Valentine's Date Night

We decided to take Jace to the movies tonight for an early Valentine's Day celebration...really, it was just a good excuse to make Jay take us somewhere fun. :) We don't go to the movies often because they are so expensive and Jay is usually working or doing some sort of time consuming DIY project on the weekends during the "cheap times" but he got his work done early so we were free all afternoon/evening. I wanted to see that new movie "Gnomeo and Juliet" so I checked the times and the price was right so we packed up and headed out.

Jace had a BLAST! This was his second trip to the movies (his first was to see "Toy Story 3" back in the summer) but he was just as excited this time as he was then. We pulled in the parking lot and he excitedly exclaimed "We're here! We're at the movie theatre!!!". I'm not sure who was more excited - me or him! :)

We bought our tickets, got our popcorn (much to Jace's delight since popcorn is somewhat not allowed in our house - only for special treats), and got settled into our seats. Jace was properly propped up atop of coats, had his - or what was supposed to be MY - popcorn in hand and patiently watched as the previews played. Being the responsible parents we always are, we *of course* made sure he didn't have to potty before the movie started, because you know as well as I do how they decide they have to go 1/2 way through the movie. Theatre got dark and the movie started to roll...que 3 year old's bladder! Since Jay is such a loving and wonderful daddy, he jumped up, did not complain at all (ok, maybe a little lol) and quickly escorted Wee Man out. Oh, he also eversokindly re-buttered our already half eaten bag of popcorn. Isn't he wonderful? :)

I have got to say that "Gnomeo and Juliet" was one of the cutest kid's movies I've seen in a long time. Maybe I don't get out much and spend 90% of my television viewing time on channels like Nick Jr. and PBS kids but the movie was so much fun. Of course, given the title, it loosely tells the age-old tale of forbidden love and who can resist the romance in that? Throw in an entire soundtrack of Elton John songs, cleverly adapted to relate to the world of gnomes and you've got a super fun movie! Jace laughed at all the funny part, toe-tapped to catchy, classic tunes and sat through the entire thing like the big boy that he is. I was so proud of him and so overjoyed to be able to have such an amazing date with my two loves. It's so much fun to be able to watch movies like this through his eyes. To see the delight and wonder on his face makes my heart swell beyond measure.

We topped off our night with dinner at this very exclusive, fancy restaurant where kids eat free on the weekends (SCORE) called Steak n Shake. ;P Maybe a "dinner and a movie" date are a lot different than they used to be in our single years but I must say that this was probably the best Valentine's Day date that I've ever had.

TGIF...Thank God for FRIENDS

Let's see...well, I didn't quite make my goal of 4 blogs per month last month but this is a new month and I'm going to try agian. :)

We've had a pretty busy week full of skating lessons, birthday celebrations and play dates. We had MOPS this morning, which was a well needed breath of fresh air! I had a rough day yesterday and will admit that it wasn't my best "mommy day". It was Jay's birthday and I wanted to do something special for him and bake him some cupcakes. Baking is definitely not my "thing", even though I try. I tried a new recipe (which I planning on writing about some other time) and the bottom line was: FAIL! I was annoyed at myself for failing at my cake baking attempt, mad at Jay for something that I'll explain in the cake fail post, exploded *twice* at my son, discovered that one of my favorite shirts had seriously, inexplicable shrunk (even though I washed it in cold AND hung it to dry) and then found my favorite pair of sunglasses broken down in my purse! When you add all that up, it equals a pity party for Mommy! I think at some point in the day I even actually yelled at the non-verbal voice of the Holy Spirit!!!

