Need Your Help

Eric took this picture today. And it is crying for a caption.

Any ideas?


For some reason, the look on his face just makes me laugh.
I do love this kid.

Practice Makes Perfect

In two weeks, Mommy and Alexander are going to take their first plane ride together. We will be going to Arizona to visit Big Papa and Umma.

Someone decided he should practice using his backpack.

We chose his blankie, binky, 3 books and 2 cars to help us figure out weight. Alexander decided fruit snacks would be a good addition, too. He walked around, said, "ok",and took off the backpack. And then proceeded to eat the fruit snacks.

Any suggestions for the first time flight of a toddler and mommy would be greatly appreciated!

3 days and counting...

On Sunday, we put Alexander in underwear and put the diapers away. FOREVER! We are pleased to report that, in three days time, we've only had TWO accidents! The little man has been dry for three days and using the potty with very little complaint. He still wears pull ups for naps and bedtime which beats cleaning up in the middle of the night. We are just so happy that he's doing great with potty training. The true test will come when we no longer have to remind him to go but we'll take what we can get for now. For a kid who resisted so much a few months ago when we first attempted t potty training, he's doing AWESOME!

So proud of you, kiddo!

*never did I imagine I would be posting about potty training. However, it saves us the cost of diapers so this is an event to celebrate!

Read to Me, Mama

Blog Overhaul

According to Eric, simple is better. So, the look for year three of this blog is a simple one. Since I couldn't figure out how to remove the blue background, it stays. Eric made the header. Alexander was the model. And I pieced it all together.

What's gonna work? TEAMWORK!

Birthday recap - and it's a long one!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEXANDER!!

Even with all the busy birthday excitement, Alexander was able to get a nap in for a few hours. We finally had to wake him up. It's not every day you get to cuddle in and wake up with your papa, ya know.

Soon, the guests began to arrive.
We were sad that several friends couldn't celebrate with us due to illnesses. But we understood and hope everyone is feeling better.

Auntie Kim and Lorelli


Fidelia and Jo-Jo


Jeffy and Alexander


Ho-Ho Papa and his girls

A preggo Fidelia and the Grandma-to-be. She doesn't look like she's due in April, right? Simply beautiful.We have passed on a few baby items to Fidelia and Casey. And I love the idea that a little bit of Alexander will be with them as they enjoy life with the new baby.


And Jodie teaches her mom some cool phone apps. Pretty serious business, as you can tell.

Before too long the party was underway. Cousin Lorelli, Addie, Cole and the birthday boy played together like gems. Truly wonderful.

Gift giving was next on the agenda. All the little fingers were involved at one point or another to help.


Alexander led us in a wonderful rendition of Happy Birthday.


And then the kids just played and played and played...

Cole couldn't wait to try the new tool belt.
He even fogged up the goggles for us!

So Alexander tried out the new wheelbarrow.


Soon, there were monkeys in the house.

And finally a viewing of Polar Express rounded out our evening.

It's hard to believe that our little man is three.


It's been the best three years. Ever.
We love you little man. To the moon. And back.

Birthday Prep #2

Every year, the night before Alexander's birthday party, Jo-Jo hangs out and helps with decorating.

This year was no different. Jodie and Mama went to an early dinner and when we returned, we opened a bottle of wine, found the tape, and the decorating began.

However, Alexander had a plan of his own. Within minutes, Jo-Jo was in the play room to play with the woo-woo tracks and hang out with the toddler, leaving Mama on her own. So, Jodie and Alexander played while Mama decorated. And Eric might not have helped as much as in years past but the set up was much easier so all was done quickly and efficiently.

Here is my personal favorite moment of the night - Jodie and Eric on their iphones while I worked. So funny. Don't, don't, don't bite your friends.

This poster was made by one of my students as a thank you for writing her a letter of recommendation. I do love my students!

We used primary colors as the theme, hung up some streamers, put butcher paper on the table so kids could color and Voila! It's party time!

Finally, at the end of a very fun evening, Alexander opened his presents from Jo-Jo. Thanks for the books! We are always looking for more books to read to this kid!

Next up - Birthday party!!

