How can you make sense of the senseless?

By now, the tragedy of what happened in Newtown, CT this morning has spread across the world.  I can tell you that I have been through waves of emotions today.  I was in shock when I heard.  As details started coming out, I was in disbelief.  My disbelief turned to sadness and now I find myself enraged.  I can't imagine what the parents and families of those killed today are going through.  Christmas is little more than a week away.  My goal this week, which I'm sure was the same for a lot of parents, was to finalize Christmas shopping and get my presents wrapped.  For some reason, I keep staring at the presents that sit under my tree.  Picked out, paid for, wrapped, and waiting for Christmas when they will be excitedly opened by my boys.  What about the presents that sit under the trees in Connecticut?  Christmas will come and go and some of the presents under those trees will remain wrapped.

I can't wrap my mind around why a person would do this...or how a person could do this.  How a human being, with a beating heart could look at a frightened child, raise a gun, aim it, and fire.  I wonder how such evil could exist.  I feel guilty for bringing two beautiful, innocent, loving children into this world.  What will this world be in 20 years?  50 years?

I have heard all day about the issue of gun control.  I am sure that the topic will be discussed over and over in the days and weeks ahead.  I don't think this is really the issue.  I think limiting the sale of guns or doing away with the right to have one only unarms innocent citizens.  Criminals will not follow any sort of gun legislation that is put in place.  People who want guns will get guns, one way or another.  The issue at hand is not necessarily gun control but a lack of morals in our society. 

Our society, as a whole, is sick.  TV shows like Jersey Shore or Real Housewives of Whatever, just to name a few, portray individuals who have no moral compass and these are the shows with ratings through the roof.  What is this teaching our children?  I had an 8th grade student last year that told me that she didn't need to do well in school because she was going to be a reality star.  Michael Vick is a hero for his athleticism while Tim Tebow is mocked for being a virgin and abstaining from alcohol.  Again, what is this teaching our children?

Tonight, as I read Big Brother a story before bed, I got emotional and could feel tears welling up in my eyes.  He looked at me and asked what was wrong.  I told him that I was sad because some little kids got hurt today.  My three year old gave me a hug and told me that it was okay and that he would kiss it and make it better.  If only that was all we needed...

We need to turn off the ridiculous reality shows that allow dysfunctional individuals to make money off being drunk and throwing punches.  This is not entertainment.  We need to talk to our children and teach them how to be productive members of society.  We need to stop expecting others to raise our children for us.  We need to give more hugs and kisses and less money to them.  I am not saying that this will rid the world of evil, but I personally think it's a start.  I can't handle the thought of sending my child off to school with the possibility that he might not come home.  I don't know how the families of those killed will ever be able to make sense of what happened.  Christmas will never be the same for them.  I don't know how the surviving students or staff will ever be able to walk into that school, or any school for that matter, without overwhelming anxiety.  Anytime a door slams or a book falls off a desk onto the floor, the sense of fear and panic that will run through them is unimaginable.

I feel that I could go on and on but it doesn't really matter.  I just feel I had to start typing our my mind would explode.  I don't know if any of this even makes sense to anyone but me.  I can't stop thinking about the parents of the victims who won't be reading a bedtime story to their child tonight; the school that lost a beloved principal; the parents of the surviving students who will have to help their children through what is sure to be a very difficult time ahead; and the the fact that come December 26th there will be unopened presents.

Please pray for these families and our world.

The Crying Game

So Little Brother has turned out to be a terrible sleeper. At 5 1/2 months he is still waking up multiple times a night and the only thing that calms him down is a bottle. I know that a 5 month old does not need to eat during the night so today I finally took him to the doctor just to make sure that there were no underlying issues. After assuring me that he was fine, we began to discuss his sleeping patterns. I honestly feel like a new mom all over again because by this age, Big Brother was sleeping through the night with no problem. We discussed Little Brother's schedule and the fact that he was getting 2 to 3 30-45 minute naps a day and sleeping about 4 hours at night. Definitely not enough sleep for him (or me). I knew where the conversation was headed..."Let him cry it out."

