After almost 10 years of blogging, I think I'm taking a hiatus. There's so much wonderful living going on, I find it increasingly hard to take time to write about said living. Will I come back one day? Maybe, who knows. Will it be a lifetime hiatus that is better defined as just simply being done? Maybe.
So until we meet again dear blog readers! I have some livin' to do.
Showing posts with label parenthood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenthood. Show all posts
Feb 21, 2016
Nov 19, 2015
Cade Black Eye
Cade Black Eye. That's what Cade told our neighbors his name was last week. Because...yeah he had a wicked black eye. He's almost back to normal now but, man, it was a doozie!
Almost two weeks ago now, he was running to the bathroom ("You can watch a movie after you go potty.") and tripped on the bathmat that is in front of the toilet and next to the tub. He tripped and went face first into the side of the tub. Talk about a big owie.
It didn't look too bad at first. He was screaming and crying his little baby head off but the actual bump spot was really mild. See?
But then he woke up Saturday morning...
By Sunday morning the colors were vibrant. Fuchsia, black, blue. All kinds of colors that are beautiful in a painting but less than ideal on your child's face.
I took him to an urgent care clinic that afternoon just in case. And thankfully all was as our parent instincts told us that first night. He was fine. Banged up for sure, but nothing broken or fractured, no vision problems. Just an UGLY bruise.
We've gone through the bruised banana look now and though he's not back to perfectly normal skin tones, he's really close. And it certainly isn't bothering him. In fact, other than the first 5 minutes, it hasn't seemed to bother him at all (another reason we were fairly sure he was actually fine).
So yup, that's what's been happening around here. More blogging to come; I'll do my best to be less of a slacker on the blog front. Not just for you, my dear committed (five) readers but for us too. Because it is nice to have all these little stories recorded in-the-moment and easy to revisit.
Almost two weeks ago now, he was running to the bathroom ("You can watch a movie after you go potty.") and tripped on the bathmat that is in front of the toilet and next to the tub. He tripped and went face first into the side of the tub. Talk about a big owie.
It didn't look too bad at first. He was screaming and crying his little baby head off but the actual bump spot was really mild. See?
But then he woke up Saturday morning...
By Sunday morning the colors were vibrant. Fuchsia, black, blue. All kinds of colors that are beautiful in a painting but less than ideal on your child's face.
I took him to an urgent care clinic that afternoon just in case. And thankfully all was as our parent instincts told us that first night. He was fine. Banged up for sure, but nothing broken or fractured, no vision problems. Just an UGLY bruise.
We've gone through the bruised banana look now and though he's not back to perfectly normal skin tones, he's really close. And it certainly isn't bothering him. In fact, other than the first 5 minutes, it hasn't seemed to bother him at all (another reason we were fairly sure he was actually fine).
So yup, that's what's been happening around here. More blogging to come; I'll do my best to be less of a slacker on the blog front. Not just for you, my dear committed (five) readers but for us too. Because it is nice to have all these little stories recorded in-the-moment and easy to revisit.
Aug 23, 2015
I go to fire station!
The first thing Cade said when he woke up from yesterday's nap was "I go to fire station!" and he was right! We went on an afternoon adventure to visit Ross at the fire station. It was hands down the most fun Cade has ever had there.
It melted my mommy heart to see my two boys playing together. And then it did a double melt later when Cade told "Dad is hero! He rescue anybody when he at work." Oh yes, little boy, your dad is a hero. He does rescue anybody who needs it when he is at work.
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It melted my mommy heart to see my two boys playing together. And then it did a double melt later when Cade told "Dad is hero! He rescue anybody when he at work." Oh yes, little boy, your dad is a hero. He does rescue anybody who needs it when he is at work.
Aug 16, 2015
The Week That Was
This week, Cade wore a LOT of Thomas clothes and of course, really cool sunnies.
And on Monday, he had a very "spirited" morning complete with total ecstasy over his (terribly ugly but also awesome) Thomas outfit, a complete meltdown because his free cheese danish sample at Starbucks had cheese on it and finally, with having to literally be dragged on his belly into preschool crying and screaming. Oh how I wished my frappuccino had had liquor in it at that moment.
Thankfully from Monday, things got better (heck, they couldn't get much worse.) Last night he hung out with Rowan, which included trains, dolls and a Disney movie.
