This Moment

Joining Amanda - A Friday ritual. A single photo - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

(resting up to be allowed to stay up and watch the Capital 4th on PBS - our only chance at fireworks for the 4th of July here in Canada.  I love it when a plan comes together.)

One of those days

Yesterday was one of them.  The boys were insane.  I was tired.  Dishes were piled up and laundry too.  There were tissues shredded on the floor.  I took a headbutt to the jaw.  There was screaming, crying, pushing, and shoving.  And licking of the humidifier.  That one totally earned a time out.  I'm not kidding that it was a heck of a day.
I was really willing to admit that it was my attitude.  I was tired and cranky and not giving them the attention they wanted.  I was about to take a mommy time-out and sneak some chocolate cake when Littler dragged me to their bedroom.  Where they had broken one of the wheels off his crib.  And Bigger was in it rocking around. 
It wasn't just me!  It couldn't just be me!  Sure my attitude wasn't helping but they really were off the walls. 
So i dug through the tool bag (which is a total disaster and perhaps tonight I'll do something to sort it out.)  I dug through the basket of random house stuff (drawer pulls, child safety bits and pieces, a bungee cord.)  And finally found one of those blasted little wrenches that come with the build-it-yourself furniture (we should have about 6 of them, it shouldn't have been that difficult to find one.)  And I dismantled Littler's crib.  Single handedly.  It involved some interesting uses of feet and a lot of barking to keep two very curious monkeys boys from bringing anything crashing down on their heads.  But I got it apart and took it piece by piece out of their room.  I didn't even forget any pieces although Bigger accused me of just that (or did he really think he was helping by "reminding" me of that ginormous piece of wood over by the window?) 
And Littler's mattress moved to the floor.  Now, we have been planning on getting big boys beds for the boys soon.  Probably next month.  But we were going to keep Littler in his crib till then and make it one transition.  This should be interesting.

After this day of insanity Littler was exhausted and passed out on my lap a little after 6:30.  One hassle down, at least I don't have to attempt to get him to stay in bed long enough to fall asleep.  Next challenge would be when he rolls out at some point during the night.  Well I nipped that in the bud too.  Folded an extra blanket and laid it out along the side of the bed so he would at least roll onto a soft surface and not the cold linoleum floor.  That worked too - before I went to bed he was already stretched out on the blanket on the floor.  Before you judge, I did scoop him back into bed after snapping a picture. 

But the very best part?  He slept till 6am!  I remember there was a vast improvement in Bigger's sleep when he lost the crib.  So there might be hope that this was the end of the 4:30 mornings.  :)  And ya know, almost everything looks better after nearly 8 hours of sleep.  I can't tell you the last time I had close to 8 hours of sleep.  I think I can count the times on one hand since Littler was born.  One was  the night he was baptized, November 1, 2009.  It really is that memorable for me to get that kind of sleep.  (And just think, Littler is the better sleeper of the two boys!)

 So even dumping bowls of cereal on ourselves and the kitchen floor, even, taking out the chocolate cake from the fridge and telling me "guess what Dad says we can have for breakfast," even stuffing tissues into the humidifier, not so bad. 

Trapped

Under a sleeping 2 year old that is.

Littler was up at 4:45 this morning.  For some reason he did not simply climb out of his crib and wander into bed with me like he usually does.  First he wandered the apartment a bit, getting upset that he couldn't find me.  (In his defence, the WeatherMan had apparently left the TV on when he fell asleep on the couch.  Light of any kind seems to signal time to get moving to this kid.) 

So once he found me he climbed into the bed and wanted to nurse.  No, Little Dude, we do not nurse before morning.  So he spent the next half an hour rolling around next to me like a pig on a spit all the while trying to get his hand up my shirt.  (The hand up the shirt is his comfort move - sucks his first to fingers and rubs my belly.  It is really irritating.  Especially in those wee hours of the morning when I want to still be sleeping and he is using any means possible.  And if he can't get his hand in my shirt he will move on to trying to get his foot down my pants.  I kid you not.)

