11 months!

My little man is 11 months old today. As I've said every month this year, "WHAT! Where did the time go??" I can hardly believe that I need to be planning his birthday bash. I'm already feeling guilty because for Olivia's 1 year birthday we had a big party with everyone in the family...I just am not up to that big celebration again. So we will improvise: 2 parties. One small party on his actual birthday, most likely with my family. A second the weekend following up at Mucka & Papa's with Ryan's side of the family. The second will be a joint party for Aidan & Raegan--her birthday is Jan. 5 (9 this year!).

I haven't updated on this, but Aidan weaned himself a few weeks ago now. So different from Olivia!! He just decided he was done one day! I had wanted to nurse him until at least 1 year (Olivia was 13 mos. and I had to wean her because we were going on vacation), but he had a different idea in mind! So we are all formula...I'm still trying to figure out this full-time bottle thing...

Sleeping? Well, maybe someday... I keep holding out hope that tonight will be the night... but it never is. Heck, I'd just take waking up just once a night! We're still on 2-3 times a night. Blah. I'm living in a constant state of overtiredness. Someday... I have a plan that we'll implement after surgery and Christmas, but for now, I will continue to be tired.

He is just the sweetest little bugger you ever did see. He's a little cuddler (again, so different from Olivia!!) and it melts me every time he nestles his little blonde head into my shoulders. He loves to play with his big sister, and is very tolerant of her frustrations with him too! Today we played hide & seek; Olivia would pick a spot and then try to get Aidan to follow her. Her latest name for him is "Booga", so she would say "Come on Booga! Come hide with me! Come on!! Hoot hoot!" (that's her "whistling") and then she would pat her leg like she was calling a dog. Seriously hilarious. And of course, here would come Booga, toddling on behind her!

Happy 11 months my little Booga man!

Chicken Noodle Soup

Surgery??? or flu?

UPDATE: I got the flu. Raunchy. Cancelled surgery and am rescheduled for next Friday. What a pain, but God has a reason, so I'm living in the reassurance that I was not supposed to have surgery today!

I need your prayers today! Ryan caught the kids flu bug (kids are feeling better), and I desperately don't want to get sick today! Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning, but I'll have to cancel if I am sick. I really don't want to have to do this... Please pray for my health today!! And I guess you could pray for Ryan's health too.. :)

If things go as scheduled, I am supposed to be at the hospital tomorrow morning at 8:30 to be "prepped"; they didn't give a specific time for surgery but hopefully it won't be too long after I get there.

Thank you in advance for your prayers!

It's December on Tuesday.

Seriously! It's been 2 weeks since I last updated and it's almost December...this year has gone way too fast! Here's your update I know you've all been waiting for!

My surgery is scheduled for this coming Friday, December 4th. Prayers would be awesome! I've never had surgery so I'm a bit nervous. I've had one more mild attack and have been uncomfortable a few times, but otherwise have been feeling pretty good. I'll be glad to have this whole thing over with! My wonderful mother-in-law is taking my kids for a few days so I can recover.

I might be going crazy but part of me is excited to have surgery. Why? So I can lay in bed for a few days (puking and in pain, but in bed none the less) with no one to take care of and someone to take care of me! I'm hoping my Christmas cards come so I can get them all addressed and mailed, and I also hope to finish up my paperwork for my last licensure exam.

Olivia caught a stomach bug this weekend...puked 8 times on Saturday. Poor girl. She's come a long way though: she can now puke in a bucket! Thank goodness! She's feeling much better today, but very tired. It's 6:45 and she's already been in bed for 20 min....and she's asleep! So unlike Olivia! :)

Aidan will be 11 months on Sunday! Wow...I can't even comprehend that he's almost a year old! His little personality is just bubbling and so much fun! Just this weekend he has had a word explosion! He is now saying: Mama, Daddy, Papa, nigh-nigh, num-num, and hi! It's incredible to watch him change and grow. One of my favorite things he just started doing is walking around and either putting his head down on a soft piece of furniture of laying his head on the carpet and saying "nigh-nigh". Such a sweet little man!

