We've Settled In

We're settled into our old routines once again.  OMM was taking advantage of all the night nursing when he had that ear infection, so the last several nights there's been some crying, but I survived.  Husband has been working a bunch the last two weeks, and I've been holding down the fort by myself.  And again, we survived.  Not much has been happening.  Husband has been crazy busy trying to get his outdoor projects off the ground for the boys.  The newest tasks at hand are building a tire swing and two single swings.  These will hang between some tress we have on the property.  The next big idea is to build another fort/play structure.  This one will look more commercial then the play house our awesome friend, Mr. Webber built for his kiddos, then subsequently gave to us when they moved.  By the end of summer we should have a pretty awesome play area for the boys.  I'll post some pics when it's a little more complete.

The most excitement we've had was driving the boys down to visit Husband at Ft. Greely when he was gone on a 96 hour work "day."  Ft. Greely is a little over 90 miles from our house, so it was a bit of drive for an afternoon trip.  The boys and I only stayed for a couple of hours, but it was great to see Husband.  There was a great park the boys played at and we all got to see Husband's home away from home.

OMM will be ONE YEAR OLD! in a week!!!!  I can't believe it's been a year already.  He's a tiny little fellow, a mere 18lbs 3oz and 29 inches.  He is barely in the 5th percentile.  CRM was much much bigger, and it's crazy to think they come from the same stock.  The only way to explain it is, CRM comes from Husbands side of family, OMM mine.  I'll wait till next week to give an update of OMM.  A year, impossible!

There's a Reason, I Promise

You haven't heard from me in awhile because I've been out of town. I went to MN and IA with both boys and my parents to visit their families. It was quite the adventure, which started four hours before we left for the airport, OMM was diagnosed with an ear infection. During the trip the infection re flared, I had a weird scary bruise after the long plane ride, and my dad feel out of his bed. The day after we landed it was 95 degress, and the following days it cooled to a nice 85 degrees. Somehow I managed to not sunburn the kids.

However, the trip was a great success with the great-grandmas getting to meet their youngest great grand kids. CRM had a blast running on my maternal grandmother's farm. Think six acres of grass, plus another 120 of corn. And CRM slept above and beyond all my wildest expectations.

OMM did okay. Between the ear infection, sleeping in the same room as everyone, and just being unhappy meeting dozens of new people, he was a pretty unhappy kid. I was lucky to get a couple of interrupted hours of sleep a night.

But, all in all, I'm glad I took the kids, but am happy to not have to do it again!

To Those In Iowa

CRM, OMM, and I can't wait for our visit in two weeks! Sharon, we are so excited to see you! And, if your reading this, since I don't have your email address, I am sending out a world wide web question for you: Do you, or anyone you know have a playpen that we could borrow while we're in IA for OMM?

It'll be so nice to open the front door and let the boys roam and play. CRM will have a blast exploring everything the farm has to offer, and OMM will enjoy all the space to walk. Yes, I said walk! A week before he turned 10 months old he took his first steps. Now a week later he's worked up to walking a couple feet, and is walking about 20% of the time. It'll be a lot of fun to have two boys walking this summer. Less dirt of OMM and less holding him. He's getting pretty heavy to lug around now.

Today Husband and I took the boys for their first bike ride. We bought this great bike stroller and it's perfect! To top it off it wasn't even all that expensive. CRM was laughing with delight when we first started off. It'll be great to bike the fire station to visit Husband. I'll get a work out and the boys will have a great time.

And just to leave you guys with uber cuteness!!! Because, sorry all, I really do have the cutest kids EVER!

OMM enjoying some brother free time. Music anyone?

"Trees" An abstract art demo by CRM, he finds sticks and puts them in the snow. Pretty cleaver I think.

The wagon I just bought. CRM pulls it around outside, and sometimes he's kind enough to take OMM for a ride. CRM is becoming quite the amazing little boy and big brother.

My Big Fat Mouth

So, as soon as I tell you all that OMM is sleeping well at night, he starts waking up and fussing/crying for two hours. We've been doing this for the past week, and I am so tired, and tired of it. My parents didn't explain to me just how hard parenthood was going to be. Pretty sure that OMM is suffering from a mild cold, separation anxiety, and just plain stubbornness. The good thing is CRM can sleep through OMM crying, so at least one of my children is getting the sleep he needs.

Husband has been off working 96 hours straight, he'll finally be home on Sunday. I'll be SO thankful for the company. It is lonely out here with only my two non-verbal boys. Husband will be back to work for a 24 hour shift on Monday, Wednesday, and then works from Friday until Tuesday, another 96 work "day." I'm taking lunch off on Tuesday for a much needed break. I'm going to have lunch with old coworkers, and I may even get my hair cut!