Under the weather bug

Miss Buggy D has been under the weather. And it stinks.

It started with a fever that I was certain (CERTAIN) was caused by teething. It slowly escalated higher over a few days. Monday brought a trip to the doctor with no definitive answers...probably a virus beginning to rear its ugly head. Well it happened. The Roseola virus bit my bug. I don't like it. Not. One. Bit.

It's a funny thing when your kids don't feel well. For years when we weren't planning on having kids I was always one of those people who said "If I had kids, I wouldn't be a panic about sickness. Kids get sick. Deal." Well, I still feel that way - I truly don't stress out about being around germs, friends with runny noses (though I do steer away from the pukies...)but gosh, when my kidlets are under the weather I just fall to pieces. I want so bad to take away the yucky.

I just want my smiley bug back. I miss the spunk. I miss her giggle. I miss her.

Feel better baby bug. Mommy loves you.

Sleepy head

As I've blogged about before, one of my most favorite things to do is sneak in and check on the kidlets after they have fallen asleep.

With Ryan, you never know what you are going to get. When he goes to sleep at night, after brushing teeth, filling his water cup, finding Marvin and blankie, listening to daddy's stories and telling mom a story, he likes to play. And read books. In the dark. Lately he's been playing a lot - we walk down the hall to find books he has snuck out into the hallway.

Well imagine our surprise when we found him like this last night...

Passed out asleep on the middle of his floor. Sweet little man was so exhausted from playing and reading he just passed out on the floor.

Love, love this little boy.

Excuses, excuses...

So I missed two more days. I truly can't help it. Our weekend was jam-packed. Blogging never entered my mind.

Some highlights:

Saturday - swim lessons, AJs, grocery store, party store, party prep, gelato store, fantastic 40th birthday party for Aunt Stacia - Jason's sister. We had a lovely family dinner, shared memories, drank lots of champagne, and slept like a baby!

Sunday - swim lessons - which we nearly missed because we ALL slept in after our fun party the night before, AJ's, Mall for Las Vegas shopping, home, I went back to a different mall, grocery store, dinner with the Russo's, bed.

Allison had a yucky fever today - it hit 103 - I was totally freaked. This was day four of a fever that we were oh-so-certain was caused by teething (her I-teeth are coming in). Trip to the doctor, test for UTI (brutal for my lil bug), pokes, prods and the outcome - probably still teething - but we need to monitor the fever. It seemed to finally break as she napped on my chest (love that time, and it probably won't happen too many more times as she gets older!). We were both drenched. She was a much happier bug this afternoon.

I ask myself this question, daily, multiple times daily - how did I get so lucky!!! My children are simply fantastic.

Early morning post

Here's a first...at least in a while...I am making an early morning post.

Why? You ask...(or at least I ask myself!)

Well it's because one little monkey doo decided to start playing the fishing game at 6:23am. 6:23 AM. The sound coming across the monitor jolted me from bed.

Now 6:23AM isn't the earliest he's been up...but its Friday..and we don't have to get up and out on Fridays. No work for mommy. No swim lessons. No errands. And today, no play dates planned. Why or why did he have to wake so early when every other day this week we had to wake him after 7 to get up and out....hmmm...my sweet monkeydoo.

I love him so.

PS - for the record it is now 7:39am. I am writing this from bed while I listen to him (over the monitor) play with his trucks, cars, trains, dinosaurs, books, fishing game, hippo game....the sounds are music to my ears.

Help Me Daddy! (a post from daddy!)

These days, Ryan is all about his big dump truck with the attached shovel scoop. He fills the scoop up and dumps various items including cars, trucks, trains, wood blocks and random plastic pieces into his dump truck. He continues this process until his dump truck is full, then he dumps the truck out and starts all over. Occasionally when his dump truck is full he decides that he needs to move it off the couch to the floor......or off the floor to the couch. It is as this time that he calls out, "Help Me Daddy" "Help Me Daddy". As I approach him, he instructs me on where his dump truck needs to go. I move the truck for him and he says, "Thank you Daddy" as he begins the process all over again.

Relaxed...

I have a strange sense of calm. Not a bad thing...but just calm.

I've just finished reading my second "chick" book in less than two weeks. I haven't read two books in the last three years. Since I became a mom. I just never made the time. But I have found that curling up with a good book is quite relaxing.

