Whining, poop and puke, oh my!

6 months old growth picture.

It's been one of those weeks that feels like the kids have been whining, pooping or puking. I'm not sure if a bug or virus of some kind has rooted itself in my house, or if it's just a case of the crabbies, but it's been a long week. I really shouldn't complain too much because the week has also been filled with a lot of really fun (and some new!) stuff, too.

The week started with my baby turning 6 months old. I cannot believe he's halfway through his first year of life! To celebrate this milestone we started solid food. I mixed some rice cereal with breast milk and fed it to a somewhat confused Ashton. He really didn't seem to know how to feel about it. He didn't like or hate it. He was ambivalent. Mostly, he just spit it right back out. I also put some breast milk into a sippy cup to try and introduce the concept of drinking mommy's milk another way other than straight from the tap. Since he refuses to take a bottle, I'm really hoping this method will work and allow me some extended time away from him occasionally.  I continued to feed Ash cereal throughout the week, but it wasn't until supper tonight that he actually grasped the concept of swallowing it. He ate quite a few spoonfuls. Midway through the week I introduced a Baby Mum Mum, which for those of you who aren't familiar, are a quickly dissolving cracker. He gnawed on it like it was the best thing that ever touched his gums. I'm looking forward to incorporating more baby and finger foods as the weeks go on, but it does make me a titch sad that my baby is rapidly becoming less of a baby by the day.

Early Tuesday morning when I was nursing Ashton back to sleep, he projectile vomited all over. Excuse the graphic nature, but there was so much puke that it made an actual splooshing sound when it hit the carpet. Nothing like being vomited on at 4 am. I am still not quite sure the cause of it or the random low grade fevers throughout the week (rice cereal, sickness, teething, something I ate), but Ashton definitely has not been himself all week. We enjoyed a few cuddling sessions--a rarity since he learned to put himself to sleep a few months ago.

2 1/2 years old growth picture.

Spencer also was not quite himself all week either. He switched from laughing and playing to cranky and volatile without warning. It was meltdown after meltdown, where every little thing set him off and nothing could make him happy. The worst of the worst came on Friday. Every Friday morning we attend an ECFE class for two year olds. The formula of the class allows for free play at the beginning before all the parents and kids gather for circle time. Free play always has its issues with kids butting heads and having difficulties with sharing and communicating. It's bound to happen with a class full of 2 year olds. But Friday proved to be too much for Spencer. We were there no more than 15 minutes before we had to pack up and leave. He just could not handle it. Having issues controlling his impulses for whatever reason, he hit and screamed and cried and pitched the biggest award-winning public tantrum of his life. I decided to pull him out of the situation and we went home, where the tantrums continued. He even decided he didn't need to take a nap and would not stay in his bed. Finally after an hour and a half of going back in his room to put him back to bed, removing books and toys from his room, and even making a phone call to his daddy to have "a talk" about being a good boy, I turned his toddler daybed around to stimulate a crib. Once trapped inside, he did finally take a nap.

I'm hoping next week is the beginning of a brand new, sunshine-smiling Mahlke household!!

Cuddling with my boys Saturday on a cold, rainy morning.

On a bright note, my sweet, sweet husband took it upon himself to arrange a night out for me. He contacted one of my best friends to see if she'd meet me for some drinks Friday night. Dave said I needed a night out. Indeed I did!! One drink turned into a few too many, and we didn't leave the bar until midnight, but it was exactly what I needed. I had a great time. Thanks, Ann!!! And thank you to my thoughtful husband for making it happen. Both Ann and I were confused why we never thought to do something like that ourselves.

I make the week sound like it was a big ball of stress and crabbiness when really it was a pretty good week, but often times the bad parts stick out the most. So let's sweep the ugly parts of the week away and dish about the good.

We had a lot of fun with the letter P. A few weeks ago Spencer collected a bunch of pine cones with Grandma Amy. I couldn't resist using them for a few projects. Luckily Monday was a nice day that allowed us some time outside to discover some non-traditional ways of painting. We dipped the pine cones in paint and then threw them at the easel. Spencer loved this, of course. We also dipped the pine cones in some water and rolled them down the driveway, demonstrating a creative way to paint pavement. We used a traditional paint brush with water on the driveway as well.

Tuesday we had a play date at the park with some new friends. Then Daddy met us after work for a picnic.

Wednesday we played balloon ping pong with paddles I made out of Popsicle sticks and paper plates. It was a good concept that Spencer loved, but you really need to use high quality paper plates instead of the cheap ones from the dollar store. We also had a packed lunch in the family room.

The highlight of our week was when Aunt Hopey paid us an overnight visit on Wednesday. We played outside until Daddy got off work. Then we headed to the mall for a yummy meal at HuHot before Dave took the boys and allowed my sister and I some girl time. We enjoyed pampering ourselves with some pedicures. And then later once the boys were in bed, we drank some wine and chatted the night away.

We ended the week hosting a dinner with Grandpa Dave and Barb. And then we had a realization that our lives must be a bit lame when they left to go dancing at a bar and we couldn't get our jammies on fast enough to enjoy a movie at home.