Baby in a Jump Swing

The Tater has this thing.

 

Where he doesn't think he should be put down on his back.

 

Like EVER.

 

And, even if you are holding him and stay in one position for too long, he screams his head off.

 

He, just like his sister, apparently thinks he need to be a part of anything and everything that's going on at any given time.

 

Having such nosy kids is hell.

 

Anyway, I thought the little jump jump swing would be the answer to all my problems and it kind of is.  Except for the fact that he's still just a little too uncontrolled in the head department to make a really good go of it.

 

The bad news is that he'll reach the weight limit before he actually gains control of his head.

 

Elsa Strikes Again

 

That's the one thing about being a mother to a 3-year-old.  You never know what they'll come up with next.  I love that she uses flour for magic snow.

Magic Flour

I know, we're way behind on the whole Frozen thing.

 

But, as I was cleaning out the cubby under the stairs, I heard a racket out on the patio.

 

This is what I found (that's flour in the cup):

 

 

Two Months - No Poo

We're up to two months of no shampoo.

 

This post has all of the links to what I'm doing, how I'm doing it, and why I'm going "no poo".

 

I'm kind of thrilled with myself.

 

In case you couldn't tell.

 

This picture was taken after nine days of not washing at all - even with the baking soda mixture (of course, I've only been to the gym twice in that amount of time [which is another issue all together], so that might be why it hasn't gotten greasy).

 

I wanted to try to see how long I could go before I got greasy - even on day nine, it's only a little greasy at the roots.  I could probably let it go one more day, but I don't think I will.

 

PS Do you know how awkward it is to take a selfie of the side of your head?

 

Here are a few more things I've learned:

 

1.  My hair was still getting a little frizzy with all the humidity in the southeast Texas air.  After reading up on it and trying several things (including coconut oil and jojoba oil, which just made me really, really greasy), I decided to go with a sulfate free commercial conditioner.  I've been a HUGE fan of the Deva Curl hair care line since using this.  I have also been using the gel for after shower styling.  I use the conditioner two times weekly and the gel daily to curb the frizz.

 

2.  The post-pregnancy hair shedding is in full force.  Over the past month, I've returned to my pre-pregnancy hair and am having to re-learn how to care for it.  The thickness and texture are completely different than a month ago (maybe this is why it's so frizzy??).  Also, some of the pieces that had become curly have straightened out again (like the ones right by my ears).

 

3.  I've stayed with the same baking soda and acv recipes I used in the first post.  I've also done an aloe vera rinse and loved it (buy the edible kind.  They have it at health food stores and locally at HEB in the health food section).  Just pour a cup of it over your head, massage into your hair, leave for a few minutes, and rinse out.  This is for an itchy/dry scalp.

 

4.  My next step is to learn how to keep my own hands out of my hair.  I found that I'm constantly touching my hair/running my fingers through it/twisting it around my fingers.  It's a nervous habit I didn't know I had.



Happy 36th

husband's birthday was saturday.

 

he's officially on the back side of 30.

 

this is what carolyn chose to gift him for his birthday:

it's the biggest umbrella i've ever seen.  beach, here we come!

 

does anyone else crack up a tate's face in this picture?  He's such a chub!



Tea Party

we spend a lot of time a our local chick-fil-a.

 

like a looooooooot of time.

 

the weather has been so unpredictable and the park by our house is all ripped up, so it's become our go-to if we're leaving the house to play.

 

every once-in-a-while, they have events where you get free food.

 

i basically live for free food.

 

the latest was a mother/daughter princess tea party this past saturday.

 

of course, we don't follow the rules - we snuck Husband and tate in as well.

 

the cow was in attendance:

 



and apparently even princesses wear rain boots with their best dress:

 





The Tater is Four Months Old

Today was The Tater's four month check up.

I don't know if you know this, but he's kind of giant.

Here are the stats:

Weight:  18.25 pounds
Height:  26.75 inches

The doctor said, "I bet you don't even want to know his percentages!"

And I was all like, "Um, yeah, I do.  I'm proud of my lactical abilities."

 Lactical is a word right?  Like my ability to lactate sufficiently for my baby's needs?  I mean, if "bestie" and "selfie" are words in he dictionary, lactical certainly can be.

and, pictures of the other one, too...

Baby in a Frog Hat

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

now. 

 

we all know the entire story about how i consider myself an expert on the irish.  because i totally have a friend who's irish.  like real irish, not like from irish heritage.

 

incidentally, my real irish friend just had a real irish baby who they've named a real irish name that i keep trying to pronounce and coincidentally, keep failing at.

 

they chose not to name the baby erin, which is just ridiculous, because really, what's more irish than erin?

 

nothing.

 

anyway.  i love st. patrick's day.  because of erin go braugh.

 

and also because i know to never ask a irishman for directions, to never compliment anyone who is not irish on their irish accent (i'm talking to you, brad pitt and gerard butler!  grainne says your accents are "shit"), and i know the meaning and proper usage of the word "craic" and intend to use it in my purely american conversations and always forget until it's too late.

