(Belated) Three Months

Harry turned three months on June 14. I'm late posting this, but better late than never, right? The pictures were taken on his month-aversary, so at least I managed that!

Harry rolled over back to tummy the week before he turned three months. He has only done this a few times. I'm pretty sure he is capable of doing it more often, but I don't give him nearly enough tummy time. We average twenty minutes a week. Oops! I just worry about Alice jumping on him or kicking him accidentally. This has happened a few times before, and I'd rather him be "delayed" in some gross motor skills, than have mush for brains. I've been trying to sneak more in, but lately he has just been kicking himself in circles or pulling himself across the mat.

Someone is a big fan of sitting and standing! In fact, he prefers to be sitting on a lap. He can "stand" for upwards to a minute before his legs give out.

Alice is the best toy ever! He stares contentedly and in awe of whatever his big sister is doing. I have been bathing them together when he needs a bath. This is a logistical nightmare, but much easier than doing them separately. I just bring jammies, diapers, lotion, the changing pad, and the bouncy seat in the bathroom. Harry watches while I wash Alice, and then we put his tub in the tub. Alice loves to help wash him and blows raspberries on his belly! Then we dry him off, lotion him up, diaper and jammies and he sits in the bouncy seat smiling and laughing as I wrangle Alice.

Speaking of smiles, this little guy's melt my heart! He is just the prettiest little boy and such a joy!

Harry has been sleeping through the night for quite awhile. Turns out sleeping babies are not just myths! We have this odd nights, but usually he goes 8 1/2 hours. Occasionally it will be longer. His record is about 10!

Harry loves the mama milks! He will take a bottle, but really likes it from the tap better. This makes me happy! And him too!

He started reaching for his toys and loves to grab his feet. He is a champion reverse ab cruncher! We have been wearing 3-6 month clothes for almost a month, and some of them are getting a bit snug (mostly in length). I have a feeling someone may be bigger than Alice by this time next year!

His favorite past-time is chewing and sucking on his fists and arm. Really anyone's arm will do. I am sure he will give me a hickey one of these days.

And now for monthly pictures!

Alice did not partake in this months pictures. She was having an epic tantrum, and wanted to be left alone. I'll see if I can get her to participate next month!

And these last two are to show what sweet smiles he has. They were taken about 2 1/2 months. Isn't he just the sweetest, prettiest baby boy?

Recipes (The Dessert Edition)

So I mentioned the chocolate cupcakes with Nutella filling and Nutella buttercream frosting the other day. I really want to throw my phone down and go eat a jar of Nutella, but I'll try to behave! This is a must for you Nutella nuts out there...and it is super easy!

Nutella Cupcakes
•package of cake mix (chocolate or yellow-or any kind you want. If you like Nutella and pineapple, go for it! Or make your favorite homemade cupcakes)
•whatever ingredients the cake mix calls for (probably 2-3 eggs, some oil, and water)
•Nutella (I used about 1 1/2 jars) divided
•2 sticks of butter/margarine
•2 cups powdered (confectioners) sugar
•2 tsp vanilla (I just poured some in, so it may have been more like 2 tablespoons!)
{I used a regular buttercream frosting recipe I had and just altered it a bit and added Nutella. I have no idea where the recipe came from, as so many buttercream frostings are similar}

Prepare cake mix according to box. Make sure to preheat oven beforehand! Divide batter among cupcake tins. Drop a bit of Nutella in the center (use as much or as little as you want). Bake and let cool.

Frosting directions:
Beat butter (best at room temperature) with 1 c (or more) Nutella. Mix in vanilla, and then powdered sugar. I'd put the powdered sugar in gradually. Taste and add more Nutella if you think you need it (I think I used 1-1 1/4 cups.) I never measure when cooking or baking (exception-cookies). Frost cupcakes when cooled off and enjoy! If you think that is too much Nutella, then don't fill the cupcakes; just frost them. The frosting is the best stuff ever! I could eat it by itself (I did!).

Another must make dessert (super easy!!!) is chocolate peanut butter pie. If you think peanut butter and chocolate are the best combo ever, please go make this. And don't feel bad if you don't want to share!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie*
•Graham cracker crust (already made or make your own with crushed Graham crackers and melted butter)
•1/4-1/3 c semi sweet chocolate chips
•3/4-1 c peanut butter (I used generic peanut butter with honey**)
•1 can sweetened condensed milk
•8 oz whipped topping, thawed and divided

Melt chocolate in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Mix in peanut butter. As I don't measure, I'm guessing here (I took about 3 heaping spoonfuls and then added a small dollop). Taste mixture. It should taste peanut buttery! Add more if it is not to your satisfaction. Mix in the sweetened condensed milk. Then mix in the whipped topping (about 3/4 of the container). The mixture should have a really thick consistency, but pourable. Pour filling into crust. Top with leftover whipped topping. Freeze for at least two hours, or overnight if you can handle the wait!

I can't keep the pie in the house. Sean eats it at breakfast, lunch, and dinner! I have made three since Sunday! Everytime I go to have a slice, it is gone.