I understand the whole "cry it out" concept but it is excruciating for all involved, not to mention the fact that it wakes up Big Brother (and possibly the neighbors). So, in an effort to separate Big Brother from the rest of the house, he is sleeping with Daddy in the master bedroom (which could potentially start another problem) and I am sleeping in Big Brother's room next to Little Brother's room. As I type this, Little Brother has been screaming, and I mean SCREAMING, for the good part of an hour. It's a pitiful and painful cry that seems to ask, "Mommy, why don't you love me?" I can't help but wonder where you draw the line between tough love and and child neglect? For the most part, babies cry when they need something. Right now, Little Brother needs me and I'm purposefully ignoring him. It is extremely hard to watch him cry and roll around his crib on the monitor, knowing that I could go in there and pick him up and comfort him.

The doctor said that with all her patients, she hasn't heard of a sleep training "cry it out" session lasting more than 2 weeks (which sounds like an eternity). So for now we will just stick it out and see how it goes with this whole "cry it out" method; Little Brother crying in his crib and Mommy crying in the next room...

PaleOMG!

Ok, so it's been a while since I've posted! Life has been so hectic! A couple months ago I traded my dressy sweatpants in for some workout attire! Before I got pregnant with Little Brother, I had gotten into Crossfit thanks to some very persuasive friends! I was addicted at my first class so I was bummed that I had to quit (under doctor's orders). As soon as I got the all clear from my OB, I got right back in The Box!!! It's been an extremely long struggle and I started back at square one, but now I am definitely back in the swing of things and I am finally seeing some real results! I recently signed up for the 30 Day Paleo Challenge at The Box. Paleo is also known as The Caveman Diet; Eating food in its whole, pure form. No carbs, no sugar, no dairy, no grains. Nothing processed or refined. It's challenging at first and takes planning but I've been cooking a lot more (which Hubby loves) and I'm losing weight and getting closer and closer to my pre-pregnancy self (that I wasn't sure I would ever see again!!) Among the many meals I have made this week, my family and friends have loved my Paleo Egg Muffins. I can call them mine because the original recipe I found had you make the "bowl" out of muffin mix (which obviously isn't Paleo) so I took the recipe and made it Paleo! Here's what you need...

1 lb of nitrate free bacon
9 cage free eggs
Muffin Tin

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Cook the bacon a little more than 50% and then take the strips and wrap them on the inside of the muffin tin cup (spray the muffin pan with organic cooking spray first). Crack the eggs in a large measuring cup and add a little water (NO dairy!). Beat together and then pour into muffin tin cups, filling each about halfway. Pop them in the oven for about 20 minutes and then you are done! Now you have individually portioned breakfasts ready to go for the busy week!! Take one out, pop it into the microwave for 20 seconds and enjoy!!

For a variation, you can sauté some locally grown veggies and add those to the egg mix! I added onions and spinach to the latest batch! Yum!!

"Pin"spired

One of my missions, now that I'm a stay at home mom, is to get organized and try to creatively decorate our new home. So far, we have a lot of stuff ordered, so things are slowly coming together, piece by piece. I've found so many awesome ideas on Pinterest! If I could ever stop "pinning" and actually DO some projects, my house would be gorgeously decorated and unbelievably organized! I have managed to complete a few small projects. I put together a collage of Big Brother's artwork from over the years to hang in the playroom. I bought a huge canvas and picked out some of his artwork (I tend to favor things with his hand print or foot print). Most of the art work had the date written on the back so I wrote it on the front. I found some cute scrapbook paper and used Mod Podge to cover the canvas and act as the background. Then I cut around the picture and used the Mod Podge to glue it on the canvas. It turned out as a really cute piece to hang in the playroom and because it has his hand and footprints with dates on it, it will be something really special we can look back at over the years!

All Aboard the Potty Train! {But the Caboose Doesn't Work}

Everyone told me that potty training would be a trying time.  That has turned out to be the understatement of the year!  I was a little concerned when Big Brother's teachers told us that he was ready to jump from diapers to underwear.  I thought Pull Ups were the next logical step.  His teachers said that Pull Ups, for the most part, just confuse kids.  They are very diaper-like and his teachers said it causes a lot of frustration.  Best to just jump right into underwear.  So, we went to the store and picked out some Lightening McQueen "Big Boy" underwear (those of you who have read my earlier posts could have probably guessed that!).  We decided that we would reward each successful potty trip with candy.  I know it looked weird that we had a huge candy jar in our bathroom!  After a while, I decided to stop rewarding with candy and start rewarding with stickers on a "potty chart".  When he fills the chart, we go to the store and he picks out a toy.  I found it was more successful to reward the habit of going to the bathroom rather that each individual act.  The first time he filled his chart, we took the chart to the toy store and went up and down the aisles, looking for his prize.  He finally picked one out and when we got to the register, I had him hand the chart to the sales clerk so that, in essence, he was "paying" for his toy with his potty chart (obviously, I took back the chart and paid with real money!).

