Nathan at 32 Months

by Suzanne on May 16, 2013 · 0 comments

in Nathan

A few things I want to remember about Nathan at this age.

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His long hair, how it stands up in the morning, how he likes to style it like a rooster, how it falls in his eyes and how I love to push it out of his face a hundred times a day.  How he screams when we wash it.  How special he feels when we spray a bit of the de-tangler in it after his bath.

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His obsession and fear of bees.  How he could not play outside for days just a few weeks ago when the trees were blooming and bees were practically falling from the sky.  The night he had a bad dream about a bee and slept on our bedroom floor in his sleeping bag.  The way he says he loves bees because they give us honey, but will not even go near a dead one if his life depended on it.
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The way he just likes to be with me.  No matter what I’m doing.  When Lucas is at school he sticks by my side, chattering away.  The way he asks to go to Fresh and Easy and loves to do errands with me.  The way he asks for my shirt to sleep with every night when I tuck him in, and the way he does not want me to leave his room.  The way he always yawns when I sing him his bedtime song – Twinkle Twinkle Little Nathan.
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The way he eats with his hands.  Still.  At nearly four years old.  Fistfulls of rice into his mouth when he could clearly use a spoon.  I love this kid.  He is nothing but awesome.

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Mother’s Day 2013

by Suzanne on May 14, 2013 · 0 comments

in Uncategorized

We spent Mother’s Day this year drinking tea, swimming at the pool and eating hot dogs covered in sauerkraut.  It was pretty much perfect.

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I love this picture of my grandma.  The boys call her Gigi and she is as hip as they come.  :)

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My mom, me, and the boys.

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After the pool the boys played under the deck with their fancy light up spyglasses.  A perfect tool for a my little explorers.
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Boys and Train

by Suzanne on April 20, 2013 · 0 comments

in Nathan

I have finally accepted the fact that the rest of my parenting career will be full of trains, trucks, legos, camping, sports, and every type of boyish activity under the sun.  And when I think about it, it actually sounds really fun.  I mean, can it get any cuter than this?

IMG_9415This year we rode Thomas the Train for Nathan.  We have done it two previous years, but he was too young to really know what was going on.  And this time around, it was really special to him.  He LOVES Thomas.  Like, really really loves him.  He had a blast, and so did Lucas.

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The boys saved their allowance money this year to contribute to the tickets, so they appreciated the day even more than I think they would have otherwise.  They were surprised when they got to the gift shop and Nana told them they could each pick out a new Thomas item.  Nathan got a sleeping bag, and Lucas got a pop up tent.  They have been playing with them constantly!
IMG_9460It’s rare these days that we get a family picture and I thought this one turned out pretty good.

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The view along the ride in Fillmore was  so pretty – lots of fields and orchards, we saw lots of veggies growing too.  The tunnel was the best part of the ride for the boys.

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The boys are getting older so it may be awhile before we ride Thomas again… Maybe when Mathew is three he will be obsessed with Thomas too…  we’ve got a few years to go!

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On Surviving New Parenthood

by Suzanne on April 19, 2013 · 0 comments

in about me,Motherhood

I wrote the following post in December of 2009 but never published it.  I found it in my draft folder tonight and read it, realizing that in a few short months I will be once again in this familiar territory of new baby and figuring out how to work our family life routine…. So I’m posting it now, more than three years later and wishing my future self luck in negotiating through the early months of babyhood once again.  

December 9, 2009

Lately I find myself surviving within the throes of new parenthood once again.  I am once again walking around in a severely sleep deprived state, patience worn thin, mind frazzled, and body somewhat falling apart.

Ok, so maybe I am being a bit dramatic.  But hey, it’s allowed.

Today I googled “terrible twos”.  Oh wait, and on my night stand, I have the following books stacked up: The No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers; Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child; The No Cry Discipline Solution; and The Baby Whisperer.

Enough said, right? Actually, I think I need to say “AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”  Okay, I feel better.

I am SO tired.  I feel so out of control.  Not only is everything around me disorganized and a mess, but I feel like I can’t even take care of myself as well.  I remember how hard this was last time with Lucas.  I felt just like this.  Somehow I had thought this time would be different, like I would have all the answers and just know what to do.  I keep reminding myself that it gets better.  It will get better this time too, right?

A few days ago I thought I could handle letting Nathan cry a bit to go to sleep.  I only made it 15 minutes.  Couldn’t do it.  I think he is still to young, and I can’t bear to hear him cry.  Right now he is in his swing because he cried when I put him to bed.  I’m hoping to move him to his crib once he falls asleep.

Lucas has been saying “No” to everything, and he melts down in tears like it is the end of the world every time something doesn’t go his way.  When I say no, he just keeps on going.  It’s like my words have no meaning.  I feel like a broken record…. no no no no no no no….. all day long.  Ugh.

Anyway, today was just a rough day in general, and I hadn’t had time to write in awhile, so here I am.  Last night both kids went to bed late cause I was on my own for bedtime with Ryan working late.  Then they were both up at night – I think I was up six times total.  And up for the day at 6:30am.  Then I ran out of hot water in the shower.  Then we found our poor iguana nearly frozen… again.  Then this, then that, blah blah blah.  So I was grumpy and feeling sorry for myself.  But then the day got better.  Ryan’s late meeting got canceled and he came home on time, with Taco Bell.  Yum.

I was just out getting myself a drink from the fridge when I saw the quote magnet I placed there as a subtle reminder to myself.  I’m going to try and remember this tonight.

“Be gentle with yourself.  You are a child of the universe, no different than the moon and the stars.  In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.” Max Eherman

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Guilt free “me” time

by Suzanne on April 18, 2013 · 0 comments

in Motherhood

I was all set to do about a hundred errands this morning.

