Tuesday, March 31, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMMIE!!!!

Happy Birthday to the worlds best mother, friend, sister, wife, & grammie anyone could ask for! Ma, I hope you have the best birthday ever and the boys and I wish we were there to celebrate with you!!!!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

WOW 10 months already?

I can not it has been ten months already since Samuel was born but then there are days I can not even recall life without him. So, ten months later and a mom of two and I am over the moon happy, most days! I'll be honeset some days are really challenging but we make it through them and start again the next morning bright and early. Anyways...on the Samuel and reaching the ten month mark. He is still the happiest baby I have ever met in my life & I love him more than he will ever know. He is constantly killing me with his big blue eyes and his crazy afro! He is constantly on the move and trying to keep up with Elijah. Samuel has taken a few steps but really does not show much interest in walking & I think that is because he is so quick when he crawls. His latest loves are climbing Elijah's chair, emptying Pugsley water bowl, singing in the car, climbing stairs, and he loves his zesty tomatoe snacks. A few things he does not like are green veggies (he pukes every time he eats them), sleeping all night, and he gets very eangry when you take anything away from him.
THEN





NOW





Friday, March 27, 2009

Birthday Bonanza!

We are in the midst of what seems like nonstop birthday bonanza. Since Elijah's birthday we have had one party after another and there are still many many more already lined up on the calender. I guess spring is a popular time to have babies. With so many birthdays there has been lots of celebrating and now Elijah thinks that everyday we should be going to a party. I have tried to explain the concept of what the birthday is and why we are having a party or going to a party and it is just going right over his head. So, just like his mom he loves a party and any reason to socialize & therefore he has been in his glory!

This past weekend we were at Sophia's party. It was small & sweet which was so different at her home since she is the youngest of 5! Elijah & Samuel were the only boys there and it did not seem to phase them one bit. Elijah had a BLAST! Sophia had a spring theme perfect for a little girl born the day after Spring begins. Her party had music, crafts, an egg hunt, a tractor ride (Elijah's favorite), & of course cupcakes!






A few weeks ago Elijah & I headed down to Connecticut to celebrate Julia's 1st birthday. It was just Elijah and I Samuel had a cough and stayed home to get well. Elijah loved the music lady that came to preform as well as playing outside at the Kerr house. I loved being able to see two of my close girlfriend Mary and Danielle & also not having to chase after a baby all day. Here are a few pictures of Julia's bash!






The birthday parties continue and we have another one tomorrow afternoon!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM!!!!!!!!!




Today William turns 7! I can not believe it. Where have the past seven years gone? William is amazing! I love him sometimes more than my heart can handle & often when I even say his name I get tears in my eyes because he is such a special person. There are few truly kind people in this world and William is one of them. I feel so lucky to have been blessed with such a wonderful gifted nephew, thank you Shannon!


Friday, March 20, 2009

Potty Training or Potty Train?

Depending on who you ask Elijah is potty training or on the potty train, I bet you can guess who says & thinks what. So, we have been attempting this potty training since his birthday with no great success. I am really trying to follow Elijah's lead in this area but some days are just frustrating & we do not seem to be on the same page or have the same plan. For example on a day that I know we are going to be home all day I suggest he wear big boy pants, undies, underwear, or whatever he wants to call them on any given day & Elijah has no desire or want to follow my suggestion and insist on a diaper. Then there are the days that I know we are going to be out that he DEMANDS to wear big boy pants and will not wear a diaper. One day I hope we are on the same schedule.

The past few days he has been telling me when he is peeing in his diaper & I tell him he should be using the potty lets go (I say this very nicely) he says NO and proceeds to pull his diaper open and watch himself pee...Who does this? The the past few mornings he gets up comes in our room to wake us as he always so kindly does and then eventually runs back to his room scoots up on to his bed and announces "I peeing!!" I then go to see what he is doing to find him squatting and yes in fact peeing (in his diaper)...WHY? He clearly knows he needs to pee & poop so why won't he just use the potty, I asked my Elijah this question the other day & he responded that he had no money to buy a ticket for the potty train. Then today he decided he was wearing undies because he was a big boy. Fantastic, until he had one accident and he wanted to put the diaper back on however he did make it till 1:30 before that happened. Prior to the accident every half hour I asked if he needed to use the potty or even poop since he had not pooped yet today. Well, he did not poop on schedule this morning and therefore caused a backup! Yup, after coming home from a nice impromptu outing at Ikea with Sue, Cam, & Arianna I found him squatting and bending over in the living room grunting, I of coursed asked if he was ok. Elijah said that his stomach hurt and the poop was stuck, he then started yelling "Poop you come out of me RIGHT NOW!!!" thankfully he took my suggestion and sat on the potty and successfully pooped. He requested undies instead of a diaper after and he went without an accident all the way to bed.

