It's so delicious when it hits your lips.

Its so easy being green

Happy late St. Patrick's Day to all. I was in the middle of getting this blog ready, when I got hit by something awful. The stomach flu. Or death. It really seemed like death for a 24hr period there, now I'm back to thinking it was stomach flu. Dad gum stomach flu, makes you hate all your favorite food and drink.

Here are some pics from a St. Patrick's Day themed playdate that we went to, cutely titled A Shamrockin' Good Time. All green food. All with sugar in it.

No pictures, please

Ry, with his new friend, Lily.

Ry's other new friend, Harper. He likes the ladies.

After a nap for each of us after the inevitable sugar crash, Ry and I went outside for a daily dose of running, climbing and eating dirt. I put him in his St. Pat's jammies early because, after all, its not kosher to wear this much green after St. Patrick's Day, right? We, literally, do this exact outside routine as much as 3 times a day in good weather, but I had to take lots of shots, because its so much cuter in Ry's St. Patrick's Day gettup.

I have a little trouble on holidays that require a color of the rainbow. You see, I love black. And brown. And sometimes gray. I'm not goth. I'm not this new strain of girls that call themselves Emo, with the black nails to match their mood. I just like to wear black. It matches everything, its a little slimming, and I think it kinda goes good with my skin tone. Green makes me look like I have liver problems.

When I was pregnant with Rylan, I realized I was getting lots of compliments from Rob. I think its because my pregnancy clothing was sponsored by two former preggos. I was given uber amounts of maternity clothes in every color of the rainbow. It was the first time in my life to wear a different color every day. I promised Rob that as I dropped baby weight, I would buy myself colorful clothing. I lied. I didn't mean to. I tried. I really did.

I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend

Rylan, my little lap baby, is discovering a whole new world. A world of stairs and boxes, chairs and coffee tables, and scary entertainments centers, and even mom's short-girl step stool. No longer happy to sit in your lap long enough for even a board book, Rylan is on the move and usually that move is in going UP! Me, I'm good with two feet on the ground.

Extremely scary front stairs. Don's worry, I photoshopped

Rob waiting to catch a falling baby out

In the flower pod. He is truly happy here, I think I'm going to make it Ry's area and as he grows he can pick out the flowers to go in here. As long as he picks out ones that LOVE some full sun

He hit a wall. In a tiny jacket. At one point I'll realize that just because he's 15 months old, he doesn't fit the 18month profile.

Much cooler to be in his rocking chair this way

Daddy got a new propane cooker so he can make beer outside. Rylan got this snazzy box.

Big day of playgroup fun

So, Rylan and I belong to two playgroups. One is in my little town out in the middle of nowhere called MOPS, which stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. They only meet twice a month, once a little meeting for moms to get together and have mom time, while nice elderly ladies watch our kids, and once for a group playdate like the firetruck one. They are nice people, they are very Christian oriented, and they always provide delicious breakfasts. I only 75% fit in, but I think its good for both Rylan and I to go.

Our other group is in the Little Rock area and has a very varied group of women and they get together as much as 4 times a week. You go online and pick and choose what sounds like fun. Its anywhere from meeting for lunch at Chick-fil-A and talking while your kids play on the equipment to meeting at someone's house for arts and crafts to going to the park.

In an attempt to get us out of the house, and not bored at home, I signed up for both. I'm not a good scheduler, I have many calenders that are often bare. So, we are often double booked for events and I have to make a decision what sounds like more fun. Yesterday we were double booked. And I couldn't make the decision. See, MOPS was having a "churchy" kind of meeting (and they are Union Baptists and I'm Catholic, so I wasn't so sure about that one) so I was leaning towards skipping the MOPS and attending our other playgroup. They were meeting at Wonder Place, a place where they have all sorts of slides, and dress-up stuff, a pool with toys in it that kids can splash in, blue sandbox, tunnels and a Velcro wall you can just throw stuff at AND IT STICKS! The only snaffoo in my plan was that MOPS threw me a curve ball. That curve ball is called an Easter Egg Hunt. I couldn't pass up a chance for Ry-bear to hunt for the Easter Bunny's cast-offs!!! What to do?

