Paper Mama: Favorite of August

Busy, busy over here in the Theisen household...I have so many things swirling around in my brain right now that it is insane-insane in the membrane has taken on a whole new meaning in my life.  I have much to share as I reflect on the end of summer, the end of our girls gummy smiles and the end of round 5 in 11 weeks.  Can you believe it!?

For now though http://thepapermama.blogspot.com/2011/08/paper-mama-photo-challenge-favorite.html. 

She is my favorite gurl!

Twas a weekend to remember

Twas indeed!  It was one for the books...at least for Lyssa Lu and I. 

We spent all day saturday as just the girls.  We took in an early morning nap that stretched until lunchtime.  We slowly but surely got loads of laundry done, a load of dishes washed and finally we got shredded by none other than Jillian Michaels.  She loves to watch me work out.  I think she in entranced by the cans of pees and corn I use as weights.  Silverish flashes of the cans entertain her as I do chest presses, back exercises, punches and more all at the prodding done by Jillian who say's "look, we are doing it with you, we know it's hard..." yet she isn't breaking a sweat and is still talking after 27 minutes of shredding.  I am soaked in a sweat that makes it hard to take off the anti-sweat shirt I bought, I can hardly talk and my legs are shaky from all the exercise. 

But, I digress.

All the while Auntie Katie had come over only to lay down and take a nap in Riley's room...for 2 hours!  Thankfully little lady also laid down for a nap after the shredding so I could shower in peace.

My parents came over shortly after and my Dad watched Lyssa Lu so we could take in "The Help."  I was a bit nervous about my Dad watching our girl but he said yes to it and she is really easy to put to bed so we proceeded on with our plans.  Popcorn, nachos and a hidden pop in my purse later I still had no new messages on my phone so we were golden.  The movie was incredible...I thought they did a superb job on casting the characters and it was touching with great acting and just enough laughs.  We left laughing ourselves and the laughing continued when we found my Dad with our TV set to channel 9984 playing re-runs of Jersey Shore because he didn't know how to change the channel.  Luckily Alyssa was easier to handle then the remote and she was good for him.  She continued her goodness and slept until 7:30 Sunday morning!  Yay, baby girl!  We dressed and headed off to church where she sang her little heart out to the songs, snoozed on a new lap, was passed around to countless people while I helped serve beverages after the service and was told an innumerable amount of times how extremely cute and social she was.  It was a long morning as our new head Pastor was installed but it was fun to see so many 'old' faces and we both really enjoyed ourselves.  It is so fulfilling to be part of something that dates back to childhood.  To see and exchange sincere "hello's" and "oh my gosh, is she/he yours?"  To see grown adults who used to babysit us Hutchies as kids and now introduce them to my child.  To be hugged by parents of my oldest and dearest friends that I haven't seen because of time and space.  It is special, it is good.

I love weekends but this one was just special.  Quiet, lazy Saturday followed by a busy and exciting Sunday capped off with the boys returning home and dinner with Nana and Papa later in the evening. 

This summer has flown by. 

I can't believe our baby girl is a sitter now.

I can't believe it's nearly the end of August.

I can't believe Riley starts school in 2 weeks time.

I can't believe we will be enjoying deep fried pickles with cream cheese soon : )

 I am thankful for the special alone time I am granted to spend with my girl...

I am thankful to have my family back under 1 roof after being spread out under 3 Saturday eve.

I am thankful to have met (baby Miles) and spent time with extended family on Saturday in Hamel.  It was so much fun to be packed together bumping into eachother and watching happily as our children played together all the while enjoying appetizers and conversation. 

Twas once again a weekend for the books. 

The boys enjoyed nice weather and fishing.  Riley really, really enjoyed the fishing, but of course! 