I had an hour and forty five minutes of kid free time and I was determined to take advantage.  But on the way out of Lukie’s school drop off, the director stopped me and commented on my tired demeanor.  She told me to go home and take a nap.  I laughed, but on the way out to my car I realized that I was in fact very, very tired.

For the last few weeks, since my morning sickness backed down, I have been like a full powered steam engine around our house.  I have not stopped.  Cleaning, gardening, organizing, more cleaning, more organizing, more gardening, and errand after errand after errand.  I’ve barely taken a break.  And in that moment, I wanted a break.

So instead of my intended trip to Fresh & Easy and a stop at the meat market, I went to Barnes and Noble.  I grabbed a blogging magazine and some cookbooks and I sat in a chair and read.  It was glorious.  And I did not even feel guilty.

After I picked up the kids we went together to the grocery stores.  They hung on the carts and complained about shopping and begged for cookies.  But we survived.  And the best part is, by this afternoon I still felt good – no aching body or weak legs or feet that wanted to cry.  All I had to do was take a break.  Lesson learned…. I hope.  I’m going to try more of this whole taking care of me thing in the near future.

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Dear Mathew…

by Suzanne on April 14, 2013 · 0 comments

in Mathew

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Dear Mathew,

I wanted to let you know that although you are our third baby, and you may not have a baby shower or a gender reveal party or many new items purchased on your behalf, we are still celebrating you my sweet baby boy!  Today we got together with Nana and Papa, your cousins, and special friends and we celebrated your presence in our family with playtime at the park and some baby blue cupcakes.  Your big brother Nathan wore the color blue well.  You are going to have a lot of fun with him and Lucas, just you wait!

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Soccer Star

by Suzanne on April 13, 2013 · 0 comments

in Lucas

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It is so much fun to watch these boys grow up.  Lucas is really turning into an amazing little person these days.  Just a year ago he took this same soccer class, and he had his head in the clouds, staring at the playground and no interest in figuring out the game.  This spring was a different story.  He was extremely focused, eyes on that ball, scoring goals and blocking the other team.  I love to watch how he develops.  I am amazed by the things he says to me on a daily basis.  The expressions he uses, the tones of his voice, the jokes he makes.  He is just so  much fun.  And with Kindergarten right on the horizon, I feel like all the baby that was left in him is gone.


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We are officially Homeschoolers!

by Suzanne on April 1, 2013 · 0 comments

in homeschool,Lucas

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We got the final word today that we have been accepted into our local charter school’s home school program.  We are OFFICIALLY homeschoolers!  Lucas will start kindergarten this fall and I am so excited! This is something that I have been hoping for for almost three years now, and it feels like everything is finally falling perfectly into place.

We wanted this particular program because they offer two days of enrichment classes from about 10am till 3pm.  The kids are also included in school events and assemblies so they get the feeling of community and belonging to a certain group.  It’s a perfect balance of school and homeschool, it gives him the opportunity to gain some independence with teachers and peers, while it gives me the needed break to do errands, take care of the house, etc.

We will meet with our assigned teacher in another month or so to help pick out his curriculum.  The best part of this is that the curriculum is up to us!  No forcing a certain workbook or activity on my wild child who is not interested.  I can tailor his education to his interests and needs.  I’ve been pouring over choices and trying to select the right thing for his learning style.  I think this is going to be a great experience for Lucas and our whole family.  I can’t wait to get started!

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Morning Sickness = no pictures (13-55/365)

by Suzanne on February 24, 2013 · 0 comments

in Pregnancy,Project 365

I thought I could keep up my daily photo project through my entire first trimester. I was very wrong.  I made it for twelve days and then the sickness and fatigue got so bad that the thought of even picking up my camera made me want to take a nap. I did not turn on my computer.  I couldn’t even pick up a book.  Luckily for my iphone or I would not have taken a single photo or answered a single email during the last nine weeks.

This is my third pregnancy and I can honestly say I have not ever been this sick or tired before with either of the other boys.  I thought I had it bad with Lucas.  Then I thought it was hard with Nathan.  Well… it’s even harder with number three.  There were days I was so exhausted I literally could not stand up.  I laid in bed all day, my poor kids entertaining each other, tearing the house apart, watching movie after movie on the ipad.  I let Nathan give up naps all together so that I could get him in bed by 6:30 every night since my body ceased to function after about 5pm.  My family has eaten more take out and packaged food than should be allowed in an entire year.  I have been on Zofran (anti nausea medication) pretty much 24/7 since week 6 and still show no sign of being able to stop taking it.  Pregnancy is a totally amazing experience and I feel so very lucky to be able to have these children but man is it a challenge during these first couple months.

About a week ago I started feeling a little bit more normal – more energy and able to get out of the house and act like a real person again.  We’ve had a couple play dates and gone to the park a few times.  I started an art class with Nathan, which he loves…  I still feel pretty tired in the afternoons and sick in the evenings, but it is a thousand times better that I was a few weeks ago.  I am looking forward to stopping my medication soon, but every time I try to go without it I end up feeling miserable.  I’m happy to be back on my computer, and excited to start back on my photo project 365.  I’m hoping it will get me back in the groove of taking photos, and blogging again. :)

Here is the latest photo of our new little one.  The ultrasound tech guessed that it was a boy at our 13 week appt, but she said it is very early to tell, so we are waiting for our 16 week appointment to find out for sure.  Three boys…. eek! What will I do?!

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Party (12/365)

by Suzanne on January 12, 2013 · 0 comments

in Project 365


My favorite shot of Lucas’ birthday party.  He was beyond thrilled that his very best friend from school could come to the party.  The boys were jumping like crazy and we caught them for a brief moment taking a break.

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