Lets train

Just a little recap of a jam-packed weekend over here...with one big motor milestone for my Porter-P;)

Friday:

Fridays are strange mornings because Nate leaves for work at 6:15 and I also go to work (much later!). Nate also leaves this early on Tuesdays and Thursdays but I don't have the added task of seeing my own patients on top of getting the kids ready, like I do on Fridays. Meaning on Fridays I have to shower and look presentable and mentally prepare for my PT job but I also have to do the morning kid routine alone. I feel like I might need to take off some Fridays in the near future;)

So this day I got out of bed before Nate left, then I somehow successfully got myself ready even though Porter was awake and 'helping' me. Getting all three fed, dressed, lunches prepped, and all of us out the door to school is no small task. It's amazing that we all get to where we need to go with minimal tears from all involved.

Porter found an old pacifier and thought it was hilarious to put it in his mouth. He wasn't actually used a nuk since he was maybe four months old, so it was pretty hilarious to see him pretending to use one. Also, Henry is growing out of Porter's head.


Truman's class at school earned a special treat because of their good behavior. They were allowed to wear their favorite hat to school all day, which Truman loved because he could wear his Rickie Fowler hat with pride (he's a golfer, Nate is super proud).


I then dropped Cecelia and Porter off at Lori's and came back to Truman's school to help with an obstacle course/fundraiser. It was hilarious and awesome and I'm glad my schedule is flexible enough to make volunteering in the classroom possible.


Friday was also the annual family movie night at Truman's school, but it was was moved indoors into the sweltering cafeteria. I much prefer the projector screen outside but Mother Nature did not allow. Truman and Cecelia stayed for the entire movie, meaning they returned home with Nate around 8:45pm. Porter and I lasted about an hour and I put him to bed around 7:45. Late all around! Highlight of the night was when Cecelia ate most of her 'special treat' of a Kit Kat but the rest melted all inside of the wrapper. So she of course hunted me down and made me deal with it. Which meant Porter spotted the chocolate and had to take it down, even though I had already given him a bath and he was in his pajamas. Also, did I mention it was hotter than Hades in the cafeteria? Still fun, would actually like to see the movie Home for real sometime, it looked cute.

Saturday:

Our family of five plus Tony and Lois drove to Madison to see Tony's mom, Grandma H. Yes, my kids actually have TWO great-grandmas in their lives, and it's getting harder for Grandma to come down and see us. I'm not sure she's ever met Porter before and now that life is feeling more settled, and an hour car ride does not seem like an impossible feat for us, I started feeling strongly that we needed to get up there and see Grandma more often. So we went for it on Saturday and it was well worth the trip, missed naps, and wonky schedule.

Grandma is doing well and she loved playing Go Fish with Truman and Nate. We brought donuts, chatted non-stop, and the kids especially enjoyed nearly breaking every delicate decoration in her house. There was one point when Porter was lunging for Nate's late Grandpa's (glass) memorial candle and I nearly screamed in return, and that is when I knew we needed to wrap things up. But all three kids loved playing with the motorized lift chairs, where enthralled with Grandma's canary, her old school puzzles, and those little solar powered dancing knick knack things. Grandma even let us take two of the plastic toys home and of course Cecelia broke hers within 2 minutes of entering our house. But all in all a great trip, and we were even brave enough to stop at Culvers on the way home, while fending off naps from the littles and pushing the limits of sanity.



Grandma loves the Ninja Turtle cards, and I love Truman's grin here.






Lift chairs rule.


Cecelia getting tired on the way home, being weird.


That night, Nate took Truman to a Brewers game so I was at home with CC and Porter. We ate a very elaborate dinner of 'stackers' (Ritz crackers, turkey and cheese) since the big guys were eating at the ballpark. And then, right after dinner, the three of us were headed back into the family room, just hanging out before early bedtime struck. Because both Porter and Cecelia napped horribly this day, CC falling asleep for just 15 minutes on the ride home from Madison. Porter sleeping 30 minutes on the way there. Both protesting 'real' naps once we got back home around 2pm.

So after all of that, I was looking forward to bedtime for everyone. But as we headed back into the family room for some play time, Porter stood up and took a freaking step. I screamed, grabbed my phone, and flipped on the video. I caught him taking 2 more steps and seriously sound like a lunatic, but I was shocked and genuinely thrilled to see Porter walking. WALKING you guys, my baby is walking. He wasn't crawling, was barely rolling, and wasn't standing two months ago. This is inanity and I love it so much!!

I was basically crying at the end of it. I texted Nate and my mom immediately and just could not get over how proud Porter was over this feat. Cecelia, too, she was giggling up a storm and we were all so pumped. Seeing your third child walk is every bit as exciting as seeing the first born take his steps, FYI. For sure one of my favorite milestones ever.

