Weapons of Mass Destruction

It has been a few months since I have posted. At my house, things are good, but busy as always.  We are fresh off of the heels of the holidays and done trying to stick it out for another New Year's resolution (which is the subject of another blog yet to be written).  My family (which includes the Markers) are all finally finished with the year of the great move. If you didn't know, we have all been in the process of house jumping since February of 2012.  Now that we are all mostly settled, life is simply trudging along at a normal pace.

My kids, which are usually front and center as the topic of these posts, are also moving at a face pace. Literally, the boys are growing so quickly and are clearly about as "All Boy" as they could possibly be.  I think in the new year, I will continue to watch them really develop their unique personalities.  Since Sawyer is close to turning two, I have been forced to start thinking about the possibility of having another child: this includes thinking about if I really DO want to try again for that elusive girl baby I have always wanted so desperately.  As my intelligent brother put it, "Mica, you have to think about what you will be more disappointed about: not having another baby and never knowing if you would have had a girl OR having the third baby and getting another boy, 'cause let's face it, that is probably what will happen." True. I know it is true, and I am starting to be OK with the idea that I honestly may never have that daughter to share all things girly with.  Honestly, I am not sure my nerves and or house can take another Mecham, at least not at this moment! Why? Because my kids are rambunctious, wild, loud, rough, and destructive little boys (I mean that lovingly. They are the very definition of what little boys are made of.) 

It's funny, as a kid, I pictured myself as mom to a sweet and perfect little girl. Instead, I am mom to two of the most adorable, but also most mischievous and spirited kids on the block (seriously, I have even been gifted the copy of the text Raising Your Spirited Child for Pete's sake!). They keep me laughing, or crying, or yelling, or sighing pretty much all of the time.  At the end of most days I am worn totally out, but when I stop to think about it, I so enjoy every laugh they provide, even if the laugh is due to them breaking something or saying something a little girl would probably never say.

When people say "How are your kids?" I almost instinctively reply, "Great, they tear everything I own up, but they are wonderful!" And it's true; they somehow manage to get into more messes and tear more stuff up than the average kid.  They are literally like atomic bombs running around my house (why do you think the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 was nicknamed "Little Boy?"  Probably whoever named it had all boys who also destroyed everything in that person's house.)  They are like adorable weapons of mass destruction sent to make sure every effort I put into keeping my house clean is futile. My mom used to say Ryder reminded her of Brad when he was a kid with his talkative and rambunctious personality, but now the general consensus is that Ryder has passed him by leaps and bounds. The other day my aunt Scarlett invited the entire family over for dinner and I, in all seriousness, asked if we were really invited. This is because I am aware that we are loud and destructive and know that we have become that family that others sometimes dread to see coming.

It must be genetic, when my mom was a kid, her family from Texas would visit.  Her uncle and aunt would bring their four rowdy sons to Alabama. For my mom as a young girl with only a sister, these visits were hugely anticipated.  She would get to experience the fun and roughness that I think only a boy can provide.  She has memories of things like trying to wring the neck of a chicken, only to have it half decapitated and running through my grandmother's freshly washed linens hanging on the line, spurting blood wildly everywhere.  My mom has confessed that she and Scarlett would hide away all of their most precious baby dolls when the Lankford boys came to ensure that nothing unfortunate happened to them.  When I was a kid, we would go to Texas to visit those same four boys, all grown up and fathers to their own sons.  One of my most vivid memories of visiting them was when one of my Texan cousins, who was all destructive boy, accidentally drove a go-cart into a pond.  That sounds like something I could see Ryder doing one day, though I sure hope he never does. Well, fast forward 18 years, and I am the mom of those "Lankford boys" and everyone we know is hiding their dolls when they think we are coming to visit.  Scarlett even posted on my FB page recently the following status: "Mica, You know You and Ryder and Sawyer and Shaun are always invited to our house... U know we love you all... Just Warn me first...lol, might need to put up the breakables.....hehehehe"  So, what type of chaos do they (and I am mostly focusing on Ryder because he is older and has had almost three years of a head start on Sawyer) cause around my house? Let me give you some examples:

1. BROKEN DRAWER: Sawyer is really coming along as quite the climber. He tends to fly under the radar, though, because he is so quiet.  But do not underestimate him. This is the second drawer he has broken in the new house.

 2. BLOODY NOSE: Quickly a day of fun can go south when the play is rough and tough like my boys.  This is the kind of play boys do best, even if someone does end up getting hurt. Don't worry, no major damage was done.

 3. BROKEN KEY: OK, this one was a mind stumper.  Ryder was holding my key; I turned around for a few minutes gathering my stuff as we were heading out the door to work and school. I turned back around and a stunned Ryder said something along the lines of "Uh oh, it broke."  This took all of 3 minutes.  Sigh...

4. BROKEN SALT SHAKER: Eating at Logan's Roadhouse a few weeks ago, it took Ryder all of two solid minutes before dropping and breaking the salt shaker.  Not only is he destructive, but he can do it in record time.

 5. CRAYON IN SHEETS: I was cleaning house and intending on changing the sheets. Good thing too because I discovered my mini Picasso had been hard at work creating a "masterpiece" for me. This is why I always buy washable crayons.

 6: DISASTER IN THE KITCHEN: This can be contributed to both boys.  I was trying to clean out my pantries when Ryder came barreling through and spilled pasta and my stacked throw-away boxes all over the floor, and at the same time, an excited Sawyer chucked his milk to the floor, where it opened and leaked everywhere. Huge mess. Obviously. What to do? Take a picture of course. 

 7. EXPO MARKER IN THE FLOOR: Well, I guess he needs zero access to writing tools, but he loves to draw.  In this case he found an Expo marker in my school bag and decided to tag my floor with a little graffiti work.

8: TORNADO TO THE ROOM: This is what happens when he is at home playing. Why he cannot just play and then put up whatever it is he has and then get something else out is a mystery to me.
    

 9: CEREAL MELTDOWN: This one happened on Chris's watch.  He was eating cereal, and I have know idea how, but somehow spilled the entire bowl on his head and everywhere else too.  The rug did not fare as well as Ryder. Sorry Nikki
*CORRECTION: (Chris wanted me to add that it was TWO bowls of cereal Ryder spilled, ON TOP OF HIS HEAD, and then, when Chris had to give him a bath, he (Ryder, not Chris) pooped in the tub. And Chris had to then clean that lovely mess up too.)

 10. WOODY MASSACRE: Poor Woody. He has lived a hard life at our house.  This is what was left of him after Ryder, Greyson and Jake all got together and played one night.  On a side note, I feel obligated to report that Buzz Lightyear is also missing his jet pack, both wings, his helmet and his right hand.  Gone, but never forgotten.

