Of this and that

Milo was craving some cupcakes.  I KNOW...how WEIRD, yeah!?  So, like a good mom, I took him to our local bakery.  And YUM.  Of course, when we got home he wanted to bake some cupcakes.  So...like a good mom...



But Milo-man isn't all Milo-sweet.  Some days, and sometimes everyday, he would be a Milo-beast.
It's tough being 3, I suppose.




And then I bought a spoon holder that has a vagina painted on it.
I didn't even notice this until I placed it predominately on my stove.
I know!  How did I miss the vagina!?!




Me and my shopping buddy doing some retail therapy.
See: searching for the perfect vagina spoon holder...




We've had some pretty fantastic February days.
This mild winter suits us well.




Ari has taken quite well to this contraption.




...and so has Milo...




At 3 and a half years of age, Milo can give or take a nap.  Some days he'll go down easily, other days he'll just do cart wheels in his room while acting out a Power Rangers scene.

I prefer the days he naps though.




Grandma has taken a sabbatical in the southwest and sent Milo a feather. 
He likes to pretend it's a gun.
So sweet...



Big brother likes to establish his Alpha-ness from the get go.  Here, Milo has wrapped a belt around Ari. I have a feeling these two are gonna have lots of fun at the expense of my peace of mind...

The day before the husb came home, Milo helped me put up Daddy's welcome home sign.
To say we were excited is an understatement!
74 days without the husb....



Safe and Sound!



And now Ari can sit up in this thing. The rock and play is growing closer to retirement...along with the 0-6 month clothing. GAH!



We get out of the house every once in awhile.

and Ari sometimes sleeps through it...



Milo with his sweet jumps




lots of baby wearing going on around here



Milo has a thing for twins...

and apparently so does Ari...



Visiting with some old friends and met a few new ones too!




blanket babies!
for a little while at least...

 the ends.

when he was here

We sure do miss you, daddy husbandpants...

Happy New Year's Eve!

Snippets



Milo's first trip to a Mall. That is in the throws of pre-Christmas shopping vomit all over everywhere you turn.  Where there are stores.  With lots of shit 3 year olds love to have/destroy/rip/throw.
And, yet, he was good.  Angelic even.  Even when he insisted on going into Spencers and he picked up a fun looking box and says, "What THAT mama?"  "It's a beer bong, honey, put it down, please, that's not a toy for you.  Yet." 


Look at this kid gazing at the water fountain.  I didn't even have to give him Benedryl.  Fuck yeah.




Xmass gifts that come in the mail are immediately opened.  Especially if they're from Grandma E.!  Coincidentally, the UPS man dropped this on our porch JUST BEFORE NAPTIME.  *knock knock*  "LOOK MAMA!  PRESENTS!  OPEN IT!!
So, guess who refused to lay down until *SOMEONE* put this bad boy together -note: i had to actually READ directions.  This is not my FAVE. AND insert batteries.  But it made him happy. It made for a LONG day, but whatevs...




At a birthday party.  Milo sees the ginormous cake, looks up at me (see above) and says, "I eat cake NOW, mommy?!"



A must to eat Nutella and spend some time "outside the kitchen table."

 

Important to run with the balls



An important to just run



Also an important to get thee to a bath on an occasion

what's up? not much...

Oh, this kid...

The brothers, bonding.  Sort of...



The family, minus one. :(




Playing with a Christmas gift.  Weeks prior to.  Everyday this kid with his, "I wanna go to Wal-Mart."  Drives me nutso...




STILL working on potty training...(see the pinch?)

OH!  And I can cross "Experience someone vomiting down inbetween my boobs" off of my bucket list. AND wake every 1-2 hours to feed an infant and then entertain a 3 year old all day.  BUT I'm becoming a master at multi-tasking (breastfeed AND eat dinner, anyone?), time management (buy the groceries, workout, take a nap, fold laundry before 3:30) all while maintaining the ability to speak in complete sentences to my awesome friends who call/email/text/come over/invite over often to make sure I'm still taking the occasional *sip* of wine to ensure happiness and credibility and possible *relaxation* (What the fuck is THAT?).  And, also, to make sure I haven't gone all *Britney* and shaved my head and driving aimlessly around on country roads swerving to miss potholes and deer.

