Stroller Sighs

I can't sleep. (And apparently neither can my husband since I've started snoring now, in my 9th month of pregancy.)

And, truly, it's for such a SILLY reason.

I've yet to decide on which stroller to buy and I wake up at night with my mind racing, trying to analyze my options. I know this is stupid. I know it's just a stroller. I don't get to take it with me when I die. But seriously, I feel like it affects my quality of life. And I literally cannot make any other decisions concerning the baby until the stroller is sitting in my garage. Oh, I'm so shallow! So I'm just going to lay it all out there. Here are my concerns. Keep in mind that I've spent upwards of an hour every day reading every review possible :

• We've budgeted $300 to put towards a stroller/strollers. Anything over that I have to come up with myself. (Not quite an easy task when you don't work.)

• The main things I think I'll use my stroller for are: daily walks, jogging, places like the zoo, farmer's market, etc. I rarely go to the mall or even out shopping since that's just no fun anymore with a toddler. In fact, I got our stroller out about 2 weeks ago and realized that I hadn't used it since Christmas!

• I HEART BOB. I want a Revolution Duallie. (Yes, this is double our budget -- but worth it??) I even found a store that sells them and dragged Jon and Tanner there with me to check one out. Jon and I both agreed that it rocked. However, we were a little concerned that our carseat isn't compatible with the adapter. Then, we tried to fit it in our trunk and it wouldn't fit. For a split second, I considered getting on my hands and knees and BEGGING Jon to upgrade us to a mini-van this year instead of next so that we could accomodate this wonderful stroller. (I'll blame that little bit of insanity on the hormones ...)I cried on the way home. Because I was disappointed it wasn't going to work and I was upset with myself for being upset about something so materialistic. Did you get all that? And now ... I just keep thinking ... maybe we could have maneuvered that stroller just a little bit differently and somehow made it fit ... Anyways ... it's hard to spend $600+ on a stroller that's not 100% perfect. And they literally can't be found used.

• So then I think ... how about buying a cheap jogger that stays in our garage and then another stroller to keep in the car. But the jogger has to be decent because it's already hard enough for me to run 3 miles and if the jogger is crappy then I know I won't use it. And I could just get a sit-n-stand for the car??

• Part of the problem is that we have a Chicco carseat, which is compatible with NOTHING. Except for maybe the Bumbleride Indie Twin, which I'm really starting to think might be our best option. Again, it's way more that we want to spend, but might be a good "all-in-one."

So there it is. Go ahead and say it -- I'm a total stroller snob. You were all so sweet to leave me comments and suggestions after my last stroller post. Any more wisdom you might be able lend?? I'd love to be able to get at least a few weeks of good sleep before little Landon comes and the real sleep deprivation begins!!!

All Tuckered Out

I should have known it would be "one of those days." After all, I had a lot of things on my to-do list today, and that, most assuredly, means that Tanner will be more mischieveous than usual. Hmmm.

We started the day with breakfast, where I decided to let him drink his milk out of his own little mug instead of a sippy cup. He was doing great ... until I turned my back to dry some dishes. When I turned around, I caught him at the refrigerator trying to fill it with water from the dispenser on the door. Thankfully, the water dispenser was locked, but the milk was everywhere. No use crying over spilled milk, huh? I just wiped it up and went about my business.

Got Milk?

A little while -- and a few more spills -- later we were upstairs and Tanner was playing around while I changed some sheets. As I finished my job, I could hear the little stinker in the bathroom. There he was, with Daddy's Old Spice in hand, rubbing it across his face. At least he smelled good afterwards. (And thank goodness he wasn't playing in the toilets, his new favorite hobby -- although he very well could have been doing that and I just didn't catch him.)

Okay, Mom! I'm ready for playgroup! I'm bringing all my friends with me!

Later this morning we went to playgroup and he fell asleep in the car on the way home. I transferred him into his bed, but heard him awake and playing just a few minutes afterwards. I had just gotten everything out to put another coat of paint on my bathroom walls (this is coat #5 ... a whole other blog entry in itself) so I left him in his room to play for awhile. After I was finished, I quickly cleaned both upstairs bathrooms since he still sounded content. Finally, after everything was put away, I checked on my monitor and saw that he was laying in bed. Not sure if he was asleep or just bored, I went in to check on him. This is what I found.

Hmm ... someone's been busy!

Yes, we're going to have to do something with those cords ... YIKES!!

Oh, my busy boy, how I love you!

A House Full of Boys

I'd love to tell you that my home is a soothing, relaxed little haven, where family members are calm and the atmosphere is peaceful. But, alas, this is our reality.

I think I like it better this way anyways. ;)

Suprise!

I'll be honest. I had zero expectations for Valentine's Day this year. Not only did I just get some MAJOR spoiling for my birthday, my husband has been CRAZY busy since the beginning of the year with school and work. I honestly didn't even think he'd remember that tomorrow is Valentine's Day, he's got so much going on in his head right now. Which was completely fine with me.

That's why it was SO cool to find this on my doorstep after running errands this morning. Aren't they GORGEOUS?? And the best part is, they came with chocolates, too, and a sweet sweet note from my main squeeze. I'm LOVED!!!

