Parenthood is defined as...

Loving someone so fiercely who sometimes (often) makes your life HARD. Parenting is not easy. And I don't care if someone takes offense to my little definition up there. You're lying to yourself if having a child doesn't make your life harder. Sweeter, yes. Harder, most definitely. It's so amazing that I love my little boys fiercely, desperately and so fully even though there are days like today where even my body hurts.

First, they woke up too early this morning and Monk was cranky from the get go. He begged me over and over for a movie. So I let him watch one then I put the two of them in the bath since I knew I wanted to get their pictures taken. Washing his hair is awful! He screams and cries so loudly! I didn't even get soap in his eyes. That took a while and finally I had enough of his whining. Although I did teach him the difference between his "monk voice" and his "whining voice". We also practiced some animal voices.

I laid Bruiser down who went right to sleep but Monk was NOT having it. I laid down with him for a few minutes because I was tired and I think the rest of the day would have been easier if I had stayed long enough for him to fall asleep. I just don't like to do that because it's a terrible habit to get into.

He's going through a rough phase where he doesn't want to listen. He just wants to go off and do what (or have Mommy do) whatever he wants. He's also outgrowing naps but still needs them. AUGH.


A bit later we went to get our pictures taken at Sears. I brought my dad and my favorite CJ along thinking that it would be fun and easy. It was not either of those things. Monk threw a fit the entire time beforehand and was in one of those contrary moods. "Oh Monk, you're so handsome." "I NOT SO HANDSOME!" He yelled about everything. The picture ladies worked miracles because she had him laughing so loud and giggling in no time and I did get ONE, maybe two good shots out of the whole thing. After that he was back to being yelling. The three of us adults were exhausted by the time we were finally finished. CJ is second guessing having children I think...

So a million fits later, I pick up my husband who was out running errands and hanging out with his best friend. Maybe I cried a little because the day was just so HARD HARD HARD HARD HARD. But he gave me my birthday present nearly 3 weeks early and they are the most comfortable and soft pair of silk jammies from Victorias Secret ever! I don't even care that he spent an ungodly amount on them. Then he bought me ice cream. The boys fell asleep in their car seats and we were home where I could take a long hot shower to work the knots in my shoulders out from the stress, shave my legs so I didn't mar my new jammies with bristly legs and be luxuriously comfortable. Sigh.

And even though today kind of sucked and was HARD HARD HARD, I keep thinking about how when I laid down with Monk he said, "I like you Momma. I like you beautiful eyes." And it's no wonder I'm not mad at him and that I love him as much as I do. Maybe tomorrow will be wonderful :)

11 months!

And I'm only 1 day late of getting this up! Our little Bruiser is 11 months old. He just seems so tiny. He's so my baby and I have a hard time imagining him getting bigger. He got his top two teeth in this month. He can do so much.

Right now Bruiser can hold on to the edge of something and walk. I don't see him do it very often, but don't be fooled. Once I walked in on him and he's FAST. Blew me away for a second because I had never seen him do it before. He can also clap and play peek-a-boo which is probably the cutest thing I've ever seen. Bruiser is also a master of sound effects. I can't even begin to describe, or mimic, the sounds he makes with his mouth. It's so funny. I'll take a video and post.

Bruiser loves his baths but has taken to standing up in them which is a big danger even though I'm sitting right next to him. He's taken a few spills and gets really angry. A funny thing about my little man is that he gets MAD. Full on fists clenched- face red- vein bursting mad and a grunt that goes back to cave man days. Can you believe this coming from my peaceful sweet boy?

He also really loves his toys more and more and can easily keep himself entertained for hours. Sometimes I just take them both upstairs and read my book while they play. His favorite though is the mouse and keyboard that's hooked up to our TV. I have to hide them now or he changes our movies. Silly man.

