A Nice Saturday

Posted on August 14, 2016 by playinghousewi

I mentioned that my Saturday began with an amazing stretch of quiet “me time”… Well, the day followed suit.

When Mark and Charlie got home, we got ready “quickly” (nothin is quick with two children and sleepy parents) and headed to a nearby city with an adorable downtown.

Our new thing: simultaneous diaper changes on the floor 💙

The plan: walk around, grab lunch, burn energy. And that we did…

When we got back to the house, we put Charlie down for a nap and Mark struggled to keep the little man happy while I went for a run.

Yes, a run.

Not an activity in my repertoire, but I did it… It’s time to get back in shape. So, I kicked off with a 3-3.5 mile run/walk (run 60 seconds, walk 90, repeat).

All in all, good day for mommy.

Anyone notice?

Posted on August 13, 2016 by playinghousewi

Hey, anyone notice the influx of blog posts? What you’re witnessing is a RARE moment of complete and utter quiet.

Mark and Charlotte are at swim class and Henry has been snoozing for two hours.

While I should be sleeping, this momma is thoroughly enjoying the morning. I made a delicious breakfast and coffee, which I enjoyed at a normal speed and have been lounging and catching up on my blog.

That’s a happy Saturday for me 💛

Mommy Daycare

Posted on August 13, 2016 by playinghousewi

Don’t make fun, but for the first time since Henry was born, I had to wrangle both kids on my own for the entire day (on Wednesday and Thursday).

Charlie came down with a super mild case of hand, foot, mouth (which honestly, we would have never known except for the fact that she happened to go to the doc that day for a checkup), so she was home from camp.

I’m not going to lie, I was super anxious. Mark’s sister is bringing us a double stroller, but at this point, I don’t have one that works for our current situation. We have a sit and stand, but it just creates issues at this point. Charlie wants to sit where Henry is sitting, throws a mini fit and jumps off the stand platform thing while we’re moving. Anyway, not something I want to deal with alone.

So anyway, I decided to face my anxieties head-on and take the kiddies on a little outing on Wednesday. I packed everyone up and we were Target-bound. Henry was running low on diapers, so it was the perfect excuse. Not to mention the fact that I have ZERO ideas as to how to put Henry (my boy who loves sleeping in silence) to sleep, while the noisy toddler is chatting up a storm… Unless we’re driving. Henry is no match for a moving car. He can’t resist a nap.

Anyway, I was SO PLEASED by our outing. I parked near a cart return and put Henry’s car seat in the shopping cart and Charlie in the seat. We were off!

Henry cried a bit, but let’s be honest, It was a Wednesday morning at Target… I wasn’t the only mom pushing a screaming baby through the aisles. Anyway, he fell asleep and Charlie and I had a blast. She was totally mesmerized.

We looked at clothes and shoes and ended with an applesauce pouch, which we save for only special occasions.

When we got in the car, Charlie said, “Momma, it’s fun!”

Despite being sick, Charlotte was an absolute angel. She was so fun to chat with and perfect in the car and at Target. When we got home, the good times continued.

She was just so incredibly sweet and helpful with Henry. It was nice… We legitimately had fun together. Not just me having fun watching her… But fun together.

Day two was another adventure! We picked up Nana in the morning to take her to the airport for a well-deserved beach vacay! Charlotte was a bit quiet, but as soon as we started pulling away from the airport, little Charlie burst into tears. “I want my Nanny!!!”

It was so sad and sweet and a little funny. Thankfully, after 5-10 minutes she got distracted by the trucks and a phone call with my sister and we moved on.

(I should also note that Charlotte keeps talking about the beach. “Nana beach” “I want beach” “momma, beach?”… The funny part is that it sounds like she’s saying bitch. Or at least beotch. My childish brain chuckles every time she says it.)

Next stop was to see my parents. We played a bit and Charlotte let us all know, “I want lunch.”

So, off to lunch we went, which was hilarious. We went to a restaurant that’s filled with ladies and thus, Charlotte discovered the magic of ladies’ lunch. She sat staring at these two women behind us, randomly saying hi despite the fact that they had not noticed her and were not listening.

After lunch, we shopped around the shopping center and her ladies’ lunch experience just went through the roof. She skipped from one display to the next exclaiming, “Ooooo what dis???”

It was another perfect morning.

Now, I’m not going to lie… Afternoon was a bit more annoying. Charlotte woke up crabby and was being a bit of a pest. AND, to make matters worse, after I finally got Henry to sleep, she woke him up by chucking my cell phone on the tile floor.

C: “Ohh, Henry wa waa”

Me: “Yes, Henry is crying because you threw my phone on the ground and woke him!”

Let’s just say, I was happy when Daddy got home that evening.

