They say the best form of flattery is imitation ... well, let's hope that's the case in the following photos! 

Bobby seems to just love my boots!  I have 2 pairs that I just love, and he likes to walk around the house in them.  I think the best pic I took was yesterday ... flattering Mommy and Daddy!

  Daddy's tie and Mommy's shoes!

It's so funny how children can fall asleep in the strangest places and positions.  The strangest position that I've ever seen Bobby fall asleep in, was just last week.  We had just gotten home and he had fallen asleep in the car.  I brought him upstairs and laid him down on the couch, and after about 30 minutes, woke back up claiming that he was hungry.  He asked for peanut butter and jelly, which I promptly made with a glass of milk.  He fell back asleep on the floor, but would up walking himself back to his bedroom.  I found him like this:

He looked so cute, I had to snap a closer pic:

Ahhhhh, nothing calms the soul like seeing your child asleep ...

Saw this on Helly's blog, and thought it might be fun.  I won't be answering about my actual first child, as I don't remember much about the pregnancy and whatnot, so I'll be answering regarding Bobby.

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? Yes, we had been trying for over a year

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? I was calm until I scheduled an ultrasound with my doctor's office.  I had had a false positive blood test 2 months prior, and didn't believe the lab would tell me the right news again.  After the 8-week ultrasound, I was excited.

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Absolutely not.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 24, but 25 when he was born

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? I had a migraine when I'd gone into work. A friend of mine offered me Advil, and within 15 minutes of taking it, I was running for the bathroom to throw up. I knew, at that moment, that I was pregnant.

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? My mom, then my husband (he was out fishing with my dad, that day, and my mom was the first one I called when I took the home test. after confirming with the home test, I called my dad's cell, and let Greg know)

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yes, and we did.

9. DUE DATE? January 14, but I was induced exactly 7 days later.

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? No, but I did have nauseousness

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? ice cream and chinese food (i think) ... my cravings changed from week to week

12. WHO IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? I don't think anything irritated me, except not being allowed to be alone or drive a car for the last trimester.

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILDS SEX? Boy

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? I had hoped for a girl, but all I really cared about was that he was healthy

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 5 or 10 ... I lost weight when the pregnancy began (from drinking water and eating 3 times a day), and then gained a few at the end

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? My mom's friend, Debby, held a shower for me when we moved at the beginning of the final trimester

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? Yes

8. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? At 32 weeks, I had a grand mal seizure at 4:30 in the morning. I woke up in the hospital at 8:30 in the morning, being told by the doctor that if my blood pressure didn't drop, they would have to deliver by c-section. I spent 3 days in the hospital, had EEGs done and they could find no cause for it. So, I couldn't be alone (just in case it happened again) and wasn't allowed to drive for 6 months.

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? York Hospital in York, Maine

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? On the 21st of January, I was induced at 9:40am. I chose to have them break my water and labor began and progressed for a few hours. At 1:30pm, I opted for a dose of Stadall, to help with the pain, but it was still intense. Around 3:00pm, I ended up with an epidural (I had sworn that I would never get one of those done) and the doctor decided an hour later that labor wasn't moving along like it should, as I had stopped dilating. So, around 4:00pm, I was given Pitocin. Thank God, I couldn't feel the pain!!! Bobby was delivered at 6:02pm, the same day.

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? My parents and Greg

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Greg (of course) and my parents. My mom and dad knew I wanted pictures taken, since we didn't have a video camera, so they took all the pictures of the delivery. My dad got some really nice pics (even though it's not common to have your dad there, taking them). My mom cut the umbilical cord, since Greg wasn't interested (said it would make him sick, cutting flesh like that).

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural (and only 3 stitches)

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? Yes. I had Stadall after 3 hours of trying without drugs, and when the Stadall didn't work, I ended up with the epidural.

27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?? 10 lbs 1/2 oz.

28. DID YOUR CHILD HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS? He wasn't breathing, so they actually had to "bag" him with oxygen for a minute and a half (though it felt MUCH longer than that), but then he was fine.

29. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Robert Francis (after both my and greg's grandfathers)

30. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN? 3 years 2 months exactly today.

Happy birthday Bobby!  The last 3 years have just flown by.  I remember when you were content to be held ...

I remember your cute face, when you were just a month old ...

And, now, look at you!  Three years old, terrorizing my house and loving each and every minute!!!

Happy birthday, baby!!!

I took a little hiatus, that I'm not quite done with yet.  Things have been so hectic here, so allow me to fill you all in..............

