Someone give me some Tums, please!

Holy cow! Tonight has been one of the most annoying, frustrating nights EVER. I do not know what Grandma gave Adam today, but I do know that it must have included sugar, caffeine, and more sugar. Adam was so wound up this evening, I wanted to pull my hair out. It started about 15 minutes after we got home. All he did was run around, mess with things that he shouldn't and not listen. First, he had his normal 2 minute time out. Then there was another 2 minute time out - followed by another. Finally I got so frustrated, I made him sit in time out for 5 minutes which ended up being about 10 because he wouldn't sit still and be quiet. I was so happy to see Jeff when he got home.

After a little bit, Adam got distracted (for only about 5 minutes) and I was just sitting on the floor - not knowing if I should cry, laugh, or scream. Then I realized that my stomach was in knots. I was so stressed that my nerves were shot. I was finished. Then Adam got bored with whatever it was he was doing and he started climbing on me. I decided at that point that I might as well give up. There really is no hope anymore. Adam is 2 1/2 now and I think that it is only going to get worse.

Like Father, Like Son

I just wanted to post a couple of pictures. Adam LOVES to help mom and dad! Whenever I get out the vacuum, he always gets his toy vacuum out and helps me. Jeff was mowing the lawn this evening and Adam wanted to help. These pictures were just too cute!

No success yet

Things on the bed front are not going so well. Adam has slept in his bed a couple of nights, but the past couple of nights, he has not even wanted to try to sleep there. We still have his crib up in his bedroom (this could be the problem) and he wants to sleep there. He has told me the last couple of nights that he wants to sleep in his "baby bed." If anyone has any advice - we would love to get it. It's just that he just sleeps so good when he is in his crib. He normally sleeps all through the night, where when he slept in his bed those couple of nights, he wakes up at every little sound. Who knows, maybe he will be sleeping there until he turns 16.

Other than that, things have been pretty quiet around here. No major stories to tell. The weather has been nice, so we have just been outside playing and having fun. Adam says something new everyday. We are just amazed at what he picks up (and a little worried). We are trying to work on "Please and Thank you" because he is BOSSY and DEMANDING! "Mommy come here now. Daddy pick me up. Kitty get down. I NEED a cookie!!" He is also now able to tell you what the difference between a boy and a girl is - and it's NOT that boys have short hair and girls have long hair - if you know what I mean.

Big Boy Bed

Adam got his first "big boy bed" last Thursday. So far he has only slept it in one night. The other 2 nights he has opted to sleep in his crib. Tonight is going to be the second night that he has slept in his big boy bed - or at least that is where he is now as of 11:00pm. We will see if he stays there the whole night. It is quite a transition and I imagine that it is kind of scary for him.

It is kind of hard to see in the picture, but we bought him some car sheets with the hope that it will entice him to sleep there. They are, however, probably the ugliest sheets ever made.

Wish us luck!

Our Family Trip

Jeff, Adam and I just got back this afternoon from a little trip. We went for an overnight stay up in the Quad Cities. We didn't have huge plans, but we did get to do plenty. I thought that I would share some pictures that chronicles our trip.

First we went to the Family Museum. Adam mainly liked to sit on the car, fire truck, tractor, and truck that they had on display.

After we left the museum, we went out for dinner and then Adam and Jeff went swimming.

After we got Adam out of the pool (which he wasn't very happy about), we went back to our room and tried to go to sleep. This was Adam's first night in a hotel so it was interesting.

Today we went to Niabi Zoo. It is a nice little zoo. Adam liked it, but was more interested in the train that they have that you can take a trip on. Although you cannot tell by this picture, the train was probably his favorite part of the zoo.

For our first family trip, I would say it was successful. Adam has talked about going to the zeeum (a.k.a. Museum) and riding the train all afternoon today. While I would not pick the same hotel, we will probably plan something like this again next year. The travel time was perfect and the places that we visited were not too big and not too small. It was just right for a family traveling with a toddler.

However, I couldn't be happier to be home. There is some great truth to the saying "Home Sweet Home."

Happy Mother's Day

Today was Mother's Day. Adam and I hung out all day together while Daddy was at work. We didn't do too much. We did get to visit Grandma Karen, Grandpa JC, Aunt Steph, Grandma Pam and Grandpa Greg so that was nice. Then we just came home and played and ordered pizza. There was no way that I was cooking on Mother's Day.

It is so hard to believe that I am actually a mother. I am responsible for another human being. As mind blowing as that is, I love it and can't imagine our life any different. Adam has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. God has truly blessed Jeff and I with a happy, healthy little boy. We are so thankful.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Nudd the Stud

Jeff has this memory from school of this older kid, who for some reason, chose to pick on him. Jeff swears that this kid just had something against him for no reason, but he would kind of pick on him. I know, I know ... poor Jeff. I think he got over it and has had no permanent issues from this experience. Anyway, to this day Jeff will still talk about this guy and how much of a jerk he is and how he cannot stand him. No matter what this guy is like today, Jeff will always think of him like he was in high school. I can't blame him. I would probably do the same. Anyway, the one thing Jeff remembers about this kid was that he would always call him "Nudd the Stud." I think it is hysterical - mainly because I bet that Jeff really did think that he was a stud back then.

Anyway, so tonight Adam has really been on this kick of repeating everything we say. He has been repeating us for quite awhile, but tonight we could pretty much get him to say anything we told him to. So, first I asked him to say this full name. Adam has never done this before. If we have asked him what his name is he will just say "Adam." Tonight I asked him if he could say his whole name, then I said it and had him repeat me. He said his whole name and hearing him say it was just adorable. Then we asked him to say "Nudd the Stud" and he said it, and said it again, and again, and again. It was awesome. I think Jeff might develop a complex hearing this again, and from his own son! So next time you see Jeff, be sure to call him "Nudd the Stud" - I am sure he will just love it.

The Wheels on the Bus

The other day I was driving to work grooving to the tunes that were playing on the cd player. (Picture me grooving - it was awesome!) Anyway, I got about half way to work when I suddenly realized that I was "grooving" to Adam's KinderMusik cd. This cd consists of songs like "The Wheels on the Bus" and "I've Been Working on the Railroad."

This has got to be a sure sign that I have officially become the mother of a toddler. The saddest part of the whole thing was how long it took for me to realize what I was listening to. I was actually enjoying singing along to these songs. Now don't get me wrong, Adam and I love to sing these songs together. I even turn the wipers on when we sing about the wipers going wash, wash, wash and I honk the horn when we sing about the horn going beep, beep, beep (which I am sure everyone we are going past just loves). It's just that things are a little different when your 2 year old is not with you and you are singing those songs. I quickly turned the cd off and put the Bob and Tom Show on. I needed something totally opposite of KinderMusik and you can't get much more opposite than the Bob and Tom Show.

So, if you ever pull up beside me while I am driving and you see me singing, I will probably be singing about the Wheels on the Bus. If you can see in the backseat and see that Adam is not there, please try to get my attention and bring me back to reality. If Adam is in the backseat, feel free to honk your horn and turn on your wipers, and join in. Trust me - it's a great time!

P.S. - I have a feeling that there are other moms and dads out there reading this that have done the same thing - Admit it!