What do you do ... ?

... if you're 2 years old and your mommy puts you in your room for a time out?

Why, dress up in your dragon costume from Halloween 2 years ago and try to scare her when she opens the door, of course!






Then, go outside and ROOOOOAAAARRRRR!!!!!!! at Daddy while he builds his shed. :)

Wow!

What a week it has been!

This time last weekend, I was feeling pretty down. It had been a long week and I was just kind of tired of being a mom. Have you ever felt that way? Like ... if I have to clean this kitchen one more time I'm going to lose my mind? That's all I do ALL DAY LONG!!! And ... do you seriously have to throw every single toy out of the bathtub, then try to make a tsunami with the water, and finally throw yourself out of the tub? SERIOUSLY??

My Saturday night post-kiddie-bedtime went like this:
8:00 towel off from kids' bathtime
8:03 put on pajamas
8:05 try to pick out something nice to wear to church on Mother's Day. Settle on a dress.
8:15 realize that I haven't polished my toenails since the week prior to Landon's birth.
8:17 find a bottle of nail polish that's NOT crusty and yucky and slap on a few coats of it.
8:30 head downstairs.
8:31 Jon (with a seriously disappointed look on his face): "Ummm ... you're already in your pajamas? Really?"
8:32 slip even further into Mommy depression

HOWEVER ...

Things started to turn around on Sunday morning. Yes, it was Mother's Day, but my expectations were pretty low. My only request was Starbucks in bed. This is how Sunday went down:

8:30 Jon and boys wake me up with a breakfast tray, complete with my favorite Starbucks drink, some yummy breakfast casserole, a sweet card, and my first gift -- the first year of my blog made into a book. I. Loved. It. And I spent the next hour sipping my coffee and peacefully reading about what my life was like in 2006. (Ummm ... SO different)

10:30 Leave for church. Jon has dressed both boys (use your imagination), put them in the car, gotten sippy cups, snacks, and the diaper bag ready. We actually make it 5 minutes EARLY!!!

12:30 Arrive home from church. Jon throws some hotdogs on the grill, but says we have to hurry because there is somewhere we need to be by 1:30.

1:15 Load the boys up in the van and we're off. Jon doesn't tell me where we're going. Imagine my surprise when we arrive at the mall, where Jon tells me to go in and pick something special out for a trip I'm going on next weekend. (Yes, sans kids, more on that later!) He watches the boys while I shop for a bit, but we only have an hour he says. I haven't settled on anything by then, so he says we'll come back.

2:30 The whole fam is in the car and once again, I have no clue where we're headed. Which is why I was just tickled when we pulled up outside of a massage place and Jon informed me that I had an appointment for an hour-long massage!!!!! OMG!! Am I dreaming?

4:00 Massage ends and we head back to the mall, where Jon watches the kids while I try on clothes. He helps me pick out something chic to wear and we both agree we had a really good time. I was so surprised he had so much fun -- I think he gets the shopping gene from his mom.

6:30 Return home, put kids in bed, and enjoy a relaxing evening.

Best. Mother's Day. Ever.

Needless to say, I was on a high most of the week. To think that my husband put so much thought and time into the day just made me feel so special and valued as a mother. Here are some of the other highlights of my week:

* Listening to Sarah Palin speak at home in Michigan. My mother-in-law gave me her ticket and watched my kids so that I could go. Aren't I lucky?
* Taking the kids to the zoo with my father-in-law. Every year, Tanner gets more and more excited!
* Getting our first REAL babysitter ever and going out to a movie last night. We already can't wait to schedule another night out! I feel like a whole new world has opened up for us!

Okay ... gotta get going. Just a little confession, first, though. I was already in my pj's at 8:15 this Saturday, too. But this time I'm getting ready to cuddle up with the hubs and a big bowl of ice cream. :)

Look-Alikes

C'mon, Grandpa! Look at the camera.

Can you see the resemblence?

You're only missing one thing ... a paci.

If only you had one, you could look super cool like me. See?

I think you're pretty cool, anyways!!

The Truth Is ...

I love my kids (and everybody else) so much more after a cup of coffee.

I'm just saying ...

Happy Birthday...

to the sweetest Father-in-law a girl could ask for.

We love you, Grandpa "Michael" and can't wait to see you soon!

Oh, Happy Day!

Friday was a big day for one very special boy in our house.


It was Potty Day (a.k.a. "Day of 1,000 Bribes")! The day we said goodbye to diapers and HELLO to big boy underpants! We had a "Potty Party" all day and ended up having lots of fun together doing some potty training!

