January 31, 2013 ~ Purple Friday

Gearing up for the game.

It's the last Purple Friday of the season, and a rare on at that. This is only the second ever Super Purple Friday. Billy is ready. This is Purple Friday, New Orleans style.

(What's Purple Friday you ask? In Raven Country we support our favorite football team by wearing purple every Friday during the football season until the Raven's season ends. It's typical to see jerseys on Fridays too. During playoffs Ravens fans go all out in purple.)

Drawn In Thursdays: Things Kids Do #19

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A true story from this week.

January 29, 2013 ~ Let's Paint a Picture

There was no way I was going to *take* a picture, so let's paint one instead.

In the middle of dinner Billy said to me, "Mommy I have to pee" just as I heard a loud gushing sound.

No worries! I brought spare clothes this time! Only, they were damp from a spilled sippy cup in the bag. Damn! But I Was in luck! Threw them into Grandma's dryer. Only problem was, Billy had to sit around without clothes for 20 minutes.

So, picture this:

Billy, in a yellow sweater that's too big for him with nothing on his bottom half. He wanted to wear shoes, so he put on Grandma's tennis shoes- on the wrong feet. Then he walked around the kitchen that way, dragging a stuffed elephant in a beer box through a sea of spilled newspapers that he had created.

And that folks, is a worth AT LEAST a thousand words.

January 28, 2013 ~ Chocolate Soup

While waiting for dinner to cook I served Billy a special treat. I had made dessert and decided to let him eat it before dinner instead of after.

It was chocolate pudding.

Billy loved it. But he insisted it wasn't pudding. It was "chocolate soup". And boy did he like it. Moreover, not only is it yummy to eat, it's awesome to paint the table with!

And no, I didn't take a photo of the pudding art.

January 27, 2013 ~ Mow the Snow

A day late and a dollar short...

It snowed this weekend. Finally! Billy has been itching to go play in the snow. What he really wants is to go sledding. He has a book about sledding. And Grandpop gave us a sled. But, alas, you can't sled on grass.

Well, it wasn't enough snow for sledding, but at least it didn't rain immediately after, so we were able to go out and play.

Billy opted to wear his new hat. This one matches his pink hat, only I haven't made ears for it yet. As you can see, sans ears it still works as a hat.

He insisted even before we went outside that he fetch his lawn mower.

He wanted to "mow the snow". He mowed until his little nose turned red.

Then we went inside for hot chocolate.

He's had hot chocolate before and didn't really take to it, since he doesn't really like anything warm or hot. I am often putting food in the freezer to make cold whatever I just heated up. But after playing in the snow and the opportunity to eat marshmallows, he was willing to try "warm chocolate".

Highlights from this weekend:

~
Buddy got a haircut. Billy thought this was the funniest thing in the world. Dogs getting haircuts. Really.

 ~

Billy was playing with a toy train made up of blocks. He pulled all of the blocks off of the base and announced, "The train is naked! Naked train, naked train!"

~

Daddy made stir fry for dinner. He refused to eat the chicken. He pulled out the chicken strips and put them on the table. "I no like squirrel," he said. He decided Daddy had cooked squirrel (to my knowledge Daddy has never cooked a squirrel.) We asked him where it came from. He informed us it was the squirrel from Grandpop's attic that we were eating. (See the Thanksgiving weekend 2012 post.)

~

The Sunday Post ~ Sears Portrait Studio Review

So, this Christmas we decided to do a family portrait. Just when I was looking for a photographer I found a deal through LivingSocial for the Sears Portrait Studio. It was $35 for a $159 package. Convenient AND cheap... what more could I want?

The portrait session went well. I made the appointment. We showed up, had our pictures taken and then got to look at the digital photos on screen and choose the ones we wanted.

Now, this $159 package included the session, 4 8x10s and 2 10x10s. That's it. And when I say that's it, I mean it. The picture CD was an extra $100 which I opted out of. Extra print sheets were $20 a piece (that would be an 8x10 or smaller sizes ganged up onto an 8x10 photo paper).

Unexpectedly, they told me that the photos would take a week to come in. I hadn't expected this. With digital photos it's easy to print from just about anywhere. So, I had planned on walking out of there with my pictures. No such luck. They gave me a date and time for pick up in about a week- cutting it close for Christmas.

I arrived at Sears at the appointed time to pick up the photos. I was told that they had changed their computer system and that the photos actually wouldn't be ready for another week. Firstly, any IT guy that decides to change over a computer system in the middle of the holiday rush should be fired on the spot. There is no reason why it couldn't wait until after the holidays and was, I'm sure, only an excuse and not really the truth. The photos would not be ready in time for gifting and I was told I had no recourse.

I came back after Christmas to get my photos, all six of them.

Had I paid the full $159 I would have been royally pissed. Seeing that I only paid $35 and that I am able to retouch photos myself, I was less pissed. I basically paid the girl to snap a couple of photos. But there was no correction to the photos at all. In the future I'll just pay my wedding photographer at $200 an hour for a portrait session. That price comes with the CD and the retouching.

Okay, so what was so wrong with the photos?

1. The backdrop was wrinkled and had red fuzzies or stains on it.

It's true. Now, I didn't save a copy of what the photos looked like with the original backdrop. I wasn't planning on writing a blog post about my experience, but some friends talked me into it. But had I not had the ability to retouch that out I would have been very upset about an extremely wrinkled backdrop behind me. It looked like an unlaundered bedsheet. And I'm not talking about the draping, I'm talking about that sheet having been rolled into a ball and stomped on by a herd of angry toddlers wrinkled. I can hang up a wrinkled and stained bedsheet at home. Why do I need to pay Sears to do that?

2. The lighting was all wrong.

Now, I wasn't expecting award-winning work from the photographers at Sears. Let's be honest, here. I fully walked into it not expecting to see Ansel Adams standing there. But if you're going to snap a portrait, you have to have decent lighting. In some photos the exposure was too dark and there was no light on the face, but instead almost back-lit. In others, the lighting was so strong the colors are blown out.

Allow me to present three examples, keeping in mind that the "originals" already have the backdrop retouched to remove the majority of the wrinkles and the red stuff. The top photos are the "original" and the lower photos are the retouched ones. Remember that these are 8x10- they look different small in the blog post, so click on them to see large.

