Smooth Sailing with Camden and Cavan

Paparazzi Capture Mommy Moments

2010-08-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

I hardly have any good pictures with myself and my boys. I do not consider myself photogenic and will only"pose" for a picture if my arm is twisted. I LOVE photography but would rather be calling the shots from behind the camera any day. What mother doesn't enjoy taking photos of her children?

When I was a young girl I used to dress up all my dolls and have them model as I played photo shoot with a disposable camera. I also experimented with the Polaroid and loved the fact that the photo image would materialize right before my eyes with a few good shakes. In middle school I was allowed to borrow a professional camera for a science project, and I have been an amateur photography enthusiast ever since.

My boys are my favorite subjects of course, but like me, they are also hard to pin down. Here in Savannah, we live in a photographer's paradise. I have immensely enjoyed having the summer free to explore the historical city and its islands with my boys. I have managed to capture a few pictures, but the minute I let go of my toddler's hand to snap a shot trouble swiftly ensues.

I have been using the same old camera for years and am in desperate need of an upgrade. I keep saying when I get my house fully furnished I'll spring for a new one. Luckily, when it comes to milestone events and holiday get-togethers, there's always another enthusiastic friend or family member with a high-powered digital SLR nearby. I have spent so much time watching my boys from behind the camera, that during Cavan's 2nd birthday party, I decided I needed to get in on the action and leave the shutter-bugging up to the grandparents. After all, I see the boys ever day, and there's always a chance I'll capture that one heart-melting look (which I can later enlarge and display proudly). I'd like to include here a call to all of my mommy friends to step out from behind the camera and post more photos of you with your adorable children.

As I have pointed out in previous blogs, I am not a scrapbooker, although I love to take photographs. This blog and my facebook page, are basically platforms for me to recount wacky stories and show off my gorgeous husband and babies. I don't want it to appear as though Ryan has all the fun, so I am including in this post a few rare (and somewhat decent) photos of me and my babies. Since we are perpetually on the move, most of the shots are candid (which I prefer) and taken by the grandparent paparazzi. While putting this entry together I had had fun browsing photos of celebrity moms, and I was reminded that, although our lives may be vastly different, mommies of all backgrounds have at least one thing in common: motherhood! It's raw, messy, fun, candid, not always photogenic, but always memorable! In pictures we almost look the same-especially with baby in-tow!

Cavan loves me!

2010-07-23T18:52:00.000-07:00

Cavan just turned two a couple of weeks ago. I can't believe how quickly the time has flown. I have been so busy with quintessential summer activities (birthday parties, weddings, hosting out-of-town family, etc.) that I haven't even gotten a chance to add the details and photos of his big day to the family blog.

I don't scrapbook, but I love to take photos. So far, I have captured every milestone of Camden's on camera, and for his first year, I completed a traditional baby book of photos. When Cavan came along, I joined a popular website for social networking for the sole purpose of posting his cute face all over the Internet and sharing my joy with family, friends, and foe alike. Because I have been electronically journaling Cavan's infanthood, I never bothered to start a traditional baby album. The problem is, my entries are unmethodical (to say the least) because I never know when I am going to find time to upload photos complete with colorful descriptions and captions. Now Cavan is two years old and no longer an infant. I can tell you he took his first steps over Easter weekend of 2009 at my parent's house, but I don't think have a photo to go with it. I know Ryan and I were living in Fayetteville, NC at the time, and we were only there for 9 months...

When I think about it, Cavan has seen quite a bit in his young life. He was born in Charlotte, and we moved to Fayetteville when he was 6 months old-right after Christmas. In fact, our young family spent the new year of 2009 in a hotel room-just Ryan, Camden (then 2 years), Cavan (6 months), and myself. We didn't have a big party, but we were about to have a new big adventure. Fayetteville was a short stop, and 9 months later, upon the completion of Ryan's project, we left for Wilmington, NC. Cavan was 14 months old when we moved to Wilmington. More pictures remained stored in boxes and 6 months later we left Wilmington for Savannah, GA. I know I can recall the moments that matter, but I am not certain I have it all written down. I know there must be photos in a box somewhere, or on a disc waiting to be printed...

Cavan, when you are old enough to read this blog, please forgive me. I promise I will have it all together one day! There is not a baby book or blog on this earth big enough to contain all the love if have for you, and I know you love me, too! Two nights ago, as I was patting you to sleep, you told me in your sweet toddler voice that you loved me-and I didn't even say it first! I know I will never forget the day you said it, but I am writing it down now, so I will never forget the date. I love you. Every inch. Every laugh, every tear, every finger, every toe, every wild hair on your head.

