2 seconds of Fame

Last night Layla and I headed to the gym for kickboxing and Daddy and Cooper headed to Adel to watch the WHS softball team. Daddy had a littl surprise for me when he got home. Cooper DD made the channel 8 news. Check out his whole 2 seconds of fame!

"Why do dogs need bread?"

This was one of Layla's random questions to me the other day and this is how the conversation went.....

"Mommy, why do dogs need bread?"
"What?"
"Why do dogs need bread?"
"What do you mean?"
"Daddy takes the dogs to get bred, why do they need bread? I never see them eat it?"

Hema-something

I know, I'm a terrible mom. My son has something growing on his shoulder and I can't remember the name of it. Dr. Amy even told me today what it was and I've already forgotten!

Oh So Big!

We had Cooper's 15 month appointment today and, no surprise, he's large. But, his height has finally outpaced his weight on the percentile chart. He's now at 28 pounds and 33". As I compare Cooper to Layla's milestones, he has been ahead of her in everything except........talking! Cooper definitely knows how to say mama and dada but that's about it. He understands us. I can tell him to go get his shoes, find his cup, get his blanket, find a book, etc. He is also starting to learn to point to his facial features. But speaking English.....he's just not that interested. He prefers to look at us, jabber with facial and hand expressions as if explaining a long, funny story.

The thing on his shoulder is not getting any better. It is actually starting to take on a mushroom shape with a lot of blue blood vessels around it. Dr. Amy feels it's time he see a specialist as she is concerned about him breaking it open on accident. The specialist she wants Cooper to see doesn't have an opening until August 28th! So, we pray that this active little boy doesn't due anything to damage this spot before then! When Cooper gets up from his nap I will take a picture of it for the world to see.

"Dr. my eyes have seen the years and the slow parade of tears...."

Cooper David's tear ducts are clear! YAHOOO!! No surgery for this little man. In the past year, Cooper has had several eye infections, eye irritations and a "slow parapde of tears." Cooper's pediatrician suspected his tears ducts were not open all the way and felt that we needed to see a specialist to make sure. First thing this morning Daddy, Cooper and I headed to Des Moines for a 1 1/2 eye appt. Cooper did great. He was so enthralled with the new environment and all that was going on, he just sat and watched. He never cried or fussed, even through multiple sets of eye drops. And, as an added bonus, he got to wear these cool shades. As you can see, he loved them so much that he wore them all the way home.

Thanks to all who prayed for him. Next up, an evaluation of the thing on his shoulder. There is a technical term, but I never remember the name. It's a collection of cells that looks like a birth mark, but keeps growing in diameter and height. Most of the time, these will get smaller and dissipate into the skin. His has not. We have our appt. on Wed at 10am so please pray that this will go away on it's own. If not, there are many laser treatments and surgeries necessary to take it off and repair the skin.

Happy Father's Day!

Daddy arrived home late Wednesday night from France. We made it! I think I am suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome and Layla is in post dramatic stress syndrome. Since he's been home we've all melted down! But, he brought us lots of gifts and goodies and we're starting to get back in the swing of things.

We had a relaxing Father's Day and ended it by taking the kids to the pool after naps. I don't think I will ever be able to take both kids back to the pool by myself again. It wasn't very busy and since we had 2 adults to 2 kids we gave both kids free reign. Cooper discovered both slides in the shallow end. And for those of you who know our boy, he was single minded, tunnel vision focused on those slides and there was no one who was going to stop him. The bad thing is, they are simply too big for him to do on his own or even with just one parent. Layla has also discovered the "deep end". That's the 3-4 foot area of the pool and she loves it. She told me to take a break and sit on the side (GLADLY!) and she swam under the water, jumped off the side by herself, back floated, etc. What a good day.

We're just going a little crazy

We are on the final countdown until Daddy gets home.....just 2 1/2 more days! And, we're only just starting to go a little crazy. I'd say that's pretty good since we're on day 7!

Only 4 Days Left....

...until Dave gets home! We're doing good. It's going much faster than I thought it would. I'm sure that's due to how busy a 3 year old and 1 year old keep me. Today we went to Ames to help Ben and Kari move into their new house. It's a wonderful house in a great neighborhood and we're very excited for them. I spent the day painting and enjoyed the peace and quiet of that job! Dave called to tell me that he was eating supper in the Eiffel Tower. Wow, not quite the same experience as painting the closet in my brother's house!

A Tender Heart

We were taking our babysitter, Michaela, home today and she and I were discussing her sweet Grandma who unexpectedly died on Monday. Layla and Cooper were watching a DVD and I didn't think they could hear us.

