Closet Eater

Now that Carson is eating table food and Savannah is realizing that mommy's food is always better, I'm almost certain I will certainly be turning into a closet eater. I sat down to have breakfast yesterday. Savannah had just finished eating her bowl of cereal then she realized that I had a toaster strudel. Her eyes lit up and she quickly grabbed a plate to put it by the toaster. There went half of my breakfast. I sat down at the table to enjoy the other half when Carson squeals insisting he wants some. There went my other half. I tried to make another one and eat it as fast as I could but both kids whined the entire time while I enjoyed my now little breakfast.

Today concluded to be the same way. Savannah had just finished eating her cereal AND toaster strudel when she saw me making eggs for breakfast. She decided that she wanted eggs too. I listened to the consist whining while I gobbled down my breakfast burrito.

It brought me to remember this part in a very popular film. I can imagine Carson (when he starts talking) and Savannah both standing under my feet repeating these exact words.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-3e0EkvIEM

9 months

Carson turned 9 months old today. I don't know where the time has gone but it has been a great experience having 2 children. Challenging? Yes to say the least but certainly rewarding. I couldn't help but think that when Savannah turned 9 months we were on our way to Massachusetts for our first move of many throughout her life. I remember sitting down in my new house 22 hours from everything I knew and crying when she turned 10 months because for the first I realized she wasn't going to have a birthday party with all her family singing happy birthday to her. Carson will turn ONE in just a few short months and it doesn't bother me nearly as much as it did with Savannah. Maybe this time I'm more prepared as we have been gone from "home" for 2 years coming up this winter.

Jeff and I have been married for 4 years coming up in January. It feels like just yesterday I was being walked down the aisle. Here we are a much stronger couple and more in love with each other each day. We have moved to 4 different states and moved 6 times in those 4 years. We have flipped our first house and moved across country. Two things I never imagined myself doing. If you know me, I like to shop and stay clean. (something I don't manage to do with 2 children now :) ) Usually someone finds me to either spit up or share their dirty hands (with whatever that child has been in). I am so lucky that someone likes to share so much with me. Aww life is so wonderful.

What does Carson do at 9 months? He weighs about 19 lbs and is 28 inches. He loves crawl around the house following me wherever I may go. He enjoys pulling himself up to let go and stand. He is great at blowing bubbles and annoying his sister. He says dada. I tried to ask him to say mama and he just smiled at me. Jeff asked him to say dada and he proudly said it. (traitor) He sleeps through the night consistently. He does wake up every now and then but usually if I just let him fuss a little he puts himself back to sleep. He is still in his infant car seat which is a huge change from his sister who was out of hers by 4 months. He is just starting to fill out the 6-12 month clothes. He can still wear 6 month Carters clothes though. Everyone says he looks like Jeff. He mainly eats whatever we are eating just chopped up. He has 2 teeth and more coming in. He is drawn to remotes and telephones/cell phones. He is our little prince charming.

Another transfer under the belt

The moving coordinator joked with me as we ran down all the list of items you can't pack and things to get in order for the move. She said she had to to go through the list with me despite the fact this was our third move in two years. I was ready to do her job. I have gotten to know my coordinator Mary very well. I also have my favorite driver who does a wonderful job taking care of our stuff. He is a hard worker and I know that when we get him, he will do a good job. He is a very very prompt person. That is underestimating that statement. On Tuesday last week when he was suppose to start packing we agreed upon 8am. Jeff left for work at 7:15 and said Alan was waiting in his truck right outside our development. I called Alan up and said that he was more than welcome to come early since I was already up for the day. I no more than hung up the phone to hear a knock on my door. So it was Alan, the kids, and I for 4 days.

A move with now TWO little ones that are both mobile has proven to be different than moving with ONE that is semi mobile. I lost track of Savannah more times than I care to count and Carson suckered me in with his pooty lip when I would set him down. I have to admit though. Watching him crawl after me and once getting to me I find another thing to do in another room. He instantly becomes a pancake and weeps in defeat. Its like he's saying "do you have any idea how much work it was to get here!?!"

We are slowly but surely getting settled in and feeling more at home each day that passes. Savannah asks less and less times a day if we are going home. I keep reminding her that her toys are here and her bed is here. No need to go home because you are home. Not quite grasping at that concept yet. With all the weeks activity, it has become easier to put the kids down for bedtime. Last night they were in bed by 7:15 and we were able to enjoy some quiet time to ourselves to recharge as a couple.

