Dear Jack,

You are my favorite.  From your cheesy smile, to your mumbles that only I can decipher...you make every day at home this summer so much fun.

Yesterday, you were kicking around a soccer ball.  I said, "Man, you're going to be good at soccer someday, Jack!"  You, intrigued, responded with a pointed finger and "uuuuuckeeer", as if I had just said the magic word.  How could I not give you a sucker after that?  Call me a sucker.

Our big man.  You eat cereal with milk like a champ, walk up the stairs like a big man, and you even sleep in a regular sized bunk bed all night long.  We decorated your room in vintage cars and you spend so much time in there now.  From your scribbles on your easel with "talk" (chalk), to the smooches you give each. and. every. stuffed. animal as you take them off your toy box, you melt my heart.

I love when you blow me kisses, even though you just kiss your hand.  I love when I ask you what sound an elephant makes, as you roar and do a silly little hand motion that's so wrong, but to you it's so right.  I love that I have to count each of your toes...and at the end you throw a big "puuuuuh!" to tell me they stink.

Every night, daddy gives you a bath.  We put your jams on, and you two men head upstairs.  Every single night, Daddy reads you Goodnight Moon.  You're usually requesting "moo miii mooon" by 6 pm, but we drag you along usually until 7.  By the end, you're yawning and falling fast asleep, just like clockwork.  Around 6:30 or 7, you climb out of your bed, open your door, grab a few snugglies and your blankie, and head straight for my side of the bed.  My. favorite. part. of. my. day.

 

You know some letters already, too!  We taught you letter 'o' in the bathtub, and you walk around searching for 'o's.  You also know j, e, and sometimes a.  So stinkin' smart.  We  found this little time out chair at an antique store shopping for your big kid room.  You go along with your pointing finger "saying" each letter.  When you get to 'o', man, you shout it out! 

Jack, you've brightened my life.  I love hearing you sing, I love watching you scowl your eyebrows as you've done since the first day I met you...as if you're soaking in the world around you.  I love when you reach for my hand and grasp my fingers just like you did for the first time, still, at 20 months.  You continue to amaze me; I'm so proud to be your momma.  Just as I do now and forever, I love you to the moon and back.

Love,
Mama

Interesting weekend...

A week or so ago we had big plans.  Our friends were coming down from the loo, and a group of us were going downtown Des Moines for a much needed night out...or so we thought.

Friday:  my friend's house was broken in to.  Afraid it would happen when they were visiting, they stayed in Waterloo.  Eric was sick with a fever, chills, and more..

Saturday:  our other friend's daughter was sick with the flu.  That left just Eric and me.  Well, we had my cousin babysitting Jack overnight, so we decided to just roll with it.  Biaggi's for my favorite Farfale Alfredo pasta and some relaxing not-feeding-my-toddler dinner chats.  We were then off to the movies!  Wait, a text from my cousin said Jack just puked all over.  Oh, great.

Needless to say, that weekend wasn't meant to be.

Puking toddlers.  WAAAaaaay different than baby puke.  It's not easy.  It's gross.

So, we run to get Jack, drive him home in a fabric-less carseat (which looked awfully interesting, who knew all of the pieces came off?  Thank goodness) and snuggle him on the couch.  My favorite part of the whole weekend were all of the extra snuggles from my sick man.

LEAST FAVORITE MOM MOMENT OF ALL TIME (well, so far.):

Jack starts to puke again.  {Tell me why I gave my sick little man HOT DOGS and CHEESE PUFFS for dinner?  Gross with a capital G.}  Eric hangs him out as far as his arms could reach and said "Honey, I can't do it, this is nasty!"  So I grab my little pukey boy.  I put him over my shoulder and say "It's okay buddy, get it all out." as calm as I can...thinking the whole time I am going to throw up.  I am going to throw up.  We get him into the tub, my clothes sans hot dogs into the wash, and Jack and I snuggled some more {with a towel this time.} 

***Love how even though he's sicker than a dog, he still smiles for the camera.  CHEESER!***

He woke up normal and happy as can be.  Thank goodness!  We all ended up with the bug.  Even our little dog Maggie had the pukes.  Nasty deal, anyway!  I was glad it happened BEFORE school started.

Kid pukes on mom, check.  Another mom moment for the record books!  I can't believe I held in my Biaggi's the whole time, too!

The word potty....

...has a whole new meaning in the Krieger house!

This week is my attempt at focusing on potty training.  Why not, right?  Wouldn't it be nice to have this little man out of diapers? A while back my doc said he was ready (even though most boys aren't until closer to 3).  He tells us when he poops, is WAY into anyone going to the bathroom, and just overall understands what we're saying now.  So, here we go into another adventure in mommy hood -- potty time!  {warning...this post may be tmi if you're squeamish}

Potty-training Monday:

7:30:  tighty-whiteys.  So stinkin' adorable on Jack's little butt.  He says "uh oh" and feels around trying to figure them out.  As he walks away, I sigh and think about how big my little man really is getting.

