My silly little boys...

Asher loves to pretend that he is going "na-night" in Sayer's bouncer

Wearing Nate's church sock... it looks like a thigh high on him... I love it!

Striking a pose

How cute is this kid?

Asher was being so cute with Sayer, making sure he was covered with the "blankie", so he wouldn't get cold.

He was totally making Sayer laugh too, it was so sweet.

Lazy, lazy, lazy

Wow, it seems like it has been so long since I last posted. I'm just gonna go ahead and be honest and upfront with everyone... I have been the laziest version of my already lazy self these past few weeks. Seriously people, I can't get myself to do anything... I don't get dressed or shower unless it is absolutely necessary (as in, I am leaving the house, or people are coming over, even then, showering is definitely optional!),I don't clean my house (I do straighten up about every other day), I don't do the laundry (or at least I don't fold it or put it away), I don't make dinner, I only do the dishes when the dishwasher is empty, and seeing as how I loathe emptying the dishwasher, it is never empty, therefore, I never do the dishes. I can't even get myself to post on my beloved blog. I guess I do have to give myself some credit, as I have been running and swimming my little (ok, not really so little) rear off these days, which is one of the reasons why I don't do anything else around here... I am so stinkin' tired. It's not that I'm over working myself or anything, but rather, Sayer has digressed some in his previously stellar sleeping habits, and I wake up every morning, feeling like I just got hit by a ton of bricks. I don't even think about waking up early to run, as there is just no way. It's night time runs for me baby (which I actually quite enjoy)! I am not really sure what my course of action will be with the little guy, as I don't really know what his dealio is, but I have GOT to figure something out. It's really quite depressing, as he was pretty much on a schedule and everything... 2 long naps and one shorter nap during the day, go to bed at 7, wake up between 4 and 6 to eat, then go back until around 8 or so. Oh well, such is life. I know it won't last forever. But in the meantime, I feel like such a horrible wife and mom. My in-laws are coming in town tonight, so I am determined that that will force me into action. My house, surprisingly enough, doesn't look that bad. We have kept pretty busy lately (posts on these events to follow), and haven't been here a ton to mess it up, but it's still not great. Nate has been the best husband ever, and just understands and loves me anyway. He cleaned the kitchen for me this morning (after he himself ran 4 miles), while I took a little nap on the couch. He is so patient with me, and always does what he can to help out. Love you Nate!

So anywho... there is my long drawn out excuse of why I am just now posting about the 4th of July.

Mmmm, cereal

Sayer had is first rice cereal the other night. He did pretty well, and managed to keep some of it in his mouth, although, as you can see, the majority ended up on his face. He just thought it was the funniest thing in the world. He was so giggly. I know all the pictures are pretty similar, but they were all so cute, so I had to include them all!!

Weekend update...

So this last week with Asher, has pretty much been unbearable, throwing tantrums over every tiny little thing, wanting his binky and blanky every second of the day, being so clingy, hitting, more tantrums, sleeping bad, you name it. Can I just say, that all mothers know best. I knew Asher had an ear infection when he woke up last Saturday morning with a low grade fever, but the Dr. told me "no, just treat the symptoms, it probably won't turn into an ear infection, blah blah blah!" So I totally listened to him, and on Monday when he didn't have a fever anymore, I thought he was better (which does make me feel bad for making Asher cry that night, but he really was feeling fine at that moment, and really was wanting to play). Anyway, so the week goes on and Asher is just a monster, and I was starting to think that I was a horrible mother, and that he was just turning into a bratty child, until...

On Thursday, I tried to pick some ear wax out of Asher's ear, and he freaked out, not like a brat, but like he was in pain, and immediately, I said: "I knew it!!!" I called the next morning to get him into the Dr (again), and sure enough... ear infection. Let me tell you, I was so glad that it was an ear infection, because the Asher from this last week was not my Asher, it was like he was a completely different child, and that other child, was driving me insane!!! I totally forgot that he really is such a sweet, happy little guy. So anyway, he is so much happier now, and is back to playing outside all day long, and this morning, he didn't even want his binky and blanky when he woke up, he just left them in the crib. Hallelujah for antibiotics! 