For the most part, he has done pretty well when it comes to peeing...the only problem is that he doesn't tell us when he has to go.  We have to put him on the potty every 30 minutes or so, even if he tells us that he doesn't have to go.  Most of the time, he will have to go.  If he's playing or watching a movie....forget it!  It's an all out battle to get him to go sit on the potty!  The main issue we are having is when it comes to poop...he refuses to do it in the potty.  He tells us after the fact that he "has poop" and then it is a huge mess.  I don't want to yell at him or get mad at him because I don't want him to be afraid to tell us when he has an accident but I am at a loss of how to get him to poop in the potty.  If you were to ask him, "Where does poop go?" he would tell you, "In the potty!"  Knowing and doing seem to be two totally different things, though!

Out of shear frustration, I put him on the potty around the time I thought he should have to poop.  I gave him my iPad to play with and we waited.  And waited.  And waited.  At one point, he tooted, looked at me and yelled, "Mommy, I pooped!", but alas, not a turd in sight!  I told him he had done a good job, but that he should try to squeeze some more out.  After a total of about an hour and a half, I called an end to "Operation For Crying Out Loud, Poop Already!" and we got off the pot (because you either have to 'do it' or get off...)

 So, for now, we wait knowing that if we feed him, poop will come...

Have Car, Will Travel

I remember when I was little, being attached to a yellow blanket that a friend of my parents had given me.  It was a patchwork blanket with the letters of the alphabet sewn on it.  I called it my ABC blanket.  I am not ashamed to admit that I slept with that thing (on and off) through college and I still have it.  It is extremely faded and very worn in some areas and not many of the letters are there anymore, but there is something about that blanket that gives me a very comfortable feeling.  My sister had a blanket too.  It was also yellow.  Unlike me, she carried her blanket everywhere.  It had holes in it and I believe my mom even had replacement blankets that she had to use if one got too torn up.  Big Brother never got attached to a blanket or stuffed animal the way we did.  I tried to put cute stuffed animals in his crib and brought them places with us but he never seemed interested.  Ok, so he's not going to be the kind of kid that is really attached to a specific thing...or so I thought...

Big Brother is obsessed with a Matchbox Lightening McQueen car.  If you look through our family photos, you can spot "McQueen" in virtually every one.  It's like playing "Where's Waldo" looking though our pictures, only Waldo is a small, red car.  I'm all for my son having a favorite toy but I can't help but wonder how far this obsession will go.

Big Brother has always been into cars.  He LOVES them.  He loves the Cars movies.  He loves pretty much anything with wheels.  The issue with his beloved McQueen is that he NEEDS it in his hand.  Now, he doesn't carry it around all day, everyday, but he does have to have it to leave the house.  His teachers at school will make him put it in his backpack as soon as he gets there in the morning but as soon as he sees me walk in to get him in the afternoon, he runs over and gets McQueen out of his backpack.  At home, he can be in his playroom, playing with any other toy, but if I tell him that it is time to come downstairs for dinner, he says, "I have to get McQueen!".  Same with going to the bathroom or to bed...going anywhere, really.

The obsession began when he was about a year and a half old.  I remember one weekend being at my in-laws lake house in Marble Falls, Texas, for Labor Day and getting ready to take a ride on the boat.  Of course, McQueen had to come too.  The ride was fun and Big Brother had a great time but as we were getting out of the boat, he dropped McQueen into the lake.  He was very upset.  The water was shallow by the boat dock so my husband and my father in law tried to find it but there was a lot of algae and dirt and they couldn't find it.  Needless to say, Big Brother was extremely upset.  My husband and I quickly drove 45 minutes to the nearest Wal-Mart and bought every Lightning McQueen they had!  We gave him one (we told him we found it in the water) and kept the rest tucked away for future emergencies!  Now I understand why my mom had replacement blankets for my sister!

