What happens when your toddler is tall enough to reach over the top of the table?

He spreads corn all over the living room floor!

My Space

My sister signed me up for a MySpace account yesterday. My entire family, including my Aunts, is currently on the thing, and everyone has been nagging me to get one, so I am glad she finally signed me up for it. The downside is that it is making me feel stupid. I just really don't get how it works. I have been playing around with it for a bit, and I am not sure what I am supposed to do. Is this what our parents feel like when they can't program the clock on the VCR? So, if any of you belong to MySpace, I am there too. Kind of...

I am getting worried about the weather Sunday. I am giving Christi and Joel a baby shower this day, and I am REALLY excited for it, but there are a lot of guests coming in from Harlan. I hope everyone can make it down in the snow! Maybe it will turn into a slumber party...

Sam is going back into the doctor tomorrow. He was diagnosed with a double ear infection on Friday, and the Amoxicillin he is on is doing NOTHING! He won't eat, and is constantly cranky. Why can't my kids EVER BE HEALTHY?????!!!

Finding Time for Everything

Since Sam was born, I have been having a terrible time fitting in one of the most important things for the mother of three boys, clearning the house. This has become even more difficult since I went back to work, and since we entered the ConAgra tax season. Poor Jeff works TERRIBLY long hours during the months of January, February, and March. Usually he is awesome about helping me divide up chores so one of us doesn't have to do everything, but during this time of the year, not only do I mostly have the kids by myself, I also have the cleaning mostly to myself.

Luckily, my awesome friend Christi came to my rescue (again!) and sent me the name of a website called Motivated Moms. They make a planner that shows you how to break cleaning into 4-5 small, manageable tasks per day. I love that they remind you to do things I never think of, like wash the shower curtains. I feel so much better about myself, and my house! So much less guilt. THANK YOU CHRISTI!

Welcome to the World Joel!

I had the incredible honor Saturday of being present at the birth of Joel Norman Koch. It was the most amazing experience of my life, almost more exciting than the births of my own kids! I can't even put into words how beautiful, emotional, and incredible it was. I am so grateful to Christi and Adam for letting me help them welcome their new baby boy to the world. He is absolutely adorable...I don't think he looks very much like Alyssa when she was a newborn, but I do think he has Adam's ears. He is just precious. I also got to witness his first "boy" moment with Adam. The nurse had him in the warmer, and Adam was standing near taking pictures, when Joel did his first fountain pee over the side of the warmer, just missing his father.

I can't wait to watch this new little one grow up!

Fun and Games at the Pediatrician's Office

Today I was brave (or stupid) and took both of the babies into the doctor at the same time. Charlie went for his 12 month check, and Sam for his 2 month check. What an adventure! Thank God Evan was there to help, as the visit involved 9 shots between the two, much crying and screaming, and much heavy lifting by me as I had to carry both Sam and Charlie around at the same time without the aid of the stroller. As a reward to me for surviving, to Evan for helping, and to Charlie for getting through 4 shots, we went to Runza and picked up lunch. (We had a half day at school).

Sam is now 15 pounds, and 23 3/4 inches. Charlie is 26 pounds, 32 inches. Both boys are in the 98% for height and weight. Dr. Byrne mentioned he felt sorry for us with our food bill when the boys are teenagers. I had to agree it will probably be horrible. Sam has amazingly not yet developed eczyma, the only one out of the three to not have problems with it by 2 months of age. He also hasn't gotten cradle cap yet, so Dr. Byrne says that might indicate he will have less skin and allergy problems (glory hallelujah!!) Charlie has been on an antibiotic for the last two weeks for his sinus infection that never goes away. I knew it hadn't helped his nose again as it is still green and gooey, but I was surprised to learn that he also has developed a double ear infection. So much for Omnicef. We are back on Augmentin. Charlie has been on CONSTANT antibiotics for the last 4 months, and it is getting pretty depressing, not to mention expensive.

Sam has also been sleeping through the night lately, which has been awesome, but Dr. Byrne also said that indicates he is fully capable of making it through the night without a feeding. So, he wants us to do the "fuss it out" routine with him at night if he wakes up, so he doesn't get back in the habbit of eating during the night. I am SOOOO excited about this! I can't wait to have my nights back to myself again, and it is such a relief to know that I am done with during the night feedings!!!!