Ryan was getting ready for bed tonight and saw me pick up my book.

"You readin momma?"

"Yep, sure am, buddy."

"Why momma?"

"I like it buddy."

"i go read too momma."

And with that, he did. He bounded down the hall, grabbed this "10 Little Racecars" and read vroom, vroom to me.

LOVE IT!

Peek a boo and nighty night

It's one of my most favorite things to do.

Jason and I sneak into the kidlets rooms to peek on them while they sleep. We tip toe and try so hard not to trip over a truck, book or stuffed animal.

And then we stare.

We just stand there and stare. They are so peaceful. So adorable. So wonderful.

If I could I would climb right into Allison's crib and snuggle her. If he wouldn't wake up, I would climb into his big boy bed, push the myriad of trucks/trains/cars to the side and pull the covers right up to my nose. And I would watch them sleep.

We drag each other out of their rooms and whisper about how wonderful they are. How we want to squeeze on them. How we just want to eat up their deliciousness.

How did we get so lucky?!?!?!

Sweet dreams!



PS - I know I missed a post yesterday - even after I had committed to 30 days in a row. But just know that we had a great family fun weekend. I was just too tired last night to type!

Family funday

Today was a great Sunday. Both kids slept in and we lounged around playing with Ryan's trains and legos.

We had a delicious lunch at Burger King and then headed for the splash pad for some silly splashing about. There is nothing like the belly laughs that Allison lets out as she runs through the sprinklers. The kid has no fear.

We helped Gampa celebrate his birthday tonight. Ryan was sad to leave...he wanted to continue chasing his cousins. The kids have such a great time together - it so warms my heart.

Looking forward to a relaxing and exciting Labor Day tomorrow. One more family-filled day to get me prepared for my busy week. My blessings continue to inspire me and I can't wait til the sun rises and I get to hang some more.

Feeling blessed

It's days like today that I really realize how blessed I am.

First, I have the best husband. Ever.

Second, I have two fantabulous children. I love them so much. They light my life.

Third, I have an awesome family - both my family and my in-laws.

Fourth, we have incredible friends. Incredible.

Life is good.

Ryan Richard

I LOVE my little boy. He is stupendous. He is magnificent. He is adorable. He is cute. He can be a hellion. I love him.

I got to spend some quality time with just him today. He ran some errands with me this morning. Ladybug stayed behind because she was napping. We went to Borders, the Hallmark store, the post office, lunch, gelato, haircut for him (wow - what a nightmare!) and Target. We had a great time. I was pooped.



So was he.

My favorite conversation of the day took place at Borders:

RRH: Mom, I'm mad.
Me: Why buddy?
RRH: I want daddy,
Me: Daddy's at home working.
RRH: Is he working on something? (side note: In our house, this means pooping.)
Me: No, he's working, working.
RRH: But I waaaaannnnt him.
Me: Sorry buddy. He's gonna meet us for lunch.
RRH: But I looooovvvvveeee him.
Me: Well I love him too.
RRH: I love you momma.

Heart melted. I am in love.

Deceiving peaches

Is there anything cuter than naked peaches? They are simply delicious!


But while this picture is oh-so-cute, and Ryan is rockin a darn good tan, and Allison's thighs are chunk-delilicious! - this photo screams agony to me.

You see, it was Ryan's birthday. A measley two hours before the party. And he wanted NOTHING to do with taking a bath. He was SCREAMING. Which made Allison scream.

And then she pooped.

Yep, she pooped. In. the. tub.

So while I was trying to wrestle with Ryan to keep him in the tub, I had to change up my plan. I ripped them both from the tub - screaming - and my mom (memaw!) thought this was hysterical, so she captured this moment. Thanks mom.

A word of note - I totally blame this on Aunt Dene. The first and only time to date that Ryan has pooped in the tub, we were at Aunt Dene's house. And yep, she was present for Allison's first time as well.

Darn peaches.

Habit forming

So I missed another whole month. A. Whole Month. Wow. I told myself this wouldn't happen again. But alas, it did.
It's September 1. Where did August go? We celebrated two big birthdays here in the Handley house -

Allison turned 1 (wow - my baby girl is one!) She really loved her cake.

and Ryan turned 3 (Seriously?!) He preferred his tomato.


