At An Impass

When Tess refuses to sleep, I refuse to blog.

Well, at least nothing substantial.

Blasted baby!

Cole's Cake

So, remember my so very important dilemma?  Well, even though everyone said I should make the candy cake, I decided to make the other one mainly because it looked more like a birthday cake.  (Don't worry - the candy cake will be made for Father's Day, much to Lance's dismay.)  ((That was sarcasm.))  (((Sarcasm about Lance, not about the cake.  The cake will definitely be made.)))

This is the first cake I've made from scratch in quite a while.  I'm not sure why I did this, given my sordid history with cakes.  Stupid, stupid cakes.  (I did a whole cake-of-the-month thing in 2008.  You can check out my successes and failures there.)  Not that this cake was a failure; it just didn't turn out quite as planned.  First, I overbaked the cake a bit, dang it.  In my defense, I pulled it out when it was still a bit underdone, but obviously it just kept baking as it cooled on the counter.  Oh well.

My second mistake was a bit bigger.  I made this frosting, which is made with heavy cream and granulated sugar.  (Totally diet-friendly.)  Somehow last night, while I was making the frosting I accidentally put in 1/3 a cup of salt instead of the sugar.  It took me a while to figure out why things weren't working for me, and then I took a big taste.  DANG IT! And GROSS.  And very disappointing because I didn't have anymore heavy cream to make a another batch.

But no worries.  I just picked some up this morning after I went to Urgent Care for my eye infection.  Wait, what?  Oh yeah, I have an eye infection.  Who knows how or why.  Lucky me!  So I had to go to Wal-Mart and get some prescriptions and picked some heavy cream up as well.

By the way, I have a love/hate relationship with Wal-Mart's pharmacy.  I hate them because they are SOOO SLOOOW and don't bother calling to tell you when they don't have the medicine you need.  I love them because I bought three prescriptions today for $2.87.  It's hard to beat that.

Whoa - big tangent.  I haven't been going off on as many tangents lately, have you noticed?  I've missed you tangents...

Bah!  A tangent about a tangent!  Okay, back to the cake.

I made the frosting this afternoon, it tasted great, and the cake turned out like this:

Not so bad, right?  I saw the Teddy Grahams, marshmallows, and chocolate chips on a cake online and thought it looked cute and easy.  It was.

Halfway through decorating I realized that this was now a s'mores cake.  (The fact that it took me that long only shows my mental state lately.  I lose more and more brain cells with each child; just another reason why I will not be having another!)  Anywho, I luuurve s'mores.  They are now the epitome of summer to me.

Here's Cole practicing his candle blowing skills.  As seen in the video in the previous post, we obviously did not practice enough.

 

Happy happy birthday boy!  (Can you tell I liked this camera angle?)

Cole was quite pleased with the cake.  I don't know that he really understood that it was his birthday cake, but he knows what a cake is and was quite pleased that it was there.

Despite the dryness, I don't think the cake was that bad.  In fact, with the yummy frosting and glass of milk, it was quite yummy!  (But I think it will be back to the Cake Mix Doctor for me from now on!)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Cole!

Okay, so yesterday (the 29th) was really Cole's birthday.  But since it was a Sunday and since Cole didn't care, we decided to celebrate today.  (Side note: this did not confuse or bother Cole.  It did, however, confuse and bother his brothers.  If we ever do something like this again I'm just gonna lie about the date of the birthday.  Sheesh.)

Before we get to the real birthday festivities, here are a few shots of Cole from dinner last night.  As you can see, Cole LOVES spaghetti and meatballs.  I'm the world's nicest mom and made it especially for him. 

As you can see, eating spaghetti is serious business around our house.

Oh man, just look at that face.  Lance and I figure he could be an Oompa Loompa (spelling?) for Halloween this year.  All we'd have to do is feed him spaghetti for dinner and then add a little green jell-o and gel to his hair.

Cole decided it would be a good idea to spit water.  Right when I was taking the picture.

Pouting because the world's meanest mother took his water away.  I'm such a jerk.

All is forgiven - by both sides.  Couldn't you just eat him up?

I think this picture (literally) says it all!

 

Cole loves to be outside any chance he can get, so we decided to go to Columbian Park today with our friends the Souths.  (Side note: the Souths are our random holiday friends.  It started with just Halloween, and then progressed to 4th of July, Easter, New Year's Eve, and now Memorial Day.  I'm sure that pretty soon we'll start celebrating President's Day, Arbor Day, and St. Patrick's Day with them as well.) ((Misty, that would be awesome!))

Of course the first thing the boys did was play in the water fountains at the zoo.  

