3rd Angry Bird-day

Carter turned three on September 24th and we celebrated with an Angry Birds themed BBQ. I told myself that it would be a casual BBQ with our usual family and friends, but I probably went a little overboard. I thought I'd be too overwhelmed to plan a big party, especially because the party fell on the same week that I went back to work and Carter started preschool but somehow I made it all work. I think I secretly love piling too much on my plate just to see if I can handle it all. Yes, I'm crazy. Haven't we figured that out by now?

Three was a really fun birthday for us because it was the first year that he truly *got* it. He kept talking about his birthday and the party, presents,  for weeks beforehand. I think I'm really going to like three (so far so good!). I hope I don't eat those words later..

Here are some of the pictures of Carter's 3rd Birthday:

Angry Bird cupcake toppers!

Olivia wearing her Angry Birds bow for the party.

Another successful birthday wrapped! Yes, I get that I am literally planning the same party year after year with a new theme but same idea at the same location. I've got to switch it up next year.

In other news..

Life has been moving along for us. I mentioned that Carter started preschool and it is going SO well. Our little guy is now potty trained (which probably deserves a post in itself) and he has had zero accidents in several weeks now. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. Three short months ago I couldn't find that perfect preschool and I felt as if Carter would be in diapers forever. Literally overnight my dream preschool appeared a mile from my house - I had no idea it was there - and we were able to potty train Carter. Potty training is one of the worst things as a parent I had to go through. Carter is the a very stubborn child and our daycare provider basically told us not to get our hopes up that he would be potty trained by three years-old. Want to know how I did it? I threw away all the diapers in the house, kept a change of clothes with me wherever I went, and asked him a bajillion times if he had to use the potty. The first week was the most disgusting week of my life, I wanted to give up. He absolutely refused to do a #2 in the potty, for over 8 days in a row (and he goes more than once a day usually). YUCK. We refused to put a diaper on him, even at night. We had to be consistent and persistant. By week two, he finally started doing #2 in the potty, and that was it. He was trained just in time for preschool! It feels like ages ago that I was changing his diaper, and it was only six weeks ago. He is such a big boy now with his big boy underpants. So glad that is over!

He loves his preschool, and is already learning so much. I'm kind of in awe that our little baby boy is now this full blown little man. I don't even know how it happened.

Livy Bean is still adjusting to my going back to work, but I think we finally found our groove here. She is still quite the angel baby for me and I keep asking myself when this whole two kid thing is going to get hard (okay that was a lie - it's really flipping hard but I love it).

I'm going to write a post about going to work this week if I can find the time.

I better run now because Carter is getting into something he shouldn't and Andy needs some help - nighty night!

A Boy.

My tiny peanut; we nicknamed you "monkey" during my pregnancy.

And you truly are a peanut, always a little bit smaller than others your age. To me, you are perfect.

I look back on these pictures of you so new, and I can't believe how this little monkey turned into my feisty smarty-pants toddler who wears big boy underwear and sometimes calls me Michelle.

Your father and I had no clue what we were doing, but we jumped in and we figured it out together. 

We are still figuring it out together.

You taught me patience, and you've tested my patience. All in good ways.

You are hilarious and spunky, and also kind-hearted and giving.

You love to share (food, sometimes toys) and give lots of hugs and kisses.

You LOVE your Papa and Grammie, so much. 

When we visit them, you like to curl up next to your Papa next to his spot on the couch and play on the iPad with him while you share peanuts. 

Grammie loves to teach you all about dogs and birdies, and together you prance around the backyard.

The only cartoon you watch these days is Curious George. 

Over and over again. You, little man, are our Curious George.

You remind me a lot of me. A LOT. You love to give and care for others. 

And you are also sensitive and emotional, and stubborn. Just like me.

You are getting SO big. You are turning 3 and starting preschool this month.

I can't believe how much time has passed, but I also can't remember my life before you were in it.

I wanted to take a moment and remember you when you were still my teeny little baby, just as your sister is now. 

No matter how big you get, you'll always be my little peanut head. 

I love you Monkey. 

I love our little family.

Life with 2

I don't remember what it's like not to have kids so going from one to two isn't too much harder. I don't remember having the freedom to do whatever I want, so throwing a 2nd kid in the mix just made me a little bit busier, but overall we're managing (I mean, we have to, right?).

