At The Great State Fair of OK-lahoma!

The boys and I went with Nana to the Oklahoma State Fair. We had a marvelous day! We did everything *just right*. Today was "Senior Citizen's Day" at the fair which meant Nana got in free. I was the only paying member of our clan of 4. We got to the fair at about 9 this morning and parked about 50 yards from Gate 1. The morning was warm but not too hot with a nice breeze and the crowds were not...crowded that is. 90% of the people at the Fair were Senior Citizens. We spent a couple hours looking through buildings...you know, the exhibits and junk! At Noon we stopped for a bite to eat, cringing at the outrageous prices but un-willing to pass up some good decent fair food...corn-on-the-cob and gyros for us today. After lunch we strolled through another building but Ryan's patience for inactivity had reached it's limit. We headed for the RIDES! It was great. Ryan was just beginning to get tired of everything but perked right up for the rides. He rode everything allowed for kids his size. (He just barely made the height requirement for the kiddie rides). Cars. Fish. Trains. Balloons. Bumper Boats. And more!

Here was Evan's ride for the day...
He did great at the Fair. Of course nothing is *for* him but he looked around, smiled at some other grandmas, got lots of compliments on his cuteness, slept some, ate some (breast-feeding is so amazingly convenient!), and was just generally cute. He had had enough by early afternoon and indicated his over-stimulation (heat, sounds, smells, noise) with screaming unless he was tucked away close to me and completely covered.

We saw a kangaroo...
Fed a super-cute calf. (I would have taken him home...he was sweet.)...
Fed a donkey...
Fed an ornery emu...
Sat on a really old tractor...
Petted a really nice horse named Rocky...
Looked at some new baby chickens. Some were still wet from their obviously recent escape from their oval offices...
Rode on a blue tractor...
And a pink tractor...
Played on a $$$$ playground inside...
Touched the water (but we couldn't *play* in it)...
And RODE RIDES!!!

Cars...
Fish...
Boats (the ummm incompetent nice man working this ride sat Ryan and another boy in the boat backwards and when the boat got stuck he continued talking with his friend and ignored the traffic jam. I'm surprised both of the boys stayed in the boat!)...
A Blue Motorcycle...
A *Hot Air* Balloon...
Bumper Boats! ( I wanted to play too!)...

A Loud Dragon Rollercoaster...
And a Choo Choo Train...
We had a great time. We left the Fair around 3 this afternoon completely worn out! Ryan didn't even make it to the car before crashing. Evan woke up as soon as we got to the car. Nana and I just hobbled along with sore feet, but HAPPY HEARTS!

Yellow on White

I really don't remember the story that goes with this particular picture, but I'm sure it was a good one.
I have a good bath-time story though. It's one of those "Yep! She's a Mom! story" We were invited to attend church this past Saturday evening with some friends. I made the mistake of telling Ryan we were going to church with our friends BEFORE nap-time. Nap-time went something like this:

Me: Ryan it's time for a rest.
Ryan: No!!!! I need to go see my friends!
Me: Ryan we need to take a rest so we can feel good when we go to church and see our friends.
(Ryan goes to bed)
5 minutes later...
Ryan: It's time to go to church and visit our friends!
Me: Not yet. It's time for a rest.
(Ryan goes to bed)
5 minutes later...
Ryan: It's time to go to church and visit our friends!!!
Me: Go to bed!
(Ryan goes to bed)
10 minutes later...

This went on for quite some time and after about the 5th time he came bouncing out of his room proclaiming his excitement and readiness for going to church and seeing our friends I threw in the towel. Nap-time was a bust.

We needed to leave the house around 3:45 p.m. Around 3 or a little before I started getting myself and the boys ready to go. I ironed clothes and readied myself. Next Ryan was dressed. It was then that I looked up at the clock and noticed we were already running late. I grabbed Evan and began getting him ready for a quick bath. I undressed him down to the diaper and carried him into the kitchen. I unsnapped his diaper and began lifting him into the tub when I looked down. Yellow. Yellow mustardy poop. Yellow mustardy poop all over my WHITE shirt. Ugh! I quickly bathed my little boy. Dressed him. I ran to the bedroom and grabbed the first thing I could find that somewhat matched what I was already wearing. Whew! We left late, but we managed to make it to the Shellem's on time.

Church was fabulous!

Sleeping Sweety

Free Stuff

I got this stuff for free!

