Life With 2 (+ 1) Redheads

To say a lot has happened this year would be an understatement! 

Tyler turned four in March, and the struggles with this age has definitely followed us this year.  However, he’s grown to be such a big boy this year and has learned so much at school! 

Probably the biggest milestone this year was the birth of Ryan in April.  The past eight months have been a whirlwind of struggles, laughs, and priceless moments with him!

Tyler has taken his role as big brother with grace and while it took a good six months for him to actually show much true interest in him, you can tell he loves his little brother. 

Josh has enjoyed his role in the drug unit at work but has decided to go back to normal patrol shifts because as hard as it is to believe, it actually has a little bit of a better schedule for families.  On his day shifts, he will be home by 7:15 pm to hang out at least with Tyler and soon with Ryan as he gets older.  On his night shifts, he’ll be home in time to help me and the chaos in the morning getting ready for work and school!!  He begins this schedule January 5. 

Me?  Well, I’ve managed to do what I didn’t think was possible—manage life with two kids with my lifestyle.  I took at 10 week maternity leave and came back to a full time and demanding career all while many times keeping up with my children on a single mom’s schedule.  And many of those days have been struggles resulting from sleep deprivation.  I’ve managed to creep into the photography “business” and expand my knowledge by taking pictures of other families. 

Our house is still on the market, and while we are not in a hurry we would need to have it sell by next summer in order to consider a true move anytime in the near future.  I really leave this beyond me to decide if it’s the best decision for our family or not.  Whatever happens, we will make the best of it and know that it’s how things are supposed to end up for us. 

I’m not sure what is in store for 2011, but as long as I can continue to stay above water I’d assume I can manage another year with my family of redheads.  ;)

However, you can assume losing weight is on my list of resolutions! 

Tyler –4 1/2 years old

Ryan – 8 months old

Our Christmas began on Christmas Eve with Josh’s side of the family. It’s tradition to eat homemade crab dip, open presents, and chow down on lasagna, salad, and bread! This year it seemed that everyone decided at the last minute to buy presents for the adults as well as the children…and not let us know! So, we were recipients of many great gifts but had nothing to give anyone else except the calendar that Tyler gives Josh’s mom each Christmas!
Tyler received many new toys and games. Highlights include several new Lego sets, puzzles, Toy Story slippers, and his favorite, movie-sized Woody and Buzz from Toy Story 3!
you can click to enlarge all the collages

Ryan, in his own little world, mostly received bond money but also got a cute riding/pushing toy and some bath toys.

That evening we came back and made sure Santa had his cookies and errr….empty glass of milk (we were out!!). Tyler also put out his reindeer food that he made at school!

Ryan received a ball popping toy, some new pacis and food, and a stuffed talking dog from his big brother. We had a hard time justifying spending much on Ryan when there is not much he needs!

Fast forward about three hours and we were at my grandmother’s house with the rest of my side of the family. There we opened kid presents, had a lunch, opened the adult presents, and watched it SNOW outside! This is definitely the first time I’ve ever witnessed it snow on Christmas day!
Afterward, we took our final trip to my parents’ house to open immediate family presents!

Tyler received Toy Story 3 action figures, the Toy Story trilogy, a new bath towel, games and accessories for his Leapster, and a new shirt. Ryan received a push and stack toy, luggage, more bath toys, and a forward facing car seat to match Tyler’s. Again, mostly practical :)
The next four days the boys and I spent with my mom and dad while Josh went back to work. I was able to get a little shopping done here and there but mostly we hung around the house. Ryan has been pretty fussy due to teething and definitely did not sleep well the entire trip! It was still nice, however, to have the extra help and some homemade dinners each night! Each night after Ryan went to bed, we had to watch each of the Toy Story DVDs that Tyler got for Christmas!
And before I forget, we did get a chance to play in the snow before Josh left to go back home! We got around 6 inches of snow and it was perfect snowman-building snow!

Overall, it was a great Christmas! We are back home, and I’m enjoying the remainder of my “vacation” time before returning to work on January 4! I hope you all had a great holiday as well and have a happy New Year!

Back in mid November I took pictures of the kids. Here are a few for you to enjoy! Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

(click to enlarge)

I’m sorry, whaaaat??  Seriously, where are these months going? 