Bernie the bass, picture complete with sandals on the wrong feet!  : )

Paper Mama: Eyes

I love the reflection of the sunshiney day sparkling in her eyes.  Check out the paper mama's example of eyes...be like WHOA!

http://thepapermama.blogspot.com/2011/08/paper-mama-photo-challenge-eyes.html

Mama Mojo

It's that magic that gets you up in the morning, keeps you going throughout the day and brings you to the finale at the end of the night where two little pj'd kiddos are finally sleeping peacefully allowing you the peace and quiet to reflect upon how you just rocked and knocked out another day.

Somedays I am left wondering where the heck my mama mojo went to.  This happened a few weeks ago.  I had made dinner on Wednesday and actually made Thursdays dinner as well so when I got home with the kids on said Thursday all I had to do was start the oven and enjoy 35 minutes later.  Derrick was working late again and it was 4 hours till bedtime.  Only 4 hours and I could hardly muster up the gusto to preheat the oven.  I desperately tried to get my game face on and it was nowhere to be found.  I considered calling my Mom but she had the kids all day so then I considered my sister but she was still working and then working out so I thought maybe there was a sliver of a chance that I could just suck it up and perform.  Major Mom fail.  I had no energy.  There was gusto to muster, no wind in my sails and no confidence to wrangle and care for the two children of mine.  I was defeated for absolutely no good reason.  I had had a good day at work and was excited to pick up the kids but when we got home to a messy house my mojo had deflated and was nowhere to be found.

I LOVE Thursdays.  It is my favorite day of the week.  Mostly still dating back to FRIENDS and ER airing on Thursday but also because it's the night before the last of work and I am usually given a second wind looking forward to just one more day working for the man.   I started counting minutes and then bargaining with myself that if I could just make it 50 more minutes we could just call it a night, turn on the TV and veg out.  I can't believe I am admitting this but I didn't make it 5.  I broke down and started texting/begging Kyle to come over and lend me some moral support.  He agreed and was just enough help that I fed all of us, cleaned up a bit and actually enjoyed just sitting back and watching him play Uncle.  Derrick finally made it home (I am being dramatic, most nights he is home for dinner and for sure home for bedtime) and he was able to take over the parenting duties so I could half-heartedly drag my poor self to the couch and sit.

I should note that I now look back and realize that this is to be expected after being on antibiotics for nearly 10 weeks.  Does anyone know what taking antibiotics and the birth control pill at the same time can do?  Haha...we are not pregnant!  But I did get you-know-what 4 times in 10 weeks.  You-know-what is not a friend.  So being that this was the 4th go round with the enemy I am shocked I made it that far.  Needless to say I ditched the antibiotics which were doing nothing for my peri-oral dermatitis (Note: That is a nice way to say that I looked a hot mess with a red, itchy, dry rash around my entire mouth.) and decided to see the Dermatologist.  After calling to make an appt and hearing booked until December I pulled out one more desperation card and actually got squeezed in on Monday where the Dr said indeed I have a severe case of peri-oral dermatitis aggravated by pregnancy and the after effects of hormones which was further aggravated by my allergies of everything under the sun which now includes my current facial lotion and makeup. (RIP Mary Kay Timewise and Bare Minerals)

Anyways long story short, I am on high dose steroid cream.  I do not look like a clown anymore and my mojo returned after putting to rest that dark and dreary Thursday evening.

Moral of the story.  We can rock Motherhood and be absolutely amazing Mama's and all of a sudden be knocked over by the reality of being responsible for and raising kids.  It happens and thankfully we have people around us (mad props to Uncle Kyle) who are able to pick up the pieces and help us fix the boo boo.