Greg's new job is amazing.  When he was hired, he was told he would make $30,000 annual salary, with bonuses of 1% at the end of every month, if the company pulled in more than $50,000 in profits.  Well, the first month, they came dangerously close to that goal, but not quite close enough to receive a bonus.  The last two weeks, Greg's been working overtime, having to stay late because the press operator was on vacation.  Poor Bobby never saw his Daddy, except one day a week on Sundays.....

So, Ray (Greg's boss) takes him aside the other day and talks to him about a number of things.  Now, remember Greg's old boss took advantage of him, never paid him overtime when he was on an hourly wage, expected him to stay late, and so forth......  Ray tells Greg that he is NOT to stay late anymore; he has to spend time with his family after work and on the weekends.  Ray also lets Greg know that he's paying him "under the table".  Greg receives $600 weekly, no taxes taken out.  That's just under his gross pay, but a BIG help.  He also tells Greg that he's changing the bonus structure for him.  If the company makes his annual salary ($30,000) in one month, Greg will get 2.5% of anything above that.  So, if the company makes $45,000 in sales again, this month, Greg will receive $375 in bonus money.  We're hoping for more than that, but that will help for my trip to Las Vegas next month.  Ray also told Greg that in a few years, Ray is hoping to make Greg a partner in the business.  So, things are looking up (really up) with his job, right now.

I had an ear infection in my left ear, last week.  You can read my previous blog on that.  When I woke up in the morning on Saturday, this past weekend, my right ear was beginning to swell.  Sure enough, on Sunday, I was in horrific pain all over again, but in the right ear this time.  Thank God the doc gave me samples of oral antibiotics, cuz that was helping to clear out the middle ear, even though it was just starting.  Instead of 3 days of holy pain, I only had to endure one.  I feel better, but both ears are still pretty plugged up, and I can barely hear.  I'll tell ya, I'm glad that Bobby's never had to go through one of these; they're absolute hell.

Today is kind of strange with Bobby.  When he was finished eating his lunch, I let him watch another half hour of TV.  Then, when the show was over, I told him it was "quiet time" in his room, he walked up to me, asked for a hug and went straight to his room, and has been playing in there for almost 15 minutes without coming back out.  Usually, I have to keep putting him in his room, because he won't stay in there.  *knocks on wood*  Maybe, this will be a good thing.........  After his quiet time, he is supposed to take a nap and then we have a few errands to run.  I just love having a second vehicle to run around in during the day!!!

First, I have to vacuum the living room, dining room, hallway, bobby's room......
Then, I can get the dishes finished up.......
Finally, the bathroom needs a good scrub, top to bottom

Then, it's time to cook and serve dinner
Then, Bobby and I eat.  If Greg's home, he eats with us

Then, it's time to go swimming.
After swimming, time for Bobby's bath and bed

Your son falls asleep on the couch with you in the mornings???

I went out to karaoke last night and totally lost track of the time.  Greg ended up calling me after 1 am, because Bobby woke him up and I wasn't there.  I didn't get to sleep until almost 3 am.  Bobby fought going back to sleep......  So, here I am this morning, falling asleep on the couch, like I do every morning, while Bobby sits on my lap.  Evidently, this morning, he decided that he didn't get enough sleep last night, and fell asleep with me on the couch.  He didn't wake me up until almost noon.

More blogs to come today.......I promise!

do you ever feel like you're going to lose control at any moment??  does it feel like you just have to break down and cry before you slam your fist into the wall?  i'm having one of those weeks..........

monday was absolutely wonderful!  no problems with bobby or greg.  no problems with anything.  it was like living a dream......

tuesday was a disaster!!!!!  while playing in his room for "quiet time" before he took a nap, bobby decided that he needed to spread poop from his diapers all over himself and the floor and wall.  he not only did this once, but 6 times.......
then, he refused to take a nap at all.  by the time greg had gotten home, i had had enough and was ready to slam bobby into the wall.  i didn't, of course, but that's what i felt like.  greg, of course, felt guilty that i'd had a rough day and tried to help out as much as he could.
while attempting to get bobby to sleep last night, it took an hour and a half.....again!!!  he fights going to sleep, and i'm not exactly sure why.  there are no noises in his room, so there's nothing in there to creep him out.  he fights us for an hour and a half, and wants us to lay down with him again.  we just got him used to going to sleep by himself about a month ago, and he's been fine until now.  i need to know what else to do, other than spanking (one swat on the butt, just below the diaper).  it's driving me crazy...!!!!!!

today isn't going much better.  although, instead of peeing on the carpet of our rented apartment, he took his diaper off and told me that he needed to go potty.  i took him into the bathroom, and he sat on the toilet and went pee.  i was so proud!!!  now, he's tempting me by coming out of his room, from "quiet time, before his nap" and won't listen.

i know that it's normal for a 2 year old not to want to listen to what you say, but it's frustrating as hell!!!  i keep my sentences pretty simple, so there's no way he doesn't actually understand what i'm telling him.  i just don't get it.

maybe i'm just not cut out to stay at home.  i mean, i can understand one minute about why he behaves the way he does, then the next minute i'm trying not to scream at him.  does every new mother go through this when she's raising a 2 year old??  why does it seem like i won't make it through the day??

