A Day at Our House.....Week 2 Day 2

Monday at our house.....Monday is shopping day! It used to be cleaning day, but when James started working Sundays I made it cleaning day (along with Church day, which makes for a busy day!) and Monday shopping day....so anyways, without further ado....Welcome Monday!

Around 2 am I officially woke up. Nicolas somehow "magically" ;) (ie-James brought him and I don't remember!) appeared in our bed and I had been attempting to nurse him in a pretty much asleep mode...which doesn't work so well. I was also freezing, and having a pretty rotten sleep, lol :) So I finally got up, put him back in his bed and turned the heater on. YES! The heater in June. I was so cold and worried about the boys.

Nicolas got up again around 4:48..... Around 5 James was getting up for work, and I think that's when I returned N to his bed, and promptly jumped back into my own...but alas, the sleep was cut short because Nicolas woke up again around 6 and wasn't in a mood to lay in his bed happily :) I fed N a little, and Patrick got up about 6:30. I decided to just get up for the day and get an early start on my shopping, with hopes that Patrick would nap if I made naps earlier. He will NOT sleep lately during the day, and sometimes is SO tired by the time bedtime rolls around. Yesterday evening he was crying about EVERYTHING, so I bathed him, fed him and put him in bed about 6:45!

So.....back to Monday....we got up and I dressed the boys. Patrick of course wanted a snack, so I fixed up his snack bin for the day (something new I'm doing - pre-sorting snack bags and then having them assigned to days and only putting those things in a little bin in the pantry each day....) so he got some gluten free pretzels and I got him some blueberry goat milk yogurt. We had Bible time and I made a grocery list.....then got ready to go. We left about 7:40.

First stop was the bank....then Kroger's. After Kroger's we headed to Wally's. I put Nicolas in the Moby and he fell asleep about 30 min. into the shopping trip, and slept for about 30 min, waking up as we were walking to the check out. After unloading the kids into their seats and the groceries into the car, I got the kids back out and fed Nicolas in the car....then we headed home!

At home I unloaded the groceries while Nicolas watched from the car seat on the porch and Patrick sprayed his feet with his new squirt bottle ;)

Then I laid Nicolas on a blanket with toys and started cleaning out the fridge/putting stuff away. I also started Patrick's lunch at some point as well as beginning a big project of cleaning out/re-organizing the pantry. I was hoping to put both boys to nap about 11:30 (we got home about 10:15) but Nicolas became VERY tired all of a sudden and began to WAIL, poor baby...so I took him off to bed. He began sleeping unswaddled on the 10th, and it's going pretty well! Sometimes he needs some help going to sleep though (which he did need even when he was swaddled at times...but I'm excited because last month he started putting himself to sleep much better!) anyways, he needed some help today, so I tended to him, and when he was asleep came out and finished the pantry. Patrick was eating and VERY curious about tons of stuff in the pantry. He kept asking questions and saying "what's that?"

At last the pantry was done and I cleaned up all the stuff I had taken out, then took Patrick off for his nap. I gave him a "pep talk" about how if he didn't nap he couldn't watch for Daddy coming home from work this evening, then left him in his bed. I ate some snacks, being too lazy to make myself some actual lunch, and worked on some photos/looked around online for about 30 min. About 12:30 I checked on P and decided to take him to my bed to nap with me.....I think we both may have fallen asleep for about 5-10 min., then Nicolas woke up! I tried to sneak out of bed so Patrick wouldn't hear me, but he jolted around and said "Why you getting up?" After some thought I decided to make him lay down while I nursed Nicolas, just to see if he would sleep....He obeyed nicely, but he didn't go to sleep.

After the boys got up we made the beds. Then I put sun-screen on them both in prep. for playing in the pool and grabbed a quick shower for myself while they dried. About 2:00 we headed outside. They played in the water, then we took a walk to the mailbox. I was SO happy 'cause a photo book I ordered arrived. Back at home I took a peek at that, then we had some popsicles outside. About 3:00 I headed in to put Nicolas down for a nap. Patrick and I cleaned up outside then came in. I sat down to really inspect my book. Patrick was looking for another photo book that he wanted to look at, and played a little bit with the remote which was his "phone"....then Patrick and I went to practice his piano. After that....what did I do? I did some dishes, while Patrick ran about and started cleaning the bathroom with his new spray bottle. After a bit I joined him, and we both cleaned the bathroom. Then Nicolas woke up about 4:30. He was very upset. I think his allergies were bothering him from being outside. He looked splotchy and kind of swollen. When I sat down to feed him our heads bonked pretty hard, which upset him further, poor thing! Patrick watched a baby einstein movie while I fed Nicolas and looked online.

