Co Sleeping.

Yes, our baby sleeps with us. It's "big secret" these days because everyone is afraid of what other people will think. And to be quite honest with you, I don't care what others think. It works for us. It's almost like when I find out someone else does it too...were whispering, and looking around the room to see if anyone has heard. It's not a sin. It's actually a great way to bond with your baby, while meeting your needs and his needs. There not going to want to sleep in your bed FOREVER. Just for a short time until they feel "satisfied" of that need. To me, it's the most peaceful thing to awaken in the middle of the night and look down at your beautiful baby, who's so dependent on you, all snuggled up next to you...feeling your warmth, your breath and your skin against his tiny little body.

So I found this book called Nighttime Parenting by William Sears, M.D. It is the best "self help" book I have ever read. I have finally found a book who's parenting style TOTALLY matches mine. I love the book and recommend it to anyone who is pregnant or has a young child.

Happy Reading!

9 weeks Old.

Today we took Sammie to see the Dr. for his 2 month check up. He did so well. I couldn't believe that he weighs 11 lbs. 10 oz. and is 22 3/4 inches long. He has grown over 3 inches and gained 5 lbs. since he was born!! I think it's all that "liquid gold" we've been feeding him ;) What a champ!

He had to get 3 shots and 1 oral vaccine. The shots were difficult for me and Sammie. He cried...like such a sad cry. I felt so bad for him. As soon as I got him in my arms, he settled down. Ethan came along too. We ended up spending 2 hours there, and Ethan was such a good boy. I was so proud of him.

I just can't believe how fast these last 2 months have gone. His "baby stage" is going to be over with right before my eyes...

Time for a Change.

Ok, I have been growing out my hair now for...oh about...5 YEARS!! And I've only made it down to my bra-strap on my back. I think you know it's time to cut your hair when you wear it either scrunchy to work or up every single day. When I do wear it down, Sammie grabs ahold of it for dear life and ends up with chunks in his hand which make their way to his mouth! So I have made my decision to cut it all off. Well not all of it because then I would look like Britney Spears or something...
This is the look I am going for...

Not so much the color, but the cut. I tend to like my new found brunette style! :) Let me know what you think!! I haven't made my appointment just yet...

Happy (late) Valentines Day!

This year I had to work my 12 hour shift on Valentines Day. Which is really no big deal, because we don't celebrate Valentines Day anyways. I think it's just another day to spend more money. You should show your love for each other everyday!! Of course we'll make Valentines Day fun for the kids though! Sammie had on the cutest outfit though, and I wasn't home to grab a picture of it! It was a white all one piece outfit with a big red heart on the butt. SUPER CUTE!

Sammie has taken off on growing. He is wearing 3-6 month clothes, and some of them are too tight. It's mostly the pants that are tight around the belly, and some onesies are a little short. And the one piece footed sleepers are too short. I can't believe it. If he keeps growing like this, all of Ethan's cute clothes that I saved won't be for the right season!! Sammie is doing great. He is a very easy baby. Once in a while he has a fussy moment, but most of the time he is pretty content doing whatever we are doing. We go to his 2 month check tomorrow. I am so anxious to see just how much he weighs. My guess is around 11 lbs. We think he might be teething. YES ALREADY. He has 2 bumps that look like they have a little white behind them, on his bottom gums. This would explain his sporadic drooling, messy diapers and occasional spit up. I'll believe it when I see that thing pop through his gums. But I really do think he is teething!! If I remember right, Ethan got his first 2 teeth at around 4 months.

About a week ago Nick called me when I was at work, asking if we had any vanilla flavoring. I was wondering what the heck he would need that for, since he rarely bakes...only makes really yummy breakfasts! Some I come home that night and ha made this oatmeal raisin cookie bake. They are like a bar instead of a cookie! And of course, Ethan got to lick that beaters!! :) Ethan has grown up a lot lately. The things he says, he just sound so grown up. For about the past week he doesn't want to miss a beat. No naps, and he gets up when he feels like it in the morning. Like this morning, Sammie woke up at 6:07. Nick went to get out of bed, and discovered Ethan standing there staring at him...kind of a creepy though to have someone watching you while you sleep...
I think he might feel left out. Everyone is in our bed except him. So he jumped up and we all watched "Handy Manny"...at 6:07 in the morning...Zzz
It's going to be a long day!

Sammie has a twin.

I was searching through our picture cabinet this morning looking for a picture of Ethan when he was a baby. But I found this instead. It's Nick and his Mom from 1980. I cannot believe how identical he looks to Sammie. Now we know who BOTH kids are going to look like. I told Nick, on that note, we need to keep having kids until we get one that looks like me!! (I'm only kidding of course)

Right Now at Our House.

