75th percentile

This is where both of the boys are!
We had our Dr. Appointments today and I have lots of information to share!

Grant weighed in at a whopping 15 pounds! He is a healthy boy! He is also on medication now for acid reflux. After my explaining to the doctor his issues with pooping and burping she prescribed him something since it should not be that difficult for him. I hope it helps. It's painful to watch....and listen to. He did very well with his immunizations too. Oh was he mad. But surprisingly all it took was a quick cuddle to calm him down. With Aid I always had to nurse him for awhile to calm him down. Not my Mr. Independent! He also smiled and cooed at the nurse which was fun because really I'm the only one that has seen it.




Aid is also healthy! He came in at 32 pounds! He is well above where normal two year old development milestones are so we were pleasantly surprised by that! AND...drum roll please....his iron is in the median range! I have been obsessing about this and shoving spinach down his throat at every opportunity and if looks like it has paid off. I did it with no medicine just creative mommy love and determination. I'm kind of proud of myself.

Aid was a nightmare in the office. I really think the problem stemmed from my pump up of the doctor. I made it sound like we were going to Disneyland. Then we got there and they had this incredible play area and he immediately ran to it. He only got to play in it for 2 minutes before they came to get us. (It is actually an office where you hope they are running late so he can play!) He came back willingly until he realized that he was stuck in a small room with no toys except for the ones I brought. He was not allowed to climb on the counter or open the door and run down the hall...the two ideas he came up with to entertain himself. Poor kid had 2 time outs in the Dr.'s office. Then they sent the student in. She was sweet and adorable but obviously lacking experience in dealing with 2 year olds. Instead of just looking into his eyes quickly and efficiently she tried to entice him into a better mood by shining the light thing onto the book I finally got him to sit down and read. This irritated him even more, which honestly I can't say I blame him. At some point I just gave in to the reality that we did not have sweet adorable compliant Aid with us. We had that kid. The kid on Supernanny you want to smack he's being so naughty. He calmed down once the real doctor brought him some licorice. Ahhhh....my kid does do well with bribery. He got his shots and blood taken and was brilliant. Hardly any crying at all. I was so proud of him. Then Bob took him to play in the play room (how would I know it would be THAT fun?) and he was sweet and adorable Aid once more.

It was a whole different experience bringing two to the appointment. Which we will always have to because our copay is an outrageous $50!!! Me and Bob walked out of there tired having just worked our asses off. Grant was sleeping, and Aid was happily holding onto his stickers.

I miss being a kid.

Part of the Gang

We have been so lucky to find the friends we have here in Minnesota. While we miss everyone in Portland these women and their kids have helped us make this our home. I have learned so much from them. I have leaned on them for support when I needed it. We have sat around the dining room table swapping parenting challenges. We have laughed as we watch our little ones navigate their own social situations. And now Grant is part of the gang and they have welcomed him with open and loving arms. I love them. And Aid loves their kids. It's a win win really....

Emilie and Matilda looking gorgeous. Emilie inspired me to start Weight Watchers. She has lost all of her baby weight and then some and looks fabulous and I had to do the same!

Sam is still Aid's best friend even if they don't see each other as much. They are like two peas in a pod!

Angie holding Grant. She is due in a couple of weeks with her second one too!

Corbin is now her oldest!

Possibly the cutest picture of Sara and Oliver ever.
And here's Amelia. Or as Aid calls her "Mia". Ok, tell me she doesn't remind you of Cindy Lou Hoo from The Grinch. I mean, yes she is not blond hair or blue eyed but her eyes are just as big and those pig tails...good gracious she's cute.

This picture is an oldie but goody. I couldn't find a more recent one with Rena AND Lexa ( a situation I will be rectifying)

Another old one of Kelly and Chloe! Ok apparently I have to get my camera out again here...(Kelly PLEASE send me that picture of Ryan and Grant so I can add it....I cannot find a picture of Ryan!!!!)

