In the Moment

How is it only 1:35 in the afternoon? I am so tired.

Not sleepy tired, mentally drained tired.  Tired from having to be constantly vigilant in keeping these little boys alive and well.  :) Things I've actually said this morning:

"No Gibson we can't eat markers"
"Christian please don't hit your brother in the head"
"No, no! Christian we don't jump off the coffee table"
"Don't touch Gibsons' eyes! It hurts him (as Gibson laughs)"

Is it nap time?

I have managed to get about seven things half done.  That's something right? I have to keep stopping to draw Christian (really horrible) pictures of Batman, or pick Gibson up for hugs so he knows I didn't forget about him (and hopefully stop screaming :).

I am reminded of this saying:

INTERRUPTIONS

"When you are exasperated by interruptions, try to remember that their very frequency may indicate the value of your life. Only people who are full of help and strength are burdened by other persons' needs. The interruptions which we chafe at are the credentials of our indispensability. The greatest condemnation that anybody could incur - and it is a danger to guard against - is to be so independent, so unhelpful, that nobody ever interrupts us, and we are left comfortably alone."

-Anonymous
from The Anglican Digest

I know I should be happy for the interruptions of my little boys and life.  I catch myself complaining of the things I have "volunteered" for, the baby showers I'm throwing (3!), the babysitting I'm doing, the amount of cleaning I have around here, the constant upkeep of these two little boys that are constantly growing out of everything (C needs shoes, G needs something...but I can't even remember right now! ha!), and it goes on and on. 

I will try and embrace the interruptions because they really do make up such a wonderful life.  Soon these cute little boys I love will be bigger than me.  

I'll look back on these crazy days with a smile, knowing they were gone too soon. 

Tub Time

Plans of Their Own

I have grand plans to go to the gym this morning with a few of my friends and their kiddos.  I tried this yesterday and got in a 25 minute workout because Gibson was screaming so hard the childcare workers were afraid he'd explode. :) No seriously, I think her exact words were, "he's crying so hard, so loud, so...yeah something must be wrong."  I then walked in, picked him up and he immediately stopped crying/wailing/flailing. I wish you could have seen the looks on their faces.  I'd translate it as, "wow, we've watched some babies in our day, but this one fooled us."  Childcare Workers: 0, Gibson:2 (oh I didn't mention this was the second time he'd pulled this?) He likes to call it Act 2, you know because its all an act. :)

So here we are all dressed and no where to go.  I'm keeping my workout clothes on in hopes that I will at some point today be able to work out.  You know in addition to the workout Gibson is doing on my brain.  I just can't figure this little guy out.  He is attached to me so often that when he's not (for like twenty minutes- starting the minute poor Christopher walks in the door) I feel like I'm missing a limb.

Hopefully we get this guy sleeping on his own soon.  I'm afraid. Very afraid,  to do the Cry It Out method.  Mostly because I'll be doing a lot of the crying.  That and I know how stubborn this baby is.  He may never stop crying! He has had many showdowns with my other stubborn guy (hint, he's 30) and I won't give you the count, but Gibson is way in the lead. 

Well I think I might try this childcare thing one more time.  This time with another set of unsuspecting childcare workers (poor dears).  Wish me luck!

love, Nicole

Twice As Much Work?

Whoever said that two kids are twice as much work, only had one child.  It is at least triple the work as far as I can tell.  In fact as I sit here typing one little guy is sitting on my lap and the other is trying to climb up my back.(you guess which one...)  I think they have a secret language and when one falls asleep he knows that the other will be sure to create a little mischief to keep me on my toes.  Like taking a huge water bottle full of water and dumping it in the backseat of the car.  Boys: 1, Mommy: 0.

I don't think I've ever been so tired.  Someone is always being held (Gibson), or needs me to get him something (Christian) and I have to say as crazy as it is, I really do love every minute of being their mommy, even when I want to hide in the bathroom :) Which was like 5 times today.  I didn't...but I wanted to.

I know once Gibson starts crawling the real madness will begin as he will then be able to track me down wherever I go.  Right now he gets by with SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS EVERY TIME I PUT HIM DOWN.  It works pretty well he says.

I always put up cute pictures of the boys, or photos that don't show the crazy toy mess that is EVERYWHERE, so I figured I should put up a few real posts so you know its not all butterflies and color coordinated outfits over here.  (Like this one below :)

I originally started writing on this blog for all of our far away family and friends to keep updated on the boys and our family life because we miss them so much.  The more I write though, the more I realize how nice it is to look back when Christian was a baby and see the things he was doing, or not doing (like eating!) and realize that its not the end of the world that Gibson refuses to eat solids.  Or look back at my tiny little Christian all snuggled up in his crib and two months and laugh out loud because Gibson would rather eat a jar of peas than sleep alone.  Alone!?! With no one hugging him and keeping him company?! Heck no.  Not this month mom and dad. (more on that later)

Happy memories, or crazy I'm pulling out my hair memories, it has been fun to go back and relive them here.  So get ready to hear of some of the crazy days.  We've been having lots of them lately! :) 

And that only took me two hours to type.  Ha ha.

Love, Nicole