Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Zander turns 2.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Funny Zander
While Zander doesn't talk too much he does still do some funny stuff. He has excema and it's been flaring in his joints with the heat that we've had. He has a spot on the top of his left elbow that is becoming raw and bleeding. Tonight I decided that I would put some cream on it and then a bandaid since I usually won't treat it for fear of him eating/licking the cream off. I put the cream on and then a bandaid so that overnight hopefully the cream would clear it up. Then I said to him that he could just leave that on while he was sleeping and it would be all better in the morning. Well he then begins pointing at it and making snoring noises. He then kept pointing at it and snoring. I put a long sleeve shirt on him so that he wouldn't pick it off, but he was so funny with his snoring.
He does occasionally fake like he's sleeping and it's always with sound effects of him snoring.
He does occasionally fake like he's sleeping and it's always with sound effects of him snoring.
Monday, July 23, 2012
keeping busy
Well I've been keeping a little more busier than normal since mom left and it's done well for me. I am going a bit crazy because I've missed Tony the last 2 times he got online so I haven't talked to him for a week now. Took Abbie to the dr today. She had a few boughts of screaming like she was in pain last night so I wanted to make sure she was good to go. She checked out beautifully. She weighed 13lbs 11oz dressed and was 24 inches long. I weigh and measure her periodically at home and those were both right on with our at home calculations. The dr said she looked great and was very responsive and alert. Almost as if she was more alert than most.
She is certainly the princess at the house and I think she already uses that to her benefit. She's still such a good little baby and I am continually amazed by her. She does have spells of being fussy, but it's usually just because she is ready for the next step in her cycle sleep/eat/poop/play repeat repeat repeat all day long. Then she sleeps all night quite consistently still. She is beginning to enjoy a little co-sleeping more especially for naps. She will occupy herself with her play mat or bouncer toys during her playtime and prefers to be laying on the floor over being held sometimes.
I didn't know what my relationship with my daughter was going to be like. I never truly expected to have a girl and then I didn't know what parenting her would be like once I knew she was a girl. I still had my doubts and even after she was born I asked if she was still a girl while she was laying on my chest after birth. I didn't know how much I needed a little princess until I got Abbie. She lights up my world every single day. I feel so blessed to have her.
I have never quite liked the little girls with the super high pitched voices. I always thought "how does a mother stand that". And other than when we're at church I think Abbie's super high pitched little jabbering is adorable. She is such a girl and has so much to say. She has a select few number of people that she lets hold her so I do sometimes wonder what I am getting myself into since Zander is also like that, but I am just so amazed by her.
I still absolutely love my boys just as much as Abbie, it's just different just like my love for each boy is different.
I'm very excited to get some more one on one time with Zander when school starts. He's such a mess and so fussy at times, but hopefully being the "big" brother in the house this school year will get him settled a bit. He's possibly got some speech delay, but I hear a new word almost everyday. He loves balls and can point out which is which of the 4 he knows. He knows enough words to get what he wants about 60% of the time, but the bigger boys still torment him until he's screaming and fighting back so having the bigger boys in school will solve that problem. If he spills something he almost always tries to clean it up and then he puts whatever he used back where he got it. Like towels/rags he gets out of the drawer himself and puts them back after he's cleaned up his mess.
Zander is starting to do better with others caring for him. He still tucks his head away when initially addressed, but will warm up to several different people at this point. He allowed a guy at church to take him to the playground with out me or a brother last week, but I think that was more his desire to go outside to play instead of going to church. He had a babysitter today for a little bit. She said it took several minutes of playing hide and seek to get him out of his bed. He is quite moody when he wakes up and that can sometimes be the worst part of his day. Parenting him pushes my buttons some days but when his little smile lights up you can see he's full of trust from his momma.
I'll have to find time to come back and post about what's going on with the older 3 cause I'm tired now, but rest assured there isn't much rest for a "single" mother of 5. :)
She is certainly the princess at the house and I think she already uses that to her benefit. She's still such a good little baby and I am continually amazed by her. She does have spells of being fussy, but it's usually just because she is ready for the next step in her cycle sleep/eat/poop/play repeat repeat repeat all day long. Then she sleeps all night quite consistently still. She is beginning to enjoy a little co-sleeping more especially for naps. She will occupy herself with her play mat or bouncer toys during her playtime and prefers to be laying on the floor over being held sometimes.
