Week in Review

Is it just me or is everyone super busy lately??? Last Sunday, my Dad and Oksana came in town to see my Grandma Odie. So Lilly and I met them over there and Lilly got into the pool in nothing but her birthday suit. Haha. Afterward, we put her dress on and did a little photo shoot. Grandma Odie is out of the hospital and doing pretty good.

Lilly and I also went and visited Grandma Berti in the hospital. She got to go home this week and was thrilled about that.

On Monday we went and picked up a little playhouse for the backyard...there are pictures coming of our backyard. It is starting to look like a daycare center out there. Tuesday we went to some new friend's house for dinner (WISH I would've had my camera there--hilarious bunch of kiddos!) Matt sprained his foot Tuesday night getting some storage totes out of the garage. We thought he broke it because it swelled IMMEDIATELY...but it was just a sprain. He hopped on one leg for a couple of days. Wednesday, some friends came over to look at Lilly and Reid's clothes. I took it like a big girl. I have really been telling myself that it is better for someone to be getting use out of it now instead of the clothes just sitting in the attic. We went to lunch at Jason's Deli with some friends, napped, went to Wal-Mart, and then to small group that night.

Thursday we had a play group with some of the girls that were interns in the MAT together. It was so fun and I got to see their sweet little baby girls! This is Taelyn--she is 6 months old. Such a little doll!!

Ava is 9 months old. Isn't she just adorable??

Then here is little Katie-bug.

She is just too stinking cute for words!!!

Another picture of sweet Taelyn. Isn't it crazy how ALL of my friends have beautiful babies?? You would think at least one of them would have an ugly duckling but NOBODY does. Haha. I am just kidding--all babies are just precious!

Reid and Katie bonded over sharing a graham cracker. I have a feeling food is definitely going to be the way to Reid's heart! Haha.

After play group, we headed home and the babies napped. They woke up ready to be mess-makers!! I was doing something for a couple of minutes and turned around and this is what they were doing.

They emptied out all of the plastic spoons and cups. On the bright side, it kept them busy for hours throughout the day!

On Friday (which I have an entire post for it), we just hung at home and played. I felt like lately I have just been trying to get so much done and we have had so much going on that I really haven't taken the time to just relax and play with Lilly and Reid. So, I made sure that I reserved Friday for some quality time together. We had such a great time playing with our new outside toys and swimming in the backyard blow-up pool (or "pooooooo" as Lilly calls it). Then, today (also will have it's own post), we did some quality family time and went to the Gentry Safari together and went swimming over at Aunt Shelly's. It has been a busy week full of so many blessings!!

Play Group

Edited to add this picture...I read it and realized I was missing a child from our play group! Noah's mom Helga and I both were really anxious about leaving our child with someone else for the first time....like waited months (maybe 6 or more) to do it! (Not with Reid....Matt and I went on a date when he was like 3 days old...that is the difference with the second child.)

Okay I have been meaning to write this post for MONTHS. My number one tip to new moms...especially stay at home moms...is to find other mom friends!!!! If you stay at home, you NEED to find other moms that stay at home too--for the sake of sanity. At the beginning of this year, a couple of my friends and I decided to start a play group. Over the past couple of months, it has grown and I just love it. I look forward to it every single time!! So the idea of a play group is that the kids can play together and the moms can talk together. So, I thought it would be fun to go through and tell some of the things that I have found that I have in common with each mom....a couple of things I thought I was the only person on Earth that did that particular thing. This was one of our earlier play sessions...we have a few more mommies and kids now. They are in the photos below.

Trenton's mom Lisa and I both have husbands that are over-protective to say the least. Like they take inventory and want to know the story behind every bruise and scratch...and exactly what we were so busy doing that we couldn't have prevented it in the first place. Haha.

We also both found parenting to be harder than we expected (I think every Momma in this play group could be in this group) and had an adjustment period with our husbands. We had to find the "parenting groove" which led to some spousal bickering--we both have found that groove with our husbands now and laugh regularly about that time in our lives. (Also pictured above is Andrew...his little brother is below...

Isaac and Andrew's mom Yessie and I were the only moms that had more than one child. This is a bonding experience in itself! Haha. We talk about just how much more relaxed you are as a parent after your second child is born!!

I had to include a picture of this little cutie!! One great thing about play groups is that you can get advice, give advice, be there to sympathize, or just here that you are not the only one going through something, and get and give encouragement to one another.....oh, and you get to have a conversation with other ADULTS.