By the way, he can climb stairs. Scary for a bruiser baby's mom, right? He also has the greatest big brother in the world. When Bruiser starts up the stairs and I don't see, Monk calls for me and sits right in front of him so he can't go up farther. I never taught him to do that! Monk also makes sure to always shut the toilet lid so Bruiser doesn't try to touch the toilet. What amazing little boys I have.

I'm always stopped by people who want to tell me how beautiful my little guy is and "Oh what eyelashes!" "Look at those eyes!" and all the adults who watch him say he is the cuddliest baby they've ever seen. And he is so completely precious.

It's an Honor!

My Monkey Monk has turned 3. As in THREE. THREE YEARS OLD! He's gone through so many changed this year. He talks a lot and is so smart. We can have long conversations about anything. He really observant and remembers things from months and months ago. Most of it I was already starting to forget.

Monk is so sweet and so affectionate. He likes to cuddle and give hugs and kisses and he always wants to hold hands. I always feel so loved. He really loves movies and would probably watch TV all day if I let him. Which I don't, so we end up in his room a lot. He's really good at playing with his little brother. He looks out for him and lets me know when Bruiser is getting near the stairs. (Guess what, Bruiser can climb stairs!)

He likes to get his hair cut and do all the things Mommy and Daddy do. He loves playing with other kids, of course boys. He just jumps right in without any thought at all and before you blink they're all running around chasing each other.

I just love him so much. He's this light that makes every day better. I never know what he's going to say because he's a little parrot and only has to hear you say something once before he says it himself. And he's observant so what he says is a mix of me and a mix of him.

Dear Monkey. My life is so much better with you here. I am so honored that I get to be your Mommy. We adore every thing about you from your crooked little toenails to your crazy professor head of hair. We love you more than anyone was able to tell us we could. And I have never been more grateful that families are forever. Love you babyboy.

Poopy Monologue

‎"I poop! I poop mama! I made a snake! I made it wike a snake for you! I don't want to eat my poop. Yuck. Oh, I not all done. I haf to poop again. I poopin. Poop Poop Poop. Faster faster faster. This seat is bouncy. It's soft. Good idea. Now I make a pretzel for you. It's a poop pretzel. It's not pretend. A poopy pretzel."

I feel this way:

The recent suicides and abuse of homosexuals has really been laying down heavy on my mind lately. I feel for those people and their families. It is never ok to be unkind. I am grateful to my church that above all else, teaches to love one another.

BIG NEWS

And no, I'm not pregnant. However, I'm really excited for May 2011 because I will have two new nieces/nephews! Babies are so wonderful!

Our big exciting news is..... Monk is potty trained! 100%! We've been working on it for a while, but he wasn't really interested. It was more, "If I think about it and am not doing anything better, maybe I'll do it for a special treat." But now he's looking super cute in his Batman underwear. He doesn't even wet during his naps (when I get him to lie down) or during bed time. I'm so proud. Of course, when in public he demands his "pwivacy" and won't let me in the stall with him. I try to watch through the crack to make sure he's not touching the toilet bowl or anything. EW.



Bruiser is 10 months now and I didn't get around to posting for 9 months so let's see.... At 9 months he was ever so peaceful and crawling like a breakdancing champion. He was very very fast. He was also a bottomless pit. I'm talking waffles for breakfast and a whole PB&J for lunch. Hungry little hippo.



At 10 months our little Bruiser is crawling normally, not eating so much (and by not so much, I mean he only eats a little more than Monk does.) He pulls himself up on EVERYTHING. Mostly me and the furniture, but also the walls. He's teething something fierce so I find big puddles of drool all over the floor but it just make me laugh. He is so peaceful and such a joy. He finds more things funny now and laughs a lot at Monk.



More on my Monkey Monk: He is SMART. And INDEPENDENT. He likes superheroes, trains, dragons and Scooby Doo. He loves to eat corn dogs and fruit. And he is unendingly sweet. He's very obedient and affectionate and pretty much perfect.