Example #1:

Example #2

Example #3- That Wrinkled Mess- look closely

I would not go back and I would not recommend Sears Portrait Studio to anyone that I liked. Maybe even people I don't like.

Fortunately, I didn't lose too much on this package and I can fix it myself, but others are not so lucky. 

Buyer beware!

January 25, 2013 ~ Snow!

Billy wanted to help shovel. This was Daddy's solution.

January 24, 2013 ~ The Calm Down Song

Okay, I'm way too busy to draw Drawn In, so bear with me. You'll just have to wait until next week.

In the meantime...

Billy was out of control yesterday, as Grandma can attest. He was wild, tired, and tantrumatic (that's like traumatic, but full of tantrums).

He refused to go to sleep and wanted me to sing to him, but he was too wild even for that. So I made up a song on the spot.

I said, "hey Billy, want to sing the 'Calm Down' song?"

"Yes!" he shouted and bounced up and down. (Dear Lord this child is wound up).

To no particular melody and remember I made it up on the spot:


Let's calm down, let's calm down
No more running all around.
Let's calm down, let's calm down
No more shouting all around.

Let's calm down, let's calm down
It's time to sit ourselves down.
Let's calm down, let's calm down
Everybody CALM DOWN.


Well, apparently this song is so amazing (to a two year old) that he made me sing it to him eight times. That's right- eight times. But you know what? He calmed down!

January 23, 2013 ~ Lucky Number Seven

I've known for awhile that Billy can count... to two.

I make him count out 20 seconds when he goes into time out. Here's what it usually sounds like:

"One, two, four, eight, nine, ten, fourteen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, fourteen, nineteen, twenty!"

Three and five are always skipped. The other numbers are hit and miss.

Well, Billy was helping me empty the dishwasher and he was counting out the number of Billy plates there were in the top rack (those would be the plastic plates). I asked him to count all of them. He counted out six and he was right! (and he didn't skip numbers).

So, testing this new-found knowledge of numbers I asked him to count the cups. Fourteen. Um... okay, maybe six was just a lucky guess.

Well, Daddy asked him to actually count out the cups just on one side of the dishwasher.

"One, two, three, four, five, six..., seven!"

Yes, there were actually seven and he counted them out correctly. I'm not saying he's got this counting thing down yet, but two out of three ain't bad.

January 22, 2013 ~ Gone Purple

In honor of the Ravens going to the Super Bowl, this blog has gone purple. We'll be purple at least until the Super Bowl and if we win? Much, MUCH longer.

Billy loves football, Billy loves the Ravens. So, it's appropriate.

As Billy would say, "Go Ravens!" "Go Flacco!" (actually, he says 'go, flag, go') "Go Rice!"

He has no idea what this means, but he loves to cheer them on anyway. and he'll gladly show you how to kick a football or throw it across the room. He's pretty good. Watch out Flacco, Billy might want your job some day.

Billy even know that the number 5 is Flacco's jersey. He specifically requests to wear his Flacco shirt between his two Ravens shirts. Yep. I've inspired a life-long football fan. I couldn't be prouder.

GO RAVENS!

January 21, 2013 ~ Proof of Pink

Billy wears pink. And I promise that no one will mistake this child for a girl.

January 20, 2013 ~ Pony Rides, Lollipops, Cupcakes and Ravens

Sunday was a jam-packed day of activity.

We started the morning with a trip to the Horse Show with Miss A. She's big into horses and Billy loves them too. I am happy that she wants to share her passion with him. He wanted to ride the ponies, so we did. Then he got a lollipop. You would have thought it was the best day ever. Maybe it was...and it was only just the morning! Billy also clapped for the first time that I've seen. I don't mean baby clapping. I mean sitting ringside and clapping at the appropriate moment when the horse jumped over the jump. It was terribly cute.

After nap it was off to a gymnastics birthday party. Billy clung to me like a spider monkey. He wouldn't let me put him down. He was so terrified. And these were all of his classmates. He sees them daily. But still, it was a lot to process. Finally, he warmed up and went to play.

Blogger is having issues and won't let me insert a photo. Photo to come here.

Then after the party we went over to Cub's house to watch the Ravens game. The boys got to stay up for the whole game, because, let's be honest- we were going to leave the TV to go spend a half hour getting them down. Nope. Forget it. Better to just let them watch.

Billy really got into it. He doesn't understand the game yet. But when the adults screamed joyfully, he did too, running around saying "Go Ravens!" "Go Flacco!" and "touchdown!!!"

AND... Billy only had one accident this weekend. So thrilled with him. He pooped in the potty like a big boy. He asked when he had to go potty and held it until we got to the potty. He even (when naked just before bed) went and pottied by himself in the dark bathroom and came and got me to tell me he peed. And I can't blame him for the one accident. It was right after the Ravens won the game. Honestly, I was so excited I almost peed my own pants!


Highlights from this weekend:

~
"Mommy, I reach up and touch the stars and moon. But I need ladder first."
~

~
"Mommy, when you say 'no' to me you make me sad."
~

The Sunday Post ~ Real Men Wear Pink

Have you ever seen a little boy dressed in pink? Probably not.

Boys don't get to wear pink. It's off limits, too girly, a total no go. Sure, girls get to wear blue. No one complains if a little girl is dressed in blue. But a boy in pink? For shame.

What will become of that little boy if he wears pink? What if he's becomes to girly? What if he grows up with a permanent fondness for pink? Have you ever stopped to wonder about this? (Okay, probably not).

But I have. Why?

Well, Billy's favorite color is pink.

We go to the store and he wants the pink one. I have to tell him, no honey, boys don't wear pink.

Well, here I am at an impasse. Billy wants his own knitted hat. The one in the previous pictures was a gift and has gone on to its recipient. So, now he is without a knitted hat to wear. I happen to have a ton of different colored wool laying around and let him pick the color he wanted. He wanted pink.

What to do? Intervene? Tell him no? Break his heart? Or make him a pink hat...

Well, I compromised. I made him a pink hat and I am now making him a blue hat. He can wear both. And I won't tell him no to pink.

Why?

Plenty of grown men wear pink. Daddy certainly owns a number of pink shirts and ties. So does Grandpop. So, if grown men can wear pink, why not a little boy? Tell me that. The truth is that real men wear pink. And now so does Billy.

January 19, 2013 ~ Big Red Race Car

Billy tried out his car on the street for the very first time.