When the alarm went off this morning, I snoozed it as many times as possible and *strongly* considered not going to MOPS today. "It's beyond cold today" (fyi, it was seriously 0* this morning) and "Jace was up super late and I just do NOT want to wake him up" were my excuses. I finally decided that I needed to go today, even though I wanted to stay curled up in my warm bed, with Jace snuggling quietly beside me and boy, was it worth it! I am so thankful for our little group and we even had 2 new ladies. We shared lots of laughs and encouragement, like always, and I love the friendships and sense of community we're building. It's been a little difficult for me having to build new relationships and getting "plugged in" at our church but it's been so worth it! I've spoiled by having the same friends since elementary and I still miss them, dearly, and have dug in my heels and told God that I don't want *new* friends, I want my *old* friends but I'm so thankful for my new friends!

Speaking of "old friends", I am sooo excited to spend tomorrow with one of my dearest friends, Amy, and 2 of her 4 wonderful boys!!! Jace gets to play with Blake all day and I get to meet her newest little one, Toby! What more could I ask for? Oh how about one more friend to join in on our fun??? Yep, Marissa and Colten are coming, too! 3 friends + 4 boys = 1 happy Courtney!!!

Almost February already?

So I've realized that I'm already behind on quite a few of my "resolutions" and it's not even the end of January! Ugh, I *kind of* wish I wouldn't have put them out there publically but maybe that's a good thing. I realized the other day that I hadn't posted in a while and I only wrote 2 for the month so far so here I am...watching Jace play, er...make that sit on the table with his trains (when he's supposed to be playing with the Moon Dough he so desperately begged me to get out) and listening to Dora prattle on about godknowswhat. It's a cold, snowy day here in this great mitten state and I have no energy, whatsoever, to get anything done for the day. I have managed to put in a load of laundry but it's been finished for at least 1/2 an hour now and I'm just too lazy to get up and put it in the dryer. Oh well.

(and I apologize for the HORRIBLE, grainy picture -my biggest complaint about my beloved Blackberry)

BUSTED!!!


Anyway, I also wanted to give a quick skating update...Jace is doing wonderfully at his lessons! The first week was kind of rough - he did NOT like the idea of falling - but by week 2 there was a huge improvement. I have been practicing all sorts of silly things to say with him like "I will do my best...even if I fall, I will get back up and try again!"...my inner cheerleader has had to make an appearance. LOL Whatever it takes, right? We are looking forward to next Monday, as it will already be the 1/2 way point! Maybe if I feel adventerous this weekend, I'll take him for a free open skate. We'll see! :)

Skating Lessons are Official

Today was a day filled with good food, family and fun. Jace and I had a date planned with Nanny (my paternal grandmother) for lunch and whatever else we wanted to do. On days like this I realize how truly blessed I am to have both my grandmothers in my life. They are both active, lively, fun ladies who are also good friends. Anyway, lunch at Johnny Carino's was fabulous, then we went to sign Jace up for his lessons and decided to hit up Barnes & Noble after we were finished...I could spend HOURS in there! Nanny and I are a bad combination in that store, for sure. We are both book lovers and especially children's book lovers (which is the section we were seeking today). She found some wintery classics, a snowman and a Charlie Brown Christmas wooden puzzle (to keep at her house for Jace's visits) so I would say that the trip was successful and we were able to pull ourselves away (and Jace from the Thomas train table) without too much damage! :) On our way home we decided to stop by my aunt and uncle's house to see pictures of their grandbaby - their first grandbaby - who is visiting with her momma from North Dakota for a bit. Unfortunately we weren't able to see Maegan and Emmalyn but we will get to see them on Saturday. Jace played hard with Uncle Joel, Clay and their puppy, Molly and I had a nice visit with Aunt Kai and Rachel.

On the way home to drop Nanny off, I got a text from my mom saying she and Dad were meeting up with...now stay with me here...my aunt's sister, husband and her daugther. Hey, I've grown up in a very different way than most people - I know all of my cousin's extended families and have been around them my entire life and I love it! We visited with them for a bit and then I finally headed home to get my very sleepy little boy ready for bath and bedtime.

What a Difference a Year Makes?