Birthday Prep

As you may recall, Alexander doesn't like cake. He's just discovered the taste of frosting in the past six months. I wasn't sure what we were going to do for a cake this year but Sam's Club has just what we are looking for - a giant chocolate chip cookie cake! The other night, we needed to order the cookie cake for Alexander's birthday. Normally, we would use Umma's membership (we're too cheap to order our own) but a good friend said she would take us.

We picked Gypsy and Addie up and made a quick run through Sam's Club. Gypsy was able to do her shopping while I kept the kids entertained in the cart. Or should I say, they kept me entertained.

Maverick and Charlie
(aka Alexander and Addie)






This two melt my heart when they play together.
They fight like siblings. They make up like siblings.
They call each other "best buddy" and love spending time together.
I really do hope they grow up to be the best of friends.

A Cold and Mommy's Nostalgia Take Over

Yesterday, Alexander woke up from his nap, crying, coughing and couldn't breathe from his head cold. I picked him up and he immediately started gagging and puking up phlegm. On me. By now, I'm pretty used to a kid's bodily fluids. I remember the day I was at school and my TA asked what was on my shoulder. A lovely combination of dried milk and graham cracker, compliments of Alexander. So, I'm used it. Alexander rarely gets sick, though. I can count on one hand the number of times he has had a cold and he's never had the stomach flu (knock on wood).

We are using eucalyptus oil drops in a steamy bathroom to help clear him up, chicken noodle soup, and watching for a fever. So far, all indications are a cold that is improving. But we suspect he has mold/mildew allergies from the train track that sat outside for 10 years before entering our home (it's since been removed since the last post about train sets). Making an appointment with an allergist is on the list for this week. He finally fell asleep around 10, Eric had the midnight - 1AM shift, I took the 4AM shift and have been awake with him ever since, taking the day off from work.

There is nothing worse than having your baby look up at you, tears running down his face, gagging, throwing up, and asking "why, mama". Nothing.

On another note, one of my sorority sisters is picking up the glider tonight. She is due to have a baby in about 3 weeks. We were chatting on FB last night, she mentioned she needed a glider, I mentioned I had a glider that isn't in use and here we are. We removed it from Alexander's room a few weeks ago so I'm ready for it to go.

I love the idea that she will be using it to rock her baby to sleep, sit in it to feed the baby, and eventually, read and rock to the baby, like we did with Alexander. I looked through the 2 bins of baby clothes for some things for her to use, too. She doesn't know the gender (who does that?) so I wasn't able to find much for her. But as I was looking through baby blankets, baby sleepers, and onesies, I was overcome with incredible sadness that we won't have another child. Oh, how I would love to have another baby. So would Eric. But it doesn't appear that is in the cards for us.

Slowly, we will give away baby items that we know will be well used and loved. The bins will widdle down to a few favorites outfits and blankets (especially those made by loving hands) and be placed on a shelf in the garage because I won't be able to part with them. And the memories of baby will drift to the back of our mind as our little man grows up.

Pretty sweet memories if you ask me.

Can You Ever Have Too Many Trains?

Alexander turns three next week and the party supplies arrived in the mail today. Party supplies make Mommy giddy with excitement. Giddy, I tell you.

This year's theme: trains.

Alexander chose the theme and his choice came as no surprise. This almost-three year old is obsessed with trains. We have three different types of train sets in this house. Ok, there are four sets, if you count the train floor puzzle (but who's counting). One has to be pretty careful walking around or you're bound to step on a train. Of some sort.

Set #1: A hobby shop type of train track that was given to us. You know, one of those with the electric track and giant piece of plywood that takes up two-thirds of the playroom. Eric and Alexander are slowly working on this cleaning up and putting this project together.

Sets #2 and #3: A Geo Trax set (left side of photo) and an IKEA train set (right side of photo). You know, the types of sets that Alexander and Eric can rearrange that takes up two-thirds of the living room.

Set #4: Melissa and Doug Alphabet Floor Puzzle. Requires help from Mommy and Alexander usually loses attention around letter E or F. Also, requires signing the alphabet song over and over again.

I suppose one can never have enough trains. Or party supplies, for that matter.

Mr. McSneaky

Speaking of sleeping in strange places...

Daddy checked in on me last night and I bet I gave him a huge fright, cause I wasn't sleeping in my bed. I went camping!