Let me know what you think, if you try them! I'm pretty sure you'll think it is fantastic.

*adapted from an Eagle Brand recipe that Sean found.
**I use generic peanut butter with honey when baking or mixing it. I will not use generic for sandwiches or anything by itself--it tastes different, but when mixed with other things, I can't tell a difference!

How To Get What You Want

First, you have to be cute.

Next, you must have a Daddy*...

And finally, you need to have your Daddy wrapped around your little finger and willing to do anything to make you happy!

Like crawl around the yard playing horsey with you!

Or get you new kitties! (because the others ran off or got hit**)

And now you can love them, and hug them...

And keep them for your very own!

*In our house you must have a Daddy to get what you want. I hear other relatives may do this too, but it is just the Daddy in this house.
**Yes, Mortimer ran off and got hit. Just like Gretchen and Bruno. In pretty much the same spot.

I Love Him, But I Might Choke Him!

Sean is on vacation this week. Yay! I'm looking forward to having him around, and spending time together as a family.

I posted the other day about finally getting Alice into a routine and to bed earlier. You know how long I've struggled with that! Well I also mentioned that my fear was that having Sean around would throw that off...well, I'll be. ONE day of being home and he blows it to pieces!

Yesterday, I took Harry with me to pick up a few things before my dad came over. I returned about an hour later (at approximately 5pm) to find them both sleeping?! WTH? I woke Alice up (Sean can sleep-he worked 8pm-8am last week so I know he was dead tired). She fell back asleep while I was nursing, and I had to get her back up.

We ate dinner and dessert (chocolate cupcakes with Nutella filling and Nutella buttercream frosting--I'll share the recipe later!) and I threw them both in the bath. It was right before 9 when I got her into bed, and of course she wasn't tired. Jumping, screaming, and kept getting down and running around. Sean and my dad came inside about an hour later and I told Sean I was going to choke him if he let her nap that late ever again. To make a long story short, I found them playing on the bed an hour later! Grrr! Alice finally fell asleep about midnight.

So we woke her up at her new wakeup time. Of course we had a crabby patty! So bad, in fact, that I refused to go to church. I knew she was going to gave a meltdown and I sure didn't want it to be at our first church service! I got her down for a nap at noon, after dealing with an hour and a half meltdown about not being able to play with the water in the kitchen sink. I was able to convince her the bathtub was just as much fun after forty-some minutes. So she took a two hour nap.

Fast forward to tonight...I get her ready for bed, and Sean was going to read her a book and put in the movie afterwards. I come inside an hour later (I was mowing) and she is still up and climbing on him. He tried to blame it on me and letting her nap too long/late! So I kick him out and get her down in about twenty minutes.

So we went over the new "rules". No naps past four (which means she has to be up BY 4). If she is going to nap, I'd prefer an earlier one (noon-2 would be nice). Dinner by 7pm, play for a bit, bath, pjs, brush hair/teeth, get marty/blankie/drink, hop into bed, read a book, start a movie, and BE still and quiet! She should be out within 10-15 minutes once in bed.

Now you are my witness. Not only have I told him (you'll have to take my word on this), but I've now told the world. If he messes this up, then he is on Alice duty from 8pm on!

I'm hoping this is remedied by tomorrow, so he and I can actually have some kid free time. It has been months years since we have been "alone", minus two dates since Alice was born. I'm sure we will just look at each other in silence wondering what to do and talk about ::wink::

Friday Night Leftovers (The I'm Back Version)

It has been awhile since I've participated in FNL, or posted. Lately things are starting to look like I'll be a more active blogger. Woo Hoo! Please no one have a heart attack or anything.

• I'm back! I have missed a lot, and have missed sharing a lot with you. I have missed you all. I'll explain more later, but to make a long story short I really think I'm back for good!

• I went through a big rut and am finally feeling better. I had stopped my anxiety/depression medicine cold turkey for over a month, and turns out I just really need the stuff. Not thrilled to say that, but I've come to terms with it and have been back on it for a few days. I can already tell and feel a big difference!

• I think I have finally gotten Alice on a more normal schedule, at least the past three days. She has started not napping. I took that opportunity and started pushing up bedtime. Tonight she was asleep by 8! Egads!

• I quit blogging partly because I had no time that any kids weren't sleeping. I may have gotten 10 or 15 minutes here and there, but that isn't enough time to write a genuine post (at least for me). So now that I have come into a "lottery" of time in the evenings, I plan to start posting again. Yay!

• Harry (that is what I'm calling him--Sean calls him Jack) is now 3 months old. I took a picture that day and need to do a post about it. He is getting so big!

• Alice is 22 months! I can't believe she will be 2 in two months. I've been trying to think of a theme for her birthday. I've been thinking flowers/butterflies. I'm open to ideas, so please make suggestions.

• I found a local moms/playgroup. We have met up with them three times. Alice seems to enjoy herself, but seems a bit out of sorts too. I'm giving it some time. There is one little girl around her age and the rest are boys. The little girl's mom is expecting another baby girl any day now, so I may have to give it a bit more time. Alice and the little girl hit it right off, exchanging hugs and holding hands! We went to an indoor park on Wednesday and Alice had the time of her life! She played for over two hours, and that was the first night I got her down "early".

