Farm Camp Day One: Arrival, Hay Bales, and Storms

Today we headed to OK for farm camp 2013. All my planning and lists that I had done over the past week in order to avoid any bumps in our traveling plans did not work out so well. We left the house at our planned 7:00am for our 9:35 flight. Ten minutes out we remembered that we hadn't brought Rowan's birth certificate to prove he is under two years old. So back we went and all our wiggle room had been used up. After driving through rush hour traffic we arrived at the airport at 8:30 am, not bad on a usual day, but for some reason there was a crazy long security line to wait through. We got through security with just enough time to take everyone potty, change diapers, get water, make a bottle, and board our flight. No time for breakfast for us, sad face.

Zane was very excited about the flight, but quickly fell asleep on daddy, best case scenario. Rowan, not a big fan of cuddling, struggled a little bit getting to sleep, but finally gave in. He didn't sleep long, just long enough for me to catch my breath from our marathon of a morning, then he was awake and ready to play and talk to me the rest of the flight. Also on our one hour flight, my son, who can go days without pooping, pooped twice in a twenty minute period. Zach got a friendly reminder that the fasten seatbelt sign was illuminated and people are to remained seated.

By the time we arrived in windy Oklahoma we were quite the smelly group and I was beginning to think I might pass out from lack of nourishment. Grandma was there to rescue us with an extra pair of hands. On to the spice shop and lunch with Uncle Able. Side note, when asked what Uncle Able's name was Zane replied, Able Able Korenak, love it! Lunch was wonderful right up to the point where Zane threw up everywhere. I don't know what that was about, but pretty much was the topper on our morning.

Once cleaned we picked up the Richards kids so we could head to Grandpa's farm for Farm Camp 2013!!!! We saw all sorts of horses, cows, and construction equipment on our way home. The last mile of our journey was the most exciting of the entire trip. There were bee hives, long horns, and a big field of round bales. We were off to a wonderful start.

Once we all had a potty break we headed back to the field to play on the round bales. Before we could get on the hay bales everyone had to learn how to crawl/roll under a barbed wire fence. This is a crucial skill to farmers and all the kids have passed their barbed wire test with flying colors. Brendan even held up the fence for me, double check. We used some team work to push a hay bale around then everyone got a chance to sit on top of one. Right as we were going to leave the people who owned the tractors in the field came to take them home, but not before taking Maggie and Zane on a tractor ride. Zane got extra farm points for getting covered in greasy, shale, dirt off of the hay rake. He had the full farmer look, covered in dirt, by the end of our trip to the field. Dad would have loved this entire scene. I so wish Zane could have taken a tractor ride with him instead of the neighbor, but such is life.

I love this picture of Zane on a round bale with the back drop of a cloudy Oklahoma sky.

This shot was set to the tune of the Wonder Pets song "What's going to work, team work."

Hay bale time coincided with snack time.

And people say he looks just like his Daddy, I think I deserve some credit for this cute boy as well. 

There are many more adorable pictures, but the internet on the farm isn't quite as speedy as in the STL so these were my top four of the day.

The rest of the evening was spent swinging, playing outside, and then playing on the porch as the thunderstorms rolled pasted. Nothing like playing on a huge porch during a thunderstorm. Rowan got to experience this porch fun for the first time and immediately fell asleep. Brendan was pretty sure we shouldn't be outside during a thunderstorm and wasn't quite sure why we weren't watching Gary. He definitely has a healthy fear of tornadoes, like every Oklahoma child does.

When I sat down to write this blog and look for my camera we realized it had been left under a tree in the pouring rain, so that was a bit of a panic attack moment. We took it apart and let it dry out over night and it is working fine this morning, miracle of miracles. The night was full of lightening and loud thunder, but all the kids slept through it perfectly, all in one room. Yet another miracle from my son who claims he can't sleep through the toilet being flushed. Now on to day two!

