Birthday Party

This morning we hosted the 2nd Birthday for Archer, Cash, Henry and Isaac.

It's difficult to get two toddlers together and four is nearly impossible, but here are a couple cute pictures.

Filanthropy Friday

Happy 2nd Birthday Cash!

Also, Happy 1st Birthday to Sofie and Carlie Stroope! 

Also, Happy 2nd Birthday to some little Baby Mama boys - Archer (3/25), Henry (3/27) & Isaac (4/8)!

So much to celebrate (and donate).

For Cash - I selected SOS Children's Villages.  It's a charity that was much beloved and supported by Johnny Cash.   SOS provides homes for orphaned and abandoned children and I hope my $20 donation in Cash's honor will help the cause.

For Archer, Henry & Isaac - I selected The Navy Seal Foundation because Archer, Henry & Isaac are awesome and so are The Navy Seals.  The Navy Seal Foundation provides support services to Navy Seals and their families and I donated $15 in honor of Archer, Henry and Isaac to show our support. 

For Sofie and Carlie - I selected the March of Dimes (the same charity I gave to last year in their names).  Carlie and Sofie were born weeks premature and the March of Dimes funds research to help moms have full-term babies.  In honor of Sofie and Carlie, I gave $10 to The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign. 

 

On The Eve Of Your 2nd Birthday

Dear Cash,

On this night two years ago, I was oblivious to so many things - like:

• The fact that I was IN LABOR and not having gas pains;
• The fact that you were a boy (a thought which never occurred to me); 
• The fact that I would so deeply fall in love with you; and
• The fact that two years would go by so quickly.

Sweet baby Turd (we call you turd, among many other things), I don't think your father and I could have ever imagined how much you would consume our hearts and souls.  I showed a picture of you to your dad yesterday and he responded (via text): "I fall in love with that boy at least 100 times a day". 

I fall in love daily with the both you (this means, I win).

Here are a few things I started last year:

Favorite Color:  Red

Favorite Word: "No" and "Drive"

Favorite Food: Veggie Straws

Favorite Thing To Do: Drive

Last time you cried:  You "toddler" cry all the time, but I don't remember the last time you really cried.  I think that's a good thing.

Last time you smiled:  Tonight, while you were getting ready for bed.

What I think you'll be when you grow up:  A train conductor or singer or man who lives with his mom till he's 30 (which I highly encourage). 

New Things - 

Nicknames: Turd, Sugarman and Cub

Favorite Song: Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Shake -Shake-Shake and Pop Goes The Weasel. 

Favorite Book :  Right now, Airplanes or Snuggle Wuggle

My sweet little Sugarman Turd Cub, there is nothing you could ever do (beside hate cookie dough) that could keep me from loving you, protecting you and wanting the best for you.  Please be sweet to me and your dad and please don't grow up too quickly.

Love you more than ever,

Mom

Now, here is a picture of you representing how I FELT about 30 seconds after you were born.

Wordless Wednesday

An Entire Gallery of Family Pictures. 

3.5 Miles For Riggs

There have been a few changes at our house.

On Friday night Riggs pooed (extreme amounts close to his Great Dane body weight) in our carpeted bedroom.  We have been meaning to move Riggs out of our bedroom for a while now, but this was really the perfect excuse to start his transition.  

Since Saturday night Riggs has been sleeping (and pooping) downstairs (thankfully, it's tile and cleans easily).  His poop is getting more solid, but Buttin's theory is that Riggs is a little depressed because he's not with us at night (even though he's with us all day at the office).  I decided that RUNNING might help Riggs' mood (and maybe stop his diarrhea).  

This morning I took Riggs for a 3.5 mile jog.  He did surprisingly well - really well.  I only almost tripped over him four times (which isn't very many times considering Riggs' huge desire to move back and forth on the sidewalk).  After a little spazziness the first half mile, he settled into his gait and I think he actually made me run a little faster too. 

So Cub has two new favorite words - "attack" (which he demonstrated last night) and "drive".  Here he is telling me that he wants to drive (there is a hand motion that goes along with word).

Misfit Monday

Today Misfit Riggs decided to win the misfit award for most destructive behavior.  He diarrheaed all over the hallway.  Yeah.  Buttin got to clean it up.

Coincidentally, Riggs decided to do the same thing on our bedroom carpet on Friday night (I guess he's kind of sick).   Thankfully, we have a wonderful misfit who was able to come clean our carpet today - he wins the misfit award for most awesome behavior. 

Tonight while I was reading to Cub - he randomly and without warning head butted me in the mouth and busted my lip.  It took me about 10 seconds to catch my breath and then I told Cub how much he hurt me and that he needed to be more gentle.   He then started to stroke my face with his hand (the same way he is "gentle" with the cats) and then a couple seconds later decided he was ready to snuggle.  I'd rather not have the split lip, but if it means extra snuggling time - it's almost worth it.

Here's Cub stealing balls again.  

Adjusting To The Heat (again)

I went for my long run this morning (normally it's Saturday) because Cub and Buttin were still recovering yesterday morning.  I only went 12 miles, but it was a really difficult 12 miles.  It was warm and humid and I looked like a drowned rat when I got home.  I think it's that time of year again when my body has to adjust to the heat and humidity.  It was just a couple of weeks ago that I was running in long sleeves and now a tank-top and shorts are too much.  Hopefully, I will be acclimatized by June. 

This afternoon we had Hannah come over to play with Cub while we went to the plant store and bought plants.  This was the first time in our lives we have ever purchased and planted green stuff for the ground.  It was hot (ever more so this afternoon), but we accomplished something and our yard looks a little better for it.  

Here's Cub on the swing this morning.