When we left Michaela's house I heard a sweet, small voice in the back say, "Mommy, we need to go back to Michaela's."
"Why?"
"Because her grandma is in heaven and Michaela misses her. If I didn't have my Grandma I would be sad. Terrible, terrible sad. I need to hug Michaela mommy." I tried really hard to remember that sweet moment when Layla kept sassing me about getting her jammies on tonight.

We have now made it three days without Daddy. 3 days is typically the longest any of Dave's trips are so tomorrow will be taking us out of our comfort zone! Hopefully we will be able to have a day at the pool.

No More Bodily Fluids, Please!

So, our first day without Daddy was good, we stayed busy. Since having a garage sale recently, we now have tons more room downstairs. We rearranged Layla's room and organized the storage areas. Everything was fine. Until bedtime. While putting on jammies Cooper peed all over the floor. I know he's a boy, but that hasn't happened since babyhood. Then, while standing with one leg up on his little chair and one on the ground, he had an exploding pooper. And, because of how he was standing, it shot right out the diaper, all over the floor, on Layla and on me. I had to laugh a little, beings it was our first day without Daddy.

But, the "mommy, I need you," that I heard from Layla's room at 1:15am topped it. Yes, she had thrown up in her bed. The poor little thing! I cleaned it all up and brought her to bed with me. She then threw up every hour, on the hour, until 6am. Bless her heart, she hit the bucket every time! She's better and so far Cooper and mommy are ok.

Are we ready for daddy to get home? Oui Oui (we we)!

1 down, 8 to go.....

Dave left for Paris this morning. Yes, Paris, France. And no, mama didn't get to go! We are so proud of Daddy and so excited for this opportunity through AgriGold. But, as Layla has been telling me all day, "we miss daddy terribly!" We've been so excited for Dad and so busy that is didn't really set in that I will be alone with the kids for 9 days. Oh my. Cooper had a hard time letting Daddy go, he wouldn't get out of his suitcase long enough for us to pack. As you can tell by the picture, he was pretty proud of himself! So, what will we do for 9 days? I have no idea! It's chilly and rainy here and it's supposed to be this way for days. If you don't here from us every 24 hours, send help! It means we've driven each other crazy being cooped up in this house!

Ode to Mac & Cheese

I would like to take a moment and say thank you to Kraft for Mac and Cheese. And, an even bigger thank you to my son for eating it! Many of you think this is an odd post. HOWEVER......Layla does not eat convenience food.....none! No hot dogs, mac and cheese, frozen pizza, PB&J, frozen chicken strips...you get the idea. I know this is mostly my fault. I love to cook and I rarely buy anything premade. My mother-in-law once commented on how, as the one buying and cooking the food for a family, the mom has a big responsibility to make good decisions. That has always stuck with me. Cooper will eat everything. He has really challenged me to keep new veggies and fruits in front of him. He loves blueberries, tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus, brussel sprouts, etc. So, one day, while at the grocery store I walked by the mac and cheese and it struck me that he would probably eat that too. HE LOVES IT!!!! Oh thank you Kraft! Now, when Dave travels, it's only 4 minute prep time until dinner!

"Is she a farmer?"

We spent our first afternoon of the summer at the pool. This year is a little different. Last year brother slept in his stroller the whole time, Layla played and I sat in a lounge chair. This year is all about keeping brother from drowning. He just walks into the water.....and keeps walking......and walking until the buoyancy takes him down. Luckily, Winterset has a nice aquatic center with lots of little kid fountains, etc. to keep him busy.

The pool plays a different genre of music each day. Today was country and the Sugarland's song "All I Want to Do" really caught Layla's attention.

She asked me, "Is that girl a farmer?"
"What girl?," I asked
"The one singing, is she a farmer?"
"I don't think so, why do you ask?"
"She sounds like a farmer."
"Oh really, what does a farmer sound like?"
"Like someone who wears a cowboy hat."

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And now a word for our sponsor........

This post is really just for me. It is a reminder to take a moment and be thankful for all of God's beauty that is around us. This includes our kids and the beautiful place where we live. I am thankful that the kids get to play outside on endless acres, ride 4 wheelers, fish with Daddy in the pond, and go on nature hunts around our land for whatever goodies we can find. This is a post to remind me to stop, literally, smell the roses and enjoy! My life is more than endless projects that seem to go with owning a place like ours and behind the constant demands of a 3 year old and 1 year old there are two little people God has on loan to me to take care of and nurture. So thank you Lord, for sponsoring this life!!!!