SICK

Sick seems to be a constant state at our house lately. I usually pride myself in how few sick days I have to take as a teacher. Not so after kids! Since the beginning of this year I have had two colds and the stomach flu with another cold seeming to be on its way now. Gil has had a cold for the better part of the quarter it seems. Although Jude hasn't had too bad of a runny nose or cough, he is the one who brought the terrible stomach flu home from daycare one day only to have me contract it five days later, and now Cora a whole two weeks later. I'm not really sure if what she has is the same thing or not. Who ever knows what an infant has!? It is so nice that now Jude is able to tell us a little bit about how he is feeling (even if he isn't able to puke into a container instead of on his bed or the couch yet...). In fact last night around 1am he woke up to tell us he was sick and wanted to sleep with daddy. Throughout the questioning we are pretty sure we discovered the "sick" was that his leg fell asleep and hurt enough to wake him up! Cora on the other hand...she is a mystery. She has had a low-grade fever for the past three nights and just hasn't seemed her smiley self. Then last night after a three hour nap she went to sleep early, only to wake up at 10:30pm with a higher fever and to throw up (not just spit up!). Poor girlie! So last night was crazy with her in the baby swing so I could hear her better and then Jude in our room for a bit after he got "sick." I really struggled with what to do today. My class was attending a field trip to the orpheum and a museum in Sioux City (not to mention the mall!!!). I really wanted to go. But Gil had to teach today and if both of us were in Sioux City and unable to be there if she got sick again...then what!? I had to make the decision before she was up so I really couldn't gage how she was feeling. I decided I needed to stay home and I think I am glad I did (although that is now 3 days down for school so far). Cora is feeling much better I think (no more throwing up), but she still isn't quite herself and she has slept most of the day. It is probably good to be home for her though to get more rest than she would at daycare. Also for me to be able to nurse her when she needs/wants.

Then there was Jude today. He has been GREAT! It seems like on school days I get the short end of the stick because I usually leave before he is really up and by the time I pick him up from daycare he is so ready for a nap that his behavior is something to behold. I typically get a tantrum or two or three before we make it to his bedroom... and then it's sometimes a battle with the nap. But today he hasn't had one fit, not even when he had to put the ipad away (that is a first!) PLUS he didn't take a nap. Now I really would've rather he take one than spend the hour and a half in his room playing and hollering for me constantly...but if he's gonna be so good without it I can hardly complain. Despite how energetic and social he is, Jude plays so well by himself.

A new great thing Jude is doing is that he will occasionally burst into song! I love it! Right now, in fact, he is singing "Hey Jude." It's great! I've also heard "Jesus Loves Me" and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." Oh, and we recently discovered that they pray before eating at daycare because he started saying the "God is good" prayer one night:) Another one of my favorites from Jude is his word "beautiful." He uses it all the time and it is just so cute! He pretty much gets the concept of beautiful, but uses it for things you wouldn't normally, like the jelly toast that I made him the other morning. He has yet to call me beautiful, but he has told me my shoes and earrings are!

Cora is almost on the move now. She squirms all over! She also loves to hear her voice. If she likes to talk as much as her big brother does we could be in for a battle of the voices around here! She is almost sleeping through the night, usually only gets up once before I do at 6ish. She is also getting into eating her cereal. I have been trying to get some baby food prepared before her six month mark. In fact I made a batch today (sweet potatoes from Grandpa Great's garden--thanks Carolyn!) and another on a day I was home sick (squash)! So I guess these days have been good for something:)

September where did you go?

I somehow managed to skip the entire month of September on my blog....hmmmmm...must mean the Ridenour's have a few other priorities at the top of the list lately. Actually, I have (as I always say) a million thoughts throughout the day that I think could be turned into a fabulously witty post, but then by the time I have a minute to put it into words I have forgotten already. One of the things I have been thinking lately is how I seem to never do anything and yet have no time. How does this happen?!? I guess the answer is kids! I really shouldn't say that I don't do anything because my kids are dressed, fed, played with, napped, cleaned (sometimes!), etc. That is about all I can squeeze into the day after I get home from school at 2pm.

