Pajama Jeans

I like jeans.  I like pajama pants.  So why in the world would I not LOVE pajama jeans? 

This ad on TV makes me laugh every time I see it.  These new break-through pants have designer-looking pockets with brass rivets and European style contrast stitching.  Why did I not think of this sooner?  Now I can hang out at the house and be comfortable while looking hot!  Now I don't have to worry about how uncomfortable jeans are, or how the leave marks on your belly (BTW, if this is happening to you, buy a bigger size of jeans!).   And they properly fit every size, whether you are petite or or an accentuated pear shape!  The boot cut appearance makes the perfect for hanging around the house, running errands, or hanging out with friends.  Note to self:  Check peopleofwalmart.com to see these new pants in action. This just might be the answer to all of my problems.  And the new fabric technology called Dormisoft fabric lets them hang just perfectly on my frame, with no muffin-top!  And the best part?  They can be mine for ONLY $40, plus shipping and handling.  Also, they will send me a free gray crew neck, because who doesn't look bland and sick in that shade of gray?  All for only $40, which I am assured is a $100 value.  Well sign me up.  Next step, MOM JEANS for a night out on the town!

The days of 2's

I don't want to say that we've reached the "Terrible Twos", but we have reached some new benchmarks, some of which I have found to be very challenging.

I haven't written about this yet for fear of the blog curse, but we have been potty training.  We started during Christmas break so that Woody and I would both be here for the change.  Riley was showing some interest in pottying, so we went with it (because two babies in diapers is a lot of waste and a lot of money).  After running around with no clothes on below the waist for 2 days, it just kind of clicked for her.  She gets really excited to "peep", as she calls it, in her Elmo potty.  We also bought a little potty seat that fits on a regular toilet for traveling.  Turns out, she likes to use this more that the Elmo potty that is her size!  I think it's because she can hear the pee pee hit the water.  Most of our days are really good, with no accidents.  But we do have days from time to time that we have an accident.  She is still running around the house with no panties on, but we have graduated to leg-warmers and socks!   When we leave the house, she does get to wear panties and pants.  But so far, she hasn't asked for big girl panties when we are hanging out at home.

She is also in the thick of sentence-making.  She talks SO much.  Her current favorite phrases are:

• "My do it!"
• "Check it out!"
• "I peep!  I peep!"
• "I need hold you."  ~when she wants to be held
• "Ball.  Ela-stic-ity" ~because Sid the Science kid talks about elasticity
• "I need make up" ~as referenced from the picture above
• "I stuck" ~almost every time she is in her highchair.
• "Hoop-a-la!" ~this is her phrase for "Hooray"
• "Ly-ee Grace" ~Riley Grace, she likes to narrarate whatever she is doing in third person

~I'll add more as I remember them.  There are so many that it might take me a couple of days to remember everything she says!  I love it. 

The challenges that we are getting to are ones that all parents experience (so I will probably be hitting you girls up on suggestions).  Riley does not like getting dressed or undressed for the day.  So she runs from me when I have the new clothes in hand.  Fun.  This picture is from the other day when I was going through last summer's clothing to sell at the spring Rhea Lana Consignment Sale.  I had her try on several things, which she happily complied with, until I tried to take the swimsuit off of her.  Not happening.  So she hung out in the yellow polka-dot bikini all morning- with snow outside.  She also has decided she doesn't like to eat, so our mealtimes consist of me serving her breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  Then listen to her whine/cry while I feed Jude his food and then eat myself, because our standing rule is that we all sit at the table until everyone is done.  This could be one reason I've lost all the baby weight, because I often cut my meal short so that I can get up, get diapers changed, faces cleaned, and whiners out of their highchairs. Right now, I ignore her whining and let her not eat (because I'm not sure if that is a battle I want to fight "you have to eat two more bites" etc, etc).  Then she gets to be hungry until it's time to eat again.

But beyond those two challenges, she is such a great girl and awesome big sister.  I am very lucky to have this girl in my sights all day everyday.  She makes all the tough stuff worth it.

First tooth!

Although you can't see it in this picture, Jude has his first tooth!!! It's the bottom front left, and after what seemed like months of fussy behavior, it has emerged.  When Riley's first tooth came in, she had a couple of really rough nights and days, but so far we've been lucky to not experience this with Jude.  But we have still seen some fussiness that we attribute to the second tooth trying to pop up.

The appearance of teeth makes this mom really excited for Jude's next step, little bites of chewable food that will eventually turn into table food!  I love watching babies trying to get those little baby puffs from their highchair tray to their mouths.

Parents' Weekend!!!!

For the first time since Riley was born, Woody and I took a trip without kids.  SO needed!  Every year in January, Woody and the other baseball coaches attend a national coaching convention.  A few of those years, the wives have be able to go.  This year, we all went to Nashville and stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.  This was the view from our balcony.  It was beautiful. 

We were gone for 4 days and 3 nights.  My mom and dad came up and kept the kids at our house.  They (kids and grandparents) were fabulous!  Lots of forts were built and lots of games were played.  Since I am still nursing Jude, I was a little worried about 4 days on the pump, but it all worked out fine.  It took him a while, but he warmed up to the bottle and Riley never missed a beat without us.  Such a blessing.   This is us after eating at an Irish Pub, my first experience with Irish food was good!  Comfort food at it's best (well, maybe not as good as southern comfort good, but still tasty!)

I'm pretty sure we only took pictures one night, since we are both wearing the same thing in all of them.  Anyway, we had great company.  Kari, Glenna, and I really enjoyed a leisurely weekend shopping and seeing the attractions of the Opryland. Our favorite activity was people-watching from our balcony.  Everyday at 4pm, we would sit with our glasses of wine and people-watch until the boys got out of their conferences.  What a great break in the action of parenting!  I love being a mom, but it was so nice to have a few days of getting up when I wanted, getting ready slowly, taking my time eating, and enjoying adult socializing.  But by the end of the trip, I was so ready to get home to my babies.

Ah, Woody and Todd.  Nope, they didn't get new teeth.  These are lemon rinds in their mouths.  I think with no kids around, we might have regressed a little to make up for their absence.

Next year's conference is in California.  I'm not holding my breath that the wives will get to go, but it would be so much fun.  Hopefully Woody and I will get another chance for a getaway weekend before then!

8 Months

Jude turned 8 months old on January 6th!  What is he up to these days?

• He loves standing up.  If he had the choice, this would be what he always wants to do.  He isn't trying to walk anywhere yet, so I'm trying to enjoy my last few days of somewhat peacefulness around here before the chaos of crawling or walking begins.
• He isn't crawling yet.  As much as I try to coax him to get to me or his toys, he would rather not.  He just rolls onto his back and cries.  We are working on it.
• He is eating A LOT of food.  To give myself more time, I bought several jars of baby food for him to try.  I want to keep making most of it, but if he would eat one jar a day, it would free up some of my time from cooking and cleaning.  Yep, keep thinking that, mommy. He HATES the store bought stuff.  So for another few months, I will keep up my love of labor in steaming, baking, cooking, and pureeing his food.
• He has found a new love, baby puffs.  You know the ones, it's mostly air with a little bit of whole grain that is slightly flavored.  He would eat the entire canister if I would let him.
• As always, he still loves watching Riley.  But more than that, he loves interacting with her.  He leans in for kisses and hugs every time she offers.  And anytime she laughs, he is right there with her.  It makes me wonder, does he know why he is laughing or does he just laugh because Riley is doing it, therefore, he should be too?  If the latter is the cause, I might have trouble on my hands when Riley gets more mischievious.