Fred's Back from Afghanistan

Fred and Parker

Before Easter Egg Hunting

Tryst just a spectator

Lookin rough that morning because it was early and drizzling. As you can see, no pics of me, I would have broken the camera, ha.

Not wanting to partake in the picture taking

My baby was particular about the eggs she picked up. Normally kids would just bum rush and pick as many eggs as possible but not Harlowe. She was just strolling around picking the one's she wanted.

I guess Parker was just strolling around too.

There is a really cool park in San Antonio, Morgan's Ranch, which is handicap accessible with wheelchair swings and all. I thought that was really great because you really don't see parks which cater to handicap children. This is where the Easter Egg Hunt took place and the kids stayed for awhile to play around.

Making Music

Tryst even got in on the action

We went to San Antonio a couple of weeks ago to visit my mother and Fred came to visit too. It was a really nice visit and we took tons of pics, so more to come.

Trysten went to his nine month check up and you know that viral infection I thought he had for a couple of months now, wrong, ear infection. He is finishing the last of his antibiotics and next week another check of the ears. Oh, and the developmental check list for a nine month old, totally failed. He doesn't really clap yet, nor wave. When Dr. Zuniga asked us the developmental questions, I of course lied, and Dustin had to open his big mouth to say, NO HE DOESN'T DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS, damn him, ha. We both looked at each other and gave each other the look like we were the worst parents in the world. Of course, Dr. Zuinga, the nice doctor that she is, reassured us this was our second baby so she wasn't worried at all. Then Dustin had to chime in again, and told her, "but he can shake his head no", so the great dad that he is, was sitting there like a goof trying to make Trysten demonstrate shaking his head no. I was just laughing inside because Trysten was looking at him like he was on drugs, ha.  

Is this what the second child is subjected to: hand me down clothes (not Harlowe's of course, ha), pink toys and lax parenting? I feel so bad because I am so laid back with him and with Harlowe I was an anal mother ... I guess with two kids sometimes you just try to make it. I cannot even imagine having more, yikes. I really need to step it up and try to teach him something.

Trysten is all over the place now, he really doesn't even want you to hold him. He wants to be on the ground exploring everything. He is crawling everywhere but mostly the belly crawl. He has gotten one bottom tooth but his upper gums are swollen so any day another tooth might erupt. He hates baby food now, he wants the real deal. We are trying to give him small bites of whatever we are eating but mostly everything ends up in his lap.

Yesterday, it was so funny, Dustin had made him a nice plate of food with cut up chicken and corn. Trysten ate mostly everything but by the end of dinner he slung the plate of food across the room. You should have seen Dustin's face, he was so disgusted because a couple of days before he spent hours cleaning the house. He just looked at me and said, why even bother cleaning the house because it looks like a tornado landed in it a couple days later. He is totally right our house is a constant disaster and the roaches are knocking on our door, ha. I guess that is how it goes with kids, is it? Will our house never be clean again for more than a couple of days? I know I constantly blog about our dirty house but it really agitates me sometimes. I feel so good when I have a clean house, it is like the stress just goes away.

I have even looked at organizational blogs but no such luck. It is really hard to work, cook, clean and take care of the kiddos. I guess something has to give, maybe one day.

But on a positive note, Fred and his wife had these cool running shoes from New Balance, they have absolutely no cushion so I was really skeptical because I have bad knees. Dustin convinced me, and we both bought a pair so we have started running again. Hopefully this will push Dustin to try to quit smoking again, don't ask, it is an ongoing battle in our house.

Rodeo Days

Can you believe little kids actually want to do this? I guess it is called sheep riding, poor, poor sheep. But the kids did so good, none of them cried or seemed scared at all. Needless to say, I don't think Harlowe will be doing this any time soon.

I don't know why I suggested Dustin and Harlowe go on this ride, look at my poor baby's face. This was the first ride she went on and it was down hill from then on. She did not have fun at all and really wanted to go home. Hopefully next year she will have fun and forget about this ride.

Dustin was enjoying the ride, ha.

I got one smile out of her.

This was the petting zoo, they had kangaroo's.

I was trying to get a picture of Trysten, but no such luck. I love the elephant topiary in the background.

It is so funny, Harlowe sucked her thumb to self soothe but Trysten sucks his middle two fingers.

Trysten is seven months and such a big boy holding his bottle.

It looks like he has red hair in the pics, I guess it is reddish-blond. He is growing so fast. He is starting to crawl now but still mostly on his belly. Although he is starting to lift himself up on all fours.

