How did this happen?

Kai is wearing the same size diapers as his big brother! Just 10 months ago, we were folding over the preemie diapers so they would stay on Kai a little better. Big boy!

time is flying!

I can't believe it's already mid-June! It seems like it was the last day of school just yesterday. And, although I enjoy teaching summer school because it reminds me of what it is like to have my own class of students, I also wish I had a bit more time with the boys.

Sage and Kai are growing so fast! Kai is not only crawling and cruising (walking while holding onto things), he's even gotten so brave as to let go and stand on his own. Just the other day, Kai said "Mama" for the first time and has said it often since then - to me!!! What a sweet, sweet sound! As Jared will tell you, Kai's first words were actually "bubba" and "dada", but I say that's only because they're easier to say. Kai has also learned how to clap his hands. Too cute! Seems like it was just yesterday that he was born, but, actually, it was almost 10 months ago.

Sage continues to expand his large vocabulary and repeats nearly everything we say. He says full sentences now - "I don't want to" is his fav. He has become quite the climber and dancer. Yes, those two things go together because he loves to climb onto things and then dance. When he hears his favorite songs, Sage climbs onto the couch, the storage ottoman, or even a kitchen chair and busts a move.

As a sidenote, I have to give a product recommendation: the Kindle application on the iPhone. Since buying an iPhone a few months ago and discovering the Kindle app, I have been able to read again! Paper books are hard for me to finish because I can't read them with the boys around (Sage wants to turn the pages and Kai wants to eat them). I also usually only have short durations of time to read (five minutes while I eat my breakfast, ten minutes before I fall asleep at night, twenty minutes while I'm sitting in Sage's room waiting for him to fall asleep). So, having books on my phone is great because I can carry it with me everywhere! I love being able to finish books again. My only issue - I am a tightwad and I hate paying for books when I can borrow them from the library for free. So, if anyone is looking for ideas for a birthday present for me - an Amazon.com gift card would be great! Or, even better, create a website to get free books on kindle.

Creepy

We spent the evening at Jared's dad's house swimming and watching the UFC fights. We just got home around 12:30am. I'm in Sage's room waiting for him to fall back asleep. I'm sitting in the dark, reading a good, but slightly scary book on my phone. All the sudden, I hear, "Let's play!" in a creepy, canned and high-pitched voice. I about jumped out of my skin!!! Then, the voice says, "Tickle my tummy." Freaking stuffed dog that apparently randomly went off because it was on the window seat with no one over there! Yikes!!! Makes me want to turn on the light or at least run out of here! But, now that I am the parent, being afraid of the dark and/or creepy stuffed animals seems childish. So, here I am typing about it on my phone, trying to keep from thinking about what else might be lurking in the darkness. Eeeeek!

By the way, when considering gifts for young chilldren, do the parents a favor and pass by the "Laugh and Learn" puppy. It easily wins the award for the most annoying and now, frightening toy. ;)

Terrible twos already?

Sage is 21 months old and appears to already have mastered the terrible twos. His favorite word is "no," he regularly tests the limits, and he's perfected the dreaded whine. Oh, and he refuses to eat anything but blueberries, hot dogs, and cheese. Not to mention the "masterpiece" he scribbled in blue all over our white doors, tan hallway, and hardwood floors. Needless to say, coloring is now a highly supervised activity (thank goodness for the Magic Eraser). Fortunately for Sage, he is the world's cutest toddler with an infectious, although often mischeiveous, giggle. He also loves to snuggle and is much more generous with his sweet, slobbery kisses. It's such fun to be his mom.


I also love being Kai's mom. He went from crawling to cruising in two short weeks. I imagine he'll start walking in the next month. Kai is by far the most charming baby I've ever met. He has so much personality for someone who is barely nine months old. I'd like to imagine that he'll remain his adorable little self forever. But, like Sage, who I never imagined being a typical, test-the-limits toddler, I forsee a couple rounds of terrible twos in our future. Having said that, I do believe I'm having the best time of my life raising these two amazing little boys.

fun times

Sage is a Lady Gaga fan. He made me rewind last night's episode of "Glee" at least ten times so he could dance "again."


Last weekend, it finally stopped raining and warmed up like it might actually be close to summer. The boys and I enjoyed the warm day at the Botanical Gardens.

We have forward motion folks!

As most of you know, Kai has been "crawling" for a while now. But, he has only been able to go in circles or backwards. As of last night, we have forward motion!!! Check out the video.

this is life with two baby boys...

Morning breakfast Kai's "mad" face (this is what happens when we don't feed him fast enough) Sage working on his art Kai having a little heart-to-heart with Rosco

Kai getting some exercise


a little wrestling match


Kai "clucking" like a chicken (watch his head on the "cluck, cluck here" part)


Sage practicing his "evil" laugh

Sage blowing bubbles


the boys playing together


two little monkeys jumping on the bed

When all else fails

Take them outside. We've had a looong day! Kai is sick and Sage is crabby. Mommy is TIRED! About an hour ago, I was about to lose my cool with Thing 1 and Thing 2. They were both screaming and couldn't be hungry or tired. I tried singing, rocking, distracting - nothing worked. So, we put on our socks and shoes and headed outside. I strapped them in the stroller and we took off through the neighborhood. Sage and Kai didn't make a peep except to comment on the cats, birds, and squirrels we passed. We returned home and played in the backyard until the sun went down. Thank goodness it wasn't raining.

Good news/ Bad news

Good news: Kai finally has some chompers! His first two teeth are coming in on the bottom.
Bad news: He's putting everything in his mouth to soothe his gums - including mommy and daddy's fingers!

Good news: Kai is sleeping through the night. We moved him into his own bedroom last week. He's been sleeping from 7:30 pm to 7am usually only waking up once to eat. But, he's actually logged several nights of 11 hours straight. Woo hoo!
Bad news: The sleep gods hate me. Sage has NOT been sleeping through the night. Late last week, he started excercising his new found toddler independence by not wanting to go to bed (in his own bed). He wants to sleep with mommy and daddy. Thursday, he was up from midnight to four am. Friday, he did okay. Saturday, he was up until midnight. Sunday, he was up until 10:30.

Good news: We had a lovely day playing in the backyard at Grandma and Papa's house Sunday. Sage and Kai had fun playing with Grandma, PaPa, Ella and Uncle Adam. We played on the swingset, "drove" the jeep, and watched the fish in the pond.
Bad news: Sage fell in the pond! Oops! Grandma and Papa have a decorative fish pond in the backyard. Sage threw in a plastic owl and was going to try to fish it out. He stepped right off the edge of the pond and fell in. I caught him by his diaper and pulled him right out, but he was soaked! He laughed. He wasn't scared at all - thank goodness. So, we cleaned off the slime and got him some dry clothes.

Good news: Ella let us borrow the dry clothes.
Bad news: Let's just say puffy sleeves and ruffled shorts aren't the best look for Sage.

Good news: My sister-in-law Sarah announced she is pregnant. We are so excited for Jon, Sarah, and Noah!
Bad news: If it's a boy, Noah wants to name him Mater.

Wicked weather

The boys and I just returned from an emergency trip to the basement for the second time this week. The tornado sirens went off about thirty minutes ago - right after Sage finally fell asleep. This is our second year in the city and I had never heard the sirens until this week. The boys don't mind though because then they get to play with all the annoying toys that have been banished to the basement playroom. And, they love to play with the flashlight. I don't mind either because I had time to do a little organizing of the storage room. Only challenge - carrying Rosco's big body down the steps. For whatever reason, she won't go down our basement steps. Thankfully though, we're all safe and Rosco goes back up the steps by herself.