Miller Moments

I am home with both boys this weekend as Josh was not able to take Carter to Saskatoon.

I tried to make a couple play dates for today but nothing worked out so I took Carter to the library for a Toddler Time program while my mom watched Cohen for an hour. I took the boys to It's a Blast tonight so Carter could wear off some energy as it has been cold and rainy all day. Hoping to get together with Marcia and the boys and/or Leah and her boys to help out trying to entertain 2 all weekend.

Cohen is getting better with his balance and a little more daring, as he holds onto something with one arm while standing and then turns and grabs onto something in the opposite direction. It amazes me how he can stand with those chubby little legs. Still doing some major teething too.

They say the 2nd one never sleeps like the first one and I was hoping it wasn't true but it seems to be the way. I have to wake Carter after a 1.5 hour nap in the afternoon, whereas I am lucky to get an hour out of Cohen in the afternoon and he is up early in the morning too. Carter has always been a great napper which is good but it just keeps him up later at night. Not sure which I prefer, as I need some "me time" once the kids go to bed before I can settle in.

What a difference a week makes. Cohen is pulling himself up on almost everything (or at least trying to) and becoming very inquisitive. He is babbling like crazy these days and I would like to think he has said his first word mum (meaning me) but him saying "mum mum mum .." is likely because he loves his mum mum snacks. He got another tooth just a couple days ago and it is finally starting to show more, so now there are two. I expect more soon as he is teething like crazy - thank goodness for teething tablets.

Carter has been a challenge these days, as his listening/remembering has become very selective. He is constantly taking things from Cohen, mauling him, knocking him over and pulling things out from under him, even after reminding him numerous times. I am sure that it is just a fight for my attention and just a stage he is going thru but very hard none the less, as he has always been such a good listener and usually only needs to be told once.

Carter and I had a date night on Monday, we went to the movie How to Train Your Dragon and as he had just got the book, he loved every minute of it. This weekend he is going with Josh to Saskatoon for Josh's hockey. Grandma Janet will be there to help. It will be a nice break for me to just have one, as it is takes alot of energy when there is 2 of them and only 1 of you all day.

I was only gone for 33 hours and Cohen decided to take his first 2 crawling steps on Saturday morning. I have been practicing with him lots and I guess he finally got the hang of it. Today he is doing about 4 or 5 so should be flying around in no time. Time to start thinking about babyproofing, as I said before, it won't be very easy in a 4 level split.

The trip to Minot was somewhat of a whirlwind as we were technically only gone for 33 hours. The 4 hour drive there almost killed me as I am not used to sitting longer than about 15 minutes at one time during the day - my hips will never be the same since childbirth. Once we got there, I did my darndest to stretch them out by walking around the mall for about 8 hours of shopping. I definitely bought more than I expected but when a size 8 was falling off and I was fitting a size 4, how could you not buy it. The majority of my clothes are not fitting these days due to being about 20 lbs lighter than before having Cohen, so I bought a few key items. I bought a couple shirts for Josh and one for each of the kids. As we were there less than 48 hours, we only had a $50 duty free limit and since we had to bring back bullets for Karen' s hubby, we got the wave to pull over and had to pay duty. It cost me an extra $20 but is still much cheaper than another night in the hotel and food.

As for my hopes on getting a good night's rest - we didn't hit the sack until about 1 am and of course I couldn't fall asleep right away. Then poor Connie had some bad tummy trouble so was making a trip to the bathroom every half an hour which I heard at least 2 or 3 of. Then the alarm went off at 7:15 am, so I ended up getting less sleep than at home - ugh! However, we had lots of laughs though and it was nice to enjoy a couple meals without kids.

I am going to Minot to get away with the girls for a night. We are leaving Friday at 8 am and returning Saturday afternoon - quick road trip but should be a blast. The majority of the girls are going to shop like crazy. However, me on the other hand, I am going to enjoy some "me time" like eating a meal before it's cold, not worrying about the daily schedule and hopefully not get woken up once during the night. This will be my first time away from Cohen for longer than a couple hours, so it will be tough but I think it is easier with the 2nd one for some reason - and needed more since there are 2 of them now. It's not quite the trip to Vegas or Chicago that I had planned on taking but at least it is a get away!

