Madison Taylore

Lilypie - Personal pictureLilypie Fourth Birthday tickers

Carson Benjamin

Lilypie - Personal pictureLilypie Second Birthday tickers

January 30, 2013

limited pantry

As I am sure most of you know my beautiful boy is allergic to Dairy and Soy.  You may think I am making this up a bit but I invite you into our home after I have ingested soy.

That evening actually came just before leaving for Texas.  Many of the items at HuHot a Mongolian Grill are vegetables and the noodles are dairy/soy free.  I decided why not give this a try.

Not a good idea.

I think there must have been some cross contamination with other people's soy sauces but the next day was miserable.  Crying, crying, crying, screaming, not sleeping, crying, crying, not happy. 

I unintentionally had a "test" run of soy which I do monthly in hopes I get to eat my beloved pizza again but really having my son content and happy is obviously much more enjoyed then the opposing.

So that leads me into my limited pantry.  Here are a few staple items that I must have....

Believe it or not this is organic.  I used to buy the expensive stuff (most other lunch meats use soy as a preservative) but then I was reading the label and I literally cheered in the store!  Half the price and truly just as good!!



Panera Bread is one of the few breads I can have when we eat out.  Most, 80%, have milk so many times I just dont even try and test  it.

January 28, 2013

4 months

My little man, you are already 4 months old.  I look into those big blue eyes and see all the wonders we have in store.  Your smile lights up my world.  Frequent and unabashed are the words that come to mind when I dream of your face lighting up.  Your little (or maybe just a little big) cheeks are to melt for.  I often am told, "You are going to be in trouble with him" and I could not agree more.

You are a Mommy's boy and I love it.  Daddy gets jealous every now and again so if you could settle down when he holds you, it would make him feel much better.  Sometimes I just have to be in your line of site and you give me a big smile.  Laughter has echoed through our halls a few times thanks to a sweet little man's voice.  And talking is a regular.  Daddy and I were just saying how literally over night you started your rambling.  Just the sweetest.


I thought by this age you would be sleeping much better but unfortunately that is not the case.  You go down at 7 with your sister and by 9 you are fussing.  Then at 11 or 12. And again at 3.  And again at 5:30 when you think it is the morning.  Mommy has tried EVERYTHING she knows how, eating frequently, eating every 4 hours, cry it out, instant soothing, long naps, short naps, swaddle, no swaddle, sound machine, no sound machine and everything in between.  I feel like I am slightly losing my mind.  May the many prayers of family and friends help us because a crazy, tired mommy is no fun!

My dearest Carson you have been rolling over but just this past weekend, along with your active voice, you have started rolling on a regular basis.  I find you turning yourself in a circle as well like a clock just spinning away.  You are sleeping right now and I heard you starting to fuss.  I went in to check on you and you are swaddled, on your tummy(thats a first), trying to get the pacifier in your mouth.  It was quite cute.

Little man, manny, bubby, brother are a few of our enduring terms to get your attention.  I think Bubby is the favorite.  Even your sister will say "It okay Bubby" when she hears you cry.  She is still completely in love with you but hates sharing with you.  Maybe in a few months that will change when you decide you want a toy bad enough but for now, you share very well.


You love your Baby Einstein Bouncer and Play Mat just like Madison did.  Thank goodness Great Grandma Benson invested in those!  You love the song Twinkle, Twinkle the best especially sung by your mommy. 

 


I love you handsome boy.  You are our joy every day.  I live for you laughter, smiles and general conversation ;)



January 27, 2013

persevering in spite of the chaos

Packing is bad but packing with a nursing infant and an almost 2 year old felt impossible at times.  Thank the Lord for the amazing Ekornes family because we may have not made the deadline.






December 26th we drove back from Rapid City after celebrating Christmas.  We were meant with a large semi like truck and a very nice man willingly taking our $3,000.  Haha.  Imagine that.  This really kicked us in the gut.  We knew the move was happening and quick but never really imagined how fast everything went.  I mean we just said yes to this promotion 3 1/2 weeks ago! 

Movie watching was unfortunately a staple need for me to get any packing done so now my daughter is addicted to the Incredibles, Monsters, Despicable Me and Finding Nemo.  Not to mention she watched movies the entire ride to Texas as well.  Anyway...Just right that in my "Mom of the Year" book because this wont be the last of these moments.

The truck was big and we thought...Oh well we are easily going to make this!



We don't have that much stuff!






Well we do, and we filled this truck up (and by the way that was actually an accomplishment because they quoted us at needing 1 1/2 trucks for the size of a home)

 
This is actually not the end.  We packed this thing to the very end and then even began throwing items and hoping they would catch on something.  The driver that dropped it off said he started to open the door and realized he may have too many items falling on top of him, so he stopped.  (Actually it was just a yard hose but I could see where it might feel like everything is falling out).  We used our packing money wisely ;) That is for sure.

January 25, 2013

penguin vs kitty


Penguin...Please pick the penguin



Well....




But...


Priceless

Now on to more exciting things like seeing SANTA!!


Or maybe it was not so great

perfect

I want to be that mom that is walking in Target leisurely strolling the isles with two children sitting nicely in the cart and not asking for the mickey movie we just passed or the baby doll that is just wanting to be bought.  That was not us today or ...ever actually.

Today instead it was ....

Madison trying to crawl out of the cart,
kicking Carson's carseat,
startling him,
causing a mass melt from him,
picking him up,
Madison mad that she has to stay in the carseat,
her beginning the cry/scream/yelling mommy thing
Carson now content because mom is holding him and
now I'm restraining Madison,
eventually putting her in the other arm....

That was just getting into the cart.

Well kids, lets make this a quick trip.

January 24, 2013

rewind so we can fast forward

Christmas celebrations were once again a wonderful time for our families. 

Spoiled - Check. 
Too many toys that all Mommy and Daddy could think of was how much more packing we needed to do - Check
Wonderful Family Time - Check
Screaming child for the second year in a row - Check
A child who could careless about his trucks or awesome new toys and clothes - Check

Sounds like our type of Christmas!







Art time with Aunt Keila

And Grandma cleaning the mess




Gingerbread house with Daddy

But this is really what happened most of the time


Singing the wheels on the bus with Grandma and Grandpa


Great picture of Grandma and Madison

Such excitement...This was after an hour nap

Aunt Kari and Uncle Matt with little man Carson

Love these two boys!

He looks thrilled!  Right!


I wish I could remember what this was...

Grandma and Grandpa with all the grandbabies



The Stewart Family


Cousin Lucas

Cousin Ryan