I didn't know what my relationship with my daughter was going to be like. I never truly expected to have a girl and then I didn't know what parenting her would be like once I knew she was a girl. I still had my doubts and even after she was born I asked if she was still a girl while she was laying on my chest after birth. I didn't know how much I needed a little princess until I got Abbie. She lights up my world every single day. I feel so blessed to have her.
I have never quite liked the little girls with the super high pitched voices. I always thought "how does a mother stand that". And other than when we're at church I think Abbie's super high pitched little jabbering is adorable. She is such a girl and has so much to say. She has a select few number of people that she lets hold her so I do sometimes wonder what I am getting myself into since Zander is also like that, but I am just so amazed by her.
I still absolutely love my boys just as much as Abbie, it's just different just like my love for each boy is different.
I'm very excited to get some more one on one time with Zander when school starts. He's such a mess and so fussy at times, but hopefully being the "big" brother in the house this school year will get him settled a bit. He's possibly got some speech delay, but I hear a new word almost everyday. He loves balls and can point out which is which of the 4 he knows. He knows enough words to get what he wants about 60% of the time, but the bigger boys still torment him until he's screaming and fighting back so having the bigger boys in school will solve that problem. If he spills something he almost always tries to clean it up and then he puts whatever he used back where he got it. Like towels/rags he gets out of the drawer himself and puts them back after he's cleaned up his mess.
Zander is starting to do better with others caring for him. He still tucks his head away when initially addressed, but will warm up to several different people at this point. He allowed a guy at church to take him to the playground with out me or a brother last week, but I think that was more his desire to go outside to play instead of going to church. He had a babysitter today for a little bit. She said it took several minutes of playing hide and seek to get him out of his bed. He is quite moody when he wakes up and that can sometimes be the worst part of his day. Parenting him pushes my buttons some days but when his little smile lights up you can see he's full of trust from his momma.
I'll have to find time to come back and post about what's going on with the older 3 cause I'm tired now, but rest assured there isn't much rest for a "single" mother of 5. :)
Thursday, July 12, 2012
dressing a girl
What I have learned dressing a girl is that their clothes can last longer than boys. When she out grows a dress it becomes a shirt, when she out grows pants they become capris. You can't do that kind of dressing with a boy, when clothes are outgrown they look silly wearing them again. I wanted to do baby legs with Zavier and Zander, but couldn't get it to look quite right with their outfit, but I can with Abbie. I got a good deal on some cute baby legs so she has about 6 pairs. Right now we're in a heat wave so she's not wearing them this week, but they will last her a long long time. She is already filling out her 3 months clothes and is ready to move into her 6 month stuff. I measured her today and she weighs about 12 1/2lbs and is 24 1/4 inches long. Mom thinks she is small for 3 months, but I wanted her to be petite. I will hopefully be able to get her in for a well child check up when the big boys go back to school in the fall.
Mom has been here almost 2 weeks. It has been nice having another adult around, but my mom and sister expect entertainment when they are here so we have left the house about 10/12 days so far. Today she is at the library with the older 3 since Abbie cries when I leave her. I don't know how she's so quick to know but she is and Zander cries when he's the only one left at home so she took the older 3 and I kept the babies. I haven't gotten much accomplished since she left, but I am working on potty training Zander so I did spend about 20 minutes in the bathroom with him and then bathed him when he pooped his pants. We're still a long way from being close to potty training, but his skin is so sensitive he often ends up with a rash from foods he eats. So this time potty training is a must so that he can heal.
Well Abbie says it's time to eat and I'm going to start lunch for the big boys upon their return.
Mom has been here almost 2 weeks. It has been nice having another adult around, but my mom and sister expect entertainment when they are here so we have left the house about 10/12 days so far. Today she is at the library with the older 3 since Abbie cries when I leave her. I don't know how she's so quick to know but she is and Zander cries when he's the only one left at home so she took the older 3 and I kept the babies. I haven't gotten much accomplished since she left, but I am working on potty training Zander so I did spend about 20 minutes in the bathroom with him and then bathed him when he pooped his pants. We're still a long way from being close to potty training, but his skin is so sensitive he often ends up with a rash from foods he eats. So this time potty training is a must so that he can heal.
Well Abbie says it's time to eat and I'm going to start lunch for the big boys upon their return.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Circling
I feel like I am running circles around people and their friend groups. I keep trying to branch out and try to get new friends and it just isn't working. I am still invisible. Not sure where to go from here but praying something good comes along. Mom will be here Sunday so that will be at least some adult conversation for a while.
