Friday Rant and Rave

The house is quiet which in these days just is a rarity.

Life is busy.

I never reported that I was the sole survivor in the Schneider survivor challenge. (Hi Lori) I competed hard this year which means I get to host next year. I had a blast and when I came home exhausted and bruised I saw Eli had made me this... I melted.  He was proud of me.

Winning!!! Hi Lori and Aunt Mary!  (can you tell I get a bit cocky?)

Don't be fooled. I'm way ahead but I cracked that egg twice with my forehead...which was NOT the goal.

Anyone else missing the Olympics? I'm still grieving the end of them.



I had a big pity party about being gluten free last night. I am still not used to it. I may never be. I'm still so mad about it. I can't accept it. I love food. Last night I told Andy I was craving pasta, salad with croutons and garlic bread. I know I can have all that stuff in-gluten free style. And I know it may not be the healthiest food that I'm craving but I am proud to say I eat in moderation and eat a great variety. I just want what I want. I also told Andy that I want to go to a appetizer party. I want to have a bite of everything. I want all the dips. I want a pasta salad. I want cheese and crackers. Desserts.  And I don't want to spend $6 on one loaf of bread. I also dont' want to spend big bucks on different flour blends and attempt to make my own laof of bread to have it be heavy like a brick.  Mostly what is bothering me is that I am so tired of talking and thinking about it. I am so very greatful for everyone who makes an effort for me. It's almost embarrassing to what extent family and friends will go to for me so I can eat. And I love it and appreciate it. But it is quite tiring to constantly talk about it ( what can you eat! Is it good? Was it the same? Where did you get it? Do you want to check the label? Will you get sick etc). I feel like an outsider, a pain, a nuisance and a "special person". I just want to eat without anyone looking at my plate or worrying about me. Andy says I could cheat here and there. What do you guys think? What would you miss the most? One thing I know is coming...I'm going to miss letting Hughie put a snack in my mouth when he is eating one. You know how kids learn to share and feed you...I will be sad about that.



Eli wanted a turn with the camera.  Pretty good shot E Case!



My sister gave us a jar of pickles she made with her mother in law. I guess they are called "step pickles" because they kept them on the basement steps. They were so good. I pulled the jar out and the only pickles left were the ends which nobody loves...guess Andy loved them too.



I'm not ready for Hugh to have calloused rough tough boy knees. I'm not ready to give up his gummy smile for a smile with teeth. Not ready at all.

One of Eli and Hughie's day care ladies got a job in a school system. I'm so happy for her and so sad to not be bringing the boys there. She as been watching Eli since he was 12 weeks old. He loves her so much.



I'm blessed to have had a day trip to spend with some awesome ladies in my life...my mom. My sis. My aunt pat(who is a very recent empty nester. Hi Emma!). We went to the beach where Hughie sat in the stroller or on grandmas lap and Eli was with "Charlie Henry" and didn't talk to me for 2 hours while they were in the sand. I was so happy he had such a good time.

I went away for a weekend to door county. We did wineries



Toasting 6 years (the other couple traveling with us was also celebrating 6 years)



 out to eat, a massage, games, bars, a walk, the boys golfed...it was heaven (wait I think I forgot to mention we had some fun with our favorite couple). I missed the lil boys as it was my first nights away from hughie- but grandmas and grandpas rule! I also had to stay overnight for the survivor challenge. I just didn't think I'd survive but the boys are in one piece and so am I and hughie comes right back to nursing like a champ!


I've been running in the morning. Andy has been running at night.  I run when I first get up and when I get home, he is off to work.  Andy runs after the kids are in bed and then I'm asleep.  He has lost 10-20 pounds and has a fun race/activity coming up.  I'm just trying to get in shape and sweat off some of the stress of day to day life.  And it's good for our health.  We just need to remember that there is health in the "we" of marriage.  We need to spend time together to nurture our relationship too.



Remember the "Thank you video" from Eli to his aunt and uncle? They sent one back. I'm not allowed to post it-but I canNOT stop thinking about Liz's BIG smile and how the words didn't match up with their moving lips. LOVED it.  So fun to send videos to loved ones. Try it. 


