Uggh! Here Goes Again.

I just posted a great blog...and something went horribly wrong. I don't know what happened, but lucky for you all, here's the gist of it.

I finished our Family Home Evening Board - long story - when I'm not so tired I'll tell you about it.

Tanner cracks me up. Sometimes I think I can't live with him, but mostly I don't know how I'd live without him. Yes, those are goldfish in his pocket. Another long story. Some other time, maybe.

Taylor is beautiful - he's patient, loving, and forgiving of a big brother who sits on him, and a mom who runs around like a chicken with its head cut off. Did I mention he's bright-eyed and bushy-tailed? Content to just be.

Ryan (sorry, no current pics of my hottie) is also patient and the best daddy and husband ever. I'm too tired to explain - but he buys me roses for no reason, picks-up the house while I'm out running errands, and is patient with me also. He's working hard at his FT job, and doing 9 credits for his Masters...this week is spring break and can you guess what WE'RE doing? Yes We. Writing Midterms. (I claim to just be proofing, clarifying, and giving ideas :) )

I'm up to the same ole' things: blogging. Scrapping. Organizing. Cooking. Washing. Folding. (Just finished "Eclipse" - Not bad - I just pictured it differently than the way it actually ended) etc., etc., etc., etc., etc....I don't feel the need to bore you any longer...you're a trooper if you've read this far!

P.S. I'm considering 'limiting access' to our family blog...if you would like to be included, please leave me a comment with an e-mail address if you're not sure I have it (friends and blog-surfers alike). You may also e-mail me if you don't want to leave a comment. I am not sure when I'll make the change...it's just something I've had on my mind a lot lately.

Spring has Sprung!

We've been spring cleaning - though if you asked Stevie, our apartment is still in shambles - a continuous tornado state. But my closets are clean!

As I pulled a wild hair yesterday, I must say, we accomplished a bit more than anticipated.

I was able to sand, paint, and distress Tanner's Stool Stool. (Okay, sorry - I though it was funny - it's our potty stool, and stand-at-the-sink-and-wash stool. :)

Took pictures of Taylor in the cute outfit my aunt knit him - Matching hat, sweater, and booties. Cute! (Remember, we didn't find out if we were having a boy or a girl - she knit the outfit before Taylor was born...there is a lot of really intricate detail. More cute in person)

Colored Easter Eggs. I was a nervous wreck - I just pictured Tanner spilling all the dyes - the worst was putting in more than one egg at a time...But we got through! Good think I remotely like hardboiled eggs - Ryan and Tanner won't touch them! And yes, we did this at like noon, and we are both still our pajamas. I love being a stay-at-home mom!

Went to Enrichment, and painted my FHE board..got in some much needed adult time and visiting...came home and finished it (instead of cleaning the house.) to some degree - I am going to put little door hardward on for the hooks...will drill the holes tomorrow. I'll post a picture of it as soon as it is completely COMPLETE!

Looking Back

I've been told by many that Taylor is, quote, "such a good baby". Fact: Taylor is a good baby. Fact: Tanner was a good baby. Tanner had a similar temperment at this age that Taylor is in...I just don't know what happened! All of the sudden (we can't pinpoint an exact time) Tanner got all this energy and personality and attitude and cuteness! Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry, and most of all, I hope I'm doing him right! I was setting up the "poll" on the left, and ran across some pictures and have some comparable ones of the two boys. (Tanner in Red, Taylor in Teal) (I also noticed that while going through these pictures, Tanner was pushing up more, and 'sitting' in his bumbo - I guess I'll break that out of the garage and we're doing more tummy time with Taylor) Both these pictures were taken in March (2006 & 2008)

Tanner didn't suck his thumb for long - so there's hope for Taylor! Like I've said before, it's a lot easier to chuck a binki, than to chop a thumb!

Here's when they were just days old. Keep in mind Tanner was born Dec. 13, 2005 and Taylor was born Dec. 4, 2007 - almost two years, exactly. However, I'm finding Taylor is wearing clothes a lot earlier than Tanner did - maybe they shrunk, a lot? (Tanner laying on white, Taylor on yellow - yes, we have a gazillion things in yellow because we decided we didn't want to know if we were having a boy or a girl - both times - and no, I haven't thougth about #3 yet...give me like three years, please!)