My boys are so wonderful! I'm looking forward to the end of this year because we have lots of Halloween activities and Monk's birthday and holidays and Bruiser turns 1! I love watching my boys grow up.

BaBy MoUtH

My sister-in-laws are both expecting in May! I'm so excited! It's so wonderful and special to be around a baby. And I like that I don't have to be pregnant and still get to cuddle and buy cute baby clothes!

So I was trying to explain to Monk that his Aunties are having a baby. I told him that their tummies will get big so the baby can grow. Of course he connected tummy to mouth. This morning we had this conversation:

Monk- You big Momma. And I'm little.
Me- You are little. But you're getting bigger and bigger.
Monk- Can I go in your tummy for just a little while.
Me- Ha, I don't think you can fit anymore baby. But you'll keep growing.
Monk- I just go through your mouth. See?

Then he tried to put his head in my mouth. What a sweet funny boy. I'm not telling him where babies come from yet though. We can have that conversation in a few years.

A Day in the Life of a Stay at Home Mom

BEFORE NOON ANYWAY

Bruiser's up! Time to roll myself out of bed no matter how many times I woke up the night before. And when I get there, he's standing up in his crib for the first time! It makes me smile because he's growing so much. "Mommy!" And then there's Monk who always sounds so happy to see me in the morning. "I want strawberry milk."

Potty then Breakfast time. I don't remember the last time I used words like 'restroom' or 'bathroom'. But Monk goes without me telling him to which is a big triumph. I make breakfast, clean them up and eat their leftovers.

Monk likes to watch movies about now so I turn on Netflix since I can't stand cable. He still wants to watch Spongebob but I refuse. He's a parrot nowadays and I don't want him to mimic anything on that show. We choose Wonderpets instead.

I lug Bruiser around as I unload the dishwasher and make the bed, pulling off the pillowcases since I need to do a load of whites. I have to make a run to all the rooms of the house to get the vigilante dirty clothes and dishes that forgot to put themselves in the right place. Just as I've sprayed the last of the Shout on Bruiser's crib sheet Monk runs in and starts to climb the dryer. "I'm all done now, you need to get off." "NO!" A few 'nos' later and he's off to time for not listening and yelling at me.

Time for Bruiser's medicine that he doesn't like and ends up spitting all over me. And then: "AUGH! My nose! Owie!" What on earth is stuck up there? He's really upset. He hasn't done this in a long time. Since I had to call my husband home to help me. So I lay Monk on the bed and turn on the light and dig out my tweezers. Tweezers won't get it so I pinch one nostril and cover his mouth and tell him to blow. Mystery object shoots right on out. I'm still not sure what it is but I drop in the toilet and wash my hands for the third time this morning. We've only been up for a little over an hour.

He wants to watch more TV. I feel bad since every article I read says he shouldn't watch more than a couple hours tops a day. He'll want a movie after his nap. If he takes one. Are those picture hung crookedly? Geeez. I guess it doesn't matter because he keeps messing with the volume button connected to our speakers. A few no's later and he's back in time out. No more movies! Bruiser wants his jumper so I get a few minutes of quiet. If quiet includes 10 requests for a snack and movie...

Time for Bruiser's nap. He's been a happy little guy this morning. When he lays down I can get ready myself. It's hard to put on makeup and do my hair with two little guys pawing at me. So just Monk is awake. Except I don't know what's into him today. he might need a nap too because he's being really disobedient.

I notice the window is open and I wonder if our neighbors ever hear me yell at Monk. It doesn't happen often since he's usually such a good and easy little man. But that would be pretty red-neck of us and Monk usually runs around naked. If I put a pull up or underwear on him he'll pee or poop in it. If he wears nothing he always goes potty but usually gets the bottom of his shirt wet when he pees, so NAKED it is.

In between cleaning up after him and his break down it takes me a full 45 minutes to do my hair (kind of) and put on makeup. At least I don't look like I've rolled out of bed. I promised my husband I'd never be one of those wives that goes to the store in their pajama pants.