Puddle Jumping

Just in case you were wondering...we DID go puddle jumping while Hurricane Hermine dumped it's remnants on us. But this isn't a picture of that...because that would be just silly...to take a good camera out in the pouring rain and all. This is a picture of Ryan stomping around in the lake by our house after he *accidentally* fell in. :)

Lip Smackin' Good

Brothers

Day of Owies

Yesterday was a day of owies. Ryan smacked the side of the swingset and got a fat lip...
Poor little guy.
Of course everything can be fixed with Momma's good lovin's and of course...

Band-Aids!

Have no fear...the lip, finger and thumb were feeling much better by the end of the night.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday baby girl. I miss you my sweet little Brandy. Today you would have turned 7!

Priceless

Ryan's Gymnastics

Ryan is in gymnastics once a week. Today was the third week of gymnastics, but Ryan missed last week's class because he was sick. He did great today. He is, surprisingly, very timid when it comes to some of the elements. I think it's just going to take some to time for him to overcome some of his fears and insecurities.

Ryan also seems to get "lost" more easily than the other kids. He doesn't intend to not follow directions but he can only process one or two instructions at a time and the coach gives 4 or 5 instructions at a time...roll down the mat, jump on the spring-board, roll into the tube, climb up the rope, slide down the slide, hang upside down on the parallel bars and then start all over again. He gets lost after roll into the tube and has no idea where to go after that so he starts wandering. During the first class his coaches seemed to get irritated at him a lot (and constantly reprimanding him), but today they took the time to help him stay focused on what he was doing and re-directed to the next set of skills when he got lost. I was upset the first class (momma bear thing) but today I really tried to watch him and see if he was trying to obey or intentionally being a brat. I really think he tried very, very hard to do exactly as he was told at all times. For example when they lined the kids up and Ryan was last in line he always stayed last in line by his choosing and had a hard time "letting go" of that "instruction" when they put another boy last in line. When they said make a train by putting your arms on the shoulders of the person in front of you. He didn't let go until the poor kid in front of him was ducking away out of his grasp. When he was told to sit on the star he sat on the star and they had to coax him up when it was time to go. He was constantly looking at and waiting on one of his coaches to make sure he was doing it right. He sought their instruction and their approval. He seems so "developmentally young" compared to the other kids...consequence of prematurity perhaps. He's such a good kid...he just needs a little extra...extra patience, extra time, extra praise.

(This really could lead into a great post about education and why I want other alternatives, but alas...I'll wait for another time.)

Ryan loves to go to gymnastics and always has a great time! After every class he comes bouncing out of the room with a great big grin and tells me all about it! I love to hear him explain it all even though I sit behind a wall of glass and watch everything he does. I was extremely skeptical after the first class but after today I think this is going to be a really good thing for Ryan.

Here he is swinging (the blur)...
And the layout of the place...

My Kiddos At 2 Months

Princess Brandy...


Master Ryan...
(2-months actual)
(2-months adjusted, 6-months actual)

Sir Evan...

2 Month Update

Happy 2-months my little Evan! Wow! What a wonderful 2 months this has been. Slow down a little, though, you're growing too fast. At 2 months of age...

• You still have a head full of dark hair, but I think you've been a losing a little. Don't worry, though, it's growing back in...still dark and full.
• You've struggled with a bout of colicky, gassy pains. For several weeks you spent a good amount of time uncomfortable and cranky...unless you were laying on Mommy, being bounced, etc., etc, etc. Thankfully the colic seems to be coming to an end. You're still a gassy little fella, but you're managing it better everyday.
• Speaking of gas...you are very vocal in many ways and having gas or anything else in your system causing discomfort is reason for you to "make it known". You also protest dirty or wet diapers. If you're crying and we can't figure out why that's usually the problem. If you're hungry you let us know. If you're cold you protest too. However, if you're hot you just quit everything...you won't eat or anything else.
• You're cooing is precious. We love it, love it, love it!
• You're smiles are amazing. At 2 months old you occasionally smile at us while we talk to you. We love every little grin. (At a little over a week past your 2 month birthday you started smiling A LOT when being spoken to.) Ooooo...I could eat those smiles up!
• Sometimes you present a good protest just because you feel like you've been left alone.
• You are starting to play on your mat more and you really like your worm (colorful caterpillar) that dangles down ready for your flailing little arms. You also like your mirror. And...yes...you are definitely a cute little baby!
• You still grunt...A LOT!
• You're doing pretty well at night. Some nights you even give Mommy a good 6 hours sleep. Most nights you allow 3 or 4 between each meal, but you always eat and go right back to sleep.
• You really don't like being in your carseat for very long...REALLY don't like it. Usually a trip to OKC with running around to a couple 2 or 3 stores and you've had enough. Our trip home is sometimes a difficult one and we've been known to pull over for a minute to offer some soothing remedies. Just the other evening you cried all the way home from Guthrie. Thankfully it's not that far away.
• So far you haven't been too far away from home (read previous note), but you have been a few places. You've been to the zoo, out to eat a few times, Nana's house...of course, the park, UnPluggit's play studio, shopping, and a few other places.
• You like the wrap. We haven't been able to use it much because it's been so stinkin' hot around here, but on the couple of cool days or in "appropriately" air-conditioned stores I've placed you in the Moby wrap. You just snuggle right on in and enjoy the ride. I think it's going to be a great thing for us as the cooler months arrive.
• You eat like a champ. I don't know you're exact weight these days because you haven't been to the doctor in several weeks. I can tell you're growing and you seem very healthy. That's all that matters.
• You're just now starting to outgrow some of your newborn-sized clothes. You're now starting to wear more and more size 0-3 months clothes.
• You're as cute as can be and we love you soooo veeerrryyy MUCH!
  

