The "Real Housewives": a new addiction

Over the weekend, while in RI, my sister and I had quite some time to kill in front of the boob tube. Our kids play so well together, and they happened to particularly enjoy playing downstairs in the "man cave" during Sunday football. She and I relaxed upstairs sipping peppermint tea watching a marathon of a show I have been meaning to see: The Real Housewives of Orange County.

The night before she and I treated ourselves to fabulously funny marathon of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta". I was nearly brought to tears watching this show, as it was far beyond mildly amusing. 

I guess my expectations of both shows was that we would be watching to ooh and ahh over the luxury life. Really the underline meaning of the show seems to be to make FUN of them, and in the end thank your lucky heavens you are WAYYYYYYYYYY more "normal" then they can ever afford. Money certainly doesn't bring brains, personality, great parenting skills, and certainly doesn't help with aging. These young thirty somethings looked well into their late forties! (even with botox)

The Real OC was sorta boring since all it showed was drinking (both shows it seems that is all they do--so apparently rehab gains from this lifestyle), bikini's, and partying like they are at a keg party 24/7 even if they have little kids (which they freely subject them to this lifestyle). You have to laugh, but you really want to cry! Do people really live like this? 

Shouldn't the "Real Housewives" of any state show what the average housewife does? I can tell you this people...this show showed not even a sliver of a reflection of my life. How about one of those ladies scrubbing a toilet? Making a bed? Wiping a little ones behind? Carpooling? Disciplining? Using coupons in the market? Choosing a preschool? ...anything....anything!!!! I am sure the ratings would plummet if they did, and I get why they produce this show--but what totally confuses me is how these ladies, after looking back at reruns, don't see it as a joke made 100% on them! 

What to buy a Pregnant lady for Christmas?

...Designer Bags OH MY

Dooney, Coach and Kathy to last me ALL year! :-)

Holiday Weekend Update: Rewind

Holiday Times In Rhode Island:

We got to Rhode Island the day after Christmas, just in time to celebrate Grampy's birthday, see family and friends, play with cousin Ava, and for Aimee to fill her belly with all of the foods she misses from Rhody (including deli pizza which is cold pizza with plain sauce). 

Here is Rylan and Ava practicing for a family band:

Christmas Day:

Grandmas showered him with great gifts too! This included his matching chair to his big boy room! He loves it so much he wants it out in the living room to watch his shows on!

While the family came over to eat a THANKFULLY easy meal I prepared, and after a well needed nap I had to have in order to stay sane (I broke down a few times on Christmas day since Rylan again played the nap game, and I was just to tired myself to deal), Rylan fell asleep watching a video on the floor.  When he woke up he wanted chocolate and I was like: H-to the E--to the LL NO!

Thanks to the midnight bedtime, Rylan "slept in" until 8:30 am Christmas morning. Pete and I woke up feeling like we were up all night at a keg party without the glory of saying "wow we had fun last night" or "even though we feel like crap today those drinks were tasty". So we opened gifts, and still showered our son with love. Thankfully he isn't old enough to realize that although he was "bad" the night before...Santa STILL came. His favorite items on the list: helicopters and planes!

Christmas Eve:

Our night began with a toddler dressed up as a handsome little fella--even though he gave his parents a hard time over a nap that day. He has learned he can get out of bed and counter act our requests for him to sleep! YIKES! To top off of the haze he was in from a short nap that day, he then went on to eat the 5,000 chocolates grandma left out at toddler eye level, oreo cookies, and my personal favorite...grandmas Jenny Craig cookies! He walked out of Christmas Eve with a sugar high! (and man did we learn a lesson) During the evening Pete and I tried to be chill parents saying things like "It's Christmas Eve...let him eat whatever"---let me just say here and now we will NEVER do that again! As we got home an hour or two past his bedtime and he seized to repeat what he thought was a fun game at nap time! We put him to bed. He got up. We put him t bed. He got up. We closed the door. He screamed. We explained we would leave the door open if he stayed in bed. He got up. We closed the door. He screamed. And we repeated this about 750 times before Pete jumped in bed with him for THREE hours until he fell asleep at midnight. The kid had won he and knew it! (OH SH#@)

Merry Christmas!!!