I need to remind myself that I started this blog as a way to remember the little things my kids do. The funny, the silly, and even the frustrating. It's a way for me to memorialize some events - the big, the small and minute - in a way I can hopefully always have a connection to.

We are blessed with a fantastic family and wonderful friends...I am committing to making this blogging thing a habit. I am going to make a minimum of 30 posts this month. Yep, at least 30. One per day. Sometimes there might be more. I have lots of recent memories to share...and with my two little munchkins I am sure I am going to have many more daily. So I am refocusing. These are things I don't want to forget. I am committing to a habit. And I am sure I will be so grateful to relive the fond memories.

Fourth of July 2010

I've always loved Fourth of July. It brings back great memories of my childhood. And of my dad. Family time, splashing in cool pools to beat the heat, BBQ of any kind, sweet treats, games, laughter - you name we had it. I want my kids to experience the same. We haven't made it a priority to see fireworks since Ryan was born. It was either too late or the fear we would scare the bee-jeepers out of him. But this year was different. Something in me said it was time. This was the year. We headed to a lovely and delicious BBQ at our sister-in-law Valerie's parents' house. They included the entire Handley clan which was super sweet. We had a delightful dinner and spent quality time catching up. As we headed out, Aunt Verone reminded us that Cave Creek was having fireworks. So we went for it. We drove up to Cave Creek, parked along a side street, sat on the hood of my car - Ryan in my lap - Allison is Jason's arms - and we saw some beautiful fireworks. Right. In. Front. Of. Us. Jason scored an awesome parking spot. Ryan was in LOVE from the first boom and crackle. The first sparkle of color had him at hello. He is hooked. Now we have to explain why he can't see them every night. I don't think he's going to buy "honey, the fireworks are taking a nap" for long. So we will be scouring the paper, looking for events that have fireworks, because Ryan wants to see the "BOOM. BOOM. SSSSSS" And so do I.

Big Boy Bed

Ryan got a big boy bed. Finally. I really thought we would have gotten him one a lot sooner. But he showed no interest. Zero. When we were expecting Allison we planned to hand down Ryan's furniture to her. I figured by the time she was four months old and ready to get out of the bassinet Ryan would surely be ready. Nope. He loved his crib. Loved, loved, loved. Well a couple months ago I was ready. He wasn't, but I was. So we ordered it in May and patiently waited for it to arrive. We slowly started talking it up. His response - "no thanks, mom". Polite..but boy was I worried we were going to have an issue. It arrived mid-June.


I love it. Jason loves it. And best of all, Ryan loves it. LOVES it. It has a book shelf for a headboard - a total copy cat of his cousin Justus. He has a bookshelf for a headboard and Jason always loved how he could take his Lego creations, books, trucks, etc., to bed with him at night. So Jason wanted Ryan to have a bookshelf for a headboard. Ryan takes no less than six busses to bed with him, various trains, race cars, a random book or two and of course his beloved Marvin. The transition has been seamless. From the first night we tucked him under his race car/airplane/bus/dump truck sheets he has slept like a champ.

We are loving Ryan's new bedroom set and sweet dreams are had by all!

Love it when they play together

Nothing make me more happy than to see my kids play together. I mean - it makes me deliriously happy. It is just adorable. Ryan is such a good big brother - and with Allison on the move - he is soon going to be learning a thing or two (or five) about patience. But when they play together and belly laugh - it's just priceless. Check out this video - wish you could have been there in person -it was delicious.

Gone awhile - but lots to share

I can be quite the procrastinator. I admit it. I've been away from this blog for almost a month and a half. I decided I needed to make at least one post in June - so here it is - on the last day of the month. Wow!! Time sure does fly. It's not for a lack of interesting tid bits - so much has happend in the last 6 weeks: my sister turned 50, Allison can walk, we went to San Diego, Allison experienced the beach for the first time, Ryan got a big boy bed...I could go on and on...it's just that I've been lazy about actually opening up a page and writing. I think it's the desire to want it to be perfect. The perfect words, the perfect picture attached, the perfect everything. I've been told that the number one reason somebody procrastinates is that they want it to be perfect - I am definitely guilty of that - but not ashamed...there is nothing wrong with wanting to try to do things perfectly in my eyes. Oh, I digress.

