Keeping up with the boys (and me, too, eventually)

I feel like I can finally breathe! I have mastered the skill of aligning naptimes! This means that I can usually get both boys down for a nap at the same time, for at least an hour!

The secret is simple: when the kids get on my nerves, pack them up and head out.

Where do I go? If the library's open, we go there! If there's a park nearby that we haven't been to, maybe we'll check it out! If the idea of dealing with kids outside strikes fear into my heart that particular day, then we'll go shopping! Even if there's only one item on the shopping list, the boys love riding together, and DanPar usually gets whatever piece of fruit tickles his fancy that day.

Our new park has a little rock wall! DanPar looks like such a badass.

If Crash boy's asleep but I'm still sick of being cooped up, going "out" sometimes just means the front yard.

Seconds before, DanPar had shared his applesauce with the reluctant eater, Crash Boy!

The park near our old place! (It's got THREE gyms in Pokemon Go. Never should have left...)

Just hanging out by the entrance of King Soopers, being sweet boys.

Choo-choo!

Teeting and totting with Mama!

If we're at the library on a day when I didn't sign us up for storytime, DanPar takes advantage of having all the trains to himself!

Those are my boys.

Most days, I will spend my borrowed time trying to take a nap, but lately, I've had crazy dreams that wake me up after ten minutes. And then, all of a sudden... I have time again!

It's not quite as delightful as truly being alone, because every moment I'm doing my own thing, if I hear one squeak from upstairs, I'll be running up, to make sure one doesn't wake up the other. But it's still a feeling I haven't had since Baby Crash was truly, truly a baby, sleeping most of the day.

I've got a resolution to finish a book this year, however bad a first draft it is, and I'm proud to say that I've been cranking it out pretty well since I got this free(ish) time! I'm keenly aware of the phenomenon where bragging about a project you're working on makes it less likely to get done, though, so that's all I'll say. (Unless you ask, and then I'll really get into it!)

All in all, I'm doing well, and the boys are doing excellent! They're starting to really get along, despite DanPar's reaction to Crash Boy playing with his toys. DanPar likes to get out, and hey, those balloons at the Dollar Tree? The sheer delight of having a balloon is worth much more than a buck. Just some honest advice there.

More and more, Daniel's been growing up. Really talking, really coming up with original things to say, even though he's borrowed some of my own favorite phrases: "It sure is!" and "Wuh oh!" and "Yeeup." It's strange to see him growing up, being molded into a little human being, with his own personality. I couldn't be prouder of him.

DanPar likes hugs! Crash Boy isn't sure what to make of them.

Reading a book to Baby Crash on the couch. His idea. My goodness.

Liking things

It's great to like things. When you like things, you can join up with others who like it, you can celebrate when things go well, and work to make things better. Paint your face, start a club, find websites all about the things you like!

And you can dislike things. That's also fine. But I've learned is that you shouldn't celebrate disliking things.

Justin Bieber is, to put it lightly, not everyone's cup of tea. But when I think about the people who don't like him, it isn't in the same way that some people don't like, say, banana flavor. People truly try to enjoy disliking him, mocking people who do like him, and try to make disliking him the "correct" stance.

To me, liking something means that you can get joy out of it, and that means you're investing a piece of your heart in its success. The thing you like does well, you feel good, and if it does badly, you feel that, too.

Disliking something in order to get pleasure out of it, however, is ephemeral, and bad. The only fleeting happiness is the cruel voice in your head that says that you must be better than the people who do like it.

Which is a shame.

Yup, that's all I've got to say! Here's pictures of my kids from today!

Tea party!

DanPar was upset Crash couldn't scoot up closer to the table, so he made a compromise.

Daniel likes the hose nozzle! I got SOAKED.

My boys like each other, and that's neat.

DanPar practicing his epic choking moves on his still-wet dad!

Kick-ass Friday

We went to the park, Crash Boy slept through the library's storytime, I picked up Jessi after work, we survived a massive downpour in an otherwise beautiful and sunny day, Grandma Anna assigned us chores to do around the house, and we had barbecue with Doctor Bin-Bint!
It was amazing, and I'm glad I took pictures for the whole thing!

Being sick, miserable, and surrounded by love

Well, it looks like we're finally near the end of our two-week disease extravaganza! Yet somehow, the person who got out of it the cleanest was Crash Boy. You know, the infant who puts everything in his mouth? Coughed for a few days, threw up once. That's it.


It started with the stomach, then made a smooth transition into a bad cold, then I'm sure if we hadn't all dutifully gotten our flu shots, that's what'd be striking us next.

And yet, even though I know it was horrible, all I'm left with are good memories. It's the worst reason to miss work, but it was nice for Jessi to stay home. I was overwhelmed and spent a day at Mom's house, and yet I had a great nap, and got to read a book while watching my boys have the time of their life with the grandparents.