But, all in all, I think I’m somewhat more prepared for full-time mommy daycare while C is off of camp before school starts, which begins next week. I have lots of activities planned and hope to have smooth sailings.

Wish me luck!

A Sexy Saturday

Posted on August 7, 2016 by playinghousewi

Today we had friends over for challah French toast brunch (it was a blast)!

After brunch at our place, it was time to capture Henry’s poop for the doc. Unfortunately, the tiny man is still having liquid diarrhea poops.

So Saturday afternoon looked like this…

And this…

Yes, that is us catching Henry’s poop in a Tupperware and then spooning it into collection containers. Sexy, right?

After, Mark, Henry and I dropped the stool samples at the doc (while Milly stayed with C – thanks, Milly!). We then went to Whole Foods for another “date”… We had a glass of wine (that we shared) and planned to have a nice relaxing food shopping trip.

Until Henry decided his nap was over.

Cute coos quickly turned into screaming baby, and just like that, date over.

Another sexy Saturday…

Where I’m at

Posted on August 4, 2016 by playinghousewi

So, we’re two months into life with our sweet Henry and life with two kiddies 2 & under. Things have been amazing and hard and tiring and beautiful and full of love and full of stress.

I feel like I’ve gotten into such a good rhythm with Henry. He’s pretty easy to anticipate (not that it makes him easy, but definitely predictable) and generally speaking, a very good and easy going little dude. He’s pretty consistent in terms of schedule, too. All good things. The best is that he just loves to smile and coo and just be such a chill little man who I absolutely adore.

Charlotte has really been coming into her role as big sister and just seeming much happier and more confident these days. She loves to help with Henry and is back to showering him with kisses. We’ve been spending a lot of time together and she’s just a very special little love.

On our way to school in the morning, Henry tends to cry for the first half until he falls asleep. Charlotte will sing to him (typically her songs are, “Henry, Henry, Henry, Henry” or “balls, balls, ball, ball”) or she’ll simply “hush” him. Sometimes if he’s going for volume and getting a bit relentless, she just gets frustrated and whines, “I want Henry hush.” Me, too. Me, too.

But really, we have such a good routine down and seeing the two of them interact makes me so happy. When Henry isn’t screaming his face off, our car rides are actually quite enjoyable.

However, and here’s the other shoe, I’m exhausted. Like, deliriously tired. Henry’s night sleep is nothing like Charlotte’s (who slept through the night at 5.5 weeks). He sleeps 4-6 hours, but goes to bed at 8:30 (and stupid mommy has been going to bed closer to 11). After his long stretch, he’ll sleep anywhere from 1-3 hours and sometimes demands sleeping on me. While I love his cuddles, sleeping in an upright position with a baby on top of me just isn’t restful. I know these are all normal mom probs, but that doesn’t make me any less tired.

Add to it the fact that I feel like I’m constantly running to pick up or drop off C, hustling to make dinner before C wakes from her nap, and trying to keep the house in slightly functioning order… I’m just tired.

On top of all the normal “mom stuff,” my kitty is dying. I know I’ve made comments and harsh jokes about not wanting my pets, but that doesn’t make this any easier or any less sad. Oliver was my first pet. He was a total companion through some of the rougher, lonelier years of my life and is just a great cat (when he’s not peeing somewhere he shouldn’t). He greets me at the door, sleeps with me, stares at me from across the room, smacks Toby when he deserves it (or when we need a good laugh), always notices (the smell) when I get my hair done or eyebrows waxed, waits outside the door for me when I go to the bathroom, sticks his little paw under the closed door if he’s on the other side, and just plain loves his momma.

Our sick kitty.

I’ve never had to say goodbye to a pet and tonight, we’re saying goodbye to Oliver. My father in law (a vet) is going to put Ollie down for us tonight. My husband texted me and asked me if I was ready. It’s a weird question. The only thing I think I’m sure of is that our sweet kitty is ready. He’s skin and bones, not eating or drinking, barely leaves his new spot under the couch unless it’s to throw up or pee on the floor somewhere (which he hasn’t even done for a few days now). He’s just not doing well.

It’s been a lot. Life is a lot right now. I’m trying to stay in the minute and enjoy my adorable little babies and ignore the exhaustion and the stress and the overwhelmed feelings that are looming. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Our Weekend in Diaper Changes

Posted on August 3, 2016 by playinghousewi

Yesterday was Henry’s first day in so many without a blow out poop! Yes, this boy has soiled outfit upon outfit and led me to start defining our weekends by the strange places we’ve been forced to change his diaper.

Here we are at the “Taste of Lake Country,” changing Henry’s diaper in the one patch of shady grass… Found in a public parking lot.

We also had a little fun before the poopsplosion.

