Good news for us!

I have been a little hesitate to write this post just because I don't want to jinx myself! But, I'm very happy to say that Blake is now sleeping through the night!! Monday night is when it all started. After trying for about 15 minutes to get Blake asleep (and already being up with Tyler) I decided it was time to get a back bone! I told Blake that I expected him to go to sleep and that I was going to bed, and then just shut his door. He cried for 5 minutes and then got back in bed and slept! Only 5 minutes! It was so great! The next night he got up again and cried at the door for 5 minutes and then got back in bed and slept. Wednesday night he didn't get up at all AND he slept until 10:30 the next morning! And last night was a success too. We didn't see his sweet face until 9:00 this morning. Tyler is even helping us out too! Last night he slept 8 hours straight! I'm trying not to get my hopes up just yet, but things seem to be looking up for us! Thanks to everyone for all the advice. It is such a blessing to get some good sleep! I'm so thankful!

I finally got Blake to hold Tyler and pose for a picture....maybe its the result of getting so sleep! We have all been happier this week! Tyler has started coo-ing and is on the verge of smiling, Blake has been so cute and has been testing us more and more...he's definitely 2! But we have been able to handle it much better now that we are getting more sleep. What a difference sleep makes!

Bee's game

Bee's baseball...gotta love it. This year for Chris's birthday I surprised him with season tickets to the Bee's (well it was a 12 game package). I really scored on that gift! Chris has really enjoyed going to the games. We went to a game last Saturday and met up with Heather, Scott, and Staci. It was a lot of fun and Bee's won! Nothin' better than going to a game on a summer night. Going to a game with Chris is one of my favorites!

sisters minus one...can you tell that we all have the same hair dresser? :)

Zoo

Last Saturday was a lot of fun for us. We started our day out at the Hogle Zoo with our friends Dan, Laura, and Luke. Chris has been wanting to go to the zoo all year and I haven't wanted to go big and pregnant. So now that I'm not pregnant and the warm weather is finally here (i think) we planned a trip. We ended up purchasing an annual pass too, so we'll be visiting the zoo a lot!

Blake was definitely a fan of the zoo as long as he was able to run where he wanted to, and as long as I didn't talk to him. Blake was a Daddy's boy that day and got mad at me when I tried to talk to him. Tyler was really good for us and slept most of the day. You'll notice in a lot of the pictures our struggle to get Blake to take a picture. He didn't want to stop for anything.

Luke was so cute at the zoo. He saw some older boys posing for this picture and once they were done, he went over to pose and get his picture taken. And then there was Blake....he really wanted his picture taken too, can't you tell??

Not a great picture of the both of us...but I never get a picture of just Blake and me because I'm usually the one taking the pictures!

After a few hours we decided to let the boys play at the playground. Dan and Chris took Blake and Luke around and played with them while Laura and I talked and people watched (what's better than that?!) As we were talking we noticed a lot of teenagers on dates playing at the playground. It was funny to watch them all stop (without fail) and take pictures at the dinosaur egg (pictured below). Each one would struggle to get in and out of the egg awkwardly giggling all the while. Oh the things you do when you are dating! Laura commented on how Dan would never get in that egg now that they are married and take a picture. I quickly agreed that Chris wouldn't either. But then I thought, yeah, Chris would probably do that if I asked him to. Laura was shocked and said that Dan wouldn't for sure. So we put it to the test. Laura asked Dan and surprisingly agreed to do...without hesitation! And what a cute picture...glad we asked.

I asked Chris and he said he would too, however we all know Blake and he is not one to be patient enough for Chris to get in position, but at least we captured this picture before he could escape!

What a cute picture right? I'm glad Laura snapped this one so quick!

To end our day at the zoo we rode the choo-choo which was the highlight of the day!

(Can you see the train conductor in the overalls? He looked just like Chris Farley!)

It was a fun day at the Zoo. It wasn't exhausting at all, and its nice to have a pass because we didn't feel like we HAD to see every animal. It will be fun to go back during the year and see all the animals we missed.

Yay!

My sister's engaged! I couldn't be happier for her.

Congrats Heather and Scott! We love you!

Finally!

