Upside Down and Inside Out

We have been watching a lot of Elf lately. There is a fantastic part in the movie where Whoomp There It Is! begins playing and Duncan goes nuts. I have been trying to catch it on video, but you are just going to have to take my word for now that it is hilarious.

Just like in the song, "upside down and inside out, I'm bout to show all you folks what it is all about" pretty much sums up my week. It started with a sore throat and visit to the immediate care center. The doctor informed me that I had a heart murmur and needed to get it checked out by my primary care doctor. I freaked a little, but the lack of freak from my primary care doctor left me feeling a little less anxious. Fast forward to Thursday, I tell everyone at work that I will be back in an hour and that I was just going to see my primary care doctor to have her check out my heart. Four hours later, I am on my way to pick up Duncan at school (Wip was on a lunch date with his Mimi). My doctor did hear something and told me that I needed to get to go to Jewish Hospital and get an echo immediately and she would call me later with an appointment time with a cardiologist. I started to slightly freak.

The technician doing the echo could not have been more helpful. An echo is basically an ultrasound for your heart. I secretly kept looking at the screen expecting to see a baby, it took me back. She kept telling me that what she was seeing was normal (but that if I told anyone that she said that she would deny it). I walked out of the echo feeling a little better, but still on edge. I received a muffled call from my doctor telling me that I had an appointment at 11am with Dr. Weiss on Friday. Walking into a cardiologist office at the age of 36 when everyone around you is at least 75 is a little daunting. After mounds of paperwork, an EKG, and lots of sitting, Dr. Weiss walks in and greets me with "what in the heck are you doing here, you are young!". That was the first sign I knew I was going to like this man. He made sure to tell me that he had studied my echo last night and this morning, he checked my heart thoroughly.  His conclusion was that I was tall, lean, female, and I had a click in my heart that was completely normal.  I wanted to kiss him. Not only because he said I was lean, but because he told me to get out of his office, that I was just fine and not even a follow up appointment was necessary. Shoooweeee!

I got home that afternoon and took the boys outside to play. Wip wanted to put his clothes on by himself (he removed them during rest time). He was so proud of himself for doing it on his own, but pretty much everything was "upside down and inside out". 

One leg up

He loves to be outside

Upside down fish on his shirt

Inside out shirt

Mixed up shoes

But he did it all by himself

Happy Birthday Beans!

We celebrated with a very special birthday boy today. I seriously think that he came into this world with a smile on his face and it has never gone away. The kid is always happy. We had so much fun eating snacks, playing with toys, and most importantly being with our friends. So, here is a toast to the Beans on his first birthday!

Invitations with a special touch

Munch, munch, munch

Birthday hugs

Mama's boy

Party favors!

So, I am thinking about...

1. If you have been around me at all in the past few weeks, you probably know that I am coo coo for the holiday season. Coo coo. I can't stop thinking about getting the tree up, wrapping the gifts, and just watching the boys enjoy the season. I am even going tomorrow to a "wreath decorating party" and I think I am going to try my hand at a coffee filter wreath. Wish me luck!

2.  We are OBSESSED with the show Homeland (thanks, Mo and Scotty). I can't stop thinking about the show and all of the crazy details. I don't know if we can do this no cable thing for much longer...

3. I also cannot stop thinking about gift guides on blogs and in magazines. How fun would that be to figure out what is hip and fun and then find cool, creative ways to display what you find?  There is something about an old school pencil...Greenwich Letter Press just might be on to something and would definitely my make 2012 Gift Guide (hmmmm, I see another blog post idea:).

4.  For some reason I can't stop thinking about sea salt and how everything looks and taste better when it has "made with sea salt" written on the label.  If it said "made with sodium" I would turn my head, but sea salt...mmmmmm. Case in point are the Trader Joe's Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Caramels. These puppies consume my thoughts for the better part of the day. Seriously. I also love how you can buy them on Amazon...for $14.99 when I can drive less than 5 miles to get them at Trader Joe's for under 10 bucks.

5. I am really trying to figure out the best use of my time online. It is tough. Facebook, Instagram, cute blogs for days...what is a girl to do?  I stumbled upon this website/blog/lifestyle site called Chalkboard Magazine. It seems to have many of my favorite bloggers, content, and "how to" stuff all in one place. I am thinking this might be my one stop shop...until I sign up for a Twitter account. 

