musings of Mother Hood

What the heck, January?

Didn't I just write a mulligan entry a few weeks ago? It was the Christmas Break that wouldn't end when a combination of bad weather and toddler sickness had us cooped up for almost an entire extra week at the beginning of January. The work/school/eating/sleeping schedule was completely out the window and just when I thought we were solidly back on track, here life went and happened again. 

Geez, it seems like forever ago now, but last weekend I spent the weekend in Cabot as a guest judge at the Cabot Classic. In a former life, I was a drama kid at Cabot High School and their annual tournament gives me a chance to go back "home", reconnect with old friends, and brush up on my Sylvia Plath.  Oh, those days. I spent nearly every weekend of my high school tenure on a bus with 60 or so of my closest drama nerd friends traveling to various schools around the state of Arkansas to compete in tournaments. And though I'm a little rusty these days, I once knew every single syllable of RENT- like any other self-respecting drama kid of the late 90s.

Why are entire years strewn
On the cutting room floor of memories?
When single frames from one magic night
Forever flicker in close-up on the 3D IMAX of my mind.

The tournament this year was a ball, I judged a few rounds and caught up with a few old friends. And the rest of the weekend I got to spend time with my friends David and Jennie and other friends from the church I grew up in. I've known David since 4th grade Sunday School and his wife Jennie since they started dating during our freshman year in college. They were so sweet to let me crash at their house for the weekend and let me tag along to a cook-out with more old church friends on Saturday night. Who says you can't go home?

While I was in Cabot, I got the news that my Grandma had passed away in Huron. I immediately made plans to join Mom and Dad, and Becky in Huron for funeral services. Driving to Huron and back meant that I would be away from home Tuesday morning until Saturday afternoon. If you're doing the math, that means I was home for about 2 of the last 10 days.  It was a long week. A hard one. But it's always good to see family. And unfortunately, funerals tend to bring everyone home. After we dropped Mom at the airport in Kansas City - Dad, Becky and I got back to Fayetteville Saturday just in time for supper with my boys.

So at home, things are more or less back to normal. Well, they will be as soon as I get our taxes filed and figure out who taught Colt to giggle when he passes gas.

Outside, however, is a different story. Schools were closed again late last week as we had ICE STORM v.2010. Ugh. Nowhere near the damage of last year. But what a pain. And quite possibly the most snow I have seen in Fayetteville in the 10 years I've lived here. Look here, Mother Nature, I REALLY need my family to get back to school and work so let's play nice this week, huh?

 

I honestly don't know why it still knocks me off track when things aren't "normal". When's the last time I had two normal days in a row? Ha. Certainly not in the last month! 2010 has been quite the whirlwind so far. I purposely made only one quantifiable New Year's Resolution this year - no french fries. No french fries in 2010. Which seemed OK until it dawned on me about halfway through January that "no french fries" would certainly mean "no cheese fries". I lost a little bit of steam at that point, but I still haven't broken it. Though, let me be clear that I'm certainly not on any kind of health food kick. In the interest of full disclosure, I confess that so far in 2010 I have eaten a Frito Burrito at each of three different restaurants -- and now that I think of it, in three different states! *BIG sigh*

I KNOW I've mentioned my unhealthy obsession with love for Frito Burritos here before. And it's not going anywhere. Last week I mentioned it to a coworker and she sent me the link for Hungry Girl. Evidently, there's a website out there that is trying to destroy me is focused on providing fun, realistic food advice to people like me. And Hungry Girl recently posted on this very topic! Her post not only divulges the nutritional information for the Sonic version - don't worry, I looked away - but it also gives a recipe for an alternative, healthier version. But in my rudimentary food experience I have learned that the "low cal" version rarely holds a candle to The Real Thing. And what am I saving those arteries for anyway? I think eating the turkey-chili-fat-free-cheese version might break my spirit.

And then this past week I discovered that both Taco John's (in South Dakota) and Taco Bell (in Missouri somewhere... in a truck stop...) now have their versions of the Frito Burrito. What can I say? I'm weak. What I lack in physical strength, punctuality, and patience for grammatical errors I make up for in taste bud intensity. It's a curse. If only I could find a way to put a productive spin on this. I'm more than willing to sacrifice myself for the greater good that is market research. Maybe I could travel the country - the world! - testing different versions of Frito Burritos. I could write a book. I could be my own twisted and slightly pathetic version of a food critic. Oh, wouldn't my parents be proud.

But hey! No french fries!

