UUUGH.  That pretty much sums up my day today.  I’m really posting just to vent.  Sometimes it’s just therapeutic to see my rants in black and white.

This has just been one of those days!  It started off with weighing myself.  I don’t get what is going on with my body!  My weight is just stuck.  Then, my baby woke up ornery and stayed that way all day.  I am trying to view it as a good reminder of how lucky I am that it’s not his permanent state of being (as it was for my colicky Little Ro’).  I spent the morning averting and diffusing various tantrums and aggressive outbursts.  Then I finally got out the door to Target (only 3 hours behind schedule).  I have a cart FULL of groceries and two kids when it hits me.  I don’t have a wallet!!!  UGH.  My dad ran to my rescue.  Bless his heart, he had a cake in the oven and he ran down to swipe his credit card and hurry back to his cake.

Then, when my DH came home from work (early–YEA!) I handed him a crying baby and took off out the door to the gym.  Aah–what a stress reliever that would be.  Joke’s on me.  The gym closed early for the state holiday today.  UUUGH.  I came home, got ready, and headed to my in-laws’ bbq.  All went well until my Little Ro’ decided to beat his little cousin over the head with an outdoor light.  Poor little girl has a huge bruise and dent in her forehead.  What is that kid thinking?!?!?!?!  I’m really stumped about what to do with him.

It probably doesn’t really sound that bad, but I’m exhausted–emotionally and physically.  Basically all day I was feeling fat and overwhelmed by my children and my own forgetfulness.  I think it’s time to go to bed and forget this day!  TGIF tomorrow!

Today we went to Lagoon, an amusement park about 15 minutes from our home.  Little Ro’ has been going with my parents since last summer.  They give him a season pass for Christmas and it’s their special outing.  I decided to purchase a pass this summer and tag along.  I’m so glad I did!  All morning he kept telling me he was “all ready go Agoon!”  I was pleasantly surprised at the number of toddler-appropriate rides and equally surprised at Little Ro’s independence to go on so many all by himself.

If I can use one word to describe my Little Ro’ it’s enthusiastic.  He does everything with enthusiasm-from his tantrums to his happy moments.  Watching him today was watching a little boy experience pure joy!  Here are some pics from our trip.  I’m looking forward to a lot more days at “Agoon” this summer.

And for my 3rd and final post of the day–I have two new favorite things definitely worthy of a blog post!  This past week I have discovered the amazing power of white vinegar.  I saw something on TV about using it to clean as a “green” option.  I have to admit that I’m not totally into the “green” trend, but on a whim I decided to give it a try the other day.  I happened to have a bottle sitting on my bathroom counter that I had been using to disinfect during a bout of thrush (that calls for another post on another day).  So I poured a 50/50 vinegar/water mix into my ironing bottle.

WHALA!  My life will never be the same!  I am now convinced that there is nothing that white vinegar can’t clean!  Sure, you and your home will smell a little like a salad for a while, but all of the harsh chemicals I usually use to clean can’t even come close to the cleaning power now contained in my ironing bottle.  We have very hard water and it dissolves the mineral build-up and soap scum with ease.  It also cleans mirrors, glass, the crud around faucets and that disgusting pink mold that grows in the crevices of our showers (yes, we all have it although no one wants to admit it).  Plus, I can feel safe washing my kids’ tubs without exposing their skin to chemical residue.  I am totally sold and highly recommend it.  I’m so excited about it that I have cleaned my bathroom twice in the past week!

My second favorite discovery of the week is homemade popsicles.  Or, as Little Ro’ calls them “focafocles.”  We get some looks when he says that one, as you can imagine.  Yesterday we got out the smoothie maker and blended up the following:

1 C fresh blueberries
1/2 can peaches (drain all but about 2T of the liquid)
2 6 oz containers vanilla yogurt

I bought some cute molds at Target so we filled them and had them for dessert after dinner.  He had no idea it was a healthy snack and devoured his entire popsicle.  I’ve decided this will have to become a regular activity and next time I’m going to spike it with some hidden veggies and/ or protein.

Here is a big pat on the back to SavvyToddlerMom and me for making it back to the gym last night!  It felt great!  I have to admit that we were very impressive, considering that I’m 4 weeks postpartum and STM is just about 3 weeks after TWO D&Cs and an overall horrible ordeal.  We’re back and totally committed.  We’re setting up a goal and reward system to motivate us to lose our baby weight.  Not only do we get to have the fun of working out together, but we now also get to indulge in some pedicures, girls nights out together, new shoes, etc. as reward for our successes.  I know we can do it!  Thanks, STM for always pushing me to be better!

