Sore butts

 Poor Jack-man has the WORST diaper rash going on.  He's had some diarrhea from teeth coming in (so I diagnosed, he had no other symptoms, just call me Dr. Mom...) which caused a small rash to break out.  So I took him out of his cloth and put some disposables on with some diaper cream and waited for results.  Well nothing happened.  Actually, something happened. His rash got worse.  He ended up with little ulcers all over his bottom.  He cried, or rather screamed when we changed him.  I cried when we changed him.  It was not good.

So I called around hoping to find Jack a pediatrician.  No such luck.  Apparently in our town, every pedi is either booked up till September or not accepting new patients.  I really didn't want to drive to another town, so I took Jack to the Express Care clinic.  A short, for hospitals, 45 minutes later, we left leaving the Dr. confused on what to do since it wasn't yeast like she was expecting.  A couple creams and a week later, Jack still has a bad rash.  So I've been trying all the at home remedies I can find.  Vinegar and tea tree oil in the bath, a olive oil/water/tea tree paste on the butt, cornstarch dustings, and going commando most of the day for Jack.  So we've gone through a ton of shorts, but I'll gladly take laundry over screaming babies.  Any suggestions on anything else I should try???  My poor little man...

Don't you love it when...

 You've finally gotten the baby calmed down and ready for bed, you lay him in him crib, kiss him goodnight, quietly turn around for the door only to trip on the block that somehow snuck behind your foot which leads you to knock into the toy that proceeds to sound off with his obnoxiously loud helicopter noise.  Then as you try to bend down to pick it up to shut it up, you bang your head into the dresser drawer you left open when you got the pjs out.  The drawer was left open because you had to chase down the naked baby fresh out of the bath who is about to pee all over the carpet.  So holding your head you feel for the doorknob, but first catch your fingers in the folding closet doors and finally freedom is seconds away.  You open the door, light from the hallway floods in, the baby jerks his head up and starts to cry... again. 

We've had a long night here.  Pretty ready for the Daddy to come home on Thursday. I never would have survived the deployment with a baby...  You mamas who do are way tough, tougher than me...  And don't ever let 'em tell ya different!

Shopping makes me mad!

Maybe just more so shopping with a toddler.  Not only do I have to entertain Jack, I also have to look out for people walking down the aisle (on my "side") not paying attention.  Keep Jack from grabbing anything within reach.  Force cinnamon pretzels into each hand to distract Jack from the fact that he is strapped into the cart.  Oh and I have to find what I need.  Piece of cake...

Today we went to Lowes to find a hanging basket for the gorgeous ivy geranium I bought at the Farmer's market yesterday.  While I was browsing the fruit and veggie plants, I found Thai basil!  I have searched high and low in the world, ok maybe just outdoor markets and greenhouses around where we have lived, for this plant!  I almost ordered seeds off the internet one year but ended up with no room for it anyway.  Well when I saw it today I had to have it.  Well, no we don't have a garden.  Or so much as an area yet for one.  Our fence isn't even up yet, so I have no clue where one would go.  But I bought it anyway.  And since you can't just buy one plant, I got some sweet basil, curly parsley, cilantro, 2 different tomato varieties, spaghetti squash, and a jalapeno plant.  Hmm... now where to plant these babies...  Well luckily, last year, a friend got us a cute galvanized bucket full of plants for our garden last year.  So I filled it back up with all these plants.  Ok just half, I need to go buy another bucket for the herbs.  Then once the fence goes in, I plan to build a raised bed garden.  So soon enough they will have a permanent home.

Ok back to why I despise shopping.  When we paid for our things, we get out to the car and wouldn't you know someone has parked over the line leaving me oh 2-3 inches to get Jack into the car.  Why does this always happen on the car seat side?  If I wasn't such a law abiding citizen and really liked my cars paint job, I would slam open my door into the other car just to teach 'em a lesson.  This always happens to me too.  The other day at the gym, Jack and I both had to get into the car from the other side cause someone was that close.  I'm not quite sure how she didn't take side view mirrors off getting in...

Also, it's my absolute favorite to watch people just sail the cart back in the general direction of the corrals.  Eh, so what if we push it into the side and not actually the opening.  As long as it's close it counts right????

Where's my baby?

 Someone took my sweet little boy and replaced him with a biting, hitting, pinching, screeching, hair pulling, whining, give me more (insert snack of the minute here) now or I'll scream (again) toddler.  Now who was it?  Come on, I want that baby back....

Now after all this happened, in a span of 10 minutes, I did get to laugh with him at the silly squirting fish in the bathtub, name and point to all the body parts we know, pour 25 or so cups of water over the belly (which is hilarious) and snuggle up in our towel cause getting out of the bath is sooo super cold.  That's my little guy...