                                                     Love the Dos Santos Family

Christmas Eve Belly Blessings

It is amazing how time has gotten me here. A place I am so thankful to be. It is filled with a two year old that makes me smile everyday (no matter how hard parenting is), and a baby on the way nestled in my tummy that looks likes Santa's bowl full of jelly. A year ago, although thankful for the life I have, I was still mourning the loss of my miscarriage, and desperate for another chance at being a parent again. The process of getting to where I am, is nothing I will ever forget. It was the first time in my life I learned a lesson about time...it comes on God's time not mine. I had a time line in my head (assuming getting pregnant would be easy like my first pregnancy)--how very wrong I was. The fact is we would all love to live life as we planned, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way, and down the line we learn the reason why. For those reading this struggling with fertility or loss of a miscarriage, I pray this year brings you joy. For those of you planning on pregnancy, or anything else in life, according to a "time line" I pray that it works for you and that you don't have to learn this lesson the hard way.

I am blessed for so many many reasons. This year I am extra blessed to put all that desperation behind me.
Cheers to the belly!

Festive Pics

My new dining room ready to host it's first Dos Santos Christmas dinner!

All the kids in Spilt Milk Mom's group ready for Santa (crazy that next year another Dos Santos baby will be in the picture!)

A few amusing moments...

• Rylan has been obsessed with Diego lately (from Dora the Explorer). While in the parking lot this weekend, the Dos Santos family passes by a Hispanic man. Rylan begins to yell "Diego Diego Diego". Not understanding why the man isn't responding, nor why we weren't bringing him over like we do to meet Santa or Mickey, he begins to sing the theme song just make sure we knew what he was talking about. Rylan thought he had his first celebrity siting--when in fact...my kid now thinks every Hispanic man on this planet is Diego. I better not bring him to Spanish Harlem or his dreams will be shattered! 
• While finishing up Christmas shopping this evening the cashier found an item I was purchasing had NO price! I tried to convince him it was free since I just stood in line forever and a day, but instead he sent someone to find the price, and cashed me out to wait. I waited. And waited. I kept looking for the women, and kept eyeing Pete in the car sitting in front of the store waiting for me. Twenty minutes have gone by, and a good five people have checked out with my cashier while I waited. Finally he got on the intercom and said "Phillis, my reindeer here in aisle 6 is getting impatient. Please help". The entire store erupted with laughter, and the long line behind me started to make reindeer noises at me. Finally Phillis found the price, and the cashier check me out and said "I guess you won't me trolloping through Marshal's anytime soon". 
• This weekend we went to a gathering to meet the famous Locke twins (link to their blog is on my list). We thought we wouldn't make it there for too long since Rylan refused him nap and was in a mood. However, older kids were at the gathering, and apparently offered more to him, then kids his age or younger do. Anyway...Rylan decided he wanted a chip. It was his height, and he scarfed done about 50. Then dip came out. Well he thought...this is toddler heaven--big kids AND dip! So he thought he would be thoughtful and share some chips for the other guys! He chose one special chip and was caught triple dipping his chip into the dip! I tried to explain to him that isn't the "right thing to do", but before you could say "One dip"--he was caught triple dipping again and again! We are hoping to still be invited to Locke events in the future--even though that Dos Santos kid does gross triple dips!

Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow

Trying hard to walk in the snow
Our new backyard filled with Winter white
Supervising Dad's work
Blue's Clues house Dressed in Winter
Snowflake Spotting

Snow Flake touching

Holiday Video Clips

This is a light show at someones house that was tuned into a radio station that we went to see:

How festive!

Here are some clips from our time enjoying the MASSIVE amount of snow we got today: (please don't mind my singing...apparently Rylan wasn't so amused with it either!)

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Answer to the ears

Finally I have arrived at an answer about Rylan's ears. Sadly it was because we were holed up in the Dr.'s office last night after days of him being miserable, and off of his rocker.

