March 25, 2009
March 17, 2009
oh the pressure!
Ben was officially "accepted" for preschool next year! The beginning of his scholastic career. So much to learn. So many years ahead of him. Starting in September he will be having all sorts of fun twice a week playing, singing, listening to stories, meeting new friends, at the cutest little preschool ever. Oh, and a minor detail.....he has to be potty trained! I did not mention ANY of this to him today in all my excitement. But he had to have sensed the pressure of the potty was coming b/c he peed in the grass this afternoon (while playing naked in the back yard) and pooped in the tub tonight. Mercy. We have a long way to go!
March 6, 2009
oh we're up now....
So, Ben is still sick, but much better than earlier this week. And now Greg and I have it. Parenting with a clear head it hard enough....I'm a disaster when everything is cloudy as it is this morning. Anyway, our morning started at 5:30 am. Ben was crying so Greg when in and helped put him back down. Silence for 10 minutes. Then singing. Talking. Laughing from Ben's room. Followed by the inevitable "Mama. Dada. Wake up. Mama. We go play. Dada where are you?" After 15 minutes of that we caved and went to get him. We brought him into bed with us thinking (PRAYING to GOD) that he would go back to sleep. But with in 5 minutes, I'd been kicked in the face and Ben had poured an entire glass of water (that was sitting on Greg's night side table) on Greg's back and in the bed. So...we were UP, changing sheets before 6:00 am.
Knowing I had a long day of Ben and Mama solitude ahead of us b/c we were banned from all activities involving people that we know and love enough to protect from RSV....I started planning. Breakfast out. That was a sure fire winner. Especially if pancakes were involved. And lots of outdoor time.....the ZOO! We will finally venture to the ZOO! It was a beautiful day and Ben has been quite pleasant in the car these days, especially when listening to the "Hello Song" on repeat. Mercy. So a road trip (ok, it's only 10 miles) sounded like a great idea!
Obviously since we were up at 6:00, there was first breakfast before we left the house to go get second breakfast (my favorite meal of the day). We get to pipes and Ben happily greets everyone in the restaurant with a "hi. nice to meet you." As if he knows he's the cutest kid in the world. To which everyone responds with, "oh my gosh, he's SO cute!" They ohhhh and ahhhh and I feel compelled to let them know that he's not always this pleasant to be around, but I resist, knowing there is a good chance he will communite that for me during our time there.
Ben hugging the syrup. The only time he smiled during breakfast.
During our 8 minute breakfast, Ben is in true two year old form. Kicking off shoes. Refusing to sit in the high chair. Throwing everything with in reach on the floor and of course spilling his water that he insisted I take the lid off....but that's just a given. I scarf down eggs, potatoes and pancakes as fast as I can and we leave. But not before I drop an F bomb in Ben's presence for the first time. I don't think he heard. But if you hear him saying it on the playgroud, he learned it at the church nursery. Promise.
We hit the gas station, bank, and back to the house for several forgotten items then head up the 55 to the ZOO. Ben is so happy in the car I consider driving to the San Diego ZOO, or Arizona for that matter, but resist. I only have enough snacks to keep everyone happy for about 3 hours. We hit the ZOO hard. See the monkey's and the farm. Talk about a random gathering of animals. Ben enjoys the playgroud, a train ride, and meets some new friends of course. Who ohhhh and ahhhh and and by this point in the day I've forgotten all about 5:30 am and the breakfast spectacle and am so proud. It was the perfect 3 hour outting and ended with Ben as
leep in the back of the car and smoothly transfering to his crib for the rest of nap time.
As soon as he woke up, we went to the market, bought "supplies" for cup cakes and came home to bake. I was feeling SO bad about the fact that we had to cancel his party b/c everyone at our house was sick that I thought the little man needed some sugar! Always makes me feel better. So we baked, Ben stirred, licked, poured, and loved it. By 4:00 we were both happy with chocolate frosting all over our faces.
We ended the day meeting Greg at an Italian restaurant for dinner (mistake). Ben was home asleep by 8:00 and I was passed out on the couch. I think that counts as another day.....of survival.
