Daddy's off to 7-level school

Daddy left today for 7-level school. We have been so spoiled that he has been home for over a year straight! We were loving it but now I am out of the swing of deployments and stuff. He'll only be gone for 10 or so days but I still feel like I don't know what to do with myself. (And to keep myself from going crazy caring for the munchkins. So we went to the gym this morning and took a walk to the park this afternoon.


Poor kids. Mommy wasn't paying attention to the temp and I over dressed us all. It was windy and overcast out so I decided long pants for us all. Wrong choice mom! It was over 80 out and humid, long pants were the wrong choice. Oh well.


It was fun to get out of the house but oh my goodness playgrounds are so scary for parents. Ashley has no fear and is climbing up everything and running around. There are all the gaps and poles and toy things that are designed for bigger kids. I must have looked like a fool chasing her from one area to the next to keep her from running off the deck. I swear at each playground on base they need to have a big one for the big kids and a smaller one (not as tall with few gaps to fall from).

But as you can see Ashley enjoyed herself! We met up with our friend Laura and her little girl Katie and had a good time. Plus I got in some mommy talk, which was definitely appreciated.

Climbing the big slide. Eeek!

Now Ben was the easy one. He stayed put!

The mysterious disappearing tooth

So Ben's mysterious tooth disappeared. I know I am not crazy! Mike saw it, I saw it and another lady at the FSC saw it! I have no clue where it went as it was just about to break through the skin. I could feel it and see it but now it's gone. Hmmmm, interesting. So now I have to see if I want to keep my appointment on the 7th or if I'll look like the crazy woman who thinks her kid has a tooth when he doesn't! Oh well!


Ben loves playing on his tummy but will only stay that way for a few minutes. He usually ends up drooling so much I have to change the blanket.





The first cracker...So today I was eating some saltine crackers and Ben was really acting interested so hmm I handed him one I figured what the heck right. He seemed to enjoy licking it the most. He took a few nibbles and then had some really confused looks when he had chunks in his mouth. Overall I think he got about a quarter of the cracker in his mouth and the rest of it ended up in a soggy mess. So much for rice cereal as a first food.

A canine tooth, already!

Holy moly, so the past few days I have noticed signs that Ben was teething. Lots of drool, chewing on anything and everything, and overall crankiness. So yesterday I shoved my finger in his unsuspecting mouth to feel around. What did I feel? A tooth! But not where it should be not a front tooth, nope, not Ben! He is cutting his first canine or eye tooth. Ashley just cut hers like 4 months ago. I called the pediatrician to double check and they recommended that I call my dentist to see what they thought. So I called my dentist and she said that it is VERY unusual and although nothing may be wrong they want him to see the pediadontist. Hmm this should be fun. I will update when I know more. We have to see the base pediatrician. first so we can get a referral because Concordia doesn't cover them when they are so young. Lovely, this should be an event.

Benjamin

Ben napping on mommy's bed. He loves cuddling!




Alright, I have heard some complaining about me not posting any pictures in like 5 days....holy moly, sorry mom. Here you go.
Caught red handed! Or at least that's the look he gave.


Ben's first grass experience.

EGGS-celent

This is what happens when you are feeding the baby....I told Ashley that for breakfast we could have scrambled eggs. But I had to feed Ben first. So I am sitting on the couch feeding him and crash...she is repeatedly saying "uh oh, broken now, eggs". Not only do I get to clean up 8 smashed eggs but I get to listen to crying/whining toddler who now does not get eggs for breakfast....poor girl

All done!

Well I just finished up my last homework assignment for this term. Yeah! It is a relief to have it all done and a few weeks off. My next term starts on June 4th, so I have 2 weeks to relax and try to get some stuff done!!!! (yeah right)

I took Ben for his 4 month check yesterday. He is doing great. On the doctors scale he is 17lbs 4oz and 26 1/4 inches long. He got 3 shots and an oral roto-virus vaccine. I have never heard him cry that loud or sad sounding before. Man that pulls at a mommy's heart strings. Otherwise they said he looks super healthy and said that we can start him on solids anytime between now and 6 months. I think I will wait a little while but that will be fun.

I switched him out of his infant car seat because he is officially too long so we'll see how he likes it on our next trip out. I already miss the bucket!

Ashley's poor little earrings (well, actually just the holes) are infected for the first time. I put some cheap, cute earrings in the other day and apparently her ears didn't like them. Mommy feels bad again! I took them out and now don't know if I should put the good ones back in so the holes don't close up or if I should leave them out until her ears clear up...any input?

picture time!

Ben has just started enjoying his tummy time. Before he would just scream as soon as I put him there but now he'll hang out for a while with a smile!

Here are the kids this morning. Ashley decided she wanted to hold Ben (doesn't happen all that often!) so I jumped at the shot to snap a pic.

It's crazy there is only 7lbs difference between them.

were better now!

What a smile!!!!!

Chilling out watching TV while mom put away the laundry.