 11: INK PAD INCIDENT: One night, Ryder casually walked into the den and said "Mica, I have something on me." (He calls me Mica often). I looked up and saw, well, this.  He also had left bluish purple hand prints all over my white cabinets in my bathroom. I have no idea where he found the ink pad. 

 12. MARKER INCIDENT: I found Sawyer in Ryder's bathroom in the dark. This is what was revealed when the lights came on. He had eaten a Magic Marker. The tip was never found (though I am sure some poking around in a poop diaper hours later would have led to an answer, but I wasn't willing to look!)

 13: LIPSTICK INCIDENT: (I am seeing the trend with writing tools).  Ryder made some art on his belly. I was more unhappy that he ruined my expensive Lancome lipstick by bearing down so hard as he wrote.

 14: CURTAINS OFF THE WALL: I knew something was amiss when Ryder came flying out of his room grinning in a half guilty, half funny way and casually proclaimed that nothing was broken in his room.  This is what we found.  If you can't tell in the picture, Ryder is bawling and Shaun is completely pissed off.  Those curtains will never hang correctly again.














15: FISH IN THE WATER: I had to make this picture big or you couldn't see the fish.  Swimming at lake Guntersville last year with the Minton family was a day to remember.  Ryder spent his first day on the water and rode a boat for the first time.  Saying he loved it was an understatement. What was the best moment? When he reached in the water and grabbed a fish (I'll admit; it was gimpy and maybe even bleeding). We laughed so hard that day. Only a true little boy will grab a fish and stare it down, nose to gill. I also can recall Ryder doing some button pushing that I am pretty sure Cory could have lived without.


















16: BROKEN LAP TRAY:  This one was funny because Ryder actually broke this tray the night I wrote this blog but before I published it. Dad had picked the boys up from school, and mom said Ryder walked into her house, went straight to the tray, stood on it and it went SPLAT! She said Mike had not even made it in the house yet from parking the car. When Mike walked in, she said "LOOK! Ryder just broke this." And Ryder, in a get-off-my-back tone, quickly replied, "I SAID (emphasis on said) I am sorry," as he shrugged his shoulders.

17: CATCHING A CHIPMUNK:  Unfortunately, I have no picture of this.  One day after school, Ryder was in the yard.  He saw something move and, being all boy, lunged to grab it. Guess what? He caught it. Want to know what the "it" was? You guessed it. A chipmunk. Seriously. He started yelling "I caught a squirrel! I caught a squirrel!" And when we realized what he had, we started yelling "PUT IT DOWN! PUT IT DOWN!" There was no time to find a camera. That is unfortunate.

18:  BABY IN THE DRYER: If you know Sawyer, you know that recently he has become the Edmund Hillary of climbing in our house. You must beware. This one will climb onto or into anything.  I catch him on top of tables, pushing chairs to get on counters, climbing furniture, sitting on the top of the back of the couch, and recently, I caught him in the bathroom sink bowl with the lights out brushing his teeth. This is the last place I found him. Before you call Child Safety Services, know that I am aware this is dangerous; I do not intend to let him fluff and dry in the dryer, and I am being vigilant to keep the dryer door closed (it normally is but someone left it open this day.) But, I just couldn't help taking a picture before jerking him out and getting on to him.

19: FROG AT THE PARTY: What all American little boy doesn't love a frog?  Ryder loves gross animals and he was ecstatic to catch a frog at my sister in law's birthday party. He happily carried it around all night, only whining when he couldn't make it balance on a balloon.  The funniest party was after he came back into the party area after being outside with the bigger kids sans froggy. I asked him where it went, and he honestly and casually replied, "Oh, down the doggy's froat (throat)." Rest in Peace little frog.

Do I need to go on? I thought so. (But believe me, I could. There may be a part deux).

Moral of the story--I think boys are on the whole more rambunctious than girls.  I am aware that some girls fit into the rowdy and destructive category and that some boys are easy going and don't mess up anything. But in the grand comparison, most of the people I know with girls never have experienced all of the mess and broken stuff that my kids cause. If there is a drink out, they will spill it.  If there is a valuable around, they will break it.  Dad had a vase he really liked and Ryder promptly tried to sit in it and broke it into pieces.  I arrived to find an irritated Cathy shoving Ryder out the door, telling him to go home.  It's what they do, and everyone knows it.  The boys and I all ate dinner the other night at Scarlett and Gary's house (yes, we got invited back again), and Ryder was in the den making a ton of noise while Scarlett, mom, and Gary all stood around the bar.  Scarlett looked up and said "Gary, go check on them; I hear something rattling "  Without so much as skipping a breath, Gary dryly replied "Shit's been rattling since they got here!" And well, that pretty much sums us up.

I look at Ryder like he is Dennis the Menace.  As much as Dennis did to get into a mess, the outcome was almost so comical that Mr. Wilson simply couldn't stay mad at him.  As for Sawyer, he is a bit more ninja like in his mess making, doing it while sucking a pacifier and not making a sound.

I still would love to have a girl one day, but I am so very glad I was able to experience the fun of a boy.  God knew what he was doing when he gave me my perfect boys. It has done me a lot of good. I can roll with the punches better and as a bonus, worms don't seem nearly as gross as they used to before a boy.  All in all, as unlikely as it may have seemed, I love being a momma to a couple of rowdy boys.  Even if people dread to see us coming, I know that when we get there, we will probably have them laughing in no time flat (and we promise to buy anything we break.)

So, do you have a rambunctious boy (or girl for that matter)?

Christmas at the Mechams

This is late in coming, I know, but Christmas 2012 was a whirlwind of fun and family at our house this year.  Shaun was off for 17 days, and I was off for roughly a month.  Because I was scared the boys would get the Flu that was spreading like wildfire in the Bluff, I decided to keep them home as much as possible while I was off. This meant I lost some "Mica alone shopping and wrapping" time but gained tons of "fun kid loving and playing time"! All in all, Christmas was fabulous; it was however, very different from Christmas last year!