Drawn In Thursdays: Go Ravens #1

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A true story from last week.

January 16, 2013 ~ That [damn] choo choo train song

I used to be a fan of it, but much less now. I'm talking about what Billy calls the "choo choo train song". He's referring to the Chatanooga Choo Choo.

Here's what happened.

I have a CD of some of my favorite big band songs. Yes, it's weird. But, my grandfather had a ton of CDs that he didn't listen to (because, honestly, I don't think he could figure out the CD player) and since they were laying around I developed a fondness for big band music.

Well, I like exposing Billy to different kinds of music. We listen to classical, rock, pop and Irish music on a regular basis. I thought I'd throw big band in the mix.

So, I put on the CD and decided to start in the middle with the Chatanooga Choo Choo. He likes trains, I bet he'll like the train song. And boy did he!

He likes to "choo choo" along to the songs and do the shushing sound the train makes too. Oh yeah, and if you're not familiar with this particular diddy, it's instrumental only- no words.

Well, you would think it was Lady Gaga's latest overplayed hit. It's the most requested song in my car. As soon as it's over he's requesting it again.

I only introduced it to him on Tuesday and I have now heard that one song 14 times in 24 hours. That's a lot of choo choo.

January 15, 2013 ~ I forgot to post

Yup. I forgot to post.

But, we've been swamped at work and we've been swamped at home, so give me some slack.

Tuesday night we went out to dinner. It was the first time in a very long time that it was just the three of us out to dinner. We almost never go out.

We went to Chilis down the street.

Billy got to order whatever he wanted off the menu. He picked a burger with fries, which he then tried to force-feed to me. I think this is probably payback for all of the times I force-fed him mushy peas as an infant.

He was a big boy, didn't pee this time, asked to go potty, ordered his own food and refused the booster seat. He did get rowdy after a milkshake, but Daddy, what did you expect?

January 14, 2012 ~ In the Attic

Yesterday Daddy put the sled up in the attic.

No, we didn't have it out because of an awesome snow. We've had snow, followed by rain to wash it away. But nothing good enough for sledding.

This sled was Grandpop's sled and he doesn't need it any more since there are no hills by his house. It's an Easy Flyer sled. A new one from my youth, not his.

Well, Billy really wanted to see what was in the attic. The attic is reached by a pull down ladder (not steps) and Billy has never seen the ladder down before. (This is because he loves to climb ladders, so we only go up there after bedtime.)

Daddy promised Billy that if he asked tomorrow to see the attic that Daddy would take him up there.

Well, tomorrow came and Billy didn't forget.

He really wants to see what's up there. I told him there are spiders up there. He hates spiders.

"Mommy, I want see spiders."

Then he says, "Mommy, I want sleep in attic." Go figure on that one.

So, Daddy took him up into the scary, dark attic.

Really, it's nothing to write home about. Plywood, insulation, boxes and junk. Well, not too much junk since we moved and haven't had time to collect much yet.

He repeated, "I want sleep attic." Daddy asked, "where would you sleep?"

He thought about it, "umm"... (my toddler said "umm") "I sleep on sled." Pretty smart.

No worries, he didn't sleep in the attic. And he was disappointed not to see any spiders...this time.

This Weekend's Song List

Earlier I posted about Billy wanting my to sing to him (God help his poor little ears...)

Original Post

Here is this weekend's song list:

Away in the Manger (by request)
Little Drummer Boy (by request)
Winnie the Pooh
Hey Jude
Spoonful of Sugar
These Are a Few of my Favorite Things
My Country Tis Of Thee
Amazing Grace
You Are My Sunshine
Fly Me to the Moon
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Pan de Vida
Goodnight Sweetheart
Oh Susanna
She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain

Billy said and I quote, "Mommy, that one my favorite song" about Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

January 13, 2012 ~ I Didn't Pee, It Wasn't Me!

We had an action-packed weekend.

We started Saturday morning with a birthday party. Billy got to stay up through his naptime so he could celebrate the birthday of his great great aunt. He was extremely well-behaved. He didn't run, he didn't shout, he didn't cause a scene. We had a fabulous time seeing the family and getting to celebrate a very special lady.

Then it was home for a VERY late nap.

After nap Billy watched the Ravens game with us.

Everyone had to watch the game, according to Billy. Except Lambie Pie. He wasn't allowed. Don't ask me. Ask the toddler.

Unfortunately, Billy was much too tired to stay up for the whole game. So, he missed that epic ending to the game.

Bring on Sunday.

We needed diapers. This meant an empty diaper box. Billy decided it was his boat in a sea of stuffed animals. Daddy decided to one-up him and build a boat. Allow me to introduce you to the USS Pampers Pizza Hut. Complete with his very own cardboard sword. Don't ask me. Ask Daddy.

Here's another funny pic in the kitchen from Sunday.

Billy talked Daddy into posing with him. When I asked Billy what they were doing, he replied, "we're cookie monster ballerinas!"

So for dinner Daddy made homemade tikki masala and we all sat down to the table together. Normally, Billy eats before us, so we don't all sit down as a family. As we were sitting there Daddy accidentally knocked his drink over in Billy's direction and the liquid ran into his lap.

He started screaming. I grabbed him and ran into the bathroom to strip off his clothes. He was bawling. "I didn't pee! I didn't pee!" I couldn't console him. Earlier he got in trouble for peeing his pants, and even though he didn't pee, he was sure he was in trouble again. But he wasn't.

He calmed a little and I took him into his bedroom to put on dry clothes. "I was just eating dinner," he sniffled. He repeated that over and over.

He didn't understand and when I brought him back into the kitchen he apologized to Daddy for the mess. Daddy apologized right back to him since it was Daddy's fault.

And then he ate two bowls of tikki masala and everything was better.

A Special Post

This is a special post just for Cousin Pierce. While your team didn't win, Billy tried his best to root them on.

(The unintelligible part in the middle Billy says "Mommy tak[ing] pic[ture] [of] Billy Tex[ans]. aka Mommy is taking a picture of Billy saying 'go Texans.')

January 10, 2013 ~ The Pee Game

Won't you play the Pee Game with me?

Here's how it goes:

Your parents dress you up all nice and cute to take you out to dinner with family. You notice that they forgot to bring the diaper bag. Bingo! Time to do your worst.

