So, obviously after 2 months I have a lot of pictures to post. Where to begin...
Near the end of February our poor kids were struck with the miserable stomach bug. I guess I should feel fortunate that I made it 3 yrs and 3 months into mommyhood before discovering how unpleasant it is to watch your beloved kids suffer from such agony and distress (not to mention the agony and distress Paul and I suffered from cleaning up the messes they left behind).
Poor Max. He told me when he woke up that morning that he didn't want to go to preschool because his "toe hurt". My response of course was, "Whatever, buddy. You are GOING to preschool". When he puked in the parking lot on our way into his class I decided that in the future I will definitely listen to the red flags associated with Max and a hurt toe. When we got back to our house he was cheered up a little by the fact that he got to camp out on the couch with some "green soda" (aka Sprite), soda crackers, and a PBS marathon. He threw up a couple more times that day and in the middle of the night for like three more nights and had diarrhea to boot. Amazingly, for the most part he was very good to make it into the bucket and to the bathroom (sometimes it didn't make it into the toilet, but at least it made it into the bathroom).
And poor Sam. We knew that it was just a matter of time before he became sick, but we definitely weren't prepared for how violently it would affect him. Doesn't he look so miserable in the pictures? This poor kid started by throwing up every 20 minutes--first his food, then bile, then just dry heaving. It was one of the saddest moments I think I have experienced as a mom--I felt utterly helpless. This continued for hours and hours...
...then fast-forward a few days and they're feeling good as new!
Max enjoys painting and will often ask me to get the supplies out so he can work on creating another masterpiece.
Of course Sam always wants in on whatever Max is doing, but when it comes to painting that scenario tends to get a little messy. So, I seek out all kinds of ways to distract Sam...
I put him to work! He loves to help me with any household chore, especially if there is water involved. He definitely makes a big mess, but it entertains (and distracts him) for more than long enough. Sometimes I can't get him away from the sink!!
He also loves the vacuum. He has a toy replica Dyson which he usually runs alongside mine, but he still will always ask to "try... try" the original--of course I give in even though it is a struggle to get it back once he has his hands on the wand. He really is a good little helper.
And when he is finally finished with the household chores, Sam can be found either on his blackberry, texting and emailing his buddies...
Both boys know that if they sit down and eat their dinners in sufficient and satisfying amounts they are rewarded with a treat. While Sam typically has a healthy appetite and adventurous palate, Max is the one who has shown a tremendous gastronomic improvement from this tactic. Where before he would hesitate if not flat out refuse to try something new, now he has discovered that he kind of even likes some of the new tastes, textures and flavors. There are still a couple of things he won't eat, however: Grapes (which he won't even try for some unfounded reason) and anything with seeds in it (cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, etc...). But, generally both boys do an acceptable job finishing their meals and are rewarded with a yummy treat.
There were a few really nice and warm days in March, and the boys and I enjoyed picnics and parks and having a lot of fun outside.
One evening in mid-March was so warm and beautiful we decided to grill steaks and eat outside...
...The boys loved this almost as much as they loved their steaks, grilled to medium-rare perfection by Chef Paul.
Giving the boys a bath is one of my least favorite tasks. I would almost rather do anything than have to suffer thru the montage of annoyances that come with bathtime. They splash each other and splash for fun and squirt their toys and I end up soaking wet, they scream and whine and complain and fight me when I rinse their hair, they constantly argue over who gets to sit in the front, and at the very end neither wants to get out. It is torture. It is Paul's job. The boys prefer him. He handles it all so much better than me--the bathroom never gets as soaked, I never hear any whining or complaining, and they both emerge from the bathroom happy and clean.
Not only is he really good at it, but he absolutely loves it. Every time we walk out the garage he beelines for his helmet and bike.
Paul has been conditioning both boys to love motorcycles. They LOVE to put his helmet on...
And of course both boys love it when Daddy takes them for a dirtbike ride around the yard.
Last weekend Mimi came for a visit and wouldn't you know it, both boys (and then mommy) came down with the stomach bug AGAIN! The irony of this is that in both cases this bug just so happened to coincide with Mimi's arrival. Sorry, Maggie--I know that it was not much fun for you...
1 comment:
I miss you guys! Your boys are growing up, I can't believe how much they have changed since I saw them last. I am jealous of your time spent outside...not fair. I love you and miss you!
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