First Days and Nine Months

 Back to school has come and gone, and now school is routine, but I still wanted to share our pictures.  LMM is THRILLED to go this year, unlike last year where he cried and clung to my leg for, oh, the first 6 months.  No longer!  I barely get a "goodbye".

 There are tears though, I assure you.  Instead of LMM clinging to me sobbing that he wants to go home...I have Rosebud clinging to the art table or whatever furniture she can get her sticky-from-breakfast hands on screaming that she wants to stay.  She'd give up something pink and sparkly to be at school.  She has the back-to-school-bug bad.

 MMMM.  I could eat this one up.  She is a mama's girl for sure, and I am loving it.  I'll admit most days it is hard to have her wanting me ALL THE TIME, but as she gets older...I'm learning to cherish it.  Her baby days are numbered.  Everything is new and exciting and she loves to explore anything she can get her hands on.

 And then she eats it.  Cause that's what you do at nine months.

 I have zero new growth to report this month.  She is not even registered on the charts for weight (14 lbs 9 oz...still not as big as Rosebud was at 6 months) and is in the 10th % for length (26.5").  http://www.babycenter.com/baby-child-growth-percentile-calculator

However...she is developing GREAT!  She is taking steps along the furniture, exploring standing unassisted, learning to open/get into/crawl around everything in her way.  She feeds herself gluten free cereal, nurses often and well (finally sleeps 4 hours at a time most nights and is transitioning to her crib more than cosleeping) and eats baby food.  While she'll eat my homemade rice cereal and advacado, she has a bad gag reflex with homemade pureed veggies and fruits.  She is doing better on jar first foods, so I have been buying 2-3 of those a week as well.  Three jars doesn't kill anything but my pride.

 Snug Snug Snug.  I can't believe my preemie is in first grade.  He is not as excited about school this year as last.  I second guess my decision to put him in school daily.  I am trusting I did the right thing, but it has been hard.

He's already had his taste of bullying, but his teacher handled it well.  Not ready to tell that story yet, but I may in the future.  It for sure upped my opinion of the teacher though.  He is a little bored as the work comes easily to him, but new things should be introduced soon.  He also started swim lessons yesterday.  We found really reasonably priced ones at the YMCA a short distance from us.  He loves the water and we hope this opportunity will not only teach him swimming skills, but also boost his self-confidence (something he has very little of at school despite knowing all the required work) and social skills.

I have so much I want to/need to post and am working it into my daily schedule.  Er...weekly schedule.  After my last post I really missed blogging and need to make more time for it.

As it is September 11th I have a story to share.

A few weeks ago our family added a new activity (cause really we have nothing to do, totally bored).  We started Letterboxing.  I read about it in Parent's Magazine (or was it Family Fun?).  We've only done it a few times, but MAN is it fun, and has proved to be educational for the boys and a great way to get some exercise and spend time together as a family.

We went to our local 9-11 memorial for our very first try (we either failed, or the box was missing).  While there we took the time to examine the monument which is constructed from some of the Twin Towers building material  .  We talked a little bit with the boys about why it was there.  We kept it very basic.

Fast forward two weeks to this past weekend.  We're at #1's softball tournament (where his team did FABULOUS, knocking out the #1 ranked East Coast team in Police Softball shocking everyone including themselves).  LMM and I are watching the other team warm up and he asked if "thems is cops".  I told him yes, everyone here is a cop...it is Police League Softball!  Then he said they were bad cops.

More than concerned, I asked why on EARTH he would say a thing like that.  He proceeded to tell me that they were bad because they flew airplanes into buildings.  Heavens.  I don't think he got one thing right about 9-11.  I patiently tried to re-tell him and correct what he was way off base on.

I also informed him that his daddy is a cop (which he doesn't believe anymore now that #1 is a detective and doesn't wear traditional uniform...my boys think that is quite the disappointment these days!) and he knows daddy helps people at work.  He had to think on that for awhile, but I HOPE he understands at least the part that the police officers (and firefighters and all first responders) were the GOOD GUYS in history.

Have you told your kids about 9-11?  Any tips?

Police Softball Vegas 2011

 The whole reason we were even in Vegas was to play softball.  Not me personally, but #1.  There is a game for wives but I am not athletic and I don't think playing ball is on the "Approved" list from my midwives!

 The park that they play at is beautiful.  Each ball diamond is a miniature replica of a real professional stadium.  So fun!

 On Friday night, after winning their first two games, we watched an all star team made up of selected players from police teams that were there play against the Wounded Warriors softball team.

 Each of the wounded warriors is missing a limb or a hand/foot.  They lost their arms/legs/hands/feet serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. And they play softball.  Well.  The all-star team won, but seriously the fact that these guys play at all is just awesome.  And they were SO young.  I'll bet the average age was probably 23.  They gave a lot to serve their country.