This house certainly is a dream come true. I never imagined that I would be living in a place like this or having an incredible family to go along with the dream. I have been blessed beyond measures.

Louisville

As we did our house hunting in Louisville this weekend it really hit me that we are moving. AND we are moving with 2 children this time. We attempted on Saturday to drive around the Louisville area but quickly discovered that wasn't an option as we were on the curvy backroad countryside going from one subdivision to another. I was in the backseat holding a bucket for our carsick Savannah ready to lose it at any moment. We got her out of the vehicle just in time. (whew that was a close one). As I was sitting in the backseat between the 2 children I look over at Carson who is just grinning from ear to ear that he finally can see me after only hearing me for the past 2 hours. Jeff and I grew tired and frustrated trying to care for Savannah while attending to a needy toddler. We got very little accomplished. You could cut the tension in the car with a knife and neither one of us was enjoying this task. We decided that we would need to ask for back up for the following day as we drove home.

Saturday night we lay in bed looking over more and more houses to map out our next quest. Savannah earned herself a babysitter and an afternoon away from the car. Our neighbor gave us a phone number to a great high schooler who came over to watch Elmo with Savannah and give her full undivided attention. I watched the rolling hills, changing fall colors, and watching all other surroundings as we drove down again yesterday. There was so much I missed while attending to a sick toddler in the backseat. There was laughter in the car. We found the joy of imagining this next phase in our life come to a reality. I was so glad to have that enjoyment back. Carson was thrilled to have a DVD player all to himself. He enjoyed watching Baby Einstein which he rarely gets to watch because Savannah trumps him with Elmo demands. We didn't find a house yet but we found 2 really great houses that we both liked and could make work. We want to continue searching to make sure that we have a thorough grasp of the area and choose the perfect house for this next phase. Jeff starts his new area on October 29th which doesn't leave us with much time to look. The sooner we find a house and close on it, the sooner we can be joined as a family once again.

Until then I am busy prepping our house for the real estate market, making phone calls to arrange all the details, and trying to find relaxing time to recoop from some of the stress at times. Promotions for Jeff are such an exciting, stressful, joyful, disarray, and all other emotions. I really hope that Savannah handles this move okay. She understands what "home" is now and announces to me when we are getting close to home. I told her that we would be moving and we would have a new home. She responded by saying "move?, sure."

Helpless

I am at a complete and total loss at what to do with Savannah. As a parent you are suppose to be there to comfort them, fight for them, and make sure that nothing hurts them. I can't take this pain away. I don't know what's causing it. Savannah gets car sick. Jeff and I have scrubbed a puked on car seat more times than any parent should have to. Once is enough but at least a dozen times just is getting really carried away. Last month I brought her into the doctor for her vomiting spells at home that she has also been having. They come every 6-9 weeks. I can sense when they are going to be brought on by either bowel habits or her mood. The doctor prescribed her some zofran to help with these vomiting spells so she can at least keep food in her for the day. She's usually fine until she eats something. It comes back up and she goes about playing until another one comes along or she realizes that hunger is starting to strike her again. Then we battle in the kitchen for an hour or 2 over how much she's allowed to drink/eat. Its like reliving the stomach flu every other month. I realize that kids are going to get sick but I was not prepared for this many episodes of sickness per year.

The road trip to MN/WI proved to us that Zofran is our new best friend along with her DVD player/countless Elmo movies. When we sensed the car sickness coming on, we quick pulled over, got her out of the car to pop one of those pills in her mouth. Gave her some time to get some fresh air and on our merry way we went. Thats all fine and dandy that we have this medicine to give to her once she's getting sick but I don't like to be reactive. I like to be proactive and reach the source of the problem before it becomes a problem.

Tonight after an hour of sleeping for her she awoke screaming in pain and sweating. She wanted to throw up so badly but it just wouldn't come as I held a clammy toddler on my lap. She was crying and I could have just about cried along side her. You feel so helpless as a mom as your holding your child who is in pain but there's nothing you can do. I again reached for our new best friend the Zofran bottle and let a pill dissolve under her tongue. I am in complete misery and want so badly to know the reason behind all her pain. I figured her tummy was bothering her today by the amount of dirty diapers I changed. She acted normal before going to bed only requesting to sleep nexy to me which isn't totally out of sorts but its not asked on a normal basis. The Zofran took about 5 minutes to kick in and she was out. She's sleeping so well that she's snoring. The pediatrician said that wouldn't be her first recommendation to solve the problem. What do I do with my child?

