My peculiar child

So Hayden has always had a meticulous personality and some pretty funny quirks. He is a perfectionist and things should never be out of place. He is also a pretty big neat freak. Not always a bad thing. Here are some of his latest Haydenisms.

Hayden goes to a toddler craft class every Monday. This is one of the crafts he made a couple of weeks ago. Well, Hayden has never been okay with the fact that his monster pillow only has one eye. He always tells me, "not done mommy." He always wants me to put another eye on it. Too funny!

This is his kids meal prize from Carls Junior. I hate cheap toys by the way. I can't wait till they break or get forgotten about until they go in the trash. We have plenty of decent toys around the house. Anyways, Hayden kept telling me, "not working mom," "stand up mom." He hated the fact that Igor was slumped over. I kept trying to tell him his back was broken and other excuses but he was just frustrated. This was just not right! I love that he is such a peculiar child. He keeps me laughing constantly!

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!

My sweet husband turns 27 today! Wow, I know. I can't believe it. Happy Birthday Babe. I love you so much. I hope that we can make your day a special one. You deserve it.

The title is Brian's trademark while singing the birthday song. I used to get embarrassed, but I love it and would miss it if he forgot to do it.

Last night we celebrated Brian's big day with our friends. It was such a blast going to dinner at Training Table (mmmm, cheese fries). Then we headed to the Gardner's for some cake and ice cream. The Gardners are so generous to offer their house. We had just gotten into town that morning and Brian was working on something with a friend and I had a shower. I obviously had no time to prepare my house. Thanks a bunch guys! We played loaded questions after the delicious ice cream and cake (the second one, don't ask, it was a disaster.) I still love ya Bri! I can laugh about it now. Thanks to all who were able to make it. He says he had a blast.
The cake. I am just so relieved that we were able to have cake after all!

I hope he wished for something good!

Look at these three stooges. How cute are they? I gave them each their own cake and they went to town. It was hilarious to watch them "attack" the cake.

What little gentelment to clean up themselves.

Here we are playing our game. This is Ryan and Melanie Miller, our neighbors. Max is their son and Melanie is scheduled to be induced this Wednesday. What a trooper to still join us.

Ryan, MaryAnn, and Rosemary just hanging out while playing our game.

Craig and Danielle. She is a trooper too. I hope you start feeling better soon.And of course, the Gardners. Of course we couldn't get away without a goofy picture on Steve's part. What fun would that be? Thanks again for hosting the shindig!

Some people left before I remembered to get out the camera. We have the best friends in the world. We consider this a huge blessing. Everyone of our friends adds something special to our lives. Thanks to everyone again for coming. It was a fun night.

Weekend Getaway

This past weekend my parents wanted to take off for a little getaway. Originally we were going to go to Disneyland but they didn't think I would want to do all that walking. They were certainly right. I didn't realize how uncomfortable I would be at this stage. Then we were thinking Yellowstone. Well, it was going to be 50 degrees tops. We settled for a little trip to Park City. Hayden was on his best "2 year old temper tantrum galore" behavior. I was lucky to have my parents and Trenton there to help the first day until Brian came. I am sure they didn't feel quite as fortunate. Regardless, it was fun to get out of town for a couple nights.

Hayden refused to sit by this frog unless "Uncle Tenton" was sitting with him.
This is Hayden getting ready for swimming. He thought it was pretty hilarious to wear the swim diaper on his head.

I decided to spare a few laughs and not even attempt to put on my swimsuit. Luckily Hayden's Papa is always willing to do whatever Hayden wants. Him and Trenton were his swim partners on this trip. Trevor and Grandma joined in later that night.

This is another fabulous picture of my toddler doing what he does best. Hayden was on one at dinner the last night and I was in no condition to fight him. He is on top of our bench in the corner. This kept him quite and nobody around seemed to notice.

Thanks Mom and Dad for another fun family vacation!

This is the way we roll

This is just another one of those things. I attempt to take Hayden shopping because I really don't have a choice and this is usually what happens. I lose battles such as these. I really didn't want him to wear a football helmet while we were grocery shopping, but it was just not worth the fight. In fact, I am so exhausted these days, most things aren't. We did get quite a few pointing fingers, laughs, and comments from people. I guess it is pretty cute. Hayden loves his Utes helmet (it's actually my brother's from when he was little.) And of course he has to have the firetruck grocery cart. The thing I don't have a picture of is when I ended up carrying Hayden the rest of our shopping trip, pushing this honkin huge cart full of groceries around. Needless to say, if I do have this baby early, it needs no explanation as to why.

My Cowboy

Brian decided that for Halloween, Hayden should be a cowboy. He already had the boots, so why not! We have been piecing the costume together piece by piece and my wonderful mom was the one who found the hat. Well, the hat is a staple in Hayden's wardrobe now. He loves this hat and will wear it anywhere and everywhere. There was no waiting for the actual day. Here are a couple of shots with Hayden and his cowboy hat.Here he is doing his "model cowboy" shots.

Hayden will tell you a cowboys says, "Yee haw" It sounds half donkey. It is pretty hilarious. Maybe I can try and get a video of that.

Having a 2 year old can bring many laughs and challenges. Yesterday while trying to head out the door for church, this is what I found. He came up to me and said, "Go, mom!" I said, "Oh you are ready to go." He told me "Uh huh." Well, it took quite the persuasion to get the hat off, hair done, and exchange the slippers for church shoes. He calls his slippers "Dragon-Tales slippers." He watches way too much T.V. these days!

