Bananas

Today we took the kids out on a long walk out the long country road that we live on. It was so very beautiful today. Our toddler loves it so much that she pitched a fit when she had to go in afterwards. Mark wanted to do a few last minute gardening chores before coming in, and our toddler wanted to stay outside with him. She was so mad when he left her inside and then he went back out. She smacked the door and said "mean, mean, mean!"

Next, she grabbed a banana off of the kitchen counter. I peeled it for her. She grabbed it, threw it on the floor and then proceeded to stomp it and squish it into the carpet. It was a horrid mess. Mark came in and took her out, so she helped him with the digging and mulching while I cleaned up gushy banana.

Later, after things had calmed down, Mark was giving her a bath. The baby was sleeping, so it was a good time to finally get to call my Mom and talk to her for a while. I went to search for the cordless phone in the dark. I grabbed what looked like the phone, looked down and realized that I'd grabbed a banana instead. Ugh! Enough bananas!

Mommy Juice

When I get stressed out, it usually makes me feel better to have something chocolate. It's become a habit for me to have a glass of chocolate milk each evening. Last night my daughter saw me drinking it, pointed to my glass and said "Mommy juice!" She's got that right!

I took her to her 2 year wellness check-up today. Both kids were great in the doctor's office. The problem occurred when we were leaving. My toddler got away from me while I was carrying the baby. She went running across the parking lot. There weren't any cars coming, but it scared me silly. I had to scream at her (which only made her laugh) and chase her down.

This is the difficult thing with having two young ones in tow. I have a stroller for two, but did not feel that I needed to use it since I was parked practically at the door! It's just too dangerous to do this unless I have another adult with me, so I'll have to drag out the big stroller everywhere I go. I've learned my lesson.

Puddle Ducks

I finally got out early enough to take my kids to the park. No one was there , so we had it all to ourself. My toddler had so much fun going down all the slides. I put my baby in his carrier under an umbrella for shade. He had a perfect view of big sister playing. I even took him down the slide on my lap. Then my two year old got brave and decided to go down the big slide. I didn't realize it till it was too late. There was a huge muddy puddle on the end of the slide. She splashed right into it and was soaked. I had to change her into clean diaper....I'd forgotten to bring a change of clothes. So she had to go down the slide one more time in just her diaper before we left!

It's so beautiful outside today. If you're feeling sad, I think it really truly helps to go out and see all the lovely growing things of Spring. It also makes your kids tired so that they can take a nice long nap when you get home!! It's great to have a little free time. I had time to take a cat nap, work on chores, start dinner and sit down at the computer. Very nice!

What does T.T. mean?

Thomas the Tank Engine?
Terrible Twos?
Temper Tantrum?

It meant all three today. Even though I've been feeling moody and crappy, I decided to take my two little ones to the story time at the library. Both kids were great in the story time. Then I let my toddler play in the kid's section that has a wooden track and Thomas the Tank Engine and friends set.

When it was time to leave, my toddler pitched a HUGE temper tantrum and would not listen to me. She kept running away from me and all over the library. It was pretty horrible and very embarrassing...especially since this is my husband's place of employment, so all his co-workers witnessed it. He had to help me take her out of the library, which I was very thankful for.

I felt so incompetent. In the past, I would have just thrown her over my shoulder and carried her out, but I couldn't do that since I had the baby in his carrier. I want to take her to storytimes to be around other kids, but I don't want to deal with this every time.

Postpartum Deja Vu

Here we go again! There must be some sort of hormone change or something three months or so after giving birth. That's when my postpartum depression got so bad with my first child. I've felt kind of crappy with those types of feelings this week...not nearly so severe as the last time though. It's more like PMS. I'm fine and normal unless someone says the wrong thing to me which triggers a crying fit. It's probably just my normal menstruation attempting it's return, and I've gotten spoiled with not having to deal with it!

I know what I need to do to feel better. Exercise, exercise, exercise. It has been difficult to do so since I don't have much free time. We're considering ordering a jogging stroller for two so that I can get outside for walks, but keep the kids safe at the same time. We'll probably buy one, but the cost is what makes me hesitate...they are expensive. Since we live on a rough road, a regular stroller is pretty useless. Feeling better, loosing weight, kids getting fresh air...it would be worth it!

I'm trying to think of where we might go for a Summer vacation. I just don't know. Where's a good place to take two young kids that's not TOO far away, but far away enough to escape and enjoy life? We were thinking of going to Sesame Place near Philadelphia, but then I noticed that they are very high priced. Does anyone out there have any good ideas?

Our kids hate going in the car for long periods of time, so I don't think a long road trip is a good idea in the heat of the Summer. We do hope to make a trip down South in the Fall when it's cooler and nicer to travel (an 11 hour drive! Yikes!) We rarely take a real vacation...We know that getting away will be good for all of us, so I hope to find somewhere fun to go!

I wish that I could feel better right now. I'm manning the phones for my job, so I'm on the clock and can't get away to enjoy the gorgeous weather. That's why work is so slow right now... everyone else is out there! Well, chocolate does make things better temporarily, but I've gone and ate up all the Easter chocolate. I need a continuous infusion of chocolate when I feel this way.

A Big Stinky Easter Diaper

For Easter, I gave my daughter a very special baby doll. It is a Madame Alexander Huggums doll dressed in a rabbit outfit. She hasn't been very interested in the dolls that she already has, but I thought she might like one "disguised" as a rabbit. She wasn't fooled for a moment. She took one look at it and said with disgust "no like". Then she stuck it back in the box and sat on the lid! This is the first time she has actually expressed dislike of a new toy. I should have known better! I guess I'll have to indulge my little tomboy and let her play with all the trains, planes, cars and trucks that she loves!

Our baby boy didn't feel good on Easter day. Sorry to be gross, but he hadn't had a poop in four days! He was a very unhappy little guy all day... really howling with discomfort. We didn't go to church because of it, and it went on like this all day. I was so worried because he had suddenly stopped for so many days! He finally went, and we were all relieved... and I was actually rejoicing to change a big nasty stinky diaper. So that was my present for Easter... a big stinky baby diaper.

Easter Week

I have time for a quick post before going in to work this morning! This is my second week back, and I feel much better. Working Saturday was extra difficult because that's my one full day of working. I was so busy and felt pretty exhausted at the end of the day. After my first baby, I worked full time for several months. I don't know how I did it!

Happy Easter week! I'm excited because this will be our daughter's first time coloring eggs. We've been watching the Snoopy Easter cartoon, so she thinks that the Easter Beagle is going to come on Sunday morning. I'm planning on giving her a special baby doll dressed in a bunny outfit. I thought she might like to have her own baby.

Work Work Work

Tomorrow is the big day! I return to work! I'm actually looking forward to getting away from the kids for a few hours tomorrow morning...especially after today! The baby was extra fussy and the two-year old extra "terrible". It was one of those days.

I hope that the kids will be good for Mark tomorrow. A really good day after a stinky day is always nice! Things have finally calmed down now. It's hard when it's constant throughout the day. I kept hoping to have a break, but it never came. The baby has started sleeping through the night, so that's a relief!