And as for Resolutions, if the 'french fries' thing doesn't work out I always have the usual backups:

• Get more sleep and/or go to bed earlier. RIGHT. And besides, sometimes my most productive minutes of the day are between the hours of 10pm and 1am.
• Lose weight and/or eat healthier. aka - Finally fit back into that other half of my closet I try not to think about too much and try even harder to casually overlook while I get dressed in the morning. But oh yeah, there's the Frito Burrito thing. Dang.
• Save money. *Another BIG sigh* 

I better get started.

And with that, I wash my hands of you, January. Nice knowin' ya. And to you, February, best of luck.

18(ish) Months

I honestly don't know where the time is going. First of all, I'm sitting down to write Colt's 18 month update. And secondly, he's actually almost 19 months old. Somebody get this lady a calendar.

My tardiness in bringing you Master Colt's 18 month entry is easily blamed on the people who schedule appointments at his Pediatrician's office. Our first several well-child checkups with them were within a day or two of whatever milestone required a visit, i.e. birth, 3 months old, 6 months old, etc. And for some silly reason like "the holidays", his 18 month mark (December 18th) came and went and his appointment was actually today. Meh. Close enough.

They did all the usual stuff, and his height (32.6 inches - 50th percentile) and weight (24 pounds - 25th percentile) stats reinforced for the umpteenth time that the Hood is strong with this one. Tall. Thin. Some people have all the luck.

We answered all the developmental questions which - for some reason - make me chuckle. It might be because we just don't know that many other babies. So we don't know what he does that's "normal" and what he does that's completely weird. Does your child like climbing on things? Does your child ever use his index finger to point, to ask for something? Or to indicate interest in something?

Colt passed with flying colors on everything except talking. Still no real talking. But he's become much more responsive even in the last few weeks, meaning he listens when I tell him we SIT on the couch - not jump/stand/run or when I ask him to bring me something or pick up his milk cup. I don't think talking is too far away. And he's become a master pointer. His little index finger can indicate anything from "more Cheerios, please" to "turn out the light, I'm ready to go night-night".

 

He's also started to connect some dots that have really impressed me. He knows that when he's done with his drink cup it goes back in the fridge - and he'll put it there. Before he could really understand what was going on, we would carry him from room to room when we needed to change his diaper or feed him supper or brush his teeth. But now we talk about what we're doing and he usually leads the way. This has been really impressive in the diaper arena. Just this week he's started being aware of dirty diapers. As soon as he has a dirty diaper, he points to it and then heads to his room, knowing he needs to be changed. I know this is such a baby step as far as potty training, but I've decided to take it as a good sign, nonetheless.

Our little guy is developing a sense of humor, which cracks me up. He is pretty ticklish and thinks everyone else is, too. He's a little rough (more pinching than actual tickling), but tickles our bellies when we're sitting on the couch or sneaks up behind me when I'm washing dishes and tickles my toes or my sides. He thinks it's HILARIOUS. He also tries to "trick" me sometimes with his shape-sorting game. The star shape is slightly smaller than the circle shape so it fits into the round hole (intended for the circle). He knows which shapes go where as he has taken them in and out about 700 times, but he just loves to put the star in the round hole, then look up at me and laugh and laugh. You got me!

He has also started doing this little smirk that is eerily reminiscent of one Mr. Tom Martin. Always up to something!

 

Another favorite joke is hiding. You all remember the cabinet. Well, he's recently discovered that he fits inside the cabinet! Funny, right!? Actually - yes.

The *thud* of the door closing gets me every time.

At his checkup today, he had to get a few shots. In the past, shots have been a very small deal. He always cried a little, but was over it within minutes. Not today. Today he was old enough to hate us for making him get shots. And he made the most of it. In all fairness, his mother made his appointment at lunch time, second only to naptime as the worst time of day to disrupt the schedule of a toddler and subject him to things like SHOTS. Oh man. So we got through the measurements and the developmental questions and the ear-inspecting and the heart-listening, and it was really pushing lunch time. Then came the icing on the cake. And I was the lucky one who got to hold his arms to his chest so he didn't flail around and make it worse. So I'm as guilty as anyone. And he didn't let me forget it. We drove home to feed him a quick lunch so he could make it back to daycare in time for a nap, and he SOBBED the entire way home - pointing to Jeff's car ahead of us on the road. After all, Daddy hadn't held him down while those mean strangers jabbed him in the legs with needles. When we got home, he flat out REFUSED to eat. (Reminder: This kid LOVES to eat.) Jeff had stopped to grab us some lunch, so he wasn't home yet and Colt was all alone with The Mean Lady Who Let Those People Give Him Shots. He alternated between glaring at me and throwing himself on the floor at the door he knew Jeff would be coming through when he came home. He continued the hunger strike until it was time to go back to school, so Jeff delivered an angry, hungry, late-for-his-nap toddler back to his unsuspecting teachers at daycare. Poor little guy.