I know that it hurt to swallow, and I know we did laundry in the middle of the night. I know we dealt with cleaning the carpet and making it smell somehow both like vomit and Febreze Spring Freshness or whatever. But I remember those things the same way I remember a telephone number. They don't make me feel anything. But looking back, what I remember is laughing with Jessi about how amazing ramen noodles were, a dish we hadn't eaten in years, and how proud I was of Daniel being brave even though he felt awful.

I smile thinking about our special way of showing we need help: laying on the couch with socks and a blanket, and complaining, "I have malai-h-h-haise..."

And I look through the pictures I took, and doggone it, even though I tried not to do anything, even though I could've sworn I'd decided to give up on parenting and let DanPar watch YouTube while I play videogames, it looks like we actually, you know, DID things!

Arm wrestling the Crash Boy!

Daniel helps stock up on fruit to weather being sick!

A stop by the park to enjoy freshly sliced watermelon!

That old pile of sand in our backyard has been such a blessing!

A quick drive around the block knocked them out cold.

What's the harm in letting a sick, sleepy DanPar drive?

Noooooo!!!

Really starting to enjoy the hose for all it's worth!

He fell asleep like this, the sweetie.

Good morning, Baby Crash!

Our little quarantined family enjoying some noodles!

Under the watchful eyes of his Grandpa!

Taking the wagon to the park!

Collecting pine cones!

Heading down the slide!

Still sick, but still happy!

Playing in the ball pit!

He's such an imp!!!

Taking his little brother for a stroll!

Turns out he's a little too big...

Sunday morning out!

Enjoying a tasty foot! Yum yum!

All clean! No longer stinky, but still a stinker!

Love? Jealousy? Discipline?

It's surprising how little it takes to take care of a newborn. Physically, it takes breastmilk or formula, clothes, and diapers. Mentally, it takes a heap of grit. Two heaps, really. Newborns are a multiple choice test, of finding out why they're crying, and forcing yourself to do the right thing.

Click to enlarge!

Then comes the toddler, and now we're dealing with a new set of questions. How do I teach him what is right and wrong? How do I teach him the appropriate people to say "I love you" to? It's a whole new level of thinking. You realize you're at the point where you can really mess your kid up.

Click this one to enlarge, too!

It's hard to navigate Daniel's nascent feelings, because sometimes I can't tell if he's jealous of Crash getting attention, or just always wants whatever Crash is playing with. One thing's for sure, though. When they get along, they get along famously. They make each other laugh, and when they're in the same room, Crash always looks at DanPar to do something silly and entertaining, and DanPar never fails.

They are good brothers. I can only hope they continue being such sweethearts when they're both old enough to play rough with one another!

Crash Boy looks like he's getting really tired of putting up with DanPar.

Tea party with Crash Boy, DanPar, and a dragon!

DanPar is really excited to get Baby Crash!

DanPar has only a few toys that he's okay with sharing all the time.

Helping his little brother stack and topple cups!

One of the best pictures ever.

Energy efficient Dadmaster

I got all my big chores done before 11:00 am today!

But don't let that fool you. It is not because I have big plans for the afternoon, or because I had a burst of energy this morning.
In fact, it's the opposite of both of those. I knew from the moment I woke up that today would be a day where by the end of it, I'd be dragging myself to do anything. So my big plans for the afternoon? Be on couch. Read a book. Keep children alive. And it wasn't so much a burst of energy as it was a normal amount of energy that would dwindle away throughout the day.
But it's something that's really helped me out overall. I can honestly say that I have been very bad at spending energy until I had two kids. You see, it goes beyond just day-to-day. I made a huge pot of soup yesterday, because I knew I wouldn't have the energy to make each meal as it came.
So while my energy was up, I went out, went shopping, played with my boys, enticed DanPar to come down and join me while doing laundry (we keep our pretzels down there!), and did the dishes while they weren't looking.
And it's been a good day. And it will continue to be a good day, even if I would rather be horizontal for most of the afternoon, because I can breathe easy. I did my duty.

ALL these pictures are from this great morning!

If Crash and I are being boring, DanPar will sneak away to wash his hands!

Breakfast!

Coooooooookies!

I caught this boy reading all on his own, pointing out the goose and horseys!

He ran up to me, handed my my toothbrush, saying, "Dad's toothbrush!"

Doing the run run!

The view from the couch is a cozy one!

Happy chunk!

A meeting of the minds.

This is what I deal with every day. Serious business, you guys.

I love how he gazes outside!

Daniel hopped into Crash's bumbo chair to play with choo-choo trucks!

DanPar leaned back, Crash smiled and gladly behaved as the back of an easy chair.

Sleep tight, little guy. You can't stop the Crash Boy!