When Tanner came downstairs in the morning, the bathroom was decorated with crepe paper and balloons, along with a "Happy Potty Day" sign. He loved it and kept saying, "Look at the decorations! They're for MEEEE!!!" (I think he was a little confused most of the day, actually, thinking it was also his birthday.) He didn't want to go potty yet, so we went to the kitchen for breakfast. While he was sitting at the table, I took his favorite (very LARGE) stuffed dog and set him on the potty with big boy underpants around his legs. Then, I put a few chocolate chips into the toilet bowl.

"Tanner, get in here!! Look at Cocoa -- he's going poopy on the potty!"

I wish you could have seen Tanner's face when we lifted Cocoa off the potty and he saw the "poopies" left behind. Priceless. I think it motivated him to get "going" and from then on, it was smooth sailing. We had potty treats (jelly beans), poopy treats (little candy bars), a sticker chart, a huge chocolate cake that we baked together, and finally the promise of a trip to get ice cream if things went well.

All in all, lots of sugar, and lots of fun. Yay, Tanner! Mommy is soooo proud of YOU!!!

In Case You've Been Wondering ...

I never got sick after all!

Somebody must have been praying -- was it you, Grammy?

I have no idea why germs travel so fast in this house. Do you?






** P.S. Don't worry, Aunt Kat -- we're cutting the mullet any day now. ;)

Waiting

I've always felt like the waiting that occurs before a dreaded event is often worse than the event itself.

For example, the weeks leading up to Jon's first deployment were terrible. We were both filled with anxiety about what was to come. We didn't know what life would be like for either of us. We weren't sure exactly when the unit would leave. Every week for about 6 weeks, we were told "this is the week." It was insane. But ... after he finally left, the focus changed to getting through the deployment, writing letters, etc. It was definitely very hard, but not as terrible as those weeks before he left.

I felt the same way after I had Landon. I think I cried almost the entire time my mom and sister were here helping me that first week. I just kept repeating, "How am I going to do this when you leave? How will I take care of two? I'm never going to be able to do it!" And guess what ... my first day by myself was great.

So ... want to know what I'm waiting on now?

I'm such a wimp.

On Thursday, this guy woke up vomiting. Yuck. He only did it once, though, and seemed to be feeling much better for the rest of the day. I thought it was just some sort of fluke.



Today, this guy threw up ALL day. And he was either on my lap or in my arms each time. Double Yuck.


So, now I'm waiting for my turn. I HATE stomach viruses. I know most mothers would say, "I would rather be sick myself than see my child sick." I am not one of those mothers ... not when it comes to throwing up. Better you than me. Know what I'm sayin?

The worst part about the stomach flu when you are a mom is that first you get to clean up everyone else's vomit, then you get to vomit yourself ... while you are still responsible for taking care of everyone else.

LORD, please SPARE ME!!!! (Just FYI ... I actually prayed this at dinner and Jon told me not to get mad at God if he didn't come through on this one -- like it might just be too tough for him. I was like -- Seriously, dude? It's GOD!)

Dear Mom

I saw that last post you wrote about me. All I can say is WHAAAAATTT??

Do I look like TROUBLE to you?

Give me a chance to explain myself.

I'm just trying to keep you sharp, that's all! I notice that you're trying to get into shape. That's why I keep climbing up onto things when you're not looking. It gives you a chance to do a few sprints during the day. And all that wrestling we do when it comes time to change diapers? I'm just trying to throw in a little resistance training! As for the mulch I've been gnawing on in the backyard -- I thought I'd set a good example by eating a diet that's high in fiber.

Now, you're probably wondering why I threw that can of Diet Dr. Pepper onto the floor a few nights ago. Trying to avoid the spray as the can flew all over the floor really made you dance ... and they say that's good for the soul. I also heard that your blood pressure was very low at your last checkup, so that's why I decided to get into the trash can and start eating the raw chicken. I though your head might explode, which means we definitely got the BP up for a minute there!

Just a few more things ...

Remember the other day when you couldn't find anyone's shoes in the mud room? You looked all over the place trying to solve that mystery ... and problem solving definitely exercises the mind. Aren't you glad you finally found all three pairs in the trash can?

As for that toy I threw down the lint trap of the dryer while you weren't looking. I was way ahead of you on that one. I knew that later that night -- after you'd taken apart the whole dryer, retrieved the toy, and put the dryer back together -- you would feel a real sense of accomplishment. I'm really sorry that you electrocuted yourself in the process, but really, Mom. You should ALWAYS unplug an appliance before trying to fix it.

