Connor's New Room

I am fairly certain the number of times Connor's room has been redone/rearranged in his lifetime is a testament to how his mom is...I tend to switch things up often. That is why I don't like to commit and tend to never buy really expensive things.

For memory lane's sake, here is what Connor's room looked like when I did it when we first moved into our house and here is when I overhauled it a year later. And guess what? A year later, the kid is in a different room in the same house! But this time, he now has a big boy bed. Like I said, I switch things up often. I would like some credit though...two years on, he is still using the same bedding/curtains.

The vision I had for this room and how it turned out are two totally different things. I changed my mind about things so often along the way. Craigslist doesn't help. I wasn't looking for a bed with a slide, but saw it on craigslist and thought it was cool. I really wasn't thinking when I decided on it. It was so difficult to figure out how to arrange the room around the slide. After rearranging twice by myself (and switching up furniture with other rooms) I called in reinforcement...my mom.

My mom patiently listened to me as I explained what I didn't like about the other arrangements and tried to think of what I would like. Having the slide by the window just made the most sense. But then there was this weird corner that I didn't know what to do with. It is now a reading corner...and I would like to proudly brag that I bolted the shelf to the wall all by myself, with anchors and everything.

 

The other thing I was struggling with about the room was wherever the slide ended up would be dead space and I didn't like how that looked. My mom simply suggested the shelf/wall hook combo. Love it! So simple, useful and decorative. Thanks mom! 

I really like how the room turned out. And I am glad that I didn't get ahead of myself and do some of the things I was originally planning on doing because they were all semi-permanent and revolved around the bed being in a specific location...a location that the slide bed would NOT have worked in.

The kids really love the slide bed. They go a little crazy with it. And a week in, no one has fallen off it yet. I think that is pretty dang successful.

So This Happened...

I am that mom that isn't really into character clothing, or anything really, um, loud. So when my parents dropped Connor off yesterday after camping for the weekend, the first thing I noticed were these bad boys adorning his feet. They light up and everything. 

I am told he really wanted them and was starting to throw a fit because he wanted them so bad. Given that my mom knew they would make me cringe, I am pretty certain she directed Connor toward these bad boys.

What's cute is watching how excited Connor is about the shoes. Not quite as cute is Connor jumping up and down on our raised foundation wood floors (think LOUD) while Isla is napping just to see the shoes light up. Cute? Yes. Having Isla's nap cut short? Not so cute. But outside he can jump up and down in them all he wants. And he does.

Oh these shoes! But with a face like this looking back at me, how could I deny putting something on his feet that obviously makes him so happy?

But still, if I was at the store, these amazing shoes wouldn't have come home with us in the first place. I have become the queen at redirecting and distracting while shopping. Seriously, you should see some of the things Connor asks for when we are out.

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I'm always slightly amazed by how crazy kids go over bubbles. I mean, yeah they are cool, but kids (at least mine) literally freak out over them. The word "bubble" is even in Isla's vocabulary...whereas I am pretty sure it took Connor forever to say something like that (though it took him forever in comparison to Isla to start talking). And what is it with Connor and his obsession with his belly?! He wants everything on his belly. The bubbles were no exception. 

This week:

• When I got up with Isla the other night, I went in to check on Connor only to discover him not in his bed. After not finding him in our bed and double checking his bed again, I started to look around only to find him curled up asleep in a chair in the living room! 

• With the temperatures rising, water play is becoming more common around here. Both kids are loving it. 

• I joined a gym and started working out again for the first time since having Connor. Pathetic, I know. And seriously, it has been killing me. 

• George Lucas was the grand marshall at a parade in my city last night (he's from here). It was cool to see him, even if I am not a trekkie or anything. 

• Isla has had a crazy week (and in turn so have Ian and I). But she has two of her two year molars in at 19.5 months. Seriously Isla, teething isn't a competition. Slow it down! 

Enjoy your weekend! With record setting temps this weekend, I am going to try to stay still as much as possible, hoping it keeps me cooler. 

Sibling Rivalry

This picture just about sums up these two lately. Picking on his sister happens more often than playing with legos for Connor lately. At least Isla is becoming quite the tough cookie because of it all.

Father's Day Gift Guide

With father's day quickly approaching, I thought I would share some of the ideas I have rounded up for father's day. So, uh, Ian, go ahead and not read this post. Thankyouverymuch.

Now I should say, I am partial to father's and mother's day gifts actually reflecting the children giving them. Maybe that means that I am a sap and want to be given something that reminds me of my children on mother's day. Either way, Ian chose to marry me and procreate with me, so my ideas for father's day are what he ends up with. And while I am picking out and paying for the presents, those ideas will include our children...and probably be a little sappy. Now I am not saying I won't get him anything else, but part of the gift must reflect/represent our children. I digress.

A few sappy fun, kid friendly father's day gift ideas:

1. Printable questionnaire about dad // 2. Printable hand tree // 3. "My dad rocks" painted rock // 4. Photo mug // 5. Cute father's day photo

And because I totally know Ian read this anyway, I may or may not be doing one of these ideas, but won't be sharing until later...just in case. Heck, one of the ideas is what I did last year! And if you have any cute kid father's day ideas, do share. I always wait until the last minute to do anything anyway! 

Guilty Pleasures

I was at a thing this past weekend and we had to go around the room and say our "guilty pleasure". Before it was even my turn, one of the ladies said "I have pleasures, but I don't feel guilty about them." Bam! Talk about hitting the nail on the head with that one. 

These days I don't have much time or energy for guilty pleasures. And to be honest, I don't even like the term guilty pleasures. If you are feeling guilty about doing it, you probably shouldn't be doing it. Now I know that sounds extreme, but think about someone hiding in the kitchen chowing down on a few too many candy bars. There is nothing good or even funny about that. Indulging in an amazing treat every once in a while, now that's totally fine. But these acceptable (and even normal) things have been relabeled as guilty. Me no likey. 

I have to say, before I had kids (you know, when I had way more time and money) I indulged in way more guilty pleasures. And guess what? I prefer my life now. I really didn't need to fill my head with smut tv anyway. And this is just another sign that I am getting old. 

In the spirit of it all, I thought I would share a few things in my life that I enjoy that you may or may not know:

• Candy cane Hershey's kisses
• Taco Bell
• How I Met Your Mother
• Blogging & reading blogs (I bet you never would have guessed!)
• Wine - though I don't have a glass every night, I sure do enjoy a glass of wine while relaxing after the kids are in bed
• Cheese - there is nothing better than a really good cheese to go along with that glass of wine

So I ask, what are some of your guilty pleasures?

She Drank What?

Isla drank milk and like didn't spit it out.

And I am guessing that unless you have a 19.5 month old that up until this point has only accepted cantaloupe juice (Friends reference...anyone?) you probably don't care. But trust me when I say, this is huge. Up until this point in her life, if Isla knew milk was in her cup she wouldn't even try it. On the off chance that I snuck it in without her knowledge, her first mouthful was always spit out and the rest of the cup was not touched. What can I say, cantaloupe juice is obviously better!

Given that this mama is starting to think toward weaning (especially since Isla is back up to nursing way too often) this is an exciting development in my life. And because I am sure there are some out there thinking "WHAT?! Did she just admit that she is still breastfeeding?" Yes. And to be honest, I never thought extended breastfeeding was for me. Heck, before I had kids, I didn't even think breastfeeding was for me. But, things happen and somehow I have found myself here today. And guess what? I am more open minded about a lot more things these days than I was a decade ago. Of course, there are just as many things that I am no longer open minded about. You know how it is.