A 22, 4-10 and a target

Chase shot a 22 today and hit the target. He also fired a 4-10. I believe he hit the target with it as well, so at least he's a good shot. And if you're six and firing guns, accuracy is important. I can just see it at school next week. Mrs. Meyers asks what the kids did on Spring Break. Allen mentions a ski trip, someone else mentions something else, and my son annouces that he shot a 22 and 4-10 on Grandpa's farm. Perhaps I should send away for my "I am the NRA and I vote" bumper sticker now instead of waiting until closer to the election.

No worries though. As much of Jamie's clone as Chase is, he's got a bit of mama in him too. The proof? He came along w/me tonight to my fill and pedi. And the very sweet woman doing my pedi let him sit next to me and soak his feet along w/me. I took pictures and if I ever figure out how to download them off my cell phone, I'll post them. In the meantime, the mental image of my camo-wearing son soaking his tootsies in the pedi-chair should provide a giggle or two.

Cassie is still going through her mama-mama-mama stage and still loathes her crib. The crying time is shorter, but she's smart enough to know that when she goes into her crib, mama goes out of the room and she does not like that. At all. This too shall pass, right?

We've got a busy couple of days lined up now. We're going to Planet Fun w/Dylan's fam tomorrow morning and heading up to Mikki's on Friday. She wants to get the kids pics taken w/the Easter Bunny, we'll see how that goes. Last time I attempted that on Good Friday, it was nuts. Plus, I don't see Hayden digging the guy in the bunny suit. I just don't see it.

Girls' Weekend

So it's a mini-Girl's weekend in the middle of the week. Jamie took Chase up to the farm w/him, which leaves me home with puddle britches. We hit Target this morning for Easter basket supplies and I'm debating about hitting Dillards right now for some new foundation. I can't decide if the Lancome counter is worth venturing out in the rain...while I deliberate, Cass is crawling all over the basement.

The boys are going to do some turkey scouting, so Chase was dressed head to toe in camo when they left this morning. He was SO excited! Today was my easy day--we're booked solid the rest of the week. I had a conference call this afternoon and even managed to squeeze in some yogalates before naptime was over! I hope the boys are faring as well!

Oh, and as you can see by the pic: Cassie was not scarred for life from last night. Actually, today's cries have lasted about five minutes before she conked out for two solid hour and a half naps. I hate to say we're getting a handle on things, but today's been a good sleep day so far. I just heard 100 balls fall out of their box, she must have crawled to the bounce house...I'm off...

I've been neglectful, and I apologize. It is cycle break and I've had my hands (and house) full.

You know the "curse?" The one that begins with your mother saying, "I hope you have kids just like you..." I've got it. My tenacity and force of will (I believe that's the nicest way of saying stubborn as a mule) has been passed along to my offspring. Cassie is currently going through separation anxiety. Which means that my formerly good sleeper turns into a sobbing disaster when placed in her crib. Once lifted out of the crib and in my arms, she's fine. Start placing her in the crib again and the tears flow. Aunt Amy was on the phone this evening and verified the crocodile tears. This afternoon Cassie skipped her nap. She cried in her crib for 45 agonizing minutes. This evening, she fell asleep w/her bottle, woke up 45 minutes later, and cried for 75 minutes, stopping only when I went in and tried to feed her another bottle. She refused the bottle--she wasn't hungry, she just wanted to hang w/mama.

I know there are mothers out there who wouldn't dream of letting their snookum cry for 75 minutes. Blah blah attachment disorder, blah blah attachment parenting, blah blah blah. I'm so not one of those mothers. I think quality sleep is as important as food, and babies need to learn to sleep on their own. Perhaps b/c I can look at Chase and see that he's turned out just fine in spite of Jamie and my parenting skills (LOL)...and perhaps b/c I know my mom let my sister and me cry it out and we've turned out just fine. I will never forget when I was going through this w/Chase and asked my mom how the holy hell she listened to two crying babies carry on. She told me she didn't--she went out onto the back deck so she couldn't hear us crying. Seeing as it is in the 40s right now, that's not an option for me, but I did turn down the baby monitor and start vacuuming. And when the carpet was clean, Cassie was asleep. Whatever works--right?

And luckily for me, I've already cursed both children...

Never a dull moment...

So yesterday Chase's BFF Dylan was over all day. I love it when Dylan comes over b/c he and Chase play beautifully together. The oldest of four, Dylan kind of has the patience of Job. So he's a perfect playmate for my Drama Queen Son. Our neighbor Lauren came over for a bit, as well. Chase was a bit grumpy w/her, they had words and he ended up giving himself a little time out in his room w/his legos for 15 minutes. I was really proud of him--he found something that works for him.

Today, Mikayla and Jessie are over. Let me preface this by saying for the last 12 months, I've been nagging and harping at Jamie for a door to cover the water main in our basement. Not only was the ghetto-fabulous piece of cardboard utterly ridiculous looking, I was nervous about an important pipe being exposed in our PLAYROOM. After Christmas (and the arrival of the bounce house) I got more insistent. The placement of the bounce house in front of the water main made me nervous--I was afraid the water main would pop the bounce house. My fears of a disaster were realized today, but the bounce house didn't pop. Instead, while the girls were in the bounce house, somehow a cap on the water main broke and water started spewing all over. I got the water shut off, but overflow was still spraying. I managed to get the (cracked) cap put back on and the mess cleaned up, but even I could tell I needed a new cap ASAP. Of course Jamie wasn't answering his cell, so I had his assistant paged. She texted Jamie. We both got referrals for plumbers, but his referral called back quicker, so I went w/him. $25 later, all is right w/my world. And I'm getting that door I've been nagging about for the past year...

