The Wonders of Children and Sleeping

I think every child falls asleep in weird positions at one point in the life or another. How kids can sleep strapped into a child seat with their heads hung to their chest always baffles me. We all know if we were to trade places with them how our bodies would feel if we fell asleep like that.

Up until Bubba joined our family I was always envious of those parents that were able to carry their infant or toddler into the house and put them to bed with out waking them up. Bean and Buddy were notorious for waking up the minute the car stopped for an extended period of time. I am not sure what would wake them up but it never failed. The worst part of the whole equation was especially when we were coming home from a distance and they would fall asleep, when we got home they would have their second wind with the little nap they took.

Bubba has been amazing when it comes to sleeping and where he can sleep. Bubba, Buddy and I had been to Bubba's Doctor appointment and then went shopping. It was nap time for Bubba and he fell asleep on our way to the first stop. I got him out walked around Joann's bought a few items, paid, left and then returned Bubba back to his car seat and strapped him in. All without him waking up. We then stopped at Wal-mart, I didn't want to carry his dead weight around Wal-mart while I shopped trying to keep track of Buddy as well. So I layed Bubba in the top part of the cart where he normally would have sat, and he slept most of the way through our shopping.

Here are shot of all three of the kids in weird sleeping positions.

Bubba just last night

Bubba a couple months ago

Little Buddy

Bean caught spying on us through a vent on the floor upstairs.
She fell asleep, notice the bent leg in the air.

Pull Tabs at the Bar

About a month ago, the kids came with me to count money at the city owned bar. I have to do this as part of my job. So on Saturdays when Dad isn't around to watch the kiddos, they have to come with me. They love to go to the bank for a treat.

We were still there when the bartender got there and the kids had been bugging me about what the box of cards were and they wanted to play them. So I obliged and bought 5 tickets. They had fun pulling the tabs off and of course wanted to keep them. Well it turned out we had a winner. So the kids and I won $100, that was exciting for them and me. We went to town and I took them for lunch with our winnings after we finished what needed to be done in town.

Last weekend we were all at the bar again and they talked me into the pull tabs again if the bartender showed up before we left. They got lucky and we bought a few. They were sitting on the bar stools and Buddy was apparently tipping his seat a little. I wasn't paying the most attention because I had Bubba up on a stool too and needed to watch him.

Before I knew it the bar stool Buddy was sitting on fell backward and he fell forward hitting his forehead on the foot rest of the stool. Poor little guy, he had a big ol welt on his forehead. After he calmed down everything was fine. It was just going to be a big purple and blue welt and quite a story to tell.

And tell he does.... This weekend we were at my parents and had my sisters baby shower. Everyone there of course was asking Buddy what he did to his head, the conversations went a bit like this:

random person: "Where'd you get that bump"
Buddy: "I was playing pull tabs at the Bar"
RP: "pull tabs, at the bar"
Buddy: "yeah, and I fell off the stool"

Okay so it sounds more dramatic when he says it in person, for a parent though it's kind of embarrassing. Well you know kids, they will tell anybody who will listen anything. When we left today we stopped at a gas station in Blooming Prairie and a random patron asked Buddy about his owie, which off he went to tell the story about pull tabs at the bar. It wouldn't have been a big deal except there was a police officer in line behind us. I quickly tried to shush him and left. I am sure there are worse things that he could have been telling and the officer just smiled.

Splish, Splash I was taken a bath

Bath time is an experience here at our house. I like to spend as little time at the tub as possible and the least amount of water. So imagine if you will a bath with a 5 year old, 3 year old and an almost 1 year old, full to say the least.

Bean has always loved water, it's taken until this past fall for her to realize how to get her hair wet under the faucet with out getting water into her eyes and that if you do it's not a big deal.

Buddy doesn't mind the water but don't splash it in is face or get it in his ears. He shrieks out in horror or sound like some ones got him by the ear and forcing his head into the water. We've come a long way, but there are days that are still worse than others.

Bubba, much like his sister loves water. And ever since I started letting him join the other two in the tub he has a blast. He assumes the sitting position even before his little bum hits the water and can't wait to splash his hand in. But he takes the gold medal home for water baby in our family. This evening while I was washing him up he proceeded to lay down and float on his back basically. No the water wasn't that deep, but he was laying flat with his head submerged past his ears, and loving every minute of it. And of course when the time came for him to be taken out he threw a huge tantrum. But quickly got over it when I let him stand at the side of the tub. He had fun trying to walk from the tub to me and back. Such a cutie!!