Knowing I had a long day of Ben and Mama solitude ahead of us b/c we were banned from all activities involving people that we know and love enough to protect from RSV....I started planning. Breakfast out. That was a sure fire winner. Especially if pancakes were involved. And lots of outdoor time.....the ZOO! We will finally venture to the ZOO! It was a beautiful day and Ben has been quite pleasant in the car these days, especially when listening to the "Hello Song" on repeat. Mercy. So a road trip (ok, it's only 10 miles) sounded like a great idea!
Obviously since we were up at 6:00, there was first breakfast before we left the house to go get second breakfast (my favorite meal of the day). We get to pipes and Ben happily greets everyone in the restaurant with a "hi. nice to meet you." As if he knows he's the cutest kid in the world. To which everyone responds with, "oh my gosh, he's SO cute!" They ohhhh and ahhhh and I feel compelled to let them know that he's not always this pleasant to be around, but I resist, knowing there is a good chance he will communite that for me during our time there.
Ben hugging the syrup. The only time he smiled during breakfast.
During our 8 minute breakfast, Ben is in true two year old form. Kicking off shoes. Refusing to sit in the high chair. Throwing everything with in reach on the floor and of course spilling his water that he insisted I take the lid off....but that's just a given. I scarf down eggs, potatoes and pancakes as fast as I can and we leave. But not before I drop an F bomb in Ben's presence for the first time. I don't think he heard. But if you hear him saying it on the playgroud, he learned it at the church nursery. Promise.
We hit the gas station, bank, and back to the house for several forgotten items then head up the 55 to the ZOO. Ben is so happy in the car I consider driving to the San Diego ZOO, or Arizona for that matter, but resist. I only have enough snacks to keep everyone happy for about 3 hours. We hit the ZOO hard. See the monkey's and the farm. Talk about a random gathering of animals. Ben enjoys the playgroud, a train ride, and meets some new friends of course. Who ohhhh and ahhhh and and by this point in the day I've forgotten all about 5:30 am and the breakfast spectacle and am so proud. It was the perfect 3 hour outting and ended with Ben as
leep in the back of the car and smoothly transfering to his crib for the rest of nap time.
As soon as he woke up, we went to the market, bought "supplies" for cup cakes and came home to bake. I was feeling SO bad about the fact that we had to cancel his party b/c everyone at our house was sick that I thought the little man needed some sugar! Always makes me feel better. So we baked, Ben stirred, licked, poured, and loved it. By 4:00 we were both happy with chocolate frosting all over our faces.
We ended the day meeting Greg at an Italian restaurant for dinner (mistake). Ben was home asleep by 8:00 and I was passed out on the couch. I think that counts as another day.....of survival.
March 4, 2009
Holiday curse...volume II
see "Holiday curse? (ie....holy vomit!) from July 2008 for background on this one. I do have plans to get all blog techy and learn to link and embellish and add buttons and things....but just haven't yet so you have to go search for the post if you want to read it. Anyhow.....back to the issue at hand:
Lists have been made.
Invitations have been sent.
Party favors have been bought (and returned for better party favors, that were then returned for the PERFECT party favors.)
Menu has been set (if you can call donuts, fruit and coffee a menu)
Morning of the party agenda communicted to interested persons (7:30 am - order coffee from Starbucks, 8:00 pick up donuts, 8:15 - send Barbara to get balloons....she MUST be the FIRST person in line at Party City!), 8:30 - head to the park to set up, 8:45 - Greg in charge of camera and video, 9:00 - PARTY!!!!
And with just three days to go, Ben has been diagonosed with RSV. Respitatory Syncytial Virus. Which is really just a bad cold with a nasty cough. And highly contagious. And means that he's on lock down at the hosue for the next several days. No friends. No activities. No fun....for me.
Did Ben really understand that he was having a birthday party on Saturday?!?! And did I hype it up too much? Practice singing Happy Birthday too much? Talk about all his friends and Nana and Pop T coming too much? And it was just more than he wanted. Or not what he wanted? So his licked the shopping cart handle (again) in hopes of contracting something serious enough to warrent cancelling the party?!?! B/c sadly, that's what I had to do today....after Greg made me. I know it's the right thing to do. But I was SO excited. And I have to say that Ben has been singing Happy Birthday to him self all day and talking about having a "birthday party" all night. I do not have the heart to tell him it's off, in case he did not infact sabatoge the whole thing. Poor little guy. I think we will have a mock party on Saturday. Just Greg, Ben and I. Donuts. Balloons. Playing in the back yard since we are banned from the park. I will take lots of pictures and make Greg get the video camera out. Feel free to stop by! And bring your kids. And presents! Just kidding. It's not safe :(
Friends, please do not even think about MENTIONING Easter Egg Hunts in the next month.