Olivia is starting to stay awake for longer periods of time and she is no longer as easy going as she was after she was born. She is quite demanding sometimes, and when she isn't sleeping, she's either eating or insisting I hold and bounce her. She really hates the mornings when I have to be somewhere and need to get myself and Carter ready because that means I have to set her down. She cries, but it's usually just a whiny cry and rarely does she get to that ugly screaming cry so I can handle it. Babies fuss and cry, period. If they are fed, changed, comfy and still crying - sometimes you have to just deal with it.

Carter adores his sister, but he still doesn't understand his boundaries. He likes to squish her face, squeeze her and try and pick her up. He constantly tells me how much he loves her, which is cute, but I wish he would just love her two feet away. Ha.

I have successfully handled two grocery store trips with both kids. I strap Olivia to my chest in her carrier, and put Carter in the cart. Going anywhere with the kids takes a lot of prep. In order for me to go anywhere I have to mentally run through what's about to happen so that things go smoothly. Do other people do this? If I don't prepare mentally, there is a good chance I'll have an anxiety attack because I'll be unprepared. For example, If I'm going to the store with both of them, I'll think ahead to where I will park (closest to a cart), and the steps I will take to get them out of the car. (Strap Ergo carrier on first, put Olivia in carrier, unbuckle Carter, hold his hand, get purse, lock car, put Carter in cart, etc etc). I have to do this on the way out as well and plan how I will get both of them in the car (turn on car first so I don't overheat kids, Olivia first, then Carter, then groceries). And as well for when I get home (bring Olivia in with her car seat, bring Carter in and give him something to do, unload groceries, etc etc). Call me crazy, but this is seriously the only way I can handle anything with both of them without having a major meltdown. I guess I do this in most areas of my life, maybe everyone does.

SLEEP. Olivia is still a good sleeper even if she is needy during the day, she still sleeps a good 3-5 hours at a time, nurses, and goes right back to sleep. It's heavenly. We are co-sleeping. I tried to get her in the bassinet, but I realized I want her close to me more than I want my bed to myself. All three of us sleep beautifully this way so we'll keep at it for a little while.

More so then ever, I need my adult time. If I don't get some time out of the house with friends or sans kids at least once a week, it won't be pretty.  I sort of shut myself in after having Carter and I enjoyed it, but this time around, I need to get out of the house. I'm only good for a few hours before my boobs start aching and I miss my little O, but it's great to feel human for a few hours over dinner or drinks with a friend or two.

Carter has been..interesting lately. An old friend told me about a year ago that the "terrible twos" were nothing and I should be worried about the "terrible threes" and I'm starting to think he's right. Carter is this insane ball of energy at all times and has been pushing our patience lately. We have our good days and bad days, but I think we're just dealing with typical boy behavior...I hope.

Well, I'm off to get ready for some mommy time - yay! Say a prayer for my husband.

A Look Back at the Pumpkin Patch

This is Carter's 3rd year celebrating Halloween and going to the pumpkin patch. I love looking back to see what Carter looked like at the same time last year, and the holidays make it pretty easy to do so.

Here is a look back at my little babe at the pumpkin patch:

October 2009

I remember the lady who worked at the patch told us she thought Carter was the youngest little one she's ever had there. He was teeny!

October 2010

This is one of my favorite pictures of C, ever!

And October 2011!

We technically haven't done our official pumpkin patch visit this year, but we did go to the farm the other day and they had their pumpkins out so I had to get some pictures.

MIA

I'm so sorry I've been MIA lately. I promise I'll be back and posting regularly again. I've never been so busy, between Carter's party, family in town, and getting our lives back in order, I'm surprised I've had time to shower lately. And I've been failing at that too I guess. Haha.

I'm still reading all your blogs, unfortunately blogger is being a dork again and not letting my comment on some of my favorite blogs from my work computer, and I tend to do all my blog reading on my lunch break so that kind of sucks. Especially after I type out a nice heartfelt and hilarious comment and it doesn't go through so my effort is wasted. I'm going to try and make an effort to comment from home.

I haven't touched my camera or Photoshop in a few weeks so hopefully that will change soon. Maybe one of my preggo friends will let me take some pictures of their bellies soon for fun?