 Here's the team lined up before the game.  As you look down the line, most of the legs you see are prosthesis.  The crowd in the stands was not cheering for the police all-star team  :o)

 The view from the stadiums is awesome.  Mountains in the background, perfect (but HOT) weather.  It was great.

 We tried to get ourselves in a few pictures too.  Cause we were there-not just scenery!

 #1 plays first base.  He had a pretty good tournament.

He had two home runs and a few good hits.  I was really proud of him!

This slide was really funny.  After he slid in and was safe he had to hold the base and put it back where it belonged.  The fields are astro turf and the bases aren't really stuck down so that people don't get hurt sliding into them.  I have another picture of him facing down the third base line, towards the outfield, hugging the base after this slide.  

I think I heard that there were seventy some teams at the tournament from all over the US and Canada.  In his bracket (they have to split into different brackets or it would take FOREVER to run the tournament) I think he said there were about 30 teams.  They finished 4th place.  Not bad!

Police Softball

 The Sterling Heights tournament is always fun.  The fields are shady and bathrooms close.  As a mama those things are important!  My family is close enough to stay with and then make the drive daily to the fields.  I looked back at last year's post and I was shocked at how BIG my kids have gotten this year.  This is Snug showing off his new handcuffs.  He had to show "the guys".

 This is a favorite tournament also because the purpose of it is to remember fallen officers and their families.  Several families were present this year who have lost an officer since last year's tournament.  It is always very humbling to stand during the ceremony and hear all the names read.  I get choked up when a child of a fallen officer is chosen to throw the first pitch to start the tournament.  You always pray your child isn't throwing the ball next year.

 While in Michigan we also celebrated Snug's birthday.  Along with handcuffs he got a new quilt for his bed.  My mom made it and he loves it. Something must have been on my lens, and I didn't realize it.

This picture has nothing to do with anything (besides the fact that Rosebud wears the handcuff keys on a pink string around her neck).  She just loves the camera.  (Panda ears from Grandmommy's vacation Bible school).

Whew!

I am getting worse and worse about posting.  Summer will do that to me.  However, I have been getting really bad about even taking pictures of the kids. Haven't taken one since Memorial Day!  That is very unlike me.

What have we been up to?  Well, the weather has been hot and sticky.  My parents came down for part of the week to help #1 install a new water heater.  It had been leaking gallons of water onto our basement floor for about a week.  I've always heard you do NOT want to drink the hot water from your tap as if you saw the inside of your water heater it would make you sick

Guess what.  What came out of the bottom of our water heater looked like someone had GOTTEN sick all over our floor.  DO NOT DRINK THE WATER OUT OF YOUR HOT WATER TAP.  Trust me on this one.

In other news, we've been doing 4-6 ball games a week.  I knew when I married my husband sports would be involved.  I'm not sure I knew to what level.  Snug himself had 3 games this week.  And oh has it been hot.

We installed an alarm on Little Monkey Man's bedroom door (ok, in all fairness it is also Snug's door, but he needs no alarm).  He has a habit of waking up in the middle of the night and finding things to do.  We don't even wake up and hear him.  What sort of things are there to do in the middle of the night?  Well, you can put pencils in your sister's crib, remove pages from board books and regular books alike, eat mama's snack for Sunday School, find scissors, and then I shared some documentation of the great nail polish mess.  For all of you out there who may need a solution to similar problems...the alarm works great.  We know each and every time he gets up and runs around the house.  And due to the fact that his sensory needs include HATING loud noises he isn't making...he hates the alarm and just stays in his room!

Today is my last day of Draycare for the summer.  I am very ready to be done.  Not ready to live off of one income, but I am tired.  I'm ready to head out for daily outings with just my biological children.  Not that I don't like my daycare kids, I do.  I am just ready for summer!

So that's what we've been up to.  What's new with you?

Virginia Beach "Highlights" Part 1

 Last Thursday we packed up the van and headed to Virginia Beach, VA.  Snug was very content to have a 10 hour drive ahead of him knowing that A) he was going to the beach and B) he had full access to a DVD player.

 Pictures do not do the landscape justice.  It is a beautiful drive.

 Little Monkey Man has to have ALL of his toys on his lap while traveling.  The DVD player worked for about 8 of the 10 hours on the way there (they also slept during that time) and then it died.  Never to work again.

 One nice thing about diapers is she doesn't have to interrupt our driving every 2 hours!!!  I do change her of course, but by the time we were driving home I was considering diapers for everyone under 5 foot!  We stopped at a motel around 11PM Thursday night.  #1 had worked all day and we knew everyone needed some "real" sleep if we were going to make it through the weekend.

