MMMMM Pizza!

I have a confession to make.  Boogie does not get to choose his own Halloween costume.  Each year I go to the store on November 1st and purchase the costume for the next year.  I know what he likes and we discuss it in advance but I only get what I can get a good price on and then Boog has a year to get excited about it.  This year he had two years to get excited about it since the costume I bought for last year wasn't needed since we ended up with our Disney themed costumes from Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.  Two years of having this costume hanging in his closet did not dull his excitement for it.  He was super excited to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. 

Now can you guess who's costume I didn't buy way in advance?  Yep, the kid who was just a jellybean at Halloween last year.  Some time around August I started wondering out loud about what Will should be for Halloween.  Hubby always just smiled and told me I would figure something out.  Then one day I thought I was making a joke.  I said, "Since Boog is being a turtle maybe Will should be the turtles favorite thing, pizza."  To my surprise no one laughed.  Instead Hubby said, "Oh, that would be cute" and Boogie said, "YES YES YES YES!"  After that I tried to talk them out of it.  There are no pizza costumes for baby's out there.  I couldn't even find a pattern for one.  They clung to the pizza idea.  I gave in.

We had to hand design the costume and then, obviously, hand make it.  Hubby and I picked out most of the fabric together, though I get full credit for the awesomeness of the crust fabric.  It was a remnant of a fabric we had never seen before but it was so perfect for a pizza crust!  Then Hubby was responsible for making up the crust and cheese while I did the sauce and toppings.  It was a team effort and I have to say that it turned out awesome.  Together Will and Boogie were the cutest little pair in the neighborhood!

My pediatrician is the best!

No really... my pediatrician is the BEST!  The doctor's office that we use as a family calls and let's you know that you have an appointment two days before the appointment.  During the call you can confirm or cancel the appointment.  Due to this great feature I tend to not really pay attention to when my appointments are.  Yeah, well, that was an issue today.  Hubby canceled the home phone since Vonage hadn't been letting us make outgoing calls for 2 months.  I changed the phone number associated with me the last time I was in and just assumed (yes, Dad I know what assuming does!) that the phone number change would be associated with the whole family.  I thought wrong.  So today I called because I had this feeling that Will's check up was this week and I never got the phone call.  The receptionist told me that yes, Will's appointment was this week.  In fact, it was 30 minutes before I called.  Oh criminy!  I asked if I could still come in and get worked in.  She didn't seem very hopeful but she asked the doctor anyway.  The doctor said to come on in.  He had them act like my appointment was for 50 minutes later than it was!  Keep in mind that this is a really popular doctor not just one of those guys who barely can keep his doors open.  I was so amazed.  He is just great.

We loaded up just as fast as we could and raced in.  They worked us in and Will was given another diagnosis of perfection!  He is 18 1/2 lbs. and 26 1/2" so he is really evening out.  He used to be 80% weight and almost 40% height.  Now he is 61% weight and 46% height.  I am really pleased.  Will impressed the doctor with his fine and gross motor skills again and of course, with how wonderfully sweet he is.  All in all it was a great visit made even better by having a doctor who allows a busy mom to make a mistake or two!

Homeschooling is a tough job!

Oh my goodness is homeschooling a tough job.  Maybe I should say homeschooling with a six month old in the house is a tough job.  No- maybe I should say homeschooling with a six month old in the house who hasn't slept through the night yet is a tough job.  Nay- I should say homeschooling with a six month old in the house who hasn't slept through the night yet and a husband who is working 75 hours a week and therefore can not help out with anything around the house is a tough job.  I keep having to remind myself that homeschooling is an additional full time job I have taken on.   I am not just taking care of a house with 4 people in it that never really go anywhere else.  (You don't realize what a difference people leaving for work and such makes until you are suddenly cleaning a house where no one leaves.  Think about how much more trash there is, how much faster the carpets get dirty, how much faster the bathroom gets dirty, how many more dirty dishes are made, etc.)  I am not just taking care of a baby full time, nearly single-handedly since Hubby works so hard at bringing home the bacon.  I am not just attempting to raise Boogie to be a person of good character.  I am doing all those things and being the teacher during the day. 

Boogie was allowed to choose his own curriculum with me throwing in a few things that I find to be rather important.  I'll let you guess who added what and then tell you at the end!  He is learning astronomy, grammar, writing, literature appreciation, physical education, spelling, math, handwriting, bible, 1st grade skills, music, ASL, French, dance, American geography and American history.  He added everything but PE, handwriting and spelling.  Seriously, I had to start narrowing things down!  Amazing, right? 

He loves to absorb knowledge.  He loves to know things.  He even loves watching Jeopardy with Hubby and me!  I find it astounding just how much he loves his subjects when we get down to it.

I know for many people the hard part about homeschooling is finding a way to teach their kids, or planning out what to do.  Those things are easy for me.  Maybe that says something good about me.  Maybe that says amazing things about Boog.  The only problem we have is actually finding enough time.  He won't really get down to it without me overhead.  I tend to feel like I shouldn't have to sit there and stare at him while he copies his spelling words.  I could use that time to feed Will, wash dishes, fold laundry, make dinner or clean floors.  We haven't really figured out how to fix this issue.  Yet.  We will though, but until we do I say- homeschooling is a tough job!

Semi time

That's right- it is Will's semi- birthday.  He is six amazing months old!  I can't believe that he has been the cuteness in my life for six whole months now!  How did I get so lucky as to have this incredible little boy in my life? 

