Coloring

So Connor gets stamps at Gymboree when he goes. So I thought it would be cute to draw a little fish on his belly. That quickly turned into this:

~Brooke

Commercials

In the age of DVR's I feel no need to ever watch commercials.  You want to hold my attention? Or want me to watch?  It better be funny.  I have found two that I laugh at every time without fail:







~Brooke

The vaccine debate settled....for me

My brother recently got married a month ago. I love my new sister-in-law. She really will be the sister I never had. They went on their honeymoon to Cabo in Mexico and had a great time. They came home and Megan wasn't feeling that well and hasn't really for about a month. Yesterday was the worst she has ever felt. My brother to her to the ER. They ran a few tests, including one for H1N1. Turns out, she has viral menengitis! She's been admitted to the hospital and is in pain, but should be fine. She was worried about everyone she's been in contact with - particularly kids. I told her not to worry about Connor - he's been vaccinated. And I was so relieved my husband and I made that decision. To vaccinate. I know they can be scary, but in this instance - its been peace of mind.

She's of course, worried about me getting it as well. I told her I'll be fine - she didn't lick me :)

~Brooke

Motherhood 101

My motherhood top 10 to date:


1. I have already fallen prey to the thumb lick. It happened Friday. I hate the thumb lick. Hopefully I won't do it again. (But, what choice did I have - we were on our way to Target and he had cream cheese on his nose. I had to get it off).

2. I had my first morning blow out just this week. Got up, went to the bathroom, got myself together - then got Con changed. Um yeah, poop everywhere. Inside the jammies, up the back, up the belly. Good lord it was not a pretty sight. He went straight to the tub.

3. I have had to hold my child when peeing. Before Connor I swore the bathroom was off limits. When I'm in the bathroom, no one else can come in. Yeah that lasted a long time. When he melts down and says "up" while I'm peeing, what choice do I have to stop the tantrum?

4. I have put him in the trunk. While yes, this is, in fact, true, it's only when I'm loading the groceries. Let me tell you, you get some funny looks standing there with your kid with him in the trunk. (And before you call CSA, I have a hand on him and he can't pull the trunk lid down on himself.)

5. I have taken him out of his crib at night just to hold him while he's sleeping.

6. I have to check on him before I go to bed...and every time I get up at night. I wonder what age he will have to be before I quit that one?

7. In a pinch, I've taken a drink out of the sippy cup. :hanging head:

8. I use having a child as an excuse to play on the playground too. If you can't get in there and enjoy it with them - what's the point?

9.  As a working mom, I have never been one to be annoyed at middle of the night wake-ups.  I look at it as a little more time I get to spend with him.

10. I am fiercly protective of my family.  Something happened after I gave birth.  It's not just my son, it's my whole family unit.  I'm like some sort of freaky steriod-laced lioness.

Tampons make good bath fellows

I can't remember the actual saying...something makes strange bedfellows, but what that something is, I can't remember.


Anyway -


Connor has started coughing and has a funky belly. Tonight I'm stripping him down for his bath and his poor behind could not be redder from the tummy trouble. I've never seen a little butt so red (I'm sure he'll be thrilled I broadcast that once he's older). He's screaming and crying while I'm trying to clean him up. I decide to give him a bath. It's one of his favorite things - he's not calming down. In an effort to distract him from the pain, I try giving him cups, balls, razers (just seeing if you're paying attention). Finally I reach down and give him a tampon. He loves it. And really, what's not to love. Add water - it takes on a whole new shape! So, I give him a bath and use my secret diaper rash remedy (okay, it's equal parts plain yogurt and aquaphor. Mix and keep it chilled in the fridge) to which he started to scream again. After some snuggle time, he calmed down (with the help of Handy Manny) and hopefully he's now out for the night. Who knew tampons were such fun?

Rules were meant to be broken

While Con is only 17 months old, I think I'm teaching him to break the rules a little early. You know what? I'm okay with that. As long as he's not hurting himself or someone else, why not break the rules? My friend Stacy can tell you a story about the time we took the kids to the zoo. She ducked into the bathroom. She has a son about Connor's age, and another who is 6. Her 6 year old brought a friend. They both wanted to push her youngest in the stroller, so I offered up Connor so they could both push a stroller. By the time Stacy came out of the bathroom, both 6 year olds were running around the zoo lobby with strollers. The little ones liked the speed, the big boys were happy. I still think Stacy wonders what the hell is wrong with me.

