Did I just do that?!!!

How we found the boys the other day. They were having a ball playing with each other in the pack-in-play. I hope they are always friends

Today I graduated to the ranks of true motherhood by serving my boys powdered milk with their cereal. What is the world coming to? Next up, I'll be saying, "When you clean up you find things" and wear a frumpy robe....Wait a minute....I guess I have been a bona fide mother for a while now.

*****It should be noted that my mother never wore a frumpy robe that I can remember. Although, she really should have. They are quite comfortable. :)

Mothers Day

 Char and Mason posing with the coffee filter wreath that I was really excited about until I put it up on our fireplace. It took me 655 coffee filters and my entire supply of hot glue sticks before I realized that it looks a little oddball on our wall. Rats. James says that it looks a little too much like a giant Lifesaver. Sheesh. 

Mothers day was a treat for me this year. Not only did I get to sleep in, but we took a lazy post-church nap as well and spent the day as a family. I was especially excited for Mothers day this year because this would be the first time that I have a child in Primary at church and therefore it would be the first time that I would be serenaded during Sacrament meeting! Hot dog! I have been looking forward to this happy day for as long as Mason has been alive and so you better believe that we weren't going to be late! To our dismay, when we got to church, we not only found that the only spot available was squished in the very back (between some of the oldest members of our ward), but also that the Primary children were singing, "I Pray in Faith" instead of "Mother I love you" or some other sentimental goodie! WHAT IN THE WORLD?!!!! Mothers day is not a day for teaching doctrine; it is a day to pamper ME!!!!  What in the world were those nice Primary people thinking?!!!!

When the big musical number finally came, I practically threw Mason over our elderly friends in our pew and prodded him forward towards the stand. Mason looked horrified. Really cute but horrified all the same. By the time he slowly (but dutifully) made it up to the stand the song had already begun and he rigidly stood apart from the small Primary crowd. All the while, he kept his big round eyes focused on his mommy. As he stood there (not singing), I was overwhelmed both by how brave he was and by how goofy he looked, that I couldn't stop shaking with laughter and crying like a blubbering fool. I am sure I looked like I was having some sort of meltdown, but I didn't care. I was wholly consumed by the devotion of my little Sunbeam and by how proud I was to be him mom. I truly am the luckiest of all to have three little stinkbug momma's boys. 

To top it off, after church, Mason handed me this note he made in Sunbeams:

 A note from Mason

All day long my lovebucket was full as I watched my little men play together. Motherhood can be tricky and I may not get everything right, but I certainly am thankful for the chance to try.

Baby Cabe. The sweetest but pukiest little lad.

The Nap Fairy

 Mason, enjoying the fruits of his labors/nap

I know they say that bribery should not be used in parenting, but I believe that there is a time and a place. And after having a house full of sick kids for the past several weeks, I would say that time and place is right now in the Sieg home! For the past couple of months, Mason has decided that nap time is a thing of the past. As you can imagine, this has been a very sad development for mommy. But while he has been sick, we have both desperately needed him to get a mid-day recharge. Thankfully, over Christmas, my mom reminded me of a little fairy who has made a world of a difference in our napping successes. Her name is the Nap Fairy and boy do I love her!

My mom came up with her to help persuade my younger siblings to take naps back in the day and it worked like a charm! She told them that the Nap Fairy was a kind little fairy who would put a little treat (a small candy, trinket or toy) under their pillow if they took a nap. She also made sure to mention that she was very shy and would only come when she knew they were truly sleeping. While my mom tucked them into bed, she would have them pretend to call the Nap Fairy and say, 

"Nap Fairy, Nap Fairy, 

Hear my call.

Nap Fairy, Nap Fairy,

Bring me something small."

Thankfully, the Nap fairy has yet to retire because she has saved many an afternoon snooze in the Sieg home this past month! I would highly recommend this clever form of bribery to anyone!

I promise that Mason doesn't usually get this much loot. This must have been a day when the nap fairy was especially grateful that he got tricked into sleeping.

Postpartum Fun

Poppy and McCabe, enjoying some special time after the boys went to bed.

