Max, Mama, and Papa - January 2016

This update is going to be quick because life. 

And what I mean by that is - we recently (as in two days ago)

gave up the pacifier.  While, it was actually quite anti climatic,

the nap situation has not been the same.  I KNOW it will get better.

It has too, right? But, when he finally did go to sleep today (after 45

minutes of rolling around in no less than 15 blankets)...I tip toed

downstairs and busted out the to do list.  While, I would love

for him to sleep for like three hours...I know that then our whole

night time sleep will get jacked up, so I'm trying to prepare turkey burger

patties, blog posts, put laundry away, and pick up the house....all in the a matter

of like an hour. There are worse problems I know.

 

Here is what Mama, Max (32 months), and Papa were into during January 2016.

(From left to right - Papa, Max, and Mama)

 

BUILDING:// our new couches, a Chase dog (from build a bear), and my spider plant collection

*You may have heard, we got new couches!  IKEA for the win!

*Paw Patrol obsession continues and we hear "Chase is on the case" quite frequently

*I can't believe I've kept this plant alive for almost a year!  It even made a plant baby!

DRINKING:// cranberry juice (with apple cider vinegar and lemon), milk, and

Spark (from Advocare cleanse)

*Rob is doing his own "cleansing" with this Pinterest recipe he found.

I have no idea how he's keeping the apple cider vinegar down.

*The Spark drink is actually quite tasty (I prefer the fruit punch flavor)

EATING:// tortilla chips, French toast sticks, salads

*The fresh salads should come as no surprise because

my cleanse stresses fresh and lots of veggies!

LOVING:// trips to the library, floor puzzles, and my new pouch for oil rollers

*We are a family that loves the library.  Most nights (lately anyway)

you can find Rob and I each on the couch reading away!

MAKING:// trips to the grocery, colored bath water, and new recipes

*Don't hate us for never remembering to bring our own grocery bags!

*Cannot begin to describe how much Max loves these bath tabs -

but I do think they are doing a number on his skin :(

*Check my clean eats board (on Pinterest) for some

delicious recipes (like the oatmeal cups!)

READING://  The Eye of the World, Bus Stops, and All the Light We Cannot See

*Worth mentioning - I also read Fringe Hours (not that great) and Modern Romance

by Aziz Ansari this month!

WATCHING:// This Old House, Paw Patrol, New Girl reruns

*Rob loves this show and it's SUPER BORING.

*It's pretty much Paw Patrol all the time over here

*Fell in love with New Girl again :)

WEARING:// Carhartt vest, Bogs boots, Sorel Boots

*It's obviously winter over here - we are all dressed

to stay warm!  The Bog boots were worth every penny

because Max can take them on and off ALL BY HIMSELF.

This was a game changer.

 

I'm trying to hold on tight to these toddler days - with the

big boy bed, being potty trained and no longer having a paci -

it seems our little boy is growing up

(that's in fact what he told me when he

decided to box up his pacifier for the paci fairy)...

Can't believe he will be three soon! Yikes!

xoxo

Life Lately

Do you ever get the winter blues?  I definitely do, but I think it's more

the staying at home blues.  I like to be busy - going and doing.  But, this winter

has felt a little bit different.  It's actually kind of cozy to chill at home...meal planning, 

lounging on our new couches, snuggling in all the blankets, playing with new toys

from Christmas...and of course, watching "Making a Murderer" on Netflix. 

As anyone around me knows, I started my cleanse. 

Literally, I told EVERYONE...therefore I'm always

accountable. The people are at work are like, 

"enough already, we know you can't drink

coffee and are on your tenth trip to the potty". 

 

I also sent my loved ones memes like the one below

that perfectly depict how I feel. 

It's not even that the cleanse is hard - it's mostly

just having the will power to not eat pizza

for dinner every night or scarf down all Max's 

leftover snacks. What? I can't let those goldfish

go to waste. 

Sidenote - I do think the cleanse is working because

I accidentally took a drink of Rob's diet coke

on Saturday evening at Chipotle (shocking but true, 

Chipotle is cleanse friendly).  It tasted horrible. 

Like syrup in my mouth. So, back to the water I went. 

