NYC Plague 2012

who knows if it is truly from NYC, but everything's bigger there and so I would think that applies to their sickness estoo.  Aylen got it on the 26th, Ryker and Russ on the 27th and me=well never (not yet).  This thing is a horrible, no good, very bad  plaguey CRAPTASTIC virus.  We are assuming the flu--fever, cold symptoms-running nose, cough, tiredness....just basically feel like crap.  it so far has cost us:  at least 3 or 4 boxes of Kleenex, 3 infant tylenols, RYKER'S actual birthday, Ryker's birthday party, any sort of productivity around the house-unless you count watching Finding Nemo 10x, Brave 1x, The Polar Express 3x, cartoons umteenth times, etc, etc.  We've gained a visit from Grandpa (thanks for letting us borrow him Grandma he's a godsend), lots of snuggle-time, enjoying alot of family time together, and an appreciation for what a non-fevery baby feels like..

it's been an insane week and now AJ is being naughty so I know that he needs to go upstairs.

putting boys to sleep. the story of my life lately. 

love,
momma

Aruba Arrrribbbaaaaa

ah this vacation seems like a distant memory, or better yet just a figment of my imagination, a dream... You pick.  I'll explain more about the contrast of then vs. now later.

But let's just focus on Aruba.  It was amazing.  I made this collage to demonstrate how somethings remain timeless... like writing in the sand and US.  :)  Someday I'll love that I look young, most days it's annoying.  So #1- are pictures from our honeymoon right after our wedding.  #2-is the Arubamoon.


So we loved Aruba...oh let us count the many ways.
     1.  SLEEPing in.  OMG.  The first morning we spent there we woke up around 1015am.  We didn't get out of our room until 11am.  We went to have breakfast, guess what we MISSED it.  I couldn't even be mad about it.  Who wasn't up at 6am? US.  Boom.

     2.  No bedtime routines. at.all.  Not one routine that we routinely did at night in Aruba.  At all.  Did I say at all, at all?  I mean it was insane.  WE could do whatever we wanted because we didn't have to wait for AJ to fall asleep, or bath time to start, or when the first cry would happen, or not even hanging out with ourselves or each other because we were so darn tired.  Foreign concepts here, people.

     3.  Naps.  Yup, we sure did.  Naps occurred daily after we hit our am quota for vitamin D and yummy beach drinks.

   
4.  Swimsuits.  This guy in this suit, and me proudly rocking my 2-piece.  We done did it.

     5.  Reading books.  We both got a chance to dig into our books that have been laying dormit around our house.  The only time we have to read is in the evening time, and let's be honest after completing our days reading is =the best Lunesta you can take.

     6.  Food and Drinks with two hands.  We even had a conversation about how we cut our steak.  Because when we begin to slice we move our fork to our right hand, and then with our left hand use the knife.  Once we are done cutting we switch our fork back to our left hand.  We thought it was odd that we wouldn't cut with our right hand, thus leaving our fork in our left hand the whole time.  I MEAN WHO HAS THESE CONVERSATIONS?  People who a.  Have two hands to eat with and aren't feeding other little people, and b.  Have the time to really think about the littlest of things because they don't have a care in the world:)


    

So as I sit here typing this out I'm pretty darn exhausted.  My day started...well I'm not even quite sure what you can consider "started".  Russ and I together probably tallied 3 or 4 hours of sleep last night.  We had AJ burning a fever and Ryker just fussing on the monitor hourly.  We managed to get up, get our stuff to the airport, hopped a plane to Colorado, jumped the van because the battery died, entered our house which was at a balmy 36 degrees-great for all 3 boys who had the "chills" anyways (it has reached the 50s now just in case you're wondering), Russ has come down with chills and respiratory stuff, AJ is still coughing/sneezing/chilling, and Ryker has joined the party.  I am taking care of the 3 sick, sad boys...and honestly Aruba was great but I do feel completely honored to be here now with my layers of clothes on taking care of my family. 

Arubbbba aribbbbaaaaaaa
Love to all,
Momma

I mean seriously...

I thought when I was little that Santa couldn't come soon enough. I mean sleeping was just so hard, but this whole having my own kids and eagerly awaiting their Santa experience is almost torture. It's 436am and I'm wide awake awaiting AJ's first movement so that we can run to the living room and see the evidence of Santa. What will just baffle AJ...- will it be the 1/2 eaten cookies? The glass of milk, GONE? Or the pile of presents that have suddenly appeared by that tree? And if nothing else it's got to be those "snow" footprints! Oh and if it wasn't the impending excitement of Santa for AJ that keeps me awake it is certainly the eagerness for my littlest to wake up so that I can run in and tell him "we are hOMe!" Ha-never thought I'd be in this stage of actually wanting my children to wake up from their peaceful slumber!

Merry Christmas to all and GET up my boys! Get up!!! Lets celebrate!!!!!

Love,
Momma

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving!

Finally, my Thanksgiving post.  GEESH.  It's called ohemgee...it's almost 2013 which means at 11:59 on 12/31/12 any and all posts for 2012 will be published in my hardcover book and therefore REALLY MEGAN are you going to post a 2012 post in the 2013 book.  Ihopenot.  So Thanksgiving this year was a little different than last year.  See last year we went everywhere and saw everyone, and it was amazing and sucked all at the same time.  I was uber pregnant which didn't help our travels and my stomachache.  This year I decided it was going to be different.  We were going to two houses for sure and that was it with a little lunch or two.  Our priority was to see the grandparents and that was all.  Life has been so crazy that I just wanted some downtime, and didn't want to be running all over the place.  It was hard not to feel like we were being rude, insensitive, basically a-holes.  Because the reality is that I love seeing our friends that we haven't seen in awhile.  But I just couldn't do it.  I didn't have the energy.  And after all of it, man, it was such a great choice.  We came back ready to be home, but really appreciative of the time that we had to CHILL out.  Here our some of the pictures we left with...

