My favorite

I have a favorite child . . . it is not Harper.  Okay, that's a horrible thing to say, but she has been so difficult lately I definitely prefer Ryden.

She screams, cries, and hits me when something doesn't go her way.  He does this too, but he's 17 months old so it's more understanding.

She refuses to take naps, go to bed at night, sleep in her own bed, etc.  Ryden nurses, gives Harper a hug lays in his bed with his pacifier and goes to sleep, at 7:30.  Granted he wakes up every couple hours but it's a routine.


Plus, Ryden he's just so nice.  He gives kisses and hugs on demand.  He's happy and smiley.  Tonight he wanted to build with MegaBlocs so came and touched my leg, went over to the tub, repeat until I caught on and opened the tub for him.  Someone else, dumped out the entire tub and made a hazard in the house.  I told Ryden to pick up the blocks and he jumped right in.  Harper picked up zero blocks.

I know that she will grow out of this phase (at least I hope so) and that he will most likely move into it.  For now though, Ryden gets the loving, caring mom and Harper gets the annoyed, crabby mom.

Iowa State Fair

I wrote this tiny post almost three weeks ago, but because I'm too ridiculous to upload pictures from my phone it has taken me this long to just post without pictures.  Follow me on Instagram to see pictures @beckyfinck




This weekend we went to the Iowa State Fair with my whole family.

Harper was so excited to go.  Her 'I'm still sleepy' turned into perky and wide awake when she realized it was fair day and not a school/daycare day.

She got to eat her hot dog on a stick that she was promised.  She got to see the butter cow which she said was her favorite thing.  And she went on her first ride ever!

Then she got to stay in a hotel and go swimming.  How much fun was her weekend?

It was fun, but I HATE being gone all weekend and going into the first full week of school has been exhausting.

Butterfly parade

Yay for fun free things!

This morning went to the band parade.  We parked away and walked, too bad I didn't plan very well and we didn't have stroller.  Harper did awesome though, she walked there and back without complaining or asking to be carried once.

Then we got to listen to some fun music.  Both kids loved it, even though we missed the beginning since we had to walk so far.










To follow, we went to the monarch watch on campus and got to check out some caterpillars, chrysalis, and butterflies.  

What are those butterflies doing?

Harper even held a butterfly.  I didn't think she would and it was questionable, but she mustered up enough courage to do it.

This one is almost there . . . the other one has a few more days.

To top it off we got to bring home two chrysalis.  Harper is pretty excited about HER butterfly.

A little more about my day

I remembered today why I went back to HP.  The kids that stopped in today just to say hi and that they miss my class are the reason.  They might not always be well behaved or make you think that they appreciate anything you're doing but they really are good kids.

On a completely unrelated note, Ryden has taken to 'hiding' when he poops.  Harper never did this and I'm taking it as a sign that we can start potty training soon.  :)

A little about my day

Today was the first real day of school.  After yesterday's run through with the freshmen I was left thinking 'Why did I decide to do this again?!?'  However, today went much more smoothly and I remembered that the kids CAN be awesome.  There was a group of boys in one hour that were causing all sorts of problems and I remembered the beginning of the year last year and a group of girls who were so proud that they had made a teacher cry in elementary.  That group of girls became some of my favorite students.  I just have to remember that the first impression isn't always the right one, for better or worse.

The transition for me and the kids into the school routine again hasn't been too rough.  It has been a week and the kids are still struggling to get up in the morning, I, of course, am doing GREAT waking up at 5:30 everyday (heavy on the sarcasm).  Ryden is getting crabby as the days go on and he gets farther behind on sleep.

I will say that not having to pump during the day is making things SO much easier.  Not having to wash the bottles and pump parts every day before making supper is awesome too.  Leaving the house in the morning without having to get bottles is another bonus.  All around, extremely happy that the pumping phase is over even though we're still breastfeeding.

Crossing my fingers for a good year!

All the Grandmas

The other day, Harper informed me that she doesn't have two Grandma's.  She has 'this many' (holding up three fingers).  I asked her who her three Grandma's were and she told me 'dad's parents, my Grandma that lives on a rocky road and Grandma Clayton'.  Well Grandma Clayton is really her Great Grandma and she has three other Great Grandmas but she sees Great Grandma Clayton far more than her other Great Grandmas.

I have also realized while looking for pictures of Harper with her Grandmas, that we need to take more pictures of them.

Homesick

Harper and Ryden are on vacation with Nate for the weekend.  I left them at Mahoney yesterday and they will be home tomorrow.  This is the first time they have seen him for more than a couple hours for almost three months.


I just got the second call of the night where Harper begged to come home.  The last call was horrible, Harper was bawling the whole time, I just want to be there to give her a hug and kiss.  I was gone for 5 days while they were at Grandma and Grandpa's house and she was fine.  Two nights with dad and she's bawling and begging to come home.


It makes me sad.  I hate her being sad and not being able to comfort her.