Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my sweet little boy. B had a very nice day- he was a happy little tyke all day, which was a nice change from his cranky self as of late! We put a candle in his piece of toast this morning and sang Happy Birthday to him before we left for school, and Daddy left for Phoenix. He is starting to play games with me- he'll be crawling toward Shug's food and water dishes, and he likes when I come to catch him and scoop him up! He laughs and laughs. I think he'll like all the attention he'll get at his birthday party on Sunday- that is if anyone is able to make it through the snowdrifts to our house!

Home, Home on the Range

Since you are reading this post, that means that I survived the first day of "Single Mom midweek stretch." We ended up going to school today, and A did just fine. A speech pathologist spoke to the moms today, and she was very interesting. Both kids napped like a charm after school, and I pulled dinner and bedtime off without a hitch. The only thing I didn't know in A's bedtime routine was after we prayed, she said that daddy says another prayer. I think he says that "now I lay me down to sleep" bit, but I don't know it so I made some stuff up. It will be interesting if we get all the snow that's predicted- did my big hulk of a husband get the timing right for this getaway, or what? I get the concept of shoveling, but we'll see how I do with actual physical labor...

Surprised by Sickness

We went to gymnastics this morning after a completely uneventful breakfast time, and all of a sudden, A was just flopping in my lap. She didn't have enough energy to do any of the aparatus, but she wanted to stick it out for stamps (she got purple Minnie Mouse stamps on both hands, both feet, and her belly). We then proceeded to the Mall of America for Toddler Tuesday- the program was Music Together; A and B both seemed to enjoy the singing. We met Danielle and the boys there, and headed to Legoland. I didn't get to talk to Danielle at all, because once we got to Legoland, A had to head to the bathroom. You think at that point, I'd let the poor kid go home, but instead we headed to Granite City for lunch with Eric and Katie. We had a nice time at lunch, and then headed home for naps. A bout of diarrhea caught A by surprise on her way to the toilet, so after getting both kids down for naps, I had to clean and disinfect the bathroom, and then myself. Now all is well, and I'm planning on enjoying the last evening at home with my husband before he flies to Arizona for a business trip.

Greetings from the Sick House

One or more of us has been feeling icky/sick/rundown for the past two weeks. This weekend was definitely overshadowed by A's gastrointestinal distress. The quilt on her bed, along with various beloved stuffed animals, blankets, sheets, and pajamas were thrown in the washing machine multiple times over the past three days, and the carpet cleaner was plugged in to charge up for duty.

B had his 12 month well child visit today. Dr. Radtke said not to worry if he isn't even walking by 15 months. He had two vaccinations, and blood drawn for hemoglobin and lead levels, and took it all like a trooper. For everyone out there, always commenting on how big B is, he weighed in under 20 pounds, and is in the 15% for weight, so take that!

I am gearing up for first birthday party preparations this week. B's party is with family on Sunday. I am planning on ordering a cake from Byerly's, since I've heard from more than one person that they give you a free birthday cake for a first birthday. For those of you who remember A's first birthday cake- haven't I come a long way??? My standards have totally bottomed out with this secondborn child. I'm looking forward to seeing B play with (well, at least near) his cousin Maren from Madison, who is 3 months younger. Mike will be in Phoenix for work from Wednesday through Friday. A has her first dentist visit on Thursday morning. Saturday is the Edina Family Center's Winter Party, and we are planning on attending. Otherwise, we just have school and gymnastics like usual this week. Have a good one!

p.s. I watched the Oscars last night mostly by myself, about 30 minutes behind so I could fast forward through dumb stuff, and was amazed that I actually saw one of the nominees for best picture (Little Miss Sunshine), since I so rarely get to go to a movie theatre! Now I'd like to see The Departed.

Here's Your Beezer Fix

And here's a picture I like to call Ganging up on Daddy!

You know it's bad when...

your mom calls to ask if you've blogged since the 6th. So here goes...