Along these same lines, I have been contemplating my still larger-than-before midsection lately and this is my conclusion: I can either 1.) Exercise and feel guilty that I am not with my kids/husband or doing one of the many things on my to-do list or 2.) Get used to it and feel guilty that I am not exercising! I don't really like guilt. I think I need to find a happy medium somewhere. Like doing a little of both. Still working on the logistics of that though. I thought nap time was the answer, but I just can't seem to get it done because my other source of guilt is that I'm not doing enough for my class. Which really turns into stress because I can't get it all done. Sometimes people ask me how I do it all. The answer is I don't! I fall short in every area. Exercise is one area, but I'm also feeling like I don't do enough school work or play with my kids enough or cook good meals enough. I think I need a clone to do my exercising!

On another note, Jude seems to be boycotting napping altogether lately, but he still needs it...any suggestions?!

Here is a little of our month of September:

Cora and I on Blue and Gold day for Allen's homecoming. This weekend we got haircuts, went to the football game, went to the swap meet, went to Missouri for Gil's grandpa Gilbert's 89th birthday, and decided not to go to my friend's engagement party (sorry Jamie!!!).
Here are Jude and Cora hanging out.
This is what my couch looks like typically. Last night after I dumped a load of diapers on the empty couch Gil commented, "Oh, the couch was so happy to be free for three hours!"
Here is Cora in her "new toy" as Jude calls it. She is enjoying spending some time here.
We finally got to meet baby cousin Sarai. Here are the Ridenour grandparents with the three amigos!

And here is Cora with Sarai, just 10 weeks apart.

The Second Child

Here is Jude at 3 months...

And here are more pictures of our little angel! Monday she was 3 months. With Jude I took a picture each month on the very day he turned one month older. So far with Cora I am 0 for 3 for getting the exact day...must be that second child thing. So anyway, Monday I forgot...but I made up for it on Tuesday and Wednesday when we had a couple photo shoots together during big brother's nap. Here are some that turned out pretty good I thought. She doesn't like to smile at the camera because she gets a little distracted...but I managed to capture a couple. So, do you think they look alike or different?!?

Baby Cousin!

Here are some pictures to update what we've been doing lately...we have crammed a TON of stuff into our last few weeks of summer...getting two beagle puppies and dog sitting a boxer puppy for 10 days, a trip to Missouri to visit Gil's family, the Dixon County Fair, and my grandma's 80th birthday celebration in Yankton. I wish we could've swung a trip to San Antonio to visit the little darling above. That is NOT Cora, but Mitch and Minette's (Gil's sister and her husband's) baby girl. Sarai Ann was born August 3 and we LOVE getting new pictures of her every day. Jude loves that he has a "baby cousin." I just love the yawning picture:)

Well, I start school on Monday, so farewell to freedom:(

Here is Cora. This one was taken yesterday. She was wearing her pants outfit because of the mild (like in the 70's!!!) weather we have been having:) She is busy growing and changing and it is hard to believe she isn't a tiny baby anymore. Right now she loves to "talk" to us and grab onto things with her hands.
Here she is one night at the fair. People seem to think her blue eyes might stick. We'll see!
This is the Demoliton Derby. Jude loved it!

This was the first ride. The Dragon roller coaster. Jude loved watching it and was excited to ride...

But wasn't so sure at first...

Then he got into it! He rode with Ashtyn and our friend Libby's little girl Anneke.

After the dragon the elephants were nothing!

This is at the horse show with Teirney Peterson and Ashtyn
I even got to ride one of the rides with him!

This next one is the dress that I made for Ashtyn for her 3rd birthday on August 8. I took a t-shirt and added a skirt and yellow buttons. I used Jude as my model (but I didn't make him wear the matching headband!). It is way too long for him, but Ashtyn is taller. I think it is a little long on her too, but maybe she can wear it next summer?! It was kinda tough to make, but tons of fun. I think I'll be better at it the next time around!

And here is a video of Cora playing with her toys!

Finally, our two new puppies (not so new anymore really!) Baylor is the black male and Briar Rabbit is the browner female. They love/hate each other and are a blast to watch. Now if Gil can just get them to make it through the night without a potty break. I say as long as I'm getting up in the night to feed the baby, he might as well be taking care of something too! On the up side of that though...Cora slept 8 hrs Wednesday night (but not last night...)!!!