And last, but certainly not least, the toilets. I know that if I play in them enough, it will motivate you to clean them regularly. And who couldn't use a little motivation when it comes to cleaning your toilets?

So, you see, Mom. I'm really no TROUBLE at all. Just a little boy trying to take care of his best girl. Aren't you glad I'm YOURS?!!!

Dear Landon

I thought we'd start a little early with learning how to spell your name. I mean, I am a teacher and I want you to be very smart. So here we go.

The first letter is T. Yes, that's right. T.

The next letter is R. Can you say, R?

Oh yes, I know you might think I'm wrong, but I'm not.

The next letter is O. You know, Mommy says this letter a lot. "O My! What have you gotten yourself into?!"

Then we have a U. Because I love U.

And next is a B.

Then an L. What's that? You thought your name started with an L? Oh, I did, too, but sometimes names are tricky like that.

And we'll end with an E.

Okay, time to put it all together. Are you ready?

T-R-O-U-B-L-E!!

Band of Brothers

Also known as Band-Aid Brothers.

The Birthday Boy Walks!

Yes, I realize that I have yet to post about Landon's first birthday. Here's my excuse:

Every time I sit down to write a birthday post, I start by going through pictures. This leads me to start browsing through older pictures. And even older pictures. And before I know it, I'm caught up in reminiscing about life a year ago, two years ago, three years ago, etc. And then it's 10:30 and I can hardly keep my eyes open anymore.

But ... NOT TONIGHT!! Tonight, I'm going to finish this post! Because if I've learned anything during my past few attempts at this, it's that time FLIES, and before I know it, Landon will be TWO and I'll still be thinking about this post.


Anyways ...

Last Sunday, my littlest love turned one. And just like Tanner, he was sick on his first birthday. Poor guy! The doctor told us he had a sinus infection and gave us a prescription, but unfortunately, the meds weren't very effective. Still, we did our best to try and make him happy! We decided a few weeks earlier that we wanted to do something special, so we got a hotel room that Saturday night and had a little overnight with the boys. The hotel was only a few towns over, so we didn't feel like we were going on a huge trip. Tanner had a blast swimming in the pool and then staying up late to watch a movie and sleep in our bed. Landon, bless his heart, would have had way more fun if he was feeling better. He had a fever all during the night, but was such a trooper!

When we came home, Landon opened his presents. Well, for the record, Tanner opened his presents. Then we all had some cake. Poor Landon was just feeling so yucky. We finished up pretty quickly and then the boys had a nap.












The next day was Landon's well-baby checkup. He still wasn't really well, so the doctor prescribed some different meds (they worked!!!) and we went forward with the rest of the checkup. Here are the stats:

32.5 inches (off the charts)
23 lbs 4 oz (65%)

Despite the sinus infection, he's quite the healthy little boy.



Fast forward to this past weekend. The Hall Gang traveled to Michigan to celebrated Easter and Landon's birthday again with the grandparents. We got in late on Friday night. Saturday morning, we had planned to go to an Easter Egg Hunt on the bluff. It rained (of course) but we were brave and decided to stick it out. This turned out to be a huge mistake. Poor Tanner froze once the siren went off to start the hunt. By the time he was ready to get in on the action, all of the eggs were gone. He was NOT a happy camper after that. (I think he was just exhausted. He was up ALL NIGHT playing with the toys in his room at Grandma and Grandpa's!)

Later that afternoon (after ALL of my boys had a nap) Grandma and Grandpa Hall hosted a birthday party at their house, complete with decorations, pizza, etc. It was great! (And, of course, I forgot my camera!!) Grammy and Poppy came and we ate pizza and cake, opened presents, then watched the Final Four together. The boys had a blast with all of their favorite people there. I wish I had some pictures to share!

Easter Sunday was full of good times with family. The boys woke and immediately started looking for their Easter baskets. Once they were found, it was on to an Easter Egg hunt. Tanner did MUCH better this time. :) After church, it was on to my Grandparents' house and ANOTHER egg hunt. This time, Tanner found 10/30 eggs. (I didn't realize they were only supposed to get 3 or 4!!) We dubbed him "Most Improved Player" for the weekend. :)

Birthday week officially ended last night when we returned home. Landon surprised us all by taking his FIRST steps! It was so exciting for everyone -- even Tanner was dancing and cheering! The little man is definitely far from a "walker," but now we know that he CAN do it. YAY!! He took a few steps again today, but he's totally not as excited about it as we are. Stay tuned for a video as soon as we can manage to catch him in the act!

