A toddler at play......

One of my favorite things to do it watch my little man play. There is nothing more precious then watching a little tyke run around and play and the things they come up with. Let me tell you.

Most recently Pickle has started running laps. Not just a typical run, this kid is out to win the toddler Olympics. He runs from our back sliding glass door to the kitchen around the island and back again. He does this for a good solid hour or so. Stopping only for the occasional distraction.

I watch as the smile plays upon his face, it tears at my heart strings a bit, because I know that he will only play like this for so long, then it will be about sports, video games, and big boy toys. He will grow up so fast on me and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I wish I could keep him small forever, but then I wouldn't have more wonderful things to look forward to.

Some of my favorite pictures from this past weekend. Little Man has falling in love with M's childhood friend, Smokin Joe Panda. Ugly as sin, but Daddy and son seem to love him. Little Man has also started to have a I-Pad addiction. We have now started to have some Big Boy rules, about how much time he gets on it and the television. Lately he only stays still with the I-Pad. it seems that is the only time I can get pictures of him.

Preschool

Since M and I are unable to afford preschool for our little man we decided that it would be in our best option to start homeschooling him.

Is anyone homeschooling their Little ones? I could use some guidance. We have looked through many online sites for information and guidance. I just can't seem to come up with how to write a lesson plan. I found a few good templates and they are helpful so far. Wish me luck I think I will need it.

Pickle will also be evaluated by Early Children's services for their preschool. It is a special school that we have in our area where Pickle would go three times a week for a half of day. They work with kids who have special needs in areas such as speech. We are hoping that he will qualify for this program since he still struggles with his speech. Our therapists are great. They come once a week and have done wonders for him, but he is starting to leave them for a loss as much as he does us. For instance he knows the word for milk and the sign for milk, but when he wants milk he will NOT use it for any reason. It is very hard on the poor boy.

Hopefully it all works out in the end. Wish us luck!

Potty Training Part 2,154,457

Why is potty training so hard? I know that he is ready. I know that he has been ready for awhile, but I feel as if he is being lazy about it. Is that bad to say? If it is sorry, but I just don't know any more.

He knows when he goes. He tells me all the time. Even if he has a diaper on. He just doesn't tell me before he goes. I just don't know what to do. I have tried everything I can find.

Things we tried:
- 3 day potty training method - Major fail on our part
- 1 day potty training method - He just didn't care about it
- direct to underpants - Major fail for my carpet
- Training pants - Just like a diaper to him
- setting the timer for every 30 mins - Just plain old annoying for adults to deal with, and I am sure my little man didn't like it either
- Cloth diapers with out the inserts - Just like a combo of the diaper + underpants. He can feel it and know he did it, but my carpet is much happier for it.

I am at a loss!

*** Now I know there are many of you out there reading this, I need you to comment and tell me what the hell to do!!!!  I just don't know what to do. He is ready and I am ready, but he just won't tell me.

HELPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please!

Where has the time gone......

I sit here thinking to my self it feels like just yesterday I was returning to work from my maternity leave. Now I have a full blown little boy. He seemed to change overnight. He is now into the deep terrible twos. Last night I couldn't even eat dinner, he was so bad. I just don't know what to do with this kid some days.

I have noticed a few things. He was on electronics lock down for about week. He was a great kid. No problems. We Finally lifted the lock down and the kid turned into a demon child again. I think the no electronics is going to stay for awhile longer. It seems to cause the 2 year old to come out in full force. I can honestly say that the hardest part of the lock down is for M and I. We live for our phones.

Another think that seems to make things worst is the lack of sleep, which I am sure is common for any kid. With the night terrors we can't seem to catch a break. He ends up waking up and being up for quite a few hours, which cause him to get a bad nights sleep, and us to get a bad nights sleep. The combination of the two is lethal.

We have also decided to give potty training another go this weekend. We have a nice long weekend at home planned. So Hopefully It will work out. Cross your fingers.  Pickle shows some signs that he is ready and some signs that he is not. We are going to give the three day potty training method ago. I bought the book and read it! I truly wish there was someone out there who would potty train my kid for me. It would make things a lot easier. I am not looking forward to it.

If anyone has any tips or suggestions please let me know. I can use all the help I can get. As a first time mom I am leaning on anyone I can for support.

Vacation

Vacation, yes you read that correctly. But more importantly what does that mean. Is she saying that she went on a great vacation and we are going to read about all the fabulous things she did, or does it mean they are going on a great vacation and we get to read all about the fabulous things she is going to do?

You are wrong!!!! So very wrong. I need a vacation, I want a vacation, I will have a vacation. Our vacation will be spent sitting on the surgical waiting room. That is right ladies and gents, I get to spend my vacation time waiting on M hand and foot, while he recovers from surgery. The official word came down a few weeks ago, and he will meet with the surgeon at the end of the month. They are going to take out his spinal cord stimulator and clear out some scar tissue. There is also talk of doing a fusion. We will know more after his appointment.  Please keep him in your prayers.