Introducing the Baby "Modelquins"

2010-07-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

My children are beautiful-seriously. I know every mother thinks her baby is the future face of Gerber or the next Grand Prize Winner in Regis Philbin's search for the most beautiful baby in America, but let me assure you I am not just another prejudiced mother. All sarcasm and indulgence aside, my toddler boys, Camden and Cavan, have been photogenic since before birth, and with their killer good looks, they continue to stop perfect strangers dead in their tracks. Alright, I might be getting a little carried away here. The truth is, I can't pin my children down long enough to take a decent photo, and when they see the camera, they run screaming.

My family has been urging me for a while to get the boys involved in modeling, but I think I am lacking the right connections. They have graced the pages of The Charlotte Observer, 910 Moms, Wilmington Parent, and The Skinnie ( a Skidaway Island magazine), but we have yet to make it to the big time. Well family, you will be proud to know that just last week, the boys made their accidental modeling debut at the Old Navy store in Savannah, GA.

The last week of June and beginning of July, for all of you bargain hunters, is the perfect time to shop for summer clearance items and take advantage of Independence Day sales. Being the patriot that I am, I decided to take the boys on a little shopping field trip to the Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah, GA and load up on swim gear for our July 4th celebration at the beach. They are past the age where I can strap them into the double stroller without protest, but I thought that with a little pre-op planning and the promise of post-op rewards, that my little soldiers just might pull through for the greater good.

We spent the morning upsetting the studious customers at Barnes and Noble while I browsed in vain for a beach read (which I know I will never read), and after a chaotic attempt at "lunch" in the food court, I buckled the boys down, pushed them across enemy lines and right into the line of fire at the crowded Old Navy. I didn't have a quarter for the prize machine (located in the rear of the store), but I thought I had enough little cars and toys to keep them busy for 15 minutes or so. Clearly, I did not, or I my idea of 15 minutes in Old Navy might be a little distorted. Regardless, I knew I didn't have long before the boys went AWOL-and they did. I gave my boys some shoes to try on, and while they were strapped down and fumbling with the shoes, I circled a rack for just a minute. I could still see the stroller from around the circular rack, but I must have missed the moment when my boys slipped from the seat belts like slick escape artists. I turned back around and panicked when I saw them missing from the stroller. My panic turned to relief when I saw them sitting on top of the nearby display table sorting and swapping the $5 graphic t-shirts. They were safe! They were looking pleased with themselves and so adorable- they could have been models!
The lesson has been learned on my part. Apparently, they are too smart for the stroller, and I can become a little distracted with a sale. I need to keep my activities toddler-friendly, and I'll hold out for a sitter the next time I want to bargain-hunt at the mall.

Father's Day Tribute Continued: Daddies Are Different

2010-06-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Ryan and his two little boys were enjoying a Father's Day stroll along one of the neighborhood golf courses when Cavan's tricycle spun off the golf cart path and down a small hill, landing my toddler into the murky lagoon. I was still cleaning up from breakfast when the lot showed up at the front door. Ryan, shoeless because he had torn one in the fight to rescue Cavan, was wet from the knees down. Cavan, who was soaked but otherwise happy, was trying in his limited toddler vocabulary to tell me all about the accident at the pond. Camden, unscathed, was holding his Daddy's broken flip-flop and telling me his own version of the story. They were a mess, but they were safe and adorable.

I can't tell you that the same thing wouldn't have happened on my watch, because the truth is, it has (see my previous story "Meet the Swim Team" when both of my tots let themselves outside to go for a swim in 1ft.- deep mud puddles). Parenting is not for amateurs. I run a tighter ship than Ryan, and it's not because I love the boys any less or more-I just tend to worry about everything, whereas Ryan doesn't. For instance, Ryan might let the boys swim in diapers, or naked. He'll let them stay up later, play with tools, and he'll let them watch all the Cartoon Network they like. That's what dad's do right? Well, that's not all. They fix toys, they fix boo-boos, and they also share every minute of their children's joys and sorrows. Ryan always comes home to remind the boys they are first in his life, and no matter how long or strenuous his day, he still makes time to read to the boys for a solid hour every night before bedtime. We're blessed.

For Ryan: A Father's Day Tribute In Pictures

2010-06-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

Because sometimes words aren't enough (or they are too much), I have decided to post a few family photos that capture Ryan with our precious boys. He is our hero and the definition of every little boy's dream of a dad.

Precious Bedtime

2010-06-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

Are all the children all in bed? Now it's eight-o-clock.

Ah, sweet nightfall. The hour of repose. The blessed bedtime hour. I'm guessing that's when many stay-at-home moms get their second wind. The time to finish all the things that kept getting pushed aside because of the demands and needs of the little ones in their care. For me it's laundry. I can only fold laundry in absolute peace-and-quiet (i.e. no sounds from the children or husband). I like to pile the clothes on top of the bed, sit with my legs crossed, and watch TV, folding only during commercials. Sounds wonderful doesn't it? You'd be correct in assuming that never happens, and as a result, I am constantly behind on laundry duty. Maybe the truth is that, by the end of the day, I am left winded (as opposed to getting my second wind). I am out of breath, out of time, out of words...