Last week Andy and I actually ventured from home and drove the 30 miles to Hollywood, on a work night, and saw a concert! A real concert! I was pretty uncomfortable the whole time and sat down in a chair in the corner, but hey, it was a real concert! We saw the band Gomez play, we are both fans, and we also loved the opening acts Greylag and The Kopecky Family Band. All really good bands, if you like Indie-Folky-Rockish music, you'll dig it.

Here are some other things I've been doing recently:

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal with my mom, sisters and a few friends last Friday (if you enjoy being chased by a satanic clown with a chainsaw, go for it!).

Celebrated my sister Kat's 40th Birthday (I think she is lying and is really the same age as me, we are super close and I couldn't imagine not starting my day with a little coffee and chit chatting with her).

Carter and I ate something nasty yesterday and it gave us a stomach bug. He was way worse than me and woke me up at 4am, and then barfed all over me, in my bed, twice. The 2nd time came after we had bathed him, replaced the sheets and washed the dirties. Fun stuff I tell you. All I could think about at 4am, puke on my arm, is what in the world would I do with TWO barfy kids at 4am? One is too much. Sigh.

We're going up to San Francisco at the end of the month for work, and we're bringing Carter with us! Can't wait to introduce Carter to the city that Andy and I met in.

HALLOWEEN is almost here! Yikes! No costume ideas for Carter yet, although he is really into the cartoon Wow Wow Wubbzy and I found a Wow Wow costume so I might go that route. I want to choose something I know he's into rather than dress him in something I find cute, but then again I'm running out of years where I can dress him in whatever I want without any objections.

Next weekend is the annual Pumpkin Festival in a nearby town. Looking forward to bringing Carter like we did last year, and possibly going car shopping for Andy.

Carter can pretty much say any word he wants now, he repeats almost everything he hears, and sometimes he shocks us with words or phrases that we have no idea where they came from. He says thank you ALL the time, and sorry. It's the cutest thing in the world when I unbuckle his car seat, and like clockwork he says "Tank you, tank you" while giving me the cutest little smile. He is due for his 2 year check up soon and I'm sure he's grown like a weed from his last appointment. I'm working on getting him to say "Trick Or Treat" so he'll be prepared for Halloween.

The holidays are going to be so much fun this year. Carter is at an age where he understands the concept of presents. Seeing his face on Christmas morning will pretty much sum up all the reasons why I wanted to have kids in the first place.

That's about it. Thanks for sticking around. I promise to update more VERY soon.

Wordless(ish) Wednesday: i have an old baby

Hiiieee

Carter is 23 months-old today! Yes I am one of those parents who remembers exactly how many months-old my kid is (past 12 months). When I'm asked "how old is he" on a daily basis by strangers, I reply "almost two." And soon it'll just be "two." Excuse me while I go cry...

Getting his face painted at the fair

Love this one. I wish my mom didn't have her iPhone in his face.

I remember after Carter was born I yearned for the day he could walk, talk, be funny, tell me what he likes and dislikes, give kisses, hugs, and for when I could take him out into the world to do fun things that he would actually appreciate. And now all I want is my itty bitty baby back. I want my baby back baby back baby back, Chili's baby back ribs...Okay, couldn't help myself.

He reminds me of Alfafa here. I love my little dorkis.

This is what pure happiness looks like folks.

He IS pretty awesome at this age. It blows my mind that he uses actual sentences now. For example, he'll find my phone and go to hand it to me and say "here's your phone." And I'll go "great..thanks." Wait, wtf?  He says so many new words on a daily basis that I'm continually surprised by him. He still doesn't have the counting thing down even though I practice with him everyday. I think deep down he knows how to count to 5, but he is SO stubborn and won't do something if I ask him to. He does throw trash in the trash can when I ask. He thinks it's fun. Anytime I need something thrown away, I ask Carter to do it for me, and he obliges. He's like my own little personal assistant in training. Kidding! But really it's kind of neat.

My boy and I. I can't believe I had hoped for a girl first, little boys are amazing.

This is turning into many more words than I anticipated. I'm going to treasure this last month where I can still say I have a one year-old. Coming up next month is the big T-W-O birthday bash. I hope it turns out to be everything I want it to be and then some. Well, I mean for Carter. The party is all for him, right? Who I am kidding, it's all for me!



This is what it looks like when Daddy gets Carter ready for bed.