• STATISTICS: Based on Ryan’s dr. appointment last week  for his ear infection, he weighed in at 20 lbs!  Holy moly, I love his baby rolls!
• SLEEPING: Ryan normally begins his day around 7 am.  His morning nap is anywhere from 30 mins to 1. 5 hrs.  After lunch and a bottle, he naps anywhere from 1.5 hrs to 3 hrs.  Depending on his afternoon nap, sometimes a late afternoon cat nap is needed.  He is in bed between 6 and 7 pm. We are still not home free on the night wake ups.  This is hard for me because of a few reasons.  One, many times he has a cold, etc and I feel he needs me at night.  In addition, it’s my own selfishness because it’s easier for me to get up with him around 4:30 am and feed him knowing he’ll go straight back to bed ( a max of a 15 min process) rather than struggle through numerous nights of crying it out.  I have to get up each morning and go to work.  So, it’s not resting heavy on my heart to change things at the moment though I know I probably should change it.   When you are a working mother, you do what you have to do to get some sleep! 
• EATING: Ryan loves food…LOVES it.  He will eat about any kind of baby food you put his way except greens.  He eats oatmeal, cereal, all fruits, and most vegetables.  He’s eating both Stage 1 and 2 foods usually twice a day.  I have given him a few tastes of table food.  He’s not too much of a fan at the moment!
• CLOTHES: Ryan’s in Size 3 diapers.  He is wearing 6-9 month separates and 12 month one pieces
• DEVELOPMENTS:  Ryan is rolling like crazy and sitting very well.  He is totally on the move!  I predict that he’ll be crawling in the next month!  He can move around on his belly in circles and is moving backwards.  I remember this is the start of the process! Tyler was crawling at 7 months, so this is late for me but I have no complaints! He still enjoys the Jumperoo and Exersaucer.  He loves to make the "dada" and "baba" sounds. Ryan has four teeth, two bottoms and two upper.  And even more are coming through!

It’s hard to think that eight months have passed.  He has probably changed the most to me in the past month than any other month.   In four short months, he’ll be turning 1.  Crazy! He is such a sweet and happy baby.  He makes me want to keep him little forever!

This year I really wanted to do something special for both Tyler’s teachers and Ryan’s sitter.  I found a great deal at Lands End on tote bags with monogramming for around $15 a bag!  So, I jumped on it and then filled the bag with cheap school supplies.  They were a total hit with his teachers!!  The quality of these bags are pretty awesome!

I decided instead of doing the tote bags for Ryan’s sitter to give her a gift certificate for a spa to get much needed relaxation! 

“And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself”

Yesterday was Tyler’s Christmas program at his school.  I was a little nervous about his cooperation due to a few conferences with his teachers about his “behavior” during practices.  I wasn’t sure whether it was slightly humorous or a serious matter, but we did want to ensure that he was listening to his teachers.  However, this time of year is exciting to him on top of only being 4.  It reminded me of how my cousin and I used to get upset with my youngest cousin when we tried doing holiday plays for our family.  He always wanted to goof around during our “practices.”  Maybe it’s a boy thing too? 
Anyway, Tyler did just fine but of course was in the back and with no speaking part, lol!  He did get to at least ring the jingle bells!  Mimi and Paw Paw made the drive to see him and Ryan joined in the audience as well.  Josh had to work unfortunately.  Here are a few highlights from his big day!

 

After the program was the Christmas party.  The night before I made these cute cupcakes for his class!  They were so cute but took quite a while to decorate!  I found the idea in Family Fun’s magazine for December and had marked it to make for his party!  They were a hit with both Tyler and the kids!

Directions:

• Cake mix with chocolate icing
• Break pretzels in half for antlers
• Mold 1/3 piece of tootsie rolls for ears
• York peppermint pieces for the white eyes or white M&Ms if you can find them
• Black decorating gel for the black eyes
• Shortbread cookie from 100 calorie packs for snout or mini vanilla wafers if you can find them
• Red M&M for nose

Yes, it’s that time of year where all the germies come out and creep into my house.  It started last Thursday with Ryan getting a cold.  It gradually got nastier and nastier.  My sickness started Saturday when I woke up completely run down, achy, with chills, and nauseous.  Let’s just say that after spending a half of a day throwing up and sleeping in bed that it reminds me how I can never bring myself to be pregnant again.

However, yesterday when I picked Ryan up from his sitter she mentioned that he seemed pretty sick.  This is definitely not an easy week for me to take off work, but my role as mother comes first.  So, I took off today and took Ryan to the pediatrician where I learned he had his third ear infection.  We got a stronger antibiotic this time since it’s only been a few weeks since his last one.  And we got eye drops for the nasty electric green crusties in his eyes.  Yum.

Now, it will be a miracle if Josh and Tyler don’t get sick…

In a weird way, it was a little bit of a blessing in disguise to stay home today with Ryan.  Work’s been very stressful so having a reason to force me to stop thinking about it was a nice break.  I got to have a day of one on one with Ryan and enjoy him.

As sick as he is, he is such a happy baby!  We played on the mat with toys.

Don’t tell Tyler, but we stole his Santa

Ryan even watched Baby Einstein which he never sits through.

It was a great day together.  He slept well for me which is definitely a plus!  There are a lot of updates on Ryan that I’ll post in a week for his 8 month update!  Did I just say 8 months??

It seems like once a baby is in the picture, somehow the oldest gets a little less attention and publicity.  I know I’ve struggled sometimes with ways to make him feel special.  Sunday, however, Tyler and I got to have a very special date at Toy Story 3 on Ice!

I hadn’t told Tyler for weeks because a) he has no concept of time and b) I thought it would be more fun to wait until right before.  Well, it’s a good thing I did that because all day Saturday I was majorly sick—so sick that I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to take him on Sunday.  The friends we were going with already backed out due to sicknesses, so it would just be the two of us.  Luckily, I felt 50% better on Sunday and made it out there with him. 