Ten On Tuesday

1. I'm officially thirty!!!! I had a great birthday, home with my boys, finishing the day with ice cream cake, per usual. Zach got me a camera bag which will be perfect for my photography class! Thursday I went to the spa in the morning, got a mani/pedi with Michelle ( getting her beautified before baby, see number 2) then we had lunch and I picked up the boys. It was a very relaxing day, right up until Zach didn't come home at five. He was on a quick two day trip to Arizona which meant Friday I single parented all day, past bedtime, with Zach not arriving home until 1 a.m. That was exhausting, but we survived.

Here I am with my two boys on my birthday. The look of pure terror on Rowan's face is priceless.

2. Michelle and her husband Ryan welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Ruth Donna Wamser, into the world this morning. Little Baby Ruth weighed in at 9lb 1oz. It took a couple tries at measuring her but she is 22 inches long, not the 24.5 inches that Michelle originally had report. That would have set some records. Mom, Dad, big brother, and baby girl are all doing well. Congrats Wamser clan, we can't wait to meet your sweet baby girl!

3. Tomorrow we leave for farm camp 2013. I spent all day yesterday rounding up our things and packing for myself and the boys. Little people require so much stuff. I am packing lighter this year and going into it knowing that I will being doing laundry every night. That's fine, it's what I do here anyway. Zane is incredibly excited about flying, I'm slightly terrified of it with two boys. Mom and I have brain stormed a little and I think we are all set. Shockingly the forecast calls for a chance of rain, everyday, in Oklahoma, that isn't normal. I am a little weary thinking about five kids and the pure noise level that comes along with them. The splitting headache I have currently might have something to do with that.

4. This past weekend was my first back at work. This meant that it was Zach's first weekend alone with both boys. They seemed to have had a great time. Sunday afternoon they had a camp out and bonfire in the back yard. They roasted hot dogs, made smores, looked at things through binoculars, played in the tent, and "slept" in it after I got home from work. Well, they slept in it for about forty minutes, thirty five minutes longer than either of us had predicted. Zane loved it! Not sure what Rowan was doing during the camp out, but glad they had fun. I hate that I missed it. 

Not exactly sure what sort of contraption Zach created for the hot dog roasting, but it seems to be working well.

 Spying on the neighbors

 Harry Otter was Zane's stuffed animal of choice yesterday so he camped out as well.

 Night night

5. Rowan has discovered his voice, quite literally this week. He has not only figured out that he can make noise, but has also figured out how to make it very loudly. He has lots to say and finds his ability to talk quite entertaining. When Zane gets loud, he gets louder, and vice versa. Our house is becoming a very noisy place. It is very adorable to listen to in the comfort of our own home. I'm not sure how the other passengers on the plane are going to feel about it. 

6. I have scheduled the boy's pictures for the week that we get back. Zane will be getting his three year old pictures taken while Rowan will be getting his 3mn pictures. I'm hoping for at least one good family shot and one good one of the boys together. I don't know how this longer photo session will go, I guess we shall see. I vaguely remember thinking out outfits for Zane's photo sessions when he was little. I have no idea what Rowan will wear, but I'm sure he has something adorable in his drawers some where. 

7. Zane's question of the week has been "What does ___ eat." Fill in the blank with anything from dinosaurs and snails to June, as in the month. He knows June is coming soon because his birthday is next, but this led to the question, "what does June eat mamma?" How to explain the concept of time and months to a three year old?? Couldn't really figure that out. He constantly is asking what different animals eat and when we ask him "what do you think they eat?" his response is often babies. Is that bad?? Turns out I don't know what quite a few animals eat. What do snails eat? And then I google it, just like in the google commercials. 

8. Zane's speech has rapidly improved in the past month or so as well. All sorts of letters he couldn't say he is starting to pull together. Such as 'okay' isn't really otay anymore, which is slightly sad. He has started adding a t to the end of words ending in -er, i.e. watert, lettert, and ottert. Very cute stuff.

9. I think I mentioned previously that Zane and I were going to make a flag wreath. Well here is the finished product. The wreath isn't a perfect circle, which is annoying and the burlap ribbon also beat me, but I think all and all it turned out pretty cute. Pretty sure it is going to be up all summer!!  

10. While I was at work this evening Zane spent a long period of time running around in circles, naked, with his spiderman underwear on his head, pretending to be the Easter Bunny. Followed by, what does the Easter Bunny eat Daddy. Oh the things I miss when I'm at work. Zach does have a video of this happening, very entertaining, but not appropriate for the internet, because he is naked, of course! 

