September? Over already?

Wow did this month go fast!! I think I was so absorbed in finishing my dissertation (finally) that I missed the whole month!  I don't think I've ever worked so hard on anything in my entire life.  I didn't pull any "all-nighters" but for someone who is in bed every night by 9 to stay up until at LEAST 11 (sometimes as late as 3) or wake up as early as 4 (stress-induced), you know I was working hard.  I had great motivation to finally get it done (Aspen).  So I defended the dissertation - the most nerve-wrecking 2 

hours of my entire life - on Tuesday, Septemer 27th.  I have to make revisions and resubmit it, but that's par for the course and I will be graduating this semester.  So, it's pretty official.  I passed my orals.  I'm DONE!

I've also been running around like a crazy person because of all the fun things I've signed the boys up to do.  Swim lessons, church music class, sports class....and that's just Mondays! On Tuesdays Hunter goes to school (more on this) and a gymnastics class while Landon hangs out with Daddy so I can work but in the afternoon I take them to a music class that they LOVE.  Wednesdays Hunter has My Gym and Landon and I run errands.  Thursdays and Fridays Hunter has school and we are not scheduled as much so I can have playdates.  Of course, Thursday mornings I am in a Mommy n me class with Landon and Fridays I have a standing date with 2 girlfriends who have babies who are Landon's age.  So we are kind of busy on Thursday and Friday mornings as well.  

So, Hunter started school.  He ran in on the first day and waved goodbye.  He could have cared less if I stayed, so I didn't.  He seemed to love it.  He loved it until he realized that Landon and I were having fun without him.  I think that's what it was.  I'm not really sure what happened, but he started whining about going to school.  It's been a battle since that point.  It didn't help that he was sent home sick on the third day of school and had a 103 temperature for 2 days.   I'm not sure what he dislikes about preschool.  He still runs into the classroom and happily kisses me and Landon "goodbye." Maybe it's just being away from mommy, which is what he says.  I know he enjoys his time while he is at school though.  He has also regressed in his pottying, specifically at night.  We have an accident now 2-3 times a week and it usually happens on nights when he has been in school during the day.  Maybe he's just too tired to wake up and go potty, but maybe he's not handling it well emotionally.  I have also been away a lot during the day because I'm working on my dissertation.  So I have been picking him up from school, bringing him home, and then working on my dissertation while he hangs out with Rachel.  It was awful timing that he happened to start school while I got really busy.  I have only been spending like 3-4 hours a day with him.  I know this is having an effect on the transition.  He's also become very defiant and needy.  I'm really not sure what is going on with him but I am taking him to the immunologist on Friday to have him super duper checked and make sure he hasn't picked up anything at school.  If anyone has any other insight for me on starting school, please share.  I'm at a loss and want my happy little buddy back!  Oh yea, he also throws HUGE temper tantrums every night and complains that he is afraid to sleep and that he is too lonely to go to bed.  This is heart-breaking to me.

Landon, on the other hand, is really coming out of his shell!  He's moving up to the next level at My Gym because he's all over the place!  He's talking SO much, even starting to put 2 words together.  His favorite things to say are "uh huh" "uh uh" "try" "let's go!" "peeeze" "tan oo" "dadu" "pillow" "binky"(Blankie) "wawa" "cheese" "ceweel" (cereal) "dunda" (Hunter) and, of course, "mommy" and "daddy", and my favorite: "whyyyyy?"  He has about 75 words, I would say and everyday he has more to tell us.  He finally got a bike because it was too big of a fight between him and Hunter and the one bike.  He can't ride it but loves to sit on it and push it with his feet.  So cute.  He can also throw a tantrum like the best of them and he wants what he wants.  He loves to be held, won't walk when holding your hand, and is just generally adorable.  When he wakes up from a nap or in the morning he just wants to be held and snuggle for a solid 30 minutes.  It's my favorite part of the day and the part I will miss the most when Baby Aspen gets here.