Careful what you Teach them!!

Yes it's been 2 months since the last update. No, I haven't forgotten about my readers, life as they say "has just gotten in the way" Mostly in a good way with the kids and work and all. But to sit at the computer and type up something the kids have been doing or not doing after a day at the computer isn't always appealing. But I am here now and ready to share a story.

On a return trip from Grandma Sylvia's house, buddy lets me know he has to go to the bathroom. Great.... we are about 10 miles from home and I am think can't you wait a little bit. He wines that no he can't wait. Thank goodness for less traveled back roads. So I pull over unbuckle the car seat get him to the side of the road and proceed to help he pee in the wilderness. Thankfully he produced and we were able to get home with out another incident.

Fast forward a few weeks and Buddy, Bubba and I were on our way home from a Doctors appointment. Not 4 miles out of town and Buddy says "I have to go potty" ugh!! I say "are you sure" because he had gone before we left the drs office. So we pull over to the nearest gravel road, and repeat actions done previously. But this time nope, it's a no go. Back in the car and a we are not stopping again threat and home we go.

A couple weeks ago my sister and her husband were visiting to pick up some baby related items. It was a gorgeous day out, I believe in the 60s. As they pack to leave the Bean and Buddy decided the swing set was lonely and off they go to play. I figure it's a beautiful day, why not, we'll spend a little time out it would be good for all of us. Bubba was content in the baby swing and then I hear "I got to go potty" Okay, Bean watch your brother. I call to buddy to go inside turn to get him and....

Yep you guessed it, he's bare tooshy to the road, watering the grass. After he's done I try and explain it isn't appropriate to do this in town and that we only do this sort of thing in an emergency and that next time he will have to go into the house to do his business. What can I say, 3 year olds!!!!

Happy Birthday Little Buddy!!

We celebrated Buddy's 3rd Birthday on January 6th with spaghetti for supper and green "the Incredible Hulk" cup cakes. And a few presents for him to open. He got a Lightening McQueen remote control car and mop and a green light stick. On Sunday the 11th we celebrated with Grandma Pattie and Grandpa John, with a Car cake made by yours truly (I'll post pictures soon). For gifts he received clothes, a play dough table and a Spiderman bike. Which he can't quite get the petals moving. Hopefully by spring.... And then on Sunday the 18th we celebrated with Grandma Sylvia, for gifts he received books and a semi that holds match box cars. He's been spoiled for his birthday for sure.

On January 7th, we celebrated yours truly's 30th. Yep I've reached the old age according to Daddy Dear. I don't feel old although dinner out sounded good at the time we talked about it on the phone. But the actual act of going out with three children under the age of 5 was rough. I was showered with flowers and balloons at work. Which were very appreciated and a big surprise. And after the less than hectic dinner out a wonder full Chocolate truffle cake, umm it was delicious!!! For presents I asked for shelving in my scrapbook area, I need organization!!!

There you have it amongst the sicknesses we did manage some fun. I will be back tracking to Christmas, hope you don't mind and hopefully this will happen sometime this week and I won't abandon my duties here for a whole month again.

"when's his butt going to be gone"

So it's been yet another month since my last post. No we haven't fallen off the face of the earth, but trying to find the time and energy to post has been hard.

Since Christmas our house has been less then healthy, mostly the run of the mill stuff. Runny noses and coughs. All members being affected eventually. Until last weekend, on Thursday Buddy and Bubba came down with slight fevers. Things didn't get much better on Friday (16th) and I stayed home from work to tend to them. The weekend was worse with Bubba and Buddy faired okay. They both had fevers, runny noses and awful coughs. Monday was a holiday for me and Bean had school. The boys and I vegged out on the couch together all feeling a bit miserable. Late in the afternoon, Buddy complained that his ear hurt and Dad and I figured that they should all be checked out the next day. So 8:00 am Tuesday morning I called the clinic and off we all went. Bean faired the best with only a slightly pink ear, Buddy had one ear infection and poor Bubba with a double ear infection. Prescriptions were written and filled. Then home, but only after a short, okay hour and half stop at mommy's office to push out the payroll for the city. You'd have thought they liked to be paid on time, well at least they got it on the right day.