We also got some more snow around here! Not too 

much, but enough to play in.  Max's teacher sent 

me this pic of all the kids bundled up which is 

honestly just precious.  Also, she should be a

saint because when I think about putting on 

all those gloves and hats and coats, I kind 

of never want to go outside again. 

However, I did make it outside to take

Max for a sled ride.  We rode down the little

hill in our backyard about ten times before

he declared he wanted to go back in. 

Also, when I asked him to pull me, 

he said "You to heavy mommy, I'm just

 a little boy". ha!

At work, we had our annual White Elephant party. 

My boss got a selfie stick and I set it up for her

and we took this glorious pic.  It should be

noted that I did not eat even one little bite

of queso, or chips and salsa....which was a

real test of my willpower!

Received the above picture of Max from school

on Thursday of last week.  They were doing 

an experiment on "rain or snow"?  

It cracks me up that he is shirtless. 

She didn't say why, but my guess is that 

his shirt got wet and homeboy does

not like water on his shirt. 

Rob and I survived our once every five years trip to IKEA. 

I should have known it was going to be an 

interesting trip when a stink bug landed on me 

in the car. Rob casually said, "You have a bug

on you" and I flipped out and started crying. 

Those bugs are the worst. When we did make it 

to IKEA we sort of argued discussed our way

around the store. Thankfully, they had the couch

and loveseat in stock that we wanted - with two of the 

same covers.  In addition we bought a mattress

and box springs for Max. We rode home

Beverly Hillbilly style with the box springs

tied to the top of the truck. 

Meanwhile, in Dayton, Max was living it up with 

Mim and Grandpa!  They got a bit of snow...so

he is working on catching it with his tongue!

On Sunday, Auntie Stacy and I prepared for another

week of clean eating.  We cooked up some egg cups, 

protein pancakes, and breakfast cookies.  I have

had all three at this point and they are yummy!

It's so nice to have someone else doing the cleanse

with me...she is very positive and keeps me on track!

Another perk of visiting Auntie Stacy is visiting

my favorite furry niece - Penny!  She is the cutest! 

I can't even handle her face sometimes!

The other big news around here is that Max is in his

"big boy bed"!  We got the frame for Christmas from

my grandparents and Papa Rob set the whole thing

up on Monday evening. Max was super into helping 

(even wearing his Mickey Mouse tool belt) - and 

thankfully I had purchased and washed some 

special sheets earlier in the day. Night one

and two have been (dare I say) relatively easy. 

I think he might even sleep better because 

it's more comfortable and cozy than his crib!

And as always - we are coloring and painting. 

Mostly Paw Patrol pages...but who can complain? 

I hope you're staying warm and cozy this week too!

xoxo

Around Here

One full week in January down...I thought I would update

you on a few happenings :)

 

 Around here...I'm getting ready to start a 24 day Advocare

challenge.  The first ten days are a cleanse and the last 14 days

are about getting your optimal nutrition.  I'm hoping it will

jump start my weight loss and propel me into a more healthy

lifestyle.  Thank goodness Auntie Stacy is also doing it...

we're going to keep each other on track!
Also  - this yoga picture is sort of a joke...as the DVD
we were following froze about two minutes in. Fail.

 

Around here...the weather definitely got

colder (and we woke up to our first real snow fall).

But, we are still trying to get outside more!

Around here....we are bundling up (see winter weather

comment above).  I got these new boots for Christmas

from Papa Rob :)  They are toasty warm!

Also - it was fun to hear my bestie Candice has

the same ones! (They are by Sorel via Nordstrom).

 Around here...my new winter coat is coming in handy!

The fur trimmed hood is taking it to the next level.

 



Around here...I'm enjoying the new calendar Auntie

Stacy gave me for Christmas.  It's very motivating

and the artwork is lovely!

 

Around here...we are still pretty obsessed with

Jake and the Neverland pirates.  We are also

pretend playing lots of pirate stuff...complete

with a telescope (from an old wrapping paper

tube) and eye patch.  Arrgh! Also - the tree

finally came down on Friday night. We let Max help

with it so he would not be surprised on Saturday morning.

However, he did ask if we could put it back up already.

Around here...I'm all about the Stella and Dot!

