Silence

The house is silent because I'm alone. Well, the cats are here but they do not count. The boys are visiting Grandma and Papa because their computer is having issues again and they need Eric's help. And Eric (wisely) thought I could use time alone this afternoon.

The days of silence in our house for me are few and far between. It feels weird. It sounds different. It feels different. I look around at toys lined up and I picture my OCD child lining them up at the end of the evening. I see the shoes lined up on the stairs and an image of my son lining them up in laughter comes to mind. I can hear the fan come on for heat that isn't needed for one body. I cuddle up with a book that I'm excited to read but I can't settle in because there is something missing. For years, I spent my Sunday afternoons on the couch reading, while Eric tinkered in the computer in the other room. I'm grateful for the time alone. I really am. But at the same time, I'm counting the minutes until my boys are home. They are the best form of entertainment out there.

Somebody is feeling much better

From this...

...to this



Amazing what antibiotics (and chocolate chip cookies) can do for an ear infection.

The streak has been broken

Question: What is 813?

Answer: The number of days Alexander had gone without an illness/injury that warranted a visit to the doctor (wellness checks do not count). Not bad for a kid with a peanut allergy, eh?

At 3AM this morning, Alexander woke us up crying and whimpering. Since our two year old does not have the words to say what was wrong, we had to guess. We thought it was teething and gave him Motrin which settled him down and allowed everyone to sleep a few more hours. However, once the Motrin wore off (I had left for work by this time), the crying and whining ensued. Eric began to suspect something was really wrong and decided a trip to the doctor was first thing on the morning agenda. As it turns out, doctor's offices don't take walk ins but when the patient is screaming and crying, they quickly change their tune.

Well, we certainly aren't going to be nominated for the Parents-Of-The-Year award because it turns out, we completely misdiagnosed our son. Alexander has a double ear infection. Wow. Didn't see that coming. In all fairness, he seems to have inherited the high pain tolerance that runs on his dad's side of the family because he showed none of the classic ear infection symptoms. No tugging on the ears. No fever. No change in behavior whatsoever. In fact, we thought he was actually getting over his cold. He is on antibiotics for 12 days and has ear drops to numb the pain. By the way, if anyone has a trick on how to convince a toddler to lay his head down so we can put the drops in his ear and avoid a screaming/crying/throwing up scene, we'd love the advice. Alexander is feeling better tonight, after a visit and dinner with his Grandma and Papa...and a few cuddles with Mama.

Eric was a superstar today. Way to go, Best Dad. And thanks to my two advice giving sistas (K & M) who convinced me to let go of the guilt and stay at work to make the money that allows us to have insurance to take Alexander to the doctor. While that isn't exactly what I wanted to hear this morning, it was exactly what I needed to hear.

p.s. Eric is feeling much better and the hope is that all of us will be healthy by April! May the same be true for your families as well!

An Award?

So, uh, our blog won an award.

For those of you who didn't know, there is an endless number of blogs out there (who knew?) which one can spend hours searching for and reading during a toddler's naptime. With blogs, come these internet awards that some may say are silly but hey, I'll take an award as areward for the fruits of my labor (which ended in a csection I might add). I have found a few blogs that I faithfully follow but am a bit behind on my reading. So, with sore legs from the big half marathon walk today (YAY ME!), I decided to prop my legs up, pour a big glass of wine, and catch up on blogs. Lo and behold, Jen from A Daily Dose of Davis, has awarded our little blog a friendship award because she thinks we would be friends in real life. She is totally right. We're about the same age (she is younger). She married her Eric (he is younger too). She is a teacher (college english so she is probably more well read). She has a baby who celebrated her first birthday on my anniversary with my Eric (March 7). And she is just plain witty (and so much more creative than me!) How could we NOT be friends?

Now I am supposed to play the blogger game (I'm a rules follower so bear with me) and send this award on to eight more friends...So along with the award comes some rules...here they are...Rules do accompany this honor: "These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

So I hearby pass the honor of this award to:

1. Kate @ Life As I Live It
2. Colleen @ Delaney and Mitchell
3. Jaimie @ Football Widow
4. Bonnie @ Sweet Caroline
5. Suzy @ Suzy Hoover

6. M3 @ Do they Have Salsa in China?

7. Shell @ Jones Family Journey

8. Audrey @ A Fashionista Raising 4 boys under 4

Several of these women we have the pleasure of knowing in real life and others are complete strangers who I would LOVE to meet. Each has a story to tell. Sometimes the stories inspire me, sadden me, or teach me a new thing about being a mom. And that is why they get this award. Congrats ladies!

Miss Mary is 7!!

Happy, Happy Silly Birthday, Cousin Mary!

Sick boys

Cough.
Sneeze.
Sniffle, sniffle.

Cough.
Sneeze
Sniffle, sniffle.

