Worries about this new season...

I have some worries about this new season that we are entering. My children have decided that they are going to be as difficult to get to bed as possible!!! I know that I am not going to be able to go to bed with them once school starts because I will need the evenings to do my homework! Our solution to this matter has been to make new beds for each of the kids... Monet is going to get loft bed that will sit on top of her kitchen that we made for her, and Pax will get Monet's twin bed with a new headboard... I am hoping that they will be excited about the new beds and we can start a whole new bedtime routine and schedule this week, that will make them sleep in their own beds and go to bed more easily. (I hope that this is not wishful thinking on my part).

My other worry is about cooking for my family during the week when I know that I am going to be so tired after school and work... So, I think that I am going to become a once a month cooker for at least the next 6 months! I have found sound really yummy and healthy recipes that freeze well, and I will be able to make up so that I can just pop them in when I get home! I will let you know how it goes... Pictures to follow as well. :)

I Love Fall!!

There is officially one week left before school starts back up for us! I am really excited to start my last fall term as an undergraduate student! I will continue to do my work as research assistant for Oregon Social Learning Center, I will also be a research assistant for a professor at the University, and will also be taking on a campus job for a little extra money while taking my 18 credits and caring for my two toddlers and husband! Busy, busy, busy is what I am going to be!! It has been nice to have a little break over this summer, but I am anxious to get back into the school routine. I only have two terms left before I will be done with my BS in Psychology. I plan on taking a year off from school, and then I will go to graduate schoool if all works out as I hope and plan! :) The thought of being a graduate student while caring for my family makes me a little bit nervous, but we will figure it out I am sure. Never a dull moment around here!

I have always loved Fall time. It means that we get to go back to school, buy school supplies and school clothes, start wearing cozy clothing and drinking hot chocolate in the evenings. Fall always makes me want to make some yummy soup. I love to be cozy, and fall time is the perfect season for just that! I love the smell in the air right after it has rained, and in Oregon there are a lot of those days. So, here is to a new season!!!

Froggy

So, Paxton has developed a new voice, and we are not sure if he is sick and losing it or if he is just developing a deep raspy voice. He does not seem to be sick, so I am thinking that his voice is just making a change. It sounds really funny coming out of the little guy. I posted a few things about Monet, so I figured that I would update about Pax. He is such a sweet and lovable guy. He LOVES to cuddle, and can be very shy. We went to the zoo yesterday after Monet's appointments, and he managed to climb up a wall of rocks before I could catch him! The people walking by were like, "Oh my goodness look at that kid! Can't believe he can climb that!" So, yes we have two climbers... Keeping up with these toddlers is an endless and often tiring job. But the exclamation of "I did it, I did it!" while jumping up and down once he reached the top made my angry face disappear and break into a smile, he is just too darn cute!

Spiral urethra??

My 4 year old daughter has been having difficulties with UTI's. She has had 6 since last December!! So, we have been taking her to see a urologist. Yesterday she had a test done called a VCUG. Basically, they had to insert a catheter into her bladder fill it with dye, take x-rays while it was filling, after it was full, and as it was emptying. The whole point of this was so we could see if she has renal reflux, where the urine flows back up into her kidneys. Well, she does have it, and we also found out that she has a spiral urethra. She was born with it, but it is increasing her liklihood of getting UTI's. So, as for now, I am working with her on going potty often, relaxing, and tons of other things. I am pretty nervous about the possibility of her having to have surgery at some point... She was such a little trooper yesterday, I am so proud of her! Will keep updating as this process will continue over the next 18 months or so.

Happy Birthday Monet!

MONET LUCILLE GERHARDT turns 4!!!

September 3, 2006 our first baby was born. After being in labor with her for over 30 hours (I lost track somewhere after then...) our beautiful baby girl was born! She was a beautiful baby, and an even more beautiful toddler! Full of life and energy!! She is a princess through and through. We had her 4th birthday party a few days ago, and in true Monet fashion, everything was princess!! She dressed in a Princess outfit from her Nana Gerhardt, we had Princess cookies, a Snow White cake, and Princess everything! I love to make my kids' birthdays special! So, I generally make a lot of things, and choose a theme and play it out where I can. We had a blast with Monet's friends, here are some more pictures from the party... :)

Those are just a snapshot of the fun we all had! I absolutely cannot believe that my baby girl is 4 years old! You always hear people say that time flies by once you have kids, but I do not think that I really understood what they were saying until I had my children. They grow in the blink of an eye! I am trying to treasure each moment of these years because I know once they are gone I am going to miss them!

Day 1

Living life with two young children, there is never a dull moment. They are the light of my world, and yet sometimes I think that I may pull all of my hair out when they won't listen! I have two toddlers, Monet will be 4 tomorrow, and Paxton is 2 1/2. Keeping up with toddlers is a full time job. They are full of energy right up until the second they fall asleep, ask millions of questions (some that I have no clue how to answer), and change their emotions at the drop of a hat. While there are many things about raising toddlers that is a challenge, it is also soooo much fun! They say the funniest things, and there is never a day that passes by that they do not make me burst into laughter! I have always said that the best sound in the world is the sound of a baby or toddler laughing! Hearing my two crazy toddlers laughing together makes my heart sing, and all is right with my world!

This blog is probably going to be random... Following my busy schedule keeping up with my family, work, school, and research. Stay tuned... :)