Every night I sit in front of this smart laptop and think about how I can put a funny or insightful spin on what is usually a very chaotic day with the boys. Not every day is without control mind you, but as they say in the biz, "if it bleeds it leads," and in my house, if it's not bleeding, it's peeing, or pooping, or on fire. I like to fantasize that I am like Carrie from Sex and the City: hair down, Jimmy Choo's kicked aside, relaxed at the computer, and typing away at the next day's column. I like to write for fun, but I admit it is not my greatest talent. Neither is accessorising, so there is no world in which I could ever be mistaken for the fun-loving, drama-seeking, martini-drinking, fashion-forward New Yorker, Carrie Bradshaw. Regardless, here I am typing away at tomorrow's blog, Old Navy flats kicked off, tired but relaxed, and thinking it funny that my husband has been asleep in our three-year-old's room since 6:30. Bless his his heart, he works for a living too, you know.

My life can't quite compare to Carrie's; however, it is not without drama. Today Cavan (who will be two next month and is eager to use the big boy potty but sometimes misses) changed his own dirty diaper before I could get to him. There's really no telling how long he was in his crib standing in his own filth before I found him. I am really not a terrible mother, but finding my youngest in that condition really made me question my abilities. In my defense, it was naptime, and I thought all his chatter was regarding the books I left for him to read (lately he has taken to having books in his bed, and he'll cuddle with them as if they were stuffed animals). I gave him a bath and noted that it was another one for the books (or blog), and we spent the rest of naptime enjoying quality time together while his older brother slept.

Naptime and bedtime are sacred moments for us "at-homers". When else would we have the time to read, write, or study music? I can't even go to the restroom without someone following me. Right now, my youngest is asleep in his crib, my husband is asleep in Camden's bed, and Camden just came tip-toeing in the room to remind me he is still awake and that he needs something to eat. I am glad to see his sweet face, and I am all of a sudden very tired of this computer. It's not quite bedtime, and we are headed to bed to cuddle and read and watch toons 'til one of us falls asleep. Blog schmog.

Danger Zone

2010-05-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

It's no surprise that it has been over a month since my last entry, but I swear, I really do want to keep a blog- even if only for posterity's sake. My boys are too darn cute and funny not to!

We have been living in our Savannah home for 7 weeks now. I am still unloading miscellaneous boxes, and Ryan has just turned the back of the house into a "hard hats required" zone. We do have new lighting in the living room, and we have managed to get one wall painted and two others partially stripped. The boys require constant attention, so progress is slow. They want to be everywhere Daddy is, which is adorable, but Cavan really is too young for power tools. Camden, on the other hand, has already fallen in love with his Dad's new Dewault. The boys and I spend our days island-hopping while Ryan is at work. I can't get much accomplished without him, so what's the point in trying, right? Poor me. It's not a bad life, but it does have its hazards. For instance, while I was changing Cavan's dirty diaper this morning, Cavan, in one fell swoop, grabbed the diaper from underneath him and threw the wad of poo at my face. Thank goodness he missed. Motherhood is a danger zone.

Calm, Cool, and Collected

2010-03-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

My friend, Caroline Nixon, has written this wonderful book entitled A Mom's Guide to Sanity. She is a perfectly centered and controlled mother of two. Actually, to quote the cover, she is "calm, cool, and collected." The minute I stepped foot into her perfectly organized home, an ideal model of feng shui at its finest, I knew this woman had it together. I do not. In fact, if I were to write a book about my motherhood experience so far, it would be entitled, The Real Reason Mothers Go Insane. I am the market for her book. I am the real reason books like hers even exist.
Even though her home may look spotless, Caroline understands the challenges of the stay-at-home mom. Along with the requisite qualities mothers must posses, like a sense of humor and a sea of patience, Caroline knows the real key to staying sane is acceptance. In her Afterward, "Letting Go," she challenges other moms "to be kind not only to themselves but to other moms as well." She goes on to point out, "It is difficult enough even dealing with a three year old having a full blown tantrum in the middle of God knows where" (That was me last week -in the busy parking lot of Harris Teeter holding a screaming preschooler with one arm, and with my free arm, pushing a rickety cart holding a mountain of groceries and my other unhappy baby). "But to look up only to see glaring eyes from other women, moms, is unhelpful and hurtful. Should we not support each other?"
Yes! Thank you, Caroline! I know I can count on you for a sympathetic nod when my preschooler has an accident and needs to be changed in the back of my SUV in front of all the world to see, or when my toddler screams murder and hits me in the face when I try to put him in his car seat. No, I am not abusing my child! How long we will be in this parking lot before everyone is safe and quiet in their seats, because God knows I can't multi-task when I am driving?! Why just last week, while hauling two tired and hungry boys around a new city in busy lunch-hour traffic, I rear-ended the businessman in front of me at a red light...
Thank God we are all fine. Thank God we are finally calm, cool, and collected (for now).