Then I even got a few minutes of couch time snuggle while eating some blueberries and watching Diners Drive Ins and Dives.  Jack is a big Guy fan.  They have similar hair post bath time. 

But the moral of the story here is, my little baby is getting too big.  He so independent.  Knows what he wants.  And usually wants it right now, or 5 minutes ago.  The neighborhood kids ask him to come play.  He tries to call the dogs by "whistling" and clapping.  He drives his powerwheel (steering doesn't count) all over the 'hood.  Lounges in his chair while watching his shows, with his feet up.  Eats bowls of yogurt with a spoon and doesn't make (too much of) a mess. Climbs the stairs.  Feeds the cat.  And who knows what will happen tomorrow.  Well, nothing I tell you, I won't let him out of his room.  No more growing up Jack...

Mommy's Little Helper

 Just wanted to share the cutest little helper.  Bobby showed Jack once how to feed the kitty and now he's a pro.  He just loves the kitty so much, so feeding her must be great!

Isn't he just the sweetest boy?!?!  But seriously... how do I have a child old enough to help out???

Moving is for the birds...

 I hope I never have to move again.  I'm not a fan.  It wasn't so bad when pretty much all I had were clothes and a tv.  Now I have Jack.  And he has way more stuff that I even thought he had. 

We are trying very hard to find a home for everything in the house.  In our last house we were tripping over everything that didn't have a place and it drove us nuts!  So instead of just shoving it in a closet and being all moved in, we still have stuff in boxes and piles waiting to be put away in a neat and organized fashion. Yup, I'm about 2 days away from shoving things in the closet.

Bobby's been having mini panic attacks each time we go to the store.  We show up for a few items and walk out $300 later.  But we will both be much happier when we go to open those closets and thing don't fall out. 

Speaking of closets, our master closet is beautiful.  We can both stand in there fairly comfortably and clothes don't swallow you whole the minute you cross the threshold.  My jeans are all neatly stacked along with my sweaters.  Nobody is tilting over and nobody is crowded.  My shirts aren't jammed so tightly that when I take one out all the rest around it fall off their hangers.  My shoes all have little cubbie homes.  Life is great in that closet.  Let's just hope life stays so good..

My kitchen is just fabulous.  I love it in there.  It's so open and easy to work in.  There are plenty of cabinets for all my stuff, even two empty ones above the fridge!  My kitchen aid mixer can live right on the counter where everyone can gaze at how pretty she is.  I spend most of my time making sure it's spic and span, so when the boys walk in it, I am right behind picking up after their tornado ways.  They are boys, you know...

Our bedroom feels a little bare still.  We have much more space than our last bedroom.  We could easily fit another dresser and chair in there.  I'm sure Bobby would be so happy to hear that...

The one thing I am a little disappointed in, are the walls.  Now I have big plans for paint colors, but Bobby has big plans for saving money.  So I am ok with waiting to slap some pretty grays on the walls.  But, the builders put FLAT paint over the walls in the entire house.  Who even does that?  So now the walls are slowly showing marks, hello 17 month old hands, and I don't know how long I will be able to hang with the flat paint.  Sorry babe, looks like drop cloths are in your future...

Once everything is picture perfect, oh at least put away,  I will post some pics for you to drool over.

It's all coming together!

 After taking a 2 and a half week trip to NY while waiting to close on our new house, Jack and I are back in Indiana, and we close TOMORROW!  I can't believe it's finally here.  The past month has gone by verry slow, but we are ready to wake up tomorrow, sign a million and a half papers, and unpack a thousand and a half boxes of stuff!  Who's coming to help??

Jack and I drove straight through yesterday with our 2 dogs, Sammy and Merlin.  It's about 9 hours straight, but with our lunch, gas, and potty break stops, it took us about 10.5 hours.  But we did get and hour back since we are in the central time zone here!  The weather was just awful and I wasn't sure if I really would make it.  Usually when we drive home as a family, Bobby drives the whole way.  So me having to drive the whole way was not fun.  Jack offered but since it was raining, I said I'd handle it all.  The rain was bad.  It poured most of the way and most of the highway was under construction.  Leaving two little lanes with no shoulders.  That makes passing trucks dangerously scary.  I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best...

When we got home, Jack and I got the best surprises!  Daddy had gotten Jack a froggie pillow pet!  Jack loves stuffies and always hugs and snuggles them.  He loves it!  And I got...

Oh baby!  I can't wait to use her!  Isn't she gorgeous???  I love the copper color!  She will look so pretty in my new kitchen!  What should I make with her first??

Jack and I are off today to buy baby gates for the stairs.  Jack loves stairs.  Not good...  So hopefully we find some gates that keep him off of them!