Child Care ... Revisited

I took Caeden with me to the gym. It's the first time he's gone and he was SO EXCITED. When we got to the play area he took off for the tunnels and didn't look back. I tried to tell him I was leaving - that I would be back, but he could have cared less at that point. He was having so much fun climbing and sliding ...

Dejected, I introduced myself to one of the caregivers - telling her it was his first time in a setting like this, and if he needed me just page me. She told me that most Mommies feel this way, and that we are much more anxious than the kids are. "He'll be fine." And she sent me off with a wave.

Okay. Off I went to hop on the treadmill, where I completely got caught up in competing with the teeny boppers on the treadmills beside me. I can't remember a time when not one ounce of me jigglied when I ran ... but these girls where all business - and nothing moved on them except their legs. Well, it goes without saying, but there was a certain amount of jiggle going on over on my treadmill, but I did better than the day before and felt great!!

So, after my workout, I went downstairs to get my little man. I was heartbroken by what I saw when I got there. He was bunched up in a ball on the floor behind the main desk area - crying so hard that his shoulders were shaking and snot was coming out of his nose. I scooped him up and told him I would always come back for him, but he just kept crying.

It was one of the most awful moments I've had as a Mom. Seriously, I should have only left him for 15-20 minutes for his first time. What was I thinking?? (Don't answer that. We all know I got caught up in trying to keep up with those unhuman treadmill girls. I mean seriously, who in the world can run at a dead sprint for 45 minutes?! It was insane to watch.)

After I talked Caeden down by offering/bribing him with fruit snacks (that contain zero fruit, mind you), we got to the truck, and this is what he said:

"Mommy? I am so sad."

"Honey, I will never leave you for long. I will always come back. I promise."

"I'm still sad..."

"Baby, I am sorry. I was gone too long. I'm really, really sorry."

"Well, I need something."

Pause. He knows he has me where he wants me. Damn!

"What do you need?"

"A new toy."

Folks, it's manipulation at it's best.

Pizza

We brought dinner over to some neighbors who just had a baby [Hi Campbell!]. The mom eats only a few things ... one of them being pizza. So Wayne fired up the Green Egg (a grill/smoker) and proceeded to make homemade pizza. It had a bit of a wood-fired taste to the crust and was sooo good. Who needs Papa John when I have Papa Wayne?

I'll post the recipe soon.

Gimme a C

Claire Bear (the nicknames have started to kick in) is 9 weeks old. When Caeden was this old, I already had a computer hard drive packed with photos. I think I have a dozen of Claire. While Caeden beats her in photos, I think she's ahead in number of clothes. ;)

Here's what she's up to:

She still loves to be swaddled (well, she tries to get out but I won't allow it - I have her wrapped up like a mummy because she'll sleep longer...).

Doesn't like anything near her face.

Loves to be sang to (in contrast, Caeden loathes music - can you believe that?).

Can't get enough time in the bath.

Starting to tolerate her swing and carseat for a few minutes.

Weighs 9 pounds 9 oz. and is almost 22" long.

Has 1 roll of baby fat on her thigh - no more scrawny chicken legs.

Likes to cuddle, cheek to cheek, in bed -- this is my favorite thing to do with her.

Won't sleep in her crib unless I make sure she is in a deep sleep, having a heating pad on the mattress to warm it up, hunch waaay down into the crib so we have maximum contact before I unfold her from my arms, have the fan running for white noise ... and tip toe out. This nifty little dance wasn't working last night, though. I was up until 2 am repeating and repeating until I finally lost all patience and took her to bed with me. Of course, she slept until 6 am without a fuss...while I woke up every 30 seconds to make sure I hadn't smothered her.

Is totally, completely ... adored and loved.

Life Time

What does it take to get back into shape after having a [sweet, precious] baby? Apparently not the cute workout clothing I talked about earlier.

With Caeden it wasn't hard - I just jumped on the treadmill when he napped (...and there was also a Cindy Crawford workout DVD involved, which is embarrassing to admit, but MAN it kicked my butt!).

This time around I walk with the kids in the morning before it gets too hot. The walk isn't as much exercise as it is 1) Rock hunt for Caeden's dump trucks 2)Resting at benches so Caeden can drink cherry water 3) Detouring to the park for some quality swing and slide time.
I LOVE our walks - love them. But apparently it is going to take a bit more to get back into my skinny jeans.