When I picked him up this afternoon, they let me know that he didn't get much of a nap but had a surprisingly good afternoon. When we got home, it was obvious he hadn't yet found it in his heart to forgive me and we had an encore of the earlier loveliness during which I got desperate enough to indulge his new obsession - the coffeemaker. (By the way Dad, you've created a monster. He points emphatically at the coffeemaker about a hundred times a day.) So I gave in and let him make a cup of coffee. Only then did he agree to eat his supper. Though there was NO WAY he was eating it in his normal highchair. He would only sit in his booster seat - which usually stays in the car for use in restaurants with piss-poor highchairs. Only after I dragged a dining room chair into the den and put on some dinner entertainment (Barney) did he agree to eat a handful of green beans and a few slices of turkey.

 

So it's particularly after days like this that I wonder to myself, hmm, I sure know a lot of people with kids 2 or 3 years apart.  What is it about children this age that makes people want to have more? 

But then there's this. This might have something to do with it.

***

Guess what time it is! (All together now) New Photo Album Time! That's right, Colt Fans, it's time to tie up loose ends in the Colt - 12 to 18 Months album and break ground on the, you guessed it, Colt - 18 to 24 Months album. All past photos are compiled in albums and listed along the right hand side of this page. Some of them go back to the Dark Ages - or our wedding, whatever. But there they are.

***

If you'd like to receive updates from Mother Hood in your inbox, it's as easy as a click or two RIGHT HERE. No spam or weirdness, just a convenient email reminder when there are updates on the blog.

***

Last thing, then I promise I'll stop. I discovered some videos I hadn't posted so I threw them up on our YouTube channel. Be sure and check them out, RIGHT HERE. 

Holiday Recap

So I feel like I may have slacked a little on the holidays this year and I can't quite put my finger on it.  Let's see, I spent Thanksgiving - the unofficial kickoff of the holiday season - in sunny Africa. Which just kinda started off Holiday Season 2009 on a different page than years past. I must have been relying on Turkey Day for "the spirit" more than I realized. I got back from my trip just in time for December and I felt so behind. I hadn't started my shopping, I hadn't decorated the house. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas always seems to fly by in a blur of parties and baking and shopping and traveling -- and I couldn't quite keep up.

I convinced myself that a tree was not in the cards for us this year. Honestly, I didn't think it would be any fun for Colt to have to stare at a big, beautiful, shiny, blinking, dangling temptation every day for a month but get his hands spanked every time he indulged. So we didn't put up a Christmas tree. I did put up our stockings - which are one of my favorite things about Christmas anyhow. And we went to visit Santa. We didn't go completely humbug.

   

This time of year always carries with it a kind of heightened level of emotion. Families are together. Or not. It's the end of one year, beginning of the next so it's a perfect time to reflect on both the memorable and forgettable moments of the past twelve months and beat yourself up about them. And this year, the emotion was not lost on me. I teared up at each and every clip I saw of a deployed soldier wishing his family back home a Merry Christmas. And I subjected myself to the last ten minutes of Marley & Me about seven times. What a mess.

And on top of everything. The Pampers - Silent Night TV spot. It absolutely melts me into a pathetic little puddle of mush. And I usually see it twelve hundred times around the holidays. But this year - nothing.  Not once. You know, this should actually be at the top of the list of pathetic reasons I feel like The Grinch this year. I didn't get my regular injection of peaceful widdle sweeping babies.

Told you.

So anyway. I am committed. Christmas 2010 will be different. We will decorate a tree. We will go see Christmas lights and leave cookies for Santa. We will take pictures in our jammies. Next year, Colt will be old enough to really get into things and I look forward to seeing the magic of Christmas through a whole new set of eyes.

***

Now that I've put a good, solid damper on things -- let's try to refocus. Despite my, ahem, minimalist attitude about Christmas this year, we had a holiday full of family and fun and memories.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more."

We left on the 22nd for Hood Christmas in Arkadelphia. It is the only time of year that all the Hoods get together in one place and these days there are 14 of us! The Atlanta Hoods made it to town right before us and we attended the 2nd Annual Holiday Steak Night at the Teeds'. Last year, Frank and John grilled steak for everyone (they kindly grilled me a chicken breast) and it was such a big hit that I believe it's here to stay.

Several months back I innocently suggested to Sarah and Lynn that we attempt a family photo at Christmas this year as the last time a photo was taken of all the Hoods was at Pop and Grandmother's 50th anniversary in 2004. Well I guess that's not even true because there's a photo of all of us at our wedding in 2006. Either way, it was high time. Little did I know how entertaining taking a photo of 14 people could be! We should do it EVERY year! If I had thought about it I would have been taking photos OF the photo taking - priceless! We don't have proofs yet, but of course I'll post them when I get them.

Colt was pretty excited about being allowed to rip things apart when it came time to open presents. It didn't take him too long to get the hang of it. Santa (and Aunt Lynn, Aunt Sarah, Courtney, and Grandmother!) was very good to him this year and we had a lot of fun.

 

 

That cellphone was a gift from Aunt Sarah. I have no idea how he knows how to hold it... so accurately...  

Colt has been all about the kitchen lately, mostly trying his hardest to sit or stand in the 10 inch space between my feet at all times. I can't blame him. The kitchen has all kinds of interesting noises and smells and stuff to bang together. And Grandmother was more than happy to oblige. Here they are making meringue.

  

Colt spent most of his time chasing Grandmother around the kitchen or dancing up and down the hallway to the music pouring out of the Barney music game Grandmother left out for him. Quite the musical little guy. Once he figured out how to push the buttons and turn the pages on Barney - it was all over. I love that you don't have to teach babies to dance. They just bounce their little bottoms and wave their hands. Adorable.

The weather was downright crappy while we were in Arkadelphia. It literally rained the entire time.

 

See Arkansas in there, under all the "weather"? See the part where the yellow circle of Severe T'Storms Possible overlaps the red circle of Flash Flooding Possible? Yeah, that would be Arkadelphia. It rained over 10 inches in the 48 hours we were there. TEN. INCHES. And it was getting worse. The forecast for late on the 24th was looking like snow as we approached Northwest Arkansas so we loaded up and tried to beat the weather back to our house.

We made it back before it started snowing, and we woke up to the first White Christmas for Fayetteville since the 70s. Christmas Day was nice and quiet at our own house. We napped a little and played in the snow a little. Merry Christmas, Buddy!

 

 

  

The next day (the 26th) Grandma and Grandpa Martin and Aunt Becky arrived from San Antonio to celebrate the second half of Christmas! That night Grandma and Grandpa helped Santa assemble Colt's new tricycle.

 

And the next morning was another round of presents and wrapping paper and BOWS!

 

 

 

 

 
 

Aunt Laura sent Colt some shakers from Botswana. They are used in traditional Setswana dancing, wrapped around your feet. I think Colt is definitely getting the hang of them...

   

Grandma and Grandpa were able to stay for several days and it was so nice to get to visit with them. I missed their visit in November while I was in Africa so I hadn't seen them in a few months. And they got to spend a few days spoiling the little guy.

 

Grandma Martin thinks it is borderline child abuse that we don't give Colt baths. (He takes showers with Jeff. I don't remember who told us about this technique but we've done it since day one and it is CRAZY efficient.) So. Guess what Colt got for Christmas from Grandma!

 

And Grandpa's contribution. Always with the coffee. Over the course of a few days, Grandpa taught Colt how to use our coffeemaker. (And everyone knows you have to wear protective gear when making coffee.)

 

 

A lot of good food and a few movies later it was time for Grandma and Grandpa to head home. Merry Christmas everyone!

 

(We had to go over to Becky's apartment to take our family photo in front of a Christmas tree.)

***

Dear Santa,

I wasn't very good this year, but I sure appreciate all the laughs you sent me anyway. It's all I truly wanted for Christmas this year and you delivered - as always.

You're the best.

Love, Sarah

Unsung Heroes

December 20. Who is your unsung hero of 2009?

I've officially been a Mom since the afternoon of June 18, 2008 and I like to think I learn a little more each day about what that even means. I am responsible for this thing - my family. Sometimes it's fun and rewarding. Sometimes it's hard. Being a Mom is everything everyone told me it would be - and more. And at the same time, it's nothing like what I expected. Sometimes I sit cross-legged on the floor in the den, Colt in my lap pretending to read an upside down book, and just smile at myself. How did I get so lucky to have this special little guy - who wants nothing more than to be as close to me as humanly possible, whether I'm eating or washing dishes or attempting to get a moment's peace in the bathroom - to call my own? 

Being a Mom is a funny thing. You suddenly feel this camaraderie with other mothers - the strongest of empathies. And you are shamelessly able to discuss ANYTHING regarding pregnancy, babies, and children. Good. Bad. Ugly. It's all there. 

My unsung heroes of 2009 are Moms. My Mom. Her Mom. Jeff's Mom. All of the "Moms" I've had in my life. You know who you are. Love you.  

***

In response to daily (December) prompts, reflecting back on 2009, provided at gwenbell.com.