So no vacation for me. I am concerned with our daycare situation. His recovery time is normally 6-8 weeks. If we plan this right I can get about 3 weeks of coverage from friends and family, but after that I am not sure. Wish me luck, we can not afford to put little man in a daycare so this should be interesting.

Happy M Day!

I have told M numerous times that he should get on here and introduce himself. Since we haven’t had an appearance yet, I thought I would fill you in the love of my life our big M. I can’t say enough great things about this man. He is our family comedian, the love of my life, the best dad you will ever see, and fiercely loyal.

When I say my husband is the best comedian you will ever meet, I am so serious. He is the comedy nexus in our home. He can turn anything funny. I must warn you though; his since of humor is twisted and sometimes dark. That being said once he knows you he will make you laugh at things you never thought could be funny. We have been telling him for years to do standup, but the poor guy is crazy shy.

Along with his sharp whit, is his sharp mind. He is a genius. I am taking a super smart; we could get him a cape with a big G on it, that is how smart he is. He can remember just about any crazy fact that you ask him (but yet somehow he forgets the grocery list). He is a wealth of knowledge. Comes in handy more often then you think it could. 

I have already gone into the story of us, and how we came to be so I won’t make you sit through that all over again, but I will say I knew I loved him from the start. Being so young when we met, I didn’t recognize it, but I love him with all my heart and I have for so long. This man will fight to the death to protect me. He is always willing to help others when he can. He is the one person who can calm me down, I feel safe in his arms, and love him like no other.

M lives each day at home. Working outside of the home is not an option since his accident. That doesn’t mean M doesn’t work. He is a stay at home Daddy, and the best Daddy I have ever seen. He loves Pickle with the same passion and fieriness that he loves me. You have never seen such a happy little boy. They spend their day making crazy faces, telling stories, playing video games together, and cleaning house. I will be honest he is not the best housekeeper, but he is my housekeeper and I love him for it. He does so much during the day, it makes it so much easier when I go home. I am able to rest and play with my little man after a long day at work.

I hope that you were able to get a good insight to who M is from here. I know I have gone on and on and on. He is a great Man. There are no words to really say what a wonderful person he is. I hope that you see how great he is too.

Happy 2nd Birthday Pickle!!!

I want to say a very Happy Birthday to my Pickle!!!! We had his party on Sunday and Monday was the big day.

Sunday was his birthday party. Nothing big, just family and 2 very close friends. Needless to say we have a large family. We had a Yo Gabba Gabba Themed Party and I think it turned out really well. The poor boy did not sleep the entire day. Needless to say the poor guy was beat by the end of the day and so were we.

Happy Birthday Banner Out side the in-laws house

We took all of his gabba things from his bedroom and use them to help add some life to the theme.



The wall banner that we put up. I am saving this & putting it in his play room!



We Couldn't get a Gabba Cake anywhere so we got his Elmo, the next best thing for him.

Little Cake for the little man

Holding him back from taking the candles off

He loved loved everyone singing to him.

Blowing out the candles

Eating his cake

He wouldn't eat the cake until we got him a spoon!

Monday was his actually birthday, We had our 2 year baby well check appointment. He just got his flu shot. He is 34lbs and 36 inches tall. He is a big boy. After his appointment, We had breakfast with my Mother and a trip to Ikea. After the fun of shopping at Ikea we went home and just relaxed. I think we all needed some downtime. It was great weekend.

House Logged

I think we are all getting a little stir crazy around here. The heat here has been insane the last few weeks. We live in a rural area out side of Phoenix, AZ, and in the summer we are looking at temps that are 115+, and lately we have been getting there. The worst part about the heat is the humidity that we have had lately. It is relentless.

Typically in the summer you stay in side, the only time you go out side is if you have to, and if you are lucky enough to have a pool. Because of this we are going crazy in the house! I am lucky enough to get out to go to work, but my poor child and husband are not as lucky. They have made a few trips to both Grandma's homes for some swimming, and out to a store here and there, but that is it. We are a one car household, and because we live in a rural area there is nothing around in a short walking distance (and short is all you can do before you die of heat stroke). I decided this week that we all need to get out of dodge!!

Due to constraints on our budget we are staying in town, but we have a full weekend planned, we are going to have Pickle's 2 year pictures done one day, Swimming at Grandmas another day, and The final part of the puzzle is a day at Chuckie Cheese (the thought of the germs alone are already killing me, but you do what you got to do and can afford). I think our little man is going to have a great weekend and I am so excited for it.

I hope everyone enjoys labor day weekend!

The best toy around!