A has inherited my drama queen tendencies- we were on our way to gymnastics yesterday, and were stopped at a red light in the left hand turn lane (at Texas Ave on Hwy 7- awful light!) She says, "we are going to be at this red light FOREVER!!!" which is what I was thinking, but she said it out loud.

Mike and I went to the Edina Family Center Winter Gala (Mike and I called it Mommy Prom) on Friday night. It was very nice to wear a nice black dress, high heels, red nail polish, and have the valet park the car, if only for one night. We then went to Okabena on Saturday morning, to help cut up a cow and a hog. We're going to have to have a pork chop party- our freezer is now full! A had a ball playing with her cousins, and it's always nice for the kids to see Grandpa and Grandma F.

We had a very nice Valentine's day at school today. It was very exciting to come home, and look through all of A's valentines from her classmates, and to read the Valentine card she got in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa J. Mike tells me he is planning on bringing some Thai take out home for our dinner tonight, so it looks like it will be a hot one at our house on 2/14!!

I'll leave you with a picture I took last night. A was playing with her alphabet puzzle and word cards while Mike and I were getting dinner ready, and Mike peeked in on her. He nudges me, and tells me to take a look at our daughter. I look around the corner and A tells me how she spelled SOCK all by herself, and proudly exclaimed, " but I spelled it with a U!"

Ray of Sunshine

Yesterday, I had a priceless moment, watching B crawl toward his open bedroom door, and stop to grasp at a ray of sunshine coming through his window. The look of wonderment on his face was the sweetest thing.
I had a great day today; and we had a great day today as a family as well. A had gymnastics at 9 this morning, and I'm so glad we switched classes. There were 4 kids there, which was great! So much personal attention! Then on the way home, I decided on a whim to stop at Painter park, for the free Tuesday open gym playtime. A and B both had fun playing, and it's always fun to do something different.
A asked to smell the glass of wine I was having with dinner tonight, and Mike then asked her what she thought it smelled like- "like beer." Mike thinks for a moment; wait a second, how do you know what beer smells like?

"These pants remind me of being nocturnal." - A commenting, as she puts on her black velvet pants

"I love your face!" - A says to me as we get her ready for bed tonight

One small step for Mommy,

One gigantic step for Family Happiness. On Thursday, after lunching with Danielle and "the big boys", we went home, and I put B down for nap. I kept A up, and we played until 2:30, and then, miracle of miracles, she napped! The same thing on Friday. So I figured out how to get the kid to nap, but it's too bad that having the naptimes staggered gives me a shorter period of time to myself to maintain sanity.

List

Here's what's been happening around here lately:

1. Momma's been frustrated.


2. We switched out of evening gymnastics because it was a zoo! Way too crowded, and crazy, with a 'dads spending time with their kids after dinner' kind of vibe, instead of the laid-back, stay at home mom and nanny crowd to which we've grown accustomed. This week was to be our first week back to mornings, however I got the time mixed up, and we showed up after our class was finished. Luckily, we were able to go into the class which was about to start, which was 18 month- 2.5 yr olds, so A looked like a rock star. I think she actually scared a few moms into thinking their own kids were slow, since she was so "advanced."


3. B is finally crawling. He decided he should get it done, the day before he turned 11 months. This weekend has to be put-up-top-of-stair-gates and sweep the floors weekend, or else!


4. I had another contacts appointment. We're getting close; the contact lens tech had to order a new left contact, and I'll have to go back for hopefully one last fitting.


5. We went for one last swim at Lifetime, since yesterday was our last day as club members. A and B both LOVE swimming, so we'll have to find some other way to do that occasionally.


6. Momma's been frustrated, and needs a warm weather vacation.


7. A needs to take afternoon naps again. See list items #1 and #6.


8. "It hurts me to wear clothes downstairs."-A this morning, wanting to go downstairs for breakfast in her pajamas. Luckily tomorrow is wear pajamas to school day!