7:35:  unknown liquid drips from Jack's highchair at breakfast.  I check.  No, it wasn't his water or his applesauce.  PEE!  Gross.  I am NOT cut out for this.  After five minutes, a delayed "oh no" comes from Jack when he realizes he's wet.

7:40:  diapers!  Genius.  Who tries to potty train their 19 month old?  I give up.  :)

7:50:  "poo" "poo"  "poo!"  I take Jack to the potty.  He sits, plays with tp, and gets down.  Repeat.  Pull up on for the second time.  A few minutes later... "ohhhhhh no" with squeeze faces.  I scoop Jack in my arms {as he squeezes his poop out!} and set him on his little potty.  Poop in potty success!  Clean pull-up for once -- yes!  Jack stands up and cheers and I have to corral him to clean his little butt off before he's off to play.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing in diapers.  I think we'll take this whole potty training thing slowly.  Stats to date:

3 poopies
1 pee (he said he had to poop and then accidentally peed!)

I think that's pretty darn successful for a little under two.  We've got a ways to go...

5 things I never knew about potty training before I was a momma:

1.  I never realized just how many times you say "potty" in a day.  Do you need to go potty?  Did you just go potty? Do you need to go poop on the potty?  Do you want to sit on the big or little potty?  The list goes on...

2.  I can clean poop of Jack's butt any day of the year.  It's nasty cleaning out a little training potty.  Why is it so different?!  {insert gag noise}

3.  Pull up = fancy, more expensive diaper.  There's really NO difference.

4.  One poop in the potty does NOT mean potty trained.  Darn it.  I did a whole lot of celebrating, including sending poopie pictures to Daddy at work...thinking we had succeeded!

5.  No one wants to see pictures of Jack's poop.  Not even his dad.  Who would have thought?

Wish us luck in this adventure.  Goal:  Jack's 2nd birthday?!  November 30th.  Hmm...can we make it?

Sharks or Cars?!

Last night, Eric and I hired a babysitter and went for a night-on-the-town just us to.  No, there wasn't a diaper tucked in my purse.  No, we didn't have to ask for a high chair at Biaggi's, and there were no bite-sized hot dog messes at our table.  It was nice to get away and chat about life together.

Our night started with picking up my favorite little babysitter -- Melisa.  She's a former student...one who just has it all together.  She was my mini-secretary.  She'd show substitute teachers the way, organize my room on a daily basis, and was my go-to office runner.  There will be NO replacing her in the years to come.  Best yet?  Her mom is a daycare provider...so she spends her afternoons and summers wiping kids mouths and changing diapers.  Score!  As we left, we saw a crying Jack waving "bbyyyyeeee" out the window.  Within minutes I got a text that said "Jack's happy again, he has applesauce!"  She's so good.

Biaggis.  My favorite little Italian getaway.  It is one place you would not want to take a toddler...so we end up there only when we're sans-Jack.  Bruschetta, Farfalle Alfredo, and lots and lots of adult conversation.

Jordan Creek.  Without a stroller!  Oh man, the fun that can be had when we're not on a little's schedule.  We bought our movie tickets to Snow White and the Huntsman and were left to kill some time before the showing.  So, naturally, off to Pottery Barn Kids we went.  I've had my eyes on a quilt for Jack's big kid room, and we already bought his bunk bed set from Ikea last weekend, so I was dying to go to my favorite decor store for little kiddos.  Bonus?  Eric let me get the quilt!  It was on sale ($40 off!).  I also bought the sham.  My decorating wheels are spinning so fast!  The movie was an edge-of-your-seat kind of a show...totally worth watching {and, weird as this may sound, I HATE movies}.

Wellman's.  The West Glen hangout of anyone who lives in WDM.  We stopped for just a few and watched people.  I know I'm only 26, but places like Wellman's makes me feel old.  I bet these people don't have kids at home.  Or, at least I hope they don't.  :)

When we got back home, our little babysitter had cleaned the garage, taken 20+ pictures of Jack from the night, and baked homemade pb and chocolate cookies.  Simply the best.

These were taken by my babysitter! So cute!

Now that the night is over, and our 6th anniversary is passing through as I type, should I decorate around my Jack's new quilt with cars or sharks?!  I am thinking old, raggedy cars like this.  But, maybe I could do kind of a beachy, shark theme like this?  Hmmm.....we'll see.  I can't wait to see the room all put together.

What will I do when ALL of the spaces in my house are decorated?!

Eric = Daddy!

