Need I say more than I love my boys!

Naptime!

So after a fun morning at Great-Grandma Snow's house, the kids are FINALLY taking their naps. When you are traveling, you let your kids nap wherever they will nap as long as they nap:

Andrew's nap choice: the couch. Nothing better than a swaddleme wrap to get this baby to go to sleep:) He loves, loves, loves to be swaddled!

Aiden's nap choice: the hardwood floor of his room. I was just going to let him out after giving him some minutes to "rest (nap or quiet play)" and I was pleasantly surprised to find him sleeping, just not in his bed!

Quick, I am off to take a short nap too!!!

Just a few smiles to brighten your day!

Let's hope that I will have these big smiles after my follow-up doctor's appointment today about my ankle. I'm hoping that they say: 1. No surgery for sure! 2. No crutches anymore. 3. This boot will come off soon!!!!!! Can you tell I am getting a little anxious to get back to normal?

We have enjoyed a great week so far and it's only Wednesday: 1. a visit from Grandpa which included a trip to the REI store, out to lunch (where Aiden dumped his entire taco before he even got ONE bite!), and lots of playtime in the 75 degree weather 2. a morning spent with my Grandma Snow 3. and a shopping trip the Carter's outlet and some ChickFilA dinner with my mom! I wonder what fun plans we will have for the rest of the week...

Missing Chris!

It's been a long month without Chris around...can't wait until next week:):):)

The Many Faces of a Two Year Old!

On my last post, I commented that I LOVE my days with the boys. This is SO true, but I do have to state that staying at home everyday with the two of them is no cake walk! We have spent several days in pajamas until the afternoon, watched more Mickey Mouse or Elmo than I would like to admit, and made promises for a special treat in order to survive errand runs! Motherhood is one HARD job. Juggling the needs AND wants of Aiden and Andrew is exhausting, frustrating, and comical, and rewarding all at the same time:) As a mom, like many, I constantly struggle with my decisions and actions. Life with a 2 year old really makes you question your ability as a mom because they are starting to test limits and this makes for some very INTERESTING days! Some of the questions that I have thought about just today are: How can I make bedtime go smoother? How can I get my baby to take a bottle? What's with the nighttime cough? Does time-out really work? How can I get my toddler to play independently? Should I buy a better carrier for the baby? These questions may or may not be answered, but the most important thing that I try to remember is to just LOVE my two boys.

We have been at home all week, due to the broken ankle:) There's no way I can venture out with a newborn in his car seat carrier, a non-predictable 2 year old, and a set of crutches! So I have been keeping them at home during the day and save our adventures out when "MeMe" comes home.

Here are some shots from the week:

Taking Frosty for a walk in the stroller

Just hanging with Mommy

Say "Cheese"

My sweet little boy, Andrew

Just cleaning up the "dirty" house! He keeps saying that the rug is dirty so he needs to vacumn.

Chilling on the playmat

Now, do you really think we have a potential linebacker here? (Given that Aiden is not even on the height and weight charts!)

SMILES-This little one is FULL of smiles when he is awake!!!

I love my days!

Heading outdoors...

We are LOVING this weather down South:):):) On Friday, my dad and I took the kids over to a park here in Cary, North Carolina. It was SO wonderful to get out in the sunshine and fresh air after being stuck inside for the past three months! Aiden had so much fun running around to the different areas of the playground and Andrew enjoyed some outdoor air while being in the Baby Bjorn. Thanks to my dad for getting these wonderful pictures!

I have to say that I can rarely complain about the difficulties of raising two little ones as life has given me a bigger challenge with a big boot on the leg and having to use crutches!!! It has definitely been interesting, and sometimes quite comical, learning how to manage Aiden and Andrew right now. Even fixing lunch and getting it to the table takes a lot of effort, but I am figuring it out day by day with some humor and patience. This week will be a big challenge as my dad headed back to Blowing Rock and my mom is working, which means that during the day I will be on my own with the two kids! (Again, my parents have been AWESOME and EXHAUSTED as they have helped manage these two kiddos!)

I am looking forward to some awesome weather this week to help keep my sanity this week. It's supposed to be in the 60's all week and 75 degrees by Friday:):) You know I will be taking Aiden out in the backyard to run around EVERY morning!!!!!

PS: Happy Valentine's Day from the Rogers Family!

A "Break" from New Jersey!

With Chris finishing busy season and continuing his VERY long hours (often 12-15 hrs per day), I decided to head to North Carolina to spend time with my parents and other extended family:) Our timing worked out well as my mom was up in the Bronx helping my sister, Jen, take care of her two wee ones while her husband, Paul, was out of town for the weekend and offered to help make the long drive with Aiden and Andrew.

We picked my mom up Sunday night and were planning to start our long drive south early Monday morning. Many bags were packed, stroller was by the door, and coats were laid out all ready to go! As I took the first load to the car and was running back to the house to pick up another load, I slipped HARD on some black ice and fell into a snowbank. (I'm sure the neighbors got a nice laugh from the major slip that I took!) After laying there for a couple minutes in some crazy pain, I picked myself up and hopped to the front door where Chris and my mom realized that I was in a bit of pain. As I laid on the couch with some ice, Chris loaded the car up as my mom got the kids ready to go. Thinking it was just a little pain, I loaded in the car with my ice pack and on we went...