6 months

I can hardly believe that I am writing about Carson turning 6 months old. I feel like I was just sitting down at the computer to write about his birth story. He is an incredible blessing to have in our household. He is now enjoying the tastes of green beans, sweet potatoes, and pears. Savannah thinks she can "play" mommy by feeding Carson so I am going to have to start learning not to leave the food out and walk away. I have cleaned up 2 messes already and lost some baby food by my little helper. Carson is attempting to get in the crawling position too. I help him by pushing his butt down. hehe. I am not ready for him to crawl yet. He can just stay put with the rolling for my sake. I am not ready for the baby gates up again and to put away some of the "baby" items (the bouncer). He started blowing bubbles with his lips yesterday. He is quite a handful to change a diaper with now. He either finds his toes or rolls away from me. He has places to be and changing his diaper is not going to slow him down. I love watching him grow up and seeing how they now interact with each other. Now that he sits up, I'm constantly telling Savannah to "be nice to your brother, stop sitting on your brother, or don't push him down." Oh my! It has just started.

I have also been VERY busy this week with a job that Jeff suggested I get into. I have been buying/selling the kids clothes on Facebook now for a year. I have learned quite a bit on how to ship items, how to price items, and how to list items correctly. I still love to venture to our local Once Upon a Child's or other resale shops in the area. When Jeff comes with me, he often hears me say oh I know someone looking for this or do you know how much people would pay for this on Facebook? This past weekend he told me that I should turn that into a business. Go to find the stuff that other people are searching for at a fraction of the price and sell it for more. Granted I'm only making a couple dollars at a time profit mainly charging for my time spent looking for items and shipping it to them. In one week so far, I have banked $200. Quite an accomplishment for me. I love the thrill of walking into the store to wonder what you are going to find. Jeff enjoys seeing me being passionate about something again. I enjoy being able to bring a little bit of money in, doing 2 jobs I love, and still provide some means of income. Well now I'm off to clean the house while the kids are still napping.

The monkey and the hare

I realize I have not written a while. Summer has gotten the best of me and trying to wrap up all these projects has occupied most of my time. Oh yeah and taking care of those 2 kids. Savannah has gone into pure monkey stage. If you do not put things out of reach at least 8 feet high, she sees this as a challenge and will test your true "out of reach" ability. I cleaned the cupboards inside and out a couple weeks ago. She saw me push a chair over to reach the top cabinets. She finds this perfectly acceptable for her to do the same now. (insert big sigh) Now the top cabinets are not safe. I didn't even thing about child safety on those things. She also is very intrigued with the fridge and figures she has every right to help herself to a snack if we do not put a lock on it. She is so sneaky about it also. She doesn't even worry about making a lot of noise in the morning to let me know she is awake. Instead she tip toes into the kitchen to see if daddy forgot to lock the fridge. Some mornings he does when he is in a hurry. Jackpot! I wake up to mozzerella sticks, yogurt, and blueberries strewn across the floor. Not exactly the "good morning" I was looking for. She watches and waits for you to be out of sight to do things. We are still working on that "we obey mommy even when she's not watching" rule. This child has no fear. Well the only fear is being caught.

Carson just will not slow down either. We will be celebrating 6 months in a week. 6 months? 6 months? How did a half a year go by already. I have been thoroughly enjoying this little ham. He rarely ever cries. Right now he's singing in his crib waiting for me to come get him. He sleeps through the night most of the time. Last night he was woken by the storm. Wanted comforting for 2 minutes and was back to sleep. He rolls all over the place. Or maybe he rolls/scooches himself all over the place. He is also a big sitter now. He thinks he is no cool now that he can sit and play with his toys like his big sister. He giggles, coos, and smiles more than Savannah ever did. I caught him the other day trying to put himself up on all 4s. Nope not ready for that. I told him to get back down. I'm not ready for you to crawl YET. He just won't stop moving around and growing up so quickly. It just goes by so quickly.

Well I'm off to start my day. Carson will only be happy for so long before he would start protesting and Savannah only stays out of trouble for a small amount of her day.