Anger

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 36

     Lately, I've been angry. Not at my beautiful babes, just at...stuff. People. Situations. It happens when I'm doing monotonous tasks that you can do with your eyes closed. Things like washing dishes, folding laundry. My mind literally races with thoughts flooded with anger. It makes me angry at myself that I'm angry at people. And situations that are done and over with. It's pretty annoying, actually. Anger nagging me.

     I know, I know...holding onto anger only hurts me. Forgive and forget. If someone slaps you on one check, turn and let them slap you on the other. I know all this. But, lately, I just can't seem to rid my mind of thoughts like, "I'm never talking to _______ again, he/she hurt me too bad." "I can't stand ________." "_______ makes me so angry."

      So, I've been doing what I do to combat fearful thoughts. When my mind shoots flaming arrows of doubt and fear, I shoot back. With words of thanksgiving. I literally start listing things in my head that I am thankful for. Things I am blessed with. Things to be happy about. I figure if it works on fear, it can work on anger, too.

     Tonight, I'm thankful that I'm continuously learning how to be thankful. I'm learning that anger is a waste of my time. It distracts me from what is really important in life. And that is love.

We did some artwork today. We made snakes, and caterpillars, and colored Cinderella. See that tiny speck between the first and second picture. That's a small sticker of an ice cream cone. We had a talk about not putting stickers on the wall, but I fear that one day, I might look around the corner and see the wall filled with stickers.

Sleepy

Another sleepy one.

Fever

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 35

     Tobin had his first fever today. He woke up at 7am, and refused to nurse all morning. The poor boy was starving. I could tell he was hungry, he was just too upset to eat. I had to walk him around the room, and sing to him. That was his only comfort. Funny how Tobin is my second child, and you would think that a simple thing like a fever wouldn't worry me so much...but it did. And I was. I finally got him to nurse around 11 or so. And he fell asleep for a while after that.

     This is what made me laugh about this morning though: Adelyn was very sick when Tobin was first born. He was maybe around a month old or so, and Adelyn got up around 11pm crying. I went in, gave her water, tucked her in, and went back to my room. She was up on and off all night. Not crying. Just up, and restless. Couldn't sleep. She didn't have a fever. She wasn't complaining about anything. Just couldn't sleep. She was very fussy the next morning, so I took her to the Doctor's to get her ears checked. She had pointed to her ear and said, "ear," the night before. That was my only indication that something might be up. The Doctor took one look at her first ear. This was her reaction, "Oh my God!" Yeah, that's not something you want to hear from the Doctor. She looked in the second ear. "Oh my goodness, you poor baby!" Adelyn had ear infections that were so bad that the Doctor said her eardrums would probably burst. She not only prescribed an antibiotic, but ear numbing drops as well. And she told me to give her Tylenol for the pain.

     So, Adelyn's ears are infected to the point of "maybe bursting," and her only complaint about it was, "ear," and some crying. Tobin has a fever of 99.8 because he's teething, and you would think that I was sawing off his pinkie toe if you heard him screaming today. If that's not a male child for you...When a man is sick, the world really does stop spinning, doesn't it? Well, at least their world does. :)

     Thankful for Tobin. And especially thankful that he's feeling better. I'm just hoping that tooth pokes through soon. I'm also thankful that I got to hold and comfort my sweet guy all morning. And cuddle with him for nap time. I'm just loving how cuddly my boy is. My arms and my heart feel full holding him.

After nursing and his nap. Happy again.

Sophia was very sad here.

Still chewing on his fingers.

Casey loves Roxy.

How Adelyn likes to wear her glasses.

New cool guy hat and mittens.

Cousins.

Kissy face.

Pee problems and other funny stuff.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 34

    
 Pee Problems

     Casey is currently potty training. So crazy to me. He's having a hard time using the bathroom anywhere but at home. He will literally hold it all day to avoid using the bathroom anywhere else. He dances around often, and yells out, "Mama, I have to go potty!" Patty runs over and helps him to the bathroom, only to have him sit and sit and sit and sit and sit. He doesn't go, and then he says he's done.