And here are all the dogs we had for a while. The boxer is our friend's named Milah. This is the best shot I could get of all the dogs plus Jude!

SLEEP

I don't know where to begin today. I haven't had much time to blog lately, but there are so many post ideas going on in my head...seems like all of life is like that lately. I can't remember anything because there are always a million things I need to do at once. I will go to fill up Jude's milk and realize I need to change the garbage and then start a load of laundry and remember I need to wash his sheets and then change Cora's diaper and completely forget about the milk (until he reminds me in his not-so-quiet manner). Seriously, today I finally got both kids down for naps and then realized I really had to go to the bathroom. Hadn't even thought of that! Another thing I don't seem to have time to think about is meals. It will get to be 6 pm and I will be wondering what's for dinner! But meal planning, mothering, and dogs are all for other posts...this one is about SLEEP!

When Jude was a new baby I took LOTS of pictures. Not as many as most moms maybe (I'm conservative like that!) but a lot for me. With Cora I'm never thinking of it (as mentioned above) until everyone is sleeping (plus you just can't beat sleeping babies). So most of my pictures of her are when she is asleep. Here are some of her different poses:

This is the "on-my-back-arms-up"
This is the "on-my-side on-the-pillows"

And finally, her favorite, the "on-my-tummy on-the-floor" (this is where she is currently by the way)

I seem to be always putting her in different positions for nap time. She will be in her bassinet, then on the floor, then in the swing or on the couch. I don't know why I have this obsession to always mess with her like that. Probably because I'm searching for what works. I know they always say something like "back is best" but honestly I think "tummy is tops." I don't let her sleep on her tummy at night because of the hoopla, but I'm beginning to consider it. She just takes such great naps that way. And let me tell you, nighttime is not always sweet dreams for her. I know several women who had babies right around the time Cora was born. And I keep hearing about how "my baby slept eight hours at night at three weeks of age and hasn't stopped since." (okay, maybe that is an exaggeration, but that is how I feel!). My baby does NOT sleep eight hours at night. She is not going on nine weeks old and I am lucky if I get four at time and even luckier if she agrees to go back to sleep within ten minutes of her feeding and even luckier if she agrees to go to sleep when I want to go to sleep. This is how it has been lately: I or Gil get her to sleep, or sometimes she falls asleep on her own, she is laid in her bassinet and immediately wakes up. I get her back to sleep with the binky or holding or swaddling and get back in bed. Five or even fifteen minutes later she spit out the binky, is wide awake, and letting out little whimpers. I put her back to sleep. She wakes up again. The first few times I am able to get her to sleep are very rewarding. By the fifth or sixth time I feel a little abused. This is wearing on me. Especially since the start of school is beginning to come into view. I have a hard time functioning right now if I have to get up before 8:30...I cannot imagine 6:00 every day!!!

Jude on the other hand is a rock star sleeper. Now that is. I can't really remember when he started sleeping better as a baby. It wasn't early though. Am I doing something wrong? Ugh! Anyway, I know at one point he was a 7pm to 7amer. Those were the days. Now he requires a little more attention at bedtime (i.e. stories, prayers, and songs...which I gladly give!) but still sleeps great. He rarely gets me up before Cora does, so I have that to be thankful for. And he naps great too, although the binky and blanky are still in the picture. Potty training and binky breaking were supposed to be his summer agenda...not sure that is going to happen...

This is a picture of my laundry. It was just the story of my life that day. Lots of diapers and lots of pink:)

**Here are some pictures to show what a beautiful baby I have, and even if I don't get as much sleep as I would like sometimes, she is completely worth it!!! (plus my sleepy brain may have caused me to exaggerate just a tad:)**

Aren't her smiles the best:):):)

Hit the deck!

Here are some pictures of our finished product!!! We are loving it--especially with all the nice weather we have been getting! A few nights ago we had a fire on the deck, we have spent a lot of time playing and "fixing" on the deck (Jude loves to pretend fix and build), and this morning we had breakfast on the deck. Way to go Gil! He has really been working on his building skills lately.

