Swimming with two is comical

A lot of our friends out here have pools in our back yard. We have a complex in our neighborhood that had three but not one immediately out back. Today we went to one of our friends houses up in Summerlin for a play date and some time in the pool. There is no more relaxing by the pool and hanging out anymore. As a mom of two young ones, I am in the pool the whole time and ready for action.

Devin now swims with just water wings or a lil floated he wears just to keep him afloat enough to keep his mouth out of the water. I would like to have him swimming without any aid by the end of the summer, but for now peace of mind with the swimmies is awesome. He is confident enough to jump off the stairs or edge depending on what pool we are in and then to swim around the pool alone.  He can blow bubbles and isn't afraid of getting his face wet. Now I love a kid with confidence and is not a big wussy. This world does not need anymore wussy kids! I for one will not allow it. One may think I am hard core, but kids need to know their abilities and limits.

He and his buddy were playing nicely swimming around and dropping diving sticks down just to watch them sink. They were shooting everything with water launchers too. Super good time for a 2/3 year old. The boys ate lunch and then returned to the pool for swimming time. Devin did not want to wear his water wings since he was playing on the extended stairs. I was fine with that since I was standing on the stairs too along with the other mommy. He then decided that he wanted to go under water and get the diving sticks. In the second or two he was swimming alone in the pool where he couldn't touch he actually was treading water enough to keep his eyes out of the water and had his mouth shut the whole time. After I grabbed him he wanted to swim without swimmies and of course I let him while I was in the pool. He would kick kick kick and hang in there. He knows if Mommy is not in the pool that would not be ok. I now am sure he will be able to swim alone by the end of summer. He is a smart kid and lacks any fear. I guess I am doing well so far.

Now where was Riley this whole time you wonder? Well, she started in the little boat floatie. She now hates that since she can walk so she tries to get out of it sideways by tipping over. She doesn't mind getting her face wet either since she is used to it by me pouring water over her head in the bath and dunking her under in the pool. So once she starts to try to jump ship, I have to take her out and either hold her or let her play on the stairs or right outside of the pool. She does well with playing alone but does not have the whole concept of edges under water. She has no fear and will walk off the side of the pool to me if I am standing in the pool. She knows the edge is there since she loves to sit on the edge and kick her feet in the water....but when it comes to being timid....Riley is definitely not that.

Now do I let them swim alone or do anything that may harm them? No, I am right near by them at all times. I do however think it is VERY important that they do things on their own and learn from them. Devin and Riley are both independent and I love it.  They were raised to be that way instead of the kid that hangs on me or wants to be held at all times. Swimming is another great way they can play and explore their own abilities with confidence. Las Vegas is definitely a place for some swimming especially a day like today that was 105* out!

Heaven is laying by the edge of the pool all day with a beer in hand catching some rays with my SPF 30+ on while listening to some tunes....now that the record scratched and snaps me back into reality I am in the pool at all times with a 15 mo old and just 3 year old both splashing and yelling at the same time. Wow have things changed in a few short years.

First trip away from the kids-Hello Pebble Beach

Frank and I were lucky to get to get away from the two children for two days. I was lucky to have requested Friday and Saturday tickets to the US Open at Pebble Beach and received tickets for both days. We originally planned to bring the children with us. We took Devin to Torrey Pines for the Open in 2008 and it was not bad. My mom was planning on coming out in July for a visit and she changed her plans to come in June instead so we could go alone. That was awesome.

 Frank travels a lot with work so he has been away from both kids before, but I have never been away from either one for more than a few hours. This is not by choice, simply because we have no family within 2500 miles from our house to watch them for us. I was not nervous, scared or sad....I was excited! We flew out Thursday (our anniversary) to San Jose and hit up Rock Bottom Brewery with an old friend from college and her husband. Liz and JR live in Sunnyvale which is just around the corner from where we were staying. Up early Friday and Saturday for some golf and back to Vegas Saturday night. Being able to go on our schedule, not one of the kids was so great. We ate out without being interrupted and took our time at the course. Pebble Beach is not spectator friendly and it would have been awful to have the kids with us. Thank goodness we were alone.

Riley never cared we were gone and Devin had a tough time sleeping. He has always slept in his bed and never in ours...but I think the fact that we were not there made him uneasy at night. We purchased tickets for my mother to take him to Barnum and Bailey Circus Saturday to help keep him occupied. The two days came and went and he was just fine and a lil extra snugly Sunday with Daddy.