Lists have been made.
Invitations have been sent.
Party favors have been bought (and returned for better party favors, that were then returned for the PERFECT party favors.)
Menu has been set (if you can call donuts, fruit and coffee a menu)
Morning of the party agenda communicted to interested persons (7:30 am - order coffee from Starbucks, 8:00 pick up donuts, 8:15 - send Barbara to get balloons....she MUST be the FIRST person in line at Party City!), 8:30 - head to the park to set up, 8:45 - Greg in charge of camera and video, 9:00 - PARTY!!!!
And with just three days to go, Ben has been diagonosed with RSV. Respitatory Syncytial Virus. Which is really just a bad cold with a nasty cough. And highly contagious. And means that he's on lock down at the hosue for the next several days. No friends. No activities. No fun....for me.
Did Ben really understand that he was having a birthday party on Saturday?!?! And did I hype it up too much? Practice singing Happy Birthday too much? Talk about all his friends and Nana and Pop T coming too much? And it was just more than he wanted. Or not what he wanted? So his licked the shopping cart handle (again) in hopes of contracting something serious enough to warrent cancelling the party?!?! B/c sadly, that's what I had to do today....after Greg made me. I know it's the right thing to do. But I was SO excited. And I have to say that Ben has been singing Happy Birthday to him self all day and talking about having a "birthday party" all night. I do not have the heart to tell him it's off, in case he did not infact sabatoge the whole thing. Poor little guy. I think we will have a mock party on Saturday. Just Greg, Ben and I. Donuts. Balloons. Playing in the back yard since we are banned from the park. I will take lots of pictures and make Greg get the video camera out. Feel free to stop by! And bring your kids. And presents! Just kidding. It's not safe :(
Friends, please do not even think about MENTIONING Easter Egg Hunts in the next month.
March 1, 2009
sleep strike?!?!....volume II
I'm starting to fear that I might have a post titled "Sleep Strike" on regular basis. When Ben was just a wee little pumpkin, and he'd have a good couple nights or weeks sleeping, I'd immediately want to do a full on V.I.C.T.O.R.Y chant and call all my friends and tell them I'd mastered the art of baby sleeping magic and we were in the sleep clear for the next 18 years. Then inevitably, two minutes after I'd conceived that thought, Ben would start to get a little cold, a tummy ache, a new tooth, or get in a fight with his Horsey (which I really think is the cause of many of his sleepless nights as they talk it out for hours, and often times Horsey ends up sleeping on the floor). What ever the reason, there is always a reason every few months for Ben to go on a "sleep strike" as I like to call them.
He has recently entered into a "proactive negotiation" phase, which I think is quite advanced for his age. :) If we are out and about around the post lunch, about to be nap time hour, and head anywhere in the direction of home, Ben starts up in the back seat in a sing songy / mocking voice. "Ben go night night....noooooooo. Ben play. Ben not tired. Ben go play. We go park." Yesterday it was "We go Back Bay, ok mama? We go Back Bay. Ben no go sleep." How does he even know what the Back Bay is? We really don't go there. I think HE thinks that if he distracts me, I'll forget all about nap time.
All this to say, that with another little one on the way, I can only imagine that I have YEARS of sleep planning, strategizing, begging, coercing...etc. in my future. Especially in light of the fact that my 33 year old husband still has sleep strikes from time to time!!!
He has recently entered into a "proactive negotiation" phase, which I think is quite advanced for his age. :) If we are out and about around the post lunch, about to be nap time hour, and head anywhere in the direction of home, Ben starts up in the back seat in a sing songy / mocking voice. "Ben go night night....noooooooo. Ben play. Ben not tired. Ben go play. We go park." Yesterday it was "We go Back Bay, ok mama? We go Back Bay. Ben no go sleep." How does he even know what the Back Bay is? We really don't go there. I think HE thinks that if he distracts me, I'll forget all about nap time.
All this to say, that with another little one on the way, I can only imagine that I have YEARS of sleep planning, strategizing, begging, coercing...etc. in my future. Especially in light of the fact that my 33 year old husband still has sleep strikes from time to time!!!
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