3 Year Girl and 3 Month Boy

Before I get to the 3 year and 3 month stats let me recap Father's Day weekend.  Chad is as Summer said tonight before bedtime, the "best daddy in the whole world!" Here is Daddy and his kids before church.

With all of the present opening, Summer wanted to take a gift to her Sunday School Teacher.  She insisted on packing up a "gift" and I had no idea what was in there.  I stood by the teacher when she opened it and it turns out there was a Chick Fil A cow (wouldn't mind giving one of those away as we have many), Elmo, half of a Dora purse...and other "treasures." This picture is of Summer on the way to the car...getting distracted by a blue bird egg which she put on her finger...queue Mommy's reaction of take that off your finger and all the germs that it carries. 

Sundays are so hectic for us with sleeping schedules that we celebrated Father's Day with Chad's parents Saturday night. 

Summer...this could have been such a cute photo opportunity!  Coordinating clothes and everything!

This week was Summer's 3 year old doctor appointment.  At 3 years old she is 31 pounds and 36 1/4 inches tall.  She is in the 50 percentile for both weight and height.  All was going great, talking to the doctor more than ever until he mentioned she was getting a vaccine.  I had imagined that would happen but not sure.  Before the nurse came in I let her know what was going to happen and my typically brave girl screamed! 
It wasn't good and any errands I had planned on doing after the appointment were cancelled.  We came home and lounge in bed watching Dora and eating lollipops.  We napped together and when she woke up she said..."I know Mommy, I put on my orange shirt to match my orange boo boo!"  Makes since...and when that bandaid accidentally fell off during a bathroom break it was a sign that the boo boo was healed.  I love how her mind works.

Its getting hot this week but I am determined to go outside daily to wear her out, I mean, let her play.  I quickly pulled her hair back into a ponytail, it wasn't smooth (what do I know about smooth hair), but I thought it was so stinking cute. 

Girlfriend is a mess.  I absolutely love her. 

Zane, I had NO IDEA that you would be the sweetest boy ever.  In fact, I had no idea that boys could be sweet or as cute as girls but you have proved me wrong.  And, yes since I am your mother I am a bit biased.  Since we were at the doctor I put Zane on the scale too.  At 3 months, Zane weighs 14 lb.  I didn't measure his height but he is wearing 6-9 month clothes. 

This sugar love sleeps through the night about 3 times a week.  During the day he is a fighter at naps.  I think to myself each time, stay the course Jana, and after about 2-3 minutes of crying and rooting he eventually gives up and collapses.  Now, if I lay him down and those sweet blue eyes pop open you can bet your money he is going to cry within 30 seconds after I shut his door.  I give him one follow up loving/rocking but after that I let him cry it out.  Let me tell you, he hasn't learned to fall asleep on his own during the day (at night he is ok).

 I have started running again.  When most people are putting on their pajamas I am putting on my workout clothes and hopping on the treadmill.  I am gearing up for a half marathon.  I am hoping to run the Asheville Half Marathon in September...just waiting for my running brother to confirm!!  I tried to find another time in the day to exercise but I couldn't consistently without being interrupted by a needy child so nightime it is. 

O'Carrs Chicken Salad

Those of you Birmingham folks know how delicious O'Carrs chicken salad is.  It has a distinct smooth texture that is more of a paste than the normal chunky recipes.  I found a copycat version online and have tested it out about 4 times and it is delicious and extremely similar.  This recipe is not from O'Carrs but rather a blog of someone who tried to figure it out...my taste buds would never be so skilled.
O'Carrs Chicken Salad
4 cups boiled chicken (finely chopped in food processor or blender)
2 tsp fresh dill, chopped
1/2 cup grapes, halved or more
1/4 cup chopped pecans
8 pinches paprika
4 oz cream cheese
6 Tbsp mayo
2 tsp honey
4 pinches salt

Makes 1 large container (I already doubled the ingredient list for you). 
Boil the chicken (2 chix breast=4cups) in water with paprika.  Blend chicken in food processor until it is a fine texture (no chunks) then mix with other ingredients in a large bowl.  I like to chill for a few hours before eating.  Absolutely delicious on a summer day.

Summer told me "Big News Mommy Big News-I no like blue smoothie no more...I like green smoothie!" I am so pleased...as you know the green in the smoothie is spinach!  
 

A Week With Mimi

Last week my mom came to stay with us for the week and it was so nice having her here.  It was nice having her here to spend a normal week with us.  We had picnics in the backyard.

Met with friends for fun and picnic at the Arboretum.  It was a beautiful day, in fact the weather this week was wonderful and not too hot at all.  As you can see we were actually wearing long sleeves in June.

