6 month check up

"Bebe Isaac" is a slobbery, babbling and happy boy. I love this stage that he is in. Although he is rolling everywhere, demands to be fed when HE is ready, and has a very high pitched scream, (he and Wrangler can communicate on different levels) he is a delight to have as my sidekick. No crawling or sitting up, but that will come. I am slowly moving him towards a morning nap around 10am and an afternoon nap around 3pm. It doesn't work too well with picking Wes up from school or hitting the gym, but hopefully he can be flexible with me. He was exhausted by 6pm tonight, so we'll see how the night goes...

Took him to his 6 month check up today (although he is really almost 7 months).

Height: 27 inches (75th %)
Weight: 18.8 lbs (59th %, he dropped from his 80th%)
Head: 90th % (he is finally catching up to my other big headed boys)

I am back to making my homemade baby food. I really enjoy it, despite the mess in preparation. I have become more confident in what I prepare and creative. By just browsing the baby food aisle, I get lots of ideas as to what I can make. This morning I made a prune, applesauce and oatmeal combo that he loved smearing across his face! Some of it got inside, and honestly, I am NOT looking forward to that nasty colored diaper when it comes out....gross. I really enjoy making the food b/c it makes me feel like I am contributing in a small way to making my babies healthier and happier. The first few days I gave him rice cereal, and boy did that clog him up. So, with a bit more prunes every few days...he does much better.

As Dr. Ravi (the pediatrician) told me today, even though the food may say, "organic," it is still being processed and sitting in a jar for who knows how long. I prefer the fresh food for my babe. With just a little bit of prep and planning ahead, I think we will do great. I love how he crinkles his toes when he is eating. Those first few bites are always so fun to watch as he figures out how to open up his mouth and flap his arms to get the food in. I love having Wes and Aus help feed him and watching THEM as they open up their mouths along with Isaac!Too cute for this mama.

End of the week

I have been staying out here with Jared for two weeks now on "vacation" in Burbank, CA. I will recap it when I get back home with pics. The week is coming to an end and my reality of life is hitting. I am ready to be back in my own bed, to have toys for my boys to play with, to have plastic cups and plates that won't break when they put them in the sink, to NOT share a room with Isaac, and to have some friends around! I have hit a few parks with the boys while Jared is away at work, and boy do I feel lonely. I am ready to get back to working out at the gym and not eating Krispy Kremes. I have loved seeing him daily and having him play with our boys, but he still is working his 12 hour shifts...which leaves little time to visit.

He is still working right now, it is 5pm. I am here waiting for him. Today was our "beach day." I guess we may make it for the sunset. It's hard entertaining my three year old when there is not much for him to do except watch tv. It's hard for ME to not feel dissapointed as our day melts away with no beach fun.

Reality: his job requires LONG hours...something I am sick of him doing! Reality: need to be grateful that he has a job. Reality: wish that we could at least live in the same house together.

The biggest thing on my mind is WESLEY STARTS KINDERGARTEN ON MONDAY. How does any mom go through with this? What is she supposed to feel as she sends him off? He keeps telling everyone, " I am not ready for school. I can't tie my shoes and I don't know how to read yet!" We have done our best with letters and numbers, but reading just didn't happen this summer like I wanted. Those Bob Books didn't get packed up on our little adventures.

And what about his English/Spanish? Will he come back only speaking English to me? It is a challenge already trying to remind him to speak while he is playing with toys or talking with Austin. What about his social skills and manners? Will he do as the teacher asks? Will he pick up bad words and habits? Will he make friends and be picked to play on teams?Will he be motivated to do his homework? Have I prepared him for what lays ahead?

This is yet another chapter in what I call my life.

Dejavu

Fabric manifests, track lighting, phone calls, copy machine, price lists, organizing catalogs...

I am back to work at DirectBuy!

As a last minute plan of events, Isaac and I hopped on a plane to come out and visit Jared for the week here in Burbank, CA. Wesley and Austin went up to Eagar, AZ to visit Pi-pa and Grandma for the week (con Tia Dawn y los primos).

I am sure their days go something like this: sleep, play, play, play, play, eat, play, play, play, eat, play, play, play, sleep, fight about sleeping, eat, drink water, and then sleep. Oh to be a child!

So...we arrived here on Sunday and are staying with our friends, the Metzger's. We hit the beach on Sunday and Monday...lots of beautiful sunshine, small waves, busy traffic, plenty of bikinis and gritty sand in Isaac's mouth. The crazy part of the beaches here are how overcast they get, but when in reality, the "valley" of Los Angeles could be a steaming 95 degrees at the same time!

Jared and Tino Metzger had a GREAT time body surfing and digging up sand crabs. I finally got in (Jared dragged me in) and the water was no warmer than 60 degrees. I WAS FREEZING and kept gasping for air to catch my breath. That first initial taste of salt water is so strong and over powering. It even took away my appetite upon drinking so many mouthfuls of the salt. How fun it was to jump UNDER the waves and let my hair get spun like a washing machine. How NOT fun to have the sand stick to your body when you get out and then having to rinse off in the chilly showers afterwards....where is my hot sauna when I need one!