Oh, and some new bling bling. B/c I deserve it.

Cassie is going through a Mommy stage. No one else can hold her when Mommy is around. This is a bit uncharacteristic for her--typically she'll go to anyone. But she's even rejecting her Daddy right now in favor of Mommy. It's brutal. She's fine if she doesn't see me, but if she sees me and then I leave--it's not a pretty scene. The separation anxiety has resulted in naptime/bedtime hell, but she only carried on for six minutes before her afternoon nap, so I have high hopes that we're making progress. That's better than the 15 minutes I listened to this morning.

Cassie awakes. We're off to Dad's for dinner, my Rueben expertise was requested. YUM!

So I spent the day cleaning. Chase got super glue on the kitchen counter, so he dusted for me (his punishment for getting into super glue and using it to glue paper together). I vacuumed and cleaned bathrooms. Oh, and did laundry. Always the laundry.

Woody visited the vet today, he needed another shot. Cass is in the middle of nap #2 and I'm expecting Jamie home at a reasonable hour for dinner. YAY! Chase is playing w/Jessie and Mikayla in the bounce house. I overheard a little drama earlier, but it seems all settled now. He sure doesn't have any trouble telling those girls what he thinks, four year age gap or not.

I wish I had something witty to say, but Cassie pulled the Princess Paris trick again last night and wanted Mama, not Daddy to rock her to sleep. So I'm tired. It is 57 today, I'm looking forward to a nice walk (ALONE) when JT gets home. Spring (and warmer temps) can't come fast enough for me!

She's crawling...

After much scooting, rolling, and inchworming her way around the last few weeks, Cassie finally crawled last night. Of course, Jamie didn't get around to baby-gating the stairs this weekend and I'm still waiting for another baby gate to arrive from Target.com, but fortunately she's not moving real fast yet so containment is relatively easy. I know that's not going to be the case for long.

In the meantime, can I mention how much I hate Daylight Savings Time? Both kids schedules are completely jacked up, esp. since we're all battling colds. Cassie went to bed at a reasonable hour last night, but pulled her Princess Paris routine and was up again between 10:30-midnight. Chase also had trouble settling down and ended up in our bed b/c of a nosebleed. We all slept in, which isn't going to help matters in the long run, but was a necessary evil this morning. Cassie is napping now. Chase is playing w/Jessie and Mikayla and I should be doing laundry.

Chase built Jessie and Mikayla a house this morning out of his Cranium fort so they had something to play house in. Isn't he sweet? Cass awakes...

Super snotty, sleepless night

So Cass is sick. I suspected something was up when she took a four hour morning nap two days in a row earlier this week. Then yesterday she wouldn't nap at all. I couldn't figure out if it was teething or a cold yesterday b/c she had clear snot and lots of drool. Last night she woke up at least once an hour and was Captain Velcro. I suspected an ear infection, but the numbing drops didn't help. The ped checked her out this morning and her ears are clear, but she's definitely stuffed up and teething. Given her history, the ped suspects an ear infection could happen in the next week or so, so things will probably get worse before they get better. Yuck.

Right now she's napping in the Mei Tai. http://www.ellaroo.com/mei-tai.php
I have the deluxe version and I highly recommend it. She's almost 20% of my body weight now, last night she slept in my arms for 2 hours and I was completely numb, but I've been wearing her for that long this afternoon and I'm quite comfortable. So is she b/c she is upright and breathing better. I loaned my wrap to Dylan's mom yesterday--w/four under age six, she definitely needs her hands free and at this point, Cass is more comfortable in the Mei Tai. She was 20lbs 7oz at the ped today. That was fully clothed, but still--I'm pretty sure she's the same size at 8 mths that Chase was at 12 mths! I've been packing up her 6-9 mth stuff for Emma (Dylan's little sister and Cassie's new BFF) b/c she's pretty much outgrown it all! Crazy.

Tomorrow is the first day of cycle break. I'm hoping to take the kids and Dylan to Mills. I need to hit Carter's b/c Cass needs some clothes and Mills has the best playplace in the area. Not to mention the Children's Place Outlet, Carter's Outlet, and Gymboree Outlet! Mommy heaven! Hopefully Cass is feeling better tomorrow. Cycle break is only two weeks long b/c of all the snow days. Chase goes back to school the day after Easter--he lost an entire week of cycle break to snow days! Wow. Global warming, my eye.

I have parent teacher conferences tonight. Jamie has an appointment. I was going to take the kids, but I'd like to discuss some stuff w/his teacher w/o him listening in. So the best dad in the whole wide world (that would be mine) is babysitting. Despite the fact that Cassie is sick and cranky. He rules.

I'm going to try to nap a bit in case tonight is as hellish as last night.