I Survived

I know this blog is about the boys, but I need a little pat on the back...

Tom is out of town on a hunting trip and I'm here with Marshall. Grandy took Jake back to the lake with him and Gaga. One is SOOOO easy. What did we ever complain about? Anyway, we had fun playing after his "nap" that he never slept in because of the maid's vacuum cleaner (but I'd rather have a clean house) and I taught him how to shoot a gun with his hand and make the sound. I am very cool in his book...today.

Here he is with Jake's Buzz Lightyear laser gun on his arm...shhh, don't tell Jake!

On to dinner time... watching Marshall eat spaghetti with not one, but two, forks. He is serious about his spaghetti. After dinner, he was SO excited for the bath, as was I because that is Step 1 of Bedtime. So, I turn the water on as a naked baby is screaming "Bath! Bath! Bath!" and throwing all his toys in. No. Hot. Water. Called Tom and he told me to check the thermostat. That was normal. Then he offered to call some guy friends to come over and turn on the pilot light for me because it must have blown out in the high winds today. I was a little offended! I don't need help with that...don't you just turn the switch to "pilot"? "No" is the answer. After standing in the garage for what seemed like hours reading little instructions in man-code on the hot water heater, I finally got the friggin thing lit! Hooray. When it said to "turn the knob to ON at an arms length away" I had this vision of my face burning off and being on that "I Survived" show. But, I'm okay, obviously. Verdict is out on whether we have hot water yet. I have to run the bath for 30 min to drain the old water. Tom does A LOT, I mean, A LOT around the house, and now I appreciate this manly man that I have! But, it's good to know, when a pilot light needs lit, no sweat.

Marshall is 15 months old!

The Monkey turned 15 months old this past weekend! When we dropped him off at the ranch he was still 14 months old and when we picked him up he was 15 months old and a different baby! He now drinks from a cup with a straw and doesn't throw his milk and food down at every meal. I think Gaga had something to do with that! Here are some more Marshall stats at 15 months:

Weighs 28.5 lbs (as of dr. appt 2 weeks ago. I had to cancel his 15 month well-check bc I was in the ER)

Size 5 foot but wears 5 1/2 shoes

Wears a size 2T or 3T. He wore his first Polo shirt today and it was a hit! He's not really one of those short-all, jon- jon types...although I tried!

Sleeps with the lime green chenille pillow and his big monkey

Loves the pacifier

He's so fast and so strong!

Pulls up on couches, chairs and can get back down by himself.

He can crawl up the stairs and scoot down on his little bottom (so cute!)

He's a total daredevil

Drinks from a cup with a straw

Still loves pancakes, grilled cheese and vanilla ice-cream

Here are the words that he says (or at least "sounds" that I know what he's saying!)

Deer, moose, milk, juice, pancake, book, door, bath, truck, car, stairs, toys, paci, dog, NO!, cookie, monkey, ice, cheese, Uh Oh!, shoes, socks, clothes, babies, bird, moon, stars, tree, wow, turtle, ice-cream, Rrrr (for lions and bears!), leaves, moo (cow), Jake, Momma, Daddy, Grandy, Gaga (his favorite word), Gigi, Lili (Lindsay)

He is just such a joy and makes it impossible to get mad at him! I say "NO" and he gives me that smile and I melt! Sometimes he points his finger back to me and says "Nooooo" and I know that's technically "talking back", but how cute is that??!

Here he is today on Grandy's lap with his little polo on in Dr. Traxel's office. I took him because he's had 6 ear infections since he was 6 months old. Too much for me. But supposedly it's "normal" because an average 5 year old will experience 10 ear infections a year...50 ear infections? Really? Anyway, he wants to see how he does in the next few months then see.

Two pictures of Jake when he was 15 months old...they look more alike than I thought!

And here he is yesterday getting to jump on the trampoline all by himself since Jake wasn't home! Party time!!!

He came home with this today from Mother's Day Out. It's his first artwork with his picture on it! And he's in a flower! Precious.

The Sickies

A big, bad, mean bug has invaded the Woodside household! Jake was diagnosed with strep and 2 ear infections 2 weeks ago, Marshall was diagnosed with strep a day after that. I have been on antibiotics for a sinus infection since the last week of January and on Sunday I got a horrid stomach bug and was sent to the ER yesterday for IV fluids! I'm on the mend today, but Jake was just diagnosed with 2 ear infections AGAIN this afternoon!

Luckily, Grandy (my dad) came in town last night to help out with the boys and drive them to the lake today. But on their way to the lake (when still in Midland, thank goodness) Jake started screaming about his ear! So, Grandy took him to the doctor. This is NOT what he signed up for , but he's being a trooper and for sure helping out! I miss having my parents in Midland every day, but times like this I REALLY miss them. Thankfully, my dad is a road warrior and loves these little boys like sons, so he's our hero!

Some pictures of the first part of February to play catch-up, just randoms...

Marshall at the park

Jake playing in the snow for 4 seconds with 4 layers of clothes on

Jake and I went on a "special date" to see ??? in 3-D. I forgot. I'm a bad date.

Marshall experimenting with yogurt and pacifiers

Jake had to come with me to a hair appointment on a day that he was sick and not in school. As long as he has the iPad, anything is possible!

Cutie Patootie in the bath!

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This past weekend, Tom and I went to Dallas for a late Valentines weekend. We stayed at Hotel Zaza and went shopping, ate sushi, drank a lot of wine, oh and Tom DID get to do something manly, he went to Cabelas. Fun fun weekend! Gaga and Grandy took care of the boys at the ranch and sent some cute pictures...

The boys riding on their toys in the barn (they did this ALL DAY!)

Gaga and her boys (Marshall is glaring at the sun, doesn't look too pleased, but he's in Heaven!)