Antics. Then update on everyday life.

Here is a list of things Conrad has done recently. (Besides driving me crazy)
-Dumped fajita seasoning mix onto the carpet
-found a fabric crayon and drew all over the walls in his bedroom, carpet, bed, mirror, and peddy tear. (We are trying to break him from saying teddy bear that way).
-the last 2 times he played in his poop have been his last. It's been over a week, so I think he's done! The cold showers did the trick.
-Found my pin cushion (while I was making Father's Day breakfast, mind you) and went and played in Amelia's crib with her and the pins. They were all over the carpet and in her bed. She had her binky in her mouth, so I bet she didn't even try to put one in her mouth.

-Found Eli's organic $4 tomato on the countertop and started playing in it. It was early morning, I hadn't even climbed out of bed yet, and he came to me saying, "I played in the vegetables!" Luckily it was only on the kitchen floor. Thankfully Eli was very forgiving!
-Got into the fridge and found the chocolate syrup. Josh found him with it wide open, upside down, with a large puddle on the kitchen floor. The first thing Conrad said to him was, "I didn't do it." Then Conrad said, "Mmm, this is good chocolate!" Even while we were scolding Conrad he kept saying, "Mmm, this is good chocolate!" He wasn't even phased by us. Just transfixed on the chocolate he was licking off his hands. Grrr.

"helpin' a sista out"

Cute!!!

These are the more severe things he has done lately, besides the mild dumping clothes out of the dresser onto Amelia and laughing his head off. Or throwing all the toys out of his toy box in the front room.

Having Grandma and Grandpa S. here has dramatically improved Conrad's behavior. All the extra attention is wonderful! We are just soo excited to have them here! It's wonderful! And we're eating tons of peanut M & M's. (inside joke... last year when they came here right after I had Amelia I hid some peanut M&M's so Scott wouldn't know about them... but he found out towards the end of the trip and gave me a really hard time, so I promised I'd make up for it, and I'm trying!).

sharing the swing

Today we went up to Zona Rosa and attempted the water fountain. Conrad didn't want to do it. I don't think he was feeling his greatest (complaining that he wanted to throw up, mild fever). We get to have them here for a whole week! And tonight my parents are driving through on one of the 11 busses with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I'm going to go pick them up in Overland Park and bring them back so we can hang out tonight! My dad serves with the choir, now that he's retired from it. Lucky lucky guy. They've been with the choir touring through the midwest.

Amelia is getting close to walking. She can stand on her own, but is scared to go for it on her own. And Grandma and Grandpa just love her tons, too!

Josh got 1 of his board scores back. He did well! We're very happy for him!!!

I am surviving! The heat here is oppressive and suffocating. My children fill my life. Oh boy do they. Thank you Auntie Gaye for the E-mail. We got a good laugh out of it. When I say we I mean me, Josh, Scott and Cindy. ta- ta for now.

kisses

Boy for Sale! Name your price!!!

Seriously, this kid is about ready to go roam with the dogs by the way he is acting. Let me explain.
Poop!
Everywhere!
Twice today!
Once on Sunday!
I can't count on one hand how many times he done this!
Maybe not even with 2 hands!
I've called the Doctor. (Still waiting for him to return my call.)
I've checked out BabyCenter.com and they had multiple suggestions for giving the kid a cold shower. We did that just on Sunday!!! No success! And I've given him a cold bath before when he's done it. Perhaps I need to do it every time, even if is just on his hands.
I've been nice and loving and patient and explain-y.
I've been mean and spanked and slapped. Turn me in, it's ok. Right now, this very instant he would probably be more loved by someone else!
I've started the Skittles Reward for when he goes pee in the potty, and have mentioned numerous times if he goes poop in the potty he gets a skittle, too. (Poop seems to be the major obstacle in our potty-training endeavor.) So, with that in his mind, he seems to have stepped up his game in playing with his poop!!!!

AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!

I'm willing to give him away. Just as long as I get him back once he's potty-trained. (I know, I'm an Indian Giver.) I love him, I love him, I love him.
I do not like his actions!!!

Any advice other than what I've already done?

Flashback Friday

I am flashing back a whole 2 days. This is my cousin Eli and his already half-eaten breakfast. He put it in one of my big mixing bowls. I had to take a picture. I aspire to eat as well as he does. 2 packages of berries for breakfast (this day he happened to mix it with some greens and olive oil). 12 Peaches for lunch. Big salads for dinner. He eats meat, but very sparingly.
Anyway, I was just impressed by his diet. Maybe you will be, too. :)

Deanna Rose Farmstead and relative(s)

Not as good of a picture with Uncle Boyd. Perhaps just a bit more canny and authentic of Boyd. Adorable Amelia.
On Saturday we went to the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. It's a free fun thing to do here in Kansas City. We are definitely going again! Here is Conrad and Josh amongst some kids.This could have been Conrad's favorite thing at the park, except that he could not figure out the pedals. He needed some help from Dad. Maybe next summer, Conrad!Just a funny picture. Conrad would stop only to eat yogurt for lunch.

He was too excited to go milk the cow: good thing it was a plastic cow!