We are now back in the swing of things and I feel like we never went away. Not sure if that is always how it is when you get to leave kids behind....but man am I tired already again. Thurs night through Saturday was adult time with drinks, great food and golf. Now back to laundry, cleaning up and basic mom stuff again. The kids are so sweet and I am happy to be home with then but man was it fun to have some time away. We have been on date nights....but a night/or more away is so different. I am sure I can speak for the hubs that we cannot wait to do it again sometime.

Peds appointments double time

Today  we went to Riley's 15 month well baby check up and Devin's 3 year old well child check up. Mr Devin was measured at 29.8 lbs (25th percentile) and 36.5 inches tall(25th percentile). This is the first time in his life he is above the 3-5% for either height or weight. Since he is in the 25th for both, the doctor could not have been happier. Since he was a preemie born 6 weeks early the doctor said he would catch up sometime between 2 and 3. Now that he is 3 he is finally catching up to kids his own age. This time last year he was 32.5 inches and 23.5 lbs. That is a nice jump in height and weight. Devin had to get a shot today since they came out with an advanced form of an older shot he had a year and a half ago. He did not wince or shed one tear. We told him that he needed to have this "ou-ie" if he wants to go to school soon. Good kid.
Riley enjoying her first lolly pop as she is about to get some shots

Grammy put gel in Devin's hair for him today

Now Riley on the other hand is still a peanut. She is now 19 lbs 6 oz (5th percentile) and 29.5 inches tall (25th percentile). She legally should not be turned around yet since she is under 20 lbs. She would be bored to tears if she was still rear facing. Shh do not tell the doctor. ;) She had to get two shots today and was a champ. She only cried as the gave her the injections. Maybe it was the dumb dumb lolly pop I let her have, who knows. They wanted to give her 4 shots but I told them that we will catch her up eventually. Delaying shots is something I am an advocate of. There is no need to stick a baby's leg with 4 mixes of vaccines at once. Poor baby. She is fine and taking a nap.

Having these two at the at the doctor at the same time is not fun. It really is exhausting . I wish Devin took naps so I could rest a bit but guess that is not in the cards for today. Maybe one day next week I will be graced with a nap. Until then Clifford it is :)

kids say the damn-dest things

Having a talkative toddler can be very tiring at times yet also extremely entertaining. Devin would be labeled a chatterbox if he were in elementary school. He talks nonstop and it takes a lot of patience to take car rides with him since now Riley competes for both volume and longevity.

You always hear those stories of when a toddler embarrasses you by saying something completely inappropriate in the adult world. Toddlers train of thought is very simple, and that is the way they speak. For example, last week we went to the supermarket to grocery shop and I really wanted some sour patch kids. Devin asked me with much excitement, "Mommy are those going to be your special treat for when you go big poops?" I simply smiled and said yes because that was easier than saying that mommies can have special treats whenever they want. He has been potty trained since October but he still asks for a treat when he poos since he does not receive candy at any other time. The shoppers around me could do nothing but smile.

Riley is finally able to walk alone. In the past few weeks Devin has really been into helping her up and leading her around the house. He loves being a big brother to her and takes pride in it. He encourages her verbally and physically. When she is sitting on the floor, he offers his hands out and says, "Come on Riley, you can do it." He then lets go and allows her to do it on her own. Once she gets moving, he says "Good girl Riley, good girl." Today he lifted her up off the ground and just let her go since she is walking now alone. He then said, "Good job Meatball, good job." Now you may be asking, what is with the "Meatball" nickname Riley is skinny. Now that is correct, she is in the lower 10% for weight but that was not the case around 5 months. She was a little pudgy meatball so the nickname was born. Riley not only answers to it when we call her by that, but to hear Devin call her it was just hysterical. Riley just smiled, stood up and walked to him.

We have guests arriving tonight who are old friends of Franks from college. We call the husband Hoops because that is his last name and his wife by her first name which is Dale. As we were cleaning up the house in anticipation for Devin kept saying how excited he was for Chip and Dale to come to his house. I reminded him that it was Hoops and Dale who we went to Hawaii with, who we visited in Chicago and who came out last summer. He then said, "Oh OK Mommy, that is right....Hoops and Dale, not Chip and Dale." Only to have him say Chip and Dale were coming just a few minutes after I reminded him. I LOVE him.

Riley is a piece of work!

Riley started walking last week. She was a bit later than Devin was at beginning this stage in her toddler life. She was 14.5 months when she was comfortable enough to let go of something and walk across the room. She has been able to take steps here and there for some time now....but actually walking from here to there was something she was not confident in.