I have just grown so much since Tony and I started dating almost 11 years ago. He is truly my best friend. I can say anything to him and know he's on my side everytime except against him. ;) I love him as a parent to our kids. He has grown so much as a parent since we had Zachary 9 1/2 years ago. We were just at such an awesome place before he left. Life was in a very perfect place with the addition of Abigail. I feel like I had just fallen into my role as Tony's wife and not the head of the house. I am so happy as his wife and mother of his 5 beautiful children. Tony is such an amazing husband and father. 2 months down another 7 to go until he's back home with me and his kids.
I have just grown so much since Tony and I started dating almost 11 years ago. He is truly my best friend. I can say anything to him and know he's on my side everytime except against him. ;) I love him as a parent to our kids. He has grown so much as a parent since we had Zachary 9 1/2 years ago. We were just at such an awesome place before he left. Life was in a very perfect place with the addition of Abigail. I feel like I had just fallen into my role as Tony's wife and not the head of the house. I am so happy as his wife and mother of his 5 beautiful children. Tony is such an amazing husband and father. 2 months down another 7 to go until he's back home with me and his kids.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Harder than I thought
My oh My 5 is harder than I expected. Keeping Abbie fed every few hours while trying to keep the other 4 busy, fed, and carted around as needed is quite the challenge. I know my mood totally affects how the day is going to go. Today started rough because Zachary didn't realize that he still had school today, so he was grumpy. Then I went to the grocery store to pick up the on sale items from the ad. I dropped the big boys off for their last day of school and then headed to the store. They have been riding the bus since Tony left in April to make things easier for me. However when we got to the store we went in and I put Zander in the front of the cart, Abbie in her carseat in the back, and was going to have Zavier walk. I started at the milk which was located in the back of the store. However when we got back there I then realized why Zavier had asked to ride in the cart, he wasn't wearing shoes. AWESOME! So then I tossed him in the cart too, squeezed in the groceries and got the heck out of there.
Went to the Post office and mailed off Tony's 6th box (2nd this week). I want to keep it at about a box a week so that he should be getting plenty of mail. Right now I am the only one sending him packages and after being overseas (which isn't the same as a deployment) I certainly know the value of something to look forward too. Wanting to keep his spirits up since this is a much more active deployment than the last.
I am still trying/hoping to get the rest of the garden planted soon. It's not going very well as I have only got 2/5 plants planted. Abbie doesn't let me get much outside time and since I got her sunburned last month I won't be taking her with me. I got out today with a bit of fussing from her to get the front flower bed sprayed for weeds and I cut the lavender bush up because it was ugly. I think when you go to rent your house out if you must have so many flower beds you should pay someone to care for them. Sometimes you'll get a tenant that likes them and can maintain them, sometimes you'll get one like me. I hate the maintenance on the yard. I just can't get out to do it. Others keep telling me they'll do it, but so far the only thing to be done is the front mowed by the new neighbor. I don't expect it from people, but I need help. I think I am going to just break down and ask the guy team at church for someone to come and do it and I can pay. I'm ok paying anyone $20-$30 twice a month, but no more than that.
I'm quite lonely out here. I don't really have many friends out here because the area is so big and the people here seem quite wrapped up in themselves. My one good friend is heading to Ft.Sill this month so that will suck. We hung out about once a week and she is 1. a large family, and 2. has kids the same age almost as each of my 4 boys. It makes me wish we were moving east. Next summer can't come soon enough as I am ready to move on from this place. The weather does seem like it may finally stay nice, but it is June 15th already so we've been ready for a while. I think the weather has been bringing me down too. I certainly feel better with the windows open with some fresh air flowing through the house.
Got a busy day tomorrow so we'll have some down time in the morning and then in the afternoon we'll head off to our first event and then follow that up with bible study in the evening. I am liking the bible study and enjoying visiting with others.
I am off to night to start getting everyone ready for bed. All but Abbie were bathed after playing in the sprinkler today and I am very exhausted so an early bed time would be fine by me. :)
Thursday, June 7, 2012
I've become that wife
That whiny, complaining, bitching wife about my husband being gone and how much it sucks. I hate that I've become that. There should be no excuse for it because I often tell other spouses each place you go is what you make it.
The weather here is just so sucky again this year that we can't even go outside. I haven't spoken to Tony since he left other than one attempt at a skype call a few days after he left. We did spring recently for him to buy phone minutes for Zayden's birthday next week. Hopefully getting to talk to him so will cheer me up.