Speaking of Baby Aspen....AHHH! She's coming soon! I'm due in November and it's basically October.  I cannot believe it.  We have all this stuff that we need but we can't quite get it because Landon's furniture isn't here yet.  It's driving me crazy! I need a place to put her stuff and I want to get some girly accents for her nursery (which I've already chosen) but I can't even decorate it until Landon is out of there...and I can't move him out until his furniture is here....I have been nesting in other ways though! The living room, pantry and Hunter's room are all cleaned out and organized.  I still have to organize the old baby clothes (Hunter and Landon's), clean the books out of the garage, get out the swing and bassinet, etc, etc.  But we are preparing for her and are SO excited.

Last night Brian and I had our last night away from home before Aspen gets here.  After the defense we came home to love on the boys and then went to Terranea in PV.  It was so beautiful and we had an oceanfront room.  I slept 11.5 hours.  This morning we had a relaxing breakfast at the restaurant (imagine that) and spent the day at the spa until 2 pm.  I might have fallen asleep during my massage, and then spent an hour reading People magazine by the pool.  It was amazing.  We came home and got the boys, and went for a walk on the Strand followed by dinner at Cafe Rio.  Now I'm going to work on the revisions, but I wanted to update on here first.  

Landon is obsessed with dogs.  Luckily Thor is pretty patient.

 Brian and some friends from the church went to a Dodgers game one night. Landon and I stayed home. It was just a big boys night out on the town and Hunter had SO much fun!

 Brandon enjoying his time at the park.

 My big boys.

 Becky and I have been doing something every Friday morning.  We took the little guys to Knott's Berry Farm.  I am too pregnant to go on anything, so it wasn't much fun for me.  She was a GREAT sport though and took Landon on all the ride with her and Lukey.

 Becky and Landon

 Hunter LOVES soccer class.  He is also the best one in the class.  He can do all the drills and kick the ball into the goal.  Landon chases all the big kids around, so maybe I'll have 2 soccer players on my hands.

 Taking a rest. (They were told to sit on their balls).

 Lining up the shot

 And KICK!!!

 My 2 favorite boys.  How cute is this picture?

 Deanna and I went to the Aquarium of the Pacific on Friday because Becky was busy doing something else (we missed you).  Marty is a RUNNER and refused to hang out and look at fish.  He reminds me so much of Hunter.  Landon, on the other hand, absolutely loves "ishies" and could have spent an hour staring into each tank and telling me about each ishy.

 We had to feed the Lorikeets.  We just HAD to.  And then they landed on our heads.  The boys were NOT excited about it.

 Me and Deanna...and the birds.  Look at Landon's face.

 Before I left the house for my defense, Hunter asked to take a picture with me.  What a sweetheart.

 Then Landon wanted a picture too! It made me a little bit calmer before walking out the door to this big, scary, looming presentation.  It reminded me of what actually matters in life: my family.  And that's the biggest thing I've learned through this month.  For as much as I wanted to finish my degree, and for as much as I promised my mom to never quit anything, the more important thing I've learned is that I would rather be with my boys - my grumpy, demanding, exhausting little boys -than doing anything else - even work that I think is super important.  I don't want to miss my time with them and I have not liked the amount of time I have spent away from them recently.  I'm glad to be mostly done (except for the revisions) and I plan on doing any additional work at night time, when they are sleeping.

Scottsdale and Hunter's first week of school!

Scottsdale was SO much fun, as always.  We went to meet some close friends who just had a baby in May.  They live in Connecticut so we don't see them very frequently, although we would like to see them more.  Four days in Scottsdale was just what we needed - pool and sun!  Before we left, the boys were being goofballs so I had to snap this shot. They are pretty much best buddies lately and play together as much as possible.  It's kind of crazy.  Whenever Hunter is doing something, Landon wants to do it too and vice versa.  There is no definite leader as they both follow the other at times.  I love watching them play.

 After 9.5 hours in the car and 10 (yes, literally 10) stops, we got to Scottsdale.  All I wanted to do was hold that sweet little boy!! Miles is such a smiler.

 Hunter was beyond excited to see Maddy.  They are the cutest little friends.

 And Hunter, with his newfound love of babies, couldn't wait to hold Miles.  He was so good and gentle with him.  I love to watch them together.

 Sweet baby Miles fell asleep on me.