Dear Eric,

I remember the day like it was yesterday.  We were absolutely smitten for each other. The world shrunk into all-about-you-and-me and nothing, and I mean nothing, else mattered.  Often times, we'd forget the time, didn't have a care in the world, and could stare into each other's eyes for hours on end without a flinch.

It was your 16th birthday.  You had a Pontiac Grand Prix, royal blue, from 1900 (slight exaggeration).  You, in your eyes, were the coolest 16 year old on the block.  You so smoothly said "I have three girls that want to be my girlfriend now that I can drive.  I could date "option a", or "option b", or "option c".  {insert long awkward pause as I was NOT amused}.  Then you said "Will you go out with me?" followed by a little kiss and your quirky smile.  Of course I said yes and the rest is history...

Fast forward 11 years.  Man that makes me feel old {I remember old people saying "boy, that makes me feel old" phrases.  Does that make me old since I say them?  I'm guessing so.  Sad.}

We're nearing our 6th wedding anniversary.  You know what "they" say, time flies when you're having fun, right?  I cannot believe it's been that long since our wedding day.  Another day I'll never forget; "I got married and I got 21?!"  Oh, Eric, you never cease to amaze me.

You as a dad. {sigh}

My, where do I begin?

You, Eric, are the best dad to our little man Jack.  The way you snuggle him in and tell him "It's nuh-night time Jack, just like big boys, be sure to stay in your bed.  I love you." gives me goosebumps.  The way you jump out of your chair (which you know isn't like you) to sing "rubber ducky" in your awkward, out-of-tune voice just to make Jack laugh in the bath tub each night.  And, how can I forget that you let me sleep in every Saturday.  In my half-asleep state I secretly listen to you whipping up pancakes and singing the "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" theme song over and over.  I hear you and Jack pounding, singing, and forming a bond that no one will ever break.

Jack loves you, so, so very much. When I pick him up from daycare, he does his little waddle run and proclaims "daaaa dee".  Yep, that's right.  It's mom, not dad, sorry Jack.

Jack loves you.  We love you.  

Happy Father's Day --- cliche I know --- to THE best dad in the world.  Period.

Family Car Ride

So, split second decision: we're going to IKEA, darn it! I've been dying to raid the children's section for over a year.

Today, my good friend Jill asked if there was anything I wanted her to pick up from IKEA. I modestly told her a few items I had been hoping to buy. As I continued to scour the website i realized...I need to buy the whole store. No exaggeration.

So, we're on a spur-of-the-moment road trip.

After a quick fill up and a stop at Wendy's...we were off! We're so cool we bump to "baa baaaa black sheep". I know, you're jealous!

I was NOT smarter than a fifth grader, darn it! That dang game is so addicting...

After about an hour, I decided Jack was SO good. The next steps that follow make me laugh. out. loud. Literally.

Step one: "Jack, do you want a sucker?". "suuuuukrrrrrr".

Step two: Jack misses his mouth and covers his cheeks in sticky goo. At one point he has the sticky end in the palm of his hand proclaiming "uh oooooh" over and over. Yes, Jack, uh oh is right.

Step three: crocodile tears ensue because the sucker is gone. Well, I took it away anyway. There was enough sticky goo to cover his body. I handed Jack a napkin and continued my "wants list" conversation with eric. A few minutes pass and...

Step four: screams!!!!!!! I look back and find Jack completely STUCK to his napkin! It's shredded! His entire set of hands and every inch of his fingers are stuck! So. Freaking. Funny!

After a few baby wipe washes and a baby hand massage with my new Bali Mango BBW lotion, we were in the clear.

It all started with a little dum dum...

Now, Eric and I are jammin to hip hip from the 2000's on Pandora and our cute little man is fast asleep in toddler dream land. Maybe he's dreaming of the new table and toys he's getting tomorrow??

Walk it out, walk it out, walk it out...

Moooo?!

Yesterday, Eric and I decided to look at iPads for our little man.  Yes, I know.  1-and-a-half year old needing an iPad?  Well, technically his daddy wants one, but to convince me he's using this: "Jack could learn all of his colors/numbers/letters and watch Sesame Street on Netflix!"

After leaving the always-busy Apple store (supposedly the only one in Iowa?!), we decided to eat at the food court.  It's usually the best option for our family.   Eric always wants chick-fil-a, and I usually end up with a  bowl full of spaghetti and meatballs with a side of cheese pizza for Jack.  Everyone's happy!

Now you're wondering why the post title is Mooo, right?!

So we're sitting in the food court.  Over an over again Jack proclaims "mooo" in so many different ways.  He would take a bite, then moooo.  He'd mooooo three times and then take another bite.  The whole time we wondered what in the world he was doing or saying?  Then...suddenly....we realize what he's doing.  The chick-fil-a logo has COWS on it!  He was pointing to Eric's cup and "mooing" to tell us he saw a cow!  So funny.  We laughed and laughed at our little mooing man.



