My Boys and Me

So, my 8 month old is not only BAD, he is also a THIEF! He’s managed to get one of Sayelor’s socks off and is trying to get rid of the evidence.

“I am SO funny Mama!”

“The first one didn’t taste so great, let me try the other one!”

Mikey officially has 2 teeth!  No wonder he was so cranky the other day, two teeth at once! 

I hope you all had a great weekend.  We had a nice one!  I hung out with Mike all night on Friday while he was working off duty.  We had dinner and then I went and saw a movie by myself…..something I LOVE to do and used to do a lot of.  I don’t know why, but I would rather go see a movie by myself than with anyone else.  When I was a single Mom with Braeden, seeing a movie that wasn’t G was the one thing I couldn’t do with my little man. Whenever my Dad watched him for me, that’s what I would do.  It was my couple hours of peace and quiet and I wanted to enjoy it without having to have a conversation with anyone (must sound strange to those of you who know me best and know that I LOVE to talk).  Obviously with 2 kids, and a husband, I don’t indulge in alone-time-movie-going near as much, but when I do get a chance to go, I remember how much I miss it and really enjoy it.  Mike really doesn’t like to go to movies.  He would rather watch them at home.  I get too distracted trying to watch movies at home, and when I don’t get distracted, I fall asleep!

Braeden is doing really good.  He is excited for his Birthday party this coming Saturday.  He invited everyone in his class as well as some other friends (30 total).  We are expecting about half to show up.  Our nephew Harley had his 10th Birthday this week.  Braeden and him are the best of friends……more like brothers actually.  They usually spend most weekends together since Harley lives with Mike’s parents.  Harley got a Nintendo DS for his Birthday and the two of them had so much fun with them this weekend.  With each of them having one now, its eased a lot of arguing.  They figured out how to sync the two DS’s together and play the same game.  Pretty sad when a 5 year old and 10 year old can figure out technology that I have no clue about.

I hope you have a great week!

When I was pregnant with Braeden, I babysat twin babies (boy and girl).  Their Mom could not even walk out of the room without one (or both) of the babies screaming.  I remember thinking, “oh I hope Braeden is like that.  I want him to be attached to me and love me THAT much!” Well, God was good to me not giving me my wish with Braeden because if I knew then what I know now, there is NO way I could have handled a baby like that as a single Mom.  However, it is appearing that God has decided to grant me my wish with Mikey.  My saving grace MAY be the fact that two little white sharp things are about to pop through his gums and he is just miserable because of his teeth and not a developing trait in his personality!  As soon as the teeth arrive, we will know whether he truly is a “Mama’s boy” or if he is just like his Mama and needs to go to the extreme and exaggerate any type of pain he feels.  Either way, it has been trying to say the least.  Fortunately, Sayelor has been wonderful this week.  She has slept over 5 hours total today.  I think each baby must be in tune to the others needs, because (knock-on-wood) both babies do not usually “loose it” at the same time……except between 4:30 and 5:15 when she gets picked up.  I call this the Witching hour!  Thank goodness Mike usually walks in the door right as it begins and he can take Mikey.  Speaking of Mike, he got home Monday at 6pm from his PA trip and left Tuesday at 4am to go to North Carolina for more training.  He is on his way back now and I honestly think that I will spend the entire weekend with a bottle of wine! Note to self, never schedule a weekend away from kids and wife for husband unless YOU are also having a weekend away from kids and spouse!