One day during naptime, Mom watched Zane and Summer while I ran to the local consignment shop to just look and I found the crib bedding that I had envisioned for Zane's room.  I didn't get it, as I already had his room decorated, but after talking to Mom she said let's go back and get it.  And I am so glad we did.  It is linen color with chocolate silhouettes of animals (deer, fox, giraffe, horse)...oh and the 4 piece set was only $25.

In addition, we found these cute matching Polo outfits.  The one Zane (2.5 months old) has on is a size 9 months.  I got 3 others that were size 6 months that I had to return as they wouldn't snap...buddy has a long torso!  

Nana and Grandad's neighbor gave us this swingset.  It took a while but it is up and sturdy and Summer has been having fun swinging and playing in her "treehouse."

While Mimi was here she made us spinach smoothies every morning and Summer got hooked on a blue smoothie (with blue food coloring).  Although the food coloring isn't good at least it is jam packed with good nutrition. It was a good kick start to my healthier eating plan.

Summer still loves for me to take a picture of she and Zane anytime they are together.   Zane's sleep has greatly improved and last night he actually slept from 10-6.  He has made it to 5:30 a few times too. 

Naps were much better while Mimi was here as she wore her out physically in the morning so she would be tired by 1pm.  I think that is the key to getting a nap at this stage.  We are still working on the evening routine...every night from 7-8:30 is pretty much terrible.  Last night I actually ran on the treadmill after putting them down to calm my nerves...which I guess isn't that bad if it gets me on the move.
Speaking of exercise...It's not that I don't have the motivation.  It is that I don't have the time.  I would love to get on the treadmill and run run run.  I think I might start running at night after bedtime then shower.  It might be my only chance to do both of those things. 
Gotta go for now!

Take A Picture

"Take a picture Mommy." 

That is what Summer has been saying this week every time she holds Zane.

She only wants to hold him about once a day...lucky for him. 

She says some funny things these days...today she was in the bathroom using the potty when she opened the door saying, "Big News Mommy! Big News-three lights out" I purposely left 2 light bulbs empty as we don't really need 5 lights in the bathroom but a 3rd had blown while she was going to the bathroom and THAT was BIG NEWS to a 3 year old. 

She flip flops about whether she is going to be a doctor or a yellow school bus driver when she grows up.  But tonight Daddy had a boo boo on his toe and she ran to get the neosporin and asked me for a bandaid.  After doctoring his toe she said he needed two gummies to eat as medicine.  Good work on the doctoring little missy but I am not falling for the "Daddy needs gummies" trick...those are our special treat for poo pooing in the potty (since we have forgotten how to do that lately).

This week could have been renamed the BATTLE OF NAPS (or all sleep for that matter).  She doesn't want to go to sleep but I desperately need her to sleep so that I can nap too!  This is how it goes...naptime used to be at 1pm.  However, inevitably Zane is feeding around that time and I can't fully do Summer's "former" routine of reading a book and calmly tucking her in...and since she isn't sleepy then anyways I let her stay up while I feed Zane.  Fast forward it is 2:30 and I am trying to lay Zane down and Summer is still awake.  He is down but she won't go to sleep so I tell her she can lay down with me.  She plays in my bed however I am drifting off...then I become ANGRY MAMA BEAR and I ROAR!  Either it ends that way, and I roar for the remainder of the day, or we finally get some sleep.  However, now we are napping from 3:30-5:30 and our night routine is all off track because she isn't sleepy at her bedtime of 8pm yet Mommy and Daddy are ready to clock out at that time...now there are 2 ANGRY BEARS.  Kind suggestions welcome. 

Today as we drove home from church she fell asleep in the car.  I tried to lay her in bed but that didn't work.  She immediately said, "I want to eat." That is her line when I bring her in asleep from the car.  But today, I tried a different tactic.  I said, "ok just lay on the couch while I make lunch." Walla, we got a one hour nap out of her!  And Chad and I ate lunch in silence...literally...and it was awesome.

 PS-I turned the flash off for this picture as to not DARE wake sleeping beauty. 

Perseverance

Started reading James this morning as our connect group at church is going to be studying it this summer. 
James 1:2-3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 

Translated into the JMV (Jana Martin Version)
Today, I will consider it PURE JOY when my 3 year old poops on the carpet under my bed, at 7:00am because she has reverted back to not knowing how to use the potty, because I know that the testing of my faith, and patience, produces perseverance, and a 3 year old who knows how to clean up poop.

Which brings me to the next verse that caught my eye.
James 1:19-20
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Translated to the JMV (Jana Martin Version)
Don't freak out on your kiddos today.

Hope these verses help you today!