Saturday, December 31, 2011
December 30, 2011 ~ The Chobani Spokesbaby
This morning Daddy took Billy on an adventure downtown. I got Billy all dressed up for his outing.
Had to make sure he was in Raven's purple for Purple Friday.
When I got home after lunch Daddy and Billy were back from their outing. Billy was crying in his crib and it was already close to 2. Daddy didn't realize he was hungry and needed lunch before nap (Daddy is hopelessly forgetful of these things even if he doesn't mean to be.)
I got him up and gave him his favorite food of all time. If he could eat it for every meal I think he would. He even knows where I keep it in the refrigerator and if I open the door he grabs it and runs. Yup, it's yogurt- specifically Chobani. He eats Chobani every single day without fail.
Today, he was doing a pretty good job of feeding himself with the spoon so I let him feed himself lunch. I turned my back for a minute and...
He ditched the spoon and went for the bare-hand method. Somehow, he managed to empty the entire contents using just one hand. With a photo like this, I am nominating Billy as the Chobani Spokesbaby. As spokesbaby, Billy says for everyone to run out and buy more yogurt- for him! No worries, Billy... Mommy has an entire shelf in the fridge devoted to yogurt.
After a late lunch I sent Billy off to actually take his nap. He's got a cold and didn't sleep well at all last night. Also, Mommy didn't sleep well at all last night. But that's what happens with a crabby Billy that wants to be held all night long. He took a long nap, got up for dinner and cried until he went to bed for the night. He was so tired he only wanted to wake up for food.
Here's wishing you a very happy last day of 2011. See you in 2012!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
December 29, 2011 ~ A Visit To Billy's Girlfriend
If you can believe it, it snowed at our house today. It was too warm to lay, but somehow little patches of white appeared on the yard and on the deck. Of course, Billy saw snow last winter, but that is so long ago I know he doesn't remember. He stared out the window pointing, "look, look!" at the tiny flakes. I even opened the back door so he could look out of the glass on the storm door to see the snow hit the deck and dissolve. It was fascinating to him.
We also played with the Bell Box today, which he hasn't done in many days. It still astounds me that he can change the songs and has clear preferences. The Christmas songs are ok, but the songs you would here on a calliope at the circus are his favorites and he will turn the knobs until he finds them. They are mostly polkas, so I think perhaps it's the rhythm that is appealing. Who knows? Why does he like classical over rock as well? I don't know. He didn't get that from me.
I've been trying to expose him to all kinds of music but I have to admit that I've been a little lacking. He loves classical. I let him listen to rock and dance music. He loves the songs in Disney movies (ok, that he did get from me.) I make him listen to Irish music and Native American music. I have Spanish and African music for him too. But, I don't have country. It's not that I don't like country, but it's not a preference of mine and I don't own any country music to share with him. But, in the spirit of Grandpop, I think I will have to make sure he at least has some Bluegrass music to listen to. (Grandpop was in a Bluegrass band many moons ago.)
For dinner we went to visit our friends, who just happen to be the parents of Billy's girlfriend. She is a few weeks (but not a month!) older than Billy. The last time they saw each other was for Billy's birthday party. I dressed Billy in his plaid pants and a baby boy blue sweater. His girlfriend was dressed in a baby girl pink sweater with cute girl print pants. Totally by accident they were dressed in their respective colors. They looked like baby models for a clothing line. It was too funny (and I forgot my camera, so sorry no pics). She is just a bit smaller and they kind of look like twins. They are often mistaken for twins when we go out, in fact.
Billy has a new habit of running to the door and waving "bye, bye" when he is ready to go. He was so tired at the end of dinner that he informed us it was time for bed. He's been to enough parties over the last two weeks that it wasn't a fluke, he tells us when we need to take him home. Works for me. I would rather he tell me than have a crankypants.
We also played with the Bell Box today, which he hasn't done in many days. It still astounds me that he can change the songs and has clear preferences. The Christmas songs are ok, but the songs you would here on a calliope at the circus are his favorites and he will turn the knobs until he finds them. They are mostly polkas, so I think perhaps it's the rhythm that is appealing. Who knows? Why does he like classical over rock as well? I don't know. He didn't get that from me.
I've been trying to expose him to all kinds of music but I have to admit that I've been a little lacking. He loves classical. I let him listen to rock and dance music. He loves the songs in Disney movies (ok, that he did get from me.) I make him listen to Irish music and Native American music. I have Spanish and African music for him too. But, I don't have country. It's not that I don't like country, but it's not a preference of mine and I don't own any country music to share with him. But, in the spirit of Grandpop, I think I will have to make sure he at least has some Bluegrass music to listen to. (Grandpop was in a Bluegrass band many moons ago.)
For dinner we went to visit our friends, who just happen to be the parents of Billy's girlfriend. She is a few weeks (but not a month!) older than Billy. The last time they saw each other was for Billy's birthday party. I dressed Billy in his plaid pants and a baby boy blue sweater. His girlfriend was dressed in a baby girl pink sweater with cute girl print pants. Totally by accident they were dressed in their respective colors. They looked like baby models for a clothing line. It was too funny (and I forgot my camera, so sorry no pics). She is just a bit smaller and they kind of look like twins. They are often mistaken for twins when we go out, in fact.
