Ketchup and Cool Whip

Austin has had a bit of a reduced appetite lately. I don't know if it started because of his strep throat or what, but I've been trying to make sure he gets enough to eat at each meal. Last night, we had a cookout, which was delicious! Nick grilled burgers and brats and we also had baked beans and fruit with some fat free Cool Whip on top. Austin took some bites of the food, but he also enjoyed several spoonfuls of just ketchup followed by just Cool Whip. Delicious!

Hey, it covers the veggie and dairy food groups, right?

Hello again...

Once again, I suck at blogging.

I don't know why it's so hard! I love reading blogs. I do it daily! I get excited when Erin or Cecilia post something new because I actually know them! I think I am so bad about posting because I tell all my stories to everyone I know before I blog. Then I feel like they'd read my blog and think, "Okay, this is not new information." Maybe I'll try NOT telling the stories and just blogging about them? We'll see if I can at least do that a little!

So the boy has been sick this week. He got strep throat after it ransacked Sherry's house (his daycare) over the last week or so. We kept him home on Tuesday because Sherry's two daughters got diagnosed with strep on Monday and then Tuesday night he felt warm. I took him to the doctor on Wednesday and -- ah ha! A positive strep test! I knew it! The nurse was like, "I'm sorry!" and I was the weirdo mom that was actually semi-happy about the diagnosis. After the mystery 10-day fever that was February-March 2009, I was just ecstatic to have a confirmed illness that is treatable with antibiotics!

Austin seemed to feel better pretty quickly and was all set to go back to Sherry's today when...he threw up water this morning! What? Throwing up water? What's that all about? Nick and I suspect he just drank too much right when he woke up and then maybe had to cough or something. We kept him home today and, from the report from Nick, he's doing well. They were all set up downstairs watching a little Thomas the Tank Engine and BOTH fell asleep! Nick said he woke up every half hour or so to check on Austin and that they snoozed the morning away, waking up at like 1:45 p.m.! Cute! I'm feeling good about Austin's health now. I don't want to jinx it, but I think he's on the mend!

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend. The skyrocketing cost of gas was a harsh reminder that the summer is almost here. However, last year at this time, gas cost like $3.85, so I'm trying to be thankful for the $2.59/gal price! We are going to Nick's mom's house tomorrow for a quick visit. She hasn't seen us since Christmas (I think? Maybe Nick and Austin took a trip over there since then? I can't remember!) and she's going to Wyoming for three months next week, so she requested a visit! I think the weather is going to be nice, so that will make for a nice trip.

Nick has to work all weekend and then will be working at the fire department Monday during the day. We might have a cookout that evening with friends, depending on who is around. We'll see. We're playing it by ear for now!

"I pat the baby goat!"

Austin and I went to the zoo with Casey and Ivy on Sunday. He loves seeing all the animals! I was pretty pumped because this time, there were people in the petting zoo area so we could actually go in and pet the goats! I wasn't sure what he'd think about the goats, but he LOVED this little black one!

"Mommy, I like the little goat!!"

I tried to get a picture of him talking to the goat. He got right in the goat's face and had a big conversation with him (her? I didn't check that area out!). Unfortunately, my camera wasn't ready, dang it!

Austin wasn't quite as into the bigger goats. In fact, he was patting this one and a bigger guy came up and just stood behind me. When Austin looked up and saw it, he was like, "Mommy! I don't like the big goat!" This one however? Just his size!

The weekend that went awry

Well, Cecilia and I were supposed to go out for a Girls' Night Out on Friday, which was to consist of dinner at Kobe and then something really awesome like shopping at Walgreens or Old Navy! We arranged early in the week for a babysitter to watch the boys at Cecilia's place, since Memphis was out of town with Rorhk. However, said babysitter didn't show. We called her when she was 15 minutes late and she didn't answer her cell phone. At 30 minutes late, she called us claiming that she had been in the hospital with food poisoning the night before and then "was out of it all day" on Friday.

Damn.

If she was sick, that's unfortunate. However, where was the call on Friday during the day? The whole "I was totally out of it" excuse doesn't really fly with me. I guess if I had a commitment and knew I wouldn't be able to fulfill it, I'd make sure I called or had someone call the person so that they wouldn't be stuck with no childcare!

We called everyone possible in our cell phonebooks but could find no other option for Friday or Saturday nights. Why don't we know more babysitters?? Cecilia and I ended up hanging out with the boys and walking from her apartment to Walgreens. Get. Pumped. We had a good time, overall, but it was kind of a letdown after the thought of a night out with just grown up people!