 Maddy loving on Hunter.

 Um - I wasn't SO sure about this.  They both had on Aunty Courtney's shoes...a little sparkly for Hunter if you ask me.

 This little guy is quite a character.  He is naked every opportunity he gets.  He loves his penis. And his dadu.  And his pillow (behind him).  It doesn't get much better than this in life, if you are Landon Cooper.

 Hunter does not like to be naked.  He does like to look at his belly and then say things like "Your belly is SO big Mommy!"

 Hugs!  This is both how Hunter hugs Landon and how he tries to pick him up.  As you can see, Landon just LOVES being lifted up by his neck.  Needless to say, we discourage this.

 Dance party (and I'm the only adult in on it).

 Hunter and Maddy during their first slow dance.

 Courtney overseeing the food eating.

 Me at my happiest - surrounded by children.  Hunter is hugging baby Miles.  Good thing his dad is a chiropractor, so he can put his neck back in place after Hunter smooshed him!

 So sleepy!

 Matt, Miles and Maddy.  Cute family.

 "Uncle Chris" - Courtney's Dad was in Scottsdale and was just amazing with the kids.

 Ring around the Rosie.  I thought it was adorable that they came up with this all on their own AND they included Landon.  It's funny that Landon does parallel play with kids his own age, but he is always willing to play with the older kids.

 Maddy and Miles.

 Hunter and Miles. He thinks we need 2 more babies (me too).  I think I'll have him keep talking to his Daddy.

 Hunter LOVES my belly.  He loves baby Aspen.  He asks me almost everyday when he will get to meet her.  He asks if she likes certain things and if she doesn't like certain things.  Sometimes he asks if she is hungry or if she needs to eat.  He's quite thoughtful and I hope the trend continues when she's out.

 This was 30 weeks pregnant! 10 to go.

 Landon has become quite the swimmer.  I need to post the video so you can see him - he's amazing.

 Matt adjusted the whole family right next to the pool.  We should always travel with a chiropractor.

 The family!

 We went out with the Paternas on their last night in town.  It's always so sad to sad goodbye to them.

 Are these matching robes not the CUTEST?!

 Me and my snuggle.  Every morning when he wakes up and after every nap, all Landon wants to do is snuggle.  After getting out of the pool it was all he wanted too (and you can tell that I hate this).  What a sweet boy.

 Hunter started school this week.  It was kind of a rough start.  The first day, he went in with no problem and was happy to be there.  I thought he had hot lunch so we were covered for lunch.  It turns out, when I picked him up, he saw me and started bawling!  They don't do hot lunch the first week and they didn't come take him to the playground as they had said they would after school.  He was SO sad.  It was all he talked about for 2 days, until he went back.  Thursday went well and he seemed happy but kept repeating that he was "so tired."  Rachel was here everyday this week because my dissertation is due on Tuesday and I am working as hard as I can to get it done (can't you tell?).  Anyhow, we thought that of course he was tired and he should take a nap - but he wouldn't.  This morning he kept telling me that he is so tired.  I thought about not taking him to school.  I talked to Brian about it, and I asked Hunter if he wanted to go.  I finally decided that I was being overprotective and brought him to school.  At 10:30 they called me to come get him because he was crying that he felt sick, had a slight fever and was "so tired."  I was comforted by the fact that one teacher was holding him and the other was rubbing his back when I walked into the room.  I explained to them that he has an autoimmune disorder and I fully expect him to be sick a lot for awhile.  Man! The first week and already sick.  That STINKS.  So he's laying in bed with a 103 fever.  I have gotten almost nothing done on my dissertation today.  The saving grace is that Rachel is here and taking care of Landon.  She took him to the park to get some fresh air and sunshine (and keep him away from his germy brother).  I'm so thankful to have her!

So this week was the epitome of stressful for me - with Hunter starting school, my dissertation being due next week and I am speaking at our "Stake Conference" which is approx 600-800 people.  I will feel much happier next Thursday - Brian is sending me to the spa and taking me out to dinner.  Wish us luck with school next week! I hope it gets better and he isn't scarred by the experience thus far.