In 2011, Sawyer was a baby, 7 months old, and could not even crawl that well. 2012 was an ENTIRELY different story. He was literally like a monkey and was everywhere! I cannot keep that baby contained. He is 23 lbs of exploring, curious, smiling, pacifier-sucking mischievous toddler.  My big problem is keeping him from climbing on my dining room table, which is taller than most, and keeping him from dragging a stool or chair to the stove to climb up and mess with the oven knobs. I cannot take my eyes off of him. He will be on something, in something or behind something before I know it. One night I couldn't find him and looked everywhere before I discovered he had been locked in my kitchen pantry. He was smiling from ear to ear when I did find him, like it had been one fun game of hide and seek. He removed Christmas decorations from my tree on a daily basis and broke quite a few.  Basically, he was as much of a hassle as one would expect a 19 month old baby to be; add to this the rambunctious four year old who is often the subject of my posts and that makes for a lot of chasing during the month of December for this momma!

Ryder had an exceptionally great Christmas.  Because of his over the top gasps and "That's Awesome!" responses, buying presents for him is so much fun.  He can get a book, a toy or a shirt and he will always act like it is the most fabulous item he has ever seen.  Shaun says his audible gasps are inherited from Cathy Marker, and I think it is one of his most adorable behaviors.  He saw Santa at the Polar Express in Calera at the Railroad Museum and, though it was a hassle to tote him and Saw and all of the unnecessary crap we took with us, it was such an amazing experience. If you have never heard of this, Google it. We rode a real train and went to "the North Pole" and met, you guessed it, Santa and Mrs. Claus.  Ryder ate it up.  We were packed into our seats, but Ryder was buying every second of it. He sang and giggled and thought he had been to THE North Pole.  Sawyer was a wiggle worm and hard to hang on to but enjoyed it.  Ryder  also got to go on two field trips at school (days I actually sent them to school in December) to the Let It Snow exhibit at the Cultural Arts Center and to the Polar Express event held at HBES.  Ryder thought, again, he had visited the North Pole and possibly was confused by the very different locations of each of them; however, the 4 year old imagination prevailed and he totally bought it again. 

We had fun family get-togethers this year, and one huge difference this year from last was that this year, we celebrated in our new house in Southside. It was fabulous! We decorated and Shaun decked the house out in wreaths and Gwen Christmasfied (sp?) my mailbox (a bit overkill, but a lovely and sweet gesture).  And we hosted the Kelley/Mecham Christmas party and the Mecham/Minton/Marker Christmas party before Christmas.  We had a blast, the boys ran around like crazy and we all enjoyed the added space of our Buckhaven home! (Though I would be a liar if I didn't admit it felt weird not being in mom and dad's Tawannah house after 30 consecutive Christmases there.)

Christmas Eve and Day came quickly and we celebrated with Christine in the am and with Chris and Nikki that evening, who this year are now proud owners of the Tawannah Mountain Home, as I so affectionately call it! It was great to get to still go into my childhood home for a holiday party and feel so comfortable. I am so glad it stayed in our family.

Christmas Eve was chaotic, pulling out gifts and arranging them ever so tediously.  Now, if you saw my FB pics, you probably know I let myself get slightly (*cough, clear throat*) out of hand with our gifts. I totally admit it. But truthfully, I had no idea until we pulled it all out that I had done that. Clearly I underestimated the size of space to fill up in my new den. I had been buying since summer and really sort of forgot what I had.  That being said, I don't regret it.  I have no greater memories than walking into my den Christmas morning growing up and seeing the mountain of gifts brought by Santa. My parents were overkill Christmas buyers too (I learned from the best), and though the individual toys were fantastic, it was more of that feeling of walking into such an amazing, magical room filled with every child's desires that stands out to me. I wanted my boys to have those same associations with Christmas morning.  I guess I didn't think about how my four year old brain probably thought these Christmases were bigger than they really were, but I still, the memories are priceless.  So, that being said, it was over the top, but we had a fantastic day.  Ryder was thrilled when he entered the den and our family just relaxed and enjoyed each other and what wonderful blessings we had been given.  Randy and Gwen and mom and dad came and hung out and the day was picture perfect.

Of course, I cannot mention Christmas without saying how thankful my family is for all of our blessings.  We love the Christmas traditions we have, but recognize that the true reason for the season is the birth of the Christ child.  Without him, we would be eternally lost with no hope.  We talked to Ryder about the basic concept of Jesus and he was so funny when we asked him why we celebrated; he would respond accordingly, and then would want to know when Jesus' party was and were we going.

Despite the fact that Christmas ended officially on December 25, we didn't wrap it up until the 28th.  This is when we had our big family Christmas with the Markers/Markers/Mechams.  Brad and Allison came home and celebrated with our family on the 28th.  The presents were ridiculous and our family had such an amazing time.  The star of our Christmas party was the newest Marker, who had not been introduced to the family in person until then, Thatcher Bradley Marker.  I cannot even describe how cuddly, sweet and great it felt to hold that pudgy ball of baby.  He was precious, and I cannot wait until I see him again!  The bigger boys had a blast chasing and sword fighting and Sawyer thought he was just as big Ry, Grey and Jake! All the boys were excellent and had such a good time.  One big memorable moment came when Anna opened her special Christmas gift, along with Savannah, who also got the same thing: tickets to see Justin Bieber. I have never seen two more excited teenagers in my life. I am not going to lie: I am totally jealous and wanted to go. There. I said it.

And finally, my sweet hubby came through with the yearly tradition of making me find my Christmas gift via treasure hunt, but the surprise was that this year, I made him go on his own treasure hunt! In the end, he bought me some beautiful personalized jewelry, and I bought him a grill, both which we will get lots of use out of (well, okay, maybe he won't use my necklaces or bracelet, but I sure will enjoy the food he cooks on the grill!)

All in all, our first Christmas on Buckhaven Drive was so fabulous, and I can only hope our upcoming Christmases are just as amazing.

So, how was your Christmas? 
       

30 Days Of Thanks, Mommy Edition

Ah, November, a time of thanks. It is a Facebook tradition to celebrate all that we, and I guess by we I mean FB users, are thankful for each day by posting a "Day of Thanks" status update.  You have all seen them, and most of you probably post them (right?), and many of you cannot keep up with them and then are forced to post multiple thanks in one day:

 I'm behind, so Day 4: I am thankful for my family. Day 5: I am thankful for my health, blah blah...

Don't get me wrong; I am not judging. I too started with good intentions and then slowly forgot about the "Day of Thanks" post.  I also think it is pretty safe to say we are mostly all thankful for the same things: God, health, family, friends, children, church family, pets, etc.  And I am no different. I am certainly thankful for these same blessings I have in my life. I believe God is almighty, powerful, merciful and is my hope. I am thankful for his love for me and my family and for the salvation he has insured for me through Jesus Christ. I am thankful I have a loving husband, amazing children, wonderful parents, a beautiful home and a secure job.  But I am also thankful for the small, seemingly insignificant things as well. And as a mom, I am thankful for a whole plethora of things, ranging from medicine to cartoons, SO here is my list of my 30 Days of Thanks, Mommy Edition.

