Motherhood Is...{29}

This week I am blessed at the fact that Hunter still has a slight bit of childhood innocence left in him.

Check out that little diaper bum looking into the "wa wa" at church this morning. I don't think we walked past a single person who didn't "awe" at the fact that he was walking through church with just a shirt, diaper, and shoes on. Yeah, he's still small enough to get away with it - lucky!

When is it that our kids grow out of this innocence. I might have an answer for you...at about {almost} 17 months! My goodness! This kid already tries his best to defy me, to get his way, to be mean when he can. Yes, I know, my cute little baby "can't possibly be doing that already." But he is. He's starting to push boundaries. He's starting to {want to} say no. He's starting to lose his innocence. So, while I still have a grip on some of it, I'm holding on! Today, walking out of church, I was reminded how little he still is - even if he is trying to grow up while I'm not looking.

If Eden hadn't had her underwear covered people would have stood to the side and pointed and whispered. But since it was the "baby," it was allowed that he didn't have on pants. Same goes with throwing a temper tantrum. The other day in Target {we're always in Target when things like this happen! You think I'd learn my lesson...but Target draws me in every. single. time!} Eden wanted a cake pop from Starbucks. I said she could have it after dinner if I got it, but that wasn't good enough...enter biggest tantrum {that my kids would NEVER throw - in my mind...before having kids of my own...} now! I sat in the frozen food section with my kids, tucked away from everyone else in the store, and said to Eden, "people don't want to hear this from a 3 year old. They expect this type of behavior from your brother. He's one." Yes, people expect that from a 1 year old...but not a 3 year old. Oh my...

Since Hunter hasn't hit 2 yet, he's allowed to act like a crazy person and {at a totally unrelated event} walk around without pants? He sure is! He still has a TEENY bit of innocence left in him. Eden is expected to know better {how unfair} and Hunter is allowed to have socially unacceptable behaviors when Eden and I can't? Fine. I'll just hold on to that innocence for as long as I can! Eden and I can suffer together because we're not allowed to throw tantrums {though we both do - usually at the same time - on opposite sides of the battle field} and we must wear pants in public {you're welcome!}

This is one of those "cherish the moment" deals with Hunter. I know he won't be this age for long. I know I won't be able to get away with him running around church in his diaper, his shirt, and his shoes for much longer. But while I can, I will! I'll let him be that cute, innocent toddler running around naked at church that everyone is "ohh"-ing and "ahhh"-ing over, while Eden and I walk out holding hands...because she still needs me and she still wants me! She has an even teenier bit of innocence than he does...but it's still there!

Oh, sweet innocence of childhood, please don't leave! I want my kids to need and want me forever. Bust since they can't, I'll just be blessed by it while I have it!

Back At It

Now that we're home, we're busy getting back into our "normal" routine. Life back at home has been a bit of an adjustment. Not a bad one, just tiring! I had so many extra hands to help me out when we were in Georgia that now we're trying to get used to doing it alone again. The kids are learning that they can't get what they want at the drop of a hat. If I'm busy, requests have to wait, there's no one around to help them right then and there. I'm also having to remember to go to bed early {yeah right} because my mornings don't consist of taking the kids down to Mimi and Pop and going back to bed until 9 or 10 anymore! We're learning it all over again, and we're adjusting well. 

I'm back into my running routine - I have to! I have another half marathon that is just one month away. My shoes are being discontinued, so I had to stock up while they are still around. One pair is old, 2 are current, and the box is brand new!

The kids are having to get used to the time difference again! 

When we left the plums weren't ripe enough to eat, but now they are! Eden wakes up from her nap {or comes down from her "rest time"} asking for a plum. She goes outside and picks them for her and Hunter.

I've been doing some yard work since my house is so clean inside. I pruned the palm trees and cut the grass this week.

Hunter was walking along the wall in the back yard and took a pretty good spill. He scraped his nose and mouth. The night before he was leaning on the shower door and it opened on him. When it opened he fell onto the metal door frame for the shower with a bare bum. He's got a pretty good bruise to show for that fall. I think he's having to get used to being back home with our normal hazards!

We made a trip to the zoo with friends. The lions, elephants, and the gorillas were out having fun! We also made a stop at the splash pad in the safari park while we were there. That part makes the day worth it because it isn't so hot when you get to play in the water.

The beach is becoming one of our favorite things to do. There's a really nice beach about 30 minutes from home and the kids are loving it more and more every time we go. I'm getting used to the idea of sand and I'm not hating it as much as I once did. {Hunter was eating cherries, not bleeding!}

I keep the rocking chair {and other various items} on the couch when we aren't home to help keep the dogs off the couch. Hunter thought it looked like a fun place to sit and have his banana bread for breakfast...

On a day that she "wasn't tired" according to her.

