Happy Halloween!

We had a great year of trick-or-treating. The boys did their best job yet. MJ quickly figured out that by ringing the doorbell, he received candy. He somehow was under the impression that he had to make a trade at each house and would put one piece of candy from his bucket into their candy assortment before taking another. We explained to him that he did not have to give up a piece to get another but that it was a very thoughtful thing to do. RJ came home from school this week with a button that resembles the Staples Easy Button. It was recordable so we were able to record "trick-or-treat" which he used appropriately. It was a very happy Halloween and I am very happy it is over. I'm exhausted.

It's the Great Pumpkin Jones Family

Tonight we continued our annual tradition of carving pumpkins. Neither boy really wanted to touch the 'guts' though MJ enjoyed using a spoon to get the seeds out. RJ just wanted to eat the seeds so he only helped for a few minutes. I finished them up (like I do every year) and the boys enjoyed looking at them all lit up. Though carving pumpkins is not a clean activity or one of my favorites it's one I hope the boys remember fondly as they grow up. My dad told me this year how much he hated the mess and headache of carving pumpkins through the years. I would have never known it. All I have are happy memories of it being one of our many family traditions.

Honkin' Patch

Also known as the "Pumpkin Patch". MJ has been calling them 'honkin's' for several weeks now and I find it very cute. Yesterday, we attended a birthday party for the son for a friend of mine. It was at Faulkner's Pumpkin Farm and the boys had a blast. There were several activities for the kids to partake in. RJ really enjoyed playing with the cow bells though the wind was a little much for him. Each kid came home with a balloon and a pie pumpkin as favors. Very cute idea. With my kids having January and March birthdays, I don't think a pumpkin patch birthday party will be something we can pull off!

Holiday Mart 2008

Last night, my friend Wendy and I had our annual outing to the Junior League sponsored Holiday Mart. For those of you who have never been, it is at the Overland Park Convention Center and has rows upon rows of booths of everything you can imagine. Lots of Christmas present ideas, decorations, food samples, wrapping paper, etc. I restrained myself and came out with just a few goodies this year.

Afterward, we met Wendy's husband and Bobby out to eat and listen to a great cover band. We shared a babysitter at Brian and Wendy's house and it was a great night. The boys were asleep when we got back and easily went to bed when we got home. Assuming this wonderful babysitter wasn't completely scared off, this may be a great solution to some dinners without the kids!

Jinx

For future reference, I will no longer be bragging on MJ's sleeping habits. Last night bedtime started off innocently enough. It quickly progressed to him crying and eventually falling asleep in his own bed. At 12:30 he started screaming and ended up sleeping the rest of the night in the middle of our bed. Several times I had a foot, or feet, in my ear and fought to keep my belly on the 1/4 inch of bed space I had left. So...regardless of how well he is doing, you will not hear it from me.

Growth spurt?

Not for me but for MJ. Today for breakfast MJ ate a banana, then a cereal bar, then a few candy corns. I know, not the breakfast of champions but he earned them. The last several nights, not only has he stayed in his room and his bed all night but he has also FALLEN ASLEEP in there! What a change. I'm still amazed every morning at 7:00 that there are only two of us in our bed.

For supper tonight he had half of a grilled cheese sandwich, diced apples, yogurt covered raisins (which he thoughtfully calls 'eggs') and two servings of goldfish crackers. He then got upset when he asked for a cereal bar and I turned him down. I'm thinking this child is going to be sprouting either up or out relatively soon.

Today he came home from daycare with a hole in the knee of his jeans. Not something many moms would celebrate but it's a typical boy right of passage and RJ has always (understandably) been pretty gentle on his clothes. MJ thought it was pretty funny asking "where's my leg?....there it is!".

My Next Purchase

I am exhausted. I know that comes with the pregnancy territory but this goes beyond that. It is a culmination of things. One of them being a 2 year old who is having trouble

1) Taking Naps

2) Going to bed period.

As has been mentioned previously, MJ has found some comfort in RJ's bed. As of recently he has begun climbing on any given object to turn on the light in the middle of the night, early in the morning or at bedtime to avoid going to sleep. I don't know if this is a new found fear of the dark or a way to show his independence but either way he is not getting the sleep he needs and it's compromising his brother's sleep as well. After many tears tonight (his and mine) I started Googling options on childproofing light switches. I have made many attempts to tape his down to the best of my ability. Some how, some way, he has patiently figured out how to get all 27 pieces of tape off. I found the above product on E-Bay. It seems easy enough to install. I haven't decided if it is a Godsend or torture but I see it as a means to an end of torturous bedtime fighting. Now if I can deal with the crying maybe we'll all get a little more sleep.

