A Day in the Life of Andrew...

A day with Andrew is always an interesting one. Today was no exception. As always, Andrew came into our room at about 6:30am. "Hi mommy, I want a hug!" Cute, but much less cute at 6:30am. I walk him back to his room, make him get in bed, give him a hug, and leave. I go back to our room and get in bed, praying that by some miracle, Andrew will go back to bed. About ten minutes later, Andrew climbs into bed with me and says "Mommy, I wanna snug you" (snug=snuggle...very cute, but still, it's too early). Andrew snugs for about fifteen seconds, then gets out of bed talking about how he wants a yogurt. He goes into the kitchen, gets out a yogurt drink and a straw, and brings them to me so I can put the straw in his yogurt drink. I realize, quite sadly, that my day has officially begun. I accompany Andrew out into the family room, turn on Emperor's New Groove (yes, Andrew usually watches TV first thing in the morning while I attempt to wake up) and doze off with Grant in my arms. I'm awakened by Andrew excitedly yelling "MOMMY! I WENT POOPOO IN THE POTTY!" in my face. Sure enough, he did use the potty. Good job Andrew! I get him dressed (he has to completely strip when he goes to the bathroom, no idea why...) and he asks me for breakfast. More like shouts at me for it. "MOMMY! I WANT OATMEAL!" Since I can't make oatmeal appear out of thin air, I go to the kitchen to make some for him, but I'm not fast enough (again with the whole not being able to make oatmeal appear instantly). A tantrum ensues...Andrew is on the ground, kicking his feet and crying "I want oatmeeeeeeaaallllll!"

After we control the oatmeal situation, Andrew is much happier. He runs and thumps around the apartment like a crazy person (oh how our downstairs neighbor must love us), running his dump truck into my feet and pulling cushions off the couch. Meanwhile, I'm trying to fold the laundry that has been sitting out since Monday. I've got a nice little pile sitting on the couch, I turn my back for five seconds and--bam!--Andrew is lying where the laundry once was, and all the laundry is on the floor. I know what you're thinking: "Why are you trying to fold laundry while your toddler is awake?" I have no idea why. I guess I'm insane ("Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" -Albert Einstein).

Anyway, when lunch time comes around I ask Andrew what he wants ("Hot dog!") and graciously provide him with a hot dog and some apple slices. He runs around between bites, and finally we have to start threatening him: "If you finish your lunch, you're going to bed right now!" (of course, he's taking a nap after his lunch no matter what, but it's still a good motivator). While he finishes lunch, I sit on the couch to feed Grant. I again doze off, but wake up to hear him telling John that he went poo poo in the potty. John goes in to check and says "You've gotta come see this." Uh oh. I go into the bathroom and discover that Andrew has indeed gone poo poo...on top of his clothes....which were in the potty. Hmmm....good job Andrew? We're of course thrilled he used the potty, but not so thrilled that he put his clothes in it first. He still gets a sticker on his potty chart...

Naptime, thank goodness! We sing "I am a Chide of God" (as he calls it), and then it's blessed, beautiful, peaceful nap time.

An hour later the peace is over and it's back to the chaos that is life with Andrew. I'm doing some dishes and realize that I can't hear or see Andrew....never a good sign. I find him in our bathroom, playing with John's contacts. "Andrew, no! You're not allowed to play with our contacts!" In typical Andrew fashion, Andrew throws said contacts in the sink (fortunately they were John's...hehe). Andrew then pays a little visit to the corner.

Since Andrew has been sick and his cough has become pretty bad, I decide to take him with me to the store to get some medicine (yes, I went to the store on a Sunday...he really needed that medicine. He was sooooo much happier after he took it). Anyway, we're in the store and I'm perusing the cold medicine aisle when Andrew shouts "STOP THE CART! STOP! THE! CART!" Yes, everyone with in earshot (probably half the store) was staring at us. I have no idea why he wanted me to stop the cart, but I did of course have to remind him that he's not allowed to yell at me like that. I'm sure he's learned his lesson now.....

Haha.

Anyway, during dinner Andrew flings rice everywhere and puts food in his water, which of course leads to him getting his cup taken away and a mini tantrum. Is it bedtime yet? John has Andrew sit on the potty, but after he's done, a hyper, naked Andrew runs around the house. John finally manages to diaper and dress him and I take him into his room for bed. During his prayers, he thanks Heavenly Father for home, mommy and daddy, grandma and grandpa and says "bless Andrew get better, bless Mommy, Daddy, baby Grant. Didi rice (Jesus Christ), amen!" Cutest thing ever. We sing, snuggle, and say goodnight. "Love you mommy. Love you night night!" For the first half hour after he's in bed, Andrew continually comes out and asks for hugs. We usher him back to his bed, where he eventually falls asleep.

Whew. Another day done. Exhausting, but totally worth it for all the laughter, hugs, kisses, "I love yous". I wish I could say that this post is a compilation of several days with Andrew, but it's not. This really, truly is just how today went.

I want to be a millionaire...

I've taken to watching Who Wants to be a Millionaire in the afternoons because...well, just because really. Anyway, sometimes I think I'd do ok on the show. If I were on the episode that was just on today, I'd have $4,000 and all my lifelines. The contestant that was on, however, was not so good...first of all, she had to use a lifeline for her $800 question which vegetable is a gourd (hello?!?! Pumpkin!). And then she had to use another lifeline for which NBA team is an example of alliteration (Washington Wizards). How did she get on the show? She got out on the $4000 question what is the medication Zocor for (high cholesterol). I don't know why I knew that answer, but I would've had $4000! Now, really, I know if I went on the show I wouldn't actually do that well, my knowledge is not well rounded enough. But sometimes when I'm watching the show and screaming at the contestants, I really want to try...