I got a beautiful new necklace (thanks Grandpa Jim

and Grandma Sugar!) and watch for Christmas.

I used my dot dollars to order the double wrap for it.

 



Around here...we are adding color to every bath.

We've done lots of colors....pink, orange, yellow,

turquoise, purple...it's lots of fun (and never

stains the tub).

Around here...we are still obsessed with the Magna

Tiles!  He loves to build...knock down...repeat.

Around here...we went to the Employee Recognition

Dinner at the Casino on Saturday night. It was such

a fun time.  Jack just managed to pop in for our picture ;)

While we did not win anything in the raffle...

I did the "wobble" on the dance floor pretty successfully...

so there's that.

Around here...Papa Rob and I got some adult time.

My mom and Auntie Stacy watched Max overnight

(while we were living it up at the Casino) - and then

kept him all the next day.  So....I forcefully suggested

that we visit Skyline for lunch...Rob went along with it...

(rather begrudgingly)...he just doesn't have the

stomach of steel like me!

 

Not pictured but still noteworthy - all of the laundry is put away...

we are making plans for our IKEA trip next weekend....I did lots of

food prep for the next 24 days...and I went back to Zumba tonight!

 

Wish me luck...you know I will let you know how it goes :)

xoxo

10 things I Say Everyday

I often feel like a broken record as a mom.  

I feel like I say the same few things over and over and over and over. 

And then once more for good measure. I thought it would 

be fun to look at my most frequently used phrases.  

Check them out and let me know if you have any 

winners that help keep the peace with your two year old. 

1.) In five minutes we are going to... with Max, and I suppose all toddlers,
it's all about choices. I (think) he feels more in control of the
situation.  Ultimately, I always give him two choices in which I'm
okay with either outcome.

2.) Put your bottom in the chair...what is it with kids and not
wanting to sit and eat whatever meal you have so lovelingly
slaved over for them? He will take a bite and I swear his booty
slides closer to the edge, so that by the time he's on bite three
he's basically on the other side of the room.

3.) Please eat one more bit of...i know, I KNOW, i shouldn't
force him to eat the food on his plate.  But, I also don't want
him going to bed hungry or worse yet, want a snack at like
two AM. So...for now, I barter and beg and threaten.

4.) Use your words...gah! Max can talk. And like, A LOT.
But, he definitely gets in situations where I become
some sort of weird translator or I have to completely
guess at what he wants. No bueno.

5.) Sharing is caring... this is HUGE. One thing I've
found that works quite well is that when we arrive at a place
(like COSI or Chick Fil A play place) I lay out the rules.
And I mean business. I'm all "Keep your hands to yourself,
say please and thank you, and we will leave if I see anything
that is not kind". And, I think, for the most part, he gets it.

6.) Yes, you can keep your underwear and socks on... for
some weird reason, Max is very concerned in the morning about
keeping his underwear and socks (from the night before) on
when he gets dressed.  I have no clue where he gets this parnoia
from.  Like, does he think I will send him naked to school?

7.) I love you.  Obviously, I like to check in regularly for
hugs, kisses, and I love you's.  I think it's important for Max to
know that even though he frustrates the the crap out of me
and I raise my voice, that I really do love him so much.  Also,
he has started to "wipe off" my kisses and laugh about it.
So, I definitely need to get those in as much as possible
before he becomes to cool for kissing mommy. .

8.) Do you want ____ or ____ ?  Again with the choices.
But seriously, that's my life.  Do you want milk or water?
Do you want the blue cup or the red cup? It's maddening.

9.) How do you ask for that? We are definitely still drilling the
manners over here.  Max has mastered please when he's asking for
something he knows he shouldn't really get, but more often than
not, many of his requests have this follow up from me (or Rob).

10.) Daddy and I are so proud of you for... THIS IS HUGE.
I don't mind saying this at all.  I find that the more we
acknowledge something positive he's done, the more
likely he is to keep doing it. We are proud of you
for sharing your toys today at school  We are
proud of you for sitting in your seat through dinner.
We are proud of you for trying  a bite of....
you get the idea.

So, that's my life. Basically I'm a human timer (one more minute!)...
while also spewing choices galore. :)
xoxo

On the First Day of 2016

On the first day of 2016 we woke up at 7:18 which is really, really

late for Max. But, given that he has stayed up a bit later, I wasn't surprised.