First, sucker the adults into ordering a huge glass of milk. Try and make sure the amount of milk exceeds the size of your bladder. It's even easier to sucker the adults if Mommy is running late and isn't there yet.

Drink the entire glass all at once.

Then pee all over yourself!

This ensures that they are stuck without clothes and still having to pay for the drinks.


Act uncomfortable so they feel guilty. Daddy will surely run across the street and buy you some new clothes so that everyone can eat their dinner in peace and harmony.

Luckily for you, you're full from the milk so you won't have to worry about eating your dinner. This will give you plenty of time to run amok all over the restaurant in pee-soaked clothes waiting for Daddy to come back with $50 worth of a new outfit.

Then, Daddy will show up and change you. Don't be alarmed!

When you get back to the table ask for water. Then ask Mommy to take you to the potty. The water will not have worked any magic yet so you'll be empty. That's where you fool them.

In no time you will will need to pee. Wait until dessert is ordered and let fly.

This is how you win the Pee Game!

Drawn In Thursdays: Things Kids Do #I have no clue...

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A true story from last week.

January 8, 2012 ~ Mom, Mommy, Mom, Mom!

I used to think this little scene was one of the most annoying things I had ever seen. As it turns out, it's not just funny annoying, it's reality annoying.

Substitute laying on the bed with attempting to make dinner and this was how the evening went:

January 7, 2013 ~ Song List

So, in the beginning of December Billy was having trouble sleeping so I started singing Christmas carols to him and rocking him at night- only for about 5 minutes, but it's enough to calm him down and not have fights at bedtime. Poor guy, I can't carry a tune in a bucket.

But now he keeps asking me to "sing the baby Jesus songs".

I'm totally sick of Christmas carols but he still wants me to sing to him. I need to come up with a new song list quick! They need to be kid friendly songs that I can remember when I'm halfway to bed myself and totally zonked.

His current favorite is Barbara Anne by the Beach Boys. He was singing it to himself this morning, even. We also do Animal Crackers in my Soup and Lolliop.

I have no idea what I'm going to sing to him, but I have to come up with something quick to get him off of the Christmas kick!

January 6, 2013 ~ My Little Knitter

I have been crocheting up a storm and Billy wants to help. Here he is playing with a bunch of the things I have made. The green bear his his, but everything else is for other children. Billy really wants me to make a hat for him, but more importantly, Billy really wants to make a hat by himself.

Now, I'd love to teach him how to do it, but I'm thinking he might be just a tad on the young side for the manual dexterity. And here's how he counts: "one, two, four, nine, ten, four, five, eleven, twelve, fourteen, nineteen, twenty!" Definitely not read for stitch counts yet.

But I can't get him to leave my hooks or yarn alone. I have to put them away when he's awake because he wants to "Mommy, I do it mah-self."

The Sunday Post ~ Melissa & Doug Stir Fry Review

Can someone please explain to me why you can buy kids toy cooking playsets and kids toy foods, but none of the food are the kind you cook?

Billy wants to pretend play cooking. Well, I guess you could fry that plastic banana, but Mommy doesn't do it in real life. I did find a grilling set of food, and bought him that.

And that brings me to this stir fry set.

The pieces of food velcro together to Billy can practice cutting up the food before throwing it in the wok. Then he gets to stir fry it up. And when he's done, the set comes with chopsticks with velcro on them to help the child learn how to use chopsticks.

Billy loves this playset. It looks like real food you would cook. And healthy food too. Beef, shrimp, red pepper, mushrooms, snap peas and bok choy.

For a child wanting to pretend cook, this is a fabulous playset. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

Buy it here.

January 4, 2012 ~ Daycare Follow Up

Oh well. I'm skipping Drawn In this week. Instead, I'm opting for a follow-up on the post relating to issues at daycare.

Original post

After yesterday's issues with refusing to go to school, I finally had the opportunity to speak to the director and I used it. (With holiday and work schedules I was not able to catch up with her and did not have the time/ability to make an appointment). She happened to be in the office and not dealing with an unhappy parent or child this morning when I dropped the payment off.

See, not only is it the teacher being unprofessional, but the kids seem to be mean to him. Listen, I'm not going to blame the other kids. Kids will be kids and they are all much older than him, most by a year. And the difference between a three year old and a two year old can be huge.

Billy tells me that the other children call him "little baby" and "bad guy". He doesn't know how to respond to name calling, so he tells me that he calls them names back or hits them (the go-to toddler response when not getting their way).

I asked him who his friends were at school. He said "no one." But if I ask him who his friends are he will tell me "Cub", "A" and "J". He knows those kids- all children of my friends- will play with him and be nice to him. That's an issue.

I explained the situation to the director. Billy likes school, but since October he hates school and doesn't want to go. It's a problem. And while kids go through phases, several months is likely more than a phase.

She was very concerned and told me she would monitor him in the classroom to determine what's going on. She was surprised, given that he is on par with his three-year-old classmates in learning ability and even ahead of some in the potty training arena.

BUT... just because he can keep up intellectually with the three year olds, doesn't mean he's emotionally ready to be in that class. And the social dynamic is one of the most important parts of being in school. It's training for the adult world as much as learning "ABC".

I will follow up with the daycare's recommendation when I receive it.

January 2, 2012 ~ Drawn Furious

Well, normally I post a cartoon on Thursdays, but that requires thinking up something cute or funny that Billy did over the past week. I'm sure he did something funny or sweet, but nothing comes to mind.

See, this morning Billy absolutely refused to go to school. I tried brushing his teeth (we do every day) and that resulted in an epic meltdown over hating toothpaste, hating the toothbrush and then an utter refusal to let me rinse the toothpaste out of his mouth. Giving up resulted in him screaming and crying about wanting to brush his teeth.

Then I tried to put him in his coat. He refused. He bit me. He scratched me (and I've got the cut on my face to prove it). He kicked. He slapped me in the face multiple times. I realize I weigh more than he does (as Daddy often reminds me), but containing a ball of fury, regardless of size is near impossible.

So, since the fight was over putting on the coat, I gave up. Sure, it was below freezing this morning. So I grabbed a warm blanket of his, wrapped up the ball of fury as best I could, threw him over my shoulder and took him out to the car. Boy, he didn't like that.

He screamed the whole way to school about NOT wanting his blanket. Meanwhile, he clung with all of his might to that very same blanket. I can't win.