Fast forward to thirteen hours later, my mom and I had survived a road trip with our itty bitty baby and a two year old (No easy feat if you have attempted it. If you haven't tried it, I wouldn't suggest it unless you feel like you must!). Thanks to our new DVD player and the movie Madagascar ,Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, MANY pacifiers, McDonald's sweet tea, and a mocha latte for Grandma, we were lucky to have two great travelers! We finally arrived to Cary, NC and I realized that my ankle was in a lot more pain than I thought. This is a moment where I have to give my mom a HUGE thank you as she unloaded the entire car, picked us up a Chick-Fil-A dinner, helped get the rooms ready for bedtime and the kids into bed at 10:30 at night when I felt like I could barely walk, even when she had to leave for work at 6:40 the next morning.

Since my mom had to head back to her junior high science classroom in the morning, my dad decided to come and help me get to the doctor and manage the kids. We spent Tuesday morning at two different doctors and entertaining the kids (not an easy feat...let's just say that Grandpa took many elevator rides with Aiden to keep him busy)! After getting x-rays, they scheduled me to see an orthopedist the next day. We spent the rest of the day laying low and enjoying time with Grandma and Grandpa. I headed to the orthopedist on Wednesday afternoon to find out that I have a broken fibula-YIKES! So now I am sporting a fashionable black boot and crutches for the next couple months.

We are stuck down here for a few weeks as the doctor wants to do the follow-up checkup with him before sending me back to New Jersey. He didn't think that any bones had shifted and will not have to operate, but will do another examination at the 2 week appointment to make sure.

I can't believe that I have actually broke my ankle:) Daily, I talk about how much I hate winter (Yes, I know I lived in Iowa for many years, but I really do HATE winter) and I guess it was just paying me back for all of my trash talk about the piles of snow, terrible ice, and nasty cold. I hate to say it, but this spill just made even more ready for spring. Second, back in high school, one of my awesome friends Olivia wore a black boot from a stress fracture! I used to tease her all the time about her BIG, GIANT boot...so I guess it's her turn to sit back and laugh!! When my mom was wearing a boot (also for a broken ankle), I couldn't understand why she couldn't walk any faster. Now I know...

Although it is a bit frustrating trying to take care of two kids while on crutches and wearing a boot 24/7, I couldn't ask for better circumstances. My parents have been great help managing the kids, helping me get the boys up/down the stairs, out of the swing, to the table, etc. They are also great playmates for the little ones so I don't injure my ankle more by chasing them around all over:) Since Chris has a couple more weeks of busy season and can't take any time off until February is over, I am not sure how I would manage up in New Jersey with no family, few friends, and two kids. I can't even get to the store by myself right now! Third, the weather here is awesome...supposed to be in the 60s all next week, so I can get Aiden outside daily. And in the end, it is reminding me to slow down and enjoy the days with these precious boys:

Housebound (AGAIN!)...Two Month Video and Hello from Aiden!

I am beginning to sound like a broken record with all the days that we have been housebound, but we are yet again stuck inside for a couple days due to this nasty horrible winter weather! (Can you tell that I am ready for spring?)

First, I have completed Andrew's 2 month video:

I can't believe HOW FAST time flies, especially with the second baby! He is over 2 months old-where did the past couple months go? Andrew must know that he is a second child with a very active, energetic older brother. He is a sweet and happy love bug. He is very generous with his smiles and I think there is some possible dimples there, just like his older brother!

Andrew continues to LOVE his swing (or maybe I love it so much because it is so easy to put him in there to nap while Aiden is running around like a maniac). He also loves to sit in his bouncer, play on his mat, watch his mobile, and just hanging out. You can put him anywhere and he is content, which is good because he is usually carried around to wherever Aiden is playing! His favorite place continues to be in Mommy and Daddy's arms, although he is starting to like being head facing outwards to see what is going on versus nestled like a newborn.

One thing he does not like is his bath. Let's hope that he starts to find a love for it soon, because his mommy can't take those piercing screams much longer! He gets the quickest baths that a baby can take, just so I can get him snugly dressed and cuddle with him.

Andrew has finally found another pacifier he will take besides the big, green Soothie. After many options, he took a liking to the Avent pacifiers. Although I don't think he has the strong attachment like his big brother has still!!! Andrew continues to feed and sleep well for a 2 month old, although I am looking forward to some longer stretches at night hopefully within the next several months!

Andrew is often amidst Aiden's playtime. He hears many verses of Wheels on the Bus, listens to Go Dog Go! several times a day, and has a play cell phone by his ear-all thanks to Aiden! When I find quiet free time with just Andrew, he enjoys being read stories to, tolerates his tummy time, and being in the baby carrier!

This month, we have been at home a lot due to the weekly bouts of horrible weather. He enjoyed meeting his new cousin, Tal, and it will be so much fun to watch these two boys grow up so close in age!

And we couldn't escape this post without a picture of Aiden:

Our little boy has definitely hit the "twos"! Everything he does is with so much intensity!!!! It makes for some very interesting, exhausting, and crazy days:)