Billy has a new habit of running to the door and waving "bye, bye" when he is ready to go. He was so tired at the end of dinner that he informed us it was time for bed. He's been to enough parties over the last two weeks that it wasn't a fluke, he tells us when we need to take him home. Works for me. I would rather he tell me than have a crankypants.
December 28, 2011 ~ Bare Bottom Hijinks
We started the morning with brunch with friends. Billy was very well behaved. When we came home with the same friends, family came to visit. It was a lot of excitement and Billy got off schedule.
He normally takes a nap around lunchtime, but was way past that by the time we actually got him to sleep. Then he only slept for an hour, waking up at the usual time, but without getting enough sleep. The result? Crankypants.
He was so tired that he was unhappy with everything. The only way I could get him to settle was to dance around the living room with him on my hip. Salsa, Rumba, Cha Cha... didn't matter so long as I kept moving to the beat. Let me tell you, a good way to lose the baby weight is to dance around with a 30lb weight on your hip. Just try keeping the weight on and doing that on a regular basis.
After he got bored with dancing it was on to playing ball with Buddy. I know, I know. No balls in the house. Billy has a large bouncing ball that we were throwing down the hall for Buddy to chase after. Billy would chase too, although Buddy is much faster. Buddy would then get the ball stuck and Billy would say, "oh, noh!"
Grandma came over for a short visit, but while she was here it became apparent that Billy needed another nap. He was laying down on the floor and trying to sleep amongst his toys. We tried to put him to bed, but he ended up unhappily babbling about it in his crib during quiet time. After quiet time I rocked him a little to get him to settle. He smiled and cooed the whole time, thrilled to get some close Mommy time. He was much happier after that.
His unhappy belly over the holidays means that he has an unhappy bottom, so after bath time we had some bare bottom time. Normally, I restrict him to his bedroom (or the deck in summer) but today I let him run around. He thought it was too fun and had me chasing him all over the house. Suddenly, he started doing the Pee Dance. Normally I throw a diaper on him when I see the Pee Dance. But Daddy decided to try the potty this time. We got his stool and tried to stand him up in front of the toilet. The problem was that he wanted to sit on his stool, because stools are clearly for sitting. Daddy tried and tried- Mommy being banished because this was "boy stuff". No Go. Daddy let him run around some more, but he continued with his Pee Dance. We threw a diaper on him and he let fly.
Daddy is disappointed, but I am thrilled. I know he didn't pee in the pot, but he did hold it and wait for his diaper. That's a mark in the win column for me.
A strange thing did happen during bath time. He kept pointing down the hall saying, "Look, look! Momma, look!" Of course, the hallway was empty. I said, "What? What do you see? Do you see something? Do you see someone?" But he just kept pointing, eyes trained on something and said, "I no no". (I don't know in Billy speak).
It's not the first time he's done it and I have no idea what he's seeing. I do believe in ghosts, but then, I've also seen Billy have a conversation with a red Christmas bow. I don't know what to make of it. The only thing in the hallway is the hall light, which is higher than his eye line when he does this. Who knows? It's a mystery. I just hope he learns to tell me what it is that he sees, or grows out of this phase of seeing something where there's nothing.
He normally takes a nap around lunchtime, but was way past that by the time we actually got him to sleep. Then he only slept for an hour, waking up at the usual time, but without getting enough sleep. The result? Crankypants.
He was so tired that he was unhappy with everything. The only way I could get him to settle was to dance around the living room with him on my hip. Salsa, Rumba, Cha Cha... didn't matter so long as I kept moving to the beat. Let me tell you, a good way to lose the baby weight is to dance around with a 30lb weight on your hip. Just try keeping the weight on and doing that on a regular basis.
After he got bored with dancing it was on to playing ball with Buddy. I know, I know. No balls in the house. Billy has a large bouncing ball that we were throwing down the hall for Buddy to chase after. Billy would chase too, although Buddy is much faster. Buddy would then get the ball stuck and Billy would say, "oh, noh!"
Grandma came over for a short visit, but while she was here it became apparent that Billy needed another nap. He was laying down on the floor and trying to sleep amongst his toys. We tried to put him to bed, but he ended up unhappily babbling about it in his crib during quiet time. After quiet time I rocked him a little to get him to settle. He smiled and cooed the whole time, thrilled to get some close Mommy time. He was much happier after that.
His unhappy belly over the holidays means that he has an unhappy bottom, so after bath time we had some bare bottom time. Normally, I restrict him to his bedroom (or the deck in summer) but today I let him run around. He thought it was too fun and had me chasing him all over the house. Suddenly, he started doing the Pee Dance. Normally I throw a diaper on him when I see the Pee Dance. But Daddy decided to try the potty this time. We got his stool and tried to stand him up in front of the toilet. The problem was that he wanted to sit on his stool, because stools are clearly for sitting. Daddy tried and tried- Mommy being banished because this was "boy stuff". No Go. Daddy let him run around some more, but he continued with his Pee Dance. We threw a diaper on him and he let fly.
Daddy is disappointed, but I am thrilled. I know he didn't pee in the pot, but he did hold it and wait for his diaper. That's a mark in the win column for me.
A strange thing did happen during bath time. He kept pointing down the hall saying, "Look, look! Momma, look!" Of course, the hallway was empty. I said, "What? What do you see? Do you see something? Do you see someone?" But he just kept pointing, eyes trained on something and said, "I no no". (I don't know in Billy speak).
