18 Months!

My sweet little baby, Nolen, is 18 months old today!  I know I say this all the time, but the time seems to go by faster as I get older.  I can't believe Nolen is 18 months old!  I remember thinking last summer that I couldn't wait for this summer to get here because Nolen would be older and ready to do things.  Nolen is 29.2 pounds and 33 inches tall according to my calculations.  We will see what the doctor says.

In some ways, Nolen is still very immature.  He doesn't speak.  He can say a handful of words like, "Ma ma, Da da, Ba ba, Ball," and his very favorite, "Reay, seee, GO!"  So cute!  He runs around the house saying it all day long.  When people meet Nolen they describe him as sweet, curious, chubby, and kind.  He has a very kind nature and can be incredibly patient.  I suppose that comes from having an older brother. 

Nolen loves to climb on anything and everything.  I didn't have to worry too much about Edward; however, I can not leave Nolen alone for long because he will make is way up on anything.  His recent climbing adventures have led us to move the living room furniture around to keep him from climbing on the kitchen counters.  He can usually be found climbing on the TV stand and touching the TV with his very sticky fingers.

Nolen loves to eat.  Nope, he doesn't like to eat actual food, he likes to eat dirt, crayons, and rocks.  He runs outside each morning and shoves a large handful of dirt right in his mouth!  After I clean out the dirt he will pick up a rock and begin chewing on it.  I can't leave crayons laying around because he will eat them up!  Should I worry?

Nolen does not sleep through the night.  We have tried many different things and have seen a few doctors.  We still have no real answers as to why he can't sleep.  I keep hoping he will sleep through the night once all of his teeth come in.  Here is hoping, right?

Nolen is my best cuddle budy.  He loves to sit and watch baby Einstein movies while rocking in the chair.  He will sit and rock for such a long time that I sometimes fall asleep.  He has a sweet nature.  He is so patient with his older brother.  He no longer cries when a toy is taken away from him and he quickly moves on to another task. 

I am so grateful to have such a wonderful little boy in my life.  He is adventurous, wild, and loving.  He can play by himself for hours and absolutely loves the water.  I can never leave him alone if water is anywhere in site.  He is a true pride and joy for me and Stephen.  I love him with my whole heart.

Happy Mothers Day?!?!

Pure Awesomeness!

Up to no good...

This week has been extremely busy for both me and Stephen.  I really try to plan my life out weeks in advance so that I know what to expect as the week begins.  I have been in rehearsal for Singing in the Rain and have found the disorganization rough to plan around.  Lately, the cast has been receiving emails the morning of rehearsal letting us know if we are called that night or not.  This has become challenging to arrange for a babysitter in advance.  Anyhow, Monday morning I was called to be in a movie for the show Singing in the Rain.  I am lucky enough to have a great friend in town who was available to watch my boys while I went down and filmed my little bit in the movie.  It took 5 hours.  Then I had rehearsal that evening. 

We had planned to go house hunting on Tuesday.  I was really hoping to find our dream home.  We did, but it already had an offer.  UGH!  My friend, Andrea, watched the boys for me, again.  I am SO lucky!  Although, we didn't find our perfect home in a perfect location, I am still determined to find the right place for us here in Albuquerque. 

Yesterday, I was able to do my last two shows as Cinderella.  I found out a few days prior to the shows that I was going to get to go.  Stephen took the day off and spent the ENTIRE day alone with the boys.  I left around 8 AM and didn't return home until 10 PM at night.  Wow, long day for me and for Stephen.  Stephen said he had a lot of fun just him and the boys.  I am actually jealous I wasn't there.  Ha ha.  He did say that it wasn't too hard for him; however, the boys were on their best behavior. 

I am so blessed to have a few good friends here in Albuquerque and a WONDERFUL husband who help me live my dreams.  I have been really lucky to be a part of a PAID traveling Opera company and to have experiences like filming and dancing and singing and laughing for live theater. 
Last, but not least, Stephen and I were able to go on our monthly date.  We went out for yogurt and then parked at the top of Volcano Cliffs and just talked.  So wonderful!

When you think it's too hard...