After 30 minutes of this, his brother joined us.  By 6am Bigger had already started asking if it was time to go to school.  No, Big Dude, your teacher will not be there for 3 hours.  Why not?  Because she is probably still sleeping.  So he drowned his sorrows in a cup of milk, half a blueberry english muffin, and a big handful of frozen berries.  And was hungry less than an hour later.  I do believe we will be shopping for pants by the end of next week. 

Finally the time came to convince them to put on their clothes (pants before shoes, Big Dude, it really will help.)  Have a final snack of cheese and crackers (remember that thing about new pants?)  Get coats on (I am so glad they have both mastered the "flipperoo.")  And leave for school. 

Bigger was psyched to be back and Littler remembered the whole routine too.  He seems to be convinced that if he does it all right he will magically get to stay at school too, right down to picking a name tag at random and putting someone else's name circle up on the board.  It's a good thing there isn't a kid with his name in the class or he would really think he belonged!  Next year, Little Dude, your time will come.  The noise of the class settling into their play before circle time got to him though and he snuggled into my lap. 

Back at home he got his "extra" nursing and then played a little and climbed into my lap to nurse again.  He was ok with a no to that request and even with my efforts to keep his hand out of my shirt.  He was fading fast so I did what any tired mama of a tired little one would do - I rubbed his belly and ignored him while I checked FaceBook.  Worked like a charm.  He's been out for almost half an hour already.  And my left foot is starting to follow too.  I should really see if I can transfer him to his crib and get some things done.  But maybe I'll just shift him a little and have a wee snooze myself :)

Right now

I would really like the chance to write.  I would really like a break.  I would really like a nap. 

However, the boys are apparently boycotting naps.  It's still kinda early to tell but I "put them down" theoretically for a nap about 45 minutes ago and they are still going strong.  In fact, by the sound I just heard my guess is that Littler is climbing into the bathtub while Bigger goes potty.  Then he'll probably join the tubby festivities. 

Unfortunately they really cannot comprehend that with no nap they will not be running errands with Daddy later.  Because there is no way I'm sending them out to nap at dinner time in the car.  That would just be insane.  And the tragic part is that they have been told this and their answer was "but Mama..." 

No buts.  You will be so very sad later when Daddy goes out and you are stuck at home with boring mean old Mama who you have been with all day just because you refused to go to sleep.

It's a new day

After yesterday's difficult day this is a new day.  Even still it got off to a rough start.  Boys pushing and hitting.  And doing everything they were told NOT to.  Mama was so tempted to skip story time at the library.  As if she wants to deal with this craziness in public, where they can get into real trouble or worse get hurt if not listening.  But they needed to get out and burn some steam.  So somehow she got them all ready and out the door.  And took out the trash as long as they were going out. 

Of course story time was actually at 10:30 not 10 so the boys get half an hour to play and look for books before.  After Mama tried to look for a super special surprise DVD for them, one that they really love but they were restless and would not stay in the stroller.  And once they started hitting each other on the head it was time to go home.  So we checked out our books and hit the road. 

And Bigger passed out on the way.  Littler kept himself awake all the way home (Bigger let Mama get him out of the stroller, out of his coat, and into bed without waking up.)  Eventually Littler passed out too, once he was snuggled up with Mama and Daddy in their bed.  Mama got up once he was asleep and did her thing - not dishes or laundry or any of the other pressing housekeeping duties.  She eat lunch (including some rice pudding,) watched the start of a movie, worked on some notes, put a hold library  on Singing in the Rain, and even cast on for the start of project play food. 

Can you guess what piece of produce I'm working on? 

Littler slept for close to 2.5 hours and Bigger slept a whooping 3 hours!  Good Lord did they need that nap!  And now they are eating a "lunch" of frozen blueberries, almonds, and milk while Mama blogs on.  She is somewhat concerned that they will be up half the night after naps like that.  But yesterday's theatrics where partly a display of utter exhaustion.  Maybe now they are caught up.  With any luck everyone will be in better moods for a while. 

A Mama can hope, right? 

Remind Me

when it will be that the boys will appreciate sleep.  On second thought, don't.  I'm not sure I can handle the pain of how much longer I have to go before I can hope for some good sleep. 