I am thankful for...

1.A doctor's office that is open on the weekends. My kids ALWAYS get sick on the weekends.  Why? I have no idea; it is one of the mysteries of the universe, up there with missing socks in the dryer.  When we were younger, most doctor's offices were closed on the weekend and a parent's only option was to go to the ER, and though that still happens occasionally, the fact that the offices are open 24/7 is a huge blessing. 

2. Pack N Plays.  Now that Sawyer is 18 months old and into everything, I am constantly on the move chasing after him.  I cannot trust him; as soon as I take my eyes off of him, he ends up in trouble.  More than once I have found him stirring the toilet water with his hand or sitting fully dressed in a wet bottomed bathtub. If it weren't for a Pack N Play, I would quite possibly never be able to take a shower in peace. 

3. Spaghetti-Os: Hear me out. Saying Ryder is a picky eater is an understatement, and unless you count french fries, he eats zero vegetables. So, even though you holistic health conscious moms are silently shuddering (along with Jennifer Foster), I somehow feel justified in feeding Ryder Spaghetti-Os because they claim to contain 20% of a child's needed daily vegetable intake, and they even come with meatballs, which boosts extra protein, or you can opt for Spaghetti-Os Plus Calcium. I see this meal as a win win. 

 4. Five Point Harness Car Seat: Sometimes, I am going to be honest, I go somewhere simply so I can strap my kids into the five point car seats where I know they will be safe and so that I can relax for a few minutes without having to worry that one of them is into something that he shouldn't be. Don't act like you have never done it.   

5. Mickey Mouse Club House: I swear I sing the Hot Dog song in my sleep, but it is like baby crack, and my kids will quietly watch it every time.  Thank you Disney Jr. 

6. Disney Jr App: Number five brings me directly to Number six. If you weren't aware, Disney Jr has an app that is free (bonus, because I would totally pay for it) which allows my kids to watch unlimited episodes of Mickey Mouse, as well as other favorites including Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Doc McStuffins on the go.  Now my kids will not only quietly watch TV at home, but in public as well, which is a lifesaver when we go out to eat.

7. iPad 2: Alright, this is another extension of Numbers six.  We wouldn't have the joy of watching the Disney Jr app is we didn't have an iPad (or my iphone or Shaun's droid for that matter) to watch it on.  I must say, I am very glad to be raising my kids in the digital age.  Otherwise, I might never get to enjoy a meal in public.  Not in peace at least.

8. Daycare and the wonderful women who work there:  I am a full time working mom, so my children must go to daycare. I would like to be a stay at home mom, but I have to admit, I love my job, and it provides my family with many luxuries.  This means my kids must go to daycare.  There are times I wish it weren't this way, like when they pick up every illness floating around, but seriously, I am very thankful for them. They (ECA --shout out in the Bluff) take great care of my boys; I have formed friendships with the workers and totally trust them, and honestly, if it weren't for them, my trips to Wal-Mart would be painful.  They do a yeoman's job.

9. Pacifiers: What a perfect invention, a plug for a baby. Genius.

10. Disposable Diapers: Now, I know some of you moms love washable diapers (probably the same moms who cringed at the Spaghetti-Os), but those are not my style. I am very thankful I can take that pile of poop, fold it up and throw it out. No scraping, dumping, soaking, wringing out, or washing necessary.  

11. Washable Magic Markers:  Ryder thinks he is an artist, and maybe he is (gets it from me) but sometimes, he creates his masterpieces on my walls or even on his own body.  The other day I came home, and he had drawn blue lines all over his body. I asked what they were supposed to be. He said (as if it was a stupid question) "my bones!"  Luckily, they washed off easily in the bath tub later that night. 

12. Play Doh: Not all moms are down with the mess that kids can make with Play Doh, but me, I LOVE it! A can of Play Doh will keep Ryder occupied for hours, and it is one of the only play activities I really enjoy doing with him. Play Doh is fun. And it vacuums up pretty easily too. 

13. Hokes Bluff Drug Shoppe: I want to give thanks for the sweet pharmacists and staff at HB Drug. They ALWAYS help me out when I need it. I swear, I have joked that I want Candace to be my pediatrician because I trust her judgment more than the doctor's on certain things. In fact, I still drive from Southside to HB for my prescriptions.  Walgreens may be open later, but there, I am just a number, and at HB Drug, they know me by name and treat me like family.   
*(I do want to note, however, that I have had good experiences at Rainbow City Walgreens.)

14. Happy Hiney from Hughes Pharmacy: This is an amazing diaper rash cream, and believe me, I am an expert. It may cost 12 bucks for a teeny tiny jar, but it is like gold when my baby's bottom is raw.  I never like to be without it. 

15. Munchkin Microwaveable Sterilizing Steam Bags:  These nifty little inventions allow me to sterilize Sawyer's pacifiers easily and quickly. I keep a bag on my counter, and as I feel the paci's get dirty (after hitting the floor or having gone out in public with us) I put them in the steam bag. Once I start running low on sterilized pacifiers or when my bag gets full, I add a few ounces of water and pop that baby in the microwave for 90 secs and BAAM! Sterilized. If not for these bags, Sawyer wouldn't have had a clean pacifier past 6 weeks old. 

16. TUBES! Okay, I know I haven't had the best luck with tubes. Ryder has had 6 sets, 4 in the past year alone, and Sawyer has also had tubes.  Both boys had troubles including constant draining, staff infection, etc, BUT without tubes, it would have been so much worse. I swear, I think if my kids had been born before tubes were a routine process, they may very well have ended up deaf. 

17. Peanut Butter: Without peanut butter, Ryder would never get protein. It is a staple in our house. 

18. On Demand from Charter and Netflix: Thank goodness for instant access to kid friendly television shows. This keeps my kids happy and keeps me from having to buy 18 billion kiddy DVDs that will be watched nonstop for a month and then forgotten about. 

19.  Breastfeeding: I know I am known as the breast feeding weirdo in my circle of friends (heck, probably in my family too) but I believe in it, and enjoy it for the benefits of health and closeness it has provided for me and my boys. It has also allowed me to connect with a group of women through a support group held monthly at GRMC. They have become friends with whom I share a common bond. The benefits have been great--no bottles, no formula, no washing or sterilizing, no carrying coolers, as well as a reason to take a break with my baby, and there is almost nothing in a baby's small world that nursing can't fix. I wouldn't have made it through our ear problems last year in one piece if it hadn't been for nursing Sawyer at night.  Give it a fighting chance ladies...