So I am making a list, checking it twice (wow, that makes me think of Christmas which is less than 6 months away - did I mention that time sure flies!) and I am going to share my thoughts on the exciting times that have happened for the Handleys in the last six weeks. I am not going to worry about the perfect words, the perfect pics...I am just going to write this stuff down - because I don't want to forget these things and I want my kids to always remember them too.

Reflecting...

So this blog is so supposed to be about my kids, their lives, how much I love them. But lately I've been doing a lot of reflecting. You see, I have a friend - I worked with her for a short time, we continue to exchange Christmas cards, and I get routine updates from other friends as to how charming her life is with her sweet husband and delicious children. Well, she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Stage 3 breast cancer. She's 39. She has two children - I know I mentioned that - but it means so much. She has a wonderful husband. She has a nice life. She's blogging about her experience...and I am addicted to it. It. is. just. so. sad.

Thinking about it turns on the faucets in my eyes. I mean, I'm 36. I have two children. I have a wonderful husband. I have a GREAT life. How does this happen and can/will it happen to me? It all makes me want to be a better person. I want to cook more, laugh more, play with my kids more, take walks with my husband more, pray more. I just want to enjoy life more...and trust me, I already enjoy it so, so, so much.

So I am praying like crazy for my friend. Wishing everyday that she gets great news. I plan to keep up on her progress and I will walk the breast cancer walks in her honor and I will do everything I can to help her where I can. And I am going to be the best person I can - I am going to do it for me, my family...and for her.

Reading from Memory

Ryan can read!! Well sort of. He loves Dr. Seuss. It's great...everything from Green Eggs and Ham to Hop on Pop to the Foot Book to the Nose Book to Ten Apples Up On Top - get the picture?! Dr. Seuss wrote a great A-B-C book which we read over and over and over. He's memorized the pages, but can identify the letter and then recite...super cute video. Check it out!

Easter Love

We had a wonderful Easter weekend with family and friends. It was a super busy weekend. Friday night we had a family Birthday celebration with the Handleys. Saturday started with a great Easter egg hunt at Church and then had a great BBQ with friends and their kids.

The kids had a great time playing in the yard - Allison loved the bubbles.
Sunday started with a beautiful Easter service at Church - Ryan is at a wonderful age - his innocence is adorable. He likes to walk up towards the alter to say high to the "nice man in the window." He's referring to a stained glass window with an image of Jesus. When we leave he shouts "Bye Jesus". It's awesomely cute.

After Church we headed south to Chandler for another Easter egg hunt at Aunt Sandy & Uncle Paul's house...surrounded by cousins and friends, the kids had a blast.


The day ended back at Grandma and Grandpa Handleys house for a yummy Easter dinner with Aunt Val, Uncle Ben, Grandma, Grandpa, Aut Verone, Uncle Tom and new Cousin Heath. I forgot my camera - of course - so no pics of Allison's 2nd Easter dress or Ryan's awesome catepillar shirt - maybe I'll stage this photo - it would be a great one to capture.
We missed our family who lives far away - and hope we will all be together next year. Happy Easter!

Chicken

When Allison was born, I called her "chicken" for two to three weeks. I don't know why, not even sure when it began, but whenever she would squawk, I called her chicken. Grandma Handley didn't like it one bit. She much preferred "sweetie" or "cutie", but definitely not Chicken. Then one day - she was maybe three weeks old - she became my little ladybug...and the name has stuck.But don't you think from these Easter pic that Chicken was apropo? She loves the eggs!

On the move

Allison is officially on the move. She started crawling about two weeks ago - it began as an army crawl, graduated to a "catepillar" crawl, and now it's a real crawl...she can get anywhere she wants and especially likes to go for Ryan's toys. When propped up, she even likes to stand now!!

Sweet Babies!

Morning is one of my most favorite times of the day. Ryan gets up first and he always wants to see "baby." We head into Allison's room together and he likes to sit with her in her crib. Each of their eyes light up when they see the other and Ryan makes Allison squeal - which in turn makes Ryan giggle. Listening to my kids laugh together is simply the best sound ever. Love these sweet babies!

FORE!!