I thought maybe it was a nasty cold? signs of the flu? (I forgot to get him his shot) a bug?

nope. Just the norm. A double ear infection. 

This happened just a mere week and a half after he just finished his last ten days of antibiotics. Poor kid thinks this is how his ears are supposed to feel every Winter. And finally we are over it.

So the call is being made today: Tubes for Christmas. 

ps. luckily I convinced them to give him a flu shot last night too!

Monthly Baby Follow-up

Positives:

• Baby's heartbeat strong and the Dr said it is "Happy in it's home"
  
• The test results came back from last weeks ultrasound and all looks GREAT --a lot less of the retro placenta
• I have only gained a pound
• Next time I go in I get a script for the "waiting with baited breathe" ultrasound that will tell us what we are having

Negatives:

• Even though the retro placenta being less in size is a GOOD thing--the bad part is no more weekly ultrasounds which make me a little manic with the waiting between routine visits to hear the heartbeat
• My clothes no longer fit (meaning I can't keep my draws up since my belly has the bulge), however I am still too small to wear maternity pants
• I am still massively sleepy
• I have four more weeks until I get a moment of calm from hearing the heartbeat--until then I will still be a nervous wreck!

No Free Peep Shows In The Burbs

I was thinking while dancing in the shower this morning to the new Neyo song (which by the way I shouldn't love so much since it is a hot hit with most 16 yr olds--NOT peeps in their thirties), I hope my neighbors up on the hill in my backyard can't see me shaking my preggers behind right now! I have a fairly big window in my shower and no window treatment to hide behind  until the steam starts to rise. Luckily between my birthday suit, and the homes on the hill in my backyard, there is miles and miles of woods. So I assure myself that the only living thing that is looking at me is a deer, which would bring an entire new meaning to a "deer in headlights"...because these days my "headlights" are outta porn control thanks to pregnancy! 

Anyway..enough about my breasts, and naked dancing.

My first apartment in NYC had a shower with a window in it too! I used to like this idea at first, until I realized while showering one day, that the alley in back of that window, was literally only 2 feet away, and a saw my admiring male neighbor wave. Quickly I assembled a friendly mold free window drape, instead of installing a quarter drop for my neighbor to use to get a peep show. I considered writing a sign that said "hey sicko...peep shows are down around times square, NOT here on the upper East Side"...but frankly the more time I spent in that apartment I realized...peep shows are FREE in NYC all over the place! I apparently had to stop being such a "prude".

Remember the "naked neighbor" on Friends? Sure you laughed in your suburb home thinking such things could never happen, while the rest of us that lived in the actual city the story line was made about knew it was in fact the truth.  For instance, my friend down the hall had one of these men. He was naked ALL the time. The most embarrassing part of it was his window was literally 3 feet from all of her windows. We would be sitting enjoying girl talk over coffee, and turn to see an ornament in her window--which just so happened to be a penis! She told me should would wake up in the middle of the night to pee or get a drink of water, and naked guy would be roaming around waving! One time we even spotted naked guy wearing American flag speedo like underwear, and that is were we concluded--he must be a stripper.

This is not all we spotted in the "alley". At any given time of day you could open your drapes and voyeur into as many peoples lives as you would like! It would be like: I see apartment A is watching CSI, apartment B is dancing by themselves, apartment C is having a threesome, and apartment D has a crying lady in the window! All scenarios that are very real--and could be happening at 8am, 3am, or 2pm NYC time.

Even if you didn't want to see things you had no choice! My last apartment in the city had a balcony that also looked over the alley. I didn't want to see the ugly fat man bathing in a blow up pool on the top of his roof doing an ode to the song "I touch myself". However, the "seeing" things is part of the NYC course. I never worried by year two of living there if I was caught in my bra because I forgot to pull the shades...because I knew for a fact they all have seen far more risky, and disgusting things in other windows! 