Ok back to packing!!

Zane's Potty Party

It all began March 23rd, after reading all the blog posts entitled "Potty Train Your Child in a Week." Those are all a lie and end with the same very ambigous statement "your child will have some accidents, but the hard part is over." That isn't true, at all, the next two months is terribly trying, with your child pushing your patience to the absolute limit. However, at some point you have to call the ball and be done with the bribes and rewards. When that moment comes it is time for a potty party!!!!!

Today was that day for Mr. Zane Able Korenak. He hasn't had any terrible days in the potty training world for two weeks. He was pretty much over getting rewards for when he went and Zach and I were definitely done with the entire situation. We talked it up all week, with the whole terrible ordeal ending with Potty Party 2013.

This morning Zane and I headed to the store for cupcakes. We are going to be out of town most of the week so a big cake would have been wasted. Zane had a great time, just him and I. He got to ride in the car shopping cart again, I could carry him into the store (not that he needs this at all), he got to pick out a balloon and his cupcakes, he got to get a juice at the gas station, and he had my undivided attention all morning. That was a celebration in itself.

Once he woke up from his nap it was party time.

The Guest List:

• Mommy
• Daddy
• Zane
• Rowan
• Buzz Lightyear
• Bullseye

Ready for lunch with his buddies, note the random snail balloon

Menu: Per Zane's Request

• Ham
• Cheese
• Strawberry's 
• Chips and dip
• Cupcakes

It should be noted that aside from the chips and dip and the cupcakes this is Zane's lunch everyday. I offered everything from mac and cheese to pizza, but he stuck with old reliable. Which is just as well because he was too excited to eat. His present, in the batman gift bag that he asks for every time we are in Target, was taunting him at the end of the table. Inside was Big Woody, completing his Toy Story trifecta of Buzz, Woody, and Bulls-eye. He knew it was coming, but was still over the moon. I fully acknowledge that he is spoiled rotten, but I love Toy Story just as much as he does, so I couldn't resist getting him his own set of toys. There were balloons, the star of the showing being the snail balloon he picked out at the grocery store (slim picking of balloons today), noise makers, and Batman cupcakes with Batman rings on top. There was much rejoicing and we poured praise onto our big, potty trained boy! Here are the highlight! It was so much fun and he was so proud of himself! 

 Celebrate good times!!

 WOODY!!!

  

Trying his hat on for size.

 Of course we had to write his name on the bottom of his boots. Zane really wanted, Zane Able Korenak, but not enough space.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I don't really know where to start this so, here goes. Thanks to everyone who has called, texted, and emailed checking in on my family and friends in Oklahoma. They are all safe, though very shaken up and heartbroken seeing our state go through this again. That being said Oklahoman's are amazingly resilient and sadly have been through this too many times before. What they need now are our prayers and donations to the Red Cross, who will be helping with housing, food, water, and other needs of those who have lost everything. Text REDCROSS to 90999 and ten dollars will be donated to the Red Cross relief effort or go to https://www.redcross.org/donate to make a donation. People there have lost everything and are starting over, so every little bit helps. But by the grace of God go I or my family.

 2. I'm back at work and trying to get back into the rhythm of being a working mother. The days I work I literally can get nothing done at home, which puts everything behind and I have to play catch up on the days I'm off. It takes a day to recover. Hopefully now that I'm part time it will be better, but still an adjustment. The first day back went really well. It was a good day and nice to see everyone again. An incredibly nice coworker floated for me so I could be on my floor, thanks Tash, you are too kind. Today was much busier, but I managed. Pregnancy brain never goes away, which is highly annoying.

3. As predicted the scratchy throat has turned into a cough, per usual, so I'm trying to beat that back, but have very little energy. I'm going to have to go back to the doctor to adjust my asthma/allergy plan because this has happened every six weeks for months now. It's exhausting being sick for two weeks every six weeks. Just about the time I get in a routine of exercising I get sick, can't breath, and am coughing up a lung so can't do anything and it is liking starting all over again,very frustrating. Zach has it this time and the boys are both snotty so maybe it is something different since they usually don't get sick with me.