It's not the first time he's done it and I have no idea what he's seeing. I do believe in ghosts, but then, I've also seen Billy have a conversation with a red Christmas bow. I don't know what to make of it. The only thing in the hallway is the hall light, which is higher than his eye line when he does this. Who knows? It's a mystery. I just hope he learns to tell me what it is that he sees, or grows out of this phase of seeing something where there's nothing.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
December 27, 2011 ~ Troubles, Tantrums and Peanuts
Billy has a new phrase; oh, noh. To everything he says this. He points at the Christmas tree and says, "oh, noh." He drops a piece of food and says, "oh, noh." We ask him to do something he doesn't want to do and he says, "oh, noh."
Today was the day of tantrums. He was tired but only took one nap and not a long one. I heard a lot of "oh, nohs". At one point Daddy was downstairs and Billy wanted to go through the closed basement door to join him. I told him no. He got so mad that he tried to bite the door, which didn't work out so well for him.
Billy got to try whole peanuts for the first time today. He thought they were so tasty that he tried to take the container of peanuts away from me. He refused to eat his lunch because he wanted peanuts. He turned down his favorite foods for peanuts.
After lunch I had a wet cloth in my hand to wipe up. He wanted the cloth so I gave it to him. He wiped up his own tray for me, just like he's seen me do at the end of every meal, every day. He was very impressed with himself and picked up each crumb and dropped it on the floor for Buddy.
After dinner we were playing in the living room around the Christmas tree. Billy decided to sneak behind the furniture to get to the back of the tree. He was poking at the ornaments on the back of the tree when all of a sudden, the one he was poking fell off of the tree. He was overcome with a look of abject terror and said, staring at his feet, "oh, noh!"
Daddy and I just laughed.
Today was the day of tantrums. He was tired but only took one nap and not a long one. I heard a lot of "oh, nohs". At one point Daddy was downstairs and Billy wanted to go through the closed basement door to join him. I told him no. He got so mad that he tried to bite the door, which didn't work out so well for him.
Billy got to try whole peanuts for the first time today. He thought they were so tasty that he tried to take the container of peanuts away from me. He refused to eat his lunch because he wanted peanuts. He turned down his favorite foods for peanuts.
After lunch I had a wet cloth in my hand to wipe up. He wanted the cloth so I gave it to him. He wiped up his own tray for me, just like he's seen me do at the end of every meal, every day. He was very impressed with himself and picked up each crumb and dropped it on the floor for Buddy.
After dinner we were playing in the living room around the Christmas tree. Billy decided to sneak behind the furniture to get to the back of the tree. He was poking at the ornaments on the back of the tree when all of a sudden, the one he was poking fell off of the tree. He was overcome with a look of abject terror and said, staring at his feet, "oh, noh!"
Daddy and I just laughed.
December 26, 2011 ~ Wagon and Dragon
Daddy got up with Billy this morning so that I could sleep in a little. They played with some Christmas toys and watched his new movie, Beauty and the Beast. He wasn't all that interested in his new movie, since it wasn't Tangled.
He was all hugs when i got up and only wanted Mommy. As it turns out, a diet of cookies and crackers causes tummy troubles. Who would have thought? So, he was feeling a little under the weather and Mommy and Daddy had double diaper duty.
He was so tired from yesterday that he was ready for his nap at 11am and slept until almost two. When he got up we went outside to watch Daddy work on the roof. Billy picked up the biggest stick that he could find, nearly twice his height, and dragged it all over the yard and the court.
While we were playing in the court I heard a loud engine noise. I grabbed Billy tightly just in time to see an SUV barrel into the court and swing wildly past us only a few feet away, nearly clipping the car we were standing next to. Billy had been running out from behind the parked car just when I grabbed him and might not be with us if I hadn't heard the SUV before we saw it. The blonde woman drove off in a hurry and parked up at the top of the court. Then she waited with her engine on until a man jogged down the cross street and came up to her car. They had a long conversation, exchanged something. He ran back the way he had come and she drove off. We don't live in a neighborhood with much crime, but it was very suspicious. Billy wanted to go investigate, but I kept him away from the top of the court.
Not long after Grandpop came to visit and brought Billy his presents. He got a dragon and a wagon. I have officially named the dragon Smog, which is taller than Billy. The wagon is a little red push cart just the size for Billy to push around, but too small for him to ride in. It's clearly for Smog to go for joy rides in the court.
Right after Grandpop arrived Billy laid down on the floor right at my feet and didn't want to get up. Nap Time #2. I had to wake him up (in his crib) for us to go out to dinner. We went first to the Macaroni Grill, but they were so rude about taking our name that we left and went to Chilis, where there was no wait.
He wasn't hungry, but had a grand time tossing paper napkins on the floor and talking to the other babies at the restaurant. I think he was too tired to eat. When we came home he went right to bed and fell asleep immediately.
In fact, that sounds likes a great idea,
He was all hugs when i got up and only wanted Mommy. As it turns out, a diet of cookies and crackers causes tummy troubles. Who would have thought? So, he was feeling a little under the weather and Mommy and Daddy had double diaper duty.
He was so tired from yesterday that he was ready for his nap at 11am and slept until almost two. When he got up we went outside to watch Daddy work on the roof. Billy picked up the biggest stick that he could find, nearly twice his height, and dragged it all over the yard and the court.