I get such an adrenaline rush every morning after peeling myself out of bed at 3:50.  Ouch, I know.  It comes from realizing that THIS.IS.MY.LIFE.  It is what I make it and I am damn proud of it.  I get to work in a job I actually really like, talk to my Mom who is also our daycare provider and laugh over Riley's funny phrase of the day and how Lyssa finally took her first nap in her crib, come home to work out (or just watch TV) and take care of me for a bit before the kids wake up from nappy poos and I take off to get them.  I get to relax at my parents and indulge in a snack or two, play with the kids in the yard, laugh some more with my Mom about how the day went...and this is my everyday.  I have a great life.  I get a natural 'high' from being their Mommy and being his wifey.  It zooms me in and out of everyday and keeps me going to get dishes washed, floors vacuumed, sweet little butts bathed, tiny mouths fed and finally tired feet kicked up while reading, smiling to myself that today was a good day.

Thank goodness for the mojo and a few vanilla white chocolate mochas scattered throughout my week to keep me in step, in tune and in love with everyday.

Thanks also to a healthy 6 month check-up for sweet Alyssa Lu who is now 15 lbs 6 ozs, 26 3/4 inches long and perfect as Dr R always says.

Moving right along in the thank you dept to National Camera for my new Canon 60D and the most amazing lens I have ever owned.  I lourved my 50 mm 1.8 but the 1.4 is stunning.  I don't even know where it pulls the light from but it is ah.maze.ing.  For real.  I can't wait to get out more and get used to this new friend.  Only like $676 left till the next lens I covet.

What would a post be without a few pictures?!  From the 60D of course.  actually half from the 60D.

Houston, WE HAVE A SOLO SITTER!  : ) 

Finally a sweet shy smile instead of the mouth-wide-open-mocking-his-mama smile

Whateva!

There's just something about the lime greeny/yellowy, brown, pink, turquoisey colors and sweet sleeping baby lips that makes me lourve this picture.  Check it out over at http://thepapermama.blogspot.com/2011/08/paper-mama-photo-challenge-whatever.html.  : )

Goodbye dear friend

I just said goodbye to my T1i.  Saul the salesman said eventually I would outgrow it.  The time is now.  I am so sad to see her go as she has been good to me but onto a new season in photography for this lady starts tomorrow on lunch break.  I am excited.  

Here's the last picture taken with my trusty friend.  

Alyssa Marie: 6 months

Good Lord, where has 6 months gone to already?!  You, my sweet Lu are so much fun!  Six months old is a great age and I almost talked myself into getting a cake to celebrate this milestone but didn't being that you couldn't enjoy it anyways.  You are a rollercoaster of a baby and we cannot believe how much you have changed since you were born.  Somedays you nap and sleep like a champ and some days you will only take an hour nap all day long leaving us to wonder if you are some sort of super baby who doens't require sleep as you are still smiling and looking around to see what's next!  I am pretty used to it but baby girl you are exhausting your Daddy who needs more sleep so let's get back onto the schedule of sleeping til 6:30-7:30 every morning mmm-kay?  Regardless though you are lourved on big time.  We all melt when we see you but your Daddy especially melts when he holds you close after a long day only to kiss your head over and over again as he whispers "you are my pretty, pretty girl," and "daddy loves you pretty girl." You are told numerous times a day how pretty you are and many times a day I think you could pass for a porcelian baby doll with your rosy cheeks, pretty pink lips and sparkly blue eyes.  You still love to be held but are happy to be put down and try sitting up on your own, enjoying the freedoms that come with stretching out and reaching for a new toy.

Here's a sneak peak at Lyssa Lu: 6 months new.

*You are eating every 5-6 hours 6 ozs of mixed Enfamil Gentlease and Infant formula.

*You are eating solids twice a day and you love sweet potatoes, carrots, and any and all fruit.  You not surprisingly hate green beans and peas so I sneak a few spoonfuls in with your potatoes and carrots and at first you turn up your nose but agree that solids are too yummy to pass up!

*You are wearing size 2 diapers.

*You are wearing 6 month old clothes.

*You go to bed by 7:30 everynight and if you wake up usually do so around 12:45-1:00 a.m. for a Nuk. 