6. Of course, I could not be that obnoxious mom blogger with out letting you know that I think about these monkeys all of the time. Thanks to Weasie Gaines for capturing such sweet moments of my little men...I will cherish these for many years to come!

18 Months

The graduation ceremony to 2% milk

We went to Duncan's 18 month check up last week. The appointment time was 1:30pm (not really thinking when I made that one). He was passed out as they were trying to weigh him and take his temperature. All is good and the nurse said that he is doing great. We came out of the appointment with these stats:

Weight: 28 lbs, 12 oz-75%
Height: 33.5 inches-75-90%
Head circumference: 20 inches-95% (gotta love the Mulloy genes:)

Ms. Blair also mentioned in the nicest way that we could make the switch from whole milk to 2% milk.  I grew up drinking 2%, but for some reason this was like telling me that my kids were grown. It was almost as if she said "you will be packing up Duncan's stuff next week to move him into the dorm".  I know, I know, slow down, it is only milk. But still. If someone figures out how to freeze time, I sure hope they fill me in on the secret.

Inspecting dinner

Trying it out

Seems ok

CHEEEEEESE!

Devil with the Blue Dress On

During rest time yesterday, Wip was being extremely quiet. This usually means that I have left my iPad in his reach and he is zoned out to Winnie the Pooh. Not today. When I walked into his room I came upon him trying to put my Tibi dress on with such determination. I could not help but giggle and help him get the dress on. Just like the song, he was my Devil with the Blue Dress On.

This is how I found him

With a little help he was ready to go

Just a dancing fool

In other "dress" news, I got back the outfit for Hunter and it could not have turned out better.  I love it and he will look adorable.  I took Sarah (who is ridiculously reasonable, and extremely good) a sample of what I was thinking with one of Patrick's old outfits.  As you can see, she did a fantastic job...now I just can't wait to see him in it:)

Could Not Imagine

Thanksgiving morning I was getting ready and listening to the boys play in Wip's room. Patrick came to the bottom of the stairs and delivered some terrible news. A friend's brother had died in a car accident. I was stunned, shocked, and sad. While I did not know this young man, I knew that he was part of a wonderful family and loved very much. I knew that he was a brother and son to some pretty fantastic folks, and I knew that I could not imagine what they were feeling.

I can't stop thinking about this young man's mother. I can't stop thinking about how she raised two wonderful young men and how you should not outlive your children. I can't stop thinking about how she wiped his boo boo's when he was little, just as I had done with Duncan that morning. How she tried to teach him the difference between toddler grammar and regular grammar when he was a little boy just like I was trying to teach Wip the difference between saying "mommy, what you said?" to "mommy, what did you say?". How she watched her boys on the playground and that moment when she did not have to hover over to keep them safe and she could just let them play, just like I have recently done with the boys. Finally, I could not stop thinking about how she raised two boys. Two boys that were so different, yet had an incredible bond just like Wip and Duncan. Two boys that I hope my boys will grow up to be like, loving, caring, and fun. Brothers forever.

So this Thanksgiving season I am just going to take a few more minutes to hug those that I love and know that I am blessed beyond belief to have such wonderful family and friends that surround me. I will not take it for granted. Never ever.

These moments

Thanks to my complete obsession (I hope that does not sound too creepy) with the blog Whoorl, I went out last night and bought some new make up to freshen up my look. I was excited to wake up this morning and try out my new products when I realized I had to get three boys out the door and pick up a young girl on the way to school (picture the Home Alone face at this very moment). I failed miserably.

Patrick is at the Senior Retreat and I have a new found respect (love) for him. He manages to get Wip and Duncan fed, dressed, teeth brushed, and beds made while also making David's breakfast and getting out the door to drop the boys off at school and get to work/school before the bell rings. I was lucky that the boys had socks on I was such a frazzled mess. We were also 10 minutes late. Oh joy! The mornings are meant to be "me" time and there was nothing more that made me appreciate that "me" time than this morning.