4. Sunday we took our first trip to Grant's Farm this year. For some reason every time I go there it is either ungodly hot/humid or drizzly. This time it was crazy hot and humid, which I wasn't expecting for some reason. Had I known it was going to be that hot I probably wouldn't have taken Rowan, or at least would have brought his hat, but we powdered through. We hit all the highlights, the goats, the carousel, pretzel with cheese, and feeding a camel. My favorite part, by far, was the brand new baby camel.

 Rowan is a true St. Louis child now that he has had his picture taken with the Budweiser wagon.

5. Next week we head to OK for farm camp 2013. I can't wait and am starting to try to plan some activities. Not sure what Rowan is going to be doing at farm camp, but Daddy is coming this year for extra adult supervision, which will be very  helpful. Mom how are the t-shirts coming?? Emily farm camp will be running Thurday-Saturday if Kyser and Knox want to take part in the fun. I can't wait for you to meet Rowan.

6. The iPad is fixed and securely in a new Otter Box case. I felt incredibly stupid trying to get it in said Otter Box case, but I figured it out. Hopefully it is safer now, but if anyone can figure out how to break it, it would be Zane.

7. We are also getting excited about the Dotter Family Reunion in the Denver at the end of June. I haven't seen the Dotter cousins in years. I can't wait to see them all and have them finally get to meet my kids. I can't believe they have never gotten to witness Zane in person. Get ready guys he does not disappoint.

8. Number eight was going to be about how excited I was that Rowan was awaken when I got home from work today with his smiling face and how that made my evening. That remains to be true, but our cuddles were interrupted by Zane's blood curdling scream. He was having a bad dream, one of the ones he can't wake up from, which is heartbreaking to see. That all started at around nine, it's 10:20 now and he has been back asleep, back awake, and now back asleep again. This does not bode well for the night or tomorrow. Sad face.

9. Speaking of tomorrow, I'm currently soaking up the last few hours in my twenties. It's the end of an era, one which I have to say I'm ready to come to a close. My twenties have ended on a high note, but there have been quite a few low notes this decade as well. I'm ready for the next one. Thirties here I come!

10. No big plans for the bday. Tomorrow I'm hoping to have lunch with Zach. Thursday Zach flies to AZ for work, the boys are going to daycare, and I'm having my annual spa day to celebrate my birthday. I have never dropped them off at daycare before, so hoping I actually muster the strength to leave them there. I'm ready for a day of relaxation, followed by an evening of single parenthood.

Sending my love out to all my people in the Sooner State. I miss you all and can't wait to give you big hugs soon.

Rowan's Three Month Update

Rowan is a big three month old with all sorts of new tricks. He turned over for the first time this month and does it frequently now, but still hasn't mastered getting his arm out from underneath him just yet. He is also doing a lot of more purposeful movements, grabbing and swatting at things in his gym and chairs,  taking his binki out of his mouth, and rubbing his little eyes when he gets sleepy. He also has found his toes this month and loves playing with them whenever he is sitting up in our laps. He loves sitting up, either in his bumbo seat or on the couch, and looks like quite the big boy when he does. Rowan continues to be a very happy baby, laughing and giggling at us and his brother all the time.He has lots to say, goos and gees, all the time. Sunday we found out he was very ticklish on his little neck, making him laugh out loud, over and over. So stinking cute.

Looks like Rowan is going to be on the smaller side compared to Zane, which is just what I was hoping for. This way Rowan can wear more of Zane's clothes. So far it is working nicely. He is just now going from his 0-3mn clothes into 3-6mn clothes, which are still very roomy. This means that all of Zane's little summer clothes fit him wonderfully. I thought I might be crazy, but pictures confirmed that what is big on Rowan now, Zane was wearing when he was barely two months old. Overall he just looks littler than Zane did, with skinny little legs and body with a little bitty head. This must be his father's bone structure, not the industrial strength Blakley bones which I have. I love it and am in no rush to have him get big. Rowan showed us his dimples this month, in both cheeks when he grins big. His skin tone is darker than Zane's, and not just because his heart works properly. His eyes are lightening up and I think may turn out as blue as Zane's after all. Again, had to look at pictures, but Zane had this same color of eyes at this point as well.

