The terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Yes. That would be yesterday. I had a 9am appointment at the dealership to get our car looked at because the AC isn't working. (Do you know how hard it is to get me and the kids somewhere by that time in the morning??) I asked how long it would take and they told me 45 minutes. Needless to say it took a little more than two hours. So while we are at the dealership Zadie was horribly naughty (due to boredom most likely) which made the wait very stressful. Then it cost $200 and they are not even SURE they fixed it. They told me to drive it for a week or so and if it started blowing hot air again to bring it back in. PLUS they found another repair (a leak in the power steering something or other) that is going to cost about $1000 to fix. WHAT??? We've only had the van for 3 months and it's only 2 years old!! It was also supposed to have been totally looked over before we bought it...so really I feel like they lied to us about the van. Grrr. To top off the day Phoenix hasn't been sleeping. Literally...he sleeps for 5 minutes every time I lay him down and then starts crying. He's done this All. Day. Long. Which also means that he's crabby the rest of the time because he hasn't slept. Which also makes for one crabby Mamma. I'm just glad it's almost the weekend. I think I need a Mamma vacation. Maybe I'll go to a movie by myself one night after the kids are in bed or something. Of course as frustrated as I am with the kids I would still miss them too much to be away for more than a few hours. Sick isn't it?

Pics from the last few days...
Laughing baby


My sweet boy




cute girl





Thumbs up


My kitties

We've had a bit of a hard week here so far. Phoenix has been really fussy for the most part. Laying him down at all causes him to cry. He's usually ok if I'm holding him. Needless to say I'm not getting much done around here. I'm also not feeling good. Probably because of the Lyme meds, but I'm not sure. This morning I am SO tired and even feeling sick to my stomach...although I can't tell if that's just a by-product of being so tired. Phoenix was up several times last night (3 or 4) so I feel like I didn't sleep at all.
Ok, in spite of all that I really have enjoyed the kids this week...they've both been really sweet.

She loves holding him


kisses


Yesterday my friend Stephanie came over and we went to the pool for a little while. Phoenix fell asleep all wet and in his swimming trunks...so cute!


Zadie in the bath




This is what Harley looks like while he watches Zadie take a bath


Half smile


Phoenix looked so sweet sleeping on my bed last night

"My Dad Rocks!"

Yesterday Brett had to leave early (6:30am) for church since he plays in worship band. When the kids and I got there for the 10 am service Zadie was wearing this shirt. Brett got a kick out of it



Yesterday's worship service at church was really good. First of all the music was really great. Zadie cried when I tried to drop her off at the nursery (which she never does)...so I ended up bringingher back with me for the music. She loved it. I held her most the time and she clapped her hands and sang along in her 2 year old way. I told Brett that if she falls in love with a rock star some day it's all his fault. The sermon was really good too. It was on Men (dad's mostly) and leadership...really a wonderful sermon. if you are interested in hearing it you can get the podcast on iTunes. Just look up 'Plum Creek Community Church'. Really, our pastor is a wonderful speaker. It's so great to wake up on Sunday mornings excited to go to church.

The rest of the day was relaxing and good. Sometimes it's just really sweet to spend time together as a family.







Hold me?




Phoenix loves kisses

Trip to the zoo...

Most of the pictures are of Zadie since Phoenix slept in the stroller the whole time...

Adventures in Motherhood...

The other day I took Zadie to Walmart with me. We parked the van and she was holding my hand while we walked through the parking lot. She must have been really excited because in the blink of an eye she broke away from me and started running towards the store. I grabbed her as quickly and as tightly as I could. I squatted down by her and pointed out the cars while explaining to her that if she didn't hold my hand they could run her over and it would make me so very sad. I didn't swat her bottom...she wasn't being wilful or naughty...she was just being a (almost) 2 year old with a 3 second attention span. She just got excited and ran. I don't remember my exact words to her, but I apparently made a really big impression...she must have seen the fear in my face. The whole time we were at Walmart and on the way home she talked to herself saying "Cars over. Cars over." I don't believe in scaring my kids...but I wanted her to understand that the cars could run her over...and boy did I get through to her! We also practice stopping and checking for cars when we walk to the mailbox. I always get down on my knee and make her look both directions before walking across the "street" (in our parking lot). On Sunday we (the 4 of us) were coming out of church. Of course Brett and I had already made sure that no cars were coming before we crossed the parking lot, but Zadie yanked on my hand and made me stop short. She said to me "Look cars. Look cars." which basically means "Look for cars before you walk, mommy!". I'm so proud of that girl!!

When I picked her up at the nursery on Sunday the lady said to me "She is SO smart! She knows the whole routine we do with the clipboard and signing her in...she made sure I did it right!"


My sweet boy (who is currently napping on my bed)...

cry baby

There are so many things about the infant/baby stage that I LOVE. I love the sweetness, the baby snuggles and I love how there are so many 'firsts'. First smiles. First coo's. I love it all. I love the smell of my babies and the feel of them in my arms. I don't love the crying. Oh the crying. So far this morning Phoenix has already cried himself to sleep twice. Please don't think I'm a terrible mother. I really did try to soothe him. I bounced, I rocked, I patted, I sang. I tried everything. It leaves me feeling frustrated and stressed out. I remember a similar stage for Zadie too. It was like no matter what I did she cried. oh, a light bulb just popped on over my head. (or would have if I was a cartoon). When this happened with Zadie she was right about this age...it was around 3 to 4 months old. For her, things got better when we changed the dose on her reflux meds. Maybe that's what he needs. I'll call his doctor this afternoon and see if we can go up on his dose of prevacid. So any of you mom's out there had a day like this lately?

In the spirit of things, here are a few crying pictures:


(drama, drama)








and a smiling pic or two just to round things out: