recent cute pics

brown bear...almost

Vacation = Relaxing...not so much.

Since I have been employed by the doings of baby Nate for the past 9 weeks, Todd thought this was the perfect time to take yet another summer vacation. I resisted at first, as my definition of vacation includes the word 'relaxing' and this did not at all sound relaxing. But, after listening to how horrible his work has been lately, I showed a wee bit of sympathy. 10 seconds following this wee bit of sympathy, we had a condo booked. So, last Friday we loaded up the Putnam mini (have I mentioned how much I LOVE my mini) with 4 bags and 4 humans, a pack and play, a double stroller, a bouncy seat, a inflated kick board, a wagon full of beach toys, a cooler, a box of diapers, beach chairs, a beach tent, and much more...and still had room for another average-sized human. We made the trip to Orange Beach in record time (for us)...just under 8 hours...not bad for chauffeuring two kiddos. The weather was PERFECT! Nice, since from what I'm told, it continued to rain constantly in Memphis. We agreed to eat lunch at the condo (to save some $ and our sanity) and dinner out. I think I'll pass on pimento cheese sandwiches for a while...I've had my fill. We went to our 2 favorite places there...Cobalts and the Oyster House...and both did not disappoint. I believe Todd and I consumed close to 100 oysters over the week and Presley consumed probably as many crackers. I even got a "I'm impressed" by a waiter. I was so proud. Anyway, we beached it from 8-11am, then 2:30-5ish. Unfortunately, the warmth of outside made Nate's naps a little longer than the norm...therefore, his nighttime sleeping was a little less than the norm. So...Presley, Nate, and I were usually up and at 'em by 5am. One day he let us sleep until after 6, but another he graced us with a 4am wake up call. Thanks, Nate. But really, I liked getting at the beach early...not too hot and not too crowded. Presley only had one bonafide meltdown when I chose to stay in the condo one afternoon to give Nate some playtime. Gosh forbid I spend any time without her...and even worse...with Nate. Poor deprived child. We were packed up and headed back home on Wednesday at 7:15 (again, thanks to Nate). Presley provided some entertainment singing her 2 new favorite songs...the classic "Roxanne" and the Pitbull's "Hotel Room Service" (soon to be a classic, I'm SURE of it!). The overall trip was great...but, not at all relaxing. I think I'm going to have to change my definition of vacation for few years. Thank goodness I still have 3 more weeks at home to relax after my vacation.

Roxanne...

A lot of time was spent in the Putnam mini over this past week. One of these times, Presley heard this song for the first time...now she's hooked.

da boy...

Here are some of Nate's professionally taken newborn pics. I was very pleased with how they turned out. I'm starting to get comfortable with life with 2 kiddos, although it is VERY hectic. The kids and I made a trip to the delta last week and visited with a bunch of folks. Presley was WONDERFUL, so that was a nice little surprise. We are going to try to swing a trip to the beach next week...I'll let ya know how that turns out?!? Anyway, here are some tidbits about caring for an infant that I had forgotten:

1) I'm a bit obsessed with the frequency of his BMs.

2) I am very excited when there are coupons for diapers in the Sunday paper.

3) Breastfeeding hurts.

4) Quitting breastfeeding hurts even more...picture 3 sports bras with cabbage leaves sticking

out...it's attractive.

5) Formula is ridiculously expensive. A $2 coupon is not that big of a savings for what it costs. Send me some more samples, please...that may not actually save me more, but it seems like

it does.

5) 1 child can produce a whole load of laundry in one day...and folding itsy bitsy clothes is not

at all fun...and Nate has yet to offer up any help.

6) What's with all this spit up?!? YOU ARE HUNGRY...KEEP IT DOWN!

7) When he is sleeping, then startled, and he sticks his arms out like an enthusiastic preacher

man, i laugh every time.

peace out

FYI - Ashleigh Peak took my pics and I would DEFINITELY recommend her. If interested, go to www.ashleighpeakphotography.com.

matchy matchy

So, I happened to dress both the kiddos in green yesterday, so saw a photo-op. Couldn't get them to both smile, of course, but the pics did turn out pretty cute.

kiddo pics

How mom doesn't want you to eat a pb&j sandwich

pool break

the look of 104.5 fever...poor thing

snoozing

smiling

Living the Dream, Baby...

So, this year's mother's day card from Todd had this lady sitting in a folding chair, feet in a kiddy pool, cocktail in hand, and says "living the dream, baby."  We joke about it at least once a week.  Anyway, here are some pics that fit the saying well...

baby nate pics

http://ashleighpeak.squarespace.com/home/2009/8/2/baby-nate.html

click the link to see my precious boy.

basic math

so, as i was showering this morning at 4:30am (because i wasn't sure i'd actually have time during the day, so why not go ahead and get that done?!?), i started to do some math in my head.  if my child breastfeeds for ~ 40 minutes and then i pump for ~ 20 minutes and i do this every 2.5-3 hours...i'm spending about 8 hours every day being sucked on!  doesn't that seem a little ridiculous?  so...that, as well as all the other glorious stuff like diaper changes, burping, bathing, rocking, etc. is where all my time goes.  i've been feeling unproductive at the end of the day, but this math helps me put things in perspective...

Putnam...Party of Four

I obviously don't have much time or energy to write a lot, but wanted to update the blog and let everyone know that Nate has arrived.  I must admit, as much as I hate being pregnant, I have been blessed two times with fairly easy births.  This go-around, I was induced at 5:45am, water broke around 9:30, and baby Nate entered the world at 11:37.  I did require 2 epidurals...and thought it was going to be 3, but he wiggled and poked and such that the 2nd finally started working 1 hour later...but, that is the ONLY thing I will complain about.  The rest was absolutely no problem.   Nathan Patrick Putnam was born 7/22/09 at 8 lbs 5 oz and 19.5 in.  He has brown hair and dark blue eyes.  He looks skinnier than Presley did, but he weighs more and is shorter...go figure?!?  Here are some pics from the past couple of days.  

