Which is Worse?

Tonight's post regards the following characters:
This guy...
And his buddy, Mr. Papi...

Now that you've been introduced, sit back and enjoy this TRUE story of some events that took place in our house this evening.

The evening was eventful, including a 2-hour family workout/park play time for character #1, wal-mart trip, cleaning house (in case we show it this week), dad grilling/mom cooking dinner, laundry, and then Jason took on Lincoln's bath responsibilities tonight in the bathroom, while I set up shop to bathe Noah in the sink (BTW - I got the shorter end of the stick on this deal cause Lincoln LOVES baths and Noah screams through his!).

As I was getting Noah's tub in the sink ready (by which he was swinging nearby already screaming), Lincoln runs into the kitchen, a flash of lightening, all giggles, zipping behind me. I do a double take and instantly realize the cause of the sheer joy coming from his giggles - he's stark naked. Daddy had stripped him down and let him run like a freebird while his water was being drawn. Being naked is on Lincoln's top 10 most favorite things list.

However we all now you can't let this adventure drag because HE WILL eventually pee in the floor/tile/wall - you name it. So I notice we're approaching that critical threshold and that our darling son has been crouched in the corner of our kitchen behind the kitchen table for a good while now, and call to daddy "Babe, if he hasn't already, he's gonna pee if you don't get him soon!"

Jason, who was already on his way to get him, went to the corner to pick up naked character #1 and when he got to the corner, Jason started laughing in a way that told me he was too late.

As he was walking with the baby to the tub, he grinned at me and told me to look in the corner.

Fully preparing to see the puddle of pee I knew was inevitable, I was instead met with TWO TURDS people! MY lovely son dropped TWO TURDS in our kitchen! Oh my gosh.

I continue my bath preparations for Noah at the sink.

Dad's got this.

Dad runs back in the kitchen (mind you only about 30 seconds have passed), to clean up the turds. When he gets to the corner, he goes "Where are the turds? Did you already clean them up?"

No...I'm still at the sink.

Enter Character #2

Yes my friends, our dearest Papi took care of them.

So I ask you, which is worse...the fact that our son took a crap in our kitchen or that our chocolate lab at it????

Jason thinks most definitely the latter...verdict's still out in my opinion.

My Sweet Nana Coats

This past Wednesday night our Nana went to be with her Savior. She has suffered from major stroke effects for the past year of her life that have left her unable to care for herself and communicate effectively. I can only imagine the smile on her face as she finally found herself home...home with her loving Jesus and our Papa that I know she's mourned for many years now.
Though death is never absent of sadness, I can't help but feel and overwhelming sense of excitement for my Nana! I've found myself picturing her these past few days in Heaven...what did she think when she longer felt pain? Just how big was the smile on her face when she embraced my Papa? And how in awe she must be to be singing (something she did so beautifully) with angels and in the arms of the Most Holy...I can help but smile and long for the same someday!
The picture below is special to me because it was one of 2 times Nana got to meet Lincoln. She was in perfect health when I found out I was pregnant. I remember calling her immediately and both of us sharing in the joy and excitement. But her stroke hit her right before Lincoln was born, drastically effecting her ability to speak and take care of herself. She had to have around-the-clock care. I took Lincoln up to meet her and though she couldn't verbalize it, she was very excited to meet him! This is the only 4 generational picture I have of all of us:

We will miss you Nana, but know that you are experiencing a vast amount of joy and rejoicing our minds cannot even yet fathom!
someday...someday.

In a Food Rut

Okay moms...I feel like I'm in a food rut of what to feed my 17-month old for breakfast and lunch (he usually eats what we all eat for dinner). I can eat the same thing for both every single day for over a year before I get bored but I feel like this might not be so good for the little one. :) So I'm curious...what are some fun things you feed your toddler that they actually enjoy (ha. that's the key)?

Easter

Beautiful weather this weekend resulted in lots of playing outside, fun Easter outfits, joyful celebrations of our risen Savior, and of course - candy and some good food. I got the pleasure of getting to help lead worship Sunday morning and though Lincoln may have had his fingers in his ears (those that are FB friends with me know what I am talking about!), my prayer was that I could at least make a joyful noise unto the Lord! :) I know they don't understand the gravity of Easter now, but I am so excited to one day be able to explain to Noah and Lincoln what Jesus did for each of them...what precious moments those will be!
And of course there were pictures:

Noah was pretty pleased with his first Easter - check out that adorable grin!

After church we changed into play clothes and played with new Easter toys...this is one of Lincoln's hiding spots. Hide and Seek is definitely his current favorite game.

This was about the extent of Noah's Easter church experience...how exciting.

Playing the piano with mommy on stage after the service...Lincoln's favorite part of church is roaming the stage with all the fun instruments. I can't blame him :)

Jason's parents sent the Lincoln and Noah a huge Easter basket full of fun toys and candy...Lincoln is still currently indulging in this fun present!

He DESPERATELY wanted me to open the chocolates - how does he know it's something yummy to eat in there?! But I was the mean mommy and made him wait the next day since we opened this before bedtime. I know...I'm terrible.

Unfortunately, plans with my family for Easter did not pan out because my grandmother has recently become very sick and had to be moved to hospice care a few days ago. My mom has been staying with her and the doctors do not think she will live much longer. While it is a sad thing, she has been sick for over a year now and I can't imagine how exciting it must be for her to soon meet our Savior face to face!!!