I guess it's normal for kids to have a specific toy that they love but I hope we are able to "ween" him off of it before he goes to kindergarten!  Check out my pictures and see if you can spot McQueen!

A "No Left-Overs" Dinner

I am by no means a whiz in the kitchen and I rely heavily on my crock pot.  I don't really enjoy cooking so I love finding fast, easy recipes!  I found a great App for my iPad called SparkRecipes (from Spark People).  They have a ton of healthy recipes and it lets you search for recipes by ingredient or fat content or calories, etc. and lets you save your favorites (for instance this recipe since my family enjoyed it so much!).  Tonight I made a dinner that my husband and son loved (and asked for seconds on!)...the best part of making a yummy dinner is not having to pack up the leftovers for another night!!  Here is the recipe.  Give it a try and then let me know what you think!

Honey Balsamic Chicken

Prep & Cook Time: 18 minutes

1 1/2 tsp of dried thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp olive oil
1 lb chicken breast
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp honey

Combine the first 3 ingredients; sprinkle over both sides of the chicken.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add chicken; cook 7-8 minutes on each side or until chicken is done.

Transfer chicken to a platter and keep it warm.  Reduce heat to medium-low; add vinegar and honey to pan.  Simmer 1 minute or until glaze thickens; stir constantly.  Pour glaze over chicken.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size is 1 chicken breast half).

Local Business Shout Out

I want to recommend 2 businesses that I use quite often that I have been extremely satisfied with!

First up is RachelBanister Photography.  Rachel is also a teacher and a mother and has an extreme gift for capturing priceless memories!  I have done numerous shoots with her and she is very patient with my kiddos!  If you live in the Houston/Katy area (or even within a short driving distance) please consider her for your pictures!  She has taken pictures of Big Brother for Holiday cards and she did Little Brother's newborn photo shoot.  She also took pictures of Big Brother's 2nd birthday party so I could actually enjoy the party myself without having to worry about taking all the pictures!  Please check her out on Facebook or on her brand new website!!  Be sure to check out her new line of cards and announcements!!

Visit her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RachelBanisterPhotography or on the web at www.rachelbanisterphotography.com/

You will not be disappointed!!!


Need anything embroidered or need a personalized gift for a new baby or baby shower?  How about a personalized koozie for a birthday party or for favors at a bachlorette party?  For all your embroidery or personalized gift needs, check out Fishpot Hollow Quilts on Facebook.  Lori has some of the cutest items for babies and kids and even adults!  She has made items for both of my boys and I have been extremely satisfied with her work and how quickly I get my order!  She will work with you on whatever you need!  Check out her site and contact her with any questions!  Don't see what you need??  Just email her and ask!  Don't live in the area?  No worries!  She will ship to you!

Visit her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fishpothollow.quilts

Please tell them that you heard about them on Dressy Sweatpants!!

The Illusion of Super Mom

I ran into a former co-worker yesterday at the store. I had Little Brother with me and she hadn't seen him so we stopped to chat for a minute. She told me that is was weird that we had run into each other because she had just been talking about me the other day {this could be good or bad!}. She said that she and some of her co-workers were talking about how hard it was for them when they had children. {their children are now in their teens}. She brought me up as an example of a mom who, in her words, "really has it together". I was shocked! She went on to comment about all the cute pictures I take of my boys and everything she sees on Facebook. I was really touched by this because I feel, on a daily basis like I am one tantrum away from losing my mind! It's nice to know that even though I don't always feel like I am "with it" that at least I am giving off the illusion that I have the slightest idea of what I am doing!

Discipline~ish

This is soooo me!  I count to three for Big Brother.  Thank goodness he usually listens on 2 because half the time I don't have a plan for when I get to three so I drag it out as long as possible..."Ooonnneeee...... Twwoooooo..... I mean it........ Don't make me say Three (because I'm not prepared to enforce anything)......"  The other day, as I was counting to three, I got to the "Don't make me say three" part and hubby, under his breath whispers, "Don't make mom say three because then she will just have to start back over again at one!"  I'd be mad, but it's true!

Free at Last and Horton Flowers

Big Brother is not a fan of sitting at the table and eating a meal.  He is more of a grazer {like his Mommy}.  Getting him to sit and eat is always a challenge.  Tonight I told him that I would take him to the playground near our house after he finished his food.  He ate slightly faster than usual and then told us he was finished.  I took off the tray on his highchair and he jumped down screaming, "I'm free, I'm free!"

