Keeping busy

Today was another day of trying to keep busy. Shawn will be home this weekend and I can't seem to make the days go by fast enough. This morning we went out to the flower shop, but first I wanted to take pictures of the boys in their matching coveralls. Of course, Caleb didn't want to have his picture taken with Riley. (I don't know if he thinks Riley is going to make him look fat or what...hahaha) So I decided to take just pictures of Riley.

Then Caleb got jealous and headed into the picture, but only with a look of disgust. You have to look at the boys' brow line....I don't think I ever noticed how similar their brow lines are....they look identical. However, I'm starting to think that's where the similarities end. Caleb favors me and my mom and I thought Riley favored Caleb when he was born, but I'm rethinking that. I swear everyday Riley looks more and more like his daddy. He has the same expressions and smile. I can't wait for Shawn to see him. He's going to be so amazed at how much he's grown in the 6 weeks that he's been gone.


After the flower shop, we went looking for a pool for our backyard. The biggest pool the Exchange sold was also the only pool the Exchange sold (makes deciding easy) So we bought it and brought it home and filled it up with water.


It may have been a cheap little pool, but Caleb had so much fun it. It was worth every penny of the $7.99 we paid for it.

I really need to teach him not to dive into shallow water.....

Helping with groceries

Caleb and I went to the commissary for a big shopping day. I had a trunk full of food and was trying to bring it all in before stuff started to melt (it was very hot). As I was bringing in bags, I met Caleb with his little play shopping cart pushing it out the door. I had to follow to see what his plan was....he brought out the shopping cart to help bring in groceries. He'd put a bag in the cart, push it in the house, and then go out for another....it was the cutest thing ever!!! And then once we got all the groceries in the house, Caleb started going through bags to see what he could put away. At one point, he carried a jumbo bag of diapers up the stairs to the baby's room. I never asked for his help, he decided on his own to help...

Busy Friday

Friday was a busy day for us. It was a good thing that we had lots of fun that day because we ended up sick all weekend with terrible colds.

John and Caleb had a blast running and jumping through the sprinkler in our backyard. The weather was BEAUTIFUL! Not too hot, but warm enough for the water fun.

Later that afternoon, our wonderful FGR (Family Readiness Group) ladies offered free babysitting from 5-9pm. I was so excited about getting dressed up and heading out for a night without the kids, except I couldn't leave Riley just yet, so just without Caleb. It's been 5 weeks without Shawn and 4 hours without Caleb was just what I needed.

This is my version of dressing up and trying to take pictures of myself. I thought I looked pretty Hot for just having a baby (6 weeks ago).

Jen and I went to this place called, Gyu Kaku, a Korean BBQ restaurant at More's City Mall. It's kinda like Melting Pot meets Japanese Steak House. There's an open charcoal grill in the middle of the table where you grill your choice of meats and vegetables marinated in tare, which is a soy sauce. It was sooooo yummy!!

This is More's City Mall. There are all kinds of restaurants and stores. This is also the location of one of our many train stations.

These are just some pictures of Yokosuka at night.

Learning to help

Caleb is learning to be the big brother. Finally, he's starting to interact with Riley. Here, he's trying to give Riley a bottle except that as soon as Riley gets attached, Caleb takes the bottle away.

Caleb now opens the car door to Riley's side so I can put Riley inside and always makes sure that I have my diaper bag with me.

Caleb shows Riley how to play with the toys on his floor gym and likes to read books to Riley. He also likes to help give Riley his sponge bath. When Caleb feels that I have held Riley long enough, he points to the swing and says, "mommy, baby here", just in case I've forgotten where the baby can sit....alone.

It's so different having two babies..more work, but twice the reward, more mommy guilt, but twice the joy.

Dreamland

Dreamland is a small version of an amusement park on top of an 8 story shopping mall. It's literally on the roof, in open air. There's a Thomas the Train bumper car and other bumper cars, a little red train that goes around on a track, several little carousels, lots of arcade style games, and several little cars to pretend drive (alot like a Chucky Cheese, but no food or rat).

It's crazy that it's on the roof top. I mean you literally look over the edge and see other roof tops and then beyond is the ocean.

USO Carnival

Reach Caleb reach!!!

At the top, Yeah!!!

On Sunday, we went to a USO carnival that was on base. There was this huge air slide that Caleb decided he needed to conquer. Of course he's too short to reach between the foot holds that lead up to the slide, so he recruited help from his good friend, Christine. When he got to the top he was so happy and excited. He worked very hard for that 3 second rush of adrenaline and when he landed at the bottom, his face told of his accomplishment.