• The playgroup/moms go to a local church (which I have been wanting to check out for months) and we are planning on going to check out the service on Sunday. I don't feel pressure from them to come and join, though I do feel an internal pressure to further my relationship with God. I'm hoping we like the sermon. The age group rooms and nursery are awesome (they have pagers like you'd get at a restaurant, so you can actually sit and LISTEN to the sermon instead of bribing your toddler to sit down, be quiet, etc. and they page you if you need to check on your child) so I'm already in love with that aspect!

• I have so much more to say, but since I'm planning on being a faithful blogger (knock on wood the kids keep sleeping), I will save all of that for another day. Sean is on vacation next week, so I'm hoping to keep the routine I have just started, and that his presence doesn't blow it apart. Fingers crossed and positive vibes welcome :-)

For more leftovers, please visit Danifred and all the other participants!

One Day I'll Laugh About This

I was making Jenner's Braciola for dinner, when Alice came in the kitchen. She was bent down grabbing herself, announcing "pees". Before I could do anything, she turns around and I notice my worst nightmare! She didn't mean pee, folks!

I got her in the bathroom and set her on the potty. Then I set off in search of her pull-up. I found it. Behind the tv?! I also found a lot of messes in various rooms.

After getting her cleaned up, a new pull-up, and a movie going, I started to clean up these messes. A few minutes later, she comes up to me with no pull-up on (again!). So we sat back on the potty and put on a diaper this time. I know she will probably just take the diaper off too, but at least she doesn't have to "step out" of it.

I'm excited that she is starting to initiate potty training. I'm not thrilled with the prospect of a poop covered house everyday!

I know I'll laugh about this later, but right now I need to go figure out what is smashed raisins (from her snack) and what isn't! FYI, they look the same. Man, I'm going to need a drink tonight!

Catching Up

I've been absent for awhile. Maybe you noticed. It was bound to happen. I could feel it coming on. I just was so "burnt" out that I didn't even have the decency to let all of you lovely Internets know.

It started gradual. Posting every few days instead of daily. Then not posting, but still reading and commenting on your blogs. And then...well I took a hiatus.

I was feeling so overwhelmed and weighed down. I had a to-do list miles long and nothing was getting crossed off. I had hit the peak of the hormone drop (I did the same thing around this time with Alice too). I was just burnt out. I enjoy blogging and keeping up with each one of you. It just got to the point that it felt like more of a "chore" than something I enjoyed. My comments were hardly thoughtful, and were completely generic. I don't like being like that. I like being "me" and writing the things I would say. So I just took a complete break.

I played a lot with the kiddos. I got some things on my to-do list crossed off. I enjoyed the little bit of "me" time that I sometimes can squeeze in, and did whatever I felt like doing. I got some flowers, herbs, and veggies planted. I have mastered the perfect (to me) cranberry almond chicken salad.

So enough about that. Updates. Alice has had a horrible diaper rash/yeast infection for months. Every time she had a dirty diaper it would come back. I'd slather diaper cream and Lotrimin on her and it would clear up. Only to return with the next dirty diaper. So I took her back to the pediatrician (again) and demanded help. I was thinking it was strep. The doctor thought otherwise. So we started using a few different creams. I'm happy (albeit a bit annoyed I was wrong) that her rash/bumps are pretty much cleared up.

HJ is just the sweetest. He smiles and talks to me all of the time. And the giggles? My goodness. My heart explodes EVERY. TIME.

The chicks? Not so chick looking. We Sean put them outside the other day. I can't tell which one Fluffy is anymore. See for yourself how much they have grown in the past two weeks.

Two or three weeks old.

Three or four weeks old!

Four or five weeks old!

It may be hard to tell how much bigger they are because of the angle and zoom differences. Trust me. They are mini chickens now! And yes, I know they were before, but they weren't "chicken" looking.

One of my mom's pugs had puppies almost two weeks ago. Sean wants to get one. I'm struggling with this. I'm torn. I do want a puppy/dog. I just don't know if I want a pug. And if I want one soon. I already have a lot going on around here. I already deal with enough poop and mouths to feed (Alice, HJ, the cat, three rabbits, the chickens, and the chicks). Logically, it doesn't make sense. However, it does when I look at the big picture. I'm at home, so I'd be here to house train. I could house train before I potty train Alice. HJ isn't mobile (yet), so that makes the transition a bit easier. If we wait, then we'd be waiting at least a year or two. And who knows what life will be like then?!

Then the whole pug debate. I want another Staffy. That costs money, and quite a bit. The pug would be free (initially). Are pugs good with kids? That is my biggest priority, of course, followed by the hair. From what I've read, pugs shed heavily. I'm not too keen on that. So if you have any experience or knowledge on pugs, let me have it!

So I'm back! I'm not going to promise daily posts. I'm going to ease back into my groove. I do promise that if I ever need a break, that I will let all you lovely people know.