Yesterday I struggled to find something to wear to church that would fit. I had options, the majority being pregnancy dresses. Since my pride just wouldn't let me wear those, I settled on a skirt and sweater number and thought that it worked okay. That is, I did until Mason asked me if I had another baby in my tummy at dinner. Ouch! James and I pretended that we didn't know what he meant by this query and kept our conversations merry for the rest of the meal. When we were done eating, I decided to lay on the ground to rest my back and was joined by my mobile boys. Our snuggle-session was going well until Mason asked if he could see my tummy. When I flat-out rejected him, he earnestly stated," But I never seen a big belly before!" How does a woman bounce back from that?! Adding insult to injury, while Mason was bruising my ego, Charlie was innocently pounding on my belly like it was a set of bongo drums.  Ah...the joys of the postpartum period....

But just when I start feeling discouraged, I get a peek at my littlest wonder, McCabe, and know that it is all worth it. I would take him over toned abs any day! I might feel uncomfortable in my clothes for a spell, but I get to have him in my life forever. Hot dog!

Uh oh!

Me and the boys on my birthday. Notice that I cropped this picture to try to hide how messy and undecorated our living room was.
Today it occurred to me that, with two boys and one on the way, I may be in a bit over my head. This struck me as I was trying to maneuver Mason and Charlie through the checkout line at Sams Club. Normally shopping is no big thing, but today I found the task most humbling. There I was with Char whimpering in the cart, runny nose and all and Mason bouncing off the walls. After a couple minutes of chaos, I threatened Mason with the horror of having to sit in the cart if he didn't calm his happy little self down. He continued to ignore me, so, seeing as I had an audience of fellow shoppers, I had to follow through on my otherwise hollow threat.
The ensuing wrestle with a tantruming son was my low point of the day. No sooner had I placed him in the cart than I realized that my pathetic fight completely unbottoned the ENTIRE front of my shirt! I tried to joke about my hootchy state with a humorless cashier while sheepishly buttoning myself and pretending nobody was gawking at me. No sooner had I put the last button in place, then Charlie grabbed at me and unleashed my underroos all over again! To make matters worse, for some reason I didn't have my debit card and had to write out a check while my cheeks turned scarlet. What am I going to do?

Where are those bonbons?....

This morning started off with poor charlie waking up with stomach pains. That little boy has a certain cry for when he is trying to get a particularly mean poop out and he was whimpering it all morning. After I snuggled him and gave him a bottle, he calmed down and returned to his normal sunshiny self. Eventually I figured we should get the day going with a nice warm bath for the boys (Boys are stinky. Especially mine).

As I lathered them up with soap, Mason requested I sing him a song about when he is a man (Mason loves it when I sing, even when the songs don't even remotely make sense). As I sang about him someday serving a mission and getting married in the Temple, I thought about my little chap growing up and started missing my little boy. That, mixed with pregnancy hormones, caused me to get a little teary eyed and shaky in my voice.

Just when I was about to make a scene, Charlie let out the most dramatic squeal and in seconds, the largest man-sized baby poop zoomed out of his little cheeks! Without thinking, I caught it in my hands (Gross! Now I don't ever have to wonder what I would do if I ever had to help someone deliver a baby. I'm quick as a cat!) and frantically shrieked for Mason to hop out of the tub! This caused Mason to scream in fear, as he has had some traumatic poop/tub experiences of his own before this.

There I was holding poop in my hands while I tried to keep Charlie from drowning and my sudsy sad two-year-old to calm down. Egads! After I cleaned my hands, washed Charlie in the sink and cleaned up the tub, I snuggled Charlie up in a towel on the couch and let him relax from his painful performance. Last but not least I had to hop in the shower myself to prove to Mason that it was indeed a fun, warm and safe environment so that I could rinse all of the soap off of his shivering body.

All the while being in the throws of my first trimester.

Who said motherhood was all about eating bonbons and watching soap operas? And to think that I sometimes wonder why the dishes don't get done?

On my mind...

A Zits cartoon (that I actually enjoyed) found in the newspaper several months ago
Every time I talk with my Grandma, she mentions how special it is to be a parent of young children. Over and over she has told me that even though it is hard, it is the best time and I will someday miss it. I have no doubt about that. I already have moments when I look at Mason and miss when he was even more round and toddley! Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE (I really do) having a 2 1/2 year old, and I am proud of who his little personality is becoming, but I already feel like it is all happening too fast. I am ready for time to stop for a spell and let me enjoy my boys in peace. Enjoy this time when they think that I am so fun to play with and when every joke I tell is the best. When I can fix every ailment with a smooch and when I can snuggle-buggle to my hearts content. I know that every age is an adventure and that life gets better and better, but I am determined to not wish this phase away. Even on the hard days when we have house-a-tosis, the boys are sick, and every last ounce of patience is being squeezed out of me. No matter what, I am going to enjoy every last drop.