Next came baths for the boys about 5:30....then I put Nicolas in the bumbo on the counter and worked on Patrick's dinner. While Patrick was eating I looked some at a magazine, but poor Nicolas was kinda fussy. Patrick said he wanted to go to bed, and he was right! Although he had a bit of trouble falling asleep, he was tired and zonked out about 6:30....I returned to the table, Patrick and my magazine, then after dinner I cleaned up Patrick, brushed his teeth and read him some books. After that we Patrick headed outside to color his "star" (reading club sheet) and watch for Daddy...I joined him shortly, which pretty much brings us to right now.

James and Patrick played for awhile, laughing and laughing...being silly. Now James is singing to Patrick before bed, and I need to go put some pizzas in the oven for James and I. I'm TIRED!

edited to add....after P went to bed James and I talked some more about our anniversary. We are trying to come up with a plan for what to do to celebrate. It's rather complicated due to various reasons, and we both got a little frustrated :( .....We headed off to bed late and talked for about an hour, which made things even later....and Nicolas was up/needing tended too 4 times, plusd I was worried about Patrick freezing so I checked on him twice and both times he had kicked his blankets off....so it was a rather "un-restful" night, lol! But today (Tuesday) I got a lovely nap, which I am thankful for. God is good!

and that's our Monday (and even a bit of Tuesday, lol!) ....How was yours?!

To Patrick, on the occasion of turning three and a half...

For my sweet Patrick.....my heart overflows with love for you! I love being a mother. It is so fulfilling! One of my favorite parts is putting you to bed. I lay you both down after or before some precious snuggle/bonding/close times, in your clean comfy little beds....music playing.....I feel such love for you, and I love feeling needed.

Patrick, you are 3 1/2 now. Where did those years go? You were just a baby! I remember riding in the pathfinder with you, when you were about 8 months old. You were in your car seat, just staring into my eyes. I stared right back, even though I should have been looking at the road. Your face lit up with delight at your mother....and my face mirrored yours, only in delight of you, my child. My firstborn child. You made such happiness well up in my soul that I could hardly hold it all in.

You are growing bigger each and every day. Your face is taking on a more boyish look....you talk away, using a vocabulary just like Mommy and Daddy, You listen to everything that is said. You have a tender and compassionate heart. You are near moved to tears when someone is hurt or sad. You are opinionated and smart. You work hard. I am very, very proud of you.

At night right now you prefer Mommy to put you to bed. This is just a phase of course, but I love it! You were so delighted tonight when I said that after I put Nicolas to bed I would put you to bed, too. I know you need your Mama's care....it's a special part only I can play in your life.

I cover you with your quilt and you snuggle in to Mr. Teddy Bear. Always laying on your tummy putting him on your left by your head. I pray for you and about you.

Then you say "Mommy, can you sing me a song?" and, even if it's past your bedtime I'm often inclined to say "yes."

These days will not last long. So I ask you what you'd like me to sing, and sometimes you say "Name above all names." Other times it's "Sleep my little one"....but always a "sleepy" or "night night" song. While I sing I rub your back and stroke your face and soft yellow hair.

I am reminded how quickly time passes, and that all too soon you will be a man. No longer will I be able to sit on the side of your toddler bed and tend to you in this way.

Some day when you are a big strong man, I want you to be able to read this, and know how much your Mommy loved you. I love you with all my heart, and my love will always be there for you, no matter what you do. I love you so much, my little P Pat Pat. Thank you for filling my days and nights with such meaning and truth. You have a special place in my heart.

With Love,
Mommy

A Day at Our House

About two weeks ago my friend Amy blogged about a week at her house. It was such fun to read, and I've decided to do it too! I think I may do one day a week for 7 weeks...or maybe I'll do a full week this week. I haven't decided for sure yet...but anyways, here is today!....

Sunday June 7th, 2009

My Sunday began with Nicolas getting up to eat sometime around 12am? Not sure. I just remember taking him back to his room and trying to get him to go to sleep, sometime around 12:30. He was upset for some reason....so I ended up bringing him back to our bed to eat a little more. Soon he was calm, happy and sleeping, so I took him back to his bed.

I can't remember for sure, but he may have eaten one more time, possibly around 4. Anyhoo, around 5:15 James got up to get ready for work. Close to 6 he came and told me goodbye. I went back to sleep, but heard the boys "stirring about" around 6:20. I ignored them :) and went back to sleep. About 6:40 I woke up and heard book pages turning and little N fussing more, so I got up. Patrick was sitting on his bed looking at a book, so I told him it was still too early, and to lay down and look at his book. I then closed his door and got Nicolas, bringing him back to our bed to eat.

at 6:58 I called to Patrick, telling him he could get up. He came in and said "where's Nicowas?" :)

Soon after that he said what he says pretty much every morning: "Can I have a snack?"