Jack knows almost all of the animal sounds.  Clearly, even when they're built into some environmental print.  Who knew?  He's learning and growing so much...it's so fun to watch all of our book reading turn into conversations!  And, I'm relieved that Jack isn't incessantly "mooing" for no apparent reason! :)

Should we get an iPad for Jack (and Eric)?  Any of you out there love yours and would highly suggest it?  I need help!

Kids want their MOMS!

So, awhile ago, our little family found out some devastating news.  News I never thought I'd have to think about or deal with - ever.  For the first time, I wasn't ready to pour my heart out on this screen...

In the same week, I came across an article that talked about how kids want their moms.  What a concept!  Instead of blogging, snapping pictures ALL the time, and wondering what project I could tackle on pinterest next...I decided it was time to take a break. I kept telling myself to enjoy our family...enjoy the moment. 

Your kids want YOU article

Honestly, it was nice to not wonder about what to type.  How to say it.  Did I want to share that?

As the weeks and months have gone on, however, I've found myself longing to type, to get my thoughts of the day down somewhere.  So, I scrolled through my blog.  I didn't remember drinking all that apple juice when I was pregnant.  I hardly remember some of the things that happened in the first weeks of a family.  And, it was really, really nice to read the candid words as if I was right there again.

So...I'm back.  Here to tell the simple little story of us.  The beach-ball-flying-through-the-backyard, trip to the park every. single. day., cupboard filled with raisin boxes for summer kind of adventures that I wouldn't trade for the world.

Speaking of Pinterest...

Here's my latest project :)  A picture wall that I've always wanted.

It was hard to pick pictures, color schemes, sizes, and who to include...but the finished product makes it all worth it.

While I'm on summer break, I've been checking off my to-do lists, sitting through boring grad. classes (more than halfway through the program towards becoming a principal!), and swimming, snuggling, and learning animal sounds with Jack.  We've landscaped, organized, created a little in-home gym, and much, much more!  For it only being June, I feel awfully accomplished.

Thanks for being patient while I took a break.  It feels so good to be back!

It's been awhile...

since I've blogged away on this little screen.

I have to be honest...I was kind of over it for a little while.

There was a LOT going on...and I had no idea what to type. I know, for the first time in my life I was speechless...well kind of more like type-less.

I'm back, though. :) And, after that gigantic margarita, I am ready to conquer the world!

Today I am thankful for so many things:

Eric. Jack. Maggie. My really, really great friends. Sweet 8th graders at school. Mountain Dew. My new red rockers on my front porch. My health. I could go on and on...

"Family isn't always blood. It's the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what."

Yeah, I have friends like that.

These last few weeks have been tough...but I've learned SO much about who I am, what our little family can handle, and just how many people are truly there when I need them.

And, I'm thankful.

Oh, the little Krieger family update!

We've got a lot going on in our little Krieger household. Big changes, lots of contemplating, and a vacation in less than a week {not that I'm counting down...} :)

Here's a little mini-recap.

1. Jack STAYS in his big boy bed. Every night. We put him down, and often times he climbs in himself, anywhere between 7 and 7:30. He usually falls fast asleep...and wakes up at 6:30 on the dot with a smile on his face and a blankie in his hand. We can't believe it was that easy of a transition. It must have been the right time?

2. Two words: Puerto Vallarta. Enough said. I'm thinking sandy beaches, 24 hour all-inclusive buffets, and lots and lots of relaxing time with my hubs and bestie.

3. Grad class, conferences, Waukee leadership classes, and city council meetings have been filling our nights and weekends. Eric and I like to be busy -- obviously. Lately, it feels like we spend more time away from home than relaxing together as a family. It will calm down soon I hope? :)

4. Root beer. Cheetos. Spaghetti and meatballs. For the first time in a long time, I went grocery shopping for what I wanted, not necessarily what I needed. And, I love it. After school I munch on Cheetos, and I share them with Jack of course. He prances around the house destroying everything in his path with cheetos crumbs. I then down them with a nice little bottle of root beer. Honestly, I think I smile a little more. :)

5. Jack's big boy room. I'm currently in the preparation process for getting Jack's new room ready. I mean, if he can be in a big boy bed, he needs a new room, right? I think I've convinced Eric that Pottery Barn Kids have ONLY the best bedding....click here to see my inspiration. All kinds of ideas are running through my brain...Dresser? Nightstand? Bed frame type? Oh, I can't wait to see the finished product.

That's about it. Krieger family lives in a nutshell. All in all, life is pretty darn good.