It also doesn't only happen in NYC. As I remember visiting the C3 family in Boston, I was admiring Christina's beautiful view of her alley where we found some normal looking guy out on his balcony picking his feet. We are not only talking about cutting toe nails with clippers, we are talking full out toes in the mouth, biting! As our appetites quickly turned, we thought "can he do that in the privacy of his own home". Oh right he is!!!! 

So here is the bonus to the burbs--no alleys! I no longer have to feel like I am living in a fish bowl, unless of course you go outside--because I live in one of those neighborhoods where the moment you step outside, the neighbors are hiding behind the blinds watching your every move. At least they aren't getting sick from having to watch me jive in the shower wishing I was clubbing, then washing my parts! Nor do they have to watch Pete chew his toe nails off like a monkey...ok ok he actually USES clippers. Point being, I gathered in the shower today, for as much as I love and miss the city, the burbs has its private props! 

Note to self on parenting: ...Don't screw this one up!

You know what the worst part about parenting is?...make choices that will affect your little one drastically. When you are first pregnant you are more focused on the cuddly baby you will have in your arms, and then suddenly he/she is born and your realize...."oh crap...I better not F' this one up". 

Our two heated, debating, choices seem to be swallowing me whole these days. I keep second guessing myself--what if I make the wrong choice and he would've benefited more with the other? What if I royally screw him up, and he needs therapy when he is 18 for a mere "to do or not to do" that his flaky Mom can not clearly make up her mind?

The first choice: To tube or not to tube...that is the question?

This one is the easier of the two since which ever way I turn on this, his ear will eventually grow and drain correctly. For now, it is still a suck choice. Last year at this time the kid had about seven ear infections that would not go away in between, and it was just the start of the season! This year he has only had three, and when he is done with the antibiotics his ears are beautiful, sparkly, and perfect. The ENT told us he is "low risk" right now. His hearing tests are all sky high passed, and he isn't in complete need of tubes. He then went on to say he is a great subject for them. Rylan will continue to have infection regardless, but tubes will lesson the amount of them. The Dr. said it was up to us, his dear parents, to decide to treat his infections with antibiotics (like we have done), or minor surgery (which we go back and forth on now that he is almost 3, and this is usually done before they are 2). I went into this thinking the only way I would put tubes in is if: a. if affected his hearing and speech or b. it lingered in between ear infections like last year. Now I have been considering the other part...what about Rylan and the pain he feels? What about the fact he thinks this is "normal"? There is pros and cons to both sides...and we are still stuck in the middle somewhere.

The second choice: Special Ed or mainstream...the big money question!

This choice indeed could matter in the long run and is really doing a number on me these days! I thought I had this all sought out, until I stopped in my tracks and listened to my peers with kids the same age around me. Here is the deal, as you know Rylan gets speech therapy, and play therapy through the states birth to three which he qualified for at 1  1/2 yrs old. I have loved their services, and advice, but sadly our time will come to an end come June when Rylan turns 3! This leads us to "next steps". He has made HUGE strides since in this program, and both of his therapist are on the fence about referring him to be serviced through the town (aka special ed program). This of course leads me to waver inbetween the does he need it? does he not? The speech therapist said she is more comfortable with referring us to seek out speech therapy privately while mainstreaming him. I orginally thought maybe I should put him in special ed because if he really needs it --the sooner the better. There is many many pros and cons to this choice too. The one and only special ed preschool is 4 days a week--which would be a massive jump from being at home with mom all day everyday. Most of my friends have tots going into three's programs that are only two days tops! I am not sure which way I will go--but we are already at the 11th hour...I have to decide about special ed by the end of this month! Also the private preschool enrollments are coming to an end soon for next year! 

All I know is making choices for myself was so much easier! I can now feel for the way my parents must of felt when my first grade teacher told them I had a learning disability, and needed to stay back a year. The worry for your child when considering special needs are endless. Little did they know I would end up being just fine. So fine that I have two Masters degree's and even TEACH mainstream classrooms! My own experience soothe my worries about Rylan a little. However, I can not stop worrying about making choices for him, (the "right" choices), that will lay the ground work for him future. 