I went down to the cafeteria for my third cup of tea when I was met with one of the most kind and special co-workers I have ever met. She lost her husband last year to a brain tumor and has two of the most amazing kids (one is in college, one is a senior this year). As I am busy feeling sorry for myself for being late and frazzled, she is spending the first Thanksgiving without her rock. We talk about her daughter, and the experience we both hope she is having at the Senior Retreat, and then get into the craziness of families, fun, and how special it is for cousins to bond. She looked at me and without blinking said "cherish this time". Whatever you do, she said, cherish the moments of almost forgetting the sock or thinking about everyone running around trying to get everything done. You will look back and think "ahhh, that was the best!". I walked away with my hot tea and tears in my eyes thinking...that is just what I will do, I will cherish these moments, forever.

One of these moments includes capturing the boys playing "meeting". Wip dragged the chairs and ottoman all by himself in the set up below and when I asked him what he was doing he informed me that they were having a meeting.  When I asked what it was about, his reply was simply "juice".

I love how Duncan is in the bigger chair

Post Election Update

Blocks that Uncle Nick and Uncle Mike gave Wip came in handy over the past few weeks.

So we all know the results of the election by now (if anyone knows me, my husband, or my family we were very happy with the way it turned out...there, I said it). Wip also had an election in his classroom in which the students voted if they like elephants or donkeys. Elephants won by a landslide. Wip told me he voted for the elephant and I was ok with that (he developed a love for elephants before he was two years old, his Granddaddy bought him an elephant at the Greenbrier toy shop that he named Po Po). 

We finally got to have that family dinner I had talked about in an earlier post. It happened to be election night. I made a spaghetti squash carbonara and tried to fool the boys into thinking it was just plain ol' spaghetti (Duncan took the bait, Wip did not). Our conversation, of course, was all about the presidential election. I asked Wip who he would vote for and without missing a beat he said "Mitt Romney!". I thought his father was going to choke. Good thing it is a free country. 

Speaking of country, in the spirit of the election I wanted to also share how much Wip has come around with his Pledge of Allegiance skills. My favorite part about him reciting it (which he does often) is that it always ends with "sit down". Obviously his class has specific instructions after they give their oath of loyalty to the United States.

Homecoming

This post is a wee bit late. The homecoming dance was over a month ago on October 13, 2012.

I was so proud of David. He was only in the country a month, but he had the guts to ask one of the prettiest girls to the homecoming dance.

I remember going to pick up the corsage that afternoon at Colonial Design. The place was hoppin' with young men and mothers doing the exact same thing that I was doing (it was also Trinity Homecoming the same night). I watched as the young men sheepishly opened the corsage boxes to make sure it was the correct order as mothers chatted about where their sons were going to dinner and who they were taking. I got a little rush when I opened the box and knew it was going to be perfect. I also took a gulp thinking about the fact that it won't be long before Wip and Duncan will be in this exact same boat!

Here are some snapshots from the night. Fun was had by all!

Trying to get all of the boys together

This was the best I could do

Steppin' out 

David's date

So cute!

Group shot!

Happy 1st Birthday Hunter!

My sweet nephew Hunter Elwood turns one today!  I sure do love this kid.

I could not decide which picture I wanted to post because he is such a photogenic young thang. 

I picked the above picture because it captures so much of who he is...a snuggly, angelic, beautiful baby with the bluest eyes and sweetest face.

I remember meeting him for the first time and just holding him while he smiled at me. He brings a smile to my face when I think about him and it brings me so much happiness to wish him a very, very happy birthday!  

Kickboxing

Sorry Patrick!

It was a cold day. Duncan was sleeping and Wip was having his "quiet time" in his room.

I was organizing the boys toys and purging things that they never play with to make room for the holiday fun.

I remembered that Wip had left some of his play food in the shed and I was trying to remember what he had.

Walking out to the shed in the back yard I could feel the wind whirling around me.

I found the stock of play veggies I was looking for and as I was picking them up inside the shed, the wind took a hold of the shed door and slammed it shut. I was locked in.

I took a breath. After pushing at the door with no luck, I went into panic. What if I can't get out of here? What if I am stuck and it is 2:30pm on a blustery cold afternoon when nobody is going to be out? Holy crap.

I tried to remain calm but the panic took over. I could not stop thinking about those two little guys in my house. What if they needed me and I could not get to them?

I started kickboxing with the door. I mean kicking it really, really hard. You have heard the stories about the moms that have lifted cars to save their babies, I was in a mama mode to get out of that shed. It did not take long before I had successfully ripped apart the entire door frame, but I made it out of there. Wip was still playing in his room and Duncan was still sleeping....ahhhhhhh, that was a close one.