On travel.

December 19 Car ride. What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there? Who were you with? 

(Also: 

December 1 Trip. What was your best trip in 2009?
December 9 Challenge. Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you?)

So the actual prompt for today is the Car Ride one at the top, but since I've missed half the month, and I consider the 12/1 and 12/9 prompts relevant to the discussion, I thought I'd give myself credit for them. 

It seems odd that we did so much traveling in 2009 with such a young kid, but after making a quick mental list, and conferring with Jeff as I forget things in record time these days, I realized the Hoods really made the rounds this year. Between the two of us Jeff and I have hit several major US cities: Orlando, San Diego, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Nashville, San Antonio, Seattle, and Las Vegas. All this year! And that doesn't even count my recent international jaunt to Africa during which Laura and I visited five countries in 8 days. Wow. 

Colt didn't make it to all those places with us, but my account of our trip to Seattle got picked up by a site called Pitstops for Kids!. He is totally famous - check it out RIGHT HERE.  

So - let's see. 

Car ride? We took a few. Branson. Little Rock/Arkadelphia/Smackover. Tulsa/Muskogee/Tahlequah. Probably others. The little guy tolerates the car pretty well and we try to time things with his nap and dinner time and such so that the ride is more bearable for everyone. We didn't take any major car ride across the country or anything - though I'm sure we'll lose our minds and attempt it one of these days. Honestly, my favorite car ride is the one I take at 5:00 every day when I pick up the munchkin from school. 

Best Trip of 2009. This is a pretty easy one. My trip to Africa will be hard to top. So many cool, once-in-a-lifetime experiences during that week. I feel so lucky to have had the chance to go. And glad my sweet husband made me get serious about going and buy my ticket. 

Challenge. Something that really made you grow. Again with the traveling. It was really tough on all three of us to be away from each other during various trips this year. With one of us gone, the other has to fill both roles and gains a new appreciation for how much the other one really does help around the house and with Colt. We've relied on Grandparents to help us a couple of times, and I know that's something that helps Colt be more flexible and get used to a little different routine. I love it when we're together all the time, but coming home after being gone is pretty good, too.

***

In response to daily prompts, reflecting back on 2009, provided at gwenbell.com. Join me, won't you?

16 going on 17

The Boy will be 17 months old tomorrow and I thought it was high time for a Colt Update. I have let life and work and other whatnot get in the way of my blogging lately, but the little guy has been having a great few weeks. 

He continues to have an enviable amount of energy - running everywhere he goes and climbing everything from the couch to stairs to playground equipment. He loves music, whether it's the radio, clapping along to Mongo and endless rounds of "If You're Happy and You Know It", or just my singing. And his dancing might be the cutest thing I've ever seen.

A few weekends ago, we had company for the weekend and we decided to let out some of his energy during the Pep Rally at the mall before the South Carolina game.

 

We introduced the little guy to Big Red and taught him to call the Hogs, but - as you can see in the photo - he spent a lot of time running up and down the mall. LOTS of open space at the mall. Valerie and Louis drove down from Illinois again this year - and brought their kiddos to the game. They had a blast at the pep rally and the game, and Debra met us after the game on Saturday, too. Debra even volunteered to stay with all three kids (Val and Lou's two, Molly and Will, plus Colt) while the four of us went out for an honest-to-goodness double date Saturday night. We had a great time. And Debra - you're a saint!

At home, we keep things in a pretty regular routine which seems to work well. Colt knows when it's time to eat, when it's time to take a shower, when it's time to get his jammies on, brush his teeth, and head for bed. Weekends are a little different, but we stay in the general routine and he knows just what to do. The routine backfires sometimes - when we have to do something different or out of order. He looks around, a little nervous that he might be going to the doctor or that one of us is leaving! Poor guy. But the routine has allowed him to get comfortable "helping" with things like getting dressed and undressed, brushing his teeth, putting on his shoes and getting in and out of the car. Here he is "helping" me dump crackers on the floor...

 

Sleeping has been great - in bed around 7:30, up at 6 for a bottle and back to bed until 7. We can't seem to get him to sleep past 6 - but he does go back to sleep for a bit and has been known to sleep past 8:30 on weekends! He is his Mama's child!