Noah is 8 Weeks!

I always struggled with these "monthly posts" with Lincoln...Noah was born on Feb. 6th, so it's not April 6th yet, but today was exactly 2 months ago. So do I wait until the sixth of go by the fact that it was now been exactly 8 weeks? Hmmm...I'm obviously going with the latter on this one.

The major milestone met in the past week has been SMILES!!!! And oh my goodness how yummy he is when he lights up! Usually there's about a 20-minute window when he's full of smiles right after he eats. Then he gets fussy trying to move the milk through his belly and then he falls asleep.

Speaking of milk, I've kind of gotten away from feeding schedules (or at least not as neurotic with them as I was with Lincoln) and let me tell you - it is liberating!!!! Go figure...he eats when he wants to. :) This has worked for us because Noah likes to take monster naps throughout the day. Typically, he wakes up when Lincoln does, I feed him while Lincoln runs around the living room, then we all move into the kitchen together, turn on the ipod and dance while I make breakfast. Noah is wake this whole time watching how crazy we can be (though this is when he has smiled the most!), but soon crashes (usually in his swing but sometimes i put him in his bassinet) sometime during Lincoln's bathtime. Then Lincoln goes to bed and they both sleep for about 3 hours - it's pretty phenomenal actually.

At night, I usually feed him around 1, and then Jason will give him a bottle around midnight. T=He wakes up once around 3:30-4:00 to eat and then usually doesn't wake up again until 7-something. So the routine works out pretty nice, but after we get the okay from the doc in a week, we're probably going to start working to get rid of that early morning feeding (which means lots of screaming for a few nights in our house!).

Also pleased to say that Noah has resulted to the fact that we are going to work out in the jogger every day and he has finally started to not cry hardly at all (he might actually like it now!). He is also getting tons better about this in the car.

He has gone from pooping 20 times a day to only once which works for me!

He still has some tummy troubles (these never resided for Lincoln until he was 4 months), but we have become experts on helping him with this so it doesn't seem as bad as it did with Lincoln.

Lincoln is at such a fun playful age right now (we're loving it!) and everyday I watch him play and discover, I get more and more excited for the upcoming days of watching him and his baby brother do it together. How precious will that be...

BTW, I'm SUPER excited about their Easter outfits tomorrow!

All Around Fantastic Day

At one point today, the thermometer in my car read 83 degrees...amazing. The boys and I woke up this morning to clean house (thanks to Realtors coming through the previous day and company last night), beautiful sunshine, and happy spirits all around. Lincoln had some sweet moments of endearment with Noah this morning that were intentional and melted my heart. At breakfast we all held hands and prayed together which was a treasured little moment.
After naptimes, we met aunt Amy at Flying Burrito (did you know kids eat FREE M-W???) and sat out on the patio (double bonus - it's CAGED IN so Lincoln can roam free!).
After lunch, we made our way to a long overdue gymnastics playtime at Amy's gym. Let me add, when it's time to leave,the adorable toddler throws a not-so-adorable tantrum cause it's THAT fun.
Then when we made our way back home, all three of us crashed for a nap. I call this day a most definite success. :)

Of course he has to stop playtime for Noah kisses! And he smiled a lot today! This was not the best smile shot, though because of course the little booger plays hard to get when the camera rolls out...but I'll take it! Brave man here ran and jumped by himself in the pit! His panicked looked when he realized he couldn't get out!

Oops.

Last night I was at church for 3+ hours rehearsing songs for this coming Sunday's service and Easter service, leaving my sweet hubby to tend to the flock. Lincoln was in a little bit of a grumpy mood yesterday afternoon and I felt bad leaving him with somewhat of chaos that can be our lovely kiddos. When I got home, Lincoln was in bed and Noah was asleep in his arms. There were toys EVERYWHERE which is always indicative of good ole fun playing time with daddy and his boys. I thought, he's got it - my husband's a champ.
Then I noticed in the kitchen, Lincoln's tray from his high chair still had the remnants from Lincoln's early lunch that day...
"Hunny...what did Lincoln eat for dinner tonight?"
The "oops" look washed over his face as I realized he forgot to feed him dinner before putting him to bed. He asked if he should get him up and feed him (it was now 10:00pm)...NO. And this answer was so adamant because the previous night, I went in to check on my sweet baby around midnight before I went to bed (as I do every night because I love the sweetness of watching him sleep) - only this time when I went in, it woke him up, he abruptly stood up in his crib and screamed at the top of his lungs as I tried to race out of the room (which made him scream louder if that was possible). This screaming only worsened until we had to get him and console him till two in the morning! I had to grieve for a bit recognizing my days of watching him sleep in the middle of the night were pretty much over, apparently.
So when Jason asked if we should wake him up to feed him, the answer was a most definitely NO.
So nonetheless, you can bet I had my share of jokes for the sweet husband as we were falling asleep last night (all in good fun)...you know, "I hope the darling doesn't starve to death tonight...or he's probably dreaming about juicy steak dinners right now..."
To which he replied with a smile..."Maybe you should go check on him."
I love my husband! :)

*side note = Jason wasn't the only one with an oops last night. I woke up this morning and realized I had forgotten to change Noah's diaper before he went to bed. Terrible. But both our children survived and Lincoln had a HUGE pancake breakfast this morning where he ate 2 pancakes, yogurt, a banana, and turkey sasage - more than he has ever eaten in one setting as far as I can remember.