20. Baby Monitor's: This seems silly, but it allows me to sleep peacefully knowing that even though my baby is in the next room, I can hear him clearly and loudly through my monitor. Otherwise, I might be so asleep he would scream for hours before I realized it.

21. LeAnn Browning: Does this one make you laugh? It is legit. Without her I wouldn't have the beautiful pictures to document the growth of my gorgeous family.  She is an amazing friend and an excellent photographer. If you haven't used her, you should. 

22. Friends With Kids: I have been lucky to have a large group of friends who all have wild kids (this is a compliment).  It makes life much more enjoyable to have friends who are fun and who all understand when your kids melts down in public, instead of giving you the evil eye like you can't control them.  I love my girlfriends; I have fun with my girlfriends, and I really whole-heartedly enjoy every second I get to spend with them and their kiddos.  Ladies, you know who you are; thanks for the friendship and the shoulders on which I can lean when my kids drive me nutty.

23. My wonderful family members who offer to help out with the kids: I am one lucky momma.  I have an amazing family. I have a husband who is a great dad and loves his boys tremendously, parents who help with my kids and help with my daily chores, a mother in law who helps my entire family out in numerous ways, sister in laws who lovingly offer to babysit. I even have extended family, aunts and uncles, (that's you Scarlett and Gary) who help me with my kids by allowing me to have parties at their house in the summer. I love my family. I have been blessed (even if mom does lose my kid every now and then while babysitting or put buttermilk in his cereal or peaches in the sippy cup).  

24. Sit N Stand Stroller: If you have a small kid and a big kid, you will agree that a Sit N Stand stroller is FABULOUS! It may have a crappy turning radius, but it sure makes life easy by allowing the baby to have a comfortable seat and providing Ryder with a big boy seat, something that has been a life saver when going on outings to places like the Georgia Aquarium or the Birmingham Zoo.

25. Tear Free Shampoo: I think we moms take this for granted. My kids are not still when I wash the shampoo out of their hair every night.  With tear free shampoo, I don't have to worry about getting the suds in their face.

26. Nebulizers with Albuterol: OK, this one is controversial because it has its down side, but if it were not for breathing treatments, my poor boys would be miserable and would have very labored breathing when they are sick (like always). It may not be fun to deal with, but I am thankful for the medical help it provides in making my boys feel better when they are sick.

27. Washable Bed Pads: Ryder typically throws up in the bed on average of twice a month. He has tons of congestion and if he coughs for more than a minute, he pukes everywhere (be aware of this if you ever ask him to spend the night, BTW).  He also still sleeps in a pull up, which occasionally leaks.  I HATE changing sheets, especially if I just changed them and then he has an accident, SO I always put sheets on the bed, then I put a washable bed pad where he sleeps and finally, tuck a flat sheet over it.  This way, if he has an accident, I simply pull of the top layer of sheet and bed pad, throw it in the washer, and the fitted sheet is clean and in-tact. I call this the Throw Up Plan, and I have perfected it. It cuts down on changing sheets and makes my life oh so much easier.     

28. Oatmeal: I think if it were not for oatmeal, Sawyer might starve to death. Well, that and Carnation Instant Breakfast.

29.  Fashionable Flats. I love clothes and shoes. I particularly love high heels, but as a momma, I learned real quick why moms get a bad rap for the way they dress.  Sometimes with kids, in order to function and maintain control, you must dress comfortably. It would be a disaster taking my kids to a place where I would possibly need to bust out in a run to catch a kid who has gone AWOL on me in public. But now that cute flats are all the rage, I can chase kids while looking adorably in fashion. A definite plus. This is one trend that I hope continues.

30. Blogger: Why am I thankful for my blog? Because, my blog allows me an outlet to vent my mommy frustrations to an audience that understands.  If I post every frustration on FB, then everyone who is my friend has to see it. So the guy from school I am friends with has to see my mommy rant clogging his FB Timeline (which I am not going to lie, does happen), but if I write a blog about my nervousness or anxiety concerning parenting, then I can simply share a link and only those who are interested have to read. I can connect with other moms and maybe help somebody else out with one of my mom problems or someone can leave me a comment or send me a message and make me feel better about whatever it was I was writing about, so if you have a comment, please feel free to post it!

BONUS: 

And Finally, I am thankful for my boys, Ryder and Sawyer: Without my two precious boys, none of the previous 29 reasons of thanks would matter or exist, for me anyway.  They are my world; I love them more than my own life and am more thankful than I could ever express in words for them.  They are my true blessings this Thanksgiving.

So, what are your Thanks for the month?

  

Raising My Spirited Child...

Okay, I know it seems like I always post when Ryder has some type of behavioral problem.  (Consider this a follow up to my past post, Taming My Unruly Child: Failures in Parenthood, lol) Though always rambunctious and loud, he is not always "bad."  It is just that I seem most inspired to write when things are troubling me or stressing me out. Maybe Taylor Swift isn't always breaking up with boys and then falling in love again and then breaking up again--maybe she is only inspired to write about those situations and that is simply all we see regarding her relationships! So just call me the Taylor Swift of parenting blogs...

Nevertheless, this post concerns, you guessed it, Ryder's hard (at times) to control personality.

I have noticed in the past weeks/months that Ryder has become increasingly disrespectful towards me in-particular.  He has always been an extremely spirited, very independent, very "I'll-do-it-myself" type of kid, but in recent weeks, he has picked up some unflattering habits.  He has taken to saying things like "yeah yeah, whatever" when I ask him to do something or saying, "in a minute" when I give him a command.  Now, in the beginning, I admit, responded probably inappropriately to these responses.  Sometimes I would laugh or let it slide.  You have to understand, Ryder has such a funny way about what he does and what he says.  He isn't like the typical whiny kid who is grating or the harshly cruel child who is hateful; instead, he is almost comical in the way he responds.  And it is not just me--everyone tends to laugh at some of the responses he gives when, in all honesty, he should be reprimanded.  Recently though, this talk has escalated, and his most disrespectful speech tends to be directed at me.  Now he will flat out say "No!" when I tell him to do something, or he will angrily yell hurtful comments at me when I do something he doesn't like, don't give him what he wants, or try to discipline him.  It seems as if I hear "I don't like you; you're not my girlfriend anymore" or "I am mad at you mommy" or worse once a day.  I try and let it slide, knowing he is intentionally pushing my buttons to get a response, but sometimes, it feels overwhelming.  And I get that kids are typically less intimidated by and more likely to test a mother than a father, but that does not excuse his behavior or make it any less hurtful.    