Ok, randomness over. This is what happens when there's no one to talk to...

Fun Times

Last night for FHE we went swimming and then Andrew helped me make homemade Oreos (yum!). We had a great time, Andrew is a little fish when he hits the water and Grant...well, he tolerates it I guess. :) He doesn't cry or anything, but he doesn't smile either. Sadly, I don't have any pictures from the pool (which is a shame because Grant looks ADORABLE in his swim gear) but I do have a cute one of Andrew enjoying his cookie...

Andrew has never met a cookie he didn't like....sounds like someone else I know...

Grant didn't get to partake in the cookie goodness, but that didn't keep him from being cute and happy.

Finally...

Every year for our anniversary I make a red velvet cake because it was our wedding cake. Every year I ruin said red velvet cake in a new way. The one I made for our first anniversary completely fell apart. I totally overcooked the one for our second anniversary. Last year's would have been ok except I used storebought cream cheese frosting and it was NASTY. This year, our anniversary red velvet cake was finally a success. It was perfect! It is perfectly cooked (thanks to my awesome new cake pans John got me for our anniversary) and it's so moist and the frosting is great. Hooray! Red velvet cake is no longer my baking nemesis.

To my wonderful hubby...

Yesterday we celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary (this post was supposed to be done yesterday, but alas, the children were not so good yesterday. Example: I was feeding Grant and Andrew was off playing quietly--very bad sign--in the bathroom. I kept asking him what he was doing and telling him to come see me, but he kept ignoring me. Finally I got so worried that I put Grant down--and let me tell you, he was SO happy to have his feeding interrupted--and went in to see what Andrew was doing. He had taken off all of his clothes, done his business in the toilet, and then played with a tube of Desitin. There was Desitin everywhere....the sink, the floor, all over Andrew. Yikes. It was hard to be too mad with him though because I was so proud of him for using the potty. Anyway, this is one example of why I never got around to doing this post yesterday.)

So, in honor of our anniversary, I just wanted to take a moment to publicly (well, sort of publicly) thank John for being such an amazing father and husband. We've been together for five wonderful years, though in a very good way, it seems like much longer than that. John constantly makes me laugh, reminds me to be patient and grounded, and pushes me to be a better person. He works so hard to support our family and comes home at the end of a long day and still has the energy to roughhouse with Andrew and do the dishes. He supports me in my hobbies, although these hobbies sometimes require a fair amount of time, money and even sometimes result in bigger waistlines for the both of us. I love you John and look forward to many more years together!

And now, a little trip down memory lane...I couldn't help myself. :) You can see us get older and fatter right before your very eyes!

Our first trip to Arizona for Spring training...this is after we had been dating for about 7 months. In case you can't tell, we're showing off our sunburns.

At a Padres game a couple of weeks before we became officially engaged. You've gotta love cotton candy! We were in San Diego to do engagement pictures.

Awww, our engagement picture.

Look at us skinny young things...a few weeks before our wedding.

We took a trip to Mexico City with my family while we were engaged. John still wanted to marry me after that trip, now there's love!

Wedding pictures at Petco Park.

Beautiful San Diego temple where we were married.

This is why I make a Red Velvet cake every year for our anniversary. Huh, can you even tell that we're eating Red Velvet cake?

I love our beach pictures.

I just had to throw this one in...look at my lovely bridesmaids! Way to chow down Michelle!

This is about a month before our first anniversary when we went to Boston with my family.

Cape Cod during that same trip.

Family portrait, Andrew is about 5 months. This is right before we moved to Texas.

Andrew's first Halloween...we had a lot of fun dressing him up.

Andrew says goodbye to his awesome daddy before he leaves for class. How cute is that?

This one is a little bit out of order, but Blogger is stupid and I can't really fix it. Anyway, this is last Christmas.

Here we are in Paris last summer.

Here we are at Mont-Saint-Michel, one of our favorite places that we visited on this trip.

On the Charles Bridge in Prague.

At the Acropolis in Athens.

One of the stops on our Greek Isles cruise...sadly, I have no idea what the name of this island is. I do remember we went swimming though and John got an authentic gyro.

Andrew and daddy last Thanksgiving in Poway.

Train ride at Old Poway Park. Andrew was in heaven!

John holds Grant for the first time.

The whole little family at Adam and Emily's wedding. Look at all my handsome boys!

Well, that's a ton of pictures. I guess I got too caught up in all the nostalgia. If you made it this far, I'm impressed!

Best Boys Ever

I seriously adore my awesome boys!

Monday, Monday...So good to me!

As I mentioned previously, I love Mondays because I get to bake a treat for FHE. Last night John and I decided that the baking should be done Sunday night so we can enjoy the treat sooner. :) This week I made a recipe called "Heavenly Candybar Cake" because I have been SO excited to try this cake. The cake has melted Milky Way candybars in the batter, a chocolate marhsmallow frosting, and is garnished with chopped Milky Way bars. How awesome is that?!?! The Milky Ways in the batter added a great depth of flavor to the cake and the frosting is one of the best chocolate frostings I've ever had. And the Milky Way garnish just sets it over the top, seriously. So good! I'm excited for this week because I get to bake a lot...a Red Velvet cake for our anniversary, cookies for my visiting teachees, cookies for my friend who is having a baby, and something...not sure yet what...for our Relief Society Lunch Bunch. Hooray.