We did have one little incident this weekend that interrupted our fabulous sleeping schedule and threatened the sanity of everyone in the house... Saturday night we went to Outback for dinner and he ate some dinner before we left the house, so he was kinda snacking on bread and veggies at the table with us. I had broccoli with my chicken and thought he might like some. He LOVED it. He gobbled up MOST of the broccoli on my plate and I thought nothing of it. Until about 3am. When I awoke to my poor, pitiful, gassy baby and his screaming, crying belly-ache. OH. MY. GOSH. I take it back! I am so sorry I fed you hideous, horrible, butter-soaked broccoli! I promise to never ever do that again! Nothing is worth that. I felt so terrible for the little guy - he just couldn't get comfortable. I fed him practically an entire bottle of Mylicon, patted his back, rubbed his tummy, and sang lullabies until I was annoying MYSELF. He had himself so worked up and the crying seemed to make it worse... so around 5am we decided to just let him play, let him be, and see if he would calm down. It finally worked. He plopped himself down in the corner of our bedroom with the stereo and decided to play the "How Many CDs Will Fit In The CD Player?" Game. He settled down, seemed to feel better, drank some milk and went back to bed. Around 6am. Stupid, stupid broccoli.

 

This week we attended our first Parent-Teacher Conference. For our 1 year old. I thought it was about 80/20 adorable/unnecessary, but it was good to talk with his teacher and hear some stories about things he's been doing at school. She walked us through 6 areas of child development: self-concept, emotional, social, language, physical and cognitive. He's doing really well, and though Ms. Julie gave us a few examples of words he's (allegedly) said at school - we know he's a little behind the curve in his language. We've actually never heard him say any discernible words at home, but he's been babbling a lot more clearly - if that makes sense - and pointing/waving/gesturing with a vengeance. He waves at EVERYONE we see. And when I put veggies and crackers on his tray during supper he directs me with his finger as to where he wants them. 

Ms. Julie also told us he has classic toddler tendencies to hoard (which I gather is a polite word for "steal") toys and not interact a whole lot with the other kids when he plays. We were only half joking when we explained to her that his quiet nature and lack of social interaction are probably genetic... he's a Hood. He comes by it honestly!

Oh! And I got his school pictures back last week! Jeff tells me I'm a sucker for buying these and I probably am - hell, we have so few pictures of him... And worse, I couldn't decide! They gave me five proofs, which was a bad idea. So I ordered two. One set of the generic background and one set of the cheesy, fall background that screams School Picture Day! 

 

I think they are beyond adorable. AND! Ms. Julie tells me that they do a class picture in the spring. I can hardly stand it!

If you recall, we had some challenges with our fall pictures this year. Nancy to the rescue! She brought her daughter Abby to help wrangle The Boy, and everyone agreed that he's a tricky little guy to photograph! We snapped a few good ones and I am still trying to pick a photo for our Christmas card so I won't post them all, but here's a sneak peek.

That should catch you up on all things Colt. I leave in a few days and I'll be gone through the holiday so keep my little family in your thoughts as we'll be apart for the longest we've ever been. Happy 17 months, Buddy!

But you're one in a million to me.

So this is the world, and there are almost six billion people on it. When I was a kid, there were three. It's hard to keep up. - Jerry Maguire, opening lines.

I love that the three of us are each other's favorite person. I was recently talking to a friend about how drastically life changes when you get married and have kids. About how you truly forget what life was like without these people - your family - and how cheesy I always used to think it was when people talked like that...

The weekend of the 10th, Grandma and Grandpa Martin were in Fayetteville and we headed to the pumpkin patch for some fun. And here are FAR too many pictures of it: saying howdy to the pigs with Grandpa, the potato sack slide (a FAV), riding the cow train with Mama, hayride, and pumpkins. (There are more pictures in the Colt - 12 to 18 Months photo album.)

 

  

We will definitely be going back to that pumpkin patch - they had such a great set-up and we really had a lot of fun. Colt was VERY interested in the tractors and the mud, and more fascinated by the wheelbarrows than the pumpkins themselves - but it was a success. And look - a cute photo of Mom and Dad!

So far Colt has been taking 16 months just as seriously as 15 months. He is more and more vocal every day - babbling and such. He still isn't talking, but has started doing some of the communication-type things the books told me he would be doing months ago. Go figure. He has started waving, though it looks more like a cross-pollination of ninja technique and jazz hands.

 

 

He is also pointing and clapping on a regular basis now. But no talking. We are trying to be patient with the talking, because we know that it will be opening a flood gate that will not close until he's a grouchy teenager. Maybe he's just destined to be as talkative as his father :)

Daycare is still going well. In fact, they are busy busy. Last week was Colt's First School Picture Day - which I LOVE. I haven't seen the pictures yet, but will post them when I get proofs. Also - they've started sending home artwork, which clearly shows that we are dealing with a brilliant artist. See for yourself.

