The big FIVE!

On Thursday my sweet boy turned five. I can hardly believe he's that old already. I remember finding out I was pregnant with Logan. I was terrified and so so sick, all day,everyday. Logan arrived on his due date after 38 long, painful hours of back labor. I remember holding Logan when he was teeny tiny and thinking there never was a cuter baby. And now I look at him and think the very same thing, except he's 5 now.
Dear Logan,
You are such a good boy and I am so proud to be your mama. You are the sweetest brother to Collin and you're Nathan's very best friend. Right now you love Super Mario, Bakugans, racecars, watching Doc McStuffins & Octonauts, and Lego Ninjago. You love building, drawing and sword fighting with your brother and daddy. You are so smart. You know all your colors, letters, shapes, most numbers, and even some letter sounds. You and daddy are reading Narnia chapter books before bed. You just started sleeping on the top bunk, you can take a shower by yourself and get totally dressed on your own. your favorite foods are spaghetti and chili. Your best friends at school are Mason and Tristan. you wear a size 4/5 clothes, size 12.5 shoes, weigh 38lbs and are about 40inches tall.
Logan you are getting so big. Five years ago you made me a mama and I am so thankful to have you as my son. Five is such a big year. Lots of exciting things are going to happen, graduating Room 3, starting kindergarten, trying soccer, making new friends. We had a Super Mario party for you and your class. You had so much fun. We had pizza, cupcakes, and went on a scavenger hunt. Faraway grandma and grandpa made you a toad piñata! You got some pretty cool presents too. Uncle Paul got you a Wii! Lucky guy.
We love you so much, Logan. Happy birthday, sweet boy!
xo,
Mama

Easter and 7 months

Happy Easter!!
We had big plans to split our day between home and Palmdale. However, our babies are still sick. They're all boogery, fevery, coughy messes. We went back and forth on what we should do but decided that since Collin still had a fever and was contagious we'd stay home. We are sad to have missed our Palmdale Easter celebration.
This morning the big kids let us sleep in until 8 o'clock. Hooray! We all showered and dressed before going downstairs to see what the Easter bunny had brought. The kids scored. Grandma bought them tons of fun stuff. We took the obligatory Easter morning pictures and then let the kids play outside. We skipped church this year so that we wouldn't share our awful sick germs. While Grandma and Phee Phee were at church I made brunch. We had quiche, bacon, sausage, fruit salad, sticky buns, and asparagus. Yum. We ate around noon and then worked of our big meal with and egg hunt.




The kids had a blast and Colly was content to sit on his blanket and watch his siblings run around.




The weather was perfect and so springy. It was such a nice, low key day.




Dear Collin,
Today you're 7 months old. Time is really flying. I hate time. I want to keep you small and snuggly forever. When I last weighed you, you were 18.5lbs. Big guy. You go to the doctor next week so we'll see how much you've really grown. You wear a size 3 diaper and 6-9 month clothes. You are sitting up really well. You're favorite toy is Gracie's Dora guitar. You love being read to, especially books about kitties. You cut your first tooth (left bottom) on April 2nd. You were miserable. Your second tooth should pop through in the next day or some. You're such a drooly guy. You are still eating 6oz every 4.5hrs but now you're eating about 4oz of solids a day. You love food and start smacking your lips when someone is eating around you. Collin, you're such a sweet, happy boy. I adore you. You're getting much better about letting other people hold you. You still live my hair. You live to smash your face in my hair and grab it by the fistful. You have such a cute belly laugh and your super ticklish. Especially your armpits. Collin, mama loves you so much. Today was your first Easter. You watched your crazy siblings hunt for eggs, ate your banana chunks outside for brunch, pulled all of the treats out of you basket, and loved playing with the eggs. This past 7 months with you in our lives have been pure joy and I feel so blessed to watch you grown and change each day.

The dentist and other things

Last Wednesday, Logan went to the dentist for the first time. Only 2 years later than he should have. Oops. He did great. No cavities, yay! The dentist said he needs to floss more and start using mouth wash. The twins and Collin went along to the appointment. They were very well behaved and let mama bounce back and forth between the play room and the exam room.