Enter my savior: LifeTime Fitness is the most amazing gym I have ever been in (sorry Lindsay, I know Pure Vida is over the top but I am talking about gyms for non-millionaires). The best part? Two hours of childcare everyday is included in the price. Two hours of cardio ... two hours of pilates ... two hours of ... drinking a smoothie and getting a massage!

Please don't rain on my parade - I DO realize there is no way on earth I could work out for 2 hours straight...it's just the very idea that I COULD makes me positively giddy.

New Things I Like

Smooth Down -- super-duper shiny hair. Love this stuff. Run and get yourself some during Beauty Brands' Liter Sale. Ten bucks and you, too, can have a glorious mane of hair (well, maybe I took it a bit too far, but if not for anything, buy it for the yummy smell!)

Caress Berry Wash - smells sooo good.These cupcakes are so yummy. SO YUMMY. Especially when you are on a diet and can't/shouldn't have them.

Aunt Lindsay & Caeden

Linz has a way with Caeden. His face lights up as soon as she walks through the door and he can't wait to show her everything in his world ... his toys, his room, the shop vac in the basement (yes, the boy loves his vacuums).

I love seeing them together because their interaction is so pure and easy. It's obvious how much they adore each other, and makes me love her even more for it.

Thanks for being so awesome, Linz. You're one in a million.

HGTV

I have a slight addiction to HGTV. I love "Divine Design" and I think I've got Wayne hooked, too. We've lived in Parker for almost two years (hard to believe) and haven't done much to the inside of our house. It has beautiful wide-plank cherry floors, a gorgeous kitchen, and lots of white shutters on the windows ... but the only room that is truly decorated is Claire's room. The rest of the house is a sea of cream paint with no personality.

Well, that is coming to an end. Yesterday Wayne came home from Home Depot with decorative ceiling tiles (that aged copper-ish tin look) and asked me to pick my favorite finish. We're going to install it in the dining room and then finish it off with wainscoting. Funny how excited I am for the dining room to be "decorated" when we've NEVER used it. I think that's going to change very soon ...

Will post pictures as soon as we're (meaning Wayne) done.

I am sooo tech savvy.

Thank you, John.

Hello

Not much going on today. Thought I would share some fun sites. Enjoy!

http://simplemom.net/

http://chocolateandzucchini.com/

http://www.dessertfirst.typepad.com/

P.S. Anyone out there know how to create links where you just click on a word and it takes you to the site?

Last night Wayne asked me when I thought I'd be ready for a vacation.

Ummm .... right this second?! I'll be in the car.

Seriously, the last time we got away was a year ago last Feb. when we went to the Keys with our good friends from Kansas. It was such a blast - but had I known it would be the last time I would have a margarita (and seeing Kenny Chesney wasn't so bad, either), I would have stayed longer. :)

Vacation ... oh sweet vacation. Probably next year when Claire is 1.

Right now, my definition of vacation: a movie on DVD that I watch all the way through without falling asleep (and waking to drool down my face) while having just taken a bubble bath.

Maybe I'll get that vacation sometime next year, too.

Here's to 2009! ;)

Summer Swim

This picture cracks me up because of how the splashing started.

"Come here, Mom. I have something to show you."

The trap was set and I walked right into it. 'Splash Mom' was the game of the day. ;)

The funny part: Caeden didn't get it that I 'got it' after the first time. So, he kept at it all afternoon.

"Mom! I have a surprise for you!"

"Mom, I NEEEED you."

"...Mom?"

Gotta give it to him, the boy has tenacity.
This picture is all Caeden. He is such a boy. By the end of the day, he had every truck and car in the pool with him. Trucks and a snazzy pink and purple pool ... what more does a kid need?

YouTube Lion Video *Must See*

This is absolutely incredible. It's the documentation of a tame lion reintroduced into the wild in Africa ... and what happens when his human parents find him again (in Africa).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr1pWzoLvT8

(forgive me - I have no idea how to make a link other than you having to copy and paste)

Watch it now before you forget!

Food Jags

Do you ever get stuck on certain things? Lately I eat turkey sandwiches, Kashi Strawberry Fields cereal, frozen Kit Kats, pear tomatoes (that we've grown!), and anything take-out.

It's the perfect season to grill, but that requires Wayne (he uses the green egg and won't refill the propane for the gas grill...so I am out of luck these days).