We have been up since just before 4:30 this morning.  But they lack the good sense to take a nap.  We have been at this for 2 hours now.  We got home this morning from errands while Bigger was at preschool at about 10:15, eat lunch, and the boys got to watch some Thomas to settle down.  When they got their second wind I put them to bed.  Where they have bounced around for the last hour and a half. 

At one point I went in and they were both stark naked and in the crib. 

Really guys?  Really? 

It is now 12:50 and the only things getting me through is chcolate and the thought of watching the NCIS season premire again tonight because by some wonderful fluke of televsion programing the Canadian station played it last night and the US station will have it on tonight :)  So I get to see it twice. 

And by then the boys had better be asleep.  

A Major Miracle

Both boys slept through the night last night.  {insert happy dance here}

I think I can count on one hand the number of time Littler has slept through the night.  He is finally night weaned, again.  We would do it, he would sleep better for maybe a night or two and then be right back to nightwakings.  And poor, tired out Mama would do the easiest thing possible - bring him to bed with her and just nurse the night away.  But the repetitive nightweanings didn't help much, we kept ending up right back where we started and quickly.  So I finally cut him off.  Oh, I still bring him to bed with me when he wakes up (notice "when" not "if.")  But no more nursing... before 5am.  I could handle starting my day at 5 if I had a decent night's sleep under my belt. 

And I have no idea what has been going on with Bigger.  He has been waking and crawling into bed with me at some point during the night and I'm so tired I often don't even notice until I have to get up to get the screaming toddler who is throwing everything he went to bed with out on the floor, which is often quite noisy because he sleeps with books and a sippy cup of water.  Maybe I should start getting those out of his crib before I go to bed...  Anyway, usually, as long as he's not soaking wet, I don't mind.  But when Daddy isn't working the nightshift it gets pretty cozy with the four of us in a full sized bed.  The other night I had to lie on one side hoping no one rolled over and pushed me onto the floor!  A bunch of bed hogs I sleep with. 

But yesterday they got a good nap in while we were walking to the grocery store in search of eggs and ground beef.  And Bigger even said he was still tired, after that 2 hour nap.  The funniest thing woke him up - we were hanging out on the grass outside our building because the stroller we're using at the moment doesn't fit through the doors with the boys in it.  Littler had woken up and we were watching the traffic.  We were all very excited to see a dump truck drive by, towing a "Scoop" and another working machine.  Bigger's head popped right up at shouts of this and turned to see even though he was obviously still tired and probably could have slept a while longer.   And then bedtime came and they even went to bed without much fuss.  Lately it's been an hour of whining, getting back out of bed, crying, demanding snuggles and tummy "wugs" (rubs) - all quite irritating at the end of a day that starts around 6am.   But not last night.  We put them to bed and Bigger was pretty much quiet while Littler fussed a bit but was out too in about 20 minutes. 

And they stayed asleep.  Littler was up just before 5 and came to bed for a snuggle.  Bigger came in and got in on the action a little before 6 and then we were all up at 6.  It was heavenly.  I only wish I had managed to get to bed earlier last night so I would have gotten more sleep.  But I'll take it.  :)  It was amazing. 

Sadly, it's anyone's guess if it will happen again.  The boys are firmly against napping today and are already pitching ridculously huge fits at each other for swiping toys and books from each other and at me for putting them in time out for hitting each other with toys and books.  Although, watching Littler walk over to Bigger saying "sowwy, broder" and snatching up the car from in front of said brother which started the fight that landed him in time out was pretty funny.  Especially when he hightailed it back across the room with the car as fast as his little legs could carry him.  I really tried not to laugh because Bigger was truly upset by this.  But it was funny. Oh, how quickly they learn.  If only they would learn that sleep is good. 

I know, I know "just wait till they're 14, you wont be able to wake them up for anything."  That's just a little cruel to tell a sleep deprived Mama, don't you think?  ;-) 

New House Rule

If you insist on being up and at 'em by 5:15 in the morning you must be cheerful. 

Otherwise you will be put right back to bed. 
Too bad no one will enforce this one on me. 

The small crabbies opted not to nap yesterday.  It made bedtime a breeze but it was a L-O-N-G day.  At some point during the night, Bigger Crabbie got into bed with me.  It was cool, he wasn't wet.  But then when Littler Crabbie decided he had been in bed long enough, thank-you-very-much, it took me some time to respond.  While I was trying to free myself from the bed, Bigger informed me "Littler is crying for you, Mama."  Yes, I know.  Now would you kindly get off my hair? 

