SuperNanny

Jared went out for a movie tonight, so I had my entertaining Supernanny show all to myself. I always enjoy watching the episodes b/c it makes me feel like my little boys are not as crazy as some of the kids I see on TV. I think her techniques and suggestions can only help us with parenting. For example; eating consistent meals together as a family and at the same time everyday (which we do at least 5-6x's a day, especially now that Jared is around more. I have enjoyed making up the meal menu and creating dishes to share), or having your children finish their sippy cup at the dinner table (to stay hydrated), and of course her time outs are great.

Tonight Wesley had a power struggle with papa. I know he was overly tired (came into my bed at 6am b/c he was cold and played hard from that time on). For whatever reason, he got his feelings hurt during teeth brushing and started getting physical with Jared. Jared did a great job handling the situation. Parenting is hard, and we don't get a handbook to let us know the do's and do not's with each child. Wesley is more sensitive with words and can cry deep tears. Austin is more of a whiner and doesn't care about physical pain or giving up privileges. We are still trying to figure out how to discipline them in the way that is most effective to their needs.

Overall, especially after watching Supernanny, I think my kids are on a good track right now. They do eat their food at the dinner table, don't use cuss words, don't hit or punch, and are pretty respectful. Of course they have their meltdowns, can be very annoying, tattle tell and demanding...but, I love 'em! It's right now that will determine what kind of teenagers and adults they will be, so hopefully we can raise them to be grateful, clean, and honest boys.

Isaac 1st birthday

Happy Birthday my sweet, sick and snotty baby.

Stats: You weigh 24.2 lbs, love to eat oranges, oatmeal, yogurt and chicken. No steps or balancing on your own yet. If you want to be held, sometimes you will just sit up and cry until someone comes to get you (you have been spoiled by us all). You love to gnaw on your crib and there are teeth marks to prove it. Your hair sticks up in the back, just like Wesley's and it's still pretty thin, but your eyelashes are growing in! You have been sick for the last two weeks, so my smiley baby has gone into hibernation. The only things I see now are dry coughs, vomits, mocos, and tears.

It's hard to believe that an entire year has passed by since I was laboring with you in my belly in Maryland. What a long delivery you were for my back! The boys have loved you since they could feel you kicking inside my tummy, and your papa and I have loved you since...well...since before time began.

Thank you for coming to our family, for filling our hearts with love and laughter and for being the calm and low key baby that you are. Feliz Cumple










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Brother's Birthday

We celebrated Wesley's (6) and Isaac's (1) birthday together this year at a wide and spacious park. Invited were a few close friends of Wes and the Wilson family. I think it turned out well. Simple but fun.


Batman was the pinata this year. We had the park for entertainment, nachos and lemonade for snacks and a large chocolate Ben 10 sheet cake for dessert. Isaac was recovering from the stomach flu (which really hit him harder the following day), so he was very low key and I was surprised he even touched his cake. Wesley was busy playing with all his friends and cousins, which was his favorite part of the party.

After 2 hours (unlike Argentina where the b-day parties last 5+ hours), we loaded up all our gear and headed over to our place where we had a BBQ with the Wilson's and opened up our Christmas exchange gifts. It was kinda crazy with 20+ people all crammed into our downstairs, but it was worth it.

Gifts this year included Legos, Bakugan balls, a Kindergarten workbook (my favorite), a scooter, and Wolverine. Isaac got some clothing, floor toys, an Elmo puppet book and a his first haircut.























The snuggies were the best part.

Reflections

A look back at this year...2009

January
Gaithersburg, MD
Marc Isaac was born on January 16th.


February
Gaithersburg, MD
Baby Isaac was blessed by Jared.
March
Washington, DC
Grandpa Wilson, Joshua Molina, Jared and Wesley made the trip across the USA to move back to Arizona.
April
Surprise, AZ
Easter egg hunt at Sprouts
May
Scottsdale, AZ
5k Night Fun Run!
June
Surprise, AZ
A tearful good bye to the Pearce family; Adrienne, Arianne, April, Leslie
July
Santa Barbara, CA
A week vacation where Jared was now living
August
Phoenix, AZ
Happy bit 3-0 Adrienne!
September
Grand Canyon, AZ
October
Surprise, AZ
Darth Vader, pumpkin, Cpt Sparrow and a red hat lady for Halloween
November
Avondale, AZ
A fieldtrip with Austin to a pumpkin patch
December
Rosario, Argentina
Dulce de leche farm

Back in the classroom

Several thoughts came to me today as I stepped back into the classroom for my tutoring job and after school programs at ACA.

Number one: I feel very inadequate in math. I didn't know what a rhombus, trapezoid, acute triangle or percentage of 1/6 was. I was asking the students to come up to the board to show me their answers, just hoping that they were right. Boy did I feel like a dummy! I sat alongside another girl for tutoring, hoping that she had answers in the back of her book b/c I surely didn't know her 5th grade math. It goes to show that if you aren't using something, you forget it. I need to better prepare myself. I sure hope my kids' teachers are better prepared then I was today!

