Monday, February 27, 2012

Ray Ray's Post

Oh Ray Ray!!!! I can't believe you are 2!! I was supposed to be in LA getting off of a plane for Molly Mesnick's wedding on ABC when I was in labor with you. You came two weeks early, and my water broke when I sneezed with you. I labored 16 hours at home and I was only at the hospital for 2 hours before having a perfect 7 lb 8 oz baby with dark red hair and baby blue eyes. For your first year of life, everyone called you Smiles... then I took you off baby food and it has been Crazy Ray ever since! You climb on the shelves in the pantry about 10 times/day, you pout face down on the ground until you think nobody is watching then you look up with a shit eating grin, you ask for my phone within minutes of getting up in the morning but never before a good morning hug. You are a lover, but you are a stinker. You are so so different than your brother and I love that about you. Below are some of my favorite pictures of you from the last few days that describe you perfectly.














How are we ever going to get a good picture with 3 kids?


This stage of our life with pictures is such a joke!























Is he pointing to the wine or the cupcake?































To The Flying Cupcake on Mass Ave with Grandma.






























































Only 2 left, such a sad day.






















































Notice Ray is always double fisting cupcakes and Joey will take one bite of his and be done.


How are they so so different??































Baby Blue Eyes







































































































Sweet Baby Ray Ray! I pray for you every day. I pray you don't feel stuck in the middle and I pray you grow out of your stubborn phase. I pray for your health and safety. I signed you up for Pre-School next year, and I pray you don't have to sit in the Naughty Chair every day for chucking toys at other children. I pray you live a long life knowing God and loving your family and friends. I love you Ray Ray, you sweet sweet boy.










































Sunday, February 19, 2012

My Littlest Man

Ray Ray's actual birthday is February 27,



but we went ahead and celebrated a week early just in case Mama popped.



So Ray Ray had his 2nd Birthday party yesterday.



Who doesn't like a good Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party with Jockamo's Pizza



and cake pops on a beautiful Saturday in February??














Little Joey and I got down to business and made about





30 cake pops that were mmmh mmh good!!








Aunt KT











Nannie and Grandpa













Joey about to let the balloons go (and a beautfiul advertisement for ADT).





















In case you didn't know Journeys, Journeys Kids and Spencers all have Yo Gabba Gabba... just in case you were wanting to get a few things.













When I first saw Yo Gabba Gabba on Nick Jr. 3 1/2 years ago, I swore DJ Lance had severe perio and I would never let my kids watch it. However, LJ woke up one morning yelling for Gabba Gabba Gabba Gabba, so I caved. We have loved it ever since. Nothing like learning not to bite your friends, how to fasten your seat belt, and using good manners from a few alien creatures.





















Halloween and birthday parties are Ray's favorite days of the year. My dad always says, "Ray Ray has never met a piece of cake he didn't like."






















Our wonderful babysitter, Laura, came too. Ray's showing off his dance moves.
























Luckily the weather was nice enough for a little swingin'.


























































I do have a Brobee shirt on and Big Joey is sportin' a Muno shirt in case you were worried.





























Ray Ray worked hard on those candles.




































Of course, we had more cake pops after every one left. Oh did I forget to mention I lost my ankles yesterday?










































Sunday, February 12, 2012

Barely functioning, overeating

I can honestly say I don't think I've ever been this tired in my life.... And my husband does majority of the night shift. I feel like God has really been trying to tell me 3 is enough. I feel like I'm in pure survival mode-- trying to get through life a day at a time. I'll be 37 weeks on Tuesday, but I still need to get through Ray's birthday party, Cirque du Soleil, Ray's actual birthday, and Leap Year. I'm still working a few days a week and that is actually giving my back a break from carrying these crazy kids. Joey is pumped for the baby and Ray doesn't have a clue.

We feel pretty ready at home for the baby. Both sets of Grandparents are on call if we were to go into labor at night, but Joey is planning on staying with the kids both nights. I'm really looking forward to 2 nights of rest at the hospital with all of the amazing food with my new precious baby.

We finally have had to really change up Ray's diet. I understand a 2 year old has a ton of highs and lows, but this kid is exhausting me. Last weekend I threw out 3 trash bags of food. I got rid of foods with high fructose corn syrup, artificial color, artificial flavor, preservatives and most hormones. You should have seen me ask the lady at Whole Foods why her syrup cost $20. Her reply, "Because it's from the actual maple tree." Check the ingredients of your syrup sometime... it's amazing what we feed our little ones once we look at the ingredients labels. It's been a challenge though. Ray still won't eat fruits or veggies, but don't think I don't stuff one in his mouth once a day just to watch him gag for 30 seconds. This kid is surviving off of vitamins, I swear. We are slowly pulling the paci "mimi" away during the day and he's doing pretty well with it. His verbal is picking up quickly and now he has more chances to bite Joey. We have started time outs and hand smacks, especially when we chuck toys at Joey's face AND cause black eyes. There is, however, only so much discipling a 36 week pregnant Mama can do. I can recall Joey getting easier around 26 months, and I'm hoping the same for Ray. Although they are completely polar opposite kids.

Little Joey has really taken to the big brother role with such a beautiful heart of gold. He is so tender hearted like his Dad and very soft spoken. At parent-teacher conferences, the teachers said he is such a joy to have in class and loves watching his face light up when asked to answer a question. Joey goes to school 2 mornings a week and loves coming home to imitate his friends at school. You should see his adorable Joey L. face. Yep, that's right, there's another Joey is his class. So, Joey truly thinks his name is Joey M dot. Recently Joey has fallen off a slide and knocked one of his front teeth causing it to turn grey. He also has been diagnosed farsighted and we are getting glasses next week. He loves his big boy bed and continually turns down sugary foods for strawberries, blueberries and green beans. We still need to get allergy tested-- in the last 3 months he has had an anaphlactic reaction where he eyes have swelled shut with over 100 hives within minutes of entering a place.

Big Joey is still catching up from switching jobs but is loving Morgan Stanley. He comes home every night pooped out saying "There isn't enough hours in the day." I honestly don't know how he does it.

For the first time in my life I can honestly say I need all the help I can get. I'm tired, overwhelmed and having a hard time doing daily activities-- I eat for energy. I'll keep praying for things to get easier and a healthy baby. Thank God I have a fantastic doctor. I think he feels so bad for me he is only making me come in every other week. Here's to trying to get a few more blogs in before I'm completely consumed with 3 adorable babes.