*sheepish grin* Hi, there! Has it really been 6 months since my last post??? Whoops...I guess this SAHM thing isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I just don't know how time gets away from me like that. Anyway, one of my New Year's Resolutions (I hate that term but whatever) is to blog more...so I'm publicly setting a goal of *at least* 4 blogs per month. Not too lofty and definitely achievable. So here is blog 1 for week 1 of 2011.

I guess I don't even know where to begin since I'm out of practice but we'll start with a Jace update. He turned 3 on 12/29/10, is potty trained (I know, I already blogged about that 6 months ago but it's still exciting), talks NON-STOP and eats (well...eats *a little*). Oh and I CUT HIS HAIR...ok, so I only trimmed about an inch and a half off the ends about 2 months ago but that's HUGE for me! After the many tears I shed after that bold move, I have decided that was enough for now. :)

I'm in the midst of putting together all the finishing details for his big b-day party (which is Sunday) so hopefully everything comes together without a hitch. We'll see...when you put 10 toddlers/babies and about 50 adults in one room there are no guarantees. :) We are putting him in ice-skating lessons (which perfectly fits my "Winter Fun" theme for the party hehe) and those will start next Monday so wish us luck! One of his little buddies will be in the class with him so hopefully that will help.

On a side note, Jay has a HUGE interview next Wednesday and I can't stress enough how desperately our family needs him to get this job so your prayers are GREATLY appreciated. I'll be sure to post updates.

I guess that's all for now...no major changes for us, just living life!

Not a baby anymore

WOW...has it really been 4 months since my last post??? I guess time really has gotten away from me. Where should I begin?



Well, for starters, Jace is POTTY TRAINED!!! Yep, we did it. It was a little later than I had originally anticipated but 2 1/2 isn't too bad. He also is talking up a storm. It's so fun to see his true personality finally coming out. He is a very funny kid with A LOT to say! (I don't know where he gets that from...) hehe

Not much else is going on with us...just trying to enjoy summer and slow down time. Jace has been enjoying our new (to us) pool and is getting more confident in the water. I know this sounds "cliche" but I wish I could just freeze time for a bit. I find myself just sitting back, watching him sometimes and realizing that he's not my baby anymore. One thing he does, though, which secretly makes my heart melt is crawl up in my lap and sign "baby". What he wants me to do is cradle him in my arms and hold him like a baby. (This is funny to me because when he WAS a baby, he hated being held like that.) No, it isn't easy to cradle a lanky, 29 lb, 2 1/2 year old in my arms like that but I do it each and every time. Those are the moments that make every ounce of stress, worry, anger and everything else just disappear.

2 year check-up

So for everyone who's been concerned, wondering or even just slightly curious, here is my follow-up to the "Eating Strike" blog. It's been long overdue but I finally am getting a chance to give everyone (or at least the handful of my faithful followers) an update...

I took Jace to his two year check-up a couple of weeks ago and here is how it went:

We got to the appointment on time, in fact we were early which never EVER happens when I have to take Jace by myself anywhere. We waited a short while before we were called to our room and Jace entertained himself by rolling on the floor (YEAH, GROSS) and flirting with a teenage girl and her mother. I was thinking "Wow, not too bad...so far so good." (That thought was short lived.)

The nurse (who was actually very friendly and caring which has NOT been our experience at our peditrician's office but I'll talk more about that in a second) came in and asked me to take Jace's clothes off down to his diaper so he could get weighed and measured. No problem...clothes removed, now just waiting on kind nurse to return.

Still waiting...Jace is starting to get cold and irritated over the fact that the door is open. *Come on lady, I have a cold 2 year old in here who cannot be contained for long*

Ok, here she is.
We take Jace to the scale...I'm feeling kind of nervous since I know my child doesn't eat.
HOLY COW - 27.8 lbs!!!
Now, to most people this wouldn't be that exciting. 27.8 lbs pretty average for a normal 2 year old, but MY son has always, always been in the low (5th-10th) percentile his entire life. I know you're not supposed to compare kids since they're each unique and different but this is HUGE for us!!!