She loves her little Maryjane keds. She will go over to the door, get them, bring them back to me, hand me a shoe and then proceed to lift her foot in the air. They give her more stability as she walks around the downstairs of our house. New toddlers walking are so funny. They walk like they just stepped down from riding a horse across the Mohave for days. Does the wider stance really help? who knows, but I do think it is super cute.

walking to her Pop Pop

all flushed from sitting outside of The Yardhouse in 109* (waiting to get our table set)  for Devin's birthday dinner

She is 100% girlie girl. She now asks to be picked up when you are sitting on the couch. She then proceeds to lay down on her back and then "annhhh annhhs" until you rub her tummy and face. She lays there in silence and sometimes murmurs. She will be 15 months next week and is already a diva in training-but I love her and will rub her belly anytime she asks for it.

Cake, gifts and day was a great success

Devin had a very eventful day. He got to go out to go hiking at Red Rock Canyon for a bit in the morning. We then swung up to Sweet Tomatoes to meet Daddy for lunch. After lunch he played for a few hours with his sister and myself until dinner time at the new Yardhouse at Red Rock Casino.

pic of Devin playing with Daddy at the table

We came home, put Riley down for the night and he got to have his first piece of cake since he turned 1 (and threw it all up.) He sung to himself and we chimed in as well.

The cake-well it was a great shape and looked ok. Flavor-hmm. It had a slight banana taste which was ok because it went well with the chocolate fudge icing. It was dense and still moist and the overall opinion was that it tasted good. I, my worst critict things it will 'suffice' for now until I try the next recipe that was given to me.

Gift time was like Christmas all over again. Three is such a great age becuase there is excitement with everything!  I believe his favorite gifts were a Toy Story flashlight Riley gave him, a GeoTrax train bridge that blows up and his bike.  He was only allowed to take one toy out of it's box last night....so we my have a new favorite with the Toy Story trash truck. We shall see.....

Devin is 3 and wants a bike!

So Devin turned three today! That is just amazing how time really does fly when you are so busy with nothing :). His dad and I will be giving him a Toy Story bicycle for his birthday. Now anyone who does not have kids old enough to ride a 2 wheeler be thankful you never had to put one together. Huffy is a well known brand of bike and I was comfortable buying a Huffy for his first one. His grandparents took him to Red Rock Canyon for an hour so I was able to wrap his gifts and put the bike together. What a treat that was.

Step 1-gather 2 wrenches, phillips head screwdriver, flat head screw driver, something nose pliers, allen wrench. what the hell was that __________nose pliers? Oh I don't know. I just grabbed one of the 5 sets of pliers hubs has. Check

Step 2-open box and lay out all the parts making sure you have every thing. Shit. I am missing instructions on assembly. Check

Step 3-put bike together blindly and hope it works. Check

Assembly took about 45 minutes which is a hell of a lot longer than I anticipated. I am not discouraged by that b.c without instructions it was does this fit in that hole...ok great! onto the next piece. All the nuts, bolts and screws are in tight and most importantly the handle bars are straight. I hated when my dad put my on crooked when I was a kid. He will be receiving his gifts after dinner tonight and I am so excited to see his face.

Huffy did conveniently add a manual in the box of how to attach reflectors, a bell and basket just in case you would like to add those features at a later date. Thanks Huffy for always thinking ahead.

Attempting to bake a cake egg free

So Devin turned 3 today and he really wants a birthday cake. Most of you know he is seriously allergic to eggs so this presented us with a challenge. I spoke with the lady at the supermarket bakery and she said birthday cakes cannot be made without eggs as they serve as a binder. I then went to Whole Foods searching for an expert in the vegan world since I KNOW they carry egg free crap at Whole Foods. She sadly told me that regular cakes cannot be made without eggs. I can make a tort or pie egg free. What 3 year old would want a tort?

Back to square one. I researched it on the internet and came up with nothing for a substituite. People cut the cholesterol by using Egg Beaters but that is still egg product. UGH. So I tried something myself. I used 1.5 old bananas and liquified them in my food processor and made the cake as directed from there. Now, the cake did not rise as well but it is spongy and does spring back when I push on it. The bottom was a lil stuck to the pan but the rest came off with ease. I will let you know how it tastes later tonight.

as requested

As previously requested, I am starting a blog. This will serve the purpose of updating friends, family and whomever with our lives out here in Las Vegas. The kids are growing quickly and fill our lives with very comical and entertaining things daily. Being a mom is rewarding and tiring at the same time. I would not trade anything in the world for it but there are times I definately want to pull my hair out. So.....I will blog/post lil tidbits about the kids and motherhood as they come. I hope you enjoy reading about our life as much as I love to live it. Cheers.