Wednesday showed improvement with the fevers breaking, but I felt one more day at home would do Bubba some good. And he was almost back to normalcy by bed time that night. Or lack there of going to bed right away. Now we are fighting horrible diaper rash, because the medication they are on causes diarrhea. Poor baby crys so hard when I change him, I had been plastering him tush with diaper cream to ward off the rash, but it is here and in full force. I get to him as quickly as I can when I hear him fill his diaper, but his little behind is so red and sore. Last night and tonight we decided to try to air him out hoping as suggested on websites it would help and it did, until the next sints of diaper fillings.

Bean comes to me while I was holding a bare bottomed Bubba and asked "When's his butt going to be gone" You couldn't help but not laugh. We hope soon he will no longer have the red tush!! Tomorrow I go off to the clinic for Buddy's 3 year check up and Bubba will be check for healthiness. Maybe she will have mercy on his tush and let us stop the meds.

Happy Holidays

So by the calender it's been about a month since I have logged in and actually posted something. Don't get me wrong life still goes on and there were probably a dozen things I could have blogged about. But with 3 little ones and the feeling of no time to do anything, much less catch up and find the time to type something out....

Here we are into the Holiday Season. Christmas is just 2 day from now, am I ready, not quite. I have a bit more shopping to do and hope to do that tomorrow. Normally this doesn't happen to me, I am down to the wire this year and things just haven't gone smoothly to get all the shopping done. Oh well it will all happen and if it doesn't the kids won't even know. It's great to have little kids. I know it won't last for ever though. Usually by this time my Christmas letter is sent and being received by the recipients already. Not this year, as with other things I just have not had the time, I've thought about it on several occasions and just not been able to sit down and do the typing. Pictures are finally taken of Buddy and Bubba for their yearly photos, only 5 months later than planned but life with an infant is hectic, especially since I went back to work a week after he was born and all summer we have meetings and events to attend. And summer to enjoy.

Some major accomplishments have occurred in our household this past month. We traveled to Papa and Grandma's house for Thanksgiving. You know you plan and write a list and hope you don't forget anything. Well this year we left Buddy's dear beloved binkie at home. Not on purpose, it just happened. I dreaded the night we arrived, but to my surprise Buddy did very well actually and we are now binkie free!!! Also Buddy is now for the most part day potty trained, we are having poop issues, but I remember the same with Bean. I never thought I would see the day when diapers would finally be a thing of the past for Buddy. I see the end in site!!! Not getting to overly excited . . . yet, we still have our days.

Bean is still enjoying preschool, she had her last class of the year on Monday. They had a Christmas party and she brought home a cute puzzle from her classmate. She had her first Holiday Concert on Dec 4th, were they sang with the K thru 3rd graders. Mom dropped the ball that night and sent her to the concert with a t-shirt on (yes I should know better, as I had concert after concert when in school). I felt awful, but not much I could do at the point I realized. Believe you me, it won't happen again!!! She did excellent at the concert. Last Sunday the 21st was her first Christmas program with the church Sunday School and also did great.

Bubba had his 6 month appointment on Nov 17th and is doing well. He weighed in at 18.1 pounds, he is starting to wear 12 month clothes. He is also able to sit on his own for short periods of time and loves to stand with help and loves to screech and babble.

We've had plenty of snow and forecast show more to come, Welcome to winter in the Midwest!! Even though it isn't quite the New Year, I have a resolution and that is to be a better blogger and at least keep it up to date every week. Wish me luck!!

The Toilet Paper Caper

I think all families go through this with at least one of their children. So far we have had 2 for 2. Bean did it once or twice, basically unrolling the roll on to the floor which I think is the norm. Well in our family Little Buddy likes to "think out side the box" so to speak.

I found his rendition of unrolling the toilet paper in the toilet of our upstairs bathroom one night when he was sick and cough so bad he was puking. Imagine my surprise when I found a heap of paper that practically soaked up all the water in the toilet. I was none to please, add in the fact it was midnight, yeah that made my night. I did let him know in a some what soft manner that the only toilet paper that goes in the toilet should be the stuff you already used, not a whole brand new roll.

Okay so you think that solved the problem, then you obviously don't know my boy.... Fast forward oh about a week, Buddy was a little to quiet and had disappeared from sight. Most parents know that this combination usually spells disaster. Where do I find him, in the downstairs bathroom standing before a toilet full of unrolled the toilet paper. To say the least I was perturbed. How do you explain to a 2 year old that do this sort of thing is wasteful. All I can say that was good about it was he didn't actually flush the toilet.