Next we have to take him back to the room to measure him. *holding breath*
32 1/4 inches!!! WOO HOO Ok, cool, I can breathe for a moment...those are great stats!!!

Now the nurse tells me that she has to take a blood sample...oh boy, here we go.
Every time they do this he loses it! *Great*

WHAT?!?! You're going to prick his finger, not just take it from his toe like you have before? *This is not going so well...Mommy doesn't handle this kind of stuff as well as Daddy does. Where's Jay when I need him? Now I know why I used to make him take Jace to the appointments.*

So now I have to hold him AND try to get him distracted from what's about to go down. He happily gives her his finger and then IT HAPPENS...

The quick prick was nothing, it was the bright red stuff flowing from his finger that put him over th edge. PURE SHOCK (remember this kid isn't vaccinated and hasn't been to the doctor in a year). He wasn't just crying because he was scared and hurt, I truly believe he was so traumatized that this nice lady would do such a horrible thing to him.

Now we all know that she was just doing her job and I'm sure she feels bad for having to the bad guy all the time but he doesn't know this. He trusted her and she shattered that trust BIG TIME.

Ok, the nurse is long gone at this point and I'm still stuck in this room with a cold, injured (you'd think she actually cut his finger off by the way he was screaming), bleeding, crying 2 year old. This doctor better get here fast.

I'm trying to console him and also keep my thoughts together for this doctor. This is my first time seeing her. We have seen two of the other doctors in this facility and so far I have not been impressed. These doctors came highly recommended to us by someone I admire and trust and we also heard many, many other praises about this office from quite a few people we know. Sadly, we have not had these wonderful experiences that everyone else has had. The nurse we always see is rude, we can't understand the doctor's very well and they never tell us what's wrong with Jace (when he has been sick), it's always been "just a cold" when they, in fact, have previously missed a double ear infection. :/ Jace has always been a very healthy child, so far, so the couple of times we HAVE taken him in have been *what I consider* pretty serious. We're definitely not the types of parents that take him in for every little sniffle since we try to a) do things naturally to prevent sickness and b) do things naturally to help the sickness pass quickly.

Anyway, Jace is completely inconsolable at this point, the doctor is still not coming and I'm starting to get anxious.

Oh thank God, here she is. She's young AND speaks perfect English...I think I'm going to like her!

We go over the standard stuff: vaccinations (she didn't criticize me at all), what he's doing, saying, and here it comes...the dreaded eating. I'm ready for her to really give me what-for about his diet (or lack of). I talk in detail about what he will eat and won't eat, what I do to get him to eat, how often, how long this has been going on, how long he was breastfed, etc. Oh, all the while, Jace is STILL screaming and crying and grabbing my face to look at him and his finger. I'm starting to not feel as sorry for him at this point since it's been a good 20-30 minutes!

She actually told me that it's OK! Everything I'm doing is wonderful and to keep up the good work. Her only suggestion/question was if I had considered putting him on Flinstones and I told her he was on a multi from Better Health as well as one with the Omegas. She was very impressed and said that we were doing more than the majority of parents would do. She could tell how concerned I was and reassured my fears by stating the same thing that I've heard from everyone else but it was just different coming from her. I'm not normally one to put so much weight into one person's opinion but I cannot put into words the relief I felt at that moment. I know it sounds so cliche but I literally felt soooo much lighter after talking with her.

Jace never did calm down during this entire time. It wasn't until we got all the way back to the car and he was buckled in his seat and got his movie started did he finally quit crying. All that for one little finger prick...could you imagine how he'd react to a vaccination??? IF we decide later on to do one or two vaccinations, I think I'll skip that and make his daddy take him. LOL

After all the excitement from the doctor's office I decided we needed a McDonald's treat (sweet tea and fries cures all, right??) and a quick trip to Target before we went home to take a nap...I definitely deserved it, after all. :)