We went to the pool tonight. Eli took his turn going up the stairs and down the slide. And repeat. x 100. He had so much fun.  He gets cold fast because he has no insuliation on his body.  Here he is warming up under dry towels.  Notice the car near his face-such a boy. 

What else...I need some goals. I've been having somewhat of an identity crisis. Recently someone told me that her husband said " you lose yourself when you have kids" and she said back to him "yes. But it's temporary" and he said "it's temporary and thne you die". Hahaha. It made me laugh, say "wow, deep thoughts" and then yes!!! I'm having a little of that same feeling. The only thing people talk to me about is being gluten free or being a mom. And I haven't worked on anything else...I need some goals. I need a challenge. Part of me wants to commit to something scary and work towards it. Any ideas?

6 (again)

Is it ironic that on our 6 year anniversary Hughie turned 6 months old?
And I can't believe it.
1 month, 2 months, 3,4, 5, 6 months!!!!!

Hughie loves those feet.  He's eating cereal, squash, peas and carrots.  Next will be sweet potato, green beans and then we'll move on to some fruits.  We are also going to try oatmeal instead of rice cereal and avocado.  I'm open to more suggestions for variety.  As with Eli, I am pureeing my own fruits and veggies.  I just enjoy it and it is only a short amount of time that he will be eating purees, all of a sudden he'll be picking up table food.  Ahh!

Hugh is still nursing really well.  He loves to eat morning, noon and night. That's right folks, this was not the month he learned to sleep through.  Just when we were creating strategies on how to fix this problem, he learned to flip over in bed.  That really ticked him off because he was swaddled and couldn't turn back around.  So, now we are working on sleeping without the swaddle. I thought he would love to have his arms free, but it is just frustrating and confusing to him.  He gets quite disgruntled, clawing at his face, taking out and putting in the nuk and flailing here and there.  I suppose, after being wrapped tighter than tight for 6 months straight, maybe he feels like he is falling?

6 month stats:

Height: 27.5 inches (85th%ile)
Weight: 17 lbs 6 oz (45%ile)
Head: 45 cm (90th%ile)

Just for reference Elijah didn't weigh this much until he was 12 months old and he wasn't that long until he was 9 months old.  Eli was just 13 lbs at 6 months old. I don't know why but it is hard for me to pull out bigger clothes for Hugh.  But he IS 6 months, so he CAN be wearing 6-9 month clothes.  So weird.

More interesting stuff....I have been looking back at Eli's calendar and it made my heart flutter  So much happened for Eli between 6-8 months.  I'm not sure if Hughie will be on the same track or not, but I'm assuming somewhat.  At 6 months Eli was sitting up by himself and Hughie is able to but he is not very stable.  Eli also got his first 2 teeth right before he was 7 months old and crawled shortly after 8 months. 

sorry for the fuzzy photo, but I don't get in a lot of pictures with this lil fellow

I stare at this boy so much.  I'm in love.  I cannot believe he is blonde with clear blue eyes.  I have 2 boys, not a boy and girl like many people think everyone wants.  But!  I have a brunette and a blonde.  I never imagined it and wonder if he'll grow out of it.  It is oh-so-fun. 

Spoiler alert (This is for your Theresa).  We contemplated names all the way up until the moment we first said Hello to Hugh.  We never told anyone the other names because we just didn't want to hear opinions.  After we named him Hugh Robert we STILL didn't tell anyone the other names we considered because we thought we might use those names if we would some day have another baby boy.  However, now that we have developed many nicknames for Hugh, there is just no chance that we would use this name that I'm about to reveal.  When thinking about names I thought about all the different stages of life.  Infant, toddler, 8 year old, 16 year old, 24 year old, 33 year old, 48 year old, 62 year old, 99 year old.  Would this name fit?  How did I picture it sounding coming out of everyone mouth?  So..drum roll...one of the other baby names we liked was Louis or Lewis.  We would have probably called him Louie as a baby and Louis as an old man.  But I just wasn't settled on the 24-32 year old stage. I couldn't imagine him exchanging vows with someone and being called Lou.  I just didn't like it....but now....comes the funny part.  Hugh is still called Hughie, Hughster, Hubert, and Hugh Master by many. But in our house- it is still
Hugh to the Lou
Hugh Lou
Lou
and even Lou-Lou.