Right now at our house, Sammie is sound asleep in his swing, while our sneaky Ethan is doing something very suspicious in our room. I go in there, with my phone to sneak a pic, and Sadie is hiding under the bed in fear of the big monster truck Ethan is trying to run her over with. Let alone, he has this hat on...maybe it came from teddy ruxbin? He looks like a scarecrow. I'll have to remember this hat for next Halloween!

Don't cha know.

Sometimes I think my friends and family wonder why I moved to South Dakota. I mean, lets face it, when I met my wonderful and sometimes a little goofy husband and found out he was from South Dakota, I probably had a look of "huh"!? on my face. It was like a foreign country or something. I was thinking to myself (so I didn't sound like a fool) where in the hell is South Dakota? Is it over by North Carolina? By Idaho? Come on people..help me out here. I seriously had no clue where it was. Couldn't point to it on a map if I had to. Obviously I didn't pay much attention in 4th grade history class...
Anyways. No, I was NOT one of those California girls who thought South Dakotans lived in teepee's still or rode in horse and buggy. I mean this was the 21st century now. I knew that it couldn't be that desolate. However, a while back my brother asked me "How's the farm"? As I re-read that question I contemplated 2 things. Either he was being a smart ass and thought I really lived on a farm and had no running water, or he just misspelled "fam" and was asking about the family. Knowing him he was being a smart ass. I giggled to myself and thought...hmmm...how far can I take this? So I ran.
I emailed him back that we were all doing great. And that Ethan loved going out every morning in his parka to get farm fresh eggs that the chickens just laid, and that sometimes there was still a little poo on them that we had to wash off. That the cows really keep my grass green and fertilized. It's so great. And all the goats and sheep graze so much I really don't even need to mow. And how last weekend we needed to do some outdoor sporting events so we packed up into our minivan and drove to a frozen lake for some oh so eventful ice fishing. And the other day we went shopping for some hunting gear, even though we don't hunt.
Okay so by this point I'm sure he was laughing pretty hard. It's just funny how when I call home now, all I hear is "wow your o's are really long when you talk now". I think people think that all we say is "Git 'er done" and "oh don't cha know" and wear parkas. It's so stereotypical!! I'm just a normal California girl living in South Dakota. Yes it's populated, and yes we are modernized!! :)

Got to Love Smiles.

Yesterday I had to work all day. I walk in the door last night at 7:36 after working 12 long hours and first thing Nick says to me is "check the camera, I got some great pictures on it today". Keeping in mind Nick rarely takes a picture, unless I ask him to. So I figured this has to be good.
Much to my surprise I missed a day full of smiles from Sammie. :(

But this morning...we were playing on the floor and he was getting frustrated with me because I was making him do "tummy time". So I flipped him over and low and behold I got a smile, just like in the picture! I real big one! I love smiles from a child. It means your doing something right!

Funny Story: Now that we have an infant int he household again, all those things we normally just do without even thinking about are slowed down. For example. I can't just jump in the shower whenever I feel like it. Sammie has to be content, and Ethan has to be in the "trusting" mood. Others with more than 1 child know what I mean. This is what happened when I thought Ethan was in the trusting mood.
I put Sammie in his swing and Ethan was eating "loop loops" (fruit loops) and watching cartoons on the couch. Perfect time for a shower right? WRONG. I get out of the shower and the house is just WAY too quiet for there to be nothing going on, if you know what I mean. I peek around the corner and Ethan had a good portion of his match box cars int he swing with Sammie. I asked Ethan what he was doing, and he so sweetly responds "Sammie wanted to play with my cars Mommy". I couldn't help but laugh. Who know what else went on while I took a rush shower! I thought about setting up the video camera to record while I was in there one time...just to see what goes on when no eyes are watching. Or do I even want to know?

Today is a pretty lazy day. We haven't done much besides play on the computer and laundry! I went back to 12 hours shifts last Monday. It was a really long 12 hour shift that's for sure. So I am back full time!
I let Ethan feed Sammie for the first time today. I was right there by his side, of course. Holding the bottle and showing him how to not feed his neck, or the side of his mouth. He did a pretty good job. Sammie just gazed up at him the entire time. It was pretty cool.

Sammie is growing like a weed. He eats all the time and sleeps great at night time. Last night he only woke up once. I love those nights! I think Nick does too :) I think Ethan might be growing out of naps. He has been in his room now "trying" to nap for 1 hour and 23 minutes. I thought for a minute he fell asleep...I heard silence for about 25 minutes...
That will be tough when he no longer naps, as that is when I get the majority of house chores done. Sammie can finally sleep when Ethan is in his room...having peace and quiet. Having 2 kids at home is more challenging than I ever imagined, yet I would still LOVE the opportunity to be a stay at home mom! I WISH....maybe if I wish hard enough it will happen...