 

and also because i know the difference between a shamrock and a clover.

 

 "you'll want to be asking for a shamrock, a clover is nothing but a weed."

 

after explaining st. patrick's day to carolyn...she started running around the house yelling, "happy sex patrick's day!"  awesome.  ps this is her new smile whenever the camera comes out.  i can't for the life of me get a natural smile.

and this has nothing to do with st. patty's day, but it is a pretty flower.

 



From the Phone

 

Firetruck

the firetruck came for library story time today.

 

carolyn was beyond thrilled.

 

this is our favorite story time of the year!



And Just in Case You Were Wondering...

as if there were any doubt, our children are definitely siblings.

 

apparently we only make one kind of baby.

 



Tummy Time

tater hates tummy time.

 

i mean, are there really kids out there who don't scream through it?

 

or is it just my kids?

 

we haven't been very diligent about tummy time to begin with - i'm scared to death tate's loving older sister is going to trample him, so i rarely lay him on the floor.

 

 

but, even when i have done it, tate is too busy wiping his face back and forth across the floor and crying like he's heartbroken to actually even try to keep his head lifted up (and forget about rolling over).

 

but, the past two days, we've gotten a good five minutes in before the scream-fest ensues:

 



Sixteen Years

 

 

you know, it's funny.  it's been sixteen years and yet i still see you as an 18-year-old.  i almost still see myself as a 19-year-old.  i wonder, if you were still here, what you would have become.  where you would live.  even the car you would drive.  would we talk to one another on the phone even though no one in our family talks on the phone?  would we visit one another?  would we see what one another would pin on pinterest and think, "what is she thinking?!" would our children be friends? would you zumba?  the answer to that last question is definitely no.  i don't know why i even asked.

 

i miss you.  

On Facebook

After a week away, Husband is home! The Kid wasted no time assuring him that she is still his sweetheart, not mine. He bribed her with superballs from The Bank of America store. They light up when they bounce.


The Kid was singing Christmas songs this morning:

The Kid: Two fish know when it is Christmas...
Me: Naw, dude, it's "we wish you a Merry Christmas...."
The Kid: Oh, c'mon, mama.


TV Announcer: There have ben some really great halftime shows in the history of the Super Bowl, but Bruno Mars was one of the best.
Husband: I don't know, I liked Janet Jackson.


Today is National Letter of Intent Day. I'm pretty sure we're the only household in America that knows this - beside those players who are signing and the coaches who are receiving the letters. Husband has given me instructions that I am to call him with updates throughout the day to see who "we" (meaning Texas A&M) signed. Texas A&M should hire him as a recruiting expert.

Husband put Woody Woodpecker on Netflix for The Kid. I snicker every time she runs through the living room yelling, "I got Woody Pecker, I got Woody Pecker!" Because apparently, I'll never be mentally mature enough to act like an adult...

 

 

The Kid: Do you think we can buy Grandpa Paul back from Heaven?
Me: I don't think that's how it works, dude.
The Kid: Heavenly Father would give him to us if we had some dollars.

 

 

The Kid was sitting on a bench at Wal-Mart when two little Mexican kids sat next to her. She spoke English to them, they replied in Spanish. The Kid, "Why don't you talk right?"

Good thing we're raising a politically correct, culturally sensitive kid.

 

 

The Kid is working on her independence and she's proven she's ready to go to college by heating up her own hot dogs. Today, she walked up to me holding one and said, "Well. Got me some lunch."

 

 

After discussing what to have for dinner:

The Kid: But I don't like to eat fish, just catch it!
Me: When was the last time you went fishing?
The Kid: Oh, I haven't been fishing in ever so long!
Me: Ever so long? What kind of shows have you been watching?!
The Kid: Your show. The one with the big, yellow dog.
Me: Are you talking about Downton Abbey?
The Kid: Yeah. That's the one.

 

 

Absolute best part of the day = walking into the mother's lounge at church to find that someone had snuck in there and written the lyrics to Bruno Mars song, Just the Way You Are on the blackboard. Except, instead of writing "hair", they'd written "hare". I laughed and laughed.

 

 

Trying to convince The Kid that it's rude to demand gifts from every person she sees. It's not going well.

 

 

The Kid: What are you getting me for Balentime's, mamma?
Me: Uhhh...I hadn't really thought about it.
The Kid: Well, you should think about it. I'm very important.

 

 

Why is everyone in this house so against me sleeping? For. The. Love.

 

 

At the age of 35, I've decided I'm going to be an.Olympian. The event in which I'd be competing has been narrowed down to speed skating or curling. I'm pretty sure with minimal work, I could get speed skater thighs, but there's much less chance of getting a skate blade to the face in curling, so....