And here we are changing Henry’s diaper in the trunk while parked at the Brewers baseball game…

Fun was also had at the game (yes, we survived taking two babes to a baseball game). Charlotte once again proved to LOVE baseball games. She was dancing and loving every minute!

Baby Selfies

Posted on July 26, 2016 by playinghousewi

When I was pregnant with Henry, I wasn’t sure I would have that severe obsession with Baby #2 like I did/do with C. How would my heart handle that?

Well, no worries… I’m obsessed. He’s the cutest little love and I just can’t even handle it. So much love and sweetness in my world! I’m a lucky gal.

Oooey gooey rant over. Now, some pics of Henry and I playing today…

Look! Both kids napping at the same time again!

Successful Day!

Posted on July 26, 2016 by playinghousewi

Yesterday felt like a pretty successful day. After taking Charlotte to school late (oops), Henry and I stopped at our favorite coffee joint for an iced almond milk latte. Cutie pie was alert and adorable. We cooed as we waited for our caffeine.

After coffee, we stopped at the office. We like to go in 1-3 times per week in between dropping Charlie at school and picking her up at 12:30. (I also try to go in for a longer day on the days Mark’s momma picks C up from school.)

The plan was to go in for a short amount of time, drop Toby there, and go grocery shopping. Well, Henry’s refusal to nap kept me there until it was time to pick up C, so no grocery store.

But, on the positive side of things, Henry was able to get some good cuddle time with Grandma and some laughs with Grandpa.

Okay so I dropped C at school late and didn’t go to the grocery store… No successes there. And now that I think about it, when we all got home after picking C up from school, there was a decent amount of kitty vomit to clean.

But anyway, C went down for her nap and after I scarfed down some lunch, I swaddled Henry and put him down for his nap.

Here’s a success… Both kids napped simultaneously in their respective beds for 45 minutes!! Just enough time for me to cook dinner (my new survival habit is cooking dinner at 230/3ish during naps and reheating it when it’s time for dinner at 530).

During this time, I also checked my email and realized that the committee I volunteer for was meeting tonight. Since I had pumped for the first time over the weekend, I figured it’d be a great time to test out giving Henry a bottle and giving me a little freedom.

Thankfully, Mark’s day worked perfectly to sneak home by 415 and allow us to eat together and for me to feed Henry as much as possible before leaving.

I also had good playtime with the kiddies and got to watch Mark teach Charlie to change batteries and use a screw driver (damn battery-eating swing!).

Then, I was off to my meeting! I spent about 3 hours away… On my own… With my music blasting… It was nice!

When I got home, Marky and I say and chatted while I swapped a ton of Henry’s 0-3m clothes that don’t fit him for 3-6m. Yes, my 7.5 weeker is a giant.

At the end of the day, I’d call that a success.

Today Was Better

Posted on July 21, 2016 by playinghousewi

I think things are improving. Don’t get me wrong, Charlotte still ran away from me in the school parking lot and had more than a couple whiney meltdowns… BUT, it really felt better.

By this afternoon, despite waking up from her nap like a total bear, we turned things around and she was a good listener and even quite sweet. She felt a lot more like my girl today.

Progress…

And as for my Henry, who I feel like I never get to write about because I’m too distracted, he’s just the sweetest little love. We have such a great routine together and I feel like I know his cries and his patterns. He feels super easy to predict and handle (baby #2 is SO much easier – like a different species). Not to mention the fact that he’s totally just my little love. He’s so smiley and just loves his mommy and is the cutest most kissable little dude (even though his head smells like cradle cap).

Today after we dropped C at school, we went on a quick shopping trip to Old Navy and Nordstrom Rack. Henry was trying to beef up my confidence, and in doing so showed me that I can in fact push a stroller, shop and breastfeed my 12+ lb baby simultaneously. The ultimate multitask.

Look how cute he was helping me pick out clothes in the dressing room…

Apparently he did not approve of whatever I had tried on.

Once we picked C up and put her down for her nap, Henry decided we would spend the remainder of the afternoon snuggling. He wouldn’t have it any other way!

In conclusion, I got a great little tote from Old Navy and really enjoyed my babies today. Big win.

Charlie’s First Talent Show

Posted on July 21, 2016 by playinghousewi

Charlotte had a talent show at school on Monday and lucky for her, her asshole parents signed her up to play the nose harmonica and ukulele.

If you’re not familiar with my daughter’s adorable talent, here it is:

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this, butCharlotte is really timid in new situations. Let’s just say that the talent show was no different.

Charlotte’s name was called and Mark carried Charlotte to the stage. She then proceeded to sit and stare at the audience as they sang twinkle twinkle little star (which was supposed to be accompanied by her ukulele and harmonica playing).