Boris

A lot of the times when guys get deployed they grow mustaches. Lane is no exception to this rule - though I wish he was! He started his "statue," as Eden calls it {because she heard it refered to as a "stache"}, soon after his arrival in country and has since then become a stranger to our eyes! His mustache grew over night! I mean, one day he didn't have one, and the next it looked like a caterpillar was crawling across his face. It wasn't just that it grew fast...it was black and it was thick. Needless to say, I am hoping he doesn't come home with this unsightly thing on his face! Here is the story of Boris - the "statue"...

Look at that sweet, sweet baby face! No hair {well, sort of} and so handsome!

And then Boris started showing his ugly face. He came on strong! {This is just a few days in}

A few more days and Boris is getting more and more bold. {Lane was frustrated because we had a bad connection when we were talking, thus the weird expression.}

Boris is getting darker!

And there you have it, full on Boris. He came on that strong in a month! He had to be groomed and he was selfish. He stole all the attention when any conversations were going on. He eventually started stealing food from Lane {and that's where Lane drew the line and said he had to go...thank goodness for that!}

Boris was taking over our lives in every way! Even Hunter wanted to look like Daddy. He ate a chocolate cupcake and tried out Boris Jr. for a bit.

I know Lane misses Boris, so I made a memorial for him. I'm going to add the other names that were talked about. Oh yeah, there was a vote to name the mustache! And when Lane shaved it off one of the other guys slid a note under Lane's door that just said, "murderer," because he was upset that Lane got rid of Boris.

I just thought this was funny. When we went to story time this past Monday, this was the book that was on display as we walked in. I thought it was perfect for Lane!

So, Boris is gone for now. I'm crossing my fingers that Boris doesn't make a return because I love Lane's face without him. Here's hoping...we still have months left in this deployment, so who knows if we'll see Boris again!

Hunter Speaks

Recently, Hunter has been saying more and more. He talks a lot, but only occasionally says anything that's understood by others. One of my favorite things that he says is "thank you!" His version of the phrase is pretty clear and its more like "thaak ew!" I joke that I'll give him anything as long as he'll say thank you because it's just so darn cute.

Some of the other things Hunter says are:
Daddy! {Any time a phone rings}
Momma/Mommy
Uh Oh {Mommy}
Mimi
Doggie
Dah {Down, which actually means up. He says this with outstretched arms in hopes of being picked up}
Uh huh
Gah Gah {most of the time this is paci, but it could also be milk}
Wawa
Hah {hot, and then is accompanied by blowing off the food that has been talked about}
Shhhh {with his finger up to his mouth - usually on his teeth. And this is usually followed by some sort of squawk or scream. I'm thinking he needs to learn the meaning of "shhhh"}

Re-Do

When I got back from Georgia I jumped right into finishing the cabinets in the bathrooms. The bathrooms had terrible honey oak cabinets that were fading and nothing short of ugly!

Last year my mom and I re-did the kitchen cabinets so I knew the path I wanted to take to re-do the bathrooms. Once I got started I was on a roll! I started with the downstairs bathroom...

And I'm trying to decide on the hardware before making a commitment to anything. What I picked doesn't match the existing hinges, so I think I'm going to have to change the hinges sooner or later. That can wait. I'm not too worried about the hinges at the moment.

And then I moved to the upstairs bathroom...

And it was all in under a week for a low cost of less than $100!

Go Big Red!

I love Medieval Times! We've been many times, and it rained so much when I was in Georgia, and my dad's siblings were visiting, so we needed an indoor activity. Lucky for us they had half off tickets so we were able to go to dinner and a show at a reasonable price. Eden and Hunter loved it, and I thought it was great seeing their faces through the whole thing. We got to cheer for the red knight and we almost won! We lost by a hair, but it was fun and Eden loved seeing the princess.

The best soup ever!

Motherhood Is...{28}

This week I am blessed by great friends!

When we were in Georgia we left our house in the hands of our friends Angie, James, Tracey, and Jesse - and their kids! They couldn't have taken better care of our house and our dogs while we were gone. My house hasn't been this clean since we moved in. Tracey deep cleaned the house for us, James pressure washed the back patio, Angie folded my laundry and they all tag teamed taking care of our dogs.

Because my house was so clean and so well kept that I was inspired. I unpacked our suitcases within being home for less than 24 hours. I've pruned the palm trees in the back yard. Eden was inspired too! She looked into her toy room - which looked like a tornado went through it - and she said, "oh! This is a mess! I should clean it up!" And she did. She put away all the toys on her own and she's been making sure to pick up all of her toys each day. I've also started asking her to wipe off the table after clearing her dishes from the dinner table and she's doing it with a smile!

Hunter is just going with the flow these days. His communication is becoming much better. Even if most of it is listening with not much talking. He's doing his part helping out around the house too. He gets his cup for dinner so I can fill it with milk or water. He's also putting things in the trash for me - I just have to make sure to keep a handle on what goes into the trash.

Ahhhhh, a clean house and cooperative kids, I couldn't ask for more!