Motherhood: A humbeling and happy job

Charlie and Mason, about to go for a spin with their Pops

Yesterday I took the boys on a little stroll and came across a guy running with his shirt off. I didn't think much of it until Mason pointed at him and loudly exclaimed, "Look Mommy! He's NUDE!" for all the world to hear. I hoped the nudist didn't hear my young son, but mostly, I found my little guy's remark funny. Then it occurred to me that he only said nude because he learned it from me. I tell him he is nude when he is happily streaking around the house after a bath or a "rain shower" (what he calls a normal shower). And then I was reminded again that nearly everything he says or does at this early age comes from what James and I teach him in both our words and actions. Holy moly! While I thought about it, I re-committed to do my best to teach our boys well. They deserve it.

Later that afternoon, I caught Mason singing to Charlie. After a second, I realized he was singing a song about Temples to his little brother just like I sing I love to see the Temple to him. That warmed my little heart. It sure made me feel a lot better about my mothering than last month when he kept saying, "Oh CRAP!" every five seconds. I guess we can only do our best....

Mason's take on my hair

Mason, showing Char how to sit like a big boy in a grocery cart for the first time. Aparently big boys still can suck on their blankets in public.....
The blessings of motherhood are many fold but the post-baby phase when you start losing all of your hair doesn't seem to be one of them. Yuck! As much as my vanity doesn't like my thinning state, Mason seems to like it even less. That boy has a knack for finding my hair all over the place! Every time he does, he is quick to let his mother know that he has found the grossest thing imaginable by curling up his lips and saying, "Mommy's hair!" over and over until I rid him of his stomach churning find. I don't know if I should be proud of his eagle eyes or just mortified. As if being uncomfortable for 9 months, having permanent rings under my eyes and toting around a fancy layer of baby weight is not enough, Mason has to point out that my hair physically repulses him. Thanks. Char better be grateful!
I guess his tactless way of letting me know that I gross him out is sort of an improvement. Even last month, if he saw something that was in the least bit unsightly, he would literally start gagging and occasionally throw up in his mouth. Everything from boogers to poop both enthralled and disgusted him all at once. The worst was when he picked his cousin's nose and then threw up on the floor. Twice. You would think that could have been avoided pretty easily. What a bright little OCD child I have.

Hanging in there

Mason took this flattering shot of me. I guess this is what I get for calling Charlie a pin head.

A month ago I visited our married ward and I got to say hi to many friends that I haven't seen for a while. None of them had seen me since I had Charlie and so, many well-wishes were in order. I met each friendly face with a broad smile and good news that two boys were a lot of fun (true....on good days). Then I went back to the car where James and our boys were patiently waiting. It was then that I found large pieces of pepper in my front teeth. Great. If that wasn't bad enough, I looked down and saw that my shirt was still disheveled from Charlie's last feeding and that my underwear was hanging out! Yeah, I think I impressed everyone with my grace. I could have died.

I love being a mother of two boys. It is tricky at times, but for the most part, we get along just fine. Some days I feel like we can conquer the world but then others we sit around in our pajamas until I go almost crazy from house-a-tosis. Fortunately, the older that Charlie gets, the less those days seem to be. Or so I like to think. Until reality sets in and reminds me that we are still in survival mode.

My last reality check came this weekend when we ran into an old friend at Wal-mart. After chatting about life for a couple minutes, James kindly informed me that my shirt had ridden all the way up to just under my chest, exposing more underwear and my post-baby pooch. Frumptastic.

First shopping adventure

Yesterday the boys and I ventured off to Walmart alone. I was so nervous! We planned on going with Poppy, but poor James had fallen asleep on the couch while we were getting ready. I didn't have the heart to wake him since he had worked a graveyard the night before and had to go straight to a whole day of tough classes and projects. We love our Poppy so we let him snooze. Apparently my boys love me, too, because they let a miracle occur. BOTH boys fell fast asleep on the way over and continued sleeping when I transferred them into the shopping cart. In fact, they snoozed the ENTIRE time I shopped, making the experience rather enjoyable! Traloo tralay! I am sure that we will have many of rough shopping adventures together, but BOY am I glad that the heavens smiled on me for my first trip out!