But he got to school and settled down.

So, after I settle down and think up something awesome, I will post a cartoon. (Well, it's just toddler being toddler, and it's all in a day of a mom, but my brain refuses to find the cutest thing he did this week. I come up with it tonight when he does something terribly cute and that ball of fury seems like some other terror toddler).

Happy New Year 2013!

Happy

New Year!

2013

We hope you had a fabulous 2012 and that this year will be even better!

Thanks for reading and we look forward to more wacky hijinks and 

sweet stories as Billy grows up.

From our family to yours.

New Year's Eve 2012 ~ Damp the Dinosaur

Santa brought Billy a dinosaur egg. All we had to do was put it in water and the dinosaur would hatch in a few days.

So, before we went to Grandpop's house, we put the dinosaur egg in water. This is how he looked before we left:

It's hard to tell in the photo, but you can see the egg breaking and the yellow dino head popping out. It was sitting in front of Billy's chair at the table so every day he could watch it hatch just a little bit more.

When we got back from Grandpop's the dino was fully hatched and ready to come out of the water and be Billy's new pet. But what to name him?

I'm pretty good at understanding what Billy says, but small words out of context still give me trouble.

He muttered a name to me.

"Dan?" I asked, thinking that's what he said.

"No!" he giggled.

"Dap? Dat? Pat? Sam?"

No, no, no. And more giggles. But then he started getting angry that I couldn't understand the name of the new dinosaur.

It really sounded like he was saying "Dap." But he kept petting the new pet and saying "da...p". Hmm. Oh! He's damp! (Because he just soaked in water for 4 days, so yes, he's wet).

And that folks is how Damp the Dinosaur got his name.

~

Totally unrelated to Damp, Billy got to go to a New Year's Eve party. He was a little confused, thinking it was still Jesus' birthday and he wanted to sing Happy Birthday! again. Well, it was someone's birthday there, so we did sing. He got to stay up until 10 with his friend T, but then it was off to bed.

In a moment of generosity, my toddler decided he wanted to give some of his Christmas candy to his friend T. We brought it over and the boys each got to have their very own piece of gourmet candy (from Grandpop) before the new year.

The Sunday Post ~ Easy Peasy Peanut Bark

Easy Peasy Peanut Bark

What you need:

1 large bag milk or dark chocolate chips(your choice)

1 large bag white chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 can of roasted salted peanuts

microwave safe mixing bowl

spatula or spoon

jelly roll pan (cookie sheet with sides)

tin foil

Step one:

Line your jelly roll pan with tin foil. Don't use a cookie sheet- the sides of the jelly roll pan are important.

Step two:

Melt the dark chocolate. 

Melting chocolate: Put all of the contents from the bag into your mixing bowl. Then microwave for 30 seconds. Take out and stir with the spatula. Repeat microwaving for 30 seconds and then stirring until the chocolate is melted. Don't overcook! It is very easy to burn the chocolate. While it may seem tedious to stir every 30 seconds, it will keep the chocolate from burning.

Step three:

Spread the chocolate onto the jelly roll pan in a thin layer. Get close to the edge but don't let the chocolate touch the edge. Make sure chocolate is in an even layer (as best you can)

Step four:

Melt the white chocolate using the same technique as the dark chocolate

Step five:

Add peanut butter and stir.

Step six:

Spread the white chocolate over the dark chocolate on the jelly roll pan. Try to get the white layer as even as possible. Then, mix the two chocolates to create a swirl pattern. (Hint: if the chocolates aren't mixed together well enough, the oil in the peanut butter will cause the two layers to separate).

Step seven:
Sprinkle the peanuts on the white chocolate

Step eight:

Cover with tin foil and press gently, pushing the peanuts into the chocolate.

Step nine:

Refrigerate overnight and then break into pieces and package or serve.

The Sunday Post ~ Easy Peasy Peppermint Bark

Easy Peasy Peppermint Bark

What you need:

1 large bag milk or dark chocolate chips(your choice)

1 large bag white chocolate chips

peppermint extract

12 candy canes

microwave safe mixing bowl

spatula or spoon

hammer

cutting board

jelly roll pan (cookie sheet with sides)

tin foil

Step one:

Line your jelly roll pan with tin foil. Don't use a cookie sheet- the sides of the jelly roll pan are important.

Step two:

Smash the candy canes. Leave them in the wrapper and smash with a hammer on a cutting board until you get pea-sized pieces and smaller. Then remove the wrapper and put the contents in a bowl to use later. (Hint: if you take the wrapper off before smashing you will have candy cane bits all over your kitchen).

Step three:

Melt the dark chocolate. 

Melting chocolate: Put all of the contents from the bag into your mixing bowl. Then microwave for 30 seconds. Take out and stir with the spatula. Repeat microwaving for 30 seconds and then stirring until the chocolate is melted. Don't overcook! It is very easy to burn the chocolate. While it may seem tedious to stir every 30 seconds, it will keep the chocolate from burning.

Step four:

Spread the chocolate onto the jelly roll pan in a thin layer. Get close to the edge but don't let the chocolate touch the edge. Make sure chocolate is in an even layer (as best you can)

Step five:

Melt the white chocolate using the same technique as the dark chocolate

Step six:

Add peppermint extract- 1/4 tsp or about 1 capful and stir.

Step seven:

Spread the white chocolate over the dark chocolate on the jelly roll pan. Be careful not to let the spatula touch the dark chocolate or your white layer will become muddy. Try to get the white layer as even as possible

Step eight:
Sprinkle the candy cane bits on the white chocolate

Step nine:

Cover with tin foil and press gently, pushing the candy cane bits into the white chocolate.

Step ten:

Refrigerate overnight and then break into pieces and package or serve

December 29, 2012 ~ A Trip to Grandpop's

I might have to start writing "PeePop" instead of Grandpop. Billy has taken to calling him that.

Anyway, we went to Grandpop's to do Christmas a few days late. Billy got his present from Grandpop and Nana:

So, now he has his Big Red Racecar AND a motorcycle.

~

Saturday morning started out with Billy screaming at 6am about a dinosaur in our guest room at Grandpop's. Not out of fear, mind you. Nope, he was excited about the dinosaur and wanted to play with it. After futile attempts to get him back to sleep, I gave up and got up with him. As it turns out, the dinosaur was just Daddy's feet in the blanket on our bed. Boy, Daddy has some big feet, huh?