I make Monk a PB&J on a hamburger bun and this makes him happy. So I let him watch more Wonderpets. Bless the Wonderpets a this point. And if he watches a little extra TV today it's for my own good.

And it's 11am. So I'll see if Monk will take a nap too. This has been a harder morning but when Monk finally settles down he wants to hold hands and I see that they are so beautiful and so funny so individual.

And Monk, of course does not want to take a nap but he'll play quietly in his room for a little while which gives me the chance to read a little and wait for Bruise to wake up. And his little smile when he sees me is priceless.

Happy Anniversary!

I can't believe we've been married for 5 whole years! That's longer than most celebrities. Combined, haha. Today we celebrated by going to Cedar Point which was so fun! It's nice to go out and do stuff together because it reminds me how much I love being with him. Which is why we got married in the first place! I have a funny and awesome best friend that I get to live with and have fun with every day!

Cedar Point was fun. We LOVED the Millenium Force and the new Dragster one. We rode that one twice. We picked a good day for it too because there were hardly any lines at all. So we got through all the rides we wanted to and didn't stay longer than 3pm. We had a good time people watching and trying to figure out why on earth people wore what they did. Why the dresses ladies? You're at an AMUSEMENT PARK. Then there were the strange and uncomfortable... One kid was actually in slippers. But the heavy wool ones made for winter.

We went out for sushi afterwards because that's one of our favorite food. It was DELICIOUS. Then we decided to try something new. So I ordered the Salmon Caviar sushi and he ordered the Sea Urchin sushi. OH NEVER AGAIN! I couldn't get the Sea Urchin off my tongue fast enough. It was beautiful presented in a cucumber flower, but it was grayish, poopish looking, COLD and slimy. Oh it was so nasty. My man started dipping his chopsticks in his soy sauce to drink as much as he could and I shoved a wad of ginger in my mouth to try and get the memory of the experience out of my mouth. The caviar was waaay better and totally disgusting. And I kept having nemo flashbacks.

So it was an adventure. We spent too much money on it, but it was funny and we had a good laugh. We went to my parents' house to pick up our boys and I tried on my wedding dress again. Monk said my dress was 'sooo bootiful'. It fit and that was nice.

It's been an incredible five years and I had no idea that such a short space of time could be so amazing. We went from a crappy teeeeeeeny one bedroom apartment with the bathroom down the hall of the apartment building to a beautiful home, nice car and most importantly, our two most incredible little boys who we love so much. Our lives are truly blessed and we are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for giving us so much happiness!

EI8HT

I'm so terrible sometimes at keeping up with my blog. It's not that I don't ever have anything to say, but some things I just don't want to put on the world wide web. I still have the second half of our vacation to put up. I'll get those up soon. I spent most of the week getting pictures of Bruiser from birth til now and for our family yearbook ready for scrapbooking. Prints are only .10 cents at Walgreens this week so away I go!

Last reported, Bruiser wasn't doing much of anything except getting up on his toes. I knew that this month would be a big one. Where he was bald, he now has HAIR. And gets funny bedhead. Where he could not sit up, now he does for long periods of time playing with his toys. What was once a funny push-up, looks like he's breaking dancing the snake as he CRAWLS across the floor. And he's getting fast too. While he used to eat mush, he now has WAFFLES for breakfast with his two NEW TEETH. From sweet baby coos, we now have DADADADADAs, BABABABABABAs, and MAMAMAMAMAMAs. And that was just all in one week.

I can barely keep up with my sweet boy. It's funny to set him down in the living room then turn around while I do dishes because there's a tiny baby at my ankles. He's still ever so much a Momma's boy. My favorite part about all these changes is that it's easier for him and Monkey Monk to play together. Monk kind of runs all over the place and Bruiser break dances here and there and laughs and laughs and laughs and soon they are both laughing so hard and then we are all laughing so hard.

Oh how I love my darling little boys!