A daily thing at our home, Cryons, and ABC Worksheets.

Lets Talk about us...

You have heard about our recent ups and downs, What you haven't heard about is the story of who we are, and how we came to be. Hop on you time machine and go back 14 years to the story of us.

M and I met while we were both in high school. We met while at work at a local Micky D's. I was a manager at the time and M was crew member. He was a junior and I was a senior. I can honestly say that M was incredibly annoying. He was a pain in my butt. I don't how else to say it. I could not stand the man. He will to this day say the same thing about me. It took about a year for us to tolerate one another. One night while working late and closing the restaurant down, there was a few of us on the drive thru head sets just talking about nothing, this got M and I talking. That night he got my phone number. Don't get me wrong it took a while for us to get to the actual concept of a date, but one day I just kissed him. I knew it just had to be done. We have had our ups and downs, but no matter what we were best friends first, and we remain that way to this day.

Fast forward… We graduated high school, we started college and working life….. M was on his way to work one day, and was rear-ended on the freeway. He was hit by 4 different cars. This caused some major issues in his back. He has suffered numerous surgeries, procedures and a implant to try and help him live his life. He has severe issues with daily pain and use of legs. This accident changed both of our lives impermeability and forever, but we made it through, and that is all anyone can ask for. M will never be out of pain again, and will have monthly doctor's appointments, and yearly surgeries for the rest of his life, but he has a life and for that I am grateful.

Fast forward again… More surgeries, more doctors and a few years… We decided it was time to move forward with our lives and get married (so maybe it was not a decision more like the solution to some crazy argument). On April 1st of 2006 we were married. We had a small wedding, but a great time. This is also the time we finally moved out of our parents homes and move in together (we moved about 2 months before the big day). I have some of the best memories from those days. We didn't have a couch or table or chairs the first week or so, we had dinner on blankets spread on the floor while watching TV., we lived each day like any other, work, home, work, home, doctor, work, home, it was a nice routine and some carefree times.
After about a year of marriage we thought about starting a family. After a year of trying we had no luck, and I paid a visit to my doctor. We discovered my PCOS. We tried for a few months on clomid and still no luck, we decided it was time to go see a specialist (during all this time we were looking to purchase a home, found one, bought it and moved). After meeting with the specialist we decided to proceed with IUI's, and inject able medications. After 6 IUI attempts on our final attempt we got our little man. I don't think you would of ever say two people so excited. It took us over two years and all of our savings, but it was so worth it.

Our pregnancy was plagued from the start. I suffered from Over stimulated Ovaries (from all the fertility drugs), and was in a lot of pain for a few weeks. Once we got past that the bleeding started. Small amounts at first, and we were assured that our little pickle (yes that is what we called him in-utero) was okay. Then was day it was like dam broke, and we rushed back the hospital. At this time they discovered a complete placenta previa, and I was put on strict bed rest (only allowed up for the rest room & a Shower). The bleeding continued and a few more hospital trips, During this time they discovered the previa corrected itself and could not find the source of the bleeding. As the pregnancy progressed I ended up in pre-term labor and would be admitted again, and sent home again, the bleeding or contractions would start again and the process was the same. Around month seven they then discovered not only did my placenta move slightly again over my cervix, but I also have a vasa-previa, making this process even more complicated. It was finally decided to put me out of my Misery (Yes, I was a terrible patient. I suffer from a lot of anxiety and could not handle all of this, I was irrational, irresponsible and selfish. If I could go back and change my behavior I would). Pickle was born in perfect health at 36 weeks to the day. lbs. 7oz, and 19 inches long. It was a great day.

Fast forward…. Little man growing up… this is where this blog picks up. Our little man will be 2 in September, and is a great kid. He suffers from some pretty bad reflux, and his speech is a little slow for his age, but he is a great great kid. Always happy and smiling.

Since you were kind enough to read all of this, I will reward you with some pictures of or lives.. I hope you enjoy and comment!!!!!

So long ago, M's Senior Prom



April 1st 2006



You can't tell, but I am 2 weeks Prego at the time!! And not that is not my beer, it is M's!





Fresh out of the oven 2010



All Clean




Going home for the first time.



6 months old




with our first kid Daisy Mae





So cute







Too much jumping













First time swiming





little Crawler





baby's second Christmas







At phoenix childrens for testing on his tummy





Easter Sunday 2012



I love this one



When did Pickle become a big kid? It seems like overnight he is starting to lose the toddler and becoming a little boy. When did this happen?
Monday to Friday I am out of the house for work from 6am to 6pm, Every so often M shares a picture or two. Here is today's:
M went out to our back yard for a few minutes and left Pickle in the living room watching cartoons for a bit (you can yell at me later for letting my kid watch too much TV). He came in from out back and found this:

When did he get so big?