It hasn't stopped the unrolling of the toilet paper, sort of like the wondering around upstairs when he's suppose to be asleep or coming downstairs when he should be in bed. Now we have moved on to dumping out baby soap bottles and shampoo and the latest one is the kid's bubble bath bottle. One day I walked in on him with 2 towels in the tub and he was squeezing the soap out of the bottle I use on Bubba. When I asked him what he was doing, he innocently stated he was washing the towels. Thanks honey, but I do that in the wash machine.

I'm not quite sure where the mischief will end with him. If it ever does, and one can only hope that these sort of things will end soon. But I am sure we will visit some of these with Bubba, I can only hope not so many of them will resurface.

For your viewing Pleasure

This should help with any fixes need by the grandparents. Enjoy!!!

It's Tough to Let go

As I am picking up the 3 munchkins, our dcp (daycare provider) informed me that Little Buddy went with out his beloved binkie all day. Now just to clarify for those that don't know he only uses it at nap time and bed time other wise it is put away. Anyway, thinking this is a step in the right direction, we talked about giving it up and being a "Big Boy" Bean also helped try to drive the point home. Letting Buddy know that if he gave it up the 'Binkie Fairy' would bring him a present. The 'Binkie Fairy' obliged Bean when she threw hers away with a DVD.

So the night continues and things are going well and I figure, might as well give it a try what can we lose. Well sleep for one, but sleep is over rated right now. LOL!!

So off to bed we go and Buddy plays his game of up and down the stairs, but doesn't mention the binkie, he didn't even ask for it when I put him to bed. After a few hauls up the stairs, I reinforce the idea of a present if he makes it through the night with out the beloved binkie, he seemed excited about the idea of his reward and for a while I was feeling that this might be the night. We made it about an hour and then he broke down and started crying. But as to not discourage the moment, I told him how proud I was of him and that it was okay to have the binkie and that we would try again another day.

Duck, Duck, Goose

A simple childhood game we probably all remember. Now imagine a 4 year old trying to explain how to play the game to a 2.5 year old and the 2 of them being the only two playing. Yep, Little Squirt found it rather amusing as did I. As the 2 of them went about saying duck, duck, goose and running around their pretend circle it was a cute. The moment didn't last long, but it was fun while it lasted.

It reminds me that yes they do love each other.

Happy Friday!!

So it's been a week and I haven't updated. Really there hasn't been much to post about. Bean had 2 days of school this week and daddy said on Monday when he picked her up she talked non-stop about school. They started learning their letters. This week was Mrs. A the astronaut.

I am so happy she likes school so much!!

Little Buddy has been doing better on the sleep issues, at least he doesn't come down the stairs anymore. But some nights he doesn't go to bed until late. We hear him talking to himself and moving around upstairs. Oh well it's better than trying to keep him upstairs, plus I get what I need to get done and then can relax a bit before bed with out constantly having to haul him back upstairs to bed and getting frustrated. I would say I am pleased with the progress.

Little Squirt has been having a rough week during the day, not sure what caused it, but we are working through it. I keep telling him that if he doesn't start behaving he will have to go to daycare sooner. I know, I know he doesn't understand..... But it keeps me and things in perspective.

This weekend Daddy Dear and I are head to Minot, ND for a wedding our Best Man from our wedding is getting married. Bean and Little Buddy will stay with Grandma Sylvia and we will take Little Squirt. It's a long drive and just don't see the point in putting the older two through that drive only to make them sit for a wedding and not get much sleep. They will have lots more fun with Grandma anyway. Hope we can have some pictures to share when we come back.

Last night I finished up some cards I am doing for a card swap on a board that I am on, I am happy with how they turned out and can't wait to get to see and use the rest of the groups. See what we do is make so many of our own, and send them into the hostess of the swap and then she swap out ours for others in that particular group and sends them back. So then we have a variety to use and not have to make them all. So if you are a recipient sometime in the near future hope you like them.

I tried posting the pictures, but it didn't work. I'll post my contributions after work.

Wonders never cease...

So tonight the saga continues, Little Buddy continues to frustrate us. Coming down the stairs nightly not once, but over and over again. We've exhausted the disciplinary tactics. I am needing to install a baby gate he can't get through.