We're doing well.....I just hope he's doing well....where ever he is, under there, somewhere.....

i miss you too, little man...

Last night, while sitting on my lap, Milo turned to me and said,

"I miss you, mommy."

And I know what he means.  Daddy is deployed and we have a 2 month old.  Mommy's time is split and unevenly divided .  Mommy's energy is preciously low.  Mommy's hands are usually holding his little brother.  Mommy can't always build log houses or crash trucks on the floor at any given time...

He doesn't understand that mommy is the only one to plan and cook dinner.  To get the trash out on Tuesdays.  To clean (vacuum, dust, swiffer!), to empty the dishwasher, to launder/fold/put away the clothes, to pay the bills on time, to get him to/fro daycare, to scoop the cat liter, to gas the car, to nurse every couple hours, to be up several times a night, to bathe both boys, to potty train, to change every diaper and bless every sneeze...

It won't always be like this
It won't always be like this.

And while he is still sitting on my lap, with my arms wrapped around him, Milo farts.

"Mommy I TOOTED!  I BIG TOOTED!"

Ah, 3 year olds....

Dear husbandpants,

You've been gone for a week  2 weeks now.  And even though I can't talk to you or send you pics, I figured I'd post some pics here for you to see when you get your feets on dirts again. BTW, it 'tis a cruel joke to be alone with a 3 year old and a nearly 2 month old while your husband is deployed.  Just says.  But I have found my energy cape and "CAN DO" attitude and I'm livin' the good stuff. Case of the point.



oh the smiles!  these first smiles are getting more social by the day.  he loves when I do the tickles and raspberries on his belly or head or toes.  Ari also enjoys Kathy Griffin.  Kids got great taste.  Gets it from me, i 'spose...



As you know, I only have one set of hands.  So I came up with a genius way to move the laundry AND the baby down 2 flights of stairs. Ari thinks his mama is so creative!  He might be mad because he's laying on top of the bag that houses his dirty cloth diapers. 



Milo plays with his submarine during bathtime.  He says, "Daddy is on a submarine...I want to go on a submarine TOO!"  And then he says, "Daddy's job sucks ASS."
Kidding...(maybe)

   

He's wearing his new jacket that I spent way too much on.  But the hat was only $1.99.  Came with gloves too.  But let's not talk about the money I'm spending since you've been gone.  Isn't he presh?  BTW, you don't have access to our account do you?





Did I mention the smiles?  Melts. your. heart.




I went to a clothing and toy swap with my mom's group.  I was able to snatch scores of new clothes for both the boys.  I also got this fancy peice for Ari, but in the meantime, Milo is loving it.  As you can see he finds alternate uses for the bowl part.  So wicked smaht. Must take after you. ;)



Mom and I took the kids to Halloween in the Woods.  The line to the parking lot was ridic.  The line to get into the park was ridic.  And very soon Milo became redic.

Since patience is not something we were experimenting with this morning, we opted out.  Two hours in lines just to leave.  And go to McD's.  Super Awesome Saturday.  Besides, being with so many Halloween over acheiver moms was making my inner Martha Stewart anxious and my inner rebellious, anti-social teenager scoff and over eye roll. Know what I mean?  SURPRISE!  I'm not spending 2 years designing and making a costume for my toddler who MAY or probably MAY NOT wear the damn thing.  He didn't even wear the Spider man costume I so lovinly paid $17 dollars for at Target.



In fact, he was pretty pissed off about the whole thing....



Come to think of it......maybe he was mad because I *didn't* put any thought into his costume.  Sorry, Carebear, but this mama don't sew....




This might be a daily scene.  Anyone want to come over and hold my baby while I fold some laundry and put on some pants?



We're doing good...but we sure do miss you...

 

 .......As you can see I haven't completely lost my mind. Just my pants.

And this concludes week one two of your absence. 

love you,

L~