 Nothing is cuter than tiny baby legs with shoes on them. 

This adorable Rowan onsie was a gift from Anna's sister Amy. I love it, but with the shorts it looks like his name is Owen, just spelled wrong. Thanks Amy!

Where Rowan greatly differs from his big brother is in his love of sleep. Our biggest issue in the sleeping department is that he would like to start his night around 6:30 p.m. He easily sleeps for eight to nine hours without waking up, but that isn't helpful if you go to bed at 6:30 p.m. We are trying to get his schedule pushed back to where he goes to sleep close to eight, but that isn't working too well so far. He still sleeps a lot during the day, no real schedule since everyday is different here, but he prefers putting himself to sleep in his bed, on his cozy blanket, but also falls asleep quickly in his swing.

Here is the face I wake up to everyday, usually with a big smile on it. If he is laying down he usually has his feet straight up in the air like this, with his feet together, very funny.

This month he also started daycare, where they love him, of course. His not needing lots of cuddles and holding I am sure is working to his benefit there. From what I hear he has done wonderfully and Zane keeps a pretty close eye on him all day, making sure the teachers know when he is crying, sleepy, poopy, or hungry. It does make me feel better that they are together during the day, but hate not getting to see him on the days I work.

His third month was wonderfully uneventful. Nothing terrible to report, no major surgeries happening next month, though all the things that were happening at this point in Zane's life were constantly on my mind this month. My return to work was a glaring reminder of that. Everyone was walking on eggs shells around me when I came back from having Zane. The question "how is the baby doing?" carried a lot more weight then and no one was quite sure how to handle it. This time back I was welcomed with opened arms and candy, with no tears, what a blessing. We continue adjust to our new, bigger family. We are doing more things with all four of us, which has been fun, and I think Zane is starting to adjust back to his normal self, which is a big relief.

Coming up next month, Rowan's first plane ride which will be taking him to his first visit to where I grew up. Hopefully he will be meeting his Great Grandpa Dotter, Aunt Anna, and whoever else in OK wants to come to farm camp to meet the little guy, all are welcome! I know he won't remember it, but I find it strange that he is three months old and hasn't been to my home yet. We can't wait!

Now for his three month pictures! They do not disappoint.

Welcome to Summer Time

It's official, it finally feels like summer here. That means sticky, humid, hot, sweaty days that are perfect for running through sprinklers. Last year Maggie introduced Zane to the great fun that is sprinkler play, but he still was a little timid, not sure if it was really a good idea. This afternoon Zane wanted to play outside, but was complaining of being hot, cue sprinkler time. Zach has worked on our sprinkler system for years and I think finally has it perfected. The added bonus is there is no set up for sprinkler time and the entire yard is your playground. Let's just say Zane has mastered the art of running through sprinklers, running and squealing with glee for a very long time this afternoon. Welcome to summer time!

Planning his next move...

 RUN!!!!

 Pure joy!

A Day in the Life: Last Day of Rowan's Maternity Leave

My day started at 4:45 A.M., up with Rowan. I had hopes of going back to sleep, but not so much. Needless to say the day didn't start great. Rowan had a very rough night thanks to his first baby cold. He was super congested, snotty, and has a little cough probably due to the snot running down his throat. Zane, most likely the source of our colds, didn't sleep great either as he too has a cough and runny nose. After trying to cuddle baby boy back to sleep, only to remember he isn't my cuddly boy, I moved to the handy swing/couch set up, so familiar from last maternity leave. But I was too late, I heard  the pitter patter of little feet, up for the day at 5:40. This is on the early side for Zane, but not unusual, too late to get him to go back to sleep, so my day was starting in earnest and I was beyond exhausted.

I admittedly dozed in and out of consciousnesses while Zane thoroughly enjoyed Little Einsteins. I was awoken by the familiar whines of "I hungy mamma!!" This is said repeatedly until he actually  has his cereal and is eating, every morning. Doesn't matter how many times I tell him that I am getting him food, the "I hungy mamma" continues until I prove it. Zane eats his alphabet cereal while Rowan is sleeping peacefully in the swing through all of this.

