Who Wants Some Candy?

Our fridge is topped with the giant bags of candy I was supposed to hand out to trick or treaters tonight, but didn't...because after we trick or treated, Andrew got called into work and my cranky kids needed to go to bed. Add that candy to the candy Maddox got today and well...that equals a lot of sugar highs. Someone take this candy away!!!

Maddox and Jude were supposed to be ketchup and mustard, but I couldn't find sweatsuits in the right colors. So we ended up with two cowboys!

We started the day off at Boo at the Zoo. The line to get inside was sooooo long and it was sooooo hot I almost wanted to say, "Ok, let's go home!" But we hung in there and had a pretty good time.

We saw bears, zebras, gators...well, I don't know what Maddox saw. I think all he noticed was the candy in his bucket.

He's under there! (unwrapping more candy)

My favorite part was the train ride. Then again, it made me a little nervous. I told Andrew I hoped it didn't end up like Jurassic Park because I didn't think the fences were high enough. This guy scared me...and so did the ostrich that was staring me down as he steadily came toward our slow-moving train!

Thankfully, nothing attacked us. Back home, we hit the streets of our own neighborhood for more candy (like we need it). Maddox's pal Hannah came along.

Besides saying "thanks" sometimes and "eeew" a lot, Maddox was silent and wide-eyed as he took candy from strangers. He didn't trust all the people in costumes. He is my Mr. Cautious!

At one point, he started screaming "eeew" (REALLY screaming)so loud that everyone turned to look. He jumped into my arms then pointed at this: GUMBY. Of all things he was PETRIFIED of this silly little thing. Maybe he thought it was a giant lizard?

 After that, he wanted me to hold him. Plus, he was just plain worn out.

Back home, he jumped and turned in his bed until he passed out.

 

I have a feeling he'll sleep like a rock tonight (unless he dreams about Gumby).

Boo-Hooing at the Fair and Such

There is a little something you should know about Maddox. Well, actually, it is a big something. He is obsessed -yes, obsessed- with racecars. Anything with a steering wheel is a racecar to him. Anything that even looks like a steering wheel counts as a racecar.

Tonight we took him to the Northwest Florida Fair, which is about one minute from our house. I got excited for him when I saw this ride:

Now, I knew he wouldn't get on the toddler elephant ride or even the toddler airplane ride...but this had steering wheels! We took a chance and got him the tickets. He bravely climbed into his chosen set of wheels - the bright yellow truck with flames - and off he went around the track. After Lap 1, he was a lost cause. Red face, open mouth, tears streaming...it was so sad, but so funny too. And the best part was that no matter how hysterical he got, he kept steering that wheel.

Of course he couldn't stop talking about it afterwards. Tears aside, all he wants, as he will tell you 50 million times, is "mo' racecar."

Smelly Babies and Lots of Candy

The only time that Jude smells good is when he's fresh out the bath...because as soon as I dress him, he spits up. Always.

Today I took the boys to Target - ALONE. I was very happy that nobody had a meltdown. We left the store an hour later with three giant bags of Halloween candy and the rest of Maddox's costume.

It should be a very fun weekend (unless Andrew gets called into work).

Adorable pictures are to come, I'm sure....

Why It's Nice to Have a Man

It's nice to have a man around the house...for getting stuff out the garbage disposal...or killing lizards. The lizard thing is just too much for me. Lastnight, I discovered a fossilized lizard head (yes, head only!) that was hidden under the toilet plunger. How freaky is that? I screamed the whole time I picked it up and flushed it, with Maddox in the background crying "EEEEW IZARD!"

Seriously, though, I miss having Andrew here at night. When he isn't here, Jude always poops in his tub and that's quite a mess. Then I look up and there is Maddox...in the big tub...eating soap. But the worst part isn't in the chaos. After the boys go to sleep, I notice how quiet the house is and wish I had someone to talk to...or hug...or laugh/cry with. My mind drifts back to the days when we lived in the old yellow house in Camden...and nostalgia sets in.

Tonight I missed a call from Andrew at 8pm. I got excited. Was he off early from work? I called him back and nope...he was just going to Subway and thought he'd call to check on us. When I hung up the phone, I cried like a baby. Hormones? Very, very possible. But it will all be ok. It always is.

Can you spy the airplane? These things fly over all the time and it's becoming a comforting sound, actually.

Oh, Boy!

Lastnight, after Maddox flushed a wad of baby wipes (of course clogging the toilet), he was kind enough to bring us the bathroom plunger. Two-year-olds...are something else. So are newborns. How does someone so tiny...

 ...make SO much laundry???

I feel like I am running a race all day. But I'm not complaining! It will get me back in shape faster, right?

So yea. I have a house full of boys. That is the equivalent to a house full of wild monkeys, if you ask me.

Velcro Baby #2

There was a little joke before Jude was born that since Maddox looked more like Andrew, but was more of a high-maintenance kid like me...maybe Jude would look more like me, but be more of a laid-back baby like Andrew (wow, talk about a run-on sentence...).

Well!