And tonight he was rewarded with a Gordon train (of Thomas & Friends fame) for having his first poopoo on the potty! Yay Big Boy Cade! He Facetimed both of his grandmothers to tell them about the event.
As a side note, during all these goings on, it was really, really, really frickin' hot. What you see below isn't even the worst from my car thermometer; just the worst I could safely capture while stopped.
And on Monday, he had a very "spirited" morning complete with total ecstasy over his (terribly ugly but also awesome) Thomas outfit, a complete meltdown because his free cheese danish sample at Starbucks had cheese on it and finally, with having to literally be dragged on his belly into preschool crying and screaming. Oh how I wished my frappuccino had had liquor in it at that moment.
Thankfully from Monday, things got better (heck, they couldn't get much worse.) Last night he hung out with Rowan, which included trains, dolls and a Disney movie.
And tonight he was rewarded with a Gordon train (of Thomas & Friends fame) for having his first poopoo on the potty! Yay Big Boy Cade! He Facetimed both of his grandmothers to tell them about the event.
As a side note, during all these goings on, it was really, really, really frickin' hot. What you see below isn't even the worst from my car thermometer; just the worst I could safely capture while stopped.
Feb 4, 2015
The Pink Eye
Happening last month but not previously blogged about, everyone's favorite toddler had pink eye. Wah-wah.
Fortunately for him, I don't think the actual pink eye was that awful.
The eye drops, however, were pure torture for everyone involved. At their best, it required me to hold Cade in a wrestling move and for Ross to sneak attack them into his eyes while enduring screams of "No! Eyes all done! No Mama! No Dada!" At their worst it was Cade and I wrestling in his room, him kicking and hitting me, both of us breaking a sweat and tearing up for a one-(wo)man pinning and eye-dropping. Awful I tell you. Awful.
And that's when I let him use the glass markers to color in the mirror. They don't "wash easily" like the packaging lies about. But they do make little, traumatized boys happy which in turn makes their traumatized mothers happy. So fine, I'll spend the next 10 years cleaning glass marker off the mirror.
And if Crayola is smart, they'll set up a display for these right next to the pharmacy counter to sucker in parents of sick kids nationwide.
Fortunately for him, I don't think the actual pink eye was that awful.
The eye drops, however, were pure torture for everyone involved. At their best, it required me to hold Cade in a wrestling move and for Ross to sneak attack them into his eyes while enduring screams of "No! Eyes all done! No Mama! No Dada!" At their worst it was Cade and I wrestling in his room, him kicking and hitting me, both of us breaking a sweat and tearing up for a one-(wo)man pinning and eye-dropping. Awful I tell you. Awful.
And that's when I let him use the glass markers to color in the mirror. They don't "wash easily" like the packaging lies about. But they do make little, traumatized boys happy which in turn makes their traumatized mothers happy. So fine, I'll spend the next 10 years cleaning glass marker off the mirror.
And if Crayola is smart, they'll set up a display for these right next to the pharmacy counter to sucker in parents of sick kids nationwide.
Jan 24, 2015
The Best Saturday Morning Ever
Whew - it's been busy over here! I am behind on the blogging front big time. Let me start to catch you up.
Last weekend we had The Best Saturday Morning Ever on a family trip to the Thinkery and then lunch at Fuddrucker's.
The Thinkery (ie Children's Museum) has a special Saturday program called "Baby Bloomers" where it opens the second story of the museum up an hour early for kiddos under three and provides some special little kid programming. We took advantage of the smaller crowd (both in volume and stature) and got there right as Baby Bloomers opened.
We tried the formal programming but Cade was not too impressed. He LOVED the water tables and instruments though. He and Ross played there for probably 20 minutes. He also really liked the tumble area with mats and bouncy balls. When the downstairs opened up we spent about 30 minutes there painting and playing in the light room. IT WAS SO FUN!!
While at the Thinkery Ross got a hankering for a Fuddrucker's so afterward we went here for an early lunch. Since it was impromptu I didn't have a lunch for Cade...which meant he got his very own lunch off the kids's menu. He was such a little kid (not a baby) playing with the arcade games and then eating his grilled cheese and apple slices. It was adorable and kinda heartbreaking at the same time. Talk about sneaking up on me!
We all had so much fun, it was all together and really, it was totally the perfect family weekend morning. YAY!!
Last weekend we had The Best Saturday Morning Ever on a family trip to the Thinkery and then lunch at Fuddrucker's.