While we were playing in the court I heard a loud engine noise. I grabbed Billy tightly just in time to see an SUV barrel into the court and swing wildly past us only a few feet away, nearly clipping the car we were standing next to. Billy had been running out from behind the parked car just when I grabbed him and might not be with us if I hadn't heard the SUV before we saw it. The blonde woman drove off in a hurry and parked up at the top of the court. Then she waited with her engine on until a man jogged down the cross street and came up to her car. They had a long conversation, exchanged something. He ran back the way he had come and she drove off. We don't live in a neighborhood with much crime, but it was very suspicious. Billy wanted to go investigate, but I kept him away from the top of the court.
Not long after Grandpop came to visit and brought Billy his presents. He got a dragon and a wagon. I have officially named the dragon Smog, which is taller than Billy. The wagon is a little red push cart just the size for Billy to push around, but too small for him to ride in. It's clearly for Smog to go for joy rides in the court.
Right after Grandpop arrived Billy laid down on the floor right at my feet and didn't want to get up. Nap Time #2. I had to wake him up (in his crib) for us to go out to dinner. We went first to the Macaroni Grill, but they were so rude about taking our name that we left and went to Chilis, where there was no wait.
He wasn't hungry, but had a grand time tossing paper napkins on the floor and talking to the other babies at the restaurant. I think he was too tired to eat. When we came home he went right to bed and fell asleep immediately.
In fact, that sounds likes a great idea,
Monday, December 26, 2011
December 25, 2011 ~ Ho, Ho, Ho! Here We Go!
Last night after Mass and a Christmas party I got Billy ready for Santa. I put him in his green PJs and showed him the tree with no presents under it and all about Santa. We put out a plate of cookies and Billy couldn't wait to get to sleep.
When he woke up this morning he ran right into the living room and opened a present from Santa. Our house must have been Santa's last stop, since he left 5 of his deer in our yard. We watched them eat breakfast before going back to presents. Billy was very happy with his haul.
After present opening it was time to become human yoyos. This is what I always called myself as a child on Christmas, because divorced parents meant that I zinged from one place to the next, barely stopping to breath.
We left all of the mess and presents in the living room, sent Buddy off with Grandma, got dressed in a flash and drove clear down to Virginia to be there by noon. We had a nice long visit with Daddy's family.
Then we zinged back up north of our house to another relative's for dinner. Billy had an awesome time seeing all of his cousins and feasting on cookies.
By the time we got home it was after ten. Billy was wound up the whole ride home, but once he was in his room he went ahead and put himself to sleep. He's had a very long, very busy day. Tomorrow he will get to play with his toys for the first time.
Merry Christmas!
When he woke up this morning he ran right into the living room and opened a present from Santa. Our house must have been Santa's last stop, since he left 5 of his deer in our yard. We watched them eat breakfast before going back to presents. Billy was very happy with his haul.
After present opening it was time to become human yoyos. This is what I always called myself as a child on Christmas, because divorced parents meant that I zinged from one place to the next, barely stopping to breath.
We left all of the mess and presents in the living room, sent Buddy off with Grandma, got dressed in a flash and drove clear down to Virginia to be there by noon. We had a nice long visit with Daddy's family.
Then we zinged back up north of our house to another relative's for dinner. Billy had an awesome time seeing all of his cousins and feasting on cookies.
By the time we got home it was after ten. Billy was wound up the whole ride home, but once he was in his room he went ahead and put himself to sleep. He's had a very long, very busy day. Tomorrow he will get to play with his toys for the first time.
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
December 24, 2011 ~ Christmas Eve
We have a full schedule today, so I am posting early.
There's a favorite Christmas song of mine, Mary's Boy Child, by Boney M. It's a Caribbean song if you've never heard it, although it's really popular on the radio in our town. It's a happy song about the whole Christmas story, but this part always gets me:
"So then they found a little nook
in a stable all forlorn,
And in a manager
cold and dark
Mary's little boy was born."
It doesn't really matter what you believe about Jesus. Historians know he lived. And on this day (although I know the actual date may have been different, but his is the day we celebrate) Mary went into labor.
I had a baby boy not so long ago. In a hospital. Surrounded by light, medical professionals, medicine. It's tough enough to have a baby in modern times with modern methods.
I can't imagine what it must have been like for a 14-year-old girl, scared, without help, in a stinking, dirty animal shelter. No nurses, no doctors, no light. Just pigs and cows and a donkey for company. No bed, just straw on the ground. How hard it must have been, how scary. Poor Joseph, there but probably without knowledge of how to help her.
So today, the day before we celebrate Jesus, let's think of his parents and their struggles to get their little baby here. Theirs was a tough road.
There's a favorite Christmas song of mine, Mary's Boy Child, by Boney M. It's a Caribbean song if you've never heard it, although it's really popular on the radio in our town. It's a happy song about the whole Christmas story, but this part always gets me:
"So then they found a little nook
in a stable all forlorn,
And in a manager
cold and dark
Mary's little boy was born."
It doesn't really matter what you believe about Jesus. Historians know he lived. And on this day (although I know the actual date may have been different, but his is the day we celebrate) Mary went into labor.
I had a baby boy not so long ago. In a hospital. Surrounded by light, medical professionals, medicine. It's tough enough to have a baby in modern times with modern methods.