We did it all. Did I mention that those delicous breakfasts that MOPS have are split up between the tables of mommies and my table had picked this particular Wednesday to be providers? So Rylan and I showed up with our Hashbrown Casserole and he went to his Moppets class and dutifully listened to a speaker talk about how to let God keep me grounded. Then came the Easter Egg hunt. Rylan had fallen and bonked his head in his classroom, so he was a little dazed and confused as to why all these shiny plastic things were sitting in a field, but he got with it and collected him some fabulous eggs. One even said Jesus on it. Later that night, Rob congratulated Rylan on "finding Jesus."

Then, we jetted off to Little Rock and met our other playgroup at Wonder Place, a place of wonder indeed. We were late and they were getting ready to leave, but Ry got a good hour of splashing, running, and frolicking in before we left. Then we ate at McDonald's with our friends. Then we accepted an invitation to our friends Krystal and Harper's house so the kids could take naps. Rylan took no such nap. There was a cute dog to terrorize.

Then Rylan, Krystal, Harper and I packed up and went to a scary consignment sale. After two hours of shopping amongst some of the scariest super shopping ladies around (I don't lie when I tell you some had kicked their children out of strollers to use them for clothing), we parted ways and headed home. Rylan laid on the floor till we put that poor boy in his bed. Such a big day.

SUPRISE, SUPRISE, SUPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of all the tests I've ever taken, the one I took on February 1st, I was sure I was going to fail. But I didn't. It would seem that Rob and I were unknowingly working on a little project. A teeny little project the size of a grape. SUPRISE! We are having baby number two.

Planning for this? NO

Scared enough to make your knees shake? Yes

Happy that the big guy upstairs had a different plan for you? Yes indeed.

We went March 1st and saw the pretty beating heart of our baby. We'll call "it" Shim II. Rylan was Shim (she/him) until he was officially deemed a boy. It was determined that Shim is 9 weeks and some change along. So, October 9th is the big date. Rylan and the little one will be 23 months apart. It will tough stuff, but, hopefully, after a little while, we will have a couple of super best friends on our hands.

As for me, I'm so much sicker with this one, which makes me thankful that I barely go to that GI nurse job I used to have! I think its the addition of having a baby already and not just getting to take a nap whenever. And the fact that I'm home all day with Rylan, a big part of my job is bending over to pick him up, or pick up toys, or pick up dog poo so he won't eat it. If my body is bending over, it thinks I'm at a toilet. And, Rylan and I now have the same 8pm bedtime. It seems this bambino requires a lot of sleep. Hoping Shim II requires that much post-womb as well!

Now we are nervously waiting for the scary 1st trimester to be over, looking at double stroller's price tags with big eyes, and re-evaluating the living situation of our home. I have a really positive feeling about it all. I'm so hoping we don't have the bedrest/preterm labor troubles of our past and that we can all get through this one bigger happier family. But, even if we do, we graduated from Rylan's birth smarter, happier, and with hearts the size of the ocean. We know now, that all that work gets a big prize at the end.

Rylan, is blissfully unaware that his world will be rocked, and I'm glad. We are savoring every moment of time where Rob and I can devote all our attention to him. We are movers and shakers with our two mommy and me groups, going to parks, lunches, playdates and tomorrow: The Wonder Place. So excited. Pictures to follow.

Here are some pics from a playdate last week. They had a pizza party/fire safety talk. Rylan was a LITTLE bored during the fire safety talk, but come time to see a firetruck, he was all business. He even made a few friends with the friendly firemen.

See you later, waiting rooms

Between the 2 month check-up and the 4 month check-up
5 sick visits, one ambulance ride, 2 emergency room visits and a 3 day hospital stay
*RSV
*multiple ear infections

Between 4 month check-up and 6 month check-up
-3 sick visits, one visit to ENT doctor
*bronchiolitis
*multiple ear infections

Between 6 month check-up and 9 month check up
-one sick visit
-surgery for ear tubes and tongue tie
-visit to ENT doctor
*one piddly cold

Between 9 month check-up and 12 month check-up
-5 sick visits
-one visit to after hours stat clinic at Children's hospital
*double ear infections
*Swine Flu
*Fifth's Disease

So, you can see that Rylan has had a few extra visits to the doctor. They know us really well. We actually sent them flowers one time because they are a little like family. And take such good care of my boy. And, while I love to see their smiling faces, I would love nothing more than to see their smiling faces maybe at the check-out at Kroger, or Chuck E. Cheez (let's keep it real, only the children smile at Chuck E. Cheez, all parents are overwhelmed).