Meet the Swim Team

2010-03-06T17:37:00.000-08:00

I had my reservations about sharing this story, but I thought I should get it down just for the sake of posterity, and please, before you judge me, or worse call child protective services, just remember this: my boy tots are 19 months apart in age, and I'm pretty sure they are both geniuses. So, here we go.

We are about to make our third family move in 16 months. In the fall of 2008 we moved from Charlotte, NC to Fayetteville. At that time Camden had just turned 2 and Cavan was 5 months old and crawling. Cavan learned to walk in our Fayetteville house, and he was doing his best to keep up with his older brother. We lived in Fayetteville a whopping 9 months before we had to move again to Wilmington, NC. Fayetteville is not at the top of my list of the safest places for young children (no offense); therefore, our house had key locks, as well as chain locks on all doors.

When we moved to the Wilmington house, it never occurred to me that Camden might be able to unlock the doors and wander down the way to introduce himself to the neighbors. The locks on the house in Wilmington were dead bolt and could be opened with just the right amount of effort. Apparently, Camden had it in the bag. His fine motor skills were developing behind my back and his chubby little fingers had turned into slick, skilled digits.

One fine September morning, just a week or so after we moved into the new "beach" house, conveniently located 5 miles from the ocean in a quiet gated community of mostly retired transplants, I turned the boys loose to play in packing boxes while I took a few minutes to brush my teeth. You'd think a mom could manage a few minutes for those kinds of things, right? Wrong.

While brushing my teeth and enjoying getting comfortable in the new Master bathroom, I began to think that things were a little too quiet. I turned the water off and called for the boys. No answer. Oh, no. I ran to the living room and there was no sign of the boys. No problem, it was a big new house; they had to be somewhere inside. They were not. I quickly turned in circles around the living room, and I began to panic. In mid-spin I noticed the door to back porch was opened. "Oh, Dear Lord!"

There is a small ditch in the back yard that serves as a sort of border between our property and the neighbor's. There are no fences in the neighborhood-it's just a giant backyard free-for-all. It is designed so because the association pays for lawn care (where one guy can ride in and raze all the lawns in one giant sweep). It's a terrific service if you are retired and don't care about fences and such-not terrific if you have young tots and need boundaries. Because the drainage is terrible (non-existent), the ditch fills with water every time it rains even a little.

I ran outside to find the boys swimming and splashing like ducks in the puddles left by the early morning rain. I ran crying ran as fast as I could (which is pretty speedy considering I used to be a track star), and I swept up both boys, one under each arm, and ran straight to the house, their wet little limbs swinging wildly.

I dried them off and thanked God they were safe. I called Ryan to insist we have the locks changed immediately to a child-proof system. I now literally keep the boys under lock-and-key, and I keep the key on top of the mantel. The next day the boys and I met the backyard neighbor, and he informed me he had already gotten a glimpse of the boys splashing around in his backyard. Really? And you thought you'd just enjoy the show from your patio? Welcome to the neighborhood.

910 Magazine Article: I'll Take Mine with Tots

2010-03-04T08:42:00.000-08:00

I'll take mine with tots

By Michelle Evans Jarrell

Correspondent

Imagine an exasperated mother shoveling down food and pleading with her 5-year-old to eat something on his plate while her dining partner, who is quickly running out of ways to entertain her toddler, is chasing the young one through the aisles.
Does this sound like you? Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy an evening out with the family in a restaurant that satisfies children and adults? Don’t let the thought of another meal out give you indigestion; we have a few solutions. In this article you will find a few tips on dining out with children, plus 910 area moms share their advice and favorite kid-friendly restaurants.

TIPS FOR DINING OUT

Whenever possible, make a reservation.
It is common knowledge that children do not have the attention spans of adults, yet somehow many parents seem to forget this fact when expecting their kids to wait 20 minutes for a table, 15 minutes to order and then another 20 minutes for the meal.
Popular restaurants can have waits as long as 45 minutes on the weekends. Some adults have trouble waiting that long for a table. Take advantage of establishments that offer call-ahead seating, where your name is placed on the waiting list when you call. By the time you get there, your wait is much shorter.

Call for menus in advance.
While it may not be possible in every situation, a little time spent planning a meal can go a long way with small children, whether eating at home or dining out. If your child has a persnickety palate, call the restaurant and have them fax or e-mail you the menu. Most chain restaurants, and many other savvy establishments, post their menus online to entice diners.Visiting the restaurant’s Web site also is a great way to learn about specials, including nights when kids eat free. Plus, the less time you spend studying menus, the sooner the food will be served on the table.