Headed to the farmers market Sunday for peaches, corn, and tomatoes - can't wait for summer tomatoes... the big red kind that I can slice on my turkey sandwiches!

Real Life.

We've been hunkered down since Claire's arrival. You know how newborns have a way of setting the pace and the schedule for everyone else. "Caeden, we have to wait to play outside until after I feed Claire..." and on schedules: 8 pm bedtime is my version of Heaven.

Well, the other day, I decided enough was enough. I needed some stuff at Nordstroms (funny how you run out of everything at once) and thought we could all benefit from getting out a little bit. Caeden was totally agreeable and even Wayne was excited about doing a bit of shopping. Things were looking up ... until we got there.

I have a peanut shell (sling) that Claire loves to be in, so I tried putting her in it a little too quickly ... her head was stuck and her legs were dangling out. Okay, not right. Let's try this again. Out she comes, in she goes ... this time the wrong way and I am afraid she can't breathe! By this time, I am sweating bullets, she is crying and probably thinking, "what is this crazy woman trying to do to me?!"

I don't have my diaper bag (remember, I walked in feeling super confident that she wouldn't need a thing if she was all snuggled into the sling) so I have no blanket to lay down on the bench while I put her down trying to untangle myself from this $#@! sling. Everyone is staring at me and Claire and I am now totally flustered and not even sure if I am breathing. I kind of remember everything going dark - like tunnel vision.

Wayne and Caeden walk over from the line they were standing in to get a muffin (poor Caeden was so excited to have a muffin - all the boy wanted to do was have a snack) -- and Wayne asked me if everything (meaning ME) was okay?

No.

I just started walking out of the store. Poor Wayne grabbed my purse and Caeden and followed me out. He kept trying to make me feel better - to calm me down - but by the time we reached the SUV, I was crying.

I cried all the way home.

Why? I guess I just don't have a thick skin right now, and when things go wrong, I just fall apart. I thought my hormones were stable by now, and maybe they are, but I am not getting any sleep and I guess I am not doing too well.

The next day Claire never cried - she slept a ton - (compared to the previous day when she didn't feel good and cried all day and all night) - and we went out for dinner without any problems. We hung out outside and enjoyed the cool evening like a normal family and it felt great. I just need to remember not all days are hard.

Not all days are hard!

Sometimes blog entries aren't witty or fun. Sometimes they are gritter than that...please forgive my real life entry - I need to document it so I can look back and laugh when things are rolling smoother.

Until then, I am officially an online shopper. :)

Today

Is such a good day. Caeden is playing in the dirt ... Claire is starting to coo...
Wayne is home ...

It really doesn't take much to make me happy. ;)

Meet Claire Party

No party is complete without a cake...
Here's Dave and Donna (Wayne's parents)

Daddy and Claire

Grandma and Claire



It was so sweet to celebrate our baby with everyone in SD. She was 5 weeks old in these pictures.

Home Sweet Home

Made it home in one piece. The road trip was a piece of cake - not a speck of drama over movie watching, no lost flip flops ... nada. Just a lot of junk food (when was the last time you had Nibs??) and talking.

Our visit was awesome. Wayne had a surprise birthday party and Claire had a "Meet the Baby" party. So fun to see everyone! Donna (Wayne's mom) and Bev (his aunt) made a lot of yummy food and there was plenty of beer to go around. Perfect party!

Caeden was in Heaven. He has a belly laugh that only comes out when he is with his grandpa and grandma. It's this infectious laugh that stops you in your tracks - and I always think, "how come I can't make him laugh like that?!" -- Probably because I am too busy sending him to the corner for all the things that grandpa and grandma think are so cute and funny. Oh well, that's what they are for right?

One of the nights we went to some friends' house for a BBQ. It was an incredible feeling to be outside visiting with everyone that we seldom get a chance to see. Yet, conversation came so easily and the feeling of being surrounded by friends is a comfort we really miss.

On other news ... does anyone else out there love pear tomatoes the way I do? I have three plants thriving outside. I see green lil' pear tomatoes all over the place and can't wait to make a tomato and mozzarella salad. Ripen up already, please.

