Molars, Vegetables, & Healthier Living!

My littlest is getting THREE molars! I didn't even notice until he had been wanting to nurse a LOT one day, so I decided to feel in there & one is already through! The other two you can feel and see but they haven't broken through the gums yet. I can't believe it! He's getting so big. He really hasn't been cranky and has had no problems sleeping.. just wanting to nurse more, which I'm sure is for comfort or because it feels good on his sore gums. I'm pretty sure he said "aunt" and "grandma" yesterday, and he also for sure said "truck" and "eat." His vocabulary just keeps increasing! He's also getting most animal sounds correct now.. He is one smart kid!

Silly Westen... We were cutting vegetables the other night and I picked up the onion, asking if he remembered it. He said, "Yes! That burns your eyes- I'm not looking, Mom!" hahaha! I told him that it's not looking at it that does, it's the smell. :) Later, we were munching on cold veggies & he told us how much he missed broccoli! He always makes me laugh.

We're still doing well on our new year's resolutions. It's amazing how your thinking can just change. I've learned so much since being at home. Our food choices have continued to change. We've been making better choices for quite some time, but we continue learning & finding new things all the time. We've been trying to stay away (as much as we can) from preservatives, artificial coloring, nitrites, and high fructose corn syrup. There's really easy changes anyone can make.. These are some of the things we've done (besides just making more homemade foods)...

-We stopped buying lunchables or any type of pre-made meal like that at all. They're full of bad stuff & to top it off, lunchables containers are made with BPA! There's actually a different brand at Hy-Vee that is in a non-bpa container, so we do get those occasionally. Along with this, we try to buy more fresh & frozen, instead of stuff in cans or plastics.

-We buy real cheese.. not cheese product or whatever other words they use to describe something that is NOT cheese.. Same goes with butter.

-We buy meat with no nitrites or preservatives. There's a kind that is in the sandwich meat section & it stays good for a long time, so I'm not even sure what the point is! Westen loves hot dogs too, unfortunately, but luckily for us there are some made without nitrites as well!

-There are actually really good veggie chips, teddy graham-like crackers, and even fruit snacks without any of the 'bad' stuff. I'm so happy we've found them!

-We buy ketchup with no high fructose corn syrup.. There are also little packets of cookies that come with none AND we tried the Simply cookies the other night & they were SO good!

-We always, always buy 100% juice. Luckily for me, Westen always got used to me adding water, so he even ASKS for me to add water now!

I'm sure there are many other changes that I'm not remembering.. We've bought whole wheat flour, we always buy wheat products & try to buy the freshly baked stuff, we of course buy everything we can from the farmer's market. This coming year, I hope to start a garden and I also hope to get more wooden toys (shying away from all the plastics..) and more organic clothing. Clothing is one thing I had not thought of. We already cloth diaper, and we do have some organic jammies for the kids, but I saw on The Talk the other day a guy talking about all the chemicals in our clothing & how it would take years of washing every single day to even start to get rid of them. I haven't seen many options for organic clothing, but those are just some of the goals I'm working toward!

It's a new year!

This is the first year I can really remember not really wanting the year to be over. 2010 was pretty good to us! The thing I'm most, most thankful for is Aeson's bloodwork and sonograms regularly coming back normal. I hope that continues for all of 2011 and beyond, until he's done with them. I'm also so, so thankful that I was able to be home with my babies ALL year! I've now started my SECOND year doing daycare. I've learned so much over the past year.. so much about babies and so much that they really end up teaching us!

The thing that I'm most nervous about that will be coming in 2011 is Westen starting Kindergarten! It just doesn't seem possible. I really don't think I'M ready for him to be gone all day every day either. I'm trying not to worry about it too much, and hopefully it will turn out better than I'm expecting. I'm not looking forward to the change in school and classmates.. but you have to do what you have to do, I suppose!

Eric and I went out for New Year's with some of our friends.. The same ones we spend almost every new year's with! We had a good time and were happy for the time away from home. Sometimes I wish we had more time just us.. just to go out for dinner or whatever.. and Eric pointed out the other day that we've NEVER really had alone time (since Westen was already here when he came along).. BUT I just think about all the years that we will be alone in the future. It already almost makes me cry, just to think of my children being grown and out of the house!

