Happy New Years!

I hope everyone is having a great time.

Here's couple of things that happened since September, last time I posted!


1 - I finally secured a tiny income, working Fiverr.
2 - Brent has turned 4.
3 - Dogs are still getting walked most days.
4 - Daddy is kicking massive butt and making as much money as possible with his ever growing business.
5 - Some tragic things have happened in Colorado and Connecticut and other places.. peeps going crazy.
6 - Loggy bear is now walking and talking monkey. He says ma and ba very very well. Knows how to wave bye bye, gives kisses willingly and loves his brother as much as ever.
7 - We had a duck for Thanksgiving feast.. daddy worked that day.
8 - We still take late night walks in the wilderness now and then with doggies, just for fun.
9 - Uncles Gosh and Lelik are as ever motivated to make a million dollars
10 - Other uncles aren't. Uncle Joey got depressed. Apparently he needs an air pump.

All in all - not a bad year. The end there was getting kind of dumpy - but what with interesting emotional Christmas and a completely uneventful New Year's - we're a go for 2013!

Hooray!

Hanging out with uncles.

I'm afraid, the days are past when Brent liked simply sitting at the table and joining in on the adult conversation, and simply eating all the yogurts and snacks.

Now Loggy likes to do that, but Brent seeks more. He wants to play with toys and such - and these things are not quite available.  Except for the toy train and blocks at Barnes and Nobles. So we got to think on a way to up the ante on our get togethers.

On Mold and things.

We finally took Logan to his second doctor's appointment.

Yes, you didn't misread that.

I generally like the practice of keeping the little children out of doctor's office - just to keep them healthier.

And I like the practice of delaying their shots until I feel ready (yeah... weird, right?).

But essentially Logan (and little Brent before him) do live in a bubble. The one child Logan plays with is Brent's playmate Macy - she's up on all her shots and everything. Brent is up on his shots and Logan just started all his.
Only reason I started Loggy a little earlier is that - because of Brent there is bigger exposure. Although personally I don't even know if those shots do anything. I guess so.
I just pray he doesn't get some crazy side effect or allergic reaction. So far so good.

Shots were just the secondary thing we talked about. First thing being Logan's cough. Apparently he has congestion in his nose, and some light congestion in his lungs.
The nice doctor suggested if we knew someone with nebulizer. We don't. So next step she told us to get an inhaler. I had one once too. And for allergies. Golly.

What bothers me is that there is no way to address the allergy related sicknesses for patients.
For instance, I have two dogs (obviously not ridding myself of them BUT) and our living conditions, while pretty nice (two bedroom place in a gated community) are constant allergens.

I know what you'll say, "well ma, obviously it's the dogs!", but I say not quite so fast. Yes, dog's contribute. But the level of allergens they bring in comparison to the level raised by the carpet AND our surrounding area - is pretty low.

How can I say that? Well for instance - ever since we moved in here - Brent appeared to have developed an itchy runny nose. Permanently. Before that he had a problem with using some detergent that was NOT ALL Clear or arm and hammer. These are the only two he tolerates to this day. I would tell you which ones he doesn't tolerate - but ever since he was a kid I just stuck to the ones that actually work, instead of wasting my money.

Also - ever since we moved here, I developed hay fevers, and I feel like I smoke a pack a day. There's something unique about how the apartments are so close to each other - plus recently (within last six months) the good ol' construction boys have ripped out the siding and replaced a whole lot of it. Due to rot, mold or otherwise.

Brent's first really serious cold/flu/allergy was here - that lasted 3 weeks. And this kid is healthy as a horse. But  I noticed that as soon as he got sick, it was hard for him to get back up and get healthy. Once he did tho - again. Healthy as a horse.

Essentially the whole complex doesn't dry out. EVER. The problems we're having are DEFINITELY environmental. I'm praying we can move fast as I want Loggy and Brent to start healing immediately. And daddy's racking in some massive cash, busting his back as often as possible - so yeah.

Only problem is daddy doesn't really follow my course of logic on this idea that this place may be bad for kiddies,  but it's okay. It is just a theory (that keeps PROVING itself, again and again, plus I'm just smart) As long as we're on the same page on the whole moving out thing.

Until then I'll pray to God they don't develop something worse - because they have to stay here so long.

Motherly rant.