Who would have thought at two and a half I would have so much choices to make and so little time?

Low Down Of The Weekend

Saturday was filled with a great deal of Christmas shopping ambition! When we got to the mall we were stunned on how many people had the same ambition that day. If we didn't know any better we would have thought it was black Friday shopping! Surprisingly, parking was not the thing that ruined our holiday spirit, it was more like our miniature scrooge. 

Rylan enjoys the mall atmosphere as long as he is A. moving, and B. not in a store. This makes it difficult for Pete and I to move through the crowds (quick enough for Rylan's approval), and for shopping in any store (except for one of the toy stores that had a large plane that Rylan is OBSESSED with). Pete had Rylan on his shoulders for most of the time, and if he wasn't pulling his hair, or smacking his head, he was screaming "BYE BYE" at the top of his lungs while crying. So we only lasted a half an hour, and concluded that holiday shopping with the kid DOES NOT work--at least when your kid is 2! Bah-humbug!

I also finally resigned from my tutoring job that day! I know what you are thinking--finally?..didn't you just start that job?...I did--but the two months of being with them felt like two years! The kids, and the fellow employee's were nice enough, it was administration part that I was stressing over. I felt like I was getting no respect for the fact I have a family first, and also felt the pay was horrible (especially when it is all certified teachers working there), and they ran it like we were working in a fast food joint with no degree's! I was losing sleep over it, and soon realized that the pay I was getting nearly covered my gas money to get there, that they wouldn't change, and that I deserved to be treated like a professional. So I move on....and I focus on subbing once a week until the baby comes! I celebrated this breaking up and new found freedom, with a Friendly's sundae that day!

Sunday I wrapped all of the gifts I currently have in the house! The guest room now is filled with piles of various gifts for various families. Rylan decided there wasn't a need to nap and was a bit of a pill again! Pete got a surprise when a police officer called and told him part of his stolen wallet (one of many things stolen out of his car last January) had been found, and to come pick them up. 

We topped off this day with a family belated birthday party for me. This included beautiful singing from Rylan, Rylan swiping all the frosting off of the ice cream cake, and some great gifts! One gift included in the mix you might remember me blogging about when I was in Aruba! I got a beautiful David Yurman ring from Pete's grandma, and now enjoy the idea of being able to sport diamonds on both hands...after all they are a girls best friends!

Some side notes unrelated to the weekend:

-My sister rocks--as she sent me chocolate covered strawberries from Edible arrangements for my birthday this week! What a great gift! 

-I officially wore maternity pants this weekend

-I am back to being sleepy and not feeling so great in the evening

-Italian ice has made its way back to my cravings (I ate in all the time while preggers with Ry)

-Pete leaves for NYC tomorrow for the next two days--leaving me behind! SO jealous he gets to take in my city for a few days!

-Don't feel too bad for me....I am off to get mani's and pedi's tomorrow night with some girlfriends (however it would be wayyy cheaper in the city--as you can get both for $20!!!)

-I wish I could be in Aruba right now! Wearing this ring keeps me thinking about the warm day in Aruba that it was bought! I swear that island gets in your blood and sticks like glue!

Confession

I had an Italian grinder for dinner even though I got the "No lunch meat" memo. I couldn't help myself! Sorry baby D--mommy had no will power today!

I am guessing all will be fine since it came from a top class deli here in town, and when I was pregnant with Rylan (and didn't get the memo), I ate a deli sandwich from a crusty deli in the Bronx everyday for lunch! 

So there you have it...I am human. Just like Adam and Eve, sometimes temptation must be gulped up!

Teacher for a day

It was icy at 5:30 am, and I was awake watching the news waiting for a delay or cancellation. It brought me back to my teaching years when I would yearn for snow, but in NYC there could be 9 feet of it and they still had school.

I wasn't jumping for joy to go out in the nasty weather outside today, but it looked like I had no choice. So I got myself ready, like any working woman would do, and then made my way to do what no mother likes to do: wake the child. It figures on the day I have to leave and be some where, he wants to sleep in.  Twenty minutes later he was ready to party with his papa, and I was off to teach first grade today.