Chloe and Lexa loved holding Grant with Kelly helping out.

Grant you are lucky to have this crew.

Happy Birthday Libby

It was Aid and Grant's cousin Libby's birthday last weekend. (Wow, say that one 10 times) She was just as cute as she could be and we all had a really great time! Here are the pics!



This is the My Little Pony that Aidee picked out for her. She is big into these right now. Aid loved it too!


Had I known that Aid would love the little kitchens as much as he does I would have put it on the Christmas list. As it is I think Grandma and Grandpa B are getting it for his birthday!


Our other little niece Josie. Don't you just want to squeeze her?


She's a cutie this one...


Libby and Auntie Anna both looking adorable!


This hat even looks adorable on Uncle Joe!

Happy Birthday Libby! We love you so very much and are so happy we could be here for your big day! I can't believe you are 3....going on 10. You are smart, funny, cute, and feisty; and one of the best things about moving to Minnesota was that we get to see you grow up!

The Grandma Box Comes Again

We got one today. And once again Aid did his happy dance! He impatiently waited for me to get the box open and then tore through it once it was opened. There were mostly hand me down clothes for Grant and some articles of clothing for Aid.

But he knew there would be something else.

So he kept digging. He found a couple of copied movies which excited him. He immediately wanted to put in The Rescuers. Then he found it....the beloved bag of Hershey Kisses. He said, "She got the chocki. Grandma got the chocki." He repeated this several times getting louder and more excited as he said it. Then suddenly he started yelling it as he frantically began running around the circle of our house!

You have never seen a happier boy then when he finds the chocki in the bottom of the Grandma Box.

Awww.....

Lately when I am done burping Grant and attempt to lay him down he will not let go of the burp cloth. A most unlikely "lovey" don't ya think? But so so so sweet.

Bath Time Rocks

Typing in the title of this blog, an old title popped up....It was titled, "Bath Time Blues." Yet another example of the differences between these two. Cause Grant LOVES his bath. I don't know if it's because he has tummy issues, but he can be in the middle of a screaming fit and I will throw him in the bath and immediately (and I do mean immediately) he stops screaming and starts cooing at me. He is definitely my water baby.

Even More Beautiful

The answer to the question in the previous blog??

Yes.....




God, I love these two.

Beautiful

Does it get any sweeter then this?

Spring is in the Air...

You have never seen a happier little boy then when Aid realized he could play in his sandbox. Not sure how much he ate this time....


Ok, getting back in the swing made him pretty happy too...


Love this shirt.


Are we breaking any child labor laws by having our 2 1/2 year old pick up dog poop? I swear he wanted to do it.


Grant watched the beautiful day from inside until he fell asleep. Oh I love this baby...don't you just want to squeeze him?

Now I understand when people say "It's been a long winter..."

Two For Two

Ok. So it was 50 degrees. Sunny. Warm. We were dying to go for a walk. So we all decided to go on one around the lake that ends at....a playground. But this playground has that rubber surface so it should all be melted. Right?

Wrong.



Seriously. I give up trying to be a good, active mom.


Well, at least we still had a good time.




Someone tell me when winter is officially OVER here?!

Funniest picture ever

I'm just sayin...

Happy Birthday Mom!

I wish I could be there to make you dinner...or take over babysitting duties for a day....or throw a party.
But I can't....this is the best I got!

Ok, well Grant was not exactly cooperating. But he does love you!

Aid was trying to say "Happy to you Grandma," but Grant was acting like he was being tortured!
Ok, these are officially the worst pictures ever....

Anyway...Happy Birthday Mom! We love you and appreciate you and I don't know what we would do without you. Hope you had a good day!

Bad Kitty

I overheard Aid reprimanding Josie today. From what I could piece together, Aid was chasing Josie, Josie finally got pissed and batted at Aid. Aid proceeded to tell Josie that she was "in trouble" and placed her on a time out on the stairs. He sat there and explained that she needed to "sit right there" because she was "in trouble for hitting Aidee" and there is "no hitting."