If only things were this simple for everyone all of the time.......

The joys of being thrown into the air and caught by your Daddy!!!

And, now for the relaxing.......

I just loved watching my boys swimming together.  I was unable to get into the pool, so I took pictures.  Hope you all enjoy them!!!!

P.S.  I would've put a video link on, but I can't figure out how to do it......*sigh*

You are the sunshine of my life
You bring me joy each and every day
The things you do, keep me smiling

CHORUS:
I drive my mommy crazy, 'cause I'm two
I drive my mommy crazy, yes I do
I drive my mommy crazy, 'cause I'm two
I drive my mommy crazy, boo hoo hoo.

My toes sit on the table when Mom says, "Time to eat."
My fork and spoon are drumsticks.
I pound a jungle beat.
"I want some milk with dinner. I'll do it. Let me pour."
I tip the carton over.
"There's a river on the floor!" "Oh-oh!

Chorus

Today's a new adventure. I do things by myself
I climb up on the counter to reach the highest shelf
I hold him with my fingers, take the top off honey bear
He's upside down. I squeeze him.
All the honey's everywhere! "Umm, good."

Chorus

I go play in my sandbox, a pile of dirt I dug
I carry in a handful and dump it on the rug
My Mom says, "Be a helper, pick up the living room."
I love to clean the mess up.
Hear the vacuum go zoom zoom."

Chorus

I scare the check out person at the grocery store.
"I am the king of beasties." I growl a lion's roar.
Now I am an airplane. Jump out the shopping cart.
"Oh Mom, watch this. I'm flyin'.
I'm just kidding! (gasp) "Oh my heart!"

I drive my mommy crazy, 'cause I'm two
I drive my mommy crazy, yes I do
I drive my mommy crazy, 'cause I'm two
I drive my Mommy, Mom I love you!

Well, it's the second day that I'm home with Bobby and it's already proving interesting.  He grabbed a CD and when I asked for it, he took off into his bedroom.  He must've tripped on a toy on the floor, cuz he hit his head on the metal bed frame.  He's got a great line on his forehead, above his right eye and a HUGE goose-egg.  He let me put ice on it for about 5 minutes and then he refused to let me do it again.  I'll keep an eye on him for dizziness and whatnot and if he gets worse, I'll take him to the ER.

Cleaning needs to be done today.  As much as possible.  We have folks coming in to spray for roaches tomorrow and I want this place looking presentable.  Working full time and getting Bobby to bed in the evenings didn't leave me with enough energy to do anything once he was asleep.  Now, I'm paying the price.  But, it shouldn't take too long, once I get started.  Laundry is going to take a few days to complete......*sigh*

Come running up to me all the way from your bedroom and down the hall, while I'm sitting at the computer, and hug me as tight as you can, all the time, saying "Hi, Mommy!!!"

Running around, trying to get all of the easter eggs!  We spent Easter with "family".  My mom has a best friend, who we all stayed with when we first moved down to Dallas, Texas.  She says that they're "adopted" sisters.  They've been friends for 40 years!!!  Anywho, we were all invited over for Easter dinner and an easter egg hunt.  So, after church, we all went over and had a wonderful easter dinner.  The kids were told to go outside and find their eggs.  The oldest child, Nathaniel, who is 6 years old or so, had "N" on all of his eggs, and "J" on all the rest, so that he didn't take those.  Bobby went ballistic, running over the other little ones to get to the eggs.  He ended up with 3/4 of all the eggs, so Greg and I ended up making him share them with the other kids.  He had so much fun - no nap makes a very tired boy at 6pm.

Before we all headed over there, right after church, we went back over to my parents' house.  My mom shows him a basket, and asks him what it is.  "Basket."  "Go find your basket somewhere in the house," she told him.  We all followed him into the living room, and he found it right away, hidden in plain sight on the bookcase.  He immediately started eating jelly beans and Robin's Eggs (malted milk balls).

It was such a fun day yesterday!!!  I hope you all enjoyed your Easter Sunday's as well!!!!