Can I have my Bouncy Ball Please?

Passing the ball to Mommy

He loves to play (Mommy knows...)

This morning Oliver wanted to play with our bouncy exercise ball. Mommy wasn’t physically motivated to play (she is taking a break today- she has been working really really hard the past few months.) But since Mommy is too nice sometimes she gave in, when she didn’t really feel like it. We ended up playing bouncy ball and listening to this fun song , we’ve been listening to this a lot lately- it’s a thoughtful song.

Here is another link… Rochelle who visited the other day with her family has started a blog! If you want to keep up to date with Twyla, here is their website.

Tough Morning

This morning was a tough one for Mommy and Oliver. Somehow Mommy hurt her little guy’s feelings (he wanted to play with a bowl of water in her room…not a good idea), she knows what she did to upset him, but he just didn’t understand. But Mommy understands what he was trying to do... He spent a while ranting and raving. Mommy didn’t mean to hurt his feelings. That guy does some crazy things and that is what Mommy loves about him so much!

He was so mad at Mommy that he took the morning message she had written on a little whiteboard for him and left in his room- and he erased it! Completely! Mommy wants to use the messages to teach Oliver about words, letters, and being kind to each other. Mommy has another small whiteboard and hopes that one day when he is a writer he will leave messages for her too.

We both recovered a bit with Oliver’s warm bubble bath and a visit to the Y. Now we are playing and resting at home. Hoping the rest of the day brings us only good things.

Taking a bath with his splint in grocery bags.

The board after Oliver erased Mommy's message.

Mommy wrote another message for him...she doesn't

like to see him hurt.

A Visit with the Kelsos

Oliver and Matthew this morning

Baby Girl Twyla Rose crawling under he daddy's legs

She loved the playroom

Beautiful Mama, Beautiful Baby

She loved crawling to Mommy

This is a two blog post day. We had a great day. Uncle Matthew came over in the morning and played with us. Oliver loves his Uncle Matthew. In the evening we had a visit from the Kelso family. Rochelle, Conrad, and Twyla and Rochelle's Mom- Rose. It was great visiting with Mommy's good friend from Humboldt and meeting her daughter and husband. Mommy was a bit bummed that our visit happened when Oliver was out to dinner with his Daddy- but hopefully we can visit with them again when they are back down here. It was a nice day.

Confession

Mommy has something kind of funny to tell you, if she doesn’t tell you now than Oliver probably will tell you anyways. Oliver loves Beyonce, especially her song Single Ladies. So when we were in his room on Thursday, Mommy was doing some stretches and Oliver was dancing and jumping on his bed. He is usually pretty safe- but Mommy guesses he got really into the song and he jumped/fell off his bed. So, that is the true story behind his first broken bone.

We do like to listen to that song (what girl doesn’t?). But we found a youtube video where Sara Bareilles sings the song and changes it to her style. She has a beautiful voice and Oliver loves Sara! Mommy is becoming a big fan too! Her and Amanda are going to see her in concert soon—Amanda went to college with her and was in a musical with her too!!! Enjoy!

Single Ladies by Beyonce

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m1EFMoRFvY

Single Ladies by Sara Barielles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1qD4LtaRIU

Single Ladies SNL Skit- This is funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBC7pilGoPc

First Day in his Splint

Playing with Blocks

Laughter

This morning Oliver woke up and came to Mommy's bed to cuddle. We had a nice banana slug morning and didn't do much- well Oliver wouldn't stop going, going, going....and sometimes Mommy wishes that he will just stop and talk to her for a few minutes. He is such a busy little boy- that explains his broken elbow. He is adjusting very well to everything, Mommy is proud of him.

We had fun at Grammie's for awhile. Oliver got to talk with Uncle Matthew about the things he needs to do to take care of his arm. We are going to call him Uncle Nurse Matthew for awhile- because Uncle Matthew is studying to be a nurse!

We came home and we were lucky to have a long visit with Angie, Korey, and Riley. We love having friends over...while they were here some of our neighbors came over too! Mommy and Oliver have met almost all of their neighbors on our little street and the street next to ours. We live in a very friendly, social neighborhood. It is a perfect fit for us!

"I hurt my arm"

It is his left arm and it is pretty swollen-

he had it just kind of hanging there all day...

Cuteness with his hospital bracelet on...he kept saying

he didn't want to get fixed.

"Patient" Oliver and Grammie

Eating after the whole ordeal...he was pretty hungry.

Don't you love that look?

Trying to eat his bracelet in the waiting room

Oliver had a busy day when he got to Mommy's home in the afternoon. Yesterday he fell on his arm when jumping off his bed and he hurt it pretty bad. So when he got to Mommy's, she took him to the doctor's office- and they made us go to Children's Hospital. Oliver was a little impatient in the waiting room- but he did a good job. And he impressed all the doctors and nurses with his explanation of what happened to him and his pain tolerance....he made Mommy and Grammie laugh many times.

He had x-rays and was amazing. The results--he broke his elbow! Poor baby. He has a splint on his arm now and we will go back next week to get a cast. He is sleeping peacefully now--it was pretty tough getting his little sleeping body out of the car seat with his sling...but Mommy is glad he is resting now.

Reading with a Friend

Our New Book

My friend Amy and I have always had an ongoing “book study.” We share our books with each other and then talk about our favorite parts, ask each other questions, and talk about how certain parts might inspire us.

Our new book study book is, Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids. I read it at the beginning of April and it set me on a path to figuring out some major things. I am going to re-read it and make notes inside the book (like Amy- see her blog- http://thesunflowercozy.blogspot.com) and start applying some of the ideas into our home. This book is definitely a keeper.

A Book We Should Add...

While I am on the subject of books- I have a book to add to our booklist- Run Like A Mother: How to Get Moving- and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity. I saw a review of this book in one of my Fitness magazines. I am inspired to start reading it- especially with Amy. I had been running for about 4 years when Amy inspired me to sign up for my first race. I started training for it (Seattle ½ Marathon) and didn’t realize that by race day I would be pregnant with Oliver. That is one of my most memorable races! I was two months pregnant and had the most intense morning sickness on the way there- had to stop at the Everett rest stop. Good thing Washington state has such beautiful and clean rest stops! Then when I got there it was lightly snowing and freezing cold (the Seattle ½ is always at the end of November)- but I loved every minute of it! Running is the best and has helped me find my way and learn to stand on my own.

So, I am going to definitely start reading this book and see if there are new ideas that I can apply to my life with Oliver and with just learning to balance everyday life.