Wow.

Supernanny would be proud.

Teenagers

Aid is 2 1/2 going on 15.

Here are some new phrases that we are hearing more and more of:

"Go away!"

"Leave me alone!"

And today a new and personal favorite: "Don't talk to me mama!"

Sigh...they grow up into mouthy little things so soon don't they?

The Two Faces I Love

Grant is going to be a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings....





He is turning into such a happy little (big) thing!


And once again our photo hound!!!


Someday I will get a picture with both of them...

Poor Leo

I was drug upstairs by Aid yelling "Oh no mama! Elephant eating 'Weo'..."

Uh oh....

Milestones

As you know we have always attended something called Tot Time every Monday and Wednesday unless there is some other free and tempting event through my mommy group. It's basically a gym full of lots of toys and lots of kids and during the winter months when you are all cooped up it's a pretty good free (key word here) activity.

We haven't been the Tot Time since Grant. So despite being sick, it was time to do an activity with both boys outside of a friend's home. It took SO much longer then I anticipated getting us all ready and out the door and I was an hour late to my first Tot Time back. But I have good friends with kids that have tons of energy to burn off and they were there waiting for us!

You have to sign in when you get there with you name and how many there are of you. I signed us in as 3 today....I paused for a moment realizing it was the first time I had been back and there were now 3 of us. I teared up. Couldn't help it.

I know it's little and maybe won't even make sense to some people. But it got me. It was a little moment. A little milestone. And sometimes it's the little things that count.

Non Native Minnesotan Makes Bad Decision

So Aid was all better today, and dying to get out of our house. He began begging me to see all of his little friends and went through the list of them over and over again. Then he brought me his coat and hat and asked to go outside. I decided since it was warmer that we would go for it! I got Aid and a screaming Grant ready to go on a walk to the playground!



I don't know what I was thinking. Well, here is what I was thinking. I was feeling guilty for not getting Aid out of the house much since little Grant moved in and he gave me big puppy dog eyes begging to go play with his friends outside. Well, since I couldn't deliver the friends I thought the ice would be melted enough to go on a walk. But then I decided that a walk wouldn't be all that much fun, he needed to get a little energy out. So that's where the playground theory came in. Why I didn't think the playground would be covered in snow and ice I have no idea. Sleep deprivation perhaps.

The walk there was horrendous. While the warm temperature did melt the ice it really just created a thin ice layer that was often undetectable. Until I slipped, no less then 5 times, landing on my knees (bruised) and rolling my ankle. Let's remember I only have a single stroller so Grant was snuggled in the Baby Bjorn and I had to pretty much kill myself each time I slipped in an attempt not to squash the baby. He amazingly slept through the whole debacle.

We finally got there and I was sort of proud of myself and feeling like a good mom who would sacrifice anything to get her kid some outside time. Even in the dead of winter.
This is the scene we came upon.

What!!!! There is snow all over the freaking playground? What kind of snow state is this? This is the state where there is NEVER a snow day they are so prepared. There are snow plow emergencies (that have resulted in quite a few tickets since we didn't know about them!) People drive in it. It lasts for 5 months! Wouldn't you think they would plow out the playground so that in the 5th month when there is still snow but it's warmer the little children of Minnesota could get outside? Apparently not. I sat there silently cursing the whole state and tried to convince Aid that there was too much snow to play. He wasn't having it. He gave me the puppy dog eyes again and asked to get out to go play. Ok, little man, ok...

So we trudged out to the playground in snow up past our ankles. Aid slipped several times but was determined to make his way there.


He went up and down each play structure piece (there are two) once. Then climbed back into the stroller and asked to go home. Ummmm....I was emotionally conflicted with wanting nothing more then to be back at home, put on my sweats and watch movies with Aid in front of the warm gas stove and wanting to stay longer then 5 minutes to make the whole damn thing worth it. But the puppy dog eyes came out and home we went.

