Summertime Blues

Whoever dropped upon our house and landed Ryder with this yucky cold virus can come and take it back! We've had enough, thank you! Breaks your heart when they're sick at this age because there is not much you can do for them. We are currently on Day 6 and hoping Day 7 arrives with a miraculous recovery. Here is a little of what we've been doing while staying at home this week:Buying Target out of Cold Remedies....We also have Saline Drops, Baby Rub and Boogie Wipes...they just weren't available for the photo shoot.

Making the Girls official members of the "Ryder Play-Club". He couldn't be around anyone else since it was a virus and very contagious per the Doctor.

Saving some Baby Cardinals that fell out of our front tree. We couldn't find the Nest, but Matt read that if we made a Nest, the Mama Bird would come and take care of them. She did!!

Ryder helped me make his Gran some Birthday Goodies!! We're banking on the fact that she won't look at this Blog before we give her the gifts! Happy Birthday, Gran! Its a Big One, but we'll keep the specific number a secret!

Finally, Daddy got a short-lived smile out of the little man this evening! Feel Better soon, Ryder!!!

Recipe Tuesday

You all know I love recipes and here is a new super easy one a friend gave me. You can prepare it in about five minutes and then it cooks for 30 minutes in an oven heated to 350 Degrees.

Ingredients:
Frozen Cheese Tortellini (Thawed)
Frozen Chopped Spinach (Thawed)
One Jar of your Favorite Spaghetti Sauce
Mozzarella Cheese

Spray a 9x9 Pan with Cooking spray. Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan. Place a layer of Tortellini over the sauce. Squeeze out your Spinach of the excess water and place over the Tortellini. Repeat beginning with the sauce. Top with the last of the Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese. Bake at 350 Degrees for 30 Minutes. Tastes just like Lasagna with half the effort and time! Serve with a Caesar Salad Kit and Garlic Bread for a Complete Meal in 30 Minutes...Enjoy!

Update...

I took my old friend (when I say old, I mean that I've known her forever, not old in years) Frances' advice and kept Ryder up longer. Up longer before nap-time and up longer before bed-time. I guess the little boy just wasn't tired yet when I was putting him down. Once he is good and tired he just conks out in bed, no problems at all! We'll keep our fingers crossed this continues! Don't want you guys to think I have a total terror on my hands...he really is a good kid and I love him to the Moon and Back!

A Long Battle Ahead...

It appears that we are up for a long battle. We are facing a fierce competition. Competition who can predict all of our moves and preemptively strikes back with shocking new tactics. It is officially Team Matt & Joy vs. Team Ryder.

Do you remember a few weeks back I told you that we put Ryder in a big boy bed and how amazingly well he was doing in it. No more, folks. The new wore off, the fear of falling to the ground is forever gone and we have entered constant battle mode. We CAN NOT get that boy to stay in bed. I know that persistence is the key. One that I have to constantly remind myself of. That is my biggest problem. I'm tired a lot of the time and sometimes it is just easier to not have the battle. My next biggest problem, I let tears make me feel guilty. Rest assured, we are going to win this one. He is now asleep...exactly one hour and ten minutes after I put him in bed for the first time. I think I silently (i.e. spoke no words) put him back in bed 72 times. The first few times he cried, the second fifty times became a game for him so that he could tell me "Hi!" and "Bye-Bye" every time I entered and exited the room, and the last twenty-five times there was delirious laughing involved (not by me).

Those of you that have been through this already, please fill us in on the secret code to making your child stay in bed...we desperately need to know!

Wordless Wednesday

New Bubbles

We ran out of George Bubbles, thankfully. FYI...George Bubbles smell gross to this pregnant Mama's Nose! I let Ryder pick out a new bottle of bubble bath (other than George) when we ran to the store yesterday. He picked Watermelon Elmo Bubbles and had a fabulous Elmo Bubble Bath last night! Oh the things that bring a smile to your face at this age!

It is HOT!!!

I think that is all I really have to say. We had to be to the Doctor early this morning, and I had already soaked through my shirt before ever leaving the house. Gross, right? I put the Dogs outside and the first thing our swimmer did was head right for the pool. When you feel the need to take a swim at 7:30 a.m., it is officially HOT!

