerfish named Otto.

11:00am- arrival back home. Hubs and big guy arrange declarations, test water, have fish in bag in water. Cue complete joy on big guys face!

11:45- Lemon and Otto are in their new home swimming happily.

1:30- big guy and I go check on fish to see if they are "still pretty or dead." His words not mine. All ok! Though Lemon was looking a little grayish.

2:30- little man and I go to change diaper and check on fish again. RIP Lemon.

2:40- flushing of Lemon. We say goodbye. I have talk with big guy about why fish is dead and how it's not his fault. Cue heart crush when he says he thinks he stomped too much around the tank.

6:30pm- say goodnight and feed Otto. We have another talk about fish being fragile.

Somewhere between 3:00-5:20am- RIP Otto.

5:20am- big guy- " mommy! I'm awake! My fish is upside down!"

Good lord, could I have felt worse. Many conversations have followed about feeling sadness about fish and getting more. Hubs tests the water everyday and it's all perfect! So we are going to go to a local fish store and bring a water sample. I am hopeful that we will someday own and keep alive at least one fish. Otherwise, Santa just got us a really expensive nightlight!!