Escape Artist

New McKay stage: Climbing out of crib. Aaack! Where'd my baby go?! I haven't caught him in the act yet but hope to soon. I must say this is really rocking my world! The first morning he did it was last Saturday morning. At this point for Easton, we'd moved him into a toddler bed to get him used to it before McKay came and didn't feel kicked out of the crib. I've been hanging onto crib time as long as possible because WHY NOT?! McKay's been the kid who would just hang out in the crib for 1/2 an hour to an hour sucking his thumb and enjoying quiet time after he woke up. Now he's up and into stuff.

The first couple mornings of new-found freedom, McKay would walk from room to room opening and shutting all our doors checking on us and hoping someone would wake up to go downstairs with him. The hardest part of this is the hour. Sometimes as early as 4:30! ARGH!!! Since I'm now six months pregnant, I'm up during the night and now fretting over if I'll wake McKay or not hear him get up. By 4 am, I'm nervous he's going to wake up and destroy something or hurt himself so I haven't been sleeping well at all. The last two mornings after fitful sleep, I crashed around 6am. Ryan can attest to the fact that I do not function well on this new sleep routine.

I think the worst day was yesterday when I came down and McKay had the box of Rice Krispies and the canister of brown sugar all over the living room carpet. When I came down, he was sitting next to the brown sugar canister and holding an empty pack of Trident gum he had decided to chew. Talk about a super grouch mom!

This new development has made bedtime much more difficult. The boys are more playful buddies now and most nights lately we've had to send Easton to another room and threaten McKay with a spanking if he got out of the crib again - the only deterrent that seems to give him pause. We don't own a gate and me and the lil guys will be gone almost all of August so we're just hanging in there with the current setup til we get back in September. I thought I'd have longer to get the new room arrangements set before the baby comes - oh well, so much for my "plan."

Last night when I got home from mutual, I could hear them upstairs and when I went into the fully lit room, McKay and Easton were sharing Easton's pillow all snuggled up under Easton's covers and Easton was "reading" "Muncha, Muncha, Muncha" to McKay. It was soooo adorable because they were just chatting away about the book. For the first time, they behaved after being busted and got to stay in their room together which was so nice! They really prefer to be together and I love seeing that friendship growing. Cute boys, but please pray for this sleep-deprived mom!

Book Freak

The past two weeks of my life have been absorbed in blazing through the Stephanie Meyers "Twilight" series of three, soon to be four books. I usually alternate my reading by doing a fluff book and then a non-fiction book so I can keep learning. I'd just finished former director of the CIA, George Tenet's biography, "At the Center of the Storm" and was looking for my easy read. Samantha let me borrow her three Meyer books and I should have known better! I couldn't just stop at one since they were all in my hot hands! Sorry, family - mostly Ryan!

I admit I felt like book 2, "New Moon," was sheer drudgery, but the other two were more entertaining although I won't be pre-ordering or standing in line for the next book. I'll get to it eventually and enjoyed how they were good fluff reading for me like the Harry Potter series.

I liked Meyer's creation of vampire and werewolf legends, but the main character's teen angst just about drove me over the edge! Give me more action! Maybe because it took me back to all the self-absorption of teenage drama and I prefer to think I've happily moved past all that. I kept thinking, "Man, this girl needs some healthy extra-curricular stuff to do - particularly service oriented!"

I liked the two boys in Bella's life because they were such gentlemen. They're like the modern teen equivalents of Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy - particularly Edward. I must say I hope she ends up with Jacob in the end because I like him better and think she needs what he has to offer more.

I can't believe I've just blogged about these books! It's been nice to finally see what all the fuss is about and to hear encouraging words from my Mia Maids to help me plough through book 2. Hearing them talk of these books all the time made me feel like I'd missed the latest Potter craze. As with most things, I'm slow to get there but I catch up eventually.

How Do YOU Eat Pizza?

Last night we went to our favorite pizza place with the boys. It was a perfect summer evening with a slight breeze and hardly any humidity! This entry was inspired by this picture of Easton. How could I not post this?! He picks all the meat off his pizza and then goes for the cheese. This was just too classic! When all the cheese is gone, he finally eats the crust. It reminds me of watching my sister Brooks dissect her food and a Bare family tradition of giving her a hard time about it! Easton only likes cheese on his pizza and always demands he wants pizza without "food" on it, ie. any meat or other toppings besides cheese.

McKay, on the other hand, devours the meat first and then chows on the rest of the pizza. He downed two pieces of pizza, extra meat, and even a wedge with our favorite bubbling spinach cheese dip. This kid can eat! One time we ate here, we had to literally wait while McKay finished and he was not budging until he ate everything he wanted to -- which was particularly the meat!

After dinner, we had fun exploring Morven Park and the amazing homes on Old Waterford Road. Such beautiful scenic wooded areas only a few miles from our door! I LOVE VIRGINIA!

My guys

Busy times these past two weeks! Ryan scared us a bit with a stay in the hospital. All is fine now and he got excellent and thorough care. It's a scary thing to leave your best friend alone in the hospital just so you can get a good night's sleep! It's much easier to be the patient and I didn't like the tables being turned! When I left to go home one night, I had to laugh at the set up I'd created to keep him entertained for the evening. To soothe my conscience before leaving, I'd gotten him pizza from the outside world, snacks, water, juice, some movies to watch on the laptop - all he could need. I love my cute boy!

I didn't get to take in any fireworks last week because of the NRLC convention, but Ryan made sure he and the boys made it to the Antietam show again! We love the 4th of July in this house so it's not acceptable to miss celebrations and fireworks! This is just the cutest picture of my two boys who really are becoming such cute good friends! Am I one lucky gal or what?! I'm now 24 weeks along with our baby girl and feeling pretty good.

I can't think of what else has been happening around here other than that I'm behind on every front. Yet I feel so very blessed to have everything I have ever truly wanted in life. A fun little family that keeps life interesting and friends that remind me of my blessings!