Tag: motherhood

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Thank goodness for visitors

Today got off to a bit of a rocky start – I had to raise my voice and ask God for patience too many times. I was happy to have visitors this morning that brightened up the day and took my mind off of the fact that I was feeling like a crummy mom. My good friend from college, Heidi, and her son J, came to spend some time with us. It had been a while since we last got together, so we had a bit to catch up on. Little J is now on the move, so it was fun to see him crawling and pulling up on things. He is getting so big! My boys enjoyed the company. They’re always captivated by other people their size, but especially when the kids are younger than they are. Lincoln takes an extra special interest in the wee ones – so much so that I need to keep a close eye on him because he tends to think the babes are sturdy like he is. Not to fear though, I’m sure J will catch up to my boys soon enough. It will be a fun day when all 3 of them tear around the house 🙂

I’m writing this entry at work tonight.  I had to come in to take care of a few things and now I’m heading home to try to finish the workbook chapter for my moms’ group study tomorrow morning.  I feel like I’m in college lately – trying to keep up on my reading, but not having much success unless I have a deadline staring at me.  Some habits are just hard to break.

One more tidbit for the day.  On the way home from the grocery store, Nolan said to me, “I’m not a boy anymore.”  I questioned, “So what are you?”  He replied, “A preschooler!”  In a way, I guess he’s right.  He is no longer a “little” boy who needs his mom all of the time.  He’s definitely becoming an independent, preschool boy.

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Typical Wednesday night stuff

When Lincoln was born, my Aunt Alice & Uncle Jerry sent a package containing a soft brown bear that sings Barry White’s “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything.”

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Nolan has loved it since day one, (here he is right after he opened the box with the bear inside)

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and Lincoln has enjoyed dancing along to the music ever since he figured out how to press the button on the bear’s arm to start the song.

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The boys have pushed the red button so many times, I now have brain cells that are permanently dedicated to keeping the lyrics in my head, ready for me to sing along when I hear it start.  Tonight I was given many chances to sing karaoke with the bear.  It was actually very fun watching Lincoln get so excited about the music, even if it was Barry White.

Before I headed out for the evening (Wednesday night is my volleyball night,) Nolan had me put on a “cape” and we ran around the house.  The boys and dogs all chased me.  It was crazy!  The boys were laughing and shouting with excitement and the dogs were both barking loudly.  Just one more example of the nutty stuff that goes on within the Sheck house on a regular basis.  I said to Jake tonight that our kids will never be able to say their mom was afraid to act silly – and then publish it for the world to see 🙂

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When Dad’s away…

the goofies will play.  Jake had a dinner outing for work tonight, so the boys and I spent the entire day together.  The closer we got to bedtime, the sillier things got.  I think everyone was a little over tired.

Nolan has been asking me about my swim goggles lately.  I don’t know who told him I owned a pair, but I guess that’s not really very important.  As a “reward” for finishing his dinner tonight, I pulled them out and let him try them on.  Not to be outdone, Lincoln also had to have a turn.  He didn’t want them anywhere near his face.  Apparently he thought they made a better necklace.  Next up, the two of them decided the laundry basket that I just emptied would make a good boat.  Initially, Lincoln sat in it while Nolan pulled him around their room and then dumped him backwards.  They both thought it was hilarious.  Then they climbed in together (emphasis on climb, for Lincoln) and laughed some more.  I think we had a double case of the sillys tonight.  I’ll gladly take those ANY night over the whinys, sobbys or the tantrumys.