 

 

Bought Husband some smoked almonds for a snack. The Kid says, "These bacon walnuts are so delicious! "

 

 

The Kid: I got so many valentines! Why?
Me: Well, you can have a lot of valentines, but only one sweetheart.
The Kid: I want you to be my sweetheart.
Me: Thanks, baby!
The Kid: Yeah, you're my sweetheart until daddy comes home.

 

 

It is 58 degrees outside and The Kid is currently outside almost completely naked, playing in the hose. When I asked her what she's doing she said, "Well, I'm making compost for the birds to have for dinner."

 

 

The Kid: Why are you so exhausted, mama?
Me: Because my head hurt so bad last night I couldn't sleep.
The Kid: Are you lacking symmetry?
Me: Did you just say symmetry??
The Kid: Sometimes if you lack symmetry your blood pressure is high.
Me: Say what? Where did you learn all of this?
The Kid: In California.

 

 

I think Husband has a secret love of women's curling. This is the third time this week he's fallen asleep with the remote in his hand while watching it.

 

 

The Kid while watching Sweden vs. USA curling match, speaking of the curling stones, "I don't think they have enough of those little vacuums."

 

 

The Kid: Did Willy Wonka put the candy in that pinata?
Me: Yup.
The Kid: I hope he didn't put in any of that weird gum because I would appreciate not turning into a blueberry.

 

 

It has just now been brought to my attention that Boy George and George Michael are not the same person. I thought one was the other's alter ego.

 

 

Husband purchased Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for The Kid last night (after two weeks of her watching Violet Beauregarde turn into a blueberry OVER and OVER on You Tube). We have to keep our eyes on her while she's watching - she keeps trying to slap Slugworth.

 

 

Sometimes I have to stop by Sam's Western Store just to huff the smell of rope, leather, and alfalfa. Makes me homesick and happy at the same time.

 

 

The Kid: Mama, when we get a house with a yard, we can go to PetSmart and get a dog and a cat. Wouldn't that be something?

 

 

The Kid: Your hair is falling out because you're old?
Me: No, everyone's hair falls out. But, it grows back.
The Kid: When my hair falls out I hope it grows back pink. So I can be fantastic.

 

 

We've owned Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for 36 hours. It has already been played six times in it's entirety. The Kid is quite worried about Augustus Gloop and his short shorts. However, she can't remember his name, so she refers to him as "the boy who eats like a piggy".

 

 

Me: Dude, put on your undies.
The Kid: Why? Where are we going?
Me: We don't have to be going somewhere for you to put on undies.
The Kid: If I put on undies, let's go somewhere nice. Maybe Whataburger.

 

 

The Kid: Who lives there?
Me: I don't know who lives there, dude.
The Kid: That looks like old Willy Wonka's place.

 

 

I have this dream where I put together beautiful, nutritious, and fabulous meals on a nightly basis and serve them on gorgeous plates at a real dinner table. Real life = a modge podge of chicken nuggets, fries, and corn bread (because that's what sounded good) served on a single chipped plate in the middle of the living room floor and having to fight my 3-year-old for use of the ketchup.

 

 

New favorite Olympian = Mr Flisar of Slovenia. Because can you really get more awesome than a handle bar mustache? I submit that you cannot.

 

 

Biggest treat of the evening: at 11pm, just as I'm finally drifting off to sleep, Husband stops mid-snore and starts belting out The Candy Man Can from Charlie and the Chocolate factory. He claims to have no recollection of it this morning.

 

 

The Kid literally talks almost non-stop. So yesterday, this:

Husband: Hey, let's play the quiet game.
The Kid: What's that?
Husband: It's where everyone is quiet. One, two, three, GO!
The Kid: Well, I've never been quiet before.

 

 

Me: What'd you learn about in class today?
The Kid: The Holy Ghost.
Me: What does the Holy Ghost do?
The Kid: Well, he helps you feel comfortable at Chuck E. Cheese when you're eating pizza and helps you remember the recipe so we can make candy. And when you're backing the car out, be careful not to smash him because he's right behind us.

 

 

The Kid just had her first Ferrero Rocher. Her response, "I didn't know they made Nutella candy! Excellent! What a great idea!"

 

 

Sometimes Husband likes to play hard-to-get when sugaring me and The Kid. The other day as he was doing so, The Kid starts yelling, "Mug him down, mama, mug him down!"

 

 

The Kid: Mama, you forgot to turn on my favorite shows! You dropped the ball on that one, man.

 

 

The Kid: I hope that tomorrow I will have teeth that look like rainbows.

 

 

Words we don't use at our house because they're "not nice": stupid, weird, hate, and sucks. The only person who gets in trouble for using said words? Me. Nothing like being scolded by a 3-year-old.

 

 

The Kid (crying): I got an owie! Quick! Put your boob on it!
Me: My boob??
The Kid: That's what you do when Tater cries!
Me: Ummmm....

 

 

New dream: to become a giant dancing cookie in Sesame Street Live.

 

 

The Kid: Ewww! What is that smell?
Me: Broccoli.
The Kid: I'm gonna need you to take that outside. The smell is getting all over in my nose.