The Thinkery (ie Children's Museum) has a special Saturday program called "Baby Bloomers" where it opens the second story of the museum up an hour early for kiddos under three and provides some special little kid programming. We took advantage of the smaller crowd (both in volume and stature) and got there right as Baby Bloomers opened.
We tried the formal programming but Cade was not too impressed. He LOVED the water tables and instruments though. He and Ross played there for probably 20 minutes. He also really liked the tumble area with mats and bouncy balls. When the downstairs opened up we spent about 30 minutes there painting and playing in the light room. IT WAS SO FUN!!
While at the Thinkery Ross got a hankering for a Fuddrucker's so afterward we went here for an early lunch. Since it was impromptu I didn't have a lunch for Cade...which meant he got his very own lunch off the kids's menu. He was such a little kid (not a baby) playing with the arcade games and then eating his grilled cheese and apple slices. It was adorable and kinda heartbreaking at the same time. Talk about sneaking up on me!
We all had so much fun, it was all together and really, it was totally the perfect family weekend morning. YAY!!
Nov 1, 2014
Happy Halloween from the Littlest Trick or Treater
Cade went trick-or-treating! Like real actual trick-or-treating to multiple houses with both parents and for part of it, his favorite pup.
Yesterday we got decked out as NFL stars and knocked on four neighbors' doors. All were very nice and Cade made out like a toddler candy bandit. Which really means we made out like candy bandits since he is not allowed to eat it yet.
After our formal trick-or-treating, Cade and I went on a stroller adventure to Margeaux and Ryan's. Mostly because I wanted some exercise but it was fun to show off his costume, see Ryan's big bird costume (feather boas and dyed long-johns included) and enjoy a candy corn punch cocktail with Margeaux.
Yesterday we got decked out as NFL stars and knocked on four neighbors' doors. All were very nice and Cade made out like a toddler candy bandit. Which really means we made out like candy bandits since he is not allowed to eat it yet.
Oct 22, 2014
Reach for the Stars
Cade likes to un-do his diaper as I am doing it. To combat this, I've recently started telling him to put his hands above his head while I'm changing him. I grab his little hands, put them over his head and say "handsaboveyourhead" really fast and silly like.
Tonight it dawned on me the other people who say that - cops. To crooks.
Maybe not the kinda phrase I want to seem common place to my son.
So we course corrected to "reach for the stars!"
First I told him to "reach for the stars!" while I was putting on his diaper. Success!
Then I sat him up and told him to "reach for the stars!" so I could put on his PJ shirt. He laid back down and put his hands up by his head. HAHAHA! Apparently "reach for the stars!" means "put your hands up by your head while you are laying down."
So we kept practicing and I kept getting a lot of this.
We moved out to the gameroom. Where eventually I got this.
Such a quick learner! And thankfully now we can say something that rings of ambition, not a life of crime.
Tonight it dawned on me the other people who say that - cops. To crooks.
Maybe not the kinda phrase I want to seem common place to my son.
So we course corrected to "reach for the stars!"
First I told him to "reach for the stars!" while I was putting on his diaper. Success!
Then I sat him up and told him to "reach for the stars!" so I could put on his PJ shirt. He laid back down and put his hands up by his head. HAHAHA! Apparently "reach for the stars!" means "put your hands up by your head while you are laying down."
So we kept practicing and I kept getting a lot of this.
We moved out to the gameroom. Where eventually I got this.
Such a quick learner! And thankfully now we can say something that rings of ambition, not a life of crime.
Oct 15, 2014
Austin Moms Blog!
Since I'm not busy enough, back in August I connected with the editor of the Austin Moms Blog and last month signed up as a regular contributor. Woohoo! I'm actually really excited to have an "official" blog with lots of readers that is more lifestyle and consumer than tech and B2B.
So far I've contributed a guest post, an intro post and as of today my first regular post!
You can read it here: http://citymomsblog.com/austin/2014/10/15/is-working-from-home-for-you-6-questions-to-ask-yourself/
So far I've contributed a guest post, an intro post and as of today my first regular post!
You can read it here: http://citymomsblog.com/austin/2014/10/15/is-working-from-home-for-you-6-questions-to-ask-yourself/
Aug 29, 2014
When you work from home...
A sales director at work asked me to join his weekly team meeting today. They are based on the east coast so it meant dialing in at 8a. I told him I would be happy to join but would be taking the call from home since I couldn't feasibly make preschool dropoff and get to work by 8a. No big deal, everyone had a chuckle about Curious George being on in the background.
