Day #2 SAHM

Day 2...went to bed at 11pm last night.  I was determined to A)finish the stripes in the back foyer (did it!) and B) be up for Jodi (did it!) when he got home from basketball because he always says I'm sleeping when he gets home and he can't tell me about his amazing shots :)  So at 5:30am when Evan started whaling, I was planning to start day 1 of morning sleep training a.k.a. let him cry it out.  I should have told Jodi that plan...oops.  I'll start tomorrow.  Thanks for helping hun!

That's okay...I needed to shower (it was a hair washing/straightening/torture session day), feed and dress the kids and be out the door by 8:50am.  I decided to start W.O.W. today - Women of the Word. Here's my new book! 

 Bible study went great, the kids got some good play time with their friends and off we were, back home by 11:30am for lunch.  My biggest challenge during meal time right now is Mr.Evan likes to continuously throw his food.  The frustrating part about today is I knew he was hungry!  But he still launched pieces of cheese and ham all over the kitchen...ugh.  No matter how many times I took his plate, he still did it.  No lunch for Evan :(

Got the kids down for nap by 12:45pm, I did a 20 minute sweep of the house tidying up and then spent the last 1/2 hour beautifying myself for a commercial shoot at my church...yep, I said it!  My neighbor thankfully watched the kids for a few hours while I ran over to Spring Creek and had a really cool experience.  I'll post more details when I have some video footage to share.

Came home, played with the kids and got ready for dinner.

Dinner: Asian Porkloin w/veggies, Fried rice, Carrots

These carrots remind me of the gourmet carrots in the movie Mrs.Doubtfire.  Remember the first dinner she/he cooks to prove to Sally Field she/he can handle it?

On a side note, William is insistent on being let out like a dog.  He's such a weird cat.

While getting dinner ready, Paeton and Evan consumed themselves with our extensive collection of Mr.Potato Head supplies.  I think we have 12 large spuds, a few babies and oodles of accessories.  Here was today's creation - Paeton said, "Mom, come take a family photo"!

Are you wondering what Paeton is holding?  That's secretariat, her bouncing horse.  She REALLY likes horses right now.  4th birthday party theme?  Sounds fun!

Other highlights from today...

Mischief and Sharing

Daddy's due home in 15...talk to you tomorrow!

Day #1 SAHM

Decided to journal the first 30 days of being a Stay At Home Mom - SAHM.  Hope this doesn't get too boring!  Just want to remember when I look back 10 years from now what I did, what we ate, what life was like...

Woke up at 4:45am - why?  No clue.  I do find that whenever I have the 'chance' to sleep in, I don't/can't.  Frustrating.  Oh well.  Layed in bed till 5:30am debating the whole time if I should get up and start taping the back foyer that I was planning to stripe today.  Decided against that and just got in the shower. 

We had 4K registration for Paeton today...it technically goes all week long but I wanted to be the first there.  And I was!  My friend Karen verified that later as she asked the staff if I had come yet?! We arrived at 8am sharp with our paperwork in hand.  They had a great playspace for the kids while Jodi and I filled out a few more sheets of paper.  

After registering and taking a quick tour, we drove Jodi to work and headed over to my friend Joy's house to help with a 'space-themed' mural she's working on for her son Casey's birthday. Sneak peak - more to come. 

After Evan decided to eat some of the grey paint I had used on the moon (yup, not kidding), I decided it was time to go.  Joy called the poison control number on the back of the paint can to see what the next steps should be...all in all, we determined he'd be okay without heading to the doctor.  Just watch out for decreased breathing and excessive vomiting.  No biggie :)

Came home, napped the kids and started painting some stripes.  Couldn't wait to get started - I LOVE stripes!

First Wall Done

Before Evan woke up, Paeton made some foam snowmen as a present to daddy.  She made them out of orange foam and when I announced that snowmen are usually white, she threw a fit and crushed them before I could get a picture.  Snowmen can be orange...noted.

Evan woke up super crabby but that could have been the sticky tongue he had.  He drank of lot of fluids and then decided to hide from me.  Soon after, he was content with chalk while I cooked dinner.

Dinner: Cheeseburger Pie

Delicious

After Dinner and clean up, the kids bathed while I put folded laundry away.  I was almost done putting everything away when I heard those terrible words from Paeton.  "Mom, Evan pooped in the tub!!"  Ugh.  He did...a lot. 

So while the kids are playing right now waiting for Jodi to get home, I'm sanitizing tub toys in my kitchen sink.  I'm blaming this on the paint Evan ate this morning.

Alright, Jodi's home...time for family time. 

Breakfast Buddy

Evan is going through an 'early morning' phase.  We're lucky if he sleeps till 5:30/5:45am.  I remember Paeton going through this as well.  We let him cry for as long as we can and then one of us goes to grab him and take him downstairs.   This morning it was my turn.  I let him choose an item from the 'Breakfast Bar' - this week's choices are muffins, cereal or a cereal bar.  He chose the cereal bar - his fave.

Now we're going to start taping off the back foyer for a new paint job - stripes!

Winter Fun

Finally warm enough to go outside and enjoy the snow - the kids were so excited!  We got all our chores done early, ate lunch and went outside for some playtime before nap.

Last Day...

Last Day...getting ready for daycare.  Paeton zipped Evan's coat on her own.  He had 'pajama day' in his classroom - his favorite theme.

Last Day...making beautiful clothing at Kohl's.

Last Day...working in a cube with beautiful scenery.

Last Day...with the best co-workers I've ever had.

Last Day...eating cupcakes with daycare friends in Preschool.

Last Day...eating cupcakes with daycare friends in the Toddler room.

I know this is the right decision; it was just a really sad Last Day...

Time Flies...





I've realized recently that Evan is growing up SO fast.  I still call him my baby because he's my youngest but he's really not a baby anymore.  He loves to be right by my side doing whatever mom is doing.  He was so interested in my new pin board...well, maybe a little distracted by the printer at the time but I knew he supported my Sunday Craft Project :)

 Evan is very aware that Paeton goes to Cubbies on Wednesday nights.  We always get to spend extra time together which is nice but his favorite part of Wednesday is putting on Paeton's Cubbie vest and carrying her Cubbies bag around.

 Evan is over his highchair.  He wants to sit at the bar with his Big Sis.  So...there the highchair sits in the corner all lonely while Evan has moved on.  Maybe we should fill that highchair with someone else??

 Evan looks up to Paeton and is willing to play anything of her choice.  What a good sport he was when she chose to play fairies and few weeks ago.  He did great.

Evan also knows that he struggles to breath in the winters and that he needs the 'cow-machine' to make him feel better.  He tolerates the nebulizer and sits on the couch reading books while he takes in his medicine.  What a big boy.

Christmas with the Ulrich Family

We had a great time celebrating Christmas 2011 with the Ulrichs. Jodi's parent's hosted providing a yummy meal, lots of presents and a cozy new couch for everyone to snuggle on. The kids had a great time and were exhausted when we left. Jodi and I both agreed on our ride home from Oshkosh - we need to get all the cousins together more often in 2012.

Winter Decor

I finally have transitioned the house from 'Christmas' to 'Winter'...this is my first year doing this and I'm really happy with the results. I think I will make this a tradition. Here's a few of my favorite spots around the house right now.

I tried to handmake as much as I could; other items were thrift store buys or after-Christmas clearance buys. If you want any how-to's, leave me a comment and I'll explain.

Oh - thanks Gretchen for the new website. I enjoyed trying it out on these photos :)