On Sunday, our bad babysitter luck struck again! We both brought our kids to the YMCA because we had a Zumba class to teach. There is childcare on Sundays from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., pretty much because of the Zumba class. However, at 10:45 a.m., there was no childcare worker! A call was made and we were assured that someone would be "right there." "Right there" turned out to be more like 11:20 a.m. Cecilia ended up watching the kids in the childcare room until someone showed up and I started class. It worked out in the end, but why ya gotta hate us, babysitters??

The day after...

It was the big 0-2 birthday yesterday! We celebrated by me taking the night off from Zumba and the whole family going to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and games. I got there before Austin and Nick, so when they walked in, I got to see the look of sheer joy and amazement on Austin's face. He was SO excited to see EVERYTHING! There was not much pizza eating by the young mister (Nick and I managed to eat our share), but there was a lot of Chuck E. Cheese love! He danced along with Chuck E. and talked to him and even wanted to share the stage with him! Austin also had a blast riding all the little cars and even playing a little Skee Ball (I heart Skee Ball, by the way!). We were there for just over an hour and could hardly pry him out of the place! We traded in 40 of his 46 earned tickets for a small plastic grasshopper...oh yeah, don't be jealous of our loot!

Happy Birthday, Austin!

Dear Austin,

You’re two today. Two! I can’t believe it. These past two years have flown by so fast. I remember being near the end of my pregnancy and just sitting in your old room wishing you would be born because I couldn’t wait! I wanted to write you a letter like I’ve seen so many parents do, telling you all the things that are in my head and my heart today. I don’t know if I’ll be able to capture what I’m feeling, though – I don’t know if it will be “good enough” to really convey your presence in my life, but I’ll try!

You constantly surprise and amaze me! Every day, it seems, you come up with another word, another phrase, another joke and just knock me off my feet. You are such a talker (you come by it honestly!) and you love to chat and have conversations with me, Daddy, and anyone who will listen. Sometimes I’m the only one who can interpret what you’re saying, and sometimes not even I can understand you, but you keep talking, and with such conviction that I know you’re saying something really important!

Some of the most recent things that you have said and done that have surprised and impressed me are things like singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” on your own. I don’t know where you learned that one, but you seem to love busting out into song with that tune! You also have started saying, “I’m sure!” and “I’m not sure…” in response to questions – what a little man!

One of the things I love about you is your sense of humor. You love to laugh and giggle and tickle, and can spend minute after minute chasing and “getting” Daddy and me, only to make sure we chase and “get” you right back! I don’t know where you get your energy from, but it’s endless! I love when you get the joke, too, like when you know you’re doing something funny and making me laugh. I can see the enjoyment in your face knowing that you’re cracking me up, and so you do it even more!

Another thing that is growing everyday that I love about you is your compassion and caring. Yesterday, you helped Daddy put mulch down in the yard, and you were very concerned and asked, “Are you okay, Daddy?” a lot to make sure he was doing alright. If I trip or stumble, you are right there asking me “You fine, Mom?” And if you accidentally bump me or something, you jump right in with a big kiss on my “ouch” spot and a hug to follow. Your heart is so big, my boy, and I hope it always will be.

There have been a lot of ups and downs during these past two years, and I credit you for helping me get through the rough times. I don’t know where I would be today if I didn’t have you in my life, because sometimes, when I’ve been really down, the only constant has been you. You’ve given me something positive to focus on when I have needed it the most, and that has helped me put a lot of things into perspective.

You are my son, my heart, and my friend. I miss you when I’m not with you, and I feel so lucky to have someone as special, smart, funny, and beautiful in my life. I love you so much, buddy! Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mommy

"Cece is stuck in my pants!"

Austin has a habit of putting whatever toys he is playing with up his pant legs while riding in the car. I'm not sure why, but this is pretty fun for him lately! Today, we were driving to Sherry's house for daycare and Austin was playing with Stretch and Cece (one of the Little People). They were, as usual, traveling up and down inside Austin's pant leg. Suddenly, he started crying and getting upset.

"What's wrong, buddy?"

"It's unner me, Mommy!"

"What is? What's under you?"

"Cece!"

I was pretty confused. After some more questioning and some strategic looking over my shoulder at the 4-way stop, I realized the dilemma. Austin had shoved Cece waaaaaaaaay up inside his pant leg and now he couldn't reach to get her out.

"Is Cece stuck in your pants, buddy?"

"Yes! Cece in my pants!!"

"Don't worry. When we get to Sherry's house, I'll get Cece out of your pants!"

These were not words I thought I'd be saying to my son, but we were able to extricate Cece from the pant leg and continue on with our day. Whew!