So, here is where we are....Elijah knows when he needs to go but only wants to go when he wants so I guess I am just going to see where it takes us. If only he had money for the potty train then this process might go a whole lot quicker!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Happy

Decades ago my Grandfather shared great wisdom with my mother and her sisters & it was "If your mother is happy then everyone is happy!". How true these words are. I can recall as a child, a teenage, & even as an adult that if my mother was or is not happy then in fact the rest of us were not happy either. Last week I decided it was time to pass these words of wisdom on to my boys (Cookie included). I am not sure if they really understood it but I am sure as time goes on it will eventually sink in. In the mean time this is what Elijah has taken from it, every time I ask him to do something & I have to say it sternly or a second time he chimes in with " Mom, You Happy??" I respond "Not really Elijah!" this response results in Elijah then busting into song "If Your Happy & You Know it" & dance. While preforming in front of me he pauses and says "Mom, do the dance & sing the song. Then You HAPPY!!" Well, he is right how can you not be happy if singing and dancing with my Elijah!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

24 Sticks of Butter...

Inquiring and supportive minds want to know so here it is, my week one update. This week I am proud to say I lost 6.4 pounds which is a little bit more than 24 sticks of butter. I love relating weight loss to sticks of butter it makes it much more of a visual and kind of a really gross visual at that. So, week one back on program went really well & was not that hard. The most challenging part was making sure that I ate enough (all my points in weight watchers lingo). I think I ate more this week than I have since Samuel was born. Now next on the list is to add some extra activity into my day.

Thank you so much for every one's support it has made this week much more manageable.

Friday, March 13, 2009

For only $3....

For only $3 on Wednesday you can spend two hours with three other really cool moms & oh yeah your kids can bowl too. Yup we took the kids bowling & they loved it! Elijah was over the moon excited to meet his friends Cam, Ava, & Landon and go bowling! We were the only other ones there on a rainy Wednesday with exception of 5 old men who in the words of Elijah are "really awesome bowlers". The kids all did pretty well but with the exception to Landon they all need to work on waiting in line and taking turns. I am happy to say that no balls were thrown or kicked which is something I was nervous about. Anyways it was a great time and something we will be putting into the mix again. Enjoy the pictures!!!!




Help Wanted....

My father sent this too me & I had to share!


POSITION:

Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma, Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop



JOB DESCRIPTION:

Long term, team players needed, for challenging, permanent work in an
often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent
communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable
hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour
shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports
tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.



RESPONSIBILITIES:

The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least
temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue
repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and
be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this
time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small
gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must
screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of
multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize
social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be
a willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million
cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for
the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end
product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial
work throughout the facility.


POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without
complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that
those in your charge can ultimately surpass you


PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.


WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

Get this... You pay them!!! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A
balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that
college will help them become financially independent. When you die,
you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this
reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could
only do more.


BENEFITS:

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition
reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this
job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional
love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.


OH... AND AS A FOOTNOTE: THERE IS NO RETIREMENT... EVER!!!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Coming Clean....

So, I am coming clean and putting it out there for everyone to know....I have gone back to Weight Watchers! Yup, yesterday morning after many months of debating and putting off I came clean, turned myself in and faced the scale. The good news is I am at the same weight I was when we get pregnant with Samuel the bad news is I have a lot of work to do before I get back to goal.

Yesterday was a really hard day for me. There are not many things in life that I am afraid of and failure is it and in my eyes I have failed in the weight department. Starting back in Jan 2002 till May of 2003 I spent 16 months of my life taking off 103 pounds to turn around and put almost all of it back on over the next 6 years. Life is very different than it was then since I had no husband Cookie and I were just dating, I went to school at night, worked crazy amounts of overtime, worked out 5 days a week with a trainer, & actually had a minute to myself. Now I am a wife, a mom, I don't go to work, I don't have a gym membership never mind a personal trainer & finding a second never mind a minute to myself is challenging most weeks. BUT I have decided none of these are reasons or excuses not to take care of myself. So that being said I have committed to taking care of myself, being healthy, and taking of this disgusting weight! This is it I will never be going back to weight watchers I will just be staying there forever, hell I am a lifetime member after all!

There is someone I have to openly appologize to and that is my husband, I've already said it to him but babe "I am sorry!" I know that you fell in love with a chunky girl who got skinny but you didn't sign up to have a fat wife and I am sorry that is what you have had. Thank you for loving me and making me always feel beautiful no matter what weight I was at...don't worry you will have your orginal wife back at some point. I love you and thank you for being so supportive, you have no idea how much I need it.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

9 Months Later....



Nine months later the Popotte house has changed drastically! First and most important is the added addition of my always happy crazy afro headed Samuel, then the fact that I am now a stay at home mother and wife, Cookie works crazy hours and nonstop, and the house is always noisy, but one thing has stayed the same I am still trying to catch up on the laundry. Two of my close girlfriends, fellow moms & bloggers (Sue & Carla) commented that they don't know where the time has gone & that they are mothers of two. I have to agree, where has the time gone? It feels like just last week I was prego and squatting constantly in hopes of having a vbac and not a c-section. ANYWAYS.....