So Rylan just had his 15 month check up on Friday. Guess how many sick visits he's had since his last check-up?????? ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh happy day, oh happy day. It hit me as I was driving to the doc on Friday. This is may be too personal and a little sad, but driving Rylan to the doctor makes me cry every time. I get flashbacks of the time I drove him there and we left in an ambulance. That helpless I've let my child get so sick feeling comes back and it just happens. So on Friday, I exit onto Interstate I-30 and start my trek and the tears automatically start the sting and then I realize: the last time I did this trek was for Rylan's 12 month visit. We did it! The staying home and trading babysitting, making him learn to sleep through the night, and doing the crazy anti-bacterial swipe at all restaurants and stores has paid off.

So, at 15 months Rylan is 28lbs-his first time out of the 90th percentile. He's now a mere 84th percentile (wonder what percentile I'm in? YIKES). 34 1/4 inches. I'm 61 inches on a good day. Rylan is 15months old and over half my height. At last check, he has 16 teeth. He is still off chicken, loves him some fruit, veg, and beans, and hands you his plate when he'd like it filled back up. Latest words include: ball, Aubrey (the little baby we babysit, sounds like "aubie"), and "eed it" as he throws a book at you.

It really is easier to play WITH the toys if you are actually WITH the toys

Young and Old

I love Rylan. In the last 15 months, I have become more child-like and more mature somehow. Kids do that to you and I love it love it love it. Like, take Rylan's bristle blocks, I have successfully created every block-character that comes in the flyer inside the toy's box. Rylan could care less, he takes me creations and rips them apart. I built his Little People Farm into an awesome farm, took a picture and sent it to Rob one day at work. We dance to annoying songs, we chase each other around the house, and I talk to him in the car to the point that people passing me probably think I'm psychotic.

At the same time, I've somehow grown up a lot in the last year and some change. Like when I had the stomach flu and was still breastfeeding. Usually when you are sick, especially with the pukies, you find a cool spot on your bathroom floor and you pass out there for a few days. If not eating for a few days felt good, that was allowed. But, I had to take care of Rylan, and somehow choke down some food so that I could still breastfeed. It was at that moment that I learned that moms don't get sick days.

I am also notoriously late. My poor mother had to use every punishment in the book to get my adolescent b-u-t-t in the car on time to get to school. I've been late to college classes, late to work. Late, late, late. A few weeks ago Rylan and I were so early for a birthday dinner, we had to wait for the birthday girl (who is ALWAYS early) for over 10 minutes. Rob and I have started leaving for church extra early to get the coveted pew directly in front of the cry room (so he has about 10 kids to stare at during church).

I'm very thankful to that little/big sack of cute stuff for making me discover my inner kid and inner adult all in a year's time.

Precious angel won't stay out the dog food/water bowls. Yay.

Happy Lent to everyone. We went to Ash Wednesday Mass last night. I'm super sad that I don't have a pic of an ashen Rylan. Last year he didn't come with me because it was too soon after his RSV troubles to be out and about that much. This year, he was acting all 1-year old on us. I had to change his shirt at church which semi rubbed off the ashes, then he rubbed his face on my cheek, which transferred some ashes, then the minute we got home, the fits started and it was pajamas and a night-night. By the time I got my camera ready, Rylan looked like someone had punched him in the head, all black and blue-ish.

I always give up chocolate and coffee for Lent. Last year I got real sick of my Lenton sacrifice. So, this year, I am going to read my bible everyday. I tried this a few years ago and let it slip, this time, I'm in it to win it. And I hope that I'll continue it after Lent is over. I'm also going to try to cut down on being such a cuss-bug. I'd love to say I don't cuss, and I do try to keep it at a minimum, but yesterday I left my curling iron on and didn't realize it till I was down the road and there flies a "$&&*" out of my mouth. Not good. Not with little super sonic ears in his carseat. So, everytime I cuss, I'll put money in a jar and that money will go to church. I really hope I don't have to give the church thousands. Not because they don't deserve the money, but how embarrasing to know it was because I am basically a sailor?

I've asked Rylan to give up his pre-terrible Two fits that he has been having for Lent. And forever. So far today, he hasn't agreed to the Lenton sacrifice. But, in between fits, we get a whole lot of this cutie.