Ryan and I have been and are blessed with these two beautiful boys. There are days we struggle, and I'll probably post just to get my frustrations out, but there's also days we are in complete bliss...and I probably won't have time to post on those days, because we'll be enjoying ourselves so much.

Thanks for reading my ranting and raving. It is fun, relaxing, de-stressing, and enjoyable all at the same time. Ta for now. I'm off to get some much needed sleep!

My Son or Yours?

I know the title is a bit um, weird, but I think it fits. Read on. Growing up I was generally too busy to watch TV much and Ryan, well, he found ways to get around issues like that and watched his share of TV. To get to my point, Tanner watches ....wait for it.... our computer.

We got rid of the TV because we as parents, would allow him, (I can't believe we encouraged this, and still do) to watch movies... some 2-4 hours a day...here and there...so we could get things accomplished for school, or just plain get the dishes done. Because we have no backbone, we ditched the TV- ( it, along with Ryan's really nice VCR :) and DVD setup) they are in the garage, and we now watch movies on our computer...it has a nicer picture anyhoo. :)

Today as we were watching Chicken Little, I am hearing phrases like, "Look! Sky Falling!" and his emotions are all over the place - completely reacting to the characters. His reactions to Fish getting sucked up into the space ship crack me up...and when Foxy Loxy starts to sing "Lollipop", he is grinning ear to ear and dancing along. It is hilarious to watch Tanner watch movies.

About two weeks ago, we let him watch Aladdin...now his FAVORITE movie. He will hiss when Jafar talks, and the way he says Jafar in a gruff little voice is so cute. He always gives me a kiss when Magic Carpet pushes Aladdin up to kiss Jazmin. And its like an "on the lips" kiss...Should I be worried for Kindergarten and Kissing Tag?

Last week we opened the Disney Movie Club package we've been meaning to 'return to sender', because we knew that the Jungle Book was inside (We totally cancled our membership in October because of this whole TV thing). After watching that, he walks like Mogli when Mogli is following the elephants, says, "Looking! Look!" when Mogli and the Girl from the man village experience "Love at First Sight", and carries the popcorn bowl on top of his head.

One benefit of the movie madness is that I've heard Tanner pick up on a lot of phrases - (good thing they're Disney, and G!) sometimes he even says them along with the movie. And that's where the "my son or yours?" comes in. Ryan can quote movies like he rehersed with the actors..whereas I just flounder.

Just so you don't turn me in to Child Services, I do realize that Tanner needs real interaction between parents and actual people, and we have really improved the last few months, but really, sometimes I just want to nurse Taylor without having to get up and see what Tanner flushed down the toilet, or what cooking ingredient he's fingerpainting in...(by the way, my flour and sugar are now in a childproofed cupbord...it only took him dumping them each out three times!)

I love my energetic two-year-old, and I love that he'll watch a movie for a few minutes so I can catch my breath. I FEAR the day he realizes and has a tantrum over situations when we skip to the last 'chapter' so the movie is 'over' and we "have to go play blocks" or "have to go read books". Heaven forbid we do something educational together as a family!

Hope you all had a fantastic St. Patrick's Day! If you're not wearing green, pinch yourself for me!

Book Tag

I was tagged by Sara. Here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages).
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag 5 people

Alright, so here it goes...The nearest book was Teachings of Presidents of the Church - Joseph Smith.

The fifth sentence on the 123rd page reads: "What can we learn from the story told by David Whitmer on page 116?" (From the "Suggestions for Study and Teaching" Section)

Okay - I know what you're thinking...First I must confess - I haven't been doing my reading of Sunday School or Relief Society since like the second week of January (I'm in the Primary...so, yeah) and today I decided that maybe I can't do this parenting thing by myself or even just me and Ryan...I need the Lord's guidance, and I am probably not ready to recieve ANY revelation or inklings of the whisperings of the Holy Ghost unless I do my part...so I decided to read some of the material I should be reading daily, instead of these (don't get me wrong) great parenting books. I must say, I have had a little more patience this evening, yet I know it's going to take some great studying. Sorry - long story, short tag.