Nothing really exciting going on at the Different household. Oh, we are selling our rent house and now Dustin wants to flip the house we are living in, ugh. I hate moving but he said he would take care of it all when we move again, I will keep you posted on that, ha. My CT scans for my tongue cancer have been negative thus far so that is a relief. My tongue still feels weird but I am thankful because it could have been a lot worse.

Today Halowe pooped on the potty so we are getting there. She is doing well in school but I am not sure she is learning a lot, I cannot really tell yet. She knows all her colors, numbers from one to twelve but sometimes forgets three and four. We are working on her ABC's, but she is talking up a storm and such a character. I think we are going to pull her out of school everyday and only go three times a week, so I can spend more time with her and sometimes I think five days a week is too much for her.

What can I say about Trysten but he is the best, most laid back baby ever. I love to see his smiling face in the morning and he will just grab your neck tight and give you the biggest hugs. Dustin and I love his hugs, he just nestles his face in your neck, it is the best feeling. We are trying to savor every moment because this is our last baby.

Tonight we are going to SA to visit my mother, and Fred is back from Afghanistan, so he will be there with his family also. I cannot wait to see everyone and take a little vacay. I know we are going to Sea World and hopefully hit up the outlet mall.

Harlowe's First Day of School

She looks pretty excited to go to school but don't let that smile fool you. It was an ordeal, I do have to admit I had a little break down too. But all in all she still has her moments yet I think she is liking it. I still have my moments too because if I am off during the week, I keep her home with me. I guess I have to ease into school time too, ha.

I was trying to get a good pic of her cute backpack, it is a little big for her but she can grow into it. It even has her name monogrammed in pink, so cute. She loves her backpack because Dora has a backpack too, ha.

I just adore this little girl.

Oh, poor Trysten just woke up but I had to include him in the festivities. I really need to make and effort taking his pics, I have been slacking on that department. My baby is six months old here and such a sweetheart. He is such a great baby, so laid back and go with the flow type of person. Even when he is hungry, if you are holding him, all is good in his world. He is my angel. Still blue eyes, who knew?

I had to get Harlowe's nap mat in the picture, it is so cute and I just love it to death. It comes with a built in blanket and pillow and rolls up for easy carry. Love it!

It has been so long since I have blogged, I am a slacker. I don't know how people do it to keep it together? It seems like my days off are filled with cleaning, cooking and trying to spend time with the family. You really need to be organized and have a plan for the week so everything can run smoothly. I know I sound like a broken record but I am lucky if I get a picture in. I really have to be more diligent about capturing precious moments because it does go by so fast.

Well Harlowe is doing pretty good on the potty training front, school has helped a lot. She still doesn't really tell me when she needs to go to the bathroom but we are doing the frequent potty breaks. Oh, and the pooping, yikes, we cannot get that down. Persistence is the key, right? God be with us, ha.

Since Harlowe has started school, she has had a green runny nose and cough for a couple of months now. Which has gotten Trysten sick with the same symptoms and me too. I really thought my immune system was impenetrable because I rarely get sick, but being around sick kids at work and now at home, I am a hot mess. We are a sad bunch but Dustin has been the healthy one because he avoids us like the plague, ha. I guess that is what happens when you start school, hopefully it will be over soon.

Trysten is now almost eight months, I cannot even believe it. He is such a sweet, sweet baby. He holds his bottle himself now and is eating stage two baby foods still. He doesn't like the texture of stage three baby foods yet. Dustin and I blend up what ever we are eating for dinner, so he has had pretty much everything. I have to admit, I kinda feel like a failure, not kinda, I really do feel like a failure. But since he has started eating food my milk production has gone down and now is to a halt, I even tried herbal supplements to increase my milk production but diarrhea city, I know too much info. Anyway, when he got sick he really didn't want to breastfeed anymore because he couldn't breath and the bottle was so much easier for him, he even became a biter. So needless to say my baby is on formula, Similac Organic, I hate it but I guess he has to have it, boo hoo. I know I am a freak but I breastfeed Harlowe for a year so that was my goal for Trystee too.

For the past month he has really recognized us as him primary caregivers and really wants to be held by us and now looks at strangers like, don't even think about coming close to me, ha.  I really didn't think he cared about me because when Harlowe was a baby she was so attached to me. But Trysten loves his daddy, they are so cute together, Dustin makes him laugh and giggle. It is so cute to see them together, Dustin is a great dad. Anyway, back to the point, Trysten will actually want to be held by me and lunges for me when he sees me. It feels so nice to be loved, ha.

Halowe still loves her brother, she hasn't had any jealousy issues which is so nice. I really try to make it a point to spend equal amounts of time with them. But Harlowe is still a mamma's girl but she really doesn't mind when I am toting Trysten around and playing with her.

Even through the whirlwind of everyday life, I really am so blessed to have such a great family.