Next up, doggy kennel! Here are a few pics of the latest addition to the Ridenour Ranch as well...Baylor the beagle. We were supposed to get a female, but ended up with this rowdy guy. He barks all night or anytime he is in the kennel or tied up, and is always biting our heels. Jude has had to learn to defend himself! But isn't he just adorable?!? It's a good thing puppies and kids are so cute...



Jude and Baylor got into it over the kitchen rug!



Underside
The worker bees (thanks mom, dad, and Alissa!)
The supplies...
The corner
The man and his deck! We also got a new table since last summer we had two blow over and break. This one is made of metal and since we got a horrible storm the very night everything was finished it withstood the test and survived!
Last night we went fishing at my parent's dam. Jude (or rather Gil) caught a bass and a blue gill.

Ok: Here is a poll. I think Jude could use another haircut (I'm actually of the buzz cut school of thought), and Gil says it looks "sweet." What do you think (note: I do not actually put ponytails in his hair, this is just an illustration to prove my point. But he has still been mistaken for a girl on several occasions!). What do you think??? Oh, and he loved the ponytail by the way!
Here are also some videos for your viewing pleasure!

Survival Mode

Going from newly weds to new parents a little over nine months after we got married was pretty intense, I admit. But everything seemed to come in stride and it really wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be or as everyone warned it would be. I had heard horror stories of not having time to shower and giving up everything that was normal in life for poop and puke. But I didn't really feel that way at all. In fact it seemed I had more time than I had had in my life of teaching and coaching and sponsoring and my million other commitments. Plus there was always nap time!

Then one became two and all of that changed! Since Cora was born many people have asked how it is going with two kids. I haven't really known how to answer until a couple days ago when it finally hit me: I am on SURVIVAL MODE! I learned how to add in kindergarten. Two is more than one, but not much more. Two is still a small number....tell that to a mom of two kids...two is immensely more than one!!! Suddenly all of those warnings about kids have come true. I don't have time to take a shower and it seems that changings, dressings, feedings, bathings, and sleepings are WAY too much to accomplish in one day. I like to keep a list of To-Do's on the fridge. That has all but gone by the wayside as the daily essentials sometimes don't even get done! (ex. blogging has been on the list for about a week and even now I am completing this in shifts). Luckily I have Gil here most of the time to help out. I have also come to completely understand why one might send a toddler to daycare while on maternity leave!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining or even having a breakdown (as it may seem!). I'm just finally processing how my next year is going to be with a two-year-old (high maintenance and strong-willed two-year-old at that!) and a baby. It's going to be a long year...that will fly by I am sure! And someday I will look back and say, "Those were the days!" But today I just want a shower and a nap...

To keep things in perspective I have been making a mental list of what I love (and sometime what I hate) about two-year-olds and babies. These are some of my thoughts:

Two-Year-Olds:

*Give hugs and kisses

*Can talk and say adorable things

*Can entertain and somewhat help with the baby

*Can entertain parents when we need a laugh

*Take long naps in the afternoons!!!

*Can feed themselves to a certain degree

*Can play by themselves for longer periods of time

*Sleep through the night

Babies:

*Sleep much of the time

*Stay where you put them

*Don't talk back or deliberately disobey

*Diapers are significantly less disgusting than the two-year-olds

*Are tiny and much lighter to carry around

*Can also entertain siblings and parents

Ok, onto some pictures!

Here is one of the big storm that rolled in on Monday night. I didn't capture it, but there was some pretty amazing lighting out there too...which caused our electricity to be down from 8pm to 2am that night!

Our friends donated a deck they were tearing off their house to us, so now Gil's project is putting it on ours!!! Jude likes to help hammer. Fitting (his middle name, Maccabeus, means "The Hammer").

Here is our friend's baby boy and Cora. He is just two weeks older than she.

Our new bunnies we got at the Allen Swap Meet!
Jude's new sandbox around his swing set (another project of Gil and dad's)
Jude's sandy bottom! He loves scooping and building castles. I just wish it would dry up out there (and warm up too!).
Cora sucking her binky in the stroller and watching her big brother in the sandbox.