Along with his developing backtalk, he has also developed the four year old version of a potty mouth. He has certainly picked a lot of this up from classmates at school, but still, it is not okay for him to incorporate talk like "poopy head, butt crack, naked head, doo doo butt" or any other gross kid term into his everyday vocabulary.  I have noticed over the past 4 weeks that he is using phrases like these to the point that it is becoming habit. He is even starting to us these words without even really realizing it; he just spouts them out.  And like any boy, it always makes him giggle to talk about pooting, farting or burping.  The other day when he was mad at me, he yelled at me and told me "Mommy, you're a doo doo."  Is that like the four year old version of calling someone a piece of shit? I mean , good lawd. Shaun and I and my parents have been trying very diligently and seriously to correct him when he says these things, but this leads me into my next behavioral issue: not listening.

I can repeat myself 800,000,000,000 times, and he still can ignore me like I never said anything! I have been fighting this battle honestly for 3 years now (basically since he was old enough to intentionally not listen.)  Example: I have been telling him not to drink the bath water for YEARS! And yet, every time he takes a bath, I catch him drinking the water. It is so frustrating.  I say "do not drink the bath water!" at least 3 times during every bath. I have spanked him, jerked him out of the tub as soon as he drank the water, taken his bath toys away, taken any water holding containers out of the tub, and yet, he still drinks the bath water, always.

The thing is, this kid has stickability.  He can wear a person down, is as stubborn as a mule and has a spirit that is hard to, for lack of a better word, break.  PLEASE don't misunderstand, raising him has been wonderful, but certainly tiring as well.  I have, however, reached the end of my rope as far as taking his attitude.  He is honestly a very sweet hearted boy, but he wants what he wants and if he doesn't get it, he can lose it.  Often if he is extremely frustrated, he will immediately lash out by throwing something or trying to hit me or whoever is close by.  I really think, at least in part, this is his personality (the impulsive behavior and the rambunctious attitude that is).  He is sweet 80% of the time and difficult 20% and a handful 100%.  I liken him to a dog (just hear me out), maybe a lab or something that is typically happy go lucky, but even then is bounding through the house, chewing on furniture and tearing things up. Even on Ryder's best days, he is spunky and all over the place.  Those days I can handle, enjoy even.  Honestly, I think I would feel bored if he were subdued.  It is just this recent development of his more aggressive, disrespectful and oblivious-to-being-scolded side that is driving me batcrap crazy.

Truthfully, sometimes I worry about his behavior, worry about others' perceptions of him, worry about how he will handle kindergarten and school; heck, I'd be a liar if I didn't admit I have even worried he may end up in Juvie, lol.  I have decided though that my behavior is as much to blame as anything.  I definitely know how I need to react when he tests me, and boy can he test me.  I also think a lot of parenting know-it-alls who love to offer parenting advice have not really dealt with such a headstrong kid who can be so unphased by a punishment or who acts so oblivious to the fact that he is seriously about to go one step too far.  Sometimes, even though I know I must contain my composure, I just lose it and yell at him, raise my voice or do something to really let him know that whatever he is doing is getting to me, which is ultimately what he wants.  Top this off by adding to it the guilt I feel for responding to him in a way that I know is not really helping the situation and then mix it with the worry I am suppressing that I am not being a successful parent.  I know I must be consistent too with how I handle him.  It is like dieting.  I know how to be healthy; it is just hard being diligent to always stick to it.  And the other thing about Ryder is, it isn't just random outbursts that subside.  He doesn't have tantrums.  He's never totally melted down in a completely uncontrollable way; instead he is constantly being strong willed, constantly having to be reigned in so to speak.  He does better in an atmosphere where he can be loud or run around.  I don't feel so worried, which makes me calmer and causes him to then be better behaved. But put us in a quiet room or a place where he needs to be still and behaved, and I almost instantly start to sweat.  Long lines are my own personal hell, I swear.  I get tense and he gets bored, which leads to him being loud and obnoxious and me being easily set off.

My pediatrician, I think, really thinks Ryder is ADD or ADHD, but he hasn't specifically said it, though he did tell me he figured in kindergarten the teacher may reference me to seeking help for it.  I guess a part of me also believes he is ADD or ADHD.  I am not saying I am looking for a diagnosis or medicine, but I think he has a limited ability to focus, and when he does focus on something that he wants to focus on, it is almost impossible to get him to respond to anything else. So, I have to come up with something to help to change not only his behavior, but mine also.  I realized this after talking to a friend this week about some similar problems she had with her daughter and the fact that she was improving due to the mom knowing how to better handle the behaviors.  It left me actually feeling encouraged at the fact that his behavior can be modified and improved.  So I decided to put into action some steps that, I hope, will help to start really teaching Ryder to control himself and to be a better behaved child.

I went to Dollar General and bought the supplies to make a behavioral chart for him so he can have more structure, definition and consistency as to what I expect from him, and so far, I think it may really be what I needed.  He was ecstatic about it and was so happy to earn stars to put on it.  It is basically a reward system that requires him to earn stickers, which he can the cash in for prizes (like getting an ice cream, going to play at Chick Fil A or getting to pick a surprise from a treasure box).  Last night he even attempted to eat some of a grilled cheese (big for him), and he went to bed much easier than most nights (though it was not totally glitch free).  I have also discovered he is much more upset by knowing he has a "yellow light" than he is by being put into time out or being spanked.  Granted, when the new wears off, he may not be as excited and willing to follow directions, but hopefully this can keep him on track and provide him with a sense of satisfaction for doing positive things instead of just getting attention for his "bad behavior."  And I am not so sure how to handle some of this in public or while away from home, (maybe a travel chart and a to-go red light/green light chart?) but for the moment, I am satisfied with this start.  My sweet husband also provided me with a Link To Focus On The Family ADHD Tips that I have shared with you concerning handling a child with ADHD, and though Ryder is not diagnosed with this, I think the steps and advice fit our situation perfectly.  

 
That being said, I think kids will be kids, and I certainly do not expect him to be perfect.  I just want to raise him to be kind, smart, sweet and respectful. I have to nip these current behaviors in the bud now before they become true personality traits.  I also have to remember he has only been four for roughly ten weeks, and he is a boy, so he may be immature at that.  He may also be frustrated at times, and he may not know any other way of channeling his frustrations other than lashing out. I don't know, maybe he feels most comfortable with me so he feels the most comfortable lashing out at me, but whatever it is, I want to teach him the skills he needs to be happy and healthy, even if he is ever formally diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.