I can't imagine what it must have been like for a 14-year-old girl, scared, without help, in a stinking, dirty animal shelter. No nurses, no doctors, no light. Just pigs and cows and a donkey for company. No bed, just straw on the ground. How hard it must have been, how scary. Poor Joseph, there but probably without knowledge of how to help her.
So today, the day before we celebrate Jesus, let's think of his parents and their struggles to get their little baby here. Theirs was a tough road.
December 23, 2011 ~ iBaby ~ ABCs to Vivaldi
I picked up Billy a little early from daycare today, since work closed early. He didn't want to leave. He was having way to much fun with the toys at daycare. So we visited a little with his teachers while he finished playing with the toys there.
They told me that he loves to sing and dance. Sing? Sing??? Now, I've seen Billy dance. It's a combination of a twist, wiggle and sway totally off-beat. He loves music and will start dancing to let me know that he wants me to play music for him. Sure, I know he loves to dance. But sing? Wait a minute... he's hardly talking.
Apparently, he can sing the ABCs. Daddy and I tried to get him to sing the ABCs for us at home tonight. We tried over and over, off-key, to hear him sing. Nope, shut up like a clam. Hmm... hoax? We'll see.
He was fussy today so I gave him my ipod. He's pretty savvy with the ipod. He played Vivaldi over and over. He accidentally pulled up top 40 dance hit and rocked a little bit to it, but then found Vivaldi again and really started swaying and giggling. We listened to Vivaldi all night.
First Christmas cookie.
They told me that he loves to sing and dance. Sing? Sing??? Now, I've seen Billy dance. It's a combination of a twist, wiggle and sway totally off-beat. He loves music and will start dancing to let me know that he wants me to play music for him. Sure, I know he loves to dance. But sing? Wait a minute... he's hardly talking.
Apparently, he can sing the ABCs. Daddy and I tried to get him to sing the ABCs for us at home tonight. We tried over and over, off-key, to hear him sing. Nope, shut up like a clam. Hmm... hoax? We'll see.
He was fussy today so I gave him my ipod. He's pretty savvy with the ipod. He played Vivaldi over and over. He accidentally pulled up top 40 dance hit and rocked a little bit to it, but then found Vivaldi again and really started swaying and giggling. We listened to Vivaldi all night.
First Christmas cookie.
Friday, December 23, 2011
December 22, 2011 ~ Always Send Yogurt
Yesterday, unlike most days, I did not send yogurt to daycare. He takes five containers of food with him every day, plus a sippy of water and another of milk. And yes, he usually consumes everything.
Yogurt is a very easy food to prepare. I take it out of the fridge and stick it in the daycare bag. Voila! Everything else takes time to prepare. But yogurt, well, yogurt is a working mom's friend.
But yesterday I had enough leftovers that I did not need to send the yogurt. So, I didn't.
My picky eater was not a fan of the menu change. I sent 6 containers of food just to give him an extra option. He ate only two of them and rejected the rest. What did he eat? Bananas and mac-n-cheese. Rejects? Hamburger, fries, peas and roasted potatoes.
So, he was hungry. Very hungry. Hungry baby=cranky baby. We've been asked to therefore, always send yogurt.
Yogurt is a very easy food to prepare. I take it out of the fridge and stick it in the daycare bag. Voila! Everything else takes time to prepare. But yogurt, well, yogurt is a working mom's friend.
But yesterday I had enough leftovers that I did not need to send the yogurt. So, I didn't.
My picky eater was not a fan of the menu change. I sent 6 containers of food just to give him an extra option. He ate only two of them and rejected the rest. What did he eat? Bananas and mac-n-cheese. Rejects? Hamburger, fries, peas and roasted potatoes.
So, he was hungry. Very hungry. Hungry baby=cranky baby. We've been asked to therefore, always send yogurt.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
December 21, 2011 ~ Of Monkeys and Billys
If you read my blog on a regular basis, then you already know that I worked until 6am this morning (on my day off yesterday!). So I apologize for being very sleepy while writing this post.
We're shooting a commercial with a monkey. Literal, not figurative. The chimp is a teenager named Chandler, about the same size as Billy. That chimp has been keeping me from my son.
I got a little bit of sleep before my alarm clock woke me up. When you're a mom your alarm clock doesn't come with an off switch. Nope. My alarm clock requires a diaper change, breakfast, and continues to scream louder and louder until he gets it.
I decided to let him play a bit before daycare today, just to get some Mommy time. He chased Buddy around with animal crackers and poked at the tree ornaments. Mommy drank her coffee while Billy chased the dog around.
This evening Daddy took Billy Christmas shopping for a snow suit with gloves and boots. He loves to be outside, so we need to be prepared for the weather. I have been to all of the department stores around me, including the baby stores, and nobody had snow suits for toddlers. Daddy ended up at an outdoor shop, on of his favorites, and came back with a lovely (albeit very expensive) snow suit set.
Uncle Alex also came over this evening. His college has closed down for the holidays and he needs a place to stay until his car is fixed. So, Uncle Alex will be living with us until his car is fixed, or until Grandpop picks him up to take him home (which is not nearby).
Billy was super excited about Uncle Alex's laptop. I tried to get him to play with his own laptop (thanks G!), but having played with the real thing, he shoved his little red one right back in my face. Nope, the real thing is the cool thing. Somehow, I don't think Santa will be bringing my little one an actual laptop for Christmas. SO, when Uncle Alex leaves, he'll have to survive with his little baby laptop.