 

 

 

It was a really hot and muggy day, so seeing the animals was pretty secondary for the kiddos.  We played at the playground for a while, and I was impressed at Cole's bravery in going down even the biggest slide all by himself.  Then I felt pretty stupid because I had gone up with him and he didn't wait for me and I had to go down by myself.

This is the only shot of the birthday boy I got at the park.

We finished our trip to the park with a ride on the train.  Cole loves trains, and while he wasn't as quite as excited as I thought he would be, he seemed to like it.

Then we headed back to our house for a barbecue and birthday cake. Cole also loves hotdogs, so we had plenty of those, plus brats and Italian sausages for the grown ups.  We could have been traditional and picnicked outside, but we opted for the comfort of our igloo-like basement instead.

It was finally time for cake and ice cream.  Except the birthday boy had other plans - just wanted to play on his carputer.

Nice, Cole.  But as you can see in the video we went through with the whole song and candle and such.  I love the look on his face it's something like "What in the world are all you crazies up to?"  Obviously I failed to coach him enough in the candle blowing department!

Well, here's where a mom usually makes a huge list of things about the birthday boy, but I think this blog has covered most of them already.  So here are just a few things you might not already know:

• Cole already knows most of his letters.  Yesterday at church he was pointing them out in the Spiderman activity book he was looking at - and he was getting them all right.  Amazing.  (I can't take any credit for it; I'm pretty sure he learned it all from the carputer.)
• Cole has rhythm.  When he dinks around on the piano I often think it's Spencer because even though it's not real music, it sounds like more than just banging the keys.  It's pretty impressive; maybe we have a little virtuoso on our hands!
• Cole has started to like Tess.  He even comes up to her now and says in a really cute voice "Oh, hi Tess!"
• If you ask Cole a question 99.99% of the time he will answer "No."  To me, that's the very definition of a two year old!

We sure love you, Cole, and are so happy you're a part of our family! 

Josh's Pet

Josh came up to me in the kitchen today and exclaimed "Look Mommy!  I have a pet mouse!"

He then proceeded to run around the house dragging his mouse by its 'leash'.

Man, I love that kid.

Cole and Tess

Out of anyone in the family, Cole has had the hardest time adjusting to welcoming Tess.  And who can blame him?  He was the baby of the family and Momma's special little boy and then WHAM!  This little, noisy thing comes into HIS house and takes all of HIS momma's attention.

Needless to say, he's not Tess's biggest fan.

But he is getting a little better.  I've really tried to give him extra attention and special care.  I've also tried to get him to help with Tess and interact with her more.  Just the other day I was able to get him to give her some kisses, which is a huge step because previously the only thing he had willingly given her were punches to the face and a phobia of blond toddlers.

 

 

 

It was pretty dang cute, even if it did have to end with my stopping his precocious kisses.  (Tess was starting to freak out a little from all the love.)

In another sign of progress, Cole has started to come tell me when Tess is fussing.  He has a very limited vocabulary right now (not because he can't talk, but more because he's not so interested in it), but he comes up to me and says something along the lines of "Baby cry".  (Whether or not he's the reason for the crying is another matter...)

Hopefully as Tess gets bigger and more interactive these two will become good friends. Or at least not arch enemies, which is all you can really hope for with siblings, right?  (Just kidding.)  ((Mostly.))

Fisticuffs Baby

Tess likes to make fists, especially when she's in her sling.  It's pretty cute.  Generally she's asleep with the fists, too, so it looks like she really wants to fight but just got too bored to follow through with it.

She had some major fistage (yes, that's a word) ((no, no it's not)) the other day, which made me wonder: what's up with the fisticuffs, baby?

And then it hit me. These weren't just fists.  These were Fists Of Death.  As in "Try to put me down and do something productive and you will taste my Fists of Death!!!"

It makes a Momma proud.

Who's The Boss?

Josh: Are chicken nuggets made of bread?

Me: Nope.  They're made of chicken.

Josh (in horror): WHAT?!!?!

Me: Josh, they're chicken nuggets.

Josh: But Spencer said they were bread.

Me: Spencer was wrong.

Josh: No, he is right.  He is the boss.
(Side note: we seem to have a lot of conversations about who is the boss; i.e. Mom and Dad are the boss.)

Me: Spencer is not the boss.  Who is the boss here?

Josh: Tess.

Me: No, I'm... touche.

(Tess is very much the boss of our house lately.  She's our own tiny dictator.)

Dilemmas Dilemmas

I sit and type this post parked in a chair in front of Cole and Josh's bedroom door.  The little punks refuse to go to sleep and instead want to make tooting noises with their mouths or climb up and down the bunk bed ladder.  Josh has the smarts to cool it with mom actually watching their every move.  Cole does not.