Morning time was presents and playing in the kitchen with Grandpop while he cooked breakfast. Lots of children have played on the floor in that kitchen waiting for breakfast. I did. Grandpop did. His father did and even one more generation did too. Grandpop made bacon and eggs. I bet all six generations ate bacon and eggs in that kitchen.

Billy woke up from his nap screaming about a tiger coming to get him. He was terrified. It could have just been a bad dream, but while he was napping a squirrel happened to get into the attic and was running amok up there. I suspect he was hearing the squirrel in the attic.

He and Daddy went hunting for the squirrel, but they never did find it. We told Billy that the squirrel went home. He was obsessed with the squirrel in the attic. But, it was a good thing that the squirrel got in, because apparently it chased away that mean old tiger. By the way, it was a green tiger, according to Billy.

~

Grandpop was kind enough to offer to let Daddy and myself go out to the movies after Billy went to bed. We wanted to see the Hobbit. But, since Billy got me up at 6am, I fell asleep long before the movie ever started and we never made it. Someday, and someday soon, we hope to make it to the theater. Together. To see a movie. It's a little dream we have.

December 28, 2012 ~ George

"George was a good little monkey and always very curious."

Nope, not that George.

Daddy took Billy to Build-a-Bear this morning. That would be the store where you get to make your own stuffed animal, with the cutest ones always being the most expensive. And, of course, they've got you over a barrel, since the kid picks out the animal and you can't disappoint your kid.

Here's a hint- the kids will always pick the cuter ones.

Billy picked a kitty.

They pulled out the skinned cat.

Have you done this before? Because it's actually kind of creepy. And no, I wasn't there this morning but yes I have done it before.

Then, you put a heart in your unstuffed animal and make a wish. Then they proceed to stuff the animal skin (not real animal, but it looks like a pelt anyway).

Now you have your animal. And now you get to walk through the aisle of exorbitantly prices clothes and accessories and dress your animal. I mean, you can't send them out into the world naked, can you?

Then you get to go to the computer and make the birth certificate for your animal and name it. Billy named his cat "George". Billy really liked the big orange button on the machine. That's the reset button. Daddy really didn't like the big orange button on the machine.

So, Billy came home with George in a box.

"No, Mommy. It's George's house."

Oh, right. The box has little windows cut out and pictures on it to make it look like a house. George had to stay in the box because that was his house.

It was naptime.

So, Billy went to bed with George, still in the box. Yes, my toddler it sleeping, cuddling with a cardboard box with a stuffed cat inside named George.

I think that about sums it up.

December 27, 2012 ~ The Visit

Here's Billy playing in the costume bin.

Why is the car there? Well, Billy has decided that our tv room is a drive-in movie theater. To watch a movie he has to sit in his car. It's terribly cute, and yes I tried to get a picture of him watching Cars in his Big Red Racecar but so far they don't really look like anything and if I get up to get a better angle he gets out to see what I'm up to.

Anyways, we had over A and J for dinner (and their parents of course).

Billy showed off his new toys. Ate the melon and prosciutto and other goodies I put out and had a merry old time.

Santa had left presents under the tree for A and J. They are Jewish, but just because Santa doesn't stop at their house, doesn't mean that Santa doesn't have presents for Jewish friends too. Billy wanted to open those two gifts on Christmas morning, but I explained that since they don't have a Christmas tree, Santa had to leave them at our house.

So they came over for a little post-holiday party and to open gifts. We were at their house for Hanukkah so we got to share traditions, which was lots of fun.

We all had a lovely time and the kids wore each other out so that by the time bedtime rolled around, all of the kids passed out. Now, that's my kind of party.

December 26, 2012 ~ The Vacuum From Hell

While I had made plans for the day after Christmas, Mother Nature decided to make other plans. A freak snow storm blew up, bringing ice and snow and hazardous conditions that the weathermen had not predicted. So, we stayed in.

This gave Billy an opportunity to play with his new toys- all except for the Big Red Racecar. That is really an outside toy, and while I let him run it back and forth for a few minutes inside, it really belongs out on the street.

So, we had to content ourselves with other toys and new movies from Santa.

Also, a little red vacuum cleaner given to him by my aunt. We had gone to her house for dinner the night before to see her and my uncle and all of their kids and grandkids. Billy had taken a shine to this little vacuum cleaner. Since all of her grandkids have outgrown it and he seemed to like it, she gave it to him. It was very nice and very thoughtful.

Only, I didn't know it was... the Vacuum From Hell!

Billy was pushing it around and all of a sudden it turned itself on for a moment. After further inspection it had an on/off button and a battery compartment.

"Mommy, fix it."

I don't do "fix it" unless I have to, so I called in the big guns. "Daddy!"

Daddy installed some new batteries and voile! It worked. Crap! It worked.

Billy proceeded to 'vacuum' (it's only a toy but man do I wish it did clean up the dirt, even a half-assed attempt to pick it up would be worth it.) He vacuumed the whole upstairs and downstairs. Twice. Oh and did I mention it's as loud as a real vacuum. Oh yeah, that loud. All. Day. Long.

Finally, I put the Vacuum From Hell in time out. Billy didn't understand. So, I explained it. Billy, you're not in time out. But Vacuum From Hell gave Mommy a headache- a booboo in the head- so it has to go in time out for doing that.

Remind me never again to "fix" the broken batteries.


(And yes, this is his favorite toy of all of his Christmas presents, besides the Big Red Racecar. It was very kind of my aunt to give it to him and he loves it. However, I will proceed to call it the Vacuum From Hell, because with batteries in it, it's as loud as Hell.)

Christmas 2012

 

We ran into Billy's room to wake him up (remember, he was up late) and tell him that Santa had been to the house. He jumped up, excited, and ran out of his room. But when he got to the hallway he tiptoed, slowly, quietly, hugging the wall. At the end of the hallway he peeked around the corner to see into the living room.

 

"Mommy, where Santa? Santa not stay?"

 

He was so disappointed that Santa wasn't standing in our living room with the bag of toys slung over his back. Poor guy, it's hard to understand why Santa would bring all of these toys but not stay for a visit. This, by the way, is what he saw:

 

 

 

Billy noticed the milk and cookies were gone. But no Santa. He nervously approached the car, but didn't want to touch it, not without Santa's permission. So Daddy ripped the bow off and put Billy in the car.