     Casey's potty training adventures reminded Patty and I of Shane when he was little. The three of us were at a playground once, and Shane had to go bad. We were too far away from home for us to make it, so Patty and I told Shane that it was okay for boys to pee outside once in a while. It took us so long to convince him that we probably could have made it home in time for him to go. Regardless, we finally convinced him to go behind a tree. Patty and I were super happy because it meant the three of us could keep playing, and not have to stop and take Shane home. No harm in teaching a little boy to pee in the woods, right?

     A couple of days later, we were all outside playing, when Shane--to our horror--pulled down his pants, and started peeing on the neighbor's flowers. We had a long conversation about how he could pee in the woods sometimes, but not on the neighbor's flowers. Couple of days or so after that, Shane exited our house, went straight to the neighbor's flowers, and yep. You guessed it. Peed on them.

     We were so glad we taught him to pee outside. I'm sure my parents were, too.  


Other funny stuff

     Adelyn is going through a princess phase. She refuses to wear anything but dresses. And she would prefer that they all be pink dresses. Matt and I have been trying to convince her that princesses wear other colors too. There aren't enough pink dresses to go around. Especially, because she insists on wearing a dress to bed as well. Oh yeah, and her ballerina slippers too. Morning, noon, and night. And in bed, too. Dress and ballerina slippers. Her new uniform.

     Last night, I gave Addy her one gummy bear after dinner. She smiled at me, and said, "Mmmm, I love candy," as she popped it in her mouth.

     Tobin has discovered that he can make noise. And he likes to make noise all day. Also, he has decided that he would really not like to be without me at all. He wants me, all the time. Awake time. Nap time. Bed time. And today, when his Oma was holding him, he got lonely for me, started crying, and looked around for me. Made me smile.

   

     Thankful for Casey and Shane. Thankful for Adelyn, my princess. And Tobin, my little Mama's boy. Thankful for sweet Sophia. Thankful for my parents, Matt, and AJ. Thankful we had such a lovely little super bowl party. And I'm thankful that even though our family days are bit loud and busy and messy, and sometimes we eat late because we have four babies...it's okay. Because we are together and that's all that matters. 

Kisses

Adelyn looking snazzy today. Dress and ballet shoes.

Love this smile.

Nap

Nap

Addy kissing Tobin's hand. So sweet.

My handsome guy.

Smiles for Oma.

Kids eating dinner at the pink table.

Shane. Turning on the smoulder.

Sophia.

Watching Toy Story.

Three Knocks on the Wall

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 33

     When my sister and I were little, and before we shared a room, we came up with a communication system using the shared wall between us. This was our language:

1. Two knocks meant, goodnight.
2. Three knocks meant, I love you.
3. Scratching in a large circle meant, come to my room.

     Most every night would start off the same way. Two knocks. Two knocks back. Three knocks. Three knocks back. A short period of silence followed by scratching in a large circle. The next noise would be the creak of my door opening. And the silhouette of Patty creeping in on her tip toes. She would climb into bed with me, we would talk briefly, and we were off to sleep.

     I've been missing my sister. And it was the highlight of my day to spend the morning with her, and her sweet babies. Thankful for the love and friendship of my very best, best friend.

     (Three Knocks)

Casey enjoying lunch at our house. Grilled cheese, apple slices, and homemade bean and barley chicken soup. Yum!

How I found Adelyn sleeping today during nap.

Looks comfy!

My sweet sleeper.

When I checked on her again, she had moved to the floor.

Addy waking up...

My beauty.

Why Not?

Project 365 *2 -- Day 32

     Matt and I just finished putting together an art corner in our kitchen for Addy. And Tobin when he's old enough. :) She loves it! Today, while Tobin was napping, we made some pictures together. There are three pictures that she is especially proud of. The first one is a picture of Truffula Trees, and the Lorax, and me, Matt, Tobin, and Addy. The second is a page from her "Do-A-Dot" book. It is for dot paints. She did a dot picture of the letters, A, and B. The third is a picture of a flower. It is on a piece of bright, florescent, green paper. We tore little pieces of hot pink tissue paper, and glued them onto the green paper. She is super proud.

     She was so proud that she wanted to hang them on the wall. And, I thought, why not? Maybe it isn't the best idea to hang all kinds of pictures on the wall by scotch tape in the kitchen, but she was just so proud, I couldn't say no.

     Thankful for scotch tape. Thankful for the new art corner. Thankful for my little budding artist.

Gagging himself trying to teeth on his fingers.

Oh, so happy!

Addy moonbouncing.