After breakfast we braved downstairs. It has dried out and is now in the airing out/air freshener stage as we try to figure out what to do about fixing the situation. Zane has exorbitant amounts of energy for 6 something in the morning. I am trying to keep my eyes open, which is terribly hard to do when holding a sleepy, warm baby. Blocks, trains, grocery store, bat cave, house, jumping, bouncy ball, climbing, and then it's only 7:30. Upstairs for a snack. Yes, there is an 8:00 snack when you wake up at 5:40.

Rowan snoozes all morning, finally joining the party around 9 when he is ready for second breakfast and we are ready to head outside. It is already 75 degrees outside. Zane proclaims it "too hot for morning time." I agree and apply sunscreen, hopefully better than yesterday when I apparently failed at the sunscreen application. Zane has splotchy sunburn which I spent most of the day trying to assess if it was really a sunburn or some crazy rash associated with cold symptoms (nurse problem). I send Zane in to get Rowan daytime clothes and he comes out with this, adorable, Tiger outfit. Rowan, obviously loved it. P.S. This is as tame as Rowan's hair has ever been.

Rowan starts getting sleepy around 10:30 but I'm determined to get them napping at the same time today so no cuddles until Zane has pulled himself together for nap time. This is a long, drawn out process. Of course he "has to poop" everyday before nap. He rarely actually poops, but lots of trying is in order, a great stalling tactic. The past two days he has requested nap time in his undies, and has done surprisingly well with it. Zane is finally in bed, milk, blanket, happy moon, and hugs by ten till eleven. Rowan has been whimpering/rubbing his baby eyes in his gym this whole time. I put him back in the swing and he immediately is sleeping. He usually sleeps in his bed, but I desperately want to sleep and know he will do better in the swing, so I roll with it. I take a moment to pat myself on the back at successfully getting them to sleep at the same time, miracle number one of the day.

I "nap," put in quotations because a nap with two children in the house isn't really restful when you are the only one there. You are just on the edge of sleep, one ear open, trying to not get too excited about an actual nap. That way when one of them inevitably wakes up you aren't too devastated. I have quit trying to nap in my bed, that is just too big of a let down when I have to get out from under the cozy covers, so I "sleep" on the couch for an hour. At which point my phone rings and I decide I should cut my loses and get up on my own terms instead of being woken by cries when I'm super sleepy. Self preservation. My getting an hour of rest is miracle number two of the day.

I have a lovely chat with a friend of mine who is about to have her second child. Assuring her that it's fine to feel a little sad about it not being just the one child any more, yes it will be crazy, and yes you will survive. Rowan wakes up at 12:30, hungry again, and seeming to feel a little better. Zane follows suit. He always wakes up as soon as he hears Rowan. Zane's Batman undies are dry, miracle number three. Zane eats his standard lunch. I offer him all sorts of things everyday, but this is what he always wants to eat; ham, cheese, pickle, and a fruit, today was oranges, he wanted strawberries but we are all out. After lunch he requests a movie, but in my continued attempt to decrease screen time we play with toys upstairs.

Funny story of the day comes when Rowan had a poopy diaper in the midst of this and Zane wanted to help me change it. He gets his little stool, puts it beside me, ready to watch me change his diaper. I open the diaper, Zane starts to gag. I thought it was joke until he started running to the bathroom, vomiting, at the smell of the poopy diaper. He threw up three times, all of his lunch. Miracle number four was that he managed to get almost all of the vomit in the toilet, a first for him. Praise God!

Here is where miracle number five comes in. Rowan goes back to sleep around 2ish and I tell Zane he has to be quite while Rowan sleeps. Zane asks if he can help with the dishes and he actually focuses long enough to help me clean the entire kitchen. He put away all his dishes, put the lids on the bottles and put them in the cabinet, sprayed all the counter tops, picked up his kitchen so I could sweep, then helped me wipe down the counters as well. MIRACLE!!! This from the boy with the attention span of a gnat. I kept cleaning because I was amazed at how well he stayed focused.

