Summer Lovin'

While it's not really summer yet, per se, it's been beautiful enough weather as of late to warrent the title. I was going through Keegan's baby book yesterday, trying to update it as best I could, and I realized that it doesn't really have places for those in between ages of life. It covers the major milestones, meaning their birthday each year, but doesn't really cover all the months in between, so why not document and catalog things on my blog, right?

So, here's a few things that Keegan just happens to be loving right now (and who knows when that will change):


Fresh strawberries, by the bowlful. We seriously go through a 4 pound container from Costco every 3-4 days. Good thing they sell them so cheap (and good thing Keegan hasn't reacted to them since that first time. Here's hoping this means he's really not allergic to them, because he does love them so. I think he might love them more than his frozen blueberries).


Peanut Butter...and by the spoonfuls, I might add. Granted, when mom gives it to him, it's using his toddler spoons, which really aren't all that big, but with dad it's a whole other story. He so did not get this love from his mom...it's definitely from his dad, but at least I know he's getting some sort of protein, and while I'm partial to Skippy Creamy, since that's what I was raised with, AJ was given some Jif for a gag gift, which means that's what he's been getting for the last few months. Skippy will be returning to our cupboard shortly.


Mini-marshmallows....oh my goodness does he love these, but right now it's the only way we have gotten him to sit still long enough to let us cut his hair (granted it's been a very long 2 week process, but we'll take it). I have a feeling these will be a staple in this household until I have no children left running around in diapers. Thankfully, they aren't all that expensive (at least not when you buy the generic brand from the store).


His Daddy...and anything having to do with him (and yes, that really is a picture of AJ surfing). He wakes up saying "Dada", he "calls" his Dada about 20 times a day, either from my cell phone or from his play cell phone and he is constantly looking out the door waiting to see if his dada is home yet, but I'm not jealous...at least not too much. I'd be happy if he would just say "Mama" every once in a while.


Teething Tablets...ok, so maybe these are more mom and dad's favorite thing right now, but when you have 4 molars that decide to break through within days of each other, these little beauties quickly become EVERYONE's best friend. Thankfully, he really only needs them at night...now if they could make something to help dry up all the drool that is pouring from his mouth.

Other favorites (that I don't have pictures of):
blowing raspberries on his mommy's belly (which his little brother seems to like as well....at least he gets really active when Keegan is snuggling up to his mom to read books and blow raspberries)...sitting in his big boy chair (why this is fascinating I have no clue, especially since he HATED his regular high chair)...Kashi Cinnamon Harvest cereal (it's way better than frosted mini-wheats and a whole lot healthier)...signing and saying our latest animals, "Raf" (Giraffe, complete with hand movements) and "Elephant" (complete with the trumpeting noise) - videos of that are to come, because he's pretty stinking cute when he signs his animals...getting whip cream from the can put into his mouth (thanks to AJ, who got busted by mom, but it's pretty funny to watch)...digging in the dirt in the backyard, where he's a really great helper...his basketball and soccer ball...watching for birds from the window (and then chasing them as soon as he's put outside)...climbing into the car and then climbing up into his car seat, which has made things way easier on mom...giving great hugs and "loves" to mom and dad, which I think we appreciate way more than he does...and so much more that I can't think of right now.

Seriously, where does the time go? And what is going to change in the next 24, 48, 72 hours, let alone weeks and months? It constantly amazes me that he's already 15 months old, and all of the things that he seems to learn on a daily basis. How am I supposed to keep up with him?

The Cat's Out of the Bag....

not that we were really keeping it a secret, but we did just find out Tuesday around 5 p.m. and I just haven't had a chance to get around and let everyone know what we found out. Little Jelly Bean was more than willing to cooperate and let the whole world know that he is indeed all boy (I'll spare you all the photos that the tech printed out for us). We are all excited, although Keegan doesn't really know what is going on, and looking forward to another little boy in the family. So far he's been much calmer than Keegan ever was, which means that AJ has taken to saying that this one is definitely my kid. I just like not getting beat up from the inside out like I didn't with Keegan. We'll see if that changes as he gets bigger and there is less room in my belly.

My Bump, My Bump, My Growing Baby Bump...

I'm not really one for taking monthly belly photos when I'm pregnant. I did it for the first 4 months I was pregnant with Keegan and then I blew up like a balloon and realized that I really didn't want to have a physical record of how big I was getting. The memories are bad enough. I didn't need actual physical evidence of it as well. Trust me, you don't forget what it's like to gain 50 pounds in a very short period of time.

That having been said...I have taken a photo documenting my halfway point in this pregnancy (well, just shy of halfway, but close enough)...

They aren't perfect, but it's hard to take a picture with a little kid attached to your legs because he wants the camera. And we don't have a ton of mirrors in the house. Literally, just in the one working bathroom right now and on a dresser in one of the extra bedrooms. That's it (and I'm not really complaining about the for the record).