*Your mornings are a huge hodge podge of wakey times with anything from 5:00 a.m. to 7:30 (usually on the weekends), so I assume my getting up interrupts your slumber somewhat.  However, you always eat a quick 6 ozs and go right back to sleep until Daddy wakes you up or we wake up together on weekends around 8:30-9:00!  Daddy actually laughed when I set an alarm for church on Sunday for 8:45 stating that "she will never sleep that long."  You woke me up at 8:38 and I was pretty thankful for the alarm becuase I got lost listening to you talk and coo to yourself.

*You LOVE your crib and your room/changing table is your happy place.  Often times in the evening when the day has been long and we are waiting for Daddy to get home we head to your room for fun.  Riley entertains us both and you usually end up in your crib so he can read you books, make you laugh and maybe even sometimes (if Mommy is in an really good mood) bounce around a bit because you think it's hilarious when he jumps on your mattress. 

*You notice very quickly when we leave the room now and Riley is such a good boy to stay with you while we run to the bathroom or put dinner in.  You are happy as long as one of us is with you.

*You are now taking baths in the big tub with your big brother thanks to your new bath seat!  You LOVE it! and Riley loves taking baths with you...he literally giggles the whole time.  It's obnoxious and loud and you smile the whole time.

*You still don't have any teeth and we are loving your gummy smile.

*You can wet a onesie with drool in seconds.

*You love to pull hair now, baby holders beware...this girl has a tight grip!

*You love to give hugs and snuggles now.  You just lay your little head down on our chests and snuggle...it's precious.

*You play peek-a-boo with us now.  I love that both my kids have loved their 'lovies' and now Lyssa Lu puts it over her head and pulls it down with a huge smile on her face waiting for us to peek-a-boo her! 

*You have your Dr's appt next Tuesday so we aren't sure where you are at with weight/length yet.

She wonders where the last 6 months went...

Kisses for the cam!

Yummy, gummy grins

Sweet girl in gifted pj's

She looks more and more like her Daddy everyday : )





Hello Little D!  : )

           We love you more than words can tell Lyssa Lu Lu.  You are the sweetest little toe-head!

Date night almost gone wrong

We don't go out very often.  We like being at home, we really like being with our children and it seems like it's just easier to go out to eat with them then ask someone to watch them but the last few weekends we have managed to go out just the two of us twice! 

Kyle called after work to see if he could swing by to see the kids and I said "yes, you can spend an hour with them while we go to eat!"  I really didn't try to pressure him but he agreed and we enjoyed El Loro complete with margaritas for two in just over an hour!  Thanks Kyle!  Sorry Lyssa Lu gave you a bit of trouble. 

This last weekend I pre-arranged Auntie TeeTee to come and watch the kids for us so we could get out for the evening.  Riley was pretty excited to see her but didn't understand why we would be leaving without him.  Makes me think that maybe date night should be more often!  He wasn't upset but he just couldn't believe that we weren't going to be eating with him!  Sweet boy.  We took off for P.F. Changs and indulged in appetizers, Auntie Changs Frappe (YUMMY!) and dinners.  It was delish and for desert we headed over to National Camera for some 'window' shopping.  I am looking for new lenses and decided that it is time for a new camera too : )  I love my camera but in the lowlight of our house it just isn't doing what I want it to do and since I am shooting a wedding with Annie in September I thought it best to upgrade pre-nuptials!  Derrick says it is the most boring store ever...I couldn't disagree more!  I really wanted to keep shopping, for my little ones of course at Baby Gap, PBK and Edelweiss Baby but after the sighs of boredom from D I thought it best that we move on...where too you ask? 

Bill's Gun Range.

