Life in the Tarbet house

Oh Lord have mercy on us, we are in a transition phase of our lives. I have finally accepted the fact that I am not as organized as I once was or would like to be and my house is not as clean as I would like. I think I would settle for half as clean as I would like it to be.
Anyway, I digress. I am transitioning Jacob from two naps to one big afternoon nap. And Jayden thinks that he no longer needs a nap, which I firmly disagree with! That child-I love him dearly but the poor little guy is so much like me it is scary. Poor kid...
Jacob is talking up a storm. The pediatrician warned me that Jacob could have some delays because his big brother is a talking machine. But we seem ok in that area for now. He says "HI", "bye bye" "mama" "dada" "DAD" "bubble" "ball" and "Pop pop pop!" (to go along with the bubbles) What a fun life I have with these two little cuties. I am so happy and blessed.
the remainder of this month is going to be CRAZY!! But we will survive. I am little nervous about keeping Jayden busy enough this summer without preschool so I am going to sit down with a calendar and plan out his life. He needs it and I definately need it.
Josh is very crazy busy spearheading the youth worship concert/movement "The Stand" which will be Sept 14. I know that you will all be hearing about this because it is going to be a very consuming part of our lives over the next few months. I know this is going to be a lot of work for him and for me as well but I am so proud of him! I have been praying Gods protection on our marriage because I know that Satan will try to cast a burden on this event anyway that he can. But I say "poo on you devil!"
I am gearing up for mops next year.
So, that is life for us right now. Not super exciting but it is a wonderful life

Our First Parent Teacher Conference

On Monday, we attended a parent teacher conference at Jayden's preschool. It was quite a riot. First, Mrs Jenny told us that we have a very smart little boy. I am not trying to brag but he is smart. I am pretty sure that he is going to intellectually pass his mommy up by the time he is 5! However, there are a few areas that we need to work on. One area is that he is going to need help is pouring water from a pitcher into a cup. She told us that he gets really nervous when it is his turn. I cracked up because we have him convinced that he can't pour milk until he is 16. Actually he can up with that age. "When I am 16, I will drive a car. And pour milk"
And he hates art and craft time. how perfect. he is so much like his mom-and dad too for that matter! No artist flair in this house!

working out again

I have been working out at least 3 days a week for the past two weeks. I am so sore today. After running 3 miles on the tredmill, I decided to try out the rowing machine since I never have time to work my arms (other than lifting kids) and oh my! I hurt. Everywhere. Even my toes hurt. It is going to take a lot to get me motivated to go back tomorrow.

Sweet sleepy boys

My favorite thing to do after a crazed day at home with my two boys is to sneak into their room and look at them sleeping peacefully. All of the temper tantrums, and struggles of the day, disappear into the beauty of God’s creation that He happened to let me have a part of. And somehow, I am able to see the little baby face that I first glimpsed the day they were each born.
Mr Jayden and I have had a rough day today. Power struggles, temper tantrums, and he cried for over an hour, missing his PeePaw Jerry (“I don’t want him to go to heaven, I want him to come over to my house.”). And now, he is quiet, sleeping and looking like the little angel baby that God gifted me with. And this makes every hard moment seem so insignificant.
I wonder if I will always see the face of my babies when I look at them sleeping, even after they are grown men with babies of their own.

Today has been a DAY!!!

Jayden woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. No-make that the wrong side of the universe! BUCKET O" GRUMP!!!! Our day started out not so good. He got sent to his room and timeouts and he was still a pill. But I needed groceries. I haven't been to the store in a really long time and the cabinets were bare. And tragedy of all tragedies, we were out of cheese to make cheese quesedillas, the ONLY food to Jayden. So we load up. Did I mention that my sister is here? Anyway, head out to dillons, massive list and fist full of coupons in hand. Thank you Jesus that there was a "car cart" so Mr. Grumpy was occupied. So, I filled the cart while my sister entertained the boys. $250!!!!! BUT being the deal diva that I am, with coupons and sales, etc, my bill was $148. FOLKS, I am amazing if I do say so myself.

Mom stuff

I think that it is really gross that I use my shirt as a kleenex for my boys. We were playing outside and before I could think about it, I had wiped Jacob's snotty nose with my shirt.
What is it about being a mom that makes these sort of things ok.
Josh makes fun of me because I will pick up a half eaten, very handled cookie and just pop it in my mouth. What is this??? I am such a germ freak but oh well.

Its been a long time...

I know I know, I am horrible at blogging but I am going to try to be better about this!
So here is what is going on in our house: SICK. We have been sick sick sick. Josh never gets sick and he has been sick three times this winter. First, it was the respitory flu (so much for the flu shot I got this year), then it was the stomach flu, and most recently Josh and Jacob have had the "mystery virus" High fever and cough. No fun!

So, that being said, I do have some excuse for not blogging. I am in survival mode. Fortunately spring has sprung and that means more time outside and more fresh air. Hopefully no more sick!
Being a mom and being sick is the hardest thing!

where have we been??

SICK SICK SICK SOOOOO SICK!!!
We all have these killer colds and Jacob had double ear infections last week and Jayden has been running high fevers.
Our house is a disaster and our laundry is piling up but hopefully we are on the mend.