I tag Dawnyel, Alisha, Rachel (my cousin), Lisa, and Jewelle. Have fun, girls!

Dental Emergency...for a two-year-old

Real quick, does anybody know of a good pediatric dentist...in Idaho Falls? I fear Tanner has a cavity...he has been complaining of his tooth hurting all night...it took me two hours to get him to sleep. This aching tooth would explain his rough nights (waking up multiple times, screaming out). He does have four molars coming in, but they've been peeking through for about a month. I don't know if he has popcorn kernal stuck, or if the up-coming teeth are hurting, but I am thinking maybe we need to get this checked out...I know, It's my own fault...he does eat a lot of candy and we aren't the best about brushing because it's such an ordeal, but NOW i am panicking...He's been moping saying "Owie" with his hand on his cheek...usually a kiss fixes owies, but not this one! I'm open to call anyone, but don't know where to start!

"Time for Naps!"

Recently, Tanner has cried himself to sleep for naps...I think I'm missing the sleep-boat and maybe 1:00 is too late for naps...hmmmm...gonna have to work on that one! These pictures were so cute, I had to capture the moment and post.(Looks like he needs a belt, too!)

Taylor has taken a liking to his thumb...I haven't decided if I'm going to let that fly or not...It is kindof cute, though! Maybe it's his way of dealing with Tanner crying himself to sleep. Who knows!

Children are Amazing

I've come to the conclusion (for the millionth time) that our children absorb everything we do. Let me give you an example (although many of you can picture the things your own children do).

Taylor was laying on the floor yesterday, nothing out of the ordinary. He was definately hungry, and ready to be fed. I was frantically trying to hurry dinner along so Ryan could eat between work and mutual...I obviously shouldn't have sat at the piano to unwind, because there were things that needed to be done. Back to my case - Tanner was playing in the front room when Taylor began to wimper, probably from a hungry tummy, and I pushed aside the thought to stir dinner...Then Taylor began to wail. I dropped what I was doing, afraid that Tanner was inflicting pain of some sort - only to find Tanner across the room from Taylor, saying, "Stop! Stop!" with a definate 'talk to the hand' gesture...It was all I could to not to laugh. This is not the first time Tanner has 'ordered' Taylor to stop crying. It was however, hilarious to see this spunky two-year-old tell his three-month-old brother what to do and how to do it.

I gently asked Tanner with all the composure I could muster if he had hurt Taylor. He shook his head no, and said, "Sad". (If there's been any pain inflicted, Taylor is usually screaming harder, and I catch Tanner right before he leaves) After checking Taylor's body for any wounds, I got him nursing as I sat against the couch and stroked his sweating head - he had really cried hard! Tanner was so sweet to sit by me and stroke Taylor's head, too. He has begun showing us that he really does understand feelings, actions, words, and a general Spirit of peace or frustration in our home.

Just watching the way Tanner talks, cracks me up. Very seldom can we persuade him to use an 'inside' voice - he usually talks very loud, and with this very serious face - with that comes lots of big hand gestures and 'big' talk. We cannot really tell what he's saying, but he knows, because he'll repeat it exactly the same two or three times until we respond with 'something'. The way he communicates is most likely a reflection (this is hard to admit) of the way he's talked to...lots of big words, hand gestures/movements, loud talking, and occasional yelling - okay, more than is probably necessary. But still, he's learning - whether it's good or bad, I'm not sure. Case in point, Ryan and I need to watch it a little closer and tone it down.

Sorry neighbors - we'll keep it down - or at least try to!

Good Book Find of the month Link Here (Ryan's doing, actually) - "Einstein Never Used Flash Cards - how our children really learn and why they need to play more and memorize less" Drs. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Roberta Michnick, and Diane Eyer. My eyes have been opened quite a bit more...Primarily, I love how they explain how our children learn...it totally makes sense and they have great research to support their findings. Enjoy, all you people who have a ton of extra time! (Yeah Right! - Luckily Tanner lets me sit to nurse - that's when I read.)