All was well at the Doctor today, aside from Ryder opening the door to the bathroom in the middle of me trying to produce a urine sample. (Note: I make him go in the bathroom with me because the last time I left him in the exam room, he pulled all of the paper off of the exam table.) Once I got the door secured again, I then hoisted the lug in one arm, while holding the sample cup in my other hand and trying to dribble something out. Good Visual? We wash hands and go back to the exam room where he then pulls a poster off of the wall, grabs some kind of tool off the counter top, and successfully dumps over the trash can. All while I am in the same room. It really was fun times! At least when Dr. Z came in, he gave her his sweetest "Hi" and made not a peep until we were done talking. He then very sweetly told her "Bye-Byes" about a thousand times...all she could do was eat him up and tell him how sweet he is...stinker.

In between the craziness that seems to be my life right now, I've started planning for Ryder's Birthday party. It seems early, but with our little one due to arrive about a week before Ryder's birthday, I want to have most of the grunt work already done. I have been searching for some Sesame Street Cookie Cutters...and let me say that those boogers are hard to find. I've looked on Ebay, but they all look so ancient. With no other options, I guess that is what I am going to have to go with. We are in love with "ELLLLLMO!", which actually sounds more like Grover to me in Ryder annunciation, and "COOKIE!". I decided to just do cupcakes again this year, and ordered some really cute liners off of Etsy. They are a really pretty chocolate brown, but a little smaller in real life than they looked on the computer. That is why you should always read the measurements...they'll work though. Once I nail which Cookie Cutters I want down, I just need the decorations. I figure Party City will be just as reasonable for that type of stuff as any place else, but be sure to let me know if you know of someplace else! We are in "Cost Cutting" mode around here these days and I figure every little bit helps!

No new pictures...sigh...I just haven't had the energy to pull the camera out. I should just keep it handy, but oh well...its too Hot. That is my excuse for everything right now!

As Promised.....

I promised you a report on the Watermelon Sweet Tea and here it is: It was AMAZING!!! It is really hard to describe, but the best comparison I can make is, sweet tea with watermelon jolly ranchers. Sounds so weird, but it is really good!

The restaurant is called Cowboy Chow. It is located on Commerce Street in Dallas, and is a Sister Restaurant to the Twisted Root. They have excellent Brisket Tacos that come atop a big bowl of rice. I could only eat one taco, they are very filling. The service was excellent! I always worry that restaurants in that part of town won't be kid friendly, but they absolutely were. Highchairs, Boosters and yummy grilled cheese! I recommend it to any of you who might be in that area around lunch or dinner!

Some things never change...

I made this Post about a year ago.

Last night we checked on Ryder about an hour after we put him to bed and found this...
...guess some things never change! Crazy thing is, he never made a peep about being stuck this way. After the last two days of discipline boot camp here at Ft. Smith, he was probably afraid we'd stick him in the corner...poor guy.

Hope you all have a very Happy Friday! Ryder and I are going to eat lunch with Matt at a restaurant near his jobsite. He claims they serve the BEST Watermelon Tea. Sounds kind of different to me...I'll let you know what I think!

Thank You!!!

Just wanted to thank all of you for your words of encouragement yesterday. I guess we all have those days. I took some time to pray and re-focus last night and today was a much better day. Never underestimate the power of prayer. It can work amazing wonders.

I have taken all of the tips to heart and today we really tried to focus on the positive and not the negative. Don't get me wrong...we still had our moments (i.e. on top of the Kitchen Table, sticking fingers inside the spinning A/C Unit, etc...) but I have decided that these behaviors are to be expected and only time and repetition of discipline will cure them. I am not going to let it all bring me down, or I should say, I am going to try my hardest to keep my spirits high.

You guys are amazing! I don't know how Mom's survived before the blogging age...guess they had to rely on the good ole' telephone!

The Idea Room

Some of you may already be aware of this blog, but in case you aren't here is the link to the The Idea Room.

Amy is the author of the Blog and she is so creative! I have already copied many of her ideas! You should definitely check her out! I am thinking of making some of these Bouncy Balls for Ryder.

He loves, loves, loves Balls. The test will be if I can keep him from eating them! Detergent and Glue are probably not the best things for his little digestive system....

Work, Play, Eat, Sleep, Repeat

Work, Play, Eat, Sleep, Repeat. That is my life this week. A routine that is most people's normal and really nothing to complain about. Here is our struggle...we are going through an early dose of the terrible twos. Do you ever say to yourself that tomorrow is a new day and it can only be better than today?