Ryan has a true love for golf. And at 2 1/2 as a biased mom, may I say he is pretty darn good. He wakes in the morning asking for the "gofing store". He likes to hit balls at the "golfing range" and in our backyard he like to "hit em over the fence." Jason takes daily trips over the fence to shag the balls. (Daddy needs to watch out for jumping Cholla cactus in the future!) The kid loves to watch Phil Mikelson's "Secrets of the Short Game" - and likes to practice "putting the ball in the hole." We are encouraging his love of the game - and secretly hoping he's the next Phil the Thrill - but only as long as he loves it. The minute he doesn't - we'll move on to the next sport!

A Daddy's Love

Is there anything sweeter, nicer, more comfy than your precious little one fast asleep on your chest? The only thing sweeter, nicer, more comfy in my world is to watch my sweet husband loving on our kids. He really is the best dad. I mean, my dad was truly the best, but Jason is right up there - I believe they are tied for first place! My dad would have really loved Jason. I am so lucky to be married to such a great guy, a great husband and a great dad. My kids are soooooo lucky to have him too.

I See Me

Allison is changing everyday. She is 7 1/2 months old now and amazes me everyday with the little things. She has begun to crawl - it started as a caterpillar-ish scoot across the floor - but it is now a true crawl. She reaches and grabs for anything she can get her hands on and particularly likes to grab for her brothers trucks. It is truly adorable. We love her so.

Truely a First Timer...

So it's March 7 today - a rainy Sunday - I am so ready for spring-time temps...

I finally pushed the dreaded publish button for this Blog. Why am I writing this? Well I started thinking about it last Spring/Summer. I was pregnant with Allison and thinking of all the great stories we have to tell about Ryan - and then I was worrying about how I was going to remember all the new stories that were going to come with the birth of Allison. How can one brain keep it all straight?? Well I am actually lucky - I have two brains. Jason let's me borrow his. He is so nice. We often lay in bed at night, the house is quiet and dark - and we hear the occasional rustle of the 65 toys Ryan has in bed with him, and we remember stories of the day, and the last week and the last month and the last year - (are you getting it - we do a lot of remembering...we just don't want to forget.) So Jason said he was going to start a word document on Google docs to start keeping track of these great stories. Google Docs...really?!? So I said, "no let's use that blog I started many moons ago." "No," he said. "He's not a witty writer"...."whatever, who cares," I said. It will be a great place for us to memorialize these thoughts and pics..and if our family and friends want to check in on it from time to time great!! So that is how I really got motivated.

But it still took me more than a month to push Publish. In February, I made a few entries. Just random thoughts I had from the sweet things my kids were doing. So today I pressed Publish and magically they are all here in Cyberspace. Just like that! Anyone can see them now...I just need to get up the nerve to tell people about it. Maybe tomorrow...

Under the weather with smiles as big as rainbows...

Both kids have colds. But wouldn't know it, except for their worrisome mom! With drippy noses and raspy coughs, the bug has a smile as big as a rainbow!! And giggles at her brother when he coughs in her face!

Nothing Better...

There's nothing better than driving down the highway at 65mph while your son spits a half-chewed piece of cereal bar into your hand...then sweetly says, "thanks, mommy." Love him to pieces!

Stuuuupendous

So it never ceases to amaze me how little people brains are truly like sponges. Sitting at home the other night Moose from Nick Jr. was using the word Stupendous. I repeated it a couple times and Ryan even said "Daddy Stupendous!" But after some time passed and we were on to other things, Ryan was eating dinner. I asked him how his tomato tasted. "Stuuuuuuupendous" he replied. It's like he remembered the context of how to use the word. Amazing to me!

I Mad Mommy

Ryan is just days away from being 2 1/2. My little boy is growing so fast...though I am not complaining, this age is simply amazing. Every day he surprises me with something...

This morning for instance. After a meltdown ensued because he wanted his "big bus" and I had to inform him that it was in mommy's car - the waterworks began. Followed by his dislike of the shirt I dressed him, I let him melt all by himself in his room. I told him to let me know when he was ready for breakfast. Well I'm a softie - so after two minutes or so - I went back, asked if he wanted a hug (thankfully he said yes) and asked him what was wrong.

"I mad, mommy" yep - that's what he said. Where did he learn that? Jason and I are hardly ever mad - and even if we were, we would never say that....hmmm....he followed it with an "I sorry, mommy" - cue the melting heart - and then said "I happy!" It was a quick exchange and one I will never forget. I just LOVE this little Monkey!