He was all wound up and stayed up past bedtime to play with Uncle Alex. However, Mommy insisted on bed. And now Mommy insists on going to bed herself.
We're shooting a commercial with a monkey. Literal, not figurative. The chimp is a teenager named Chandler, about the same size as Billy. That chimp has been keeping me from my son.
I got a little bit of sleep before my alarm clock woke me up. When you're a mom your alarm clock doesn't come with an off switch. Nope. My alarm clock requires a diaper change, breakfast, and continues to scream louder and louder until he gets it.
I decided to let him play a bit before daycare today, just to get some Mommy time. He chased Buddy around with animal crackers and poked at the tree ornaments. Mommy drank her coffee while Billy chased the dog around.
This evening Daddy took Billy Christmas shopping for a snow suit with gloves and boots. He loves to be outside, so we need to be prepared for the weather. I have been to all of the department stores around me, including the baby stores, and nobody had snow suits for toddlers. Daddy ended up at an outdoor shop, on of his favorites, and came back with a lovely (albeit very expensive) snow suit set.
Uncle Alex also came over this evening. His college has closed down for the holidays and he needs a place to stay until his car is fixed. So, Uncle Alex will be living with us until his car is fixed, or until Grandpop picks him up to take him home (which is not nearby).
Billy was super excited about Uncle Alex's laptop. I tried to get him to play with his own laptop (thanks G!), but having played with the real thing, he shoved his little red one right back in my face. Nope, the real thing is the cool thing. Somehow, I don't think Santa will be bringing my little one an actual laptop for Christmas. SO, when Uncle Alex leaves, he'll have to survive with his little baby laptop.
He was all wound up and stayed up past bedtime to play with Uncle Alex. However, Mommy insisted on bed. And now Mommy insists on going to bed herself.
December 20, 2011 ~ Postponed
Today's post will be coming shortly. It's 6am and I am just getting off work and have to be back in the office at 9am. I will post later in the day after I get some sleep.
My apologies!
My apologies!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
December 19, 2011 ~ Looking Forward, Looking Back
Running around in the month of December it's easy to lose track of time. There's decorating, shopping for presents, planning get-togethers. And in my personal life there's been shoot after shoot, a sick little one, and prepping for Santa's first big visit to our house (2nd trip, but last year Billy didn't notice).
Having a little one around seems to be a contributing factor to time slipping away. It seems like yesterday that he couldn't crawl. I feel like projects I did months ago at work were only a week or two ago. And the same goes with seeing friends- having seen them months ago seems like it was very recent.
And so, rushing around with Billy today to prep for Christmas, I completely lost sight of what today is. Or rather, tomorrow.
For thirty years of my life, December 19 has been a planning day. A planning day for mourning. Most people see the December 21 as the darkest day of the year. In Grandma's family, it's December 20.
34 years ago, at a Baltimore Colts game, my grandmother looked over at my grandfather and said, "Bill, I feel funny." She collapsed and never woke up. Two days later, December 20, she died.
Every year since the family has gathered to mourn her premature passing. There were phone calls back and forth about the Mass, who was going, who needed rides. For our family it was a Holy Day of Obligation. And I realized, rushing around with my little one, that there has been none of that this year. Grandma hasn't even mentioned it to me. Maybe it's just me, consumed by all things baby, maybe the family is drifting away from the tradition.
It's a time-honored tradition, this moving on. We are moving on. There is another generation in the family. So many things to look forward to that we forget to look back. We don't forget the people, but we move away from the grief to celebrate the new lives around us.
As I'm writing this it's already December 20. So, with a gracious nod to an inspiring woman, I move on to prepping for the Big Guy's arrival and the joy it will bring to Billy.
Great Grandma (DMF) 1916-1977
Having a little one around seems to be a contributing factor to time slipping away. It seems like yesterday that he couldn't crawl. I feel like projects I did months ago at work were only a week or two ago. And the same goes with seeing friends- having seen them months ago seems like it was very recent.
And so, rushing around with Billy today to prep for Christmas, I completely lost sight of what today is. Or rather, tomorrow.
For thirty years of my life, December 19 has been a planning day. A planning day for mourning. Most people see the December 21 as the darkest day of the year. In Grandma's family, it's December 20.
34 years ago, at a Baltimore Colts game, my grandmother looked over at my grandfather and said, "Bill, I feel funny." She collapsed and never woke up. Two days later, December 20, she died.
Every year since the family has gathered to mourn her premature passing. There were phone calls back and forth about the Mass, who was going, who needed rides. For our family it was a Holy Day of Obligation. And I realized, rushing around with my little one, that there has been none of that this year. Grandma hasn't even mentioned it to me. Maybe it's just me, consumed by all things baby, maybe the family is drifting away from the tradition.
It's a time-honored tradition, this moving on. We are moving on. There is another generation in the family. So many things to look forward to that we forget to look back. We don't forget the people, but we move away from the grief to celebrate the new lives around us.
As I'm writing this it's already December 20. So, with a gracious nod to an inspiring woman, I move on to prepping for the Big Guy's arrival and the joy it will bring to Billy.
Great Grandma (DMF) 1916-1977
Monday, December 19, 2011
December 18, 2011 ~ Billy Made Santa Cry!
Today was the momentous day. We went to see the Big Man In Red.