I got into the school building early enough to get used my surroundings (aka find adult bathrooms since preggers needs it bad!), and review the lesson plans. After admiring the 10 Christmas sweaters, and five apple ABC shirts, fellow teachers were wearings, I started feeling like a Debbie downer in my trendy all back ensemble. In the Bronx nobody would be caught dead in holiday sweaters or ABC shirts--man if I ever go back to full time teaching in the suburbs I am going to have to go sheek to geek! I sure those teachers thought I was attending a wake later on, but whatever!

The kids rolled on in, and in minutes I could tell who was trouble! After of day of hearing Mrs. (insert their regular teachers name) lets us do (insert lie about something Mrs. whatever her name is would NEVER let the kids do, I have to go the bathroom it's an emergency (for the 10th time), a little girl drawing a penis on Santa and making him pee on the reindeer, a little boy making his Lego's during indoor recess into a gun, random pain in the rear boys rolling on the floor and barking during all parts of the day, and some kids that thought having a sub meant PARTY time, I concluded I still miss having my own classroom. I was exhausted by the days end, but there were a few things I was happy to leave thinking about: a. I taught for the first time in years today, b. I got all of the work left for me to do, done., c. the kids knew by the end of the day I was not afraid to yell, write a note to their teacher that included their names, nor would I allow barking during math time! Next time they see me they will know I mean business. This is the hard part about being a sub--the kids aim will always be how they can pull one over on you! 

By the days end I was ready for a nap, a warm meal, a bathroom break, and silence! Finally after being on late bus duty, I had it! 

Getting Older

I just turned 22! 

Ok..maybe not, but I feel like I should have.

Instead I woke up today baffled by the fact that I am now 32. For some reason this number was harder to devour they 30. 

I have a hard time swallowing the fact that it was 10 years ago I was 22! At 22 I was a newbie to NYC, living off of student loans, getting my masters degree at Fordham University, wearing hoochie momma shirts, weighing 90 pounds, getting $150 hair cuts, dancing on bars, and living life a free spirit! Ten years ago I longed for getting married, and having babies, I focused every date I  had with trying to convince the man sitting across from me, what a "wicked good" wife I'd be. When in reality all they could focus on was my hoochie momma shirts! Instead of focusing on being young and having fun, I couldn't wait to "grow up"--WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Sure I have had many fun memories that a care free, do what you want, young twenty something should, but now looking back I get why I never got the 2nd date, or why I spent years so single. I tried to hard to be the women I am today, when little did I know I would get there on my own time. 

Ten years ago I thought 32 was old. Not only OLD, but your life is almost over, jump in the grave old! I wrinkled my nose at single 30 somethings I met, not understanding how anyone could be single in their thirties, when clearly they were too old and should be married with babies already. The young social worker in me would analyze the crap out of them trying to find a solution. 

I also couldn't understand why women in their thirties could wear certain things, listen to top 40 music (I mean shouldn't they be listening to the oldie station already), and going out dancing with friends (when clearly they should be home caring for babies and "acting" their age).

Now here I am....32.

Another year older might mean another year wiser in some areas in life--such as the hoochie momma shirts have been donated, and I have embraced the fact that it wouldn't look right for me to dance on bars anymore. However I do get caught up in the "I wish I did ____ when I was younger, and the "If I knew then what I know now I would have____". I often say I wish I lived more without worrying so much about settling down. I do wish I chilled a bit--but the fact is when I was in my single twenties I was living large. I lived in the best city on earth, I over educated myself, I stayed trendy, I went out and had fun, I went to Starbucks three times a day not worrying about a family to feed...I lived...and now I live differently. 

So I can't stay awake past 10 pm. 

I like to stay in.

I wear "mom clothes".

I am no longer 90 pounds.

But the main difference between 22 and 32 to is...I know myself so much better now then I did then. Then I was a impressionable, ready to change for others while being so unsure of me. I am comfortable in my own skin now, and although others try to change me, I am unchangeable. 