Gotta keep these doodlebugs safe and sound

Progress

I don't have perfect kids. I don't want perfect kids. I want two boys that are well rounded, grow up to love what they do while respecting the people and community that surrounds them (is that too much to ask?).

It is progress report time, and I am really digging the word "progress" report instead of "report card". Progress is something you grow into, it says I am not perfect, I am working on things.

I politely declined the conference with Duncan's teacher (I mean really, he is 17 months old). Wip's conference went really well and while she told me that he was a sweet and smart, she also told me some things that we can work on (which I appreciate).

The first was his fine motor skills (using scissors, coloring, etc.).  I must admit, I am not very creative when it comes to things like this...I would much prefer to mess up the kitchen and get a cookie out of the deal rather than watch him color or cut.

The next thing was to work on his "picking up after himself". I completely understand this. I am terrible about having him pick up after himself.  The only time I am a true stickler is in the bathtub and that is only because while he is picking up his bath toys I can get his brother ready for bed so it is a win/win. Ms. Jan told me that she can always tell when Wip has been in the classroom because there are a trail of animals where ever he goes.

So here you have it. Progress reports for each of the boys. I could not be happier.

One of a Kind

Duncan is one of a kind.

Taking care of his big brother during a little snooze

According to his mother he is sweet, ridiculously adorable, and the best addition to our family that I could ever ask for. According to his teacher he is also "social".  When I told her that he would not be in school on Friday she said that they will be thinking of him and if the bunnies could vote, Duncan would most definitely win "Most Social".

For those that don't know, Duncan had some minor surgery today. I kept telling myself that he will be fine, he will be fine, he will be fine. It is routine. It is nothing. He will be fine. But my heart kept sinking because I knew my sweet baby boy would be in pain. I wish I could have been on the operating table and he could have the results, but a) that does not even make any sense and b) I don't have the parts to even make it possible even if it did make sense.

When we got to the hospital, I was informed that what I thought was going to be a ten minute surgery was actually going to be at least an hour an a half (so much for me thinking it would be just like when Wip got tubes in his ears!).  My heart started sinking again thinking that he was going to be under for that long, but Patrick put me back on track letting me know that everything was going to be alright (I guess that Bob Marley documentary he was watching came in handy:).

Duncan is just easy to be around. He has a personality that makes you want to just hang out with him all day to see what he is going to say or do next. Giving him "silly juice" made it even funnier to be around him. When I asked him to give me a high five it took literally 45 seconds for him to get his hand to my hand and you could see his thought process going "whaaaaaaa it going on here, why is my hand moving soooooo slow?". Dr. DeJusta performed the operation and he was great. He was probably my age which always makes me feel a little under accomplished, but hey what are you going to do:) The surgery did in fact take a little over one and a half hours, but everything went well.

After getting his sea legs back (he had the child version of an epidural) you would seriously never know that kid had surgery just hours before. He is doing awesome. Of course, I just keep giving him cookies. He is so cute and drugged up that his "peeeeases" and "ank oooos" make me just want to give him ANYTHING he wants.

Eating his sock this morning after the no food after midnight rule

 Does not understand why he can't have milk

Splendid Lounge wear does the body good while waiting

Silly juice, daddy, skip it, pretend phone...happy boy

I love Duncan Lewis Mulloy with all of my heart. I have no idea what I did to deserve such a sweet, funny, personable little boy, but someone did a pretty darn good job of matching us up because I could not imagine my life without him. I am also pretty darn glad that this chapter is almost over and he can go back to just being Mr. Social.

Tigger

After picking the boys up from school I had to drop off a gift to be personalized for my nephews upcoming birthday. When dropping off the gift, I did not expect to know this person, but it turns out that we went to college together. I left the boys in the car, but the errand ran a little longer than I had anticipated.

When I got back into the car and looked at Wip, he had taken a ball point pen and marked up not only his face, but also his pants, hands, and even his brother's hand who was passed out in his carseat.

I flipped. We have repeatedly talked about how you only use pen on paper and not on walls, furniture, or your body. As I went over what we have talked about what seems like a million times he looked at me strait faced with not an ounce of remorse and said "but mommy, how else am I supposed to jump like Tigger if I don't have stripes".