This morning Samuel had his 9 month well check which the entire family attended. Fun Oh fun....people think it's challenging to go somewhere with two kids I think that is a piece of cake compared to having to go somewhere with two kids & Cookie. Samuel was perfect for his appointment. Dr. Chung was very happy to hear that we had overcome the sleep issues and that he was now sleeping. Samuel, currently is 19 pounds which is only the 20% for weight, 30 inches which is 90% for height, & his head measures in the 60% range that must be without the afro. They are not concerned at all about his weight since he is considerably active & in their words "advanced". I personally wish he was a bit behind and was not climbing, crawling, creeping with furniture and walking with push toys. If he still wanted to held and cradled I would be happy, I love an infant! We discussed his dairy issue and it was suggested that we start introducing yogurt and see if he has any reactions to it. I am so nervous to do this since he is so happy & his skin looks fantastic. Good news would be if he does handle the dairy then I can have dairy! My first order would be a pizza from Papa Gino's!! Dr. Chung was also very pleased with his verbal skills and over just thinks he is perfect just like I do. We concluded the appointment with only one shot and a lollipop for Elijah. I think that it is so interesting that the doctors office gives lollipops it actually really annoys me.

Our next appointment for Samuel is June 4th where I am predicting it is going to be 80 degrees sunny & not a cloud in the sky!!!!




Wednesday, March 4, 2009

I'm in Love....

I'm in love with a 3 year old little boy named Elijah & a 9 month old cutie named Samuel. Over the past few weeks I am not sure what it is but I have just fallen head over heals in love with the two of them! Maybe it was because my mother was here for two weeks and I had a helping hand and extra free time, maybe it is because Samuel now has a schedule and naps twice a day and is in bed by 7pm and sleeps all night, or maybe it is simply because I have two little boys who just ROCK!!!

Elijah had his 3 year check up a few weeks back and he did FANTASTIC! Lucky for me there are no shots at the 3 year check up but there is a finger prick and he did not even cry for that. Elijah weighs 30.4 pounds and is almost 40 inches tall, that puts him in the 25% for weight and 95% for height so he takes after his mom....just kidding I meant to say his dad. Funny thing about his weight is Pugsley the fat bastard actually weighs more than him....gross I know. Dr. Chung is happy with his growth and sees no need to be concerned with his weight because it has been hold steady at the 25% range for the past 2 years. This is so funny to me considering he did not even hit the growth chart until he was 6 months old because he was so tall and chunky! Dr. Chung also commented on Elijah's speech and said he is speaking above average and he was very pleased with that. A suggestion was also made to send him to preschool in the fall but I think we are holding off another year on that since he will not be attending Kindergarten till fall 2011 (preschool will be another blog post later). So all and all his 3 year check up was great.

Elijah at three has one main obsession DINOSAURS! Everything is a dinosaur or involves a dinosaur. He wakes up every morning and announces what type of dinosaur he is going to be for the day and what type of dinosaur daddy, Samuel, and I are going to be, this is always very interesting because he stays in character a good part of the day. He also only eats out of his dinosaur bowl and off of his dinosaur plate. Karma really is funny because how the hell did I end up with a child so obsessed with dinosaurs when I don't even believe in them.

Another thing about my Elijah I have to mention is he is funny!!!! Here he actually does take after his mother because his father is nowhere near as funny as me. Anyways here are a few funny thing to come out of Elijah's mouth this past week. Elijah woke up with a cough the other morning so I asked Elijah where did you get that cough while you were sleeping he replied "Mom I drink the coffee" I could not help but laugh and say of course you did. One more funny to share...Sunday evening while I was making dinner Elijah was playing with one of Samuel's toys the linking beads pretending they were a fishing rod. Elijah announced "Mom I'm fishing" I replied Great! Elijah then said "OH NO" I asked What? He responded "It's not a fish, it's an old boot! That's ok I toss it back!" This kid just cracks me up & I love it!!!

Now, Samuel Oh Samuel if you can believe it he is happier than he use to be and all because of one reason.... he SLEEPS!!! Finally, we caved in and Ferberized him or as my mother likes to point out simply put him to bed and it worked...he sleeps. He takes a morning nap, an afternoon nap and is in bed by 7pm and sleeps all night!!! Life is so much happier at the Popotte house now that Samuel sleeps. The next step is to move him across the hall and make it so he and Elijah share a room so mommy and daddy can have a grown up room again. Samuel's 9 month appt is tomorrow so I will update and post about his stats and progress. Currently he is doing any and everything to keep up with his big brother which often leads to many falls and head bumps but he keeps going.

Ok well have to run Samuel is up from his nap & it's time to start dinner! I promise to be better about posting now that we do not have company and if I could simply stay off FaceBook. Does anyone else have a problem getting lost and staying too long on FaceBook or is it just me?

THESE ARE THE DINOSAURS WE HATCHED