I have also noticed lately that Ryder tends to give up easily when he cannot get the hang of something the first time, like with a skill or activity.  He then goes into meltdown mode and cries and pouts.  He did this several times this past weekend at Six Flags when he didn't win a game he played or couldn't climb the rope latter to the top.  I want him to know that to me, he is the most special boy in the world, but that to the world, he is equal to everyone else.  I want him to be happy with himself, think highly of himself, but have empathy for others.  I don't want him to have such a high self esteem that he thinks the world owes him something for nothing. Heck, even bullies can have high self esteem (shout out Dr. Laura, lol).   I want him to learn to lose gracefully, and not to just expect to be given a trophy for simply showing up.  As a mother, it is hard to watch your child be disappointed, but learning the skills to cope with disappointment in a positive way will serve him better in the long run than by being the mother who never lets her child fail.

So, I have decided it is not just him that needs to change; it is me too.  I am going to try to maintain my composure when he pushes me to the edge. I am going to try to be more consistent with rules, rewards and punishments. I am going to try to stop spoiling him so much, stop buying him a toy every time we walk into a store or get him a prize for, well, typically for behaving badly in order to pacify him and hope he will then magically be nice. Sometimes, I admit, it does work, but usually, it doesn't really do anything but make the pattern harder to break in the future.  I distinctly remember last year on Christmas night (and we have HUGE Christmases at our house) he asked me when he was getting ready for bed if he could have a surprise. I was stunned.  He was surrounded by a ton of toys, some even unopened.  I know I won't be perfect, and if you see me in public with him acting up, and I am about to lose it, cut me a break please. But other than that, wish me luck and offer me encouragement and advice for how to tame my spirited child!  

And finally, I just want to mention, just to be clear, I write when I am frustrated and though it may appear otherwise, Ryder is an amazing son and person. He is gorgeous and funny and loving too.  He just is also difficult at times.  And I am honest.  I think many kids are like this, but parents don't love to admit it to other parents.  It usually makes me feel better though when I discover other moms of kids who I think of as well behaved have moments where they experience similar situations to mine.  

My Band-aid Baby

REM sleep.  Sometimes, I think I may never again experience it. At least, not on a consistent basis.  Instead, I have a feeling I am going to be living my next few years running off of fumes so to speak.  The result? I am tired.  The other day I woke up and laughingly Shaun and I joked that just for that day, we (okay, mostly this was me telling Shaun and him just agreeing) wished we could stay in bed all day long watching movies on TV, only having to get up to maybe venture to the bathroom or kitchen. Then I even said maybe we could have room service (it's my daydream), and we could nap at any time we wanted.  That only sounds so good to me because I never really get to sit down or relax (and I recognize some of this is my own fault for being so OCD). It's okay though! I can deal with going through a day and not really taking a break for myself. I consider my trips in the car (you know, where your kids are strapped down) as a reprieve from running around and working, and I think it causes me to look more forward to the few minutes at night after the kids go to sleep when I pull out my trusty Nook and get lost in a book or on the weekend when Shaun and I sneak in a movie or TV show at 10pm.  You would think, logically, that would be followed by my next luxury, sleep.  But that brings me back to my original point: lack of sleep.  Specifically, my lack of sleep is being caused by my youngest precious child.  Even though my baby is becoming more of a toddler, I still rarely get the luxury of having him sleep the entire night through, thus, no REM sleep for me.

Sawyer is my sweet and cuddly baby.  Most of my posts are dominated by funny Ryder stories, but lately, Sawyer has been doing a good job coming into his own.  He has a distinctly different personality than Ryder.  Whereas Ryder is doggedly determined and only listens to what he wants to hear, Sawyer is happier sitting in my lap or hanging around my neck.  As long as he is with me, stuck to me like a band-aid, he is content.  He is becoming more independent now that he is getting older and more mobile, but as a whole, he is much easier to handle than Ryder ever was as long as I carry him.  He is sometimes bossy, and he is louder than I originally thought he might be; he is even starting to yell "No!" at me, but then he breaks out into a toothy grin and comes running to hug me.  All in all, he is loving baby who, for a 21 lb tiny human, can definitely make himself heard.  In the daytime, I laugh at his clingy behavior, even smile and think about how special it makes me feel that he is such a mama's boy.  But at 2am, the affection and clingyness is starting to be much less "cute."

As a newborn, Sawyer fit into my life and our family with such ease that I joked that at times, I forgot he was even around.  I will never forget how stressful Ryder's first few weeks of life were at night. He would get geared up to scream at 10pm and would go until 4am, when he would finally give up.  This lasted approximately 4 weeks.  Then, all of the sudden, his sleep patterns became much easier.  He slept large chunks of the night without waking, and he would even wake up cooing in his crib. Sometimes I would listen to him for 30-45 min before getting him out of bed.  As a 1-2 year old, I would literally get Ryder to sleep in mere minutes and then be out of the room to enjoy a bit of free time.  I am not saying he was perfect.  He would occasionally experience a disrupt in his sleep patterns; once I even let him "cry it out" after a few weeks of noticing he was wanting me to get him up to rock him in the middle of the night for no reason other than comfort.  Often times, his weeks of waking numerous times at night or fighting going to sleep would be followed by severely infected ears, which I would realize were his underlying problem.  We would get the ears fixed and his sleep patterns would become peaceful again.

How I found Ryder when he was Sawyer's age after I let him "cry it out" for a few hours.

How I found Ryder when he was Sawyer's age after I let him "cry it out" for a few hours. 

Sawyer, on the other hand, is a totally different story. He started off better than Ryder.  The first night I brought him home he slept 3 hours in between feedings.  If you have ever had a newborn, you know this is fabulous.  I was so pleased that he really never had any nights of screaming for hours on end that I bragged to everyone about what a great tempered baby he was (and I still whole-heartedly believe that).  And unlike Ryder, who never napped in the daytime, Sawyer would sleep for a few hours during the day, giving me an often much needed break to relax myself.  This pace rocked along until about 6-8 months.