So yeah, mom's know best... always listen to your instincts!!

Friday night was the Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband CD launch concert. They put on a great show, and Sayer was a champ and slept through the whole thing, while Asher was at home with a babysitter. The best part of the whole night, were the teeny-bopper girls that were sitting behind us. Half way through the show, the band came up to this little stage in the middle of the audience, and the girls behind us were freaking out, they were so excited to be so close to the band. HAHA!! Then one of them says, "OMIGOSH, if they play Dream Big, I am going to die!" Then, later, Ryan was introducing one of their songs, 10,000 Lakes, and was telling the story of how he started writing the song, which included a sword that had 10,000 jewels stolen out of it, and then he announced the title of the song, and the girl was like: "ok, that has nothing to do with the story he just told" Oh man, it was so awesome. I know it doesn't sound as funny to you, but trust me, it was. These girls were seriously so dumb, and definitely did not grasp the deeper meaning of the song. 

Ok, so then, on Saturday, I took the kids to babiesrus to get a bed for Sayer, which is just a second pack n' play with a bassinet attachment, and then decided to head next door to Toysrus, just for fun. Let me just say, that there is a reason that I don't do that very often... as soon as I walked in, I was like, "oh, Asher would love, this... this is so cool..." etc etc. I wanted to get everything in that store. Then we found the bikes and Asher was in heaven. He seriously loves bikes, or anything that he can sit on and pretend to drive. So Nate and I have been talking about getting him one, and it took all my energy to not buy him one right then and there, without even researching prices and models and all that good stuff. Amazingly, we made it out of there, not having spent a penny. What self control I have!!

Then, on Saturday night, the best thing in the world happened. I put Sayer down to bed at 7:00 pm, in his new bed, and he slept for 11 1/2 hours straight. I didn't hear a peep out of him until 6:30 am. I was so happy. Of course, I still didn't get a good night sleep, because I kept waking up, waiting for him to cry. But I'm not complaining, my body will adjust soon enough, as he did the same thing last night. So it looks like 3 months is the magic age for Sayer... he is eating so much better and is so much happier, I wrap him up and lay him down, and he puts himself to sleep, and now, he is sleeping through the night, and I didn't even have to make him cry it out (which I was seriously considering). Woo-hoo!! 

Last night, I had to work, so Nate did both kids all by himself, and did an awesome job. Now that they both go to bed around the same time, it can get a little tricky for one person, so I was very impressed when he said things went well.

So anyway, sorry for the long boring post, but I just wanted to post those few thoughts. This week, I will be on my own starting tomorrow, as Nate is teaching at a fiddle camp, so thank goodness that Asher is back to his cheerful self, or else things would have gotten pretty ugly around here!

3 months already?

3 months old!

I think he looks like his cousin Kadin in this picture

I don't know where the time has gone, but Sayer is already 3 months old. He has turned into such a happy little guy. His tummy troubles are almost a thing of the past, and he loves to smile and coo, and just be content. He is also starting to put himself to sleep for naps and bedtime, which is a dream! He still won't really sleep on a flat surface, so he has graduated from sleeping in the bouncer to sleeping in his carseat. I, of course, think he is absolutely adorable, though I am not biased at all! ;) The pictures above are the only ones where is he is actually 3 months, the others were just too cute to not be shared!

I love this picture! He is looking at Asher, and the look on his face looks like he is thinking: "What, are you doing?!"

Mr. Big eyes!

Just look at that precious face, and those adorable dimples!

In other news...

this kid...

Taken this morning

...is lucky to be alive after today... really lucky. He has been an absolute terror. Infact, he is in his crib, seriously screaming at the top of his lungs right now, making himself hoarse. So technically, he still might not make it to tomorrow. Just kidding, really!! (Don't worry, I would never really hurt my child, lest you think you need to turn me into CPS!!)