I probably let Connor do things other parents wouldn't let their kids do. (You've seen the bil-jac post). We have a wagon with a canopy on it. Connor was being a monster on our walk one day, so I put him on top of the canopy and pushed him home. I sometimes let him eat cookies before lunch, I let him play in the trash - along as it's not too gross. I don't stifle him when he wants to splash water, write with an ink pen or play in my make-up bag. Frankly the only thing he gets told no to is headbutting and biting. Anything else is up for grabs. Being a fairly big follower of "the rules," I think life would be more fun if every once in a while, they are broken.

Honestly

I don't know why I'm surprised any more. I can't turn my head away from this family. I'm oddly fascinated by them. Maybe it's the fact they live debt free, but come on. Really? 19? I just have one thing to say to that.

The soothing sounds of night...

Last night was the perfect night for sleeping. It was cool, crisp, perfect for snuggling up in blankets. I passed out 10 minutes after going to bed and was looking forward to my coma-like sleep state.

Well, nothing will ruin your coma-like sleep, or scare the bejesus out of you like the sound of your smoke alarm going off. Of course first I slapped the alarm clock. It was 1:30 in the morning after all, not nearly time to get up yet. Alan wakes up as well, asks me why things are beeping (while I am all knowing, I am not all knowing at 1:30 a.m.). I told him I have no idea. Then it dawns on me - it's the smoke detector. I fly out of bed in a panic and realize there is, in fact, no smoke. Which is a huge relief. But really batteries? Really? You're going to start to fade at 1:30 a.m. I am anal about a few things in life - brushing my teeth, checking on the baby every time I get up, testing the smoke alarm. But it dawned on me that in the spring I bought the batteries but never replaced them. So, to avoid hearing the smoke detector go off randomly through the night I was rummaging around in the kitchen for batteries to replace the ones going bad.

You will all be pleased to know I went back to my little cocoon and did not want to get up at 6:00 a.m. when the alarm actually did go off. So, I squeezed it out until 6:30. I figured I was entitled after getting up to replace the batteries.

How (not) to use a fork

So Con is at that delightful age where he wants to use a fork on his own. Which is great - anything to help meal time is perfect I say. I get a little antsy about the mess and the flinging, but he's trying really hard.

Oh - and have I mentioned he has a thing for Bil-jac? Yes, the animal food. We keep trying and trying to keep him out of it. I know it wont' hurt him, but the ick factor is kind of high there. We keep a gate across the kitchen, but sometimes when my husband and I are both in there - he gets to the bowl. He's also taken the opportunity to practice his fork skills with the dog food:





I sometimes wonder - if I had a girl - would she be doing this kind of thing or is he just all boy. Eh, doesn't matter. He's fun anyway

Texting and Driving

Not to get all "After School Special" on anyone, but I found this to be a pretty sobering video when I watched it last night.

Scooby Doo is the devil

Not the pooch so much, more the delishious snack that I bought for my son but have managed to eat the entire box.

Sure, they were on sale and all, but eating an entire box is still never a good idea.

It all started in the grocery store when we went last week. Con was getting a little restless so I opened up the box and gave him some. He seemed to be going to town. I had to see what all the hype is about...(and yes, before you judge, yes I will eat/drink unpaid for items. I do pay for them, but I need them now...did you not just read about the restless child?) I was instantly hooked - and just polished off the box. Go mom

The new beginning

This blog formerly existed under the same name, but slightly different web address. It's been deleted, but I couldn't reclaim the address for some reason.

The last year of our lives has been rocky to say the least. We have gone from a family on the verge of divorce to a family who enjoys being together. Who is the family? My husband, Alan and our 17 month-old son Connor. We also have allowed two cats and a dog to move into our humble abode.

We're no different then any other family - trying to figure it out and make it work. As I told my husband not too long ago while he was partially laid off (yes, I know, who isn't in this economy) - if we can survive a depression and a recession - we must have something going on.

Enjoy my random tales.