Right Now ...

I should be cleaning up my messy messy -- God, if someone other than a family member walked in right now I'd crawl into a hole and die -- house.

Truly. It's kind of disgusting.

But, I had to race out the door as soon as I put Landon to bed so that I could get my grocery shopping done before they closed. Then, of course, I had to watch American Idol, which I DVR'd. And now, if I'm going to stay up until midnight, it sure as heck isn't going to be cleaning. You know what I'm saying?

Really, I'm not as terrible of a housekeeper as I sound. Or am I?? Frankly, I don't even care. All I know is that spring has SPRUNG!! We made it through winter (I think)! Tanner has a slight sunburn on his face from being outside ALL. DAY. LONG. My windows are open and my house smells like sunshine and fresh air.

And I feel like a new woman.

AMEN. I'm goin' to bed.

Couponing and the Couch Potato

I'm very disappointed in my blogging as of late.

However ... instead of taking responsibility for it, I'm just going to blame it all on Shelby. That's right ... it's completely her fault. You see, she wrote this awesome tutorial on super-couponing a few weeks back and ever since I've been spending most of my "computer" time pouring over these money-saving websites:

Hip2Save
Totally Target
Mashup Mom
Krazy Coupon Lady

And even though, I'm not as good at all of this as Shelby, I'm pretty proud of all the money I've been saving lately! I saved $125 on my grocery bill just this week! Just to warn you -- I hope it's not too late -- do NOT visit Hip2Save unless you want to become an addict just like me. I'm such a STALKER!!!


Anyways ... I have been doing other things besides stalking deal websites.

I've been watching American Idol.

And Dancing with the Stars.

And Modern Family.

And Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.

Oh ... and Season 1 of Big Love from Netflix.

Can I blame all of that on Shelby, too? Hmm ... probably not.



Still, I PROMISE that I haven't been just sitting in front of the computer or television all day long. We've been playing outside and spending lots of time with friends. Tanner is still blossoming in school. He loves it and I am always so excited to pick him up and see his smiling face. He has really been behaving well at home lately and I am so thankful. He is such a fantastic big brother to Landon. I just can't get over how kind he is to him and how often he includes him in his play. Landon is a lucky guy, that's for sure!



Speaking of the little guy ... he turns one in just two days. I can't believe it! Where has the year gone? I remember going into labor and delivering him just like it was yesterday. What a complete joy he's been in my life! He still isn't walking, but moves around so FAST and is into anything that could possibly make a mess or be dangerous. He's so rough and tumble and completely fearless. He really reminds me a lot of his Uncle Pat in personality and action. I can't wait until the two of them can meet!

Well, I'm off to relax a little bit (in front of the tv) before I head off to bed. Here's a little video to help you start your weekend with a smile. He's such a stinker.

Heat Wave

Oh yes, you read that correctly.

It's been almost 60 degrees here for the past few days and we are finally starting to thaw out! There are toys strewn about the backyard and we have already spent a few afternoons at the park and even had a picnic. Never mind that it's supposed to snow again this weekend! Our windows were open for most of the day yesterday, and even though it was a tad chilly inside, the fresh air felt and smelled amazing. We can't wait until the warm weather is here to stay!

My mission is to get this little guy walking before then,

and to stock up on plenty of "bubble juice" to keep this guy happy for the summer.

Oh, and a fabulous bikini body for me would be nice, too.
But, I'm not going to hold my breath.

Thank Goodness ...

... for preschool teachers!!

Especially the ones who already have 4 kids at home, are pregnant with their fifth, and are still excited to welcome my little tornado into their classroom twice a week.

This class has truly been a godsend for the whole family. Tanner's happy to have something of his own to do. I'm happy because I feel much less stressed knowing I have a few hours each week to run some errands and do things that wouldn't otherwise be possible. Jon's happy to come home to a cheerful wife once again. And Landon's happy ... well, he's pretty much always happy.

Tanner and I are getting along famously these days. This may have a lot to do with the fact that he's sleeping better since we've gone back to locking his bedroom door at night and nap-time. Which, in turn, means that I'm getting better sleep, too! Just a little over a week ago, I couldn't WAIT to put him to bed each night. These days, I'm really enjoying that special time together. We talk, laugh, sing ... he showers me with hugs and kisses, then says "Goodnight, Mama!" as I shut the door. I'm completely aware that this could be related to the whole preschool/sleeping better thing ... or not. We could just be on a high right now, coming off of a super-long low. Parenting has those, too, you know, just like marriage does. Or, this all could be the result of Grammy's prayers -- that's what she says, anyways. And we know one thing ... Grammy is usually right!