Miracle number six comes when we were done cleaning. I reject his movie request yet again so he gets out his arts and crafts basket, full of paper, coloring books, markers, stickers, colored pencils, ect. He never colors for more than five minutes, max. Today he colored, quietly, by himself, for fifteen or twenty minutes on at least two different occasions. He played stickers, colored, "wrote a letter," found his window markers, and  politely asked if he could draw on the window. He drew on the window with no help, drawing the Lorax, an orange blob with two blue eyes, spot on. Then Zane informed me that my egg wreath needed to come down, "it not Easter mamma." This is true, but since I rarely leave the house I never see this wreath and had forgotten it was there. When asked what kind of wreath we should put up he said "a flag wreath" which sounded like a great idea. To reward his amazing behavior we loaded up for a spur of the moment trip to Hobby Lobby to get flag wreath supplies.

Sitting still, in a rolly chair, coloring... miracle!

Zane helped me pick out things for the wreath. I have yet to figure out how it is going to come together, but he wanted a vine wreath, sparkly stars, flags, and miniature fire crackers and I picked out some patriotic ribbon. I am sure I can make something adorable out of that, right?? Then we had an impromptu dinner with Daddy to celebrate my last day of maternity leave. Also, I didn't want to get my newly cleaned kitchen dirty again cooking dinner, truth be told.

Then we all came home for the normal bed time ritual. We finally have the iPad back so Zane got to play with it, highly supervised since my new otter box case hasn't arrived yet. Baths for both boys, then night time. Tonight's conversation with Zane involved him telling me the numerous different scenarios where he would get his daycare ladies for Rowan, i.e. "If Heidi poke him in the eye, I tell Nicole." Side note; earlier in the day Zane told me he was going to be a daddy and Heidi was going to be the mommy when he grew up, because "we friends." Or "If he poopy, I tell Nicole, because it green, and really stinky, and I throw up." Or "If Rowan crying I tell Nicole cuz he might be hungy or he might not." All good times to get help. Hopefully he doesn't try to solve these problems by himself or try to carry Rowan to Nicole, which is a terrifyingly real possibility.

And so ended my lovely twelve weeks off from work. It was wonderfully peaceful and stress free in comparisons to Zane's. Which says a lot about how stressed and sad I was last time. I have tried to soak up every minute, good and bad, in hopes that if we have another child I will actually remember this leave instead of having to look at pictures to remember it. I loved being here everyday with the kids. I loved not having the stress and sadness that is my work hanging over me. I haven't missed the feeling of dread I get the night before work, which I currently have. The fear of the terribly busy, terribly sad, terribly miserable day at work. This isn't always the case, but you are stressed that it might be.

When I was on leave with Zane I was at the hospital all the time for appointments but don't remember talking to really anyone from work until I came back. This time I have seen all my close friends and talked to lots of people so I don't feel completely out of the loop. I'm sad to think of some of my days not including my boys. The days I work I won't see them and it's heart breaking. I'm so blessed that I only am working two days a week now so those days will be limited. On to the next chapter!

Ten On Tuesday

1. I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. Zach made a valiant effort at a great Mother's Day for me, but it turned out to be a huge debacle. Lots and lots of potty accidents, no nap, and all the issues that follow not taking a nap, led to not a great day. However, Zach did get me a gift certificate to a photo class, which should be tons of fun. The glowing blog posted on Sunday about motherhood was written earlier in the week, as I looked forward to my Mother's Day weekend. Had I written a post on Sunday it wouldn't have been nearly as positive. There are no pictures from Sunday, but here I am with my boys on Saturday.

2. In a last ditch effort to salvage mother's day we took a family trip to Target for a bathroom make over. This idea came when Zane kept peeing on our linen shower curtain, which I couldn't figure out how to clean. So instead of just getting a new shower curtain we got new towels and a new rug. Everything in much happier colors, yellow, whites, and grays. The bathroom has become a place I spend a lot of time, but rarely am I very happy in there. Now it's brighter and happier! It's truly is the little things in my life!