Number two: I really want my boys to be excelling in school. But, what does it take? There is a huge difference in the students that take time to write their names correctly, that pay attention, that don't talk out of turn (or shall I just say are respectful when talking to you), and do as they are asked. One girl, Maylana was so on task and very smart. She did exactly as I asked her, could answer any question and even showed other students how to log onto their computers. I want my boys to be the smart ones too!

Number three: One on one work really does make a difference. For the hour I sat with one student, she improved on her handwriting, spelling and punctuation. I want my boys to have good handwriting and spelling. I know that is something that comes with not just practice, but also reading. I don't feel like I am very book smart in so many areas; math, geology, history, science, etc. But, doesn't mean my boys can't be!

Number four: I want my kids to have any opportunity that they want, and education is going to get them there. I want them to automatically consider going to college, a trade school or into their own business. How grateful I am for my own education (as inept as I feel it is now, or how much I lack as an educator!), and how it has provided me opportunities to work.

I am grateful for all my experience in teaching, I just need to get back into the swing of things so that I don't feel so inadequate now that I am back in the saddle.

Stomach Flu

It all started with yogurt. I knew that it had been left outside of the fridge, but I didn't think it would make Isaac so sick. Last week I fed him breakfast, he chowed down, and then I laid him down for a nap. When I went to get him from his crib, he had puked all over himself. Poor kid! I figured it was some sort of food poisoning, and hoped that he was on the uphill. That was just the beginning...he continued to be sick throughout the day.

Then he spiked a fever. Was this related to the yogurt again? Diarrhea also was another issue. Poor little guy, he couldn't stay healthy.

It didn't help that his big birthday party was the following day. What was I to do? Avoid giving him his birthday cake? Nope...he had to take one for the team and gobble it down for the sake of pictures.

Yesterday was Sunday. We went to the Cracker Barrell with Jared's parents, who had stayed the night (is this a consequence for going on the Sabbath?). He ate like a champ; hashbrown casserole, eggs, ham, orange juice, etc. I was so happy that he was feeling better, or so I thought.

We headed out to church, got all dressed up and hadn't been there longer than 10 minutes when Isaac started chugging down water from the boys' water bottle. Wesley told me that I was giving him too much water, but he was acting so thirsty. Next thing I know, chunks of orange mass started flying from his mouth and down his body. It reminded me of an erupting volcano.

He was sitting on my lap, so I just scooped him up and ran out the nearest door. Jared followed close behind me picking up the chunks off of the floor. He kept puking all over me, in the hallway and all the way to the kitchen. Poor baby! Crying and smelly, I knew that he was still sick. We stripped him down, rinsed out the clothing and I headed home.

I went to Fry's and got some pedialite, which he seems to really enjoy. He has been able to keep it down, but not mama's milk. So, I guess I am officially done nursing. If my milk makes him sicker (dairy), then why would I continue?

The night seemed to be going okay until I started to feel the rumble in my own tummy. An hour later of rocking in the fetal position under layers of blankets, I also puked up breakfast, lunch and dinner. Happened all over again this morning. The nastiest part of puke is when you have nothing left to give...just those dry heaves. Ugh, makes me sick writing about it.

So, I am now sick with the same stomach flu. My body feels like it is one big brick. It take concentration and effort to just go upstairs or sit up. Isaac seriously weighs about 900 lbs and I have a hard time carrying him. Good thing Jared has been around today to help out. He did laundry, made homemade soup and now I am waiting him to get home so he can clean up the kitchen. I just need to take it easy and let my body rest.

I also started my part time tutoring job today back at Arizona Charter Academy. I will work from 12-4 everyday. Between my cold chills, my headache, nausea and churning tummy, it was a long afternoon. I had to wing it (which I do best!)

Weaning

Isaac is very upset these days. He is being weaned from his mama. After any nap (these days it's usually only one quick hour nap), he would always wake up and I would immediately cuddle up with him and nurse him. Not any more. He now wakes up, wanting to have a snack and snuggle, only to be disappointed. I admit that I miss those sweet moments where he is in my arms and I am giving him my "medicine milk." I feel like he is congested all over again b/c he is not receiving those same nutrients. I am also concerned that he will start to thin out.

I started giving him whole milk in a soft sippy. He goes through about one sippy a day of milk. It's hard to tell if that is the same amount of milk I produced for him since he never took a bottle.

It's not all over though. I wake up with him around 5:30am to nurse (that one is going to be the hardest one to quit b/c I will have to let him cry it out until 7am). I also have been giving him another feeding before dinner time (I figure that he can get another good amount in before eating, as well as before bedtime).

So, how much longer do I allow this nursing to go forward? I am ready to have independence from my sweet chunk, but I am obviously not ready to completely let him go! His 6 teeth are also a little prickly on the boob.

It's sad to see your babies grow up so quickly.

We are only a few more days until his big 1 year birthday. Yet, he is front facing in his carseat, now he is drinking whole milk, he is in size 4 diapers, and he can crawl up and down stairs. My baby is now a toddling boy.