Boys aren't very quiet when they are sick. And I am starting to suspect our son has a very competitive nature (imagine that). Every time Daddy coughs or sneezes, Alexander has to do the same...but louder. Which Eric counters with even louder (ah, that's where he gets it) coughing and sneezing and it continues until both of them are coughing and sneezing out of control. I feel I am observing a weird male ritual on the Discovery Channel

He's all boy.

What is up with boys and their junk?

(I already hear Eric's voice in my ear as I contemplate this post and I'm sure I shouldn't post this because Eric won't want me to embarass our son. But I can't help myself. I'm a mom of a boy. It is a new frontier to me!)

The past two nights, our dear son hasn't fallen asleep at bedtime. It is common for him to battle sleep and lay in his bed talking and reading to himself. Most nights, I will peek in him, make sure he is actually in bed and send him off to sleep with "I love you stinky face" . Imagine my surprise the past two nights when I've checked on him to find him stripped naked of his pajamas AND his diaper. And well... to be discreet ...he's found his junk. Tonight, when I flipped on the light, I heard "No Mama" and a baby giggle. Oh boy. A mom's worst nightmare come to life. Why is it I can talk to high school students about every imaginable subject but when I realize my son has discovered his junk, I am at a loss for words or a clear thought on how to respond? Every child psychology class I've ever taken has told me this is normal but I always thought they were talking about SOMEONE ELSE's kid. Not mine.

Of course, I burst into laughter, changed the diaper, and sent him off to sleep. Fully dressed.

Weekly Wacky Weather

The great Northwest seems to be forming a strange weather pattern.

It snows every Sunday. And today is no different. Alexander and I woke up to huge white flakes falling from the sky this morning.

If this pattern holds true, Mommy is going to be walking a half marathon next week in the snow.

Brrrr, Mommy, brrr...

Lullaby

Do you have a favorite song you sung to your babies or had sung to you as a child?

When Alexander was a newborn, I used to sing the WSU fight song to him. (It was either that or Happy Birthday because let's face it, I cannot carry a tune.) The minute I would start singing, Alexander would settle into my arms, look into my eyes, and fall asleep, dreaming of days when he would wear Crimson and Grey.

The past few days, our busy toddler hasn't woken up well after naptime and we've been racking up the cuddle time. Today Mommy and Alexander curled up on the couch and I was immediately taken back to the newborn days.

I did what any good Coug mommy would do. I sang the fight song. Alexander stopped crying, settled into my arms, and fell asleep.

So, for a little while this afternoon, I travelled back in time and sang our favorite lullaby with my baby asleep in my arms. And nothing else really seemed to matter.

Funny Mall Observation

So - with grandma back, and the weather being crummy, Alex, Grandma and I have been walking the mall every weekday morning again.

Today it was snowing lightly and I was a bit surprised grandma even risked the drive over. It started snowing a bit more as we left the house and headed to the mall but we got there safe.

We do our three laps around the top of the mall then go down to the main floor. Normally the playground inside the mall is full of children running around in their socks. Luckily Alex has no desire to go to germ central, so we just cruise right by it (We do skip the car rides at the other end of the mall though).

Anyways. The normally full play area. (And by full I mean full of mothers chatting with each other while they drink their Starbucks and watch their children play) is virtually empty due to the snow. Then I notice the two adults watching their children are both dads but they're sitting on the opposite sides watching their children...The moral of the story.....Moms don't like driving in the snow.

Shhhh...can you keep a secret?

A super big secret has been dumped on our laps since Sunday and I think it is finally time to share the news. Ok, in non internet life, I haven't really kept the secret to myself as well as I should have and have spilled the news to several family members. But that's because it's really good stuff and I can't help but flap my mouth and tell. And I know I'll be forgiven for flapping my mouth because the mom-to-be is worse than I am about telling the news!!

A super-close-to-us-wonderful-couple-who-has-been-trying-for-years-to-get-pregnant is PREGNANT! In my head, this is our version of Alexander becoming a big brother so it is super huge news to us. And if all goes well as I predict it shall, Alexander will be having a little sister!

Big congrats to the happy couple (and you know who you are!). We are so happy for you!!

*disclaimer to our readers*
THIS NEWS IS NOT ABOUT US! WE ARE NOT HIDING ANYTHING. REPEAT. WE ARE NOT HIDING ANYTHING. and if it was about us, do you really think I'd reveal the news to you on our blog, for crying out loud??