He got to stay in his Thomas the train pajamas for a bit longer - ate a small

breakfast and then began playing.

On the first day of 2016, Max asked to put his trains

on the floor "just like Will and Tom". So, we did!

He actually plays with them longer when he is

able to build the track on the carpet? I have no idea why.

 

On the first day of 2016 we face timed with Mims

to see if we left our "Rosie" train at her house.

We did :(  Luckily, Max wasn't too upset about it.

Instead we thought it was funny that we had two

"grandpa" trains...James and Timothy.

 

On the first day of 2016, I finally remembered the wrapping paper

I had purchased at Jo Ann Fabrics before Christmas.  We rolled

it out like a giant coloring book and got to work.

Max was actually quite content to color for a long time (like maybe 15

whole minutes).  When he tired of markers, we switched to the dot

markers and continued! On the first day of 2016, I actually drank

almost my whole cup of coffee before it needed reheating!

 

On the first day of 2016 we watched Mickey Mouse clubhouse

(maybe more than once...)

 

On the first day of 2016 I had dinner in the crockpot.

I was so proud of myself for making beef stew -

one of Rob's favorite dishes. It's my favorite

thing to do all the prep in the morning...

have the whole house smell delicious the whole

day and then have to do essentially nothing

when it's dinner time.

 

On the first day of 2016 we all napped.

 

On the first day of 2016 Mama cheered

on her Buckeyes (by herself)!

 

On the first day of 2016 I continued

to snack on left overs from the cheese tray.

The diet is starting soon though...

 

On the first day of 2016 we went back to Scioto Park.

Even though the weather has definitely turned

colder...HELLO WINTER...we didn't let that stop us.

We kept Max in his pajamas and zipped him into his

snow suit with coat over top. He was bundled up

for sure...and it didn't slow him down at all.

He was up and down the slide many times.

We also threw rocks on the very flooded river.

 

On the first day of 2016 I vowed to keep getting

us outside...even when the temps are cold!

How else do parents burn off all their kid's

energy? I mean really...

And, also I go cuckoo if we don't

leave the house at some point.

 

On the first day of 2016 we water colored together

in the Paw Patrol coloring book from Costco.

We did this multiple times and hung them all up.

 

We're liking you so far 2016!

xoxo

New Year's Eve

We are so lucky to have some pretty great friends (hello Dotson family!)

that invited us over for a kid friendly New Year's Eve. 

I went into it with low expectations (you know my motto) 

and remarked to Rob on the way home about

how great everything turned out. 

 Our hosts provided some delicious pizza from 

a local place for dinner and I supplemented with 

a cheese tray (I LOVE CHEESE) and brownies for dessert. 

 While they have a play place in their attic (so cool!),

we spent most of our time in their family room....

chillin...playing trains...building legos...

blowing party horns...

having dance parties....pushing balloons around...

and watching the kids run wild!

Max was in love with his green balloon 

and even more excited when Lynn told him he could

take it home. 

(RIP balloon though when he insisted we 

bring it to Auntie Stacy's house and Penny

put her jaws on it). We have moved on though...

and got a replacement balloon!

 It's so heartwarming to be able to 

hang out with one of my oldest and dearest 

friends and now have our own kids playing 

together.  Like, what?  Weren't we just

riding together to our high school football

game...and talking about how weird our parents were?

 At about 9:00 we popped some bottles

(sparkling juice for the kids).

They "cheered" with their glasses and we

 put on the Netflix King Julien countdown.

Whoever thought of this idea is a total genius. 

The countdown lasted about three minutes

and the kids were running around in their jammies, 

throwing the balloons, and generally just carrying on

thinking it was midnight. 

Jokes on you kids! 

Max fell asleep in the car on the way home 

and stayed asleep for the transfer to his bed. 

Total score. Rob and I stayed up a bit longer...

and then called it a night. Win Win (even if we

didn't make it to see the ball drop). 

I sure hope this is a tradition we can continue!

Happy 2016!

p.s. the next morning, Max insisted on putting his 

train track on the floor (just like Will and Tom)

and now refers to Will as "his best friend". 

It's adorable.