This, however, is not my dilemma.  This is a problem that probably only time and growing up a little will be able to solve.  (I hope.)

No, my dilemma actually has to do with Cole's birthday this weekend.  It is a terrible, horrible, I-can't-believe-I-have-to-deal-with-this dilemma:

What birthday cake should I make him?

I know.  The humanity.

When kids are this young they don't really care what the cake looks like.  I mean, sure, Cole would probably like a train or Elmo cake or something but he also won't care if he doesn't.  So this year's cake is all about taste. 

Originally I decided to make the Old-Fashioned Chocolate Layer Cake from Our Best Bites.  Doesn't it just sound and look good?

Photo courtesy of OurBestBites.com

But then today the Pioneer Woman posted a recipe for - get this - Milky Way Cake.  (Which includes eight Milky Way bars.  Oh my.)

Photo courtesy of thepioneerwoman.com

So, dear readers, which do I make?  Old-fashioned goodness or delightful candy bar sin?  Help me out and let me know what you think!

By the way - by the end of writing this post I was feeding Tess and typing with one hand.  This, too, is a dilemma that I am afraid will only be solved with time and growing up.

Portrait Titles

I was trying to get a good picture of Tess today for her birth announcement.  I never did get one that I totally love, partly because I think my camera is dying and partly because I had two little boys "helping".  I eventually gave up and decided to wait a couple of weeks for when she starts smiling.  But before giving up I did get a few that I thought were pretty cute and/or funny.  I even gave each of the portraits titles.

(Hey, indulge me here - she's my only girl and last baby.  There are gonna be LOTS of pictures in the future!)

"Put Up Your Dukes"

"Late Night Party Animal"

"What's That Smell?"

"Lies!  (This Baby Doesn't Sleep During The Day)"

"Deer In Headlights"

"Hey!  What's Over There?!"

"Small Baby, Large Headband"

"Are You Kidding Me?"

"Cuteness"

"Thhhhhbbbbtttt!"

Wave 'em Like You Just Don't Care

You know what I love?  I love it when babies sleep with their arms above their heads.

I don't know why, but I find it dang cute.  Doesn't she look so relaxed?

You know what else I love?  That little baby straight jacket the hospital gave us.  It's perfect for swaddling.  (Not that she's swaddled in this picture!)  Tess is not always a huge fan of being swaddled, but she sleeps sooo much better when she is!  In fact, I had kinda forgotten about the straight jacket the last few weeks and then rediscovered it the other day.  Tess has now slept through the night 2 nights in a row. (From 11pm to 6am!!)  Despite any protests, she'll be tucked into that sleep sack from now on!

You know another thing I love?  When newborns snuggle up on your shoulder and nuzzle your neck and fall asleep.  It makes me so happy and drowsy and warm and fuzzy.  No matter how uncomfortable I was, it made life so much better each time I was in the hospital with Tess.  Seriously, is there anything more pleasant in life than that?  Hardly.

Genetics Are Awesome

When my dad was here last month he showed me this picture of my Mom with her two brothers.

Waaaaiiit a minute.  Doesn't that blond toddler on the left look startlingly familiar?

I know, right?  When I first saw this picture I couldn't believe how much Cole looks like my Uncle Neil.  It's almost uncanny!  Seriously, Cole makes that same face as Neil all the time.

Uncle Neil and Cole

Then I realized that all three of my kids look a lot like the kids in the picture.  I just haven't decided who looks more like who. What do you think?

Uncle Dale and Spencer

My Mom (Wendy) and Spencer

My Mom and Josh

Uncle Dale and Josh

Isnt' that bizarro?  What's even more bizarre, though, is that whenever we're with my dad's side of the family I notice how much my kids look like all of them as well.  And I can't count how many times I've seen my brothers in my kids' mannerisms.

Genetics = Awesomeness

One Month

Tess is one month old today.  We survived!  In some ways this month went by really fast - in other ways, it was so slooow.

Well, fast or slow, we sure are glad to have Tess in our family!

P.S. You might be wondering what she's doing with her hand.  I wondered, too.  I tried and tried to get her to move it, but each time I did it went straight back.  Guess she was adamant about keeping her paci in place!

Dinnertime Hilarity

Poor Cole.

Ever since he moved out of his crib and into a big boy bed his naps have been neither long nor consistent.  He went from having a solid two hour nap every day to almost nothing.  Some days we can get him to sleep, some days we can't. 

You can imagine how charming he is by the end of the days without naps.

Today was napless, and Cole was exhausted by dinnertime.  Lance managed to get this awesome video of him.  Seriously, watch it all - the end is the best part.

My youngest brother, Kevin, used to do the same thing.  I even remember eating dinner at someone else's house once and he fell asleep at the table with food still in his mouth.  It was awesome, Kevin.