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The day that ended with cake

I should have known today was going to be a challenging one when I lost my necklace (I ended up finding it) and Lincoln blew out his diaper all within about 10 minutes of getting the day started.  We made it through breakfast relatively unscathed and then the boys decided to turn one of their storage tins into a drum.  I had given them wooden spoons to use as microphones, but I guess they made better drum sticks.  The rest of the day was actually kind of a blur.  I was exhausted and had hoped to take a nap when the boys did, but unfortunately, Lincoln only napped for an hour, so I braced myself for an afternoon with a moody toddler.  By the time dinner time rolled around, between the kids and the dogs I was going crazy and looking for someone else to keep me company as I headed there.  I even posted my plea for company on Facebook.  One of my friends responded saying, “I can’t keep you company, but I’ll open the door and welcome you to crazy when you get here.”  I got a much needed laugh out of his comment.  Thankfully, when Jake came home I was able to take a few minutes to catch my breath.

After dinner, the kids thought it would be funny to wear books as hats, so that’s what we did.  Once again, no matter how nutty some of their antics make me, they can always make me laugh.

Nolan helped me bake a cake today.  It was hard for him to wait until the evening to dig in to it, but he made it.  He asked if we could put candles in it and have a “pretend birthday.”  That sounded good to me, so we lit 3 candles and sang “Happy Birthday.”  When we got to the part about saying the birthday person’s name, I paused and waited for his response.  He said, “Mommy!” and we finished the song.  Guess he’s heard my birthday is coming soon, so we’d better practice 🙂

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The joys of sugar

Nolan got to wear his pumpkin costume to school today and apparently do a little trick-or-treating.  He came home with two little goody bags filled with trinkets and individually wrapped pieces of sugary goodness.

I think kids have a heightened sense of where sweet treats are located and an uncanny ability to figure out packaging that sometimes stumps adults.  Case in point, Lincoln.  It was good that Nolan had two bags of treats because my littlest Sheck was not letting go of the bag he acquired from his older brother until he examined its contents completely.  Once we arrived home, I placed him in his highchair, untwisted the twist-tie from his bag, and let him check out what was inside.  I opened a mini candy bar and he made short work of it.  As I was getting lunch ready (thinking he was just playing with the eraser and kazoo from the bag) I turned around to find he had opened the purple Tootsie Pop and was enjoying it like a kid who has had a sucker before.  (Today was his first.)  And so, like any good mother, I grabbed my camera and took pictures while he loaded up on sugar before nap time.

Green monster teeth were another goody bag item.  Look at those scary smiles 🙂

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Routine check-up

The boys had a “non-routine” afternoon today.  We had the pleasure of spending 1 1/2 hours at the doctor’s office for Lincoln’s 18 month check-up.  Nolan & Lincoln enjoyed entertaining the other waiting room patrons by pointing to the different artwork, jabbering & laughing with one another, and doing laps around the chairs.  (No one scowled at us, which I appreciated.  We only received smiles.)  When Lincoln’s name was called, we spent a few fleeting moments in one patient room before moving to one that our doctor typically uses instead.  After the good doctor checked Lincoln out, I asked her a few questions and did my best to focus on her responses as I attempted to corral the boys.  They were extremely interested in the sink & goose-neck light in the room – why am I not surprised??  I don’t blame them for getting antsy – an hour and a half is a long time to be cooped up like we were.  I’m so glad our doctor has lots of patience, loves kids and likes to laugh.

Our time at the clinic ended with both boys getting shots.  Nolan went first, which ended up being a good thing.  Had he seen Lincoln get poked first, I’m not sure I would have been able to get him up on the exam table.  He was rewarded with a chance to pick out his stickers, which made him forget the leg poke he just received.  Lincoln had no idea what was coming.  He was poked twice, and afterward, was very concerned that he had a band-aid on his leg.  Poor kid hasn’t quite figured out that stickers are supposed to make everything better.

We pulled out the Play-doh when we got home to take our minds off of the shots (and to give me a chance to put something together for dinner.)  I’m happy to report that tonight the Play-doh was only “played” with and not eaten.  Hurray!

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Dinner and buckets

After working out at the gym, we went to my parents’ house to have lunch with Nana (my mom.)  The boys have a special “fort” area under the steps leading to the lower level of the house.  The room used to be my mom’s “stash closet.”  She kept presents and snacks under lock and key while we were growing up; as teenagers, we had a habit of eating anything that was left out.  Now the space has been cleared out to make room for the kids’ toys. There’s even a funky green silicone-covered light bulb that they can turn on and off with a string (not just a switch) – this was a new discovery today and they loved it!