Sunday:

We missed the first day of Sunday School last weekend with me and CC being in Chicago for a wedding shower. I knew if we didn't go this week we'd never go and I SO want to make Sunday School a part of our routine, a part of my kids' childhood. It's important to me even though Sunday mornings feel like they need to be low key and NOT involve hustling out the door for yet another activity. Our Sunday School is situated between the two church services, which I suppose encourages kids to learn how to sit through a service. But it also means two full hours of church for the kids if we do 'big church 'first and then Sunday School. Today, since Truman did sleep in a little bit after being out so late, we just went for Sunday School as a starter to this routine to see how it went. I was worried that Cecelia would cling to me and cry when I left, since she is hit or miss with new situations that involve me leaving. Truman was the one who was whiny in the morning before Sunday School, but I knew he was super tired, too.

When we got there, we dropped Truman in his room first and he was not sad at all, seemed serious but excited. Then I took CC to her room and she has the same teacher that Truman had at age 3, and he LOVED her. It was good to chat with her a bit ('weren't you guys not around a lot last year?' Yes, I had a baby last year and life was nuts, but we are back to a more settled routine now). Cecelia was excited to put her sticker on her name and sat right down at the table to color. She gave me a kiss and didn't bat an eye, so I booked it out of there. I fully expected to sit with CC the entire time but I was able to go home and fold some laundry before I went back to get the kids after their hour class was up;)


Both reported that they had fun, Cecelia had a snack AND a drink, but Truman's class doesn't do snacks anymore. I guess that is what you get when you are half grown: no more fun snacks in Sunday School. CC made me a hot pad with her name on it, and both kids had the same lesson about serving others and being helpful. YES. We played on the nearby school playground for just a bit and I felt really proud of both kids for rocking Sunday School so well.







We hustled home and got ready for Truman's first soccer game. He has shin guards (his favorite part), a real uniform, and kleets this year for a new program. Nate is the assistant coach and there are no practices during the week, just a game each weekend with a 20 minute teaching session right before the games. Our team is made up of most of Truman's closest friends from his school, and they play 3 on 3 for the games which means everyone plays for at least half of the games if not more.


Awesome cloud day!




Coach Nate pumping them up, big time.




The game started at noon and we risked it by taking one car, bring Cecelia and Porter with us. I wasn't sure if they would both melt down and need naps, although Porter did sleep for about an hour in the morning while I was doing Sunday School drop off/pick up. BUT, what do you know, both of the littles did great for the game. Plus, having Tony and Lois help out sure was wonderful. Truman scored a goal and his entire team listened to the coaches really well, I was shocked at how good they were. I pictured a bunch of five year olds messing around and picking boogers but they were actually really awesome and super entertaining. Perfect weather, too, and I don't hate chatting with a bunch of my mom friends the whole time.



The little sister cheerleaders taking a break from their shenanigans.


(he was taking steps and seriously trying to kick the soccer ball, that bugger)


I went for a run with Cecelia later, got paperwork prepped for Monday, and Nate went to Target/Trader Joes with Truman during naps. I hung with Porter outside while Nate took the bigs to our block party for a bit. Porter was being extra squeezable at this time of the day. New favorite video, he is just too much.




I also cleaned the house and we did groceries/meal planning on Saturday which are always big To Do List check marks. Tonight Tony and Lois came for dinner and Lois makes the best freaking desserts (and main dishes) ever. She never disappoints my taste buds, that is for sure.


Truman took a shower, then Porter and Cecelia each had their own baths alone---we do triple baths so often that helping each kid bathe without the sibling chaos was really nice.

Buns and belly.


Silly girl.


It was just a lovely, big weekend and one that needed recapping. I think with the pleasant surprises of having the kids tolerate LOTS of activities really well, combined with Porter's treat of taking his first steps, it has me feeling sentimental. And grateful. And like motherhood is messy and nuts and really challenging at times, but it's also such a gift. And we have to be doing something right if Truman and Cecelia give each other random, genuine hugs, right?



Sure, they pester each other and love to be bratty-tattle-tail-siblings at times. But they really do love each other, and Porter, too. These kids, man. They are pretty awesome.


Bring on the week!