Pack a bag of treats and games.
Consider bringing something unobtrusive to entertain your child during the wait, such as a hand-held video game or a coloring book. If you know your child is hungry (or will become so before dinner is finally served), carry along a couple of snacks to sustain him in the meantime.

Dine during off-peak hours.
You might not normally choose to eat supper at 4:50, but if you are visiting a trendy restaurant, that could mean a major difference in your wait time. Moreover, if you arrive just before the restaurant is in full swing, you can relax more knowing there is not another family within 50 feet of you, and you can enjoy the undivided attention of your server.

KID-FRIENDLY EATS (NOT YOUR TYPICAL FAST FOOD)

Joe’s Crab Shack, particularly the one on McPherson Church Road in Fayetteville, is a favorite because of the outdoor playground. During warmer months, families can dine on the patio, and parents of squirmy children can take turns going down the slide. Joe’s is a very friendly, upbeat environment where the wait staff keeps things interesting by breaking out in the occasional line dance. The music and lights might be overwhelming for parents of babies, but if you visit during the slower hours, you can enjoy a wonderful meal without the crowd. The children’s menu offers typical kid food (pizza, chicken fingers, etc.), but it also has healthier options, such as grilled chicken and steamed vegetables. The restaurant also offers kids meal deals on Tuesday nights, where children can eat for about $2.

“Welcome to Moe’s!” When you don’t want to wait long for a meal, but you would like something different from the usual fast-food fare, Moe’s Southwest Grill is one solution. This casual and friendly restaurant boasts a mouthwatering menu of fat burritos and tacos, and children (and parents) will love the free chips and salsa that come with every meal.

Ruby Tuesday, the casual American-style restaurant and bar, allows customers the option of making reservations online. No more waiting for a table! Ruby Tuesday offers a variety of food on the children’s menu to suit almost any taste. The colorful salad bar offers a nice distraction for younger children where they can help you pick out your toppings. High chairs are readily available, and the restaurant also provides a coloring sheet and crayons.

Chick-fil-A is not your typical fast food restaurant. When compiling this list, I thought I would stay clear of fast food types, but when my family visits Chick-fil-A, we always dine-in! No article on child-friendly eats could leave this restaurant out. Of course they serve chicken nuggets and waffle fries, but the fruit cup is delicious, too. Chick-fil-A is the only fast food joint I have ever visited where someone offers to carry my tray every single time I approach the counter (with my children in tow, of course).

WHAT OTHER MOMS SAY

Cheryl Jo Allin, a home-school coordinator and mother of two (and this issue’s Everyday Mom), suggests asking for crackers or chips while you wait and having the server bring the children’s food as soon as it is done. She also dishes on her favorite family restaurant: “Chili’s is my family’s top pick restaurant in the Fayetteville area. (They) have crayons and paper for your kids to color with and normally will cater to your children’s likes by changing the menu. In addition, I have a child with severe food allergies, and they have accommodated our needs very well.”

Julie Small, mother of two, tells us her favorite family restaurant is On The Border. Her advice for a positive restaurant experience is to introduce children to dining out early on: “We started taking our kids out as babies. They are used to going to restaurants and have no trouble (even at 1 and 3) going to dinner.”

Sara Reider, stay-at-home mom of three, loves restaurants where children eat free because there are sure to be plenty of other families with young ones. Her trick for a more pleasant restaurant experience: “I always bring snacks and their Leapfrog game systems to keep them occupied. They also like coloring, so unless I know they will have crayons, etc., I always make sure to bring my own.”

Caroline Nixon, Fayetteville native and author of the book “A Mom’s Guide to Sanity,” enjoys casual dining restaurants, and her family particularly likes Red Robin. She talks about the lesson that can be learned from dining out: “I think it is important for the kiddies to be able to be in a public place (for a reasonable length of time) without going crazy. Other countries don’t tend to accommodate the kids as much as we do.” Her advice for calming an uncooperative child: “I think leaving at least for a minute or two also can teach the child that they cannot act that way and stay at the cool restaurant.”

High-speed chases never end well

2010-03-04T08:29:00.000-08:00

Just to refresh your memories, I have two boys (Camden 3, and Cavan 17 months). Right now we are in the stage where every routine involving diapering, dressing, brushing teeth, or washing hands is an epic battle. I have tried everything, from singing songs to dangling shiny toys in front of their eyes, to try and slow them down long enough to change a diaper or wipe a nose. Hygiene is the biggest challenge we are facing now as far as I'm concerned. I can handle it if they can't yet grasp the concept of sharing, but nothing stresses me out more than trying to hold down a flailing toddler while attempting to remove a toxic diaper. This morning's attempt to wipe the oatmeal from Cavan's face almost resulted in another ER visit.

