Even with Rylan’s broken arm we were able to make the best of our first spring break as a family of 4. Thankfully the weather was descent so we were able to get outside for some fresh air. We did one of Jackson’s favorite things; feeding the fish at the Fish Hatchery. He absolutely loves throwing the food in so the fish go crazy and splash him! We visited the zoo with our friends Gavin and Logan and hit up the playground. Considering sissy had a broken arm, we had a great week and she was absolutely pleasant (which wasn’t always her style even without the broken arm!)
This was the first year that Jackson was able to dye his own Easter Eggs. So I hard boiled some eggs and bought an egg dying kit. I decided to spurge ($2.99 v $1.99 lol) for the kit that came with the plastic cups, thinking it would make it easier for us all. After working really hard to get room temperature water, and giving Jackson a ton of rules (what was I thinking) I gave him an egg put the cups in front of him, took the silly metal egg holder away because it didn’t work anyway and said “have at it buddy!” Lets just say by the end he was a complete mess but had a total blast! Rylan had fun watching and is excited to dye her own eggs next year!
Over spring break Jackson discovered his love for Ramen Noodles and even with only one arm Rylan discovered finger foods and LOVES eating. Puffs or any type of carbs are her favorite, I mean who doesn’t love them right? We had a great Easter, it was fun watching Jackson look for his Easter basket and get excited about the things we put inside. Call me old school, but Jackson and Rylan’s Easter baskets mimicked the ones I received as a kid. Jacksons had candy (Peez, Cadbury eggs, choclate bunny etc.) and little toys he could play with mainly outside (bubbles, chalk, etc.) I felt like Rylan was slightly cheated when it came to her Easter Basket, but truthfully there was very little that she could have or need. So we bough her a sippy cup to try after she got her cast off, some yogurt bites, and a couple of packages of bows.
What is Easter without some Candy?!?
Being at work this year was hard for me. Between the kids being sick, me being sick, Rylan’s arm, and then my school kids still adjusting to my routines and expectations it was just rough. I didn’t feel like a great teacher, I didn’t feel like a great mom, I just felt like I wasn’t doing a good job at either of my jobs. So when Jackson’s birthday came I decided I would make it as special as a working mom could. I missed so much work already so I couldn’t take off, but I decided to make his favorite crockpot mac and cheese. I prepped everything the night before all I had to do was plug it in! Earlier in the week I forgot to put a crock pot meal on before I left for work, so I decided to bring the mac and cheese to work so there was no way to mess it up, since it only cooks for a couple hours I would plug it in during my planning time. I put it right under my computer desk and a post it on my desk. The end of the day comes and I am so excited to go see my two year old boy, I go to grab my bag and see the crock pot still sitting unplugged under my desk! I mean not once but twice in a week I completely forgot to plug in a crock pot meal. . .could making dinner get any easier? Well yes it could because we went to Carmines!
Thankfully Jackson loves Carmines, every time we drive by he goes “Yummmy hot dog” So Jackson had a birthday dinner of a delicious hotdog, french fries and an ice cream cone. . .doesn’t get much better than that for a 2 year old. Oh yeah he also got a mini cupcake when we got home because we had to sing and let him blow out a candle or we would be horrible parents right? He had a blast opening his presents, we got him a spiral bound pad because he loves to color, some markers and a couple stamps. Even without the mac and cheese Jackson had a great birthday. Obviously I am having a difficult time balancing this whole working mom thing!
I can’t believe how big my little man has gotten. . .he can count to 13, has a mouth full of teeth, can match letters, has a very strong opinion about what he likes to eat or really anything (not sure where he gets that from lol). He has such a wonderful personality and is truly the light of our lives as his smile (and kisses) can make any day perfect! He loves music and to dance and sing. Whenever we get the camera out he can be a little shy so it is hard to capture.
No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
He also inherited his mother’s athletic abilities. . .I think a basketball scholarship is in his future.
Even with the broken arm Rylan was becoming more pleasant. . .content. . not sure the best way to describe it. She wasn’t a miserable infant she was just very particular as to who she wanted to hold her and how she wanted things. She was a diva in every sense of the word. She has started to enjoy a variety of foods and like most opinionated people one day she will love something and the next that same food is spit out. She has a lot of fun sitting and eating with Jackson however she seems to want what he is having which is not always possible.
Mid-April we went back to the orthopedics for a check up, when they showed me the x-ray my heart dropped because I didn’t think she would be able to get the cast off, but when the doctor explained that yes the break is still technically there but the white cotton looking ball around it is all new bone growth, I was relieved that she was going to be able to get her cast off and start moving that arm of hers.
It was a nice day, my mom was able to get a half day so she was able to come with us to the doctors. Afterwards we enjoyed lunch at Label 7 where Rylan got to experience her first french fry, as you can see from the pictures it was love at first taste (just like her mama). Afterwards we went for a nice walk along the canal (Rylan napped) visited a neat toy store in Schone Place and then headed home to get Jackson. The car ride home was the best part of the day, in the mirror we got to watch Rylan discover her left arm. She would grab it with her right arm, lift it up and let it drop. She did this 3-4 times with such a puzzled look on her face; it was hilarious.
The doctor said it was normal for her not to use her arm right away, that she will move at her own pace. However after a week of her not using it at all I was worried about nerve damage. Over the next few weeks we made several trips back to the orthopedics office, each doctor said it was “strange that she wasn’t moving it, but we have never treated a break like this is a child so young so it could be normal.” She passed all of the tests they did to test for nerve damage, they just said “It could just be her personality” that is when I stopped worrying because so far Rylan has done everything according to her agenda. Eventually she started using it more and more on her own.
After all the illnesses we have had this winter we welcomed warmer weather and the ability to get outside. We took advantage of any sunny day, we went to Springdale Farms for the Sheep Sheering Festival. It was a great event and a perfectly sunny day. As you can see from the pictures below that it was a blast. Jackson got to ride his very own mini John Deer tractor, see a whole bunch of different animals, watch a sheep get sheered, fish (the highlight of the day for him) and eat some popcorn!
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