Baby center has sent another email sharing its wisdom on raising happy and well adjusted baby (age 7 months and 3 weeks)

Separate. It's actually good for your baby's development to leave him in someone else's care periodically. This gives him a chance to cope with being away from you. If you don't use regular childcare, ask a friend or relative to take care of your baby for short periods so he can get used to your being away.

LOL

I really am glad that I don't follow ALL advice given.

Can you kids imagine me leaving you for even a minute with someone other than me? Well Brent - sure he'll go anywhere anytime, but he is in fact Brent - the - menace, never caught off guard, never has a shadow of the doubt that short of spanking, everything is OK!

Logan would seriously raise the roof though. So  I laugh. Brent at Logan's current age would have raised the roof as well. As a matter of fact - he did. 
One day when he was about 7 months old or so, grandma took daddy and me on a rafting trip with young uncles. Grandpa stayed due to having work and school to do at home and offered to watch the baby.

I never seen the man so frustrated. 

I hardly let anyone even hold my kids, except if the kids themselves want to and only for short periods of time. In our family's experience - that alone raises some of the most strong willed, independent and smart children ever.

Namely Brent.

:) 

Teaching young one how to swim

You guys should see yourselves.

Brent treads waters carelessly in his life vest, this being the only sport available to him that does not require skill before trying tricks and jump.

Logan being careless little puppy in general, doesn't care if he doesn't have a life jacket. What is life or jacket anyways? He simply dives in headlong like a pro and wiggles his whole body to move himself along.

It's so fascinating - that I think I'm going to make a video of it tonight. :)

Our basic first lesson is supposed to be to relieve the child of fear of water (Logan's wondering what's "fear") - and dunk him on count of three (very briefly) to ensure that he remembers to hold his breath.

He took to this lesson in the very first days of his swimming - about couple days after he was born.

Heat did stress him out a little more back then - but since he's grown a nice big belly and a chunky layer of fat all over - making himself look a poster boy for #pillsbury. All pleasant baby rolls.

you kids are That awesome.

On another note - Brent easily treads 1 mile now. Very awesome - incapacitating our stroller was awesome!
We take everyone to sunset - and a lovely hike it is. Thank God most of the rattlers stay unmolested in whatever parts of the land they choose to - that to say none in our or our dogs' paths.

And our dogs finally got a bath. Now they are less stinky. (:

Working out some details.

Your uncle G asked how does Brentik learn.

I went over some specifics, and reminded myself that for him videos = show and tell, play a large role.

One of our most successful tools is Youtube.
Grandpa introduced it and I haven't stopped using it since.

Brent learned a ton of songs (and so did I, because frankly I didn't know many songs back in the day). It helped him learn ABCs, numbers, colors and what parts make up a rocket and how to launch it. He also loves watching random flight videos.

There's something about the children's videos, maybe it's the joviality or the colors or the fact that a lot of times it's other children's voices - that grabs his attention and holds it.

Of course, the biggest component in Brent's learning is that daily - daddy or myself apply ourselves in his learning. You'll hear us walking the dogs and singing abc's or twinkle twinkle, or maybe you'll hear me retell one of the greats - like Treasure Island, Little Red Riding Hood, David and Goliath, last one was first few chapters of Three Musketeers.

The only thing that's missing in his (and his brother's and dogs') life right now is the back yard. But no worries kiddoes - daddy is working hard to get us there. :)

Oh Dear.

I've been on a hiatus from my mind lately. My children have inadvertently suffered from it because - let's face it - mommy on hiatus = the whole world goes to prah.

So I've been trying to figure it out and solve it in the most favorable way.

For instance - my biggest problem as of late is not having a good routine for my children.
As of now I'm actively trying to solve that problem and figure out a great routine for Brent and Logan - that fits both their mental and physical abilities.

Plus it'll help me put them to naps much easier!

yes it will. can't help it - you guys are like little energizer bunnies. you can go for hours non stop... It's wrecking my eating habits!!

lol

yes - i realize i said MY eating habits. mainly because I get so tired - and while I'm ready to go to sleep - you guys are far far from it. So I generally have to load up on something sugary etc to make it work.
That in turn wreaks havoc on my blood sugar, my mental capabilities and throws off MY schedule etc, so on and so forth.

This is really a common problem for parents - i know that one. And while I have no specific need to have everything on a timer (although it DOES help) i want at least everything laid out day before - especially the specific things I'd like to do with you kids during the day.

the time will hash itself out in process.