I have also hit the 6 week postpartum mark. I have made running a half marathon my goal for this fall. I was all set to start running again but Wayne is traveling a lot again. I wish so much he could be home at night. I miss how much smoother the evenings go when there is two of us to handle the craziness of children, dinner & clean up. I am so wiped at night I crawl into bed and am asleep in 10 seconds flat. How are all you moms working out??? I want him to stay home. I need him. My flabby stomach needs him home so I can go run. Come home, Wayne.

More tomorrow ...

The Reality of the Road Trip

Grandpa and Grandma Koop are going to have their hands full when we invade next week. We're making the drive (7 hours give or take) for Wayne's birthday and the 4th of July. We've already started making a list of things to pack (foggy brains don't do well without lists ... well, who I am kidding, I don't do well without a list EVER). It will be quite the challenge to fit everything into our SUV. I think both Wayne and I have quitely pondered if we made the right decision when we traded in our (very short lived) Honda Odyssey Minivan last year. We could really use the space - and it got great gas mileage. Of course, neither one of us will ever admit to wishing we had it back, but just between you and me, I think Wayne misses it more! ;)

I'm thinking of all the times I'll be hurdling my body into the backseat between the two carseats in an attempt to soothe Claire, find Caeden's (toy, blanket, Cheez its) -- you fill in the blank. This will usually entail losing at least one of my flip flops (probably wedged between the passenger seat and the console), breaking out into a sweat (remember that newborn cry?), uttering some sort of back-handed comment to Wayne about how this was a bad idea and utter,"How come I can't drive?," and finally, debate with Caeden about wanting to pick out the next movie we watch.

Mommy can't take Bob the Builder for one more second...

But then, we'll get there and it will be awesome. We'll have amnesia about the trip and make it all over again in about eight weeks.

Just remind me not to re-read this after my amnesia kicks in, yes?

Wall E

As I type this, Caeden is at his first movie. Wayne took him to the earliest show on opening day. I know they got popcorn, candy and probably a slush. Wayne talked about his seating strategy (first row of stadium seating) to ensure Caeden would be able to see...

Caeden has been talking about going to the theatre all week long. I know how much Wayne was looking forward to taking him, too. But, I admit, I am so sad that I am not there, too. I really can't think of a "first" that I haven't been there for with Caeden. I guess I need to get used to it as "Father and Son" stuff becomes more and more common. I just can't wait to hear all about it. Wayne, not one for details, will have to recount Caeden's reactions to me in excruciating detail.

While they've been gone what have I done? Claire and I went for a walk in her new *kick butt* stroller:Here I thought I was getting into shape until I got home and turned on "The View" and learned that Elizabeth lost her baby weight by working out TWO HOURS a day with a trainer. There are a few choice words that I would like to use right now to describe that woman. However, I will try to keep it clean and use %^$#!. Please feel free to fill in the blank. And, yes, I know I am not making sense by hating a woman I should probably look to as fitness inspiration, but I figure as long as I'm not sleeping through the night, I am entitled to be catty and shallow.

Randomness

Here's Caeden ... talking on the phone to Grandpa and counting sprinklers at the same time. When did he get so big? I know right around the corner he'll be holed up in his room, talking on the phone and not wanting to come out. I am not sure I like the idea of them growing up...

I was just holding Claire and I started thinking about how someday she'll be a mother and a grandmother ... and how I can only hope to be around to see those things. My heart just squeezes so tight inside of my chest when I think about things like that. All I really know is they are my reason -- my purpose, and I will hold onto every little moment because I know they are already going by fast.

"Carnival"

Parker Days is a big deal in Parker. It's a small town-style, old-school carnival that smells like funnel cakes and looks like 1) Fun - remembering your youth 2) Scary as heck death trap [as a parent]

Anyway, I had romantic notions about taking Caeden in the evening when the rides were lit up with lights. I thought Wayne could win me a big stuffed bear and Caeden would ride all the kiddy rides while laughing and having a grand ol' time.

The reality is we went during the day (high noon on concrete -- a bit warm). Claire's stroller didn't have adequate shade and so she and I stood in the shade of a lone stick tree while Caeden and Wayne walked around. I didn't smell funnel cakes, but I did get a whiff of the ponies walking around in a circle (with kids riding them - either scared to death, or whipping them to go faster -- poor, stinky ponies).

Caeden's favorite part? The park next door to the rides. He thought the yellow curly slide was the greatest thing ever. Good thing we didn't spring for the $25 "all you can ride" bands. I wonder if he'll be so easily entertained next year?