1. I decided to treat myself this weekend and bought a pound of decaffeinated Alterra coffee for my own personal pleasure. I also bought this amazing mug and voila....I'm enjoying coffee on weekends again! Still decaff, and only on weekends, but my how I missed this ritual. There is nothing better than lounging around and sipping on a cup-o-joe, even if it doesn't pack the punch:

2. Speaking of weekends, let me whine for a second. I knew this summer was going to be freaking insane with traveling for showers, weddings, parties, visiting friends and believe me it is worth every second to see amazing friends/family who live so far away. But remember that I also have to work weekends for my job, usually 5 or 6 weekend days in a four month period. So I counted it up and from the beginning of May until the end of September, I have had exactly 6 weekends out of a possible 22 that did not include work or travel. Six, you guys. Isn't that a little pathetic? I was so looking forward to this past weekend because it was going to be #7 but alas, I am a softy and went in to work for 3 hours because they were absolutely swamped and nobody else could help. Eh, the overtime pay won't hurt and I talked myself into being okay with it mentally, too. But seriously, in my next life I'm going to keep nearly all of my weekends open without travel or work to just get caught up on everyday life. Sounds like a brilliant plan to me!

3. Is anyone wondering how Henry is doing with his training? The answer is pretty much fabulous but not yet perfect. The last time his trainer came to the house we purchased one of her Canine Genuis toys which houses food and treats. It's like an amped up Kong that keeps the little bugger mentally stimulated and boy does he love this thing. It's so cute to see him figure out how to dump it upside down and see the kibble spill out. Nate and I cannot stop laughing at him when he's Mr. Smarty Pants conquering the Canine Genius.




(If Henry was a human child, I would want this to be his school picture. Don't you think he looks so cute here?)


4. It's Packer season in our household which can only mean one thing: Nate screaming at the TV and Henry strutting around in his Packer jersey with pride. Boys will be boys. Please tell me his little chest hair puffing out from the top isn't the cutest thing ever.


Tail wagging=blur of happiness.



And no, we do not mention the curse word 'Favre' in this house anymore. Please do not get Nate started.

5. On my super productive Saturday, before I went into work, I tackled an organization project that has been bugging me for months. I cleaned out every storage area in our tiny bathroom and re-organized the hell out of it. But once I pulled everything out I was slightly overwhelmed...

The end result is freaking fabulous, if you ask me. And I didn't stop there since I went into the kitchen and reorganized a few more cabinets in there. It scares me to think that when the baby comes I won't have the luxury of staying organized. I'm thinking asking Nate or the in-laws to watch the babe while I go to town and clean the heck out of the house might be my best bet. Or maybe I just won't care anymore (doubt it).

6. I'm throwing Hannah a baby shower in St. Louis on Halloween and cannot freaking wait. I really haven't talked too much about her pregnancy but she is due on December 1, was my maid of honor and I was hers, and we were best buddy roommates all through college and beyond. Knowing each other for 10 years means we have gone through a ridiculous amount of milestones together and I am so excited to raise our kids together. They will be about 3 months apart and I'm quite sure they'll be best buddies....especially if they are in the same city and state. :)

But anyway, lots of fun ideas for her shower. I also have a secret project underway that I'm really excited about and here is a preview:

7. I really need some new underwear. I am obsessed with my old school Vickie's Secret 'Body by Victoria' undies because they are the only kind that do not give me a wedgie. But of course they don't make the exact kind that I love anymore. You see, my butt is rather flat and sort of long so I think that all underwear just naturally cuts into my crack....it's so unfair, I hate it. I've spent way too much money on other kinds of undies hoping they are anti-wedgie but so far no luck. I'm thinking of trying those Jockey briefs on TV. You know the one with the chick from Scrubs talking about how she doesn't have to dig into her butt for her underwear anymore? Yeah, those look pretty awesome. Any suggestions? And no, I will not wear a thong for everyday purposes. I've tried some boy shorts but they still ride up on my bum.

8. I'm all about reading pregnancy/birthing/parenting books right now. Well, I haven't actually done a lot of reading besides my What to Expect book and a few other 'Your pregnancy' type books. But I have a long list of books I want to borrow from the library or buy used and want to share them for opinions and other ideas:

-Great Expectations
-The Ultimate Breastfeeding book by Dr. Jack Newman
-Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo
-Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy
-Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake
-The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy
-The Happiest Baby on the Block

Anyone read any of these or have other 'must reads' for me? I love to read books and if it weren't for my book club group at work I would have a hard time finding the time. But I've gotten better about trying to squeeze in some time right before bed lately.

Oh, and non-pregnancy books I want to read or will read for our book club include:
-Middlesex (next to read for the club, I've heard great things!)
-Stroke of Insight (medical people can't get enough of medical stories, you know)
-Still Alice (another medical one about Alzheimers)
-Stori Telling (because I love her)

For those of you who read I really love the Goodreads site. It helps me remember which ones I want to read and which books I already read.

Is that enough miscellany for you? I guess it's been awhile:)