RazNoggle

Today is Cupid’s day, I suppose. Though I tell my hubby that we don’t NEED a special day to remind us that we’re sweethearts. Still it’s fun though, and I enjoy the day. Any excuse for a card and gift is good, right? This year for V-day Stuart ordered us fitbits! I’m so excited about these little things, but unfortunately they are taking longer than expected in production so they didn’t make it here on time. BUT it’ll be fun once they do arrive. In the mean time he also got me “Hello Dolly” which I’d never seen before except little blurbs on “Wall-e.” So this afternoon we sat down and watched it during the lad’s nap. He also bought me the book “The Husband Project” which I had seen and wanted to read. I’m looking forward to that as well. It’s 21 days of loving your man, dosn’t that sound like fun? I think it will be for sure. You can never work too much on your marriage!
This afternoon we went for a family walk. It was chilly but fun. We walked briskly to keep warm so it didn’t last long, but we had a grand time anyway. Qade got to actually walk instead of ride for part of the way back. It was pretty funny to watch him “spit” on the ground like his daddy taught him. Boys! Myles mostly slept through it. I wonder what it is about a stroller on a bumpy dirt road that is conducive to sleep, but it’s so. Right now Qade is talking to his “Ma-maw” on the phone. It’s one of his favorite things to do now. My mom calls us every day, and she always asks to talk to Qade so now he will bring me the phone and ask for “ma-maw.” It’s pretty cute! He always ends the conversation with “bye- bye, low lew” (love you) Sweet!
Last night went pretty well with Myles. I know my “official” schedule planning doesn’t start till Sun night, but I’m jump starting it last night and tonight since it’s the weekend. Yesterday we stayed on our 4 hr schedule with naps and all just about perfect!! Oh, and lest you think I expect my 4 mo old to sleep all night from 7:30 on, I do feed him again around 10 before I go to bed. I’m not even expecting him to “last” till 8 then at this point, I’m trying to get him to stop waking at 1-2am. So if he could go from 10 till 4ish I’ll be happy! Then we’ll work on extending it after he actually starts solids. Last night was an experiment, and when Myles woke at 12a I didn’t get up, but rather let him “talk” himself back to sleep since he wasn’t really fussing. He ate at 2:45 and then woke again in the wee sma’s but put himself back to sleep then too. So I think that worked pretty well for a first go. Today our schedule has been “off” as far as hours go because Myles needed breakfast at 7 instead of 8, but that’s not a big deal to me. The spaces have been the same. Qade does fine on his schedule. He’s basically been doing the same thing since he was 6 months. We just lost our room time during camp, and now we’re dealing with a one nap a day thing. I’m sure he’ll adapt well, though I am anticipating some “protests” at room time to begin with. I’ll work to make it as positive as can be, and I think he’ll end up liking it in the end.
Well, I’m off to fix our “easy” supper and enjoy an evening with my fellas. Last night was SO funny! Stu was playing his guitar and Qade was dancing around in circles like crazy! I picked up Myles to prevent him from getting stomped, but we all just laughed and had a great time! Qade was quite the little entertainer, and he knows it too. Maybe this evening we’ll get a repeat performance. Toodles!

Well, last night at about 2:30am I made the decision that it is time for Myles to learn some of life’s tough lessons. Namely, just because you’re awake does NOT mean you need a meal. Now to clarify, I’m not complaining about getting up with my littlest love, because he really has been an Angel baby, but his mamma ain’t a super-hero, and after 4 months of interrupted sleep, I’m starting to wear out. I’ve just been dragging lately, and it effects the rest of my family, not to mention the house. So I’m taking the proactive stance, and going on the offensive to get this problem solved. Hence starting Sunday night I will be ‘camping out’ in the spare room with my little lad to work on his sleep schedule. This way I won’t have to worry about disturbing Stuart. It might be a rough week and I’m quite sure I’ll want to quit which is why I’m writing in here, maybe the “public” pressure will give me more motivation to stick to it. No, really at 4 months I know that Myles is capable of sleeping longer stretches, I’ve just got to convince him of that. But after a continuous headache for 4 days and up to 2 cups of coffee regularly I’m convinced that something needs to change.
I think that a more structured routine will help Qade as well. His days are ‘loosly’ structured now, but haven’t been as “normal” as they were before Myles was born, understandably. I’m going to help him have some “room time” each morning where he will play by himself (eventually) in his room for a bit. We used to do this, but it went away somehow. It’s a great idea though because it teaches him to play independently and gives Mommy a chance to do dishes! Woo-hoo!! I think it will help him with his clingyness too. Lately he seems velcroed to my legs, and it’s very hard to get anything done with a 25lb kid attached to you. I know life is in a difficult flux for him right now, but I’m happy to say that we are making strides in his fits, and he’s getting to be a better communicator and that helps. I’m sure that having a bit more stable of a daily structure will help him much!
So here’s a general idea of what our daily routine will look like. The times are just there for reference. I DON’T want to be tied to the clock, so they will be flexible up to half an hour, but I’d like to keep things on this general time line.