After the dentist we drove to Rachel's house to say goodbye to her. She's moving to Washington on Monday and we're going to miss her so much. Especially mommy. The kids played on her swing set and checked out her turtle before we hugged and said our goodbyes.
Because the kids were do well behaved I thought playing and eating at McDonald's would be a good treat. The kids gobbled up there happy meals and went to play. Not even 5 minutes later I see Nathan starting to gag. I run in the play yard just as he vomits. Poor sweet Gracie had explosive diarrhea at nearly the same time. I thought I was going to die. It was a mommy nightmare. I desperately wanted to scream and run away. Or burst into tears. My poor sick kids. I apologized profusely to the McDonald's employees and then cleaned my kids up in my van. Nathan barfed the whole ride home. When we got home I had a screaming, hungry, cranky baby, a disastrous carseat to clean, a poopy daughter, a barfy son, and one big boy who was sweet enough to help his mama survive the day. Logan was such a big help. He played with and fed Colly for me while I did damage control. I called my mom at work, crying because the day was so hard. It was a day only another mother could understand.
My poor kids are still sick. Gracie's fever broke last night and little Collin still has one today. All 4 of them have boogery noses and hacking coughs. I'm so happy spring is here and hopeful that healthier days are ahead.

It's a hard job but it's the best job

I've been feeling like a pretty rotten mom lately. Nothing from my old bag-o-tricks is working. My kids are fighting and screaming and being especially naughty, selfish, and disobedient. Grr. Our punishments, discipline and rewards just aren't cutting it. I had a major mommy meltdown last night. Sobbing and blubbering. It's so hard to be a parent. I was at my wits end last night and ready to apply for jobs in the morning. Maybe I'm not cut out for this stay at home mom thing, I thought. Maybe daycare can do a better job?! Yes, I was pretty pitiful.
But this morning I woke up determined. This is the only job I've ever wanted and I am good at it. Sometimes I yell too much and give in too easily but I can do better. I must do better. So first things first, no yelling! From anyone. Mama and daddy have to be calm and talk the littles through it all. No yelling anymore. Today I haven't raised my voice once and it feels so so so good. I don't feel like a meany.
This is not to say that the children have been angels. They have not. Which brings me to my next change. Be consistent. Always. No matter what. Sometimes when the offense is small and no one's bleeding I skip the time out. No more. My kids have made lots of trips to the stairs. They get a warning, of course. They no the rules. I remind them of the rules. If they break them again... Stairs.
We used to say/yell "go to the stairs!" but that always got us a "NO!!!!" in return. Frustrating, maddening and unnecessary. From now on we'll walk them to the stairs and then sit and work it out immediately. Ive made a lot of trips to the stairs today. A lot. But it's been totally worth it. I've handled everything right away and had a great chance to work out problems with each child the way they understand best.
It's only 12:30 and it's been a ton of work to discipline the 3 big kids all day but I feel like I can do it. I can be the mom I want to be and in a couple days/weeks my kids will get with the new routine.
I want to raise good, obedient, happy, giving children. I've been trying to explain how to live with a happy, giving, loving heart. To everyone. Not just mommy and daddy but everyone you meet. We're working on saying "yes, mommy" in a happy voice and leaving their super whiny voices behind. I remind them that when they ask me to fill their sippy cups, or fix a toy, or get them a snack I do not whine, cry or throw myself on the floor. I expect the same from my kiddos. I've said " remember your happy heart and voice when you talk to mommy" a lot.
So I think we're off to a good start and I feel good about being a mama again. I love my rascals.

6 months

Dear Collin,
Happy 1/2 birthday little man! How in the world have 6 months gone by?! This time last year I had morning sickness, just been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and completely exhausted. Today I am so blessed to have a happy, snuggly baby to hold. However, I am still completely exhausted. You are such a sweet, smiley baby. You are addicted to your mama. I cannot leave you with grandma or Phee Phee for very long before you are loudly requesting that I return. You are still wearing 6 month clothes but are starting fit in a few 6-9 month sleepers. You wear a size 3 diaper. You love your baby food. You've tried sweet potato, pumpkin, avocado, banana, corn, carrots, squash, spinach, apples and prunes. Spinach is your favorite. You are getting so good at using your arms to prop yourself up on your tummy. You try to roll onto your back as soon as I lay you down on your belly. You've recently found your voice. You love to talk and sing but you're so loud. You are a Rodriguez, after all. You live your jumperoo and bouncy chair. You are liking toys more and more and you're getting pretty good with your cute pudgy hands. You are still eating 6oz of formula every 4.5 hours. You are eating solids 1-2 a day and have tried a sippy cup a few times. You are sleeping in mamas bed most of the night but now sleep a good 7 hour stretch between feedings. Collin, you are such a sweet blessing. We all love you so much.

