Day by Day...

It seems like forever since I've posted and I have good intentions of doing it but just can't seem to muster up the energy at night after the boys are asleep. I started a new job last month and it's awesome but the hectic schedule is a lot to handle, even more so with the daily afternoon/evening nausea that I'm dealing with. I've tried all the suggestions (crackers, ginger ale, small meals, etc.) but the only thing I have found to help slightly is a little bit of good ole' caffeine. Not a lot but just about 1/2 a can of Dr. Pepper does the trick...most days. Before the rocks get thrown at me by you non-caffeine drinkers, let me say this. First, going from drinking 2-3 cups of coffee and 1-2 cans of DP a DAY to only 1/2 can every OTHER day is a lot for this busy mama. Second, I did verify with my OB (even though I knew the stats....1-2 cups of coffee or 1-2 sodas is acceptable and safe) and I'm doing this in an effort to stay off meds until this first trimester passes...assuming the sickness goes with it. And third, I drank little to NO caffeine with d1 and he's a wild child. I drank a bit more with d2 and he's a mellow fellow. Looking at the two in comparison, one might suggest that I drink a 2-liter each day to ensure this bebe's calm temperament. However, I am following doctor's orders....and drinking my tasty DP in moderation. Although we have a few weeks left before we know the sex of this little surprise, I have to think that this is a girl....I was never sick with the boys and I never had this disgusting ACNE I have recently come upon. Maybe old wives tales but I'm holding onto it with all I've got! Here's a picture of me at 10 weeks...pre-acne period and before my tan faded from my month-long vacation....

So, our two little guys are growing in leaps and bounds. d1 is thoroughly enjoying preschool and LOVES his teachers (PTL!). He takes his lunch everyday and is so excited when I tell him what I packed in his Spiderman lunchbox each morning. He used to "cling" to me during drop-off but he has really been doing great, and I'm sure it's due to his being so comfortable around the teachers. d2 is also doing well in preschool, although he did have to go to the director's office and sit in the "sad chair" last week. Apparently d2 was on the playground and, according to his teacher, he tackled a little girl to the ground and BIT her on the cheek. I was SHOCKED! This is not the behavior we typically see from d2 so, like any good parents, we assume the girl did something to him first. ;) Not that we find his behavior acceptable but more that we think there is more to it. Naturally, we don't ask the teacher who the little girl is (although I bet we could figure it out by looking for a bite mark on the cheek)...we go to our inside source ~ Aunt Donna. She works at the preschool and she is so loving to the boys, always checking on them to see how they are. We called and asked if she had heard about the incident in question and she hadn't but said she suspected a little girl that is known for hitting and stealing toys. AHA! Come to find out, it was and we "know" our precious monkey wouldn't intentionally hurt a little girl....but we do know he has had to learn to defend himself from his big brother so it all became very clear. Nonetheless, we explained to d2 that we do NOT hit or bite our friends...and his response is always "Ess mim" (yes, ma'am). Everyone is "mim" at this point...we haven't mastered "sir." We are also working on potty training...at this point, he will pee-pee in the potty but #2 is out of the question. Our bribe of choice....Nilla Wafers. Works great....except that he is going to burn out on Nilla Wafers if he doesn't stop going into the pantry, closing the door and eating out of the box! Sneaky little guy...

d1 does have his share of time-outs at school for not listening, an issue we have daily at home. Like the ears don't even work...I think it's a male thing, not a 4-yr-old thing because D1 often has a "hearing problem." But other than not listening, d1 hasn't been in real trouble...accept for kissing a little girl in his class last week. Him and a friend apparently each gave her kisses on the cheek and had to sit with the teacher and hear why we only kiss our mommies and daddies. I thought girls were gross at this age?? I will be punting these subjects off to D1....just like I do with the "Mommy, where's your weenie?" questions. I refuse to stand naked in front of him anymore because it's like his eyes are glued to where where my "weenie" should be. Ah, the joys of parenthood and the infamous questions!

Here is a recent picture of my crazy pair....lucky for you, their clothes are on this time. They usually enjoy dancing in the nude...