I do still listen to "hip" music--and even though I am old, I am not willing to give that up.

Today...I was laying in bed from this flutter in my stomach that woke me up. I was wrapping my head around the number 32, and asking myself how can this be? ...In my heart I feel 22. However I am no longer that chick who once tried so hard. I am now a mother, and a wife. The flutter in my stomach was not hunger, nor a sign I had to pee...

It was my new baby moving. A feeling I got to feel for the first time with him/her on my 32nd birthday! Frankly, I wouldn't change that for being 22 for ANYTHING!

My Baby Is Wild

On the eve of my 32nd birthday, I was granted the best gift of all....a baby filled ultrasound.  I had my first trimester screening tonight, which included a deeper look at any and all concerns that have happened thus far. The good news is the retro-placenta bleed is now just a little tid bit that will just go away on its own soon enough. All the measurements, heartbeat, and major organs are all up to speed. That was of course all wonderful news...but what made me most excited was to see the baby jump around. I caught a glimpse of the baby opening and closing its mouth, mooning the camera, sticking it's belly out, kicking me, and doing back flips. It was a wonderful sight to see the baby actually looking like a baby now, instead of a bean or a blob!

Here are a few pics--two profiles ones, and one at the end with legs in the air--mooning us!

Weekend Fun in Pics

Us and the Bermuda crew

Rylan and Kayden chill out
First snow at our new house

The kids and our mini snowman
cookie making (with CLEAN hands)

Zayla works on the gingerbread house


Loves
Rylan with Portuguese Santa

A weekend filled with Bermy

Our weekend officially winded down today, although Monday.

We enjoyed a long weekend with a mostly unpacked house, and some of our favorite friends. Our friends from Bermuda decided to brave the cold and come visit us this weekend. Luckily the kids experienced some snow fall to play in, the husbands got to grab a football game while wishing they were in Bermuda since they couldn't feel their feet, and the wives...well we did what we have done best since college and gossiped. 

Rylan loved my god daughter Zayla, who is 4, and apparently the coolest in his eyes. He did not however, enjoy her brother Kayden who is 1, because he, being the baby  of the bunch, was getting alot of attention. Which basically means I am totally screwed with the baby comes in June. Rylan decided to hit, push, kick...whatever he desired to do, and in fact enjoyed time outs since that then turned the attention on him. You would think this was happening when the attention to Kayden was given by me, but it was ANYONE who gave him attention (even Kaydens own mother!). So I spent the weekend reminding Rylan it is not ok to beat on friends--we only hug, kiss, and high five. He did have a few loving moments when he was caught hugging him, but for the most part--I am seriously worried for my unborn child...it shall be interesting.

Our weekend consisted of a visit to the Portuguese Cultural Center for breakfast with Santa, a night out to eat for the ladies, a football game for the men, and LOTS of festive Christmas activities for the kiddies (snow play, cookie making, gingerbread house creating, Santa craft)! 

We were sad to see them go today. We had hoped to head to Bermuda this Spring, but sadly once the weather starts heating up, is when I will be popping out a baby. We will miss our Bermy friends--I am quite sure even Rylan will miss his baby friend Kayden.

(as always--pics from weekend fun to come)

The Tilting Tree

So there we were under the Christmas tree. Pete and I. Romantic right?...not quite.

Two hours before we ended up underneath the tree together, we heard a big bang. Sadly we found our tree on the floor and many of our special ornaments broken.  After many, many, many, attempts to get the trunk into the stand correctly, and then screwed in evenly, we realized the trunk was indeed slanted. So after much swearing, and alot of  "this time hold it straight", and "hold the tree steady dammit", we lay under the tree praying this time would work.

It looked pretty promising, as it should for two hours worth of our time, and grumpy tudes. Frankly if it was up to me, I was ready to toss it the woods last night. Thankfully we were still on talking terms when we assessed the situation under there and decided it was ago.