The newest member of our little family. Here are some pics of our baby boy, born May 27th weighing 6 lbs 15 oz and measuring 19.5 in. He was smaller than big brother (whew!) but is growing SO fast! He’s a little wiggle worm, constantly moving, but has a calm, easy-going personality. That’s a good thing since he has to put up with Little Ro’s constant harassment!

This pic really puts the size difference into perspective!

Little Ro’s latest obsession is (as he pronounces it) Kung FuT Panda!  He has super cool Kung Fu moves which he came up with on his own and will happily perform anywhere anytime.  Watch out!

Row, row, row your boat…aaah, where do I begin??  I have blogger’s guilt because I have had so much to write about that I haven’t had a moment to sit down and type!  Stay tuned for a bunch of posts.  Well, we are attempting to adjust to life at home with our newborn and a 2-year-old.  On Monday I thought I was just starting to get the hang of things and I decided to take Little Ro’ swimming at my aunt and uncle’s house.  Prior to leaving, I was feeding the baby and heard the toilet flush and continue to run.  Said toilet tends to run, so I didn’t think much of it.  Especially when Little Ro’ ran into my room naked.  He has started using the potty (YEA!) a couple times a day and prefers to do so naked.  That all came to a crashing halt when I wandered from my room a little while later.

Water EVERYWHERE!!!  I call my DH, who is irritated with me for leaving the bathroom door open.  His wonderful sister came to my rescue to watch the kids while I attempted to clean up the mess.  Mind you, I’m 2 weeks and 6 days post-partum at this point and I’m cleaning carpets.  I cleaned what I could and my DH cleaned more that night.  To no avail.  The damage was much more extensive than we originally thought.  Little Ro’ had managed to flood the bathroom, half of his bedroom, a third of the nursery, and part of our family room.  Thank Heavens for home owner’s insurance!  They have had a disaster cleanup crew out here pulling up carpet, drying out flooring, etc. etc.  It looks like they’re going to replace most of our main floor carpeting, possibly the bathroom tile, some insulation and plastic in the crawl space, base boards, and possibly some drywall.  What a mess!!!

Like SavvyToddlerMom–I too am grateful to the wonderful makers of Zoloft, without which I do not believe I would have pulled through on this one.

The fun never stops at out house!

It’s official–I’m on the home stretch (no pun intended).  I am being induced on Tuesday, May 27th, assuming I don’t go into labor before that (haha).  I started progressing weeks ago and this baby is SO LOW, so I’m honestly totally surprised that I am still pregnant.  But I’m very hopeful that that will help produce a fast labor and delivery.  Wish me luck!

BTW, this is the reason for my blog’s radio silence mode lately.  I have been working like a mad woman trying to transition everything in my professional life for my 10 week maternity leave.  I am living in fear that everything will come crashing down, but I’m choosing to just let go–for a couple weeks, at least!

Little Ro’ has NOT been napping lately. Consequently, he has been a little monster every afternoon/ evening. I put my foot down today. I shut myself in my office, ignoring the sounds of toys being hurled over the baby gate and other more frightening sounds of sure destruction coming from his room until eventually silence fell. Sweet silence. Upon venturing downstairs to assess, this is what I found.  I call this success!  I WIN!  And all it cost me was a copy of Go Dog Go.  I can live with that.

It’s reminiscent of what we found the first night we installed the baby gate in his doorway.

My advice to all parents considering the move to the big boy (or girl) bed: buy a baby gate and install it with Herculean strength. He plowed through it the first 4 or 5 times we put it up. But now that it has been put up with such force that it is surely damaging our drywall, it has maintained impenetrable status–unlike the doorknob child locks, which he figured out in about 5 minutes flat.

ChasingToddlerDad and I have come up with a new name for Little Ro’ today.  The Bobo Hobo.  Lately he is totally and completely obsessed with two things: his “bobo” (binkie) and the outdoors.  He would honestly live outside if we allowed him.  When the weather is nice we spend at least a couple hours of each day outside.  Maybe I’m a poor sport, but I have to admit that I’m kicking and screaming inside on our 2nd, 3rd, or sometimes 4th trips outside each day.  I figure it’s good for both of us so I suck it up.  I think the bobo attachment is part of his toddler OCD and partly due to regression/ insecurity accompanying the transition to his big boy bed and the impending birth of baby brother.

So there you have it.  We’re raising a bobo hobo.  Maybe someday, 20 or 30 years from now you’ll see a man with a blue bobo wandering a city near you.