Dear Mom and Dad

Hi, it's your son, Alexander. I thought I'd take a stab at writing on the blog today. You both seem a little worn out and need a break. I really like being two. I've discovered some great new games but thought we should talk things over. Just in case you aren't understanding my point of view or why there's been a change in my behavior. Here's the thing; you're not always going to like or agree with the choices I make in life. I'm going to test my boundaries. I'm going to show that I want independence but still need you close enough to catch me when I fall. I'm going to fling myself to the floor and pretend to cry to see if I can manipulate you. I'm going to eat dirt. I'm going to run down the driveway until I get to the road where I will skid to a sudden stop (and laugh while you try to catch up). I'm going to open the doors to the deck and try to go outside when you aren't looking. I'm not going to take my nap 3 out of 7 days of the week. I'm going to strip out of my clothes and my diaper. Any chance I get. In fact, I'm do not like having my diaper changed and will run from you during these moments. I want to pick out my own clothes and I do not care if they match. I'm going to play with poo and not understand why I'm suddenly thrown into the bathtub or sink for a scrubbing while you retch. I'm only going to eat certain things on certain days for certain meals. I'm going to make the same choices over and over and over again. And I'm going to grin at you each time you put me in timeout. But rest assure, I am learning a lesson. I just don't want you to know it.

Please be aware that I'm going to make you the center of my world. I will light up with happiness when you walk into a room but have the confidence to know that you always will walk back into the room. A dozen times a day, I will laugh a baby giggle that causes you to laugh aloud with me. I'm going to need my binky and blankie less and less but I still want you to help me IMMEDIATELY if I have lost either item. I'm going to smother you with hugs and kisses. I'm going to wrap my arms around your legs and not let go until you pick me up so I can hug you again. I'm going to play chase and hide and seek and blocks and cars with you and be your best playmate. I'm going to cuddle in your lap. I'm going to dance and sing with you. In fact, I'm going to learn more and more words so we can have endless conversations that have no meaning. And I'm going to be super fun.

Mom and Dad, I hope this letter has cleared up any mis-understandings you may have had about my recent behavior the past few weeks. If you could just lighten up on the timeouts, that would be super. Tell you what. If you cut back on the timeouts, I'll agree to bring you beer out of the fridge at the end of the night, without being asked. And that's a win-win situation, if you ask me.

Your loving son,

Alexander

Happy, Happy 4th Birthday to Cousin David!!

We know we're sending late birthday wishes on your birthday. Since your birthday lasts 24 hours, we made it under the midnight wire...on the West Coast!

What a weekend!

Kim and I have known about Patrick's visit for about two weeks. Keeping the secret from our parents became downright painful; especially when one of us works with one of the parental units. To make a long story short, it was set up for Mom and Dad to arrive at our house Friday afternoon and Patrick would be on the porch to greet them. All went as planned. Here is a bit of a video of his arrival. While it wasn't easy to keep the secret, it was well worth it. I wish I had had video of being in the car with them. Listening to their responses when their brain's finally registered that they were actually seeing Patrick was classic.

Alexander didn't quite understand why Grandma was crying so he gave her kisses to cheer her up. And he didn't understand why Grandpa kept hugging this tall guy over and over again either. After all, Uncle Patrick had been at our house for hours since Daddy and Alexander picked him up at the airport so what was the big deal? Eventually, he decided he'd sit back and wait for his alltime favorite person to arrive - Cousin Lorelli! Everyone knows that playing with her is WAY more fun than watching everyone hug Uncle Patrick over and over and over again. We spent a fun evening as a family, even though we all missed Auntie Lissa in Florida.

We didn't have a chance to see Uncle Patrick on Saturday. Eric and I planned date night weeks ago and as much as we love Patrick, we weren't giving date night up for him! So, Alexander had a slumber party with Cousin Lorelli. Could the kid get any happier than playing his favorite cousin 2 days in a row?

. I think not.

Patrick spent Saturday evening hanging out with his niece and nephew with Kim and her family before heading out for a night on the town with Jodie, Casey and Fidelia. Something about bar hopping in West Seattle until 4AM. Way to go, team.

After a long night of partying with our own friends, Sunday brought Grandma Great's 84th birthday. More time with Patrick? Really? Yep. Can you blame us for having such big grins on our faces?

By the end of the weekend, our sweet little two year has come down with a cold. He still managed to rally for an afternoon today at Grandma and Papa's for just a little more time with Uncle Patrick. I know one uncle who got a good year's worth of love in cuddles this afternoon.

Uncle Patrick headed home tonight on the red-eye. And we will miss him. But rumor has it, Mommy and Daddy are in serious discussions about a trip to Florida next year. Serious discussions.
Bye-Bye! I love you, Uncle Patrick. Come back soon!

Happy, Happy Birthday Grandma Great!

January '07

Christmas '07

Thank you for your unwavering faith that God would bring Alexander into our family. You were the first one I told when we got engaged and your martini was the first one I turned down when we got pregnant. You never let me give up hope that someday, we would have a child. I know you prayed for us and Alexander is the soul that you said God would bring to us when He was ready. Our son adores you and I believe his little soul knew you long before he was born.

XOXO,

Us 3