So tonight he came down 3 times, twice I hauled him up and once daddy did. There was fear in his voice when he met daddy at the stairs. Then we heard him again and I think he actually came down, but we ignored him, not really on purpose, but it happened that way. Shortly thereafter...... we heard him go upstairs. I look at my hubby and say "We've been going at this all wrong." But the night is still young. Not sure if we will revisit this one really frustrating parenting adventure or not. But lets all hope that we don't!!

And to answer the Trivia from the yesterday.... Daddy was closer to Little Squirts weight. He weighed in 16 lbs 9 ozs. and for the record measured in at 25.5 inches. He is growing in leaps and bounds.

Fun at the Fair

Last weekend, September 6-7th we went to Grandma Sylvia's to attend the County Fair in her town. We try to get up there every year and the kids always have lots of fun. Here are pictures of fun for the weekend. The ever fun Carousel!!

Little Squirt enjoying a snooze.

Riding motorcycles, at this young age.

They seem so small beside this Big "NEW" Tractor.

In a Skid steer.

And lastly they had a Blast when they got to ride the Ponies!!!

Little Squirt couldn't ride but had fun anyway.

We all can't wait to go again next year. The fair is so much fun and a great family outing.

Oh the Woes!!

Ever wonder what goes through a 2 year old head. Me too, and if you can explain the habit of our little monster that would be great. Last night being the worst of all nights since the Big Boy bed appeared. I expected a little up and down movement with his new found freedom from the cage (the crib). But honestly last night takes the cake. I can't tell you how many times I led Little Buddy back upstairs to bed, but I know it was more than 5. Finally I gave up and asked him "do you want to be a baby and sleep in a baby bed, because that is were you are headed if you don't go to bed" Much to my surprise and disapproval he said yes. So instead of arguing with him I took up him mattress and put it back in the crib.

You would think after all this and being up for almost an hour past his bed time he would finally feel exhausted and go to sleep. Nope I was upstairs 2 more times before he retired for the night. What an exhausting evening. Not only that I had the fear of falling on the stairs again like on Saturday. Luckily I didn't have any of the kids in my arms and I didn't go down many steps or break anything.

I hope tonight brings better results with the Big Boy bed. We will try again....

Our Big Boy in his Big Boy Bed

Here is our Big Boy, Little Buddy in his big boy bed. He was so excited when Daddy got home and we started to unload the parts. Both he and Bean couldn't wait to get everything upstairs and put together. They were almost a hinder to the process, but Daddy got it together and Mommy put the mattress in and the sheets on with the help of Big Sis. And as you can see she had to get in on the pictures!!











Bean was very upset when I wouldn't let her be in the pictures at bed time. I didn't think it was fair, it was Lil Buddy's new bed and his first night in it and we needed to document him in his bed.

We have another 'Big Kid' in the family.

I've finally had it with Lil Buddy. His antics at bed time are rediculus!! I am upstairs somenights more than I am sleeping. Take last night for example.... I think I was up 5 or 6 times and really for nothing.

So without much discussion Daddy brought home a Big Boy bed for the little monster. With Deigo bedding, he was excited!! Stay tuned for pictures.

Comparison Review

Okay I know as a mom you are not suppose to compare your children. But hubby and I got to thinking about the kids. So I pulled out my folder with all of their "Watch Me Grow" papers in it and this is what I found.



At Birth
Bean: 8 lbs 7 ozs
Lil Buddy: 9 lbs 6 ozs
Lil Squirt: 8 lbs (or so we guess, that's another post)


At One Month
Bean: 11 lbs 8 ozs
Lil Buddy: 11 lbs 5 ozs
Lil Squirt: 11 lbs 14 ozs (I think, lost the slip)


At Two Months
Bean: 13 lbs 8 ozs
Lil Buddy: 12 lbs 12 ozs
Lil Squirt: 14 lbs 15 ozs

It floors me that at 2 months Lil Squirt has almost doubled his weight and with my big baby at birth Lil Buddy, the Doctor was concerned about his weight at 1 year. At the rate Lil Squirt is going I am afraid we will reach 20 lbs before 6 months.

Now lets compare pictures! Pictures are as follows: Bean, Lil Buddy, Lil Squirt.

Little Squirt is by far the smallest of the bunch, makes you wonder were the nurse thought 8 lbs 10 ozs was a correct weight. When she said that to us, it ran through my mind that there was no way this child was bigger than his sister at 8.7. Oh well we will definitely have a good story for him when he gets older.

I will have to revisit this comparison as the year goes on.