As you can tell Ashley is now back to her usual self. She is much better now. She is still down 2 lbs but is eating like crazy so I don't think it will take her long to gain it back. (don't I wish that was my problem...)

Next week is my last week of classes so my life will calm down for a little while. I just finished up 2 papers that are waiting for Mike to proof read. At least they are out of my hands now!

Today we tried out the Johnny jumper and he really liked it. He stayed in for about 15 minutes and was able to touch the floor even at the shortest settings. I think those things are made for doorways that are 10-12 feet tall not 8 ft like in base housing (or most places for that matter).

Ben will be going in on next Thurday for his 4 month well baby. I am excited to hear what they say. But not so excited for the shots part of it.

A sick kid is no fun

Ashley's got the stomach virus. Yuck. Poor girl has been sick all day long! I guess I have been pretty lucky as this is the first time I have had to deal with puke! And boy is it no fun!

Holy cow

Ok, so I was just on the phone with my big sister and was chatting about the kids when I mentioned that Ben was almost 17lbs and 25 1/2 inches long. ding ding ding (the bell in my head chimed) His car seat only goes to 26 inches and 20lbs. Holy cow! I can't believe we are going to have to switch him to a convertible seat already! I love the bucket for the fact that he can stay sleeping when I run errands or go to the gym....no fun! Okay, enough complaining now. A quick thanks to my friend J who gave me a convertible car seat for Ben to use!

3 months already!

Wow, I just can't believe that Ben is already 3 months old! Time sure does fly by! He is doing really well. He weighs 16lbs 8oz at his last appt. and is 25 1/2 inches long. Sure is a big boy.

He is such a good sleeper. He generally sleeps for a good 6-8 hours at a time during the night. What a change from the last one :)


So yesterday I drug up the exersaucer from the basement, took it outside and sprayed it down with the hose, and then Ben got to try it out. He is still a little too wobbly for it but seemed to like it for a few minutes. Ashley on the other hand has been climbing in and out of it constantly. I gave up trying to keep her out of it. I figured give it a few days and it will lose it's charm....well, hopefully. She like to play ring-around-the-rosies in it and then falls down and the seat catches her. Silly girl

Easter!

Ashley and Ben hanging out in the kitchen while mommy makes dinner.

Ashley got to color Easter eggs for the 1st time. She really enjoyed herself!


Especially when she realized that when you smack 2 eggs together they crack!!


The hunt for the Easter basket! I just realized that most people hide the baskets. We had never done that when I was younger. Mike and my friend T both confirmed that I am the wierd one. :)

Helping with Dinner

Ashley got her first chance to really help make dinner. It was a lot of fun! She ate most of the toppings before they even made it to the pizza, but we still had some yummy vegi pizzas for dinner!

Teachers Pet

Whoo hoo

Three gold stars for me! I just got back my essay exam that was due last week and got 100/100! Here is the comment my instructor left for me!

Awesome! If you want to practice a title page and abstract in APA style you will be ready for publication.

Publication....not sure about that one but it was pretty good to hear. Go Mandy!!!
Okay, now I will go stick my nose back in my book, I know, I know I'm a dork!

Easter bunny time

We went and saw the Easter bunny last weekend. Ashley wouldn't even go near him and even when I forced her to sit with me she wouldn't look in his direction. I thought it was kinda cute with both kids looking opposite directions. hehe

Guess who slept through the night last night, yup Ben! I couldn't believe it when Mike's alarm went off this morning. I just hope that it continues, boy wouldn't I be spoiled!!! Ashley didn't sleep through the night until way later. Let's knock on wood for this one!

Pictures

I love the tongue thing that he does. He has done it since he was born and it just cracks me up. He'll be sitting there poking his tongue in and out like he is checking the wind or something.















Ashley's new job! She is getting good at feeding Boca. Except when she wants to play in the food, so she transfers all the food to the water dish. Let me tell you cleaning up soggy dog food is not my idea of a good time.
















Nor is cleaning oatmeal and blueberries out of previously clean hair. She did this one pretty good. There was oatmeal everywhere!















Ben loves laying on the ground. We put some toys up above him and he loves swatting at them and watching everyone else from a new angle. My only complaint is I can't take my eyes off him with Ashley around.

back in school

Well I just finished my first week of classes since having Ben. So far they don't look to be that bad. But ask me again in 6 weeks and my answer might be a tad different. I am taking the psychology of adolescence & the psychology of adult development and aging. They both seem to be quite interesting.

Ashley has re-figured out a new trick that is driving me bonkers! Get this.... Yesterday I had to go to the bathroom so I figured everything would be fine if I was only gone for 2 minutes. I closed the door, ahh a little privacy for once. When I came out I couldn't find Ashley, I ran around the house calling in each room and looking under the beds and in the closets. But when I entered the living room I realized the back door was wide open. I ran over there and only to see her out in the MUD. Not just any mud, stinky North Dakota stagnant mud! Of course she didn't have shoes on so she was up to her ankles in goup. Lovely! Today I just about locked her in the crawlspace (oh wait, we don't have one, but I really thought about it :)) Because she kept opening the door and walking out. Mike thankfully whipped a stick concoction that we can wedge at the top of the door frame so she can't do it any more!!! HAHAHA

Mike's ALS graduation is on Thursday! Whoohoo, I will then have a hubby again who isn't so darn busy to breath. I have a honey-do list that has been growing over the last 5 weeks. Poor guy thought he was gonna get a break...