While I shopped, I was reminded of two things: One, that I love my little men. And two: That I can't see in front of me when I shop with a baby car seat perched on my shopping cart! I have to peer out over the sides every few steps to make sure that I don't cause an accident! The joys of legal midgetness. :)

Yikes!

This morning I woke up resembling David Bowe in The Labyrinth more than anything else. Gotta love sleepless nights with a newborn....

Please excuse me while I juggle with my goblin minions (aka Mason, Charlie, and Gunner).

Who knew?!

When we got pregnant with Charlie, I was reassured by many wise people that I would be able to love little Charlie as much as I adored Mason. I didn't see how it was going to happen, but I trusted them anyway. Now that he has joined our family, I am pleased to report that they were right as rain! Loving Charlie has been easy as pie!

However, what I didn't expect was that when my heart grew enough to make room for my newest little Mr., it also grew big enough to love Mason and my honeybun even more! It has been a treat to watch Mason shower unsolicited smooches on his little brother. And seeing James with two little guys to dote on has been so happy! What a great Poppy he is!

It has only nearly been three weeks since our family has grown to four, but already I feel like the luckiest of all! Heavenly Father sure is good to the Sieg family.

Mr. Sneaky

Our little kooky Mason

Now that I am 22 weeks along, I don't even come close to fitting my baby belly into any normal pants. Not even the rubber band trick works anymore. Looks like only elastic waistbands for me for the rest of the year (workin' it, workin' it). I honestly don't mind being pregnant for the most part but the clothes certainly get frumpier and frumpier the farther along you get.

The other day I was washing a pile of dishes when Mason came up behind me, begging for me to come and play. I told him I couldn't but that just got him to beg even more while he clung and tugged on my legs. As he did so, my pants started sagging and he started to giggle like the dickens! After that, he repeatedly pants me for the next thirty minutes while I helplessly stood there with soapy wet gloves while Mason roared with laughter at my expense. Good times....

Mothering certainly can be humbling. Especially when elastic waistbands come into play. Let's just hope that he doesn't remember how easy it is to pants me in public!

Motherhood

Pictures taken for Mason's first photo shoot by my talented friend, Andrea Lindgrin.

One of my favorite couples just had a beautiful baby boy and I am SO happy for them! BOYS ARE SO MUCH FUN!!! For the past two weeks, whenever Mason does anything cute or fun in any way, I catch myself thinking of how much fun my friends will have when their little one does the same things. I was smitten from the start (even with the raging hormones and lack of sleep) but man am I gaga now!

Last night I sat and watched Mason splash around in the tub. He is the apple of my eye! Here he was splashing, standing, sitting and swimming as if he has always been able to do it. But I remember when he couldn't do anything of the sort and I wondered how that would ever change. How could anything so small and sweet ever get bigger? And then he rolled, then sat, then stood and walked. Now he sprints away from me with a happy little cackle and I catch myself wishing he were my little blob again. But I don't really. I think he is dandy the way he is and I'll be having another blob soon enough.

While I sat, I obviously got lost in thoughts of motherly love because next thing I knew, a man-sized log had joined him in the tub and Mason was looking a little concerned. Kiersten is going to LOVE when her little guy does that!

Happy Mothers Day

Yesterday Mason and I tried our hand at the local garage sales. Unfortunately, most of them turned out to be a lot like the picture below. A total dud. So bad that I felt guilty just driving past without looking at least a little interested in their rubbish (like I do when I take a free sample at Sams without appearing to seriously consider buying thier demo. James thinks I'm a kook).


Do you recognize the hopeful business woman in this picture? It is my mother back in 1986. I LOVE this picture! Without fail, this pictures sends me into fits of laughter. I look at her expectant face (which you can't really see in this scanned version) and crack up! I can't help but wonder how long she sat out there waiting to strike gold? What in the world was she thinking? I don't think even D.I. would haul off any of that junk (well, maybe the pleather bean bags)! I love how spread out everything is so as to apear like there were more treasures to be had. So funny....

But then, after the laughter subsides, I think about it all even more. About my mother. Why was she doing it? Was it to get some extra cash to buy another beloved book? Most likely it wasn't even for her. She was probably just trying to make ends meet for her growing family.