I have video but it continues and CONTINUES to process on Youtube. Please look on my youtube sidebar for the video of Billy driving the car for the first time. And yes, it's a real car. Gas pedal makes it go 1.2 miles per hour (I should say battery pedal, since it is electric).

Here's the youtube link, whenever they decide it can bacome active: http://youtu.be/xrsmpo3oHk0

He also got his requested frying pan (a toy one) and lots of other toys.

For the first time EVER in my life we didn't have anywhere to go after opening presents. Billy got to play with his play dough set, his car, he other toys and then head off to nap, all still in his pajamas. It was amazing. Not that I don't enjoy seeing family, but having never had a Christmas without driving all over the Mid-Atlantic it was very nice and very calm. And Billy got his cursory nap and was ready to go party once he woke up.

Party, did you say party? Why yes, yes I did.

Most Christmas nights we go to my aunt's house for dinner. It was lovely, as always. She and my Uncle have many kids and many more grandkids. Billy had a ton of fun playing with his cousins, even if they are all older. Dinner was fabulous.

And, of course, Billy got to sit at the big table until he is old enough to sit with the kiddos. So, he listened to the conversation and then asked if we could all sing happy birthday. (Remember, it's Jesus' birthday). So, a table full of adults broke into a chorus of "Happy Birthday!" for the baby Jesus.

Then he told us all about "Buddy poop snow!"

December 24, 2012 ~ "Buddy Poop Snow!"

Christmas Eve brought with it the first snow of the year and Billy's first white Christmas. He woke up from nap to the white stuff everywhere. When he went to sleep the world was green, and when he woke up the world was white and snow was falling from the sky.

We were watching out the back window and I had let Buddy go outside to do his business. Which, of course, being a dog, he did.

"Mommy, Buddy poop snow!" [toddler translation- Buddy pooped in the snow]

Yes, Billy. Buddy goes outside for the potty. We've had this talk many times and he repeated it once and thought nothing more of it.

Then it was time to run off to Church. Our Church has a Children's Mass on Christmas Eve in the late afternoon. This works out well to get the religious stuff done first. Then there's no rushing out the door Christmas morning and crying about new toys sitting there unopened. I don't know anything about that.

Well, I had been explaining to Billy that we were going to Jesus' birthday party. Close enough. We rarely go to Mass (I'll explain why in a moment) and he's too young to really get the meaning of Christmas. But he does know about birthday parties and giving presents to others for their birthday. And officially, Christmas is Jesus' birthday celebration (even if scholars now believe it was during the summer, this is when we celebrate).

Most importantly he wanted to see the baby Jesus.

Daddy hadn't finished his shopping so we were late to Mass. But we still made it. And honestly, 1.5 hours in Church with a toddler is a lot to ask of the toddler.

Twenty minutes in Church is a lot to ask of a toddler.

And so, right in the middle of the Consecration of the Gifts, Billy shouts, "Buddy poop snow!"

Yeah, that's my kid. Ash Wednesday he shouted that he wanted "Caca!" (cracker) and Christmas it's "Buddy poop snow!" Luckily, Daddy didn't understand what he said, so I'm hoping few others understood either.

That prompted a trip to the potty.

When we got back to the pew Billy refused to sit still. Daddy walked him around. Then me. We did the whole Eucharist bit and then went to see baby Jesus. One of the chapels has a nativity scene in it up on the altar.

I think Billy was disappointed that baby Jesus wasn't a real baby, but a statue. Still, it was dark, lit only by candles and lanterns and the sounds of the choir echoing in from the main part of the Cathedral. I asked him if he wanted to wish him a happy birthday.

He whispered, "Happy Birthday, baby Jesus!"

~

We also attended a Christmas party after Church with Grandma in the treacherous snow. Billy had a grand time and was up well past his bedtime playing with the children of my oldest and dearest friend.

December 23, 2012 ~ Baking Cookies

It was my brilliant plan to make rolled sugar cookies to give to Santa. I thought Billy would enjoy the activity. Grandma has a kitchen better suited for baking with a toddler (we have a wall oven and limited counter space- she has a regular oven and a big table perfect for rolling out cookies).

So, while Billy napped I made the dough and chilled it. I have to say, that using the Joy of Cooking's basic rolled cookie recipe we got a bland dough. Usually I use Martha Stewart's recipe but tried something different this year. We'll be going back to Martha next year.

Anyways, I took him over to Grandma's and let him pick out his favorite cookie cutters from her stash. He, of course, wanted the plain circles. I insisted on making shaped cookies that didn't look store bought, so I made him pick out the standard Christmas fare and some of the more unusal ones (Like an axe. Who wants an axe-shaped cookie? Grandma says it's for Washington's birthday. I can't recall ever making cookies for that, but whatever floats you boat, right?)

Billy liked the part about getting flour everywhere. He also liked pressing into the dough with the cutters, but didn't have the strength to cut all the way through the dough. Mommy had to do that for him. And he got to watch them bake. But the best part, or course, was eating them.

My Apologies

It's been a week since you've gotten a new post, but Daddy got a new computer game last week, meaning that I have had zero access to the computer. He must beat a game and food, sleep and all other activities are pushed to the side until he beats it, including my blogging. He still hasn't beaten it, but he had to go out so... woohoo! blogger time!

December 20, 2012 ~ Remote Control

You didn't think I'd leave you with only a moment of silence, did you?

Of course not!

Billy and I were hanging out watching tv after dinner. I've been avoiding the news, but given that a week has gone by since the horrific events, I decided to give the world news a try. I always turn it off if it's something I think Billy shouldn't see, but most of the time he doesn't pay attention to it anyway.

Well, he grabbed the remote from me and changed the channel.

"Mommy, no more talking man. I want ice skating."

Yeah, well... that's actually what he said. Poor Brian Williams, passed over for ice skating, which wasn't even on. So, we settled for PBS cartoons.

Yes, my 2 year old son wanted to watch ice skating.

Yes, my 2 year old son DOES know how to change the channel.

So much for the news.

December 21, 2012 ~ A Moment of Silence

Let us all take a moment of silence for the lives lost one week ago.

Drawn In Thursdays: Current Events #1

Click to Enlarge

A true story from Sunday when Billy accidentally saw some live coverage. If only that we possible, Billy. Some booboos are too big to heal with a kiss.