Poor Littler had a tough morning.  He probably really would have liked to go back to sleep for a little while but since Bigger was up there was no way that would happen.  He was upset that it was not a school day for him, which Bigger was all too happy to tell him repeatedly.  He was really upset when we left Bigger at preschool and he really didn't get to stay.  Needless to say, he wanted to nurse as soon as we walked in the door.  But it chippered him right up so it's all good.

23 minutes later I found myself back in the nursing chair, my belly being kneaded by the roving hand of a semi-distracted toddler nursling.  Who really needs his nails trimmed.  And apparently these jeans really accentuate my muffin top. 

Note to self: start doing crunches again, stat!

For now, Littler is blissfully napping on the couch.  Too bad Bigger wont succumb is uninterested in a refreshing doze.  But at least he is resting on the couch.  We wont mention that I had to put Toy Story 3 on, shall we?  :)  Spanish Buzz always makes me chuckle.  And hopefully we'll have a better afternoon than yesterday. 

Small Success - 6/2

Here were are again, looking for the little accomplishments that deserve a pat on the back.  Check in with Sherry at Chocolate for Your Brain to find more and share yours :)

*I am currently caught up with dishes :)

*I've been doing much better in my quest to eat real food, and the scale agrees.

*I finally got around to cleaning up the dirt on the porch.  I kept hoping someone else would do it.

*I'm almost finished with the quilt.  Not quite a success yet but it's at least in the very last stage.

*Litter Boy slept more than 10 hours last night!  Granted, it started at 6pm so, you guessed it, he was up at 4:30 which was less than steller.  But I got him to snuggle with me for an hour after that and by then it was almost a decent hour. 

*I'm working through my thoughts on simplifying and making some progress.  With any luck I can write it up and post it tonight. 

*I'm really liking the "thinking out loud" that this blog is allowing me.  It'll be interesting to see where the various trains of thought end up. 

*We went to the library this morning and I only took out one book for myself.

*Both boys are dozing off on the couch as I type.  Oh, sweet, sweet nap time.  :) 

Small Success-5/26

It's Thursday and therefore a day for taking inventory of the small victories in our days.  Again I am feeling less than productive.  I have approximately a billion projects started and nothing accomplished.  And right now I think the boys are playing with jumper cables because we had to empty our car... I need to go deal with that.  BRB ;-)

Ok, back.  They had grown tired of the jumper cables since they couldn't free them from the undercarriage of the stroller.  So they had moved on to a bungee cord, attached one end to the crib and Bigger Boy was attempting to use the other end to pierce through his shirt in order to pull the crib across the bedroom.  Who puts children's furniture light enough for children to move on wheels anyway?  So I improvised a couple yarn lassos and we're back in business.  For the time being.  Can't wait to see what they find to drag around next. 

There, that was a small victory. 

And I changed a majorly stinky diaper while I was at it.  Can that be number two?  Ohh, bad pun.  Sorry about that. 

We've been battling sleep issues too.  It was going well up to the night before last, probably accounting for the slight punchiness of my humor at the moment.  Littler has major sleep issues - once I have to take action it starts to improve.  To a point.  Then we drop right off again.  So for two or three nights I spend most of the night standing next to his crib telling him it's ok, lay down, we'll nurse when the sun wakes up, all that good stuff.  Then, miraculously, he sleeps till 5:30!  Then he nurses and goes back to sleep for almost 2 hours!  The next morning he wakes at 5:45 - sweet!  After that we're up at 5:15, 5am, and then 4:30.  This morning it was 3:30.  It's getting easier to get him settled again when he wakes so that's a victory.  But it still means getting up :(  And eventually it wears me down to where I just bring him to bed with me when he wakes up and we're right back where we started. 

Maybe next week my successes will include a sleeping toddler.  But I probably shouldn't say that out loud.  I'm sure I just jinxed myself. 

Be sure to visit Sherry at Chocolate for your Brain to read what others have accomplished and to share your victories.  :)