33 Weeks

This morning was my 33-week doctor's appointment. Everything looks normal and I'm feeling pretty good. I can't believe my due date is less than 50 days away!! WOW! After my next appointment, I'll start seeing the doctor every week -- that's how you know things are getting close! I'm so excited to meet this little boy, and I know Jon is, too. Tanner is another story, though. Every time I ask him if we should get a baby to come live with us, he says, "NNNNNOOOOOO!!!" And Jon is always asking him if he's ready to be a big brother yet ... "NO! NO! NO!" He totally doesn't know what's happening! I predict he'll be a completely jealous older brother, but also very excited to have a new baby around. Anyways ... for those of you who requested a belly shot ... here it is! :)

Note To Self:

If you decide the best way to keep your little boy in his big boy room is to lock him in, be sure to keep a key somewhere in the room.


Just in case you happen to accidentally lock yourself in the bedroom with him ...


... and nobody else is home


... and you don't have a phone.


Thank God I had a hairpin in my hair today! It would've been a LONG afternoon and evening!

Just a little pre-nap baking

Thanks, Mom and Dad!

What a refreshing weekend we had! And it couldn't have come at a better time. After an entire week of staying at home with a sick, whiney, bored little boy, I was at my wit's end. I was a frazzled, lonely, hormone-overloaded, weepy mess by the time Tanner and I arrived at my parents' house on Friday afternoon. I had arranged for a quick trip to Michigan this weekend to attend a baptism for my cousin's new little boy and to get out of Jon's hair while he did some serious studying for his midterms. As soon as my mom got home from work, I walked into her arms, crying ...



"I'm the worst mom ever."



"Why?"



"Because I can't stand my own child!"



"Oh, honey ... "


And from there, I was completely spoiled and taken care of all weekend. My parents are so good at making me feel loved and easing my burdens. They made sure I got plenty of sleep -- even taking the monitor with them to their room at night so I wouldn't have to worry about getting up with Tanner. They totally took initiative to play with Tanner, feed him, and keep him happy. And the best part is that they truly enjoy every minute of being with him. I love being at home with them. We didn't even do anything special ... just spent time together, watched reruns of The Office (HILARIOUS), and laughed at Tanner. It was a great weekend and now I am refreshed and ready for a new week!



Here is a video of my dad sledding with Tanner in the backyard. It was so much fun to watch them and remember when he used to take US sledding when we were little!

Just wondering ...

... if any of you have daughters that insist on doing things like this.

I swear, if I don't have a heart-attack by the time he's two I'll be lucky!

Good Mornings

Yesterday: breakfast with Mickey.

This morning: coffee with Daddy.

Could life GET any better?

A Surprise On My Doorstep

Yesterday, I was so excited to receive an awesome package from Amazon.com with two great books and an adorable onesie for the baby. However, there was no packing slip included, so I don't who to thank for this wonderful (and thoughtful) gift and Amazon wasn't able to help me. If you are the giver, I would LOVE to know!!

Finally!

I'm BAAAAACK!

Several days in a row of no nap for the little guy is just NOT very conducive to blogging, that's for sure! Night-time in the big-boy room is going great, but nap-time is another story! We only have a few toys (legos, stuffed animals) in Tanner's room along with several books, but they sure do keep him busy while he's fighting sleep! I don't mind him playing quietly until he's ready to go to sleep, but it is important to me that he does sleep at some point! Otherwise we have a cranky toddler and, ultimately, a cranky mommy by early evening! He actually spent a few afternoons in a row just reading and playing up there for 2-2.5 hours without sleeping! YIKES! Luckily, yesterday and today he's actually started falling asleep again. I was about to start putting him back in the crib for naps!

ANYWAYS, thank you for all of the sweet birthday messages. I had a FANTASTIC birthday! My parents came to town for the weekend and babysat so that Jon and I could go out. We actually went to see two movies with dinner in-between at Cheesecake Factory. YUM!! And I do have to say ... I totally made out on birthday gifts! Jon got me a remote starter for my car. What a treat in this frigid weather! I LOVE hopping into a toasty car whenever we go somewhere! And my parents got me a Keurig single-cup brewer so that I can make myself a cup of joe whenever I want. Can I just say -- HEAVEN?!! 60 seconds and you have a hot mug of great coffee with no cleanup whatsoever. I'm so lovin' it! (and feeling REALLY spoiled!) I have some lemon-almond biscotti baking in the oven right now, just waiting to be dipped into melted white chocolate. I have to have SOMETHING to eat with all that coffee, right? (Note to self: watching Food Network while pregnant is NOT safe. You will only want to cook everything you see.)

Besides the birthday, life is just normal. I'm starting to feel pretty pregnant and have trouble sleeping at night because I'm just uncomfortable and have about a million things running through my mind. Tanner has been sick with a cold this week, which has left us out of the loop with friends and activities. I'm trying very hard not to get cabin fever and have spent 2 of the past 3 mornings meandering through Target just to get out of the house for a bit. I'm also trying to be creative and think of some new fun things for Tanner to do at home. We baked cupcakes together for my birthday and he thought he'd died and gone to heaven. Boy, did he love pouring ingredients into the bowl and mixing things together. He did have a meltdown, though, when it was time to put them in the oven. He really is enjoying anything that seems like "real" work -- putting dishes in the dishwasher and helping me unload, sweeping the floor, prepare food, etc. I would LOVE to hear any good ideas you might have for ways to keep toddlers busy. He's just going through a stage right now where he's not that into toys.

Okay ... gotta go get the biscotti out of the oven. Enjoy the pics!