We enjoyed cinnamon oatmeal this morning for breakfast (Camden's favorite). At 17 months old, Cavan has almost mastered the spoon. Well, since I am not Betty Crocker, my oatmeal this morning was a little sticky and lumpy (hey, it wasn't instant). Cavan thought it would be more efficient to grab handfuls of the mush and shovel it in his mouth. He also delighted in in smearing the leftovers all around the highchair chair, as if he were working on his next finger-painting masterpiece. He signaled the end of breakfast by standing straight up in his highchair (he can unbuckle himself now, so there is no point). When he stood I grabbed him so he wouldn't fall. He clung to me with his gooey hands, and I hauled him to the sink. He performed his signature "Houdini" where he becomes limp and straight at the same time and slides straight to the floor, thus freeing himself from the chains of his parent's arms. He hit the floor running, and I followed with a towel thinking I could at least wipe his hands clean. He rounded the corner of the kitchen peninsula, and his little feet slid across the hardwood floor and out from underneath him. He tumbled backwards and fell head first. Poor Cavan, I can't even tell you how many times now that child has injured his little noggin! It turns out that he is fine, and we don't need to visit the ER. He didn't want my comfort, though. He went straight to his older brother who gave him a hug and kiss on the head. I give up. High-speed chases never end well!

Beach Snow

2010-03-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

For most of my life I have dreamed of living on the coast. I have enjoyed family vacations to Myrtle Beach for as long as I can remember and longed for the day when I could permanently plant my feet in some sunny, Southern sand. Each move for Ryan's job has taken us further East, and for the past 5 months, my young boys and I have had the pleasure of calling the coastal city of Wilmington, North Carolina (the Port City) our home. Being locals, we have experienced all the eccentricities of coastal living like wearing flip-flops in the winter and building snowmen out of sand. The recent winter storm, however, yielded a near miracle for the beach towns, and for the first time in my life, I played with my boys in the snow, on the beach.

On Saturday, February 13th, Valentine's weekend, Wilmington and the surrounding beaches received a stunning 5 inches of snow. Early Saturday morning, Ryan and I decked the boys in their winter gear and headed across the bridge to Wrightsville Beach. We were not alone and were delighted to see a couple of other families with young children braving the cold for some winter beach fun. A reporter and photographer from the local newspaper (Star News) was there early to capture the serene winter scene before the locals (and their dogs) made tracks in the snow. Camden arrived in time to do plenty of damage with his shovel and dump truck, and the photographer captured Camden at play. The photo made the news website! Within hours the snow melted, but I have a memory (and photo) that will last a lifetime!

The Boys Are Back and On The Road Again!

2010-03-03T09:30:00.001-08:00

The boys are back and on the road again! After some time away from blogging (the boys keep me on the go), I have decided to commit to this blogging thing (notice the new title, still subject to my whim). Blogging might be my only friend for a while because the latest news is that we are moving AGAIN!

This will make our 3rd move in 16 months. From Charlotte, to Fayetteville, to Wilmington, oh my! The lucky new city is Savannah, Georgia, and I am thrilled we will still be able to enjoy coastal living. We are planning to buy a house and stay for a while. Georgia doesn't know what's coming!

In between packing, unpacking, and changing diapers, I will try to organize this blog. In case you've missed us (don't worry, we move fast), I'll categorize stories into "Rewind" "Pause" and "Fast forward" depending on the story location (i.e. "Rewind Charlotte: The New House"). Stay tuned for more stories from the beach and updates on our move.

Baby Rocky

2009-11-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

I am a mother of two, and for the next month at least, I can still qualify as being a mom of two boys, two years and under. Yes moms, they are both still in diapers, but we are working on that. We do the best we can. I am a laid back mommy,and I have to be in order to maintain my sanity. My house looks like a playschool war zone, and the laundry is an immortal beast that I cannot tame. I have given up on trying to sanitize everything that touches my infant's mouth, but when one of my babies is hurt, common sense takes a back seat, the over protective mother in me materializes, and I find myself in the ER paying $150 for a Physician Assistant to tell me that my baby bumped his nose and all he needs is some Tylenol. Such was the case this morning.

Yesterday I was enjoying a relatively calm fall morning with my boys at the neighborhood park. It was perfect. There was not a cloud in the sky, and with the exception of two other toddlers and mommies who were playing at the swings, we had the entire park to ourselves. Slides and jungle gyms were all free and clear for the boys to explore. This was going to be great, I thought. I even remembered the jackets, diapers, snacks, and sippy sups (all for two, mind you). The boys played for a while on the toddler slides and we moved to the preschool playground when Camden (my oldest) became bored and wanted to go on the big-boy slides. He is an expert. He took off running and Cavan ran behind him. I followed with all the gear.

