Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!

It's amazing for me to sit here and reflect on the fact that 730 days ago (that would be 2 years for you non-math whizzes!) my precious little buddy was born. He decided to quietly and slowly make his way in to our world for several weeks, finally coming to the point where my doctor said I was dilated to an 8 and it was time for him to come. Best labor ever! The time with him since hasn't been quite so smooth as my darling finds at least one way every day, if not two or three or four, to keep me running around in a panic, or rolling my eyes at something. (I have not mentioned on here that we did find him on TOP of our 8 foot ladder the other day - in a matter of less than 10 seconds he was there. Just sitting. Smiling. Causing his Mommy a heart attack).


It's amazing for me to think that not very long ago I was so excited for him to finally learn to crawl and then he started walking so quickly thereafter. There was the baby food messes and excitement over starting solids. Then sweet babbles followed by even sweeter words (yea, Mama was first!). And now, each day, he says new words and longer sentences and it just makes me so proud and so thankful that my little fellow is so healthy, and happy, and full of life. I have been a pretty typical mom of the second child - he gets to try things and do things way earlier than we allowed Grant to do it - guess it's just adapting him to our lives more than our adapting our lives to a first child. Poor Grant still rarely gets juice.

I am quick to mention the "crazy" stories that my spunky kiddo creates for us, but I am not as open about truly how sweet he really is. Lately, Kyle has taken to gifting random kisses. Melts my heart. He also has the sweetest voice when he knows that saying "Mommy" just right will get him an extra squeeze or song before bedtime. It's the little moments of holding your little child in the middle of the night when they wake up and having them completely trust you and love you and want nothing other than to curl up on top of your chest and sleep that makes parenting so awesome. Just the other night, I was in his room when I wanted to be oh-so cozy in my bed. The glow from his nightlight was perfectly reflected in his white hair as it lay against my shoulder. At the moment, he looked up, gave his silly squinty-eyed smile and said "hi mommy." Now, that's a moment to remember.

I am having to realize that my "baby" isn't a baby anymore and that has been difficult! He doesn't fit on my chest anymore comfortably when he puts his head on my shoulder - his body is too long to tuck in by my tummy. I now have to spread his legs by my hips to be able to sit together like that. It's been so fun to watch how he can become so passionate about his Hot Wheels and his balls in the yard and his tractor stuff. He knows what he wants, when he wants it and what he likes. Including most foods. It's just mind-boggling when you really think about how much development takes place in a little body in just 2 short years.

It seems like just a few weeks ago I was nursing and we were enjoying life with a 2 year old and a 3 month old - and here we are with a 2 year old and a 3 year old.

The two years of his life have been years of significant change for our family. Fun but busy and stressful years. I shudder to think about how incomplete my life would be without him. Before having a second child, especially with having two children of the same sex, I truly did wonder how I could ever love another little being as much as I love Grant, because that is a ton! And to all my friends who have or will have these thoughts, I can tell you what - I didn't have to share my heart but yet I feel I grew an entire new heart on January 31, 2007. And it is complete. My sweet boys.

Happy 2nd birthday, sweet Kyle Douglass. I love you so very much. We're celebrating with an Elmo cake!

Foil

Email forwarded to me today:
Don't you even try and act like you all ready knew this. I had to go into the kitchen and check this out for myself. Whoever looks at the end of an aluminum foil box? You know when you try to pull some foil out and the roll comes out of the box, you have to put the roll back in the box and start over. The darn roll always comes out at the wrong time.Well, I would like to share this with you. Yesterday I went to throw out an empty Reynolds foil box and for some reason I turned it and looked at the end of the box. And written on the end it said, Press here to lock end. Right there on the end of the box is a tab to lock the roll in place. How long has this little locking tab been there? I then looked at a generic brand of aluminum foil and it had one, too. I then looked at a box of Saran wrap and it had one too! I can't count the number of times the Saran wrap roll has jumped out when I was trying to cover something up.I'm sharing this with my friends.

I hope I'm not the only person that didn't know about this.

Warm Soup for Cold Days

My family (okay, just the adults) really enjoy soups during the cold winter months. Last night, I tried a new recipe that we both liked enough to share it with you! It's quick, easy, inexpensive, tasty and pretty healthy (other than the beef). I've had several Taco Soup recipes and this was by far the easiest we've tried and best.

Taco Soup
(Prep time is 5 minutes and total is 25)
1 1b. lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
3 cans (we only used 2) mild chili beans, undrained
1 can corn, undrained
1 can whole tomatoes, undrained
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 package taco seasoning
1 1/2 cups water
Grated Cheddar Cheese for topping

Brown beef and onions in large saucepan. Add all remaining ingredients except cheese and bring to a boil. Simmer on medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with cheese on top.

Stay warm and be safe on the ice!

oh croup!

Never fear, I'm still here! :) Just a bit out of sorts lately - thanks to my kids each being sick for a week with croup and then both of us getting it for several days. Needless to say, my son has a birthday next weekend and I have hardly thought about it. I am so behind with work, too (shhhh - don't tell my boss!)

Hope you guys are well. Sorry I missed the fun events this weekend, including a special little girl's #1 birthday party and a #2 birthday party that would have a been a great college reunion and time to catch up with old friends (you know who you are!).

365 in 365

It's been a while since I have gotten on here and just typed away! I never gave any updates on our holidays but they were good. Not a lot of traveling, although Jason and I both wish we were able to go skiing, and a lot of laughs. The boys were so in to Santa this year although it seems we, as parents, really hype up the event and at least for us, the kids didn't react as hugely as we had hoped. They were both thrilled with their bikes and odds-n-ends but we wanted crazy excitement and just got enjoyment.

I'm also really ready for a good snow. A nice, cozy, school-cancelled, build-a-snowman-and-make-a-snow-angel snow day.

We spent New Years Eve at some friends until we headed home for the boys' bedtimes. Jason and I then watched a movie and crashed. Now the decorations are down, we've painted a few rooms, and it's back to reality. Which brings me to my whole reason for getting on here today: My Resolution.

Must say, it's usually something trivial like drink less Dr. Pepper or lose 5 pounds. This year I am going to accomplish something that I've always wanted to do, but have never followed through with, and that is to read the entire Bible in 2009.

Each word. Every story. Every parable.

I've had a Bible that my parents gave me in 1999 designed in 365 days. Nothing like getting to it a decade later! So far, I'm doing good! I didn't share as I haven't had time to write nor was I really sure of my dedication, but I am GOING to spend 20 minutes each day reading the Bible.

I'd love encouragement - check back in August and kick my rear if I need it! I wouldn't mind losing those 5 pounds I mentioned, either, but it's just not going to be my focus!

Wii Bit Excited!

All I can say is that I wish I had taken video of the excitement. Happy Hysteria would be a good description. My dad surprised my mom for her birthday with a Wii... and she went NUTS! It was great fun to see my mom, who normally "goes without" on her holidays b/c we can't find her the perfect gift, shriek over her new toy. It was fun to be a part of making her, who brings so much happiness to others, become ecstatic! And apparently, they've been playing ever since (and buying new games!) instead of taking down Christmas decorations! Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to my best (female) friend - my Mom! May your day be wonderful and may Wii always have fun together like we do now. Lots of love!

How To Stay Young

• Try everything twice.
• Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches;)
• Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening,whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!
• Enjoy the simple things.
• Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spendlots and lots of time with HIM/HER.
• The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.
• Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, = music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
• Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
• Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
• Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
• Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.

Lost time can never be found... And don't forget to say your prayers of thanksgiving for all our blessings!!!