So I got up and opened the baby-gate we put up in the hall at night. P ran off to get his snack (He hoped it could be Doritos, but I said no :) )

From about 7:00 - 8:25ish

Made beds, checked out internet :) Had breakfast (Cereal for both, and a smoothie for P)

Had Bible time, dressed the boys, looked for some clothes for me, did some laundry in order to have some clothes :) took another quick peak at the internet, did the dishes.
Patrick was playing with his Bronco truck, and later his trains.


about 8:20ish I swaddled Nicolas, put on his fan and music and laid him down in his crib. He soon went to sleep and I went to take a shower about 8:35. After that I got ready as much as I could, put my blouse etc. in the dryer, cleaned out the diaper bag and did a little train track-ing with Patrick.

At 9:12 I got my clothes out of the dryer. My undershirt was still about half wet, but I went ahead and wore it :) Then I got Nicolas out of bed (he was awake) and we loaded up in the car and left for Church


From about 9:40 to near 1:00 we were at Church. Things went really well today. Sometimes it is hard w/o James. Nicolas is at a more noisy age, so it's harder managing him during the service. We had a nice Sunday school time. (I go in with Patrick) Nicolas ate during that time, and I got to chat with a friend which was nice!

Around 10:45, right when communion was about to start, I took the boys out of church, to put N down in a crib for his nap. P and I stayed in there till he was asleep, then headed back to the service. About 11:45 I heard N crying, (through the vent!) so P and I went out to get him. Church was almost over, so we waited in the "cry room" until they were about to sing, then we went in for the very end.

After Church we visited some, P played outside, chatted with family, then headed home for lunch.


1:00 - 2:00 Made lunch, (Grilled cheese and jello for me, Small beef burgers, blueberries, pear and peanuts for P) cut my finger on the cheese slicer, ate, fed N, chatted James a little online, dealt with several crying bouts from P about his water being cold and his blueberries falling on him, not wanting to eat them etc. :) :) ) and cleaned up lunch.

Then I cleaned up Patrick the blueberry mess :) read him one short book and told him to GO TO SLEEP :) (he likes "Play Naps" better, but he NEEDS to sleep!) then went and put N to bed. Then I came to work on this.

It's now 2:39 and N is asleep. I'll go check on both boys and then take a little nap (or maybe long, if the boys let me!) myself!

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Back at a little after 9 pm now. I woke up from my nap about somewhere in the 3 o' clock hour. I felt terrible! So much for naps making you feel better, eh?! I went to check on Patrick, who was laying on his bed with his eyes shut and no blanket. Ugh. I don't think he slept at all, which frustrates me. Nicolas was awake, so I got them both up. We got a "snack" of ginger ale :) then I put a movie on for Patrick to watch while I fed Nicolas. While nursing I was looking online some, and eating peanuts. Suddenly I noticed a bug flying around that looked like it could be a wasp. I HATE wasps and bees etc....always terrified they are going to sting the boys....so I got up and put the boys in Nicolas' room while I killed the bug :)
After the movie I started cleaning the house. Patrick "helped" some with his little broom. Nicolas watched/played for a good while in his bouncy chair, then when he fussed a little I put him to bed.
Patrick got involved with Playmobil and was having a grand old time. I swept/mopped the living room and kitchen, wiped down the counters/stove, fridge and microwave, did some tidying in the laundry room, switched out the laundry and vacuumed. I also started meat cooking for dinner.
When I was done vacuuming around 6 I got N up from his nap, got Patrick's food together and sat down at the table for the boys dinner. I nursed N and looked online, as well as showing Patrick some You-tubes :) He didn't have much of an appetite, but that may be because he didn't like some of his dinner...who knows. He had more beef burgers, blue corn chips, green beans and peas. I snacked on bread, but was going to eat when James got home.
When N was done eating I worked some more on dinner for us (Taco Salad) Then hurried to get the boy's a bath before 7:30ish. James gets home around that time, and Patrick loves to "watch" for him!
Gave the boys a quick bath, put lotion and PJ's on and went outside to wait for James.
James got home around 7:35 and we headed quickly in, due to the nasty mosquitoes etc.!
I hadn't practiced piano with Patrick yet, so I asked him if he wanted to practice then. He said YES and could Daddy practice with him....so he and James did piano till about 8:15 at which point James put him to bed. He sang some "sleepy" songs to him and rubbed his back. I think it is so sweet when he does that! While J & P had been doing all that I had attempted to feed a tired N a little and put him to bed (7:58) then looked online, then got dinner together. At some point Nicolas woke up (he has been doing that the last few nights....going to sleep then waking up soon afterwards...) It ended up being a struggle to get him to go back to sleep, but close to 9 he finally did. James and I had a little time eating at the table in between all that, and looking at some graduation invites we got today, as well as talking about P's piano.
Now it's 9:20 and I've been sitting here on my 'puter for a good while (J was the one who finally got N to go to sleep!)
We are supposed to go to bed at 9:15, (not that we always do!) so I better scoot. Goodnight all!