Did I mention that Landon has been sleeping all the way until 6:30 or 7:00 each morning as well?? I know, I know -- that only took 11 months, right??!! Geez! This guy has really upped his game against me this past week. He is ALL OVER THE PLACE!!! Such a little monkey -- climbing on everything. We're still not sure how he got all the way up here:

and I have a feeling he's not going to tell us, either.

He's become SUPER cuddly after his nap each afternoon and I'm just soaking up every moment of it. If you've ever met Landon, you know that cuddly is one thing he's NOT. He's a mover and a shaker and doesn't like to be restricted to anyone's arms or lap. So, I'm totally lovin' all this unexpected lovin'! Especially since I know that as soon as big brother wakes up I'm chopped liver. I keep asking myself -- "How is it that he's already turning ONE??" What a bright spot he's been in my days this past year!

So glad to be back in a place where I'm lovin' time with my boys again! Thank you so much for all the encouragement! And keep the prayers comin', Grammy!

Progress Report

TUESDAY:
First day of school! Tanner was upset when he saw the bus drive by our house. He still thought he was going to be riding that thing to school!! When we got there, we waited with the rest of the kids and their parents outside of the classroom. As soon as the teacher opened the door, he ran right in and started playing. He barely even gave me a kiss goodbye -- I practically had to go in and beg for one! When I picked him up, the teacher told me he did great. She said it was like he'd always been a part of the class. YAY, Tanner!!




WEDNESDAY:
We had MOPS at church. Tanner whined all the way home:

"I don't WANT to go home! Take me to my class at SCHOOL!!! I want to go to my class!!"

"Sorry, honey. No school today!"

"Take me to McDonalds!!!"

Oh, geez ...




THURSDAY:
Second day of school.

"I don't WANT to go to school! I want to stay home!!!"

We arrive at school and Tanner slumps down in the hallway and won't go into the classroom. Goodness grief. I pick him up and take him into the classroom. We do a puzzle together.

"Okay, Mom. You leave. Gotta go to your own class."

Hmpff!

He receives another glowing report from his teacher upon pickup. I take the boys to McDonald's on the way home. The only one between school and home has a playplace, but it's new and clean, so I think it will probably be okay. (Why am I so stupid??)

Tanner climbs all the way to the very top. He sits on a platform at the top, whining for about 15 minutes that he's stuck. I ask a little girl if she would mind climbing up there to help him down. She helps him. He immediately climbs right back up to the same platform. Yes ... by now it's a full-blown scene. I strap Landon into his stroller, climb up that playplace holding my breath that there is no weight limit, and drag him down, kicking and screaming.

I try to put him down for a nap when we get home. After about an hour, he is still awake, so I go up to get him. He has destroyed the special Bible that Grammy got him for his baby dedication. I say a quick prayer for him, hoping he can still get into heaven.

Fortunately, our day improves from there. After all ... he did get a good report from his teacher, so I can't hold a grudge.

I Always Tell People ...

One of the best things about having my boys close together is that they truly seem to enjoy each others' company. I know this isn't always the case, so I consider myself pretty lucky in this area. Tanner has definitely had some, err, moments, during this crazy year of being two, but I have to say ... he is the BEST big brother a kid could ask for. When it comes to Landon, he is super gentle, sensitive, playful, protective, and loving. As soon as he sees his "little guy" he grins from ear to ear. (Okay, okay! I do, too! I can't help it!) At this stage in life, I can honestly say, they are the BEST of friends. And I pray every night that they'll continue to love each other this much!

They came up with this little game all on their own the other night:

What I'm Thinking ...

First of all, because he called all the way from Afghanistan this morning just to beg for more pictures, these are for you, Uncle Pat. We can't wait until you get home.

Now, are you ready for some rambling?

