The mind of a child

Hunter started sitting in this Bumbo chair we borrowed from Mari, which is good and bad. Good because it means he is getting bigger and stronger and will be entertained for longer, which now that I think about it is also bad because my sweet baby is growing too fast for me to keep up with. Jake was taking an uncharacteristic nap (Good thing considering today), so Jax and I were playing with Hunter and showing him new toys and seeing how long he could hold onto them. Well I got up to get the phone and I came back in and Jax, Bumbo and Hunter were nowhere to be found. I listen and here Jax saying here we go as dreadful thoughts go through my brain still thankful there isn't any screaming though. I came in to find this and I couldn't help but laugh hysterically! Jax pushed him, carefully thank goodness, into here and was taking him for a ride like a cowboy. Hunter thought it was great fun! Totally enthralled by it all. I honestly couldn't stop laughing. What an imagination! Why do we seem to lose this imaginative ability as we grow older, no wonder babies adore other kids because they are so creative and entertaining. Way better than boring old mom who sticks a pacifier in my mouth and a toy hanging in my face! Mothers need this imagination to come back as soon as they have kids. Love it!

Don't you love this face! Whoa mom! Back off!

A profile picture! I wasn't interesting enough, what does Jax have over there?

Mommy Dates

Before Hunter was born I was really worried about how Jake would react to having a new baby and him not being the baby anymore. But to our surprise Jax has seemed to have the hardest time adjusting to it. Not with Hunter himself, he adores him and is such a huge help to me! Since Hunter has been born he has turned into a torturer, teaser, and tormenter of his brother and mother. Granted I am not the ideal patient, nuturing, perfect mother, not even close, so part of his problem was definitely how his mother was reacting to him. I couldn't figure out how to help him adjust to all this new stuff and my attention not all his and Jake's. Well I was reading this book and it had some wonderful ideas and one of those was Mommy dates. It's nothing big, a grocery store trip with just that kid for example. On your "date" your attention is focused just on them, not how fast you can get your errands done or which can of beans is cheaper. If they want to check out and talk about each piece of cheese, go ahead and let them. Its all about them and you. I have only done it once with each boy. Jake a took to the grocery store, he got to sit in the cart, I carried him into the store and everything. It turned out great and he was having an especially rough couple of days prior to this. I loved it more than he did I think and I was more excited as well. Jax a just took today to lunch. He wanted to go to McDonalds and I was fine with that but the playland is there and we didn't get quite the talking time like I did with Jake. But he had fun and I played foosball and air hockey with him. We will see  how it goes. This has changed my attitude as well, and I have tried harder everyday to stay calm and be patient no matter what kind of torturing is happening, not that I don't slip up still. The more I think about the future with these the more excited I get, I just have to remember to make it all about them and not make it this elaborate date every time either.

A Ride of a Lifetime...

This month has been in overdrive, it has been go go go since day one and I'm afraid it doesn't look like it will slow down. Jeff is starting his hardcore Ironman training this week, not that he hasn't already been training like crazy! Hit class is Tues. and Thurs. nights till 9pm and 8:30pm along with his basketball schedule with games every Wed. and Friday and training on the weekends usually in St. George. I don't know where my brain has gone. The poor boys are dragged this way and that with a little free time in between. Last week I think Jake had finally had enough and told us he was done by going a little nutsy, throwing screaming tantrums and everything. That is not normal for Jake, I didn't even know he was capable of such craziness. A couple of afternoon naps and lots of cuddling and holding has done the trick though. As this Ironman race approaches ever faster I can't help getting butterflies in my stomach for Jeff! It is such a lifetime achievement that only a very small percentage of the world population accomplishes. In my opinion it is the ultimate test of physical fitness! I'm sure he gets tired of my constant nagging about what his training schedule is next or if he is really thinking about how he is going to fuel for the race. Maybe its just me living vicariously through him. These next few months will be a test for us all, him physically and mentally. It will be a test of my patience, mothering skills. And the boys it will be a test of how well they can handle their crazy mother! It will be a ride like no other and I can't wait.