We went to the Vikes game last Sunday for a belated b-day present for Ry! So fun!

Helping me clean the fridge :)
Happy Thanksgiving!

Olivia & cousin Maren

Updates!

I have to have my gall bladder taken out. I have stones and have had 2 attacks! Trying my darndest to put the surgery off until the week after Thanksgiving. Pray I don't have any more attacks and can stay out of the ER!!

Aidan is walking like mad and just thinks he's the coolest thing ever! He's also managed to fall down the stairs this week and slip in the tub and cut his eyelid open... poor babe! You'd think we aren't babyproof, but we're pretty good... he's just fast! :) He's still a rotten sleeper, but his night-times are getting longer. He generally goes down between 6:45 and 7:15 and sleeps (well, with 2-3 times waking) until 6:45-7:15 am! I can't complain about that!

Olivia... Oh Miss Olivia... Drama fills her life. And she thinks we also want that drama! Let me tell you... I don't. I'm sure I have shared with you that I just have to deal with her not napping every day anymore. She will be one of those kids who doesn't take naps by 3. I've accepted this. There's one problem: After a few days of not napping, she desperately needs one. And she'll take one...but when she wakes up? There is HELL to pay. Seriously. She will scream and cry and carry on for a good 30 min. Also, on days she takes naps bedtimes are getting to be more and more difficult. Getting out of bed numerous times... lots of drama there too. :)

I have to work 4 days this week...the last 2 being at a conference that I am super stoked about! But I will spend my first night away from both kids... with Ryan having them!!!! He's worried that he won't hear them cry... because he doesn't when I'm home. I'm convinced that he will sleep lighter knowing I'm not there and will hear them. If not, I guess Aidan will learn how to cry it out! :)

Then Friday Ryan's family comes to spend the weekend with us; we are going to the Vikings game on Sunday (got tix for Ryan's birthday)! And his sister Jenelle & their youngest will be staying with us until Thanksgiving (of course the rest will be coming back then also). It will be a busy and fun couple weeks.

Then surgery... (I'll keep you posted!)

Fall!

Update: Oof, now that I've posted, I'm not sure why the pictures look all blurry! Weird... And Olivia looks a little crazy-eyed... :)

Another Oliviaism...

Tonight, out of nowhere, Olivia informed me of this:

Mermaids sit on shells.
Fairies sit on rocks.

Very good to know Olivia, very good to know. :)

These feet were made for walkin....

Frustrated.

I left church super frustrated today. Ryan is hunting this weekend and I took the kids to church myself. We were there early for Christmas program practice, and let's not forget it's also daylight savings. After church was a baked potato meal--yum-0! I debated about whether or not to attend: tired kids vs. not having to make lunch myself...always a toss-up. I decided to eat at church.

The kids sat contently munching on their buns (I know, buns as a side with baked potato...carbo load!) while I loaded up the spuds and they even ate pretty well. Aidan got a bit fraughtsy towards the end and I ended up having to hold him. (Someone said: looks like you could use an extra hand!... Yea, thanks for not helping though...) As soon as we were done eating some of the other kids started running around. (Side note: We have a VERY small church...not a lot of space for runnning...esp. while people are eating!) This is fairly common with kids in our church and I just am not a big fan (no offense fellow church goers!!). I am always quick to stop Olivia from joining in, especially today with all the hubbub. Of course, her over-tired self starts to throw a tantrum...loudly... and unfortunately, I am in a place where I have to walk through the whole room to get to the exit. And I'm toting Aidan too. So here I go through the room, Aidan crying under one arm, Olivia kicking, screaming, and crying under the other.

And I hear someone say: Good thing she doesn't have 3 or 4!

Thanks...

Have a laugh...on me

Olivia: I'll put this on your boob so you can listen.
Me: What?
Olivia: OH, I'll put this on your BREAST so you can listen.

:)