7am Get Qade up, have breakfast.
8am Wake Myles, feed him
10am Nap time for Myles, room time for Qade
11:30 Lunch time for Qade
12n Lunch time for Myles
2pm Nap time for both boys
4pm Snack for Qade- Feed Myles
5-6 Cat nap for Myles Dinner for Family
7pm Feed Myles
7:30 Bed time both boys.

So there it is. Wish me luck and I’ll let you know how it goes. I realize that implementing this is going to take some hard work, but at the same time I don’t anticipate it being too terrible because both my lads have been on a ‘routine’ it just hasn’t been quite this structured. I’m hoping that I’m right in thinking that they will adapt quickly. Ha ha!

Myles has found his smile!! Yesterday he lost it for sure, poor boy. He was pretty miserable all day, and mostly all night too, but today he has returned to his little happy self, and we’re all SO glad! Qade on the other hand woke up as Mr. Grumpy Gills, so he has had a rough morning, causing Mommy to have a bit of a rough morning as well. He seems to be doing a bit better right now though, maybe lunch helped his outlook on life. He was hungry this morning! He had oatmeal, a whole banana, raisins and part of Mommy’s oatmeal too! He ate a good lunch as well. Spaghetti O’s and string cheese, and some Gerber little veggies. He likes the sweet corn. He also shared my yam. I ate it with an avacado sandwich. Qade has been flexing those “independence muscles” when it comes to meals sometimes. He just refuses to eat what’s put before him. So I give him 2 choices, take it or leave it. He has chosen to leave it several times, but is learning that nothing else gets offered. I think that’s why he is so hungry at breakfast sometimes, but he’s a smart lad, and I know he’ll learn his lessons. So now we’re all full, and happy as larks and soon both my little Loves will be taking their nap, and that will give me time to fold the mountain of laundry that I’ve been doing today! *whew*
Yesterday I did make some cinnamon rolls, and they are SO delicious! I used a “caramel glaze” instead of the regular confectioners sugar glaze, and it made such a difference! Amazing what a little change can do! They were great before, but now they are even nummier!
Anyway, today I have done laundry, as I mentioned, swept up after Qade’s meals, and cleaned the kitchen and dining room. I’m hoping sometime in the next couple days to go through the boy’s toys (mostly Qade’s) and get rid of some of the superfluous things. I’m starting to feel cluttered, and that causes stress in my life. Qade did loose one of his beloved Hot Wheels this morning. I don’t know how, but he managed to bend one of the wheels and then bring it to Mommy to “fix” which of course I couldn’t do, though I did try. So when he wasn’t paying attention I tossed the poor car. Hard facts of life, things don’t last forever. However, Qade doesn’t know this yet, I got him a “valentine” Hot Wheel the other day, so he’ll soon have another “wheels” to love.
Hope you are all having a spectacular Wednesday!