 

 

The most common remark I hear from daycare is how HARD he plays outside. He comes home in different clothes nearly every day because he gets his money's worth out of the puddles and whatnot out on the playground. Man, he loves to be outside. Really, he likes to be anywhere he can run as fast as his little legs will carry him until either his top half or his bottom half outpaces the other and he topples over. But he doesn't stay down for long. 

I sometimes wonder if his energy will ever start to level off. He just goes and goes until about 7:30 and then it's like he knows everyone is done for. He turns it down to a dull roar and doesn't protest to being held. He gets jammied and rocked and tucked in - and we start it all over again the next day. Full speed ahead. Love you, Buddy. Happy 16 months.

Distraction Attempt

 

Did it work? Cute picture of cute baby on cute Cow Train at cute Pumpkin Patch? In lieu of actual blogging? For inexcusable days weeks on end? I have excuses - don't you want to hear them? Nah. I'm going to bed instead, but I haven't forgotten you. And my world has not slowed down even though the blogging has lulled the last few weeks. And my head and heart could both use any good thoughts you have to spare this week.

Love, Sarah

Three and a Long-necked Chicken

Vegas Debrief. In a word - fabulous. Jeff and I left Thursday night for three days in Sin City, and Colt got to spend his second weekend in a row with Grandparents. Grandmother and Pop (Jeff's parents) came and stayed at the house for the weekend so Jeff and I could go away for the weekend. And I am here to tell you they are saints. Saints. Grandmother described her weekend as, "trying to tame a whirlwind" and I think it's just about right. 

After we strapped the carseat into Granny's car and gave her the lowdown on the sleeping/eating/bathing schedule, we were off to the airport. Our flight was actually EARLY so we got to Vegas 30 minutes ahead of schedule. And I would like to point out - for the record - that I packed less for this trip than I have in my LIFE. The airline had a $40 charge per carry-on, per leg - so, needless to say, Jeff informed me we would not be checking any bags. It's amazing what you truly don't need. *sheepish grin*

When we got off the plane, we found our way to the hotel shuttle. We were the first people onto the bus, but it was full (about 20 people) before it left. And of course, we were the very last stop - but since our plane had been early we decided we were even. 

We schlepped our stuff into the Golden Nugget where we experienced the most vivid Seinfeld moment of our lives. We walked up to the check-in desk, showed ID, blah blah, and Dennis The Hotel Employee informed us that there were no King rooms available. Jeff spoke up and reminded Dennis that we had requested a King. Dennis could see our request in his computer, was terribly anything but sorry, but repeated that there were no King rooms available. We looked at each other and snickered - quoting one of our favorite Seinfeld scenes. "You know how to take the reservation. You just don't know how to hold the reservation. And that's really the most important part of the reservation. The holding."  

So double beds it was. Yep. I Love Lucy style. 

After we dropped our stuff in the room, we ventured down for a bite and some action. Nancy had peaked my interest for Craps when we had lunch last week, so Jeff and I edged in at one of the tables across the street at Binion's and played a round. I LOVED it. I hummed songs from Guys and Dolls the whole time. 

Then things got interesting. We walked into a dive called La Bayou, where Jenni and I had played WAY too many penny slots when we met up with her family the week of Thanksgiving in 2006. We sat down hoping to see a cocktail waitress for a drink and put 20 bucks in a 25 cent slot machine. I think we pulled three times before the thing went berserk - lights, buzzers, general commotion. We weren't even paying attention and had no idea what we'd won - but before we knew it there was a girl dressed like Chiquita Banana giving us Mardi Gras beads and a nicely-dressed man counting money into our hands. 300 dollars! We called it a night. Welcome to Vegas.

Friday we slept in. Repeat. Slept. In. Ahhhhhhhhh. The first day in WAY too long that we didn't have a single thing to do or place to be. It was wonderful. We enjoyed it so much we slept late every day we were there. Double beds and everything. And after dragging ourselves out of bed, we took advantage of a buy-one-get-one ticket the hotel had given us for a breakfast buffet where I systematically destroyed what little progress I've made on my seriously-your-kid's-over-a-year-old-you-should-probably-think-about-losing-some-baby-weight program. But they had omelettes! And waffles! And french toast! And bacon! And I'll stop now. You get it. It was sinfully good.

We squeezed in a little sun-worshipping each day we were there. Mm hmm. Lounge chair IN the pool. Can't beat it. And though I've already caught some serious flack for this - we took naps. We were in Vegas. And we took naps. We slept in AND we took naps. We were on v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n.  

Friday, we were practically run over by two huge guys wearing Harlem Globetrotters jerseys and large backpacks running down the street followed by cameramen. I joked that they were probably on The Amazing Race. And sure enough, they ran up to The Golden Gate casino and ran back down the street carrying a big black and yellow card clearly reading "The Amazing Race"! I don't watch the show, but it was still exciting.