It is no secret that I am a breastfeeding mamma.  I probably have been labeled that nutty holistic mom by my friends who personally do not want to breastfeed past the first few months.  I make no apologies for the fact that I support and believe breastfeeding is the healthiest way to nourish a baby.  I also support extended nursing.  To me, a 2 year old who nurses is normal, not creepy.  Sawyer is the poster child for breastfeed babies.  Though he is 16 months old, he is still perfectly content and 100% happy to nurse.  Many nurslings will self wean when they are ready.  This can happen early for some babies and much later for others.  For us, Sawyer appears to be no where near ready for that, and I am okay with that.  Breastfeeding came easy for both me and Sawyer.  I, for one, enjoyed the freedom from bottles and formula and washing and refrigerating, etc. But the biggest reward of nursing was night nursing.  I honestly do not know how formula moms have the energy to fix bottles, warm them and then wash them or wake up to a sink full of dirty bottles day after day.  Nighttime feedings for a breastfeed baby are, in my own personal opinion based on my own experiences, easy. Baby cries, unbutton shirt, feed baby, go back to sleep.  Many nights, especially in the beginning when Sawyer was in the crib beside my bed in my room, my feet never even hit the floor during his feedings.  I would tuck him in close to me, feed him, drift to sleep with him, then wake up and move him, sleeping so soundly, over to his crib.  It was sweet, calm and peaceful.

When Ryder was a baby, he breastfeed for 6 months.  For numerous reasons, I ended up stopping at that point and switching to formula.  By this time though, he was sleeping all night, so I never had to warm a bottle or feed him at night.  I had evicted Ryder from the crib by my bed by the time he turned 4 weeks old.  I was so sleepy and driving myself so silly at night making sure he was alive and breathing that neither of us could sleep.  So on the day Ryder turned 4 weeks old, I moved him to his crib in his room.  This was also the first night he ever slept the entire night. I swear, I thought he was dead when I jerked awake the next morning and realized I had actually slept.  And even when Ryder did wake up, I was much more diligent to rock him and put him back in his bed, no matter how tired I was or how long it took.  I was too scared to co-sleep because of SIDS.  When Sawyer came around, I was much more comfortable with parenting and was quicker to put Sawyer in bed with me to feed.  It made me a much more functionable person in those early months because I could drift off while he ate, and it is probably why he slept so much better than Ryder had in those first weeks.  I didn't worry about SIDS or spit up or any of those nutty things that kept me in check when Ryder was born.  In fact, one quick realization I had about parenting two children was that when one child wakes, it is very easy to wake (unintentionally) the other child--and let's face it, no parent wants that to happen.  This factored into my decision to bring Sawyer into my bed as well.  If he ever did cry for any length of time and wake Ryder up, it was much harder for me to manage.  Two crying babies can be really tricky.

Fast forward to 16 months old.  Sawyer is still in the same pattern of sleep he was in at 7, 8 months old.  Another habit I formed was rocking him to sleep at night while he nursed. Usually this was also while Shaun and I spent a few minutes watching TV and enjoying the quiet time together.  Now that Sawyer is older, he still will only go to sleep if I rock him.  I haven't figured out how to break this habit (other than crying it out).  Honestly, I didn't realize I had created this monster until it was created, so to speak.  But truth of the matter is, I can handle rocking him to sleep.  Sure, there are times when it would be nice to just pop him in bed and leave, but I am okay spending some snuggle time with my baby.  It is what follows that is driving me slowly bat %&$* crazy.

Sawyer still wakes up anywhere between 2-4 times a night.  Ideally, he would like to nurse when he wakes up (something Ryder stopped on his own after about 3 months old), and even though lately I have been doing good at not giving in (most of the time anyway) to his desire to simply nurse for comfort, I still cannot get him to sleep an entire night through.  No lie, he has had approximately 2 full nights of sleep (from the time I put him down until the sun comes up the next day) since July 1. I have been counting.  A typical night starts with rocking Sawyer and putting him to bed at 8:00pm, roughly.  Usually he goes down easily.  I then enjoy some reading and relaxing before I go to bed, typically around 10:30.  It never fails, by 11:30-12:30ish, Sawyer wakes up.  I know he his simply waking up and then he cannot go back to sleep on his own, but I swear I think he is waking himself up on purpose to catch me not sitting with him so that he can wail at me and make me feel bad and miserable at the same time.  I usually get up and rock him or comfort him and then put him back in his bed.  This takes anywhere between 20-45 minutes.  At about 4:30am (and many times earlier) he will wake again.  I again drag myself out of bed and rock him back to sleep.  I place him back in his crib, where, half the time, he will pop back up, no matter how asleep he looks, and start crying.  If I am really tired, I will just give in and pull him up and take him with me to my room where he will snuggle close to me and happily, knowing he has gotten his way, go to sleep.  I am also quick to make this decision because I do not want him to wake Ryder.  I totally know I am being played, but the truth of the matter is, I just want to sleep! So, I do what I have to do.  And many, MANY nights, he will also get up in between the midnight and mid-morning wake ups.  For the last few weeks, he has been waking up about every two hours.  That is a worse rate than he was at when he was a newborn!

I have recently decided that I would love to return to a full night's sleep (ha, if it where such a simple decision).  To do this, I know I must be more firm with him and just toughen up and let him cry.  I have been doing that some this last week.  I am still rocking him, but if he pops up when I put him down, I am trying to just walk away and let him cry himself to sleep instead of pulling him out of the crib every time he whimpers.  I admit, this is hard.  Last night, for example, I put him down at 11:45 after he woke up crying. I thought he was sound asleep, his little arms limp and his head flopping over on me.  As soon as he hit the bed, he pushed up and started pitifully crying.  Instead I told myself to be strong.  I did not get him up and instead listened to him cry for what seemed like forever, telling myself that he was fine, just spoiled.  He eventually went to sleep and even had a pretty good night, sleeping until about 5:20 (sad, right) this morning. When he started making noise, I went to get him (actually feeling rested with the extra hour of uninterrupted sleep) and discovered he had apparently been asleep in a huge diaper full of poop (sorry, there is no nice way to say it) for probably most of the night.  I felt so horrible, like I had ignored his cry for help.  Heavy sigh. Now, I will probably be unable to get the idea of him wearing a dirty diaper out of my mind when he cries at night.  I guess I will just keep on keeping on with our battle.  Waking, rocking, crying, maybe even pooping.  I would love to think that eventually, he will just start sleeping and stop waking so often.  Maybe he will, but right now, it feels like I still have a small infant.  What I really want is sleep--peaceful, restful, uninterrupted sleep.               
    
Occasionally I am asked if and when I plan on having another baby.  I think most people ask just to see if I am nuts enough to say I am, or they secretly wonder why in the world I would want to.  The answer is yes, I do want a third baby (though I have thought about telling people "it was an accident" when it happens).  I love the hustle and bustle of parenthood and as everyone knows, would love to try just one more time for a girl.  And the way I look at it, I might as well go ahead and have my third baby while I am still getting up so much in the middle of the night.  I would probably hardly even notice the disruption.

So, do you have any useful tips on how I can get my band-aid baby, who thinks he cannot be away from me during the night, to sleep and STAY asleep? If so, do tell...