Jude does look more like me, but sad to say...he is also a high-maintenance baby! Yes, he is perfect and quiet and happy WHEN he is being held. Luckily I still have my baby wrap and can "wear" Jude, which puts him right to sleep. Will I ever have one of those happy-go-lucky babies???? Maybe...but for now, looks like my kids are cling-ons (at least I will have killer arm muscles!).

Plumpin' Up!

Somebody is getting fat around our house (and thank God it isn't me anymore!).

Chubby cheeks...

...double chin...

 ...and all that fuzzy wuzzy hair!

 I could pretty much just hold him all day, but then he would be spoiled rotten, so...I have to keep myself in check.



My Shopping Buddies

Day by day, we are getting deeper into the terrible twos. But at the same time, Maddox is getting funnier (like when he told me I had two butts). I like to think of our life right now as mostly a comedy with a splash of drama.

 Getting Maddox to cooperate for pictures these days is next to impossible. There is usually a tongue sticking our or a finger up the nose, as you can see.

 Jude is still at that age where photographing him is easy. He just stares at the camera shot after shot.

When I decided we should do a family shopping trip to Destin, I knew it would be an adventure, but I was up for it. The key is in the prep work...go after naps, pack snacks, extra everything, and pump a bottle. Amazingly, Maddox had few meltdowns (except when he thought he was too big to hold hands) and Jude slept (except when he demanded his dinner).

Toward the end of our adventure, Andrew stayed in the car to give Jude his bottle and I took Maddox in Baby Gap to try on about five pairs of pants (that's all he could handle). What a job! Maddox is in desperate need for pants, BUT...he's too skinny for 2T and too tall for 18-24 months. So, it's a challenge. He whined that most were "tooooo big!" We settled on a pair of sweat pants and called it a night!

The biggest and last meltdown came when Maddox decided he should "drive Mommy's racecar."

But distracting him with some food put an end to all the fuss.

And then...home at last! Pajama time, stories, brushing teeth, putting Maddox to bed and of course...Jude wakes up.



Bears, Bears...in Florida?!

Maddox calls our neighbor "Beard." His full name is Bob Beard. Every time we go outside, Mr. Beard is on his screened porch, drinking diet soda and smoking a cigarette. Maddox is faithful with his, "Hey Beard!"

This morning, someone knocked on the door about ten times. Out of my peep hole, I could tell it was a man, but I couldn't see his face...so I didn't answer! Anyway, I found out it was Mr. Beard. He had some important news.

(The pictures below have nothing to do with this post, but I thought they were good pictures, so there ya go!)

He warned us that he spotted a bear (he guessed he was around 400 lbs or so) this morning.

That's right.

A BEAR.

You hear Florida and you think - snakes, gators, lizards...but bears?!

This is probably the same bear that broke into our trash can a few weeks ago.

Mr. Beard said he was beautiful.

If I happen to see our new visitor, I don't think I will use that word.

I will, instead, probably pee my pants.

Then again, I would like to get a picture....

Early Risers

One day, my boys will appreciate sleeping in. Until then, I will keep getting up with my 6 am early birds (and doing goofy stuff, like putting 2 contacts in the same eye...because I am sleep-deprived).

We have a routine now. I open the nursery window blinds, we plop down on the fluffy rug and we play (as I gulp my coffee).

Jude loves kicking his legs and looking out the window.

Maddox is usually sweetest in the morning and wants to hold his little brother. He then shows him his "racecars" (anything with a steering wheel counts as a racecar in his book) and insists that I drive his racecars with him.

So by 8 am, I have made breakfast, dressed 2 boys, changed a big poopy diaper no doubt, taken the other stinker to the potty, and driven racecars.

(The picture above is Maddox going in to shake Jude's hand and saying "nice meet you.")

By 9 am, I am wishing for a nap.

I am just no good at this broken-sleep-during-the-night thing.

But I usually get a nap at some point, so that keeps me going!

And, yes, these two are a LOT of work, but they are worth it. They are adorable, too. Andrew said Maddox should be Frankenstein for Halloween and Jude should be the Mad Scientist because of all his crazy hair (it's a joke...they are going to be dressed up cute, I promise, but in something more simple!).

Anyway, Jude has a mullet now. His hair is growing at lightning speed, though, so the front should catch up soon enough.

Pumpkin Patch Adventure

Before the Gamecocks lost to Kentucky, Saturday was a perfect day! We started it off right: with an adventure to Niceville (yes, that's really the name of the town). We knew we had reached our destination when we saw a field of ORANGE. Pumpkins pumpkins everywhere!

Maddox made his choice right away!

Then he thought he would try out a few more, just in case. TaTa held the potential winners while Maddox tested the rest.

He was mesmerized by all the pumpkins...green ones, white ones, warty ones, and of course orange ones.

Jude never even saw a pumpkin.

I picked a weird one. Too much orange is boring!

 And then came the petting zoo. After a near panic attack at the sight of a miniature pony, Maddox calmed down. He realized he could grab the hay and throw it at the animals. This brought him great joy!

On the way to the car, he cried, "No home! More pumpkin!"

I'd say, then, that our pumpkin patch adventure was a success and kicked off my favorite time of year just right.