The weather was unbelievable the whole time we were there. Friday and Saturday set records for the lowest highs in history! Love it! And I watched more baseball on Friday than I have my whole life. The Yankees took their sweet time and 15 innings to beat the Red Sox that night and we spent almost every minute of the game in one Sports Book or another, watching the game. The Yankees pulled it out for us, and even won us some more the next night. Woo hoo!

After learning Craps, I got brave and tried my hand at Roulette. And if you ever need some lucky numbers - you just let me know. I sat down with $40 and told the dealer I'd never played before. I picked my numbers and she helped me place my bets -- and a couple spins later I'd turned $40 into well over $100. I had no idea what was going on, though, and a few minutes later I was back down to $100 and decided to cash out. Not bad for a first-timer!

Vegas was wonderful wonderful wonderful, but the Grammar Queen never takes a vacation. This is a pic* of an ad on the back of a cab driver's seat. It took every manner I had not to rip it down.

That's right, folks. Dinning and Attractions. Gah.

There were two more signs that caught my eye - but I couldn't get photos so you'll have to take my word. One was at the top of the water slide at the pool. (Side bar: The pool at the Golden Nugget is built around a shark tank - very cool. The waterslide tube goes straight through the shark tank!) While waiting in line for the slide, I read the Rules and Warnings Sign. It included instructions as to what sliders should do in the event of an emergency that should require the "evacuation" of the slide. One of the instructions said that "sliders already in the slide should continue on to the bottom of the slide". We laughed pretty hard at that. Really? You mean if there's an emergency, I should keep moving down a rapidly-moving waterslide? I shouldn't stop. Turn around. And go back up the slide? Thanks for the instructions.

The other sign of note was on the airplane. Disclaimer on the back of the Emergency Procedure Card: "If you are unable to read and understand English, please notify a flight attendant immediately." Yeah.

We were so ready to get home to our little guy after three days away -- and Granny and Pop took such good care of him. He wore them out and Grandmother spent Sunday night warning telling me various ways that "he is just like his Dad". I can't thank them enough for sacrificing time and sleep and peace to give us a weekend to relax.   

*That picture is literally the only one I have of our entire weekend. And it's taken with my phone. I took my camera with me, but didn't carry a bag or purse the whole time we were there -- only pockets. Apologies for the photo-less post. 

Less talk. More pictures.

What has it been? 2 weeks since I last posted photos of the rascal? Well Grandpa Martin came to visit last weekend and I didn't get TOO many pictures - but what's mine is yours. The best part about Baby Toddler Picture Post Days is that the photos largely speak for themselves - not too much effort or necessary narration on my end. So feast your eyes on these.

Check out this face:

and more Dinner With Grandpa:

 

 

And a cute pic with Grandpa (and the remote...)

And this would be "Baby's First Lime". At dinner Saturday night, Grandpa expanded Colt's horizons to include sour citrus fruit. This expression is equal parts confusion, curiosity and delight. By the way, he came back for seconds!

Grandpa came bearing gifts (other than my Pampered Chef pitcher which I left at the condo in Greers Ferry - thanks Dad!)! He recently finished building a fence around the house in San Antonio and had several lengths of cedar leftover after chopping off the tops of the fence posts. So he made a box FULL of blocks for Colt. Some are cubes, some are brick-shaped. And can I just say - this boy is ALL ABOUT some blocks. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of the blocks in action, but I do have this - a photo of Jeff trying to pull the switcheroo on Colt with the remotes. (Trust me - he knows the difference.)

The blocks saw quite a bit of action on Tuesday afternoon when I had to stay with Colt and work from home. I stacked them up and he knocked them over. I made my version of an "explosion" noise and he laughed maniacally. About 600 times before the novelty started to wear off. Yah blocks!

After Grandpa had to leave Sunday morning, we took Colt out for his daily routine of running around outside until he's appropriately exhausted enough for a nap or bedtime. It works quite well. Here he is in all his my-Mama-let-me-play-outside-in-my-jammies glory. Don't judge me. He's wearing shoes.

  

That stick is as essential to outside play as the remote control is to inside play. Colt finds that same stick every day, does NOT let go of it the entire time he plays outside, then when it's time to come in Jeff puts the stick in the bushes for safe keeping until the next day. 

I love this picture - I think he looks like he should audition for Harry Potter.

There. That should scratch your photo itch for today. 

Ok. One more.

That's all, folks. Our weekend in pictures. I hope to get the photo album updated soon - I can promise you I'm behind.