He was sick this last weekend with a really high fever for a couple of days, so of course, we coddled him a lot and gave him special treatment... he also didn't sleep very well, so as a result, he is so tired. On top of that, since he is feeling better, I went back to not letting him have his binky during the day (the never ending saga of the "bee-dee"), and he was not happy about that. He has been asking for it all day today and throwing tantrum after tantrum. We went to the library tonight to get some books, and on the way home, more screaming. So I told him when we got home, it was dinner, bath, bed. He was in bed by 6:00 pm. Usually when we do that, he will sleep uninterrupted until morning, but tonight, he woke up an hour later wanting to get up and play, and I was like, "no way buddy!" So he has basically been crying/screaming for the past 3 hours. Well, off and on actually. At first, we started going in there to calm him down, and even read some more books, but then we decided to nip this in the bud, and just let him cry/scream it out. I have really been trying to not give in to his tantrums, as they have been a little more frequent, and I want him to know that they don't produce results. I have also been trying to give extra praise and attention when he is being nice and obeying, etc. He is generally such a sweet little boy, but when he gets mad... watch out!

Ok, so he just stopped! He probably pooped himself out from crying his brains out. Poor little guy. It does break my heart to listen to him crying like that, but I want him to know who's boss!

2 months

2 months already?! I can't believe how fast the
time has gone by. The other day I went to visit my friend Ashley, who just had her baby last week, and Sayer looked like a monster compared to her little peanut, and it made me kind of sad. Her baby was little like Sayer, plus she's a girl, and I think girls just look daintier, so she looked especially tiny. Anyway, I digress...

Sayer has been doing so much better. He still has his days, but for the most part, there has been much less crying, and more happiness and smiling. Yes, that's right, smiling! It is the best when your baby finally starts smiling. Sunday he was melting my heart all day with his sweet smiles and coos. I love him! But yeah, I am so grateful that his little body is starting to figure things out. He is much less fidgety, and seems like he is starting to be more comfortable in his own skin. He has also been sleeping pretty well. Last week he did so awesome, sleeping 4 and 5 hours, and only waking up once in the middle of the night. Then he had 2 amazing nights in a row, where he slept for 6 hours. He unfortunately got out of that rhythm, but I am hopeful we will get back there in no time! So yeah, much better!

Some of his favorite things these days include: sitting in his swing (not swinging, just sitting there) looking at the mirror above him and listening to the music it plays, sitting in his bouncer with calming vibrations, laying on his back and kicking his arms and legs while smiling and talking, snuggling and falling asleep on my shoulder (he is such a cuddler, Asher was not), spitting up, sitting in his bumbo chair (thanks Aunt Lizza) sleeping and eating! (I know Chris, there needs to be more tummy time in there. I'll get right on it!)

Today we went to the Dr, and Sayer is 10 lb 12 oz and in the 23% . He is getting so big and chubby. I love his little thighs, they totally have rolls on them. Asher's never really did. He was just small and solid. But Sayer is chubby and squishy, and I could just squeeze him all day long. Sayer is also a sensitive little guy, which is probably why his tummy pains bother him so much. He will get the little frowny and quiver lips and cry at any little thing... like his brother driving his Thomas the tank engine over his face. I mean, come on, suck it up Sayer! ;) He is such a sweetheart!

I love these pictures because in the left one you can see one of his dimples, and on the right, you can see his other one.

























I think he looks so cute in this onesie. It's a newborn size, so now it looks like a muscle tee on him. Thanks Jackie, and thanks Grandma Lenie for the cute matching baseball socks!

Asher was 24 lb 10 oz today, which puts him in the 20%.
Such a silly little kid!

Also...