The boys appeared safe and were having fun, so I sat down on the bench for a second. "This is nice" I thought. I never get to sit down at the park, and usually I return home even more tired than the boys. I noticed Cavan climbing the stairs to go to the big slide, so I run to him and pull him down to the ground. This did not make him happy. I diverted his attention to something else, and I noticed Camden a few feet away. Camden calls me for something and I move toward him. I turn around and see the baby running to another side of the play structure. I move again, but not fast enough. Cavan trips on the monkey bars, hits his nose on the cold metal bars, and falls to the ground. I pick him up thinking that he would be fine. He was screaming, but he did not fall from the bars. They extend from the bridge of the play structure to the ground. He just tripped over the low bars. "Cavie's all-right," I told Camden, who was visibly upset as well. "He just has a boo-boo." Then I saw the blood spill from my baby's nose. We run to the bathroom, and I get tissue and pinch his nostrils shut. I cuddle Cavan in my arms and hold Camden's hand, and we cross the parking lot and head to the car. I clean the blood with wipes, assure the boys that everything will be fine, and then I head for home.

Cavan is very upset and his older brother, Cam is whimpering saying he's sad. It's not far home, and I can tell that Cavan is trying to cuddle in his car seat and go to sleep. He just needs some rest, I thought, and he will feel better. We get home and I give Cavan some milk. His nose has stopped bleeding and he shows me he is tired. I cuddle with him and then put him down for a nap. I have a quiet lunch with Camden and then we play puzzles, read books, and color. He even helps me start supper. Cavan wakes from his nap and Cam gets excited that his playmate is back. He looks bruised, but he is happy. The boys have an afternoon snack and go about the rest of the day as normal. Ryan comes home and dotes on the baby for a while, and we have supper together. We agree that everything is fine.

This morning I woke up panicking. "Oh, God! What if Cavan broke his nose and I didn't even know? What if he is permanently disfigured because of my neglect? I don't want my toddler to look like a baby boxer! What if he is still in pain? Should I have taken him to the doctor?" I am feeling worse by the minute about my baby's still swollen nose, so I decide to take Camden to a drop-in day care and rush Cavan to Urgent Care. We are new to the town and still do not have a local pediatrician. The medical records are en-route to the new office, and we cannot be seen yet. The doctor at Urgent Care informs me that he doesn't have the equipment necessary to care for Cavan. "Equipment?" I thought. "He needs a CAT scan?" Oh no. This is worse than I thought. The Urgent Care doctor gives me directions to the hospital and says we need to go there "just to be safe". After all, Cavan could have a head injury.

We head to the hospital and Cavan is getting fussy along the way. He is tired and hungry. I don't have lunch or even a sippy cup with me. I wasn't really planning on being out this long. I definitely wasn't planning on a trip to the ER.We arrive after five minutes of driving, and I become anxious about being in an ER with my bruised, but otherwise well baby. "I hope he doesn't catch the flu (or worse) in here," I thought. After triage and insurance verification we waited for what seemed like an eternity to be seen by the doctor. Cavan did not want to stay in his stroller, and I didn't want him out of the stroller running the floors and touching everything. The PA arrives, makes baby talk, shines a light up Cavan's nose and says It's just a bump in the nose. He'll be just fine. He can have Tylenol for the pain." He leaves shortly to get our discharge paperwork. Another employee returns with the forms and says, "Your insurance co-pay is $150.00. How will you be paying?"

Cavan Can't Catch A Break!

2009-11-18T07:52:00.000-08:00

Cavan (16 months) had his first visit to the ER a couple of months ago when he fell and busted his little baby button nose on the cold, low-level monkey bars of a local playground (see blog entitled "Baby Rocky" for the full story) Since then he has been bumped, bruised, battered, and now that he is in daycare part-time, even bitten.

This morning I was cleaning up from breakfast when I witnessed my baby tumble once again to the ground before I could catch his fall. Since the day he started walking he started climbing, and my life has been a series of mild heart-attacks ever since. I have to move all the food (and anything else interesting) from the kitchen table after every meal. If I don't get the goodies cleared quick enough, Cavan will scoot a chair to the table, climb on top with the greatest of ease, perch in the very center, and start noshing on the leftovers. This morning I was behind my game when he spotted some waffles, climbed up in his older brother's booster seat, and stood to reach the table which was three feet away from the chair. He overestimated his reach. His little feet slipped from underneath him and he tumbled face first to the hardwood floors below. He landed on his nose. I ran to him, scooped him up, gave him a comforting bottle of warm milk, and rocked him in my arms while trying to nurse his wounds with a frozen bag of peas. I don't think we need to go to the ER this time, but I'll keep a bag packed for him in the car, just in case.

Candy-colored carpet

2009-10-28T04:48:00.000-07:00

10/26/09.