It has been quite a week. Last week just kind of stunk, actually. Tanner and I pretty much butted heads all day, everyday. I was irritable. He wasn't obeying. A recipe for disaster, I guess you could say. On Wednesday morning, he was up at 4:55 am. For. The. Day. By 9:00, we had eaten breakfast, cooked together, had a few timeouts, done a few projects, watched a few shows, had some snacks. And he was still whining at me. Finally, at 9:15, I locked myself in the laundry room and turned the dryer on to block out the noise. Tanner sat outside where the light switches are and flipped them on and off. Nice. I prayed. It went a little something like this:

"Are you there, God? It's me, Rachel. Here I am with my cup of coffee, which I've already had to microwave 16 times this morning. You've gotta help me here. Is it ALWAYS going to be like this?


Will he EVER obey me? I'm trying so hard. Please help me to be a good mom. You wanna know my worst fear? I mean ... you already know, but I'm gonna say it anyway. My worst fear is that he'll be the naughty kid in school. I KNOW ... it's so stupid! But I just hated the naughty kids in school and I don't want him to be one of them! Can you help me out here? Please? Otherwise, I just might stay in here all day, which wouldn't be good because Landon is climbing up onto TABLES and things now, and I don't want him to hurt himself. Okay, thanks. AMEN."



It turns out I had a playdate scheduled with another family at a children's museum nearby ... which was good, because it forced me to come out of the laundry room, get sippy cups and diapers together, wrestle socks, shoes, and coats on my kids, and leave the house.

God must have been listening to me because something good happened at the museum. I ran into another good friend who was picking her son up from the preschool that is housed in the same building. He goes to a special class for 2 and 3 year-olds. It's a drop-off program where kids aren't required to be potty trained. It's just 2 hours, 2 days a week. She had told me about the program several times before, but I have always dismissed it. Even though a lot of my friends send their children to programs like this, I've been very resistant towards it. I've always felt that the best place for Tanner was home with me. And I honestly think it was ... until about 3 weeks ago. And sadly, I think that now he needs something more. In some ways, that makes me excited for him. And in others, it makes me feel like a total failure.



I guess I had this vision that my home would be like a little classroom for my kids. Like a little preschool where we were always reading, singing, playing games, doing crafts and artwork. And as hard as I tried, between the mountains of laundry, all the nursing and diapers, cooking 3 meals a day and then cleaning them up, I just couldn't make it happen like that.

Anyways, this friend asked how we were doing, and I told her. She really encouraged me to look into this program. And I did. Tomorrow is officially Tanner's first day at "school." Since I signed him up at the end of last week, I have felt such a RELIEF. We have been getting along so much better. I have been appreciating him so much more. And I've been carefully planning what I'm going to do with TWO WHOLE HOURS and just one child.


Tanner, on the other hand, has been a little concerned about how he's going to be delivered to school. The bus stops right in front of our house each morning and he's always loved watching the kids get on. He's very worried right now that he is going to have to ride the bus to school and that he's going to fall and hit his head in the process. He wants to make sure that I hold him on the bus, that Daddy drives the bus, and that Daddy holds Landon ... while he's driving. Did you get all that? I keep reassuring him that Mommy is going to take him to school in her VAN, but he's not really getting it. Hopefully after tomorrow, he'll feel better about the transportation situation.




Are you still reading this? Wanna know what else is going on?

1) The other night during bathtime, little brother pulled the little lever that starts the shower. And the water hit big brother right between the eyes. Now big brother is freaked out during bathtime and constantly trying to jump out of the tub ... "NO!!! It's gonna RAIN!! It's gonna RAIN!!"

2) Little brother has watched big brother jump out of the bathtub so often that he wants to do it, too. So, he lifts his little fat leg up just high enough to propel him over the edge. He's like a little greased pig and it's all I can do to catch him before he hits the floor. Between the two of them, I'm constantly tossing SOMEONE back into the bathtub.


3) I had to start giving Landon formula about two weeks ago, which was kind of a bummer. Only because I made it 10.5 months and I really only had 6 weeks to go. But, I couldn't let him starve, so formula it is! And, I actually think he prefers the bottle. He even drinks it cold! He's so independent that I think he likes feeding himself instead of having to involve me in the whole process.

4) We've had enough of the early morning wake-ups from Tanner. His door is back to being locked at night now, and the whole family (Tanner included) is sleeping much better. My mom told me to tell him that the doctor said he had to have his door locked until he turned 4. I totally laughed at her when she said that ... "Ummm ... okay, Mom. Like THAT's going to work?" But, it did. I'll totally be using THAT trick again! Just wait until he knows what a POLICE OFFICER is ... then I'll really have some leverage!

Are you sick of scrolling down? Because I'm tired of writing. And I need to get to bed. After all ... tomorrow is a big day ... the first day of SCHOOL!!!