There were also bounce houses at the carnival. Thankfully, Jen and her kids were there and helped out with Caleb, otherwise I'm not sure we would have been able to attend. Caleb had a great time and worked off some stored up energy. He came home and took a 2.5 hour nap!!! He hadn't taken a nap all week, so it was awesome to get that break again.

Birthday fun

We went to a birthday party on Friday night and there was a bounce house. Caleb and John and several other boys (and two girls) played ultimate fighter. Basically, they were kicking each other's butts and taking names. I gotta tell ya, the girls were kicking the most butts too.

Caleb was feeling a little less than the center of attention, so after the candles were blown out he yelled, "Tada!!!!" like he had done something awesome.

It didn't end there. Before the cake could be cut, Caleb went over and very silently started eating the icing right off the cake, not by using a fork or a spoon...no...he used his finger. The finger on the hand that had been playing outside in a dirty sandbox and in the bounce house all evening. YUM!!

And then once everyone noticed him devouring the cake, he got his picture taken again and again because everyone thought it was too cute. He had icing on his hands and big chunks hanging from his face. You'd of thought it was his party!!!

Working out

I've had my first workout session. The gym on base has this awesome room where there are a limited amount of workout machines, but they're placed in a soft play room so that your child can play while you run or bike or elliptic... I had to get off the treadmill several times to correct Caleb's behavior, but even my interupted time was time spent on ME!!! I got to do something for myself and it felt GREAT!!

Ouch!!!

We went over to Jen's house today so Caleb could play with John and so I could have some adult conversation. As we were leaving, Caleb went into her closet to get his jacket and when he closed the closet door...WHAM!!! He slammed his thumb in the door. Immediately, it swelled up and turned blue and started to bleed. He was convinced that his thumb was going to fall off and by the screams, I was almost convinced too.

I pulled out all the stops to try to get his mind off his throbbing finger. Juice helped temporarily, but it wasn't till he got a new toy that he started to feel better and that only lasted till bedtime when he realized that the throbbing thumb is the one he sucks on at night. Poor boy, he couldn't find any comfort...

Mother's Day

I had a great mother's day. I was kinda depressed last night that Shawn wasn't going to be here, but than I realized this morning that I have the most important gift that I could get...my boys. I took myself and the boys to lunch and went shopping and bought myself a really nice pair of sunglasses. I also bought myself a houseplant and a slice of cheesecake.

The person I was missing the most today was my mother (hi mom!). When my sister and I were little, my mom always took us to buy a toy on Mother's day. I remember one paticular mother's day that I got my first "Cabbage Patch Doll". It was such a mommy thing to do. So I took Caleb to pick out a toy today. He was so excited. He picked out a Thomas the Train movie (no surprise). I know that he won't remember this mother's day, but I will. And buying him that movie made me feel closer to my mom.

After our shopping adventure, we spent the rest of the afternoon playing on the floor, taking pictures, and video. It's the most wonderful experience being a mom. At times, it's the most difficult experience, but at the end of the day, being a mom is the best thing that I've ever done with my life.

To all the moms reading this, I hope that you have a Great Mother's Day. Have fun and enjoy the small things that make being a mom fun!! You are the most special person in your child's life and in my book that makes you special to me too.

Horton Hears a Who

We just got back from the movie theater where Caleb seen his first big screen movie, "Horton Hears a Who". What a great movie. If you haven't seen it put it in your calendar to do so. It was soooo funny!!!

Caleb did great. I was worried that he'd want to get up and walk around the theater, but he sat the whole time. The only mishaps were when he got his legs stuck in the back of the chair, where he also lost his shoes and the soda spill that went down his shirt and lap. Oh, and the popcorn he ate off the floor when the lights came back on at the end of the movie. (I'll never have to have that conversation with him about the starving kids, you know, the one your mother always told you when you wouldn't eat...)

The baby did awesome too. I kept him in the baby B'jorn (Thanks Ryann for the B'jorn. It's the best thing ever!!!!!!! I use it almost everyday.) and he slept the whole time. He stirred alittle when the sound got really loud, but he's use to loud sounds with Caleb always around.

After we got home from the movie, Caleb passed out on the couch. I was thinking that he was exhausted because it was way past his nap time, but it might be from the 32 ozs of sugar soda he drank or the small tub of popcorn that I refilled three times. Either way, I'm getting a quiet moment and I'm loving it!!!