3. In happier news, Saturday was a beautiful day. After our zoo trip we played in the yard, finally enjoying some nice weather. I planted a tomato and a squash plant in pots. They never work in my actual garden, but maybe they will have better luck in a pot??? Probably  not, but I have to give it a try. Zane thoroughly enjoyed planting and watering them even if they don't bear fruit it was worth it.

He started filling the pot using his little shovel, but soon remembered he had a big shovel, which worked much better. Smart kid!

 Giving the plants a drink with his duck watering can. He has since earned an elephant watering can that works much better.

4. Rowan joined us outside for fun as well. He got to wear his new sun hat, which was adorable.

5. In other big Rowan news, this little guy rolled over this weekend. He did it once on Saturday, which I thought was a fluke, like you do the first time your child rolls over. Then he did it multiple times on Sunday. Of course he hates his life once he gets on his stomach, but it's a milestone. He also can wiggle himself around on his little gym now, so no more laying on the couch to play.

Here he is earlier in the weak, hanging out on his side. Thanks Aunt Trina for our second gym. We are getting lots of use out of it.

Not a great shot, but the real camera wasn't handy. He hasn't gotten that arm out from under him yet, but soon!

Other Rowan news, this is his baseline hair. I try to make it lay down, but some how ends up in this sort of wavy mow-hawk. I can feel people thinking I am trying to make my baby be super trending with a mow-hawk, I'm not, this is just how he rolls currently.

6. Have I mention Zane's fascination with all things Super Hero. His two top favorites are Spiderman and Batman. I found a Batman shirt Thursday, complete with a cape, which was the one Super Hero thing he desperately needed. After sleeping in it that night and wearing it the entire next day we convinced him we needed to wash it. Yesterday it was clean again so of course it was his choice. He has worn it to the park the past two times we went. Love his cape flying out behind him on the slide and when he swings. There is lots of talk about how Batman is a good guy as well, which I find really adorable. Wanting to be a good guy is a great dream to have.

Here he is the night he got his new favorite shirt!

7.  Yesterday Zach went to the baseball game, in the CAT box, while I spent all day/evening alone with the boys, for the first time. At three thirty I'm ready for Zach to come home, but usually power through the last two hours. At three thirty yesterday I was exhausted, had started getting a tickle in my throat, and still had double bedtime routines to do. Rowan was very unhappy, belly issues again, and Zane desperately wanted to help. His helping consisted of yelling "it otay Ro Ro," at Rowan from about an inch away from his face. Why doesn't he understand personal space? This terrified Rowan, making it worse. I love that Zane really wants to help his brother, but is just sooo bad at it currently. It's a work in progress, like pretty much everything else here.

8. Tomorrow is my last day of maternity leave and since we are all getting colds, runny nose, scratchy throat, not feeling well, it won't be the fun day I had hoped for. Thursday I have a meeting until noon and then I work my first twelve hour shift on Friday. At that point I'm sure this scratchy throat will be a full fledged cough/stuffy nose situation, fantastic! I'm nervous about going back. I know lots has changed and hate not knowing what is going on. Also, I am unbelievably sad remembering that I won't see my boys at all on the days I work. I'm sure there will be lots of tears on my part and the kids won't even notice. Hopefully Rowan does well at daycare... cue tears.

9. Today it was record setting day in STL with a high of 93 degrees. Yesterday the high was 65, things are going crazy. We did play outside a lot this morning. I set Zane up with some old, dried out play dough  and a spray bottle, thinking he would spray it a little and then mold it back into play dough. I gave him this, nicely set up on his table, then went inside to get Rowan.  After my three minutes of being gone Zane had moved the entire set up to his play equipment, taken the top off the spray bottle, dumped all the water in the bowl, gotten a bucket of sand, and was mixing it all together. Obviously much more fun, what was I thinking?

Oh right, and his pants were off!

 Much more fun to have to climb around in order to mix things.

10. I got some scrapbooking done this weekend, finally. Abbey put together a 'Project Life' baby book so really all I had to do was slip in pictures and write down the memories. I have his book caught up to his two month pages, but still have some writing to do on the family history pages. I also did some actual pages to put in it as well.

Love the brother pages!

Here we all are kissing our new little boy.