I just finished reading this.  And I cried.  For some reason, I get real selfish and just want to show people how hard it is to be a Mom.  Then I read a real story of selflessness and realize the error of my ways.  I know that each family has their own individual trials to overcome and sometimes I feel like mine are much harder than any other persons trials.  I know this thought it wrong.  I am so grateful for the humbling experiences that are placed in our path to keep us from becoming overly selfish.

This mother has probably had tons of struggles, not to mention the heart break or knowing her son will not get to do things that her other children were able to do.  I am truly blessed to have two healthy, overly active boys in my life.  They run, they play, they scream, they smile, and they love.  I just want to remind myself to enjoy the little moments, even if that means tough days are placed in my path requiring physical and emotional strength that I didn't know I had. 

Thomas the Train

I took a road trip.  Just me, by myself, with two boys.  Two little boys.  I was SO nervous to drive 7 1/2 hours all alone to my parents home in Kingman Arizona.  I had been putting this trip off for a long time, coming up with new excuses because I knew the drive was going to be hard.  To be honest, the drive was probably the easiest part.  I did have a few moments when I needed to use the bathroom and had to take two curious boys in the stall with me.  Nolen put his hand in the toilet and Edward opened the door.  It was good times all around.  HA!  I had to pull over a few times so that Edward could pee on the side of the road, but other than that, we sailed right on through to Kingman. 

My boys were so excited to see Grandma and Grandpa!  I packed all shorts and t-shirts with out ever looking at the weather.  Turns out, a cold snap blew through as we drove in.  I rushed to Wal-Mart to buy some pants.  Luckily, I packed a sweater for each boy, but really as a last minute thought as I was walking out the door.  The boys ate more Popsicles than should ever be consumed and played outside in the freezing cold riding the strider bike with cousins. 

I spent most of my time on the stairs with Nolen and guarding him from falling in the pond out side my parents home.  Nolen decided he wanted to start throwing tantrums that weekend, so I saw a new side of him.  I am not sure I am ready to deal with an ornery toddler when I just got out of that stage with Edward.  Nolen figured out how to grab someones finger and drag that person to where ever he wanted to go.  When I didn't go with him, a huge tantrum ensued. 

If you are wondering, the hardest part about being away from Stephen is at night.  Stephen usually takes Nolen the first few times he wakes up.  When we are apart, it is solely up to me to take each shift.  For Nolen, that can be 3 or 4 times a night.  Sleep is something I rarely get, but to get only 2-4 hours is just dreadful.  (By the way, we did get in to see the GI doctor and are working on getting Nolen's tummy issues fixed).

We took the boys to see Thomas the Train in Boulder, Nevada on Saturday morning.  It was FREEZING!!  Edward had so much fun.  He was so excited to be riding on a train and for that train to be pulled by Thomas.  If it wasn't so cold, it would have been really fun to play outside with all the games the event had set up.  Nolen screamed almost the entire train ride because I wouldn't let him down to investigate the train.  Once the train started moving, I allowed him to walk around and he was a little happier.  He definitely did not enjoy being stuck in one place especially since he hadn't seen everything there was to see.

I drove home on Monday and had only a few small melt downs.  I drank 1/3 of a Dr. pepper (something I haven't had in nearly 10 years) just to stay awake.  The boys played at a truck stop for an hour while I pretended to sleep. 

I am so grateful for my parents, family, and friends.  I had a wonderful time and actually won a game with my partner, Amanda.  I wish we lived closer, but the more time passes, the more I realize I will be living in Albuquerque for the rest of my life.  I hope to visit my family every other month, now that I know I can make the drive alone.  YIKES!

Easter with the Barnes Boys

I have to admit, I am not a big holiday person.  I really like Halloween and that is about it.  However; since adding children to our home, holiday's have taken on a new meaning.  I love to see them get excited about such little things.  My parents really focused on Christ at Christmas and Easter.  I don't ever remember them talking about the Easter Bunny at all.  So I didn't talk about the Easter Bunny.  I told the boys about the sacrifice of Jesus.  Then we went and hunted Easter eggs filled with yummy jelly beans and chocolate.