Caedmon's mom Melissa and I both have husbands who are terrified that our child would choke....to the point of maybe not ever wanting to feed them table food. Also, Melissa is potty training and is a good source of advice on the trials that go along with this. For her, bribery works. (c:

This little cutie and my other little handsome man have humbled me in ways I don't even want to go into! All of the girls in our play group agree that we were much better parents BEFORE we had our kids! Haha. Oh, and I am the most absent-minded one of the group so I am sure that I make the other moms feel really put together and organized!! I do it just to help their self-image..haha..I wish...I just really am absent-minded since I added a second child to the family. (c:

Brody's mom Jennifer and I both nursed our sons for the first year and we laugh about how traumatized we were the first time we had to use a breast pump...all of the sudden you picture yourself as a dairy cow and it is a tad bit depressing! Haha. Brody, Lilly, and Stella were all born within 3 weeks of each other. We also have had many discussions on how when your child first starts crawling...you think "Man, he/she is into everything." Then they start walking and you think, "Man, she/he is into everything." And then they get a little bit taller and can get to the counter tops and drawers and you think, "Man he/she is into everything." Then they get smarter and learn how to get around your barricades...etc, etc, etc. So now when we here somebody with their first child that has just learned to crawl say, "Oh he/she is just into everything"....we all kind of laugh inside--just as I am sure mothers of older children do when we say it now too!

Diesel's mom Kerri and I were interns the same year in college. We were also the only 2 pregnant girls in the MAT program. We also both went "stupid" for a while after we had our babies...aka "Mommy brain". That is when you are in the middle of a sentence and totally forget what you are talking about....or go to the grocery store for three things and can't think of any of them....or walk into a room and forget why you came in there in the first place....or you put your keys in the fridge...or run the washing machine without remembering to put the clothes in the washing machine first....just to state a few examples.

Brayden's mom Jenna and I both freaked out a little bit when we went to change our son's diapers for the first time. We were both like, "What do I clean?...Am I supposed to move this? There are just so many hiding spots!!" Haha.

Laci's mom Candice and I both spent the first year of our daughter's life at home....without really getting to know any other moms. I had mom friends...but most of them worked and sometimes you just need to talk to another mom on a crazy day during the day!!! We met at the beginning of this year at the doctor's office and became fast friends. We are both enjoying the stay at home gig much more now that we get out with other families regularly!

If our houses are dirty and we don't feel like cleaning them, Stella's mom Sydney and I both just leave the house. We can't stand to be in it dirty...so we just go to the park or walk around Target or run to happy hour at Sonic...whatever gets us out of the house!!! We also use this tactic if our kids are just having a cranky, tough morning at home. Sometimes just changing scenery fixes whatever the issue is!!

None of us have the exact same parenting style and I think that is GREAT because we get to learn from each other and see that there are several different "right" ways to raise your children--it has taught me not to get so caught up in worrying about whether I am being the "perfect parent" (I never am) or teaching the right thing at the right time and just relax a little and enjoy raising my babies!

The above picture was taken today as we were leaving Sam's Club. Lilly just kept putting her arm around Reid and laying her head on him...seriously moved me to tears it was sooo stinking sweet! Makes me feel like I am doing something right!

Pictures Only

Our Week

We Scott's have been a busy family this week! Let me just share a few of the highlights from our week so that you may understand the lack of posts, comments, texts, or calls from me.

First, I am keeping my adorable little niece and nephew during the month of July (while my sister is at work). Luckily for me, they are really great kids. I would be lying if I pretended like it did not make things a little more challenging for me throughout the day. Mainly because it has rained almost every day this month.....do you know how stir crazy 4 children get when trapped inside all day???? Almost as stir crazy as the person watching them. Hahahahaha. I kid.

Also, on Monday, my Grandma Odie was put into the hospital. She is doing okay and they are releasing her today. She has had a blood clot in her leg for some time and they put a filter in a few months ago to keep it from traveling up to her lungs or heart. However, despite being on blood thinners ever since, the blood clot is still pretty good size and little pieces have broken off and made it around her lungs and possible maybe a very small one has made it close to her heart. The doctors are not too terrible concerned at this point, but I they are going to do a little bit more to try and reduce the size of the blood clot. Anyway, on Wednesday, we all made her "get well" cards and took them by the hospital.

Little man has become a professional at getting into everything. He, just like his sister, was apparently born with a super-hero type of power that enables him to find exactly what he doesn't need to have.

Aunt Shelly brought him some powdered donuts the other day.....

he was a fan! (Please note the "bed head" going on in this picture...cracks me up!)

Cutest. Thing. Ever.

Look at his clothes...I had just put him into this CLEAN outfit right before breakfast. Haha.

This little one had been a little fussy lately but I really attributed it to early terrible twos or the fact that we had extra children in the house and she was wanting some extra attention....BUT I took her to the doctor Wednesday and she has an ear infection. Poor thing. I do have to write ON RECORD that since she has been sick, she has been a total MOMMY'S GIRL!!!! (That should've been my first clue.) I don't want her to stay sick but I am loving the extra attention that I am getting. Daddy is NOT.

Then, this little fella went to the doctor today because he has been all wheezy and coughing like he smokes a couple of packs a day. Turns out he has a little bit of a virus that has inflamed his airways. The doctor also said I would probably get it too. LOVELY. Matt and Lilly already have some symptoms and I am trying to keep Ethan and Emma separated (trying being the key word) until they get picked up.