On the drive there,  he would guess where we were going.  “Maybe we are going to a park.”   I would answer, “no it’s better than that!”  When we pulled up to the place where it was he said “I know!  We are going to a museum!”  Wrong again!  We walked in and he saw the large array of overpriced Toy Story souvenirs.  I allowed myself to spend $10 for a snow cone cup for the show.  He still did not know what we were doing though!

As the lights went down I whispered, “it’s Toy Story on ice skates.”  I wish I could have video taped his reaction.  Well, I did but it was a little delayed. 

It was really nice to have one on one time with Tyler.  It’s very rare that we have that, and when we do it’s usually after Ryan goes to sleep and I’m beat.   It’s sometimes hard to believe he is only 4 1/2.  I think sometimes Josh and I treat him as if he’s older and perhaps expect too much out of him.  He’s always been a very self-sufficient child and a major lover.  Not a day goes by that he doesn’t  tell us unprompted that he loves us.  And not just once but numerous times.  He follows it up with a big hug and kiss.  Just moments ago he said it to me, which has come to be expected at least three to four times a day.  I said to him “I hope you always do, buddy.”  He said, “well, of course I will.  I love you THIIIIISSS much!”

I’m not sure if it’s a boy thing or a Tyler thing, but I hope I don’t ever take it for granted. 

Well, this was not an easy field trip and was a tad stressful due to an overly excited four year old, but we survived and I’m pretty sure Tyler had fun!     
Tyler got to speak to Santa and tell him what he wanted.  What did he ask for?  A hot rod.  I watched Santa laugh and look at me where I snuck in a “no” headshake. 

I have a “professional” picture that we got included in our cost, but I’m too lazy to scan it in.  :)
Next, his class got to take a train ride in the mall.


He also got to take a carousel ride.

Shortly after, his class had lunch provided by Chick Fil A and dessert provided by Häagen-Dazs. 
 
So, that takes care of making this year’s Santa trip!  It was a convenient way to see him and be with his friends! 

Facebook has an application that will take random statuses that you write throughout the year and create a collage. It was funny for me to read some of the statuses I wrote this past year. What a journey I've been on!

Click on the image below in order to read...unless you have amazing vision!

Friday night went pretty much like this.  I had just gotten Ryan out of the bathtub and had him naked on the changing table.  All of a sudden I heard a loud bang and then the worst piercing scream I’ve ever heard from Tyler.  As a side note, he has a pretty high tolerance for pain, so I knew from his cry it was bad.  I ran in there and saw Tyler on the floor holding his foot.  I immediately knew he must have broken it.  He was inconsolable, and I was just short of freaking out.  And then I remembered I left Ryan unattended and naked on the changing table.  Mommy of the year award, right? After I got Ryan and brought him into Tyler’s room, I calmed him down enough for him to explain what happened.  From what I can understand, he was at the top of the bunk bed and tried to jump to the bottom ladder step.  That was the loud bang I heard.  I called Josh who called our neighbor who is a nurse.  I didn’t really know her, but she was nice and calmed him down. 

That night I got up with him to take him to the bathroom around 3 and he was limping bad.  I watched him on Saturday to see if the limping was getting worse.  This morning I took him to the Urgent Care in town and waited an hour and a half among many sick kids!  Tyler got an x-ray and did great.  It turns out to be a sprain and he is sporting a nice ace bandage :)

Tyler’s flying stunt messed up a few weekend plans such as the Christmas parade and playing in the unexpected snow!

Here’s Tyler’s recap of the experience.   BOYS!!

As soon as Thanksgiving was over, we were in high gear to get ready for Christmas.  Even Josh was on board and volunteered to hang lights on our roof this year.  I just had to make him promise to take them down afterward. :) 
The first thing we started was our Advent Calendar.  We have two this year, one given by Grandma LeConey and one that Tyler got as a Christmas present last year.  Tyler is enjoying the special “treats” in each door, and it’s a nice way to count down the days until Christmas.

The next exciting thing was the arrival of Fred, our Elf!  Our Elf came to visit our house for the first time last year and was talked about in detail HERE.  This year, Fred has come back and kicked of December 1st with a small present and a letter explaining to Tyler what he will be doing.

Tyler woke up the morning of December 1st and immediately ran in to see where the Elf was sitting in our house and was thrilled to find him, the letter, and of course the present!

And of course, he had to explain to Ryan who Fred, the Elf was!

Last, due to the free Shutterfly cards I got from writing a blog review, my Christmas cards have already started to go out! 

Tyler’s school has a lot of really fun activities planned in the next few weeks.  Next Friday, I am going on their field trip to a local mall to see Santa, get a picture, ride the train and carousel, eat lunch at Chick-Fil-A and do other fun activities!  In addition, his school Christmas program, party, and gift exchange is Dec. 17.  He’s been singing Christmas songs and telling me the story of Christmas and “mommy, did Jesus have a Spiderman birthday party?” 
“Well, Tyler probably not but I bet he would have loved one.”
Stay tuned for more Christmas updates