I just have to say thank you to all of my amazing and thoughtful friends out there, who have showered me with empathy, words of encouragement, and offers to take Mr Asher-pants off my hands for a while. I seriously have the best friends, (even the ones I've never met! ;). This is why I love the blogging world. It has been so nice to know that I am not alone out there, and that everyone goes through the challenges I am going through, and that I am NOT a horrible mother. Thanks for listening to my rantings, and for all of your support. Love you all!

Pictures

So, here are Sayer's 4 week pictures that I said I would post like a week ago, whoops. My excuse is that I am chronically tired, so anytime I get a minute, I feel like I would be stupid not to be sleeping. I had my first fatigue induced breakdown last night... Sayer was being really fussy, Nate was gone all night at priesthood, combined with the fact that I was so tired. Then I started to realize that I haven't had more than 3 hours of continuous sleep in 5 weeks, and have no idea when I will... it all finally forced me to tears. I was actually able to hold it together pretty well though. I am actually surprised that I made it to 5 weeks. (Last time I only made it to about 2 hours after leaving the hospital!) I have since re-committed myself, and am doing fine... still bone tired, but bone tired with a positive attitude! It's ok though, because look at this precious face...

He makes it all worth it! I love his full lips, his dimples, and when he smiles (even though they are not really "smiles"). We can't really tell what color his eyes will be, but right now they are a dark grayish-blue, and they are so cute. We love him!

2 1/2 Weeks...

Sad that the only time Asher will let me snuggle with him like this is when he's sick! This is a weird angle, but we are laying on the couch.

Well, our introduction into life with 2 kids has not been very kind. First with Asher's teething episode, then this last weekend he came down with, what I first thought was the flu as he threw up Saturday morning (Nate and I were still able to squeeze in a celebratory dinner to Tucanos after he went to bed). Then on Sunday he had a super high fever of 104. Monday brought no fever or vomiting, just a very whiney child who wouldn't eat or sleep. I finally took him in on Tuesday and found out he had an ear infection. Poor little guy! Today is the first day that he is semi-himself. This is the first day that he has played with his toys in 4 or 5 days, and this is the first day he is actually eating. He is so skinny, I can totally feel his backbone, and he doesn't have his usual pot-belly. I'm glad that he is feeling better, because it is always so sad to see your child miserable and in pain, it is definitely so much better when they are happy and smiley. But I am also glad because he has been driving me insane with his constant whining and needing to be held. I know, how horrible am I? I'm sure I'm not the only mom who has felt like that, so I don't feel too bad saying it. So we are all looking forward to Asher feeling better, and getting some decent sleep.

Sayer on the other hand, has been doing great. He is now 2.5 weeks old. We went to the Dr on Monday (and Tuesday) and he has already gained 1 pound. I haven't really noticed a huge difference between Asher as a baby and Sayer, except that Sayer has a much louder/piercing cry. I would also say that Sayer is a little bit more fussy (or maybe I just notice his cry more because it is much louder than Asher's ever was), but only during eating times. He acts like he is constantly trying to go to the bathroom, his little face will get bright red and it looks like he's going to pop a blood vessel. I've been trying that Gripe Water stuff, and it seems to be helping some. His tummy problems don't seem to be affecting his sleeping. He pretty much goes 3-4 hours between feedings both day and night, sleeping pretty much the whole time in-between. He does have his days and nights mixed up, but I don't really believe in waking babies up, so I will just wait til he sorts it out himself. It didn't take too long with Asher, so hopefully it won't with Sayer. Plus, it has been nice to have him sleep so much during the day so that I can take care of Asher. He really is a sweet little guy, I don't have any complaints!

This is my favorite little outfit (above). He wore it home from the hospital, which I don't have any pictures of as it was a stressful event... Asher was with us!!!

His whiney-ness!!

Sayer's first bath

Sayer had his first bath on Wednesday... he was not a fan!

Sorry if this picture is inappropriate, I didn't think to cover him up.

Nice and warm in his towel

Look at those skinny little legs!