Now, I've been prepping Billy for a week for this trip to see Santa. I've been telling him all about the presents. I bought him a copy of The Night Before Christmas and have been reading it to him. We even checked out his stocking, hung by the chimney with care.
We waited until after his nap to take him to see the Big Man, hoping to catch him in the best mood. Unfortunately, he's not sleeping well with this nasty cough (neither is Mommy!) and has been crabby all day. When we got there a big line stretched down the mall and we had to wait. Daddy took Billy into a toy store while Mommy waited in the long line.
Just before us a cute baby girl sat on Santa's lap. She wasn't so sure, but finally the photographer and Santa got her to giggle and what a photo op. The next kid was maybe six or seven, an old pro at snapping the photo with a big smile to get to the important part- making sure Santa knew what he wanted. Then it was Billy's turn.
I tucked in his shirt and carried him over to Santa. So far, so good. We had a nice little chat with Santa about procedure, since he's used to the young ones having difficulties. Then I turned Billy over to jolly old St. Nick.
But as it turns out, jolly old St. Nick isn't so jolly. Nope, he's downright scary.
All that crying made Santa cry too!
Now, I've been prepping Billy for a week for this trip to see Santa. I've been telling him all about the presents. I bought him a copy of The Night Before Christmas and have been reading it to him. We even checked out his stocking, hung by the chimney with care.
We waited until after his nap to take him to see the Big Man, hoping to catch him in the best mood. Unfortunately, he's not sleeping well with this nasty cough (neither is Mommy!) and has been crabby all day. When we got there a big line stretched down the mall and we had to wait. Daddy took Billy into a toy store while Mommy waited in the long line.
Just before us a cute baby girl sat on Santa's lap. She wasn't so sure, but finally the photographer and Santa got her to giggle and what a photo op. The next kid was maybe six or seven, an old pro at snapping the photo with a big smile to get to the important part- making sure Santa knew what he wanted. Then it was Billy's turn.
I tucked in his shirt and carried him over to Santa. So far, so good. We had a nice little chat with Santa about procedure, since he's used to the young ones having difficulties. Then I turned Billy over to jolly old St. Nick.
But as it turns out, jolly old St. Nick isn't so jolly. Nope, he's downright scary.
All that crying made Santa cry too!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
December 17, 2011 ~ Shoot Day Gets a Billy Break
I had to work again today, despite it being the weekend. I got Billy up and fed him breakfast just like on a normal workday. Only, I left him with Daddy looking at the tree.
Right after our lunch break (which for you normal people is actually closer to dinner) I left the shoot and came home to visit with my favorite boys. I only had an hour and it went quick. Billy showed off his new words from Daddy "stop!" and "no! no!" These words are for the dog bowl, oven, stove and heater. Hopefully, I gets the meanings of the words.
When I got home he had been asleep for a long time. But, his coughing woke him up. It's a remnant of that crappy, evil disease and he will have it through Christmas. It's a terrible, racking cough. Both Daddy and I have it too. I went in to give him his binky, which normally settles him, but he was sitting up and stood up when he saw me.
I picked him up and he pointed back at his crib. I gave him his binky, but he pointed to his crib again. He wanted his Pooh Bear, but in the darkness couldn't distinguish it from his other animals in the crib. As soon as I handed it to him he nestled up against my shoulder. Then I rocked him back to sleep.
He'll need it. Tomorrow is a big day. He gets to meet the Big Man in Red.
Right after our lunch break (which for you normal people is actually closer to dinner) I left the shoot and came home to visit with my favorite boys. I only had an hour and it went quick. Billy showed off his new words from Daddy "stop!" and "no! no!" These words are for the dog bowl, oven, stove and heater. Hopefully, I gets the meanings of the words.
When I got home he had been asleep for a long time. But, his coughing woke him up. It's a remnant of that crappy, evil disease and he will have it through Christmas. It's a terrible, racking cough. Both Daddy and I have it too. I went in to give him his binky, which normally settles him, but he was sitting up and stood up when he saw me.
I picked him up and he pointed back at his crib. I gave him his binky, but he pointed to his crib again. He wanted his Pooh Bear, but in the darkness couldn't distinguish it from his other animals in the crib. As soon as I handed it to him he nestled up against my shoulder. Then I rocked him back to sleep.
He'll need it. Tomorrow is a big day. He gets to meet the Big Man in Red.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
December 16, 2011 ~ Not A Fan Of Socks
Billy is not a fan of socks. Nope. Doesn't want them.
I put them on his feet this morning. He ripped them off. I put them back on. He ripped them right off again. He went to bed last night with socks on. I woke him this morning and he had both socks in his hand. When I came home from work late tonight the remnants of Billy's dislike were littered on the kitchen floor. Sockless baby. That's my Billy.
He had a quiet day today, most of which I missed. He was sleepy so I had to wake him and we were late to daycare. I worked until after his bedtime. All I can say is, he had a mostly sockless day.
Billy, president of the sockless club.
I put them on his feet this morning. He ripped them off. I put them back on. He ripped them right off again. He went to bed last night with socks on. I woke him this morning and he had both socks in his hand. When I came home from work late tonight the remnants of Billy's dislike were littered on the kitchen floor. Sockless baby. That's my Billy.
He had a quiet day today, most of which I missed. He was sleepy so I had to wake him and we were late to daycare. I worked until after his bedtime. All I can say is, he had a mostly sockless day.