December 18, 2012 ~ Poor Charlie Brown

I let Billy stay up to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas.

He wasn't getting it. There's a lot of dialogue and it's over his head, so I was explaining about how Charlie Brown is sad and can't find the Christmas Spirit. "Poor Charlie Brown."

So after that, any time Charlie Brown came on the screen Billy said "poor Charlie Brown."

Then Charlie Brown became the director of the school play. Billy felt this meant that he needed to fetch his camping chair, which actually is not far off from looking like a director's chair, especially a cartoon chair. He sat in his chair in front of the tv to watch about Charlie Brown.

During a commercial break he took an interlude to stand on his stool and sing "Animal Crackers in my Shoe!" just like Shirley Temple, mimicking her hand movements and everything. And yes, I know it's soup, but he thinks it's shoe. He even mimics what she does with her voice and cheeks. It's too cute.

Then it was back to Charlie Brown.

He likes the puppy (Snoopy) and wanted to see more ice skating. And continued to recite, "poor Charlie Brown" until the end.

The Buddy Update

If you're a regular reader then you know that Buddy has cancer. Back in October he had emergency surgery to remove the invasive tumor. Because of it's location (on his boy bits) the doctor was unable to completely remove the tumor.

We investigated chemo and radiation, but since they are about the cost of a new car, opted for the only treatment option that didn't cost a new car, but only has a 30% success rate.

The oncologist predicted the tumor will grow back within 3-6 months at most, be more invasive and at that point, basically untreatable.

We are at 2.5 months and Buddy has no sign of growth at the tumor location. His wound has healed completely and he is left with only a white scar to mark where the tumor had been.

At this point we are getting ready to step down his medication as part of his treatment plan prescribed by his doctors. They are thrilled that there is no evidence yet of growth. It is a good sign.

But we're not out of the woods yet.

So keep praying for the Bud.

Santa 2012

December 17, 2012 ~ Hitting the Nog

We went to buy groceries, so while picking up milk for Billy, I picked up some egg nog as a treat for myself.

Now, when I saw egg nog, I mean the pasteurized, non-alcoholic kind from the grocery store. I'm not talking about the high-test variety I made two weeks ago from scratch. Nope, just plain egg nog, no booze.

So, we got home and I asked if he'd like to try it (remember, no booze).

"Yes!" he said emphatically.

So, I poured him a small big boy glass of it. He hated it immediately.

"Mommy, I no like that."

"Okay, more for me!" and I took the cup and took a sip.

Oh, wait. Mommy likes it? Mommy wants it? Then it must be good. I must want it too. I must have it.

So I gave him the cup back. He took another tentative sip. I didn't think he was going to warm to it. It's got a lot of nutmeg in it and is very thick.

That second sip he made a yuck face, but he wanted to hang onto the cup.

By the end of dinner he had consumed most of the small amount I gave him. "Mommy, I like it." He smiled.

Well, I guess it takes some getting used to. But now he likes it. That's fine. Mommy can share. :)

December 16, 2012 ~ The Last Vestiges of Babyhood

In the past month Billy has cast off his diapers, put away his crib and grown about an inch. My little baby is too big to fit into the high chair any more. So, it has been put up in the attic, gone from our kitchen. Billy sits in a big boy chair now.

We're still working on potty training, and he's in a toddler bed, but Billy is growing up. "Mommy, I big boy," he tells me.

~

Saturday we went shopping- unsuccessfully.

Then, at dusk we joined Miss A and a fellow Scary Mommy (www.scarymommy.com) at the miracle on 34th Street. I'm not talking about the movie. If you're not from town, then please have a look at the awesomeness of the 34th Street:

the link

We walked around and looked at the lights and all things Christmas and Baltimore.

There are hub cap Christmas trees, Natty Boh can angels, crabs, Ravens, flamingos and a whole lotta 'hun'. If you don't know what I'm talking about there's only one way to find out- you have to see it for yourself.

Sunday was Santa's day.

We started out by heading to see Santa and the train displays. I have no pics of the train displays because someone had to wait in that long line. That would be me. Daddy and Billy went to look at the trains. Then Billy joined me in line while Daddy popped into the toy store.

Standing in line Billy made immediate friends with the little toddler boy behind us in line. They seem to be at the age where every toddler is automatically a friend. The little boy clearly was ill- not with a cold, but seriously ill. He had a drainage tube from his nose. But Billy didn't care and I'm so glad. Kids can be cruel to those that are different, even if the different kids are some of the most amazing people. They played while we waited for our turn to see Santa.

Then, in the middle of nap time, hours after we arrived, it was our turn. Billy clung to me in fear. I had been trying to talk up how nice Santa is, but he was still scared. The photographer was sure he was going to scream...

So, 1, 2, 3... I dropped him on Santa's lap and ran.

No screaming. No crying.

He wasn't sure about this old bearded guy sitting there in his big red chair. First photo- stunned fear. Second photo- not so sure. Third photo- dare I say it? He smiled! It wasn't a big happy, laughing grin, but he did smile. And after I picked him up he wished Santa a "Merry Christmas!"

As we walked away Billy whispered to me, "Mommy, I sat on Santa's lap. I saw Santa. I saw Santa."

Of course, I have the pics and don't have them on me so I will post them later.

Then we ran home and made it just in time to see Santa heading back to the North Pole on his red... fire truck?

Then we headed home for a post naptime nap. And yes, he went to sleep after he was supposed to be waking up. But he took a nice long nap.

Then Billy helped my make my Easy Peasy Holiday Bark. Stay tuned for the recipe and photos. (It's not finished, so you have to wait for the final result!)

Of course Daddy waited until it started raining to hang our lights on our house. In the dark. A week before Christmas. But he did. So, we went outside to watch and to see all of the luminaries lighting the way through the neighborhood, helping Santa find his way back to the North Pole to finish up all of the toys.

"Billy," I asked, "did you ask Santa for your big red race car?"

He thought about it for a moment, "NO!" he started to panic.

"Don't worry, Billy," I said. "When we saw Santa I told him you wanted that big red race car. He knows. Santa won't forget."

He wasn't sure, but I really did tell Santa for him when we were there. So, I think we're covered.

Drawn In Thursdays: Mysteries of the Toddlerverse #1

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A true story from last week.