P.S.  Where was I during this video?  In Tess's room, feeding her.  It's like babies have this 6th sense when it's time for momma to eat dinner.  "Oh, you're gonna eat?  Well, I wanna eat, too.  NOW."

Rubbermaid Farmer

Planting a garden just didn't happen this year, for obvious reasons.  Wait, you need the reasons listed?  Here's the first and biggest/smallest:

Then there's the fact that I don't even have a garden at this house yet.  I'm still trying to decide whether I want a raised garden bed or just a regular one.  I also haven't quite figured out how to fence the garden to keep critters out, without having the fence be an eyesore.  Or too expensive.

Some neighbors a couple of houses down just tilled a big garden and I'm interested to see how their crops do.  They don't have a fence or anything.  I wonder if the deer and bunnies will think a salad bar has opened up over there in a few months?  I'm hoping not, because then maybe I wouldn't have to deal with fencing either.

Anywho, long story short: no garden this year, but I still demand fresh tomatoes.  My solution?  Rubbermaid gardening.

I have a couple of these big totes in my garage.  I have no idea where the lids are; I suspect they got lost or misplaced in the move.  I figured why buy some sort of special container to grow a couple of tomato plants when I already have some that will work just fine?

I just poked a bunch of drainage holes in the bottom and sides and put in some dirt.  The plants have already grown a ton.  My only concern is perhaps the dirt isn't deep enough, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

I hope it works.  I loves me some summer homegrown tomatoes.

While we were in the back yard I decided to snap a picture of the big project the neighbor behind us has going. 

It doesn't look too impressive now; the piles of dirt were twice as high the other day.  Apparently the guy has decided to expand the pond he has back there now.  With all the dirt they're moving you'd think they were creating a lake.  Whatever.  It's a huge undertaking, and I just have to wonder how much money is being spent on it.  It's crazy.  Apparently some people still have more money than they know what to do with.

I'm sure the view will be lovely when it's all done, since he's planning on landscaping it really nicely and everything.  But I'd just as soon not have it there.  Keeping little kids out of it for the next few years is gonna be a big pain in the behind.

Weigh-Ins, Sledding, and Revenge

Tess had another weigh-in at the doctor's office on Friday and I am happy to announce that she is finally back up to her birth weight.  Woo-hoo!  The doctor and nurses actually did a little happy dance in her honor.

On Saturday I decided that the back patio needed cleaning up.  You'd think we were a redneck family or something, it was all covered in dirty sandals, dirty socks, garbage from the boys, and our snow sled.  As penance for pouring an entire bottle of bubbles all over the patio a few days earlier I made Cole come out to help me.  (And by help I mean wander around, get under foot, and try to unlock the door so he could go run around our yard.)

Tess decided she needed to be held ALL THE TIME yesterday, so I cleaned up as best I could while holding her.  But eventually I had to put her down so I could vacuum.  This is where she ended up.

Why yes, that is my baby in a plastic sled on our back patio.  She's sleeping on top of the cover for one of our camping chairs.  Sweet.

Wait - maybe we are rednecks and just don't know it.

Incredibly, she slept there the entire time I vacuumed and even when I moved the sled around.  When she really wants to sleep, she'll sleep anywhere, anytime.  I love that about newborns.

Later that day Cole needed a diaper change.  Once again I was holding Tess, so I decided to put her down on his bed.  Before I could stop him, Cole hopped up on the bed and jumped on Tess.  I don't think he did it on purpose, he just wasn't paying attention.  Poor Tess got a knee in the face and was understandably QUITE UPSET.

Being a newborn, she didn't realize that revenge is a dish best served cold.  Instead of waiting until later to get back at Cole, she immediately had a diaper blow out, getting fresh baby poop all over his bedding.  Cole had literally scared the poop out of her.  It was pretty awesome.  (Well, only in the amount.  Not awesome that she got poop everywhere.)  I figured this made them pretty even, all things considered.  Then again, I'm the one who had to do all the cleaning, so maybe not.

This morning I told Josh and Spencer about the poop incident.  They thought it was the funniest thing in the world and laughed and laughed and laughed as only little boys can over poop jokes.  (Hey, you gotta play to your audience.)

They have each decided not to jump on Tess so she won't poop everywhere.  Good enough for me.

They get a kick out of Tess watching them and holding on to their fingers.  They like to talk in a little girl voice and pretend it's Tess talking.  It's pretty cute, although I don't know that Tess will talk about the potty and poop quite as much as they have her do.  (But what do I know?  I've never had a girl...)

BTW, aren't her too-long jammies funny?  They're sized 0-3 months, and I refuse to buy anything smaller.