This evening, Nolan’s preschool invited all of the kids to bring their dads to St. John’s for the 2nd annual “Dinner with Dad” event.  The group had hot dogs, chips & carrots for dinner and floats for dessert.  Such a fun way for the kids to spend one-on-one time with their dads!

Here are the guys before they headed out.  After they returned, things got a little silly at our house.  I’m not sure who started this, but we ended up with buckets on our heads.  Nolan and Lincoln thought it was pretty funny.  Actually, I did too 🙂

It’s times like these that make me forget how stressed or frustrated I can get when the boys are having a meltdown or I can’t figure out what they want.  Note to self: make prints of these and put them where I can see them when I need a reminder of why I love being a stay-at-home mom.

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Quarantined

Here’s something I never thought I’d be writing about myself.

After consulting with the nurse line at my clinic this afternoon, I went to urgent care for a suspicious set of bumps on my hand and a sore throat that has been annoying me for several days.  I left the doctor’s office with a prescription and a chicken pox diagnosis.  Can you believe that?!?

I’m not really sure where I contracted them from.  There is one possibility, but if it’s true that the virus doesn’t make itself known until 14 days after exposure, then my potential encounter last week was quite likely not the cause of the outbreak.  Then again, I really shouldn’t even be a candidate for even getting them – I already had them when I was a kid.  Apparently I’m one of the few lucky ones who gets to experience them twice.  I’m hopeful that the breakout won’t be too bad, but regardless, I’m now home-bound until things clear up.

Thankfully, the kids and Jake are currently in the clear, and not subject to the same quarantine that I am.  I’m praying things stay that way.  I’ll gladly endure the sore throat and house arrest if that means they stay healthy!

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Look back and laugh

I think God gives moms a few extra special gifts when it comes to being able to handle disgusting situations with poise, skill & composure.  I know I don’t embody all of those gifts in every situation where they could be used, but I am proud to say I did keep my composure and used a little skill with a tad bit of poise this afternoon.

When I got Shecklet #2 out of his highchair after lunch, I noticed he needed his diaper changed.  I thought I had a few minutes to clear the table and then change him.  WRONG.  Next thing I know, he’s sitting in the hallway whining because he has somehow managed to dislodge the contents of his diaper and make a total mess of the floor and himself.

Forgive me if this is a tad too gross for those of you who are checking in with me, but I am actually sitting here chuckling about it as I replay the conversation I had with myself this afternoon….

“Should I pick him up? Of course I should.  But wait, I can’t just walk off with him…the dogs need to go somewhere. I have to get him upstairs for a bath!  Where is Shecklet #1?  Oh, there he is.  Ok, Shecklet #1 needs to come with me, but manage to walk around the mess.  That’s right Shecklet #1, don’t step there, step here.  Good job!  Mav, Coop – upstairs, now!  Alright, dogs are in our room, where’s the baby gate?  What in the world is that?  Great, something else to clean up.  Ok, Shecklet #2 needs to get scrubbed down.  Shecklet #1, stay where I can see you.  Towel.  Washcloth.  Johnson’s Baby Wash.  Phew!  I think we’re going to be ok now.”

And we were.  Ok, I mean.  We all needed a nap after all that excitement though.  Good thing it was dark and rainy today – I didn’t feel bad snuggling back under the covers and dozing while the boys took their naps.

One final tidbit for today.  This actually happened last night while I was blogging.  Here is what my dogs think of “Where The Wild Things Are.”  Can you believe these two can do this?

This is the 2nd book Mav & Coop have sunk their teeth in to.  Number 1 was a library book.  Not good.  I’m beginning to think they have a preference for pricier books.  They have yet to chew apart the cheapo books from garage sales or the thrift store.  Who knew they could tell the difference?