While I wouldn't change having 5 kids, having 5 kids by myself is not really hard, but quite repetitive. I feel like all I do is change poopy diapers. I do at least 4 a day between the 2 little ones. I'm going to potty train Zander just for a break of changing poopy diapers. lol The bigger kids are so far off the listening track that I don't know if they'll ever find it again. They know when I ask them something that I'm tied up with a baby or dinner or laundry or something so that I can't get up chase them down and force them to do what I asked so they just do NOTHING. I've tried reasoning with them and rewarding them and punishing them, but when I punish them it's really more of a punishment for me. (no TV, DS, whatever) Even spanking them hurts my hand more than their bum. I rely on that TV because that is the only way I can occupy them all at the same time so that I get anything done or take care of the baby. I hate the TV. I'm already planning for the summer to be get up, dressed (which they don't like to do now) watch TV until breakfast and then they each have to do 20/30 minutes of reading before they are allowed to do whatever they want.
I'm quite lonely here and don't get enough adult conversation in. People keep saying well just come hang out here. Sorry but I'm not going to just show up at someone's house with 2/3/5 kids in tow to hang out. I'm so glad my mom will be here in 23 days. Then I'll at least have someone to talk to and hold Abbie so I can get things done for the other kids when they need it. I did learn that another mom in the loop with one kid's hubby is deployed too so hopefully we can do some stuff this summer. I can totally say the winter is going to suck being here all by myself, but Stef is coming Sept and Dec and Mom is coming back in Oct-Nov so then I just have to make it to January.
Another friend with a deployed spouse commented that she hates wishing away time for her husband to be home. I feel like that all the time. While I'm so excited for him to come home I hate how fast the time with my kids is going. Zachary is almost 10 and Abbie is already 9 almost 10 weeks old. They are just getting so big so fast and I want to sit back and take it all in, but I feel like I'm just running around trying to pass the time until Tony returns. We certainly do have good times while he's gone, but they are surrounded by the same old survival routine. Maybe the weather will clear up once school is out so we can enjoy some outdoor activities.
The weather here is just so sucky again this year that we can't even go outside. I haven't spoken to Tony since he left other than one attempt at a skype call a few days after he left. We did spring recently for him to buy phone minutes for Zayden's birthday next week. Hopefully getting to talk to him so will cheer me up.
While I wouldn't change having 5 kids, having 5 kids by myself is not really hard, but quite repetitive. I feel like all I do is change poopy diapers. I do at least 4 a day between the 2 little ones. I'm going to potty train Zander just for a break of changing poopy diapers. lol The bigger kids are so far off the listening track that I don't know if they'll ever find it again. They know when I ask them something that I'm tied up with a baby or dinner or laundry or something so that I can't get up chase them down and force them to do what I asked so they just do NOTHING. I've tried reasoning with them and rewarding them and punishing them, but when I punish them it's really more of a punishment for me. (no TV, DS, whatever) Even spanking them hurts my hand more than their bum. I rely on that TV because that is the only way I can occupy them all at the same time so that I get anything done or take care of the baby. I hate the TV. I'm already planning for the summer to be get up, dressed (which they don't like to do now) watch TV until breakfast and then they each have to do 20/30 minutes of reading before they are allowed to do whatever they want.
I'm quite lonely here and don't get enough adult conversation in. People keep saying well just come hang out here. Sorry but I'm not going to just show up at someone's house with 2/3/5 kids in tow to hang out. I'm so glad my mom will be here in 23 days. Then I'll at least have someone to talk to and hold Abbie so I can get things done for the other kids when they need it. I did learn that another mom in the loop with one kid's hubby is deployed too so hopefully we can do some stuff this summer. I can totally say the winter is going to suck being here all by myself, but Stef is coming Sept and Dec and Mom is coming back in Oct-Nov so then I just have to make it to January.
Another friend with a deployed spouse commented that she hates wishing away time for her husband to be home. I feel like that all the time. While I'm so excited for him to come home I hate how fast the time with my kids is going. Zachary is almost 10 and Abbie is already 9 almost 10 weeks old. They are just getting so big so fast and I want to sit back and take it all in, but I feel like I'm just running around trying to pass the time until Tony returns. We certainly do have good times while he's gone, but they are surrounded by the same old survival routine. Maybe the weather will clear up once school is out so we can enjoy some outdoor activities.
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