Billy, president of the sockless club.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
December 15, 2011 ~ Peanuts? No One Said Anything About Peanuts!
Well, I guess Billy isn't allergic to peanuts. We haven't been able to find a good time to food test him on peanuts, being a major allergy. But Daddy handed him a peanut granola bar without thinking this morning. The good news is that there was no reaction.
Billy did not want to go to school this morning. Nope. Tree. I would cart him back into the den to try and get his socks, shoes and coat on and he would run at light speed back to the tree. His favorite ornament? Scooby-Doo. I don't think he's ever seen any Scooby, but it's a clear winner.
Today was another crusty eye day. So bad now that he woke up with both eyes sealed shut. It took two parents to wrestle and ornery toddler into getting the yuckis cleaned up. He looked much better after a shower. I hope this illness cures up soon so his poor little nose and eyes can clear up and leave him alone;. I know he's miserable.
Daddy tells me he's so miserable that he cried all afternoon and refused to eat his dinner. Of course, the crying may have been from his getting in trouble with Daddy and being less than happy about getting punished. Also, he cries and throws food when he's being picky about his meal, which may have been the case here. But I don't know, because I had to work again.
So, another day goes by without Billy. Maybe tomorrow I'll get home in time to see him before bed.
Billy did not want to go to school this morning. Nope. Tree. I would cart him back into the den to try and get his socks, shoes and coat on and he would run at light speed back to the tree. His favorite ornament? Scooby-Doo. I don't think he's ever seen any Scooby, but it's a clear winner.
Today was another crusty eye day. So bad now that he woke up with both eyes sealed shut. It took two parents to wrestle and ornery toddler into getting the yuckis cleaned up. He looked much better after a shower. I hope this illness cures up soon so his poor little nose and eyes can clear up and leave him alone;. I know he's miserable.
Daddy tells me he's so miserable that he cried all afternoon and refused to eat his dinner. Of course, the crying may have been from his getting in trouble with Daddy and being less than happy about getting punished. Also, he cries and throws food when he's being picky about his meal, which may have been the case here. But I don't know, because I had to work again.
So, another day goes by without Billy. Maybe tomorrow I'll get home in time to see him before bed.
December 14, 2011 ~ A Day Without Billy
First, Billy would like to wish his Godmother a very happy birthday!
We're filming again at work and that means that I have to work late. I had thought I would be home before Billy's bedtime, but after three fire drills on set (not literal ones) It was after ten before I was able to leave. I am in charge of the heroes (the product that will appear on camera, especially in close-ups). Therefore, I have to be on hand to make sure the heroes are ready for the set and adjust based on what the talent will do with the hero.
It's always hard for me when I can't see my son. Especially, because he's sick and I know he's missing his Mommy. There's no substitute for Mommy to a little child, even Daddy can't always cut it. I tried really hard to be home by bedtime so I could at least rock him to sleep. But, unfortunately, work got in the way and might again for the next three days.
There's a song by Abba and the lyrics say "I let precious time go by" talking about her daughter when young. I know how she feels.
We're filming again at work and that means that I have to work late. I had thought I would be home before Billy's bedtime, but after three fire drills on set (not literal ones) It was after ten before I was able to leave. I am in charge of the heroes (the product that will appear on camera, especially in close-ups). Therefore, I have to be on hand to make sure the heroes are ready for the set and adjust based on what the talent will do with the hero.
It's always hard for me when I can't see my son. Especially, because he's sick and I know he's missing his Mommy. There's no substitute for Mommy to a little child, even Daddy can't always cut it. I tried really hard to be home by bedtime so I could at least rock him to sleep. But, unfortunately, work got in the way and might again for the next three days.
There's a song by Abba and the lyrics say "I let precious time go by" talking about her daughter when young. I know how she feels.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
December 13, 2011 ~ Eye Boogies
It's insult to injury today. On top of still being sick with that nasty disease that drove us to the ER last week, now he has a clogged tear duct. The result is a crusty, boogie eye that looks like Pink Eye, only the whites of the eye remain pink and he's not contagious. On top of the crusties, it itches him badly, so he's rubbing it and making the skin around his eye very pink and raw.
I decided to try to make a better dinner tonight than he normally gets. However, not having made it recently, I underestimated the amount of time it would take me to make it. I also underestimated how cranky and impatient my toddler could be. By 15 minutes into the dinner process he had fully immersed himself in the dog water, despite the war zone of toys on the kitchen floor. He cried, stamped his feet and carried on to try to get my attention with his bad behavior. The thing is, I had raw chicken, so I wasn't about to pick him up with raw chicken cooties all over my hands.
By the time I finished cooking, he was so tired that he didn't want to eat. So off to bed with no complaints, earlier than his actual bedtime.
I decided to try to make a better dinner tonight than he normally gets. However, not having made it recently, I underestimated the amount of time it would take me to make it. I also underestimated how cranky and impatient my toddler could be. By 15 minutes into the dinner process he had fully immersed himself in the dog water, despite the war zone of toys on the kitchen floor. He cried, stamped his feet and carried on to try to get my attention with his bad behavior. The thing is, I had raw chicken, so I wasn't about to pick him up with raw chicken cooties all over my hands.
By the time I finished cooking, he was so tired that he didn't want to eat. So off to bed with no complaints, earlier than his actual bedtime.
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