He is in fairly good spirits but you can tell he just isn't feeling 100%.

Yesterday, we were pretty much out of groceries so I decided to go to Wal-Mart with 5 children. One was my nephew Blayne who is 14 so he was able to help. He pushed one cart with two kids and I pushed the other cart with two kids. We made it with an entire grocery list (that filled the voids in both carts)...Lilly tore my list into three pieces before even walking into the store...and we still managed to get everything with no real drama. I expected some kind of award ceremony at the end with a parade for my accomplishment....but NOTHING. Haha.

Lilly has been reading outloud to her stuffed animals and her brother.

Okay, this picture is just to remind me of a story. This outfit is a little skirt with shorts attached inside instead of bloomers. So, anyway, Matt changed her diaper and put her skirt back on. I noticed her diaper was hanging out and asked where the shorts were. Matt said he couldn't find them.....he had both of legs through one of the short's legs. Haha. We laughed.

Here she is reading to Reid. I guess they were taking a break from completely destroying the toy room.

Eating spaghetti...Lilly's favorite....just like Daddy.

Eating spaghetti. Reid is mainly feeding himself these days. He is such a good eater...it is a nice change of pace!

Anyway, back to the week. Last night, I got a phone call saying that my other grandma is in the hospital too! Both grandma's are in the hospital. They aren't really sure what is wrong with this grandma--they are keeping her again tonight and running some more tests.

OH and here is my horrible mom thing of the week. I was getting all of the kids in the car to go to the Dr. Wednesday. I put Reid in his seat, help the other kids into the back of the van, load the car with bags and cups and all of the crap that goes with 4 children, and put Lilly in her seat. We drive the 3 minutes to Matt's work. I look in the backseat like every 15 seconds to check on the kiddos. We pick Matt up and pull out of his work. We both look in the backseat and to our HORROR see Reid STANDING UP backwards looking at us and smiling the day away!!!!! I had forgotten to buckle my own son up!!!!!! His car seat is rear-facing and he had turned himself around (I think when he heard Daddy get into the car) and was standing up just looking at us. The people behind us were honking for us to go but I was like "My baby isn't buckled!!" Matt had to force me to keep driving the 10 feet to pull over. Hands down--worst parenting mistake I have made so far!!!!!!! Once again, I have to take my name out of the "mother of the year" hat.

And I can't talk about my week without mentioning laundry, dishes, and sweeping the floor. Because that is what I do in my spare time. If someone asks me what my hobbies are--from now on that is my answer! Other than that, I have been trying like crazy to get the house totally put together. Hopefully I can do it this weekend....I am getting so close!!!

Bless you if you read that entire post!!! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Edited to add: Oh, and our printer leaked ink all over our brand new carpet one day so I got to spend an entire afternoon cleaning that up. Just want to be thorough about the main events of the week. Haha.

Benton

For the 4th of July weekend, we went to Matt's hometown to visit DeDe, Mike, and the rest of the family there. Matt's parents have a pool...which we used every day while we were there....for hours each day. I could just kiss those cute little cheeks!!

Lilly got on the walrus with Annabelle (a friend of one of the cousins). Lilly thought she was big stuff! Haha. Lilly NEVER wants to get out of the pool. They have a sliding glass door and she will go to it and point outside and say "pool!"

Eli being silly Eli!! Such a fun boy!

Colt (Eli's little brother, also Lilly and Reid's cousin). Colt and Reid did a lot of splashing together.

Saturday night, Matt's good friend Ryan came over with his two kids Laci and Luke. Lilly just LOVED Laci. She kept going up to her and sitting in her lap.

Checking her out. Laci laughing at her.

Luke and Laci...I have known these two since they were born....I can't believe how big they have gotten!!

Reid really loves Melissa. He always smiles really good in pictures with her. She is probably the sweetest person I know and I think he just knows she is sweet....just like he is!

And of course Lilly and Reid both LOVE Uncle Bert and Aunt Becca. Even when Lilly would go through phases when she was nervous around people, she always went right to Bert!

Melissa, Thomas, Ray, Reid, and Lilly...talk about a wild bunch! Haha.

Then we got to have lunch with GrandDaddy and Eutha. Lilly, as you can probably tell, had some spaghetti. This girl LOVES her spaghetti--just like her Daddy.

Reid snuggling with DeDe...those grandparents always hogging the baby loving. Haha!! Just kidding.

Checking out GrandDaddy...I think these two are pretty good friends.

Good buddies!

Lilly in there....we tried to get a picture of Reid and Eutha in there too but I had (apparently) passed the allowable picture limit for my children.

Talking with DeDe!

Lilly talking about it with Uncle Bert. We had a great weekend with family! It was so good to have an extended weekend so that we could spend more time with family and friends!!

This weekend we just hung out and were pretty productive on the house. I have our bathroom organized and almost picture ready....so stay tuned...I just have to hang the picture in there!!