TWO!

Calvin is TWO! I absolutely cannot believe that our little baby has turned into a full fledged boy. It amazes us how smart he is, and we truly had a blast celebrating his second birthday! His party was Curious George themed, and I had so much fun getting everything together! With working full time and balancing our busy lives, a fun party is the ultimate celebration and fun time to get together with family and friends... and BOY does Calvin have friends! I am so blessed to have lots of friends who showered Calvin with love, affection, and...toys. :) He is one fortunate little fella. His party was the weekend before his actual birthday which falls on Halloween. (I always knew he'd surprise us, and his entrance into this world was full of drama just like him!) His party was a success, but my stubborn boy refused to nap before hand and crashed shortly after the gifts were opened. Either way, we had a great time! I took the day off on Calvin's actual birthday to spend quality time with him all day. It was great because we did nothing but play, read books, and watch his favorite shows. Later that day we went trick or treating with Jimmy and Logan! They had a great time, and Calvin LOVED it. He said "Trick or Treat!" at each house, and "Thank you!" He got a lot of candy which Mom and Dad are enjoying still. ;) Afterwards, we went to our church's harvest party. Calvin is the only toddler, and so he got to hang out with all the big kids. He loved watching them play games and he joined them in eating pizza.
Calvin is doing everything for his age and so much more. He amazes us. Elio and I always joked that he'd be smarter than us by the time he was two, and I think we were right! Calvin's verbal skills and the things he picks up on are what impress us the most. Our conversations with him are hilarious. He speaks in sentences, runs, jumps, skips, and does his "exercises" which include a silly yoga pose and push ups. Calvin loves trains, cars, and playing with Jimmy and Logan. He's a lazy boy in the morning, and loves to sleep in. When he's ready to get up he says "I'm ready to go downstairs and watch a show!" He gets to cuddle on the couch for a while in the mornings and watch one of his favorite shows. Calvin is eating better, but oh man, he loves junk food! We offer him everything, but he has a certain affection for the junkier foods. He's getting so big, too...he really looks like a two year old! Here are some highlights from his birthday week:

 

Juggle

Lately I've been wondering how long I can keep juggling it all.

HOME. {My favorite place to be} Calvin. Elio. Brandon. Pets. Laundry, Groceries, Meals, Cleanings, Homework, Bills, Budgets, Receipts, Phonecalls, Texts, Calendars, Scheduling, Doctor, Dentist, Eyes, Cars.
WORK. 40ish hours M-F. Intense. Demanding. 100's of phonecalls, emails, & reports. Emergencies,Customer service, Scheduling, Calendars, Stress, Rewarding, Fulfilling, Happy endings, Sad endings, Career, Respect, Validation.
FAMILY. Sports, Phonecalls, Emails, Dinners, Homework, Church, Stress, Love.
CHURCH. Serving, Lesson Planning, Attendance, Second Family.
SCHOOL. Discussion Boards, Papers, Reading, Typing, Emails, Validation, Networking, Future.

ME: Shower? Clothes? Hair? Eat? {if I have time}

FRIENDS: Facebook, Texts, Phonecalls, Cards, Gifts, Time to have fun...

Don't get me wrong~ I LIKE staying busy, and I cannot sit still for long. I am always doing several things at once, making lists, and planning. I also know when to say "NO" and I have said "YES" to most things that I'm currently doing because I enjoy them and want to do them.

The problem keeps coming back to one thing on the above list: Work.

It's been obvious that I may/need/should leave my 9-5 job behind to focus full time on family, church, and furthering my education so that I can have a more peaceful career in the future.

It's just a matter of when & how. I'm still trusting. Juggling all these plates is wearing on me, but I'm going to power through. I always have, and I always will.

I just hope I don't drop any plates. No one likes a circus act that flops.

Vacation!

In July, we had our first official family vacation! We've taken plenty of trips here there and everywhere, but they've always been long weekends or trips to visit family. We planned our trip for awhile and it took us a long time to decide where to go. We went to Charleston, South Carolina, which is a place very dear to us. Elio and I have been there before, and we instantly fell in love with it. The history, the ocean, the people...it's just wonderful! We always talked about how we wanted to go back and stay for a few days. We went to the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, which is a beautiful place! The trip down took about 13-14 hours, so we stopped overnight in Tennessee. I prepared an arsenal of activities to keep Calvin entertained in the car...books, coloring, toys, snacks, music, and my not-so-secret weapon: a DVD player. He did great!
The first couple days we relaxed, swam, and just enjoyed the hotel and the nearby restaurants. The third day we went to the South Carolina Aquarium in down town Charleston which was AMAZING! It was hands down the favorite part of our trip. Calvin was mesmerized and beyond excited! He kept yelling "Whoa, WOW!" We had a great time and left just as a storm was rolling in.
After checking out of our hotel, we headed to Greenville, SC to visit my long time best friend, Bonnie. She had never met Calvin, and it was so special. Bonnie and her husband Jason opened their home to us, and we had an absolutely wonderful time with them! They got a crash course in what it's like to have a baby. haha! They gave us a tour of down town Greenville, which is GORGEOUS, and we had a delicious dinner. The next day, after a breakfast from our hostess, we headed home. We ended up driving straight home. It was a very long day, but we were ready to get back to our little house in Indiana.
Traveling with a little one taught me a lot...and taught me to let go! I had so many things planned, and I literally had an itinerary. Well, that went out the window really quick. I learned to just relax, unwind, and enjoy each moment. We took lots of stops on the way there and back, and let Calvin run around and enjoy each stop. Calvin enjoyed hillbilly gas stations just as much as the resort! Haha. Although we missed the boys and our families, we had a great time and can't wait for our next family vacation.