Daddy will be doing some bonding with the boys. Grandma Janet is coming down Friday afternoon for the weekend to visit and help out as well. I know the boys are in good hands with daddy but Cohen is a real momma's boy lately so hope all goes well.

We are going to my brother's on Sunday for cake as it is 38th birthday - can't believe he is approaching 40, which also means I am not that far behind. Where did the last 10 years go??

Well what I thought was the 24 hour flu came back again. Thursday Cohen seemed to be over it and then Friday came. He was not real interested in supper that night and he threw up just before bed and after laying him down for bed, he got up and projectiled everywhere. Saturday things were improving but he did throw up again that night and Sunday was better but it continued to come out the other end in full force - 2 baths a day usually. This morning he woke up starving and has lost 3 lbs - not that he couldn't spare to lose a couple. Hopefully it has made it's way through and out.

Well somehow Cohen contracted the 24 hour flu. Wednesday morning started with a "messy" diaper and a bath. I then took the boys to a mom's group so Carter could play and I could visit. While we were there, Cohen projectile vomited on me twice and was looking real pale. I had a chiropractor appt after that I couldn't miss so on the way there, he projectile vomited again twice so I pulled over to ensure he wasn't choking. He then fell asleep for a bit and then did it again twice on the way home so I pulled over on Albert St. this time. I took him off milk for the day but the pedialite didn't work either - he threw up 2 more times. 8 times in all and 3 clothing changes later, we made it thru the day. It was a rough night though as he was unsettled so him and I kind of slept downstairs "kind of" being the key word. He slept most of the morning today and I was able to give him milk and some supper tonight with no repercussions. It is so sad when babies are sick as you just aren't sure what to do but it is so nice to enjoy all the cuddle time that they are willing to have when they don't feel well. Lately he wants to get moving and do anything but cuddle so it was nice to snuggle again.

Carter has been a great big brother. He is so caring and thoughtful. Yesterday on our ride home he said he was so sad and when I asked why, he said because his brother was not feeling well.

It all started on Good Friday, we had the Herback clan over for a visit and play date in the morning. It has been long overdue as they have been fighting some sort of bug for the last month or so. That night we went to the Tuchscherer's for a family friendly supper and play date. They had an easter egg hunt for the kids - 106 eggs for 10 kids and it probably took less than 3 minutes to find them all.

The day in MJaw was wonderful, it was just nice not to have to worry about what time it was and who was to be napping, eating or diaper changing. I actually ate supper at a somewhat normal pace for the first time in a long time. We enjoyed the water so much, I thought we will take the kids this Monday as Josh is off. Cohen has never been swimming, as pools (chlorine) are not recommended for kids under 2, so I hope the mineral water will be okay.

I think Cohen finally is popping some teeth, I expect 3 to come at once with how hard he has been working on them. He is now constantly trying to pull himself up and wants to stand all the time. Carter was the same from about 9 months to 12 months I would hold his hands and he would walk all around, as he never crawled. I hope Cohen will crawl as I am not sure my poor back can handle that again. Cohen is about 25lbs so I will be taking him out of the carrier car seat and moving to the rear facing one. That means Carter moves to a booster seat, my how they all grow up so fast. I love to make Cohen laugh as it is so cute but every time he does he gets the hiccups - poor little guy!

Carter is off from school for a week due to Easter break. We have a busy weekend ahead of us with a bunch of play dates planned and Grandma Janet is coming down for a couple days.
Carter is finished soccer and I think we won't be putting him in anything for spring. We will just take advantage of the parks and practice ball in the back yard. Hoping it will be a nice spring/summer to get outside lots.
Here are a couple of pictures from soccer. The little girl is Brooklyn and she is also in his preschool class and they share a locker.