2-Month Video

Bathtime

I have 2 sick little boys. Runny noses. Thick colorful snot. Coughs. Crankiness. And more.

So...here's a picture from a couple weeks ago.

Happy 2 months to my sweet little Evan. I'll post a 2-month-old update within a day or so...when things are a little better around here.

My 2 Boys

Weekend Away

This past weekend Ryan, Evan, and I went with Nana to Aunt Lizzy's house. We spent Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday enjoying our mini-vacation with my wonderful sister and her husband.

Evan did a whole lot of this...
...awww the life. Reclining by the pool.

Since Lizzy and Bradford still live in an apartment complex they get the luxury of a pool. Since we were their guests...so did we!

Ryan swimming with Aunt Lizzy...
Oh! And Evan did a little stretching from time to time...
It was hot! I took Evan in the pool for a few minutes (I'm waiting on Lizzy to e-mail the pictures). He didn't like it as much as his big brother.

This guy...




...is like a fish! Once he figured out the benefits of those arm floaties he was up and down and in and out of the water. He gained so much confidence just in the few short hours we were in the pool. By the time we were through swimming he was jumping off the side, going under the water without fear and swimming independently. It was pretty awesome to watch him. I can't wait to take him swimming again.

We went swimming 2 different times on Saturday (afternoon and evening), but I think Ryan could have stayed in the pool the entire time we were at Aunt Lizzy's. Too bad us adults didn't have his kind of energy!

Sunday morning we went to the park. It was already hot, hot, hot by the time we got there, so we didn't stay long. We should have just jumped in the pool one last time. :)



We ended our weekend with an outing to the local mall. Ryan played in the play area while we visited. We couldn't end our stay, however, without a quick ride on the helicopter...
We had a great time.

Growing Up!

My boy is growing up. Too fast I might add. A little over a week ago Ryan climbed out of his crib...for the first time ever. Crazy I know. He climbs on the stove and jumps off of his dresser but in 3 1/2 years had never climbed out of the crib. Well the night he came trotting back into the living room after going to bed in the crib was the night I finally decided he should probably move up and out of the crib on a more permanent basis. I admit, though, I really wasn't ready. I really kind of liked the confinement of the crib. Once he was in...he was in...until he was helped out. I began stressing. How in the world was I going to keep the boy in bed?

Last Friday we worked together in his room. We completely dismantled the crib and moved it, piece by piece, out of "Good Boy's" room. (He's taken to calling himself "Good Boy" all the time now but that's another story). He chose a new place for the "Cars Bed" (twin bed with CARS bedding). He wanted it in the same place as the crib. We rearranged. We straightened. We cleaned. Until "Good Boy's" room was also a "Big Boy's" room. Friday night we had a big party with dinner and cupcakes. Nana and Papa came. We made it a BIG deal!

Friday night we tucked Ryan in bed...and...oh my goodness...he...he...he stayed! He went to bed like a champ and stayed in bed all night long! No crying, no whining, no problems. So far this part of growing up had been a wonderful experience for all of us. He's such a good boy!

Of course if I said we had perfection around here everyone would probably give me a tongue-lashing. He has asked at least once to move the crib back into his room and move his new bed back. He still asks me to sleep on the "Cars Bed". He now expects at least 2 or 3 stories before bedtime and needs the closet light on. He still fusses if he doesn't have just the right collection of cars. Last night he fought going to bed and needed several reminders where he was supposed to be. He came out of that room with every excuse possible. "I need to hug Momma." "I need to hug baby brother." "I need to take this ball away." The best excuse we heard was, "I have a big problem! I have crumbs in my bed." He handed me ONE crumb.

He sure makes me smile!

OUTSIDE!

We FINALLY got to play outside today.


Ohhhh....fall weather how I long for your return!