You think this is where the story ends but it does not. Thinking I would avoid any of the piles of snow around the curbs from the plows I had passed on the way there, I crossed the street just after exiting the park that was nice and smooth. Bad choice number 100. A couple of blocks down some irresponsible home owner (!) did not shovel his pathway which was actually quite large. We were stuck. I had to go through a pile of snow no matter which direction I went. So I thought that since I have the 3 wheeler all terrain stroller I would just plow right through it. Wrong. I got stuck. Then I got stroller road rage and started cursing under my breath. Aid is in the front going, "What wrong mama?"

We finally made it through and made it home. Aid had a blast and was happy as a clam. Grant slept through every last second of it.

I was drenched. Head to toe. Cold. Wet. Pissed.

I learned some valuable lessons from the experience.
1. Don't try to go to the playground in the winter time no matter how big Aid's eyes get.
2. Don't turn off the gas stove when you are going to go play in the snow with no snow pants or boots.
3. Get snow pants and some boots
4. Get a double stroller pronto!

Sicky McSick

I's been a rough few days....but every time I hit my wall I looked at Aid and remembered who had it worse. Poor Aidee.



He is all better though!

You Gotta Love This Kid

So we are very obviously in the no sleeping stage of all of this. The reading I have done and our pediatrician said that he will continue to wake up to eat every few hours until he is 2-3 months old. I don't know how they come up with this or how it happens that just about every other baby in the world is sleeping 5-7 hours that we know. But so be it. As Bob put it, these are our cards.

Now, I don't know if it's just because I am finally adjusting (accepting?) that I will be up every few hours but it is getting slightly better. He is pretty predictable and we are starting to have something that resembles a routine forming here. I am realizing that little Grant actually has some pretty good sleep habits forming. He loves to be laid down (granted on his tummy) in his crib. He prefers it. He does like to held if he is just dozing, but if he is ready for bed or his nap he is uncomfortable and squirmy until you put him down. He also does not fall asleep nursing. I have worked harder to encourage this. I change his diaper and burp him after I nurse him. I also think there is a combination of his digestive system maturing and us helping him work with his gas/pooping issues. He gets a warm bath every night to help get things moving, we give him gas drops if he seems particularly uncomfortable, and we do lots of tummy massage and bicycle moves with him. You can tell he is part Bures with all of the farting, burping, and grunting going on!! He also is strangely able to put himself back to sleep a lot of the time. This is an unheard of talent in our little family! Aiden still toddles into our room to this day and has to be walked back to bed.

So while we are exhausted and still in survival mode....we are seeing some signs that perhaps this will all end well.

Brotherly Love

Ok you two..
I don't even know where to start. I have to idea how to express to you how much I love the both of you. I cannot believe I am the mother of two such special and unique little boys. I treasure each of you for who you are. You are so very different and so perfect each in your own way.

I want you to take care of one another in this life. There will be times when you fight but I never want you to forget in those times what you mean to one another. This world can be hard. It can get really really tough and regardless of any differences, mistakes, or arguments you have, I want you to know in your hearts that you always have each other. It is the most important thing in the world to me to trust that you will look out for one another, you will be honest with one another, you will be kind to one another, you will forgive one another when mistakes are made, and you will have each other's back when the world is unfair.

That is how our family loves each other, do you hear me? No matter what.

Mr. Photogenic?

OK. Now don't get me wrong in this post. I think Grant is adorable. He is adorable and perfect and a blend of me and Bob. When you see him next to Aid you can see the resemblance. If you saw pictures of me and my little brother you would see the McLaughlin genes in there. I love every little piece of him and think he is the most perfect and cute little thing there ever was.

But I cannot capture that in a picture to save my life. LOL.




Ok, I actually love this funny little picture!



And then there is our little ham...
NOw granted he was sick today and did not get his hair brushed but someone loves the camera!