Finally. I find myself saying that almost every night now. Finally, Tyler stop fussing; Finally, Blake fell asleep; Finally, I get a break from bouncing on the exercise ball; Finally, I don't have to change my clothes after being thrown up on (happened 3 times yesterday...almost 4. Blake missed me); Finally, I can lay down (which I've wanted to do all day!); Finally, I get to talk to my husband and enjoy my night! Finally, it's quiet.
Finally never lasts too long though. Chris came home from his softball game last night at about 10:50 and we enjoyed talking to each other for about 15 minutes and then our "finally" moment was gone. Blake was up and so was Tyler. Sigh.

I am grateful for a few things though that get me through my day.
One being my exercise ball. I think I was bouncing on that thing with Tyler for a good 3 hours yesterday. It's the only thing that will calm him when he is in one of his fussy fits. Needless to say my back was killing me by the end of the day.
Second, the bouncer. Tyler loves the bouncer and has even slept in it a couple of nights. I've learned that putting Tyler in the bouncer up on my counter by the radio will keep him happy on a good day. He really likes his country music!
Third, the pacifier. not much needs to be said here.
Fourth, my diet Pepsi. It's my piece of heaven during all the chaos.
Fifth, my husband. Knowing that Chris will be home that night to help is the biggest thing that gets me through my day! I don't know how I would do this without him!
and FINALLY hope gets me through my day. I always hope that this night will be the night that Blake sleeps through the night so I'll have more energy to do it all over the next day. (Still waiting for that one to happen!)

Finally. A word I look forward to saying every night! Too bad I can't say The End!

IKEA

I love this dresser. I got the red one for Tyler's room and it's one of my favorite furniture purchases. Few reasons why I love it: the color (the picture doesn't do it justice), the drawers are on rollers so its very easy to open and shut, the height, and the drawers are suprisingly roomy. If you are in the market for a dresser I would suggest taking a look at this one!

Digital Scrapbooking

Hey all you digital scrapbookers I just found this blog that has free scrapbook downloads. They are super cute! Enjoy!

luxury

lux·u·ry [luhk-shuh-ree, luhg-zhuh-]

1. conducive to sumptuous living, usually a delicacy, elegance, or refinement of living rather than a necessity
2. free or habitual indulgence in or enjoyment of comforts and pleasures
3. a means of ministering to such indulgence or enjoyment
4. a pleasure out of the ordinary allowed to oneself

I finally learned something after being a mother of two years: sleeping is a luxury. not a necessity.
Who knew? At least that's how it is in my household. I can't remember the last time I got to go to bed and wake up when I wanted. I guess that's just one of the sacrifices of being a mom....
....Or is it? Maybe I'm just blessed...cursed...(I don't know which) with a kid that just want to be with me 24/7....am I really that fun to be around....
....If sleep is a luxury then I would like that luxury a little more often! or at least a little longer each night.

**Disclaimer: I knew that being a mom would require me to make sacrifices and I'm glad to make them. I guess I'm just asking for more than my average of 4-5 hours of sleep at night. I'm convinced that more sleep would help me be a better mom and not a grouch!


I'm waiting for a call back from the doctor. I talk to Dr. Jackson last week about Blake's sleeping habits. She was concerned and reassured me that it was not normal for Blake to sleep so little. She had me try a couple of things. #1 Give him benedryl. She up-ed the dosage and said that should help. So on night 1 he slept great. As for the next two nights it didn't work. #2 Give him melatonin. She told me to give him 3-6 mg I gave him 10 mg and that didn't work at all! I tried both options out for 3 days each. Dr. Jackson told me that if none of those worked to call and we could try out a prescribed sleep aid. So that's where we are right now. I hope that Dr. Jackson will give me some insight on how to fix Blake's sleep issues. As for Tyler, he sleeps great (knock on wood). Right now he sleeps 6 hours straight through the night...I hope he continues to be a good sleeper. Stay tuned....

oh yes.

A couple of nights ago Chris and Blake surprised me with my Mother's Day gift...a trip to the Spa!! I can't wait! My mother-in-law gave me a gift certificate to Sanctuary last summer, and it was one of the most enjoyable things I did last year! :) I never thought I would enjoy getting a massage so much, but it was just what I needed to feel rejuvenated. And just after 3 weeks of having 2 kids, it's exactly what I need again! Thanks Chris for being so thoughtful and being such a great husband and dad! I love you!

Sunday night

Just a quick pic of our Sunday night at home. I just love my boys!