Refrigerate and Shake Well (Augmentin)

RJ has had his share of surgeries. At last count I believe he was at thirteen or so. Three of those surgeries have been sets of ear tubes that have succeeded in the prevention of ear infections, at least while they have stayed in. As soon as they come out, the infections return. He has had two sets of regular tubes and one set of 'permanent' T-Tubes. The T-Tubes were put in last November at the same time as his kidney surgery and as of this summer both had fallen out on their own. We were told when the T-Tubes were inserted that they may need to be surgically removed when it was time because they are so permanent. Apparently not with our son. It was only a matter of time before the dreaded ear infections returned and after a $30 copay at the doctor's office, our suspicions were confirmed. The winter illness season has officially arrived.

The Hospital Tour .....of Laughs

Tonight I toured one of the hospitals that my doctor's group delivers at. Having delivered at two different hospitals with my first two boys, I decided to try yet another, newer, hospital for my 3rd. I had heard great things about the amenities and wanted to witness them with my own eyes. True to rumor, the all in one labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum rooms were very roomy with two flat-panel tv's and wireless Internet. There is an all-night snack bar for mom and family and Fort Knox like security to keep any baby stealers from trying to take my little girl.

It is pretty humorous to see how a person changes from their first to their third child. It was evidenced by the questions asked by myself and the other couple touring with me who were expecting their first.

OC (Other Couple): "Do we have to stay the full 48 hours after a normal delivery if my doctor says I can go home?"

Me: "My insurance says it will pay for 96 hours. I can stay the full 96 right?"

OC: "Can we keep our baby with us the entire time? I don't want my baby going to the nursery."

Me: "There isn't a problem if I send the baby to the nursery every night except to feed right?"

OC: "Where are the fire exits?"

Me: "What kind of free stuff do we get?"

Ok, so I asked the last one a little more tactfully but yes, I did ask. As for my previous questions, when else are you going to have someone wait on you hand and foot and bring the baby to and fro on your command ever again? I have this child for the next 18 plus years, 96 hours of help will not hurt anyone!

It's beginning to look a lot like.....Halloween??

I know, it is only October 15th, but the brisk 50 degree rainy weather we had today inspired me to put on some Christmas music. What made it even more complete was my stop at Starbucks for a Caramel Apple Spice. The combination of the dreary weather, warm cider and holiday music made me realize that Christmas (and then this baby) will truly be here before we know it!

A well-dressed girl

Last week, Talbot's online was having a major clearance sale. Yes, I am the queen of clearance and coupons. On top of their 75% off clearance, I had a coupon code for an additional 20% off and free shipping. The above items at retail would have cost: $302! I spent less than $60. Ok, still not super cheap but for "boutique" clothes, I didn't think that was too bad of a deal.

Comments

I know several people have mentioned to me that they are unable to comment on my posts. Once I got over the feeling of being unpopular, it occurred to me that there may be a setting I hadn't checked. Yep. That's it. Anybody should be able to comment now, anonymously or not.

"I'm a loser baby".....

This weekend we went 'home' to see the family for the annual Fall Festival. It was a hectic weekend filled with fun. The boys loved the parade and Matthew quickly mastered the art of waving to the floats to get candy thrown at him. Saturday night my siblings and I went out to the local establishment to enjoy each other's company (which we NEVER get to do as a group). It took me all of about an hour of Shirley Temples to decide that it was past my bedtime. The other stayed out later, some MUCH later but we won't get in to that!

The Dreaded Scale

I had a doctor's appointment Monday and I now officially weigh as much as I did when I got pregnant with Matthew. Yes I realize I'm almost 6 months but I had a wonderful scenario in my head that maybe I could make it through my whole pregnancy before getting to this point. HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Over the last two weeks I'm really starting to feel pregnant. Once again, it's taken me much longer than with the other two but I wouldn't have minded if it would have waited another month or so.

What $19 can buy you in today's economy

K-Mart (not my favorite store but tends to have some bargains) just started instituting "double coupon days". Most stores that double coupons will double only those up to $0.50. K-Mart has taken it a few steps further and is doubling up to $2!!! So, an item that is $4 but has a $2 coupon would be free! My total for the above items before coupons was $98. After.....$19! My goal is that during this winter (i.e. bad months for those in the mortgage industry) and maternity leave, the only expenses we will have are for food, gas, ultilities and day care. It might be a fantasy but if all goes as planned, I won't be finding myself picking up shampoo at the grocery store for double the normal price.

Out with the old...

Maybe it's nesting starting a few months early. Maybe it's my vision of a future nursery. Something has gotten me excited about getting rid of some of the stuff the boys have outgrown or blue things I want to replace with pink. My plan is to take the money I make from selling these items and put it in a New Baby J fund. That way when I find something I just HAVE to have, I won't feel so bad about spending the money. Have I mentioned I love E-Bay?