I hate using the word hate, but I hate the phase we are going through. I tell myself it is just growing pains, but I can't help from feeling like everything is a fight right now. You are not supposed to fight with your 21-month old, right? He is supposed to love you unconditionally and obey whatever command you place upon him, right? It is entirely plausible that things seem this way to me because I am 7.5 Months pregnant, surging with hormones, and my patience wears thin anyway. I am tired, my back and feet hurt, and Ryder has gotten strong...strong willed and strong armed. I get so upset with his behavior and then I feel terrible. I have to remember that he is not even two and most of his frustration comes from not being able to tell me what he needs.

He has a few code words which I can interpret. Matt calls it "Ryderese". However, when I can't interpret the "Ryderese" to English, he gets so frustrated. When I don't let him eat straight out of a tube of toothpaste, he gets so frustrated. When I don't let him get in the shower right after he has been dressed for the day, he gets so frustrated. When I tell him Dog Food is yucky and then dig it out of his mouth, he gets so frustrated. When I tell him to stay out of the refrigerator, he gets so frustrated. When I tell him we can't go outside because it is 104 degrees, he gets so frustrated.

Let me pause for a quick interpretation: So Frustrated = Tears Flowing, Back on the Floor, Legs Kicking, Arms Flailing. Getting the picture? The frustration bout even occurred in public today, when I made the mistake of finishing my workout and picking him up from the "Y" just as he was getting in line to go outside. Really, really embarrassing moment when he kicked the sweet lady who had gone to fetch him for me. I feel like I spend most of my time saying "No" or "We need to sit in the corner until we can behave nicely" or popping his little hand. I feel like he spends most of his time frustrated with me for all of the above.

For all of these not so good moments, there are even more great moments. I think I sometimes just get so bogged down on the bad, that I forget to focus on what an awesome being he is. He makes everyday worth waking up for. I can not imagine life without him and the beautiful smile he shows us everyday.

My friend Mary made an excellent parenting post earlier this week and it was really the dose of medicine I needed. You should all take the time to read it. God definitely has a plan, I just hope it includes some reassurance. Some reassurance that I am doing the right things. That I am raising a little boy who will be respectful, who will know the Lord and have a relationship with Him. A little boy who will love those around him...even when all we seem to do is shovel out tough love.

He is sleeping like an angel right now. We had a long morning at the Y, playing in the gym at our local Activity Center, checking out Books at the Library and eating lunch with friends at Chick-fil-a. I pray that he is an angel when he awakes and that God gives me the strength to be the best Mom I can be to this little man.

A Heavy Heart

I am up early checking a little email and squeezing a little work in before the holiday. I just read my friend Lisa's blog and was left with a heavy heart. I can only imagine the pain her family feels, especially as time draws near and reality begins to set in. Usually when your C-section is scheduled, that is a happy day, but for this family it will be marked with sadness. Please say a prayer for her and her sweet baby this morning.

It may be cliche, but the song "I can only imagine" by Mercyme brings me some sense of peace. Every time I listen to that song, I get tears in my eyes, imagining that beautiful day. In an odd way, there is comfort in knowing that this baby will never experience the pain that the physical world surely brings, but rather will only know the love and awe that will be experienced in heaven.

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

Move Over Bus Driver!

Oh, the possibilities are endless for this little man...if his water gigs don't work out he can always be a bus driver!

Disclaimer: This is a professional toddler. Please do not try this at home. Keys are not in the ignition or anywhere near the vehicle.

Nine Years of Wedded Bliss...

Happy Anniversary, Babe! We are celebrating Nine Years of Wedded Bliss today. I know I have not always been the easiest person to live with, but I am so grateful to have you in my life. You are not only my husband, but you are my best friend and a wonderful Father to our son. I could not imagine life without you! Here a just a few of the reasons why you are the absolute BEST:

1. You are always there to listen when I need to talk or more likely need to complain.
2. You work endlessly hard so that I can stay here with our boys.
3. Your relationship with God inspires me.
4. The support you give me with Ryder is amazing.
5. You always tell me how good of a job I am doing even when I feel I am at my worst.
6. You take care of me...You have always put up with my fake puking (inside humor I'll delve into later)...even when you thought a few tums would cure it all (more inside humor that ultimately resulted in an appendectomy)....plus you never give me too hard of a time for not being able to chew those tums.
7. You think backwards from me...your front is my back...that is why we mesh so well.
8. You set your wants aside so that Ryder and I can have the Best things...even when we don't need them.
9. Life with you feels like it started yesterday and then yesterday seems like a lifetime ago...I love that you have made the years pass with so much ease & happiness.
10. You are the Best and I love you so much!!