Isaac is a bit high maintenance right now. He can't sit up on his own, but wiggles plenty and wants to constantly be held (vs. hanging out on the floor or carseat). This DB showroom is plenty dirty and not baby friendly, so I have had to be very creative with ways to entertain him. He is also spitting his baby food everywhere, flaps his arms violently and sqwaks like a bird. I love him! He had a few days of constipation, but after several jars of prune food, we are good! I wonder how he'll do next week when I am alone out here with Wes and Aus. We are planning another trip out here to Disneyland and the LA Zoo (of course the beach too).

Overall, it is GREAT to be with Jared everyday. He turns back into "Mr. Wilson" (as I lovingly called him back when we worked together at DB of Washington North), and is very efficient and professional here at the office. I give him his space and don't require too many stolen kisses while I am here:) I am helping out with the catalog updating and working where I can. Not too easy to balance it with my baby in tow, but at least my boss is understsanding when I take a minute to feed him or stroll him around the showroom. Sure am glad to not be working full time anymore, and that I have a boy-filled lifestyle to return to in a few weeks. I had forgotten how LONG the nights here are and how easy it is to go a full day without eating a meal. It is so busy here with members and issues and boy am I glad to be back at home:)

I would trade all of the problem service emails for toddler fights, printing papers for poopy diapers, and flourescent lighting for fishstick dinners.

AFAA

I have not been in college for 6 years now...and boy does it show.

I am studying for my Aerobics and Fitness Association of America test that I will be taking this Saturday. This certification is both a written and demonstration of group fitness knowledge. I have been teaching aerobics now for 5+ years (with a few months off for babies), and never have I had to take this certification. I started out at the good ol' YMCA in Chandler, AZ where they certified me with their own programs. Needless to say, it was a piece of cake to get started.

So, I have somehow been under the radar with all of these gyms and health clubs from AZ to TX to MD without having any current certifications. I feel like I am a decent teacher, so why even get certified~

That is no longer an option. I need to be certified, and it is happening this weekend. I am nervous! I have been studying now for 2 days straight (why not wait until the last minute to cram all the needless info into my brain), and I am exhausted! My eyes are bloodshot from staring at the pages, I find myself getting easily sidetracked (thus this blog!), and I ate an entire sleeve of graham crackers to soothe my cravings.

I sure hope that I pass this thing. It was an investment to sign up and I don't want to have to go through this again. It is 100 written/multiple choice questions, and I will have to do some sort of demonstration on how to teach a class.

It is from 9-6pm. I have my friend watching my two older boys for the day, and little Isaac will have to hang out at the child watch until I am done.

Wish me luck!

The chunk is getting chunkier

For the 4th of July, we went up to Eagar, AZ where Jared's parents live (about 5 hours north), and where he spent high school (Go Elks!)

Small town+Parade+carne asada+Rodeo dancing+primos+four wheeler+rain+Gimpy the horse+swimming+ family = FUN!

Laughing with the cousins
Slip 'n slide in the rain...and jean shorts!
Jared's yummy carne asada

Grandma Wilson at the parade.
Like father like son...can you see the resemblence?
Thank goodness for the Bumbo chair
Gimpy the horse is always so patient with little boys.
A picnic on the drive up.
Jared took the boys in the big parade. They had so much fun...sunburn and all.

Who needs a toy when you have a dog to entertain?
When we got home, we all helped unload the car and clean out some of the garage. My boys LOVE to flex their muscles and I thought it was so cute how Austin showed his "Peace" sign. I asked him where he learned that? Alvin and the chipmunks!

Isaac is sucking on EVERYTHING these days...binky clip, papa's thumbs, sleeves, fists, etc.

This is his classic smile for playing, "Peek a boo!"

He also loves the rubbery goggles


I have never had to use a "supplement" with my babies...I just nurse them until they are a year old and call it good. Well, Isaac recently has decided that my milk is NOT enough for his fattiness. So, we started him up on the tasty rice cereal. He is almost 6 months old now, and very often empties me completely dry. He is NOT a fan of the food, but I am excited to be able to give him another alternative. He already has had tastes of bean juice, smoothies, and water...bring on the solids!

I dislike the messiness of baby food, but I am looking forward to pureeing my own veggies for him in my new Vitamix, as well as shoving cheerios into his hands while we run down the aisles at Wal Mart. I am still trying to decide if I should break down and get a highchair, or just a toddler booster (which I have always used) for the feeding frenzies. Any thoughts?

I always enjoy posting pictures up b/c it makes my life not seem so frazzled. Here we are always smiling, the kids are behaving and things seem to be "flowing" so smoothly. Today for example was a mess with meltdowns, fights over a water bottle, not a lot of patience on my part for entertainment, kids walking TOO slowly in the 109 heat, and my dear baby cat napping and screaming all day long. We somehow did manage to make it to Wal Mart for some produce, took the boys swimming, taught Wesley how to take a shower by himself (one less thing for me to do at nighttime!), and even made it to enrichment. So far so good...only 2 day 'til Jared gets back.