My mornings are usually a little bit chaos with a dash of crazy, but things really seem to get off to the wrong start when the boys wake me up first. I really need to force myself to get out of bed when I hear Ryan leave for work, but up until recently, my youngest was still waking at least once every night wanting a bottle or a diaper. Camden (almost three years) and Cavan (16 months) wake up between 6:30 and 7:30 every morning. I can hear Cavan in his crib "whoo, whooing" and laughing to himself. He is a morning person, and he can't wait to be set free so he can get at the toys. Camden usually takes longer to come around in the mornings. He always wakes me to tell me he wants warm milk and cartoons, please. He still wakes up in my room in the mornings. Sometime in the middle of every night he darts into our bedroom in a mild panic. He no longer pitter-patters, but runs down the hall from his room to ours. I believe he wakes from bad dreams. This makes my heart heavy, and I always scoop him up and place him between Ryan and me.

Yesterday morning started like most others, and I awakened to the pleasant sound of Cavan laughing in his crib in the room down the hall. I changed his diaper, got his milk, and then sent him off to work destroying my living room. Camden woke and gave him the same service. Later in the morning, after my second cup of coffee, I thought I might be able to sneak off for a shower. The boys were playing peek-a-boo in my clothes closet, a walk-in closet in the master bath. They sounded like they were having fun and not getting in to trouble, so I jumped in the shower. I could still hear them playing close by. I proceeded to shampoo thinking the worst the could do in the closet was pull the clothes off the hanger. Oh foolish mother, haven't you learned anything yet? The closet became quiet; I knew it was a bad omen. I wrapped a towel around me and peeked in the closet. Oh, dear Lord. Oh, no. My closet floor was covered with hundreds of teeny, tiny rainbow-colored sprinkles (the kind used for baking). My boys, bless them, were licking the candied treats right from the carpet, thus moistening the dyes so the all the colors of the rainbow could settle into their new home on the floor of my closet. "How," I wondered, "did they acquire the candied sprinkles?" I shooed them from the closet and headed to the kitchen where I saw a chair pushed up next to the counter. Obviously Cam had spotted the sprinkles and set his mind on obtaining them. From now on, I vowed, I will force myself to get up with Ryan so I can dress and drink a cup of coffee before my children rise. Then I will be ready for more adventures in diaperland. Bring it on, boys!

Rewind Charlotte: Our First House and Baby

2009-10-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

Our first home in Charlotte was the house of my dreams: two-story foyer, ceiling-to-floor built-in bookcases, a bright wall of windows in the family room, and a fenced- in back yard filled with so many trees in bloom, that I would never know I had neighbors. I knew when I first saw it that this was where I wanted to raise my children (who were still a distant thought at that time). Little did I know that we would move after only three years in the house. The minute I learned of my pregnancy with Camden, I became so excited picturing my house with a baby. I daydreamed of a magical nursery like the one from Mary Poppins. After nine months off pregnancy and more than sixteen hours of labor, Camden blessed us with his presence November 30th, 2006. He was four days early. The moment I brought him home and snuggled with him next to the fireplace and Christmas tree, I knew that my home and life would never be the same. My house, still largely unfurnished with so much work still to go, all of a sudden felt so cozy and complete when Camden was in the room. It didn't matter to me where we lived, as long as he was safe and sound.

Rewind Charlotte: The Piano and the Apartment

2009-10-23T04:52:00.000-07:00

Ryan and I enjoyed the city life for two and a half years before Camden was born. Our first abode in Charlotte was a well-lit apartment with vaulted ceilings, and I felt just at home. I was working on my Master of Music degree when we first moved to Charlotte, and I insisted on having the piano with me. My father, brothers, and Ryan, carried the ridiculously heavy piano up three flights of stairs so I could have a practice room in my apartment. We (they) put the piano in the "solarium" which served as my practice studio. I had a great view from my piano bench. They had back pain for a month. Less than a year later, we bought our first house and it was time to move the piano again this time down three flights of stairs. Probably still feeling the pain from the last move, my dad generously gave me money to hire professionals. I called My Three Sons moving Company. They said they would send two movers. I warned the rep over the phone that she needed to send four. Just like the name promises, they sent three sons (not their sturdiest looking fellows either). They were ready for business with back supports, pulleys, ramps and the kitchen sink. After at least an hour of pushing, pulling, sweating, and I think bleeding, one of the sons said to me, "If you have to move this piano again, do not call My Three Sons Movers!"

Introducing Cavan

2009-10-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

Cavan was born on July 1st, 2008. He came four days after his due date, and he was worth every second of the wait. At only 15 months old, he shows more independence than his brother. He has perfected the art of ducking and running and can hold his own with his big brother. He loves to cuddle and gives the yummiest hugs. Camden has found a new playmate in his brother Cavan, and I gush over the moments when they make each other smile.

Introducing Camden

2009-10-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

Camden was born on November 30th, 2006. His is now almost 3, and still the center of my universe. I haven't slept since he was born, and I don't miss it at all. He usually creeps into my room every night, and I look forward to the midnight visits. We'll correct that eventually, but for a little while longer, he is still my baby.