Family time is so grand.

The brothers celebrating Movember:) And yes they totally let me arrange this photo shoot.

Uncle Will demonstrating the "Ryker" dance.  He was Amazing.

Auntie Ern-tan and good lookin'.  AJ's a lucky dude:)

Birth Buddy Boden!  Thanks to the Beckers for sharing their new BEAUTIFUL house with us!

Playing some Games with Grandad.

Just some good lookin bros hanging out. NBD.

Loving our Uncle Will!

Enjoying the country time:)

Grammy Time, Grammy Time!

AJ he actually touched a BUS!

Feeding the cows with Grandpa Mark.

/

We took our first visit to the Children's Museum.  This place was amazing!

AJ was amazed by EVERYTHING here..

Love this.  Laurel's girls and Russell's boys!

Uncle Troy, Uncle Troy

My Papa is so darn comfy!

Granny Barb reads dinosaur stories to me!

Twas a great, great time- even though we didn't go everywhere.  We went exactly where we were supposed to go.

Love,
Momma

I'm the Weaner!

High5 Ryker Lee!  We did it!  Another year of breastfeeding in the books!  A year of pumping, nursing, and being close to my little man!  So much work, yet so rewarding too!  Ryker has done great.  He is now working his own sippy cup all.by.himself.  He enjoys drinking milk and water.  And ya know... I'm kind of enjoying my independence as well.  To celebrate my dear husband brought home this bottle of wine to celebrate:)  Pic of me and a Malbec in one. Um yes please;)

Love,
Momma

On the day before the TRIP

This is some photos from our date nights the past two months.  These things are kinda RARE, but not like triceratops rare (can you tell I have someone who enjoys dinosaurs in this house?).  Russ and I try to get out every couple weeks together because it is so important.  Time to be with just each other.  To discuss our jobs, or talk about our parenting, or reminisce how perfect our children are, or kinda sleep sitting up, or pretend we still can shake it or listen to those bands, or watch that movie. 

It's fun to remember that we do still love each other and find each other super fun.  Sometimes that stuff gets a little cloudy when we are busy working our 40 hour jobs and caring for 2 under 2.  Sometimes we get a bit snippy and sometimes I get grouchy about the housework or the food on the table or the dishes in the sink.  Sometimes he gets grouchy about the lack of video games he can play or the nagging or the routines.  And then we are each others safe people to get grouchy on because we know that we will get over it and still love each other.  And after one of "those nights" we are the only ones that can feel to the depth of our bones just how tired we are because of that little boy who was JUST THAT SAD all night long.  And we are also the ones that can feel to the depth of our bones how amazing it is to look over and feel that overwhelming feeling when our little ones look at us and smile and tell us that they love us.  No one knows exactly that feeling like him.

SO after these past FIVE years we decided we were celebrating.  Celebrating our hard work, our children, our marriage---essentially our awesomeness.  Refill the marriage bank account as one of my coworkers said.  And with awesome Grandparents this trip is able to really happen.  So in less than 24 hours we will be on a plane to Aruba.  We have made this trip a priority.  I know that the first 12 hours will be super hard and I'll miss my little guys.  AND then...well I'll be okay and so will Russ.  And the boys are going to have an awesome time with their Grandparents.  AND then that last day we will be sun-kissed, relaxed, and the REMEMBERing just how much we love each other and we will come home to our boys.  And celebrate Christmas with the Grandparents and Aunt Joan.  AND it is GOING TO so great.  I'm so freakin excited!
 
Cheers to you.  My hottie husband.
 

LOVE my love,
Wifey

I had to.

Love you AJ promise...

Momma

AJ-isms

Oreo eating: AJ opens the cookie up and eats all the white creamy goodness. He leaves the cookie part. No reason to eat it!

Naptime: For some reason naptimes are ridiculously easier to do with AJ then bedtime. Today he put his man down to take a nap first, then he followed suit directly after

House projects: he's beginning to earn his keep around here, slowly but surely. He helped Dad stain some shelves. As he painted he said,"up and down. Up and down"!!'

Love,
Momma

Mah

Setting: our bed this am
ME: AJ I gotta get up, time for work.
AJ: No Mah. Stay down. Don't go up.

I swear he's so sweet.
<3
Momma

Last put to sleep nurse tonight...

I just finished my last before bed nurse with Ryker and I can't decide if I want to cry or be super happy and free... I mostly want to cry. Crazy how quick time goes...all the old people are onto something when they tell you to enjoy your little kids because time flies. As tired as I am in the middle of the night when I get up to soothe Ryker, or as frustrated as I get with Aylen for not going to sleep on his own. I got to remember that in the grand scheme of things this time goes fast. It already has...before I know it ill be hanging out on the porch of our cabin reminiscing with Russ about those "crazy selfless times" rocking AJ's baby while he and his partner rock climb. Guh. I can't believe I'm almost done nursing.... I can't believe Ryker is almost 1. I just can't.

Love,
A mixed emotions Momma