We went to the playground and I took a seat on the bench.  Within a few minutes, Big Brother came running over to me holding a pink, fuzzy flower.  He told me it was a "Horton flower with a speck".  Anyone who has seen the 'Horton Hears a Who' movie knows what he is talking about.  He then proceeded to walk around the playground acting out the movie..."I'm Horton.  Hold on Mayor, I won't let the Kangaroo get you!" 

My boy sure knows how to crack me up! 

Awesome App Alert

I have been trying lately to cook more food at home {and healthier food, for that matter!}.  I found 2 really great iPhone Apps that I have loved using {and they are FREE}!! 

The first one is called ShopWell.  It allows you to enter your nutritional goals and what you are trying to do, diet-wise {low calorie, low carb, high protien, etc}.  It also allows you to input foods you shouldn't have {i.e. food allergies or gluten products}.  Then it has an option that allows you to scan foods at the grocery store {such as a loaf of bread} and it will tell you which brand is the best for your nutritional needs.  It is so hard to stand in the store and compare labels...this one has lower calories but that one has less fat grams...which one should you pick?  This App makes the recommendation for you!  LOVE it!

The second one is called Grocery IQ.  This App allows you to choose stores that you frequent {Kroger, CVS, HEB, etc.} and make your grocery list.  It will alert you if there is a coupon for the product you entered and you can send it straight to your computer to print out.  After you create your grocery list, you can also send that to your computer to print or you can check the items off the list directly on your phone.  I love this option because I never seem to be able to push a cart with crazy kiddos, hold a list and then cross items off of it without Big Brother wanting to take my pen and paper to color.

Anyway, just thought it was worth mentioning!  Gotta love those FREE Apps!!!

Catching the Spit Up & Kicking the Cradle

There is something to be said for all the gross things you do as a mom that you would have never in your life done or even thought you would have done before you had kids.  Only a mom will pick boogers out of her child's nose!  Tonight after I fed Little Brother I put him on my shoulder to walk into the kitchen and he started to spit up.  For some reason, my first instinct was to try to catch it in my hand.  Why?  I have no clue.  One of the mysteries of Mommyhood!

Little Brother has been kind of fussy this evening.  After I cleaned up his spit up from my cupped hand, I changed him and rocked him for a few minutes and he fell asleep.  I placed him in the portable cradle we have in the living room and sat down on the couch next to hubby to watch TV.  During a commercial break, I got up to go to the kitchen and kicked the cradle, which startled Little Brother.  You really have to be a mom to understand the moment of shear terror that you feel when you realize that you may have just woken up a sleeping baby.  I stood frozen.  Hubby and I looked at each other, eyes wide.  "Why did you kick the cradle?", he whisper yelled at me.  "I didn't mean to kick the cradle!", I whisper yelled back.  We both wait and pray that Little Brother will fall back asleep and then laugh at each other when we realize that his slumber wasn't disturbed.  Another close call averted!

Introduction

So, I'm starting a blog.  I'm doing it for a couple reasons.  First of all, my 2 year old son is a genius.  Trust me.  The jury is still out on my 8 week old son, but he's been smiling for weeks and can hold his head up, so in terms of infant smarts, he's got 'em.  Secondly, I think blogging will be therapeutic.  I have been a teacher for the last 6 years.  After the hubby and I found out we were expecting Little Brother we did the math and it made more sense financially to stay home.  I must say that I am excited and grateful that I have the opportunity.  I can always go back to work, but my kids will not always be this age.

I have always wanted to be a mom.  It was engrained in my DNA.  Before I had kids, I had ideas of how I would raise them and how I would handle certain situations.  The hubby and I said more than once to each other, "it will be different with our kids."  Boy were we right!  It is more different than we ever could have imagined.  I should be embarrassed to say that we are the parents who pull out the DVD player at the restaurant and I am the mom who buys Big Brother a toy to keep him quiet at the store, but I'm not, because it works for us.

My boys are my life.  I am in awe of them.  The best thing about being a mom is seeing them grow and learn and feeling that you had something to do with that.  What other job exists where you can be yelling at a person one minute and then that person does something to melt your heart and make you laugh the next moment?