 After only having to drive maybe two hours on Friday morning we made it to our first destination.  The Zoo!  We have a pass to our local children's museum and it reciprocates with hundreds of zoos and museums around the US.  This is one of them, and we got in free!  There was another museum we had hoped to go to on the way home, but it didn't happen.

 We tried to donate a monkey, but they said they had enough for now.  Maybe next time!

 The zoo was BEAUTIFUL.  Very clean, and they did a fantastic job (in my not-very-knowledgeable opinion) recreating what their habitat would be, while including unique ways for us to actually SEE the animals without disturbing them.  I've been to zoos where the habitat is great, but you'll never see the actual animal.  I've also been to zoos where the habitat must be miserable for the animal, but you can certainly see them.

 Everyone had a great time.

 Riding the train was the boys' favorite part.  We did have to buy tickets, but I guess getting into the zoo for free compensated that.

 I personally loved the giraffes.  I tried and tried to get the boys to look at them.  But there were squirrels and they won out.

 The elephants!

 I think this picture is just too cute!  LMM only smiles if he is having a truly good time.  He can't "fake" it like Snug.

 If you've ever read the book  "Verde" you'll know why I took this picture.

 Someone's irresponsible mother didn't strap her into the stroller and she decided to get out by herself.  A scraped up nose and face was the result.

 As soon as we got to the hotel the boys wanted to go swimming.  I honestly can't remember if we did this first or had dinner first.  No matter, Snug was in the pool faster than I could blink and loving every minute.

LMM was a different story.  He was all excited to get in and then panicked.  He held tight to either us or the rail the entire time.  I bought a water sling at a garage sale (I realize now it was on inside out) and it was a big help with Rosebud.  She wants us to let go of her in the water and pushes against us constantly.  Being wet and slippery that is not easy to deal with while watching the boys.  The sling keeps her right next to me and gives me at least one free hand at all times.  

Friday night was a party hosted by a local establishment across the street from our hotel.  Free food for all players and their guests.  We went early, ate, and got out of there before the "party" really began.  

Saturday morning the weather was beautiful.  The kids sat for a second so I could get a picture of them in their matching shirts.  All the (under age 5) kids that come to tournaments/league nights from our team have the same one, all with their daddy's number on the back.

 The day was hot and long.  Over a span of 8 hours #1 played four games.  I was so thankful for the shade tent (think 1/2 a tent that goes up super easy) that my parents bought for us.  Both LMM and Rosebud took a nap in it.

 Rosebud loves her daddy!

 This is another team baby.  She and Rosebud kept each other very entertained.  I tried to get a picture all day of both of them with their cute shirts and pink bottoms...but either someone would lay down or one had a bib on or would crawl away.  They had matching busted noses, so I didn't feel quite so bad about Rosebud.  It was "the cool" thing that weekend.

I love the vignette around this picture.  It is actually because I took it through the fence, but whatever.  Day one at the ball field was over.  It was time to hit the beach, but I'll post those pics later.  I think this is enough for now!!!!

Excuses

Excuses of why I haven't blogged...

Monkey Man running with a stick in his mouth, falling, and almost putting it through his sinus cavity. New scar.

Monkey Man getting sick at church...all over the nursery gate/children in the nursery as I picked up Rosebud.

First field trips. Chauffer Mom.

Cell phone that turns off...constantly...on its own.

Sick kids. Again.

Weekend guests for an all-girl's weekend.

Husband in Vegas. Fourth place out of 30 teams for Police Softball.

Draycare-when my kids aren't sick.

Low Milk Supply. (Nursing approx. every 2 hours)

Monkey Man's haircut. Drastic.

Bathroom Emergency Remodel. Ugh.

I have no other excuses. And no pictures (although I've taken TONS)

One Week Ago...

...we spent our weekend on the ball field. For those of you who don't know, we spend many many nights/weekends on the ball field. From April through September. #1 plays league night on a team made up of local law eforcement officers. These same guys travel and play police league tournaments (VA Beach, Dayton Ohio, Sterling Heights Michigan, Cincinnati Ohio, and Las Vegas. He also plays on our church's team.
The kids have team shirts, although Snug grew out of his this season and it already fits Monkey Man! Next summer I'll have to get them the same size.

Snug has an entourage of player's wives who feed, play with, and carry him at his whim. #1 has been with this team since Snug was seven months old, so he thinks he is the team mascot.

This past weekend's tournament is to honor fallen police officers. The tournament starts off with a flag ceremony and they read the names of fallen officers tied to teams present. They either are related to someone playing or from a state represented by a team (example we are from Ohio so any Ohio officers).

It is a pretty emotional time for some of these guys, and for us, the wives. You never want to be the family that is out there throwing the first pitch to start the tournament. But there is always the chance that next year, you will be.