Amelia once again out-ate her brother.
I was worried about getting a picture of Eli, but then I found this picture and thought, "Perfect!" (Josh is laughing so hard right now at my joke, just FYI). Actually, Eli wasn't here with us when we went. And Eli thought I was funny, too.Grandpa's: this picture is for you. He wants to be just like y'all when he grows up. I really, sincerely, truly mean that, too. If I could let him have a screw driver all day long he would be in heaven. Perhaps he'll follow in the home building career. :)This video is random, but it made me laugh. He kind of reminds me of myself and Grandpa Scott R. I just love this kid (when he's not acting like a hemorrhoid). Enjoy my boy!

squeaky thanks

Thank you all for your words of encouragement.
Aby: it helped today when Conrad brought me his poop in both hands to know that I am not alone.
Thank you Lyndee for offering your open door!
Amy in PA: I like to look at your blog just to see how similar our stories are. It's been fun. I'm just grateful my kids haven't had the ear infections like yours!
Kim the girl: I really really appreciated your words about cheering up. I've been putting a smile on my face today just because!
Duane and Lisa: I'm trying not to let his "silver bullets" get to me personally. And that really does help to remember that.
Gaye: I love you, too. When you said, "Pushing sister over...don't say a word to conrad just give sister a love," I had an epiphany. YOU ARE RIGHT! I have been failing at that. I totally ignore her and go crazy on Conrad.
Mom: you are crazy for having more than 2 kids. I have been thinking lately, "Why the heck do people have more kids!?!? Raising kids is like putting a trigger to the head!" Ok, exaggeration... but seriously, I was a better mom before I had kids.
Cindy: I loved the part of your story when you said "I will never have a child behave that way!" Because that was me, too. I love you Cindy. Thanks for your comment.
Jeni: that is hysterical about your friend's boy. I am much more grateful for my boy now. I knew it could be much worse, but I didn't care. I wanted to complain! haha.

Anyway, thanks everybuddy. This blog is therapy for me. Sorry to all y'all menfolk who could care less but still read my blog.

woes of raising a 2.75 year old

I am wondering if I should even be blogging right now- because I am frustrated. But I am crying out for help.

WHY THE HECK DOES RAISING A 2.75 YEAR OLD HAVE TO BE SO HARD?

This kid is going to give me an ulcer. Also, I am going to gain 90 lbs from all the eating I do to cope with the stress. Everytime I throw that boy back in his bed I come downstairs and grab a handful of chocolate chips. That's 6 handfuls in the last hour.
He tears things apart. He pulls all the clothes out of his dresser drawers. He drops food on the floor. He takes his diaper off and urinates on the carpet. He pushes his sister over. He wakes up at 6 am and wants to sleep in between me and Josh. He cries. He whines. Oh my heck how he and Amelia whine. I've tried the deaf ear. Unsuccessful.

That's all that's happened so far today.

I probably just need to adjust to the fact that he is growing up and I need to step up my game. If I don't I am afraid of how I might scar this poor boy for life. That is, if he survives the next year. Anybody want to take him for a year?

There was just a large crash upstairs. And I don't care. Maybe it knocked him out so he'll take a nap. AAAAARRRGH!!! here is a play by play as it is happening
he comes downstairs saying, "I hurt my hand" over and over
pantless
diaperless
comes right up to me and shows me his hand
all wet
oh boy.

Amelia is cute, and Conrad is growing up. What's else is new?

Amelia got this adorable outfit from Grandma Cindy for her birthday. I happened to have a bow that already matched it! [Thanks to Brindy :)] We get a lot of comments on how she stands on her toes. And how tiny she is. (And of course how beautiful too, but... ahem, ya know, I don't want to sound toooooo boastful :). Back to the toes. Future ballerina? That would be my personal dream. I sure wish I could be a ballerina. anyway..... Thank you Grandma Cindy. I really love this outfit. So does Amelia. Ali is finally realizing that Conrad is not a baby and he really needs to start doing stuff for himself. He's had no desire, though, to learn how to do stuff for himself like get dressed. So here's a snapshot of a time when he was putting a shirt on "by myself." He LOVES to do stuff "by myself" now. It's fun.I got a picture of my Uncle Boyd! Only 1, though... but it's a good one! I got to see Eli, too (my cousin, Boyd's son)! I don't think I've seen Eli for AT LEAST 2 years. He is quite an amazing kid/man. He is moving to Italy, and he told me this is the first time that he's moving somewhere with a place already lined up. (Keep in mind he's lived a lot of places.) Crazy kid. But what an adventure! Conrad made friends with "Grandpa Boyd" easily!

For Josh, when it rains it pours

I told him, very strictly, mind you... that he was NOT allowed to get sick after boards. I told him to eat his vegetables while I was gone and take good care of himself. Well, waddyaknow... he's sick. He hasn't been this sick for about 4 years. It's been slowly coming for about 3 days.

Today we went to the Minute Clinic at CVS and Josh's outcome: Strep and Bronchitis. I knew he was in bad shape this morning when he stood up off the couch and collapsed on the floor in a coughing fit. (I knew before that, but that just scared me.)

I feel terrible for the guy. We think Conrad actually had strep throat and not an acute media otitis (ear infection), but the Dr. couldn't get a look inside Conrad's throat. We're blaming it on Conrad! Thankfully I'm doing just fine. Amelia's definitely eating again, and keeping it down. Conrad's getting better.

sidenote: my uncle Boyd is coming in to town today for business and he's coming over!!! Yay!