It was my idea.  I thought it would be fun to shoot a few rounds.  I didn't realize that it was expensive (just over $40 to shoot not counting ammo) and that it would be downright scary. 
I have shot our handgun before up north, in the open with family and I liked shooting alot.
I didn't realize that driving into an underground super creepy parking ramp with the noise of gun shots ringing through the concrete would make me nervous.  I also didn't realize that the fact that I was in a room full of strangers all carrying guns would make me nervous.  Turns out it does.  I didn't know these people and to be perfectly honest they were 'questionable' looking characters.  It was loud, super loud.  It was hot, super hot, although my anxiety could have turned the temp up a few degrees.  I didn't realize that when you shoot a gun indoors you can actually feel the gun shoot.  You can feel the heat coming off of it, you can feel the BOOM on your chest and you can feel the shells of the people in the lane next to you as they smack you on the head and fly in front of your face.  Derrick could tell that I was panicking and I could see in his eyes that he wasn't overally comfortable with the situation either.  He is super cautious when it comes to guns and turns out being in a room with strangers and guns doesn't leave him overly comfortable either!  I finally stopped literally jumping at every bang of every gun going off and shot a few really good rounds.  I am a pretty good shot acutally and I do really like to do it but I will wait til we are up north next time where it is free and airy and a bit less sketchy feeling. 

It was early and it was nice to get home in time to put both our babies to bed before watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!  I just had finished the book and we are really enjoying the movies so after an already expensive evening curling up on the couch was perfect!

Moving on the randomness that I love...

At night now Riley likes to sleep with his door open.  I asked him if he was scared and his response "me not scared mommy, me just feel better bout it open."  So for the past weekend any noise he heard he had to come out of his room and see what was going on.  I told the Dr that we were suddenly having trouble keeping him in bed for the first 30-45 minutes and he said to tell him we would shut the door if he didn't stay in bed...duh.  Why didn't I think of that one?!  Rewind to Sunday, I was doing my hair after showering following the kids going to bed...are you still with me?...when a sweet voice asked, "mommy you be weal mad if I have to come out my bed and go pee?"  I had to laugh at him then strip him down to go.  He hugged me and told me, "Hank you mommy, me love very very much."  Derrick heard the little voice and had to come back and join in for one more goodnight session. 

I love this kid...
*He was shopping with my Mom at Costco last week and when they came to the flowers he begged Nana to let him buy flowers for Mommy.  I can just hear his little voice pleading "pees Nana, pees." 
*A few weeks ago with my Dad home for his day off him and my Mom were hugging and Riley said "hey my Mommy and Daddy do that too!"  Isn't that just cute.  It makes me really happy that he sees and recognizes that his Mommy and Daddy love eachother! 
*I took him with to bring Auntie Teetee to work last Sunday (she was going out with 5 limos for a magazine spread shoot on her company and was getting dropped off by a limo at home later) and he looked so cute riding in his seat in pj's.  On the way to Katie's I was trying to start conversations with him while we had alone time and he finally said "Mommy, me not want to talk wight now."  Ouch kiddo, lucky for us he was wide awake and ready for conversation after Katie got in the car.  He told me when we got home that "that was special Mommy, me love you so much." 
*Before bed he likes to check "mommy's numbers" otherwise known as the bedside alarm clock to make sure it is actually 8:00 or later.  Then well we snuggle with him he peeks to make sure our feet aren't hanging off the bed because that must mean we aren't staying long enough for him.  He also holds tight to me and says just about every night now "mommy, you not sweep with Daddy, you can sweep with me." 

*He had his 3 year old check up on Monday.  We decided to all go and we giggled at his cute little bod in a blue gown.  He checked out "perfect" and we were pleasantly surprised that he actually measure on the BMI chart now even though in 6 months he has only gone up by 1/2 a lb! 

His feet look giant!

And random pictures taken on Daddy's phone are always fun!

Learning more and more everyday! Doesn't she look like babydoll here? 

Aren't they just freakin cute!?

*We both squealed when his new backpack came in the mail yesterday...it's uber cute and stay tuned for hopefully some uber cute pics of the preschooler with his new pack!

Lastly I received so many compliments on Riley's Thank You cards from his birthday that I just had to share them with everyone!