Baby food

I've decided to make all of Collin's food. Store bought baby food is expensive and kinda gross. I made some of Logan's food in the beginning but he moved to table foods really quickly. He had a full set of chompers by 9 months. I just didn't have the time or energy to do it for the twins. I was all about surviving their first year. But this time I have the time, the knowledge and the desire to do it all myself. I'll probably still use the store bought organic veggie jars when we travel since storing homemade baby food on the go seems daunting.
Last night was my third baby food cooking day. The first was just to get my feet wet. I made sweet potato, avocado and banana purées. Collin loved them. The next time I made a banana, sweet potato, pumpkin combo. Collin's fave so far. Last night was my biggest cooking day. I steamed corn, carrots, spinach and squash. I also stewed apples and prunes. Then I puréed everything separately and froze them in iced cube trays. Oh how i love my silicone ice cube trays! I spent about an hour cooking and have about a month of meals for him. I still need to make broccoli, green beans, peaches, tomatoes, quinoa and brown rice but I need to hit Trader Joes first. Auntie Amy was nice enough to let me borrow her baby food cook books and now I have lots of good/yummy ideas. I can't believe how big Collin is getting. Wasn't he born just yesterday? Isn't he still my tiny 7lb bundle?! Time is a meany.
In other news, Mama needs a new food processor. My blender is dumb and lazy and hard to clean. Maybe I'll get a shiny new food processor for Ell for his birthday? Just kidding. Kinda.

A trip to the movies

Today I took all 4 of my wonderful children to the movies, by myself. I am proud. It took some serious planning for me to ensure that I could manage without feeling completely overwhelmed. We saw The Lorax because it's Dr. Seuss' birthday and because it was the only kids' movie playing. I'm not a huge Seuss fan but the movie was cute. I made sure that I had a warm bottle all ready for Colly to drink as soon as we were settled in our seats. We usually smuggle our own snacks in to the theater but I actually shelled out the bazillion dollars it costs for 3 kids popcorn packs. Goodbye $15. I had Collin in the Moby, carried the popcorns in one hand, and had 2 booster seats in the other. I made Logan carry his own booster and the twins managed to carry the drinks without spilling. Once in the dark theater the twins, especially Natey, we're terrified. It took them a good 10-15 minutes before they could mellow out and enjoy themselves. When we sat down I fed Collin and he went right to sleep. About an hour into the movie Logan said he had to go potty. Translation- everyone has to go potty. Bummer. The bathroom is always chaotic but especially with a cute baby strapped to my front. We lost a paci in the toilet but otherwise we made it out fairly quickly and in time to see the final few minutes of the movie. After the movie we headed to the car. I got lots of "you sure have your hands full" and "wow, you're brave" and "are they twins?" and "are they all your's?" on the way to the car. It's annoying. I only have 4 kids not 14.
My kids love Target. Really love it. Every morning when I ask the twins "Good morning babies! What should we do today?!" Nathan always say "go to Target." Then he asks me if I'll buy him a toy. So after the movies we went to Target. I fully intended to buy stuff I didn't need but after loading the kids in the cart and wrapping Collin in the Moby and getting to the dollar spot, I realized my wallet was in the car. It was for the best. We went straight to the toy section and walked every aisle. My kids love this. After about an hour mama was tired and so we ended our day and headed home. Daddy got Panda Express for dinner. Yum.
I love my kids so much. It's hard having so many little ones but I wouldn't have it any other way. They are so sweet and even at their naughtiest, they are still the light of my life. I'm so blessed to be able to stay home with them and have special movie days and take trips to Target. I hope they enjoyed the day as much as I did.