Comparison

Ok, well I was writing an email to my friend C.R. and mentioned that I thought the kids looked quite a lot alike. I hadn't actually pulled out pictures to compare so this morning i decided to do so. So here are 2 pictures of Ashley when she was 2 months old, so let me know what you think.

Shots, shots, and more shots

I took Ben in for his 2 month well-baby appointment today and he is doing great. He is officially 14lbs 10oz. and above the 95th percentile for weight. (up almost 3 lbs in the last month) He climbed up in height from the 50th percentile to the 75th and of course big heads run in our family so his head is up there on the scales too. He had to get 3 shots and a oral dose of the new roto virus vaccine. Poor guy did not like that one bit. Plus he's a bleeder. Ashley never bled when she got her vaccines but all three of his did and not just a little dot of blood it was all over. Weird. Poor Ashley was just a tag along to the dr. visit and when they saw her in the immunization clinic they told me she was due for a new vaccine that just came out. Great, poor girl was blind sided. Now she's been cranky all afternoon. Ben is just sleeping like a lamb, he wakes up to eat and then passes out again.

My 1st one sheet wonder...

Alright, I know I am a little slow in trying this but I finally did it and boy is it fun. I love how I came up with so many cards that are all a little different! I will definitely have to do this again.

Holy Buckets!

Holy Buckets of snow, that is. Last night when going to bed the news man said a light dusting, is that what they are calling 6+ inches of new snow, a light dusting. That one got a chuckle out me alright.

I still managed to drag both kids out in the snow and to the gym even though my thighs were still burning from yesterdays cardio class. Today's kickboxing class kicked my butt even more and now my legs and arms are sore. Double Whammy! Why do I do this to myself again? OH yeah, to be healthy! I have to keep telling myself that when I have to grip the chair to stand up.

Ben goes for his 2 month check up in the morning so we'll get to see just how big he is really getting.

Oh and today is our Anniversary! 4 years and 2 kids later....Sad thing is with him in ALS we can't even do anything. Oh well, we've got plans for a quick dinner this weekend, in between his mandatory volunteer time and our well needed oil change.

EEG

I took Ben in for his EEG that the neurologist ordered because of his shuddering spells that he has been having. He was not a happy camper when they were marking his head for placement nor when they were glueing on the electrodes. But once we got him settled down he just passed out. He really didn't want to wake up when they had to test his awake state. Poor guy. Needless to say after all that crying he was pretty quiet the rest of the evening and he only woke once to eat all night!!!! I really needed a good nights sleep!

Oh I forgot to add that we got the results almost immediately after the EEG at our follow up appointment. Everything checks out and the neurologist said that he no longer has any concerns with Ben and says that he seems perfectly normal and healthy and the shuddering spells should end by the time he is 6 months- a year.

Ashley is doing great in her toddler bed. Nap time seems to be the easiest but she is still doing remarkably better than I expected. Whooohoo Ashley!

The big move....

Well, I finally made the decision to move Ashley to the toddler bed. I didn't make the drastic step my friend E did by taking down the crib because I am going to need it very shortly as my bassinet is only good up to 15 lbs and my little chunker weighed in at 14 (with diaper and clothes) yesterday when daddy weighed him....So anyway my friend S had a Finding Nemo toddler bed for sale so I made the plunge and bought it.

I decided to put it to good use last night and told Ashley she was going to sleep in her big girl Nemo bed. She was excited at first but after our night time routine and I left the room she got out and cried at the door. I gave it 15 minutes and then went in, moved her back to the toddler bed and told her it was time to go night-night! She was asleep in her bed by 7:30 only 30 minutes after starting our bedtime routine. Not too bad! We'll see how nap time goes today, lets hope for success.

It's still snowing...

I love it when I can actually succeed in getting a picture of Benjamin smiling. He has really started doing it often this past week. It is so cute. He has started cooing also. It is the greatest thing to see the excitement on his face when he tries to make a noise and something really comes out!


Here's the diaper shot for Grandma so she can see how big he is getting since she left. His hands and feet are so huge. He is already in a size 2 shoe.


Mike was lucky enough to get released early from work (even though he will have to make it up) but it was nice to have a snow day with all of us home. Oh, and the guys from his shop came over and plowed my driveway and unburied the green car. What a relief that was as we got over a foot of snow last night and about the same is expected for tonight.


I had to take a picture of Boca outside. The snow is already up to her belly and it is still coming down. It was hilarious to watch her try to find a place to go potty because her but is almost already in the snow when she is standing.