Yep, I woke up today to more snow on the ground, and it’s been coming down again for awhile. The good thing about that is well, there’s a couple, 1) we really need the moisture, but mostly I was thinking about how Stu got to stay home with ME today!! He was supposed to go to camp for a meeting, but they are getting even MORE snow down that way, so they canceled it. So I have all my men at home with me today, and I got a kick out of watching the cat try to walk through the snow in the dog’s footprints so she wouldn’t have to sink her little paws in the snow! Really though, I’d rather we could have hung on to our springy weather. I like to get out and walk, using the elliptical is just not the same. Oh well.
Myles hit his 4 month birthday on Sunday and as a “celebration” had to get his shots yesterday. Poor lad! It wrings my heart when they have to get shots. Ugh!! Can’t wait till these immunization years are over! I know it’s important for them, but man alive it just about kills me. Anyway, poor buddy has been cranky since his “incident” and had a bit of a fever too. This morning he woke up SO sad, and just cried and cried. I gave him Tylenol, but it’s so hard to know how to help him. He is such a chipper chap all the time, that when he cries you KNOW something is “terrible” for him. He’s sleeping sweetly now though so hopefully he’ll start to feel better soon.
On a more happy note. I went to my Sis-in-law’s baby shower this weekend, and it’s always fun to see the new sweet baby things! We’re all excited for “Jo-Jo’s” arrival! He’s not “due” till March, but hey, that’s not TOO far away. I’ve been teaching Qade to say Jo-Jo so he’s all set to be introduced to his cousin. I’m sure when we do get to see him that Myles will look like a giant baby! He’ll be 5 months by then! Wow, time is flying. Myles weighed 13.4 and was 25 inches long. I’m not sure what percent that puts him in, but the doctor said he’s growing well, but I already knew that. He talked about the fact that he might be teething in the next couple months (something I’m not ready for at all) and how we could start cereal and baby food. (I’m not ready for that either!) It just made me think about how fast our babies grow up, and how we seem to try to “push” them to grow up even faster.
Anyway, that’s just kinda random, but I figured I needed to post something today. I’m thinking about making some more cinnamon rolls today. I made a batch of the “knock off” cinnabon rolls on Sunday for the business meeting. They were HUGE and very popular because all the ones that didn’t get eaten got snatch to take home. hmmmm… so anyway we had none left over and I think I’d like some more. It’s really easy to make them when you let the bread machine do the kneading and mixing for you.
But a hot cinnamon roll and coffee/tea would be perfect for this snowy day.
Ta ta friends!

We got to shop at Costco while visiting Stu’s parents, and I picked up a corned beef roast! To celebrate St. Patty’s day. (Since we’re SO Irish after all- ha ha!) I used to love it when my mom would get those, but haven’t had one in a LONG time, and have never fixed one myself. This shall be an adventure!
The boys are both down for nap right now, so the house is quite, and I’m feeling sleepy too. I have no excuse though because I actually had to WAKE UP Myles at 8am this morning!! WOOOO- HOOOOO! This is the second night in about 4 days that he’s slept completely through the night! Hopefully we’re developing a pattern here! He has been doing excellently well on the 4 hour schedule too. What a compliant kido!
Qade had a great time this weekend at the grandparent’s house. Sans the adventure in the Mall, poor thing. We got home yesterday and it always humors me to watch him go around the house reacquainting himself with all his stuff. He’s so thrilled to see it all, as if he’s been gone for years, and has this “oh, I remember this” expression on his face. Too cute! My dad came over yesterday to chop some wood, so Qade got to see his other Pa-paw too. In the last couple of days Qade’s words seem to be much clearer. It’s pretty amazing to listen to him talk! I’m looking forward to having actual conversations with him that don’t consist of mostly babble. Grandpa Noggle taught him to say “starfish” this weekend, and it was crystal clear too!
Today has been a catch up on laundry day, as is typical when we get back from somewhere. I’ve also been contemplating babies. Not to worry, but I’m doing a “devo” at my sis-in-law’s shower, and am trying to organize some thoughts. Thoughts are great, but if no one else can understand where they come from or where they’re going, then they are basically useless. But I went on a walk today and thought about it (since the battery is dead on my shuffle) so I think I have my 3 points, now all I need is a poem. Ha! Maybe I’ll just read “Fox in Socks” instead.
Well, I just heard a GIANT yawn followed by some chatter coming from my little lad’s room. (not to be confused with my “littlest lad” hee hee) So I’m going to run, but hope you’ll drop by the blog for a little up date on our lives now and then. I’ll work on posting some more pics soon… maybe even tomorrow!