So, now you've seen the belly. Enjoy the picture now, because you probably won't see another one, at least not while I'm still pregnant (although maybe one from the hospital).

According to a lady that stopped me in Henry's the other day, she could tell what I'm having, just by the way my belly was looking (I don't necessarily agree with her, since I've heard that's really only true for the first one, but who knows). How about you...can you tell whether it's a boy or a girl? What's your guess?

Dear Life

Dear Insomnia,
Please go away and actually let me rest for once. I can't do this 3-hours of sleep per night thing anymore. Really, just go away and let me count sheep, and get my beauty sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and rested the next morning. Can't you go and bother some college student who's had 5 Red Bulls in the last hour just so he/she can stay up and study/party/do whatever and leave me alone. Really, your presence in my life right now is not wanted, nor is it appreciated. I need my sleep!!!

Dear Bathroom Remodel,
Will you please just hurry up and happen? We bought a 2 bathroom home for a reason, and it's really inconvenient that currently the only usable thing in my bathroom is my toilet. Can't I just snap my fingers or wiggle my nose and have the perfect tile, the perfect vanity, the perfect window, the perfect mirror and the most fabulous dual-headed shower just magically appear in my now gutted bathroom while I am sleeping? And while you are at it, can you make the bedroom remodel happen as well? Oh, and can you find the perfect paint color for me as well, because really, pregnant women should not make decisions about paint. It's not in anybody's best interest (trust me, I learned this one the hard way).

Dear Annoying Neighbor who has decided that "mi casa es su casa",
Mi casa es MI CASA...oh yeah, and my husband is not your best friend. Please respect our personal space. Just because the garage door is open and you can see that my husband and son are playing in the backyard, this does not mean that it is an open invitation for you and your stupid little dog to join them. I'd really hate for you to get in trouble for trespassing (despite my husband's loving reminders that you are our neighbor and that I really do need to remain civil with you). Speaking of your dog, please keep him from using our lawn and our bushes as his own private bathroom, or at least have the decency to clean up after him when he does so (and don't try to deny this...our friends saw the little mutt use our bushes to relieve himself, pointed it out to you TWICE and you blatantly ignored them). AJ works really hard to keep our front yard looking nice, small as it is. We don't have the luxury of having the extra money to pay for gardeners, like you do, so RESPECT THE LAWN. Oh yeah, and when you see AJ mowing said lawn, or demoing our bathroom, leave him alone. He has work to do, and Keegan and I have limited time with him on the weekends. Every second you spend "talking" to him and butting into our personal and private lives is a second that we don't get with him, so seriously, get a life.

Dear little baby currently residing in my belly,
Please cooperate next week when we try and see if you are a boy or a girl. I really, really, really want to know, so that I can truly start preparing for your arrival this summer. And while we are at it, will you please stop moving around at 3 a.m. ? Granted, I'm aware that with the current insomnia that I'm dealing with, I'm already awake, so you aren't really doing that much harm, but I really would like it if you were a little more active during the daylight hours and a little less so during the nighttime ones. Oh yeah...and no more kicking your older brother when he happens to be snuggling with me before he finally drifts off into dreamland. Yes, I know that he can't feel it at the moment, but it's not going to be that way forever. Besides, I've stopped him from patting you through my belly, so now it's your turn to cooperate. You'll have plenty of time to torment him once you are born.

Dear pregnancy weight gain,
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not turn into 50 pounds like my last pregnancy. Truth be told, I'd really like to keep it to no more than half that this time around. It's going to be hot this summer, and I really don't want to be dragging around 50 extra pounds to the beach and pool. I'm already going to look like a beached whale, so help a sister out will ya? And once this little baby is born, please promptly remove yourself from my premises. I'll have a hard enough time getting rid of the leftover weight from pregnancy #1, and I really don't want any extra baggage from you.

Dear crazy pregnancy dreams,
Please see above note to Insomnia. Your presence is no more wished for than his, so back off and leave me alone. I'm sick of dreams (when I'm actually able to sleep) about gila monsters (all because a stupid lizard took up residence in my home for a few days) and other things that just seem all to real. Just walk away and let me count some sheep, will you?

Dear family who I don't get to talk to often enough,
I love you and miss you all and wish that we were closer. Val, thanks for the fabulous way of blogging and venting. It's been very therapeutic and I might be able to sleep tonight (here's hoping at least). Becky, how is the hand? Hopefully it is feeling better. Let us know if we can help in anyway. Julie, I promise I will call you tomorrow (hopefully before you even see this), and for that matter, I promise to call all of you soon. Really, I need to catch up on all of your lives.

Dear friends,
Ditto to all that I said to my family. I really am trying to be better about keeping in touch and returning phone calls and emails, and I'm well aware that I still have a long way to go.