In 1986 my mom was 32 and about to have her 5th child and had just moved to Thousand Oaks. She had graduated college but decided to stay at home and raise us kids while my dad worked hard as a new Professor nearby. They made enough to live rather comfortably if it weren't for choosing to have a large and happy family instead. What a wonderful example she is to all of us 7 children. I look at this picture and think of all of the sacrifices they made for us and feel so grateful. I had a magical childhood, largely thanks to my mom. I hope I can always be as creative, spirited and loving as she has always been to me.

Also, here is a shout-out to mothers everywhere. I hope James and Mason got me a pair of these. Enjoy!

My littlest Mr.

I have been a fan of Mason from the start, but lately I have been absolutely,unabashedly SMITTEN by the chap! The older he gets, the more I get to know him and love him, and the more I want him never to get older. Sure, he is now sneaky, quick on his feet (while running away from me), and a little more defiant, but man! He is a hoot! I feel like the luckiest mom of all.

A Happy Mommy Moment

I have enjoyed being the mom of little Mason from the beginning (especially after the first two weeks). However, most of the time it doesn't feel real. He is mine, I know, but am I really a mom? I can't be 'cause I don't know everything like my mom does. Plus, I am not old enough, right? This is how I feel generally, but there are times when the mommy in me comes roaring out (either to protect or to play)and I am pleasantly surprised. The top mommy moments in my book have been when I first saw the little chap, showing him off for the first time, being the only one who can soothe him after a scary dream and when I see him playing proudly with his poppy. Tonight I add another happy moment to the list! We went to the ghetto Allens near our house for some late night treats (not too unusual)and what did we find? One of those cool shopping trips with the car attachment! Hot dog! Mason was pleased as punch to maneuver his way around the isles (or so he thought), I was taking pictures like there was no tomorrow, and James was thrilled to be seen with me. I told the checker woman that I had always wanted to ride in one, but I never got to. She flattered me to no end by saying, "They probably didn't have them when you were little." D'oh! James made me feel better by saying that I still could ride in one if I wanted to. The joys of midget hood. All in all, it was the BEST little shopping adventure and Mason and his mommy had a ball!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate Life For Me!

Last Saturday Mason got so excited that he flailed his arms while sitting on my lap. This is not unusual, but him scratching my eye was. James was away at his GRE class and I figured it wasn't anything too bad, so we went on a morning jog and just pretended nothing happened. We happened to jog past the student health center and since my eye was still giving me sass, we headed in, jogger and all. An hour later we started a jog again, except this time with a lamo pirate patch over my eye (I was hoping that I would get one of those stylish black pirate patches, but no luck. I guess it IS after memorial day so white is in)! I laughed all the way home because of how dorky we looked. Don't worry though, I only kept it on till that evening (long enough to run all of our errands and look even cooler) and my eye is doing just fine.

This is proof that motherhood is glamorous.

reenacting the crime

So, if having his hand up a cow didn't impress you, here is a picture of James shoveling a bunch of composted manure for our garden! Yep, we are gross. His garden is all done though. I think he is so handsome....even when he is shoveling poop!

Our Romp in the Sun

We woke up on Monday morning to a sunny and relatively warm spring-feeling day! What a treat for us snowbound souls. Anywho, Mason and I decided to take advantage of it and took out our jogging stroller and ran around town. First we met daddy on campus, then we ran to the library, and then to the store for some food for dinner. I truly felt like we were European since we were using our feet instead of the car. It had been so long since I have been running (Sad to say) that I had almost forgotten how much FUN it is! Hot dog!!

Here is a picture of the snow melting off of our yard! whoohoo! What a treat to see grass again! The only downside was that we got a little lax before the last snowfall about picking up after our dogs, and now that the snow is melting, our poor neighbors can see! I have been sheepishly scurrying outside round the clock as i see new jems appear. Sort of like an easter egg hunt...except not fun, no treats, and sort of smelly. D'oh!

When we were out on our run around town, I realized that I forgot a diaper for little Mason to change into. Sadly, i realized this AFTER i took his currant one off and threw it away. Luckily, i had a burp rag and used that for the run home. Poor little chap. He was wet all the way up to his armpits! I'm slowly learning how to do this whole mom thing.

Mason is a happy little chap....even when his mommy makes mistakes.

All clean!