Surviving Sickies

We've been really blessed that Calvin has been such a healthy boy. Up until a couple months ago, he only had sniffles and teething symptoms. In May (the same week as my car accident, go figure) he got an awful stomach flu that lasted for a solid week. It was the first time we had ever seen him that sick, and it was super scary. We did end up taking him to the ER just to make sure it wasn't anything more than a virus. After a week he was himself again, but it was a rough week!

A couple weeks ago, he got another stomach virus which lasted 3-4 days and wasn't nearly as bad as the first one. The poop issues were the worst part, and his poor little bum was pretty sore. He had some more symptoms today which was not fun, but he already seems better and is sound asleep. I'm hoping it was just that nasty virus leaving his system-hopefully for good!

Here are my tips for surviving the sickies with a toddler!

-Put your game face on. Just face it that you're not going anywhere. Cancel plans, and put on your sweats.
-Toddlers really cannot tell you when they are going to throw up, so I prefer to leave Calvin in his diaper and just surround him with towels and cover the couch with sheets.
-If it's a really bad virus, camp out in the living room. We don't have a bathroom upstairs, so if we all sleep downstairs, we can throw him in the tub to clean up...even if it's 2am.
-Even if you don't cloth diaper or have no desire to, I strongly suggest buying one with some inserts just for times like these. It's easier to tell if they are having wet diapers (the tell tale sign that they are not dehydrated) and they are a life saver for a sore, raw bum! Poor Calvin's bum was so sore that he was crying really hard at diaper changes, and the cloth diapers made him so much more comfortable.
-For a raw, red, sore bum from what we call "hurty poopies" (WOW I am such a Mom) I used A&D ointment and a cornstarch baby powder. It did the trick!
-Clorox wipes are my best friend during times like this. They work wonders for cleaning up puke and sanitize at the same time!
-There's NOTHING you can give your child for a virus except lots of love, fluids, and rest. So keep the lights low, turn on cartoons, and pray. ;)
-If you are a nursing Mama, KEEP NURSING! Even if your little one is throwing up, nursing is comforting and a great way to make sure they are staying hydrated during an illness. The doctors and nurses at the hospital when Calvin was sick were so encouraging and told me that I was saving him from being sicker than he already was.
-Your child isn't going to starve. Even if you're inwardly-or outwardly- freaking out that your kid hasn't eaten in days, just remember this: As long as your baby or toddler is having wet diapers, they are fine. Their appetite will come back in time. Remember how horrible it feels the few days after you have the flu and even the sight of food makes you want to puke?? They feel the same way!
-Follow the BRAT diet- bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Calvin loves chicken soup, so we did that when his appetite came back too.
-Keep in  mind that this virus or illness is building an immunity in your child for future illnesses! Everything happens for a reason, even if it's making you insane.
-Clean, clean, clean! Kill those nasty germs and pray they never come back ;)

Calvin is such a healthy boy, and I know that these bumps in the road are all a part of parenting...I am glad I've learned these tips and I know it's not the last time I'll use them!

Summer & Almost 2!

A little disclaimer--my blog is under construction--but I could not bear to go any longer without at least posting a blog about our growing boy.

Well, our boy is almost TWO years old! He's officially 21 months, and I absolutely cannot believe that almost two years has passed since his birth.

Calvin is a running, talking, laughing, learning, silly little guy. He says SO many words, phrases, and literally learns something new each day. Calvin has always been the type of child that you only have to show him something one time, and he just "gets it". Everyone who meets him or interacts with him says this! This is good...and bad...because he repeats and will try to do pretty much whatever we do! It amazes me how established his personality is and how it feels like we have always known him. Here are some blurbs about our guy and what he's up to:

-Well, he's still a picky eater! He doesn't like veggies, so I am reading "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfield for some inspiration! He goes in stages where he will eat everything, and then refuse everything. We've sort of learned to just go with it, and we've realized that perhaps he's like a little bird who snacks on things and stocks up for later. ;) I always offer him food at every meal, and I try to the best of my ability to incorporate healthy options. If he throws it on the floor, well, then I clean it up with half a smile! He asks for his fork and spoon, and uses both very well. He is getting better about being neat during dinner time as well. He's a lot like his Mom and Dad who eat tons of our favorite foods and not so much of our least favorite foods. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! (Pun intended)
-He LOVES TV. Which is both great for doing a load of laundry and horrible in that it causes children to become vegetables. (not the good kind) So..we try to limit it to a couple shows in the morning while we're getting ready, and then one favorite show at night during snacktime. Other than that, I try to have the TV off. (We have made an exception for the Olympics!) Some of his favorites are Little Bear, Blue's Clues, and Dora.
-Calvin could play with his "guys" (Jimmy & Logan) day and night. He LOVES playing...cars, trains, babydoll..you name it and he's there! He loves to play! I love it that he can interact with kids of all ages and is very social!
-Although he is social, he is quite the Mama's boy. He is pretty clingy lately, and I am sure it is a phase all toddlers go through. All this learning and growing is hard work!
-I'm not a huge fan of the heat, but we have been enjoying summer. Nightly walks are our favorite, and he LOVES pointing out everything he sees and talking about it! It amazes us that he recognizes everything and can verbalize how he is feeling.
-Calvin knows feelings and emotions. He tells me "I'm scared" when he is scared! Although it's so cute, it's also scary to know that my son knows what is feels like to be afraid. Can I wrap him in bubble wrap and never let him leave the house? No? ok...
-He sleeps like a rock...with us. Calvin has grown to be a good sleeper, which is a huge relief because I truly thought I would never see 8 hours of sleep again for the rest of my life. He sleeps in our bed, and I'm fine with it. You know why? Because 8 hours of sleep and sleeping in on Saturdays is TOTALLY worth it...thankyouverymuch. Also, that cute, sweaty toddler is just too darn well adjusted and healthy for me to give a darn about it.

Calvin really, truly, makes us laugh, shake our heads with wonder, and thank God every day that he's in our lives! Life has been crazy with hectic work schedules all around, family stresses and demands, our house literally falling apart all at once (I'm being dramatic), and pet issues...did I mention bills, laundry, yardwork, groceries, and trying to shower? God is always good, and for that, we cannot complain! We are healthy, happy, and I've somehow found myself getting ready to start a graduate program for a Masters of Education.

Another update will hopefully appear in less than 3 months. Until then, God bless from the Rossi's.

Toddler Love

Calvin is 18 months old! I have not blogged in so long it seems. Our life has been a little more hectic than usual, and this is just something that has not fit into our schedule. There have been so many things lately that I have said to myself "Oh...I really need to write a blog about this!" so if I happen to have some free time soon, get ready for blog overload!

In the meantime, here is what our toddler is up to. I have to say, having an 18 month old is very tiring but SO FUN. He is learning so much, talking so much more, and has turned into his own little person. I adore this age and stage. He LOVES being outside, playing with the "guys", and spending time with us. Calvin also has a special affection to the TV which I had hoped to avoid. Well, life happens. The fact is, if I want to do a load of laundry (or *gasp* actually shower uninterrupted) Nick Jr has become my new best friend. Hey, everything in moderation right? ;)

The best part of this age is that there are so many fun activities we can do. We love crafts, reading books in silly voices, singing songs, going to the park, and we hope to have a zoo trip soon. Calvin also loves playing. Just PLAYING. He always wants to play with the guys, play with his toys, play outside, play at the babysitters...I swear the boy never stops! I love it though that he has so much fun. He is also just doing so much on his own. He amazes us every day! He picked me a flower for the first time, and my heart just melted.

He's also talking so much more! He says so many words but some of my current favorites are:
Shoes (it sounds like "chews". so. cute.)
Pablo (his duck, from the Backyardigans)
Owl (his favorite stuffed animal)
Bobo (his monkey, which he named)
Potty, Pee Pee, and Butt. (Hmmm...maybe potty training is in my near future?)
He says so many more, and I love actually talking with our boy. Elio has been so wonderful, and it's great to see him be able to do guy stuff with Calvin.
                                                           We love our toddler!

Green(er)

I posted a while back about trying to be more eco-friendly. Well, I believe it's a process that can sometimes take a while so I wanted to write an update. We recycle now! I know, I know...please don't judge me for how long we weren't recycling We save so much waste it's unbelievable. I just bought a tall white garbage can that is specifically for recyclables. It's super easy, and the bins in my town are free. We have two of them that we have no problem filling completely up. I plan on teaching Calvin about it. He already knows how to throw things away and loves helping. I have been researching cloth diapers lately as well. It's been something I've thought about for a long time. I went to the Mothering By Nature Center in Valpo (on Indiana Ave, near downtown). They have a large selection there and the owner is very knowledgeable. My good friend Lisa is also giving me some tips. I work full time which is the main reason I've not tried it yet, but since Calvin doesn't need changed quite as often I am thinking of giving it a try! I'll keep you posted...
My next step in going green is doing away with plastic bags. I have saved and reused them around the house for years, but it's amazing how many get thrown away! I bought some reusable bags from my local grocery store, and I also bought some from Target. I prefer Target's (only .99) bags. They have a solid piece at the bottom to keep the bags steady. What I normally would need 4 or 5 plastic bags for I used 2. They were also much easier to carry!
I am also going to plant an herb garden sometime soon which I am super excited about. I've been lobbying to Elio that we should get a couple chickens for fresh eggs, but he's not quite convinced yet. Maybe it's because he knows I just want to play with fuzzy little chicks and that he will be the one taking care of them? Haha...he's right. ;)