Many think his name is Hugh Lewis instead of Hugh Robert.  For some unplanned reason, the Lou part just pops out and now I know we cannot name a third boy Louis. 

Think he doesn't look much different from his birth? Check it out....

 Can you believe those baggy leg warmers?

A Thank You From Eli

To Uncle Greg and Aunt Liz,

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

ps-we practiced this a few times so he is a little distracted by the time we got to do the final cut.  Let's ignore the messy house and me guiding him on what to say...(he DOES know most of those letters) but the point is-what an awesome birthday gift!  Thank you!

6

Today is our 6 year anniversary.
I'm just feeling lucky.  Lucky and satisfied.
I have this husband and he makes life so easy. 
We seem to fit together perfectly.  We really round each other out.
And isn't that how it is supposed to be?
Isn't that what a wife should say after 6 years of marriage?

He is relaxed and I'm worried.  He likes chocolate and I want vanilla.  He eats gluten and I do not.  He's from a small town but prefers big, happy crowds.  I like to be home and I leave the tv off.  He stays up late and I'm ready for bed at 6.  I like to cook and he's the baker.  He's really good at surprising me.  I can't keep a secret from him.  I'm organized and he counts on me because he doesn't know where he is.  He's a father and I'm a mother.   I like to read and he likes to watch.  I want salty and he hopes for sweet.  He likes comedies and I like a drama.  I like cucumbers and he likes mushrooms.  He is flexible and I can't touch my toes.

But....
We parent together.  We play games together. We both love live music, a cold drink and a yummy meal.  We both hit the dance floor.  We share responsibility.  We both leave things laying around (too much). We like movies, love family and respect each other.  We do not let each other down. We are always thoughtful with each other.  

Tonight we clinked our glasses and said "cheers to our 7th year"- Remembering our 6th year with so much love and a smile, while movin' on to our 7th year.  What will it bring?

Throne

We moved the kitchen set downstairs and brought up the highchair (aka throne) for Hughie. 
Tonight was carrots...he loved them!

I can NOT believe I have a baby big enough to sit in that seat.  Sigh....

Today in pictures

and a few words....
a hair cut for E
a walk with a Styrofoam rocket
a popsicle
a bath
train tracks
basement ball throwing and rolling on the floor
a nap
a shaking dog in the bathroom (Scared of the storm)
Grandpa Kelroy's cucumber salad
Daddy home for lunch
carrots for hughie!

Don't worry...I know this doesn't look safe but we are always RIGHT there with him.  He just can't sit up on his own yet to sit in the big boy tub....

Finally Andy hung his name!

Eli-isms

Just a few that made me smile recently...

Eli is very random at times and can be very vague with his questioning.  Sometimes his inquiry doesn't make any sense and there just is no answer, and he thinks you are keeping the truth from him. 
In the car one day...very random:
Eli: Mama, what does papa do?
Raina (I just guessed what he meant): He helps people walk
Eli: But who else?
Raina (I wasn't really sure what he meant with that question so I again just guessed): Mostly he helps old people who need help moving around
Eli: So just like a Superhero?
Raina (melting): Yes, isn't that cool that we live with a superhero?
Eli: Yeah, like Fireman Sam!


Today Eli found a tampon on the floor.
Eli: Mama, what is this?
Raina: Something that mom's need (I realize non-mom's need it too but to him-a woman is probably a mom)
Eli: (holding like a popsicle): sluuuuurp, yum
Raina: Oh no it's not for eating
Eli: What is it? Just tell me!  Come on mom!!!!
Ha-he really wanted to open it.


Eli has realized that often times my meal plate looks different than his.  Most meals he looks at my plate and even though he can SEE that it looks different he still has to clarify.  Almost every single meal he will pick out the difference and say "Mama, why don't you have this toast?". And I always answer the same exact way "Because it makes mama's tummy feel funny".  Two nights ago we had eggs and pancakes for dinner.  When I sat down Eli glanced at my plate and said "Mama, are you having the same thing?" and I said "yes, tonight I am" (even though my pancakes were in fact from a different mix) and he got REAL excited, put his fist in the air and said "Papa! Mama is having the same!".  So cute.  It's very endearing to me that he notices I eat a little different. He always wants to share his crackers and cereal or snack with me.  It's very hard for me to not accept when he is being so good about sharing. 

Love that boy....