Dr Jayden strikes again

On his never ending quest to obtain his medical license, Jayden has again been experimenting with medications. Last week, I called poison control (again!). Jayden was pouring children's tylanol into the medicine cup and then drinking it. It sortof looked like he was taking shots. I think that he was able to take about 5-8 teaspoons before I caught him.
Yesterday, I found his prescription eyedrops in bed with him. I was very surprised considering the drama that ensued everytime we had to administer the drops. "What are you doing with these?" I asked. "I was giving myself eyedrops. It's not scary anymore!"
Today, we had our first bloody boo-boo. Pop was here to help me. I really didn't want to be brave and help Jayden since there was blood running down his face from a small gash above his eyebrow. But I didn't pass out-I know you were all concerned! he is fine and the biggest trauma is that I made him wear a bandaid. For anyone who doesn't know, Jayden has an irrational fear of bandaids.

Our life is snow fun!!!!

Jayden and I have been gearing up for the big snow storm to hit Springfield. We got a dissapointing dusting of snow. Jayden believes that PeePaw sent the snow and I decided that is a nice thought so I didn't say anything different.
The pictures are of what Jayden decide to wear to go out in the snow (athletic pants and a blazer with no shirt underneath!), Jayden outside, and Jacob watching big brother in the snow through the front window.

JIB JAB

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I am so proud

Jayden woke up from his nap a few minutes ago, used the big potty (woo hoo!) and then said to me, "Mommy, I want to watch Elvis on TV." There was an Oprah show at the beginning of the fall where Lisa Marie Presley performed a duet with her Daddy to "In the Ghettto." Jayden loves it and I couldn't be happier!

Jayden was mad at me the other night. So he told me, "You are breaking my heart. You are ripping it and scratching it." Wow, that was graphic Jayden!

PS!!!!!

JACOB SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT! I GOT 8 GLORIOUS HOURS IN A ROW!

Tis the season...

to be busy!
We have had a crazy couple of weeks here at the Tarbet house. Jayden started preschool last week. He thinks he is big stuff. I have noticed that he plays much rougher now but we will get that figured out! He even has a new Mickey Mouse backpack!
I had my first Southern Living at Home party last week and it went really well. At least I think it did! We also had a Christmas party on Sat and about 30 people came. Then Josh and I were both on worship team on Sunday and our new minister gave his "tryout" sermon and was voted on. He was approved which I think is good. It is hard to judge someone based on one sermon. More and more I am wondering how I really feel about the way our church is governed.

I took Jacob to get shots this morning. Our insurance company has a cap on the amount for well-child visits and with a newborn, we hit that very quickly. So I bundled the baby up, dropped Jayden off at Daddy's office (Josh is a hero) and headed down to the health department. It was a humbling experience. I was the only married parent there, the older mom there (other than the grandma who was filling in as mom), and the only family not receiving WIC benefits. It was good for me though. I was the older mom by 7 years and I am only 27! Jacob got 3 shots and I went ahead and got a flu shot since I was there and it was free. But I was holding a squirming baby when they gave me my shot so my arm wasn't relaxed and now it hurts!
Jayden is sitting next to me right now, watching Mickey Mouse and covering mommy and the computer with address return labels! Fun stuff!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We went to a Halloween Party last night! Jayden wants me to type "trick or treat." I think he is practicing to get lots of candy tonight!

Party-Pooper without the Party

Jayden is SO excited about Halloween and has been non-stop chatter about his costume, jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treating. In a recent conversation with his mommy, he was reviewing the details of his Wednesday night candy quest.

"Is Daddy taking me trick-or-treating?" he asked Juli.

"Yes, Daddy is taking you trick or treating."

"Is he dressing up? What is he going to be?"

"Nothing," Juli replied to her three-year-old. "Daddy is a party-pooper," she explained.

A sudden concerned expression crosses the face of the little man who is currently trying to get toilet trained. "Daddy is going as POOP??!" he exclaims incredulously.

The mommy can offer no reply except laughter. Jayden realized that he has probably misunderstood and his Daddy is NOT dressing up as poop for Halloween. To clarify, he says

"Oh Mommy. You're just teasing me with poop."

Jayden the Brother-Whisperer

Hello from Jennilee! Because Juli is a busy mommy, I have asked her for permission to be a "guest blogger" on her site. She and I chat everyday, so I often get to hear stories about Jacob or Jayden that just never make it to her blog. I thought that one from today was particularly cute, so, knowing that she's busy, I asked if I could just post it. Happily, she agreed!



Jacob was in his crib crying after his nap, and Jayden said to Juli "Oh, he needs me to hold him."

Juli hoisted Jayden up in the crib, he crawled in and sweetly cuddled with his baby brother.

After a moment, he reported back to Juli "I know why he's crying, Mommy."

"Why's that?"

"It's because he doesn't have any stuff in his bed with him."

Jayden then proceeded to his room to collect some miscellaneous junk, er, I mean, valuable stuffed animals so that Jacob would no longer be lonely in his crib. Perhaps this is why Jayden sleeps with approximately two dozen stuffed animals.

It is 2:15 am.

And I haven't been to sleep yet. Jacob's allergies are acting up so he isn't sleeping so I am not either. I finally left our bedroom about 30 minutes ago to try to let Josh actually sleep well. He pretty much ignores us and sleeps but I know that it can't always be the most restful sleep
I am very cranky right now.
Josh is going to take Jayden to a car show tomorrow. Maybe I will be able to sneak a little nap in
Sunday is going to be CRAZY. Josh is going to the camp to play drums with the youth band and I am going to attend our parenting class and have the two boys all day! I think that Josh will be home sometime around 10! It is not going to be fun if I am this tired.
I just ate 5 cookies to try to keep me awake-that probably isn't good. There is nothing on TV right now.
I want to go to sleep.

I finally downloaded pictures!!!

Jacob bathtub time.


Jacob, Me, Dawn, and Leslie at Dawn's wedding in Kirksville


My fabulous birthday surprise.


I love this picture of Jayden (I am raising a tree hugger!)