Along with Mikey being clingy, he also continues to be BAD (not sure whether he really is acting up as bad as I think he is, or if Mike leaving me for a week with 2 boys and a nanny job has made ME exaggerate his behavior).  Remember I did say in a previous entry how smart babies are, so I also believe a baby really CAN act up at 8 months old.  His (and mine) much loved dvd watching, bouncy-seat-lounging days are over unless he can enjoy himself on the floor.  I can not put him in his bouncy anymore.  He has flipped out of it three times (and I only wrote about the first time yesterday).  His other beloved activity will either end because of a broken rainforest jumperoo or because he jumps so hard and high that he falls out of it.  I was on the phone with Mike last night and had to walk into the other room so I could hear.  Mike could hear how hard he was jumping through the phone.  Most of the time he jumps hard because he is mad.  He also kicks his feet in his bed just as loud- again, when he is mad.  What on earth can an 8 month old baby boy who gets changed when he pees, fed when he is hungry, tylenol when his teeth hurt him, and a Grandma who never puts him down when she is around, be so mad about? See, for a baby with Mikey’s personality, his diaper is not changed fast enough, the bottle is not in his mouth fast enough, his bottle is not warm enough, the tylenol does not kick in fast enough, and Mama and Daddy DO put him down!  I also think he exhausts himself.  He will not take a nice long nap like sweet little Sayelor.  The 20 minute naps he takes here and there are just long enough to tick off any baby.

Phew, I needed to get that out!  Now I will go back and read my previous blog entry. And, will make up for all the whining on my part (gosh I think I know where Mikey get it from) with some cute pictures.  I truly do love that child with all my heart and thank God if he DID in fact answer my wish…….in only ONE of my boys.

Much-loved Jumperoo (while its still together)

“I want that parrott and I want it NOW!”

New sitting position in bouncy seat

“Check out my cool new hair-do” 

Even-though this has been an incredibly LONG and STRESSFUL week (I am referring to a start date of last Wed), it has been filled with so many note-worthy moments.  The stressful parts (Mike being in Philly for his “Guys” weekend Thursday through Monday leaving me here with 2 boys and a pinched nerve in my neck that would only ease up by taking muscle relaxers which made me drowsy), don’t compare to…..

Laying in bed on Sunday morning with a 7 month old on your chest, who is completely awake yet completely calm, quiet and still.

Teaching your 5 year old a new blessing and him wanting to say it over and over again until he got it right.

Seeing the look on your 5 years old’s face and knowing that their heart is breaking when you tell them you are disappointed in them (the broken heart is not the “moment,” but the fact that you KNOW beyond a doubt that your child actually cares how Mommy feels about something they have done wrong).

Hearing your 5 year old say they are sorry and knowing beyond a doubt that they actually mean it and actually WILL try to do better next time.

Being treated so wonderfully by your husband who came home from a fantastic weekend and showed so much appreciation for having the chance to get away.

Having a Mother-in-law who is so wonderful and rescues me from my children any time I need a break.

How after just one hour of alone time, I am refreshed and actually miss my children.

Listen to “these are the moments” by Edwin McCain- that is how I feel about life with my husband and boys!

Some other “moments,” that maybe are not as wonderful, but still “moments” this week-

Now that Mikey has learned to sit, all he wants to do is sit.  He won’t recline in his swing or bouncy seat, but sits straight up.  He also reaches for anything and everything within eye sight.  Today, the sitting up and reaching went a little far.  Mikey was in his bouncy seat watching his Baby Einstein video.  I walked out of the room for a minute and heard a scream.  When I walked back in the room, there was Mikey on his side, still belted into the bouncy seat on top of him.  He must have reached for something and knocked the whole thing over.  He was fine, it probably scared me more than him!

Gotta go for now!  I am still in the midst of my “stressful” week, but writing has made me feel better!  

“Bath time is so much fun now that I can sit!”

“Busted! Mama even got it on camera.  I CAN hold my own bottle, I just choose not to.” Its all part of his feisty personality.  Mikey is already throwing temper tantrums. The other day we were at Mike’s parents house, and Mikey got mad about something.  He threw a fit and we layed him on the floor and just watched.  It went on for a good 10 minutes.  I think he got madder and madder the longer we sat there staring at him and laughing.  We are in trouble if the terrible twos exist for Mikey (they didn’t for Braeden).

Now, I didn’t say MEN, I said “Boys!”

Welcome to the world Bennett Evans McKnight, born Thursday January 10th, 6:29 a.m. 7 pounds 4 ounces,  18 inches in length.  Completely healthy and completely beautiful!  Congratulations Robyn, Paul and big brother Austin!