I did notice something today though.  I am a completely different mother to Will than I was to Boogie at the same age.  I have pictures of Boog's half year birthday.  We gave him chocolate cake to celebrate.  Will hasn't even had stage two foods.  Boog spent half his time shirtless.  Will goes to bed in a sleeper every night and gets dressed in something cute every day.  Boog showered with Hubby.  Will is just about to transition to the big boys tub.  Boog had stayed with someone else for a few hours here and there so that Hubby and I could go out.  Will has never been more than a room away from either Hubby or I, and I can count on one hand the number of times that he has been away from me at all.  I am just a completely different mom to him.  I don't know if I am a better mom or a worse mom but for sure I am a different mom. 

He is a different baby that Boog was too.  Boog has always been loud.  Will is chill.  Boog has always expected the best of things, he is an optimist at heart.  Will is just happy with whatever comes his way.  He is content.  I could always see the wheels turning in Boog's head.  Will quietly observes and then just does whatever he wants to do with no real effort involved.  I wouldn't say he is a better baby, but for sure he is a different baby!

And I am intent on enjoying every second of being his mom, for the next six months, six years, six decades!

All by myself...

I know that I am not really all by myself because my boys are here with me, but without Hubby I kind of feel like I am all by myself.  And I am so over it! 

On Monday Hubby left for a work trip.  He will be back tomorrow afternoon.  I only have to make it a few more hours and then he will be home.  Now, usually when Hubby goes out of town I turn into super mom.  I accomplish major tasks.  The house stays spotless.  I have special activities planned with Boogie.  I turn into super mom.  Alas, it was not to be this time. 

I started out well enough.  I got the house tidied up.  My mother-in-law stopped by and we had a little visit.  I had some heart to hearts with Boogie.  Everything was going well.  And then Will had a bad night.  I am fully aware that his bad night may be a normal night for other parents but, at almost 6 months since my last full night's sleep, it was bad.  He just couldn't seem to sleep.  Poor guy.  I think it has just been that he misses his DaDaDa but whatever it is, it has meant no sleep for me.  No sleep for me since Monday night.  I really hope he can sleep once Hubby is home!

Here's to another sleepless night!

Hubby has joined the world of the 30 somethings

So have I ever mentioned that my hubby's birthday is exactly one week after mine and Boog's?  It is and so today is his birthday.  It's a big one too... he is the big 30 today.  I wracked and wracked my brain about what to give him.  A while ago I gave him the bluray of a movie he wanted as an early present but there is no way I could leave it at that.  And so I thought and thought.  I thought so much I probably started to look a bit like Pooh in his thoughtful spot. 

What did I come up with?  Nothing.  No really- nothing.  It is always me pulling us out of the house.  It is always me making us do planned things.  Hubby is the one who always just wants to grab a bunch of redbox movies and some snacks and just have dark and quiet hours in front of the TV.  And so I decided that for his birthday we would do what I always call nothing. 

Before anyone thinks I was being a bad wife I should say that Hubby was very pleased.  I got him 3 redbox movies, made him and oatmeal cake and just treated him like he was a king.  I don't think that he could have handled anything else, especially since he is the final member of the family to catch that lovely cold but I do know that didn't want anything else. 

I guess for once it really can be said that the thought is what counts!

They say it's my birthday...

It's Boog's birthday too!  Actually, for what I think is the first time ever it is also the day of Boog's birthday party.  So here we are- I am 31 ripe old years and he is a whopping 6 years old.  I don't know where the time went!  I do know where today went though.  Well, sort of...

A great portion of today went to yesterday.  Clear as mud?  Let me explain.  Since today is a Sunday that meant that I could take Saturday to set up for the birthday party and not have to stress out on party day, right?  Well, that is what I thought at least.  I waited until the boys went to bed and then Kiddo, Hubby and I started decorating and baking and assembling.  If I am being precise I should say that Kiddo and I started baking and decorating while Hubby did some assembling.  We worked and worked and worked.  Hubby took a nap and I took a few breaks to feed Will but overall we just kept working.  The next thing I knew I could see the sun starting to come up.  We seriously worked until 7:30 am. 

I took a quick nap and then we started working on the outside.  My parents arrived early (thank goodness) and played with the boys while Kiddo, Hubby and I kept on trucking.  After a quick shower it was party time.  There was not a moment to spare! 

If I do say so myself, it was a great party.  The kids had their little race outside just as Boogie had requested.  The kids loved all the cars stuff set up everywhere.  The house was full and it was fun.  The menu, aside from the cake, was simpler than usual but it was exactly what Boog had asked for.  The cake was also just what Boog had asked for.  He had carrot cupcakes and a funfetti cake topped with a brownie which is something he designed himself.  To top it off was a huge Lego set from his Gigi and Pop Pop that Hubby had spent most of the night setting up.  He loved it.  I think most of all he loved having his friends here. 

The day was a resounding success, except I was kind of lost in it.  My parents got me a present and so did Kiddo.  My in-laws gave me my real present when Will was born and I use it daily.  But somehow, for the first time ever, it bothered me a bit to not have my birthday matter at all.  And now it's the end of the day and my body is mad at me for not sleeping.  Kiddo had a bit of a cold when she got here and she has passed it on to me I think.  So hey, I guess she gave me two things today!