We have 3 main New Year's resolutions this year. First is to be nicer to each other and no yelling! I don't 'yell' often, but when I do, I instantly regret it and feel horrible. I saw something on tv the other day about how we yell when we feel we aren't being heard.. So we just need to find different ways to BE heard. This happens with Westen most often, because I'll tell him things when he isn't really paying attention or whatever and then by the time I've told him several times, I'm frustrated. So, I'm going to be working harder to make sure that he's listening when I tell him something. And as for the nicer part, I think we could all use to be a little nicer to each other.. just more thoughtful, kind, etc. Second, we WILL be getting control of our budget! I want to be accountable for every penny we spend. I want to figure out our interest rates on debt and start getting those paid off better. I want to SAVE. So far, we've done really well. The last thing kind of ties into this and is something I've continually been working on.. and that is eating healthier.. finding new recipes and less eating out! We've already chosen not to eat out twice when it would have been easier TO, and I'm really proud of us for not!

Something totally unrelated... I videotaped Aeson pointing out all of his body parts and doing some of his signs, and for some reason the computer won't let me transfer it! It won't even let me open the program.. I hope I can figure it out! :-/

Christmas 2010: The best Christmas EVER! :)

We spent Christmas Eve at Eric's parents. It started snowing before we left, and I ended up having to drive both there and home verrrrry slowly! We had a wonderful time with them and got so many nice things. Westen's most favorite gift was a Lego airplane, which he & Eric put together the next day. Westen also got a bed tent that he loves, dinosaurs that hatch in water, a how-to draw book, and a whole bunch of other things. I got a mat that I've been REALLY wanting for right inside our door and a whole bunch of other nice things. I can't really remember everything off the top of my head, but basically we all got LOTS of VERY nice things! We went to church with them that evening, and Westen wanted to hold the candle when it came time for that. He repeated the end of the prayer after the pastor, which I thought was too cute! He didn't want the candle to blow out, so he carried it very carefully until we were about halfway to the car & then it blew out. We went back to open stockings after that, and we just had a wonderful time with everyone!

I had to drive back by myself, because Eric had had to work that day & had just met us at his parent's. I was so nervous! I hate driving in weather like that, and it feels like it takes FORever to get home. I got a bit tearful on my way home too, thinking of how thankful I am for the life I have now. I'm so, so, so very blessed.

Christmas morning, we woke up early & opened gifts! Aeson was really into opening this year. He even helped everyone else open theirs! We got the kids a swingset for their big present together. Westen got a T Rex, a hex bug, a zhu zhu pet, a new Magna Doodle, and several other things. Aeson got a Power Wheel (that he loves!), a tent with a tunnel, a dancing Elmo, and lots more. We also got them bathtub crayons that they REALLY love. I got Eric a Patriots zip-up, a couple pairs of lounge pants, the Harry Potter video game, a really nice hot/cold Cubs cup with a lid, and an ornament- plus little things in his stocking. Eric bought me a Kindle! I LOVE it! I've already read a couple of the free books. It is so much better than reading an actual book! He also got me a candle and some other little things like that for my stocking.

My sister and I prepared lunch this year, and we had it at my house. Mom bought Westen a new bike, Aeson a wagon with all terrain wheels, and got them several smaller toys. I can't remember what all Aunt Chels got them! They got WAAAAY too much from everyone, that's for sure! I'm struggling with how to teach them not to be greedy and to be very thankful for what they get. Lunch was very, very, very good and it was nice to relax with the family afterwards. It's nice being here too, because Aeson was able to take a nap & so was Bentley. Bentley sleeps in Aeson's crib since Aeson never does!

Late that afternoon, we headed to my dad's house. They got Westen a Steelers jersey, a book, and I can't remember what else! Aeson got an outfit, a book or two, and again I can't remember what other thing. Eric got a couple gift cards, and I got a hurricane and photo album. We went to my grandparent's for dinner and got a few more gifts there. The country roads were covered in drifting snow! Thankfully, they only live about a mile outside of town. Everything was sooo pretty both nights.. I wanted to get out and take pictures!

We were absolutely exhausted by the time we got home that night. Sunday, we spent most of the day taking things out of their packages, playing with the kids, cleaning, and organizing.

This week has been pretty typical. Westen stayed all night with Eric's parents a couple nights ago. We had my Aunt Gina's birthday party on Monday night. I started watching my nephew Bentley on Tuesday & that went a little rough! Hopefully he'll get better!