Me and my ginormous belly

the fella has arrived

The updated Putnam Clan

Big Sister and Little Brother

blueberries

my crazy head...

So, I guess the pregnancy hormones are really getting to me because about 3 hours ago I cleaned up the house, took some pics, made a flyer, and stuck a for sale sign in the yard.  Simple as that.  Seriously, it is something Todd and I have been talking about for a while, so we figured...why not now?  Here are my/our thoughts...

1) this is not the house we are going to be in long-term...so, I hate sinking money into it.

2) we will soon have 2 kids, 2 years apart.  Instead of putting our money towards private school, it make more sense to spend the $ to move into a good neighborhood with good public schools.  at least your money is going towards something tangible.  

3) i want a pool.  really.  the apartment pool we've been visiting for the past 7 years is just plain grossing me out.  we are lucky enough to have a neighbor with a super nice pool...and he is never there...so, when we can, we go over there and daydream that it is our house.  really.  

4) it may take us a while to get this off of our hands, anyway...so, lets just put it out there and see where it goes.  

5) i will be closer to deli mexicana (this may actually be a financial burden, but i don't want to think about that right now).

6) mud island is just too convenient to work.  not really...this is the only downside i can think of.

any input is appreciated.  i realize i'm crazy.  

cute presley pics

the sunflower she got at the farmer's market

hanging out in the neighbor's hot tub

her morning make-up routine

riding the bike

We're 2!

Presley's 2nd birthday has come and gone...crazy?!?  I can't believe my baby is 2...and I really can't believe baby #2 will be here so soon.  Enjoy some party pics!

Presley and "Unkie" Bert

She snuck a taste before she blew out the candle.

Super cute cake...if you can't tell, it is a cabana with umbrellas, sand pails, and beach balls.

Presley and her big wheel

Making (and tasting) cupcakes for her party at school.  

Oh how I love my minivan...let me count the ways:

1) it seats 8...enough said.

2) when raining...you can park, easily climb in the back, undo the kiddo, and exit out the closest door.

3) back in the diaper-changing days...again, ample space to sprawl out and change.

4) it may not be legal, and it's definitely not safe, but when on a 9 hour trip with a child who prefers to potty every 1.5-2 hrs...set the potty down on my abundant floor space, unbuckle the kid, TT, wipe, put it in the trash bag, back in the seat, and keep on driving.  Of course, there does need to be another adult in the car to help out...but, this was a huge time saver!  

5) you can pack for vacation, seat yourself, hubs, and kiddo, carry 10 tomato cages to your father in law, and still have room to seat at least 3 more folks...maybe 4 if they are dieting.  

6) super-sharp turning radius.  breland can laugh all she wants about this...this mini will turn around on a dime...no more 3 point turns for me!

7) uh...electric doors.  you don't know you need them until you have them.  try being 7 months pregnant, groceries in one hand, 30 lb kid in the other, and then open the door...not gonna happen...but wait, oh, i can punch this little button and whalah...open sesame.  

8) cup holders, cup holders, cup holders.  i have 6 within my reach in the driver's seat.  i haven't counted them all, but it is probably at least 100.  

9) all seats are removable...all of them.  i haven't had to use this nifty function, but i plan on it, even if i don't need to.  the fact that i can load pretty much anything todd can in his big ole truck is very exciting to me.  

10) on a similiar note, say you are sitting in the back and you don't want to eat your fast food out of your lap...oh, looky here, i can just pull this little lever and down comes the seat back, and i have a nice little serving tray (and cup holder, of course) right there.

11) lastly, the fact that i look so unbelievably cool is undeniable....undeniable. 

Summer Vaca '09

We headed to Orange Beach last week for a mini-vaca before #2 comes.  We had never been and were pleasantly surprised...I'm pretty sure I tried to talk Todd into moving there at least 10 times...to no avail :(  Anyway, we will definitely be back.  Presley LOVED the water...at first, she preferred the pool over the ocean, only because the waves were a bit big on day 1...but, after she got used to it, she loved walking to the rocks, splashing, stepping on sand castles, and CONSTANTLY being able to wash her hands.  For some reason, this kid loves to wash her hands, so when you can dip them in the sand, then immediately run to the water and wash them off...that is big fun.  We ate a lot of good food...a lot.  Presley and I treated ourselves to ice cream 3 nights in a row...and I didn't feel bad about it one bit.  Enjoy the pics!

Presley and Daddy

Daddy building castles and Presley promptly stepping on them

The best restaurant BY FAR...Cobalt's

Cobalt's had this big fish tank...this is Pres looking at the fish and making her fish face.

LOVE

Oh...I forgot to mention sea shells...I think we picked up everyone of them!

I got down...not sure how I got up ;)

the sweet girl

on the "big rocks" with daddy

I tried to get her to pose...this is the best pic I got.

the weekend of potty

Presley's Potty Training Rules

days 1-2: naked booty 

afternoon of day 2: introduction to panties

evening of day 2: practice pulling down the panties (we still haven't gotten that completely)

day 3: stay outside most of the time so mommy doesn't have to clean up any accidents (she didn't have any, by the way!)

days 1-3: the almighty M&M reward

So, I was pleasantly surprised this weekend...we potty trained Presley with little problems at all.  She was obviously "ready" because it was fairly simple.  I just hope she stays this way through our welcoming the little boy...i've heard that they sometime revert back.  Now, we will be transitioning her to her big girl bed next weekend...oh, how my baby is growing up!