Per the plan, I spoke for 10-15 minutes, introducing myself, giving a sneak peek into some of my marketing plans. I figured 15 minutes was what Cade would give me so we were doing great. Then though we launched into Q&A. The team had great questions and I took the time to answer them; Cade was still happily playing and watching cartoons. Win-win-win.
But then I saw It: the baby poop face.
Giggle to myself, "he's so funny when he makes that face." Continue with phone call. Oh how blissfully ignorant I was.
Next thing I know: exploding diaper! Poop out the top! Meanwhile, the team is still asking questions about marketing plans. At this point Cade starts crying, because, duh, he's sitting in his own exploding poop.
When, mercifully, the director said "thank you for joining us Cheryl. You can stay on the call if you - " I didn't let him finish his sentence before "Thank you! I need to run. Toddler situation. Bye y'all!" Because literally, there was a shitstorm happening. Shit had hit the floor.
I'm not even sure I had hung up the phone before I started yelling "Ross! Ross! I need you. NOW."
Per the plan, I spoke for 10-15 minutes, introducing myself, giving a sneak peek into some of my marketing plans. I figured 15 minutes was what Cade would give me so we were doing great. Then though we launched into Q&A. The team had great questions and I took the time to answer them; Cade was still happily playing and watching cartoons. Win-win-win.
But then I saw It: the baby poop face.
Giggle to myself, "he's so funny when he makes that face." Continue with phone call. Oh how blissfully ignorant I was.
Next thing I know: exploding diaper! Poop out the top! Meanwhile, the team is still asking questions about marketing plans. At this point Cade starts crying, because, duh, he's sitting in his own exploding poop.
When, mercifully, the director said "thank you for joining us Cheryl. You can stay on the call if you - " I didn't let him finish his sentence before "Thank you! I need to run. Toddler situation. Bye y'all!" Because literally, there was a shitstorm happening. Shit had hit the floor.
I'm not even sure I had hung up the phone before I started yelling "Ross! Ross! I need you. NOW."
Jul 29, 2014
Cade-tionary
Cade's vocab is growing by leaps and bounds (which oddly enough are the things he does when not talking). Here are the interpretations on some of the lesser known words
And a few that do not require interpretations
- Yeh-yee: Lexi
- Yack: Grandpa Jack
- Ugh: Hug
- Rowey: Rowan
- Mill: Milk
- Bo: No
- Pees: Please
- A-boo: as in peek-a-boo
- Aw-un: All done
- Eee: Eat
And a few that do not require interpretations
- Bubble
- Dada
- Mama
- More
- Yeah
- Whoa
- Wow
- Book
He's pretty good at answering yes-or-no questions even if he can't say all the words to tell you the full sentence. He knows several signs too. One of the most impressive has been tonight when he signed and said "eee more pees." And then true to his word, he ate a full three course dinner. Not too shabby, baby, not too shabby.
Jul 23, 2014
Mommy Favorites
Amanda is my favorite mommy blogger of all time and I am very honored to tell you I actually know her awesome self. She is besties with AJ (my college roomie) and she and I have been co-bridesmaids together. She now has no less than FOUR kiddos, including one whose age can still be reported in days, and yet she's going to splash pads and Costco. I can barely handle splash pads with my one kiddo and I can't handle Costco alone.
If you need a laugh or some mommy-inspiration, read her stuff. Also she's a damn good photographer so there are cute kid pics too!
Another fav: my favorite parenting advice article as of late is this one. Specifically this part
If you need a laugh or some mommy-inspiration, read her stuff. Also she's a damn good photographer so there are cute kid pics too!
Another fav: my favorite parenting advice article as of late is this one. Specifically this part
Set the bar low. As I wrapped up my first son's 1-year visit, the pediatrician said, "Your job this year is basically just to keep him alive." I laughed. He wasn't joking. I thought, "Really?! Just keep him alive? What about proper nutrition, developmental milestones and nurturing his growing brain with educational toys?" Then little Eli started walking... and running... and climbing... and jumping... and I understood the pediatrician's advice, even as I marveled at my little daredevil's ability to find danger in the safest of environments.
So yes, lower your expectations of yourself. Your sweet baby is about to go running into the world. Wear comfy shoes, try to keep up, and stock up on colorful band-aids.
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