So anyway, overall, it was an absolutely wonderful Christmas. It was so fun with the boys. I loved how 'into' it Aeson was this year, and Westen kept saying "This is the best Christmas ever!" We had such a wonderful time with ALL the family, and got more things than we should have! We're so very, very thankful for every single person and for all the things we got. We are very, very blessed!

December Daily 23: Preparation

What a day! The days have seemed so long this week. Eric had to work on his day off (Monday), he's gotten off late almost every night, and he's been so busy during the day that we haven't been able to talk much.

I baked LOTS today! Finally got rid of ALL the monster cookie dough. It took forever, though! We ran last minute errands tonight. (I lied. We weren't done Christmas shopping!) We got all of our gifts ready to go for tomorrow. Eric has to work AGAIN, so he's meeting us at his parents. I'm hoping for good weather, since there's supposed to be a snowstorm coming. :(

I remembered the things I was going to write about Aeson.. He's figured out how to turn the water on on the bathroom sink. He's always loved to brush his teeth but now he especially likes turning the water off and on! He's also able to open the bathroom door now (groan!) AND the refrigerator. Oh, and the front door! I have to keep the front door locked most of the time, so he can't run outside! He's just too big for his britches!

December Daily 22: Last minute stuff!

My kids are just amazing! They make me so happy every day. I don't know how anyone could not love their child! Mine both make me laugh every day, and it makes me so happy I'm home with them.

Today, Westen's friend Calla came over to play. That actually made the day super easy for me, because even Aeson wanted to hang out with them! She brought Westen some little gifts she'd made.. some Valentines (lol) and a Batman cape picture. He went in his room and found a dinosaur for her to take home. He still tells me they're going to get married when they're older!

Aeson said "mouth" this morning, and I think there was one other word/noise he made but I can't remember now! He's been signing "please" after "milk" lately too.

I FINALLY finished up the gift buying, including stockings, today! This evening, we went out for dinner for my cousin's birthday. Aeson was really well-behaved (and Westen too, as always!). Afterwards, we ran to the store to get everything left to get for our Christmas meal and goodies. Aeson fell asleep on the way home, so Eric and I speed wrapped all of their gifts! I'm so glad that's done! Man, this Christmas stuff gets hard as they get older! We had a hard time finding time TO wrap.. and now we're going to have to figure out how we're going to put the presents out! We usually all go to bed at the same time.. hopefully they'll fall asleep early that night. I'm sure it will get harder as they get older and we have even more kids too... Who knew our parents went through this same stuff?!

December Daily 21

Westen has been sooo anxious for Christmas! He "just can't believe!" it's almost here! A day or so ago, he got so worried because he thinks Santa might not bring him presents since he's been bad "every day." While he does get time-outs for his behavior some days, I told him he's still not a bad child & I was sure Santa agreed! Today, he was so very, very good, even opening my van door for me! He ran around there & said he was going to open it because he wanted to be good for Santa! :) He's too funny. He also told Uncle Eddie "you're my life" tonight!

Aeson's age is just AMAZING to me. Every day, he learns/does/says something new. It's crazy! He's been going to the changing table when I ask him if he wants his diaper changed.. Well this morning, Addy had just gotten here when I asked him, so he shook his head no & pointed to the living room, wanting to go out there! He said Addy's name so clearly all morning too. Then he got up to nurse and when he was finished, he said (and signed) "all done" & got down! He's done this with 'real' food at mealtimes for a long time but never done it after nursing. :) He's been so good all day long today.. and he only napped a HALF HOUR! Usually that would mean grouchiness, but not today! He pointed out where his nose, mouth, tongue, ears, eyes, and hair were tonight. He's also started asking(!) to go "ni night" & going in our bedroom when he's tired.

We figured out the Christmas meal today (finally), re-wrapped some presents (Aeson's unwrapped two!), did even more shopping, continued our countdowns, and ate dinner with Chelsea & Eddie. We're all tired tonight, I think, so we're headed to bed now!

December Daily 20

Less than 5 days until Christmas! We didn't do too much today.. I got all the presents wrapped, except those for the boys. I'm not sure when we'll get those wrapped! I suppose one of us will have to go down in the basement and do it some evening.. but we have plans the next two evenings. We'll figure it out. Last year we did it all on Christmas Eve, staying up late after the boys had gone to sleep and it was NOT fun. We didn't do much else, other than some cleaning, and we made Chex mix tonight... waiting on it to finish baking now! Oh- and Aeson said "eat" and "yes" today!