Just in case we thought maybe since I haven't been using those hand weights (you know since I am all about eating which means peace out on "healthy Aimee" until July --got to love babies in the belly), that we would use the hand weights in the back of the tree to counteract any need for it to want to tilt forward. 

The tree now has holes, bended branches, and ornaments missing arms, legs, and fins---but hey it is saved. 

We are hoping we don't have to spend another night under the tree, and if we do luckily we have company this weekend which includes another adult male that Pete can spend two hours under the tree with.

The Mystery Of The Chocolate Bandit

It was an early wake up call today. Rylan thought it would be a great idea to wake up, as his dad was leaving. Now that he is in a bed, I have no choice but to roll out and comply, (in the crib days he would stay in there for up to a half hour playing!). 

So I get up, and start doing the "to do" list. 

Rylan sits quietly in front of Sesame Street, and I thank the heavens for the invention of tv.

Time slips by and I am amazed how quiet he is, that he isn't following me around, or asking for "yum yum" (aka breakfast). So I go into the room to investigate, purely thinking I just had an angel child. 

I see him look at me with a brown ring around his mouth, and is rustling a shiny green paper in his hand quickly as I approach him! What do I find when I get there? A Hersey kiss! I let him eat it for the effort he put into it, and for the naive me who thought I could leave candy out in the candy dish this holiday season. Which then makes me think...just how many candies did he eat this morning at 7am?

I find this...

Apparently he at ALL of them for breakfast! AND he knows how to crumple up the wrapper! After more investigation we learned he learned this technique from grandma's house, where they let him get candy from the candy dish, unwrap chocolates, and crumple the wrapper! 

Update: just before finishing this post I ran to the bathroom to come back and find my sweet, angelic boy, on the floor with his bottle of vitamins OPENED! He opened the child proof top all by himself! I am unsure of how many he ate, I am guessing 3 or 4. So I called poison control, and thankfully it isn't an issue...but it is only 7:45am and both of these things have already went down over here!

Whats for breakfast over here in the Dos Santos household: Chocolates and Vitamins!

And then there was a bed...

We had a special delivery from Tennessee yesterday: Rylans big boy Stanley Young America furniture (purchased at half price thanks to factory outlets given to me from a dear friend)! We purchased a set that will be able to transition well into his teen years (minus the doggy theme). I promise more pictures of his pottery barn/modern room soon! 

Rylan was so excited about his new big boy bed, we couldn't get him out of it.  So naturally when it was time to sleep for the night, Pete and I attempted our normal routine with him, and left him just like any other night (however psycho mom hooked up the monitor just in case). He screamed. So I went in and tried to lay next to him, but all he wanted to do is talk about Daddy, and squeeze my nose and yell "nose". So I left, and  he screamed. Then we did what any parent would do who thought their child was deathly afraid of his new digs...we moved him to the crib! However he still cried for what seemed like forever and a day.

So I went in with my best offer and asked him: "Do you want to sleep here in the baby crib, or in your new big boy bed? Either way you MUST go to bed!" He started songs of "big boy bed", and once again I put him in it. He started to whimper when I was closing the door, and I asked him, "do you want me to leave door open?", he said "open". I did what was requested, and although there was alot of chatting going on in there, there was NO screaming! A little while later it was silence, and my little man slept through the night in his big boy bed! (his mom was up all night worried about the monitor and him falling)

This morning I went in to get him and I lay next to him to snuggle. He turned to me and said "Ry Ry big boy bed". He was so proud. He didn't even want to leave it! So I left him and told him to come down off of his bed when he was ready. He did get down eventually but continues to run in there and get up on it, just to make sure it is still his! 

Playing Doctor With Some Smooth Moves

Rylan innocently thought he would play with doctor with his friend Melody:

Then he decided it was time to make a smooth move:

Holiday Weekend Pics

Thanksgiving: (Rylan adores his big cousin Ava)

The boys up to no good


The Santa Train:

Raising the roof
Hot Chocolate is YUMMY
I spy Santa



A perfect Christmas card picture if Ava was ours

Our Tree:

The end result
Braving the cold
Loving papa
Pete cutting this years tree down