Heatlh Fair

There was a health fair at the South Jordan community center today. The Millers (my neighbors) and Hayden and I went to see what it was all about. The boys love firetrucks right now and they had one there that they could actually sit in. Hayden was really hesitant at first, but loved it once he got in.

Hanging out in the firetruck.

What cute boys.

On the front of the truck. These are the only pictures we got at the fair. This was the only picture worthy thing there. We got a lot of free junk and hey, we got out of the house.

Basketball Head

Hayden found this mask at my mom's house and of course just couldn't part with it. We took it home and he loves to wear it. He also loves Mom and Dad to wear it. We are learning very quickly who the boss of our household is!

How close is too close?

Hayden dragged this chair in from the garage the other day and it seems to be his new favorite thing. He carries it everywhere in the house and tries sitting/climbing on it everywhere in the house. This picture of him has been another common occurrence. He sits way to close to the T.V. and I end up having to scoot him back every time! I caught him sitting on it on top of the couch the other day. This chair is not very sturdy. He loves to drag it into the kitchen and "see" what I am doing all the time. I think this may result in an accident one of these days!

One of those days with a two year old!

So yesterday was a trying day for me. Some days I wonder how I got the sweetest two year old ever and then other days, well, I don't. Here is a breakdown of my day yesterday.

Morning:

We go to the zoo and after he reaches his much tired point, I end up pushing a stroller and carrying a toddler uphill some of the way. I was exhausted. Check out our zoo pictures in the post below.

Afternoon:

Hayden falls asleep on the way home from the zoo and I am thinking, "oh good, but I hope he transfers well."

We pull onto our little alleyway and what do I see, a huge dump truck pulling a tractor on a large trailer, driving all over my grass while trying to back the trailer up to the next alley. This is not the first time it has happened and it usually ends up in rough terrain and dead grass. Well, watching it for about 10 minutes (they are blocking my driveway) and knowing there is no way I can communicate with the "worker", I am furious! My blood pressure is rising like crazy and I can't wait to lay myself in bed!

Hayden on the other hand, of course didn't transfer so well as I was carrying a load of crap, a carseat, and him into the house. I think, "well, he was soooo tired, he should go right back to sleep." Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! What a joke! Several times I was almost completely out when he would start talking, asking questions, etc. I finally put him in his own room and again, am woken up by Hayden with his fireman hat on and playing around. This scenario is one that is sure to get me completely grouchy for the rest of the day. It has done so many times before. I NEEDED a nap!

I finally give up and throw his binky across the room (he can only have it while sleeping). I don't know why, I was just so frustrated. I go downstairs to stare the ugly, messy house in the eyes, and decide that although my head is pounding and I refuse to take pills while pregnant, I will clean.

Evening:

I attempt to make dinner only to realize I don't have the ingredients I was positive I had. I was without a car since I had left it at my parents the night before. I call him up and he picks us up to take us back to his place where I could retrieve my car.

Hayden and I head to Target. Brave, I know, with the way my day was going. Hayden was surprisingly well behaved for most of the time. That is until this incident. Hayden spots a lady. He tells me, "lady.". I tell him yes and try to play it off. Soon, Hayden is yelling, "LADY." She doesn't turn around so louder, "LADY!" She finally turns around and says, "is he saying, lady?" "Yes, I said, I am sorry, I don't know where that came from." She assures me it's okay and that he is very cute. I just told her to be grateful he recognized her as a lady and not a man. After she starts walking away, he says again, "Lady!" I told him again, "yes," and then he said, "cute shoes!" I guess all he wanted was to let this lady know she had cute shoes.

I grab some chips and put them into the cart. Hayden insists on holding them and so I just give in. He holds them over the edge and says, "drop it?" I told him "no, do not drop those chips!" That was asking for it. He of course does it so I pick them up and slightly tap his hand and say, "No, I told you not to drop the chips!" He smiles, slaps my hand harder, and says, "NO!" He then starts laughing and repeating these actions while others are watching.

It's bath time and I don't know how I can do one more thing. Of course, it was a battle. I try to take his diaper off as he is screaming and clenching his legs together. I finally get it off, but he is now clenching onto the diaper itself. I get him bathed and in pajamas and luckily Brian gets home. I let him do the rest which was easy. Laying in bed while he falls asleep.

So, I tell you this because after all my efforts, I get a little laugh, but mostly feel like a failure of a mom. I have given the day my all, and I feel the crappiest! I love Hayden's age but he is still a two year old!

Another trip to the zoo.

The day started off with a fun trip to the zoo. We went with our neighbors Melanie and Maxwell Miller. They had never been to the Hogle Zoo before. In fact, she always though it was called the Hobo Zoo. Geese, what would us Utahn's be thinking? Hayden was a little stubborn about the fact we were going to the zoo without Trevor, my brother. He kept yelling at me, "Trevor do it!" In other words, the zoo was old news to him and if he was going, he wanted Trevor to do it. The boys had fun and as two very pregnant women, we did our best. It was fun, but having two two year olds in a zoo is quite the challenge. Here are some of our pictures from the day.

Hayden didn't really want to pose next to real animals, but the fake ones were just fine!

We never could get a good picture with Max. He was a little bit distracted, and obsessed with climbing. I am a bit surprised he didn't end up in an animal habitat.

Giraffes seem to be Hayden's favorite animal right now.

Another "great picture" of the boys riding the tigers. Unfortunately, the zoo doens't have the best setup to see these creatures.

Of course we couldn't get away without a ride on the carousel. Hayden wanted the Elephant and we didn't have to fight any young children to get it!

Our last and final stop was the train. By this time I was exhausted and so were the boys. It was a great final activity.