Total fail.

My glucose test. I'm not overly surprised since I tend to fail these the first time around. And because I have always passed them on the second go, I am left debating how necessary it really is for me to go through the trouble of the three hour test. Doctors orders? Or just a suggestion?

Today I love this.

A note on my door left by my post-college neighbor nine years ago. Since then, she has been a bridesmaid in my wedding, my pole dance buddy, and, really, the best friend anyone could ask for. So happy for fate (and my semi-pack rat tendencies that allowed me to hold on to this card for so long!).

Found in the iPhone Archives

The note in a Dove chocolate candy the day I found out I was pregnant with the third amigo:




"You are exactly where you are supposed to be." Encouraging. Perfect. Love it.

A pregnancy milestone.

The gestational diabetes screen. And preparing for my glucose test tomorrow has left me seriously sugar deprived. I guess the best way to ease into a day without sugar was not with a six-pack of Cinnabons.

Oh, yes, I did.

Pick up a six pack of Cinnabons. Not the mini kind. And I'm not so sure I will be sharing.

O.M.G.

We have been tossing around the idea of getting Mason used to a "big boy" bed since he will not only be making the move, but also be sharing sleeping space with Jacob when the baby gets here. (I think I am dreading this transition, but am hopeful that once they get used to the new routine life will continue without a hitch... Am I nuts?!) So at nap time today I decided to yank Mason's bed from his crib and plop it on the ground, tuck him in, and ultimately give him free range of his room. (He is actually 6 weeks older than Jacob was when we moved him from a crib--with no problems AT ALL--so I guess I imagined Mason would follow suit. Boy was I WRONG!) After no more than 15 minutes after the initial tuck in, I crept upstairs only to find this:

Not blood. Way worse... lipstick. Mason snuck into our bathroom vanity and helped himself to my makeup. What you don't see is all of the mascara on the carpet and on him. He looked like a clown when I found him. (No picture because I did not find a lick of humor in the situation at the time--and because he had stripped his clothes off. Why is he always naked?) There is still some missing eye shadow that Mason may or may not have snacked on. Verdict is still out. About an hour with the Spot Bot and our bedroom is almost back to baseline. But our big boy bed training has been put on hold for now. Not exactly the start I was looking for.

 

 

Look what Jacob did today!

His first time ever at the dentist. And he rocked it. No gagging, no cringing, and no squirming. Way better than I have ever done! And cavity-free X-rays to boot. He's already looking forward to watching TV on the ceiling and scoring some more "prizes" at his next cleaning!

Totally necessary.

On the way home from one of our day trips, I decided that I NEEDED a Cinnabon (I will blame it on the pregnancy). And with two sleeping boys in the car and nothing to hurry home to, my mom and I began our quest for Burger King (they sell Cinnabons and the nearest Cinnabon store was in Orlando—2 hours away). Long story short: It took us about 45 minutes, 2 stops for directions, and a jumped curb before we squealed the minivan in on two wheels in the Burger King parking lot, slammed on the brakes, ripped the kids from their seats, and bolted inside. I scored two mini rolls, the boys each grabbed a cone and we were out the door. Delirious from our madness, my mom and I thought it absolutely hilarious to park Jacob under this runt of a palm tree. Supersized child or just out-of-control-ridiculousness? Side note: The Cinnabons were a bust. Craving is not forgotten. I will continue my quest at home.

The Three Amigos

 

Thank goodness for my dad who stepped up and took the boys swimming in the ocean. I am way too big of a sissy to go more than ankle deep in cold water (and even lied to Jacob that I left my swimsuit at home. I was desperate!). Mason made it up to his waist (possibly on accident), and left the scene in tears. Jacob, on the other hand, plunged belly first under the water. No fear. And possibly no sense of feeling?!

This boy has never not been happy around water. Not inherited from me!

The pool was more Mason’s speed. It’s just a shame that he balked at the chance to swim until about 5 minutes before we were done and packing to go back to the airport. Typical Mason.

Only in Florida. Only Jacob.

Florida has cockroaches. It's a fact that Jacob hammered home during breakfast one morning at my parent's condo when he asked us about that "thing over there."
Us: Uh, the lighthouse candle holder?
Jacob: No the thing with whiskers inside the candle.
Us: [after taking a closer look] a dead cockroach, who was belly up in the candle. And those whiskers? Just its crunchy little legs.
Of course Jacob did a barefoot stomp on the bug after we dumped it on the patio. All boy!

The Jungle Garden

Like nothing in the Midwest. Flamingos, parrots, alligators, and turtles were the focus of this zoo.

[The flamingos were all out in the open for us to get as close to as we wanted. Mason chose to chase them. Jacob chose to stay away.]

[My mom dishing out cash for some flamingo food. I had no idea just how tall these suckers are!]

 

[Neither boy had any interest in feeding the flamingos. So I had to gently coax (er, coerce) the boys in to feeding the animals. I think I got more of a kick out of it than Mason.]

[Jacob wanted nothing to do with the process. But then he couldn't stop laughing as the birds gently scooped the food out of his hand. I'm laughing because flamingos must be the Midwest petting zoo goats of the south...]

[We thought this turtle was a statue... until it started eating. It's impossible to tell by the picture, but this turtle is literally the size of a small car!]

Beach Day...

In Florida. A quick getaway with my parents to their "hotel" (as Jacob calls it). Though the weather was a chilly 70 (funny to call that cold when it's way colder at home!), the boys were itching to check out the beach. So check it out we did. This is in Siesta Key. The sand looked and felt like flour. Probably the most amazing sand I have ever seen!

[The boys built sandcastles. Much less impressive than the professional ones being built at the tournament 100 yards away. And notice how Mason prefers to play in the sand from the comfort of the sheet that covers the ground. This kid does NOT like dirty!]

[A break from playing in the water. Jacob wanted to swim. But I was not about to take off my sweatshirt and hop in the water!]

[The highlight for Mason: Chasing birds. Pure entertainment for him!]

Fall Fun

 

The perfect day: Caleb was out of the house blowing leaves into a pile for the boys. The boys were out of the house jumping in said pile. And I was left alone inside enjoying the peace and quiet. A win-win for everyone!

How Halloween Went Down

First: The evolution of the costume.

Jacob started out wanting to be a pumpkin, changed his mind to Lightning McQueen, and grabbed a shark costume at Target that he just wouldn’t let go. So, shark it was. Now what to go with it? Originally, I planned for Mason to be a fisherman, but coordinating waders, a fishing vest, and a pole in the 2T size proved impossible so I switched directions and went for Nemo.

Introducing: Bruce the shark and Nemo.

Except Nemo wanted nothing to do with his costume, which turned into a $30 bust,

So off we went to score some loot. Jacob dressed as a shark, and Mason as a stubborn two-year-old without a costume… Until a neighbor goes, “Oh my goodness, a little Hawkeye fan. How adorable.” Yes, that’s right. Totally planned that way…

Jacob loved trick-or-treating. And he had the foresight to pick out the houses with cars in the driveways because “they are probably home and can give us candy.” After about 20 minutes and 10 houses, we called it quits and headed back to home where Jacob proudly displayed his stash of candy… in a circular pattern.

At this point I left to go back to work and my mom and the boys stuck around to hand out candy. She said that boys had a blast dishing it out, and Jacob told me when I got home from work that I needed to leave the lights on in the house because that way people know that they can get candy from us. He’s got it down.

And Mason? He greeted me as I got home from work in his Nemo costume. He insisted on it. Not the best picture, but proof that this kid is capable of cooperating… On his own terms. 

And this morning every time the dog barked, both boys would run to the door and yell, “CANDY!” Trained for next year.